Chapter 16
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The arcade came into view, lights blinking and shooting noises coming from within.
They entered. Jason and Jasper were racing each other on dirt bikes. Kristen and Elizabeth were playing DDR. Aiden and Vincent were playing House of the Dead. That left Edward and Tristan with each other. Bella quickly scanned the room, unfruitful. Then she listened and heard Tristan laughing maniacally. Oh god. What did he do to poor Edward? She rushed toward the sound and what she saw shocked her…
Tristan and Edward were rolling on the floor laughing with each other! They were just about ready to kill each other last time they had seen each other… She wondered what brought on the sudden change of events. Tristan held his sides as he stood up and helped Edward up.
"Hey, Bella," He said between chuckles.
"Tristan…"
He continued chuckling. "Yeah?"
"What happened?"
"What"-he laughed-" do you mean?"
"Why are you and Edward laughing?"
"Nothing. Don't worry about it."
Bella raised an eyebrow. "Edward?"
Edward quickly composed himself. "No. Nothing. It was nothing."
"Why is nothing so funny?" Bella asked suspiciously.
"It's…a …guy thing." Tristan answered.
Bella rolled her eyes. "Are you two sure that you're straight?"
The guys stopped laughing immediately. "Yes."
Bella held up her hands in surrender. "Just making sure. We wouldn't want any more sex going on in the house. Isn't that right Elizabeth?" Bella yelled the last part.
"Shut up, Bella!" Elizabeth said from across the arcade. Jason smirked and a couple of girls in the corner nearly fainted.
Edward smirked. "There's always gotta be one couple in the family hasn't there?"
"I guess." Bella smiled weakly.
"Oh, calm down Bella. You know it turns you on." Tristan laughed.
"Ew! Tristan! Gross! They are like family! I can't believe you would say that, you sicko…"
"You like it…" Tristan bugged her, nudging her with his elbow.
Bella rolled her eyes and punched his arm. Edward gave her a crooked smile and her undead heart fluttered. Wow. That didn't happen the last time he gave her a smile… Bella smiled back.
"Stop making googley eyes at each other. It's gross." Tristan joked.
"You're gross." Bella retorted.
"Your face."
"Your mom."
"Your hairy fat ass."
Bella's jaw dropped. "You love it. You know you do. Always checking me out the way you do."
Edward laughed. "You guys are even worse than Emmett and Rosalie."
"Nu-uh. I used to live with them for like 3 years. We are not worser than they are." Bella defended.
"You just need to look at it from an outsider's perspective."
"Oh. Ok then." Bella nodded.
Edward nodded. Tristan shook his head no.
"Do you even know what we're talking about Tristan?" Bella asked incredulously.
"No but let's just pretend I do." He answered nodding his head.
The rest of the vampires came over.
"What's so funny?" Emmett asked, holding Rosalie's hand in his.
"Like you don't know. You can hear everything." Edward answered sarcastically.
"No we don't! We prefer not to eavesdrop and by the way, I resent the worser than Rosalie and Emmett comment." Rosalie huffed, glaring at Edward.
"Eavesdropper," Alice coughed conspicuously.
"Let's go to the park." Elizabeth suggested from out of nowhere.
Alice looked far away. She came back from her faraway state and nodded enthusiastically. Edward looked at her suspiciously. She just shrugged and acted innocent but we all know that Alice isn't innocent so what is going to happen?
Edward tried prying into her mind but she kept it blocked firmly. He sighed, defeated, and nodded his agreement.
They headed out of the mall, Kristen and Vincent talking about what they were going to do while at the park and what they should do tomorrow and the day after and the day after…
They all clambered into the cars they came from and started off.
"Have fun?" Edward asked Bella while turning the corner.
"Yeah. We went shopping and bought…stuff and then Emmett joined us…what were you and Tristan laughing at?"
Edward laughed. "Don't tell Tristan I told you. He was telling me about the time you guys went hunting and he ran over you accidentally."
"That is not funny."
"Yeah it is."
"You guys have a sick and twisted sense of humor."
"I am going to take that as a compliment."
"You do that." Bella laughed.
Edward followed Tristan's hummer. "Can he drive any slower?"
"He'll hear you and then he will drive slower."
Edward honked the horn and they sped up. Bella noticed that they were no longer following Tristan after a few minutes.
Her hand darted out to Edward's arm. "Where are we going?" She asked, alarmed.
He chuckled. "It's a surprise."
"Surprises and I aren't really mix-y objects…"
"I think you'll like this one. There's no way that you would get run over or fall over a cliff."
"He told you about the cliff too?" Bella asked.
Edward nodded, smiling.
"I am never leaving you two alone ever again."
Edward laughed. He pulled onto a dirt road and then after a few more minutes, pulled over. "We're going to have to run. You okay with that?"
Bella nodded. He took her hand and they sped off into the trees. They came to a clearing with soft green grass and fragrant flowers. Bella gasped. "It's so pretty."
Edward smiled. A lot like you.
Bella blushed and he stroked her pink cheek. She smiled and took his hand, leading him to the middle of the spacious meadow. They sat down across from each other. Edward stared intently at her and she avoided his gaze.
"Bella?"
"Yes?"
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking…about…nothing. I'm just here, with you, enjoying your company."
"In that case, can I do this?" and he leaned in and kissed her softly. She was momentarily shocked but soon reacted. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing them closer to each other. She pulled away quickly.
"Bella, I'm sorry. Was that going too far?"
Bella shook her head and gave him a reassuring smile. "No. It was…perfect."
Big, big, BIG ups to Jessica LaFreniere and Miss Faith Amber Daniels for betaing my story for me. Sorry if you offered to be my beta and I said ok, cool, thanks or whatever but I couldn't wait any longer!!! I had to get it posted and thanks to Jessica and faith, I did!!! Hooray!!! round of applause
