[note: I got a lot of reviews over on Twilighted calling me out on my horrible choice of endearment for Bella to call Edward. It led to some serious revision/reworking of this chapter, which was good, because it let me cover some things that I thought were missing anyway. It had been an unconscious choice on my part, and that goes to show that I should think about some of those things a bit more.]
Bella left before noon on Sunday after helping Edward prepare a more hearty breakfast than he normal got when fending for himself. Despite her somewhat hazy memories of her human past, she was actually fairly skilled in the kitchen for not having cooked in a century. She had left with a promise to call later in the day, and with a lingering kiss that had made him very reluctant to let her go.
But he did, because he didn't have the extra recommended eight hours every night that she did, he had things he needed to do. So he did his laundry, tackled his homework, and practiced his piano. He had dinner with his parents after they returned with a relaxed glow about them from their long weekend away.
He had been concerned when Bella had wanted to talk to him on Saturday, but after she'd poured her heart out to him in the meadow, he'd just wanted to hold her and tell her that she did absolutely nothing wrong. Edward understood they came from different worlds, and that her perspective on what she'd done was vastly different from his own. Edward had grown up in a world where sex and love weren't necessarily linked together, and he realized that though Bella had been around for a very long time, some fundamental values just didn't change. He wasn't sure she'd completely believed him when he said it didn't matter, but he made a mental note to remind her whenever possible.
The conversation had also revealed to him that she wasn't as perfect as she seemed, and suddenly so much of her lack of confidence was understandable. She'd never been loved before, Edward understood suddenly, and she had been emotionally abused by someone who had claimed to love her. He wanted to do everything he could to show her that she was absolutely worth his love and attention, and that she wasn't the monster she felt herself to be.
Over the next several weeks, life fell into a comfortable pattern. Edward went to school, met Bella outside the music room after Jazz rehearsal, walked her to class, went to his own classes until lunch, ate "with" Bella and her family before biology, and collected Bella from outside the music room again after Orchestra in the afternoons. They went to his house together most days after school and studied, or talked, or played piano and just generally spent time together.
Edward found that he was truly happy. It shouldn't have come to him as a surprise, really. He was 17, and his life had been one of privilege so there wasn't a reason for him to have been unhappy. He just found that with Bella in his life, he no longer felt that there was something missing, and with her family found friends for the first time that he could really recall. Jasper mostly kept his distance, but Bella had explained that he didn't mean it personally, and Edward accepted that. Emmett honestly seemed to welcome his friendship and would sometimes join him and Bella after school to hang out.
February slipped into March, the Orchestra gave their spring concert (which Bella and Emmett attended) and the Jazz Band hosted their annual dinner/dance fundraiser (which the entire Cullen family had shown up for looking elegant and having a very good time from what Edward saw when he wasn't playing) and before Edward knew it, the spring semi-formal was only two weeks away and he hadn't discussed it with Bella.
He joined Bella and her siblings at lunch one Thursday two weeks before the dance. As usual, they all had trays in front of them that they didn't eat from, and it was becoming normal for Edward. Bella settled against his side with a small smile and he wrapped his arm around her waist, eating his lunch one handed. He leaned against her slightly, already feeling tired only halfway through his day; he hadn't been sleeping well, recently. He'd been having strange dreams that he couldn't remember when he woke on the nights that Bella didn't sleep over, and she hadn't been over since Sunday.
"Oh, Bella!" Alice suddenly started bouncing in her seat, clutching the breadstick she'd been tearing to pieces in an effort to look like she was eating. "We have to go shopping this weekend?"
Edward nearly laughed at the scowl that appeared on Bella's face. "Why?"
"We need new dresses for the semi-formal!"
Bella sighed. "I'm sure I already something that I can wear…"
Edward grinned and kissed the top of her head. He was glad he wouldn't have to do too much work to convince her to go with him.
"No! Bella," Alice said with a sigh. "Honestly. Have you learned nothing from me in the last fifty years?"
Bella rolled her eyes and Edward laughed quietly. Over the last few weeks he'd heard similar arguments. "Alice, if I wear something 'retro,' no one would even know that I'd worn it before."
"Bella." Alice pouted.
"No." Bella answered firmly. "I will find something in my closet. I'm not going shopping."
Edward fought a smile as Jasper drew Alice toward him, smirking a bit. "Fine," Alice grumped. "You are going though, right?"
Edward looked down at Bella as she glanced up at him. There was a mischievous glint in her eyes, and Edward had a feeling she'd probably end up shopping with Alice by the end of the week.
"Yes," Edward answered before Bella could pull whatever prank was running through her head. "We're going."
Bella's pout matched Alice's earlier one and Edward wondered who had taught whom the expression. Maybe he was wrong in his earlier assessment that he wouldn't have to convince her. "You don't want to go, love?" he asked quietly, taking a lock of her loose hair and playing with it between his fingers.
"I'm just not a big dancer," Bella answered quietly. "You may have noticed that even for being what I am, I'm still incredibly clumsy."
Edward and the rest of her family laughed quietly. It was true, Edward had noticed, that despite being a creature of mythical strength and grace, she had an alarming tendency to trip over things. "We've danced before," Edward reminded her, thinking of Valentine's Day. Though he remembered that he'd had to work at getting her on the dance floor at the Jazz band fundraiser the few times he was able to get Mr. Hall to sit in for him.
Bella nodded. "It was different."
Edward realized the source of her hesitancy. It was the setting, not the actual act of dancing. "It'll be fine, Bella," he assured her. "I'll make sure nothing happens."
She turned her gorgeous smile on him. "I know you will." She snuggled back into his side and the rest of lunch went by quickly as they all discussed their plans for the week and the upcoming dance.
Edward walked with Bella to biology once the bell rang, her cool hand tucked into his. The hour flew by and soon Bella was off to gym with Alice and Edward met Emmett in the hall on the way to Spanish.
"Dude," Emmett greeted him.
"What?" Edward asked, grinning up at his hulk of a friend.
"How'd you get Bella agree to go to the dance with you?" Emmett asked. "I could barely manage to get her to save me one at each of mine of Rosalie's weddings."
Edward shrugged, smiling. "She loves me."
"That she does, brother," Emmett laughed, clapping him on the back. "That she does."
"Wait," Edward said, stopping in the hall. "Did you just say weddings? Plural."
Emmett's laughter ricocheted off the lockers while Edward stared at him. "Yeah," Emmett said. "We've gone through," he paused and thought for a moment. "five ceremonies by now." He shrugged. "It depends on where we are. We'll probably have another one in a couple years, about halfway through 'college'," Emmett said.
Edward heard the quotation marks around the word college. He'd just assumed that they would go after they finished the school year, like he (and presumably Bella) would do after graduation the following summer. He knew they didn't need to go, and it once again reminded him of the differences between him and his love.
They were there, the differences, and Edward wasn't completely ignorant of them. Sometimes the realization just sort of blindsided him, that he and Bella were from completely different worlds that happened to collide in the small town of Forks. He wouldn't change it; he loved her, vampire or not. So her skin was colder, and her eyes were different, and she drank blood. Edward honestly didn't care. She was perfect for him; she made him laugh, she didn't let him get lost in his own little world, she made him feel complete. Bella didn't make him feel like an outsider because he'd rather focus on music, and she didn't make him feel like a freak because his body processed sugars differently, and she didn't want him to be anything that he wasn't. She loved him, not because he was new, or because he was a pretty face, and that made him love her all the more. He wanted to be with her forever.
He knew that their definitions of 'forever' were different. She literally had forever. Edward, as it currently stood, could count on seventy more years if he was lucky. Or perhaps unlucky, his thoughts wandered through Spanish while they watched a film. The subject of forever had not yet been broached by them, but Edward knew that there'd never be another woman for him. However, he also knew they had time, and he was in no rush to raise the question, mostly because he had a feeling Bella wouldn't respond completely positively. He needed the time to think about how best to bring it up and to line up all his arguments, because he was pretty sure that the discussion would quickly turn into a fight, and they both could have issues with their tempers.
But he knew that she loved him, even if he wasn't sure exactly why. He knew why he loved her, but it was clear from the way the entire school had reacted to her presence that she could have anyone he wanted. It wasn't that he doubted her when she said she loved him, he just didn't know what she saw in him. He didn't mind that she called him her 'dear boy' though sometimes it made him feel keenly aware of their age differences. Though they were both physically seventeen, Edward was aware of the gulf of experience that separated them, and the weekend's revelations hadn't dulled that knowledge any.
Before he knew it, class was over and Emmett was waving at him over his shoulder, hooking up with Rose. Edward shook his head to clear it and trudged off to orchestra rehearsal. He knew Bella was waiting for him outside the building, though Mr. Hall had repeatedly invited her in to take one of the chairs that lined the walls. With the last concert behind them, Mr. Hall was working through some more sight reading to sort out some of the chart options and let them go early.
"Hey, love," Edward greeted Bella, who sat, as expected, against the wall, legs curled under her, a book in her lap.
"Hello," she answered with a smile, accepting the hand he offered to tug her up. She had dressed more casually in dark jeans, which she brushed off as she stood and bent to grab her bag, a sweater and boots. She kissed his cheek lightly. "How was rehearsal?"
Edward shrugged, lifting her bag from her shoulder (she was more than capable of carrying it, he knew, but he liked doing it and it was helping to present her as more human). "It was alright. I'm just ready to go home."
She frowned slightly, eyes narrowing. "Are you feeling alright?" She cupped his cheek in her cool palm and he turned his face and nuzzled her hand gently.
"I'm fine. Just tired. It's been a long week." He kissed her palm and she giggled quietly, letting her hand drop until their fingers twined together.
"Alright," she agreed quietly. "Is there anything I can do?" she asked as they started toward his car, as they did nearly every afternoon.
Edward felt his ears grow warm. "Could you stay tonight?" he asked quietly. "I haven't been sleeping well." He'd been thinking too much again, more of the thoughts he'd been having throughout the day, and they'd left him restless.
Bella rose on tiptoe to kiss him gently. "Of course," she said with a smile. "You have only to ask."
He returned the smile and kissed her forehead. "Thank you."
"Silly boy," Bella whispered before she pulled away and slid into her seat. "I don't mind staying over. I just don't want you feel like I'm smothering you by being around all the time."
"You're not smothering me." Edward fastened his seat belt and started the car, navigating through the parking lot onto the highway. He leaned over and kissed her cheek while he paused at a stop sign. "But I understand if you need some alone time, as well."
Bella smiled softly at him. "I love you, Edward. Of course I always want to spend time with you. But we're separate people, too," she took his right hand loosely in hers. "And I'm very new at this, so you may have to remind me if there's something you want." She brought their hands to her lips and kissed the back of his. "I promise to tell you if I need time alone, other than for hunting."
Watching her hunt had been a non-negotiable issue, and Edward didn't mind. "I think I can handle that. And I will, too."
"Good. Now," Bella smirked at him. "Do you want to stay at my house tomorrow night? Emmett's been whining about a video game marathon."
Edward laughed. Emmett really was just a big child sometimes. "Sure, sounds like fun. Are you girls going shopping?"
Bella sighed and growled softly under her breath."Apparently, Lauren will be wearing a dress that's a knock-off reproduction of the dress I was going to wear, so yes, Alice has convinced me I must go shopping. Hopefully we'll only be a few hours, though, and I'm sure Emmett and Jasper will keep you busy with the game war."
"Jasper will be okay with that?" Edward asked with a small frown. He didn't spend as much time around the blonde vampire after Bella explained that he wasn't as comfortable in his control as he felt he should be.
Bella nodded. "Yes. I asked him before they left and he said he'd be alright. We'll only be gone a few hours, Alice promised."
"So long as everyone's okay with it, I'd love to spend the day with the boys." Edward smiled as he pulled into his driveway.
"They will be thrilled to hear to it," Bella snarked dryly, kissing his cheek as Edward laughed.
Edward's parents weren't home, not that he expected them to be. His mother's practice had picked up slightly in the last month, and Edward was worried that his father had slipped into some old working habits and was pushing things too hard again. He was gone to Seattle or Portland more often to lecture at law schools, but he hadn't cut back on his own practice any, meaning he was working long hours again.
Bella perched on the counter as usual and watched him make and eat his afternoon snack of an apple, cheese, peanut butter and some crackers (not the cheese and peanut butter together). She wrinkled her nose in that adorable way that told him that she found his food repulsive, and he laughed and kissed her nose before they went up to study.
"Can I ask you something?" Edward asked from his desk, not looking up from his math homework.
"Of course." Bella was lounging on his bed, shuffling through Edward's iPod.
Edward took a deep breath and asked the question that had been dancing through his head since Spanish class. "Why are you with me?" he asked in a whisper, knowing she'd hear him, feeling his ears heat up. He heard the bed shift, but didn't hear her approach and suddenly she was perched on the edge of his desk.
"Edward," she said softly.
He had to look up. Her expression was mostly serious, but there was a soft look in her eyes.
"You make me feel whole," she answered simply.
For some reason, those five words were enough, and Edward let his breath out in a gusty sigh, and felt her arms go around him. He rested his forehead against her cool shoulder and she played with his hair. They sat there quietly, though Edward could almost feel that she was burning to ask another question.
"Thank you," Edward said, sitting up and kissing her softly. "I just needed a bit of reassurance."
"Did something happen today?"
Edward shook his head. "Nothing out of the ordinary. I guess I just had too much time to think, and I was remembering our conversation in the meadow a few weeks ago and I just…" he trailed off and he shrugged.
"Talk to me, Edward," Bella urged quietly, sliding from his desk and guiding him to the bed, where they curled up together.
Edward took a long strand of her hair between his fingers and played with it idly. "Sometimes I'm just all too aware of the differences between us," he began quietly. "You've seen and done so much more than I have, and I wonder how I can ever be enough for you."
He felt her arms tighten around him. "You make me happier than I have been in as long as I can remember," she said quietly into his ear. "You accept me and want me despite the danger it puts you in. You have forgiven me my sins without question." She kissed him softly. "You make me feel human again when I'm with you," she said shyly. "You are more than I ever dreamed of."
Edward's eyes closed, feeling something in him ease at her words, though there was still a part of him that remained unsettled. "I never dreamed I would meet anyone like you, either. But sometimes I just wonder how you see me," he explained softly. "And sometimes I'm not sure that you see me as anything more than a child, or a novelty, that you won't eventually tire of."
"Edward," she breathed, her sweet smelling breath washing over him and he leaned into her more fully. She cupped his face in her hands. "I'm sorry that I ever made you feel that way."
He shook his head, lifting her hands from his cheeks and holding them in his own. "You didn't do it on purpose. I'm not sure it was even conscious on your part. You've never made me feel stupid or inferior or anything, just young, and it's awkward, because the feelings I have for you don't work when I feel like a child with you." He felt his ears heat up as he said it, hinting at the sexual attraction he felt for her, that he'd not acted on, in part because of her past, and in part because of his own insecurities about their relationship.
Bella smiled sadly, turning their hands so she was holding his. "You're right. I love you, as an equal, my partner, and I should make sure to treat you that way." She kissed him softly. "Because otherwise, I couldn't do that, and I think I'd miss it."
Edward smiled against her lips and kissed her back. "So, even though I love you, can we limit the 'dear boy' comments?" he asked, meeting her golden eyes, sure the entreaty was written across his face. "Because I would miss this too." And he kissed her again.
"Of course, Edward," she answered softly, a note of sadness in her voice. "I hadn't realized…"
He shook his head. "Don't worry about it too much." He smiled and kissed her again. "You shared your insecurities with me," he explained. "Which took a lot of trust on your part. I had to do the same. No relationship is free of problems, and I'll admit ours are pretty unique," he said, grinning as he nudged her. "We're taking interracial dating to the extreme, y'know."
Bella laughed, a light hearted sound that reminded him of wind chimes.
"We'll work through it," he said firmly. He supposed he could have taken the conversation to its logical conclusion giving his fears, about their possible future together, but his mother chose that moment to announce herself, running the moment, and Edward wasn't sure he was ready for more emotional upheaval at that point.
"Edward, I'm home!" she called up.
"We'll be right down, Mom," he yelled back.
Edward kissed Bella again sweetly, shifting a bit so he could cup her cold cheek in his hand. She smiled back at him and nodded, and they slid off the bed hand in hand, laughing as they got tangled up and Bella ended up on the floor with a thunk.
"Are you alright?" he heard his mom call from downstairs.
Edward chuckled and helped Bella up. "Yeah, Bella's just being her normal klutzy self," he called back down. They headed downstairs hand in hand, finding his mom in the kitchen, preparing to make dinner.
"Hello, sweetheart, Bella. Are you alright?" His mom looked over her shoulder from in front of the fridge as he perched on a bar stool and Bella stood between his legs, resting against his chest.
"I'm fine," Bella said with a laugh. "Just tripped over myself again."
"So, Edward, your dad and I will be going to Port Angeles a week from Saturday," she said as she rummaged, emerging with a half a head of lettuce, a couple of tomatoes, part of an onion and the block of cheese Edward had cut his snack from. He saw the can of black beans on the counter and deduced it was going to be burrito night. "Bella, will you be joining us for dinner tonight?"
His mom always invited Bella if she was there, and his girlfriend mostly found excuses.
"No thank you, Mrs. Masen. Esme's asked me home for supper tonight.
"Please Bella, you can call me Liz," Edward's mom responded. "Edward?"
"Hm?" he answered, toying with Bella's hair again. "Oh, Port Angeles, right."
"We'll probably be back late if we come home at all. The Community Playhouse is doing a bunch of one act plays, and your father is taking me to dinner." She pulled a pouch of Mexican rice from the pantry and skimmed down the directions.
"It's okay. There's a dance at school that night, and I'll probably stay over with Bella," Edward explained. Either he and Bella would end up back at his house or at hers with her siblings for a movie night after the dance.
His mom turned around and fixed them with a look. "With Bella?"
Oops, Edward thought, fighting a smile as he felt Bella's stifled laughter as her shoulders shook. "And her family," he clarified quickly. Remember Emmett? From the Shakespeare project?" He prompted. He thought they'd met once before.
"Oh, that big goofy kid?" His mom asked, turning back around and pulling out a skillet.
Edward and Bella both laughed at her assessment. "Yes, him. He's one of Bella's brothers, and I'll probably hang out with them, if that's alright?" He didn't need to give his mom the wrong idea about him and Bella, that they weren't intimate because Bella could kill him very easily. His parents loved Bella, (Edward had known they would), but they still had ground rules, no matter how much they trusted their son.
"Esme will be there, Liz," Bella added, and Edward gave her a squeeze.
"Sure, Edward, that's fine."
He could hear the smile in her voice. She was just happy he'd finally started making friends, he knew that. He also knew that she was beyond ecstatic that he finally had a girlfriend, even though she didn't show it much.
"Thanks, mom. Oh, they've also invited me over tomorrow night for a video game marathon. Do you mind if I go straight there after school?" He brushed some non-existent lint from the thigh of his jeans.
"Not at all. Should I bake some cookies or something for you to take?" She looked over her shoulder at him and beamed.
Bella smiled and shook her head.. "That's alright, Liz. Esme is practically Martha Stewart incarnate," she said.
Edward grinned and kissed the top of her head. "I'll be home sometime on Saturday, I think."
"Just call us if you want to stay longer, Edward," she answered as she started chopping the onion.
Edward nodded and slid off his stool, giving Bella a hug. "I will. I'm going to show Bella out and then I'm going to go practice until dinner."
"Alright, sweetheart." She was focused on dinner by that point. "It was nice seeing you again, Bella."
"You too," Bella echoed as she took Edward's hand.
Edward led her to the door, then folded her into her arms and held her close.
"I'll be back in a few hours," she said softly.
"I know." But he didn't really want to let her go.
"Edward," she said softly on a laugh. She backed out of his embrace and tiptoed up to kiss him softly. "I'll see you later."
He nodded, kissed her forehead, and watched her sprint off into the forest. Once she was out of sight, he moved to his piano. The outside world quickly faded as Edward sat at his piano and played until he was called for dinner. His father hadn't come home yet, so he had a quiet meal with his mom and returned upstairs to watch a little television before finishing his homework.
Edward was beginning to work on his Spanish homework during commercials when Bella leapt easily through his second story window.
"Hi," she greeted him, glancing at the TV. "Oh, Eleventh Hour," she said, dropping her bag and joining him on the bed.
Edward laughed quietly and kissed her cheek as she settled down beside him. "I missed you."
"I missed you too," Bella whispered. She nestled against him, resting her head on his chest over his heartbeat and he played with the loose ends of her hair while they finished the show. When it was over, and his Spanish homework was done, Edward reached for his reading that he'd stacked on the corner of his bed and they sat in companionable silence as Bella pulled out her own course work.
When Edward's mom came up to say goodnight, Bella ducked into into Edward's bathroom, emerging in her lounge clothes, a pair of loose pants and a tank top. Edward met her halfway across the room and slowly tugged her into a searing kiss. "You're gorgeous," he whispered against her lips.
"You're biased," she returned with a smirk, kissing him again before he went into the bathroom to get ready for bed.
When Edward emerged from the bathroom, she was settled against the wall, the covers already turned back for him and the lights turned down, save the reading lamp by his bed. He settled down to read, cuddled up against Bella who lightly stroked through his hair as she read. Edward managed to get through the required chapters before his eyes grew heavy and he heard Bella's musical laugh behind him as she slipped his glasses off and eased him down into the first peaceful sleep he'd had that week.
He woke the next morning to soft humming and those fingers stroking through his unruly hair once again. Edward blinked his eyes open slowly and blearily focused on Bella's face above him, a soft smile playing on her lips. She leaned forward and kissed him gently. "Good morning," she whispered.
"It certainly is when it starts like this," Edward replied. He stretched slowly before sitting up. He kissed her quickly then slid from the bed to take care of pressing matters, and step into the shower. Edward lingered under the hot water, letting it wake him up a bit. He was still half-hard, his morning wood not having fully diminished, but he ignored it, unwilling to indulge while Bella was in the next room and could hear everything. He wasn't a total prude, but it was embarrassing, especially in light of the conversation they'd had the previous evening about their feelings for each other.
He dried quickly and wrapped the towel around his hips, though is hair dripped down onto his shoulders. Bella was unabashedly staring at him when he padded back into his room to his bureau and fished a clean pair of boxers from the top drawer. "See something you like, love?" he asked casually as he shimmied into his underwear and dropped the towel.
"Mm," she muttered with a smile, raking her gaze over his body.
Edward felt himself flush under the attention, and then regretted not having taken care of business in the shower.
Bella giggled, slapping her hands over her mouth. "I'm sorry, Edward, I shouldn't laugh," she said softly. "It's alright, you know," she teased lightly. "You do remember I live with three couples who are very committed to each other and have very healthy sex lives?"
"Oh, God, Bella," Edward said, clapping his hands over his eyes. "I so didn't need that mental picture." He didn't hear her approach, but he wasn't surprised to feel cold arms wrap around his waist from behind.
"Edward." Her voice was serious behind him, and he turned, wanting to have this conversation face to face, even if a certain part of his anatomy was still causing problems. He wrapped his arms around her hips and stared into her golden eyes.
"Edward," she said again, softly. "I know we haven't done much, sexually," she continued, "and I think that's mostly me. We haven't been together for long, and it's not that I don't want to be with you," she rambled. "It's just a matter of control. I think I am, in control, but I want to go slow. I couldn't bear it if I hurt you, Edward." She kissed his naked chest lightly. "I'm not opposed to trying things, and I know you've got your own needs, and I don't want you to think I don't want to be like that with you and-"
Edward cut her off with a soft kiss. "It's alright, love," he assured her in a whisper. "I'm not sure I'm ready for us to have sex," he said honestly. "I'm okay with the intimacy we have, but I'm okay with exploring a bit more if you're comfortable with it," he said. The last thing he wanted to do was rush her into an experience, knowing how she thought of her own past.
He watched her expression shift from serious to playful. "So if I wanted to do this," she said, a smirk playing on her face as the fingers of one hand dipped into the waistband of his boxers and he hissed at the feel of her against his overheated flesh. "It'd be okay?"
"Bella," he warned softly, but his body betrayed him and he reacted to her touch. He whispered direction to her, barely any space between their bodies as her hand worked over him, bringing him to a shuddering climax that almost brought him to his knees, overwhelmed by the scent and feel of her against him. He was breathing heavily as his forehead came to rest on her shoulder and her left hand brushed through his hair as he rode it out.
"Need another shower?" she teased lightly, reaching for the towel to clean them both off. She was gentle as she wiped his chest and kissed his chin gently when she was done, taking the towel to the hamper and ducking into the bathroom to wash her hands and try to clean up her tank top.
He laughed quietly and joined her, getting a cloth wet under the faucet in the sink and wiping himself down. "No, I think I'll be alright." He stopped what he was doing and drew her close for a deep and lingering kiss. "You didn't have to do that," he said softly, nuzzling her temple. "But I liked it." He kissed her again.
She ducked her head, and he swore she would have blushed if she could. "I'm glad," she whispered.
He hugged her, not wanting things to get awkward. "So, that kind of experimentation is definitely okay." He kissed her again and whispered in her ear. "And definitely didn't make me feel like a kid," he teased.
It worked, and Bella laughed, and then whimpered softly as he nipped at the flesh just below her ear. He kissed her again and left her to get changed as he went to find his own wardrobe for the day. Jeans, long-sleeved t-shirt and a hoodie made up his uniform, and Bella popped out of the bathroom dressed in slacks, low heels and a pretty blue blouse. Some days he just felt like a total slob next to her.
"You're going to be late," Bella whispered in his ear, perched next to him on the bed while he pulled on his socks and sneakers. "I'll pack a bag for you and meet you at school, if that's alright?"
"Sure, love, that's fine." He kissed her gently, grabbed his messenger bag and threw in his books. "I'll see you in a bit." He dashed down the stairs, grabbed a bagel and was out the door and into the Volvo in a few minutes. He made it to rehearsal with three minutes to spare.
The day passed quickly and unremarkably and Edward soon found himself driving to the Cullen house and arguing about music with Bella. They were still picking holes in each other's arguments as they entered the house to Jasper carrying a second television into the room and Alice arranging the seats in the optimal pattern for viewing and play.
Edward carried his bag up to Bella's room while the family argued good naturedly downstairs about the tournament. He paused at the bottom of the stairs and watched them interact, smiling. He felt lucky to have been welcomed so heartily into the family; he'd sometimes wished for a brother or sister or two, someone to hang out with and share things with, and he'd finally found that in his girlfriend's family.
"Hello, Edward dear," Esme said, approaching from the hall.
"Hi, Esme," he answered with a smile.
"Come to join the fun and games?" Her smile was soft and fond as she watched her children.
"Don't know how well I'll be able to keep up, but I'm going to try," he promised. "Emmett needs to be knocked down a peg or two."
Esme laughed and Emmett bellowed at him. "Don't hold your breath, Edward! I'm gonna kick your ass!"
"Emmett McCarty Cullen!" Esme scolded.
"Sorry, ma," Emmett retorted and Edward laughed, not hearing a note of sincerity in his voice as Esme shook her head.
"Have a good evening, Edward. There's plenty of food in the kitchen, please help yourself. Carlisle and I are headed out this evening, but we'll be back in the morning. I believe there is 'male bonding' planned," she said with a smirk.
Edward laughed again. "Thanks, Esme."
"No need to thank me, dear." With that, Esme gave him another soft smile and patted his arm gently and disappeared back down the hall where he understood her and Carlisle's room to be.
"Edward!" Alice chirped from the couches. "Emmett's getting antsy, so get yourself over here already!"
Edward joined the Cullen kids in front of the two televisions and their evening of games kicked off. They all rotated through games, tournament style, and around 1 am Edward and Rosalie were battling out for championship of Mario Kart, to Edward's surprise. He hadn't expected to make it through the first couple rounds, but it turned out that he had at least one thing in common with the vampire family – he liked to drive, and he liked to drive fast, and that seemed to give him an advantage, even lacking their reflexes. He'd learned later that Bella had used her shield on Alice and Jasper, taking away their advantages.
Not enough of one, however, as Rose won handily, much to Edward's disappointment. The kiss he got from Bella more than made up for the loss, though, and he'd lose every game if she'd keep kissing him like that, though he'd pass on the catcalls from the rest of them. Bella laughed quietly and nestled against him, her nose pressed against his throat and he nuzzled the top of her head. He didn't feel in any danger from her, despite the way she was positioned against him.
They started off a new tournament, thankfully choosing a game Edward held no interest in, since he fell asleep on the couch cuddled up to Bella before his heat.
When he woke the next morning, unsurprised to learn that Emmett had swept the previous nine hours of game play and the girls had already left for their shopping excursion. Edward fixed himself a quick breakfast of cereal and used Bella's room to shower and change and put in his contacts before rejoining the guys.
They spent the day playing Halo, Carlisle joining in when he and Esme returned from their night out. The girls came home and the game slowly broke up as each of them drifted away to spend time with their mates. Bella guided Edward back upstairs and they just laid together and listened to music for awhile, before he decided he should head home to do homework and laundry and perhaps spend time with his parents.
He spent the rest of the weekend quietly at home, though he and Bella (and Emmett when he stole Bella's phone at one point) texted back and forth.
The week leading up to the dance passed fairly quickly. The school buzzed with excitement a bit more each day; it wasn't prom, but it was a dance and a chance to get dressed up. Edward, despite having Bella on his arm most days, was still fending off advances from girls to be their dates. Bella thought it was hilarious. Edward was just annoyed.
Saturday arrived and Edward heaved a sigh of relief and remaining unmolested by the female population of Forks High. Well, nearly, he smiled, remembering some of the 'experimentation' he and Bella had done. He was more than alright taking things slowly, he decided, as they'd spent time gradually learning each other's bodies. Even in their limited time, Edward had discovered erogenous zones he didn't know he had.
As instructed, he was at Bella's at 6:30 on Saturday evening. He made sure to eat before, since he wasn't taking her out for dinner. He wore black slacks and a maroon dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up half-way up his forearms and his leather jacket. He had one pair of nice shoes that he slipped on (with black socks of course), and he slid out of his car in front of the Cullen house at 6:25.
"Yo, Edward!" Emmett greeted him from the porch. He was dressed in khaki slacks and a light blue button up shirt and shiny black shoes and was sans jacket.
"Hey, Emmett," he returned, climbing the stairs. "What's up, man?"
"We're supposed to make an entrance," Emmett replied, rolling his eyes as Jasper came out on the porch as well, dressed in something closer to a suit, though the knot on the tie was loose and the top button on his shirt was undone and his jacket was tossed over his shoulder. "Alice wanted this to be a proper date."
"I see," Edward said dryly and the guys laughed. They waited a couple minutes until it was 6:30 on the dot and Emmett grumbled under his breath and rolled his eyes before ringing the bell.
"Girls, your dates are here!" Carlisle was laughing as he opened the door and Edward smirked as he watched the blonde vampire attempt to school his face into one of a father of teenage girls meeting their dates for the dance and fail miserably. "I'm supposed to ask you boys what your intentions are toward my daughters," he said, still chuckling. "But since two of you are married already to my daughters, I guess that means it's just you, Edward."
Edward chewed on the inside of his cheek to stop from laughing. "Sir, I assure you my intentions toward your daughter are nothing but honorable." The snickers from beside him didn't help him keep a straight face.
"Oh, what the hell," Carlisle said, laughing. "You kids have a good time tonight. I'm working overnight at the hospital, so I'll see you all tomorrow." Still laughing, he departed, and Edward heard his car take off down the driveway.
Edward heard footsteps on the stairs and turned a moment after Emmett and Jasper had. His breath caught in his throat. Bella was gorgeous in a maroon cocktail dress and matching heels. The dress had spaghetti straps and she'd pulled her hair back off her face in an elegant twist. She wore a simple pendant around her neck, a single gemstone that lay perfectly in the hollow of her throat and sparkled along with the matching earrings she wore.
"You look amazing, love," he said reverently as he pulled her close for a kiss.
"So do you," she whispered. "I like that color on you." She rose on tiptoe to kiss him again.
"Are you ready?" He took her coat from her and helped her into it.
She nodded and took his hand. They were all taking separate cars, in case they ended up separated throughout the night or they decided to go somewhere else.
Edward held Bella's hand the whole ride to the high school and they chatted about nothing really of consequence over the soft music from Edward's iPod.
They met up with the others at the school, Alice practically bouncing in place despite Jasper's hand in hers as they waited for the whole group to be together. Edward brandished his and Bella's tickets and they were swept into the gym with the rest of the school. He hung his and Bella's jackets on the rack provided and took her hand again and they made their way through to a table set up against the wall with a good view of the dance floor.
The DJ was actually playing fairly decent music and Alice and Jasper and Rosalie and Emmett wasted no time joining the small group of dancers already on the dance floor. Edward tugged a semi-reluctant Bella out to join them and Edward found that Bella danced better than she gave herself credit for, when she didn't let herself think about who was watching or if she didn't get overly self-conscious.
They danced on and off for a couple hours until Edward needed a break. The room had filled with most of the population of the school and it was starting to get a little stifling in the room. He grabbed some punch and moved to the table where they'd laid cameras and phones and watched Alice scramble up to the DJ and whisper in his ear. The young man (probably a community college student from Port Angeles) nodded enthusiastically and said something back. Alice bounced away and went to claim her siblings.
"Alright you cats, here's an oldie but goodie requested by Alice Cullen!"
Edward laughed when YMCA was piped over the sound system and his girlfriend and her brothers and sisters got into the act, lining up like the Village People and did the whole act for the song. They had the whole room joining in on the chorus and even though he knew Bella had to be dying a little bit at being the focus of the whole room, he could clearly see she was having a good time
Edward was laughing quietly at the antics of Bella and her siblings when he felt her phone ring on the table at his elbow. He glanced at it and answered when he saw it was Carlisle.
"Bella's phone, this is Edward," he answered, still laughing.
"Edward, son, it's Carlisle."
Edward immediately stopped laughing as he suddenly felt cold at the gentle tone of Bella's father's voice. He was already halfway out of the chair, looking around quickly.
"You need to come to the hospital. There's been an accident. Your parents-"
"No," Edward whispered and he dropped the phone.
[note: I've gone easy on the cliff-hangers, so hopefully you'll forgive me on this one. I'll try to resolve it soon.]