Chapter 3: First Crush

"Why can't you ever make something I like?" Rosalie whined in my ear as I drove us home. I'd just told her my plan to make spaghetti bolognaise for dinner; she wasn't as thrilled as I was.

"Hmm…maybe because I figure, since I make us dinner every night, once in a while maybe I could make my favourite. And in case you were about to ask, I am planning to cook my vegetable soup tomorrow night." I tried my hardest to keep my concentration on the road as Rosalie, half-tackled, half-side-hugged me with a squeal. Boy did she like that soup. When we got home, I'd barely made it to the porch when Rosalie was already talking to Alice on the phone, asking for Edward. As I wondered how and when they exchanged numbers, I walked upstairs to put my bag in my room and do my homework. After an hour I went downstairs to prepare dinner. I didn't want to be rude, but I couldn't help it if my ears decided to pay too much attention to her conversation, she was near the kitchen. I found and gathered all the ingredients as I unintentionally listened in.

Rosalie was nodding to the phone, "Oh I know right. Completely ridiculous, I can't do that much homework in one night. I mean I understand it all, but ugh!" I smiled to myself as I prepared the salad first.

"Bella? Ugh no, she's got homework of her own…" I turned to find her looking at me curiously. Was Edward seriously asking about me? I tried to hide my own curiosity and desperation to know what he was saying. "No, no. But maybe you could help me? You could come over if you want…" Suddenly I picked up on what was going on. Rosalie needed help, she wanted Edward's assistance, and he suggested I could help. I sighed, why else would he talk about me?

"Rose, I finished my homework. I could try help if you want…" I said with a resigned tone. But something told me in Rose's expression that she didn't want Edward to hear me; and he had. I whispered an apology as I moved on to the spaghetti.

"Uh, yeah. It seems she will be," Rose said with a confused expression. "She's making dinner now." With that she gave my pride and joy a distasteful look before her eyebrows lifted. "Really? Hang on, I'll ask. Bella? Edward said he will help me and…could he stay for dinner?" I was surprised, I looked at her to see a huge smile spread across her face and I couldn't help but return it.

"Yeah, I guess that should be fine." There was usually enough so that I could have leftovers for lunch the next day and sometimes dinner as well, so I didn't mind. I suggested to Rose that she invite Alice too, we'd gotten along really well in our art class, I really liked her. But Rose shook her head while I looked at her in confusion. Oh, I winced; of course she'd want Edward to herself. I went back to cooking.

"Cool. So I'll see you soon? Okay, bye." She hung up with a smile and I finished up with dinner.

After it was all ready, and Rose had finished in the bathroom, I quickly had a shower and changed into my black skinny jeans and a blue blouse. I used the hair dryer and then put some make-up on very lightly. I went downstairs into the kitchen just as the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" I laughed to myself as Rose jogged from the stairs to the front door. Hey Rose, in a rush? I placed four plates on the table before I went back into the kitchen to call Charlie. He usually wasn't this late. Rose and Edward walked in just as I picked up the phone and started to dial the number for the station.

"Hello Bella, I'm Edward Cullen." His voice was nothing but beautiful. To say it was music to my ears was corny and a complete understatement. I must have been staring at him yet again – due to his obvious beauty and flawless face – because Rose cleared her throat as Edward continued to smile. I couldn't believe now was the time that I would have my first real crush, it didn't feel like this when I had a crush on Jasper, though that was many years ago. I cleared my throat as well before blurting out, "Nice to meet you to Edward," and then continued to dial. I could have been wrong, but I was pretty sure he'd said, "you too." I looked down at the floor so as not to be distracted.

"Hello?"

"Hey dad its me." My eyes wanted to look at him, so it wasn't without effort to instead look at Rosalie.

"Oh hi Bella. What's going on?"

"Uh, I'm just wondering when you'll be home? You're not usually this late, but if you won't be much longer we can wait for you…" I smiled at Rose as she snorted.

"Oh no its okay. I meant to call but must have forgotten. I'll probably be another hour, you guys go right on ahead, I'll eat when I get home." I frowned, this wasn't normal at all.

"Oh okay, well I'll save some for you."

"Thanks Bells, see you later."

"Bye." I smiled before I hung up and noticed their awaiting expressions. I laughed, "He's gonna be a while, so we can eat now if you want?"

"Sounds good, I'm starving," Edward admitted, while wearing a smile that was so unfairly tempting to touch.

"Me too," Rose agreed, looking up at Edward. I sighed.

"Alrighty then," I moved to place the salad on the table, but Edward beat me to it.

"So, what's for dinner?" he asked me so casually, I smiled.

"Uh….spaghetti bolognaise," I hesitated but then decided I didn't yet care what he thought, "It's my favourite."

"Mine too," he smiled. I just sat down when the phone rang.

"I'll get it," Rose said before picking it up. "Hello?" I put a reasonable amount of spaghetti in my mouth; I was starving. "Oh, hang on. Bella its Jacob." She left the phone and came to sit down. I quickly swallowed my food as I got up and jogged to the phone.

"Hey Jake," I answered.

"Hey Bells. Look I'm really sorry I didn't come over today. I didn't go to school either 'cause I think I've caught a stomach bug. I've been sick all day."

"Oh my god, Jake. Don't worry, its okay. To be honest, I forgot about it anyway. But are you okay?"

"Well thanks," he attempted to laugh but it came out all wrong. "Nah, I'll be fine. Hopefully its one of those 24 hour things."

"Yeah, hope so. Well if you feel up to it, come over tomorrow okay?"

"Okay cool. See ya then. Bye."

"Bye." I hung up and sat back down at the table.

"Everything okay?" Rose asked, which surprised me; usually she couldn't give two shits about Jake, well at least she didn't let anyone believe she did.

"Yeah I think so, Jake has a really bad stomach bug. But thinks its just a 24 hour thing." I murmured as I tried to eat. I wondered what would have caused it. It couldn't have been the dinner I made last night; Rose, Jazz, Charlie and I were fine. I started to worry.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, Jake's a tough guy." Rose tried to reassure me.

"Yeah, I guess…" It was quiet for a few moments as we ate.
"Mm…Bella this is delicious." Edward offered as he continued to shove food into his mouth, quickly yet politely, and to my disappointment, he was still beautiful.

I smiled, "Thanks."

He swallowed and then cleared his throat, "So um…is this Jake your boyfriend?" he asked. I couldn't help it, I laughed with my mouth full as I tried to swallow. He watched me with a confused, yet amused look on his face.

"Well not yet," Rose said. Now I looked at her in confusion, I quickly swallowed.

"No. No we're not…he's not my…boyfriend," I said as I continued to look at Rose.

"Well, no he's not. But he will be," she smiled. I groaned.

"Rose, he won't. I don't like him in that way."

"Not yet you don't."

"Ugh." I quickly ate a bit more before I took my plate in to the kitchen. I murmured a 'night' as I headed upstairs. Once I was in bed, I chose to read for half an hour before trying to sleep, knowing that Edward was in our house, downstairs. I walked back downstairs when I heard the doorbell. Who could it be? I opened the front door to find Edward, standing on our porch with the most beautiful crooked smile, as his eyes ran up and down my body.

"Hey beautiful," he purred as he walked in, swiftly closing the door before he wrapped his big, soft, warm hands around my waist. He brought his lips to my neck; kissing me below the ear and around the front to the other side before finally placing his lips on mine. I breathed him in as I kissed his lips slowly, gently, before we both deepened the kiss, our tongues performing a seemingly choreographed dance as we massaged the inside of each other's mouths. My hands found their way to his head; my fingers tangling themselves in his hair. He pushed me gently against the kitchen table, which I sat upon before widening my legs to assist him in being closer to me; something we both seemed to want, to need. He started to pull up my shirt slowly with his hands, just as I woke up, gasping and craving his touch. That was the first night I dreamt of Edward Cullen.