Hello again! Sorry it's late. Had a busy day yesterday and I'm behind on writing. Stupid work! Ah well, gotta pay the bills.

So here ya go. A little Bella.

Here Comes Your Man- The Pixies

~~oo~~

Chapter 26: "I was trying to behave today."

BPOV

I had such trouble sleeping, between Charlie being gone and my expectations for seeing Edward in the morning, that I finally got up and got ready for school, two hours before I needed to. And while I was certainly tired, the excitement of the day gave me a nervous sort of energy that I couldn't contain.

I cleaned my mess from the night before, spending a little time straightening Charlie's area in the living room. Everything I would normally do on the weekend I had accomplished in a couple of hours. And still I had energy. I showered and spent more time getting ready than I ever had.

I may have shaved and plucked a few areas I had never really thought about.

I definitely made sure my underwear and my bra matched and hadn't faded or become holey in any sense of the word.

It made me realize I needed to go and buy new underwear.

Or not wear any.

Eww. Too weird.

I left a note for Charlie that I was getting a ride and waited by the door shortly after seven.

I hoped he wasn't the kind of person that arrived late for things.

Early was on time in my book.

So when he pulled up at seven fifteen, I could feel myself bouncing in my shoes.

That gave us almost forty five minutes together before first bell!

But he stayed in his car, instead of coming to knock.

I could see him there in the reflection, hands on the wheel and crazy hair moving back and forth. I realized he was shaking his head. Then he'd stop and his head would lean forward.

What the heck was he doing?

I waited another minute.

Did he want me to just come out?

Well that was sort of rude. I mean I wasn't really sure of what our relationship was, but a guy should always come to the door, even as friends right?

And we were not just friends.

I was pretty sure.

So was he just waiting then until seven thirty?

I looked at the clock in the hall.

That was thirteen minutes away!

What was he doing?

I sighed in frustration, knowing I was going to have to suck it up and just go out there. He obviously wasn't going to come to the door. I grabbed my coat and cradled FC in my arm while I fumbled with getting my keys out to lock the door.

"Bella."

I jumped at the sound of his voice, nearly dropping everything in my hands.

Edward rushed forward and caught FC before it fell to the ground, his reflexes super fast.

"You scared me," I mumbled, clutching my keys to my chest until my hands stopped shaking.

He frowned and looked down at the floor.

"I'm sorry," he whispered and kept his eyes downturned.

"No, it's me," I replied and turned back to the door. "I'm always a little jumpy when I think I'm by myself."

His eyes trailed up until they were level with my chin, when he swallowed heavily and cleared his throat.

"Why is that?"

I stood there between him and the door, wondering if this was the place to learn something ridiculous about me. Usually that was done on dates out, at coffee, or even sitting on a couch where you could sit back and laugh over the silliness.

Not inches from a guy you really just wanted to kiss and drag back inside.

"Um, I'm just afraid of being alone sometimes," I murmured and it was my turn to look away. "Someone broke into our house when I was little and I've been scared ever since."

Edward's hand slowly trailed up my arm, feather light and tentative until his fingertips brushed across my cheek. It was a simple touch, but it made me shiver none the less.

"I don't want you to be afraid," he whispered and leaned in towards me.

He paused just inches from my face, closing his eyes and breathing deeply.

I waited for him to kiss me, watching his lips tremble slightly.

He was stalling. I wondered why.

My mind wondered. But my body didn't. Having been keyed up since the phone call the previous night, my body knew exactly what it wanted, even if it was presumptuous. Stretching upwards, my lips brushed against the corner of his mouth, ever so lightly. I didn't want to make it seem I was hungry for a kiss.

But really I was.

I felt his breath stutter against my cheek, and his lips adjust against mine as if to search for them in the dark. He hesitated, his breathing increasing before I felt his hand pulling me closer, mouth more insistent. My own arms moved to hold him to me, delighting in the warm feeling that rushed through me when our bodies met.

Mouth to mouth, searching and sighing, Edward's body pressing close to mine as the door pushed against my back, it seemed we could have stayed like that forever.

But Edward slowly drew away, his eyes heavy and his face flushed as he looked down at me and chuckled darkly.

"I was trying to behave today," he whispered, his long fingers stroking down my neck and sending new shivers through me.

"Is that what you were doing in the car?" I asked, smirking.

His eyes widened and he looked back towards the car.

"You… you could see me?" he asked, nervous.

I shrugged and moved past him towards his car. I didn't want him to think I thought he was weird because he talked to himself.

I did it all the time.

"You just looked like you were fighting with yourself," I replied, trying to make light of it.

But it seemed strange that he'd be fighting over whether to kiss me or not. He was quiet as he opened my door and let me into his car. I watched him as he placed FC in the back seat, smirking when he buckled it in with a shake of his head. When he slid into the driver's side, he paused before starting the car. The same sort of look he had had before he got out of the car flitted across his face again as he sat there.

He finally glanced at me and cleared his throat.

"I don't want you to think that my hesitation has anything to do with you," he started, frowning over his words.

"Okay," I replied quietly.

"It's just," he said, letting out a forceful breath, "There are things about me that I need to control when I am with you. And I don't want to scare you because of them. I really like you. A lot."

I fought to hide my smile.

"Okay," I said again, earning a strange look from him.

"You say that now," he murmured, staring at me with questioning eyes.

"I know I don't really know you, Edward," I stated. "But I'd like to. And maybe what you think is scary is not the case at all."

His frown deepened for a second before a gentle smile appeared on his lips. He started the car and let out a soft chuckle.

"I'd really like that," he replied before pulling out towards school.

We were quiet for the few minutes it took to get to school, smiling in our own thoughts until we pulled into the parking lot. I could immediately feel eyes on us as he helped me out of the car.

As if yesterday wasn't bad enough, it seemed everyone wanted to know why I was with Edward Cullen.

"Wow," I whispered, hunkering down into my coat as we started walking towards the lockers.

"It'll die down before tomorrow," he said lightly, his arm moving stealthily to drape over my shoulders. He leaned in close, his mouth close to my ear. "That is unless we do something to get more attention."

I held my breath at his tempting words.

I wondered if perhaps making out at the locker was out of the question.

Edward waited with me by my locker as I pulled out the books I needed, his eyes tracking Mike Newton as he passed. Mike glanced at Edward for only a second before hurrying off to class. It seemed I'd have to wait for any sort of apology from Mike, not that I wanted one really.

"I'll see you at lunch?" Edward asked just outside my first period classroom.

I nodded and stood there awkwardly, waiting to see if he'd kiss me again or simply walk away. He leaned in and kissed me lightly before letting out a soft laugh and stepped away. I watched him walk away, his hands tucked in deep to his pockets. He disappeared around the corner and I wondered what classes he had. I never saw him before lunch.

More things to talk about I guessed.

But that would have to wait until lunch.

I had to somehow make it through five more classes and not think of Edward.

That turned out to be much harder than I thought, once I realized that Jessica and Lauren were in my third period class, along with Angela who seemed to be bouncing when she saw me step into class.

"Oh my god, Bella!" she squeaked as soon as I sat beside her. "I'm home sick for one day and you're now dating Edward Cullen? You have to fill me in!"

I could feel Jessica and Lauren watching me as they sat just behind us. I got some satisfaction that they would have to hear that their little plan to get me to give up on him had failed. I was never the kind of person to throw things in their own faces, but this would feel good.

"Well, it's sort of new and all," I said in a loud whisper. "And after my dad met him yesterday, things seem to be going really well."

"Oh my god, did your dad give him the third degree?" Angela asked.

I laughed and shook my head.

"No, he was really cool. He likes Edward a lot," I said simply.

"So?" she pressed. "What else? You have to tell me everything! Is he a good kisser? Has he kissed you yet?"

I simply smiled and didn't answer her.

Not answering left all three of them wondering, and speculating.

After all, they had made everyone else speculate. And I wasn't about to sit back and gossip about a guy who was maybe, possibly my boyfriend.

I still needed to clarify that.

But for the time being, I'd let Jessica and Lauren stew in their angry juices and I'd sit and smile, happy in knowing that in a couple of periods, I'd be seeing him for real.

And maybe I could sneak another kiss from him.

He wanted to behave.

But I really wanted to be bad.

I was full of that nervous energy again when the lunch bell rang.

So when I saw him walking towards me from the other side of school, eyes intent on me, I wondered if he really did want to behave. Because his eyes said differently.

And his body more so.

"Here comes your man," Angela giggled beside me before waving goodbye, leaving me to watch as he seemed to prowl towards me.

He licked his lips and glanced around us before stepping close, eyeing me with dark eyes.

"Hungry?" he whispered, with that rough voice that made my stomach flutter.

"You have no idea," I murmured, not really meaning to say it out loud.

But he heard me and the most wicked smile spread on his face.

"I think I have an idea," he replied, wrapping his arm around me and pulling my away from the cafeteria.

I looked back for a second until he leaned in to whisper in my ear.

"Trust me?"

I could only nod.

The tingling sensation coursing through my body refused to let me doubt him.

I couldn't wait to see where we were going.

I hoped somewhere alone.

~~oo~~

Oh Edward, trying to talk himself down in the car. As if he could resist her. He just can't… wonder what he has planned. Maybe more study time in the library…

I wanted to get through the entire day with this chapter. Why do I think these things? Snort… at least we'll get to see it in Edward's POV… tomorrow.

Thanks all who are reading and pimping! Love you all!

MWAH!

steph