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           ButIcouldn’tthinkofanythingconventionaltosay.

           "H-howdoyouknowmyname?"Istammered.

           Helaughedasoft,enchantinglaugh.

           "Oh,Ithinkeveryoneknowsyourname.Thewholetown’sbeenwaitingforyoutoarrive."

           Igrimaced.Iknewitwassomethinglikethat.

           "No,"Ipersistedstupidly."Imeant,whydidyoucallmeBella?"

           Heseemedconfused."DoyoupreferIsabella?"

           "No,IlikeBella,"Isaid."ButIthinkCharlie-Imeanmydad-mustcallmeIsabellabehindmyback-that’swhateveryonehereseemstoknowmeas,"Itriedtoexplain,feelinglikeanuttermoron.

           "Oh."Heletitdrop.Ilookedawayawkwardly.

           Thankfully,Mr.Bannerstartedclassatthatmoment.Itriedtoconcentrateasheexplainedthelabwewouldbedoingtoday.Theslidesintheboxwereoutoforder.Workingaslabpartners,wehadtoseparatetheslidesofonionroottipcellsintothephasesofmitosistheyrepresentedandlabelthemaccordingly.Weweren’tsupposedtouseourbooks.Intwentyminutes,hewouldbecomingaroundtoseewhohaditright.

           "Getstarted,"hecommanded.

           "Ladiesfirst,partner?"Edwardasked.IlookeduptoseehimsmilingacrookedsmilesobeautifulthatIcouldonlystareathimlikeanidiot.

           "OrIcouldstart,ifyouwish."Thesmilefaded;hewasobviouslywonderingifIwasmentallycompetent.

           "No,"Isaid,flushing."I’llgoahead."

           Iwasshowingoff,justalittle.I’dalreadydonethislab,andIknewwhatIwaslookingfor.Itshouldbeeasy.