Disclaimer: Do I really have to write one of these for every chapter? I'm not clear on the rules here.

Chapter 11

La Push

The first time you wake up in an unfamiliar room it is scary and disorienting. Your heart races and you go through all of the terrible things that could have possibly happened to you the night before. The second time you wake up in an unfamiliar room it is just annoying. All you can think is, not again.

Unlike my previous experience, I had not consumed any alcohol the night before and was able to remember the events leading up to me waking up in an unfamiliar place. I was at Edwards' parents house. Judging by the fact that the room looked lived in, I was in Edward's room, again.

I remembered falling asleep while watching the movie. Well, not really. I remembered being really tired and then I didn't remember anything else so I must have fallen asleep. Edward must have carried me up here. Damn. That was the second time that he had carried me and I hadn't managed to be conscious for either occasion.

I rolled over and bumped into something. The something groaned and moved. I turned on my other side to look at what had been lying next to me.

While I had been wrapped up in the thick comforter, Edward had fallen asleep on top of the blankets. He was still in his clothes from the night before.

Edward opened his eyes and looked at me. He blinked a few times, as if trying to determine whether or not he was actually awake.

For a moment I tried not to think to hard and just absorb the fact that I was waking up next to Edward. His beautiful green eyes were shining in the ridiculously bright light of his bedroom. I smiled to myself. I had a theory that Edward just rolled out of bed in the morning; taking one glance at his hair I was able to prove myself correct.

"It's morning, isn't it?" he asked me. His face looked tentative, as of he was awaiting anger of some sort to come from me.

I nodded.

Edward sat up and was suddenly on the other side of the room, head in his hands, and his back to me. "Oh god, Bella. I am so sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen."

I sat myself up on the bed. "For what to happen, Edward?"

Edward blindly gestured at the bed. "I didn't mean to fall asleep. When I brought you up here last night I had meant to go and sleep in one of the guest rooms, but when I put you down—well—you had a pretty firm grip on me. You wouldn't let go."

I blushed. I imagined that I also may have said something, but I doubted that Edward would tell me if I had.

"I thought that I could wait until you let go, but I must have been more tired than I thought." Edward's face was still covered by his hands. "I am so sorry."

I got up out of the bed, hoping that if I moved away from it then Edward would calm down a little bit. I smoothed out the now very crumpled dress and ran my fingers through my tangled hair.

"Edward," I said plainly, "I don't mind. Don't be embarrassed. It's perfectly fine. What I am concerned about is what I am going to tell my father."

Edward dropped his hands and turned to look at me. "My mom called your dad last night. She said that you and Alice were exhausted and were going to stay in one of the guest rooms. She was half right, Alice stayed in the guest room, with Jasper." Edward rolled his eyes. He was beginning to relax a little.

"Emmett and Rose?" I asked.

"Disappeared to god knows where," Edward said. "I didn't want to know, and I still don't."

"That's twice now," I said, referring to my narcolepsy. "I seem to fall asleep a lot when I am around you." If I didn't tease him then he would go back to being guilty.

Edward laughed softly. A delicate smile played across his lips. I was missing something.

"It's weird," I went on, "I am not the kind of person who falls asleep anywhere. I really can only sleep in my own bed. I am usually to nervous to sleep anywhere else."

"I guess that means that I just make you comfortable," Edward said.

"Yeah," I agreed. "You do."

********

It was incredibly sunny that day and it was decided that, after Alice and I had a trip back home to change clothes, that we would all go down to the beach at La Push. I hadn't been on the reservation since I was twelve and old enough to stay home alone when Charlie went off on his fishing trips in the summer.

As usual, Rose and Emmett were already down on the beach when we got there. Rose was sprawled out on a blanket, reading what looked like a romance novel. Emmett was off some distance tossing a football in the air and catching it.

It was the sunniest day that I could ever remember Forks having, so I took the opportunity and spent a few hours laying on my stomach, soaking in the sun and reading Dune, which I had only picked up on Edward's request that I mix some science fiction into my diet.

Rose nudged me in the arm. "Hey, I heard that Edward never made it back down the stairs last night. What happened?"

"Nothing," I shrugged. "I was asleep."

"But he was still there when you woke up, huh?"

How did she know this? I hadn't even told Alice.

"Um, yeah. He was. It was no big deal. Edward was a little embarrassed, but," I shrugged, not really sure how to finish my sentence.

"Alright, fine." Rose smiled coyly. "Be that way." Rose moved away from me still smiling.

I felt confused. I really hadn't said anything to anyone about what had happened. That meant, that either Alice had just put a few pieces together, or that Edward had told Emmett or Jasper what had happened.

I looked over at the boys. They were playing catch some distance off with Emmett's football. I could see that Edward was talking quite a bit while the other two just listened. Part of me wanted to get closer to hear just what Edward was talking to them about, but I had the feeling that if I went over there, then Edward would stop talking.

I sighed, deciding that I was imagining things again and went back to my book.

********

"Bella."

I looked up, startled out from between the pages of my book. Edward was crouching in front of me, looking an awful lot like a lion about to pounce on its prey. He was smiling.

"What?"

"I was wondering of you wanted to get away from these goofballs," Edward nodded over to our friends who had been occupied for the last hour trying to bury Emmett in the sand, "and go for a walk with me down on the beach. There was—uh—something that I wanted to talk to you about." Edward's smile wavered as his said that last bit.

Uh oh, I thought. That can't be good. I'm screwed.

"Sure," I smiled.

Edward helped me to my feet and watched as I brushed the sand off of myself. I hate sand.

We started to head north, slowly meandering up the coastline. Edward said nothing for a while. I just waited for the bomb to drop.

"Bella," he began. I could hear the resignation in his voice. I tried not to cringe. "Bella, I am really sorry about what happened last night."

"Edward," I let out a sigh of relief, "I told you already; I'm not upset. Stop worrying."

"I just—I just didn't want to give you the wrong idea." Edward's eyes were watching our feet.

My heart fell. Oh, he didn't want to give me the wrong idea. Right. "You didn't," I replied honestly. "I know you better than that."

Edward laughed. He looked up at me and I could see the relief in his eyes. "Good. I was afraid that I might have screwed up the dynamic of our friendship."

I internally cringed at that stupid word.

"I just didn't want to affect what we have."

So what he's saying is: he likes us the way we are. Nothing more.

"You didn't," I smiled again. I was getting really good at covering my emotions when it came to Edward.

As Edward and I walked I became aware of two figures that were walking south down the beach, approaching us. As we drew closer I could make out that the two extremely tall figures were boys who probably lived on the reservation.

When we were at a distance of fifty yards I began to grow nervous. The shorter of the two elbowed the taller one in the ribs and said something to him. The taller one grinned evilly at us. "Hey Cullen," he shouted. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"It's a free country," Edward shouted back condescendingly. "I can be here if I want to."

"Oh," the taller boy kept advancing on us, "we'll see about that."

Edward grinned cockily. "Bella, move," he muttered to me. I moved away from Edward as quickly as I could. I had never seen Edward pick a fight with someone and I wasn't sure if he would be able to win against this exceptionally tall person.

The tall boy barreled toward Edward, his friend just kept walking at a normal pace, smiling. Edward stood his ground until the last moment, moving out of the way just in time, tripping the boy. He tumbled over and landed on his back in the sand. Edward put his foot on the boy's chest and smiled down at him empirically.

"Ha," was all Edward said.

"Fine, you win," the boy grimaced. "This time."

Edward took his foot away and offered a hand to help the boy up. To my surprise the boy took it.

"As I recall, I won last time to. And the time before that."

The boy sneered and knocked the sand off of himself.

"You may be stronger than me, Jacob, but I am smarter than you." Edward laughed and clapped this Jacob on the shoulder, the way one would greet an old friend.

By that point the other boy was upon us. "Hey Edward," he said, giving Edward a good spirited punch in the arm.

"Hey Seth. Long time no see."

"Well, you have been off at school, man. It's not we are going to drive all the way out there to go and see you."

"I think we should," Jacob said, he was eyeing me. "The girls seem to be much hotter where you are."

Edward laughed and turned to me, motioning me over. "Guys, this is Bella. She's chief Swan's daughter. Bella, this is Seth Clearwater and Jacob Black."

"Hi," I waved shyly at the towering boys.

"Bella and I already know each other," Jacob said looking smug.

"You do?" Edward asked me rather than Jacob. I shrugged.

"Yeah, we go way back, Bella and I." Jacob smiled at me. "I didn't recognize you without mud in your hair."

I narrowed my eyes at Jacob. I remembered him all right. He was the annoying son of Billy Black, Charlie's best friend. I had been elated when I had found out that I didn't have to go down to the reservation anymore, mostly because it meant that I wouldn't be forced to play with Jacob anymore.

Jacob laughed at my scowl. "I see you do remember me."

Edward laughed to.

"Where's Jasper?" Seth asked.

Edward pointed behind us. "Back there with his girlfriend."

"Hey is—" Jacob wolf whistled and moved his hands to simulate a curvy torso, "—with him?"

Edward made a disgusted face. "If I am to assume that by that crude gesture you meant Rosalie, then yes she is there to."

"Excellent," Jacob said. "Hey Seth, lets go down and visit the Hale's and leave Edward alone with his girl." Jacob started off in the direction that Edward and I had come from.

Seth rolled his eyes and gave me an apologetic look and followed after his friend.

Once they were gone Edward laughed and shook his head.

"You're not going to tell him about Emmett?" I asked.

"No," Edward was sill laughing. "Let the little twerp find out for himself. C'mon," Edward gestured me forward. "I wanted to show you the tide pools."

We angled toward the ocean and I realized that Edward was drawing me toward a mass of rocks that were along the shore.

"Tide pools?" I asked skeptically.

I watched as Edward leapt from the sand up onto the first rock. I smelled an accident on the horizon.

Edward held out his hand to me. "I'll help you. Don't worry; I wont let anything happen to you."

I placed my hand in Edward's. "Promise?"

"Promise." Edward grabbed my hand tightly and pulled me up onto the rock he was standing on.

I landed mere few inches away from him. So close that all I would have to do would be to stand on my tiptoes and I would be kissing him. No Bella, don't think about kissing him.

"Steady?" Edward asked.

"Yup," I lied.

Edward let go of my hand and leapt across to the next rock. He turned back and slowly helped my make my way across to where he was standing.

This was treacherous. The rocks that weren't filled with puddles were covered in seaweed. I knew that Edward was just fighting fate, I was going to fall sooner or later.

Edward showed me all of the little things that were living in the tide pools. He pointed out the crabs and the tiny fish that would get stuck there when the tide went out.

He showed me this green creature that I thought was a flower. Edward told me to stick my finger in its center. If Edward hadn't guessed my reaction I would have fallen over backwards when the green thing closed up around my finger. Edward had chuckled softly in my ear, holding me up.

We made our way back toward the sand. The firm ground. I got a little too excited when I got close. I didn't wait to see if Edward was near me and I went to step across a rock without help. The rock I put my foot on wobbled. I quickly stepped back onto the previous rock, but I lost my balance and fell forward. I caught myself on my hands, suspended between two rocks and a pond.

"Bella," Edward shouted, his voice frantic. "Are you all right?"

"Well," I said. "I'm not wet."

I pushed myself back up onto my feet and winced at the pain. That was not good. I found another rock to lean against, afraid to put any weight on my ankle.

Edward was at my side in a second. He helped me over the last few rocks and sat me down on the last one, kneeling before me in the sand. He gently pulled my shoe off and took my sock with it.

"Wiggle your toes for me," he said, looking stern.

I wiggled my toes for him a little more than necessary. I was trying to prove that nothing was wrong before I had to argue it.

He touched certain parts of my foot and ankle. "Does this hurt?"

"No," I shook my head. "It's fine. Look," I rolled my ankle around. It hurt a bit, but not like I had broken anything. "I just tweaked it. I've done it before."

My words couldn't coax the concerned look out of Edward's eyes. He wouldn't stop frowning.

"What's the matter?" I sighed.

"I just feel bad. I promised that I wouldn't let anything happen to you." His voice sounded a little sad.

"Edward, nothing happened to me."

"Yes, you got hurt," his voice was indignant.

"Yeah, it's not like this is the first time that I've done this," I wiggled my foot, hiding my wince at the pain. "I just need to keep off of it for a few hours and I will be fine. If I don't put any pressure on it I should be as good as new tomorrow morning."

Edward was still looking at my foot, which he was cradling in his hands. "I should take you home," he said quietly.

"Edward, no." I took my foot away and pulled my sock and shoe back on. "I am staying here and having fun with everybody else."

Edward smiled at my stubbornness. "Fine," he sighed standing up.

"Well," I put my hands on Edward's shoulders to help me stand up on my one good foot, "we better get going if I am going to hobble back down the beach before the sun goes down." The sky was already orange and purple.

Edward shook his head. He turned around and hoisted my up onto his back.

"Edward," I grumbled, "you are not going to be able to carry me all the way back like this."

"Bella, last night I carried you up two flights of stairs while you were unconscious. I think I can manage to carry you half a mile down a flat beach."

"Fine." I got a better grip on his shoulders, unconsciously pressing my chest into his back.

Edward took a deep breath, squeezed the under side of my knees and started off down the beach.

I had to admit that it was kinda fun. I hadn't ridden on anybody's back since Charlie said I had gotten too big. I teased Edward by calling him my horsey, to which he obligingly neighed.

It didn't take long before I could make out six figures on the beach. From what I could tell Jacob seemed to be bothering Rosalie and Alice while Seth played catch with Emmett and Jasper. As we approached I saw Emmett staring at us then he leaned over to say something to Jasper. Jasper gave Emmett and hard look and hit him on the back on the head with the football.

I told myself to thank Jasper later, no matter what Emmett had said.

Before Emmett could make a comment to either of us Edward said, "She fell and twisted her ankle." No misconceptions about the nature of Edward's and my relationship allowed. If I can't have them then nobody can.

Edward sat me down on a log next to the fire pit. "Take your shoe off again. I want to make sure that it's not swelling."

"I'm perfectly fine Edward," I grumbled. I took my shoe off anyway. I couldn't say no to him.

Edward prodded my foot for another few seconds. "Fine. Don't get up. If you want anything then ask somebody. If I see you try to stand up then I am going to take you home."

"Yes mommy," I muttered under my breath.

Edward gave me a cheeky smile. I stuck my tongue out at him.

The boys collected driftwood and dropped it into the fire pit in front of me. Jacob had the fire going before the sun had set all the way.

The darker it got the more I was able to see the stars. Edward dropped a blanket over my shoulders and sat down next to me. He spent the next twenty minuets pointing out the various constellations to me. I tried to follow the paths that Edward's hand traced, but I was lost in the glittering sky.

Jacob started to tell stories. I moved off the log and closer to the fire, leaning against Edward's knees. The smoke wound up high into the sky as Jacob told us the old stories of his ancestors. I could almost see them coming alive in the fire before me.

I had been to so focused on Jacob's story and so entranced by the fire that I hadn't even notice a first when Edward's fingers started to press into the back of my neck. I instinctively leaned my head forward, allowing Edward to work out the kinks in my neck and the knots in my shoulders. It's true what they say; piano players are good with their hands.

Edward kept rubbing my shoulders through Jacob's story and then Emmett's less mystical story, which involved the phrase, 'walked into a bar.'

I leaned my head back onto Edward's knees and smiled up at him. Edward's eyes were dancing in the firelight. He played with my hair for a moment, just smiling at me.

"I think that I should get you home before you fall asleep on me again."

"Mmm." I didn't want to admit that I was tired, but I honestly didn't have the energy to form a sentence.

"C'mon. It's getting late." Edward handed me my shoes and I struggled to put them on. I really was extremely tired.

I made a move to stand up, but was halted by Edward's hands. "No you don't. You are not walking on that ankle."

Oops. I had forgotten all about my accident. If I had gotten up I may have done some more unnecessary damage.

Edward knelt down next to me and wrapped the blanket tighter around my body. I didn't even register Edward's intentions until he had already scooped me up into his arms. I squeaked and grabbed onto his neck for dear life.

I tried hard not to focus on how close I was to Edward. I could feel him everywhere. His heart hammered against my shoulder. I was completely drowned in his smell. I felt dizzy.

It was all over too soon. Edward had managed to get the car door open while still holding me and gently dropped me into the seat.

The last thing I heard before I fell asleep was Alice leaning forward from the back seat to congratulate me for actually being awake this time when Edward had picked me up.

********

"Bella," Edward's soft velvety voice came through the thick fog of my dream.

I opened my eyes to Edward's smiling face. We were sitting in the car. I glanced around and realized that we were parked outside of my house. Alice and Jasper were already out of the car.

"Don't move," Edward said. "I'll come around and get you."

Edward carried me up the front porch, but I insisted on being set down before I opened the door. I did not want Charlie to see Edward carrying me. I would hop.

"Hey dad," I called as Edward helped me through the front door.

"Bells, what happened to you?" Charlie looked frantic for a moment as Edward lowered me onto the couch.

"Nothing dad. I just rolled my ankle. It's no big deal."

"Do you have any of those elastic bandages?" Edward asked my father in an entirely professional tone.

"Yeah," Charlie nodded. He headed up the stairs to the medicine cabinet, taking no notice of Alice and Jasper standing in the kitchen as he passed.

Edward and Jasper were both looking around. I realized that there must be some fascination being inside the chief's house. Much to my dismay, Edward seemed very focused on the mantle over the fireplace.

"How old were you when this was taken?" Edward asked, pointing to a very embarrassing picture of me.

"Uh, 3rd grade."

Edward smiled. "You were precious."

Precious? Who uses the word precious?

Charlie returned with a long flesh colored piece of elastic. I kicked my shoe off again and Edward wrapped the bandage around my foot.

"Too tight?" he asked.

"No, it's perfect. I could have done it myself, you know?"

Edward helped me up onto my feet. "I'm sure that you have had plenty of practice."

I ignored Edward's comment and gently put some weight down on my hurt ankle. No pain. I smiled at Edward. "Good as new."

Edward laughed. He walked over to Charlie and shook his hand. "Chief Swan. It's good to see you again."

Charlie looked slightly flustered. "Oh—wh—It's good to see you to, Edward. Jasper," he nodded to the blond. I doubted that my father had ever had a male under the age of forty in this house.

"We'd better go. Bella needs her sleep. She was unconscious in the car," Edward explained. "I just wanted to make sure that she could get around without my help."

I carefully walked across the living room, heading in the direction of the stairs. "I can handle myself perfectly fine without you," I said indignantly to Edward. He grinned at me. "I'm going to bed."

I started up the first stair.

"Good night, Bella."

I turned to look back at Edward. I couldn't read his smile, nor did I try. "Good night. See you tomorrow."

Alice gave Jasper a quick peck on the cheek and then followed behind me up the stairs as the boys left.

Bella falls asleep, seems to be a popular theme for me. I bet you are all dying to know what she says in her sleep, huh? Well, I haven't written that far with Edward yet so I am not exactly sure. I'm dying to know as well. Well, not dying, but curious to see what my brain will come up with. I'm just rambling.

Jacob being some kind of an idiot is also a popular theme for me. The idea of Jacob and Edward being friends made me snicker, so I had to put it in. As with the idea of Jacob hitting on Rose. After Breaking Dawn that idea was just too funny to pass up. Well, it was too funny for me anyway. Whatever.

Every one seems so impatient for Edward to man up and ask Bella out. You can only imagine how Bella feels. Well, you only have two more chapters so the wait will soon be over.

Thanks for reading! :)