February

"What'd Jasper get me for Valentine's Day?" Bella appeared at my locker first thing Monday morning, looking frantic.

"I don't know," I shrugged, and tried to get my books out, but she stepped in front of me.

"I need to know if he got me something so I can get him something."

"Bella, why in the everloving fuck does it matter?"

The hunted look in her eyes turned to a glare. "Because, Edward! I can't get him something really special if he didn't get me anything, it will throw our entire relationship out of balance!"

I stared at her for a long moment before bursting out laughing. "Girls are fucking crazy." I wrapped her in a headlock and dragged her away from my locker. "Look, if you want to get Jas something, then do it. I suggest a nice bottle of Jim Beam. It'll just melt his little heart."

"You're such a jerk, Edward. I can't imagine what Leah sees in you," Bella retorted with narrowed eyes before she smoothed her hair and stalked away.

I grinned as I watched her walk away before turning to my own classroom. I didn't get very far before I ran into Leah. She tried to smile at me, but her eyes were red-rimmed and her cheeks were flushed.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head and wiped her eyes. "Nothing."

I frowned. "Be straight with me."

"I totally bombed my Calculus exam. My teacher gave me another chance, but it's so hard! f I can't pass, I don't graduate and I can kiss Stanford goodbye," Leah hiccupped and looked away from me.

"Come over and I'll help you study."

"Yeah, right. You know what happened last time I came over," she snorted and I felt my face warm.

"Well, yeah…I mean it though. I'll help you."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." I leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Just come home with me today. I might even keep my hands to myself."

She agreed, but pushed me away and headed to her next class. I smiled to myself as I made my way through the hallway, eager to help her…and to be alone with her again.

"Are you sure this is okay?" Leah asked as we settled at the dining room table after school.

"It's fine. My dad will be home soon, anyways," I told her. "You want something to drink?"

I brought her a bottle of water and pulled her chair closer to mine.

"I thought you were going to keep your hands to yourself," she said wryly. I held them up and grinned.

"I'm all about math, beautiful. For now anyways."

We worked until my dad came home, slamming the front door and calling, "Lucy, I'm home!"

Leah laughed and glanced at me.

"Am I Lucy in this scenario?" I frowned when he entered the dining room.

"I always did want a daughter," he replied and mussed my hair. "Leah, lovely to see you again."

"Hi, Dr. Cullen," she mumbled to her math book.

"I trust Edward is behaving himself."

"Dad," I groaned and the two of them laughed together.

"Are you staying for dinner, Leah? It's Edward's night to cook."

"You cook?" she asked skeptically.

"You're really ruining my bad-boy image here, Dad!"

"I like it," Leah whispered. She leaned over to kiss my cheek and I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, well…don't tell anyone."

"Your image is safe with me," she said softly but, as I stared at her for a long moment, I knew she meant more than that was safe with her.