Thank you for reading, and bigger thanks for those who dropped a review. I apologize for the delay in the previous chapter. I hope this one came up soon enough, well, sooner than the last time, at the least.

Yeah, and if you're looking for a serious read, this is not the story for you. I'm just blabbing, as usual.

Disclaimer: All characters, plots, and settings related to Twilight are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended by the author.

Chapter Eight

Party in a Box

I was almost on the main road when I slowed down my pace. I tried not to look behind me, but I was hoping Edward would follow me here. If not, then I'm in big trouble. Although I did say I'd walk home, that was never my intention. I doubt my legs, and the ratty soles of my good old Chucks, could withstand that kind of physical torment.

A relieved sigh escaped my lips when I heard the sound of hurried footsteps at my tail. Thank God. I was already imagining myself warm inside the Volvo speeding and laughing away, leaving only a shower of dust in this hostile territory (although this was unlikely to happen since the roads are mostly wet from the constant rain, but whatever).

"What the hell was that all about?" Edward asked as he caught up with me.

I turned around, exhausted but still quite upset. "I just want to go home, Edward. You wouldn't listen. Can we go now, please?"

"What? I wouldn't listen? So you felt compelled to break up with me in public?"

I rolled my eyes. "I wouldn't call it breaking up. We're not together at the first place."

"That's not the point! You did it in front of everyone who thought we were, you called me names, and you threw a freaking soda can at me! It wasn't even empty!" He motioned toward his soda-soaked shirt. I surely wouldn't be apologizing for that; my attack was provoked.

"That's just it, Edward. We were supposed to be together. Were we together?"

No answer. Good. He must have realized what a jerk he was.

"No, we weren't together, were we?"

"But I told you, I was just talking to some guys for a few minutes," A few minutes? "I haven't gone home and left you without a ride. Why are you so mad?" He looked genuinely baffled; I was starting to get a headache.

"Because you left me all alone!" I almost wailed. Gordon Bennett, do I really have to say it out loud? "You're my only friend here, and you left me all alone!"

It was quiet for a long moment. I didn't have anything else to say. What could I say after admitting I was some sort of a social retard? And from the look on Edward's face, he seemed to be having a conversation with himself inside his head. I let him be. And then, "Oh," he breathed.

There he went with that single syllable interjection again.

He sighed exasperatedly. "This is not working as I'd planned," he mumbled.

See, I did know he had an evil unannounced plan. Damn him. "What was the plan, Edward?"

He shook his head. "There was no plan. I just… I thought you'd have fun here. I did suspect being here in La Push would make you feel uneasy, but I hoped the party would be a good idea."

And because I was beyond exhausted now, I didn't bother enumerating the reasons why it was impossible for me to have fun in La Push in the company of every party kid in Olympic Peninsula. The list is just too long. Saying he was my only friend was humiliating enough for me, although he should have figured out that anything that has to do with Jacob Black isn't fun in my book, or with Leah Clearwater, for that matter… or Paul, Sam, that blonde guy who was a total snob – practically every party kid in Olympic Peninsula.

"My resistance on coming here should have been an obvious enough clue that you thought wrong," I said. I let out a breath. "Can we go now? Please?" I pleaded.

"This is still about Jake, isn't it?"

I could see the pity again in his eyes. "No," I said, getting defensive. Well, this time it really wasn't. I haven't even seen Jacob in the crowd. Surprisingly, I was a little hurt Edward would think that. Was I really that pathetic to him that I'd still be that much affected at the sight of Jacob? That was a big possibility. The worse part was I could understand his reasoning if he did think of me as such, but it still hurt nonetheless. It didn't feel good to have someone know how weak you are.

He nodded. His head was down as he kicked small rocks at my direction.

I was glad he didn't ask further about it, although I noticed he hasn't apologized yet.

"Will you be okay if I stick with you then?" he asked.

"What?"

"If I don't leave your side… will you be okay?" he asked tentatively. He was still looking at the ground.

Would I? Maybe. It didn't matter, anyway. What was done was done. I shrugged.

He peered into my face through his lashes, his head still down.

"I would have felt better, yes," I admitted.

He nodded. "Do you… would you like to give it another try? We could go back out there, and you can try to have fun…"

I winced. Have fun? That was the least thing in my mind. Moreover, the words he said earlier still echoed inside my brain like an annoying infomercial on the radio. You don't want to be a subject of humiliation, do you? Did he really mean I was embarrassing to be with? He wouldn't want to bring me here if that was the case, would he?

I shook my head. "I can have fun on my own, Edward. You don't have to risk your face of being in shame in my company just so I could have fun. I'd probably go curl up in bed and read a good book, and that will be more than enough to bring a smile on my face. Go and party with your prigs." My voice sounded cold. I avoided his gaze, sad and a little guilty at the same time… and probably also proud? My pride wanted me to stop letting anyone make me feel bad.

He nodded. It was quiet for a while. "Bella?"

"What?" Please don't go back there.

"I'm not ashamed of you… or to be with you. I must have said it all wrong. I never had a girl talk to me like that before, not in public, anyway. This may sound incredibly shallow, but it was mortifying for me, and I panicked, and I just wanted you to stay and shut up but I didn't want to shout at you either," he babbled on, his hand going through his hair over and over, "but you wouldn't shut up, and everyone was listening and watching us, and I didn't know why you were being so insistent and upset and difficult..." He sighed before finally looking up at me, resigned yet frustrated. "Why didn't you just shut up, Bella?"

I returned his stare. "Why didn't you just listen to me and take me home, Edward?"

We stared intensely at each other for a whole minute, and it felt like there should have been colorful beams of laser shooting through our eyes clashing in the middle like the big bang theory. Neither of us wanted to give up. Well, not until he did. His column of light suddenly evaporated.

"I messed this up, huh?" he said, his voice small.

I nodded.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I should have made sure you were alright before I wandered off."

Finally! I really did think he'd never apologize. Although he was probably unaware of just how bad I felt earlier, I was glad he felt a little self-reproach.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked, perplexed. "I feel like shit here."

"I was waiting for you to say that."

"What? I feel like shit here?"

I laughed. "Well, that one, too, but I meant the other one."

"Oh."

Huh. The Edward Cullen trinity of Oh's. I rolled my eyes. "It wouldn't kill you to say it again, Edward."

"I'm sorry, Bella."

It was a split second later that he suddenly clasped his chest, his body slowly lowering to the ground. His face creased like he was in severe pain. Shit! What the…? I was momentarily lost in dread and panic. I was about to rush to help him and do something – anything (I wasn't quite sure exactly what, though) – when I realized his prank. Huh. The guy could act.

I took a step back and glowered at him. "Nice, Cullen. Are you that devoid of any sense of repentance that it pains you to say sorry?" Jeez, give me a heart attack, why don't you?

He looked up at me at his position on the ground, grinning like a loon. Well, he is a loon. "I'm just playing with you. Plus, I did say I'm sorry, didn't I? Even if it pains me." He let out a chuckle as he stood up. "You're too uptight," he said, his eyes narrowing at me.

"Just because I'd rather not have anyone dying in front of me does not mean I'm not a fun person. Your infantile antic wasn't funny at all."

He rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath that I couldn't hear. Then he let out a sigh and said, "Okay, I think that's enough anxiety for the day." He fished out his car keys from his jeans pocket and smiled at me. "Let's go home?"

There were no words that could be sweeter.

"So, I heard you went to La Push today. Did you have fun?" my dad asked at dinner that night.

"Yeah, sure," I said, before shoving a mouthful of fish into my mouth.

"That's great, Bells. I'm glad you and Jake are back on track. It's been years."

Er, what? "Um… no, I was with Edward, dad."

"Edward? Edward Cullen?"

I instantly looked up at him. Something in my dad's voice told me he was surprised and… disapproving? I wasn't sure. Perhaps it was because I haven't brought Edward to meet him yet? Or was it because he has already met him, and doesn't like him?

My mom reassuringly smiled at me from across the table. "Edward's a good boy, Charlie, and Carlisle and Esme are both wonderful people," she said.

I found myself nodding at this. Edward wasn't as bad as some kids I know, and his parents are like, from Pleasantville.

"Carlisle? Dr. Cullen is Carlisle now?"

Uh-oh. This was more than just about Edward. My eyes bounced from one parent to another. What is going on with these two?

"Charlie," my mom chided.

My dad just harrumphed, and went on with the rest of the meal in silence.

My mom and I were out Sunday morning for our weekly grocery shopping again. Renee no longer sang on the way. I should have been grateful for that, but instead it left me feeling anxious. She didn't even go straight to the display of baked goodies like she normally does, which added up to my anxiety.

I was on the poultry aisle getting a dozen of eggs when Jessica spotted me.

"Bella," she said, her basket under her arm filled with skin care cosmetics. "I'm sorry it didn't work out between you and Edward Cullen. Don't feel too bad, though. That guy has some kind of like one-month due date when it comes to dating girls, or something. I should have warned you."

She looked veritably sorry for me I was lost for words for a second. "Um… Jess…"

"It's okay, Bella. You'll get over it." She gently patted my arm before walking away.

I'm sorry, what?

That afternoon Edward came by. I was out of the door before he could get out of his car, curious what he was up to this time. He didn't call beforehand.

"What's that?" I asked, meeting him halfway on the front lawn. He was carrying a huge cardboard box with him.

He beamed at me. "This is your party in a box."

"What?"

He walked pass me, entered the house, and placed the box on the floor by the stairs. "I'll take it back whenever you're done." He was already outside just as I stepped in. "I have to go. I just wanted to drop that here," he said.

I stood there at the front porch, puzzled and a bit impressed he could carry such big box without losing his breath. "Um… thanks," I muttered, not really sure what I was thanking for.

"You're welcome." He smiled as he walked back towards his car. He turned to me before he got in. "Have fun, Bella."

I nodded and watched him go. When he was out of my sight, I hurriedly went over to his personally delivered package and opened the box. The first thing I saw, on top, was a quilt. It was clean and soft and mostly pale green in color, and judging by the fresh smell of fabric softener, I bet it was newly washed. I pulled it out, and saw bags of chips and cookies next. There was even a six-pack of Coke. What? I was confused, and amused, as I drew each goodie out. Then I saw what was on the bottom of the box – books. There were more than a dozen of old and new, hardbound and paperback books, its unique smell diffusing from the box. I saw some familiar classic titles, and others that were quite new and interesting to me. Huh.

I stood there looking down at the books and chips and drinks and cookies with the sweet-smelling quilt on my shoulders feeling pretty happy. Party in a box. How fitting.

I didn't feel like going to work Monday morning. I was nearly done with one book Edward lent me, and has eaten two large bags of chips. I have stayed in bed wrapped in the quilt since the day before, making me feel like a lazy pig, in a good and overindulgent way. I packed the book in my backpack and decided to finish reading it at the store. I also added a can of Coke.

I was yet again surprised when I saw Edward in front of my house before I left for work. The memory of opening the box yesterday filled my brain, and so I happily walked over to him with a smile on my face. "Hey, thanks for the… um… the books… and the… um… the whole 'party in the box' thing," I stuttered. I didn't know exactly why I was nervous, or blushing then.

"Sure," he said. He opened the front passenger seat of his car. "Get in. I'll drive you to Newton's."

"Um…" I looked up at him, wondering what brought this on – the box yesterday, and now… "Edward, you don't have to. I can drive myself."

He sighed. "I know. Just… let me." I just noticed then that he looked a little distressed and upset.

"Are you okay?"

"Get in, Bella."

Confused, I complied and got in the car.

"Do you know some kids thought we've broken up?" he asked as we were speeding away from the house.

"They do?" Then I remembered my encounter with Jessica at the grocery store. "Oh, yeah, Jessica told me something like that yesterday."

"They deduced we split up because of what happened Saturday at La Push."

Oops. Was that it? Was he upset with me because of what I said and did that day? "Edward, I…"

"And you know what I found out?" he went on. "They made a bet on me… if I could make this relationship last for more than a month. They made a fucking bet on me, those… those… prigs!"

Hmm. He borrowed my word – prigs.

"And with what happened at the party, they thought we've broken up and they're all being snooty about it, because apparently they all expected it!"

I wracked my brain to think of something to say to that, but I came up with a blank. It was moot, anyway, since Edward continued talking.

"Can you believe it? They said it was bound to happen sooner than later. They mentioned something about an expiry date or some shit, and made me look like a bastard who can't even keep a girl for a sensible period of time."

I wanted to remind Edward that that was partially true. I mean, he did tell me about his ex-girlfriends, and how he feels suffocated being with a girl for a long time, but I had to bite my tongue from saying it out loud. I doubt my reminder would be helpful at the moment.

"I mean, sure, I don't have the best record of relationships, but I'm not some sick psycho who gets a kick in playing with a girl's emotions like others do, and I never made out with anyone else behind my girlfriend's back…"

Did he really have to mention that?

Obviously those prigs hit a nerve. Or perhaps it was the fact that those prigs, whoever they are, made a bet on him that bothered Edward. He was supposed to be Mr. Popularity, and yet everyone thought he could never make a relationship work.

Edward kept talking for some time. I wondered if he drove me to work to have someone to talk to about this, and I found myself thinking what I could say to make him feel better. He did let me borrow his books, and the quilt, and gave me food galore just so I could 'have fun'.

We were both quiet when we finally arrived. I stayed inside the car, still searching for some comforting words to say.

He sighed, looking straight ahead through the windshield. "You should go inside," he said softly.

I turned to him. "Edward," I said. "You're better than most guys I know, and you know that. You said so yourself. You're actually… um… a good guy… a good friend."

He nodded, but said nothing.

Well, I tried. I tugged my bag, ready to step out of the car. With the door open, I turned back to Edward and smiled at him. "Hey, stop sulking. It's not like those prigs won the bet. We did not break up, did we? Whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me for five more months." Then I got out and head inside the store.

Mike was there by the counter, like any other day, but this morning his eyes were shining. He grinned at me. "Good morning, Bella. So, what do you say about that dinner date we talked about?"

Ugh. That again. Mike evidently heard the gossip of Edward and me splitting up, and believed it. "Mike, I don't think…"

I was just about to say no to Mike for the hundredth time when I felt a hand on my arm. I turned around and saw Edward standing there with a small smile on his lips. "Hey," he said. His voice was almost a whisper.

"Hey," I whispered back. Why we were whispering, I wasn't sure. It was like he was about to share a secret.

I was still looking up at him when he did the unthinkable. In a blink of an eye, he was suddenly so close to me. I felt his hand touching my face, and at that moment it felt like I had to close my eyes, and so I did. And although some part of my brain knew it was about to happen, the feel of his lips on mine surprised me. The kiss was soft and slow and almost hesitant, and it was over before I could think what to do. A couple of blinks and I opened my eyes to his green ones, his face still so close. I sucked in a deep breath.

"I'll pick you up by five?" he asked, still whispering.

I nodded, speechless. He gave me a small crooked smile before he swung about and left.

When Edward was out of the door, I turned around and found myself face to face with Mike. The dumbfounded expression on his face must have been a reflection of mine.

Holy smoke, what just happened?