I think this is actually going to be one with chapters. LOL. It took me long enough, I know. I'll try to update regularly, but no promises.

Disclaimer: As for the Twilight characters, they all belong to Stephenie Meyer!! (But I can always imagine they're mine. XD)

Edward POV


"Emmett!" I hollered. "Come on, you moron, let's get going!"

"Edward, don't speak to your brother like that," Esme scolded.

I half-heartedly apologized. I couldn't help it if Emmett was being an idiot. God, we should have left ten minutes ago. But noooo - he had to make sure his hair was properly combed. My untidy bronze hair could never be tamed.

We were on our way to our dates' house. Emmett and I had a bet going to see who could date the most girls in a week; I was winning. He hated me for it, but I couldn't care less. Though we might live together we were brothers only by paperwork. You see, Emmett and I are adopted from different families, completely different ages. Well, half a year, but it's not like we're blood related or anything.

My adopted parents, Carlisle and Esme, were okay. They didn't compare to my birth parents, but they were nice enough. I mean, it's not like they starved me. But there were more rules - such as not yelling at my idiotic adopted brother, Emmett.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," he grumbled, walking down the stairs - slower than he should have been.

"Took you long enough," I muttered.

"Oh, shut up, Edward." He "supposedly" mock-punched my arm, but I knew better. He was just sucking up to Esme. "Oh, I didn't really punch him, Esme. It's just a guy thing." Yeah, right. He and I both knew that he was just beating on me. Hell, even God knew it.

We got into my Volvo without another argument - something extremely rare for us. We'd gone five minutes without a fight. Praise God!

I sped down the highway, running a hand through my hair.

"If you would stop doing that," Emmett sighed, "you'd actually be able to tame it."

"Oh, shut up, Mr. Perfect," I snapped. "At least I don't spend twenty minutes in the mirror combing my hair."

Emmett smirked. "Ladies like a well-groomed man."

I chuckled. "Yes, that's why I've gotten the most dates this week. Because I'm well-groomed."

Emmett's smirk turned into a scowl. "Shut up, Edward."

I proceeded to smirk. I had won this battle, but the war was not over. As far as I knew, it would never be over.

Our dates, Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory, were pretty, but nothing like some of the other girls we'd gone out with - not like Tanya Denali. Damn, she was a head-turner. With her blonde hair, and long, tan legs, she looked like something straight out of a photo shoot. But even though she was hot, I'd never been that attracted to blondes. Whereas that was Emmett's weakness. Put a blonde in front of him, and you were invisible until the bimbo was out of sight.

That was why I had Jessica Stanley - a brunette, and he got the stupid blonde. The date went the same as all the rest - a movie, then some making out.

"I had a great time tonight, Edward," Jessica breathed, giggling. I just forced a smile before nodding. There was no way I was ever going back out with her. I swear, it was like underneath everything, she'd been born blonde.

Emmett and I had one tradition, one thing that kept us from tearing each other apart - we had to tell each other the stupidest thing our date said. Emmett went first.

"Get this - Lauren leaned over during the movie, and was like, 'You kinda look like a bear,' and then she giggled!" Emmett looked halfway proud, halfway irritated.

I dissolved into a fit of chuckles. "The first thing Jessica said to me was, 'Wow, you're really tan.' I just stared at her." Emmett grinned at me.

"These girls, Eddie - they'll kill us," he chuckled.

I rolled my eyes, pulling into Carlisle and Esme's driveway. "Whatever, Em." I got out of the Volvo, taking the key with me. Knowing Emmett, he'd take the key and total my car. He could do whatever the hell he wanted to his Jeep, but my Volvo was off-limits to him.

"How were your dates, boys?" Esme asked quietly. She was in the kitchen, washing dishes.

"Good. They didn't have enough cells between them to even have half a brain, though," Emmett snickered.

I gasped and widened my eyes. Emmett looked at me, confused. "They're just like you, Em!" I exclaimed. He scowled at me. I smirked.

"Edward. Shut up," he snapped.

"Emmett, don't insult young ladies, and Edward, don't insult your brother," Esme chided.

"Sorry, Esme, but it's true. Poor Em here has an empty head. It's sad, but true," I sighed.

Emmett glared at me once more before stomping up to his room.

I went to my room, sitting down on my bed. I glanced at the clock. 10:23. Not very late at all. I had nothing else to do, so I laid down and closed my eyes, my hands behind my head.

There was a knock at my door. "Come in," I grumbled. Who in the hell is interrupting me while I'm trying to sleep?

Carlisle walked in the door, a grave expression on his face. I came to a sudden realization. They were going to kick me out. They were finally going to kick me out. After skipping all the meals, neglecting all the chores, and ignoring Esme's scoldings, I was finally going to go back to my birth parents.

"Edward, I have something to tell you."

Bella POV


"Bella!" Renee called. I stuck my head into the living room.

"What, Mom? I was right there, you know," I said sourly.

"Oh, I'm sorry, honey. I'm getting ready to go to my art lesson. Would you like to come?" I internally cringed. My mom and art? Not a pretty sight. She couldn't paint if my life was in danger.

"Oh, no thanks, Mom. I'm just gonna hang around here."

"All right," she said cheerfully, bustling around the house, making sure she didn't forget anything. "Well, Phil will be here, so you'll be all right."

My chest tightened when she mentioned his name. I didn't like Phil. He scared me, and it always seemed like he was trying to flirt with me. "Great." I tried to sound excited, but failed miserably.

Renee stopped what she was doing and glanced at me. "Are you feeling all right, Bella?" she asked suspiciously.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry." I smiled at her. Fake, of course, but she didn't need to know that.

She smiled back warmly. "Okay. He'll be here in a few minutes." She glanced at the clock. "Shoot, I'm going to be late. Bye, Bella!" she called, running to her car.

It's only for a few minutes, Bella, I told myself. You open the door, say hi, and that's it. Then you mention something about homework, and you'll go upstairs and wait until Mom gets back. Easy.

There was a knock on the door. "Bella, it's Phil." Huh. I wonder who that could be. Of course I knew it was Phil. He didn't have to tell me like I was some idiot teenager who didn't know who she was looking for.

"I know," I snapped, opening the door. But I instantly felt sorry. He seemed even taller now that Renee was gone, and there was an angry scowl on his face. Curse me for not wanting to go to Renee's art class. And curse me for being sarcastic this one time.

"Um, hi," I managed to squeak out.

He nearly shoved me out of the way. "Is your mom gone?"

"Yeah," I whispered. Oh crap. He was going to murder me. He was going to kidnap me. Hell, he was going to kidnap, rape, then murder me!

"You want to watch TV or something?" he asked gruffly.

"No, I actually have some -"

"Then go." And with that, he dismissed me. Thank God at that moment that I was in the mindset to be dismissed.

I flew up the stairs, locking my bedroom door behind me. I had no homework, actually, but Phil didn't need to know that. Instead, I sat in my room for five hours, reading a book. When Renee came back, I couldn't tell. That art class was only supposed to take three hours. Then again, knowing her, she could have easily gotten lost. I should've given her a map.

"Phil!" she squealed excitedly, making me lurch off my own bed.

I hit my elbow on my nightstand, and my head landed on the wood floor. "Ow," I hissed. But it was only to myself, really. Renee was downstairs, saying something about when she found her technique, she could draw beautifully. I was forgotten, in my sanctuary, aching from my own clumsiness.

Of course, that clumsiness probably wouldn't have happened had Renee not scared the daylights out of me.

I sighed, sitting up. There would be a bruise on my elbow, and my face was already starting to swell. I had to get out of here. Or I at least had to get a stinking ice pack.

Sighing, I walked down the stairs, waiting cautiously for any sign of Phil.

"Oh, Phil, yes! Yes!" Renee shrieked.

Huh. Maybe he'd said one of her pictures was nice.

"Hi, Mom." I winced. My face was starting to really hurt.

"Bella! Guess what?"

No need to be rude with my thoughts. "What, Mom?"

"I'm getting married to Phil!"

Sorry for the cliffies, but that's my specialty! If you want to see more chapters, please review! I don't want to waste my time writing when you guys don't like it. So please, review, review, AND REVIEW!!

Crimson Love20