'Ello there. Today is my sixth anniversary, holy crap. I can't believe he's put up with me for that long!

Dedicated to my jandco and my husband, in that order. And special thanks to jenndaynumbers for the hand-holding and the d'angelo.

Bella

I didn't go to the bar that night. In fact, I decided it was time to pay more attention to other stuff, like school. I didn't really want to be one of those girls who only obsessed about her love life (or lack thereof). From henceforth, Isabella Swan is going to focus on the things that are in front of her. Friends, family. Family.

I called Renee. It had been a while, and I knew she'd provide some perspective on the man situation. So much for not obsessing on my sucky love life… I lasted one night and called her the next morning.

"Morning, darling!" she trilled into the phone. The best thing about my mother was that she was always glad to hear from me, even if it was just to bitch about boys. Or, rather- especially if it was bitch about boys.

"So, how are things? I saw a dress from Alice in my Glamour. I put it on the refrigerator next to your guy's mug shots." Mom loved Alice. Who didn't?

"Yeah, she's pleased as punch about that one. Mom, take those stupid mug shots down, sheesh."

"No! I'm proud of my daughter and her friends who think running naked through a town square is a good idea."

"For the last time, I was wearing underwear. Anyway, how're things? How's Phil? He making an honest woman out of you yet?"

"Never. Phil's good, honey. And you and boys?" Uh oh. She had the "significant look" voice. She knew something.

"Why, what have you heard?"

"Oh, nothing." Her voice was coy. Alice.

"Alice told you, didn't she?"

"Told me what?"

"Mother."

She sighed. "It was Rosalie. Look, Bella. It sounds like this Edward guy acts like kind of a jerk, but he sounds good on paper. What's the holdup? Why haven't you talked to him yet?"

"And say what, exactly? 'Thanks for the one-night stand, I really appreciate that you're such a grown-up about it, now will you please continue to berate my sad piano skills?' Come on, Mom. You know I have that nervous talking thing around guys."

"I know no such thing. I know that Tyler Crowley still calls here whenever he's in town, hoping that you're around and single-"

"Oh, gees. He still does that? It's been-"

"Look, I don't want to talk about your ex-boyfriends-"

"Ex-nothings, ma."

"-ex-nothings, then. Let's talk about how delish the sexy piano player is, and how good he was in bed."

"Oh my God. This isn't happening. I'm going to class naked, and then I'm going to wake up and take a shower and clean this nightmare conversation from my consciousness."

"No school on Sundays, sweetie. Listen, I'm serious. Have you even talked to this guy?"

No. No, I hadn't. And that's what my mother always did for me- she pointed out the obvious stuff.

"Well, no."

"Uh, then why are we even having this conversation? You don't know where you stand, I take it. You're just… going to these piano lessons and having all this unresolved, unnecessary sexual tension, right?"

Fuck you sometimes, Mom. "Umm…"

"And you're being a bitter woman who wonders why he's such a dick, right?"

"It's not that simple-"

"Yeah, it is, actually. Bella," she said, and she sounded so exasperated and Mom just then, "just talk to him."

"Okay, Dear Abby. How do I start this ground-breaking conversation? I'm not even sure I want to be with a guy like him who'd sleep with a girl and then be a total dick to her in front of a large roomful of people."

"Large roomful of people?"

"Yeah, Mom. The piano bar."

"What piano bar?"

Rosalie. "Didn't you hear that part?"

"No, but I love piano bars. Is Edward a piano bar guy at one of those dueling bar thingies?"

"Yeah, and he sings these dirty songs to me and smacks my ass on stage and stuff. Listen, how do I-"

"That's sexy."

"Mom, would you just-"

"Ask him why he's such a jerk."

"Mom, I'm being serious here-"

"So'm I. Look, relations are already strained between you two, right? Bella?"

"Right." I was mumbling, because I already knew she was going to make sense, and I hated that.

"So, what's asking him going to do? Make things worse? Make him spank you harder? Yes, definitely talk to him. You never have enough fun, dear."

"Oh, gee, Mom. I think I hear the oven."

"You don't bake on Sundays."

"Potluck tomorrow. Gotta go."

"I'm serious, Bella. Talk to the guy. Then make out. Then call me."

"Bye."

"Love you!"

"Love you, too," I mumbled before sulkily laying the phone on the cradle.

I knew it. I hated that she was right.

So… how to talk to a guy. To Edward. Should I get him away from a piano? Maybe I should get him away from the piano.

Maybe that was the source of our problems.

I carried the worry about this into the teacher's lounge the following morning. I knew it was time to do something about it when even the usually oblivious Jasper asked me if everything was okay in Bellaville.

"Yes, yes," I kept replying, practically taking his head off when he asked me a second time. I looked down and noticed I had been doodling music notes across my lesson plans for the day, and I hastily slammed the notebook shut before tucking my pen into the spirals.

"Oh, Bella. Dinner at my place tomorrow?" Esme had rushed in, her hair still slightly damp as she poured herself a mug of coffee. "I already called Alice and Rose, boys, so we're all going to be there."

"Oh? And will a certain nephew of yours be there?" Emmett was asking, eyeing me significantly as he speared a breakfast sausage. How he managed to eat those Big Breakfasts two or three times a week was beyond me. And screw everyone for quite obviously discussing my boy problems when I wasn't there.

"Who, Masen?" Esme asked sweetly, holding her generic teacher's mug to her face. I could only see her eyes, but they were shining with mischief. Yikes. I knew I wouldn't be able to get out of dinner, but it might be the perfect opportunity to talk to him. Anticipatory butterflies started gnawing on my stomach lining.

"I'll be there, Esme. Seven, right?" I hastily stood up and everyone stared, probably knowing I was seriously uncomfortable. Esme nodded and managed to look both accusatory and apologetic all at the same time. I grabbed my stuff and headed off to class, my brain numb and my spine full of dread.

Tomorrow. Seven.

I hoped I could make it.

What would I say?

The next twenty-four hours passed, miserable and slow. It was near Halloween and the soothing autumn colors that were prevalent this time of year couldn't cheer me up as they normally did; I found myself being snappy with my students and biting the head off of anyone who dared so much as look at me. Emmett actually tried to broach the piano teacher topic and I got so unreasonably furious at him that I felt the blood rush to my face, stinging and embarrassing. I pointed my finger and uttered some nonsense at him until I simply turned and stomped off, my hair whipping my face and making me feel worse.

I had no idea how this dinner would go. All I could do was replay scenes from the last disastrous birthday dinner over and over in my mind; Edward being snippy, Edward being achingly good to look at; Edward being Edward.

I'm determined this time, I chanted to myself over and over again as I walked out to my car after an exhausting day of being alternately absent-minded and bitchy. I was going to face the issue, face him.

Find out what his deal was. I had to know.

Why was he so stand-offish to me?

Why did he treat me like an object?

Why was he rude to everyone but me?

Why didn't he want me?

I drove home in a daze, coming to at a stop sign and wondering exactly when it was that I had driven two and a half miles. I saw my driveway and started to panic. What would I wear? Oh lord, what was I going to say? It all sort of hit me in a suffocating panic.

I took a deep breath and decided that I needed reinforcements. I picked up my phone and made exactly one phone call.

By the time I got out of the shower, I once again had Kate, Garrett, Alice, and Rosalie in my room. Alice and Rose were already dressed and looking effortlessly fantastic as I stood there with a towel wrapped around my body and another around my hair. I must've looked stricken because Kate rushed up and hugged me, patting my back and murmuring soothing sounds in my ear.

"Darling, we shall doll you up and have you looking faboo for Eddiekins. Ladies?" Garrett was comfortably seated in the only chair in my room that wasn't covered in clothes, legs crossed and arms folded while he regarded me with an arched eyebrow. "Sweet Alice has brought a selection; let the games begin."

"Wait, wait. I need underwear." I hobbled over to my dresser and pulled out the first undergarment I came across, awkwardly sticking one leg in while trying to maintain towel integrity. I suppose it didn't matter, but the thought of being naked in front of four beautiful people was unnerving, and the last thing I needed was to be more rattled than I already was.

"Bell-la. Don't you own anything better than Hanes?" Rosalie knew the answer to this, but she loved to mock my chonies. She came over and yanked the towel down, making me squawk and cup my breasts. I tried to glare at Rose and swiveled to find her, but the turban started to come off and I just- ugh.

"Go away. I changed my mind. I'm wearing my trusty Old Navy tee and Charlie's old Levis tonight." I was huffy and biting a grin because any second now-

"I told you not to utter that Mom shop name around me, Bella," Alice growled, playfully. I think. I grabbed the first not-too-dirty bra my fingers touched and snapped it on quickly. I unraveled the towel and started to finger-comb my hair, finally turning around to face the music and my friends.

"Okay, lay it on me."

The next twenty minutes were a tolerable sort of torture. I was silent the entire time, my eyes on the ceiling as I did what I was told and sort of absorbed the bickering over Dress Up Bella Time.

"Not that one, Alice. The neck is too low. We want demure, not a Madonna video."

"Yellow? Are you drunk?"

"She looks catatonic."

"Ask him if you were a good lay."

"Make sex eyes at him the whole time."

"Be mysterious."

"Be alluring."

"Be yourself."

"Yeah, Bella. Just… be yourself."

Myself. Bella wasn't so sure just what herself was up to these days.

I was determined to find out what Edward's deal was, though. Tonight. At dinner. Okay, not at dinner, but tonight, sometime during dinner. Maybe after?

"'K, I'm going before I talk myself out of it."

I was finally dolled up in a nice-fitting, not-too-snug set of pants and a button-up that I was told were snazzy as well as flattering, but I didn't discern a huge difference between that and what I usually wore. Okay, that isn't true; the glances in the mirror did show that I looked like a well-dressed grown up, even if Rosalie wouldn't be caught dead in wide leg, low-rise trousers or the color purple ("it washes me out, yuck") let alone flats. But I refused to wear heels. I wanted to feel confident tonight.

"Good luck, sweetie," Kate whispered into my hair as she hugged me fiercely. She had remained silent most of the time, occasionally rolling her eyes or backhanding Garrett when he got a little too… Garrett. As she pulled back, she rubbed my shoulder a little bit. "Go find some answers, and call me if you need some encouragement."

"Thanks, Kate," I whispered as Garrett took my hand and danced me around the room and out the door, singing that song from Lady and the Tramp and making Alice and Rose giggle like teenagers. Before I realized it, we were in my car; that way, the girls could go home with Emmett and Jasper and I could make it home by a decent hour for school the following day. Also, I wanted to make sure I had an instant out if I needed it.

I sat shotgun and listened with a grim sort of anticipation as Alice and Rosalie chattered on. I think they knew I was either going to vomit or have a severe case of verbal vomit, so they were doing it to keep me distracted. It sort of worked, but the closer we got to Esme and Carlisle's place, the more the large, acidic bubble in my throat threatened to creep closer to my mouth.

"Showtime," Rose muttered as we pulled into the driveway. I stepped out of the car and tossed my hair out of my face; I had won that fight, and my hair was normal and flat and air-dried, but I liked it that way. The door was slightly opened, so we let ourselves in, the warm, Esme Home smell of meat and potatoes filling me up and making the bile taste a little bit better.

Alice let out a cab-calling whistle and Carlisle's head popped around the doorway a moment later. "They're here, sweetheart," he hollered, coming at us with open arms and smelling like fresh, clean male.

"Why, ladies. Did you dress our Bella? She's not wearing any black today," he said, winking at me before putting a hand on my back. "He doesn't stand a chance," he whispered, leaning down and moving my hair with his spoken words. He led me to the dining room table, not seeing my embarrassed sputter as his words registered in my slow-ass brain. Oh, he meant Edward. Carlisle knows, too. Dammit.

Alice and Rose had gone ahead of me; they were already seated by Jasper and Emmett, and Carlisle took me over to a grinning Masen, who was patting the chair next to him.

"You get to sit by me, Miss Swan," he said, his voice a little pre-pubescent and a lot heart-warming.

Carlisle held the chair out for me and I sat down primly, making sure to keep my back straight so the low-rise waist wouldn't reveal anything.

Masen started talking about a book he had read for class while I counted available seats. The ones next to and across from me were empty, and Esme was being seated by Carlisle at the other end of the table. I was guessing I'd be across from Edward with Carlisle at the head of the table next to me. A surge of anticipation made me gulp twice. Or maybe it was the impending barf.

Everyone seated was actively engaged in conversation except for me. Masen was still chattering on at me, so I put on my Attentive Teacher face, listening while boiling inside.

Where is he Where is he Where is he

Oh God. What if he didn't even show up?

I heard the door open and shit.

He showed.

I took a deep breath. Nodded in agreement at whatever Masen was saying.

I felt a cool swish of disturbed air at my back; Edward was walking in, murmuring excuses for his tardiness.

"As long as you made it." Esme beamed at him as she replied.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world." He said it, clearly and succinctly, something implied in his tone and I snapped my head up at that thing- that low purr that I wasn't sure whether it was intentional but it sure as hell unsettled me every time.

His eyes met mine, and I was shocked at what I saw there. It was as though all the other times I had ever seen him, there had been a match struck to illuminate his eyes- but now that flame was like a crackling fireplace, cheery and hot and inviting.

He was actually smiling at me.

"Hello, Bella," he said, nodding slightly in my direction. And somehow, some way- I didn't know if it was Rose's advice or Garrett's or Alice's or maybe even me doing it, but I curled my mouth into my Bella smile and responded in a clear voice, "Hi, Edward."

I knew everyone was watching us, like we were on some stupid matchmaking TV show or something, but I didn't care. Maybe this evening wouldn't be as bad as I had been assuming.

"So, Bella," Carlisle said, smiling as he cut into the roast. "How're the piano lessons coming?"

Maybe not.

I was hemming and hawing, trying to come up with a non-bitchy answer, but Edward smoothly answered before I could get creative.

"Bella is an apt pupil. She needs to practice, but she'll get better with diligence." He had a smile in his voice and I wasn't entirely sure if he was mocking me or not. I couldn't look directly at him, though, because Esme was expressing her joy while Masen continued to chatter even faster than before and Carlisle fondly patted my hand. What was I, a freaking puppy in obedience school? I saw Emmett and Rosalie share big grins and Alice looked like she was filing away glances as she looked from me to Edward and then down at her plate. Jasper looked thoughtful, raising one eyebrow and staring at his forkful of meat.

"Yes," I said quickly, determined to salvage the situation when no one came to my defense. "Edward is quite a teacher. He has a great set-up at his place, and his fingers are especially suited for showing me good fingering techniques." I shoved a big mouthful of potato into my mouth, smiling as I chewed. Emmett choked and Rose was slapping his back; Alice had managed to dribble some gravy on her shirt and was dabbing a corner of her napkin into her water, cursing a litany under her breath. Esme must have finally noticed that all was not well in piano-land as she was now staring at me, but I looked at her with my best innocent face and happily continued chewing.

After a moment, I risked a glance at Edward. Shit. He was going to respond.

"Thank you, Bella. I don't know about my fingering, but I really like the way you're able to go up and down and all around the keys. You seem to enjoy performing, and it wouldn't surprise me to learn that you've got good staying power."

"Well, I know that when I hear you play, it makes me want to improve my technique. Like, the way you make a room throb with energy? It's really… scintillating. I'm amazed by how the seat vibrates when you're pounding hard on the… keyboard." Ha. That time, Edward choked on his drink, and Carlisle was swiping his mouth with his napkin. Esme regarded me with a very quizzical look, but I just beamed back at her, taking a bite of my broccoli.

"Yes, well-" he started, and I could see his brain churning, looking for a retort, but I didn't let him. I was only warming up.

"I mean, I'm amazed you don't have more… willing students… coming. Personally, I can't wait until I can pound one out with the same stamina you have." By then, even Masen had stopped eating, and I took a long draw on my wine, enjoying that everyone else was now uncomfortable and I was giddily embarrassed inside.

Carlisle coughed politely into his fist and the others took that as a sign to start talking about something else, so I finally risked facing Edward and looking him square in the face.

The friendly look from before was replaced with a scorching… well, not rage. But he wasn't exactly pleased, either. I stayed quiet the rest of the meal and so did he, answering perfunctorily when addressed.

When it was time to clear, I hopped up and started collecting plates, noticing with a combination of fear and elation that Edward was helping me. Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett were watching me carefully, probably looking for a sign that I wanted an out. I didn't. I might've even shaken my head slightly.

Determined. I kept telling myself I was determined.

He followed me into the kitchen, quietly placing his stack of dishes next to mine.

"What the hell was that?" I had my back to him, and I could feel the accusation burning into my spine so I turned around before it turned to a brushfire.

"What? I was answering a question." And procrastinating. His hands were on his hips and he looked for all the world like my mother when she was pissed at me.

"I thought-" But he didn't know what he thought because he was at a total loss for words. The glib, overly verbose dirty-talkin' piano jockey was at a loss for words, and it gave me strength.

"What's your deal?" I asked before I could self-edit. I cringed a little, but I stood up straighter, feeling my blouse pooching out at the waist of my pants, but whatever. I didn't want to fidget and fix it; I stood my ground.

"My… deal?" Ugh, he was grinning slightly, his arrogance and obvious amusement at my word choice igniting that irritating fire my body seemed to reserve just for him.

"Yes, your deal. You're hot, you're cold. You're confusing. You treat me like crap, you degrade me privately and publicly. You parade me on top of your piano to maintain your Dick rep. You pretend you're fucking me and you one night stand me, but you also wash my clothes and take care of me when I'm hungover and make me bagels and make me think-"

"Hold up. What?"

"Don't interrupt me. You made me think-"

"One night stand?"

Stop fucking interrupting. "Yeah." I suddenly realized I was up on my toes, the backs of my flats on the ground and my pants falling off my damned hips as I stretched up to get in his face. It wasn't easy since the guy was a good eight inches taller than me, but I seemed to be trying without thinking. I'm sure I was all flushed, too, but at least I had managed to keep my voice down during my tirade. I slowly lowered back down to the floor, the hems of my wide legs getting caught under my feet and yanking the waist down even more, but I didn't care. I was too pissed and getting progressively more pissed at his calm and amused expression.

"Bella, you don't think I- oh. Oh." He was looking sheepish and away from me, sweeping his hair from his forehead with a force that looked like it might have hurt if he weren't so distracted. I don't think you what? What the hell was going on?

Then I realized that he probably thought I was into him. Which I wasn't. Or I was. Fuck, I just didn't know. Oh, God. He wasn't into me. That was it. I got my answer without having to ask, but still- my face burned with red and I stepped back, turning to give attention to the dishes.

Oh. I see.

"Bella, we haven't slept together, if that's what you-"

"It's okay, Edward. You don't have to explain anything. I get it." I turned the faucet on, running my fingertips under the water to check for how hot it was.

His sigh was so heavy and exasperated that I almost turned around, but I realized that trying to read into Edward's actions had gotten me to this rather embarrassing "Bella misreads the signs again" moment in my life, so for once, I just shut up. My fingers were ice cold under the water, or maybe it was getting hotter but then I felt sparks on my arm as Edward tried to turn me around.

"Hey, look at me." Huh uh. "Bella." I turned around reluctantly, not wanting to see pity in his eyes. I was staring at an expanse of ironed shirt, the second button at my eye-level.

"Bella," he said, tipping my chin up with his finger. I sort of half-heartedly resisted meeting his eyes. He sighed in frustration and grabbed both sides of my face, gently directing my head so that I was looking at him.

"We didn't sleep together. You ridiculous girl. Did not."

"Oh." Oh. I mean, how can you respond in that situation?

"Oh? You think I'm hot?"

God, he would pick that one thing out.

"That's not what I meant."

"It sure sounded like it."

"Jesus H. Christ," I spat. Like that, I was all worked up again. Never had anyone had such an immediate and infuriating effect on me as this man. I was making a fool out of myself around the smooth Edward Cullen, and I didn't know how to stop. Sputtering, spattering.

"You're an arrogant prick, do you know that? I just- I don't even- you're such a-"

"Oh, just shut up already," he said, leaning down and gently pressing his lips to mine. Well, that's one way to shut a girl up.

I was furious and furiously hot as his lips moved against and with mine. There was no tongue; there didn't need to be tongue. He was holding the side of my face and his hands pulled away to just fingertips, lightly brushing my skin as his mouth lightly brushed and finally tongue. He stroked a little, that requesting permission tongue thing, and I parted my lips slightly, either inviting it or being struck dumb by it and suddenly Edward was there, tasting like gravy mingling with my wine and his fingers dropped from my face and tickled down my neck and kept going until he was holding my back and resting his palms on my hips.

Now that my head was free I became animated, kissed him back. Felt the unanswered questions bubbling and frothing into action from between my lips, whipping and fighting him back and welcoming his warmth. Kissing and tongue, tonguing kisses that didn't devour, didn't lap, didn't do disgusting porn-type tongue things; he was kissing me hard, he was kissing me good. He was pulling me into him, his fingers playing with the hem of my shirt, brushing my falling pants, my skin. Not forcing, not exploring, just… feeling. I tried to feel back but I was gripping his shirt placket and boy, Alice would be proud that I remembered the right term for it and thinking about my friend made me pull back a little and I reluctantly dragged my lips away and we paused for a second, nose brushing nose and lips a breath apart, breath held and held until someone broke the silence.

"Sorry," he whispered against my lips, and like that, I came to. Dazed, still, but I stepped back. I frowned because- wow- that was… something. Wasn't it?

"It's okay."

"You just… you weren't letting me get a word in." He actually looked apologetic, and he scratched his neck before continuing. "Look, we haven't slept together. You were… incapacitated that night, and I felt bad and just- yeah. You got sick and you needed help and your friends were gone, so I- you needed help," he said, practically tripping over his words. I had never seen him look so at a loss for something to say.

I was going to respond with something brilliant, I'm sure, but he took my hand and said, "Look, they're probably wondering what happened to us. Let's go back." He dropped my hand and we walked out of the kitchen, me still confused but feeling lighter. Right before we stepped back into the dining room, he leaned down to my ear and said, "Bella?"

"Uh huh?" Good response, Bella.

"I'm sorry I'm such a jerk. It's not you, trust me. We'll… we'll talk on Saturday." With that, he walked past me and sat down, and I somehow made my way back to my chair.

Saturday. Sure. If I could make it until then.

So this Saturday, A Different Forest is having a big party! Join us for a new kind of fansite. You won't be disappointed, promise! You can pre-register for membership by going to the website (link on my profile). Should be a hoot and a half, yo. Join me, jandco, jfly, emibella, wolvesnvamps, ktbass, peneloperose, sensecoalition and jennday on a brand new endeavor!

Ooh, it starts at 11pm EDT. Put on your party pants and BYOS.