Hey guys, sorry this is later than I promised. This chapter was kind of hard work, so I had to walk away from it a few times. It's also the last two weeks of the semester for me and I've had school obligations that have been sucking me dry.

Well, enough of me. Twilight characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.

Chapter Four – Lies, Love and Mathematics

Edward's POV

My hair dripped onto the carpet as I rummaged around in my closet, looking for something to wear that wouldn't give me heat stroke. It was barely noon, but I could already see the waves of heat rising from the pavement outside. I pulled a t-shirt off the floor. It was a favorite of mine, and it would piss Alice off as it was one of the few shirts I owned that she hadn't bought for me.

It was black and had four elements from the periodic table lined up across the front, spelling out the word bacon. I thought it was awesome. She thought it was obscene.

I pulled it over my head and grabbed the first pair of shorts I found, slipping them on as well.

A quick glance through Emmett's open door as I walked down the hallway showed that he was passed out face down on his bed. I hadn't heard him come home last night, though I'd been up late.

I'd watched TV for hours, even though the choices on a Friday night left a lot to be desired. I had just wanted to escape thinking about how lame I am. The second time I'd woken up with a jerk from a loud commercial, I decided I was tired enough and moved to my bedroom.

I woke up later than I had intended, rushing through my morning routine in the hopes that I wouldn't miss out on any time with my barista girl.

I had a goal today. I always function better with a goal in mind. Today, I was going to find out her name.

There was no doubt my mother was going to interrogate me as soon as I got to my parents' this afternoon and the first thing she would ask about was the girl's name.

I know, it was a lame goal, but anything more than that seemed unachievable, as I hadn't managed anything more than ordering a drink so far.

I picked up my backpack and keys from where I had dropped them the night before and left the apartment. I had to turn the air conditioning on, even though the drive to Java Jive was short. The lot was completely empty, and if I hadn't come on a Saturday before I would have thought they were closed.

I could see her through the windows as I walked up to the shop. She was on the stool behind the counter, seemingly lost in her own world as her pen swirled aimlessly in her journal.

She looked different today.

Her eyes seemed… bigger, somehow and bits of hair were fluttering around her delicate face. She was always beautiful, but she looked especially lovely today.

She looked up as I walked in, and bit her lip as her eyes moved over me. I dropped my gaze from her mouth, not wanting to start drooling, and noticed her journal was open on the counter.

She doodles. That is so cute.

Aside from the swirls in the margin, there were a few paragraphs scrawled down, some sections crossed out and lines pointing to a different place on the page.

Before I could make out any of the words, she hopped off the stool and slid the journal off the counter. I realized I was just standing at the counter like an idiot.

Good lord, say something so she doesn't think you're simple!

"Hi," I managed, trying for a smile. Oh, just brilliant. Way to wow her with your intellect.

"Hey, same as usual?" she asked, cup already in hand.

I tried not to wince as I imagined choking down another cup of liquid sugar. "Yeah, thank you."

I faced the windows and turned my head a little to get a good view of her in the mirror as she made my drink. Highlight of my day, pervert that I am.

She reached out and started pumping the hazelnut into the cup and the sight hit me like a fist to the stomach.

Oh, good lord… Something was different about her shirt, too.

A strangled noise broke out of my throat as I watched it slip up as she reached, showing a sliver of pale skin above the waistband of her jeans, hugging every inch of her curves.

A soft mumble from her lips brought me back, and I glanced at her.

"I lost count." She threw the cup away as she spoke and took a new one from the stack.

Before I could turn away, she was reaching again. And I was lost, trying to remember how to breathe.

"Um, everything okay?" Until she spoke, I hadn't realized she had put the cup between us. I was extremely glad for the counter, as it hid my body's reaction to her. I caught back a burst of laughter as it occurred to me that I had no idea how I was going to get across the shop to my table.

"Yeah, just a little distracted," I answered, grabbing some money from my wallet to pay.

Focus. You have a goal today.

Her name…

"I… I'm Edward." Yeah, that didn't come out of nowhere, you idiot. "I've seen you pretty much every day for the last two weeks and it's just funny that I don't even know your name."

"It's Bella." Bella. What an absolutely perfect name for my beautiful barista girl.

"Pleasure to meet you, Bella." Nice, Cullen, she's looking at you like you're nuts. I snagged my drink off the counter and slid my backpack off to hold it in front of me as I walked to my table.

She shuffled around for a few minutes, but I didn't dare look up at her. I forced myself to focus on the random textbook I had pulled from my bag until the words started making sense and my body had calmed down.

An incessant tapping noise broke into my concentration. I looked over at Bella and she seemed to be trying to murder her notepad with her ballpoint pen, a little aggravated crease worrying the smooth skin of her forehead.

I sat there for a few moments, watching her and wondering if I could manage another conversation with her. We were alone, so if I made a fool of myself it would only be in front of her. Worst case scenario – I would never be able to come back to Java Jive.

I decided to risk it, desperate to know what had her all worked up. I slipped out of my chair and made it all the way to the counter without her noticing.

"Are you trying to gouge a hole in that notepad?" I asked, surprising her. She looked down at the damaged paper.

"Sorry, that must have been annoying," she said, clearly thinking I was annoyed with her.

"Nah, I was just worried for the counter once the notepad lost the battle," I replied, trying to put a smile back on her face. I glanced down to check what had put that frustrated line on her forehead.

It was… math. No way, my life cannot suddenly be this simple.

"College Mathematics – so you're a liberal arts major?" It was the class I had 'helped' Tanya with; the only math class required for students at the liberal arts college.

"Yes, English Literature. And for some reason, I still need to know how much fencing a farmer needs for his fields."

I couldn't help but laugh at the annoyance in her voice. "And here I thought that everyone needed to know that." I pulled her book toward me to read through the problem she was working on. The wording was convoluted, and I could see why she would have trouble.

"They make these questions so unnecessarily confusing. May I?" I held out my hand for her pen and she just stared at it. "Could I use your pen?"

"Oh, uh, sure." She handed it to me with a blush.

I drew out the pertinent points from the problem, knowing it would make it easier for her to see what the question was asking her to do. She caught on quickly, easily working through to the solution now that she wasn't lost in the words.

"First time for everything," she murmured. "I hate math, and it's never really made sense before."

"Happy to help," I replied, thrilled that she seemed to be in a better mood.

I wanted to offer more help, mostly because I would get to spend more time with her. It would also take care of the messiness that would come from lying to my mother. I was about to ask, but my phone chirped out from my pocket before I could work up the courage. I pulled it from my pocket and the screen showed it was a text from Alice.

"Problem?" she asked as I frowned down at the phone.

"Oh, no. Just my sister." And I'd deal with it later. I put it away and took a breath. It was time to stop being a pussy. "I, uh, if you ever want help… I'm pretty decent at math." So it wasn't exactly asking her out, but it did involve more time together.

"Thanks. You always seem pretty busy when you're here, though." She smiled up at me with those enormous eyes and breathing became an issue again. "I'd hate to cut into your study time."

"I really don't mind." I could hardly add that she already had my undivided attention most of the time I spent here anyhow.

"Maybe…" She seemed to be wavering. "Well, I have an exam the Friday after Thanksgiving and I'm kind of terrified."

"Let's get you un-terrified, then." I couldn't contain my grin. "We can study here, or go somewhere else when you're not working if it's too difficult to focus. I'm pretty free over break."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea. I'm only scheduled for a few shifts that weekend, so I'll have lots of time."

"Cool." Lots of time. Together. That sounds fantastic. Maybe we could start now. "Do you think you're okay to make it through the rest of that?" I waved a hand toward her homework.

"Oh, sure," she answered and my heart sank. "I'll just draw pictures, like you showed me."

"Okay, then. I'm here if you need help." She nodded and I turned to head back to my table.

I pulled my phone back out to read the text from Alice.

'Why is mom going on about you and some girl you met at a cafe?'

Oh, shit.

They would all know by now. Well, maybe not Emmett as he was probably still sleeping off the excess of blonde from last night. But he'd know soon, too. And I would have to deal with my entire family grilling me about every facet of my mythical relationship with this girl.

But it wasn't entirely mythical anymore. We were going to be studying for her exam together, somewhere that wasn't this cafe. It was a start.

A new message from Alice flashed in under the first.

'Why aren't you here yet?'

Followed by another.

'And why aren't you answering me?'

I hit the button to darken the screen and set it on vibrate. I would deal with her later.

I messed around with a composition for the better part of an hour, but all too often my eyes would drift up to the mirror to watch Bella.

I'd only managed to scribble down a few lines when the bell on the door rang out.

What the fuck was she doing here?

"Tanya, what the –"

"Heya, baby. Miss me?" I think she was trying to give me a seductive look, but she just looked slightly spastic. Her hair was scraped back or something and it made her face look too tight.

Yes, Tanya, I missed you about as much as I miss having braces. But she was already talking before I'd managed a response.

"Anything good here?"

"Uh, the coffee…" What a stupid question. It was a coffee shop, what the hell else would you come here for?

And why did she even bother asking questions if she had no interest in my answer?

"Ooooh, what are you drinking?" She grabbed my cup from the table and took a drink before I could stop her.

"Ew. What the hell is that, E?" She'd left a big smudge of lipstick on the cup. I'm not a germaphobe, but that goo looked vile. At least I wouldn't have to drink any more punishment today.

"Four shot ten pump hazelnut mocha," Bella answered for me and Tanya turned to give her an evil stare.

"What, do you have Tourette's or something?" Tanya asked, nastily.

"Uh… no, that's his drink."

"You memorized his drink?" Why was she being a bitch to Bella?

"I make it nearly every day. It's the kind of drink that sticks with you."

Tanya turned back to me, dismissing Bella as beneath her notice.

'So, baby, I was thinking we could go to the Rec Center and hang out by the pool, since it's so nice outside today. Then grab dinner later."

Seriously? This is getting ridiculous.

And I had totally had enough.

This was no longer about me. So she was a total idiot, refusing to catch on to the fact I wanted nothing to do with her. So she showed up everywhere and tried to latch on to me like a parasite. I could deal with all that.

But there was no way I was going to put up with her being a bitch to my Bella.

"I can't, Tanya. I've got to finish some homework and then I'm heading out to my parent's house for dinner tonight." That might not be emphatic enough for someone as dense as her, and I didn't want her tainting the air with her noxious perfume any longer. So, I snagged my earbuds out of my bag and plugged them in. "You have a good day," I added, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice, as I put the headphones in.

I kept my eyes on my textbook, waiting for her to leave. I started to relax when she got up, but stiffened when she only moved closer. Then I felt her lips slime against my cheek as she kissed me and barely stopped my shudder of revulsion. They left a trail behind like a slug as she pulled away with a sticky drag.

"You have a good day too, baby," she breathed against me, and I lost my fight against the shudder. I hauled in a breath as she walked out, relieved at the relatively untainted air.

I let my head fall down onto the table and looked at Bella sideways, worried she might be pissed. "I'm sorry about her," I said, pulling the earbuds out.

"Well, she seemed… nice."

I recoiled and she smirked at me.

"That's like saying nice kitty to a man eating tiger." And I knew from personal experience that Tanya was carnivorous.

Her laugh rang out through the empty store, immediately my favorite sound in the world.

"So, not your girlfriend, then?" she asked, a beautiful smile still on her face.

Just the thought of dating Tanya was enough to turn my stomach.

"No, not my girlfriend," I answered emphatically. I picked up my cup and moved over to the trashcan. "I prefer them declawed." I caught sight of the goop she'd left on my cup and added, "…and not coated in slime."

I grabbed a napkin and tried to clean the sticky stuff off the side of my face.

"I could have just given you a new lid." She seemed to be enjoying herself now, her smile brightening up the whole room.

"Nah, she might be venomous." I moved closer, wanting to bask in that smile.

"Do you want another drink?"

As she said it my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw the time, grimacing when I realized I had to go or they would wonder why I was late.

"No, I have to head over to my parent's. My sister's texted four times." I caught my lip between my teeth, remembering she deserved a real apology for the incident with Tanya. "I really am sorry about Tanya. She had no right to be unpleasant toward you."

"Don't be silly," she brushed me off, "she's hardly the first of that sort I've had to deal with here. One of the hazards of working so close to a college campus."

"Are you working tomorrow?" I asked, hoping I'd be able to see her again so soon.

"No," she said, and my mood fell further. "I have the day off. I've got a huge paper due Monday and I've got to hole up and finish it."

"Oh." I looked down, trying to think of some way to prolong my time with her. "I guess I'll just see you Monday, then."

I turned toward the door, but stopped when a thought occurred to me. She might get stuck on her homework between now and Monday. I grabbed a piece of paper from my bag and scrawled out my name and phone number, setting it on the counter in front of her.

"Uh," I stammered, nervous. "In case you get stuck. On your homework." I felt my face heat up and hoped she wouldn't notice. She didn't reply so I turned back toward the door.

"Have a good weekend, Edward."

I twisted back to face her and backed out the door, smiling at the sound of my name on her lips.

"You too, Bella."

~o~

The drive out to Paradise Valley was uneventful, which was a good thing as my mind was still wrapped up in Bella.

My parent's house was nestled into the north slope of Mummy Mountain, looking down on the palm tree dotted lawns of Scottsdale. I parked my car in the cobbled driveway and let myself in through the front door. My dad's office was empty, so I headed for the kitchen at the back of the house. I wouldn't be able to avoid my mother at all with my father gone, so I figured I'd just get it over with.

Alice was sitting on a stool at the kitchen island, and glanced up when I walked in. She took one look at my shirt and moaned, "oh, why do I even bother," in exasperation.

"Edward, sweetheart, we were wondering when you would be here," my mom said, drying her hands and coming to hug me hello. "I talked to Emmett and he said you were already gone, so we expected you earlier."

"Yeah, I got Alice's texts. I was studying at the coffee shop."

"Oh, with the girl from last night again?" A manic light sparked in my mom's eyes and I tried not to flinch.

"Uh, she was there, but she was working." I could tell she wasn't dissuaded by my terse answer.

"You could have invited her for dinner tonight."

"Mom, I don't know her that well…"

"Oh, well, next time then. So, what's her name?"

"Bella," I replied, grateful I finally had an answer to that question.

"Bella?" she echoed. Her eyebrows pulled together as she spoke and she glanced over at my sister.

I followed her gaze, wondering at the confusion on her face. Alice was looking at me funny. It was almost like she knew I was lying. She always seemed to know everything, like the little freak was psychic or something.

"Another trashy blonde, Edward?" she asked, hopping of the stool and opening the fridge.

"Uh, no… Bella's got brown hair."

I heard a snort from where Alice's head was buried in the fridge.

I loved my little sister, but she was damn annoying. Not that I could imagine life without her anymore.

I had been fourteen when she joined the family, a tiny little thing even at twelve years old. She had jumped at loud noises and screamed when someone touched her. Emmett and I hadn't known how to handle her. My mother just told us that Alice had a very difficult childhood and that we needed to be patient with her.

We had tried our best, the best that teenage boys were capable of, and she had slowly grown accustomed to us. She rarely freaked out now, but still had a really tough time with strangers.

She finally emerged from the fridge, a bowl of strawberries in hand, and sat back down at the island.

"Where's dad?" I asked my mom, hoping to change the subject before she asked more questions about Bella.

"He got called in to the hospital this morning. He should be back for dinner, though," my mother answered, setting a pan on one of the gas burners and flipping on the knob to light it.

I snuck up behind Alice, only managing to get one strawberry from the bowl before she elbowed me in the stomach. I ignored her and went back for another.

"Get your own," she growled, and our scuffling sent several berries spinning across the counter and onto the floor.

"Shoo, both of you. Out of my kitchen." Mom had a wooden spoon in hand and Alice and I quickly retreated out the big glass doors, still bickering over the strawberries on the way down to the pool.

I rubbed a sore spot on my chest where her fist had connected pretty well and kicked of my flip-flops before sitting with my feet in the pool.

"So, are you in luuuuuuuuve?" she crooned, settling down beside me with the bowl between us.

"Don't be silly, Alice, I barely know her." I couldn't be, could I? It took more than one conversation to fall in love. But she did have the most beautiful laugh…

I broke out of my thoughts and glanced over to find Alice staring at me.

"You have it bad, don't you." It was a statement, not a question, and she said it with a terrifyingly smug little grin. I instinctively acted to protect myself. I pushed her in the pool. And then ran.

I only just managed to get my phone and wallet out of my pockets before she got her revenge. I floated on my back, fully clothed in the pool. The day was so warm that the water felt nice.

Emmett finally showed up a little before dinner and joined us out by the pool. He was rubbing the back of his head as he walked down from the house and I figured my mother must have decided to 'deal with' him after all. He plopped down on a deck chair and leaned back.

"Sorry 'bout Tanya, dude." He actually looked genuinely sorry, which took me by surprise.

"Well, at least one of us had fun, right? How were the wonder twins?" I smirked over at him, and Alice made a disgusted noise.

"Meh," he shrugged. "They might be to dumb, even for me," he added and I snickered.

It always made me laugh that he attracted the brainless like flies to honey. It certainly wasn't that he was stupid, even though he tried to hide his intelligence behind that big doltish grin.

Emmett had graduated top of his class with a degree in engineering last spring. Then promptly pissed off our father by opening a car mechanic's shop with a buddy of his from high school. It wasn't that dad didn't want us to live our own lives. He just saw it as Emmett throwing away his brain to play at being a grease monkey until he got bored.

But he still brought his car there, because Emmett was a damn good mechanic.

And the business was doing very well. They'd only been open for six months, and the schedule was almost full. They'd talked about hiring another guy to pick up the overflow when it got to that point, which would likely be soon.

"So, are you and this Bella girl dating?" He slanted a look at me and I cringed. Our mother had obviously brought him up to speed. Emmett was so not going to buy this whole thing.

"No, just… helping her with math." I felt my face heat up as he raised his eyebrows at me. Not buying it. I pulled myself out of the pool and sprawled out on the grass by Alice to let myself dry off. Thankfully, Emmett let the subject drop.

Dad finally got home and Mom called us in for dinner. Meals with my family were always loud and animated. Mom kept peppering me with questions about Bella, wanting to know her major and how old she was. I answered the first and admitted I didn't know the second. Alice kept making pithy, cryptic comments about young love and I kept throwing bits of bread at her while Emmett laughed.

My dad talked briefly about the surgery he'd been called in for this morning. He looked tired, but happy, as the little girl who had been in a car accident had been improving when he had left.

I helped my mother bring the dishes into the kitchen and started loading the dishwasher.

"Do you want to stay the night?" My mom hadn't quite adjusted being an empty nester and always tried to keep us home as long as she could manage. "I'll make pancakes for breakfast," she bribed, hopefully.

"Sure, mom." There wasn't anything to get back to anyway. I didn't have any studying to do and it wasn't as if I wouldn't be seeing Bella tomorrow. Plus, my mom's pancakes were unreal.

And the joy on her face was almost as good.

"Do you want watch a movie?" Her eye's lit up even more. "I'll make popcorn."

I laughed and nodded, calling out to Alice that she needed to pick out a movie. She'd just veto anything I chose until it was what she had wanted to watch anyway.

Emmett decided to stay, too, and we all settled into the family room on the huge sectional sofa. My dad was asleep with his head on my mom's shoulder within fifteen minutes and Emmett and Alice were making up their own lines to cover up the sappy dialogue of the romantic comedy she had chosen.

I looked around the room at my family, considering how lucky I was. Sure, they were aggravating at times, but they loved me. And I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Hope you enjoyed it! I'm not sure when I'll have the next chapter up with all the school yuck going on, but if you review you'll get a piece of it to tide you over. It's worth it's weight in gold, trust me.