- Chapter Four -

Edward's Interlude:

I am pleased to say that I stood there in the middle of the room, gawping like the fool I was. I had realised before but now that I could, my eyes skimmed over Bella's small form noticing what she was wearing.

She stumbled through the door, holding herself against the doorway. I wanted to reach over and make sure she never fell again. A dark midnight blue dress curved over her body, flaring out slightly at her hips. She had a small matching handbag which she clutched by her side with dear life.

I cleared my throat and decided to stop checking her out already.

"So you're Alice's cousin", she spoke interrupting the silence. I nodded and walked towards her. "Alice told me about you, I guess I didn't realise you were the Edward she so greatly adored."

"How many Edwards do you know?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow. She laughed, a short tingling laugh that made me realise how tight my jeans were. And wonder why I was wondering tight jeans. Alice.

"Good point", she said, nodding, "Alice sent me up to check if you found a spare shirt ok. What happened? You spilt your drink?"

"Jason. Accident", I explained. She nodded in understanding and we began to make our way back downstairs. As soon as we reached the bottom step, I was assaulted by my son. Unfortunately, Bella chose that time to slip away into the crowd.

"I know your game, Edward", he warned, "I called dibs first. I'll tell grandma Esme, don't push me."

"Edward? What happened to calling me father or dad?" I asked, ruffling his hair just to spite him. He narrowed his eyes.

"Stop cheating", he groaned, poking a finger on my stomach. I flinched back mockingly.

"Relax. She was only helping me out acting on Alice's order", I explained, "Why so worried? Do your charms have any flaws you're concerned about?"

"Flaws?" he scoffed, "words like that don't exist in my dictionary. Besides, I've got a plan."

"What's that then, smart ass? Are you planning on wooing her with your cooking skills again?" I teased as Jason narrowed his eyes at me.

"No, she's already been wooed by my damn good cooking skills", he grinned smugly.

"I'm telling grandma Esme you cussed", I warned.

"I'm telling grandma Esme you made me cook all by myself without supervision", he shot back just as quickly.

Damn it.

"This is blackmail", I sniffed, crossing my eyes. Blackmailed by my own son...what was the world coming to?

"It's a hard life, father, get used to it", he shrugged indifferently, "anyway, you wanna hear my plans or not?"

"Sure, sure. Shoot".

"Mistletoe", Jason grinned. I waited for him to continue but that plastered grin didn't move. He looked like an evil smaller version of Mr Burns from the Simpsons. His fingers were pulled up like he was praying and he had a wide smirk displayed for everyone to see.

I half expected him to say 'Excellent', in a creepy voice.

"What about it?" I asked after a while, shaking my head to get the thought of Mr Burns from my vision. Jason rolled his eyes and sighed heavily.

"Argh. Dad, sometimes you are just so slow", he said exasperated, "mistletoe means kissing. So Jason plus Miss Swan under mistletoe equals kissing."

I had to say, if my son wasn't a twelve year old yet still possible opponent against me, I would be very proud of him. But since he was a twelve year old yet still possible opponent against me, I seethed in shameful envy.

Why was my son better at these seducing plans than me? He was twelve!

What did he know about kissing anyway? When I was twelve, I was still into power rangers and attempting to see how many scars I could give myself before my mother noticed.

"What do you think?" Jason asked, leaning against the staircase, smiling like he had won the lottery. He couldn't win the lottery damn it, he wasn't legal to play!

"Take that", I muttered.

"What?"

"You're not even old enough to buy lottery tickets", I pointed out smugly. He gave me an odd look, and then shook his head muttering something about 'not bothering to ask.'

"You better start your little plan soon, we'll be leaving in a while", I told him, "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

"Why? It's not like you can actually function anything in there", Jason laughed.

"Because that's where the alcohol is kept", I muttered, sticking out my tongue. He rolled his eyes.

"Mature, dad. So mature."

With that, he proceeded to find Bella to start his plan. I had to admit – very grudgingly and only to myself – that his stupid plan was actually insanely brilliant. Not that it would ever work, the kid was only twelve. I smiled to myself as I headed to the kitchen; at least I had an advantage.

Alice was flitting around the kitchen when I managed to get through, holding knickknacks on a tray, mince pies and all sorts of Christmas-ey types of food. I helped her bring a couple of trays to the living room, and then retreated back to the kitchen heading towards the back door.

It was cold outside, colder than I realised especially since I didn't have my jacket. Yet the icy air was slightly refreshing. I stepped outside, closing the door and noise behind me before sitting down.

What would Tanya be doing right now?

I wondered if my ex wife would be organising a Christmas party this year. She often competed as hard as Alice to decorate and organise parties and such. It drove Jason and me crazy with how stupidly busy and focused she was with taking care of something like a party and yet act so lazy when it came to important things. We didn't complain. We never complained. As long as Tanya was happy, I was convinced that I would be too.

I was convinced that Jason would be.

"Are you ok?" a soft voice asked.

For the second time tonight, she startled me out of my thoughts. I turned around to see Bella stepping out and closing the kitchen door behind her. She shivered in her thin blue dress, wrapping her arms around her small form.

"Yeah. It just got a little stuffy inside", I told her. Somehow she made me feel nervous to speak, I felt like my voice was shaky.

"Alice doesn't do things halfway though", Bella said, laughing. "It's a great party. You enjoying yourself?"

Breathe, swallow then speak.

"I would be scared not to with Alice around", I said and she laughed, throwing her head back. Her neck was exposed and I couldn't help but notice how pale her skin really was. Paler than me, I think.

"Jasper was just looking for you", she informed me, "he said that Jason got bored, he's upstairs watching TV now so you don't need to look around the whole house for him."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, Edward."

And breathe, swallow.

I briefly wondered if my son had succeeded in his plan then decided that there was no way a grown woman would kiss a twelve year old boy. I mean, on the cheek would be fine. But she wouldn't, would she? I mean... she was his teacher.

"Edward?" Bella whispered. She was closer now; I hadn't even noticed that she moved until she spoke my name. I turned to face her and suddenly those large orbs of pure liquid chocolate sucked me in and gripped on so that I was unable to look away. She was shorter than I realised, the top of her head only coming up to about my chin.

"Yes?" I whispered back.

And then very, very slowly so that I could've stopped or moved away – or even run inside and call Jason so that I could laugh at his facial expression when he realised what was happening – Bella leaned forwards and pressed her lips to mine briefly for one tiny second.

And then she moved back, blushing furiously and pointed above our heads.

"Mistletoe", she said softly. And then disappeared inside.

Note: Hehehe...evil ;)