A/n: I have noticed recently how unhealthy I am.

But I really, really like junk food.

How annoying.

Anyway; I really fancy a sweet Edward today; so let's see what I can do.

Oh yeah: OVER 30 reviews O_o WOW!

So excited! I feel like a child. Review, my lovelies! Make me feel special!

Chapter 14

EPOV

Friends.

Ben had said that they protect their friends.

And he'd implied that I was one of them.

My heart swelled to the size of a small moon as I looked around our small table; Bella to my left, with my arm still wrapped tightly around her; she didn't seem to mind. Angela and Ben, wrapped around each other in much the same way across the table; their love radiating around them in waves.

I felt like I was on top of the world.

I, Edward Cullen, the nerdy, geeky, constantly picked on, baby of the family, loser kid, had friends.

And I loved them. More than anything.

All three of them had stood up for me against Mike Newton in some way. Even the sweet hearted Angela had had an input. And Bella had stood up for me before; when Mike had tripped me. She had taken my hand and pulled my into her life. I knew that the people around me could be popular; they could have masses of friends surrounding them. They could be sitting there with Mike Newton, taking the piss out of me at my table. Where I had sat alone until they found their ways to my side.

And it all started with Bella Swan. I found myself unable to pull my arm from around her. She fit there so perfectly; and her heat radiated through my clothes and warmed my cold skin. Just like her kindness and friendship had warmed my heart. Emmett often said 'got your backs' when we played baseball as a family; but I had realised, when Lauren Mallory cursed at Bella, that I had 'got' Bella's back. From now until whoever she didn't need me anymore. I'd also stick up for Angela and Ben, the same way as they had for me. But Bella would have my special attention. She had become my best friend, and she had become someone I loved and admired. She was beautiful and wonderful, and constantly surprised me.

The clothes she had put me in had attracted unwanted attention today; but somewhere along the line I'd realised she'd been right. Despite being unwanted; it wasn't bad attention. People wanted to know me. Me! Sure, I could see how fake they were, how judgemental; how shallow, but she had been right. I'd heard people calling me attractive, gorgeous, good looking, and stunning all day. And, in a way, I actually liked it. Shallow as it may be; I felt good. For the first time since I'd arrived in Forks. I'd felt like I was fitting in somewhere, and it was thanks to the angel beside me. Whereas other people had ignored and teased and picked on me, she had come to my aid; and helped me to feel like Edward Cullen again, and not the friendless shell I had been. Others had been afraid to look at me; Bella hadn't been afraid to wind her arms around my neck and kiss me in front of the whole school. She had shocked me; and sent tingles of electricity through my body. The feeling of her lips against mine had set me on fire. Metaphorically.

She snuggled in against my side again, and looked up at me with her gorgeous chocolate eyes; then she smiled up at me, and I fell in love, all over again. Bella Swan made me feel things I'd only ever read about in books before. Love and devotion to her. Then there was the feeling I got every time I saw another guy look in her direction; and take in her gorgeous form; her beautiful face. It had taken me a while, but I'd recognised it as jealousy.

'It's like needles, pricking into you, when you see someone's eyes on your girl. You feel like ripping their damn eyes out; though you know they're not technically doing anything wrong exactly. It's quite confusing actually. Makes you feel…tingly'. Jasper had once tried to explain jealousy to me.

I also felt protective over her. When I was near her, I felt safe; I felt free, liberated, and like I could do anything. I would perform miracles for her. I wanted to shield her eyes from the horrors of the world; I wanted to keep her wrapped in my arms; I wanted to take blows and bullets for her. If she tripped, I wanted to be there to catch her.

The bell rang, and I was shocked out of my thoughts. I looked up, and saw Angela smiling at me knowingly. I smiled back nervously; I still wasn't quite sure of this whole nice-ness-thing. I'd never really had friends. Her eyes flickered to Bella, then back to me, and I suddenly caught her drift, as it were. I blushed bright red, and pulled my arm away from Bella. Angela just smiled; laughter dancing in her eyes. I saw Ben grinning right along with her, as I pulled Bella's bag onto my shoulder as well as my own, waiting for her to straighten out her outfit, before leading her away to our biology lesson.

"See you later, Angela, Ben!" I heard Bella call, before I felt her soft hand in mine. I slowed down so we could walk side by side. I sighed softly, feeling complete as I looked down at our interlocked hands. My eyes grazed over Bella's face, she was looking carefully at where she was going. She was clumsy, tripped over a lot; I'd noticed. She was, however, well practiced at catching herself, so not many others had noticed. In a moment of boldness, I squeezed her hand. Her eyes flickered up to meet mine, and she grinned up at me again. My heart skipped a beat. 'I'll catch you', I tried to tell her with my eyes, but I'm not sure if it came across. Probably not.

I placed her things down for her in biology, and then sat down beside her, upset at the loss of her hand, which rested on the table next to mine. I watched her glaring at the back of Mike Newton's head whilst we waited for the lesson to begin. I suppressed a laugh.

Mr Banner walked in a few moments later and began the lesson. I couldn't concentrate. Instead I focused my energy on taking in the wonder that was Bella. I composed a letter in my head to the government, about how I'd found the eighth wonder of the world; how she was sitting next to me. She'd become the muse for my piece; and everything else to me along the way. If that wasn't wonderful, I didn't know what was.

Though a gentleman, I couldn't help but be a man for some of the ridiculously long and boring lesson. I let my eyes wander down to her beautiful creamy legs; encased today in a pair of almost indecently short denim shorts. Her feet were, surprisingly, wrapped in small, chunky black heels, which must have been the reason she was walking so carefully. Her torso was covered by a long sleeved cream shirt; which was obviously about a size to big for her. The buttons were left open to give a glimpse of her pale chest; whilst leaving more than enough to the imagination. Over her shirt was a tiny black waistcoat, which was buttoned tightly around her slim waist, giving her shape, and showing off her slender form. Her hair fell in long tresses around her shoulders; and her face was lit by the sunlight, that was, for once, spilling in through the lab windows. Her eyes sparkled in the glow. I suppressed a groan; Bella Swan was absolutely beautiful.

I slipped my hand in my pocket, and fondly fingered the key ring she'd given me. I thought about how happy I felt when she'd given me a gift. I'd not had many gifts that hadn't been from my family before. I'd had some, I was sure, when I was younger. A bunch of flowers from Nancy Leader when I was in kinder garden, when she had a crush on me. And a pet rock, from my friend Bernard Jacks in my first year at school. But soon after I'd become friends with him, my parents had passed away; and I'd started my life as a piece of baggage; being moved from place to place, until, finally, a few years down the line, Carlisle and Esme were kind enough to adopt me.

Apart from that, I'd had nothing like the key ring. Bella had no idea how much her little gift had affected me. How much joy I found in such a sweet gesture. And, of course, that morning, Angela, Ben and Bella had presented me with a humorous top, to welcome me back to school with. It had made me happy; that they were thinking of me whilst I was away. Instead of just forgetting about me, like the rest of the school would have. I was blessed, I had friends.

The bell rang, signalling the end of the day, and I caught Bella as she fell from her stool in surprise. Obviously, somebody else hadn't been listening either. I chuckled at her, and she looked up at me with a blush and an embarrassed smile. I'd grown partial to that particular red on her pale cheeks. I resolved to make her blush as much as possible in the future. I'd have to get over my inhibitions and start teasing her a little. Surely I could trust that she wouldn't run for the hills. She was my friend. I was sure of it now.

Once again I grabbed her bag and chucked it over my shoulder with my own. Before she could complain, I bravely took her hand, and pulled her from the room with me. I saw people watching us as we walked down the corridor together. But I didn't care like I had that morning, when I walked alone. Now, I only had eyes for Bella. I made a detour to my locker, to grab my new t-shirt; before taking her out to the car park, and helping her into my Volvo.

She teased my about my newfound popularity as we drove home, and described the outfit that she wanted me to wear the next day. She told me that she'd stuck sticky labels on it on Monday night, so I couldn't miss it. I couldn't help but laugh at her excited expression when she described a pair of dark jeans and a snug fitting shirt that I'd tried on the night before.

I helped her out of the Volvo when we reached her house, and insisted on carrying her bag to the door for her, despite her telling me how silly it was. But I wanted to do everything for her. I wouldn't have minded carrying her too much; but I think she would have drawn the line.

Before she let herself in, she reached up and pressed a kiss on my cheek; which flushed red as soon as she did. I wondered drunkenly down the driveway, back to my car; slapping myself in the cheeks to snap myself out of my haze when I got inside.

As I drove back to my house, I made a resolution to call my siblings that night. Now, almost more than ever, I needed their help.

I was going to make myself good enough from Bella Swan; and it was going to take a lot of work.

A/n: Oh, silly Edward, you are already perfect. Foolish child. But I do love you, lalala, and so does Bella….and half the female population.