Chapter Song: A Beautiful Mess by Jason Mraz

Bella did everything she could to make herself feel like a less terrible person. She volunteered at the homeless shelter as much as she could and did little things for Edward; like leaving candy on his bed and little love notes with the word sorry written multiple times on them. She actually sat down to explain everything to Esme and Carlisle without Edward in the room because she knew he'd defend her and wanted to receive whatever his parents threw at her. She needed it from someone, everyone had been way to understanding at this point.

It went about as well as she'd expected it to.

Esme had been very hurt and wouldn't talk to Bella for the rest of the day. She'd pulled Bella aside the next day and said, "I'll forgive you this time, but if you ever hurt my baby again, I won't."

Bella had nodded, not allowing herself to cry.

Carlisle had been more calm but sat Bella down after she'd confided in them. "Why would you doubt Edward?"

Bella shrugged lamely. "Because I'm an idiot."

"None of that," he reprimanded lightly. "What do you truly believe?"

Bella sighed, thinking quietly for a moment. "Because...I let fear and doubt control me. I've fought so hard against it all these years and when I needed to most, I didn't conquer them."

Carlisle nodded in a very doctorly way. "I see. But Edward has done nothing to make you believe he's anything less than honorable."

"Absolutely not," she answered immediately.

Carlisle nodded again. "Next time, step back and analyze the situation before you do something you'll regret for the rest of your life."

He left with that.

Bella sat on the couch for so long Edward had come checked on her.

She'd given him a fake smile before he led her back to his room.

Though his parents weren't shy about telling her how they felt, they didn't completely shun her—though Esme was still not as warm toward Bella as she used to be—like she thought they should. Like they all should. She beat herself inwardly up so much about what she'd done and how weak she'd been that Edward could obviously tell something was wrong.

He'd surprised her by bringing her to a water park for her eighteenth birthday. Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rose had been there to met them. Alice with a new one piece for a present. Rose was more standoffish than usual at first but quickly fell into the easy, fun time the boys created.

Edward wouldn't allow Bella to sulk for even a second, either taking her on the lazy river, or the slide that allowed couples to go down together, or the wave pool. They ended at the hot tub as they sang happy birthday to Bella, calling her a cougar jokingly afterwards though Edward was only a few months younger. She laughed along with them, feeling happy for the first time in weeks.

When Edward pulled up in front of her house, they stayed in the car.

They looked at each other and smiled.

"Thank you," she said to him softly.

His smiled broadened. "I'm glad you had fun."

"I'm not just talking about the surprise, even though that was lovely."

He took her hand, kissing her palm before intwining her fingers with his.

"I wanted to say thank you for being so unbelievably understanding about everything."

"Everything, meaning...?"

"Me."

He titled his damp head at her, looking so edible.

She shook her head. "I mean with how...difficult I've been. And not just this summer but from the very beginning."

He frowned. "You haven't been difficult, Bella. You make yourself sound like a math problem when you're a human being."

"But—"

"No, Bella, I'm serious. I understand and am touched that you feel guilty about what happened, but it's enough. I just want to move on, okay?"

Bella blinked at him for a moment before nodding.

He sighed, rubbing his face with his free hand. "I didn't mean to snap. It's just all been so much and I know that you're just dying to be ripped a new one, but it's not going to happen, so just let it go. Learn from it, but let it go. Please."

His voice became softer with each word, it was almost hypnotizing.

He looked at her, staying quiet as he waited for her to respond.

He's more than I deserve. She didn't voice this to him knowing it would only upset him. "Okay."

"Okay."

They smiled at each other before leaning in to kiss.

He touched her face with just the tips of his fingers as he circled his tongue around hers.

"Happy birthday," he murmured against her mouth before kissing her again.

She leaned closer as she became dizzy. This was one of the best birthday she'd ever had, only tying with the ones she remembered spending with her parents.

Bella wanted to pull away from Angela because her negative attitude was too much for her to handle at the moment, but she couldn't be another person that let Angie down.

She sat with Angela in her room a couple of days after her birthday, eating Domino's pizza and watching The Little Mermaid after a speech session with Vicky.

Angie was very quiet as she nibbled on her pizza.

Bella dropped her crust and cleared her throat while wiping her mouth with a napkin.

Angela looked at her nervously. "You don't want to hang out with me anymore, huh?"

Bella forced herself to meet the other girl's eyes. "Honestly, I seriously thought about it."

She winced but nodded. "I understand—"

"But I think you need positive experiences with people."

Her eyes widen. "Really?"

Bella nodded. "There's actually a boy who'd love to meet you."

This had Angela all kinds of anxious. "Oh, I don't know if that's a good idea."

"Me and Edward do."

That sentence seriously shocked her. "Edward?"

Bella nodded.

"But...he doesn't hate me?"

Bella smiled a little. "He's one of the really good ones."

Angela sat with her mouth slack, she opened and closed it a few times before saying, "You're so lucky."

"Trust me, I know."

That weekend they went on a double date with Angela and a friend of Edward's, Ben Cheney. Bella had seen the boy a few times at school, but he mostly stayed to himself. She didn't even know him and Edward were friends, but to be fair to her, Edward had a lot of friends. Ben was nice and quiet, just like Ang. He participated in mathletes and was president of the Biology Club. The fact that there was a Biology Club shocked Bella more than anything.

They all decided to meet at the laser tag building at seven.

Bella and Edward had rode together, while Ben and Angela showed up alone. Angela was a little late but Bella figured it was nerves about seeing Edward again and Ben for the first time.

When she walked up to them Edward smiled at her. "Hey, Angela."

She blinked at him, but shook her head quickly. "Hi, Edward."

"This is my friend, Ben." Edward stepped aside so she could see the shorter guy, but a good number of people were shorter than Edward so Ben was actually average height.

They looked at each other for a long time before sharing shy smiles.

Bella smiled at the two of them, mouthing, Thank you to Edward.

He mouthed back, No problem.

Bella giggled as he walked to her to snuggle her under his arm. "You guys ready to get seriously whopped?" he asked with a jovial laugh.

Bella rolled her eyes. "Cocky much?"

He shook his head. "Confident."

Bella made a silly face at Ben and Angela who laughed at her before they walked inside.

After paying and helping each other strap gear on, they walked inside the dark entrance.

They decided to play boys against girls.

"I'll give you a head start, baby," Edward teased, kissing her cheek and pushing her forward with a soft hand to her lower back.

She snapped her head back. "You'll be eating your words later."

He laughed. "I'd love to see it."

She darted away with Angela in tow, leaving him blinking in her dust.

She heard his laugh echoing as Angela squeaked at something.

"Are you okay?" Ben called to her.

"Shhh," Edward hissed at him. "You'll give us away."

"Oh, sorry."

Bella grabbed Angie's hand as she whispered, "Try to be quiet. Come on."

Angela followed behind Bella as a group of children whizzed by them.

The play area was much larger than she'd anticipated and thank goodness for the neon lights, without them she'd be smacking into walls.

Adrenaline pumped heavily through her body as her and Angela tiptoed around.

"I don't hear them anymore," Angela whispered.

Bella nodded as she squatted down, pulling Angela down when she stayed standing.

Bringing one finger to her lips she pointed at Angela then the area behind her. Angela nodded then turned around, Bella mirrored her so their backs were touching with foam rocks as barriers in front of each of them.

They waited for a good ten minutes before Ben appeared, Edward was no where to be seen. They must of split up.

Bella stood and shot the small square on Ben's chest, right when someone shot her from behind. She spun around, thinking Angela had accidentally shot her, and was stunned to see it was Edward. They'd duped them.

Edward was smiled devilishly at Bella, obviously not noticing Angela still on her knees because his eyes widen when his chest plate went off after she shot him.

Bella smiled at him triumphantly before hugging the air out of Angela's chest.

Angela laughed lightly, patting Bella's back.

Bella let her go. "Another round?"

"Damn straight," Edward said instantly while Angela and Ben said they'd rather sit the rest out at the same exact time.

"Fine. Just me and you, baby."

"You're on."

Edward won the second round while Bella one the third round.

On the fourth one, she was hiding again when someone grab her from behind.

She started to scream but Edward's frantic voice saying, "Baby, it's me," had her relaxing a smidgen. "I'm sorry. I'm a dumbass," he murmured against her hairline as he pulled her back solidly against his chest.

She shook her head. "I-it's okay."

"No, I should've used my head."

She turned in his hold, pushing him to walk backwards, he could've easily stayed put but moved anyway.

They stopped when Edward's back connected with the wall. He licked his lips as her soft, sultry eyes caged his. Taking his gun out of his hand gently, she lowered them to the ground before pulling his face down to hers.

All the sounds of pewing lazars and children laughing faded as their lips touched. A soft sigh escaping her lips completely undid him. He pulled her up against her chest as he spun them around so she was pinned between him and the wall. He wrapped his arm around her back so it could cushion her against the cement while his other hand rested above their heads.

He kissed her lips that tasted like oranges from the lipgloss he loved so much. Her fingers latched in his hair as their embrace turned chaotic. So much lips to kiss and skin to touch, but so little time. They'd grown more frenzied when they were like this together. Edward was only able to hold onto his control by the skin of his teeth.

He pulled away, leaning his head against her shoulder as she lightly traced a finger down his neck. "I really love you."

He felt her smile against his hair. "I really love you, too."

Unable to help himself, he captured her lips again to have a powerful current rush to his head and zoom down to his feet.

Her little hands slinked under his shirt to touched his firm back, finger skimming up his spin. He shivered as his lips became more possessive yet still yielding.

A man's voice announcing that they'd be closing in five minutes had them pulling away.

They looked at each other in bewilderment for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Come on," Edward said, picking up their guns and taking her hand. "I'm sure Ben and Angela are worrying about us."

They couldn't have cared less about Bella and Edward as they were sharing fries and sitting very close together on a picnic table.

They didn't notice the other couple's presence until Edward cleared his throat. They hopped away from each other with guilty expressions.

Edward smiled. "Me and Bella are going get drinks at Sonic, wanna join?"

Ben looked a hopeful question at Angela who nodded quickly. The biggest, cutest smile took hold of Ben's face as he popped up to offer Angela an arm. She looked at Bella for assurance. Bella made a small nod when Ben wasn't paying attention. Angela smiled before worming her arm inside his. They walked away as Ben threw away their empty paper fry holder. He turned to Edward and Bella, mouthing, Thanks.

They smiled and waved at him, before bringing their gear back to follow behind them.

They stayed at Sonic for another hour, joking and talking about just about anything.

Before they parted their separate ways, Ben nervously asked for Angela's number. She gave it to him without a single pause. Bella hugged them both as Edward did the same, before they walked to his car.

Now they were driving, listening to music with their hands entwined against the center console and loving life.

Edward asking, "Have you told Charlie about your aunt yet?" changed the mood considerably.

Bella shook her head, looking out the window.

He tugged her hand to make her look at him.

She met his eyes hesitantly.

"Why not?"

She shrugged. "So much has been going on."

He nodded. "That's true, but things have settled down now, and I think you should tell him soon."

"I know," she sighed. "I will."

"When?"

"Tomorrow," she blurted and regretted the outburst instantly.

His eyes widen but was quick to speak, "Good. Do you need me to be with you?"

She titled her head at him with a teeny smile. "You'd do that?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I?"

She shook her head. "That'd be great, thanks."

"No problem. I can meet you at your house anytime."

"It'll have to wait until he gets back from work." Though Charlie had warmed very much to Edward, he still wasn't thrilled about them being along in his house.

Edward respected that and made sure to try very hard not to go against the man's wishes, even though it drove Bella crazy. The night he'd climbed the tree to talk to her in her room had been a dire situation so it didn't count against Edward, to him it didn't at least. He was sure Charlie would beg to differ.

"Oh, yeah, sure. Just call me when he get's back home," he answered easily as they parked in front of her house.

He killed the car and turned to her, leaning against the console as she followed his lead so their lips could meet. They kissed as four songs played with commercials in the middle that they didn't hear, before Edward traced Bella's lips with the tip of his tongue. She shivered leaning closer, ready to climb over the console if the damned seatbelt wasn't holding her back.

He chuckled as he pulled away, rubbing her bottom lip with a thumb as his hooded eyes gazed into hers. "Goodnight."

"G-goodnight. Love you."

"Love you." His lips coasted of hers like a whisper before he unbuckled her seatbelt, then slipped out to open the car door for her.

He walked her to the front door that was opened right before he could reach the knob. Charlie stood under the threshold, showing nothing on his face.

They stood silently, waiting apprehensively for him to say something.

He stuck his hand toward Edward, who took it to shake. "Thanks for taking care of her."

Charlie knew the whole situation because Bella had told him not long after it happened. He was happier than he showed to see the two back together. He didn't say anything to her, because she was upset enough, but he'd thought she'd made a mistake by leaving Edward.

Edward smiled, before kissing Bella's cheek. "Anytime."

A/N: I'm not too sure how everyone's going to feel about the path I decided to take with Bella and Angela's relationship, but I hope it's not too upsetting.

Also, everything hasn't been dropped about what Bella did to Edward, there will be a chapter just for Esme to tell Bella exactly how she feels.

Thanks for staying with me,

Phee