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in the parking lot after school and wanted us to join。 Jessica agreed
enthusiastically。 The way she looked at Mike left little doubt that she
would be up for anything he suggested。 I kept silent。 I would have to
hide in the gym until the parking lot cleared。
For the rest of the lunch hour I very carefully kept my eyes at my own
table。 I decided to honor the bargain I'd made with myself。 Since he
didn't look angry； I would go to Biology。 My stomach did frightened
little flips at the thought of sitting next to him again。
I didn't really want to walk to class with Mike as usual — he seemed to
be a popular target for the snowball snipers — but when we went to the
door； everyone besides me groaned in unison。 It was raining； washing all
traces of the snow away in clear； icy ribbons down the side of the
walkway。 I pulled my hood up； secretly pleased。 I would be free to go
straight home after Gym。
Mike kept up a string of plaints on the way to building four。
Once inside the classroom； I saw with relief that my table was still
empty。 Mr。 Banner was walking around the room； distributing one
microscope and box of slides to each table。 Class didn't start for a few
minutes； and the room buzzed with conversation。 I kept my eyes away from
the door； doodling idly on the cover of my notebook。
I heard very clearly when the chair next to me moved； but my eyes stayed
carefully focused on the pattern I was drawing。
〃Hello；〃 said a quiet； musical voice。
I looked up； stunned that he was speaking to me。 He was sitting as far
away from me as the desk allowed； but his chair was angled toward me。 His
hair was dripping wet； disheveled — even so； he looked like he'd just
finished shooting a mercial for hair gel。 His dazzling face was
friendly； open； a slight smile on his flawless lips。 But his eyes were
careful。
〃My name is Edward Cullen；〃 he continued。 〃I didn't have a chance to
introduce myself last week。 You must be Bella Swan。〃
My mind was spinning with confusion。 Had I made up the whole thing？ He
was perfectly polite now。 I had to speak； he was waiting。 But I couldn't
think of anything conventional to say。
〃Hhow do you know my name？〃 I stammered。
He laughed a soft； enchanting laugh。
〃Oh； I think everyone knows your name。 The whole town's been waiting for
you to arrive。〃
I grimaced。 I knew it was something like that。
〃No；〃 I persisted stupidly。 〃I meant； why did you call me Bella？〃
He seemed confused。 〃Do you prefer Isabella？〃
〃No； I like Bella；〃 I said。 〃But I think Charlie — I mean my dad — must
call me Isabella behind my back — that's what everyone here seems to know
me as；〃 I tried to explain； feeling like an utter moron。
〃Oh。〃 He let it drop。 I looked away awkwardly。
Thankfully； Mr。 Banner started class at that moment。 I tried to
concentrate as he explained the lab we would be doing today。 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。 We weren't supposed to use our
books。 In twenty minutes； he would be ing around to see who had it
right。
〃Get started；〃 he manded。
〃Ladies first； partner？〃 Edward asked。 I looked up to see him smiling a
crooked smile so beautiful that I could only stare at him like an idiot。
〃Or I could start； if you wish。〃 The smile faded； he was obviously
wondering if I was mentally petent。
〃No；〃 I said； flushing。 〃I'll go ahead。〃
I was showing off； just a little。 I'd already done this lab； and I knew
what I was looking for。 It should be easy。 I snapped the first slide into
place under the microscope and adjusted it quickly to the 40X objective。
I studied the slide briefly。
My assessment was confident。 〃Prophase。〃
〃Do you mind if I look？〃 he asked as I began to remove the slide。 His
hand caught mine； to stop me； as he asked。 His fingers were icecold；
like he'd been holding them in a snowdrift before class。 But that wasn't
why I jerked my hand away so quickly。 When he touched me； it stung my
hand as if an electric current had passed through us。
〃I'm sorry；〃 he muttered； pulling his hand back immediately。 However； he
continued to reach for the microscope。 I watched him； still staggered； as
he examined the slide for an even shorter time than I had。
〃Prophase；〃 he agreed； writing it neatly in the first space on our
worksheet。 He swiftly switched out the first slide for the second； and
then glanced at it cursorily。
〃Anaphase；〃 he murmured； writing it down as he spoke。
I kept my voice indifferent。 〃May I？〃
He smirked and pushed the microscope to me。
I looked through the eyepiece eagerly； only to be disappointed。 Dang it；
he was right。
〃Slide three？〃 I held out my hand without looking at him。
He handed it to me； it seemed like he was being careful not to touch my
skin again。
I took the most fleeting look I could manage。
〃Interphase。〃 I passed him the microscope before he could ask for it。 He
took a swift peek； and then wrote it down。 I would have written it while
he looked； but his clear； elegant script intimidated me。 I didn't want to
spoil the page with my clumsy scrawl。
We were finished before anyone else was close。 I could see Mike and his
partner paring two slides again and again； and another group had their
book open under the table。
Which left me with nothing to do but try to not look at him…
unsuccessfully。 I glanced up； and he was staring at me； that same
inexplicable look of frustration in his eyes。 Suddenly I identified that
subtle difference in his face。
〃Did you get contacts？〃 I blurted out unthinkingly。
He seemed puzzled by my unexpected question。 〃No。〃
〃Oh；〃 I mumbled。 〃I thought there was something different about your
eyes。〃
He shrugged； and looked away。
In fact； I was sure there was something different。 I vividly remembered
the flat black color of his eyes the last time he'd glared at me — the
color was striking against the background of his pale skin and his auburn
hair。 Today； his