This chapter is a little long but I hope you all like it!

I do not own Twilight

Shake it- The Maine


"Edward!" Alice said cheerily barging into my room and joining me on my bed where I was reading one of the books that Bella had dropped off earlier, I had to admit she had impressively good taste when it came to classics. I looked up from my book and smiled halfheartedly over at the jumpy Alice who started to tell me about her day with Esme.

"Oh Edward the shops were amazing in town! Way better than the clothing stores back at home" she gushed looking down and admiring her newly acquired shirt.

"I'm glad you had fun" I replied with no hint of emotion behind my words, most of my attention still on the book I was holding.

Alice sighed a little disappointed at my lack of attention but I couldn't help it, looking down at the book now all I could think about was the girl who had read this before me and the fact that I would be seeing her again in a few short hours. To say I was nervous about tonight was an understatement; I couldn't even remember that last time I had gone out with someone my own age and I completely forgot how to act like a normal teenager. By now I was so used to interacting with only my mother and Alice, never bothering to socialize anymore in school; I was a shoo-in to be an outcast senior year.

I put the book down on the night stand next to my bed and looked over at Alice who was now examining her nails. "I'm going out tonight" I blurted instantly regretting it as her surprised eyes met mine

"You are?" she asked incredulously "with who?" intrigued now Alice made herself more comfortable on my bed mimicking my position against the headboard waiting for me to explain.

I ran a hand through my hair seeing that she was waiting for me to continue. "While you and Esme were gone today, a girl, the next door neighbor came by looking for Esme and when I explained to her that she wasn't here she escorted herself inside and started to eat my breakfast"

Alice started to laugh "wow I think I like her already"

I rolled my eyes and smirked "anyways, before she left she asked if I wanted to hang out and when I declined she completely ignored me and told me she would be here at eight whether I liked it or not" Alice continued to laugh as I sunk lower onto my bed allowing my head to rest against the pillow.

Once her giggles subsided she surprised me by asking "Well is she pretty?" I stared up at the ceiling hesitating. Of course she was pretty but I knew if I told Alice that she would take it the wrong way and try to play matchmaker like always so instead of answering I looked over toward the open window seeing the side of Bella's house.

"I'll take that as a yes than" Alice teased smacking me on the leg before bouncing off the bed

"Well dinner is done, that's why I came up here" she stood at the end of my bed waiting for me to move but I didn't, I just kept my eyes on the opened window maybe hoping to catch a glimpse of Bella through one of the windows. Alice huffed before grabbing both my hands trying to pull me up herself, I started to smile as she put all her strength into pulling me out of bed

"C'mon!" she whined making me chuckle. After another minute of her failing miserably at getting me to stand up I unexpectedly sat up on my own causing her to drop my hands. With a squeal she flew back and landed on her butt on the floor "Not funny Edward" she growled as I took her outstretched hand and helped her up off the floor. She dusted herself off before stalking out of my room; I followed.

******

Esme had set up the dining room table and I took a seat next to Carlisle watching as Alice did the same across from me. She glared at me from across the table signaling I still wasn't forgiven for making her fall. I smiled to myself as Esme entered the dining room a plate full of sliced ham in her hands. She set down the plate at the center of the table and took the seat opposite of Carlisle at the other end of the table.

It was silent as we all took our own helping of food but once everyone was settled and eating comfortably that's when conversation started. "So Edward were you fine by yourself today?" Esme asked with a smile.

I nodded forcing myself not to roll my eyes at her pointless question, I was a grown man of course I could handle being by myself.

"More than fine" Alice mumbled pushing her peas around on her plate. I shot her a look but she smiled in return, the grin growing as her words caught Esme's attention "What do you mean by that dear?" she asked curiously, Carlisle had stopped eating also to listen in.

I clenched my hands into fists on top of the table glaring daggers over at my loud mouthed sister whose eyes were shining triumphantly. She knew I hated people knowing my business and I guessed this was payback for what happened up in my room. "Edward had a visitor today, in fact from what he's told me it was a very beautiful visitor" she emphasized the word beautiful making me grit my teeth.

"Who was it?" Esme asked her eyes now on me

"Her name was Bella" I muttered keeping my eyes down on my plate

"Oh! Such a sweet girl, vivacious little thing" Esme gushed looking over at Carlisle who nodded in agreement, I picked up my head and looked back and forth between the two of them now interested in what they had to say about her since she was still a complete mystery to me

"Yeah she came over to drop of some books of yours" I hedged hoping to get Esme to continue with her apparent admiration of Bella, I was confused as to whether she admired her quirkiness or clumsiness.

She nodded taking a bite of her mashed potatoes before continuing "She had always admired the collection of books up in the library and now has practically read every one of them that I own, sometimes she'll spend hours up there reading" I almost chocked on my food making Alice giggle across from me.

So she had lied to me, telling me she had never been inside when in fact she likes to make herself comfortable in a room across from my very guest bedroom. Esme didn't notice as she continued to explain everything I didn't know about Bella "Very polite always helping me out in the garden and running errands for us when we can't find the time…" she trailed off smiling sadly "If only I could have a daughter like her"

It was silent for a few minutes after that and I averted my gaze back to the plate before me. It was no secret in our family that Esme was unable to have children, well that wasn't entirely true she was pregnant at one point before I was born but that baby had passed away a few hours after birth, it was probably too painful on Esme and Carlisle to want to try again. After what seemed like eternity in awkward silence Carlisle finally cleared his throat and appraised Esme on her cooking which got her smiling again. Conversation flowed easily around the table after that but I couldn't pay attention enough to listen to the chatter. Instead I played around with my food thinking about Bella. What baffled me was the fact that she had said she never once went as far as the foyer in the house when in fact Esme had made it seem like she was over everyday. Why had she lied like that? It was beyond me and I concluded that the female mind would always baffle me.

******

"So what are you planning on wearing?" Alice asked following me up the stairs. I sighed running a hand through my hair as I turned off into my room. I sat down at the edge of my bed watching as Alice rummaged through my suitcase, something I had yet to unpack.

"I was planning on wearing what I had on" I mumbled still a little annoyed at her for bringing up the subject of Bella at dinner. Alice dropped what she was doing and turned to me criticizing my attire with her eyes

"Edward Anthony Masen" I cringed at the sound of my name spoken in such a harsh manner "You can't be serious!" she shrilled

"Alice be quiet!" I hissed. The last thing I wanted was Esme up here too making a big deal out of nothing at all. She huffed before continuing her search through my suitcase finally landing on a much nicer shirt.

"Here" she snapped throwing the shirt at my face "put that on" she ordered and I complied. Alice always had an uncanny eye for fashion and I never fought against her better judgment. I threw the shirt I had on to the floor and quickly slipped my arms through the sleeves of the second one.

"Much better" Alice nodded her head watching as I buttoned up the front of the shirt. "Roll up your sleeves" she ordered yet again and I did what I was told rolling the sleeves up to my elbows. I looked at my reflection in the bureau mirror and I felt completely ridiculous.

"Alice I don't know what I'm doing" I sighed frustrated at my lack of knowledge on being a teenager. She smiled sadly putting on arm on my shoulder when I turned to face her

"I have a feeling you'll be fine, I mean you never used to have trouble making friends"

"That was before…" I couldn't finish, ever since my father had passed I still had trouble even saying his name aloud. Before Alice could reply there was a loud knock on the front door, my heart stopped.

"She's here!" Alice dropped her hand from my shoulder and skipped out of the door leaving me and my bundle of nerves behind. I turned back toward the mirror trying to tame my unruly hair as best I could but it was no use it was a lost cause. I could hear Esme downstairs chatting up Bella as I took a few calming breaths before heading out of my room. I walked down the stairs slowly but surely. Alice came into view first and she peered up at me giving me an encouraging smile before I stepped down on ground level.

"Bella it was so nice of you to invite Edward out this evening" I looked over to Esme who was smiling over at Bella through the doorway before she came into view she replied in a soft voice "It's no problem really, he'll get along great with everyone"

Everyone, the word stuck out like a sore thumb and I froze on the spot turning back to Alice who looked just as surprised as I did. I wasn't expecting to be meeting a group of them, I was nervous enough just having to hang out with Bella but if you add more unfamiliar people to the mix I was a wreck.

"I'm sure he will" Alice anwered for Esme taking a step forward "Hi I'm Alice, Edward's sister" she gave a small wave of her hand

"Hi it's nice to meet you" she turned toward Esme "You were right she is very pretty"

Alice beamed at the compliment and I could see the twinkle in her eyes, I knew that look all too well and I wouldn't be surpried of Bella and Alice became best friends by the end of the summer. I took another step forward placing myelf right next to Alice.

"So we meet again" Bella greeted smiling warmly as she stepped past Esme into the foyer, my reply was a timid smile back which earned a small giggle from Alice. I shot her a silencing look which in return she stuck her tongue out childishly. Bella noticed the exchange and laughed the sound echoing through the room.

"Alice you should come with us" Bella offered walking past me and over to Alice. As she passed the air around me was filled with a heavenly scent which got my heart pounding. I turned back to face Alice who was now smiling hugely "I'll go get my bag" she ran back toward the kitchen.

I felt much better now that I knew Alice would be with me, she was cut out for this stuff more than I was.

"Well you guys have fun tonight" Esme spoke turning to me "And Edward please be home at a respectable time, I don't want to have to worry about the both of you all night"

"Yes Esme" I rolled my eyes after she walked off, and then there were two. Bella stood less than a couple of feet in front of me a smile still playing on her lips.

"You look nice tonight" she noted eyeing my shirt.

"Thanks" I muttered shoving my hand in the front of my pants pockets "You look…" I wasn't sure what to say, of course she looked nice. I figured out already that even as she was dressed now just in jeans and a light t-shirt she would always look nice to me. It had been so long since I had even interacted with a girl my own age except for Alice but I wasn't one to throw compliments at her every so often.

"Beautiful, gorgeous, fantastic…" Bella finished for me with a teasing smile easing my tension slightly. I blushed furiously averting my eyes to my shoes as I mumbled a "yeah"

She laughed again "You haven't done this before have you?" I looked up at her again when I was sure my cheeks were back to their usual pale color

"Not in a long time, no" it was true, I hadn't really been out in months and it irritated me to no end that I completely forgot how to act, why couldn't I be more like Alice? My answer got her to frown as she cocked her head to the side eyeing me curiously

"I wonder why that is…" she seemed perplexed but didn't push it any further probably sensing my discomfort on the subject of my inability to talk freely with another seventeen year old. Suddenly Alice was back at my side still smiling hugely

"Ready?" she asked practically jumping out of her shoes. Bella's gaze shifted over to Alice and that smile was plastered on her face again "yeah let's go".

Bella led the way out the front door and across the lawn where a rusted old 53' Chevy pickup was parked along the curb; I had never seen a car before that looked so close to falling to pieces.

"I know it's not much" Bella defended catching me in the act of eyeing it cautiously. She wrenched opened the drivers side door, the rusted hinges squeaking as she did so. Alice followed suit climbing in through the passenger's side saving me from sitting next to Bella in the front seat, the only seat in the truck, leaving me next to the window. Once we were all in Bella started the truck which roared to life, the sound was deafening. She pulled away from the curb driving at a crawling speed toward the end of the street.

"So where are we going?" Alice asked turning toward Bella who had her eyes on the ancient radio more than the road making me a little nervous.

"My friends are waiting for us over at the restaurant in town; you're going to love them it'll be fun" Bella smiled turning onto the main road leading into town.

"I can't wait" Alice clapped her hands together and I smiled minimally at her enthusiasm. Bella and Alice talked the whole ride there saving me from speaking for now. Instead I kept my eyes out the window for the first time getting a really good look at Phoenix.

*******

We got to the restaurant twenty minutes later once again Bella leading the way, Alice strayed behind matching my sluggish pace; my nerves were on edge now.

"You'll be fine Edward" Alice whispered words of encouragement before the restaurant door was shut behind us. Bella spotted her friends right away and I could see why it was so easy for her to spot them, well not them but one. My eyes landed first on a guy twice my size, all muscle with a head full of curly brown hair, he looked a little intimidating. Next to him sat a stunningly beautiful blonde who had her arm wrapped around the huge bicep of the big guy. I couldn't clearly see the third party to their table for he had his back turned to us.

"Hey guys" Bella greeted sliding in next to the burly kid who then wrapped his free arm around her shoulder

"Hey sis" he boomed, his voice startling me along with his words, I had no idea she even had a brother. Alice slid in on the other side of the large booth next to the blonde whose back was turned to us, I followed ending up next to Alice and across from Bella.

"Everyone this is Edward and Alice, their visiting for the summer" she introduced waving her hand toward the both of us. Bella's brother smiled over at me

"Wow Bella he is a keeper" he laughed and I noticed Bella blushing for the first time since I met her, now I knew where she got her cockiness from. The blonde sitting next to Emmett batted him in the back of his head

"Emmett your embarrassing them" she scolded before turning back to me and Alice "I'm Rosalie" she informed us smiling brightly "and this is my brother Jasper" she pointed to the blonde next to Alice who didn't say anything for he was too busy eyeing Alice with obvious interest it took everything in me not to switch seats with her but this was Alice's summer too and she needed outside interaction.

"Well I'm starving" Emmett announced before yelling in his loud voice "Waiter!" completely drowning out all the other conversation happening around us. He dropped his arm from Bella's shoulder as he started to flag down the poor kid who would be serving us.

******

After everyone's order was taken and our drinks served Emmett started up conversation by retelling a ridiculously embarrassing story on Jasper's account. Which piqued Alice's interest in him making her laugh along with everyone else, I didn't even smile, keeping my eyes on the table I could feel the weight of someone's eyes on me causing a growing discomfort, not only that but I felt out of place amongst all of them, this was Alice's thing more than mine which just got me more mad with myself at the thought that at one point I was like Alice too. I made friends easily, I laughed carelessly and I actually went on dates with a lot of the girls in my town but ever since what happened it was like I was a changed man.

I took the place of my father in the house knowing I would never be the old Edward again. I risked a peek up at the only person I knew who would be staring me down without shame and sure enough there was Bella her eyes trained on me like I was the only one there. I lifted my head up, my brows furrowing as I waited for her to explain as to why she was looking at me like that. She leaned forward across the table, her eyes shining under the lights of the restaurant, her brown hair falling over her shoulder in waves, her perfumed scent washing over me, to me she wasn't just pretty anymore she was breathtakingly beautiful and my heart stopped at the thought, did I have a crush on the girl next door?

"Do you want to get out of here?" she whispered, her warm breath fanning out across my face making my heart jump start again. Mesmerized by the look in her eyes I nodded helplessly, feeling like I was under her control.

She slid out from the booth as I followed "Guys Edward isn't feeling well so I think I'm going to bring him home" she lied effortlessly. I chanced a glance at Alice who was looking up at me with a knowing smile; she of all people should have known how I would react tonight.

"Jasper you want to give Alice a ride home tonight?" Bella directed her attention towards him and he smiled brightly catching Alice's eyes

"It would be my pleasure" Alice looked down to her hands in her lap smiling like a fool. Bella turned to leave and I followed hearing Emmett say my name had me turning back toward the table "Don't do anything I wouldn't do…literally" he winked then turned back to Rosalie. I shook my head and caught up with Bella who was waiting for me by the door.

"What did he say to you?" she asked walking toward her truck

"Not to do anything he wouldn't do" I told her truthfully, a little embarrassed that he would even get an idea like that so soon. Bella laughed climbing into her truck turning the key over in the ignition. Once I was in the safety of Bella's truck I finally felt like I could breath again "Uhm..." I cleared my throat not uring how to say what I wanted but now I had to say something because she was waiting "Thank you for getting me out of there" I sighed, I sounded like a big baby. "your welcome" she turned to me in her seat the car still in park "I'm sorry though, I didn't think all that would make you so uncomfortable" she waved her hand toward the front of the restaurant.

"Well we can't all be like Alice" I said a little bitterly, I envied Alice at this moment at being able to talk so comfortably with complete trangers.

"Yeah I noticed that you two are alot different, are you sure your both related?" she joked not taking my tone to heart for which I was grateful. I smirked shaking my head "Sometimes I question that myself" it was silent for a minute and I shifted in my seat not liking the way Bella wa looking at me right now, her eyes were searching my face for something, what I didn't know.

"How come your like that?" she asked breaking the silence. I knew what she was getting at but I decided to play dumb "Like what?" I mumbled staring out the front window.

"How come your so quiet around everyone?" she sounded confused but stared at me intently waititng for an answer when I didn't say anything she continued "I mean you seem fine around Alice and right now you seem to be a little more comfortable around me but back there it was like you completely shut down..." she trailed off and I looked over at her shrugging

"I'm just shy I guess" I lied.

She shook her head "It' not that, its something else I can tell"

I was getting annoyed now, how could she be so perceptive after not even an hour with me. I didn't want her to know the real reason, I didn't want her to know that the only reason I didn't talk was because I was scared of letting too much out, that's why I stopped hanging out with my friends and going out every night because if I did that would mean me getting sympathy and I didn't need any of that, I didn't want to feel weak. Since my father's death I had bottled up every emotion I felt, trying to make myself seem like something I wasn't. I had never once cried when my father passed, I wanted to be strong not only for Alice but for my mother, I was their support now. Just thinking about it now I could feel my eyes stinging with coming tears. Shaking my head of all the thoughts ferociously running through my mind I deperately seeked a subject change.

"So where are we going?" I asked part of me hoping it wasn't back home the other half hoping it was because it was just me and Bella now. She didn't answer at first, her mouth opening and closing before she composed herself enough to say "You'll find out" she grinned throwing the truck into drive.

******

"A park?" I asked incredulously. She stepped out besides me, her arm brushing against mine causing my stomach to drop. I looked out over the ghosted sandpit. It was small with only a swing set, slide, and merry-go-round.

"Yes the park, I come here a lot at night"

"What? Hoping to get attacked" I teased, it surprised me how much more comfortable I was now with Bella, it made me smile to myself. It was all coming back to me now, slowly but surely.

She smirked but shook her head "No, I come here to think" she walked away from me toward the swing set that was dead center in the middle of the sandy lot. I followed standing a few feet in front of her watching as she sat down and began to pump her legs getting the swing moving.

"Aren't you going to swing?" she asked as she flew higher and higher.

"I don't swing" I hadn't swung since I was a child.

"Great!" smiling she flew towards the sky "then you can catch me" she said on her way back down.

"I'm not going to catch you" I protested, shoving my hands in my jeans pocket showing her that she was mistaken if she thought I was.

"Yeah you are" she was so sure of herself I almost wanted to laugh but as she climbed higher and higher each time with a pump of her legs I could see she really wasn't kidding. When she thought she was high enough she asked "Ready?"

"I'm not going to catch you" I simply replied but she ignored me, she flew up towards the sky again and on her way back down she started the countdown "One"

"Bella, no" I snapped watching as she got even more higher

"Two" she giggled, I said her name sternly with a hint of authority this time before she screamed "Three!" with that she pushed off the swing becoming airborne within seconds flying towards me.

"Shit" I muttered under my breath as I ripped my hands out of my front pockets waiting for her to land. When her body came into contact with mine I instinctively wrapped my arms around her waist and with a grunt I fell back landing on the sand with her going into hysterics on top of me.

I laid there trying to catch my breath and ride through the pain of my now sore butt a she continued her laughing. "Are you happy?" I snapped as I let my arms fall from her waist as she rolled off of me and onto her back in the sand.

"Yeah" she turned her head towards me still smiling "you caught me" I rolled my eyes smiling a little now too, the way we landed to me the pain was worth it. Both our breathing steadied out leaving us in a comfortable silence. The sand was cool beneath my hands and the moon was bright and full up above and it helped that the city lights didn't disturb the stars much either

"Look at all those stars" Bella breathed beside me, I looked over at her and watched the small smile spread across her lips as she stared up at them all. "So beautiful" she said in a quieter voice like she didn't want to disrupt them.

"Yeah" I agreed although right now I wasn't talking about the same thing. Bella looked at me out of the corner of her eye and she started to giggle

"What?" she asked, I snapped my eyes back up to the sky my cheeks heating up in embarrassment.

"Nothing" I mumbled wanting her to drop it and act like I wasn't just foolishly staring at her. She turned herself over to her side propping herself up on an elbow as she stared me down

"Edward, are you blushing?" she said in mock surprise nudging me in the arm with her hand. I smiled and shook my head, relishing in the feeling her touch could give me. It was hard to put my finger on it but three times today I got a shockingly electrifying feeling from touching Bella. At first when I shook her hand this morning I brushed it aside blaming it on static electricity but when she jumped on me and tackled me to the ground that time the feeling was a lot harder to ignore and just now I could feeling the electricity pumping through my veins, it was ridiculous how far she was sucking me in already. I had no idea if she felt it too but I hope she did so I wouldn't feel like so much of an idiot for feeling unexplainable shocks.

When Bella didn't say anything I took a peek at her from the corner of my eye, she was smiling mischievously. I turned my head again to face her raising my eyebrows in question. I held my breath as she placed her hand on my forearm, that feeling surging through my whole body like a tidal wave. I could feel her shallow breaths on my face as she leaned in closer, her eyes locking in with mine. She was getting too close now and I had the sudden urge to want to back away but I couldn't move all my muscles were tense and my heart was pounding at an accelerating rate. Her lips inches away from mine gave me a knot in my stomach and I closed my eyes gulping.

"You're it" she whispered and just like that she was gone. My eyes shot back open and she was standing a few feet away from me shifting her weight from one foot to the other, she was a tease.

"Well what are you waiting for?" she smiled brilliantly but I stared back my eyebrows furrowed not sure of what she meant.

"Edward" she sighed "I just tagged you and now you're it" she rolled her eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the world. When my heart calmed down and the knot in my stomach untwisted I finally found my voice "Are you serious? You want to play tag?"

She shrugged "Sure why not, it's easy enough I run" she pointed a finger to herself "and you chase" her finger now pointing to me as I sat up in the sand.

"What are you five?" I was now completely aware of the fact that she was like no other girl I had met before.

"Seventeen but close enough" she clapped her hands in mock applause

"Bella I'm not chasing you" I was sure that catching her would satisfy her enough and with a slightly harsher tone I hoped she got the point that I wasn't going to play her little game, it was a childish game at that.

"Fine" she huffed "then I guess you don't want your watch back" my eyes widened slightly as I saw my watch dangling between her thumb and forefinger, I looked down at my wrist and sure enough she had my watch.

"How did you get that?" I eyed my watch in her hand as I stood up on shaky legs, okay so maybe my heart calmed down but not the rest of my body.

She smiled a wicked grin "It's not my fault your so unobservant Edward" and she was right but only when she got close to me like she had was I completely oblivious to the world around me. I smiled back, fine if that's how she wanted to play then I would go along with it. We stared at each other for what felt like forever, Bella waiting for me to make my move, me calculating the best possible way to catch her.

I smirked and took a step toward her, she laughed and took a step back and then I bolted. She screamed excitedly as she ran around the small merry-go-round but I strategically jumped on top of it, pushing myself across the small space, the hard metal base giving me more of an advantage as Bella sluggishly dragged her feet through the sand. When I jumped off the merry-go-round I saw that she was already behind the swings now running toward the safety of her parked truck. I could her her shoes on the pavement and my footsteps soon followed my speed increased without the sand slowing me down. She screamed again as she reached her truck wrenching the door open to lock herself in but I was right behind her and got there before she even had a chance to hop in.

I slammed the door back shut and she turned around her eyes shining and her breath coming out in ragged puffs as she smiled playfully. I was having a lot more toruble at catching my breath, noting to myself that I was severly out of shape "I want my watch back" I choked out placing my hands on either side of her head, letting the truck support my weight and burning legs. She sighed in defeat and held up my watch for me to take "Thank you" my smile grew as I pushed myself off the truck; I had won at her stupid little game.

"This isn't over" she threatened, I looked over at her and saw that she was glaring her lips set into a tight line, her chest was puffing in and out with each breath she took and her hair was a mess from running, she looked like a wreck, a very beautiful wreck and I started to laugh. I started to really laugh and as I hunched over putting my hands on my knees for support as my stomach started to cramp I realized that I hadn't laughed like this in months. I mean I laughed a little but this was a freeing laugh, a loud laugh and Bella caused me to do it making me like her more and for that one minute when I laughed my ass off I felt seventeen again.


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