OHmeeeGOD. Okay, so did anyone else try to jump down a rabbit hole after seeing Alice in Wonderland? Or attempt to make-out with the 3D version of Johnny Depp's head? Honestly, I can't get over the fact I find him completely beautiful dressed up like a mad freak. In two days I shall have seen it four times Should've been five, but had to forfeit the tickets on the night it came out (!) Long story with that one.

Anyway, I'm in such a great mood because I have been listening to the Almost Alice CD on repeat for about four hours, that I just had to write you all something.

Enjoy.

SM OWNS ALL CHARACTERS. THE TRUTH HURTS.

25. Insistent Demands and Tears

Wednesday went a lot smoother than Tuesday had.

I was highly grateful for that; I didn't think I could handle any more drama without having to hit something. There's only a certain amount a person can take in a short time, and I'd just about reached my limit.

Edward hadn't picked Alice and me up this morning; we'd opted for the bus this time, but the smile on his face when he saw us as we arrived at school made me feel impossibly light. Things were just easier today, with less intensive and obtrusive stares, and a lot lighter chatter.

Edward sat with Alice and me at our new table, and just like Tuesday, Angela and Ben ended up joining us. Angela informed Edward and me collectively, when I ever-so-innocently inquired about how she thought Biology went yesterday, that we had a new teacher. Apparently the old one had been sacked, and the new teacher that had taken his place was starting over again from scratch with our class, completely ignoring everything else our old (pathetic) teacher had set up for us.

"She's really cool, too," Angela said, with unusual eagerness. "Like, she doesn't take any crap from anybody. I'm actually feeling optimistic about that class after all."

I was able to relax, finally, because Angela hadn't mentioned anything about Edward and mine's absence; apparently it hadn't been as obvious as I thought. Things were really looking up. I knew then that Edward could tell I was secretly relieved, and was trying his hardest not to comment on it with something stupid like "I told you so".

So I made it through the school day in one piece, my dignity fully intact. Mike had actually ended up mumbling some form of an apology to me when he passed me in the hall, and had also muttered that he hoped I was feeling better. That had made me blush, naturally, but I managed to scurry away before he could figure out why I was suddenly rather flustered. I didn't need Mike on my case to top everything else; no thanks!

Now school was over with for the day, and I was grateful; smooth it may have been, but wonderful it certainly was not.

Currently I was in Edward's car, and we were nearing my apartment. Alice wasn't there because she had an extra shift at work and had taken the bus from school to get there on time; it was the exact reason why Edward had basically told me—no buts about it—that he was driving me home.

For once, I completely welcomed the idea.

"Are you there, Bella?" Edward said, breaking me out of my daze as he referred to my distracted state of mind.

I looked to him, and couldn't help but smile slightly. "Yeah."

Outside the rain was holding off, but the clouds looked depressingly ominous; it probably wouldn't hold off for very long.

"Do you want to come up?" I asked Edward suddenly as he pulled into my street. I blushed slightly at the loud voice I'd used to question him with, but looked at him all the same. "I mean, like, come inside. In the apartment."

He was so casual and relaxed when he answered, it made me envious.

"You're not busy?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Not at all. There's not one homework assignment to keep me busy with."

He turned to me and smiled easily, his hair rumpled and wild, his face a warm expression that made me feel at ease. "Really?" he wondered.

"Why not?" I looked at him, confused.

He shrugged, pulling deftly into a spare parking spot off the road. "I don't know. I just thought you had this real aversion to letting me inside your home."

He turned the ignition off as I tried to think of how to answer.

"Well, no, not exactly . . ." I trailed off, not knowing how to say what was on my mind.

It was true, for the most part. I had never wanted him to set foot in my apartment; I didn't want him to see where I lived. I had this whole paranoia going on that made me feel like having him see where I lived would automatically make him judge me and my surroundings. It was stupid, but it was also very present and persistent.

But things had changed. Not only had Edward already been inside the apartment when he invited himself up that day I'd gotten back from Florida, but he had also proved a million times over that he really wasn't that shallow. When I was with him, I felt like he wasn't even paying attention to things like that; he didn't care what I looked like, he cared how I was feeling. His eyes didn't focus on what was there but what was beyond it. To have thought in the first place that I should be embarrassed about my humble living arrangements around him was so pointless. I was lucky. Most people my age were still living with their parents—and if it weren't for Alice and her generous family, I still would be too.

Edward waited patiently as I gathered my thoughts, his own expression that of one in deep contemplation.

I tried to explain right. There was no use in denying there had been a time when I really hadn't wanted him to come up. He already knew it.

I shifted in my seat. "Edward," I began, "I'm really sorry about that. You're right. I used to have this weird paranoia that you would ever see where I lived, and it was so stupid and I can't even explain why I felt like that." I looked into his eyes and shrugged. "But what can I say? I've grown up now. And you're welcome to come to my home any time you want. Seriously." I tried to convey just how honestly and completely I meant what I was saying with my eyes. I really did mean it. I didn't want him to feel unwanted.

Edward's face was straight for a moment while his eyes were on mine, right before it slowly slid into one of his best smiles he generally reserved for special occasions.

"You want to hang out?" he checked, his smile now growing into a fully-fledged grin.

I think he was teasing me a little.

I rolled my eyes. "Well, like, whatever, you know. I mean, it was just a suggestion, you can take it or leave it—"

He poked me lightly in the side, making me squirm, and then he winked at me. "Come on," he said, already getting out of his side of the car. "Quit stalling."

"You can't get in there without me, you know!" I exclaimed, scrambling to undo my seatbelt and follow him outside.

As my fingers fumbled for the doorhandle, I couldn't help but smile at Edward's back as he made a show of getting inside the lobby before me. He was such a loser, in the best of ways. Completely unafraid to make a fool of himself if it meant making me smile.

I was completely grinning as I raced to catch up to him.

-------------------

"Okay, okay," Edward laughed. "Favourite colour?"

My brow crumpled at his simple question. "I don't know!" I complained. "I kind of like all of them. With just one colour in the world, things would be really dull."

Edward shook his head, mocking disappointment. "And to think I once called you articulate. You have been unable to answer one simple question properly for the past half hour!"

"Have so!" I argued back. "You just keep asking stupid questions. It's not my fault."

Edward leant back on his arms, looking at me with a serious expression. "Fine," he conceded. "Tell me your favourite number."

I sighed. Honestly, we'd been going through this for ages. Sprawled out on the floor next to the couch with a bunch of pillows, both of us seemed reluctant to move onto the more appropriate couch that was right there. The floor just seemed strangely better.

"I don't have one either," I admitted, scrunching my face up as I awaited his reaction.

Edward made a rumbling noise in his chest out of annoyance. "Do you ever make anything easy?"

"Well I have a favourite sum," I offered feebly, shrugging and pulling a face.

"Really?" He looked honestly curious now. "What is it? Is it normal to have a favourite mathematical equation?"

"Oh, do shut up," I told him lightly. "If you must know, for some undiscovered reason, I am quite partial to the sum 8×7."

"8×7?" Edward repeated. "Why?"

"I don't know," I told him truthfully. "It just seems so odd that 8×7 would equal 56. I just automatically fell like it should equal something greater, but it doesn't. That's why I love it."

Edward smiled and shook his head. "You're weird," he said conversationally.

I snorted. "Wow, thanks."

He reclined back further and grinned lazily. "Favourite fruit?"

"Apples," I said, triumphant that I could properly answer that one.

"Reason?"

"They're the most common fruit ever, and generally get overlooked because of it."

He mulled that over. "Fair enough," he decided. "Favourite book?"

"Don't have one."

"Movie?"

"Don't have one."

"Favourite date you've gone on?"

"Don't have one," I answered again.

"Really?" Edward asked exasperatedly. I was pretty sure my lack of answers was driving him insane, but he was handling it pretty well.

I shook my head. "I've never gone on a proper date before," I informed him.

Edward was fully reclined now, lying on his side, propping his head up with his elbow; completely mimicking my own position as he faced me.

He looked taken aback. "Wait—really?"

I nodded, wondering why he seemed so shocked by that.

His face was troubled now. "So none of your boyfriends ever took you out at all? Isn't that almost customary?"

I shook my head, slightly amused. "No, it definitely isn't, and no, I've never had a boyfriend either." I carefully took a few pieces of popcorn in my hand from the bowl that was lying between us and chewed on them as I watched his reaction with steady eyes.

Edward had an odd look on his face. "Are you serious?" he asked. "You've never had a boyfriend before? Not once?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure, Edward," I laughed, shaking my head. "I think I would recall something like that."

Edward stared at me. While he was staring, it was impossible to look anywhere else. The deep green of his eyes drew me in and I started to feel slightly uncomfortable.

"What?" I demanded, needing to know why he was looking at me like that.

"No, it's nothing, really, I just can't believe that." Edward frowned my way, almost like he was waiting for me to tell him I was just joking and I had, in fact, been out with half a dozen guys.

I couldn't believe this.

"Would you stop looking at me like that?!" I requested, frowning now too as I slid off the floor and sat up, crossing my legs.

"I'm just surprised, that's all," he said, sitting up too. "Why haven't you?"

"Why haven't I what? Gone out with someone? I don't know."

"There's got to be a reason," Edward persisted, not letting the subject drop.

"Why?" I demanded, now starting to feel, for the first time ever, like I was being judged by him. All of a sudden, where there had before been an absence of it, self-consciousness was starting to creep up on me. I was feeling almost embarrassed for not having more of a social life, and I couldn't believe that I was being made to feel bad for it. "Why do you care so much?" I demanded again. "Are you telling me I should feel ashamed that I've never had a boyfriend before?"

Edward was immediately contrite. "What? No. Of course not." He shook his head vehemently. "No, sorry, Bella, I didn't mean it like that. Of course I didn't. I was just surprised."

I raised my eyebrows at him, not sure yet if I believed what he was saying.

He gave me a serious look. "Come on," he said. "Don't think like that. You shouldn't feel ashamed about something insignificant like that."

"Well I never have before until now," I told him truthfully. "I just want to know why it's such a big deal. I've never gone out with anybody because, quite honestly, there's never been anybody I have wanted to go out with. Why should I have to feel desperate enough to get a boyfriend, any boyfriend, because I feel pressured to do so? That's just stupid."

Edward looked at me and seemed to almost smile slightly. "You're right, that would be stupid," he agreed, and then shook his head. "I'm sorry if I seemed accusing before. I honestly was just surprised. But you are right: They're all too good for you anyway."

He looked at my slyly and winked.

I rolled my eyes but a smile was on my face, all the same, albeit reluctant.

"Oh, cheer up," Edward commanded, picking some popcorn up himself and throwing it at my face in a smooth manner that I would never hope to achieve. I chocked in surprised as a few kernels hit me and popcorn landed in my hair. "I'm sorry that I picked a bad question. It's all my fault, you can blame me and then we can get over it. Besides, I want to know what your favourite food is."

Well, I had to give him props for pulling me out of my slump, even as I brushed the popcorn that had tangled in my locks away. I half-heartedly threw a lone piece back at him, smiling a little when it hit his nose. "Pavlova," I told him. "I am simply in love with all types of pavlova."

His smile was wicked my way. "Pavlova, hey? That's quite interesting."

I smiled and nodded politely, indicating I'd heard him. But a part of me was curious now. I didn't think I was completely ready to drop the entire subject of past partners—or lack thereof. Edward was talking again, and I was half-listening, but I was distracted as I contemplated whether it would be appropriate to ask the question that was foremost on my mind. His face was alive and animated and warm as he spoke, completely and utterly open to me. I was so thankful that was the case. It made me feel a lot bolder.

"Edward," I said when he was finished, and he cocked his head to the side as he waited for me to continue.

"Edward, I was wondering . . . Please tell me, because I'm honestly curious—how long where you with Tanya?" I bit my lip as soon as the words where out, but I didn't feel embarrassed enough to blush. I was more anxious to hear his answer.

Edward stopped, looking a little taken aback. His perfect brows rose as he perceived me.

"Really? I thought we were getting away from subjects like these," he said, seeming a little confused. "Is it really important?"

I rolled my eyes as I let my breath out in a huff. Only he wouldn't understand the pressing issue it represented.

"Ah, yeah, it is," I persisted, because he looked disbelieving. "To me it is, anyway. I want to know. And you seemed to think it was fine before to bring up something like this about me, so why shouldn't I have the same courtesy?"

He was smiling then, all traces of disbelief gone in an instant. And he nodded. "Okay, okay, fair enough." He shook his head, more to himself. "Excuse me if I'm a little reluctant to go there right now . . . It's not so nice to think . . . Well . . ."

I swallowed and nodded in recognition. I could understand how he felt, even if I couldn't really feel that way myself. Having fallen out with the people he'd grown up with, and having a massive fight with his ex-girlfriend who he previously was still good buddies with . . . It probably wasn't so nice to have to bring the subject up. Especially in front of me, because he most likely felt that I disapproved of his relationship with her.

Which was true, I supposed, in some senses, but at the end of the day, why would I judge him on something like that? It had nothing to do with me.

Edward sighed, but a small bit of his smile still remained, and he directed it my way. He ran a hand through his hair absent-mindedly. "Well, I didn't exactly keep close tabs on the dates of everything . . . But I guess we dated seriously for about a year? We broke up at the end of last year, so that would be just about right." His smile now turned wistful. "We were always friends, even after we split . . . Emmett couldn't stand her. The feeling was pretty much mutual, because Tanya couldn't stand him for very long either." He rolled his eyes, as if to roll away the memories. "But I guess Emmett was kind of right in the end about her, hey? I think he used to describe her as 'vapid'. . ." Edward ran his hand through his hair again, almost like it was a comforting habit.

I chewed thoughtfully on the inside of my cheek as I pondered what he was saying. "Really?" I wondered after a moment. "I thought it was for longer than a year." I scrunched my face up as I tried to think back. "Actually, I was under the impression it was a lot longer. Like three years or something."

Edward shifted uncomfortably. "Well, no. it definitely wasn't serious for any more than a year."

My eyes appraised him. I picked up on the hidden meaning of his words almost immediately, surprising myself at how sharp I was at the moment.

I cocked my head to the side. "Really? What do you mean though, 'Wasn't serious for more than a year'?" I frowned little as I considered his words. "Were you . . . Did you ever hook up before that?"

I think I sort of knew the answer. Even if I hadn't, it would've been obvious by the way Edward reacted.

He shifted again and cleared his throat. "Well . . . Not really. Kind of. But not . . ." His cheeks were slightly pink; nothing like the obnoxious red mine turned to, but a soft colouring. I couldn't help but find it sort of adorable, and also slightly annoying; he even made blushing look good.

My eyes appraised him and my mouth nearly fell open in utter incredulity. "Edward Cullen," I said, stunned, my voice higher than it normally was due to surprise. "Are you embarrassed?"

I said the word like it was something amazingly rare and significant. Which, in a way, it was. I'd never seen Edward uncomfortable before. He was always so in control, completely calm and collected. Even when he was angry, he still seemed somewhat together.

Edward's heated stare flashed my way. "No." He shook his head. "I just . . ."

I couldn't help but laugh once in shock. "Oh my gosh, you really are. And I thought it was an impossibility." I reached out to touch his arm lightly in comfort, composing my face. "It's alright, Edward, honestly. You don't have to talk about it anymore."

"But I don't want you thinking anything that isn't true," he insisted. "I say 'not really', because we didn't really, but like I was saying before, when you're a close group of friends . . ."

I was now patting his arm. "It's okay. I get it. You don't have to explain anything to me."

I paused.

"Actually, please, please, please explain one thing to me: Where you ever with Irina?"

He gave me a dirty look.

I secretly enjoyed it.

"No," he said forcefully, clearly hating this conversation. "Give me some credit, please."

I rolled my eyes. "Relax." I grinned, trying to lighten up his mood. "I was only teasing you. I didn't know I was able to do it until right now."

I sprang to my feet, picking up the popcorn bowl as I went. I walked over to the kitchen counter and placed it on the bench.

"I'll get you a drink. I know I need one. Who would've guessed, Edward, that I would be able to uncover all your weak spots?"

I was smiling away to myself as I fetched a fresh bottle of water out of the fridge.

"What do you mean?"

I hadn't heard Edward come up behind me, but his voice was so gentle it barely startled me.

I turned around to face him and handed him the water.

"Oh, nothing really," I smiled. "Just now if you try to annoy me, I finally have some ammunition. You totally squirmed during that conversation."

He rolled his eyes, but a small smile tweaked up his lips.

"I guess I'm going to have to trust you with it then, huh?" he replied, taking a swig.

I winked. "I'll guard your secrets with my life."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Okay. Totally end of chappie… But I'll do a meagre half-one because I want to post up something longer. Perhaps refraining from interrupting your reading would've made the transition slightly smoother, but at least this gives it the feel that this really is the end of that supposed chapter.

Here… We… GO.

25½. (Part two)

When Alice returned home—the clock on the far wall indicating that it was just starting to creep past seven at night—she found the lounge empty of all activity.

Laughter could be heard from the bedroom, and that was because Edward and I had relocated a while ago into the realms of my room so he could take a look at one of the many photo albums I'd collected over the years. The particular one that rested between his large hands currently held collaborations of pictures both Alice and I had taken over the years.

Most of them were pretty ridiculous.

We'd been observing them together for a good half an hour, and I was so engrossed in his reactions to them all—I was worried to begin with that I was boring him, but he was insistent this was not the case—that I didn't hear Alice come in.

I was also completely oblivious when the very-obvious sounds of someone storming around who was upset came flooding through the open door and filled the fairly quite space around Edward and I.

Embarrassingly enough, Edward was a lot more astute to them than myself. He looked up from the photo that was wedged between two train tickets and into my face with a hesitant, concerned look. Before I could even ask him what was the matter, Alice was stumbling through the door.

My attention immediately snapped to her, the question on my lips entirely forgotten, and not because it was already answered. It had more to do with her expression, her face, her whole demeanour. I knew instantly that something was wrong. Her sudden appearance was still catching up with me as my mind raced, trying to pinpoint the reason why she would be like how she was.

"What is it?" I demanded unthinkingly. I scrambled to get off the bed, wanting to be by her side, but she beat me to it, crawling onto the piece of furniture so she was by my side.

Her small face looked up at mine. It was obvious she'd been crying. Wide, hurt eyes were glistening and her petite mouth was turned down at one corner. It was a heartbreaking expression. Like staring into the eyes of a wounded puppy.

I became aware of Edward by my side as he surreptitiously slid the photo album away from me and closed it shut quietly, placing it next to him.

"I'm so angry, Bella!" Alice exclaimed, tears threatening her voice as she frowned my way. "I am just so mad, I could—I would just like to—" She took a deep, shuddering breath.

"Would you like me to leave?" Edward asked quietly, trying not to get in the way of anything.

Alice was shaking her head furiously without even looking at him. She wasn't looking at me any more either. My comforter seemed to be the main focus of her heated and watery gaze.

"I feel like it was all for nothing. Everything! For no reason at all. I mean, you'd think I would've foreseen something like this, wouldn't you? I don't know why I thought everything was going to work out."

I tried to pat her on the back in a soothing manner, but the truth was, I was utterly lost. I didn't know what the matter was, so I didn't know what to say to help.

I was also silently castrating myself. Alice was home nearly an hour later then she was supposed to be—I could've noticed and actually rang her, perhaps preventing whatever had gotten her so upset.

"Hey, Alice?" I tried out gently. "It's okay. Whatever it is, it's okay."

"God!" she exclaimed to no one in particular.

Edward shifted at my side, clearly a little uncomfortable. The poor guy. I caught his eye and he jerked his head slightly in the direction of my open door.

I shook my head, mouthing a "No". If Alice had wanted him to leave, she would've said.

"What's wrong, Alice?" I asked, trying my best to get her to look at me. "What happened?"

She sniffled angrily, and looked up into my eyes.

"Jasper Whitlock happened, that's what," she spat heatedly. Her small body was almost trembling with her hurt and rage.

"Jasper?!" I said in disbelief. Now I really had no clue what was wrong.

Her eyes were earnest and irked, and very, very sad. "Do you want to know what happened?" she asked rhetorically. "Do you want to know what he said?" Her voice was quickly turning bitter. "I saw him," she said. "I saw him tonight on my way home from work when I stopped to get a drink—he was out with some stuck-up bitch who was all over him. I interrupted, but hello, how am I supposed to know something was going on? He used to come up to me."

"And . . ." I trailed off hopelessly.

That definitely seemed to ignite her fire.

"And?!" she repeated heatedly. "And he basically told me in a very formal manner to fuck off, once he'd gotten away from her." She wiped a hand under eyes where her make-up was starting to run. "What the hell is the matter with him? He's gone completely cold, and it hurts, Bella, I'm so angry I could—"

"It's alright," I smoothed, thinking that maybe it would've been better if Edward left. Alice was mindlessly bad-mouthing his best friend at every turn; not that he seemed in the least bit concerned about that.

She sniffled unhappily, trying to calm down.

"I'm sure he was upset before you came in," I assured her.

Alice snorted delicately. "Sure."

"Errr . . ." Edward cleared his throat unsurely, looking a little uncertain when both Alice and I turned to him in question. "I hope you don't mind asking, but where did this take place again?"

Alice answered morosely in a mumble, giving him the name of a local café.

Realisation flooded his features. "Oh," he said with sudden understanding. And then he fell quiet again.

Alice and I continued to look at him questioningly, waiting.

"What?" he said when he realised we were both obviously waiting for something from him. "I just wanted to clarify that, because I was confused. When Alice said she went to get a drink, I just automatically assumed she went into a bar or something and . . ." He trailed off, shrugging. He looked from Alice to me, and then rolled his eyes.

"Give me a break," he muttered.

Alice turned away, but I kept my eyes on him until he looked at me. I gave him a small smile. It was so typical of Edward to try and be so polite about everything.

"For the record, I don't drink alcohol," Alice said. And then she grimaced, still dejected.

"Aw, Alice, cheer up! So he told you to go away—maybe something was on his mind. You don't know."

She gave me a sardonic stare. "I tried asking him about yesterday and how he was doing now. He wouldn't answer. When I asked if he was out with that girl he was with, he actually said to me, 'So what if I am? What's it to you?'"

I bit my lip. I didn't know how to come up with a different conclusion for that one.

Alice continued. "He obviously can't stand me. I feel so stupid now, thinking he might actually be interested. I mean, what am I to him? Some stupid little girl who's completely and scarily devoted to him." She hung her head, groaning. "It's so embarrassing . . ."

Edward interrupted again, careful as always. "Hold up . . ." Edward said slowly. "Are you telling me you like Jasper Whitlock?"

Alice little scowl said it all.

His face transformed from concern to amusement instantly and his head fell back as he started to laugh.

And, for the first time, I found I couldn't join him.

Whoo. Fear not, pretty ones, Jasper's odd behaviour will be explained.

Now . . . Anyone wanna drop me some love??