A/N: I wanted to get this chapter done and up earlier, but I got surprised with family visiting from out of town, so better late then never. This story has become my priority as of right now. My other stories will be updated when they come to me. I hope that I can get a chapter of each up on Sundays, but we will see if that happens. Married Life will have thirteen chapters in total, so that one will be the next one I update because I really want to get it finished. Happy reading!

10. Free Fall

I woke up the next morning to a torrential downpour. My mom had already left, she had to be at the hospital at five this morning and had already taken my brother to the Mallory's house, so I at least didn't have to worry about getting him there. This was one day that I was happy that I didn't have to work, it was supposed to be nasty weather all day. I was going to have to pull out the big guns to stay dry today. Rain boots and all. I had gotten my license the second I was able to, but we couldn't afford a second car, so I huffed it to and from school. One day I would have a car, one day. I just had to be patient.

I went to the bathroom to my morning routine, taking my time, knowing it was a bad idea. I was going to have to face the rain eventually. I dressed quickly and ran down the stairs to grab a grab-and-go type of breakfast, a knock at the door came as I passed, instantly making me nervous.

I cautiously opened the door, only to find Edward standing on my porch, soaked.

"What are you doing here?" I was shocked to find him on my porch at seven in the morning.

"I thought that you could use a ride." rain droplets fell from his hair as we stood in my doorway before it dawned on me to let him in.

"I didn't think that you were up this time of day." I took a granola bar from the cupboard before going and sitting at the table.

"I don't like to be, but Emmett gets up at the crack of dawn to workout and drag me along with him. I know that you usually walk to school, but when it started to pour..." he trailed off, stopping from stating the obvious.

"Thank you." I took a bite from my granola bar.

"That's all your having?" he made a face at my breakfast.

"I don't have much of an appetite in the morning." I defended, unwrapping the rest of the bar, throwing the wrapper in the trash.

"You should have more than that."

"Are you a gourmet cook or something?" I popped the last bit in my mouth,before getting up to get a glass of milk and my lunch bag from the fridge.

"I do okay."

I whirled around. He could cook? Damn. "Why do I think that I won't be seeing that until pigs fly?"

"My mom taught me how to cook," he looked at his hands, a look of sadness coming to his face, "She always told me that girls liked that sort of thing, and that one day I would appreciate it." he sighed, looking up at me, "I'll have to cook for you one day."

"I would like that." I bit my lip. "I would really like that." I took a breath before I continued, "My dad used to cook for my mom."

"Do you miss him?" he took my hand, threading his fingers with mine, patiently waiting for my response.

"Yeah, I do. It might be crazy, but I do. I never knew him, but I miss him, you know?"

"Yeah, I do." he looked absently at the table. "You can live in the same house as a person and never truly know them."

Did he feel like he didn't know his father, too? Or did he mean someone else?

I didn't push the subject. When, or if, he was ready to tell me, he would.

"We should get you to school." he stood, still holding my hand.

"I just have to grab my bag." I unwillingly let go of his hand, running to the stairs, and grabbed my bag, throwing one of the straps over my shoulder.

"Ready?" he smiled, holding his hand out for me to take.

"Yes." I took his hand without hesitation.

I locked the door behind us before we walked to his car. He opened my door for me, before going around and getting in the driver's side. The ride to school was spent in comfortable silence, he held my hand the entire way,and I couldn't help but look at our entwined hands. I still couldn't get over the fact that he wanted to be with me. Since he came into my life, I finally realized that I wasn't invisible.

When we got to school, he parked in one of spaces, getting looks from my classmates that were standing in the parking lot, killing time before the bell rang. Their looks made me self conscious. I never liked being the center of attention; it always made me unnerved.

"Have a good day. Learn a lot of stuff that you will forget." he squeezed my hand.

"I will." I shook my head at him, "What are you going to do today while I under take such an important task?"

"I'm having lunch with my mom today."

He said it like it was no big deal, but by his demeanor, I could tell that it was.

"I have to go." I went to grab my bag from the floor, but pulled me back to him.

His hand came to the side of my face, keeping eye contact with me, making my heart skip a beat. The kiss was soft and short, but it still made my mind go hazy.

"I'll see you after school. I'll be here." he voice was gravelly as he said this, making parts of me go crazy.

"Okay/"

I got out of the car, walking over to where Angela now stood under an umbrella.

"What?" I asked, feeling my face flush.

"This is new." she observed, watching him leave the lot.

"So?"

"Nothing. It just seems like things are getting serious is all." she pulled me under her umbrella as we started the walk to the dry building.

"He was just being a friend." I pushed one of the glass doors open, revealing in the warmth that enveloped me.

"Yeah, because I kiss all of my friends." she shook her umbrella out before shutting it. "I don't care what you say, you're more than friends." she looked at me for a second, "You have talked about it haven't you ?"

"No." we hadn't defined what we were, or what we were doing. It wasn't something that I had even thought of.

"Bella," her stern voice was coming out to play, "it's a conversation that every couple has. It's kind of how you start dating."

"We haven't started dating." I mumbled. We had gone to the movies, but I hadn't considered that a date, so much as a hang out session. He hadn't asked me out on a date date yet.

"He hasn't asked you out?" she looked at me quizzically.

"Not yet." I shifted my feet uncomfortably.

"He will." she sounded do sure of herself.

"How do you know that?"

"Because if he doesn't, he will have to deal with me." I really had a great friend.

&7&

The rain was still coming down when we got out of school. I walked to the parking lot, my hoodie zipped and the hood up. I half expected him not to be there, but nonetheless, there he was, in the exact same spot. I bit my lip to contain the smile as I walked to his car, letting myself in without a second thought.

"Doesn't someone look happy." he turned the car on, backing out of the space.

I slid down in my seat feeling completely at ease, "I have to pick up Tyler on the way home. "

"No, problem. Just tell me the way."

I gave him directions of the Mallory's. He found it easily enough, having to drive past it to get to my house only aiding. He stayed in the car while I went to the door to pick up my brother.

"Bella, sweetie," Mrs. Mallory opened the door, holding a sleeping Tyler in her arms. "I think he may have the flu." she kept her voice quiet as to not disturb him.

"Oh, perfect." I took him, along with his stuff, from her, and walked carefully down the steps so I wouldn't fall. He stirred as I put him in the backseat, blinking confusedly as he took in his surroundings.

"Sissy. " his nose was stuffy, voice hoarse. He looked awful.

"Hey, bud." I nudged his chin, giving him a smile, "You remember my friend Edward, right?" Edward looked at me, giving me a sympathetic look.

"I want mama." he whimpered, coughing.

"I know. She will be home soon, okay?" I assured,feeling his very hot forehead.

Tyler fell asleep during the short drive to our house. He dangled limply in my arms as I carried him into the house, Edward following behind me; he'd been kind enough to carry my bag for me.

"Do you want to come in?" I opened the door easily, shifting Tyler around to get a better grip on him.

"Sure." he followed behind me, closing the door and locking it.

"I am going to go put him down, I'll be right back. Make yourself at home." I directed him to the living room before quickly going up the stairs to put Tyler down.

I took his jacket and shoes off, making sure not to disturb his slumber. I tucked him snugly under the covers, just the way he liked. I left the room, keeping the door slightly ajar so I could hear if he woke up. I took the steps two at a time, appearing the living room in seconds t find Edward on the couch looking in a notebook, my backpack open by his feet.

"What are you doing?" I went and sat next to him. He had my Biology notes out and was reading them intently.

"Just seeing what you were studying in Bio. I figured I cold help you study since I was here." he continued to read, not even bothering to look at me as he said this.

"Oh," I couldn't fight the disappointment in my voice. He wanted to help me study. We had the whole house alone, and he wanted to study. I didn't know what we would do, but I didn't want it to be studying, even though I desperately needed it.

"Are you okay?" he looked at me, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine." the look on his face told me that he wasn't convinced.

"What?" he set the book aside. "Are you upset that I went into your bag because I wasn't thinking when I did it. I just thought I could help you, and in turn prove to your mom that I'm not a creep."

"I'm not mad that you went into my bag," I pushed hair behind my ear, "and my mom doesn't think that you're a creep."

"But she doesn't like me." his jaw was clenched as he looked at his feet.

"She's trying." I didn't try to deny, it had been written all over her face the day that she talked to him. "She told me last night when she ungrounded me."

He nodded before looking at me, "You're not grounded anymore?" his body language changed, becoming more relaxed.

I nodded, biting my lip.

"Do you think that she would let me take on a real date?" his voice was low and he was leaning closer to me, his scent invading my senses.

"I think so." my voice was just as low as his, our faces close together.

"Good, because I owe you one." his lips came down on mine then, taking my breath away.

His lips were urgent on mine, his arms going to my waist, pulling me closer. My hands went to his jaw, holding him to me. I gasped, our lips continuing to move as one. My fingers found their way to his hair, feeling the silky locks.

I don't know how long we stayed like that, but when we pulled apart, we were both panting.

"Won't your mom be home soon?" he asked between gasps.

I looked at the clock and, sure enough, she would be. "In an hour."

"We might want to start on that homework." he suggested.

"Yeah."

&7&

My mom found us on the couch engrossed in my Biology notes and book. She didn't say anything when her eyes landed on him next to me on the couch, explaining to me, in words that I could actually understand, what Mr. Banner had said in class earlier in the day.

"Hi, mom." I greeted her.

"Hi," she took a breath, "Edward." she said politely. I was surprised she greeted him at all. She really was trying. "Where's Tyler?"

"Sleeping," I put my pencil down on the coffee table, "He's sick with the flu, at least that's what Mrs. Mallory said he had."

"Shit!" she mumbled under breath, and I knew why. She would have to miss work to take care of him to make sure the other kids that Mrs. Mallory watched wouldn't get it. "What's for dinner?" her stress was evident in her voice.

"We have leftovers from last night."

"Okay." she set her stuff down before disappearing into the kitchen.

"I'll go," Edward stood from the couch, and I followed, "I'll pick you up in the morning?" he asked.

"Yeah." I tried not to sound too eager at the proposal.

"I'll see you then." he kissed me on the cheek before letting himself out.

Walked into the kitchen to find my mom at the table, her head in her hands.

"Is everything okay?" I put my hand on her shoulder.

"It was just a hard day," she looked at me with tears falling, "Sue got laid off."

"Oh." my heart sank. When someone gets cut, the possibility you will be is increased. "I'm sorry."

"It's not really a surprise they're letting people go, it's been tight their for a while. We knew that it was coming for a while," she wiped her face with her hands, "It doesn't make it hurt less when it starts to happen. And now Tyler is sick."

"I can stay home.." she cut me off.

"Absolutely not," she sniffed, "One person in the house has it, so you'll most likely get it. You go to school while you can. I told you not to worry until I told you to."

"Okay."

I couldn't fight the feeling in my gut that something bad would happen.