A/N: Yes, it is real, an update after just one week. Shocker, I know.

Thank you as always for the reviews and alerts.

I felt like updating today. My bday makes me extra cheery and happy and annoying. Hehe.

Thanks to my wonderful beta Katiushabb who wished me a happy birthday three times already today. Remember to go to her profile and check out her awesome stories and our co-written "Have You Seen Her?" which I promise will make you laugh.

Ok, babbled enough. Enjoy and let me know what you think!!!

Disclaimer: Sadly, Twilight belongs solely to Stephenie Meyer.

We walked side by side towards the biology classroom, our arms almost touching as they swung with each step. It was distracting, unnerving and electrifying. Tension built and I was too consumed by it to even notice the people staring at us as they kept gossiping away about the previous night.

We sat at our lab table and this time she relinquished the distance she had times before set between us, but she sat far enough so that we weren't actually touching.

Mr. Banner decided to give out a speech regarding a field trip that would be taking place later on in the year. We would be visiting a greenhouse to see specimens up close and he decided to show us a video about it but that was as far as I got to hear because once the lights were off and the room quiet the tension and sparks flying between us only grew wider. She felt it too, as I stole sideways glances from her I saw her body had stiffened and she held still as a rock, her hands holding the table tightly, except for her eyes which wandered from the screen to mine on occasions.

I fought with myself to keep from reaching out and touching her. I imagined what her skin would feel like. I wanted nothing more than to embrace her, run my hand down her cheek, pull a stray lock of hair behind her ear, kiss her.

After what felt like hours but were probably minutes, I couldn't take it anymore. I moved my left hand which was clenched to my leg and reached towards her right one. I could sense her staring at me intently and holding her breath as, with a hesitant finger, I stroked the back of her hand gently. Her grip on the table tightened but I didn't pull back, the electric shock that ran through me at the touch was addictive. Her skin was hard and cool but somehow it did not take me by surprise, I could sense she thought it would as I looked up to gauge her reaction and saw a hesitant look upon her face.

I traced each one of her fingers slowly with mine, my heartbeat accelerating rapidly. Suddenly, the lights flickered on and I removed my hand in one quick move, grieving the lack of contact.

Mr. Banner dismissed the class as the bell rang and I was glad to see Alice waiting for us in the hallway. Not that I didn't appreciate my time alone with Bella, but the tension was becoming too much to take in and it felt as if both of us needed a break from it.

"Hi, Ali." I said as reached the door.

"Hello, my dear brother. I'm taking Bella away from you and escorting her to Spanish with me." She smiled devilishly.

Before I knew it they were leaving me in the hall by myself. Bella turned to smile at me before they both turned around the corner and disappeared out of sight.

I rushed to Gym having spent too long standing idly in the hall looking at the corner Bella had disappeared off to.

Jasper laughed at my troubled face as I reached the locker room.

"You've got it bad, dude," he stated chuckling.

For the first time in a while I didn't feel like hiding anything.

"I really do." I replied. And you don't know half of it. I added in my mind.

I stumbled out the school with Jazz at my side to find Bella leaning on the side of my car, waiting for me with a smile on her face.

"Take me home?" She asked as I approached the vehicle with a smile of my own playing at my lips.

I opened the passenger door without a word to let her in.

In a few minutes I was driving outside the school premises.

"So... I'm giving you some time to mentally prepare, but tomorrow is my turn."

"Your turn to what?" I asked curious.

"To ask the questions." She stated grinning.

"You can start now if you'd like."

"Not now. Tomorrow." Something told me it was not for my benefit that she was doing this for.

"Ok."

A few minutes later we were on her driveway. As she unbuckled her seatbelt I reached out and pulled a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, brushing her cheek with my knuckle as I went. She stiffened surprised by my action and turned to look at me intently. Her stance softened and she reached for the door handle.

"Goodbye, Edward." She whispered.

"Bye, Bella."

And with that she was gone.

I drove home slowly thinking back through our whole day.

When I got home my siblings had already arrived and busied themselves in their rooms. For that I was relieved.

I went to the kitchen to grab a snack to find Esme starting on dinner.

"Hello, dear, how was your day?"

"Great." I replied not trying to hide my enthusiasm.

"I'm glad." She seemed to ponder on something for a second and then continued. "Alice tells me you are set on not going to the dance."

"Um, yes, I told you already I'm..."

She didn't let me finish "Going to Seattle I know, I just thought you know, you wouldn't want to miss the experience. And I know Alice has a way of getting to you, I thought she'd convince you for sure. Is it because no one asked you? Or because the girl you wanted didn't?" She asked, trying to sound nonchalant but obviously eager for some scoop.

"It's none of that, mom, I just really do not want to go. You know it's all superficial..." I searched for a proper word to use before Esme "rubbish to me. And I'm not going to Seattle after all."

"You're not?" She sounded surprised.

"I thought it would be nice to explore the area a bit and a classmate of mine offered to show me around." It was only half a lie.

"Mhmmm, and this classmate does not happen to be a girl, does she?" She finally was getting to what she wanted.

"She is." She smiled widely as I confirmed her suspicions and chose not to push harder knowing I would not provide her with any more information.

She glanced at me with a knowing look and a smirk all through supper.

That night I dreamt of holding Bella in my arms. Of taking the sadness that seemed to haunt her eyes from time to time. I dreamt of losing myself in her eyes, of holding her hand.

I know, I sound like a pansy. But truly, I would be happy just holding Bella for the rest of my life.

A/N: Review? Pretty please? For the sake of my birthday being enjoyable?

I've been meaning to do this for a while now, I have a few recommendations for you of stories that have blown my mind away and I thought would be nice to share:

"The Screamers" by KiyaRaven, the story is full of fun and angst all in one. It's amazing and you really need to meet Giney and Godzy if you haven't yet.

"Tides" by LambCullen, and all of her stories for that matter, this one is the one who got me hooked to this amazing writer.

"Geek Love" by SassenachWench, real cute and sweet, who doesn't love a geek Edward and Bella?

I'll probably drop a few more next time.