A/N: The response that this story has gotten has been insane (in the best way possible)! Seriously, y'all, I cannot thank you guys enough! Your all's kind words and support truly inspire me :)

I know a lot of you have questions about Edward's past in California—all will be revealed soon, I promise! Part of the plot is a little suspense/mystery, along with romance/humor lol. I hope that I can offer a good mixture of all of that.

Enjoy reading, loves!

Alex makes quite the entrance with Edward in tow. And I do mean literally in tow.

I didn't say a word for the entire two-hour car ride, no matter how much Edward tried to involve me in the conversation, so about halfway to the lake house he gave up and started being overly attentive to Alex again. She ate it up, too, and when he got out of the car, she latched on to him so quickly you would think he was a six-million dollar designer purse.

The introductions start with my sister's best friend, and the party hostess: Rachel. Within seconds, a crowd of interested girls swarms. I step back, eager to escape, but then one of Alex's other friends, Brooke, catches my arm. "And who is this?" she asks Alex. She looks at me, asking, "Are you new, too?" then turns to Edward before I can respond. "Is this your sister?"

Most of Alex's friends aren't exactly Ivy League material, but that comment is blonde even for someone like Brooke. Not only is she one of my sister's best friends, but she sat right behind me in home economics all last year.

Alex and I exchange a glance, and Alex is the one to say, "Brooke, that's Bella."

Brooke looks startled, and then gives me a once-over. Before I can say anything, this senior I don't know says, "Who's Bella?"

"My sister!" Alex snaps, frustrated.

The guy smiles at me in a way that shocks me. "I can see why you've kept her locked up."

I'm not impressed with the cheese ball line, just stunned. It's quite a relief when this guy Mike Newton, who I play hockey with sometimes, walks past and goes, "Swan?" even if he is standing with Vince Kowalski and staring at me as if I've grown a third eye.

"What's up, Mike?" I say, trying to nod casually.

"Me, that's what." Mike looks me up and down with exaggerated slowness, and then says, "Damn, girl."

I flip him off, but we're laughing at each other when Vince snorts. "All this time, Swan, I never knew you were a girl."

"That's funny," I say thoughtfully, tapping my chin. "I always knew you were."

When Vince takes a step towards me, Mike holds him back and says to me, "Frisbee football. You in?"

I nod. "Sure, in a while. I owe Kowalski a broken nose."

Vince grabs himself rudely, and I flip him off, too, but this time I'm not laughing.

I turn back around and notice Alex's entire friend group staring at me. When I brave a glance at Edward, his eyes are burning with wicked amusement. He's doing everything he can not to laugh.

"Let me know when it's time to leave," I grumble to Alex, and then stalk off to find a soda. I grab a Dr. Pepper and a hot dog and then find a spot to sit where I can keep an eye on my sister without being bothered.

Edward sticks like glue to Alex for a while, going out of his way to touch her or tease her unnecessarily, but I can tell when he gets bored with it. Apparently he has no intention of hurting my sister or taking advantage of her. He's just doing all this to mess with me. He knows I only came because of him, just like he knows I've been watching his every move.

He's been manipulating me from the moment Alex found us in the street, and I've been totally acting the sucker. When this becomes obvious, I'm mad at myself for letting him get to me. I refuse to humor him a second longer.

Hoping that ignoring him completely will piss him off, I go to join the game of Frisbee football that is still going on. When I approach, I'm met with a few low whistles—all coming from guys that I've played against with The J's. "I may be in a swimsuit," I growl, " but I'll still whoop anyone who doesn't shut his pie-hole right now."

"We need one more over here," someone calls out. It's the senior who fed me a pickup line earlier. I can't believe he's looking at me as if he's really interested. No guy, other than my psycho neighbor, has ever shown interest in me before. Especially not someone who looks like him.

The guy has short, auburn hair and grey eyes. He's a little too muscular for my taste, but still, he's attractive. I don't know whether to be thankful to Alex for making me show up half-naked, or annoyed. I do everything in my power not to blush as I go to stand by him, but am able to lose myself in the game rather quickly.

It ends up being a fun, friendly game of Frisbee football to everyone playing, except Vince Kowalski. Apparently, he thinks it's the NFL; and also thinks I'm a tackle dummy. He tries to hit me several times and ails, but the third time I don't see him coming, and he plows right into a group of girls who has been watching on the sidelines.

In the collision, I take a hard plastic sandal to the mouth and about four cups of Diet Coke to the front of my shirt. After regaining my bearings, I reach up and feel my lip. It's bleeding where the sandal popped it open. "Oh, that is it!" I yell.

Mike offers me a hand up, and as soon as I'm on my feet, I slug Vince with everything I have in me. I hit him so hard he flies back into the guy behind him. My knuckles scream in protest, but it's worth it because blood pours from Vince's nose like a waterfall. "Now we're even," I say, and go off to find some ice for my hand.

On my way to the icebox, I peel off my soda-soaked tank top. I hate parading around in a swimsuit, but the shirt isn't just drenched with dark stains, it's sticky. Wet is one thing, but sticky is gross. Plus, I need the shirt.

I'm trying, one handed, to tie the corners of the tank top around a huge mound of ice cubes, when someone comes up behind me and asks, "Need some help with that?"

I smile shyly as I nod at the guy who seems to be my new admirer and let him take over. He gingerly picks up my hand and examines my knuckles for a minute. "That's going to hurt for a couple of days," he says, placing the ice on top of my hand.

He leads me onto the deck of Rachel's lake house and makes someone move so that I can sit on one of the sofas. "I'm Dominic," he says as he sits down next to me.

"Bella."

"So I've heard." Dominic chuckles. He looks out at the group of guys still standing on the beach. The game isn't going anymore. "You're the main topic of conversation right now. I think you broke that guy's nose."

I shrug. "He had it comin'."

Dominic laughs again, then says, "How come I've never seen you at any parties before?"

"Parties aren't really my thing."

"That's too bad. You sure know how to liven 'em up."

I smile a little at that, but don't know what to say. After a moment, Dominic breaks the silence again. "You want to go for a swim? I've already been in; the water's really nice."

I wrinkle my nose. "Water really isn't my thing."

"How about the Jet Skis, then? I'm a pretty decent driver. I could take you for a ride without dumping you in the lake."

I hate to admit it, but I chicken out at his offer. Not that I'm a total coward, but I can't believe what's happening. This guy is asking me to hang out with him. It's almost like he's asking me out on a date. I'm excited, but the idea of having to be on the same Jet Ski as him, holding on to him and everything... "Thanks," I say. "But I think I just need to take it easy for a while, and maybe find some Motrin for my hand."

Dominic jumps up and offers me a hand. He pulls me to my feet and doesn't let go of my fingers as he leads me toward the back door. When we get there, Edward is leaning casually against the frame, blocking our entrance. "Going somewhere?" he asks us.

"What's it to you, man?" Dominic asks, immediately taking the defensive.

I'm not about to let Edward start a fight with this guy, which appears to be what he is trying to do. So, instead of telling Edward to get lost, I explain myself. "I'm just getting some painkillers."

"You mean like these?" Edward asks, pulling a small bottle of Motrin from his front pocket.

"Do you always carry Motrin with you?" I ask, taking the bottle from him.

"Since I started hanging out with you," he quips. "Never know when you're going to need it. That is the kind you use, right?"

"How did you know I—?"

"And to wash them down," he continues, handing me a can of Dr. Pepper. "I know that's your favorite."

I hate that Edward mysteriously knows so much about me, but I've promised myself I won't let him get to me. I take the can and sigh. "Thanks, Edward."

I smile up at Dominic, who is staring at Edward in a...let's just say less-than-friendly manner. I squeeze his hand reassuringly. "Looks like he saved us a trip," I say, tugging him back toward the swing.

Dominic stops me before I can sit. He glares at Edward, who is still leaning against the back door watching us, and says, "It's getting a little crowded out here. Why don't we go for a walk up the shore?"

I gulp. A romantic walk up the lakeshore with a guy I just met? "Um..."

"It's almost dark," Edward points out, inviting himself into our conversation.

Dominic wheels on Edward. "What's your problem?"

Dominic is bigger than Edward, but the latter never flinches. "My problem is, she came here with me. I'm not about to let her go wandering off in the dark with another guy."

Dominic turns his anger on me. "You came here with a date? Were you planning on mentioning that?"

It was easy for me to match his anger. Neither of these guys own me. "I came here with my sister!" I snap, and turn to walk away.

Dominic grabs hold my wrist. "Where are you going?"

"Let go of her!" Edward says, his eyes blazing in the fading lights. But this warning is unnecessary because I've already wrenched my arm free.

"I'm going now," I say, glaring at the pair of them in turn, "to find some people to hang out with who aren't acting like tools!"

Someone has started a bonfire and I plop myself down in the sand in front of it. The sun has gone down, and since I can't put my tank top back on, I'm starting to get chilly. I'm still so angry that when I feel a hand come down on my shoulder, I nearly knock my sister's block off before I realize it's her.

"Oh, sorry," I mumble, but Alex is far too excited about something to care.

"I can't believe that just happened!" she squealed.

"What happened?"

"I totally get it now."

"What are you babbling about? And why are you talking to me? We're in public."

"Bella, Edward likes you!"

Yeah, he likes to torment me.

"I mean, I knew something was up this afternoon when he was all flirty, and now it just makes sense—he was trying to make you jealous! And it totally worked, because you came tonight."

"I came tonight because Edward is a psychopath, and I didn't trust him alone with you."

Alex rolls her eyes. "It's okay to admit that you like him." I glare at her, but she dismisses it. "Really," she says. "I'm excited for you. I've always wanted a sister."

I frown. "You've always had a sister."

"You know what I mean," Alex says, waving me off again. "A real sister. One who dresses like a girl and crushes on boys."

"I'm not crushing—"

"I'm so proud of you, Bella! You came to your first party tonight, and even though you bloodied some guy—which, just so you know, isn't very cool—you weren't the total social reject I thought you'd be. You even had two guys fighting over you. Hot guys!"

"Alex."

"That was brilliant of you, going off with that guy. I thought Edward was going to kill someone, that's how jealous he was."

"He probably just wanted to kill someone," I point out, but Alex isn't listening to me.

"And then walking away from them both like you did? They're probably going crazy over it. Now we just have to figure out which one you want to go for."

"Alex."

"I'd go for Edward, if I were you. Bodybuilders like that other guy usually care more about working out than they do their girlfriends."

"Alex."

"But still, he's a hottie, and if you really like him…"

"Alex!" I finally broke through to her.

"What?"

"I don't want either of them."

"You need a boyfriend, Bella. We can't waste this miraculous opportunity. You might not ever get another chance."

"Alex, I'm telling you, Edward is crazy."

"Well, yeah," Alex agreed, frowning. "Him having a crush on you does make one question his mental capacity. But, hey, a freak for a freak. It's perfect! We just need to come up with a plan. I'll bet we could make him your boyfriend by the end of the night."

"Alex, I'll speak slowly so you can understand: I do not want Edward for a boyfriend. The guy is unhinged."

"Hmm," Alex says, thinking way too hard on the matter. "So you want the other guy?"

I sigh. Alex is as crazy as Edward, in her own way. "Who was he, anyway?" she asks me.

"Who?"

"The guy you were with."

"I don't know. Some senior, I assume. This is your party. Your friends. Don't you know who he is?"

"I don't think I've ever seen him before. What's his name?"

"Dominic," I say.

"Dominic what?"

"I don't know, just Dominic."

"You didn't ask him his last name?"

I roll my eyes. "Edward picked a fight before I could ask him anything."

"And you don't think that's romantic?" Alex asks with a dreamy sigh. "Are you sure you don't want to go for Edward?"

I glare at her.

"All right, fine. Dominic it is. I'm going to see if I can find out more about him. You stay here and keep being sociable. If you can flirt with anyone else, even better."

I let out a huge breath of relief when she finally leaves, but I know she'll be back. Somehow, I've unleashed a monster.

Mike and a couple other guys are sitting on the other side of the fire. I think of Alex's request to be sociable, but decide to stay put. I choose instead to chug the rest of the Dr. Pepper Edward gave me, and relish the fact that I'm alone.

I only get to enjoy about ten minutes of peace before I feel someone lurking behind me. "Go away," I warn.

"Bella." Edward ignores my request and sits down right beside me. "I know you're mad, but you don't understand. Do you have any idea what that guy was trying to do?"

"Talk to me?" I snap.

"Bella," he says again. His voice is a whisper so soft it makes my heart flutter.

I look up without thinking, and meet his eyes. Big mistake. He manages to trap me in some sort of spell, and when he reaches up to brush the backs of his fingers down my face, I let him. My eyes flutter shut at his touch.

"You're so...innocent." I shiver, and I don't think it's from being cold. "You need me."

My eyes snap open, his words clearing the fog in my brain. "Did you not happen to see what I did to Kowalski?" I ask, flinching away from his touch. "I'm not helpless."

Edward pulls his hand back. "I never doubted your ability to throw a punch," he says with a laugh. "I'm sure you can more than hold your own on a court. But guys like your friend from earlier? They're playing a whole different kind of game. One you don't have the slightest clue how to play."

I have to turn my face away from Edward, even though in the darkness he can't see my blush.

"Trust me," Edward goes on. "Your boy, Dominic? He's a pro. He would have taken you on that walk, gotten you alone, and you wouldn't have been able to do a thing about it. If you think I scared you earlier—"

"Stop," I say, still unable to look at him. "Just stop. I get it." And I do. I hate how much sense he's making. "I may be innocent, but I'm not stupid. I'll figure it out."

"I could help you."

"I don't want your help."

"Don't be mad, Bella. Please."

"Go away."

I turn my body even further from him, and we sit in silence until a slight breeze picks up and I shiver again. I feel Edward's hand come down lightly on my shoulder. He brushes his fingers down the length of my arm, feeling the goose bumps on my skin. "You're cold," he says.

I shrug away from his touch. "I'm fine."

Edward hands me something. After looking down at it, I turn to face him. He's taken off the lightweight jacket he's been wearing, and is now in a simple simple polo shirt.

"I don't need your jacket."

He thrusts it at me again, rolling his eyes. "Just take it."

I don't want to take it, but I really am kind of cold, and I'm really, really tired of feeling naked. The sleeves engulf my hands and I have to push them back in order to zip up the jacket, but I'm grateful to be covered.

I'm about to say "thank you" when Edward lets out a deep breath. "Bella, Bella, Bella." He sighs, shaking his head slowly. "What am I going to do with you?"

"What?" I ask, drawing my knees up to my chest self-consciously.

"Nothing," he says. "It's just…" He reaches up to fix my hood. His hands linger longer than necessary. I pull back a little, and he smiles. "As much as I could kill that guy, Dominic, I really can't blame him. The sight of you wearing my jacket makes me want to take you for a long walk up a deserted beach myself."

I jump to my feet and put as much distance between Edward and myself as I can. I hope I kick up sand in his face as I stalk off.

"Alex!" I shriek.

My sister isn't standing far away. "Oh, my gosh, Bella, I saw you talking with Edward. You should have seen the two of you! I don't care what you say, you guys are meant to be!"

Rachel and Brooke are nodding vigorously beside her. "You are so lucky," Brooke says. "He is so gorgeous."

"And he gave you his shirt?" Rachel squeals. "So romantic!"

All I say is, "I'm ready to go."

Alex frowns. "We still have half-an-hour before we have to go. I thought you were having a good time."

"Now!"