Hello! Again! I know - another quick update. We'll see how we do for chapter 7!

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Chapter 6

At lunch, none of us were surprised to see Edward sitting alone at another table.

I was the first to walk past him. Don't fret over it. Everything will be fine.

"I know, I know." He muttered to me.

The others, no doubt, had thought things to him as well.

"I don't think this will work the way he plans." Jasper said.

"It will." Alice chirped.

I paid attention to what Jessica was saying. "Edward Cullen's staring at you again. I wonder why he's sitting alone."

Sure enough, Bella looked to where we were sitting. I caught her eye and smiled. She looked shyly away and found where Edward was sitting. I motioned with his finger for her to sit with him. He winked at her and I heard Bella's heart race.

Don't give her a heart attack. I thought, laughing.

"Ummm, maybe he needs help with the Biology homework. I'll go see what it is." Bella muttered as she got up to sit with my brother.

I tried to listen to what they were saying, but the chatter of the cafeteria was loud for my over-sensitive ears to hear across the room.

The lunch hour went by fast. Both Edward and I were skipping our science classes. In Biology, they were blood-typing and in Chemistry, we were experimenting with blood for some odd reason that was beyond me.

I met up with Edward and we went and sat in the Volvo.

"It seemed to go well." I said. "Don't make me listen to Debussy again."

"It went well, yes." He replied as he put in the CD anyway.

"Does it feel good? To know you're doing something, even though you seem to regret it."

"I don't regret it."

I rolled my eyes. I looked out the window and frowned. "Is Mike carrying Bella?" I wondered aloud.

"Stay here." Edward mumbled as he got out.

I disobeyed and followed after him anyway.

"Bella?" Edward shouted as he sped over to where she was lying on the sidewalk with Mike looking rather unsure of what to do.

I went faster too, trying to look as human as possible.She's not dead, you know. No need to get all upset.

"Is she hurt? What happened?" Edward asked Mike.

"I think she's fainted." Mike replied. He looked at me for a second, then turned away, slightly red in the face. Before Bella came, I was the girl most of the boys were after. Apparently, he still thought that.

"Bella, can you hear me?" Edward asked.

"No, go away." She moaned.

Edward and I laughed a little.

"I was taking her to the nurse, but she wouldn't go any farther."

"I'll take her. You can go back to class." Edward continued, dismissively.

"No, I'm supposed to do it."

Edward ignored him and helped her up anyway, holding her as far from him as possible.

Don't drop her. I thought, rolling my eyes and helping her up without any trouble with being so close to her; she did smell good, but centuries of resisting was a lot of help.

"Put me down." She mumbled weakly.

He grinned and continued to carry her towards the office building. I made sure he had a hold on her before I let go and suddenly, I had a great idea.

You're going to love this Edward. I'm a genius. I thought.

"I'll walk you to your class, Mike, if that's OK with you?" I said, suggestively.

"Uhhhhhh, sure. Why?" I still had that effect on guys. This would be fun.

We turned and walked towards the science building.

"I hate feeling like a third wheel, you know? Living with so many couples, I know the feeling well."

"Oh."

"So you're going to the dance with Jessica?" I asked, trying to get in another hint.

"Yeah, but I'd rather go with Bella."

I raised my eyebrows in false surprise. "Really? Edward asked her if she was going, but she said she was out of town then he asked if she wanted a ride to Seattle with him because he's going that weekend too and she said yes. I guess she isn't one for dancing."

He looked angry. "Yeah, I guess so."

We reached the Biology room. "Well, bye then." I said cheerfully and walked away.

Hope you're happy.

I was about halfway to the office building when Mike came out again, this time supporting Lee Stevens. I glanced over my shoulder, smelled the blood and I continued walking quickly to the building. I may have restraint, but it was nothing compared to actually seeing the blood.

Edward, Mike's bringing a boy, and he's bleeding. Get out of there; now! I thought quickly.

I walked inside the building, waiting for Edward to get himself out of there. When the boys passed, my hands clenched into fists as I held my breath.

Edward and Bella came out.

"You actually listened to me." Edward said bewildered standing next to me.

Bella's nose wrinkled. "I smelled the blood."

My eyebrows rose slightly and looked at Edward. She means it; her tone is clear. Not like us, just the human way.

"What." She demanded, looking between us.

"It's nothing." I answered automatically. Those were the first words I'd ever said to Bella. I smiled slightly. Alice will be jealous.

"You look better." Mike interrupted.

Edward tensed. Relax, will you?

"Just keep your hand in your pocket." She said.

"It's not bleeding anymore." He said, put off. "Are you going back to class?"

"Are you kidding? I'd just have to come straight back."

"Yeah, I guess so . . ." Mike trailed off. "Are you going this weekend?"

He looked at Edward and me warily

"Sure, I said I was in."

"We're meeting at my dad's store at ten." And Cullen's NOT invited. I rested my arm inconspicuously against Edward's, then after a stern look, moved away.

Stupid jerk, she can't get any ideas . . . we're supposed to be brother and sister after all!

"I'll be there."

"See you in Gym, then." Mike said as he walked out of the room.

"Gym." Bella groaned.

"I'm guessing you don't enjoy it?" I asked.

She shook her head.

"Neither do I."

"I can take care of that, go sit down and look pale." Edward muttered to her.

I sat down beside her, my hand resting on her back consolingly.

"It looks more convincing." I mumbled when she gave me a questioning look. Edward glanced at us; he looked jealous of me being able to be so close to her and I could continue to be as long the blood stayed in her. Maybe if it wasn't, could I still be near her? I hoped so.

"Ms. Cope?" Edward asked in the voice he used around humans to get what he wanted. It didn't even sound like the real Edward; just a fake one.

Her heart sped up a bit and I tried not to laugh.

"Yes?"

"Bella has Gym next hour and I don't think she feels well enough to go. Actually, I was considering taking her home. Do you think you could excuse her from class?"

Edward, what are you planning? I thought.

He didn't acknowledge that I even said anything to him. Why couldn't that be?

Edward, hello? Can you hear me? Still no response.

"Do you and your sister need to be excused too?"

"No, we have Ms. Goff, she won't mind."

Edward Cullen! Why are you ignoring me?! Nothing, still.

"OK, it's all taken care of. You feel better Bella."

She nodded weakly.

"Can you walk?" I asked.

She nodded again and the three of us left the building.

Edward, why did you ignore me?I thought, walking close so I could hear his response.

I wasn't ignoring you, your thoughts . . . disappeared; just like Bella's.

Tell me you're not lying.

I'm not.

"Thanks." Bella said. "It's nice getting sick to miss Gym."

"Anytime." He answered.

"So, are you two going Saturday, then?" I liked how she included me. Alice would be so jealous.

"Where are you going exactly?" I asked.

"Down to La Push, to first Beach."

Damn it! I was hoping to talk more to her.

He looked at me, then replied. "I don't think we were invited."

"I just invited you."

"Let's not push Mike any further this week. We don't want him to snap."

Bella rolled her eyes; exactly how I responded to Edward when he was trying too hard. "Mike-shmike."

We reached the parking lot and Bella was walking to her truck.

"Where are you going?" Edward asked.

"I'm going home." She answered, puzzled.

"I promised I would take you. You can't drive in your condition."

She looked at him, bewildered. "My condition? "And what about my truck."

"I'll drive it behind you." I said quickly.

Bella hesitated for a moment before tossing me her keys. "Double pump the clutch." She said.

I nodded and got into her truck and started it up. Not over the speed limit in this thing.

"You're so pushy!" I heard Bella say to Edward and I laughed. She described Edward perfectly.

I pulled out behind and followed them to where Bella lived, not that I needed to follow. When we got there, Edward let me pull into the driveway and then he parked behind the truck.

I hopped out and got into the backseat of the Volvo.

Can't be without a chaperone, you old-fashioned man! I thought wryly, smirking.

"How old are you Bella?" I asked.

"Seventeen."

"You don't seem to be." Edward frowned and Bella began to laugh.

"My mom says I was born 35 and keep getting middle-aged every year. Well, someone had to be the adult." She sighed.

I assumed she had to grow up fast, to be the caretaker. Sort of like myself, I had to grow up much faster than I wanted to when I was human.

"You two don't seem like juniors in high school either."

I smiled sadly. "We've both had to grow up faster than we wished."

"So, why did your mother marry Phil?" Edward asked, changing the subject.

"My mother . . . is very young for her age and I think Phil makes her feel even younger."

"Do you approve?" Edward pried.

"Does it matter? As long as she's happy, I am."

She's so sweet. I can't believe you tried to run away from her.

"Would she apply the same courtesy to you?" Edward asked.

"I - I think so. But she's the parent after all, it's a bit different."

Edward glared at me in the mirror and I stuck my tongue out at him.

"No one to scary, then." I said.

"What do you mean by scary? No tattoos or facial piercings?"

"That's one definition I suppose."

"Do you think I could be scary?" Edward asked quickly.

She thought for a moment. "Hmmmmm, I think you could if you wanted to be."

We fell into silence for a little bit.

"So, are you going to tell me about your family? It must be more interesting than mine." Bella said.

"What do you want to know?" Edward asked.

"The Cullen's adopted you?"

"Yes, when we were very young." I said.

"What happened to your parents?" She asked in a small voice.

"They died a long time ago." Edward answered.

"Oh. I'm sorry." She seemed worried that she hurt us.

"Don't feel bad, I don't really remember them anyway."

"I do, which is a bit silly because I'm younger, you'd think I'd be the one forgetting." I still remembered my parents and I wasn't about to let Edward answer for me. "But Carlisle and Esme have been our parents for so long now, I love them just as much as our real ones."

"They must be nice."

"Oh, you'd like them and I think they'd like you, too." I said, cheerfully.

I glanced at the clock. Time was up.

"Edward, we got to go." I said.

"Right, see you on Monday, Bella."

"You won't be at school tomorrow?" She asked, concerned.

Edward shook his head. "Emmett and I are starting the week-end early."

"But I'll be there. I'll see you tomorrow, Bella. It's been great meeting you. Maybe we could talk at school sometime."

Bella smiled. "Yeah, that would be great. Bye!"

She got out into the rain and went inside the house. Edward was glaring at me; what else was new?

"Don't be jealous I can be near her and you freak out every time you are." I said, climbing into the front seat.

"I'm not jealous, but I don't think it a good idea to be around her too much. Just don't lie to her."

"I'll do my best." I said seriously.

Did he believe I could lie to the girl he loved? Because there was no way.

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