Disclaimer: I take no credit in the characters within this story; those are the sole work of Mrs. Stephenie Meyer. I do, however, take credit for the specific, new traits I gave them and am quite proud of them.
Note: Complaints, complaints, complaints! I know that the cliffhangers are HORRIBLE and all but stop bickering! It's the way it is; I have to keep you guys reading somehow, right? Otherwise I LOVE your reviews and I hope that you will all keep it up! I want to hear you opinions! Anyways…. Where did I leave off… hmmmm…. Oh, that's right.
He was chewing unbearably slow and I was just about to give up hope that he would ever swallow that bite of pepperoni when he finally did. He turned to me again, my favorite smile still on his face. "I'm sorry, did you want to know something?"
"You are completely insufferable! Do you know that?"
"Oh, he's quite aware Bella." Alice mumbled from across the table.
Edward laughed a little at that and went to bring the slice of pizza back to his mouth. I growled, reaching forward and easily grabbing it away from him when he wasn't expecting it. He turned to me with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. "Yes Bella? I do believe you are trying to get my attention."
"Answer my question if you want this back." I said, glaring as I set it with my own on my tray and pushed it back and out of his reach.
"What is it you would like to know my dear?"
I shivered at that. My dear? That was a first. "Would you have let me get that if we had been together?"
He stared at me, letting the silence stretch. I just stared back, holding my glare steady and even. He was not going to win this staring contest just because of his beautiful green eyes and that simply gorg… FOCUS BELLA! Finally his smirk grew and just shrugged. "Possibly; if you wanted it."
"Possibly? Edward Cullen!" I snapped, punching his arm. "You wouldn't let me get it because you didn't want me to expose myself!"
"What can I say; I'm a generally selfish man." His smile returned full force and I felt my heart stop and my breathing cease as I stared at him. He laughed at my face and I took in a shaky breath. God he was being… so not Edward. I mean, he was always teasing me, but not like this. "Besides, that would be different. If you had a boyfriend, it's a completely different matter."
"I don't see it making a difference." Alice said, reminding me that she was there.
"It does; trust me," he said. He met my eyes for a second before starting to lean toward me. I froze instantly, trying to figure out what he was doing but not being stupid enough to stop him. His face moved two inches from my own and my breath stopped again as I stared into his eyes, while I felt one hand land right next to my thigh and the other slide across the table beside me, like he was pinning me to a wall despite the fact that there wasn't one behind me. I took a shaky inhale, smelling nothing but him. It made me instantly recall a memory.
--
I was just sitting there, in the seat, wanting nothing but to get off and run away screaming. I heard Edwards slow laughing beside me. "Are you okay Bella?"
"Yeah." It was hardly a squeak. He was the only one that was keeping me from running away. "Just a little scared."
He stood up then and was in front of me an instant later, smiling and holding out both hands. I took them, loving the feel of the warmth of his wrapped around my own. "Bella, do you think we would let you do anything hazardous? Anything that would put you in any danger at all?"
I shook my head slowly. "No. I know you wouldn't."
"Then don't be afraid. Just relax. I'm right beside you through all of this. Are you ready?" He waited for my nod and then smiled and reached above me, pulling down the only thing that was going to keep me from falling out incredibly slowly, probably making sure I wasn't going to stop him so I could get off. I held my breath as he pushed it down tight over my legs and then smiled at me. "Bella, there is no way that you are going to get hurt, okay?"
"Okay." It wasn't even a whisper, but he seemed to have heard.
"Good, now just focus on having fun." He smiled so sweetly and reached out and pushed some hair out of my eyes and behind my ear. Then he leaned forward ever so slowly and I felt my heart begin to pound. Was he going to kiss me? Would this be it? My heart almost stopped as he nose went inches from mine. Then he turned his head so he mouth was beside my ear. "And just remember that I am right beside you. It will be over in seconds. I promise."
I took a deep breath, savoring the scent of him as he pulled away; the same sweet smile on his lips. "Thank you." I muttered.
"Okay you guys, the ride is about to start," said a burly guy, walking over to my seat and pushing down the harness a little tighter before pulling back to make sure it was locked. Edward sat down next to me and pulled down his own harness. I couldn't see his face with the sides of mine in the way, but I could practically feel his excitement. After the man tested his seat as well he stepped back and waved at me seconds before there was the release of air and we began to move.
I wanted to scream as we slowly climbed up, the loud clanking that echoes so ominously surrounding us. After a second I heard Edwards voice like an Angel against the rest of the noise. "You doing okay Bells?"
"No." I admitted, watching as the top came closer and closer. Thank god we weren't right in the front or I would probably be crying. "Not really."
"It's going to be fine. There is nothing to be nervous about." With that I felt his warm hand again grasp mine between our seats. It gave a light squeeze just as we were almost on the top. Then the screams started as the people in the front began to plummet. The minute I felt the wind pick up I closed my eyes and screamed as loud as I could, needing a release. My hand tightened around Edwards until it seemed like I would break his knuckles. And, soon enough, it was over.
--
I shook the memory of the moment before the roller coaster started out of my head. Then I decided to just go for it. I would just lean forward an inch so our lips were almost touching and he could do with it what he wished. But, just as I was about to lean forward, he was gone. I blinked a few times, focusing on him as he plopped back in his seat, the pizza in his hand.
"Edward!" Alice said, shocked. "What do you think you are doing?"
He looked at Alice, then at me, and I saw the confused look on his face. His eyes went back to Alice. "Eating?"
I let out my breath slowly, forgetting that I had been holding it. I felt kind of dizzy as I tried to catch up on my breath as subtly as I could. Alice noticed, but Edward was still staring at her, trying to figure out why she had used such a strict tone with him. "All you had to do was ask and I would have given it to you."
"Eh. I wasn't sure. Maybe you would have guarded it. Couldn't have that," he said, taking another bite as he looked at Alice. Sometimes he was a little too clueless.
"So, where to next?" I asked, not really caring what anyone said; I had had my fill for the day and just wanted to get everything over with. The sooner we got out of here, the better.
"I think you and I should run back to VS's and get you that just in spite. Well, not just I suppose, that will make any guy you bring home go right over the edge, but mostly in spite." Alice said, smiling as she pushed her tray away, apparently full.
"You know what, I think that's a good idea." I said, not even a little hungry anymore.
"Don't you girls even think about it," Edward hissed, glaring at both of us in turn.
"Why not Eddy?" Alice asked, smiling sweetly. "If it's good enough for you, it should be good enough for any guy."
His eyes narrowed into slits and he said, "I'm not kidding. Don't."
"And what are you going to do about it?" I asked, feeling a little bitter. I had to admit that was extremely disappointed that he hadn't kissed me. I had felt so good, so ready. But he had shattered my hopes. "If I want it, I don't need you permission Edward."
His eyes narrowed even more as he looked at me. "But you don't want it. You said so yourself."
"And I may have changed my mind. Anyways, if it's good enough for you what reasoning do you have for me not getting it?"
He just glared but I could see the gears turning in his mind as he tried to come up with a good answer. Then his faced softened and he looked at me innocently, his eyes rather wide. "I would just really prefer if you didn't."
I stared at him, getting lost in his eyes. It was Alice who pulled me out. "No way Edward, that is my look, not yours. And, if you don't give a reasonable explanation in the next thirty seconds we are going back and getting it. Bella has absolutely no reason not to wear something like that. It would make her feel sexy, give her the boost of confidence that she needs, and make any guys jaw dropped the minute they saw it."
Edward was still staring at me, his eyes boring into mine, but with their normal intensity rather than the mock Alice look he had been giving me earlier. Then he leaned forward to my ear and whispered. "Please Bella. Don't. You know you don't want it. You know that you don't need it to be sexy. Please."
I shivered at the sound of his voice, like silk running over my skin. I closed my eyes, knowing that he hadn't moved from beside my face. He was waiting for an answer. I sighed, laying my cheek against his as I whispered my reply to him. "Fine."
I felt his cheek shift under mine as he smiled, then he pulled back, the little stubble that was hardly visible, scratching gently against my skin. Who knew that could be so absolutely sensual? I took a slow breath, begging my heart to calm as I looked into Edwards beaming face. Then I turned to Alice. "I think I've tortured him enough for today Alice."
She sighed but nodded. "Fine."
I smiled at her before standing up and walking to a nearby trashcan with my plate. I sighed as I dropped my barely touched pizza in; what a waste. I waited a second, just standing there as I tried to, again, convince my heart to stop racing. That was when I felt it, a warm breath on my neck. At first I smiled a little to myself, assuming it was Edward, but then I notice that there was the smell of thick cologne in the air; not the lovely scent.
I spun, startling the guy standing behind me enough to jump back. He smiled at me. "Hey babe."
I grimaced. "I'm sorry, but obviously you have the wrong person. I do believe 'babe' is an endearment and I know that you wouldn't possibly be trying that on me."
He smiled. "Oh, your feisty."
I groaned, "If you say so bud," before trying to step around him and get back to my table. He just sidestepped so that he was still right in front of me.
"What's wrong sugar? Why such a hurry?" he asked, smiling a disgusting grin. Then he stuck out his hand. "I'm Kent."
I didn't take it, just stared at him with a peeved look. "That's very nice. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to get back to my friends."
He smiled and waved his arm as if to say 'by all means', but the minute I went to step past him he again sidestepped in front of me. "What's your name?"
"Bella." I said, glaring a bit as I looked over at Alice who was watching a bit worried. The guy, Kent, was considerably larger than me and blocked me rather easily from getting way. Not to mention the fact that on one side of the trash can which I was all but pressed against was a wall and the other had a queue rope. My only exit was behind Kent.
"Bella; a pretty name for a pretty girl."
I sighed and shook my head. "If you say so. Now, if you don't mind, I should really get back over to them."
"Don't be in such a hurry babe."
"My name is Bella, not babe." I said, getting irritated. What was with this guy? Could he not take a hint? "And I am a naturally hurrying person. So, if you would be please get the fuck out of my way, I would be extremely happy."
He took a step toward me, a wicked smile on his face. "Well, if you can hurry then I'm sure we could make it quick babe; I can get off as quickly as any girl, if not quicker."
I growled, backing up right against the trashcan. "Too bad the only place you'll be having me in is in you dreams, huh?"
He growled back, thinking it was sexy or something. It only served to make me shiver and try to back up further. He took another step toward me, that sick grin still on his face.
"Bella." Edward said, appearing beside me, just on the other side of the rope. He stuck out his hand, which I took gratefully. He helped me over the rope without any problem and then leaned down to whisper in my ear. "Go sit with Alice. I'll be right there."
I nodded and hurried over to my friend, my breathing hard. I didn't' really how scared I had been until now. Alice automatically wrapped her arms around me and sat me down. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." I said, my voice shaking a little as I grabbed my bottle and opened it before chugging half of it down. I felt Alice's hand on my back, trying to comfort me while I looked back to the trashcan. Edward was standing nose to nose with the guy; looking like he could easily take him down. And, from the looks of it, Kent knew it too. He was backing up slowly, a glare on his face. I watched as Edward advanced, saying something that I couldn't hear, but that made the other guy pale. He stumbled back again, only taking a brief glance at me before walking swiftly away from the food court. Edward watched after him before looking at his sister and I. He gave a weak smile and walked over, the anger I had seen in his face seeming to have melted away.
He sat down facing me on the same side of the table as Alice and I. "Bella, are you okay?"
I just nodded at first, not able to find my voice. Seeing him chest to chest with that guy, the pure anger on his face as he whispered something to him had made Edward look... incredibly sexy. The power that I always knew he had but had never seen had been pouring off of him. And now, that sweet, worried look on his face…. "Yeah, I'm fine Edward. Thank you."
He just gave a weak smile and nodded before looking away. Alice wrapped her arms around me again. I closed my eyes for a second, trying to control my mind. That had been one of the worst situations I had ever been in. After a second he glance back up at me, meeting my eyes. He saw something he didn't like though because he frowned for a minute. I wanted to know what he was seeing, but didn't want to ask. I was going to have to talk to Edward later; a talk like we used to have.
"Okay Bella its up to you; do you want to go to the hotel or keep shopping?" Alice asked. I turned to look at her. This was a first and probably a last as well. She smiled weakly at me and sighed as I looked back at Edward.
"Alice, I'm not going to ruin your fun. You still have a while left here. Make the best of it." I said, turning to smile at her. Her face lit up as she gave me a tight hug and stood up, skipping over the trash and dumping everything off her tray.
Edward was still staring at me with a worried look. "Bella, are you sure your up to it? If you want, I can run you over to the hotel, get us checked in and just come back to get Alice."
"No, I'm fine. Really. Nothing happened." I looked down at my hands for a second. "Thank you Edward. I was pretty scared there."
I saw his hand wrap around my fingers. "Bella, I'm just sorry you had to go through that at all. I'm sorry I didn't come over earlier. Are you sure that you're okay?"
I looked back up into his eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine."
He smiled and lifted the hand not entwined in mine to my cheek, "God Bella; you are just prone to disaster."
I laughed, loving the feel of his hand. "You've known that for years Edward. I warned you when I first met you."
"Yeah, but I haven't actually witnessed it for a long time," he shook his head and ran his thumb over my cheek a bit before pulling his hand back. "It reminds me of exactly how worried I was when I didn't for you or Alice in a week after you guys first took off to college. I was beginning to wonder if I had just been a paranoid older brother."
I laughed a little and patted his hand. "Well, everyone is a little paranoid sometimes. You can't blame yourself for wondering you know."
He laughed too and shook his head. Alice came back over then, grabbing her purse from the table before holding out her hand to me. I took it, grabbing my own purse. It didn't take long for me to blank out, not able to look at another pair of jeans or shirt without cringing.
--
The drive to my house held a surprising comfort in its silence. Every now and then I would glance at Edward, trying to be subtle about it by peering through my hair. He only caught me once more, but I managed to cover it up. We were almost to my house and I decided that after such a long silence, even if it was comfortable, someone had to say something. "What's it like having siblings?"
He cocked his head a little, looking back at me. "It can be hard sometimes, but mostly its pretty great. You can always rely on them; like a friend. Mostly you just have to find the way to best get along with them, even if it mean practically doing anything that's asked of you. As long as they are happy, you are too."
I smiled to myself, imagining what that would be like. "I'm a little jealous of you guys. You're all so close."
He smiled. "Believe me, it wasn't always like that. Most of the time it was nine parts bickering, one part silence. We've gotten better though. And you know what?"
I looked at him again, not sure when I had ever looked away. "What?"
"Strangely enough, it's gotten even better since you got here. Alice finally has a girl, rather than just Emmett and I, and it makes her happy. And, incidentally, when she's happy, we're happy." He shut off the car in front of my house. I hardly noticed, just smiled proudly. I was glad that Alice really did like me.
I opened my door and looked back at him as he just sat there, not even unbuckling his seat belt. "Coming in?"
He smiled and shrugged. "I'm fine out here. I don't mind waiting."
I raised an eyebrow. "You are more than welcome to come in though. Charlie isn't here, so it's not like you're about to get the third degree or anything."
He chuckled a little as he undid his belt and got out of the car, meeting me on my side before we headed up to the door. I pulled the key out of my back pocket and slid it into the lock, looking at Edward for a second. He was smiling as he waited, just looking around him, down the street, across the yard. He seemed to find it all incredibly interesting. When I pushed the door open he followed me in, his eyes wandering everywhere again. I led him right into the kitchen when I leaned down into the fridge and pulled out two bottled waters, handing him one. He took it, opening it smoothly as he sat down in on of the mismatched chairs at the table. I stared at him for a minute, unable to stop myself. He looked so at ease, yet out of place again. A god in the mortal realm.
I shook my head for a moment, clearing my thoughts before taking a sip of my water. Then I turned to him. "I have a strange feeling that I'm obligated to showing you my own collection now, though I don't see how it could ever compare to the one you have at you house."
He laughed. "You're not obligated to do anything Bella."
I smiled and tilted my head, beckoning him to follow me out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I opened my door slowly, a little embarrassed. Had been here a little more than a week and I still had all of my clothes in my suitcases. The only thing I was thankful was that the room was basically spotless. He looked around, seeming… well, not amused, but almost. I pointed to the desk set up against one wall, next to the decrepit computer. There were several stacks of about ten or so cd's. "Like I said, absolutely nothing compared to yours."
He laughed as he walked over and began to sort through the music, reading off the bands quietly, smiling at most. A few of the cases he turned over and read the some song titles, asking me about my favorites every now and then as I began sorting through some clothes and putting pjs and a pair of jeans and a shirt in for tomorrow.
"Bella, can I ask you a question?" Edward said suddenly as I zipped dropped my bathroom kit in the bag as well.
I looked back at him, "Of course."
He smiled weakly, "I was just wondering why you moved to Forks."
I turned, leaning my back against the bed as I thought about exactly how to answer. He turned in the chair, straddling it so he was looking at me. "Well, my mother got married."
"Do you not like him?"
"Not, it's not that. Phil is fine. Nice enough. And he makes my mom happy." I said, shaking my head.
"So she sent you to live with your dad for a while?"
I looked at him and shook my head. "No. I sent myself. Phil plays baseball, so he moves around a lot. And mom… well, she stayed with me at first, but it was obvious that she missed him. I wanted her to be as happy as she could be, so I decided it was time to pay Charlie a visit."
He tilted his head. "And do you like it here? Was it worth it?"
I looked up into his eyes, pulling my knees into my chest. "I… it could be worse. at least have good friends, right? Things could be considerably worse."
He got out of the chair and came to sat across from me. "But you're not as happy here as you were there?"
I sighed again. "I wasn't exactly happy there either. I really haven't my place yet. But I will. Eventually, I'll be happy somewhere."
He nodded and then asked me about my mother, then about what it was like in Phoenix, then about exactly what I thought about his family. It was after my description of how I saw each of them that I began to shoot questions right back at him. What did he think of Forks?(It was good enough for now.) What were his plans for life?(More than anything he wanted to compose music, but he also wanted to follow in his fathers footsteps and make him proud.) We just went and on, getting completely comfortable on the floor, grabbing pillows off my bed and just laughing together as we talked about our likes and dislikes. Then I mad the mistake of looking at the clocks and found that we had been doing nothing but talking for the last two hours. And, just to make it worse, just as I was about to point this out, I heard the door slam.
"Bella?" I heard Charlie call.
I looked between my bedroom door and Edward, not entirely sure what to do. In the end I just decided to get it over with and just take him downstairs. Charlie was in the kitchen, looking around as if he expected me to just appear. "Hi dad."
He turned and smiled at me. "Hey Bells."
"Dad, Alice invited me to go back over there for the night; that's alright with you right?"
"Of course," he said, then he noticed Edward standing behind me and his eyes narrowed on him.
"Oh, dad, this is Edward, Alice's brother. Alice had to clean up a bit and my truck was blocked in so he was forced to give me a ride." I said. Then I turned back to Edward and nudged my head, encouraging him to step forward. He looked nervous as he did as I told him. "Edward, this is my dad Charlie."
"Officer Charlie Swan." Charlie said, his eyes still narrow. "It's nice to meet you Edward."
"You too sir."
"Well dad, we really need to go before Alice freaks out. She's good about that. I promise you will meet her next time and absolutely adore her! Just wait. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. The number's on the fridge already if you need it. I love you." I gave him a kiss on the cheek before I hurried out of the kitchen.
"It was very nice meeting you sir, I've heard a lot of good things about you from my dad, Carlisle. I think you know him."
"Yes, I do. Carlisle is a very good man. I didn't realize he had a son though."
"Two actually." Edward said and I poked my head around the corner again, waving my hand to him. "Well, I hope to see you again Chief Swan."
"You too." He didn't seem nearly as angry. Apparently he really did like Dr. Carlisle.
I grabbed the bottom of his shirt and pulled him out of the house as fast as I could. Once out the door, with it secured tightly behind me, I slowed down and released Edwards's shirt. "Sorry about that. I wasn't in the mood for an interrogation."
He just laughed as he led me to the car, opening the trunk for my small bag. I hadn't really been packing for very long and had lonely grabbed my bathroom stuff and clothes. I hoped that would be enough.
When we pulled back to the house Alice all but ran out of the door and into the garage. "Where have you guys been?"
"At Bella's house. We got caught up. Sorry." Edward answered, opening the trunk and handing me the bag.
"Not much stuff for being there for nearly two and a half hours," she pointed out.
I laughed at that. "He didn't say it was packing we got caught up in. Besides, I'm here now Alice and we have the whole night. We are gonna do this for real right? Included are attempt which, of course, we will fail miserably at, to stay awake all night?"
She laughed and the irritation left her face as she nodded and began to pull me into the house. I gave Edward one last smile and he winked at me as I was yanked through the house and up toward Alice's room.
--
"What are you thinking about?" asked a beautiful voice, pulling back into the present.
"Why?" I asked, looking over at Edward who was standing beside me while Alice darted around the clothing store.
"You face went from peaceful to positively evil in a few seconds, then back again. I was just wondering what was going on in the mind of yours."
"Honestly?" I asked, meeting his eyes with a smile.
"Of course."
"Well…. I was actually thinking about the barbecue after I first met you guys in Forks. Remember it?"
He smiled. "Yeah. I remember. That was the first day I actually had real conversation with you."
I laughed. "Two actually. And both Alice was hardly able to hold herself back enough not to bitch us out."
"I would never bitch you two out for flirting Bella." Alice said, wandering by with an armful of clothes. My jaw dropped. She did not just say that.