A/N I do not own Twilight. All hale the magnificent Stephenie Meyers.

7. Tree House

Bpov

I headed to Gym, with my decision to be Edward's friend already made there was no stopping me to be just that. Once I made a decision I stood by it, facing the consequences whether they were good or bad. I was rather hoping the outcome of this decision would be good.

Gym passed in a blur, we have switched from basketball to volleyball. Angela and I were paired against Lauren and Jessica. Angela was a tall dark haired girl with delicate features. We were good friends not the best of friends but good friends. She was one of the kindest persons I knew.

"Hey Bella, do you want to go to Port Angeles Saturday? Do some shopping? I'm in desperate need of a girl's day out" She asked as we headed out of gym.

"Sure, I just have to be home early. I have a family dinner later that night."

We said goodbye as I headed off towards Alice and Jasper who was waiting at her Porsche. As I walked towards them, Rosalie and Emmet also joined them. Jasper stood behind Alice his arms around her waist and his chin on top of her head. Emmett and Rose held hands talking softly to one another.

"Hey what's up?" I asked as I finally reached them.

Alice grinned, "We were thinking, seeing as the weather is going to be nice tonight, maybe we could go to our tree house. If we finish our homework, pack food and camping essentials we could leave in three hours, reaching the tree house by sundown."

I started smiling and nodded enthusiastically, "I'll tell Jacob. We haven't been there for I don't know how long. What are we still waiting for? Let's get going!" I almost shouted.

They just laughed as we all greeted each other with our various goodbyes. I waited impatiently as Alice and Jasper said goodbye. "Come on Alice, you'll have plenty of time for that later." I said through the car window.

She stuck her tongue out at me and then kissed Jasper quickly on the lips before she got in the car. Jasper winked at me and walked to Rosalie's idling red BMW. She took of as soon as Jasper got in. As we left the lot I noticed Edward in his Volvo waiting to join the line of traffic leaving the school. As we passed him I smiled and waved at him but Alice drove to fast for me to see his reaction.

"Who are you waving at?" Alice asked curiously.

"Nobody..." I replied but my blushing cheeks gave everything away. Traitors I cursed them silently.

"Liar, who was it? Was it a boy? Does my baby sister have a crush?" Alice asked looking at me and forgetting all about the road.

"Watch the road Alice and no I don't have a crush. If you must know it was Edward Cullen." Alice almost crashed into the car in front of her. "Alice! What's wrong?" She just stared at me her mouth open and her baby blue eyes wide with shock. "Alice, say something!"

"Edward...Cullen." She croaked out, still staring at me.

"Yes, Edward Cullen."

She grabbed me by my shoulders and started shaking me. "Are you insane? He's fresh out of a Juvenile center, he's the rudest person in school and he treats girls like trash. What are you thinking?" The car behind us started to honk at her, causing her to pull away with screeching tires.

"He... who... what... when... how?" When my brain finally processed what she was saying I focused long enough to form a complete sentence. "Where did you hear that?"

This time she blushed a little, we were in our street now. "I might have over heard Jessica Stanley tell Lauren about him when I was heading towards the cafeteria today. My whole body relaxed as if the world's wait rolled off of me, Alice stopped in front of our house.

"Since when do you believe what Jessica Skankley says? I can tell you that he is not from a juvenile center, he is not the rudest person in school and he doesn't treat girls like trash." At least he doesn't treat me like trash I thought. "Please note I say girls and not skanks." Alice blushed even deeper, hopefully because she was ashamed.

"How do you know?" She asked looking at the steering wheel.

"Because, I have actually talked to him and I vaguely remember she told Jasper you were a lesbian when she heard he liked you and not her. Maybe you should consider the source before you play judge and jury!" I screamed at her slamming the car door, I started to walk to the house. When I reached my room, slamming my door to let Alice know to leave me alone, I took out my phone to text Jacob.

Jake. Tree house tonight. The whole gang. Be there before sunset. Bells.

I finished my homework during witch I received Jacobs answering text.

Great. Can't wait, it's been ages. See you there.

I just packed the last of my camping things when Alice knocked on my door.

"Bells... I'm sorry. I overreacted. I should not believe what other people say, especially snobs who think their better than everyone else. Can you please forgive me?" She looked at me with her puppy dog face, the one she knew I could never refuse.

I gave her a hug. "Okay, but it's going to cost you."

She looked at me with suspicion in her eyes. "What do you want?"

"I can dress myself for a whole week." I declared hitting her with my pillow and with that a full scale war broke loose.

As we lay breathless on top of my bed we heard our dad's cruiser pull up the drive. We headed down to inform him of our plans for the night. He was hanging his gun belt on the hook when we came down the stairs with camping gear and all. He gave us one look, smiling to himself.

"Heading for the tree house are we? Have you done your homework? Did you pack flares, flashlights, first aid kit and a satellite radio?" He asked just as Emmett's loud Jeep announced the rest of the gang's arrival.

"Yes to all." Alice said smiling widely at him.

"Then what are you waiting for?" He asked. We gave him a hug and a kiss, grabbed our gear and headed for the Jeep.

We laughed and joked all the way trough the hike to our tree house. Charlie and Jacob's father built it for us a few years ago when they caught us sneaking to the meadow we found during one of our hikes through the woods. They said that they worried less if they at least knew we had shelter if a storm would brake loose. They also said that as long as we were responsible and school work didn't suffer, we could come here whenever we felt like it.

When we finally entered the meadow it simply took my breath away. Every time we came here I was struck by its sheer beauty. The meadow was almost circular in form, with only two big trees in the middle. Their branches were strong enough to support our tree house. A river flowed near the east side of the meadow; it was gentle and deep enough to swim in. Near the riverbank we have made a save place to make bonfires.

Jasper and Emmett was busy maneuvering our bags into the tree house. Emmett would fasten a rope to a bag and Jasper pulled it in. I was busy drinking some ice cold water when Emmett kneeled in front of me to tie the last bag. His back was a target inviting me in. I just couldn't help myself as I emptied my water bottle over his head. He jumped up pulling the ice cold shirt over his head.

"You did not!" I started to back away from him.

"Oh yes I did."

He started to walk towards me flexing his muscles and an evil grin spread across his face. I took off running towards the river and reached the shore when he caught up to me. He tackled me straight into the icy water, pushing my head back under just as I came up for some air.

Jacob arrived just as we crawled out of the water.

"Why is Emmett bullying Bella?" He asked dumping his gear on the ground.

"She picked on him first" Rose quickly defended Emmett.

"None of you even thought about helping her?" He asked glaring at them.

"She should pick on somebody her own size." Alice said handing towels to me and Emmett. Emmett and I took turns to change into dry clothes and the rest of the day past without anymore incidents.

We were roasting hotdogs on sticks at the bonfire, Jacob and Emmett had a competition to see who could eat the most. We talked about the stupid adventures we went on when we were younger. The night was cold so I sat between Jacobs legs resting my head against his chest to keep warm. It was about midnight when he woke me for the umpteenth time, so we all decided to go to bed. We all crawled into the tree house. We lay close to each other to keep as much heat as possible. It wasn't really necessary, we all had pretty warm sleeping bags but that was the way we always slept.

We woke stiffly the next morning at six thirty, after a quick breakfast of granola bars we began to hike back. We arrived home just in time to take a shower and to grab our school bags before we had to head off again. We arrived at school with minutes to spear before class started. Jacob was at school before all of us because he was closest to the hiking trail just outside of his house.

As I was walking towards the cafeteria I felt an arm slide around my waist, I looked up into Jacob's smiling face. "Hey Bells, what did you dream about last night? You kept on saying what's wrong? What happened? Please, let me be your friend."

I looked away trying not to blush, I knew I talked in my sleep but this was the first time I hated it. Last night I dreamt about Edward. He looked so scared, his green eyes was big with fright. I begged him to talk to me but every time I came close to him he would walk away from me.

"I can't remember, did I keep you awake?" I lied hoping he would not press the matter.

He shrugged "You only started talking early this morning."

Lunch passed quickly. After I noticed once again that Edward wasn't in the cafeteria, I joined the cheerful banter of my friends. After lunch I walked to Biology rather exited. When I spotted Edward my heart started racing, he was already seated staring out of the window as usual.

"Hello Edward, can I ask you a question? It's kind of personal." I asked as I sat down looking at him. It was something that bothered me since Alice mentioned it yesterday.

"I'm probably going to regret this but as long as I have the option to answer ask away." I was already regretting the question but I had to know.

"Didyoucomefromajuvenilecenter?" I asked way to fast thanks to the absurdness of even thinking it.

"What? I'm afraid I don't speak gibberish."

I took a deep breath. "Did you come from a juvenile center?" I managed to choke out in an understandable sentence. He began to laugh, he laughed so hard he held his stomach and tears rolled down his eyes. The other students stared at him as if he was going crazy. "I'm glad I amuse you" I said trying not to stare at his angelic face or the why his white tortoise neck shirt fit snuggly to his muscular chest.

"Bella, I was never in a Juvenile center. Where did you get that idea?" He asked after he calmed down enough to speak.

"Alice overheard Skankley tell one of her friends."

"Skankley?" He asked as our teacher entered the class.

"Sorry. Jessica Stanley. She has strawberry blonde hair, always wears mini skirts and is always popping gum." He nodded to show he knew who I was talking about. We started on microscopic work so there was little time left to talk. Edward and I finished early so we had about five minutes before the next class started.

"Did you believe Alice when she told you I was from a juvenile center?"

I closed my bag and straightened up. "No, I defended you. That's why I asked, I don't like to lie so if I do, it better be for a good reason."

"May I ask you a question? It's kind of personal too?" He asked looking at me. What could he possibly want to know about me?

"It seems only fair."

"Who was that guy that walked with you to the cafeteria and why did you defend me?" I couldn't place the emotion that flashed across his face. The bell rang so I started to get up.

"That's two questions, his name is Jacob Black. He is my best friend and I defended you because you are my friend and weren't there to do it yourself." He stood up and walked with me to the door.

"I'm your friend?" He asked as he held the door open for me.

"Thanks and yes... you are." I winked at him before I walked out the door.

A/N I had to hide in my brother's germ invested room to write you this chapter since my house was over run with small children.