1

When we got in Alice's car, she looked at the digital clock on the dash and sighed. "Rose is going to kill me... The boys have been playing keep-away for almost ten minutes." A devilish grin grew on her face, "I guess we will just have to hurry." Alice knew how much I hated it when she drove fast, much preferring the sluggish speed of my old truck.

"Alice..." I looked at her hopefully, although I knew it was pointless. Moments later her foot seemed glued to the floor and we accelerated far faster than the speed limit.. She laughed her high pitched tinkling laugh and accelerated even faster still. Had anyone been watching, they would have immediately called the police, and wouldn't Charlie be thrilled to hear that a car matching the description of the one he knew his daughter was in, was speeding down the road at 3 times the thirty mile an hour speed limit.

"Relax Bella!" She looked over at me and my stomach turned over.

"Eyes. Road. Please." At this point I wasn't even making complete sentences. It's difficult to do when you see your life flashing before your eyes.

"Bella, we have gone faster than this a hundred times, sheesh!" At least someone seemed to be enjoying herself. In a matter of minutes, although not soon enough, I felt the car slow, and we pulled up the winding Cullen driveway.

A sound like two boulders colliding erupted from the backyard, closely followed by a booming voice, "Ow Rose, don't you love me?" Emmet laughed.

"You know I-" there was a pause and sounds of a struggle, then a victorious cry "-do... Just not when you act like a teenage boy." There was an edge of annoyance in Rosalie's voice, and it was obvious that Alice had been right, as per usual.

"Aww, but I thought you liked it when I acted like a teenage boy,"Alice and I walked around the house just in time to see Emmet wiggle his eyebrows suggestively and elbow Rose lightly, only to be smacked in return.

"Alice! Bella! Finally! These bumbling idiots stole my-"

Alice interrupted, "-keys... we know."

Rosalie stared at the two of us incredulously, "What took you so long? Were you debating the presidency next election or something?"

"No... we were playing dress up!" Alice's voice was sarcastic, and Rosalie rolled her eyes.

I was grateful when Jasper broke the tension. "Can we all just go inside and watch the damn movie?" He had attempted to sound helpful, but obviously all of the tension was getting to him.

"Awww, poor Jazzy can't handle a little annoyance." Emmet laughed, enjoying his brother's lack of control.

All of a sudden there was a sigh from behind me, and cold hands slipped around my waist. I forgot where I was and what I was thinking, and just melted in his firm, yet somehow gentle grip. "Hello Bella," he whispered in my ear. Ready to watch the movie? Unless you want to stay out here and continue this soap?"

I managed a nod, and walked with his up the back steps and into the house. Another argument started outside, but it grew quieter and quieter as we walked farther inside to the living room. Alice really had gone all out, all the couches and seats had been moved to form a U around the television, and sleeping bags lined the floor. I looked up at Edward, "Tell me she didn't buy the sleeping bags just for one movie night?"

He smiled, "I think she was hoping it would become a regular occasion, and we have plenty of sleeping bags, we wouldn't look like a good wholesome hiking family if we didn't stop in to buy new ones every other year.

I smiled at his explanation, but turned serious when he gave me a worried look.

"Why is Alice keeping me out?"

I tried to look as innocent as possible, although I'm sure he saw right through me, "What makes you think she's trying to keep you out?"

He gave me a 'yeah right' look, "She's translating Romeo and Juliet into Arabic"

I couldn't help but laugh, "It's nothing I want to talk about right now..."

He looked deep into my eyes, but decided it was better to leave it for now.

Finally, the silence was broken by the rowdy bunch of young Cullens coming in. "I still say the Lion would win." Emmet and Jasper seemed deep in debate.

Emmet laughed, "Are you kidding me? The Tiger would kick ass!" The two of them looked to Alice.

"Sorry Emmet, the lion's mane protects it from the tiger's teeth."

I looked to Edward, "Shouldn't she only be able to see that if-"

"They were actually considering trying it? Yea..." Alice frowned and finished my sentence. "Can someone make themself useful and go upstairs to get Carlisle and Esme?"

"No need darling," Esme glided down the stairs, closely followed by her husband. "What movie did you decide on Alice?"

Alice looked at a box by the TV, I was going to let Bella choose... I picked movies kind of with a theme, see if you can pick up on it."

Edward groaned from his seat on the sleeping bag next to mine, as he read her thoughts and found out what the movies were. He rolled his eyes and then looked, like all the others, at the box.

One by one, Alice took the movies out, reading them as she went.