Hello! Thank you so much for the love. I appreciate it...

This fic is going in the direction I envisioned it the first time I thought about it, but it took me some time to work out the details.

I hope you love this chapter, it has been my favorite to write, and I think it'll be yours as well. It's longer than the others too.

ENJOY! :)

ONE MINUTE

CHAPTER 4: RECONNECTING.

"I have an idea." Alice came into her room without knocking and without invitation.

This attitude annoyed her the first time it occurred. Edward told her she just did that a lot. She had to get used to Alice's 'uniqueness'.

Bella put away the pictures that Carlisle had given her. "What do you have in mind?"

"I have a plan to move around those blocked memories on your brain." She smiled a toothy smile that made Bella laugh. Alice was so weird, but her enthusiasm was contagious. And she meant well. She could see why they had become best friends when she was human. Bella had the feeling that Alice was the kind of person that encouraged her to get out of her comfort zone, and that supported her no matter what.

She also wanted that back. She wanted her memories, her boyfriend, and her best friend back. That's why she went along with every idea that any of them had. However, she hadn't told anyone about that. Her little inside secret. It was good that Edward couldn't read her mind.

"Do you want to share your plan?"

"We're going to break in the school tonight." Good thing Carlisle and Esme had gotten out, otherwise this plan would not be happening.

"I don't think so." Bella shook her head. "My dad is the chief of police in this town. If he finds us, you'll have a lot of answers to give." And they still were deciding what story was the best to give. Did she die? How? Plane accident? Car accident? Did she fall off a cliff? Did she fall off the end of the world? She wanted and did not wanted to know, both at the same time and in equal strength.

Alice sat on her bed, not losing her toothy grin. "I have tools at my disposal that no one has." Bella rolled her eyes at Alice's tap on her temple. "As long as Carlisle and Esme don't arrive before we leave, we're all good."

Bella laughed. "They don't agree with your little plan, do they?"

Alice shrugged. "Let's say that they don't know about it."

"And we'll be going alone?"

"Nop." She emphasized the p. "The rest are coming with us."

…

…

…

So far, she had walked the whole school a few times. Emmett shared the classrooms, the gym. Alice shared the cafeteria. Edward the biology classroom. However, she noticed he was a little distant. Participating the minimal amount. She didn't like it.

She took advantage of his siblings' distraction and closed the distance between them.

"Hey." She bumped her shoulder with his, although she didn't calculate the force with precision. He stumbled lightly but recovered quickly chuckling.

"Hey you." He answered back.

"Are you alright?" He eyed her confused.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Well, not that I remember exactly how you behave, but you're…distant, withdrawn. I was wondering if you're alright."

Edward looked at her in wonder. They were there to justle her memories, but she was worried about him. She was a wonder, one in a million. He wanted to hug her, to kiss her, to hold her in his arms. He didn't know if it would be well received.

"How are you handling all of this?" She asked what she really wanted to ask.

Edward sighed heavily. "It's rough." He admitted. "I miss you."

Bella took his hands on hers and guided him towards a table in the cafeteria. They sat opposite each other, never breaking contact. She smiled at him. Maybe they could help each other.

"Talk to me." She encouraged.

He smiled warmly at her. "This is our table, by the way." She looked around not sure what he meant. "The first time we sat together in public at school, was at this table. We talked a lot. It was the first time I admitted I was falling in love with you." He chuckled softly remember her theories about Spider Man, and radioactivity. Even though that conversation occurred at a different place.

She smiled unconsciously. She liked his laugh. "I like seeing you laugh." Close enough to hear everything, but not close enough to be a third wheel, Alice and her siblings were watching and hearing the conversation with a smile.

"At this table it was the first time I told you I was dangerous. You already knew I was a vampire and had confirmed to me you didn't care. Your friend Jessica was analyzing everything I did to convey it to you. You had told her you liked me more than I liked you." He finished with an amused smile.

"Why do I get the feeling that it was an embarrassing situation." She laughed.

"It was funny."

"You made fun of me you mean." She accused with a smile. He shrugged not sorry. "What did we talk about?"

"That day I decided I was giving up."

"Giving up?"

"Giving up being good. I decided to follow my feelings for you, and to hell with everything else. But as usual you didn't understand what I said. I told you I always said too much when I was with you."

"Say too much? You've barely spoken to me." She fought the sadness that made her feel.

He squeezed her hands. "It's hard for me. Seeing you everyday, wanting you, dreaming you, but not being able to be with you. I miss you. You're here, but you're not here." He released Bella's hands and pulled on his hair. Bella dropped her eyes to the table. Her heart broke at the sight of Edward.

Alice and company exchanged looks, confused as to how the conversation changed from laughter to heartbreak. She took a step to fix it, but Rosalie grabbed her arm, shaking her head. Alice knew what Rosalie was saying without words. 'It's their opportunity to figure things out'

"I'm so sorry." She apologized.

"No. Please." He rushed to reassure her. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have done anything to prevent it." He regained possession of her hands and locked their gaze. "But we can do something about it from now on." He offered at the drop of the hat. Not planning anything. Improvising, like everything he did with her.

"What do you suggest?" She whispered.

"Do you want to get to know me? Hang out?" He wasn't offering his services to help her remember, he was offering a fresh start with them. The rest, come as it may. She was silent for a few seconds, thinking, pondering what that meant. She knew he made her nervous, there was a connection between them. She had noticed it the day she woke up. Jasper had told her they were together. She could see he was in love with her. She could see that she had loved him back. Why not see what could happen? Why not give him a chance? She had already admitted she wanted him back, why not admit it to him, as well?

"I would like to." She agreed with a shy smile. Emmett fought the urge to clap his hands.

Edward rolled his eyes. Why hadn't they left when they sat down?

"Everything ok?" She asked following his gaze. Emmett twirled his fingers, saying hello with the most childish grin she had ever seen. Bella rolled her eyes but smiled amusedly. "No privacy, huh?"

Edward smiled back at her. "You have no idea."

…

…

…

When they finished the tour around the school. Edward and Bella decided to go back to the cafeteria, while the others went back home.

This time, Edward pulled out a chair for her. She smiled and sat. "Very gentlemanly." He chuckled at the word. He wasn't sure it was a real word.

"The day I sat here, and asked you to sit with me, was the day I decided to send everything to hell. I couldn't evade you anymore. I couldn't deny my feelings anymore."

"You said I didn't understand anything, that you always said too much around me." She repeated his words from earlier.

"I was deliberately trying to be vague when I said all that, that day." Bella rolled her eyes. Why didn't it surprise her? "We agreed to be friends. But I warned you that I wouldn't be a good friend to you." He shook his head replaying the day in his head. He then smiled guilty. "I asked what you were thinking, you said you were trying to figure out what I was. You refused to tell me what your decision on my nature was. I said it was too frustrating and you almost bit my head off. You were so mad at me."

"Mad? I mean, you can be frustrating at times. But why mad?"

"Because I was always vague and contradicting with you. One day I would speak to you, the next ignore you. You almost died in the parking lot of the school, and I saved you. But you were still mad because I was being an asshole."

"Hold on. What do you mean I almost died?" Was she like a danger magnet?

"Tyler's van slipped in the ice. He lost traction and lost control of his car. You were in the line and got almost squashed. I ran like hell, I barely got to you in time. I pushed you out of the way, but we still got stuck between his truck and yours. I dented your car but fixed it later." he winked. "So, after that day, you could say I had a hot and cold attitude. You had every right to be frustrated."

"Frustrated at you." She added teasing him. He winked smiling. "So, I basically bit your head off. What else happened that day? Why is it so important for us? Why is this table so important to you? Or this particular day?"

"This day, we talked like civilized people. No fighting, well, except for what I told you. It was the first time we actually spoke, had a conversation. I learned a few things about you that day."

"Like what?"

"How you rant when you're mad. How you're loyal to your friends. How you blushed deeply when you got a compliment, or when something took you by surprise. You're a really good listener, and you have a big heart."

She dropped her eyes to the table. Edward lifted her face. "This day is important, because aside from what everything we talked at lunch, and despite your crazy theories, I knew that despite everything, I would love you forever. You are so more mature than your seventeen years old. You see the world in a different way. It's always entertaining watching you take on the world."

Wow, he really loved me, she thought. The way he saw her, the way he spoke about her. It was amazing. Beautiful.

"What else happened at school?"

He chuckled remembering a particular humorous day. "One day we had a blood test practice, we were studying the subject in Biology. I skipped class, I told you I would because it was 'healthy', but you went, not knowing what awaited you. You saw the blood, or well, according to you, you smelled it and had a fainting spell. Mike dragged you out of class, and I intercepted you. I took you to the nurse, but you were mad at me because I told you that you couldn't smell blood. You basically barked at me that you could, and that I was no one to tell what you could and could not smell." Bella shook her head. She didn't know him very well this time around, but he seemed the type that loved to be right. "That day, I took you home, and I had your scent in my car. Intoxicating, sweet, mouthwatering, amazing."

"Who's Mike?" Edward rolled his eyes internally. From all the details he gave her, she had to focus on that one.

"An annoying human who has a crush on you. He had tried to gain your attention at different times. But you never reciprocated. It drove me crazy. Because I didn't know why you were doing it. Was it because of your friend? Because of me? Because of another human that had caught your eye? I hated feeling jealous." He finished with a soft frown.

Bella was serious for a second, before erupting into laughter. He eyed her, erasing the frown but suppressing a smile. She was so beautiful when she laughed that way. "You really hate not being able to read my mind, huh?" She teased.

He smiled widely, but with a hint of annoyance. "It's very frustrating." He agreed. "Of all the people in the world, you were the one that remained a mystery for me." He shook his head, laughing softly. "But at the same time, I learned to read your body language. You are a lousy liar, by the way." Bella shrugged. Not many lies to tell from now on. "But you love the fact that I can't read you. And actually, enjoy it."

She nodded. She also liked it now the fact that he could not read her. "How does it work?" He cocked an eyebrow, not following her. "Reading minds?"

"I can hear everything a person thinks at the moment they are thinking it. I can do it while being at a reasonable distance of that person. It has the same range as actually hearing for us. So, a few miles, I'd say." He simplified. "It's annoying at times. But other times it helps me communicate with my siblings without no one else noticing."

"Like you often do with Alice."

"Exactly. We are used to do it that way, and sometimes we do it unconsciously. It drives Emmett insane." He smiled mischievously.

Bella giggled at his smile. "You enjoy irritating him." She asserted.

"One hundred percent." He didn't seem repentant about that. "Emmett loves to prank everyone. He is also very good at catching us by surprise. He has learned to evade Alice and I when he really wants to. So, our way to get back at him is by doing that."

"How has he managed to evade you every time? Wouldn't you have discovered his MO by now?"

He shrugged. "He likes to think about Rose a lot. Sometimes he thinks about a million random things. So, I get off his mind, I sort of tune him off. It's frequent, so you never know when he's planning something and when he's not."

He sounded like a lot of fun. He had been the only one that hadn't approach her yet. She was curious about him. He seemed to have a buoyant personality with a childish sense of humor. Rosalie was very taken by him, so he had his heart at the right place, and could take on a strong woman. He must be very special. And despite his annoying pranks, Edward loved his brother. It was clear in the way he spoke about him…about any member of his family, in fact.

…

…

They continued talking about everything. He told her about their first kiss, how it was very hard for him to just kiss her and stop there, how it also was hard due to her blood, and her smell. But how proud he was when he put aside those thoughts and focused on her.

He told her about the first time he visited her while she slept. She wasn't exactly sure if she should consider it creepy or romantic. She focused on his story about her sleep-talking.

"You could give away a lot of information at those moments. I always looked forward to them. It was like getting unedited hints into how your mind really works." He winked at her. She found it funny how he got frustrated when she edited her thoughts when sharing them

Bella smiled. "I like the way you speak about me."

Edward stood up under the attentive stare of Bella. He sat next to her, cradling her face. "I love you, Bella. I want you to be happy. I want to make you happy. Whatever you want, or need, I'm here for you."

Bella leaned her head in his hands. She locked her gaze with his. He was truly amazing. "Be honest with me." He nodded emphatically. "How do you feel about this?"

He sighed, dropping his hands. "It kills me."

She nodded.

"It hurts not being able to kiss you the way I want to or hold you the way I used to. I miss you. I love you." He admitted.

"I like hugs." She said shyly.

He laughed and hugged her tightly to his chest. It was a weird hug, considering their positions in the chairs. But for Bella, it was just right.

"I like you, Edward." More than like, but that was for her to know, and for him to find out eventually, once she knew what the hell it was that she was feeling for him. "I want to know you again. I like how you told me about this day, and how you talk about me. I like how I look in your eyes. I want to fall in love with you again."

He caressed her cheek lovingly.

"Don't be distant again. Talk to me whenever you need to." She pleaded.

Still stroking her cheek, he vowed "I promise."

"One last question. And I want the truth. No regards for my feelings." He nodded seriously. "I feel like I'm disappointing the others by not remembering anything. Particularly Alice."

Edward shook his head with a small smile. "None of us care about that. I mean, we care that you lost your memories, but they love you just the same. They'll be here for you, no matter what."

"Do you really think that?"

He smirked and tapped his temple "I know so."

"Right, your superpower." She rolled her eyes playfully.

He chuckled softly at first, and then louder. A deep laugh that shocked his core.

Bella smiled happily at the sight. He was so handsome when he laughed like that. Eyes closed, face tilting up. A smile that went almost ear to ear.

Once he calmed, his smile remained. And their gaze locked once more. "It's just a power, or gift. Not a superpower."

She smiled wickedly. "If you were a superhero, and you could read minds. That would be a superpower."

"I am no superhero though." He stated without losing his smile.

'I beg to differ' she thought to herself. But she didn't voice her thoughts.

SO, Do I, or Don't I deserve some love for this cute chapter?

Love!