Isabella woke with a start, her chest tightening as an overwhelming wave of anxiety washed over her. She couldn't pinpoint exactly why, but the feeling lingered as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. It was almost Friday, she reminded herself. That meant Saturday was just around the corner, and she could spend the entire day curled up in bed if she wanted to. The thought gave her a small sense of relief, but it did little to quell the gnawing unease settling in her stomach. Her fingers clenched the blanket, heart pounding harder than it should. It reminded her of the time she had forgotten an important test in school—the creeping dread that something was wrong, even if she couldn't name it
Sighing, she forced herself out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom, taking a quick shower before getting dressed. Edward would be there soon to pick her up. As she ran a brush through her hair, her mind drifted to what had happened in Biology. Should she tell him? She chewed on her thumbnail absentmindedly, debating with herself. Would it even matter? Would he think she was overreacting? Or worse—would he already know?
A sudden honk from outside made her jump. Snapping back to reality, she grabbed her bag and rushed to the door. In her haste, she nearly tumbled down the front stairs, but managed to catch herself at the last second.
Edward, who had been leaning casually against his car, vanished and reappeared beside her in an instant. The air barely stirred around him, as if he had bypassed the very laws of physics. His hands caught her before she even realized she was falling, steadying her with an ease that felt almost preordained. His reaction was too quick, too precise—anticipatory, as though he had known she would stumble before she did.
"Are you okay?" His golden eyes swept over her, searching for any sign of injury, his brows knitting together in concern. A flicker of something else crossed his face—anxiety, perhaps—as if he knew he had slipped up and was waiting to see if Isabella had noticed.
Isabella huffed a small laugh, brushing herself off. "Edward, people trip. It happens. Just because you seem to walk like you're gliding over air doesn't mean I need a doctor just because I stumble."
He exhaled sharply but allowed a small smile to break through. "I know that people are prone to... being people," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. "But I also worry about you, Isabella. You're my friend, and I just want to make sure you're okay."
A warmth spread through her chest, but she ignored it. Instead, she rolled her eyes playfully and made her way to the car. Edward hovered as she walked, opening the door for her and ensuring she was comfortable before pulling away from the curb.
Silence filled the space between them, but it wasn't an uncomfortable one. Still, there was something beneath the quiet—a tension that neither of them acknowledged but both seemed to feel. The air between them felt charged, like the moments before a storm. Isabella could feel Edward glancing at her from the corner of his eye, his grip tightening subtly on the steering wheel. She pretended not to notice, instead focusing on the trees blurring past the window.
"So," Edward finally said, breaking the silence. "Are you feeling better today?"
Isabella hesitated for a second too long before answering. "Yeah, I think so. Yesterday was just... weird."
Edward hummed in agreement but didn't press for more details. His gaze flickered toward her again, his brows knitting together ever so slightly.
"You're different," he murmured, almost too softly for her to hear.
She turned to look at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
He hesitated, then shook his head. "Never mind."
She frowned but let it go. But as she shifted in her seat, she sighed and muttered to herself, "It's just hard remembering how I'm supposed to act sometimes."
Edward stiffened almost imperceptibly, his hands tightening on the wheel. "What?"
Isabella blinked, realizing what she had just said. "I mean... you know, moving here. It's just different from what I'm used to," she covered quickly, laughing lightly.
But Edward didn't look convinced. He cast her a sidelong glance, as if weighing her words carefully. She had no idea that she had just given something away—something important. But Edward did. And now, he was watching her even more closely than before.
As they pulled into the school parking lot, Isabella barely reacted to the stares. The whispers rippled through the crowd, a tangible wave of curiosity and speculation. She had grown used to the way people talked about her—especially since she had started spending time around Edward and his siblings. The Cullens were a mystery, and it only seemed natural that the odd new girl would be drawn to them.
Edward walked her to her locker before disappearing to meet his siblings. As soon as she was alone, Jessica pounced.
"Okay, spill!" Jessica's eyes were practically glowing with curiosity. "Everyone's saying you had some kind of reaction in Biology, and Edward took you home, and now you two are showing up together? Are you dating?"
Isabella sighed, already exhausted by the conversation. "No, Jessica. He's just being nice. He offered to give me a ride so my dad doesn't have to. That's all."
Jessica squinted at her. "So you're telling me you have zero interest in him?"
"Exactly. High school boys are too immature. I'd rather date someone older—like college-aged—but that's technically illegal, so I guess I'm just staying single for a while."
Jessica laughed. "Okay, fair. High school boys are the worst."
They made their way to first period, splitting ways at Mr. Mason's room. Isabella settled into her seat, zoning out as she mindlessly took notes. Her thoughts drifted ahead to the upcoming trip to La Push. She knew that in another version of this scenario, she would flirt with Jacob to get information about the Cullens. But that wasn't happening. She would make sure Jacob knew, upfront, that she wasn't interested in him.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur, each class blending into the next. She took notes without truly processing anything, her mind elsewhere. When lunch arrived, she grabbed a slice of pizza that looked like cardboard and a lemonade before sitting with Jessica and Angela.
"So, is there anyone you want to go to the dance with?" Angela asked casually.
Isabella wrinkled her nose. "Not really my thing. But I'd love to help you guys pick out dresses."
Jessica's eyes sparkled with excitement as she clapped her hands together. "Oh my gosh, that sounds amazing! I already have a few dresses in mind to try on."
Angela, more reserved but equally pleased, gave a warm smile. "That actually sounds really fun. I could use some help picking something out."
An idea formed in Isabella's head, and before she could overthink it, she stood and walked over to the Cullens' table. Alice beamed as she approached, but Rosalie just regarded her with barely concealed disdain, her eyes flashing with something unreadable—disapproval? Distrust? As if Isabella had overstepped some invisible boundary.
"Alice, would you and Rosalie like to go dress shopping with us?" Isabella asked.
Alice's face lit up instantly. "Yes! That sounds amazing!"
Rosalie sneered, her gaze lingering on Isabella for a fraction too long—sharp, assessing—before she stood abruptly. Without a word, she turned on her heel and strode away, the tension in her shoulders betraying something deeper than mere disdain. Isabella swallowed, forcing herself to keep her expression neutral, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Rosalie's reaction meant something more. Something she wasn't quite sure how to interpret. Emmett sighed and gave Isabella an apologetic smile before following after her.
"Don't take it personally," Alice said cheerfully. "She's just... Rosalie."
Isabella smiled. "I figured as much."
After chatting for a few more minutes, she bid farewell to Alice, Jasper, and Edward before returning to her table. Jessica and Angela stared at her in stunned silence.
"What?" Isabella asked, laughing nervously. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You just—" Angela started but stopped herself.
"Invited the Cullens to hang out with us?" Jessica finished. "And they said yes?"
Isabella shrugged. "Yeah. So whenever you guys pick a date, I'll pass the message along."
They were still speechless when the lunch bell rang. Isabella grabbed her things and started toward Biology. As she walked away, she could feel their eyes still on her, wide with shock.
She shook her head, chuckling to herself. Looking over her shoulder she smiled at them. "C'mon, we're gonna be late."
and thats another chapter down!