Special occasion - Part One

Teeny Tiny Twilight

Edward passed out after our little 'lesson'. Through my annoyance at him from this afternoon, I could see a difference in him. I think he was actually starting to respect me. A little. It was so much easier to be around him when he wasn't constantly making moves, or being an idiot. I did think though, that the largest part of his change was owed to Mrs. X.

I smirked at Edward, sleeping on the couch. The smile slowly melted into worry. He was getting paler, his forehead covered in perspiration. I didn't like it, it made me edgy. I felt an unnatural pull towards him. I, gently so as not to wake him, placed my palm on his forehead.

Gasping, I ripped my hand away from his overheated flesh. He was burning up.
"Alice?" I called nervously, her name come out distorted in dread. I knew Alice was going in to be a doctor, hopefully she would know what to do. Or at least give me an idea of what had happened. Edward went from fine enough to flirt, to joke, and to laugh all the way to passing out, burning up on the couch while I sat here helplessly.

She skidded into the living room, sliding on the hard wood floors. "What? What's wrong?" she asked, her panicked eyes flickered uneasily around the room.

"Edward." I saw the second that I had said his name I had lost her. Her beautiful, wise, playful eyes went flat with irritation. I pressed on regardless, "I think there is seriously something wrong with him. He just passed out and then his forehead is burning…" I trailed off feeling the helplessness worsen, bearing down on me. "Is he going to die?" I whispered.

Alice snorted, "Don't be stupid Bella. He's sick, this is just how his body fights with this virus…but if you wanted to help him fight it."—she seemed to think about it for a moment before shaking her head—"Never mind, you'll never agree with it."

I jumped on her, grabbing her collar, shaking her relentlessly. That was so unfair. I knew she was playing me, it was so obvious, but I couldn't refuse the opportunity to help him. "What Alice?"

Her eyes were shrewd, "Lay on him."

I felt my hands drop from her shirt. "Pardon? What did you say?"

"He has a fever, right?" she asked slowly. I nodded, eyes narrowed. "Then help warm him up so his body doesn't have to work so hard. Get some blankets and go lay on him."

That didn't sound right for some reason I couldn't quite pin point, but this was Alice. She was smart; she knew what she was talking about. "Okay," I said slowly, "I'm only doing this because you have to be one of the smartest people I know, and I trust you." Then I smiled at her as I passed to get the blankets. I paused to squeeze her shoulder affectionately, "Thank you."

It seemed to me, that as I passed, her eyes had tightened in guilt. But when I turned around to look again she was smiling, "Go on." She laughed, waving me down the hall.

I grabbed the thickest blankets we had and hurried back to the living room, nearly tripping twice on the trailing fabric. I threw the blankets over him, and then looked hesitantly at Alice. I had a feeling that when Edward woke up, he might take our position in the wrong way.

I shrugged that last thought off. I would just explain to him why I was doing it, if he had any complaints, which I doubted he would, he could take that up with Alice. I looked apprehensively at the couch for a long minute. It would be too easy to convince myself that there wasn't enough room for me, to just lay down on the floor and put some more blankets on him. Finally I gave up, wedging myself into nonexistent space.

He made a sound in his throat, and then shifted. He had turned on his side to make more room for me, but his weight was still pulling down in the couch. I rolled back, thumping against his chest, my face inches from his. His eyes were still closed, still asleep, his lips parted and a rush of sweet air washed over my face.

Cue swoon.

Unthinkingly, I leaned in, still inhaling his sweet breath. I felt my lips brush, ever so slightly against his lips. So warm, so soft. I jerked away, feeling disgusted with myself. What was wrong with me? He was sleeping. He had offered a kiss earlier, hadn't he? I had turned him down then for the same reason I turned away from him now.

He wasn't meant for me. He belonged to a short girl with long brown hair, with wide beautiful green, maybe blue eyes and full lips. She was gorgeous, she was smart, she was caring, and she had substance. She was perfect. Shouldn't someone that perfect get Edward? Maybe not the Edward the rest of the world was common with, but this Edward. The innocent Edward that slept without the mocking pull of his lips, the sarcastic tightening of his eyes. This Edward was just as perfect as her. The nameless one.

Girls like me, girls that wished on stars for perfect men very rarely ever got them. I had Jared, who was, and always would be a friend. He didn't have something—I couldn't put my finger on it—but I knew he didn't have it. That mysterious pull I couldn't put a name to. Then there was Edward. No one changed overnight, and my guess was Edward had been a flirt, a ladies' man for far too long to drop it in a heartbeat, but you could see the changes. He had that way about him of someone who, besides the shallow flirting, was committed. That's probably why he was only limiting himself to flirting with me, and every so often Alice. We were unattainable.

Alice was in love. And I was in the know. Even now, when all I wanted to do was touch my lips to his, in just one quick kiss, had Edward woken up and offered again, I would say no. I could feel something between Edward and I, it was something special. I didn't want to throw away such potential for a caring friend because his lips are soft. That was stupid.

But tempting.

And stupid. Case closed.

I did lean my head down near his. I watched the way his lips parted slightly to let his air out, how his eyelids fluttered when he dreamed. I had to close my eyes eventually when my eyes lingered for too long on his lips. I really hoped I wasn't turning into one of those girls. The girls who turned down the men who chased them, but wanted the ones who were impossible to attain. Because right now, Edward wasn't chasing me. But I was really wanting.

I leaned my hand lightly against Edward's forehead again. Maybe I was helping, he didn't feel as hot. Or I was warming up too. It was, to my great disappointment, more likely the later. I let my hand drop.

Edward's eyebrows moved over his eyes in a way that suggested disappointment. I leaned my forehead against Edward's. The lines in his brow softened at my touch, and I wondered who he was dreaming about.

I could feel my eyes slipping closed, sleepy despite the time of day. Edward's breathing was just so relaxing, the blankets so warm. And I would just as soon admit it to him as I would dedicate myself to cloistered life.

"Bella?" Alice asked softly. Nudging my shoulder gently. "You awake?"

I turned to smile at her. Edward grunted something in his sleep, throwing one arm over my waist and pulling me into his chest possessively. Apparently Edward didn't even like to share in his sleep. Alice giggled quietly at the gesture. Then she thrust a book at me. I took it, and recognized it as the book I had rented at the library, only on the thirty fourth page. "Thought you might want something to do. I know you get antsy sitting still for too long." She grinned quickly, then pecked me on the cheek and disappeared back into the hall way.

Her concern was touching. I flipped my book open, turning around so I was more comfortable. He breathed out a sharp breath. My head snapped around to check the movement wasn't too abrupt. His eyes still closed under annoyed arches and lines in his forehead. I sighed, shaking my head, and went back to reading.

I spent the next few hours finishing my book, but it was distracting. I was so used to moving when I read. I got so stiff sitting in one position for too long, but I always worried that I would wake Edward. He needed to sleep this off. I could live with a few sore muscles tomorrow.

Finally I finished the last page, and threw the book onto the floor to pick up tomorrow morning. What a crappy ending. Lovers are supposed to end up happy together, not dead in a swamp holding each other in 'eternal love'.

I glared at the book cover. And I started to analyze, to distract myself from the compulsion to get up and wander, to run a mile, to crush some poor boy's ego in Basketball. Maybe, when Edward was better, I would play him again.

As I analyzed I eventually fell asleep.

In my dream I was at school, wearing a ridiculous dress right out of the 1800s. Nobody gave me strange looks though, and many of the other girls around me, the pretty ones, girls who should be on magazine adds, were dressed similarly.

My dream self wasn't surprised, and, in fact, I knew I was waiting for something, just as all the other girls were. Then Edward appeared, out of nowhere and on a grand white horse. He too was dressed in olden clothes, his hair pulled back neatly though strays stubbornly escaped the hold of the pomade, or whatever it was that he wore, falling into his eyes.

He steered the horse expertly towards me, so that he could grab my hand and pull me up onto the horse with him.

He pulled me in front of him, so I too could hold the reigns, so that he wasn't talking all my control away from me. He gave the horse a command and we rode away.

The dream startled me awake. It had been so real. Well, it had felt real. I could even feel the heat of Edward's body pressed against mine. I paused, I still could.

I jumped again, looking at Edward lying on the couch beside me. His eyes were opened, watching me with amusement, his arm still draped over me. "Nice dream?" he asked, grinning. Shock jolted through me, my toes curled.

"Uhh…" I looked around me for a moment checking what time it was. The sky was dark as pitch, and all the lights were turned off. I guessed it was late, "Yea, kind of. What are you doing up? Shouldn't you be dreaming?" I asked, turning around so I could see him better.

"I am dreaming." He said surprised. "I distinctly remember making a remark about waking up next to you, and you answering 'in your dreams'." He grinned and I rolled my eyes.

I otherwise ignored that, "I think I figured something out." I told him. "About us." My dream had a message, dreams like that usually did with me.

He looked wary. "What did you figure out?" he asked.

I grinned, "I've realized how very alike Mrs. X and I are." Edward looked like he was choking. I laughed at his expression, not in any hurry to put him out of his misery. I'm sure he'd just love for me to try and convince him that it was me he loved. No wonder he was scared. "I realized that you don't actually like me, Edward. Not like that, I just remind you of her, so you think you like me. We are just personifying what we want into the other because they are in close reach." I grinned proud of my analysis. What else could my dream of Edward being prince charming had meant? I was looking for all the traits I had wished for at the party.

I want to meet someone that I love more than life itself. I wish that I could be happy with them. I want to be able to look at him when I'm old and wrinkled and see the man I fell in love with and I want him to see me in all the same ways. I want…I want him to be able to make my toes curl with just a look, I want him to be fun and smart and good-looking. I want him to be romantic so I know that he loves me every day of forever.

It still sounded silly, even now. What had triggered Edward being my star man, the man I had wished for, was seeing the very love that I wanted between Edward and his Mrs. X. That was all.

Edward thought that over for a long moment, and then he grinned suddenly, "So you do like me." He smirked causing that annoyingly beautiful crooked smile to appear.

"Nu-uh." I disagreed.

"But you said 'We are just personifying what we want into the other' that means you too." He smirked, wrapping his arm securely around my waist and pulling me into his chest. "I knew it. No girl can resist my charm for long."

I glared at him, "You are missing my point Edward." I growled.

His eyes grin widened. "You didn't deny it."

I could feel my blush raging its way across my face. "You Edward Cullen, are an arrogant—"

He cut me off with his hand, his eyes far away. "Just let me enjoy my moment of victory." He murmured. I sighed, annoyed. Edward was far too annoying to be anything but the best friend.

"I don't like you. I like the…the way…I can't describe it. Doesn't matter, all that does matter is I. Do. Not. Like. You." I finally managed to get out after fighting his hand off my face.

He was thinking again, and then his eyes glowed in the darkness. "You're right." He whispered finally, "You are a lot like her. So then you can help me with something." He grinned. "It will be kind of like a test, like a first date, but you will conduct me on what I should and shouldn't do to make you happy. Think of it as another lesson."

I wasn't sure how I felt about that. "I...Edward just because we're similar doesn't mean we are the same."—the look he was giving said he was about to argue, so I relented—"Okay. But it isn't a real date. Just remember that." I warned him. Now that I knew why I thought his lips felt soft, and why I liked the way my body felt pressed against his. It was easier to push away the feelings, to fight them off with logic. I could have my friend back.

I put my hand against his forehead again. It felt normal. "How are you feeling?" I asked, hoping I hadn't contracted anything from him.

"Perfect," he grinned, "Fit as a fiddle."

I sighed happily, resting my head on his shoulder. The late hour was starting to wear on me. "Good, I'm glad. I don't think I could have sanely gone through my classes again tomorrow knowing you were half dead on my couch."

He ran his hand softly through my hair, personifying again. "Sleep now Bella. I'll tease you on your crush tomorrow." I could hear the smile in his soft voice. I rolled my eyes behind my lids, and then slipped off into more sane dreams.

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I opened bleary eyes to another bright morning. The room was so cool though. My arm that was dangling out of the warm blankets was covered in goose bumps. The clock on the wall said a half hour before mine and Alice's alarm clocks were supposed to go off. I stretched, then very carefully turned around, just in case Edward was still asleep.

As I turned around, I lost my balance. I shot one hand out to steady myself. That hand ended up on Edward's forearm. He grunted in pain, opening his eyes. "Oops, sorry." I whispered, moving my weight off his arm quickly.

He gave a long sigh, "Morning." He muttered, his eyes slipping closed again.

"There is only a half an hour before you need to get up Edward. And we'll have to race Alice to the bathroom before seven o'clock if you ever want to get a shower in this morning."

Edward's eyes didn't open, "She takes an hour to shower?" he grumbled.

I grinned, "You were a poet and you didn't even know it." He made a face at me so I surmised it was too early for humour. "She takes forever to shower, then another eternity to do her hair and makeup on Fridays." I rolled my eyes at her.

"She doesn't have any hair." He groaned, stretching. I realized that he'd had to curl himself around me last night to make room. The couch is a horrible place to sleep, add another person and it was just torture. His feet hung off the end off the couch, while his arms stretched over the arm of the couch in the opposite direction.

I laughed at him, "How did you fit on the couch? You're huge!"

He peeked one eye open to look at me, grinning, "Are you calling me fat?"

I flashed my teeth in a grin, "Yep. Totally obese."

He laughed, and then threw the covers off us. I gasped, "Its freezing!"

"It's Canada. I guess summer is coming to an end."

"No," I moaned. "Bring summer back." I got up though, my arms crossed over my chest. I had slept in the clothes I had on last night, bra and all. I could feel the welt on my back starting from the clasp digging into me throughout the night.

"I'll bring summer back if you bring night back." He got up too, stretching again. I stifled a laugh, biting my tongue. Edward's hair was all over the place, his shirt wrinkled. He hadn't changed clothes, since the day I'd brought him here.

I looked him over, still smiling a little, "You might want to run home and grab some new clothes. And a toothbrush."

He ran a hand through his messy hair, pursing his lips, "I'll do that." He ran his tongue over his teeth then winced, "Ew, they have sweaters."

I laughed. I wish I had a sweater. "See you at school." I waved as he walked out my door.

"See ya." He yawned, and then closed the door. I raised an eyebrow, waiting a long moment. He knocked quietly on the door. "Forgot my books." He called through sheepishly.

I giggled, brining him his bag. When I opened the door his head was resting against the door jamb sleepily. "You okay to go to school?" I asked, feeling the familiar stirrings of anxiety starting.

He nodded, "I just need to shower. Blech, I feel disgusting." He raised two vivid green eyes to grin at me. And he did look better. I could feel my chest swell with relief, a balloon rising in my chest. I found I was in a much better mood, smiling, as I watched him dragged himself down the hall and disappeared through the elevator doors. Then hurried back in to take my shower and get ready for school.

Alice got up after I had taken my shower and started my breakfast. I was kind of regretting finishing my book now that I had nothing to do for an hour other then try to carry a conversation with Alice through the door. I didn't think that would be possible, even if she had been willing. I picked the book off the rug anyways and stuffed it into my bag.

Alice finally managed to drag herself away from the bathroom. Amazing, since she was seeing Jasper tonight. I usually had to drag her out of the bathroom on Fridays.

In the middle of that thought, part way to school I stopped dead. Then smacked myself in the forehead. Alice stopped mid-sentence to turn and look at me, one perfect eyebrow raised. "I forgot last night to phone and see if I could stay with someone tonight. Darn."

Alice giggled, "That's fine Bella. What about one of the boys on your basket ball team? Or Edward…maybe you could ask Jared, or Edward, or Alex. Or you know who comes to mind?"

"Edward?" I asked flatly and started walking again. "I thought I had convinced you that match making was bad Alice. And, before you say what I think you're going to say—"

"I can't meddle if you don't have a life to meddle in. And Edward is perfect!" she interrupted, finishing the forbidden sentence.

I gave her a long look.

"Okay, so he's a work in progress, but he will be perfect." She insisted stubbornly. She had that knowing, intense look in her sparkling blue eyes that always meant things were going to go her way whether they wanted to or not. She couldn't control this though.

"The why don't you date him? Or give him what he wants?" I said, rolling my eyes at that last part, "You and I both know that's his main objective with girls."

"You don't really believe that."

I sighed, she'd caught me. Maybe it was because I was a hopeless romantic at heart, but I always had this idea that once you had experienced true love, you became a good person. Because there was nothing to hurt people for, nothing that you wanted that badly because you had found everything you needed in that other person. "No," I agreed slowly, "But maybe I should."

"Ewww. Edward Cullen." A warm, heavy arm was slung over my shoulders. I hadn't realized it was that cold until I felt my skin burning under his warm touch, "I would stay away from that guy if I were you. I've given my sister the same advice." Jared said, making a face.

I laughed, "Finally, someone agrees with me. And where did you come from? You constantly sneak up on me." I playfully shook his arm off.

He shrugged, not offended by the mild rejection. "It's not my fault you're deaf." He dodged my swing at him easily, grinning happily. "I just wanted to congratulate you again."

I frowned at him, confused, "Huh? Congratulate me? For what?"

"You don't know?" Jared asked, stunned.

I looked at Alice; she shrugged, shaking her head. "No?" I said, looking back at Jared.

He grinned suddenly, taking my cold hand in his large warm one, and then started pulling me across the yard to the gym. I was trying my hardest to keep up with his pace, but I ended up stumbling a lot. I nearly took him down once, to which we both started laughing. Alice was running after us, crying shrilly about waiting up for her.

Finally we reached the gym, out of breath and laughing. "Okay, what?" I gasped, trying to breathe through my laughter.

He pointed to a white sheet on the window, breathing hard. Alice caught up to us as I made a face at Jared. "I know I made the team. That's nothing worth congratulating."

"Yes it is, and that's not what I'm talking about." He pointed again to the sheet, this time I followed his finger.

Coach Clapp's Boys Basket Ball team.

Captain------------------------ Bella Swan
First string---------------------Tyler Crowley
---------------------Jared Hull
---------------------Alex Smyth
----------------------Seth Atera

That was as far as I got.

I stared at the list dumbfounded. So that was why coach was being so moody before. It must seem a little embarrassing to have a girl leading his boys' team. And he was probably pissed that after giving me that position, I had skipped practice yesterday. I winced, turning to Jared, "How mad is coach?"

Jared shrugged, "He wasn't happy, but I told him that you had to take care of your friend. Is she feeling better today?" he asked, concerned.

I didn't know if I should tell him that it was Edward I had been taking care of yesterday. Especially after his very obvious dislike of him. For me it was annoyance. For him, I could tell he really didn't like Edward.

"Uhh…" I hesitated.

"Oh, Edward is feeling much better today. You should have seen him last night though." Alice shook her head sadly, "I'm just worried that Bella's going to catch whatever he had. She even crawled into bed with him, trying to warm him up. Apparently it worked." She sighed dreamily, as if watching true love unfold before her eyes.

Jared had turned his back on me to stare at her with wide, betrayed eyes. I was frantically cutting a finger across my throat trying to get her to shut up. "You slept with Edward?" He asked, slowly turning back to me. I dropped my hand down to my side quickly.

"No. Well, not in the way you said it."

"But what she said…" Jared trailed off, keeping my eye.

"Yes…But it's not what you think. He needs some help getting this girl…" my voice faltered as I watch Jared go from betrayed to livid.

"And you're helping Him?" he hissed between his teeth. His usually warm blue eyes were suddenly barren of warmth. I shivered.

"I—Yes, but it's not like that. He really likes this girl, loves her even." I pleaded with him to understand. Didn't everyone deserve their happy ending? Even Edward? Especially Edward.

"And what if it is like that? Then what?" he didn't give me time to answer his questions, "You'll just help him get in some other girl's pants, help him use another girl like…like…" he was sputtering. I looked down at me shoes. "Do you even know who this girl is?" he asked.

"No," I murmured quietly.

"So it could be my sister then. It could be my friend or yours." I looked up at him, to tell him it wasn't…but how could I claim that? He looked down at me with so much disgust I wanted to be sick. I was sickened with myself. He shook his head at me. Perhaps too angry to even speak now, and turned away, toward his first class.

I looked down at my hands again. They were shaking. I could feel my eyes watering. Jared was right. I was stupid, this wasn't a romance novel. Things didn't work out like that; people didn't change overnight because they fell in love.

Alice touched my arm softly, "I'm sorry Bella. I didn't mean…I was just a little miffed about how he had been talking…" she trailed off again.

I shrugged her hand off, "S'not your fault." I mumbled, digging the toe of my shoe into the dirt. "It's mine. I can't believe I was so stupid!" I growled.

She went to comfort me again, but I shrugged out from under her hand, "I got to go to class Alice. See you later."

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Wow, I love you all for the amazing reviews even when I dropped off the face of the earth. ^_^ you guys are great. Sorry for the long wait, but the next chapter is coming soon. Thanks!