Astraea Toulouse could feel Edward Cullen's eyes burning holes into her back. She wasn't sure if it was on purpose, or whether it was to avoid making eye contact with the new girl sitting awkwardly beside him, but Astra was acutely aware of his gaze. She didn't bother glancing back, she knew the Cullens well enough to know that she'd never win a staring contest, instead, she used the mirror on the microscope to investigate said new girl. She was supposedly from Arizona, with dark hair and skin paler than Astra's own, which was a feat in itself and she looked quite uncomfortable and remarkably defeated. Edward seemed to be edging away from her little by little as the lesson continued and a flush of pity wormed its way through Astra's cold exterior.

"If you're so uncomfortable Cullen, I'll partner with the newbie," Astra's voice was coated thinly with ice, uncaring about the effect it had. The Cullens had always kept their distance but this interaction was extreme, even for them and Astra disliked the way the new girl's face seemed to drop further and further as the minutes ticked past. Edward Cullen had long been regarded as unattainable, not that it really had ever bothered Astra but the way he jumped at her suggestion, made her wonder if the newbie had tried a move or two on him whilst Astra had been napping at the start of class.

Edward nodded at her with a sharp courtesy and Astra made a face behind his back at the new girl, who smiled weakly, though Astra didn't miss the way her eyes linger forlornly on Edward's back. Poor little puppy. She'd learn, they all did. Astra had never bothered with Edward, though Rosalie Hale, his adopted sister did capture Astra's brief interest before she'd realised that the blonde and Emmett Cullen, another adopted child of the Cullens, came as a package deal.

"I wouldn't bother honey, he's not really the type of guy you wanna get mixed up with," Astra murmured to the new girl, loud enough though that she knew Edward hear her words. His back was still stiff, as though he was expecting something to happen and Astra, with a roll of her eyes, turned to wink at her new neighbour, a warmth towards the other girl spreading through Astra.

"I'm Astra, Astraea Toulouse for long but everyone calls me Astra," She extended a hand beneath the desk and the new girl shook it, her cool skin a shock to Astra's warm. There was a strength to the other girl's handshake that surprised Astra but she said nothing as the girl cleared her throat, ducking her head into her hair, a shy girl tendency that was immediately obvious.

"I'm Bella Swan, uh- Isabella for long and I'm a bit confused, I mean I didn't do anything to him and he's just kinda glaring at me and flaring his nostrils, I-uh-" She stumbled through her words in a way Astra found endearing, though she knew that with a little coaxing, this tiny baby caterpillar could flourish into the beautiful butterfly Astra knew she truly was.

Bella had the kind of features that Astra found herself envying, she was perfectly normal looking, with thin lips and long hair, with chocolate brown eyes that swam with more emotions than Astra thought possible. Astra glanced briefly towards the board, Mr Molina was gesturing aggressively and though Astra enjoyed biology, she definitely did not enjoy his teaching methods. Bella had slowly begun to open her posture up again, her shoulders relaxing slightly and she had turned so she was facing Astra more so than she was facing the board.

"Ignore him. The Cullens act like they're some sort of gothic cult and Edward's the only single one so he probably had to self-sacrifice last night. I wouldn't think too much into it, he's only one of the many people you will never speak to ever again after graduation," Bella chuckled softly at her statement, a smile flickering over her lips and Astra watched as she glanced one last time at Edward for focusing her entire gaze on Astra.

"Why'd you offer to switch, you didn't have to and though I'm grateful, what do you get from switching with Moody McMood up there?" Bella asked and Astra barked a laugh at her nickname, garnering several sharp looks from classmates and Mr Molina, who mimed putting the evil eye on Astra, to which she pouted before she lowered her voice to murmur back to Bella.

"I kinda felt sorry for you, which is unusual for me, but once I have a feeling about somebody, I tend to go with it. Plus Cullen over there doesn't usually seem so opinionated, the whole lot of them are kinda passive observers and I do wanna find out just what you've done to get his knickers in a knot. You also seem kinda cool and once we peel those angst layers back, I think you're going to find that you and I aren't that different," Astra steepled her hands, tossing Bella a glittering smile, which the other girl slowly returned. It was progress and Astra could see she was pushing Bella quite far out of her comfort zone.

"I honestly don't know what to think really, I mean it was really nice of you but him being, however, he was, was so startling. I mean, I wasn't really expecting anyone to take to me immediately, I mean there was this weir- nice guy Eric and this other guy, Mike and a girl named Jessica- she was nice but wow she could talk your ear off if you let her go, I sat with them at lunch which I guess was nice of them to offer, but I kinda felt out of place, and he's not really helping, y'know?" Astra snorted, glancing at the slides they were now supposed to be sorting through, Mr Molina was nearing their table and she knew he'd have something clever to say, she was notorious for not paying attention but still doing well on her finals, which she knew bothered him. She nudged the slides Bella's way, the other girl realising what she was indicating and quickly slipping the slide beneath the microscope, peering into the eyepiece as Molina sidled past, clicking his tongue thoughtfully as he did.

When the final bell rang, Astra nearly missed Edward's exit he left so fast, her puzzled eyes finding Bella's and she could see the hurt residing within them. Pity, heavier than before, swelled within her and Astra gave Bella a weak smile before she gathered her books, waiting as Bella did the same and they exited the biology classroom side by side, Bella occasionally bumping Astra's shoulder as they did.

Bella seemed intent on the office and with a muted sigh, Astra agreed to accompany her, only because she had a feeling the other girl would probably somehow get lost, however when they reached the administration, Astra caught sight Edward leaning his tall frame half over the desk in a seductive manoeuvre and when she managed to catch his words, she stilled, stopping dead and halting Bella by default. Edward's head jerked up, his plea cut off as he caught sight of Bella and Astra, eyes narrowing in on the new girl and Astra's brows wrinkled, his eyes were nearly black as they turned their hateful gaze on Bella, who looked as though she wanted to be anywhere else all of a sudden.

"I guess I'll just have to put up with it," Edward near spat, jerking his bag up and spinning on his heel dramatically, striding past the two girls, his shoulder would have missed Astra barely if she hadn't overbalanced, slamming her shoulder into his with a vengeance. She nearly swore aloud as he practically toppled her with the force of his motion, Bella's hand grappling for her own the only thing keeping her righted as she spun, hurling vicious words after Edward's fast retreating back. Bella watched him go, her mouth downturned and her face softening as Astra grimaced though she wouldn't complain in front of Bella, she would wait for the silence of her room before she screamed.

Bella practically shadowed her back to the carpark, she didn't try to ask if Astra was okay after the first time, in which Astra had snapped back that she was fine, though she wasn't she was far from fine. Her shoulder was already aching and she knew that bruising would be visible by the time she got home and Astra's eyes were burning. Tears weren't the cause, no, the rage bubbling within her was clawing to escape and she forced it down again, hiding it as Bella hurried to keep up with her brisk pace before she slowed, lingering by a beat-up Chevy and Astra realised she'd assumed she'd been giving Bella a ride home in her Mazda, which sat several more spaces down.

"This is me," Bella murmured, ducking her head again and Astra stifled an eye-roll, Bella's shyness made her feel awkward and overbearing. She wondered if it was something Bella was unaware of but decided that she was too obviously uncomfortable to not be aware of how shy she came across.

"Where'd you get a car so quickly? Didn't you just arrive here from AZ?" Astra asked, a blatant attempt to keep Bella from feeling sorry for herself.

"Oh, my dad got his friend's son to fix it up for me. He's an old family friend from La Push and I think we grew up together, yeah the Chevy goes alright but it's like, nearing 60 years old I think," She chuckled and Astra snickered quietly, the car looked like it had seen better days. She pulled Bella into a hug then, ignoring the pain that jerked up her arm before she released Bella, a smile glancing across her features.

"I'll see you tomorrow if your car doesn't collapse on the way home. I put my number in your phone during bio, so if you have questions, I don't have plans, oh and drive safe, these roads are getting slippery," Astra sent Bella another glittering smile before she took off, moving briskly towards her car and after hurling her bag into the back seat, she collapsed into the driver's seat with a snarled groan. God, her shoulder was actually on fire and she needed some Advil, stat. Her eyes flicked up, eyeing the rearview as Bella peeled out behind her before with a heavy sigh, Astra moved to follow suit.