I didn't recall much of my flight out of the classroom, but the next thing I knew Mike and Mr. Banner were in front of me, and I was dizzy. I couldn't focus enough on them to hear what they were saying, but I made sure to interject with the fact that I was fine and only needed to go to the nurse at best. Suddenly I was being pulled up, my arm over Mike's shoulder, and we were walking away from the biology lab, towards the exit. As soon as we got outside I felt more clear-minded. The cool and damp of the misting rain that fell from the sky was exactly what I needed. I stopped us, sitting down on the pavement as soon as I thought we were out of sight of Mr. Banner.

"You really don't look so good Bella. Do you want me to bring the nurse?" Mike asked. He must've been pretty close to me for me to hear it so clearly, but I was focused on making my way to the ground. It was cool and damp, with no needles, and no blood. I inhaled the smell of the wet asphalt and focused on a droplet of water that was slowly making its way down my forehead. I breathed heavily, trying to ignore Mike, until he said:

"I think she's fainted. I don't know what happened. She didn't even stick her finger." Ugh. Maybe the nurse had magically discovered me. More likely it was another overly interested student. I frowned when I felt a cold hand press against my forehead.

"Bella, can you hear me?" a familiar voice spoke into my ear. Of course it would be him to find me.

"No. Go away. I'm napping." I tried to look severe, but with my face pressed against the wet ground I probably only looked more sick. He only laughed musically.

"I was taking her to the nurse…"

"I'll take her. You can go back to class."

I focused on opening my eyes to glare at Edward and Mike, when suddenly I was being whisked upwards. I gripped onto Edward's coat for dear life. He had lifted me as if I were a doll, obviously intent on carrying me to the nurse's office.

"Put me down." I was going to vomit on his nice jacket. That would be the fitting end to this awful episode. I clamped my mouth back together, inhaling his smell, and focusing on calming my stomach down.

"You look awful."

"You sound too pleased about that." I felt myself sway slightly as he turned around a building's edge. "Please put me back on the sidewalk. I'll walk. Or I'll vomit."

"We're nearly there. Please refrain from ruining my clothing."

I kept my fists locked into their tight grip. My hands were screaming at me to let go, but I didn't want to fall. This felt almost as bad as being driven places. I closed my eyes and tried to pretend we weren't moving. I was just chilling in Edward's arms. That thought did actually make me a little happier, and slightly more embarrassed. Suddenly I felt a rush of warm air and I knew we had indeed made it to the nurse's building.

"She fainted in biology."

There was a sudden whoosh of warm air and the warm yellow glow of incandescent light all around me. I looked determinedly at my knees until Edward had placed me on a crinkly, rough paper surface.

"I'll get you a cold compass dear," the nurse said. It took me a second to realize she had said 'compress' not 'compass' and I sighed irritably. I took a few deep breaths trying to center my thoughts, and began to glare at Edward again.

"This wasn't necessary," I whispered slowly and angrily at him. I made sure to enunciate when I whispered, as I couldn't hear my own voice. He shrugged his shoulders, as if my presence here was inevitable. I leaned against the wall instead of lying down, so that I could more easily converse if I had to. The nurse came back in, handed me a cold compress, and a bottle of water. I held the bottle loosely, considering throwing it at Edward as he smiled smugly in the corner of the room. The nurse made herself scarce again after I assured her that I was fine.

"So you faint at the sight of blood?" Edward asked, almost mockingly.

"You know where you can shove that sarcasm Edward?" I retaliated quickly. His smile faltered only for a second. "I'm sorry. I get snappy when I'm dizzy. I don't like the smell. Or needles. Needles are the second worst."

"Humans can't smell blood." he dismissed quickly.

"Well I can. It smells like rust. Copper almost. It turns my stomach and makes my head spin."

I waited a few more minutes. Edward seemed content to just stand there quietly, while I rolled out my neck and stretched my shoulders. I frowned at the realization that I had left my coat and bag in class. I'd have to go back there.

"You were right." I muttered.

"I usually am, but what are we referring to in this case?" Edward responded, slowly and clearly.

"It is healthy to ditch class every now and then." This earned me a genuine smile from him.

"You know, you scared me for a second there. I thought Newton was dragging your dead body out to the woods. Thought I'd have to avenge your murder." He shook his head in mock horror. It was my turn to chuckle.

"Poor Mike. Bet he loved you running to my rescue."

"Oh he absolutely loves me right now." The way he had said 'love' was off. Probably not what he had said. I frowned slightly.

"What? You can't expect me not to poke fun at Mike. It's fun."

"It's not that. Although you probably should ease up, he's just being nice. I misunderstood something you just said. See it looked like you said 'loved' there, but the 'o' was wrong." I clarified. His eyes lit up with understanding.

"Loathes. Despises."

"Stick to despising people. I read that better."

He chuckled again, and then his head suddenly snapped towards the door and he walked towards me, protectively.

"Hold your breath Bella."

Mike Newton, carrying my bag and coat, and a woozy looking classmate stumbled through the door. I hopped off the bed quickly to make room and focused on Mike, trying not to breathe.

"- your stuff for you." Mike said, looking glaringly at Edward, as if he were trying to redeem himself for not taking me to the nurse himself.

"Thank you for that. I definitely couldn't have gone back there." I started to leave when I heard him start to ask something again.

"- to gym class?"

"I'm probably going to skip out on the rest of the day Mike. I'm sorry, and thank you again for bringing my things." I started to turn away again, but Mike started talking again.

"You're still up for coming this weekend though right? To the beach?" He looked hopeful, and then awkwardly at Edward. Three guesses who wasn't invited.

"Yeah – I said I was in, didn't I? I'll probably crash with Angela the night before, and we'll drive her mom's car in." That seemed to have enough content to settle him for now. I turned away quickly before he could say anything more, and rubbed my temples. I probably needed a nap. My day had turned out to be an emotional rollercoaster. I began walking back to the front office, and I noticed Edward was at my side.

"How hard do you think it'll be for me to get out of gym class?" I muttered, looking up at his lips.

"Leave that to me," he chuckled. "Go sit down, look pale."

I rolled my eyes at him, and sat in the chair closest to the door. I bent over, letting my hair fall over my face and studied the floor, straining to hear what I could. I could hear a the patter of rain outside, and the ticking of an annoyingly loud clock, and a low musical murmuring which I assumed was Edward. I couldn't hear Mrs. Cope. The music man started again, and then stopped. And suddenly there was a pair of designer boots in my field of view. I looked up at him, and he motioned me out, stealing my bag from the chair beside me. I was too tired to argue with him about it.