So sorry for how long this took! I've done like no writing these holidays and school starts in no less then two days;[ Life sucks. And this chapter is a whole page shorter then what i usually write but i hope its not too suckish.

I cant believe i'm almost at 100 reviews! It may not seem like a lot to you but it is to me, i've never gotten to triple figures before lol. So please review and help me get to 100 :D

Anyways,,,, Enjoy ;]

Oh and theres EB stuff in here ;]

Chapter 8

After dinner, silence had kind of enveloped us. It wasn't awkward, just silent. I wondered when it would feel normal again, if it would ever feel normal again with the Cullen's. I used to love being around them, I still do.

Even when Esme is gently smiling at me, wondering if I am going to start hurling abuse at Edward whether I will cry, I know its what's she's thinking. I can tell. And Carlisle. Carlisle watches me from the corner of his eye. Keeping an eye on me I guess, to make sure I don't drop a comment – had I ever before? No. So why would I start now? Because their son had unknowingly to himself, apparently, broken my heart. I was sure they didn't know the ins and outs of the situation though. You know the whole, I-wrote-a-letter-running-of-with-some-random-guy-your-son-wrote-a-letter-saying-he-didn't-want-me-any-more. Bla bla bla. You get the picture. After dinner, Esme decided to break out with some dessert, which resulted in butterscotch cupcakes – I was sure, she made them just because they were my favourite. I managed to restrain myself and only devoured three. Though it was very difficult.

At about eleven at night, I decided it was probably best if I headed home, Alice was staying the night with Jasper. And Rosalie had decided to stay the night with Emmett in his dorm so she could boink him, it was hush-hush of course. That meant the dorm was mine. Peace. Well, until Alice came bouncing in at ridiculous time o'clock anyway. I was already fantasising about a long, hot bath and a sit down to some ridiculous cheesy-grin movie when I had barely realised I had already said goodnight to Carlisle and Esme. Alice killed me with her arms and Jasper gave me a peck on the cheek. Rosalie and Emmett were already making out in the car, thinking no one could see them due to the steam on the windows. How very wrong they were because now I will have nightmares.

I turned and Edward was standing by the door, holding it out for me like a gentleman. Motherfucker. I hated it when he did that, it made my brain go mushy and my knees wobbled. Like they didn't naturally already.

"Bella…you looked beautiful tonight." Curse my blushing cheeks. I smiled as best as I could muster, I hated compliments, they were nice and all, I just never knew what to say afterwards, especially when they came from Edward. "And I thought you didn't do dresses." He chuckled and I couldn't help but let a giggle slip and I managed to find my voice – which was a bonus.

"Yeah well it's amazing what you can wear when you have your sister picking your clothes out!" I poked him playfully, like we were kids again. By this time everybody else had vacated the hallway and Rose and Em, well I don't think I really need to go into details what they are probably doing. "No." I continued. "I wanted a change."

"Why?" He was curious. Because of you. Duh. But then I would sound like some pathetic ex who can't get over her ex. Which yeah was what I was, although I'm kind of hoping to be without the pathetic. I shook my head, still smiling. I wasn't surprised. Edward had always had this sort of effect on me.

"I don't know, I guess I just needed a change. Tired of my old clothes. I wanted to look nice."

"Bella, you always look nice. Great even…" He trailed off and I knew he muttered something under his breath. I blushed. He thought I looked gorgeous!

"Thanks." I murmured. He was stroking the back of his neck. I used to love running my hands through his soft, bronze hair. It's such a rare colour, yet so vibrant. I couldn't think of any other that would suit him better.

"Listen, Bella." He started. He wasn't going to start talking about the whole letter situation was he? Sure, I wanted know. I desperately wanted to know. But I didn't want to know at this moment time. I was feeling calm and serene; I felt a happiness I hadn't felt in quite some time. And I liked it. I sure as hell didn't want it ruined by some sick fuck that just wanted to ruin a perfectly good relationship. I sighed.

"What is it, Edward?" Please, do not bring it up. I silently begged him.

"About last week. The night of the party." Oh, he was talking about that. Well better then some piece of rag with shitty ink on, I guess. "I'm really sorry about the way I acted." Erm, why? "I know it wasn't my place, its just I heard the way he was talking to you and-" He was clenching his fists. This wasn't a good sign. He did this when he was angry – of course – but it was rare, he didn't get angry much but when he did, he was pretty much lethal. He would probably scare me if it wasn't for the fact that most of the time he was going insane because he was in fact protecting me. Of course I would scold him, but I had known that deep down he did it because he loved me. Maybe he still did? I wished that he still did.

Because I still love you…I wordlessly whispered.

"Edward." I stopped him. I knew where he was going with this. "Seriously, that's just Jacob. He's an inconsiderate warthog and I hate him. There's no way I would have done anything with him." Was I wondering if he was jealous now? Is that why I wanted him to so desperately see that even if I was destitute with a family of pigs that I would never be with him. The boy was a dog. And not a cute one.

"No, Bella. That's not what I meant. I know you wouldn't have done anything with him. I mean, if you wanted too, that's cool. You know, I wouldn't have a problem…not that I should but I wouldn't and-"

Oh good lord, he was stuttering. And now we were in the realm of discomfort and awkwardness. This sucked.

"Anyway. If I hadn't of been there Bella." He grabbed my hand, running slow, gentle, way-too-soothing circles over my hand. "I don't know what he could have done. He was drunk, which means uncontrollable." Unbeknownst to myself, I placed my hand over his and I began running circles over his hands, calming him down. He had been clenching his fist again.

I felt like we could have stood there forever, sounds ridiculous but I don't care, just feeling his skin against mine again after all this time was like a jigsaw was finally starting to bring itself together. Edward had stopped talking about the Jacob situation, my eyes were begging him too and I'm sure he took notice of them. I hadn't forgotten how beautiful his green orbs were. They were the type where you could just fall into them. Deeper and deeper.

"Edward, where did you put my- Oh. Bella, I'm sorry I didn't realise you were still here." I flushed red and wondered what this must look like to Carlisle. Ridiculous? Or Beautiful?

"Don't worry about it." I mumbled. "I need to get going. Rosalie and Emmett are probably waiting for me anyway." I peered round the door, it had been open but due to the length of mine and Edward's conversation – that felt weird to mention – it had slowly been closing. I looked out to where all the cars had been parked and where Rose and Emmett had been sexing each other up. They were gone.

What the fuck?

"What's wrong?" I hadn't realised that I was staring at the now empty driveway in complete and utter shock. I couldn't decide whether I should be stunned or pissed off at the fact of being jilted by my supposed best friend and her…fuck buddie. But they did I really want to have to sit in back watching Rose feel Emmett up while he tried but no doubt failed to keep an eye on the actual road. I groaned loudly and stormed out of the house, muttering further goodbyes to Carlisle, now I was going to have to endure a long walk home – with no fucking music. This was like my own personal hell and it sucked!

"Erm, dad. I'm going to take Bella home. Can I have the car keys?" Before I knew it, Edward was running up behind me.

"Edward, erm what are you doing here? I need to get home." I wasn't trying to be rude, I was just annoyed now. My dress was short, I had a crappy little jacket and it was cold. He sighed dramatically.

"I know Bella, I would drive you but Emmett was the one who had driven us here and well, he took the car. I was going to spend the night but there's no way you are walking home by yourself. Its pitch black." I couldn't help but grin at this. He was such an amazing guy, a perfect boyfriend. Not my perfect boyfriend, though of course, right now I highly doubted that would ever happen again.

"Oh that's okay, thanks Edward." I didn't bother arguing with him, I knew he would just ignore me and do it anyway. In a good way and all, it didn't matter how long I hadn't seen him. His protectiveness would never change.

It took us thirty-five minutes to get home, which was actually pretty good considering it took about fifteen in the car. I guess Edward made me walk faster then normal. I had thought about Edward everyday since I left Forks but I hadn't thought in great detail at how actually funny he was. He has this little laugh where he's forcing himself not to laugh but then it comes out and chuckles and then slaps his forehead. It's my private signature mood for him. And it suits him perfectly.

--

It had become a weekly thing for me to visit the Cullen's for dinner. It was nice and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was something I had done often when I lived back in Forks, these weekly dinners were making me feel like I was being accepted back into the family and it made me feel great. I was on my way to another family dinner, Alice was already there as was Emmett so me and Rose were going together. I felt like I hadn't spent all that much time with Rose lately, between classes and Rose with Emmett, I had recently taking up shopping as my second hobby, first reading – yes, I know Bella Swan loves shopping, it's a crazy world. I had also taken up to spending time with Edward. It turned out the library was next to the room where all the music equipment is kept, it wasn't quite a music room, I wasn't sure what it was. I had never been in there but I was coming out of the library the same time Edward was leaving the 'music room', this apparently turned into a ritual as did us grabbing coffee straight afterwards. We managed to avoid discussing us as a couple, when we were a couple and all those kind of memories. We didn't have a problem discussing memories before we were a couple though. We laughed often together and I looked forward to our daily coffee dates. But date is the complete wrong word because it wasn't a date, it was a…friendly gathering. Which sounds all kinds of lame but what would you call it?

I couldn't decided between a blue dress or a pair of jeans a top, I decided on the jeans since I had worn a dress before and I may be all clothes and all now but I'm still not all on the dress belt. I grabbed a pair of my converse and grabbed my phone and shit. I was meeting Rose outside.

"Cute outfit." I stopped. CUTE?! I don't want to look cute for fucks sakes! What am I twelve? I hadn't realised I had actually said it all out loud because the next thing Rose said was; "Jeez, chill out Bella. You look hot. Better?" I nodded, stiffly and she rolled her eyes, getting in her car and cranking up the stereo to full volume. We didn't exactly share the same music taste but I guess, Rose's music wasn't all that shit.

We arrived fifteen minutes later and headed to the house, we went in without knocking, one of the traits we'd picked up in the millions of times of being here. Esme had told us to just come in anyways.

"Rose. Bella. You're just in time. Edward is just dishing up."

"Oh, Edward is dishing is he?" Rose giggled and I couldn't help but let out a laugh too.

"Hey, don't knock him. He's very proud he's been trying to make this dinner perfect for all of us."

"More like Bella." Rosalie flounced off calling out "Emmie-Bear" along the way. I blushed and looked anywhere but Esme, she was smiling at me though, I could tell. Esme had like this radiant smile going on, you just knew when she was smiling. And she was smiling now.

"I'm erm…going to…set the table or something…"

"Okay sweetie." I headed to the dining room, picking the dinner mats and cutlery amongst the way. Alice was upstairs with Jasper, I could hear her giggling and Rose and Emmie-Bear were making out on the couch, pretty heavily considering his mother was around. I was lost in my thoughts I didn't even notice Edward setting out all the vegetables on the table, he chuckled when I screamed, not loud enough to distract Rosalie and Emmett but loud enough for Edward to get a laugh out of it.

"Shut up!" I playfully hit him and continued with the placemats.

It seemed tradition for Carlisle to be the last one home and he was, by the time he arrived we were halfway through Edwards homemade tomato soup. Yes, Edward made soup! Homemade! And it was delicious.

We said our hellos to Carlisle and all the boring junk you have to endure with your own families at dinner. I would be completely intrigued into Carlisle's work if it didn't include such a huge amount of blood. His work interested me completely but just the mention of blood sent shivers through me. Shivers that didn't feel so good.

The conversation changed to the topic of the boys apparently going away for some road trip, except Carlisle was bailing out. Something due to a conference in another state. Gee, guys a road trip? Thanks for the invite.

"Well, why don't you three still go and the girls join you?" Carlisle offered. I was joking. I didn't really want to go on some stupid road trip. Stuck in a car with Emmett? With two madly-in-love couples sucking face? Stuck with ridiculous pet names such as EMMIE-BEAR!? No thank you. No, seriously I'm fine, so Alice stop talking.

"I think that's a great idea!" The guys were nodding their heads and Rosalie was more interested in looking at her nails which her 'i'm up for it' in silent code. "You're in, aren't you Bella?" Jeez, say it anymore patronising? I didn't bother arguing. The Cullen family were stubborn and persuasive. They could get anything they wanted if they put their mind to it and most of the time they didn't even need to. Well, everyone but Emmett that is. I nodded.

"Yeah, sounds good. Road trip. Yay…" I trailed off, muttering to myself. I hadn't realised how grateful I would have been if that conversation had continued though, given the next conversations starter.

"Emmett, no. Its inappropriate." I heard Rosalie hush to him but Emmett shrugged her off. He rarely did this. Must be good.

"So, Edward. Bella." He turned to look at us both as he said the names. Edward stopped eating. And looked at Emmett, a slight smirk at how serious Emmett was being. It was wiped of in a second.

"Did you ever find out who sent the letters?" A breath of death filled the room and I just wanted the ground to swallow me up. And take my cursed, blushing cheeks with it.

Ohhh, little cliffhanger there sorries. ;] Review please :} Thanks for reading :D

Oh and on my profile i decided to start a poll on what my next Twi story should be. Its a while away but i'm already thinking and would appreciate some input on what you guys think i should do. So go vote! Pretty please with an Edward on the top ^^