Title: Normalcy

Summary: Edward/Bella Bella has another man popping into her life. Will she follow Edward until the end of time, or will she pick the life of a normal girl?

Authors Note: I want to improve, so if you have any suggestions to help me please let me know. I hope you enjoy and please review.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

I don't know what attracted me to Jeremy Dales in the first place. Maybe it was the way his hair always seemed to be perfect or the way he looked or his smile, but probably the real reason was because for the first time in my life I wanted something normal. Me, Bella, wanted something I could hold on to, something stable. I love Edward with every fiber of my being but the thing was, when it came down to it… he couldn't constantly be there for me.

I had always thought that normal wasn't what I wanted. I embraced the chance to date a vampire, but as I entered my senior year of high school and Edward still refused to change me, I noticed how much I had changed over the summer and that is when I really understood that I would soon look much older then he. Well, I guess that's when I first started noticing Jeremy Dales. He was in my gym class so we began talking and soon he, like Mike before him, put himself in the face of danger to be my partner at various gym activities. He treated me well, and made me laugh. He was also amazingly cute. Ever since the day I first met Jeremy, my thoughts were completely jumbled.

Was it Edward, the man I loved, or was it Jeremy, the normal relationship, that I really craved?

"Hello Bella," his voice was low and seductive and yet when Edward leaned in for a kiss, a sudden impulse jerked me back.

"Are you okay?" he whispered, his breath light on my neck.

"Yeah, I guess. I haven't been getting much sleep." The truth of the matter was that, in a way, I was sort of telling the truth. Edward and I had stayed up late talking and studying for the past couple of nights. It's just, I don't really think that's what pulled me away from him. I think the real reason was because at that very moment, when he had leaned into kiss me, Jeremy had rounded the corner into our hall.

Edward chuckled, "I guess I'll have to make sure you get to bed on time tonight." I rolled my eyes but I wasn't really listening to Edward anymore, all my attention was drawn to the boy with the light brown hair, tanned skin, muscular build, hazel eyes, -- the boy who was headed straight for Edward and me.

"Hey Bella" said Jeremy, smiling. This wasn't good. I had no previous intention to ever have the two people I liked most meet. I mean I liked them both for different reasons: Jeremy, because he was normal and would grow up with me instead of staying young and beautiful as I grew into an old, ugly woman. Edward, because he was perfect and he loved me and would do anything to keep me safe. So in a way, I was being selfish, I wanted both of them. Since that wasn't possible, I had made do with dating Edward while having a secret crush on Jeremy, in any case having them meet was just weird.

Jeremy next directed his attention to Edward, "So I see you know Bella too."

Edward laughed coldly, "I am sure I know her better then you." Jeremy raised his eyebrows. Just then the bell rang, interrupting whatever Jeremy was about to say. Releasing a string of curses, Jeremy darted down the hall. His last period Math class was all the way across the school and he couldn't be late again.

Edward reached over and opened the Biology classroom's door, and we took our usual seats in the back of the room. I had been surprised, at first, that Edward and I had ended up in the same Biology class together, like last year, but now that I think about it Edward probably had something do with that.

"Why didn't you tell me he was in your gym class," whispered Edward accusingly, as Dr. Plato began teaching about something I really wasn't paying any attention to. I sighed, I knew for a fact that Jeremy hadn't said one thing to Edward about being in my gym class.

In a way, I really hated that my boyfriend could read minds. I would really hate it if he could read my mind, but I still didn't like the idea of him going around reading the minds of my friends and people like Jeremy.

"I'm sorry, that was kind of harsh, it's just…well the guy has a "thing" for you."

"Oh," was all I could manage to say. I mean, what could I say. In truth, I was in love with the idea of Jeremy liking me but it's not like I could just say that to Edward.

Seconds, then minutes passed as Edward sat silently. By his expression, I could tell a war was waging in his head.

"Edward," I whispered.

He glanced at me, as if noticing I was there for the first time, then he gave a fake smile and with a pained expression, "Jeremy is going to ask you out on a date tonight, and I…I think you should say yes."

"WHAT?" I accused, my eyes brows soaring.

Dr. Plato turned around from the white board and bore his eyes into mine, "Ms. Swan, do we have a problem?"

"No sir," I replied in a small voice, as he turned back to whatever it was that he was teaching. "What?" I said again to Edward, under my breath.

"I think that if you like Jeremy you should give him a chance."

"But…"

"I can't be your boyfriend forever Bella. You need a guy you can grow old with."

I was shocked. How could he say that? I mean, it was one thing for me to consider and even fantasize about dating Jeremy, it was quite another for my alleged boyfriend to actually suggest I do.

We both ignored each other for the rest of class. Except for the times I would glance at him only to find he was already staring at me. Eventually the bell rang, and the last I heard from Edward was, "Oh, and by the way, I hope you like Mexican.

In the hall I quickly stuffed the books from my locker into my new book bag, which I had received from Charlie for my birthday, and slammed my locker door shut.

I had no idea whether to say yes or no to Jeremy when he asked me out. Edward had given me permission, even encouraged me to go out with him but was it what I wanted? I had been willing to die for Edward just last year and now I was considering dating another guy?

I unlocked my truck and hopped inside. I stuck the key into the ignition and blasted a new CD I had recently gotten. I made no move to pull out of my parking spot; I just sat in my truck mouthing along to the words of the music.

A knock on my car window sent my heart into a frenzy.

"Sorry, did I scare you?" asked Jeremy as I rolled down the window.

"No, of course not," I lied.

He grinned, "Look, I was wondering if you would be interested in going to dinner at this new Mexican restaurant tomorrow night."

"Oh, well…"

"I understand completely if you don't like me in that way."

"No, it's just..."

"She would love to go," said an extremely familiar voice behind me. I quickly glanced over my shoulder to come face to face with Edward.

Before I could challenge Edward's last statement, Jeremy smiled, "Great, I'll pick you up at 4:00 tomorrow, I can't wait!" He then walked off to his car.

"What was that about?" I glared at Edward as soon as Jeremy was out of earshot.

He stared at me intently. "I'm giving you your life back." he responded as he turned, and was gone.