Bella's thoughts coming into the Cullens... Enjoy!

I'd Like To get To Know You Well- Howard Jones

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Chapter 16: I want to.

BPOV

Edward's father stared down at me like I was a girl with two heads.

"Edward?" he asked, shocked.

"Um, yes, sir," I stammered, not just from the nerves.

I was drenched and it was cold.

My shivering seemed to wake him up and he nodded and offered to let me in.

I felt suddenly out of place.

Edward's dad was dressed in a fancy cardigan and expensive looking slacks, and I was in a hoodie and my skinny jeans, my converse shoes squeaking on the marble of their decadent entryway.

This was such a mistake.

How did I demand answers from the Creepy Hot Rich Guy?

Of course he wasn't interested in me.

I clutched at my backpack, hoping it hadn't gotten too wet.

We'd have Flour Paste Child if it did.

"How do you know Edward?"

I looked up in surprise at his father's intense tone, worried maybe that I had stumbled onto some big secret of Edward's.

Like he'd mention me to anyone. Unless he was complaining about me.

"Um, we're in Biology together," I started.

"Who's this?"

I turned to find who I thought must be Mrs. Cullen, a pleasant middle aged woman in fleece smiling warmly to me.

"Bella Swan," Edward's dad replied, still eyeing me intently. "She's here for Edward."

Mrs. Cullen's eyes widened for a moment, but her smile brightened.

"I'm Esme, Edward's mother," she said and shook my hand. "You're Chief Swan's girl right?"

I nodded, feeling my teeth start to chatter.

"I'll go and get Edward," she said and turned to make her way quickly down the hall.

Leaving me alone with the Cullen Inquisition.

"What brings you here to see him tonight?"

"I just wanted to speak to Edward for a moment. We missed each other after school, and there's an assignment due," I explained, hoping that would ease his surveying eyes.

He nodded and wrapped his arms around his chest, still watching me.

"You are working together?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," I replied and looked down the hall, hoping to see Edward there.

I didn't like the feeling I was getting from his dad. Like he assumed something of me.

God, did I look like the desperate girl coming over to pine over his son?

Could he tell I was nervous and excited to be here?

Shit, I bet my nipples were shouting to the world!

I was freezing.

Stupid idea, Charlie.

"How long have you been working with Edward?"

"Just a day or two, really," I started and frowned at his strange smile.

"Edward must be enjoying it."

Eww. Creepy Hot Guy had a Creepy Daddy.

"How do you like working with Edward?"

"Um, it's okay, I guess," I said through my teeth, trying not to make them echo with their chattering. "We haven't had much time to meet."

"Bella."

I turned at his voice, relieved to not be alone with Edward's dad any longer, but my stomach bottomed out when I saw the look on Edward's face.

Pure terror.

I instilled terror in the hearts of men.

Like a bad sci fi movie.

"You didn't tell us about Bella, Edward," Mr. Cullen said, and I could hear the insinuation in his voice.

If the man had an evil mustache, he'd be twirling it. What was his deal?

Why would Edward mention me, the bane of his existence?

"We were just paired up yesterday," I replied, hoping that would help. But I looked down again when I saw Edward's jaw clench.

"Edward, go and get Bella one of your sweatshirts to put on while we dry hers," Esme was saying.

I watched as Edward all but fled up the stairs to get away from me.

Esme took me by the shoulders and directed me towards their dining room.

"I really don't need to stay. I just needed to talk to Edward for a couple minutes," I said feebly, Esme hugging me close to her until we stepped inside.

"Nonsense," she said and helped me out of my sweatshirt. "You're freezing, and I wouldn't want to send you back to Chief Swan cold to the bone."

I covered myself up with my arms wrapped around my shirt before Creepy Dad could discover that I was absolutely cold to the bone. Or the nipples at least. Esme just smiled and pulled out a chair for me to sit.

"We don't get to see any of Edward's friends. It's nice to see he has one like you," she said happily.

Mr. Cullen's narrowed eyes didn't go unnoticed.

I should explain that I wasn't a friend. I hardly knew their son. Definitely not the way they thought.

Sadly.

"So how long have you known Edward?" he asked, as if reading my mind.

What was with these perceptive Cullens?

"Um, not even two weeks. I just moved here," I explained.

Mr. Cullen raised his eyebrow and glanced at his wife. Esme was staring hard at him.

I knew that look. Renee used it on Phil all the time when she wanted him to stop talking about baseball before he embarrassed himself.

"Where did you move from, Bella?" Esme asked, her voice so much less accusing than her husband's.

"Um, I'm from Phoenix actually. I just moved here two weeks ago," I said, feeling more and more awkward the longer I stayed in their house.

I felt like I was filling out an application.

Did they think they needed to evaluate me?

I let out a soft breath when Edward returned, a Forks High sweatshirt in his tight grasp.

And he had changed into jeans.

I could imagine why. How embarrassing would it be if Creepy Dad caught his son with a boner?

As much as I liked the idea that he would in my presence here at home, I was sure he was uncomfortable walking around in his sweatpants with me around regardless. I liked him both ways.

The sweats made his thighs look thicker.

What were they asking?

"Stay for dinner!" Mr. Cullen was saying. "You two can work on your project until its ready!"

I saw the tell tale jaw clench. Shaking my head, I tried to get up out of my chair.

"I don't want to impose," I stammered and shoved Edward's sweatshirt back at him.

Oh my, that was a very soft t-shirt.

I felt Esme gently persuading me back into the chair. I looked up at Edward, at the conflict in his face. He didn't want me here, and I was starting to feel like perhaps they were prepping me for dinner. A family of cannibals.

That would explain the Creepy.

"Stay for dinner," Edward murmured, his eyes softening. "We can talk… about the assignment."

I hesitated before taking his sweatshirt back and nodded, watching as Esme all but dragged her husband out of the room and into the kitchen. It was surreal really.

They were acting like parents of a teen girl that had a boy over.

Is this what parents of boys did?

Edward slid into a chair a few feet from me, his hand working through his hair nervously before he opened his mouth and then closed it again, finally clasping his hands together tightly on the table. I could tell he felt really uncomfortable with me there. I had invaded his last place of security.

"Edward, I didn't mean to be invited in like this," I said, hoping to alleviate some of the tension around us. "I was just really mad. I needed to know why you didn't come when you said you would. If it's about yesterday, I don't…"

He pursed his lips hard and shook his head at me, his eyes darting to the kitchen door.

So was he embarrassed about what he did or was he embarrassed by me?

I felt really slighted again.

"I'm sorry I didn't come to the library," he whispered, still avoiding me.

Jaw clenched and boring a hole into the door, I realized he was probably pissed because his family assumed he was interested in me.

His stiff demeanor screamed he didn't want me here. He didn't need to explain it to me. I was perceptive like that.

"I get it," I said. "You don't want me here, I get it."

"No," he replied quickly, his head turning to mine to look at me almost desperately.

His answer confused me thoroughly. And when he let his head droop, letting out a long weary breath, I was even more confused. He seemed resigned.

""I'm not good for you, Bella. I'm a bad person."

My hand struggled to reach out and take his. But I knew he's bolt.

"I don't think your bad."

"You don't know me," he murmured.

I want to.

I took a breath of courage and slid into the seat next to him, wanting to comfort him from the conflict that seemed to ooze out of his tense body. Even when he leaned away from me a bit, I was sure I wanted to get to know him better.

Of course when his brother walked in, I had my doubts.

Emmett Cullen. The football perv.

Now I understood why my dad was concerned. I intended to stay far away from that Cullen.

Was Edward anything like him?

He seemed to enjoy it when I called his brother a perverted ass. I had never heard him laugh before, and the lightness of it made me want to hear it again.

Why was he so serious all the time?

"Edward?" I asked when our laughter had finally quieted down to nervous silence.

He looked up from his clasped hands and the depth of them made me want to drown in them.

"I'm sorry upset you," he whispered, his eyes taking in my face in a way far more intimate than anyone had ever done.

"Just stop running away from me," I said softly, surprising myself in my boldness.

He swallowed and looked down at his hands again, breaking the brief link I had with what I thought was the real Edward Cullen.

"I'll try," he whispered and made a soft snorting sound.

I wasn't sure if should press him. He still seemed poised to run away from me, so instead I turned to my back pack.

"All right," I said. "It's your turn with Flour Child."

He chuckled and looked up once more, amusement clear on his beautiful face.

"Flour Child?" he asked. "You haven't named it yet?"

"I did," I replied, blushing. "His name is Flour Child. Or FC for short."

"You're kind of odd," he whispered, smiling.

"Takes one to know one," I countered.

We sat together for a little while, Edward listening to me detail the basics of our project. I'm not sure why he snorted when I told him about the blindness, Edward's mind seemed to take him to stranger places than mine did.

Mine were pretty generic really.

On top of the table, against the wall… things like that.

I reined in my pervy thoughts of Edward on top when Esme came in with the dishes.

I felt Edward tense beside me before he excused himself to go wash up.

Leaving me alone with his family for an unbearably long five minutes.

Carlisle watched me like a hawk spying a tasty mouse, while Emmett chuckled and shook his head at me over and over.

Was it too late for me to run away or hide?

Maybe that's what Edward was doing. Hiding in the bathroom.

That was a great idea.

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AN: Dinner next. With the Creepy Cullens!

MWAH!

steph