Chapter 28: Confused

B POV

I smile and announce Aro's name, then I look at Edward wishing I would've thought to fix his name for myself like he did. However, I was saving his gift for when there were fewer people around, way fewer, like none.

I stand, hand Aro his gift and watch him unwrap it. It's a basket of homemade cookies I had made today. There are peanut butter, chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and snicker doodle.

"Wow," Aro smiles. "Thank you so much Isabella. Did you make these?"

"Yeah," I answer. "Hopefully you don't have any allergies to any of the ingredients."

"Unless there's pet dander in these I think I'll be safe." He grins.

The last remaining people give and receive gifts and hot coffee is passed out to the adults. The kids decide to go down and play some games in the game room.

"Edward," I pull his arm back a little so that we fall further behind. "I have a gift for you."

"You do?" He asks.

I nod. "You play the piano correct?"

"Yes," He answers smiling, "Since I was four."

"Do you think if I give you some sheet music you could play something?"

"I'm sure I could." He teases. We walk into the front room, on the other side of the house from where the parents are in the sitting room. I sit him down in front of the keys and retrieve the sheet music I had snuck past him in my jacket. I grab the guitar that sits next to the piano, take a seat on the bench next to him and nod to him to start.

We play the first few notes together, him on piano and me playing the song I've been laboriously memorizing for the past month. Recognition flashes across Edward's face as I begin to sing the first few lines, I have to close my eyes to concentrate.

Wandering the streets, in a world underneath it all
Nothing seems to be, nothing tastes as sweet
As what I can't have
Like you and the way that you're twisting your hair
round your finger
Tonight I'm not afraid to tell you
What I feel about you.

I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
and cannon ball into the water
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
For you I will

Forgive me if I st-stutter
From all of the clutter in my head
Cuz I could fall asleep in those eyes
Like a water bed
Do I seem familiar, I've crossed you in hallways
a thousand times, no more camouflage
I want to be exposed, and not be afraid to fall.

I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
And cannon ball into the water
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
You always want what you can't have
But I've got to try
I'm gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have
For you I will
For you I will
For you I will
For you

We finish the last few notes, I finally open my eyes and look up at him. He presses his hand to my cheek and his face lights up in a big toothy smile. He leans in slowly to kiss me, but before his lips reach mine a clapping is heard from the doorway. We both turn to see Aro standing there, smiling.

"Isabella!" He cries as he pushes away from the wall. "You've been holding out on me. I didn't know you had such talent." A blush explodes onto my face, I didn't know he was there, that was supposed to be only for Edward.

"Aro," Edward says softly but firmly. "Do you think you could give us a minute?"

"Oh," Aro's face drops. "Of course! I'm sorry! I'm interrupting aren't I?"

We both just look at him in expectation and annoyance.

"I'll talk to you later Isabella." He says as he disappears around the corner.

"Sorry," Edward grimaces at me. I wave him off even though I really am terrified of singing in front of other people.

"Bella," Edward coos. "That was perfect. I didn't know you played guitar."

"I don't." I giggle. "I printed the music off and had Angela show me how to play just this song."

"Well then it means even more to me." He whispers in my ear.

I turn my face to meet his lips to mine. This kiss is as soft as a feather but contains more emotion then any kiss we've shared yet. His hand comes up and rests on my jaw, keeping him to me. His other hand wraps around my lower back. Tears begin to trace down my cheeks. Edward's thumb wipes them away as our kiss continues to reach into my soul and brand me.

He pulls back slightly, resting his forehead on mine.

"I love you, Isabella Swan." He sighs.

"I love you, Edward Cullen." I whimper in response, my voice cracking from the emotion coursing through my body.

He has no idea how much I meant every word of that. I would do anything I could to make him happy. We sit there for an unidentifiable amount of time, just exchanging breaths, measuring heart rates and conveying unsaid emotions with our eyes, touches and soft kisses.

It seems like only moments later when Alice comes in and tells me that Charlie is asking for me. Edward takes my hand and walks me into the living room.

"Hey dad," I answer as we approach him.

"Hey Bells," He waves. "Edward." He smiles genially at Edward. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Yeah," I answer.

"Alone." He reiterates.

"Sure," I squeeze Edward's hand and watch him walk away.

"What's up dad?" I ask as we walk out to the back deck.

"Well," He clears his throat. "Firstly, I was thinking of leaving soon. Do you want to stay here a bit longer or come home with me now?"

"I'd like to stay if that's alright." I answer. "Edward can bring me home."

"Okay, curfew is before 1 AM." I nod. He takes my wrist, the one which holds the bracelet. "This truly is a gorgeous gift Bella." He admires. "But I'm not sure of it's meaning."

"Dad," I sigh. "It's just a bracelet. It's a charm bracelet. I can put charms on it that I like or have meaning to me. I already have some ideas for ones that remind me of you, mom, Jacob, my childhood..." I press hoping he'll drop it.

"This isn't one of those 'sex' bracelets is it?" He asks grimacing.

"What's a sex bracelet?" I wonder aloud.

"You know," He pushes. "One of those bracelets that if you break it, you have to have sex with the guy who gave it to you..."

"Oh my, DAD!" I answer. "We've had this conversation already. None of your business. But as for this bracelet." I emphasize the gift Edward gave me. "No! It's simply a Christmas gift. What is your obsession with Edward and I having sex?"

"Well," He exhales nervously. "Honestly?"

"That would be nice..." I answer.

"Bella," He breathes. "You are my daughter and I love you. You are so smart and beautiful and I'm so glad that you have found love." His honesty is beginning to creep me out. "I simply wanted to say, that I trust you. You may be young and a tad bit naive, but you are also like me. You are a Swan, and Swan's are monogamous. So I know that if you are in this relationship with Edward it is because you are serious about him. So serious as to possibly run off and get married like I did with your mother. Sweetie, if you decide to do that, I'm one hundred and ten percent for that."

"What?" My voice drops into a serious and monotone octave.

"You heard me. Carlisle, Esme and I were talking about it earlier and we think you two are perfect for each other. Not to mention I'm dying to be a grandpa."

"DAD!" I say. "Are you encouraging me to get married and start having children now?"

"Yes. Is it working?"

"NO! If anything it makes me want to NOT have kids and get married!" I shout.

"Good!" He claps his hands. "Then let's go inside!"

"Woah woah woah!" I put my hands up. "You're confusing me."

"Good!" He pushes past me and walks through the door.

What was that? First he tells me he wants me to get married and have kids and then when I tell him that saying that makes me not want to do that his reaction is 'good'? How much has he had to drink tonight? I shake my head trying to clear the Seussian conversation that I just had and walk back inside.

I head to the basement where a new game has been cracked out and is causing Emmett to scream in frustration as Alice giggles in delight. I ask Edward what they're playing, apparently they're playing some game called Halo and Alice is kicking Emmett's butt.

By midnight, the Denali's and Francisco's have left. Rose and Jasper are hugging everyone good bye and following an extremely drunk Ms. Johnson being carried by a more sober Frank Hale to the car.

"Edward would you drive me home now?" I ask as Esme shuts the door.

"Oh Bella," She interjects, "Your pie tin."

"Oh yeah." I say as I follow her into the kitchen where the now empty and clean pie tin rests on the counter. "Thank you Esme, for everything. It was a wonderful evening and I'm so glad that I could join you all."

"Well Bella," Esme gushes, "We loved having you! We'll see you soon I'm sure." She winks and hugs me good-bye.

"Come on Bella." Edward brings me my jacket and drapes it around my shoulders. I willingly follow him out to the car. I slide into the passenger seat and shiver in response to the weather.

Edward drives slowly, either because of the ice or because of the fact that he wants to prolong our time together, I know not. I rest my head against the head rest all of a sudden feeling the events of the night sapping my energy. It's relatively silent except for the sounds of the car, not because we have nothing to say but because we are comfortable with not talking. The silence is calming, and his touch on my knee is causing my whole body to spark to life.

"Edward," I groan as his hand moves a little higher up my thigh.

"I can't help it." He chuckles. "The look of your face tonight is stuck in my head."

"Well then allow me to change the conversation." I tease. "I think we should be less harsh on Tanya."

"What?" He tenses. "If we let her walk all over us we'll be screwed, and not in a good way."

"She was crying tonight in the bathroom." I answer quietly. "I don't think she'll put up anymore of a fight with us. I think she's surrendered."

"You think? Or you hope?" He asks sarcastically.

"Both." I answer relinquishing my hand feeling safe that the direction the conversation has gone willl decrease his ardor.

"I'm a little concerned about Aro." Edward says. "He seems interested in you. Not like I am," He grins. "But he seems to want you to join their band."

"Yeah, that's not going to happen." I scoff. "I have a hard enough time singing in front of you."

"Thank you again for that." He answers. "You have a beautiful voice and I covet every word that falls from your mouth. You have no idea how much it pained me that you were so shy with me in the beginning."

That makes me smile. "Oh yeah?" I ask smartly.

"Yeah." He answers. "I had to act like a dumbshit to try and make you help me with Biology. Remember?"

"Yes," I groan. "I thought you only sat with me because you needed someone to do all of your work so that you could keep your GPA high enough to remain an athlete scholar." He chuckles.

"Well, I can honestly say that had nothing to do with it."

"Obviously." I scoff. "I totally misjudged you. Way off mark."

"At least you'll admit it now." He answers mildly as his thumb begins rubbing small circles on my thigh.

"Pull the car over." I say quickly.

"Why?" He asks looking at me. "Are you okay?"

"Just pull over." I huff.

He slows and parks in a small pull off and I open the door only to hop in the backseat. He watches me and then turns around in his seat to look at me, one eyebrow raised. I beckon to him with one finger and bite my lip slightly. Without even a second invitation he dives into the backseat.

His lips are on mine, his hands roaming back up my legs as I straddle his lap. He groans as my fingers grip his hair and pull slightly. I break the kiss to catch my breath and his lips are burning a trail down my neck to my chest. I vaguely register the song that is playing on the radio, Hands on Me by Vanessa Carlton, fitting.

His right arm loops around my back crushing me toward him, his other arm winds its way around my shoulder and pulls me down to him. His lips draw movements from my body that I have no control over. I manage to pull away slightly, he groans but before he can complain his my hands roam down his chest.

"Bel-laaaah." He moans as my ass grinds against his groin. I fumble with the snap on his pants but his hands are at mine.

"Bella, Bella, Bella." He grits as he shoves his head into my chest.

"What?" I ask coyly. "Let me-"

"Ugh," He groans again. "I can't do this."

"What?" I ask laughing at the absurdity of the situation.

"I can't." He looks me in the eye.

"Why not?" I ask a little peeved.

"Well," He huffs. "Not that I'm not loving how comfortable and confident you're getting with me, but I never imagined our first time being in the back of my car. Call me a hopeless romantic but I imagine candles, a bed, more than forty minutes..." He trails off.

All of a sudden I feel extremely guilty, slutty and rejected. I drop my head and self-consciously slide off his lap.

"Bella..." He trails off knowing that I'm not in the mood to hear it. "Don't do this."

E POV

Oh crap. I'm in trouble now. One minute everything is going well to say the least. Bella is grinding on top of me, her perfect breasts in my face the next I'm throwing chivalry at her.

"Bella?" I ask again. She looks up at me, a look I've never seen on her face stares back at me. "What is it?" I ask.

"Do you not want to sleep with me?" She asks bluntly.

"WHAT?" Oh shit, now I was really in trouble. Of course my actions from all this evening would make her feel that way. "No!"

"No you don't want to sleep with me?" She asks a little hurt.

"No. I mean of course I want to sleep with you. We've talked about this al-"

"Yeah but it seems when it comes down to the actually carrying it out part you freeze. First in your room tonight, you wouldn't let me return the favor and just now..." Her voice breaks and looks out the window.

"Bella..." I put one knee on the seat and loom over her. "Bella, look at me." She turns to look me in the eye, she's crying. I push my face within a centimeter of hers.

"Do you remember when we were in Spokane and I confessed to you that I wanted to be with you. That wasn't just in the personal and social aspects. I want you Isabella Swan, more than you can imagine. This was even after I heard about Drake and I vowed to myself I would never do that to you. When I physically show you how much you mean to me I don't want it to be rushed and I don't want it to be in the back of my car. Can you understand that?"

She looks up at me, her tears still brimming and a small sniff escapes her. She throws herself around my chest and buries her face in my shoulder. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and lay my cheek on her head.

"I understand Edward." She sighs. "I love you all the more for it too." She pulls back and kisses me once, twice and the third time she lets her lips stay on mine.

After a minute, we climb back into the front and I drive her home.

"Bella," I stop her from going directly inside. "Can we go on a date? Like a significant, real date?"

"Of course." She smiles.

"Good. Let's plan it for New Year's Eve. I'll pick you up the at 6 on the night before the fireworks, 'kay?"

"Okay." She leans in and I kiss her before she turns back into the house.

I practically spring back to my car, a new sense of buoyancy. Bella and I are going to spend significant time together, alone, with no need to try and worry about the sexual tension. Just us, being together, finally!