Chapter 5 - midnight confessions

A/N: Anything Twilight related belongs to SM. Thanks for the lovely reviews, faves and follows. I read each review, so many of you say such lovely and funny things! Made my day to read them. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

After a quiet but fairly tense family dinner, Esme sat with Bee to show her how to log in to the household wifi.

Esme was a little shocked by the antique nature of Bee's laptop and resolved to order her a new one, even though she knew her new daughter well enough already to know that if asked Bee would deny the need for such a 'luxury'. Esme was amazed at how minimalist Bee was but then with what little she knew of her life before she came to live with them, Esme understood the girl was unused to fuss or the niceties of life.

Keeping her plans for a trip to the Apple online store to herself Esme chatted to Bee about their days while Carlisle was in his office doing follow up phone calls referring GPs about their patients and updating patient charts.

Edward had been practically silent over dinner and as soon as the kitchen chores were done, he'd slipped away up to his room where he proceeded to blast music loud enough to wake the dead. Emmett explained to Bee that this was Edward's very subtle code for 'get the fuck away from my fucking door'.

Bee grew increasingly uncomfortable with what she'd done in the parking lot after school. She wasn't a mean person normally and certainly not vindictive. She decided she owed Edward an apology. Yes, he'd been careless with her feelings and self-centred but for all she knew that was a normal teenage boy thing. She had never really mixed with people her own age much and she had zero understanding of teenage boys.

When Bee shared her concerns with Esme, who was fast becoming her confidante as well as her guardian, Esme had assured her that Edward would survive a little teasing but she did agree that maybe it wasn't the most mature way to handle the problem. Of course, this only made Bee feel worse and she was even more determined to apologise to Edward the next day.

When Esme and Carlisle retired to the lounge with a pot of tea and some cookies Esme had made that afternoon, Bee took a cookie and a glass of milk and went to her room to work on an essay for a College scholarship submission. When she got too tired to write sensibly she slid her laptop on to her bedside table switched off the light and tried to sleep, but of course, nothing will keep you awake so well as a guilty conscience.

Frustrated with her inner ramblings, she threw her blankets off and decided to see if Edward was still awake. She headed out of her room into the dark hallway walking silently the short distance to Edward's door. Standing outside his door she became increasingly nervous but also increasingly determined to do the right thing. Summoning up her courage she knocked quietly on his door. There was no answer but she could hear quiet music, something classical she thought, coming from his room so she knocked again.

Feeling brave, and possibly not very clearly, she turned the door handle to find the door unlocked so she opened it and stepped in to Edward's room. It was dark except for the glow from his iPod which shone enough light to show Edward's sleeping form in the bed.

Edward wearing only sleep pants and no shirt, was tangled in his sheets as was his habit. His blanket was kicked off and Bee bent down to pick up the blanket and lift it over him. She didn't want him to be cold.

She had been seriously cold so often in this cold wet part of the world. With little to no blankets or heating she'd sometimes resort to wearing all the clothes she owned to sleep in just to stay warm; now she had a loathing for anything cold and wet.

She sighed as she realised she would just have to wait until tomorrow to apologise so she turned to leave. As she grabbed the door handle, the sound of Edward's sleepy voice had her frozen on the spot.

"Why are you in my room Isabella?"

His voice was thick with sleep but smooth like melted chocolate, she turned to answer him but he'd moved faster than she expected. No longer in his bed he stood over her causing her to lean back against the door.

"I... I'm sorry," she stuttered.

He gently pushed a stray lock of her hair behind her ear and placing his fingers under her chin he raised her face to his: "Why are you sorry, Isabella?"

Her breath hitched at his touch. "I'm sorry I woke you," she whispered.

"Hmmm," was all he said. His fingers gently slid along her jawline and Bee became very aware that in her hurry to come here to apologise she hadn't even thrown a wrap around herself. So she found herself standing in this half-naked-boy's bedroom in the middle of the night in nothing but her short sleep pants and a tank top."

He leaned forward and took a deep breath taking in her scent.

"Edward?"

"Hmmm?"

"Did you just sniff me?"

He chuckled: "You smell very ... fresh. I like it."

"Oh."

"Isabella?"

"Hmmm?"

"Why are you in my room, tucking me into my blanket, in the middle of night?"

She broke from her trance, straightened her body and looked directly into his eyes. The room was dark with only the light of the iPod but she was adjusting to it and could see his face quite clearly. His hair was a riot on his head, all sleep scruffy. She had the urge to touch it but realised how intimate that gesture would be so thought better of it.

"Edward," she had a prepared speech and she wanted to get this right, this day had been full of misunderstandings and she didn't want to fight again. She cleared her throat: "Edward, I am very sorry for being such a bitch to you this afternoon. It was very wrong of me to react that way. I was hurt by your remark about being embarrassed by people thinking we were together and I lashed out. I am very sorry. I've been trying to think of a way to take it back and I honestly can't think of anything, so if you can think of anything then please let me know." She took a deep breath and almost whispered: "I am honestly very, very sorry Edward."

She took advantage of his shocked silence to turn and slip out of his room. She made her way quietly but quickly to her room, climbed into her fabulously warm and comfortable bed and pulled the blankets up around her. She touched her cheek where Edward had stroked it and as she drifted off to sleep she wondered why he had been so soft and warm towards her.

Edward stood in his room stunned by Bee's midnight confession, stunned also by his own reaction to her.

He had spent most of the evening riding waves of emotion in response to what had been a very confusing day. At first he'd been furious that she could humiliate him in front of all those jocks, but then he calmed down when he realised that he honestly gave no fucks about their opinion of him. He didn't understand it but he was hurt by Bee's words because he didn't want her to think badly of him.

He mentally walked back through the events of the day and tried to work out why she'd become so angry with him. He'd been a dick to her in class, he knew that, but then he did try to apologise. The more he thought about what he'd said the more it dawned on him how it had sounded to her. He'd basically blamed her for him being an ass; no wonder she'd become pissy with him.

Then the whole stupid rumour thing happened. No fucks about anyone's views on that either but if that was true why did he say he'd been embarrassed? He now realised how that must've sounded to Bee. It wasn't what he'd meant though. He'd meant he hated being centre of high school 'drama'.

As angry as he'd been that she'd acted out in a bitchy way in the car park, after thinking it through during hours of hurting his ear drums with the loudest, angriest music he could find, he came to the realisation that he deserved to be kicked up the ass and what she'd done was really mild considering how he'd behaved all fucking day. He'd really been a total prick.

He also come to the realisation that he didn't hate Busy Bee... Bee... Isabella ... at all.

While in the shower he had resolved to apologise to her the next day. He also resolved to try and be less of a total prick although he was self-aware enough to know that he really had very little experience on how to behave with someone like Bee. The only girls his age he hung out with were all attached to other males so he was fairly relaxed with them and also didn't need to be nice to them. All other single girls he avoided like the plague. Ever since the 9th grade girls just started giving him 'the look' and he had no interest in finding out why, so he just ignored them.

Feeling calmer after his shower, he switched to his classical playlist and dropped into bed only to be woken by the softest touch of someone tucking a blanket around him.

Standing there looking at the space where Bee had been not five minutes before he realised that once again she had gone one better on him, managing to apologise to him before he could apologise to her. Would he never win when it came to Bee?

As Edward lay back down into his bed thinking about what she'd said while here in his room, he pulled the blanket up around him and wondered why he'd been so soft and warm with her. Fuck he'd almost been tender. She smelled so good and her skin was warm and her long legs… he decided it was probably best not to think about her legs too much, so he rolled over and fall back to sleep.

In the morning Bee dressed in another new pair of jeans and a pretty blue blouse that Esme had picked out. She'd disliked it in the store and had only chosen it to please Esme but looking at herself in her bathroom mirror, she thought it looked quite nice after all. Touching the lovely clothes and looking down at her new blue ballet flats she thought again about how kind the Cullen family had been.

When she entered the kitchen Emmett wolf whistled at her and she giggled.

"Looking pretty hot there Miss Bee."

She blushed furiously before joining the boys in the breakfast nook. "Oh, is Carlisle not here?" she asked looking around.

Esme placed a mushroom omelette in front of Bee with a soft touch to her shoulder: "No dear, every Friday Carlisle works at the free clinic in Port Angeles so he leaves quite early. Why? Did you want to speak with him?"

"Oh, actually I wanted to talk to him about which university he went to when he studied medicine? I wanted to ask him about his experience there."

"Dartmouth," the boys said at the exact same time, both with their mouths full of omelette.

Bee giggled again at their twin-ness, they certainly didn't look alike but often surprised her with they reacted in the same way.

Edward swallowed his mouthful this time: "Dad went to the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He says it was great and that's where I am hoping to go too." He gave her a small smile.

She gave a small smile back: "Oh, well ... thanks for letting me know. I... well..." She wondered how he would feel if she applied for the same College as him.

Edward chuckled, surprised that he wouldn't mind at all if Bee ended up at the same College as him: "It would be nice to have someone to compete with there... too."

She gave him a broad genuine smile.

"Well, it's a fucking miracle. Edward said something nice to Miss Bee. What do you think about that Mom?"

She leaned against the counter sipping her coffee: "I think you should watch your language in my kitchen young man."

Blushing at Edward's kind words, Bee turned to Esme: "Esme, do you think Carlisle would write me a reference in support of my scholarship applications? I already have some recommendation letters from teachers, the principal, the town librarian, and Reverend Webber. I would ask you but I am applying for the pre-med program so it would be good to have a doctor, and Carlisle has such a fine reputation." She was nervous that she may have accidentally insulted her guardian.

Esme was pleased to hear Bee had already been organising what she needed to support her college applications: "No need to explain my dear, you'll have to ask Carlisle yourself Isabella, but I am sure he'd be happy to provide you with a recommendation."

Emmett jumped up: "Well, come on guys, we need to haul ass … I mean get moving, or we'll be late. I'm glad you're wearing jeans today Bee since it's my turn to drive and we're taking my pick up truck!"

Bee took the dirty plates from the table and loaded them into the dishwasher; "Emmett I wear jeans every day and what's the big deal with the pick up truck?"

"Oh, you'll see what the BIG deal is. Come on, bro' I want to get going since we're picking up my Rosie on the way. Get the lead out!"

Edward called shotgun and Bee rolled her eyes since she really didn't give a fig about sitting in the front. However, when she stood next to the opened back door of Emmett's truck she realised she wasn't really sure how she would get in? She was pretty small and this truck was BIG!

Emmett laughed while lifting her up into the truck: "In you go Miss Bee. I knew you wouldn't be able to climb in on your own."

The boys argued over the music... again... on the way and Bee realised this was clearly one of those brotherly things, or maybe it was another twin thing, or maybe it was just a teenage boy thing. She didn't care, she actually found it rather amusing. She was just grateful that Edward had accepted her apology and the tension between them was gone.

Emmett was excited. He loved picking up Rosalie, he rarely had the chance since Rose loved her car almost if not more than she loved Emmett. She had a bright red Mercedes which her parents had given her for her birthday. Since her car was in the shop for a service, she asked Emmett to pick her up. She would have asked her brother for a lift, their parents had given Jasper a deep blue Audi, but he'd lost driving privileges after his parents found dope in his room. So Alice was picking him up in her canary yellow Porsche. Not much of a punishment except they couldn't screw in Alice's car, Porches weren't designed for making out.

Emmett punched in the security code to Rose's front gate, drove through and pulled up to the front door. Bee was gobsmacked by the huge house. It was nowhere near as nice and tasteful as the Cullen's house but Rose's house was clearly very expensive, if a little gaudy.

Emmett got out to collect Rose and Bee wondered why he didn't just honk the horn or text her that he was waiting. Edward took the opportunity to climb into the back. He noticed Bee's confused expression and followed her gaze as she watched Emmett knock on Rose's door: "You don't honk for a girl like Rosalie Hale; she wouldn't respond even if you did. She has Emmett pretty much whipped but he seems pretty comfortable with it."

"Have they been together long?" Bee asked, not really wanting to know their private business but she was so pleased Edward was speaking to her without snarling or being insufferable she wanted to keep it going a little longer. He'd probably say something asinine or she'd irritate him in some way soon enough.

"Sure, they broke up once for about a week but otherwise they're solid. They're going to UW together next year."

"Won't you miss your brother if you go to Dartmouth and he goes to UW?" Bee was genuinely interested since the boys seemed so close. The whole Cullen family seemed close and she really admired that about them.

Edward looked at Bee a little surprised. Most people saw the way that Emmett and he bantered with each other all the time and took it for not getting along. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sure they loved to argue and fight with each other but they were incredibly loyal to each other and were actually very close.

He sighed a little and looked back to Em returning to the car with his arm wrapped tight around his girl: "Yes. I will miss him." He turned back to Bee with a crooked grin she'd never seen first hand before; she'd heard the girls all talking about his sexy half smile but she'd never been on the receiving end. "Don't tell him I said that though, he'll never let me live it down."

She laughed lightly before turning her attention to Emmett who now had Rosalie thrown over his shoulder and she was pummelling his back, shouting: "Put me down you big oaf."

He then gently sat her in the front passenger seat and even did up her seat belt for her before placing a soft kiss on Rose's forehead and making his way back to the driver's seat. Bee found it fascinating to watch. She wasn't used to be so closely involved with kids her own age and she certainly wasn't used to seeing couples so tender with each other.

When they arrived at school the car park was full of students all lingering and waiting for the last possible moment before heading into the school building. It was a rare day of sunshine and everyone wanted to enjoy it.

The students were all gathered in their respective groups, the cool kids, the trendies, the indies, the druggies, the jocks and the cheerleaders, the nerds, the dweebs, loners and the stragglers.

Emmett fit mostly with the jocks but he was popular with most groups, Rosalie was definitely a trendy, Edward fit mostly with the cool kids, while Bee was definitely a loner or straggler.

When Emmett parked his huge truck in the middle spot, Bee became self conscious as she realised everyone was watching the car. Emmett rushed around the truck to open the door for his girlfriend and lift her down. She giggled and gave her a searing kiss; Rosalie loved attention. They headed off to join the jocks and the cheerleaders who once again were in a group close to where Emmett's car was parked.

Edward jumped out of the car and was about to walk away when he heard a small sigh from behind him. He turned and realised Bee was trying to work out how she would get out of the car. She would have to climb down and that might be a bit embarrassing with all these people around. Edward leaned and whispered to her: "Do you want my help?"

She looked up at him and nodded with a shy smile on her face.

Not thinking of their audience, Edward stepped forward reaching out for Bee who held onto his shoulders as he lifted her down, placing her on the ground directly in front of him.

She blushed a little, smiled at him and whispered: "Thank you."

He moved some hair off her face and they were both reminded of their midnight moment in his room. They must have stood there for quite a while because the jocks started wolf whistling.

Edward was about to walk off when Bee grabbed his hand. He looked down at her hand holding his and then up to her face with a confused expression. She gestured with her eyes to their audience. Edward understood her plan and that she was trying to make up for her performance the afternoon before, so he turned back to walk into school keeping her hand in his. Then thinking 'in for a penny in for a pound', Edward draped his arm around Bee's shoulder bringing her even closer up against him.

Tyler called out: "I see you two made up. You must've given her what she needed last night after all, huh Edward!"

Edward just flipped him the bird which made Bee laugh and they headed into the school looking very much like a couple of lovesick teens.

When they walked into the building they dropped their hands and laughed at how ridiculous the whole charade had been.

"Well, that should make up for my being awful to you yesterday. Although now of course they think we're together," Bella chuckled.

Edward looked back at the door they'd come through: "Christ you don't think we'll have to do that every day do you? Fuck what a pain in the ass!"

Bella stopped smiling, she stopped chuckling, she stood and stared at him. She'd figured one of them would piss the other off sooner or later. She'd just hoped it would be later.

"Ugh!" she grunted, turned on her heel and stormed off away from Edward and towards her locker, wondering would it really be so awful pretend to like her.

He watched incredulously as she angrily walked away from him, threw his arms out and called out: "What did I do this time?"

A/N: Oh Edward! How sweet was Emmett and how nice was that little moment Bee and Edward shared in his bedroom... yummy. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Oh and remember my other story Sweet Temptations has been nominated for fic of the month for December - so if you've read the story and liked it please take a moment to to and give it your vote!

Thanks for reading. See you soon!