Chapter One
One month ago.
"Bye, Dad!" I yelled over my shoulder as I ran out the house. I slung the bag in my hand in the bed of my rusty red truck and opened the drivers door. I was free.
"Wait a moment, please, young lady."
Almost.
I stopped short at the sound of the gruff voice. My hand paused on the open door I turned around to see Charlie standing on the porch TV remote still in hand. I was already late and now Alice was going to kill me.
"I'll be ringing the Cullen house to check on you later, Isabella," he said sternly, "No drinking. No drugs. No staying up late. No boys." No fun, I added in my head. He emphasised the last point and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I knew from previous experience that it would only get me grounded.
"Yes, Dad," I gave him a solemn look to indicate that I had understood what he was saying, 'We're just having pizza and watching movies.'
"Well, be good." He scowled at me before returning back inside the house.
I got into the truck starting the engine and heading off before he might change his mind.
Rule number one in the Charlie Swan parental handbook: No boys. To him this was by far the most important rule. Homework and chores must be done before anything else. Grades must stay above a 3.5 GPA. No staying out late. Curfew of 9 on a school night, 10 at the weekend. Unless it was a pre-approved sleepover with Alice. In which case he would ring Alice's to check up on where I was...yeah, you get the general idea.
It was never like this before.
I turned up the drive to the Cullen house just as my cell rang for the third time.
"Bella, you're late!" Alice had opened the truck door, pulling me out by my arm before the tires had barely even rolled to a stop. Alice had a petite frame, vivid blue eyes and black spiky hair. It could easily be said that my best friend was a ball of energy.
"I'm sorry...Charlie wanted to check I had finished all my homework and I had to finish up the chores...," I said shaking my head.
"Never mind that now...," she bounced on her heels, "We need to get going I don't want to miss the start!"
With one hand still on my arm she grabbed my bag and made her way over to the front door. Pulling it open she flung it inside yelling, "Mom! Dad! Bella's here...we're going now. Catch you later!"
I rolled my eyes at Alice despite being used to this kind of behaviour from her. She continued to pull my arm and ushered me into her car, talking non-stop at high speed whilst she drove to the school.
Upon exiting the car in the parking lot, Alice grabbed my hand once again and set off at a fast pace towards the football field.
"Okay! Alice!" I spoke a little harsher than I had intended, "I know you're excited but please can you stop man-handling me? Jeesh!"
Alice gave me a sheepish look as she released my hand from her grip.
"I'm sorry Bella. I just get a little carried away. It's Jazz's first game of the season and I get so nervous for him, you know."
"Yeah, I had gathered..." I rolled my eyes.
"I'm so lucky to have such an understanding best friend," she grinned before adding, "Now get a move on before all the good seats are taken."
We managed to find seats to Alice's standards in plenty of time before the game started. When Jasper had taken to the pitch Alice had let out a shrill scream which had almost deafened me. Although it did successfully get Jasper's attention and we both stood up and cheered him.
And that was the most exciting part of the game so far, since neither Alice nor I had any interest in football. What. So. Ever.
"So, Tyler Crowley is looking pretty cute," Alice started with a sly look in my direction.
Grrrr, not again.
"I'm sure Jasper would be happy to hear you think so." I smirked at her not falling for her trap, before returning my eyes to the pitch. The other team had just scored a touch-down.
"Ahhh...come on, Bella!," She tried the patented Cullen pout, "Your going to be 18 soon...you've got to be interested in some guy."
"Alice..." I sighed. This was a conversation that had occurred many times before.
"I know, I know...but maybe Charlie will relax his no-dating rule. You could ask you know. Besides I know that you like someone..."
Oh, if only you knew.
"Charlie is not going to relax his rules. Not after last time. Besides...you should focus on Jasper."
"I'll get it out of you eventually," she smiled before suddenly yelling 'Go Spartans!' at the top of her voice.
A little way into the second quarter I looked up to see three familiar figures making their way up the bleachers to where we were seated. The figure leading was...well, huge, tall and muscular but with brown hair piercing blue eyes and full cheeks. A walking goddess linked hands with the tall man, her perfect curves and blonde flowing hair looking impossibly feminine next to his masculinity.
And lastly... him. Eyes focused down on the bleachers, all you could see was a tall, broad frame and a shock of bronze sex-hair. My heart sped up automatically, my hands we clammy in reaction as he approached. Butterflies crashed around in my stomach, matching the erratic beating in my chest. Arghhh, get a grip Bella! Now is not the time.
"Jelly Belly!" A loud voice boomed, and before I knew it I was being pulled into a rib-crushing hug.
"Emmy-kins!" I gasped response and he released me back onto the bleachers.
"It's so good to see you...when did you two get in?" I questioned as I gave Rosalie a hug.
"Just now...we picked Eddie-boy up on our way." Rosalie responded.
"Hello, Bella." A soft voice spoke my name and my body reacted immediately. My heart spluttered, my breath caught in my throat, my panties became wet. I ignored my bodies instinctual reaction to him speaking my name and forced myself to raise my head and look at him. Green eyes bore into my own and my heart felt like it had expanded to twice its size. I smiled despite myself.
"Oh...Hi Edward." I responded, a beat too slow. I sat down quickly, glancing around me suspiciously to see if anyone noticed.
Emmett had already sat down in the bleachers a row behind us. Rosalie was exchanging hugs with her soon to be sister-in-law. Which reminded me...
"I almost forgot! Congratulations again, you two! I can't believe your getting married."
"Thanks, I know," Rosalie now seated, had a dreamy look on her face as she gazed towards Emmett who grinned widely.
"It's so exciting...have you decided on a date yet? Where's the wedding going to be...what about colors? Flowers?" Alice turned around to look at the happy couple.
"Steady on, squirt," Emmett leaned forward ruffled his sister's hair, earning a scowl, "I only asked her last weekend, there's time for all that yet."
I laughed out loud, tossing my head back and that's when I felt it. I slight tugging on my hair, as if it had caught on something. I swept my hair across my left shoulder and resisted the urge to turn around.
We continued watching the game, shouting encouragement to our team as they were slowly being defeated by the opposition.
Edward was sitting directly behind me. I could almost feel his body heat radiating from where he was sat. It made me uncomfortable to be in his presence. My heart had calmed down returning to its normal rhythmic thumping but my whole being was on alert due to his close proximity.
I had difficulty sitting still as the game progressed and I shifted once again in my seat. The toe of his right sneaker came into contact with my side. Nudge. So softly I barely felt it and so briefly I almost imagined it. My heart sped up and I shifted again in my seat.
And so it continued.
Tug. Shift. Nudge. Shift... Tug. Shift. Nudge. Shift.
And each time part of him came into contact with me, even just accidentally, for a millisecond my heart would lurch. It was a bittersweet torture.
By the time the game finished I was gripping the edge of the bleacher. I barely registered that the Spartans had lost the first game of the season as we stood up to exit the field with the rest of the crowd. Emmett and Edward were discussing the game and the teams' performance, reminiscing about the times that Emmett had played football when he was a high school student.
As we approached the school, Alice piped up in a sing-song voice, "Ed-ward."
He looked at her with a frown before responding, "Al-ice," with an equally musical lilt.
"You know you're my favourite brother ever?" She began.
"What about me?" Emmett accused, which everyone ignored.
"What do you want?" Edward asked her suspiciously.
Alice put on her best Cullen pout, as she proceeded to question her eldest brother, " was gonna wait for Jasper. Please please please can you drive my car home? I know you drove over with Em and Rose...I'll love you forever?"
They exchanged another look, Alice working her pout for all that it was worth until eventually Edward sighed.
"What about me?" I turned to my best friend.
"Oh...well, you were kind of a package deal with the car," she said dismissively as she fished around in her purse for her keys.
"Great, thanks. Drive one car, get Bella free." I responded with fake chagrin.
"Well...who can refuse an offer like that." Edward replied his voice so smooth. He flashed me a grin that made me momentarily freeze up. His eyes were dancing with playfulness but a fire hid deep within them.
"Thanks, Edward. You're the best." Alice thrust her keys at Edward before running off in the direction of the locker rooms.
"Come on." He smirked at me, twirling the keys around his finger, "Looks like I'm your chauffer for the evening, Miss Swan."
I looked back at Edward again, unable to speak and followed as he led the way with Emmett and Rosalie out into the parking lot. I couldn't help but be feel excited at the prospect of sharing a car alone with Edward but I tried to keep my emotions from showing outwardly.
Sometimes, if only Alice knew.
This was only part of the Cullen's that I didn't like. In fact I hated it. They had the perfect family and somehow I couldn't help but feel slightly jealous of that fact. They all had each other.
Dr and Mrs Cullen had gone out for the evening leaving us 'kids' to have a pizza and movies night, after the football match.
Alice was my best friend. She was my only friend that Charlie approved of, apart from Jake and that was only because Charlie had known Jake all his life.
I felt bad that we couldn't go out and have more freedom. Charlie barely trusted me to have a sleepover at Alice's, let alone go anywhere that wasn't pre-approved. But Alice was great about my limitations due to Charlie's rule system.
Dr and Mrs Cullen we're really the best parents. I loved Emmett was like the older brother I never had and Rosalie was really not as bitchy as she seemed. Emmett and Rosalie were both 24 and lived in Seattle but often made the trip down to Forks for the weekend where we would all hang out.
And Edward...well, Edward was not so much like a brother to me. I mean I'm pretty sure a brother is not meant to make me feel like Edward does. I don't think that Alice would really appreciate knowing that I had crush on her elder brother.
So here we are. We'd eaten the pizza and were currently spread out around the lounge watching a movie. I wasn't really paying attention I just sat watching the flickering images on the screen and trying to ignore the man sitting by himself on an identical lazyboy to mine across the other side of the room. It was taking all of my willpower not to look in his direction. Not to stare at his bronze hair that looked soft to the touch, his angular jaw and pale skin. But most of all those eyes.
Alice was currently curled up on a sofa with Alice and Jasper, who had fallen asleep. Alice was intently watching the film, her face fixed in a serious expression. Emmett and Rosalie too stretched out on another sofa, a blanket covering them. I tried not to look in their direction or put too much thought into what was probably happening underneath that blanket. Ewww.
It felt so lonely, sitting here on my own, watching the other two couples cuddling. I briefly wondered if Edward was feeling the same way as me. Did he want someone to hold while pretending to watch a movie? Someone to show and give affection? I looked away from the screen briefly.
He was looking at me.
Directly at me.
His green eyes blazing once more, but no smile was present on his face. Not even a smirk. His eyes were hungrily searching my face, my body. His lips twitched in a quasi-smile, he shifted in his seat. His gaze never left me.
My temperature flared up, the heat rising to my face and my heart pounded painfully in my chest.
I turned my face back to the screen, my body still faced in his direction screaming out for me to look back at him once more. I would not look at him. I held out, trying as always to shut out the instinctive reaction to look at him. To go to him. To have him.
It was impossible for me to be in a room and not be aware of him. I cheated.
He was staring still.
His face showed a look of concern, a silent question. Was I okay? No, I wanted to shout. I'm not alright. This isn't okay.
I couldn't take it anymore.
"I'm getting a soda. Does anyone want anything?" I barely gave them a chance to shake their heads before I jumped up and practically ran to the kitchen.
I opened the refrigerator and stood basking in the relief of the cool air on my overheated skin. I took a few moments to relax my racing heart, rid myself of corrosive thoughts in my mind. I struggled to compose myself into an outer facade of calm.
Reaching into the back I grabbed the can of soda that I didn't really want but needed to keep up the charade. The lie.
An arm snaked around my waist, pulling me back backwards and holding me tight and flush against a warm hard body. My heart beat spluttered again as I lost control on any hint of calm I had possessed.
My eyes fluttered closed and I revelled in the feeling of closeness that I longed for. It felt right. Calm. Home. Soft lips pressed long slow kisses against the back of my exposed neck and my made my body quiver and arch in response.