Chapter 2

Edward

Later that night, I followed the rest of the family to the game.

Well, I arrived a long time after anyone else did. Rosalie sent me a text saying that Bella was inside with Alice. The text finished with the words "Idiot."

Ah…my loving sister.

So this is how I found myself sitting in the lobby of the gym, when they walked out. At first I didn't know who they were, that was until their thoughts were directed at me.

Look…its Edward, thought the female of the group. I turned to actually study the group of three. There were two males and one female. When they had first walked around the corner, I didn't really pay attention to them, why would I really, this is a basketball game. But taking a closer look at them, I could see that their eyes were red.

They were vampires.

And I couldn't do anything about them, us being in a public place and all.

The woman smirked at me again. Can't do anything about us can you? She blew me a kiss.

One of the guys rushed out the door, while the other looked over his shoulder, and then looked at me, smiling. You can't save her.

His was the same voice, this whispering I've been hearing for a while now.

He smiled wider when I clinched my hands into fist. I wanted to do something. Stop them from whatever they had planned, but there were too many people milling around.

And they knew it.

They followed the other guy outside. I followed them with my eyes, trying to figure out where they were going.

There were less people outside. They wouldn't notice as much. I was going to follow them outside, when I felt eyes on me. I turned to see Bella staring at me; her brown eyes staring into mine. Wide eyed.

Alice pulled on Bella's arm to face her. They weren't too far away for me to hear what Alice was thinking. That crazy girl.

Whatever Alice said to her, made her walk again. But her gaze stayed on me. It wasn't until I noticed that Alice was pulling her towards the door. I started to get up. They didn't need to go out there; they were walking right into whatever traps the vampires Hs set up.

"Hey! That's my car!" Alice screeched as she pulled Bella hard in the direction of the door. Now I knew what the vampires wanted. They wanted a reason for the girls to come to them.

"You don't want to go out there." I said quickly. Bella turned to look at me. I was trying to figure what would be the best thing to do. I had already started to pull my phone out when Alice screeched again, this time outside the door. "Wait!" I called again. Shit! What was I going to do now?

Shit, shit, shit! I hurriedly sent a text to my family, informing them of what was going on outside. Even if I did fight them off, I couldn't do much else. This was a public place, and I was going to need some help. After I sent the text, I rushed out the door.

"Hey! Stop!" I heard Bella screamed. She started walking toward the vampires. I didn't know why at first; why shoe would do that, since they were obviously a threat. But then I saw why she would go towards them.

One of the guys had Alice in his arms, biting her.

Ah, hell!

There were two vampires headed towards Bella from both sides; the other male and the female. The female took one look at me, and stopped, then she headed in the other direction, I reached her before she got away, taking the knife I had in my boot and stabbing her in the base of her neck. I couldn't remove the blade in time, as the guy who had been racing towards Bella, changed course to aide her. I hit the guy upside the head. I knew that it wouldn't keep them down for long but I hoped that it would for a little while though.

I looked to Bella; she was still staring at Alice's attacker.

I grabbed Bella from behind hand, before she could do anything stupid. She started scratching me. "Hey!" I turned her around. She looked up at me wide eyed, I was sure that she didn't know it was me that grabbed her. I couldn't have her being here, to do what I needed to do with the other vampire, who let go of Alice once the women vampire was down. I could tell from his thoughts he didn't understand how I had the upper hand on them. He must not know that we are vampire hunters the way that she did. She also knew that I was sending in reinforcements.

And I couldn't let Bella see what was going to happen to the vampires, not in the state that she was already in.

My car was close; I started digging out my keys. "Run" I said to her. She just stared at me.

"What?" she blinked.

"Run!" I repeated, pointing to my car, several spaces away. It wouldn't be hard to miss. I threw her the keys, surprised with she caught them. "Go!" I pushed her towards the car, since she was just standing there. Finally she started moving, and I turned around to finish what I started.

Turning away from her, hurried to catch the vampire that had bitten Alice. He was thinking of leaving. The other male vampire was moaning on the ground, when I attacked the other one, stunning him. I hurriedly picked up Alice who was slumped against her car, and ran toward mine. Bella had started the car and headed towards us.

"Pop the seat up." I said as she opened the door. She did as she was told; I all but threw Alice in the back seat, making sure that she was sitting up, before I got in the front. "Drive!" I tried not to think about someone else driving my car. I freaked when I found out Emmett and Rosalie would be driving it down. And I at least knew them.

She just stared at me. "Wha-?

"Drive! To your apartment! Go!" I didn't really have time to explain everything to her right now. I saw my family make their way out of the gym. So I knew that that part was going to be taken care of. She started to drive, and I let out a breath of air. Bella shrieked then slammed on the breaks. A figure jumped on the hood.

It was the first vampire that I had stunned. I had hoped that he would have stayed out longer than that.

Fuck!

"Damn it, Bella, drive!" She started burning rubber. As the car started fishtailing, I realized my mistake. I called her Bella. When I shouldn't know what her name was.

As the scenery passed by, I didn't talk to her. I sat there and thought that things could have been a lot worse than they actually were tonight. And the only one who got hurt was Alice, but I knew from her thoughts that she was just unconscious, that there was no venom in her system. So that was something to be thankful for.

When we finally made it to her apartment, Bella turned off the car and reached for the door.

"Wait!" I called out, scanning the neighborhood. I guessed that there were more vampires waiting for Bella than just the ones from the game. I knew if I were a vampire I would want a few to go in before me, to gather information. And I wasn't completely wrong on that thought; shadows lined the outside of their apartment that I knew shouldn't be there. I looked back at her, there wasn't much light, so I could only imagine those brown eyes looking at me in confusion. "Do you have your keys ready?"

She fumbled for her keys digging in her purse, finally bringing them out, all the while never taking her eyes off me. She was shacking, and I couldn't make myself think about how scared she truly was. We didn't have time for that.

"I want you to run to that door as fast as possible." She opened her mouth to say something, but there wasn't time. "No, run! I'll be right behind you, with her." I nodded my head to the back where Alice was. "Got it?"

She nodded her head. But I think it had more to do with that she had no choice.

"Now when we get through the door, I want you to lock it as fast as possible, okay?" she nodded again. "Ready?" I asked, with one hand on the door the other on the seat. She nodded once more. "Go!" I jumped out quickly, popping the seat up, grabbing Alice as fast as I could.

I just hoped Bella didn't trip.

Once I got Alice out of the car and slammed the door shut, I saw Bella already running in front of us toward the door. Good, her feet were working tonight. She was almost to the door, when she started slowing down.

And I saw why.

A person was rushing towards her from the other side. And I can only assume that the person was a vampire. "No! Bella!" I called; I started running faster; as did she. She made it to the door, opening it faster than I thought possible. I ran in behind her. "Shut it!" I rushed to the couch to place Alice on it, and then looked back at Bella. She was slumped up against the door, trying to catch her breath. She shrieked when, I assume, the vampire threw its body at the door.

I went to her, turning her around to face me, tugging her chin up to look me in the eye.

"Hey, it's okay." I said. "You're fine." Well…it was mostly true. Her eyes went to Alice. "Where is her bedroom?" she told me it was the right; the one with the pink door. I already, though, but I couldn't let her know that. "You have a first aid kit? Bring it." I picked Alice up and carried into her bedroom, where I figured she would be more comfortable.

And the first thing I noticed was a picture of Jasper on her wall. It was one of those basketball posters the school gives out to the fans. It also made me think about how pissed off he would be at me when he found out what happed to Alice. "Thanks" I said to Bella, once she handed me the first aid kit, taking my thoughts and eyes away from Jasper. I started to clean the blood off Alice's neck, to see how bad the wound was. It wasn't that bad, but it was going to hurt for a few days. But if Alice is the way I think she is, she probably won't let it affect her.

"Is she going to be okay?" Bella asked.

"She's going to be fine. There was no venom." I said, and then realized that I probably said the wrong thing. I shouldn't have said that.

"Venom?"

"Are you okay?" I asked her, sidestepping her question. I wasn't ready to talk to her yet…about that.

"Does it matter?" of course it matters…why wouldn't it? She was too worried about Alice to care about herself right now.

I sighed. "She's going to be a little tired and sore. But fine nonetheless." I looked at her then" She's lost a lot of blood, not enough where she would need a transfusion, but enough to make her weak for a while."

"What were they?" She asked softly. So she noticed that they weren't normal.

"Vampires" he sighed.

"Vampires?" She asked incredibly. "Vampires? Seriously?"

"Yes."

"Vampires don't exist!"

Obviously they do.

It's not possible!" She spoke again.

"It is!" I insisted. "They're vampires."

"Why are thy after her?" She motioned towards Alice's sleeping body.

Moment of truth.

"There not after her." I said calmly.

"But they attacked her; bit her!"

I shook my head. "They're after you. She was just merely in the way."

"Me? Why?"

"That's what I've been trying to figure out."

Then I told her I was sent here…to watch her. How I knew her name, background, and why I decided to show myself to her. Since nothing else had seemed to be working.

"But I don't know why they're after me."

"So I know now."

I finally got her to leave Alice's room, for the second time. Telling her it was probably best if we let her rest. She agreed, but I think it was more for Alice's benefit, than doing what I wanted her to do.

I thought it would be best if Bella ate something. Because no matter how much she denied it, she should eat something, so she wouldn't go into shock. I stopped what I was doing when Bella's voice ranged out. "You know all this stuff about me but I don't know anything about you?" And I couldn't let her know anything about me. Not really. I was still trying to not like her. Swell job I was doing there.

"What do you want to know?" I asked. Even though I couldn't really tell her much at this point. I didn't want to scare her too bad.

"Well, your name for starters would be nice."

I threw me a glace over my shoulder "It's Edward" I turned back to rummaging through the cabinets.

"Edward?" she questioned. "That's a really old fashioned name." I just shrugged my shoulders. There wasn't really a reply I could do towards that. "Okay then..." I heard her mumble. I smiled slightly to myself, pulling out my phone to text Emmett and Rose, telling them that they needed to bring some food with them when they came. Emmett texted back saying that it was already done.

I walked towards Bella. "You know, you guys have no food right?" she said the reason was because they weren't supposed to be here after tomorrow. Then she said that I should know that already, since I had been following her around. "I did know that." I replied. I got my phone back out, texting Esme, telling her that we needed to change the flights. Because there was no way that Alice was going to be able to travel tomorrow.

"You know, you're a great conversationalist!" She said sarcastically.

I paused in the button pushing, gracing at her then smiled. . "You're a little firecracker aren't you?"

"No, I'm not." She rebuked. "Just annoyed!"

Couldn't really help her on that. "I'm still thinking you may go into shock."

"I'm not in shock, you jackass! I'm annoyed. You're not talking to me, I don't know what's going on, besides the fact that you've been stalking me for the past two weeks and-"

"Months." I interrupted cutting her off. I might as well tell her the truth on that.

"What?" He eyes shot up to mine. But I was still looking at my phone…well, trying to at least. I was getting text in from Esme, Carlisle, and surprise…Jasper. The game must be over and someone must have told him what happened, and to whom. Because he wasn't happy. At all.

"You said two weeks, but it's been more like two months."

"Ah, lovely!" She sarcastically sighed. I tried not to smile at her. "Ugh!" She threw her hands in the air. "You made me lose track of what I was trying to say!"

"Thank God." I mumbled, her voice was doing things to me that it probably shouldn't, and I wasn't sure how much I could take.

"What?" She snapped.

That was clearly the wrong thing to say, and now since I've said it, I might as well roll with it. "Well, you're clearly talking because you like the sound of your own voice, sweetheart."

"Excuse me?"

"You're excused." I said. Jasper sent another text. Saying 'how dare I let that happen to Alice'.

"That's not what I meant!"

"Trust me, princess, I know!" I huffed. Having two people mad at me at one time was a lot of work to keep up with.

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Well, I know I'm the guy that saved your life!" I snapped. Couldn't think of anything better at the time.

"Yes, and I forgot to say thank you…so thank you." She looked me in the eye.

.

I unclenched my jaw. Why did I think that she was going to say something more? "You're welcome."

"But you're still not helping matters!"

"Who-" I slammed my hand down on the table. She flinched. "Do you ever give up?" I asked.

"It wouldn't be so bad if you would talk to me!" She shot back.

"I am talking to you." As much as I can anyway.

"I meant without the aggression."

I turned back to my phone "I don't have time for this."

"You're free to leave!"

That's great! "And what are you gonna do when they come back?"

"Well," she started, but I interrupted.

"Nothing! That's what you're going to do!" he snapped. "Let me do my job! I wasn't sent here to baby sit!"

"Then leave!" She pushed her chair back. I acted quickly, pushing mine back as well.

Before she could even react, I had her cornered against the wall.

"Look here," I growled. "You are the most stubborn girl I have ever met!" my fingertips dug into her hips as I pushed her harder into the wall. "Why can't you just be grateful and shut the fuck up?" I was breathing heavily through clinched teeth. But so was she.

Then my anger changed to something else as my sense of smell was assaulted with the scent of strawberries. There was also the hint of freesia of her lotion.

As I stood there looking at her trying to decide what to do with this lustful emotion I was going through, a Pink song came into my head, as her eyes fluttered shut.

'How did I become so obnoxious?

What is it with you that makes me act like this?

I've never been this nasty

Can't you tell this all just a contest

The one that wins will be the one that hit's the hardest

But baby I don't mean it'

I decided to just act in on it. But as soon as I made up my mind, something else broke though.

'Ah, me so horney. Ah, ah, me so horney. Ah me so horney. Me love you long time'

Fuck!

I broke away from her. I saw her eyes pop open as I turned away and pulled out my phone out of my pocket. I rushed to get out of the kitchen; I didn't think I could stand in there with her after that.

"Emmett? What the hell did you do to my phone?" Emmett was the only person that would put that as his ring tone, while all my other callers were on vibrate. His only response was laughter. "It's not funny!" I repeated, he laughed again.

I heard movement from behind me, and whirled around to see Bella standing in the doorway of the kitchen. I had hoped that she would have stayed in the kitchen. No such luck there. I was so involved with wishing Bella would go into the kitchen that I almost missed Emmett telling me that they were outside the apartment. I didn't get a chance to tell them to look out for shady characters out there.

Aka…vampires.

The doorbell rang, and Bella turned towards the door. What was she thinking? Was she crazy? After everything that has happened and she's going to answer the door, when she has no idea who's on the other side.

Crazy!

I reached out and grabbed her arm before she could make it too far, and Bella being Bella, fell backwards

Right into my arms.

The place I wanted her to be the most…but also the place she couldn't be either. She looked up at me, and I quickly made sure she was upright before I did something stupid. Like full on make out with her.

"Watch where you're going! And don't answer the door." I snapped, turning away from her, heading towards the door. I couldn't let her have any type of effect on me. Even though I kept telling myself that, when hurt flashed in her eyes, I wanted to get down on both knees and beg for her forgiveness.

And that's why I can't let her get to me.

I opened the door, as Emmett pushed me out of the way, carrying several boxes of pizza. "Hey Eddie!" I groaned, he was so annoying. Rosalie came in behind him, followed by Carlisle. Carlisle looked grimly towards me as Emmett and Bella started talking about some kind of pizza place.

Edward? How bad is it? Carlisle's thoughts came to me. I told him what I knew, about the three vampires being at the game, their trap, what they did, and about the female knowing about me. Then I asked was everything taken care of.

He nodded his head, and took a step inside, then looked back at me. Jasper's upset with you.

Tell me something I don't know.

Carlisle turned to Bella then, introducing himself, while her eyes were permanently glued to his doctors' bag. Carlisle smiled. I guess that part in her background was true. About her being in the hospital a lot when she was younger.

I might have laughed if I wasn't still thinking about Jasper. I knew that he was still sending text to me, I just stopped reading them.

"So where is your friend?" he looked from Bella to me. I refused to look in any of their directions. I know Jasper blames you for what happened. But it could have happened regardless. Carlisle sent the thought in my direction, before he headed to the room with the pink door. I vaguely heard Emmett and Rose talking about a pink door; he told her she would have a pink door too, if she could. Meaning that he wasn't allowing her to have one is what his thoughts said. Good thing Rose didn't know about that, she'd have a pink door just because he thought that.

Right before Carlisle went into Alice's room, he looked to Bella. "You should probably eat." He said. I felt a smirk coming on, but held it in. considering what I know about Bella, she probably thought I put him up to that, when, in fact, it was him who told me to make she ate something in the first place.

"I guess I'll get some paper plates." Bella looked to us. Her expression wasn't too happy.

Emmett's replay was only too excited. "Hell yeah!" he fist bumped the air. Then saw Bella's expression. "What? I like to eat!"

Rose decided to help Bella, carrying the bags of grocery they bought into the kitchen. Once they were out of sight. Emmett turned to me, a sly smile covering his face.

I was almost afraid to ask what was on his mind, even though I could read it, but sometimes with Emmett his mind is just scary.

Little Eddies' got it bad

"What?" that's not what I was expecting. His mind was filled of thoughts of Bella. But as I took a closer look, I realized that I was in most of them. I looked at Emmett incredulously. How is it that he can realize my feelings, but Rose, my sister, cannot?

"Don't look at me like that Eddie." He said to me. I reframed from groaning at the nickname. I hated it…and he knew it. So that meant that he just uses it more. "I may be a guy, but it just makes sense that you like Bella."

"Why?" Someone needed to explain it to me, because I sure didn't understand it.

Emmett rolled his eyes. "Dude, you can't read her mind, so that made you pay more attention to her in the first place. I always figured if you were going to settle down that it would be with someone like her, where you can't read her mind. Also thought it was kind of strange when you denied orders to return to Chicago. You never deny orders. So I figured it was something big like you falling for someone. And I think she's nice. I mean, I don't know much about her, but in all, she's cool. And I think you need someone like her. Maybe she could make you less…well, you. Maybe you won't be so uptight anymore."

Wishful thinking Emmett.

"But how did you come up with that? You would think Rose would be the one in here having this talk with me." Then I snorted. "On second thought, no she wouldn't."

"Dude, I love Rosalie, but she's not very big on emotions. And I guess that's why she has me. Since she calls me her big-"

"Dude…I don't want to know!"

"I was going to say teddy bear." Emmett reasoned, laughing. Then he sobered up. "What are you going to do about Jasper?"

I shrugged my shoulder. "The same as always ignore him."

Emmett shook his head. "You should try and fix whatever beef you two have with each other."

There wasn't really beef until tonight. Besides, Jasper knew all the rest of it. The reason I didn't like being around him. I had told him everything before he left Chicago. He wasn't happy about it, but he was mostly okay with it.

Rosalie may her way to Emmett with a plate on a drink. Bella showed up right after her.

"Here" Bella said, handing me a plate and cup. I gave me a slight smile, but didn't look up.

"So," Bella started, grabbing a piece of pizza. "We have an extra bedroom, and the couch and love seat both fold out."

Emmett looked at Rosalie, with a sly smile. "We call dibs on the bedroom. This leaves Eddie boy and Jazzie on the coach and love seat."

I winced. "Don't call me Eddie, Em!" I said softly.

The doorbell sounded again. I jumped up at once. Looking through the peep hole before opening the door, ushering whoever it was in. There were two people standing outside the door. My mom and it.

Jasper

I closed the door, as Emmett shouted. "Jazz!"

Jasper looked up from the floor, looking up at Bella.

"Hey, Bella!" Jasper said softly, his voice cracking.

"Jasper? Jasper Cullen?" Came Bella's voice.

"Ah, so I see you've met my brother" I said with resentment to said brother. It wasn't hard, considering all the thoughts he was throwing at me.

Why in the hell did you not tell me? Is this the reason you were asking about Alice? I could kill you for letting this happen to her!

"Your…your brother?"

"Yeah, brothers. You know generally those who share one or both parents, or legally-" I was staring daggers at the back of Jasper's head. He still hadn't looked at me. I knew he wasn't ignoring me. But not everyone else knew that.

"Edward!" Esme interrupted whatever I was saying to Bella. Don't act this way in front of her.

She was right; I shouldn't be acting like this in front of Bella. But something about her just pisses me off right now. I'm not sure if it's because I can't read her thoughts and know what's really going on with her, or if I'm glad I can't read her thought because of the same reason.

I opened my mouth to respond to what Bella said, but was cut off again by Esme saying something about teaching me better than the way I was acting and hat I wasn't too old to have a good beating.

Bella looked happy by that outcome.

I was still too pissed at Jasper for her happiness to do me any good. Even though, I keep telling myself that I shouldn't care if she's happy or not, but apparently I'm not listening very well to myself.

I saw that Jasper was holding a rose for Alice. Actually, I thought the yellow and pink rose had Alice written all over it. I guess Bella did too, since she took him into the kitchen for a vase. I followed them with my eyes, until Emmett's thoughts broke through my concentration.

Like I said, dude, you've got it bad.

Like in my usual Emmett fashion. I choose to ignore him. But that was after my eyes cut to him in the room. I wanted to knock that smug look right off his face. But I didn't.

Because I knew that Rosalie would retaliate.

I sat down on the couch, not only trying to ignore Emmett's smug ass self, but also the profanities coming from the kitchen from Jasper. Not that he was saying anything out loud for anyone else to hear him.

I got a slice of pizza hoping that if I chewed loudly enough, that everyone would be blocked out.

No such luck.

And it was starting to give me a headache. Which I'm sure was Jaspers intentions in the first place. Because he knows that too much noise is the reason I don't do large groups of people.

Eventually Jasper left the kitchen heading toward Alice's room carrying the rose in a vase, and Bella sat beside me on the couch.

As far away she could get without being on the floor.

I guess the feeling was mutual when it came to the whole being pissed off. Apparently I push her buttons the same way she pushes mine.

Well, not all the same. She'd be crazy if she wanted to be with me the way I want to be with her. But part of me still hoped a little that she did, even though I know it wouldn't do her any good.

Even with her sitting on the other side of the couch, I could still smell the strawberry hair stuff that she uses, and the lingering scent of the freesia lotion that I sniff every night while I'm in her bedroom.

Yes I know…I'm ashamed of myself. But only a little.

But what I'm most ashamed about is what it reminded me of earlier tonight. When I first caught a whiff of the strawberry in her hair. I should have kissed her when I had the chance.

I got up and started pacing, telling Rose 'no', when Bella asked about Jasper. I already had to deal with him too much already, I didn't need to listen to the 'problems' I supposedly had with him.' I decided to think about my own problems for once.

Maybe it was good that I didn't kiss Bella. Physically, probably. Mentally was another question all together.

I snorted at the thought, and both Bella and Rosalie looked at me. Rosalie scolded me silently saying that I shouldn't do that. They thought that I was snorting because of the topic, and I didn't even know what the topic was about.

Then I realized that they were talking about Jasper. So I figured it worked either way. I decided that this was going to take a long time, and slide down the wall until I was in sitting position on the floor. I couldn't bring myself to sit by Bella right now.

Then I realized what they were saying with the topic of Jasper.

Apparently Jasper was staying in this apartment.

The apartment that I recently discovered was a safe haven for me, because it was quiet.

More importantly, Bella was quiet.

And even though, I couldn't really hear Jasper right now, I knew that he was here. So that kind of ruined things for me.

"Fuck!" I whispered yelled while they were still talking. Bella looked at me. It was either a concerned look or annoyance. I would go more with the second one.

Rosalie continued explaining about the "Jasper situation", about him coming to Baylor for college. "But Edward took it harder. He saw it as Jasper running out on his family; not doing his duty."

I sighed. That wasn't all the reason.

I was so far down into my internal musings that I almost missed Bella asking "So what is this family business?"

Rosalie paused, exchanging a look with Emmett. Edward, how much should we tell her?

My thought was: screw it…lets tell her everything. Why not?

"You remember the vampires from tonight, right?" I couldn't look at her. I could still picture the scared expression she had when I ran toward them in the parking lot. I couldn't bear to see her like that again. I didn't want a reminder when she thought about it. "We help people fight against them."

"Okay?"

"It's the reason I'm still here." well, not the only reason. I said something about being dedicated to her cause, because I didn't, nor did anyone else, know why they were after her.

And how did she repay me? By talking about Jasper! Here I was trying to actually try to have a normal conversation with her. Or as normal as a conversation can be with the subject being vampires, and then she wants to know why I won't talk to my brother.

Well…right now, he's too busy showing me the different ways he can either kill me or hurt me beyond recognition. Is that what she wanted to hear?

No.

So I talked about the only thing I could think of. Her mother. Who I figured that Bella would hold a little bit of a grudge for, considering that Renee Swan left an infant Bella with the father and hit the road out of town.

Apparently it didn't work out the way I wanted it to.

Bella didn't even pause while she put me in my place.

And it only made me fall in love with her a little bit more. The exact opposite of the outcome I wanted. Well, the part that wanted to keep Bella safe anyway.

But it did make me a little angry when my whole family cheered her on…especially when they didn't know the whole truth. They just made assumptions about why I apparently didn't like Jasper.

I liked him just fine. I was just jealous (the assumption that Bella came up with, being the closest reason anyone had ever came up with. You would think my family would, but they didn't) that he got to live a normal life, while I was the freak that could hear people's thoughts.

I took my place back on the wall as Carlisle started telling Bella about our family and how we started hunting vampires. Then he went into the differences in the vampires who drank human blood and animal blood.

After that is when he told her about the whole 'me being her boyfriend'.

I groaned loudly while he was explaining it to her. Although part of me was thrilled. But the other part didn't know that she was so damn hard headed before and was having second thoughts.

I tuned them out for a while. The only parts of their conversation were coming through. The one part that really came through was when Bella blamed herself for Alice being hurt.

"It's not your fault!" I harshly said, jumping from my spot on the floor. How could she think that? After a second I realized what I did.

I was taking up for her.

Publicly.

Why is he acting like he cares now? Rosalie thought. Sometimes my sister was oblivious to everything going on around her.

Emmett just smirked, with the thought: I told you so! How it was that he knew how I felt and Rose didn't…I wasn't too sure.

I made all emotion leave my face. "At least, not entirely." I sat down when Esme scolded me.

I listened to why Bella thought she was to blame; it was because Jasper felt he was some sort of blame.

This wasn't entirely true.

Actually what Jasper didn't tell them what the he blamed me for Alice's injuries.

I'd much rather be the blame than Bella thinking she is.

"What could Jasper have done? We left while the game was still going on." Bella asked

"Maybe she would have stayed if she knew how he felt?" Emmett reasoned.

"If that were the case, we probably wouldn't have been there in the first place, considering it was a tactic to get him to notice her.

He noticed her…trust me.

"I think he's thinking more along the lines of that he could have taught her better ways of defending herself."

"What? Are you defending him now? That's a shocker!" She turned her angry eyes towards me. It was times like now when I either wanted her to shut up or find the nearest flat surface to use that emotion for other purposes.

"It's what I would have done." I answered. Which it may still come in handy. Need to file that for later.

Bella said she thought I should have done that back when I first showed up.

She doesn't know how bad I wished I could have down that.

Then she wanted to know why Jasper didn't tell them.

"Jasper didn't know." I said, when my whole family voiced silently: Edward!

"Meaning no one told him?"

"Meaning he didn't know I was here."

Bella remark was that I was a jerk for not talking to Jasper for the months I was in the same town. What they didn't know was that I did talk to him…it just wasn't until this morning.

The next morning, Bella woke up early, and was snaking around the couch where I had slept last night. Sleeping wasn't something I really do, plus all my anger washed away somewhere around three this morning, and I snuck into Bella room to watch her sleep. I realized that she probably doesn't like anyone to know when she upset or scared. So she doesn't tell anyone.

Her dreams do, however.

I sat there as she squirmed and whimpered in her sleep, wishing I could do something, anything, to help her. I wasn't anything I could do…but talk to her. Not really sure how much that helped, but at least it got her dreams away from the vampires. So now instead of being scared…she was annoyed.

There was one instant that she said "Edward" in a mumble as she turned over on her side. I almost thought she woke up, and froze in place. But then she sighed then asked "Why?"

She didn't say much after that, but my mind kept going back to the 'why?' what did the 'why' have to do with. Why was I an asshole? Why did I never talk to Jasper? Why do I fight vampires? Why am I in this room?

There was a lot of 'whys' that I could answer.

Anyway, when she sneaked around the couch I grabbed her wrist.

"Is there a reason you're snaking around?" I had my other arm over my eyes, but I knew it was her.

Strawberries were in the air, as was the freesia. You would think that the two smells would counter act with each other, but it really didn't. The smells were really subtle. Many people wouldn't even notice.

I only noticed because I'm a little obsessed.

Bella started talking about thinking last night was a dream. Sorry darlin'…but I'm not going anywhere.

It was the first conversation that we had that we weren't fighting, or calling each other names. It was very pleasant. Plus it was quiet…very quiet. I liked the fact that I could be around Bella and not read her thoughts, even though sometimes I really wanted to know what was going on in her mind. But moments like these really made me want to take her away to a small town away from everything else…and just live in the quiet.

I'm really thinking that in my life now, that's what I would really like to do.

I'd just have to get Bella to agree with that…and I don't really see that happening.

I promised Bella that I would help out with breakfast, after I took a shower. No, I don't know how to cook, I told her when she asked. Then she started telling me I could use the shower that was connected to her room, and started telling me how to get there. It wasn't like I could tell her, 'oh…you don't have to explain, I know already.'

Yeah, that would give me a creepy stalker vibe for sure.

After the shower, I joined Bella in the kitchen where she had set up a toaster, bread and butter for the toast. Which is what I told her was the only thing I can make.

After a while of me and Bella working in quiet in the kitchen. I sat down at one of the two chairs they had at their table, to watch her cook. Then we heard commotion coming from the living room.

"Alice? Alice! You don't need to get up; you still need to be lying down." I heard Jasper's voice.

"Jazz, I can't just lie in bed for the rest of my life." came Alice's retort.

"Not for the rest of your life Alice. Just for today."

"I'll take it easy, but I'm not staying in that bed."

That was the last thing Alice said, before she came to sit at the table in the other chair. She smiled at me slightly. Jasper came in the room behind her, saw me then clutched his jaw, sighing.

Edward?

I was looking at Jasper when that thought came through. I thought it sounded a little funny coming from him, considering that he was still angry with me.

Not as angry as he was last night, but still.

But the voice sounded off, and I started to wonder when Jasper's mental voice started sounding like a girls, when I realized…it didn't come from Jasper.

It came from Alice.

I turned to look at her in question. She smiled a little bigger.

Can you hear me?

I nodded my head.

Jasper told me that you can read minds. I hope you don't mind if I test you on this little endeavor?

I shook my head no. But then I started to think that me acknowledging her by nodding or shaking my head would work.

But apparently that wasn't good enough for Alice.

"Alice, I'm so sorry!" Bella told her, hugging her tightly.

"What are you sorry for?"

"Well…you know…" Bella trailed off.

Alice smiled "You can make it up to me with breakfast."

"Okay." Bella said, making her way back to the stove. Then Alice looked back at me, as Jasper went to the stove to help Bella, though he was as useless as me when it came to the kitchen.

Cross your eyes five times in a row.

I raised an eyebrow at her, but did as I was told. Her eyes light up when I finished.

Pick your nose. Her eyebrows rose as she thought that.

"No." I wasn't going to do that in public, much less where Bella could see me.

"What?" Bella turned around to look at me.

"Um…nothing." I looked from her to Alice, who looked as innocent as can be.

Bella shrugged her shoulders and turned back to the food in front of her. Alice was holding in her laugh.

Pat your head and rub your tummy.

I thought about telling her no, it was getting a little ridiculous. But I gave in, and did it anyway.

"Edward?" Bella questioned. I stopped what I was doing, the whole patting my head and rubbing my tummy, and looked over my shoulder at her. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing." I tried to play it off, but she just gave me a questioning look, then going back to what she was doing.

Alice was almost turning purple. When her thoughts became more coherent she thought: Bella thinks you're going crazy.

She was probably right.

Alice then smiled slyly at me. I knew then that this was going to be bad.

Make a silly face at Bella.

I shook my head, but Alice just nodded at me.

I knew I couldn't get away with not doing it.

I sighed and got up out of my chair and walked to where I was standing next to Bella and turned her towards me.

She looked up at me, her brown eyes questioning. "What is it now, Edward?"

I sighed, trying not to roll my eyes. Taking a deep breath I made a silly face at her. Eyes cross, pushing my nose up as I held the corners of my lips wide and stuck out my tongue at her.

She just stared at me for several moments before she raised an eyebrow. "Edward? Why did you just do that?"

I motioned towards Alice. "She told me too."

Bella looked at Alice. Alice just shook her head. "I didn't tell him to do it, that was all him." She insisted. Then Alice looked at me. Sorry, but that's all on you. And I could have stopped a long time ago, but it was just too fun to give up.

"Edward," Bella looked back at me. "Why don't you sit down and stop acting out."

The next day we went to board the plane and I had to physically put her on the plane myself. She wasn't very happy that when we changed the tickets to the next day, that we also upgraded her and Alice to first class.

Alice smirked, telling me: She doesn't like gifts. Especially, expensive ones.

Good to know. Guess that saves me from having to buy her something for Christmas.

Bella grumbled the entire flight. I was just glad that I wasn't getting the double dose of it that I usually would.

I was glad when we made it to Sea-Tac Airport. At least it gave Bella less reason to gripe about the seating arrangement.

But actually arriving, gave her something even more to gripe about.

Alice laughed when we made it to the luggage claim area. I didn't know why, the picture in her head didn't make much sense. But she told me: look over there, 10 o'clock.

I looked to where she was mentally pointing, seeing the man in uniform that was in her thoughts. It still didn't make sense, until Bella groaned.

Then I realized that the man in uniform was Charlie.

Yay!

Bet he's doing that for you Edward. Alice's thought came to me, as we made our way closer to Charlie. She was trying to hold her laughter in. Bella shot her a dark look.

Then his thought came at me. So this is the guy stealing my daughter away?

What if I'm not stealing her away? What if she came willing?

I already don't like him! Charlie thought.

Charlie shook my hand, gripping hard.

A test.

I just smirked until he let go, his face turning almost purple. Bella was poking my side, so I let go. Charlie walked away toward the luggage, and I leaned down towards Bella. "I don't think he likes me."

"I don't blame him." but she slightly smiled, so I knew it was a lie.

I kissed her hand, after she said that Charlie had a gun and Alice said we made a cut couple, adding silently to me: Don't mess it up. Or I'll help Charlie with the murder.

Alice's mom made her way towards me and Bella then.

Ooh…he's cute! Came her thought as she told me to call her "Martha", after Bella introduced us. She made me nervous, and then mad with her next thought: He's really with Bella? How did that happen?

Bella put her arm through mine, in a possessive gesture that made me a little giddy. I think that it could just be payback from all the possessive moves I made towards her earlier.

Charlie called us to the baggage area, he got Bella's bag for her. But said that he didn't get mine because he didn't know which one it was. I just smiled and said that was okay, while he thought: I wouldn't get it for you anyway.

I was still smiling when I picked up my military bag I had since my time in the marines. Charlie asked did I have a thing for camouflage or had I been in a branch of the military. When I told him that I was in the marines, he thought: Huh? That makes me like him a little more.

We followed Charlie out the front doors. Bella groaned again. I thought it may have been from the cold. Since she told me that was the reason she chose Texas to go to college, because it was always warm. But I realized it was something else when Bella started talking,

"Dad! You promised!"

"What?" Charlie asked. Then I noticed that he was standing beside his cruiser. I knew from his thoughts what his plan was. I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.

"Edward…in the back."

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~Sky