DISCLAIMER: I own Edward's song, Operation set Mikey Straight, Zach, and a copy of Twilight. Everything else belongs to the uber talented Stephanie Meyer.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I got a burst of inspiration for another story… of course revolving around Bella and Edward driving home from taking my friend home earlier but I don't want to start it before this one is done. But I was excited about it so I thought I'd let you guys know there will be another one in the works soon. Would any of you read it?

(the who/ Jack Johnson)

-BPOV-

There was a shiny silver Volvo sitting in my driveway when I opened the front door. Charlie had been gone for about twenty minutes already and I had thought I was going to have to walk. I smiled happily as I saw Edward leaning against the Volvo with his arms folded over his chest as he waited for me. He grinned widely as he saw me and I had to fight against my normal instinct to run to him and throw my arms around his neck. Instead I calmly walked towards him and smiled shyly.

"Good morning." he said in his velvety voice.

I smiled.

"Good morning."

"Did you forget you agreed to ride with me every morning now?" he asked, seeming slightly amused at my reaction to finding him in my driveway.

I pouted.

"No." I defended myself but I was a terrible liar.

Edward chuckled.

"Well. Would you like to ride with me?" he asked, politely ignoring my obvious lie.

I placed a sweet kiss on his cheek, proud of my self control.

"I would love to."

I began to walk to the passenger side but Edward wrapped his arms around my waist, turning me to face him. He placed a hand on either side of my face and kissed me gently on the lips.

"I love you."

His breath wafted across my face and I regretfully forgot to breath for a moment as the sweet smell stunned me.

"I love you too." I squeaked.

He chuckled and reached behind me without breaking eye contact to open the passenger side door.

He released me and began to walk to the driver's side. I just watched him walk around the front of the car.

"Bella?" he broke me out of my daze.

I took a deep breath, only now realizing I had stopped and got into the car, still in a stupor. He grinned, looking slightly smug. Stupid man keeps dazzling me!

"I don't think I will ever get tired of saying that." he commented idly as he reversed out of my driveway.

I looked over him quizzically and he grabbed my hand so both of our hands were resting on the consol between the seats just like last night.

"Telling you that I love you." He explained.

I blushed. I don't know why but I blushed.

"I had to hold it in for quite a long time." he continued.

I raised an eyebrow.

"How long?" I asked curiously.

"Hmmm…" he picked up our connected hands and kissed the top of my hand seemingly without thinking about it.

"Since the night you told me about your brother?"

I tore my eyes away from my hand at his lips, where I had been previously unintentionally transfixed.

"You're kidding!"

He chuckled and his breath tickled the palm of my hand.

"Truly I am not." he admitted and gently set our hands to rest back on the center consol.

"I realized that I would do anything to make you happy again because somehow our pain was connected. I could not imagine being happy if you were not."

I felt tears well up in my eyes and I looked down at my lap. I knew how much that night meant to me because that was the night that I truly began to heal but I had no idea it had made such an impact on Edward.

Edward wiped a tear from my cheek and I looked at him through bleary eyes. I hadn't realized I had let the tears fall.

"What's wrong Love?" he asked, concern overflowing from every word he uttered.

I let out a shaky breath and made the mistake of looking into his majestic green eyes which caused me to blurt out the truth without thinking. Something that had become routine with Edward.

"Why would you want to be with me?" I asked. "I am absolutely ordinary- well except for being so clumsy that I'm almost disabled. And look at you."

I waved my hand toward him and all his bewildering perfection.

He frowned and put a hand on either side of my face as he forced me to look at him. I hadn't even realized we had arrived at the school.

"You don't see yourself very clearly." he stated plainly. "But you didn't see how every human male reacted to you on your first day here."

I blinked, astonished.

"Trust me just this once- you are the opposite of ordinary."

My embarrassment was much stronger than my pleasure at the look that came into his eyes when he said this and I quickly looked away. (AN: Yes, I pretty much quoted the conversation that Edward and Bella had on page210 of Twilight with a few minor adaptations.)

"Newton for instance." he spat irritably.

I followed his glare across the parking lot to where Mike was standing, staring at us deliberately.

I grimaced.

"He isn't the smartest boy I've ever met." I commented.

Edward scoffed.

"And the line of admirers begins again."

I blushed, causing him to chuckle.

"Not that I can blame them of course."

I rolled my eyes and glanced nervously back out the window. Being harassed by Mike, or anyone else for that matter, seemed even more detestable now that I had Edward.

"Perhaps we could begin 'Operation Fake Date' early."

I looked over to Edward and he smiled reassuringly. I nodded in unquestionable agreement. He got out of the Volvo and opened the door for me just like he always did. He wrapped his arm around my waist as soon as I was out of the car and we walked through the crowd like that.

"Everyone is staring." I whispered.

He looked around the crowd and then leaned into my side so as to whisper into my ear.

"That guy isn't." he stated humorlessly as he pointed to some distant point across the parking lot.

He smirked at me.

"Oh. He just looked." (AN: One of my favorite parts of the movie! Couldn't help myself! Plus who else thinks Robert Pattinson is beyond sexy in that scene? *Sighs* yeah…)

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"I knew it!" Alice shrieked excitedly as she sprinted to my locker where Edward was waiting patiently for me to gather my books. He had his hand protectively on the small of my back as I closed the locker door. I smiled a telltale smile and I sighed, about to confess when Edward looked to Alice. She was now bouncing up and down in front of us.

"It is part of the 'fake date.'" he told her.

Alice visibly deflated. I shot him a questioning look but he kept his unwavering gaze on Alice.

"It will be more believable if everyone sees us together before hand." He explained rationally.

Alice slumped.

"oh." she sighed. She completely bought it.

Even though I knew this wasn't the truth, that he wasn't only pretending to like me I still felt a pang in my chest. It felt like he was ashamed of me and it took everything I had to convince myself that the last two days had actually happened. I was the one who had asked him to keep this a secret but that didn't seem like a good idea any more. I wanted everyone to know that I loved Edward and that he loved me.

"I believe I should walk Bella to her first class today Alice." Edward said politely.

"Is that okay with you?"

Alice shrugged indifferently and absently chewed on her bottom lip, staring blankly at nothing in particular, deep in thought.

"Sure sure." she mumbled.

Edward took my books in one hand and held his free hand out to me, giving me the choice. I took his hand without hesitation.

"I'll see you at lunch Alice." I said shyly. I felt horrible for lying to her.

She seemed to snap out of some far away place when I spoke and she was back to the peppy, energetic Alice I knew.

"Bye Bella!" She chirped, giving me a peck on the cheek.

She smiled knowingly and bounced on her tiptoes to give Edward a kiss on the cheek too.

"Bye Edward!" she chimed.

"Sooner or later…" she warned ominously in a low tone only meant for Edward to hear. I smiled a little to myself. Only if she knew!

Edward watched Alice spring off down the hallway, shaking his head before turning to me.

"Shall we?" he asked.

I smiled and squeezed his fingers.

"Of course."

---

Mike was waiting outside of the English lit. room just as I had guessed he would. He took one lingering look at mine and Edward's hands and grimaced.

I thought Edward was going to say something to Mike but he surprised me by completely ignoring him. He handed me my books without even glancing at Mike. He smiled at me sweetly.

"Have a wonderful first hour." He said.

Then he pushed a strand of hair behind my ear and kissed me with a little more enthusiasm then I had been expecting. I wasted no time in tangling my fingers in his hair and pulling him closer to me.

He chuckled and I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks as I remembered where we were.

He pulled back an inch or so, so that he could look at me and brushed his thumb against my fiery cheek. It only intensified my blush as I saw the look in his eyes.

"I will meet you here after class." he whispered and then he raised his voice back to normal octave and stood up to his full height.

"If anyone bothers you please tell me."

He finally turned his penetrating glare to Mike who was standing in the doorway to our classroom gaping. I almost chuckled.

"I will." I assured him. He gave me one more sweet kiss before walking away.

----

-EPOV-

Bella and I had been getting curious stares all morning. Most of the male population were shooting daggers at me and some of the girls were staring at my angel with jealousy. I pulled her a little closer as we passed Lauren. She was one of the most treacherous vultures. I did not believe she was as bad as Jessica Stanley but she was her minion at the very least. I did not want my Bella within ten feet of their malicious ways.

When we arrived at our usual table no one seemed surprised to see Bella and I holding hands. Alice must have explained the situation; or at least the falsehood I had told her. I felt horrible about lying to them but this was what Bella wanted.

I sighed as I pulled a chair out for Bella before retreating to the lunch line to buy some food for the two of us. Bella had been attempting to convince me not to get her anything but that was only because she didn't understand clearly how much I enjoyed doing things for her.

"Hi Edward!" I cringed as I was assaulted by a nasally voice. There was no need for me to turn around to find out who was speaking to me. So I didn't.

"Hello Jessica." I said, remaining with my back to her. I cursed silently to myself. I hadn't even seen her get into the line behind me. Obviously Jessica took my acknowledgment as encouragement as she stepped out of the line to stand beside me. I kept my trained gaze on the tray I pushed along with one finger. I did not want to make the mistake of acknowledgment again.

She grabbed onto my forearm.

"That's like a lot of food!" She exclaimed. I looked at her hand with a scowl. I wanted to hurry through this line with little distraction so I could be with Bella again.

I looked back to the tray which had for some reason gained her frivolous attention. It was piled high with food. Since I didn't know what Bella was in the mood for today I had gotten a small portion of everything.

"It's for Bella as well." I explained politely while inconspicuously taking my arm back.

"You're getting Bella's lunch too?" she asked with a mixture of jealousy and disgust. "That's nice of you. I guess."

I rolled my eyes.

"I enjoy doing things for Bella Jessica." I explained patiently.

Jessica glowered at her feet.

"Yeah… so about that. Are you two together now or what?"

"I love her." I responded automatically. Jessica gawked and I couldn't contain the smile that always followed shortly after talking of Bella. I really didn't think I would ever get used to saying I loved her out loud. I wasn't sure if I wanted to get used to it.

"Have a nice day." I told her respectively as I paid for mine and Bella's lunch and walked back to our table.

"Pretending to date Bells can't even save you from Stanly huh?" asked Emmett with a hint of repugnance. Bella was staring intently at the table top.

"I believe she will get the hint eventually." I said and reassuringly squeezed Bella's hand under the table. She looked up and smiled halfheartedly.

"She and Mike would be perfect for each other!" Chimed Alice. We all laughed.

"I do not believe the world is prepared for that united force." I remarked and Alice shrugged.

I looked back to Bella anxiously. I didn't want her to be upset but if she felt anything like I did when I saw her with Newton or James I needed to reassure her.

"You really should have seen the look on Jessica's face when I told her I was in love with Bella." I commented conversationally. Emmett laughed boisterously.

"You sure are taking this 'fake date' thing seriously!"

Alice smirked and I shrugged. I would not say anything about the reality of the situation until Bella was ready but I hopped she would want to tell them soon. I was not accustomed to keeping secrets from my family. Besides that I didn't want to keep this a secret at all. I wanted everyone to know that Bella was mine and I hers.

-BPOV-

We had to tell everyone soon! It was killing me that my friends, the people I had come to care about the most since I had moved here, all thought this was a joke.

"What are you thinking about Love?" I looked at Edward to see he was staring at me with unfiltered curiosity. We were sitting in the kitchen of his house where I had been ever since school had gotten out.

I sighed.

"We need to tell them Edward." he didn't need me to elaborate. He nodded and a gleam of happiness and excitement light his features.

"Are you certain that is what you wish to do?" he asked. I nodded without hesitation. Keeping this a secret had seemed like a good idea at the time but it wasn't worth keeping everyone in the dark. Besides I felt uneasy to keep such a huge and important part of my life hidden.

"I'm sure."

A smile tugged at his lips and he kissed my forehead.

"You have no idea how happy that makes me." He whispered. I smiled in response. I could see what he meant about our emotions being connected somehow. Knowing I was making Edward happy made me happier than I had been for a very long time.

"Everyone will be here for movie night." He commented. "We could tell them then if you would like." I smiled and nodded my head in agreement.

"What would you like to do in the meantime?"

I sighed. Simply being together was good enough for me. I thought for a moment.

"Can you play something for me?" I asked. He smiled and got up from the table.

"Of course." He grabbed hold of my hand and we walked leisurely to the music room together.

"Would you like me to play your lullaby?" he asked and I smiled happily at the thought.

"I would love that!" I answered honestly. He grinned and I sat beside him on the piano bench. It was almost like a replay of last night but the melody he played wasn't the one I had been expecting. It was the first song he had played last night and not the one he had written when he realized he loved me.

"What's this?" I asked quietly.

"Your lullaby." He answered with a peaceful smile playing on his lips, never taking his eyes off of the piano keys.

"You wrote this one for me too?" I asked in shock.

"Of course." He answered smoothly. He glanced over with a heartwarming smile and all of the love and adoration in the world shinning through his eyes before turning his attention back to the music. My stomach flipped and my heart rate sped.

"How many songs do I have exactly?" I finally asked curiously. He chuckled.

"Only these two. I can write more if you would like."

"No!" I said a little louder than I had intended. Edward stopped playing and looked to me with his head tilted in question and his eyebrows pulled together.

"I didn't mean I wanted more." I explained quickly.

I didn't mean to sound ungrateful. I had only been curious.

"I love the songs you have written already." Edward shook his head and kissed me lightly on the forehead.

"It would be my pleasure but if this is what you wish I won't write any more." I smiled.

"Thank you. They really are beautiful by the way. I can't believe how amazing they are."

Edward played the ending and just like last time I was left in awe as to its sheer beauty.

"What would you like to do now?"

I sighed. As much as I hated to end this moment I had a lot of homework that needed my attention. If I was staying for movie night again I wouldn't have any time to finish it later.

"I have some homework." I admitted grudgingly.

Edward nodded.

"I do as well."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was curious and so I checked how many words are in this story so far and there are over 56,000 words. Yay! So maybe you could write up a quick review? Much appreciated! I have been trying to reply to all of the reviews. I have been doing pretty good with that recently.

-PREVIEW OF NEXT CHAPTER-

She burrowed her head back into my chest and she seemed embarrassed.

"it's quite alright." I assured her. "You must have needed your sleep."

She yawned and I chuckled while I played absently with a lock of her hair. I pulled lightly on the curl and watched it bounce back before I curled it around my finger.

"I guess." She admitted reluctantly. "I haven't been sleeping well recently."

I frowned.

"Why not?"

She shrugged and sat up.

"Nightmares."

"Would you like to talk about them?" I asked. I was worried. Sleep was detrimental and I hated to think that there was something that was troubling her so much that it kept her from getting enough rest.