DC: I don't own it.

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Chapter 3,

Edward walked into the cafeteria to see that Emmett wasn't there yet and Jasper was sitting with a small pixie of a girl. She was pulling the moves and pulling them well by the look of it. She ate her food with a certain sensuality and her eyes would occasionally flick down to Jasper's lips as he spoke. He was sweating. Edward could practically hear him stumble a little on his words.

Someone grabbed his arm and pulled him. He squeaked as he fell in a seat and saw that it was Bella.

"Don't interrupt them!"

"What is she doing?" Edward asked quietly. Bella looked excited.

"Setting up a date by the look of it," Bella answered, "I think she's playing up the sex appeal a little too much but she's keeping it cooler than Roselie."

"The blonde who orally violates fruit?" Edward asked. Bella nodded.

"See she likes boys. She likes to play with them. She has never been serious about anyone she has dated. She enjoys the thrill of the game."

That was bad news for Emmett who was falling for her charms. Bella must have noticed Edward's hesitation because she spoke again.

"Don't worry about Emmett, he can handle his own. He's very similar. He'll chase her until she stops running."

"As usual," Edward sighed, "but he seems really interested in her."

"Maybe," Bella shrugged, "they're both playing with fire though."

"So where is your entourage?" Edward asked as he decided to start eating.

"They'll be here in an hour," Bella shrugged, "I like to sneak away every once in a while. Besides, I wanted to give Alice some long distance support."

"So she's just asking him out?"

"Yep! Her father approved this morning!"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Edward asked.

"We don't date someone that our parents don't approve of," Bella said quietly.

"Why not?" Edward pressed.

Bella didn't answer. She went back to her meal and seemed pretty eager to avoid that line of questioning. Edward was about to ask something else when someone sat down. He was a taller boy with dark hair and darker eyes. He had kind of a boyish look about him in his smile. Edward was about to ask Bella who he was when he spoke.

"Hello Bella," he grinned.

"Hi Jacob," Bella said indifferently.

"Whose your friend?"

His voice was condescending. Edward was used to that.

"This is Edward," Bella said shortly, "he's my friend so back off."

"Indeed. So are you busy tonight."

"I'm washing my hair," Bella sighed.

"And that will take all night?"

"I have a lot of hair."

"Cute," Jacob said. "So are you going to keep avoiding me?"

Bella answered by taking a long drink. Edward glanced at Jacob. He didn't like him already. He felt a strong need to get Bella away from him.

"Bella, I need your opinion on something. Can you come see it?" he asked. Bella nodded and they both stood, taking their trays with them. Once in the hall Bella turned to him.

"So what did you need my opinion on?" she asked.

"Nothing," Edward mumbled, "you just looked like you wanted to get away."

Bella smiled at him. "Lets go for a walk," she suggested.

Edward nodded.

--

They ended up going to the mall when Bella said she had never really been to one. Edward was shocked.

"Where do you usually shop?" he asked as they walked to his car.

"Boutiques and online stores," Bella answered, "it's all a few blocks away."

"And I'm guessing I wouldn't be able to find anything under a couple hundred dollars there correct?"

"Right!" Bella exclaimed. "We rich folk could never even dream of spending more than a small fortune!"

Edward laughed when Bella did. "So have you ever eaten in a food court?"

"I know we both have different definitions of food court," Bella reminded him, "my father wouldn't dream of letting me eat fast food or anything."

"Oh you poor deprived girl," Edward groaned, "are you telling me that you have never eaten a big mac?!"

"Edward I have been living off of organic foods and nothing over one hundred calories all my life!" Bella cried. "I have never eaten fast food!"

"That's it," Edward sighed, "it's time to educate you."

--

They made it to the mall around sunset. Edward parked and they walked through the brisk fall air to the mall. They walked through the crowds and Bella liked that nobody noticed or even recognized her. They walked by a bookstore and Bella forced Edward inside.

"A detour before you raid the clothing stores?" Edward asked mildly.

"I'd rather spend my time here," Bella said, rolling her eyes. "Alice is the shopper."

"You never stop surprising me," Edward sighed as Bella grabbed a book off of the shelf and pushed it into his hands. "Austin?"

"Best authoress to ever live," Bella said, "Pride and Prejudice is the best book in the history of books."

"My brother used to read it to me," Edward said with a sad smile.

"Do you miss him?" Bella asked as he put the book back.

"Every day," Edward whispered, "I really miss how things were when he was alive."

"I imagine so," Bella said softly, trying to understand how he was feeling. She had never lost anyone close to her, just an uncle when she was five and she had hardly even met him. They walked out of the store and through the mall. They didn't stop at any stores, instead they talked. When they got to the food court Edward sat her down and they pigged out on unhealthy junk food while laughing.

She wasn't like he expected. Bella was fun to be around and easy to talk to. She was excited about little things like dollar stores. Edward thought that was really funny and even felt her excitement rubbing off on him. They spent fifteen minutes in the dollar store laughing about the cheap hats and party favors. They walked out wearing paper hats with oversized glasses and beaded necklaces. Bella pulled him into a photo booth and two minutes later they came out with two strips of four silly pictures.

"What now?" Bella asked after they finished laughing. Edward suggested The Fun Zone. The entire basement of the mall had been made into a large arcade. He took her down and they each got five dollars in quarters and started playing. Edward challenged her to air hockey and was horrified when not only did she beat him, she creamed him. Seven to one.

"How the hell did you manage that?!" he cried. She shrugged innocently across from him. She had done this before. He was sure of it.

"I challenge you," Bella said as the walked up to the DDR machine. Edward agreed (though he had no idea why) and they got up onto the platforms. He was mesmerized by her fluid movements and even more so that he was able to keep up with her. She was as good as Carlisle had been. Edward could still hear Esme cheering him on, encouraging him to beat his brother.

"My god you suck," Bella panted when the game ended. "Is there anything you can do?!"

Edward pretended to be hurt and she giggled. He walked her over to the crane machine. "Watch and weep."

"I ran out of tissues, sorry."

"You've got a smart mouth on you I swear!"

Bella giggled again and Edward was momentarily dazzled. He put the quarters in. "Pick something," he said.

"Um, that one," Bella said pointing against the glass, "the puppy."

Edward nodded and on the first try the metal claw clasped around the Dalmatian puppy and carried it to the drop box. Edward picked it up and handed it to her.

"See," he said. Bella took the stuffed animal and held it against her chest.

"Thanks, Edward," she said with her dazzling smile. Edward swallowed hard.

Crap, he thought in defeat.

--

Bella laid on her bed that night. She held the stuffed puppy in her hands and sighed. That night had been wonderful. Being a normal teenager with Edward was more than she could have hoped for. It was a perfect break from the superficial airheads she usually hung out with. The only time waist size was mentioned was when Edward made a comment that she was too skinny and needed a daily dose of fast food for about a month.

That was another thing. She and Edward devoured fatty greasy foods with gallon sized sugary sodas. On the way home from the mall they stopped for ice cream and she bought them both banana splits. They laughed and stole bites from each other. They made it home just in time for curfew.

It was better than any date she had been on. And it wasn't even a date! It was a fun night out with her friend. And that was what made it hard. Bella hugged the little puppy to her chest and closed her eyes.

--

Bella sat in trig on a sunny Monday morning. She glanced over at Edward who was busy taking notes. She wrote down the formulas and notes and it all clicked. They were given fifteen minutes to work. She checked the odd answers in the back of the book like everyone did. Each one of them were right.

She erased the answers and wrote them down again. When the bell rang she gathered her things and this time she waited for Edward.

"How did you do?" Edward asked.

"I keep getting them wrong," Bella sighed, "can you help me?"

"Tonight okay?"

"Tonight would be perfect," Bella said with a smile. She watched him go and, biting her lip to soften her smile, she walked down the hall.

--

Edward got a pleasant surprise when he was enjoying his dinner. He felt someone sit down next to him but the scent of strawberries told him that it certainly wasn't Jasper.

"Hi!"

"People can see you, you know that right?"

"You're my friend," Bella said with a shrug, "aren't you?"

Edward felt his cheeks warm. "Yes, I suppose I am."

"Good, now that that's out of the way," Bella said cheerfully, "how did you do on your psych test?"

"The usual," Edward shrugged.

"Geez how do you keep getting As?" she moaned.

"I have vast amounts of free time and hairspray hasn't killed my brain cells," he teased.

"Oh ho burning me Cullen?"

"That depends, Swan, if it's true or not."

Bella pushed him playfully and dipped her fork into her veggies.

"Still torturing yourself with rubbery vegetables?"

"Until the day I die," Bella sighed, "no doubt my mother has spies telling her what I am eating. I need to keep my slim waist after all."

"Of course because heaven forbid you become a size six," Edward gasped in mock horror.

"I think my mother would have me killed," Bella replied with a smile.

Nobody ever teased her about her size. Except Edward. Yet another reason why Bella bit back her smile and flaming blush.

--

"Bella have you lost your senses completely?!" Alice demanded that night as she got back to the room.

"What are you talking about?" Bella asked, stuffing the stuffed puppy quickly under her pillow.

"You and Cullen! You two were flirting all through dinner and you're always sneaking off to the library to study!"

"I want to pass..."

"Cut the crap, Bella," Alice snapped. She snatched a wadded ball from the trash. "Are you going to show him this?! You're real grade from class?!"

"Give that back!" Bella squealed, jumping out of bed and lunging for it. "We're just friends, okay!"

"So why do you keep telling him that you need help with your studies when you are passing the class with a solid B?"

"Only because..."

"I see you finish your homework in class and erase the answers so that you seem to be stuck! Bella you are insane!"

"Why do you care?!" Bella cried. Alice took a step back.

"Because you're my best friend. You're my sister. We've shared everything since birth."

"Alice," Bella said coming to her, "Alice please, we're just friends. My parents won't have any problems against that."

"Does he know that?" Alice asked softly. "Does Edward know?"

"He doesn't see me like that," Bella promised.

"Then why can't he ever take his eyes off of you?"

--

It was winter. The cold air blew around the students as they walked from class to class. A sunny November afternoon found Bella and Edward walking from the cafeteria to the library.

"What is obsessive compulsive disorder?" Edward quizzed.

"An obsessive thought that leads to a compulsive action," Bella recited. She was about to say more but she stopped.

"What is it?" he asked, stopping with her.

Bella looked up at the sky. The snow was starting to fall. A beautiful powdery snow that made everything look like a winter post card. Bella closed her eyes and felt the ice crystals land on her face and melt instantly.

"When I was little, my grandmother would let me play in the snow," Bella said with a smile, "we'd have snowball fights. Then my parents decided it wasn't lady like."

"Your parents sound like something out of the victorian era," Edward sighed.

"Everything about my world is from the victorian era. Most old families are like that. You get newer money that is more laid back. Some older families are changing as well. Alice's family for example. They still want her to make a good marriage but if she doesn't it won't be the end of the world. She has other siblings too, which makes a difference."

"So because you're an only child..."

"You have no idea how hard it is carrying that burden," Bella sighed, "I can single handedly bring down the Swan family."

"That sucks," Edward agreed. They shared a silence. Their eyes held each other. Edward wanted to close the distance between them and claim her lips for his own. Her soft pink lips, parted ever so slightly, basking in the glow of her exquisite eyes. "What causes depression?" He asked in a weak voice.

"My world," Bella whispered.

"Besides that," Edward mumbled.

"The causes are mostly unknown because everyone is different, but the common ones are drastic change, like a death in the family, or tremendous stress."

"How can you spot depression in someone?"

"Change in mood," Bella recited as they walked into the library, "change in appetite. Suicidal tendencies if it's severe enough."

Edward nodded, unconsciously tugging on his sleeve. They went to their usual table and got to work. Edward quizzed her with flash cards and then she did the same to him. They were stopped when Bella felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey beautiful, how about you and I go get some dinner."

"Go away Jacob, I'm busy," Bella said coldly.

"You're always studying," Jacob whined, sitting next to her. "It's boring."

"Just because you're perfectly happy with failing every single class and having your parents pay for a grade doesn't mean I am."

"Come to dinner with me." It was an order. Bella looked up at him with defiant eyes.

"No," she said firmly. Jacob stood sharply, knocking his chair over and grabbed her arm, pulling her up. "Jacob you're hurting me!"

"You'll go with me and we'll have a wonderful time," he growled.

Edward put his hand on Jacob's shoulder. "Let her go," he growled. "She said she doesn't want to go."

Jacob looked Edward over and let go of Bella's arm. He stormed off with warning glances towards anybody who was nearby. Edward came up to Bella.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine," she mumbled. She sat back down. "What are signs of anti-social disorder?"

Edward wasn't convinced that she was fine but she wasn't going to say anymore. He sat down and answered.

--

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Bella asked as they walked out of the cafeteria together.

"As much fun as a Christmas ball with your family sounds, I think I'll pass."

"Oh but why!" Bella whined. Edward chuckled.

"Because I don't have anything to wear."

"I can find something."

"I don't think any of your dresses would look good on me," he teased. "But seriously, I wouldn't have any fun."

Jacob was going to be there. Edward couldn't stand him or the way he watched Bella like she belonged to him.

"I don't blame you for not wanting to go though," Bella said as they walked into the cold afternoon. "So when are you leaving?"

"A few hours," he sighed, "I try to stay away from home as much as possible."

"I don't blame you," Bella sighed. "Call me over break okay."

"Alright."

They walked in silence for a while. Edward stole glances at her as they walked. She looked beautiful in the wintery sunlight. She wore a light green fleece coat and her hands were tucked in the pockets. Her hair blew in the cool wind. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Bella," Edward began. She stopped and turned to give him her full attention. "I...well I like you."

The wind blew again. Edward's cheeks flamed and Bella didn't say a thing. She just looked at him with blank shock in her eyes.

"As...as a friend, I mean. You're such a great friend and I'm glad that you're friends with me because we make good friends. I have to go."

TBC

Sorry it took so long to update! I've had writers block on most of my stories. It's very annoying. Review and enjoy!