I can't believe that over a thousand people have read this story. Thanks to everyone out there who took the time to read my amateur writing! I'm so sorry about the late update, but it was final week and I've been so busy since we've been let out of school with work and everything. Thank you to all that reviewed on that last chapter! And all of those who added me to their favorite stories and authors, thanks to you too! Here is chapter 7.

Disclaimer: I do not own twilight or its characters, gosh! Stop making me say it! It hurts….

Recap:

"Bella!" cried the voices, right outside the door.

"EEP!" I squeaked. I spun back around and motioned in panic to my enemy, "Hide me!"

CHAPTER 7:

Edward just stared at me like I'd grown a second head. My eyes grew wide with panic as Rose and Alice began pounding on the door. This seemed to break Edward out of his trance. He hopped up and grabbed my wrist, pulling me over to his closet. He pushed me gently, but urgently into the closet and motioned for me to keep quiet. I did as he said and kept as quiet as possible. I was surrounded by about twenty pairs of sweatshirts. I was a bit surprised. I hadn't really taken Edward for the sweatshirt type. But what really got me was the scent. I buried my face into one of the sweatshirts and inhaled deeply. It was the most amazing smell.

And then I realized what I was doing, how creepy it was; and I immediately dropped the fabric. Shaking my head I strained to listen to what was going on. I heard the door open, and I held my breath.

"Yes? Can I help you?" Edward drawled in his unmistakable voice.

"We're looking for Bella, is she in here?" I could practically hear Edward's eyebrow raise itself at the girls in that cocky way of his.

"Why would she be in here? I think she's made it abundantly clear that she hates my guts." I blushed a bit at this. Was I really that mean?

"Well desperate times, desperate measures," chirped Alice. "So you won't mind if I search your room? Or you could just hand her over."

"And why should I do that?" he asked condescendingly.

"Easy," Rose said in a sickly sweet voice, "Hand her over and you go unpunished; but if we find you were lying to us…" She trailed off suggestively. He was going to hand me over, I knew it! I listened with bated breath. Edward sighed sadly, here we go…

"Alice, it really hurts that you don't trust me." Wait, what?

"What are you talking about, Edward?"

"I mean, I'm your twin brother. I know I haven't been so trustworthy lately, but if anyone knows me it's you, Ally. We've gone through everything together, and now that you don't trust my word for such a small matter… well I guess all I can say is that I'm sorry for whatever it is I've done to lose your trust. So truly sorry." Man was he good! I knew he was lying through his teeth and I felt my heartstrings tug at his words. He sounded heartbroken. Apparently Alice thought so too.

"Oh, Edward! I-I'm sorry I didn't realize, of course I should've believed you. I mean you're right, you haven't been trustworthy lately but that's no excuse. Forgive me?"

"Of course Alice and I'll try to earn your trust back." I began to think this wasn't just an act; Edward's words were much too real to be spontaneous improvisation. There was silence and the door shut. After a few seconds the closet door burst open and the sudden stream of light caused me to blink rapidly.

All traces of the heartbroken boy I had just heard were gone, and cocky Edward was back. Joy.

"Well, well, well. I believe that's twice in one day I've saved you Miss Swan. I do believe you are in my debt." My anger instantly flared up at his words.

"Listen Mr. Celebrity, don't think that just because you can hit a couple of notes and win a few Grammys that you're all of a sudden king of the world. I'm very grateful that you helped me out but don't think for one moment that this means you're off the hook. If anything this only evens us out because technically the first time was your fault anyway. So, so…. So there." I finished my rambling childishly, which made me blush bright red. Shoot; that kind of ruins the effect.

"Bella, listen I- You checked up on me?" He asked, smirking. I turned even redder, realizing my blunder.

"I-I, um… Well, what I mean to say is… don't change the subject!" He just stood there and crossed his arms, looking at me in that self-satisfied way of his. Oh I could just slap that handsome face of his.

"I was just trying to find out what the heck made you so special." I snapped

"And…" he waited.

"I still don't get it." He made an exasperated noise, but he was still smiling

"Bella Swan, you are not like other girls." I raised an eyebrow surprised.

"Well, I choose to take that as a good thing." He mirrored me.

"I never said it wasn't."

We stood there for a while glaring at each other, but something was still bothering me. I broke the intense glaring session first (even though I hated to do it), and looked at my worn sneakers. They were my favorite black converse.

"I don't hate you." I mumbled. That surprised him.

"What?" I sighed and forced myself to look up and meet his penetrating green eyes that made my own brown eyes seem plain and dull.

"When you were speaking with Alice before, I mean. I don't hate you." He gave me a soft smile.

"Bella, I-" I cut him off.

"I mean I do think that you're a self-satisfied, arrogant, egomaniac; but I don't hate you. I don't."

"Bella," Edward closed the gap between us and put a hand over my mouth so that I couldn't interrupt anymore, "I only said that stuff so that Alice and Rosalie would leave. Don't worry about it. I understand your dislike of me, really I do. But everything I said was just an act. So we can just drop it." I tried to speak, but his hand was still covering my mouth. I stared pointedly at it until he got the picture and moved it. I shook my head.

"I don't buy it Edward. You're a singer, not an actor, and no one can put that kind of real emotion into 'meaningless' words." He glared at me, but (despite his whole bad boy look and attitude) couldn't fool me. I glared back.

"Well you better hope your wrong or Alice and Rosalie are going to be running in here any second."

"We both know that wasn't what I was talking about."

"You don't know anything." I took a step back so I could look at his face. He was much taller than me.

"I know real emotion when I hear it. You meant every word you said to Alice. Why are you afraid to admit that?" Edward looked away, angrily.

"Because it doesn't change anything!" he muttered. I studied his face. He looked so hopeless, so lost.

"What do you mean?" I asked softly, trying to understand this frustrating boy. His eyes met mine and he stared at me in a way that made me feel as if he could see straight into my soul, and then he answered me.

"I mean, that even if I meant every single word I said, I can't change. I want Alice and the others to trust me. I don't want to be a jerk. I don't want you to dislike me. But none of that matters. I can't change who I am." I was shocked. I had felt that I knew Edward. I thought I knew everything I needed to know to write him off as a jerk. But I could see now that I was wrong. There was more, and I wanted to find out what that was.

"Anyone can change who they are if they really want to. I know it's not really my business, but I think you should at least try to keep your promise to Alice. If you earn back her trust, I think you'll find everything else fall into place."
"Bella you don't understand-" I held up a hand to stop him. I was really on a roll here.

"You're right I don't, but I'm just telling you my opinion. I think that you need to start taking chances if you want anything in your life to change for the better. But hey that's just my opinion. I don't really know you that well, so who am I to tell you how to live your life?"

He looked at me with curious eyes, taking in my words. I headed for the door, and hesitated in the doorway.

"And Edward?" I said hesitantly.

"Hmmm?"

"I think I was wrong about you."