I walked into the lunch room the next day, without the crutches, thank God. The swelling and the pain in my ankle had already started to go away, and I was glad. My joy was short lived, however. I was ambushed by Mike and Eric the minute I entered the cafeteria. "LaPush?" I shoved Eric away from me and sat at the crowded lunch table. My eyes strayed to where Edward was sitting with his siblings. "What are you two going on about?" Bella sighed in annoyance as she plopped into the chair next to me. "LaPush, baby," Eric smirked. "LaPush beach. It's...LaPushhh," Mike added. "You in?" they asked in unison. "If you stop saying that, yeah," Bella snorted, throwing French fries at them. "What about you Tammy?" Mike asked. "I guess," I reluctantly agreed. They all cheered and started up a discussion about the details of our upcoming beach trip, constantly getting off track because they continuously gave Ben flack for not being able to go. We were meeting Saturday morning at Newton's Olympic Outfitters, Mike's family's store. We all traded phone numbers so we could keep track of who was and wasn't going and in case plans changed last minute. I think Mike just used it as an excuse to get Bella's number. I felt a migraine coming on, so I went to the lunch line to get something to nibble on, thinking it would help. "You are...something else. Y'know, I still wonder what the hell you are exactly, because you're too perfect to be human," I spoke softly to the presence I felt behind me. I was rewarded with a soft, familiar laugh. "Let's hear some of your theories then," Edward said. I paid for a bag of goldfish crackers and immediately tore into them as we walked. "I think those can wait for another time," I smirked, dodging his questions like he had dodged all of mine. We strolled along in content silence as we left the cafeteria from the side exit, the chilly afternoon wind quickly greeting us. I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk when I saw him heading for the parking lot. "Are you not coming to biology?" I asked. He shrugged and turned to face me with a dazzling smile. "Skipping class every now and then is healthy. Care to join me?" Not because of an absence or family reasons, but Edward Cullen was skipping class just because? I couldn't possibly imagine it. I just chuckled and waved goodbye as I headed toward Mr. Banner's class. "Maybe next time," I called over my shoulder. His musical laugh echoed around me, but he was already gone.

Mr. Banner came around with little forked prongs and slides. We were doing blood typing, yay. My head continued to ache and the static in my brain grew worse. I was contemplating just heading to the nurse's office and sleeping through the rest of the school day. He held up Mike's finger and pricked it, showing the little bit of blood that came out. Bella, sitting next to Mike, immediately put her head down and groaned, "Mr. Banner, can I go to the nurse's office?" I stood up just as Mike raised his hand. "I'll walk her down there," I volunteered. Bella smiled weakly at me, her eyes showing the relief of not having to walk with Mike. He slumped down in his seat when Mr. Banner told me yes. Poor Mike Newton, with his petulant little frown and obvious desperation. I gently looped my arm through hers as we left the building. She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and I let her go as she sat down on the curb and rested her head on her knees. "What's wrong?" Edward piped up from behind me. I wasn't even surprised at this point. He had this tendency to always pop up on me. "I think I've got it," I replied. Bella just looked up at us and groaned before laying her head back down. "They're blood typing today and my friend got a little queasy," I explained. "We're on our way to the nurse's office." He bent over to inspect her, then looked at me with a confused expression. "Is she always this pale?" he asked. "As pale as she is, no she's never this pale," I snorted. Bella looked up at me with a slight glare and held her hand out. "C'mon Bella," I sighed, pulling her up. Edward stood there as we began to walk away, looking unsure. "Do you need any help or is she alright?" he called, jogging to catch up. "I don't suppose you can find a way for us to get out of class for the rest of the day," I mumbled sarcastically. "Actually..."

He smiled softly to himself before leaving us to go to the secretary's desk and speak to her. I led Bella past them into the nurse's office. The static feeling was getting worse, and I felt like my head was going to explode. She laid on the empty cot as I spoke to the nurse. "She fainted in biology. They're doing blood typing today," I said. The nurse nodded as she placed a cold wash cloth on Bella's head. "There's at least one every year," she sighed. "Just keep that on your head sweetie." About five minutes passed, and Mike came in toting a boy who was in our biology class. Bella hopped up and handed the rag to the nurse. "I think I'll be fine," she smiled. Her skin was still clammy, but she did look much better. Mike set the kid on the cot before following us out. "You sure you're okay?" Mike asked. Bella looked at me in annoyance before looking over her shoulder at him with a gentle smile. "I'm okay, I swear," she sighed. "You should probably get back to class," she added. Mike pouted a little. "Yeah, well- um, I gotta stay with Andrew until the nurse sends him back," he stammered. I turned away to hide my silent laughter as he shuffled back into the nurse's office. Edward came up to us with a triumphant grin. "Guess who has excuses to go home early?" Edward asked, handing me two slips. "Oh, I could kiss you!" I squealed. There was an awkward silence as he looked at me in surprise. "Bella, are you okay to drive home?" I asked to get the focus off of my outburst. She nodded, but wobbled a little with each step. "Give me your keys," I sighed before turning to Edward. "You asked if you could help. Would you mind doing me one small favor?" I pleaded. "And what would that be?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. I took Bella's keys and then dug mine out of my pocket. "Follow me in my truck. I'm gonna drop Bella off and then I'll bring you back to your car," I said. He took the keys and followed us. Our vehicles were parked next to each other, so I helped Bella in the passenger side of her truck as Edward was getting into mine. "Go easy. That car is my baby," I teased, earning a loud laugh from him.

We left the parking lot with Edward right behind us. "Thanks Tam, I appreciate it," Bella smiled, resting her head against the cold window. "Don't mention it. It's what friends are for," I grinned, nudging her playfully while I still kept one hand on the wheel. "So, you and Edward Cullen, huh?" she chimed. "No, of course not!" I protested, my voice raising just a little too high to be believable. She gave me a knowing look and I hit the steering wheel gently. "I like him, I really like him, but why would he like me?" I pouted. Bella shook her head. "You're about as blind as a bat," she snorted. "Why wouldn't he like you? He's around you all the time and he looks at you like...like you're the only person in the world. You should tell him how you feel." I shook my head, my hair whipping around me. "Nuh-uh, nope. I could never!" I wailed. "Suit yourself. Stay mopey," she giggled as we pulled into her driveway. I parked the truck and cut the ignition, holding out her keys. "Love you, see you tomorrow, you're welcome," I sighed as she took her keys and got out. I climbed out and shut the door, waving goodbye to her. I waited until she was inside to walk to my truck. Edward was sitting in the driver's seat and I pointed to the passenger's seat with a playful glare. "Move it buddy," I demanded. Grinning, he got out and walked around to the passenger's side. I slid into the driver's seat quietly, resting my head on the steering wheel. The static noise was now a deafening buzz. "Are you alright?" Edward asked, trying to peer up at me through my folded arms. "Not sure...my head is killing me," I hissed through clenched teeth. "If you want, we can just go straight to your house," he offered.

"How will you get home?" I whined. "I can call my sister Alice and have her come get me," he answered. The next thing I knew, I was being pulled out of my seat and moved. Edward had slid me onto his lap and over to the passenger seat, taking my place behind the wheel. "You're going to back out and keep going down this road until you get to the third stop sign. Take a left. It's the grey house at the end of the street," I panted, holding my head between my hands. I could feel his eyes on me. "Eyes on the road," I snarled, curling up into a ball in my seat. "Yes ma'am," he murmured. Less than five minutes later, the truck was parked. I looked up to see my house and almost cried out in relief. Edward cut the car off and handed me the keys. "Do you want to come in?" I tried to get out, but I got dizzy and fell back into the seat. "I might have to," he sighed heavily, coming around and lifting me up easily. "What is wrong with you? Are you going to be okay?" I curled into his chest, breathing in his scent that surrounded me. "I-I just don't feel good," I lied. He looked down at me, and although my face was buried into his shoulder, I could almost see his scowl. "If I leave here and something happens to you, I'll never forgive myself. Will you please tell me?" he whispered, his breath on my neck. I shivered and wriggled around in his arms. "Please put me down. I'll be fine. Nothing that hasn't happened to me a million times before," I responded quietly, looking away from him.

He set me down and I unlocked my front door, stepping inside with him right on my heels. He sat down at the kitchen table, looking ridiculous. I mean, not that he was ridiculous, but someone so magnificent in such an ordinary place such as my kitchen was almost laughable. "I need to go lie down. You're more than welcome to wait for your sister. I'll be in the living room," I said, making my way to the next room and just curling up on the couch. I expected to just fall asleep alone in this darkened room, but Edward was soon on the couch beside me, keeping just enough distance between us so that we weren't touching. It was pretty nice, having him there, and then-

"Mari!" Mama called as she swung open the back door. "Living room!" I yelled, wincing at how loud my own voice was. Edward put more distance between us, sitting up even straighter as she came in. "Tamara, why are you sitting in the dark babygi- oh, hello." She froze when she cut on the lamp, not knowing what to do. "I'm Edward Cullen, a friend of your daughter's. She wasn't feeling well, so I brought her home and I was waiting to make sure she was okay," he told her, standing up and offering his hand. "Margaret Kelly, nice to meet you." Mama shook his hand quickly before stepping around him and kneeling next to me. I nearly melted when she started rubbing my head. "Babygirl, did you take your medicine this morning?" she cooed. Of course I did, I had been taking it by myself every morning and night since I was seven; I never forgot. I could see Edward's confused expression as he stared at me. I could feel it coming on, it was inevitable, but I didn't want it to happen in front of Edward. For some reason, if it happened in front of him, I thought he would never come near me again, or he'd treat me differently. I didn't want that. I just stared back, not knowing what to say. I smiled as I heard a horn blare from outside. "You should come to LaPush beach Saturday. It's gonna be a group thing," I offered an invitation, swallowing all my fear and pride. I was going to ask him earlier, but I had chickened out and now I had to get an answer before he left. "LaPush beach?" he repeated. The way his brows scrunched and his lips turned down, I already knew the answer.

"I think I'll pass," he murmured. My expression must've been really disappointed and hurt, because he quickly smiled. "That's more your crowd and not mine. I don't think I would be very welcome," he added. His phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his pocket and checked it. "I should really get going. Alice is impatient. I'll see you tomorrow," he said. "Nice to meet you Miss Kelly." Mama took one hand off of my head to wave goodbye to him. I watched him leave, curling up in a tighter ball when I heard the door shut. "He's cute," Mama said, giving me a sly grin. I just rolled my eyes as she continued to rub my head.