A/N: It seems I've got one of my addictions on my hands. How lucky for you! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Tony: It's so much to believe. You aren't joking me?
Maria: I have not yet learned how to joke that way. I think now I never will.

- West Side Story Act I Scene III

After seeing a movie, Bella and Gordon wandered quietly. They hadn't talked, but it wasn't an awkward silence, more pleasant and calming for both of them.

"Can I ask you something?" She said. He looked at her.

"You just did," he smiled.

"How did you know who I was?" She asked. "In the diner, I mean, we've never met."

"We've met a few times actually," he laughed. She blushed, embarrassed, as she often was, when her sheer self absorbedness from the past three years came back to bite her in the ass socially. "But that's not important. I just know who you are. Doesn't every one in school? You're like the queen of the extra curricular activities." She laughed. "Plus, Dean and Kevin talk about you a lot." She looked at him.

"Kevin Reed?" She said. Gordon nodded. "You asked me out even though most of what you knew about me was from Kevin Reed?" He laughed.

"Yeah, he doesn't like you much," he smiled. "But Dean does, he defends you." She smiled. "What's the story on you two?"

"Me and Dean?" She smiled. "He's my best friend. I love him, like a brother." Gordon nodded. "A really annoying naggy brother." He laughed.

"Alright, my turn to ask you a question," he said. She nodded. "Annabelle?"

"Right," she said. "My dad's stepmother is Ana, I'm named after her. And my middle name is Leigh, like Annabelle Lee, the poem. It's my dad's favorite so," she shrugged. "You know, 'And she was a child, and I was a child in our kingdom by the sea?'"

"I know the poem," he nodded, suddenly realizing that as good as this was going if she ever found out about those things he'd left in her locker the year before, he'd be shit out of luck.

"So that's how they landed on Annabelle," she said. "And the changed the spelling of Leigh, to make it less obvious."

"And when did they start calling you Bella?" He asked.

"When I was a baby," she said. "TJ would say my name over and over, 'Annabelle, Annabelle, Annabelle,' until it became 'Annabella,' and then just 'Bella," she shrugged. "Pretty typical story."

"Sure," he nodded. He stopped. "So, I can't be the first person to mention this," he sighed. She looked at him. "Your ex boyfriend's name is Eddie." She giggled.

"Right," she smiled. "Yeah, um, it's a coincidence, I swear." He looked at her. "The doctor misread the sonogram, he was supposed to be a girl, and they were going to name him Eleanor Alexandra, after his aunt Elena, and then he was a boy, so Edward Alexander instead." He laughed. "But yes, people have been saying it our whole lives. Bella and Edward."

"I guess that makes me Jacob huh?" He said. She laughed.

"I hope not," she said. "That means that the hole he left inside of me can only be plugged up when he comes back." He looked at her. "Considering the main difference is I sent him away," she shook her head. "Sorry, what do you want to do now?"

"Tell me more about your family," he said. She laughed. "They are large and complicated."

"Yes," she nodded. "Very much so, and messy and funny, and perfect." He nodded. "You have some of it, with Connie."

"Yeah," he said.

"Do you miss her?" She asked.

"Kind of," he said. "It's weird. Because, like that story you told about TJ and your name?" She nodded. "I don't have those kinds of stories. I didn't even really know Connie until I was older. Almost twelve." She nodded.

"Sure," she said. They sat on a bench. He looked at her. Maybe that wasn't what she'd wanted hear. Maybe she'd wanted to be validated because she missed her brother, and she wanted to hear that other people missed their older siblings too. The one thing he hadn't counted on was how sad she was. It looked beautiful on her. "You have another sister right?"

"Casey, yeah," he said. "She's ten." He slowly and naturally took her hand. She smiled. No one but Dean had held her hand in ages. Why was her heart thumping? It had to be because she didn't know him. "She's very into horses at the moment. I'm not sure how to deal with it, because I don't know anything about horses." Bella laughed.

"It was ancient civilizations for me," she said. He looked at her. "Greece, Egypt, Rome. In an attempt to 'get it' Eva started wearing a toga around the house." He laughed.

"I wouldn't picture you for a scholar of ancient civilizations," he said.

"I'm full of surprises," she said standing up and pulling him with her. "Let's go, I'm kind of hungry."

"OK," he nodded. "Bella," he said softly, brushing her hair off of her face. Her heart started racing again. She knew now that it wasn't just the excitement of someone new, or some boy she'd never really met. It was him. It was Gordon that was making her heart pump.

"Yes Gordon," she whispered and then he kissed her. She whimpered and pulled close to him. He put his hands on her waist and her arms crossed at the wrist behind his neck. "Mm," she said pulling away slowly.

"Good mm, or bad mm?" He asked. She giggled.

"Good mm," she said. "Definitely good." She looked down. "You should probably listen to Kevin. I'm kind of a terrible person."

"I don't see anything so terrible," he said. She looked at him.

"What do you see then?" She whispered.

"I see you," he whispered. "Only you." He cupped his hand around her face and kissed her again. "I should get you home."

"No," she whispered, "kiss me more." They kissed again.

"Bella, its ten thirty," he whispered, "I want to be able to take you out again." She looked at him and pouted. "People don't say no to you a whole lot do they?"

"They certainly don't stick with it," she said. "I usually get what I want." He smiled and they kissed again. "What do you want?"

"I want to get you home so that your father doesn't murder me and use his legal connections to cover it up," he said. "And then I want to take you out again tomorrow." They kissed again. "And the day after that, and the day after that,"

"I get the point," she smiled.

He did take her out again, and again. One night, about two weeks later Bella started getting ready for another date.

"Gordon again?" Eva asked leaning against the door frame. Bella looked at her and nodded. "You really like him don't you?"

"He's so amazing Evie!" Bella said. "He's sweet and fun, and all I want to do is spend time with him."

"Oh," Eva said. "This came for you today." Bella took the envelope Eva was holding out. "Is this the first one?"

"He writes every week," Bella said. "I don't read them." Eva looked at her. "What could they possibly say, Evie? That he's sorry, that he wants me to take him back. I don't want those things."

"Don't you miss him?" Eva asked.

"Of course I miss him!" Bella sighed. "I've never gone this long without seeing him or talking to him. But I'm happy. I like Gordon, I think I'm even falling in love with him, and why should I drag all of that Eddie baggage into it?" Eva looked at her.

"Because leaving it out isn't fair to Eddie, or to Gordon," Eva said. "Believe me, I've tried."

"It's completely different!" Bella said. Eva looked at her. "Eddie and Gordon aren't best friends. They barely know each other."

"You have to be honest with him, Bella," Eva said. "If you're at all confused, then,"

"I'm not confused!" Bella said. "I want to be with Gordon. I love Eddie, I'll always love him, but I don't want to be with him anymore! I'm not in love with him. After the first letter I wrote him back saying that, it's not my fault he didn't listen!" Eva looked at her. "You talked to him didn't you?"

"Well, yes," Eva sighed. "Just to check up on him, really. He's really, really sorry Bella."

"God," Bella said. "You're as bad as Mom and Dad! I thought you were on my side!"

"I am on your side!" Eva said as her sister walked past her down stairs. "I just think that maybe you should talk to him. You two have a lot of history." Bella looked at her. "He's not going to be away forever Bella, that's all I'm saying."

"OK," Bella said, seeing Gordon's car outside. "I have to go. When Mom and Dad get home tell them I went out and I'll be home by midnight, OK?"

"OK," Eva sighed. "I love you Bella."

"I love you too," Bella said and walked outside. She got into Gordon's car. He looked at her.

"You look upset," he said. "Is everything OK?"

"I got into a fight with Eva," she shrugged. "It's not a big deal. Really."

"Oh," he said and started driving. They were quiet for most of the ride.

"Where are we going?" She asked. He smiled at her. "What?"

"You haven't figured it out?" He laughed.

"Well, it looks like we're going to school," she said. He smirked. "Gordon, really?" She sighed.

"Trust me," he said. They drove through the Eden Hall campus and eventually right onto the football field, where Gordon had set up a whole picnic set up for dinner. She stepped out of the car. She squeaked and kissed him. "You like it."

"It's perfect," she said and sat down and opened the basket. "Fried chicken!"

"Yeah," he said, "you mentioned you liked it." She laughed and he cracked a soda. "You still seem distracted." She sighed. "What happened with you and Eva?"

"She found out about the letters Eddie's been sending me," she said. He nodded. "And she called him, or something. I don't know. I just got pissed. Me and TJ have been so behind her on her whole find herself marry David thing," she shook her head. "I have to be honest with you."

"Are you still in love with him?" He asked.

"No," she said. "Not at all, but I was, for a long time, even after we broke up, and we did sleep together again after he got together with Elisa. I'm not proud of it." He nodded. "If that changes how you feel, or where you want this to go."

"No," he shook his head, "I don't think you're that girl anymore," she looked at him. "Would you sleep with your cousin's boyfriend now?"

"Well, Elisa doesn't have a boyfriend," she said. "And Anne's going out with Kevin Reed and Trina's going out with Dean. So that's a big no." He laughed and kissed her.

"I wanted to ask you something tonight," he said. She looked at him. "I really like you Bella, and we have fun together," she nodded. "I was wondering if you would be my girlfriend." She smiled and kissed him.

"You are so sweet," she whispered. "Of course." They kissed again for a while tumbling back into the grass. He pushed her skirt up around her thighs. "Gordon," she whispered as he kissed her neck. "Mm," they kissed again and she pushed his teeshirt up and ran her hand down to his jeans.

"Bella," he said softly and sat up.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing," he said. "I mean, nothing with you." She looked at him. "I've never done this."

"Made out with me?" She laughed. "We just did this yesterday, silly." He looked at her. "Oh, you mean, you're," she stopped and he nodded. "That's OK, there's nothing wrong with it."

"I know that," he said. "I just, don't want you to be disappointed." She giggled. "What's funny?"

"You," she said. "Sex isn't hard Gordon, and you couldn't disappoint me." She ran her hand against his face. "We shouldn't force it though. Not until you're comfortable. Trust me, sex can totally fuck up a good relationship."

"Is that what we have going on here?" He smiled, "A good relationship." He smiled. She laughed.

"You tease me all you want," she kissed him. "I'll tease right back. And my teasing hurts more."

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