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Chapter 3

"Two atoms are walking down the street and they run into each other. One says to the other, 'Are you all right?' The other says 'No, I lost an electron!' The first one asks 'Are you sure?' Then the other says 'Yeah, I'm positive!'" Edward chuckled as I laughed at his lame joke.

"Okay I've got one… How did the English major define microtome on his biology exam?" I asked.

"I don't know. What?" Edward tilted his head to the side.

"An itsy bitsy book!" I laughed hard at my own lame joke as Edward chuckled.

"I can't remember the last time I laughed this much…" Edward breathed.

Everything has been great between Edward and me for the past two weeks; we even had lunch almost everyday. We decided to stop being weird around each other and just be friends. It was odd at first but I feel really comfortable around him… most of the time. There were also some moments that were just painful. He was just so … perfect and gorgeous. God I felt like I was a pervert. During those times I would think about his birthday, and I would just cringe at my child molesting ways. Nothing was actually wrong, but I felt guilty for it.

"It probably involved Emmett some how," I joked as I glanced down at my watch.

"You're late…" Edward sighed glancing at his own watch.

"It's been happening a lot lately… Are you sure you don't want to come over? I'm sure Jasper will be glad that you know too…" I asked part of me hoping he'd say yes and the other no.

"I can't tonight… anyway I think she wants it to be a surprise for next weekend. Plus I'll get to watch Jasper squirm a bit more. Thanks for not telling him." Edward slid out from the booth and placed money on the table.

"Edward… you know I can pay for my share," I scolded him lightly when I noticed how much he placed onto the table.

"Don't worry about it Bella. If you want you can make up to me; you can have dinner with me Monday to celebrate my first day of school," Edward scratched the back of his head.

"Will you let me pay?" I asked being hopeful.

"…maybe," he decided.

"Fine," I agreed knowing he wouldn't let me. "So I'll see you Monday?" I asked as I slid out of the booth.

"Bright and early," he smiled at me as we walked out of the diner. We said goodbye and went our separate ways. I groaned as my feelings were deepening for Edward. I was falling and falling hard. I knew when we were younger he was going to break a lot of hearts. I just didn't know one of them was going to mine.

I pulled into my space in front of one of the few apartment complexes of Forks. I turned the key in my door, but the door flew open to reveal a bouncing girl.

"Oh Bella, I haven't seen you in forever!" Alice hugged me knocking both of us onto the ground.

"It's nice to see you too Alice," I squeezed her back. Jasper pulled her off of me before helping me up.

"Sorry for barging in, but Alice insisted that we surprise you," Jasper looked down sheepishly knowing I hated surprises.

I'd also gotten closer to Jasper as well. Alice was still living in Portland but almost ready to move back to Forks, and he needed a friend around. We spent the rest of the afternoon telling stories and catching up; I really had missed Alice. I was about to order pizza for dinner when the front door open.

"Bella! I've got pizza and beer!" Emmett yelled throughout my small apartment. I jumped back onto the couch separating Alice and Jasper.

"Oh hi Emmett…" I said eyeing Alice. She just shrugged mouthing 'it's okay' and smiled.

"Alice! What are you doing here?!" Emmett screamed picking her up off the couch into a hug still holding onto the pizza and beer.

"I'll get that for you Emmett," Jasper flustered as he grabbed the pizza.

"Jasper?" Emmett puzzled and eyed me.

It had been a long night. Alice got Emmett drunk to avoid anymore suspicions, and Jasper got drunk to avoid Emmett. All in all it just caused more trouble. Alice ended up driving her and Jasper back to his place. And I somehow had to get Emmett back to Rosalie.

"Emmett, it's time to wake up," I shook his shoulder hard getting no response but a louder snore. I picked up Emmett's cell off the floor and found the right number.

"Damn Emmett, what did you want?" Edward grumbled into his phone. His voice was thick with sleep which for some reason my knees weakened.

"Oh I'm sorry Edward. Go back to sleep," I stumbled quickly and hung up. I felt the heat rising to my cheeks as the embarrassment washed over me. I jumped when the phone started to ring loudly in my hands. Edward flashed on the screen.

"Hello?" I asked nervously.

"Bella?" Edward's voice was less groggy.

"Yes Edward?" I responded a bit nervous.

"What's wrong? Where's Emmett?" He asked quickly stumbling over words.

"Nothing's wrong; I just needed help getting Emmett home. I'm sorry for waking you. You don't have worry about it; you can go back to sleep," I apologized.

"Bella, just be quiet. You're in 1-C right?" Edward asked frustrated.

"Yes," I answered sheepishly.

"Okay," Edward hung up quickly as guilt washed over me. I tried to wake Emmett up again with no luck. A knock at the door startled me a minute later.

"Sorry…" I started to apologize but stopped to let the image sink in. Edward stalked in toward Emmett wearing a thin white tee and a pair of dark denim jeans. His hair was messier than usual and his eyes were hooded with sleep.

"Don't apologize; it's not your fault. In fact, you don't ever have to apologize to me even if you should…" Edward searched Emmett's pockets for his keys. "You should slap me or tell me I'm an asshole or something random. You apologize way too much. Ah Ha!" Edward pulled the keys from the seat cushion.

"I can follow you and give you a ride back," I told him while he lifted Emmett off the couch effortlessly. How strong was he? I locked the door behind him and helped him get Emmett in the Jeep. Edward pulled out of the space easily, and I followed him to Emmett's house. We got him inside and on the couch so we wouldn't disturb Rose, and we we're heading back to my apartment.

"Why was Emmett over?" Edward asked speaking to me for the first time since we left my apartment.

"He brought pizza and beer over; he's not allowed to do things in front of Rose that she can't do like drink. So I get the pleasure of dealing with a drunk Emmett; unfortunately he came over when Jasper and Alice were still over. Except I still don't think he knows they're together," I laughed dryly at the memory.

"So does this happen a lot?" Edward asked referring to Emmett.

"No, and usually I would just leave him on my couch, but since Rose is so far along, he doesn't want to leave her alone for so long," I looked over to Edward who was staring intently at me. "How'd you know where I live?" I asked confused.

"Emmett. Plus it's a small town; there's not much to choose from apartment-wise. I live in 4-B," he looked away.

"Why don't you stay at your parents' house?" I asked knowing he probably wanted his own space.

"Oh, I would if I could, but last year Alice came home for a visit to find Mom and Dad doing it in the living room," he grimaced. "I don't want to take my chances…"

"That's why I moved Forks when I was seventeen," I laughed. "I walked on my mom and Phil about four times and decided that was enough," I grimaced at the memories as Edward laughed.

"Thanks for the ride… And I'm sorry if I was rude earlier… it's just that I don't sleep much and I try to get what I can…" Edward apologized as I pulled into a space in front of his building.

"It was nice to return the favor for once. And hey if I'm not allowed to apologize you aren't either… but you can't slap me, you could hug me or tell me an awful joke or something," I smiled at him.

"Alright," he leaned over and kissed my cheek lightly lingering for a second longer. "Or something works for me," he smiled back as my skin tingled. I groaned to myself as I made my way back into the apartment and into bed.

OoOoO

Bella turned the key in her ignition one last time as her truck sputtered. It was the last day before Thanksgiving break, and she had forgotten her packed lunch at home. Because she was the new teacher at Forks High, some of the other teachers thought it was alright to eat the food she left for herself in the teachers' lounge for days like these. She jumped out of her old truck to make her way into the food line in the cafeteria. Bella grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and ate her lunch in her classroom. She was glad that she at least she hadn't had lunch duty.

Bella realized as she ate that she would have to walk home after school with of her papers in the rain. She didn't want to bother Charlie on his vacation in La Push, nd if only she were in Seattle, she'd be able to call Emmett or Rose to pick her up. If she were still in Seattle she could almost call Jake … almost. Bella was dreading the walk home during fifth period as she watched the thundering clouds outside. As class let out she stood out in the hall watching students. An idea popped into her mind as she saw a flash of copper hair in the corner of her eye. Bella made her way into the main office as soon as the bell rang for sixth period.

"Hello Mrs. Cope," Bella smiled brightly at the woman.

"Oh Isabella, how are you?" Mrs. Cope asked genuinely.

"Good, um, I was wondering if I could find out who Edward Cullen had for sixth period," Bella asked nicely. The woman complied, and Bella was off to Mr. Varner's room.

"Sorry for interrupting Mr. Varner, but I have a note for Edward Cullen?" Bella knocked lightly on the door of the room.

Everyone stopped working and looked at her. Her cheeks reddened at the attention, and Mr. Varner agreed annoyed from the disruption. Bella walked carefully and quickly as she could to Edward and tossed the folded note onto his desk and turned around and was out of the room before he realized what happened. Everyone watched Edward as he lifted the note and placed it in his pocket. There was no way he was going to let anyone see one of his notes from Bella. Edward impatiently stared the clocked down as it was almost time for the last bell. He tore out of the room as he pulled out the note and stopped at his locker to read it the long scribbling.

Hey Edward, I know this is last minute

and probably a burden for you, but my truck

sort of won't start, and I have lots of papers

to take home, and it's storming outside and it

would not be a good mix for me to walk home

in rain with book reports,so I would really appreciate

it if you would give me a ride home today. It

would only be for today. My father's on vacation in

La Push and I would rather not bother him.

I would be able to get Emmett or Rose to look at

this weekend so this wouldn't happen again.

Just let me know at the end of the day.

Thank you.

Check [] yes or []no

Edward checked his answer and went to grab Alice and explain the situation. Edward and Alice marched into Bella's classroom and handed her the note. She looked down at the bottom and sighed.

Check [] yes or [x]no

Edward handed Alice his keys and swiped Bella's off her desk. Bella was still reading the note and looked up to see only Alice.

"Alright then Alice, well I'd better get going before the storm gets worse," Bella said groaning inwardly of walking in the heavy rain.

"Don't be silly Bells; I'm driving you, but Edward is out looking at your truck," Alice pulled Bella out of the classroom and into the parking lot. Edward was drenched from the rain and tinkering under the hood of her truck. Edward waved to them as Alice pushed Bella into their Volvo and drove off ignoring Bella's comments.

"Alice you just drove past my apartment," Bella looked behind her at the small group of buildings.

"I didn't say I was driving you home…" Alice smiled at her. "It's been a while since you've been over for dinner; plus if Mom found out that we gave you a ride she would want you over anyway to catch up…It's just easier this way," Alice chatted as they got to the Cullens' home.

Bella relaxed as she was welcomed by Esme and Carlisle who were happy to see her. They spent the afternoon talking about school, work, and 'the kids.' The door slamming shut startled Bella from relaxed state. Edward trudged in dropping Bella's keys onto the coffee table as he walked by. He walked into the kitchen to get to the small laundry room for dry clothes. He shrugged off his wet ones and pulled on warm clothes. He sneezed a few times walking back into the living room to sit with the rest of the family.

"Oh my, Edward I completely forgot about my truck. Are you okay? You didn't have to do that? I'm sorry you got soaked. Thank you so much," Bella prattled on as she hugged him and kissed his cheek. A large smile appeared on Edward's face that remained there for the rest of the night. Esme and Carlisle shared knowing looks at each other and smiled.

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AN: i hope you can understand when the flashbacks occurr; i didn't think i'd have to put time period on it, but if you need me to i will.... hope you liked it alright. Thanks for reading!