All rights, characters, and properties belong to Stephenie Meyer as she is the wonderful author of the Twilight series. This is merely fanfiction created to entertain my own imagination put into words for others to read and hopefully enjoy.

BTW: Sorry this chapter was kind of short. I hope to get the next chapter up this coming weekend. So hang in there with me. Thanks again for reading! Also, I love reading your reviews it inspires me to write more! So PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks!

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4. STRAIN

I was still leaning against my desk for support when the last student hurried through the door and into the hallway leaving just me, Alice, and Edward alone. I tried to avoid looking directly at him and instead focused my eyes once more to my now slightly swollen ankle. Alice was the first to break the awkward silence that filled the room. "I'm pretty sure you sprained it." I gasped as I looked up to see her now a mere foot in front of me. I also noticed that Edward still was waiting motionlessly at the back of the room.

"It's nothing really. I'll be fine Ali--Miss Cullen" I sighed having quickly corrected myself. As much as Alice had always been like a long lost sister to me, our situations were entirely different now. She was now my student, and I was her teacher. I was no longer the 18 year old girl of my past and although I knew in my heart that I was still irrevocably in love with Edward, I was almost certain he did not feel the same way about me anymore.

"Now Bella, I thought we were friends", Alice said pouting while jutting out her lower lip. "Besides, you need someone's help getting to the nurse's office. You wouldn't make it very far on your own with your foot like that."

As much as I hated to admit it, Alice was right. I knew I had to do something about my current dilemma and, unless I planned on causing further damage, I knew I would need someone to help me down the hall to the school nurse's office. Although, at the moment, the thought of hopping or even crawling along down the hallway didn't seem near as embarrassing as allowing myself to be half-carried by Alice. After much internal struggle with myself, I finally let out a small sigh of defeat. "Do I really have a choice in the matter?" I groaned.

"No. Not really," Alice said with a smirk on her face, "But I thought it only fair to give you time to think over your other oh-so appealing alternatives"

"Fine" I muttered in defeat. Alice's face instantly lit up as she stepped closer and bent down in front of me. "W-What are you doing, Alice?"

"I'm taking off your shoes for you. You didn't honestly think you were going to keep them on the rest of the day, did you?" After taking off my right shoe, Alice carefully proceeded to slip my swollen left foot out of my dark grey heel. The coolness of her hands felt good against the tenderness of my ankle. I shut my eyes tightly and winced as the motion of taking off the shoe had jostled my foot a bit. When I opened my eyes, I saw Edward was now standing on my left-hand side.

"I'll take her to the nurse Alice." The sound of his voice startled me. It had only been the second time today that I had heard him speak. I glanced over at him and saw the genuine look of concern filling his golden eyes.

When are you going to stop trying to see something that isn't there anymore, Bella? I mentally reprimand myself.

"Really, you guys have to do this. I can make it on my own. In fact it doesn't even hurt anymore" I lied in hopes of convincing them that I was fine. Immediately both of them shot me a suspicious look. Apparently neither of them seemed very convinced.

"Are you sure you want to take her Edward?" Alice raised her delicate eyebrow questioning him as she stood up.

"Alice, don't you think it would be a bit difficult to explain if someone saw you carrying her in your arms down the hall? You're at least half her size. I will carry her." Edward looked over at me his eyes captivating me. That's when his words finally sank in "carry her".

"Oh no, no! I will not have anyone carrying me. I only agreed that I needed help getting there. I am fully capable of walking there and I refuse to be carried!" I shouted. I may be hurt, but I definitely was not a complete invalid.

Alice once again giggle, her laughs sounding like wind chimes. "Ok Edward. You're right. It would look quite strange if anyone saw me carrying her." I glared at Alice in disbelief. Had no one heard what I had just said?

Once again I tried to make my demands heard, but a second later Edward had swiftly scooped me up in his arms. I struggled to get out of his grip with little success. "Edw--Mr. Cullen! Put me down this instant! I'm not an invalid! I don't need to be carried!" I knew I was no match against his strength, but after a few seconds more of attempting to break away from his hold on me, I at last resolved to suffer through this embarrassing torture. I felt my cheeks redden and knew that a blush was forming across my face. "If you're going to carry me there, can you at least let me down before we get to the nurse's office?" I tried to compromise. "I don't know how receptive the rest of the administration will feel if they found out a student carried me there."

Edward sigh looked down into my face and nodded in agreement. "I will set you down just outside of the nurse's door and Alice can help you the rest of the way in." I let of a sigh of frustration. I knew that was most of a compromise I was going to get out of him.

A few minutes later, we stepped out into the hallway. Alice followed closing the classroom door behind us. It felt strangely comforting to feel the coolness of his body against mine. I had always remembered him as being colder than my own body temperature, but had forgotten just how soothing it had been. I took in a deep breath and allowed his sweet scent to fill my lungs. It seemed that over the years time had since dulled my memories of how wonderful it felt to be near him. It was a rush taking him in all at once again after so long. The hole in my chest at once felt filled as though it had never been there at all. My I kept my eyes locked on my knees though knowing that if I looked up at his face I would be entranced by his dazzling effects.

Don't you dare think he will ever consider taking you back and things will go back to the way the once were. Remember it was he who left you. But as much as I know he will never want me back, I can't help but love him even after all I have been through.

As always, I was thankful that I was immune to Edward's powers and that he couldn't hear the thoughts that were racing through my mind as we headed toward the nurse's office. I was also thankful that nobody had yet to bear witness to my extremely humiliating situation and that we would make it to the office unnoticed.

We had just rounded the last corner when Edward stopped in front of the wooden door clearly marked with the words "Nurse's Office". I let out a small sigh. I knew I would probably never be this close to him again. He gently set me down on my feet as Alice quickly stepped up to wrap my arm around her shoulders. Edward opened the door to the office as Alice shouldered the bulk of my weight and I reluctantly limped into the dingy-white colored office.