CHAPTER NINE:

Thoroughly spooked by my dream, I did the only thing I could think of. I distanced myself from Edward. Over the next month, despite the fact my grades suffered for it, I stopped the Biology tutoring sessions. I made sure to arrive at school just in time for the bell, arrive at each class on the bell, leave each class on the bell, and hide in the girl's loos at lunch. I kept any conversations we had clipped and short.

It was so much harder then I thought, as I found myself missing his company. I missed his smile, his laughter, and the warmth in his gaze.

To keep distracted, I buried myself in schoolwork. I spent everyday after school doing my high school homework, and then some more, and my weekends going through my Hogwarts course books, wanting to keep up to date on everything, even if I wasn't at the school I loved. And whenever I wasn't doing schoolwork, I was tuning into Potterwatch to learn what was happening in the world I'd fled.

I was tired, drained, and seriously lacking in the fun department. And my sleeping wasn't getting any better. If I wasn't dreaming of Edward, I was having nightmares, waking up screaming. The nightmares were getting worse, as Potterwatch had begun listing the names of the dead. A list consisting mostly with muggle-borns who were on the run and found by Snatchers or Death Eaters.

It was about a month after the van incident, and I was trudging to Home Ec. when the Mike boy caught up with me. "Hi Bella!" he grinned, as if we were best buds.

"Mike." I nodded, hoping my voice didn't sound quite as dull as I felt. Even if it was, Mike didn't seem at all deterred, walking beside me and chatting on the way to Biology, not put off at all by my one word answers. We'd just entered the classroom, when he finally breached the topic.

"So, the school dance is in two weeks," he started.

"That's nice." I reply, sitting down heavily at my desk, electrically aware of Edward sitting close enough to touch.

"I know it's a girl's choice, but I was wondering whether you wanted to ask me." Mike stated. I blinked. From the corner of my eye, I could see Edward's head tilt reflexively in my direction.

"Um, I'm not going." I say, after several long, awkward seconds of silence.

"Why not?" Mike demanded.

"I'm going to Seattle that Saturday." I lie, without even hesitating.

"Can't you go some other weekend?" Mike asks, looking put out.

"Sorry, no. You better go to your seat- Mr. Banner just arrived." I informed him.

"Okay." Mike mumbles, turning around and walking back to his seat. I close my eyes and press my fingers to my temples.

"Damn them all." I mutter under my breath, before sighing and opening my eyes as Mr. Banner starts talking. I'm very careful to not meet Edward's curious gaze, not that it seemed to put him off. He just continued staring with probing intensity.

Gym was brutal, and it was a relief to leave. I almost ran to the truck, just wanting to go home and try to tune in to Potterwatch. I missed the magical world so much, it actually hurt. Everyday I kept my DA galleon in my pocket, everyday I kept my wand within arm's reach.

Unfortunately, when I rounded the corner I almost had a stroke as I saw- um, either his name was Aaron or Eric- leaning against my truck. Oh god, what did he want? He waited until I was a few feet away before greeting me. "Hi Bella."

"Hi." I responded, wracking my brain for his name. "Um, what's up?" I asked, giving up, and starting to search through my bag for my keys.

"Uh, I was wondering if you would go to the school dance with me?" his voice broke slightly at the last word.

"But I barely know you." I frowned, startled. He scratches behind his ear, sheepishly.

"I know, but... I dunno, I thought it would be a good time for us to get to know each other." I hold back my sigh.

"Thank you for asking me, but I'm going to be in Seattle that day." I tell him. "Excuse me, I have to get going." I add, when it doesn't look like he's going to move.

"Okay. See you tomorrow Bella." He says, looking disappointed.

"Bye... whoever you are." I mutter the last bit under my breath, as I climb into my truck. I heard a low chuckle, and turned my head slightly to see Edward walking past the front of my truck, looking straight forward, his lips pressed together. Scowling, I slammed the door shut and reversed into the aisle. Unfortunately for me, Edward was already in his car, two spaces ahead, and sliding out smoothly in front of me, cutting me off.

And then he stopped there- to wait for his family; I could see the four of them walking this way, but still by the cafeteria. I considered taking out the rear of his shiny Volvo, but there were too many witnesses. I looked in my rearview mirror. A line was beginning to form- worse, directly behind me was Tyler in his recently acquired Sentra. He was waving to me, but I turned my gaze away.

While I was sitting there, looking anywhere but in front of me, and in the rearview mirror, I heard a knock on my window. Cursing under my breath, I rolled open the window then placed a horribly forced smile on my face. "I'm sorry Tyler, I'm stuck behind Cullen."

"Oh, I know- I just wanted to ask you something while we're trapped here." He grinned. I just managed not to groan aloud- this. Was. Not. Happening. "Will you go with me to the school dance?"

"I thought it was the girl's choice." I remind him. He shrugs, a smile still on his face.

"Is that a yes?" I barely refrain from face-palming.

"I'm not going to be in town, Tyler."

"Yeah, Mike said that." He nodded.

"Then why-"

He shrugged. "I was hoping you were just letting him down easy." I hated them all.

"Sorry Tyler, but I really am going out of town." I tell him.

"That's cool. We still have prom." He grinned, and before I could respond he was walking back to his car. I could feel the shock on my face, even as I looked forward to see Alice, Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper all sliding into the Volvo.

In his rearview mirror, Edward's eyes were on me. He was unquestionably shaking with laughter, and I forgot for a moment that I wasn't speaking to him and mouthed bastard. Then I remembered and determinedly looked away, waiting until he was speeding off before driving home, muttering to myself the whole way.

When I got home, I decided to make chicken enchiladas- we were making them in Home Ec. tomorrow, and I was pretty sure I needed the practice. While I was simmering the onions and chilies, the phone rang. A touch puzzled, I picked it up. It was Angela, the only person at Forks High I actually liked. Besides Edward...

"Um, hi Angela." I greet her, "er, what's up?"

"I'm really sorry about this Bella, but Jessica's invited me to come dress shopping with her and Lauren, and I really don't want to go alone. I know you're not going, but do you think you could come and keep me company?" she asked, her voice nervous. I bite back a groan. Well, Jessica and Lauren can't be as bad as Isobel.

"'course." I tell her, and she lets out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you so much, Bella. I don't think I can survive an afternoon of those two."

"I hear ya." I agree, nodding even though she can't see it.

"Well... I'll talk to you tomorrow, I guess." She said.

"Bye Angela." I say, before hanging up and turning back to my enchiladas.

Charlie seemed a touch suspicious when he came home and smelled the green peppers. I couldn't blame him- the closest edible Mexican food was probably in southern California. But he was a cop, even if just a small-town cop, so he was brave enough to take the first bite. He seemed to like it. It was fun to watch as he slowly began trusting me in the kitchen.

"Dad?" I asked when he was almost done.

"Yeah, Bella?"

"If anyone asks where I'm going to be on the day of the school dance, can you tell them Seattle?" I ask. He grins at me.

"You sure?"

"I've been to a dance before," I tell him- well, it was a Ball, but same thing. "It's really not my thing."

"If that's what you want, Bells." He smiles, before his face becomes more serious. "We need to have a... talk." My stomach sinks slightly.

"About what?"

"One of your teachers called me. Your Biology teacher. He sad that unless your grades picked up, you were going to fail."

"He's right." I agree, my mouth turning downward.

"That's why when he offered someone to tutor you, I said yes. Edward Cullen has agreed to come over three times a week for an hour session." I drop my knife and fork.

"DAD!" I exclaim, horrified. "How could you?" Charlie flashes me a grin.

"It's the tutoring or the dance." He informs me. I groan.

"You bully." He laughs as he picks up his plate.

"I love you too Bells."

-

-

I make sure to get to school early and park right next to Edward's usual spot. I wait, tapping my foot irritably against the ground, until the silver Volvo pulls up. As his 'siblings' exit the car, I notice the different expressions on their faces, ranging from amused to hostile. I nod, shortly, to Alice and Emmett, the only two who meet my eyes, then turn my glare to Edward.

I scowl at his perfect face. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"When Mr. Banner asked me if I was interested in getting extra credit, I said yes. I didn't realize until afterwards it was for tutoring one of his other students." Edward says, smoothly.

"Of course not." I snap, "and what the hell was with the traffic jam yesterday?"

"That was for Tyler's sake. I had to give him his chance." He snickered.

"You..." I gasp, unable to think of a bad enough word. I could feel my magic lashing around inside me, and if I had a wand I'd be cursing him to hell and back. Growling under my breath, I spin around and started walking towards the school.

"Wait," he called, but I kept walking, sloshing angrily through the rain. But then he was next to me, easily keeping pace. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." He apologizes.

"Why don't you leave me alone?" I grumble.

"You were the one who sought me out." He points out.

"Yes, and now I'm walking away." I counter.

"Can I just ask you a question?"

"Besides that one?"

"Bella-" he starts, but I interrupt him.

"If I do, will you leave me alone?" He looks at me for a second then nods.

"Okay, fine then. What do you want to ask?"

"I was wondering if, a week from Saturday- you know, the day of the school dance-"

"Are you trying to be funny?" I interrupted him, wheeling toward him. My face got drenched as I looked up at his expression. His eyes were wickedly amused.

"Will you please allow me to finish?"

I bite my lip and clasped my hands together, interlocking my fingers so I couldn't do anything rash, like punch him. Because that would only succeed in breaking my knuckles.

"I heard you were going to Seattle that day, and I was wondering if you wanted a ride." I blink, surprised. That was unexpected.

Say yes, my heart ordered.

Don't even think about it, my brain warned. I sighed.

"I'm not really going. I just hate school dances." I tell him. He looks surprised.

"Oh. Well I'll see you tonight, Bella."

"Tonight? Why?"

"We have tutoring." He reminds me. Another thought strikes me.

"What about Biology?"

"Ah, I won't be there today."

As I walk away, I try- and fail- to convince myself that I'm not disappointed.