Thanks for any reviews. And I'm sorry that the story has been boring so far, I promise it will pick up speed in the chapter right after this one. Cause this is sort of a fluff chapter, but please read anyway.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything

EPOV (Edward's)

"Hey Edward," Tyler teased me, "Guess who is walking towards you."

I read his thoughts and understood that Bella was arriving at the group's waiting place, with her were her friends Bree and Angela, but she was also with Alice, Jane, and Jessica. That part I didn't get because I was pretty sure that Alice thought Bella was a stuck-up snob, like Rosalie.

Only I didn't think Bella was a snob, and I had been worried about her all day when Esme and Carlisle came back from hunting without her. Her absense had been driving me crazy, and my mind was only put at ease when I had spotted her running in to the mall earlier.

Of course, she looked as gorgeous as ever in a skirt and a blue blouse. I couldn't read her mind so I didn't know where she had gone, but now I could read her friend's minds. They all seemed to think that she had gone swimming. It was a good answer, but Angela was still worried about her friend. She thought that Bella had been acting differently ever since our fight, and I had to agree with her.

Bella stopped to talk to Alice, Jasper, and Emmet. I knew that Jasper had wanted to end the cliques, and I suspected that Bella did too, but it was still odd to see the four of them talking to each other without being forced to. I felt a burning emotion in my throat, that wasn't my usual thirst, as I saw Bella laughing along with Emmet and Jasper, even though she was never that open with me. The emotion was jealousy, I realized, so I wandered over to talk to her.

She didn't notice me as she was speaking, "That is just too bad for them. Like Alice said, there isn't anything they can do. If Rosalie and Edward want to hate everyone, they can go ahead and hate everyone."

I slipped an arm around her waist, whispered "I don't hate everyone. Bella, I want to talk to you." and led her away. "So, you will talk to Alice, Jasper, and Emmet, but you won't talk to me? I'm hurt, Bella."

She looked suspicious "Sure, Edward. Whatever you say."

I grinned, "I say I'm in love with you."

"Exactly what are you talking about, Masen?" she demanded.

That question made me pause, and I wondered exactly what I was talking about. Then I realized I didn't care what I was talking about, I cared who I was talking to. And I was talking to Bella, the girl I'm sure I am in love with. So I stepped towards her and leaned in until my mouth was by her ear, "This," I said, and then kissed her.

My breath completely stopped, and I knew it was a good thing that as a vampire I didn't need to breath. Because, forgive the pun, Bella took my breath away. And I was surprised to realize that she was kissing me back, as desperately as I was kissing her.

When I heard Demetri and Tyler whistle, I ignored them, but Bella pulled away, not longer meeting my eyes. When she finally did look up, she looked outraged.

"What is your problem, Masen?" she screamed at me, "Do you think it is normal to go around kissing people?"

Inwardly I was feeling confused, and horrified, but I hid my emotions and smiled at her, "Only around you, Bella."

She rolled her eyes, "I can't believe you! And its Isabella to you, Masen." Then she stalked off, leaving me to ponder what had just happened. It was really too bad that I couldn't read her mind.

By the time I became aware of all the stares I was getting, Aro thankfully appeared and told us all that we could go back to the castle.

Finally, I thought to myself.

We all walked far enough away from the mall until arriving in a human-empty lot, and started running so fast that humans would not be able to detect us. As I ran, I glanced at Bella. She was running with her friends, and her new best friend Alice. She was also making a point of not meeting my eyes. I wondered if she hadn't felt the electricity that I had felt between us during the kiss.

Thankfully, it was seconds before I could stop feeling so rejected as Aro turned to talk to us, "You can all go to your rooms. But I need to speak with Emmet, Jasper, Edward, Rosalie, Alice, and Bella. Follow me, please."

Aro had always slightly scared me, so I wasn't looking forward towards whatever he had to tell us. However, it did give me a chance to forget about what had just happened. Aro opened the door to his classroom, glided inside, and sat behind his desk. He motioned with his hands towards the empty desks, and I took a seat.

I heard a distinct voice, sounding panicked, ask, "Aro? Why are you speaking to them?" it was Esme.

Aro smiled sorrowfully, "I have a matter of certain importance to bring up. You see, our training isn't going as quickly as I would have suspected, but the newborn armies are getting stronger. As you six are the most advanced in your classes, and you have already fought some newborns, I am giving you a month more in this place before joining the Volturi guard."

Esme shrieked in panic, and we were all confused, and scared, so I was surprised to find that Bella was the only one with enough wits about her to clarify, "We have a month before joining? How long until the others join us?"

Aro clasped his hands together, "I'm thinking about half a year to a year. Maybe more. But I realize that six new guards won't do much good, so I want you each to pick two of the others to join you. Try to pick someone powerful, if you can. By the end of this month, you can tell me your decision and start fighting."

I suddenly didn't want to fight, I wanted to remain with Bella, "And if we choose not to?" I asked.

"You don't get a choice," Aro glared at me, and all I could do was nod.

Then we were dismissed, so we all filed out while Esme pleaded with Aro to let us stay for another year because we weren't ready. Certainly none of us felt ready; even Emmet wasn't optimistic about going out to war. But he was more worried about Rosalie getting hurt them himself. And Jasper didn't want Alice to fight, just as I would do anything to keep Bella from the problem.

We walked back and I informed Demetri and Tyler of what Aro had told us. They demanded that I let them go with me, and I agreed. If I would let the girl I loved possibly get hurt, why should I bother stopping my friends?

I was so depressed that I hardly heard Tyler announce, "So, Edward. Apparently Bella hates you. I officially call dibs then. If you can't have her, I don't see why I can't."

This statement made me more then furious, and I turned to Tyler with a growl, "What did you just say?" but already I was reading his mind, and I saw the truth.

He wanted Bella for himself, and he thought I had no chance with her so it didn't matter anyway. It was too bad for him that I wasn't going to give up so easily.

"If you even think about her, we aren't friends any longer." I informed him, "And you will find yourself with a new worst enemy."

I didn't wait for him to say that he didn't want to be friends anymore, I just ran off, leaving Demetri to wonder which side to pick. As I ran, I promised myself that I would be with Bella before the month was over.