Disclaimer: Characters belong to SM.

March, 2012

~17~

Sitting in history on Thursday, Ms. Baragar asks us to divide into partners.

I finish writing down the last sentence on the board, set down my pen, and finally look around. From what I can tell, everyone in the class has pushed their desks together into groups of two, some getting started on today's activity and some using the opportunity to talk about the interesting lives they lead. Yeah, right.

My lone desk sits in the center, surrounded by all of the pairs.

I can just feel the love.

Just when I am resigned to completing the activity on my own, a quiet voice asks, "Need a partner?"

Jasper Hale has moved to stand awkwardly beside my desk, playing with the pages of his notebook.

Right now, I'd much rather not have to acknowledge Jasper's existence let alone be partners with him. But as karma would have it, Ms. Baragar sees our close proximity and hands Jasper the materials, gesturing for us to begin.

Throughout the period, Jasper and I work diligently on our map, labelling all the locations in Florence where important monuments or artwork are located. Jasper is quiet and I don't say anything unless it's absolutely necessary. If Jasper thinks that I'm going to forgive him this easy, that we can go back to how we were last year before everything started to go wrong, then he's irrational.

I notice how my classmates are staring, particularly Maria Soparlo who I remember Alice complaining about. Apparently Maria has liked Jasper forever, but from what I can tell, he hasn't showed interest in anyone all year, let alone her.

I can't wait to see how the vultures take this, how they twist my innocent partnership with Jasper, a partnership that I don't want in the slightest, into something sordid and disgusting.

I should probably make a point of leaving school quickly today.

~SW~

Walking swiftly through the hallways, Ben has to jog to catch up with me. Slightly out of breath, he grasps my arm in an attempt to make me slow down.

I oblige and slow to a gait.

"Now what could you want that is so important you decide to grace me with your presence?" I smile sweetly. Ben is one of the few people that I can freely be sarcastic with without the worry that I will offend him. Usually, I have to monitor what I say unless I want to reduce some poor freshman to tears.

"Hey, can't I have a chat with my best friend without getting all the complaint? I'm hurt, Swan." Ben's bottom lip juts out and his hand clutches his heart. I laugh and lightly punch him in the arm.

Yeah. Ben's a good guy.

Joking put aside, Ben asks, "Bella, are you… I mean, are you hanging out with Jasper Hale again? I heard someone talking…."

"For fucks sake!"

History class only finished ten minutes ago.