A/N- Once again, sorry for the long update. Being pregnant takes up all my creativity! It's all being routed to my belly. LOL….Well anyway, Hope you all like the chapter. It's kinda short, but next chapter will have good things to come. Things will be changing for the better. *wink wink* Who will throw in the towel first?

CHAPTER 17

I woke up that morning by a flash of light. I knew I didn't fall asleep on a highway so it couldn't be headlights. I opened my eyes to see Alice standing over Edward and me with her camera. Everyone else was still sleeping. Rose and Emmett had been laying together on one of the recliners. She was practically lying on top of him since he seemed to take all the room. Jasper was still crashed out on the floor mumbling something about lasagna. It was surprisingly only Alice awake. She must have taken a picture of us sleeping.

"What are you doing Pixie?" I saw her put the camera behind her back.

She looked at me, smiled and replied, "Nothing!" before prancing into the kitchen.

Edward was still lying behind me with the same tight grip on my waist. His nose was nestled into my neck just below my ear. I could literally hear every breath he was taking. That wasn't the only senses of mine that was working this morning. I could feel something pressing against my ass that made me flush with excitement. I took that as my queue to get up and move away from Edward before I did something I wouldn't regret.

However, he took me moving away as something else. While almost getting out of his death grip, he pulled me back closer with the same arm, this time wrapping his other arm under and around my shoulders. So close yet so far. I went to work again trying to loosen up his arms.

"Stop trying to get away from me." I froze realizing he had been awake the whole time.

"Well just let me go, and I won't have to try."

Edward turned me on my back and looked down into my eyes.

"Is that what you really want?" He asked in all seriousness.

I peered back at him debating if I should let my smart ass mouth respond to that question or say what my heart really meant.

"No you big baby." I rolled my eyes and went with the later.

"Good! Now shut up and go back to sleep. I was comfortable until you started squirming around."

I laughed and settled back into the cozy spot that we had made for ourselves. I let my mind be free and just enjoy this moment that I was experiencing with Edward as his arms were still wrapped tight around me as if he was never going to let go. In the back of my mind, I did feel my resolve fading and wanting to finally let Edward have the chance that he asked for to prove himself. I couldn't keep comparing him the asshole who got what he wanted and left. If I lived my life like that, I would never get anywhere.

But, the competitor in me still also had the thought of Edwards's stupid game of making me jealous by torturing himself by acting like he was dating Jessica. I didn't want to feel like I was just pushed into his direction out of pure jealousy. I wanted it to be all my decision, without any help of games. Right now I knew my mind was confused between the two and until I can settle on one, the time was just not right.

"Stop thinking so much." Edward sighed.

"What are you talking about?"

"I know when you are thinking a lot. You start to bite on the corner of your lip. Whatever it is, just stop for a bit."

"Easier said than done."

"Well if you don't stop, you're going to end up with a hole in your lip. Then we are going to have to cover it up like it's a lip piercing and you'll look all rebel without a cause. Then we'll have to get some tattoos to match the piercing. Once that happens, you're gonna look all bad ass Bella who can whoop my ass. So then I'LL have to get piercing and tattoos and that just will not work since I'm not a tough tattoo person. I'll end up with a unicorn on my ass or something."

I laughed at the image. "Ok, I'll stop thinking. Now I'm just gonna keep picturing your unicorn tattooed ass!"

"And now I feel violated with you picturing my ass you perv."

"Oh whatever, you know you like it."

"Yeah, I kinda do." We stayed silent for a few more minutes when it became obvious that we were not going to fall back to sleep. "You want to go in the kitchen with Alice, my mom and dad?"

"Your mom and dad?!?"

"Yeah, she's probably in there making breakfast already. She always wakes up early to cook while my dad sits at by the island reading the paper. Why what's the big deal? Why are you blushing?"

"Because your MOM and DAD are in the kitchen." I looked at him to see the point I was making, which he obviously was not aware of as he looked at me confused. "They had to come through here and see me and you sleeping together on the couch Edward!"

Edward laughed making me punch him in the chest to stop. "Ouch! It's alright Bella. They don't mind or won't think less of you. We were just sleeping, and they know we aren't together. You're cool. Don't worry about it. This doesn't mean that we're going to have to walk down the aisle or anything."

I groaned throwing my arm over my eyes. "Fine. I'll meet you in there. I'm gonna go get ready then come back down."

"Ok. I'll do the same. I'll race you." He lifted his eyebrow.

"Please, I'm not a kid Edward who races up the…..go!"

I pushed his head back down to the sofa and started racing up the stairs. I was on the second level when I could hear him close behind me. I took two steps up at a time to the third level sliding with my socks toward the bathroom door touching it.

"I WIN! I WIN!!" I started jumping and doing my victory dance.

"That's because you cheated, cheater."

"Whatever, you're just a sore loser." I stuck my tongue out and opened the door to the guest room to get my bag. Edward was still standing by his door.

"Fine, race to see who finishes first and gets downstairs."

"How are we going to do that? Take a shower together?"

"Believe me I wish, but I have my own bathroom in my room sweetheart."

"Why am I not surprised you spoiled brat." I rolled my eyes. "Ok, you're on."

I went into restroom stripping my clothes off and jumping into the shower. I squealed as I turned on the water making the cold water hit me first. I quickly lathered my hair with shampoo and rinsed it off. I turned around quickly to grab the conditioner when I must have slipped on the shampoo bubbles causing me to fall right on my ass with a loud thud.

"Owwwww….." I got up, rubbed my ass, and proceeded to put the conditioner in my hair. I let it sit there while I grabbed the loofa and washed my body. I felt the conditioner seeping into my eyes making them burn.

"Shit! My eyes!" I got under the shower head letting it rinse all the suds and conditioner off. I thought I heard laughing. I turned the water off, but it was silent. I rushed out of the shower drying my body and throwing my clothes on. I brushed my teeth and quickly ran the brush through my wet hair. I put all my clothes into my bag and threw it into the room on my way downstairs. I skidded into the kitchen, immediately feeling like a fool as I saw everyone sitting down at the table.

"Good Morning Bella…..What's the rush?" Edward smirked.

"Yeah Bells, we weren't gonna eat with out you. You didn't have to worry about me stealing all the bacon." Replied Emmett.

"No I…I… I was just thinking I was late." I narrowed my eyes at Edward.

"Well you're not. I saved a seat for you." Edward padded the seat next to him.

I made my way around the table to sit down. I sat down slowly.

"What's the matter? Your ass hurt from that fall I heard?" Edward whispered and laughed.

I sat there with my mouth open. He had heard me!! How fast did he take a shower that he was outside the bathroom door? Or did he hear me all the way to his room? I snapped back to reality and stomped my foot down on top of his as hard as I could.

"FUCKING SHIT!!"

Everyone turned toward Edward to see what his sudden outburst was all about.

"Edward Anthony Cullen!! I do not want to hear that kind of language at the breakfast table, you got that!" Esme looked like she was about to go all Mommy Dearest and beat him with a hanger.

Edward lowered his head and pushed his food around on his plate, "Yes ma'am."

I nudged him with my knee and smiled up at him one he turned to me. He shook his head and continued eating probably not wanting to give his mom another chance at yelling at him for paying me back. Everyone at the table was talking about what they were going to be doing today. I informed them that I was going to have to sit today out since I was going to have lunch with Jacob. Edward choking on his food gave me the idea that he didn't seem to like that plan so much.

"Oh yeah. Where are you guys going?" Edward asked.

"I don't know. He said he wanted to surprise me."

"Well that's stupid."

"Why is it stupid?"

"It just is. Who surprises someone when they are taking them out to eat? How does he know if you'll like the food there?"

"Well I've known Jake a long time. I'm sure he knows what I like."

"I'm sure he does." He rolled his eyes.

"Yup." I rolled my eyes back at him and turned to see everyone staring at us.

"I'm done. I'm going up to my room." Edward got up and went to rinse his plate before heading out of the dining room.

"Don't go listening to The Smiths all day since you're in one of your moods! I don't feel like hearing them on repeat today!" yelled Alice. Esme was looking at Alice with a disapproving look, "What? You know he's going to do it. It's so depressing."

After we were all done I gathered up my stuff and said my goodbyes. I debated knocking on Edwards's door before I left to say bye, but I chickened out. I called Jake and told him to meet me at the diner on the reservation for lunch. It would be nice to catch up with him and Leah. I hadn't seen her in a while, and I was interested seeing how she had been putting up with Jacob lately. They had been together for about 2 years now. It took Jake a while to actually get the nerve to go up and talk to her. She's very intimidating for both a guy and girl. She had this take no shit from anybody attitude that just scared people away from her. She wasn't like that when you really got to know her though. Well, maybe a little. She was good for Jake.

As I pulled up to the diner, I already saw Jake's motorcycle parked. I was sure he got our booth that we always got when we ate here. I walked into the diner and headed straight for the booth. I was right. Both Jake and Leah were sitting on one side of the booth with their menus open.

"Close those things. You guys know what ya'll are getting already."

"Bella!!!" Leah smiled and got up to hug me. She let me go and sat back down. "About fucking time, I'm starving." Sugar and spice, nothing has changed.

"Nice to see you too Leah." I laughed.

"So what's this I hear about you trying to steal my boyfriend? Do you want another ass whooping?"

"Believe me Leah, after the last time you beat my ass I would have to say no."

"Well you shouldn't have been all on him."

"Seriously, are we gonna go through this again…I…was…giving…him…the…Heimlich maneuver!!"

"Keep telling that story Bella." Leah rolled her eyes and smiled. This was a regular thing between Leah and I. We liked to just pick on each other…. Or more her pick on me.

We sat there in the booth talking and catching up. I made sure Leah was ok with me using Jake. She said she was as long as I kept my fucking hands to myself. Her words

not mine. Jake and I set up the plan for Monday morning. We had everything set. The "I's" were dotted and the "T's" were crossed. At some point during lunch, Alice called me and said that she had another idea to push Edward over the edge. We wanted all of us to go out for dinner that night, including Jake. Of course that would probably mean that Jessica would be coming along if Edward knew Jake would be there. I guess I could suck it up all in the name of good sportsmen ship.

I looked to Jake, "Are you cool with going out to dinner tonight with the group? It will be a good make the green monster jealous plan?"

Jake glanced at Leah who gave him her silent approval. Jake shrugged and nodded to me letting me know his answer.

"Ok, that sounds like a plan Alice. We'll meet up at your house around 7pm?"

"Yeah that's perfect! OH and Bella? Wear something sexy!"

"What? I don't have anything sexy." I heard Leah and Jacob laughing. I kicked both of them under the table. Leah grabbed the phone from me.

"Hello? This is Leah, Don't worry about it. I'll find something for her……Yeah you'll notice that about Bella. She has no fashion sense. I swear, I tried to throw away some beat up converse that I saw in her closet, and her ass saw them in the trash can and pulled them right out. It's disgusting, I think I saw little black mold spots in them."

I yanked the phone back, "Ok that's enough, I'll be there Alice. Bye!"

"Leah! Stop telling people about my old moldy babies! They have character damn it!"

"Yeah character to be shit! I'm going to complete my mission of throwing those shoes away one day."

I picked up the butter knife, "Do it and you will regret it when you're missing fingers."

"Don't be so dramatic Bella." She grabbed the knife and started to cut her pancakes. It didn't matter if it was lunch time, she always got breakfast here.

After we got finished we headed to Jakes house to hang out. We decided to watch a movie to pass the time till we had to start getting ready. I was kind of nervous and excited about tonight. Nervous because every time I see Edward with Jessica, it makes me want to throw in the towel. Excited because I think is so fucking hot when Edward puts on his jealous mask.

I didn't know what was going to happen, but I knew tonight would definitely be interesting.

A/N-For those of you still reading, thanks for sticking with this story! And thanks for those of you who review….I like to hear ya'lls opinion.