A/N: Please, please, please MORE reviews for this chapter. I don't have any problem updating the story, unless I get very few reviews. And I know from experience that some people just read and don't review. Please, if you have a second, review for me. It will make me a very happy cookie… or… cheesecake, I suppose. Much love.
Part Four
Your Eyes
"How do I look, Dad?" I asked desperately, attempting to smooth the wrinkles out of my faded blue jean miniskirt and turquoise tank top.
"Fine, Bells," Charlie answered unsurely. "But why so dressed up? I thought you said you and Edward were only… studying."
I was afraid he'd notice. "I… we are, Dad. But I just want to be prepared in case Alice wants to get… coffee or something. You know."
"All right." He bought it! "Are you… are you okay, Bella? This… all of this… this outfit… it's not you."
I knew what he was saying was true, but I could not make myself believe that I had actually changed. Just because Edward and I had been studying together for the past two weeks after school did not mean I was any different. It simply meant that I was helping a student that was in danger of going under. But then, I couldn't shake the feeling that Edward was faking all of this. In any case, I could not stop seeing him.
"I'm fine, Dad," I lied, pulling the keys to my Ford pickup truck from the rack where they sat day after day, and kissed him goodbye. "Good night."
"Night, Bella. See you later."
But he wouldn't. Staying out late had become a regular occurrence since I had started hanging around Edward and his family. As had Charlie telling me he would see me later, when he knew full well that by the time I got home, he would either be asleep on the couch or in his bed upstairs. I felt guilty, but not guilty enough to stay home.
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"Beeeellllllla," Emmett bellowed, gathering me in a bear hug as soon as I walked through the beautiful mahogany door.
"Emmett!" Rosalie scolded from her place on the sofa. "Put her down! You'll break her."
Emmett loosened his grip, but he did not release me immediately. Not until Edward waltzed into the room, looking as perfect as ever in his faded jeans, blue cardigan-style sweater and Dockers. "Bells!" he exclaimed, hugging me as well, although not as roughly.
"Nice to see you, Edward," I said awkwardly, unsure of how to react to his sudden display of affection.
"Who's that?" a small voice, which I presumed belonged to Alice, called from the kitchen.
"Bella!" Rosalie shouted, her unmoving, unaltered gaze still on the history book.
"BELLA!" Alice shouted, throwing her arms around my shoulders to embrace me.
"Wow, you sure are a touchy-feely family," I concluded. "It's sort of… nice. And homey. Thanks. So… Edward… history."
"Right," he sad, as if he'd remembered something important from long ago. "I was thinking, since Rosalie, Emmett, and Alice could always use a little extra help… maybe they could…"
"Absolutely," I finished, already knowing what he would suggest. "You guys are welcome to join us, if you'd like that."
"We would." Alice smiled. "Thank you guys."
"Noooo problem." Lying was also becoming normality to me. This particular sentence was a lie because I definitely wanted Edward all to myself. I had become selfish of my time with him. The more I got to know him, the worse it got. "How about we start on page seventy-four? That should be where the material for tomorrow's test comes from."
"Sure," Edward said, plopping down on the sofa opposite me. Why was he so far away? I had gotten used to him sitting next to me, the cool radiance that was Edward Cullen making me a nervous wreck. Perhaps he had intended it be this way. Maybe he had asked the others to join us. Maybe I was coming onto him too strong. I couldn't imagine Edward being nervous, but perhaps I was annoying him. I made a mental note to back off a little as I began reading the text from the page.
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"Any questions?" I finished, glancing at Edward uncomfortably. He was staring at me as well, as if he were trying to see into my soul.
"Nope," Edward said.
"None," Alice piped up.
"Uh-uh," Emmett answered.
"None here," Rosalie offered.
They were all acting so weird. The therapist in me wanted to psycho-analyze them one at a time until she had cracked the Cullen case, but the crushing teenage girl in me knew that that would be overstepping my boundaries. I had to be patient. My chances of getting to Edward were better that way.
"Hey, Bella, we need to talk," Edward told me, waiting for the others to go back to their respective rooms. "It's important."
"Oh, okay," I said, nodding my head as he pulled me aside. "What is it Edward?"
A/N: Okay, so this chapter is definitely a filler. Sorry, but until I get more reviews, fillers are gonna have to do. JUST kidding. The next chapter will be much drama. Trust. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review. Cheesecake for you if you do. Much love and gratitude,
C.J.
And an extra special cheesecake to Ogxygen.and.Cucumber for advertising my story. You're the bestest.
What happens next? Review if you want to know. Okay, I'm finished now. :