Hello everybody! As I said before, another double update today! I'm sorry that my chapters are so short! I promise, they get longer! This is just the stuff I've had written for a long time! Another short announcement: If you haven't already, please look at my other story, Ms. Swan. One last thing: FanFic, I've found, sometimes deletes the ends of my sentences, so if you find something that doesn't really make sense, just tell me and I'll clarify! Thanks!

Two quotes in this chapter! One is from Midnight Sun (which you can find on Stephenie Meyer's website) and the other is from Twilight!

I am not Stephenie Meyer

Chapter Twenty

BPOV

Edward had slowly raised his hand up to my cheek, like he had that first day after our disaster date, and cupped my cheek in his hand. There was no bruise there this time; I think he just wanted to touch my face again. I was secretly pleased…or maybe not so secretly. I touched my cheek in the exact same way, hoping to remember exactly what it felt like. His hands were smooth as satin, and also quite cold. I remembered that his hand fit my cheek perfectly. I smiled stupidly as I remembered his hand. I kept playing it over and over again in my head.

Then Alice interrupted my daydreaming. She and Rosalie had finally figured out that they were both working toward the same goal, so they had banded together. Alice said, "Bella! Do you like Edward? 'Cause I think he likes you."

I nodded slowly, and Alice crowed for joy. "Do you think that you could be persuaded to go on a date with him?" said Rosalie.

I nodded, trying to hold back a smile.

"What's that face?" asked Rosalie.

I burst their bubble then, I only felt sort of bad, "But Alice, we already know that. He's been taking me to physical therapy for the last three months, we talk then. And we both decided to go on a date, sort of."

"What?! How come he didn't tell me this?"

"Because it's a secret. Charlie, my father, can't know."

Rosalie nodded, but Alice looked confused, "Why not?"

"He doesn't let me date." I wasn't lying.

"Don't worry," she winked, "Your secret's safe with me."

"Thanks Alice," I was grateful.

Then Alice left when Edward honked the horn, and both Rosalie and I climbed into her car. I smiled at her when she said, "So your physical therapy's been good?"

"Yeah," I said, "I've been making real progress. You heard me tell Edward at lunch today, I typed my report last night. I was really pleased." But nothing could compare to the swooping sensation in my stomach when I thought about Edward's hand on my face, or our upcoming sort-of date.

"I was trying to ask you subtly how your conversations with Edward have been."

Oh. I was very slow on the uptake. I'd never been a master at detecting subtlety. Maybe it was because I was such a bad liar. "They've been alright." I said quietly.

"Care to spill?"

"Um, he's very kind. Too optimistic, I think. But maybe that's just me."

"You're terribly pessimistic."

"Yeah, well, I've got a reason, haven't I?"

"Yes." We were quiet for a little while. "I still don't understand why you don't leave his house, Bella. My father and I would be more than happy to house you. And you know that we aren't in need of any funds at all. We could even pay your way through college if you want."

I smiled ruefully. "Thanks Rosalie. I'll think about it."

"That's the same thing you've said for the last five years."

"Yeah. Well. I have been considering." I just had ruled out the possibility of living with Rosalie every time.

"Anyway, back to the subject at hand: How's Edward."

"He's great. His hand is really soft."

"Um."

"Yes that is what I think about at night while trying to fall asleep."

She laughed. I didn't mention that until recently when Charlie was raping me I had thought of an empty white room and thought about decorating it. Recently I'd been thinking of Edward. I'd imagine his face and pretend that he was in the room with me and beating Charlie until he bled almost to death. I would imagine my vindictive pleasure as he was forced to bind his own wounds and brought to the hospital. I would imagine the way I would live with Edward's family once Charlie was recovering. I would imagine how I would come back to Charlie's house when we returned and he would never touch me again. And then Charlie would leave and I would cry even though I hadn't cried in years. I was way past crying because I was being used. I would cry because Edward wasn't there with me. Saving me.

After Rosalie dropped me off at home, I started to cook dinner. I made steak and potatoes with brownies for dessert. When Charlie came home a few hours later, he squeezed my butt and patted me on my right breast before heading toward the table for dinner. He guzzled down the beer that I had provided on the table and scarfed down the steak and potatoes. He seemed to be in a good mood, which was a good sign for when the alcohol kicked in. I was hoping that he would remember not to hurt me when he was drunk and just pass out quickly.

It was my lucky day. If I had three wishes, I would have wished that Charlie would go to jail forever, that my hand would be back to normal, and that Edward and I would be together forever. I knew that none of those was likely to come true.

Charlie did fall asleep quite quickly after dinner; it wasn't even seven forty-five when he did. That gave me just enough time to carry him up to his bed before eight.

I did just that, I had become quite strong, and his weight was a load, but it was almost nothing. The beer would most likely keep him out for a while. It was eight then, and I ran to my window to open my blinds. I had a really big smile on my face when I saw that Edward was there, already waiting.

I laughed aloud when he jumped out of his window with such force that he landed on the ground and had to dust himself off before climbing through my window. I opened my window so wide that he could actually step through. It creaked; I was worried that Charlie would wake up. He didn't, of course, but I would need to get some grease for the next time…if there was a next time, that is. When he got through, I was so happy to see him that I gave him a huge hug.

I held him so tightly to my body that I was afraid that I was crushing his lungs, but I just held him tight, and he didn't complain. In fact, I think he held me back. I don't know how long we stood there, but at that very moment, I knew that I loved him and that I couldn't possible be without him. Then Edward leaned down and kissed me. Not on the lips, of course, but a very sweet kiss on the cheek.

I was so shocked that I dropped my arms from around his tall, lean body.

"Sorry," he said, "I didn't mean…"

"That's okay. I don't mind."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't know that you wouldn't mind, otherwise I would have done that sooner!"

I laughed. I wished he had done that sooner. "I wish you had."

"Really?"

"Yeah." We both laughed.

He smiled, "Now what?"

"Well, let's talk. You ask, and I'll answer."

"Um, where's Charlie?"

"Oh, well, I gave him two or three beers at dinner, he should be out for a while, but you never know with Charlie."

"Alright, so…what is your favorite thing to do?" He seemed hesitant.

"I, um, I like to read when I get the chance I guess." I didn't say that at the moment, my favorite thing to do was to be with him in any context. Reading was my favorite thing to do before the incident, now it held only second place.

"What is your favorite color?"

"Green." I blushed.

"Hmm, what's that blush?"

"Uh, nothing." My face reddened because, until very recently, my favorite color was brown. It was impossible, while staring back into his beautiful bright green eyes, not to remember the reason for the switch.

"Tell me," he commanded after persuasion failed.

"It's the color of your eyes," I sighed, surrendering, staring down at my hands as I fiddled with a piece of my hair. His pause was very short. I was grateful when he moved on.

"Did you tell anyone what we're up to?"

"That depends…I assume you told Alice. I told the girls that we had a date in the near future, but didn't say when and told them that it was a secret and not to tell."

"Oh."

"What?"

"Well that explains why Alice has been following me around all day trying to get an answer about when I'm going on a date with you. I told her that we weren't. I thought that you hadn't told her."

"Oh, sorry."

"That's fine. It's not a problem, Alice is overenthusiastic anyway." He said.