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Chapter 8

We drove to a small park in silence. I turned in my seat to face him as he pressed his face against the steering wheel, taking in a few deep breaths. When he finally turned around he placed his palm against my cheek, looking into my eyes. He had touched me before many times, but it was this moment that I felt the most intimate with him. His soft eyes just looked at me, and they didn't look away. I found it hard to stare back at first- I found it slightly uncomfortable. He grabbed hold of my other cheek and forced me to look at him. There was no accusation; there was no anger- just genuine interest.

His lips touched mine softly. But too briefly. He pulled away again and hopped out of the car to open my door for me, "Let's go for a walk."

For the first time in my life, I walked hand in hand with someone. We strolled around the park. Its large trees and bushes were large and offered a great amount of cover. If we heard anyone approaching we would simply duck into the nearest bush until they had passed.

Neither of us had spoken for about half an hour. I wondered if he had forgotten I was there, or if he had suddenly turned mute.

Eventually, he started steering us towards the empty playground with a set of swings. We both sat down and swung with our legs kicking the sand beneath us, barely moving at all.

"I don't really know what you expect from me."

I looked over at him. He had stopped swinging and had turned to me with a serious expression on his face. "Honestly?" He nodded, "I don't know what I expect."

He grimaced. "I-"

"No wait. Just listen for the moment," I thought quickly, not really knowing what it was that I wanted to say at all. "I might seem like I don't care about… stuff. But I'm not that heartless. I don't want you to get fired."

He breathed a sigh of relief, hearing my sincere words. "Do you know what it is that you do want?"

I shrugged, "no." He was silent again. "It's all good and well to criticize me. What about you, huh? Do you know what you want?"

He met my eyes, "You." I wasn't expecting that. He continued on, "I do want you. But realistically I can't have you so it's a pretty moot point."

"Why can't you have me?"

"Because I had a life. I have a life," he corrected. "And I can't throw it all away for you… there's too much at stake."

"I don't see why you have to throw away your life for me. It could be a secret. We should at least give it a try… and face it, we'd only have to hide until the end of the semester at the most. After that I graduate. I doubt we'd last that long… but still."

"Bella, we shouldn't have to hide."

"Well, it's you that's saying we have to!"

"But I don't even know you. Face it, as much as we like… doing whatever it is were doing, I still don't know anything about you. I could be risking everything, my life… my future for a stranger!"

"So what do you want from me? An autobiography?"

"No. I just want to talk to you for a few minutes without you being your usual sarcastic and tempting self."

"I can't even work out if that's a compliment or an insult."

"I don't know what it is either."

"We are just going around in circles here, Edward."

"I know. But it's just so damn hard with you."

"Hard, huh?"

He smiled slightly, a sad look upon his face. "Why are you like the way you are?"

"Excuse me?"

He groaned. "I didn't mean it like that. Okay- I like you, Bella. I want to give this a try, because like it or not, I can't seem to stop thinking about you. Do you want to give this a try or are you just playing with me?"

I had to think about it. "So you want to do the whole dating," it came out of my mouth like a bad word, "thing."

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"Well… it's just… unexpected. I've never done that whole… thing."

"But?..." His expression was incredulous, and extremely confused.

"Yes, I've done the whole sex and one night stand thing- I've just never been in a relationship before." I could see all the pieces clicking together in his brain.

"Oh." He looked so confused. He just didn't know what to do with it.

"I could give it a go… if you want?" My own words shocked me.

He walked over to me, standing between my legs. "I do want." His lips pressed against mine softly for a few moments.

His right arm wrapped around my waist, holding me to him as we started walking again. This time, the night was filled with our voices as we talked about how we would keep it a secret, creating ridiculous scenarios that could happen if we were found out- with townspeople charging at Edward with pitchforks, witch trial styled executions…

He dropped me off down the street from my home after a quick kiss, and I walked the rest of the way. I looked at my phone and saw that it was already after midnight. It was a lot later than I thought… how long had we been talking?

I opened the door quietly. Rose was sitting in the lounge room waiting, and turned around when she heard me approach.

"I don't think I want to know where you've been. I covered for you this time… next time can you at least wait until it's the weekend or when Charlie is away so that I don't have to cover for you." She stalked off, not even bothering to wait for a reply. I felt slightly guilty. But the one time I hadn't been out for a one-night stand or something…

Although, I guess it was a fair assumption.

I followed Emmett through the cafeteria. He sat down beside Rose, so I sat on her other side. She hadn't talked to me at all this morning. "Rose…" No reply. "Rosie…" She turned her back to me and cuddled into Emmett's side.

Emmett looked at me over her head mouthing, "What happened?"

I shook my head to say don't worry. I chewed loudly in her ear. She swung her arm at me, which I very subtly dodged. "Alright Rose… drop it already."

She turned back around to face me, pulling away from Emmett. Childishly she huffs "No!"

The whole table laughs at her stupidity- even Rosalie smiled a little. "Say you love me…"She pouts. "Come on… I know you love me. How about we kiss and make-up?"

"Yeah! Do that…" Emmett said eagerly. "Go on…"

She slapped him without even looking at him- the sound echoing around the room. "I'm sorry Rose. Forgive me?" I puffed out my bottom lip, hoping for an adorable look.

She laughed. "I was never really that angry. Well I was, but I already got my vengeance."

I panicked. "What did you tell Charlie, Rose?"

Her smile grew wider. "He thinks your becoming a cheerleader. Go school spirit!"

I glared at her. "Thanks so much."

"No problem." She smirked. "Where were you anyway?"

"I was just… studying."

"No you weren't."

"Yes, I was."

"Can you stop sleeping around for a while, please Bells? I don't want Charlie to have to kick you out again, alright?" She seemed really sincere, and I assured her I would.

Jasper finally chimed in, "is that where you were all last night, Bells? With some guy?" He seemed really angry.

Alice interrupted. "Well what time did you get home? Probably wasn't as late as-" She cut herself off. She looked at me closely. She realised. She knew. So much for keeping it all a secret. Edward is going to kill me. I looked away from her, not able to meet her eyes.

"As late as who, Ali?"

I finally looked at Alice and bit my lip. She winked before inclining her head towards me slightly, then turned to answer Jasper's question, "as late as my parents."

I exhaled as the conversation turned to lighter topics. Our eyes kept meeting over the table. When everyone else was distracted I mouthed to her "thankyou."

She mouthed back, "You will tell me everything."

AN: tell me what you thought! And i have nearly finished the next chappie- so i will be updating soon! Review... but only if you want to ;)