GAH! Long! LONG!

Did you know FFN adds like 300 words when you add that nice divider between the AN's and story… GAH- I suck at drabbles! 2k words? Really… well, that's a drabble for me… I'll work on those 500 word chapters for ya'll!

Dinner time!

Sabotage- The Beastie Boys

~~oo~~

Chapter 17: my parents were confusing as hell.

EPOV

To say that having Bella in my house was hard is an understatement. Even in my jeans I was having trouble. As soon as she sat beside me, I felt the urge to touch her. I kept my hands clasped tightly before me, terrified the one moment I slipped up would be the moment Carlisle would come bounding out of the kitchen pointing at me in accusation and hollering aha!

I could tell that he already knew what I was covering up.

He knew that Bella was more than simply a lab partner to me.

She was a female.

Pretty.

Shapely.

She smelled even better wet.

I tried my best to listen to her detail our project profiles. I found her voice very distracting. She had to tell me twice that our child was blind.

That was funny, really.

Well, not funny funny. My humor was way off the last few days.

But who knew the child of someone who jerks off a lot would be blind?

Yeah, my mind was failing and I was desperate to just touch her.

I was unclenching my fingers so that I could maybe brush her hair back over her shoulder when Esme walked in, announcing dinner in five minutes.

I quietly excused myself to go wash up, fully intending on easing some tension.

I admit it, I was weak.

Six times was not enough in one day filled with the likes of Bella Swan. Not without at least getting to touch her.

And maybe be inside her.

Fuck.

Fastest ever.

I doubted anyone would have timed me, but it was perhaps my paranoia that had me blushing at Carlisle's pursed lips and narrowed eyes when I returned. I tried to ignore his stare as I slid in beside Bella, who looked like she had gone to freshen up as well.

Her ponytail was now in a long braid down her back, coiling a bit around the hood of the sweatshirt I had given her to wear.

I couldn't wait to get it back. Yes, I'd be sleeping with it tonight.

That was if Carlisle didn't ruin this night with all his questions.

"So, Bella was telling us that you have to take care of a virtual child," Carlisle announced as he flicked his napkin to open it. "That should be interesting."

"I did that in sophomore year with an egg," Emmett announced. "Do they show you how it's made, too?"

I glowered at Emmett's wide grin while Esme chastised him for being rude. I could tell Bella was already blushing. I could feel it on her leg that was an inch from my own under the table. Just a slight adjustment and I could touch her.

Or would she bolt? I knew I would.

"I think it's an interesting project, giving you the challenge of dealing with a special needs child," Esme said, trying to redirect the conversation.

"You should come by the hospital sometime, both of you. I can have you do a little time in the development center," Carlisle said, glancing over at me and smiling benignly.

"That would be great," Bella replied excitedly, missing the undertone in his voice.

Was he trying to make me fail?

I watched him carefully; trying to gauge his motives while Bella described a little more what our semester long project would entail.

"We have to volunteer at a clinic that specializes in our child's need, as well as speak with a geneticist regarding what might have contributed to the issue in the first place," she said.

Emmett chortled and nearly choked on his food at her statement.

It seemed I wasn't the only one to think that Junior's ailment wasn't ironic.

Bella frowned at Emmett and grew quiet.

Asshole.

Whatever had happened between the two, it was obvious that he unnerved her. He just raised his eyebrow at us and shoveled in another large bite of chicken. Ever the angel.

"So, Bella," Esme continued, glaring at Emmett before smiling back at Bella. "Have you made many friends since you've been here?"

Bella focused on her meal as she shrugged.

"A couple. It's hard to make friends your senior year in a small town," she replied quietly. "Everyone has known one another for so long."

"Ah well, Edward and Emmett were new too, maybe they can help with that," Esme replied gently.

"Absolutely!" Emmett chortled. "I'm sure you and Edward have loads in common!"

I narrowed my eyes at Emmett, hoping I could get him to shut up by telepathy.

"You mean there is something else other than simply taking Biology together that Edward and I have in common?" Bella asked, her eyes suddenly more bold as she looked at Emmett as if in challenge.

I was surprised to see Emmett close his gaping trap.

How did they know each other exactly?

And why did Bella think he was the perverted one?

When he didn't answer her question, she popped a small piece of potato into her mouth and smiled smugly.

Carlisle watched it all in that calculating way of his. It seemed to spur on his interrogation.

"What sort of things do you like to do in your free time, Bella?" Carlisle asked.

I felt Bella tense up again and she cleared her throat as if nervous.

"I don't really have any," she murmured. "Reading, I guess. And music. I like listening to music."

"Really, what kind of music?" Carlisle pressed, making Bella tense again beside me.

I'd had enough of his interrogation.

"Why all the questions?" I asked, speaking up for the first time.

"Just curious, son. You haven't mentioned your friends, so we just want to know a little about them," Carlisle continued too calmly.

I let my knee touch hers lightly, as a way to show her my support. It only served to distract me. Because she pushed back.

Thigh to knee. Hot and pressed firmly next to mine tight.

"I should go," she said suddenly, glancing at me as she wiped at her mouth.

I wanted to stop her, but my mom beat me to it.

"Please, Bella, don't mind Carlisle. We still have dessert," Esme was saying.

Dessert.

I didn't think I'd be able to remain detached for another course.

"I have to get home before my dad worries," Bella replied. "Really, thank you for dinner."

She stood, as did Esme and Carlisle. I watched her as she bent over to grab her bag that was tossed in the corner of the dining room, jerking my eyes away from her ass when I heard Esme clear her throat.

"Edward, will you walk Bella to her car?" she asked, eyeing me intently.

Was she trying to tell me to behave or not to?

Fuck, my parents were confusing as hell.

"You don't have to," Bella replied and turned to hand me our flour sack. "But you get to look after FC tonight. Make sure you follow the instructions in the envelope."

"I'll walk you out," I whispered, terrified to look back at Carlisle who I knew would be bursting a blood vessel in his temple at Esme's suggestion.

As it was, Esme and Carlisle walked us to the door, standing there as I stepped out into the cool night with Bella. She waved to them awkwardly and then remained by my side as we walked out to her truck. It had stopped raining, but the ground was slick, making her slide beside me until I put my arm out and steadied her.

My fingers wrapped around her waist, pulling her into my side in an awkward embrace until she was sure on her feet once again. I moved to push her away gently, but her own arm moved in to touch my back, as if she needed the extra support. I was never more thankful for the dreary rain of Forks than at that moment.

"Your family is kinda weird," she whispered as we neared the truck.

"Kinda?" I asked, raising my eyebrow at her.

She turned in my arm, facing me. She didn't withdraw her hand from my back and I left mine around her loosely. She was inches from me, and not moving away. Her hand on my back felt warm and inviting. Her lips were there, her tongue peeking out to wet them for just a moment. Looking up at me with searching eyes, she made it so easy for me to want to lean down and kiss her.

It took every last shred of control not to.

Not with Carlisle watching.

"How did you end up the normal one?" she asked thoughtfully.

I laughed quietly and looked down, watching the emblem of Forks High rise and fall with her breaths.

She looked incredible in my sweatshirt. I couldn't ask for it back. She'd be taking a piece of me back home with her.

Maybe even sleep with it, as I had wanted to.

Naked.

I sighed and pulled away, looking down at our feet, and away from every tempting part of her.

"I'm not normal, Bella. I'm as weird as they are," I replied softly and slowly let my hand drop from her waist.

It went cold instantly without her heat.

"Night, Bella," I whispered, taking another step away from her.

"See you tomorrow?" she asked, her voice a whisper, like she doubted I'd be there.

I nodded and tried to smile. Was it wrong that I wanted her to stay?

I stood there as she started her noisy old truck, an abominable beast that should have been scrapped years ago. But it drove away with Bella inside, her small wave almost imperceptible as she looked back before disappearing into the night.

I stood out there for a while, until the cold made me shiver and remember her sweatshirt in the dryer. Stepping inside, I walked towards the mudroom where the dryer was, and paused when I heard Carlisle and Esme talking in hushed tones in the kitchen.

"No more," Esme was saying. "He's my child, too. I don't want this anymore."

"He's sick, Esme. Did you see the way he was looking at her?"

"Yes, I did! Like a typical teenage boy! You can't deny him every affection because of what happened to him."

"You know it's not just Tanya..."

"Don't you dare say her name."

"He's not capable of having a normal relationship."

"I want a second opinion. No more, Carlisle. I want my son to have a life. I want him to see Whit. You promised."

"You don't know what he's…"

"You don't think I know?" she pressed, her voice rising. "Tell me, who does the laundry here? I am well aware of what both of our boys are up to. I will not have you admonish and ridicule Edward and not hold Emmett just as accountable. They are both typical boys."

"Emmett's not…"

I turned away from the conversation, embarrassed that my mom knew what I was up to based on my clothes.

And my sheets.

How long had Esme known? Since before Tanya? Or only after.

And the argument.

I felt a bit of comfort in her defending me. Truth be told, she was the most pleasant one to Bella tonight. Maybe she understood.

I hoped she was saying that I was really just a normal guy.

A normal guy who was stealing a girl's sweatshirt out of the dryer to hoard.

Once in my room, I pulled it to my nose and inhaled, smelling the lingering scent of her in the fabric. But the fabric softener that Esme used had diluted it. Still, it was like her and I together in that little bit of fabric.

Yeah, she didn't think I was creepy.

I'd worry about that tomorrow.

Tonight, I'd enjoy the little bit of Bella I held in my hands; content to know she had a piece of me with her as well.

Tomorrow, I'd talk with her more. I liked talking to her. And try my best not to molest her.

I'd try.

~~oo~~

That's it for today! Thanks for reading!

MWAH!

steph