A/N: Woohoo! I had some free time…I'd just like to thank everyone that has either favorite, alerted or reviewed…you guys are the best! I'm sorry for not replying to any reviews last time…I was training, but today the ice rink is closed and I can't train…so I'm updating and replying to reviews…

I might update my other story as well…but nothing's for sure

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: So we should all know by now…I own nothing but the plot!

Edward POV

I drove to Marks house, and from there we drove all the way to Seattle. It had been a week since I had met Bella, since I had found out Mark is her boyfriend, since I had last seen her. Mark had woken up the day after the party, bright and early to get ready for when Bella came. She did, about 6 hours after Mark woke up, something that made me laugh at him. Finally they left.

So we were now outside Bella's apartment in Seattle. Mark knocked the door in the same way he always does- three quick knocks and then a fourth one, louder, slower. Bella apparently knew that knock too because when she opened the door she was smiling, and instantly brought her arms around Mark's neck, hugging him and kissing his cheek. Mark merely laughed and hugged her back. I tried to look away, not only to give them some privacy, but because the scenario wasn't very pleasant for me.

"And it never gets old." He pointed out. I guess she always does that. Bella chuckled lightly against Marks shoulder, where she had buried her face after her kiss. She brought her head out to look at him and noticed me for the first time. She instantly pulled away and released Mark. He looked taken aback but quickly recovered. Bella then looked at me and smiled.

"Hi Edward, I never thought you'll come all the way here, it's quite far." She noted and I smiled.

"No problem, I wanted to help."I answer, and it's the truth Mark had said he could bring Bella's things to Forks and I could help unload everything, but I insisted in coming all the way here. I felt the urge to know where she lives, or rather lived.

"Thanks… well come on in, you boys want anything?" She asked kindly.

"No thanks, we just had breakfast." I said and Bella nodded my way and turned to look at Mark.

"Me neither, where are those boxes?" He urged and Bella laughed.

"They are in my room." She said, pointing a finger at her room for my benefit, because Mark was already walking towards it. I nodded and walked there. There were only a few boxes, about 15 medium-sized, definitely not what I expected. Mark began to look at the boxes and began to move some.

"Let's take all the big ones first." He said as he prepared himself to carry one, embracing the box as best he could. I laughed at him and nodded, carrying a box myself.

Hardly an hour later were we done loading all the boxes. Bella and her mother were saying good-bye while Mark and I waited by the car.

"Take care honey." Renee, Bella's mom said. I had just met her and even in such a short time I could tell she's quite childish.

"I will mom, you take care as well." Bella responded, hugging her mother with all her will.

"Call me the moment you're with Charlie." Her mother ordered and Bella nodded.

"Okay mom, love you."Bella said, releasing her mother.

"Love you too… see you soon." Renee hugged Bella one last time before she let her go. Bella smiled at her mother and turned to look at us, a longing but determined look in her eyes. Mark looked at Renee and smiled, walking towards her and opening his arms in a welcoming gesture, she laughed lightly and hugged him. "You take care of my girl." She said and Mark said something back, I couldn't hear it though. But apparently it made Renee laugh. "Sure, Mark, just take care of her." She said, rolling her eyes.

"I will Renee, don't worry." He said wholeheartedly and I saw, out of the corner of my eye, Bella smiled. Renee then looked at me and smiled.

"Bye Edward, thanks for helping my girl." She said, extending her hand for me to shake, it wasn't an awkward hang shake though, it felt sincere. "I'm glad she has such good friends." She added and I smiled.

"No, thank you, it's my pleasure" I saw surprise show through her face at the formal tone I used. She nodded and said good-bye, this time pulling me in for a small hug. After that we got into the car and I drove away, Mark in the passenger seat and Bella at the back. We rode in silence for a few minutes, with nothing but the music to fill the atmosphere.

"We could stop at Port Angeles for something to eat." Mark suggested. "It's getting quite late." He noted.

"Sure why not" I was getting quite hungry as well.

"Where should we go?" Bella asked, popping her head in between Mark and Me, I could see her hair by my face, mere inches from mine. The scent it had was purely amazing, like strawberries with some kind of flower, one I can't place. She was smiling, alternating between looking at Mark and at me. I smiled and shrugged.

"There are lots of places, where do you want to go?" I asked and she brought her index finder up to her chin, tapping lightly, contemplating the options.

"Hmm I don't know. Where do you want to go?" She asked me and I shrugged once again, a smile plastered in my face. I don't know why, but the fact she is talking to me, me specifically, makes me happy.

"Okay, since Edward has no idea and I give a damn…" She trailed off and I laughed lightly. "Where do you want to go honey?" My breath caught in my throat and I couldn't quite breath. But neither Mark, nor Bella noticed my current state as they continued to gaze into each others eyes. Finally I managed to pull some air in and release it slowly.

"Hmm…we could go to the restaurant, by the mall." He offered and Bella nodded happily. Both of them completely unaware of my breathing problem.

"Yeah that's a good idea. Is that okay with you, Edward?" Bella asked me sweetly and I smiled and nodded. It's amazing how my mood changes so quickly.

"Sure, what's the restaurant's name?" I asked her and she looked back at Mark. He looked at us and told us the name, I hadn't been there, and it was new. Anyway after we arrived to Port Angeles I drove all the way to the mall and parked just outside of the restaurant.

I left the car and closed my door, ready to open the door for Bella. Mark had already done that by the time I got my hand near the handle. Bella smiled at me once she saw what I had tried to do. Mark took her hand and all three of us walked directly to the restaurant.

Once seated, the waitress came up to us.

"Hi I'm Hillary and I'll be your waitress today." She said, smiling kindly at Mark while she handed him his menu. I suppressed a giggle when Bella huffed as she handed her the menu. The waitress then turned to look at me and smiled, more than warmly, invitingly. Gah!

"I'll be happy to help with anything you want." Did I just imagined the emphasis in the words 'anything'? And 'you'? Gah! Gah! And Gah! Again. I smiled at her out of politeness as I buried my face in the menu she had just handed me. "So, what would you like?" She asked me, not Bella or Mark… me! Ugh!

"A Coke." I said curtly as I brought my menu to cover my face from her stare while I could still look at Mark and Bella, the first was too engrossed in his menu analysis to notice the flirting that was going on. Bella on the other hand had an amused look in her eyes, and seemed to be having a hard time not laughing. "What do you guys want?" I asked them, Bella smiled slightly when the waitress had to look away from me.

"Iced tea, please and… Mark?" Bella said, finally getting Mark's attention off of the menu.

"Uh..ah..um.. coke." The waitress wrote everything down and turned to smile at me. Me! Again!

"I'll be right back with you…" She said before she turned around and walked away. Once she was out of earshot I shuddered.

"Gah! Ugh! Gah!" I said as another shudder ran through my body. Bella looked at me and laughed, hard. I looked at her, amused she had found it the least bit funny. She looked at my face again and this only made her laugh harder.

"Sorry…it's just…your face… wh-when she said the last thing…. " She managed to say before laughter overtook her again. Mark was all but oblivious to our little chat; he kept looking at his menu, trying to decide.

"I guess it must have been funny." I allowed and she nodded frantically. I smiled at her and turned my attention back to my menu. "So what are you gonna order?" I asked her, she smiled before she lowered her gaze to the menu and looked through it quickly.

"Um… I'm not sure… I'm thinking the Caesar Salad?" Her tone asked for approval. I nodded. "How about you?" She asked me.

"Hmm… Spaghetti Alfredo?" I said, using the same tone she had used. She smiled warmly at me and nodded. "He hasn't even moved." I noted, looking at Mark, who was, at this moment, looking at his menu as if his food choice was a matter of life or death. Bella turned to look at him and then turned back to me, rolling her eyes. I was just staring at Mark, he looked so focused.

The waitress arrived with our drink, placing Bella's first and then Mark's in a hurry. She turned her entire body to me, she placed the glass in front of me, really slowly leaning her back. "You know what you want?" She asked me, her face level with mine. I think I gulped, but I can't be sure. Bella giggled though, so I must have. This brought the waitress's attention back to the task in hand. The waitress sighed and pulled back from her position in the table, something I was overly grateful for. "You ready to order?" She asked us.

"Bella?" I said, trying to get the waitress to stop looking at me. She did, turning for Bella.

"I'll have the Caesar salad, please." She answered, already turning to look at Mark. Without bringing his gaze up from the menu he said.

"I'll have the salmon, sweet sauce, fresh veggies as side dish, with just a little glaze and not overcooked." She nodded, writing everything down. I saw Bella roll her eyes at Marks specifications.

"How 'bout you?" The waitress…I think Hillary is her name, asked me.

"Spaghetti Alfredo for me, please." I said before I dropped my gaze to the table and gave her the menu. She took it and walked away. I sighed, relieved she was gone, for now at least. We chatted animatedly for a few minutes until I saw the waitress heading towards us, plates in hand. She handed them out without flirting…as much. She left and Mark dug in without much thought. Bella looked at her plate, then at mine and her brow furrowed ever so slightly.

"Is something wrong with your salad?" I asked her. She looked at me and shook her head.

"No its fine…its just, I should have ordered something else."

"Okay, let me call the waitress" I offered, already bringing my arm up so she would see it, not even thinking about the flirting looks and smiles I would have to endure, but only thinking of Bella's comfort.

"No, no, don't…its okay…" She said, reaching for my hand and pulling my arm down. I felt something, our hands fir together perfectly, it was like I didn't want to let go of her hand, not now, not ever. She released my hand as soon as my arm hit the table. Retrieving and placing it down the table. There was a moment of silence in which the only sound was Mark's chewing and swallowing.

"Okay, since you won't let me get the waitress, then, would you like to exchange?" I asked her once I found my voice again, pushing the plate towards her. That feeling, not wanting to let go of her hand, was new to me.

"No, no…don't worry it's fine, really." She answered.

"At least let me give you some of mine." I pressed. Bella bit her lip, looking at her salad and then at the spaghetti.

"Okay, a little…but only if you take some of mine." She decided, I nodded and pushed the plate towards her. She took the smaller plate that comes with the salad dressing and with her fork she took a little bit of my spaghetti.

"Oh come on… that's nothing!" I said once I noticed she wasn't planning on taking any more spaghetti. She smiled at me as she took a bit of spaghetti in her fork. She brought it up to her mouth and chewed, and instant smile formed in her lips and she nodded.

"It's good." She said before she brought a little more of spaghetti to her mouth. I smiled and brought my fork up, instantly tangling a little bit of spaghetti around it and bringing it up to my mouth. It was definitely good. I brought my fork down into the spaghetti again while Bella continued to serve spaghetti into her little plate. We continued like that, eating, occasionally talking and laughing. At some point Bella stopped trying to get spaghetti on her smaller dish and simply ate right out of mine.

I laughed mentally, this must look like a scene from a romance movie, the couple eating spaghetti, chatting and laughing. The only problem here is that we are not a couple, and her boyfriend is seating by her side, ravishing his food. Occasionally he'll look up, smile or comment something. After a few minutes the spaghetti plate was empty.

"So you only wanted a little?" I noted and she smiled and laughed lightly, blushing. Her blush made her look sweet, innocent.

"Sorry…And you promised to take some of mine." She noted as well and it was my turn to smile and laugh. We spent a few more minutes at the restaurant, Bella asked for her salad to be prepared as take out and we ordered the check. We left the restaurant, not without and incredible amount of flirting from the waitress part.

We headed to the car and drove all the way down to Forks. When we arrived it was already 6 in the afternoon, so we had an hour of light. I drove to Bella's house, following the directions she gave me. I parked and we all left the car and began to unload boxes. Bella stopped at the front door and retrieved a key from her pocket opening the door.

"Make yourself at home… I will as well." She said once we were all inside. Bella looked around, taking everything in, she looked happy. She snapped out of it and guided us to her room. It was small, but I knew Bella would organize everything, even in such a small space. We continued unloading boxes until 7 and then we merely sat at the living room, watching TV.

Bella excused herself and went upstairs to talk to her mother and to the bathroom. Mark turned the TV's volume up and looked at me.

"Anthony, I have to ask you something." He said, talking over the TV's volume. I turned to look at him and nodded. "Well, actually, it's more like a favor." He said, and he looked kind of sheepish. "Well, its just…that…well….you know I… have a…..sort of….tendency…"

"Spit it." I said, my voice louder so he could hear me over the show's voices. He looked at me and his eyes looked sheepish, apologetic.

"Okay… as you probably already know, Bella is nice… sometimes too nice for her own good." He began, where is this going? "She's pretty." More like beautiful, I corrected in my mind "She's selfless. I know I'm lucky to be with her… but I'm afraid some not-so-lucky guys may want her." He offered. Where is this going once again? Is he talking about me? Oh, god! No! Why would it be about me?

"I know Bella is independent…and very intelligent, but she sometimes needs a…" He trailed off, trying to look for the right word. "Savior, protector." He said finally. Is he talking about school?

"If this is about school, don't worry, I'll help her, I'm sure everyone will like her." I said in a sincere tone.

"It's not that, what's got me worried, I know you'll help her." I stared at him, confused, my forehead furrowing. Mark sighed, looking for words to explain himself. "Maybe I'm acting out of selfishness, or maybe not… but I'm afraid some…guys, might like her…a little too much." He finally said. I nodded curtly. "Could you please look after her?" Mark asked. Me what?

"Mark, I don't think Bella would cheat on you… as you said, she's too nice." I noted but Mark was already shaking his head in denial.

"I know, I'm not worried about that… I'm afraid they'll take…advantage of her." I stared at him… advantage of her? "The first time I met her, she was too nice… talking to a stranger, accepting an invitation from a guy she merely knew… and I'm not complaining about that… it's one of the things I like most about her." He kept talking as I tried to take it all in. "But it might…lead some guys to believe she likes them more than she really does… even I'm confused sometimes." Tell me about it. I thought sourly. Where did that come from?

"I know I'm asking too much… but could you just take care of her?" He asked me.

"Mark… I don't think she'll appreciate it very much." I offered.

"I'm not asking you to be her body-guard, but her friend, just… I don't know… be her protector." He finished. I was out of words, my friend was trusting me with the girl de lov-likes. I was touched.

"But Mark-" I began to say but he interrupted me.

"See it this way, you earn the best friend you could ever have and I earn the security she won't be hurt."

"I already have the best friend I could ever have." I noted, pointing at him. He chuckled lightly and shook his head.

"I'm your best friend, not the best friend." He noted and I chuckled this time. "Okay then you'd earn the satisfaction of helping your best friend…" He offered and I laughed, I knew I would give in.

"Okay, Mark, Okay." I said, sighing in defeat.

"Do we have a deal?" He asked me, outstretching his arms towards me for a hand shake.

"Deal." I said before I shook hands with him in a seal-the-deal manner.

"Thanks." He said, already turning to the TV and turned the volume to a normal level again. I guess he did that so Bella wouldn't hear. She came back down a few minutes after our deal had been sealed. She offered to prepare dinner and went directly to the kitchen, I could hear the shuffling of pots, knives and the opening and closing of the fridge. Mark went to the bathroom and just when he closed the door a car parked at the driveway, a police car, I'm guessing her dad. I stayed put, in the seat I had taken in one of the kitchen chairs. Bella was too transfixed into whatever she was making to notice her father's arrival.

I heard the lock on the front door shuffling and the door opened. The footsteps that followed sounded tired yet anxious and with just a tad of urgency. In no time Bella's father was standing at the kitchen door. I was surprised to see Chief Swan, dressed from head to toe in his police uniform, I should have asked Bella for her last name. Besides I have no idea where Chief Swan lives…well know I do…but still.

"Bella?" Her father asked, she smiled and walked towards him, hugging him awkwardly. I guess they're not very close.

"I've missed you so much Char-dad." She said, her face apart from him.

"I've missed you too, I'm happy…you are …living here now." He said in a casual tone, trying not to show so many emotions.

"Me too… why don't you take a seat, dinner will be ready in a minute…" She said, turning back to work in her preparation.

"You didn't have to." He said.

"Oh, no I wanted to…we already agreed on this." Chief Swan smiled and turned to look at me, his smile vanished as he analyzed me. I felt the urge to run somewhere and hide, he kept staring at me, giving me the up down about four times.

"I'm guessing you're Mark." He said in a restrained tone and I couldn't do anything but stare at him in confusion.

"No dad he's not Mark." Bella said, I couldn't hear her rolling her eyes. "He's Anthony, Mark's friend." It was the first time she had ever called me Anthony. I couldn't help but notice how it sounded much nicer in her voice than in any other.

"Oh, okay, Nice to meet you." He said extending his hand for me to shake. I did.

"Nice to meet you too sir. " I said in my most respectful tone. He seemed to approve of it because he nodded and the frown in his face disappeared.

"Aren't you Dr. Cullen's son" He asked me and I nodded.

"Yes sir, I am." I answered. His eyes brightened and he nodded in approval.

"Please call me Charlie." He said, dismissing the formal speech with his hands and request, as if we were friends now, past the barriers of formality. I smiled slightly.

"Sure will sir-" I said, and then I saw Charlie's look. "Charlie." I corrected and he smiled. He was about to take a seat on a chair in front of me when Mark entered the kitchen, all but oblivious to what was waiting for him inside.

"Bella it smells delicious, wh-" Mark stopped midsentence once he saw Charlie standing a few steps away from him. His eyes widened slightly but he managed not to show just how nervous he really was. Bella decided to interfere.

"Mark this is Charlie, my father. Dad this is my boyfriend, Mark." She said, looking at the both of them. .

"Nice to meet you Charlie." Mark said, not realizing what he just said. I tried to hide my smile, but my mouth twitched at the corners.

"Nice to meet you too, and please call me sir." Charlie said in the same tone he had used when he thought I was Bella's boyfriend. I had to press my lips together, hard, to keep from laughing. This was amusing more than anything. Mark's faced showed nothing but surprise, his eyes regretful, sheepish and apologetic. Bella on the other hand was grimacing slightly.

"Sure thing, Char-sir." I couldn't hide it anymore, I buried my face in my hands in order to keep everyone from noticing I was smiling and giggling. It was so Mark, to dismiss any kind of formality, to go straight to the point. But this definitely wasn't the situation he was used to, meeting the girlfriend's father. I'm sure it went overly well with Renee… she is so free-spirited and I'm sure she called him "son" or "budy" the first time they met. Apparently with Charlie it was different.

But I couldn't help notice how Bella's father had reacted differently to me than to Mark, he asked me to call him by his first name while Mark wasn't allowed to. I guess it's only because I'm not his daughter's boyfriend, if I were I might not be allowed to call him Charlie. Nonetheless Mark was probably sweating cold at this very moment, while Charlie analyzed him.

"Take a seat, it'll be just a minute." Bella said, breaking the tense silence that had taken the kitchen. Just then did it occur to me.

"Do you need help with anything?" I asked Bella while both Mark and Charlie made their way to the table. Charlie looked up at me, surprised.

"No thanks, I'm fine." She answered, still focused in the food.

"Are you sure?" I wanted to help if I could. Mark was looking at his hands, probably trying to forget about what just happened. Charlie was still looking at me, not in a bad way, but I still felt his gaze. Bella turned to look at me and smiled.

"Positive." She said, before she took a bowl in between her hands and walked towards us. "It's all set." She said as she placed the bowl in the middle of the table, she walked towards the stove and brought another bowl to the table. She sat down and motioned for everyone to eat. We were all completely silent for a few moments, merely getting food on our dishes and eating it. Dinner passed with much conversation, the occasional compliment to Bella's food, and the usual awkward small talk. But Bella's food was really great, she could easily occupy second place in my favorites, only behind Esme, and Esme could beat professional-international chefs.

After dinner it was already 8:30 and Mark and I had to go. I waited in my car while Bella and Mark said good-bye in the porch. I was trying not to look at them, focusing my attention in the dashboard instead. I gave up and looked up to see Bella and Mark, they were hugging and looking into each other's eyes. Mark released her and kissed her cheek, saying something I can't hear or make out, and walking to the car. She waved and smiled. I revved the engine once Mark was inside of my car, mumbling a "lets go".

We headed to my house and went to bed early. The next day Topaz decided to get me up early, I got a leash on him and got my running pants on as well as a sweatshirt, it's probably cold outside. I left the house with my dog and returned a couple hours later, a little hungry. I entered the house, having left Topaz in the backyard, to find Mark on his way out. He was going to Bella's house to say good bye before heading back to Port Angeles.

Tomorrow is Monday, school day, and Bella's first day at Fork's High.

A/N: GUYS SORRY FOR CUTTING THE CHAPTER SHORT…BUT I COULD HAVE KEPT GOING AND GOING AND I REALLY NEED TO UPDATE MY OTHER STORY, SORRY… but I'm pretty sure "Love on Ice" readers will agree with me, haha!

This chapter's 'MUST-READ-FAN-FIC' suggestion is
'Death's Sweet Touch' by bellaklutz2010
(her other stories are amazing as well… specially 'The Secret Compartment' and 'Anything To Save You'…totally worth a shot!)

Follow the arrow, Click and REVIEW!
l
l
l
V