5,000+ hits! In case you didn't read what I said last time, forgive me if I don't update on Wednesdays or Thursdays, on Wednesdays I never get home until around 6:00, and on Thursdays during the winter I snowboard at the local ski resort. I will try my hardest to get at least two chapters out today! Hope you like! Warning- Discreet Fluff

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. I do own a drawer full of old Us magazines that I never got around to throwing away. Oh, and still Damien. But he, you can borrow. In fact, borrow him forever.

We sat at the lunch table until a few minutes before the bell rang-none of us were too excited about going to class. And Bio with Edward was going to be interesting.

I walked into the small building set aside for this teacher-whom everyone called Mr. Banner, so I assumed that was his name-and gave him the slip for him to sign. We had a conversation much like the one I had experienced earlier with the Spanish teacher, except in English.

Once again, the only seat available was next to a Cullen. I had noticed the curious glances in my direction suddenly stopped whenever one of my siblings looked at the culprit, and nobody ever approached any of us but me. Even Alice, the energetic little pixie who loved shopping, seemed to be friendless.

I was walking over to the empty stool at Edward's lab table, when I somehow tripped on the table leg. I flew forward, and caught myself on the edge of the stool. I heard a chuckle, and looked up to see Edward grinning at me.

"Need some help sitting down, Bella?" he asked, one eyebrow raised. I stuck my tongue out at him, and he laughed. Any eyes that hadn't been watching us before, definitely were now.

I sat down just as Mr. Banner started the class. Unfortunately, I was once again already educated on the current subject matter, cell division. I tried to pay attention at first, but soon found myself doodling on my folder.

I crumpled-up ball of paper landed on my desk, and I heard a growl from my left. Did Edward just growl at a piece of paper? But when I followed his glare, it was directed at Mike Newton. I carefully uncrumpled the ball.

Bella, the note read, what do you say to that date? Are you free Friday night? Mike.

I quickly scribbled a short answer.

Sorry, I have plans. Bella. I threw the note back to him, after folding it neatly. Edward whispered, "Do you really have plans?"

"No," I replied. "I made that up so he wouldn't keep bugging me. I'm not interested in a relationship right now." With him, I almost added. But if the people around us were eavesdropping and I said that, they would know I liked someone. And I didn't want to deal with the aftermath.

Before Mike could toss the paper back to me, the bell rang. From looking at my schedule what I'm sure was a few hundred times, I knew I had gym next. Not my best subject. I was sure that if they graded you wholly on ability and never on effort, I would be failing the class.

I practically flew out of the room, not waiting for Mike to catch up. When I got to the gym, Coach Clapp-I could tell because of his name tag-found me a uniform, but didn't make me change, since it was my first day. For that, I was glad. I would rather not make a bad impression on my first day by injuring my classmates or myself.

To my disappointment, Mike was in my gym class. He was smiling and winking at me, and his attempts at showing off weren't all that impressive.

When I walked out of the gym, Edward was waiting for me, leaning against the brick wall of the building. "Ready?" he asked, taking my hand. The touch sent an electric current up my arm, like a chill, and I shivered. He frowned and let go. "Sorry," he said, his brow furrowed.

We walked in an awkward silence to his car, and I realized that I had lived through my first day at Forks High.

Edward POV-That Morning

I walked down the hall to wake Bella up, after hearing Alice think that she would wake Bella up herself in two minutes. Figuring Bella wasn't in favor of another rude awakening, I entered her room, only to see her thrashing around in clammy sheets, mumbling in her sleep.

"Damien..." she breathed. "No, they...don't love me."

I blanched. How could she think that? None of us had shown any hostility towards her. Had I done something wrong? I reached out and shook her shoulder gently, trying to wake her.

Suddenly, she sat straight up, clutching the sheets around her.

"Bella, are you alright? You said something about Damien, and..." I couldn't continue the thought.

"And?" she asked, looking somewhat worried.

"And you said we didn't love you. Is that what you really think?"

Her lips pulled up into a beautiful smile, though she had no reason to be happy if she thought we didn't love her. "No, Edward. I know you guys love me...I was just explaining it it to someone who didn't love me quite as much." She said, her smile faltering.

I knew she was talking about Damien. I wanted to kill him. He was a conniving little rat, and he had hurt Bella.

"Edward...I'm fine, really. I can't change what happened in my past, however much I would like to. Damien's come and gone, can't we just forget about him?" she pleaded.

And in that moment, I realized I did love her. If anyone else had asked that of me, I might have bitten their head off. But Bella had succeeded in taming my anger, and she was the only one that could.