9

A/N: Happy Memorial Day! I'm back with a chapter, finally getting these two kids on their date. Special thanks to my beta Q, you rock! Thanks for helping me work out all the kinks, and making quick work of the chapter. I won't make you wait any longer, this is probably the longest chapter of the story so far, I hope you like it.

The following week flew by quickly; a few more tutoring sessions with Ben, working on my final term papers of the year, sneaking some time in to see Carlisle, but we didn't get much alone time. Stolen kisses here and there, I was getting desperate.

Our dinner date night was tonight and I still hadn't come up with a lie to tell my dad. We had to make it to Seattle around 6:30 so we could make our 7:00 reservations.

Carlisle said we should leave around 3 in the afternoon, so I was getting ready early. I called Angela and asked if I could park my truck at her house, that I had some errands to run in Seattle and I didn't want to bother her with driving since she had to watch her brothers. When she asked how I was getting there I just said a friend was driving me. I put her off questioning me about which friend by swiftly changing the topic to Ben and prom.

I felt bad about diverting Angela's attention but the less she really knew the better. I would tell her eventually, but for now I had to make sure to keep this secret so Carlisle wouldn't get in trouble.

I decided the simplest lie was best and texted my dad to let him know I was going to spend the day with Angela studying for finals and helping her watch her brothers and would likely not be home until later. He never questioned when I was going to spend time with Angela. Since her father was a well respected Pastor and Charlie has known him since they were in grade school together; he trusted when I said I was there, that I really was.

-0-

After dropping off my truck at Angela's house I started walking. I was kicking myself for not thinking more clearly because walking in my light dress, I was freezing. I wanted to look nice for my date with Carlisle. We never had much of an excuse to dress nicely or wear clothes to begin with, so I went all out with this outfit.

My dress was this little dark grey number, fitted to the waist and flaring a little at the hip to show off my slight curves. The skirt wasn't obscenely short, just short enough to show a lot of leg and for me to freeze my ass off. My cropped black pea coat wasn't helping much either, my warmer coat was not nearly fancy enough to wear to a restaurant in Seattle. I grumbled to myself "Why does it have to be so cold in May?"

I did remember to pack a bag with my clothes to wear back in the door at home and my heels. No way was I walking to meet up with Carlisle wearing my heels. My feet would take a beating in the time I did wear them, no sense in suffering longer than I needed to.

I walked the three blocks to Carlisle's condo in my hot pink Nike's and he was waiting in the parking lot for me. Leaning up against his black Mercedes. Whistling I shouted "Nice ride!" He looked up from his phone and smiled.

"Pfft, this old thing?" he rolled his eyes and opened his arms so I could embrace him. We rocked from side to side for a few seconds. Pulling back Carlisle looked into my eyes and said, "You look beautiful."

I ducked my head and buried my face in his chest. "Thanks," I giggled. "You don't look so bad yourself handsome; you're looking like quite the bad boy."

Carlisle was wearing all black. Black suit, black shirt, black tie, black shoes, and black coat over his suit. He looked devilishly delicious.

"I look like a bad boy?"

"Yeah the suit, the coat, everything just screams trouble."

Carlisle just shook his head at me, in all likelihood not believing what I was saying. He just didn't know how amazing he looked in a suit.

"We should probably get going."

"Let's go." I lifted to my tip toes and gave him a light kiss. He leaned in and pulled me closer, bringing our lips together for a longer one. When we broke apart, he took my bag off my shoulder. "What's in here?"

"My clothes to wear home. I can't walk in from 'babysitting with Angela' wearing a dress and heels," I laughed.

"I'll put your bag in the trunk." Carlisle pressed the button on his keys to pop the trunk.

"Oh, hang on." I reached for the zipper on the bag, and grabbing my shoes I closed it back up. "As you were," I said with a smile and flourished wave of my hand towards the trunk.

After placing my bag down, Carlisle walked with me to the passenger's side of the car, he manually unlocked the door and opened it to help me in. After sitting down, I placed my shoes on the floor by my feet and pressed the button to unlock the doors.

"You watch too many movies, you do know that right?" he asked me with a smirk as he slid into the driver's seat.

Biting my lip I replied, "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

"Whatever you say Bella." Then he turns and puts his arm over the back of my seat to back out of his spot. Leaning in a bit, he whispered in my ear "Listen to me, kid. If she doesn't reach over and lift up that button so that you can get in, that means she's a selfish broad and all you're seeing is the tip of the iceberg. You dump her and you dump her fast."

"And I watch too many movies? You can quote the whole freaking thing! All I did was unlock the doors," I replied.

"Calm down killer. A Bronx Tale is my favorite movie of all time. I'm just teasing you. I already knew you weren't a selfish broad." Kissing my temple, Carlisle finally backed out of the spot so we could get started on our journey to Seattle.

"You know I'm a bit surprised at you," I said staring at Carlisle's profile as he was driving.

"Why, what did I do?"

"Oh, nothing. It's just out of all the DeNiro movies you could love; your favorite is A Bronx Tale. Just doesn't make any sense. Not Goodfellas, which is my favorite incidentally, not even The Untouchables or Casino? Hell he's even a funny neurotic mobster in Analyze This and Analyze That. I don't know why but you seem like the kind of guy that would enjoy a mobster flick."

"I'm starting to think you have a thing for mobster flicks, or DeNiro. I'm not quite sure which."

"Well let me put it to you this way, think of every mobster movie you can come up with in the next minute and times that by five. That's about how many mobster movies I've seen and I loved every one of them, with or without DeNiro."

"I never would have thought that about you, Bella."

"Well there are a lot of things you don't know about me. There are a lot of things I don't know about you, and this Bronx Tale confession is kind of worrisome to me, makes me question our whole relationship." His eyes flickered to mine quickly then back to the road.

"You can't be serious." His face looked puzzled.

"Of course I'm not serious! I wouldn't give up this relationship over a stupid movie."

He gasped. "Well if you call my favorite movie stupid again I might just have to break up with you."

I grabbed his right hand that was resting on the gear shift and twisted our fingers together. "I don't think you will."

"Oh yeah, why is that?" he asked.

I brought his hand up to my lips and placed a kiss on the back, then another on the side of his wrist. Flipping his hand over in mine I placed another kiss on the center of his palm. "Because you love me too much."

Biting my lip for bringing up the idea that he loves me, I glanced out the window to see we were just leaving the Forks town limit. I was glad we were enjoying a nice conversation, minus my little slip; I was concerned we wouldn't really have anything to talk about. We never really had a reason to seriously talk, our relationship was mostly sex. I did want more though, so this whole trip would be a way to know if there was a possibility for a real relationship.

Our conversations flowed freely with music playing quietly from the radio. But I just knew he was going to ask me something important when our conversation started to die down and he became quiet and contemplative.

"Just ask, whatever it is that you want to ask me, I can't take you stewing anymore. Is it what I said before?" I blurted.

"I am not stewing," Carlisle said adamantly. "I was just curious as to what your plans are after graduation, the last time I asked you were pretty short with me."

Ignoring the fact that he didn't mention the whole love thing, I started. "Well... okay, honestly? I've applied and gotten early admittance at a couple schools that I'm kind of excited about the University of Washington and Northwestern Illinois; I just can't really decide where I want to go. I haven't even heard back from all the schools I've applied to just yet. I can't decide if I want to try and go to a University in Florida so I can be near my mom for the next four years or if I want to stay near my dad. Or even go and do something crazy like move to New York or Illinois by myself. Any of those prospects are daunting. I don't know how people decide. Just pin up acceptance letters to a board and throw a dart? This decision could affect the rest of my life, not just the next four years. Then there's you to think about. I'm not going to make my decision based on wanting to be with you because I really think we could last, even doing the whole long distance thing. It's just, God I don't know what to do." I finally stopped when I ran out of air.

"Bella, I wish I could say something to make your decision easier," Carlisle interjected before I could open my mouth and start rambling again. "No matter what though, it's going to come across sounding selfish. I want to be with you and would love if you went to school near me. What would make you happy?" he asked.

"That's the thing; I don't know what will make me happy. I'm sitting on this huge decision because everything rides on it. My future, our relationship, I don't really want to think about it." I whined.

"Listen Bella, I don't mean to pressure you. That's not my intention. I want you to just really think about it because it is a big decision. Graduation is right around the corner and I just want you to be sure of your plans. No sense in missing out, letting great opportunities pass you by, because of procrastination."

He gently squeezed my hand, letting me know by his simple touch that he was serious without being overbearing about it.

We drove in a comfortable silence as we made our way from the ferry.

The closer we got to Seattle the more excited I got. I couldn't wait for the dinner portion of our date so we could give each other our undivided attention. He wouldn't be focused on driving and I wouldn't be worried about my future plans, we would be in the here and now.

We ended up fighting over control of the music. Carlisle loves music from the 80s; hair bands, metal, instrumental ballad love songs. I prefer 90s music; hip-hop, pop, punk, and rock. I would chalk these differences up to our ages.

Finally, I changed the station to smooth jazz. He laughed at me, but it prevented us from fighting over the music and mellowed us out.

Charlie loved to listen to smooth jazz but that was our little secret. My gruff Police Chief father couldn't let people know he did anything other than watch sports on the TV and fish. But I knew all of his dirty little secrets like his love of jazz, fudge, and House Hunters. The last one might have been my fault since I always leave the TV tuned into HGTV.

Carlisle and I just relaxed for the rest of the ride into Seattle. When he pulled up to the restaurant we were greeted by a very cheerful valet. He opened my door and helped me out before running around the car to grab the keys from Carlisle.

I looped my arm through Carlisle's as we walked into the restaurant. Going up the front steps, reading the awning, Il Terrazzo Carmine, I knew I was in for some great Italian food. They were just shown on Check, Please and I had been dying to try it.

"You tricked me! I thought we were going to some stuck up snobby place. Did I tell you I wanted to come here?"

Carlisle chuckled, "You may have mentioned it when we were on the phone last week, but I think you were really tired and just rambling on the verge of sleep."

"That sounds like something I would do. Thank you for bringing me here," I said as I kissed his cheek.

We walked up to the hostess stand where a very beautiful woman was standing greeting the guests.

"Welcome to Il Terrazzo Carmine, I am Gianna. Do you have a reservation?" she asked with a slight Italian accent.

"Hello, yes we have a reservation. Carlisle Cullen."

The woman, Gianna, looked in her book and quickly back to Carlisle. "Mister Cullen, right this way."

We followed her to a table for two near the back of the restaurant. It was busy, filled with many other people enjoying a Saturday night dinner out.

Carlisle pulled out my chair and I sat at the table lit with tiny tea candles. After he sat down Gianna handed us each a menu and wine list. "Your waiter, Marcus, will be over to take your orders. Will you be having any wine tonight? I can send over our sommelier if you need."

"No, thank you, we won't be having wine tonight. I'll take an Amstel or whatever is on tap. Bella?"

"Sparkling water."

"Will that be all or can I get you started with antipasto?" Gianna asked Carlisle, doing her best to ignore me completely.

"Can we start with Parmigiana Di Melanzane?" I asked not even bothering to look at the menu. I love eggplant and that was what one if the diners ordered on Check, Please; so I just had to have it.

Carlisle just sat smirking looking down at his menu.

"Yes, right away ma'am," Gianna said, and took her cue to leave us.

"You're adorable when you're jealous," he winked.

"I am not jealous! I just don't like being ignored," I huffed, doing my best to not look jealous but failing miserably.

I pretended to study my menu, but knew exactly what I wanted. When our waiter Marcus came over to the table he placed our drinks down.

"Hi, I'm Marcus; I'll be your waiter this evening. Are you ready to order?" he asked looking expectantly between Carlisle and myself.

"I know what I'm ordering; do you know what you want yet?" I asked looking over to Carlisle.

"I think I'm ready, but you should order first." he said looking back down at his menu.

"Okay, now I'm going to completely butcher this Italian but, I'll have the Zuppa Di Cavolo to start and Gnocci Sorrentia for my main course." I smiled at Marcus and handed him my menu.

"Great choices. The cauliflower soup is the best. You didn't butcher that at all." Marcus smiled at me then turned to Carlisle. "And Sir, what can I get for you?"

"I'll have the Insalata Cesare and Filetto Con Pancetta & Pignoli," he said in the most flawless Italian. And my jaw dropped.

"I didn't know you spoke Italian," I said, stunned.

"I'll be right back with your appetizer." Marcus took his cue to leave.

"Um, yeah, my mom is Italian and speaks fluently. I spoke Italian with her when I was a kid, then took courses through high school and college so I could read and write it too."

"Wow, that's amazing. I'm really glad we did this," I said reaching over and grabbing his hand that was absentmindedly drumming on the table cloth. "There's so much I want to know about you, we need to do this whole talking thing more often."

"We really do." Carlisle began stroking the top of my hand with his thumb.

We were starring at each other in our own little world when Marcus came to drop off our appetizer.

We dug in right away and I was completely blown away by the food. The eggplant with mozzarella and sauce was heavenly.

Then, before I knew it Marcus was bringing my extremely hot soup and Carlisle's weird lettuce things, which I ate a ton of. Before our main course arrived I was nearly stuffed but there was no way I wasn't eating my potato dumplings; besides the soup, they were the one thing on the menu I had to eat.

Carlisle shared some of his steak with me and I fed him pieces of potato dumplings from my fork. We were laughing, talking and just really having a great time.

By the time Marcus came to pick up our plates to make us to go boxes, I was on the verge of tears I was so full.

"Bella, want some dessert?" Carlisle asked, not even trying to make me laugh by turning it into some sort of sexual innuendo.

"I will burst if I eat another bite," I whined.

"Come on, we'll walk it off by the water, we can't leave here without tiramisu."

At that, I got my second wind. "Marcus we'll have one tiramisu to split and the check, please."

"Right away." Marcus ran off to get our dessert.

"I think I've come to a decision about next year." I blurted.

"Oh yeah. What's that?" Carlisle asked with a grin.

"Well I can't imagine not being able to do things like this, dates on weekends and just seeing you whenever I want, seeing as we can't really even do that now, so I think I'm going to stay here go to University of Washington."

"Not that it isn't something I want, to see you every day, but I well... I was sort of thinking of going back to school. Medical school and... I've been accepted at Northwestern. So if you wanted to go with me to Chicago, well, I'd really like that."

For the second time of the night my jaw dropped, stunned. "You... want to... go to medical school... at Northwestern? Why didn't you tell me? I didn't want to say anything because I just wanted to be with you, but that's where I really want to go. We could have saved this trouble of my indecision if you would have told me."

"I didn't want you to move away from your dad just for me. But knowing you would stay here for me, well I wanted you to decide on your own and it's just my luck you got early admittance to Northwestern," he shrugged.

I got up from my chair and walked to his side of the table, other patrons be damned, and threw my arms around his neck, crashing my lips to his. Carlisle pulled me onto his lap and deepened the kiss.

We were sitting in the middle of a fancy restaurant making out like a couple of kids behind the bleachers. We heard a throat clear and looked up to find Marcus there with our dessert.

He placed it on the table in front of us. "She said yes," Carlisle beamed at him. Marcus looked confused, then shocked, and happy. Before he could run off to, I don't know start planning a wedding for two strangers, I interjected. "We're moving to Chicago."

Marcus laughed and put the check on the table, "I thought for sure..." he blushed and looked down.

"Maybe one day," Carlisle said, smiling as I turned to kiss him once again.

We fed each other tiramisu until the plate was empty. Carlisle paid the check and we strolled out of the restaurant hand in hand. Carlisle got the car from the valet and we took off to finish the rest of our date.

A/N: Was it as good for you as it was for me? A few quick things; the restaurant is a real place in Seattle, they were featured on Check, Please a TV show based in many cities, Seattle happens to be one of them, I was kinda stoked to hear that since it's a pretty popular show here in Chicago. I am addicted to HGTV and I thought it would be funny to have Charlie addicted to it as well. Please tell me I'm not the only crazy person that is tuned into that channel nearly 24/7?

Also another little side note: Kristen Stewart, in an interview from Cannes, said that Robert DeNiro is her favorite actor. You can read it here http:/www(dot)robsessedpattinson(dot)com/2012/05/robert-pattinson-talks-about-few-of-his(dot)html I happened to write that part of my chapter, where Bella admits her love of DeNiro, nearly two weeks ago, so it was a shock and pretty awesome coincidence. Speaking of Cannes and Robert... how hot was Rob at Cannes?