1A/N : I'm so sorry this took so long to post! I got sidetracked with my nephews coming to stay for spring break and my sister came to visit...not a good excuse, I know, but it's the truth!

So enjoy and review!

Disclaimer : NOT MINE!


Chapter 10 - Girl Talk and Book Clubs

I found sleep tugging at my mind soon once we left the highway, the dimming lights of the wooded surroundings lulling me ever closer to sleep. I fought my eyelids gravely as Edward helped me out of the Volvo, his arm automatically wrapping around my waist. I let him lead me blindly up the front steps of the Cullens Home. Once we were across the threshold he didn't pause to swing me up into his arms, cradling me against his chest like a small child.

"Goodnight Bella." Alice's voice floated into the foyer from the living room.

I mumbled a response as Edward continued forward, taking me right up the steps. While this was indeed comfortable and I appreciated the gesture - it was a long walk up to Edward's 3rd floor bedroom - I felt the need to point out, "I could have walked."

Edward though just smiled faintly and said, "and let you fall down the stairs from exhaustion?" I was half-way tempted to argue but I yawned just then, cutting off any reply I might have had.

"My point exactly."

I waved my hand in his direction as he walked into his bedroom and laid me down gently on the large bed. "I'll respond to that tomorrow."

I instantly cuddled up to the soft, velvet blankets, sighing deeply. I felt the bed shift behind me, a slight chill sliding down my spine as Edward pressed his cold chest against my back, molding his body to mine.

"Hmm..." I sighed, feeling even more contend as he started to run a hand through my hair, gently brushing the brown locks back from my face. I felt his finger pause slightly before he continued, the absence only lasting a brief second.

"What?" I asked him softly, my voice already thick with sleep.

I could feel his chest constrict slightly as he took in a deep breath. "You know me too well, I'm beginning to fear." His voice held a hint of a smile as he let his hand come to rest on me.

"No such thing," I pointed out, reaching down to place my hand in his where it laid on my hip.

"No, I guess there is not, seeing as I will never want to stop learning everything I can about you," Edward pondered, picking up my hand and looking at it in the darkened room, his thumb caressing it softly.

I smiled, my eyes still closed. "That's settled then. Now what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," he responded, his voice matter-of-fact. "Esme was just wondering if I would like to join herself and Carlisle for a short hunting trip tonight."

"Oh," I said, having not been expecting that. "Tell her yes, then."

"And why would I do that? I'm quite comfortable where I am right now." To illustrate his point, Edward laid his head down and wrapped his arm firmer around my body, pulling me closer.

This was expected. Rolling my eyes, I turned my head slightly and shifted my hips so I could look up into at his face. Edward's gorgeous eyes were darker than normal, making my voice stronger as I argued, "go and feed - I'm just going to be sleeping."

I could see his smile as he reached up and trailed a finger down my cheek. "I happen to like watching you sleep. It's very insightful."

My face flushed and I picked up my hand, pointing toward the bedroom door. "Go."

"But-"

"No 'buts'," I insisted. "Go spend time with your family." When he hesitated I added with a sincere tone, "I'll be fine."

Edward, relunctendly, nodded. After tracing my jaw line tenderly he leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. "I'll be back briefly. We aren't going very far."

"Ok," I told him, smiling when he quickly placed another kiss on my forehead before climbing out of the bed and sliding out of the room effortlessly. Sighing deeply, I rolled back over, sinking into the thick mattress and sleep almost instantly.

I could feel someone starring at me, the sensation slowly drawing me out of my sleeping stumper. Slightly dazed, I cracked one eye open, lazily looking for the reason of my interruption - I had been having a very nice dream about myself and Edward walking along a moonlit beach somewhere warm and exotic - when I nearly had a heart-attack.

"Jeezes, Alice," I moaned, looking at the bubbly vampire sitting cross-legged at the bottom of my bed. "Make some noise next time, would ya?" My voice croaked and I tried to clear it.

"Yay. You're awake."

Her silvery voice seemed much to hyper and I inwardly groaned, wiping at my eyes as I slowly rolled over. Glancing toward the large window and still seeing the moon peeking through darkened clouds, I asked, "what time is it?"

"3:18 am."

"And what do I have to thank for this un-godly-hour wake up call?" I tried to clear my throat once more, having sounded like something from the 'exorcist'.

Alice, ignoring my tone and obvious dis-like of her at this moment, just sat up straighter and told me, raising her fingers up like a cheap-fortune teller, "I have seen the future..." I raised my eyebrow at her and she dropped her hands and sighed. "Party pooper. You're grumpy in the morning."

I raised myself up on my elbow, the action taking more energy then I felt like excerting. "6 am, 5 at the earliest, is morning time. This is still nighttime. And us humans," I placed my hand back on my chest, "we like to sleep at nighttime."

"Keep it up and I'm not gonna tell you what I saw..." she sing-songed, stretching one of her legs out and grinning at me.

I glared at her before letting my elbow drop, falling back into the mattress. I held my resolved for a matter of 6 seconds before I gave up, calling out toward the ceiling, "fine, I give - as I'm sure you knew I would. What did you see?"

She clapped then, crawling up to lay down beside me. "Perfect skies as far as the eye can see tomorrow morning." Her voice had taken on a show-girl quality, sounding just like one the women from the local news.

I just laid for a moment, not understanding what this had to do with me until I looked over and caught a glimpse of Alice's ghostly-white skin. I could still picture Edward's pearly skin shimmering in the glistening sun - there was no way possible for a vampire to walk among any humans in the sunlight.

"Oh," I said glumly. "So I guess that means no school tomorrow."

"For the youngest Cullens," Alice agreed. "Humans only."

I grumbled under my breath, crossing my arms. The idea of going all day without seeing Edward was not something I wanted to think about, much less endure. We had just finally found our way back to each other; I was not looking forward to being forced apart, if even only for a few hours.

"He'll take you and pick you up from school in the Mercedes. Tinted windows," she explained.

"Yeah..."

Sitting up quickly, Alice crossed her legs once again and grinned down at me. "Lets paint each others toe-nails. Or 'play truth or dare'!"

Scoffing, I eyed my friend like she was crazy. "It's 3 in the morning!"

"What's your point?"

"Alice," I whined, pulling a pillow out from my head and laying it across my face. I didn't even feel it slip from my grasp before it was halfway across the room, landing with a soft thud.

"We can talk then."

"About...?"

She thought for a moment before suggesting, "clothes?" I gagged, my mouth turning down. "Make-up? Hair?" When I continued to look repulsed she rolled her eyes and demanded, "than what do you suggest?"

"Sleep."

"Nope. Next."

Sighing deeply then growling with frustration, I sat up finally, crossing my legs and eyeing the annoying dark-haired girl sitting beside me. "Will you leave me alone afterwards?"

"Make it juicy." Alice grinned wickedly, rubbing her hands together like a demented cannibal eying a tasty victim; which in a way she was.

"Fine," I muttered in agreement, reaching for another pillow to hold in my lap. The overly-large pillow seemed to help my resolve as I contemplated telling Alice much more than she needed to know. And much, much more than Edward would be happy with her knowing.

"I, uh, well myself and Edward, had a interesting conversation today," I started, looking downward, already feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

"About..." she prodded me, leaning forward some.

Rolling my eyes, I felt like flinging myself backwards as I told her, my voice low, "sex."

"Oh my gawd!" Alice exclaimed. "Are you two-"

"No!" I nearly yelled, knowing where her question was going. "We just talked about it!"

"Oh..." She backed down some. Looking confused, she simply asked after a beat, "why not?"

I thought about asking her why she didn't look and see for herself but decided not to, not wanting to hurt her feelings. She was obviously trying to be polite by steering clear of those kinds of visions.

"He's afraid of hurting me," I told her instead. "He doesn't think it would work...like it should."

"Well, that's just ridiculous. We're still men and woman. He has a peni-"

"Alice!" I squealed, burring my face down in the pillow on my lap.

Laughing, she just waved her hand in my direction. "Well, he does. Besides, he is head-over-heels in love and very much attracted. The way he feels when he looks at you..."

I peeked an eye out at that. "What are you talking about?"

Grinning, Alice looked at the door before scooting in closer, making me wonder quickly who might be within hearing range. But that thought was quickly shoved aside when she told me, whispering, "Jasper told me that Edward's attraction for you nearly bowls him over at times."

"What?!" I could feel my mouth hanging open.

She nodded, adding in a rushed and giddy voice, obviously loving our gossip session, "the first time you came by, when we stopped up here and you two where on the sofa," I nodded, knowing exactly when she was speaking of, "Jasper told me later that night that Edward feelings were downright lustful as he pinned you down."

"Even back then?" I exclaimed, making sure to keep my voice low.

Alice nodded. "You seem to forget that he had been watching you since you first arrived in Forks, Bella. He'd had plenty of time to decide what he wanted."

I scoffed in awe and leaned back, taking my pillow with me as I rested against the iron headboard of the bed, but instantly froze.

If Jasper felt Edward's feelings...

My face must have shown my horror cause Alice's brow crinkled. "What's wrong? Are you upset cause Edward wants to be intimate?"

"No," I blurted, looking at her like she was nuts. "I want tha-" I stopped mid sentence and smacked myself in the forehead.

"I knew it," Alice dished, her voice relishing everything I said.

"This conversation is not happening," I said to myself, rolling onto my side and burring my face down into the pillow.

"Bella...stop hiding. Now tell me what's wrong."

"Alice...please don't make me say it..." I groaned.

"Say what?" she asked. When I didn't respond fast enough for her she added, "whatever it is, I probably already know it so just get over yourself."

Sending her a evil glare, I picked my head up slightly. "If that's the case, then why do I have to say it?"

"It's healthy to talk about this stuff," she explained. "Esme has never shied away about talking with us about sexual experiences."

"Not helping any!"

Sighing deeply, Alice got up on her knees and crawled closer. "Bella...is there anyone else you would rather want to talk about this stuff with?"

Weighing my options, I shook my head no reluntulently. I could never talk this opening about it with Edward cause it was about him. Charlie would have a heart-attack if I mentioned sex and Edward in the same conversation, and Renee would just start her speech about every woman's journey once again. And just the thought of going to Jessica and having her blab to the whole school sent a chill down her spine. And Jacob...Jacob was just not an option.

Plus Alice was closer than anyone to what my subject was about...

"Fine," I muttered. Taking in a deep breath, I asked quickly, my words rushing together, "has Jasper every said if he feels my attraction for Edward?"

Alice was obviously hiding back a grin. "No, he's never mentioned it to me. But he has said you two love each other much more than most people see or understand."

I nodded and looked down once more. I fiddled with the each of my pillow and Alice pondered out loud, "I get him wanting to be careful and all with you being human, but why not at least try? The amount of effort he uses to keep his passion at bay is just mind blowing..."

Shaking my head, I said finally, "he always seems like he's in such good control...well besides today." When Alice eagerly opened her mouth I held up a hand. "Nothing happened, like I said."

She pouted slightly. "Fine, alright, I'll leave it be."

"Thank you."

Sighing, she stood up, her slender body moving graceful enough to seem almost like she was dancing. "I guess I'll leave you be now, like I promised."

Surprised, I sat back up some. "Oh, ok." Truth be told, I was wide awake now and the thought of Alice actually leaving me alone hadn't crossed my mind for a while now.

"Besides," she added with a smile as she pranced toward the door. "I thought I'd give you some privacy to go find Jasper."

I just shook my head as she left the room, wondering why I even thought I might have a semblance of privacy around her. Of course she knew I had been planning on talking to Jasper about my birthday last year; she had probably even maneuvered it so Esme, Carlisle, and Edward left so it would happen. Taking her hint, I climbed out of the bed and briefly stopped to glance in the large mirror gracing Edward's bedroom wall, wasting time running my fingers through my dull hair.

Stop procrastinating, I ordered myself, steeling my resolve and walking determinedly into the hallway and down both flights of stairs. I headed into the living room slower, glancing around and finding it empty, but spying the double-doors at the back of the room, leading out onto the back deck.

The air was more than just slightly chilly when I stepped out onto the porch, taking me by surprise. I saw Jasper look up from his chair, a book open in his lap. I smiled in his direction hesitantly, not knowing how he would react to me being out here with him.

Seeing the other chairs surrounding an outdoor coffee table, I pointed to one and asked, "do you mind..."

Slightly shocked but none-the-less polite, Jasper closed his book - holding his spot with a finger. "No, be my guest."

Walking slowly, I decided to not push his tolerance and choose the seat directly across from him, avoiding the right right beside his. When I sat down and robbed my arms to warm them up slightly, Jasper put down his book and leaned forward, catching me off guard by lifting the top off of the coffee table, revealing it to be a portable fire-pit. A few moments later he had a small fire started, the heat already reaching my chilled legs and arms.

"Thank you," I told him gently, touched by his action.

Jasper smiled in return. "I don't think Edward would appreciate it if I let you freeze to death."

"No, I guess he wouldn't," I joked back, sending him a grin also.

"You're nervous," he said after a minute of somewhat awkward silence, his eyes downward.

Opening my mouth, I assured him, "not because of you. Just about what I want to say." Jasper seemed to believe that and nodded, giving me his full attention. Wiping my hands on my knees, I sighed and said, "Esme told me you still feel guilty over my birthday."

Jasper was almost as well-practiced as Edward was with concealing his feelings but I noticed he sat up straighter as my words sunk in. Before he could say anything I rushed on.

"I just want you to know what I have never blamed you for anything that night Jasper. I know you would never intentionally hurt me."

Smiling ruefully, Jasper crossed his long left leg over his right knee, glancing back down at his book. "Not all mistakes are made on purpose."

I sighed sadly, my words soft as I added, "and most mistakes are forgiven."

"Yes, most," he agreed.

Getting an idea, I sat up some in my chair, tilting my head to the side slightly. "Do you remember the hotel room in Phoenix?"

"Of course," Jasper answered, his face slightly confused.

"I was never once frightened or uncomfortable with being there with you. I knew you had my best intentions at heart; you and Alice kept me alive, even though I did everything to make that task difficult," I added, smiling slightly.

"That you did." Jasper smiled also, sharing a knowing look with me.

"Plus look at how long you spent in the car with me on the way to Phoenix. You handled that just fine."

"It was a true test of my willpower," Jasper admitted softly, so low I barely heard him. "The amount of times I thought of sinking my teeth into your neck..."

The deep amount of guilt in his voice made my heart swell for him, no matter that he was just speaking of trying to kill me; all that mattered was the fact that he hadn't, that he had resisted.

"But you didn't. Don't you see that Jasper? You were the one who made me believe I belonged here," I told him, my voice filled with emotion. I had never told him how much his words that night, the night I ran with them, meant to me. He had told me I was worth it, I was worth his family fighting to keep me safe and alive.

"I trust you,"I stressed finally. "There is no need for any guilt between us."

After a moment, Jasper nodded in agreement. "I will try my best." His voice still seemed heavy with unsaid feelings but I knew he would keep to his word - he would try.

"That's all I ask," I said happily, doing my best Alice impersonation, earning a slight laugh from Jasper. It wasn't as light-hearted as I would have liked but it was a start.

Looking serious once more, he told me, "you're a good friend to Alice." He seemed to ponder his words for a moment before adding, "you make her happy, and that makes me happy."

"I love her," I said simply, shrugging my shoulders like it was a given. "Besides, she didn't give me much choice."

"She tends to be pushy like that," he confided in me, smirking.

I laughed and leaned back in my seat, feeling quite at ease now that I had said what I needed to. Nodding toward the book in his lap, I asked, "any good?" When he held up the thick tomb, I read the title, slightly dazed. "'Critical Theory Since Plato'. Wow. That sounds...interesting."

Jasper laughed at the expression on my face. Suddenly he stood up and blurred, racing into the house and back outside in less than a second, a new book in his hand. "This may be more your style."

I took the book from his outstretched hand, smiling when I saw the cover. "A Mid-summer Nights Dream."

Picking his own book up from his seat, he sat back down, reopening it. Settling in, I scooted my seat closer to the fire-pit and curled my feet up under my legs, starting to read with a small smile tugging at my lips.

"Bella, love..."

Hearing my personal Angel's sweet, velvety voice, I stirred slightly.

"Wake up, sweetheart."

Stretching slightly, I opened my eyes to the most beautiful image. Smiling up at his warm eyes, I moaned slightly. "Hi..."

"Hi," Edward said back, his grin wide. "You fell asleep outside, Bella. You're going to catch cold," he added, his tone slightly chiding. "You should be in bed asleep."

Sitting up, I glanced around, noting I was still curled up in the chair on the back deck, my book forgotten in my lap. The sun was just barely starting to break across the tree tops. "Where's Jasper?" I asked, seeing his seat empty.

"He went with Esme and Alice."

I was about to ask where they went when Edward scooped me up into his arms for the second time as of recently and headed inside, going up the first flight of stairs.

Sighing deeply, I nuzzled my face into the crook of his neck. "A girl could get used to this, you know."

"So could I; so could I," Edward whispered back, placing a kiss on the top of my head.

So...I threw a little 'hidden treasure' in this chapter - think of this as an Easter egg hunt ;) Whoever finds it gets a special sneak preview of the next chapter before I post it! (I know, not a great prize but it's all I got)

So, here is the hint : Meg Cabot.

Happy hunting! LoL

Melissa