All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer
I woke the next morning not as tired as before. As soon as I pulled into the student parking lot Mike was at my truck. He had my door opened before I had even turned my truck off. I rolled my eyes as I leaned over to grab my backpack.
"Hey Mike."
"Hey Bella. I thought I would walk you to class." He cried happily.
"Thanks." I answered folding my arms across my chest. I didn't want to give him the opportunity to grab my hand, or touch me in any way. I was not interested in being anything but friends with him, although he seemed to have other ideas.
I kept my eyes diverted from Mike as I half listened to what he was saying. I glanced casually around the parking lot my eyes falling upon a set I was growing more and more familiar with.
Edward Cullen was leaning against the side of a very shiny silver Volvo, staring in my direction. His lips were pursed and he seemed to be scowling. I quickly looked away choosing to look at my feet. I had no idea what I had done to him to make him hate me so much. Irrational anger filled me as I began to march to my first class. Tears of anger blurred my vision. I entered my first class without even saying goodbye to Mike. I was more annoyed with myself than him. I had to stop letting him affect me in this way.
As the day wore on I grew more anxious as lunch approached. I wanted nothing more than to go up to him and put him in his place, but I knew I was too much of a coward to do anything like that. I decided that I would simply ignore him. I could be just as rude towards him as he was being towards me.
As I entered the cafeteria with my curly haired friend, who I know remembered was named Jessica; I carefully kept my eyes diverted from the table in the back corner where I was sure he would be sitting. I chatted along happily with the others pretending as if everything were normal. I refused to let that boy bother me anymore.
"Edward Cullen is staring at you." I heard Jessica whisper half way through lunch. My stomach lurched, and my body went stiff. Why couldn't he just leave me alone? What did he want from me?
"So." I answered a little harsher than I should have. I was staring at my half eaten sandwich in front of me. It suddenly didn't seem so appetizing to me anymore.
"He never notices anyone." She sounded amazed, and almost disappointed.
"He's not noticing me. Don't worry." I assured her. "In fact I'm pretty sure he hates me." I added glancing her way.
She seemed confused. "Why would he hate you?"
I looked back at my sandwich trying to hide the sad look on my face. "I don't know." I whispered.
It was quiet for a few moments. "He doesn't look like he hates you, and he's still staring."
I blushed. "Stop looking." I said through my teeth.
I heard her giggle beside me. I looked at her briefly to make sure she had stopped. My stomach felt uneasy as I contemplated her words. What had he looked like, if not angry and upset? Every time I had seen him in the past he was always frowning at me. What had she seen that I had missed? Could he really not hate me as I thought? Had I miss read his expressions?
I sighed sharply annoyed with myself. Why was I spending so much time thinking about him? He was just a boy-a boy I would soon never see again.
Without another word I got up from the table and emptied my tray in the trash. I grabbed my books and headed off to class, deciding to go with my original plan. I would simply ignore him. I didn't need any more problems that what I already had.
I was the first one in class. I found my seat quickly and took out my notebook. I doodled mindlessly as I heard the class fill with students. I didn't even bother looking up as Mike stopped by to say hi before going to his seat. I didn't want to chance seeing Edward walk in.
I clearly heard when the chair next to me moved and could sense his presence next to me. I refused to look his way. It was harder than I thought, fighting the urge to look at him.
"Are you enjoying your time in Forks?"
I stiffened at the sound of his musical voice. He didn't sound angry, merely curious. How odd…maybe Jessica had been right…
I shrugged once keeping my eyes on my notebook. What was there to enjoy? I hated the weather, I missed my mom, and I was dying. But then again I wasn't here because Forks was a great place. I was here to start over, and enjoy a normal life for as long as I could. I was here to be a teenager. One who wasn't constantly pitied, and babied.
I wanted nothing more than to look into his eyes once again, and hated that I felt that way. 'He's a jerk,' I kept reminding my self as I returned to my doodling.
I heard him chuckle softly beside me, and I narrowed my eyes. "Why did you move here?"
I couldn't understand why he was so interested in me. I was completely plain in every way. I wasn't exactly ugly, but there was nothing special about me. I was thin, almost too thin, but soft. I had very pale skin, but a clear complexion. With a little makeup, and the right color shirt I could look, ok. I had boring thick brown hair, and wide brown eyes, with full lips. He was clearly out of my league. He had the looks any model would die for. He was too beautiful; it almost hurt to look at him. I couldn't understand what he could possible want with me. I looked up at the teacher willing him to start class. I sighed when I noticed he was still organizing papers.
I shrugged again.
"Do you know anything?" He asked dryly.
I narrowed my eyes in anger. I could hear the impatience in his voice. It was clear he was not used to people ignoring him. He was probably used to always getting his way. All he had to do was bat his eyelashes and girls would swoon. I refused to be one of those girls.
Thankfully, class started just then. I dutifully turned my attention to the teacher in front and did my best to ignore the person sitting next to me. It wasn't easy. I could feel his eyes on me every now and again. I made the mistake of looking at him once to find him staring at me. I tried to look away, but I was trapped in his gaze. His eyes bore into me and I could feel my hands start to shake from the intensity. His eyes were lighter today and there was no hint of anger like I expected. He looked merely curious for some reason. I don't know how long we stared at each other before the teacher called on Edward. I quickly looked away hiding behind my hair for the rest of the period.
As soon as the bell rang I turned my back to him and gathered my things.
"You ready?"
I closed my eyes forcing myself to smile before I looked up. "Let's go Mike."
He smiled warmly in return and together we walked to the gym.
"So…What was going on between you and Cullen during class today?" Mike asked trying to keep his voice casual, but he still sounded disappointed.
"Nothing. Why?" Had I been that obvious?
He instantly perked up squaring his shoulders. "It just seemed like he was bothering you. You know if he's bothering you I can talk…"
"Everything's fine Mike." I replied cutting him off. I watched as his face fell slightly.
"But thanks for offering." I added hoping to cheer him up a little, and ease the guilt I felt.
"Sure." He shrugged.
We remained silent the rest of the way to the gym, and said a quick goodbye as we parted ways. I took out my math book as I watched the others file out of the locker rooms. I didn't know why I had to sit here. It was the last period of the day, why couldn't I just go home early? I sighed as I opened my book and began my homework.
It was harder than I thought it would be to concentrate. My mind kept going back to biology and how Edward had stared at me. His eyes were so intense. It was as if he were trying to lift my thoughts from my head. I was sure that his expression was not one of irritation, but expectant somehow. I was starting to feel guilty for how I had treated him. It was true that he had not been very nice to me in the beginning, but he had been nice enough today…well mostly. I decided that the next time he talked to me, if he was civil, I would be civil back. There was no need to hold grudges, and create enemies. I didn't have time for that.
I packed up my math book just as the bell rang. Once again I vacated the building to avoid the over protective, increasingly annoying, Mike Newton. He was a nice guy and I felt bad for avoiding him, but I just wasn't interested—even if I was—it was better this way.
It was raining hard outside, and I walked swiftly to my truck careful not to fall. I was soaked by the time I unlocked the door and climbed in. Shivering, I turned on my truck and started the heat rubbing my hands together to warm them. I looked around briefly noticing that others were heading out. I noticed Edward Cullen lopping ever so gracefully to his car. I hadn't noticed this morning but, clearly, it was the nicest car in the parking lot by far. "Figures." I whispered. "Not only is he beyond gorgeous, but he has money too."
Edward turned to look in my direction just then with a smirk playing on his lips. I looked away quickly, blushing. I quickly put my car in reverse and chanced one last look in his direction as I backed out of my parking space. He was chuckling softly, his eyes a light with humor.
Suddenly a car horn sounded behind me and I realized that I had stopped in the middle of the parking lot. I blushed furiously as I pulled out and drove away keeping my eyes fixed on the road.
Grocery shopping was uneventful. By the time I got home, and did my homework, I was too tired to cook. We had left over pizza and I excused my self shortly there after to go to bed.
That was the first night I dreamt of Edward Cullen.
