Everything Twilight-related belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

Bpov

I was dicing the onion for a vegetable stir-fry when I heard the telltale sound of dads cruiser in the driveway.

"Hey Bells, what are you cooking?" He called from the doorway to the kitchen while taking off his jacket. His face fell when he saw the pan and all the vegetables in front of me. He looked quite comical.

"Dad, don't worry. You'll get your fish." I pointed to the marinated salmon that was already waiting on the baking tray. His pout morphed into a grin.

"You are the best." He turned around to put his clothes away and lock up his gun then came back to set the table.

"Hey, dad? Could you maybe drop me off at the Cullens tomorrow? After school?" I chose to just get it over with otherwise I would just talk myself out of asking him. He turned around to look at me. I continued to chop up the zucchini.

"Why? For a school project? You can do that here so you don't have to move around so much. You know you're supposed to switch to the chair when you get home. That was the deal." I sighed. I knew that would be his issue.

"I'm not going there to run around. We're going to be working. Sitting at a table. No walking. And you can pick me back up at the door. The only walking I would be doing is from the car to the house and back. Plus to the bathroom maybe." I looked up at him. I wasn't stupid. I wanted out of the chair again as soon as possible. I wouldn't risk delaying that by putting too much strain on my leg.

His eyes softened and he put a hand on my shoulder. Comforting but authoritative.

"Ok. Under the condition, you keep the walking to a minimum. What about dinner?" He asked.

"Actually Edward invited me to dinner." I didn't know how that revelation would be received. He froze for a second then smirked and patted my shoulder where his hand still was.

"Good luck." Then he walked out of the kitchen and I heard the TV go on. What was that? Good luck? Good luck with what? I shook my head to dispel my confusion and went back to my task.

After dinner, I went up to my room and got ready for bed before finally succumbing to my anxiety and calling Alice.

"Hi, I was waiting for a call. How did school go on Tuesday?" I had talked to her after the car ride fiasco. She was adamant that it was fine. Actually, her words were, it was bound to happen. Better sooner than later. Clearly, I disagreed.

"It was surprisingly not bad. Although he didn't talk to me at school. He came over to the house though."

"What?!"

"Yeah, I was stunned too. He said he wanted to see how I was doing and we got to talking and... Alice?... I like him." I took a deep breath after the words left my mouth and held it bracing myself for her reaction.

"Bells, I can picture you contemplating every move you make right now, mulling over every word. Try not to? Please? You deserve this. You need this. Get a little TLC while I'm not there." I had to laugh. "I know Charlie isn't the most affectionate man. And besides, you need someone to talk to." I went to interrupt but like always she saw it coming. "Before you say that's what you are for."

"I don't sound like that!" I protested.

"Not the point. We are not face to face. At least not right now. I can't give you a hug, make you tea, or hand you tissues. No matter how much I want to."

"13 days," I grumbled.

"Lucky number. Look I know this scares you and I really wanted to be there for your first date. First kiss..."

"Alice! I said I like him. You assume too much. I'm not..."

"Isabella Marie Swan, if you so much as think about saying anything less than complimentary about my best friend you've got another thing coming." I had to smile at that. She didn't tolerate my self-critical thinking. Too bad she could stop the stuff going through my head that I didn't say out loud.

"Ok. But you know what I mean."

"I know and I understand that's what you're feeling. It's valid. I just don't agree. You always sell yourself short. Maybe this will change your view of yourself." I could only hope she was right.

We drove up the long road to the Cullen's house and I had to stop myself from gaping when the trees revealed the three-story mansion. There was no other word for it. It was a beautiful modern design and oddly enough fit in perfectly with the surrounding forest. Dad chuckled, at my expression probably. He definitely could have warned me. It certainly wasn't his first time being here. As if I wasn't already nervous enough. My hands were clammy and it was hard to swallow.
Dad parked close to the front door and came to help me out. I had a whole school day behind me and although I insisted it would be fine the pain wasn't easy to ignore. That's not to say that it wasn't improving. It was much easier to get through school now.
Before I stood I made the mistake of looking up to the door. Great. I had an audience. Edward stood on the last step and I could glimpse a woman who probably was his mother in the doorway. He must have heard the car on the gravel. Now my hands were shaking. Not looking up the whole way to the door I tried to appear as if I was only watching my step. Dad walked beside me so he could catch me if I fell. He had stopped trying to be sneaky about it a few days ago.

"Edward." He said and shook Edward's hand then moved to the woman who had stepped next to him.

"Esme, nice to see you again. How are you?" She was a petite woman with long wavy hair and kind eyes.

"I'm good Charlie. Would you like to come in?"

"Oh, no. I have to get back to the station. I'm just dropping Bella off. Call me when I should come to get you, ok?" He said turning to me. He gave Edward my school bag that he had insisted on carrying and gave me an encouraging smile before saying his goodbyes and going back to the car.

"Hello, Bella. Come in." Esme said motioning for me to go up the stairs. Well. This should be interesting. Before I could take the first step though Edward was at my side and had taken my elbow to steady me.

"Thanks" I mumbled. With his help, I made it safely into the house. It was just as beautiful on the inside.

"You have a wonderful home," I said when he took my jacket.

"Thank you. It took a lot of work." Esme said. Reminding me we weren't alone.

"Mom did a remodel after she inherited it from her grandfather," Edward explained. Wow.

"It's stunning."

"Why don't you two go to your dad's study."

"Yeah, good idea. I'll show you." I was grateful he didn't go to the massive staircase in the middle of the open floorplan but walked left into a corridor and opened the first door. He held it open for me and I managed to take two steps before I froze. This wasn't so much a study as it was a library. This time my mouth did gape.

Epov

I had waited sitting at the kitchen counter where I could see outside since I walked in the door. Mom kept roaming around making me nervous.

Now that Bella was here I more relaxed. I had feared she wouldn't come even though she had told me her dad would bring her here after school.

The look on her face now made me want to hug my mom for suggesting we go to the study for homework. Her jaw was slack, her eyes wide. Her cheeks were rosy and her free hand was touching her chest. She seemed awed.

"Wow. This is...you call this a study?" She asked lifting her eyebrows. I shrugged.

"This is where dad does his paperwork. I rarely spent time in here." I watched her look around.

"It's a book lover's dream right?" I laughed. I knew she read a lot from our conversation on Tuesday and there were a lot of books in her room.

"Yeah." She mused eyes fixed on the shelves upon shelves she wanted to undeniably look at.

"Let's get to work so I can show you everything later."

"Oh, of course." She blushed lightly and looked for a table we could sit at.

"Because we're doing this a little differently I thought being more comfortable would be a nice idea." I showed her to a large couch that sat under a window in the back. She sighed softly sitting down. Evidently, she agreed with my reasoning. She must be in pain.

"Here." I pulled a cushion from the side to place on the coffee table in front of the sofa. She looked puzzled for a moment then lifted her leg with her arms to lay her foot on the cushion.

"Thanks." She gave me an appreciative smile and then pulled her history book out of her bag.

"Ok, let's get down to business." Lyrics from Mulan ran through my head distracting me for a second before I got my own stuff. She asked how far I had come by myself and read from there. It was so easy to follow her. I guess I was an auditory learner too. Like her brother. It would be helpful if they had audiobooks for school stuff and not just for entertainment. It would make things a lot easier for me. On the other hand, I wouldn't get to spend this time with Bella and listen to her voice reading to me. I much preferred it this way. She had a soothing reading voice. Light and clear. I wonder if she sings...

Just as last time it took us no time to get through the mandatory reading. I wanted to keep listening to her voice so I started asking questions after we had finished.

"Are you already familiar with the reading material for your English class?"

"Yeah, I've read them the first time when Emmett had to go through them for school. He didn't dislike them as much as he had thought, to his surprise. I loved most." She smiled serenely looking down and picking at her sleeve.

"What was your favorite?" I asked. Already guessing which one it was from the stack of books that were on her desk.

"Little woman." I was right.

"Who is your favorite character. Oh, wait! Which of the sisters would you be?"

"Well, a favorite is a toss between Meg and Jo. But more Meg. I'm told I'm like Beth but I'd like to be more of a Jo."

"Why? Beth is my favorite." I admitted. I think she was always looked over too much. She was an amazing character.

"I guess Jo is more...interesting. Controversial? Loud? I don't know. Beth is timid and shy." I frowned.

"She is kind, selfless, and compassionate. I think she is underappreciated because the others are... I don't know. They just get more attention for some reason."

"Like I said they are more interesting." She shrugged.

"No, I don't think so. And I see her in you too. Your talent has the likes of Amy though." She chuckled and blushed again. I loved that blush.

"Thanks. What's your favorite from the reading list?"

"Hmm, I think to kill a mockingbird. It's cliche but... I think it paints a realistic picture of what growing up and seeing things for what they are is like. How hard that can be." She nodded. Her eyes glazed like she was seeing something else.

"Are you hungry?" I asked.

"I could eat."

"Great, I hope you like chicken in Metaxa sauce?" She smiled at me lifting her leg from the table to stand.

"Yeah, I haven't had it in a long time." Awesome, point to me. I chose the right meal now I just needed to not screw it up and I was golden. No pressure.

I hadn't cooked for anyone besides family and maybe a friend or two. We went to the kitchen and I told her she could sit at the bar. She followed me with her eyes curiously.

"Are you going to cook?" She asked not masking her surprise well.

"Yeah, don't worry I won't poison you. I've done this before." I joked.

"No, that's not... It's just it's been a long time since someone has cooked a meal for me." She looked uneasy.

"Your mom?"

"Can't cook. And my stepdad worked late a lot." That wasn't right.

"Well, call me your chef." I chuckled. What did I just say?

"How can I help?"

"Oh no. You won't. You don't move a finger until there is a steaming plate of chicken and rice in front of you."

"Yes, sir." She gave me a two-finger salute. I started cooking the chicken and so I was facing away from her. That gave me the courage to ask the next question.

"Do you... ahm should we maybe do this regularly?" She was quiet for a moment and I feared I had been too hasty.

"Sure, how regularly did you have in mind?" I cleared my throat. Now that I had asked why be shy now?

"Every other day?" I turned to see her reaction. She was looking down at the tabletop drawing shapes with the tip of her finger. Slowly a small smile played on her lips. I felt lightheaded. Like I was flying.

"Ok. I'll have to ask Charlie but if it's ok with him." She lifted her head and saw me looking at her. She blushed when she saw my prominent grin. I walked over to her and placed my hand on hers on the table. She turned it so it was now palm up and I took the chance to lace my fingers with hers. Had it honestly only been a day since we were in this proximity? I relished in the familiar hum traveling through my body. God, I wanted to kiss her again. I was already so close. I just had to lean over the countertop. Lifting my free hand I reached to cup her cheek. Like last time she didn't move away. I moved closer. My mind was warring with itself. Was it too soon? Did she want me to? Did I read the signals right or was I making her uncomfortable? I was now only a couple of inches away. I could already feel her breath on my face. Not the right time. I dropped my hand from her face and moved back to my side of the counter. I watched her face crumble and she looked away quickly so I couldn't see her expression.

"It's burning." She said. Her tone was flat, lifeless. I frowned trying to get my brain to catch up. Then a smelled it. Fuck, the chicken. I dove towards the pan moving it off the hot stove. It wasn't that bad and luckily I had bought extra in case something like this happened. After discarding the burned chicken I started the new one. My focus on the intent on making a decent dinner to not embarrass myself any further. We were mostly quiet while I was cooking and the dish didn't take long to make.

I watched for her reaction when she took the first bite. She gave me a smile.

"It's really good. Compliments to the chef." The smile didn't reach her eyes and she still sounded off somehow. After dinner, she excused herself to the bathroom. When she came back she said that she needed to call Charlie so he could pick her up. He was there within fifteen minutes. As they drove away if rubbed my neck thinking about the last hour. I had pulled her in for a hug before getting in the car. I had heard a small sigh escape her lips. Was she annoyed? Maybe I shouldn't have hugged her. But she didn't mind me holding her hand, surely a hug wasn't much different, was it?

Poor Edward. So oblivious. ;)

reviews again are greatly appreciated!