Chapter 4::

At 6:15 the next day, Bella sat nerviously on her couch. Waiting. She had been ready since 5:30 hair, make up and clothes. She sat staring at the clock over her tv.

6:16

6:19

6:24

6:31

6:31? Bella thought that the guys were picking her up at 6:30. They were only one-take that back two-minutes late, but Jacob had told her to be ready so Edward got dinner by 7:00. They hadn't changed their minds, had they? Why would they change their minds? They had "choosen" her, hadn't they? Maybe they decided that-

There was a not so light knock on the door. Bella sighed in relief. They didn't change their minds! She smiled happily as she floated to the door and asked sweetly, "Who's there?"

"If you don't know who this is, then you are in serious trouble!" Edward's deep voice rang through her door. She jumped slightly and yanked the door open, staring almost aghast at his comment. He was perfect with a capital 'P'. Black button up shirt with sleeves rolled to his elbows, blue jeans and black shoes completed his casual yet elegant look. He looked at her with an eyebrow cocked and a devil may care grin on his face.

Bella quickly explained herself. "I knew it was you... I was just trying to be nonchalent." She threw her hands over her mouth while her eyes grew hide with horror. Did she really just say that?

"Good."

She nerviously shifted from one foot to the other as he stared down at her. "Um, would you like to come in?" She asked, thinking that it must have been the reason why he was just standing there.

"No, I've made reservations at the resturant and hate to be late." He turned on his heal and started walking down the hall towards the elevators. Bella scrambled to get her purse and light cardigin, pulled the door shut and locked it quickly. She trotted down the hall to catch up with Edward as he got to the elevators. He pushed the down arrow and the doors infront of them slid open with a whisper. Edward entered first, holding his arm infront of the doors.

"Thank you." She said as she walked into his simi imbrace. He turned to stand behind her and she found the carpet in the elevator suddenly captivating. On the quick ride down he did something that fortold how the rest of the evening would go. He gently placed his cool palm on her bare shoulder and made her jump. She spun to look at him but only got as far as glancing at his face. His brows were pulled down sharply over his deep green eyes as though he disapproved of her looking staight at him. She turned back quickly towards the doors. He ran the tips of his fingers down her arm, giving her sudden goose bumps. "I don't think I told you but you look very lovely tonight."

She knew this time not to look at him in the eyes. "Thank you, Edward." The tone of her voice convade to him that she new the game he was playing with her.

The elevator came to a swift stop and pinged as the doors opened to the lobby of her appartement building. He put his hand at the small of her back and guilded her out into the open foyer. He stopped just short of the revolving door, spinning her towards him as he did so. "Put your jacket on Bella. It's chilly tonight." He pulled the cardigin out of her arms, holding it open for her slip into. Edward pulled the lapels closed as though she were a small child to be taken care of. Somewhere in the back of her mind it registered that this is the kind of man he was... someone who wanted to take care of things, people, situations. He wanted to control them...

He turned her and once again guilded her out the doors and into the hardly cool night air. Why had he wanted her to put on her jacket? It wasn't like it was thrity below...

Jacob was leaning on a very expensive silver car (Bella got the impression that Edward was trying his hardest not to blow a gasget infront of her) and pushed off excitedly as they approched. "Hey Bells!" He jogged quickly to them and smiled brightly at Bella. "I'm really glad that you decided to go out with us! You'll love the food and the movie will be amazing!"

Edward didn't do a very good job of hiding his snicker. "I should have let you pick the restraraunt, but I hate McDonalds."

Jacob glanced briefly at his friend, but wouldn't let Edward get him rawled up. "Hey, what can I say? I'm a sucker for McNuggets." He grabbed Bella's hand and pulled her towards the shiny car. "You can sit upfront, here. Let me get the door." Jacob glanced back at Edward, only this time with a little mence. He had already hade a few minutes alone with her, and Jacob's possesive side flashed. Damn, at least let him get the door! He ushered Bella around to the other side of the car and opened the door for her. He flashed his brilliantly white smile at her as he bowed deeply. "Madame..."

Bella grinned like the Cheshire Cat, loving Jacobs silly antics. "Why thank you kind sir." Jacobs head sapped up and he glanced quickly to the other side of the car. Bella turned her head and was pinned with hard emerald eyes. What? Did she say something wrong?

Edward shook his head and intructed them to get into the car. Bella promptly parked herself in the soft interior, pulling her legs in as Jacob closed the door for her. The two males entered quickly after she, and Edwards started his car. Once it growled to life, he reaved the engine and pulled out quickly into the congested traffic. It was too quiet in the darkened car. It must have been something she said. But what was it?

The drive to the restrarunt was short but strained. Once they got there, Edward got out of the car and started his way around to her side. She grabbed for the handle- "Wait for him." Jacob said in a lower murmer. She pulled her hand back and set it in her lap just as Edward opened the door for her. He reached a hand toward her and she put her hand in his, he deftly pulled her to her feet. She was chest to chest with him, yet she couldn't pull her eyes up.

"Bella." At his deep timbered request, she slowly looked into his eyes. He put the hand he was still holding to his lips and kissed her knuckles gently. "We appreciate your company tonight."

"And I yours. Both of yours." She hoped it was the right answer. It must have been as he smiled down at her.

He knocked on Jacob's window. "Hey buddie... you coming?"

The door swung open as Jacob jumped out of the back seat. "Um, yeah... I'm starving!"

They walked to the large resturant, Bella's arm in each of theirs. The huge iron horses that gaurded the entrence echanted her as it seemed she was walking into another time and place.

The hostess asked them to follow her before Edward even said a thing to her. They must come her often if she knows them that well. She ushered the trio through out the spacious room while Bella stared in awe at the fountain that was the center peice in the main dinning room. The gurgling was even audible over the quiet guest seated near it. Edward made note that the next time they came here, he would request one of the tables near the fountain, not his usual private corner booth.

Once they arrived at the rounded booth that was surrounded with tropical plants, Bella slid in and Edward and Jacob both got either side of her. Once the specials were recited and the menues handed out the hostest disappeared.

Bella tried not to freak when she saw that cheapest thing on the menue wasn't under thirty dollars, but her apparent discomfort showed still. Edward leaned over to her, "Since we asked you out tonight, it's our treat. Please feel free to order whatever you'd like." He smiled kindly at her and turned to greet the approching waiter. She glanced at Jacob and he smiled goofily at her. He mouthed 'Told ya.' at her and continued to read his menue.

"Do you like wine?" Edward asked her.

She stopped looking at Jacob, afraid she had been caught, again, at doing something that she wasn't suppose to be doing. "Yes. Do you have a vintage in mind?"

Edward just smiled at her... one of those goofy grins he often disapproved of. "I do. Corliss Estates 2003 Red. Is that ok with you?"

She nodded. "That is an exillent year." So there it was... the one thing that she new they would be able to connect with. The love of wine.

Edward ordered the bottle. Jacob ordered a beer. Yes, her orginal description was quite correct... like night and day!