Author's Note: Hi, here's the second chapter of this lil twilight au of mine. I'm writing the story all over the place, so I am unsure when I'll get the next chapter out but please know I am working on this story all the time. Thanks for all the favs and follows! Hope you enjoy

The next day I woke up rested and felt better about school. If Edward wanted to stare daggers at me that was his prerogative but I wasn't going to let him get to me. I'd dealt with bullies before. Renee would want me to walk with my head held high, to stand up for myself. So I would.

Instead of ignoring the stares at school, I met everyone of them back with a limp smile. Every class was just as boring as before, but at least I felt less terrible about being the star of the show. My time in the spotlight would fade and then I could sink back into obscurity as I had at school before. I took solace in this fact and made polite conversation with anyone who dared after my strange behavior the day before. I steered clear of any condolences by quickly changing the subject. Luckily, not many tried.

Angela and I walked to lunch together again from Spanish but I had a hard time focusing on her because all the bravado I had woken up with was gone as soon as I realized I was about to be in the same room as Edward. I looked toward the Cullen table as we crossed the threshold. My shoulders relaxed. He wasn't there. That confrontation could wait another day.

Angela interrupted my thoughts, "Offer still stands to sit with us."

"Thanks. But I really do like sitting alone," I smiled sheepishly.

She nodded and walked toward the lunch line. "Ok. See ya!"

I opted to skip lunch again and went straight to my table. I read my book in peace without interruption until a strange sensation fell over me, like I was being watched. I looked up through my lashes, careful not to make it obvious that I was staring at their table.

The tiny black haired girl was smiling at me. It was so warm and kind I looked up to meet her eyes and smiled back. She winked at me. Maybe Edward was the only rude one of the bunch. My eyes swept over their table. The statuesque blonde was staring daggers at me that almost rivaled his glare. Never mind then. I went back to my book, confused as to why these supposedly disinterested people had any reaction to me whatsoever.

I made my way to Angela once the bell rang. Her entire table turned to me.

"Hi," I said with a lame wave. I was greeted with a discordant bouquet of hellos and heys from shocked faces.

"Wanna walk to class together again?" I asked Angela.

She nodded and gathered her things to walk with me. I waited until we were mostly alone to ask her about the Cullen girl who smiled at me.

"So, do you know the Cullens?" I inquired as we walked.

"Well, I don't know them but I do know of them. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering who the petite girl was."

"Oh, that's Alice. She's a junior. Dates Jasper, the blond guy. "

"Is she… nice?"

"I suppose. She was nice enough the few times I've interacted with her. She keeps to herself, though. They all do. Why do you ask?"

I shrugged, "She has a nice smile."

She nodded with a thoughtful expression but we left it at that.

Edward wasn't in Biology class either, which was a worry I didn't realize I had until I let out a sigh of relief at the sight of his empty seat.

Mike walked me to gym class. He looked at me with puppy dog eyes and seemed assured of my interest. I would have to spell it out for him sooner than later that I was not interested in him.

At home, I cooked for the first time since Renee and Phil had died. I had been the main chef of the family for most of my life. Renee was a little experimental in the kitchen. Sometimes she really nailed it but usually her concoctions were inedible…and that was only when she thought to cook at all.

As I looked around the kitchen I realized all Charlie had ingredients for was fish fry. We'd have to fix that but it would do for the night. Maybe I could teach Charlie how to go grocery shopping, a task I took over in Phoenix when I got my driver's license.

Charlie was surprised to find dinner waiting for him when he got home. It made me happy to put a silly smile on his face.

"Bella! Smells delicious. You know you don't have to cook for me," he admonished halfheartedly. He sniffed appreciatively and sat down at the table.

"Don't worry, old man. I know that. I wanted something to do. Besides, we can't order food or go out to the diner every night."

Charlie blushed. That told me he had done just that before I moved in. If Renee had had the money she would have eaten out most nights, too. As it went, we didn't have that kind of cash so I cooked for us. Another parental task I took on for her. But at least then I had a mother to take care of. It felt good to take care of Charlie in some way…natural for me.

The rest of the week went mostly the same. I did my best to avoid conversation but was polite to everyone who attempted. I sat alone at lunch. I looked for Edward Cullen everyday. And everyday he was not at school. Sometimes Angela and I talked, but we always walked with each other from class and lunch. Sometimes I walked with Mike but just as often I tried to avoid walking with him. Mostly, I spent as much time as possible either reading or drawing, trying to escape from the crushing weight of my new reality. Life without Renee.

Charlie and I began to cultivate a routine of our own. I cooked us dinner and he did the dishes. We started watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy together. I had the feeling it was something neither of us would have watched alone but it was something nice to do in each other's company. Charlie was impressed with my ability to guess the phrases on Wheel of Fortune.

"All the books," I had explained to him. He laughed. I liked it when Charlie laughed.

Afterward I would go to my room and read until I couldn't keep my eyes open. If I couldn't focus enough to do that, I put in my earphones and got out my sketchbook and oil pastels and channeled through whatever feelings I could and tried to drown out any of the feelings that I couldn't.

Over the weekend I did much of the same except I also called Joanie on Saturday to tell her about my week. I avoided talking about the situation on the first day of school with Edward. It would only worry her. Instead I told her I had no real way to smoke the pot she left and she told me she meant to leave me some papers and that she'd mail me a care package soon.

In reality, I called just to hear her voice. I cried as soon as we hung up, frighteningly aware of how alone I was up here without her easy love. No Joanie. No mother.

By Monday, I let myself flirt with the possibility that Edward didn't go to our school anymore. It was simple enough to believe after his prolonged absence.

It was an exceptionally cold and windy day, but at least it was not raining. I took it as a small miracle when I got out of my Rabbit and walked to class.

But as the day wore on, it began to snow. Which I enjoyed for about five minutes until I was pelted by a snowball on my back. Why would anyone enjoy throwing cold wet balls at each other?

I used my binder to thwart off any other offenders as I made my way to lunch. Angela and Mike thought this was hilarious but did not dare to sling any ball my way. When we entered the cafeteria I headed to the lunch line with them without even sparing a glance at the Cullen table. Not out of fear but because I was so sure he wouldn't be there.

Mike was trying to get everyone in the line to agree to a snowball fight after lunch. I would steer clear of him and anyone as gleeful as he was about the snow. Sociopaths.

As I walked to my table I noticed Edward sitting with his family. A sickening wave of dread tightened in my stomach. His eyes met mine and he looked away just as quickly. He didn't look angry. Instead he laughed at something his sister said and continued to not look my way. I pretended to read while I nibbled on my sandwich and gave myself a pep talk.

Edward was back. That didn't have to mean anything. I would ignore him. And if that wasn't enough I'd give him a piece of my mind. Just like I had planned. I looked up again to their table and found Edward once again looking my way. I raised an eyebrow at him and he tore his eyes from my direction. I did my best to ignore their table for the rest of lunch.

I got out of my seat and walked to the doors a few seconds before the bell rang. I was anxious to get to class before everyone else for two reasons. One, I didn't want to get caught in the middle of a snowball fight. And two, If I got there before Edward I could possibly avoid having to look at him at all.

The snow had turned to rain and for the first time since moving to Forks I was grateful for the wet hitting my face. The snow was melting into slush. I was the first student in class. I sat down and got my sketchbook out and began drawing for something to put my focus into. Mr. Banner was passing out microscopes and slides to each table and we had a few minutes before class started.

I heard the chair scrape beside me and could see him sit down from the corner of my eye. I steeled myself for whatever attitude he would have.

"Hello."

His voice was rich and smooth. Inviting. I ignored him, keeping my attention to the drawing I had just started. What made him think I'd want to talk to him after he embarrassed me so completely?

"I'm Edward," he hesitated, "I'd like to apologize for last week?"

It came out more like a question than an apology. That didn't mean too much to me. I shook out my hair to form a curtain between us.

"My attitude towards you was abysmal and uncalled for."

That time he sounded sincere. I tucked my hair behind my ear and gave him a side eye. He looked sincere as well so I finally replied. "It was."

His mouth clamped into a hard line and he looked away from me and spoke in a strained whisper, "I am very sorry for upsetting you."

Class started soon after. Mr. Banner explained the day's assignment: The slides in the box were out of order. Working as lab partners, we had to separate the slides of onion root tip cells into the phases of mitosis they represented and label them accordingly. No textbooks or notes allowed. We had twenty minutes to complete the assignment. I had already done a similar assignment in Phoenix.

"Ladies first, partner?" Edward asked, smiling timidly.

"Sure," I did my best to sound as displeased as possible when talking to him. I snapped the first slide into place under the microscope and adjusted it quickly to the 40x objective. "Prophase," I answered.

"Do you mind if I look?" he challenged as I began to remove the slide.

His hand caught mine, to stop me as he asked. His fingers were ice-cold, like he'd never felt warmth in his life. But that wasn't why I jerked my hand away so quickly. When he touched me, it stung, as if an electric current had passed through us.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, reaching for the microscope. He examined the slide for a shorter time than me. "Prophase," he agreed. He swiftly switched out the first slide for the second, and then glanced at it cursorily. "Anaphase," he whispered, writing it down as he spoke.

"May I?" I asked, more petulant than I meant to come across. I could tell my attitude was a bit excessive, but his attitude had been. He slid the microscope. How disappointing, he was right.

"Slide three?" I held out my hand without looking at him. He handed it to me, careful not to touch me again. I took the most fleeting look I could manage.

"Interphase."

I passed him the microscope and took the sheet and wrote the answer. Our handwriting side by side was almost humorous. I wrote in a loopy print-cursive scrawl. His handwriting was so elegant I wondered if he practiced calligraphy as a hobby.

"Agreed," he murmured. He gave me a small smile. I just stared at him for a moment, stunned by his beauty. Uh oh. That wasn't a good idea, so I looked around the room.

We were finished before anyone else was close. I could see Mike and his partner comparing two slides again and again, and another group had their book open under the table. I turned to face him again, he was pretending he wasn't looking at me.

I cracked him a smile, deciding he had suffered enough of my ire. He gave me a small crooked smile in return. It was charming and sweet, much different than the devil I met last week. I began drawing in my notebook again. I could see Edward's hand was clenched in a fist at his side. I wondered if he had anxiety…

Mr. Banner walked over to our table to see why we weren't working. He glanced at the completed lab, checking our answers.

"So, Edward, didn't you think Isabella should get a chance with the microscope?" Mr. Banner asked. I guess my handwriting on the paper was just for show.

"Bella," he corrected. "Actually, she identified three of the five."

Mr. Banner looked at me skeptically. "Have you done this lab before?"

"Yes, with whitefish blastula," I answered, annoyed by his doubt. I did my best to hide it from my tone. He had been kind to me so far.

"I'm guessing you were in an advanced placement class in Phoenix?" he asked.

I nodded and he walked away, mumbling something under his breath.

I turned to Edward quizzically, "how do you know I go by Bella?"

He looked caught. "Word travels in small towns and all that."

I sighed and put a headphone in my ear, careful to keep it hidden from Mr. Banner, and kept my attention to my drawing.

"Too bad about the snow?" he asked after a moment. This seemed a pretty lame attempt at conversation to me. I stopped my drawing and turned toward him with one eyebrow raised.

He was staring at me with intent curiosity, as if he had asked me for my deepest darkest secret. He was absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous. Literally, because I forgot to breathe.

"The weather? Really?" I protested, trying not to sound like I was running out of air.

You're mad at him, I reminded myself, he made you cry in front of the entire class.

"It has been a big topic of discussion today," he defended, clasping his hands together on top of his desk. His hands were clasped just a little too tight to be called relaxed, but clearly that was the effect he was going for.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, we can talk about the weather then. I'm glad the snow let up."

"You don't like the cold."

"Or the wet," I added.

"Forks must be a difficult place for you, then."

The blatant truth of his words ripped my heart out.

"You have no idea," I choked. My eyes turned glassy and my chest twinged. I looked away from him and returned to my art. I didn't want to cry in front of the whole class, or him, again.

"I'm sorry, that was insensitive…I'm sure everything is difficult for you right now," he apologized quietly.

The Cullens discussing the drama and tragedy of Isabella Swan confirmed. I should have guessed I was a topic of discussion given Edward's behavior, Alice's smile, and the Ice Queen's glare.

"No kidding," I breathed, closing my eyes.

I did my best to not think of anything at all, and instead focused my attention back to the music playing in my ear. I took in slow, even breaths and felt my body and mind begin to relax. I was back from the edge of tears. Safe. I sighed in relief.

"What are you listening to?" his hands were fists underneath the table again, but he was smiling at me apologetically. I smiled back at him against my will, forgiving him instantly. He was very disarming when he wasn't terrifying.

"Black Moth Super Rainbow."

Why was I blushing? Ugh. I looked back at my art instead of his high cheekbones or his square jaw.

"Falling Through a Field or Start a People?" His question surprised me. I wondered what other music he listened to.

"Start a People." I kept my eyes down. I didn't think straight when I was looking at him.

"What's your favorite song on the album?"

I thought of the song that just calmed me. "Hazy Field People, definitely. Do you have a favorite?"

He shrugged as if that weren't important and immediately asked his own question instead. "What are you drawing?"

His finger reached out and touched my paper. His proximity sent a tingling throughout my body, dimmer than the shock before but still present. We both flinched. I wondered if he felt it too.

"What's with the 20 questions?" I glared at him. It was very obviously a house. It was my home in Phoenix. He didn't need to know that.

I was flustered by his meaningless prying and my body's reaction to him. And his eyes, as I got lost in their gaze I realized they were different than before. Golden…ocher. Not black.

"Just curious," he shrugged again, the picture of innocence, "do you draw a lot?"

"Yes," I replied.

"What do you like to draw?" He seemed too interested. I was self conscious.

"I don't know…anything. Landscapes, people, fantasy…whatever comes to mind."

"Fantasy?" he probed quietly with an amused smile. It made me blush with indignant embarrassment.

"Yeah. Fairies, goblins, wizards, aliens, vampires…whatever I'm interested in or reading about at the moment…" I confessed, waiting for him to make fun of me.

His smile grew deeper into a wicked grin and just like that I forgot we were having a conversation. All I could think about was how beautiful his mouth was. His lips started moving but I couldn't hear him.

"- me sometime?"

"Huh?" I shook my head.

"Will you show me some of your drawings sometime?"

"Why?" I demanded, unsure if he was teasing me or not.

"Am I annoying you?" he was a little too pleased with himself, definitely teasing me.

"Yes," I huffed. "Do you interrogate everyone you meet?"

"No, I usually don't have to, but you're incredibly hard to read," he replied. He didn't make any sense to me either.

"Is that so?" I answered, looking away. I tossed my hair behind my shoulder and his breath caught.

"Yes," he replied quietly and curtly.

I thought he'd say more after all that but he was quiet for the rest of class. The lecture continued soon after. When I looked over he was tilted away from me and as tense as the first day of school except when my eyes caught his he forced a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He looked like he was in pain. I wondered if he had IBS or something.

When the bell rang he was up and out of the room just as fast as the week before. He was taller than I had realized, more muscular too.

Oh, no.

Why was he so…interesting?

There had to be something wrong with me. I spent a week hating the guy, hoping he'd never grace the school again and now I lost my train of thought just looking at him. Maybe I had a thing for guys who made me feel bad. Seriously sick.

I shook my head and walked to gym class. Mike Newton quickly met up with me.

"Cullen seemed to play nice today," he commented. He had a skeptical smile on his face.

I nodded. "He apologized, at least." I didn't want to talk to Mike about Edward, so I changed the subject. "Are you ready to hope and pray no ball comes my way?"

It was dodgeball day. I would try to hide behind him to avoid having to hit the ball myself. I'd probably hit someone sitting out instead of the opposing team.

As it turned out, I just got pelted because I couldn't pay attention enough to use Mike for cover. I was too busy thinking about the differences I'd noticed in Edward between this week and last.

His eyes were no longer jet black but instead a warm golden color. Like Liquid topaz. The shadows under his eyes weren't quite as dark. It was hard to believe the curious person I had talked to was the same person that terrified me so much. But he had. I had to draw his glaring black eyes three times to get them out of my head. To keep them from staring at me when I closed mine.

I was exhausted and relieved when I got home. I did my homework for a while and then started making dinner. Simple. Spaghetti and meatballs with a salad.

I let the sauce simmer until Charlie got home and started the pasta when he walked in the door.

"Hey, dad," I called, closing my book.

"Hey, Bell," he walked into the kitchen. "Smells good."

He sat down at the table and I stood by the stove, stirring the pasta occasionally as it boiled.

"Honey, have you ever driven in the snow?" he asked, worry evident in both his face and tone.

"Never," I admitted. I was immediately flooded with images of myself flying through the windshield, shredding my skin open on the icy roads.

"It's going to snow pretty hard tonight. Roads are going to be slick. I'm gonna drive you to school tomorrow. I just don't want anything-"

"Thanks, Dad." I absolutely did not want to drive in the snow, I'd suffer the indignity of riding into school in a cop car. He relaxed.

"I'll give you a ride home from school as well," he added.

"No need, I'm sure you'll be needed at the station. I'll find a ride."

I'd ask Angela and if she couldn't, I knew Mike Newton would be happy to have the chance, a little too happy maybe.

Charlie hesitated. "If you need me, just call me from the school office, okay?"

"Okay. Dinners served."

We ate in silence. I read my book to distract myself from the onslaught of dread I knew awaited me once I got into bed. Charlie finished the newspaper he had left on the table earlier in the morning. When I was done eating I got up to do the dishes hoping he would be too absorbed in his reading to notice. No such luck.

"No, Bella, don't worry about that. I've told you, I got it. I didn't hire a live-in maid," he insisted. I was disappointed that I couldn't push the dread away any longer.

"Night, dad…" I mumbled as I dragged myself up the stairs.

"No Wheel of Fortune tonight?" Charlie called from behind me.

"Not tonight," I answered. I knew I was in no condition to pay attention to a screen. Charlie would notice if I wasn't guessing words and phrases along with the contestants.

I didn't sleep a wink that night. The conversation with Charlie sent me spinning with gruesome imaginings of what Renee and Phil's death might have been like. I thought about how frightening it must have been for them during the crash. Were they conscious when they hit the pavement? Why didn't they wear their seatbelts? Or did seatbelts malfunction? I thought about how easily I could get into an accident myself.

When the sun began to rise I thought of Edward instead. As tired as I was, I found myself anticipating getting to possibly interact with him again. Which version of himself would he be? My growing infatuation was certainly a distraction from the torrent of gore I had imagined all night.

I shut my eyes just as my alarm began to ring.

Pulling up to school in a cop car is a humbling experience. All eyes were on us from the moment we pulled into the parking lot. Charlie gave me a sheepish grin as I sunk as deep into the seat as I could. I exited the car swiftly.

"Bye, Bells," Charlie waved. "Call me if you need a ride back."

"Kay," I mumbled, shutting the door.

I almost slipped in a patch of ice right as I turned around. I ignored everyone, mortified. Too afraid to look anywhere but down, I took small steps towards my classroom two buildings back. Why wasn't Forks High just one large building like a normal school? I'd have been inside already. I seemed to be the only one in a bad mood though. Every voice I heard was excited and animated. A snowball whirled by my face.

Each step took my full concentration, I was constantly at risk of losing my balance. I hoped no one would throw a snowball at me, I'd fall for sure. I turned the corner and was glad there was no one to watch my agonizingly slow march to class, at least for the moment. That gratefulness was quickly overshadowed when I realized the entire way to the building was shaded and almost completely iced over.

Was I trapped in the ninth circle of hell? If I strained my ears would I hear Lucifer's wings bringing on the icy winds that were burning my face? I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

I lost my footing and began to fall backwards. Oh, well. I surrendered to enjoying the view of the sky when cold hands, one at my lower back and one holding my left hand, stopped my fall and lifted me back up. Just as I was safely upright, the hands were gone, leaving my fingers tingling in their absence.

"Oh!" I looked to my left to see Edward.

He had a remorseful expression on his face. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"No, thank you. That would have hurt."

I smiled and took a step, almost slipping again. He steadied me with his hand under my left elbow. He kept it there.

"Would you like me to walk you to your building?"

"Yes," I blushed, "I really don't want to crack my head open on the ice."

He winced, "my thoughts exactly."

He led me gently, his steadying arm touching me just so unless I needed extra support.

"Pleasant morning for a stroll?" he teased.

His eyes were somehow even more golden than the day before. A deeper butterscotch. His hair was disheveled and wet. A water droplet fell from a strand onto his cheek, sliding by his full lips. I realized I had taken too long to reply.

I shook my head, "I've been listening out for Lucifer's wings ever since I realized I was in the ninth circle of hell. You must be Virgil, come to guide me."

He tilted his head back and let out one loud, "HA!" It was an amazing sight and sound.

"Well, Dante, I find it has its own special kind of beauty," he mused.

I noticed people were beginning to stare at us when we were close to the entrance. I cleared my throat and he let go of me at once. He dropped his smile and turned his head. Then I heard a screeching crash.

I immediately had chills, I turned around with a sinking pit in my stomach. There was an uproar of sound: people screaming all kinds of things, yelling commands, asking questions.

"Is anyone hurt?"

"Someone call 911!"

I couldn't see the parking lot from where we were but there had obviously been an accident. What if someone had just died? Would there be blood? All of last night's fears and gruesome imaginings came bubbling to the surface.

"Is everyone okay?" I gasped. It felt like I had the wind knocked out of me.

My vision began to vignette as I hyperventilated. My heart beat out of my chest, dampening the sound around me. My legs could no longer support me, I crumpled. But instead of falling, I felt my feet drag on the sidewalk and then suddenly I was on the ground.

I opened my eyes and realized I was in the building now. I looked up to see Edward at the opposite side of the hallway, pressed up against the lockers as if he couldn't get far enough away from me. He seemed afraid. Of me? His eyes darted from me to the door.

His voice was low and strained, as if he were using his last breath to speak. "Everyone will be fine. Trust me. No one is gravely hurt."

I could barely hear him over the sound of my racing heart. My voice was brittle, "You sure?" I didn't know if I could believe him but I needed the anchor that the news provided.

He nodded.

I looked back down and worked on slowing my breath and pounding heart. "Okay. Thanks," I whispered.

When I looked back up he was gone. Had I scared him away?

It was time for students to start walking in, but no one came. Everyone was outside observing the carnage, I supposed. I walked to my Literature class studying my erratic heartbeat coming down from the adrenaline rush. My eyes grew heavy, carrying myself took great effort.

Completely wiped out from my panic attack, I fell asleep the moment my head hit the desk and slept until Mr. Mason and the rest of class piled in towards the end of the period. Everyone was chattering about the accident for the rest of the class. Mr. Mason didn't even bother to take control of the situation, too startled himself probably. He sat at his desk, staring off into the distance.

Listening in on the conversations around me, I learned Tyler Crowley's van spun in the parking lot and hit two parked cars. One was Jessica Stanley's car. I didn't know Tyler except that he was a basketball player. I did know who Jessica was, sort of. She sat at Angela's table and was in two of my classes. She was one of the people who always looked at me suspiciously. I didn't recognize the name of the other car owner. Luckily, both cars were empty. But Tyler was beat up pretty badly and had to take an ambulance to the hospital. No broken bones but he was bruised and cut up.

He would be okay. It was just as Edward had said. Everyone would be fine. I quietly cried in relief, hiding my cheeks with fists, grateful that everyone around me was too absorbed in their own conversations to notice.

The rest of the day went by in a haze. Whenever I had a free moment, I would rest my head on my desk. I looked forward to sleeping during lunch.

I walked with Angela to the cafeteria after Spanish class. She looked torn, her mouth opened and closed a few times.

"You okay?" she finally asked.

I shrugged, "I just need to sleep."

She nodded and let it go.

As we turned into the cafeteria I remembered.

"Oh, Angela. I didn't drive to school today…do you think you could give me a ride home?"

"Shoot, sorry Bella. I have to babysit right after school. My moms waiting for me." I could tell she was genuinely sorry. No reason for her to be.

"No worries, I think I'll ask Mike." He would be thrilled at the chance to take me home.

"I'm sure he'll be able to. See ya!" Angela immediately perked back up and walked to the lunch line.

I scanned the room as I walked to my table. The Cullens were at their usual spot. I caught Edward and his sister Alice looking my way but they averted their gaze instantly. I used my book bag as a pillow on the table and rested my head. The hum of conversation lulled me to sleep quickly.

"Bella?" a velvety voice asked, pulling me from my dreamless slumber. It felt like only a second had passed since I put my head down.

"Hmm?" As I lifted my head I realized I had drooled a little bit on myself. Ugh. I wiped my face. I slowly opened my eyes. It was Edward. Of course. He had a small, concerned smile on his face.

"The bell rang, no one else is in here," he murmured. I looked around the room and sure enough it was just the two of us.

"Oh, um. Thanks for waking me up," I mumbled. All I could do was embarrass myself in front of the guy it seemed.

"You're welcome." He turned around and was out of the room, just a little too quickly. It was more like he glided than walked. He really was…interesting.

"See you in class," I muttered to myself. I was slightly disappointed he didn't wait for me.

The classroom was just as loud as every single other class had been that day. I had a feeling this accident was the most exciting thing to happen at school, ever. Edward nodded with the same small smile as I walked toward our desk. I sat down next to him and pulled out my supplies and sketchbook. I began doodling nothing in particular, abstract shapes and lines of varying intensity swirling around whichever way fit right. Just an outlet.

"Hey," I greeted, not daring to look away from my scribbling meditation.

"Hello," he replied. His voice was gentle and soothing. If I was honest with myself, he had the most alluring calming voice I had ever heard.

"Um, thanks for…helping me so much today." I was unsure how to navigate a conversation after his reaction to my panic attack, but I figured thanks was a good place to start.

"My pleasure." His choice of words perked my ears. I turned toward him. His eyes were soft and questioning. I only had questions to give back, I looked back down to my doodling.

Just then Mr. Banner called attention to the class. It was easy to drown out the lecture, I had already gone over the topic. I surreptitiously slid one earbud in, obscured from Banner's view by my thick hair. I scrolled through my iPod underneath the desk until I found what I was looking for, something whimsical and light, dreamy. The Milk-Eyed Mender by Joanna Newsom. I caught Edward peeking over to see the screen. I went back to my sketchbook.

Mr. Banner finished class a few minutes early and everyone began to talk. I wanted to say something but didn't know what to say, either. So I blushed deeper and deeper instead as I worked endlessly at my anxiety creation. Each shade of red made me angrier with myself. I shook my hair out to block him from seeing my face.

"Bella," Edward's voice called.

I turned involuntarily toward his request and then remembered the state of my face and looked back toward my drawing, I physically sunk from my embarrassment. Kill me.

"Hmm?" I managed.

"Are you okay?" My eyes pricked. What kind of a question was that?

"No," I snapped. My voice wavered through that one syllable. I felt tears coming. No, no, no. I closed my eyes and tuned into the music until I was calm again.

"Sorry, that was rude," I finally said, opening my eyes.

"Not rude at all," he lied graciously. After a pause he continued, "didn't get much sleep?"

"I didn't, too busy imagining worst case scenario car accidents," I sighed.

"This morning must have felt like your worst fears imagined," he acknowledged.

"Yes," I confided, "thanks for getting me inside. If my panic attack made you uncomfortable…" I trailed off, suddenly unsure how to finish.

"You didn't make me uncomfortable…when you asked me what's my problem? Well, I…I have my own issues, if you will." he looked toward his papers as he struggled to find his words, the corner of his lips lifted into the faintest of smiles.

I smiled despite myself at his casual reminder from our first meeting. I had plenty of issues of my own.

I snuck a glance at Mike to find him watching Edward and I warily. I imagined him behind the wheel and realized I didn't want to ask him for a ride at all. What if he didn't pay attention? Surely he was no better a driver than Crowley. Flashes of gruesome images of bodies flung from vehicles bombarded me until I shook my head.

I was surprised Charlie hadn't called the school himself to demand I ride with him after the accident. I figured he was trying not to overstep with me. He knew of my independence streak from long talks with a frazzled Renee. Charlie tried to play good cop too much for her taste. But what choice did a long distance dad have?

"I was going to ask Mike Newton for a ride home but I don't think I want to entrust my life to a teenage boy today," I thought aloud.

"Probably for the best," Edward agreed, "even if you'll need another ride in a squad car."

"You saw that?" I blanched.

"Didn't the whole school?" His stupid smile was lovely, the jerk.

"Ugh, you could have lied, you know."

"No one even remembers, I promise. Something infinitely more exciting happened after."

"Nice save." I rolled my eyes.

The bell rang. And Edward did not immediately run away. I was surprised. Instead he lingered, only getting up when I did.

"Where's your next class?"

"Gym, but I need to go call Charlie in the front office. I mean, my dad."

"Could I walk with you? I know there's another patch of ice by that way…" he trailed off.

I blushed. That seemed like a made up excuse to be near me surely. "Um, sure."

Mike Newton was hovering by the front door, waiting for me, watching us.

"Oh, um…I'll see you in gym, Mike…I've got to do something first."

He looked to Edward then back to me with an eyebrow raised. "Okay…see you in a little bit then."

I wondered if Angela told him I would ask him for a ride or if he was only confused by Edward and I.

I noticed a smile on Edward's face as we walked to the office together.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"Mike doesn't like me talking to you."

"How do you know that?"

He shrugged. "It's written all over his face."

I shrugged back. Mike looked disappointed and confused to me, not angry.

"Any particular reason that humors you?" I asked. Surely, whatever their beef was had to have started before I arrived…right?

"The patch of ice is coming up." He pointed it out and put his hand underneath my elbow again. I didn't slip with his support. He didn't let me go until we were at the door. I noticed he didn't answer my question.

"Thanks," I blushed at the contact.

"I'll just wait for you out here," his hands were in fists again. He swallowed hard.

"Okay…" I didn't know why he'd want to wait out in the cold.

The inside was warm, a comfortable reprieve from the hell Virgil was subjecting himself to outside. Maybe he really did enjoy winter's beauty. Mrs. Cope smiled at me when I entered and gave me the phone to call Charlie no questions asked.

When I got him on the phone, his relief was evident. I'd have to wait an extra thirty minutes for him to get me but was fine with me. It meant less students would notice me riding away from campus in a cop car. If Edward was right that nobody remembered my entrance, I wanted to keep it that way.

When I walked outside I was surprised to find the smiling pixie herself next to Edward. His eyes were cast down but Alice's face lit up with a bright smile as she laced her arm through Edward's.

"Hi, Bella! I'm Alice, Edward's sister. It's nice to get a chance to meet you." She put out her hand for me to shake it.

There was so much to take in at once. Her eyes were just as golden as Edward's. And her voice was musical and lilting, like a bell. Then there was her hand. It was as cold as his had been. But the tingling sensation wasn't there. I realized her hand was…hard. I let it go at a respectable time and hoped I kept the curiosity from my face.

"Nice to meet you, too," I tried not to stammer.

"I've got to steal Edward away for a family emergency," she patted his chest, "I hope you'll forgive me." Then she pouted at me playfully. Her elfen face was magic. I blushed.

"Oh, of course."

I looked toward Edward. He slowly lifted his head to meet my gaze. He had the strangest expression I could not place. Was it pain, fear, embarrassment…or some mixture of all three?

"See you tomorrow," he murmured.

"See you," I turned around and then looked over my shoulder, "You too, Alice."

She beamed, "See ya!" as she pulled him away in the opposite direction.

The bell rang on my way to the gym and I groaned. I easily sidestepped the ice patch which confirmed that Edward had walked with me for no real reason other than to talk to me. I bit my lip at the realization. I hoped his family was okay. I figured they were by Alice's bright demeanor. Whatever the emergency was mustn't have been too bad.

I took a deep breath and readied myself for the inevitable confrontation with Coach Clapp. If I hadn't been so distracted by Edward at the office I would have asked Mrs. Cope for a note. But he forgave my tardiness once I explained why I was late to class.

I said hi to Mike and we walked laps together around the gym. It was an activity I chose whenever it was offered. I could walk on straight surfaces with more success than I could with any sport.

He complained about the melting snow and the epic snow fight that would have happened otherwise. I ignored both of his attempts to talk about Edward and I by changing the subject. I really needed to have a talk with Mike soon, but it felt too forward since he hadn't outright hit on me quite yet. Oh, high school politics.

I hung out in the front office with Mrs. Cope while I waited for Charlie. I took out my sketchbook and began to sketch Alice and Edward standing together with her arm laced through his. As I sketched his downturned solemn face, a realization hit my sleep deprived mind. Something I had been too distracted before to notice: Edward had looked toward the sound of the crash before it happened. Odd.