Disclaimer: It's almost like you're taunting me.

Wow, this was a pretty long chapter for me to write. Hmm, I apologize if there are some random mistakes in this chapter; I was tired when I typed it! I hope you like it, though. :)

Thanks for the reading and the reviewing!

"How does the suicidal impulse that both Romeo and Juliet exhibit relate to the overall theme of young love?"

I looked around the classroom and saw the other students' eyes avoiding Mr. Donovan and his question. On any other day, I would have been more than happy to voice my thoughts, but I was too preoccupied by the confusing invitation Alice Cullen presented to me. I also noticed that the seat in front of me was empty.

Edward wasn't even in class. I searched my brain for any clues as to why he was avoiding me. Was he angry at me? Had I done something to hurt him? Maybe he had noticed my strange obsession with him and was uncomfortable. I groaned at my pathetic and creepy behavior. The rest of the classes were followed by more of these nerve-racking questions.

By 3rd period, I had debated every possible reason Edward Cullen was avoiding me. I was ready to clear my mind and P.E. was the perfect solution. At Silver High, the juniors and seniors were given the option of taking gym class electives. When creating my schedule, I weighed the chances of being injured… or hurting someone else for each class offered. I considered my lack of grace and coordination in making my decision. My safest bet was the track program, which mostly involved training for students who did cross country or track as their extra curricular sport. Jacob was a junior, so he opted to join me in Coach Johnson's class.

After getting changed into the green and yellow gym uniform, I walked past the mirrors in the girls' locker room and walked out to the track to see a crowd of boys in the same colors I was dressed in. I smiled to myself. I had always thought it was strange how Silver High's School colors were green and gold, with no sign of silver anywhere.

I was slowly making my way to the group that was stretching when I felt a pair of warm hands grab me from behind. I let out a small shriek and turned around to see Jacob smiling.

"Jake, you scared me!" I wiggled out of his arms and pushed him away lightly. It was then that I noticed that Jacob's skin was burning up- he seemed to be running a fever. I looked up at him and put my hand to his forehead. "Are you feeling alright, Jacob?"

He looked down at me confusedly. "Yeah, I think so. I'm feeling a little weird, but nothing's wrong. Why?"

"You're really hot!"

Jacob started to laugh "Why, thank you. It's always nice to hear."

I turned around and started to join the others for attendance. "Fine, Handsome. Why don't you and your pretty face go to the nurse?"

"No, I'll be fine. I promise."

I made my way to Coach Johnson and signed in when I saw Mike Newton approaching me.

"Hey, Bella" he smiled at me in his soccer jersey.

"Hi, Mike. What are you doing here? I thought you were in Team Sports. Don't you guys meet over in the soccer field?"

"Yeah, but I wanted to come over here and say hi. I actually had a question for you."

I could see Jacob standing by the track, watching us talk with his fists clenched. Mike must have noticed this too, and decided to continue testing Jacob's self control.

"What do you see in that guy?"

I looked at Mike in surprise, and then at Jacob. He was standing in a defensive stance with a strange look on his face.

"Jacob?"

"Yeah, Bella. He's just a stupid junior" Mike's voice got louder as he got riled up "Bella, I've liked you since last year. I'm better for you. I could give you so much more than he can, in more ways than one. Don't tell me that you would really rather be with that juvenile Jacob guy than me."

I started "Mi-Mike. I'm sor-..." but all of a sudden, Mike was no longer standing in front of me, but was down on the grass.

In confusion, I looked up and saw Jacob hovering over Mike's body, shaking. Other students' eyes were on us and I saw Mike struggling to stand up. The teachers outside were approaching the two boys when I looked at Jacob's trembling arms. He looked so different.

"Jacob, what were you thinking?" I hissed.

"I- Bella, sorry. I… have to go, I don't know what's going on right now." Jacob's eyes were opened big and he looked at his shaking hands with fear.

He turned towards the teachers and put his hand up "I know that I'll be sent home. I'll go to the Dean."

I had never seen Jacob acting so violently before and I was troubled by the sight of Jacob looking so pained and confused about what he had just done.

The rest of the students were looking at a disheveled Mike and at me with curiosity in their faces. Coach Johnson took this opportunity of silence to corral us back into our gym classes. I participated in class as I would normally have and tried to ignore the whispers and fingers pointed at me.

At this point, I was thoroughly baffled by the events of the day, and I knew that in a few minutes, I would go to lunch and sit with Alice Cullen. I was slightly concerned about what would happen, but I had a secret desire to speak to Alice, and hopefully would see Edward at lunch also.

I walked into the cafeteria and bought the quickest thing I could find. I carried my tray holding a simple pizza slice and water towards the back corner of the east side of the lunch room. It wasn't hard to find Alice Cullen. She and her family had been sitting on that table for their entire stay at Silver High.

I saw the dark haired girl smile as she waved me over. I walked carefully over to the seat opposite her and sat down.

"Um… hi, Alice." I mumbled.

Alice looked at me and let out a lyrical giggle.

"The boy from before school… Jacob Black, was it?"

I couldn't believe that I was sitting with Alice Cullen, and we were talking about Jacob. Out of all of the things we could be discussing, she wanted to know about Jake. I looked at her suspiciously.

"Yeah, why?" I asked.

Alice lifted her fork and played with the salad in front of her.

"Nothing. He seems very…" her eyes narrowed "interesting."

I was unsure what to make of Alice's weird question about Jake and was about to reach for the pizza slice when Alice started to speak.

"Bella, you must be surprised that I asked you over here."

I responded, slightly flustered "Yeah, a little."

I looked around and saw other students staring at me for the second time today.

"I guess you should be, since you're the first person to sit with any of us in all 3 years of going to this school."

I asked "You came here as a sophomore?"

Alice let out a small laugh "Yes. Not many people know about us here, and you came here last year, so I didn't expect you to know that. What have you heard about us infamous Cullens?"

I thought for a little bit, trying to decide what to say.

"Well, all I know is that you, Jasper, Emm…ett?" I looked up at Alice to make sure I had said her mammoth older brother's name correctly.

Alice nodded.

"Umm… Emmett, Rosalie, and Edward were adopted by Dr. Carlisle Cullen. I know your dad because he took care of Charlie during an accident."

I remembered the night clearly. I was in my room reading a book when I heard the phone ring. Charlie was on duty that night, so I found my way to the telephone. Soon after hearing the news from Charlie's police friend, I found no time to change out of my pajamas. I just grabbed my keys and sped to the hospital. I found Charlie sleeping in his room where a handsome doctor was checking some charts. I remember staring at the movie-star doctor when he glanced up from the papers and saw me.

"Hi, I'm Charlie's doctor, Carlisle Cullen. Are you his daughter?"

"Yeah, I am. Is he… going to be alright?" I asked in a scratchy voice.

"Don't be too worried. The gunshot was not fatal, and your father will be fine."

I nodded my head slowly and took a look at Charlie's tired and aged face.

A high lilting voice brought me back to the present.

"Yup, Carlisle is a great doctor. He loves his work. Did you actually know that Edward is considering following in his footsteps?"

"No, I didn't. I've actually never spoken to Edward before. I don't think he… cares to do so, either" I murmured.

Alice gave me a weak smile.

"You really should cut him some slack. He's really trying hard."

Edward was trying to get to know me? If so, then why would he be avoiding me?
I asked, "Trying hard to do what?"

Alice leaned in closer to me and whispered "You should know that Edward's actually interested in getting to know you. It's a bit more difficult for him, though… there are some circumstances."

Circumstances? I was concentrating on Alice's words so carefully that it wasn't until I saw a shadow on the table that I realized Edward Cullen was standing next to me.

Before I could react, Edward sat in the seat next to Alice and looked in my direction.

"Hello. My name is Edward Cullen. I don't think I've ever properly introduced myself to you yet."

I managed to cough out "Hi. Yeah, I know you are. We were in Mr. Donovan's English Literature class for the last two years."

He smiled at me and gave me a quick nod.

"So we were. I take it that Alice has already told you a little bit about us?"

Alice said softly, "Just the very basics, Edward."

He leaned back and crossed his arms on his chest.

"Well, Bella, why don't you tell us about yourself?"

For some reason, my mouth opened and words came out without any hesitation.

"Umm… I moved here last year, I think you remember… I live with Charlie, my dad. He works as a cop in the city. I used to live with my mom Renee, but then she got married to Phil. She's off living in who-knows-where now and I decided that I needed some type of stability."

Edward looked at me intently.

"Does that bother you? Renee and Phil living like that?"

I shrugged.

"Not really. I'm pretty happy here, and it's about time Renee start to live her life without me cradling her."

Edward continued to ask me all sorts of questions about my life while Alice would listen carefully, and I didn't realize that most of the lunch period had passed already.

Alice finally spoke up and asked "So you and Jacob met last year?"

I was surprised that Alice had brought up her curiosity in Jacob again.

"I guess so…"

Edward looked around the cafeteria and then back at me.

"Is this Jacob the same one who was sent home last period for punching Mike Newton?"

News must really travel very quickly in a small school.

I nodded, "Yeah. Jake can get a little bit defensive sometimes, especially about me."

A small smile formed on Edward's lips.

I continued, "But he's really my best friend. He's loyal and means well, even though he is acting strange lately."

I stared at the table and sighed softly, "Maybe he's getting sick."

Alice suddenly asked, "What makes you say that?"

I looked up at Alice and saw her staring at me intensely, waiting for my answer.

"Hm? That he's sick? Oh, I think he had a fever today. He was burning up, there might be a bug going around."

Alice turned towards her brother with a worried glance. Edward looked like he was concerned about Alice's response, but was deep in thought.

Alice snapped out of her worried reaction and directed her attention towards me.

"Bella, I know this might be a very strange request, but can you try to stay away from your boyfriend Jacob for a little while?"

She continued in a nervous tone "Carlisle… warned us that there might be a very highly contagious virus… that is extremely dangerous. Jacob might have it, and… it's too dangerous for you to be around him."

I let out a small chuckle at their seriousness.

"Um, I don't think it was that serious, Alice."

Edward shot me a pleading look.

"Bella- please. We just don't want to see you getting hurt."

Alice interjected "Sick. Edward means sick."

I shrugged, confused at Alice and Edward's strange behavior.

"Alright, I guess I can."

Right then, the passing bell echoed in the cafeteria. Alice, Edward, and I got up from the table and walked towards the lunchroom doors. I never actually got a chance to eat any of my lunch, and instantly regretted not taking Charlie's muffin for myself. I realized that neither Alice nor Edward had eaten anything for lunch either. Edward didn't bring any food to the table, and I was trying to remember if Alice had even touched her salad when I failed to notice the large metal doorstop on the floor. My foot caught hold of the object and I knew that I was going to fall. I was waiting for the impact when I felt… cold.

I heard Alice's soft chuckling in the background when I looked up to see Edward giving me a crooked smile as he was holding me. I immediately felt the contrast between Jacob's warmth and Edward's chilling touch.

Edward whispered "I've always wanted to catch you when you fell."

I could feel my cheeks warm as I blushed. I looked into his topaz colored eyes and felt my heart beat quicken.

Edward suddenly froze and returned me to stand on my own.

He moved away from me with a quick pace, muttering something similar to "… shouldn't even be here… selfish creature…" very quietly.

I stared at Edward, and Alice gave me another sympathetic smile. She pulled me to keep walking to class, as Edward followed along, still keeping his distance.

At the end of the hallway, Alice made a left turn towards her class after giving me a hug.

"Lunch was fun, Bella. We must do it again next time."

I was surprised at her affectionate gesture and agreed. Edward and I were left to continue with a right turn, and I could feel him looking at me as we walked towards the science wing of the school. Embarrassed, I lowered my head, letting my hair drop and stared downwards at the floor.

A smooth voice asked "Where are you going now?"

So Edward was talking to me again.

I responded curtly "Physics".

Edward looked intrigued and replied "I think your class is next to mine."

I nodded, but I was still distressed at Edward's constantly puzzling behavior.

Edward continued "Is something wrong?"

"No."

Edward said confidently "Something is bothering you".

I looked up at him and I blurted "Well, something is bothering me. I don't know if this is just me being crazy, but I think you're angry at me, avoiding me, or something. One second you're talking to me, and the other, you're totally ignoring me. I'm just really confused."

Edward gave a small sigh. After a few seconds, the corners of his lips turned upwards in a small smile, but there was sadness in his eyes.

"You are very observant, Bella. But I'm not angry at you. I was- however, keeping my distance from you."

I knew that the hurt from his words showed up on my face, because Edward paused briefly.

"…Your safety… well, that doesn't matter anymore, because I've given up on that. You are far too interesting for me to ignore. Also, how can I be sure that you won't fall and crack your skull without me there to catch you?"

I was immediately embarrassed.

"How do you know that I'm a klutz?"

Edward started to laugh, "Were you not present just a minute ago when you fell? It's easy to know that you're a klutz when you're constantly tripping in the hallway."

I remembered the amount of times my lack of coordination landed me on the floor or bumping into another person in the hallway. I realized that I couldn't argue with Edward.

He seemed to see my agreement on the subject and smiled.

"I see that I've proven my point."

I had so many questions that I wanted to ask Edward. In particular, why had he been trying to avoid me before? But I decided that today was not the day to push my luck.

I smiled bashfully and arrived in front of Edward and my classroom doors.

I looked up at Edward and he gestured towards my classroom.

"I believe this is your stop."

I looked at the door and found myself biting my lip.

"It is."

He opened my classroom door and grinned at me.

"I guess I will see you later, Ms. Swan."

"Bye, Edward."

I walked into the classroom feeling a wave of emotions crashing in me. I was confused and slightly hurt by what Edward had said to me, but I was still excited to learn about Edward's revelation. He couldn't ignore me anymore… whatever that meant, I was still elated.

Hahaha, so I guess my chapter was pretty long.

Thanks for reading!