Saturday April 8th
"So, the Cullens are back?" Mike asked as we stood by each other, stacking shelves.
"Yep." I responded; my voice almost bored.
"So are you and Cullen like, back together, or something?" I glanced at him, and saw curiosity burning is eyes.
"Yeah, I guess."
"I wouldn't have taken him back. I mean, he left you, right?"
"It's a good job he's not your boyfriend then, isn't it?" I said scowling. He put his hands up in surrender.
"Hey, I'm just saying." He said, and I grunted in response. I heard him mumble something else as he returned to working, but I couldn't work out exactly what it was.
I grabbed my bag and headed for my truck once my shift was finished, and I was pleased to see that Edward was once again already there, although in the driving seat this time, much to my distaste.
"How was your day?" He asked, his voice as sweet as ever as I hoped in to the truck.
"Okay, but slow. There weren't too many customers, not that I minded. What did you get up to?"
"Me and Jasper popped out for a snack," He shot me a smirk, "but I mostly spent the day thinking about you." His expression turned sweeter, and I felt my heart melt a little.
"You can have a kiss for that." I leaned over and place a slow kiss to his lips. He pulled away when it became too fierce for him, and wound his fingers up with mine, before starting the truck and pulling out of the parking lot.
"What are we doing at your house?" I asked, playing with his long fingers.
"Anything you like. Although, I suspect Alice will want to steal you away for something or other."
"That sounds good." I smiled, and we fell into contented silence. I loved this about Edward, how we could sit and just be.
Edward sped down his drive, the truck protesting at the speed, until we pulled up outside his house. It was as huge and magnificent as ever, and I never seemed to not be surprised by how truly impressive a house it was.
Edward was out of the driver seat and opening my door before I'd even blinked, and I climbed out, clinging onto his hand.
"Home sweet home." He smiled, pushing the heavy door open.
"Bella!" A happy cry came from the kitchen, the source suddenly standing in front of us. "How are you, my dear?"
"I'm good, thank you Esme. How are you?"
"Wonderful, now that I get to see you again! Are you hungry? I've got some snacks in the kitchen."
"Oh, I'm fine thank you."
"Please try them Bella, I'd be offended if you didn't. You're the only person I can cook for after all." She smiled and winked. She really was just like a mother.
"Go on then." I said, walking through the expansive lounge into the kitchen, Edward trailing along with me. I felt my eyes widen as I saw what was sat on the worktop.
A huge, ornately plaited white loaf, beside mounds of cheese, orange and white and blue. Bowls of seasoned nuts and fruit that was too perfectly ripe to have come from the Thriftway. A few varieties of cake, I'd hazard a guess at chocolate, carrot and something unnaturally blue.
"Esme, this is too much!"
"Oh no, of course not, silly girl! Your just as much a part of the family as Edward, and in this family, we look after each other!" Her grin was bright, and her tone sure. I looked to Edward for support, but he was smirking, his face cocky and amused. Traitor.
"Now, what would you like to try first. Here, have a bite of this, its just vanilla, but coloured cakes are apparently all the rage nowadays so I thought I'd have a go at making one for you. Please, be brutally honest." She insisted, handing me a large slice of the blue cake. I pushed my fork into it and munched it down to appease her, groaning as the flavours ambushed my mouth.
"I take it it's good?" Edward asked, a laugh in his voice. I nodded, taking another bite.
"Is there anything you vampires aren't good at? I mean, you can't even eat, and this is the best cake I've eaten in years." I said, between mouthfuls. Edward's eyes, unsurprisingly, tightened at the mention of what he and his family were, and I feared I was about to get the spiel about how awful vampirism was.
"Its not all sunshine and daisies." He said, as me and Esme rolled our eyes.
"Do you mind if I take the rest of this slice home with me, Esme? I don't think I can eat anymore."
"Take the whole cake, dear. Its not like we'll be eating it!" She said, as we all laughed.
"Oh, okay then. Although, I'll warn you, Charlie will be round here all the time begging you to make more of this stuff if he gets a taste."
"All the better." She smiled. "Why don't you invite Charlie for tea, tomorrow night maybe? I'd love to get to know him."
"I'm not sure Charlie is our biggest fan at the moment, Esme." Edward spoke up.
"He'll agree if I ask him." A new voice chimed in, as I spun around to see one of my favourite people.
"Alice!" I released Edward's hand to meet the hug she had quickly engulfed her in.
"Its so lovely to see you Bella. I hope Charlie isn't giving you too hard a time?"
"It could be worse. I thought he was going to ease up, until Jake gave him the bike of course." I grimaced.
"What bike?" A deep voice asked, as Emmett entered the room, pushing Alice out of the way and squeezing me into a tight bear hug, putting me down before Edward could get too annoyed. "Good to see you, lil sis." He grinned, face both playful and intimidating.
"Bella fixed up a motorcycle with Jacob Black in our absence." Edward scowled, and Emmett hooted with laughter.
"A motorbike! I didn't see that coming!" He laughed, and I felt my cheeks heating.
"You didn't ride it though, did you Bella? That would be awfully dangerous." Esme asked, tight concern on her face. I shrugged, and Alice rolled her eyes.
"It was fun." I said, shrugging my shoulders again, and I saw Edward tense up beside me.
"Well maybe in the future we can find less life-endangering fun things for the breakable human to do." Edward said, still scowling as Emmett continued laughing, his voice still loud even as he left the room.
"Do you want to watch a movie with me, Bella? You can bring Edward with you if you really want." Alice asked, voice cheerful.
"Er, okay, I guess." I smiled following Alice into the lounge.
"What do you want to watch?" She asked, moving to the cabinets stuffed with DVDs.
"Your choice, as long as you don't turn me into a doll." I said, Alice frowning in response, Edward chuckling and flopping on the sofa with me.
"I wouldn't get your hopes up, Bella." He grinned. I rolled my eyes, and snuggled into his side, curling my legs under me to get comfy.
Alice pushed in some DVD, jumping into a monologue about how good a film it was whilst she waited for it to allow her to select the language.
"If you talk any faster, I won't be able to work out what you're saying, Alice."
"Never mind, it's starting now." She grinned.
I sat in silence, focusing more on the feel of Edward's gaze on me rather than the movie. At first, him looking at me made me uncomfortable, but now I understood that it was his way of working out what I was thinking. My mind being closed off to him was a curse and a blessing. I got to keep all of my embarrassing thoughts (most of them about him) to myself, but it led to a lot of misunderstandings. Edward wasn't used to not knowing exactly what people were thinking, and his overprotective nature led to him constantly worrying. Hell, if he had been able to read how much I truly loved him, maybe he wouldn't have left.
"Are you paying attention, Bella? See this is what best friends do -" She gestured to the screen, where the protagonist seemed to be receiving some sort of makeover. I rolled my eyes, for probably the millionth time.
"Makeovers aren't an essential part of friendship, Alice." I argued.
"I beg to differ. Have you not been watching the film? I think you'll find the moral was that nothing goes together better than makeup and friendship."
"Enough Alice. Just because Bella puts up with you, doesn't mean she has to have makeovers." Edward said, his tone final, and I smiled up at him in thanks whilst Alice huffed in defeat.
"You could never need a makeover, Bella. You grow more beautiful ever time I lay eyes on you." He whispered, and I'm sure he heard my heart rate speed up. Alice pretended to gag. I placed a quick, light kiss on his lips, and we returned to the movie.
Some way through, around the time I was getting truly bored, Edward sat up straighter, and stood us both up.
"Its time we get you home, Bella, before we exceed Charlie's curfew."
"Bye, Bella. See you tomorrow night. By the time you're home, Charlie will have already agreed to dinner." She squealed, and I waved at her as we left the house.
"Thanks Alice."
"Hi Dad." I called into the house, taking my waterproof off.
"Hey, Bells." He replied from the living room. After quickly using the bathroom, I cooked dinner: twirly pasta and veg, taking a fridge inventory as it cooked.
"Food is ready." I shouted, dishing up and grating a healthy portion of cheese over the pasta.
"Thanks, Bells." He said, grabbing a bowl and taking a seat. Charlie was still avoiding eye contact with me, not that he looked at me too often anyway, but this was clearly deliberate. He was still very angry.
"Alice has invited me for dinner with her family tomorrow night, I take it you're also invited?"
"Yes. Do you know what time she wants us over?"
"Half past five."
"So, you've agreed?" I asked, hesitantly.
"Yep."
"Good. Thank you, dad." He looked up and I smiled at him. He was making an effort, at least.
"I guess he will be there?"
"Of course Edward will be there, it is his house after all." He grunted in reply, resuming putting food in his mouth. The conversation was now apparently over, but he had agreed to go for dinner though, and that made me incredibly happy. I couldn't help smiling, despite the stony mood.
We finished up, chopping him a slice of Esme's wonderful cake. If that didn't put him in a good mood, nothing would.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Reviews are greatly appreciated, and make updates come quicker! 3