Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or the universe S Meyer created. There may (or may not) be strong language or subjects in this chapter...

AN: I just want to say thank you to all of you. I've been getting really nice reviews for all of my stories, so I just wanted to say thanks. It does mean a lot to me. :)

Trick or Treat or Revelation?
Chapter 13

"So what are you doing for Halloween?" Edward asked me as he sat down at the lunch table.

"Movie marathon," I nodded. "Well I think. That's what we usually do, but I don't know what they'll be doing though." I waved to the two couples in front of us.

"Do you want to go trick-or-treating with me?"

"Oh I'm not allowed," I told him.

"Your dad won't let you?"

"Come on, Forks has to be one of America's least dangerous towns," Emmett gawked. "If not the smallest."

"Oh that's not why," Rose shook her head. "I'm not allowed either, but not for what you're thinking."

"Why then?"

"Hey Edward, which should I dress up as, sexy pirate or sexy prisoner?" Jessica pulled on his elbow showing him a catalog. "The party is tomorrow night, and I still don't have a costume!"

"Um won't you get cold wearing one of those?" he asked plainly. I turned away hiding my smile. She would be freezing wearing something like that – short and skimpy.

"Not if I'm going to be dancing all night," she nudged his shoulder playfully.

"I don't know," he told her as she turned away asking Lauren.

"When we were twelve, Lauren showed up at my house as a Playboy Bunny. Dad nearly had a heart attack," I spoke softly.

"Charlie tried to tell us that he thought it was unsafe and that he needed us to stay home and hand out candy," Rose laughed.

"Yeah, but Dad let me go anyway with Jaz because I worked so hard on my costume."

"That was the only year you guys went trick-or-treating," Rose laughed. "He wasn't going to risk the chance of you going in something risqué."

"What'd you go as?" Edward asked looking amused.

"I was Pippi Longstocking."

"I was a sexy pirate," Jaz snickered.

"But you can come over to my house if you want," I told Edward. "If you don't have any other plans…"

"Sounds good to me," he smiled before being pulled away again by Jessica.

Everyone else was talking about scary movies they've seen and I tuned out not having much to add. Jaws was probably one of the only scary movies that I liked… That anxious-nervous feeling seeped back into me as I rested my head in my hands. Was inviting Edward over to my house even a good idea? Because I found that the more I hung around Edward, the more I liked him… and I didn't want to stop.

It had been three weeks since my secret revelation, and I think it'd gotten worse. Now that it was conscious, it felt like it was written all over my face for everyone to see. I shouldn't like Edward. Not like that. Edward was just my friend, and I was just his friend. He wouldn't – couldn't – shouldn't ever like me in that way. He deserved better than me. I would only drag him down. Plus he would be leaving Forks after next year to go to college, and I've never thought about leaving Forks. Even if I did try or tell or whatever about my feelings, there was the fat chance that he would reject me, ruining our friendship.

In the end, any attempt would be pointless.

After school, everyone came over to my house like usual, and I was nervous because Alice wanted to borrow something from my closet… I didn't know what she was thinking. Obviously - because she's a girl, but Alice was never afraid to show disdain for my lack of style or enthusiasm for fashion.

"I don't know what you could want Alice," I pulled open my closet door.

"Actually I just wanted to talk because we haven't really hung out in a while, you know just the two of us…" she said plopping down on my bed.

"Oh, what did you want to talk about?" I was surprised and happy at the same time. Alice wasn't going to destroy my closet.

"Edward."

"Oh …" I felt my face fall immediately as I sat down next to her.

"Why didn't you tell me you went on a date?" she exploded with excitement as she bobbed up and down.

"Because we never went on one. What are you talking about?"

"Please, you guys have been flirting for forever."

"Flirting?" I blinked. It sounded so foreign. Flirting? I don't think I was programmed with that kind of stuff.

"You know, smiling, laughing, and all the touching…" she smiled brightly.

"Oh Alice, we're not – we aren't – we can't," I tried telling her.

"Why am I always the last one to know everything?" she pouted with a grin plastered on her face.

Oh shit. I never told Alice. I completely forgot that she didn't know about everything. She had no idea about the curse and why I could never be with Edward. Why he could never like me. How would she react? Would I lose her as a friend? I only just got her… I could feel the tears starting to form and my throat starting close. The air was so thick and I needed to get out.

"Bella what's wrong?" Alice looked at me worried. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I popped up from my bed heading for the stairs. No I wasn't okay. Nothing seemed to be okay.

"I get first dibs!"

"I play winner."

"It's my turn!"

"Someone needs to tell Alice," I breathed heavily reaching the living room. Everyone was gathered around the TV and had gone silent, staring at me.

"Tell me what?" Alice asked as I walked out the back door, pulling the leather strap of the purse over my head.

"Hey where are you going?" Edward's called behind me. I stopped reluctantly not turning to face him.

"Have you ever just needed to have a good cry? To just let everything out?" I asked waiting for his response. "Of course you don't," I shook my head

"No no, I understand. Do you want me to come with you?" he sounded right behind me. When I turned around to face him, I found him standing way too close.

"No, maybe another time…"

"Okay, if you don't feel like walking back you can just go to my house. I'll give you a ride home." Then he hugged me – really hugged me. With a squeeze and everything. I could feel his muscled arms and chest, and he smelled woodsy cinnamon and so good.

"Alright," I choked.

I didn't even make it halfway to the meadow. I sat down on a fallen log and just cried my heart out. Why did the gods do this to me? Why couldn't I just be normal?

I wasn't sure how long I was there until I heard him, but I definitely heard him before I saw him.

Got to be the strangest girl ever. Who goes out into the middle of the woods to cry?

I stifled my sobs waiting for Jacob to appear. He stomped along the regular path and would have passed by me if he hadn't glanced out of the corner of his eye.

"Hey," he stopped.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked, my voice thick and groggy.

"What are you doing out here?" he snorted.

"Knitting."

"Oh make me something please," he grinned. "But not those mitten things. I don't like my fingers feeling trapped," he shook his head, wiggling his fingers and I cracked a smile.

"Life sucks."

"Yeah tell me about it," he scoffed rolling his eyes.

"I like him. A lot." It felt strange to say it out loud, but I felt better. Lighter.

"We're talking about the beautiful boy right?" he asked lightly.

"Yeah, the beautiful boy," I had to laugh. Sometimes it was eerie that we thought so much alike. Maybe it was because I grew up with him or maybe Edward just had the same effect on everyone.

"Then what's the problem?"

"Everything is the problem. We wouldn't work out even if he did like me like that."

"You're just scared."

"No, I'm not," I quickly shook my head. Yes I was.

"Bella, if we're talking about the same guy, trust me he likes you."

"Yeah right," I rolled my eyes.

"Then why was he sitting on your back porch looking heartbroken."

"He's just worried. He's a good friend."

"Why won't you trust me on this one thing?"

"Why won't you listen to me about Paul?"

"Because he's not-"

"He is, and he likes you," I cut him off. "Your gaydar is just broken or something."

"You don't even have gaydar," he laughed. "This is ridiculous… you know if my gaydar was broken, then I hope that beautiful boy and Paul are both gay."

"His name is Edward, and he's not gay," I told him feeling a little irked. Beautiful boy was a term of endearment when I said it, but it sounded too weird coming from Jake.

"Okay then, what's the difference between Paul and Edward? What evidence do you have that Paul is gay?"

"He's never had a girlfriend, he can't stop staring at you, and he kind of hates me because he thinks you like me and we have a thing," I listed off.

"Just because he's never had a girlfriend doesn't make him gay. He's just shy; he doesn't hate you," he argued.

"This is dumb. I'm just going to tell Paul myself."

"I'll kill you if you do, and then I'll tell Edward that you loooove him," he mocked me.

"Fine I will tell Edward about my feelings right after you tell Paul."

"Alright," he nodded.

"No, you have to tell Paul about your feelings for him," I corrected myself.

"Bellaaaaa…"

"Honestly Jacob, you should tell the other guys too… They're your friends – your brothers. They deserve the truth. I know they'll care about you forever no matter what happens. Maybe if you tell all of them, then Paul will step up and admit his feelings for you…"

"Okay," he sighed. "I'll work on it."

"Call me right after you do it too," I grinned.

"Why?" he eyed me skeptically.

"Because I can't wait to tell you I told you so."

It wasn't until when we got back to the house that I remembered Alice. Had they told her everything? Did they explain everything right? Did she hate me now? But the house was deserted. Everyone had left leaving no trace that they had even been here. I had expected – well I didn't really know what I expected but not an empty house.

Jacob stayed until Dad got home who insisted that he stay for dinner, but Jacob lied about homework and a list of chores. Then Dad and I actually went out for dinner to the diner where I couldn't take my eyes off of the jukebox remembering when Edward danced with me. Was dancing flirting? Or did Edward just like dancing? Why can't life be simple?

The next morning I woke up late and Jasper and Rose had already left for school. I'd always been a heavy sleeper, but my body just knew that I didn't want to go to school. I would have to face everyone sooner or later. Jaz and Rose were familiar with my crying days, but not Edward and Emmett. And Alice? I trusted her enough not to tell anyone, but I wasn't sure how she would react to me now.

I didn't see her until lunchtime outside the cafeteria. She was standing off to the side watching the doors as if she was waiting for something. I didn't know if I should confront her or pretend that I hadn't seen her and just walk into the lunch room or maybe I could have just avoided the entire thing by hiding out in the restrooms. Before I could make a decision, Alice flicked her eyes in my direction and started towards me. I guess she was confronting me…

"Hey, can we talk?" she asked not looking at me. She kept looking around at the people walking passed us.

"Sure…" I nodded as she led me outside to the student courtyard. It was raining heavily, but Alice had brought a large umbrella for us to share.

"I want you to tell me. I want to hear you say it." She finally looked at me.

"I can read minds…" I explained. I gave her every little detail I could think of whether she wanted to know or not. I even told her about Edward. That I couldn't read him – not that I liked him. I wasn't ready to admit that to our little circle of friends, especially when it included Edward.

"That's what they told me…" she mumbled, clutching onto the umbrella. "I'm sorry. I didn't believe them at first, and I got mad because I thought it was a joke. You wouldn't believe how deep Emmett and Edward can get into their pranks. And then I thought it was a stupid cover up story hiding something bad like that you were rape or molested, and then I found out that actually happened to Rosalie… It was a long night." She shook her head and gave me an awkward smile.

"Thank you Alice," I smiled feeling oddly grateful.

"What?"

"You are the first person to have a normal response. A normal person wouldn't have believed me or anyone else right away."

"How did everyone else react?"

"Rose was skeptical until I started repeating what Jasper was thinking. I scared him at first but they accepted it easily enough. Then Emmett and Edward were little geniuses and found out on their own," I scoffed. That still bothered me.

"So I'm the last one to know?"

"Yeah, but only a handful of people know including you guys, and I don't plan on telling anyone else ever again. You shouldn't feel bad. I mean, I haven't even told Jake, and he's like my brother," I tried reassuring her.

"Nah, I feel honored kind of," she giggled. "I promise I won't tell anyone. I don't think anyone would believe me anyways. My parents would probably put me in some asylum; they would love the excuse."

"Okay good, let's go. I'm starving."

"Wait… do guys really compare our breasts to fruit?"

With the exception of a few more questions like the boob-fruit one, Alice seemed to be her normal self and didn't treat me any different. Though I suppose she had always treated me like a semi-pariah which wasn't a bad thing. I liked my personal space and I was not a very open person.

"So Edward, are you going to the party tonight in Port Angeles? We're pretty tight with Irina who's throwing the party and she always saves us the best liquor," Lauren leaned over Jessica, leering at Edward. It was kind of disgusting, and from the kick I received from Rose, it was written all over my face. I glared at her as she smirked at me.

"Um sorry no, I've got plans," he smiled nervously at her. His arm brushed up against mine as he subtly shifted away from her, and the scowl on my face disappeared.

"Hey Emmett," Sara M. appeared next to me, giving him a flirty smile. She was a one of the most popular seniors and her beauty could almost rival Rosalie's. "Me and Sara B. wanted to know if you wanted to go to Club Gross with us. Don't worry, we can get you in. We know a guy…"

I looked over at Rose who was glaring at her tray and stabbing her slice of pizza with her fork. It had been her idea to keep her and Emmett's relationship a secret, and Emmett was willing because he loved her even though it killed him. He wanted everyone to know that Rosalie Hale was off the market and that he was her guy. But I wasn't supposed to know that. The love part because he hasn't actually told her yet.

"Sorry no thanks, I already have a date," he nodded as his eyes darted to Rose then to me. I hate this.

"Oh… with who?" Sara M. pouted disappointed.

"With me – his girlfriend," Rose growled at her.

"Oh I didn't know," she stepped back, her cheeks red.

"Stand up," Rose snapped at Emmett as she stood from her seat. He looked at her with wide eyes listening to her. She leaned toward him, planted both of her palms on his cheeks, and pulled his lips to hers.

"Oh. My. God." Lauren gasped as the entire room started in whispers.

"Uh um," Rose cleared her throat sitting back down. Emmett looked stunned blinking down at us. "Sit down," she slapped his leg and he smiled following her order.

"I love you," he said looking at her with a huge grin plastered on his face. She inhaled sharply and gave him a questioning look, but he continued to grin at her and a small smile formed on her face.

Everything was different after school. No one came over to my house, and they all had disappeared. I knew Jasper and Alice were planning on going to a party, but I didn't know about the others. We'd never made plans, but I just assumed they would come over…

I was bored and lonely and I hated that I had become too dependent on them. I used to be able to spend a night alone, and it not affect me at all. Now I hated being alone for two minutes. I needed to start distancing myself away from everyone so that eventually when they leave Forks, it won't hurt so much. Especially Edward. I needed to start that today so I wouldn't be -

The knocking on the back door interrupted my thoughts. I tiptoed to the window unsure who it was because I couldn't hear anything. I didn't know any women who'd show up at my backdoor randomly. Well maybe possibly Sue… I saw his beautifully messy hair first, and ideas about dissociating from Edward were forgotten.

"Edward?" I opened the door and he smiled sheepishly at me.

"Sorry I would have been here sooner, but I sorta got lost. I took the trail from the meadow trying to do it from memory…"

"Edward what if you had gotten lost?" I scolded him.

"I just told you I did, but I got here. I'm okay," he rolled his eyes.

"What am I going to do with you?" I sighed chewing on my lip. Even Annoyed Edward was attractive.

"Watch scary movies at my house," he smirked. "Come on, hurry up."

He didn't have to tell me twice. I left the large bowl of candy out on the front porch and a quick note for Dad if he came home. I led Edward to his house through the back trail and I couldn't help but notice how he casually grabbed my hand. I wondered if he knew that I rarely heard anyone else out here.

We only watched one movie that was for sure, going to give me nightmares. A man that could enter your dreams and terrorize you? I think Edward could tell I was freaked out because he suggested that we go to his room. I think my cheeks were actually caught on fire when Carlisle came out of his study and told Edward to leave the door open. We ended up laying on the floor sleepily and listening to music, and Edward would tell me about the different songs and why he liked them.

"Tell me something that I don't know," Edward mumbled.

"Elephants are the only animal with four knees, and they can't even jump."

"Really? Wait - no tell me something about you," he kicked me.

"I like bubble baths. I think it's the girliest thing about me."

"Hmm," he shifted a little.

"What about you?"

"No, I haven't taken one since I was ten, I think..."

"I meant-"

"I know what you meant," he turned his head, grinning at me. "Um, I started playing the piano when I was six because I knew my mother played. I think I wanted to be like her or have a piece of her or um something," he cleared his throat.

"Wow," I whispered. "You were deep for a six year old." I tried keeping a straight face as he sent me a glare.

"Thanks,' he rolled his eyes. "I just don't know that much about her. Me and my dad are very close, but we just don't… I'm afraid to bring her up."

"Sorry," I felt really bad for mocking him. "Your mom was really pretty, and you have the same nose. That's kind of strange, and both of you do that tapping thing," I said motioning with my finger.

"What?" His eyes widened at me, and I realized that I needed to explain.

"Your dad thinks her about every time he looks at you. I can't control it, but I get glimpses of her. I mean he's obviously, deeply in love with Esme, but he still loves your mom and-"

"Thank you," Edward cut me off reaching for my hand. He grasped it with both of his and his thumbs started to move softly against my skin. We stayed silent, and I closed my eyes reveling in the silence and comfort.

"Oh I can't believe I forgot," I sat up quickly remembering the hazelnuts.

"What?"

"And it's late," I panicked shoving my shoes on and grabbing my jacket.

"Bella! Edward grabbed me by the shoulders, forcing me to stop. "Calm down. What's wrong?"

"I have to make a batch of cookies for my Dad to take to work in the morning. I completely forgot about it."

"Okay we'll just go downstairs and make some. I'm sure Esme's got everything stocked up."

"But I have to use these hazelnuts that-"

"Okay, then we'll just go to the store."

"But it's closed. It's passed nine. I have to drive all the way to Port Angeles."

"Okay, I'll drive you."

"You don't have to –"

"I know, but I want to."

"Okay," I nodded dumbly.

I was quiet for most of the way as Edward drove us in his car, and he mumbled along to the words of certain songs which I found very soothing. I was almost asleep when he pulled into the parking lot of a Thriftway.

"Hey, you still awake? Do you just want me to run in and get them? What kind do I need to get?" he asked lowly as I shifted in the warm seat.

"No no, I'm coming in," I yawned unbuckling my seatbelt and opening the door.

"So who are these cookies for? Must be someone pretty important," Edward mused throwing an arm around my shoulders. I was very aware of my back and shoulder muscles, and I suddenly became very focused on trying not to move them, wondering if he could feel them under our layers of clothing. "Bella?"

"Oh um, they're for Mac who works at the station. His name is actually Caius MacArthur, but everyone calls him Mac."

"I can't imagine why," he laughed.

"Yeah well, he's really old and very well respected, and he's been really nice to my dad over the years."

"Hmm, exactly how many people are on this cookie list of yours?"

"I'm not sure. Not that many," I shrugged as the names and faces started to flip through my head. We found the hazelnuts easily and we headed back to front of the store to checkout.

"I bet that's half of Forks. You're just too nice Bella Swan."

"No I'm not. I'm rude and pretentious remember? I ignore people because I'm too good for them," I smirked passed him, glancing down some of the aisles behind him.

"You know I don't think that. I was a dick to you back then, and I still feel extremely guilty for that." His face fell and he stopped to look at me.

"Edward it's okay. I didn't mean to make you feel bad, and you shouldn't because it didn't faze me much," I lied. "Everyone is usually like that towards me."

"I don't want to be everyone," he mumbled as we continued walking. My eyes caught someone familiar in the pharmacy aisle, and I stopped when I realized who it was.

"Edward could you ring this up for me and I'll meet you in the car?" I asked handing him the bag of hazelnuts and some money.

"What? But what are you-"

"Please trust me. I promise to explain when I get back. I just need to do something."

"Alright," he nodded. "I trust you." He turned back toward the checkout lanes and I turned around heading back to the pharmacy aisle. When I hurried around the corner, the small figure jumped away from the shelf and turned around to look at the condoms.

"Jess?" I walked up to her slowly as she grabbed a box and shifted her weight. She was wearing a rain jacket over a very small and tight police officer costume.

"Bella… wh-what are you doing here?" Jessica stuttered not looking at me. I looked at what she had been really staring at and picked up a couple of different boxes.

"Are you sure?" I questioned softly as she looked up at me. She looked lost, and her eyes were teary.

"I don't know," her voice cracked. "Please don't tell anyone Bella."

"It's okay. I won't," I promised looking back at the pregnancy tests.

"I'm a week late, and I've been a couple of days late before but… but I think I might," she cried.

"Come on." I led her nervously to the back of the store where the restrooms were and tore open three different boxes examining the sticks.

"You don't-"

"It's okay. Here." I gave her the sticks and she reluctantly turned into one of the stalls.

I tried to distract myself by washing my hands and my face drying them slowly. I never thought I would be in this situation. Maybe I will one day with Rosalie, and me personally, it would never happen. Edward popped into my head, and I resisted a groan. This was going to be a very uncomfortable ride back home.

"How long do we have to wait for it to…?" Jessica appeared next to me at the sink and she washed her hands.

"Three minutes for these two, but it says six for this one," I handed her one of the boxes. She stared at it silently for a moment and I shuffled my feet. The floor was really sticky.

"Why are you doing this?" she murmured. That was a very good question…

"Because you need someone who's not going to judge you right now. You just need someone to hold your hand and tell you everything's going to be okay," I told her, and we both fell silent.

"I'm sorry I haven't been very nice too you… and I'm totally sorry about Lauren. I've told her to just leave you alone," she shook her head. "She's not really like that when we're alone. It's just Mean Girls was her favorite movie…"

"Oh it's okay. Don't worry about it," I blinked at her a little confused. I would have to google that later.

"I think it's time," she looked down at her cell phone, not moving. "What if I am pregnant? What am I going to do? I'm only sixteen. I can't raise a baby. My parents are going to kill me. My life will be over."

"What if you're not?" I tried being optimistic.

"Okay. I can do this," she told herself, nodding her head and turning to the bathroom stall where she'd left the tests.

"Do you… do you want me to…?" I asked when she didn't keep moving.

"I can do this," she repeated. "I can do this." I watched her as she disappeared into the stall, and then I picked up the boxes trying to decipher which signs meant positive and negative. "Blank… one line… not pregnant. What does one line mean?"

"Um… negative. It's negative!" I shouted back at her. "You're not pregnant."

"Thank you god," she smiled coming out of the stall with the pregnancy test tossing them into the trash can. "I'm so relieved right now. I guess it's just stress or something right?"

"Yeah I guess," I agreed not bringing up the possibility of false negatives.

"And if I still don't get my period in a few days then I'll just go to the doctor, but I'm probably not pregnant," she continued smiling as she washed her face. Her eyes were blotchy and red, but she looked happy. "And thanks Bella. I would still be standing out there clueless if it hadn't been for you."

"You're welcome…. Are you still going to tell…?" I trailed off not wanting to say his name out loud. I didn't even want to think his name, but I would end up telling Edward anyway. "Just so that he knows?"

"Oh god no. Are you kidding me? I've already lost my chance with Edward. I'm not going to lose Mike but telling him that I almost had his baby," she scoffed.

"Wait what? Mike? I thought… you and Edward?" I stuttered as she smiled sheepishly at me.

"Oh I wanted to, believe me. But he totally friend zone-ed me. He told me that he really liked someone else, and that he just wanted to be my friend. Then I kinda kept flirting with him to get Mike jealous," she explained.

"Oh…" I was speechless and thoughtless. My head was spinning too fast for me to really comprehend anything else.

"Come on. I have to pay for these, and get back to a party. There's no way I'm letting this go to waste."

I walked out to the parking lot with Jessica and she waved me a goodbye as I headed for Edward's car. I couldn't even look at him when I got into the car, and I finally had to when he wasn't starting the ignition. He was just sitting there watching me.

"So… you gonna tell me what that was all about?" he asked tapping his finger on the steering wheel.

"I saw Jessica looking at pregnancy tests."

"Wow," he whistled.

"She's not though."

"That's good… so you sat with her as she waited for the results?"

"Yeah."

"I was so right. You are way too nice. You're not even friends with Jessica," he laughed turning the key and pulling out of the space.

"Whatever," I rolled my eyes at him. I was still dazed from all of the revelations. Edward and Jessica never… He didn't even like her like that. This whole time I thought that he – that they… Clearly everything that I had ever thought about Edward was entirely wrong. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Why are you laughing like that?" he raised an eyebrow at me.

"Because…" I breathed. "It's stupid. You're going to thinks it's funny, but I thought that… When I saw Jessica with the pregnancy tests… I assumed that you and her had… That it was yours," I giggled hysterically. I didn't understand why I was laughing so hard, but I guess I was just so relieved.

He stayed silent and I stopped laughing when I looked back at him. He didn't look happy or confused or even constipated. He looked angry.

"You're not laughing."

"No I'm not. You thought that Jessica and I had sex?"

"Well…" No, I thought you were having sex.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because Jessica obviously liked you. A lot. And she had no problem showing it. Plus she's really pretty and fun and you're… a guy…" My reasoning seemed sensible and logical to me.

"But we weren't even dating. We weren't – Wait that's what you think of me? That I'm just a tool like Mike Newton? That I'll sleep with whoever's willing?"

"That's what guys want! That's what they think about. And we don't exactly sit around talking about our sex lives, do we? Why wouldn't I think that you be any different?"

"Because I am different!" he yelled and I stayed silent. He turned up the radio loudly, and I couldn't hear anything else. I didn't know what to do. He was mad and he needed space, but we were stuck in this little car, an hour away from home. I twiddled my thumbs and fidgeted in my seat not liking the silence between us. I hated that I couldn't read him, but it was worse that he wasn't talking to me.

"I know you're different," I muttered turning down the volume. "And not just because I can't read you. You're actually kind and funny. Most of your jokes aren't vulgar, and you like your family. You're incredibly nice to me when it would be easier for you to just ignore me all together. Back when we weren't friends, I had assumed that you were just like the others and… I'm sorry."

He stayed silent, but I could see that he was glancing at me out of the corner of his eye.

"Do you want to know what happened with Jessica? Why were not friends anymore?" I asked knowing I would get some kind of response from him. He'd bugged me about this forever. He turned his head to glance at me quickly, looking back at the road.

"We were eight and she was having a big sleepover for her birthday. In the middle of the night, I woke Jessica because I heard… something, so we went to her parents' bedroom to wake them up. And… they were – I had heard her Dad thinking – we walked in on them doing it." I stared down at my lap embarrassed. "It was kind of traumatic, and it scarred both Jessica and me, and she had blamed me for it. And technically it was my fault…

"But they should NOT have been doing that with a house full of kids. I mean, who does that?"

Edward started laughing. Loudly. Heartily was the right word. I was just stunned. I'd never seen him laugh like this, and he was kind of beautiful.

"Shit, only you. Only that could happen to you," he chuckled wiping his eyes.

"I don't find it that funny Edward," I shook my head.

"I'm sorry that I overreacted, but I just want you… to understand that I'm not like that."

"I know that now," I nodded before he busted into another round of laughter.

AN: Sorry sorry sorry sorry. I know I'm late with the chapter. I'm sure everyone has one of those horror stories about their work being deleted and all that jazz. I'm sure ya'll be happy to know that I kicked ass on all of my finals and my GPA is still awesome. I would hate having to explain to my advisor that twilight-fanfiction killed my grades…

I think this entire thing is just straight dialogue… I hope you liked any ways and we're not to far from the end. I'm not giving away a number or anything but we're close.

Also my story Passing Notes was nominated for two All Human Twilight awards - fanfiction you couldn't stop reading and best ending. Honestly they won't win – my story is one of the four stories that's not M-rated on the entire site sooo yeah no chance. So in honor of just being nominated, I will post a fluffy-fluffy oneshot for you guys on May 14th. (well it should be posted then.)

THANKS FOR READING!