Sorry for the long wait! I was on vacation and then there was a problem with editing...but yeah...I'm alive. SOOOO...here's the next chapter. I've been told by my friends that some people seem out of character so I'd appreciate hearing what you readers think. If it sucks as much as I think it does, I'll rewrite it.

Disclaimer: I sadly do not own anything...except the plot. T-T

I looked down at my desk where the biology test I had taken last week currently was. There it sat, flipped upside down and graded. I turned it over and stole a quick look at the grade. To my shock, there was a big, fat F written in red ink at the top of the test. Was it just me or was this a bit cliché? Somehow and I'm not quite sure how I did it, but I resisted the urge to throw a fit about the grade. How could I have gotten an F? I groaned. This F was going to kill my grade. It was a major test and I had bombed it. I had been too worried about fixing things between Edward and I and things only seem to have gotten worse between us. Not only was my obsession with making things better affecting us, but it seemed to have affected my grades as well. Edward must have noticed my distress because he leaned over in his chair towards me. "Is something wrong?" he asked, his musical voice tinged with worry.

I shook my head and attempted to show carelessness. "No, nothing's wrong." I looked at him and smiled shakily, hoping he'd accept the lie, but I knew he didn't. I didn't want him to know about the grade. It would just be another imperfection of mine that would be smeared across a canvas with the rest of my flaws. He seemed to look at me for a few more seconds, his beautiful topaz eyes boring into mine before I turned away. I knew what he was doing. He was attempting to dazzle me so that I would tell him what was wrong. I refused to give up and I stared down at my desk where the paper still was.

I was thankful when the teacher put on a movie during class. It gave me time to mull over my grade and try to figure out what to do. I looked over a few times during the movie to see Edward staring at me and each time our eyes met I'd quickly look away. I looked down at the turned over paper and considered my options.

1. I could go to the teacher and ask for help or for extra credit work.

2. I could ask another student for help.

3. I could just cave in and ask Edward for help.

As for the latter, I definitely wasn't up for it. I was already a disappointment to Edward and I couldn't afford to be worse. The first option was good if I wanted the best help, but the teacher might call Charlie. I was in enough trouble as it was and I didn't need Charlie on my case for something else. The second option however didn't seem so bad. I would just have to make sure I was out of Edward's hearing range when I asked for help. I wondered just exactly who I could ask. It couldn't be Alice or anyone else who was related to Edward. Jessica wouldn't do it; she seemed to hate me now. Angela might've done it, but I never got too close to her.

Someone's name popped into my head much to my dismay. Mike Newton… My brain screamed out at me. It was perfect. We worked together and I was sure he would agree to help, but I didn't want him saying something that would lead Edward to suspect that I was spending my time with Mike Newton.

My thoughts were cut off by the bell ringing and I jumped up in surprise; suddenly taken out of my daze. I wanted to kick myself for being so stupid. After mulling over my grade I had missed a whole other lesson. I sighed and picked up my bag. I was once again already lost in my thoughts after the initial shock of the bell ringing and I failed to realize that there was a bag in my way where I was walking. Clumsiness struck again and I was sent sprawling downward. Instead of hitting the floor as I suspected I would I felt cold arms encase me. To say I was surprised would have been an understatement. I wasn't expecting him to catch me after the long bouts of silence that rained upon us. I felt heat rise up to my cheeks and I looked up into Edward's eyes. "Thanks…" I muttered and pushed myself out of his arms. I caught a look of his anguished face as he let go of me. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but I decided to save that conversation for later. I was hoping it was just another one of his random mood swings, but I knew better. The tension between us seemed to be getting worse and worse to the point where it was unbearable sometimes – no most of the time.

As we walked down the hallway to our next class I couldn't help but blurt out the question I that had popped into my head just moments ago. "Is something wrong?" I asked, repeating the question he in turn had asked me earlier.

His eyes turned a darker shade of topaz and he seemed to be glaring at me. "No, nothing's wrong." he said, mocking my earlier response to his question. I winced; that wasn't the response I was hoping to receive, but I guessed I deserved it. His tone was cold and even when he did get upset around me he never sounded so cruel. I bit my lip and looked down at the floor. To continue talking would only make the situation worse and I was determined to make things better between us.

As we entered our next class and sat down Edward still continued to stare at me and I hoped he would forgive me for whatever it was I had done. I could see him looking at me throughout the period and I used my hair as a shield as I had done on the first day I had attended this school. I tried to pay attention to what the teacher was saying, but that obviously never happened. I was too busy worrying about Edward and worrying about my grades.

The rest of the day once again seemed like hell. Lunch had to be the worst part of the day. Edward and I didn't speak at all to each other. Alice tried to be helpful and fill in the conversation, but it didn't help. When she asked one of us a question I'd answer with as few words as possible and Edward wouldn't say anything at all. Rosalie had her normal glare plastered on her face and Jasper didn't say too much. Emmett also attempted to quench the silence, but in the end the only ones who were talking were Alice and Emmett.

When school ended, I walked out to my car with Edward walking beside me silently. I had work today so it didn't matter how badly I wanted to talk to him; I simply couldn't. When we arrived at my car I fidgeted. I wasn't sure what to say. I wasn't even sure if I should say anything at all. If Edward noticed the fact that I was speechless, and I was sure he did, he didn't say anything. He waited patiently for me to say something.

I opened my mouth and the words came out in a rush. "I have work tonight so I'll see you tomorrow then?" I asked while wringing my hands together nervously.

Before he answered the question I could've sworn I saw him resist the urge to smile, but that was probably just my wishful imagination. "I'll come by tonight." he said simply and looked down at me with his amazing eyes. I was dazzled once more and lost my ability to speak. I opened my mouth to say something, but all I could do was nod mindlessly. I was so excited that he was actually coming over, but then I wondered if he was coming over to break up with me again. I shook my head and tried to think positively, but I knew that thought would haunt me until he actually visited me.

He grinned at my lack of speech. "I'll see you tonight, then. Goodbye, Bella."

I nodded stupidly once more. "Bye, Edward." I said simply and opened my car door. He moved out of the way and waited for me to leave before going over to his Volvo. I drove away slowly trying to savor the image of him in my head.

When I arrived at my job I saw Mike's car already in the lot. I still wasn't sure if I should ask him to help me with Biology or not. I brought my books just incase though. Throughout my few hours at work I dropped things more than usual due to me constantly getting lost in thought. At the end of my shift I finally decided I should just ask for help. I walked up to him and put a smile on my face. I attempted to dazzle him as I asked him for help. "Hey, Mike I was wondering if you could do me a favor."

Mike responded almost immediately and grinned this really creepy wide grin. "Of course! What do you need me to do?"

I twirled my hair around my finger and looked up at him through my eyelashes. "I was wondering if you could help me with the Biology work. I didn't do so well on the test." I muttered.

His grin widened for some odd reason. I didn't think it could be any bigger, but I guess it just did. "Alright. When did you want the help?"

I shrugged and tried to sound casual. "I was actually hoping you could help me now."

"Here?" he asked skeptically.

"Yeah…you see I don't really want anyone to know about the bad grade especially Charlie." I said cautiously. I almost slipped and said Edward, but I was glad for once that I was able to hold back my klutziness.

Mike nodded in understanding. "Okay then. I'll help you now. Do you have your book?"

I nodded and rushed out to my car to get my book. Mike helped me for about an hour and I caught up on everything that I missed. I understood the stuff we learned right away; I just needed to actually hear it. He constantly throughout the time we spent studying kept trying to touch my hand and do stuff along that line. Each time he did so I would politely ask him to stop and he'd scowl for a few minutes. When the study session, for lack of a better name was over I thanked Mike. "Thanks again Mike. You're a lifesaver." I smiled politely. "Just promise me you won't tell anyone." I said sternly.

"Of course. It was my pleasure, Bella. I'll see you at school tomorrow."

I nodded and tore off to my car with my book in hand. I couldn't spend another moment with Mike. His smiles and constant advances during the lesson were killing me. Couldn't he just take a hint? I got into my car and drove home quickly. I was glad when I beat Charlie home. He had a tendency sometimes to come home early to see if I was doing something I shouldn't. I rolled my eyes at the thought. It's like I was a little kid. I rushed through the door and up to my room (tripping several times on the way up as usual). I opened the door and was surprised to hear a lovely, velvety voice even if it was tinged with frustration.

"Where have you been?"