chapter 6 a friendly enemy

So how can you come to school in the daytime?"

"I wear as much clothing as I can and put sunscreen on every morning. And only on clouded days."

"And your 'tomato soup' you have for lunch every day?"

"Carlisle sneaks a transfusion pack every now and again for us, but we try to live off animals."

"How many of you are there?"

"Seven, including my parents."

"Do you sleep in coffins? How do you keep your fangs hidden? Can you turn into a bat? Do you vomit at the smell of garlic?"

Edythe let her head hit the table as Bella drilled her with question after question. It had been a full week since their initial agreement, and after a full weekend of debate, Bella finally let her curiosity over take her. It was, needless to say, quite an oddity to come to terms with the fact that your biology partner is in fact an inhuman creature. Of course, the blatant fear of the aspect of her killing her in her sleep was still in existence, but she figured that if she was going to kill her, she probably would have done so the night she found her out. So, that Monday at lunch, she sat at Edythe's table, pelting her with a relentless interview. Edythe pulled her head up, pursing her lips together and rubbing her temple. It was quite obvious that she was stopping herself from strangling her.

"Remind me again why I'm answering all of these stupid questions?" she asked, eyes still shut.

Bella recalled herself. Annoying a blood sucking demon wasn't the smartest way to start off the week. "Um…" Her voice fell a bit. "I just… I'm curious is all… I'm sorry…" She looked down at her food, her hands on her apple that came with the meal. She usually never ate it, but figured it might be a good way of shutting herself up for her sake. So, she brought the fruit to her mouth and took a bite, her eyes on the tray before her.

"Do you have to chew that loud?" she snapped, eyes open again. Bella paused, a piece of apple in the side of her cheek. She gave it a few seconds before slowly masticating the rest of the piece. She then set it down and cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry I'm asking so many questions," she repeated. "I just… well I've never met a vampire before."

"Well now you have. Whoopty do."

Bella frowned. "You don't have to be so cynical."

"Why not?" said Edythe, propping her chin in her hand. "I have the right to be cynical if I want to." Bella pouted, folding her arms across her chest. However, the action didn't seem to affect Edythe. She just stared at her, vaguely. "So is that all?"

Bella shook her head. "I have a few more questions to – hey!" She watched as she stood up, putting her thermos of blood into her back pack. Without a hint of apology, she turned and strode off. Bella hopped up to chase her, when someone took hold of her arm. Jessica had caused her to round about on her heal.

"Ok, spill," she said automatically. Bella blinked in confusion, though it only seemed to make Jessica irritated, and she flipped her sandy hair over her shoulder. "Why are you hanging out with Edythe Creep-o?"

That made Bella's mouth turn slightly. "She's not that bad..." She did leave her alive that night, after all. Something she guessed not many vampires would do without a very good reason. That told her that she had at least some ounce of humanity beneath that scowl.

"Doesn't answer my question," Jessica pointed out. "What are you doing with her?"

After about two months of knowing her, Bella quickly found out that Jessica was apt to spread gossip. Any gossip would do. The last thing Bella wanted was for the spotlight to be shined on she and Edythe. Not only did she hate to be the center of attention, but she knew Edythe just might actually kill her if anyone else found out, or got too close. So, she made up a little white lie to cover herself. "She's my lab partner, remember?" she reminded her friend. "I'm having a little trouble with an upcoming project." Not completely false. There was indeed a formal lab report due in a week or so on molecular density. It wasn't exactly Bella's strong suit. Jessica looked as though she didn't quite believe her, but she pushed it aside.

"Well, anyway," she started up again. "What are you doing Saturday?"

Bella thought for a bit. "Nothing, I don't think... Why?"

"A bunch of us were planning a snow ball war at Mike's place," Jessica explained. "You game?"

"I've never been in a snow ball fight," Bella admitted.

"That's ok. We'll teach you, Arizona girl." Bella smiled slightly at the nickname the others had christened her with. It was only a moment or two before the bell rang. After saying their goodbyes, they split off, Bella heading off to PE. They had been focusing on basketball because of the snow. Bella was never exactly the athletic type, but she managed to stay on her feet, even though she almost never caught the ball. She was heading down the hall, when she spotted the black draped figure that was Edythe Cullen. She moved forward to speak to her. She did still have questions about her. However, she stopped as the scene in front of her progressed.

Edythe had turned from her locker, when she accidentally bumped into one of the football jocks, causing the boy's folder to fall from his hands. He and his friends apparently didn't like Edythe to begin with, so he gave the vampire a shove against the lockers to reveal his annoyance. Bella could hear him order Edythe to watch where she was going, calling her a freak in the process. And Edythe – who probably had the ability to kill them with a flash of her fangs – just stood there, blankly. She didn't even flinch when she was pushed, her forehead hidden by her hood. Bella felt her heart clench.

She really is alone, isn't she? came the thought. She sat alone every lunch period. She never spoke to anyone as far as Bella noticed. The rumors about her were numerous. People moved out of the way as she walked down the hall. There wasn't a single person who had smiled at her in the two months that Bella had been there. It made her feel a sense of loneliness as well, as though she was the one outcasted by the school, and not she.

She sighed and moved forward as she secured her locker. With a slight twinge of caution, Bella tapped her elbow. She turned to her, surprised by the physical contact. Bella cleared her throat, and mustered up the kindest smile she could. She seemed even more taken aback by that. "Um... what's the weather report for this weekend?" She stared at her. "I mean... do you think it's going to be sunny on Saturday?" She thought for a minute.

"No," she said finally. "Why?" She shifted the strap on her shoulder, her thin lips turned into a frown.

"Well... my friends and I are going over to Mike's house for a snowball war..." She kept her smile, despite her confusion. "Would you like to come?" Her lips parted as a very familiar pause entered into the conversation. She seemed to be shocked, to put it simply.

"You're... inviting me somewhere?" she clarified.

"Sure," said Bella, hands on the straps of her backpack. "Why not?"

Her bemused gazed turned back to her usual brood. "I don't know. Maybe because you're my main food source?"

"I'm not afraid of you," Bella half lied. Edythe lofted a brow.

"Oh?" she asked. Bella nodded. About three beats passed, before Edythe leaned forward, a low hiss coming from her throat. She curled her lips away, revealing her fangs. Bella felt her heart plummet and she backed up into the water fountain, staring at her face. The memory of that night came into view, and she clutched her straps tighter.

For the first time, a tiny smile twitched at the corners of her mouth.

"You're a terrible liar," she concluded, turning to leave. Bella felt her face grow hot and she scurried up beside her, hitting her arm. She rubbed it, but probably more out of habit then pain.

"And you're a jack ass," she said, frowning. She then turned, standing in front of her to stop her pace. "So what do you say?" Her smile returned. "It'll be fun. You can watch me get pelted with snow balls." She seemed to consider it. She then shook her head, but not as an answer to the question.

"You're so weird."

With that, she turned and left, heading to her next class. Bella huffed. "You're one to talk!" she shouted after her. She didn't answer in words, but gave a little wave just as she turned the corner. Bella let out a chuckle. "I'm the weird one. Riiiiight." She then turned the opposite way and headed towards the gym. All the while, she hoped that Edythe would swallow her pride and do something social for once.

Without eating anyone, of course.