Chapter 5

I'll Let You Know

The next morning I woke up feeling better. It was quarter to seven which meant my alarm clock failed. It also meant I only had fifteen minutes to get ready for school. I let out a soft moan and willed myself out of bed. As I got dressed I didn't pay attention to what I was putting on; I just hoped it looked somewhat put together. I ran down the stairs after brushing my hair and teeth and Charlie was ready to go so we left.

Charlie pulled into the student parking lot. The first car I noticed was that silver Volvo…of course how could you miss it? But the one thing I hadn't noticed before was who the car belonged to. The Cullen's, I should have known after all they're dad was a doctor. I stepped out of the car as I said good-bye to Charlie and everyone was staring at me. I guess I can't blame them though, if it was some other kid getting out of the car I would stare too.

My morning classes went fast; I apparently didn't miss anything yesterday. I was glad that my morning classes were going fast, I was ready to go home to take a nap- I must have still had the bug in my system. However as I was walking to lunch with Jessica my stomach dropped, I had forgotten one important detail, the whole reason for me not having a good first day. I lightly closed my eyes as I entered the cafeteria, took a deep breath, than as I reopened them I looked at the ground. This was all I could do in the short time I had to make sure I didn't see him.

I got my salad as quickly as possible without dropping anything or tripping myself than immediately took my seat at the table next to Sam who was now staring at me. I started eating trying to pretend I didn't notice her. After about five minutes I felt her gaze melt off my back and sighed in relief. Another five minutes passed than I could feel Sam's gaze again but this time it was joined by Jessica's. I looked up to see what they wanted and notice their eyes moving swiftly between me and another spot in the room.

I would have followed their eyes but they were moving too fast for me to see where they were going. After three or so eye revolutions they stopped and noticed I was looking up at them. "What?" I said finally breaking the silence.

"Don't look but ALL of the Cullen's are staring at you." Jessica said giggling, oh yah because that was totally not noticeable.

"Jess, you could have been a little more subtle." Sam hit her arm playfully.

"Oh yah like that's possible."

"Why would they all be staring at me? I'm sure you're just over reacting." I replied to their rambling.

"Whatever."Was all Jessica said.

"Oh Bella, I almost forgot! This Friday Jess and I are going to Seattle for our annual shopping trip and we wanted you to join us. If that's ok of course." Sam smiled at me reassuringly.

"I'm sorry I don't think Charlie would let me go, it's my first week and I already missed a day for being sick." Sam's smile turned into a frown, but Jessica didn't show any emotion at all.

"Some other time than." She replied and her smiled returned.

Lunch went fast and before I knew it I was in biology sitting next to Edward just as the bell rang. Mr. Mason wasn't in the room yet so I started doodling on my notebook. "I'm sorry I didn't properly introduce myself on Monday, my name is Edward Cullen. You're Bella Swan?" My hand froze the second I heard his voice. I looked up at Edward and noticed his chair was shifted slightly toward me. I nodded to answer his question then looked back down at my notebook as I felt my face heat up.

"Afternoon class, sorry I'm late." I heard Mr. Mason say as he entered the room. "As many of you know the Forks High Science fair is coming up soon," I swear at that moment everyone sighed in unison. "and each science class is to be split up into groups of two to produce a table of your results to an experiment." Mr. Mason started passing out a rubric before continuing. "This project will count as a test grade in the grade book so I hope you all work well with your partner. To make this easy I have decide that I will pick your partner." Once again everyone moaned. "I will read off names and when I finish you will go sit by him or her." He started calling out names and when I heard Sam's name I perked up hoping I would be paired with her but when Tyler Crowley's name was called after hers I sighed.

I knew Sam was as unhappy as I was because she wasn't particularly fond of Tyler. She told me that even though he was in our group of friends at lunch she didn't like him. He has had a crush on her for over a year now and continuously asks her out and gets turned down. He apparently is 'too clingy'.

I heard Mr. Mason call my name I didn't really care who I ended up with because I wasn't with Sam and I was going to end up doing all the work anyway. "Ms. Swan will be paired with Mr. Cullen." My eyes widened and I heard every girl sigh. When Mr. Mason finished calling off names everyone got up and started moving. I just sat where I was and looked at my hands as I twiddled my thumbs.

"What are you doing?" The question startled me; I just looked up and blushed.

"I'm sorry was it bothering you?" I didn't look into his eyes as I replied.

"No." Was all he said. I looked back down at my hands but instead of twiddling again I just put them on knees.

"So umm, what did you want to do for the project?" I kept my eyes on my hands as I asked.

"I can just recycle one from a previous year." I finally looked him in the eyes.

"No. That's not fair; I have been in plenty partnerships where I had to do all the work. I'm not going to turn into the lazy slacker that just sits here and does nothing." I thought I had said it firmly but when I saw the look on Edward's face I realized I hadn't.

"Fine then what do you suggest? Because I can tell you one thing; we don't get any time in class to work, it's done all on our own time." I bet he thinks he had me, but he was never in an argument with me and I never give up.

"I'm sure we can figure something out."

"Meet me by my car after school, we can go to your house." The bell rang and Edward left before anyone else was out of their seat. I got up dazed and walked over to the door where Sam was waiting for me.

"Crap." I mumbled under my breath as I met her at the door.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." This always happens to me; I open my month and say things before thinking. It always screws me over. I should have just let Edward do everything, but I wouldn't feel right. On the other hand do I really want to spend more time than necessary with him?

After school I went to my locker to gather some things that I would need to do my homework than walked out outside and over to Edward's car. He was casually leaning against the driver side of his car gazing off but when I got close enough to him he looked at me. I swear he smiled but it vanished too fast for me to be sure. "You really should reconsider having me do all the work." He said once I reached him.

"Please Edward, just do this my way. If I really am that horrible than if we ever work together again I promise I will let you do all the work."

"Bella how could you ever think that you're horrible?" He shook his head slightly before continuing. "I only suggested reconsidering working with me because I'm not the best person to spend time with."

"Oh." He was probably right but I wasn't going to let him know that. I walked over to the other side of his car to get in and he opened the door for me. "Thanks." It was almost a mumbled whisper but he understood me.

"You're welcome." Edward got in the car before I had my seatbelt on and the second it clicked he started driving off.

"Hey where are your brothers and sisters?" I can't believe it took me this long to notice they were missing.

"They found another way home. Rosalie was quiet upset but Alice can be convincing…" I took me a moment to process this. "Sorry." Did I miss something?

"About what?"

"You probably don't want to hear about my problems."

"I'm a good listener." I smiled at him as I said this. I could tell my statement shocked him a little. "Everyone needs someone to listen to them." The car pulled to a stop and I noticed we were at my house. Did I tell him where I live? Before I knew it Edward was over to my door and was opening it for me. I opened my mouth to say thank you as I got out of his car but decided not to say anything.

Once inside I went up to my bedroom to turn on my laptop. I saw my phone on my nightstand and sighed as I realized I must have left it here this morning. I flopped down onto my bed in a sitting position and pulled my laptop closer to me as it booted up. Then I took my cell into my hand to see if I had any missed texts, which I did only one though.

Jacob: Are you still sick? It was sent at nine a.m. so I gathered he still was.

Bella: No.

Jacob: Lucky, I don't think I have what you had. My temperature is really high now and my body aches all over.

Bella: Awe that sucks. I hope you feel better, if not I could come over to your house this weekend if you want.

Jacob: Even if I'm better you could still come, is Saturday morning good?

Bella: Sounds good, I'll see you then. I put my phone back down just when my computer was ready for me to use. I looked up and noticed Edward was standing just inside my door. "You can sit down." I scooted over a little and patted the spot next to me. Edward sat down but as far away as possible. I was surprised that this gesture hurt me a little; I guess I just thought that we were over this.

"What's wrong?" As he asked this I noticed I was frowning.

"Nothing. You probably know what do better than me so why don't you take the computer." I extended my arms and gave him my laptop, I felt a cold shock when his hand touched mine but then the spot turned warm.

"Sorry." Edward said before his fingers started flying over the keys. I couldn't see what he was doing but I trusted him to do what he needed. I sat there watching Edward, it was really quiet fascinating. Sometimes I could notice his forehead creasing in confusion or his lips twitching downward in frustration. The most unique quality however, was how after every change in his face, within seconds it was composed again. "How would you feel about a human behavioral experiment?"

"That sounds fine, what are we doing specifically?" I questioned.

"Seeing how your emotions affect your heart rate." He responded casually. However I was shocked by the fact that I was the test rat in this experiment.

"And what will you be doing?"

"Taking data and measuring your heart rate." I guess that made sense since his dad was a doctor. Edward turned off my laptop and put it at the foot of my bed. Then he got up and started walking toward my door.

"Where are you going?" It felt rude asking but I had a strange urge to ask him.

"Home, you don't need me here anymore." Edward continued walking and I followed him.

"Wait-" He turned to look at just before the staircase.

"Bella?"

"Stay. Please." I could see Edward considering this fact but I knew he would only stay if I gave him a good reason. "Charlie won't be home until late and I'm making dinner for him for when he gets home. Can you help me?" Great excuse Bella…real great.

"I'm really not the best cook," I could feel the disappointment show on my face. "But I guess I can help out in some ways." I shifted my weight from one foot to the other to try to hold my excitement. Then Edward started walking again. "I need to call Alice; I'll be outside." I nodded and went into the kitchen.

I took out things to make chicken noodle soup-the homemade kind. It was one of my dad's favorites. Edward came back in side as I was putting broth into a sauce pan. "Can you watch this so it doesn't boil over; I have to cut some things." He walked over to the stove and leaned against the counter that was next to it. I started cutting some carrots.

"You wanted me to stay to watch the soup so it didn't boil over…" His voice drifted off and I saw him shack his head in the corner of my eye. "I told you I'm not a good person to hang out with Bella."

"I know, I can make my own choices." I took the carrots and put them in the broth as I said this. Then I moved onto cutting up more things.

"Well you made the wrong choice, why?"

"Why did I want you to stay?" He nodded and I struggled to find an answer. "All I can say is that I have grown to like you. Wither it was what you said or did I'm still not sure about. And for the record; why do you think you're such a bad person?"

"I have my reasons Bella."

"If I had any common sense I would say the problem is me and not you."

"The problem with never be you Bella, you're too caring and selfless for that." I could feel my checks heat up as he said that.

"This isn't part of the experiment is it?"

"No," Edward chuckled. "But out of curiosity what emotion did you feel when I said that?"

"I don't know, I'll let you know when I find out." I sighed as I walked back to the soup and leaned next to Edward on the counter. "Can you cut up the chicken and turned down the stove to low? I'll be right back." Edward nodded and I started walking upstairs to my room. I grabbed my cell and put it in my back pocket then went across the hall to the bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face and looked in the mirror.

"How is it possible to feel more like yourself then you ever have but feel like you're acting like some other person?" Now that I was away from Edward I could think clearly. "Maybe this is who I am, and I never truly was my full self. I mean I'm not acting too strange, just like another quality was added to my being." I said my whole speech as quiet as possible so Edward wouldn't hear me.

Once my little speech was done in the bathroom I went downstairs to finish dinner. I cooked in silence. Edward didn't make a single noise; Charlie would be home soon and all I had to do was make the noodles. As I was draining the water my hand slipped causing it to pour on my left hand and splash up my wrist. I dropped the pan instinctively as I let out a soft whimper of pain. Edward was over to me within seconds and was pulling my hand so it went under the faucet that was now running cold water.

"Are you okay Bella?"

"Yah thanks."

"Keep your hand there for a while; I'm going to call Carlisle." I nodded and he walked into the living room. When Edward returned he walked back to my side examining my hand. "I'll give you some cream for your burn tomorrow. Do you have something to wrap it up with?"

"Yah I'm a klutz. This tends to happen to me a lot." I turned the water off and spun around to get my wrap for my hand. But as to prove a point I slipped on my spin and I was falling to the floor. Then Edward's arms were around me and I was safely against his chest.

"I see what you mean." Edward and I laughed slightly before I noticed Edward freezing around me. "I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye." Edward let go of me making sure I was stable before exiting through the back door. I have no idea why he didn't use the front but whatever. I finished making the soup cautiously and two minutes later (five minutes after Edward left) Charlie walked into the house. "Hi dad, how was work?"

"Slow, what are you making? It smells good."

"Thanks its chicken noodle soup." I turned my head to see Charlie smiling and grabbing a bowl from the cabinet.

After dinner I went upstairs to get ready for bed. I had a long day so I told Charlie that I was calling it a night and by eight I was peace fully asleep.

I didn't have a dream that I remember but in the middle of the night something woke me up. I slowly opened my eyes in protest and I swear in the corner of my rood I saw Edward. When I blinked and reopened my eyes he was gone, so I figured it was just my sleepy mind playing a trick on me. I laid back down and closed my eyes falling asleep instantly. The next thing I knew my phone was buzzing on my nightstand.