Chapter 3: Seattle Nights. Part 1

EPOV

When Emmett invited me to go with him and some friends to Seattle this weekend I had been really pleased. I didn't know many people here, so I was glad that I had met him, and we got along. He had seemed like a really cool guy, if it weren't for the fact that he was Bella's brother, I would have ventured to become close friends with him. He made me laugh, I guess my plan to stay away from Bella until the end of the year was not working out. I seriously didn't know that by friends he meant Alice, her boyfriend Jasper, his sister Rosalie, and of course, the silent beauty that was Bella Swan. It wasn't until I got into the car and sat next to her that I really understood the danger this trip was to my self control.

It was supposed to be a three hour drive to Seattle from Forks, but Rosalie was driving incredibly fast, so I thought we'd get there in about half of the time. Conversation was in the air, but Bella was listening to her iPod, s I couldn't speak freely at her. She looked over at me briefly and caught me staring. She smiled and offered me one of her earphones; I smiled and took it from her hand. As I touched her soft skin I felt an electrical jolt go through me, temporarily paralyzing my hand to hers. She looked at me, and I wondered if she had felt it too.

She must have because she looked flustered as I listened to her music. I can say that I was more than shocked when I noticed the song.

"Andrea Boccelli?" I asked her. He was amazing, but the song she was listening to was in Italian, and she was softly singing to it perfectly. Every word was perfectly said.

"He's great" she told me simply.

"Do you know Italian?"

"I know his songs" she smirked.

I smiled at her and continued listening to Vivo per Lei. It was a wonderful song. I adored it because it sang about the persons love for music. It was inspiration to all artists and was very surprised by her. She definitely is not like the other girls her age.

I tapped my foot to the beat of the music and was again mystified at Bella when the next song started.

"Debussy?"

"Claire da Lune" she told me, citing the exact piece.

"I know, it's my favorite" I told her honestly.

"Mine too"

So she knew perfectly Italian songs and listened to composers from 1901? How old was this girl, I mean she couldn't possibly be 18, right?

"Bella how old are you?"

"18"

"you don't seem eighteen" I told her, and watched her smile, and laugh a bit.

"What?" I asked, confused at her reaction.

"My mom always said I was born thirty-five years old and that I get more middle-aged every year." She laughed, and then sighed. "Well, someone has to be the adult." She paused for a second. "You don't seem much like a teacher yourself."

"That's because this is my first year as a picture, and I'm only doing it for a year before I go back to school." I told her

"Why are you leaving?" she asked frowning slightly

"I needed teaching credentials to be able to go back to Dartmouth and get a masters in college education. It's a three year thing, so I had to come here for this year alone."

"Oh." She said "Did you know I applied to Dartmouth?"

Well that was news to me. Good news in fact. Well, maybe god didn't completely hate me.

"No I didn't, I hope you'll like it. I'll probably see you there." I told her, my eyes again burning with the hope of a possible future.

"That's if I get accepted. That's where my mom went to school, so I have a pretty good shot." She said, looking at Emmett who chose that moment to speak up.

"Yeah, Edward, she's the little brainiacs of the family, smartest kid I know. You know she's up for valedictorian?"

"No, but I know she's smart, she wrote the most wonderful paper the other day. It should get turned into a book."

"You really mean that?" asked a watery eyed Bella. I didn't know if I had said something wrong.

"Yeah, I know one person who would definitely buy it."

She smiled, and sniffled a little.

"Oh, Cullen. You made my sister cry, now I have to kill you." He laughed, pretending to strangle someone in thin air. Everyone laughed, and continued on in there private conversations.

"You want to know a secret?" Bella whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my body as she inched closer.

I gulped.

"Ugh, Yeah" I sounded like an idiot, but coherent thought was not possible so close to her.

"I already wrote it. It's a five hundred page book. All I need is a publisher, but I don't think its good enough." She whispered

I was surprised, I wanted to read her work, I knew she had so much talent.

"Can I read it?" I asked her, equally quiet.

"Um…" she seemed really reluctant.

"How about a deal, you let me read it, and I will tell you what I really think. If its good I'll put you in contact with someone I know?"

"You would do that for me?" she asked, a smile playing on her lips.

Oh God. Student. Student. Student… Bella.

"I'd do anything for you." I blurted out. Oh boy. Not good. Not good at all. Why did she have to look at me like that with those eyes, and that smile, and her beauty and make me say things I really did want to say to her, but knew I couldn't. Not good. Damage control.

"You're my student I want you to succeed." I said, praying she would buy my save. I saw her eyes sadden for a moment, and then she nodded. I sighed in relief and looked at the window for the rest of the drive. If I wasn't careful Isabella Swan would be the death of me…

BPOV

When he said those beautiful words I almost gasped in happiness and pleasure. If he'd only shut up and let me enjoy it. Of course he only saw me as a student, as Emmett's sister, as Alice's friend. Nothing else. Ugh, how I hated what he said after those wonderful words.

If he wasn't my- I caught that thought short. Ifs were not going to help. He was my teacher and that was the end of it. If I were a different type of girl I would be pursuing him. But I was Isabella Swan, shy and quiet. I was not the type of girl to have a relationship, no matter how young, or beautiful, or sexy, or talented, or articulate the teacher was. I could do this. I would do this. I was going to be myself, and not let the perfect man next to me distract me from my weekend of distraction. Ironic really, I hoped to free my mind of him this weekend and now he was not only in my mind anymore. I just prayed nobody caught on.

As we got to the hotel, we checked into the penthouse suite. It had six bedrooms, a kitchen, a sitting area. It was expensive, but we could all afford it, and then some. Since it was Friday we decided to get in our pajamas and have a movie night. I was walking from door to door to ask the rest what they wanted to order. When I got to my brothers room I noticed his door open so I lightly knocked before opening it fully.

There on the bed was my brother, making out with a robed Rosalie. They seemed to not be coming up for air, so I slightly coughed to get their attention.

"What would you guys like for me to order for you to eat?" other than each other I thought to myself.

"Anything is fine with me" said Rosalie, who was slightly red faced, yet smiling.

"Me and my girlfriend will get Chinese." Emmett said, smiling and putting focus on the word girlfriend. I was happy, but knew I would just embarrass them, so I walked out, but not before smiling at Rosalie and welcoming her to the family, something that she graciously accepted.

The last door on the left, the one across the hall from mine was where I found Edward. If I had thought my self control was lacking earlier in the car, I had had no idea. He opened the door, a towel around his hips, his hair wet, his chest bare, with water running down his washboard abs. I gasped, and noticed how much I had underestimated his body through his teacher get-up. His shoulders were wide, and he had a swimmers body, a narrow waist and hips. His muscles were toned and his arms were three times wider than mine. Oh my. If I didn't stop staring I was going to start hyperventilating.

"Bella?" he asked, noticing my examination and doing one of his own. I was wearing a blue camisole, and blue pajama shorts. I had consciously worn these knowing he would be there, and was glad when his eyes popped out before he re-controlled his face muscles into a calm mask. I smirked before answering him.

"Yeah, I was wondering what you want from room service?"

"Oh, I… Um, Italian?" he said, making it sound like a question.

"Ok" I smiled at him before turning around and taking my time to walk down the hall, knowing his eyes were on me.

After ordering the room service I chose a movie from the options we were given and was soon joined by Edward.

"So where's everyone?" he said, looking slightly nervous.

"Rosalie and my brother are having sex in his room and Alice and Jasper are doing something in his room, but I can't be sure what it is. Don't worry, as soon as the food comes they'll be out."

He laughed at my honesty and sat down next to me on one of the couches.

"So…" he said

"So?"

"You're brother and Rosalie?"

"Hey, don't look at me, I just found out. This should suck, but at least I'm not the fifth wheel, I can use you as a buffer." I laughed at him, secretly sad that everyone was paired up except me and the impossible man beside me.

"Just so you know, if I hang out with you more, it's so I don't feel like that too" he laughed. I took it as a joke, but was secretly torn in which way to take the comment. The way I saw it, he either would hang out with me because of what he said and nothing else. Or, and this was the or I was hoping for, he was using it as an excuse to hang out with me, I really hoped it was the second, but didn't expect it to be.

As I heard a knock on the door, Edward followed me to it to greet a young guy with a tray full of food…

EPOV

As we opened the door I noticed the guys eyes immediately go to Bella. I glared at him, and put my arm around Bella's shoulders. He looked up at me and I secretly communicated my message. MINE.

He shrugged and continued staring at her as he set up the food on the table. Bella paid him, and gave him a tip, but not before he tried to hit on her.

I saw him whispering in her ear and knowing I couldn't do anything no matter how much I wanted to I sat down on the couch, staring at their interaction. I saw her shake her head as he tried to touch her hand. I saw red, but tried to keep my self control. What Bella did next was what surprised me most of all. Bella told him a firm no, and came and sat on my lap. I shivered in pleasure and confusion as she whispered in my ear.

"play along please."

I nodded and wrapped my arms around her small frame.

"Like I said James, I'm very happy. I'm not interested unless Edward says differently." She smiled at him, looking innocent.

"You're not going to be anyone else's ever." I smiled at her, looking in her eyes and exploiting the opportunity by laying a small kiss on her cheek.

The James guy glared, but walked out, closing the door behind me. I was not oblivious to the feeling of her, and the fact that I had to let go, but I couldn't release her from my eyes. Knowing her brother was her I gently let go; hating the torture of these feelings I had for Bella.

She looked flustered, yet smiled at me, her face turning crimson. As I saw her walk towards the table with the food, I noticed her close her eyes as she touched the place where I had kissed her. I closed my eyes to remember the moment with her. It had not been sexual in any way, but I knew I had taken advantage of the situation by kissing her. I both hated myself, and loved myself for doing that. One part of me told me this was more than lust for a student and that I should pursue her, another told me I was a disgusting monster that was taking advantage of an innocent girl. Whichever way I saw it, I knew I had problems to face, and my resolve to wait till her graduation was breaking slowly, though yet I had not realized how weak it had always been.

As I dwelled I noticed the others take plates of food from the table and I mimicked their actions. I was in the middle of raising forkful of mushroom ravioli when Bella grabbed my fork and took the food in her mouth.

"What?" she asked at my amused expression

"Yours looks better" she laughed at me. I couldn't help but laugh with her and the others, and get back at her by taking a forkful of her chicken alfredo just as she was about to bite in to it. We laughed again, and it was so natural and breezy, nothing wrong about It at all. That's what I thought until I noticed Alice staring at me with an expression that showed knowledge, acceptance and compassion.

"Edward can I talk to you?" she asked me, her voice strong with authority.

"Yeah" I said as I followed her out the room and into to balcony that overlooked the city

"What are you doing?" she asked me, her voice slightly angry

"What do you mean?" I said, confused.

"Please, Edward. Bella's my best friend; I've known you all my life. I know something's going on, now what are you doing?"

I could deny it. I could say I had no idea what she was talking about, but I knew she was right. She had seen it clearly, and in all honesty I needed someone to know. Someone to talk to, Alice had always known all my secrets. She was my favorite cousin, when we used to live together in Chicago; she had been my best friend. I knew I had to tell her the truth.

"I don't know Alice. I really have no idea" I said, my heart sad.

"Well, I know that. I want to know what you're going to do about it. It's highly unethical, but not illegal, and you only have a year anyways… I think you should do something about it Edward." She told me, while patting my back and giving me the strength I needed to fight my torture.

"Alice she's my student"

"I know, but if you feel deeply about her, like I know you do then you can't do nothing."

"I doubt she even feels the same way as me, Alice."

"Listen Edward. Ever since we moved here Bella's been my best friend, I know her better than anyone, even Emmett. I know she cares for you. It's easy to see. SO I'm going to ask you again. What're you gonna do about it?"

"I'm planning to hold on till graduation" I told her, moving towards the door to get back.

"Hmm. Edward?" she said smiling.

"Yes, Alice?"

"If you actually think that that's going to work then you're an idiot" she said before walking away.