Here's a chapter dump, I'm leaning more towards that than updating daily, but let me know what you guys think.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

BPOV

On Sunday, Edward helped me catch up on what I'd missed. Apparently, Alice had gone and collected any missing assignments for me. Of course, with his help, I finished quickly.

Then it was Monday, I was dreading today. I wasn't ready to face everyone at school, for the questions, the looks, but I had to at least try.

Edward left me 2 hours before school, so I could get ready. Charlie made sure I actually ate breakfast. Edward met me at the front door, ready to take me to school. We were once again alone in his car. He drove with one hand, the other hand holding mine rubbing small circles.

"Are you okay? Your heart's racing."

I laughed, of course he noticed, "Yeah, just a little nervous."

"Relax, you already know these people. Maybe it will be fine," he offered optimistically.

"That was nice, but you're not a very good liar either."

"Look, worst case scenario, we leave early. It's not like we haven't done that before," he humorously reminded me.

"Yeah, and now I can play the sick kid card. I haven't done that in a while. Gets me out of Gym."

"I would have liked to see you in Gym," he chuckled.

"Thanks," I said sarcastically. He kissed the back of my hand.

"Just relax, if it's awful, you don't go back. And as an added bonus, if you get your GED, we can spend more time together."

"First of all, if I leave school, that doesn't mean you have to. Second of all, you're hardly playing fair, you know I want to spend more time with you. But I really want to try, for Charlie and Renee."

"I've matriculated many times, I don't really need one more diploma…"

"You do have a facade to keep up," I reminded him.

"I'm sure Carlisle would understand."

"You should have a life separate from me," I mumbled.

He rolled his eyes, "Stop worrying about me."

He pulled into the school parking lot. My heart raced even more, my hands were ice cold. He squeezed my hand trying to soothe me. I took as of a deep breath as I could. Edward walked around to the other side of the car. He grabbed the rolling backpack that held the oxygen tank, careful not to pull on the cannula.

"We still have time to run," he laughed.

"Don't tempt me," I scolded playfully. We were early enough that the lot wasn't full yet.

"Just take it easy, okay? If you don't feel good I'll take you home, anytime," he promised.

"Yeah, okay," I agreed. My goal was to make it through the day.

He grabbed my hand, I took the backpack in the other and we started walking toward the entrance. Most people did double takes. I tried to keep my expression as even as possible.

"People are staring," I groaned.

"No, not that guy," he started to point out a random student, but then the student looked over at us. "Never mind, he just looked."

"People stared at you before. Remember you are the new kid. And also the only person to catch Edward Cullen's attention," he chuckled.

I laughed at his remark, it was true for some unknown reason, I had caught Edward's attention.

"See I knew I could make you laugh," he said with a smile. I shook my head, Edward really was amazing.

I hadn't seen anyone I knew, but I figured it was too early in the morning. The small pessimistic voice in my head told me that they would probably avoid me like the plague. Edward walked me to all of my morning classes.

He looked pretty disgruntled as we walked to lunch. People were still watching.

"I thought the novelty would've worn off by now," I whispered to Edward.

He shook his head and scoffed. Then looked at me with a gentle expression, "How are you? Feeling alright?"

"Yeah, I'm as good as can be expected. Are you okay? You seem upset."

He sighed and tapped his temple, "Today's one of those days where I loathe that I can hear everything. But, again, please don't worry about me."

I cringed. It was enough seeing people's faces, I couldn't imagine hearing everyone's whispers and thoughts. He grabbed my hand. We walked over to the cafeteria where Edward grabbed an exorbitant amount of food. We sat at our table, just the two of us. My old table kept sneaking glances at me. I had noticed that Jessica wasn't there in Trig, but she was at lunch.

"Hey, make sure you eat," Edward said gently, pushing the food towards me. I grabbed an apple off the tray. He looked like he was going to say something but didn't. We kept the conversation light, mostly how my classes had gone. About halfway through lunch, Jessica accidentally made eye contact with me. She immediately looked away, her and Lauren looking slightly smug.

Edward started gripping the table, his knuckles turning white. The table started creaking under the immense pressure of his grip.

"Hey, relax. You're going to break the table."

"Half of these people are just so…and the other half..."

His hand let go of the table. His head was shaking.

"It's fine. It doesn't matter. Let them think what they want."

After a moment of silence, I said, "I've never heard you at a loss for words." I laughed, then he joined in. "See I knew I could get you to laugh," mimicking his words from this morning.

"It's mind boggling, what conspiracies people come up with. It's absolutely disgusting..."

I could see the anger forming on his beautiful face, the furious expression juxtaposed the beauty of his face.

"Yeah, probably, anything makes more sense than the truth, though," I chuckled, because the truth spoken aloud would make anyone sound crazy. That I, someone who was dying, had caught the attention of an immortal, a vampire, and one that looked like Edward.

"Yeah, I suppose so," he said half heartedly.

"Hey, at least we have Biology together," I said still trying to make him feel better.

"I see what you mean, by the way…," he said apologetically. I looked at him questioningly. "Whenever bad things occur or you get bad news, and everyone else gets upset, and you end up comforting them, when they should be comforting you."

"Oh." I wasn't sure what to say to that. I bit my lip as I thought about it.

"You did it just now. I hear people saying awful things about you, and you're here comforting me. I'm sorry."

"Please don't be. It's hard for everyone, not just me. And to be fair, I can't hear their thoughts."

He was about to speak again when I noticed people filing out of the cafeteria.

"Come on," I held out my hand to Edward. He grabbed the tray and my hand. After throwing away the untouched food, we walked to Biology, my backpack rolling behind me.

We made it early to Biology, Mike was already in his seat, watching us intently.

"Newton's getting on my nerves again," he mumbled.

"It's fine, let him stare, and he's always gotten on your nerves. Everybody's just curious, remember nothing ever happens in Forks, they have to take what they can get," I chuckled.

"Perhaps we'll have to give him something to stare at." Before I could process what he was saying, his lips were pressed against mine. It was part desperation, part making a statement. When he pulled away, my breathing was even more uneven. I heard Edward stifle a laugh.

"Behave," I said playfully hitting his arm, my face still blushing.

"Now everyone knows you're mine," he whispered into my ear.

"Yours? Would you like to pee a circle around me too? In case that wasn't subtle enough," I offered sarcastically.

"I think for now the kiss will have to suffice," he said playfully, pulling my chair closer.

I shook my head. I scanned the room, and made accidental eye contact with Mike. I gave him a half hearted wave. He looked startled, when I turned to face the front of the room, he still had the startled expression on his face, and hadn't returned any greeting.

"I think I'm scaring people, they look at me like I'm a ghost," I shook my head, there was that small part of me that clung to the hope people would be different here than in Phoenix.

"Hmmm… the ghost and the vampire. Very scary indeed," he whispered in my ear and laughed, after a second I joined in.

Biology went quickly, Edward kept his hand in mine the entire time. It was lucky that he could write with his left hand. When class was over, he held on to my hand.

"You know, I could go to study hall with you?" Instead of Gym, I had been given a study hall period instead of a different class, probably a cancer perk.

"Stop offering to ditch. I'll be fine. Besides, I need to get work done, you distract me too much." I gently pushed him away from me, even though I knew I couldn't actually move Edward.

I wanted Edward to be with me constantly, but I wasn't lying when I said he should have a semblance of a life that didn't revolve around me.

"Alright, if you need anything, I'll be listening," he reminded me once again.

"I'm sure you will be," I mumbled.

It was incredibly difficult walking down the halls without Edward, it felt like everyone was watching me. I was probably being dramatic, but I couldn't shake the feeling. The walk to the library wasn't a long one, but it was exhausting. I was thankful that I could sit down soon. At least no one would be watching me here.

I was surprised to see Angela here, I didn't know she had study hall. She waved me over. I walked over and sat across from her.

"Hey, Bella. I'm sorry about Jess and Lauren earlier," she apologized meekly, slightly shaking her head. "I didn't really know what to say."

"Most people don't. Don't worry about it," I shrugged. "I'm still the same Bella."

She nodded. We began discussing normal things, what I had missed, catching up on school gossip that didn't involve me or the Cullens, which to be frank, wasn't much. It was nice with Angela, she treated me exactly the same.

A few minutes later, I felt a tap on my shoulder, it wasn't Edward, I would have recognized the electric current that I now associated with his touch. I looked up and Mike was staring down at me.

I sighed in frustration, "Does no one go to class anymore?" Both Mike and Angela looked confused. "Never mind. What's up, Mike?"

"What happened to you? How are you?" The pity on his face was clear as day, his tone was slightly condescending, it was one I had become familiar with over the years. My disdain for that tone never faded, it was incredibly patronizing, it made me feel so small.

"Nothing 'happened', Mike. How are you?" I subtly mocked his tone. I didn't want to outwardly call Mike out on his tone, it wasn't something I felt I should hold against him. Most people didn't even realize when they were doing it.

"Me? I didn't go MIA for 2 weeks with Cullen-."

"Mike!" Angela said sharply, I was grateful to have her here. I didn't want to know what people thought Edward and I were up to during our little sabbatical.

"Just to reappear, like this." He gestured up and down at me. I couldn't deny the tinge of pain I felt. I knew the tank made it kind of obvious I was sick, but I tried ignored it for the most part.

"Like what, Mike?" I sighed, consciously trying to lower my voice.

I sincerely hoped Edward wasn't listening. He was having a tough time already.

"Stop it, Mike," Angela whisper-shouted.

I tried to take a deep breath. This was infuriating. "Bella. Just-," Mike stuttered.

Edward had just walked into the library, he was wearing a hard expression. He looked at me and I gave him a pleading glance to let it go.

"I should go," Mike said once he saw Edward's expression. I nodded and he scurried out of the library.

"I leave you alone for half an hour, and you find trouble," he said, his tone was light, but his expression didn't match.

"I don't think Mike counts as trouble," I retorted. Angela laughed.

"Playing hooky again?" I said playfully.