Hey! Not as long a wait this time!

Recap: Edward has 'met' Bella and can't stop thinking about her. He has also met the gang and Rosalie has shown her true colours. Edward has just entered the Biology classroom…

Enjoy! BTW let me know if you guys have any preference over POV. I normally love just Edward, but Bella's is actually quite important to the plot. But if, like me, you just want Edward, then by all means say. I'll make it work. :P

I noticed I hadn't said this in my earlier posts, and I apologise: Twilight and its characters do not belong to me, but the brilliant Stephenie Meyer.

EPOV

Her.

She was here. And in the only available seat in sight. I tried to contain my excitement and keep a straight a face, whilst the teacher, Mr Banner, directed me to sit next to Bella.

I guess it's my lucky day after all.

I watched my feet as I made my way to the seat in the back row. I could feel the stares of my future peers penetrating my back and I internally groaned. They'll get over the phenomenon of the 'new-kid' eventually. I hope.

After what seemed like eternity, when in reality it was a mere few seconds, I finally reached 'our' lab table. I like the sound of that. Too much maybe.

The scraping of my chair on the floor made me cringe, and I as I looked up, I saw her expression match my own.

I managed to sit down without further incident, and I pulled my books out as the teacher began the lesson. The lecture, I noticed, was on cellular anatomy. Bleh. I had done this last year already.

I realised this was actually in my favour, as it meant I didn't have to pay close attention to the teacher, but rather the beautiful enigma next to me. I peered at her from the corner of my eye and noticed she too, didn't seem to be very interested on what Mr Banner was rambling on about.

"Hello again," I whispered. Might as well make the effort.

She swiftly turned to me startled. She then blushed a beautiful pink at her reaction. I smiled at her, hoping to ease her embarrassment.

"Oh, um, hi," she whispered back, then went back to her daydreams. I wondered as to what she was thinking about, and took a moment to look at her. I hadn't noticed it before, but there was such pain in her eyes, so much, that I was surprised I hadn't noticed it before. I began to study her carefully. She had bruised coloured bags under her beautiful eyes, and looked like she hadn't slept in days. Her cheekbones also seemed to jut out of her pale skin, and as I looked down at her creamy exposed wrist, I saw that that too was jutting out. She was entirely too skinny, but it didn't seem as though this was brought on by her. She didn't seem to have been taken care off.

She breathed a large sigh, that spoke to louder than words. She was exhausted. Completely drained of energy. She seemed fed-up. Like she wanted it to end. But what?

She lifted a pale hand to sweep through her long chocolate waves, and as her sleeve fell, I saw a harsh welt on her skin. An angry burn that wrapped around her entire wrist.

I couldn't contain my gasp, and again she turned to stare at me. I quickly averted my gaze, before she saw what I was staring at. She continued to stare at me until she shrugged her shoulders.

What happened to her? No. Who did this to her?

I became furious and I clenched my fists.

I hoped she didn't notice. I wasn't fortunate. "Hey. You ok?" she asked quietly.

The shock at having been asked a question by the one girl who seemed the most reluctant to talk to me momentarily moved my anger to the back of my mind.

I stared at her and she stared back. She seemed rather concerned, and I quickly smiled at her. I was relieved that it wasn't forced.

"Yeah, I'm good. Thanks." As she began to go back to her previous position, I quickly offered introductions. Have to start somewhere. "I'm Edward. Edward Cullen."

I held my hand out in greeting. "Bella. Bella Swan." She stared at my hand, but saw I meant no harm, slipped her small hand into mine. We both simultaneously gasped and stared at our joined hands. A jolt of electricity passed from hand that was holding hers, to my head and all the way down to my toes, then resonating somewhere near my heart. I was left feeling dizzy with a pleasantly warm feeling in my chest. She noticed it too.

She looked up at me with a shocked expression mirroring my own. I saw something flicker in her eyes, but before I could take a guess as to what it was, it quickly disappeared and the pain flashed back again. She smiled meekly at me, and withdrew her hand, somewhat reluctantly.

Score. This could work to my advantage. I need to gain her trust.

I don't know what it was with this girl, but I wanted to protect her from anything and everything. I wanted to run away with her safe in my arms, and shield her from the dangers she appeared to be facing.

Don't get ahead of yourself, gain her trust first, think about staging a kidnapping later.

Opportunity struck as the last of Mr Banner's lecture perked my interest.

"…due January 15th. Look next to you. That's your lab partner for the next 3 months or so. I don't care how you arrange the details, just do it and make it good." The bell rang and everyone jumped up from their seat, apart from Bella and I."

"So… we're gonna be lab partners." I looked up at Bella, who was looking a little panicked.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Would it be ok if we met at my house and did it their? I mean we can do it at your house if you want, but my parents don't get home 'til about nine-ish, and so-"

She swiftly cut me off. "That's perfect, Edward." She breathed a sigh of relief and I smiled. " So your house…"

"Yeah, how about on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school?"

"Perfect, see you the Edward, bye."

As I went to ask her if she wouldn't mind if I walked her to class, she swiftly exited the room, and left me alone.

This might just work.

So, another chapter over. Hope you guys like it. I think I'll do Bella's POV next. Some James in the next chapter. Tell me what you think, and if you want this to go in any particular direction, I'd be happy to hear from you! :D:D:D:D