Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
It was a little ironic I suppose, Emmett had accused me of spending so much time with the Cullen's because I was ashamed of my own family and now, because Emmett had finally made me feel ashamed, I spent more time then ever at the Cullen home.
Carlisle would answer my questions and smile fondly, Alice would rattle on about Jasper for hours on end, Esme baked cookies and patted my head like a mother ought to and Edward smiled grimly and sat by me while we both feigned interest in Alice's rambling.
Edward never said much but he would tell me often enough that Emmett would be looking for me if I spent so much time at their house, I had told him that Emmett knew where I was, he had accused me of always spending my time at the Cullen house so of course he could find me.
The Cullen house wasin fact nicer, it was always neat and tidy and smelled of cookies. There was always chatter about the place too, which was never in my house for very long, apart from my Da's awkward attempts at parenting.
My Da was the chief police of Forks, something he was fond of reminding everyone. There wasn't much crime in Forks other then the hooligan teens of the town, such as Edward Cullen. While Em would insist that Edward ought to spend the night in the cell down at the station to teach him a lesson, my Da would always say, in his own quiet way, that 'Edward Cullen was a good egg, came from a good family' and nod his head decidedly before returning to his paper.
When my Da caught Edward at any kind of mischief, he would always give him a stern talking to which Edward never took seriously, cause my Da was always trying not to smile. He would walk Edward back home, ruffle his hair and tell him 'now you'd best be behaving yourself, if you don't want your parents in an early grave'.
And while this speech would've made me feel guilty, Edward would just laugh and wave the Chief off, telling him 'Till next time'.
I always thought that Em might've been a little jealous of Edward, he had a good Da, a good, present Ma, and a prosperous future ahead of him. To Emmett's small town mind, it would seem as though Edward Cullen had it all. It often left me wondering how those two had ever been friends.
I would leave the Cullen's in time to make dinner, or sometimes I'd stay at the Cullen's for dinner and bring home some extra for Da and Em. Dinner was tense now, Em didn't talk to me and Da was a quiet sort of man anyway.
Alice spent more and more time with Jasper now, and Em spent even more time with Rose. And I spent more time with Edward, he would sometimes joke that I was becoming Alice's replacement and since I wasn't sure if I should be angry or not so I paid no attention.
After about two months my Da finally noted one night at dinner that I had been spending a lot of time at the Cullen's. He asked me if little Alice Cullen was sick again. My Da had always been fond of Alice, she was too exuberant, he didn't have to make an effort at affection with her.
I said no and told him that Alice mostly spent her time with Jasper now and jokingly informed him that they were practically married now since Alice was never home. Emmett had stiffened and exclaimed "Then what the hell have you been doing over there?", he demanded.
I shrugged, used to Emmett's easy temper and muttered that I was just hanging out.
Emmett's fist had slammed down on the table with a bang and he roared "With Edward Cullen?".
I suppose my look must have confirmed it as he cursed under his breath and muttered "I'll kill him". He pushed back his chair and stood, but he didn't get much further cause my Da told him to sit down, or he'd throw him in the cell if he went picking a fight.
I didn't think he meant it but I could suddenly see why Emmett might be jealous of Edward, after all my Da had never even threatened to throw Edward in the cell.
The table went silent and I escaped upstairs a soon as I could, vaguely hearing my Da shouting at Emmett.
Emmett had always had a temper, from when he would throw his bat at the ground in frustration when Edward hit a better shot then him to every time in later life that Edward Cullen would be mentioned and he'd feel the need to slam his fist against some inanimate object.
Had I been told what Edward had done with Rosalie Hale earlier on I might have felt some of the resentment my brother did, but in my eyes it was all solved. Emmett and Rosalie were happy now, Edward knew better then to think that everyone around him would forgive his every action and Rosalie had learnt that my brother was not so easily played. I couldn't hold it against them when I could see that it was so much for the better, everyone involved had learnt a lesson, hard as it may have been.
Though Edward could never shine in my eyes as I had once held him to, perhaps that too was for the better. Edward Cullen would never again be seen in such awe, he was human now, I saw his faults and saw his good and I took them together as being wholly part of him.
Edward too seemed relieved that I knew the truth, it was a heavy weight to live up to the childish awe of silly children.
But I was curious and the next day I set out to the Cullen home with some questions in mind. I met Edward on the porch steps and nearly laughed at the sight, he would take Carlisle's place today and answer my questions.
He had greeted me with a smile and patted the space beside him. "Emmett came by last night, gave me a right earful and I figured you might have some questions so I've been waiting out here for you", his smile warmed me, but I was suspicious. He was too happy, near giddy in fact, not how he usually is after talking to Em.
"He didn't hit you did he?", I asked warily. Edward laughed and shook his head, assuring me that he hadn't. "Just shouted a load".
Edward had asked me what my question were and added that Carlisle was crazy sitting out on this porch every night, cause it was damn cold.
It wasn't that cold but Edward was usually still in bed at this hour, I felt warm at the thought he'd gotten up early just to answer my questions.
My eyes scanned Edward suspiciously and asked him if he was sure Emmett hadn't hit him. "Not this time", he said certainly.
"Does he hit you lots?", I asked, shocked even though I'd suspected as much. "Most times I see him", Edward confirmed "but that isn't often cause he tries to stay away from me
Edward had reminded me to ask him my questions, Esme was making pancakes. I'd asked Edward immediately if what happened with Rosalie was Emmett's only reason for hating him so much.
"No", Edward said, rubbing his hand across the stubble along his chin "I don't think so, I doubt it in fact".
"How come?" I asked curiously and Edward smiled gently "Em actually took my side when he found out", he informed me. I suppose my shock showed on my face because Edward laughed and burrowed further into his jacket.
"Then he found out why I did it".
I opened my mouth to ask but he interrupted "I was mad with him, and more then a little confused".
I'd asked him, feeling more then a little stupid, to explain a little clearer. Edward chuckled "It was all about you Bella".
I could only imagine that my mouth was hanging open and Edward reached out and gently shut my mouth. I stumbled over my words as I asked him what he meant and Edward's expression turned serious and thoughtful.
"You were thirteen you know and I was fifteen and I'd never been more aware of it and well, God Bella you were so beautiful and I was a bloody teenager", Edward exclaimed in frustration.
I didn't know exactly what Edward was trying to tell me, but I did understand that he had called me beautiful and a blush spread over my cheeks.
"I was a pretty good looking kid you know", Edward muttered "could've had anyone, still could". I couldn't help the smile that quirked at my lips at Edward's petulant tone.
"But I didn't want anyone", he said, turning to me his eyes pleaded with me to understand.
I suddenly realised how stupid I was, because I was absolutely certain that I had no idea what Edward was saying, even though I knew it must've been obvious.
Edward waited a minute, frowning when he realised I didn't understand "I wanted you Bella", he said it so dryly, it almost seemed like it was part of a whole other conversation.
"But I knew Emmett would kill me", he sighed "And so I got angry and went behind the diner with Rosalie Hale. Cause I wanted to get back at him, and at you, for making me want you".
"And…. I thought that would make those feelings go away but it didn't and, and I still want you", Edward pouted like a small child and it suddenly registered in my mind exactly what it was he was trying to tell me. Edward Cullen wanted me.
"But I don't just want you Bella, I want you, like how Em wants Rose or my Da wants my Ma and it's driving me crazy", Edward's shoulders sagged and he muttered that he was glad that was off his chest.
"You can go home now Bella", Edward stood and turned back towards his house while I continued to sit in shock.
But suddenly I got my wits about me and stood, Edward Cullen not only wanted me, he wanted me and suddenly all those childish fantasies came whirling back, and they seemed so much less childish.
"Is that it?", I demanded as his hand reached out to open the screen door. "I want you Bella, now go home", my voice was a weak imitation of his, but it seemed to get the point across "What the hell?", my cheeks were red with quick anger and my fists clenched. I had the strange urge to hit him, and then kiss him.
"Well yeah", Edward said awkwardly, "what else do you want me to say?".
"I… I don't know, just something", I threw my arms up in exasperation before tucking them back against my sides, figuring it was best if my hands stayed away from Edward, for fear my temper got the best of me.
"I didn't think you'd want me to say anything else", Edward muttered "If you really are anything like your brother you'll want me to stay pretty far away from me".
"You're an idiot", I sighed.
"If you're just going to insult me Bella, go home", Edward pouted.
I did actually hit Edward, and he once again had a black eye. He said my punch was about as good as Emmett's, only Emmett was a man, so I punched him again.
I did kiss him as well, twice, one for both eyes and he seemed pretty appeased.
Edward had insisted too that I was his girl now, cause it would ruin my reputation if it got round that I was kissing and punching boys.
I had reminded him that it was even worse for my reputation to be dating him, he'd just growled and kissed me again.
Carlisle walked in about then, said it was about time and told Edward he had better be off to college soon now this was finally sorted, Edward had blushed and kissed me and I was pretty sure he was trying to distract me.
Esme and Alice came home then, Esme patted my head and choked out an emotional thank you before rushing off to do dinner, we had all shared a bemused look before Alice started squealing that we were finally all paired off now.
I had dinner at the Cullen's that night, Edward ate off my plate and Carlisle congratulated me on giving Edward two black eyes, even Esme smiled at that. Alice rambled on about the benefits of me being Edward's girl and I smiled widely the whole night.
I was still smiling as Edward walked me home, and I was still smiling when I went inside, Emmett glared and my dad grunted and I still smiled.
I wondered again about what Em had said about me being ashamed of my home and preferring the Cullen's. I still wasn't ashamed of my family, Em had a temper and my Da was quiet, my Ma had taken off and our house was dusty and just a little run down. But I was pretty sure that I would like my own home just the same as the Cullen's, if only Edward Cullen was around more and I was pretty sure, now that I was his girl that he would be.
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