A/N: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. I own a copy of The Muppets Take Manhattan that I literally found in a box of Cheerios.

Caffeine: A chemical that, in the human body, acts as a central nervous system stimulant, warding off drowsiness and increasing alertness. Found in products such as coffee, tea and some soft drinks. Some studies indicate that it may slightly increase the risk of hypertension, and it does cause a brief spike in blood pressure immediately after consumption.

Though, if you're not at risk for heart disease, it's basically the best thing ever and probably the only reason I ever manage to accomplish anything.

10

At the theatre, we repeat the same scene from her house, but in reverse. I throw on my hazard lights as I pull into the loading space out front, then jump out to get the walker while Bella helps her dad get out. I ask three times if they're okay before I leave to go park; eventually, Charlie's the one to give me a long-suffering look and tell me to go before he takes my taillight out with his walker. Bella assures me more quietly that they'll be fine, but her look is anything but. She's nervous and looking to me for reassurance. I feel bad that I sort of like it. It makes me feel needed. Useful.

I cut three people off in the parking lot in my rush to get back to them. But it's worth it when I see her smile again.

Inside, I see the whole place through different eyes, understanding for the first time exactly how impossible it is to navigate things that always seemed so easy to me. We wait for the elevator instead of running up the escalator to the ticket booth, and I leave the two of them at a bench to go stand in line for tickets. For the first time in my life, I give no thought to finding the optimal seat for acoustics and line of sight for the screen. Instead, we take the very first row because there's no way in hell we're dealing with stairs.

Once there, it's no surprise but still a delight when Bella sits in the middle of the three of us. I soak it up, loving being so close to her and harboring fantasies of reaching over to take her hand in the dark.

Charlie's voice breaks through my thoughts. "You know, it was good and all, but that really wasn't much of a dinner you made for us tonight, Bells."

I bristle at the thought that he doesn't appreciate her. At the same time, I remember my own gourmet fare from earlier in the evening and my stomach growls.

"Whatever," Bella says flippantly. "Vegetables are good for you."

"A steak once in a while wouldn't kill me either."

"Actually, it might."

"Popcorn sure wouldn't, though. It's heart-healthy. Or at least that's what you keep telling me when you refuse to buy chips."

Oh.

Right. So that's his angle.

I stand up, missing the heat of Bella's arm against my side immediately . "You guys want sodas, too?"

"Edward, you don't have to—"

"Coke, please. And extra butter. Lots of salt."

Bella cuts him off. "Caffeine-free Diet Coke, and he and I can split one. No butter. No salt." She pauses and then gives me a sheepish grin. "If you're going anyway."

Charlie scowls, but there's humor in his eyes. "You see what I have to deal with? She's freaking Nurse Rached. You sure you want to get mixed up with a girl like this? If you're not careful, she'll have you eating tofu and sprouts, too."

"I have never cooked sprouts. For goodness's sake, Dad."

I hold his gaze for a second while Bella's protesting so he knows I'm sincere. But then as I answer, I look at her, heart in my throat, blood pounding. "Yes, sir. I do."

It's all I can do to force myself to leave when she blushes but doesn't look away.

Walking to the concession stand, I am equal parts elation and terror.

The previews are just starting when I return a few minutes later, juggling one giant bucket of popcorn (a little butter and a little salt) and a drink-carrier filled with three small sodas (one regular Coke for me, one caffeine-free regular Coke for Charlie, and one caffeine-free Diet Coke for Bella - yeesh). Bella scowls as I pass them out, but Charlie looks at me like I've just made a friend for life the instant he tastes his. Hopefully he'll remember that when we get back to his house and his collection of guns.

I sit back down beside Bella and flex my hand into a fist, relaxing and constricting again and again, uncertain what she'll do now that I've spoken so boldly. Fortunately, she doesn't make me wait too long. As the theatre lights dim, Bella puts her hand on my forearm and leans in.

I almost lose it from that alone.

Thankful for the pile of napkins in my lap, I lean in too. A hot sweat breaks out on the back of my neck, my skin prickling like every part of my body is aching to be touched at once.

I want her to say she wants me. That she likes me. That she wants to be mixed up with a guy like me too.

Instead, she whispers, "I'll pay you back when we get home."

My stomach is doing flip-flops. That isn't the response I was hoping for. "You don't have to, really."

"I can't take advantage of you like that."

Does she have no idea? Still?

I'm ready to hyperventilate, but emboldened by the way she's touched me, somehow I manage to make my body do what I want it to. Freaking out the entire time, I reach over and squeeze her hand, leaning back so I can look her in the eyes. Speaking at plainly as I can, I tell her, simply, "You're not."

Our gaze seems to last forever, and her lips are parted and full. With the light from the screen washing over her features, she's glowing. So, so beautiful.

But my awe doesn't drown out my fear. Maybe she is taking advantage of me. Maybe this is her way of telling me she'll never give me what I want. Or maybe she thinks I'm taking advantage of her, demanding she touch me in repayment. But I would never – I wouldn't –

She swallows, still searching my eyes, and she opens her mouth, but no sound comes out. The anticipation is killing me. Then she squeezes my hand. And so quietly, she says, "All right."

In a deft move that takes my breath away, she intertwines our fingers.

And then she turns to look back at the screen. But I don't. I just watch her.

In that moment, I swear I could watch her forever.

Or at least until Charlie grumbles and shoves the popcorn bucket into her lap. She rolls her eyes conspiratorially at me but thanks her dad. And most importantly, she doesn't let go of my hand.

It hasn't even started yet.

But already, this is my new favorite movie in the world.