Ok, so I was wondering whether you all could possibly spend 3 seconds of your time writing me a small review after reading this. My highest number of reviews for a single chapter is 9… which is rather upsetting.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Chapter 10

Alice

BPOV

I woke with an aching back. I completely forgot how uncomfortable this mattress was. I glanced at the alarm clock on my bedside table. I can't believe it is still sitting there ticking away. Charlie must have changed the long-dead batteries before I came. At any rate, it was 10 am sharp, and Alice would be arriving in her private jet at Seattle airport around 2pm, then of course she had the hour drive down here to Forks.

I got dressed in my faded blue jeans and a navy blue blouse. I brushed my bed hair as best I could, and went downstairs to find Charlie reading the newspaper whilst eating a bowl of cereal.

"Why do you read the newspaper, Dad? You know it only ticks you off". Being a cop, my Dad would criticize any news that concerned the police force. If there was an article on vandalism he could go on for days at the lack of attention the police were paying. Sometimes it was rather irritating.

"Bella, it may annoy me when other precincts aren't doing their jobs in other towns, but it does help to know what is going on in the world". I smiled, opening the faded, yellow kitchen cupboard. My mother had painted them before I was born, so she said, to try and brighten up the kitchen. I ate my cereal in silence, not feeling the need to start a conversation with Charlie. We didn't find silence awkward.

I headed out the door to my truck as soon as I had informed Charlie of my day's plan, and headed straight for Edward's house. I remembered the route as easily as if I had been going there for years. I walked up the cobblestone path and knocked firmly on the white front door. Edward answered within seconds.

"I've been waiting for you. Come on in, Jasper and I have a surprise for you"

"That sounds dangerous. Will I like it?"

"Would I give you a surprise you wouldn't like?"

"I'll take that as a yes. Where is it then? Where is my surprise?" He pointed to the door to the living room. I opened it cautiously and saw to my disbelief and delight, Rose and Emmett sitting on the couch. Emmett beamed widely when he saw my face light up at the sight of them and Rose jumped from her seat and ran to hug me. I was overwhelmed seeing all my friends all I one place again.

"You did this, you invited them?" I turned to look at Edward and he smiled at me with my favourite crooked smile and said simply,

"Well, since you are only here 'til Tuesday and Alice was coming today, I thought I may as well invite the other 2 of our little clan. I really got the idea from Dad, when he said he hadn't seen Emmett for a while, and I thought it might be nice for us all to be together".

Rose released me and I practically pranced across the room and threw my arms around Edward's neck and kissed him on the cheek.

"I took the late night flight from D.C. last night, much to the dismay of my mother whom I called from the airport, telling her I was going to be away for the weekend as a certain special someone needed me in Forks". She winked at me and returned to her previous position next to Emmett.

"And I caught a flight this morning from Texas. Did you know it is only 2 hours to get to Seattle from Texas… incredible how fast these planes go these days, isn't it?"

"I'm so glad you all came. Now we just have to wait for Alice then we are all together again. So, have you two kept in touch?"

"Oh yes. Emmett came over to D.C. to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. It was so romantic. He took me out to dinner and gave me a red rose". She and Emmett interlocked their fingers as they gazed into each others' eyes.

"It was so unlike him, but I loved every minute just the same".

"Yeah, who knew Emmett could be romantic?" At this -I have to admit- hilarious remark from Jasper, Emmett punched him on the arm, undoubtedly not to the full extent of his strength, but enough to get Jasper to say, "Ouch".

I suddenly realised I was just standing in the middle of the room, and stepped back to put my arm around Edward's waist. I hadn't actually said a proper 'hello' yet. It was as if he had read m mind, because he leaned down to whisper in my ear,

"Did I get a kiss hello?"

I whispered back teasing, "Did you want one?"

"You know I do". And without any thought about the fact that we weren't nearly alone, and his brother was present, he cupped my chin and kissed me lightly, brushing his lips against mine. I thought I was going to faint, my legs felt like jelly, incapable of holding me up. I took his arm trying to hold myself, though Edward just grinned, obviously not aware of the unbelievable power he had over me.

"Ehem… do you two want a room, or are you good?" Emmett said in an amused voice. I looked round to see Rose and Emmett chuckling and Jasper grimacing.

"Ed, would you mind not doing that in front of your brother, it grosses me out"

"Ok, the next time you suck Alice's face off, I'll remind you what you just said"

"Edward, that is not nice. I'm sorry if we made you uncomfortable Jasper, it's just… I'm leaving in a few days, and he wanted a kiss hello"

"It's ok Bells, I know you don't have long, and you can't get up here as often as Alice can", he then glared at Edward, "And I will have you know that I have never had any complaints about my kissing techniques, thank you very much. I don't know what's wrong with me. For some reason I can sense everyone's emotions and they're affecting me. The happiness coming of the 4 of you are kind of making me jealous really… I'm sure it will stop when Alice gets here"

"Then you're in luck, I'm here", and in flew Alice who ran straight into Jasper's arms and began kissing him with a fierce passion.

"Hypocrite" Edward mumbled into my ear.

"Oh hush, they're in love. Leave them be", I tapped his arm playfully, "Now we can kiss in public too and he can't say anything". I giggled as I heard what I had just said, though it was true, I never thought I could be so open with my thoughts. A few years ago I would never have said something like that out loud. Edward was affecting me.

Once Alice had decided that her welcome was long enough, she turned and screamed at the sight of Emmett, Rosalie and me.

"What are you all doing here? Wow, it's the six of us together again. What are we going to do?"

"Well, down at the reservation there is a place called First Beach. We could go if you wanted, I mean, we shouldn't waste the first good day we've had in months inside, do we?"

"That's a great idea!" Alice was very excited and hyper… some things never change. I didn't realise how much I missed her.

We all agreed that First beach was a good place to spend the day, so we piled into my truck, the guys sat in the open back of my truck A/N Bella's truck is like in the film- with a 'pick up' bit at the back. Rose and Alice sat next to me and we chattered about meaningless information and caught up.

On arrival, we saw some of the local kids. I knew a few, but vaguely from my summers in Forks with Charlie. My best friend from my childhood, Jacob Black strolled up with a smile plastered across his face. He was actually a year and a half younger than us, but made up for it as he was already nearly six foot tall.

"Isabella Marie Swan, why is it that it has been years since we last talked?"

"I don't know Jake, I guess I'm too cool for you now". He chuckled and pulled my into a bone-crushing bear hug.

"God I've missed you Bells. So what's new?"

"I've missed you too, Jake. Not much… mom got married again, you know, boring stuff. Oh, and I got kicked out of baseball camp last year for sneaking around after lights out"

"You rebel" he scoffed, "are you still as good as you were when we were kids?"

"We still are kids Jake, and no… I'm better". We laughed together, only a cough from behind me brought me back to Earth as I remembered the people I had actually come here with.

"God, guys I'm sorry, Jake, this is Alice, her boyfriend Jasper, Emmett and his girlfriend Rosalie, and Jasper's brother and my boyfriend Edward". I pointed everyone out in turn and clasped Edward's hand after introducing him. We interlocked our fingers and he gently rubbed my fingers with his thumb.

"Boyfriend, eh. You'd better look after my Bella, Edward; she's like a sister to me"

"I don't plan on hurting her Jacob"

"Of course not. Well it was nice meeting you all, I should get back to my friends, but it was great to see you again Bells"

"You too Jake" and he ran off back to his even taller, copper skinned friends.

He was so different to how I remembered him. He still had the same laughing eyes and goofy grin, but he was growing his hair longer. It hung just below his chin.

"I can't believe how long it's been since I've seen him"

"How do you know him?" Edward's voice almost had a demanding voice. I'm going to take that as a sign that he is threatened by Jake. Yep, that look just confirmed my suspicions. He's looking at me like I'm in trouble… like I'm his daughter and he has caught me doing drugs or something like that.

"Edward, I've told you before I used to come to Charlie's for the summer, right?"

"Yes, carry on", whoa, he is making this too much of a big deal.

"Well, Jake's dad Billy and my dad have been best friends forever, and when he saw I was so bored I could have blown my brains out, he and Billy shoved the two of us together and we've been friends ever since. I don't see what the big deal is. He's like a brother to me"

"Ok. I thought he might have been an ex-boyfriend of yours". He looked so embarrassed that his pale, white cheeks went a little pink.

"No! He's fourteen Edward!"

"Oh", now he really was red.

"You are so cute when you're jealous", he looked away from me, obviously trying to save his ego, "Hey, look at me", he reluctantly looked directly into my eyes. I took his hand and placed it over my heart.

"You've got nothing to worry about. This is yours". I looked down to indicate that I meant my heart.

"Sorry, I just, I don't know, I was a little threatened"

"Don't worry about it. Now let's go play ball with our friends and enjoy the rest of today. Forget Jacob"

"Hear, hear", Emmett cheered.

"Sorry guys, let's go play football or something"

We spent the rest of the day messing around on the beach, playing childish games, burying Emmett in the sand and throwing Alice into the sea- much to her horror. Once it started getting dark, we began piling into the truck, ready to go home. I was about to open the driver side door when Edward pulled me away, leading me a metre or so out of earshot of the others.

"Look, I know we said we would forget Jacob, but"

"Edward, I thought we finished this". I was really pissed. Why can't guys let things go?

"Just answer me one question"

"One, then we drop this forever, agreed?"

"Agreed. Did you ever have anything more than friendship with him? Anything at all?"

"Well…" I didn't know how to tell him. Should I? It was so long ago. I don't know what to do…

A/N ok, my lovely readers, my next chapter will be up soon, but probably not 'til the day after tomorrow. PLEASE take 2 seconds and write even 1 word as a review, I would really appreciate it  aliceinwonderland and xavvi… your support means the world. xx