"Bye, Mrs. Newton. See you tomorrow, Mike," I called as I took off the ugly orange smock that I had to wear while working at Newton's. As soon as I get enough money for a car, I'm definitely quitting this job.

"Hey, Bella, wait up a sec!" Mike shouted after me as I walked out the door. I cringed inwardly. This is why I hate my job. "Uh… well, I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me this Friday, for dinner and a movie, yah know?" he asked, shuffling his feet nervously.

"Mike, I've told you a million times. I," I pointed to my chest, "already have a boyfriend." And he's wayyy hotter than you, I added silently in my head. I mean, Mike was okay looking, he had nice blond hair and blue eyes, but he still seemed to look like a little boy.

He sighed. "We don't have to go as a couple," he murmured sullenly. "It could just be as friends, kay?"

I tried really hard not to roll my eyes. "Mike, I don't do that kind of thing. If I went to dinner and a movie with you, in my books that means that we're dating, which we're not."

"Oh, yeah? Then are you dating Black, or is he just your little play thing?" he snapped angrily. Ouch. Okay, that one really hurt. I did go to movies with Jake, but it was totally different than if I went with Mike.

"Jake and I have been best friends since we were little, and in case you don't remember, you pissed me off on the first day of kindergarten," I said with a tone that implied it was obvious. What wasn't obvious, however, is how much I can't stand to hurt Jake. Whenever he asks me to go to a movie with him, all I can do is say yes. If I don't, he'll be upset, and I hate to hurt him.

"Whatever, Bella," Mike said, stalking back into Newton's.

A lone raindrop spattered on my cheek, followed by a torrent of others. "Aw, crap," I muttered. Pulling up my sweatshirt hood, I began the long trek home that was ten times as difficult in the pouring rain. If only I hadn't failed…

A car screeched to a stop next to me, splattering me with mud and water. I wiped the water and muck from my eyes, wearily watching the car. I fingered the pepper spray in my pocket, when the window rolled down.

"Put away the pepper spray, and get in the car please, Bella," the velvet voice said patronizingly from the interior of the car. I dropped the small bottle back into my pocket, and almost ran to the car (if I really ran, I would've wiped out in the middle of the street, and probably gotten hit by a car).

"Hey," I said, shaking my head to try and rid the moisture from my hair. I snuck a peek at the glorious man sitting next to me, and was shocked to see his expression furious. His eyebrows were mashed together in a hard line, and his eyes burned with a kind of fire I've only seen once before.

I lightly pressed my fingers to his cheek, and was relieved to see him relax a teensy bit. "What's wrong?" I asked, keeping my fingers in place.

"Bella, you got your license a week ago, and yet you're still walking? Why didn't you use the cell phone I gave you to call me and ask me to pick you up? That's why I gave it to you so I could be a good boyfriend, and help my girlfriend when she needs help," he ranted. "Would it be too much to ask you to be a little welcoming of my help? It's how I was raised, Bella, and you have no idea how much it hurts me when you refuse to call me just because you're worried I was busy."

I removed my hand from his cheek, and began playing with my fingers in my lap. "My phone was dead," I said in a small voice. "And you know that I don't have a car, and driving the police cruiser is out of the question."

"Then why won't you let me loan you a car? You know we far too many," he said, eyes still blazing.

"Because I didn't pass my test!" I exclaimed in a rush. The car screeched to a stop in front of my house, and I was thrown forward.

"You… didn't pass?" he asked uncomprehendingly.

"No," I mumbled, embarrassed.

He started to shake, and I looked up from my moping. His eyes were sparkling happily, and I could tell that he was trying to contain his laughter. "It's not funny," I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. That seemed to do it. With a gasp, he burst into hysterics, pounding on the steering wheel in his little tirade of laughter. When he didn't stop, I kicked open the car door and started getting out. With a yelp, I was pulled back in by someone grabbing my wrist. Then next thing I knew, my head was in Edward's lap, and I was looking up at his crooked grin.

"That was totally unnecessary," I huffed, trying to squirm away from him.

"Me laughing hysterically at the fact that you failed your drivers test or me pulling you back into my car by your wrist?" he asked with a smirk.

I thought for a moment, "Both." This made him laugh harder.

"Did you feel the need to hold me hostage just to laugh at me, or do you actually have a reason?" I questioned, starting to get irritated. This is why I didn't tell anyone I failed.

"Silly Bella, I always have a reason for my crazy actions," he said, rolling his eyes.

It was silent for a moment.

"Are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?" I finally asked.

"I'll tell you, you're such a horrible guesser," he chuckled. He picked me up so I was sitting on his lap, and I automatically laid my head on his chest. "Tonight, I was wondering if you would go on a triple date with me."

I pulled away from him, and looked right into his emerald eyes, trying not to dazzle myself. "Triple date?" I questioned.

"Yeah, you and me, Alice and Jazz, and Rose and Em. We'd go out to dinner in Port Angeles, and either see a movie or go shopping," he explained.

"Ew, shopping!?" I wailed.

He laughed musically. "Alice and Rose wanna, but the rest of us don't. You were the deciding vote, so now we're going to a movie!" he cheered, pumping his fist in the air. "That is, if you wanna go," he said, his happy mood gone completely.

"Of course I will," I said, rolling my eyes. "What time will you pick me up?"

He made a face. "Actually, Alice said that if you were coming that she would come over and 'make you over'," he said, using air-quotes that looked very girly.

"Ack! No!" I shouted.

He shook his head. "There is no way to stop a force of nature, Bella," he murmured, pressing his lips softly to mine. His hand snaked down to the small of my back, pulling me closer to him. My mouth opened to accept his tongue, and they tangled gracefully together. Fingers tangled in his messy hair, I pulled myself closer to him.

Finally, we both pulled away, gasping for breath. "Let's not get too carried away. We don't want to get stuck again," I giggled, lightheaded.

He chuckled. "I suppose you're right," he murmured, brushing his fingers lightly across my cheek. I shivered in delight. "Alice will be here at four, so be ready," he said, pulling me out of my moment of bliss.

Grumbling something about how pixies shouldn't be allowed to kidnap the innocent, I gave Edward a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you later," I mumbled.

"Bella?" Edward called as he leaned out his window.

"Yeah?"

"Let Alice do what she wants. She makes you look more beautiful than a god." With a final crooked grin, he drove away, leaving me gasping for breath.

"Stupid shiny Volvo owner."

I'm so sorry that I didn't update on Sunday! I was going to, but then our internet went down. Okay, no big deal, I'll update on Monday, I thought. But no. My dad had a mini stroke (he's on the mend) so I couldn't update until now, and I didn't even get to put up half the chapter I wanted to. Sorry, sorry, sorry! Don't attack me with pitchforks for being a bad author.

Anyway, I'm sorry for the shortieness of this chap, and promise to update Sunday, unless a catastrophe happens. Please review, I miss hearing what you guys have to say. :D