________________________________________ Dinner ____________________________________

BPOV

I offered to make dinner for the four of us who were left in the house. They had been nice enough to let me stay here until Monday when we could get into our dorms, or at least Alice and Emmett were nice enough.

After checking the fridge I decided on spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread. I would prepare a garden salad to start. When we were out I had noticed there was a small 7-11 just along the road and decided to walk there to pick up the extra ingredients. It was a pleasant walk - I saw a few stores that I would like to visit tomorrow, but I needed to wait for Alice, otherwise it couldn't count towards my 'shopping quota'.

When I got back I started dinner right away. It was almost 5pm and everyone was getting a little hungry since we had skipped lunch. I found it relaxing to be cooking again and felt more at home as I prepared the meal. When dinner was almost ready I popped my head out of the kitchen and I shouted in the direction of the living room "Alice can you set the table and get your brother for dinner when you're done?"

"Yes Mom" she laughingly shouted back as I chuckled to myself.

EPOV

I smelled something delicious wafting into my room. The aroma was a lot like my favourite, spaghetti and meatballs. I could smell the aroma of garlic bread underneath the tomato sauce as well. Had mom decided to come and visit?

My stomach started to grumble at the smell of the food and my mouth watered. Maybe it was take out? I was pretty certain no-one in this house could make anything that smelt so good. I absently wondered whether that was why I never dated anyone longer than a week or two - no-one was good enough to keep longer than that. If you can't cook then what's the point. A way to a man's heart is to keep his balls empty and his stomach full. That's my belief anyway.

Alice danced into my room and jumped on my bed shouting "dinner's ready sleepy head!"I hadn't even realised I had fallen asleep whilst trying to work on my latop.

"OK, OK, I'm up. I'll be down in a minute." I groaned

"And you'd better be nice. Bella has gone to the trouble of cooking us dinner - she even walked 6 blocks to the 7-11 to get some groceries. Remember I have mom on speed dial." With that she skipped out of my room and down the hall.

Bella cooked huh. That was a surprise. She was so small I had assumed she barely ate anything. I just hope the food tastes as good as it smells.

I strolled down the hall running my hands through my bed hair, feeling a little bad about how I treated her last night and this morning. She was cooking dinner in a strange house in a strange city away from everything familiar and all she had was Alice and my family. Maybe I would try and be nice to her. She could just be like Alice - another little sister. That wouldn't be so bad would it?

As I got downstairs I noticed all the shopping bags were lined up by the door with little colored notes tied to each one: The pink note had Alice's name on, and of course she had the most bags. There was purple for Bella, blue for Jasper, red for Rosalie, yellow for Emmett and then green for Edward. Why was there a bag for me? I didn't go shopping and I certainly didn't give Alice permission to get me anything.

As I passed the bags I wondered if I should just open mine, then realised that wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me. My stomach brought me out of my thoughts as it growled loudly. I heard a pretty giggle which I did not recognise from the other side of the room. I looked up to see was Bella trying to smother her laughter as she placed a large serving dish on the table.

Just for a minute I paused, and the strange feeling of possessiveness washed over me again. I pictured her in an apron, serving dinner to a green eyed little girl and boy who were jumping to get her attention and shouting 'mommy'. I shook my head and came to my senses - it must be the hunger making me delusional.

"Edward, it's going to be cold if you don't hurry up." Alice chirped from her place at the table, where she was already serving herself.

"I'm coming. I was just looking at all these bags over here. Why does one have my name on it when I didn't go shopping?" I asked.

"Bella bought some things for you all. She wouldn't tell me what they are, just that everyone would have to open them after she left. Something about a thank you gift for helping her get settled and making her feel welcome. On that basis I don't see why you're getting a present." Alice always had to make a dig at me, although she also knew how to put me in my place when I go too far - like earlier this morning.

I sat down at the empty seat across from Alice. Jasper was sitting next to her and they were holding hands under the table. He was good for Alice, a calming influence, and I knew he loved her more than anything else in the world. I hoped that one day I could find that sort of love, but didn't plan on it being any time soon. I was too busy 'sowing my wild oats' as my dad puts it.

Bella came in with a large bowl full of that delicious smelling spaghetti and meatballs. She placed it in the middle of the table before taking the empty seat next to me.

She bowed her head and mumbled something to herself while Jasper and Alice were digging in to the feast before them. I tried to make out what she was saying but it sounded like another language to me. I wonder if Bella is from another country. That would explain her lack of worldly knowledge and clear shock at the sight of any kind of vaguely sexual activity.

"Would you please pass the salad Edward?" Bella asked.

A perfect opportunity to show my politeness. "Of course Bella" I said as I passed her the salad bowl.

"Thank you Edward" she replied, a smile playing on her lips.

"Bella this is really good. Where did you learn how to cook?" Jasper asked.

"My mom and grandma taught me" she replied.

"It's delicious Bella but you didn't have to do this. We could have gone out or something." Alice explained

I guess it was my turn to compliment Bella now.

"Bella this is even better than my mom's. Thanks for cooking dinner, it's been a while since I've had a home cooked meal." I stated as Alice's eyes shot up to me in warning. What did I do? I was being polite - did she think I was being sarcastic?

I looked over at Bella and she was turning the most beautiful shade of pink from all the compliments. I found myself wanting to tease her to see that blush come back as much as possible.

I continued to eat in silence while the three of them chattered away about their excitement over college and dorm life. Alice and Bella were clearly looking forward to all the new experiences they were going to have. I found myself thinking that if Alice had Jasper to protect her from strange and horny guys like myself, who was going to protect Bella?

I was on my third helping of the delicious food when Alice and Jasper went into the living room 'watch a movie' – we all knew what they were really up to. Bella started to put the leftovers into portion sized Tupperware containers and label them. She wrote my name on three, then made up two for Emmett and two for Rosalie. I carried on watching her as she moved comfortably around the kitchen, clearing away the leftover food.

She started to run the water in the sink and came back to the dining room to clear the empty plates. Was she going to wash the dishes and clear up as well as cooking? Alice was clearly too distracted to remembers her manners. Another perfect opportunity for me to be a gentleman.

After I was done eating I brought my own plate into the kitchen and saw her with her sleeves pushed up her tiny arms, scrubbing a pot and swaying her hips whilst singing softly to herself. I leaned back on the island of the kitchen and just watched as she did the dishes and bopped back and forth from the sink to the drainer. I shook myself as I realise I was supposed to be helping her rather than ogling her while she wiggles her little hips back and forth.

I walked over and tapped her on her shoulder. She screamed and fell into my arms. When she span around I could see why she was dancing around the kitchen - she had her i-pod on.

"Do you want some help? I can wash or dry?" I asked.

"Umm sure I guess so." She mumbled.

So that's what we did. She washed and handed me a dish and I rinsed and dried and put away. When we finished up there was an awkward silence when the water was not running and I had nothing to do – or say. I ran my hands through my hair nervously waiting for her to say something.

"Ummmm, well, thanks for helping me clean up. I'm off to bed. Catch you later" she said softly. Suddenly she was gone. I looked around and the kitchen looked just as it had this morning, as if it had never been used. I looked in the fridge and saw the large bowl of leftovers and then in the freezer was the little portion sized ones labelled neatly for us to thaw out and re-heat later. She thought of everything. She even cleaned the counters off.

I was interrupted in my daze by Emmett and Rosalie firing questions at me.

"What smells so good? What are all of those bags for ? Why is my name on one of them? Are you just going to stand there staring at the counter Edward or are you going to answer me?" Rosalie shouted whilst Emmett stood at her side waiting for answers.

"I don't know!" I shouted back. "Answering your questions: Bella cooked dinner, she bought each of us something when she was shopping, and I don't know what she bought. Finally, I am not just going stand here and stare at the counter, I'm going to bed."

As I was walking through the living room I saw Alice kissing Jasper goodnight. She held one of her bags and what looked like a gift bag. She turned to me, "Bella gave me my bag, so I guess you can have yours now."

I snatched it up off the floor and headed for my room. Once I was in the safety of my room I sat down on my bed and took out a green gift bag with green tissue paper sticking out of it. Inside I found a small USB thumb drive, green of course and a green terry-cloth robe.

I began to laugh as I realised that she barely knew me, yet knew exactly what I needed. I was going back and forth between school, home, my parent's home and I had been trying to figure out a way I could take my work with me without lugging my laptop around all the time. The solution was the small plastic USB thumb drive. I grabbed my keys from the nightstand and twisted the thumb drive onto the chain.

I knew exactly why she had bought me the robe. That thought made me chuckle to myself as well. Bella was making a joke at my expense, and telling me that she didn't want to see me half naked.

Lying back on my bed and still chuckling to myself I realised that Bella Swan, although completely different to anyone else in my life, had got a better handle on me than I cared to admit. I had a feeling I may well come to appreciate her presence in my life.

____________________________________ Party Time _____________________________________

BPOV

I woke up on Saturday morning feeling well rested and excited about the party that evening. Alice, Jasper and I had decided that we would go to the frat party. I blushed as I remembered how Mike stopped right in front of me and just started talking to me like I was an old friend.

I went down to breakfast and saw Alice cooking French toast. She turned to me and smiled as I walked into the kitchen "oh good you're up. I was going to come get you once I was done. I figured you cooked dinner and cleaned up so I would do breakfast. I feel really horrible for leaving you alone with Edward, he wasn't too much was he?"

"No, he was a perfect gentleman. He even helped me do the dishes."

"Oh good" Alice responded looking at me curiously.

"I'm really excited about tonight" I said as I picked up a piece of French toast. "Can you help me to pick out something to wear? I want to make a good first impression."

"Bella he wouldn't have invited you if you didn't already make a good impression." Alice laughed as she replied "but of course I'll help you."

The others started wandering in, looking sleepy whilst reaching for plates from the counter for breakfast. I noticed that Rose and Emmett were both wearing the slippers I had bought for them; red for Rose and Orioles ones for Emmett.

"Hey Bella thanks for the gifts. I've been meaning to get Rose and I some slippers for ages but never got round to it." Emmett smiled at me as he piled food onto his plate. His character was completely different to what you expected when you look at him. Both he and Rose were the embodiment of the old phrase 'never judge a book by its cover'.

"Look who is gracing us with his presence today." Alice said from next to the coffee pot as Edward rounded the corner wearing the green robe I had bought for him.

I laughed a little as I wondered if he had understood why I got him a robe. Somehow I felt that he did. I quickly turned to smile at him as he greeted us all.

"Morning" he growled, waving whilst making a beeline towards Alice and the cup of coffee which she was holding out for him. As he stopped at the corner of the counter next to me, I felt the blush begin to creep up my neck.

"Thanks for the robe Bella. I'm sorry about yesterday - I was out of line and it won't happen again." Edwards' voice was a little groggy and scratchy but seemed sincere.

Emmett interrupted the awkward exchange: "are you girls going to head to this party tonight?"

"Yep, we're going shopping today find new outfits." Alice said brimming with excitement at the thought of shopping.

Rosalie responded "I'll take you girls up to the mall if you like. Emmett do you mind if we take the Jeep while you get the oil changed in my car?" she asked looking seductively up at Emmett. He nodded in agreement, although probably had no idea what she was asking - I think he would have agreed to anything at that moment.

"Awesome." Alice jumped up to clear the breakfast dishes and then ran off to get ready.

We were out the door in 30 minutes and on our way to shop till we dropped.

EPOV

The girls went shopping and shortly after, Jasper arrived. We hung out and played a couple of rounds of Madden on the 360. We chatted about school, and moved on to what was going on in our lives. Emmett had a romantic dinner with Rosalie planned for that evening, and of course Alice and Bella were heading to the party.

"Edward are you going to that party tonight with the girls?" Jasper asked with a grin on his face.

"Hadn't planned on it, why?" did he really expect me to go to a frat party?

"I was wondering if you wouldn't mind going to keep me company? I know Alice is going to drag me there and there's no way I can keep both of them out of trouble."

"No worries, on one condition - you owe me one full day of no Alice and just guy stuff" I looked at him sternly to show I meant it. I was sick of these girls running our lives. I couldn't understand why Jasper and Emmett didn't want to be free to hook up with anyone like me. I figure I've got plenty of time to find a wife later - why shouldn't I just hang with my buds and enjoy female company on my terms.

"Sounds good to me" Jasper responded. Although always relaxed and comfortable, he seemed less wary of tonight now he had company.

The girls arrived home and rushed straight upstairs to get ready. Around three hours later we heard them emerge from their intensive grooming.

We walked out to meet them, and were not disappointed. Jasper looked at Alice in adoration as he saw her wearing a pink sundress with matching flip flops. Rosalie walked across to greet Emmett wearing a white sundress with cherries all over it and red flip flops – her signature red lipstick co-ordinated perfectly.

Bella stood shyly to one side wearing black ballerina flats, black city shorts and a baby blue camisole top. Her hair was up in a casual ponytail with her curls cascading around her shoulders. She looked more casual than the others but somehow she also managed to carry it off as party wear. Alice and Bella settled on one of the couches while Emmett jumped up to escort Rosalie to the door.

"Have fun you guys and be careful." Emmett said as he and Rosalie left for their romantic evening.

"So Bella why no dress? It is a party." Jasper asked looking a little confused.

Bella replied "I'm not that comfortable wearing a dress to a frat party with a bunch of drunk boys that I don't know. I just feel safer in this." I had to admit Bella did look cute in her chic little outfit. I shook the thought from my head again as I looked to Jasper to check that he would be keeping a close eye on my sister that night.

The four of us headed out with Jasper and Alice leading the way. Bella followed close behind and I brought up the rear, watching her mesmerising little hips sway back and forth back and forth back and forth. I shook my head again to get myself to stop thinking like that. "Sister sister sister" I chanted in my head in an effort to distract me as I followed them into the frat house. Loud music boomed from inside the house and a few people were hanging out on the porch.

We headed up the stairs and were almost immediately greeted by frat boy Mike. I quickened my pace to be a little closer to her in the hope that he would think we were together. That tactic proved completely ineffective as he bounded over to Bella's side.

"I'm glad you could make it" he smiled at Bella as he greeted her. "I was wondering if you were going to show up - I wasn't sure if this was your scene or not." His voice grated on my nerved and I wondered how she could bear to listen to him.

"Thanks for inviting us" Bella responded giving him a hug. Since when did they hug? They had only just met. She never hugged me when we met..... that's not fair. I suddenly realised that even in my internal monologue I sounded like a child. This is going to be a long night.

"Alice, Jasper this is Mike, the guy who invited us. Mike this is my roommate Alice, her boyfriend Jasper and of course you've already met her brother, Edward" Bella gestured around the group making the introductions. I nodded in his direction, a well practiced look of disinterest on my face. I thought of how Bella had introduced me – not as her friend, but as Alice's brother. I guess it's going to take more good manners before I become her friend.

"It was super sweet of you to invite us Mike. I am so excited to go to my very first college party." Alice was a little too eager to go party, but at least Jasper had his arm around her waist I just hope it stays there the entire night.

Mike invited us in and showed us to a couple of kegs, a game of darts, pool tables, some pizza, and a Wii hooked up to the TV. He offered us all drinks and we grabbed what we wanted. Alice and Jasper settled on a game of darts while I just leant against the wall drinking my beer. I looked around at the room and noticed a couple of girls were giggling and glancing at me. I shot them the crooked smile and nodded my head, all the while paying close attention Bella and Mike who were sitting together and chatting.

They were angled towards each other with their knees almost touching. He was sipping a beer whilst she played nervously with the tab on her soda can. Every now and then she would blush a couple of different shades of pink and red. I didn't like how he made her do that. They looked deep in conversation about something but I couldn't hear them.

A girl came up to me and pressed her body to mine. She began to run her finger up and down my arm to get my attention, so I glanced down at her. Suddenly the girl began telling me all about herself, as if I cared. I nodded at the right times, smiled and asked a few questions. My eyes kept darting back to Bella and her conversation with Mike.

Then I glanced over and they were gone. All that was left was a half finished beer and her soda can. I looked around the room and caught the sight of her city shorts disappearing up the stairs. I felt myself grow angry as I wondered what on earth she was thinking. She clearly wasn't drunk, yet was heading upstairs with a guy she had barely met. I glanced at the time to find that it was already 10pm, and looked around for the others.

I found Jasper steadying a drunk Alice who was giggling and holding on to him as he lead her to the sofa. He picked up a Wii remote to get in on a game while she sat next to him chatting away. His arm was around her shoulders as he waited for the game to start, and I relaxed – at least Alice was safe.

I excused myself from the unknown girl and made my way upstairs. I got to a long hallway full of closed doors and panicked. Where could she be? I walked down the hall, trying to hear what was going on behind the closed doors. I heard giggles, moaning and thumping coming from some of them, but I heard nothing which sounded like Bella. Not that I would know what her moaning sounded like or anything.

I suddenly heard her voice coming from a room with an open door. I followed the voice and looked into the room it came from. I saw Bella leaning over Mike using the mouse on his computer. He was sitting in a chair talking to her, obviously discussing the website that was up on the screen.

I ducked back into the hallway before they realised I was there and slid down the wall to sit and listen to them. I told myself all I wanted was to make sure she was safe, but in my heart I knew that was a lie.

I could hear their conversation almost clearly:

Mike: "Do you have to convert the file before you burn it or will it just automatically play in the DVD player?"

Bella: "Yeah, you have to download the program but I know a website where you can get it for free. It also has the keygen so you don't have to register it or anything."

Mike: "That's awesome, could you show me? I really want to see that movie - I can't believe you already have a copy of it."

Bella: "Sure, I'll download it for you now"

Mike: " Blah Blah Blah "

At least that is what I heard as they chatted about computer downloads. He wasn't even trying to get her to sit on his lap or anything. I heard him get up and sit on his bed and she settled in the chair typing and clicking away at the mouse. They continued to talk about meaningless crap and movies he wanted her to find. I was almost embarrassed that he seemed so reluctant to make a move. Having said that, it made my self-appointed job a whole lot easier.

It was almost 1am by now and I turned to see Jasper walking up the stairs with a defiantly drunk Alice on his back. He set her down in front of the bathroom and waited outside for her. I got up and walked over to speak to him.

"Where's Bella?" he asked and I pointed to the open door. He smirked back at me, so I elaborated.

"They're talking about some computer crap. They must have been in there for a couple of hours just chatting away about dumb stuff."

"Wait here for Alice, I'm gonna go tell Bella we're heading back." Jasper said as he walked over to the open door, and knocked on it gently. He then disappeared inside.

Bella, Jasper and frat-boy emerged from the room, and Jasper walked over to me as Bella said goodbye to Mike.

"I'm really glad you came tonight and I definitely appreciate all your help with the computer and stuff. Would you mind if I walked you home?" Mike said looking down at his shoes.

"Mike that's really sweet of you, but I have Alice and the guys so I'll be alright. As soon as I get my email and laptop set up at school next week I'll text you my e-mail address. Thanks again for inviting us I had a great time" Bella replied as that beautiful blush took over her cheeks and she smiled at him.

The four of us walked back to the house. Jasper was giving Alice a piggy back ride while she chatted drunkenly with Bella, who was walking next to them. Bella just nodded and smiled at Alice – she was clearly doing her best to look genuinely look interested in what Alice was babbling about. I walked a few feet behind just enjoying the walk home. I noticed Bella glancing at me a few times, and she looked confused and concerned.

When we arrived home Jasper put Alice to bed and headed back to his place while Bella re-heated some spaghetti. She offered me some so we sat together in the kitchen in silence, not looking at each other. Suddenly she broke the silence.

"Why did you go to the party? It didn't seem like you wanted to be there, or that you were having any fun" she asked speculatively.

I wasn't expecting that. Why would she care about if I was having fun or not? I couldn't tell her I was there just to keep an eye on her, she might get the wrong idea, and I was having enough trouble convincing myself it was the wrong idea. I didn't what to say, so I just blurted out the first typical Edward response that came to mind.

"I was scoping out the fresh meat." Oh crap, did I just say that to her?

Shock was written all over her face as she simply responded "Oh."

She leapt up to wash the dishes, and rushed off to bed, throwing a goodnight over her shoulder. I knocked my forehead on the counter a few times, wondering where the filter between my brain and my mouth had gone. I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable, but a part of the problem was that I found her so disarming. I needed to find a way to prove I was a decent guy deep down, I just hadn't found anyone to show that to yet.