Classics & Pasts

Already on Ch. 3!!!! Reviews are slightly disappointing, though! I know there are more than two of you out there reading!! I don't mean to sound horrible and selfish, but, I'd love some more so so so much – the feedback stimulates my wanting to continue this project. How about 5 reviews for this chappy, then another update???

Anyway, without further ado, we shall continue…

Disclaimer: I wish, so so much…*sigh*

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With a quarter of an hour left until the dinner party, Edward and I sat on my bed, chatting. I'd just gotten out from the bathroom, to find Edward inspecting the make-up on my dresser. He was holding an eyelash curler quite close to his eyes, inspecting it.

'You look like you're contemplating something,' I said, jokingly, and he jumped.

'I was…just…ah. Um, I was…checking the joints. Don't want to gouge your eye out, right?' he said slowly, but gaining enthusiasm as he made up a story.

'Oh, yeah. Totally. Just…checking. Fair enough…' He almost blushed, and I got a feeling of satisfaction.

Now, we sat conversing, like we had multiple times over the last few days. We'd been talking about things like jobs, and studying, but then I'd gone and idiotically asked him about his parents.

'I don't…know them, anymore. I lost them. In a car accident.' He looked at the quilt covering my bed as he said this.

I gulped. Shit. Way to go, Bells. 'I'm so, so sorry, Edward. I didn't…mean to upset or offend yo-'

'Hey, it's fine. Chill. All done and over now, anyway, right?' he asked me, rhetorically, and suddenly felt extremely guilty over the things I had told my brother in anticipation of Edward's arrival. 'Why can't he just freaking stay there with his own parents? In his fifteen story mansion, with his two Barbie sisters and his hundred inch plasma-LCD and MacBook stupid lime green Ferrari?'

I also immediately, wanted to know more: Who did he live with? Did he keep in touch with his sister? Does he have any other family?

He must have seen the curiosity burning in my eyes, because he continued: 'I live with my Aunt and Step-Uncle. In a ridiculous four-story house with five bedrooms and three bathrooms and two malicious white poodles called Maggie and Sally. My Step-Uncle is an executive at the Beverly Hills baseball club, and he's the reason the house is so…imposing. But, despite his wealth, I'm really not that well off. He makes sure I don't use his money, and if I do, he thinks it right to punish me. Anyway, I guess it sounds like Harry Potter, huh? It doesn't really matter… It used to be better, though, when Elizabeth lived with me.'

'Huh,' I said quietly, taking it all in. Could I have been any more inconsiderate? I knew it wasn't my fault, but, still… I felt horrible.

As I was mulling over all of this mentally, Edward stood up and made his way over to the bookcase in the corner of my room, between the dresser and entrance to the bathroom.

He sat, cross-legged, and looked over all of the titles, occasionally running a finger down the spine. As I approached him, I heard him murmuring the names under his breath. He seemed to look at them with an air of worship, something I'd often seen my father do, and he'd told me the same.

'You like books, hey?'

'Yeah,' he replied. 'Almost as much as you, it seems. Great collection.'

'Thank-you. You're welcome to borrow them.'

A moments silence passed comfortably as he continued his examination of the titles, before he asked, 'How are these organized?' somewhat exasperatedly

I blushed – I'd hoped he wouldn't ask this, as the system was insane. 'Well,' I began, 'the top row are my favourites, and they're sorted from most satisfactory ending to least satisfactory ending, left to right. I couldn't really think of another way, because I like the entire stories equally. Um, then the second and third rows are other books I like but didn't quite get into the faves list. They're in alphabetical. The fourth, is series, like the HPs, Narnia from when I was eight and the John Marsden ones. They're ordered by date published. Then the bottom two are books that I either still need to read, were given my relatives that I really don't want to read, or I still need to give back to people I've borrowed from.'

He continued to look, then asked, 'How can Hamlet be one of your favourites? It's awful.'

I gasped. 'No, it's not! It's an excellent book. For your information, I was in it in the school production last year.'

'Who did you play?'

'Ophelia.' He raised an eyebrow, but, thankfully, said nothing.

'It's a classic. I love it.'

He chuckled at this, then resumed his musing over the titles. As he did, I sat down next to him, and watched him carefully. After a minute of him being completely oblivious to my staring, he turned, looking as if he was about to ask me something, but then stopped, realizing how close I was.

He smiled, and I did too, all the while looking at his too-tempting lips. Perfectly shaped, they were far too enticing to be legal, and as I ogled over them, I saw him lean in, close to me. I bought my gaze up to his piercing green eyes, and he did the same. We sat still, studying each other's eyes intently. I smelt him, his perfect, alluring scent of musk and fruit and ginger and skin, and leant in more, and he copied my movements, until we were just a couple of inches apart.

I realized my lips were slightly parted, but before I could do anything about it, he closed the gap between us, touching our lips for the briefest of seconds before a loud knock on the door made us jump apart in surprise.

'The Brandons are here, and Alice is downstairs with Jasper, Bella. Do you have Edward with you?'

I sighed, and replied, 'Yeah, Mum. I'll be down in two secs. I'm just finishing my mascara. Two seconds, yeah?'

'Fine, but hurry up, and you really don't need to wear make-up, espec-'

'Fine, Mum, I won't put on anymore. Goodbye!' I heard her retreating steps, then turned back to Edward, who was still staring at me. 'Sorry,' I whispered softly.

'It's fine,' he replied, just as quietly. I wondered whether we could finish the kiss, and I sat there for a couple of seconds, wondering whether I should make the first move.

Turns out, I didn't have to: Edward leant in again, and pressed his lips to mine. I let one of my hands rest in his soft, gorgeous hair, while the other supported me, on the carpet. His lips felt like honey and feathers, moving ever so softly against mine.

I broke away for air, and wondered whether my eyes looked just as wild as his. Then I looked at his mouth, again, and I couldn't help the bark of a laugh that spat its way out of my throat – I'd completely forgotten I was wearing cherry gloss, or had been, at least. Edward had tell-tale pink smudges all around his mouth, just slightly outside the contour lines of his lips. I moved the hand that was clenched full of his bronze locks down to his mouth, and wiped the perimeter, then licking my fingers clean of the sweet tasting gloss.

He reached up a hand to double check my cleaning skills, stood up, and after a satisfactory nod, outstretched a hand for me. On our way out, he swiped a quick glance in the mirror, triple checking, and then I did too, just to make sure I was free of smudginess, before Edward yanked my hand that was still clasped in his.

We went out into the hallway, and for the second time in five minutes, jumped apart. Alice was standing at the top of the stairs, looking at us, smiling knowingly.

'Al! Didn't know you were upstairs! What are you…' I said breathlessly.

'Hey, Bella. I haven't seen you in almost a week. Hi. And this…must be Edward. Hi, I'm Alice Brandon,' she spoke to him, now extending a hand for him to shake.

'Edward Masen. Pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about you.'

'I could say the same about you,' Alice said, her voice dripping with a second meaning, and turning to me. She gave me a meaningful look, and I imagined how bad this must look: I've spent weeks whining about what a disgusting, horrible person he's going to be, and not even a week after I meet him, she finds us holding hands, after coming out of my bedroom, looking frantic, wild, and ecstatic. Fuuuuuuuuck.

The entire time I contemplated this, Alice stood there politely, smiling, as did Edward. The three of us were interrupted as Esme shouted up to us from the foot of the stairs, 'Kids, come on! Em's here with the Hales.'

Alice nodded slightly at Edward and me, still standing very close to each other, and retreated down the stairs. I glanced apologetically at Edward, then shot down after her.

'Alice, wait!' I whispered loudly. She stopped on the landing and turned to face me, her arms crossed.

'What was that, Bella?'

'You don't understand. He's not at all what I thought he would be. He's funny, and caring, and-'

'And so were Mike, and Tyler, and James and Eric. For a month. He's not here for just a month, Bells. What are you trying to do to yourself?'

I sighed. 'Don't you think I haven't thought about that one hundred times since he got into our car? I know, trust me. I am being careful, but, I don't know. You know how you always try to explain how you feel around Jasper to me, but I get all weirded out and squeal coz he's my brother? Well, that's it. I feel giddy, and light-headed, and I have butterflies, and time stands still. It's only him. Mike gave me a coldsore-' she smiled at this '-not fuzzy feelings. Trust me, please, Al?'

It was her turn to sigh, and then she giggled, and looked up at him, still at the top of the staircase, watching us, but unable to hear our whispered conversation. 'Well, I guess he is quite pretty. Have you kissed him?' she gushed, and if the gossip was vital to her survival.

I blushed, and she knew to take this as confirmation. 'You have! Not even a week, and you've already tied him down and pashed him!'

'Just once.'

'What was it like?' she asked with a new enthusiasm.

'Alice! You have a boyfriend! He's my brother! I'll tell you later. You staying tonight?'

'Yeah, but I think your mum wants us to all sleep downstairs, in the lounge. So is Rosie and Em. We'd better hurry, though,' she said, studying her nails. With that, she turned away, jumping the last few stairs, and making her way into the dining room.

I turned back to Edward, and quickly motioned for him to come down, which he did, running down the flight of steps amazingly quickly. 'You're fast,' I told him, as we, side by side, made our way down the lat ten steps and across the hall, into the dining room.

We were greeted by David and Louisa Brandon, Alice's parents, and Rose's mum Carol. They all shook Edward's hand, and introduced themselves, as did Rose and Emmett, who hadn't been acquainted with him yet.

My eldest brother took an instant liking to Edward, shaking his hand with great gusto, and giving him a firm pat on the back.

I gave Emmett a hug, and a 'I haven't seen you in ages. How are you doing?' but that was pretty much it as far as it goes with Emmett and warm greetings

We all sat down, Edward in between Esme and Carlisle, while I sat next to Al and Rose, who each had one of my brothers on their other side. The other three parents filled up the gaps: two between Esme and Em, and another among Dad and Jazz. To his great discomfort, Edward ended up at the head of the table.

For tea, we had Mum's lasagne: one meat, and one veggie, as Alice and Carol are vegetarians, and I suspected that Edward would opt for that choice, too.

Because Edward and I were virtually at opposite ends of the table, we didn't speak during tea, but I looked up twice to find him staring at me curiously, as did I, a few times. I noticed that Edward was generally passed around the adults, as far as conversation went. They were all very interested about his life, and America.

I flinched each time someone asked him about who he lived with, or his family, but he would always answer that his sister was at a prestigious dance academy, and he was very proud of her. Once, after he had said this, Carol, who he was talking to, had said, 'Surely your parents must be, too?' and he'd answered 'They must be. How couldn't they?' Carol had then gushed about how modest he was, but apart from that, no one tried to get more information from him on that subject.

After tea, our parents talked for two hours, while we - Emmett, Rose, Alice, Jasper, Edward and I - moved into the lounge, and turned on the TV to see if there were any good movies on. We settled on Channel 10, and as the opening credits flashed by, I saw a familiar name.

I recognised the movie in an instant: It was Midnight, the first in the Midnight Series that Al, Rose and I were obsessed with, not to mention millions worldwide. (A/N: If you haven't guessed, Midnight is code for Twilight) The three of us squealed simultaneously, as the three guys groaned.

'You're serious?' Edward asked, a tone of disgust colouring his voice.

'SHHHHH!' Alice shhhed, 'It's just started!'

'Emmett! Go get the sleeping bags!' rose ordered.

'And the popcorn and pillows and chocolate!' I added.

'You too Jasper!' Alice said, and 'SSSHHHHHHHH!!!!'ed again when my brothers started to complain.

'Come on Edward, mate. They're dangerous when this is on. We'd better do what they say,' Emmett told him, standing up. I turned around to briefly glare at him before flipping back to the screen.

They filed out of the room, and as soon as it was clear, the three of us jumped onto a couch each. Alice, as usual, was stuck on the loveseat, but it fit her petite frame nicely, as long as she had a pillow she could rest her head on.

As the ad break came on and I muted the television, I heard the popcorn machine whizzing in the kitchen, and Emmett grunting upstairs at the linen cupboard, making me giggle. The other girls did too, but then Alice stopped suddenly.

'OhmigawdRoseguesswhat?' Alice began, talking in a blur, jumbling her words together into almost incomprehensible mush.

'What?' Rose asked, falling for Alice's gossip bait.

'Bella kissed Edward!' Alice started giggling madly again, while I stopped.

'Al!'

'What? We tell everything, right?' Alice said, her high pitched voice menacing.

'You could've let me!'

'Oh, Bells, don't get mad. She only wanted to let me know that,' Rose said in a soft tone, 'You kissed Edward! You kissed Edward!'

'Bella kissed Edward?' Oh, fuck.

'Yep!' Alice replied to her boyfriend, as he walked in with two hot bowls of buttery, salty, delicious popcorn.

'Shit! Way to go, 'lil sis, you minx!' Jasper almost shouted.

I threw a cushion at him, and he caught it with a soccer goalie's precision, when we heard Edward and Emmett making their way through the hall, heading for the lounge.

Jasper's smile widened as I glared at him meaningfully, and stuck a 'Shh' finger in front of my mouth.

I was about to mouth a threat to him, when he said, 'Fine, fine…' and sat down an Alice's stomach.

'Shit, Jazz! Get off! You're too heavy!' Alice exclaimed. Emmett laughed as he and Edward walked in. Jasper jumped up, and Alice sat up so Jasper could sit down. When he did, she simply grabbed a pillow from Emmett, put it on Jasper's lap, and lay straight down again. Jasper rolled his eyes, and Alice smiled lovingly at him, playfully patting his head.

Emmett dumped the bedding on the floor and sat at Rose's feet. She put her feet in his lap, and he played with them, one by one, and Rose would occasionally kick him if he tried to tickle her.

This left Edward standing, clutching a pillow. I sat up into a vertical position, and nodded for him to join me. On his way, he grabbed another pillow, a doona and one of Jasper's bowls of popcorn, just as the movie resumed. I fished out the remote from the crack in between the side of the couch and the cushion, and unmated it.

Edward handed me a pillow – my favourite one, with Snoopy on it – and then put the doona over us, and the popcorn in the middle. I smiled in thanks at him, and grabbed a handful with my hand that wasn't under the covers.

About halfway into the movie, I started feeling sleepy, but was determined not to let myself fall asleep. Instead, I slumped, and stared at the screen with heavy eyes.

Alice must have been feeling the same way, because she said, 'Jasper, do you mind getting the Diet coke I bought with me? It's in your…'- she stopped to yawn -'…room, I think. Thank you.'

This woke me up a little, and I took another few pieces of popcorn, then realized I'd taken the last bits. I picked it up, and put it on the carpet floor, and wiped my greasy hand on the doona cover.

Edward smiled at me, and, under the cover of the doona, he caught my hand in his. His hand was warm and soft, and was the perfect shape for mine. I couldn't help it, and so, with all four of the others watching us intently, I leant into his side, molding into him. Too soon, before I knew what was happening, let alone could control it, I fell asleep, with Edward's hand around mine, the other around my waist. I fell into a comfortable slumber, smiling.