Edward's POV
The beautiful scent of strawberries, lavender and freesia paired with Dr. Pepper lip balm that she just applied permeates the air in the car as we drive down the street away from Bella's house. Her fragrance fills my nostrils, going straight to my brain. I love the way she smells. I also love the way her lips look with lip gloss on; so beautiful and shiny.
I stare at her lips, wishing I was playing a role where I was old enough to drive. That way we would be in my car alone and I could give her a good morning kiss on her lips without it feeling awkward with my siblings being around. Thinking about how it might feel to press my lips to hers I begin to feel myself getting hard. How easily I seem to get aroused when I am close to her, or even think about her.
Quickly I glance at my lap, and thanks to the Speedo it's not very noticeable. Not wanting to stay hard I try to think of something else. I begin to ponder why kissing her lips might not be such a good idea. I mean, I just kissed her forehead seconds ago, and she passed out on me. I may not be alive, but she scared my half to death, and if I were to give her a proper kiss, she might have a seizure or something. That wouldn't be good at all.
'Edward,' Emmett mentally calls my name. He's looking at us through the rearview mirror. 'Damn, brother mine! It's obvious how bad you want her.' He giggles. 'Don't stare at her too hard now.'
Shifting in my seat, I want to tell him to shut up, but I don't. Instead, I quietly hold Bella's hand as she looks at me. I knew what to say when she and I were standing in front of her house, but now she seems to be quietly concentrating on something, and I'm at a loss for words and really don't know why.
'Edward, stop staring at her like an idiot. Why don't you try talking to her?' Rose shouts in her head. Despite her insult, I can tell she's trying to give me big sister advice.
Ahh! talking might be better than sitting in silence, which we've been doing since Rose put the car in drive.
"Bella, how are you feeling now?" I ask her.
"I'm good." She says, sounding kind of shy as she rubs her thumb on the back of my hand.
"Are you sure?" Emmett and Rosalie say in unison. His tone is light and carefree; her tone is tight.
"Yes. I'm one hundred percent fine." Bella smiles. "Thanks for picking me up, guys."
"No trouble at all." Emmett looks back at her. He shows his teeth and yet she doesn't even flinch. With his mind on how at ease she is among us, he opens his mouth to speak some more, and I inwardly cringe. "We're glad to see that you're really his girlfriend, and he didn't just make the whole thing up. For many years our family had a suspicion that Edward was gay. Especially since he used to really like Michael J. Fox from the Back to the Future movies and even had a poster of him behind his door a few years ago."
I stare at him, deadpan. None of that is true; he just couldn't resist saying it.
"Oh." Bella blinks her eyes.
Her minimal answer that sounded so casual has me fretting. Without being able to read her mind I have no idea if she believes my brother or not.
I sure hope she doesn't.
"He also had a strange obsession with elephants." Emmett laughs, his mind on the Spiderman movies so I don't have any idea what he might say. He's on a roll now; there's no doubt about that. "Last year, he had a poster of a herd of elephants above his bed. No one could figure out why but I'm sure it was some weird sex thing. Beat the meat to elephants? Right, kid?"
Expressionless, I stare at him. Could he be any more embarrassing? Actually, yes, he could. And the fact that he knows I won't sock him because I'm on my best behavior with Bella beside me gives him ammunition to act the fool. I really hope he stops this nonsense soon.
Rosalie shoots Emmett a very odd look. While blush heat radiates off Bella, I wonder what's going through her mind.
Could my brother say anything odder? Actually, I know the answer to that and that's why I won't even voice that question out loud. I really wish he'd stop speaking.
"Well, Bella," Emmett says to her. He's still blocking his thoughts, and I hold my breath. "Hope you like whips, gags, and jackalopes. Because Edward here has a fascination with those types of things."
"What?" Bella asks in a confused voice.
"Emmett!" I roar, and he laughs.
"Just trying to let her know what kind of guy she's with." Emmett giggles, sounding like a schoolgirl. 'I'm only trying to break the ice for you since both of you are so silent. You can thank me later.'
"Everything you said is a lie and you know it!" I hiss my words at him.
"Bella," Rosalie says, her mind on the silent girl beside me. Bella looks towards my sister. "Emmett's just joking. Edward doesn't have any posters in his room or into any of that stuff."
"That you know of," Emmett speaks too low and fast for Bella to hear.
"Stop." Rosalie warns him in a fast paced tone. She's aware I'm getting upset with him.
I clamp my teeth together. How badly I want to sock my brother right now, the only thing that's stopping me is Bella. I don't want her to see my temper.
"Yeah, I could tell it was a joke. Even though it wasn't funny at all." Bella's hand squeezes mine, making my anger disappear. "Thanks for picking me up, Rosalie."
Emmett shrugs his shoulders. He believes his jokes were hilarious.
"Um. Well," Rosalie says as she chauffeurs us to school. "We were going to school anyway, so why not stop and pick you up? After all, Edward wanted to."
"Thanks again. This is a very nice car you have. I still can't believe it's yours. I mean I've seen it at school before, but wow. Just wow." Bella quickly stops talking as her face becomes a beautiful rosy color.
"Thank you, Bella." Rosalie's eyes remain on the road as her lips curve into a barely-there smile.
It's the same kind of smile I've seen on her face before, when I have complimented her on her mechanical skills. I'm aware, and so is Emmett, that she grins that way when she's not sure if she should trust what is being said. Though I hear her thoughts and know she's pleased that Bella is taking an interest in her beloved car.
"You're very welcome," Bella says, sounding sure of herself. "It's a very nice car. Really beautiful, just like you. It suits you."
Her complement is sweet, genuine, and goes right to my sister's head.
'Oh! I liked this girl.' Rosalie's thoughts are very happy. "That's very nice of you to say. Thanks." She speaks aloud, her tone is joyous and she can no longer contain her grin, her smile is now a mile wide. 'Edward,' She calls my name; I automatically turn to her. 'She's a nice girl, don't mess this up.'
I roll my eyes. Of course, compliments about her outer beauty and her car would make her say something like that.
From the corner of my eye I catch Bella glancing at me. I wonder if she saw me roll my eyes toward my sister. The last thing I want is to have her see how much Rose can annoy me.
"So I heard you two are going on a date. Where and when does that happen?" Rose asks, trying to make conversation.
"Friday." Bella and I say at the same time.
Bella's eyes meet mine. We share a giggle. Without being able to read her mind, I never know what she'll say. I like that.
"Cool. Where are you two lovebirds going?" Emmett wonders.
He and Rose are clueless about my personal life since I didn't tell them where I asked Bella to go. In fact, I didn't tell any of my siblings. I didn't want any of them to give me relationship advice or make a big deal that I'd be going on my first date soon. Besides my parents, Alice is the only other family member that knew of my plans, and that's just because of her gift. Well, and Jasper. There are no secrets between them. But of course, she couldn't keep her mouth shut when she was raiding my closet for no good reason earlier this morning. So now my whole family is aware of my first date.
"We're going to play indoor mini-golf." I answer.
"Yeah, at the new Prehistoric Putt in Clallam Bay," Bella adds.
"Aww! Putt putt. Sweet." Emmett says. In his mind, it's clear that he wants to give me advice for what to do after the date, once Bella and I are alone.
I block out his thoughts. That's nothing that I need advice on. Maybe in another universe where I could drive and therefore Bella and I would have a chance to be alone, then I might be interested in his lude advice. But it's no use to me in my immediate future.
"That's nice." Rosalie says. In her mind is the printed-out page of the list of places where teens go on first dates. The list that gave me an idea to take Bella to play mini golf for our upcoming date. So she's the one that printed it out and placed it on my desk!
I'm shocked to find out Rose was trying to help me play the role of a modern teen. I'm also grateful she was nice enough to do that because, in all honesty, I wasn't sure where to go on a date.
Everyone becomes silent. Bella moves her head to look out the window, and her hair that was tucked behind her ear falls down the side of her face, creating a curtain between us. Moving forward a little, I take a peek and smile at her. Her face flushes, and she continues to look out the window. She seems to be thinking about something. She doesn't seem to want to meet my eyes, and that worries me. Not knowing what I did wrong, I sigh and look out my window. I want to talk more, but it's a bit awkward with Em and Rose here. What should I say?
"Aww! Young awkward love." Emmett coos in a strange lovey-dovey voice. He's been watching us from the rearview mirror, admiring Bella's bravery for sitting in a car full of vampires even though she's not aware and not even having the slightest bit of fear. Not even after he showed her his teeth. 'She sure likes you, that's obvious. You go, kid.' He thinks as he places his hand on Rose's thigh. "Ain't young love sweet, Sugar Boom?"
"Sure is, Big Papa Pickle," Rose responds.
Hearing those weird nicknames I'm sure they just came up with on the spot, since I've never heard them use those odd words before, Bella and I turn to each other, and our eyes lock as both of us end up laughing. Our titters and giggles are a childish sound as we get closer to the school.
'So immature.' Rose shakes her head in a disapproving way. "Wherever have your young and impressionable minds have gone, children," She says in an annoyed tone to Bella and me. "Trust me. Both of you have it wrong. Dead wrong. It's really not what you think."
"True that." Emmett agrees, he turns around in his seat to see us. From his mind he figures Bella and I are thinking of private parts. That's where my mind went, though I don't know if Bella is thinking of the same thing. "We're not talking about bajingos or the baloney pony." He says with a straight face.
"Our pet names for each other literally have to do with an actual pickle and a box of Bon-Bons," Rosalie says in the most casual way.
If that was supposed to make our laughter stop, it does not. Knowing that either one of them can eat food even though they are always buying it, I begin to laugh even harder, which causes Bella to double over laughing.
When Rosalie volunteered to drive me to school, I was skeptical. Alice checked ahead for me and saw that everything would be fine and there was nothing to fear. I still had been very hesitant to ride with Rosalie, knowing we were going picking up Bella l, and Rose is not exactly trusting when it comes to humans. In retrospect, I'm glad the driving arrangement worked out this way. After all, I had no idea my oldest siblings would provide entertainment for us.
"Big Papa Pickle," I say in between laughter, which makes Bella laugh more, and now Emmett's laughing too, while Rosalie rolls her eyes.
"Yup, I'm Big Papa Pickle." Emmett says, emphasizing the word "pickle." 'I wasn't frozen as a kid like you were. I have a full-size trouser monkey.'
With his silent words that are so ridiculous I can't fight my laughter even if I wanted to.
"Oh grow up," Rosalie says to me.
Bella leans into my ear, her warmth caressing my face. Her scent wraps around me like a heavy coat. Suddenly I feel a strange surge in my brain, like a dizzy feeling. I'm thankful I'm a vampire because I'm sure if I weren't, I would black out from her proximity to me.
"Sugar boom." She whispers, her voice sounding so serious. I crack up, and so does she.
With each passing second, she and I go back and forth, getting sillier by the minute. Both of us ignore Rose's comments about us being immature or Emmett's silly remarks about me sounding like a deranged goat. None of that bothers me. I only want to hear the sound of Bella's musical laughter more. It's such a beautiful sound that makes me feel light and free.
As our laughter fizzles out as we get closer to the school I look at Bella and she looks at me. I can't read her mind, but I see a mischievous twinkle in her chocolate brown eyes. I don't think she's done being silly. I'm not either.
"Big Papa Pickle," Bella says in a mock serious tone.
"Sugar Boom," I say in the same tone.
"Pork Sword and Pamster." Emmett randomly says.
Bella and I share a smile before we fall into a fit of laughter.
"Ohmygod!" Rosalie lets out an aspirated breath. 'It's not that funny.'
"Calm down, Babe. They're just having fun." Emmett gently takes her hand.
"I know. But will it ever end?" Rosalie wonders.
"Not if you guys continue to use nicknames like 'Big Papa Pickle' and 'Sugar Boom.' These words are gold." I answer my sister's question even though she wasn't asking me.
"Uhg. Little brother, your mind is in the gutter." Rose sounds so annoyed. 'You never used to turn innocent words into something nasty. What happened to you?'
Immediately Emmett laughs, and both Bella and I crack up.
Rosalie sighs, and Emmett pats her thigh. Both of their thoughts are on the same page. They're thinking I've definitely met my soulmate, my other half that brings out the best in me and has me acting my age. Well, my age at which I am frozen.
I don't know if that's correct or not. I don't know if we're soul mates. All I know is that I like Bella and she likes me. We enjoy being around each other and it's fun to be silly with her.
Not wanting to concentrate on their thoughts as we pull into the school parking lot, I say the silly words again and so does Bella. Who knew these simple words could be so humorous and would irritate my sister at the same time?
It's a win-win for me.
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