Sorry for the late update guys :\

I've been internet-deprived for the past few days, and I had to catch up on some homework for school..

I wanted to get more writing done, but there just doesn't seem to be enough time for me to do everything..

Anyways, here's the next chapter, hope you like it :)

"Alice! I missed you." I ran over and gave my best friend a huge hug.

"I know, Bella! We should never go for more than a week without seeing each other."

It was the opening of Alice's newest clothing store, Twilight. We'd gotten there a bit earlier to help out with the decorations, and see what was going on.

"Alice, this is Marie, my daughter, and Edward, my.. husband."

I brought my hands up and did an air quote as I said 'husband'. I still didn't know where Edward and I stood. I knew that I liked him, and I was pretty sure that he liked me too, but I didn't know if he wanted to do anything about it.

"EDWARD? I can't believe you're here! Oh my g- JASPER! Look who's here!" Alice screamed as she pulled Edward into a tight hug.

I quirked up my eyebrow at Alice after she let Edward go. "How do you know each other..?"

"Oh, Bella! Edward's my brother. I told you about him before, remember?"

"Edward! When did you move here?" Jasper said as he came over and gave Edward a punch on the arm. "Why didn't you tell me that you were coming?"

"Uhhh, I meant to tell you guys.. I was just.. umm, preoccupied." He stuttered.

"Wait, you're Alice's brother? How come your last names are different?" I cut in.

"Bella, remember? I'm an orphan. That's why you're doing this whole kid thingy?" Alice laughed at me.

"But didn't you stay at the orphanage till you went to college?" I asked, confused at what was going on around me.

"I did. The Cullens supported me. They help me pay for college, and occasionally came to visit. I wasn't actually adopted until before I went off to college."

I felt like slapping myself in the face. Suddenly, all of the conversations that Alice and I had about the Cullens came rushing back to me. How did I not figure all of this out? Why didn't the name 'Cullen' ring a bell when Edward introduced himself to me? I must have been standing there with my mouth opened for a while, since I felt Alice's little hands shake me out of my thoughts.

"Woah, Bella. You alright there?" Alice had a worried look on her face.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just mentally slapping myself for not figuring this out sooner." I laughed.

Alice laughed with me, "Nah, there've been a lot of things going on lately, you didn't have time to think about that."

"I guess you're right…" I sighed.

"Anyways, Edward?" Alice said with an evil look in her eye, "What were you SO busy with that made you forget all about telling your dear sister that you were moving here?"

"Err, well.." Edward paused for a moment, "Why, I was busy with my precious daughter and my lovely wife here." He smiled sweetly at me and Marie. I stuck out my tongue in response.

"Your wife, eh? Well, why don't you take your precious little daughter and go over there and meet my precious little Anna?" Alice told Edward as she pointed to the other side of the store. "Bella needs to help me with a lot of stuff."

"Sure, come on Marie, let's go make a new friend." Edward took Marie by the hand and led her to the other side of the room.

As soon as Edward was out of earshot, Alice turn to me eagerly, "Oh my gosh! Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why did he call you his wife? Do you like him? Omigosh! We could be sister in laws!"

"Woah, woah , woah. Alice. Slow down." I said as I processed all of the questions she shot out at me. "I didn't tell you sooner because in case you haven't noticed, we haven't spoken to each other very much these last few weeks. He calls me his wife because it makes Marie happy. And we are definitely NOT going to become sister in laws any time in the near future."

"And..?" Alice prompted me.

"And…what?"

"Do you like him?" she questioned.

I paused for a very long time before sighing as a response.

"OMIGOSH! YOU DO LIKE HIM!" Alice almost screeched.

"Shut up! He'll hear you.." I blushed while looking over to where Edward was talking to Jasper. It didn't look like he had heard anything which was a huge relief to me.

"Have you done anything about it? I just know that he likes you back!" Alice squealed like a little girl.

"Well… we did kiss a few times, but only after Marie practically cried because we didn't.."

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! This is huge! You and my brother" She screeched again.

"Alice! Keep it down, I haven't told him anything yet…"

"But, whyyyyy?" she wailed.

"I don't know…" I admitted, "I guess I just don't want to ruin anything between us…"

"You won't. Trust me. Just tell him, and then tell me everything!"

I pondered for a moment, did I really want to risk everything that we already had?

Before I could even come up with an answer Edward came over and nudged me on the shoulder. "We should get going, or else we'll miss our flight."

"WHAT? Where are you going? And why do you have to leave before my party?" Alice grabbed Edward by the shoulder so he couldn't escape answering her question.

"Marie wanted to go to the beach.. so we're going down to visit mom and dad for the weekend.." Edward mumbled.

"Wow, and you couldn't have told me sooner. I want to go see them too!" Alice growled.

"Relax Ali, we'll go see them some other time."

"Fine,.. I'll figure something out…" She mumbled to herself before turning back towards us, wearing a smug smile on her face. "I guess I'll see you guys later then!"

"Umm, alright Alice.. have an awesome opening party." I smiled at her, trying to figure out the sudden change of her mood.

"Will do. And Edward? Don't be a stranger anymore." She added sincerely.

"Gotcha." He ruffled her hair, earning a frustrated sigh and sending Alice running off to fix her hair. "Let's get out of here." He gave me his crooked smiled and grabbed Marie on one side and me on the other.


Remember to R&R :)