Bella's POV

"Are you kidding me?! Please tell me you aren't serious?" I asked in horror.

He shrugged at me. "I'm serious."

I gaped at him.

"How can you not like Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? It was such a hilarious book!" I said in outrage.

"I didn't say I read the book. I watched the movie. It was enough to convince me that it was completely stupid." He said.

"Of course the movie was stupid. It was completely random. I hated the movie but the book is completely fucking awesome. You have to read it." I said with conviction.

"Okay, maybe I will one day then." He seemed indifferent.

"No, you are going to take it with you when you pick me up on Friday and you are going to take it home and read it that weekend." I crossed my arms, letting him know I meant business.

He laughed.

"Alright, alright you win. I'll read it. But if I hate it you have to read a completely random and pointless book of my choosing."

"Agreed." I was confident because I knew that book rocked, hard.

Edward and I had been sitting for over an hour discussing our favorite books and the pros and cons of each. I found that we both enjoyed the classics though I preferred Bronte and Austen and he thought they were cookie cutter romances.

Talking to Edward was so comfortable. I never felt nervous or unsure. I even flirted with him, though I was not sure if it came off that way; it's not like I have a lot of practice at that kind of thing.

Edward seemed to be enjoying himself as well, resting back in his chair and laughing. I loved watching his hands when he gestured to make a point. The movements seemed so fluent and I was jealous of his seemingly natural grace.

I watched him as he told a particular amusing story; his whole body was dedicated to the recounting of it. His eyes twinkled, that amazing grin appeared and his whole body shook with laughter when he was finished.

"So I told him that next time he would have to call the escort service. That was the last time I played Truth or Dare with him. Emmett is great but he has a knack for getting into the craziest shit." He laughed. I laughed with him though I realized that I would have to pay more attention to what he was saying rather than how gorgeous he was. I didn't hear one word of that story. I was about to speak when I was interrupted.

"B-elll-a." A sing song voice cried out. I closed my eyes in pain as I realized that my other horrible step-sister was making her way over to the table. Wasn't there a rule about speaking in public? I guess that only applied to me speaking to them not the other way around. I looked over at Jessica approaching the table, secretly wishing for a sinkhole to suddenly appear and swallow her up.

She approached the table and proceeded with her own session of Edward eye-fucking. Can you get an STD from someone eye-fucking you? I think Edward might need to see his father about an inoculation.

"Bella, I can't believe that someone like you managed to snag the hottest guy in the place." She looked over at me at the end of the sentence. I rolled my eyes at her.

"I'm sure stranger things have happened in the universe. After all you're here aren't you?" I said sarcastically. I thought I heard Edward smother a laugh but I was watching Jessica and could not be sure. Did I mention that while my stepsisters could use sarcasm they never really understood when it was being used against them? Yeah, Jessica was completely oblivious. I enjoyed it though. She never knew when I was insulting her.

She looked confused for a moment before shrugging.

"Yeah okay whatever." She turned to Edward. "I'm Jessica. What's your name?"

"Edward." He was looking at her in mild revulsion but she did not pick up on that either. I was constantly amazed at how completely oblivious my steps could be. They were not ones to pick up on subtlety in any way.

"Well, Eddie, why don't you come over to where my sister and our friends are sitting? You don't have to sit here when the cool people are all over there." She said, pointing to a table across the room.

Edward's eyes flicked over to mine for a moment before looking back up at Jessica.

"What is wrong with sitting here?" He asked curiously.

I did a mental face plant. This was just what I needed. Every time a boy seemed interested in me in anyway, even as a friend, the girls had to ruin it for me. Jessica was definitely the meaner of the two step-bitches and I was pretty sure that whatever was about to come out of her mouth would be uncomplimentary and rude. She did not disappoint.

"Well there is no reason for you to sit here with Ms. Prissy Bitch here. She is really only about one step above a toadstool you know? While my friends and I are the most popular kids at our school, not to mention being the hottest. You should totally be spending your time with us, not stuck over here with the pond scum."

I rolled my eyes again. I think they were going to get stuck in the top of my head like my mom told me they would when I was in second grade. I rolled my eyes so often around Jessica and Lauren that I think I had the inside of my skull memorized.

I looked over at Edward to see what his reaction was. I was shocked by the anger I saw there. His eyes were glinting with fury and his brow was drawn down into a dark scowl.

"First of all, I find Bella's company incredibly entertaining. Second if you are any indication of the popular people in your school then I think I will be perfectly happy to be a social pariah for the rest of my high school career. And if the words that I used were too big for your obviously small brain then I will say it in terms you can understand. Leave me the fuck alone." His voice never rose during his speech; instead it was calm and smooth. Which made it that much more menacing sounding to me.

Jessica looked at him, doing her best impression of a fish out of water. Her mouth gaped open and shut and she seemed speechless for a moment. Score one to Edward.

But Jessica wasn't done.

"I don't see why you have to be mean to me. She is the one who has no friends and will die a virgin. I mean look at her. She is the equivalent of a wet piece of cardboard, all limp and brown. You should hang out with us. It will definitely up your cred." She said arrogantly.

"Personally I think Bella is the prettiest girl I have ever seen and once again there is no way in hell I would ever hang out with you or your friends. I have some integrity you know." He said, his voice mingling anger and disbelief.

My heart swelled when he called me pretty. Wow. No boy had ever said that to me before. Or about me. Since he didn't say it to me. He said it to The Evil One. But still! He thought I was pretty!

"Well fine be that way. I was just trying to save you from a horrible social death among the outcasts. But whatever. A week into the school year when no one speaks to you, you will be begging to be my friend. You'll see." Jessica said smugly.

"Well if that day ever comes I will most certainly beg for your forgiveness. Until then though I wish you would walk the fuck away. You perfume is making my eyes water." Edward said, turning away from her and looking at me directly.

Jessica huffed and walked off, trying to strut in her high heels but ending up looking like a newborn colt trying to learn to walk.

"Well that was interesting." I said, laughing.

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Edward's POV

I watched her laugh as the repulsive Jessica walked away. How she could laugh when people were being so vile to her amazed me.

She noticed me watching her and stopped laughing.

"What?" She said quizzically.

"How do you do that? How can you laugh when she was being so fucking nasty to you?" I asked in wonder.

She waved a hand in dismissal and made a face.

"Jessica? She is not even worth the time it would take to get angry about it. Both she and Lauren are evil nasty bitches and there is nothing I can do to change that. I used to get mad or cry when they were mean to me when I was younger but I realized that only egged them on. No reaction at all seems to shut them up."

"I can't believe that she called you one step up from a toadstool. What does that even mean?" I asked, shaking my head.

She giggled. "I have no idea. But the cardboard thing was pretty inspired for her, though."

"So it doesn't hurt your feelings when they say things to you like that?" I didn't see how anyone's self esteem could survive that kind of assault on a daily basis.

"Well Eleanor Roosevelt said that no one can make you feel inferior without your permission. I am not going to allow the meanderings of an obviously feeble mind undermine my self confidence. I don't allow other people to determine my self worth." She shrugged and took a drink of her sweet tea.

I was in awe. I couldn't believe that she was a high school student. She seemed wise beyond her years.

"Well, I think you are beautiful and I think your step-sisters are the ones that are eye level with the toadstools." I watched as she blushed prettily.

"Thanks." She said softly, looking down at the table.

I reached out and took her hand across the table. I was shocked by the electric pulse that shot up my arm. It felt kind of like hitting your funny bone. I looked into her eyes and saw the same shock there. So she felt it too. What did that mean?

"Edward!" Emmett's voice boomed out.

I flinched and Bella did too. I let go of her hand and ran my fingers through my hair as Emmett approached. Would I ever be able to have a full conversation with Bella without being interrupted?

"Edward! Are you ever going to bring your pansy ass over there and let me stomp your dick in the dirt? You are missing out on all the fun dude!"

I looked over at Bella who was grinning at me. I held her eyes with my own as I answered Emmett.

"I'm not missing out on anything Emmett." Bella blushed again and I looked up at Emmett and nodded my head in Bella's direction and raising my eyebrows, hoping he would get the hint.

Emmett looked over at Bella for the first time.

"Oh shit! Sorry!" He said, making an embarrassed face.

Bella laughed. "Nah, its cool man."

Emmett's eyebrows went up and he looked over at me, nodding his appreciation.

He was clearly impressed with Bella's unflappability.

"If you want to shoot pool, go ahead. I can come over and watch Emmett stomp you." She said.

Emmett hooted. "I like her Edward, come on. Let's get this party started."

He turned and walked back to the left side pool room.

"Are you sure you want to go over there? We don't have to, you know." I did not want her to feel obligated because of Emmett.

"How are you going to impress me with your manly finesse if we don't?" She said, winking at me.

Just when I thought I had her figured out she would say something completely unexpected. It kept me on my toes and hanging on her every word.

"Okay, well you asked for it then."

She raised her eyebrows at me questioningly.

"You'll see. Twenty minutes with Emmett and you will be running for the door. He is like a visual aid for obnoxious sometimes." I said, shaking my head.

Her laughter carried us into the pool room.

I lined up my next shot, while watching Em and Jazz talk to Bella. I was happy to see how easily she fit in with them. She seemed to have no problem trading insults back and forth with Emmett and I saw her several times talking quietly with Jazz and him nodding in agreement to whatever she said. She seemed like the type of person who got along with everyone no matter what social situation she was in.

"Eight ball corner pocket." I said, gesturing with my cue to the pocket I was aiming for. I knocked the ball in smoothly and Em groaned behind me.

"Told you it was the fucking cold medicine last time, Em."

"Whatever dude, lucky shot." He grumbled.

"Three games in a row?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Fuck you man." Emmett was not always a good loser.

"You're not my type man." I shot back.

"I think I know your type." He smirked, nodding in Bella's direction. Fortunately she was talking to Jazz and seemed oblivious.

I grinned back.

"Oh no!" Bella suddenly exclaimed. "What time is it?"

I looked at my watch. "Eight forty-five. Why?"

"Fuckdamnshit!" She cried. Emmett laughed hard, holding his stomach.

"I have to be home at nine. It's a fucking school night. But the bitch twins aren't giving me a ride back home. Sonofabitchdammitalltohell! I have no ride."

I laughed. "Don't be silly Bella. I'll drive you home."

"What about Emmett and Jasper?" She asked.

"I drove here in my jeep, Bella. Edward is too in love with his car to leave it sitting home all by itself." Emmett guffawed.

"I am not in love with my car, asshole. And taking two cars seems like a really good idea now doesn't it?" I said. I secretly did love my car but there was no way I would ever admit that out loud.

"You really don't mind?" Bella asked.

"Of course not. Come on. Let's go. See you guys at the house." I called out to them as we walked away. I guided Bella through the front of the building, my hand on the small of her back. I held open the heavy ass double doors open for her and walked outside. It was October and the air was crisp. It smelled like Fall. I loved that smell.

Bella stepped down off the curb and almost fell. I managed to catch her by the waist and pull her back up against my chest. I was instantly aware of her body pressed against mine. She felt so tiny in my arms. I bent down to whisper in her ear, inhaling the clean smell of her hair as I did so.

"Careful now." I said softly.

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Bella's POV

Holy hell on a saltine cracker. Edward grabbed me around the waist and held me against his chest to keep me from falling. I could feel how hard his chest was against my back and his long legs intertwined with mine. My entire body felt electrified.

"Careful now." His deep voice whispered in my ear. I had to close my eyes for a moment to prevent the shiver that wanted to race down my body. I felt tingly.

He set me down on the pavement, keeping an arm around my waist.

"You okay?" He asked.

I nodded and smiled. "I guess I didn't mention that I am really really clumsy. Like trip over lint clumsy. I may end up being a hazard to your health."

"I think the benefits outweigh the risks. I'm willing to risk life and limb to spend a little more time with you." He grinned and gave me a cheeky wink.

"Wow are you naturally charming or did you take a special class in school?"

"I like to think it is a natural gift." He said laughing.

"Hmm, I'm going to have to be on my guard against you. That kind of charm can be lethal. I can just see myself agreeing to all kinds of things when you unleash your magic powers on me." I laughed.

His smirked at me and stepped a little closer. "Oh? What kinds of things are we talking about here? And don't be afraid to go into detail."

I smacked his arm. "It is bad enough that you have a deadly weapon, I'm not going to provide you with the ammunition. Now take me home mister."

He gave an exaggerated bow and gestured towards the parking lot. "Right this way mi'lady." I could not help but laugh.

He led the way to a shiny silver Volvo. I had to say, it was a really nice car. It looked sleek and fast.

"I can see why Emmett says you are in love with your car. How could you not be? She's beautiful." I said.

Edward's eyes sparkled in the dim light. "Thanks. But how do you know she is a she?"

"Aren't all cars female? And look at her, all sleek lines and curves and power. Oh yeah, this baby is a woman." I said grinning.

"I think that is the sexiest thing I have ever heard a woman say." He laughed. He leaned around me to open the car door for me and I got inside, buckling my seatbelt.

He slid inside and started the car. I gave him directions to my house and we drove through the darkened streets of Forks. In a few moments we were pulling up in front of my house.

"Give me your cell phone?" I asked. He handed it over and I programmed my number in before handing it back to him. I pulled out my own. "What's your number?"

He looked at me with a shocked expression. "You think I just go around giving out my number out to people I just met? What kind of a guy do you think I am?" He said in mock indignation.

I laughed. "The kind of guy who will be without a date Friday night if he doesn't give me his number right this minute."

He grabbed my phone and quickly punched his number in, grinning.

"Thanks for the ride home Edward. I had a lot of fun tonight."

"Your welcome. I had a fun too." He did not seem ready to leave and I was not ready to get out of the car yet.

"So…I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow?" I asked.

"Yeah, tomorrow is our first day. I have never been to such a small school. It should be interesting to say the least."

"Sure, if you don't mind everyone staring at you like you are a science experiment. You know, like you're under a microscope?"

He made a face. "Hmm, not looking forward to that. But at least I am going in knowing one person." He smiled. Then he looked kind of nervous, scratching the back of his head.

"Um, Bella?" He said.

"Yes?"

"Could I pick you up for school tomorrow?" He asked hesitantly. "I mean, if you want me to? I don't know if you already have a way or not but it would be nice to ride with someone who knew their way around or whatever." He stopped talking abruptly, looking out the driver side door.

He was embarrassed. It was so adorable I had to stop the giggle that was forming in me.

"Edward?" He looked over at me. "I'd love to ride to school with you. You'd be saving me from the bitch fest that is Lauren and Jessica. Plus I'd get the pleasure of your company again too." I smiled.

He gave me a breathtaking smile. "So what time?"
"Seven-thirty sharp." I replied. I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "See you tomorrow. Good night."

I jumped out of the car and made my way to the house.

I looked back and Edward was still parked in my driveway. I waved to him before opening the door and going inside.

I closed the door behind me and leaned my back against it. I was suddenly giddy. I laughed and squealed at the same time, beating my fists against the door behind me. I could not believe everything that had happened in the last few hours.

"I take it you had a good night then?" My adopted Mom, Renee said. She was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed over her chest and a big smile on her face.

I ran up to her and hugged her exuberantly.

"Oh Mom, you will never guess what happened. I met a really great guy while I was out tonight. He is smart and funny and sweet and polite and gorgeous. He is picking me up for school tomorrow and we are going out on a date Friday!" I said practically all in one breath.

She laughed out loud. "That sure is a lot of 'ands' in one sentence. Oh honey I am so glad you met someone so nice. What is his name?"

"Edward Cullen."

"Oh, is he the son of Dr. Cullen at the hospital?" She asked.

"Oh! I almost forgot. He is adopted, just like me! Isn't that amazing? This town is so small I thought I would be the only adopted one ever but he is too!"

She just shook her head and laughed again. "It sounds like you have a lot in common then." She reached down and hugged me. "Okay, well I will tell Charlie about the date for you but you know he is going to want to meet him before you two go out. Where are you going?"

"Bowling in Port Angeles. You always told me that a first date should be a place where you can talk and learn something about the other person at the same time. This way I can see him in a competitive situation to see how aggressive he is." I mock bowed to her. "You have taught me well, Oh Wise One."

She smacked my arm playfully. "Just remember all the other things I taught you too, especially how to break his nose if he gets too frisky without your permission."

Renee had taken me to a self defense class last year to make sure I knew how to handle tricky situations. She made sure that we practiced every Saturday to keep our skills up. Charlie a lot of the times was our practice target, though we were careful not to hurt him for real. As the Chief of Police in this town he encouraged us and made sure that I carried pepper spray with me at all times. The can was on my keychain.

"I will Mom, but I don't think that he is like that." Renee rolled her eyes. "I mean yes he is a teenage boy and by definition a regular hormone fest but I really think that he is too considerate to force a girl, you know what I mean?"

"Well, I won't make a judgment without meeting him. For now I will respect your opinion of him but I do want to meet him." She said, raising her eyebrow.

"I will make sure you meet him Friday. Is that alright?"

"Of course, sweetie. Okay, enough of this. Right now I am just going to be excited with you that you have a guy chasing after you. The rest will sort itself. Now get some sleep. I'm sure you want as much as possible so you can look your best in the morning when your ride gets here." She winked at me.

I threw my arms around her. "Thanks Mom. You are the best ever. Oh and please, please do not let me sleep past 6:45. Even if you have to dump me onto the floor. I don't want to rush around in the morning." I pleaded.

"Oh course honey. Though remember that in the morning when I do have to dump you on the floor. You know you are not a morning person." Renee said laughing.

"Just make sure there is coffee." I called out over my shoulder. I walked into the living room and saw Charlie engrossed in a sporting event on the television. He looked up when I walked in.

"Hey there Bella. Did you girls have fun tonight?" He asked.

Charlie was completely unaware of the tension between his daughters and me. Mostly because they acted like perfect angels at home. Charlie was not one to tolerate discord in the family. The girls learned that early on, when Renee and I had moved in. They were pretty mean to me at first and it had incensed Charlie, who wanted everyone in the family to get along. He had punished them, taking away privileges and since then they kept their antics to outside the home.

The last five years had been hard on both Charlie and Renee. Renee's husband Phil had died a year after they had adopted me and Renee had been devastated. We were all each other had during that time and it really cemented our relationship. But Renee had been lonely and had started looking at online dating sites. We were living in Phoenix at the time but somehow Renee had found Charlie online. He had joined the site a few years after his wife, Grace, had died of cancer. He had originally been looking for friends to talk to but he and Renee hit it off and started chatting. Which led to a few vacations to meet each other. They fell in love and decided to get married all in the space of a year. They had been married for four years now and were still very happy together.

"It was an interesting night, Charlie." Charlie understood that while I was fine with calling Renee Mom, I was not comfortable calling him Dad. I did not want to hedge in on his relationship with his daughters and he knew that.

"Well, I'm glad you girls got to go out together. You don't spend enough time together." He was conveniently forgetting that it was he himself who had all but forced us to go out tonight. He wanted us to bond more as sisters but unfortunately didn't know that his daughters despised me. Oh well. Charlie and Renee deserved to be happy and it was only for another year and a half. I could handle that.

I bent down and kissed him on the top of his head. "I'm going to bed Charlie. See you in the morning."

"'Night Bells." He said, his eyes trailing back to the television.

I walked up stairs and into my room before flopping down on the bed with a huge grin on my face. This had been a great night.

Oh shit! I thought. I had to tell Alice and Rose to be ready in the morning. I whipped out my phone and called Alice on her cell.

"Alice? Hey! Hold on. I am getting Rose on three-way. I have some news for you both!"

I dialed Rose and she answered on the second ring.

"Hey Rose. I have Alice on three-way. I have got to tell you both what happened tonight!" My voice was excited.

"Did you finally beat the shit out of the Bitch Twins?" Rose asked dryly.

"No, but something even better than that happened." I said, laughing.

Alice gasped. "What could be better than that?" She said giggling.

Rose and Alice knew how the girls treated me and even though they hated it they understood my reasoning. That did not mean they were had to accept it and often got into verbal tussles with Jessica and Lauren. Because of that they were treated as outcasts by Jessica and Lauren's circle of friends but since they didn't like anyone in that circle it didn't matter to them in the slightest.

"Well you know that Charlie and Mom made the girls to take me with them to Eclipse. Well I was sitting there at my table and this completely hot guy came up and just started talking to me. His name is Edward Cullen. He is one of Dr. Cullen's sons. Adopted, just like me. We were talking and then Lauren comes up and starts coming on to him and he totally blew her off when she asked him out for Friday night. Jessica came up a little while later and started tearing into me like usual to him and he totally defended me!"

Alice and Rose both gasped.

"Wow!" Alice said. "What did he say?"

"He told Jessica that he thought I was really interesting and pretty and then he told her that there is no way he would ever want to hang out with her or her friends and then…he told her to leave him the fuck alone! You should have seen her face." I said giggling.

"Oh I like him already!" Alice said.

"Me too. About time there was a guy out there who sees you for how great you are and doesn't put up with Jessica and Lauren's bullshit." Rose said.

"Well, guess what? He asked me out for Friday night and he is picking me up for school tomorrow!"

I had to hold the phone away from my ear as Alice squealed.

"Oh my God Bella! That is amazing! I am so happy for you!" Alice was in full hyper mode now. I could practically see her bouncing up and down on her bed.

"I am too Bella. You deserve to be happy with all the hell you get from the BB." BB was Rose's nickname for Jessica and Lauren and their cronies. It stood for Bitch Brigade. When I pointed out that it could also stand for the size of their brains, Rose had snorted soda out of her nose. So the name stuck.

"Well I have one more interesting tidbit for you two."

"What?" Alice said, still excited.

"Edward has a brother and a family friend that moved here with him and they are both gorgeous. And both are single. And I am sure you both get to meet them in the morning at school."

Both Alice and Rose squealed that time.