Disclaimer: These characters (every single one of them) belong to Stephenie Meyer. Unfortunately, I only get to play dress-up with them.

A/N: Well, I'm a little late for a Thanksgiving gift but...:D

I'm not too sure about the names in the chapter yet... I might take it down and change some things later, who knows?

Anyhow, hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! (I'll probably be posting Chapter 3 around Christmas, maybe sooner)


Bella: 17 Edward: 19

Summer 2001

"Alice!" I scowled at my friend and she ignored me as she put yet another coat of lipstick on my dry lips.

"Oh, don't be such a baby!" She tsked, fluffing my hair.

"It's just a party! There will be sweaty people and junk food, Alice, why do I have to dress up?"

She looked at me in mock horror. "You were planning on wearing…" She paused for dramatic effect, "a ponytail, weren't you?"

I rolled my eyes. "There is nothing wrong with a ponytail, Al."

"Yeah, maybe when you're a…pony."

At this we both giggled.

"Where's Jasper, Anyway?" I murmured. Alice's boyfriend—a year older than I—just like Alice, was usually hanging around wherever Alice was.

"He's with Emmett and Edward at football practice, and I can bet a hundred dollars they'll come back filthy." She rolled her eyes. "Men."

I looked up at her suspiciously in her vanity mirror.

"Edward?" I quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Yeah." She said a little too non-chalantly.

I groaned. She'd been going on a rampage lately, trying to get Edward and I to hook up.

Edward Anthony Masen-Cullen and I had been best friends since I was in Kindergarten and he was in the first grade. All it took was one day on the playground, a bully, and Edward—as always—being my knight in shining armor. We were inseparable from then on.

Despite the one year age difference we were always close, even though he'd graduated high school a year ago while I was just a senior. He was enrolled at U-dub (University of Washington) at the moment—not that the Cullens weren't fabulously wealthy and couldn't afford a better school, and not that he didn't get accepted to some of the finest places in the country, but because he claimed he wanted to stay close to home.

He'd told me one night in his mother's garden that it was because he was waiting for me to finish high school so that wherever he went, I could go, too. It was sweet moments like that when a deep feeling in my stomach started to flutter, that I wondered if I could have feelings for Edward Cullen.

Alice had taken new interest in our lives, though, claiming that being his 'younger sister' she had to at least try and manipulate him into a few relationships. Something about leveling the playing field. Whatever that meant.

It's not that I didn't find Edward attractive—I mean, who wouldn't? Somewhere between the piercing green-gold eyes and prominent cheekbones, full lips and just-rolled-out-of-bed-sex-hair, with a leanly muscled body from a few seasons on the high school football team, and a charming smile and attitude, no one could really resist him. He was the most popular guy at school last year, easily since Emmett had gone off to college the year before, and had plenty of friends. He always put me first, though, something that had always made me happy. Because I put him first, too.

But honestly, having been his friend for however many years—I really didn't think it was possible for us tothink of each other as 'more than friends.' Not that I didn't want to, per se, but just because I didn't really know how to be more than his best friend.

Alice claimed differently, though, saying that we spent all our time together anyway, why not just make it official and add a few make-out sessions? These conversations usually ended with me red-faced, tongue tied, and bribing Alice to stop talking about it by promising her a shopping trip.

She was easy to please.

"Alice…" I warned, giving her a look that clearly meant no funny business. "I have a boyfriend."

She scoffed loudly. "You could hardly call him a boyfriend."

I scowled at her. "Don't talk about Tyler like that, Ali. He just...likes to have a good time is all."

She looked at me pointedly through the mirror. "He's not a good influence at all."

"I'm seventeen." I murmured defensively. "And I don't want you to make him feel uncomfortable like last time."

She rolled her eyes. "Puh-lease, Bella, when have you ever known me to make people uncomfortable?"

I looked up from the magazine I'd picked up and met her eyes.

She giggled. "Alright, don't answer that."


"JAZZY!" Alice squealed, and a few people turned to look at us, shocked such a loud noise could come from someone so small.

She ran up to him and jumped into his arms, kissing all over his face.

I rolled my eyes and walked over to where Emmett and Edward sat on the couch, their faces contorted in disgust as they watched the scene unfold before them.

"They're not for someone with a soft stomach, are they?" I asked, sitting down between the two boys.

"Please." Edward scoffed in his velvet voice, just as I reached over to take some chips out of the dish on the end table in front of us. "No one should have to see that."

"Seriously." Emmett agreed, trying to look anywhere but at them, rubbing his eyes. "Especially us. I really have no interest in seeing my little sis suck face with a LOSER." He raised his voice so Jasper could hear, prompting Jasper to let go of Alice so he could flip Emmett off.

Alice scowled toward us.

"If you don't like it, then you can always go find something else to do." She said, just as Jasper tucked her under his arm. I had to admit, they were an adorable couple.

Tyler picked just then as the perfect moment to make his appearance.

I didn't even have to turn to figure out that he'd stepped into the room.

Edward tensed beside me, just like he always did, and his jaw flexed minutely. His body turned sideways, almost like he was shielding me.

I frowned at him, but he couldn't tell as he wasn't looking at me.

I couldn't be sure, but I thought I heard Edward growl quietly from deep in his throat.

"Hey, Edward." I said, my voice measured, trying to keep from getting pissed. "Where's Jessica?"

I felt the couch shift beside me before he could answer and I turned, smiling broadly.

"Hey, babe."

His answering smile was just as wide, but his eyes were bored.

"Hello."

And just like that the conversations of my friends picked up again, but I wasn't surprised. This was the way it had always been when I'd brought a boyfriend to one of our parties.

Eventually Tyler and I made our way into the kitchen, away from the awkwardness and hostility.

If I was being honest, I had no idea how I'd ended up with him. My mother's theory was that I was very much attracted to people who were bad for me.

It was the typical kid-on-drugs story.

No father figure, mother could care less, eventually he got with the wrong people. He'd never done anything in front of me, though, or even mentioned it. Ever. I wasn't stupid, though. I knew.

He breathed a sigh of relief when we were alone.

"I don't think your friends like me much." He offered, going over to the fridge to pull out a Coca-Cola.

"You think?" I chuckled, taking a sip after him.

He made a face.

I put my arms around him from behind and hugged him tightly. "You guys just move in different circles, that's all. Give them time."

"We've been dating for four months." He said flatly, turning around in my arms and wrapping his own around me.

At this I had to laugh. "You're right. They were doomed to hate you from the beginning."

He rolled his eyes. "I've never done anything to any of—"

He was cut off by Edward's furious voice. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

I tried to stop him, but in my shock I hesitated, and Edward was fast. Tyler was suddenly ripped out of my arms by my best friend.

He had him by the collar and up against the wall in no time.

In the same moment Emmett grabbed Edward from behind, wrapping his thick arms around him and squeezing tightly, shoving him backward.

"Edward!" Alice screamed, horrified. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Him," Edward seethed, pointing, and I could almost see the steam rising out of his ears.

"What the fuck have I ever done to you?" Tyler shouted, eyes wild.

"Her," Edward growled, pointing towards me. "Don't you ever touch her, again. Do you understand me? Don't you ever fucking touch her again!"

I knew it was time to step in.

I put myself between the two guys, one hand on Tyler's chest and the other on Edward's—even though Emmett had him covered.

"Stop it!" I screamed at them. "Stop it now!"

Everyone seemed to get quiet.

"Why can't you guys just get along, huh? Why can't you just fucking accept that he and I are dating! And he's not going anywhere anytime soon!"

Edward's chest heaved with exertion, his sparkling green eyes danced with hatred.

He was magnificent.

Emmett's voice rose above the chaos. "Edward, man, you need to go outside and get some air. Take a breather, bro."

Edward huffed but relented, and when Emmett lowered his arms I tensed and moved in front of Tyler. Edward narrowed his eyes but left quietly, and everyone seemed frozen for a moment.

This wasn't the first time Edward had pulled something like this. Last time was at homecoming, and after he had almost single-handedly won the game, he had confronted Tyler in the parking lot.

It had ended a lot like this, by Emmett telling Edward to get his head, then me leaving and going back to Tyler's and sitting on his couch watching TV.

Edward would call me later and apologize, and I'd relent because I was weak. And he was my best friend. And best friends forgave each other.

But this time, I was pissed. Livid, even.

I stalked out of the room and to the backdoor, throwing it open and stomping out.

I knew exactly where he'd be.

I could find this place in the dark, hell I could probably find it blindfolded and gagged.

It was our place. The place we could go anytime.

It was our meadow.

He didn't disappoint. He was laying on his back, looking up at the sky and fisting the grass with his long fingers.

He heard me approach.

"I'm so—" He started, but I cut him off.

"Oh, no no no you don't!" I chirped, pissed. He stood up and walked toward me, getting only inches away before I started stepping back. "Edward!" I warned, in my best threatening tone possible. "You are NOT going to get out of this one. Do you understand me? He's done nothing to you! Nothing! And you can't wait to make his life as difficult as possible! That shit stops now! If I even see you talking to him, you and I aren't friends anymore." My chest heaved and my eyes stung.

He looked like I'd just slapped him. "Bella.."

"Shut up!" I screamed, and he cringed. "You asshole! You have a girlfriend! Do you understand what that means? That means you can't be jealous that I have someone too! That means you can't just fucking make me feel like shit about him! You can just make me feel like I'm cheating on you every single time I kiss him! You can't make me feel like you're the only person in this world I can ever love!"

His mouth hung agape and his green eyes shone in the night.

And before I could think, before I could even stop myself, I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind. "You know, you're kind of fucking beautiful right now."

He stared at me for a few moments before a slow, self-assured smirk lit up his face.

"Beautiful? Really, Bella? Not sexy, not handsome, not masculine? But beautiful?" He smiled sadly and pulled me close to him. I didn't know what was stopping me from pulling away.

If I was paying attention I would have realized that to an outsider we had the same looks on our faces that Jasper and Alice did when they'd done that exact thing earlier…

"And for the record…" He murmured suddenly, his voice hot and thick at my ear. I let out an involuntary shiver before I felt a white-hot rush flow through me, stronger than ever before. I whimpered. "I think you're beautiful too. Very beautiful."

And maybe it was the night air around us that made me shiver a second time, and maybe it was the static from our clothes that made his next touch—which happened to be on my cheek—send a shock right through his skin to mine.

Our faces were inches apart, our bodies humming with electricity and our eyes burning into each others'.

He leaned closer, impossibly close, and whispered, "Lay with me."

I nodded numbly, not aware of anything but him, his hand in mine, our bodies brushing together as we lay entwined in the soft grass.

"I'm so sorry," He whispered thickly as we lay back together. "I just…I got jealous. Alice mentioned to me that you two had…done some things…" His voice broke as he ducked his head shyly. "I'm sorry."

I took his face in my hands and kissed him deeply, telling him exactly how I felt with my actions.

I couldn't find it in myself to be mad anymore. I couldn't find it in myself to feel anything other than the emotions I seemed to be drowning in now.

These feelings were so new, so white-hot and exciting that I got lost in them, drowned in them.

And before I knew what was happening, before my body caught up with my actions, we were taking off clothes and holding each other tightly.

His fingers, tentative, tracing my cheek, my chin, then down my neck and I shivered again, my hand guiding his fingers to my breast, encouraging him to fuel the fire, the inferno that was raging inside me.

We both gasped and then suddenly his lips were on mine, and my hands were grasping the back of his head and he grabbing onto me; anything to get us closer. He tasted good. Like peppermint, and nectar and just Edward.

And then our tongues were joining, wrestling, then finally, languidly dancing together.

He pulled back suddenly, making me whimper and wiggle against him at the loss of contact. I opened my eyes and looked into his blazing ones, my tongue caught on a complaint.

He grabbed me by the shoulders and looked straight at me, completely serious.

"Bella, honey, are you sure?"

And his words were all I needed, his endearing nickname, to nod my head and reply with a soft, "absolutely."

Look back I can still remember everything about that night. How it first felt when we finally brought our bodies together, connecting our souls. How he let me set the pace, and after I was comfortable he took control.

I'll never forget the look on his face as he whimpered above me, his hoarse voice in my ear, "Does it feel good?" He'd grunted, and by the time I'd nodded, I was seeing stars.

He was beautiful when he came undone.

That night in our meadow changed everything. And I mean everything.

After that we couldn't deny the feelings we had between us, couldn't deny that beautiful connection that ran through us so deeply.

Alice was smug as heck, unsurprisingly. She'd known it would be that way all along.

And so we were together. Strong. Held together by love and passion and friendship. He was my best friend, my lover.

He was my forever.


A/N Wow, that right there was a flashback. haha

This chapter was sort of random, but I think you all needed a little backstory...

Review button's right down there... Just sayin'. ;D

See you next time O' faithful readers...