A/n: okay, so i'm only updating today because i've like four chapters ahead and yeah. i haven't taken my psychology test yet. i think its tomorrow or tuesday. who know. -shrugs-

I'm sorry in advance for anyone who likes Tom Cruz. I don't mind him myself, he donates money to my school all the time because his son plays football for our community junior football team and they use our field.

Oh, and Edward didn't hear anything that went on in the last chapter because he went out for a quick hunt. So yeah.

And I really didn't like the last chapter. It just seemed…wrong. I don't know. Maybe I'm losing it. But I like this chapter much better. i'm sort of iffy about the end though. hmm. whatever, too late to change it.

Disclaimer: see previous chapters.

When I woke up the next morning I could tell I hadn't slept very well. My arm was asleep, probably from sleeping on it all night, and I was more drowsy than usual.

I was slowly gaining consciousness when I realized my alarm hadn't gone off. It was Monday, right? Did I sleep through it? No, I couldn't have. I never slept through that wretched thing.

I opened my eyes, and promptly fell off the bed. Somehow – though it must have been a miracle – I didn't scream, I just fell. I lay my head on the floor, trying to get myself to really wake up this time. I even pinched myself to make sure I was dreaming, but I only succeeded in giving myself a bruise.

Edward peered over the side of the bed, my iPod ear buds still in his ears. He had this crooked smile on his face that made me want to forget everything that was going on inside my head. "You okay?"

I blinked a couple of times and cleared my throat. "What are you doing in my bed?"

"You asked me to," he leaned down and picked me up with no effort on his part at all. I, however, was on the verge of hyperventilating.

There was a boy…in my bed. This was…new.

"I did nothing of the sort," I said.

"Yes you did," Edward countered. "Last night. You were really restless and then you woke up and you saw me on your couch and you told me to stay with you, but I didn't know what you meant, and then you said to stay in bed with you. I was sort of confused; it was bold, even for you. But I obliged. You seemed to sleep better when I was closer, but you mumbled a lot. You looked like you were fighting with someone."

"I seriously don't remember any of that," I kept shaking my head.

"Well I'm telling the truth. I wouldn't just randomly get into bed with you." Yeah…sure you wouldn't.

"So I didn't talk last night?" That was a relief.

"No, only mumbles this time. It was sort of disappointing. I like hearing you talk; it's the only time I get to hear your thoughts unedited."

"I very rarely edit my thoughts," I said honestly.

"You should get ready for school. You'll be late if you don't get going now."

I heaved a sigh and proceeded to get out of bed – properly this time. Edward followed behind until he turned off to leave the room. After I heard my door close I walked into my closet and changed for school.

Emmett was waiting for me downstairs, my coffee and backpack held out in front of him for me to take. I smiled brightly and gratefully took my belongings.

"Ready?" I asked, grabbing my car keys from the table by the front door.

"Yep," Emmett replied, walking close behind me.

We walked in silence to my car and got in.

"I call music," Emmett said, thrusting a hand forward for me to dispense my iPod.

"Don't play the Spice Girls again," I begged. "I'm not in the mood for something so…90s."

Emmett sighed in response and I handed over the iPod. Ten seconds later, Hot Stuff by Donna Summers was blasting through the speakers. I rolled my eyes and started pulling out of the driveway.

I heard a 'humph' and then Bree plopped down in the backseat. She slammed the door closed and then I was off again.

"So, how was L.A?" I asked, looking at her through the rear view mirror.

"I ran into Tom Cruz at Starbucks," she shrugged. "Like, literally walked into the guy. It was kinda awkward. That man scares me. I mean who seriously believes all that scientologist stuff anyway? And I'm still not convinced that he's not gay."

Emmett chuckled and shook his head, which resulted in Bree leaning forward and smacking him in the arm.

"So how's the Edward situation?"

I stole a glance at Emmett and shrugged. "We got locked in my room for thirty-six hours."

Bree gaped. "How'd that one happen?"

"Emmett," I said.

"Well, you're still alive, so something bad must not have happened. Right?"

"I walked in on them rolling around on the floor," Emmett informed.

Bree raised an eyebrow in my direction.

"We were playing Twister and he fell on me," I explained, trying to stay nonchalant about this whole conversation.

"He fell on you," Bree repeated. She didn't believe me, I could tell.

"Yes," I nodded.

"You're such a bad liar, Bella," she rolled her eyes and fell back in her seat.

"I'm not lying! He was trying to put his right hand on red and he lost his balance." Okay, that sounded really dirty for some reason. Was that just me?

"They went out on a date yesterday," Emmett changed the subject. Not that it was any better, though. I had a very strong urge to hit him right now, but I knew that it would hurt me more than him, and the whole point was to hurt him, so I didn't.

"Do you like this boy, Bella?" Bree asked, her eyes narrowing.

I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks and I silently cursed Edward for bringing out this side of me. It was all his fault. I blamed it all on him.

"Well do you?" she urged.

I just shrugged and pulled into a parking space. But Bree was not about to drop this conversation, I knew. She was going to want an answer and she would do anything to get it.

I slammed my car door shut and started walking away, but somehow Bree caught up.

"Answer the question Bella," she stopped me mid-stride and forced me to look at her.

"Yes, I like him. Okay?!" I practically screamed. Oh god, he probably heard that. Half the student body probably heard it.

Once again, Bree was gaping at me. "How much?"

"How much, what?" I was playing dumb. I was starting to get a little irritated and I wanted this conversation to be over as soon as possible.

"How much do you like him?"

"I don't know," I shrugged, "a lot?"

"Bella," Edward said from behind me, "there you are." It struck me as ironic that he was saving me from a conversation about him.

"Walk me to class," I mumbled and turned away from Bree. I linked my arm in Edward's and started walking toward the school.

"This isn't the end of this conversation, Bella!" Bree called.

"Okay," I said, waving a hand over my shoulder to acknowledge that I heard.

Edward leaned down to my level and whispered in my ear, "She wants to know exactly how much you like me."

I groaned. "She just doesn't know when to drop a subject."

"I don't know," he shrugged, smirking a little. "I'm curious to hear what you say."

"You wouldn't dare," I glared up at him, knowing exactly what he was referring to.

"Wouldn't I?"

"You're horrible!" I accused, unlinking our arms and stepping away from him.

"Edward!" A new, overly enthusiastic, voice called.

Simultaneously, we turned and saw Jessica Stanley sauntering – or at least trying to; it was more like power walking – over to Edward.

"Hello, Jessica," he greeted her, placing a forced smile on his face. Maybe she was thinking something that he didn't like.

"Um," she glanced at me and then at Edward. "I was wondering if you wanted to go dinner or something, with me, this Saturday."

I suddenly wanted to punch her in the face for trying to ask him out. The strong urge to curse at her and tell her that Edward was mine was creeping into my mind, too. I didn't know what was happening. This whole jealously thing was very new to me. And since when was Edward mine, anyway? Oh yeah, never.

I felt an arm around my waist and pull me close. It was Edward. I smiled to myself and stared at Jessica, waiting for her reaction.

"Sorry, but I'm taking Bella out that night," he told her as politely as possible.

And now I just wanted to rub it in her face that Edward chose me over her. Wait…he chose me…over her? Huh?

News Flash: Denial ain't just a river in Egypt, and I'm very much denying that Edward's and my relationship is anything more than friendship. I do not love this boy, no. Maybe if I kept telling myself that, it would come true. Sigh, I wish.

"Oh," Jessica nodded solemnly and then turned to me. "I thought you were dating Emmett."

Ah, yes, that little rumor coming back to bite me in the ass. I was going to punch Mike Newton in the face one of these days.

"Yeah," I agreed, plastering one of those jaw clenching fake grins on my face. "We broke up."

"Oh," she said turning back to Edward. "I'll see you around." And then she walked away.

"We're going out this Saturday?" I looked up at Edward curiously.

"You went out with Emmett?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, ew, no!" I grimaced. "It was a nasty rumor produced by Mike Newton in the tenth grade after homecoming when Emmett stopped his hands from traveling to places they shouldn't be. It was Emmett's fault in the first place; he made me dance with that kid."

"Why didn't you deny it?"

"It made it easier for him and Rosalie. More inconspicuous, you know? It was bad enough that everyone knew about Jasper and Alice. It was the school scandal for the longest time."

"Don't you think that our relationship will raise some eyebrows?" he pointed out.

Our relationship? So we weren't friends anymore, then? We were in a relationship? Ahh, this whole thing was way too confusing for me. This is precisely why I didn't date. Okay, that's a lie. I didn't date because no one ever caught my eye (until Edward, that is…wait, you're not supposed to like him like that, damn it).

"Do you honestly care what these kids think of you?" I asked. "Or is it your reputation that you're worried about?"

"Do you care what they think?"

I laughed. "That's a good one. I've never cared."

Edward smiled, seemingly pleased with my answer. "We'd better get to class."

I groaned. "I'll see you at lunch?"

"Of course," he leaned down and pressed his lips to my forehead and I pretty much forgot how to breathe.