Chapter 3

After that one experience, I and Edward didn't talk again. Every morning in biology we would merely glance at each other and take our seats. During projects and assignments we talked only when necessary and I never saw him outside of class. Though one night I had thought I saw someone with bronze hair like his passing by. I had glanced at the window and he seemed to be looking directly at me. It was dark so I couldn't be sure but I could've sworn that it was him.

But who am I kidding? Why would Edward Mason have even any remote interest in me? Just plain old me. I walked down the hallway on Friday with Jake. Recently he complained that I'd become really quiet or if I was ok? I just smiled at him and told him I was fine. During the week I hadn't talked to my parents at all. They told me they wouldn't get a signal out at sea so they'd call me at the ports every time they stopped.

It was time for biology and Jake was walking me to class. For some reason today I really dreaded class, I could feel something as wrong. I think I might've been psychic because today we HAD to be doing the one thing I dreaded… blood testing. I tried to take deep breaths and look away when Eric had to prick his finger, but the familiar feeling of nausea overtook me and I started to feel faint. I lay my head on the table hoping it would pass when I heard foot steps coming towards me.

"Bella, are you alright?" it was the teacher. All I could do was shake my head.

"Would anyone please care to escort Bella to the nurse's office?" I peeked out from my hair and looked around. Didn't look like anyone was going to be willing to help. I looked towards Edward but he seemed to be fighting some internal conflict. Suddenly I heard a voice speak up.

"I'll take her" it was Mikes voice. I had met him on the first day and he seemed pretty nice, looks were ok too. Not my type… but ok. I put an arm around his neck and let him drag me out of there. I caught a glance of Edward too, he looked furious. I smiled secretly, that's what you get!

The nurse let me lay down for a bit and I convinced Mike that I was fine and he could leave. I lay there and waited for lunch. I'd wished so much that Edward would volunteer to help me. I'd wished so much that he'd like me and forget the rivalry nonsense. He's the first guy I've ever liked since… well since a long time! But he doesn't even so much as glance at me.

The bell rang and I gratefully got up to leave. After thanking the nurses I was entering the cafeteria when I spotted him in the lunch line with his family. Our eyes met for a moment… and then he turned away. Suddenly he became stiff and turned and left. I knew, somehow, it was because of me, partly because of the glares his family was sending me.

I followed suit and quickly strode down the halls after him. When I caught up with him-without tripping might I add- I grabbed his arm and jerked him to a stop. I was furious and I was about to let all my anger go.

"What's your problem?!?"

"Excuse me?"

"Why are you ignoring me and avoiding me so much??? Is there something wrong with me? Do you not like me?"

"*he cleared his throat* um didn't anyone tell you who my father is? He's…"

"Edward Mason Sr." I interrupted. He looked at me questioningly.

"Ya so? What do you care? It's our fathers' problems right? Why should we be involved?" my face softened, "let's be friends." He looked like he was having the internal dilemma again and he was pinching the bridge of his nose like he does when he's solving a really difficult biology problem.

"Bella, you don't get it do you? You have no idea what they'd do, they'd…"

"I do know! And I don't care!" I interrupted again. He seemed like he was getting mad now.

"Well there's too much at stake for me! What if I don't want to be friends with you? What if I don't want to get involved with someone like you?!? Did you ever consider that? Why don't you just leave me alone!" he practically shouted. Wow. That… hurt. All this time I was so in love with him. It hurt so much. My chest felt like it was burning and I was suffocating. Tears started to well up in my eyes, damn emotions! I turned and ran as fast as I could. Ran away from it all! The stupid rivalry, the fake friends, the family problems, all of it.

When I had to come to a stop I was panting and tears were streaming down my face. I looked around and saw that I was in a beautiful balcony which was probably at the roof of the school. Nobody came here anyway so I was pretty much safe from being discovered. I sat down there and started to cry with my hands on my knees.

Edwards's p.o.v

I felt bad. After obsessing over her for so long WHY DID I DO THAT??? But I knew why of course. Dad was already having me work at the company and I was to inherit it someday, of course I can't go screwing around with our rivals' daughter. The press would have a field day. They've been recording every aspect of this rivalry ever since our companies hit a million.

She'd run off somewhere. I was a little worried and thought I might go after her. She's probably just going to her friends; it's none of my business anyway. I just told her the truth, I tried to convince myself.

I was wrong though. After third block someone grabbed me by the collar and shoved me to the wall. From the looks of it this guy was pretty big and well built. He lowered his head and stared directly into my eyes.

"Where is she?" he growled. Ok now I was worried.

"Who?" I asked even though I obviously knew who it was.

"Bella, obviously she went to talk to you. So what happened to her?" I stared up in disbelief.

"She's not in class?"

"No she skipped! WHERE THE FUCK IS SHE?!?!" He was getting really angry but I didn't have time for that! I had to find her.

"I'm going to go look for her." I replied and quickly pulled his hands away and started running, searching frantically. Behind me I heard him shout "Tell me as soon as you find her!"

First I started in the separate buildings, but she didn't seem to be in them. I had asked her friends too and they hadn't seen her either. The only place left now was the main building. I ran over as fast as I could and searched the whole floor. No sign of her. Then I remembered the roof! No one ever went there but since the janitor never bothered to lock it she could be there.

It had started to rain outside and it was getting pretty hard. I prayed to god that I'd just missed her and she was at class.

Bella's P.O.V

I lay there for longer than I could count and it had started to rain. I just pulled up my hood and sat there with my arms around my legs, just thinking. I probably looked like soaked, balled up clothes. I heard a bang and just figured it was thunder when I felt arms around me.

"God Bella! Are you ok? Can you hear me? Bella look at me!" the voice desperately cried out into my ears.

I looked up and I saw tears dripping down from Edwards eyes. It was raining pretty hard so it could have been the rain but somehow I knew it wasn't. He hugged me tightly as if I was going to disappear and then slowly got me to my feet. He must've seen me shivering because he took off his coat and draped it around me. It smelled like him.

He then led me to the part of the roof that was covered and sat me down. He took my hands in his and started rubbing them.

"Put them to your face, it'll help you get warm" he instructed. I did as I was told, still staring at him with wide disbelieving eyes.

"Ok, so now explain to me, what were you thinking!?!" he asked sternly. I just shrugged. His eyes softened and he hugged me again.

"Bella you don't know how scared I was. All these possibilities were going through my head of how you could've been hurt, and it hurt me so much. Bella I really care about you. Even though I shouldn't, I do. I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of the things I said. Please forgive me." I nodded and our faces inched towards each other. That was our first kiss. Sweet and innocent. But it only lasted a few seconds before I heard foot steps behind us.

Suddenly hands ripped us apart and I turned to face a furious Jacob. He turned away from my gaze and focused on Edward. Abruptly he grabbed Edward, pulled him up and punched him.

"I told you to call me as soon as you found her!" Edward just lay on the ground looking up at him and Jacob started for another punch when I regained my senses and saw what was actually happening. I grabbed Jacobs arm and yelled "STOP"

Now Jacob faced me, but instead of talking he just grabbed my hand and roughly dragged me out. All through the walk to our cars we didn't talk. He pushed me into the passenger seat of his car and quickly got behind the wheel and we sped away leaving my car in the parking lot. We were driving pretty fast and I was getting scared. I reached out my hand to put over his.

"Jake" he pushed it away and turned to glare at me.

"How could you DO that Bella?" I looked at him desperately and in a quiet voice, barely above a whisper, I said

"I'm sorry"

That was it. After that we arrived at the house and Jake just slammed the door and stomped inside, leaving me plenty of time to get out and walk over there myself. I had never seen him like that. I didn't even know he could be that angry. And even though I knew it was wrong, even though part of me was miserable, another part was rejoicing because I and Edward were finally friends!

Hope you all liked it. Please review and keep reading and feel free to give me any suggestions you might have to spice up the story or any criticism.