Chapter 1: Just Another Wonderful Day

"Bella!" I heard Mike Newton call from the English building. I tried to pick up my pace while I heard the quickening thumps of his feet hitting the concrete sidewalk. "Bella!" He called out again, a little louder than before. Partly out of pity and partly out of fear of my quickened pace landing me on the icy sidewalk, I slowed my pace and turned to look at him, my brown hair wrapping around my face and shoulders. "Hey, Bella, you gonna' be at work today?" Mike said halting next to my side as I shifted my books to rest lightly on my other hip. Seeing as how I was at work everyday, I knew he was just jumping at the chance to talk to me without Edward around.

"Yeah, Mike, I'll be there!" I said rather enthusiastically. We walked a couple more steps in silence until he realized I wasn't in a talking mood.

"Okay, well, I guess I'll see you later." Mike said as he stalked off towards the Math building, as I let out a sigh. I really did feel bad for him. He'd been trying to 'charm' me ever since I moved from Phoenix last year; when I first discovered vampires and werewolves didn't solely exist in horror stories. As my mind was dwelling on that thought, somehow, my clumsy foot found the only patch of sleek, slippery ice on the sidewalk. My footing was immediately lost and as my various books scattered through the air and out of reach, I braced myself for the inevitable smack against the cold, icy, wet cement. Suddenly, I felt a pair of icy, cold hands wrap around my waist and steady me.

"I can't leave you alone for five minuets, can I?" A silky, smooth voice teased in my ear from behind, blowing his icy breath in my ear.

Wiggling around in his arms to face him, I wrapped my arms around his neck and rose on my toes to kiss him, "I told you, whether you're here or not, I always find someway to get into trouble." A crooked smile flashed across his lips and made his butterscotch eyes glimmer with amusement. His eyes tore away from mine to the three school books that now lay scattered across the ground and in the blink of an eye, were gathered in his arms.

"You know, you're cute when you're in distress." Edward said as he wrapped his free arm around my waist as he led me to his shiny, silver Volvo. I covered my mouth and tried to suppress a few giggles, but they escaped anyway, making his smile widen. When we reached the Volvo, he opened and shut the passenger door for me, and before I could buckle my seat belt, was in the driver's seat next to me.

"So, what're our plans for today?" I asked as he pushed the key into the ignition and started the car.

"Well, I was thinking...we could hang out at my house." My face suddenly brightened, but my eyes still held a hint of skepticism.

"Alice doesn't have anything…planned for me, does she?" I asked raising an eyebrow. A smile crept across his lips as we sped, a hundred miles an hour, towards his white mansion, buried deep into to woods for privacy.

"No, no playing Barbie today." Edward said as he started laughing. "Okay. Good." I really didn't care about fashion or shopping or looking beautiful, but Alice was a shopaholic who loved to dress me in the latest fashion and do my hair and make up.

Suddenly, he pulled into the hidden driveway and we were parked in the front of the house. I looked towards the beautiful house and caught him looking at me out of the corner of my eye. "I love you," He whispered tenderly as my chocolate-colored eyes met his honey ones. He lifted his marble hand up to my face, grazing my cheekbone as he brought his lips to mine.

"You two! Get a room!" Emmett teased as he bounded down the steps leading towards the garage. "Hey Edward; Jasper, Rose, and I are headed for hunting. Wanna come? Esme can occupy Bella while we're gone. Sooo….?" He offered as he walked backwards towards his Jeep.

"No thanks, I think I'm just gonna stay here." Edward replied as he was suddenly at the passenger door with his hand extended.

"Okay, your loss!" Emmett yelled over his shoulder as he jumped into the Jeep and got ready to rev up the engine.

"Catch a big irritable Grizzly for me!" Edward yelled back at him as we walked towards his house hand-in-hand.

Suddenly, before I could realize what was happening, a blur-of-a-hand quickly smacked upside Edward's head; marble clattering with marble. Edward rubbed the back of his head and darted after his burly brother. The two went tumbling down the unpaved driveway stirring up dust as thy wrestled each other. Every time their bodies collided, a deafening crack echoed through the desolate forest but yet, no one came to break up the quarrel. It was left up to me.

"EDWARD!!" I screamed, trying to yell over the clatter. "EDWARD CULLEN, STOP IT!!!! EMMETT, CUT IT OUT!!" I screamed again and let out a frustrated sigh. 'Boys will be boys, even if they are vampires,' I thought to myself as I stomped toward the porch at the front of the house. When I reached the porch, I turned back to face the two blurs; my arms crossed angrily across my chest, one hip cocked.

After a few seconds and a loud thud, Edward jumped up and began walking toward me, hand on the side of his neck, his topaz eyes lowered to the ground, avoiding my gaze. His eyes finally flickered to me, taking in my posture, trying to measure the amount of trouble he was in. Behind him, Emmett was trying to sneak up on him. I lifted my eyes to Emmett and gave him a look that would kill, if he wasn't already dead.

Unfortunately, he wasn't paying any attention to me, and he must have forgotten in the midst of his playful competition, that Edward could read minds. Edward stuck his hand out so fast that Emmett didn't have any amount of time to react. Emmett ran straight into Edward's open hand, making another loud crack echo through the forest. I let out a heavy sigh and a slightly amused smile as Emmett rubbed his forehead and lunged again at Edward. They went tumbling again down the dirt driveway as I remained on the porch watching the blurs tumble in a cloud of light brown dust. Suddenly, Alice, Rosalie, and Esme were at my side, staring in my line of direction. Alice rolled her topaz eyes as Rosalie pressed a cool hand to her forehead in disbelief of her husband's childish behavior.

Esme brought her fingers to her lips and the loudest whistle I had ever heard escaped. Both Edward and Emmett jumped up and dusted themselves off, both avoiding Esme's slightly-scolding gaze. "You two," She let out a sigh and slightly shook her head, her caramel curls bouncing around her face. "Can you try to behave yourselves; we have a guest." Esme lifted one hand and gestured to me. Edward, for the second time, took in my frustrated posture and immediately lowered his gaze, from mine.

Alice began to giggle as she looked at the two, and Jasper appeared by her side. "It's ALWAYS better in real life." Alice whispered to Jasper.

"Come on, Emmett, we'd better get going." Rosalie said as she flipped her long, honey blonde hair and started off towards ht Jeep. Edward started to sheepishly walk towards me, keeping his eyes to the ground.

"You sure you don't wanna come Alice?" "No, I'm not hungry." She replied as Jasper wrapped his arms around her tiny waist, "I just went hunting with Esme two days ago. I'm just gonna hang out here with Bella, Edward, and Esme." Jasper released Alice from his goodbye hug and waved as he turned toward Emmett, "Let's get going!" He said as he slapped Emmett on the back and they bounded to the Jeep.

As I watched the trio speed away, Esme and Alice snuck back into the house, leaving Edward and me standing on the porch. Edward wrapped his hand around my waist, pulling me so close to him, my back was against his chest. "Bella," He pleaded with me, kissing the top of my shoulder. My heart skipped a beat and I cursed it. He was NOT going to dazzle his way out of this. "Bella, we were just messing around. Don't get upset." His voice was like sweet honey, begging me to forgive him. With one hand he brushed my long hair away and gently kissed my neck. I almost hated him when he played this game. Almost. My heart jumped again and I could almost see his liquid topaz eyes pleading with me in the most sincere apology, his smile widening each time my heart's steady beat got off rhythm.

"Edward Cullen, sometimes you can act like such a seventeen year old." I slightly scolded him as I wiggled around to face him, wrapping my arms around his neck. His half-smile spread across his lips and reached the corners of his eyes. Reaching up with one hand, he lifted my face and bent down to kiss my lips, while my knees threatened to give way.

Edward wrapped one of his arms around my waist and led me into the house and into the living room. Alice and Esme were no where to be seen. We walked up the curving staircase and when we reached his room, he opened the white door. "What do you want to listen to today?" Edward asked as he released me and walked over to his wall of CDs.

"Surprise me." I said as I took a seat in the middle of his black leather couch. Leaning my head on the back of the couch, I closed my eyes and waited for sweet music to fill the air.

"How about some soft jazz..." He said softly as I heard a rustle of CD cases and a few mechanical whirrs uttered by the stereo system.

A sweet melody filled the air and the couch moved a little as Edward sat beside me. I opened my eyes and laid my head on his lap, my knees slightly bent so my feet didn't hang off the end. "I love you, Bella," he softly whispered as he brushed a stray strand of hair away from my face. "I love you, too," I echoed as I locked fingers with his free hand and kissed the top of his hand. This alone time with Edward was the best part of each day I didn't have to work. We'd sit like this for hours, listening to music and just enjoying each other's company. I peacefully closed my eyes again as Edward twirled a lock of my hair in his fingers; his topaz eyes focused solely on me until the white door flew open. I could feel his entire body tense, and I could tell this couldn't be good.