A/N: So after reading over the previous chapter, I realized I should never write while I'm on midnight shift. I had so many mistakes when it came to Edward, that it looked like he's a freakin' bipolar mess! Not wanting to have to go back and correct it, I attempted to explain that in this chapter. That being said, I hope you can follow it! (This was also written on midnight shift lol)

Also, I've gotten a few comments in references to everyone being slightly OOC. I didn't realize it, but you're right. So I figured I would put this up here announcing MY PEOPLE ARE SLIGHTLY OOC! SORRY! Just so no one is confused! Anyway, it's about time for me to get to bed! So I hope you guys enjoy this incredibly LONG CHAPTER! As always, reviews are love. In fact, they dazzle me! =)Love you guys!

P.S. Also, I forgot... I'm sorry if you leave a review and I don't get back to you. I don't like the way these reviews are set up, because I can't tell who I've responded to and who I haven't. I appreciate and read each and every review though, and please keep in mind that constructive criticisms are always welcome! This may be a fan fic, but I still want it to be well written!

Chapter Eight

Had it been any normal person in my position, I was certain that the Cullen family secret would have been received in one of two ways: first, the person would have believed it to be a lie and would have dismissed it quickly, writing the Cullen's off as psychotic liars or second, the person would have run screaming in the opposite direction. It was possible that the response would have been a combination of two, because really, who wants to associate with a crazy liar? But then again, I had never been normal. Apparently, I fit in better with the vampires than I would have imagined.

Lying in bed, I found myself replaying the events of the day. Alice had been relieved, that much was obvious. She had answered any questions I'd had, no matter how ridiculous they had seemed to me. But Edward… well, Edward confused me.

Edward ran hot and cold. One minute he was acting as if I wasn't even worth a second glance and then the second, he was sneaking into my bedroom in the middle of the night before he went back to acting like I was a pariah. After Alice had spilled the beans, he'd stalked out of the room, mumbling angrily under his breath. To say that it had been off-putting would have been an understatement.

I was confused and hurt by his reaction. Hadn't he wanted me to know? He'd invited me to his home for Christ's sake! It wasn't as if this whole thing had come out nowhere! They'd been planning on telling me for days. So what was the problem? I thought back to the conversation I'd had with Alice on the matter.

"It isn't that you know," Alice said. "He wanted you to know. He was, deep down, hoping that you wouldn't be as accepting as you are."

"Well that's stupid," I snorted, rolling my eyes. "I told you both that it wouldn't change anything. He's mad at me for telling the truth?"

"He's not mad at you Bella. He's concerned for your safety. He doesn't think you're taking this as seriously as you should."

"What should I do? Arm myself with garlic and wooden stakes? I don't particularly like the smell of garlic, but I can rub it on my clothes before I come over if that would make him feel better!"

The corners of her mouth turned up, a smile threatening to form. "Those are both myths, by the way."

I ignored her. "You warned me this morning to take into account all of the facts before I came to a conclusion about how I felt for your family… about him. Well, I've taken everything into consideration and the only thing that disturbs me is how he changes his emotions like a freakin' faucet!"

She waved her hand dismissively. "That's because he's the tortured soul of the family. He's not happy unless he's miserable. He'll come around though," she predicted. "He's just got to get used to the fact that you won't be enabling him."

Thinking about the whole exchange, I felt myself becoming even more annoyed than I'd been while it had actually taken place! "Stupid, self loathing vampire," I grumbled. I just couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that he'd literally gone from amused by my silly question about the sun to completely horrified by my acceptance of his existence within a three minute time span. He had more mood swings than anyone I had ever met, and I had met some moody people! I went to art school! We were the epitome of moody!

I rolled over onto my good side, with the intent on pushing the whole messed up day out of my mind and get some sleep when I heard it once again. It was a gentle tapping, coming from the direction of my window. A low growl escaped me. "You have got to be kidding me. I guess we're back on the "hot" setting now."

I pushed myself up and trudged over to the window, in no hurry. There was no trace of amusement on his face as I locked eyes with him. "What do you want Edward?" I asked through the pane of glass.

"May I come in?"

I unlatched the window and managed to push it up relatively easy. "No you may not." As if I hadn't spoken, he leapt through the opening, coming to land behind me. I whirled around, annoyed. "I said you couldn't come in. I thought you couldn't enter a dwelling without permission."

"Myth," he responded. "Obviously."

"Listen," I responded, finding myself even more agitated, "I don't know exactly what you're doing here, but this is getting old. I don't like being confused Edward, and you're doing a hell of a job keeping me that way."

"I know," he responded, his eyes softening. "Alice really let me know just how stupid I was being after you left today. I'm sorry for that."

"I don't want you coming here just because Alice tore you a new one."

"Well, what would be an acceptable reason to come here then?"

"Because you realized just how big of a snot you've been."

"That's really gross Bella."

"No, the way you're acting is really gross."

"I know," he repeated. "Would it help if perhaps I explained myself to you?"

"That would definitely be a good start."

I moved over to the bed, perching myself on the edge, watching as he paced back and forth in front of me for a moment before he joined me. "You are… a torturous creature Bella," he began.

"Okay, just for clarification, insulting me really isn't the best way of going about this."

He laughed. "I don't mean that it's anything you're doing. It's just… do you remember what I said? About the temptation always being there?" I nodded. "For some reason… I've never… you're… you're more tempting to me than anyone else I've encountered."

My heart thumped wildly in my chest. "What do you… mean?"

"Your blood, for some reason, is quite potent to me. I've asked the others… well, save for Rosalie, and you don't affect them quite the way you affect me."

"Oh," I responded dumbly. Just what every girl dreams of, I thought bitterly.

"Not to say that your blood is the only thing that appeals to me," he clarified. "But it makes being around you difficult. I feel as though I could lose control very easily and I just couldn't live with myself if I ever hurt you."

I could feel myself softening at his words. "Edward…"

"The… the day of the accident… the thought that I had hurt you—"

"You saved my life! Edward, if you hadn't pulled me out of the truck, I would have been smeared all over the road! There wouldn't have been anything left of me to identify!"

His finger grazed my injured shoulder gently, sending a chill through me, even through the cotton t-shirt. "But to know that I did that to you destroys me," he whispered.

"Edward… I owe you my life. Plain and simple. So I got hurt. It happens more often than you think. I'm surprised I've survived these twenty-two years."

He allowed his hand to drift further down my arm, coming to a rest on my hand before he grasped it gently. "I'm just afraid I'm going to hurt you."

"The only way you've hurt me so far is by acting the way you have. I can deal with it if you have to pretend like I don't exist, and I can certainly deal with it if you decide you'd like to be friends. What I can't deal with is the indecision. It's one way or the other Edward.

"Of course I'd like to be friends with you."

"Then we can be friends. But you can't keep running hot and cold with me, okay?"

"I'll do my best. But I can't make any promises."

"Then can you at least give me your permission to kick your butt the next time you get in one of your moods?" I teased. It had the desired effect, as a laugh escaped his perfect mouth.

"You have my permission to try to kick my butt," he amended. "Of course, it might do more damage to your foot than it would to my rear."

"Eh. It's the thought that counts."

He gave me a genuine, honest-to-God smile before he stood. "I should leave," he said quietly. "You need your sleep. I'm sorry for keeping you up so late."

"I'm glad you came by Edward," I told him sincerely. "I'm glad that we were able to get things straightened out."

"As am I." I watched as he crossed the room to the window before he prepared to jump.

"Edward?" I called, stopping him.

"Yes Bella?"

"What about Holy Water?"

He allowed another laugh to escape him. "Good night Bella."

"Crucifixes?" He didn't bother with a response as he leapt from the window, but I heard the distinct sound of his laughter from below. A smile formed on my face as I lay back on the bed, snuggling under the blanket before I fell asleep, dreaming of a familiar set of topaz colored eyes.

Xoxoxoxo

One Week Later…

"Everything looks as though it's healing rather nicely Bella," Carlisle assessed as he helped me down from the examination table. "I was a little bit worried about that shoulder, but it doesn't seem as though you've lost any range of motion."

"It feels a lot better," I assured him as I pulled my jacket on, free from that stupid sling for the first time since the accident.

"I still want you to take it easy. Though you may feel completely healed, any strenuous lifting could easily cause you to pop that sucker out of place again. And I don't think I need to remind you just how painful that was."

"No," I responded with a fervent shake of my head. "I don't think I'll ever forget just how bad that felt." I gave Carlisle a genuine smile. Since my chat with Edward, I'd been spending more and more time at the Cullen household. While the other siblings still seemed wary of me (or downright angry, in Rosalie's case), Carlisle and Esme were even more welcoming than I could have expected. I found myself truly enjoying my friends' adoptive parents.

"I think that's about all then, kiddo. If you have any more trouble out of that shoulder, it's imperative that you let me know immediately. You know where to find me."

"Thanks again Carlisle," I said, my smile widening. With a wave of thanks, I headed out of the examination room on the lower form of the hospital before I headed out into the waiting room, where Alice was waiting for me patiently.

"That didn't take long," she observed, standing gracefully before she pranced over. "I take it everything's fine?"

"Perfect," I affirmed with a nod. "But then again, you already knew that." She gave me a mischievous smile as she linked her arm with mine before we headed out the door. "Thanks again for giving me a ride."

She waved her arm, dismissing it. "No big deal. I'm just glad you're feeling better. This means I can make plans for another shopping trip. I'm thinking perhaps Seattle this time."

I didn't even try to hide the groan as we left the hospital. "Carlisle said no strenuous activity. I'm pretty sure that covers carrying a hundred shopping bags."

She shrugged. "That's what Edward's for."

I couldn't help the smile at the mention of his name. True to his word, he'd been fairly consistent when it came to me, and I didn't even bother pretending it didn't excite me. I was enjoying the attention I was getting from him. With a snort of disgust, Alice snapped me out of my thoughts. "What is it?"

"Speaking of the little devil, he's apparently decided to steal you away from for the day."

"What are you talking about?" She didn't answer me.

"I swear," she complained, as if I hadn't spoken. "As if the midnight visits aren't enough?" I blushed. I forgot that just because I hadn't told her didn't mean she didn't know. As we exited the hospital, I spotted him, leaning against the Volvo, a crooked smile on his handsome face. Alice continued to scowl. I melted.

"This is my day with her, Edward Cullen. You are monopolizing all her time!" She complained.

"I wasn't aware that she minded," was his cool response, his topaz eyes finding my plain brown ones. "Bella?"

"Oh no," I said with a shake of my head. "You leave me out of this!"

"Fine," Alice grumbled before she pointed a finger in Edward's face. "But I have her tomorrow!"

"Only if I can have her on Saturday."

She paused to consider this. "Deal. But you have to take us shopping Friday. We need a bag boy."

"Are you two done arguing over me now?" I asked in a bored tone. "Don't I get a say in this little custody arrangement?"

"No," they responded together. I couldn't help but laugh.

"So Bella," Edward said, the smile returning to his face. "Would you want to join me today?"

"Of course she wants to join you," Alice said with a roll of her eyes. "And the two of you are going to go have a merry old time and forget about poor old Alice!" She ranted.

"Are you quite done?" Edward asked.

"Alice?" I asked, a pleading quality to my voice. "You really don't mind, do you?" After all, she was my friend before Edward was. I didn't want to hurt her feelings.

"No, I don't really mind," she said with a resigned sigh. "But no complaints on Friday. You got that?"

"Yes ma'am!" I said with a mock salute.

"Would you like a ride home?"

"As if," she said. "I don't want to watch the two of you make eyes with each other all the way home. I'll catch a ride with Carlisle."

She threw her arms around me in a hug before she turned to Edward to scowl once more. With a huff, she stalked off back towards the hospital, mumbling to herself.

"…Makes me so sick! Stupid head."

I couldn't help but laugh before I turned back to Edward. "So what's on the agenda for today?" I asked as he opened the passenger door for me.

"It's a surprise," he said.

"I'm not a huge fan of surprises." He helped me into the car.

"Humor me." Without waiting for a response, he closed my door before he rounded the car, climbing into the driver's side. "I thought we could go celebrate."

"And what exactly are we celebrating?"

"It's been one month since you came to Forks."

He flashed me the crooked smile that I had come to adore once more before he threw the car out of park and we were on our way.

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

I wasn't exactly sure where we were going, and I didn't ask. He'd made it very clear to me that it was to be a surprise so I left it at that. We had been driving for quite awhile, but I found that I didn't mind. He was very good company. He asked questions about my life in Arizona, about what my mother was like. He'd asked about my favorite color, my favorite food, favorite subject in high school. Though I'd found myself doing most of the talking, I was pleased to find that he never once appeared irritated or bored. On the contrary, he seemed to be drinking in ever detail that I provided him.

It wasn't until we finally came to a stop that I bothered to check my surroundings. "Where are we?"

There was that damn crooked smile again. "Just wait another minute or so," he said as he undid his seatbelt and climbed of the car. He came around to the passenger side and opened the door before helping me out. I noticed as he closed the door that he hadn't released my hand. "Is this… okay?" He asked.

"It's better than okay," I promised with a smile. Lacing his fingers through mine, he gave my hand a gentle squeeze as he started leading me towards the entrance of the building. My eyes glanced over to the sign.

Port AngelesFine Arts Center

I could feel my smile grow. "I never knew this was here!"

He seemed pleased by my reaction. "It's not exactly the Seattle Museum of Art or anything, but I figured we could save that for a day we had more time."

"This is perfect Edward. Thank you for bringing me here!"

We took our time as we viewed the exhibits, our hands still intertwined as we walked for what felt like hours. Though his hand was cold against mine, I didn't complain. It was a wonderful feeling, as far as I was concerned.

"May I ask you another question?"

"Sure," I responded with a nod as we sat down on a bench for a rest.

"Why did you give this up?"

"What? You mean my art?"

He nodded. "I don't mean to pry. It's just… well, you mention going to art school quite often and I was curious as to why you don't seem to be pursuing this. It's obvious by your love of the artwork in Esme's gallery that this was a passion for you."

"It was," I conceded with a nod. "I'm not a very interesting person Edward. I never have been. But when I discovered my talent for art, it made me stand out. Does that make sense?" He nodded. "My favorite thing to do was paint. I could just paint for hours and completely lose myself in my work."

"So what happened?"

"I met someone during my senior year of college. He was… well, at the time, I thought he was perfect. He was in the art program too. That's how we met, actually. He became the inspiration for everything. But of course, it didn't last," I said with a sad smile. "Someone as extraordinary would have never been satisfied with someone as plain as me. I think I knew that all along, but it didn't make the break-up any easier. When it ended, I just couldn't bring myself to paint anymore. I had no desire, no inspiration. I almost didn't graduate."

"He was a fool." The words were so soft that I almost didn't hear them. "And I disagree with you Bella. You're an incredibly interesting person. And I don't believe I would ever describe you as 'plain'. You're an exceptional woman."

I felt a flush creep onto my cheeks at his words. "Thank you," I said softly, unable to meet his eyes. I could feel his cool hands caress my cheek gently, urging me to look at him. I glanced up, melting under his gaze.

"He didn't deserve you, and he's a fool for letting you go." I realized he was closer than originally though as his sweet breath washed over my face. I closed my eyes, inhaling his scent. I could feel his fingertips trail over my lips.

"Edward…" I whispered, my voice longing as I opened my eyes.

He closed the gap between us, pressing his lips against mine. My hands found his face, coming to a rest on his cheek as I leaned closer, deepening the kiss. It was unlike anything I had ever felt. The contrast between our body temperatures had made the initial contact even more intense.

I whimpered softly as he pulled away. He chuckled softly, tracing my cheek once more with his cool finger. "I should probably be getting you back," he said softly. "I'm sure Alice will be waiting by the phone to assault you with questions she already knows the answers to."

Xoxoxoxox

The drive back to Forks had been even better than the drive to Port Angeles. During the ride, Edward's hand remained locked with mine, a feeling I was sure I would never grow tired of.

"I had an amazing time with you Edward," I said softly as Charlie's house came into view.

"I did as well. Thank you for agreeing to come with me today."

"I am curious about something though…" I said hesitantly.

"What's that?"

"Does this…Nevermind. It's stupid."

He groaned, a scowl darkening his face. "Do you have any idea how frustrating it is when you do that? I hate not being able to know what you're thinking," he complained.

"Don't worry about it. It's not a big deal."

"Would you just ask the question? Please?"

"No! It's stupid! You'll just laugh."

"Have I laughed at you yet?"

"Yes."

"Well, I won't laugh about this! I promise!" He turned those topaz eyes on me and offered that crooked smile once more and I found myself melting.

"That's not fair! You're cheating."

"How?"

"You know very well that that stupid smile… dazzles me until I can't even think straight!"

A melodic laugh escaped him. "I'm sorry… I what?"

"Ugh!" I responded with a shake of my head. "That is not fair, Edward Cullen! You know exactly what you're doing when you flash that smile!"

"Well if you would just give in to me, I wouldn't have to dazzle you, as you so eloquently put it." He came to a stop outside of the house before he turned to me. "Would you please tell me what it is you were thinking?"

With a sigh, I dropped my head back against the seat, closing my eyes. My cheeks flushed pink. "I wondered if things between us were… different now?"

"How so?"

"I mean…I can't believe you're making me do this… are we still just Edward and Bella? Or are we Edward and Bella?" I asked, opening one eye to squint at him.

"Well," he said, pretending to think it over. "I suppose while I am still just Edward, and you are still just Bella, it would be nice to be Edward and Bella. Which I believe will entitle me to do this," he said before he leaned across the console, his lips connecting with mine once more.

When he pulled away, a soft sigh escaped me. "I definitely think I could get used to that."

"I would offer to walk you to the door, but unfortunately, it looks like your father is ready to pounce on me as is, so if it's acceptable, I believe I'll say goodnight here."

I glanced back towards the house and scowled when I saw Charlie peeking out the front window. I rolled my eyes as I turned back to Edward. "Good eye," I commended before I sighed once more. "I guess I should probably get in there."

"It would be wise," he said with a nod. He leaned forward once more, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. "Have a good evening Bella."