*Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 10: Shifting

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"I'm going to the bathroom, and when I get back, this conversation better be over." Alice and Rose have hit it off way too well in the ten minutes we've all been at the diner.

I lock myself in the single bathroom and walk over to the mirror.

I hope I wasn't smiling this much when I left the table. As gross as it is to hear about Rose and Emmett's escapades, it's worth seeing Rose bond with Alice.

My phone chimes in my purse, and I'm grateful for the distraction.

-Edward: Where are you?

I step outside of the bathroom. Rose and Alice are still talking animatedly, so I go out through the side exit and sit on the curb.

-Hiding outside of the diner. Where are you?

-Edward: At your house. Why are you hiding?

-Because I already learned what Rose and Emmett do on the recliner in the middle of the night. I don't want to know this!

I can't believe I just told him that.

-Edward: Good thing Emmett is the only one that sits in that chair.

-And Charlie.

-Edward: Let's hope he never finds out then.

I bite my lip, but I laugh out loud anyway. Luckily, no one else is in the parking lot. I'm not sure what else to say now. It's my turn to respond, but what can I say that will lead to more talking? If I just agree with him, then that may be the end of our conversation.

My foot is on top of a small rock, so I roll it around with my shoe. It's frustrating to want to desperately hold on to this communication. I kick the rock down the empty parking space. I'm at a loss for words, so I'll just have to let this end.

I start the text to agree with his last one, but am interrupted by another from him.

-Edward: I'm leaving in a few. Need me to come save you?

In any other situation, I would let him. I'll probably think about the possibilities of what could have happened all night.

-I wish. I would be such a jerk if I left. I think I can endure Rose and Alice. Hopefully the conversation has changed subjects.

-Edward: Okay. Let me know if you need me, and I'll be there.

Before stepping inside, I take a deep breath of the early evening air.

Rose and Alice are actively talking when I get back to the table. Fortunately, my burger and milkshake are waiting for me.

"Good, you're back. It's your turn to give me details," Rose says as she dips a fry in my strawberry shake.

I slide into the booth next to Alice, across from Rose.

"It's a great story. Jasper had a hickey, so I said, 'Hey, I want one.' It took a little persuasion, but I convinced him." I pull my shake out of Rose's reach. I don't like salt in my shakes.

"That's boring. So what, you practice on your friends? You could have asked me," Rose scoffs.

Alice just sits back and analyzes.

"Sorry, I didn't know. I'll ask you and Alice both the next time I feel the need to practice." I wonder if they would regret their offer if I ever did ask.

"You should have asked Edward. That would have been funny. He would have had a heart attack." Rose laughs at the idea.

Alice looks at me with her eyebrows raised, and I take a huge bite of my burger. I hope she got out all the squealing over all of mine and Edward's newly made plans on the phone last night, and again on the drive to and from Port Angeles.

"So you two don't talk about this kind of stuff?" Alice looks back and forth between the two of us.

"Well, Bella doesn't like to hear about Emmett, and I kind of pushed her a few times." Rose shrugs it off like it's no big deal.

"But Bella doesn't tell you about guys?" Alice isn't going to let this go.

"Like I said, I've pushed her. I can't help it. I push."

"Okay?" Alice looks at me confused.

I laugh under my breath and keep eating.

"Fine. So there was this new guy when we were in seventh grade. His name was Riley and everyone liked him, but Bella wouldn't admit she did."

"Because I didn't," I interrupt.

"Whatever, I got her to admit she didn't think he was ugly," Rose declares, thinking it validates her intervention.

"And then she proceeded to push me into him every chance she got." I glare at Rose.

Rose laughs and I remember how relieved I was the day Riley moved.

"I don't have to face him anymore, but Garrett still looks at me weird all the time." I point at Rose with a fry.

"I told Garrett he's the lead role in all of Bella's fantasies," Rose informs Alice with no remorse.

"Again, that wasn't true. So, moral of the story—don't tell Rose anything. Who knows what she would do with real information."

"No. You know what, Bella? I'm going to pay attention, and I'm going to figure out all your secrets." She reaches forward and pulls my shake back within her reach.

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Alice drops me off at home but needs to get home herself, so she doesn't have time to come inside. She will be here Friday though. Rosalie didn't give her much choice.

It's a cool, clear night, so I spend a few extra moments outside. I wish Edward hadn't already left. Maybe I should call him, but then I might seem desperate. If I was that desperate I would have let him come to the diner. I'm not desperate, just infatuated.

After setting down the plate of cupcakes Alice and I made in class today, I sit on the front porch steps and reread my earlier text conversation with Edward.

All I want to do is call him, but I don't have anything to say. I want to be able to call him all the time and not have to have something to say.

Gazing up at the stars, I wonder if some of them are mine. If I do have stars, I hope the direction my life is taking means that my stars are aligning into the position they were always meant to find. There are dimmer stars though; they must be the people that are distant, like my mother. They are always a part of the bigger picture, but the other stars shine so bright you don't always have to deal with them.

Inside, my dad and Emmett are playing cards. I sit down to join them.

"Did you have a nice time, Bella?" my dad asks.

"Yeah, we made cupcakes." Emmett is already eyeing the plastic-wrapped paper plate, so I push it over to him.

"We're almost done here. Do you want to pick the next game?" Charlie asks me as I slide the plate of cupcakes over in his direction.

"Sure. I like Go Fish."

"That's…" He swallows his words. "That will be fun."

I get us all glasses of milk to go with the cupcakes, while they finish their game.

We play three rounds and Charlie keeps asking to play again. I don't know if he's really enjoying this or he has an agenda.

We're on round five, and Emmett doesn't hold in his groan when Charlie asks to play again.

"Just one more round," Emmett declares.

"Fine. If it's one more round, I get to lay all the fish out like a pond instead of a stack." I don't wait for anyone to agree; I just spread out the cards. This was always my favorite part of this game until Emmett said it was how babies play.

"So, Bella," Charlie says steadily as the game begins.

"So, what?" He's not asking about my cards.

"Heard you're lettin' Edward take you to some dance. Hey, Emmett, got a seven?"

Emmett passes the card, and I'm in shock, looking back and forth between the two of them as they continue on with the game.

"Did he say something?" I try to keep my voice even.

"Well, who else besides you or him would have said something?" He always has to be difficult.

"What did he say?" I squeeze my lips together to keep from showing my excitement.

He groans before answering. "I told you. He said you two are going to some dance."

I take a few more turns before I ask again. "But what did he say exactly? And how did it come up?"

"I didn't take notes. Do you want me to give him a call and ask him to repeat it?"

I huff and keep playing.

"So, it's Edward now? I thought you were likin' that Newton kid."

"I don't know why you would have thought that," I snap.

"You're probably going to need a new dress, huh?" Charlie asks as we count up our cards.

"Yeah, but it's not for a few months." I relax as I realize he won't be speaking anymore about Mike. Never have I given anyone the impression that I have a thing for Mike Newton.

"Well, here," he says as he pulls out his wallet and lays a few twenties down in front of me. He lays a few in front of Emmett too.

"Thank you," I tell him, and he kind of nods before leaving the room. I think maybe this isn't as easy for him as it seems.

Emmett slides his money across the table to me. "I have money." He dislikes accepting money more than I do. His mother's brother sends him money every few months. He takes it only because it's less my dad has to spend on him.

Once the table is cleared Emmett says, "Come help me put batteries in the flashlights for Friday, and I'll tell you what he said."

I don't have to ask who he is.

Emmett has a bag full of stuff in his closet that he doesn't let me see. He digs around and pulls out four flashlights.

I sit on the floor with my legs crisscrossed and open the package of batteries. My knees bounce in my impatience.

Emmett starts laughing at me, but he doesn't get it. Edward would not play games with my dad.

"He said, 'Bella agreed to let me take her to the next dance at school. Is that okay with you?' Then Charlie said, 'Sure, kid. Have fun,'" Emmett says giving his impression of both Edward's and Charlie's voices.

"Okay, but how did he look when he said it?"

"I guess like he was nervous."

I make him tell me six more times. It's not something I'll get tired of hearing anytime soon.

Overwhelming excitement takes over and I have to clamp my hand over my own mouth to cover my laughing screams.

Emmett stares at me like I've lost it, and he's right because I probably have.

"Do you think Rosie acts like this about me?"

I'm hysterically laughing with happiness so I just nod.

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Alice comes over before everyone else and we immediately sequester ourselves in my room. I'm getting the impression that what appears to be jittery excitement is actually the way Alice deals with anxiety.

She's indiscreetly snooping around my room. She checks the closet that is filled with nothing but clothes and a few pairs of shoes. She peeks in drawers and is disappointed every time. I'm not sure what she is hoping to find.

"Do you at least have a diary?"

"No, sorry."

We hear other people arrive downstairs, but Alice starts digging around in her backpack and sits with her legs bent on the floor.

I hope she doesn't really think we will be sitting in here all night.

"So what should we do?" Alice asks.

Go downstairs with everyone else. I'm not sure how to deal with this. She seemed fine meeting Rose and didn't seem uncomfortable when we invited her over.

"Will you help me practice making cupcakes? I bought all the ingredients. I need to be ready to make them with Edward's mom tomorrow."

"Sure, I could do that."

As soon as we get downstairs, Alice greets Rose with a hug. My first feeling is worry at how Rose will react to Alice's overly affectionate nature, and then I am filled with envy as Rose returns the hug. It's not even forced.

Emmett hugs her too. Ben's the only other person here and Alice goes straight in to hug him as well.

As Alice and I make our way past them, Rose points at her eyes with two fingers and then at me with one. She repeats the motion a few times. I'm watching you.

Alice is better at baking than me. I have to concentrate on exact measurements and check the recipe card multiple times. She just goes with it like it's second nature. I would take her to the Cullens' with me tomorrow if it weren't for the fact I'm spending time with Edward after.

I hear Jasper and Edward arrive with Angela in tow. We're pouring the batter in baking cups, so I don't greet them at the door.

My skin is pinched right above my hip as Edward brushes by me. He extends his hand to Alice when I introduce them and she shakes it. I can tell she's trying to hold in her reaction to him by the way the tight line of her lips are curling at the ends.

As he walks past, Alice's eyes grow wide and she mouths, "Wow." She turns her head to check him out from the back. I clamp my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing.

Jasper approaches us and I'm not sure if he caught Alice's little show or not.

"Alice, this is Jasper."

He reaches his hand out to Alice, but she doesn't take it. "Hi," She says. Then she turns to start rinsing off the dishes.

"It was nice to meet you."

"You too," she says with her back still turned.

Jasper looks to me for answers, but all I can do is shrug. The confused look on his face and the slump of his shoulders don't go away as he leaves the kitchen to join everyone else.

"What was that?"

Alice turns to me and says, "Oh sorry, I just don't like to be touched."

I want to make her clarify as it is an obvious lie, but I'm interrupted by Angela.

Alice hugs her in greeting. She's not doing very well in playing up this anti-touching charade.

Angela offers to help make frosting. Alice agrees, while I try not to be annoyed by her presence. When Angela catches me looking at her, I smile. She doesn't deserve my bitterness. Some feelings linger, but I need to replace the ones I feel toward her.

We all sit in the living room eating pizza as we listen to Emmett tell fabricated stories. I sit on the couch between Alice and Angela and watch as Emmett animatedly talks with his hands. Rose leans on the arm of the recliner chair Emmett is sitting in. Edward, Jasper, and Ben sit to the left of us in chairs they pulled in from the other room.

"All right, since I respect personal privacy I'm not going to name names," Emmett says.

Rose scoffs as she nudges his shoulder. I can't help laughing.

Emmett is not amused.

"Why are you laughing? I didn't tell anyone who you were giggling about the other day," Emmett says directly to me. I cover my face with my hands.

"What? Who?" I hear Rose ask, but no one answers.

Feeling completely mortified, I drop my hands and silently plead with Emmett to drop this subject.

Through the ordeal, I do not look at Edward. I have no idea if Emmett gave any revealing looks at Edward while my eyes were covered.

I feel Angela slide her arm under mine and she squeezes our interlocked arms. Her silent support touches deep.

Emmett gives me a silently mouthed, "Sorry."

Although I haven't looked around, I can feel more than one set of eyes watching me. I feel too much pressure to say something, and I have no interest in finding out how everyone is looking at me in this moment.

I'm relieved when Emmett carries on, reliving an overheard locker room conversation. I take the opportunity to leave the room.

I'm about to step into the kitchen when Jasper's arm is around the back of my neck pulling me to the den. Once inside, he closes the door. He's the last person I would expect to pull me aside to interrogate me.

"Are you okay?" He sits down on the couch.

"Yeah. Are you?" I follow him and sit on the opposite end facing him.

"Yeah. Why won't your friend talk to me? I really want to. Was I rude? She won't even look at me—how could I have already pissed her off?"

"I have no idea. I think she's just anxious. I'll talk to her."

He nods, but he looks hurt and withdrawn.

"You're hanging out with Edward tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Why are you so tense?" He looks genuinely concerned.

"I'm not. Why would you say that?"

"Because whenever Edward is around, or we talk about him, you start fidgeting. Like right now."

"I am not," I say, but then I realize my hands are fisting.

"You are." He starts shifting the picture frames on the table.

"He just makes me nervous sometimes." I look at the pictures as he goes to each individual one, and I notice my most recent one has been moved back to the smaller table in the corner.

"I don't get why. We all used to be friends, but then you shut him out."

There have been so many times I've wanted to ask Jasper more about Edward, but didn't. So many times I was too afraid of the answers he might have given me.

"Has he ever said anything about that?"

Jasper nods. "He thinks you have feelings for me, or he thought you did. I told him you don't. But, Bella, we had that chance to figure it out. What if you could have feelings for Edward, but you're always too scared to find out?"

Finding out I have feelings for Edward is not what I'm afraid of.

We leave the den and find everyone else has dispersed.

I glance around for Edward, but when I don't see him, I join Angela and Alice as they frost the cupcakes in the kitchen.

Alice pulls my arm until my side is flush up against her front and she moves my hair back to whisper in my ear. "I think Edward's mad you went off with Jasper. He went out back."

I don't question why she thinks he's mad, I just go. I step out back, and even though it's now dark out, I can see Edward sitting on the stone steps my dad and Emmett put in where the yard slopes.

I walk up behind him. I can hear twigs crack under my shoes, but Edward doesn't turn around. The tension in the air is terrifying.

It's fight or flight. But fighting and fleeing are counteractive. He's my biggest threat. The power I've had no choice in giving him makes being right here, so close, the only place I want to be and the scariest place I've ever been.

I sit down beside him and whisper, "Hi."

He turns toward me, giving me a slight smile before looking straight ahead.

He's in one of these moods where I know there will be no flirty words and sweet touches. I came after him, so now it's up to me to lighten the situation.

I lean over until my ear is pressed against his shoulder. "Why are you so stiff?"

"Will you tell me what Jasper said?"

I lift my head up so I can look at him. "He just wanted to make sure I was okay, but I think he mostly wanted to talk to me about Alice."

He shakes his head, but his posture relaxes.

"Does that annoy you?" he asks, turning back to face me.

"No, but it looks like it might annoy Alice."

Awkward silence. Every moment that passes reduces my confidence. Tomorrow he expects me to open up and talk to him, but how will I be able to do that if I can't talk now when there are no expectations?

He pulls one of the flashlights I remember from Emmett's room from the large pocket on his cargo pants and points it toward the ground, clicking it on and off. I have nothing to do. I'm starting to feel like he doesn't want me out here.

A vibrating hum breaks up the long silence.

Edward pulls out his phone and, after reading it, says, "We're supposed to vacate the premises. Do you want to walk?"

He stands up and reaches for my hand, helping me up. Once I'm standing, he drops my hand. We fall into step side by side through the small wooded area behind my house.

"We should talk out here, now that you're stuck with me for a while." He stops walking and my heart races.

"What should we say?" Fleeing from this isn't an option right now. I have to fight for something, but what do I choose. It's fight for my pride and brush him off, or take the risk and fight with my heart.

"I don't know, I'm nervous," he admits. I'm sad to see he looks as uneasy as I feel.

I reach up until my hand is on the curve where his neck meets his shoulder. "Why would you be nervous?"

As hard as I try to hold his gaze, it's too much, and I have to keep looking away.

"I feel like we're in an okay place right now, but I could bring up something that will cause you to pull away." He grabs my hip and pulls me a few inches closer.

My face tightens as I frown. "I won't, but maybe you will."

Edward shakes his head in quick, short movements, and with the grin on his face, all tension is erased.

My chest shakes with held-in laughs and Edward lets out a chuckle of his own. He pulls me even closer as his arm snakes behind my back, and I wrap my arms around his neck.

My forehead rests against the front of his shoulder. A cool breeze blows around us, wrapping us in the kind of silence that calms before turning into anticipation of possibilities.

You can't kiss someone if you're looking away. I lift my head and look at him. There is nothing between us, but a few inches of space.

"What were you giggling about the other day?"

Different emotions simmer inside me and the need to either laugh or cry at his question ping-pong back and forth.

"Because, for some reason, my dad felt the need to play cards with me for an hour before giving me money for a dress."

He laughs and says, "Sorry. Was it embarrassing?"

"No, but now you can't get out of taking me."

"I wasn't going to try."

I hold his gaze. My eyes try to close or look away, but I fight their pull. He drops his head down until his forehead touches mine and then everything is dark. The back porch light has been shut off.

Edward sighs and pulls out his flash light before leading me toward the house with his hand against my lower back.

The porch light starts flashing off and on.

Emmett steps outside. "Rose ruined it. They are together now, so just come in."

"How did she ruin it?" I ask.

"She told Ben if he likes Angela, he should ask her out and he did."

We go inside and Angela and Ben are sitting next to each other with an awkward distance in between. Hopefully, they will be able to figure this out despite Rose's pushing.

Alice is still avoiding Jasper. I feel guilty for leaving her alone, but she rushes over to inform us of the new sleeping arrangements that everyone else has already agreed to.

I'm pulled into the den by Alice, and Angela is more than willing to wish everyone goodnight and accompany us.

"Did he kiss you?" Alice asks as soon as the door is closed. She already has her and Angela's bags in here and something for me to sleep in. I'm not mad that she took it upon herself to do this but worried that she's still as uncomfortable here as she was when she first got here.

"No." Angela answers, and I shake my head at Alice from behind Angela's back. She scrunches her face as if it was not the answer she was expecting to hear.

"Well, there's always tomorrow," Alice says to Angela, but I know her words are still for me.

I move the coffee table out of the way and Alice and Angela pull out the bed. Alice asks if she can sleep in the middle as she crawls up the bed.

"Bella, will you spoon me?"

I groan internally. I should send her out to Jasper.

"If you tell me why you have a problem with Jasper."

"I don't. I just want it to be clear that I'm here for you." Her words contradict the fact that she looked Edward up and down upon meeting him. I'll figure out what her deal is. This whole full disclosure friendship this is double-sided.

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A/N:

Thanks for reading this. I really appreciate it.

I'm so grateful for dazzled eyes22 and MissCherrie who pre-read and EdwardsMate4ever and thir13enth for Betaing. Thank you all!

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