Steph owns the characters. Killerlashes makes the words more better.

Chapter 4 – Liar, Liar (Pants on Fire)

My relationship with Bella only intensified after the Homecoming dance (though we didn't really dance much). It seemed like everyone had a theory about my behavior. I didn't think I was acting any different.

"Why are you so happy?" Alice asked one Friday morning at breakfast.

"I'm…not!" I tried not to glare at her over my Lucky Charms.

"You really are. It's kind of annoying."

"Alice!" My mother scolded her and kissed my head. "I like when you smile, darling."

"Thanks, Mama." I smiled and stuck my tongue out at my sister.

"Alice is right, Esme. Who's the girl?" Dad asked and I nearly choked on my cereal.

"What?" I croaked.

"Oh, I didn't even think about that!" Mom cried.

The three of them stared at me for a moment that just seemed to stretch on and on, their gazes openly speculative as they silently ran through the possible identities of my Mystery Girl. Uh-oh. Was this gonna be the come-to-Jesus talk?

"It's not – I mean…I'm going to school!" I pushed myself away from the island where I'd been sitting and grabbed my books off the counter. I heard them laughing as I made my way to the front door. I flung it open only to find Bella and Emmett waiting on the other side.

"Hi." Bella's coy smile set my heart off, but Emmett's glare nearly stopped it.

"What are you guys doing here?" I stuttered, and they both rolled their eyes.

"We always ride together on game days, idiot," Emmett said, looking at me like I should be riding the short bus, and punched my shoulder as he jostled past me, no doubt to steal half a box of Pop-Tarts as his breakfast.

"Right," I muttered and kicked the ground.

"Why so sullen, Cullen?" Bella asked and I chuckled lightly.

"The family is wondering why I'm so happy," I told her. Bella turned bright red and stepped around me as Emmett did.

"I wonder the same thing," she said quietly. Her fingers trailed down my arm and squeezed my hand softly.

"Don't," I whispered and she threw me a sad smile before heading for the kitchen.

I groaned and closed the door, wishing I wasn't such a pussy. I hated that my insistence on keeping our relationship a secret meant that Bella always doubted how I felt about her. Sometimes other guys talked about her (behind Emmett's back, of course) and I wanted more than anything to kick the shit out of them. They never said bad things about her. But that's why it pissed me off, because it was typical locker-room crap. The guys didn't talk about how beautiful and intelligent and giving Bella was; they talked about how "hot" she was and about her "sweet ass", which nearly led to me murdering Eric Yorkie after practice one stressful Wednesday.

"Can we go now?" I leaned against the island next to Bella, our shoulders touching.

"Hold your horses; your dad's telling us about his latest marriage proposal," Bella laughed, and I covered my face with my hand.

"Old-lady appendectomy?" I asked and Dad grinned.

"She was a lovely woman," he protested, "especially her trust fund!" Mom smacked him with a dishcloth. Bella nudged my shoulder gently and I glanced down at her, her eyes focused on something out the window, the light shining through her long ponytail.

"Ahem." Dad cleared his throat and we both turned to him. He raised an eyebrow and smiled into his coffee cup. I looked around quickly and found that everyone else had left the room. "You kids should get to school."

"Right. School." Bella nodded and slipped quietly out of the kitchen.

I could still feel Dad's eyes on me as I studied the granite of the counter I was leaning on.

"Edward." His voice was quiet but commanding. I lifted my head slowly, afraid to see the look on his face.

"I know, Dad."

"Edward, be careful."

"I know, Dad," I repeated.

"You're playing with fire, son."

"Dad, I - "

"I know, you know. I don't have to give you the 'be safe' talk again, do I?"

"It's not just that, Dad!" I protested, my face going crimson, "It's more than that. It's just… I don't know how to explain it." I shrugged and leaned my back against the counter.

"I was in your position once, too. Young and smitten with a beautiful girl," he said, a small smile drifting onto his face as he reminisced.

"And?"

"And I married her." He clapped me on the shoulder and turned me toward the door. "Let's not think about that just yet, though. Got it?"

"Yes, sir." I laughed and grabbed my abandoned books before heading out the door. "Dad?"

"Yes, Edward?"

"Can we…can you not tell Mom? Yet?" I shuffled my feet and glanced toward the open front door.

"Your Mom's no fool, Edward."

"I know. Just…let me tell her?"

"Fine. But do it soon." He gave me another knowing look and I sighed.

"I will."

"Have a good day. We'll see you at the game." Mom kissed my cheek as I walked by.

"Love you, Mom." I wrapped her in a tight, one-armed hug.

"I love you, too, darling," she murmured, looking a little dumbstruck as I released her. I gave Dad one last look before climbing into Emmett's truck next to Alice.

I didn't get a chance to talk to Bella about what Dad had seen or thought he'd seen. Ah, fuck. Of course he saw. It was pretty obvious. I was still surprised Emmett hadn't caught on and kicked my ass (and oh, what an epic ass-kicking it would be).

"Hi." Bella's voice was quiet when we finally met outside the gym after school.

"Hey. Sorry about this morning. I really wanted to talk to you." I frowned and she reached up and brushed my hair away.

"It's okay," she said before stepping onto her toes to kiss me.

I returned the kiss and willed my hands to stay on her hips and out of any…danger zones. "I should go. Big game and all that," I said airily, in a faked Big Man On Campus tone.

Her laugh sounded forced, but she smiled and hugged me around the middle. "I miss you," she said into my t-shirt.

"I know, baby." I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her head.

"I don't want to do this anymore, Edward," she blurted suddenly, and I pushed her away so I could see her face. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and I tried desperately to wipe them away with my thumbs but I couldn't seem to stop them.

"Wha – what do you mean?" I stuttered, even though I knew perfectly well what she meant.

"I just don't want to keep secrets any more. At first it was fun- the sneaking around and trying not to get caught. But it's been two months, Edward. Your dad definitely knows something is up. And so does Sue. It's only a matter of time before everyone knows." She pulled away from me and wiped her face on the sleeve of her shirt, looking resolute. "So either you man up and tell Emmett and Alice and your parents, or I will."

I watched her for a minute, all red eyes and blotchy skin, before I made my decision. I took her face in both of my hands, forcing her to look at me. Her earnest brown eyes are wide and framed by dark, wet lashes. I kissed her softly at first, but before I knew it her hands were fisted in my hair and her back was against the wall of the gym.

"Edward…" she whispered my name while my lips were trailing down her neck. "Edward, please," she pleaded, and I stopped and pressed my forehead to hers.

"Two weeks. Just until play-offs are over, please?" I asked with my lips close to hers, feeling selfish and immature and generally like the world's biggest asshole.

"Promise?"

"I fucking promise. I'll pull a Ten Things I Hate About You and serenade you from the bleachers in front of God and my family and everybody," I said fervently, and she giggled quietly.

"As long as you don't fall." She touched my bottom lip softly and I leaned into her.

"I'm pretty sure I've already fallen," I whispered before I kissed her again.

Happy New Year! I hope 2011 brings amazing things to all of you!

XOXO

Ash