Edward didn't meet me after class so I didn't get a chance to ask him if he wanted to make plans for this weekend. Since Abby hadn't waited for me either, I ran by myself to the parking lot in the pouring rain. Once inside the safety of my car, I brought the week's weather up on my phone. The rain and heavy clouds would be present all the way through Sunday. Which meant no family hikes for the Masen clan.

I waited for my turn to back out and join the line of leaving students, my eyes flickering to the Tesla every so often. Edward crossed through the lot along with the rest of his siblings. He didn't pause before slipping behind the wheel and stealing his place to leave. Well, then.

Spotting an opening for myself, I flicked the gear into reverse and backed out of the parking spot to head in the opposite direction.

Concentrating on anything for more than five minutes became a near impossibility.

The dreary weather continued into Saturday. Any outdoor activities were out, but I still called EJ around ten in the morning to see if he wanted to go see a movie in Port Angeles or maybe do something down in Olympia. It ended up being a wasted effort. Only voicemail. The message I left was short, just asking him if he could call me back when he was free. I considered calling Alex and Graham as well, but decided against it. I didn't want to be a pest. Part of me felt bad considering I'd been so preoccupied by Edward that I hadn't even sent a text to EJ to see how his week had gone. Now who was the jerk?

He never got back to me. The explanation I gave myself on his behalf was that his dad had him doing chores on the rez. It was his personal go-to excuse for himself, so it probably applied here as well. Abby never called back either, though I pestered her a little more with a few extra texts. Monday before English I would have to get back on her good side.

I made sure to be ready and in the classroom early that day. Just as I guessed, Abby went straight to her desk and sat down, refusing to look at me. Sighing deeply, I leaned over the aisle and tapped on her desk repeatedly, purposefully trying to be annoying.

"What?" Abby hissed, finally giving up.

"Are you really mad at me?" I pouted. In all honesty, I wasn't exactly sure what she was mad about, but right now it was better to make peace.

"It's not exactly like you to ditch us during lunch," she bit.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. One small portion of the day and I was the bad guy. "I wasn't exactly planning on it. But I couldn't leave him there, ignored." That definitely couldn't be the only reason she was mad. "Is this about Edward in general?"

"You're spending an awful lot of time with him."

I frowned. I still spent time with her, too. "I'm just trying to be his friend."

"To satisfy your curiosity," she countered.

A huff escaped me. I was trying to remain rational, but this didn't feel like a rational argument. I couldn't see what I had done wrong. "Maybe at first, but he's not bad to talk to. I enjoy it. But why does that make you upset? I'm not ignoring you. I tried to hang out with you this weekend." Okay, so she might not have been my first go-to, but she wasn't a last resort, either.

"I know," Abby sighed. "I just–It feels like you're not telling me something."

I laughed. "Oh my goodness, Abby. I'm not keeping anything from you. This isn't a drama."

She sent me the finger, but there was no umph behind it. Her anger had evaporated. "Fine. Just don't forget us little people."

"Ha ha." I stopped the conversation. Alice skipped into class. When our eyes met, I threw her a bright smile. The smile I received back wasn't as bright, in fact I seemed to confuse Alice. After she sat down, Abby glanced at me, an eyebrow raised. I shrugged, as clueless as ever.

When class ended, I gathered up my materials and walked out alone.

"Sloane."

My heart jumped and I dropped my phone that I had been digging out from my pocket. A pale hand snatched it before it could land on the hard tile and shatter.

Edward held it out for me and I quickly returned the device to my jeans where it would be much safer than in my clumsy hands.

"W-what are you doing?" I stammered.

"Seeing a friend to class," he said nonchalantly. "Is that all right? I wasn't sure since I didn't see you this morning."

I stopped walking. "You were waiting for me?" When he didn't answer, I smiled. "Hm." I shouldn't be that surprised. A routine was seemingly falling into place. One that I liked. Very much.

"Did you have a nice weekend?" Edward asked as we neared the photography room.

Not wanting to seem pathetic, I lied, "Yes. Very thrilling and spontaneous."

Apparently, that didn't fool him. "Mine wasn't exciting either. I'm sure we did more or less the same thing. Again."

Outside the classroom, I crossed my arms teasingly. "Look at you, acting like you can read me so easily."

"You like green."

"What?" I stared at him, wide-eyed. Every conversation we had ever had flipped through my mind like an animation book. Never once had the topic of my favorite come up.

"Green," he repeated. "It's your favorite color. You wear it the most often. It goes well with your hair." He gestured to my top.

I looked down as if I wasn't sure what he was referring to. Today, under my heavy gray jacket, I was wearing a plain green shirt with a front kangaroo pocket. "Huh. And I thought I was the one with the observation skills."

"I doubt you're as observant as you think you are."

Not to be out done, I gave him a once over and smirked. "Your eyes are going black again."

"What?" His voice was like a whip, snapping and cracking at the air. The anger in his voice wasn't from my simple statement–how could it be? There was something more underneath it that alarmed him.

I learned that when this happened it was best to just let him be, to not keep on the topic that brought his mostly harmless ire to the surface. "The bell's about to ring. You should get to class." Without waiting on him, I fled into the haven of the classroom.

Edward wasn't waiting for me after photography or trig, or even Spanish. Worry began to set in that I had really done it this time and all the progress I'd made just went up in smoke. Great. Wonderful. I was really something, wasn't I?

I kept my eyes on the food while going through the cafeteria line, refusing to confirm what I feared. It wasn't until after I paid for my meal that I dared to scan the tables. Like a life raft at sea, there he was, sitting alone at the same table from the week before. Cautiously, I walked to the table and hovered over the seat across from him.

"Am I allowed to sit down?" I asked timidly.

Edward looked up at me, confused. Why was that look so easy to accomplish, but a simple smile was so damn hard that I've only been able to draw it out once, minorly at that? "Of course. Why else would I be here?"

I shrugged as I shook up my salad, sliding into the plastic chair. "I figured you were mad at me."

He shook his head. "No, I'm not mad at you. Just myself."

"Pause." I threw my hands up in a time out "T". "I'm pressing the skip button on this conversation. I already know where it's headed."

"Maybe it's a conversation we need to have," he pressed.

"Not today," I said in between bites of Caesar drenched lettuce. "I'm not in the mood."

Edward scowled at me, but he didn't continue to push. His eyes drifted down to my salad. "Why are you always eating that?"

I froze. "This?"

He nodded. "Don't you enjoy eating other foods?"

Staring down at my tray, I stabbed the lettuce a little too harshly. "Yes, I enjoy other foods, but I have to watch what I eat."

"Why?"

"I just do, okay!" I snapped harsher and louder than I had meant to, but I kept seeing old images of me from middle school in my head. That version had led to minor health complications that I refused to be subjected to again. I ate in silence for several minutes. Edward watched me closely, the crease between his eyebrows telling me he wasn't sure of what to say. Dropping my fork, I covered my face with my hands, utterly embarrassed at my outburst. "I'm sorry. I just had some health issues when I was younger, so i have to be careful about the foods I consume so it doesn't flare up again."

"No, Sloane, I apologize," Edward countered, every word completely sincere. "I shouldn't have continued once you implied that you wished not to."

I looked up at him guiltily. "It's just a touchy subject."

"Of course. I won't mention it again."

"Besides," I quipped, picking the plastic fork back up, "if we're going to talk about anyone's diet around here, we should talk about yours."

Edward stiffened, locking all his muscles in place. "Why?"

I snorted. "You never eat anything. At least at lunch. That's not healthy for you. You need to digest something to stay strong. Even if you've eaten a big breakfast."

And that's what did it. Edward let out a genuine, but short laugh that actually left a smile on his lips. And it was beautiful. It didn't slip away or adjust to a different form. I was mesmerized by its appearance, unable to think or do anything else outside of taking it in, trying to memorize it.

He caught me staring. "Sloane?"

I blinked. "Sorry. What?"

"We should probably get to class."

I grinned at my own silliness. "Yeah. Let's go."

Edward picked up my tray and threw the scraps away. Though the full smile was gone, the corners of his mouth were still slightly turned up as we made our way through the courtyard.

Once again, Edward sat at the desk beside mine. Today, Shawn was not sick, but when he walked in, without a sideways glance or hesitation, he passed the front row to Edward's old spot in the back.

Frowning, I muttered as I sat down, "I hope you didn't threaten him to switch with you."

He laughed again in response. This one was only marginally longer than the first, but he seemed to be loosening up and it made me feel giddy. Abby shook her head at me when she arrived, but the smile on her own face told me it was only playful. Things seemed to be settling down and for once I wasn't drowning in misery as the bell rang and Mr. Shetler stood at the front of the classroom, beginning the lesson.

Edward stayed by my side as Physics ended and I made the transition to gym. I tried to learn more about Edward in those few minutes, to stop talking about me and dive more into his own interests. Despite my best efforts, however, his answers remained vague and roundabout.

"Do you enjoy the hikes with your family?" If he did, maybe he would want to join me and the guys on our next adventure.

"Occasionally," he said.

I raised an eyebrow. "You only occasionally like going on hikes with your family?"

He glanced down at me with a bit of humor. "You don't know the rest of my family."

"Alice seems fun."

That gained a heavy sigh.

"Uh-oh," I giggled. "Is she not fun?" I couldn't imagine Alice not being enjoyable to be around.

"She…." Edward paused, searching for the right word. "She is an interesting creature. Who very much likes to get her own way."

An obnoxious snort burst through my nose. "You sound so much like a brother."

"I would expect so after all this time."

Hmmm. "How long have you and Alice lived with Dr. Masen and his wife?"

"A while." Edward's voice was strained and strangely low. I looked up at him to try and read his eyes, but he didn't meet me there. Brow furrowed, he kept his eyes straight ahead, jaw locked. "You should get to class."

I hated this part. Saying goodbye at the gym was really a goodbye for the day. And it seemed that we always arrived at the same odd tension outside this building. For once, I wanted us to have a lighthearted conversation without feeling like I was about to wobble off the decaying bridge.

"See you later?" I left it a question, an out for him if needed.

Edward nodded. His turn was silent, not even the gravel crunched under his shoes as he moved down the sidewalk. The sigh that I released let my shoulders drop. Ducking into the building, I ignored Tanner's persistent questioning glance, my eyes focused on the locker room. Getting dressed in my uniform was a struggle, though. Somehow, I managed to put on both my shorts and the t-shirt backwards. After rotating them to their correct positions, I reluctantly jogged out of the locker room and onto the court.

"Heads up!"

An orange globe spun through the air, headed directly for my face. The correct response would have been to either put out both hands to catch it or duck. My brain decided to try and smack it out of the way like it was a volleyball.

"Ow!" My fingers throbbed at the impact with the hard rubber. The basketball hopped away like a happy kid with a lollipop, each bounce echoing off the high ceiling in a mocking tone.

"Shit! Sorry, Sloane!" Tanner ran up, obviously trying not to laugh.

"Language, Mosely!"

Tanner cringed as he sent an apology over his shoulder to Coach. To me, he lowered his voice. "But you're supposed to catch it."

"Ha-ha," I grumbled. A whimper escaped as I tried to curl the fingers. Nothing broken, but the tendons of my middle and index finger protested excessively at any movement.

Tanner scratched the back of his head, his other hand twitching in my direction but never fully reaching out. "That looks bad."

I shook my head. "It'll be fine."

Tanner didn't buy that. "I think you should go see the nurse."

I made a face at that suggestion. How embarrassing would that be?

"I bet it would get you out of basketball."

Oh! Well… that might be worth it.

Seeing the change in my expression, Tanner called over Coach. One look at my hand and he immediately ordered that I go see the nurse. I forced myself not to look around at the others as I left the gym, hand cradled in my other palm. The nurse tutted at me, her gray curls bouncing like the basketball that put me in here in the first place. Her once-over inspection concluded that I merely strained the tendons and the fingers would be good as normal in a few days. After wrapping the two fingers of my right hand together and checking out a reusable ice pack, she patted my shoulder and sent me back to class.

Even with the throbbing, I was more than happy to sit out for the rest of the hour. Apparently while I was gone, Coach had given another round of safety instructions, using Tanner as an assistant demonstrator. A few times during the games the basketball came at me on the sidelines like a magnet. Those times, my brain remembered how to dodge.

I returned the ice pack after gym, Abby snickering as she waited in the doorway. The nurse reminded me to try and ice it again when I got home and to not use it too much. An issue, since it was my dominant hand, but one that I could easily get over with voice command. I just preferred things the old fashioned way. Catching sight of the Tesla outside, I watched the five siblings get in the car and drive out of the parking lot.

In a strange turn of events that by this point shouldn't be, Edward was once again waiting for me at the table near the edge of the parking lot.

"Good morning, Sloane," he greeted, no hint of yesterday's disagreement in his voice. I cautiously gave him a good morning back, measuring every inflection of my voice for anything that could be taken offensively. If the control in my voice was obvious, Edward made no mention of it. He inclined his head towards my hand, which was cleverly covered by my jacket sleeve. "Is your hand okay?"

My head titled in confusion. "How did you–"

"Some of the others were talking about it."

Who? Yes, Tanner probably thought it was funny that I had managed to injure myself in my least favorite sport, but it was hardly newsworthy. I wouldn't have been surprised if Tanner or Abby had forgotten about it until they saw me again. My own parents kept forgetting as they asked me to help with dinner and clean up afterwards. Though the bandages were water resistant, I didn't want to deal with having to rewrap them with my weaker hand.

"It's not as bad as they made it seem," I said, still wondering when Edward could have overheard anyone talking about my misfortune. "I'll be fine in a few days." To demonstrate, I lifted my right hand and waved to him. And winced at the pain.

"Yes, certainly not that bad," he frowned.

Wanting nothing more than to change the subject, I sat down on the other side of the table, hiding my hand from view. "How was your evening?"

Edward shrugged, his eyes not leaving my well concealed hand. "Nothing too terribly entertaining happened. Yours?"

"My evenings are never exciting," I confessed. It was true, unfortunately. My days were so strictly routine that hardly anything came around to mix them up. I didn't mind it–most of the time. The familiarity was comforting. I knew what to expect, for the most part.

Edward nodded his head in a robotic, automated way, like he was doing it because it was the right response but his thoughts were elsewhere. Then, without notice or forewarning, he reached out and carefully tugged my arm out from its hiding place. "Have you iced them yet today?"

"No," I murmured sheepishly. I'd barely remembered to ice them last night before bed. That lasted only five minutes or so before I got fed up with the chill and wanted to go to sleep. Edward's lip twitched. I must have confirmed whatever suspicion he had been mulling over. With that ever present gentleness, he pushed back the sleeve of my jacket and wrapped his icy fingers around the injured fingers.

It felt… nice. Wonderful, even. The tendons gave out a sigh of relief, drinking in the cold with eagerness. The temperature wasn't as harsh or demanding as the ice pack. The smoothness of Edward's skin helped. As my shoulders relaxed and a small smile pushed at the outer corners of my lips, Edward adjusted his grip so his fingers were no longer encasing my own but instead rubbed lightly around the knuckle.

"Better?" he whispered.

"Y-yeah." I wasn't sure what caused the tremble in my voice. Was it his sudden forwardness? The connection of our skins? My heart began to beat rapidly and each intake of air was more shallow than the last.

All at once, Edward's hand was gone and he was out of his seat. By his side, his hand that had been so kind was balled into a fist, somehow paler than usual. "We should get to class." He barely spoke loud enough for me to hear. There was strain in each word that I couldn't possibly have caused. I did nothing–this time, at least. I didn't push or ask an overly invasive question. What was with him?

"So, what's your first class of the day?" I asked in an attempt to get back on the lighter path as he walked me to English.

His eyes flickered down at me before answering, "Calculus."

My nose wrinkled on its own accord. Edward let out a small chuckle.

"Not a fan?"

"Math and I don't necessarily get along." And I was a bit jealous that–though we were in the same grade–he was so far ahead in that field.

"You seem to do alright in Physics."

"'Alright' being the operative word." I sighed. My lips pressed together, making what Mick always called my "biting" face because, to him, it looked like I was biting back what I really wanted to say.

"What is it?"

"Nothing," I said rather unconvincingly.

A hand on my shoulder brought me to a stop. Seeing it as unavoidable, I reluctantly looked up at the towering Edward. "Is something going on?" His voice was drenched with concern and a need to help.

"I'm passing," I assured him. "I just… I don't like not grasping the lesson and that last one put a huge dent in my confidence. My brain has always found language and fact recall easier than calculations and equations. My brother got those smarts from our dad." Another factor I hated admitting. While there was never any competition between us kids, I always felt like I was stumbling behind Mick, desperate to catch up.

"Intelligence comes in different forms," Edward said after a prolonged silence. "I don't think you should sell yourself short."

"Thanks." The word came out quiet and short, my lips barely moving to form the word. I couldn't even look at him as I said it, instead focusing on the browning grass of the courtyard. We needed to go to class. The first hour was coming dangerously close to starting and we weren't much closer to our respective buildings.

A cold finger pressed gently under my chin, coaxing it so I would look up at its owner.

"Sloane." Edward's own brow was furrowed, his eyes searching for something I couldn't name. "What are you thinking about so hard?"

I didn't know how to answer. "Insecurity" was the overarching theme of my jumbled and erratic thoughts. There wasn't a single sentence that I could pick out for him. Shrugging, I said instead, "Does it matter?"

"I tend to think so." He brought his thumb up to rest on my chin so I wouldn't look away. Like his index finger, it was cold, like he'd been holding ice in his hands for several minutes. Rather than pulling away, I relished in the contact. Today, he was giving these gestures out freely. I wanted to see how far he would let it go and give in to the hug I was desperately needing at this point. But that was a dangerous line to toe.

"A lot of things," I finally answered. "Too many to list before class. Which we're dangerously close to being late for."

He didn't like that response. His frustration was visible on his face as he dropped his hand. But he didn't push. The hand that had held my chin now hid in the pocket of his thin jacket. The other motioned for me to continue first. "Then I guess we should get going."

I forced a half-hearted smile on my face before resuming the short walk to the language arts building with Edward right behind, his presence as strong as ever.