Gosh, this chapter is pretty long! I got a bit carried away writing but I wanted things to get steamy soon- yes STEAMY- so I wanted to progress the relationship a bit first. Hope you enjoy.

I hummed easily along to the music that floated from the radio as the others slipped into the car, somehow managing to stay composed as Edward folded his long body into the tiny space of my passenger seat, inches away from me. Jess sang along loudly from the back, leaning forwards to grab my seat, shaking it along to the song.

I glared at her in the rear view mirror, slapping her hands off the chair as I started the car. Jess pouted at me, then leaned towards Edward, who jumped a little when she spoke, his expression tense. I forced back a smug laugh as I pulled out of the drive way. I noticed Angela staring at me, her eyes filled with suspicion and smiled back wickedly, mouthing a promise to explain later.

By the time we reached the bowling alley, everybody else had already arrived. I could see Mike waving enthusiastically from inside, bowling shoes already in hand. I waved shyly back as we clambered out the car, Jess practically running inside ahead of us. Lauren made a beeline for Edward, clad in a tight fitting skirt and low cut top, flicking her hair flirtatiously as she reminded him of his promise to be on her team, glaring quickly at me as she did.

I ignored her, following Jess and Angela to where they were changing there shoes, Jess complaining that they didn't match her outfit. I couldn't help but laugh as I handed in my own shoes, only to be given a child's pair in return for my tiny size four pumps.

"So," Angela began as I sat down, looking over at Edward as she did. "Why the sudden smugness?"

"Yeah," Jess piped up suddenly, "Lauren is leeching off him and you don't even seem to mind,"

I blushed, suddenly loosing my composure as I remembered, unable to find my voice.

"Um, well, I went to see if he was ready, and then when he opened the door, I sort of fell against him and he kissed me." I whispered, turning a deep crimson. Jess's eyes widened as she took a quick intake of breath and I clamped a quick hand over her mouth, silencing her before she could scream.

"Oh my gosh," she hissed as I took my hand away. "Wow. Was it good?"

I gaped at her, my eyes pleading.

"What? Come on, what wrong with asking?" she demanded turning to Angela who just laughed a little and shook her head. "Ok fine. But seriously Cassandra! This is good!"

I laughed and nodded, looking over to where Lauren was practically sitting in Edward's lap before getting up and walking over to where Mike was stood waiting for us, assembling the teams. In the end, it was Jess, Angela, Mike, Tyler and me on one team, against Lauren, Edward, Connor, Samantha and Ben. Choosing to play last in my team, I sat in the seat in front the computer, watching as Mike took the first go.

I was conscious of Edward, sat just across from me, going along with Lauren's over the top attention and wondered briefly it had anything to do with to the swift end I put to his kiss. I looked over to Jess, who was watching Lauren, her expression disgusted as she came to sit by me.

"Ew," she whispered as we watched Angela tentatively throw the ball, cheering as it collided with most of the pins. "Doesn't that get to you?"

"Not really," I murmured, pushing a loose strand of hair back. I glanced briefly over to them, then turned back to smile mischievously at Jess. "I think I have one up on her."

I jumped up quickly, ready to take my turn. I skipped over to retrieve my ball- the lightest one possible, when a long cool hand brushed mine, reaching for a big, marble green ball that sat next to the one I was reaching for. I looked up, smiling politely as Edward flushed a light red. I walked slowly to the lane, aware of Edward watching me as he did the same. I glanced over, sticking out my tongue childishly, distracting him, the bowling ball slipping out of his hands and crashing loudly down the lane, straight in the gutter.

I couldn't help but laugh as I effortlessly took my own go, leaping with satisfaction as the ball steam rolled all ten pins, punching the air triumphantly as Mike and Tyler lifted me up in a first strike celebration. I heard Lauren hiss in disgust as I passed her, before I fell onto Jess as the boys finally let me down.

"Ok, who are you and where did Cassandra go?" Jess demanded through giggles. Angela exploded with laughter, spilling soda onto Tyler, and I felt myself blush again as I hid behind my hair.

"Aw, Cassie I'm kidding," she cried, putting her arms around me. I let myself laugh, easing back into the comfort of my friends, letting Mike drag me along as he went to fetch soda and fries for everybody. Slowly, the bowling match disintegrated, only Lauren still tried to keep everyone interested, desperate to win. I sat with my feet curled up under me, leaning against Tyler's shoulder, as the group descended into laughter. I felt free and happy as I dodged the ice that flew through the air, hitting Tyler instead of me. Noticing Edward still sat by Lauren, whose arms were folded across her chest, her lips pursed into a thin line, I reached out my hand, waiting for him to notice. He looked up, his eye's unreadable, looking from my outstretched hand and back to my face. I smiled encouragingly as he took my hand, then pulled him over, scooting over in my chair so he could sit between Tyler and myself.

I could see Lauren glaring acidly from the corner of my eye as I settled myself against Edwards chest and took another sip of my soda as his arm snaked around me, resting innocently over my shoulder. Angela was sat farthest from me, her head bent in conversation with Ben, whereas Jess was doing her best with Mike, twisting her hair between her fingers as she did her best to keep his attention.

"This is fun," Edward murmured in my ear as he watched Tyler and Connor play out the remainder of game between them. I twisted round to face him, my heart quickening at the closeness of our faces.

"You don't do this kind of thing back in London?" I asked, curious.

"Bowling isn't the kind of things my friends are into," he laughed, leaning down to steal some of the soda I still hand in my hand. I nudged him in the ribs, growling in mock annoyance as I moved my cup out of his reach.

"So what do you do?"

"Well, usually just hang out in bars, see bands, that kind of thing," he replied, shrugging. "I went to a private school, so most of the kids were pretty rich."

"So what, bowling is beneath them?"

"I suppose," he answered, laughing at my reaction.

"Wow Edward, so you're really lowering your standards for us then?" I teased.

"Yes, I'm slumming it. Seeing how the other half live," he replied, faking a serious tone. I was about to say something else, when Jess bounced over, interrupting us.

"Hey guys," she sang, her eye's sparkling. "Mike offered to take me home, is that okay with you?"

"Of course," I replied, squeezing her arm, mouthing congratulations to her. "What about Angela?"

"She's riding with Ben," Jess informed me, raising her eyebrows. I frowned, and looked over to where Angela and Ben were still sat talking, then back at Jess, my face puzzled. "I know, that's what I thought. Anyway, I'll call you tomorrow!"

And then she was gone, skipping after Mike.

"Well, I guess we should leave to," I murmured, turning back to Edward, our faces dangerously closed. I felt my self drawn in again by his eye's, losing myself in the deep green pools momentarily before I could pull myself away, leaping quickly to my feet, motioning for him to follow.

The car drive home was quite. I fumbled through the Ipod, hovering over a number of bands before settling on Death Cab for Cutie, smiling as the soft tones of 'Passenger Seat' wrapped around us. Edward smiled crookedly as he listened to the lyrics, leaning his head against the window. Despite the silence between us, the drive passed quickly and we were home in what felt like minutes. The silence remained as I unlocked the door and made my way up the stairs to my room. Humming softly to myself, I took off my jeans and top, swapping them for a pair of shorts and blue spaghetti strap top that constituted as nightwear.

Taking a deep breath, I gently pushed open my bedroom door and padded out into the hallway, stopping to check myself in the mirror. Somehow, my hair had stayed in the soft curls Jess had coaxed them into. I smiled, smoothing my fringe out, tucking stray curls behind my ears before arranging the rest of my curls so that sat just right about my face, resting on my slight shoulders. Biting my lip, I knocked lightly on Edward's door and then pushed it tentatively open.

"Hey," he breathed in his velvet voice, turning away from where he'd been stood at the window. He was shirtless again, his jeans hanging loosely on his waist, his casual stance emphasising the definitions of his muscled chest. The dim moonlight cast shadows across his perfect, angular face, but his green eye's shone in the darkness, his lips moving into a smile as I entered the room. I raised my hand in return, walking over to join him by the window.

"I just came to wish you goodnight," I murmured, glancing away from him and out of the window. Putting my hands flat on the broad windowsill, I leaned forwards to get a better look at the star filled sky, rare in our usually cloudy town, before hoisting myself up to sit on the sill.

"That's nice of you," Edward whispered, stepping closer to me, resting his hands on either side of me. "How were you going to wish me goodnight exactly?"

I looked up at him, ignoring the wild skittering dance my heart was doing and the screaming of my mind. I kept my face impassive; my eye's innocent as I stared up at him. He shut his eyes briefly and took a deep breath.

"You know," he whispered, his lips brushing my ear. "It drives me insane when you do that."

"Do what?" I whispered back in a non chalant tone, trying to keep my breathing under control despite his closeness and the seductive edge to his voice. I sat perfectly still, as if I were stone.

"Act like you don't care, like you're not interested," he breathed, moving even closer, my heart thudding as his hips brushed against my bare legs. "Everyone else was going crazy over me, but not you. No, you just looked away, not interested."

He paused then, leaning his head back a little so he could look at my face. Still doing my impression of a stone sculpture, I kept my face set into that same unimpressed expression he was talking about, making him chuckle.

"There's the look," he whispered. "You know Cassandra, that's what really attracted me to you."

I stopped breathing. I couldn't remember how. Something about inhaling and exhaling but I couldn't quite grasp how it was done. My brain wasn't working anymore. I was running on impulse.

"I know how I can say goodnight," I found myself saying as he watched me, his eye's smouldering. Slowly, I lifted one hand to his face and pulled him down to my level before closing my eyes and lightly pressing my lips to his.

So- things WILL get steamy in the next chapter. If you're really nice and review I'll make it extra hot :P

P.S- If there's any spelling mistakes etc then I'm really sorry, I'm practically dyslexic and I find it really hard to check my own work over, as I just miss my mistakes.

Love to all