CHAPTER TEN
ᴛᴇsᴛᴇᴅ

The next morning, Bella parked her truck as far away from the Cullens' silver Volvo as was physically possible. That didn't stop her from glancing that way as she fumbled for the door handle, keys swinging in her hand before slipping and landing in the narrow puddle that stretched between the car space and flooded grass. I sighed, watching from the passenger seat as she reached to pick it up.

Bella stumbled out of the way, slamming the door shut as a slender hand reached down before her, plucking the keys silently from the floor. Edward leaned against the side of the truck, dangling her keychain, dropping it into her hand as she demanded.

I rolled my eyes. It seems he wasn't being cautious anymore. It was clear that only moments before he'd been by his own car.

"How do you do that?" Bella exclaimed, tucking the keys back into her bag.

"Do what?"

Was he teasing her?

"Appear out of thin air!"

Edward chuckled. "Bella, it's not my fault if you are exceptionally un-observant."

His eyes slid my way, staring at me momentarily through the fogged glass until they skidded back to Bella, as if he'd never moved. I sighed, getting out of the car with as much noise as I could make.

"Why the traffic jam last night?" Bella snapped. "I thought you were supposed to be pretending I don't exist, not irritating me to death."

"That was for Tyler's sake, not mine. I had to give him his chance." He laughed again.

"You..." Bella trailed off, her mouth hanging open.

"And I'm not pretending you don't exist," Edward continued.

"So you are trying to irritate me to death? Since Tyler's van didn't do the job?"

I rounded the side of the van, hesitating as Edward's eyes flashed with anger, the dark flecks of his eyes pushing through the amber coverage, like a predator peaking through a leafy bush. He was frowning as he shook his head.

"Bella you are utterly absurd."

I cleared my throat. "I'm going to English," I said, before turning and walking straight away.

"Elide. I'll walk with you."

We tried to ignore the fact that Edward was jogging to catch up with us, but he was beside Bella within seconds. Rain had started to patter against the pavement, sticking to our clothes as we hurried to the classrooms.

"Wait," he said. "I'm sorry that was rude. I'm not saying it isn't true but it was rude to say it, anyway."

Bella looked ready to snap. Her teeth were clenched, her eyes refusing to look at him, as if he was her weakness.

"Why won't you leave her alone?" I barked watching as his teeth formed into a silent growl, as if he was ready to fight. I staggered back a single step, both surprised at my interference and his apparent wariness at my reaction.

"I'd like to speak to Bella alone," he growled, eyes darkening.

"Do you have a multiple personality disorder?" Bella exclaimed hysterically, arms raised.

"Fine. It's okay Elide, I'll see you in English," I muttered, heading in as the rain fell in buckets toward the ground, soaking us entirely.

Mike was watching the door for Bella as I hurried into the classroom, pinned hair falling toward my shoulders in a smooth sheet. He hadn't taken his rejection well, though Jessica still looked happy enough at the fact he'd asked her instead.

It only took Bella another five minutes to scurry through the door after me.

"Thank you for joining us, Miss Swan."

She flushed, cheeks reddening as wet strands of dark hair fell around to hide her face. She fell sloppily into the chair beside me and pulled out her books. I eyed her warily.

"You're being careful around him, aren't you?" I whispered, making sure no one would hear.

"Yeah," she mumbled back, glancing my way as she looked to the page we were on. "It's funny, he said the same thing about it you."

My heart sunk.

"He did?"

"Yeah. Told me to be careful."

There was only one reason he would say that .

"Oh."

"He asked me if I wanted a lift to Seattle. Since my truck is so old," Bella said.

"What'd you say?"

She shrugged. "I said I'd think about it."

"It's okay, you know," I said. "We have plenty of time to do things. But Bella. If- if things get weird... tell me, okay? Be careful around him, I mean it."

"Yeah. Thanks," she stuttered, surprised by my cautious wording. "Have you heard about the trip to the beach?"

I frowned but answered still. "Yeah this weekend at la push?"

"Are you going?"

I pushed on a smile. "I think I will actually."

Bella and I were awkward as we sat down for lunch in the cafeteria. I could think of nothing other than the fact that Edward, the vampire, had asked her to Seattle. She was more out off by the fact that I'd warned her so gravely.

Perhaps I was being far too suspicious, but I couldn't help but think of what could happen on the weekend of the dance. I'd seen how Edward reacted to Bella's scent, seen the flickering of the dark hunger in his eyes when ever he was agitated. The signs were there. But what if I was reading them all wrong?

It couldn't matter if I was wrong. If Edward lost control around Bella... I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.

"Edward Cullen is staring at you again. I wonder why he's sitting alone today," Jessica said.

Bella's head snapped up, spinning around the room in search of his table. The other four Cullens still sat at their own usual table, but Edward was at the opposite side, looking straight toward her.

"Does he mean you?" She said with shock.

"Maybe he needs help with biology homework," Bella said nervously, glancing my way. "Um, I'd better go see what he wants."

I glanced over to the Cullens. It didn't seem as if they'd argued. They were talking, lips moving almost in sync. And I could hear every word, if I blocked everything else out. They wanted me to hear, I realised. It was Alice's voice that caught my attention first: so clear and precise and perfect.

"What are you?" She muttered, head tilting as she stared back at me.

I was perfectly still. I'd been right. They were suspicious. But they didn't know I was one of them. My gift hadn't failed me yet. Alice smiled encouragingly, as if asking if I'd heard. I looked away, as if I'd only been intrigued.

"What's with the look to Cullen?" Lauren's obnoxious voice broke me away.

"Nothing."

"Well look away. Someone might think you fancy her," she said, shaking her head as she turned back to Mike.

☾