A/N: So, here's my newest story. I was listening the song by 3 Doors Down called Be Like That and I came up with an idea for a story. This is an AU no vamps or wolves, but I'll keep the themes and canon couples.

Every chapter will be a different POV.

I'd like to thank my wonderful beta, MarinaNamaste. She helps me round out my thoughts and add the imagery. She keeps the lemonade sweet and tart. :) You should check out her stories, too. She's got a great Jake/Nessie story going on right now.

"So my mom's all hell bent on shopping this weekend. God! She can be so annoying!" Alice was droning on and on about how unfair it was that her mom wanted to buy her an "appropriate" homecoming dress.

"Uh-huh," I responded, almost automatically. I had to get my homework done and I knew that Alice only required occasional encouragement to continue her ranting. I loved Calculus and it was easy to get numbers and equations. And they made sense. They didn't let you down. They are predictable.

"I mean, what the hell does appropriate mean, anyway?" Alice didn't even pause for a response, "I'll tell you what it means. It means that she doesn't trust me and she wants to make sure I get some puritanical habit that covers all the goods that the gods have seen fit to bestow upon me. Does that make sense?"

"No. Nuns wear habits and they're Catholic, not Puritans," I replied absent mindedly. I wasn't so bad at history either.

"Bella!" Alice whined, "You're missing the point!"

"No, Alice I got the point," I placated. "I was just pointing out the flaw in your reasoning." I always got Alice's points. They weren't very deep. She was always complaining about how her mom wanted to buy her things that just weren't her style, or the right brand, or the right color. At least Alice's mother was around. Mine flitted off with whatever new scent came wafting in on the slightest breeze. I'd long ago decided that I wasn't interesting enough for her.

"Oh, Bella, who cares about logic when all my mother wants from me is to be a brain-dead, non-thinking, Stepford child with no sense of style."

I didn't answer her this time; I was on my last Calculus problem. I almost had it finished when I heard Alice screech.

"Isabella Swan, are you doing your homework during my major crisis?" Major crisis? Really, Alice?

"Yes, Alice, I am. You know I can multitask," I huffed. It's not like Alice really wanted my opinion or input. I was good about hiding my irritation with Alice most of the time, but calling a day of shopping a major crisis was about all I could handle.

"Bella?" Alice sniffled. Man she had pouting down to an art form. Her tiny voice always pulled at my heartstrings—you know the ones attached to a bucket of guilt.

"I'm sorry, Alice. You know how I need the good grades." I closed my book loudly hoping she could hear it through the cell phone. "I'm finished now." I stood up from my desk and moved over to flop on my bed. Alice had my full attention.

We talked for another half hour—or Alice did, at any rate—I was glad I'd finished with all my homework. Edward was coming over at seven and he also didn't like my attention to be divided. Charlie would be watching the game, so I made sure that he had enough chips and beer so even Charlie wouldn't be a distraction from Edward.

My phone buzzed and I looked at it and frowned at the message from Edward. Shit. I hadn't planned on going out and Edward wanted to go to Port Angeles. Asking Charlie permission to go could bring on a lecture and resisting Edward could make him sulk. And I didn't like to make him sulk. He did so much for me, he cared so much for me; I didn't want to disappoint him. I headed into the kitchen to clean up from dinner and think of the best way to bring this up to Charlie.

"Dad?" I called from the kitchen. I thought it best to do this when he couldn't see me. I could see him in the reflection of the glass in the gun cabinet. Charlie's eyes moved from the television briefly before he glanced back in time to see someone do something good with some ball on a team that Charlie liked. This was a good thing; he'd be in a good mood, at least momentarily.

"Yeah, Bells?" he finally answered after his gruff expression of glee and a round of fist pumps in the air. I loved my dad, but I didn't get his obsession with sports. I didn't get anyone's obsession with sports. It just seemed so pointless.

"I'm going to go to Port Angeles with Edward tonight." I thought it might be better to ask forgiveness than permission. "We have to pick up some supplies for our science project, okay?" It wasn't a complete lie. We were going to pick up supplies. But it also probably meant car sex before he brought me back home.

"It's awful late, Bells. The store still going to be open by the time you get there?" He wasn't really fooled by Edward's polite demeanor in front of Charlie. He'd commented that Edward had the perfect name and called him "that Haskell kid" too much for me to ever think he was fooled. Edward was sincere, but my dad found it hard to like the boy he suspected of bedding his daughter.

"Not if we leave now and Edward is almost here." I tapped my foot on the floor nervously. I didn't quite know if I was more nervous that Charlie was going to give me more grief or if he'd make me late to meet Edward outside.

"I just don't know what those stores in Port Angeles have that we don't have here in Forks, but okay." Charlie's keen eyes held my gaze letting me know he really didn't approve, but was going to let me make my own decision. I'd proven myself to be a pretty responsible person; I didn't lie when he asked a direct question; and he really liked my cooking. He may not approve of all my decisions, but he lets me make them. My mom told me once that's how she knew she'd never come back.

"Charlie never put up a fight. He never begged me to come back. How bad could he really want me?" she'd asked me when I was eleven. E-lev-en. Like I even could possibly understand the complexities of the marital relationship then. No wonder Billy called me an old soul. I'd been forced to take care of my mother and her flighty whims of fancy since before I was in junior high; I finally told her enough was enough and came to live with my (much) more stable dad. Aloof as he was, he was consistent and I liked that. A lot.

As much as I loved Edward, I often wished that my relationship with him was as easy as others in my life. I missed the connection and ease of being with Jacob. Since our dads were best friends, neither of us had a memory of life without the other. It was easy as breathing. We shared all our thoughts and all our feelings. When I came back to Washington we both spilled about our moms. He just needed someone to unload all his grief to. I just needed a place to vent. That was some pretty heavy emotional stuff that brought us together right at the time our bodies decided to hit puberty. Both of us were needy, emotional, hormonal, and horny. We filled the void for the other. Then Edward moved to town.

Edward was…dazzling.

And he chose me. Out of all those girls flinging themselves at him—he chose little old me.

Edward didn't like the way Jake looked at me so I basically cut off all contact with Jake to keep from having the same conversation with Edward every time I spoke to or texted Jake. But Edward was going places and Jake is destined to be chief down on the rez. As much as I admired his heritage and his commitment to it, I wanted to go places, too. I felt that knowing that about myself would shield Jake from the same pain my father carried with him for fifteen years. I didn't want to do to Jake what my mom did to my dad. I loved Jake too much for that.

On the same note, as much as Alice annoyed me at times, when I considered Alice and Jasper's relationship I was a bit envious—I was an only child. Alice just did what she pleased and Jasper was happy to be around her. They were easy and free together—he never seemed to be tired of her. Jasper's nonchalance balanced out the controlling nature of Alice's mother. The only thing Jasper wanted from Alice was to be in her presence. To soak her up and drink her in. When Edward told me that I was like a drug to him, my heart flipped in my chest. He was as into me as I was into him. I could feel it and I could see it. But I had to be careful what I said and about whom I spoke. For Edward, certain topics and people put him in a very dour mood. Between Alice and Edward, I was always walking on eggshells.

I watched Jasper and Alice closely the last time the four of us went to dinner together. Jasper laughed at Alice's jokes, he let her order her own food. Though he knew what kind of soda she liked the best and ordered it while she was in the bathroom. And he listened to her opinions. Of course they'd known each other their whole lives, but it made their familiarity even more appealing. If the two disagreed on something—which was frequently—Jasper would just shake his head and smile. He'd say, "between the two of us, we'd fix the world." It was so different than what I had with Edward.

"We'll have the lobster special with just some water to drink please. Sparkling, not still, with some lemon," Edward said to the waiter without asking me. He ordered for me like in the old, romantic movies. At first I was flattered by the gesture, but I didn't know how to tell him I didn't care for shellfish without causing him to sulk. I didn't know how to navigate that minefield. Alice didn't mind filling him in.

"Bella, since when do you like shellfish? And the lobster special is stuffed with crab. That's like a double whammy for you," Alice giggled with a surprised look on her face.

"I'm trying to cultivate Bella's palate for finer fare than pop tarts and take-out pizza," Edward explained to the little pixie. He really was beautiful. And I heard it was good to retry foods you previously found unpalatable because your tastes change as you age.

"But Bella, it made you sick when you went to my parents' party last year, don't you remember?" Alice pressed, ignoring Edward like he hadn't even spoken.

"It's fine, Alice. I'll try it again," I gazed at Edward and winked hoping I conveyed that I really was okay. "He just wants me to try new things."

"But…" Alice's tried to interrupt again, but Jasper pulled her attention away.

Edward brooded through the main course. I could tell by the way his eyebrows pulled together and he was very quiet. So, I ate with such gusto, to show how much I enjoyed trying new things, that he was fine by the time dessert was delivered. It was a lovely tiramisu, even though I despised the flavor of coffee. Apparently coffee is an acquired taste, as well.

I still didn't like shell fish or coffee, but then I knew how to swallow things I didn't like. That's what love was, right?

I had to convince Charlie later that I had just eaten too fast and I didn't have food poisoning when he found me hugging the toilet later.

But, I couldn't be too angry. The meal was so expensive and Edward was trying to show me things out of my own comfort zone. He was giving me an education into the life he was going to offer me outside of Forks, Washington. That's what he'd explained to me, anyway. I couldn't argue with that. I was just grateful that he continued to date me. My dad didn't make much money and was content to age into retirement in the little town of Forks. That was the reason my devoted mother had left. She wanted bigger and better things. Edward offered me those things and I was going to hang on to him. I was determined not to make my mother's mistakes.

Edward had said that marrying a child from divorced parents was not something he ever wanted to do because it brought unnecessary baggage into an already difficult venture. But he said that I intrigued him, he just couldn't get enough of me—his drug of choice. His heroin. He'd try for me— he'd told me as much.

That made me feel so special—that he liked being with me so much, he was willing to go against something so deep-seeded in his psyche that he'd try for me.

But it also made me so nervous. What if something else happened that just pushed him over the edge? That made him leave? What if I tripped one too many times, would he think I was too clumsy? What if I didn't get the scholarship to Yale or Brown? Would he wait for me? Would he do the long-distance thing? Or, would he find someone there that better suited his life plan?

I was sitting at the table of the freshly cleaned kitchen when my phone buzzed. Edward was waiting outside.

"Gotta go, Dad." I went and kissed him on the forehead.

"Not even going to come to the door, is he? In the old days honking for your date was considered rude."

"Dad, the old days didn't have cell phones. He's told me he's here. Besides, you intimidate him with your overt displays of masculinity," I smiled at my father trying to mollify him.

"I don't know what all of that means, but if you're saying he's scared of my guns, I think that's a good thing. Remind him that I'm a damn good shot too." Charlie also said that I was easier to understand when I was dating Jake. I didn't use so many big words.

"He doesn't need reminding. And I love you."

Charlie cleared his throat. He was never comfortable with declarations of affection—another reason Renee and her immense insecurities ran off. I knew that about him and I used it often as the easiest way to get a quick exit from the room.

I grabbed a hoodie from the hall closet so Edward wouldn't chastise me—I was always cold, and I headed out the front door. I took the steps carefully, ensuring I didn't slip or trip. Edward was waiting to open the car door for me. Charlie may think he's not a gentleman, but he is. He knows how to treat me well and he does. When I reached him, his arms wrapped around me encasing me in his love. His breath was cool as he inhaled my scent. I affected him as much as he affected me. That was so reassuring.

"You're wearing the perfume I got you," he breathed out and kissed my neck. I loved the feel of his warm lips in the space right under my ear. I pulled him closer to me. His hand found the bare strip of skin at my waist and ran up my back sending shivers down my spine. This was part of why I made sure I did everything right. The way he made me feel—no one had ever made me feel so wanted and so desired—not even Jake. I never wanted to not feel this way again. I breathed in his scent and moved so his lips could find my mouth. I knew he would.

"I'll do just about anything to get you to kiss me," I admitted. My brown eyes connected with his green. His lips quirked up in that half-smile he did when I pleased him.

"I know," and he pressed his lips to mine. His kisses were gentle, yet demanding. He set the pace and the intensity and I'd learned to just follow his lead. He'd shut me down if I took it from him. And I needed his kisses. I needed his love. I needed his desire. I needed him. He completed me and I didn't know what I'd do if he ever left me.

I must have communicated those feelings somehow in my kiss because he chuckled as he pulled away. "Later, Pet. Let's get to PA first. Then we'll take a detour and finish that conversation." His hand which had slid up my back and under my shirt finally rested on my ass and pulled me close to him. I needed his desire and I could feel just how desired I was against my belly.

I let a satisfied smirk wash over my face. I reached up, placing my hands around his neck. The movement caused my stomach to rub over his desire and he groaned with pleasure.

"Okay," I whispered and sucked his bottom lip quickly but softly. I was good at this part and I knew it.

He opened the car door and I slid inside, making sure that my forearm added pressure to his evident joy as I slipped by him. I noticed the crooked smile again as the door closed and he walked around the front of the car to get in the driver's side seat.

Edward always held my hand when he drove or he touched me in some way. He knew how much I craved the physical affection. He always wanted to give me what I needed and that was why I worked so hard to give him what he wanted.

"How was PE? I know how much you enjoy it," Edward quipped sarcastically, stealing a glance at me.

"Oh my gosh!" I began. "The cheerleaders want to do a whole tumbling and gymnastics unit and they almost had coach talked into it. We're talking balance beams, parallel bars. The works." I scowled at the thought of her entire gym class seeing just how clumsy and uncoordinated I really was. "I don't know why we can't just stick with volleyball," I finally muttered. This was part of our normal routine. Edward and I had most classes together, but he always wanted to know what happened in the two classes we didn't have together. I just pretended to be Jessica for a bit and gossip during these Q&A sessions.

"Hey," Edward pulled my attention to his beautiful face, "it'll be okay. Maybe my dad can write you some sort of doctor's note." His lips twitched into a smile. God, he was beautiful. "We could fake a sprain or something." I smiled back at him because I loved that he was always looking out for me. My buzzing phone pulled my attention to my lap.

"Who is that?" Edward's brow furrowed. "Is it Charlie?" That was always his question when my phone went off when we were together. I knew Edward didn't mind if it was Charlie or even Angela. But when it was Jessica, Mike—who really couldn't take a hint—or, worst of all Jacob, Edward could get a little irritated.

BELLS! Cum to the annual bonfire plz! I want you to meet my new gf! Bring the wanker if you want.

Shit. It was Jacob.

"Well?" Edward's voice was insistent.

A small spark of hope shone through the void at the prospect of Jacob having a girlfriend possibly calming Edward a little bit. Edward was aware that Jacob was my first everything—and the reason I was so good at many…things—and he didn't like the fact that we were still friends. I'd met Edward and broken up with Jake to date him, but that didn't seem to register in Edward's mind and quell the jealousy I could still see simmering there. So, I'd basically cut off all contact with Jake except when he came over for family stuff. Our dads were still best friends.

"It's Jake," I hazarded a quick glance in his direction. "He's got a new girlfriend and he wants me to meet her at the bonfire," I added quickly. "He's invited you, too."

"You mean he wants to rub her in your face," Edward grumbled. Shit. I saw his mood falling.

"No, Jake's not like that." I still felt so defensive for my friend—especially when crap came from Edward. And Jake wasn't like that. I often envied his carefree attitude and his forgiving nature. He'd forgiven me so easily for dumping him for Edward. He thanked me for being honest and told me that he could manage his feelings for me if only he had my friendship.

"Whatever, Bella. He's a guy. That's what guys do." Edward looked really disgruntled. This side of him could really hurt me. It was almost as if he didn't trust me. But I needed to stop his mood swing and I had to do it fast.

"So," I slid my hand up Edward's thigh, "let's go and show him how happy we are." My fingers grazed the long hard edge of his erection as it bunched against his chinos just as my lips touched the perfect skin on his throat. I let my tongue graze along his stubble before sucking the skin just a little—showing him what I could do…elsewhere. I knew when Edward got that upset over Jacob, I had to show him my loyalty. My thumb found the head of his hard-on and rubbed it through his trousers. The crooked smile returned.

"Okay, you win. Let me drive. I'll let you finish that later."

I settled back in my seat but I didn't miss that Edward's hand was decidedly higher on my thigh when it finally found its resting spot. I placed my hand on top of his entwining our fingers.

Three hours later we sat in the car panting, windows cracked in an attempt to eliminate the fog that had accumulated in a short period of time. "I better get you home before Charlie uses one of those guns he's always cleaning when I actually go into your house." He ran his hands over my breasts that I'd just stuffed back into my bra.

"He wouldn't actually do it." I kissed him again, pushing myself into his palms.

"I know that. I can't wait until you are all mine and I don't have to sneak these moments or share you with anyone." His mouth slammed into mine and his hands cupped my bare ass and pulled me impossibly closer to him.

A small part of my mind wondered if Edward thought that I would cut off all connections with Charlie if and when we ever got married. I didn't quite know what he meant about not having to share me. I could never just abandon Charlie like Renee had already done. But that small little portion of my mind was distracted by what his mouth and hands were doing to my body.

"Come on," I tried to pull away, "I really should get home. I don't want to be late." The last time we'd lost track of time I was grounded for two weeks and both Charlie and Edward were almost impossible to get along with. Edward sulked at school and Charlie lectured me at night. I almost went insane.

"Okay, Pet." He gave me another quick kiss. "This was good tonight." I loved that crooked smile of his. I moved off Edward's lap and back into the passenger seat. I pulled my skirt down and dug my underwear off the floor while Edward resituated himself in the driver's seat.

"Where's my shirt?" I giggled as I turned to look in the back seat. It had landed in the back window and I had to crawl back and retrieve it. When I turned back around to climb back into the front seat I could see him smirking at me.

"What?" I asked, grinning back.

"You have a nice ass."

We were quiet on the short drive to Charlie's house and the windows were completely defogged by the time we pulled into the driveway.

"So I'll pick you up for school tomorrow?" He always asked me this even though he knew I loved to drive my truck. It was a gift from Billy that Jacob serviced on a regular basis.

"I can drive myself," I tried. Edward hated my truck. He said it was an eyesore and he didn't know why I wasn't embarrassed to drive the 'rusting piece of crap.'

"Nonsense, we don't want to add to our carbon footprint do we? I'll pick you up." I looked at my phone in my lap and remembered the bonfire. Maybe I could strike a deal with him.

"Okay," I replied. "But can we go to the Bonfire on Saturday? Please? It's an annual tradition and it would win you some points in Charlie's book if you took me." I pulled my bottom lip in between my teeth. His best friend Emmett told me that Edward thought that was my sexiest expression. Emmett was great for information like that.

"Will you let Alice pick out your outfit?" he asked with a crooked smile. Edward thought Alice had a great sense to style. Too bad that was based on what he saw her wear to school—the clothes her mother bought her.

"Fine," I grumbled. I knew that meant something cute, but completely inappropriate for the beach. But it'd make Edward happy; and going would make Jake and Charlie happy. I was hopeful that for one day of my life, I could make all the important men in my life happy at the same time.

After a few more heated kisses to show my gratitude, Edward walked around the car and opened my car door. I was satisfied. I felt his hungry eyes on me as he watched me walk up the stairs to the porch. I turned around briefly to wave. He was indeed still gawking at me. The door was still unlocked for me and I locked it behind me.

"Did you get everything you needed?" Charlie called from the living room.

"Yeah," I answered with a light tone. "We did. And Edward's taking me to the bonfire on Saturday. Jake invited us both and Edward agreed."

"Did he now?" Charlie mused with a smile. I didn't know if he was pondering Edward or Jake. I picked up the empty beer cans and chip bowl and took them into the kitchen.

"I'm bushed, so I'm going to go to bed," I called from the stairs. I pulled out my phone and happily texted Jake back as I walked up the stairs.

EDWARD and I will both be there on Saturday. Quit calling him a wanker. You're watching too much BBC. Who's this girl? What's her name? Where'd you meet? I'm so happy for you, Jake!

My phone buzzed while I was brushing my teeth.

Nessie is her name nd shes here for a year on a native exchange program. Shes goin to skool here
shes awesome bells u r goin 2 luv her

I'm sure I will, Jake. I'll see you then. ly

ly2 bellz

I had one more text to send before I went to bed.

I need you to pick out a SUITABLE outfit to wear to a bonfire on Saturday. I need to stay warm, but I need Edward to like it. Are you up for the challenge?

I changed into my pajamas thinking about how nice it would be if all the men in my life could get along. My phone buzzed again.

R U KIDDING ME? YES IM UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

It was just like Alice to squeal through a text message. I could almost hear it. Another buzz.

B over after school and b4 my dance class in PA

Okay. Love you, Alice. Good night.

I slipped beneath my sheets and blankets. I was completely exhausted. I always felt exhausted these days. I wondered if life and relationships were always this hard.

Please leave me some love and tell me what you think. I plan on posting once a week. More love means more motivation to post. Just sayin'.