Chapter 3: First Encounter

I didn't realize I was staring again, and I am pretty sure I had forgotten how to breathe as well. Isabella, or Bella according to Mike (I hated he knew more about her than I did) lead the family into the cafeteria. She swiftly looked to her left and right; her hair bouncing from side to side. I noticed she was wearing a long khaki cargo skirt, with white tennis shoes, and a royal blue shirt with quarter length sleeves. The V-neck dipped down perfectly, exposing the pale skin. The color accented her skin perfectly, but I was pretty sure she would look great in anything she wore. Bella was followed by Alice and Jasper, holding hands, and Emmett and Rosalie, with their arms around each others waist. Were those four together as a couple? Just then Angela shoved her elbow into my right rib cage and glared at me. I knew she was telling me to stop staring. I flashed a shy smile. No one noticed but her, and I was thankful she didn't blurt it out. That's why I liked Angela.

"Aaah, too bad Tyler, looks like the other two are taken. That still leaves me a chance with Bella." I shot Mike a murderous glance.

"Eeew! Are they dating their brothers? That is not natural and has to be illegal." Jessica was sometimes a complete airhead.

"They aren't really brother and sister." Where did that come from? Why was I defending a family I didn't even know? The entire table looked at me. All of their faces easly were asking how I knew that. I looked down at my lemonade and hurried to take a drink. After a few seconds everyone looked away again.

Suddenly first bell rang – lunch was over and we had 10 minutes to make it to class. I was headed to Biology and knew I couldn't save my drink. As the table disbursed, I went to walk to the trash can, not even realizing the direction I was headed.

"Bye Edward." Jessica stood their speaking to me. Lauren looked at Jessica like she had been betrayed but steady waited on Jessica to leave with her. Yeah, that was definitely dangerous territory. If I did choose to open up my dating options, Jessica and Lauren were not on the list of possibles. Cute, but volatile. I wonder if they were friend out of connivance as well.

I walked to the trash can closes to the exit leading to my Biology class. I was looking straight ahead and suddenly my senses were on fire. I smelled a scent that was sweet and tantalizing. It reminded me of strawberries, sunshine and . . . Lilies? Without even realizing it, my eyes began to search for the source of the aroma. My eyes locked on the face I had been seeing in my mind all day. Was I staring again? I completely forgot why I walked this way.

"Hi." That is all she had to say to make me forget to breathe again. She was only three feet from me. And the smell of her cool breath on my face was hypnotic. Her voice rang like bells. Angelic; just as I imagined it would sound. My brain stopped working. I couldn't move my hands, legs or mouth. I was paralyzed in the face of beauty. I looked like a complete idiot as I realized 30 seconds had passed and I still hadn't said a word. I was too lost in her eyes. I had never seen a topaz so light, and liquid.

"Ummm . . . Hi. Hello," I said as I cleared my throat. She flashed me a smile. Of coarse her smile was perfect. Everything on her was perfect. I decided right then that I had to talk to her . . . really talk to her. Show her I wasn't a complete idiot. I had to see her face again and feel her breath on my skin. I would find the courage; find a way, even if we didn't have any classes together. It wasn't until then I saw her spiky haired sister, Alice, standing there with her. They both giggled – sounds of angels, naturally. I looked down and smiled at myself.

"You are going to have a very interesting time in biology today," the sister said with a wide grin as they began to walk away. Bella, walking with her sister, looked back directly at me . . . twice. I was still standing there, looking like a statue. Wait did she just say Biology? We may have a class together. I ran to throw my bottle in the trash as suddenly I realized why I ever walked this direction. I darted to Biology as fast as I could walk. Praying I would see her there. But I had to get there first. I wanted her to have the choice to sit by me, not I sat next to the gorgeous new girl because I was one of the drooling boys, although at this point I was pretty sure I was.

Perfect, I made it before her. I took my seat at the lab table. Usually I sat and worked alone, not really wanting to deal with a lab partner, today I begged God to let that change. To let her sit beside me. As it got closer to the bell, more and more students filed in taking their usual seats, with their usual partners. Yes! I was sitting alone which meant one of two things: 1) Mr. Varner would make Isabella sit beside me or 2) she would work alone at another table. It never even accord to me that she may prefer to work alone too. As I completed that thought the final bell rang. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe she had biology later on. I read too much into a statement that wasn't meant for me. But I could have sworn Alice was talking directly to me. As I began to kick my self for being over zealous, I heard the most beautiful sound.

"Sorry I am late Mr. Varner, I got lost."

My beauty, here she stood only 10 feet from me and I couldn't help but . . . stare. Great, I was staring again!

"Aaaah yes . . . Miss Cullen. Nice to have you join us here at Forks High. I will take that," Mr. Varner said as he reached for her log sheet. "Why . . . don't . . . you take a seat . . . with . . . ah yes, Mr. Swan. Edward raise your hand."

"Edward I know you like to work alone but you would have to be crazy not to want a partner as beautiful as her. . . She's a student man! Get yourself together." I had to smile to myself. Mr. Varner would never know how much I agreed with him.

Dam, I forgot to breathe again. As I stretched my arm up, I locked eyes with perfection. I couldn't help but smile. Was she smiling back at me? She took her log sheet from Mr. Varner and made her way to my table. I mean our table.

"Dude, Swan gets all the luck! I knew I should have sat by myself today."

"She has got to think he is gorgeous. I hope they don't start dating."

I read it all across their faces as Isabella walked to join me.

"Hi. I'm Edward Swan." I found the breath to talk to her without sounding like an idiot.

"Hi, again. I'm Isabella Cullen. But you can call me Bella."

Her cool breath brushed across my face and I was overwhelmed with her beautiful scent. Breathe Swan! Breathe!