Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or the universe S Meyer created. There are lots of strong language and subjects in this chapter…

AN: EPOV EPOV EPOV EPOV EPOV EPOV EPOV EPOV EPOV

Edward's Take Out
Outtake

Fumbling through the fridge I pulled out an old container of honey chicken and grabbed a soda. I didn't eat much of anything before I went to the dance which was a big mistake. I wasn't sure if there was some kind of rule like there was for swimming. Wait thirty minutes after eating before dancing… In my defense, I had no idea what it was going to be like. I'd never been to a dance before. There had been a small table of pretzels and cookies and bad punch, but I was starving. Part of me was hoping to grab something at the diner but Bella had been alone. No way was I about to order something when she was all alone and about to close.

Bella Swan was a mystery and for some reason I was completely obsessed with her. I wasn't a crazy stalker who climbs into her window at night to watch her sleep, but I was close...

The first time I saw her Emmett had pointed to a picture of Jessica and Eric in one of Alice's yearbooks. Rosalie and Bella were in the background laughing about something, and I'd thought she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen.

The first time I met her she was a total bitch ignoring us and listening to her ipod so loud I could hear the music. It was a major turn off. And I was done with that. I made a promise to myself that I was starting over in Forks. I wasn't going to take anyone's shit.

The first time I spoke to her I was a dick. But how could I not have been one when the first girl I'm ever attracted to is a bitch. Like the rest of them. Judgmental and fake. And then she asked me if I had a vagina... Who does that?

The first time I touched her I saved her life. Not really but I did save her face from a basketball. And also her skin was really soft and it sent a shiver up my arm like as if she had shocked me. It might have been why she always flinched whenever I used to touch her. She doesn't do it anymore though...

But I had been a jackass to her too and especially to Emmett. I'd thought that they were... together. Together-together. Which had pissed me off. I didn't think I'd ever been so mad or so jealous in my entire life before. I mean Bella Swan wasn't mine to claim, but Emmett knew about my fascination with her. Not to mention he made fun of me for the dreams and the sleep talking. But I had just assumed with the secret looks and conversations, and shit! the restroom at school! I assumed the worst that my brother had betrayed me. It wasn't a nice feeling, and it was a worse feeling when he told me the truth. I was ashamed of myself.

I had a communication problem with her. We were definitely thinking on different wavelengths because she never does what I expect her too. Bella Swan was not a normal girl. That was what I liked most about her. Plus she can bake just like Esme. Maybe even better. I mean those pumpkin cookies were amazing. It's strange that they've known each other for more than ten years - even longer than I've know Esme. I have had to bite the inside of my cheek to when it was nearly bleeding to keep from asking her questions. I didn't want Esme to know that I liked Bella because Esme was crazy. If I ever had a girl to bring home, I wouldn't. It must be a mom thing or something because Emmett brought a girl home once and she went nuts, she was so excited.

I wanted her to like me. It was why I stopped questioning her. I only started asking questions so I could get to know her, but I wanted her to trust me and tell me her secret herself. And I was almost there. She said it herself tonight that she wanted to tell me. I just had to wait it out. I didn't even really care what her secret was. It wasn't like she killed someone or had an abortion. She didn't have Turrets or probably any other disease for that matter. I could tell when she was lying by the way her eyes shifted and her lips parted. It was very subtle, but I was insanely stalker-ish. I was always watching her. I had felt immensely guilty after calling her pretentious because it wasn't until a few days later that I realized it was just me. She wasn't conceited or ostentatious. I just couldn't take my eyes off of her. I was so captivated by her. I was just mad that Emmett knew and I didn't. How did he figure it out? How come I couldn't?

I finished the last bite of noodles and chugged the rest of my mountain lion. I'm not sure why it amused me, but the generic mountain dew did. It tasted fantastic too, not like the terrible Chinese food I just consumed.

The light was on in Dad and Esme's room as I quietly tiptoed by. I made sure to make enough noise to let them know I was home, but I wasn't ready for Esme's interrogation. Oddly Emmett's door was closed, and no light was coming out underneath the door. It was only 11 o'clock. He still should have been awake playing video games or watching TV. I wondered if he was sore with me because I went to the dance. He didn't seem to mind earlier, but sometimes I couldn't tell with Emmett. He tended to hide things well.

I slipped into my room quietly and turned on the small lamp on the desk. My room had once been the library, but Esme thought I would enjoy the shelf space. Half the books had been donated to the Forks library leaving me plenty of space for my own books and music. I didn't just inherit my mother's nose and car but also her music collection. She had an extensive one too - records, cassettes, and a few CDs. And while she was pregnant she played classical music too; though I think it was because she just liked it rather than what Bella's father believed. I filed through the CDs and pulled one and slipped it into the stereo. I shrugged out of my clothes tossing them into the hamper and finished getting ready for bed in the hallway bathroom. I smiled stumbling into bed when the first few notes of Clair de Lune played, and I remembered my sort of-dance with Bella. I was proud of myself for being so bold when she didn't reject me and I got to hold her close. My eyes closed and found myself in a whirlwind of dreams.

When I woke up I had to squeeze my eyes shut because the light was so bright. When I was able to open them again slightly, I realized wasn't in my bed. I wasn't even inside. Shit. I was in the meadow. Had I been sleepwalking too? But it was different. It felt different - warm and dry, and it looked different too - vivid and beautiful. There were flowers every where and no clouds in the sky. A familiar body and scent laid next to me and when I rolled over I met doe eyes. Bella. Had she found me here? How long had she been waiting for me to wake up?

"I want to tell you my secret," she smiled nervously. Tell me! I wanted to tell her, but my lips wouldn't move.

"Dude I can't tell you! You wouldn't believe me anyways. It's on the supernatural side of things." Her head had morphed into Emmett's and I jumped, rolling myself away from her, err him.

"It's strange but cool. She really understands people. She can see things from their point of view," Emmett had changed into a squeaky Alice.

"Be friends with Bella, she makes cookies for your birthday. And it's like magic! She always makes what I want and I don't even have to ask. It's like she's reading my mind!" Alice grew bigger and darker into a Native American boy.

I jolted awake in my bed breathing heavily. Bella Swan was a mind reader. She had to be. Everything fit and made sense. The way she cut people off or had a quick answer for everything. How she found Emmett in the school restroom. How she knew Alice was in trouble at the movies in Port Angeles. How Emmett can tutor her by just working out the problem and not verbally explaining it.

And she has her ipod with her all the time. The music keeps everything out. It was why she plays it so loud.

Shit. Shit. Shit! Bella was a mind reader. She can read minds. She can read my mind! Shit shit shit! She was been reading my mind! Oh my shit! Why was she still talking to me? Why did she still want to be my friend? She knew I liked her, and the dreams! Shiiiit! But I can't help them. It wasn't entirely my fault. When I was fourteen I had so much trouble falling asleep and staying asleep that Dad prescribed me some medication. When I learned that we were moving to Nowhere-Forks, I wanted off of them. Dad agreed and so finally I didn't need them anymore. Forks was a peaceful town and I didn't have trouble sleeping at all. It was the waking up part that was… not good. My meds had a side effect that basically decreased my libido so… now that I wasn't on them anymore, I was horny 110% of the time instead of the average 97% of the time like other guys.

Maybe if I just explained that to Bella… It wasn't like I was constantly trying to have sex with her. I wasn't even trying. I just liked her and wanted to be her friend… and if that friendship evolved into a relationship, I wouldn't mind. Just shit. I'd almost rather be Eddie the abstinent freak than Edward the new guy-horn dog. I was a monster.

I couldn't go back to sleep. I stayed up doing household chores trying to keep my mind off of Bella and my fatal embarrassment. After checking the laundry and cleaning the windows, I started cleaning out the refrigerator. I wiped down every possible surface and tossed out every fast food container. No more take out for me.

"Hey that was still good…"

"Shit!" I flinched bumping my head on a shelf.

"Shit to you too son," Dad said plainly, holding onto the door. He was wearing red flannel pants and a holy white t-shirt and his hair stacked messily similar to mine.

"Sorry, you surprised me," I mumbled rubbing my head.

"What are you doing up so early?" he asked walking over to the stove and pulling out a heavy pan.

"Weird dreams."

"So… how was the dance?" he asked casually grabbing the bacon from the meat drawer I just reorganized.

"Fine," I shrugged. "I left early though…"

"Oh where'd you go afterward?" he asked again in that fake-casual tone.

"Jessica and some people wanted to go to some party, but I didn't feel like going so I dropped by the diner."

"Oh who was at the diner?"

"Just Bella," I rolled my eyes at him. It was like he and Esme traded places. I hadn't expected an interrogation from him.

"Just Bella… Swan?"

"She's the only Bella I know," I nodded mocking his tone.

"Hmmm… shoot, no eggs," he groaned.

"I'll go get some," I jumped at my chance for escape.

I hurried out of the house not bothering to put on real clothes but some tennis shoes and a jacket. I didn't care. No one would see me except for the two people who actually worked in the store. The parking lot was basically empty with only a few cars, and I quickly found the eggs on the other end other store. As I turned the corner I bumped into someone. The feeling of egg yolk seeping into my shirt.

"Edward?" Shit.

"Bella," I squeaked. Shit shit shit. The mantra played over and over in my head.

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry," she apologized looking down at the crushed carton in my hands.

"It's okay." Shit shit shit.

"Here," she took the carton from me and disappeared behind me.

"Thanks," I mumbled when she reappeared with two egg cartons, handing me one.

Shit shit I know you can read minds! Shit shit shit!

"Again I'm sorry," she looked up at me with her doe eyes.

Bella? Can you hear me? I know. I figured it out.

"Edward?" she asked puzzled.

"It's okay…" I shook my head confused. Raise your hand if you can hear me Bella.

"So has Emmett been acting weird this morning?" she asked innocently as if she… didn't hear me.

Blink twice if you can hear me... No blinking. "What? No I haven't even see him yet…"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I nodded.

"Alright… Well I really have to get going, and I'm really sorry about your shirt… I'll see you on Monday?"

"Yeah, bye Bella." I was in a complete daze as I said my goodbye and paid for the eggs.

I sat at the kitchen table tired and confused as Dad made Esme breakfast. I was so sure that she was a mind reader. It had made sense. Everything added up and equaled Bella Swan was a mind reader. I pinched the bridge of my nose closing my eyes and wracked my brain for some kind of answer. All I could think about was when I was dancing with Bella and how close she was to me like this morning when I bumped into her.

"I can't read your mind…"

"You're kind of an exception…"

Her voice echoed in my head, and it clicked. Maybe… Maybe Bella couldn't read my mind. I remembered her telling me… her eyes focused and lips clamped. She hadn't been lying. She couldn't hear me! That's why she still wanted me to be her friend.

"What's all over your shirt?" Emmett asked grumbling and stumbling into the kitchen.

"Just shit," I smiled.

AN: It was EPOV if you didn't catch that. You're welcome. This was the surprise I was talking about. Maybe more to come in the future? I don't know. It was definitely fun to write. but the ending didn't really turn out like I wanted though it doesn't matter. this is just an outtake, but it does actually occur in the story plot.

And no they're not sharing/experiencing dreams together. It wasn't the same dream Bella had. It just sort of mimicked it .... plus I already wrote that story. ;)

Do people refer soda as "pop" anymore? Like in the North (US)? I feel like people do… Where I live, we basically call everything coke… I almost had Edward say "pop." I think it's amusing…

*Oh Mountain Lion is a real drink. You can buy it from any Food Lion. It's there generic store brand of Mountain Dew. And it makes me laugh. Edward Cullen would definitely drink it.

Sorry I said shit 28 times. I don't know what's wrong with me. :/ yikes.

THANKS FOR READING!!