Holy shit, you guys are awesome! I need to catch up on my review replies but this chapter was just itching to come out. I hope you like it.

AN: I do not own Twilight and all errors are my own.

Chapter 14

The Charade

EPOV

It had been two weeks since what I called the Scheduling Success of the Century and things were good.

Well as good as they could be without Bella actually being mine, but I digress.

It seems with that simple gesture of letting Bella schedule her shifts around her final exam needs there had been a slight ease in the Cold War that had been waged ever since Bella came back to work. We still maintained our own ends of the bar but conversation was less stilted and her smiles came a little easier. Despite being stressed out with the end of the semester she seemed a little more relaxed.

A little more relaxed around me. Things were moving slowly, but at least they were moving. Patience, patience, patience had become my mantra.

Three weeks later Bella and a few of her classmates were in, on her day off of course, celebrating their last final exam. They still had to wait to receive their final grades but no one cared at that point. They were done and had a little over a month to rest up and relax before they had to do it all over again. Needless to say they were happy and looking to have a little fun. As a congratulations of sorts I had the kitchen whip up an assortment of wings, nachos, potato skins, and other finger foods for them to enjoy. I also sent over a round of shots and told them that their bar tab for the night was on me. Bella tried to protest.

"No, Edward. We're going to be here awhile. That's too much. You don't have to." Apparently shy Bella was in the building as she looked down at her shoes and nervously combed her long strands of hair behind her ears.

"Now what kind of boss would I be if I didn't support my best bartender's educational achievements?" Bella's friends hooted and cheered their thanks and appreciation. Bella gave me a sweet smile and mouthed a thank you in my direction. I smiled back and careful not to invade her space, I stepped just one step closer so I could talk to her and not the rest of the group. "Hey, I mean it. You work hard and you deserve to have some fun with your friends. Just enjoy."

With another smile she nodded and picked up one of the shots, motioning for the others to do the same. "To Edward. May he not regret his generosity!" Then she downed the shot making her face contort into the cutest little grimace. It was obvious shots were not her thing.

"To Edward!" Her friends cheered as they all took their shots. I chuckled as I turned to make my way back to the bar. As the night went on the group got more animated as they discussed difficult classes, annoying professors, and what their schedules were like for next semester. Even I laughed along as Jessica stood up and hilariously imitated one professor in particular causing Bella to spit her drink out…through her nose. They were a fun bunch and anyone could tell they had gotten real close.

If you asked my opinion, one of them would even be a little too close. To Bella that is.

Fucking Mike.

It was obvious that Mike had a thing for Bella. He was in her Greek Culture class and apparently had been a study partner too. Just the thought of him and her in some secluded room studying all that Aphrodite shit made my mood sour. He stared at her like she was something to eat as he flipped his Beiber-style-wanna-be piss-colored hair. It was repulsive. He even managed to switch his seat next to hers when Jessica got up to use the rest room and then he angled it so that Bella was practically between his legs.

I wanted to go over there. I wanted to pound the shit out of him for getting too close and a little obscene with my girl. But I didn't. Too many times I had gotten involved in situations where my help was neither wanted nor needed. Fred said to give her some space. I'm pretty sure if I went all Fight Club on his ass Bella would see that as me intruding. So I stayed behind the bar, clenching my jaw to keep my seething glares from becoming too apparent.

When I didn't have customers I tried to keep myself busy with tasks and ignore what was happening at Bella's table. I was organizing the till with my back to the bar when I heard Bella's voice.

"Um, Edward?" She had some empties that she was placing on the bar. She didn't seem drunk but her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol she had consumed. She was beautiful.

"Hey, another round?" I asked.

"Yeah, I think we're going to do one more. Could you make that water for me please?" I nodded as I got together her drinks, pleased as punch that she was switching to something non-alcoholic. I put them on a tray and smiled. She started to pick it up only to put it back down again. Then she looked down and took a deep breath.

"Is everything okay?" When she finally looked up there was this uncertain, nervous look on her face. I didn't like it. "What is it, Bella?"

"Um, okay. I hate to ask you this but I need kind of a favor." I nodded for her to continue. "So that guy, Mike?" I looked up past her at the douche-nozzle and instantly got defensive. He was the competition for fuck's sake. What on earth would she be asking me to do?

"Yeah. What about him?" It came out a little harsher than I intended. Seeing that I wasn't too pleased she started to ramble a little.

"He's a nice guy and all but he likes me and seems to have the idea that I like him too, more than really I do. We're going to be in classes again next semester so I don't want to embarrass him by rejecting him completely. It would just make things awkward in class and that is something I don't need. I was wondering…if you could…maybe…" She was utterly confusing me.

"What, Bella? What do you want me to do? Throw him out? Let you hide in the back? What?"

"I was hoping you could kind of pretend that we were kind of together so that he would give up?" She said it so quickly it took me a few seconds to register what she was saying.

"You want me…to pretend that I'm your boyfriend?" I asked in disbelief. I had not expected that at all. Now, getting him away from her was something I could help with. She completely misread my reaction. Bella huffed.

"I know the thought of being my boyfriend is disgustingly revolting to you, but could try to choke back your vomit just long enough to help me out this one time?" She was pissed and feistiness was fucking sexy. What she didn't know was that I was already resolved to do whatever she asked me to do for the rest of my life. I walked around the bar, took one of her hands in mine and cupped her cheek with the other. Even if it were for the wrong reasons, it felt so fucking right. For a brief moment, I disregarded Fred's advice. Even if she wasn't ready she had to know. I needed her to know.

"For the record, the thought of being your boyfriend is not revolting. In fact you'd be surprised to know it's quite the opposite. I will do this for you mostly because Mike is a tool of epic proportion and the thought of you two together is what makes me want to vomit. But Bella, the next time I hold your hand, kiss you, and whisper in your ear like you're my girlfriend, I promise it won't be because I'm pretending. And you won't be either."

I didn't give her confused expression time to respond. I brought my lips down to hers, savoring what I had been craving for so long. Sure, it was all for show but it was perfect. She was perfect.

I kissed her sweetly but long enough to garner some attention from her table as well as Charlotte and Alice too. I would have to deal with them later. When I broke away, Bella's eyes were slightly unfocused but the bewildered expression remained. Keeping a hold of her one hand, I removed the one from her cheek so that I could pick up the tray. Pulling her closer to me I kissed her forehead and then mumbled. "C'mon. Let's lose a guy in five minutes."

The spin on the title of her favorite movie brought her out of her stupor and made her chuckle a little. "How did you remember that was my favorite movie?"

"How could I not? You and Alice tortured me by talking non-stop about how hot and cute Matthew McConaughey was in that movie for an entire night." She smiled at the memory of a time when things between us were much simpler. "Besides, I remember everything about you." Was that a little too much? Probably. But I didn't give a fuck at the moment. I tugged her along towards the table.

"You guys ready for another round?" I asked and everyone happily approved. Everyone except for Mike. His eyes were firmly focused on Bella's hand entwined with mine. I could almost see him deflate right before my eyes. He knew he was done. He had no absolutely no chance against my awesome ass.

That's right mother fucker. She's mine.

I might have been overstepping my bounds but I had been doing that ever since this little charade began. I'm nothing if I'm not thorough. I hoped Bella would go along with the impromptu decision I just made. "Are you going to wait for me tonight, Baby? Charlotte and the guys are closing. It shouldn't be too late." Now I'm not stupid. I know Bella is not coming home with me. But maybe I could get a little more time with her by driving her home.

"Er…" She stumbled a little but realized that everyone at the table was hanging on her every word. "Sure, I could do that."

"Perfect." I smiled my best smile, pulled her hand up to my lips and kissed her palm, and then let go so I could go back to the bar. I didn't even look back until I was safely behind it. Bella's friends had descended upon her.

"You guys are together? Oh my god, he's just so hot. You're one lucky bitch." Her friend said.

Thank you, Jessica.

"Yeah, well it's new." Bella was a little bit uncomfortable as she answered to her friends and sat down. Mike was now swirling his beer bottle looking totally dejected and bored.

"What exactly are you doing, young man?" Charlotte walked up and stood right in front of me so that my view of Bella was entirely obstructed. She never hesitated to call me out on my shit and this seemed to be no exception. "You better not be playing games with that girl. I have no idea what happened before but I know it had something to do with you. Now, I love you Edward but I like her a lot too and I am not going to let you toy with her." I loved how Charlotte loved my girl.

"I promise, Char. I am not toying with her. I was just helping her get rid of that guy over there. The last thing I want to do is hurt Bella." Charlotte gave me a knowing look. She knew me better than almost anyone and had probably known the moment Bella walked in that I would fall head over heels for her.

"Okay then."

"Hey, could you explain it to Alice so I don't have to deal with her." I pleaded because if my sister got wind that I was in love and ready to do a "relationship" I was fucking done for. She would never leave me alone.

"Yeah, you're on your own with that little pixie."

"Thanks for the support, Char." Yeah, thanks for nothing.

"Anytime, hon." Her laugh as she went to wait on her tables lingered in the air. I loved her but man she was evil some times. I would just have to avoid Alice which wouldn't be too hard tonight since Jasper was here performing and she was too busy swooning.

A couple hours later, all of the customers including Bella's friends had left. Bella had begun helping Charlotte wipe down tables because frankly, I had given her no choice but to wait for me. She had come with her friends and had no car. I finished what I had to do quickly and relieved Bella of duties that didn't belong to her tonight. With keys in hand, I waited as she said good-bye to the rest of the staff. Once in my car I decided to keep the conversation light.

"So, do you think your friends had a good time tonight?" I said as I pulled into a parking spot in front of her apartment building.

"Oh, they had a blast. I'm pretty sure Good Times is going to be their new hangout." She kept looking straight ahead but I could see the smile forming on her lips.

"And Mike?" I asked. Her smile faltered a little and she sighed.

"I don't think he'll be asking me out anymore. I feel badly that I hurt him, but I just wasn't interested. Jessica is crazy about him. I hope he picks up on it and asks her out. I think they would be good together." That was just like my selfless, kind, compassionate girl. Always thinking of other peoples' feelings.

"You did the right thing. It wouldn't have been right to lead him on." She slowly turned her head towards me with a glare firmly in place. She spat out in anger.

"Yeah, that's great advice, Edward. Too bad you don't practice what you fucking preach." Fuck, this was not how I wanted this car ride to go. It was obvious she was still mad and hurt with how I mishandled everything. She took a deep breath and started talking but it seemed like she was speaking more to herself than to me. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. What happened between us…well you apologized and I accepted. It's in the past."

Clearly it's not.

"Bella, you may have forgiven me but it's obvious you have not forgotten." She started to interrupt but I held my hand up to stop her. "You haven't and that's okay. I've broken your trust and it's going to take time to regain it. I meant what I said back there at the bar but I know that right now you are not ready to even have that conversation. So I will be patient and give us both time. And if you eventually decide that I am not the right person for you then I'll deal with it. But until then I want to start over. I want to get to know you and I want you to get to know me, the real me. The me that wants desperately to become a man that deserves you."

"I don't know what to say to all of that." It was too much, I could tell. I had to reel it in and fast.

"Don't say anything. Let's just begin again. Hi, I'm Edward Mason and I'm a fuck awesome boss." I held out my hand. She laughed a little before rolling her eyes and reaching out to take it.

"Hi, I'm Bella Swan and I'm a kick-ass bartender." I kept hold of her hand because damn, it felt good.

"It's nice to meet you, Bella. Sounds like we have a lot in common. I have a feeling that we will become the best of friends with the possibility of something more." That earned another giggle. She let go of my hand, opened her door, and stepped out of the car. I thought that was it until she leaned back in.

"We'll have to see about that." Well that was better than a go to hell. "Good night, Edward." I watched as she shut the door and got safely into her apartment building.

Oh, I would make her see alright. One day she would see that we were meant to be. I was sure of it.

So, we have a little progress. Thank you for reading! I appreciate it! ~Isannah