OMG SORRY…………………………….stupid writer's block made me…. Blocked. And lazy. And crap like that!

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SPOILER WARNING: My fanfic/s include references from the whole Twilight Saga. Yes, including Midnight Sun, regardless of the fact it isn't even published yet. Shush!

Disclaimer: The fabulous mind behind the characters Edward Cullen, Alice Cullen and Isabella Swan, and of course, Emmett Cullen - and company - is Stephenie Meyers'. Not mine. Sad, I know.

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Preview: But why do I have this feeling things go downhill from here?

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Chapter 7: Calm Before The Storm ("Bella" 's POV)

Right, so Eddie's back. That kind of puts a damper on my plans of world domination….

What I meant to say is that I was very much caught off guard that Edward is back days before he should have been. Wasn't he gone for like, a whole week in the actual book? I'm very much confused.

Vampires really existing, that I can swallow. Getting sucked into a book, sort of. But a book that I got sucked into changing its events? Not so much. I was pretty comfortable during my first few Edward-less days, less dazzled, might I add… but this, this doesn't help me.

Lunch arrived faster than I would have liked. Once I entered the cafeteria, my eyes zoomed in to the one table I just knew was the Cullen's. It took one second for me to find that specific table, and once I saw them all, I was… speechless.

"Bella, you coming?" Angela asked.

"Yeah… right behind you," I told her, with my eyes still fixed on their table. I continued to walk to my "group" and our table, still distracted by the Cullens.

Sitting on the far left of the other side of the bench, facing my direction, was none other than Alice Cullen herself. Her eyes weren't locked on me initially, which I found odd. Wasn't she able to tell once I arrived in the cafeteria? Premonitions, and all. That's odd. Sitting on her side was of course, Jasper, with his right arm draped on Alice's shoulders. He looked as calm and collected as he was described in the books.

… And lastly, on the right edge, was Edward. I didn't need to directly look at him, and I didn't (!), because through my peripheral vision, I already saw his bronze hair. Yeah, bronze. How is that color even possible? I had to wonder.

And he wasn't moving - just staring at the floor while being dazzling.

"Hi Bella…." Mike greeted me first, in a low voice - I think he was trying to sound seductive. Hah - snort.

"Hey, Bella!" Tyler, beside Mike (who was ogling at me - again - ew), waved to me. At least he wasn't gross like Newton, he seemed genuinely nice. Anyway… yeah, I just ignored Mike.

"Bells!" Angela chirped.

"Hey Tyler, Angie!" I greeted back. I saw from the corner of my eye that Jessica was once again being all territorial, glaring at me. "Jess," She apparently noticed Mike's reaction looking at me. Sheesh, again, how is it my fault that Mike likes me… err, I mean, Bella? I suppressed the want to roll my eyes. "How's everyone doing?" I said, still surveying the Cullens momentarily.

"Good! But I totally bombed my quiz in Spanish earlier… ugh." Ben replied with a scowl on his face.

"Aw, Ben, I'm sure you did just fine!" Angela assured him.

"I'm good," Mike replied, trying to sound like there was a double meaning to it. Ooookay, fail.

The rest of the Cullens had their backs to our tables, but I could still make out who was who. Sitting adjacent to Edward was Rosalie, and judging just from her straight just-got-out-of-salon split-ends-less blonde hair, she is as gorgeous as she was explained to be. Without having to look at her face! Again, how is that even POSSIBLE? Helloooo, I feel insecure now - again … more than ever! Of course, just to Rosalie's left - Emmett himself. Again, much in the same manner as Jasper to Alice, his arm was also on Rosalie's shoulders. And he was big. Like, abominable snow-man big… with curly dark hair. Big puppy.

They looked like a freakin' photoshoot for Hollister, or something. No, Abercrombie. Yeah, or those two combined. What the heck?

Right, so where are the hidden cameras, I wonder?

"Yeah, Ben! Don't beat yourself up for it," I also told him.

"So how about you, Bells?" asked Angela.

I then fully turned my attention to my group of friends. "It was… eventful, I suppose, haha, I'm okay. And! I do not have one clue how I passed my quiz in Trig earlier!" I smiled, but one second later, my stomach grumbled.

Everyone in my group laughed, signaling my face to go beet red. "Oops, excuse me."

Jessica's snort was the loudest - and most unladylike - but I didn't let it affect me. I just smiled back to her as sweetly as I could.

It was THEN that Edward must have caught my scent and found my presence just after my 20 second evaluation of his family because his eyes darted in my direction. His topaz eyes were as smoldering from far away as they were earlier up close, when I saw it as he caught me before I fall. Sigh.

I, as usual, didn't let my eyes linger in his direction. I looked at him for a split second, then looked away. I could act like I wasn't fascinated with them, couldn't I? I mean, I am, but I can't show them. No awkward turtle.

Stupid, dazzling, hot guy with gorgeous face and sexy body in the near vicinity. Hmph.

I focused on my group of friends, trying so very hard not to look at Edward. God knows my eyes wanted to look at him endlessly, though. He himself was like a gravitational pull… and my whole body wanted to fall into him.

"So, Bella, I could tell… interested in the Cullens, are we?" Jessica asked me, as soon as the laughter died down. Acid leaked out of her voice… which sounded nasal. Can you say annoying? Well, I guess this at least was enough to snap me out of my Edward-induced daydreaming.

"Yeah, sure, who wouldn't be?" I answered her honestly, trying to sound indifferent. Honestly, I just wanted her to stfu… ahem, shut the flypaper up.

Jessica snorted (again), trying to imply that I was merely yet another new member of the Cullen fan club, or something. "Edward's staring at you, you know," I raised my eyebrow, as she continued in a quieter voice (sheesh, as if Edward wouldn't be able to hear!) "probably looking at how your hair looks so frizzy today," She smiled sweetly, as if to say HAH! He wouldn't be interested in you in a million years.

Jealous, was she?

"Come on now, guys, chill…" Angela tried to pacify the situation.

My eye started twitching due to my annoyance with this Stanley kid.

"Yeah, chill," Ben added, though he sounded nervous.

Jessica was trying to see if I was going to be angered by her comment (thereby causing my kicking her annoying face), and/or flustered due to Edward… and his staring, or something. And she wanted Edward to see both of those not so pretty sides of me. Well, sure I am flustered… about the latter - OH CRAP, Edward's staring at me - but I won't let her know that. Nor would I let her know I wanted to wring her neck right now.

Ready to take her down, I decided to act like the me I know - sarcastic. I smirked, while looking at Jessica, and said, "hmm, jealous are we, Jessica?" I winked at her, still with a smirk on my face, then looked over to the Cullen table.

I don't know where I got the courage to do it - but I did - I saw Edward straight away, and smiled at him… put my right hand on the right side of my face, mimicking the stance of a phone call, and mouthed, "call me!" making sure she saw.

Edward and his shock didn't register as obvious to those who wouldn't pay attention particularly to him. His face didn't betray his emotions, but his eyes left it all out in the open. A smile was spreading out on his lips, however. He mouthed back, playing along with my charade, "tonight," then winked back.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! (insert internal scream here)

I could only imagine Emmett's reaction… and Rosalie's. And Alice's, too, for that matter. Why had Edward played along? Wasn't he supposed to be the antisocial, emo, contained vampire that he was? Oh, the author of that book is… misleading.

Talk about confusing. Be still, my hyperventilating self.

Jessica's reaction, however, was priceless: her eyes wide, looking as if ready to pounce on me and take me down. Pfrt. Mike was holding on to her arm, so she wouldn't stand up and kill me. Whoa. What about her boy toy Mike?

Insert another stomach growling here. Talk about embarrassing! Everyone apparently forgot the tension in the air, and doubled over in laughter. Ah well, saved by the growl, I guess?

"Aaaanyway, my stomach's complaining…. And without getting your panties in a knot, Jess, if you all will excuse me… gonna grab some food," I preferred not to be caught in a cat fight. I stood up and walked over to the vending machine of snacks, and bought an apple, a banana, 2 pre-packaged ham and cheese sandwiches, 3 snickers bars, and 2 cans of diet Coke. What could I do? I was hungry.

"UGH! I'm going to Lauren! Come on, Mike!" Jessica snapped.

"Uh… you go on ahead, babe, I'll catch up," said Mike.

"FINE!" Jessica retorted. Oh well. So much for that friendship.

On my way back, I passed by the Cullen table. From the corner of my eye, I could tell Edward visibly sat up straight and stiffened. I was careful enough not to breathe around their immediate vicinity… and not look at him!

I swear I could have heard Rosalie comment on the amount of food I had, saying something like… "getting fat… so much food… human… call….whaat…" I wanted to laugh right then and there. Trust her to worry about something so…so…so closely related to vanity! I continued to walk past by them as hastily as possible because the breath I was holding wouldn't last for very much longer.

However, as fate would have it… sigh, for Bella, I dropped the sandwiches that I was cradling on my right arm. At least it wasn't the soda, or the bananas; the chocolates were safely tucked in my pocket. Anyway, those wouldn't survive the fall much…

I scrambled to my feet to gather my food, but in less than 2 seconds that I was there, someone was helping me. We both tried to grab the same sandwich, but in the process, his hand clamped over mine. Cold. But more than the cold temperature, I felt a tingling sensation that intensified the longer the hand was touching me. I gasped, but didn't pull out my hand. The perfect looking right hand had done that for me. As soon as the figure realized I gasped, they must've thought I was uncomfortable - when I wasn't - and immediately withdrew theirs.

Gulp.

I looked up slowly, only to find the same smoldering pair of topaz eyes staring at my face, with his hand in the air, holding my sandwich. It was Edward! DING DING DING. Bingo.

He handed me the sandwich and said, "Sorry about that… here you go, your sandwich." His face was plastered with a serious expression I couldn't quite read. What the heck? Sudden change from earlier…

"Umm, thanks." I stood up, continuing the conversation with him. He wouldn't start the conversation, though. He was just there, looking at me. I cleared my throat, and asked, "uh… are you going to ask about earlier yet?"

Haha, I dazzled Edward.

He laughed lightly, then asked in a silent voice, "uh… oh yeah, so what was that with Jessica Stanley?"

"Um, she was being… more sour to me… more than usual - so I just thought…" then it dawned on me and my eyes widened, "BUT! I didn't mean to like, uh, use you, I mean, that wasn't my intention!" I was blushing at this. Ugh, ugh, ugh! I'm such a horrible person!

"I don't mind, Bella," he said with a small smile. It was a careful smile - I knew he didn't want to anger his siblings.

But… WHOA. All right, it's one thing to get sucked into a book, see your favorite character scowling, then see them help you with a serious expression on their face … but this… Edward smiled! He smiiiiiled! He smiled, he smiled at ME! I could just break out in dance! Which I won't, but you know how excited I mean I am.

Sparkly… sparkly pretty vampire…

I gathered enough courage to walk away first. "Th-thanks, Edward, really. I appreciate the help. See you in bio then," I told him with another smile.

"See you," I heard him reply from the distance.

I got back to my table, food enough for 3 in tow. Angela spoke first, but instead of focusing on the fact that Edward helped me, she asked, "are you seriously going to eat that by yourself?!"

"Yeah, of course!" I exclaimed.

"Aww, Bells! I'm so flattered! Thank you!" Mike said, as he reached for my food.

I just swatted his hand and ignored him, getting another glare from Jessica. Ughhh. Make up your MIIIND, Stanleeeey.

My friends were slowly nibbling off of their own sandwiches as they watched me devour my food. I could also feel a certain group of topaz eyes scrutinizing my every bite.

I eat a lot - so what?

RINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Aw crap, lunch was over. Lovely Biology is next! Whoop-dee-doo. I took my lovely time in going to our lovely biology laboratory, thinking what I should do with this new found "friendship" with Edward Cullen.

I entered the laboratory, trudged my way to my seat while contemplating whether to befriend Edward or not. If I didn't become friends with him….

PROS

Not risking my life

Not being dazzled

Not getting the Cullens suspicious that I know too much

CONS

Possibility of not getting on with the story and not getting back HOME

No Edward

No Alice

No Edward

Possible dangerous circumstances without help

No Edward

And most of all, no Edward.

Uggghhhhhh….

I sat down in my usual lab table, now occupied by both Edward and I again. He was already situated in his side of the table, but this time, he wasn't looking away from me. He actually greeted me!

"Hi," he said.

"Hi back, so I guess this is welcome back to school?"

He hid his shock well. "Yeah - I had to visit a few relatives for a long weekend," he replied. Hmm… Alaska. He wasn't supposed to know I knew about his disappearance, and that it was deliberate.

"I see." This was followed by a brief silence. Mr. Banner hadn't arrived yet.

"Was it cold?" I asked, wanting to end the uncomfortable silence. WAIT. I slipped! I based this question on the fact that I knew he was in Alaska, and he hadn't told me yet! UGGHH Another slip up!!

"Excuse me?" he asked, his mask of calmness somewhat diminishing.

"Oh, I mean, um, it was cold over the weekend here in Forks… and I was wondering if you travelled somewhere as cold… too?" I just hope my voice didn't crack.

"Oh," he breathed out, "yeah, I suppose it was."

Another uncomfortable silence.

"So I saw you eat a lot," he asked, trying to make small talk. I blushed, as if on cue, not because it was embarrassing for someone to point out to me how I eat too much (that was normal for me, and I was used to people's reactions) but more on how he actually saw me eating too much!

"A..haha, yeah! So I've been told," I answered him nervously. He noticed my tone of voice, but probably misunderstood it.

"Oh! But I didn't mean - I mean, I didn't intend to sound like you eat too much, I mean, it's okay for a girl to, I … sorry, Bella-" he looked straight at me, as if to apologize - though his stutter gave his panic away. He would've continued his ranting, by the looks of it, but Mr. Banner arrived just in the nick of time. I don't think I could have survived another 5 minutes of the silence between me and Edward.

But hey, I got Edward to stutter. That's an accomplishment in my books right there.

"All right, class! For today's lab, we're going to be working with microscopes! It's Mitosis today!" chirped our middle-aged teacher.

I smirked. Hey, I like Biology! Mitosis is as easy as counting 1 to 10 for me. So then I got up before Edward had, and retrieved the microscope that we needed. He arrived at the table before me, with a set of slides for identification. I put the microscope down, plugged it in, and didn't notice when Edward had gotten the slide on the microscope's stage already.

Wow, I could hardly believe we worked in such good synchronization.

As I looked at the specimen, I couldn't help but feel that this was a familiar scene. (A/N: page 44-46-ish of Twilight xD)

"Get started," Mr. Banner commanded, all chirpy yet again - he was in a good mood.

"Ladies first, partner?" Edward asked. For the first time in the whole day, he was smiling that crooked smile so beautiful that I could only stare at him like an idiot. So being the idiot that I was, after 2 seconds, I slapped the side of my face to snap out of it. It worked.

Edward was confused, and yes, again - slightly shocked. "Uh… um, or I could start… if you wish?" His smile faded; he was obviously wondering if I was mentally competent. Ah, how I wanted to bang my head on the laboratory table so bad!

"N-no. it's cool! I was just surprised how we work well in sync," I answered honestly, flushing. He smiled back in response (YAY!) I didn't want to tell him that I was being dazzled, heck no. "I'll go ahead, thanks."

Okay, much like the real Bella in the book, I wanted to show off… a tiny bit. Not only have I already done this lab for Mitosis, I've already done Meiosis as well. See? I studied the slide briefly, knowing what to look for already.

I stated my assessment with confidence. "Prophase."

"Do you mind if I look?" Edward asked as I began to remove the slide. Oops. For the second time today, his bare hand touched mine, and I felt that shock of electricity flow through us. He stopped my hand from moving the slide. "Ah, err, sorry again," he muttered as he moved his hand away, like he was shocked or something.

"No, no, it's my bad," I assured him. I watched him, still staggered from the contact, as he examined the slide for an even shorter time than I had. Stupid smart gorgeous vampire, hmph.

"Prophase," he agreed, then proceeded to write it neatly in the first space on our worksheet. He then swiftly switched out the first slide for the second, and then glanced at it cursorily.

"Anaphase," he murmured, writing it down as he spoke.

I wanted to take advantage of this natural flow of conversation between us, so I decided to, er, continue the small talk. "May I, Edward?"

He smirked and pushed the microscope to me.

I tried to look into the eyepiece eagerly, but my eyes were focused elsewhere (my peripheral vision, specifically). His answer didn't disappoint, it was indeed the anaphase stage.

"Slide three?" I held out my hand without looking at him.

He handed it to me; it seemed like he was being careful not to touch my skin a third time.

I took the most fleeting look I could manage.

"Interphase." I passed him the microscope before he could ask for it. He took a swift peek, and then wrote it down. I would have written it while he looked, but his clear, elegant script intimidated me. I didn't want to spoil the page with my… doctor's writing, ahem.

I realized that in the original book, there were only 3 slides to identify. I was surprised to see Edward holding out another slide for us to examine. I gave him a curious look, only to receive another crooked smile back. My blush was an interesting shade of red.

I put the slid the specimen in, and took a peek. It was unexpected, and I didn't understand how it was also included. "This is odd…" I mumbled to myself. Apparently, he had heard.

"What's odd?" Edward inquired.

"It's cytokinesis," I whispered to him.

He blinked. "Are you sure? It could be another Interphase…" he asked.

"Yeah, here, take a look," I answered, then pushed the microscope back to him.

"Hmmm… so this is what Mr. Banner was hiding," Edward mumbled so low, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to hear it. Did he mean that Mr. Banner was hiding that specific thought? Edward would have heard of it, otherwise.

"So it was a trick question?" I asked him.

Edward looked back at me, apparently not having realized he voiced out his thought and I had heard his low mumbling. "Um, yeah, but you were right."

"Yay!" I couldn't help but exclaim, then put my hand up to high five Edward. "High five, man!"

It took a moment for Edward to process this information, but he eventually did. He high fived me back, only to have missed my hand. If vampires could blush! This kid was adorable!

"That's ok! One more time!" I told him, smiling back, trying to say it in a whisper with as much excitement I could muster.

"Haha, sorry, okay-" the last attempt for the high five was successful. It made a loud popping noise which echoed throughout our classroom which was pretty silent. We started laughing out loud at our little feat. Theeeen people reacted.

Unfoooortunately, people turned their heads in our direction, with bewildered expressions on their faces. They were probably wondering why Edward of all people was mucking around with, well, someone like me.

"Don't mind them, Edward," I told him in a whisper.

"I'm not," he whispered back, "and that was fun." He added.

"It was. I'm looking forward to this semester, Mr. Cullen." I honestly told him.

"Me too." He said back, sounding somewhat sad. I knew what he was thinking.

"All right, all right you two, are you done?" Mr. Banner asked.

"Yep. AP Bio here, sir," I told him.

"Oh, well it's a good thing Edward has some competition now, huh!"

Edward just had his crooked smile on his face.

Ahhh, life was sweet.

However, with our little feat just now, I started to have a little bit of hope that this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Sort of.

But why do I have this feeling things go downhill from here?