A/N- HELLO! So we decided that this will be the real chapter one. We shall call the last thing, a prologue. : )
Oh, and, remember that one little line in our 'prologue' where Edward called Lauren his girlfriend? Yeah, ignore that. It never happened. They're just friends. But, WELL, you'll see.
Thank you x1,000,000 for the few who reviewed and alerted and read. It means a lot.

Disclaimer- Stephenie Meyer owns all, including us.

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Wishful Thinking

EPOV

I stayed with Bella until she finally fell asleep. After I heard her breathing even out, I gave her a soft kiss on the forehead before quietly easing myself out of the guest room.

I could tell she was numb, lifeless without her Jacob. They had been inseparable since the day I had introduced them to each other. Jacob and I had been friends since we had literally run into each other in a game of tag in preschool. We stayed friends even as I made my way through Forks Elementary, Middle, and High School and as he made his way through the schools on the reservation by La Push where he lived.

Lauren joined our little group in fourth grade when I accidentally hit her on the head with a paper airplane I had been trying to hit my brother, Jasper, with. She had looked at me with a stern face but then her cloudy gray eyes lit up and she asked if she could be my girlfriend. I obviously said yes, being the foolish 11 year old I was. We broke up after a week when I told her her hair looked stupid short. But, we stayed friends afterward. She was sweet and let me use her chair for a footrest when I broke my foot in fifth grade playing soccer. Now she's a bitch. A stalker bitch to be exact. She's been hanging around me like she's my girlfriend all over again and acting jealous whenever I have the slightest interaction with another girl. Including Bella. I'm glad I got myself out of that relationship quickly all those years ago.

I had met Bella in my biology class my junior year of high school. As soon as she sat down at my dusty old lab table and looked at me with those perfect brown eyes, I was done for. I knew we'd fall in love someday. I had never been a sucker for that love-at-first-sight thing, but just looking at her made my beliefs flip around. And that was how I felt just looking at her. When she opened her mouth for the first time and I heard that gorgeous sound come from those perfect rosemary lips as she introduced herself, I knew that she was the one I'd spend forever with. So, when I asked her to join Jacob, Lauren, and me for a movie, it was like the world ended when I saw Jake and her hit it off like they had known each other for years. That's when my jealousy first began.

Ever since then, Jake and me had been drifting apart. I couldn't stand to look at his black eyes and know that the sparkle was because of the love between him and Bella. Now, he's gone and I can't even mourn his death. My entire mind is mourning only the fact that Bella, the girl of my dreams, was dead behind the eyes and couldn't even form coherent sentences.

And my jealousy doubled. My best friend is dead and all I feel is jealousy. I'm jealous of the fact that Bella is numb inside because of Jacob. And because I know she wouldn't be acting that way if I were the one who was in the car that night.

"Edward?"

"Mmmm?" I slowly turn my heavy head toward the sound of my mother's soft voice and realize how far away I had been from reality. Esme gently glides to where I'm sitting and takes my hand in hers.

"I know how hard this is for you, dear," she lightly pats my thigh as she turns to look me straight in my eyes. "But, things will get better. Bella will heal and you," she lightly brushes away the tears I hadn't know I was crying. "You will find the solution to whatever you're fretting over."

"I love her Mom," I whisper, closing my eyes and remembering the perfect smile Bella used to shine with.

"Don't be silly dear, I already knew that." She giggles slightly. I stare at her with confusion clearly etched in my eyes. "Mothers know best." She winks and squeezes my hand.

"What am I to do?" I ask, voice shaking involuntarily.

"Like I said, you'll figure it out. Things will fall into place and you'll learn that everything happens for a reason." I just stare at her. She makes it sounds so easy. If it was, why was I hurting so much?

"EDWARD!" I hear a screechy nasal voice call my name and immediately regret telling her she can enter the house whenever she pleases. "EDWARD I NEED TO FUCKING TALK TO YOU NOW. YOU'VE BEEN ACTING- Oh hi Mrs. Cullen," she awkwardly finishes, shifting her feet and looking down at the gold carpet of our living room.

"Hello Lauren dear. I was just about to start dinner," Esme says, walking into the kitchen with a smirk on her face knowing what I am about to be stuck with.

"Hi Lauren," I growl at her. "Now really isn't the time to tell me how much of a dick I've been lately."

"Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. It is always the time to tell you how much of a dick you've been lately. Seeing as you never stop being a dick." I roll my eyes; waiting for the rant I know is coming. "The way you touched Bella yesterday was very inappropriate and I'd expect better from you in a situation like this."

"And what situation would that be Laur the Dinosaur?" I ask pointedly, using the nickname our fellow students and me, behind her back of course, used to call her in middle school. She growls, walking over to get only an inch away from my face. I can smell the garlic and onion salad she had recently eaten emanating from her mouth.

"Don't. Call. Me. That. Now, back to the point. The way you touched Bella yesterday during and after the funeral would suggest that we are not a couple."

I gasp. "Lauren, you very well know that we are not in a relationship. That week in fourth grade was great and all, but seriously Laur, your hair looks hideous short," I finish by growling in her face.

"What? We're- but, the signs! All the signs!" She was talking rapidly to herself now. "That magazine… it said that the top 5 signs that a guy is into you were… he showed all the signs!"

She paces around the room once before stopping in front of me again. "That's it. We're over!"

"We never even started! I think you need to stop eating that salad you love so much. It makes your breath smell repulsive and apparently makes you lose some of the brain cells you already lack." That's when she slaps me.

"Um, ouch. What the hell is wrong with you? Get out of my house, I don't want to see your ugly flat face ever again." That's when she throws the vase my Father had given my Mother for their first anniversary across the room, shattering it to oblivion.

That's also when my Father walks in. "What in the Lord's name…" His eyes pop and they immediately land on Lauren cowering into the wall. "Get out of my house now. If I ever see you again I will call Bella's father. I don't think Chief Swan will mind writing out a restraining order for me," Carlisle shouted, using a tone I'd never heard from him before.

She quickly runs from the house and I plop onto the couch. That was more stress I did not need right now. "I'm sorry son, for shouting like that. But, that girl has something wrong with her." I chuckle. He was more right than he knew.

I sit there for a couple more hours, mulling over my thoughts. Eventually, Esme comes back in and joins me on the couch.

"Edward, I'm always here if you want to talk." I nod my head, trying to decide where to start.

"I love Bella and I don't know what to do about it. I love my dead best friend's girlfriend. I can't even mourn the fact that my best friend is dead. All I care about is his girlfriend and how I wish she were my girlfriend. I feel like an arrogant, egotistical, moronic-"

"Edward, listen to me. I am your mother and I know everything. You are not arrogant, you are modest. You are not egotistical, you are humble. You are not moronic, you are precocious. You are my son and I raised you to be the young gentleman you are today. I understand how you feel, you're conflicted. You want to feel something but you feel something else. Just do what your heart tells you to do. Follow it."

"What if I don't know what my heart wants to do?"

"You'll figure it out. I believe in you." And when she said it, I believed it.

"Thanks Mom, you really do know everything." We both stood and hugged each other. Then I notice that Bella is walking into the living room, looking a bit more rested. The bags under her eyes are lighter and her face and lips have more color to them. I can almost see a blush rise on her cheeks from catching us in an intimate moment.

"Oh! Bella! You're up!" I call, running to catch her in a hug. She wraps her arms around my torso and a feeling of content washes through me. I think I feel her body ease at my touch but it may just be wishful thinking.

BPOV

I slowly and reluctantly pulled out of Edward's tight embrace, the feeling of calm and contentment leaving with the touch. Luckily, he grabbed my hand and intertwined his fingers in my own, serenity entering me again.

I couldn't explain my reaction to Edward, I never could. It was always different with him then every other man I have ever touched. Some people told me it was love, but I knew that wasn't it. Edward and I have always been friends, and strictly that. Jacob and he had known each other forever, and Edward would never be able to take somebody away from his best friend… would he?

Thinking of Jacob had set me into another numb stage, and Edward had to call my name multiple times before I even registered he was talking to me. He offered to take me out to lunch, and I took him up on this offer because I don't recall the last time I had eaten anything.

Before we left, I insisted on running to take a shower. I quickly got in and out from under the soothing water, and threw my hair up into a loose ponytail, not needing or wanting to impress anybody today.

I went to Alice's room, Edward's sister, and asked her if she had any clothes I could borrow. I only had the clothes I had been wearing since the funeral and I didn't think that would be suitable for lunch.

Alice and I had never really gotten close, and I didn't understand why. I liked her much better then I enjoyed Lauren's company, but for some reason, she still stuck around.

Alice gathered me some sweatpants and a baggy sweater, as the only things that would fit me from her wardrobe. Alice was only small, just under 5 feet, and I wouldn't have been able to fit into any of her other clothing. Before leaving, I asked her if she knew where Edward went. She told me he was down in the Volvo, waiting for me.

I hastily threw the clothes on and my shoes and walked slowly down the stairs, not wanting to trip and fall. But of course, that was too much luck on my part, as I tripped down the last three steps of the front porch.

Staying where I was, not daring to move, I felt a sharp pain course through my left leg. Before I had time to register any other facts, Edward was out of the Volvo and at my side, asking me seriously if I was alright. He had seated me on the bottom step and was carefully placing my leg on his knees.

I had to insist my leg was fine more than ten times before he helped me to the Volvo and sped down the long, winding driveway. We didn't talk the whole drive there, and I could tell by the look on Edward's face he could was deep in thought, which sent me into a thought of my own. Another of Jacob.

I woke up laughing that morning as Jake tickled me awake. I had to slap his wrists repeatedly before he finally stopped, pulling me into a warm hug as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

"Morning sunshine," he cooed as he placed a tender kiss on the side of my neck. I rolled onto my side, facing his smiling eyes. I propped myself up onto my elbows and glanced again towards the man lying in bed next to me. Getting up out of bed I called a quick 'Be back in a sec.' over my shoulder and walked into the bathroom. I swiftly washed my face and brushed my teeth and returned to Jacob's bed, where I wish I could stay all day, every day.

He had his back propped up against the headboard, and so I straddled his lap as I climbed back onto the bed. I placed small kisses all over his face and he chuckled a deep, throaty laugh. He placed his hand on the small of my back and whispered into my ear.

"I have something special for you tonight, babe."

"Oh really? And what might this surprise be?"

"You'll just have to wait and see," he retorted, rubbing small circles with his thumb on my back.

I made a sound of impatience and gave him a chaste peck on the lips before removing my body from the bed and walking to the kitchen to get a pot of coffee started for me and Jake. He doesn't have to work today, but I did. So as the coffee brewed I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water massage my face and body. I towel dried my hair and went back into the kitchen, where Jacob was sitting at the table in a pair of baggy sweatpants drinking his coffee. Mine was set beside him. I kissed his cheek before I sat down and picked up my own mug, enjoying the warm mixture that went sliding down my throat.

I tried to get Jake to tell me what this surprise of tonight was, and when tonight I was going to be surprised, but he wouldn't budge. My lip had jutted out at one point too, and he still refused. This must be a pretty special surprise; Jacob never ignored my pouty faced whimpers. I put my mug in the sink, and went to get dressed, quickly walking out the door and into my red truck only moments later. That surprise had kept me wondering all day, but now I wouldn't have to wonder any more.

A silent tear streaked down my face and I stealthy wiped it away- but I guessed it wasn't very stealthy. Edward turned to me, with sad eyes, watching another tear slip down my cheek. He pulled the car over to the side of the road, opened his door, rounded the front of the vehicle and had me in his embrace only moments later. Again, a feeling of unexplained calm and stability settled over me as I rested my head upon his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"I'm so sorry Bella. We can turn around if you want, I can make you something back at the house. I mean, I know how- "

Before I even realized what I was doing, I stretched up on my tippy toes and pressed my lips urgently to his.

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A/N- OH! WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

Yeah, we're not even too sure.

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