I do not own any of the characters. :(

When Edward finally arrived at home he tip toed upstairs and past his parent's bedroom before quietly opening and closing his bedroom door. The walls painted a dark red were covered in posters and pictures, his computer desk held his laptop, papers scattered all over it, paper balls falling out of his waste basket beneath. Boxers, jeans and shirts flooded his floor and his two guitars sat against his wall near his open closet. Edward walked to his un-made bed, falling on the plush queen sized cloud covered in black and red pillows and comforters. He couldn't get Bella off his mind.

Her beautiful smile and how it lit up her whole face when she did it. Her laugh was contagious and her eyes sparkled with a certain mischief but the utmost happiness as well. She was perfection, she was everything Edward wanted and more, he just wasn't sure if he could handle a girl like her. She seemed so…experienced, and Edward just felt like he wasn't up to her standards. Would he even get his shot?

Bella lay in her bed facing the open bay window of the guest bedroom in Rosalie's house. She was ecstatic to be away from Florida, to be out of harm's way. Home life for Bella was unbearable in her opinion. Her mother was all she had left, her mother was the whole person she truly loved besides Rose and Rose's family. Rosalie's father is Bella's mom's older brother. Only reason Bella and Rosalie have the same last name is because when her father left and her mother divorced him they legally changed their names back to the Italian roots. Bella's father was…unimaginably disgusting. The worst human being known to man. He was abusive, uncaring, unloving, selfish and just plain…evil.

Threatening her mother with a knife, beating her mother to a bloody pulp every time the kitchen was dirty or his food wasn't ready when he got home from work. Bella and her older brother Seth found that love was non-existent between a man and a woman. If it was real, then why did their mother suffer so much for it? That's not love. Eventually the abuse moved to Seth and Bella: slaps, kicks, punches, anything he could get his hands on was thrown at them or hit their bodies…eventually it became too much. Seth committed suicide when Bella was fourteen, he hung himself in his bedroom closet with a belt. Bella was the one who discovered him. Weeks went by and she had never felt more alone, more abandoned, Seth was all she had really. Rosalie lived in Washington and her mother was dis-connected for the first few months he was gone. Eventually the father blamed Bella for Jake's death, for his only son's death, Bella didn't understand. She also became very depressed. She stopped eating and began partying more. Hooking up with random guys to make herself forget the pain…it was unavoidable.

She stopped the hooking up with guys part, but the drinking and partying and giving up on love thing…that's not gone. But as she lay thinking of Edward…and how amazing he was, she couldn't help but wonder what the weird feeling in her stomach was. Was it nerves? Was it butterflies? She'd never experienced this overwhelming sense of joy before…it was foreign to her. And she liked it. She loved everything about Edward. His honesty, the warm honey color of his eyes, his laugh was adorable and his smile was gorgeous, she smiled just at the idea of his smile. He was caring; from what she could tell, he was perfect. And as they lay in bed thinking of each other and wondering what this summer will hold, they both couldn't help smile into their sleep.

The following morning Edward woke up rubbing his tired eyes. The bright sun shone through his window blinds and his yawning was uncontrollable. The summer breeze blew lightly and Edward felt himself smiling, it somehow reminded him of Bella. The lightness of her attitude and the confidence that radiated off of her was somewhere in this breeze. He needed to see her. He needed to see her right now. He checked his watch, still early. Eight thirty, for drinking last night Edward felt pretty well. He pushed his covers off of him before slipping some skinny jeans on and grabbing a random shirt off the floor, it still smelt good, and his Nike dunks found his feet. Edward didn't feel like facing his rents so he climbed down his window and headed towards Rosalie's house.

Hopefully Bella would be awake and not hung over from last night. She seemed like she could handle alcohol well. The streets were empty and the sounds of the birds chirping and the sun glowing made Edward feel like he was in an episode of fucking Mr. Rodgers. It was too happy. Too…cartoonish. What happens next, the flowers jump out and start smiling and singing some happy song? Sounds like a good idea for a music video, Edward walking down the street by himself, it being empty like it is now, while looking around only the happy images slowly fade into non cartoonish, or he could go with the corny non morbid idea. Who knows? Turning on the corner of Baker St and hitting Ocean Ave he looked through familiar houses till he walked up to a big brick house…1213 Starlight Lane.

Figuring that Bella is a guest for a long period of time he knew she would be in Rosalie's guest bedroom. Which luckily faces somewhere he can throw rocks at. So he did. For a while there was nothing. Couple of minutes passed and Edward almost lost hope before he saw her figure and the window open, her head popped out. She was smiling and she nodded at Edward.

"Throw any more rocks boy and the window might break and I might just have to kick your ass." She states smirking. Edward chuckles at her bluntness. She's something different that's for sure.

"Sorry I um didn't mean to wake you up I just…um…" Edward was stuttering and looking like a total retard now. He groans in his head before quickly fixing his problems with one simple request.

"You wanna hit the beach?" He finishes. Bella tilts her head to the side and he couldn't resist biting back a smile. She looked so cute like that.

"Sure, do I have to get dressed?" She questions. She's not dressed? Edward instantly panics inside his head trying to not think dirty and impure thoughts but it was too hard to resist. He saw too much of her last night at the party, it made him groan lightly and play with his hands trying to keep them away from his unbearably tight skinny jeans.

"Never mind I'll be down in a minute." Bella smiles before shutting her window. God why did she have to say that? She gave Edward mental pictures that really shouldn't be there at that moment. He tried to calm himself down why he waited. Fresh dog shit. Rotten garbage. Fucking old wrinkly grandmas. Angry house cats scratching his eyes out…ok. Bella quickly slipped on a pair of sweats over her striped board shorts and some flip flops before tying her hair up in a messy bun and tucking her bangs behind her ears. She tip toes to Rosalie's bedroom and finds her still asleep. She shakes her shoulder lightly.

"Rosebud wake up." She whispers. Rose groans and turns to face Bella.

"What's up hun?" Rosalie's voice was scratchy.

"Edward is here, he wants me to go somewhere with him. Can you cover for me? I'll only be gone an hour or so." Bella explains. Rose nods.

"Mom and dad left for work, it's all good, take as long as you want just don't go ape shit on me." She smirks. Bella laughs hugging her cousin tightly before leaving the house out the front door. Edward was muttering to himself with his head thrown back and his eyes closed. Bella giggled knowing he was picturing something dirty. She picked it up enough. She cleared her throat. Edward's eyes bolted open and his head snapped forward.

"I um…I saw a spider and it got really fucking close." Edward quickly covered up his dirty act. Bella shrugged not pressing the subject and she grabbed his hand linking her fingers with his. There's that forwardness he likes. He smiled down at her and she smiled back.

"So how come we're going to the beach?" Bella asked softly. She was just curious. Was the beach "their place" now? Whoa! Where is that coming from? Their place, why is she acting like they're a fucking couple? Bull shit. Bella cleared her throat and mentally slapped herself.

"Oh well ya know we had fun at the beach last night and I figured since it's early no one will be there, we can talk." He replied. Edward was hoping to delve more into her past without seeming too…blunt. When they arrived they sat down next to each other on the sand, looking towards the crashing waves. It was beautiful, the sun sparkling on the water making it look like a trillion diamonds surrounded the bottom of the ocean's floor. The warm breeze added to it all.

"So now that you're here in Forks do you think you'll ever want to go back to Jacksonville?" Edward started off gently at first. Can't seem too eager.

"Yeah, just for stuff I need for college, I've began packing but not like I should. Besides I can't just leave my mom without a goodbye, she's all I have left." Bella explained. Her mom is all she has left? What's that supposed to mean?

"Care to elaborate?" He pried. Bella was unsure of how to tell Edward that her father was an abuser who abandoned their family after blaming her for killing his only son and leaving her almost dead on the floor after a "loving father-daughter bonding session". She played with the sand and Edward wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." He whispered. She nodded appreciating that.

"I will…eventually, just not yet, Edward." Bella said so softly it was almost un-heard. Edward nodded his head.

"So what do you think we're doing today with the gang?" He wanted to change the topic for her. Obviously she was grateful and he picked up on it right away when she leaned into him. Obviously she's not ready for a tight connection like that; he's fine with that. Bella chuckled.

"Thinking of the possibilities would be endless, especially with the people in our gang." She replied simply. Edward laughed along with her. Jasper was nutty as fuck always making people laugh. Emmett was serious but knew when to be goofy. He was the perfect combination of both. Jake was the kind of guy who would suggest anything competitive like bowling or mini-golf or anything that involved working out and exercising. He was funny to be around but was very shy and quiet usually. And Rosalie is outgoing and bubbly, anything is fine and A-OK with her.

"Well whatever we end up doing, it'll be fun. Listen I'm starving, do you want to go grab a bite from the diner up the street? It's got great food and the people who work there fucking rock." Edward suggested. He couldn't help it. He was a growing boy and they need all the food they can get. Not only that but his stomach wouldn't shut up and he was embarrassing himself in front of her.

"Sure thing Hungro." Bella replied standing up brushing the sand off of her. Hungro? Edward gave her a confused glance and she offered her hand to him and he gladly accepted it as she hoisted him up.

"Look at you Mighty Mouse, didn't know you were so strong." He teased and grasped her skinny arms as she flexed and made a scrunched up face. She looked fucking adorable.

"Arrgghhh you know it. Now let's go eat, my stomach is screaming and it's plain disturbing." Bella stated and grabbed his hand again as they walked together. She skipped happily, swinging their arms back and forth by their connected hands. Bella had a kid like quality to her. She radiated happiness from what Edward could tell. If only he'd known what Bella had been through in the past. Bella never wanted anyone to suspect anything; her skeletons are to remain inside her closets for as long as possible. But she also figured that if her and Edward were to grow closer she needed to be honest and open up. The walked up to Jim's Beach Diner and walked in, it wasn't crowded and Edward took them up to the bar stools where they plopped down.

"Mornin' Edward how are ya doing?" Susie, Jim's wife asked as she grabbed the pencil from behind her ear.

"I'm doing great Susie what about you?" He asked back politely.

"As best I can, hello darlin' who may you be? Eddie's new squeeze? I sure hope so. He hasn't brought a decent girl around in...well he never has to be honest." Edward rolled his eyes and Bella blushed slightly but took her hand out of Edward's.

"Hi there my name is Bella. No, I'm not Edward's girlfriend, we just met." Bella said.

"She's Rose's cousin." Edward added. Susie nodded finally understanding.

"Oh ok well it's nice to meet you darling. How about some food? Want your usual Edward?" She nodded towards Edward. He smiled before nodding his own head.

"And what about you sweetie? See anything you'd like?" Susie questioned Bella. Bella's eyes scanned the menu, it all looked so good she could hardly decide. When she started eating food again, she always ate big meals. But never seemed to gain weight. Blessed metabolism she supposed from her mom's side.

"Can I have the waffles with a side of bacon, scrambled eggs and a cup of fresh fruit with some orange juice please?" Bella ordered smiling brightly as she pointed to each item of food. Edward and Susie's eyes widened. They'd never seen a girl eat that much. Hell Edward's last girlfriend Tanya usually ordered salad with dressing on the side and a cup of water.

"What?" She asked confused. Edward glanced towards the menu but then back at Bella's confused eyes.

"We've never seen a girl want to eat so much...besides Rosalie but damn. That's just...unbelievable." Edward explained for them both. Bella bit her lip smiling before shrugging her shoulders.

"Just get used to it, being Italian means eating a lot." She smirked and Edward couldn't help but feel butterflies. Susie wrote down everything Bella wanted and headed towards the kitchen. Bella placed her hands in front of her linking them together. It shocked her that Edward had never seen a girl eat before. Bella always used to eat like that, before he depression kicked in. She never had an eating disorder, she just wasn't eating the way she should have, therefore she started losing a lot of weight. When she finally bounced back she picked up old habits. After all, they are hard to kill. Edward turned his body towards hers trying to figure her out. What was she thinking about? She seemed deep in thought. Could it be about him?

"So how come your up so early Masen?" Bella perked up turning towards him. Edward shrugged his shoulders playing with the ripped hole in his pants.

"Don't know really. I just woke up feeling really refreshed and happy, I wasn't hungover or anything. So I decided to see if you were awake. I knew everyone else would be asleep and I was hoping you'd be up. Sorry if I cut your sleep off though." Edward said. Bella has learned to avoid hangovers. She got used to them so instead of waking up horribly she just gets a headache and shrugs it off. Edward got used to hangovers for the same reason. They both drink a lot. They both drank a lot when they wallowed in their own depressions over their sibling's deaths. However neither of them were aware of this in the least bit.

"Nah I somehow escaped a hangover. Usually I sleep in but it's ok, I'm glad you woke me up. We now have the chance to spend the morning together. I was fortunate and didn't have to sneak out. I told Rose I was going out. She just said to call her when we're coming back or something." Bella explained. Interesting. She was pretty drunk last night, how did she manage that? She looked amazing to Edward. Sweats and a hoodie had never looked so sexy before. A messy bun was perfect for her. No makeup was just right. She was gorgeous. Susie came walking over with their plates of food. Edward's usual consisted of the chocolate chip pancakes with a side of bacon and sunny side up eggs with coffee.

"Here ya go sweethearts. Enjoy, it's on the house." She winks at the cute pair before leaving. Bella placed her napkin on her lap before beginning to pour syrup and cut her waffles up. Edward had sprayed all the whipped cream he could on his chocolate chip pancakes and begun stuffing his face when he turned to Bella. She giggled slightly. It reminded her of that scene from Beauty and the Beast when Belle and Beast were eating oatmeal or whatever that porridge shit was and Beast poured it in his mouth slurping as it was all over his face and Belle ate calmly with a spoon. She reached her hand out to use her thumb to get rid of the whipped cream adorning his beautiful face.

"Got a little cream there hun." She said softly before sucking it on her thumb. Edward's jaw dropped, it was incredibly sexy. She winked before he moved his hand down near his crotch. Before it could reach its destination his phone vibrated and he moaned slightly, the sensation turning him on even more. Bella smirked to herself sipping her orange juice like a child who pulled an innocent prank.

"Hello?" Edward answered his phone keeping his eyes closed. He didn't want to face her. He had completely embarrassed and once again managed to get turned on within a sixty-minute period. For fucks sake, he's almost an adult why can't he control his God damned penis?

"Yo man we're all going to Rose's place to hang before practice tonight. You and Bella meet us there whenever you're done with what your doing." Jasper's voice rang through the phone. Edward nodded to himself.

"Alright bro peace." He hung up his phone before putting it back in his tight pants pocket.

"Wanna get out of here?"