Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT

EPOV

That night I didn't sleep well. Bella's terrified look kept haunting me. Was this girl really afraid of me? Was I that horrifying to her?

I eased my mind convincing myself maybe she was shy.

Rosalie entered the kitchen when I was eating my cereals. She was wearing a blue top and jeans shirt.

"Sis, shouldn't you wear something less… naked?"

Why wasn't mom here to tell Rose she was giving the wrong impression wearing that kind of clothing?

She changed the subject quickly. "Hey, has dad left yet? I haven't seen him in a week."

The sadness in her eyes said it all.

"He has a big project right now, Rose. He promised though he'll be home tonight. Come here."

She leaned over to me and I hugged her really tight.

"Love you," I whispered, my lips brushing the top of her head.

"I really like her," Rosalie said on our way to school.

"Who do you like?"

"Bella of course."

Hearing her name made me breathless.

"She is shy though," she continued.

"Mmmm…"

I didn't want to reveal my interest for Bella.

"Can I invite her over tonight? She could meet dad."

I nodded.

Of course she could invite Bella over. Then I would be able to see her again. I wondered if I would see her at school. Forks High School had about 3000 students. The odds of me, a senior, bumping into a sophomore girl were therefore close to zero. I parked the car and wished Rosalie a nice day.

We would meet again after school for our drive home.

I walked towards my first class, an advanced program of calculus. Tanya came up to me. Apparently there was a possibility to dress in an even more revealing way than Rosalie. Tanya was following the advanced program as well, but failing miserably. A proof she had different intentions to follow this course than I had.

"Hey honey," she said loudly, making sure the entire school was aware of her presence.

My best friend Emmett was standing next to her. Emmett was the most popular guy in Forks High. He had everything a girl wanted. He was tall and buffed; extremely tanned and had blue eyes and brown spiked hair. On top of that he was extremely smart and aced all of his classes. He was the leader of the football team and every cheerleader had shared his bed already. I wondered why he had never been interested in Tanya. They would have fit perfectly together. Thank God he was a bit more intelligent.

"Hey mate. How did your evening go yesterday?" he asked.

"The usual," I replied, "You?"

"I met this fine girl," he smirked, "a real beauty and of course a beast in bed."

He laughed out loud and I smiled back at him.

Sometimes I wondered why we were friends. I guess I had changed a lot after my mother's death. There was a time that I as well went from girl to girl.

We took our seats in the back of the classroom and to make sure Tanya wouldn't take the seat next to me, I dropped my backpack on it. I looked up as Mr. Tanner asked us to pay attention.

My eyes met those brown chocolate eyes I had been dreaming off last night.

Bella was standing in front of the class, looking at me, I suppose happy to see someone she knew.

Breathe Edward, breathe…

"This is Isabella Swan," Mr. Tanner said, "She moved here from Seattle a few days ago. Bella is a sophomore who will join our advanced calculus class because she followed pre-calculus and calculus last year."

"Wow mama," Emmett whispered, "What a beauty. A bit young, but still…"

"Shut up Emmett," I snapped.

"I am looking for a volunteer to help her catch up this course," Mr. Tanner continued. "Anyone interested?"

I stood up immediately without having to think about it. Bella glanced at me and smiled.

"Thank you Mr. Cullen! Isabella," Mr. Tanner turned to her. "Edward will help you with your calculus. You can go and take a seat next to him. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask away."

Bella walked over to me. I removed my backpack from the seat and she sat down.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome."

Calculus passed in a blur. I couldn't stop staring at Bella from the corner of my eye. She was still really shy and nervous, fidgeting in her seat. She was wearing a red shirt, skinny blue jeans and the sneakers she wore yesterday. I would have loved Rosalie to dress the same mature and less naked way.

Not that I didn't want to see Bella naked. She obviously had a perfect figure.

The bell rang and everyone rushed out of class. Bella stood up with what seemed like doubt in her eyes.

"Maybe we could discuss how to catch up your calculus as soon as possible? There is a fifteen minute break until next class."

She nodded and sat down again.

"Maybe we could meet in the evening to catch up," I asked, "How about one hour every evening?"

Why was she looking down, avoiding my eyes?

"Now that the weekend is coming," I continued, "you might come over to our house?"

Still no answer.

"In a weekend we can catch up a lot. What do you think?"

"I don't know Edward." Her voice was cracking.

"Do you have another idea?" I proposed.

"I don't know if it's a good idea to come over. I don't have a car."

"That's no problem. You can drive to our place with Rosalie and me, and afterwards I can drive you home."

I tried to meet her eyes, but didn't succeed.

"Sorry Edward but I don't want you to drive me home anymore."

Ouch, that hurt. She didn't like me.

She looked up at me teary-eyed. I wondered how and when I had hurt her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I don't like being alone with boys."

Maybe I wasn't her type, but what a lame excuse.

"But maybe I'll ask my mom to pick me up every day?"

I nodded. "That's ok."

I got up and left the room.

The rest of the day was a hell without Bella around. Tanya however was too present. I hated how she was almost glued to my skin all the time and I was glad the day was over at three in the afternoon.

I walked over to my car where Rosalie and Bella were already waiting for me. Bella looked worried.

"Still want me to join you tonight?" she asked. I nodded and got in the driver's seat of my grey Volvo.

I must admit my ego had been bruised. I understood though that a girl like Bella would never be mine. She probably dreamed about a perfect guy, with great looks and lots of intelligence. Maybe Emmett would be a winner. Debussy's Claire de Lune made me come back to my senses.

I had to accept her choice. She had the right to date whoever she wanted.

We arrived at home and Rosalie took Bella into the living room. I followed them and saw my dad sitting in the couch. "Daddy," Rosalie yelled. He gave her a big hug after she threw herself into his arms.

He still didn't feel better, I could see. I knew he would never recover of mom's death. Everything remembered him of her. Rosalie and me, we reminded him the most of our mom and I knew that hurt. Rosalie was the spitting image of my mother with the same eyes and smile.

Surely watching Rosalie hurt me as well, but to me the future was a bit more upbeat. My dad however had lost his great love, his passion, the mother of his kids, his soulmate…

"I can't breathe Rosalie," he screamed with a smile on his face. I would have given the world to see that smile more. Rosalie let go of her grip and excused herself.

"I want you to meet Bella, dad. She's a friend of mine." Rosalie pulled Bella towards my dad.

She went up to him and shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you sir."

"Just call me Carlisle, ok?"

She nodded.

Rosalie took Bella's hand and led her upstairs.

"Hey son, how was your day?"

"Boring of course," I replied taking an apple from the fruit tray in the kitchen, "I'm glad high school's almost over."

"You still have ten months to go, Edward."

In my room, I threw my backpack on the floor and laid myself on the bed. Why couldn't I forget this girl? There was something fragile and mysterious about her. She was no ordinary girl, not at all.

"Edward?"

Bella's voice made me jump up off the bed. She was standing in the door entrance of my room.

"Were you sleeping?" she asked.

"No, I was… just… I was…" I stammered, "I wasn't sleeping. What do you want?"

I hope I didn't sound too presumptuous.

"Look, I know I offended you today." She said.

Realizing I wouldn't object, she continued: "Could you still help me with my calculus though? I really need the help."

I nodded and gestured her to take place at my desk. We started reviewing the derivatives. She listened very well and caught up pretty quickly. She was obviously very skilled.

Sitting next to her, I could smell her scent. She had a nice strawberries scent. How did I not notice that yesterday or this morning?

At seven o'clock Bella stood up from my desk and walked to the door.

"I should go. My mother said she would be here in fifteen minutes and I still have to ask Rosalie a few things. Thanks for helping me."

"Bella?" I called after her.

She turned around and looked at me.

"You didn't offend me today. You're allowed to like whoever you want."

She hesitated but then stuttered: "I don't… I do… I…"

She shook her head and then continued with a sad face: "I'll see you tomorrow ok?"

I nodded and she walked away.

I had never expected that any girl could have such an effect on me. She was in my every thought, her fragility, her gentle smiles, her blush, her beautiful and irresistible eyes, her strawberry scent.

For dinner, dad had prepared roasted chicken with a salad. My dad used to be a great cook but he had lost his appetite recently.

We were enjoying his meal when Rosalie spoke: "I saw you looking at Bella."

I didn't respond.

"You like her, I can tell," she teased me.

"Leave me alone, Rosalie."

"What's wrong bro, are you embarrassed?"

"Don't be such a baby, Rosalie. I may like her, but she clearly didn't reciprocate those feelings."

Rosalie looked surprised.

"Then why did Bella ask me for your cellphone number?"

I almost choke in my piece of chicken, my mind going crazy. She asked for my number? Why?

Then suddenly I realized.

"If we have to work together, she needs my number. Believe me Rose, she doesn't like me. She made that pretty obvious today."

"Ouch," dad and Rosalie reacted at the same time.

They both started laughing while I took my plate and dropped it in the dishwasher. I hurried upstairs and closed the door of my room behind me. I had to admit I was a bit cranky because I really wanted Bella to like me. I tried to distract myself watching Pirates of the Caribbean for the third time. My cellphone buzzed and I hoped it wouldn't be Tanya again. To my surprise, I had received a message from an unknown number:

I do like you. See you tomorrow.

Bella.

My heart picked up a beat. Bella did like me. She really did.

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