Disclaimer: I own nothing.

I'm not sure about my updating schedule. I've pre-written quite a bit, so I may upload a lot at once less frequently, or more frequently with less chapters?

EPOV

While, admittedly, I haven't touched many humans, I was completely taken aback by her lack of response to my ice cold touch. Her hands only felt slightly warmer than mine. While, I too, felt the quick electrical current, I figured she would jerk away from my cold touch. I wasn't sure why she was that cold. I had several medical degrees, but I was trying not to think worst case scenarios. Maybe she was unwell? I suppose it could explain her frailty, It was absurd that I should think of such things.

I couldn't very well come out and ask her, most humans wouldn't react well to that question from a virtual stranger.

I need to push these thoughts, it doesn't matter. She was just another human. I kept reminding myself, but the urge to protect her was so strong, and completely laughable. The only danger she was in was because of me. I was the only risk to her.

This train of thought only took me a second, but Bella already had her head down and face blushing. We continued the lab, back and forth and were down fairly quickly.

"Did you get contacts?" She asked suddenly.

I was, once again, taken aback by her astute observation. Most people wouldn't have noticed. This was my second slip up with Bella.

"No." I shrugged and looked away.

Mr. Banner accused me of doing the lab myself. I told him Bella had done most of the identification herself. Bella sheepishly admitted to having done the lab back in Phoenix. I heard him mumble "At least the other kids will have a chance to learn something."

I chuckled at the annoyance in his words and thoughts.

Bella had begun doodling once again.

"It's a shame about the snow. Isn't it?' I was trying to erase the memory of our last encounter. Having heard what she said to Jessica, I may not want to admit it, but it tugged on my heart a little. Bella had done nothing wrong except exist, and yet I was putting her life in danger.

"Not really." I was surprised at her honesty.

"You don't like the cold," I stated. It frustrated me to no end that I could hear what she was thinking. I kept focusing trying to hear anything, but it was just complete silence.

"Or the wet."

I was puzzled, if she hated the cold and the wet why would she like here in Forks?

"Forks must be a difficult place for you to live." I concluded.

"You have no idea." She said more to herself than to me.

"Why did you come here, then?" I sounded a little too firm, her being here put her life in grave danger.

She seemed confused by the question, I was probably the first one to ask.

"It's... complicated." This did nothing to assuage my curiosity.

"I think I can keep up." I pressed, needing to know more about her.

BPOV

I wasn't sure why he wanted to know, but I figured there was no harm in a partial truth. I am a horrible liar but, I could omit the parts of the truth. So I explained how my mother remarried a minor league baseball player, and they enjoyed traveling together, so I sent myself to Forks so she could travel with him.

"But now, you're unhappy." He questioned.

"And?" I challenged.

"That doesn't seem fair," He said gently.

"Hasn't anyone told you before? Life isn't fair." I laughed without humor. I knew this better than most. Life was beyond unfair.

"I believe I have heard that somewhere," he muttered dryly.

He gazed at me appraisingly, "You put on a good show, but I would be willing to bet that you're suffering more than you let on."

I didn't know how to respond to this. It was like "sick" was written on my forehead. Renee had always said that I had been an open book. Logically, I knew there wasn't anything visibly wrong with me, except a few IV and PICC scars that weren't easily seen, and an unnatural paleness for someone from Arizona. I was suffering from the definition of an invisible illness, although years ago, it was very much visible.

I grimaced, maybe more of a wince.

"Am I wrong?" He asked.

I decided silence was my best answer.

"I didn't think so." He concluded.

"What does it matter to you?" I said, deciding to turn the tables on him.

"That's a very good question." He said so quietly it was probably more to himself than to me.

I sighed, these were the attachments I needed to avoid. I felt drawn to him, as crazy as that sounded. Maybe I was going crazy, or getting worse so quickly that it was wreaking havoc on my mental state.

"Am I annoying you?" he asked. He sounded amused.

"No, I'm annoyed at myself. My face is so easy to read. My mother calls me her open book." I said, frowning.

"On the contrary, I find you very difficult to read." Despite his very correct assessments, he sounded like he meant it, but the way he looked at me felt like he knew all of my secrets. Despite my still freezing hands, I started to feel warm, I suspected it was because of his intense gaze more than the actual climate. I pushed up my sleeves. Most people didn't look close enough or see well enough to see the tiny scars, and the yellowed bruise from my last appointment, left up and down my arms from years of poking and prodding, but for a second, Edward looked at my bare skin like he did see them. I knew there was no way, but my paranoia beat my rationality, and I rolled my sleeve back down.

Before we had a chance to say anything else, Mr. Banner called the class back to order.

I was shocked at just how much I divulged to Edward. It seemed despite my acquaintances only rule, I wanted to know more about the bronze haired boy, and I wanted him to know me too, at least most of me.

He was still at the edge of the table, but he looked intensely in thought. His hand gripping the edge of the table. I tried to pay attention to the lecture, but my mind kept drifting. When the bell finally rang, Edward left as quickly and as gracefully as he had the previous week.

When I got up, Mike walked with me to the gym, once again supplying the conversation, with me giving him short, polite answers.

When the day was finally over, I walked over to the truck Charlie had given me, got in making a point to dry my hair and warm my still freezing hands in front of the heater. When I looked up, I swore I saw Edward staring intently in my direction.