A/N Hey y'all! So, something happened when I uploaded the last two chapters, so if you had this story on alert, it probably didn't tell you. so before you read this, got back two chapters!

Edward's POV

"Thank you for a wonderful evening Bella." I said with smile. "I look forward to many more like it." And I meant that. I now know that I like Bella as more than a friend. It killed me to not know if she felt the same, but I knew if we had more nights like this, she would slowly open up to me more. Little by little, her mask will come off.

Bella smiled as she said, "Me too."

I wanted so badly to hug her, or kiss her goodnight, which was a weird feeling for me; I have never thought to do that to anyone before. So, I simply said, "Sleep well Bella." and turned around and walked to my car.

I got in my car and sighed. What was going on with me? I never want to be close to anyone. Let alone actually touch them. All these emotions were so new to me, I couldn't comprehend what they all meant. In my confusion, I drove quickly to the one place I knew I could think clearly.

Home to my mom.

Once home I ran through the house and finally found Esme in Jasper's study. The study was wall to wall with books, much like a library. Jasper had all of his books in alphabetical order by Author, then by date. He never had a book out of place. Whenever I would sometimes borrow a book, he wouldn't even let me set in down; he would immediately take it from my hands and put it in it's correct place on the shelf. The room itself was beautiful. It had one mahogany desk set facing the door, close to the back wall and a black leather couch on the left wall.

Esme was standing behind the desk, reaching up to get a book on one of the top shelves, but she was just an inch short. I walked up behind her and took down the one she was reaching for; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. Of course, it was one of her favorites, she has read it many times. When she and Carlisle first took me in when I was young, I had a hard time adjusting, I wasn't used to the adults in my life treating me with loving or wanting to have normal conversation with me. I didn't know how to speak to them, so I didn't. Except with Esme. I could remember her coming to my room every evening, sitting on the side of my bed and reading to me. For hours she would just sit and read. I would listen, I enjoyed it. Esme had a very soft voice. Then she would start talking about the book and her expressing her thoughts about it. She would ask me questions, that at first I didn't answer. But the third time she came and read to me, I answered her and so that is how I learned to talk again. This was the first book she had ever read to me.

"Oh, Edward, thank you." She said, patting my shoulder sweetly. As I handed her the book she looked at my face. "Edward? Oh, honey, what's wrong?" She asked, she must have seen the pain and confusion in my eyes. I walked over to the couch and sat down, Esme followed.

"Esme, I don't even know. I don't know what to think, what to feel anymore." She placed her hand on my back and I tried my hardest not to flinch.

"Is it Bella? Alice told me how you felt about her." She said softly.

"I don't know. Mom, why did those people have to do this to me? They completely messed me up!" I almost yelled, searching for the answer in mom's eyes. The anger inside me for the Tyson's rose up in me.

"Edward, Wayne and Mary", She said their names like it was poison, "they are messed up people. But, that's most likely because their parents were messed up too." Esme, always wanting to find the good in people, even when there isn't any.

"So it's a cycle? Do you think I could do something like that to my children? My wife?" I said. Surprisingly I thought of Bella when I said it. I was scared of what her answer may be. In my mind I saw myself yelling at Bella about something then slapping her across the face, braking her neck in the process. I shut my eyes tightly and shook the image away. I couldn't let myself do anything like that Bella!

"No, I don't. Edward, they had a choice. And so do you. Everyone has a choice. The son of a murderer doesn't mean he will become a murder. And the victim of abuse doesn't have to become the abuser." She said, the words almost sounding familiar. This was not the first time she had had to reassure me.

I sighed. "Esme, I really like Bella. But this is just all so confusing. Tonight, when I dropped her off," I paused. This was going to sound crazy. "I wanted to hug her." I looked down shaking my head. "I never want to hug people, except for you. And, even sometimes that is hard for me." She sighed and I could see the hurt on her face at my words. "Mom, it's just, because of them, I find it hard to trust, not only me, but everyone around me." I said, and swallowed hard for what I was going to say next. "I'm constantly afraid." Never in my life have I ever admitted this to anyone but Esme; but even though she knew, it was hard to admit. Though she made it easy to talk to her.

Esme put her hand on my cheek and made me look at her. "Edward, you must change you're perspective. You are seeing the bad, when you must see the good. Yes, it's hard for you to trust people." She smiled lightly. "But, my dear, I can see it in you that you are trusting Bella. You are willing to spend time with her, to get to know her more. You are willing to be her friend. And you aren't afraid of that." She said knowingly.

I relaxed into a smile. She was right. I wasn't afraid to be Bella's friend. "Yeah, you're right." Leave it to mom to be able to make me realize something I should have already known. "Thanks Esme." I said giving her a hug. Every time I would give her a hug, I found it easier.

I was about to get up and leave when Esme asked. "Edward, would you like to read a little with me?" I smiled and nodded my head. She opened Pride and Prejudice to the first page, and began to read. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

I leaned back into the couch, closing my eyes and let Esme's voice float over me like a lullaby, taking me back to the past.

"Esme, I don't know anymore. He's been through so much and he's only seven! I just don't know how we can get through to him." Carlisle said in the other room. I was sitting in the living room on a green couch, scared. Will these people be like the other adults? I brought my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms tightly around them.

"Carlisle, we must do our best." Esme seemed really nice. but so did all the others at first.

Esme walked into the room. "Edward? Would you like to talk about it?" she asked as she sat by me.

Talk about it? About it-it? NO! Never. I just put my head down not saying anything. She sighed. Then she stood up and picked up a book from one of the bookshelves and then returned to her seat next to me. "Have you ever read the book Pride and Prejudice?" I didn't reply that I didn't. "No? Would you like me to read it to you?" She asked sweetly. I thought about it. Read a book? What does Prejudice mean? I thought about it for a moment longer; I nodded my head once quickly and she smiled. "Okay, let's see... 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.'"

After Esme and I had read some, I decided to work some more on my song. I walked into the piano room and sat at my piano. I started to play the chords that I had just been writing since I met Bella. The night after I met Bella I had sat down to play an old piece, but as I was playing, a different melody came to my fingers and I couldn't rest until I played the notes. I still hadn't perfected the rhythm though. I just couldn't seem to get it right. It was like something was missing. I just couldn't figure it out. I spent many hours here, at the piano trying to fix it. I worked on it now. The notes haunted me, trying to sort through my head into the perfect melody. I was so lost in my playing that I didn't realize what time it was until Rosalie came into the room and sat beside me. I looked up at the clock on the wall; 2:00am.

I knew she must have wanted to talk about something, because my family always left me alone when I played. It was like an unspoken rule. This was my time to think. To be alone. I stopped playing and turned to look at her.

"Please, do you think you could play Clair De Lune?" She asked, looking down at her hands that were in her lap, in a very un-Rosalie way. Clair De Lune was Rosalie's favorite.

I smiled and nodded my head as I started play the chords. "Is there something you wanted to talk about Rosalie? I would have expected you to be sleeping at a time like this."

"I could say the same for you. But yes, there is something I wanted to discus." She looked at my hands as I glided them over the keys. "Edward, you seem very happy lately."

I nodded my head. I suppose I was happy. Happier than I ever had been. As if mimicking my thoughts, Rosalie said, "Happier than I have ever seen you. I was talking to Alice and it seems that your happiness has something to do with a girl?" Alice. She really was into gossip. But at the same time, I knew I could trust her with all my secrets.

"Yeah. Bella Swan." I found myself saying without any reservation. It was amazing how easy it was to talk about her; when I can barely talk about myself with anyone. "She is...different than anyone else I have ever met." I couldn't really describe her. Bella was so many things. But I was more confused by this conversation though. "Rose, why the sudden interest in my life?" Rosalie and I had never had the best relationship in the world. It didn't make sense why she would start asking these questions.

" I don't really know Edward. I just…" Sighing and giving a shrug she continued. "I suppose I have felt out of tune with the family lately. No one really talks to me anymore, and when they do everyone is so careful with their words around me. And Emmett, oh I know he tries. But he can't talk about it without wanting to hunt them down and kill them." Another pause. She looked up from my hands and looked me in the eyes. I saw a need and pain there. "But I do need to talk about it." She said, her voice cracking a little. She cleared her throat before continuing. "And I just feel that you would be the best person for me to talk about it with."

I hesitated in playing, but continued. Me? "Me? What about Esme? Or Alice?" Any girl in the world please, but not me! I could see how this could take a very awkward turn...

"I can't talk to them about it. You are the only one who doesn't try to comfort me, or get angry. You just, " She shrugged again. "well you act like you always do."

I guess I could see her point. But still, me?

"Well, go ahead and talk." The sooner we get through this the better.

"Well, has Chief Swan found out anything? Did he catch them?" I sighed as I ended the song. "No, he hasn't caught them. He believes it was a group of men just passing through. He doesn't think it was anyone here, sense your description of them doesn't match anyone in town." I told her, wishing I had a different answer.

She sighed. "Okay. So I guess that pretty much means he has given up searching." She said biting on her bottom lip.

I nodded my head. There was only so much Charlie could do. "I'm sorry." I whispered. It did get me angry; what happened to her. I remembered it like it was yesterday. I remembered Rose walking into the hospital and collapsing onto the floor just outside Carlisle's office. When we got to her, she couldn't even speak; just cry. Carlisle had examined her and it was only after we got her home that she told us how she had been walking through town and a group of men had cornered her on a lonely street. I remembered how the second the word 'raped' had left her mouth, all I could see was red.

Emmett then went crazy. He actually punched a whole in the wall in all his frustration. I can remember Jasper and I having to hold him down to keep him from hurtling through the house and into town to find these guys. It was only when Rosalie had told him that she had needed him that he stopped struggling to leave. She had sounded so broken. I truly believed that if Emmett ever came in contact with the men, he would kill them. And I would without a doubt help. You don't mess with my family. Now, Rosalie barely left the house because the whole town knew. That was one problem with such a small town; word gets around.

"I'll let you get back to your new song. By the way, it sounds beautiful."

I shook my head. "It's missing something."

Rosalie smiled. "Of course it is. That's not one of you usual songs, Edward. It's missing lyrics."

I smiled. She was right. That was it! "Do you think you could help me with that?" I asked. She smiled and nodded. Rosalie was a lot of things, and one of them was an amazing singer and lyricist.

Bella's POV

"Isabella." My father said while rubbing his eyes with his palms. Charlie walked into the bathroom while I was throwing up. I don't know what I had been thinking. Actually, I don't think I was thinking at all. I let my guilt over power me. "I thought- I thought you were getting better." He said as he paced in the living room. "Have you been taking your medicine?"

"Of course I have. Dad, I'm sorry." I said from the couch I was sitting on. I knew how much he and mom worried over me. I wanted to get better for them, but every time I start thinking I was getting better...I would fail.

"Okay. Well, I guess there really isn't much more we can talk about now. I mean, I can tell you again how serious this is, and how much this is hurting you, and how much I really, really, don't want to send you back to a treatment center." Then he knelt on the floor in front of me and looked me in the eyes. "But, honey, if I think it could help you I would send you back. And I know how much you hate it there." I really did hate it there. I felt like all the nurses either looked at me with pity, or as if I had done a horrific thing. "But I just don't know what to do anymore." He said looking at me hopelessly. "Just tell me what I am supposed to do! How am I supposed to fix this?" He asked me desperately.

I felt the tears starting, but I blinked them away. "You can't fix it dad." I said softly. I wished I could give him the answer. I wish there were some magical way to make this go away. But there wasn't.

I patted my dad on the shoulder once before heading up the stairs and to my room.

I had mixed feelings as I laid down waiting for sleep to over take me. Guilt, joy, pain, happiness. I felt so happy after my time with Edward. I felt happy every time I was with him. But then, I would always feel guilty about Maddie. I can't quite explain it.

When Maddie died, I went through the normal process you know? The 5 stages of grief; Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I went through the stages normally. At first, I wouldn't believe she was really dead, even though I had seen her lifeless body. Then anger; I got so angry at the man who did it to her, and also at myself. Then Bargaining; I kept begging God for just a little more time. Or, to take me instead. Then depression, which for me, made me bulimic. My only problem was, I never got to acceptance. I was stuck at depression, and I had no idea how to move on.

And now I'm stuck at being depressed, and feeling guilty if I start to feel happy. Maddie couldn't be happy anymore, why should I?

I ended up getting about three hours of sleep, and with not getting sleep the night before, I was really starting to feel sleep-deprived. Charlie took me to work because Edward called and said he was running late and he would just have to meet me at the hospital. When I got there, I had to wait for Edward so I ended up talking to one of the nurse who worked behind the counter.

"Bella, Good morning." She said smiling at me.

"Good morning, Janet. How's your day so far?" I asked leaning on the counter with my elbows. Janet was a very nice lady. She was about in her 40's with her gray just starting to show in her brown, curly hair.

"It's been good so far. How about yours? I've noticed you didn't show up with the Doctor's son this morning." She said with a sweet smile on her lips.

I smiled as I thought of Edward. "Yes, apparently Edward was running late this morning." Janet raised an eyebrow at that.

"Edward Mason? Running late? You must be keeping him up all night! Edward is never late to work." She said with a wide smile. Mason? I had never thought of it, but it did make since. I had just assumed that because Edward was adopted that he would have taken the great Doctors name, but I suppose he hadn't. But I didn't have time to think about that, while I was trying to figure out what she could possibly be talking about.

"Me? Keeping him up? Why would you say that?" I asked very confused by her statement.

"You must know what you do to the boy. Why, I'd say he is head over heels for you!" She said chuckling. What? No, Edward didn't like me like that. He couldn't...Could he? Ugh, it's times like these that I miss Maddie all the more.

"You must be mistaken Janet. He must have been running late for some other reason. He doesn't feel that way about me." I said, sure enough blushing.

"Bella, the past two years that he has worked here, Edward has never been late. Not until you showed up." She said smiling. The phone rang then, and she excused herself and answered the phone. Did Edward really like me? Could I like him? And, would it be so bad if I liked him? He made me happy. But, did I deserve to be happy?

Just then, Edward showed up out of nowhere. He mimicked my position. "Hello." Edward said to me with a wide smile spreading on his face.

My heart fluttered. I smiled back at him before I even realized I had. "Hello." I said back to him. "Sorry I'm late. I accidentally slept in." He said with a crooked grin. Janet hung up the phone and smiled at us.

"Good morning Edward."

"Good morning, Janet. How are you this morning?" Edward asked her.

"Oh, I'm doing fine. And I am sure you are doing great." She said with a sly look on her face. I blushed even more when she said that.

Edward simply chuckled. "Yes, I am. Now if you will excuse us, Bella and I should be getting to work." Edward said stepping away from the counter. I did as he, and said a quiet goodbye to Janet.

The day was going by as normal but I felt weird the whole day. I couldn't stop thinking about what Janet had said. Did Edward really like me? And, If he did, what did that mean to me? It's not like I like Edward. Right?

On our way to see Trevor, I had to ask Edward, "Edward, is your last name Cullen?"

He shook his head as he said "No, it's Mason."

"But, you've been with them for so long, why haven't you changed it?" My curiosity was getting the better of me.

"Well, it's all I have left from my parents. I just could never seem to part with it." He said with a sad smile.

I immediately felt guilty for asking such a personal question. "I'm sorry for intruding." I apologized.

"No, Bella don't. You can ask me anything. Don't feel bad about that. I don't mind. I want you to know these things. I really do." He seemed so sincere.

"But why would you want me to know?" I asked puzzled.

"Because, Bella, I like you. I want you to be my friend, and friends don't keep secrets, they make them." With a crooked smile.

My heart fluttered when he said that, though I didn't know why. Just because he said he liked me, what did that matter? He obviously meant it in a different way then what Janet had been suggesting. he obviously liked me as a friend. Nothing more. But still, I couldn't figure out why this bothered me so.

"So, we're friends right?" I asked him. He smiled at me as he said, "Of course."

"Then, what secrets have we made?" I couldn't help asking him. He seemed to think about this seriously. "I'm not sure. Maybe we should make one now. I'll tell you a secret, I haven't told any one, and you tell me one." I agreed hesitantly and waiting for his secret as I thought of my own.

He chuckled to himself as he said, "I once gave a prostitute a ride." He burst into laughter as he saw the shock on my face. He quickly pulled himself together to explain. "I didn't know she was. I was in Seattle and she said she needed a ride. Carlisle taught me to always help, especially a lady. It wasn't until I started driving and she asked me what I wanted to do, did I realize. I then simply drove her to where she needed to go, and then went home. I never told anyone." I couldn't help laughing.

"Really, Edward?" I said laughing. "I was 16! I didn't know better! Now, I believe it is your turn." He said getting the attention away from him.

"Well, Maddie once dared me to steal nail polish from a store. I did. But, I only went an hour before I went back to the store to pay for it." He laughed as he said, "Wow. Who knew Bella had a bit of a bad side? Well, not too bad. Only about an hour worth of badness to you!" Edward and I continued to joke around until we reached Trevor's hospital room.

Charlie had gone to see Trevor when he had dropped me off for work, but he still wasn't talking to anyone. Well, not until Edward and I showed up.

Edward pulled a chair up to him. "Trevor, you know, you can talk to us. We are here to help." He said sweetly, talking in a calming tone. I didn't know what it felt like to go through what Trevor went through, but if I was going to open up to anyone, it would be Edward.

To my surprise Trevor used his hand to motion for Edward to come closer to him. Edward leaned in, and Trevor cupped his hand around Edward's ear and whispered in. I didn't hear what he said, but from the look on Edwards face, it wasn't anything good.

Edward's POV

Trevor motioned for me to come closer so I leaned in. He cupped his hands around my ears and whispered, "He will hurt me if I talk." Then he moved away. He looked down in his lap and I could see the tears start to build up.

"Trevor, he can't hurt you here." I tried to reassure him, but I knew that it meant nothing. Even still to this day, I was afraid of the Tyson's even though I was much bigger and stronger than them now. I thought about what to do, to make him open up. Then I remembered last night with Esme. "Trevor, how would you like me to read you a book?" I asked him. He seemed to think about it for a moment then nodded his head quickly. I reached into my bag that I had brought with me. I pulled out the book Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss. As I began to read, I could tell Trevor was relaxing. "On the fifteenth of May, in the jungle of Nool, In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool, He was splashing…enjoying the jungle's great joys…When Horton the elephant heard a small noise." I saw his eyes widen. He scooted closer to me so he could see the pictures.

Every so often as I was reading, I would see Bella smiling at us. And every time she caught me looking at her she would blush. I wondered if she knew just how often she blushes.

Trevor seemed to like the book very much. When I was done reading it, he asked if he could keep it. I knew he most likely couldn't read, seeing how he was only 6, but I was sure he would enjoyed the pictures.

From what we found out from Chief Swan, it looks as though Trevor's Uncle Johnathan was not a very good uncle. Johnathan was Trevor's mother's brother. Trevor's parents had died in a car accident earlier this year, and Trevor was sent to live with his uncle. but it seemed as though Johnathan thought his sister's death was somehow Trevor's fault. So he punished him.

I didn't want to think about it too much, because it would only anger me. So instead, I kept my thoughts on Bella. I thought of how beautiful she looked in the light blue shirt she was wearing. And, as much as I tried, I couldn't keep some thought out of my head. Ones like how amazing she looked in the tight dark jeans she was wearing...No! I wasn't raised to think things like that. I was raise a gentleman. But still, I had a hard time thinking differently. I don't usually blush, but when she bent over to pick something up off the floor, and it took all of my will power to turn my head away from her.

What can I say? I'm only human. A human male for that matter. But, nonetheless, I still felt guilty. But it did make me wonder, did Bella ever think of me in the same was I think of her? Did she find me attractive in any way? And then the more pressing question came to my mind, as it often did. Does Bella like me? I just couldn't escape that nagging question.

"Eddie!" Emmett roared loudly as we entered the hospital cafeteria. I glared at him. Bella and I made our way to Alice and Emmett as they were in line for food. The food here was actually nice. "Emmett, you know I hate it when you call me that." I snapped at him.

He only laughed. "Hey Bella! Still hanging around our Eddie boy here-OW!" I smacked him upside the head. to my surprise, Bella laughed.

"Emmett," She began, "you should really consider shutting your mouth before you get a concussion."

Alice giggled as she grabbed her tray. "Bella, you are so funny! We are going to be great friends!" Alice was always so enthusiastic. Bella chuckled. "I bet we will." As we got our food, I noticed Bella had grabbed an orange, and only an orange. As we sat at our table I said, "Bella, you must need to eat more than that."

"No, I'm not really hungry right now." She said looking at the orange that she rolled in her hands. "Not hungry?" Emmett said, "What does that even mean?" We all laughed at his serious expression. Emmett was always hungry.

Bella's laugh was so beautiful. Her voice was amazing. Heck, she was amazing! I think I'm starting to like Bella more than I should...

Bella's POV

I started to get nervous when Edward talked about my lunch. But I wasn't hungry. Or, at least I didn't want to be. I didn't deserve to be hungry. But what I found scared me; my laughs were genuine. I was happy. I don't remember the last time I was happy...

The day went along normally. I found that I was anxious for the end of the day. I knew I was going to Edward's house this evening. I was excited, but scared at the same time.

Charlie came by the hospital around 4 to talk to Carlisle about Trevor. Carlisle had done another check up on Trevor and they discussed it. A lady from Child Protective Services showed up around the same time for Trevor. I was glad and relieved that he wouldn't be going back to his uncle. But I was scared for him. I wanted him to be safe. He has gone through so much in this year alone. It was fair. He deserved better. I was really starting to hate this world.

Charlie took me home at 5. I would be driving over to Edwards house at 7:30. I ate some dinner; spaghetti. Charlie noticed my excitement right away, but he didn't say anything about it. I still wasn't sure why I was so excited about spending time with Edward. But I decided I didn't care why. All I know, is I haven't felt this way in years and I really liked this feeling.

I took a shower and surprised myself when I grabbed the curling iron and curled my hair. I never do that. I blamed it on feeling girly today. That must be it. I kept the jeans on that I had been wearing all day, but I changed my top. It was sleeveless and tight on my chest, but loose everywhere else. It was blue with purple flowers on it. Alice got it for me when we went shopping. I again surprised myself when I found myself wanting to put make up on. I couldn't remember the last time I had done the tedious work of putting make up on. But even still, I felt like wearing it. It took me a few minutes to find where I had put my cosmetics bag, shoved under my bed. Then I pulled some mascara and lip gloss out of the small bag. I pulled half my curly hair up and pined it back with some bobby-pins. A few loose strains framed my face. Grabbing the silver chain from the bathroom counter I put my friendship necklace back on; the small blue butterfly landing right above the deep V in my top. I also put on some blue bangles.

I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. Alice would be proud, I thought to myself. I got up and grabbed my purple purse, slipped on my blue flates and went down stairs.

"Whoa whoa whoa." Charlie said when he saw me. "There's a guy, isn't there?" He tried to act like he didn't approve, but the smile on his face gave him away.

I didn't know what to say to that. So I said what my heart wanted to say. "Yeah." I said, surprised that it was true. "I think. Anyway, I won't be out late. I'm going to go to Edward's house for a little bit." His smile grew large as I spoke.

"Stay out as long as you want Bells." He said, still smiling widely

I smiled at that. I gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked to his cruiser. As much as I didn't want to drive it, I didn't have another choice. People tend to notice a police car more than any other car. I didn't' like the attention.

I was surprisingly giddy the whole way there. I had to slow down, knowing that the turn to their house was coming. I had almost missed it, but I saw it just in time. I parked in the driveway. I pulled down the visor and opened the small mirror and looked at myself. Really Bella, it's just Edward. I thought to myself. But, It wasn't just Edward. It was Edward. the boy I liked...Suddenly my heart started going crazy. I...Liked him? Yes! Of course, why didn't I realize before?

In the back of my head the guilt started to come, but I pushed it aside. Nothing would ruin this night for me.

I walked up to the door and knocked. A second later, Alice opened the door and screamed. "Bella! You look amazing! I'm so proud!" I laughed as she gave me a big hug. I hugged her back. "Thanks Alice." I said blushing. I walked in the house, to see Edward coming down the stairs. "Now, don't you go scaring her off Alice." Edward said. As soon as we looked at each other, the world seemed to stop. My heart went crazy then it just stopped.

Edward looked like he would die, because he was clearly not breathing. "Edward, remember, breath." Alice said as she passed him on the stairs.

"Bella." he whispered my name. The sound of my name coming from him was enough for me to go crazy. He walked over to me, and came incredibly close. The scent coming off him was intoxicating.

"You know, you look lovely tonight, but I think your look pretty without any make up on." He was going to be the death of me.

I smiled goofily up at him. "Hello." I said not being able to think of anything else to say.

"Hello." He said back smiling the crooked smile I loved so much.

"Well, I suppose we have some counting to do." I said hoping he would take a step back a little so I could catch my breath, but at the same time not wanting him to move away from me.

He smiled."I guess we do." Then he reached out and grabbed my hand in his, intertwining our fingers, and lead the way to his bedroom. I don't think anything in the world could make the smile on my face go away now. Not even the memories of Maddie that threatened to resurface. I was going to be happy tonight, no matter what. When we reached his room he let go of my hand and sat on his bed.

I stood in the middle of his room looking around. This was first time I had ever been in Edward's room; but I wasn't surprise by what I saw. The room had a warm creamed colored carpet and white walls. One wall had a huge stereo system with rows and rows of CD's lining the whole wall. On another wall was his bed, it looked to be a king size bed with a dark blue comforter and about five pillows leaning up against the black head board. There was a small black table next to his bed with a lamp on it and a black leather chair in the corner.

"So is it everything you expected?" Edward asked after a minute.

I raised my eyebrow. "Is what?"

"My room."

"Oh, well I don't know what I was expecting, but if I was expecting anything, this would be it." I said, walking over to sit next to Edward on the bed.

"So you approve then?" He asked looking me in the eyes uncertainly.

Not sure why he would look at me like that I nodded. "Yeah, it's very you."

Edward smiled, taking my breath away. It wasn't until I took in a shaky breath that it really hit me that I was in Edward's room, alone with Edward. The thought was exhilarating and scary at the same time.

"So should we get started?" Edward asked.

I nodded.

Edward laid back on the bed and reached around me to the side table to grab something. While he stretched to get whatever he was trying to, his shirt lifted, making a gap between the hem of his shirt and the top of his jeans about an inch apart. I could see the tan fabric belt he was wearing, but my eyes found his exposed mid section and my brain stopped. I knew he was in shape, but the clothes he wore didn't do him justice! His stomach was perfectly toned, with just the right amount of muscle to make my mouth water. My fingers itched to reach over and rip-

Then he sat up. "So I thought we could do this practically. I got these-" Edward paused and grabbed my hand, his fingers feeling oddly cool. "Bella are you okay?" He asked in a panicked voice. "You are burning up!"

I finally manage to draw in a breath. I scrambled to understand what Edward had just asked me. "Huh? Wha-" My heart was hammering against my chest and I couldn't get the image of Edward's waist out of my head.

"Are you okay?" He asked again; this time making a little more sense to my scrambled brain.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Just a little warm." I tried to take in a deep breath, but it was pretty shaky. Edward was giving me a concerned look and I desperately tried to think of a way to get the attention off me. "So what were you saying about counting the dots?"

Edward gave me one last look before showing me what was in his left hand. Two makers. "I thought we could use these to mark the dots as we count them. You know, so we don't miss one or count the same one twice or something." He said with a small smile.

I nodded. "That is very smart." I said, hoping my voice sounded normal again.

He nodded along with me. "Well I do try." He said shyly. "Are you sure you alright thought?"

"Perfect." I said honestly. I grabbed the blue sharpie from Edward's hand and got to my feet. "Now lets get started. This is going to take forever as it is."

Edward smiled and got to his feet on top of his bed. He reached a hand down and helped me onto the bed. He held my hand 5 and a half seconds longer than necessary before letting go and reaching up and marking the first dot with a green sharpie.

For the next four hours Edward and I walked around on his bed, moving from end to the other, marking every dot we could reach, before hopping down off the bed and moving it so that we could reach more dots. Every hundred we would write down how many we had counted on a sheet of paper so that we wouldn't lose count.

I was so surprised at how much thought Edward had put into this. I had half thought that we wouldn't actually be doing this. I thought we might start, but then kinda give up. But I should have known that Edward was better than that.

We took a couple of breaks, to give our arms a rest from reaching up over our heads constantly. During these breaks I would look through Edward's CD collection and pick what CD we would listen to next or we would just lie down on the bed and add up all the dots we had counted so far.

After about four hours we were nearly done, with only a little space left. Both Edward and I were standing near the edge of the bed, trying to finish up. I reached out a little to mark one farther away, but when I did the bed shifted underneath me and I started to fall forward off the bed. I gave a little shriek before a strong arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me backwards. I landed, not very gracefully, half on top of Edward onto the bed.

I shoved some hair out of my face and saw Edward staring at me. I stared back for a few minutes before we both simultaneously started laughing. It was such a carefree feeling I could have started crying. But I had cried enough over the past 2 years, I didn't want to cry anymore.

"Want to change the CD? This one has played through twice now." Edward asked after a minute, once we had stopped laughing.

I looked towards the stereo then back to Edward. "You know I would, but that would mean me having to get up and I just don't know if I feel like moving. It would just take way too much effort." I said with a dramatic sigh.

Edward laughed, his beautiful laugh and got up. "Okay I'll do it then." He said walking over the stereo. "But that means I get to pick the next CD."

I watched Edward's back while he stood in front of his wall of CD's, one arm folded across his chest, the over hand rubbing his chin as he thought. He finally decided on one on a middle shelf and slipped the CD into the CD player. Once the music started playing he turned back to me and sat down next to me.

My breath hitched in my throat when Edward leaned down over me, stopping a few inches away from my face. He gently slid his knuckles across my right cheek bone, his eyes locked on mine.

Good googly-boogly I liked him!

"So shall we finish up our counting?" He asked softly.

Not sure that I would actually be able to speak I just nodded. Edward sat back up and I sucked in a deep breath. If I was going to be spending all this time around him, I was really going to have to learn to breathe when we were together.

Edward stepped onto the bed and held a hand to help me get to my feet. He pulled me to my feet gently and wrapped a arm around me to help me find my balance. It amazed me how natural it felt to have these small touches with Edward. It felt as normal as my right hand being at the end of my right arm.

It only took us another 10ish minutes to finish up the last of dots. When we had finished we laid back on the bed to look at our handy work.

"Wow." Was all I could say. Edward's once white ceiling was now covered in green and blue dots.

"Yeah. You know if you look at it this way it kinda looks like a map." Edward said, turning his head sideways.

I followed his motion. "You're right!" I said with a laugh. "That almost looks like the United States."

We admired the ceiling for another few minutes before I asked Edward what the final tally was. He took the sheet of paper and did the math. "2,004,518." He said with raised eyebrows.

"Really? I asked. "That is a lot more that I thought it would be!"

Edward looked over at me and smiled. "Thank you for doing this with me."

I smiled back, trying my hardest not to blush. "Thank you for asking."

Edward's green eyes seemed to bore into mine and I felt my heart burst into a sprint.

How was it this boy could make me so happy just by smiling in my direction?

I sighed. I don't really care, I decided. I was just going to enjoy it as long as I possibly could.

I liked Edward. He made me happy. Really happy.

That is all there is to it.

A/N Hey! I hope y'all like it! Our Betta and I have worked really hard on this! This chapter, and the past two, were actually one really long chapter. So, we decided to split it into three. Please review! Tell me what you think, or if you have any questions for me. Thank you guys for reading!

-Esmefan1-Elissa