An: Obviously I
don't own Twilight or I would be finishing Midnight Sun.
Some belated thanks to all my reviewers! (Vultron, your question will be answered soon) Also to all the people who favorited this fic and set alerts for it (or for me). You guys make my day ^.^
It had been three weeks.
Three long, painful weeks since the night that Bella said his name in her sleep.
Edward was pretty sure he was going crazy, the thought of her dreaming of him plagued him, day in and day out. He lie awake at night, wondering what caused her to moan and say his name in his sleep.
Of course he couldn't bring it up to her, 'Hey, remember that night you slept in my bed? Well I was watching you sleep and you moaned my name. I was just wondering why.'
That would go over well.
He couldn't ask Jacob either, frankly because he liked his bone structure, and didn't want it rearranged.
Edward was sure that liking Bella and watching Bella sleep, hanging on every sleepy word out of her mouth, were two different things.
True to their word, Emmett and Jacob spent every last moment that the group was together trying to sneakily get Edward and Bella together. Edward evaded their maneuvers and worried that they would somehow pressure Bella into a relationship that she could never want.
Did she?
Originally, Edward thought that the moaning of his name was because she did want him, and he planned on asking her out. The next day, their friendship remained the same, and she gave him no clues leading him to believe that maybe she didn't like him. What if she knew another Edward? What if the dream was an elaborate dream where they were caught on a battle field and she moaned his name in loss as he was gunned down?
Maybe not.
It seemed to Edward (despite the protests of his guy friends) that he was firmly in the friend zone with Bella. Jasper kept trying to covertly ask Alice, but he said that he kept getting distracted. 'Probably by Alice's lips' Edward thought, slightly jealous. The pair had officially been together, and now was almost sickening in their adorableness. They were going to go to the party tonight as a wounded Confederate solider and the nurse tending to him. Alice already proudly showed off the costume to Emmett and himself.
Even Emmett's relationship life was looking better then his. The proclaimed womanizer had spent the last three weeks trailing after Rosalie like a puppy. He even arranged it so that when the four boys went to the gym, it was at the same time as the three girls, just so he could show off his strength.
He made a series of quips, showed off a lot, and flirted like crazy, with the blond who eagerly returned his attentions with beckoning smiles, flirty winks and a few displays of her own.
It was like a weird mating dance for the athletic college students of the new millennium.
The emotionally charged gym which had become their odd flirting playground was relieved that very morning when Emmett turned to Rosalie.
"Rose, what are you going to the party tonight as?" Like Alice hadn't already told Emmett.
"Cheerleader." She responded with a wink as she continued her pace on the treadmill next to Edward's. Edward tried to ignore the pair as Emmett leaned against the treadmill controls.
"That's funny, cus I have a football player costume-" that Alice bought him "- we should go to the party together." He said with a grin wider then usual.
"Imagine that, you have a football costume, I assume it's your favorite team? The Cowboys was it?" She said, casting a glance over at Alice.
"Nah, Buffalo Bills." That caused Rosalie to snap her eyes back to him. "I didn't see the appeal of one state having three major football teams until I moved here, I'm really beginning to like the Bills, although they have a long way to go before they even get anywhere close to the Cowboys."
Rosalie's grin spread across her face, being from Rochester, she spent her entire life praising the Bills, and as Alice informed Emmett, she had gotten a cheerleader outfit for the Bills.
"You're right, we should go together, and people are going to think that we're together anyways. Pick me up around 9." Rosalie said with a definite edge before stepping off the treadmill. Edward rolled his eyes and cast a glance to Jacob that clearly said 'What is wrong with our friends?' He was sure that Rosalie was sauntering away by now and Emmett was drooling after her.
That made his day, in the true sense and the sarcastic sense. Two of his three close friends at college had a date to the Halloween party hopping while he was going to spend the night being thankful that Bella was in a skimpy outfit (he was just informed that it was skimpy, not what it was) and tortured by it at the same time.
He spent the day in emotional turmoil, happy and sad at the same time until it pushed him to take this long walk to his cousin's. He was going to spend time with him, help him set up for the party they were having or just borrow his car and leave campus for a bit.
Edward was just beyond the borders of campus, Cab Calloway singing in his ear about Minnie the Moocher, as he didn't pay attention to his surroundings. He know the way well enough that he could focus on the slow pace of his feet as he walked.
He jumped when a light tug pulled his earbud out and opened one ear to the sound of talking students passing him and cars driving by. He looked over to the grinning brunette beside him.
"That's why you didn't hear me calling your name for five minutes, it better have been good music." Bella said, pretending to be stern as she had a smile on her face.
"Hey, Cab Calloway is one of the best of the 20's." Edward responded, fighting back a foolish grin to replace it with his usual smirk. "What brings you all the way out here?"
"The public library, I was told it has more fun books. Have you ever noticed that Bird Library is five floors of articles, biographies and other incredibly informative literature?" Bella put on her best voice for mocking the school system; Edward had also noticed how much the school lacked in books for general entertainment. "Where are you going?"
"My cousin's," he probably should have left it at that. Once again, he went against what he should do, "You can come with if you want."
"Its their party that we're starting at tonight right?" Edward didn't have to look at her to know that she was biting her lip, something she did whenever she asked a question. Just looking at it was enough to drive him crazy for the rest of the afternoon.
"Yeah, Esme talked him into it." He turned onto the last street before the one that had the library, Bella paused and followed him. A grin split his face as they approached the bright blue building in the middle of the block.
Like many buildings in the area where the students resided, it was split into six apartments, three on one side and three on the other. Half of the apartment contained a group of people Edward would rather avoid while the other half was inhabited by people he liked. If it weren't for the walk and the fact that he was a freshman and they were all seniors he'd probably spend more time at his cousin's apartment. Carlisle and Esme had the small one room apartment on the top floor.
As they approached, he waved to the couple quietly speaking Spanish on the porch swing, the pair had found love on the transatlantic flights from Spain. They shared the first floor apartment with their friends Irina, Tanya and Kate. The party was going to be in their dorm because Carlisle's apartment was just too small.
"Hey, how's it going?" he said to the pair before gesturing to Bella, "This is my friend Bella, Bella this is Carmen and Eleazar."
Bella shyly said hi before following Edward onto the porch. She continued to stand quietly by as Edward carried on a quick polite conversation with the pair; all the while Carmen cast curious glances at Bella.
Bella waved good bye to the pair as Edward led her to the stairs. He normally would have stopped on the second floor to say hello to Maggie, Siobhan and Liam but he didn't want to wait to introduce her to Carlisle.
He didn't bother knocking on the door, the pair often admonished him in the past for doing so. He just opened the door and stepped into the living room and almost as soon as he did he wished for several things.
A time machine, or something to claw his eyes out.
"Oh my god!" he heard Bella shout behind him as he stepped back and slammed the door shut again. He stared at the door, willing his brain to get rid of the image that was sure to be burned on his mind's eye for the rest of time.
"Please tell me that didn't happen." Edward mournfully said as he felt Bella's head burrow into his shoulder, in less tragic times he might have appreciated it more. Which was saying something.
He could feel her shaking, at first he thought it was in terror then he realized she was trying hard not to laugh.
"How is this funny?" he said turning to Bella.
"Its very funny!" She countered, her blush was a lot heavier then usual.
"It's horrible!"
"They're a young couple living together, it's not unreasonable that they would spend a Friday afternoon… doing stuff on the couch!" Bella said, if it was at all possible her face got redder.
"Well yeah, I know, but I don't want to see it. Ever. That guy used to baby-sit me, Bella."
"Do you want to get some lye for your eyes?"
"Can't you just tear them out right now? Please."
"All I can offer you is a hug to make it better."
"I thought it was a 'kiss to make it better'." Did I just say that?
"O-okay" Bella stuttered, before getting a look of fierce determination in her eyes. She stood up on her toes and kissed the corner of one of his eyes before trying to kiss the corner of his other eye, getting the cheek instead.
Edward was sure that his face was as red as Esme's bra at the moment, as Bella went back on her heels.
"Better?"
All Edward could do was nod and stupidly smile.
The door flung open behind him and he slowly turned to face the person in the doorway.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry Edward, we knew you were coming over but we got carried away and …." Esme suddenly perked up as she noticed Bella. "Hello!"
"Hi I'm Bella, Edward's friend, sorry to interrupt your afternoon."
"Its okay, Carlisle and I have the rest of the afternoon and we'll make sure to lock the door this time." She said with a wink.
"Ew. Just, please stop." Edward said, his eyes shut and his hands up in a halting motion.
"Do you want to come in?"
"No."
"Yes."
They said simultaneously. Esme cast a disapproving glare at Edward.
"Don't be silly Edward, come in, why are you here so early?"
"I'm right on time."
"Wow I guess we got really carried away." A smirking Carlisle said as he entered the room. "This is Bella I assume?"
Edward was sure what Carlisle was thinking, ever since Carlisle met Esme, he'd been hoping that Edward would also find someone to cherish as he cherished Esme. Soon after Esme spent thanksgiving in Chicago with Edward and Carlisle, she jumped on the boat, even going as far to suggest sophomores that Edward could meet when he started at Syracuse.
"Hi!" Bella stuck out her hand to shake Carlisle's hand, "Its nice to meet you, I've heard so much about you two."
"And now you've seen too much, I apologize for that again."
Bella shook her head, brushing off the apology. Edward became increasingly uncomfortable with the conversation, he knew that Carlisle and Esme did… stuff but he didn't ever want to see it.
"You guys needed help?" Hoping it would change the conversation.
"Actually we were celebrating finishing early, we meant to call you before you walked all the way here but-" Edward cut off Esme before she mentioned what he was now going to refer to as "that incident"
"It's okay, Bella needs to go to the library anyways, and she might need help with that." Edward said in a slightly strained voice.
"Edward are you okay?" Esme asked, concerned. Edward quickly nodded his head.
"Overreacting." Edward glared at Bella who continued to smile politely next to him.
"Edward what are you going as tonight?" Esme asked, seeming to be interested.
Edward gestured to his Syracuse sweater and jeans. He looked back up at Esme's disapproving face.
"Edward. You have to wear something it's Halloween! What are you going as Bella?"
"Palin." Edward gave a double take at the name.
"What?"
"Yeah, I'm going to do my hair up and I'm going to avoid questions and say maverick a lot."
"Really?" Edward said, impressed that she didn't immediately choose something overdone.
"Yeah, I just have to get past Rosalie and Alice, they're determined to make a vampiress." Edward inwardly consulted both choices, one showed a sarcastic witty side and the other one was just sexy. Either way he won.
"See, Bella's dressing up. You should too." Carlisle said, digging into his pocket. He handed Edward his car keys and a twenty. "Go forth and shop cousin, get something good and buy some food, why don't you go help him pick out something Bella?"
Bella smiled widely as if she just got the opportunity of a lifetime. "Of course! I'd love to go shopping with Edward, I'm assuming he isn't as bad as Alice. I need a break from that kind of shopping."
Bella's face was still red, despite her cool demeanor as she used both hands to tug on Edward's elbow, "Come on, we should hurry so we can get back in time to let Alice fuss over us." Edward cast a nervous glance to Esme and Carlisle, Esme's smile made it seem like she just the won the lottery.
"Give back the keys at the party; you might as well drive everyone here." Carlisle said as Edward nodded and pulled the door shut behind him. Edward could hear (quite clearly) Carlisle asking Esme where they just were.
Edward groaned as he let Bella lead him down the stairs, enjoying the contact. He saw a smoking liam on the porch of the second floor casting them a confused glance through the screen of the door.
Tanya was leaning on the doorframe of the first floor. "No matter what they say, always knock." She said in greeting before turning around and going into her apartment.
Bella cast a nervous glance before pulling Edward all the way outside, he moved to walk alongside her and her arm wound around his, making their arms linked. Edward was confused as to why she hadn't released him yet but he enjoyed her touch, as small as it was.
It was his turn to lead her to the beat up van in the garage. It was probably as old as him but wasn't in nearly as good shape.
"Does it still work?"
"Yeah, Carlisle compromised with his dad, Uncle is paying for med school but Carlisle has to pay for everything else, not using his inheritance, and this was all he could afford at the time." He reluctantly let go of Bella to open her door for her. She slid in with a small smile on her face. He walked around to his side of the car and got into the drivers seat. He struggled to get the key into the ignition before starting and pulling out.
"Do you still want to swing by the library?" She shook her head.
"I can just go tomorrow. I'd rather go to the mall with you." Edward smiled at Bella as he wove through the neighborhood; passing all the college students prepping for their parties tonight.
"Are you excited for tonight?" Edward finally ventured as he got onto the highway.
"Excited to be a single girl in a crowd of couples?" Bella smiled wryly. "Ecstatic."
"I know what you mean."
"Do you have a girlfriend back home?" The question almost caused Edward to go off the road.
"Um, no. Why?" Edward found himself suddenly wishing that he could read minds, even if he could he was sure that Bella would somehow manage to block him and remain a mystery.
"You seem like you would have a girlfriend or a "it's complicated" of some sort." Edward grinned.
"I don't at the moment."
"Do you like anyone here?"
Edward found no way to answer this question without spilling his guts to the reserved brunette. So he evaded the question as best he could.
"What about you? Jacob has never mentioned any guys." She scoffed.
"Avoiding? Yes, I have no guys back in Washington."
"I hope you find someone here that you like then." He kept his eyes on the road, feeling her eyes burn into his side.
Maybe the guys are right.
As soon as they arrived to the mall, Bella dragged him towards the closest costume shop.
"Don't waste any time do you?" Edward asked, looking around at the various costumes set up.
"If we hurry, I have enough money to catch a movie. Do you want to?" Edward straightened in shock; Bella was looking through the costumes and didn't see him.
"Sure, as long as it's not based off a romance novel." He suddenly felt like they were on a date.
His eyes were suddenly drawn to the couple's costumes, the costumes he had hated this morning. Bella's eyes followed his gaze.
"A lot of them are sort of… suggestive aren't they?" In response Edward smirked at her.
"Wanna go as a nut and bolt?" She giggled quietly, looking down.
Edward saw something that shocked him, he pointed to a pair of costumes.
"I love that movie!" the costume hung, taunting him. Come on you know you want to ask her to wear it with you. It would be pointless if you went just as the guy. No one would get it, the girl made the movie.
"Hmm, Leeloo Dallas Multipass." Bella said in an almost perfect imitation of the girl's voice.
"You know it?"
"Of course! You know… if you don't mind going to a movie in a couples costume with a friend, we should totally get it." Bella gestured to the red tag that matched her face. "It's on sale, and we can confuse the others that haven't seen it."
Edward internally frowned, she actually said 'go as friends.' Take what you can get Masen.
"Okay." He said with a shrug, getting the costumes down and heading towards the front, they were approximately their size, and he wanted to go see a movie with Bella. He put the clothes down on the counter and began to pull out his wallet. Bella bit her lip at the gesture.
"I totally forgot my wallet, I can pay you back later tonight…"
"Forget about it, my treat for your awesome taste in movies." Bella frowned at his statement.
"I can't let you do that Edward! It's not fair, and we probably shouldn't go to the movie if I can't pay…"
"Oh please, let me pay, what's wrong with treating a friend to a costume and a movie? And dinner or something because I'm going to get hungry and you probably will too." Edward shrugged, "just relax and enjoy the benefits of having a friend with a father who's the top lawyer in Chicago."
"Show off."
"You love it."
With her agreement, he paid and dragged them up to the movie theater in the spacious mall.
True to his intentions, he paid for their tickets and for overpriced popcorn. He spent the entire time trying to enjoy the movie, and ignore his urge to turn and pull Bella to him. Bella's arms were crossed, and her knuckles looked white on her elbows in the darkened theater.
The movie, although good, wasn't long and they soon found themselves sitting in the food court trading favorite quotes from the movie.
"I liked the part where the blond guy headbutted Norah's ex and then started crying." Edward laughed along with Bella, agreeing whole heartedly.
"It was a pretty good movie, the music was good too, and I think I'm going to buy the soundtrack." Edward said as he grabbed another French fry from their shared container.
It was really beginning to feel like a date to Edward, they were having dinner (sortof) and a movie, and better conversation then he ever had on a date.
"I don't really get into soundtracks a lot, then again I don't see many movies. I'm glad I went to this one though." Bella said as she grabbed another fry and popped it into her mouth. She looked at her cell phone next to the tray and frowned.
"We probably should get going. Alice will want to do my makeup. She'll be pissed that I went to the mall without her." Bella began to gather up the garbage from her meal onto the tray. Edward suddenly felt that it was a now or never kind of situation.
Do it before your spine disappears again!
"Yeah, we should. Hey Bella…" Edward sucked in a breath before continuing. "Since our costumes are matching and everything, we should probably go to the party together."
"Hmm… that does make sense." Bella said, Edward wasn't sure if she was trying to be evasive or not. "I mean, I'm probably going to spend the night attached to your arm anyhow."
"How'd you figure?"
"Well, Emmett and Rosalie are gunna be making out in the corner, Alice and Jasper are gunna be a cuddly couple, Jacob has already expressed his interest in 'girl hunting' or whatever." She made quotation marks with her fingers as she referred to Jacob. "Besides, I like spending time with you."
"What?" Edward was shellshocked, and bella averted her gaze.
"I mean, you're interesting, and you're not fake or annoying or a total frat boy. You're not too bad to look at either." She smiled at him, "I just like hanging out with you."
"I like hanging out with you too."
Bella just smiled in response, he was sure that his grin was as wide as hers.
"Come on; let's go let Alice tackle us."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Edward let the overwhelming sense of happiness overtake him as he fell on his bed.
"I think I asked out Bella."
"What? Am I the only one without a date?"
"Well I'm not sure if I asked her or if we're just going as friends."
"Still, I'm the only one who hasn't paired off."
"Whose fault is that?"
"Yours, I've been too busy trying to get Bella and you together, I can't even get laid."
Edward sat up to look at Jacob.
"You've had sex?" Jacob nodded his head and looked at Edward like he was crazy.
"I was with Lizzie for a good year, and I was a senior in high school. A horny senior in high school." Jacob shrugged. "You haven't?"
"I didn't have a Lizzie. I had a Michelle, but that didn't last long, and we didn't go far."
"Was she one of those 'wait for someone special' types?"
"No, I was. She cheated on me."
"Damn dude, you're such a girl."
Edward decided to ignore that remark. The party didn't start until 10 but they were meeting up on the mount around 9 to grab some food before going to the party. Edward decided to get dressed. Jacob sat on his bed, already dressed as a lumberjack, swinging his fake axe.
Edward pulled on the black pants that bordered on the edge of tight and the black boots he saved for winter. He pulled on the orange t-shirt and the black jacket that went with the rest of the outfit; overall it wasn't all that original and only people who had seen the movie would see anything different with the orange shirt and the lines on the jacket.
"You bought an ugly jacket and a orange t-shirt? That's your costume?"
"Yeah, and Bella is going as my fake-wife."
"What?"
Edward shrugged as he walked across the hall and knocked on Emmett's door. "I'll tell you on the way."
XXXXXXXXXX
The four boys found themselves ten minutes later walking up to the dorm that the girls shared.
"See? Operation: Leggy brunette is going well."
"You're seriously a virgin?"
"Do you think that I shoulda ditched the sword? Alice liked the sword."
"You all need to shut up."
"It's ya'll."
"Stop talking."
Jasper continued to fiddle with his sword as something finally occurred to Emmett.
"You're a virgin?" Jacob nodded solemnly as Edward let out a deep breath.
"I will not kill my friends." Edward said.
"I think we can't end operation: leggy brunette until Bella pops Edward's cherry."
"Technically Edward would be popping Bella's cherry."
"She's a virgin too?"
"Does she look like she's had a lot of boyfriends?"
"Edward is gunna get to have sloppy virgin sex" Jasper chuckled as Edward wished he could disappear off the planet.
"That should be fun." Rosalie said coming up from behind Emmett, she tossed her ID onto the front desk so they all could be signed in. "Bella is excited about tonight by the way."
"Ah yes, Operation: leggy brunette has gotten past part A and is now on part B!" Emmett said, throwing his arm around Rosalie's shoulders.
Edward's jaw dropped and he looked in horror as Rosalie seemed to accept this statement.
"She knows about operation: leggy brunette?"
"Who doesn't know?" Jacob responded.
"I'm hoping Alice."
"Alice has known for weeks, don't be silly." Jasper said, looking around for the little sprite, obviously anxious to see her. Rosalie pointed towards the ceiling to gesture that she was upstairs.
"Carlisle? Esme?"
"They know, I told Tanya when I saw her on the quad last week, she told them."
Edward was beginning to feel like this was what a heart attack felt like.
"Does Bella know?"
"No" The rest of the group responded in almost unison.
"You gotta make a move Eddie before we lock the two of you in a closet with some condoms and a lava lamp." Edward responded by punching Emmett as hard as he could in the arm. "Aww is the little virgin angry?" Emmett said in a baby voice as Edward hit him again, grabbing his ID Edward walked away from the group.
Laughing they all followed him in the elevator up to the girl's floor.
XXXXXX
Extra long chapter, just cus I was hit in the face with a few plot bunnies. Originally Edward and Bella were supposed to go on a semi date around thanksgiving, but I thought I'd just move that along. I'm working on another fic at the moment (more original though) and my betas are constantly busy so I will continue do my best to post as often as I can.
Can anyone guess the movie that the pair is taking their costumes from? If you know the movie then you should remember the quote.
Also about Jacob not being a virgin, I think that if it weren't for Bella and being a werewolf (shapeshifter whatever) then he would have been one of those guys who dated a girl for a long time and had a somewhat physical relationship.
As for Carlisle and Esme, they're always the responsible parental figures, and as soon as I decided that they weren't parents in this, I decided that they would do some college senior type stuff.
Also, I wish I would walk in on Carlisle naked… and Edward…. And Jasper… and Emmett… and Jacob…
Go review pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee and tell me what you thinkof the story, and the new summary and the new title... (also I'm sorry about the line breaks in the first chapter, hates me apparently). If you review, then a new chapter will be up sooner and possibly someone shall be naked.
