I am loving all the reviews!

You guys are awesome!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. I do own Joe, Mel, and Rachel.

I hope you like this chapter.

Please R&R.

Chapter 15

"The clothes she put you in are nice, but I was talking about the smile you are wearing. I like it. You should wear it more often."

"Tha-anks."

"Anytime," he said softly.

I realize we were outside my Spanish class.

Edward swept his hand along side of my cheek, "See you at lunch Bella?"

"Yes," I managed to get out.

"Good. I have missed you there," with that he turned to leave. "Bye Bella."

"Bye Edward."

When I entered Spanish, I was glad to find that I was early this time. I did not have to 'make an entrance.' I found Angela was there already. I went over and took my seat next to her.

"Hello Angela," I greeted with a smile.

A look of surprise crossed her face for a spit second before she returned a smile, "Hey Bella. How are you?"

"I'm good and yourself?"

"Good. You look nice today."

"Thanks."

We continued with polite conversation until the bell rang. That's what I liked about Angela. She was nice and didn't ask too many questions. Like why I was so distant last week.

Spanish passed pretty quickly and then we had Journalism.

I walked with Angela there.

When we arrived Mrs. Reynold called Angela up to her desk. She talked to her until the bell rang. After they were done talking Angela came to sit down at the seat next to me. She had a worried look on her face.

"Is everything okay," I asked.

"um I don't know," she replied.

"Angela?"

She did not respond. Instead Mrs. Reynold started class.

When the bell rang for lunch Angela's face had not lost it's worried expression.

"Angela, what's wrong? Please tell me."

She seemed to crack when I said please.

"Oh Bella I don't want you to think that I am pressuring you again, but I still haven't filled all the spots for the paper."

"Oh."

"Don't worry. I won't hold you to your promise. I don't want to loose you again."

She was referring to last week when I became distant.

I knew I would regret this but, "No Angela. I would love to be on the paper. Is it the 'Ask Jane' section?"

"Yes, but you know you don't have to do it."

"I want to," I managed to say enthusiastically

Her eyes lit up, "Thank you, Thank you Bella!"

"Your welcome," I laughed at her excitement.

"Let me go tell Mrs. Reynold the good news," as she hurried off in the direction we just came from.

I shook my head after her and turned to walk into the cafeteria. Too bad I hit something hard and started falling backwards.

"Hey shorty be careful," I heard Emmett's booming voice as he stopped me from landing on my butt.

"Thanks Emmett. Sorry for running into you."

"I didn't even feel it," he said waving off my apology. "I just so happened to turn around in time to see you try to balance yourself."

I blushed.

Emmett then grabbed my hand and pulled me into the cafeteria.

"Hey Em, what are you doing?"

"Making sure you get to lunch. No avoiding us today," he said trying to give me a stern look. His face just looked goofy instead.

"I was planning on sitting with you guys. So can you let go of my hand?"

"Okay, but I am watching you."

We both headed into the lunch line at the same time. I got a deli wrap and a bag of chips. Emmett piled his tray with two slices of pizza, a scoop of fries, two bag of chips, a pretzel, and to top it all off an apple. I guess he was trying to eat healthy. I laughed at how much his lunch reminded me of what Joe would get.

When we reached our table, Jasper was already sitting there.

He smiled up at us as we walked over, "Hey Emmett. Hey Bella. I see Alice got to you. You look nice though."

"Thanks Jasper," I smiled timidly.

I went to take a seat next to Emmett, but out of nowhere Joe came running up with his tray and stole the seat.

"Sorry Bells, but I need this seat today. I have to talk to Em about something."

I nodded my head confused. Has Joe been sitting with them on a regular basis?

I decided on the seat next to Joe. When I looked at his lunch I had to laugh again. It held the same foods that Emmett's had.

"You should definitely do that more often as well," came that smooth voice in my ear.

I jumped slightly and then turned to him, "Do what?"

"Laugh," Edward said as he took the seat next to me. "It's rather a lovely sound. Do you know that?"

I quickly dropped my head down to hide my blush and shook my head. He reached for my hand under the table just like he had at dinner, and squeezed it. I squeezed back.

"Bella, pick your head up. You don't want to get food in your hair," Alice demanded.

I lifted my head up and watched her sit down next to Jasper, who leaned over and gave her a light kiss on the lips.

"No Public Displays of Affection guys," Joe said with mock disgust.

Alice stuck her tongue out at him. She then turned to Edward.

"So Edward, doesn't Bella look just gorgeous today?"

"Of course. She looks beautiful everyday," he said while giving me a wink.

"See Bella. I told you that you were naturally beautiful," she said to me before returning to Edward. "You know she wouldn't even look in the mirror this morning to see herself."

Edward turned to me and raised his eyebrows.

"Stupid pixie," I muttered, mimicking Mike from this morning.

"Oh that reminds me Bella. Be sure to steer clear of Newton. Something tells me that this morning was not his only attack."

"Attack," Edward's voice a mix of worry and anger.

"No. Not an attack. Alice. He just said that I looked nice."

"Okay maybe 'attack' is too strong of a word. But he was going to strike. Trust me Bella. You didn't see him approaching you. I can't imagine his flirting if Rose and me weren't there."

I heard a slight growl come from beside me. Wait growl?

I looked over at Edward he had a look of concerned anger, but when he caught me looking at him, his face softened a little. I met his eyes and just stared into them. The longer I held his gaze the calmer he became.

We remained that way until Alice cleared her throat. This snapped us back to reality.

"Well Bella you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Em and me are in gym with you so that's taken care of. And something tells me Mike will not come near you with Edward around. Oh and one last thing before you two return to your 'moment'."- I blushed at this- "Bella you will be coming with me and Rose this Saturday shopping and hanging out."

I quickly recovered from my embarrassment at the last part. I became defensive.

"Oh no Alice. Absolutely not. No way am I going shopping."

"Come on Bella. You have to go. I looked at your wardrobe this morning and it's very limited."

"Insulting my clothes is not going to work. I am not going."

"Isabella Swan. You are going to spend Saturday with me and you are going to like it. Why because you owe me one. Remember?"

Crap. Me and my big mouth.

"Alice," I groaned.

"Nope Bella. I will be there bright and early Saturday morning," she gave me one last look before turning to Rosalie to discuss further plans for the big day.

Big day. That reminds me I still need to make sure Joe doesn't let anything slip about my birthday. From Alice's plans, I do not think he said anything about it.

Emmett, Joe, and Jasper started talking about their hiking trip this past weekend. They were already planning another one in the coming weeks.

No one was paying Edward and me any attention. I was glad. I did not want the added pressure I would no doubt, feel from Rose and Alice.

"How has your day been so far Bella," Edward asked with concern in his voice.

"It's been interesting. English passed rather easy. We were discussing author's craft for this article. It amazes me sometimes when people get confused at it. Calculus, well you were there. I think that what Mrs. Stevens said to us in Spanish, made more sense then the equations we had to solve. Um..I am now a member of the newspaper staff for school. Oh and I almost fell after I ran into Emmett the wall over here. He says he didn't even feel me hit him. Then the attack from Alice," I rambled on before blushing at how much I said.

He smiled at me, "Don't ever feel embarrassed about talking. I enjoy hearing what you have to say."

This only caused my face to become redder.

"Now lets see. Author's craft is pretty simple, but interesting. Calculus was a little confusing, but I think I'm understanding it. I can help you if you want,"-I nodded at his offer, before he continued, "-and the newspaper? Wow really? That's awesome. And Em is like a wall. But he's also a giant teddy bear as well."

Edward finished with that crooked grin on his face.

Before I could say anything the bell rang. We both stood up and dumped our trash. I then followed him out into the hall as we made our way to Biology.

As I walked next to him, my hand itched to grab onto his again. Would that make him uncomfortable? It's what couples do. We were not a couple. Did I want to be a couple?

Sometimes I wonder if he could read my mind. To answer my unspoken worries, Edward reached for my hand. He did not grab it, but rather ran his fingers over it and looked at me as if to ask if I was okay with it. I responded by running my fingers over his. This seemed to be all that he needed.

We walked the rest of the way to class with our hands intertwined. To people around us we must have looked like we were dating. Did I want that?

Mr. Banner arrived at the room the same time Edward and I did. He was pushing a T.V. into the room.

"As much as I hate doing this, we will be watching a 'county' approved video on evolution. They feel like it's too touchy of a subject for a teacher to teach. They seem to think we are not capable to teach it properly, so instead we will be replaced with a television."

With his rant finished, Mr. Banner started the film and flipped off the lights. For some reason I just could not concentrate on the movie. I looked over to Edward and saw that neither could he. In fact he wore a bit of a nervous expression. His chin was resting on his hands on the table.

Even in the dark, Edward managed to take my breath away. He was so close. I just wanted to reach out and grab his hand and have him wrap me in his arms.

Control yourself Bella. I realized that I had lifted my hand off the desk and was reaching toward him. I quickly folded my arms on the desk and lay my head on them. I then forced my attention back to the video.

There was a minute left of class when Mr. Banner turned off the video. He told us that we would be resuming it for the rest of the week. Oh great. How am I ever going to make it without attacking Edward right in the middle of class.

After I had finished packing up the bell rang. Edward stood up first next to me and waited.

Once we were out in the hallway, I automatically grabbed his hand.

"Well that movie was torture," he stated simply.

"I know and we have a whole week left with it," I agreed.

He walked me to gym and like this morning, when he left me at Spanish, he reached up and touched my cheek. Then he was gone.

Unfortunately today in gym, we were starting our unit of volleyball. Great. We were going to start off learning the different types of hits you could make. We gathered in groups of four and had to practice keeping the ball in the air. I worked with Emmett, Alice, and some girl who was also in my English class named Jessica. It was a big mistake working with the two Cullens.

Emmett and Alice had a good time laughing at my expense. Every time I tried to hit it, the ball would fly to the opposite side of the gym, almost knocking out my unsuspecting peers. If I did manage to keep it in our little circle we had formed, I would harm myself with it.

Much to my own relief and everyone elses, we put the balls away and headed into the locker room to change. I was the first one finished and headed to the door to wait for the bell to ring.

As I was waiting, I could not help, but overhear the conversation going on behind the first set of lockers. It sounded like that girl Jessica and someone I did not recognize.

"Do you really think they're going out," Jessica asked.

"I don't know, but they did look awfully close," came the voice I did not know.

"The Edward Cullen has not show an interest for any girl in this town all five years he has lived here."

"I know and then all of a sudden this new girl shows up and she's glued to his side. I wonder if he lets her out of pity or if she's paying him."

I did not want to listen to any more of this conversation. I exited through the door to the hallway before the bell even rang. I made my way to my locker and quickly threw it open. I could feel myself fighting back tears. They were from a mixture of anger and sadness. Mostly anger. I slammed my locker and started to head toward the door to leave.

Then I heard Mike's voice,"Bella wait up!"

I glanced to my right and saw Newton running in my direction. I also glanced around me and realized that no one was in sight.

When he finally caught up he was out of breath, "Bella, I saw you leave the gym pretty upset. Are you okay? Need that shoulder to cry on?"

"Um no," disgust in my voice.

Before I could walk away he continued, "I also just wanted to ask if you would reconsider my offer to take you out to dinner."

"Mike," I started. My voice was filled with frustration, "I am not going to change my mind. The answer is still no."

Not liking rejection, his own voice contained anger, "Bella you have become a challenge to me. I love a good challenge."

"I am not some prize you can win."

"Want to bet," he said stepping closer to me. Just as he was reaching for my arm, an angered yell came from behind us.

"Newton you lay a hand on her, and I will bet you that you won't be able to walk for a very long time."

Edward.

I have never heard him talk like that. With such anger.

"Relax Eddie. I wasn't going to do anything. We were just talking."

"From the look of fear that is on her face I highly doubt you were 'just talking.' Now step away from her," his voice still frightening.

As Mike began backing away from me, Edward started to walk closer. When he reached my side Mike had turned on a complete sprint down the hallway.

Once he was out of sight Edward looked at me. His eyes still held anger, but were softening.

"Bella," he breathed, "Are you okay?"

It took me a moment to respond, "Ye-s."

Right after the word came out of my mouth the bell rang.

Edward took my hand and led me outside to my truck. I let myself lean into his side. He then dropped my hand. Before I could become too upset at the loss of his touch, I felt his arm wrap around my shoulders. Electricity seemed to pulse through my veins.

"Thank you," I whispered. "How many times have you saved me?"

"I am not keeping track, but there is no limit to how many times I will."

"Well thanks."

"Anytime."

When we reached my truck Edward released me so I could climb in. The problem was I did not know how to in my skirt. I could ask Edward, but would that be awkward. Thankfully I didn't have to ask him.

Joe was running up. "Hey Edward. Need help Bella?"

I simply nodded. I turned to Edward, "Bye Edward. See you tomorrow."

"I can't wait," he said while sweeping a piece of hair behind my ear. I shivered at his touch.

My response caused my favorite crooked grin to spread across his face.

My favorite crooked grin?

Soon Joe and I were on our way home.

Okay so let me know what you think.

Love it? Hate it?

Please Review!

Love,

Jane