Two Peas in a Pod

I tossed and turned all throughout the night. My dreams were so vivid and alive. I could recall some things about them. Edward was starring in my dreams and the Black and White Ball was coming up.

But I couldn't for the life of me determine if it was a dream or if Edward and I were really going to the dance.

I decided to hide out under my covers before I sorted through what happened last night. My head was throbbing too hard for me to form any coherent thoughts at the moment.

I heard a loud knocking noise and I started to panic when I heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

Renee had mentioned trying out a new church this morning. That was why partying and getting drunk seemed like such a good idea last night. Renee wouldn't be here to witness my transgressions.

The door creaked open and I ducked my head. I didn't want to face her when she discovered how hung-over I was. It was already well past noon, she had to know something was up; I wouldn't normally sleep this late into the afternoon.

I heard the thud of a glass being sat down on my dresser and the bed instantly took on some more weight. I peeked out from under the covers to gage Renee's reaction.

"Ahhh! What the hell are you doing in my room?"

Edward quickly jumped up from the bed and took the covers with him and me right along with it.

I grabbed my head as Edward pulled the blinds up.

"Wakey, wakey," he sang and then handed me the glass of water and some pills.

"You look like shit, Swan", he said his jade eyes sparkling with humor. I huffed at him and tried to stand up.

"What the…what's going on?" I was so confused. My mind was trying to catch up with my eyes, but my muddled brain couldn't understand why Edward Cullen was in my room. Was I still dreaming?

I pinched my arm and let out a yelp. "That hurt." I rubbed the spot and looked up at Edward.

"I understand if you don't really remember what happened last night and it's okay if you want us to just forget about it, but…um…" Edward looked down at his shoes and ran his fingers through his already tousled hair.

My dream from last night slowly began to rematerialize in my head: Edward with his shirt off, the Ball, and me somehow getting the courage to ask him out.

"That really happened?" I whispered to myself. Edward looked scared, like, I was going to attack him or something.

"Yeah, I just came over to make sure you made it through the night."

"Yeah, I'm great," I said sarcastically and rolled my eyes.

"Well, let me get this straight…" he paused and I nodded my head for him to continue. "We're going to the dance, right? With each other? To get back at Tanya and McQueen?"

"Only if you want to. Sure."

Edward grinned at me and I blew out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I didn't think he would really be up for it after he had a while to sleep on it.

"If we do this thing there's no going back. We'll have to talk and act like we want to be together. This can't be done halfway. No one will believe us if it's not real." I started pulling out some of my clothes and things so I could get ready for the day.

"Okay, I understand. But it is going to be really hard not to hate you." I turned around, shocked that he would be so forward and honest. He ran his hands through his hair and groaned.

"It was a joke, Bella. Don't worry I think I can handle being within five feet of you for a few weeks." He chuckled and I hid my face, not wanting him to see the tears that were threatening to spill from my eyes.

"Look, why don't you get ready and we can go somewhere. You know, hang out and see if this can really work, before we go to school tomorrow." I gave him a nod, and after a quick smile, he was gone. I went and shut the door behind him.

I tried to even out my breathing but it was a hard thing to do. Pull it together, silly goose.

A few weeks, that was all it was going to take. Two tops, and then we go back to ignoring one another.

After a shower and a few pep talks, I slowly made it down to the kitchen and found Edward sitting silently at the kitchen table.

"If you're hungry the cereals in the pantry and you know where we keep the milk."

Edward got up and walked around the room, taking in his surroundings.

"It's been a while, but it looks exactly the same. Doesn't your mother ever repaint or…remodel?"

I let out a laugh at his statement. "Renee hasn't changed this house since Charlie walked out that front door sixteen years ago." I looked around the small room. No, Renee had never changed a thing. It looked like this when I was born and it looked like this when Edward and I ate breakfast here on Saturday mornings when we were twelve.

"So, want to go to Port Angeles or something?" Edward looked at me and I could tell his eyes were filled with apprehension.

"That would be nice." We stood there for a few minutes, bobbing our heads, and looking at each other awkwardly.

Finally, Edward shoved past me and opened the front door. I went on past him and walked out to his car. He opened my door and ran over to his side. I was slightly stunned at his chivalry, but decided to ignore it.

The drive to Port Angeles took no time at all, thanks in part to Edward's driving skills, or madness, depending how you looked at it.

I told him to stop at the pier when we reached the water front. I had never seen the water up close, Renee usually only came to Port Angeles to shop or go to the movies. We never had time for sightseeing.

Edward parked the car and we got out and slowly began to walk towards the Ferry docks.

It was off season for tourists, so it was fairly peaceful and there was hardly anyone else at the harbor.

Edward and I strode down the pier. Or more, I tried adamantly to keep up with his stride. His legs were longer than mine and I was struggling to keep up with him. I started ahead of him and then he increased his pace. We broke out into a race and by the time we reached the edge we were both out of breath. Edward went to speak but I shushed him before he could ruin the moment.

The harbor set out before us was so devastatingly beautiful. It was well past five o'clock and the sun was low on the horizon. There was a minor chill in the air but it wasn't too harsh. I looked up at Edward who was focused on the small boats in the distance.

We stood there quietly, not wanting to break the enchantment around us. An eagle swooped down capturing a fish between its talons. It flew past us and landed on the top of the deck. It picked at the fish with its beak and never broke eye contact with us.

"Wow. That's fucking awesome." I rolled my eyes at Edward's vocabulary and gave him a small smile.

"How about we go find something to eat?"

Edward bounced with eagerness at the idea and we chatted about the eagle and waterfront as we made our way back to the car.

Edward pulled up in front of an Italian restaurant and opened the car door for me. When we reached the front of the restaurant I reached out for the door but Edward stopped me and did it for me. I was beginning to think I would have to go back on what I said to Alice about Edward not being a gentleman.

I snickered under my breath and Edward gave me a quizzical look. I shook my head at him and felt my cheeks grow warm at my embarrassment.

The hostess seated us in the back of the restaurant in a nice secluded booth. I sat across from Edward and looked down at my menu for something to eat.

I was starving. After my late morning and the abrupt appearance of Edward, I had missed out on both breakfast and lunch.

The waitress came around asking for our drink orders. Edward asked for two cokes and I didn't protest. I looked up at him and caught him staring at me.

"What? Are you okay?" I was perplexed as to why he was staring at me to begin with. He looked away and glanced at the waitress as she placed our sodas on the table.

I ordered the first thing I saw on the menu. I had already forgotten what I wanted to eat. Edward asked for the same thing and the lady left the table.

Edward had continued his staring, and so, I stared back at him. There was a friction in the air between us and I wondered if Edward could feel it as well. He quickly glanced down at the table and coughed.

The awkwardness was in full force and I didn't know how to break the glass. It had been so long since I had an actual conversation with Edward. How could we start, what could I say? I said the first thing that came to my still hazy mind.

"How have you been?"

"I'm so sorry."

We blurted out at the same time. We laughed at the other and I tried to persuade him to continue.

"How are Renee and your dad?" I took a sip of my coke and nodded at him.

"They're both good. Renee's up to something new every week now, pottery, painting, and religion. I saw Charlie at Thanksgiving. He's still pulling the same junk." Edward smiled in understanding.

"How's the Cullen Clan doing?"

"They're crazy as always. Alice and Em didn't come home last night from the party, so Esme was throwing a fit. And Carlisle spends most of his time at the hospital now. They opened a new cancer wing." Edward stopped talking and looked down at the table, again.

I was about to say something, anything, but then the stupid, slutty waitress stepped up with our food.

"Here you go. Can I get you anything else?" Edward ignored her flirty smile, and I shook my head no, trying my best not to give her the death glare.

I tried to start the conversation again, but I didn't know what to say. There was so much to apologize for and Edward would probably never forgive me. But I had to try anyway.

"Edward, I'm sor-"

"Look it's cool, don't worry about it. Shit, it's whatever." We ate in silence and finished our meal.

I reached for my wallet and Edward pushed my hand away.

"I got it." Oh, yeah. I was most definitely going to tell Alice I had changed my mind about Edward not being a gentleman.

I dreaded the ride home because I knew I would have to say something. Halfway through the trip I decided to break the silence and ask the one question that had burning in my mind since last night.

"Why did you agree do go to the Ball with me?" Edward stuttered and I told him to keep his eyes on the road.

"Fuck. Hell if I know. I just figured it was a good idea. Tanya would flip if she found out we were going and I honestly would love to see McQueen's face when we show up at the dance together. Damn, anyone's face really." He grinned at me and continued talking. "No one will believe that this is really…real. They think we hate one another."

"I thought we did." I smiled at him sheepishly and ducked my head, trying to hide the blush that was creeping into my pale cheeks.

"No I don't hate you, I just don't trust you. Is that fair enough?"

I nodded at him. I could relate to that. I felt the same way about most men, too.

----

The remainder of the drive home was quiet. I thanked Edward for dinner and scurried up the porch. The lights were on inside and I found Renee sitting on the sofa.

"Where have you been? Do you know that I almost called your father?" Renee looked worried and I quickly tried to assure her that everything was fine.

She didn't press me for more information, so I swiftly ran up the stairs before she could come up with any questions to ask. I just wanted to go to bed.

I lay there all night replaying today's events over and over in my head. It was fairly nice. No one yelled or blew up from anger. It was a miracle I didn't end up in tears. I remembered Edward's face at the mention of the new hospital wing. He was so sad.

---

I finally drifted into a restless slumber and awoke to a horn blaring outside.

I got up and looked out the window to see Edward Cullen leaning up against his Volvo.

I dressed and went downstairs. Renee was gone again. I grabbed a few chocolate muffins and went outside.

"Do you need a ride to school?" Edward opened my door for me and I glanced around to see if anyone was watching us.

"Sure, why not." I climbed in and my nerves had reached their peak as we drove into the high school parking lot.

---

People stared at us all throughout the day. Edward put on the charm as he walked me to my classes and guided me through the crowded hallways.

By lunch, we had become the laughing stock of the day. Emmett ran up to us in the lunch line and smacked Edward on the back.

"I knew it. Rose and Alice wouldn't believe me, but I knew I saw you guys this morning." Emmett stood there with a huge grin on his face. He pointed at me and then he pointed at Edward.

"Yeah, motherfucker, we are going to the dance," Edward said reading his mind. Emmett bounced after Rose as she entered the cafeteria.

"This'll be good. Want to sit with me?" I stared at him in disbelief. All day long Edward had given me a chance to turn him down. He still thought this wasn't going to work.

"Let's get this over with." I followed him to his table and we sat down between Alice and Emmett.

"Well, look who it is. You two finally decided to take a hint." I glared at Jasper and cursed his perceptive mind. He had been nagging on me since English last week. It was like he could feel the buzz around Edward and me.

Alice was jumping up and down in her seat, barely controlling her excitement.

"Oh, Bella, we're going to be the best of friends. I just know it." Emmett let out a groan and I just turned my eyebrows up at Alice.

"This is strange; I thought you guys didn't even like one another." Leave it to Rosalie to be the killjoy.

"Well, Rose maybe Edward was just the friend no one knew I ever had." Ouch, that hurt. The truth always did. Edward stood up to leave and everyone at our table and the next one over looked at him.

I followed out of the cafeteria and we made our way to English class.

"I'm sorry. That didn't come out right back there. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, don't worry. I'm fine," he hissed at me and we stood silently outside Mr. Mason's door.

The bell rang and kids started pouring out of the lunchroom. Mike Newton was skipping merrily down the hall. I prayed he would slip or trip.

He didn't.

"So Bella, I heard you needed a date for the dance. And well, I was wondering if you would go with me?" I stared at him and my mouth was hanging open.

I felt two arms wrap around me and Edward said, "Your too late, Newton. I already asked her."

I grinned up at him stupidly. I was glad he had seemed to have brightened up. James walked by and pushed past us.

"How rude!" Mike exclaimed. Edward laughed and I twisted out of his arms and went into the classroom.

James was standing at my desk, waiting for me. I sat down ignoring him.

"Well, well, well, Bella. Cullen?" I took a deep breath waiting for him to continue. "You guys will look wonderful together at the dance. Two peas in a pod."

I glared at him and turned my attention to the front of the class just as Edward walked in the door. He smiled at me and I immediately relaxed.

"Yup, I think Edward is way better than the other scum I was considering as my date." I smiled up at James and he scuffed and turned to go to his desk.

Angela walked in and went to the back of the class. I gave her a questioning look, but then heard someone sit down beside me. I didn't have to turn around to realize who it was.

"Are you okay?" Edward asked his forehead wrinkled in worry.

Mr. Mason started class and the room quieted down.

"Yeah, I'm good" I replied with a smile. And it was the truth.

I was fine. For the first time in the last 48 hours I really felt like everything was going to be okay.

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