DISCLAIMER: I own nothing

AUTHORS NOTE: this is another chapter that took me by surprise. This is not what I was planning to write but the characters had other ideas and I figured they knew best. Hope you like it. Please read and review. Thanks!

-BPOV-

"We brought animal crackers, pizza, cookies, soda, and Alice's fashion magazine!" Edward hollered upon entering the mansion he called his home.

It was gorgeous. It was off a long private drive, secluded by the surrounding forest. There were at least three floors and I could hear a stream or a river nearby. It was like something out of a book.

The inside of the house was even more impressive. It was immaculate, much like Edward's car. It seemed he had come by that honestly.

The entire backside of the house was windows and the sun was just starting to set so it filled the room, casting an orange glow around the large open living room and the dinning room which was just visible from where I was standing in the entry way. Maybe hovering was a better word for what I was doing. I stood by the door biting my lip nervously. I wasn't comfortable in new surroundings and I don't believe for one second that anyone like me could ever be comfortable in the Cullen's mansion. It screamed high class, elegance, rich.

"You netter not have forgotten the other condition Edward Anthony Cullen!" chided Alice as she skipped down the stairs.

She saw me and rushed down the last few steps squealing.

"You did make it!"

I smiled and raised my hand in a wave.

"Yeah. Thanks for thinking of me Alice."

She giggled and gave me a hug. For a hyperactive little pixie she was surprisingly strong.

"Of course I thought of you Bella! Let's go pick out a movie! The boys can get the food ready."

She grabbed my hand and led me into a big open room with a giant TV, grabbing the fashion magazine from Edward on our way.

"Thanks Eddie!" she called over her shoulder.

He only rolled his eyes and took the groceries into the next room, which I'm guessing was the kitchen.

"Emmett!" he hollered. "I bought food! Come help me!"

I heard Emmett whoop from upstairs and Alice giggled.

"You just watch." She told me. "There will be no food left by the time we get the movie on. You'd think they had never had a single piece of human food in their whole lives."

I chuckled.

"So what movie are we watching?" I asked.

She motioned towards a cream colored love seat in the middle of the room in front of a giant plasma screen TV. I sat down and she grinned.

Even with the little time I had known Alice I still took this smile as a bad sign. It wasn't her regular smile. It was another one all together, one with much more enthusiasm than normal if you could believe that.

"We'll get the movie in a moment. First you have to spill!"

I started and looked at her, trying to figure out what she wanted to know. I didn't think there had been anything I was keeping from her. Unless she wanted to know about Zach. Maybe Edward had told the rest of them and that was what Alice wanted to talk about. I really hoped not. I didn't think I would be able to talk about it again, at least not for a little while. I had gotten it off of my chest when I spoke to Edward about it and it had helped more than I ever thought possible. But if I had to talk about it now I knew it would only cast gloom across the mood and make me immeasurably sad.

I picked up a couch cushion and hugged it to me before finally forcing myself to meet her eyes. They were filled with curiosity and excitement and what looked like happiness. Why would she be excited and happy if she wanted to talk about my brother?

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked hesitantly.

Alice rolled her eyes like it was obvious and I was just being difficult.

"Well first of all why were you at the meadow with my cousin?" she questioned.

I was so surprised by the direction the conversation had taken and relieved that I wouldn't have to relive anything over again that I started to laugh almost hysterically.

Alice looked at me like I had lost my mind.

"What's so funny?"

I held up a hand because I couldn't stop laughing to tell her to wait. I was so relieved!

It turns out 'wait' isn't really in Alice's vocabulary because after a few seconds she huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Bella!" She whined.

I caught my breath and looked up to see her tapping her foot impatiently. She also might have been a little hurt that I wasn't taking her question seriously.

"I'm sorry Alice. I just wasn't expecting that."

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head and came to sit beside me on the love seat.

"So…"

So… what?" I asked, still not following.

"So why were you at the meadow with my cousin! Don't play stupid with me Bella Swan!"

"It's really nothing exciting." I warned her.

I'm sure she had come up with her own hypotheses and I'm also quite the truth was a lot less interesting and a little disappointing…. For Alice and myself.

"Charlie got called into the station at the last second and he called to ask if I could find a ride. I was talking to him after my last class and that guy…"

I trailed off, trying to remember his name.

"James. I think. He was listening and he came over to offer me a ride but he was being all pushy and weird and it was making me uncomfortable. I think Edward noticed because he came up and said he would take me."

I shrugged, signaling the end of the story. Alice just looked at me with eyebrows furrowed and lips pursed.

"So…" she said finally. "Why were you at the meadow??"

"I don't know." I mumbled. "I guess he could see that I was upset so he asked if I wanted to go there instead of going home."

Her eyes widened and she clapped her hands together enthusiastically.

"I knew it!" She cheered.

I sighed.

"Alice. I have no idea what you're talking about."

She stuck her tongue out at me.

"He asked you to go to the meadow with him. No one is allowed at the meadow!" She huffed.

"As a matter of fact none of us even know where it is. And another point my dear unobservant friend!"I rolled my eyes.

"What now?"

"Why was he watching you after last hour?"

I just stared at her blankly.

"What?"'

She giggled.

"Think about it Bella! How could he have seen James being all pushy if he weren't keeping an eye on you?"

"Maybe he was just walking past." I defended.

She was going to be the ruin of me. I was trying not to get my hopes up so the rejection wouldn't hurt so badly and now she was encouraging me? Ugh! She was practically cheering me on!

"His last class is clear across campus by the parking lot." She smirked. "Last class he would have already been close to his car and yet he was clear across campus and he just so happened to be next to your class?"

She smirked again.

"How much you wanna bet he was watching from around the corner and then got mad when he saw James?"

"What are we betting on?" asked Emmett as he came into the room carrying a tray full of chocolate chip cookies. "I wanna bet! I've got $50 right here!"

"Emmett settle down. You don't even know what we're betting on." Alice chided.

Emmett shrugged, hardly bothered and plopped down onto an arm chair to the right of the love seat Alice and I were sitting on. I was surprised when the chair held him. He looked like the giant from Jack and the bean stock trying to sit on average sized furniture.

"What's going on?" Edward asked curiously.

He was carrying the soda in one hand and had the plate of pizza balanced on the other. He saw me watching and smiled.

"Oh! I want a cookie!" Squealed Alice. "Are those chocolate chip?!"

She jumped off of the love seat and skipped to bombard Emmett's cookie platter. Then she took the handful and went to lay across the entire length of the couch. I looked at her questioningly and she winked at me.

"When are Rose and Jasper getting here?" Emmett asked from the chair.

Edward sat the soda down on the glass coffee table, it looked like an antique. Then he came to sit in the last available seat in the room, on the love seat beside me.

I shot Alice a look. Very sneaky.

"They should be here soon." She chimed, pretending not to see me.

"What are we watching?" Edward asked me.

I looked up and felt my breath catch. He was just so close and he smelled so good.

"I don't know…"

I trailed off, forgetting what I was going to add.

He looked at me suspiciously.

"I thought that's what you two were doing in here."

"Has everyone tried these cookies?" Asked Alice, a little louder than need be. "They are wonderful! Em! Have you tried these cookies?!"

---

Since Alice and I had neglected to pick the movie the guys said we forfeited our right to choose and they decided to watch Batman, the dark knight.

Alice whined but I just settled into the arm of the love seat, getting comfy. I loved this movie. Edward looked over to me and I gave him a thumbs up. He smiled and settled back onto his side of the love seat.

Rosalie and Jasper came in about five minutes after we had started the movie. Jasper went directly to Alice just like always. He sat down on the floor with his back to the couch and she played absently with his hair as she watched the movie.

Rosalie stood beside Emmett, glaring at him.

"You started the movie without me? You always start the movies without me!" she huffed indignantly.

"You're always late." Emmett said absently, not taking his eyes off of the TV screen.

She smacked him on the back of the head and he looked up at her. She glared and he grinned.

"I'll tell you what you missed." he comforted, opening his arms so she could sit with him in the chair.

I winced when she accepted the invitation and snuggled into his lap. The chair remand standing though and I turned my attention back to the movie.

Edward shifted on the cushions slightly and I looked over only to automatically blush when I saw him watching me.

"What?" I whispered.

He smiled slightly and shook his head.

"Nothing." he whispered back and shifted his attention back to the screen.

Fifteen minutes later a skittle flew through the air and hit me on the side of the head. I looked over and Alice threw her hands in the air in a way that made it obvious she was exasperated. She looked pointedly from me to Edward and flicked her hands in a way to motion me to scoot over.

I frowned and shook my head. She pouted and nodded her own head vigorously. I just rolled my eyes and looked back to the screen. Not even two seconds later another Skittle bounced off of my head.

I sighed and looked to Alice. She widened her eyes and jerked her head in the direction of Edward. "No" I mouthed and rested my head on the back of the love seat. I don't know why she still tries. It's never going to happen. I feel privileged to simply be friends with Edward.

Something bounced off of the side of my head and I would take Emmett up on his $50 bet that it was a Skittle.

Bing!

Make that two skittles.

"What Alice?" I whispered across the room, full on glaring at her now.

She mouthed "go on" back at me and I shook my head again. Alice had persistence in spades. I knew there was no way she was going to stop until I did what she asked.

I sighed and moved over a hair, making sure there was still plenty of space between me and Edward but hopefully enough to placate Alice.

Edward looked over to me and smiled his lopsided grin. I bit my lip and turned my attention back to the movie. It was already half way over and I hadn't even begun to start paying attention to it.

Another Skittle bounced off of my head and I groaned.

"Hey! Where'd the Skittles come from?" Emmett demanded.

I giggled and picked the one that Alice had just assaulted me with up off of the couch cushion and plopped it into my mouth.

Alice scowled and took the bag over to Emmett.

"Here Em. You can have them."

She grabbed a small handful and tossed them at me as she passed.

"Thanks!" he cheered. "Hey Rose! Want some Skittles?"

Rosalie shook her head and rested her head on Emmett's shoulder to continue watching the movie. I happily plopped some more Skittles into my mouth.

Alice exhaled angrily and flopped back onto the couch, crossing her arms over her chest as she did so. Jasper looked from me to Alice and chuckled. He whispered something in her ear and rubbed circles in the palm of her hand. She smiled and shrugged and then returned to the movie.

"What was that about?" Edward whispered.

I looked over and stifled a giggle.

"She was just trying to get my attention.

He looked at me before shrugging. Then he surprised me by moving over to my section of the small love seat.

"Do you mind sharing? I love Skittles."

I looked down to my hands and wished I had not eaten the entire handful to prove a point to Alice.

"I kind of ate them all." I admitted grudgingly.

He chuckled.

"That's alright." he assured me.

I was accepting him to move back over to his side but he snuggled down where he was, never taking his eyes off of the screen in front of him. I smiled to myself. I saw Alice grinning wildly as she watched me and I smoothed my facial features and borrowed in to the cushions.

The movie ended and I was still in the same position. I had been perfectly still all through the second half of the movie. I was afraid to move because if I moved even the tiniest bit I would bump into Edward.

Alice flicked the lights on and I squinted, momentarily blinded.

Edward chuckled, seeing my expression and I stuck my tongue out and stretched. The threat of touching Edward was a lot less important now that the lights were on.

"What next?" Alice asked.

I stifled a yawn.

"Actually I should probably get home Alice. Charlie will be waiting."

She pouted and even pulled out the puppy dog eyes.

"Ask if you can stay the night with me! We can take you to school in the morning. Oh come on Bella! It'll be fun!"

I groaned.

"Fine." I sighed.

At least I wouldn't have to ride in the cruiser and truth be told I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Edward yet. It was crazy since I had been with him the entire day but it still wasn't enough.

I called Charlie and he said that it was fine as long as I got to school on time. Seeing as how the Cullen's all drove like maniacs I felt safe in assuring him that wouldn't be a problem.

Alice put in How to loose a guy in 10 days and flicked the lights off again. My eyes were dropping five minutes into it. I hadn't been sleeping well because as good as telling Edward about Zach had been it brought up a lot of memories and I had been having nightmares.

---

I woke up on the love seat with my legs curled up at the end because it wasn't long enough but oddly enough I was still comfortable. Someone had given me a blanket sometime through out the night and it was warm and comfy and smelled heavenly. I sighed and was just about to float back into sound sleep when something moved.

I opened my eyes at once and saw my head was lying on Edward's lap. I looked up and saw that he was asleep with his head lying on the back of the love seat. His arms were wrapped securely around me and he sighed blissfully just like I had a couple of seconds ago.

I watched him for a moment. His hair was even more mussed than usual and his features were calm and serene as he slept. He looked even more godly than usual. I hadn't thought that was possible. In the middle of ogling the sleeping man I realized that if he awoke to find me staring at him it would be extremely awkward for the both of us. I reluctantly tried to wriggle out of his arms but he tightened his grip and mumbled something in his sleep.

"Rise and shine everyone!"

Edward moved and I realized I didn't have anymore time left. He was about to open his eyes so I went with plan B. I pretended to be asleep.

I heard Edward yawn and he released me from his grip, stretching his arms over his head and then I heard footsteps coming into the room.

"Aunt Esme says breakfast is ready! Waffles!" Alice paused for a second and I wanted to open my eyes so badly to see what was going on but I couldn't.

"That is if you can tare yourself away." she finished and I could hear the smirk in her voice.

"Alice." Edward threatened.

"Fine! But how long is your denial going to last? Because me and Emmett have this bet and"

"Alice!" Edward threatened louder this time.

I heard her huff and then there were more footsteps going in the opposite direction.

"Demented little pixie." Edward grumbled and I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing.

He didn't say anything else or move so I wasn't sure what was going on. Was he watching me as I had been a moment before? Unfortunately I would never know. My stomach chose that exact moment to catch the aroma of waffles wafting in from the kitchen and my tummy rumbled.

Edward chuckled and then I felt his lips at me ear.

"Bella?" he whispered and I shivered unintentionally.

Must my body always betray me?! I moved like I was just waking up and mumbled something just like he had before waking up.

"Time to wake up Bells." he whispered, his lips still at my ear and I decided it was time to "wake up" before this man drove me crazy.

I sat up and yawned. Then I took in my surroundings and tried to look as confused and sleepy as I could.

"Did I fall asleep?"

Edward chuckled. My hair probably looked like a hay stack and now that I thought about it in all probability I had morning breath as well. Very glamorous Bella! I though.

I put a hand to my mouth like I was stifling a yawn and asked, "What time is it?"

He looked at his watch.

"7:00. We should leave in about an hour. Are you hungry?"

I nodded without hesitation. I had already smelled the wonderful aroma of the waffles. He laughed and stood up, stretching his arms over his head.

"That wasn't the most comfortable place to sleep." he commented.

I was going to say that I had never slept better but decided against it. Edward offered me his hand and I gratefully accepted it.

"You probably weren't very comfortable either." he remarked with a hint of sadness in his tone. "I'm sorry about that. We tried to move you but you were quite set on staying where you were."

I shot him a questioning look but he just grinned and led me by the hand into the kitchen.

"Good morning." called a beautiful woman with caramel colored wavy hair and kind eyes. I assumed this was Edward's mother.

I had heard Edward talk about her but I had never officially met her. All of a sudden I felt very self-conscious about staying last night. I didn't mean to impose upon Edward's parents, especially when they didn't really know me.

"Good morning Mom."

Edward kissed my cheek and pulled a chair out for me at the large oak table.

I realized I still held his hand tightly and I blushed, dropping his hand immediately. I sat down in the chair trying to smile around my humiliation from clinging to Edward and intruding on his parents.

"Good morning Mrs. Cullen. I'm sorry for intruding like this."

Edward's mother smiled brightly at me and handed Edward a plate, which he immediately placed in front of me before waiting for the next one.

"Good morning dear. Please call me Esme and it isn't an intrusion in the least. The kid's friends are always welcome here."

She handed another plate to Edward and he slid into the seat beside me with it.

"Besides," she continued. "Alice stayed her last night as well."

I looked at Alice and she smiled her hundred watt smile at me. I couldn't help but to return it, forgetting all of my former annoyance because of the deluge of Skittles and peer pressure.

She popped another bit of waffle into her mouth and smiled smugly at me.

-EPOV-

I felt Bella start to get up and I tightened my arms around her unintentionally. She stopped wriggling around and I wondered what she was doing in those couple of seconds that I couldn't see her. I wanted to open my eyes so badly but I knew that would make the situation more awkward than necessary so I was good and continued to pretend to sleep. I had been awake for about ten minutes already when she began to stir but when I knew she was definitely awake I panicked and pretended to be sleeping myself. It was a despicable thing to do but I did not want to embarrass her by watching her when she opened her eyes.

"Rise and shine everyone!" called Alice from the kitchen.

I began to move around the tiniest bit to warn her I was about to "wake up." when I opened my eyes Bella was lying perfectly still with her eyes closed.

I almost laughed. She was such a faker! But I disguised my chuckle as a big yawn and I stretched. My back was killing me, just like I had known it was going to if I slept all night on the too small love seat. My neck had a creak in it also but… it wasn't too bad.

"Aunt Esme says breakfast is ready! Waffles!"

Alice stopped talking and took in the sight of Bella all curled up, her head resting on my lap, snuggled into my side.

She put her hands to her heart and mouthed "Awww!" before she raised an eyebrow and smirked at me.

"That is if you can tare yourself way."

"Alice." I threatened.

She huffed.

"Fine! But how long is your denial going to last? Because me and Emmett have this bet and"

"Alice!" I threatened louder this time.

My eyes shot towards Bella momentarily before I turned my pleasing eyes towards my cousin and shook my head furiously.

She rolled her eyes at me and stomped her way back into the kitchen.

I exhaled in a whoosh and mumbled, "Demented little pixie." to myself.

I looked back down at Bella and saw a grin spread faintly across her face before she reigned it back in. I had to chuckle. She was such a bad actress. A person who laughs at other while sleeping? Two could play that game.

"Bella?" I whispered, making sure my lips grazed her ear.

She shivered and I couldn't help the triumphant smile that pulled one side of my lips upward.

She moved a little, probably warning me as I had done moments before. She mumbled something incoherent. There was one sign she was not asleep without a doubt. When she mumbled in her sleep it was all quite clear.

"Time to wake up Bells." I continued to whisper with my lips at her ear.

She sat up a little quicker than a real sleeping person might have. She stretched and looked around her with feigned bewilderment.

"Did I fall asleep?" she asked, her doe eyes wide with innocence.

Maybe I had underestimated her acting skills. I chuckled to myself and she stifled a yawn and stretched an arm over her head again. A strip of her stomach was left exposed and my eyes moved to it on their own accord.

"What time is it?" she asked.

I knew very well what time it was. I had only glanced at my watch a minute ago but I decided that it was beneficial to stop staring at her midriff like a man desperately seeking psychiatric care so I looked at my watch purposefully.

"7:00." I told her." We should leave in half an hour. Are you hungry?"

She nodded without hesitation and I got up off of the couch, stretching my aching back. I saw Bella watching me.

"That wasn't the most comfortable place to sleep." I explained.

She didn't say anything and I immediately felt remorse. She was probably just as stiff and uncomfortable as I am.

"You probably weren't very comfortable either."

I frowned. I should have tried harder to move her. Then a thought occurred to me. She does not know we tried to move her at all. Does she believe I just curled up on the couch with her? That would do absolutely nothing for the gentleman image I was attempting to prove to her.

"I'm sorry about that." I rushed. "We tried to move you but you were quiet set on staying where you were."

I helped her off of the couch and grinned as I remembered just how set she had been. I had attempted to move her after the third movie was over and everyone except Alice had gone home for the night.

I did not want to move, Bella had fallen asleep during the beginning of the second movie and she had snuggled into my side as she slept. It was not a arrangement I altogether disliked but I did not want Bella to be uncomfortable as she slept. Alice has her own room her and she has a king sized bed so the plan was to get off of the couch and carry Bella upstairs to Alice's room. But when I had tried to get up off of the couch Bella had grabbed onto my shirt and snuggled closer. She looked like she was sleeping so soundly and she looked so beautiful, so peaceful and serene that I didn't want to move her so Alice got the blanket from off of my bed and I had attempted to get comfortable enough to sleep.

I gave up on that soon after the sleep talking had begun. At first it was incoherent mumbles and then it was so clear that at first I had thought she had woken up. So I stayed up listening to Bella talk in her sleep through half of the night.

She said "Renee" which I knew was her mother. She said something about "Don't make me go shopping." and something about a "hot vampire."

I chuckled. It was most likely due to the fact that we had recently finished Dracula in English lit. but it was entertaining non the less. It was as close to reading her mind as I was going to get.

I was quite enjoying myself and I was making a mental note to tell Alice Bella's quote about shopping when she sighed happily and said my name.

I shot up on the couch so fast that I was certain I would catapult her across the family room or at least wake her up. But she had simply tightened her grip on my shirt and smiled blissfully before saying my name once more.

That is when I knew it did not matter. I would give up moving in a heart beat. It would not be an inconvenience in the least because I did not poses the strength to stay away from her any longer. I would give up anything as long as I could have my Bella. And with that thought I fell asleep.

(AN: Awww! What do you guys think? 10 pages! Woot! Woot! Lol.

If you read it please review it. And I'm bored and an insomniac so if you guys have read any other cute stories about Edward and Bella please leave the titles or authors penname in your comments. Thanks so much guys!

-PREVIEW OF THE NEXT CHAPTER-

"EDWARD, RELAX. SHE LOVES YOU TOO!"

I SIGHED. IT DIDN'T SEEM ALL THAT POSSIBLE.

"I HOPE SO." I SIGHED.

ALICE GOT UP OFF OF THE BED AND DANCED LITHELY TO THE DOOR. SHE LOOKED OVER HER SHOULDER AND SMILED SWEETLY AT ME.

"YOU HAVE TO TELL HER."

I NODDED.

"I WILL. PLEASES JUST ALLOW ME TO TELL HER WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT."