Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

In Six Months I Lost My Mind But Found My Heart

Chapter Five: Arguments

January 15th

5 Months 2 Weeks & 6 Days Left

Alice's POV

This week was well...interesting. Bella and Edward have been hot and cold to each other for the last few days. My lunch plan worked wonders though. Edward is finally letting people in which is a nice change. According to Bella, who I managed to pry information out of, she said they just spoke about Edwards's life back home. Unfortunately that doesn't narrow it down.

But hey, at least he smiled and looked semi happy. That was a big accomplish for Edward although I doubt he realised that.

Deciding that it was about time I filled in our friends back home about what was going on I called Jasper.

"Hey." He answered after three rings. "I missed you."

"Hi. I missed you too."

"How are things going?"

"They could be better, just slightly." I said sitting down at the top of the stairs looking down on to the living room.

"What's going on? Edward causing a problem?" I could tell he was smirking. They all thought Edward would kick up a fuss and they were right.

"He was to begin with. Now he and the girl we're staying with, Bella are driving me nuts." He chuckled which lifted my spirits, I loved his laugh. "For once Edward has met someone as stubborn as him and it's causing chaos. They get on and talk and its great then two minutes later something's wrong and they are bickering. But I think...I think there's something there. Maybe after six months I will finally get Edward to come out of his shell and perhaps he'll make a friend along the way."

"Just a friend?"

"We're taking baby steps here; this is Edward we're talking about. He still can't get over the fact that he's going to a state school, I doubt he's going to jump at the idea of having a relationship anytime soon." Jasper chuckled again; see I'm not the only one who thinks Edward dating is ridiculous at this moment in time.

"But he likes her?"

"Maybe. She seems to irritate him with her stubbornness but other than that they get on rather well. I just need him to break out of that bubble he's been living in."

"How are the people treating you?"

"They're fine with me; I'm not the pompous show off." Another chuckle down the phone. "He's being...well...Edward. On the first day he was practically charming the pants off majority of the female population. What makes it even better though was that Bella wasn't fazed at all. It's so nice to finally meet someone who isn't swooning over my stuck up brother. Unfortunately most of her female friends are trying to worm their way in."

"And you're going to be the protective sister and scare them off?" I thought about it for a second then shook my head, but of course Jasper couldn't see that.

"No I'm not going to run to his aid this time. He demanded and audience and now he has one, he'll just have to learn to live with it."

"You're serious?" Jasper sounded more surprised than I thought. Granted in the past if I found any vultures about I'd rush to Eddie's aid and help him bat them away. But now...nope he dug his own grave so he just better lie in it.

"Completely. It's his fault if they stick around."

"Well, tell him good luck from me. I don't think he has it in him to fight the harem off. Is there a leader of the group?"

"Oh yeah, don't remind me! I hate her. She's that really annoying popular claiming, bimbo who demands attention. She and her friend are driving me crazy. Every time Edward does something they feel the need to gossip about it. He only put something in the recycling bin and that earned him the title of 'carer of the environment' then some swooning motions. It's painful." Jasper laughed again.

"Is Edward there?"

"Yeah, you want to talk to him?"I looked down at the living room to see Edward scowling at a frowning Bella; they are certainly an interesting pair.

"If that's alright."

"You have perfect timing, I think I'm about to stop another battle breaking out. Edward!" I called alerting him that I was there. He stood up apprehensively and I chucked the phone to him. Rather than taking the call in the room he wandered into the kitchen. I decided to take his seat on the couch.

"What's wrong now?" I asked Bella still holding that frown.

"Nothing." I smirked shaking my head.

"Don't lie, that frown says otherwise."

"Fine. How do you put up with him?" She was exasperated and I could tell Edward had really annoyed her.

"What did he do?"

"My car is getting its M.O.T. this week so it's going to be in the garage. Edward is not happy with the fact that for part of the journey to and from school we will be getting public transport i.e. the bus."

"I'll talk to him." I comforted her. No doubt Edward would have implied it was a peasant wagon or something like that. This is what happens when spoilt rich boys leave their precious cars at home.

"It won't do any good."

"Oh I'm not sure; you haven't seen the powers of my persuasion just yet." She smiled but it was only to reassure me. Edward walked back through still on the phone.

"What did she say exactly?" He was eyeing me weirdly. Jasper must have told him about what I thought of his and Bella's friendship. "No I guess I'll have to ask her about that. Yeah it's good to talk to you too. Say hi to Rose and Emmett for me, okay bye." He hung up and handed the phone to me. "Can I talk to you in the kitchen for a second?"

Bella glanced at us with confusion, it was just better that she didn't know what we were going to discuss. Edward seemed pissed though which can't be good. Somehow by playing the encouraging and matchmaker sister I've landed myself in hot water. I apprehensively stood up and followed Edward out of the room.

"What are you doing?" He asked just out of earshot from Bella.

"Seconds up!" I chimed and tried to dash away but he caught my arm.

"Talk. Now." It was an order rather than a request.

"Sure."

"Alice." It was his warning tone. I was about to lose angry Eddie and get furious Eddie.

"I may have suggested to Jasper that you and Bella are getting on. That is all. You're making a friend which is such good news-"He cut me off.

"Alice I'm not an idiot so don't treat me like one. This isn't about just being friends with her. You're trying to push it so that I actually care about her. Do you happen to remember that technically I'm going to be engaged by the time we get home. Carlisle is already finding me a bride so why push this. All you're doing is putting a vulnerable girls feeling on the line."

"She's not vulnerable and I'm not doing anything. You need more friends and yes it has crossed my mind that perhaps you could be more than friends with Bella but come on, she's nice, funny, kind, what more could you want?"

"Wealth, a title perhaps. You know, the things that matter!" Edward ranted.

"They don't mean anything. So what if she's not as rich as us and so what if her title is 'Miss', do you know what I would do to have the title 'Miss'? It only matters if you make it a big deal. No one will bat and eyelid if you don't make it an issue, make it one though and she would be ridiculed."

"Why are we even having this conversation? I do not like her. Not even a tiny bit. Friends, pfft never in this lifetime. More than friends, I'd rather cut off my manhood with a spoon." He growled.

"That can be arranged." I hissed at him.

"Sorry to bother you two. This arrived for you, Edward." Bella said looking at the package in her hands. Oh god she heard. Edward took the package then stormed past her and went upstairs.

"I'm going to get started on dinner. Want to help?" She asked smiling slightly. It was a perfect fake smile.

"Sure." I nodded and helped her gather the food from the refrigerator.

I can't believe she heard all that. But just how much did she hear. The blow that would have hurt the most would have been near the end of the conversation. I don't know how Bella feels about Edward but I do know that she at least considered them on the path of friendship. With a little encouraging I'm pretty sure I could have got her to see him as more than a friend.

If only the same could be said for my asshole of a brother.

He thinks he's better than her and that's the problem. I know for a fact that he likes her; he's just too scared to admit it. After all, Emmett, Jasper, Rose and my attempts to make him laugh and smile, properly- none of this accommodating smile crap- the one person to actually succeed at it was Bella. I'm pretty sure she wasn't even trying either.

Unfortunately after today's fiasco Bella and Edward are going to be back at square one, like that lunch never happened. Sometimes I could just kill Edward for being such an idiot. Just because his heart is made of stone doesn't mean everyone else's is too. People have feelings and I have a funny feeling that Bella's have just been crushed because of what he said.

She may not have liked him more than a friend but they were on the way. Before this fight I could have guaranteed they would be together in four months. Now, well I would need about a year, which we don't have.

So I guess I'm just going to have to increase my efforts to get them together. This is meant to happen. I know it. Edward is meant to fall for her. I just haven't worked out how yet.

The doorbell rang shortly after Bella and I had finished preparing dinner so she raced off to answer it. I could hear muffled voices then someone went up the stairs. It obviously wasn't Bella since she walked back into the kitchen a few seconds later. I raised my eyebrows in question

"It was Lauren." She was frowning in confusion as much as I was.

"Lauren? As in your friend Lauren?" I asked

"Nope, not my friend. Jessica's friend who is Angela's friend who is my friend. If I had it my way I wouldn't hang out with them."

"But she's here?"

"Yep." I don't think Bella could process this anymore than I could.

"What does she want?"

"She said Edward had called her and wanted to see her." She shrugged then checked on the food in the oven.

"Edward?" I asked still completely lost. Please tell me my brother wouldn't be so stupid as to encourage one girl's affections seconds after crushing another's.

"Mm-hmm. I guess it's good we have extra food, she's staying for dinner." I sighed and shook my head. Edward is the biggest idiot I have ever met. I'm ashamed to be related to him at this moment. Only he would think it's a good idea to encourage one girl hoping that she'll take his mind off of another.

Turns out that dinner was one of the most awkward I've ever had. Charlie had to work late so that meant it was just us four, Edward, Bella, Lauren and me. Half way through the meal Bella and I were practically gagging at the other two flirting. Edward wasn't flirting on purpose, that much was obvious; he looked royally displaced when Lauren kept touching his arm and bicep.

So it turns out that Lauren has a thing for my brother. I guess it's more than a thing, more like an obsession. That's just great. My matchmaking ideas are just running down the drain now.