November

BPOV

The weather was starting to get really cold around here. To make matters worse, it was cold and wet all the time. I was beginning to miss that nice, dry Arizona winter weather. It usually stays around 60-70 degrees there about this time.

But, at least I have Edward here to keep me warm.

The football team made it to the third round of the state playoffs before being beaten by some team from Tenino. Edward was almost inconsolable after the game, but I managed to cheer him up in my own special way.

He decided to take the scholarship in Vancouver, and now I had to figure out a way to get myself up there as well. I get rather good grades, so I'm hoping I can get at least a partial academic scholarship. I'm just going to have to push myself to get the best marks possible this year.

Of course, studying isn't always easy when you have a boyfriend who you want to spend every waking minute with.

Although, now he is starting his basketball season, which at least provides me with a nice, one-hour gap to do my homework between the time my cheerleading practice ends and he's done with basketball practice.

Since I didn't have any homework today, however, I decided to check out my man in action. He's always so effortlessly coordinated I'm almost jealous. I mean, not that I'm a complete klutz myself, but he's like watching Baryshnikov—he seems to defy gravity.

I was so busy watching him that I hadn't noticed another, tall, dark-haired boy down on the other end of the court. Jacob? He said he didn't play any sports! He towered above the rest of the players who were trying to maneuver around him, and he easily slapped the ball away when Mike Newton went up for a lay-up.

"Nice job, Black," Coach Pollart called from the sideline.

I was still completely flabbergasted when the coach called a break and Edward ran over to me. He picked me up and playfully rubbed me against his sweaty body, but I was still too distracted to react.

"What's wrong, Angel?" he whispered—as much as he loves me, he still doesn't like the other guys to hear him call me pet names.

"What's Jacob doing here?" I asked, "He told me he doesn't play any sports."

"He hasn't since freshman year," Edward began. "In fact, he and I were the only freshmen on JV that year. But, he just showed up at try-outs this year and made the team. It helps that he's, like, seven feet tall!"

"Huh," I mused as I crossed my arms over my chest. "It seems weird that he lost interest in sports until this year."

"Extremely weird," Edward agreed, "I know it's just because you're a cheerleader, Bells. But, I'm not going to let him get anywhere near you."

I smiled and leaned into him, "He's harmless; maybe this is just his way of getting out some pent up aggression. At least he has something to distract him, right?"

"Yeah, something that keeps him in close proximity to you."

I sighed, "Well, maybe he'll find another cheerleader to bother."

"Doubt it, why would he? All the other girls are already taken or too dumb to speak to. And, I don't think Jacob's into the 'dumb as a box of rocks' type—he doesn't seem to be, anyway."

"Alright Cullen, enough of that lovey-dovey crap!" Coach Pollart called as the team started to re-group.

Edward kissed me gently before returning and I watched them until they were done. I was impressed with the team—Jasper is a small forward with some decent speed and excellent strategic skills, Emmett is the power forward, the enforcer, so to speak; James is the shooting guard, who is surprisingly good at the three-pointer, while Edward is the point guard—the best at driving the lane.

Jacob towards over everyone at the post position, and he's actually very good at his job, too. When the guys took free throw practice, Jacob made most of his shots—very convenient considering he's going to try and get fouled a lot while going to the hoop.

I sat on the partially pulled out bleachers and continued to watch Edward dance gracefully around his teammates to make it to the basket again and again.

After practice was over, Edward drove me home to hang out and eat dinner with me and my dad.

I loved how close they were getting—though, it seemed some of that love had to do with the fact that Edward would be going away to school, and I think Dad is under the impression that I'll stay nearby.

I haven't had the heart to tell him that I fully intend to follow Edward to Vancouver.

I was in the kitchen stirring some potato soup I had made when I heard Edward breach the subject of Thanksgiving dinner with Dad.

"What do you guys usually do for Thanksgiving, Charlie?" Edward asked casually.

"Ummm...we just stay home and make dinner," Dad replied quickly. "Think we'll do the same this year."

"Really? I was hoping our families could have Thanksgiving dinner together this year," Edward said.

I stopped my stirring and turned slightly to see Dad's reaction to Edward's request. He seemed to be thinking about, but in a somewhat disgruntled fashion. I could tell he wanted to decline the offer, but didn't want to seem rude about it.

"Come on, Dad," I pleaded. "I'd really like to have dinner with the Cullens this year. I want to help Esme and Alice cook."

"Plus, we have Rosalie's and Jasper's families joining us, so there's going to be plenty of people there to..." Edward trailed off before he mentioned keeping my dad a good distance away from Carlisle.

"To what?" Dad pressed.

Edward sighed, "I know you're no fan of my dad, Charlie. But, I really hope that won't stop you from joining us. I promise, everything will be completely civil."

Dad eyed him suspiciously and looked like he was about to protest before I stepped in once more.

"Please Daddy? It would mean a lot to me."

He looked up and I gave him the big, Bambi eyes like there was no tomorrow. It only took him about five seconds to cave.

"OK," Dad sighed, "What time should we be there?"

"Thank you," I squealed as I ran over to hug my dad.

It was big of him to have dinner with the Cullens, especially considering their past together. I just hoped none of the ancient history had to be brought to the light on Thanksgiving.

EPOV

Thanksgiving break

I was looking forward to having a whole week off of school. That meant I had much more time to spend with Bella – that is, between the times I had to keep up with my conditioning for basketball.

Jasper, Emmett and I decided to meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at the school to practice together. On Wednesday, we showed up to the courts to find two very unexpected figures there – James and Jacob. They were shooting around, but it looked like they were waiting for somebody.

"Hey," we all greeted each other.

"What's up?" Jasper asked awkwardly.

"Well, I was about to ask you the same thing," James replied. "See, Jake and I heard you all making plans to come out here to practice over break – just the three of you. And we were wondering why you didn't feel the need to include all of the starters in on this."

"We didn't know if you guys would be around," Jasper said quickly. "A lot of people go away to visit family over Thanksgiving."

"You didn't ask," Jacob spat as he started dribbling around and headed back towards the hoop.

"Fine," I said, "Now that we are all here, let's just practice so we can go home."

"That's the positive attitude, team captain," James quipped.

I rolled my eyes at him and threw my bag in a corner of the gym. We started by running five easy laps around the court and then began our stretches. Once we were warmed up, we began practicing lay ups. This is my specialty, sailing across the court and gently rolling the ball off my fingertips to the backboard where it bounced right into the hoop.

I had increased my vertical from last year by almost five inches. I was hoping this year I'd finally get to an actual dunk – particularly during a game, with my Bella watching me proudly from the sidelines.

It's weird, I've never participated in sports to make anyone proud of me – not my parents or my friends or even my coaches. But now I went all out because of that beautiful, brown-eyed girl cheering me on.

We played three-on-two, rotating offense and defense every other play, until we all agreed on a water break. I grabbed the bottle I brought with me and took a swig as I leaned against the bleachers and wiped my face with a towel. I threw the towel to the side and set my bottle down to start taking free throw practice.

I took my first shot and it went through the net with a satisfying swish. But it just happened to land in the hands of James.

"Toss it back, man," I said as I held my hands out to receive the ball.

He smiled and passed me the ball. He stood along the outside of the key and rebounded my shots for me as I continued to practice.

"So, how are things with that girl of yours?" James asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"None of your goddamn business," I replied.

"Still touchy, I see," he laughed. "I'm just trying to make conversation here, Cullen."

"I'm not here to make conversation, I'm here to practice," I said with finality as I netted another shot and turned to rejoin Emmett and Jasper.

Jacob came back in from the drinking fountain outside of the gym and approached us.

"So, what's next?" He asked us eagerly – was there no end to this guy's energy?

"I'm good for today," Emmett said. "I think I'm gonna go hit the weight room."

"That sounds like a good idea," Jasper replied. "I haven't worked on my legs in a while."

"Yeah, I need to do some squats myself," I laughed.

"Dude, haven't you done that enough?" Emmett asked. "It's bad enough you're the fastest on the team, do you have to be the highest jumper too, Jordan?"

"Yup," I replied as I grabbed my bag and led the way down to the weight room.

I flipped on the lights and went straight to the leg press and started putting plates on the pegs. I got up to about 500 pounds to start with, and after about twenty minutes had worked my way up to 1,000 pounds. I usually couldn't do more than five, short presses at the highest weight, but today I managed to get an extra five in.

I was feeling on top of the world when I got off the machine, so I decided to work on my arms a little bit. I took the 30 pound dumbbells and started doing curls in front of the mirror. I noticed someone join me and looked up to see Jacob doing bicep curls as well – with 50 pound weights.

Did he think this was a contest or something?

"So, doing some light weightlifting today, Cullen?" Jacob teased.

I shot him a look, "I don't want to bulk up, Black, I just need to keep 'em toned. Not all of us want to have guns like The Rock."

He chuckled, "Never would have pegged Bella for liking dudes with weak arms."

I chose to ignore his comment just like I ignored James before. It was almost as if these two assholes were working in tandem to annoy me. They were both hoping to find a place behind me just in case Bella ever decides she doesn't love me anymore, that much is clear. But, I have this sneaking suspicion that Bella and I will be together for a very long time.

I did some extra stretches before grabbing my stuff and heading back up to the front of the school. Jasper and Emmett followed me as we all went back to our cars. I debated going home to take a shower or going directly to Bella's. I knew Charlie was at work and we could have the whole house to ourselves. Plus, I know she likes it when I show up a little bit sweaty from practice.

I pulled up to the Swan house and jumped out of my car in haste to get to my angel. She was watching TV in her pink shorts and white tank top – my favorite of all her outfits.

"Hey," she said as she jumped off the couch to run to me. "How was practice?"

"OK," I sighed.

"What's wrong? Did you have a fight with Emmett or Jasper?"

"No, we just had some unexpected visitors."

"Who?"

"James and Jacob," I replied. "They heard us talking about practice and decided to show up. It was pleasant enough, but everything always has to be such a competition with both of those guys. I swear, they'd make the perfect couple."

She swatted my arm, "Stop that – and besides, it's a sport, it's supposed to be competitive."

"They're not just competitive about basketball," I said, giving her a meaningful look, "They're competitive about everything."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

I sighed again, "You know what I mean. They both want to get to you, and they want to drive me crazy in the process."

"Edward," she began, "I told you, Jacob's not trying to get to me anymore. He hasn't even been over here in months! I think he's given up."

I shook my head at her naïveté but let the subject drop. I was more interested in being close to her than wasting anymore precious energy on those two idiots.

"Well, I think I need a shower," I said. "I don't suppose you'd like to join me?"

She bit her lip and lowered her long eyelashes seductively, "Why Mr. Cullen, are you trying to seduce me?"

"No Ms. Swan, I'm trying to do so much more than that."

BPOV

Thanksgiving

It had been a while since Edward and I found a time to be alone together, so that shower really helped to reestablish my sanity. In fact, I was still running on the adrenaline from it the next day. I woke up at 7 a.m. on Thursday morning and proceeded getting things ready for our visit to the Cullens' house.

I was going to help Alice and Esme make some things once I got there this afternoon, but I was going to bring a sweet potato pie – my mom's former specialty. I was even making the crust from scratch, so I had to get it put together and into the fridge to chill for an hour or two.

While the crust cooled, I started peeling and dicing the sweet potatoes so I could boil them. I was just warming up the stove and putting the pot of water with a metal colander into the burner when Dad came downstairs.

"Wow, someone woke up with a whole ton of energy," he laughed as I put the potato chunks into the pot.

"I told Esme I'd make a pie."

His eyes suddenly got a hint of sadness to them, "Sweet potato pie? Your mom's recipe?"

"Of course," I replied, "Whose recipe do you think I'd use?"

He smiled and began to make coffee. "So, I don't suppose the Cullens would mind if we invited a couple of people, would they?"

I was reaching into the cabinet to find some spices when he dropped that question. I turned to him, "Who?"

"Jake and Billy," he said quickly, "They'll be spending the holiday alone, otherwise."

I crossed my arms over my chest and looked down to the floor in front of me. I can't believe he was laying this on me just hours before the dinner. But I didn't want to argue with him over this, since he didn't have to agree to the dinner to begin with. Now, I had to call Esme to see if there was enough for two more.

"I'll call Esme," I said quietly, walking to the phone.

I dialed their number and got Alice's all-too cheerful chirping on the other end.

"Hey Bells! When are you coming by? You should come and get ready here with me, I have sooooo much to talk to you about!"

"I'll get there as soon as I can," I replied, not able to contain the smile in my voice. "But, I actually have to ask your mom a question."

"OK, here she is," Alice said as I heard muffled voices in the background.

"Bella? Hello, darling, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Esme," I said. "I have a favor to ask of you."

"Anything dear."

"Well, my dad was hoping our friends, the Blacks, could join us all for dinner – it's just my dad's boss, Billy, and his son, Jacob."

"Of course, Bella! I'm making enough for an army! The more the merrier!"

"Thank you, Esme! I'm so sorry to drop this on you on such short notice!"

"It happens, no worries," she said. "So, I'll see you soon?"

"Yeah, I'm making the pie right now, but I guess Alice wants me there to get ready, so I'll be over in a couple hours."

"OK, see you then, dearest."

I said my goodbyes and hung up, I turned to Dad. "OK, everything's set."

"Thanks, Bells," he said, walking to give me a hug. "I would just feel more comfortable with more people I know there."

I was about to point out that he does, in fact, know the Cullens, but thought better of it. I finished making the pie and popped it into the oven so I could go take a shower. I left the door open a crack and hopped in, letting the warm water run over me. I remembered what Edward and I had done in this very shower yesterday and smiled inwardly.

At first, Edward was hesitant to do anything more than just kissing and caressing, but I told him that I had recently started taking birth control, and we were finally able to make love without the barrier of a condom. It was incredible.

I heard a knock on the door and it broke me out of my reverie. Dad peeked his head in to tell me something.

"Alice called," he said. "She wants you to bring, and I quote, 'a selection of dresses for her to appraise in order for you two to coordinate, but not look too matchy-matchy.'"

I started laughing so hard, I dropped the loofah I was holding, "Thanks Dad."

I thought he had left, but then I heard the door open a little bit more. "Whose are these?"

"What?" I asked as I peered around the curtain.

He was in the middle of the bathroom holding a pair of blue boxers. I almost fell out of the shower completely – Edward's boxers! How could I not have noticed those before?

"Um, aren't they yours?" I asked, not very convincingly.

"They're a little small for me," he said, his face turning red. "They look more like they'd fit someone like, oh I don't know…Edward."

I froze and felt my blood run cold, despite the heat of the shower. There wasn't anything I could say – if Dad didn't recognize those boxers, there wasn't anyone else they could belong to.

"Why is Edward Cullen taking his boxers off in my bathroom?"

"He took a shower here yesterday," I said, finally finding my voice again. "He came here from practice; I guess he forgot to put his old ones in the hamper. Just leave them and I'll wash them and give them back to him."

Dad was still looking at me sternly, "Did Edward shower alone?"

"Yes," I said.

He seemed convinced…sort of. I went back to showering as if there was nothing more to discuss. I really didn't need anything to make this afternoon weirder than it had to be.

I decided to just towel dry my hair a little bit, I was certain Alice would want to do something weird to it.

I rifled through my closet and found a simple black dress, a red dress that was honestly a little too much, and a pretty blue, strapless dress. I was about to just grab some shoes and run out the door when I remembered that raspberry-colored, one-shouldered dress that Alice had bought for me behind my back when we were looking for school clothes.

She would be so proud that I finally found an occasion to wear it.

I took a pair of silver, strapy sandals and some black pumps, so they both would go with whatever outfit Alice chooses, and ran downstairs to grab the pie and go.

"Bye Dad! What time will you, Billy and Jacob be by?"

"Dinner's at around 3, right?"

"Yes."

We'll be there around 2:30, then."

"OK, see you then."

I ran out to jump in my car. Dad had managed to finagle me a nice, used Ford Focus so I could stop bumming rides off of people. I drove over to the Cullen's house and was bombarded by Alice before I was even out of the car.

"Oh my god! I have so much dish for you, you won't believe it! Come on, what are you waiting for? We have to get upstairs!"

She grabbed my arm and dragged me into the house. I managed to steal a kiss off of Edward before Alice pulled me into her room and slammed the door behind us.

"Wow," I gasped as I finally got to sit down on her bed. "What's this big news?"

She sat down next to me, but still couldn't keep herself from bouncing up and down in excitement.

"I'm going to have sex!"

I sat and stared at her as she giggled and fidgeted like a four-year-old. I couldn't believe she just blurted it out like that – and I wasn't sure if I was comfortable talking to her about this.

"Um, that's…nice," I said awkwardly.

"That's all you have to say?" She asked, her face falling.

"What else do you want me to say?"

"Actually, I'm not quite sure. What do you say in times like these?"

"…Con…gratulations?"

"Good enough for me," she said before flinging herself across the bed and throwing her arms around me. "I'm just so happy that I found a wonderful guy like Jasper to lose my virginity to."

"I'm happy you two found each other, he's so great, Al."

"I know, isn't he? He's the cheese to my macaroni!"

"I'm taking that DVD away from you," I laughed as I went to hang my dresses up on her bathroom door.

She jumped off the bed and started examining my garments. She picked up the black one and threw it on the bed right away, "Boring!"

"I thought you'd say that, but you did say bring a 'selection,'" I retorted.

She went right for the dress I knew she would – the one-shouldered deal. She took it off the door triumphantly and turned to me, "We have a winner! Now, what am I going to do with your hair?"

She spent the next hour wrapping my hair in curlers as I sat on her bed and watched TV – well, sort of watched, sort of glanced at only to have my head tugged in a different direction violently. Then we went downstairs to help Esme make the dinner while my curlers sat.

"Wow," Edward purred in my ear as I peeled potatoes at the sink, "Only you could make curlers look sexy."

I turned to him and smiled, "Only you would think I look sexy in these things."

He brushed his lips across mine before Alice came over to intercede. "Enough of that, we've got dinner to make! Edward, why don't you make yourself useful and get the cranberry sauce out?"

"OK," he sighed as he pulled himself away from me.

I made the mashed potatoes before Alice and I went back upstairs to finish getting ready. She unraveled the curlers and the waves fell down past my shoulders and I shook them out slightly as she instructed. She had already done my make up beforehand, but touched a few things up and put some shimmery powder on my cheeks, nose and hair.

Then, I slipped into the dress and pulled the silver heels on before heading back downstairs. It was about 2 when we finished the side dishes and started putting the rolls in the oven. Well, one of the ovens – the Cullen's have two, and one currently housed the turkey.

Edward sat on the couch with Carlisle and watched a football game, though Carlisle seemed preoccupied on his cell phone. I sat next to Edward and snuggled close to him.

"Aw, where did the curlers go?"

"I'll wear them some other time," I murmured in what I hoped was a seductive tone.

"Nice…although, you look absolutely stunning in that dress – I really love my sister sometimes."

I laughed as Carlisle hung up his phone and turned to me with a smile.

"Hello Bella, sorry I've been on my phone this whole time, but my coworker is hoping to get a transfer to a hospital in Portland, so I'm putting in a good word for him. How have you been?"

"I've been good, Dr. Cullen," I replied – I still wasn't comfortable enough with Edward's dad to be on a first name basis with him. "How have you been?"

"Wonderful," he began when his phone cut him off, "Oh, I have to take this."

He walked out of the room this time to take the call in his office – just in time, too, as Dad walked in with Billy and Jacob.

"Hello Charlie," Esme said as Dad walked through the foyer. "And Billy! Oh, I haven't seen you in ages! How are you?"

"I'm good," Billy replied awkwardly, "This is my son, Jacob."

I thought I heard Jacob mumble a greeting to her, but Esme had enough personality for the both of them.
"Hello Jacob! How wonderful to meet you! You are in the same class as Bella and Edward, right?"

"Yeah," I heard Jacob say.

They all finally made their way into the living room and watched the game with Edward while I went into the kitchen to help get the food out on the table. We called all the boys in and they sat around the table with hungry looks on their faces. Edward sat next to me and we held hands quietly under the table while Jacob sat across from us and keep staring.

It made my heart sink to see his eyes narrow at Edward every time we looked at each other. Edward was right; he's not going to drop the thing he had for me.

Carlisle finally emerged from his office when most of us were almost done eating. He sat at the head of the table and silently took some turkey and mashed potatoes and began digging in. No one was talking – I glanced at Dad and motioned for him to say something.

"So, I hear Edward's getting a football scholarship to the University of British Columbia," Dad said.

"Yes, we're very proud of him," Esme said, smiling in our direction.

"Yes, he'll get an excellent education there," Carlisle said. "And Bella will, too."

I froze again. Dad's head popped up and he stared at Carlisle. "What do you mean?"

"You don't know? I though Bella was putting in an application to get an academic scholarship there."

Dad turned to me, "She hadn't mentioned that."

"I wasn't going to say anything," I whispered, "I didn't want to get anybodies hopes up in case I don't get it – especially not mine."

"You're going to get it, Bells," Alice said. "You have the best grades in our class; you're totally going to be valedictorian."

"Doesn't mean I'm a lock," I whispered again.

Dad was still quiet; Billy, Jacob and I stared at him until he decided to speak.

"I never thought you'd be the kind of girl who'd just follow some boy to college," he hissed. "I thought you'd follow your own path."

"You have a problem with my son?" Carlisle asked.

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Dad replied.

OK, that was a long one and I'm running out of steam – which will severely hinder my ability to write a good confrontation sequence.

So…to be continued…