Thank you so much for all your lovely reviews :)

This is chapter 7.

Chapter 7

She's More Than A Friend

The moment Bella agreed about me cooking dinner for her suddenly made me nervous. I knew Bella's favorite food was Italian, but what should I cook?

I spent half of the night browsing about Italian food on the net before fell asleep on my couch. I woke up in alert in the morning when I realized Bella will visit my house today so I did a very quick cleaning around the house.

After having a shower and had a quick breakfast, I drove to Bella's father house and knocked the front door. Bella opened the door with big smile on her face and I suddenly remember my plan to tell her my feelings later today. My heart beat increased and I felt slightly nervous. But, when I saw Bella's sparkling eyes, I forgot my nervousness.

Oh, hell with that! I'm going to tell her and that's final.

Bella packed some kind of lunch box for us and I escorted her to my car.

"So, where are we going now?" I asked her and turned my car's engine on.

She smiled timidly. "I want to visit my dad's grave." She looked at my eyes. "Is that okay with you?"

I smiled back and involuntarily caressed her cheek. "I told you yesterday that I'm at your service."

"But-"

"I know you're going to feel guilty," I interjected with a chuckle. "Tell you what, as long as you let me cook dinner for you tonight, I'll call it even."

Bella laughed. "Deal."

I grinned and nodded. "Deal." I changed the gear and drove from her driveway. "Do you want to buy flowers for your dad?"

"Yeah, I'd love that," she answered with low voice.

I drove my car to the flower shop in town and Bella bought some flowers before we drove to the public cemetery. I attended Chief Swan's funeral years ago in hoping I could talk to Bella, but I only could stand on my spot watching her standing silently when her father's casket was lowered to the ground. Newton was there too, but I barely paid attention on him.

We walked side by side until we reached Chief Swan's grave.

Charlie Swan

Beloved father and husband

Forever in our hearts

Bella kneeled and put the flowers on the grave while I remained standing. She brushed away some dry leaves and pulled out some wild grass before I decided to give her a little help. She gave me a small smile when she saw me did the same thing as she did.

She stood not long after that and I followed.

"My dad would be happy to see you if he was still alive," Bella said softly.

"Do you think so?"

She nodded. "He always likes you. I don't know why. I guess he has man intuition that I don't understand." She took a deep breath. "I think I understand why he doesn't like Mike."

I glanced at her sideways. She didn't look heartbroken, only sad…and I had no idea what thing could possibly cause her that way. Was it because she feels sad because she didn't listen to her dad about Newton or sad because she just realized how an asshole Newton was at her wedding vows rehearsal?

I gingerly held her hand and she looked at me. I smiled. "Maybe we can talk in other place. I'm sure Chief Swan doesn't want to see you sad right now. Especially when you're with me."

Bella smiled back. "Yeah, you're right." She looked over to the tomb and whispered softly, "I miss you, Dad. Love you."

I suppressed the urge to hug her when I heard her words, but I restrained myself. Holding her hand at this moment was already a big step for me.

Bella looked back at me. "Come on."

I nodded slightly and began walking to the front gate with my hand still holding her hand. "So, where are we going now?" she copied my question earlier.

"Do you mind if we go to Port Angeles to buy some groceries for our dinner tonight?" I asked her back.

She raised her eyebrows. "Wow! You really mean it when you said you didn't want to go to Newton's store again, did you?"

I smirked. "You should know me well, Miss. Swan."

She chuckled. "I think I do. Well, Port Angeles it is. And, what's on the agenda after that?"

I opened the passenger door for her when we arrived at our car. The lunch box caught my eyes and I got another idea. "What do you say if we have a little trip to Port Townsend for after lunch picnic?"

Bella's eyes widened and sparkled. Oh, how I loved to see those sparkling brown eyes. "Oh, that would be wonderful. I love that town."

I grinned, suddenly felt proud of myself. "Well, let's go."

She grinned back and sat on the passenger seat. After everything was settled, we drove from the public cemetery to have our little trip.

We arrived at Port Angeles at lunch time and I decided to shop for my groceries when we returned from Port Townsend. After having lunch, I drove to Port Townsend. It only took 1 hour drive from Port Angeles. Port Townsend is one of the finest examples of a Victorian Seaport in the United States and also is home to some of the most outstanding public parks in the state of Washington. That was one of the reasons I initiated the picnic after lunch.

I decided to visit Chetzemoka Park. The Park has flower gardens, picnic areas, play equipment, and a bandstand modeled after the Victorian original, as well as access to the beach and tidelands.

Perfect!

Bella looked surprised when I took her to the park. "I don't remember my dad ever took me here. This is such a beautiful place."

We had our spot with the ocean view and Bella opened the lunch box. She brought some sandwiches and two water bottles for both of us. We ate our snack by talking random things and sometimes laughing at each other jokes. I couldn't help myself to stare at her beautiful face and sometimes Bella sensed my stare. The result was the beautiful blush on her cheeks.

In short time, we finished our snacks and sat next to each other staring to the ocean. I glanced at her and saw Bella hugging her knees on her chest. She looked like vulnerable teenage girl.

"Bella?" I couldn't stop myself.

"Hmmm…"

I took a deep breath. "How do you feel right now?"

She didn't answer me first, but bit her bottom lip. "I don't know…happy, sad, confused…"

I see.

"And how do you feel about Newton?" I asked her carefully.

Bella shrugged. "I don't really feel anything against him. Somehow I feel relief I broke off the engagement." And then, she looked at me. "Why did you ask?"

I smiled timidly and bowed my head. "I just don't want to see you sad." That was the truth. I took another deep breath. "I wish…I could make you happy before you return to Seattle. I have no idea when we could meet again." And that was the saddest part.

I felt my cheek was being stroked and I raised my head in surprise. I saw Bella smiling tenderly while her tiny hand stroked my other cheek. I thought I could die right there and then.

"I'm not sad anymore, Edward. I'm glad I came home. I could visit my dad's house, his grave and mostly seeing you. I miss you."

I blinked.

Surely, she missed me as a friend. Not more like in my part.

She took a deep breath. "I wish I could tell you something, but I'm afraid it'd only complicated things."

Huh?

"Pardon me?" I blurted out.

Bella quickly composed her face and shook her head. "Nothing." She looked at the sky and then at me. "It's getting late. Do you still want to cook that dinner for me?"

Oh!

Yeah!

Dinner!

"Um…yes. Absolutely," I answered quickly.

She smiled again and quickly rose on her feet. We walked hand in hand to our car and I drove back to Port Angeles. I stopped by at a grocery store and bought the things I needed for my dinner with Bella.

"What kind of food that you're going to cook?" she asked me when I paid everything at the cashier.

"Italian food," I grinned.

Bella looked at me in amazement and chuckled.

I guessed she liked it already.

I drove back to Forks and arrived exactly at 6 pm. I parked my car at my driveway and Bella blinked rapidly when she saw my house.

"Wow, Edward. You have a nice house."

I smiled. "Thank you."

I opened the passenger door and my front door for her. I felt a little bit smug when I saw her expression. Clearly, she loved my house.

"You can watch TV in the living room while I prepare for our dinner," I said to her.

"O.K!"

I smiled and quickly walked to my kitchen to cook our dinner. Thankfully, I used to help my mom at her kitchen so I didn't have any difficulties at all. I successfully prepared the dinner in 1,5 hour and brought out the plates to the living room. Bella quickly rose from my couch and helped me arranged the food and the plates.

I watched her nervously when she took a bite of her food. Seconds later she smiled and I grinned happily.

We ate in comfortable silence and Bella offered to wash the dishes afterward. I waited nervously in the living room. I knew the time was becoming closer for me to tell her my feelings.

I sat on the couch and bounced my legs repeatedly, praying everything was going alright even after I told her everything.

"Edward? Why are you shaking your legs?"

I almost jumped when I heard her voice.

Bella raised her eyebrows. "Are you alright?"

I took a deep breath. "Yeah…yeah, I am….I…uh…I want to talk to you about something."

She nodded carefully and sat next to me on the couch.

I blew a breath and looked at her hands on her lap. Shouldn't I hold her hand or not?

"Edward?"

I looked into her eyes and finally said it.

"Bella, for all these years you are not my friend. You are more than that. I…" I closed my eyes briefly before opened it again and looked at her again. She stared at me with wide eyes.

"I love you, Bella."

You did it, Edward!

Hmm...what do you think about Bella's reaction?

Link and picture of Port Townsend and Chetzemoka Park are in my writing blog: www(dot)ffamoet(dot)wordpress(dot)com

I can't promise for update in the next week because I'm sure Twilight fandom would be busy when Breaking Dawn Part 2 trailer will be released

As for now, let me know what you think ^^

Thank you for reading :)