AN: Your reviews make us giggle so much. They are fantastic. Alright, let's see what Edward has in store for Bella.


Edward gave Bella an address the next day at work and told her that he would meet her there at seven o'clock. He also told her not to google it and spoil the surprise. Fair was fair after all.

He tapped out a beat on the steering wheel and waited for Bella to show up. It was still a little early, but he was nervous. He wanted to Bella to have fun and had done everything he could think of to make her comfortable.

Nervousness was strange to Edward. He was normally the master of his element on a date: smooth, charming, and impeccable. Most of his dates were blind dates from his sister-in-law, so he knew nothing about them. He knew how to listen and make a girl comfortable. As it turned out, that was usually all it took to seal the deal, if both parties were interested.

It was different with Bella. He knew enough about her to know what she might enjoy, but he wasn't thinking about sealing the deal. He just wanted to know more. He was already more enthralled with her than he could remember being with anyone.

He saw Bella's car pull up in front of the building and rushed to open the door for her. He caught the edge of her smirk as he helped her out. "Careful, Edward. If I hadn't known better, I might have thought you were someone coming to rob me."

"Is that a subtle dig about the part of town I've brought to you?"

"Subtle? I didn't mean for it to be."

He couldn't help smiling. Bella giggled and turned to the greystone building. "What is this, anyway?"

"It's an arcade." Edward couldn't helping grinning proudly as he held the door open for her. "I think its the only one left in existence, but I thought you would like it. What do you think?"

He stared nervously at Bella as she took in the dim, dingy room filled with row after row of pinball machines, car racing games, shooters, and old Atari games. He wasn't quite sure what she thought of it until her face lit up in a way that he had only seen on the dewy field where she was a queen. "Oh my god, they have the Lord of the Rings pinball machine! Do you realize how rare that is?"

"Um, no? Is it?"

"Such a newb." She laughed again. "Do we need quarters or tokens?"

"So, you like it?"

"Oh my fucking god yes! It's an arcade. Now come on. I wanna play."

Edward wasn't sure how long they spent bouncing from game to game. Mostly they played the two player games where Bella beat Edward the majority of the time. He didn't mind. He liked watching the the competitive spark in her eyes.

He was greatly aware of how close they had to stand in order to both see the screen on Police Academy. Everytime Edward felt Bella brush against his side he felt a shiver down his spine. If Bella was affected then she didn't show it, but she did move on to the racers soon after.

Edward didn't enjoy those so much because he couldn't see her from the hard plastic seat. After a couple of races, he guided her back over to pinball machines.

There he learned something new about Bella. The girl was a marvel with pinball machines. She tied back her hair, started up one of the machines, and he could only watch in awe as she bounced the ball across the case. The flippers seemed almost to be guided by magic rather than the press of ancient, worn down buttons. Bella bounced on her toes, and her dark eyes roved quickly up and down the case, chasing the ball.

Edward watched as a tendril of hair slipped out of her improvised bun. The dark wave cascaded against the slim column of her throat. He wanted to brush away the hair and then trace a line from earlobe to her collarbone with his nose.

He was so caught up in his fantasy that he lost track of the real Bella. He didn't see her until she was right in front of him giving him a high five. Edward was able to recover in time to accept it and he couldn't help keeping her hand in his for just a moment after. She pulled away quickly, but he didn't miss the light blush that colored her cheeks.

"How did you become a pinball wizard?" He steered her toward the concessions booth and brought them both food before settling on a plastic table and bench.

Bella shrugged. "I grew up in this tiny town in Washington. There was nothing to do but the arcade in town. Pinball is pretty solitary, so that's what I ended up playing. It's nice to know I still got it."

"Solitary? Come on, you can't tell me that you weren't the queen of your high school, Your Highness."

"No, I really wasn't. I spent most of my time in the library. I mean, I had couple friends, but no one I was really close with."

"Seriously? So then when did the whole, kick ass, snarky Bella come about?"

"I got tired of having to keep my nose down. I have a lot more fun this way."

Bella winked and Edward swallowed thickly. The air between them seemed to buzz with attraction. Edward wished he could read her mind. Was she impressed? Excited? Bored out of her mind? Since seeing the many sides of Bella, she had become increasingly hard for him to read.

They were silent while eating until Bella , taking a bite of nacho, got a spot of cheese on her chin. Edward tried to point out where it had fallen, but she kept missing. Without even thinking Edward leaned over the table and used his finger to capture the stray droplet. His skin sparked when he touched her. He shivered and almost jumped back.

Her endless chocolate brown eyes and his bright green met for what felt like forever. All night, his chest had been tight, but now he felt like he could hardly breathe. There was warmth in her gaze and uncertainty. The uncertainty was new. Even at work, where she was much more subdued, she was always certain of her course. This new uncertainty was enough to have him worried. He was struck by the urge to pull her toward him, wrap her in his arms, and soothe away any worry that she might have. He wanted her to be happy. It was that simple and it scared him, because how did you keep someone happy?

Bella looked away to the games behind him, the food on the table, her fingernails, the ceiling. She looked anywhere but at Edward.

"Bella, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I mean, I'd hoped you were having a good time, and I didn't mean to screw it up."

"You're cute when you're tongue tied."

"Well, thanks, but I was being serious."

"Edward," she sighed. "I just don't know."

"You don't know what?"

"About you. I mean, this is fantastic. An arcade, and nachos, hot dogs? That was smart you must have known I would like it, but I look at you and still see the boy from work who likes to play games. I don't play those kind of games, not even for you."

Edward sighed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He had never been ashamed of his past. He knew how to be charming, and used it when it suited him. He hadn't seen the harm in it, but he could see how it seemed insincere. "I know. I know. I could say I'm not playing a game but I don't think you'd believe me."

She shook her head but still graced him a smile none the less.

"Okay, what about this. Let me prove it. I'll prove I want to know you and not just get in your bed. I go home every weekend. My mom makes a mean pot roast. Come with me, just as my friend. No obligations, no promises or anything. Just as my friend."

"Why do you care?"

"Because you're interesting. I can't figure you out. One minute you're this super strong, in control of everything woman, and the next you're quiet, and shy, and take everyones crap. I don't like it."

Edward knew he was in trouble when Bella's eyebrow arched over her forehead. Emmett called them bitch brows. "You don't like what? The way I am? If that's the case then I'm done because I'm not changing for you."

"That's not what I meant. I just meant that I don't like people piling on to you. You deserve better."

"Oh." Bella was quiet and blushed the prettiest red Edward had ever seen. "Dinner, with your family, just friends?"

"Just friends. And I promise I'll try to rein Emmett in."

They laughed and Edward breathed deeply for the first time that night. It wasn't quite what he had planned, but he could do friends.