Disclaimer: I don't own anything..wish i did but i don't.

Recap:(Since it's been so long since I last updated) Bella is a spy sent to protect Edward. They don't get along at all. She becomes friends with Alice and starts to hang out with his group of friends. Two new kids show up and they are Italian, aka the people suspected to be after Edward. Ok here you go.

Tangled Up In Me

Chapter 5: Stolen

ITALIAN! I thought to myself-my panicking self.

Crap what was I suppose to do now. Tell Charlie…obviously. But I couldn't just get up and walk right out of the game. That would be too suspicious. And spy and inconspicuous kind of go hand in hand. Its like the movies and popcorn. So instead I responded to Jane with as casual a tone as I could mange.

"That's cool. I've always wanted to visit Italy" I told her smiling. A fake smile, but still a smile. "I love Italian food"

She gave me a smile back, but it looked forced. Almost as if she was trying to burst out laughing at me.

I noticed her and Alec share a look.

I nonchalantly listened to Jane, Alec, and Edward's conversation the rest of the game, only half-heartedly watching the game.

They asked him questions about himself and the town and he asked about their family and where they had grown up.

Alec and Jane were fraternal twins, they had grown up in New York and their father owned a successful chain of clubs and bars and was interested in expanding his franchises so he was looking into locations in Seattle. Jane and Alecs mother didn't want to live in the city and had found Forks "charming" so they were renting a house in town.

Forks? Charming? I would never have put those two words together in a sentence that had a positive intonation.

Before I knew it the game was over and Rose went down to the field to meet Emmett and congratulate him on the win. Jasper and Alice were going out to eat, which left me with two awful predicaments. I could either walk home-in the cold- or I could swallow my pride and ask Edward for a ride.

That wouldn't be awkward at all since we're just the best of friends! Oh yea…that's right…we're not. We barely even speak.

Tanya walked up then and practically molested Edward's face right in front of Jane and Alec.

EWWWWWW! I almost threw up then and there.

I could see from Jane and Alecs faces that I was not alone in my sentiment.

My decision was made.

I was walking home.

I turned to leave when I felt someone grab my arm.

"Bella! Where are you going?" Great. It was Mike.

I had done a good job of avoiding him during the game by pretending that my concentrating on what was happening was life or death.

"Um….I'm going home Mike." I answered quickly.

"Well let me walk you to your car…it could be dangerous."

Yea right danger. In Forks?

O wait…he was on to something, there WAS danger in Forks, just not the kind he, or anyone would normally think about. That's why I was sent here.

"Um…no thanks..I didn't drive." I tried to get him to let go, then I saw it. I gleam in his eyes, a lustful gleam. Crap!

"Oh really? Well I'll drive you home then!" he said loudly.

Edward was passing by then, I looked into his eyes, and there was an unfamiliar emotion in them. Pity? Was that it? No it looked too hateful to be pity.

"Actually Mike, I promised Police Chief Swan I would make sure Bella got home personally tonight." he said to Mike grabbing my hand from Mike's grasp.

What?

I shot him a questioning look, and he returned it with one that said 'play along'. So I did what any good spy would do in my situation.

I played along.

"Yea, but thanks for the offer." I said to Mike with my best apologetic smile.

Edward pulled me towards the parking lot then and I noticed Tanya on his other side seething.

What? It's not my fault her boyfriend just saved my ass from Newton. I laughed at myself mentally. Who would have ever thought I, Bella Swan, would ever need to be saved? Not only saved by a guy, but by the guy I was protecting.

Charlie would get a kick out of that one.

That's when I noticed that Edward had never released my hand.

I had to admit, it felt nice being close to Edward without fighting. His hand fit in mine perfectly.

NO! Bad Bella! Don't think like that!!

I mean after all this guy was arrogant, conceited, rude, hateful, gorgeous, beautiful, chivalrous…damn it!

I broke out of my thoughts when I heard a loud cough from beside me. I glanced to my left and noticed that Edward was holding the door for me. I slid in the backseat next to Jane. Alec was on her other side and Tanya was in the front next to Edward.

Edward dropped Jane and Alec off first, they lived in a nice blue house right near the school. I could kind of see why their mom had chosen to rent the place. There was something about it that just screamed safe.

Then Edward started to head towards my house, I counted the numbers slowly. It was awkward and silent in the car, Tanya was pouting in the front seat and Edward seemed uncomfortable. He pulled into my driveway and as I reached for the door he was already there opening it for me.

Was this seriously the same guy?

I stepped out of his Volvo and he closed the door behind me and followed me to the door.

"Thank you….for the ride…and uh you know…..the Mike thing." I said quietly. I hated having to thank him, but I couldn't be rude after what he had done for me tonight. I mean if I was going to protect him at least it would be easier if we were civil. Right?

"Uh….yea…no problem" he didn't move.

I reached for the door handle and turned to go inside.

"Bella," Edward said reaching for my arm, but he stopped before he actually touched me.

I turned and looked at him expectedly. Nothing. He just stared.

"Never mind," he said rapidly "I'll see you tomorrow" and with that he left to take Tanya home.

I walked inside and heard the Mariners game on the TV. I tried to be quiet and get up to my room as fast as I could, when I suddenly tripped over a shoe that was left in the hall.

Maybe acting like a klutz was actually wearing off on me?

"Bella?" Charlie called.

"Yea?" I yelled back praying he wouldn't walk in and see me flat on my face. I got up quickly and met him in the doorway between the living room and the hall.

"How was the game?"

"Fine"

"Headquarters sent you something….it's on your bed"

"What is it?" I asked.

"I don't know I didn't open it"

I gave him a questioning look. Either he already knew what it was or he was a horrible spy. From the smirk on his face I would say it was the former.

I turned to walk up the stairs when I suddenly remembered I had information for him to report.

"Oh wait Charlie," I said catching him headed towards the kitchen.

I was on the steps and he walked back to me.

"I think I have identified the other operatives."

He looked at me, shock on his face.

"Two new students, Jane and Alec, Italians, their father owns a chain of bars and restaurants based out of New York and their student guide is Mason." I told him.

"We'll check them out. In the meantime keep a very close eye on Mason." he stressed the word very.

I nodded and went up to my room.

I expected that I had just been sent more information about my mission or maybe it was something from my friends at Buxley. I was excitedly thinking of the possibilities of what Renee could have sent me....some cool new prototype of Dr. Flannehan's...or a brand new next generation surveillance equipment....

On my bed was a large garment bag.

WHAT. IS. THAT!?

I walked slowly to the bed and pulled down the zipper. Inside was a long silky blue gown.

Attached to the hanger was a note.

Have fun.

That's all the note said. Was this a joke? No. No no no no no. Oh No! No. Not gonna happen. I. DON'T. DANCE.

I ran back down the stairs, dress in hand and held it up to Charlie's face.

"They can't be serious!" I shouted.

He started to chuckle and the put out look on my face only egged him on further.

"Do you think this funny?" I yelled at him.

"No, it's a pretty dress. You'll have fun at prom."

"PROM!" I glared at him, controlling my voice "I will not be attending the prom"

"Actually you will. It's orders" he smirked at me.

He knew he had me. I couldn't argue with orders. So instead I went with the dramatic exit/ teen temper tantrum strategy. Maybe if I complained to Charlie enough he would get so sick of hearing about it that he would call headquarters himself and request I be allowed to skip the stupid school dance for his sanity.

I threw the dress down and ran back up stairs "NO WAY IN HELL" I screamed over my shoulder.

I slammed the door and locked it, not that it would do any good if Charlie really did want to come in.

I laid down on my bed and put my ipod in on full blast. Linkin Park. It always made me feel better when I was angry. The hard beats and thrashing guitar parts seemed to calm me down.

Soon I fell asleep, my anger dissolving.

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I woke up early the next morning. I wasn't angry until I saw the stupid blue dress staring at me from the chair where I had thrown it last night.

I got up and put on running shorts and a tank top. I pulled my hair into a low ponytail and grabbed my Ipod and shoes.

I sank down on the bottom step and put on my socks and shoes. I put the earbuds in and turned on to my running playlist.

The first song was Evacuate the Dancefloor by Cascada. I started running down the street. I knew that there was a little path into the woods about a mile down the road. When I reached the path I turned and headed into the woods.

Running always made me feel better. I always thought of the way Bridgette describes it in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie. "Like nothing can touch you." and she was right.

I ran until my lungs were burning-but in a good way- and I thought my legs might fall off.

When I stopped I looked around me and took in my surroundings. I was near a river. I couldn't see it but I could hear it. I walked towards the sound and emerged from the thicket of trees to a beautiful clear river. There was a thin layer of mist hanging around the banks. I sat down on a series of rocks that jutted out into the river a little ways and took off my socks and shoes. I let my feet dangle in the water and just listened to the peacefulness around me.

I laid back and fell asleep with the sun on my face. I woke up to the sound of feet coming towards me. I jolted upright and grabbing my socks and shoes ran for cover. I dropped my stuff behind a tree and climbed into the branches.

I looked down and saw someone running towards me. It was a boy. He looked tall and had a nice athletic build to him and as he got closer I could see he had a six pack-a very nice six pack. I couldn't see his face because he was wearing a baseball cap. He hadn't seen me but when they got to the spot I had just vacated he stopped. I couldn't tell who it was or why they had stopped. He bent down towards the rock and I saw the sunlight glint off something silver.

My Ipod!

I had left it down there.

I had two choices. I could hide up here and hope that they turn it in to Charlie or I could go down there and demand it back. I was about to jump down from my perch in the branches and ask for it back when the person turned and looked into the woods towards me.

It was Edward Masen. Now I was definitely staying where I was. I was not in the mood to argue today. I was still having an endorphine high from my run and was determined not to let him ruin that. He turned it on and replaced one of his earbuds with one of mine.

He seemed to approve as his other earbud was removed and mine put in its place. He put his own Ipod in his pocket and strapped my Ipod to his arm...his muscular arm. STOP BELLA! I scolded myself mentally.

Then he took off running again.

I couldn't believe it. He STOLE my Ipod. That was when I snapped. He wasn't going to turn it in. He was going to keep it for himself. I jumped out of the tree, ignoring the sting that was running on my forearm from hitting a branch and took off after him.

"Masen!" I yelled from behind but he didn't hear me and kept running.

I continued to follow him and when I got close enough I grabbed his arm causing him to stumble and fall to the damp ground.

He rolled over and glared at me.

"What the hell!?" he shouted at me. "Where did you come from?" he said in a slightly quieter voice but he was still yelling.

"That," I said pointing to his arm "is my Ipod you stole and I would like it back."

"Yours?"

"Yes mine. Why else would I be chasing you in the middle of the forest?" I said.

"Oh.."

I couldn't believe this Edward Masen didn't have a snarky comeback.

I held out my hand and he looked at it for a moment before removing my earbuds from his ears and handing over the Ipod. Right before I could clutch my hands around it he jerked it back.

"How do I know its really yours?" He asked raising his eyebrows?

"Are you kidding me?" I said looking at him with disbelief " I just followed you for two miles barefoot. It's mine."

He looked at me and I was ready for his retaliation, preparing myself to snap at him if he didn't hand it over soon, when he surprised me by placing it in my hand.

"You should probably keep better track of your stuff. Oh and you probably shouldn't trespass. You're just lucky I found you on the property and not a member of the staff. They would have had you arrested."

I should have known Edward wouldn't really be genuinely nice to me. I squinted my eyes and gave him a whatever look.

I turned to walk away. Peeved at Edward and at myself for letting him ruin my good mood.

"Decent taste in music for someone who likes sappy unrealistic romance novels" Edward yelled after me.

I waved my hand dismissively over my head and put the earbuds back in. I hit the play button and was surprised that he was listening to my Linkin Park albums.

I headed back to the path in the woods where I had entered to gather my socks and shoes.

When I reached the tree I sat and put my shoes and socks back on and looked down at the clock on my Ipod. It said it was 4:00.

Crap! Garrett was going to pick me up at 5:30. I smashed my feet into my shoes and took off towards Charlie's.

When I got back I jumped in the shower and had almost finished getting ready when the doorbell rang.

I ran down stairs to let Garrett in.

"Hey. I'm almost ready just give me-" I stopped short when I looked up and out through the open doorway.

Garrett was standing there in a green army looking shirt and blue jeans. He had on old Vans and his hair was still damp. He smiled at me and then noticed my gaze had fallen behind him.

"Oh...um...is it too much?" He asked pointing at the vintage Corvette parked in the driveway.

"No...I just haven't seen one of those- in that great of condition- ever. At least not in person." I blushed at my nerdiness.

He laughed and stared at me, still standing in the doorway.

"Oh um.. come on in. I'll be ready in like two minutes." I told him rushing up the stairs.

I heard the door close behind him and I quickly brushed my teeth, put on a pair of old yellow keds and headed back down the stairs.

Garrett was waiting the front hall staring at a picture of me when I was 8 with Charlie. Well kind of...I mean it was really me and it was really Charlie but the picture had been photoshopped together.

"You were cute" Garrett told me "Not that you're not cute now...I didn't mean that...it just...." he trailed off embaressed.

"Thanks" I said blushing and looking down. "Ready?" I asked and he nodded.

Garrett drove us to Port Angeles. We talked about everything from our favorite movie to the most overrated pop bands of the 90's.

Garrett pulled the car over and parked outside of an Indian restaurant.

Well this should be interesting. I thought to myself. I wasn't big on oriental food-except for chinese- but knew that manners would have to overrule my tastebuds.

I got home later that night exhausted. I had had a blast with Garrett and the movie was pretty good. Charlie was already asleep as I slipped past his door into my own room. I changed into my pj's and fell asleep.

That was the first night I dreamt of Edward Masen.

A/N: So I added in the scene between Edward and Bella and a little bit more of Bella and Garrett action. I'll have the next chapter up either later tonight or tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone....reviews are appreciated and oh so entertaining =)

Peace.....Accident Prone Klutz