EPOV:

I sat on my couch, twirling my phone. I was debating whether or not to call Bella and ask her out again. I really did like her. Our friends got along well - except for Rosalie and Emmett - and so did we…

Against my better judgement I found her name on my contacts and dialed. It rang three times until she answered.

"Hi, it's Bella," her voice trilled.

"Hey Bella, it's Edward." Play it cool, Ed.

"Hi there, what's up?" she asked.

"I was just calling because I got free tickets to a movie on Friday and I was wondering if you wanted to go on something like a pseudo-date... with me..." my voice trailed off at the end.

"A pseudo-date huh? Can you give me a sec? I have to check my calendar."

"Sure." Please be free, please be free, please be free.

"I'm free." Fuck yeah.

"Sweet! Can I pick you up at 7 o'clock Friday night?"

"Want to make it 5:30 and we can get dinner?"

"Oh that sounds even better. I get off work at 5 so it works perfectly."

"Ok well I have to go to work now," she said quietly. "I'll see you Friday."

"Friday it is. Bye, Bella."

"Bye, Edward. I'm excited for our pseudo-date," she said laughing.

Click. I leaned against the back of my couch and smiled to myself. It all went smoothly.

TWO DAYS LATER:

As I pulled up to Bella's apartment complex I took a deep breath. It was the closest we had come to a date - still a pseudo-date - and I didn't want to screw it up somehow. I opened the car door and made my way to her apartment. I rang the doorbell and took a step back. Alice answered the door.

"Hey, Edward. Bella will be done in a couple minutes, you can come in if you would like," she offered.

"Yes, thank you, Alice."

She led me up the stairs to their living room. I sat down on the couch closest to the door. Alice gave me an odd look.

"What?" I asked, worried. I stood up.

"No no no, Edward. Sit back down." I moved back to my seated position slowly. "It's just that none of us ever sit at that spot. Bella sits on the opposite and Rosalie and I sit on the other couch. It was just odd to me is all."

"Huh. How about that."

At that moment Bella walked into the room wearing black jeans and a band tee.

"Black Keys… nice." They were one of my favorites.

She smiled and looped her arm around mine.

"See you later, Alice," I said as Bella led me away.

Alice offered a wave.

"How are you today, Edward?" Bella asked as we descended the stairs.

"I'm doing well, and you?"

"Pretty good, pretty good."

"Sweet. So I got tickets to the new Batman… is that okay? I can exchange it."

"No no. I freaking love Batman." She paused and smirked. "I'm Batman!" she exclaimed in a voice eerily similar to Christian Bale's Batman. It was silent for a beat and the we burst out laughing.

"Okay, okay," I said, still chuckling. "Get in the car, Batman, we're on a schedule."

I opened the door for her and she stepped in. I made my way around the car in got in myself, starting the car. I had a hearse from the 1970's. I had it rebuilt from the inside out. The engine and parts were all brand new. It had deep purple leather seats. I had to admit that it was awesome. Music began trickling from the speakers. Bella chuckled. I looked at her questioningly.

"I was literally listening to this song when I left the house," she said, referring to Radioactive by Kings of Leon. "It's one of my favorites," she admitted.

"My favorite from them is Pistol of Fire. I like the older feel to it," I said. She nodded in agreement.

The rest of the ride to the Thai restaurant was spent debating whether the Kings of Leon's album Because of the Times or their album Come Around Sundown was better.

The restaurant was packed but, as we were a small party, we found a table quickly. The waitress, Venus, knew me well because I went there at least once a week. She advised us to order quickly so that our order could go in before a large party.

"Wow. It's great to be with someone who is buddy-buddy with the waitresses," Bella said, wiggling her eyebrows deviously at me. I laughed heartily.

"Oh no. She only likes me because I probably put her son through college, I'm here so much."

Venus came by and started yelling at us to order. I obeyed and ordered us Pad Thai. She huffed in relief and ran away, trying to beat the other order. I laughed at her antics.

As we waited we went back into our debate about music.

"No! Michael Jackson has nothing on David Bowie," Bella said passionately.

"Pfft. Michael Jackson was the best musician to walk on Earth," I scoffed. Venus came and brought our food, scuttling away.

"This isn't over," she said, pointing at me. I held my hands up in defeat.

We ate quickly and in silence. When Venus gave us our check, I left a $15 tip as usual. And as usual, she walked me to the door thanking me fervently. I always said it was because of her amazing skills and she left, feeling triumphant.

The theater wasn't too far away and we got there just in time for seating to begin. We managed to get seats in the back.

As we settled in, Bella lifted the seat divider and leaned against me. It wasn't quite a flirtatious gesture, more one of comfort. I smiled and returned the gesture.

She had quirky habits when she watched the film. Every time Bane would come on screen, she would tense then relax. When Batman was injured she was chewing her nails. Every time Batman came on screen, she would turn to me and do her Batman impersonation, which would have me go into hysterics. People would turn and glare and I'd glare right back at them, still laughing. All in all, she was really entertaining to watch a movie with.

Three hilarious hours later, the movie ended. We decided to stop by my house to make some food before we took her home. The car ride was filled with our review of the movie - generally positive.

As we walked in the front door, we heard odd noises. I pushed her behind me and held my finger to my lips, signaling for her to be silent. She nodded with wide eyes. I took slow steps to the kitchen, where the noises were coming from, ready to strike. When the kitchen came into view I skittered back, surprised.

There on my counter were Rosalie and Emmett, boning like no tomorrow. Bella guffawed, blowing our cover.

"Oh hey, you two," Emmett said, still going at it. "Have fun on your date?"

"Uhhh… we're going to go now," I stammered, ushering Bella back outside. We got into the car again and sped off. The laughter ensued shortly. I had to pull over, I was laughing so hard.

"My eyes! They burn!" The image of them humping like bunnies on my counter was burned into my retina.

"I concur," Bella choked out, still chortling away.

We eventually got back to her apartment and I walked her to the door. When she unlocked it and stepped in she turned around.

"Tonight was fun, Edward. Let's do it again," she offered.

"Yeah, I think so too. Soon. I'll call you," I said. She nodded and gave me a quick hug, pulling away to go upstairs.

"Bye, Bella," I said.

"Bye, Edward," she replied, and closed the door.

I made my way back to my car.

Shit, I remembered. Rosalie and Emmett better not still be on my counter.

I drove away laughing to myself.

Best pseudo-date ever.