In my dream it was very dark, and what dim light there was seemed to be radiating from Bella's skin. I couldn't see her face, just her back as she walked away from me, leaving me in the blackness. No matter how fast I ran, I couldn't catch up to her; no matter how loud I called, she never turned.

My dreams were like that pretty much every night. Just trying to catch up with the brunette goddess, but she was never within reach. She was like Hera, Aphrodite and Athena combined. Smarts and beauty.

The month that followed the accident was uneasy, tense, and, at first, embarrassing.

I found myself the center of attention for the rest of the week, which really sucked. Tyler Crowley was super annoying, following me around, coming up with different hypothetical ways to make it up to me. I tried to convince him that what I wanted more than anything else was for him to forget about it—especially since nothing had actually happened to me—but he wouldn't give up. He found me between classes and sat at our now-crowded lunch table.

No one was worried about Bella—no one followed her around or asked for her eyewitness account. I always included her in my version; she was the hero—she had pulled me out of the way and nearly been crushed, too, but all anyone ever said was that they hadn't even realized she was there until the van was pulled away.

I wondered a lot about why no one else had noticed her standing so far away by her car, before she was suddenly and impossibly saving my life. There was only one solution I could think of, and I didn't like it. It had to be because no one else was so aware of Bella.

No one watched her the way I did. It was pathetic, and kind of stalkerish.

People avoided Bella the same way they usually did. The Cullens and the Hales sat at the same table they always sat at, not eating, talking only to each other. None of them ever glanced my way anymore.

When Bella sat beside me in class, as far away as possible, like usual, she seemed totally unaware that I was sitting there next to her. Like my seat was empty. Only now and then, when her fists would suddenly ball up—skin stretched even whiter over her knuckles—did I wonder if she wasn't as entirely oblivious as she seemed.

I wanted very much to continue our conversation from the hospital hallway, and the day after the accident I tried. She'd been so furious when we talked before. And, even though I really wanted to know what had actually happened and I thought I deserved the truth, I also knew I had been pretty pushy, considering that she had just saved my life and all. I didn't think I'd thanked her properly.

I watched her sometimes, unable to stop myself—always from a distance, though, in the cafeteria or parking lot. I watched as her golden eyes grew noticeably darker day by day (then abruptly, they were honey-colored again. And the slow progression toward black would start over). But in class I gave no more notice that she existed than she showed toward me. It was miserable. And the dreams continued.

She wished she hadn't pushed me out of the way of Tyler's van. I couldn't think of any other explanation. Since she obviously preferred me dead, she was pretending that I was.

Jessica, at least, was pleased by the obvious coolness between my lab partner and me. I guessed she'd been worried that the shared trauma would have bonded us or something. The snow washed away for good after that one dangerously icy day. Mike complained that he'd never gotten to stage his big snowball fight, but he was happy that the beach trip would soon be possible. The rain continued heavily, though, and the weeks passed.

Though the school had a track and field team, I decided not to sign up, simply because of the weather. Though I did plan on doing Basketball.

In March, I got word that there was a girl's choice dance coming up. Oh no. That means that girls like Jessica and Lauren would ask me out.

One tuesday in March, Jessica came over to me to ask me out. We were in Government.

"Hey, Edward."

"Hey, Jessica. What can I do for you?"

"Would you go to the Spring dance with me?"

"Sorry, Jessica, but I'm not really into dances."

"Why not?"

I shrugged. "I'm just not into the idea. I think they're a waste of time."

She rolled her eyes and walked up, feeling rejected. But I knew girls like her—she would ask me out again.

After school, as I was about to get into my car, Lauren came over to me.

"Hey Edward!" She cried in her nasally voice. She had a confident look on her face. She, too, would ask me out.

"What do you want, Lauren?"

"I was wondering if you'd go to the Spring Dance. I mean, come on, we look perfect together. Besides, who wouldn't want to go out with me?"

"Sorry, Lauren, but I'm not interested. Bitchy mean girls aren't my type." I waved her off and got into my car. She scoffed and walked away. I snickered and started driving away.

When I stepped out of my car the next morning, I accidently dropped my keys.

"Drop something." I looked up and saw Bella standing there, smiling breathtakingly.

"Er, thanks." I held my hand out, and she dropped them into my hand.

"Can I walk you to your first class?"

"Sure."

We started walking, and I noticed what she was wearing. It couldn't be any warmer than 55 degrees, and she wore a deep red V-neck short-sleeve wrap crop top, black pants, and black high-heeled open toe boots with lace. A silver necklace with a crest on it was around her neck.

"Edward, look, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I've been so rude to you." I snorted. "What? I am."

"It's not that...but Bella," he took a deep breath. "Don't you regret saving me?"

"Regret?" She scowled. "No, of course! I saved a life. Ugh, I'll see you in biology." I rolled my eyes and watched her walk off.