"So it's on the environment. Biodegradable stuff and—stuff."
Edward nodded and flipped through a book on going green. "Yeah. How are we going to do this? Are we going to do an experiment or just research or both?"
I shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe we could—I don't know."
"What did you find out when you were in the dumpster?"
What had I found out?
"That all garbage smells," I muttered. "Decomposable or biodegradable or not."
He laughed through his nose and flipped another page. "Emmett and his partner, I forget his name, they're doing something on reflecting light." He paused. "You know Emmett, right?"
"Oh, yeah, mhmm." I nodded. "Football team Emmett?"
"Football team Emmett," he confirmed.
"Right, right." I took a sip of my drink. "He's pretty hot."
For a few seconds, he stared at me, and I stared back, wondering why he was staring. Then I realized I had been speaking out loud, instead of just thinking.
"Oh shit," I said, putting my hands over my mouth. "I didn't—I meant to think that. I mean, I didn't actually think it, it just sort of came out."
He didn't say anything.
"Not that he's not hot," I added quickly. "I mean, I guess he is, but you're okay too. I mean, I wasn't thinking that either, I just..."
Wow.
Blushing furiously, I glared down at my book. Darn it. Darn it darn it darn it.
That was when Alice, who had abandoned the two of us to grab something to eat at McDonalds, plopped down beside me, pinching my side as she did so. She couldn't have had better timing. Or maybe she could have. Before I had informed Edward that his best friend was pretty hot.
"Hey, Bella. Edward." She was already wolfing down her fries. Alice looked at me again. "Bella, have you told Edward yet?"
Now both of them were looking at me. I chewed on the straw of my drink. "Told him what?" I asked.
"About you, me, him and Jasper going to that restaurant over the weekend?" Under the table she nudged my foot with hers. "You know the one."
It took me a second.
"Oh," I said finally. "Oh oh oh. Right, um, no, I forgot."
"Well, Edward." Alice leaned over the table while still eating her fries. "I booked us a reservation at this really nice place. The four of us. I had already invited Bella, but I knew she wouldn't want to come along as a third wheel. And, since you're my brother, you have to come. It's, like, not even a question."
Edward, who had just been staring at Alice as she blabbed on about this, said, "Oh. Okay. Well, I guess I'll be able to come. Where is it?"
Alice picked at a loose thread on her T-shirt. "Vino."
She was referring to the brand new, formal and expensive, Italian restaurant. I remembered faintly hearing Rosalie talk to her clones about trying to get her dad to book her a reservation at it, but not being able to get one until sometime in the summer. Apparently this restaurant was owned by a very famous chef.
"Vino," I echoed. "You were able to get a reservation at Vino. Why can't we just go to, like, a diner on the freeway or something?"
"Because this is more proper and better for discussion!" she exclaimed. "Plus, my mom's second cousin's sister's daughter is one of the hostesses there, and she knows the chef personally." She paused, and then, as if we were not clear on this part, said, "Personally," again.
"That'll be..." Edward was searching for the right word. "Nice."
"It will!" Alice nodded enthusiastically. "Very nice, actually." And then: "Very."
A/N: Woooow, guys, I'm really really sorry I haven't updated in weeks. But there's been a few things going on that haven't really been good for me. I'll be trying to update more now, that school is out, but I really really AM sorry.
And I know this is short, but I want the next part to be a chapter all by itself. I really think you guys will like the next chapter. =D