AN: Much thanks and love to ShearEnvy for beta'ing, as usual. Thanks to those who are reading, and to those who take the time to review. They make my day, truly. I keep meaning to reply, but FFnet's new review reply system pisses me off so I send about ten replies before having to walk away before I punch my computer.

I've had a few people ask me how I envision Bella looking in this, because she's made some comments about her figure. This is told through Bella's POV, so her view of herself is somewhat skewed like a lot of women. She's a curvy girl, but she's not really overweight or anything. She just always felt sort of inferior, which is where these comments stem from. Hope that helps.

Chapter 5: "Growing"

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. ~Elisabeth Foley

"She stole my shoes, Jake! Can you believe that? My shoes!"

"You hated those shoes."

I groaned as I clutched onto the cell phone, pacing the floor in my old room. I'd been at it for so long I was surprised I hadn't worn a hole in the wood and dropped right through to the living room.

"So? They were a gift! You gave them to me for Christmas!"

"Technically, I forced them upon you at Christmas," he said. "I'm surprised you're not happy they're gone."

"But they were Stanley Weitzman!"

"Stuart Weitzman, Bella. The man's name is Stuart," he corrected me, laughing. "And you don't care about designers anyway, so what's the big deal? I'll buy you some more if it's that important."

I cringed. Definitely didn't want another pair. I'd finally just broken those in and had no desire to go through that again. "The point is that she's a thief! She stole from me!"

Jake laughed for about the tenth time during the conversation so far. I wasn't sure why I'd bothered to call him when all he did was laugh at me. "Bella, you're there to steal her groom from her. I'd say that's far worse than a measly pair of shoes."

"I'm not stealing him. He's not a piece of property," I insisted. "Besides, he doesn't belong to her. He belongs to me."

"You're such a hypocrite," he said. I could practically see him shaking his head at me. "Did you even hear what you just said?"

"Yes, I did, but it's different! We've been friends forever, and we've always just belonged to each other. He's my Edward."

"And you're his Bella, but..."

"Swan," I interrupted. "I'm his Swan. He doesn't call me Bella."

"Ever?"

"No," I replied. "Well, I mean, he has a few times. Usually when he's drunk. But normally I'm Swan."

"Interesting," Jake said, drawing out the word like he really meant it. "Swan, a beautiful creature that transformed from some not-so-beautiful beginnings. An impressive metamorphosis, maybe indicative of how he feels for you."

"Don't be getting all metaphorical on me, Oprah. It's just my last name."

Another laugh. "And you don't think that could mean anything?"

"No," I replied. "If he meant something by it, wouldn't he just always use Bella? It means beautiful. It's more obvious."

"Maybe," he replied. "Or maybe that's why he only calls you that when he's drunk. He's not saying it just because it's your name...he's saying it because he means it. When people drink they get brave and do things they wouldn't otherwise do."

"Yeah, I know perfectly well what happens when people drink," I muttered. "But that's not how Edward is. He doesn't think I'm some amazing creature like that. I'm just the same girl I've always been to him."

Jake sighed loudly. "You do realize I'm trying to suggest the man might be in love with you, and you're arguing against it, right?"

"Ugh, yes," I said, frustrated. What the hell was wrong with me? Wasn't that what I wanted? "I'm just so confused."

"Well, you're confusing me too. Either you belong together or you don't. You need to make up your mind, because there's no helping you until you do," he said. "I know you said he's your Edward and you're his Swan, but you need to decide whether or not that means the same thing to the two of you. If so, proceed, honey. Do what you gotta do. But if not, you need to get in your car and get your ass back to Seattle before someone gets hurt. Namely, you."

I walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed, cradling my head in my free hand. I was torn, ripped completely down the middle. Half of me was afraid of losing Edward, of putting our friendship on the line when he could very easily reject me, but the other half wondered if I'd just lose him anyway if I didn't try.

Maybe I was selfish for wanting him all to myself, and maybe it was wrong to pursue him now, but I couldn't help it. I'd always wanted to be with Edward, but I stood by all of those years, silently letting him take the lead. I was his best friend, and I watched him make mistake after mistake but supported his decisions because that was my job. He ventured out into the world, leaving me behind, but all the while I always hoped he'd eventually come back. To me. So I waited, and I waited, and I waited... the entire time giving him whatever part of me he needed.

But I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't sit back while he made yet another mistake...the biggest mistake of his life. Marriage was serious business. There was no more time for waiting.

I had to act.

"He always made me feel beautiful," I said quietly. "Even when he didn't say it, that's how I felt around him. I was so self-conscious, almost embarrassed of myself, but he never acted that way. He was never once ashamed of me."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of," Jake said.

"Yeah, but that's not how it felt back then. People flocked to Edward. He was always at the very top in high school and dated the prettiest, most popular girls. Then there was me. Those girls came and went, but I was always there. And not once did he try to hide our friendship, not once did he let any of those girls come between what we had. But it's different now. This girl... she's different. He even said so himself."

"What's she really like, Bella?"

"Fucking horrible," I replied. Jake laughed again and I smiled. "She's nice. Like, really nice. And sweet... God, it's disturbing how sweet she is. And beautiful. Skinny, long red hair, blue eyes. Definitely beautiful."

"She sounds perfect," Jake said.

"Yeah, that's the problem," I replied. "She's too perfect...no...she's sickeningly perfect. And Edward is rushing into this thing without a clear head because of it. He's like, blinded by the perkiness."

"Perky?" Jake asked. I could tell he was amused. "Are we referring to her personality or her tits?"

I groaned. "Why are you asking me about her tits, Jake? Thinking about switching sides?"

"And deal with you moody bitches? No way. You know I'm allergic to vag," he joked. "I'm just trying to get a mental picture of this horribly perfect person. It must be dreadful."

He was mocking me, but I didn't have the energy to even get annoyed with him for it. "You want a mental picture, Jake? It's like the band camp girl from American Pie and Smilin' Bob from those God awful Enzyte commercials got together and reproduced. She's like Hillary Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airon speed."

"That bad?"

"She hugged me, Jake. It was practically an assault! I thought she was going to smother me."

He was on the verge of laughter again - was it that fucking funny? "What nerve! She actually hugged you?"

"Screw you," I muttered.

"Look, do you want my honest advice?" he asked. "No oneis that perfect. Everyone has flaws. Your best bet is to get Edward to see that. Put her in a different light. Stop the honeymoon phase right in it's tracks so he can see things logically and not through rose-colored glasses."

"That could work," I said. "But how exactly do I do that?"

"Jesus, do I need to draw you a picture?" he grumbled. "You're smart, Bella, figure it out."

I opened the refrigerator door and looked inside, shifting things around. There wasn't much in there besides containers upon containers of leftovers, most of which looked highly questionable. I couldn't even begin to imagine what was in them or how long ago it was they'd been cooked.

Or who cooked them, for that matter. It certainly couldn't have been Charlie.

I pulled the containers out, tossing them directly into the trash can without even taking off the lids. I dumped out the milk, the date having passed well over two weeks ago, and threw out some unusual green-looking cheese. I went through the freezer next and then the cabinets, ending up with a trash bag full of crap and a kitchen void of food.

How the hell was Charlie surviving?

Speaking of Charlie, he'd left earlier in the day in his uniform, saying he'd be back in a few hours. I figured I'd cook him a nice dinner as my way of saying thanks, but given the state of the kitchen, that would be easier said than done.

"Fuck," I muttered as I headed upstairs. I glanced in the closet and pulled out a shirt and jeans, quickly putting them on before slipping my feet into my old chucks and grabbing my keys.

The trip to the grocery store felt familiar, even though it had been years since I'd made the drive. I pulled my car into the back of the fairly packed parking lot and climbed out, grabbing my purse before making my way into the store. Thirty minutes later I headed to the register with a cart packed full of food, barely paying attention as I tossed it all up onto the conveyor belt. The cashier, a young girl with blonde hair, was ringing up my stuff when I heard someone call my name.

"Swan? Bella Swan?"

I looked over, surprised to see the vaguely familiar face. He was bulky with dark hair cropped close to his head, an infectious grin stretching from ear to ear. I glanced at his chest as he approached, reading the name tag pinned to his shirt.

Emmett McCarty
Asst. Manager

"Hey there, Emmett," I said, smiling. I wasn't sure how to greet him. He'd been one of Edward's friends in high school, but he and I had never talked that much. He was the typical jock as far as I could tell, playing football in the fall and baseball in the spring with Edward. In fact, he'd gotten a scholarship to play one of those in college, so him working here at the Shop N Save was the last thing I expected.

"It's been a long time," he said, stopping at the register beside me. He started bagging my groceries and I suddenly felt bad, like maybe I should be doing that instead of him. "You in town for Edward's wedding?"

My smile fell instantly. "You know about that?"

"Of course I do," he replied. "Who do you think the best man is?"

My heart sank. "He asked you?"

"Yeah, a few days ago," he said. "Told him I'd be honored to do it for him, if that's what he really wanted."

"Oh." I was dumbfounded. I had no idea he'd gone so far as to get a best man already. I felt so out of the loop... and a bit jealous. Why Emmett? "I didn't realize you guys still talked like that."

"Yeah, we've kept in touch," he said. "He calls just about every week to see how my mom's doing. She's sick with cancer, you know, so that's why I moved back here. Forks isn't really an ideal place for someone with a degree in Geology, so it was either work here or Newton's Outfitters next door. And as much as I'd prefer that scene, there was no way I was working under Newton."

"Mike Newton still works there?" I asked.

He nodded. "Runs the place now. Running it right into the ground from what I've heard."

"I'm sorry," I said. He looked at me with confusion and I shook my head. "About your mom, I mean. Not Newton. I'm sorry she's sick."

Mrs. McCarty was a widow, having lost her husband right after Emmett was born. She'd worked in the public library where I spent a lot of my time that last summer in Forks, so I saw a good bit of her back then. Out of everyone in town, Mrs. McCarty was one of the few people to take an actual interest in me. I wondered what she'd say if she saw me now... if she'd even want to see me, that is.

Frankly, I wasn't so sure. Not after...

"Thanks, Bella. She always liked you," Emmett said, pulling me from my thoughts as he finished bagging up the groceries, sticking them in my cart. "Anyway, I'm sure we'll see each other around. You know, because of Edward."

"Yeah, I'm sure," I replied as I turned back to the cashier, pulling out a credit card to pay.

He walked off to go back to work and I grabbed my receipt before heading out of the store. I drove to Charlie's and backed my car into his driveway, popping the trunk to get out the groceries. I made sure to grab my suitcase from the backseat this time, knowing I couldn't keep wearing what was hanging in the closet.

I noticed something attached to the door when I approached it, realizing it was an envelope. My name was scribbled on the front so I sat the bags down, opening it anxiously.

Dearest Isabella,
Edward and I would positively adore it if you'd come over for dinner tomorrow night! How does six o'clock sound?
Tanya

I frowned, annoyed that she even screamed rainbows and sunshine on paper, and grumbled as I opened the door. Dearest Tanya, I'd positively adore it if you'd just go the fuck away.

After the groceries were in the house and all of the food was put away, I started throwing together a lasagna for dinner. While it was in the oven I cleaned a bit to pass the time, vacuuming and dusting things I was pretty sure hadn't been dusted since the last time I visited. Charlie certainly didn't do it, and he hadn't had a woman in his life since my mother when I was young.

Time passed swiftly. The lasagna finished cooking and sat on the counter, growing cold. Dusk came, the sun disappearing behind the edge of the forest as darkness crept in. It was a calm evening, and the house was completely still.

Unlike this morning, when I savored the tranquility, the silence this time put me on edge.

Around nine o'clock I called the station and they told me Charlie wasn't on duty...just like the night I'd arrived. So I covered the lasagna and stuck it in the refrigerator before heading upstairs for a shower, figuring he'd be home soon.

An hour had passed by the time I was rooting through my suitcase, finding a pair of semi-normal pajamas on the bottom of it. After grabbing a book from my old bookshelf, I settled in to read.

Still no Charlie.

Another hour passed. And then another. It was around midnight when I finally gave up, setting the book down and standing up to stretch. I went into the kitchen for a drink of water before bed, catching sight of movement in the backyard as I passed the window. My first thought was a burglar and I tensed, immediately looking around for something to protect myself with in case they got in the house. I grabbed an old steak knife from the drawer, clutching onto the handle tightly as the person approached the back door. They stepped under the glow of the porch light, and my breath hitched when I realized it was Edward.

He seemed to be wavering, cautiously glancing between the back door and the yard behind him. He raised his hand to knock a few times before dropping it for good, taking a step back away with a frown. The shadows covered his face as he wandered out into the yard and I rushed to the door, unlocking it and pulling it open before he could leave.

The sound of the door caused him to turn back around. "Going somewhere?" I asked, stepping outside. The concrete was cold beneath my bare feet, the night air chilling my bare arms.

Even in the darkness, I could make out the hint of smile on his lips. "It was quiet. I figured you were asleep."

"That's never stopped you before," I said.

"Yeah, well, I got away with it then," he replied. "Not so sure I would anymore."

My brow furrowed. "Why?"

"Well, for one you come armed now," he said, motioning toward my hand. I glanced down and blushed, remembering I had the knife. "Although, I'm pretty sure it's so dull it wouldn't do much damage. What were you gonna do, poke me to death?"

I laughed, tossing the knife back in the kitchen before starting out into the yard toward him. "Maybe. I'm sure I could probably saw a finger off too, but it might take a while."

He looked horrified, glancing at his hands. "Yeah, I'll pass on that. I need my fingers."

"So what are the other reasons?" I asked. "You didn't know I was armed when you decided not to knock."

"I don't know," he replied. "I figured you wouldn't want to be bothered."

I sighed. "If I didn't want to be bothered, I wouldn't have come here."

"Yeah, I'm surprised you did that, actually," he replied. "And so damn quickly at that."

"You shouldn't be surprised. You know I'll always come for you."

He attempted to stifle a laugh but did a horrible job of it and ended up snorting instead. "Yeah, I know you will."

I groaned and shoved him. "You're still such a twelve year old boy sometimes. You know what I mean. I'm there for you whenever you need me."

"It's good to hear," he said. "To be honest, I was nervous even emailing you. I thought maybe you'd tell me to fuck off because it had been so long. Like maybe I was too late."

"Too late?" I asked. "What would you be too late for?"

He shrugged. "To salvage our friendship, I guess."

"Did it need salvaging?"

"Felt like it." His voice was quiet, sad, and made my heart ache.

"Just because we both got busy doesn't mean anything really changed. We're still us."

"Yeah, we are," he said, seemingly satisfied with my answer, and took a seat in the grass near the oak tree. He looked up at it, his eyes scanning the long branches that extended into his parent's yard now. "I can't believe how much this damn thing grew."

"I know, right? It used to be so small that Charlie almost ran it over when he mowed the lawn," I said. "We must be getting old."

He chuckled but said nothing. I followed his lead after a moment and sat down a few feet away from where he was, gazing at him in the darkness. He looked tired, maybe even older than just hours before. He still had the same clothes on as earlier, the dark slacks and polo shirt with the black dress shoes.

"Did you go golfing today?" I asked.

He laughed. "No, why?"

"You look like it," I replied. "You're a regular ol' Arnold Palmer."

"I guess that's better than being called Tiger Woods," he joked. "And what's wrong with my clothes? I'm a doctor now, Swan. I'm supposed to look presentable."

"Yeah, when you're doctoring," I replied. He snickered at my choice of words, but I just rolled my eyes. He knew what I meant. "There's really no excuse for it on a Saturday night."

"Sunday," he said. "It's after midnight. And correct me if I'm wrong, but you're supposed to be dressed up on Sunday mornings."

"Not when it's the same clothes from the night before," I pointed out. "Besides, you never went to church, so that's irrelevant."

"I'm going tomorrow," he said. "Or, well, today. We're going to the Baptist church out by the park. Tanya wants to see about having the wedding there."

I stared at him, stunned. "You're getting married in a church?"

He nodded but said nothing. Edward was never a religious person. Spiritual, yes, but he certainly didn't conform to organized religion. He said that if you wanted to feel God, the best place to do it wasn't crammed inside a small, stuffy building. It was out in nature, surrounded by everything that God created.

"So where did you meet her?" I asked after a moment. "You never mentioned her to me before. I just... I don't even know where this girl came from."

He smiled. "I met her at the hospital. I was having a bad day, fucking up left and right. I was close to quitting, or hell, at the rate I was going, getting fired. I was in the ER with one of the residents, and Tanya came in with a cut on her hand. It was so minor, didn't even need any stitches. The resident told me to clean it up for her anyway, wanting me out of his way for a bit."

"And what, she charmed you with her boo-boo? Did you kiss it and make it better?"

He shook his head, giving me a disapproving look. It was slightly annoying, having him even consider defending her, but at the same time it was a quality I always loved about Edward. He never let anyone disrespect the people in his life, no matter what. He was protective.

Which was going to make the next few weeks mighty tricky.

"She actually annoyed me," he said. "I was mad, hating the world, and felt almost vindicated about it. But there she came with her positive outlook, finding the silver lining. She tried to cheer me up, talked non-stop the entire time we were there. She said I could have it worse... I could live in a third world country where even band-aids were unheard of."

"And it worked?" I asked. "She cheered you up?"

"No," he replied. "I was still pissed off, and then I just felt guilty on top of it. I was relieved when she left. But you know, the next day I showed up at work again, because what she said stuck with me. Maybe I had it bad, but so many others had it worse. I decided to try to give it another go.

"Two weeks later she ended up right back in the ER. I wasn't her doctor but I saw her in the waiting room, looking rough. She smiled when she saw me and said it could be worse... she could be dead. And the first thing I thought was that I was glad she wasn't. After spending all day listening to people complain and blame me for things when I'm only trying to help them, it was nice to have someone point out the good. When it was time for her to leave that time, I didn't want her to go."

"Wow," I mumbled. How the hell was I going to compete with that? "And how long ago was this?"

"About three months ago," he replied.

"You've only known her for three months and you're already marrying her?" I asked, stunned. "Isn't that kind of fast, Edward?"

"Kind of, but it could be worse," he replied, shrugging. "At least I'm not alone now."

Ouch. His words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I just sat there, willing myself not to react. I told myself he didn't mean it how it sounded, that I shouldn't take it personal, but it stung regardless.

"Isn't that constant cheerfulness tiring, though?" I asked. "I mean, doesn't it get on your nerves?"

"A little," he replied. "Look, I know Tanya can be overwhelming, but she's a good person. It would mean a lot to me if you'd give her a chance. She's excited about getting to know you. I've sorta talked you up a bit, so don't disappoint me."

He nudged me, his voice playful, but it made me feel bad. "Uh, okay," I replied. "I'll try. To give her a chance, that is. Not to disappoint you."

He smiled. "Thanks, Swan. Your opinion matters to me, you know."

"I know."

We sat there for a while, talking about everything but nothing at all. He glanced at his watch eventually, squinting in the darkness to read the time. "I should head inside. It's late."

"Yeah, me, too," I said, standing up. "I should go see if Charlie's home yet. He's been gone all day."

"Yeah, my mom mentioned that he's been out a lot lately," he said. "Kind of weird, considering he's such a homebody."

"Definitely weird," I mumbled.

"Anyway, are you coming over for dinner tomorrow?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I guess."

"Good. My mom misses you. She's the one that suggested it," he said. "You should bring Charlie too, if he's actually home then."

"Yeah, we'll see."

He nodded and started strolling away, his hands shoved in his pockets. He stopped a few steps away and turned back to me. "I've missed you too. I said my mom missed you, but... you know... me, too."

I smiled. "I know. I've missed you too, Edward."

"Hey, do me a favor," Edward said, grabbing some cash from his wallet and tossing it onto my lap. We were in the parking lot of the grocery store in the SUV, on our way to meet his friends down in La Push. "While I go in here and grab us some food and drinks, run into Newton's Outfitters for some first aid supplies and bait."

"Bait?" I asked. "What sort of bait?"

"Worms, crickets... I don't care."

I cringed. "Ugh, can't I get artificial bait?"

"Why, afraid of some creepy crawlers?"

"You know I'm not," I said, rolling my eyes. "Buying bait in a cup like that always feels wrong to me, though. It's like, mass murder."

He laughed. "They're just bugs. You kill them all the time when they get in your house."

"Yeah, but that's different," I replied. "Those bugs have a fighting chance. They can move around and have a shot at escaping. It's their own fault they get squished. But the ones at Newton's are rounded up and sent to certain death. It's like bug prison."

He stared at me for a moment. like he was seriously contemplating whether or not I was crazy. "Just buy the damn bait, Swan," he finally said before getting out and walking away.

Newton's was a small store but usually stayed pretty busy, considering it was the only place in Forks for fishing and camping supplies. I squeezed past waiting customers when I stepped inside, grabbing bandages and peroxide before heading toward the front of the store where they kept the bait. Begrudgingly, I grabbed one of the white plastic containers that held the nightcrawlers and made my way to the counter.

Mike Newton was working, which I realized was why Edward hadn't wanted to come in the store. He stood behind the register, his greasy fingers pressing buttons as he rang up people's purchases. I watched him and all I could think about was how he'd laid his hands on Edward's girlfriend, that she'd chosen those short stubby fingers over Edward's long, beautiful ones. Edward had musician's hands, perfect for pressing keys on the piano or plucking strings on his guitar. Great for other things too, according to rumors around school, but I didn't know if that was true from experience. Whereas Mike, well, he had perfect fingers for doing exactly what he was doing... being disgusting.

Unfortunately, that I did know from experience. He'd grabbed my butt once in tenth grade, squeezed it so hard he left a bruise. It was disturbing.

I set my stuff on the counter when it was my turn to pay, trying to avoid eye contact. I hoped maybe if I didn't look at him he wouldn't try to talk to me, but Mike wasn't smart enough to take a hint.

"Hey, Bella," he said,or sprayed, rather. He had braces on his teeth and never seemed to get the hang of talking with them. "You going fishing?"

"Yep.

"By yourself?"

"Nope."

"With your dad?"

"Nope."

"Friends?"

"Yep."

"Oh. Edward?"

I didn't answer that one, instead staying quiet as I handed him my cash. I refused to talk to him about Edward. Ever.

"Well, it was good seeing you, Bella," he said, handing me the change. I nodded as I shoved it in my pocket, grabbing the bag and heading for the door.

Why, out of everyone in town, did Michael Newton always have to be the one to notice me?

Edward was already at the SUV when I made it back out to the parking lot, putting bags of food into large coolers of ice. I handed my bag to him, scrunching up my nose. "Here you go, Ted Bundy. Here are your victims."

"Thanks, Mother Theresa," he said chuckling.

"You're welcome, Charles Manson."

He nudged me toward the passenger door, shaking his head. "Get in the damn car, Ghandi."

We drove out to La Push, parking at a little campsite at a lake not far from First Beach. We were the first ones there, and I helped Edward unpack our things. The others started arriving and we set up tents before some of the guys ventured off to gather firewood.

"Come on, Swan," Edward said, kicking the leg of the lawn chair I'd planted myself into. He had his two favorite fishing poles in his right hand, the container of bait in his left. "Let's show these fish who's boss."

I rolled my eyes and stood up, following Edward over to the edge of the lake. We sat down on the bank and he opened the bait, pulling out a worm and sticking it on the hook at the end of his line. He pushed the container closer to me, and I just stared at it, frowning.

"Poor little guys," I said. "Just sitting there on wormy death row."

Edward groaned. "Unbelievable," he said, shaking his head. He took the container and dumped it out on the ground between us, freeing the two dozen or so worms. "There, now they can get away if they want. Happy?"

"Happier," I said. "I was never not happy."

"Bullshit," he said, laughing. "Do you want me to bait your hook for you?"

I shook my head. "I got it."

We sat there for a bit with our lines cast into the water, just chit-chatting to pass the time. The others eventually returned and started up a fire, pulling out some hot dogs to cook over the flame.

We caught no fish. Over half of the worms got away, slithering through the grass or burrowing underground. Edward looked between us, seeing they were all gone, and sighed. "Now what?"

I shrugged as Emmett hollered over at us, holding a paper plate full of hot dogs. "You guys want some wieners?"

Edward snickered, looking at me, and I rolled my eyes. I knew he was thinking about the conversation he'd heard me and Charlie having. "Thanks, Emmett," I yelled, getting up and washing my hands before fixing both Edward and myself a plate. Extra ketchup on Edward's, of course. He loved ketchup on everything.

I took them back over to the bank and we ate quietly. I had about a quarter of a hot dog left and I tore it in half, sticking one part on my hook before handing the other to Edward.

"You're shitting me. We're gonna fish with hot dogs now?"

I shrugged. "Why not? Gotta be better than worms."

He shook his head, sticking the hot dog on his hook before casting it into the water. "The shit I do for you, Swan."

Even before I could respond, there was a tug on his line as he got the first bite of the day. "It's a good thing you do these things for me," I said. "It all usually works out in the end."

He rolled his eyes, reeling the fish in as his friends strolled over to watch. "What did you use as bait?" Riley asked, picking up the empty plastic container.

"We bought worms but the bastards escaped," Edward said, pulling his catch from the water. I knew little about fish, much to Charlie's dismay, but I could tell it was quite big. "So Swan here told me to use a hot dog."

"That was smart," Emmett said. "Catfish are attracted to the weirdest bait sometimes."

"It wasn't smart. It was lucky," Edward said, unhooking his fish. He acted like he was going to put it in a cooler, but I frowned at him, poking my bottom lip out. He stared at me for a second before groaning, turning back to the water and tossing the fish back in.

"I swear, you'll be the death of me, Swan."

He brushed his hands on his pants as he started to walk away and I got up, catching Emmett's eye. I smiled politely at him, unsure of why he was watching me, and he grinned. "I'm glad you came along, Bella," he said. "Someone needs to keep Edward in check."

"Uh, thanks," I responded, not knowing what else to say. "I don't really know why he listens to me."

I went to join the group but swore I heard Emmett say, "I do," when I started to walk away.

Time passed. There was alcohol and laughter, story telling and plenty of food. I sat in the background, watching them all with amusement. Edward was in rare form around his friends, teetering somewhere between the Edward I knew and the public image he typically portrayed. The more he drank, though, the more relaxed he became. He seemed genuinely happy, a sight that warmed my heart.

I slipped away after nightfall, climbing into my usual small red tent. I snuggled up with my sleeping bag and pillow, the sound of laughter in the background lulling me to sleep.

Sometime much later I was woken up by my tent shaking. I panicked briefly, confused, until I heard Edward softly curse. He squeezed in beside me, his body flush up against mine as he huddled under my sleeping bag in the confined space.

"Wake up," he whispered loudly in my ear, the magnified noise making me cringe.

"What's wrong?" I asked groggily. It was still nighttime, everything pitch black. The air was quite cool but his body heat instantly warmed me up.

"I can't sleep," he replied, snuggling up against me. The smell of beer and smoke from the campfire filled the air around us, mixed with the subtle scent of his cologne. It made me dizzy, but I didn't mind it as much as I probably should've. It was pure man... and completely Edward.

"You woke me up because you can't sleep?"

"Yes," he muttered. "I need you to keep me company."

He pushed my hair aside and nuzzled into my neck, his breath fanning out against my skin. The feel of it made me shiver, goosebumps springing up from head to toe. I let out a shuddering breath as he pulled me even closer to him, clutching onto me like I was his pillow.

"Are you cold?" he asked.

"No," I replied. "I'm okay."

"Good," he said. "Sing me a song."

I laughed, thinking he was joking, but realized he was serious when he said it again. "Jesus, Edward, you want me to sing you to sleep?"

"Yes."

I sighed, shaking my head, but started singing James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend" after a moment. It was the first song Edward ever learned on the guitar, one of his favorites ever.

You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there, yeah, yeah,
you've got a friend.

My voice was shaky, but Edward didn't say a word about it. He lay still, just holding on to me in the darkness. I stopped singing after a while, figuring he'd fallen asleep, and relaxed back into him.

"Goodnight, Edward," I whispered into the quiet tent.

Much to my surprise, his sleepy voice responded. "Night, Bella."

"You missed dinner," I said, spotting Charlie as soon as I stepped into the house from the back yard. He was scooping some lasagna onto a plate and putting it in the microwave. The numbers glowing on it read 2:18 in the morning.

"Sorry, Bells. Didn't realize you were cooking or I would've done my best to get home earlier," he said, heating it up as he grabbed a beer from the fridge. "And thanks for the groceries, kiddo. You didn't have to do that. I'll pay you back for them."

"Don't worry about it. It's the least I can do, considering you're letting me stay here," I replied.

He shook his head, pulling the lasagna out as the microwave beeped. "You're welcome here any time. You know that. What's mine is yours."

I did know that. Charlie had always been there for me, no matter what. But still, I felt I owed him something. "So where were you at this time of night, anyway?"

He grunted, shoveling food into his mouth to avoid having to answer.

"Who's the envelope from?" Charlie asked, changing the subject as soon as he swallowed. He motioned toward the invitation lying on the table, the one I'd found stuck to the door earlier.

"Tanya," I said. "She invited me to dinner tomorrow night. Or us, rather."

"Ah, are you accepting?"

I shrugged. "I don't see the harm. It's just dinner. As long as I don't have to sit beside her it should be fine."

"And what if you do have to sit beside her?"

"I'll probably stab her with my fork."

Charlie looked at me with shock. "You better not."

I was surprised he took me serious. "You know I wouldn't really. I'd hate to have to get arrested."

"I'd hate to have to arrest you," he said, shaking his head. "And I'm sure attempted murder isn't the way to win Edward over."

I stared at him for a moment. "What makes you think I'm trying to win him over?"

"I'm not ignorant, Bells. I've always known there was more between you kids," he replied. "I remember that summer."

My face heated at the thought of it. "That was a long time ago, Charlie."

"Yeah, it was," he muttered. "Doesn't mean it didn't happen, though. Just be careful, alright? Don't do anything you'll regret..." He paused, sighing. "...this time."

I just nodded. I didn't have the heart to tell him I had no regrets about what had happened back then.

See ya next Friday, as usual.