A/N

My apologies for not updating in Jan like I said I would. The joys of being in your final year of University I guess.

Act 2 Scene 1

Now bid me run, And I will strive with things impossible

Any chance we could make it later today? Say about 6?

Bella looked down at her phone when it vibrated on the counter top. Picking it up to read it quickly before she carried on making herself a cup of coffee. It wasn't until she sat back down at the kitchen table, surrounded by her books and laptop that she picked up her phone to reply to Edward,

That is fine, make it 7 so I can eat something first though.

She returned to her history essay and flickering between the computer, her note pad and Chapter 11 The business of Culture in Hoppen's, 'Mid-Victorian Generation'.

"You read too much Isabella" Her dad informed her as he walked into the kitchen from the garden.

She smiled up at him, as she took a sip of coffee, choosing to ignore his comment, "The coffee is fresh, Dad".

He laughed as he leant against the counter top looking at her, drinking his coffee, "So what are you doing this weekend, any parties?" he asked.

"Really Dad?" She looked up at him.

Before he could reply her phone beeped, "Or maybe a date?" he offered instead, laughing.

Bella shook her head before looking down at her phone.

Don't be silly. We will feed you. I still feel bad about the other day

"No, just Edward" Bella told her dad, as she read the text.

If she had looked up she would have seen her Dad's eyes go wide and eyebrows go up in surprise, "Cullen?"

She hummed in response as she typed out a reply.

If you are sure….

"Have I walked back in time?" her dad questioned smiling but with some wondering in his voice.

Bella looked up at him, "Not like that Dad, we got put together for an English project" she explained.

He made a noise, "if you say so Isabella" he told her, before walking out of the kitchen.

Bella went back to her work, choosing to ignore her Dad's attempt at humour. Her phone beeped a while later.

Of course I am. On the strike of six, Miss Swan.

#

"I had a thought earlier" Bella declared as she unpacked her bag onto the kitchen table.

Edward was standing close to the table, looking at her as she spilled her plethora of notes, laptop and books and what seemed to be the oddest collection of pens he had ever seen, " Wow, you shock me" he replied. That comment earned him another withering look from Bella, "You know I am starting to think you keep that look just for me."

She looked up at him, "Yep, it's called the Cullen" She replied bitingly.

He raised his hands in surrender, "all right, fine, sorry."

She just raised her eyebrows at him as she sat down in a chair, "Brutus or Cassius?" she asked, holding up a copy of the play.

They sat for around 40 minutes discussing the play and starting the presentation, Edward amazed at a world beyond Microsoft PowerPoint, having been introduced to Prezi. They continued working until a bouncing Alice appeared in the kitchen, flinging herself up onto the kitchen island, swinging her legs back and forth.

"So what are we ordering?" She basically sung at them. They turned at the same time to look towards her. Edward leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.

"I don't mind, Bella?" He enquired.

She shrugged, "I honestly don't mind."

They were all silent for a short moment until Alice jumped off the side and went towards a draw pulling out a menu, "Chinese then?"

In the half an hour it took for their Chinese to arrive, Alice had left them to it. Edward had tried to get the conversation away from Julius Caesar but Bella kept directing it back towards the play making those short 30 minutes stretch on for eternity.

Eventually they moved into the living room, food lay out on the coffee table. Alice had taken over one of the chairs, glued to her phone. Bella sat poised on the side of the sofa leaning forward sitting the furthest away from Edward that she could, who sat relaxed on the other end of the sofa. As he stuffed a spring roll into his mouth he picked up the remote control, "Any requests?" he asked as he flicked the large TV on.

"The 1953 movie version of Julius Caesar." Bella replied dryly.

If they had been watching her, they would have seen Alice smirk at Bella's reply.

"Don't be silly, Miss Isabella" Edward told her, as he flicked through the TV guide, "I have had enough Shakespeare for one weekend."

Bella turned to look at him as she chewed on a piece of crispy chilli beef, "Well Shakespeare is why I am here Edward." She told him dryly before turning back to face the TV. Edwards just looked at her. He wasn't expecting her to say anything different but still he had hoped she would look a little less awkward in his presence, less like she was about to run out of the door at any moment.

"NCIS?" he questioned.

Alice didn't seem to notice that they were having a conversation and Bella just shrugged in agreement. He flicked it on, but then ignored it, turning his attention to look at Bella who seemed far too engrossed in her dinner.

He hadn't thought about the possibility of getting Bella as a partner in English, actually in any lesson, but he had had to smile when she had eventually woken up in Mr Masen's lesson. He had gone over what to say her after the class in his mind for the rest of English. What did you say to someone you hadn't talked to since before high school? So he had found himself taking on the image high school had cultivated in him and she in turned kept her sarcastic self on full blast. There was a time when her retorts had made him laugh and she would have called him out for acting the way he did, but as her reply about the television had reminded him that a lot had changed since they were 13 and their relationship had not developed in those 5 years but instead had been killed and buried far under the ground. Sat on the sofa with her now, Edward wanted nothing more than her to lean back and relax, to talk about nothing much and eat too much Chinese. Instead he was watching her eat her food carefully, as she sat contained and restrained on the small portion of the sofa. They sat in a silent room for a while only surrounded by the sounds of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, until Bella stood up.

"I should go." She declared, looking down at Edward.

He jumped up, "You don't have to, I'm sure we have ice cream" He told her, rubbing the back of his neck.

A side smile appeared on her face, "No, that is okay, thanks though" She turned and gave Alice a quick smile goodbye, before walking out of the room.

Edward stood there for a moment before Alice shook her head at him, before indicating for him to follow him. Quickly hurrying out of the living room, He almost bumped into Bella walking out of the kitchen, bag slung over her shoulder. "You don't have to go, you know" he told her as she slipped her boots on.

"Yes I know, but I should" she told him as she pulled her jacket on.

He watched her head towards the door, "When should we do this again?" he asked as she was halfway out of the door.

Bella looked back at him, "Let's just sort it out at school yeah?" She didn't wait for his answer before, turning her back and walking towards her truck.