Disclaimer: Twilight and characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

A special thanks to Jessica0306 for being a wonderful beta and pushing me to actually post this.

One spring Saturday, fifteen-year-old Bella and her two closest friends were wandering the mall. None of them were shopping for anything in particular. They just wanted freedom from their parents and the chance to look at cute things. It just so happened to be a day that Edward and four of his friend were also walking around the mall. Jasper and Emmett were trying very hard to play the cooler of the lot to impress the two girls they were with, Tanya and Kate. Edward was more successful even though he wasn't even trying. His shaggy bronze hair and piercing green eyes made both girls weak in the knees. Edward was pretending he wasn't interested in either one, which made them both try really hard to gain his attention. This of course made Jasper and Emmett bitter. They acted out in immature ways by talking over each other loudly and boasting about themselves as much as possible.

They had just grabbed a table in the food court when Emmett interrupted himself mid sentence, "…whoa, check out Miss Thang over there…"

Edward was too busy acting like he wasn't watching the way Tanya was applying her lip-gloss to look up.

Jasper put his arm around Emmett's shoulders and whispered, "Dibs," in his ear.

"No way man, I saw her first. Plus, your pits smell," Emmett yelled back shaking off his friends arm.

This grabbed the attention of the Tanya and Kate. Nothing got their attention more than the lack of attention on them.

"Who are you talking about?" chimed in Tanya. Jasper coughed and pointed. Both Tanya and Kate turned around in their seats to get a good look at this mystery girl.

Across the way, Bella and her two friends were standing in line to buy a smoothie. Tanya and Kate both knew it was Bella the guys were referring to without having to ask. She was the prettier one of the group.

"Ew, really guys? Come on, she's cute…but like…she's got no style. Look at her hair. A bob cut…bangs? What is she in elementary school?" Kate snorted.

Edward was curious now. When he looked over he let out a small gasp. She was the last person he expected to see, but it was her. He knew it right away. Her hair was different, not like he remembered. Kate was wrong. It had been much longer in elementary school, but it was the same color brown. And her large brown eyes still had that same warmth. The freckles he knew so well were still speckled across her nose. She was wearing a simple white t-shirt with dark jeans. Her shirt almost blended in with her creamy white skin.

"Uh oh, looks like she got Eddie's attention," teased Emmett. Edward had been staring a little too long, and it was too late for him to shrug it off like it was no big deal.

"I think I know her," he explained. Tanya and Kate frowned at the same time.

"Really? Then you can introduce us," interrupted Jasper.

Edward wasn't thrilled with the idea of Jasper talking to her, but he didn't know why. He hadn't spoken to her in years. What, they must have been ten, eleven….

Bella was in the middle of a conversation with Lauren but couldn't shake the feeling she was being watched. She began to scan the room. Just as she had almost reached the table that Edward occupied Lauren waved her hand in her face. "Heeelllloooo, are you listening? I asked you what flavor you're going to order."

"Banana," Bella sighed.

"I think I'm going to get Strawberry Banana, my usual, but I kind of want something different, you know? Like maybe I'll get peach. That could be good, right?" Lauren continued to rant.

"Well, I'm going to get the Beach Bum," giggled Angela for no reason.

Bella rolled her eyes when they turned to face the counter.

"Excuse me, Bella?" a familiar voice asked from behind. All three of them turned around at the same time.

If you had told Bella that the world was going to end that day, she wouldn't have believed you. If you would have told her pigs were going to fly, she wouldn't have believed you. If you would have told her she would be approached by Edward Cullen in the mall food court, she wouldn't have believed you.

"Ed…Edward?" she questioned, still not believing her eyes.

"It is you. Wow, Bella…it's been a long time."

She had been keeping a little secret from everyone. The locket that held a strand of Edward's hair burned her chest like a hot iron. It throbbed and itched, and she wanted to rip it off and throw it across the room before he saw it. Even though it was tucked under her shirt. Even though she had never told him she had kept a strand of his hair in a locket…for three years. It just somehow taunted her like it was completely obvious.

Bella knew she needed to say something but also knew it was in her best interest not to say too much. If she opened her mouth she could very easily say something ridiculous. Like, I'm wearing a locket that has your hair in it.

Edward reached over and took her hand. "You're beautiful. Just beautiful."

Her cheeks went scarlet before she could even blink. Both of her friends gasped behind her.

It was the clerk that broke the tension. "NEXT."

Lauren and Angela had to disengage their gawking at Edward to place their order.

Tanya wasn't about to let this mystery girl steal attention away from her. Kate was very much on the same page. They stalked over as soon as Edward grabbed Bella's hand.

"Edward, sorry, but our mom is supposed to pick us up…like now…so we got to go….like now," Tanya lied. Kate was backing up Tanya's story by texting their mom that they needed a ride ASAP. Tanya and Kate's mom was the only parent that drove a minivan. Yeah, it was uncool, but it was able to load Tanya, Kate and their friends with room to spare. Edward hated being squished in his mom's SUV more than riding in their social suicide mobile.

Bella hadn't even responded to Edward's compliment yet. She was too stunned. He wasn't taking her silence well. He expected her to swoon, compliment him back, giggle, or at least bat her eyelashes. Her silence made him feel self-conscious. He never felt self-conscious, and it was pissing him off. All the hurt feelings were bubbling back up. Was she really going to act aloof, like he didn't matter…still?

Bella was knocked off track by the appearance of Tanya and Kate. After their interruption she couldn't help feel awkward next to two such pretty girls. They were obviously with Edward. They had addressed him by name. She looked down and noticed he was still holding her hand. She blushed even more.

Her blush was the only thing that kept him together. At least it was something. He was praying it was a good sign. He'd take anything. He let go of her hand, and this brought her back to life.

"Thanks. You look nice, too, Edward," she said.

He couldn't help but smile when she said his name again. He wasn't too happy about the 'nice' bit, but he let it go.

Tanya made a huffing noise.

"Yeah listen, I got to go…my ride, you know…but maybe I could call you or something… sometime." He managed to stutter out that semi sentence before blushing himself. He couldn't understand what was wrong with him. He never blushed.

"My number is still the same," she offered.

He smiled even wider and then waved bye as he sauntered off. He wanted to stay and find out everything new about her. What she was doing now. What she liked. What she disliked. His hand still tingled from her touch. He couldn't wait to call her, but he was going to play it cool. She would expect a call from him that night most likely. He wanted to call her that night, but he just wasn't going to make himself look too desperate. She abandoned him, after all. She could wait for him now.

Emmett and Jasper couldn't contain their matching grins. Walking to the exit they each wrapped an arm over Edward's shoulders trapping him between them.

"So, um Eddie… I just wanted to tell you something. You are beautiful man," snickered Emmett.

"Yeah, you look just beautiful," added Jasper.

"Shut the fuck up, assholes. And Jasper, get your arm off me. Your pits really do reek."