Chapter 3: Routines

Pretty soon, my life went into a basic routine. I had discovered that I had English with Bella, so I was able to walk her to most of her classes. I always got those evil glares from Eric, which made me laugh. She chose me, not him. At lunch I would catch up with her before she got a chance to sit down, and steer her over to my table with a whole bunch of my friends. Eric seemed to always find a way to sit at our table. It annoyed me, but Bella wasn't paying any attention to him, so I let it pass.

She always seemed distracted by something, but she talked to Jessica and me when we started conversations. Every lunch I would first get Bella to the table, glance at the Cullen table to find my only competition not there, talk casually with her, and then walk her to her next class. I would always slyly follow her to her seat and talk to her until the bell rang. I usually talked about my upcoming beach trip. I hated that bell. It meant I had to go sit by my lab partner, who was not the type of girl I would be into. Edward still was never there, though, so I knew I was safe.

That period was usually long, because I couldn't get away with turning around and getting peeks of her, so I had nothing to do. When the bell finally rang again, I would get up and walk her to our next class, and talk to her until she went into the girl's locker room. Then I would change really fast so I could be there when she was done and talk to her again before the bell rang again.

She was always faster, though, and already in a conversation with someone else, so I never got my chance. We played volleyball that week, and it was so cute how clumsy she was. She always seemed to get hurt or hurt someone else, so I was the hero who got to save the day. She seemed really thankful when I would jump in front of her and spike it for her, instead of letting her do it and inevitably let someone get hurt.

I still struggled to catch her after school though, because she was so fast at changing and by the time I was done, she was already in her car, getting ready to pull away. I remembered the second day of school; she was sitting in her car, reading a list of some sort before she reluctantly drove away. I could have helped her with whatever was on that list, but I wasn't fast enough!

I enjoyed that week of school. No Cullen, and lots of Bella. It got to the point that I was praying that kid transferred to a different school.

Monday morning seemed like any other day. I woke up, had a pop tart, got ready as fast as I could but tried to look my nicest at the same time, and then I drove to the high school, thinking of Bella the whole time. It wasn't raining so I knew she would be in a good mood, and it was colder than usual, so I wore more than one jacket, just in case she got cold and needed one of mine.

In English I sat down next to her and we were given a test for the book Wuthering Heights. I hadn't read the book yet, so I tried peeking at her paper. She was so smart! Neither Bella, or the teacher caught me, but I also couldn't see all her answers. I was just hoping I got a decent grade on it.

After class was over, and we stepped outside, I noticed it was snowing.

"Wow," I said. "It's snowing." I looked over at her face and saw her looking all around her with a disgusted expression.

"Ew," was her only reply, which shocked me.

"Don't you like snow?"

"No. That means it's too cold for rain," she said matter-of-factly. "Besides, I thought it was supposed to come down in flakes – you know, each one unique and all that. These just look like the ends of Q-tips."

"Haven't you ever seen snow fall before?" I asked incredulously.

"Sure I have." She said calmly, and then paused. "On TV."

This made me laugh. So this was her first snow experience? With me? I wonder if she would let me kiss her. That would be a perfect snow experience…

While I was imagining her lips pressed against mine, I felt a big, squishy ball of dripping snow smack into the back of my head. I spun around real fast to see Eric's retreating figure walking away. I bent over and began scraping together a pile of snow that was bigger than the one that hit me.

"I'll see you at lunch, okay?" Bella said, but I was a little distracted. "Once people start throwing wet stuff, I go inside."

I just nodded, not wanting to be rude, but not wanting my dignity to be hurt either. I stalked the back of Eric's head, and my eyes narrowed. When I was in throwing distance, I aimed, and chucked the snowball as hard as I could. When I was throwing it, I knew it was off center, and watched it leave my hands with horror. It was going right towards the face of my teacher for next period. She didn't see it coming, and it hit her perfectly in the face.

I couldn't move; I was so horrified. She looked in my direction and then our eyes locked. She motioned with her finger for me to come over there so I did.

"Newton, what are you playing at?"

"Uh. Ma'am, I didn't mean to… I uh…"

"That's a detention for you. Now get in class and get your homework out!"

I could feel my ears getting hot, but I did what she said. I hoped that the rest of my day wasn't going to be like this.

I decided during class that I was going to forget about this. I wasn't allowed to dwell on it (until detention at least). Bella would know something was up if I worried about it all day and I didn't want her to know about that experience.

After class, I avoided eye contact with the teacher and rushed out the door. On my way to the cafeteria, I saw Bella and Jessica walking to the cafeteria, and I rushed to make it to the door. I slipped and fell, my hair getting in the snow. I tried to laugh it off, and by the time I met up with them, water was dripping from my hair, my cheeks were rosy, and I was laughing excitedly.

I was hinting at the snowball fight we were planning after school while talking to Jessica about it, hoping Bella would hear. We were getting in line just like always, when Bella halted and bowed her head. Jessica said something, and I wasn't quite sure what, but Bella just seemed embarrassed. "What's with Bella?" I asked Jessica.

"Nothing," Bella replied with a small voice. "I'll just get a soda today." We proceeded to the end of the line.

"Aren't you hungry?" Jessica asked.

"Actually, I feel a little sick."

Uh oh! Was it something I did? I tried to act normal by purchasing my food, and then we all sat at the usual table.

I kept asking Bella how she was feeling. She seemed annoyed, so I stopped, thinking it really was my fault she was acting weird I tried to replay everything from today in my head but I couldn't find any way I could have offended her.

Then I saw her glance up at the Cullen table, and I smacked my head. Of course! He was back. This really pissed me off. Everything was perfect, and now he came back and was going to ruin it all!

"Bella, what are you staring at?" I heard Jessica ask her. Edward, I grumbled internally.

At that moment Edward shifted his gaze to look at Bella. Then looked away. The nerve!

"Edward Cullen is staring at you," Jessica giggled, and it made me want to wring her neck. Bella looked embarrassed and hung her head low.

"He doesn't look angry, does he?" Bella asked. What kind of a question was that?

"No," Jessica replied, looking as surprised as I was by the strange question. "Should he be?"

"I don't think he likes me," she said quietly. He better not. I thought. Or I'll personally kill him. She put her head down on her arm.

"The Cullens don't like anybody… well, they don't notice anybody enough to like them. But he's still staring at you." Jessica said with a smile.

"Stop looking at him," Bella hissed at her, and I was hoping that this was a sign that Bella and Cullen would never be.

I decided to quickly change the subject so she wouldn't have time to think of Edward too much. I discussed the snowball battle after school today, which brought a frown to Bella's face. She didn't like snow, I forgot.

When we were getting ready to walk to Biology, we saw the snow had vanished. Everyone groaned except for Bella, I noticed. Maybe it was a good thing we couldn't have the fight after school anymore. Bella wouldn't have wanted it.

I couldn't help but complain about it though. I was so looking forward to this!

I didn't hover by her desk as usual. She seemed like she wanted to be left alone, and she was doodling all over her notebook instead. I saw Edward walk in the room, and I smirked at him, which made him smile. I decided I would listen closely to what they said, to see if it was anything I should be worried about.

"Hello," I heard Cullen say to her. "My name is Edward Cullen. I didn't have a chance to introduce myself last week. You must be Bella Swan." And she's all mine, dude! Back off!

"H-how do you know my name?" she stammered: a bad sign.

He laughed and I clenched my fists in anger. "Oh, I think everyone knows your name. The whole town's been waiting for you to arrive." What a smart ass…

"No," she persisted. "I meant, why did you call me Bella?" Maybe she didn't want him to call her by her nickname. That would be fine.

"Do you prefer Isabella?"

"No, I like Bella," she answered back quickly. Damn it… "But I think Charlie – I mean my dad – must call me Isabella behind my back – that's what everyone here seems to know me as."

"Oh," he said lamely.

I couldn't hear any more because Mr. Banner started the class. I tried to concentrate on what he explained but I couldn't keep my thoughts from straying to Bella and Edward.

What did she think of him? Did she like him?

"Get started," Mr. Banner commanded. My partner started looking through the microscope and she tried to find out what it was. We tried comparing two slides over and over again, but couldn't tell whether it was prophase or anaphase.

I gave up and started listening to Bella and Edward again.

"Did you get contacts?" She blurted out.

"No," Edward replied after a while.

She mumbled something but I couldn't hear it. Then she said, "I thought there was something different about your eyes.

I saw Mr. Banner pass my table and I tried to get back to work. He said a few things I couldn't hear because I stopped trying to listen. I tried to keep my mind off of things by singing a song in my head over and over again. It almost worked.

I unintentionally stopped singing in my head and listened again.

"Am I annoying you?" Please say yes, please say yes.

"Not exactly. I'm more annoyed at myself. My face is so easy to read – my mother always calls me her open book."

"On the contrary, I find you very difficult to read." UGH! I wanted to kill him!

You must be a good reader then," she replied.

"Usually." I imagined what it would be like to punch him into a wall. This idea was appealing to me.

The bell finally rang and I hurried to Bella's side, thankful that Cullen had left.

"Cullen seemed friendly enough today," I grumbled.

"I wonder what was with him last Monday."

We walked to Gym and I talked, but she didn't seem to be paying any attention. Was Cullen on her mind?

Volleyball was interesting. I blocked everything so she didn't have to do anything unless we were serving.

Again, she changed faster than me, so she was fluffing her hair out by the time I got out. She was so hot!

I saw her glance at Cullen, shoot backwards with her vehicle, and stomp on the brakes abruptly.

Just perfect, I thought to myself.

A/N: Hey guys! I'm back! Sorry it's taken me so long to update. Marching band and AP classes have been sucking up my time. However, today was a holiday, so I thought I should update. Now I should probably get back to homework. Thanks! Please review! :)