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not beta'd

storyline - Malicious

prompt - patience

"Um, Bells, I think Edward's outside." My father peeks again through the window by the front door before turning to look at me. "What happened now?"

I shake my head, trying to tamp down the giddy grin before I really freak him out. "Nothing. I mean nothing bad. We – "

There's a knock at the door. Edward's knock, obviously.

Dad is still looking at me, puzzled.

"We're dating now, all right?" I huff, pushing past him to open the door.

"Oh really?" I hear from behind me.

"Hi," you say, all smiles. I can tell you like what I'm wearing by the way your eyes glide over me. And over me.

"Well this is interesting," my father says.

Sighing, I pull you inside and shut the door. "Don't be obnoxious, Dad. It's – things are different now. Okay? We're good."

He snorts and nods at you. "If you say so. Be good to her, Edward. I'd say because you'll have to answer to me but I think Bella can take care of herself."

Surprisingly, instead of cowing down or getting defensive, you smirk. "Oh, I know she can."

Maybe my mind's in the gutter – in fact, I know it is – but I totally hear that in a different way. Praying my father doesn't hear the possibly sexual undertones in your words, I give him a tight hug. "We'll be home before one."

"Midnight."

"Fine." I give him my most daughterly smile. "Can't blame me for trying."

"Mhm. Drive safely, please. And for the love of God don't drink. I'm serious. If I find out you were drinking I'll ground you." He points to me, and then looks at you. "And I'll call your parents. And take your license."

"No problem, Chief Swan."

"Charlie."

"All right, Charlie," I tease. "Love you. Bye."

We duck out in to the night, laughing quietly. "He's so full of it," I whisper.

"I'm not about to find out whether he is or not," you say, shaking your head. "He probably hates my guts."

"Nah. He's a little confused about this, though." I motion between the two of us.

You sober up, nodding once. "I guess I don't blame him."

"You have making up to do," I say, getting in to your car. But when you get in, I touch your arm to get your attention. "But so do I."

"So do you what?"

"Have making up to do."

"Yeah?" Your eyes glitter pervily.

"Not that kind," I sigh. "Well, that too, but I meant… I feel like an idiot for never noticing that you liked me. Emmett knew…your parents knew… I mean, I guess I knew at some point too, but not before that. Not in ninth grade."

"I kept it pretty hidden. Man's gotta protect his balls."

I scrunch my nose. "Charming."

You shrug. "Anyway, whatever. The point is I finally have you, so, whatever. We don't have to keep on rehashing the past."

"The past up until Iast week," I say, biting my lip.

You side-eye me, and for a second you look so sexy it makes me clench inside. But it just won't do to be horny and worked up this early in the evening so I chill out. You've been patient for a long time; I can be patient for a night.

"Golden Corral?" I ask as we turn off the main road.

"No, I have to get gas," you laugh. "Unless you want to go to Golden Corral. All you can eat."

"Actually… I like their dessert table. My dad and I go there sometimes."

"So do my dad and I, but don't tell my mom. She's a food snob."

"I don't blame her."

"You just said you liked the dessert table."

"I do. But it's not exactly gourmet, if you know what I'm saying."

"Guess it's a good thing we're not eating there." We pull up to the gas pump. "Sit tight."

I watch you walk inside the attached convenience store. An SUV pulls up and kids I know from school pull out. A couple of them see me and wave; I wave back. They bump into you on your way back to the pump, and you chat with them for a second.

It's Friday night. And just like that, we're an actual couple.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it."

"You're not just saying that, right?"

"Edward, stop it," I say, making a face. "You've known me for years, even if we were mortal enemies for one of them. I wouldn't lie about a stupid restaurant." I run my fingers briefly through your hair. It feels like you have gel in it. You're so cute. "Especially a stupid restaurant this nice."

You grin, and grab my hand. "This is where my parents come sometimes for anniversary dinners or whatever."

"That's cool… they're so in love with each other."

Wrinkling your nose, you laugh. "Well, yeah."

I shrug. "My parents split years ago. But, you know."

You nod like you understand, even though you probably don't. Divorce. I'd imagine, isn't something a person would get till they have to experience it themselves, even second hand like me. It's good that you don't get it. It's good that you're one of the rare kids whose parents are actually happy.

"What?"

I blink; you're watching me closely. "Thinking about your parents."

"Boring. Think about me."

"Brat," I laugh.

It's so easy to like you. Maybe love you, I think.

The hostess brings us to our table and we slide in to a nice little half booth, designed to feel intimate I'm sure. It works. Despite the room full of people, it feels like it's just us.

Later, after dinner and dessert and the subsequent doggie bags, you drive me to your house.

"Are your parents home?"

"Yeah, but they're upstairs. They usually chill up there after dinner."

"Cool."

We walk through the darkened house, illuminated only by a few well placed lamps. You lead me straight through to the back yard, over to the hammock.

It's a nice night, not as chilly as it's been lately but brisk enough. The stars burn brilliant, and easy to see as we recline, tangled on the hammock.

"Oof…sorry," I whisper, unable to get comfortable.

You pull me up so we're lying side by side. Yeah, this is better.

"Oh, I get it," I say.

"I'll bet you do."

"This is a guaranteed cuddling spot."

"Cuddling? Bella, come on. I brought you here to get down your pants."

"I'm wearing a skirt."

"Even better."

"You're ridiculous," I say, letting you push your face in to my neck.

"You're beautiful," you respond, kissing a little path up my neck.

"So are you."

You skip my chin and kiss my mouth, easing partly on to me, your knee between mine. I've never been so exciting kissing a boy before – I mean, it's always been exciting but not like this. This is almost unbearable, like I'm so nervous and excited and in to it that it's borderline unpleasant. How much can a girl take before she, I don't know, hurls or passes out?

But then your kisses grow slow and I melt in to sexiness, and I know I'd do anything you wanted to, even out here in your backyard. So when you predictably slide a hand under my skirt, I let you.

"Goosebumps," you remark, running your fingers up and down my inner thighs.

"Mhm."

"Are you cold?"

"A little."

"Do you want to go inside?"

"No."

"Do you want – "

"Shut up," I whisper, tickling my hands through your hair.

You try to climb on top of me and it doesn't work. The hammock shifts sharply and we tumble out on to the cold, stiff grass.

"Ow," I laugh, because, really, that kind of hurt.

But you're a man on a mission, and you kiss me again and again in the grass, putting your hands where they were before and then some, easing my panties to the side so you can put your fingers where I'm wet.

"What if your parents – "

"Shut up," you tease, kissing me so I will.

"'kay," I breathe.

I like how you touch me. It's like you're kissing me there, which makes me think of you actually kissing me there, which makes me trembly and like I want to come.

"I think about this all the time," you say, against my mouth. You slip your fingers inside and...

...I've never come outside before. It's better.

Much.

have you ever... in the grass? or the sand? or outside at all?