Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight characters, they all belong to Stephenie Meyer

Author's Note: I'm watching twilight again today!!! so I thought I had to write another chapter in celebration

Chapter 13:Confrontations

It had been a week since the epic war that night and the boys, especially Emmett, had barely recovered from their humiliating win. That and the fact that us girls had made a pact to not give the boys any mercy for their sleazy tactics. Almost every night we went out for a 'girl's night out' and would be too tired when we came back that we'd hit the bed immediately. This infuriated the guys, Emmett more than any other but I heard Alice and Rose talking about how since Edward and I only just started going out, we'd be first to crack. I was hoping to disprove this but every time I looked at Edward and his gorgeous eyes, I knew that they'd be right.

For that past week, Louisa had been clearing out her things and mentoring me into running the business. We were able to see a completely different side to her and for the first time, I really admired and liked this person, just as she was leaving. On the seventh night, I came home exhausted. Louisa had dragged me around the city, meeting up with various connections that would help me in the future. As much as I appreciated it, my mouth was sore from smiling so much, and my feet were killing from my heels. I was so tired I decided to bail on any plans that Rose and Alice had and head straight home for a nice bath and an early night sleep. Apparently, that is exactly the opposite to what I would get.

As I was reaching for the door, it opened before I even touched the handle. And there standing in my doorstep was Edward ushering out a supposed unwanted guest…Jacob. They both had scowls on their face that, for Edward, deepened when he saw Jacob's enthusiastic response to my arrival.
"Bella!" he said, opening his arms.
"Jake, what are you doing here?" I said as I leant in to give him a hug. I'm sure I wasn't the only one to notice just how long the hug went for. Jake finally let me go when Edward cleared his throat.
"I was just popping in to say hi. Haven't heard from you in ages."
"Sorry Jake. It's just been work and all! Crazy. You sure you don't wanna come in?" I realised it was a mistake to say this because both boys looked incredibly uneasy around each other and Jacob had been leaving when I arrived.
"No, I'm good. I'll see you around Bella. I'm sure we'll bump into each some time soon." Somehow I knew the last bit was not directed to me and I peered curiously at Edward's face. He was biting his lip and I saw his fist clenched by his side, like he was trying to hold back from lashing out. Luckily, before he could do anything the elevator arrived and Jake climbed in. I walked into the apartment, thoroughly confused.

"Edward, what the hell was that all about it? What did you say to Jake?" I don't know why, but I felt rather angry. Jake, besides all our history, was one of my oldest and closest friends. I didn't like it that Edward couldn't be nice to him, and within minutes, I would assume, of formally meeting. Edward pinched the bridge of his nose like he was…I don't know, confused, angry, anxious…it was quite incomprehensible.
"Just tell me one thing Bella, and just tell me the truth, the whole truth. Do you, or do you not have feelings for Jacob Black?" He didn't look at me the whole time when he said this. But when he did, there was a hint of the deepest sadness in his eyes.
"No! I told you before but I guess I'll just have to tell you again. Jacob and me, as a couple, is way in the history. I do not have feelings for him, I love him as a friend, like I would love a brother. But never anything more. I couldn't, not ever again." I shuddered slightly at the thought of kissing Jacob again, now that I had realised that he was kind of like a brother to me. But my mind flashed back to this moment, where it seemed Edward was just, if I wasn't mistaken, a little bit jealous.
"Have you not heard anything I've said? Jake is just a friend, nothing more. Why are you still going on about this?" I couldn't help the slight angry tone in my voice.
"Well, I don't know Bella. But say your girlfriend's ex comes round to your place saying that he's going to seal the deal within the week and that you're already halfway to his arms. Say he tells you all this shit about how you guys belong together and Charlie always loved him. Say he says that you're perfect for each other. What am I supposed to think?" I had never heard Edward be so angry. It was frightening yet beautiful all the same. He was really jealous, infuriated but I found myself occupied with murderous thoughts about Jacob.
"BITCH!" I shouted, completely unaware I had actually voiced my thoughts. Edward's head snapped up.
"Pardon? Did you say?" sudden disappointment showed on his face. "OK, well um…I completely understand. Well…if that's what you think…I'll be out of your apartment by the end of the w…"
"NO! No. You can't leave. Don't you dare speak about leaving. You're basically stuck here until I send you out."
"Didn't you just?"
"No you dufus. I was talking about Jacob. You think you're a bitch? Gosh, that was the bitchiest thing you've said just then and it wasn't even that mean!"
"Hey, I'm a lawyer. I'm kind of paid to be mean." The lopsided smile appeared on his face again, and I took that as a sign that the problem was solved, for now.
"Oh, you couldn't be mean. You just couldn't have the evil inside of you to be mean." I teased. He started walking towards me and all thoughts about the girl's pact were long gone.
"No, I think I really could. But I'm curious, Bella. Help me out a little bit. Exactly why am I not allowed to leave?" This was going to be an awkward moment.

I hadn't exactly meant for him to hear that part, it had kind of slipped out. Because the fact is, I wanted him with me forever. This past week, though in playful intent, I had missed Edward's company. I loved Alice and Rose but Edward's presence had the most dazzling effect on me. When I was with him it felt like the sun was up just for me, like there wasn't a care in the world, like we were the only people who inhabited the earth, and the earth was the most perfect place. You know those gorgeous green grassed, blue skyed perfect worlds you have in the movies. Every time he was there, I was with him in this world. But that wasn't exactly something I wanted to admit, so I tried to bluff my way through.
"Well, who else is going to cook me dinner? It'd be a detriment to my health to have to return to take-out every night if you leave." I knew that wasn't even a reason in comparison to the over ruling reason why I needed him to stay and as I looked into his eyes, I knew there wouldn't ever be a better time to tell him exactly what I wanted to for the past two weeks. With a sudden surge of confidence, I spoke the next part quite softly but loud enough so I was sure Edward heard it.
"And besides, you can't leave now because I lo…like it that you're here." I chickened out at the last minute and closed my eyes for a bit to take a breather. It's just, it seemed so easy in my head. Like I said it to Jake before, when we were dating but it was more like…oh yeah, um I love you too? I'd said it to Rose and Alice or a random in the street when they helped me out. But why was it so hard to say it now? Why was I so scared?

I opened my eyes again and Edward was right there. He brought his hand up to stroke my cheek, and they instantly flushed red.
"You were saying?" He so knew what I was trying to say, and was trying to tease me out of it. But I could tell there was also a tense atmosphere around us, because actually admitting my feelings to him, could change things, change who we were, make it more official. Looking into his eyes, his hand caressing my cheek, I knew this is what I wanted. I wanted him, with me, and if it just took three simple words to seal that deal, what was I afraid of?
"I love you, Edward Cullen. Think me crazy, irrational or a fool. But I can't help it. I've probably loved you since you moved in, just too stubborn or scared to admit it. But I love you. I love you," I started laughing at just how easy it had been. Edward's face just lighted up.
"Well good! Now can we have dinner? I'm starved!" and he left to the kitchen to bring out the food. I was beaming that I finally said it but there was a tinge of sadness when I realised that Edward hadn't returned the feelings. Was I being one of those really needy girls who were scaring guys away by falling head over heels already? I hated those girls, I usually wasn't one of those girls. Edward said he liked me because I wasn't like those girls. But was I turning into a girl who swooned at every word he said, blinded by my love to him and falling to his feet? Well that was all true but I was trying to be subtle. This little incident kind of ruined my mojo. I sat at the table, slightly saddened by this, but the food smelt so mouth-watering, and my tummy started to rumble from lack of food during the day, that hunger took over my thoughts.

Trying to avoid any conversation or eye contact with Edward, I dug right into my food so I could be too preoccupied to talk. I finished before he even reached halfway but I sprung up on from the table, claiming to need to go take a shower or something before I started to run off. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs as he called my name.
"Bella. Is it really that important to keep the pact you, Alice and Rose made? You say you love me but now you're completely blanking me? What is this?" I turned slowly, now comprehending that he thought I was ignoring him because of the pact.
"The pact is dead to me. They already knew I'd crack. But it's not that. It's…" Now this was embarrassing. Edward walked over to me, with a face of anticipation.
"You didn't say anything. I said I loved you and you said you were hungry." I realised how absolutely pathetic I sounded, but it's not something to a girl overlooks. I expected Edward to laugh or tease me in some way. But his face was completely serious.
"The thing is Bella. My love to you is more than I could put into words. I am completely and utterly in love with you, have been since I saw you walking down that aisle. As a bridesmaid of course but you looked absolutely beautiful, I didn't think that it was possible such beauty could belong to just one being. In my eyes, my love-blinded eyes, you completely outshone the bride, no offence to Alice of course. I love you Isabella Swan, and even if you wanted to, I'm sorry, but you couldn't kick me out. I couldn't stand not being right here with you." I could feel tears welling up in my eyes and I threw my arms around Edward. I kissed him so hard, after a week drought of this and I was glad he responded just as passionately. Oh, my life was beyond perfect!