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At least my task for Edward is easy enough. I already know what Angela was doing, covering for me with the layout of the school paper. As for Bree, I've been meaning to talk to her anyway.

Bree is a small girl with a round face and a short bobbed haircut which makes her look younger. She hangs around with Riley, Laurent and that really creepy James guy. Riley is the local dope dealer and I suspect James of much worse things. I wouldn't normally know these things (especially in Forks where my Police Chief Dad is so well known) but in my first couple of weeks at Forks High I spent a lot of lunchtimes lurking around the back of school buildings, trying to avoid attention. A few times I ran into Bree, also apparently loitering around aimlessly behind the art studio and after a couple of those times I realized that she was being a lookout for Riley who was conducting transactions nearby. Bree always looks a bit lost. I thought she might have been in it for the drugs at first but she's in my English Lit class and she doesn't ever appear stoned. So nervous, she jumps at least a foot if someone drops a book and in fact, some weed might actually do her good. Either that or benzodiazepines. Riley hardly seems to talk to her and I've actually seen him being quite cruel to her on occasion but she follows him around like a lost pup. I know all about trying desperately to fit in somewhere so my heart goes out to her, I just don't understand why she's trying to fit in with those guys. Anyway, I heard Mr Varner talking about cracking down on drugs at school and I want to warn her. I don't give a rat's about Riley, Laurent or James but I don't want to see them drag Bree down with them. I thought I might warn her to stay away for a bit. She probably won't listen to me but at least I can try.

I catch up with her after class, on our way to the locker sat lunchtime. I mention that I've seen her hanging around the back of the art studio at lunchtime and ask her casually enough if she was there yesterday. She tenses up like I've accused her of terrorism but I disarm her by smiling and mentioning that I've run into her there before. I mention Riley and her face softens. Eventually, she admits that she was doing lookout duty for him as usual. I give her my warning but I can't say that I've got any hope she'll pay any attention to it. She looks frightened at first but then a stubborn expression comes over her face. I offer for her to come and sit with me and the other girls (while privately thinking that I might not be sitting with the other girls if Jessica's little greeting this morning is anything to judge by) but I can't convince her to change her lunchtime hangout. I have a feeling that this is not going to end well for her but I've done all I can. I hope Mr Varner goes easy on her if he catches them.

I make my way to the cafeteria, hoping that I'll run into Angela because I'm frankly dreading trying to sit with the girls as I usually would. If Jessica is there she'll be aiming more of her poison glares at me and I might need Angela's help. I grab a tray and line up all the while throwing wary glances around the room, trying as subtly as possible to work out who's there. One such glance brings me eye to eye with none other than Edward, sitting on his own at a table in the corner and when our eyes meet he brings up his hand and waves. I look away, trying to pretend I haven't seen but when I look back again he's gone. I go back to scouting the room for seating possibilities when a velvety soft voice beside me says "Come over when you've got your lunch, I've got lots to report". A quick glance shows me Edward with a slightly mocking grin. I find that I can't say anything but manage a brief nod.

Oh my God, I'm having lunch with Edward.

The butterflies in my stomach immediately reject the idea of actually eating anything substantial. I buy an apple and a lemonade and walk over to Edward on legs that are shaking slightly. I crack open my lemonade in a hurry. I think I need sugar.

He obviously is not suffering from any lack of appetite judging by the decimated remains of a pizza on his plate. When I'm feeling sufficiently settled, I look up at him to catch the best sideways grin on his face, lighting his eyes. I feel a fizzing sensation deep in my chest – no wait, that's the lemonade I just swallowed.

"So, Watson" he says "How is your investigation going?"

I'm grinning foolishly I know, but I can't help myself.

"Bree is out Holmes," I tell him. I explain briefly about her role as lookout for Riley.

Edward looks vaguely uncomfortable. "Did you know about Riley's small business model?" I ask him. He heaves a sigh. "Yeah, I mean everyone knows that Riley always seems to have some weed on him so it's only logical that he'd sell it. Especially as Riley doesn't seem to be stoned most of the time. I didn't realize that Bree was involved in that side of things." He looks at me inquisitorially "Are you going to tell your Dad?"

I pull a face. This is one of the problems of being the local Police Chief's daughter. "No, absolutely not." I tell him resolutely. I thought about this quite a bit when I first moved to Forks. "That's the last thing I want. I don't want Riley busted for possession and I definitely don't want to involve Bree. I don't want everybody thinking that they can't be normal around me. And truthfully Dad probably doesn't want to deal with it either. Provided he's not pushing heroin or crystal meth or getting major criminal syndicates involved it's not worth it. Do you ever tell your Dad about things like that?" It's a fair question. As the local physician, Dr Cullen could be the human face of the War on Drugs for Forks.

Edward snorts. "Nope" he says definitely. "Just like you, I bet Carlisle doesn't want to know".

I'm curious about how he refers to his Dad. "Carlisle?" I ask. "You know Alice and I are adopted, right?" I nod my head. "We were only three, so for years we called them Mom and Dad but they've always told us that we were adopted. I don't remember any big revelation, I feel like I've always known it. When I was about twelve, I had a big rebellion thing and announced that I was going to start calling them by their first names. I expected the world to fall in but they just said sure, Edward, we still love you. So much for the big rebellion. I gave up wanting a leather jacket and a motorcycle. And I still call Esme 'Mom' about half the time because it's so obvious that she likes it. But I fell into the habit of using Carlisle instead of Dad. It doesn't bother him at all and it makes me feel more like we're equals, you know?"

This speech gives me a warm feeling of recognition, after my initial panic in case Edward didn't want to talk about being adopted. "I call my Dad 'Charlie' most of the time," I tell him. He doesn't say anything but looks interested, so I add "I didn't get to see him very much for years, although we sort of kept in touch, so I just fell out of the habit of calling him 'Dad'. Like you said, it doesn't seem to bother him". "Do you call your step-dad 'Dad'?" he asks.

"No. My mom only just got married. While they were seeing each other he was 'Phil' and now that they're married he's still 'Phil'. No-one has even tried to suggest that he should become 'Dad'."

A slight pause falls but it's not uncomfortable. In fact, I have a warm inner glowing feeling that comes from having found something in common with a fellow human being. Either that or I'm having a sugar rush from the lemonade. A couple more seconds pass and then I remember that there is another topic of conversation.

"So what have you been doing Holmes?"

Edward gives me his slight lop-sided grin, the one that always makes me smile back. "I have been doing some basic fact-checking, Watson" he says in a superior tone with a decent attempt at an English accent. Why is it that a proper English accent just sounds superior no matter what you are saying? I think it's something about the face you pull while you do all that clear enunciation. "Oh yes?" I ask, happily and dutifully falling into the role of the dim-witted sidekick. "Yes. I went to the Nurses' office to verify Jessica's story"

Actually, I am a little gob-smacked by that one. "Really? You just went and interviewed the nurse? And she just told you what you wanted to know?" Sure Edward is gorgeous and charming but I thought there was supposed to be some kind of patient confidentiality thing. Not very professional on the part of the school nurse, I can't help thinking.

Edward winks and this potentially cheesy move looks great on him. He sits back with his arm of the chair next to him, and for thirty seconds he is the completely cocky, confident, lord of creation. Then his face suddenly drops, his shoulders hunch and he leans forward and studies his hands. "OK, actually I got Emmett to go along with a blood nose and I went with him as the supportive friend and from there it was easy enough to ask all the questions I wanted."

"Nice" I say admiringly, before something horrible occurs to me. "Wait a minute, how did Emmett get a blood nose? Did you use tomato sauce? Don't tell me you squirted one of the cafeteria bottles of tomato sauce up his nose? Or… oh God, you didn't punch him?"

My voice has almost reached squeaking proportions. Edward shakes his head quickly "Of course I didn't punch him. Have you seen Emmett? Do you know how much he can bench? No, no, Emmett has other means."

I'm mystified. There's only one other reason that I can think of for frequent blood noses. "Emmett is a cokehead?" I whisper.

Edward just laughs. "Jesus where do you come up with this shit? No, no, Emmett has a very special talent for blood noses. It's his superpower. He can get a blood nose anytime he wants" he hesitates and I must be looking skeptical because he goes on "He just picks his nose really hard".

I have to laugh at this. "You're bullshitting" I tell him. Nobody gets a blood nose that makes them have to attend the School Nurse just from nostril caving.

"I shit you not" says Edward with an attempt to look virtuous. "He got hit in his nose really hard once playing baseball and it bled on and off for weeks. It slowly got better but it can still bleed at the least little thing. Carlisle says he's got some blood vessels in his nose that formed as it healed and they're really fragile. Carlisle keeps suggesting that he let him burn or freeze the problem blood vessels but Emmett is too chicken. He thinks it's going to hurt or something so he just puts up with the blood noses. At least it stopped him picking his nose much. On the downside, there was that time when Rose gave him a blood nose just by kissing him."

I am fascinated by this insight into the life of the Edward and his circle of friends who I've only ever watched from across the lunchroom before. This friendly chatter is giving me the illusion for a moment that I belong with Edward, with his friends. I remind myself that this is transient.

"So what did you find out?"

Edward screws up his classical nose. "Not much. Jessica was there, as we know. It took ages for her nosebleed to settle down. Apparently she came in with a lot of drama and with three other girls but the Nurse said she could only have one friend, so Irina and Tanya left pretty quickly. So, they're still on the list."

He looks down at his hands again and before I can think clearly I hear myself asking "Who would you prefer it to be?"

Edward doesn't reply to this and I'm desperately wishing I'd never asked it when there is a disturbance to my left and a loud voice booms "Luckily for you two, I am free for lunch today" while a huge figure in a baseball top and jeans pulls up a chair to my left. At the same time, another chair is pulled out next to Edward and a high voice trills, "We're not interrupting anything are we? Just tell us to leave if you don't want us here" and Alice, who I recognize from English Literature, sits down next to Edward and gives both of us a beaming smile.

Edward rolls his eyes and says "Just interrupt why don't you?" He goes on with some introductions "Bella, this is Emmett, stay away from him, he's kind of revolting. And this is my sister, Alice. Alice, do you know Bella?" He is all mock politeness to his sister. "Of course I know Bella, idiot brother, we have Lit together, don't we Bella? Although I admit we haven't spoken much outside of class, because you always seem so busy Bella, but I'd like to be friends and spend some time hanging out together, if you'd like that?"

Alice has reeled off this long sentence all in a rush and I got distracted waiting for her to take a breath and wondering if she was going to pass out if she didn't. Belatedly, I grasp the idea that she's looking at me expectantly and that she just asked me … to be friends…with her.

"I'd love to Alice," I mumble. I can feel my wretched blush rising.

Edward seems a little put out. "You don't have to if you don't want to" he tells me. "I know she's awful".

Alice elbows him violently as I am protesting this very brotherly comment. Next to me, Emmett lets out a guffaw around a mouthful of food which immediately attracts Edward's attention. "Jesus Em, must you spray your food around like that? Definitely stay away from him," he adds to me in a conspiratorial fashion.

I take a good look at my hulking table neighbor. The boy is clearly starving, from the way he is shoveling food into his mouth in a continuous stream but he looks up long enough to smile at me, trailing only a couple of noodles out of the side of his mouth. He's like some big, friendly pet.

"Emmett? I hear you did some courageous nose picking for your friend Edward this morning" I offer. Emmett stops inhaling food long enough to stare at me and for a horrible moment I think he's offended, right up to the point when he throws his head back and laughs long and loud. "He told you, did he?" he asks as I grin with relief. "Yes, I am willing to shed the blood of my nose for my brother Edward" he says dramatically. He's ridiculous. I have to laugh. "Truly, you are a true friend" I say with equal ridiculousness. Emmett thumps his fist to his chest in a mock salute. "My nose is truly legendary" he continues "as is the rest of me of course".

Alice wrinkles her nose in dainty disdain "Did you have a blood nose again, Emmett? You know that Carlisle could fix that, don't you?"

"I asked him to " says Edward quickly. "We needed a reason to spend a quiet half hour with the school nurse this morning".

"And?" asks Alice who clearly knows all about this. Edward merely shrugs and shakes his head. "No breakthroughs. Just routine police work".

Alice's attention is distracted by the arrival of her boyfriend who sits down next to her and slides his arm around her waist. She turns around and kisses him gently. I know this is her boyfriend, Jasper and it seems that Jasper has also heard of me because when he turns around (I notice that he keeps his arm around Alice) he nods at Edward and then immediately sucks in a breath and says "I think you must be Bella?"

I nod back, suddenly shy. "Bella, this is Jasper. You don't need to avoid him quite as much as Emmett but I would still stay somewhere in the general vicinity of away. His advice could make your life really complicated" he adds the last with a vicious glare in Jasper's direction but his friend merely smiles at me and tells me that he's "delighted to know me" with a strange sort of old-world charm.

I wonder if all these dire warnings for me to stay away from his friends are because Edward doesn't want me hanging around?

This fleeting burst of insecurity reminds me that after all, I don't belong here. I sit quietly while the others banter away among themselves for a bit and then I am startled to hear Emmett announce in a voice like a foghorn "Bella, where is the rest of your lunch?"

He's made me blush, but I don't mind. "You're looking at it" I say and then I can't help adding "Actually I have a roast ox in my locker but I didn't want to share". The overlarge kid laughs at my joke and then puts on a slavering beast impersonation. "I must have my roast ox. Bring it here!"

Emmett's crazy but somehow sweet. Edward however has had enough. "Guys instead of discussing Emmett's fucked-up appetite can we talk about my fucked-up life for a change?"

Ooops. I'm immediately all attention but it takes a few serious nudges to get Emmett to calm down.

"Next on the list of suspects is Maria. Does anyone know where Maria was yesterday lunchtime?" asks Edward.

We all look about each other blankly, shaking our heads. Edward sighs. "Does anyone here know Maria?"

Unfortunately I really don't think I have any classes with her at all. After a short pause, Jasper says quietly "Well, it's ancient history but I used to be friends with Maria. Back in junior school" he adds with an anxious look at Alice who fortunately does not appear perturbed. "I could try and catch her up". "She's dating that guy, Peter" Alice says calmly. I don't know Peter either. "She was probably with him".

"OK great" Edward appears relieved. "Next is Irina. Anyone want Irina?" I don't want Irina but I do want to be helpful and after all, up until recently, I was loosely in the same friend group as Irina. Also it should be easy, as I actually know it wasn't her. Truthfully I could make up any story I liked. "I'll take Irina" I offer.

I'm rewarded with a genuine smile from Edward that disappears as soon as he looks back at his list. "If it isn't either of those two" he says "the next one is Victoria". Alice gives a small gasp and we all look at each other as if Edward had announced that he was going to fight in Syria. I don't know Victoria at all but I've heard the stories and if even half of it is true she is one completely out there freak.

Our solemn silence is interrupted by the arrival of startlingly gorgeous, blonde Rose who sits next to Emmett and imperiously demands why we all look so serious. When Emmett tells her that we're trying to sort out Edward's love life, she rolls her eyes and mutters something about only having 8 months to graduation. Emmett throws himself around her and I'm blushing again just from sitting next to the public display of affection. I look away and catch Edward's eye "Sickening isn't it?" he says, deadpan. "No wonder no-one ever wants to sit with us". He can't seriously believe that. He must know how much all those girls in our class sitting over the other side of the room, the direction I have been avoiding all lunch time because I'm afraid of the horrible glares I must be getting, would murder their own families for an invitation to sit with the Cullens and their friends. In order to avoid mentioning this I say the opposite "That's right. I was warned to stay over the other side of the lunch room when I started here". Edward's eyebrows rise. "Is that right?" he asks slowly. "Yes. I was told it's so nauseating that people only sit with you if they plan on hucking their lunch and no-one around here needs to lose weight that badly." (Actually this is true. Despite the US childhood obesity epidemic, Forks seems strangely devoid of any students with a BMI over 25. Could it be the cold weather? Is everyone burning their fat just keeping warm? ) Edward leans forward "Actually, I do remember overhearing a conversation you were having one lunchtime with Jessica when you first came but I thought it was a bit different… something about me being gay?" Ooop. I thought he heard us that day. I feign nonchalance. "I don't remember that. Anyway, if she did say that Jessica obviously wasn't serious or she would have hatched a crack-brained scheme to get you in a cupboard clinch and we wouldn't be having this conversation…"

Edward doesn't reply and I realize that he and I are mirror images of each other, leaning forward, our arms on the table, looking at each other. Edward's got a hint of a smile on his face. He opens his mouth to speak and the bell rings. The background noise increases a hundred fold as everyone starts to pack up around us but Edward and I are still looking at each other for just a few moments longer.