A/N: I got an influx of reviews from gorgo67 a couple days ago and it made my day! Thank you!

Here's the next chapter! It's just over a week after where the last chapter left off! Enjoy!

I'll Always Find Peace In The Meadow

Chapter Twenty-eigt: 'The best of Forks' (Edward POV)

Sunday 11 June 2017

"Damn, I wish I had this room in my house," Bella sighs contentedly, having finally stopped crying, as she swings herself round so her legs are hooked over the back of the sectional and her head hangs off the couch cushion. "That movie has never looked or sounded so good!" I grin down at her from my place beside her on the media room's u-shaped sectional. "So..." she lifts her head slightly so she can see me better from her upside down position. "What did you think of it?"

"It was good... but I preferred the book," I answer.

"Yes!" she hisses as she fist pumps the air, forcing a laugh from me. "That was the correct answer."

I copy Bella and move to lie upside down on the couch cushion beside her, dangling my legs over the backrest while I hang my head backwards, looking at the large square coffee table that sits in the center of the U-shape. Bella and I both turn our heads at the same time, so we're now facing each other but still upside down - at least to the rest of the world. She's the right way up from where I am.

"They definitely chose the right actor and actress for the main parts," I muse aloud, thinking back to the man and woman who were cast as Hazel Grace and Gus... yes, I admit it. I loved the book Bella lent me to read. I loved it so much that we just finished watching the movie adaptation.

Bella was ecstatic when I called her late the Tuesday after she lent me the book, raving about how great I thought it was. Unfortunately, she took my positive reaction to this one book as an approval to begin recommending others, assuming I'd enjoy all romance books. When Nicholas Sparks' work joined her excited verbal listing of books to me down the phone, I just hung up. The text I got in reply to that was an angry face emoji, though the next day at school she wasn't angry at all.

"I know right? It is literally like they plucked the characters right out of the book! Though, it was strange seeing the two of them kiss when I first watched it."

"Why?"

"'Cause they play brother and sister in a movie called Divergent."

"No way!" I gasp. "Seriously?"

"Yep! Oh, we should watch it! And you should read the books! It's a trilogy!"

"Bella," I say in a deep warning. She smirks as she rolls her eyes.

"Yeah yeah, I know. No more recommending books."

"No, you can recommend them. Just don't-"

"Edward! You and Isabella sit on those chairs properly or you don't use this room at all!" Both Bella and I startle at my mother's sudden appearance. Bella quickly obeys, sitting up in the chair properly in the blink of an eye. I move at a more leisurely pace. Bella is bright red. I, on the other hand, have to contain my eye roll.

"Yes, Mom."

"Sorry, Mrs. Cullen."

My mom crosses her arms and leaves the room without another word. Bella and I are silent for a few seconds.

"I guess I should be going, now that your family are back," she announces as she stands from the chair, folding up the blanket and laying it neatly on the arm. She only came by this afternoon because my family were out running errands in Port Angeles. She begins picking up the trash from the snacks she got from the large selection across the room.

"Bella, you don't have to clean up. Just leave that-"

"For Bev to do?" she interrupts coldly, completing my sentence - incorrectly, might I add. "No, thank you. I'm quite capable."

"I was going to say you can leave that for me to clear away," I correct her as I stand. She halts and looks over at me guiltily.

"Sorry, Edward. I didn't mean to snap at you."

I sigh. "It's okay." She looks down to her hands as she idly plays with the hem of her black hoodie. "C'mon. I'll walk you to your bike."

~I*A*F*P*I*T*M~

"Is she gone?" I look up after closing the front door to see my sister stood at the bottom of the stairs, a sneer on her face.

"Yes, Alice," I say, not bothering to entertain whatever insults she wants to throw my way as I walk away from her and toward the kitchen.

She's been a bigger nuisance than ever recently. Usually, with Alice being my sister, she'd not show any ill-feelings she may harbour toward me when out in public. Usually, she'd keep it all bottled up until we were in the safety of our home. That's how it's been for as long as I can remember. To Alice, even a small disagreement between the two of us should be kept under wraps while in public.

Usually.

But recently? She's not held back at all, no matter the place or company we have. She seems to be even worse around her girlfriends, which is just great because she spends a lot of time with the three of them. The rhyme they sung as they passed me and Bella last week was just the beginning of it. It appears that her rule of keeping family business just that, family business, has flown out the window.

I make my way into the kitchen. I'm just about to pour myself a glass of juice when I hear my name drift into the room from the informal dining area that's off the back of the kitchen. I tip-toe over to the doorway and remain hidden while I listen in.

"So far I have seventy-two... no, seventy-four people that have RSVP'd." That's my mother's voice.

"Are the Hale's part of that list?" And that's my dad.

"Yes, they are. Top of the list."

"Good."

"And I have spoken to the caterers. They should be arriving while the kids are at school."

"How will we keep Edward away from the house until it's time for the party to start?" A party? For me?

"Well, I was hoping that girl could be of use. He seems to like it at her house, though I honestly don't know why. I drove past the other day, to have a peak at where our son has been spending so much of his time, and it's ghastly. So... small and shabby." I roll my eyes, immediately knowing who my mother is talking about. Spending so much of his time... I've been there once so far, and that was over a week ago!

"Well, dear, what do you expect with the paycheck her mother earns." There's silence, and then my father speaks up again. "So, how do you plan to get Bella's help?"

"Please don't use her nickname around me, Carl. And especially not around her; she'll think we're growing fond of her. Don't want to give her the wrong impression," my mother, for once, admonishes my father. A very rare occurrence, indeed. If I wasn't so pissed off by what she was admonishing him about, I'd be amused. Instead I'm stood here fuming, hands clenched into knuckle-whitening fists.

"How do you plan to get her help, Es?" my father asks, and I can't work out if I'm imagining the way his question sounds tenser this time round.

"Oh, I was just going to casually mention it being a good idea for him to go to Isabella's on Tuesday evening, so he can spend some time with his, dare I say it, best friend on his birthday, and then I'll text him in time for the party to start, asking him to come home for some reason or another. I haven't decided what that reason will be yet."

I don't realise I've began walking into the dining room until it's too late. "Edward, I didn't know you were up here. Has Bella gone?" Dad asks, shocked to see me as he turns in my direction. I nod in reply, though my eyes are trained on my mother and how her eyes narrow as my father once again uses Bella's preferred name. "Really? Well, it would have been polite for her to come say goodbye to us." At that, my attention quickly turns to him.

"That's actually my fault," I say, not intending for there to be so much venom in my voice. "I thought it was best to keep her out of your way, seeing as you don't like her enough to invite her to my birthday party and all."

My father glares at me, while my mother throws her pen down onto the table. "Oh, Edward! It was meant to be a surprise party! Now everything is ruined!"

"Now it's ruined?" I chuckle humourlessly. "Well, I know how you could fix it. Invite Bella." I stare at them both impatiently, watching while they glance at each other.

"Why were you listening in on a private conversation between me and your mother, Edward?"

"If it were meant to be a private conversation, you wouldn't be having it in here. You'd be in your office or your bedroom. I was getting a drink and overheard my name. Sorry for being curious." I cross my arms over my chest in a show of confidence... but in reality - as in, within myself - I'm a nervous wreck. I very rarely speak out toward my father. No matter how ridiculous his beliefs and actions can become at times, I have always respected him too much to stand against him. But this? With Bella not being invited to my birthday party? It's too much. Too far. Even for him.

I could accept her not being invited to the party they held on Memorial Day. To be honest, I'm glad Bella didn't come. It was a few boring hours filled with idle, unimportant chit-chat among snobs and rich folk. She was lucky to not be there.

But, what I can't accept, is her not being invited to the party they are throwing for me. It wouldn't be the same without her there.

"Edward, son," my father, though angry at my little bout of defiance, begins in a calm matter. I'm already shaking my head, halting whatever it is he was going to say.

"Don't. This is going to be my party, and I want her here. I want my best friend, and yes, I dared to say it," I say pointedly to my mother, "to be here to celebrate my sixteenth birthday with me."

My mother shakes her head now. "Edward, please let us handle this. We've planned many parties. Having the Swans here wouldn't be a good idea. Her mother works for me."

"Did I say anything about her Mom being here, too?" I question. My mother's mouth twists into a hard line while my father sighs and glances down at the papers on the table. "Well?" I urge them when neither look at me for several seconds.

"Edward, don't push this. I've already sent out invitations, nearly all of which have been answered."

I chuckle humourlessly for a second time, looking to the floor as I shake my head. "Fine. How about this... If you don't invite Bella, then I'm not coming."

"Edward! An ultimatum? You're giving us, your parents, an ultimatum? Don't be ridiculous! Your mother has put a lot of work into arranging this party," my father says as he places his hand over my mother's, who's close to tears. Oh my God. Seriously? "You can't ignore all of her hard work because we won't invite one of your friends."

"She's my only friend. The only one that really matters! How could you not think to invite her?" I can't contain my outrage at them both. How could they?

"Because this will be a sophisticated celebration, Edward," my mother shouts, suddenly standing from her chair. "The best of Forks will be here."

I belt out a single sharp laugh. This time, it's not completely humourless. "The best of Forks?" I laugh again. "You make it sound like they're members of a royal court. This is a small rainy town and a boy's sixteenth birthday party, mother. It's not some fancy shindig at the Whitehouse!"

"Do not raise your voice to your mother like that, Edward! Show some respect!" I bite my tongue at my father's warning.

"Fine. I'm sorry," I say reluctantly. "But tell me this... are Alice's friends invited?" I wait for an answer, but they both remain silent. My mother stares at me coldly while my father clears his throat, shifting in his seat as he looks down at the table once more. "Are they?" I prompt.

"Yes, Edward, they are. Of course they are. They're some of the b-"

"The best of Forks. Yeah, I know," I finish my mother's sentence, rolling my eyes unabashedly. My dad does nothing to reprimand me this time, because he didn't see my eye roll; he hasn't lifted his gaze from the table. "I'm sorry, but I'm not taking 'no' for an answer," I say with finality, crossing my arms.

My mother's mouth hangs open. "Wha-" she begins to protest but is interrupted by my father.

"Es," he says softly as he holds up a hand to her. She's staring at him desperately. He keeps his eyes downcast for another second before he raises his gaze to mine. "Alright. Isabella can come."

"What? Carlisle!" my mother begins to protest, but my father silences her with a further press of his hand in the air. I can't contain my smile.

"She can come," he reiterates. "But she has to be on her best behaviour."

I have to refrain from rolling my eyes. "She's not an animal, Dad." He gives me a stern look, so I quickly apologise. "Sorry." And then I smile again. "Okay, this is great. I'm going to go call her now," I say excitedly, already leaving the room. "Thanks, Dad," I shout over my shoulder as I run through the kitchen, my glass of juice forgotten.

A/N: So, he's stood up to them about something. Tell me what you're thinking! I'd love to know!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back on Wednesday with Chapter 29. We'll be back to Bella POV's for a little over a week. See you then!