7. Dinner

I stand behind Charlie as Mike glares at me while Charlie isn't looking at him. Charlie sighs glancing up at Mike, "Mike, I think it'd be best if you went on home now. Bella isn't having any other visitors for the evening. She'll be out of school until her arm is healed."

I nibble on my bottom lip watching at Mike's left eye twitches, a sure sign that he's angry. I move my leg in the direction of Charlie's arm hoping to stop him from getting Mike any madder. Suddenly another stone cold hand reaches toward my arm keeping me in place.

A shiver breaks through my skin at the temperature. I turn my head looking down at my arm to see Edward's pale hand clutching my arm in his grip. I glance up at his face to see his eyes fierce and anger taking the place of his face.

Something tells me I should be scared of him like this. Something is telling me that I should grab both Charlie and Mike to get as far away from Edward as possible. Another more rational part of me tells me to stay put and frozen in place for Edward would never hurt me.

I forget about Mike for a moment reaching my hand toward Edward's on my arm. He instinctively glances down and I can see his eyes are a less gold color. My eyes widen at the sight knowing that they were completely golden when he first arrived. Something's up with Edward Cullen.

I turn my head back toward the door to see Charlie frowning toward Mike. Mike hasn't made any effort to move from his spot at the moment. I shake my head grabbing Charlie by the arm, "Let me talk with Mike and then I'll start on dinner."

Charlie shakes his head, "No, Bella. Mike is going to leave because you aren't feeling well. I can tell you've been moving around more than necessary today. Your arm has to be hurting."

I sigh lowering my gaze toward the floor. Charlie must nod toward me as he steps into the house from outside. I look back up as Edward pulls me back inside the house. Mike moves his leg as if he's going to step into the house as well against Charlie's orders.

Charlie shakes his head toward Mike holding his hand up, "Mike, go home! I'm not going to tell you again. If I have to tell you again, I'm going to put you in that cruiser and take you to the station. I don't care how bad you have it at home; you aren't going to start anything at my house. Now this is the last time I'm going to say anything, go home Mike!"

Mike's glare intensifies as he glances toward me. I notice his eyes reflect toward Edward and the anger shakes his face before he turns on his heel moving back toward his car. I sigh in relief that both Charlie and Edward don't get hurt because of me.

I know Mike is the one hurting them but it's my fault. If I wasn't so damn clumsy I wouldn't have fallen when bumped into at that worst idea of a birthday party. From now on I will not be having another birthday for as long as I shall live.

Charlie sighs shaking his head and shutting the door. He smiles at us, "Well that was something wasn't it?"

I shake my head at Charlie's assumptions. I can't believe that he is so calm about what just happened. Then again, maybe he's only putting up a front for me so that I don't get worried he's figuring everything out. I step back into the living room as Edward releases his grip from my arm.

I can hear Charlie putting his gun belt and jacket up at the door. My nerves at in overdrive at Mike's scene he just causes. It won't be long before the entire town knows what Mike's done to me. A throbbing sensation alerts me toward me arm seeing the stitches on the arm and he pain coming up.

Charlie comes into the living smiling at Edward, "Edward, would you like to stay for dinner? It's our way of saying Thank You for everything you've done for my Bells."

I can feel my cheeks darken at his nickname for me. That damn Bells nickname as got to go soon. Otherwise I'm going to die from embarrassment. The first person to die from embarrassment, Fork's Chief of Police's daughter. I can just imagine the newspaper article talking about my death and the entire town gossiping about it.

I'll be the talk of the town for years and years to come.

I shake my head at the prospect of the news. I glance up toward Edward who's smiling, "That sounds wonderful, Mr. Swan, but I'm not very hungry. I would like to help Bella with dinner if that's alright."

Charlie smiles nodding, "That's just fine, she'll need all the help she can get. Oh, and it's Charlie none of that Mr. Swan stuff or Chief."

Edward chuckles nodding, "Sure thing, sir."

Charlie shakes his head raising an eyebrow toward Edward who gives only a sheepish smile, "Sure thing, Charlie."

Charlie chuckles nodding and moving toward his recliner, "Well, the kitchen is open for you two. I think there must be some kind of ball game on the TV."

I roll my eyes ushering Edward to follow behind me into the kitchen. I quickly move toward the fridge smiling, "Thanks for wanting to help. I could really use the help considering my arm is out of commission."

Edward chuckles pulling his backpack off and dropping it into a chair at the table, "I'm your assistant for evening, just tell me what to do."

I giggle pulling out containers of food and meat. I look down at what I've pulled out noticing there isn't much to choose from.

"I do not want pizza or takeout so let's make lasagna."

Edward chuckles nodding and creeping up behind me. He pears over my shoulder seeing the ingredients I pulled from the fridge. He quickly grabs the tomatoes grinning crookedly at me. For a moment I'm frozen from that one look alone.

I've never cooked with a boy before in the kitchen even when I lived with Renee. I know most boys don't do this to me but there's something about the look in his eyes and the smile he's giving me.

One word comes to mind at the sight of that smile. Dazzling. A smile comes to my lips and I can feel the warmth in my cheeks. He's dazzling me again.

"You aren't getting anywhere near a knife. Where are the knives, Bella?"

I smile turning and pointing toward a drawer beside and under the sink. He smiles pulling the drawer open and pulling out the best chopping knife. He quickly spots the chopping board hanging in front of the sink grinning as he returns to the table. I shake my head grabbing the meat and moving toward the microwave to thaw out the meat.

Surprisingly cooking with Edward was incredibly fun. It was the most fun I've ever had cooking. The entire time I never once thought about my arm or the consequences with Mike later on. Edward took the platter from my hand placing it in the oven for me. He turned the oven temperature and then joined me at the table.

He smiles at me before his lips suddenly turn down in a frown. My eyebrows wrinkle at him, "What's wrong, Edward?"

He sighs shrugging his shoulders, "Nothing."

I roll my eyes shaking my head, "Yeah, right. This is about us not being friends again, right?"

Edward doesn't look toward me which automatically gives me the assumption that I hit the nail on the head. I shake my head looking toward the wall, "I will never understand you."

He glances toward me his gaze on my face, "Why is that?"

I shrug, "If it would be better off if we weren't friends, then why did you agree with Charlie to bring me my homework? Better yet, why did you bring me home last night when I could have perfectly gotten Mike to come and bring me home?"

Edward sighs, his eyes narrowing toward the wall, "I've tried to stay away from you, Bella. I have tried so many times to stay as far away from you as possible. There's just something against me it seems and I'm drawn to you in ways I can explain. I know it would be better off if we were friends for your safety but then I think about my own safety and I know being your friend is better for my own safety. I can't not be your friend, but if you were to tell me right now that you don't want anything to do with me I'd leave and you'd never see me again."

My eyes widen at his revelation and I shake my head. I think about him leaving and never coming back. I don't like that idea at all. My stomach crumbles at the notion of not seeing him. Just being friends will be enough even though my mind is telling me the exact opposite of that.

I sigh, "No, you aren't leaving. We can try to be friends, Edward. I just don't know how it's going to work out with Mike, but we can certainly try something."

Edward smiles small but I can detect anger deep within his eyes. I sigh, "Let's get off this subject. What's the deal with your sister Alice? She's a little…"

Edward chuckles as yet another dazzling crooked smile comes over his face. I blink shaking my head at the sight trying to keep cool and calm. His eyebrows rise, "What's wrong?"

I smile shaking my head, "Do you do that often?"

His eyebrows rise even further in confusion, "Do what?"

I sigh, "You smile. Dazzling people."

A knowing smirk covers his lips, "Do I dazzle you?"

I give my own knowing smirk, "Frequently."

He chuckles almost lighting up the entire room. I shake my head, "You're doing it again."

He tries to put his lips down in a straight line but that doesn't work out that well. His lips shake causing his lips to curve back in that crooked smile.

Suddenly a timer rings out and Edward quickly stands to his feet. I hear the recliner move from the living room as Charlie enters the kitchen smiling widely, "That sure smells good, Bells."

I giggle smiling, "It's more Edward, dad. He did most of the work. He wouldn't let me do hardly anything."

Charlie just chuckles nodding as Edward pulls out the glass container from the oven. The smell of the food fills the kitchen causing my stomach to release a huge growl. Everyone chuckles and the warmth once again fills my entire face.

Charlie grabs a beer from the fridge moving back into the living room, "Call me when you're ready for me."

I roll my eyes pushing myself up moving toward the cabinet. Edward moves right behind me as I reach into the cabinet grabbing the two plates. I glance over my shoulder toward Edward, "Are you sure you aren't hungry?"

He smiles nodding his head, "I'm absolutely sure I'm not hungry."

For some reason there feels as if there is a hidden meaning to his words. I shrug my shoulders, "Your loss."

He chuckles nodding his head, "I know."

He moves toward the cabinet grabbing glasses helping me set the table. I he moves around the kitchen as if he's been here a million times before. I shake my head chalking it up to the fact that I told him where mostly everything was while he was cooking.

I sigh taking a seat at the table as Edward carries the glass container toward the table. I smile turning toward the living room, "Charlie, dinner's ready!"

He chuckles from the living room and I hear him kick the bottom of the chair up before moving back toward the kitchen. He enters smiling broadly at us as Edward takes a seat beside me.

I glance toward the food admiring the contents of the container. Edward is such a great cook. He cut the tomatoes up finely and cooked the meat just right on the stove. He barely let me do anything. Maybe I got to sprinkle the shredded cheese over the food, but that was mostly all he let me do.

Charlie is still drinking from his beer as he takes a seat at the table across from Edward and I. Edward was nice enough to put the tea jug on the table before he sat down beside me. I wait while Charlie fills his plate grinning at the smell coming from it.

"Edward can come over plenty more if he can cook like this," grins Charlie placing his plate in front of him.

I giggle as Edward smiles sheepishly, "It was more Bella than me. She told me everything to add into the meal. I didn't have a clue what to do."

I roll my eyes shaking my head, "You were the one that cut up and cooked the meat. I didn't do any of that. You cooked everything to perfection, Edward."

He smiles pleasantly and I'm grateful that he's not purposely trying to dazzle me once again. That wouldn't be such a great thing in front of Charlie. I reach down grabbing my plate but Edward quickly takes it from my hands grinning that crooked grin at me as he fills my plate for me.

Charlie smiles shaking his head his eyes twinkling. For the first time I'm happy and excited tonight. I'm not on edge wondering if Mike will blow off the handle in front of Charlie. We've had a few dinners with Mike here and Charlie. It wasn't the best of nights on those evenings.

Mike stopped altogether trying to appease Charlie. At first, he wanted his blessing but after what happened with his family, things just went downhill. I don't know why he thought my father wasn't worth or maybe he did think he was. Maybe he thought all fathers were the same as his own father, but I just don't know.

I grab my fork digging into the food after Edward put it down in front of me. I moan at the taste as it fills my mouth causing both Charlie and Edward to chuckle quietly. I chew the food savoring the unique taste before swallowing it.

I turn toward Edward an eyebrow raised, "What did you add? I told you a few things but you added something else."

Edward chuckles shrugging his shoulders, "A good chef never reveals his secrets."

Charlie chuckles while he chews his food and I return to my own food. Whenever I've cooked this same meal it doesn't taste anything like this. Charlie clears his throat glancing toward both Edward and me. I swallow down my food the nerves once again taking their place into my body.

"So," Charlie begins, "what all happened at the hospital last night that I wasn't there for?"

I open my mouth to tell him we already told him everything when Edward cuts me off, "I was at the hospital talking with my father about some stuff going on at home. He was called into the emergency room where we found Bella sitting in a wheelchair. Both her arm and her leg were cut with a few shards of glass still imbedded in her skin. Carlisle promised Angela and Ben that he would get Bella home safely. Angela was reluctant to leave but they eventually did with the promise that Bella would call Angela the next day.

"Carlisle had a nurse roll Bella into the back where I'm guessing he stitched her up himself. They came into his office and hour later where I was. Carlisle had told me to wait in his office like usual. He asked me to give Bella a ride home considering he couldn't because there was an emergency surgery that he needed to help with."

Charlie nods glancing toward me, "What about you leg? I never saw stitches."

I sigh nodding, "Carlisle inspected it, but it wasn't cut that deep. He put some medicine on it and told me it would heal on it's own. Angela and Ben drove me to the hospital while Mike cleaned up the mess at home, I guess."

Now that I think about I wonder who actually cleaned up the mess. I know Mike probably didn't clean it up considering he never cleans or tidies his own room. Every single time I visit his house his bedroom is a disaster area with clothes littering the floor like dirt.

Charlie nods moving food around on his plate, "What was the deal with Mike earlier, Bella?"

I shrug my shoulders, "I don't know. It might have something to do with what happened at school today."

I turn my head toward Edward who sighs frowning at Charlie. Charlie's eye brows wrinkle as Edward once again speaks, "Mike had a confrontation with Tyler Crowley today in the cafeteria."

Charlie's eyes wide as he shakes his head, "What in the world happened?"

Edward shrugs his shoulders, "I don't the specifics but Mike had left school for about thirty to forty minutes right before lunch. Angela and Ben followed behind him. They returned but Mike came stalking into the cafeteria. He started yelling at Tyler about something and then pushed toward the floor. If I'm not mistaken I think Tyler hit the table as he hit the floor because he screamed. I think broke his arm. Mike left school after that and I didn't see him again until earlier. Angela and Lauren took Tyler to the nurses while Ben tried unsuccessfully to calm Mike down before he hurt someone else."

Charlie shakes his head, "That boy has a serious problem. Bella, I seriously don't know what you see in that boy."

I feel Edward flinch at Charlie's tone. There are a number of reasons why I stay with Mike, I want to tell Charlie. He's threatened so many people I care about that I wouldn't think twice to protect them with my life. If staying with Mike for the rest of my life while he beats me and bruises my body will keep my friends and family safe, than I'll do it in a heartbeat.

I shrug plastering a fake smile on my face, "Mike isn't always that mad. He can be really sweet."

Even I'm disgusted at my tone. The sticky fake sweetness that comes across toward Charlie sounds incredibly fake. I'm not sure how much longer I can lie to people anymore before I suddenly spontaneously combust.

Charlie sighs shaking his head again, "Mike is in such a predicament. This economy has done everyone in but the Newton family has it the absolute worst it seems. Newton Outfitters going out of business was the first of many problems for that family. I sure hope Mike can find a way out of it before he gets himself in some real trouble."

I can feel Edward's gaze on me during Charlie's speech. I remember the day that the store went out of business. I was working for them attempting to help out and get them bigger revenue but the economy was hitting the small store very hard. It didn't help that another bigger store opened up a couple towns over. It had many more things at a much cheaper price that the Newton's store just couldn't keep up. It started with the loans and then they couldn't pay them back. In the end, it was a choice between the store and the house and obviously they chose to pay off the house while the store went out of business.

Things just deteriorated afterward. I can remember everything that happened as a result of that store going out of business.

I nod moving my food around on my plate the memories getting the better of me. Throughout the rest of dinner Edward made Charlie and I both laughed. He told us about us about a few family jokes that made me forget everything that was going on outside of the house.

Charlie finished his food last tapping his stomach overstuffed with food, "That was fantastic. Edward, remember what I said. If you can cook like that with Bells than I think I'll be the best fed man in town."

I giggle shaking my head at Charlie's antics. He pushes himself up from the table smiling, "I'm going back in the living room. Maybe I can catch the last half hour of the game."

I nod watching him grab yet another beer before trudging into the living room. I sigh leaning back noticing the left over food turning toward Edward, "Do you want to take some food with you?"

Edward smiles shaking his head, "I'm sure Esme has already cooked everyone something."

I smile nodding, "You aren't hungry?"

Edward chuckles, "Most definitely not, Bella. Do you need any help with the dishes before I leave?"

The idea of him leaving has me sad. I most certainly could use the help but not if he needs to get home quickly.

I bite my bottom lip, "Only if you don't need to get home quickly."

Edward waves me off, "I think I can manage. I'll just tell Carlisle and Esme that you needed help with the dishes. They'll be happy that I'm being a gentleman."

Gentleman. Such old time notion. Most guys only care to get a girl into bed and afterward leave her like yesterdays old trash.

Edward helps me grab the plates and containers from the table moving them toward the sink. I turn on the water locating the sponge on the side of the sink.

I turn my head smiling at Edward as he takes the sponge from my hands, "I'll wash," he says, "you dry."

I sigh rolling my eyes. He's being mister careful. I can't get water around the stitches or else they'll come loose or get infected. I can shower though considering it's not dirty water splashing over my skin. The dishwater is nasty with food particles in the water and I can't take the chance of getting infected.

I stand beside Edward as he washes the dishes and I dry them after he's done. I place them in the rack as I can't put them in the cabinet.

"Who washes dishes at home, Edward?"

Edward chuckles as if I've asked him something funny. He turns his head shrugging, "We all take turns each night. One night it will be Alice and Jasper, the next night Rose and Emmett, and the last night usually me and Esme or Carlisle."

I smile nodding quickly wiping the next plate down that he hands me. We wash and dry in mostly silence and I'm completely calm. I don't feel as if any words need to fill the silence. Nothing is awkward between us as we finish quicker then I expected.

I sigh sadly placing the last dish in the dish rack beside the sink. Edward wipes his hands on a dry dish rag smiling at me, "That was fun actually."

I chuckle nodding, "You took the words right out of my mouth, Edward."

He smiles crookedly at me for a moment before he sighs again tossing the rag to the counter. He turns toward the table moving to the chair where his backpack sits. My nerves jump around inside my body at him leaving my presence.

"Let me walk you to the door, Edward."

He smiles, "I'd like that."

We both walk through the living room Charlie grinning at us both, "It was nice having you over, Edward. Don't be a stranger. Come over any time you want."

Edward chuckles, "Sure thing, Charlie."

Charlie grins since Edward called him by his name and not sir. We walk toward the door Edward pulling the door open. It's completely dark outside now since it's that time of year when it gets dark fairly early.

Edward steps outside smiling, "I had a good time, Bella. We should do this again sometime."

I smile nodding, "That sounds like fun."

He sighs, "Before I forget, Alice will be the one to bring your work over. She's dying to come over and talk with you. I have to go out of town with Emmett for a little while. I'll be back soon enough, though."

I sigh sadly, "Be careful, Edward. You're my friend now and I don't want anything to happen to you."

Edward smiles at me nodding, "See you soon, Bella."

He gives me that crooked smile again before he waves turning on his heel. I shake my head whispering, "See ya, Edward!"

He chuckles over his shoulder waving at me as he walks toward his car. I close the door just as he climbs into his car. I lean against the back of the door placing a hand over my ever racing heart. Mike has never gotten my heart beating this quickly at all. A goofy smile comes over my face at the idea of seeing him again. Suddenly my entire week brightens.

Author's Note:

Anyway,

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