A/N: Word from the wise…. DON'T BE A SLACKER!

That of course is my job! XD

Chapter 8

I nearly dropped the phone at the realization of who was on the other end of the line. I may not have felt guilty before, but it hit me now. I suddenly realized that I was the home wrecker. This could jeopardize the whole wedding.

"Bella?" Rachel's voice pulled me from thought. "Can I just talk to Edward?" Her voice sounded uneasy. She didn't trust me.

"Yeah let me get him. He's been such a great help with my speech." I let the lie flow freely from my mouth. It seemed to ease her qualm though.

"Oh." She breathed out a sigh of relief. "Of course."

I sprinted across the room clad in nothing and placed the phone on the distant table. I pulled on Edward's shirt from last night and scooted across the bed to him. I shook his shoulders lightly urging him to wake up.

"Edward, wake up. Rachel's on the phone." I whispered it into his ear.

The side of his mouth turned up and an arm reached up pulling me to him. "Get back here. I've been without you for too long."

I squirmed against him pulling from his grasp. "I'm serious Edward. Rachel's on the phone and we haven't decided anything yet."

His eyes popped open and I saw a tinge of guilt lying within them. He sat up looking around the room. "Where's the phone?" He asked finally.

I crawled off the bed again and grabbed his phone. I ran back across the room almost tripping on one of my shoes from last night. I tossed the phone to Edward and he put the phone to his ear. Just like that he became a stone statue.

"Hello?" His voice was lacking in enthusiasm. "Yeah sure. Sound's great." He caught a quick glance at me and his eyebrows scrunched together. "Um, I'm not sure how my schedule is yet. I'll check it and call you back."

He hit the end button and let the phone fall to the bed. His eyes met mine and then ran the length of my torso. The stone façade melted from his face and he opened his arms to me. Me, always being the machosist, crawled into his arms trying to savor the time I had to hold on to him.

"What are we going to do?" My words tainted the moment.

"Well, I'm going to hold you in my arms until they pry you from my grasp." He buried his face in my hair.

I pulled away from him forcing him to look into my eyes. "Edward," I whispered brokenly, "this has consequences. I won't be with you if you're with her. I'm going to make a call to Riley, but only if you're committed."

He studied my face for a second and his hand came up to caress my cheek then wipe away my tears. "Bella, I'm not going to loose you again. I don't think now is the best time to break up with Rachel though." He paused. "Only because I don't want to ruin Conley's wedding."

I knew some part of me should have been mad. I should have beat on his chest and demanded he break up with her. Sadly though, I couldn't blame him. I didn't want to compromise Jake's wedding. This was probably the best option.

Then I groaned. "I don't know if I can watch you two." I hid my face in a pillow.

He pulled the pillow from my face and took my face between his hands. "I promise, it will kill me not to hold you. It'll kill me to be with her instead of you."

He stood up and shuffled around the room in search of what I assumed was new clothes. "What happens at the end of the week?" He asked his eyes meeting mine for a brief second.

I shrugged. "The best thing about writing," I paused, "is that it isn't stationary. I can come live here in New York. I can come with you on the road when you make it big." I paused walking toward him. His arms enveloped me.

"You can be my Isabella again." The promise in his words sent my heart fluttering.

All thoughts were discarded when three sharp knocks resounded on the door. My head snapped toward Edward's and at the same time we silently spoke. "Alice."

"Open up the freakin' door Edward!" Her voice was angry.

Edward started picking up my clothes and throwing them at me. He pointed to the bathroom and I complied making sure I had ever article of clothing. He pulled on some pajama bottoms and as soon as the bathroom door was securely closed, I heard Alice's shrill voice.

"What were you thinking last night? Where is she? I know she's here." She was really mad.

"Whom are you talking about?" Edward questioned her coolly.

I heard something knock against the wall. "You know exactly who I'm talking about. Don't play smart with me." Did she have him pushed against the wall?

"Listen, I don't know what in the world you're talking about but I have to meet Rachel in a few and I seriously need to get a shower. If you're looking for Bella, she came to her senses last night. She slapped me and stormed off into her room. I think she said something about going down to the park to write or something."

There was a pause and I guess Alice was debating on whether or not to believe his story. "Fine."

The door slammed and I heard the bathroom door creak open. I stood there clutching my clothes and my eyes darted to the curtain. Edward pulled it back and pulled me from the tub.

"Where are you going?" I asked pulling on my underwear and jeans.

"I have to go for my tux fitting." He sighed and I replaced the sequined top. "Just to make sure it works though."

I nodded heading to search for my cell phone. Edward trailed close behind me. "It'll give you time to think about your speech. You have to plan the bachelor's party too." He hugged me from behind as I grabbed for my phone on the table. "I have plenty of ideas I could share with you tonight?" Edward whispered seductively into my ear.

I pulled out of his grasp heading toward the door. "Yup, we'll see about that. By lover boy." I winked at him and stepped into the empty hallway.

It seemed that Edward's room was just across the hall from mine making the trip rather quick. I stepped into the darkness of my room and started stripping as I went. I stepped into the shower letting the warm water wash away all traces of last night.

Could I do this for a week? Could I lie to my friends? Could I watch Edward hold Rachel and restrain myself? I thought about this and knew that I could. I had been doing that very thing for a while now. I had been lying to Alice, as well as myself, for the past two years. I had been seeing Edward with her in my mind for the past two years. I could do this.

I stepped out of the steaming shower and wrapped myself in a fluffy hotel towel. I decided to take Edward's advice and head down to the park to write. I still had to write my speech for the reception and then we had dinner with the "perfects" tonight. I laughed to myself at the name I had given Rachel and her family.

I dressed causally in flared jeans and a low cut, long sleeved, white shirt with a striped pink and white tank top underneath. I grabbed my laptop thankful that I remembered to charge it and slipped on my shoes. I almost forgot my cell and key but I grabbed them just in time along with some cash.

I stepped out in the hallway just as Edward was stepping out of his room. His messy bronze hair was darkened with moisture and he wore a long sleeved black shirt rolled up to his elbow. He had on loose jeans and black shoes to tip it off.

"Why hello Mr. Cullen." I greeted him.

His eyes ran the length of my body and he looked down the hallway both ways before crossing it and pulling me into his arms. "Hello Miss Swan." He whispered giving me a chaste kiss on the lips.

I blushed and stepped away from him heading toward the elevator with my laptop bag slung on my shoulder. Edward followed closely beside me his hand grasping for mine. We parted at the elevator and he pushed the down button. It dinged open and the doors opened revealing a very ticked Alice.

"Bella! Where have you been?" She asked stepping off the elevator.

I shrugged. "I took a shower and then was recharging my lap top. Why?"

She turned her head toward Edward showing she acknowledged him. "I have been in the park looking for you for over an hour. He said you were there."

I paused. "I was earlier. I was just going back."

Alice paused and took in my appearance. "Fine." She paused. "Cute outfit though."

I laughed and she strolled down the hallway the opposite direction from where Edward and I were headed. I stepped into the elevator with Edward close behind. As soon as the doors had closed he had me against the wall his mouth traveling to my neck.

"What's her problem?" I managed to gasp out despite the sensation of Edward's lips on my skin.

Edward pulled away from me. "I'm thinking she's got issues." He laughed. "And she's on to us."

He bent down kissing me deeply. It was the kind of kiss that caused goose bumps on my arms and shivers down my spine. He pulled away right before the elevator opened and he pulled on his mask of control. I on the other hand was extremely flushed. My lips were swollen and a blush was on my cheeks marking me.

We parted in separate directions from the elevator. I was going to write a speech for a best friend and then maybe a little more. Edward was going to see his girlfriend…

The thought hit me, "and maybe more."

I stepped out in the warm summer day and pushed all thoughts of Edward and Rachel from my head. It was only till after the wedding. After the wedding it would be a sealed deal… right?

I plopped down on the park bench pulling my legs under me. I pulled open my lap top and let my fingers fly across the keys.

"Isabella Swan?" An unknown voice, an unknown face, a well-known question. "What is your relationship with Edward Cullen?"

A/N: Hm, paparazzi? Totally! Well at least they have a plan!

Review!

Kayla