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CHAPTER 13: MICHIGAN MOTOWN BLUE?

EPOV

I stand leaning on a pillar in the front of the hardware store waiting for the girls to arrive. Honestly, I am more tired than usual, as I spent a lot of my night on the piano, finally falling asleep on the bench. I wanted to come out today. I wanted to see Bella. I watched as Emmett and Jasper talked about school, fighting to keep my eyes open.

"Dude, here they come," I hear Emmett say as he nudges my shoulder. I wake myself up to look at the three of them walking our way. I can't help but smile as I notice that Bella looks almost as tired as I am with her messy hair and sweatpants. It's strange for me to see any girl not really dressed up with lots of makeup, but I like it.

As Alice and Rose near, they pair off with Jasper and Emmett as expected, leaving me to talk to Bella.

"You look like you slept well," she says, smiling at me playfully.

"I could say the same to you," I reply. She blushes and moves her hand up to her hair.

"You look fine," I say, touching her hands lightly and moving them away from the pile of hair on top of her head. Even with this innocent touch her skin feels incredible. "It is strange though to see someone go out in their pajamas in the middle on the day."

"Hey! I changed into new pajamas from last night!" she says, nudging me in the arm. Before I can say anything else, we begin to follow the others into the store. As usual, Alice is taking charge.

"Okay, so what we need in a blue color and whatever paintbrushes you guys need to do the job." Emmett and Jasper nod and head off to another aisle to get paintbrushes as the rest of us head down the aisle with all the paint color swatches. We stand in front of a giant wall of blue and Alice drags Rose off to find help. I look down next to me to see Bella smiling.

"What?" I say as she looks up at me with her big brown eyes.

"When I was little and my mom bought plants at stores like this, I would always wander into the paint aisle and read the names they give the colors." She begins to blush again, causing me to smile. "I know it's stupid, but I never wanted to paint anything with a stupid color name."

"Oh so you're saying," I move towards the swatches, scanning their names quickly, "that you don't want your room painted in…Michigan Motown Blue?" I even let out a chuckle at that. Who would name a color that?

"Definitely not," she says, tying to control her laughter, probably at the face I'm making. "I'm not too fond of…America the Blue-tiful either."

"So I see," I say, now laughing myself. "How about…this one. Fish Bowl. Is that out of the question?"

We continue to laugh at the different paint names until Rose comes back carrying to tins of paint. Alice comes scurrying behind her.

"We matched your bedding to this paint color! It's called 'Almost Midnight.' I think it will be perfect!"

"Whatever you say, Alice," I say, taking the paint from Rose. The name isn't ridiculous, so I'm sure Bella doesn't mind it too much.

"Did the boys never come back?" Rose says, now looking up and down the aisle.

"Nope," Bella says, shaking hair head so that her bun moves around the top of her head. Does she even realize how adorable she is?

Suddenly I hear Alice yelling. "Emmett, you let Jasper out of that headlock right now! We are in public! Can't you wait until later?!" Emmett and Jasper always seemed to get into fake fights. Jasper, being smaller than giant Emmett would usually lose, but I guess they had fun doing it.

The three of them walked back into our aisle, Alice holding Jasper's hand and Emmett carrying the paintbrushes. As we check out I try to pay, but Bella stops me.

"Edward, you can't keep buying me things," she says to me, looking rather serious.

"Why not?" I reply.

"Because," she says.

"Oh yes, that's a great reason," I sarcastically respond.

"I just don't need you to buy me this. Plus, it's not even something you can enjoy. I mean, with the groceries I'll make you something but you do not need to buy me paint for my room!"

I wanted to tell her that I would enjoy the time I got to be with her while we painted, but I decided to take another route.

"So, you're going to cook for me then?" I was hoping she'd invite me over at some point.

"Only if you're going to help," she replied smiling up at me.

"Are you going to flirt all day or are we gonna go grab some food?" I heard Emmett say.

"Well it appears to me that Bella is going to cook me lunch," I said, noticing that Bella was blushing from Emmett's comment.

"Is that okay?" Bella said, looking at the four other people. "It's just that he bought me the groceries."

"Bella, that's fine," Jasper said as the others nodded. "I can drive us to lunch in Alice's car and Edward drove us so he can drive you home."

She shuddered next to me, the idea not sitting well in her head. I feel a bit pained by this and she must know it as she looks at me.

"It's not you! It's your driving!" she says. I feel a bit better and reply.

"I promise to drive at least five miles per hour slower than I usually do." I say, hoping to reassure her.

"Okay," she sighs. "But what about all the stuff in Alice's car? Should we get it now?"

"Bells, it's not like Alice is going to run away with your new clothes and join the circus."

"That's true," I say. "Alice has never been too keen on clowns."

"It's the clothing, I swear!" she says, her eyes wide.

"It's settled then," Rose says. "Edward and Bella will go home and we'll go out for food."

I nod and we say our goodbyes as we head to my car. I find myself again opening the door for her. We speed off down the street and I look at her, making sure my speed is okay. She seems to understand that and smiles at me.

"So what are we cooking today?" I say, breaking the silence.

"Well, I guess it's really up to you," she says, angling her body towards me. "What do you want for lunch?"

"Hmmm," I say, glancing from Bella back to the road. "I think I want cookies!" I say, trying to sound like a child.

"Then cookies it is," she replies. "That's actually something I can do pretty well."

"You know," I say, leaning in towards her. "You don't have to cook anything. I could just pick something up on the way to you house."

"Don't be silly!" she says. "I'm excited about cooking with you! I mean," she begins to fumble with her words. "I mean, I like to cook, and you'll be there, which will be so much fun-"

"I'm excited too," I cut her off from her run-on sentence.

I don't think a girl has ever really cooked for me before. And I am certain that I've never helped a girl cook, other than if my mom needs a little help. How does she do it? How does she make every situation feel like something brand new?

We pull into her driveway and she gets out and heads to the door. I follow her into the house after shutting her car door.