Sorry about the delay, my loyal readers! Never fear, for I have returned with a new chapter!

This is the ~date~. I hope it makes you swoon for Edward…even if he can be socially awkward and fumble a bit.

What I own: A ticket stub from the Jonas Brother's concert, a vast amount of CDs, a fish that defies Darwin.

What I don't own: Everything else =)

* * *

Driving into Forks made Bella realize how much she had missed the sleepy little town in the week she'd been gone. Sure, she'd been in Florida a few weeks ago. But that was different from being just a few hours away, knowing that she'd created this tangled web that she had yet found a way out of.

Still, she and Angela drove on. Bella had changed almost immediately when she climbed into Angela's car. Her backpack had been filled with her own clothes. Somehow she was going to have to find on outfit for her…date.

The word filled Bella with dread. She hadn't been on a date…ever, really. Sure, she had boyfriends. But she had never been with a guy who insisted on taking her out and treating her special.

Eventually the girls reached Bella's driveway. Her dad's cruiser was parked on the street, which meant he wasn't staying. But Bella was unsure of why, exactly, her dad was home in the middle of the day. He wasn't a neglectful father by any means, but sometimes he got caught up in work and barely noticed that Bella and Jasper were around. Which was why it'd been so easy for him to accept that his children were both visiting their mother.

Bella said goodbye to Angela; the girl would be over in 45 minutes with Jessica anyway. She tentatively made her way to the front door. Charlie was sitting on the couch, distressed, and on the phone when she came in. He stood up abruptly.

"Renee, she just walked in, I will call you back." He slammed his silver phone shut and turned to Bella.

"Where have you been young lady?" His face was red and his voice was angry.

"Uh…Hey, dad, how's it goin'? I haven't seen you in a few days…" Bella was stalling, and she was panicked. If Charlie found out, her entire plan would crumble, and she would be in very, very big trouble.

"You haven't been at Renee's Bella. Now tell me exactly where you have been."

"Well, I mean, I guess…I was visiting Jasper?" Her voice became squeaky, unsure in its decision to summon a half-truth.

"At Dawson? What do you mean?"

"Yeah, dad. I mean, I missed him…he's my twin, after all."

"You really think I will buy that?"

"Of course dad. I mean, where else would I be? I mean, I know I should have called, but I was just so lonely…you know, after the break-up with Mike…" Bella knew playing this card was unfair to her dad, but she also knew he didn't deal well with her more feminine emotions.

"I get it, but you can't just disappear without a phone call. And don't think I won't be calling your brother and giving him an earful too."

"He's out tonight, dad. That's why I am home. I didn't feel comfortable with his roommate…Ang picked me up."

"Uh huh. And just when will he be available to take my calls?" Bella winced. Her father's sarcasm only appeared when he was extremely upset. Usually he reserved it for hardened criminals, and apparently his rebellious children.

"Tomorrow afternoon, I'm sure. He was…stargazing tonight. For Astronomy club."

"Jasper. Stargazing. Right." He adjusted his gun belt then, shaking his head. His face was etched with skepticism. "Something is going on here, Isabella Marie. And don't you think I won't figure it out."

With that he kissed her forehead and left, getting back to patrolling America's quietest streets.

Bella collapsed into the couch. It was one thing to have an entire school find out. It's not like Bella would see those people again anyway. But to have her dad know something fishy was going on…he was the Police Chief. He had volumes of information at his fingertips. Bella knew she didn't have much time left. She was desperate for Jasper to be home.

* * *

"Bella, you cannot go on a date with Edward Cullen wearing pants and a turtleneck," Jess said, her nose wrinkled in disgust.

"Jess, I don't know where we are going. I don't know what he expects…I mean, what if I am overdressed?" Bella was digging through her closet one more time.

"You can never be overdressed Bella," she replied. "That's a cop out because you are shy and forget that you are smokin'," Jessica laughed.

"She is right Bella. You can't hide those dresses in the back of your closet any longer. You forget Jess and I were there for the purchase of every single one of them." Angela was lounging on Bella's bed, her head hanging off the side.

"Fine," she gave in, finally, and stripped the turtleneck off. "Jess, have at it," she gestured to her closet and collapsed on the floor next to Angela's head.

Jessica gleefully dug into Bella's closet. Bella had in mind the outfit she wanted to wear. Red halter dress, tea-length, little white polka dots all over, white cardigan to cover her shoulders. But she was afraid she was too presumptuous. After what Rosalie said in the clearing, Bella couldn't stop imagining their date in a crowded restaurant surrounded by loud families and crying babies, and splitting the bill in the end. She stood and began to fix her hair in her mirror. After applying the last of her make-up, Jess finally stepped out of her closet (her closet was tiny, how did Jess walk all the way in there?) and squealed with delight.

"Bella! This is it. Wear this."

Bella looked over her shoulder in the mirror and caught a glimpse of the exact red dress she had picture earlier.

"Jess, you don't know how glad I am you picked this one out."

* * *

Out of practicality, Bella didn't let Edward pick her up. Instead she climbed into her old truck ("Hey Frieda, baby," she had crooned when she felt the frayed seat under her legs.) and met Edward at the pier in Port Angeles. She had told him to watch for her old Chevy, and wasn't surprised to see him waiting patiently on a bench. She smiled to herself. Of course he would show up early.

She hopped from the cab after waving shyly to Edward, and made sure to grab her purse and cardigan off the seat. She locked her doors and turned to face Edward, who was now approaching her.

"Bella," he smiled. His hair was rustled in the breeze of the bay, and Bella was happy to see he was wearing a sport jacket over another dark green shirt. At least she wasn't overdressed.

"Hey, Edward. How are you?" She reached up for a hug, and suddenly felt shy. It had been easy to be a "vixen" (Alice had picked that description) at the dance. But out here on the rickety pier, the last of the afternoon sun turning to orange over the tops of the surrounding trees, Bella felt oddly exposed. She felt like another person entirely, her same shy self that generally let boys approach her and didn't go on dates, ever.

"I'm wonderful, now." He smiled and she swooned. He couldn't do much more of this to her tonight, otherwise she'd be a lost cause. And Edward would find himself with a very awkward roommate. "It looks like a clear night, do you mind walking? The restaurant is just a few blocks over."

Bella agreed and slipped her lightweight cardigan over her shoulders. They began to walk, and Edward began to inquire about her family, school, friends, her life in general. Bella liked this. The last few boys she'd dated knew all the details of her life. It was one of the so-called perks of small town life.

Bella was oddly relieved when they approached a sleepy strip of storefront. Most of the shops were closed for the night, but Bella could make out the glowing lights of a little bistro just down the block. It looked warm and inviting, decidedly not Downriggers.

Instead of C'est Si Bon (she could still hear Rosalie's perfect pronunciation in her head), the sign above the restaurant read 'Izzy's' in a casual script. This was off-book. Neither Alice nor Rosalie mentioned that Edward took girls to other places. Was this a good sign or a bad sign? Had Bella assumed too much?

The bistro was cozy; there were a few tables scattered along the wall, and Bella could see some went back to a room that was practically hidden from the street-view. The building was apparently massive length-wise, and Bella noticed the snaking floor plan once her eyes adjusted to the dim lights. The floor was beat up hardwood—most likely original to the building—and each table and chairs was different from the next. Bella was immediately drawn to the sophisticated eccentricity of this place. It bordered on local coffee shop and foreign hole-in-the-wall, the kind that always served the best local, authentic, fare. There was a spiral staircase against the wall closest to Bella, just down a little walkway between two tables. It led to a loft, and what Bella thought to be a sunroom.

"This is one of my favorite places, Bella. I hope you enjoy it. The owner is an old family friend. I am warning you though, she isn't used to seeing me with anyone else. So I apologize in advance if she makes you…uncomfortable." Edward looked toward Bella with a worried eye, and she responded with a comforting smile. As Edward was briefing her, a tall blonde woman stepped out from the kitchen door.

Her ruddy cheeks were youthful, but Bella could tell by the slow pace of her gait that this woman was slightly older than Bella and Edward. Her blonde ringlets appeared to be natural, and were pulled back loosely into a ponytail. She stopped short when she noticed Edward's hand resting in the crook of Bella's elbow.

"No need to panic Iz, she is real," Edward said to the woman playfully. His voice was low, not wanting to interrupt the other dining patrons.

"Eddie, is this the girl you wanted me to reserve the sun room for?" Izzy was boisterous, her happiness evident to those around her.

Bella looked up at Edward, confused, but smiled shyly when she saw his cheeks blush. He refused to make eye contact with her, but broke out in a smile.

"That'd be the one Iz. Bella, I would like for you to meet Izzy Lucas. The owner of this fine establishment, and creator of the menu we are about to devour." Bella enjoyed watching Edward flatter this woman, his affection for her obvious. Izzy was clearly an old friend of Edward's.

Bella shook the woman's hand, and Izzy looked deep into Bella's eyes. It would have made Bella uncomfortable if she hadn't been such a warm and welcoming person. Her face broke into a smile after a few seconds.

"She'd beautiful, Ed," she said, still looking at Bella. Bella's face roared with embarrassment, but Izzy simply laughed. "And humble. Why have you never brought her 'round before?"

Izzy released her hand and looked inquiringly to Edward.

"It's…uh, it's our first…date?" He looked to Bella for approval, and she nodded and smiled. It was their first date. And already Bella was impressed. She didn't need the advice of Rosalie and Alice to know that Edward took her to a place that was a very special piece of his life.

With that Izzy began to laugh. It was abrupt and loud, befitting her personality but not her porcelain doll looks. It made Bella smile. Her happiness was indeed contagious. Izzy lead the two to their table personally. She escorted them upstairs, where it was surprisingly empty. Beyond the dining room Bella's thoughts were confirmed when she say a sun room. It's glass walls looked out over the water, and the ceiling revealed a perfectly clear night sky. Izzy led them to the one table that was in the room, and adjusted their place settings before leaving them.

Edward spoke again. "Is this ok?"

Bella was shocked. Was this ok? This was perfect.

"Edward, seriously? This is the nicest thing I think any one has ever done for me. This place is gorgeous, do you see this view?" She looked out over the water now, watching a water taxi make its way lazily across the water. Her head still turned, "I don't think you know how special this is for me."

She turned back to find him staring intensely at her. "You don't know how happy it makes me to hear that." He broke into a grin, and the two fell into easy conversation. Somewhere between their talking, their meals arrived.

Bella was confused. "I didn't order?"

"That's the beauty of this place. Izzy makes a menu everyday, posts it on the door, and that is all she serves. Appetizer, entrée, dessert. She said she tried traditional dining, but she didn't trust anyone else with her recipes. You should have seen how many cooks she went through before deciding to be the only chef."

Bella nodded, amazed by this one-woman operation that was Izzy. Bella decided then that Izzy was sort of her hero. Especially when she tasted the appetizer, which happened to be soup that night.

"Do you like it?" Edward was hesitant.

"It's delicious, Edward." Bella continued to happily slurp her soup, and Edward smiled, contented.

Their soup bowls were taken when they finished, and they waited only shortly for their entrée.

"So Edward, how do you know Izzy?"

"Can I be honest?" Edward was worried now.

"I hope so…" Bella replied playfully.

"Izzy and I were supposed to end up married, eventually."

Bella nearly choked on her water. "You…I…what? Married?"

"Yes. Our fathers were in practice together before Carlisle became headmaster. He was a psychologist. Izzy is only a few years old than us, if you can believe it. But as we grew up together, we realized how affectionate we were—in a very non-romantic way. Izzy is like the older sister I never had. She is, in fact, happily engaged to a man named Joe, though her family is still unaware of that." He smiled, conspiratorially, and Bella couldn't help but smile in return.

"I get it. I do. It's just…a lot I guess. 'Hey, first date! By the way, the amazing woman downstairs who could make any man fall in love with her just by feeding them was once my betrothed, but no worries…'" Bella trailed off now, her humor becoming apparent distress.

"Bella, I didn't mean for it to worry you." Edward upset now. How could he have let this perfect evening go down in flames like this? Bella's company had been the first…ever…that he enjoyed outside of his family. He'd specifically picked this place for their date because he wanted to show her a part of him that he'd never let any one else see. And now he ruined it, by telling her about Izzy. Great.

"Bella, please," he was practically begging now, and moved out of his seat. She was looking down at her napkin in her lap, still confused.

"Bella, look at me?" He asked her gently, nudging her chin with his finger. She met his gaze, her brown eyes filled with worry.

"Izzy is truly like my sister. She and I had our opportunity, but it was like kissing Emmett…only female." Bella smiled at this, still looking into his eyes.

"I brought you here, because this is something no one, not even my family, knows. They all think Izzy is still in France, going to culinary school and traveling Europe. I come here because I can be myself. I wanted to show you something dear to my heart. I didn't mean to bring up Izzy and I being…betrothed. We aren't royalty anyway," he smiled and winked, and Bella blushed in embarrassment at the term. She finally smiled.

"I'm sorry I freaked out, Edward." She relaxed, and Edward kissed her hand gently. He sat down just as their entrée arrived.

"Hey, Cullen."

Edward looked up from his plate.

"Next time you take a girl on a date, leave out the word marriage, 'kay?" Bella made a point of stabbing a carrot, and shoveling it into her mouth.

"You are awful cute when you are trying to look intimidating, Swan," Edward smiled in return.

The rest of the evening went on without a hitch. Edward was particularly embarrassed when Izzy delivered their dessert and told a story about Edward and a cape, that he apparently still hid under his bed at home. Bella had snorted with laughter, something that still surprised Edward every time it happened. He decided, in that instant, that making Bella Swan laugh was going to be his favorite job for the rest of his life.

* * *

"Psst. Jasper! Pssst!!"

Bella was jolted awake the next evening by a voice under her open window. Edward was sleeping with earbuds in, his mellow acoustic tunes clear to the room. How he slept with the volume up that high, Bella would never understand.

She tiptoed to the window, and found Alice and Rose standing below. Alice was dressed in a dark blue hoodie and black yoga pants. There were black streaks on her cheeks, and from the glitter it looked to be mascara. Rose was in grey sweats and a pink zip-up hoodie, looking like a million bucks. When Alice caught sight of Bella in the window, she waved her down and pointed toward their clearing.

Bella grabbed her keys and slipped into Jasper's oversized hoodie. She slipped into her Chucks and made her way downstairs, quiet, so as not to wake any one.

She found Rose and Alice in the clearing. Rose was sitting on the bench, Alice's head was in her lap. Bella envied their friendship, sometimes. Sure, she had Angela. But Rose and Alice were more sister's than anything. Bella adored Jasper, but sometimes she needed the same familiar closeness in female form.

"Boo!" Bella voiced from the shadows. Rose jumped, but Alice simply sat up and turned toward her.

"Stop trying to be intimidating, you have guts to spill."

Bella grimaced and made her way into the clearing. The grass was damp tonight, but she pulled Jasper's hoodie down over her butt.

"What's with the face paint, Rambo? It'd be more convincing without the pink glitter."

Alice stuck her tongue out. "Rose and I were supposed to be on a recon mission to save you from the grips of the Cullenator, but apparently she was too busy with 'The Beast' to remember." Alice glared sideways at Rose, who looked bored.

"Can it, Ali. You watch too many movies, anyway. I am not going to feed that addiction.

Bella shook her head at the two and smiled, glad to be back in their presence.

"How was your date?"

"Where did he take you?"

"What did you wear?"

"Did he buy?"

Alice and Rose fired off questions too rapid for Bella to comprehend. She shook her head and laughed, then took a breath.

"The date was…perfect." She watched the grass for a bit and then looked up to her friend's expectant faces. "It was my first date, did you know that? No guy has ever taken me on a date before."

Both girls were a little surprised, but didn't say a word.

"We went to a little bistro in Port Angeles. I don't remember the name of it." Bella didn't want to betray his trust. "It wasn't either of the places you two mentioned, though." She smiled to herself. "He bought, like a perfect gentleman. And I wore a smokin' little red dress." She addressed the last answer to Alice, who smiled and nodded in approval.

Bella continued to describe the night, leaving out Edward's fumble about Izzy. She had reached the good night kiss, the sweet and warm kiss that had left Bella breathless and dizzy. Before she could tell the girls how she had to pull over and regain control of her senses after their kiss, they heard a noise from the trees surrounding them.

Bella immediately jumped up and took a step closer to Rose and Alice; all three froze in terror. Getting caught past curfew wasn't their concern. They were well aware their little cluster of trees was just a small grove that was ultimately attached to the dark, dense forest that surrounded Dawson so fully. Their concern now was what…creature…could be hiding in the dark.

Bella could feel her heart beat beneath her shirt. There was a crack of a twig, but it could have been Bella's heart pounding in her ears. She could feel Alice shaking behind her, and Rose was poised for attack.

"I knew you weren't a guy!" A voice boomed from the trees.

Emmett Cullen stepped out from the shadows.

"There was no way you were a normal guy, Bella."

He grinned, and Bella fainted.

* * *

I haven't taken the time to figure out how to reply to my reviews, but I appreciate Every. Single. One. Seriously, you don't know how happy it makes me to see the notification in my email =) I hope this chapter didn't disappoint!