Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended. This is a period fic-let (short story) which will be told in Edward's point of view. Loosely based on William Kotzwinkle's "Jack in the Box". Again, no copyright infringement is intended. Beta'd by HollettLA.

Wow! I am blown away. I thought by begging for reviews would piss you guys off. Thanks SO freaking much! And that is why you guys get this! Is this the 2nd update today? I think SO! Can we review again? Well, I hope so! THANK YOU!

Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain —Mark Twain.

"Made in the Shades"

Chapter Nine: A Wonderful Mess Part Two

Bella pulled away and her face was the prettiest shade of pink. "Wow…"

I nodded.

It was a great kiss, and I was so happy for that, because I might just die right now.

Emmett left the car and walked around to get the door for Rosalie. I could barely see them. My windows were fogged up something awful from the rain and our breathing, but it definitely wasn't due to us necking.

Bella lifted her fist to clear a circle on the window. "Uh-oh."

"What do you mean, 'uh-oh'?" I asked.

"Get out of the fucking car!" Emmett punched my hood.

"Shit…stay inside." I told Bella, and fumbled to let myself out of the car. If he was going to kill me, I wanted to spare her that mental image.

"What the fuck did I say?" He pulled me out to slam me back to the car.

Remembering to stay calm, I tried to put words together. "She needed a ride home—it was pouring out."

He searched my eyes, likely sniffing out my fear.

"Emmett, let him go!" Bella shouted, running over to us. I also saw Rosalie pull Bella back and smirk at me. Bitch. Sexy bitch, but she's still a bitch.

"He touched you?" Emmett asked Bella.

I closed my eyes tightly, expecting the blow.

When she didn't answer right away, I chanced a glance.

"Bells?" Now Emmett actually looked more upset than angry. What I know of Bella is that she's pretty honest. She probably doesn't want to lie to Emmett or get me beat up.

"I just kissed her," I said.

"Edward!" Bella hollered.

"And I asked her out on a date." I finished.

Emmett laughed, letting me go. "No."

"No?" Bella and I shouted in unison.

Emmett punched his chest, like some fucking ape. "I said no. Dad will say no."

"Dad won't say no!" Bella stomped her foot.

"You asked her out?" Rosalie pointed to Bella, frowning.

I nodded.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Bella looked like she was about to cry, and I had to say something so she wouldn't. For someone who's so concerned about his sister's welfare, Emmett didn't jump to put Rosalie in her place.

"Bella's the prettiest girl in Forks. It is most certainly not a bad thing." I was talking to Rosalie but staring at Bella. I couldn't look away. She was gorgeous under the street lamp, and looked so small and cute in my huge sweater. I wanted to pin her to the hood of my car and—

"Please…" Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"It's true—she is—and of course, I did." I swallowed, and all three of them turned to stare at me. "Emmett, sir…um, if you would be so kind—"

"Cullen, get in your fucking car and go home." Emmett pointed.

I cleared my throat and stood to my full height. "No. I don't think I need your permission, but if you need me to ask—I will. I'd love to take Bella out this weekend…And I'll do it with or—" he glared at me, "without your permission." I finished with a nod.

"You're so far-out!" Bella giggled.

I smiled at her. "You're…everything."

And then Emmett punched me square in the jaw, which made me keel over.

"Fuck…" I held my face.

"Let's go!" Emmett shouted, trying to get me to swing.

"What's the matter with you?" Bella hopped up to smack the back of her brother's head. "Go inside!" She pushed him.

Emmett tried to cover his head from her hands. "Bells…stop. I was just—"

"Go! Get out of here, ya idiot!" She hollered, and I could tell she was crying. "I can't believe you—I hate you!" She started to beat against his chest with her fists. They continued to fight, and Rosalie came to stand next to me.

"Hey…" When I reached to break it up, Emmett gave me a look like he'd rather get beat up by Bella than have me touch her. I stepped back. The alternative would turn into Emmett chasing me, and Bella chasing Emmett.

"They'll be at it for hours now." Rosalie sounded bored. "Give me a ride home?" She rubbed my forearm.

"No." I tried not to laugh.

"What do you mean, no?" She stepped closer to me.

"I'm not your boyfriend, who has two modes of transportation by the way. It is not my obligation to see you home. It is, however, in my best interest to wait around for them to stop arguing—I need to know the end result." I grinned.

"Edward…cut the bullshit. We both know you just want to get laid. Despite her being…from here—this part of town—Bella's not like that. She's not what you're looking for."

"What?" I never wanted to hit a woman before, but I did now. "You're so wrong," I whispered. "And…don't say shit like that."

She smirked and touched my stomach. "What are you going to do about it?"

"I can't do anything about it, but I hope one day Bella's brave enough to smack you in your nasty mouth."

Rosalie laughed at me.

"God knows what's been in there," I muttered.

"You're lucky I don't tell Emmett."

I turned to see Emmett and Bella still arguing. "Do what you have to do."

For some reason, I wasn't afraid anymore. Emmett and his friends already pounded my ass. Emmett has already humiliated me on more than one occasion. What's the worst he could do now? Not a damn thing. It's all been done before.

And…

Even if Rosalie was Rosalie, for some reason she didn't make me nervous anymore—she hasn't made me stammer, stutter, or trip over my own two feet in months. Her games were fun for a little while, but that's all they were—games. She flirts with me, but Emmett's the one fucking her. She comes to me when they fight or break up, and yet she never puts out or accepts my dates—well, I only asked her out that one time, and I figured if she wanted to go out, she'd say something.

Rosalie was my dream girl in looks alone. But deep down, she's heartless and cold, and I never cared about that—it didn't make a difference if Satan possessed her.

If she wanted to fuck, I'd embrace the devil himself and come deep inside his evil vessel.

It's funny how when it came to Rosalie, getting laid was my only intention.

And she's from my part of town, whatever the fuck that means.

Now Jake lives in a shitty part of town, but this part was decent. I looked up and down the block. The houses were just older. In my neighborhood, they're all new constructions, but I could appreciate all the old architecture.

"He asked me out! Just accept it!" Bella shouted.

"He's an asshole!"

After tonight, I might have a shot with Bella. Meanwhile, Bella made me nervous as hell. I didn't understand it. But she's warm, gorgeous, real, funny, honest, and she thinks I'm far-out.

She seems to like me—Edward Cullen—cad extraordinaire, despite my verbal diarrhea and my eyes that are always on her tits.

Bella digs me, I think.

And I have so many thoughts and intentions—all good—when it comes to her, it's scary.

"I need a ride, Edward." Rosalie hooked her pinky to mine.

Smirking, I leaned into her. "Why…because you're jealous—now you're hoping to fog up my windows?" I teased.

And then Bella came out of nowhere and got the other side of my jaw. "Asshole!"

Rosalie laughed at me.

"Christ…I was kidding!" I screamed. "I was NOT asking—just joshing."

"I'm sorry," Bella mumbled from behind her hands.

Emmett barked out a laugh and put his arm around Rosalie. "Come on, Rosie." They walked toward the house. "I'm watching you, Cullen."

My expression was not one of amusement as I watched them stroll up the walkway.

"Edward?" Bella whispered, lightly touching my arm but taking it back.

I gritted my teeth—flexing my jaw—staring down at her.

"I'm sorry."

I nodded. "It was a joke. I tease her all the time—there's no-nothing behind it. She-she's not the one I want." Hating myself, I opened the car door. "I'll see you at school."

"Wait." Bella stopped me from getting in.

My ego didn't exist at this point. My hopes and dreams were shattered, and I wanted to say "to hell with them both," but Bella still looked so pretty in my cardigan.

"What?" I asked, trailing my hand through my hair and staring at the pavement.

"Your sweater." She went to take it off.

I stopped her. "Keep it."

"Like…wear it to school?"

I shrugged. "Sure." Then I smiled so wide. "Yes…wear it to school!" That's the second best thing to marking my territory. Mom stitches my initials in all my clothes. So, if Bella wore my sweater, she'd be branded with an E.C.

"Okay." Bella hugged it to her. "So…Friday?"

I nodded, still smiling like a moron. "I'll—I'll pick you up at eight?"

"Seven…I have to be home by eleven." She looked down. "But no, eight is fine. Three hours is enough, I guess."

I shook my head no because that wasn't enough time. "I'll pick you up at six, or we can just leave from school." I brushed my fingers along her cheek, wanting to kiss her so bad.

"That's—that's wonderful." She stood on her toes, getting excited in that girl way.

It made me hard.

"What-what should I wear?" she asked.

"Anything—me." I leaned into her. "Kidding," I lied, throwing her a wink.

She snorted a laugh. "You're so funny."

I crossed my legs, hoping to hurt my penis. "Goodnight."

She waved, being shy. "Goodnight, Edward."

It was still raining lightly when I got home. At first, I didn't want to go home. I wanted to go straight to Jasper's house and throw my date in his face. Rosalie might be the—pin-up model—wet dream of every guy in town.

But I got a date with Bella: the most unattainable, coolest chick in the whole fucking county.

Bella wore my sweater in lieu of her leather jacket all week.

On Thursday, she admitted that she washed it, and so she asked me to wear it during lunch because it didn't smell like me anymore. Then she almost cried after admitting that and ran away from me.

I chased her down, stole my sweater, a kiss, and gave it back to her at the end of the day—so fucking happy.

My brain was fucked after that.

I liked her so much more that it was scary.

And she was all—and I mean all—I thought about.

Thank you for reading.

I know this is short. Sorry. Originally, all chapters were 1 - 2k long, but I added so much. Still, I thought this chap was great standing alone.

Please leave me your thoughts.