"What is a friend? A single soul in two bodies."
- Aristotle



--May 4, 1995--

"Okay the coast is clear. Put it in!" Jasper yelled from the living room doorway.

Edward immediately removed the Aladdin video tape from the VCR and replaced it with the movie "It."

"I swear if we get in trouble for this, I'm telling mom it was all your idea," Rosalie threatened. "We shouldn't be doing this."

"We're not going to get caught. Lauren is going to be on the phone with her boyfriend all night," I whispered.

"She's just scared," Edward teased. "I bet she won't even last the entire movie."

"Try me," Rosalie threatened with her arms crossed. They proceeded to stare each other down.

"Come on guys, can we just get this over with?" I interrupted. "We probably won't have another chance like this again."

I was right, this was our only opportunity. There was no way Rosalie and Edward's babysitter, Lauren Mallory, was going to catch us watching the scary film. The sixteen year old girl lived and breathed her new boyfriend Tyler. She usually spent the evening making kissing noises on the phone with him and waved us off whenever we requested her attention.

Rumor in the fifth grade was that "It" was the scariest clown movie ever made. Edward and I begged our parents to let us watch it, but they told us we were too young and would have nightmares. As luck would have it, Jasper was able to borrow the movie from his cousin so we were in for a treat tonight.

Esme and Carlisle were out to dinner with some friends and had given us strict instructions to watch Aladdin after we finished dinner and to be on our best behavior. Jasper's mom would be picking him up in a few hours and I was to return to my house at bedtime.

"Shhh, it's starting," Edward shushed us all. The three of us commenced to getting comfortable on the rug in front of the television. I lay on my stomach with my feet in the air to the left of Edward, while Jasper sat on his right. Rosalie watched from the couch.

About an hour into the film all of our positions switched instantaneously. Rosalie's face was buried in the couch cushions, Jasper was clutching the bowl of popcorn so tight, every time he jumped; several pieces would fly into the air and land on the rug. And Edward… my dear Edward was motionless in front of the screen, his arms braced around his knees in a firm grip. As for me, I was scared out of my wits. I managed to see snippets of the film with my hands covering my eyes during most of the scenes.

I desperately wanted to tell Edward to turn it off. I'd rather watch Aladdin ten million times than see a deranged clown go after children, but I knew he was trying to prove he wasn't scared. Rosalie wouldn't let him hear the end of it and I had an inkling he didn't want to look like a wimp in front of Jasper.

Later that evening, I heard sounds coming from my bedroom window. I sat up in bed and froze when I saw a dark shadow looking back at me. As I prepared to let loose a high-pitched scream, the figure spoke. "Bella, it's me."

I relaxed when I recognized Edward's voice and ran to the window.

"Edward, what are you doing here?" I lifted the window higher to allow him entrance. As he climbed in, I took in his disheveled appearance. His hair stuck up in every direction and he was wearing his favorite blue Power Ranger pajamas.

He stared at me, then at the floor. "I had this dream that Pennywise was trying to kill me," he said. Pennywise was the name of the dreadful clown in the movie we watched earlier this evening.

I could tell it took a lot of courage for him to come over here and admit this to me. I truly felt bad for him.

"Well you can stay here with me, you'll be safe here and Phil has a baseball bat if we need him," I said jokingly trying to make him feel better.

My words seemed to appease him and he followed me to my bed. That night I was awakened by the sound of my best friend talking in his sleep and fidgeting in distress. "No…please…no!"

I wrapped my arms around his frame and tightened my hold on him. I felt his breathing calm instantly as he relaxed in my embrace.

***

That evening I prepared for my meeting with Edward. Something told me this wasn't going to be like our usual get-togethers. Usually I'd spend most of my weekends with Edward at his home laughing over a pizza and we'd end the evening watching the funniest movie we could find. However, our gatherings were becoming more infrequent now that Jessica was back in his life and of course, I had other ways—which my friends didn't particularly agree with, of entertaining myself.

I realized I had at least an hour to get ready. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and sighed. My boring brown eyes stared back at me and my hair hung limply on my shoulders. My skin was very pale. Many people looked at me in disbelief when I told them I was raised in Phoenix.

It didn't help that my appearance screamed plain Jane. Alice would often tell me I had the potential to be a knock out if I would just put in the effort. She'd try so many times to give me makeovers but I always fought the little pixie. I didn't see the appeal of putting on makeup and dressing up. I loved to be comfortable. Besides, I had no trouble attracting the attention of the opposite sex.

I reluctantly threw my hair in a low pony tail, put on my favorite blue crew neck sweater and combined it with a casual pair of dark wash jeans and sneakers. I grabbed my keys and headed out to my used cherry-red Camry. I loved this car; regrettably it was on its last leg. Charlie gave me the used vehicle as a gift when I graduated college. I adored it because it had character. Unfortunately it left me stranded often. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when those incidences occurred, but I knew one day I may not be so fortunate. Edward offered many times to buy me a new car, but I always declined. I didn't like the idea of anyone spending money on me let alone a new car. With his salary at Volterra he was able to own a glamorous silver Volvo. It suited his need for speed perfectly.

I slipped my key in the ignition. It was time to face the music.

***

As I neared Edward's home, I began to run through my mind the possible topics Edward might want to discuss. I anticipated it had to do with my actions yesterday evening. Hopefully he would accept my apology and move on. However, I had an inclination it wouldn't be so simple.

The scenery began to change as I reached Edward's neighborhood. Small apartments began to morph into large brownstones and the streets became quieter. Edward managed to purchase his own home which was rare for many young adults our age.

As I drove up to his beautiful maroon complex, I took a deep breathe. I had mentally prepared myself for whatever argument he was ready to throw at me about my sex life for the hundredth time.

I rang his doorbell and was instantly greeted with a freshly showered Edward. His bronze hair still looked wet and he wore a solid black T-shirt with dark blue jeans. I drunk in his entire frame and noticed he was barefoot. I sighed inwardly. The man could be covered in mud and still look like he was ready for a photo shoot. I was instantly hit with his signature scent; a mixture of cinnamon and sandalwood. His green eyes smiled down at me and he immediately lifted me up into a hug.

"You're right on time; the pizza should be here any minute," his warm breathe tickled my ear. I immediately relaxed into him as it registered with me that we were going to settle into our usual routine. We always ordered pizza. Edward couldn't cook to save his life. The man may have been blessed with intelligence and good looks but he could still burn water.

I entered his spacious abode while he trailed behind me. Edward's home was not only expensive, but charming and inviting. He had a large living room with a flat screen TV, and the biggest, most comfortable suede brown couch you could lay on. Beautiful paintings adorned his walls, the priciest ones situated along his hallway upstairs. He also had a collection of breathtaking sculptures from all across the globe located in different areas of the house.

My favorite part of his home was the kitchen. I called it my personal play house. He had numerous appliances, many of them unused. When he told me his kitchen was also my kitchen, my eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.

***

After the pizza arrived Edward and I got comfortable on the living room couch and set our dishes on the coffee table.

"So what are we watching tonight?" I asked letting the cheese cool on my pizza.

"We're not doing a movie tonight," he responded, focusing hard on his slice.

"Then what are we doing?"

"We're going to talk."

"About?"

"You."

Here we go.

"Look Edward, I know what you're going to say and I want to apologize for my behavior yesterday, but you and I both know that what I do with my life is my business."

"Bella listen, I didn't invite you here to reproach you," he said calmly.

"Oh?" This was new, I thought.

"Yes, in fact I was wondering if I could offer you a…proposition."

I look into his green eyes warily.

"What do you mean offer me a proposition?" I asked forming air quotes around the word.

He refocused his attention on his slice of pizza. I could tell he was nervous. He wasn't looking me in the eye.

"Edward…what is it?"

He sighed and put his pizza down.

"Bella, I worry about you. If anything were to happen to you, I don't know what I would do."

"Edward nothings—"

"Just listen." He scooted closer to me on the couch and took my hand in his.

"I know you are a grown woman, as you have reminded me plenty of times." He rolled his eyes. "And your sex life is your business, but I just think the way you're going about it is all wrong."

"Edward, not this again—"

"Just hear me out, Bella. I was wondering..," he stammered. I could tell he was having a tough time with this.

This must be serious.

"Edward," I said, squeezing his hand in reassurance.

"I was wondering—what if I were the one to satisfy your needs?" His words spilled out so fast, I barely understood him.

Huh?

"You're not making any sense Edward."

He sighed and ran his right hand through his long locks. I could tell this was hard for him.

"Bella... you're my best friend and love you. I would do anything for you and if it means offering myself to you sexually—"

Wait a goddamn minute! I thought as my mind slowly registered what he was getting at.

Is he saying what I think he's saying?

I dropped his hand. "Are you out of of your damn mind, Edward?!" I shouted, jumping to my feet. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"

He winced and looked at the floor.

"No Bella, I'm serious."

I lifted his chin roughly and looked into his deep green orbs. They were nervous and tentative.

Oh my God, he was serious.

I took a deep breathe and pinched the bridge of nose, a habit I picked up from Edward.

I proceeded to count to ten. I couldn't kill my best friend, I loved him dearly.

"Edward, do you really think that I'm some kind of crazed sex addict? That what I do is so bad that you have to… offer yourself to me?" I asked, finding it hard to let the actual words roll off my tongue.

"Bella, listen—"

"No you listen, Edward. Do you know how this sounds to me right now?"

"Bella—it's not like that I--"

"And what about Jessica your girlfriend, remember her?" I cut him off.

"I ended my relationship with Jessica for good," he said quickly.

Is this really happening?

Before I could utter another word, he sighed and pulled me down toward him.

"Bella, please just hear me out, I know what you're thinking."

Do you, really?

"Yes, I know we are best friends. But at this point in our lives neither one of us is tied down. Jessica and I were never serious and I could never see myself spending the rest of my life with her. She is vain and only wanted me for my looks and money. I want to find a woman who is right for me in every way and I'm sure you want to eventually find someone to settle down with. What better way to be safe than to limit our sexual relationships to each other until we both find our perfect person?" he asked giving my hand a squeeze.

"Look at it this way," he continued gaining confidence. "We don't have any romantic feelings towards one another and I believe our friendship is strong enough to withstand this arrangement. Our relationship would be strictly physical."

I was still silent, Edward patiently waited for me to speak.

"Edward, we're like family."

"The keyword is like"

I sat up and looked into his eyes. They were dead serious.

I massaged my eyes with my fingers. I still couldn't wrap my mind around this situation.

"Friends with benefits type of relationships never work, Edward. Someone is bound to get hurt." I tried again.

"Bella, like I said before, I believe our bond is stronger than that," he said confidently. "Can you really see yourself falling in love with me?"

I really couldn't. Edward was very attractive, but the line ended there. Surprisingly, unlike many of the girls I grew up with, I never held any romantic feelings towards him.

"I just want us to try. If it doesn't work, we can put a stop to it," he insisted. "No harm done."

"What if one of us meets someone?" I interjected.

"Then we break it off," he said it like it was the simplest thing in the world.

"Bella all I'm asking is that we give it a chance. I think it will work for the both of us. I won't have a heart attack wondering where you're in the middle of the night and whether you are safe. And I won't have to worry about some woman taking advantage of me. This will benefit you because you will get the pleasure you enjoy from someone you know-In fact that part will benefit the both of us," he teased with a crooked grin.

His serious expression returned. "We both trust each other and are responsible adults. I think this arrangement will be great for us until we find our better halves. All I'm asking is for us to try."

There goes that word again.

A million thoughts were running through my mind at once. Being with Edward would take away all the work of spending my nights with random men. He was right about the safety issue. If I were with Edward, I could have my needs fulfilled and still hang out with my best friend. He did have the ability to make me feel whole and protected; also, he was very accessible. Maybe I could have the best of both worlds.

I can't believe I'm even considering this.

"Okay." The word slipped out before I could stop it.

He looked up at me in surprise.

"Okay?" His eyes lightened with my new change of heart.

I found myself nodding.

"Okay."

What the hell did I just get myself into?


What did she get herself into? Have Edward and Bella really thought this through? I think they have many hurdles up ahead.

__

AN: Hey everyone. Yes, I know, another update so soon! I really want everyone to get an idea of where I'm trying to take this story. Remember Bella and Edward only see each other as friends at this point. Friends With Benefits relationships sound great in theory, however, there is also a great chance someone will end up getting hurt. Unless both parties have a mutual understanding about the relationship, it won't work. (By the way, if you're in this kind of relationship and it works for you, that's great!)

Also, I have a bone to pick with many of you. I've noticed lots of you putting this story on your alerts and favorites but not reviewing. I will post the next update when I see a reasonable amount of reviews! Deal? I'm sure you all want to know what happens next! :o)