End of Chapter 15

"Never," he said. I scoffed. "And, Bella,..."

"Yes?" I asked as he reached over and put his arm not carrying my bag over my shoulders. "Your hair does look beautiful."

Chapter 16: Lay Down Sally (EPOV)

Bella and I walked into the house, and she walked over to join by siblings and the Hales who were sitting in the living room. I caught Alice's eye, and pointed to Bella's bag that was over my shoulder, and pointed up towards her room. She nodded and gave a silent thank-you. I ran the bag upstairs, and set it inside Alice's door. A part of me wished I was putting it in my room. Get a grip, Cullen. I hurried back downstairs, and joined my family and friends.

"So what is the plan this evening?" I asked as I joined the group.

"Buzz!" Emmett shouted.

"Buzz?" Bella asked.

"It's a trivia game on the Playstation," Jasper explained. "You can do movies, music, sports, or general knowledge. Like Trivial Pursuit, but much more entertaining."

"There are even special buzzer controllers!" Emmett piped in again.

"Sounds fun!" Bella agreed.

"Rose and I are going to make some snacks, and Emmett and Jasper are going to set up the game," Alice bounded over explaining. "I think that should give you two enough time for a private concert I believe you promised each other."

She waved over her shoulder as she left to join Rosalie in the kitchen. Bella rolled her eyes, and mine flashed with excitement, as I took her hand and led her down the hall to the music room. When we entered the room and I turned on the light she gasped. She walked over to my Steinway, and ghosted her fingers along it's ivory skin. She turned back at me her smile lighting up her face. I walked over to her and led her to the bench, and we sat down side by side. She reached out her hands and stroked the keys without making a sound.

"It's beautiful," she said.

"This is my true baby," I said as I ran a scale quickly with my right hand.

"OK, stop," she said her eyes wide, and I turned panicked.

"What?" I asked.

"If we are trading songs, then I have to go first, because there is no way I can follow THAT," she said pointing to my hand that was still resting on the keys.

"Ladies first," I said motioning for her to play.

"A gentleman and a scholar," she said winking at me. I think it was my turn to blush.

"I am trying to distract you, so you don't actually hear what I am playing," she said.

"I am sure it will be lovely," I said. "Ladies and gentlemen, in her rendition of The First Noel, I give you Isabella Swan."

She glared at me, but then she centered herself placing both hands on the piano. I saw her take a deep breath, and then start into the song. It wasn't elementary playing. It was simple harmonizing lines, but somehow she managed to put so much emotion into those simple notes. At times she would close her eyes, and just feel the melody. When she finished she looked up at me, and her face scrunched together.

"That bad?" She asked.

"Bella, that was beautiful," I admitted still in shock at what she did with those simple notes in that simple song.

"You're just saying that to make me feel better before you go all Beethoven on me," she said shoving my shoulder with hers.

"I never jest about music," I said giving her a fake stern face, and she laughed.

"And what will you be playing, Mr. Cullen?" She asked.

"I think I might know just the thing for you," I said.

I had a feeling, from what I had learned of Bella, what she might like, and it was one of my favorites to play, because of it's jazzy nature. I bumped her down the bench with my hip, and she complied with a giggle. I turned and gave her one last smile before launching into "Christmas Time Is Here". Bella gasped and the smile exploded on her face. She watched my hands intently as I played at first. I twisted and added a bit more jazz flare as I let my enjoyment of this moment color my playing. Half way through the song, she leaned her head against my shoulder and sighed contentedly. I wrapped up the song, and put my arm around her.

"That is one of my favorites," she said looking up at me.

"I thought it might be," I said giving her chin a tender pinch between my thumb and index finger.

"Why is that?" She asked.

"Because it is one of mine," I answered.

Just then, Alice came knocking on the door telling us everyone was ready. Bella hopped up, and ran over to Alice, and I watched them walk back to the living room arm-in-arm. The sight of my sister and Bella falling into such an easy friendship just added to my happiness. This was a different Bella than the one that I had been fighting against for the last few months. This was the Bella that I met on that first day in Biology. I was guessing this was the real Bella. One not marred by worry or pain. I hoped that we could help keep her this way.

When we all got to the living room, we decided to break up into teams of two, since there was six of us and only four controllers. Emmett swooped Rosalie up into his arms and sat on one side of the couch. Jasper sat on the opposite end, and Alice sat down in his lap. I grabbed a pillow off the couch, and tossed it on the floor in front of the arm chair. I figured I would sit there, and then Bella could have the chair behind me. I sat down with my legs bent, and my arms resting on my knees. I looked to Bella who seemed to be considering something while the game started to load up. She looked at the chair, then back at the couch, and then down at me. She smiled at me then, and grabbed a pillow from the couch as well. She walked around and stood in front of me. My hands dropped to my sides staring at her. She dropped the pillow between my legs. She looked at me silently asking if it was OK. I nodded. She sat down and leaned back into my chest resting her head on my shoulder. I brought my arms back up to my knees, and began explaining the remote and the game to Bella.

I felt everyone's eyes on us as I walked Bella through the rounds of the game, and which buttons were needed. She and I laughed as we picked out our character, and named our superhero looking man 'Bio-hazard'. We started into the first round, and Bella and I easily ended up on top. The next round required quick buzzing when you knew the answer, and after the first two questions, Bella teased that I was not buzzing fast enough, so she laid her arms on top of mine, and her fingers overlapped mine on the controller. I felt an electricity crackle across my skin as her arms and fingers made contact with mine. I was sure she felt the same, because she gave a little gasp, and then felt like she was holding her breath the rest of the round. We ended up winning the game, and I wrapped my arms around her in a victory hug, and was pleased, when she wrapped her arms on top of mine.

After two more rounds, and everyone else being tired of losing to Bella and I, we all went our separate ways. Rosalie and Jasper went home, but both promised to come back for the game tomorrow, despite Jasper's objections. He decided that he missed out on way too much fun last time. Rosalie and Jasper both hugged Bella good-bye, and waved to me from the spot I was standing across the room. Emmett locked Rosalie in a blush worthy kiss, that I averted my eyes from, and Jasper leaned over and gave Alice a lingering kiss on her temple. Once they were gone, we cleaned up the few dishes that were laying around, and Alice said something about girl talk. Emmett tossed Alice over one shoulder, and Bella over the other with squeals from both girls and ran up the stairs. He walked into Alice's room and tossed them both on the bed.

"Good night, ladies," Emmett said with a salute.

"Good night, Em," Alice said.

"Night, brother bear," Bella giggled.

I stood watching the whole exchange with a smile on my face from Alice's doorway.

"Good night, Alice. Good night, Bella," I said softly reaching out to pull the door closed as Emmett exited past me.

"Good night, Edward," they said together and then giggled.

I made my way up to my room, and started getting ready for bed. I brushed my teeth, and took out my contacts. I slid on my glasses and my sleep pants, and walked back into my room. There was no way I was going to sleep right now. My mind was reeling. I walked over and put on some jazz music to help me relax. I went over and laid back on my couch, and closed my eyes. When I did, she was there. I could feel her body laying against my chest. I could smell the strawberry scent of her hair. I could hear the beautiful tenor of her voice. Jasper was right. I knew what he was talking about yesterday. I was falling for Bella.

Did she...could she be feeling the same? There was the moment at the Jeep with the ear bud where she stroked my cheek. There is the way she leans on me when we are close. Tonight, it was her that set the pillow down and chose to lean against me while we played instead of sitting in the chair. I shook my head in confusion. I wanted so desperately to talk to her. To ask her what she might be feeling, but is this just one more thing to pile onto everything she is already dealing with? I pushed my glasses up and rubbed my eyes. I couldn't pressure her for answers right now. She is just starting to let people in. I will just let this be at her pace. Patience. I could be patient.

I reached back and grabbed Huckleberry Finn off of my desk. Might as well get some reading for school done while I was not sleeping. Maybe Mark Twain would help me get my mind off of Bella. I allowed myself to get lost in the world of early America on the Mississippi. I hadn't paid any attention to the time until a quiet knock came from my door. I looked up at the clock. Midnight.

"Come in," I said. I was expecting to see Emmett asking for a late night round of Little Big Planet, but instead found myself looking into Bella's tentative brown eyes. She was wearing cotton sleep pants and a t-shirt that clung to her little frame. Her hair was pulled up into a sloppy ponytail, and I had never seen her look more beautiful.

"I'm sorry," she started. "I didn't wake you did I?"

"Not at all," I answered holding up my book. "I was reading. I couldn't sleep."

"Me either," she said looking at me quirking her eyebrow and a small smile on her face.

"What?" I said.

"I didn't know you wore glasses," she said.

"I wear contacts most of the time," I said pushing my glasses up on my nose.

"The glasses suit you," she said with another smile and blush.

"Come in," I said patting the spot next to me on the couch. "Is Alice asleep?"

"Yes," Bella said sitting down next to me. "I couldn't fall asleep, and I remembered you had quite a little library in your room, and I was hoping to borrow a book to help me relax."

"Help yourself," I said motioning to my bookshelf.

"What are you reading?" She asked.

"Huckleberry Finn...for class," I said flashing the cover to her.

"Looks like you are about as far as I am," she said. "I just finished chapter five."

"That is exactly where I am," I said with a smile. "Want to read with me?"

"Will you read to me?" Bella asked with a shy glance. How could I say no to that?

"As you wish," I said with a wink. She giggled. "Come here, you."

I stretched myself out down the length of the couch, and Bella crawled up next to me laying her head on my chest and draping her left leg on top of mine. I wrapped my left arm that she was laying on around her, and leaned to open the book to chapter six. I began reading. She clung to me with every blow Huck received from pap. I held her close as I continued through the chapter. Part way through chapter eight, I felt her breathing even out, and looked down to find she had fallen asleep. I marked my page, and reached back tossing the book onto my desk.

I looked down at the sleeping girl in my arms. Her hair splayed out around her, and a few errant strands tickled my bare chest. She looked so peaceful, I didn't want to move her. Who am I kidding, I didn't want to move. I allowed myself a moment to hold her a little longer in my arms. I brushed the hair out of her face. Before I realized what I was doing, I bent down and kissed her temple. I was so close to those beautifully round cheeks, that I had to kiss that as well. I pulled her closer then and buried my face into her hair.

"I think I love you, Bella Swan," I whispered.

"Mmmm," she mumbled in her sleep and pulled herself closer to me.

I sighed, and extracated myself from her. I pulled my throw down off the back of my couch, and laid it over her.

"Good night, angel," I whispered as I kissed her cheek and turned out the light. I walked over, turned off my stereo, and climbed into my bed. Just as I was starting to drift off to sleep, I thought I heard a soft 'Good night, Edward' from across the room.

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A/N: I know some of you are hoping for more at this point in their relationship, but it is building!

Thank-you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story! Your constant support and words of encouragement are overwhelming!

You have until Friday night to read and get over and vote for my one-shot Emergency! in the "Forbidden Love Affair" contest! Vote via the poll at the top of goldentemptress' profile page:

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In the meantime, review here! Each one is like a Cullen sleepover!