Note: They own it. I just love to play with it!

Hearts and Thoughts

Chapter 4

Recognize

BPOV

The last few weeks continued much the same. Edward and I would spend most of our time wrapped up in private conversations while Mr. Banner would constantly roll his eyes in frustration at the fact that he knew he could do little to make us pay attention. Senior year was quickly coming to an end and we were both straight A students and knew all the material he wanted to cover anyway, so for the most part he let us be.

Alice and I had become increasingly close as well. We would spend most of our second period art class giggling together much to our teachers dismay. She, Rose and I would spend our lunches gossiping and Alice would constantly try to drag me out shopping. A chore I would much rather pass on, but Alice was infectious with her bouncing excitement, so more often than not I would agree.

"Please, Please, Please Bella?"

"Alice" I said a little annoyed that this was the third shopping trip in 5 days she wanted to take. "There is no way the stores in town have any new merchandise, and I think you have one of everything this whole town has to sell anyway."

"This is exactly why we are not going to be shopping in downtown Forks this time Bella" Alice said with a mischievous grin.

"Then prêt ell little Alice, where do you suggest we go? There is no way Charlie is going to let me go to Seattle, so we are pretty much out of options."

"You know Bella, Forks is not the only town on the Olympic Peninsula, there's La Push…or Sequim, or …there's Port Angeles!" she said with a sing songy tone.

"Missing Jazz already?" I asked knowing that there was only one thing Alice liked more than shopping and that was Edwards's best friend, Jasper Whitlock.

Jasper had come to visit Edward and Alice last weekend. Alice had wanted her and Jasper to have some alone time, but then again, so did Edward. He complained to me most of first period last Friday about it. He said that they were best friends first, and now Jasper comes to visit and Edward will hardly get to see him.

I tired to make Edward feel better by volunteering to drag Alice away for at least a few hours so that he and Jasper could have some quality 'guy' time. So, that afternoon I picked up Alice to go see a movie. Edward and Jasper seemed excited to have time to just hang out, talk, and play video games.

Jasper seemed really nice for the brief moment that we meet when I picked up Alice from their house. He was tall and thin, and had a slight southern rock'n roll type vibe to him. Kind'a of a bad boy, but with a soft edge, he and Alice looked perfect together.

"Yes Bella, I want to go see Jazz and a shopping trip to Port Angeles would be fun as well!"

"Alice, I'm not sure. I'm pretty shopped out; it's been like 3 times this week already."

"Please, Bella, Please! We can bring Rose and introduce her to Emmett and I know Edward will want come and see the guys too. It will be so much fun!"

Edward will be there…shopping doesn't sound so bad after all.

"Alright, you win! I'll go, but you are not going dragging me into any more lingerie shops."

Like I have anyone to wear them for anyway.

"Weeeeeeeeee! Bella, I love, love, love you!"

Alice threw her little arms around my shoulders and gave me a giant bear hug, nearly knocking me over in her excitement. She was running up the stairs before I could even catch my breath, she is surprising strong for her little size, while dialing who I assume would be Jasper to let him know we would be coming up tomorrow after school.

"Hey" I heard Edward say from behind me.

A bit startled, I spun around to see Edward coming in from the back door, dressed in a pair of dark jeans, a fitted cream long sleeve thermal and a brown corduroy jacket, his hair, coppery and wild as usual, dripping wet from the drizzling rain outside.

Holy hotness. Breath, Bella, Breath.

"Um, hey yourself" I said hoping my inner thoughts were not showing on my face.

"Where's Alice?"

"She ran upstairs to call Jasper. She roped me into a shopping trip to Port Angeles tomorrow, so she can see Jazz. Well, not just me, Rose too. And you too?"

"Alice can be very persuasive when she wants something." Edward said knowing better than anyone. "Yeah, I'm in. Maybe my friend Emmett can come too. I think he would love Rose."

"I think Alice has already invited him along… she was pretty confident I could cave."

Edward laughed a little, and shook his head. "Yes, she seems to know exactly what everyone will do, before they even decide. She seems to always get her way like that"

I stood there for a few seconds, trying to decide what to say next. I never had a problem talking to Edward in class, or with Alice around, but whenever we were completely alone, I always got a bit nervous.

"So…I guess I'll head out. I'm sure Alice will be talking to Jasper for awhile, and I don't want to keep you from anything you have planed."

I turned to walk toward the front door, when Edward said "No, don't go." A bit breathless.

I stopped dead in my tracks, and slowly turned back around. His eyes where shining brightly, as he smiled. "I mean…you don't have to go. I don't have anything special planed, I was just going to hang out, maybe grab a pizza and chill. Stay."

I watched as his face flushed a bit, and then he looked down nervously at his feet waiting for my reply.

Edward Cullen blushes?

"Um, sure."

Immediately, he looked up and his smile grew even more. He grabbed the phone on the small table beside him and started to dial.

"You like pepperoni?"

Edward and I hung out for the next couple of hour, eating pizza, doing homework and just talking. We settled into the same easy rhythm that we have during our class room time. Alice joined us after while and we sat on the couch and watched an episode of MTV cribs before I headed home for the night.

No sex in the champagne room.

EPOV

"Are your ready yet?" I screamed up the stairs at Alice. Seriously annoyed that she still was not ready to go. "We're are going to be late meeting Jazz and Em, and we still need to pick up Bella and Rose, so hurry up!"

"Almost! Alice shouted down the stairs at me. "Quit being so impatient Edward. I know you want to hurry up and see Bella, but chill!"

Was it that obvious?

I was seriously looking forward to seeing Bella again. We had been talking everyday in Bio class, and she would come over and hang out with Alice every once in awhile, but mostly they were out doing girl things like shopping and shit, so I did not get to see Bella as much as I might like too.

Yesterday, Bella and I hung out for a few hours sans the crazy pixie, and it was amazing. After the first few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Bella and I began talking and acting like old friends, just like when were are in class together.

The pizza came about 30 minutes after I called in the order and we spread out on the living room floor eating and studying Bio and just being ourselves.

I have never been able to just be me around a girl before. I was always trying to act cool, or say the right thing, but not with Bella. I was just me.

I ate my pizza too fast, burning the roof of my mouth in the process, causing Bella to laugh hysterically at me huffing and puffing with a mouth full of pizza and when I spilled my entire can of soda, we both laughed at my idiot move. I would have been mortified if I had acted that way in front of anyone else other than my family. Especially a girl. A beautiful girl.

I had a rep I had to keep up.

Bella and I had just got comfortable on the couch, although she was on one end while I was on the other, to watch some TV, when Alice came bounding down the stairs and jumped right in the middle between us.

So much for trying to bust a move, with the mini cock blocker in the way.

We watched MTV Cribs, and I about spit my soda out when both Bella and Alice started singing "No sex in the champagne room" when the screen flashed a hot tub and stripper pole in none other than a bonifided champagne room.

P. Diddy is my hero.

When Bella left, Alice preceded to drive me up the wall interrogating me on what Bella and I did all afternoon, and if she flirted with me, and if I flirted with her, if we were in 'loooooove'. Driving Alice even more up the wall than she was driving me, I simply kept my mouth shut, gathered my books and school work and went to my room and locked my door.

*

"Alice, come on! " I shouted one last time

" I'm ready, let's go" Alice came running down the stairs dressed in a short jean skirt, white tank top, and red cowboy boots.

"You are not wearing that!" My protective brother side rearing its ugly head.

"Oh, yes I am." Alice said stubbornly.

"But…Ahhh... shit. It is totally pointless to try and argue with you and we're late as it is. I will just have to punch Jasper in the face so his eyes swell up and he cannot see you." I said completely seriously.

"Edward, you will do nothing of the sort. Jasper respects me, and he will like it. He loves country."

Oh yeah, Jasper will like it… I just wish he was not liking it on my little sister.

"Ughhh…Whatever. Let's roll."

I speed to Bella's house and as I pulled up I realized I was not sure if I should just honk like I would for any other friend, or if I should get out and go to the door like I would for any proper date.

When my car finely came to a stop, I glanced at Alice, hoping she would see my indecision and give me a push in one direction or another.

Too late.

Bella and Rose came barreling down the front steps of her house and hopped into the back seat of my car before I could even reach for my door handle.

"Hi Guys!" Bella and Rose said in unison.

It had not been 3 seconds when Rose blurted out, "So, what is this Emmett guy like? He better be supper hot, otherwise I'm going to be pissed. "

Alice and I both looked at one another and began to laugh uncontrollably.

"What the hell is so funny? I'm serious. If I have to ride in this car for an hour and a half, he better be hot as hell, or there better be some awesome ass sales going on, or you all will be on my list!" Rose said with absolute gravity.

"You and Emmett might just be a match made in heaven." I said still laughing with Alice.

When I had called Emmett last night to make sure he was coming to this whole shopping trip/meet up thing that Alice had concocted, he had said the exact same thing to me. Although, his language was a bit more graphic and he said he was going to kick my ass if she was a butterface.

They were perfect for one another.

The drive to Port Angeles took about an hour. Traffic was light and my new Volvo had some serious kick. The girls jabbed most of the way there and Alice controlled my ipod, which didn't bother me, because all my music was good.

I caught my self watching Bella in my rear view mirror more than I was paying attention to the road. She would throw her head back laughing when she thought something was truly funny, and would just politely smile and softly laugh when she didn't. I noticed that she new the words to all of the songs from my ipod. She would sing them all while Alice and Rose would just mouth the parts they did not know.

It was driving me kind of crazy, especially when Alive from Pearl Jam came on. I watched her sing the verses and it made my skin burn with desire.

'Oh…she walks slowly, across a young mans room
She said, I'm ready… for you'

I nearly drove the car right off the road.

I quickly composed myself, let the song play out and then stole the ipod from Alice and put on Led Zeppelin. Great music, but Bella singing it would not bring me completely to me knees.

Well, not completely…but damn close. Ugh. This girl is too much and I will never listen to Pearl Jam the same.

BPOV

"Alice!" Jasper shouted from the curb when we had final arrived to the outdoor shopping center in Port Angeles.

"Hey Baby" she cooed back as she flew out of the car and jumped right into his arms. He swung her around a few times, before setting her back on the ground and kissing her chastely in front of the rest of us. I assume for Edwards benefit.

I saw Edward from the corner of my eye, hold his breath and then he shoved his left hand into his pocket, and started to walk to Jasper. I could see he had resigned himself defeated. Alice was in love and he knew Jasper would treat her right. So why fight it. He walked to his best friend and gave him the one armed-while you shake- guy hug.

Emmett on the other hand came running full force toward Edward and nearly knocked him down with a huge bear hug and a giant grin.

"Dude, Cullen! I have missed you man!"

"Missed you too dude, school is not the same without you guys."

"Not king status at the new school bro?"

"Not really looking for that, just looking forward to getting it done and over with."

"I hear ya man. So, bro, where's this hottie hot Alice says I'm gonna love? She better be smoke'n dude, cuz I only want the best."

I held my breath as I turned to Rose who was standing right behind me out of Emmett's direct eye line. She liked guys who were bold, but not pigs. I was not sure what she was going to make of Emmett.

"That would be me." Rose said with a sexy grin and she stepped to the side and Emmett got a full view of her.

Apparently, she found him bold.

Rose was stunningly beautiful. Long blonde hair, big blue eyes, and a body women would kill for and men would die to touch.

"You . Are. A. Goddess."

"You're not so bad your self big boy." Rose replied.

Emmett, six foot four, all muscle, with equally blue eyes and dark black hair instantly was wrapped around Rose's little finger, and as it would seem, his as well.

"Well then, get over here and give me a proper hello." Emmett said grinning.

To my utter and complete disbelief, Rose sauntered over to Emmett, threw her arms around his huge shoulders and kissed him smack in the mouth.

I gasped out loud while Edward, Alice, and Jasper all broke into hysterics.

"Well than, shall we?" Jasper said with a chuckle and we all started to walk in paired off groups to the storefront windows for some browsing.

"It looks like it's just you and me." I turned to Edward and said, as Alice and Jasper walked ahead of us, his arm swung over her shoulder and hers wrapped around his waist. Rose and Emmett were just in front of them looking at each other smiling while his large hand covered nearly her entire lower back.

"Looks like it." Edward said with a grin. This was a grin I had never seen before from him. It was mischievous and cocky, but sweet and sincere. It threw me for a loop.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just nice to be here."

"Oh, back home?"

" Ahh…yeah… back home. Although… Forks is growing on me." He said with a wink.

Did he just wink at me? What the? Was he flirting? No, I must be drinking the Kool-aid.

The rest of the afternoon was great. Alice drug Jasper into every single store we passed. He didn't seem to mind as long as Alice was close by. It was sweet to watch. Rose and Emmett were practically inseparable. They had there hands all over one another any chance they got. It was kinds of gross to watch, but it was just… them.

Edward and I spent most of our afternoon in the book store and the music store. We browsed all the isles and would point out cd's or books that we thought the other would like. We had very similar taste, which surprised me a little, but the more I learned about Edward the more he surprised me. So, I guess I shouldn't be surprised at all.

The evening came quickly and we all piled back into the car and headed back to Forks. Alice and Rose sat in the back seat, both looking forlorn being away from Jasper and Emmett. I sat in the front with Edward and we quietly chatted all the way home about our favorite bands and concerts we had seen. Edward dropped Rose off first and then me. We pulled up into the drive and I turned to Alice and wished her a goodnight and told her not to worry.

"It'll only be a week and you'll see Jazz again." Trying to cheer her up as best I could.

"I know, but a week is such a long time" She whimpered from the back seat.

"I'll call you later to make sure you're hanging in there, ok?"

"Ok, thanks Bella. I had fun today."

"Me too." I said truthfully.

I turned to tell Edward goodbye, but he was already half way out of the car.

Is he walking me to my door? Like a guy does after a date?

I immediately stared to blush. Was that what today was? A triple date? I had thought it was just a group outing, so Alice could see Jasper, but looking back on the day, it may have just been our first date.

I then recognized all the signs of a date.

He opened every door for me going in and out of the stores. He helped me take my jacket off at the restaurant and put it back on when we were leaving. He bought me ice-cream after dinner, a dinner that he insisted that the guys all pay for, and when we were in the music store, I briefly felt his hand rub up against mine softly and it lingered for a moment before I reached up to grab a cd from the shelf. I had thought in the moment that it was just an accident, we had been walking closely all day, but I was quickly starting to think maybe it was not.

Oh. My .goodness. I. just. went. on. a. date. with. Edward. Cullen???

Suddenly trying to process this new information, I stumbled out of the passenger side door, and luckily Edward reached down and caught my hand, steadying me before I fell right onto my face.

Smooth Bella!

I turned 8 shades of red as I looked up at him. I thanked him for catching me and then straightened myself and bee lined it for the door. I quickly realized that he had not let go of my hand yet. I looked down at my feet as we walked hand in hand to my front step. My heart was beating so fast, I thought he might be able to see it thumping under my clothes.

Hoping my face was not showing the signs of complete shock, and hoping that my shirt was not fluttering from my traitor beating heart, I said softly, lifting just my eyes and looking at him through my lashes,"Thanks for today."

"I had fun, maybe… we can do it again soon?"

Not knowing if we had really just had a date, or if I just read into everything and that he meant we should all hang out as friends again, I simply said "Sure, that'd be great" and I turned to unlock my front door, struggling to make the key fit the lock with my now shaking hands.

First date kiss? No Bella, this is not a date, get it together… and if it is, you do not kiss on the first date!

Edward then dropped my hand and reached into his jacket pocket, and pulled out a small plastic bag from the music store where we had browsed.

"Here, I got you this."

"What?" I said turning back toward him, ignoring the stubborn lock.

"I got you this, I just thought… since you said you didn't have it… and it's a classic."

"Thanks, but you didn't have..."

"I wanted to." He said as he looked down and shuffled his feet.

Looking back up and locking his memorizing green eyes with mine he said "Well, I guess I'll see you Monday?"

"Yeah, see you Monday." I said breathlessly.

He looked a bit awkward for a second, like he was deciding what to do next, and then he shoved both hands in his pocket, turned, and headed for his car.

No Kiss.

"Bye Bella!" Alice shouted from the front seat now, seemingly in a better mood than a moment ago.

I waved at them as they pulled away then I threw the door open, yelled hello to Charlie who was sitting in the living room watching the game and ran quickly to my room.

I closed my door and slide down the back side of it, sitting indian style, breathing heavy from the quick sprint.

I glanced at the small bag in my hand and slowly opened it and pulled out the cd.

Pearl Jam Ten album.

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