Disclaimer: I have like 40 bucks worth of debt from buying Sonic slushies every day, but I do not have any rights to Twilight :( how sad.

A/N: Hello! once again I am so sorry for the delay and also the lack of a teaser. You guys don't even understand how crazy things have been lately. I wish the days were like 30 hours long. And that I didn't have to sleep for at least 6 of those hours. And that I could spend like 10 of those hours writing or reading or doing SOMETHING that I actually want to do. Anyways, enough of my ranting. Here you go!

BTW, the song for this chapter is Make You Feel My Love by Adele. Yes, I am fully aware of how freakign random my taste in music is. The song for the chapter just depends on what kind of mood I'm in. Anyways go listen to it while you read this chapter to really understand how Edwrad is feeling! Trust me, it sets the scene, especially through the last half of the chapter.

EPOV

The next couple of weeks went by slowly. Bella and I didn't kiss in front of our friends again since they took it badly. We really didn't kiss much at all; I think it was more than anything just the fact of knowing that we could if we wanted to. It made us closer; maybe not as close as I would like to be, but we were definitely closer.

Don't get me wrong; I was well aware of the fact that we were playing with fire. This had the potential to end extremely badly for myself, if not for the both of us. I was putting everything I held on to on the line to be with her like this.

Usually we kept it light and playful. It had only turned heated one time a few days ago.

*flashback*

Bella and I had come home from work to empty apartments. We went to her and Alice's and ordered a pizza before we crashed on the couch to watch a movie. About 10 minutes into it, I just couldn't focus at all. I was extremely aware of her laying there beside me, and I needed to feel her lips on mine. She was all dressed up today, with the makeup and everything and she looked amazing.

I turned my head towards her. After a minute she turned and locked eyes with me, and then we were kissing.

She's the one that deepened the kiss, but after our normal several seconds, I'm the one who didn't stop. I couldn't. This might be "just kissing" to her, but it was a lot more to me and I had no control over it.

I rolled us over and snaked my hand down to her waist, kissing her even deeper. My hand started drifting upward, and she started breathing harder. She showed no signs of stopping me, so I kept going.

Just before my hand got to her chest, the doorbell rang.

Since I was otherwise distracted, it scared the crap out of me. I jumped up and fixed my shirt – apparently the 'feeling up" had been two-sided – and ran to the door, trying to get myself together.

I quickly paid for the pizza and walked back into the living room, where she was sitting up fixing her lipstick. I was overwhelmingly relieved. I had been terrified that things would be weird after…that.

"What kind of pizza did we get?" she asked casually.

"Pepperoni," I said, smiling and walking back over to the couch.

We've been more careful since then. We have something resembling unspoken rules about this by now – only kiss when we're by ourselves, don't kiss when we're lying down, and don't kiss more than once a day. They were pretty simple rules to follow.

Now I am in my apartment with Jasper and Emmett getting ready to go to some party with the girls. Alice and Rosalie had been talking about it for weeks, and there was no way we were getting out of it. Even Bella had gotten excited about it, which was very rare.

It was getting very cold outside, being the middle of November, so we dressed warmly and headed over to Alice and Bella's apartment, where the girls were getting ready.

They came out of Alice's room all in a pile.

"Hurry up, Alice! We're gonna be late!" Rosalie said, pulling Alice along.

"Bella just needs a little more eye shadow! I'm almost done!"

"No, I don't. I look fine. Let me go!" With that, Bella yanked her arm away from Alice, which started a ridiculous chain reaction.

Because Bella was wearing three inch heels for some odd reason, the force of her pull knocked her over, which caused Alice to fall back into the bedroom. Since Rose was holding onto Alice, she fell on top of the other two. Emmett tried to jump in and catch Rosalie, and ended up right in the middle of the pile.

Of course, Jasper and I found the whole incident wildly funny.

Everyone surprisingly got up unharmed and still looking decent. Alice had to brush her hair again and Rosalie got up adjusting her dress, but they were all generally okay.

We decided to take separate vehicles – each one of the guys driving. I asked Bella where we were going exactly, and I was slightly shocked to find it was the same frat house I had been talked into entering last time.

"Bella, please tell me you are kidding," I said as I put the car in drive. I now knew exactly why she was excited about this party and it had absolutely nothing to do with the actual party.

That stupid Indian idiot.

"Nope. This is supposed to be the biggest party of the year. I heard they even hired Boys Like Girls to come play! Why would we not wanna go?"

"Maybe because last time we went, You and Alice were like, drunk, and dancing with some immature frat guys, Emmett and Jasper got in a fight, and you and I argued for most of the evening. It doesn't exactly make this place seem like fun, you know?"

"Just try to forget it and have fun, okay? For me?" She pleaded. She was turned all the way around in her seat to face me. "And we weren't drunk by the way. We knew exacty what we were doing."

I sighed and glanced over at her lovely smirking face. She looked stunning tonight. She was wearing a deep red party dress and her hair had been curled into the most perfect waves I had ever seen.

"Fine, I'll try to have a good time," I said, a smile coming to my face. "You look nice, by the way."

"Thanks, you do too."

She reached across the car and grabbed my hand, just like I had grabbed hers in the theater several weeks ago. Usually I'm the one that holds her hand, not the other way around, but I'm sure she still saw it as another friendship thing

Just like she sees everything that happens between us as a friendship thing.

We arrived at the frat house a moment later. This time I went around and opened her door for her, and we walked in together. There was no way I was letting her out of my sight tonight.

The party was already in full swing when we got there. As Bella said, Boys Like Girls had taken up residence in the front room. I didn't realize so many people could fit into one house. I kept Bella close as I weaved us through the crowds, trying to find the others.

"It's hot in here! I'm gonna go get a water!" Bella yelled over the noise.

I wanted to stay with her, but I decided that it would be more practical for me to find Emmett and Jasper and everybody while she got water. We both have cell phones. I'll call her and tell her where we are.

She pushed her way further into the crowd, heading toward the back of the room where drinks were being served. Surprisingly, these parties were pretty high end as far as college frat parties go.

I went the opposite direction from Bella, continuing to look for Emmett. I found him in the far corner of the room standing with Rose, Jazz, and Alice. I sent a quick text to Bella telling her where we were. After that I turned around to face the band and at least attempt to enjoy the evening, as I had promised Bella.

About thirty minutes later, the band took a break and a deejay took over. That's when I took the time to realize that Bella wasn't with us anymore. In fact, I couldn't remember her coming back at all.

"Alice, where's Bella?" I said as I turned around.

"Haven't seen her. I figured you knew," she said before turning back to her conversation.

"Hey, there she is," Emmett said, tapping my shoulder.

I looked to where his finger was pointing, and I saw her alright. She was about twenty feet away, in the middle of the dance floor, dancing with none other than Jacob Black.

This cannot be happening again…

His hands were all over her, and they were dancing entirely too close. I was immediately infuriated. I stepped out toward them to go give that guy a piece of my mind, when I felt a big hand grasp my shoulder.

"Don't," Emmett said in my ear. "Let her dance. If you are wanting to stay inconspicuous or whatever the heck you're trying to do, then you need to not get crazy jealous right now. Go get a drink, and I'll mess the punk up if he gets too handsy."

With that, he let go of my shoulder and turned around to pull Rosalie out to the dance floor. Once I was sure that they were close enough to Bella to keep an eye on her, I turned around and sighed in relief. Emmett's little speech gave me time to cool down, and I realized immediately how stupid messing the kid up on impulse would have been.

I tried to take my mind off the fact that Bella was dancing with somebody else and instead hung out with Alice and Jasper for a few minutes. However, I hated being a fifth wheel, so that didn't last for very long.

I grew impatient.

Just when I turned around to go get Bella, I saw Emmett approaching, shoving Jacob along with him.

"He grabbed the butt, and then he went for the chest. There was a line I was watching for, and he crossed it. Actually, he jumped on over it and just kept on skipping."

I gave him a look that said shut up. Sometimes he gets a little carried away with his analogies. I sighed and followed Emmett out of the club, Jasper not far behind.

This is seriously wrecking my night. There is no way I'm going to be able to "try and have fun" now.

When we got outside, I turned to face the guy.

"I really, really don't want to have to hit you, man. Because I never hit anybody, and that would just royally screw up my night, and my night's already bad as it is. So please just leave her alone."

"Why? Seemed to me like she was enjoying herself," He said, grinning.

So I hit him. Hard. In the jaw. I couldn't help it, really. He violated my best friend. That was uncalled for.

Jasper and Emmett just stood there with their mouths hanging open. They apparently didn't think I was really gonna hit him. I guess they don't realize how freaking serious I am about this stuff. I mean, if some guy felt up their girls, I would expect them to clock the jerk.

Right, she's not my girlfriend. That's why it surprised them.

Well it shouldn't, I told myself. They should know that I would go just as far for her as they would for their girlfriends.

After threatening Jacob again and letting Emmett scare him, we went back inside. The girls were all still in the same corner, and they looked mad. As soon as we approached, Bella turned around and hit Emmett in the arm as hard as she could. Of course he didn't even flinch.

"What was that for?" Emmett asked.

"Why did you do that? Every time I try to dance with him, one of you animals freaking picks me up and carries me away! What is you three's problem?!" She was yelling at all of us now, not just Emmett.

"I never picked you up," Jasper interjected.

"SHUT UP!" Bella, Emmett and I yelled. I think all three of us were a little on edge.

"He was touching your butt! I thought you needed help," Emmett said. That's when Alice jumped in.

"Bella here is a very gorgeous, very single WOMAN! Let the girl have some freaking fun! If she wants to let some hot frat guy feel her up, that's her choice! Both of you butt out!" It had been a while since I'd seen the wrath of the Pixie. I had forgotten how screechy and scary she could be.

With that, all three girls walked away.

I ran my hand through my hair and blew all the air out of my lungs.

"What do we do now?! I didn't even want to come to this stupid party, and now you two have made the girls go away. This sucks," Jasper said.

"Shut up," Emmett and I yelled at him again. He rolled his eyes and walked away too.

We stood there awkwardly for a minute before I broke the silence.

"Yeah, so I guess I'm gonna go find Bella."

"Um, yeah. I'm gonna go find Rose," he said, scratching the back of his neck. Neither of us can accept criticism well, and it was making us both uncomfortable. We still stood there for another awkward moment before we walked in opposite directions.

I found Bella sitting be herself in a chair toward the front of the room. She looked extremely lonely, so I went and sat by her.

"You look lonely," I said. She still didn't turn to look at me.

"Look, don't be mad at Emmett. I was gonna tear the guy up and he told me not to, that he would keep an eye on him. But then a few minutes later he towed him off the dance floor, and then I hit him, and now you're – "

"You did what?" She yelled angrily.

I guess I forgot to tell her about the hitting part.

"Edward, you are not my father. You have got to get that in your head! I love you, but I can protect myself!" She was upset. Not just mad, upset. And I could think of absolutely no reason why she would be. I decided it was time to bring in the groveling.

I hate doing this...

"I am so sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I absolutely know that you are completely capable of taking care of yourself, and I can't believe I overreacted like that. Forgive me?" I hate apologizing to her because she always takes advantage of it and throws it back in my face later. However, sometimes it's necessary.

With that, I turned on the "Edward charm," as Bella calls it. She was melting in seconds. She tried so hard to mask the smile threatening to creep onto her face, but it didn't work. I grinned too, and then she started laughing.

"Edward Cullen, did you just apologize to me? The Great, Perfect Edward Anthony Cullen stooped down low enough to apologize to me? This deserves celebration! I think you have to dance with me now!" She said, smiling widely.

And who was I to deprive a girl of her wishes?

I smirked at her and then took her hand, leading her out onto the floor.

Bella and I love dancing; she is surprisingly good at it considering her clumsiness. When I didn't have a girlfriend in high school, Bella was always my dance date. Actually, she was my date for pretty much every dance, since my girlfriends tended to be The Flavor of the Month. I get a lot of crap from her about that too.

There were so many people on the floor that our bodies were instantly meshed together. All I could see was Bella. Her hair was curled perfectly, flowing halfway down her back. It moved constantly as she danced. Her perfect curves felt so right with mine, and I never wanted to let her go.

I resisted the urge to kiss her for as long as I possibly could, but I didn't want to wreck the moment. We were dancing so closely together that it wasn't hard. I just leaned down and gently kissed her right below her ear.

I heard her slight intake of breath, and then she danced even closer.

AlicePOV

"I don't like this one bit," I said to Rose, chewing on my bottom lip.

We had been looking for all the others from our seats against one of the side walls of the room, and I had found Edward and Bella, alright.

I found them just in time to see him assaulting her neck; I also saw her reaction to it, and it scared me.

I haven't forgotten about Bella's "feelings" right after Edward came back from New York. Even if she did shrug them off, I could tell they were there. Being her best girlfriend, I was so worried that he didn't reciprocate, and that she was putting herself out there for nothing.

That thought had worried me ever since she told me how she felt, but I never thought I really had reason to worry until now. What I had just seen scared me. I mean, I'm sure none of us have forgotten the whole truth or dare kiss a couple weeks ago, because that was pretty shocking. But had this been going on ever since? And what is "this" if they're not dating?

That's the part that scared me. He was a player in high school. I haven't forgotten. He had a new chick with him every time I turned around. If he was just screwing with her head, he was gonna have me to deal with. And I'm sure by now he knows that screwing with me is not a good idea. I will make him hate himself if he hurts her.

"Do you know what that was all about?" Rose asked me.

I filled her in really quick, and we decided it was time to go. We called our boyfriends, and then I walked straight out onto the dance floor and stood on my tiptoes to get Edward by the ear and drag him out of there.

"Ah! Ow! Alice, let go," he whined all the way out the door.

When I had him by himself, I let go and turned around to face him.

"I don't know what you two are trying to do, but I saw that little neck-mauling thing you were doing. I just want you to know that if you screw her over, you WILL regret it, Edward Anthony Cullen. I swear if you so much as make her cry ONCE, so help me, I will make you hate your –"

"Alice! It was not a "maul" or whatever you just called it! It was more of a, well, like a peck, I guess. What is wrong with you? You know I would never hurt her." He said, still holding his ear like it hurt.

Good. I hope he can't sleep tonight because it hurts so badly.

"How are you not hurting her in the long run by sucking face with her all the time? Or neck. Or whatever it is you two do," I said, giving him the "ew" face.

He grimaced like he didn't think I knew about that.

"You think I haven't thought about that? She's the one who started all this! I'm the last person on the earth who wants to screw this up! I'm in freaking love with her for Pete's sakes!"

As soon as he said it, his head snapped up. His eyes were wide, like he couldn't believe he'd just said it. I'm sure I looked about as shocked as he did, because to be honest I was floored.

That changes things.

I felt a smile creep up my face. I couldn't help it. I think a small part of my subconscious brain had been hoping for this the whole time, but I didn't think it would really happen. I was so happy; I could hear freaking wedding bells.

"Edward, look me in the face and say that again. Mean it," I pled. I was hoping so very much that he really did mean it.

"Alice, I'm not saying it again. I can't believe I said it out loud in the first place," He whined, slumping down until he was sitting on the steps. "She doesn't even feel the same way. If I'm hurting anybody, I'm hurting myself."

He looked so utterly depressed that I couldn't help but to try to cheer him up. I sat down beside him and put his head on my shoulder. He didn't say anything, but I gave him time. We are actually pretty close, contrary to popular belief.

"I think she's using me," He said after a minute. He sounded so serious that I couldn't help but laugh.

"Alice, it's not funny! I'm screwing myself over. I would freaking jump through fire to show her how I feel and she just makes out with me and then leaves all the time like it's nothing to her! I can't keep doing this!"

"Edward, look at me. You're not screwing yourself over. I'm pretty sure she actually feels the same way."

"Really" He asked, raising an eyebrow. He was actually skeptical about this for some reason.

Which is the problem, considering I'm not totally sure of her feelings…

"Well she may not know it yet, but keep trying! She does have some kind of feelings for you! Trust me as her best girlfriend. Bella would not be making out with someone that she wasn't at lease a little interested in. She doesn't do that. Plus, you know I have a sixth sense about this stuff."

He just laughed darkly. I think he seriously doesn't believe that he's got enough game to get the girl! That's just crazy.

"Well stop sitting here and moping about it. Go dance with her or whatever. Just please take it easy on the physical stuff. Don't start something that's gonna end your friendship in the long run, Edward. We would all hate to see that. Believe me, we all want to see you two together, and I'll do everything I can to help you."

"Besides telling her, right? You can't just tell her. That's for me to do," He said.

"Yes. I will leave that for you. But who says I can't …encourage?" I said, a grin stretching across my face.

He just sighed and rolled his eyes at me. I guess he knows how um, strong my encouraging can be. I wiggled my fingers at him as he walked back into the house. He sarcastically grinned and finger-waved back to me as he went through the door.

Now for the scheming…How do I get Young Bella here to see the light…..

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A/N: So did you like? or did you not? :( please! let me know. I seriously will get you a teaser this time if you review. :)