A/N: Two crappy updates in ONE week…that's a new one for me…I think. Anywho, enjoy! Will try to update again before Christmas.

DISCLAIMER: I (sniff sniff) don't (cough cough) own (sob sob) Twilight. There, you happy? (full waterworks)

MATCH MADE IN HELL

CHAPTER TEN : THE DATE BETWEEN B AND E

Previously:

The security let him in, and in a few moments, he was right in front of our front door.

I walked out, my heart hammering away in my chest.

BPOV

He was out of the car in a flash, walking up the front door steps.

"Hi, Bella," He flashed me an un-expected grin and reached out for my hand. I gave it to him and tried to smile back. Thankfully, I managed a little grin.

"Hi, Edward." I think I surprised both of us by the confidence in my voice.

He led me to the passenger seat and opened the door for me. I loved every single moment of it. Esme was very particular about her children's manners, and so each and every one of them were perfect gentlemen…even Emmett. Of course, the same couldn't be said for Alice, since a) she wasn't a gentleman and b) Alice was way too hyperactive to learn proper manners from the previous century.

Edward climbed into the seat next to mine and started the engine. In a few seconds, we were on our way to Port Angeles. I kept my eyes down, out of habit, but then chanced a glance at the speed-o-meter, which read well over a hundred. My eyes darted back to my hands.

"Still can't handle the speed limit?" I joked weakly.

"Still can't handle the speed?" He shot back.

We glanced at each other and burst out laughing. Suddenly, I couldn't even remember why I had been so freaked out. This was just like high school, when Edward would save me from Alice and we'd drive around aimlessly. Sure, things were different now, and there was the tiny little fact that I was in love with him…but that shouldn't have stopped me from spending time with one of my best friends.

If only things were so simple…but of course, they weren't. Because at that precise moment, both of our phones rang at the exact same moment.

"Alice." Edward groaned.

"Gossip Girl." I corrected him. His expression was one he often wore when confused. "I knew she'd have her people in front of my house." I explained. True to my words, when I opened the text from Gossip Girl, there was a series of pictures of Edward and I. By this time, he'd stopped at the corner of the road to read the text with me.

Gossip Girl here.

Our much-awaited date between BS and EC has finally arrived! B certainly seems friendly enough, and E is oh-so-charming. But will the date run smoothly? Or will the UES find a way to break up our favorite new item? You know that I'll be the first to find out…and you'll be the second, because everyone knows I just can't keep a good, juicy secret to myself.

You know you love me.

Xoxo,

Gossip Girl.

I groaned. "Why can't she just fucking leave us alone?!"

I could tell that Edward was shocked by my sudden outburst, but he tried to calm me down. He rubbed my back soothingly, and murmured, "Calm down, love." That really didn't help with the calming process.

We both grew incredibly still after that…slip-up.

"Edward," I finally said after a few moments. "What did you just call me?" My voice was neutral, emotionless, but my heart was incredibly eager.

Moments, though they seemed like hours, days, passed before he repeated himself. "Love."

I studied his face…his eyes were shining, and though I'd tried to lie to myself before, the emotion in them was blindingly obvious and un-deniable. Edward, my best friend, my first crush, the man I'm in love with, looked at me with love in his eyes. And I looked at him like that too.

"Say it again." I pleaded.

"Love." He grinned. I breathed.

"Again." I demanded, louder.

"Love." He was smiling his irresistible crooked grin and his eyes were sparkling.

"Again."

"Love love love. I love you, Bella." He murmured the last part, and then leaned in to kiss me.

It was nothing like the heated, short kisses I'd had. This one was filled with both love and passion, unlike the others. He pressed his soft lips to mine, and asked for permission. I pulled him in closer, my hands grabbing fistfuls of his beautiful hair, and basically attacked him with my tongue. He returned the…favor, just as eagerly. We kept going until we had to re-surface for air.

We were both panting, gasping for air, but he kept me in his arms, and kissed my hair. I could tell that he was smiling- his lips were curved up.

"You know," He started, breaking the quietness. "I've wanted to do that for a long time." There was a tone of longing in his statement.

"Me too." I said softly, blushing.

"I love you." He said suddenly. "Have for a long time. Even before high school." He admitted. That caught me off guard.

"Really?" I said, my left eyebrow arched. He nodded. "Since when?" I questioned.

"Since the day I met you." He grinned.

"Wow." I said jokingly. "Now, fess up, Cullen, when?"

He seemed to concentrate for a while. "Summer, when we were both 9. I told you I had cooties, remember?" I nodded, grinning. "And you weren't worried at all. You even took care of me." His voice was soft, loving.

"And that's how I fell in love with your mom, kids." He said in a deep voice. I giggled.

"I'm serious, Bella. I really am." He said in his normal, charming voice. "I love you."

"And I love you too."

He kissed me again, and this kiss was even better than the last. I was dimly aware of a ringing sound-a new message-but I really couldn't be bothered…until I heard the first few lines of Lady Gaga's Fashion. I broke off the kiss abruptly. Edward kept looking at me with sad eyes. "Serena." I said as means of explanation. I dove for my purse, which had somehow ended up in the back seat, and fished out my cell.

"What's up?" I said, catching a breath.

"Oh, nothing, except the entire Upper East Side just witnessed your heavy make-out session with Edward Cullen!" Her voice had started out light, but had turned into a shriek after the first few words.

"No." I was in denial. And let me tell you, denial isn't just a word, it's a river in Egypt. (randomness! )

"Yes."

"What's wrong, love?" Edward had been playing with a strand of my hair then entire conversation, until I had tensed up. I was in shock…I couldn't even answer him. I could hear Serena calling me…but I couldn't answer. Finally, Edward just took my cell and placed me in his lap.

"Yes, this is Edward. Oh, nice to finally talk to you, Serena. I see…what?!" Edward had tensed up as well.

That's when it clicked. The ringing I hadn't been bothered to answer earlier…"Loudspeaker," I mouthed. Edward put Serena on loudspeaker.

"Guys? Guys? Okay, so you're in shock, but hey, I've done worse, remember?" She said lightly, trying to help us.

I snatched the phone from Edward and turned off the loudspeaker. "Spare me, S. I'm really not in the mood to hear about your sex tape that Gossip Girl somehow got her hands on." Beside me, Edward let out a strangled laugh. I grinned at him.

"Ouch, that hurt, B." Serena joked. "Anyway, it wasn't even a video, so chill. Just a few…very high-resolution pics. Oh, and Charlie might have called me and sounded like he was having an aneurism." Her voice trailed off toward the end.

"Oh God. S, I've gotta go, but I'll call you and Blair later, ok? We'll talk about next week."

"Okay. But remember Bells, you know we love you." Serena said before hanging up. I smiled at that before I turned to face Edward.

"Could you please take me home?" I said in a soft voice. Pain flashed across his beautiful features. "No, Edward, I didn't mean it like that! I don't regret just now at all." I said hurriedly. He breathed a sigh of relief. "I just need to face Charlie."

Edward turned around immediately but kept to the speed limit, in no particular hurry to face my Dad. I wasn't looking forward to it either.

"So," he kept his voice light. "What's next week?"

Oh crap. I couldn't exactly tell him that I'd been planning to run away after our sure-to-be-a-disaster-date…especially since it wasn't such a disaster after all.

"Oh, the girls and I are just taking some girl time, you know…"I said lightly, as if it was a normal routine for us to take off in the middle of summer.

"Oh." He said. I could hear that he was disappointed. My heart soared at the thought that he wouldn't be comfortable to be away from me either.

"You could join us…" I suggested.

"I thought it was girl time." His voice was amused.

"Mm-hmm…but Em and Jazz will probably tag along with Rose and Ali, and God knows Chuck won't let Blair out of his sight. Same goes for Dan and Serena." I said, smiling.

"And why is that?" He seemed genuinely curious.

"Because Chuck…well, it's not like he doesn't trust us to keep B in line, he just can't trust himself to relax without her. Blair's got him tied around her little ruby-adorned finger." I joked, making a reference to the little ruby ring Blair always wore.

"And Serena?" He asked.

"Well...let's just say Dan and Serena are like two little love-birds…they can't go without seeing each other…when they're together, at least." This caught his attention, and he nodded for me to go on. "They have an on/off thing." I explained, not wanting to go into further details."

He smiled, sensing my reluctance to explain the Dan/Serena relationship history.

We talked a little, and joked a lot on the way home…until he pulled up to my drive.

"So…" He announced, cutting the engine.

"Do you need me as back-up?"

TA-DAA!!! SO, THAT WAS PRETTY LONG, IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF. HOPE YOU LIKE IT. AND THANKS FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL REVIEWS I RECEIVED, ESPECIALLY FROM A FEW ANOYMOUS READERS. I LOVE YOU ALL!

SO…I'M JUST ASKING…REALLY NICELY…REVIEW IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT???

THANKS!

XOXO,

NESS.