Okay, so before I really get a-going on this chapter... I have gotten things back about how I need to not skip over things later in the story... And of course I'm not planning on skipping later in the story once the plot REALLY starts to pick up, which is gonna be in the next couple chapters, but I was wondering, do you guys want me go back and add in another chapter in the beginning? I know this is only the 5th chapter, but I feel like I might have skipped over too much in my hurry to get into the story. I'd be more than happy to go back and add a chapter of Bella and Edward's summer together, because there isn't really gonna be any fluff between them for a while... So just tell me in the reviews, and if it's a popular idea, I will have the new chapter up for the beginning up ASAP. Enjoy :)

Chapter Five

"Edward?"

My mind completely blank. I thought hew left La Push to go home after the summer... I guess his "home" was Forks, not somewhere else more glamorous like California, Florida, New York... Paris? His beauty had hinted somewhere that beautiful people made up the entire population, not Forks, though. I blinked as all the puzzle pieces fit together. He lives in Forks. I'm not alone after all. Is Alice really psychic? Is this what she meant by helping her family?

"I thought you went back to...?" He trailed off, he looked scared, as if I would be leaving to Arizona right after this conversation.

"No, my mom told my dad I was staying here because she thought I wanted to. And Charlie has a hard time being alone sometimes, so I stayed..." Edward still stood motionless on the staircase.

The feeling finally came back to my legs, and I ran up to the stair above him, so our eyes were nearly on the same plane (he was still taller than me, even with the help from the stairs. How unfair.) His eyes were still wide and frozen. I gently and slowly touched his cheekbone, brushing it with the back of my hand. He sighed contentedly and closed his eyes. I couldn't take my hand away from him. I trailed my fingers up his jaw line and into his hair, twirling my fingers around his messy locks.

He opened his eyes and began looking me over, taking in everything he missed the past couple of weeks. I didn't have the patience to let him continue, though. My lips crushed themselves onto his, my arms snaked themselves over his shoulders and pulled him closer to my body and held him tightly. He still had my heart, and I his, but we were close enough now that the distance from earlier no longer caused us any pain.

"Edward?" Esme's voice came softly and yet still joyously. I remembered we had an audience, and pulled away from him, blushing of course.

Edward still held me in his arms though. "Yes, mom?" he said without looking away from me.

"Is this... Is Bella the girl from the summer?" Edward smiled and nodded. I doubt either of us could be happier in this moment.

I tore my gaze away from the emeralds I was beginning to wonder if I had just imagined them as well as the rest of the summer, to look to my friends at the foot of the stairs.

I looked to Alice first. She was literally bouncing up and down, clapping. Her face looked as though her jaw would break through her skin, she was smiling so big. Her hazel eyes (she seemed to take on the green in what I assumed was from a grandparent--that would explain Edward's--and the brown in Esme's and combine them into a beautiful pool of color) danced between Edward and I, looking as though they would pop out from so much movement so quickly.

Rosalie stood next to Alice, who I looked to next. Rosalie had her arms folded over her chest, and her beautiful face was pulled into a heavy scowl. What the heck?

Jasper looked pleased, but his calm mask never wavered into anything more.

Emmett had a huge smile, like Alice, but his eyes were more evil and menacing. I could practically see the gears in his head conjuring twisted plans to humiliate Edward and I. I have to admit, I was a little intimated, so I moved on.

Esme was clutching Carlisle to herself, and they were whispering to each other, huge smiles on both of their faces.

I was about to ask what exactly was going on and why everyone was emanating happiness (with one exception), but Edward pulled my face back to his to kiss me again. I immediately forgot everything but Edward. Nothing mattered anymore but Edward. His lips on mine. His fingers now weaving themselves behind my neck and into my hair. His voice whispering my name any time we would briefly break apart for air. His sweet scent pulsing from his skin. His heartbeat making mine that much stronger.

I have no idea how long we stood together on the stairs, kissing, but when we broke apart, there was no one else in our world. Well, actually there was no one else left in the room... But whatever.

He took my hand and pulled me up the stairs. On the third floor, he walked to a door at the end of the hallway and sat down on a black leather couch, patting the seat next to him. I decided to ignore him and sat straight in his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck and hugging him.

He chuckled. The sound was a pure symphony to my ears. I kissed the corner of his mouth while he laughed. I couldn't love him enough.

We both wanted our privacy, even though we weren't doing anything mischievous... It seemed better to be alone than under the gaze of his family. Don't get me wrong, they all seem really nice, but it was a little awkward for them to be standing there smiling at us, while we are in the middle of just trying to catch up on whatever we missed out on.

"Tell me everything that happened with your parents. I want to know why you're here. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to see you here, but I'm just a little confused." He was tracing my collarbone with his forefinger, and didn't look into my eyes while he spoke. His voice was a bit shy, which was very uncommon for Edward.

"The day I thought I was leaving to go home, I walked in my house and Charlie stopped me before I could go pack my bags to get the hell out of this town." Edward looked up to my face quickly, confusion written all over it, before turning his gaze back down. His fingers slowly moved up my neck to the spot on the side of my throat where my pulse was racing. A smile pulled on the corners of his lips while his fingertips gently stroked my throat. I could feel goose bumps raising on my arms. I continued, but my voice was a little shaky. "Forks without you held no interest for me. Whenever I walked out my door all I saw was you. But you were never there. I tried to stay inside, too, and just busy myself with chores around Charlie's house... But I remembered when you sat in my kitchen when I made you dinner. I remembered when you watched the TV with Charlie, it was like the memory of you haunted me everywhere I went. It tore me apart." Tears were beginning to form. I blinked them away, but one fell and trickled down to where Edward's hand still was. He looked up to my face and kissed away the tear streak going down it.

"Then what happened?" he began tracing over my eyebrows and my nose bridge.

"Charlie started telling me about how great it would be if I stayed with him. He thought that was what I wanted... He bought me that old truck permanently and got me enlisted in school. I couldn't tell him no. It would have hurt him too much and I couldn't leave him behind and forget about him and move to Phoenix again. Part of me thought maybe I could forget about you, too, if I moved away. But I don't think it would have been possible ever."

"I was much worse off than you were when I thought you left," he took his hand away from my face and put it in his lap, watching it instead of me. "I drove home and locked myself in here. I only came out to eat. The rest of the time I stayed here moping around like a lost puppy. I tried to block out my thoughts of you with my music," He gestured to a very impressive looking collection of CDs that aligned one of his wall. There was no wall, only the shelves and shelves of music. "But every song that played would give off little memories I had with you. The songs painted pictures of our love. I tried to focus on reading poetry, but none of those helped either. I even turned to Edgar Allen Poe, but he wasn't very cooperative." He chuckled. "My parents knocked on my door, but I wouldn't even answer. I hated the sound of my voice when it wasn't talking to you. I tried to call you, but you never answered. I was afraid you had forgotten about me, already."

"I was afraid to pick up because I thought you would have moved on already. I didn't want you to know how miserable I was without you." I kissed the tip of his nose. "I thought maybe if I knew you were happy somewhere else in the world, I could be happy for you." I kissed right below his eye. "But you weren't happy either." My lip jutted out into a small pout. He looked up and kissed my lower lip.

"I'm happy now, though."

"Me, too." I smiled and kissed him again.

We sat on his bed for a long time, just holding each other. I was dazzled over his absolute perfection, and he seemed just as intrigued by me. I couldn't help but smile at him.

"Edward? Bella? Dinner is ready! We wanted to wait for you two, but Emmett is starting to complain about his poor little tummy."

"HEY! MY TUMMY IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE MADE FUN OF! GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE EDWARD OR I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL--"

"Now, now, Emmett. That's quite enough from you," Esme said sternly. "Please hurry down, you two."

Edward pulled me up by my hand and squeezed it before walking out of his room and back down the stairs. Everyone watched us walk down the stairs, and my face burned magenta. I rushed over to Alice's side and away from Edward so they wouldn't keep watching us like that. I should have known better.

Alice tackled me into a hug that was very strong for someone of Alice's size. She pulled the side of my head to her ear and began whispering briskly into my ear.

"What did I tell you at lunch today, Bella? You remember? I told you that you were gonna mean a lot to my family! And what happened? You mean a lot to my brother! I am so happy! I can't believe this! We really are gonna be best friends forever! And you and Edward are so perfect for each other. I can see that already. Now everyone is with someone else! Isn't that great?!"

"Woah, woah, woah, woah. Alice. We aren't together." I wish.

"Well, that's only a matter of time." She winked. "He's gonna ask you officially in just a couple days."

"Well... I also remember you saying something about how nothing is set in stone. The 'future' changes. Remember that?" I was getting a little annoyed. It was just a summer romance. Edward could do so much better than me. I wasn't stupid enough to get my hopes up. For all I know, he could be with that girl Lauren or someone else in the popular crowd. I'm not an idiot. But Alice seemed to be willing to prove me wrong, which I wouldn't complain if I was wrong in the end... There I go, getting my hopes up.

I noticed Emmett walking into another room, probably toward the food, and I followed him quickly. I walked slowly to the other room, trailing my fingers against the rough stucco surface on the wall. This house is really fancy. I couldn't help admiring the grand appearance of their home. Every room I had seen was equipped with extremely modern furniture. I wish my house was this nice... I walked into the room Emmett went into and ran straight into his back. When he moved out of my way, I noticed what had stopped him dead in his tracks.

The table was completely covered with food. It was stocked out to the max. Every food group was represented here. There was a loaf of homemade bread sitting in the center of the table, a garden salad with an assortment of salad dressings standing in an orderly fashion beside the large bowl, a fruit salad was next to the garden one, making my stomach grumble. Just to the left of the bread was a plate filled with pork chops. There were pots scattered around the table that held spinach, rice, green beans, corn, and steamed broccoli. And near the head of the table was--by the smell of it, which I have no idea how I know this with all the other aromas in the air--a steaming apple pie. Oh my GOD! LET ME EAT!!! Emmett had already taken his seat, and I didn't want to be awkward, so I took a seat next to him. I laughed as he began shoveling food from every container onto his plate, which I noticed was the largest of all the plates, and giving very generous portions to himself from each.

"Want some?" His voice was muffled through the bread he had already popped into his mouth. He was holding out a smaller piece of bread that he tore from his own. It looked delectable, so I had to accept.

"Mmmm." I sighed after I took a bite. The bread was corn bread, it was the perfect blend of salty and sweet. I seized a dollop of butter and smothered it onto the bread before taking another bite. The cornbread was so hot and the butter was still cool, so it sent my throat to hog-heaven.

I grabbed a decent sized pork chop and began cutting into it. This was just as good as the corn bread, maybe better. I sprinkled some pepper and salt all over the chop and dug in again. Emmett was silent next to me, stuffing his face twice as quickly as I was.

Someone started laughing at me. I looked up to see the rest of Edward's family and Jasper and Rosalie standing in the doorway watching Emmett and I eat. Well, they were watching me eat. I suppose they are all used to Emmett's appetite. I blushed, of course, from their attention.

"Well, Emmett, it seems you've just made a new best friend!" Jasper teased. Rosalie clicked her tongue and huffed before turning and stalking out of the room. Esme turned and followed her out of the room. I felt so confused. I had a feeling it was me that was making her so upset, but I have hardly talked to the girl... Alice sat next to me and from the corner of my eye I saw Edward grimace toward his sister, and he sat down on the other side of the table across from me. Jasper filled in the seat across Alice, an empty seat next to him (and across from Emmett) for Rosalie, and Carlisle took the seat at the head of the table.

Emmett and I had completely calmed down our hunger pangs, and we all were silently waiting for Rosalie and Esme to come back.

"I'll go check on them really quick." I said after a minute or two. Everyone was watching me curiously during the silence, and I was getting really uncomfortable. Carlisle nodded absently and turned to watch Edward watch me get up. I shuffled awkwardly out of the room and I heard voices coming from what I guessed was the kitchen.

I walked quietly toward the voices and I heard Rosalie hissing at Esme.

"... and she's stealing Alice and Emmett from me, too! Alice is the only real girl friend I have, and Emmett is the love of my life! Then Bella just waltzes right into our lives and she's taking everything important to me with her. She's even gotten Edward to fall in love with her! Plus, I don't really see why. She's okay looking..." she paused briefly and sighed. "Okay, she's better looking than okay... But still, what's she gonna do next? Ban me from this house? Is she gonna start dating Edward and Emmett at the same time? Maybe she will break up Alice and Jasper, too. She'll date everyone at once, even Alice. We don't know her. Maybe she likes girls, too." Rosalie made a gagging sound. I felt tears stinging my eyes. She really thought all this of me? "I hate her. I hate her so much."

I wiped the tears from my eyes before she could continue and walked into the spacious kitchen. I cleared my throat. "Uhh... Are you guys coming to eat soon?" Rosalie glared at me and Esme looked very tired. Esme said they'd be there soon, and right as I was about to turn and go back to the table, Esme stopped me.

"Rosalie," she began. "Rosalie, you've been holding a grudge against Bella, no matter how short-lived it has been, it has to end now. I want you to tell Bella how you feel, and I want this worked out. Bella is obviously a very nice young lady and she definitely doesn't deserve the accusations you have been throwing at her."

"It's okay Esme. I heard just about everything Rosalie said when I came to get you..." I said to my feet. The tears were starting to well up again. "Rosalie, I'm not trying to ruin your life or whatever you accuse of me doing. I didn't even know you felt this way about me. I can leave, because obviously this isn't right for me to be here..." Rosalie grabbed my wrist before I could hardly even turn my body. I looked up and saw she was crying, her angelic face masked over in pain.

"I'm sorry, I've been acting immature today. I'm very, very paranoid about everyone I love turning against me, because it's happened a lot. So many people only want to be around me because of the way I look and because I have a lot of nice material things. And the Cullens and Jasper are really the first people to accept me for the person I am. Emmett is the only man who has ever looked past my exterior skin to see who I really am, and he isn't afraid of it... But in the back of my head, I'm always scared... What if someone new comes along that they all like better than me? I was starting to convince myself to calm down and that I was overreacting, but then you show up. Emmett and Alice and Edward are already your good friends... And it's only been a day! What if I get to be too boring for them and they leave?" She started crying again. I couldn't stop myself. I hugged her too, both of us sobbing into the other's shoulder.

"Rosalie, you shouldn't lie to yourself like that! Even if Emmett and I are friends, he loves you not me! And Alice can have more than just one friend, right? I'm sure no one meant to hurt you, I sure didn't! But you need to understand that I would never try to ruin your life or your friendships or anything else. I want to be your friend, maybe eventually, we can even be best friends. But I want you to know right now, right off the bat that I won't ever hurt you on purpose. I'm not that kind of person."

Esme joined in on the hug, and we stood there for a few minutes, crying and hugging.

My stomach groaned and Rosalie laughed, wiping away her tears. "Let's eat." She said, and we all walked back to the dining room holding hands.

I was surprised to see everyone still sitting there without having touched their food. We all sat down in the chairs we had chosen in the first place, and began stacking the food onto our plates. I wasn't nearly as hungry as I was before I saw Rosalie, but I still ate until my jeans were feeling a little tight over my stomach. Emmett and I patted our satisfied stomachs at the same time. Everyone saw it and cracked up laughing.

During dinner, Carlisle and Esme mainly asked me a bunch of questions about my family and Arizona. What it was like, did I have a lot of close friends, how am I liking Forks, and what I plan on doing after high school. When it finally ended, I noticed how late it was, and thanked Esme for the wonderful meal.

"Oh. I forgot my truck. Can someone give me a ride?" I was already standing on their front porch, and when I walked back inside, everyone was already cleared out of the room. Except for Edward. He took my hand and walked me back to his silver Volvo. The same one Alice had driven today at school. Really. How could I not have put the puzzle together while I was in school? Alice Cullen has the same Volvo as Edward. And Edward isn't a common name in the first place, I should've known in biology it was him.

Biology. "Guess who you sit next to in your biology class this year?" I said.

"How would you know who I sit next--" His eyes widened and a smile overcame his face. "You sit next to me?!"

I nodded. He laughed loudly and pulled me into a steel-gripped hug. I was running out of breath and was about to complain when Edward began to kiss me. The sweet taste of his lips was just as good as the scent of him, and just as intoxicating. I couldn't remember anything else except Edward. Not even breathing.

When he finally pulled away, some of the color in my face was gone from lack of oxygen. He chuckled and helped me into the car.

He drove me home quickly, it seemed his speed wasn't just a summer pastime. It was a habit year round. Great.

He walked me back to my door once we got to the house, and told me he would see me tomorrow. He leaned down to kiss me before he left, when Charlie burst through the front door.

"Hello, Edward." Charlie said. Was I really the only one who didn't know Edward lived here? I grimaced at the ground. "I hope the two of you had a nice evening. But it's over now. Tell Dr. Cullen I say hello."

Edward nodded and shook Charlie's hand, then turned and gave me a quick peck on the cheek before jogging back to his car through the rain that was beginning to fall. I waved to the Volvo until he turned the corner, touching the spot where Edward had just kissed.

Gotta love Edward.

Okay, so don't forget: If you want a chapter from the summer, tell me. I will write one if I get a lot of people. Also, what do you think of this chapter and the story so far?! I don't have very many reviews so I have no idea if anyone else who is reading this likes it or not! Please PLEASEE leave reviews. It helps me write :) Love you all!