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11。 PLICATIONS
Everyone watched us as we walked together to our lab table。 I noticed
that he no longer angled the chair to sit as far from me as the desk
would allow。 Instead； he sat quite close beside me； our arms almost
touching。
Mr。 Banner backed into the room then — what superb timing the man had —
pulling a tall metal frame on wheels that held a heavylooking； outdated
TV and VCR。 A movie day — the lift in the class atmosphere was almost
tangible。
Mr。 Banner shoved the tape into the reluctant VCR and walked to the wall
to turn off the lights。
And then； as the room went black； I was suddenly hyperaware that Edward
was sitting less than an inch from me。 I was stunned by the unexpected
electricity that flowed through me； amazed that it was possible to be
more aware of him than I already was。 A crazy impulse to reach over and
touch him； to stroke his perfect face just once in the darkness； nearly
overwhelmed me。 I crossed my arms tightly across my chest； my hands
balling into fists。 I was losing my mind。
The opening credits began； lighting the room by a token amount。 My eyes；
of their own accord； flickered to him。 I smiled sheepishly as I realized
his posture was identical to mine； fists clenched under his arms； right
down to the eyes； peering sideways at me。 He grinned back； his eyes
somehow managing to smolder； even in the dark。 I looked away before I
could start hyperventilating。 It was absolutely ridiculous that I should
feel dizzy。
The hour seemed very long。 I couldn't concentrate on the movie — I didn't
even know what subject it was on。 I tried unsuccessfully to relax； but
the electric current that seemed to be originating from somewhere in his
body never slackened。 Occasionally I would permit myself a quick glance
in his direction； but he never seemed to relax； either。 The overpowering
craving to touch him also refused to fade； and I crushed my fists safely
against my ribs until my fingers were aching with the effort。
I breathed a sigh of relief when Mr。 Banner flicked the lights back on at
the end of class； and stretched my arms out in front of me； flexing my
stiff fingers。 Edward chuckled beside me。
〃Well； that was interesting；〃 he murmured。 His voice was dark and his
eyes were cautious。
〃Umm；〃 was all I was able to respond。
〃Shall we？〃 he asked； rising fluidly。
I almost groaned。 Time for Gym。 I stood with care； worried my balance
might have been affected by the strange new intensity between us。
He walked me to my next class in silence and paused at the door； I turned
to say goodbye。 His face startled me — his expression was torn； almost
pained； and so fiercely beautiful that the ache to touch him flared as
strong as before。 My goodbye stuck in my throat。
He raised his hand； hesitant； conflict raging in his eyes； and then
swiftly brushed the length of my cheekbone with his fingertips。 His skin
was as icy as ever； but the trail his fingers left on my skin was
alarmingly warm — like I'd been burned； but didn't feel the pain of it
yet。
He turned without a word and strode quickly away from me。
I walked into the gym； lightheaded and wobbly。 I drifted to the locker
room； changing in a trancelike state； only vaguely aware that there were
other people surrounding me。 Reality didn't fully set in until I was
handed a racket。 It wasn't heavy； yet it felt very unsafe in my hand。 I
could see a few of the other kids in class eyeing me furtively。 Coach
Clapp ordered us to pair up into teams。
Mercifully； some vestiges of Mike's chivalry still survived； he came to
stand beside me。
〃Do you want to be a team？〃
〃Thanks； Mike — you don't have to do this； you know。〃 I grimaced
apologetically。
〃Don't worry； I'll keep out of your way。〃 He grinned。 Sometimes it was so
easy to like Mike。
It didn't go smoothly。 I somehow managed to hit myself in the head with
my racket and clip Mike's shoulder on the same swing。 I spent the rest of
the hour in the back corner of the court； the racket held safely behind
my back。 Despite being handicapped by me； Mike was pretty good； he won
three games out of four singlehandedly。 He gave me an unearned high five
when the coach finally blew the whistle ending class。
〃So；〃 he said as we walked off the court。
〃So what？〃
〃You and Cullen； huh？〃 he asked； his tone rebellious。 My previous feeling
of affection disappeared。
〃That's none of your business； Mike；〃 I warned； internally cursing
Jessica straight to the fiery pits of Hades。
〃I don't like it；〃 he muttered anyway。
〃You don't have to；〃 I snapped。
〃He looks at you like… like you're something to eat；〃 he continued；
ignoring me。
I choked back the hysteria that threatened to explode； but a small giggle
managed to get out despite my efforts。 He glowered at me。 I waved and
fled to the locker room。
I dressed quickly； something stronger than butterflies battering
recklessly against the walls of my stomach； my argument with Mike already
a distant memory。 I was wondering if Edward would be waiting； or if I
should meet him at his car。 What if his family was there？ I felt a wave
of real terror。 Did they know that I knew？ Was I supposed to know that
they knew that I knew； or not？
By the time I walked out of the gym； I had just about decided to walk
straight home without even looking toward the parking lot。 But my worries
were unnecessary。 Edward was waiting； leaning casually against the side
of the gym； his breathtaking face untroubled now。 As I walked to his
side； I felt a peculiar sense of release。
〃Hi；〃 I breathed； smiling hugely。
〃Hello。〃 His answering smile was brilliant。 〃How was Gym？〃
My face fell a tiny bit。 〃Fine；〃 I lied。
〃Really？〃 He was unconvinced。 His eyes shifted their focus slightly；
looking over my shoulder and narrowing。 I glanced behind me to see Mike's
back as he walked away。
〃What？〃 I demanded。
His eyes slid back to mine； still tight。 〃Newton's getting on my nerves。〃
〃You weren't li