A/N: Sorry I haven't updated sooner! My week has been crazy. I'm starting Twelfth Night with my tenth graders, and I'm in charge of hair and makeup for the theater department where I teach. I also like to be a few chapters ahead of what I'm posting, and I'm still stuck in the middle of chapter 7.

Thanks again to MsWDarcy--you keep me sane, and encourage me when you don't even know it! Best beta ever!

Thanks to my dedicated reviewers! I heart you! and there should be an Edward pov outtake posted very soon! My very own present to you!

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all characters etc, the rest is mine.

Warning: This story has a potential for adult material and violence. If you have triggers etc. you have been warned.

Chapter Five: Complication

I woke up on the floor.

Again.

This was becoming ridiculous.

There was a crowd of faces leaning over me, like one of those movie shots of a sports huddle from below. It certainly wasn't as cool in real life.

I pulled myself up. I need to invest in body padding. Or a helmet.

I found Edward's eyes in the sea of faces. He looked concerned and guilty. I understand why he might be concerned. His lab partner passed out again. You'd have to be inhuman not to be concerned.

But guilty? That I didn't get.

Mr. Molena pushed through the huddle, and reached down to help me up.

"Don't touch me!" I practically shouted. He pulled back like I had burned him. I hid my face in shame. I faint in class—from being touched—and then I shout at the teacher trying to help me. I fail at life.

"Bella. Are you alright?" I nodded. "Can you get up?" I nodded again, and pushed myself up with a grimace. There would be bruises tomorrow.

As nonchalantly as possible I placed my hand on my belly, making sure I had not been bruised there. That I can't bruise—I must protect at all times, at all costs.

Edward finally inched his way towards me, gently offering his hand. I caught his eyes, grabbing his hand with relief. He breathed out deeply, as if he had been waiting for something bad to happen. Again.

He looked at Mr. Molena. "I'm going to take Bella to the nurse." His voice was delicious, spicy and soothing at the same time. I'd been starving to hear that voice. Keep speaking.

Mr. Molena nodded, turning to write a pass.

Letting go of my hand, Edward quickly packed up our stuff, obviously not planning to come back for the duration of the period.

Placing both of our bags on his left shoulder, he offered me his right arm. I fell into it, relishing the safety I felt next to him.

I didn't understand why he didn't send me into a fit. I trusted Emmett. I trusted my father. But neither of them could touch me. And yet Edward could.

He gently led me out of class, and towards the nurse's office in silence. I glanced up at his face. He seemed deep in thought. I could almost here him thinking he was doing it so hard.

I tugged on his shirt signaling him to stop. "Why won't you speak to me?"

He let go of me to nervously run his fingers through is hair, making it stick up in all directions. He started to lead me again down the hall, without answering my question, without speaking at all.

I huffed, and stopped, refusing to go any further. "Why?" I asked again. He was starting to piss me off.

"Because—" His voice made me want to melt. "I don't understand this." Huh?

"You, uh, what?" Huh?

"You—I don't get you." I narrowed my eyes. Of course he doesn't get me! He doesn't even know me.

"But—I feel like I know you. Whatever." He looked exasperated, like when the words are directly on the tip of your tongue, but nothing comes out right. My frustration dissipated—I understood his confusion; I tried to reassure him.

"It's okay. I get it." He felt it too. When our eyes collided, he felt it too. If I felt that he could see into my soul, maybe he felt like I could see into his too.

He put his arm around my shoulder and squeezed it.

"You confuse me." He rolled his eyes and groaned. "Now, I sound like a girl."

"Just because most males are emotionally stunted does not make you a girl." I answered with an eye roll of my own.

"Come on, let's get you to the nurse." He smirked.

He had no idea that I was more confused that he was. I don't know anything about anything.

It didn't matter what I believed or thought, or even hoped. I would not become a victim again.

Ever.

I pulled away from his arm, determined to walk on my own.

I had been burned, and beaten. I would protect myself. I'd be careful. Especially with Edward.

We found our way to the nurse's office. I was feeling fine, but I hoped for an excuse out of PE. I didn't succeed.

Edward helped me sit on the exam table, and I crinkled the paper loudly. "She fainted in biology." He leaned against the wall next to me.

The nurse got up from her desk in the corner, taking her bifocals off her nose. "Ah, yes. Biology. I always get a few of those in here."

She came over and checked my blood pressure. "How are you feeling now, deary?" I shrugged. I don't like to make a habit of lying, unless I have to. Felt like I had to a lot lately.

"Your color is good, and you blood pressure is fine. Why don't you wait here until the end of the period, and then head to your next class. You should be fine by then." I never get what I want.

I sighed dramatically, which made Edward raise his eyebrow. "Okay. I guess I should go. First day and all."

She smiled brightly. "First day! Welcome to Sierra Valley. And I hope for your sake I don't see you too much in here."

I grimaced. Edward cocked his head. "I'm vertically challenged. It's not something I can promise."

He failed at withholding a laugh. It burst from his gut in a guffaw. If he had been drinking, the liquid would have spurted out his nose. I giggled with him. I know—I'm hilarious.

The nurse turned towards Edward. "Shouldn't you be getting back to class?" He recovered quickly, and sent his most charming smile. I was glad I was not on the end of that smile—I would have literally melted at his feet.

"Mrs. Sheaffer, it's Bella's first day. I can't just deposit her in the nurse's office, and expect her to fend for herself, and then get lost on the way to her next class." She blushed, and nodded. He could charm the spots from a leopard.

Edward hopped up on the examining table next to me, as Nurse Sheaffer went back to her desk. He sat a few inches away incase our mojo stopped working.

He ran one hand through his hair, making the strands that had begun to settle to stick up again. "So, other than Mike not knowing when to lay off, how's everything going."

I shrugged. "Not bad, I guess. Calc is gonna be a pain, but the rest of my classes so far are fine."

"Who do you have?" I couldn't remember so I fished my schedule out of my pocket and handed it to him. His eyebrows rose.

"Two APs and Med Bio. I'm impressed." I suppressed the desire to roll my eyes. Boys.

"What? Smarter than I look?"

"No!" Another hand brushed through his auburn locks. "Not many people risk that many weighted classes. It's a lot of work."

"I took all honors classes last year, and planned on doing AP through independent studies this year. I went to a really small school. They didn't offer much." I explained.

"Well, you're in luck. I took AP Calc last year." This time I raised my eyebrows. "If you need any help let me know."

My lips twitched, itching to smile. "I may have to take you up on that."

He handed me my schedule. "You should have told me you had gym next. We could have milked that faint for all it was worth."

"Don't worry. Next time we will." I gave a cheeky grin.

The bell rang, and Edward gingerly led me to the gym. It looked like most gyms except it had a giant Flamebird painted into the middle of the floor. A phoenix. Original.

He headed off to his own classes with a smile and a wave. I made my way over to the teacher, explaining that I was new. She told me I could sit on the bleachers and watch for today, but I would have to join in tomorrow.

I pushed my hair out of my face. "Um… about that. I have a medical condition. I didn't know that I would be expected to take PE until today. So I didn't come prepared with a doctor's excuse."

She didn't seem too excited about my statement. "What kind of condition are we talking about?"

Hmmmm… "Well, it's a condition that keeps me from being able to participate in extensive physical activity, where I might get injured." Yes, vague.

She narrowed her eyes at my evasiveness. "I will need a doctor's excuse by the end of the week. Until then you can sit out, but starting next week you'll be expected to participate. Is that understood?"

"Yes, ma'am."

I had a week. Good, I could find a free clinic and get an excuse without Charlie being the wiser.

The day ended without any more problems. I didn't run into that douche "my dad owns a store," Mike Newton. I was relieved. That guy really gave me the wiggins.

Emmett gave me a ride home; in fact he was my ride all week. His music preference didn't change much, but I found out that Alice secretly programmed his ring tones. That was hilarious. In one week his ring tone changed twice, each more outrageous than the next. Apparently there had been a silent war going on for a month. It was great to be a bystander. I had no hope if I ever tried to get involved.

On Wednesday Alice talked me into going shopping with her. She had ridden home with Emmett and me, invited herself in and went through my room. She was shocked at the clothes I brought with me—or the lack of clothes. She made plans to introduce me to the Phoenix mall after school on Thursday to rectify my embarrassing clothing situation.

School went fine all week. I had class with Edward everyday after lunch. He was polite, but distant. I couldn't get in his head. We had gotten along splendidly in the nurse's office. But other than general small talk and stuff about class he was a blank wall—I thought we were friends. I just wished I knew what was going on, so I could stop caring. Because I shouldn't be caring, I honestly didn't have the time.

The only time he showed anything other than politeness was on Thursday at the end of Med Bio. Mike had gotten up the courage to talk to me again, while Edward had taken the pass to the bathroom. When he got back I was cornered by Mike near the lab supplies in the back of the room. We were supposed to be working on identifying different cells, and I had gone to the back of the room to switch specimen samples.

He approached me from behind. "Bella." I could feel his breath on my neck.

I shrunk into myself. "Uh, hi Mike."

He leaned one hand on the table that held the samples, effectively blocking my escape with his body. I took several steps backwards.

"Have you thought about what I asked." He tried to sound sexy; it just made him look constipated.

"I already gave you my answer. No thanks." I placed my hands on the wall behind me. It felt similar—too similar. I was trapped.

He moved towards me, narrowing his eyes. "I don't think you understand who I am."

I closed my eyes, and tried not to whimper.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Edward yelled from the doorway of the classroom.

Mike turned around startled. I sighed with relief. The whole class looked at us.

"Leave her alone." He stepped in front of me, shoving Mike away from me. "She said no."

He glanced at me, waiting for an indication that I was alright. I nodded and sagged against the wall. I was fine. There would be no episode today.

The class continued to stare, until Edward gave them all a glare, and then they went back to work. Where the teacher was during all this I don't know. They don't make 'em like they used to.

We went back to our lab, but Edward only spoke when he had to, and never about anything of importance. It made me want to shake him.

Alice and I left for the mall directly after school. She made Edward get a ride with Emmett, so she could take his precious Volvo. I don't really understand cars, but he sure cared about his. Edward gave Ali a full ten minute lecture before he gave her the keys. And she informed me that he had lectured her the whole ride to school too.

He was right to lecture. She was a speed demon.

The mall was huge. It was at least five times the size of the mall in Port Angeles and twice the size of the one in Seattle. It had separate floors. Now, I've never been a big fan of shopping. I'm more of an in and out kind of girl. But I might learn to love shopping at this mall. Plus, having my own personal shopper didn't hurt either.

I've never seen anyone more excited about shopping than Alice. She zipped through each store grabbing everything in my size. She had me try on outfits I would have never grabbed for myself. I tried veto a suggestion and she gave me a look that put pitiful puppies in shame. Whenever we found "the perfect ____" Alice would squeal and twirl in excitement demanding that I had to get it.

Five skirts, four babydoll tops, two pairs of shorts, and one pair of wedges later we stopped for dinner in the food court. I splurged and got bourbon chicken and lo mein, and Ali grabbed a slice of Sbarro's pizza.

I swallowed my first bite. "Ali, do you know of any free clinics around here?"

She squinted one eye, looking at me curiously. "Yeah. Are you sick?"

I smiled to reassure her. "No. But I need a doctor's note to get out of PE. And I do have a condition that keeps me from that class."

She giggled. "I can take you. But you know it has to be real for a doctor to write a note."

I rolled my eyes. "It's real."

"Well, what is it."

I pushed my lo mein around on my plate. "It's kinda personal. Sorry."

She smiled softly and patted my hand. "That's alright Bella." She looked at me knowingly. I assumed she thought it had to do with the crazy-person fainting—she heard about the episode in bio from her brother. I wasn't going to correct her assumption.

She talked me into getting three sundresses before we left the mall. My budget had drastically shrunk from this little outing. But it was too much fun to regret.

We piled all the bags in the Volvo, filling the trunk. (Alice had purchased almost twice what I did. No wonder she has a clothes drive several times a year.)

"Okay, we're going to head to the free clinic where my dad volunteers." I scrunched my eyebrows at her. "Don't worry, he doesn't volunteer there very often. And they are really nice! I helped out this summer, and you'll get in right away because they know me." She smiled hugely, proud of her plan. I sat back and let her ramble about school, her favorite band, and of course Jasper.

I cut into her rant. "—Alice, don't take anything by this, but is Edward always so… distant?"

She pursed her lips. "You could say that. Why do you ask?"

"Well, he helped me out in bio on Monday, and now he's barely said two words to me since." I fiddled with my purse.

"That's Edward. He's a bit… focused?" She looked back and forth from me to the road.

"It's just weird, how he ignores me."

She sighed dramatically. "Let me tell you a little about my big brother." I turned towards her to give my full attention. "He feels a lot of pressure from the parental units. He feels the need to live up to dad the doctor. He's always pushed himself harder than they do, and doesn't know when to loosen up. He's never had a girlfriend, though that posse of wanna-be barbies throw themselves at him any chance they get." She smirked. "And to my knowledge he's never taken them up on it." I breathed a sigh of relief. I don't know why, but I was glad that those skanks never hooked their claws in him.

"The only time he relaxes is when he's running or playing music. And if you see him do either of those, it does not look relaxing." She looked thoughtful, and smirked before she continued. "He'll talk, if you talk to him."

I smiled at Alice. "Thanks. I'll try that." He was more complicated than I thought. But then again, isn't everybody?

Not a moment later, we pulled into to a parking lot next to a boring one story building. A sign read "Free Clinic" on the door. Fancy.

Alice pulled me inside, eager to show me where she volunteered all summer. As we walked into the waiting room, a nurse behind the glass screamed, "Alice!"

She had that effect on people.

Ali bounded up to the window, pulling me with her. "Marge! How's Chipper doing?"

Marge leaned forward into the glass. "He misses you! You need to stop by more often and visit us."

Alice nodded, and then brought me forward. "Marge, this is my friend Bella. She's new, and needs to see a doctor to get an excuse for gym."

She smiled sympathetically at me. No one likes gym.

"Could you squeeze her in now?" We glanced around the room. It was only a quarter full, and no one seemed antsy or in a hurry.

"Sure, honey. Anything for you." Marge immediately ushered us in to the office.

They situated me in one of the little examining rooms, and had me fill out paper work. Alice left with Marge to say hi to the rest of the nurse practitioners—and to give me privacy.

I filled out the form, and waited patiently for the doctor.

Swinging my legs off the side of the examining table I read the posters about swine flu on the walls. Fascinating.

The doctor opened the door, and greeted me with a smile. Only I recognized this doctor.

Carlisle Cullen. Alice's father.

Crap.

Reviews are better than buying a plethora of clothes with Alice!