A/N: First, this chapter may have slight changes in the near future. I finished it yesterday but I'm currently looking for a beta, and when it seemed it was going to take longer than expected I decided not to make you wait any longer. So just beware, changes may happen. Second, I have reasons as to why this is a week late but I doubt you want to hear them so I will shut up and let you continue with the story :) Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight - even if it does whisper dirty things in my ear ;)

After rummaging through my bag for five minutes I managed to find a jean skirt that Shayla forced me to buy, and unlike everything else it actually smelled clean. The only down side was I hadn't even been wearing it for ten minutes now and I Can honestly say that I've never been so cold in my frickin life - I was seriously considering just saying screw it and putting my milky pants back on.

Don't get me wrong - the skirt was really cute. It went mid-thigh - because let's face it, who looks good in super short tramp skirts - it was a light stone-wash blue, and frayed around the bottom. However, despite it's cuteness, this Forks weather was freezing my ass cheeks off just running back into the school after I got done changing in Leo's back seat.

Opening the door to the building I was immediately hit with a wall of hot air. The sudden change in temperature made the skin that was exposed prickle with pins and needles, but I didn't mind it to much since it meant the my I was defrosting. No on in their right mind would wear a skirt in Forks Washington, especially in January.

I didn't go back to the cafeteria since I grabbed my backpack when I left, so I just made my way over to my locker to grab my Chemistry book. Today was the first time that I would sit next to Edward Cullen. It felt like all my nerves gathered in my stomach and decided to have a tango party. I had to work my lock a few times because my fingers kept slipping with the light sweat that quickly covering my hands. Saying a silent thank you when I finally managed to get it open I grabbed my stuff and made my way to Mr. Moreno's class.

I wasn't surprised to find that I was the only one there, since lunch hadn't let out yet, so I started doodling in my notebook that never left my bag. It was just one of those cheap ones you can grab at Wal*Mart but I was seriously attached to every one as soon as I got it.

I was just about to trace my hand on the back - a lot more fun than anyone realizes - when Mike walked in.

"Hey Bella! Are you okay? You didn't come back to lunch, so I was about to go looking for you but we only had five minutes left, so I figured I'd just ask you in class."

"Ya Mike, I'm fine, it was just milk. Thanks for asking," I mumbled, just wishing for him to go away. Mike was nice but his persistence was starting to rub me the wrong way a little.

"That's good. So what's up, why weren't you here yesterday? I really missed you." A little pink came to his cheeks as he said the last part.

Not good…

"I was busy with…stuff. It's nothing," I said hoping he wouldn't call me out on my lie - I wasn't prepared for that question, I didn't think anyone would ask.

"Oh, well, I'm glad that you're here," Mike said with a smile so big it hurt just to look at.

"Thanks," I replied lamely.

"So listen, I was wondering…if you're not doing anything this week -"

Mike was interrupted by the sudden noise of a chair being scraped across the floor. Looking over my eyes were met with the most beautiful shade of gold, all I could do was sit there and stare like an idiot. I'd never been this close to Edward Cullen before. So close that I could reach over and touch his hand if I wanted too.

Not even a minute later the bell rang, snapping my attention back to my surroundings.

"Okay everyone park your butts in your seats and listen up," Mr. Banner called over the voices of all the students, clapping. When the room completely quieted down he continued, "Now I want all of you to pa attention. Today we're doing the Flame Test lab, so I want all of you to be careful. Mike that means no pretending to burn your face again," he added, giving Mike a stern look. "You and your partner will be burning a sample of various chemicals and observing the color of the flame. There are handouts already on your desk, I expect you to fill them out and turn them in. Get started."

Partners? Yummy.

Turning towards Edward I saw that he was flipping through the packet. A few seconds later he sighed and met my gaze with a smile on his perfect face.

"Hello, I'm Edward Cullen, it seems we'll be working together for the day."

"Um, hi, I'm Isabella Swan, but just call Bella," I said, returning the smile.

"Oh, I know who you are. The whole town has been talking about you for a while now," he said with a small chuckle.

"Fabulous," I groaned. This just caused him to laugh.

"Shall we get started?" he asked.

"Sure." Sliding off my chair I took a step closer to the middle of the table, and him, and started putting the Bunsen burner together.

I've already done this a few times back in Phoenix, so I didn't really need instructions or help anymore, but I still appreciated it when Edward started connecting the tube to the gas. After it was standing rusted and proud he turned on the gas and lit the flame while I cleaned the wire. We worked in complete silence but it wasn't uncomfortable.

I saw him tense up a few times, especially when I was barely an inch away from him, but I didn't ask about it. Instead I just backed away, not wanting to invade his personal bubble. I hated it when people did that - it always made me grumpy.

"Ladies first," Edward offered, sliding the rack full of solutions towards me.

I made the mistake of looking into his eyes and was trapped. Everything around me was quickly forgotten as I willingly let myself get lost in his golden orbs.

"Um, or I could go first, if you preferred?" he asked, uncertain.

Oh God! He's going to think I'm crazy. Get yourself together Swan!

"Er, no it's fine. I'll do it," I quickly stammered, reaching for the mix labeled one.

"So where were you yesterday?" he asked as I was dipping the wire into the liquid. I glanced up at him and saw that he was looking at me intently.

"Where were you last week?" I replied, as I held the wire right into the middle of the flame. As soon as chemical covered metal came into contact with the fire it turned a startling magenta. It was beautiful, and all to soon turned back into the boring red-orange when all the solution burned off.

"I was visiting some family back in Alaska."

I didn't say anything in reply - just handed him the wire and looked down at the packet that Mr. Moreno gave us, and filled in the answer. I watched as he cleaned and covered the wore with the second solution.

"I believe it's your turn to answer the question," he said with a small smile.

Suppressing a smile of my own - I secretly loved it when guys acted a tiny bit like a smartass - I answered his earlier question.

"I was sick so I decided to stay home. After all it would be very rude of me to infect the innocent people of Forks High."

He smirked at the end and wordlessly handed me the wire - dragging the handout closer to him at the same time.

"Well I'm glad your all better now," he said as he finished writing his answer down.

I didn't know how to reply to that so I just smiled as I continued with the lab. This time the flame turned orange - not as exciting as the magenta.

We continued the lab that way - just handing each other the wire when we were done, neither of us speaking again. As soon as we went through all the chemicals Edward started cleaning everything up. It didn't seem like there was much I could do without getting in his way so I just settled with answering the post-lab questions. They were fairly easy for the most part but I was stumped when it asked to list possible errors that may have screwed up the results - I always had trouble with that part.

I chanced a look over and saw that Edward was done…and staring at me.

Well we are partners, so I guess it can't really be classified as rude…

"Can you help with something?" I blurted out.

"What do you need?"

"I need help coming up with errors that could have happened. Sorry, I always come up blank with those kind of questions."

"It's fine," he assured me, smiling a little. "Well lets see…for one the heat from the flame could have been too low, then the wire wasn't cleaned properly, there wasn't enough solution on the wire, or the wire wasn't placed in the right part of the flame -"

"Thanks, I think I got it," I said laughing. He sounded like a professor when he was going on like that, plus it didn't seem like he was going to stop. It was cute, and not in the 'Aww look at the puppy' cute.

After writing all of it down we just sat there in silence again. I thought about doodling again but I wasn't that bored so I opted for looking at Edward. In my defense it was hard not to look.

I guess he must have felt the same way about me because there he was, sitting in all his glory, staring at me, again. It would have been flattering it wasn't for the fact that it was starting to make me feel like a science project being observed for changes. I was looking right back when I suddenly realized something different about him.

"Did you get contacts?" I asked without thinking.

He seemed shocked by the question but he quickly answered nonetheless.

"No, I don't wear contacts," he said sounding confused.

"Oh," I said turning back towards the front of the class.

What the frick?… His eyes are gold. Last week there were black…right? But then why would he lie? Maybe Forks really is driving me crazy.

I wanted to believe that I was right, if nothing if not for my sanity, but what reason would he have for lying? Just because he wore color contacts didn't make him girlie. Well at least not in my book.

"Why are you here?" he suddenly demanded.

I was confused, and slightly irritated that he thought he could pretty much order me around, so I let my inner brat take over.

" Because if I wasn't I would get the truancy officer called on my white ass."

"That's not what I meant," he practically growled.

"Really? Huh. Well then please clarify what it is that you did mean."

"Why are you in Forks?" He sounded a lot more calm.

"It's complicated."

"I think I can keep up," he replied, all traces of his previous, and random, anger gone.

"Who said I wanted you to?" I asked looking him straight in the eye. It was hard not to lose all traces of coherent thought but I managed it - somehow.

"Fair enough."

I sighed and tore my gaze away from his.

"Look it's nothing personal, it's just complicated. If it's any consolation no one here knows either."

"So someone somewhere else knows," he stated.

"Yup."

"Interesting."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"Simply that I think you're hiding something, Miss Swan."

"As do I, Mr. Cullen."

We sat there just staring at each other until the bell rang, signaling class was over.

"Don't forget to turn your packets in," Mr. Moreno yelled above the noise.

Suddenly Edward jumped out of his seat was out of the classroom faster than should have been possible.

"Hey Bella. That lab was horrible wasn't it? It's a good thing you had Cullen for a partner - he's insanely smart," Mike said, appearing out of nowhere.

"I didn't have any trouble with it," I answered distantly, my eyes still focused on the door.

"Oh, well…here, let me get your books for you," he said as he grabbed them from my hands.

"Thanks," I said, smiling.

"Come on, we're going to be late for gym," he replied more energetically, encouraged by my smile.

I took my books from Mike as he put his coat on and kept them. It isn't that I didn't like it I just didn't want to lead him on.

"So what was with you and Cullen?"

"Edward," I stated automatically.

"What?" Mike asked sounding confused.

"His name isn't Cullen, it's Edward."

"Oh, well, ya…sorry."

"No it's fine," I said sighing. "There isn't really anything going on, we were just working on our lab."

"Oh. Wow. I've never seen him really talk that much to someone outside his family."

"Really?"

"Ya. All of them pretty much keep to themselves."

"Huh. Weird."

"Weird."

Me and Mike made our way into the gym and he headed over to the guy's changing room as I made my way over to Coach Smith. She was about my height with short dirty blonde hair, and was always wearing some type work out suit. A lot of the students complained that she was too strict but to me it just seemed that she wanted us to act our respective ages and do the days assigned sport.

"Excuse me, Miss Smith?"

"Yes, Swan?"

"I have a doctor's note requesting that I sit out for the next two weeks," I said pulling the note from my backpack and placing it in her waiting hand. Coach Smith didn't really like having anyone sitting out, and even if they had a note saying that they should she would always find some form of exercise that wouldn't risk their health.

"Okay, just park it on the bleachers - and I expect to see you working, if not I'll give you something to do," she said, sounding defeated.

"Yes ma'am," I said and made my way over to the side of the gym where the bleachers were placed. Walking up a few stands I sat down and looked out at everyone. Some of the people that had already changed were looking at me - probably wondering why I'm not participating - but most just seemed a little relieved, if not happy, to see me sitting away from all the volleyballs. They had a right to feel relieved.

For the next hour I struggled to keep my mind focused on the work in front of me, my Precalculus homework, but it kept going over the conversation me and Edward had in Chemistry. I remembered the way his lips shaped around his words, and the sweet scent of his breath as it fanned her face, and especially the way his voice sounded like rough silk.

Was it possible to love everything about someone yet know nothing about them except for the fact that they suffered from severe mood swings and liked colored contacts?

Reviews really are great motivation for any author :) So don't be afraid to tell me what ya feel - the good, the bad, doesn't change that this story will continue to the end. So follow my virtual happy trail - it brings smile all around

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