Chapter 10: A Boring Date With Edward Cullen

"Hell yeah." I quickly looked at the ground, embarrassed as hell. I bit my lip and wished I could punch myself, run away or suddenly disappear since that sounded way too eager.

But damn it, spending a whole day with Edward Cullen sounded amazing. Who could say no to that? I certainly couldn't, as I had just proven.

I heard a soft chuckle behind me, and my cheeks reddened even more.

Witnesses.

"Let's get going, alright?" Alice wrapped her arm loosely around me and whisked me away. I could thank all the gods that were out there for sending Alice to me at the exact right time. If I had to stand there for even a second longer, I would've surely died from embarrassment.

I turned around, muttered a quick 'thank you' under my breath to her once we were out of earshot of the boys, and she winked at me.

"Now tell me where you've been hiding your fashion sense all this time. Please don't get mad, but I'm guessing this suits your persona way better than those baggy, black sweaters." She grinned to make sure I wasn't offended or anything.

"Let's just say I've come out of hiding," I sheepishly admitted. At least it wasn't a total random lie. "I've been trying to blend in, but recently decided I should stop trying. I actually have lots and lots of colourful dresses and skirts, I only rarely wear them," I continued.

Alice's face lit up and she raised her eyebrows. "Are you saying you've had a… a fashion make-over?"

"That's… Yes, that could be it, why?"

She held me tighter against her and she made a very, very high-pitched sound. I would even dare to say she scared every animal in a 10 mile radius away from us. Judging by the little dance that followed, I guessed she was extremely happy.

"You need to tell me more. How many pairs of shoes do you have? How do you match your outfits? What kind of accessories do you have? What do you still want to have? What kind of style do you like?" Barely out of breath, she happily continued. "And what's your favourite colour?"

Her enthusiasm was contagious. "First of all, I don't have that many shoes, as they need to be practical at least. And I match my outfits according to my emotions, I guess. I don't have many accessories, actually. None, now that I think of it."

This made her gasp in shock, but I continued at the same fast speed as her earlier questions. "I don't really need accessories."

Another gasp, angrier this time.

"But, I like it when others wear it, I suppose. My style really depends on my mood. Sometimes, I like girly dresses with flowers and everything and sometimes, it can be more practical. For example, here in Forks, I need to wear tights as it's so cold and everything. And my favourite colour is dark blue.

Does this answer everything?" I ended up out of breath, feeling giggly and light hearted, which was a pleasant change from my unusual morning.

Don't think about that, I immediately ordered myself. Don't even think about your parents.

"Not even slightly, but we've arrived."

As Alice and I approached the car, I noticed we weren't the only ones there.

Jasper and Edward waited patiently in the car until we would join them again. That surprised me, as Alice and I had left before them. She probably took a longer route to talk more about clothes, or something.

We sat down in the backseat and Edward started driving. Alice enthusiastically told me there was a cute little town called Port Angeles just a few miles away from here, where we could hang out and shop.

I noticed two things. One, Edward seemed annoyed again for some reason. And two, as it clicked I wouldn't be alone with Edward today, I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed.

Apparently, when he said 'do you want to spend the day with me' he actually meant 'do you want to spend the day with us.' Had I misinterpreted it? Did he realise I had a pathetic crush on him and did he want to turn me down gently?

How utterly unfair of him.

I didn't have time to dwell on all the what-if's, as Alice enthusiastically rattled on about all the shops we had to visit together. Dwelling on Edwards lack of interest in me seemed unfair to her, so I continued our mindless fashion talk as if I didn't wish just minutes before I would be alone with him today.

"Eddie, you can park here," she pointed at an empty parking spot.

He shot her an angry glare in the front mirror and I pressed my lips together to stop my giggles. I remembered his weak spot, the nickname he hated. He shifted his gaze to me, and my eyes widened.

Busted.

I blushed and tried to look away from him, but I couldn't. Luckily, Alice saved my life once more as she practically pushed me out of the car and into a tiny boutique in front of us.

And for one teeny tiny second, I forgot everything. The world only existed out of myself and everything around me. I didn't know where to look as there were so many things that grabbed my attention. I was sure my mouth must have fallen open, as this exceeded every expectation I had. A child in a sweetshop wasn't accurate enough. It was as if everything I liked came together in this tiny store.

There was a wall only for dresses, and the opposite wall held only accessories. I gasped, greedy as I wanted everything. Absolutely everything. I suddenly knew why Alice brought me here.

She chuckled wickedly, obviously pleased with herself as she had guessed my style correctly.

Absolute witchcraft.

A woman came and greeted Alice and I. She seemed nice, I guess. I didn't know for sure, because out of the corner of my eye, I saw the most beautiful headband I had ever seen. Navy blue with small roses on the side. Silk. Expensive. Perfect.

I reached out to touch it, and I knew I wanted it. It matched almost every dress I owned.

"Pretty, isn't it?" The woman asked from behind me.

"Very," I breathed out.

"We'll take it."

I woke up from my daydream. What did Alice just say? I raised my brows at her, but I received only a smile in return. She showed me her shiny creditcard and before I could've blinked, she made sure the headband was already paid for.

What. The absolute. Fuck.

"Alice, what have you done?" I hissed at her, once I knew for sure the saleswoman couldn't hear us. Being too poor to buy an expensive headband is one thing, being an ungrateful brat in front of the saleswoman is another.

"Treating you. Consider it an apology for the unnecessary hospital hassle. Besides, Carlisle really doesn't mind." She shrugged it off, as if she hadn't just paid down the price for a decent dress, on one single headband alone.

"But I do, I can't accept this."

She tilted her head to the side. "Did you like it?"

I nodded. "Very." I couldn't lie or fool her, my adoration was written on my face in neon lights just seconds before.

"Then please accept it." Her face lit up and she grinned. "Also, if it makes you feel any better, we're kind of rich." She laughed out loud at her own joke and handed me the present, which was neatly wrapped in the meantime.

I realised this was a discussion I couldn't win.

"Thank you, really. It's so pretty," I sheepishly looked at the present in my hands, which was probably one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for me.

Of course my parents treated me, sometimes, but I wouldn't allow myself to think about them. That had to wait.

I quickly realised something. "Speaking of, where's the rest? It's only us?" I looked around, as if Edward and Jasper would magically appear from the shadows.

Alice seemed somehow pleased with that. "You didn't notice? You must really like this place then. They went to another store so we wouldn't bore them with our girly shopping trip. Probably car related, or something. Boys and their gadgets." She rolled her eyes and guided me towards the door.

On to the next shop.

After the headband, I talked Alice out of buying more gifts. She really didn't like that, but I told her again and again the headband was the most perfect gift she could have ever given me and I really didn't need more.

After trying a few times, she eventually gave up and we went shopping for her alone. She bought a flowy knee-length skirt after I told her how beautifully it accentuated her waist, and that made me almost… proud, so to say.

It was hard to name the emotion, but the fact that she listened to my opinion and agreed to it, made me feel ten times lighter than I did before. I was finally being heard by someone.

After our little shopping trip, we met up with Edward and Jasper in front of a cute, little restaurant. I was still on cloud nine, and seeing Edward again only increased that feeling.

"You look radiant, Bella."

I made eye contact with Edward, and I thought for a second his eyes lit up as well upon seeing me. He smiled his crooked grin and the corners of my mouth involuntarily lifted in response.

"Thank you," I whispered to him.

I believe Alice said something or winked to Jasper, because the both of them suddenly had to leave.

What a bummer that this day already had to end.

I nodded and walked a few steps towards them. Alice held her hands in front of her. "No Bella, you can stay and eat something, if you like. Bella Italia is a lovely restaurant." She winked at me, and I knew what she just tried to give me.

A dinner date with her brother. Oh, this was so awkward.

Edward raised his eyebrow at me. "Are you hungry?"

I wanted to say no and not be a burden to him, but my stomach started growling. Loud. Everyone besides me laughed at the perfect timing of my basic needs.

I looked down at my stomach. "Let's go then," I stuttered and smiled, trying -and failing- to be funny.

I hugged Alice goodbye, who kept quiet about her little arrangement and waved at Jasper.

Edward offered me his arm, which I gladly took. My legs were tired from walking all day, and the cobblestones weren't the most comfortable to walk on either. That I hadn't fallen already was a blessing on its own, so lets not push my luck today.

He opened the door for me, and the warmth of the restaurant invited me in. It looked cozy, and I mentally thanked Alice a billions times for this.

The beautiful blond waitress smiled at Edward and ignored me completely. I couldn't exactly blame her for that, as I was equally mesmerized by his appearance as well.

"Table for two, please," he calmly told her.

She blinked a few times, and quickly glanced my way. She looked quizically, as if she didn't understand why someone as Edward would ever have dinner with someone as me. It was almost offensive.

She smiled and showed us a table at the far end of the restaurant and offered us our menu's.

I didn't know where to look for a moment, and the silence lingered between us for a few, awkward seconds.

"How was shopping with Alice?"

Thank God, that one was easy enough to answer. "It was amazing, actually. She really knows all the best places to shop, doesn't she?"

Edward grinned. "To tell you the truth, we stopped going with her after a while. It's a bit… overwhelming."

I rolled my eyes, defending her. "It's not so bad. She took me to some stores I would've never come to myself, which were totally up my alley."

He cocked his eyebrow in amusement at my sudden defence. "Let's just wait until she drags you to go with her, every single weekend."

I giggled. They would be heaven. "I can't wait." I wholeheartedly agreed. A flash of pain shot through me as I remembered my morning, and how I wasn't even sure I would be in Forks for long.

At least I got to keep a reminder of the Cullens with me, when I would eventually leave.

Edward looked quizically at me and I tried to het my face in check. Luckily, the blond waitress came back and interrupted us.

"Can I take your order?" She asked Edward. I leaned back into my chair. I hadn't even noticed that I had leaned in towards Edward during our talk.

I opened the menu and chose the first item I saw. "Mushroom ravioli, please. And a coke."

The waitress happily turned her attention back to Edward. "And what can I get you?" I heard the double meaning in that sentence. She batted her eyelashes seductively at him. Or my jealous ass thought she did.

Was she seriously flirting with him? Would she be his type? Argh, so annoying.

"Two coke. That's it." He simply nodded in her direction and focussed his attention back on me again. My inner bitch was tremendously happy.

"And what have you and Jasper done?" I asked him, hoping that would avoid certain subjects I didn't want to talk about.

"Alice might've already filled you in, but we like cars a lot in this family. So we went to the dealer, see what's new and such. Perks of the hobby." He shrugged. He then looked at something from behind me, and opened and closed his mouth. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but I could only guess. And my guess was I didn't want to answer him.

"But tell me, why did you look so troubled a minute ago?" He worriedly asked me, and reached out to grab my hand.

I swallowed at the lump in my throat and my eyes widened. Even the touch of his skin did nothing to conceal my dread. I had to think of something. Fast. "I have some troubles at home, and I don't want to talk about it." I quickly told him.

And I didn't want that topic to ruin the perfect memory of this afternoon, I silently added.

The food came, and I was happy for the little break between us. I focussed all of my attention on it and tasted one ravioli. It was delicious. I drank all of my coke and Edward silently gave me his glass.

"Do you like the food?"

The sound of his troubled voice made me look up. He frowned and studied my face. I figured we could do smalltalk again.

"Very much so. Why didn't you order anything?"

He forced a smile. "Special diet, remember?"

I gasped and pretended to be shocked. "You can't even eat Italian? Sounds horrible, if you ask me."

He chuckled. "You have no idea."

In my head, I tried to come up with a diet that didn't allow Italian food. It must be hellish, invented by Satan himself.

Suddenly, I knew. "Are you doing intermittent fasting?"

"What?"

"That you can only eat between certain time periods. Or even only eat one meal a day? It that your special diet?"

Edward raised his eyebrows. "Yeah, definitely something like that." He looked away, but I knew for sure I was right. I couldn't imagine his 'special diet' would be anything else.

Way too quickly, I finished eating. The blond waitress stood next to our table the minute I swallowed my last bite, asking Edward if he really didn't need anything. Edward thanked her and paid for the meal.

"I'll pay you back. You know that, right?" I got up from the chair and we walked towards the car together.

As he stood still to open the passengers door for me, he winked at me. "I don't want you to."

He walked to the drivers seat so I had one second to compose myself, remove the stupid grin from my face, stop blushing, calm my heartbeat and sit down in the car gracefully.

I stumbled and nearly fell, but I managed to sit at last.

When I looked at Edward, I could've sworn he tried not to laugh. I gave him a dirty look and he laughed out loud.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it was too funny, I swear."

I sticked my tongue out, and he drove away. He turned his radio on, and much to my surprise, the car got filled with populair rock music from the early 00's. I liked it.

I mumbled the lyrics to one song, and Edward sang with me. Of course, he was a way better singer than I could ever be, but what did I expect?

He turned to look at me. "So, you like Linkin Park?"

"Yes, I enjoy rock and metal a lot." I smiled at him.

"Maybe you like this band then." He pressed a few buttons, and another, unfamiliar song started playing. I realised I liked it a lot.

The drive home flew by. Edward showed me songs I had never heard of but loved the first time I heard them. The awkwarsness that first hang in the air between us was gone. Talking to him seemed as easy as breathing at this point.

When we were almost home, he acknowledged the present in my hands. "Did you actually find something nice?"

I looked down. "You've seen me with this package all evening. But yes, Alice gifted me a headband."

"Show me."

I carefully unwrapped it. The headband was even more beautiful up close. The red roses a beautiful contrast to the navy, the soft material and the overall feel made it a perfect gift. Best present ever.

Edward pulled the car over and softly took the headband from my hands. He cupped one cheek in one hand, and with the other, he carefully placed the headband in my hair. He tucked a few stubborn hairs away behind my ears. The sudden intimate contact made my mouth dry. Just as this morning, the air around us electrified and made my brain go to mush.

"Beautiful," Edward whispered, his golden eyes fixated on mine. Honey, ember, syrup. Mesmerizing

Without thinking, I pressed my face closer to his hand. I even leaned in a tiny bit. The butterflies in my stomach waited in anticipation how he would react to that.

He leaned in as well.

"Bella!" Renee shouted, and reality showed its ugly face again.

A/N: I wish I could give you all a shopping trip with Alice. It simply amazes me that there are people -real people!- out there who read this.Who take time out of their precious day, to sit down and... read... this.Oh, my God. Thank you so much!