It's been a long time, eh? Distractions have been coming in bundles, and writer's block was a pain. I actually considered giving up on this story, but at the last minute changed my mind.

Disclaimer: All characters, plots, and settings related to Twilight are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended by the author.

Chapter Ten

Dinner at Six

I woke up early on Saturday. The sky was dark and still, an eerie silence hovering like an ongoing dream. Hard as I tried, I couldn't go back to sleep, so I made my way downstairs only to see Charlie by the door, all ready for an early start at fishing.

"Bells." He looked surprised to see me awake.

"Dad."

The moment was ill at ease, with the silence taunting us to speak. We were contemplative what to say. I made an effort to smile.

He cleared his throat, his eyes not meeting mine. "Um… I was just about to leave," he said.

I nodded.

"Do you… do you want to come along?" he asked reluctantly.

I was more than surprised by his invitation. It has been years since I joined him in his fishing trips down at La Push. That was the only thing we did together, and so when I stopped coming along with him, we haven't spent any more bonding time.

He waited for an answer, and finally met my gaze. His deep brown eyes, just like mine, seemed melancholic and hopeful. That was when I realized I wanted to say yes; I didn't want to see the disappointment I kept causing him for the past two years. I realized I missed spending time with him. I missed my dad.

But I couldn't stop the other thoughts that came rushing through my mind. Because as much as I wanted to be that daughter to him again, I didn't want to go back – back to the time when I was excited to drive to La Push every Saturday morning to be with Jacob. As irrational as that may seem, I couldn't stop myself from shying away from anything that would remind me of that time. I just didn't want to go back.

"I – I can't," I said, wincing as he took in my words. "You go ahead, dad. I'll just stay at home today."

He nodded, gave me a sad smile, and headed out of the door.

A strong wave of guilt washed through me, and in a second, I was behind him. "Dad," I said. "Maybe we could do something else, some other day?"

He seemed surprised for a second, and then he smiled, a genuine happy smile this time. His eyes were hopeful again. "Sure, Bells."

I smiled in return, the guilt slowly washing away. As he walked towards his cruiser with his tackle box, I called out, "Dad, be careful."

He grinned. "Always am."

I cooked breakfast that morning, surprising my mom when she finally walked into the kitchen. As we ate, my mind wandered to how to go on with the day. Since Tuesday afternoon when I drove Edward's car, I found myself wanting to do something entirely new, something exciting.

"Mom, do you want to do something together?" I asked, more than just wanting to spend the day with her. Renee had her own little share of excitement, and although I did get to take part of those experiences with her, I was never entirely willing. This time, though, I was taking the initiative.

"Well," she said. "We could have a marathon of that show where those kids in high school sing…"

That was not exactly what I had in mind. "Um… I was thinking of something more… different, and does not involve sitting on the couch."

She gave it a thought for a minute, before she jumped out of her seat and head straight upstairs. I knew I should worry then, but I was curious to see what she was up to. When she came back, bouncing with excitement, she handed me a pamphlet.

I should have worried. Renee, once again, has gone beyond my expectations. She wanted to try ballroom dancing. Ballroom dancing. I groaned. "Mom, you know I can't even walk across a flat surface without tripping!" I wailed. "I can't dance!"

"Oh, honey, it will be fun," she said. "Ms. Cope will be having sessions every weekend for couples, and I'm sure it won't be that difficult."

Ms. Cope? The front office receptionist of Forks High? I was busy imagining Ms. Cope with her red hair and glasses gliding along the dance floor in some glittery costume that I ignored my mother's mention of couples.

"You and Edward will be such a wonderful pair!"

That was when I had to put an end to this potentially dangerous asinine plan. No way would I embarrass and hurt myself through ballroom dancing, and I certainly wouldn't allow myself to kill Edward with my two left feet at the same time. "Mom, stop. I think ballroom dancing is a bit too much. Maybe we can try… some mild hiking?" Or maybe get a Volvo?

"Too much? Bella, back in my time, dancing in the arms of the man that you love is anything but too much. You kids are missing out on something."

I doubted that. Plus, it's not like guys my age don't dance; they do, although that usually involved getting almost naked among a crowd full of also almost-naked, sweaty, and over-hormonal people. Hmm. Maybe ballroom dancing might be the lesser of two evils. But then I didn't have to choose; I didn't have to dance at all.

"I think I'll pass," I said indisputably.

"Give it another thought," she urged. "We could just try the waltz. There's nothing more romantic and elegant than the classic waltz…"

Before I could give my own opinion on waltz, Renee has already wrapped herself inside her own dancing bubble. She rose from her seat, and with closed eyes, she started twirling around our small kitchen. She held her arms out, as if dancing with a phantom lover. I smiled at the sight. Typical Renee. After a moment, she stopped and giggled as she walked back to the table.

"Romantic, huh?" I teased her. "Did you and dad have your romance bloom on the dance floor?"

Her giggles suddenly stopped, and my smile slowly faltered.

"Well, we… he…" she stammered, her eyes not meeting mine. "You know your father…" She started cleaning up the dishes.

I was confused at first, until I realized what she meant. My intolerance of dancing and other physical activities could be attributed from my father, and that would mean that he and my mom surely have never danced. I looked at my mom, a recondite sadness on her face, and I wondered how it was like to be her. I was so much like my own father that I found it difficult to place myself in her shoes. How would it be like to be outgoing and playful and romantic when the man that you love hardly says more than a few words?

Alice called me that night, back in Seattle from her grandmother's. Of course, I let her talk first. She narrated stories of lemon meringue pies and vintage clothing and charming small town boys. I was happy just listening to her, but when she stopped talking minutes later, I knew it was my turn.

"Alice, I'm seeing this guy…" I hesitated telling her this.

"God, Bella! Just how many guys did your mom arranged you to? Is this, what, you're twentieth?"

I took that as an insult. Did she really think I would succumb myself with twenty blind dates? "Um… this is still the fourth."

"Fourth? Isn't that…"

"Yup," I confirmed before she could go on.

Her loud squeal went straight into my ear. "Bella! You've been seeing this guy for over a month?"

"Yeah, I guess." My voice was small, and I felt the heat slowly creeping on my cheeks. Alice couldn't see, but it was embarrassing all the same. I cleared my throat. "But it's not a big deal. It's just a casual thing," I added nonchalantly.

"Bella, you don't do the casual thing. Either you like him or not, and don't try to tell me you don't. A month for you is a milestone! You like the guy!"

"Okay, okay. I do like him," I said. That was the point, anyway, to convince her that I was in love. What else could I say? "He's nice, Alice…" I grimaced. Nice? Was that something a girl says about her boyfriend?

Alice laughed. "Of course he is! He is your boyfriend, after all, but give me some juicy details!"

Juicy details? "Um…" Jeez, my mind went completely blank. It just dawned on me that I knew very little about said boyfriend. "…he likes to read." That sounded like a question. I felt like a fool.

"Come on, Bella. I don't need that kind of details. Is he a good kisser? Is he gifted in… you know…?"

My mouth dropped at the query, although my mind was already replaying the one and only time we kissed. "Alice!"

She laughed again. "I bet you're blushing right now. I get it. No need to say the word."

A few minutes later when we were about to end the call, she said, "Too bad I couldn't set you up anymore with the guys I had in mind. I was actually looking forward to it, playing cupid!" She giggled at her own words.

We said goodbye, and when my room finally echoed silence, an idea came to mind. Playing cupid. I knew two people who needed a little push at romance. I may not know a lot about love in action, but there must be something I could do. After all, I was a living proof of their love.

I called Edward first thing Sunday morning. If I was going through with my plan, I needed an alibi.

He answered on the fourth ring. "Yeah?"

I obviously woke him up with the call; his voice was groggy from sleep. Guilty, I looked at the clock. It was half past eight. Hmm. He must be sleeping in. "Edward? It's Bella." I waited for a reply.

"And?" A hint of annoyance was evident in that one word.

I rolled my eyes. Right. "I'm sorry to be disrupting your sleep. I didn't know you would still be in bed at this time." I waited again for a reply, any indication for me to go on.

He murmured something I couldn't quite hear.

"Okay, well, I was just wondering… do you have any plans for tonight?"

No answer.

"Edward?"

"What? Yeah, yeah…"

"Oh." I couldn't help the disappointment that came with his answer, but that wouldn't stop me from my plans. "Um, will you do me a favor? I need you to pretend that we're going out for dinner tonight around six. That is if your mom asks you. Okay?"

"Hmm…"

I wasn't sure if he was completely awake at this point. "Edward? Dinner at six. Did you get it?"

"Dinner. Six. Yeah… sure," he grumbled.

Well, there wasn't anything more I could do about this. I let him go back to his sleep.

Prepping my mom for a romantic dinner with her husband should have been a simple task for anybody else, but not me. I, myself, have no clue what a romantic dinner entails. I didn't tell either of my parents, of course, and I tried not to give a clue to Renee as we gave ourselves some home spa treatments (well, she did as I just watched) after our weekly grocery shopping.

It was nearly six when everything was ready. The chicken potpie I prepared was sitting warm in the oven. Salad and bread were also ready. My mom has enjoyed having her face masked, her feet scrubbed, and her nails polished. I couldn't make her dress differently though, but that was fine. I doubt Charlie would either. All I could offer was a good meal and a few hours of alone time for the two of them.

I was in a hurry to leave the house, afraid my dad would arrive early. Just as I walked out of the door, I called out, "Mom, Edward just asked me out for dinner. I'll be back late." Then I dashed out straight to my truck. Better avoid questions than lie.

When I arrive at the local diner where I planned to spend the night, I realized I haven't brought anything with me – wallet, cell phone, iPod, a book to read – none. I mentally slapped myself at my own stupidity. I took a seat at one of the empty booths, feeling defeated.

I just hoped my mom would have a much better time than me.

Almost an hour later and I was like a dead rock on my seat. Even though the old man who owned the diner was kind enough to offer me food without payment, I declined. However, I couldn't stop myself from asking for a steaming cup of coffee to keep me occupied. It didn't help my current situation though; I was still bored to death, and was now suffering semi-severe hunger due to the caffeine intake. I was just planning to stay inside my truck when someone suddenly slid into the seat in front of me.

Edward.

And he had a scowl on his face.

I scowled back. What did I do wrong?

His brows furrowed further. "You called me early in the morning, set up a date, and then you bailed out on me?"

What? "What are you talking about? I thought you had plans."

"I thought you asked me out for dinner."

"But you had other plans!"

"You asked me out for dinner!"

I let out a huff of breath, still glowering at Edward. Aggravating man. I was about to open my mouth once again to continue our messed-up contestation when I realized I actually had company now. I smiled.

"Don't smile at me like that, Bella. Why didn't you wait for me at your house?" he asked, still scowling. "I went there just before six, but your mom said you already left. I tried to remember a place you might have mentioned when you called, but there's none. I tried calling you, texting you, called you again…"

His voice was getting louder and louder, his hand running through his hair often.

"…and it was getting dark, and we both had no idea where you are. You were supposed to wait for me…"

"Edward," I called out. He was getting out of control, which was quite a surprise. I didn't think this would affect him at all. I didn't even expect him to come. But I knew he has other plans, and that doesn't include keeping my lonely (and hungry and broke) ass company. "I thought you couldn't make it. I don't want to bother you if you have to be somewhere else."

He was speechless for a second, before he finally calmed down. He sank in his seat, and sighed. He opened his mouth to say something, but seemed to have changed his mind.

"Look, I'll be fine. I am fine. It's not like I'm in trouble. You don't have to be here. Go and have fun," I said with a smile. I told myself it wouldn't be so bad to go ahead with my plan and stay inside my truck for the rest of the evening.

"You do realize you're kicking me out of here again just like on our first date, don't you?" he asked as one of his brows rose.

"I'm not telling you to get lost; I'm actually doing you a favor. Go."

He shrugged. "It's cool. It's just Emmett and the guys. I doubt they'd even notice I wasn't there and really, what are you doing here all alone drinking coffee? Have you eaten? You look dead again. Come on, let's eat." And just like that he dismissed my sacrificial offer of letting him party with his friends.

I was about to retaliate on his comment on my supposedly lifeless look, but the invitation to eat made my mouth water. I picked up the menu, eager to fill my empty stomach.

"No, not here."

I looked up at him, confused.

"Here's good for breakfast or lunch, but not dinner. Only cops do that," he said.

"Hey! I'm a cop's daughter!"

"That explains why you're here," he pointed out. "We can drive to Port Angeles and have a healthy non-greasy meal with a fresh green salad…" He stood up from his seat.

A loud angry growl from my caffeine filled tummy interrupted him. I didn't need to speak; that was enough. Edward stared at me for a second, another frown forming on his face. Then he sat back down, grumbled, and took a copy of the menu with resignation. Sweet, sweet victory.

Midway through the meal, I noticed a girl glaring at me from across the diner. A few glances and I realized she was glaring at Edward and not me.

"Hey, I think that's your ex-girlfriend," I told Edward.

He turned around, saw the girl and chuckled. "No, she's one of the girls my mom set me up with before you. She creep me out, I pissed her off, and now she hates my guts." He let out another muffled laugh.

I looked back at the girl, and thought she was very pretty. If she wasn't glaring at Edward, she might have looked kind and sweet, too. I could see why Esme wanted the girl for her son. I turned back to Edward. "Do I creep you out?"

"Do I piss you off?" he asked back.

"I don't hate your guts," I told him.

He grinned. "Exactly."

I grinned back.

A few spoonfuls later, I remembered Edward has mentioned that he has talked to my mom. I hurriedly swallowed the food inside my mouth. "Edward! When you talked to my mom, how was she? Did she look happy? Did you see my dad?" I was excited to find out how their dinner went.

He put down the fry he was holding. Huh. Healthy non-greasy meal, he'd said. His brows furrowed. "She looked just the same as always, and I didn't see your dad. He wasn't home, I think. There was no police cruiser on your driveway. I was actually relieved. I mean, I'm not exactly psyched up to see him…"

My dad wasn't home. My appetite instantly vanished; a sick feeling sprang in my stomach. "I have to go now." I stood up and went straight out of the door.

I heard Edward following me a short moment later. "Hey, what's happening? What's wrong?" he asked.

I didn't answer him, and rushed to my truck. When I took my seat behind the wheel, Edward was already on the passenger seat. He kept asking me what was happening, his voice getting louder and agitated.

"Charlie was supposed to be there." That was all I said as I pushed my truck's speed to its limit. As I neared the house, I saw my dad's cruiser on the driveway, but that wasn't enough for me to feel relieved. I parked away from home, not wanting to let my parents know I arrived. I got out of the truck, and started walking towards the house.

"What are we doing?" Edward asked as he followed me still.

"I need to see," I replied.

We both crept nearer to the house, no one saying a word. I haven't exactly explained to Edward what was happening at home – or what was supposed to be happening, but he was there with me.

We stealthily crouched just outside the window by the kitchen sink. I slowly peeked in, and the sight before me broke my heart – my mother, seated alone on the dining table, her head bowed down, and silent tears streaming down her face. I've never felt so helpless in my life. Seeing my mother in tears seems so wrong, and I had no clue how to comfort her.

I could see the light of the television from our adjacent living room. I couldn't see my father past the wall, but I wanted so much to see his face, to witness for myself if he was also in tears, if he was sorry. Was he truly watching the game on show? Was he thinking of my mother at this moment? Did he even know she was crying?

I didn't know what was wrong and it scares me that even if I knew what made my mother cry, I wouldn't know what to do.

I took a step back from the window, and felt a pull from my side. I saw my hand entwined with another's. Edward. I looked up at him. He pulled me in his arms.

AN. The next ten chapters will be a narration from Edward. My next update will be soon, I promise.