The next day, we all arrived at school on time — a record in my family. We went about our day in a fairly normal way. We went to class, and by the time lunch came around, the Cullens were already sitting at their new table before we even got there, their trays already full of food as they played with an item individually. They looked like they were slightly arguing between each other. The blonde girl, Rosalie, turned to glare at me, and I shrunk slightly under her intimidating gaze.
I walked into biology, and had a small amount of confidence left. To my surprise, Edward Cullen did not show up.
As time passed, I grew more and more tense. I couldn't get rid of the nagging suspicion that I was in fact the reason why Edward wasn't there. The bell went, I gathered up my things and went to gym.
That night, we all sat at the dinner table, quietly eating our dinner with the silent noise of the television in the background. After a moment's consideration, I decided to speak.
"Do you know the Cullen family, Dad?" I asked him as he finished his mouthful of salad. He nodded and smiled slightly.
"Dr. Cullen is a brilliant surgeon" He stated "He probably could have worked in any hospital in the world and he chose here. We're so lucky to have him"
Katherine threw me a confused look and so did Matthew as I swallowed my mouthful of food I was chewing. "Their kids are a little different… they haven't been fitting in at school since they came" I stated, Katherine planting a smirk on her face. I could almost picture her devising a plan.
Everyday for the rest of the week, I watched anxiously at the Cullen table, not sure whether I wanted Edward to be amongst them, or him to not be there. By Friday, I was more comfortable walking into biology knowing he wasn't going to be there.
The weekend went through in a flash. Jacob, from the reservation, came down with his Dad, Billy, to come and see Charlie for the game, making Katherine disappear from the house for the whole evening, spending her time with Jess and Lauren. Kat and Jacob had previously dated, making it awkward for her to be there since their breakup was recently fresh. Matthew on the other hand spent most of his weekend down the reservation with some of the boys.
On Monday, I was fully expecting the four Cullens, and my biology experience to be quiet and peaceful without the hate filled stares. My prayers however, were not answered.
We returned to the cafeteria, the energy around us overall excited. It had started snowing during classes, and everyone's hair was adorned with small snowflakes. I scanned the crowd, and I noticed something that I was not expecting. The Cullen's table held 5 people, and one of those was Edward Cullen. I froze as Jess grabbed her food.
"Umm, Bella… Are you going to get anything?" Jess asked me as she noticed me freezing in my spot. I averted my eyes down to the floor of the cafeteria and felt my ears getting hotter by the second. I had to remind myself that I did absolutely nothing wrong for him to disappear for the remainder of last week.
"Umm… No" I answered her quietly. "I'll just get a soda today"
"Are you feeling okay Bella?" Mike asked. I sighed.
"Actually, I feel a little sick. But I should be okay for the rest of the day" I answered him, waiting for them to get their food before we returned to the table. I slowly sipped my soda as the group chatted away about their plans for the weekend. I was considering playing up my sudden sickness just to get out of class.
Stupid. I shouldn't have to run away from him.
If I glanced upwards towards their table and he had a hateful stare at me that would burn through my soul, I would skip biology for the day. I have a perfect attendance rate, I could afford it.
I looked upwards, and saw they were all laughing. Edward, Jasper and Emmett all had their hair saturated with melting snow. Alice and Rosalie were both leaning away as Emmett shook his hair towards the girls. I noticed something different about it as I watched them. Edward's skin seemed less pale, and the circles under his eyes were less noticeable. I felt there was something more that I was missing.
"Bella, What are you staring at?" Jess asked me, looking around the room to follow my gaze.
Exactly that second, Edward's eyes flashed over mine, and I dropped my head in embarrassment, my cheeks flushing with heat. I was sure that when he looked at me, he didn't look like he did a week ago. He just seemed to have a curious look on his face, unsatisfied. Was he unsatisfied with me? It sounded so stupid to even think about…
"Edward Cullen is staring at you" Jess stated again, I could see my sister's head swivel to look at Edward, and then I.
"He doesn't look mad does he?" I asked her, lifting my head a little to meet Jessica's gaze. I saw her shake her head and I relaxed a little, exhaling a breath I didn't notice I was holding in.
"Should he be?" Katherine asked, her tone merely curious. I saw Matthew look up at Edward too, but he quickly returned to his conversation with Tyler and Ben as quickly as he looked up. I couldn't pinpoint the look on his face before it disappeared.
"I don't think he likes me" I stated. "But oh well. I guess not everyone can like me" I shrugged it off slightly. I was stronger than this, and I was not going to let it get to me. "But stop staring at him" I hissed as I nudged Jess and threw a glance at Kat. They looked away.
Mike interrupted us then. He was planning a massive battle in the parking lot enthusiastically with Ben, Tyler, Matthew and Eric. He asked us to join, in which Angela, Katherine and I all said no. Jess said yes, and threw me a small smirk knowing she was trying her best to get his attention.
Mike and I walked to class together. He rambled on about the snowball fight in which he won, even though it was slightly obvious I wasn't listening. We walked into biology, and I was relieved that Edward was not sitting down at our table. I sat down, pulled out my notebook and started scribbling. I paid little attention to Mr. Banner walking around, handing out microscopes and slides to each table. The class continued to buzz with chatter, and I knew that class didn't start for a few minutes.
The chair next to me suddenly moved, but I kept my eyes on my notebook, perfecting the pattern I was drawing.
"Hello," Said a quiet, yet musical voice. I looked up, stunned as to who he was speaking to before realising he was speaking to me. He was still sitting on the very edge of his chair as far as possible from me. His hair left droplets on the desk from being wet, making it dishevelled. He still looked as though he could be filming a commercial for hair gel. His face was dazzling, as well as friendly, open with a slight smile on his lips which didn't quite meet his eyes, which were focused and careful.
"My name is Edward Cullen" He continued "I didn't have a chance to introduce myself last week. You're Bella Swan"
I sat in confusion. Was I going slightly crazy and dreamt the whole thing last week? I doubted so, but yet here he sat, polite and friendly. I knew each second I spent questioning my madness I looked like I probably could be going insane. I had to speak.
"How do you know my name?" I asked cautiously. It had to be some crazy coincidence.
He laughed enchantingly, and quietly. "Your friend, Mike? I overheard you two talking and I picked it up from his conversation" he started innocently.
"I mean why did you call me Bella?" I was so used to people at first glance calling me Isabella. It was strange.
"Do you prefer Isabella?" his tone gave away his confusion.
"No. I prefer Isabella" I stated. "People when they normally meet me and know my name beforehand call me Isabella. It's a habit" I explained, trying not to sound as stupid as I felt.
Mr. Banner thankfully chose then to start the class, and I turned my immediate attention to the front while he was explaining today's lab. The slides in which he gave each table were out of order and we had to order them in which phases of mitosis they represented. We weren't allowed to use our books and in twenty minutes, he would come around and check to see who got it right.
"Get started" he commanded us, and the talking resumed as well as the shuffling of books.
"Ladies first?" Edward asked. I looked up to see his face adorning a crooked smile so beautiful that I could only stare at him. I felt like an idiot and I bet I looked like one too.
"Or I could start, if you wish" his smile faded. I looked and felt like I was mentally incompetent. I had never been like this before.
"No" I said quickly, my cheeks heating up. "I can start" I moved the microscope over, so that it was in front of me.
I was showing off. I was the top student of this class and I had already understood the topic. Most of the class did not understand, as to why we were doing this lab. I knew what I was looking for. It would be easy. I snapped the first slide in and quickly set it to the 40X objective, studying the slide briefly.
"Prophase" I announced.
"Do you mind if I look?" He asked as I began to remove the slide. His hand caught to stop me removing the slide as he asked. His fingers were as cold as ice, as if he had been holding them in a freezer. Although cold, it wasn't the primary reason as to why I moved my hand away so fast. When he touched me, I felt an electric current surge through us.
"I'm sorry," he muttered as he pulled back his hand and grabbed the microscope. He examined it for a shorter time than I had. "Prophase" he finally agreed as he switched out the first slide.
He examined it briefly before answering "Anaphase," he murmured.
I kept my voice indifferent. "May I?"
He smirked and slid over the microscope. I examined it and to my surprise and slight disappointment, he was right. We continued back and forth with the new slides until we were finished. I looked around the room and noticed we were the first ones to finish, and my effort to not look at him was spoiled.
I looked up at him, and noticed he was staring at me with the same look of frustration in his eyes. I noticed the difference in his features in which I was previously beating myself over at lunch.
"Did you get contacts?" I asked without thinking, and regretting it almost immediately.
He seemed puzzled by my sudden question "No,"
"Oh, I thought there was something different about your eyes" I knew there was something different about his eyes. Last time, his eyes were black as they glared at me, striking against his hair and his pale skin. Today there were a totally different colour, a strange ocher, that was darker than butter scotch with the same golden tone. It didn't make sense, unless he was lying about contacts.
I looked down and his fists were clenched together again on his leg.
"So, Bella, You didn't think Edward should get a chance with the microscope?"
"He did. He identified three of the five slides" I said looking over to Mr. Banner.
"Have you done this lab before Edward?" he asked.
He smiled slightly, "Yes."
"Were you in an advanced program in Alaska?"
"Yes."
"Well then…" He started after a moment. "It's a good thing you are lab partners" he mumbled something else as he walked off.
"It's too bad about the snow, isn't it?" Edward asked me. A wave of paranoia swept over me, making me think he overheard our conversation at lunch.
"Not really," I answered honestly. "I don't like the cold or the wet" I was still trying to shake the suspicion, but I couldn't concentrate.
He looked at me with a fascinated look on his face, for some reason I couldn't understand or imagine. His face demanded more attention than what I could offer. I tried not to look at him as he asked his next question.
"What about your family?" He asked, sounding interested. I made the mistake at meeting his dark, gold eyes, which confused me.
"My mother and father live here" I said without thinking. "My brother and sister both go to this school along with me, they're sophomores"
"What do your parents do?" He asked quickly, smiling in response.
"My mother is a kindergarten teacher at the local primary school. My father is the chief of police here as well." I ended the subject. "Why does this matter to you?"
He could tell I was irritated, but I kept my eyes away, watching Mr. Banner make his rounds. "That is a very good question" he muttered quietly, almost sounding that it was not meant for my ears. I sighed, and scowled towards the front.
"Am I annoying you?" He asked, sounding slightly amused.
I glanced at him. "Not exactly. I'm more annoyed at myself. My face is so easy to read." I frowned towards the table.
"On the contrary, I find you very difficult to read." He sounded genuine, like he meant it.
"You must be a good reader then."
"Usually." He replied, flashing a set of perfect white teeth with his smile. Mr. Banner called the class' attention, and I faced the front. In the corner of my eye, I saw his hands gripping the edge of the table with tension that was impossible to miss. I tried to pay attention as Mr. Banner illustrated what we were meant to see on the microscope.
The bell went, and as swiftly as he had last Friday, Edward rose and rushed gracefully out of the room. I stared at him in amazement before gathering my things and meeting Mike. He smiled at me and sighed an exasperated sigh.
"Did you have any trouble with that?" He asked "It was awful" and he groaned aloud. I suppressed a giggle.
"I found it fine, but maybe if you stopped ditching you would understand a bit better" I suggested lightly with a smile. He laughed and playfully punched my shoulder.
"Bella Swan, You'll be the death of me I swear" He said in between laughs. When he stopped laughing, he finally spoke again. "Cullen seemed nice enough today" he commented, and from his tone, I could tell he wasn't entirely too pleased.
"Yeah, I wonder what got into him last Monday" I tried to sound indifferent.
We walked to Gym, but in all honesty, I wasn't paying attention. Soon enough, the sound of the bell went, and all students piled out of the buildings and towards the parking lot.
I jumped into the car and cranked up the heaters, noticing that three cars down near a Volvo, Edward was there leaning against his car door. My siblings got in, eyed me and talked amongst themselves as I put the car into reverse and almost hit a rusty toyota. Luckily, I slammed on the breaks before I hit it, and before I left, I could swear I saw him laughing.
Author's Note: please leave your thoughts either as a review (on ) or a comment (on AO3) about the current chapters so far and any questions you may have. If enough people request a new moon rewrite with the same plot line (the name is already set, just kinda need the motivation and support). xx