End of Chapter 7

Mr. Banner had given us our biology period to work on our projects. Edward and I finalized our notes, and which parts of our report we wanted to print out as our display for our report. Edward was going to stop of to get the presentation board before meeting me at my house after school. His shopping should give me enough time to help Charlie with anything he needs and get him some dinner. We said our good-byes after class, and Edward said he would send me a text when he was on his way to my house.

Chapter 8: Save Room (EPOV)

Alice and I headed over to Olympic Graphic Arts Inc. after school to grab the supplies that Bella and I decided we needed to make our display for our presentation. I should have known better than to bring the pixie with me while shopping. I noticed things like glitter and neon colored things starting to appear in the cart when my back was turned.

"Alice, what are you getting these things for?" I asked.

"For your presentation," she said like it was obvious. "It is going to be fabulous!"

"You do realize our project is on the evolution of dinosaurs, and not the evolution of fashion, right?" I smirked.

"Fine," she said snatching her items out of the cart, and walking off in a huff.

As we were checking out, I sent Bella a text to let her know we would be by to pick her up soon. My phone chimed as we walked out the car with our bags.

I'm ready. Don't honk for me, though.

That will send Charlie for his gun with the speed of lightning. ~B

I quickly wrote back:

Thanks for the warning. I would not want to piss off the Chief. ~E

We were at Bella's house in no time, and I ran up to the door and knocked. Bella answered the door with a smile.

"Let me grab my bag," she said. "Come in a sec."

I walked in to the foyer. There was no word for Bella's house that fit better than comfortable. It was one of those houses you walked into and just felt at home. Everything felt lived in, unlike my Better Homes & Garden's show piece. Don't get me wrong. I love my house, but sometimes the order of it leaves me a little on edge. I took a step further in to take a look around. I could hear Bella talking to her dad from the direction, I guessed was the kitchen. Just then, Bella came around the corner followed by Chief Swan. I decided to take the initiative on the introductions.

"Chief Swan, sir, it is nice to meet you," I held out my hand. "I'm Edward Cullen."

"Nice to meet you, Edward," he said shaking my hand. There was something about how he looked that seemed slightly frail, though he was working hard at standing tall. "This is all alright with your folks?"

"Yes, sir," I answered. "My parents are both at home this evening, and my mother has invited Bella to dine with us if that is OK with you."

"Sure," he said. "You kids have fun. Edward, you might want to practice that presentation of yours before you eat dinner." He winked at me then and laughed a little to himself. Bella shot him a glaring look, and he shrugged.

"Thank-you for the warning, sir," I answered. Then the wrath of Bella shifted in my direction. I gave the same apologetic shrug the Chief had just given her, and she rolled her eyes at me.

"OK, OK," she pushed me towards the door. "Enough humor at my expense. I'll be back before bed time, dad."

"That's fine, Bells," he said as Bella gave him a quick hug.

"Call me, if you need anything," she said looking at him pointedly.

"I'll be fine," he said. "Don't keep this boy waiting any longer. Nice meeting you, Edward."

"You too, Chief Swan," I answered, as we headed down off the porch and into the car. I went over to the passenger side, and opened the door for Bella, and she raised her eyebrow at me.

"My mother taught me manners," I said in answer to her unasked question.

"Hey, Alice," Bella said as she climbed in to my sister who was now sitting in the backseat shuffling through the songs on her iPhone.

"Hi, Bella," she chimed. "I am so excited you are coming over!"

"She is not coming over for your latest make-over fantasies, Alice," I grumbled as I climbed in, and closed the door. "We actually have a presentation we have to finish up."

Alice just pouted and crossed her arms. Bella laughed, and looked at me and mouthed a silent thank-you. I barely controlled my laugh as we headed out to my house.

"So what is the plan?" Bella asked.

"I thought we could work on getting the presentation ready, eat dinner, and then do our practice run afterwards, if that is OK?" I said. Did that sound too planned out? I hope she doesn't think I am trying to control the project.

"That sounds great," Bella answered.

I let out a sigh. I seriously need to relax. We pulled up to our house, and Bella let out a slow whistle while looking up at the three story facade through the window of the car. Just then, I noticed Emmett and Rosalie walking out of the open garage.

"Hey, guys," Emmett called as I opened the passenger door for Bella, and helped she and Alice out of the car. I got the bags out of my trunk as Bella walked over to Emmett, Jasper, and Rosalie who were all gathered by the garage.

"Wow!" Bella said. "Your dad is quite the connoisseur of cars. Is he trying to collect one from every country?"

"What do you mean?" I asked. She pointed down the line.

"England. Germany. North America. Italy. Germany, again." My jaw and Emmett's dropped.

"I like her," Rosalie said with a grin. Bella smiled back.

"I know that fiery piece of German engineering out there is you," Bella tossed her head back towards Rosalie's BMW in the drive.

"You know it, baby," Rosalie purred.

"So, why does Daddy C. have so many rides?" Bella asked now. I looked at her and smiled. I have never seen her so relaxed. The cloud that seems to be constantly hanging over her is gone at the moment, and she is radiant in her banter. It was my turn to answer, and I cleared my throat, and repeated her earlier motion.

"Vanquish, mine. Porche, Alice. Jeep, Emmett. Duchati, mine. Mercedes, dad."

"If you have the bike and the Vanquish, why the hell are we riding around in your mom's car?" Bella said with a smirk.

"Woman, leave my Volvo alone!" I yelled. "Forks is not exactly motorcycle weather...ever, it seems, and my baby over there is for special occasions. Would you trust those high school pricks to not scratch her if she were yours?"

"No, I guess not," she answered looking back at my Volvo again with that smirk.

"You better just get in the house before I make you walk home," I muttered teasingly.

"Come on, Mr. Sensitive" she smiled following Alice into the house. "Let's talk dinosaurs."

When we got into the house, mom and dad were there to meet Bella.

"Bella, these are my parents, Esme and Carlisle," I said pointing to them.

"Welcome to our home, dear," my mom said giving Bella a hug.

"Yes, welcome, Bella," my dad said. "How is the Chief doing these days?" I swear they exchanged a look, but maybe I was just seeing things.

"He's well," she said. "Thanks for asking."

"We better get to work Bella, so we can be done in time for dinner," I said putting my hand on the small of her back and leading her toward the stairs.

"Dinner is at 6, Edward," my mom called after us. I nodded.

I led Bella up to the third floor of our house where my bedroom was. She walked in not saying anything. She quietly looked around my room. She ran her fingers over the spines of my books, and her eyes raked my enormous CD collection. I set our things down on the black leather couch in my room, and reached behind it to open the curtains. When I did so, Bella gasped, and walked to the floor length window now exposing the expanse of trees and river that were visible. She stood silently for what felt like hours.

"Are you OK?" I finally plucked up the courage to ask, as I fired up my computer.

"Your view is like hearing Robert Frost for the first time," she said softly, and I thought I saw a tear roll down her cheek. "It's so serene."

She was breaking my heart with her words. How can one person feel so much just by looking out a window? What is going on in that secretive, complex mind of hers. I don't remember even doing it, but I suddenly found myself standing behind her, and resting my head on top of hers, while wrapping my arms around hers which were folded in front of her. She leaned back into me in that moment and I felt her breathing slow, and her body relax. I really hated to end this moment.

"We better get started," I whispered afraid to break the spell that had fallen over us.

"Yes, we should," she moved out of my embrace, and began unloading her bag.

Bella had brought pictures and pamphlets from when she did the digs back in Phoenix. The visuals were only less amazing than her extremely detailed journals of everything she learned at the time. We had so much information for our report. Now we just needed to narrow it down for the presentation. After scanning and printing and gluing, we we managed to finish with 20 minutes to spare before dinner.

"Ugh," Bella sighed leaning back against my bed. We had been sitting on the floor putting the board together for the last hour. "I am so glad we are done!"

"Me too," I agreed, as I crawled up onto my couch stretching out and closing my eyes.

"I think my ass is asleep," Bella said standing up and rubbing her backside. "These rugs are the plushest thing I have ever felt as far as floor coverings, but I think I just sat in one spot for too long."

She stretched, and a sliver of skin where her shirt rose up was exposed to me. I quickly closed my eyes and started trying to think of anything except that creamy white skin. It was then that I heard her yawn. I popped my eyes open, and looked over at her. She was smiling at me. It was then I really took stock of her eyes. The dark circles under them looked like she hadn't slept well in months.

"Come lie down, before you fall down," I said patting the couch next to me.

"It's almost dinner time," she protested.

"You have time for a power nap," I said. "I'll wake you when it is time to eat."

She walked over and sat down on the opposite end of the couch from my head. Slowly she allowed herself to slouch down. I grabbed the throw off of the back of the couch, and sat up in order to cover her with it. She rubbed her hand over the green chenille fabric, and her eyes began to drift closed. Before long, her breathing evened out, and I knew she was finally asleep. I just sat there and watched her. She really was quite beautiful. I just wish I knew what troubled her. I wanted to know her secrets. I wanted to know her.

I hadn't realize that the time before dinner had passed already, until I heard a faint knock on my door. Alice's head popped in.

"Mom says dinner is ready," she said and smiled at Bella's sleeping form. "You still have a few minutes before it is on the table. She looked like she needed this sleep."

"Yeah," I said. "I hate to wake her."

"I'll go help mom," she said. "You wake sleeping beauty." She left with a wink.

She was beautiful. Her hair splayed out around her, and the peaceful look on her face. It is hard to believe that this time yesterday she was screaming at me and smacking my face. I guess the saying 'what a difference a day makes' means something. I hated to do it, but I slid off the couch, and crawled over to sit on the floor by her head.

"Hey, sleepy girl," I said softly, moving some strands of hair from where they had fallen across her face. "Bella, dinner is ready."

"OK," she mumbled. "I'll get your supplement, and then start dinner."

"Bella," I said a little louder now stiffling a laugh and shaking her shoulder a bit, "you don't have to make dinner. It's ready."

She rubbed the backs of her hands on her eyes, and her eyes fluttered open locking her deep chocolate pools on me.

"Edward?" She said confused.

"Yes," I said. "You are at my house. Presentation. Dinner. Starting to ring a bell?"

"Sorry," she mumbled as she tried to cover up the blush creeping up her cheeks. "I haven't been sleeping well lately, and it is so peaceful here."

"I'm glad you feel comfortable here," I said smiling at her, and she rolled onto her side and smiled back at me. "Alice says dinner is ready. If you would rather sleep some more, I can have my mom put a plate in the fridge for you."

"No, no," she said sitting up. "Let's go."

I helped her up, and we walked downstairs to join my family and the Hales at the dinner table. Dinner was filled with lively conversation and jokes at various people's expenses. By the end of the meal, we were all laughing. I looked over at Bella to see her wiping tears from her eyes after Alice's last story about the time she had thrown his swim trunks up in a tree when he decided to go skinny dipping on vacation. He in turn, chased her around the lake naked. Emmett doesn't know the meaning of the word modesty.

Everyone else helped clear the dinner dishes while Bella and I set up our presentation in the living room. Once we got everything all set, I turned to Bella.

"Are you ready?" I asked. She looked up at me looking pale, and almost a little green. "Hey, hey...none of that. You will be fine. I will be right here with you."

I squeezed her hand and she gave me a faint smile.

"If you start to feel nervous, just turn and focus on me for a moment until you get your barrings," I nodded at her and she smiled.

"Are you ready for us?" My dad asked coming to take a seat in the love seat to our right. My mother sat down next to him. Emmett, Alice, Rosalie, and Jasper squeezed onto the couch.

"Ready to get my learn on about dinosaurs," Emmett boomed out.

That made Bella laugh, and I could see her relax a bit. We started into our presentation, and it amazed me how easily we worked together. We were flowing easily back and forth between our parts, and after a while we were almost finishing each other's sentences. I saw the smiles on everyone's face, and I am sure it was due to the easiness of our interactions, more than the lesson on dinosaur evolution. Everyone gave us a round of applause when we were done, and Bella's body visibly relaxed like a 20 pound weight had just been taken off her shoulders. She looked up and smiled at me.

"You did awesome," I whispered into her ear as I wrapped my arm around her shoulder.

"Thanks," she whispered back. "You didn't do so bad yourself."

Bella and I packed up our presentation, and I told her that I would bring it with me to school in the morning. We could grab it out of my trunk after lunch. She glanced down at her watch, and gasped.

"I didn't realize it was so late," she said. "I need to get home."

"I need to go check on a patient," my dad said. "I can take you home, Bella."

"Thank-you, Dr. Cullen," she said. "Let me just run upstairs and get my stuff."

I followed Bella upstairs, and made sure she got everything.

"Bella," I said softly.

"Yeah," she said looking at me while she stuffed her folder back into her bookbag.

"I am really so sorry about yesterday, whatever it was," I started. "Today as been so great. I really had fun with you."

"I did too, Edward," she said not meeting my eyes. "I can't tell you the last time I laughed so hard...the last time I laughed period." She mumbled the last part, I am sure meant to be for herself, but I heard it.

"So," I said as I reached over to raise her chin so she was looking a me, "are we friends now?"

"I would like that," Bella said softly. "Thank-you, Edward."

I pulled Bella into a hug. She held me tight like she was clinging to a life line. I held the intensity of the embrace until she started to let go.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she said as she left my room.

"Bye, Bella," I called after her.

I heard the sounds of car doors from the garage, and heard my dad's car start up, and they were off. I flopped back onto my couch. I closed my eyes, and I realized that I could still smell Bella from where she was laying here earlier. Strawberries, and something floral. I let out a sigh, and let my mind drown for a moment in the images of her sleeping. Her long eyelashes almost tickling her cheekbones. Her soft hair a waterfall of chestnut all around her. Then, I focused in on her plump lips, slightly parted, and begging to be kissed. My eyes flew open at this thought. Friends, dick head. You guys are friends.

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A/N: I totally borrowed "Daddy C." from AngstGoddess003's story Wide Awake. Total homage, chicka!

Thanks again to everyone who is reading and reviewing! Your reviews are like waking up to Edward's smiling face.