Hello all! Wow so this is my longest chapter to date!! Gotta say I loved writing this one. Lots of Bella/ Edward time in here :) Enjoy!! Oh and keep the reviews coming.....I love reading them :)

The American Dream

Ch. 11

"Do you think they'll walk with us to class?" Alice was hugging her books to her chest as we walked to school. She had been bombarding me with questions since I had met her on her front steps.

"Oh I dunno Alice," I was a bundle of nerves inside. How was Edward going to act around me today? How should I act around him? I had never had a real boyfriend before. Was Edward my boyfriend? I was so nervous. Alice continued to babble on all the way to school. I was only able to partially listen to her because I couldn't hear over the sound of my own heart pounding in my ears. I kept trying to swallow my nervousness down but it only seemed to grow more intense the closer I got to school. Finally we reached the edge of the school parking lot. Before I knew it my eyes were scanning the rows of cars and crowds of students. I didn't see Edward or Jasper anywhere.

"Ahem." I jumped at the sound of someone clearing their throat right behind me. I whirled around and ran into a leather wall.

"Oh!" I stumbled sideways from the collision. Edward laughed quietly as he grabbed my shoulders to steady me.

"Well good morning to you to Bella," he dropped his hands from my shoulders and stuffed them into his jean pockets. He was looking down at me smiling slightly. I was melting on the spot.

"Oh hi, I mean good morning," I blushed. Why couldn't I talk straight when I was around him?

"Hey Edward," Alice greeted him cheerfully, "did Jasper stay home today?"

"Hi Alice. No Jasper's just over there," Edward gestured over his shoulder , "by the car. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you went over." Edward winked at Alice and she took off to find Jasper.

"Mind if I walk you to class?" I wanted to say no, I wanted to say " I'd love it if you walked me to class," but I was only able to nod. Edward chuckled slightly and took the book from my arms.

We walked side by side in silence across the parking lot towards the school. I was guessing the sight of Edward and I walking to class together was going to shock a few people. The looks I caught from them confirmed it. Mike Newton looked like he was going to either punch something or spit nails. Jessica Stanely just stood there staring with her jaw on the floor. I was praying we wouldn't run into Rose.

"So how was your weekend?" Edward's voice cut into my thoughts.

"Oh fine, you know, as good as a weekend spent grounded can go I guess."

"I wanted to call you but I figured you wouldn't be allowed phone calls." I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Edward had wanted to call me! That meant he had been thinking about me this weekend! The thought of Edward thinking about me made me smile from ear to ear.

"Yeah you're right. I 'm not allowed to talk on the phone right now, but I would have liked it if you had called." I looked up at him from under my lashes. He was smiling down at me. We had stopped right outside my English class. Edward handed me my books and leaned in as he did. He leaned in so close his lips almost brushed my cheek as he whispered, "Well now that's something I'm glad to know."

I could hear the smile in his voice. He stood back up and winked at me. "Have a good class," and with that he turned and walked down the hall to his class.

I leaned back against the wall, closed my eyes and sighed. Edward definitely acted how I thought a boyfriend should act but I still wasn't sure if that's what he'd want me to call him. Boy did I want to call him that so bad! I wanted to be able to say, "This is Edward, my boyfriend," and " My boyfriend..." I smiled to myself at the thought and decided to discuss it with Edward sometime.....soon. I entered class and took my seat. Alice skipped in a few moments later and hopped into her seat. She turned to me smiling and positively bubbling. She didn't have to say anything, I completely understood.

Mr. Mason droned on about Wuthering Heights. His dissection of of Heathcilff was beyond dull for me today. I began to daydream and doodle in the margin of my notebook. Finally the bell rang. I was out of my seat like a shot and began gathering my books into my arms.

"Uh Bella do you mind if I go on ahead? You see I want to go meet Jasper and walk with him to my next class," Alice stood in front of my shifting her weight from foot to foot and biting her bottom lip. I giggled at the her obvious anxiousness to go meet up with Jasper.

"Alice, go on! I don't mind at all," She smiled in thanks and was out the door calling over her shoulder, "See you at lunch Bells!"

Just as Alice's form disappeared out of sight Edward's appeared in the doorway. I smiled in greeting and he smiled back. He took my books from me as I reached him and tucked them under his arm. He placed his free hand on the small of my back and gently steered me out into the hall.

"So how was class?" he asked.

"Oh good, boring. How was yours?"I tilted my head back slightly so I could see his face as he answered.

"Oh you know pretty much the same." I didn't know what to ask next so I just walked beside him in silence; enjoying every minute of it.

"So what's your favorite class Bella?" Edward asked me with genuine curiosity.

"Oh, um I don't know, I guess English. I don't really have a favorite. I don't really like class."Normally when someone asked me what my favorite subject was I would smile politely and say English. That was what a good student, a good girl was supposed to do. It was strange but I felt no need to carry on that charade with Edward. With him I felt I could speak honestly, and I loved it!

"Nothing wrong with that," Edward said casually. My dad would have dropped dead if he could have heard our conversation right now. I knew he would find A LOT wrong with what I had just said. Edward walked me right to the door of my French class where he handed my books back to me, letting his hand linger slightly on mine when they touched in the process. He smiled and set off on his own way. He met me again after French and walked me to Geometry. After Geometry I emerged to find Edward casually leaning against the wall waiting for me. I walked over to meet him.

"So what are you doing for lunch today?" he smiled coyly. I decided to play right along with him.

"Oh I don't know, I might have lunch with this one guy...." I batted my eyelashes at him for good measure. Edward's face broke out in the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. It took my breath away to say the least. He continued our little banter, " Oh that's too bad because I was hoping you might want to have lunch with me.....Oh well, another time I guess," he slowly turned and pretended to walk away hurt and rejected. I laughed out loud.

"Oh okay, I guess I could cancel my plans and join you for lunch," I quickened my pace till I was at his side. He again took my books into his own arms but this time he took my hand in his. I loved how Edward's hands fit perfectly around mine and how his long slender fingers tangled themselves into mine. I let Edward walk slightly ahead of me, gently leading me into the lunch room. I didn't even give a second's thought to what the sight of Edward and I holding hands would do to everyone watching us in the lunchroom. As we walked through the double doors and made our way to the lunch line I swear the whole room hushed slightly. I surveyed the room to find that more than a few members of the Forks High student body were staring at us.

"Oh my gosh, Edward , everyone is looking at us," I stood on my tiptoes to whisper in Edward's ear. Edward smirked and looked around for himself.

"Does that bother you?" he asked quietly with something I could only describe as slight hesitation. I paused slightly to consider his question. When I thought about it honestly I was pleasantly surprised to find that it really didn't bother me at all. I smiled confidently at him and squared my shoulders to further emphasize my answer.

"Nope, it doesn't bother me at all." Edward squeezed my hand in response and we preceded through the lunch line. We exited the line and Edward took the lead through the maze of lunch tables. I hadn't even thought to check my usual table for Alice and now realized she was probably sitting there waiting for me. I tapped Edward on the shoulder and he turned to see what I needed.

"Um Edward, I should really find Alice. I mean we always eat lunch together and she'd...."

"Look over there Bella," Edward interrupted me. He looked very amused as he nodded in the direction he had been leading us. I leaned to the side so I could see around him. There sitting at Edward and Jasper's usual table was Jasper and little Alice. I smiled and continued to follow Edward to the table.

"Hey you two!" Alice greeted Edward and I with a chirp. I took the seat across from Alice and Edward sat next to me opposite his brother. They greeted each other with a small nod.

"So how's your day been going?" Alice asked me. Her eyes told me she was asking about more than my classes. I stole a sideways glance at Edward as I answered.

"My day has been great," I smiled as Edward caught my eye and my meaning.

"How about yours?" I turned my attention back to Alice. She was turned sideways in her seat so that she was facing Jasper; who was also turned sideways in seat. Their knees were touching and they were leaning slightly towards each other.

"Mine's going great too!" Alice answered my question, never looking away from Jasper. Jasper smiled at her in response. He leaned in and whispered something to Alice and she giggled in response. They were soon lost in conversation so turned my attention back to Edward. He was watching his brother and Alice with a small smile of amusement. He shook his head and chuckled slightly then turned his attention to me.

"So tell me something, when is your sentence up?" My confusion must have been obvious because he quickly clarified, " I mean when are you going to be un-grounded?" Oh that. My mood fell slightly as the question brought back the memory of that night.

"Um, I don't really know. My dad basically says I'm grounded till I'm not," my voice came out flat. I kept my eyes on my tray as I spoke.

"I'm sorry did I say something wrong?" Edward's worry was apparent in this voice. I shook my head.

"Oh no, I'm sorry, It's just...well.....nothing, never mind," I took my gaze away from my tray and refocused on Edward. His face had worry written all over it; from his scrunched up brow to his slightly turned down mouth.

"It's nothing you did Edward honestly," I smiled in an effort to reassure him. He was silent for a moment just watching me.

"Your dad's pretty strict isn't he?" I shrugged.

"Yeah." Edward looked sympathetic at first but as I watched his face slowly shifted. His jaw tensed and his eyes blazed slightly. He looked like he was trying to hold back some very intense anger.

"Bella can I ask you a rather personal question?" I had a very strong feeling I knew what he was going to ask. It scared me, but at the same time I wanted him to ask it because I wanted him to know. I nodded.

"Last week, that bruise on your cheek, you didn't get it in P.E. Did you?" He said each word deliberately and controlled. I kept my eyes locked on his as I answered.

"No." His entire body seemed to tighten up. He hadn't said it and neither had I but the truth had rang out loud and clear. He suddenly reached out and gathered me into his arms, tucking my head under his chin and into his chest. I felt him rest his face on top of my head.

"Bella, I'm so sorry." He held me like that for a moment. I never wanted to move. I wanted to stay in his arms, listening to his heart beat, breathing his scent, and feeling his warmth envelope me.

"Bella we're going to be late for biology." We both sighed and he released me. I looked around the lunchroom and realized it was almost empty. I hadn't even noticed that Alice and Jasper had left. Edward gathered up both of our books and took hold of my hand. We barley made it to the door of our biology class before the bell rang. I took my seat next to him at our table and opened my notebook and book. Edward scooted his stool closer to me till our legs were pressed against each other under our lab table. I turned to him and smiled. He smiled back and turned back to his notes as if nothing was going on. All through class Edward kept finding excuses to brush his hand against mine or lean closer to me. I had to cover my mouth with my hand to stifle my giggles at his less than stealth methods.

"Is there a problem Miss Swan?" My giggles had attracted Mr. Melana's attention.

"No Mr. Melena, sorry," I felt my face go crimson as I averted my eyes back to my notes. Mr. Melana went back to his lecture.

"Bella, are you blushing?" Edward teased me in a hush voice. I smiled pressing my lips together in an attempt to control myself.

"Shhh, you are going to get me in trouble," I mockingly scolded him. Edward smirked and returned to his side of the lab table. Our legs never broke contact the entire class. I smiled inwardly at our shared little secret. When the bell rang Edward didn't deviate from the pattern he had set during the day; books in his arms, my hand in his. I was getting used to this routine. We were within sight of the gym when Edward suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. I turned and gave him a quizzical look. He looked like a light bulb had gone off over his head.

"How sad would you be if you missed P.E. today?" he arched one eyebrow and gave me a little half smile. The tone of his voice told me he had another meaning to his question.

"Well I hate P.E. So I guess I wouldn't be sad at all," I wanted to know what he was thinking. In two strides he closed the distance between us. He tipped his head down till his forehead rested on mine and he was looking right in my eyes.

"Would you want to ditch with me?" his voice was hushed and husky and instantly put me under his spell. I had never ditched before. I knew I'd be dead if I got caught, but looking into those green eyes none of that mattered , so I answered,"More than anything."

Edward smiled and quickly led me by the hand to the parking lot. A huge rush of adrenaline ran through me as we reached the car. I felt alive and exhilarated. Edward opened the passenger door for me and I slid in. He was in the driver's seat in seconds and we were off.