Edward's POV

I thought back to my conversation with Bella.

I'd pulled her to the side. We both had study hall this period, so it didn't matter where we went.

"Edward? What's up?" she asked.

I gave her a sardonic smile. "You know what."

She grinned. "So you've finally admitted it to yourself? Tell me, how long have you known?"

I sighed, sinking onto the bench seat beside her. "I'm not entirely sure. Shortly after Alice and I started dating I guess."

"And how long ago was that?"

I grimaced. "About two years."

She blew out a breath. "Wow. I don't know whether to congratulate you for fooling everybody for so long, or to smack you stupid for lying to yourself for all this time."

"Speaking of which, how did you figure it out?" This was the one question I had no answer for.

Bella rolled her eyes. "Oh please. Give me some credit. I've spent almost my entire life living with my gay brother. And about half of that time, he spent dating James. On top of that, I'm bi. I've dated girls. The only reason I can think that you were able to fool everybody else for so long, is that one, you yourself refused to acknowledge it, and two, no one in your family had ever met an LGBTQ person before."

"LGBTQ?"

She rolled her eyes again. "Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer. For a gay dude, you sure are clueless when it comes to your own community."

"Hey, I've been repressing for two years, cut me some slack."

Bella snickered. "Yeah. Right. See you later Edward."

I chuckled. "Bye. Oh, Bella?"

She turned back. "More confessions?" Her lips twitched.

I grinned. "Thanks."

She beamed. "Anytime."

Bella headed to another row of picnic tables and I hurried off to meet Jasper before the lunch bell rang.

Only now that I thought about it, when we had been talking, sometimes when she would shift her weight, or move her arms, she would wince ever so slightly. And I had just been so confused, and so relieved to have someone to talk to, that I hadn't noticed these little cues until now.

Some friend I was.

Then again, Bella's prediction from the day before was, so far, correct. We were getting along fine; more than fine, really.

There was a knock on my door, and Bella poked her head in.

"Hey, can I come inside?" she asked.

I grinned. "Sure."

She eased herself into the room, and instead of standing around awkwardly, or coming to sit next to me like I expected her to, she began perusing my seemingly endless CD collection.

"Quite the collection," Bella commented.

"Any favorites?"

Bella looked closer. "How do you have these organized?"

"Alphabetically by album."

She selected a few and brought them over to my couch. She had Daughtry, Breaking Benjamin, Nickelback, Theory of a Deadman, and Skillet.

"Jasper's collection is better," she remarked.

I stared at her incredulously. "Half of his collection is nothing but country."

Bella smirked. "Exactly."

"I never would have pegged you for a country fan," I answered.

Bella shrugged. "Well I am. Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, and Colt Ford; especially Colt Ford." Her eyes were alight with excitement.

I blinked. "Colt Ford? Really?"

I had never been a country fan. To be fair, I did find some Rascal Flatts tolerable, but Colt Ford…I shuddered.

Bella caught this, her mouth quirking in amusement.

"Not a country lover, I take it?"

I vehemently shook my head.

She snickered. "Well, that's why I'm with Jasper."

"And here I was thinkin' it was because of my devilish good looks and southern charm."

We turned to find Jasper leaning against the doorjamb, smirking at his girlfriend.

Bella grinned. "Yeah, that might be part of it."

Jasper sauntered over and swung her up in his arms, carrying her out of the room.

"We'll continue this later Bella," I called. "We need to have a serious talk about your music preferences!"

Her retreating laughter floated into the room.

. . .

BPOV

I was still laughing at Edward's last comment by the time we reached the third floor.

Jasper carried me into his room, sprawling us on his bed. He rubbed my arms and kissed my face, following the line of my scar until he reached my lips.

I sighed, and he took the opportunity to thrust his tongue into my mouth. He was warm, wet, and addicting; his kisses drugging me.

All too soon for my taste, we had to break away to breath.

Damn oxygen.

Jasper laughed at my grimace, but when I gave him the Bambi yes, he crumbled. I smirked against his lips in victory. He pulled back to stare at me.

"You played me." It wasn't a question.

I brushed my fingers over his lips, and he smiled, kissing my hand.

"I wouldn't say played," I hedged, "but yeah, I did."

I started to pull back, but he trapped my hand in his, and rolling over, pulled me with him.

I curled into his chest, and he played with my hair. I closed my eyes, the feel of his fingers combing through my hair incredibly soothing. I was boneless in my relaxation. I could've taken a nap right there. I hummed my contentment and nuzzled my face into his chest.

"How did you know?" The vibrations in his chest from him speaking tickled my ear.

"How did you not know?" I countered.

I could hear the smirk in his voice when he answered, "Touché."

"Maybe it's because I'm a fresh pair of eyes. I didn't know Edward, so I saw what you all had missed. And, of course, I grew up with a gay brother."

Jasper was silent for a moment, and then he responded, "I'm not surprised. I don't think any of us are, really. Except Alice. We were always asking ourselves, as well as him, how he could possibly stand her. She has a way of getting under everybody's skin, especially Edward. And they never held any common interests. Alice wanted Edward to use his piano playing to 'get somewhere.' They'd always fight because, to him, it was just a hobby, something he enjoyed."

He smiled, "Like you and your reading." He kissed my hair.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Yes, reading is a hobby, and yes, I love it. But it's not something I can make a living off of."

He shrugged. "You'd be surprised."

Apparently.

We hung out in his room the rest of the night. He put on one of my favorite Colt Ford songs, "She Ain't Too Good For That," and pulled me up to dance with him. I laughed, but complied. We just spun around, laughing at the situation, enjoying out time together.

Eventually Rose and Emmett came to get us for dinner. Carlisle and Esme had already eaten, so it was just the four of us and Edward.

When I asked about Alice, Rose smirked.

"Rose," I started, "what did you do?"

It was Emmett who answered. "About an hour ago, Alice started up her bitching again; Rose simply made a few observations about how Alice resembled a prepubescent boy, and that she shouldn't be so judgmental," he guffawed. "Alice hasn't left her room since."

We all cracked up. That was Rose for you, loyal to the bone, and the kind of person you'd want to have your back.

"I so wish I could've seen her face," I crowed. "Rose, you are an evil genius."

She grinned and winked at me.

"How 'bout we head over to our place," Emmett suggested. "That way we don't have to worry about Alice going off on us again."

We agreed. Emmett, Rose, and Edward took Emmett's Jeep, ands Jasper and I took his truck.

I was in love with his Chevy. If I didn't love Jasper so much, I'd probably steal it from him.

It didn't take long before we were back at Charlie's. Even though I knew better, I still couldn't think of the Swan's house as my home. Last name change didn't help either.

Ugh. I hadn't wanted to change my name, but my ditzy social worker had had other ideas. A fresh start and all that; what a load.

We crowded into the house. Rose snatched up the remote and sprawled on the couch, claiming it for her and Emmett. Jasper tugged me over to the recliner, and we curled up there. Edward and Emmett raided the fridge.

After going through all the channels (twice), Rose ended up on a re-run of "1000 Ways To Die." It was funny; watching all the ways a person's stupidity could get them killed. I know, I know, we're horrible people, but we laughed anyway.

We wasted the next hour or two that way. But then the ringing doorbell interrupted us. I was already up, so I went to answer it.

I should have ignored it.

I opened the door to reveal one of the two people I had hoped to never see again.

"Hey Baby," she mumbled.

And then she kissed me.

You can thank SAVAGEGRACEx for Rose's comments for Alice.

Sorry for the delay, but it's been hectic. School, finally deciding to celebrate my birthday, and getting in hours behind the wheel; I barely have time to think!

Also, I'm still open to any and all submissions for a title to my soon-to-be-here story.

Anyway….so who do you think the mystery kisser is? Who could be the other person that Bella wants out of her life?

Until next time, my darlings.