SM OWNS TWILIGHT

Chapter twenty.

"So…you like Edward?" Dr. Mallory asked. His lips twitched as he fought a smile. I blushed and bit my lip, not really wanting to admit that I liked him. I had spent almost every session with Dr. Mallory bitching about Edward, and how much I hated him. So it didn't surprise me that Dr. Mallory found this humorous.

"Yeah…" I admitted sheepishly. Dr. Mallory laughed. "I saw this coming." He told me.

"How?"

He shrugged. "I could tell that you didn't hate him, you were just trying to not have feelings for him. I was wondering when you would get out of denial." He explained and chuckled.

I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest. "Whatever."

"You said that you told Edward about your anorexia… how did that make you feel?" He asked.

"Scared and vulnerable."

"I'm quite proud of you Bella, you've come along way. I'm not sure if it seems this way now, but opening up to your friends are really going to help your recovery. You're already starting to trust people, which I know is hard for you."

"Thank you Dr. Mallory, that means a lot."

He smiled. "So your birthday is tomorrow…"

I groaned. "It's going to be the worst Friday ever."

"I still don't understand why you hate your birthday so much."

I shrugged. "I wouldn't mind it if people didn't spend money on me. Like a simple 'happy birthday!' is all I really need." I explained.

"You are a very interesting girl, Bella."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"What I mean is that, you dislike your birthday because people spend money on you when other people would love to have money spent on them. You care more about your family and friends than yourself. You're quite selfless when most are quite selfish."

~ooOoo~

Alice and I were both sitting on my bed, listening to music, playing a simple game of "who would you rather have."

"Who would you rather have… Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom?" she asked me.

I laughed. "That's easy! Johnny Depp."

"You're right, that was way too easy." She giggled.

"Okay, um… Jasper or Brad Pitt?"

Alice groaned. "What even, oh my gosh." I giggled and she growled.

"Okay, don't tell Jazz, but I would so pick Brad over him."

I laughed loudly. Alice narrowed her eyes at me, and then smirked. "Edward or Kellin Quinn?"

"Aw Alice!" I groaned. Alice laughed evilly. "Feel my pain."

"Kellin! Wait…no! Um…Edward! Can I choose both?"

She shook her head. "Nope."

"Fine!" I huffed. "I would pick…" I pondered my answer for a few moments. "Edward. I would rather have Edward." I decided. Alice laughed lightly.

"That's love right there. Picking Edward Cullen over Kellin Quinn!" I smacked her playfully on the arm.

"I would dump Jasper and Brad for Kellin!" Alice's tone was so serious, I couldn't help but laugh.

"What? I would!"

"Alice, can I ask you something?" She nodded.

"How did you know that you were in love with Jasper?"

She smiled widely. "I sort of just knew. I had been waiting for someone for a while, and then I saw Jasper. I knew he was the only one for me. Why?"

I sighed. "Just wondering." I was curious about love, I couldn't help it. I found love to be a terribly intriguing thing. I wanted to know what being in love felt like. It seems like the most wonderful thing really.

"Do you think that you're in love with Edward?" she grinned.

"I don't think so... I'm not really sure to be honest with you. I don't know what love is supposed to feel like."

"Trust me, when you feel it you'll know."

~ooOoo~

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY JINGLE BELLS!" Emmett shouted when I stepped into the kitchen. Charlie chuckled and took a sip from his coffee. "Happy birthday kiddo."

"Thanks guys." I mumbled as I sat my books down on the counter. I picked the Coco Coco Puffs up. I grabbed a bowl from the cabinet and the milk from the fridge. I quickly made my cereal. I got a spoon from the silverware drawer, and took a seat at the kitchen table across from Emmett.

Charlie smiled at me, before pulling his wallet out of his back pocket. I raised an eyebrow at him, when he handed me two 50 dollar bills.

"Happy Birthday." He told me. I shook my head at him. "Dad I can't take your money!"

"Nonsense."

"But-" I tired to argue but Charlie cut me off. "No 'buts'." I sighed deeply and reluctantly took the money from him. I smiled weakly as I folded the bills, and slid them into my back pocket.

"Thanks dad." I said sincerely.

"You're welcome honey."

"You'll get my present later." Em told me. I groaned. "You didn't have to get me anything!"

"But I did, so shut up." I finished up my cereal and placed the bowl in the sink.

"Bye daddy." I said, while a pecked Charlie on the cheek. "See ya."

"See ya dad!" Emmett called over his shoulder. I grabbed my books and shot out the door.

"Em! Wait up!" I shouted as I jogged to the jeep. I slid in and buckled my seat belt. Emmett pulled out of the drive way. I tapped my fingers on the door frame as I hummed the melody the Secondhand Serenade song that was stuck in my head.

"I was born to tell you I love you. Isn't that a song already?
I get a B in originality and it's true I cant go on without you.

Your smile makes me see clearer. If you could only see in the mirror what I see."

Emmett pulled into the Forks High parking lot and we got out of the jeep. We walked over to where Rose, Alice, Jazz and Edward were standing. Em wrapped his arm around Rosalie, and kissed her on the cheek.

I smiled at Edward. He made his way over to me, and he linked our fingers together. I bit my lip at the sensation of his casual touch.

I called a 'see you later' to everybody as we parted ways. Edward and I walked hand in hand into the building. We passed Lauren, and she shot me a death glare. I smiled smugly at her. We stopped outside of Mr. Varner's class room. He ran his fingers along my jaw bone, and smiled crookedly at me. "Happy birthday Bella." He whispered before walking away. I blinked rapidly, as I made my way into the room in a daze.

"Hey Bella!" Erick greeted me when I sat down.

"Sup?"

He shrugged. "Nothing."

"Same," I sighed. I drummed my fingers on my desk as Mr. Varner started the lesson. I tapped my fingers on the desk, resting my head in the palm of my left hand. I glanced up at the clock, and huffed. Class wasn't even close to being over. After a few moments, I sighed deeply and raised my hand. "Yes, Bella?" Mr. Varner answered.

"May I go to the bathroom please?" I asked, anxious to get out of class for a few brief moments.

"Sure thing, take the pass," he instructed, pointing his right index finger at the bathroom pass hanging in the back of the room. Quickly, I hopped up from my seat, snatched the the bathroom pass from the wall, and exited the class room. I walked into the girls lavatory, and sighed in relief, thankful to be out of Geometry for a little bit. The class was so dreadfully boring, I couldn't stand to sit in my seat for the entire hour.

I leaned in close to one of the mirrors and examined my face. I stared intently at my reflection, wondering how the hell a plain Jane like myself managed to obtain someone as beautiful as Edward Cullen. There wasn't much to me, I looked nothing like those leggy blondes, and slutty girls he usually went after. What with my plain brown hair, that hung straight, and dull to just bellow my bust line. I had a pair of lifeless brown eyes, that held nothing special, they were just an unappealing shade of muddy brown. I supposed that my body was alright, I still struggled quite a bit with body image. I didn't always feel beautiful. My breasts weren't full, and big like other girls, but they weren't exactly small either. I didn't really think I was fat per say, but I didn't think I had the physic of Rosalie Hale either. I had an ordinary face, with ordinary features, and an ordinary body. I was ordinary, nothing more, and nothing less.

Why the hell would Edward Cullen be interested in me? I asked myself. He had other options in this school, other girls that were prettier, and far less damaged than myself. He could go after a normal girl, a girl who could satisfy all of his needs, a girl that he didn't have to be embarrassed of. Lauren Mallory's shrill valley girl voice brought me out of my thoughts. I grimaced, and turned to face her.

"I don't know what game you think you're playing, little girl" she sneered.

"Excuse me?" I retorted.

"Look, I'm going to tell you this once, and only once" she began, she glared at me with a hateful expression, and I couldn't help but wonder what I did to make this girl hate me the way she did. "Stay away from Edward," she warned.

"Back off Lauren," I snapped, and turned to walk out of the bathroom. Before I could pull the door open, she grabbed my arm, and turned my body to face hers.

"Get off of me," I growled.

"Listen here bitch," she growled back. "Edward is mine, you leave him alone." I pulled my arm out of her grasp, and rolled my eyes at her. "Go screw yourself Lauren, you're seriously delusional."

"I'm warning you Isabella, don't fuck with me." she snapped. "Leave Edward alone, or you'll regret it."

"Right," I scoffed, and walked out the bathroom. With a frown I hurried back to class. The rest of the day passed by quickly. I was sitting in English next to Edward. I kept glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He looked just as bored as I felt. I tapped my foot as I waited for the bell to ring.

Finally the bell rang and the class got up to leave. Edward waited patiently for me as I gathered my things.

"Do you know why Em left early?" I asked as we walked out of the class.

"No." He answered. I nodded once. I followed Edward out to his Volvo. As we were walking I noticed Lauren, in all of her Ice Queen glory standing by her pink convertible, her stare burned with such an intense hatred, I thought she might burn a hole in my forehead. With one last glance at her, I hopped into Edward's Volvo, and strapped myself in.

I hummed the Secondhand Serenade song as we drove.

"What song is that?" Edward asked. "Vulnerable, by Secondhand Serenade. It's stuck in my head."

"Oh."

"Have you heard it before?" I asked. He shook his head. "No, I haven't."

"You should listen to it, it's a lovely song."

Edward brought the car to a stop when we reached my house. I noticed Emmett's jeep and Charlie's police cruiser in the drive. Why was Charlie home?

Edward and I stepped out of the Volvo and we walked into my house. Emmett was sitting on the couch with Charlie. They both smiled hugely at me. I looked at them quizzically.

Emmett was practically bouncing in his spot on the couch as I climbed the stairs. I shook my head at him. I pulled Edward up the stairs with me.

"What's up with Emmett?" Edward asked as we ascended up the stair case.

"I have no idea." I replied as I opened my bed room door.

"No way!" I shouted as I walked into my room. I dropped my books, and squealed loudly. I couldn't believe it!

I rushed into the room and wrapped my arms around the two people sitting on my bed. "TIA! SAM!" I exclaimed.

"Oh my god! Oh my god! OH MY GOD!" My squeal was so terribly loud that it put Alice's to shame.

I pulled Tia and Sam into a vice like hug that left them gasping for air. "What are you guys doing here?" I asked urgently.

"Well we would tell you if you let us go!" Tia laughed. "I've missed you both so much!"

I let go of them, and stepped back. "So?" I pressed. Sam and I looked at Tia expectantly.

"Emmett called me a week ago and told me that he wanted us," Tia pointed at herself and Sam. "to come up for your birthday, so last night we both flew up here and Emmett picked us up from the air port in Port Angles about an hour ago." She explained.

I smiled widely. "This is so amazing!" I whispered. I heard someone clear their throat from behind me. I turned around. Edward was looking at me quizzically.

"Oh Edward! I forgot that you were there! My apologies." I said. He chuckled. "It's fine."

Tia smiled widely. "So this is Edward?"

"Bella was right you are quite good looking." I groaned, leave it to Tia to embarrass me terribly.

"Tia!" I scolded her, blushing a deep crimson. She laughed. "But seriously Bella! When you said he was beautiful I thought you were exaggerating, but wow."

"Tia stop talking."

"Come on Bells. Let's go down stairs." Sam said. He picked me up and swung me over his shoulder. "Sam!" I shouted angrily. He laughed.

"Bella your hair got so long!" Tia commented. "Really? I haven't paid much attention." I told her honestly.

"Sam if you drop me, I swear to god!" I threatened as he descended the stairs. He didn't respond, but he slowed his steps as he carried me down to the living room. Sam swung me back over his shoulder, and he placed me lightly on my feet. I saw Emmett smiling out of the corner of my eye. I ran over to him and jumped into his arms. He wasn't expecting me to jump him, so he stumbled back a bit, but quickly regained balance.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I chanted as I squeezed him. "You are the best brother ever!"

Emmett laughed loudly. "You're welcome Jingle Bells." I untangled myself from Emmett's arms. I beamed up at him, and stood up on my tip toes to place a chaste peck on his cheek. "Love ya Emmey."

"Love ya too."