BPOV familiar

Exactly a week and a day after Edward was in my kitchen, I found them tucked under a stack of old electric bills in my home office.

Two mixed CDs in yellowing envelopes.

I promptly fell out of my chair when I realized what I had unearthed.

He said he would see me soon. Eight days was not soon.

Once I got a little glimpse of him, I wanted to see him every second of every day. And now I was going through withdrawals. I was shaky, on edge.

This had to be some sort of cosmic sign, fate trying to torture me.

What were the chances, just days after seeing him for the first time in years, that I would find this in my home office. I didn't even know I still had them. Most of the mementoes of our past had been left behind in our first apartment or purged by Alice in an attempt to get me out of bed in those first horrible weeks.

So how did they get in my office? I spent a lot of time in here over the years and though it was a bit cluttered, I knew where everything was. Organized chaos.

Could someone have put them here? Was Edward sending me some sort of message? Making good on his desire to see me again?

It was a very Edward thing to do, nostalgic, romantic. If I wasn't completely crazy and wasn't seeing things that weren't there, then he was reminding me of a time when we were happy. When all I needed was his hand in mine.

Cursing myself for my wild speculations, I went back to finding the contracts I was looking for and decided to ignore this bizarre occurrence. That was all this was.

I listened to both of them throughout the following days and well into the sleepless nights where I lay in bed thinking about him. Past and present versions.

Another week passed and still no promised Edward sighting. I hoped he would drop off Nessie that Sunday like he did the week before and even made sure Jake was no where near my house. I was disappointed when Alice and Jasper strolled in with my daughter and a stack of pizzas for dinner.

Carbs and cheese only momentarily distracted me from my obsession and I vividly dreamed of Edward that night.

Coincidence. It was just a coincidence. I repeated the word over and over again until the following Wednesday when Angela delivered something that had my brain calculating all the possible implications all over again.

"What is this? You brought me lunch?" I smiled at Angela as she plopped an In-N-Out paper bag on my desk.

"Not exactly. It was delivered."

"Since when do they deliver?"

"They don't, this guy just dropped it off in the front office and said it was for you. You don't think it is a bomb or poisoned or something. Do you?"

"Whoever is poisoning me knows the right way to do it. They got the burger perfect. Cheeseburger, grilled onions, no mustard," I said examining it.

"Maybe it a bribe," Angela said as she sat across the desk from me and pulled out her own salad.

"A record contract for lunch? Effective." I removed the fries and drink from the sack, taking a big gulp. "They even got the drink right, lemonade and Sprite. Damn, I haven't had this since high school."

"High school, huh?"

"Yea, with Edward." Angela's face blurred in front of me as the memories flooded back. Our first official date on the beach, as Edward called it, which was ruined by a call from Mike. The countless nights during my pregnancy where Edward drove across the city to find an In-N-Out open into the wee hours. Edward's smile as he teased me for eating like a linebacker.

I snapped myself out of it and realized Angela was staring at me with a combination of shock and concern.

"What?" I asked her, trying to decode her facial expression.

"Nothing," she said, turning her attention back to her salad.

"Come on Ang, I have known you long enough to tell when you have something to say. Just spit it out."

"Well, you mentioned him. Edward."

"And?"

"I don't think I have heard you say his name once in the last 8 years."

I made a non-committal sound. I wondered again if Edward was somehow behind these happenings that conveniently reminded me of a past life.

The next Friday, all doubt was whipped from my mind. I left work around nine that night in an attempt to catch up on some work without having to worry about getting home for Nessie. As I approached my car I noticed a dark, narrow object resting on my windshield.

I got closer, puzzled and curious.

It was a paintbrush with dark bristles and a pale wooden handle.

I giggled as I picked it up and attempted to finagle open the car door with my arms full of paperwork and demos. The hysterical laughter came when I finally say down, remembering again and trying to figure out just what I was going to do about Edward freaking Cullen.

~*~*~

12 Years Ago

EPOV

My hand really fucking hurt. The right one, the guitar strumming hand. All because of a brown eyed, music loving goddess and her asshole boyfriend.

Excellent.

Before 3rd period I was on Bella patrol. Not that I needed to focus on being hyper attuned to her every movement, but today I was working extra hard to see her. Most unfortunately, I eventually found her, pressed up against her locker, kissing her boyfriend.

Just like she kissed me three goddamn nights ago.

So naturally I handled it by darting around the corner and punching the closest locker.

All of this for one, inconsequential chick who was very unavailable? It was not like I had a problem getting girls. Not only was I in a band, but also I was such a goddamn pretty boy I had to practically beat them off.

The worst part was, Bella's treatment of me exactly followed my own methods for dealing with girls. Love 'um and leave 'um. Until now I always thought it was for the best.

Things were not so shinny on the other side of the coin.

Alice found me right by the now dented locker I punched, staring at my hand in confusion. I really wasn't a violent person, I was more about peace, love, and rock'n'roll. Sure, I had been known to beat on Emmett or Jasper on occasion, but I had never acted in anger like this before.

The she-devil was going to be the death of me.

"What happened?" Alice sighed as she looked from my red knuckles to the disfigured locker.

"I punched it."

"Did the locker do something to deserve such punishment?"

"Well, no. Not really. Just felt the need to hit something."

"Who are you," she said, eyes wide in shock. "Emmett?"

Good God I was acting like my Neanderthal big brother. This madness had to fucking end.

I went back to staring at my hand, figuring out how to get my shit together, and trying to ignore Alice's all to knowing look.

"Edward… is this about who I think this is about?"

I would not answer.

"It is, isn't it? Holy shit."

Goddamn, I hated that gloating tone of her voice.

"Edward and Bella, sitting in a tree,"

I could not believe she was doing this.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G"

Alice was dancing now and attracting the attention of our fellow, worthless students. I would not give in to her ridiculousness.

"First comes love,"

Thinking of the word 'love' made me want to vomit. My earlier revelation had me all jittery and freaked. The universe was getting back at me for all the girls I didn't date by making me fall in love with the only one I couldn't have.

"Then comes marriage,"

"ALICE!" Alright, so the punk rock pixie got the best of me, but I could not hear the end of that song. "Shut it, will you?"

"Don't growl at me Edward Cullen. It is not my fault you love my sister but don't have the ganas to do anything about it."

My face fell at her very accurate accusation.

"Ah Ha," Alice jumped in triumph, "I knew it. So are you going to ask for my help or what?"

"Wait, you actually want me to like your sister?"

"Of course silly, have you met her boyfriend? Gross. Plus I have known for awhile now that you two are meant to be together."

"Okay," was all I could think to say to that lofty statement. Alice just smiled at me sweetly. "Are you sure? Because I am kind of a fuck up and I have never really had a girlfriend and that is what I know Bella would want. You know a… relationship." I shuttered at the word.

"You will figure it out Edward, you are a good guy and you love her."

"Would you stop saying that? Goddamn."

"Sorry, I guess you just aren't ready to hear it yet."

"No, I am really not. Plus there is this huge issue named fucking asshole Newton."

"I don't think that is going to be a problem much longer."

"Why? Has Bella said something about breaking up with him?" I asked Alice, excited to be talking to her for the first time since she started singing. She turned from me smiling and shaking her head. I followed her down the hall, vaguely noting that we were headed in the general direction of my next class.

"Has she said anything about me? Alice, what do you know?"

"When did you turn into such a whiner? Listen, we are sisters so there is no way I would ever break that confidence, but I can do this for you. Tomorrow night we are finishing painting Jasper's new place and I will make sure Bella is there ok? The rest is up to you."

"Right."

"Your next class?" She said, looking exasperated, "AP History? With Bella? That would be a good place to start."

"Right." I said, still in a bit of a daze as I tried to assimilate the knowledge that Alice wanted to help me get into a… relationship… with her sister.

"GO!" Alice screamed as she forcefully pushed me toward the classroom and out of my daze. I grinned at her before taking the seat, rows in front of my normal chair, to the left of where Bella sat every day.

She wasn't there yet and stared at the door intently, waiting for her to appear in the doorway. When she finally stalked in, she seemed to be on some sort of rampage, storming the classroom with a fire in her eyes that I hoped was never directed my direction.

She threw her bag down and sat heavily next to me.

I waited for her to acknowledge my presence.

Nothing.

She glared into space and muttered under her breath incoherently.

I didn't know how to talk to her without being excessively awkward, but I didn't want her to be upset. And then she started grinning in a way that reminded me of her lunatic sister and seemed to be humming a perky song.

When she started giggling at nothing I got worried.

I cleared my throat and took a deep, steadying breath before I whispered hello in her ear.

She jumped twelve feet in the air and I worried that I had made things worse. But then the shock written all over her face was replaced with joy so she must have been at least a little happy to see me.

"Edward!" She said as she abruptly threw her arms around me. As suddenly as she hugged me, she pulled away, turning a bright pink as she did so.

"Sorry, I am so sorry. I am just really happy to see you. This huge thing just happened and then here you were, like you were waiting for me."

"I was waiting for you," I pointed out.

"I got your mix, thank you. Funny, isn't it?"

"Great minds." I went back to just looking at her as Mr. Buchannan brought the class to attention. I wished I had asked her about the huge thing that happened.

~*~*~

"You are going to have a fucking green living room Jasper. This is great." Emmett commented cheerfully from the oversized brown leather couch that I had helped Alice transport from Goodwill to Jasper's hole in the wall apartment last weekend.

"Yea no thanks to you, you big lazy caveman." Jasper snapped, "Plus it is not green, it is Saybrook Sage."

"Don't encourage him, Jazz. Believe me it is for the best that he is nowhere near the paint. He has the motor skills of a two year old." I put in from my perch on a ladder as I painted the edge of the wall. This was quite nice, soothing even. Back and forth.

I was the calm little center of the universe, painting Jaspers wall. Yup, calm, cool, collected. I wasn't currently freaking out that Bella would arrive any minute. I was just painting, changing this big fucking wall from insane asylum white to Saybrook Sage. For the last two days, I had succeeded in being semi coherent, even charming during the classes we shared together. But now she was coming into my little world and I desperately wanted her to like it.

"Well excuse me for not having a vagina like you two."

"Thank god for that." Rosalie said, emerging from the small galley kitchen and handing Emmett a beer.

"Fuck you Emmett, I like this painting business. Actually, I think I should do this more often. I am a regular fucking Rembrandt over here," I said, sweeping my arm in a large circular pattern to prove my point.

The next thing I knew, Emmett had ripped me off the ladder and was holding me to the ground while Jasper bent over my face, pressing a sharpie to my upper lip. I sat up bemused, staring at my supposed best friends in front of me.

"There, now you look like the fucking tortured artist you so want to be," Jasper smirked.

I was willing to bet my favorite Gibson that there was a thin mustache doodled over my mouth.

Rosalie walked over and stuffed a goddamn beret on my head and said "voila."

It was in this proud moment that Alice opened the front door and Bella entered the apartment.

Alice spared me one pitying glance, before carting her stack of pizzas into the kitchen, stepping over me and kissing Jasper in the process.

My eyes never left Bella's feet. She had not moved from her position in the doorway. I took in her black high heels that showed just a bit of her bright red toenails. My eyes slowly traveled up her bare legs, to her black ruffled skirt, and then to her long sleeved, v-neck shirt that matched the color we were painting Jasper's walls.

I finally got to Bella's breath taking face.

It was contorted with silent laughter.

How the hell was I going to recover from this? My mission to impress Bella was in serious trouble. I wanted her to think I was manly, and tough, a better alternative to her current boyfriend. A regular white knight. Yet here I was on the floor with a sharpied on mustache and a ridiculous hat.

On the plus side, from my position on the floor, I could almost see all the way up Bella's skirt. I wondered what color her panties were.

"Nice facial hair," she finally said between giggles. I grinned in response. I was not pleased about the whole debacle, but if it made Bella laugh then it was worth it. Almost.

"Oui," I said as she offered me her hand to get me off the floor. The buzz that always accompanied contact between us continued to surprise me as much as it pleased me. Even so, I lamented the loss of the spectacular view.

It took me a good 20 seconds to realize we were both just staring at each other like a couple of idiots and that everyone was staring at us staring at each other.

"Ah-hem," Alice fake-coughed daintily. Rosalie laughed. That bitch. "Bella, this is Emmett and Rosalie. Guys, this is my sister Bella."

Bella murmured a brief hello and flushed. God she was so beautiful when she was embarrassed.

"Hello," She said, dragging her gaze from the floor to a smirking Emmett with an evil looking Rosalie on his lap.

"Good to meet you Bella," Emmett said.

"'Bout damn time." Rose said. "Glad to see the princess has finally descended her thrown to mingle with the common folk."

"Excuse me?" Bella asked, sticking her chin out and putting a hand on her cocked hip.

"Rose," Jasper interrupted, sticking his head out the window that connected his living room and tiny kitchen. "Try not to be such a raging bitch for one evening please. Who wants pizza?"

We all shuffled into the kitchen and loaded our paper plates with pepperoni, sausage, and onion. Apparently Alice got this last slightly strange selection just for her sister. It was Bella's favorite. I filled it away in the rapidly growing Bella file in my head.

Alice, the slave driver, forced us all to inhale our dinner to get back to the painting.

"The quicker we paint," she said, "the quicker we can get really drunk and break this place in for real. We only have a few walls to go people, we can do this!"

I barely managed to get down one slice. Half way through my first piece, Bella got some sauce on her lip that she promptly licked off. The speedy dart of her little pink tongue practically sent me into convulsions so I opted to fill up on beer instead.

Between Rosalie acting like a bitch, Emmett taking everything Bella did as a joke, Jasper doing his best to maintain peace, Alice giggling constantly, and my inability to take my eyes of our guest, it was going to be a long goddamn night.

~*~*~

BPOV

"So how long have you known Alice and Jasper anyway?" Edward and I were sitting on Jasper's bed. We had finished painting the room half an hour ago and were hiding out to avoid being forced to move furniture around the now green living room.

We had all been assigned rooms. Jasper and Alice finished the living room, Rosalie was painting the limited space in the kitchen while Emmett looked on, and Edward and I had the bedroom.

I wondered if Alice could foresee the dirty thoughts that sprang to my mind just from being in the same vicinity as Edward Cullen and a bed.

Probably.

"Well," Edward said as he reclined on his elbows and nursed his beer. "I have known Jasper forever, his aunt grew up with my mom back in Texas. I met Alice when we moved here when I was in 8th grade. "

All this time, he had been so close and I was too wrapped up in my own self-preservation to notice.

"I'm sorry." I blurted out.

"Don't be." He said, smiling slightly, knowing exactly what I was talking about.

He always did.

Since the break up with Mike, I had been spending more time with Edward. Sitting by him in all our classes, letting him walk me to my next one. There were never those awkward pauses in conversation or the typical safe, boring get to know you questions and answers. We were perpetually on the same wavelength and somehow we managed to skip the first stage and leap into being friends. Good friends. More then friends?

I hoped so, but Edward seemed to not want that. After the break-up, I thought Edward would have mentioned something. He obviously was not a Mike fan and I figured it would come up. But he didn't say a word.

"We did a pretty good job on this room if I don't say so myself," I said in an attempt to alleviate some of the tension that had crept into the room. "I kind of like painting, even if it is mandatory."

"That is exactly the kind of talk that led to this." Edward said, pointing to his upper lip. His delicate mustache was now slightly smeared from an attempt to wash it away, but still clung stubbornly to his face. "Apparently, my friends are highly against enjoying this sort of work."

I giggled at his admission.

As stressed as I was about attending this forced labor party, it was worth it. I was so happy, just being near Edward. Yesterday, after history, he was edgy. Stuttering something about how nice I looked before cussing a bit and finally talking to me about our various mixes. We had three overlapping songs, but mine was a cohesive mix with one song flowing seamlessly into the next. His was all over the place and I loved all of it, from Led Zeppelin to Toad the Wet Sprocket. The Vampire Sunrise original was track number 3 and it was extraordinary. I wanted nothing more then to get them in the sound booth in our basement and removed the technical distractions in the recording.

"Aw, I think it's kind of dashing." I joked, nudging his foot with my own.

"Oh really? Because I think you would look great with one too." He snagged my foot a pulled me toward him across the bed.

From there it was a lot of giggling, and squealing on my part as Edward playfully attempted to restrain me and give me matching facial hair. Thankfully, he was distracted from his mission to doodle on my face when he found a particularly ticklish area on my side, just below my ribs.

When I was laughing so hard there were tears in my eyes I finally said 'Uncle.'

It was then I realized that he was completely on top of me. His lower half rested in between my knees and he supported himself with a hand on either side of my head.

I was on fire. Every part of me that was touching parts of him screamed for more. Both breathing heavily now, he slowly lowered his head to mine as I closed my eyes and parted my lips.

"Hey you two," yelled Alice from the doorway causing Edward and I to leap apart. "No fornicating on my bed."

"Really? None at all? And it whose bed is it?" Jasper asked as he materialized behind Alice.

"Get out here," She continued, ignoring Jasper with an eye roll. "It is finally done."

I stood quickly, patting my hair self-consciously and trying to tame the intense blush that flamed all the way to my neck. Edward laughed at my embarrassment and pulled me into the living room, not letting go of my hand even once we stopped to take in Alice's masterpiece.

I looked around in awe of my tiny big sister. Somehow Alice had managed to change the dreary apartment into a cozy, comfortable, and stylish home. The dark brown couches were accented with burgundy pillows and a matching throw. The coffee table held fresh flowers while the side table between the couch and the love seat held an abstract looking lamp and a row of candles. The bookcase in the corner housed Jasper's favorite military books as well as a stack of Alice's fashion magazines. I recognized the large TV as the one that was replaced in our own home by a flat screen. It wasn't touching the wall yet because of the wet paint. The room was finished with beige floor length curtains with long, dark spirals and framed prints of Toulouse-Lautrec, Alice's favorite artist.

It was damn impressive and we all told her so.

Drink's were poured, toasts were made, and pretty soon we were all well on our way to being wasted.

Though it was a school night, Charlie was still out of town and this was a special occasion. Plus, I needed something to relax. Edwards's eyes lingered on me all night and sometimes I couldn't breath he was so beautiful.

After a few drinks, it was decided that it was time for games and Rosalie insisted on Never Have I Ever. I was not particularly thrilled to learn about or share with this group of people but the games, like the painting, was mandatory.

"Never have I ever had sex on a public bus." Alice said, grinning wickedly at Rosalie.

So far I had discovered that Jasper had never left the country, that Alice had never gone more then a week without shopping, that Edward once dated a 25 year old, and far more then I ever wanted to know about Rosalie and Emmett's sex life.

"Shit Alice, why are you gunning for us?" Emmett said, putting his middle finger down after Alice's statement. He and his rather rude girlfriend were down to one finger each.

"Because it is so easy! You two do the most ridiculous things."

"A bus? Really brother?" Edward asked, grimacing. Emmett just shrugged his shoulders.

"My turn," said Rose. "Never have I ever been pleasured on a rollercoaster."

Alice put a finger down and pouted. I stared at my sister in shock. Sweet, little, innocent Alice, sole female role model in my life was getting ii on in amusement parks.

"Uncool," Jasper said to his cousin before turning on me. "Bella it is your turn." I still had four fingers up. It was a positive that most of the people here didn't know all my secrets.

"Ok," I said, taking a deep breath and hating being the center of attention. "Never have I ever been in love."

Every single person in the circle groaned and put a finger down except Emmett who was then punched in the shoulder by Rosalie.

"Chill, babe. I was just kidding," he laughed before quickly making a fist.

I looked at Edward. He had put down his finger and I wanted to cry. I wondered about the girl he had been or was still in love with.

From there game night continued with a game of Quarters. It was my downfall and I was forced to drink nearly every round.

By 1 AM, things had died down. Alice was in Jasper's lap, nibbling on his ear while he grinned and told her he loved her. Emmett appeared to be playing the drums on Rosalie's butt while she laughed.

Edward and I were curled up on the loveseat. He was singing Tom Petty in my ear while he played with my hair. Though he seemed content with this limited contact, I wanted more. The furnace he stoked within me had been building all night, maybe since I first saw him only 5 days ago. But I was drunk, single, and I wanted him unlike anything before.

Being around him was so confusing and thrilling, I was exhausted. Suddenly so sleepy, I decided it was time to turn in.

~*~*~

EPOV

"Come home with me?" She said, looking right into my eyes, staring like she could see all the way down to my soul.

All I could do was nod weakly and pull her off the couch.

We made our goodbyes and I expected some trouble from Jasper. But for once, his fucking mouth stayed shut and all he did was glare at me in warning. Alice, on the other hand, winked.

I dragged Bella by her hand out the front door and onto the sidewalk. We staggered up the street giggling at nothing. Her smile made me feel a thousand feet talk so I picked her up and spun her in a circle. She threw he head back and laughed.

I never wanted to put her down.

"Damn, you are beautiful," I told her.

"Damn, you are drunk."

"So are you." I pointed out.

We walked in silence for a bit, content to just be with each other. She started swinging out hands while I hummed a Neutral Milk Hotel song that had been stuck in my head since I met her.

Then she surprised me again when she started singing alone with me. She started out quietly, barely a whisper on the wind. I found myself leaning towards her, straining to hear.

"What a beautiful face, I have found in this place that is circling all around the Sun.," she sang, growing steadily in volume and confidence as she went. Bella's voice was a sultry soprano that was vibrant and unique. She provided a sexy take on a light, carefree song. I couldn't resist joining her,

What a beautiful dream

That could flash on the screen

In a blink of an eye and be gone from me

Soft and sweet

Let me hold it close and keep it here with me

By the end of the first verse, we were singing as loud as we could, dancing down the street, and beaming at each other.

What a beautiful face

I have found in this place

That is circling all around the sun

And when we meet on a cloud

I'll be laughing out loud

I'll be laughing with everyone I see

Can't believe

How strange it is to be anything at all

"You can sing!" I exclaimed when we finished, taking in my surroundings for the first time. We climbed a long driveway to the top of a hill to the Swan house. I recognized it from the few times we hung out here with Alice, but most of our time was spent at our house or Seth's.

"Yes I know," she said, shrugging like it was no big deal as she dug through her purse for her house keys.

It was a big fucking deal.

I followed her to the front door where she started fiddling with the handle. I was about to offer my assistance when she abruptly turned around with a huff. The way her hair flew around her head forming an entrancing halo momentarily distracted me from the glare on Bella's beautiful face.

"Edward," she said.

"Bella," I replied.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" She growled the question at me, sounding angry and a bit jealous. It was pretty hypocritical. I wasn't the one in a fucking relationship.

"No. Absolutely not." I never in my life had a girlfriend.

"Good to know, thank you for walking me home."

"It was my pleasure and I mean that. Who knew you could sing like that?"

She smiled at me and I really wanted to kiss her.

"I really want to kiss you." Stupid drunken mouth.

"Then why don't you?"

Not needing to be asked twice, I snagged her chin in my hand to make sure she was really there. I rushed to bring our lips together, convinced that she would change her mind and remember her boyfriend at any second.

Kissing Bella Swan was my new favorite activity. Her lips where soft and she smelled like flowers and strawberries and the beach. She tasted even better.

She snaked her hands up around my back and into my hair, further intensifying the single sexiest moment of my life. She was heat and passion, tongue and teeth.

She shivered and I very reluctantly pulled away. White knights don't let their princesses get cold, even if it is to make out under the stars.

"I wonder if you got fake mustache on me."

Goddamn she was adorable.

"When can I see you again?" I asked, feeling like some ridiculous suitor from a different century.

"My guess would be 1st period bio tomorrow morning," she sighed, running her fingers through my hair again.

My impossibly hard hard-on got even harder. Bella was one she devil with some mighty powerful voodoo.

"School doesn't count. Friday night, the band is playing downtown, say you'll come."

"I think I can make it." She yawned widely. Quickly I kissed her forehead and scooted her to the door I had just opened.

I backed away down the steps backwards to look at her as long as possible. "Be there," I said pointing at her, trying to convey how bad I suddenly wanted to share my music with her.

She smiled and laughed as she closed the door and I wished I knew the joke.