I pulled something in my back yesterday. It really sucks. All your reviews make me smile though :) So, thank you.

Location: Missouri Valley to Moorcroft, WY

Prompt: High School

Edward and Bella left their hotel very early the next morning, eager to get back into the Volvo and to continue on their way to Washington. They had a quick breakfast from a local café and left just before the festivities began for Joe & Honey's wedding. Apparently the entire town was involved and everything was due to shut down around noon, so Edward was glad they were leaving as soon as they could.

During a stop in Kimball, South Dakota for lunch and refueling, Bella took a moment and quickly called Charlie to let him know where she was and how things were going. He sounded tired, but relieved, to know she was still on her way home. In the back of his mind it concerned Charlie that Bella wouldn't show up like she had promised.

The relationship between Bella and her mother had been strained for years, but Bella's refusal to talk to her over the past two years had finally reached a breaking point for Charlie. He didn't want Bella to eventually have regrets about how their relationship ultimately ended.

"You are traveling with who?" Charlie questioned, obviously skeptical considering his profession. He truly believed that Bella had a level head on her shoulders, but like all parents, he was concerned regardless.

"His name is Edward. He's moving from Manhattan to Seattle to work as a music teacher."

"Did you get his last name?" Bella paused for a moment, thinking about whether she had ever gotten that little bit of information. "I'd like to run a background check on him."

"We've been traveling for three days now, Dad. Don't you think if he was going to kill me he would have done it already?" Bella was trying to inject some humor into the situation, but Charlie was his usual gruff self.

"Actually Bella, serial killers tend to want to kill in their own backyard, somewhere they feel comfortable, rather than someplace they don't know."

"Well then, that blows your theory out of the water since he's not from Seattle, he's from New York," Bella replied coolly, clearly unaware of the fact that Edward was actually born and bred in Forks, Washington. Being a few years older than her, Bella and Edward hadn't had a chance to cross paths, but if she had mentioned the name Edward Cullen to her father, Charlie would have approved of her traveling companion. He would have remembered Edward as a quiet, shy boy who excelled at school and never got into any trouble.

Her attention was pulled from her conversation by the sight of Edward pumping gas. He was wearing a white V-neck t-shirt and cargo shorts that hung perfectly off his waist. He looked downright adorable, especially as he pushed the hair from his eyes and stared back at Bella, winking and making her blush.

With each moment that passed, Bella was finding herself more attracted to Edward, even though she knew she shouldn't be. As soon as she got home and her time with Renee was done, she would be back on the road. Bella had been considering new destinations and thought of heading south instead of east this time. After all, who didn't want to see California?

"You know I am jut trying to make sure you get home safe and sound, right?"

"I know, Daddy," Bella replied softly as she watched Edward climb back into the drivers' seat and wait for her. "We're getting back on the road. I promise to try and call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Any idea on when you will get back to Forks?"

"I would guess in the next three or four days. I'll keep you posted." Bella and Charlie said a quick goodbye and when Bella hung up, she made a beeline for the car. "Sorry about that."

"No worries," Edward replied simply as he guided the car away from the gas station and back onto the freeway.

It was nearly thirty minutes later, as Bella rested the IPod down finally satisfied with her choice of music, that she and Edward began a conversation. "So, you are going to be teaching middle school huh? What made you choose that?"

"Hmm… interesting question," Edward replied as he took a moment to compose his thoughts. "I hated high school, and I don't really want to repeat that. I also wanted kids who were old enough to grasp what I would be teaching them, so I went with middle school."

"You didn't like high school?"

"Does anyone really like high school?" Edward's eyebrow was raised as he eyed Bella quickly before turning his eyes back to the road. Surely this girl wasn't one who cheered, participated in every activity and was prom queen, was she? There was no way Edward could have been that wrong about her. He pictured her s a bit of an outsider and eager to graduate, like he had been. "Did you enjoy it?"

"Sure, there were certain aspects of high school I liked," Bella replied cryptically. Edward waited patiently for more information, but it didn't come until he prodded her. "Fine, I liked my English classes and poetry club, but that was about it. High school was all about cliques and jocks, neither of which I liked. I had my small group of friends and we steered clear of all of the typical drama." Edward smiled, thinking fondly of some of the smarter girls who were in the poetry club at Forks High and he could totally picture Bella fitting in with them. He was also thankful his first impression of her had been right.

"Was there nothing you liked?" Bella questioned, curious about why Edward seemed to be deflecting on the topic.

"Does graduation count?" Edward laughed, but it was somewhat forced.

"No, not really. You were there for four years, there must have been something." Edward paused again, his eyes focused as he remembered how much he abhorred high school. He was lanky, wore glasses and braces and didn't really come into his own until the first year of college. He was bullied by the jocks and stoners, and had very few friends that truly appreciated his musical abilities. In fact, it wasn't until college that he really began to thrive in his life, and it was probably another reason why Edward wasn't keen on going back to Forks. He didn't want to relive those days.

"No, there was nothing I liked about high school."