A/N: So just to answer a question before it gets asked. I cannot guarantee that I will be updating every day. I have another story and a clusterfuck of things happening in RL. However since I've been on break from school I've been able to write everyday. I will update as I write. BUT let me tell you, getting a lot of awesome reviews really motivates me. If you like it, tell me, tell your friends, tell your Grandma's next door neighbor...in fact you can tell them even if you don't like it. But I put a lot of work into this and I do it all for you guys because I loooove you so much. So help me out : )

Bella

I slept in the next morning. I don't know if it was conscious or not, but I think I was scared to see if Edward was still sleeping against my stairs. Because if he was I might give him a swift kick in the balls.

I thought we could be friends…Hell I won't lie, a part of me wanted to sneak into his room at night and take advantage of that beautiful body he had. But I think my irritation from last night might have squashed any feelings I might have towards him besides utter disgust and repulsion.

I crept towards the door and slowly opened it, peeking my head out. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw he was nowhere to be found. Alice called as I started making breakfast to talk about some new store opening up downtown that I had no interest in. But I listened and feigned interest because she was my best friend and she was happiest when she was in a store. Which I meant I was miserable a lot of the time, but its okay. I can deal.

"So what's the update with Mr. Guardmybody?"

I sighed, making sure the unfriendly tone of my thoughts was conveyed.

"Uh oh. What happened?"

"We had dinner together the other night and it was…nice. He was funny and charming and there's something mysterious about him."

"Like America's Most Wanted mysterious or the guy from that new vampire movie mysterious?"

"Vampire guy mysterious."

"Ohhh…" She gushed. "Okay go on."

"So anyway, Jake told me about this party last night…"

"Yeah at Jessica's. I waited for you, what happened?"

"Edward decided to go on a power trip and wouldn't let me go."

"Bella that's laughable. That's never stopped me before."

"Ali you don't understand. He physically…would not let me go. Then Jake got all defensive and I think he almost got his ass kicked. Edward was pissed."

"I bet that was hot."

"Alice!"

"Sorry."

"So I go to bed, wake up in the middle of the night, and he's fucking sleeping in my hallway making sure I don't sneak out."

I finished my breakfast and went to sit on the counter.

"I mean where does he get off doing something like that?" I started digging in. I wasn't enthusiastic about much. But food was one of them.

"Let's face it Bella. You're just not stealth enough to get away from him."

"Okay James Bond what do you suggest?"

"Not sure. But you should probably think of something…"

"Gotcha." I heard someone come in the room. I held my breath because I knew Charlie would have already left for work, so it had to be…

"Good morning Bella…" Edward said.

"I have to go…the pain in my ass just walked into the room…" I said to Alice. I heard Edward laugh in the background.

"Okay call me later."

I hung up the phone and glared at Edward, not saying a word. The silence was uncomfortable as fuck, but I felt like if I opened my mouth to talk to him, flames would shoot out. And my dad loves this house too much.

"Don't worry…the pain in your ass will be leaving the building soon." He grabbed a few water bottles out of the refrigerator. "Just so you know I'll be gone all day. I'm going to spend some time with my family. I ran it by Charlie this morning and he said it was fine as long as you were okay with it?" He twisted off one of the tops and took a drink. A few droplets spilled on the front of his shirt.

I waved him towards the door, not wanting to grant him a response.

"Have a good day Bella…" He smiled and left.

This was fucking ridiculous. I was beyond pissed and he just walked in like Susie Fucking Sunshine, not giving a shit about anything that happened last night. What a joke.

I stomped back up to my room and decided to sleep the day away. It wasn't like I had much to do anyway. Alice would probably drag Jasper to that new store, thank God, so I was relatively free.

I pulled the covers over my head and dozed off. I woke up a few times during the day, watched an episode of Maury and a couple of Cops. I snuck downstairs to make some dinner and ate it back in my room.

"Bella?" Charlie knocked on my door. I looked over at the clock. It was already six o'clock. Where did the day go?

"Yeah." I started flipping through the channels again. He opened the door and stepped inside.

"Are you alright?'

"Yeah I'm fine." I stopped on Family Guy and kept my eyes on the screen.

"Listen Edward told me about what happened the other night…with you and Jake."

"Good. I hope you fire his ass."

"Fire him? I'm glad he did it Bella. None of the others have ever been that forceful with you and I think its what you needed. I gave him a raise."

My mouth dropped. That was not what I was expecting to hear.

"Are you kidding me? He practically manhandles me, threatens Jake and you say okay here's some more money!"

"You're overreacting. He was just doing his job. He's supposed to protect you Bella."

"From what? Living?"

He sat down on my bed and started watching the television with me.

"There are some things you don't know. Some things you couldn't understand. I just need you to trust me okay?"

I glared straight ahead.

"Okay?" He bent down closer.

"Fine…" I said through clenched teeth. He could force Edward on me, but I didn't have to be happy about it.

"Okay. I'll leave you alone, I know you probably want to bitch to Alice or something…" He smiled and got off the bed.

"I already did that earlier."

He laughed and left the room.

I didn't realize I'd drifted off again until my phone vibrated against my side. I opened my eyes slowly and looked around the room. It was completely dark. My dad must have checked in on me and shut the TV off. I shook my head and looked at the clock. It was eleven. I finally reached down and grasped at my phone. I didn't recognize the number but I answered it anyway.

"Hello?"

"Bella?" The woman said. There was a hint of something familiar, but very far away in her voice.

"Yeah who's this?" I sat up and turned on a light.

"It's Mom honey." I froze.

"Why are you calling me?"

"Baby I miss you…"

"You're not allowed to miss me. I haven't heard from you in over a year and you just think you can call me. Especially after everything Phil…"

"Oh! Phil! He wants to talk to you sweetie."

She was so far in denial it was sickening. My hand gripped so tight around the phone that I thought it was going to break. I wanted to hang up, do anything to avoid hearing his voice, but I couldn't move.

"Bella!" I cringed when I heard his voice. "We miss you so much. What have you been doing?"

"Why do you care Phil? Don't have a room to sneak into at night?"

"So what do you think about us coming up to visit?"

I twisted the covers in my fist. "I think I'll break your fucking leg if you try…"

That shut him up for a moment.

"Just as feisty as always I see…" He laughed.

I felt the tears start to well up in my eyes.

"Bells?" My mom got back on the phone.

"Yeah…" I fought back the tears.

"We'll be seeing you soon…"

"Mom, no I don't want…" But she was gone.

I hung up the phone and threw it down on my mattress. I was about an inch away from breaking down and becoming hysterical. They had…no right to do that. I never, ever hear from them and then they just call me out of the blue. And on top of that they act like everything's fucking okay? It's not. I don't think I ever want to see them again. And that's saying a lot considering she's my mother. But I can't look at her, knowing that she knew and didn't do a damn thing about it.

I pulled my knees to my chest and started rocking back and forth, nibbling on my nails trying to calm down. I needed something to relax. My eyes wandered to the foot of my bed. And into the drawer that Charlie didn't know existed. It was a part of my bed frame. I didn't find it until after we bought it but it'd proved helpful in hiding things from Charlie that he didn't need to know about.

I crawled down to the edge of my bed and reached down, pulling my comforter up and opening the drawer. I pulled the little baggie out and shook it, trying to see how much I had left from Jess. It was enough. I walked over and locked my door before starting towards my window. My dad would freak if he smelled it. I got shit even for Alice smoking cigarettes in my room.

I opened the window and crawled out, making my way to the small piece of flatness between my bedroom window and the window to the hallway. I settled in, wishing I'd brought a blanket, and pulled the supplies out of the bag. It only took me a minute to roll one up and I smiled as I lit it, feeling the calm starting to course through my veins immediately.

I laid back and looked up at the sky, blowing the smoke up and out of my body. It was a calm, cloudless night. I could see each and every one of the stars, which wasn't something that happened very often in the always cloudy Forks. And being high just made it so much better.

I finished my joint and rubbed it out on the shingles, making sure it didn't start a fire. That's the last thing I needed. A front page headline announcing the Police Commissioner's daughter set his house on fire with a joint. It was almost laughable. I put my arms behind my head and drifted off to sleep feeling like a million bucks, floating away on a cloud.

The bugs were out early the next morning. I don't recommend sleeping on a roof, there's a dangerous potential for long falls, but it's not too bad until they start. First it's just a light buzzing in your ear that won't go away no matter how much you swat. My eyes shot open when it bit me and I sat up to slap it away.

"Greedy little bastard…" I mumbled to myself. A shiver ran through my body. It was cool, definitely too cool to have slept outside. I'd probably get pneumonia and die, all for a small high.

I started to get up and very carefully made my way back towards my window, very intent on snuggling up in my warm bed for as long as possible. But something caught my attention. A flurry of black to my right. I turned around and saw Edward. He stood out in front of his house putting on his tennis shoes and stretching. If I was a betting woman in Vegas, I would've said he was about to go for a run. And this time, I was going to follow him.

I rushed inside, grabbed the first pair of sweatpants I could find and my tennis shoes and flew outside. I could still see him. He was about halfway to the tree line. I didn't bother stretching, I just took off after him, planning on keeping a safe distance. I didn't need him to know I was following him…at least not right away.

We started through the woods, down a path I didn't even know existed. I felt the shortness of breath coming already. I knew I was out of shape but this was fucking ridiculous. He'd know someone was following him if I kept this up. But he'd probably just assume by the ragged breaths it was an 80-year-old woman with emphysema. I fell back a little bit until he was barely in my eyesight. And then he disappeared. I panicked and started running faster and faster down the trail we'd been on. I didn't see any other way he could have gone and he definitely didn't disappear into thin air. He had to be here somewhere. I came to an abrupt stop when the path ended in a small clearing. It was beautiful and perfectly untouched. I almost felt bad interrupting the silence. I assumed the path must start up on the other side and started off desperately for it. Now I was lost, I had to find him. I was no Hansel and Gretel. I didn't leave a breadcrumb trail.

I took a few steps across the meadow and instantly stopped, a sharp pain shooting through my leg. I grasped at it, trying to pull it up towards my chest.

"God! Dammit! Fuck!" I screamed, falling to the ground. I curled up, furiously rubbing my calf trying to make the pain go away.

"Cramp?" Edward said, stepping out of the trees and into the meadow. I didn't appease him with an answer, I just grabbed at my leg more.

"You didn't stretch. And you're out of shape." He bent over and sat down next to me. "Relax…" He looked up at me and I could see the sweat beads dripping down the side of his face.

I had the same problem, but my moisture wasn't sweat, it was tears from this immense pain in my leg. He slowly pushed my hands away from my leg and replaced them with his own, gently massaging up and down my calf. The sharp pain gradually began fading away.

"Just breathe Bella…" He kept eye contact with me the entire time. And for the life of me I couldn't look away from his green eyes. And in that moment I realized that they calmed me down more than any other kind of green ever had.

Edward

I knew she was following me the entire time, but I decided to play along and see how long she could last. But if I hadn't known it right away I would have known it when she started huffing and puffing like an 80-year-old woman with emphysema. I knew exactly where I was going when I started towards the meadow. I hid behind the trees and waited for her to come. If she could be a sneaky ass creep then so could I.

It was the first time I really got a good look at her, I couldn't just turn around and let her know that I knew. Her hair was pulled back and she looked exhausted. She came to a stop in the middle of the meadow and looked around. I could only imagine the confusion running through her head, but I thought I'd wait it out a little before I revealed myself. Her nose wrinkled up and she scowled as she debated which way to go. She quickly started off toward the other side and just as quickly fell down to the ground, clutching her leg.

I darted out from my hiding spot, but she was too distracted to notice. I'd assumed it was just a cramp, but those things hurt like hell. I'd almost rather go down a sandpaper slide naked. I couldn't contain my laughter at her outburst as I approached. Bella had a mouth like a sailor.

"Cramp?"

She glared at me.

I bent down and started massaging her leg, just like they always did with me. Very slow deliberate movements. Back and forth. Back and forth. She didn't say anything, but I heard her crying slow and her face was no longer contorted into the painful scowl from before.

"Just breathe Bella…" I kept my eyes on her face and she finally looked up at me. I held her gaze until she shuddered a little, a look of almost guilt spreading across her face. She reached down and brushed my hands away.

"Thank you…" She said softly.

"No problem. I used to get them all the time."

"How long did you know I was following you?"

"Since you came running out of the house and almost knocked over the potted plant by the door…"

She laughed a little. "I guess being graceful is not one of my strong suits…"

"Yeah you're kind of a klutz."

She smiled slightly and started to get up, stopping midway and looking up at me in panic. "I can feel it coming back…" She said quickly and sat back down. "I don't think I can walk back…" Her eyes looked back at the path towards the house.

I turned around, offering my back to her. "Get on…"

"What?"

"Get on, I'll carry you back."

She hesitated.

"Bella. Get on. Stop being ridiculous."

"Well fine!" She yelled, wrapping her arms around my neck and scooting closer. I reached behind me and carefully grabbed under her legs before standing up. It wasn't a struggle, this girl was lighter than a feather.

We made our way back to the house and I went straight for the work out room. I set her down on the weight bench.

"Stay here I'll go get something for your leg…" I grabbed some Icy Hot from the cabinet and went back to her. I bent down and started rubbing some on the back of her calf. She wouldn't look at me. Her eyes darted around the room, finally landing on the punching bag in the corner.

"You box?" I asked, closing up the jar.

"What?" She finally looked towards me. "Oh. No. My Dad used to a little. Do you?"

"Yeah." I smiled and had an idea. "I was actually going to try some out today, do you want to join me?"

She laughed and looked down at the floor. "I have no idea what I'm doing."

"I'll show you. Stand up….slowly now. Don't push it."

She inched out of her seat, contemplating how her leg was going to react. She finally straightened up, apparently cramp free.

"You good?"

"Yeah I'm good."

"Okay. Hit me." I smirked and held out my hand. Her eyes widened.

"Edward I'm not going to hit you…"

"You had no problem trying to the other night. Come on hit me. You won't hurt me I promise…"

She huffed and took a half assed swipe at my hand, barely brushing my fingers.

"Okay not bad," I said, laughing slightly. "Now bend your legs a little bit." I bent down into a crouch to demonstrate. "Always on your toes."

She tried to mimic my stance.

"Good. Except…" I brought my hands down and placed them on her hips, pushing one slightly behind the other. "One in front of the other."

She looked down and my hands on her hips and I felt a shiver run through her body. I couldn't imagine my hands were that cold.

"Now hands up here…" I put my fists up by my chin. "Now this is the defensive pose. You pretty much want to be in this when you aren't punching."

"Okay…" Bella brought her hands up. "Defensive pose."

"Now rock back and forth a little on your toes and when you feel it throw a punch. Put your whole body into it…" I put my hand back up and watched as she started moving back and forth, ever so lightly on her feet. She bit down on her bottom lip and pulled her fist behind her. As she threw herself forward, missing my hand completely, she twisted around and fell towards the ground flailing her arms and grabbing for me.

I caught her just in time, but instead of pulling her up, she pulled me down with her. We crashed to the floor, my hand cradling behind her head.

"Are you okay?" I said, my eyes frantic, looking for any signs of damage.

"Yeah." A small laugh escaped through her lips. "Are you?"

I couldn't stop the smile from spreading across my face. "Yeah. But I think that's enough boxing for one day Rocky."

I stood up and pulled her with me, both of us laughing the entire time.

"So will you be doing this again?" She let go of me and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Tomorrow morning?"

I nodded. "Will you?"

"Maybe. I don't know I don't think I'll have a career as a boxer anytime soon."

"Give me a few days Bella. I'll give you a good workout." I didn't realize how terrible that sounded until it was already flying out of my mouth. I hoped I didn't sound like a complete pervert.

"I'm sure you will." She kinked an eyebrow and headed towards the stairs. "I'm…going to go take a shower. But I'm making tacos for dinner tonight….if you want to come. Charlie is supposed to be home, to make up for the other night, but who knows."

"I'll be there."

Bella disappeared up the stairs and I started working on the punching bag in the corner. I hadn't really boxed much lately, but it was like riding a bike. Something that was always with you. Sure I wasn't in the best conditioning for boxing, and I'd probably be sore as hell tomorrow morning, but it felt good. Every punch was like a huge release. That was why I took it up in the first place, back at camp. Most of the guys there needed to find something and most turned to booze or girls. I took to the gym.

I glanced up at the clock and realized a full hour had passed since Bella left and I was dripping with sweat. I started back towards my house to take a shower.

The rest of the day passed by slowly. I took a drive into town to have lunch with Esme at the little café on the corner.

"So how is everything going with Miss Swan sweetie?" Esme took her napkin from the table and placed it in her lap.

"She's very…interesting to say the least. I haven't really had to do much yet. The worst thing I've saved her from was a leg cramp," I laughed.

"I've heard Charlie's had a heck of a time with her ever since she moved here."

"So she hasn't been here long right?"

"No just a couple of years. Used to live with her mother down in Arizona. Apparently there was some big thing down there and her mother sent her up here to live with Charlie. Thought he could handle her better. Poor guy's been through a lot."

"What do you mean?"

The waitress came and took our order. Esme ordered a chicken salad sandwich and I got the club sandwich.

"Renee, Bella's mother, left him when Bella was only a little kid. They had some kind of falling out. Took Bella with her. Charlie's only seen her a couple of times each year up until when she moved here. He was absolutely devastated. Tried to hide it but everyone in town knew. That little girl was his life."

I tried to smile as the waitress delivered our food. I knew what it was like to have something I loved ripped away from me in an instant. It wasn't something you'd ever expect or could prepare for. And it was heartbreaking.

We avoided the subject of Bella for the rest of the lunch. Esme chatted about what Carlisle had going on up at the hospital. Some kind of benefit dinner coming up. Emmett and Rose were talking about moving into an apartment together downtown, which I thought was a good idea. They were together practically all day, every day.

I paid for our lunch, said goodbye to Esme and started back towards the house. I noticed an almost familiar car in the driveway parked next to Charlie's cruiser. Was that a Volkswagen?

I parked in my garage and jogged up towards the house to see what was going on. My hand froze on the doorknob when I heard the voices echoing inside. Jacob. It was Jacob's car.

I opened the door and bounded inside. Charlie, Bella and Jacob were sitting in the living room watching television.

"Hey Edward!" Bella called, smiling. Jake glared my way and I narrowed my eyes at him in response. If he wants to play the dirty look game, I'll win every time.

"Take a seat Edward," Charlie pointed to the empty space on the couch beside Bella. And there we were, the three of us. Bella in between Jacob and me. I felt his eyes drift my way every now and then and I did my best to keep mine forward.

"So Bella what time is dinner?" Jake said, obviously directing his voice towards me.

"Probably around five…Are you hungry already?"

"No just checking."

"Edward are you hungry?"

"Um. No. No I'm not hungry. Actually I'm going to have to cancel for dinner tonight. I have…other plans." My other plans included not punching Jake's face, which I would most likely do if I had to sit through dinner with him.

"Oh." Bella's face fell. "Okay."

We watched a few episodes of Friends before I started to get restless. I got up and excused myself before retreating back to my house.

I spent the rest of my evening reading, or cleaning my little house…again. Anything to keep my mind from wandering up to the main house. Something about that Jake kid just irked me and I hated thinking about him spending time with Bella. I wasn't jealous, I just didn't like it. Right?

A noise outside caught my attention and I turned my light off as I snuck towards the window and pulled the curtain back. Instinct I guess to be on edge. I sighed when I saw Bella's brown curls in the moonlight. She was carrying something in her hands.

I smiled a little to myself and scratched my head as I started to move away from the window. She was coming to see me.

Before I lost sight of her I saw her stop suddenly and whip her phone out. My window was cracked just enough that I could make out what she was saying.

"Hey Jake….When? Tonight?....Where?" She looked down at her watch and then back at my house. I ducked behind the curtain. "Not tonight Jake…Yeah I'm serious. No I'm just not up for a party tonight okay?...Jake? Jake?" She shook her head and hung the phone up, turning back towards my house.

She paused for a second outside my door, taking a big breath before knocking. I waited for a moment before going to answer it.

"Bella?" I asked, trying to add the shock to my voice.

"Hey Edward." She cleared her throat and glanced inside.

"Come on in." I opened the door wider and she stepped inside. "Whatcha got there?" I looked down at what she was carrying.

"I brought you some dinner. I know that you lied earlier. About having plans." She smirked.

"Sorry. I just…Jake and I aren't really each other's favorite people and I didn't want it to be awkward."

"Well thank you. But regardless, I wish you would have stayed, I invited you because I wanted you there." She walked towards my little kitchen and started dishing out things onto a plate. She popped them into the microwave and leaned against the counter.

"So are you going to ask me what Jake just called about?" She winked.

"I…uh…" I stammered. I didn't know she realized I was listening. "Sorry."

"No it's okay. In all fairness I took the call when I knew your window was open."

"So what was Jake calling about?"

She pulled the steaming food out of the microwave and arranged it on a plate for me. It looked amazing, even reheated. She slid the plate towards me and pulled herself up onto the counter.

"There's a party tonight."

"Are you going?"

"Like you would let me go." She rolled her eyes and I laughed.

"But let's say in some weird parallel universe I was to let you go, would you want to?"

She pondered for a second before she answered. "Nah."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Besides I've got plans early tomorrow morning." She smiled.

"There you go with the no chair thing again." I nodded to her position on the counter.

"Hey don't judge. It's more comfortable and I like being on top of people."

I nearly spit out the water out of my mouth.

"I mean." Her face turned bright red. "That's not what I meant. I mean I just like the view."

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"I'm gonna stop talking now."

"Good plan."

We moved onto a new topic, nothing to do with…positions, or being above people, or anything awkward. It was easy. She was so…normal, when she wasn't trying to crawl down a drainpipe or working desperately to piss me off.

She finally left about midnight, carrying the empty plate back to the house.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" She turned back.

"See you tomorrow." I smiled and closed the door, anxious to go to bed. Anxious to wake up the next day. Damn I was in trouble.