Wow... sorry it took so long! I was on vacation and well you know how that goes :) But I'm back, with some nice kick ass chapters aww riiighht...

So I tried to make this chapter longer and it kind of is, I know my last chapter was short, my bad :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

Enjoy!

(BPOV)

Finally I replied, skipping the whole 'I'm Isabella, but you can call me Bella' ordeal. "I'm Bella." I forced my face to stay emotionless and relaxed.

He broke out into a brilliant smile that had my heart fluttering in a strange and different way, challenging my emotionless face. "That's a pretty name," he spoke softly as the wind flew past again, ruffling his already ruffled hair.

Slowly my lips twitched into a sort of smile.

"So..." he began awkwardly, "been playing tag for awhile now haven't we?" My smiled grew as he chuckled.

And then we talked.

We didn't talk about the weather, or the flowers, or what he/she did, or who was scandalous enough to wear pearls before dinner, it was... different. We talked about really, whatever came to mind, and I didn't find it awkward or weird at all, in fact, I liked it.

He asked me many questions of my family which I breezed by, giving as bland of answers as possible. He caught on quickly and we began talking about other things.

I laughed loudly as he began to describe his sister for me.

"—and then our parents came down, and their jaws literally dropped to the floor, and my sister says... "whoops?"

I broke out into a fit of giggled as my hands clapped together for approval of Edward's story. His green eyes crinkled down on me as he gave me a crooked grin. "W-w-wait! Wha-what's your sister's name?" I struggled to ask through my fits of laughter.

He smiled as his shoulders shook from his own more quiet chuckles. "Alice."

I choked on my laugh. With a worried expression, he gently patted my back as I pounded my chest with my fist, coughing. "I'm sorry," I wheezed, "it's just, is your sister short, with black short hair?"

His eyes grew wide as his mouth pursed, no doubt wondering what other tomfoolery his sister had gotten into. He let out a deep sigh, seemingly giving up, "yes, h-how did she...?"

I chuckled a little as I looked down at my hands, his eyes being too much to handle and think at the same time. "I was walking to the town and she sort of just p—"

"—popped out, yeah she does that," he chuckled as he shook his head. I grinned, finding it rather comical that his sister was so spontaneous.

"She seems nice," I put in, trying to seem pleasant but coming out more shy than anything.

"Well don't be fooled, she can be evil," he joked as I blushed. "That's a beautiful blush," his voice was serious, making me blush even more. I tried to turn away to save myself from even more embarrassment, but as I did my chin was captured by light fingers that pulled me back to him.

I gazed at his green eyes for what seemed like forever, his fingers still caressing my chin. We began to lean into each other slowly, our eyes locked. My hand slipped slightly on my cloth, snapping us out of our gazes.

When he noticed what he had done, he quickly snapped his hand back and mumbled an apology. "You should probably go back," he said softly after a few awkward seconds had gone by.

My thumbs fingers were still aimlessly pulling at my dress as I willed the redness to go away from my face while I focused on a really tall tree. I looked up into the sky and saw that the sun was at its last stand before disappearing behind the trees.

Once I had gotten over my embarrassment I mumbled a lamely, "Do you wish for me to go back?" I gathered as much courage as I could and let my eyes go back to his. They were confused as they studied mine.

I didn't favor the look, so I tried for a smile.

He grinned, and then finally answered, "Only if it is your wish."

I pondered his words for a second, thinking of a good enough reply. "My wish? I wish for you to tell me your secret."

"Well what's the fun in that if I just tell you?" he teased as he leaned back so that he put most pressure on his hands. "No, I don't think I will," he winked and I swear my heart stopped.

I scowled at the fact that he could have such an effect on me. "Some day, some day Mr. Cullen I will find out what your secret is," I said stubbornly.

"And what if I don't have one?" he asked absently as he looked down and picked a blade of grass to twirl it between his fingers. I watched as the blade of grass danced around in a circle until he threw it over his shoulder to the wind.

"Oh you do."

(EPOV)

I don't know what secret she might have been wondering, did she mean the fact that we lived in the woods, which I had expertly avoided letting her know. I presumed Alice had done the same thing, since even after she found out Alice was my sister she hadn't known.

It's not that living in the woods was bad; it was just the reason we lived in the woods which was.

I stood up and offered my hand down to Bella. She smiled and blushed her tantalizing blush then took my hand as I hoisted her up.

We walked in silence, but it wasn't a bad silence or awkward.

When we got to the edge of the forest she turned around to stare at me with her big chocolate eyes. "Will I see you again?" She sounded hopeful, which brought a crooked grin to my lips for I too was hopeful.

I took one of her gloved hands in mine then spoke, "Meet me by the lake tomorrow?"

Her smile faltered, "I would but I don't think I'll be able to get out of the house tomorrow."

"Oh that's right, your sister," I sighed, disappointed.

She bit her full bottom lip, thinking of a way. "How about the next day?" She seemed to hesitate a bit before finishing her sentence, not sure if I would like the end I presumed, "but at night?"

My eyes broaden as I shook my head. "You can't be walking alone in the woods at night it's—"

Her delicate finger went up to my lips, "Don't worry about that, I'll be fine," she said firmly. Her eyes then enlarged when she took in her brave finger, which lingered on my lips. She quickly snatched her hand back and said a soft apology.

I chuckled then took her hand back and raised it to my lips. With a slight bend, I kissed her hand then said softly back, "Don't be."

(BPOV)

He was amazing. I didn't completely understand how I could be so swept up so quickly by someone I had just met in the middle of the woods.

I was back in my room, sitting by the window and gazing longingly into the deep woods. Though mother was still bustling around the house like the mad woman she was, the only thing on my mind was the handsome Edward Cullen.

I had told him my story for being so deep in the woods all by myself, yet he had failed to tell me his, just like Alice had failed to give me any detail into her life. What were they hiding?

There was a knock at my door. "Come in," I called out loud enough so that it could seep through the thick walls.

The door opened quickly and in came Petunia with a warm smile on her face, though her eyes were a bit wide.

"Hello Ms. Swan, dinner will be in a half hour," she informed me with her breath caught and her chest heaving more than normal.

"Are you ok Petunia? Would you like to sit down?" I offered while pulling out a chair by the desk.

"Oh no dear, I should get going, Mrs. Swan is in a hurry to get this house clean to the bone. Here, let me just help you get ready," she said as she moved her thick body to where I sat, waiting for me to get up and become presentable.

I shook my head, "I can get ready myself, it's ok."

She sighed heavily and placed her sausages on her hips, "Now I know you can't get your corset on properly by yourself." Exactly why I'd like to do it myself...

Reluctantly I straightened up and allowed her to slowly suffocate me. Dinner was, as usual, boring.

-

It was noon the next day as mother and father sat in the entry room, their ears perked for the first sign of carriage wheels bouncing along the rough terrain they called a road. I too was in the entryway, though I busied my time by stuffing my nose in my book.

My mother straightened up then mused loudly, "I think I hear something." I sighed since that was only one of the many times my mother had heard something in the last half hour. She got up from her chair and scurried over to the window to take a look out. "She's here!! Our baby's here!" She exclaimed like a five year old getting an extra slice of cake.

My father shot off of the chair like a lightning bolt. "She's here?" He questioned as he joined my mother at the window, bobbing his head this way in that to avoid my mothers vibrating body.

"Do you see the man?" She was practically squealing.

"I don't see him—"

"—look harder, can you see him?"

"No, do you see Rosalie—"

"—oh I bet he's handsome!"

My parents were soon scurrying for the door and swinging it open.

I gently shut my book on the coffee table for later then got up also to greet my long awaited sister, who I hadn't seen for at least a year.

"Rosalie!!" My mother squealed as she ran to the carriage with open arms, though no one had gotten out yet.

The man driving the carriage quickly hoped down, he was tall and buff with brown curly hair. I wondered if he was the man.

He stepped to the carriage door and swiftly opened it then graciously held his hand out. The interior of the carriage was all shaded, so all I saw was a smooth dainty hand swim out and take the buff guys and out flowed my sister.

She was as beautiful and radiant as ever in her shiny expensive golden dress with its many ripples and small deep red bows. Her hips were puffed out—thanks to the dearly hated, on my part, hoop skirt—as her waist was thinner than a twig—no thanks to the even more hated corset.

Her long golden hair flowed down, framing her angelic face, a face any family would be proud of, a face any sibling would shadow under and feel very self-conscious.

"Oh my baby!" My mother squealed as she raced to embrace Rosalie in a death trap. Rosalie's eyes widened as she patted my mothers back awkwardly.

My eyes traveled to the next guest exiting the carriage with his door opened as well by the burly man, which I then presumed wasn't 'the man'.

The man exiting the carriage reeked of rich money and a wealthy well brought up family. But I would not judge by first appearance, though he did look quite handsome.

When my father was able to finally pry my mother off of Rosalie, he gave her his own hug. I stepped a little closer, knowing my turn was next. Rosalie smiled down at me as she waited for father to let her go. When he did she stepped over to me, her smile growing bigger as she took my shoulders and inspected me at arms length.

"Long time," she finally whispered as my dad coughed behind her as mother began to squeal some more as she inspected 'the man'. Rosalie rolled her eyes, but only so that I could see, then turned around to give her attention back to my parents as she walked to stand next to 'the man'.

"Mom, Dad, this is James Kingston," she introduced while Charlie took a step forward to shake James's hand.

My eyes went back to Rosalie who seemed distracted by something in the distance. My eyes followed hers, but only saw the carriage driver...

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Kingston," my mother said while she allowed him her hand with much pleasure. "Oh and this is our other daughter, Isabella." I did a small and pathetic head bow as he did the same. I let my head rise so that I could smile politely his way. His eyes caught mine in an awkward intense stare that had me flustered.

"Well how about some lunch?!" Mother exclaimed loudly as she sped towards the house calling out the cook's name.

Lunch was... different. Certainly louder than normal with mother babbling on and on about this and that as she practically begged my sister for news from the city. I found myself glad when it was over.

-

There was a soft knock on my door as I sat on my bench near the window, my gaze going from the stars then to the forest.

I got up from the bench and walked towards the door where I slipped it open a crack, although I already knew who it was.

"Hey," Rosalie whispered with a small smile.

I grinned as I took a few steps back to allow her access. "Hey, bad dreams?" I teased for it had often resulted in one of us sneaking into the others room when we couldn't sleep.

She pretended to give me the death stare—though her real one was much worse. "No, I just thought, what with mother acting like a complete lunatic and everything, we didn't have much time to talk," she said as she embraced me for a proper hug.

"Ok, my corset squeezed me enough today," I wheezed as her strong arms loosened a bit. She grinned sheepishly while we moved to sit at the bench for the cool night's breeze.

I looked back to the forest and gave a much louder sigh than I intended.

"I know that sigh," Rosalie teased, though I had no clue what she was talking about. I turned to her confused. "Who is he?"

My mouth dropped slightly from her very accurate presumption. Rosalie laughed as she gave my knees a push. "Go on who is he?" Of course Rosalie would be the expert on boys/men.

I smiled and rolled my eyes. I wanted to tell her, I really did, it's just Rosalie had never been taken with dangerous things that involved being alone. I had a feeling she wouldn't be so taken with me meeting a person I hardly knew in the middle of the woods... alone.

So I lied "j-just some g-guy I saw once but I think he was j-just passing through and..." at least I tried to lie.

"Liar," Rosalie smirked, "but that's fine, I'll get it out of you eventually." She gave me an evil smile that had me forcing myself not to gulp.

We sat in silence for a while as I let my head fall onto her shoulder as she began to absently pet my hair.

"So what do you think of James?" Rosalie mumbled in a half-asleep voice.

"He seems... nice."

Rosalie snorted, "You really are a terrible liar." I huffed and shifted so that my elbow went into her side. "Ow," she laughed and she nudged her shoulder so that my head bounced.

"Well I don't know what else to say, I hardly know him!" I said to my defense. We sat in silence a little longer before I mumbled, "Do you love him?"

Rosalie went rigid, "...Yes..."

I raised my eyes slightly, though she couldn't see. I patted her arms softly, waiting for her to give me the juicy details. "You know you can tell me everything right?" I felt slightly hypocritical, seeing as I wouldn't tell Rosalie about Edward.

"Promise?" Rosalie asked, as if she didn't already know. I nodded my head, still on her shoulder. "I like James," she began as I got off her shoulder and shifted to a more comfortable position to listen, "he's rich, smart, handsome—"

"—your three main rules," I interrupted with a giggle. I remembered when we were younger and when we would talk about the future, Rosalie would always proclaim that her man would be "Rich, smart and handsome!"

Rosalie gave a dry laugh, "I just feel, I don't know, like I need change and well... there might be someone else."

I leaned in, truly curious now, "whom?"

Rosalie hesitated for a second then as she opened her mouth to spill, the door was swung open and in came my mother.

"Oo girl talk! I saw the light on and... I love girl talk! Mind if I join?"

Mothers always seem to come in at the worst times, haha

There we go! I finally did it :)

Anyone get sunburned yet from summer sun? (I did, aww)