A/N: So, I guarantee quicker updates, and then take the longest time to post yet. I can make excuses left, right and center for my absence, but I won't. I've been having a really hard time dealing with this years personal issues, but I won't go into details.

I apologize in advance for this chapter; it took too long to write, it's choppy, and I might as well tell you now, it ends with a cliffhanger that will only be resolved in Edward's point of view. I'm so sorry, I really have been trying to keep Edward's point of view as a bonus and not necessary to the story, but the way the chapter played out, it had to be done. A thousand apologies.

I can't think of anything else to say, so I'll write the disclaimer, and I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, nor its characters and its sequels. I do own this plotline.

-x-o-x-

Chapter 4: Saturday Morning Shakespeare

"I love you, Edward." I said, staring deeply into his beautiful jade eyes. His hands were warm around mine and the ocean tide was lapping at our bare feet.

"I love you, Tanya." He replied, staring over me. My stomach dropped as I turned around and saw none other than Tanya, walking up behind me and smiling at Edward. He dropped my hands and brushed past me to her…

I sat upright, gasping. I blinked, trying to get my bearings straight. It had been a week since I first saw Edward and Tanya at the mall. Alice was convinced that I was in denial over my obvious love for Edward, but I wasn't so sure. I couldn't really know my feelings for him, and if he continued to date Tanya, I might never find out.

The clock read five am and I crawled out of bed unhappily. I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, but it seemed a shame to leave my warm cocoon. I shuffled over to the small kitchenette area and made myself hot chocolate in the microwave. I was going to spend my Saturday morning in bed with hot chocolate and let my brain rest by watching cartoons.

I turned around and screamed, dropping my hot chocolate and clutching my heart.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I gasped. Alice just chuckled.

"Look at the mess!" Alice sighed and disappeared to grab a towel. My hot chocolate had spattered everywhere and luckily the mug hadn't broken.

I grabbed a wet cloth from my little sink and helped Alice mop up the mess we had created.

"You really need to clam down, Bella." Alice advised, not looking up.

"Well, maybe if people would stop scaring me I could!" I huffed, "what are you doing here, anyways?"

"Rosalie came home this morning!" Alice exclaimed, ringing the towel out over the sink.

Rosalie had disappeared after her date with Emmett, only leaving a voice mail to explain that she had to go to New York for some urgent family thing.

"She's here? Is she okay?"

"I don't know! I figured we could go see her and ask." She finished in a rush, "also, we could see how her date went with Emmett."

"Alice!" I scolded, "I know you were upset that she left before she could give you details, but still! What if somebody died!"

"I know," Alice sighed, "I'm just curious to see how my plan panned out." I stopped cleaning to look up at her in shock.

"…Your plan?" She rolled her eyes.

"Of course my plan! How else did Emmett get over his insane shyness, or how else did Rosalie get over her 'I'm too good for you' thing?" She pointed to herself, "I helped!"

"Mary Alice Brandon." I shook my head, "I can't believe you." Alice grabbed my hand and yanked me towards the door.

"But my floor!"

"It'll dry! Besides, it's terrible hardwood, it wouldn't be a shame to see it wrecked and replaced." She didn't even let me close my door as she forcibly dragged me to Rosalie's dorm.

"Knock, knock!" Alice yelled, since both her hands were holding me in place. The door behind us whipped open and a girl poked her head out.

"Will you please shut up! Some of us are trying to sleep!" She snapped and slammed the door. One door closes and another opens.

"Hey?" A tired Rosalie asked, poking her head out the door.

"How are you?" I asked and she shrugged, letting us in.

"I'm tired."

"How was New York?" Alice asked. I could tell by her stance that she was impatient to get to Emmett, but she was going to be polite enough to ask the pressing questions first.

"I don't really want to talk about it."

"Oh. Can you tell us why you went there?" Alice asked.

"No. But I will tell you that I lost. But I sure as hell don't plan to give up." She grimaced. "So, what did I miss around here?"

"Emmett's been pining over you." Alice sang, sinking down on Rosalie's unmade bed. Rosalie and I joined her.

"Has he? That's wonderful." Rosalie giggled happily.

"So…how was it?" Alice asked, finally getting to her choice topic.

"God, words cannot describe how fantastic it was."

"How was the opera?" I asked, genuinely curious, Alice leaned in.

"I have no clue," Rosalie admitted, "we skipped it." Alice fell back into a fit of laughter.

"I knew it!" She howled, and Rosalie actually blushed.

"It's not what you think!" She insisted.

"Oh, I know that. I just knew the car show would be your downfall!" Alice said smugly.

"The car show?" I asked skeptically.

"It was amazing. That boy sure knows his cars." Rosalie sighed dreamily.

"We need the play by play!" Alice cried, and Rosalie was quick to comply.

"I swear, it was like something out of a movie!" She exclaimed, "He picked me up wearing an immaculate black tux and helped me into his hummer – which was custom built. Everything seemed to be going fine… until we passed the car show and the huge sign reminded us that it was the last day it was going to be in town. I, of course, was dying to see it, but missed it.

"Since Emmett seemed like the kind of guy who would appreciate car shows, I asked him how it was. I figured that since I couldn't see it, I could at least hear all the details from someone who would have gone. Much to my surprise, he said he hadn't been able to go.

"As we neared the opera, I asked him nonchalantly if he was really interested in the opera, and he responded with a truthful 'no, but he was glad to be spending time with me'. I said the same thing and of course, told him I would have loved to see the car show." She smiled widely and flipped her long blonde hair, "I used my feminine charms and smiled as brightly as I could. Within five seconds he pulled an illegal U turn and sped back."

"So you got to see the car show after all?" I asked, since Alice seemed to already know the answer. Rosalie nodded, smiling wickedly.

"And the highlight of your night was…?" Alice asked. Rosalie looked thoughtful.

"Hm…I would have to say the highlight was…the goodnight kiss."

"How did it happen?" Alice asked, her face as excited as a child on Christmas morning.

"After we left the show he drove us back to campus and parked in B lot. He held my hand lightly and walked me to my dorm. He walked me right to my door, since we're in the same dorm, but my room was out of his way. He was holding both my hands and ever so slowly he released one of my hands and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. Then he leaned down and touched his lips to mine." Alice and I sighed and Rosalie giggled.

"We made out for a couple minutes before I had to go. I went into my room and then twelve hours later I was on a flight for New York."

"So…are you going to see him again?" I asked and Rosalie looked at me in shock.

"Did you not hear the story? Of course I'm going to see him again!"

"Oh, so the trip to New York had nothing to do with Emmett?" I asked. Alice, for once, seemed as clueless as I did.

"Well…it did."

"But why would you run off to New York after your date with Emmett if it was good?"

"Your family lives in New York, right?" Alice asked slowly. Rosalie bit her lip and nodded.

"Can we please not talk about this anymore?" Rosalie begged, and Alice subsided, but I knew she wasn't finished. Jasper would be bombarded with questions today about their family workings. "So, enough about my love life, how are you and Jasper, Alice?" Alice giggled and I sat back, getting comfortable for the long winded story that was about to occur.

"We went on our first official dinner date a couple days ago. He took me to the Italian restaurant just off campus and it was fabulous! Jasper was dashing and polite and wonderful and it was the best time I've ever had on a date!" She launched into intricate details such as what they ordered for dinner and how the conversation went down to the inflections of his voice. Alice was hooked on him.

I unfocused and let the sound of their two voices wash over me. I almost fell asleep until I heard my voice.

"Bella? You awake?" Rosalie shook me and I focused on my two friends.

"Sorry."

"It's okay; I was just asking how your love life is. Has it bloomed while I was away?"

"He's dating Tanya." Alice murmured and Rosalie's face clouded over.

"I don't like Edward!" I protested for the millionth time.

"I'm sorry Bella, but I don't believe you."

"So what are we doing today?" I asked, desperately changing the subject. From the look Alice gave me she knew what I was doing, and it promised that we would be talking about it again.

"Hmm, well let me think." Alice pondered. "I'm going to lunch with Jasper."

"And I have a much overdue visit with Emmett." Rosalie added.

"I get the day to myself?" Alice and Rosalie looked at each other and nodded.

"I can't believe it, but we have no plans for you." Alice said in amazement. I was more then excited. I had time to relax and read the Shakespeare novel we were studying for my eighteenth century literature class.

"There's a student lounge on the first floor with big cushy chairs and a fireplace." Alice sang before getting up and leaving Rosalie's room. I followed her, saying a quick goodbye to our host. I finished cleaning up the mess that Alice hadn't let me clean up before and had a nice hot shower, using a shower bomb that I had gotten for my birthday from my eccentric mother.

It was finally a reasonable hour – nine o'clock – when I was finished getting dressed. I grabbed a granola bar from its box on the shelf above the microwave and was on my way. I didn't see Alice or Rosalie on my down and the lounge was empty. Alice was right, it was fantastic! Large overstuffed chairs were grouped in twos and threes and a large fireplace – which was protected by a large grate screwed into the stone mantle – had a fire burning in it already. There was only one window in the room, and the blinds were pulled closed, but the warm lighting from the fire and small table lamps made the room homey and warm.

Like a magnet I went straight towards the large armchair by the fire and curled up, letting my toes warm. There was only one other chair by the fireplace, and I put my feet up on it and let myself stretch out. I cracked open A Midsummer Night's Dream and lost myself in the complex love story.

What's this to my Lysander? Where is he? Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me?

I had rather give his carcass to my hounds.

"Excuse me?"

I pray thee, tell me then that he is well.

An if I could, what should I get therefor?

"Bella?"

My head snapped up at the sound of my name and I felt my eyes widen when I saw none other then Edward standing behind the chair my feet were resting on. He was smiling a beautiful half smile at me and I could feel a traitorous blush stain my cheeks.

"Hi." As soon as I responded I recalled all his failed attempts to pull me from the book. Oops.

"Hey. I didn't think you could hear me."

"I'm so sorry. Once I start reading, I kind of disconnect from the real world." He chuckled.

"I could tell." Edward looked at my feet pointedly, "Can I sit?" I looked at him for a couple seconds before I realized what he was asking, and then jumped to comply. He chuckled at my eagerness and the sudden proximity of him made my heart skip a beat. Damn, maybe Alice was right.

We lapsed into an awkward silence and I went back to reading. I couldn't stand the silence. I peeked up from my book to find my eyes captured by his. He has a girlfriend, I reminded myself. He's dating Tanya. You've met Tanya. She's nice… sort of.

"How's Tanya?" I blurted out. Why couldn't I have any social skills! He smiled and closed his book.

"She's doing fine, thanks. How are you?"

"I'm tired." Of course I couldn't have said the acceptable 'I'm fine', no, I had to tell the truth and invite more conversation.

"Did you not get to sleep in on this fine Saturday?" What made it 'fine'? It was raining, as usual, and the rain was thinning out the fog that blanketed the streets.

"Of course not, as long as Alice is up, everyone else has to be as well." Edward smiled sympathetically.

"When she wants something, she certainly has an uncanny way of getting it." He muttered.

"If you don't mind me asking, how come you and Alice were fighting last week in the mall? The only answer I can get from her is that you're a 'stupid boy'." I used my fingers to make air quotes so I could get the point across that I most certainly didn't think that. Edward laughed and shook his head.

"I didn't take her relationship advice and she got mad at me." He said cryptically and I sighed. I would never get a straight answer.

"So I'm guessing she advised against Tanya." He nodded.

"But then I got the opposite advice from someone else."

"You took the second persons advice, then?"

"For now, yes." He smiled and I decided to give up the quest for a straight answer.

"Are you enjoying the book?" I asked.

"Very much so."

We lapsed into a comfortable silence this time, and we continued to read.

-x-o-

Tears pricked my eyes as Edward finished his story from high school.

"I had to go to the rest of my classes looking like I wet myself!" I clutched my stomach as I laughed with him.

"That so does not top my worst memory." I bragged once I could breathe again.

"Oh really? You have one that's worse then looking like you wet yourself?" He challenged and I nodded.

"I'm like a walking danger magnet. One day I was going down the stairs of my high school in Phoenix in my flip flops. I accidentally kicked off my shoe, and in an attempt to rescue it I rushed down the rest of the stairs, causing me to fall. I bumped into the principal and she in turn hit the wall and accidentally pulled the fire alarm." I sighed. "I was suspended from school for a week for attacking the principal and causing a false fire alarm." Edward laughed at my misfortune.

"That must have sucked." He laughed.

"It did - especially when news of my suspension got to my dad, who's the police chief in Forks. He lectured me for thirty minutes on the phone before he let me explain why I had been suspended."

"I got suspended once." Edward mused.

"Oh really? What did you do?" I asked, curious since Edward didn't seem like the type to end up in suspension.

"I didn't do anything. One of my high school friends, James, rigged the oven in Home Economics and it exploded on me. I got suspended for destroying school property. Two weeks."

"…You were in Home Economics?" I choked out the laughter I had been holding back, and tears threatened to spill.

"Hey!" He protested, "My mom made me!" I only laughed harder. "Didn't you take any classes you didn't want to?"

"Nothing like Home Economics!"

"Like what then?" Edward was pouting, and I would have felt bad if he wasn't so adorable when he crossed his arms and jutted out his lower lip slightly.

"Charlie made me take Law and Renee made me take Pottery. Worst semester of my life."

"Which class was worse?"

"Hmm, that's hard. In Law I had to watch an autopsy because we were following the process of law, from the crime scene to the conviction. In Pottery I accidentally turned on the wheel thing and it threw my finished pot across the room and into the expensive sound system the teacher had purchased."

"Hard to choose." Edward agreed. I was about to ask him about his favorite class, but my cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Bella! Where are you? You've been off the map all day!" Alice practically shouted.

"What time is it?" Edward looked at his watch.

"It's like, five o'clock, Bella. Where have you been?" Alice asked, and Edward looked surprised at the time.

"Um, I've been in the lounge all day."

"By yourself?"

"No, with Edward." Alice chuckled conspiratorially.

"You lost time with Edward?" She asked sweetly.

"Alice, please." I warned.

"Meet me in my room in a half hour. Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett and I are spending a night watching movies and such, and you have to be there."

"Fine." I said sullenly, "But I'll just be a fifth wheel."

"Oh don't worry, you won't be." And then Alice hung up on me. Edward stood and I mourned the loss of proximity.

"Sorry, but I have to go. I have a date with Tanya in ten minutes." He said, checking his watch again. "Thank you for the great day." He gave me that beautiful crooked smile, the one that was perfect in its imperfection.

"No, thank you. And see you later." He waved and disappeared through the doors, leaving me alone. Always alone. I sighed and stood.

I shuffled out of the room with my head down. I couldn't stand being alone, it was maddening. I was the fifth wheel now. Always the odd person out.

I was too busy feeling sorry for myself to watch out for impact.

"I'm sorry!" A deep voice apologized. I was on my butt in a daze. I couldn't really remember falling.

"Um, it's okay." I said, picking myself up off the floor. I was almost up when the stranger decided to help, putting his hands on my shoulders and pulling me up the rest of the way.

"Sorry about that, Bells." My head snapped up and I was face to face with Jacob Black, with his hands on my shoulders.

"Oh. Hello." He released my shoulders, but didn't back up, letting an insane amount of heat pass between us. I felt like I had a fever.

"You okay? I'm sorry, I didn't see you. You're too small for your own good." He joked, and I put my hand on my forehead, feeling ill.

"Bella?"

"I'm sorry, I just – I don't feel well."

"Is my heat making you uncomfortable?"

"Yes, are you sick or something?" I asked, backing up several steps. The cold air that filled the void was refreshing and calmed my stomach.

"No, I just can't stand the cold." He lifted up his red sweatshirt to reveal some small portable heater.

"You lived in Forks." I pointed out.

"I didn't want to." He replied.

"I have to go, bye." I started to push past him, but his hand on my arm kept me in place.

"Um, Bella." His heat was starting to twist my stomach again.

"What, Jacob?" I asked irritably.

"Would you like to go out with me tomorrow?" He looked so sheepish; it was cute in a bashful kind of way.

"Like, on a date?" I clarified. Jacob swallowed hard and nodded.

"A date." I was so tired of being alone… And it wasn't like Edward and I would ever happen. He was dating Tanya, and I wouldn't be a fifth wheel anymore…

"Sure, I would love to." His smile lit up the room.

"I'll call you tonight with details." We swapped numbers and I was one my way again. I wondered how Alice would take it…

-x-o-

"You did what?" Alice asked in a deadly tone.

"I accepted. Jacob and I are going on a date." I said it with much more confidence then what I felt. I wondered if I had agreed for the wrong reasons.

"But…why?" She stuttered. Rosalie, Jasper and Emmett were watching our spat like it was a tennis match. They even had popcorn.

"Because…" I was lonely, "He's nice." Alice snorted.

"Nice. What a terrible reason!" She looked over at Jasper and sighed. "I'm calm." He rolled his eyes and she sucked in a deep breath.

"Is this a double date thing?" I asked, looking pointedly at the two couples. Alice was taken aback at the abrupt, off topic question.

"No, just five – soon to be six – friends hanging out." She shrugged.

"Soon to be six?" A knock on the door came to punctuate my question.

"Hey, Edward." Alice said, opening the door.

"I don't know how you knew I would be coming. I told you I had a date with Tanya." He told her and she smiled, tapping her temple.

"I know all things. Now, meet the rest of the gang!" His eyes traveled over everyone in familiarity and to my surprise, his gaze rested on me.

"Hi again." His smile took my breath away and I couldn't respond. Alice smirked at me from behind Edward.

"Where are we going?" Emmett asked, helping Rosalie up off Alice's bed.

"The pizzeria just off campus. Emmett high fived Jasper.

"Sweet! I wonder if Courtney is working today…" I began to laugh, recalling the time Emmett, Jasper and I went and our day ended with Emmett tripping our waitress, Courtney.

"Who's Courtney?" Rosalie asked a little too sweetly.

"This waitress I was bugging the whole time Jasper, Bella and I went there. She was being rude and I spilled coke all over her, and then tripped her as we left." He said proudly.

"Why am I not surprised." Edward muttered and I nudged him in the ribs, hoping he would lighten up. I was eager to see the snobby waitress be taken down another peg. Emmett continually brings out the evil in me.

"Shall we?" Edward asked, holding his arm out for me to take.

"Thank you." I took his arm and a sharp jolt of electricity ran through me on contact.

It was then that I realized that it would very hard to be friends with him. How could I keep our friendship plutonic when my heart stopped when he said my name or when I felt sparks when we touched?

He's dating Tanya, he's dating Tanya, he's dating Tanya.

But the question was, for how long?

-x-o-x-

A/N: Cliffy! I know! Feel free to flame, because that way you can yell at me, and get Edward's pov!

I would love it if you reviewed, but I totally understand if you rebel and don't. It's just nice to get encouragement, and reviews make me want to post because I feel bad leaving people in the dark. I update for my reviewers!

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!

-Maggie