.

Bella dropped down on the sofa next to Emmett exhausted and a little irritated. She usually enjoyed Alice's company – but not when she made her sit with her back straight and pulled on her hair for over two hours.

"Looking good Bella," Emmett grinned, looking her over as a book slammed into the back of his head.

"Thank you," she bit her lip as Rosalie picked up her book and walked out of the room. Emmett was right though; Alice had done miracles with some makeup and a curling iron.

"You wanna play a game?"

"Sure," she smiled at his excitement as he hurried over to the game cabinet.

"Battleship, Scrabble, Monopoly, Chess – yuck, not chess, Break the Ice, ooooh Chinese checkers?"

"You don't like chess?"

"I used to love chess – in my human life. But Alice and Edward cheat, Jasper and Carlisle always beat me, and Rosalie and Esme get bored of it," he explained pulling out the game.

"How does Edward cheat? Does he have visions too?"

"Nah, he can read minds."

Bella's stomached dropped and her breathing hitched thinking about all the things she'd thought around him. Then she realized he could probably hear her now rethinking everything, so she tried to think about nothing...

Edward groaned as Bella's heart quickened. She was probably freaking out which meant she had thought about him… But were those thoughts pleasant and embarrassing or criticizing?

"Emmett," he growled suddenly appearing in front Bella. "Could you be any more careless?"

"I'm sorry," he rolled his eyes at him. "Don't worry Bella, he can't read yours so you can keep on thinking terrible things about him."

"What?" she finally found her voice.

"It's true," Edward sighed, turning to her. "I can't read your mind."

"That's… worrisome. What does that mean? Is there something wrong with my brain?" she frowned.

"Um no," he smiled. "I think you'll be okay."

"Hey Ed, you wanna play with us?" Emmett asked setting up the board.

"No thanks," he shook his head as Bella's stomach growled.

"Oh crap, we forgot to feed the human."

"I suppose I could run to the store."

"I can go," Bella offered.

"She'll probably get lost," Emmett wiggled his brow at him.

"Fine," he scowled down at him. "I'll take you."

Bella quickly slipped on her shoes and grabbed her purse, hating herself for being a burden especially to Edward.

"I'm sorry you had to take me," she looked down at her lap in his car as he glanced at her.

"Don't be sorry. You need to eat, and I volunteered to drive you so you wouldn't have to drive that tank of garbage."

"Only because Emmett made you..."

"Only so he could have some alone time with Rosalie, and Emmett likes to ask with his vivid imagination."

"Oh..." she blushed as he rolled down his window.

The parking lot of the small grocery was packed, and Edward parked in the back with the fewest cars. Bella had to speed walk to keep up with him.

"Sorry," he slowed his pace as she stumbled.

"It's okay," she blushed again.

Bella noticed that everyone seemed to turn their way as they walked into the store. She went to grabb a basket but stopped when Edward grabbed a shopping cart. Bella led them to the breakfast aisle and grabbed her pop tarts then headed for the deli meat.

"Um," she frowned at the cart filled with things she didn't need. "I don't think I'll be able to eat all of this in a couple of days... especially a whole turkey."

"Don't worry it's not all for you," he smiled. "We have to keep up appearances, and we keep a small stash of food at the house just in case we have a visitor. In a couple of days we'll donate most of it to a shelter."

"You're a very kind family."

"Yes, but you should remember that's not the case in other families," he warned her.

"I remember."

"Good, would you like some cola?"

At checkout Bella grabbed her three items and moved to a different lane willing herself to not look at Edward. He rolled his eyes at her when she joined him after paying for her things.

"I could have spent twelve more dollars for things. I don't mind."

"But I do," she mumbled noticing the cashier glaring at her.

Edward nodded hello to her and quickly swiped his card.

"Bye Edward!" she smiled as they walked away.

"She's in my physics class," he explained outside.

"Oh..."

"And she thought you were my girlfriend..." he explained for the glaring.

"Oh, so you actually go to school?"

"Yes, you know, for appearances," he shrugged.

"So those graduation caps on the wall?" she asked remembering the piece of art.

"Yes, those are ours. It's our little inside joke, but some of them are from colleges."

"I couldn't imagine going through high school more than once."

"It's something for us to do, but it does get boring."

"What have you studied in college? Where'd you go to college? Edward?" she looked up at his face when he stopped moving. His face was like stone with his lips pressed in a straight line. "Oh no," she followed his glare to the large dent in side of his car. "Should I call the police?" her question seemed to shake him.

"No. No, let's go. Rosalie can help me fix it at home," he popped the trunk.

"But it's a hit and run! You should report it."

"Report this and not the guy who drugged you?"

"Why do you always do that?" she helped place the bags in the car.

"I'm just pointing out your contradictions. Anyways we don't want to attract too much attention to ourselves. Calling the police would be unnecessary. It'll be easier to fix it at home. Thank you," he said as she closed the lid.

She got in the front seat as he returned the cart, and she couldn't help but watch him as he walked back to the car. She wondered how his gait could be so attractive? He stopped a few feet away to look at the damage with his hands on his hips, and she admired the way his collared shirt stretch against his chest and how his jeans fitted nicely on his narrow hips - suddenly her gaze met his causing her to blush.

"It's drivable," he huffed getting into the car.

"Good," she fiddled with her fingers in her lap.

She remained quiet for most of the car ride until she caught him glancing at her several times.

"What?"

"Nothing, I'm just wondering what you're thinking. It's odd not being able to hear you."

"Oh... I'm not thinking of anything really. I just feel really relaxed and safe."

"Safe with a vampire," he scoffed, thinking if she really knew the truth she wouldn't feel so safe.

"I'm sorry I've annoyed you."

"I'm not annoyed," he shook his head.

"I can tell by your eyes. They were lighter earlier when you got home, and they've gotten a little darker ever since. A few days ago at the library, they were almost black."

"Hmm... they got lighter because we hunted recently, but they darken a little when I'm frustrated."

"So I frustrate you?"

"Quite frequently," he grinned.


AN: chapters will be a little slower (plot-wise) when I've finally got BxE together in the same room so I can relish in their fluff. Haha

Thanks for Reading!