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Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 2

Fifty-five minutes later, I walked out of the girls' locker room, wincing as I touched my head gently. I'd bumped into one of my teammates earlier as I tripped over my own shoelaces.

I was developing a bad headache. It hurt like crazy. I reached my locker without further embarrassing moments. I twirled the dial quickly and opened it.

I exchanged my books and binders to the ones I needed for homework tonight. I closed the locker when I was done, and replaced the lock back in its place.

"Bye, Bella!" Jessica Stanley called from her own locker. She was a popular cheerleader that sat with all of us at our jock lunch table.

"See ya, Jess!"

I rubbed my temples absently as I made my way to my car. It was a glossy white Audi Coupe that Edward had gotten me for Christmas last year, as soon as I had gotten my license. I'd protested, but the entire Cullen family had insisted that I take it. I had consented under pressure.

I always parked between Edward's shiny Volvo and Rosalie's red M3. The three cars were the fanciest car in the whole school.

As I neared, I saw Rosalie and Emmett leaning on the hood of her car. They were waiting for the rest of us. We usually always hung out over at one of our houses.

"Hey, Bella," Rosalie greeted me cheerily. "What happened to you?"

"I bumped my head," I mumbled. "Hey, Em."

He guffawed. "When will your coordination get better?"

"When you shut up and stop teasing me about it. Ah!" I yelped as I tripped on my own foot again.

Someone grabbed me from behind, and I knew who it was as soon as I smelled his familiar scent mixed with his cologne.

"Thanks, Edward," I grumbled.

"You okay?" he asked, looking concerned as he peered at me. "You don't look so good. Wait. What happened to your forehead? It's swelling up."

Edward was the only one who ever noticed anything abnormal about me. He always took the time to study everything about me.

"Don't tell me," he sighed as he reached to rub my forehead gently with his palm. "You bumped into someone."

I bit my lip. "Something like that, yeah."

"Why? Did you move on from basketball?"

"Volleyball," I said, and he made a face.

"I swear, Coach Clapp is scheming to kill you," he mumbled. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," I mumbled, pushing his hand away. "I just need an ice pack."

"Aw, how cute," Alice chirped as she and Jasper arrived. "I saw that. Did Edward finally confess his love to you, and you're dating now? Please tell me that it's true." She looked seriously hopeful for a joke.

Edward glared at her. "Shut up, Alice."

Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper snickered, while Alice still looked at me for an answer.

"Ask something that actually makes sense, Alice," I said.

"Why doesn't it make sense?" Alice asked, looking genuinely surprised. "Do I have to remind you again how much I would love having you as my sister-in-law, and Edward's wi -"

"Let's not go there again," I interrupted.

Edward glowered at his sister. "Just for saying that, you're not stealing away Bella today. No shopping spree."

"What?" Alice looked shocked. "You're kidding! What else would Bella do?"

"She's tutoring me," Edward snapped, opening the Audi's car door for me. "So you can forget about shopping."

The others were still grinning widely, as if they were all sharing a private joke, but I didn't get what was so interesting. It was like any other day. Alice hints around that she would love to see me date Edward. We both get mad at her, and Edward would forbid her to take me shopping, claiming that I had to tutor him. Same old day.

"Edward! I am your elder sister, and I command you to let go of Bella's hand right now!" Alice had her hands on her hips.

"You're seventeen too, Alice," I told her.

"I'm older by birthday!"

"Who cares about birthdays?" Edward muttered. "Get in, Bella. We're meeting at our house today, so I'll see you there."

"Okay. Anyone want a ride?"

"Yes!"

"Besides you," Edward shot at his sister. Her face fell.

"Never mind," I muttered under my breath as I slid into my seat. Edward shut the door behind me, and I backed out carefully.

I arrived at the Cullens' first. I drove slower the others, but maybe they'd been arguing before they got into their cars.

"Hey, Esme," I greeted her in the kitchen. I sat on a barstool next to the counter, tossing my bag on the floor behind me.

"Bella," she said, smiling as she sliced carrots. "Where are the others?"

"I don't know," I said, stealing a carrot and placing it my mouth. "They should be here any minute now. I left first because Alice was upset."

"Oh, dear," Esme chuckled. "Did she tease you two again?"

I rolled my eyes. "As usual."

Carlisle and Esme were the three Cullen siblings' adoptive parents. Esme wasn't able to give birth, so they adopted Emmett, Alice, and Edward when they were really young.

It was hard to believe they weren't their biological parents. The way they regarded and respected their children was too real. They had become a biological family through their tight bonds.

"I am so amazed at how frustrating this is," Alice's lofty voice got closer. They must have arrived. "Did I mention how stupid this is it, Edward? I told you that the thing to do is just go for it."

The five of them appeared at the kitchen doorway. They joined me at the barstools.

"Go for what?" I asked.

"Shut up, Alice," Edward advised. "Let's just forget it."

"Forget it?" Alice asked incredulously. "It's not exactly a secret anymore. I'm seriously surprised that she doesn't suspect it yet-"

"Alice," Jasper cut her off. "Let's leave him alone. He'll figure it out."

"Girl trouble?" Esme teased. "Who is it this time?"

"It's nothing, Esme," Edward said, looking embarrassed. "Really." He shot Alice a look.

"I wouldn't say it's nothin'," Emmett said, crunching on a carrot he'd stolen from his mother. "It's just this girl that he's known for a long time and he really likes, but doesn't want to ask her out yet because he thinks she only likes him as a friend and-"

"Really?" I asked, leaning forward, interested. "Who is it?"

He shut his mouth and glanced at Edward nervously. "No…one?"

"Come on, Em, spill. I won't tell anyone."

"Bella," Edward said, tugging on my wrist as he got up. "We'd better go upstairs so that you can tutor me in silence." He glared at his siblings as he dragged me out.

We heard them laughing as we walked upstairs.

"You really have someone you like?" I asked him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged. "I didn't think you were interested."

"I'm interested in anything that's related to you," I said.

He sighed. "Let's drop it, Bella. Alice and Emmett are just doing that to annoy me."

I laughed as I punched him in the arm playfully. "You really like her, don't you? You're crazy about her. I can tell now that I know."

"Yeah?" Edward asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah. Is she pretty? Nice? Smart?"

"All three," he told me, smiling slightly. He messed up my hair lightly. "Like you."

"Don't be ridiculous," I snorted as we entered into his huge bedroom. "I seriously doubt it."

He smiled crookedly. I loved that smile. He saved it only for me.

"Do you really need to be tutored on mitosis, or was that just an excuse?" I asked.

"Excuse, of course," he said. "I just wanted to be alone with you. Can you believe how annoying they get?" He frowned.

"Don't you find me annoying at all?" I asked, laughing slightly. "I've been around for twelve years. Ever since kindergarten. Till now. Don't you get tired of me?"

"No," Edward said. He lay down on his bed, sprawled up like a cross. "Never."

"What could be so interesting about me?" I asked, sitting down next to him on the edge of his bed. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm as normal as anyone could be, average in everything I do, and there's nothing about me that stands out. What do you see in me?"

He glanced at me, then, without warning, wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me towards him. I found myself lying next to him, my head on his arm. He turned so that he was facing me, smiling playfully.

I slapped his shoulder. "Let me up."

"No."

"Edward…" I warned.

He studied my face so intensely that I felt self-conscious. The blush creeped up to my face.

"Well, for one thing…" he said quietly, reaching up to brush my cheek lightly with his fingers. "This. I love it when you blush. It's so adorable on you."

I rolled my eyes. "Now you're just going too far. If you don't want me to tutor you, then let me up so I can start on homework."

"And this," Edward added. "The fact that you have a boy nearly on top of you and you don't give a damn. All you can think about is stupid homework, isn't it?"

"A boy that is my best friend," I pointed out. "Nothing more. There's no reason why I should feel that way."

Edward didn't move. "Really? Nothing at all?"

"Are you done?" I asked, frowning. "I believe you and I both have a lot of homework. It's Wednesday, after all. The middle of the week."

He sighed. "I suppose you're right. But I really need you to tutor me on something after homework is done."

"What?"

"How to get a girl to like me."

I started laughing. "You're kidding, right? Why would you need tutoring on that? You're a ladies' man. You have all the girls behind you. Just ask her out, and she'll say yes no matter what."

He frowned. "It's not funny. And I really do need help."

"Oh, God," I said. "You really are crazy about that girl, aren't you?"

"Yes," he said, still staring at me intensely. "I'm crazy about her."

I sighed as I closed my eyes wearily. "I'm sorry to tell you that you're asking the wrong person. I have no experience in that field."

"Just tell me what you would want. I'll go from there."

"Ask Alice. Better yet, ask Rosalie. They both had more than enough experiences."

"Bella…" he whined, slowly returning back to his normal behavior.

"You went out with tons of girls these past few years," I said. "If anyone should tutor someone on how to win over the opposite sex, then you should be the one to tutor me."

"You've dated boys too."

"Once."

"You've gone on dates with each boy once," he corrected. "I never understood why you didn't go steady."

"Because I didn't know how to tell them no," I said.

"Which is exactly why Mike Newton is still under the impression that you like him," Edward snapped. "You have to cut him off cleanly."

"I went out with Mike six months ago."

"And he's still asking you out. It's too bad you didn't learn how to say no six months earlier. It's a bit too late."

"Tell him to stop for me."

"What's in it for me?"

"Oh, you!" I said exasperatedly as I smacked his shoulder.

He laughed as he released me. He pulled me up with one good jerk, and saying, "Come on, let's get to work."

For the next two and half hours, we worked in silence. We spoke up now and then to ask a question about a problem, but other than that, nothing new happened. Until my phone rang.

Edward had already finished his homework and was in the middle of repacking his things in his backpack. I had a few more math problems left, when my phone began ringing.

I glanced at it, then grimaced. I turned back to my notebook, trying to ignore it.

"Who is it?" Edward asked.

"Don't-"

Too late. He'd already seized it and looked at the caller ID. "This guy is quite irritating, isn't he?"

"He's your friend, Edward."

"Still. Answer, and tell him to stop bothering you."

"No way, he never listens. It'll be two hours before he lets me off the phone."

"Fine, I'll tell him."

"NO!"

I was too late again.

"Hello?" Edward answered with awful coldness in his tone.

"Edward?" I heard on the other end. "I thought this was Bella's phone. Am I wrong?"

"No, you're right," Edward said. "This is her phone."

"Then why are you answering it?"

"I have a better question for you," he said icily. "Why are you harassing my friend?"

"I'm not harassing her. What are you talking about, man?"

"You keep calling her when she refuses to go out with you," Edward said. "That's harassment."

"Why are you so protective of her, anyway? Wait…you two aren't dating, are you?"

"And if we are?"

I was horrified. "Edward!"

"I'm warning you, Mike," Edward said, ignoring me. "You're my friend, but I won't tolerate it if you keep bothering her. Don't call her anymore. Or you will answer to me." He hung up.

"Edward Cullen," I said disapprovingly. "You big liar."

"I wasn't lying," Edward disagreed. "You are on a date with me right now, didn't you know?"

"And what kind of a date was this?" I asked, scoffing. "Study date?"

"Exactly," he said, grinning.

"That may be true, but we aren't dating," I told him. "Dating, as in the process of going out with the same person? We're not doing that. Besides, you already have someone you like."

He made a face at me. "Whatever you say, this was a date."

"Don't expect me to go on any other dates with you," I teased as I turned back to my work.

"Why are you so slow?" Edward asked after a while. "You should've been done a long time ago."

"You know math is my weakest subject."

He leaned over, and upon finding that I was just finishing up the last problem, he grabbed my pencil and finished it quickly for me.

"Hey!"

"There, now you're done." He closed the notebook and stuffed my things inside my bag before tossing it next to his own bag.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he dragged me to his sofa.

"You have to tutor me, remember?"

"I don't recall agreeing to tutor you."

"Please?"

"No. I told you I don't have experience."

He looked thoughtful. "Alright. Forget it, then. Let's play our what-if game. We haven't played it in a while."

I smiled. "Fine."

What-if game was like the truth game, where you had to answer honestly. This was similar, but the questions had to be in a what-if form. We asked mostly hypothetical questions, wondering what we would do in a certain situation.

"Do you want to go first?" he offered.

"Sure," I said easily. "Hm… What if one of the cheerleaders asked you out?"

He made a face. "Ew. What about it?"

"Would you say yes?"

"No." He looked one hundred percent certain.

"You didn't even think about it," I said, frowning.

"It's something I don't need to think about," Edward said. "Besides, that isn't hypothetical. It's happened too many times before, Bella."

"Alright, alright. Go ahead."

"What if…" He hesitated. Then, he forged on. "What if I told you that I loved you?"

"What kind of a question is that?"

"I'm honestly curious," Edward said, smiling slightly. "What would you do?"

"Well…wouldn't it be normal? I mean, we are friends. And we're like siblings. We've told each other that numerous times."

He shook his head. "Not in that way."

I thought for a moment. "I never really thought about it," I admitted. "I'm not sure. I can't imagine it…probably because we've been friends for a really long time."

"Will you let me know if you do find out?"

I glanced at him strangely. "Why do you want to know so badly?"

"I told you…" He smiled crookedly. "Just curious."

"Okay," I shrugged, not thinking twice about it. "My turn. Um…"

"I got one!" Emmett announced, bursting into the room. "What if I threw your entire music collection out the window?" The other three followed him inside, looking amused.

"Then I would kick your ass and make you buy the whole collection with your own allowance," Edward said calmly without missing a beat.

Emmett's face fell comically. "I was just kidding. You didn't have to answer so seriously." He plopped down next to me. "You guys haven't played that game in a while."

"Which is why we're playing it right now," I said, smiling. "But I think I'm stuck. Anyone want to help me out?"

"Yes!" Alice said suddenly. "I got a perfect question for you two. You guys both have to answer it. Don't worry," she added when Edward and I grimaced. "It's nothing bad. I just got to thinking it randomly during Biology in second period. Okay. What if you introduced your best friend to another one of your best friends so that they could date, but the first best friend was actually in love with you?" She said is so fast that I didn't catch everything.

I frowned. "What?"

Alice sighed. "You're very slow today, aren't you? Alright, I'll repeat it. Let's say that you have a boy friend, not someone you're dating, but someone who is your friend. Like you and Edward, you know."

"Go on."

"You have a girl friend who is interested in your boy friend. So you decide to do some matchmaking and hook them up. But then, you find out that the boy friend is actually in love with you, and he doesn't even see the girl you paired him up with. And vice versa with you, Edward. What would you do?"

I frowned slightly, thoughtful. Edward, too, looked intrigued.

"That is a really good question," Rosalie mused. "Maybe we should all answer that one."

"Good idea," Alice chirped. "I've already got my answer figured out."

"Alright," Edward chuckled. "Let's hear it."

"I would go out with him."

I raised my eyebrow. "What about your girl friend? Would you betray her?"

Alice sighed. "Well, I guess it would depend on what kind of a person she was. Now, if it was someone like Jessica, I wouldn't even consider it. Just go straight to that boy friend and tell him that I wanted to go out with him. On the other hand, if it was somebody that I really cared about, like you, Bella, then I would probably have to think about it some more."

"I would probably remain neutral and stay friends with both of them," someone said at the doorway.

We all looked to see Carlisle standing there, looking amused. He'd heard the whole thing.

"Hey, Carlisle," Rosalie greeted him. "You're home early."

"A bit," he agreed. "Playing what-if? It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"I think it's a little different for boys," Jasper mused. "Boys are more impulsive. They would follow their desires, not their brain or their heart."

"I would date both," Emmett said.

Edward and I both rolled our eyes.

"Very mature, Em," Alice snorted.

"Esme says dinner will be ready in an hour," Carlisle said before disappearing into his office.

"What about you guys?" Rosalie asked Edward and me. "What would you do?"

"Me?" Edward looked doubtful. "I don't know. I suppose it would depend on the circumstances. There are a lot of what-ifs attached to that question as well. What if the girl was a good friend of yours? What if she begged you to help her get to him? Blah, blah. I'd rather stay away from the love triangle."

"I think it would depend whether or not I liked him back," I said thoughtfully. "I mean, there's a chance that I only saw him as a friend."

"Fine, then," Alice said, shrugging. "What if you do like him back?"

"I would think about it, and ask myself if it's worth betraying the girl."

"What if you don't like him back?"

"Reject him," I said simply. "What else could I do? I'd tell him to go to that girl instead."

"Smart," Rosalie teased.

Edward was silent, staring at Alice strangely. Then, abruptly, he said, "Was there a reason you were wondering about that, Alice?"

"No, no reason," Alice said innocently. "I was just wondering. It was just one of those things that pops into your head randomly."

Jasper smiled at her fondly. "I wonder how it got into your head."

"So do I," Edward said dryly. He gave her a meaningful look. She cleared her throat and avoided his gaze.

In that awkward moment, my phone rang again. I checked it, then sighed.

"Tell him the to butt the hell out," Edward said, still staring at Alice.

"Fine," I muttered before rising and leaving the room.

He was right. Mike was getting annoying. What did hesee in me, if Edward saw the blush and ignorance?

AN: There was a bit of foreshadowing. Did you catch that, I wonder? Hehe. ;) I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Reviews, please!