DISCLAIMER: Nada, zilch, Zippo.

AN: this is a very long chapter for everyone. Hope you like it and thanks to every one for their continued support. You guys are awesome!

(Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu/ 10years)

-BPOV-

"You stole Mike's car." I accused, slit eyed.

I had just walked into Biology and Edward looked up at me from under his eye lashes, the very picture of guilt.

"Whatever do you mean?" he asked innocently.

His eyes scorched from under his lashes and I realized that he knew what he was doing. I had a feeling that most of the time Edward had no idea that he was dazzling me. For him to knowingly intoxicate me was just so unfair.

"Edward Cullen!"

I huffed, plopping down into the seat beside him. I tried my best not to look into his eyes. The big cheater!

"Don't you dare try to dazzle me!"

He chuckled and I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. I couldn't help it!

"I dazzle you?" he asked, one brow raising and a glorious new smile lighting up his entire face.

I blushed and fiddled with a loose piece of thread on the cuff of my sweater.

"You know what I mean… when you… oh. That's not what we're talking about!"

I felt his eyes burn into the side of my face but I refused to turn my attention to him, fearing I would grow even more incompetent.

"That is correct. You were in the process of accusing me of stealing Newton's car."

Amusement colored his tone and I fought my natural instinct to turn to look at him.

"So you didn't steal it?"

"No." He said automatically and I timidly glanced at him through my curtain of hair.

I was positive he was telling the truth.

"Emmett and Rosalie did." He smirked.

I felt my jaw drop and I turned in my chair to face him, leaning in infinitesimally.

"Rosalie?" I choked out.

Honestly I was a little more than surprised to find out Rosalie was a part of this plan. She didn't seem like the jokester type.

"Yes. Rosalie. I was slightly taken aback myself."

He thought for a moment before chuckling.

"Although I truthfully shouldn't be so shocked. She never could refuse an excuse to tinker with someone's car."

"Rosalie likes cars?" I asked incredulously.

Rosalie Hale looked more like she should be on a runway in Milan then a garage in Forks.

"Do not let Rosalie's appearance fool you." He remarked. "She has more depth than most are willing to accredit her. It's just hard to find it under all of her superciliousness."

He continued before I had a chance to process what he had just said which I a shame because I hadn't gotten to know Rosalie as well as the others and I was curious.

"And they did not steal it. They transported it to a new destination and returned it after a very short period of time."

I scoffed.

"Yeah. After he had had a panic attack in front of the whole school."

He shook his head, amusement still dancing in his eyes.

"Silly Bella." He smirked. "It was more like a mental break down and it was not the entire school."

I rolled my eyes and turned my attention to the front of the classroom. But then I felt a hand on my bare forearm and my gaze landed on the pale hand on my arm.

"It was not my idea to broadcast Newton's humiliation for the student body." he whispered and I reluctantly tore my gaze away from his hand on my arm to his face.

"Although I do not wholly object either." he continued. "I believe it is called, 'what goes around comes around.'"

His features were soft and he smiled at me. I felt my breathing hitch and I tore my eyes away from his in order to release a shaky breath.

"It wasn't very nice." I whispered.

I wasn't sure why I was whispering; only that if I spoke any louder he was sure to hear the wavering in my voice and he did not need to know the effect he had on me.

"Bella… you don't… I mean…"

He sighed and I looked up to see him running his hands through his hair in frustration.

"What?" I prompted.

I was instantly anxious. He seemed so upset. He chewed on his bottom lip and refused to look up at me.

"You don't like Newton do you?"

I couldn't help it. I laughed out loud. He thought I liked Mike? Was he blind? Couldn't he see the fixation I had on him? There was really no other way to put it; he had become an obsession for me, especially after our night in Seattle. I thought about him constantly, dreamed about him every night, and couldn't think clearly in his presence. What could I say to him? "No Edward! I don't like Mike because I am very close to becoming your stalker?"

Yeah. That would work out well.

"Why on Earth would you think I liked Mike?" I asked through my giggles.

He seemed to relax and he chuckled with me. I wasn't sure why he was laughing but I didn't especially care as long as he was happy.

"I thought it would be beneficial to make sure you didn't have feelings for him before I allow my family to run him off."

My laughter died down a little and I shook my head.

"No feelings for him at all. Well maybe annoyance but nothing other than that."

He grinned and I couldn't help but smile back.

"But… now that we're on the topic. Why is your family trying to chase Mike off?"

He shrugged.

"You just said he was an annoyance. My family is very protective of the people they care about."

He reached out casually and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, not even seeming to think about the action.

"They only wish to make sure you are comfortable here. Especially since you just moved here. It has to be difficult."

It took me a moment to realize he had been speaking and now it was my turn to speak. I was still in shock from that casual touch.

"Yeah…uhm…" I closed my eyes, trying to clear my head.

"It was really hard to leave Renee, my mom. And I loved Arizona but I think I have actually settled into life here pretty well. Charlie, my dad, has been really nice about all of this and it's cool that I get to know him better."

He grinned.

"I'm glad not everything about the situation has been unbearable."

Nope." I said. "Some things have been quite bearable.

-EPOV-

James and Mike were back at their table from the previous day when I arrived with Bella. I made it a point to guide her to our table with my hand on the small of her back. I felt a smile pulling at the corner of my mouth. This may all be for Emmett's "operation" and ward off horrible prospects like James but I could most definitely see myself getting used to this.

I sighed. I needed to stop thinking like that. As much as I cared for Bella I still had some things I needed to work out. I had to be 100% positive that I would not hurt her. As intolerable as the thought of living without her was to me I could not fathom hurting her.

I pulled Bella's chair out for her and she smiled at me appreciatively. I grinned back as I took my own seat beside her.

As was ordinary for Emmett a great amount of the time he was the first to speak and he was practically bouncing up and down in his seat with barely contained enthusiasm.

"Did you hear about what happened to Newton yesterday Bells?"

She glared at her tray for a moment before turning to Emmett.

"That wasn't very nice and I keep telling you guys, I can take care of myself."

Emmett seemed completely unrepentant.

"So you don't want to know how we did it?"

Bella furrowed her eyebrows and then let out a sigh of defeat.

"I was wondering…" She admitted.

Emmett cackled and kicked back in his chair, throwing his hands behind his head.

"Well Rosie here and I snuck off at lunch and she hot wired it."

He glanced at Rosalie with pride and admiration. I chuckled. Only my brother could love a woman because she could hot wire a car. I am certain there were other reasons but this one was high up on the list.

"And then we drove it to the baseball field two blocks over. Now getting it in there was a little more difficult seeing as it has a chain link fence all the way around the premises but we managed."

"How did you get the car inside?" Bella asked, unable to hide her curiosity.

Emmett grinned slyly.

"Rose distracted the security guard by pretending to have car troubles, she had driven the jeep behind me."

"That man didn't know a carburetor from a hubcap!" grumbled Rosalie.

Emmett snickered.

"Anywho… so while she was keeping him busy I took down a small section of the fence and drove through."

We all looked at Rosalie and Emmett for a moment in silence and Rosalie smirked. Emmett through an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a big kiss.

"Yeah. We're just awesome like that." He said simply and I rolled my eyes.

"That was ingenious!" Alice squealed.

"So how did you get the car back to Newton without him realizing it was you who had taken it?" I wondered aloud.

Emmett glanced around the table sheepishly.

"we were supposed to give it back?" he asked attentively.

"Emmett!" we all shrieked in unison.

His raucous laughter bounced off of the walls and the low ceiling.

"I'm kidding!" He laughed. "I called his house and paid a little boy at the park to tell Mr. Newton that his car was on the baseball field."

We all shook our heads and I grinned. Emmett never did anything halfway. You had to give him that.

"So did it work?!"

We all looked towards Alice in confusion.

"Didn't you hear Em?" I asked. "He said that he got the car onto the field and Rosalie"

Alice cut me off with a stone cold glare.

"I know the plan worked!" She scoffed indignantly before looking at Bella hopefully.

"But is he still being…Mike?"

We all looked at Bella, awaiting her answer and she smiled despite the fact that I suspected she was attempting not to.

I realized she honestly felt bad about the plan but after this mornings conversation I knew it was because she was simply a good person. Not because she had any feelings for that troll.

"Edward!" I silently chided myself. That doesn't mean she has feelings for you either. Stop being petty.

"He seemed to be too distracted to worry about me." She explained and I noted the relief in her voice with pure ecstasy.

"He kept looking over his shoulder this morning in class like he thought something was out to get him." She giggled.

---

I walked Bella to her gym class after lunch. She had tried to tell me it wasn't necessary but I had insisted, telling her it was on my way to my next class anyways. In all honesty my next class was clear across campus and chances were I was going to be late after walking her but I didn't want to say good bye to her yet. We only had Biology and Lunch together and I found it increasingly difficult to be without her.

I sighed as we arrived at the gymnasium. I could not imagine how someone could have such an affect on me after so little of time together but Bella was different. She was caring and funny and beautiful. I enjoyed simply being in her company.

I guess I'll see you later?"

I looked down and smiled warmly at her. She was casting her eyes down towards the floor and she looked such as reluctant to leave as I was. I was astonished by how much comfort I found from that realization.

"Of course." I replied and then I hugged her.

I couldn't stop myself. Besides we were friends. She wouldn't find anything offensive in the action. Would she? No. it was perfectly normal friend type behavior I assured myself.

She seemed taken aback at first but then she breathed in deeply and sighed. She leaned into me and wrapped her arms around my neck, letting her head rest on my shoulder.

"Bella!"

My head snapped to attention and Bella stepped out of my arms. I missed her instantaneously.

"Hey Mike." She waved and I clenched my fists at my sides.

"You coming to call Bella?" he asked anxiously.

"Yeah."

She looked back to me and I attempted to relax my jaw and smile.

"Good bye Bella."

She nodded and I walked past her slowly. As I got to Mike I stared him down. I did not have the slightest idea where my possessiveness came from but I didn't want Newton anywhere near Bella.

"Newton."

He sneered.

"Cullen."

---

The remainder of my day was not pleasant to say the least. It seemed to drag on much slower than usual and I kept thinking of Newton, or more accurately my reaction to Newton. I hated my jealousy. I knew I had no right to it but I found I could not suppress it. When the final bell sounded I had made up my mind. I would meet Bella at her last class. I needed to see her again and if nothing else I could suggest we walk together to the parking lot. That was a respectable friend-like thing to do was it not? As I jogged across campus I wondered how long I was going to let this go on. How far would I let this go? How long would I be able to justify this to myself?

I arrived to building 5, where Bella took home-ech in record time. She was already standing outside but she held her phone to her ear and she was pacing back and forth in front of the building as she spoke. She stopped to brush a curl out of her face and said something into the phone, biting her lip as she listened to the reply.

I stood slightly off to the side where I could still see her. She was so beautiful. I chuckled as she went to lean against the building and misjudged how far away she was from it so she had to flail her arms around to regain her balance. She looked to the sky and shook her head, clearly exasperated with herself. I could see where she would find this annoying but I thought her clumsiness was endearing.

She lowered the phone from her ear and slid it into her front pocket. I was about to make myself known when someone else caught her attention. She looked inquizically in the direction of the person who had just called her name. She bit her lip, something I realized she did when she was lost in thought or worried about something.

I followed her gaze, anxious as to what had her upset and ground my teeth together and my nostrils flared as James walked up to her.

He said something I was unable to catch and she smiled nervously but shook her head. He did not turn around and walk away, which was the safest action for him to take at this point. Instead he took a few steps closer and placed his hand on her cheek. I was standing just behind Bella before I had realized I had begun to walk.

"I'm just sayin… I could give you a ride. You know, since your old man can't make it." He was saying and I glared at James from over Bella's head.

"That's alright. Thank you though." She said while inching away from him.

Se back into me and I reached out to stable her. She looked up and when she realized it was me she visibly relaxed.

I gave her a reassuring smile and squeezed her shoulders.

"Charlie isn't coming?" I asked conversationally.

She shook her head.

"I heard her on the phone and I thought I'd offer her a ride." Commented James while casually picking at his cuticle.

He looked up at Bella and winked. I moved me hands down her arms to take hold of her hands because she was the only force able to keep me from punching James in the face at this point.

-BPOV-

I felt Edward's hands encases my own and I instinctively intertwined my fingers with his. It just felt right. I felt safe with Edward and I was glad he had come when he had. I wasn't sure what it was but there was something about James that made me feel uncomfortable and jumpy.

"Actually James." Edward snapped and he spit the name out as if it were venom. "I think I can handle that."

"Why don't we ask her?" snipped James. "Last I checked I didn't see your name on her."

His tone was casual but his words were threatening. Edward looked from me to James and I swear I heard a growl rumble from his chest. He snaked his arm around my waist and stared at James. I looked from Edward to James and giggled nervously.

"Hey Edward." I said uncertainly. "Can you give me a ride?"

He broke eye contact with James and looked down at me, his features softening immediately.

"It would be my pleasure Bella." He replied calmly.

---

"Thanks for saving me." I sighed as I settled into the front seat of the Volvo.

Edward looked over to me as he started the car and immediately turned the heater vents to face me.

I smiled appreciatively.

"Think nothing of it." he replied. "I do not like the idea of you getting a ride from James."

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh yeah?"

He took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"James is not a good guy." he explained carefully.

"I didn't think so."

I had gotten a very strange feeling from James. He reminded me oddly enough of a predator and I for one did not enjoy being looked upon as prey.

Edward sighed and let his hand fall from the bridge of his nose.

"I don't want to think about James. Let's talk about something else."

I smiled, just realizing the music coming from his car stereo.

"Clair de lune is great." I remarked and he gaped at me.

"You know Debussy?"

I nodded and smiled wider, remembering.

"My mom used to play it around the house all the time when me and Zach were younger. It reminds me of her."

It got really quiet as he thought about this and I glanced around the inside of the Volvo. It was impeccably clean and it smelled like Edward. It was like the best cologne I had ever smelt but I had a hard time believing that something so sweet could come from a manufacturer.

"Hey." I said suddenly, just realizing something. "Where is Alice and Emmett?"

"Alice just got a new car and she wanted to drive that today." he explained.

"What kind of car did she get?" I asked.

He turned the heat up and glanced over at me.

"A Porsche."

"Holy crow!" I exclaimed.

A Porsche? Seriously? The Cullen's were well off money wise too? Did they really need anything else working in their favor?

"How did she manage that one?"

He smirked.

"It's a long story."

I rolled my eyes and shrugged.

(AN: No. the Porsche isn't going to be a part of this story but I thought it would be funny.)

-EPOV-

We were left in a comfortable silence for a moment and everything seemed so right that I decided to take a chance.

"Would you m mind too terribly if I were not to take you directly home?"

She looked at me quizically and seemed to think about it for a moment. The longer she thought the more anxious I became. I had realized when Bella entered the car that I still wasn't ready to let her go. I had been stalling since we had gotten in the Volvo. I knew I should stop pushing and simply be happy with the little extra time I gained by driving her home but I am essentially a selfish creature.

"Where would we go?" she asked thoughtfully.

I smiled mischievously.

"It's a surprise." I told her.

She frowned and I mentally added her aversion to surprises to my ever-growing list of observations about her.

"Please?" I tried lamely. "I want to show you something. Will you come with me?"

"Oh. I suppose." She sighed and smiled radiantly at me.

I beamed back at her as I reversed out of the parking lot.

(AN: You guys are awesome! Thanks for all of the support. This is the longest chapter yet I believe. Yay! It's 8 pages all for you. Next chapter is Edward's surprise and some fun with Alice. Read and review and I'll update faster. ;)

PREVIEW FOR NEXT CHAPTER

- "Did you ever think of visiting Alaska again? Alice said you had more family and friends up there."

He cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair again. I was starting to recognize this as a nervous gesture of sorts. Why would visiting make him uncomfortable? I frowned. Sometimes I wished we could just read each other's minds.

"Actually the plan was for me to move back there for a short time after graduation before I leave for college…"

I felt my stomach drop. Edward was leaving? He couldn't leave me! I felt a shear pang of panic course through me.

"oh…" I said shakily.