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: this is not the next chapter… this is an outtake. EPOV EPOV EPOV EPOV

Edward's Mistake
Outtake

I flung through the large pile of clothes on my bed unsure of what I should wear. I'd turn in to such a girl since I met Bella. I never cared about what I wore before - though Penbrook had mandatory uniforms. If Forks had uniforms I'm sure I would still be doing the same thing. It honestly didn't matter what I wore really. I was just nervous... It was strange actually. Even though I was ridiculously nervous, I'd never been so confident around a girl. Well I'd never been in love before either. It was true. I loved Bella Swan.

The feeling in my chest whenever I thought about her grew tenfold when I was with her. I was happy when she was happy, and I hated it when she cried. It was worst when I couldn't do anything to help her...

But I was helping her this morning. She needed to talk about something, and I was going to listen. I wondered if it was her dad's love life that was bothering her, and I prayed it was because I would have that in the bag. I'd been in the same situation ten years ago when Dad started dating. The only woman I'd ever met was Esme, but I knew there were others... But I had the perfect speech planned. I knew exactly what to say, and I knew my advice was great. I wouldn't be a total idiot in front of her for once.

I started to panic when I got to her house, and I felt like I was unraveling. Shit! I should have brought breakfast or something. Bella was not a morning person - at all. Shit, I hope she was awake this early. Shit I shouldn't have come this morning. I should have waited until we were at school or until she came to me. But it was already too late, what if she saw my car or if Rose did and told her about it later. Would she think I was a freak for being here or stalking her. Too late. I just had to knock on the door and hope for the best.

When she opened it, I didn't expect for her to be fully awake. She looked so pretty in her pajamas. No one was supposed to look that good, but Bella did.

"Hey – Edward! What - what are you doing here?"

"It's tomorrow… sorry, I couldn't wait," I smiled awkwardly. "Should I leave? Do you want to do this later?"

"No we uh, we can talk now, I guess…" she moved back to let me in, and I passed her into her living room.

"So is this…" I paused hearing the familiar music. The CD? She had been playing it? I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face as she blushed turning it off. Maybe she did like me.

"You were saying?" she cleared her throat, sitting down next to me.

"This thing that you need to talk about, is it about your dad?" I asked hopeful.

"My dad? What about him?" she knitted her eyes at me. I guess it wasn't…

"Okay, I guess it's not. I just overheard Rosalie talking to Emmett about your dad… and his secret relationship to some woman named Sue," I grimaced. Was I overstepping our boundaries? "I'd thought that was what was stressing you out."

"Well it's not my dad. It's about us…"

"Us?" I felt my face fall. I hadn't expected her to be worrying about us.

"Yeah… I just wanted to make sure that our friendship – where it's at? – is what you wanted," she started mumbling.

"Bella, there's nothing more than I want than to be your friend. You're my best friend," I interrupted her, trying to be reassuring.

"Okay. Good, just making sure…" she smiled. But it wasn't a real smile… something had just happened, and I had no idea what it was.

"That's what you've been worrying about?" I asked unsure.

"Yeah, it was stupid."

"No it wasn't…" I didn't think that our friendship was stupid.

"Well that's settled, I still have to get ready for school so…" she trailed off.

"Oh, I'll go. See you later," I smiled heading for the front door. I still had a lot of work to do. I had been so nervous about telling her about my feelings. She had said that she didn't date, but my goal was to merge our friendship into a relationship without her even realizing it. But I was having a tough time because she kept rethinking our friendship - like I didn't want to be her friend. I wanted to be her best friend and more. I wanted to be her everything.

"See ya," she waved. At least she hadn't said "good-bye". That's when I knew we were in big trouble…

Later at school, when we were called into assembly, I picked a nice spot on the back of the bleachers where we could whisper without getting caught. I wasn't sure how Forks High did assemblies, but I was guessing they were pretty similar to the ones we had at Penbrook. Boring and pointless.

"Hey Ed, please tell me you got something to eat on you," Emmett raced up the bleachers with an eager look on his face. Jasper trailed behind him.

"No, but Bella might have a granola bar," I told him regretting right away. Bella usually saved those for gym for when she hadn't eaten enough at lunch. Sometimes she would share it with me…

"Thanks!" They hurried away, and I wondered where Bella was. She should have been here first. Her classroom was way closer to the gym than mine.

"Hey," Rose appeared next to me as I glanced around the gym. I nodded at her in response. "Who you looking for?"

"It wouldn't be Lauren Mallory, would it?" Alice popped up in front of me.

"What? No!" I looked down at her like she was insane. They started cackling and I rolled my eyes. "Ha ha…"

"Someone's in lurve," Rosalie giggled and I felt my face burn.

"Awww, he his! Look Rose, he's blushing," Alice whispered loudly.

"Okay thanks," I grinned. I couldn't help it because I was… and I liked this feeling. Jasper pulled Alice away, and I watched them as their hushed conversation turned serious.

"You really need to tell her or ask her out or something because you'll lose your chance if you don't," Rose shook her head. I pulled away from the pair and looked at her.

"You really think I have a chance?"

"More than a chance," she reassured me.

"Thanks," I smiled trying to show her how grateful I was for her support.

"Edward?" Alice slid in next to me.

"Yeah?" I asked shivering a little. She'd used her creepy voice that made me feel like I was in big trouble.

"Do you realize that you have just screwed the pooch with Bella?"

"What do you mean?" I started to get worried.

"You went to her house this morning?"

"Yeah, to talk about something that's been bothering her..."

"And you let her talk about? She got it all out of her system?" she asked.

"Yeah, she was worried about us. She was wondering where our friendship's at and -"

"She asked if you liked where you're relationship is?" she quirked an eyebrow at me.

"Yeah..."

"What did she exactly mean by that?" she asked and my mind went into overdrive rethinking over everything. What did she mean?

"I uh I - I don't know. I cut her off. I told her I wanted to be her friend more than anything... Wait what did she mean? What else could that have meant?" I was panicking.

"She probably meant taking your relationship to the next level - romantically?" she suggested.

"What? That's what that meant?"

"Yep."

"Are you kidding me? Why didn't she just tell me or ask me out right?"

"She was trying to do that, but someone wouldn't let her speak..."

"Shit! What do I do? How do I fix it?"

"Talk to her in layman's terms. Don't leave until she understands what you mean. Kiss her – make sure you kiss her."

"So - so she does like me? Like that?" I could feel a swelling in my chest and I felt a grin appearing on my face.

"Ugh you're hopeless. I hope for Bella's sake you grow some brain cells. Bella likes smart boys."

I was ridiculously happy as the speakers droned on. I couldn't hear what they were saying because all I could hear was Bella likes you. Bella liked me! When we were finally released, the nerves sunk back in and I could hardly breathe I was so nervous. What if Alice had made all that up to get back at me for all those pranks Em and I pulled on her? What if I was going to make a fool of myself in front of Bella?

I followed everyone else out into the hallway as our group found Emmett and Bella. I stayed silent watching her closely. She looked really out of it and was distant and I was really scared now. Had I just ruined everything?

My goal of secretly turning our friendship into a real relationship was back firing on me. I'd thought she was rethinking us, but actually she'd wanted to be more. But I was overreacting… This was a very good thing. This was going to be the best of my life because Bella Swan liked me back.

"Emmett!" Bella gawked at him after we all had just gotten settled at our lunch table.

"What?" he looked up. "Huh?"

"Ew... stop it!" she yelled at him. I watched them unsure of what she had seen.

"What?" Rose looked confused.

"Emmett- ew - no," she stammered standing up from her seat. "Nothing…" She shook her head not looking at anyone, and then I understood what was happening. And I couldn't help but laugh because Emmett was finally getting what he deserved – humiliation - for making fun of me so much.

"What? What happened?" Alice looked around at everyone. "I missed it."

"It's an inside joke," I told her. "Get it? Inside joke," I laughed at Emmett.

"Yeah well I'll come back after I wash out my brain," she dropped her tray and hurried away.

"What? I don't get it," Alice whined.

"She probably saw something that she didn't want to see," I suggested. I could only imagine what she saw in Emmett's head. Thankfully, she couldn't see into my head because then she would call me a pervert and probably beat me.

"Huh?"

"He means…" Jasper started, but finished whispering in her ear. I laughed watching her face change from confused to disgusted.

"Emmett!" she scolded.

"Jesus," he muttered getting up from the table. "I'll be back…"

"So what do you guys think about the movie? Sound good?" Rosalie changed the subject.

"Sure, we're in," Jasper nodded throwing his arm around Alice's chair.

"So you think you'll come?" she looked at me. "Hmmm? Holding hands with Bella in a dark room watching a scary movie?"

"Oh, I don't know. I don't think Bella likes scary movies much. She actually laughed when a zombie ate someone," I thought it over.

"Finished already?" Jasper snickered when Emmett sat back down.

"I wasn't doing that!" he snapped. "Jesus…"

"Did you see Bella?" I asked him. She should have been back by now unless she went somewhere else or she left school.

"Nah, she usually uses the girls' restroom. That was a one time thing," he shook his head.

"Huh…" I started to worry.

"Hey where're you going?" Alice asked as I stood up abruptly.

"I'll be back," I told them.

Something didn't feel right, and anything was possible with Bella. I figured that if Bella left, than she would have signed out with Mrs. Cope. There was a small crowd in the front office, and I had to sneak around them to get to the front desk. Mrs. Cope was blowing her nose, and she looked like she had been crying.

"Mrs. Cope," I tried to gain her attention. "Mrs. Cope, sorry to bother you but I was just wondering if Bella-"

"Oh dear!" she looked up at me. "Oh poor girl, she just left. They took her to the hospital in Port Angeles-"

"Wait - why? Is she okay?" I panicked. What could have happened to her on the way to the bathroom? Why didn't we see an ambulance or a commotion or shit?

"Her father has been injured on duty. They didn't tell us anything else, but they - Mr. Cullen?" she called after me as I hurried off toward the school parking lot. Why hadn't she come and gotten one of us? She shouldn't be alone at a time like this.

I was halfway to Port Angeles when I realized I had no idea where the hospital was. I could have just drive around looking for signs, but I didn't want to waste any time. I reached for my phone, not caring if I was going to get in trouble for skipping school.

"Hello? Edward?" Esme picked up on the second ring.

"Hey… I was wondering if I could I ask you a favor?"

"Yeah sure."

"Can you look up directions for the hospital in Port Angeles?"

"Why? Where are you? Why aren't you in school?"

"Bella's dad has been hurt, and they came and got her out of school. But I wanted to be there for-"

"Say no more," she assured me, before spouting off directions. "Just let me know what's going on when you get there okay?"

"Yeah, thanks Esme…"

It wasn't hard to find the hospital, but inside was a different story. There was a long line at the nurses' desk, and I had no idea if all hospitals were structured the same or not. I had no clue where to go, and I couldn't call Bella because she didn't have a cell phone. I ended up following a couple of Forks police officers near the elevators, and I found her. She was barely standing as she cried into another officer's arms, who looked like he could barely stand himself.

"I've got her," I told him as I hugged her. I hated seeing her cry... I just held her for a while as she kept crying and there was no place for anyone to sit.

Eventually Jacob showed up with his Dad and another woman who I remembered from the hospital, and someone led us down to another floor where they would bring down her father. I tried my best to make Bella comfortable in my lap. She'd fallen asleep upstairs, and I didn't want to just thrown her down in a chair.

"Have you told her yet?" Jacob's father looked from me to Bella.

"Told her what?" I asked surprised, clearing my throat.

"Huh, guess not," he chuckled.

"Hey Dad," Jacob entered the small waiting room. "I think we need to take Sue to the cafeteria or somewhere for a distraction. She's getting a little… scary."

"Alright I'm coming," he nodded, and Jacob turned around down the hall. "Tell her soon kid."

I nodded silently as he rolled himself out of the room, oddly knowing what exactly he was talking about. I tighten my hold on Bella and kissed her forehead.

"I'm in love with you, Bella Swan…"

AN: so this was an EPOV outtake, and I said next chapter will be the exciting chapter and it will be. I promise. It will happen.

But hey you guys weren't even supposed to get this for another week or so, but I typed it up before I left on vacation. Which I'm back home now… sadly. I did however love my trip and you should definitely visit Islands of Adventure for the harry potter section if ever get the chance. It was surreal… and butterbeer smells like butterscotch but tastes like cream soda. : )

THANKS FOR READING!