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Chapter 1
It was usual for Edward and I to be inseparable. We had been living next door to each other since we were born, so friendship came naturally. What we had was more than friendship, though. Edward was my rock, and somehow I was his as well. Edward was a little over two years older than me, but that didn't affect our friendship at all. Everyone knew us not as Edward, or as Bella, but as Edward and Bella. He was the person I cared about above everyone else.
We were both different than other people at our school in Phoenix, but we didn't care. I had a few other friends in my grade that I talked to in school, but Edward was who I was with after school and on the weekends, who I ate lunch with everyday, who brought me to school in the mornings. He was my best friend.
When we were little, we somehow came up with this ritual on nights with full moons. Edward's window to his room opened over a ledge that was perfect for climbing onto his roof. So, every one of those nights, we would go and lay on his roof, sometimes playing games looking at the shapes in the stars. That's where we talked the most. Words flowed out of my mouth without me having to think when I was around him. Everything seemed so easy and simple, but at the same time so unfathomable and hard.
Friendship is the foundation for love, or so they say. My freshman year, when Edward was a junior, he took Stephanie McLane to the homecoming dance. I saw them at Elizabeth's through my window taking pictures, with his arm around her waist laughing and smiling. I felt my stomach sink, but I couldn't look away as they held to each other and smiled together. Our friendship was the best thing that I had in my life. But, there was still that aching inside for me to have more from him. I always wanted more, but there was nothing there to get from him.
My new feelings changed things at first, I felt awkward and nervous around him. For a few days we just didn't talk; I got rides in the morning and just stayed in my room with the blinds drawn after school. I felt so strange all the time, without him by my side. There was a huge piece of me missing, and I couldn't take it. I was on withdraw. I noticed a full moon one night, and out of habit I stole a glance out my window onto Edward's roof. Somehow I knew he would be there, as he was looking straight at me. I walked right into his house and climbed out the window and sat next to him. It was quiet, none of us saying a word. I didn't have anything to say, I just knew that the space that I had the past few days was gone and I was whole again. Edward made me full.
Today I was a sophomore, and Edward a senior. Most people wouldn't expect us to be friends because of the age and gender difference, but we were together as much as always. Edward would be heading off to college too soon, but that was something we didn't talk about. It was like a rule we had between us, to not mention our parting, which would be coming soon. He avoided all conversations involving next year. I had no idea how I could take it with him gone.
"Bells!" I heard him calling me from his car, so I ran out into our shared driveway.
I opened the passenger door and slid in, shoving him a coffee, and plopped my feet on the dashboard- my usual position.
"Eddie…" I pleaded.
"If you ask me to let you drive, so help me God-"
"I am getting my license in two weeks, Edward! I need practice and you are an ever-so-amazing teacher," I pulled the puppy-dog-face card.
"Not going to work. If you ever put a scratch in my baby…" He had some weird obsession with his Volvo. The only detention Edward had ever gotten was when some poor kid accidentally hit the front of his Volvo with his backpack in the parking lot. Edward broke his nose.
I sighed in defeat and watched him as he drove. He had small bags under his eyes, and he had to keep blinking to keep them open. I smiled, knowing that this was because he was up late on the roof last night. I always fell asleep early up there, but somehow ended up in my bed. I smiled, thinking all the times he must have carried me back to my bed, not bothering to wake me.
"What are you staring at?" he teased, stealing a glance at me.
I stuck my tongue out at him, like the five year olds we were inside.
We pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later and climbed out of his car. People watched us as we walked, as they always did. Groups of girls looked at Edward and giggled with each other. I hated when they did that, none of them even knew Edward. They based him on his appearance. I wanted to break their noses.
"We should go tonight," Edward said when we sat on a bench outside before the bell rang.
"Uh… go where?"
"The park, of course." He rolled his eyes at me. The park was a small "forest" (a group of trees) a half-hour from where we lived. We liked to go there some nights, get a taste of a jungle.
Before I could answer one of the blonde bimbos from came to stand in front of us.
"Hey, Edward," She flashed a smile and flipped her hair. I tried not to laugh.
"Hello," he replied flatly.
"So, you know, I could really use some help in pre-calc. I really don't get all that. Could you help me, Edward?" I tried to ignore the way she was attempting to give him a clear view down her shirt.
"I don't tutor, Alyssa, I've told you before." He turned back to me now. His eyes annoyed as a rejected Alyssa bounced away.
"I don't see why you don't go out with any them, good pickins" I pressed my lips together to fight my smile.
He sighed dramatically. "Bella… shut up."
Now it was my turn to sigh. "I know I know, I just don't get it. I mean all those girls coming up to you, you could get anyone. You're completely gorgeous-"
"Oh, Bella Swan, you think I'm gorgeous?" He put on a teasing shock face.
I glared at him.
"Aw, shucks!" He put on a huge smile and put his hands on his cheeks and I couldn't help but burst out laughing. That was another thing I found great about him, he could do anything to make me laugh. And the fact that he liked to make me laugh contributed to how happy he made me.
After our snickering died down I let out a yawn.
"Jesus, tired still?"
"I always am when there's a full moon, that roof isn't too comfortable, hard to sleep."
"Come on, you slept on the roof for like ten minutes," he scoffed.
"Edward, you really don't have to carry me to bed," I looked into his eyes seriously.
He looked down. "I know that I don't have to, but I like to."
"Well, thank you." I got that same rush of warmth that I always got from him when he would say something sweet or protective. I yawned again and leaned my head on his shoulder. Immediately I felt the rush of belonging.
This was normal for us. We didn't have a very physical relationship per say, but things like this were just right. When one of us was tired we had the others shoulder. If something happened at home or if we were feeling down, the other was always right there to help comfort. Edward is the only person I had ever cried in front of, and I'd seen a few tears escape his green ovals as well. Enveloped in his arms, I felt safe and I could let out my tears.
At our lunch period we went to our small table we shared outside. I was doing a last minute cram session for my Chemistry test. Edward was feeding me apple slices and putting the straw of my soda to my mouth while I sat entranced to my study guide. Occasionally he would quiz me or explain something he knew I didn't understand without me even asking him to. He knew me well enough to know by my facial expressions when I didn't understand something.
After school I was waiting at his car when I saw him running frantically towards me.
"Boola! We have to see this movie!" He used to call me Boola when we were little, for some reason he couldn't say Bella. He got over that, but sometimes he still called me it when he wasn't paying attention to what was coming out of his mouth. I liked it.
"Uh… right now?"
"Yes, right now! They have it at the drive-ins." He was smiling brightly, eyes pouring with excitement.
"And what movie are we seeing?"
"Uh… see, it's kind of a parody of great classic films." Edward had this obsession with movies and film that I would never understand. He was so passionate and devoted to see every film that he didn't say was stupid, which was basically any movie made after 1995.
"Fine. But you help me with my homework if we get home late."
"Ah! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" His excitement just made me laugh as we pulled out.
The drive-ins were basically empty, so we pulled into our usual spot towards the back. I felt myself ready to fall asleep already.
Edward seemed to read my mind. "No sleeping for you, you're going to watch and enjoy it." He seemed pleased with himself.
A car came next to us, and the hollering of a few men caught our attention. The three men looking around our age, maybe a little older, and judging by their slurring I assumed they were under the influence. They got out of their jeep and tapped on my window. I looked at Edward for guidance and his jaw was clenched, but he gave a nod to open my window.
"Hello there, pretty lady," One of the men said, winking.
"Um… hi," I looked at Edward again. He was glaring at the men.
The man grabbed my door handle and yanked it open, and he was reaching in to grab my arm.
"Back off," A cold harsh voice shot out from my other side, and the men stopped. Edward was clenching his fists and shooting daggers at the men through his eyes.
"Oh, shit. On a date, are you two?" The man asked, looking back and forth between myself and Edward.
"I believe that I asked you to back off." Edward's voice was just as cold and harsh as it was before and I gaped at him.
"Oh. Well, sorry, dude." The man muttered and they returned to their jeep.
"Why did you do that?" He just stared at me, confused, the anger was finally leaving his face. "What if I wanted to watch with one of them, not that we would be watching," I winked, jokingly and expected Edward to start laughing with me. But he didn't.
"F-fine then, just go." He went back to sitting in front of the wheel.
I recoiled when I realized he took me seriously. "Edward, come on, I was kidding. What's wrong?"
"N-nothing." I knew he inwardly cursed himself for his stutter; it gave him away when he was hiding something.
I scooted over next to him. "Hey," I stared at him until he looked at me. "I was kidding, I wouldn't watch with anyone except you, you know that." He knew it was true, and he gave me a small smile. I knew he was protecting me, so I smiled back. I leaned my head on his shoulder, and felt at home again. I felt that sense of belonging, something I only felt with Edward. There was no where else I wanted to be more. Together, we were just right.
If only I knew right then.
Just to clear anything up, they are both human.
For now ; )
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