Connected Chapter 4

EPOV

I woke up the next morning with Bella on the brain. She wasn't like most girls I had met online or in person for that matter. She seemed genuine and didn't throw herself at me the minute she got a look at the guy she was talking to. I don't know why it happened but women always tended to fawn over me. At first it had been flattering and I tried to not let it go to my head, and after awhile it just became annoying. They all said the same things, flirted the same way, and not one of them was special. I wanted a girl that had brains and beauty, one that didn't want me for my status. Bella had the beauty, so far she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders, and she didn't know the last name Cullen from any other here in Forks.

"Earth to Edward," chimed Alice as we sat at table eating breakfast.

"Hmm?" I glanced at her.

"We were discussing what trails we wanted to hike today son. Any input?" my father asked.

"Nah, doesn't really matter to me. I'd just like to get home at a reasonable time tonight, I have something to do." I replied.

"Since when do you have something to do on a Saturday night," my brother Emmett asked me.

I sent a glare his way. Emmett never understood why I turned away the girls like I did. A lot of them were beautiful but he just didn't get it. He had gotten lucky with Rosalie Hale when she moved into town. She was a gorgeous blonde that had the spitfire attitude to combat Emmett's smartass mentality. Not long after Emmett had fallen for her my little sister Alice had fallen for her twin brother Jasper. So my two siblings were both attached at the hip to the Hale twins. And I was left alone to my books, computer, and piano.

"I just have something to do tonight Em, don't worry about it." I got up rinsing my dishes and placing them in the dishwasher.

"Now kids if Edward said he has something, then it's important to him, so just back down," my mother chimed in.

"Yes mom," they both mumbled.

I smiled at my mother placing a soft kiss on the top of her head, "Thanks mom. I'm going to run upstairs and get changed. Be back down in a bit."

Once upstairs I quickly logged into my laptop, I knew she wouldn't be online right now but I figured I could at least leave her a nice message.

Edward C: Good Morning Bella. I am getting ready to go out hiking with my family. We should be back in time for me to make our date tonight. But if I am not here right at 10pm, please don't leave. I will be here as soon as I can. Look forward to talking to you tonight! –Edward

I reread the note several times, hanging on the word date. But I couldn't think of any better way to phrase it. Arrangement? Commitment? Appointment? No, those all sounded so formal and unemotional. And that was the last thing that I wanted her to think or feel. A knock at the door startled me causing me to quickly hit send and close up my laptop.

"Yeah?" I said.

"Are you coming or what Edward?" Alice yelled through the window.

"Yeah I'll be right down sorry," I threw on a hooded sweatshirt and my hiking boots and went downstairs to meet my family and head out.

BPOV

My mom burst into my room around 8am, "Rise and shine Bella! We have a lot to do today!"

I groaned burying my face back in my pillow, "Mom just let me sleep!"

"Now Bella if you weren't up all night clicking away on those keys you wouldn't be so grumpy in the morning," she chimed.

The fact that my mother could be so perky this early in the morning made me want to puke. I was definitely not a morning person. I preferred to stay up late and sleep even later, but living with Renee that never happened. You became a morning person by default because she wouldn't have it any other way. I groaned rolling out of bed because I knew she wasn't going to leave my room until I was firmly on two feet.

She threw some clothes at me, "Now get dressed we have shopping and packing to do today."

"Mom! You know I hate shopping!" I whined.

"Bella you know very well that Charlie isn't going to be able to pick out the stuff you'll need there. And if I remember there isn't any decent shopping near Forks. And besides don't you want to spend some time with me before you leave?" she pouted.

Sighing I nodded my head and she left the room smiling. I knew she was right, we should spend time together. And I was going to need almost a whole new wardrobe for Forks. Wet and dreary didn't do well with a wardrobe used to sunny and dry. When we got home we'd pack more things in to boxes to ship up to my dad so it would be waiting there for me when I got to Forks. I looked at my calendar focusing on the red X in the lower corner. In 3 weeks from today I would be at my new home, I had been telling myself a month, but the reality of it being less than that sunk in.

Three weeks and I was going to leave everything and everyone I knew behind, and aside from knowing I'd miss my mom and Phil, I had no problem flying out of this state as fast as I could. Only three more weeks of school here, three more weeks of dealing with James and his friends. I slipped on my jeans and tossed aside the shirt my mom had giving me opting for a black hoodie instead. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail and walked into the kitchen.

"Bella I swear only you would wear a hooded sweatshirt in 80 degree weather," she scolded.

I shrugged and picked at a blueberry muffin. Ever since the incident with James I figured the more I covered myself up the less attention I'd get. And I definitely had not wanted any male attention since then. Well that was until last night, Edward Cullen made me desire that again. I would not complain if he gave me that kind of attention. I felt my mother's eyes on me and I looked up at her.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing you're just blushing and have a silly grin on your face. What's on your mind?"

I hadn't realized my cheeks had turned red while thinking of Edward. I ducked my head down and took another bite of my muffin trying to avoid my mother's question.

"Bella?" she pushed.

"Nothing mom I'm just warm, cant I smile?"

She shook her head not buying it but she knew she wasn't going to get anything out of me so she dropped it.

We spent the next few hours at the mall fine tuning my wardrobe to warmer more rain resistant things. I hated shopping; I was never the most fashionable girl in school. I preferred a well worn pair of jeans and my hoodie over just about anything. Renee spent the time holding things up to me and either smiling or frowning and then throwing the acceptable items into our basket.

Once home Renee headed towards the living room to fold more boxes and said she'd be in shortly to start boxing up some more of my things. Knowing I only had a few minutes of freedom I hopped on my laptop quickly to check my messages. Once I logged into my chat program a message popped up from Edward that brought a smile to my face. I was curious where he was right now, I didn't think hiking and my coordination would be good friends. I quickly wrote Edward back before my mom came in.

Bella S: Thanks for the heads up. Hope you had a good time hiking with your family. Talk to you later tonight.

I had just shut my laptop and my mom came barging in dragging boxes along with her. She just rolled her eyes as she saw me shove the laptop aside. My mother thought I spent way too much time on my computer and thought I should get outside in the Phoenix sun more. Looking at me you'd never know I was from such a sunny place. My skin was a pale creamy white with no hint of a tan whatsoever; I would probably fit in well in Forks.

We spent a few hours packing boxes and taping them all up to be ready to ship out on Monday. Phil had a baseball game at 6pm that evening and mom hurried to get herself out the door so she would make it on time.

"Are you sure you don't want to come Bells?" she asked.

"No mom I'm good. I have homework, and some other things to do later on. I'll make myself something to eat quick and then get to work." I smiled at her.

"Okay honey, but don't work too hard. Try to enjoy some of your Saturday night," she said as she grabbed her car keys and headed out to the ballpark.

I spent the night working on a paper for English, and my chemistry homework. I despised chemistry, I didn't mind the science but when you combined it with math it got to be too overwhelming for me. I hoped when I got to Forks I wouldn't have to take Chemistry. All night I glanced at the clock willing it to move faster so my time with Edward would be here. But the minutes dragged on like hours.

Once my homework was done I grabbed one of my favorite books and lay on my bed flipping through the pages but none of the words were registering. I looked at the clock again; I still had 45 minutes until our "date". I reasoned with myself that I could just sign on to my laptop and check emails and catch up on some of my favorite websites. I would just log into my chat program so I would be there in case he was early. Even though I was sure Edward Cullen had much better things to do with his time on a Saturday night.

As my computer was signing in to everything I made my way to the kitchen to grab a Coke and something to snack on. I heard a knock at the door and made my way slowly to the front of the house curious as to who would be here at this time of night. I glanced through the peep hole and felt a lump form in my throat. It was James.

Keep the chain securely fastened I slowly opened the door to be greeted by his sneering smile.

"Took you long enough Isabella," he said leaning closer in toward the partially opened door.

He always called me Isabella because he knew I didn't like it. And the fact that he was one of the few people that called me that made me hate it even more.

"I was in the kitchen. What do you need James?" I asked.

"What a friend can't stop by on a Saturday night?" he sneered.

"It's not something you normally do," I stuttered. I knew if I called him out on not being my friend I would be in for more trouble than I wanted.

"Well aren't you going to let me in Isabella?" he said pushing his hand against the door, the chain straining against his weight.

"That's probably not a good idea James. My mom is going to be home any minute and she doesn't want me having people over," I paused. I realized I had just let him know I was home alone. Smooth Bella.

"All the more reason to let me in. We can have some alone time," he said reaching through the door to stroke my arm.

I instinctively pulled my arm away quickly, and then noticed the headlights turn down my cul de sac and saw my mother's car. I let out a huge breath of air knowing that Phil would be with her and I was now safe from James.

"James you should go, my mother and Phil are home now."

"I guess we'll need to pick this up another time then, wont we? See you at school on Monday Isabella." He then turned and walked away turning up the street to where he must've parked his car.

I slammed the front door shut locking the deadbolt and hurried to my room. I was happy that our house was laid out that my mom and Phil had probably not seen James at the front door. I didn't want to have to explain what he was doing here. I heard them come in and my mom knocked on my door and stuck her head in to say goodnight. I told her I would see her in the morning and she blew me a kiss and shut the door as she went down the hall to her room.

As I turned to my laptop I noticed an IM window had popped up. It was from Edward.

Edward C: Well apparently we are both very punctual people.

Edward C: Bella are you there?

Edward C: Bella is everything ok?

I hurried to answer him before he thought I didn't want to speak with him. I didn't want him to logoff thinking I had stood him up.

Bella S: I'm here. I'm sorry someone came to the door.

Edward C: At this time of night? Is everything alright?

I blushed at his concern.

Bella S: Yes, I'm fine. Thanks.

Edward C: Okay that's good. So how was your day?

I smiled slightly at least I had avoided the James conversation. Without my webcam on Edward couldn't read my face and see how shaken I was from my encounter at the front door. I could make polite conversation and not show how upset I was.

Bella S: My day was busy with shopping and packing for the move. And I had some homework that had to get done. You?

Edward C: Just hiking with the family. We like to do that on a regular basis. Other than that I've been sitting around the house tonight waiting to talk to you and see you. Can we turn our webcams on?

I blushed darkly and swore beneath my breath, so much for hiding my feelings. How could I say no to Edward Cullen?

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