Author's Notes: Before I get criticized for anything, this is an Edward/Bella story! Trust me! I'm Team Edward all the way! So don't get angry with how things are now! Please, just give it a chance!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, just the plot.

Hello, Stranger

Chapter One

28 Days

Summary: AU, all human. A college class has everyone pairing up as married couples for 28 days. But how hard would it to focus on passing the class when you're paired up with your worst enemy's girlfriend? How much worse when you actually started to fall for her? ExB

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"Oh come on, please just a little farther!" I cried out as I pushed down harder on the gas pedal. It was times like this and
only at times like this that I wish I had a car that could go over fifty miles per hour without risking it never starting again. I easily found an empty parking spot and two seconds after shutting off the engine, I was sprinting down the concrete and praying to the heavens above I didn't fall on my face and bleed all over the place. Two buildings and one staircase later, I was in front of my Anthropology class as I caught my breath and hesitated. I knew he was going to give me a hard time regardless, so I sucked in a breath and pushed the door open.

"Ahh, Ms. Swan. Late again, are we?"

Told you so. "I'm… really sorry, Professor Peterson. I'll try to come in on time from now on." I apologized, walking up a few rows to take a seat right beside the one person I knew in the class.

"I'd appreciate that, Ms. Swan. Interrupted lectures get tiring for me after a while, don't you think? I'm sure if everyone in here can live their lives and still manage to make it here before 3:45 PM, you can, too. "

I nodded and put my backpack down to the ground, letting out a small sigh of relief when he finally went back to his lecture. I felt a tap on my shoulder as I peeked over, seeing a small piece of white paper in front of me.

Peterson's a total ass, Bells. Don't let him get to you.

I smiled to myself and pulled out a pen, scribbling my reply.

Sometimes, I seriously think I need a new car. Professor Peterson's seen it and knows how slow it is! You'd think he'd cut me some slack! It's the only reason I'm ever late. I think he prides himself in the fact that he can drive me absolutely insane.

He chuckled very softly, and took his turn to write. Like I said, don't let him get to you. He's just mad because he could never look as good as you do driving that old, beat up truck of yours.

I giggled and hoped it wasn't loud enough for Mr. Peterson to single me out again. He tell you that himself, Jake?

No, I have a crystal ball in my car that sees the future. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I know we said we'd always be honest with each other. Can you ever forgive me?

That one made me snicker a little too loudly and I immediately regretted it.

"A problem, Ms. Swan? Mr. Black?" he asked, pulling off his reading glasses with obvious annoyance in his voice.

"No, Professor Peterson." we answered in unison. It felt like high school all over again.

He went back to his lecture and I mentally screamed. Was it really necessary to do that? He was going to get paid whether I was paying attention or not! Before I could even think of anything else, the note was shoved at me again.

He knows that I know his secret! I guess we should actually look like we're paying attention now, huh?
By the way, you look awesome in red.

I smirked as I folded the note small enough to fit in my front pocket. Jacob Black never failed to put that stupid, embarrassing grin on my face. But, of course, it's expected from him since he's been my best friend since before I could even remember. He always knew how to make me smile, he was just getting better at it since he was bumped up from being the best friend to being the boyfriend.

"The purpose of your next assignment will be to examine relationships as they manifest themselves into the much larger category of a marital relationship." Professor Peterson announced, sighing when everyone stared at him like he'd just spoke in gibberish. "I will assign each of you a partner that you are to associate yourself with for the next 28 days. You will live together for the time being and experience the stages of changes that are made when bounding oneself to another for eternity."

My mouth dropped open. We were going to do what? Pretend to be married to each other? Did I really hear that right?

"At the end of these four weeks, I expect your perspective in essay form. A minimum of six pages, 5000 words or more but never less. This assignment will count for 30 percent of your overall grade in this class and a daily log of the trials and tribulations you face is recommended but not required. Every time we meet for class now will be to discuss any problems one might have or to discuss the assignment in general. Does anybody have any questions?"

Nobody raised their hand to ask anything. I didn't even care about asking questions. All I cared about was the "minimum of six pages with 5,000 words or more" part. I could already see the F's flying around me, mocking me. I didn't care too much for the assignment itself since it seemed easy enough. Live together and pretend to be married, how hard could that be? But writing about it... that was a completely different story.

"Do we have to stay at one house? Or can we like, switch off?" Some random student in the back asked. I didn't know who it was.

"You may switch off as you please, so long as you're underneath the same roof at the end of the day." Professor Peterson replied. "And before any of you assume in your heads that you can get away staying at your own places away from each other..." He walked over to his briefcase looking contraption he carried around, pulling out the biggest stack of papers I'd ever seen. How'd it all fit in that tiny thing anyways? "I've given this assignment enough times over the years to know when information is falsified. If I have an idea that you worked your way around the guidelines, automatic F."

I think just about every student in there was crying on the inside. It was now starting to occur to me why Professor Peterson got such terrible reviews on Rate my Professor dot com. You'd figure if more than half the students on there said he was a jerk who got butt hurt at the littlest things and failed people for no good reason, I'd have picked another professor. But it's not like I had any other choice since I was late for class registration. Can you believe in a measly two hours, all the other Anthropology classes were full? I slammed my head down on the desk. I hated college.

"When I call your name, please come down with your partner for your syllabus. You're free to leave afterwards." The professor pushed his glasses on and cleared his throat. "Rachel Anderson and Brandon Hurley."

"Think we'll get paired together, Bells?" Jacob laughed, stretching out his arms.

"All I'm honestly thinking about is the essay due at the end of this. I don't even think I know 5,000 words." I realized in horror, slumping in my seat. Did I mention I hated college?

"That's why you repeat a lot of them," he teased, patting my shoulders as he spoke. "And don't use contractions. Instead of isn't, say is not. It gives you an extra word and trust me, it really helps."

"Joseph Brown and Julia Moore." Professor Peterson called out.

I ignored Mr. Peterson since it wasn't me he was calling. "I never thought of that." I mused with a laugh, thinking about what Jake had said. Maybe that's how he got his good grades. He knew the secrets to the easy way out. I'd have to see if he had any more up his sleeve.

"I wonder if Peterson knows about us."

"He doesn't seem to really care too much about any of our personal lives, Jake."

"Rhonda Cole and Anthony Reynolds."

He thought about it for a minute and then shrugged his shoulders. "I really don't care. If we get paired up, great, but if not I have nothing to worry about."

"Good." I noted, not having heard my name be called yet. "I don't want you to play the jealous boyfriend role if I get paired up with some other guy."

"Have I ever played the jealous boyfriend role, Bells?" he asked me with an innocent smile on his face. I hated his straight, pearly whites. They could get away with anything.

"No, but you're capable of playing it."

"I think I've got that emotion locked down pretty well." He reached under the desk and gave my knee a slight squeeze. "You're mine, so what is there to be jealous of?"

"Right." I agreed.

"Edward Cullen," Professor Peterson announced. "and Isabella Swan."

Jacob and I both turned towards our teacher, wondering if that was correct. Was I hearing things? But if I were hearing things, Jake wouldn't have been staring at Professor Peterson the way he was. We couldn't have both heard wrong... right? "Huh?" It was the only thing that came out of my mouth and I knew I aggravated him even more with my horrid manners.

"I said Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan, since you failed to hear me the first time." he repeated, getting impatient.

"Of all the people to pair you up with..." Jake mumbled under his breath, balling his hands into fists.

"You're playing the jealous boyfriend role." I hissed quietly, standing up.

"I have a reason to now!" he countered, his dark eyes blazing with fury.

Peripheral vision allowed me to see someone across the room stand up and head towards the front just as I did. I didn't want to anger Professor Peterson any further so I decided I'd deal with Jake later. I reached the podium and stared quizzically at the box beside the professor's hand. He grabbed something inside and handed one to me and one to my partner. They were cheap dinky rings that looked like those ones you could get for a quarter at the supermarket. Mine was pink and his was blue. How original, and pretty cheesy, if you ask me.

"Any questions? Concerns?"

My partner and I looked at each other, both waiting for the other to answer first. I could see Jake from where I stood and I swear he was able to draw blood from how tightly his hands were made into fists.

"No concerns," my partner spoke as he placed the cheap band on the ring finger of his left hand. "But may I have the syllabus, professor?"

"Certainly."

Before I realized it, I followed him out of the room. I don't know if I were still in shock from how impossible the essay seemed to be or that, of all people, I was going to be stuck with him for the next four weeks.

"Hi," He flashed a crooked grin at me. "I'm Edward Cullen."

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End of Chapter One

Author's Notes: This is my second story that I decided to try out! This one is most definitely Edward/Bella, even though she's with Jacob right now. Trust me on this, okay? I'd really like any kind of feedback and reviews will be greatly appreciated! Since this was just the chapter for the introduction of everything, of course it was a little.. eh. Haha! But give it a chance and I promise the chapters after this will be much, much better! So click that little review button and make me happy, pleaaase?

-Burrberry Bugsy