Chapter 10

BPOV

I grabbed my bag and wrenched open the door of the truck, hopping down surprisingly lithely, especially for me. I dropped my bag on the concrete between my feet and shrugged into my hoodie, yanking my hair out the back of it to blow freely around my shoulders. As I bent down to retrieve my bag off the ground a sudden voice nearly caused me to jump out of my skin.

"Bella!"

I had to steady myself on the side of the truck as my body startled sharply, barely avoiding toppling face first into the concrete, bent over as I was. From the tinkling giggle I heard behind me I had no doubt as to whom the voice belonged.

"You scared the shit out me Alice!" I shouted as I whipped around. I had meant it to sound stern but it came out as more of a shrill scream. I think I may have even stomped my foot as I turned around to face the evil pixie. Alice was predictably not impressed, just smirking up at me over the top of the very large Starbucks cup she had both hands wrapped around. We locked eyes and it became a test of wills. I put my hands on my hips and tried to look intimidating. She stuck her tongue out of the corner of her mouth and quirked an eyebrow. I could feel the corners of my mouth twitching without my permission and I knew I was going to crack first. My concentration was then completely broken by a movement behind Alice. I flicked my eyes over her shoulder to finally notice Edward standing just behind and to the left of Alice, a small paper cup in his outstretched hand. I took the cup but cocked to my head at him in question.

"I figured hot chocolate was a safe bet, since I don't know how you like your coffee. Just let me know and I can bring you whatever you want tomorrow." He smiled that crooked smile and I felt my own smile spread across my face in response.

"Thanks, really, but you didn't have to go out your way for me." I took a sip from the cup and tried very hard not to let my eyes roll back in my head.

Chocolate and whipped cream heaven. Where have you been all my life?

Edward let out a little chuckle and sipped his own coffee. "Don't worry, it's no trouble, we go almost every morning. Alice is a terror without her morning fix."

"Thank God this town has a Starbucks." I heard in a muffled voice from Alice's direction. I looked at her and she still had a death grip on the oversized cup, her lips suctioned to the rim. She gave a small smile, as much as she could with her lips still attached.

"I'm sure they could set up some kind of intravenous delivery system for you. Might be faster." I snarked at her as I continued to sip my own chocolatey goodness.

"But it tastes sooo good." She practically moaned around the cup, as if it would cease to be if she relinquished her contact with it. I just shook my head and turned back toward Edward who had been standing and watching our little exchange.

"Do you really think that's wise, giving her caffeine? She vibrates without it you know?"

He just smiled and shook his head. "See, that's the thing. Coffee calms her down, helps her focus. I always knew she was a freak of nature but now I have scientific proof. Ow!" His head snapped forward and he shot an irritated look at Alice. She just looked back at him with wide eyes. I never even saw her hand leave her cup. I raised my hand to my mouth to hide my giggle as Alice shot me a wink.

"Ok kids, as much as I'm enjoying this brother/sister lovefest we'd better get inside before we're late."

We all turned and started walking toward the school, Alice skipping ahead while Edward bent to retrieve my backpack from the ground and slung it over his own shoulder. When I gave him a questioning look he just smiled that beautiful crooked smile and kept walking. We caught up to Alice as she stood bouncing impatiently by the doors and the two of them flanked me as we walked inside.

I noticed people looking at us in the halls and remembered that I wasn't wearing my hood up like I normally would be. I felt exposed, like everyone was eviscerating me with their eyes. I stiffened immediately, turning my eyes to the floor, wanting so desperately to simply duck my head and let my hood swallow me again. My fingers actually twitched inside my sleeves, my body aching to pull it up over my head and obscure me from their prying eyes. I almost gave in, hands in the air on their way to the thin piece of cotton that would put me back into anonymity when I felt warmth spreading across my back. My eyes snapped up and to my left where Edward walked at my side. He looked down at me with a closed mouthed smile and kind eyes. I could feel his fingers splayed against the small of my back, gentle pressure urging me forward. I looked to Alice on my right, panic surely etched across my face from the way her brow furrowed.

"What's wrong Bella?" I looked back at the sea of faces and it was if I could feel the heat of their stares on my face.

"They can see me." I could feel as well as hear the tremor in my voice. Alice took a sweeping look across the people in the hall and turned back to me with a look of determination as she linked her arm through mine.

"No Bella, they don't." she said. I looked at her, confused, while she straightened her spine and lifted her chin. She set her determined gaze back on the hallway and drew in a deep breath. "They see US."

Over the next few weeks we fell into a comfortable routine. Every morning Edward and Alice would meet me at my truck with my now requisite cup of chocolate heaven and we would talk before walking into school. They would walk me to my first class, twin pillars of strength at my side, and then either Edward or Alice would usually be there to walk me to my other classes. Alice and I would whisper and pass notes during Trig, narrowly missing getting caught more than a few times. I would sit with both of them at lunch and then Edward would walk with me to both Biology and Gym. I laughed more in those few weeks than I had in years.

Alice was so great, full of energy and always knew how to make feel better when I was having an off day. She was always touching me, hugging me or dragging me around with her arm linked through mine but she still felt like anyone else. I had acclimated to it and was proud that I didn't flinch away anymore. She didn't nag me about my wardrobe, although she did raise an eyebrow when I wore my "Silence is Golden, Duct Tape is Silver" t-shirt. Edward didn't stop laughing about that all day.

Edward.

He was still a puzzle to me. He was so sweet, protecting me when I was able to go back to Gym class and would often keep a steadying hand on my arm or the small of my back when we walked in the halls. I was still perplexed as to why I could feel the heat of his hand on me when I couldn't feel anyone else. So far he had only touched me through clothes and I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he touched my bare skin. Unfortunately, I was just too scared to try and find out.

Alice had been telling me more about her family and I listened with rapt attention whenever she did, eager to live vicariously through her. Of course I had already met her father Carlisle. Alice and Edward told me stories of their days living in Seattle and Chicago, how Carlisle would donate his time to women's shelters and make his children donate their time as well. They told me about when they were young and living in New York with their mother Esme while Carlisle was in South America working with Doctors without Borders. I couldn't believe how many places they had lived or visited and all the things they'd seen. They told me about Esme, how she had been a housewife most of their lives but was now starting her interior design business, now that her children were old enough to take care of themselves. It was a little bittersweet to hear about their mother and the obvious affection with which they spoke of her. I hadn't told Alice about Renee so she didn't understand why I would get sad during those stories. Edward would always notice my pained expressions and quickly change the subject.

The funniest childhood stories would usually involve their older brother Emmett. I wasn't sure if I could believe everything they said about him. It seemed impossible that any one person could get in as much trouble as that man, but the amusement they told the stories with had me captivated. Emmett was apparently still living in Seattle with his wife Rosalie and their little girl Lily. He and Rosalie owned a garage, restoring vintage cars and tricking out new ones. Carlisle had funded their venture shortly after they graduated high school and they were apparently doing very well.

Talking about Seattle usually brought up the subject of Jasper, Alice's boyfriend of two years. Edward would roll his eyes whenever Alice would start talking about him, and she would get even more animated. Her eyes would light up and her smile would grow even more bright, which I had thought was impossible.

Jasper was a history major at the University of Washington, specializing in the Civil War. According to Alice, he was absolutely brilliant and amazing and wonderful and had (said while Edward was getting another Coke from the machine) "the yummiest Texan accent and most fuckhot body". Her words, not mine. Honestly, talking about Jasper made me a little envious, since I'd never had a boyfriend or even a boy I liked. Well, until now, and I wasn't sure what to do about it. I knew that I liked Edward, and that first day it had seemed that he liked me but in the weeks after he had been different. He was a great friend, always attentive and caring but he never gave any indication that he thought of me as anything more than that. It was becoming thoroughly exasperating.

As January bled into February Alice started bringing up going to her house again. I kept making excuses but was starting to run out of plausible ones. I knew that it wasn't something I could avoid forever, and I didn't really want to. I wanted to be a normal girl, hanging out with my friends, but that would involve bringing it up to Charlie and I just wasn't ready to do that yet. I didn't want him to burst my bubble of happiness. The Monday before Valentine's Day I knew that my time had run out.

Edward and I were sitting at our usual lunch table discussing our upcoming Biology test when she slid into the seat next to me.

"Bella" she trilled in her best singsong voice, "What are you doing this weekend?"

"Um…" I was trying very hard to come up with an excuse but coming up blank.

"You're coming to our house Friday, that's what. We're gonna have a sleepover!" She smiled triumphantly at me.

"Alice, I don't know. Isn't Valentine's Day on Saturday?"

"Exactly Bella, that's why you're coming on Friday." She rolled her eyes in exasperation before she continued. "Jasper's coming down and you finally get to meet him. It's perfect!" She looked so excited and I knew how much it meant to her for me to meet him. I looked into her emerald puppy dog eyes and felt myself cave.

"Ok Alice, I'll see if I can go."

"Yay!" She started clapping her hands and bouncing in her chair and I knew that no matter what I had to deal with from Charlie, it was worth it if I could make her this happy. "So do you have any plans for Valentine's Day Bella? Do you have a date or anything?" Edward starting choking on his drink beside me and I took that as an opportunity to avoid her question and turned to Edward, patting him awkwardly on the back until he stopped sputtering. Edward's reaction peaked my interest and made me think about Alice's obsession with my romantic life over the past few weeks.

She had become inordinately interested in my dating habits, or lack thereof. She asked endless questions: Are there any boys you like right now? What kind of boys do you like? What's your idea of a perfect date? The list went on and one. Frankly if I didn't know better I would have thought she wanted to date me. I knew that Alice just wanted me to have someone as great as she did, but I hoped she didn't try to set me up with anyone. I really, really didn't want to be anyone's Valentine's Day pity date. With that in mind I turned back to her.

"Why Alice? You ready to ditch Jasper and admit you're in love with me?" I tilted my head and batted my eyelashes at her.

"Aww Bella," she batted her eyes right back at me," why would I have to ditch Jasper? I'm sure he wouldn't mind adding a third to the party." She smirked at me and I fought hard, the corners of my mouth twitching feverishly, but then she arched her eyebrow and I broke, giggles erupting out of my mouth as I tried to stifle them with my hand. Alice was right there with me, snickering with her hand clamped over her mouth and her eyes squeezed shut. Edward suddenly stood up and walked swiftly away from the table.

I made Charlie's favorite dinner that night, steak and baked potatoes, and was pacing nervously in the kitchen when he walked in the door. I froze as soon as I heard the door open, like I did every day, and waited to see what kind of mood he was in. There was no yelling when he walked in, which I took as a good sign. I heard him hanging up his coat and his gun belt, then the heavy thuds of his boots hitting the floor one at a time. Finally he came into the kitchen and sat in his chair. I set his plate in front of him and sat down in my seat. He raised an eyebrow at me questioningly but then shrugged and started eating. I decided it was the best I could hope for and dove right in.

"Daddy." I waited while he raised his head to look at me. He set his fork down on his plate and swallowed.

"What do you want Bella?" I was startled that he would just come right out with that.

"What makes you think I want something Daddy?"

"Bella," he huffed a breath, his mustache fluttering, "I was married you know. I think I know when a woman is trying to butter me up. Now just say it."

I inwardly winced at his dismissive mention of his marriage and struggled to maintain eye contact under his heated gaze. I swallowed the massive lump in my throat and let out a shaky breath, but then remembered Alice's jubilant face and soldiered on.

"Daddy, my friend Alice asked me to stay at her house on Friday. I'd really like to go, so, could I? Please?" I bit my lip nervously as I waited for his answer. He crossed his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Who is this Alice?"

I had to contain my giddiness that he hadn't immediately said no or started screaming.

"It's Alice Cullen, Daddy. Her family moved here about a month ago? Her father is the new doctor at the hospital."

He let out a grumbled "Hmmm" while he seemed to mull over my words. Finally he sat forward in his chair and I held my breath in anticipation.

"Fine, you can go." And he started eating again.

I let out a quiet "Thank you" and picked up my own knife and fork, although I was too excited to really eat. I couldn't believe he had said yes. Charlie didn't say another word as he ate his dinner and then left the table. I cleaned up the dishes quickly and ran up to my room. I couldn't wait for Friday.

Alice's reaction to my news was as exuberant as I thought it would be. She immediately started inundating me with her plans for the sleepover, barely pausing for breath while Edward walked beside us silently. From the detail of her plans I could tell that she had been thinking about this for a long time. I was a little worried that she would forget about me once the time came and she had Jasper to distract her, but mostly I was just excited to get out of my house for a night.

The week seemed to fly by and before I knew it, it was Friday. I packed an overnight bag and brought it with me to school so I could go to Alice's right after. I had rushed that morning, such was my excitement to get to school, so my hair was a damp mess pulled back in a bun inside my hood. Even with Alice's encouragement I was still nearly debilitated with shyness at school and so my hood was still my ever constant companion.

I had just gotten out of my truck when I felt a tug and then air on the back of my neck. I turned around, fully expecting to see a grinning pixie behind a giant coffee cup but instead I was faced with a grinning Edward. I couldn't help the smile that broke across my face, but it's not like it was unusual. I smiled whenever I saw him.

"I bring you sustenance m'lady." He handed me my cup with a little bow, his crooked smirk still lighting up his face.

I gratefully took the cup of hot chocolate and sipped it before hugging it to my chest and bouncing awkwardly on the balls of my feet. Edward sipped his coffee and rubbed the back of his neck.

"So tonight's the night, huh? You and Ali, big sleepover?"

I nodded. "Alice seems pretty excited. I just hope she doesn't forget about me as soon as she sees Jasper."

Edward laughed and shook his head. "She's been planning this since the day she met you, no way she's letting you out of her sight until tomorrow." I let out a sigh of relief as a more serious look came over his face. "Besides, it's my house too you know. If she disappears for awhile, I'll still be there." I could feel the sincerity in his words but the intensity in his eyes unnerved me a little. In all my thoughts about that night I had somehow put it out of my mind that Edward would be there too. An unfamiliar feeling started spreading through my body and I had to look away.

I realized that this was the first time we had really been alone since that first day when Edward took me to the hospital and while we talked in the halls and lunch and class, but there were always people around. Right now, without the Alice buffer, the parking lot might as well have been deserted for all the comfort the milling students gave me. After a few tense minutes filled with nothing but drinking from paper cups Edward cocked his head to the side and looked at me.

"Aren't you cold?"

"What?"

"You," he cleared his throat and started again, "you always wear the hoodie but never an actual coat. Aren't you cold? I mean, it's February here and we aren't in Arizona."

I had to chuckle at him. "No, cold doesn't really affect me."

He "hmm'd"around his coffee cup and gazed out at the parking lot. It struck me then how late it was getting and I wondered where Alice could be.

"So…where's Alice?"

He ducked his head and laughed. I loved that sound.

"She'll be along. Jasper got in last night and he's driving her. I guess they wanted to get in some "alone time" without the prying ears of the parents." He used air quotes around "alone time" and I didn't even want to wonder about what they were doing. I just hoped they didn't get caught by Charlie, parked along some road in a state of undress. Just as I had that thought an unfamiliar black Mustang with darkly tinted windows pulled up beside us. I couldn't see inside with the tint but I didn't have to wait long before Alice popped out of the passenger seat looking flushed and pleasantly disheveled. I snickered quietly behind my cup as she straightened her shirt and slipped into her coat. A tall blond man emerged from the driver's side of the car and sauntered to her side, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. She looked even smaller next to him but still I could see how perfectly they fit together. She stared into his eyes for a moment before she looked at me and waved me over.

"Bella," she said reaching a hand out to pull me closer, "this is my Jasper." She looked up at him and he smiled at her, his eyes full of adoration. "Jasper," she looked back at me, "this is my Bella."

Jasper turned his warm blue eyes on me. "It's so nice to finally meet you Bella. Alice hasn't stopped talking about you since you met. It's nice to put a face to the stories."

I felt my face flame and Alice actually had the grace to look embarrassed before it passed and she reverted to her usual self. She turned her body into Jasper, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Ok honey, I've got to go in. I'll see you later." She stood on her tiptoes and he leaned down, meeting her in the middle with a sweet kiss. They didn't pull back right away, standing close together with their eyes closed and foreheads touching. The moment seemed more intimate than the kiss and I looked away. A few seconds later I heard them move and looked back to see Jasper lift Alice's hand to his mouth and kiss the back of it. "I'll be counting the minutes, darlin." He released her hand and walked back to the driver's side of the car, opening the door before he looked up and smiled at me. "A pleasure to meet you Bella. Edward." With a nod in Edward's direction he climbed into the car and drove away. Alice stood with a slightly dazed expression until we couldn't see him anymore. She then heaved a pensive sigh and turned her glazed eyes back to me.

"Isn't he great?" I nodded and tried to keep the condescending smile off my face but failed miserably. Alice was still in her Jasper haze and I don't think she even saw me as I put an arm around her shoulders and ushered her toward the school.

I dropped Alice off at her class and walked slowly to study hall. My mind was as cloudy as the sky outside. I couldn't stop thinking about the scene from the parking lot.

Love like that is the reason they write love stories.

I couldn't stop the wistful thoughts welling up inside of me. I couldn't deny it anymore, I wanted what Alice had. I wanted someone to love, someone who would look at me like I was precious, like how Jasper had looked at Alice. I wanted to feel safe and needed and drunk off another's presence.

I want Edward.

Ok, where did that come from? He's my friend, and my best friend's brother. He doesn't see me that way and I don't see him that way.

Like hell you don't.

Great, now I'm arguing with myself. One of the first signs of mental illness is talking to yourself and actually answering.

That only counts if you do it out loud.

Oh right, that makes everything better.

I was saved from the rest of my mental diatribe by the ringing of the bell. The rest of the day passed in a haze. I listened to Alice ramble on about her plans for the evening but I wasn't really there. I was stuck in my head and the feelings that I was having. I finally had to admit, if only to myself, that I liked Edward as more than a friend. The problem I was facing now was what to do about it. Edward was beautiful and amazing and I knew there was no way that he saw me as anything more than his friend. The thought caused the bottom to drop out of my stomach.