A/N: Thanks for the reviews, guys. MORE for this chapter, please. I'm seeing a lot of virtual cookies being tossed around nowadays, so how about I'll give you some virtual… cheesecake? Thanks. (And by the way, the entire story is from Bella's point of view. This chapter is more ABOUT Edward than it is BY Edward.)
Part Two
Edward
Finding my classes in the smallest, most remote little high school on Earth was not exactly difficult, and I soon found that I would have lots of extraneous time on my hands between classes.
After a couple of weeks, things got pretty boring, to say the least. I had a small, secluded group of friends, which consisted of Mike Newton, Jessica Stanley, Angela Weber, and a couple of others. I liked Jessica all right, but the rest of the group I knew strictly on a friends of friends basis.
It didn't get any better that this in Forks, I had myself convinced. I had to repeatedly remind myself that this was what any other teenage girl would want: semi-popular friends, a distinct lunch table, a couple of crushing boys.
But as weeks turned into months, I found myself constantly craving more. Of what, I couldn't be certain. Suffice it to say I wanted a reason to live in Forks, besides the fact that I was being forced. Two weeks later, without any notice, I found that reason.
Trying to salvage the ten minutes before my next course for myself, I quickly made my way, through the bustling halls, toward the library. I desperately needed a book to preoccupy my time, seeing how I had so much time to waste these days. I hadn't the slightest idea what I wanted to read about. Just a book would do.
"Excuse me," I said quietly, avoiding eye contact. "Excuse me. OOF!"
"Oh!" the stranger corrected himself quickly, stooping to his knees and gathering my books and notebooks before I had a chance to catch my breath. "Terribly sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
I stared at him, mouth agape, physically and mentally unable to produce the words I needed to say. "Thank you" or "No problem" were both decent answers to his gentle confrontation. Instead, being the ungraceful klutz that I most definitely was, I said nothing at all.
"Edward Cullen," he said awkwardly, thrusting his hand out towards mine.
Amazingly enough, I managed to shake it. "B-B-Bella. Bella Swan," I answered, hoping he wouldn't notice the intense, inevitable blush that spread across my face. Then again, how could he not?
"Nice to meet you, Bella," he almost cooed, releasing my hand a fraction of a second later. "I'll be seeing you then?"
I nodded, rendered speechless by his presence yet again.
"Later," I whispered to myself, long after he had descended down shadowy hallway. "I'll be seeing you."
Just as I uttered these words, the bell rang. Class began. I had wasted the entire ten minutes talking to Edward Cullen. I felt it was time well-wasted.
TNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEBRTNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEBDTNEB
"Where were you, Bells?" Mike asked, a genuinely curious look plastered on his face.
"Where was I when?" I asked distractedly, fumbling with the zipper on my turquoise knit sweater.
"Before calc. You're always early," he pointed out. I looked up now. He was accusing me. Or had he seen Edward and I talking?
"In the library," I lied.
"You're a terrible liar." This was definitely true.
"You're right." What was the point of lying about it anyway? It wasn't like Edward and I were doing anything illegal, or even anything wrong. We were simply talking, to him. To me, it was so much more. "I was just in the hallway. Talking."
"With whom, may I ask?" This was getting on my very last nerve.
"No one you know, probably," I covered. Lying was not in my best interest, apparently.
"It was Edward, wasn't it?"
So he did know Edward? "Yes. Why?"
"You shouldn't speak to him, Bella. You shouldn't speak to any of the guys outside of the group. They're just too… different."
"Whatever you say, Mike." I really wasn't in the mood for an argument, anyway. Let him have his way. But if there was one thing I was sure of, it was that I was not giving up on Edward yet. He was so intriguing, mysterious. He seemed dangerous, but safe. And I was determined to make him my personal case. I, Isabella Swan, aspiring therapist, was going to crack Edward Cullen somehow, someday.
A/N: Remember: virtual cheesecake for all of you wonderful people who take time off of your busy schedules to stop and review this chapter. Please let me know if you have any ideas.
Also, I have a little challenge for you. Whoever can tell me what "TNEBD" stands for gets recognition and extra cheesecake!! : )
Much love to all,
C.J.