Chapter Fifteen

Bella

Angela and I spent the rest of lunch talking about our English assignment and I didn't dare look over to the lone table by the window again. When the bell rang, we headed to biology together. Walking in the room, I found my table that I'd spent last week alone at was now occupied with someone else.

Edward.

Apparently Angela was correct.

"Ah, Bella, your partner has finally returned," Mr. Banner said, nodding at Edward. "I hope this won't be a problem, Mr. Cullen."

The actually gorgeous boy shook his head, and then I heard his voice for the first time. "Not at all, Mr. Banner."

It was just as beautiful as his face, in case you were wondering.

I walked over to the table nervously, taking my seat on the stool beside him—keeping my eyes as far away from his as possible.

"Hello," he said as I bit my lip, opening up my textbook. "I'm Edward Cullen."

"Bella," I mumbled.

"So I've heard."

The air felt thin around me as my heart hammered in my chest. I couldn't figure out why, though. He was just a person. Why on earth did he have this effect on me?

As Mr. Banner started his lesson, I tried to pay attention to my textbook and his words, but I kept catching myself glancing over at Edward. His eyes were trained on the teacher as he jotted down simple notes. He almost looked bored. I couldn't really blame him there, though. I'd already studied this lesson in Phoenix, so maybe he'd done the same.

During my sixth time glancing at him through my fallen hair, his eyes met mine and his lips curled into a soft smile. I quickly looked away, feeling my cheeks flush once more.

"All right, first partners to label each phase of mitosis gets a prize," Mr. Banner said, passing out slides. "Work together. If I see one person doing all the work, you're disqualified."

Edward's pale hand—as pale as his father's—pulled the microscope toward us from the edge of the table.

"Ladies first," he said, laying the slide in it.

I adjusted the microscope, looking at the cells quickly. "Prophase."

"Mind if I look?" he asked, reaching for the microscope as I did.

Our hands touched for a brief moment, and I gasped at the coldness—just like his father's again. There was more, though. Had he shocked me?

"Sorry," he said, pulling the equipment toward him. He was silent, almost uncomfortable looking for a moment before he announced, "Prophase."

"Like I said."

He smirked, laying another slide on the microscope. "Anaphase."

"May I?" I asked as he jotted it down.

"I deserve that." He chuckled. "But I am right."

I shrugged, looking into the eyepiece. "So was I. And . . . anaphase."

I looked up to see his smirk again and I couldn't help but meet his golden eyes—which, again, we're just like his father's.

Adopted?

That made me wonder.

"Um, you can check again," I said, laying the next slide in place.

"You believe me now?"

"I had to make sure. Besides, we'd get disqualified if I did all the work."

"You doubted me too." He chuckled again and the sound was like a melody. "But I suppose I did start it."

I nodded as he looked into the eyepiece. I didn't doubt him when he said interphase and we finished the rest of the lab quickly, taking turns. I wasn't surprised we were the first partners to be done, but it did leave us time to spare.

"So, how are you liking Forks?" Edward asked.

I looked up from our worksheet, finding him eyeing me closely. "Uh . . . I like it, I guess. You? You just moved here, right?"

He nodded. "Word does travel fast, hmm? And I like it too. It's a nice change."

"Where'd you move from?"

"New York City. My mother wanted a change of pace and my father felt he could be of use here. I was a little . . . unsure, but I'm glad we moved."

"Yeah, it's different, but nice."

He smiled. "Beautiful, too. Nicer than buildings and concrete."

"And desert," I sighed. "I love the green."

"All right! Time's up!" Mr. Banner called out. "Anyone who isn't done, well, I've given you plenty of time."

After collecting everyone's worksheet, Mr. Banner announced we'd won—a golden onion, in fact. With a chuckle, Edward moved it toward me once Mr. Banner had laid it down.

"You should keep it," he said. "I've already won enough things."

"Anything else golden?"

"He likes gold spray paint." He smirked. "Do you have Calculus next?"

I nodded. "Yeah, then English."

I don't own Twilight.