A/N: Thanks for your patience and wonderful reviews. I apologize for not responding to them. I've got a lot on my plate and never enough time it seems to get everything done. *sigh* I'm out of town this weekend, so you're getting this a day early.
I'm also 13,000 words into a new fanfic that I'm writing for Nano. Only 37,000 more words to go. I can do it! Maybe.
....
I'd been kissed before but never had a kiss affected me the way Edward's had. It hadn't even been a full-on makeout session, yet my lips were still tingling hours after.
I would never forget the look in his eye when he had realized that we were alone. Our lips had gently brushed against one another, parted, and then tongues touched. It had literally taken my breath away.
Now, as I lay in my bed, I couldn't help but touch my fingers to my lips and relive the kiss over and over. I couldn't wait until I could kiss him again.
My dreams that night were filled with wonderful visions of Edward and as I woke up, I couldn't wait to see him. It wasn't until I was in the shower that I realized that I wouldn't see Edward until after work.
I drove to school, parked in the lot, met up with my siblings, and walked into the building.
It seemed that all the school was talking about was the fight between Edward and James. I rolled my eyes at some of the more outrageous tales that people were telling.
I got to my locker and could barely contain a groan as I spotted Jessica and Lauren hanging out at her locker. Sucking it up, I strolled down the hall and opened my locker, ignoring both of the girls. Unfortunately, they didn't ignore me.
"Is it true, Isabella?" Lauren asked, tossing her hair behind her shoulder.
Continuing to ignore her, I took books out of my bag and exchanged them for other books.
"It is true, isn't it? The reason that Edward and James were fighting was because Edward found out that you were screwing James."
I rolled my eyes at her ridiculousness, not bothering to respond. I closed my locker and started toward my first class with Jessica and Lauren trailing behind me, harassing me the whole way.
I saw Mrs. Riley, my History teacher, standing in the hall near the door to her class. I headed toward her, Jessica and Lauren still behind me. I wasn't about to get into a fight with them, but I wasn't opposed to getting them in trouble.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Riley?" I asked as I approached her.
"Good morning, Bella. How are you?"
I shot a look at Jessica and Lauren before I answered Mrs. Riley.
"I'd be better if Jessica and Lauren would stop harassing me," I began as I heard the two girls begin to protest behind me. "They've been following me since my locker and calling me names."
Mrs. Riley turned to both the girls and pulled them aside and began speaking to them. Then she stopped a few students that had been in the hall with us and talked to them as well. Eventually, Jessica and Lauren left in a huff, looking upset.
"Thank you, Mrs. Riley," I said as we walked into her classroom.
She was one of my favorite teachers, always kind and fair, and she didn't take kindly to students being bullied.
"Of course. Have you decided on what you're going to do for your history project?" she asked.
"I think I'm going to focus on the Battle of Antietam," I told her as I took my sea.
"Excellent. Once class starts I'll discuss the specifics of the projects."
Surprisingly, school past quickly and by the end of the day most of the rumors surrounding the fight had died down.
I waved goodbye to my siblings and headed toward work. Normally, I didn't work until six, but Mrs. Stanley had me covering for one of the other waitresses, and I wasn't going to say no to the money. I wasn't the best waitress in the world, but I was decent enough to make some good tips. It was liberating having my own money, and I had to force myself not to go crazy and spent it on stupid things. Instead, I was taking half of my money and putting in a savings account. The rest was for me to spend and use for gas.
Work was going well until Jessica stopped in and stomped behind the counter. Mrs. Stanley had informed me that Jessica was going to be working a few afternoons behind the counter. I'd totally forgotten about it.
"Jess, you're late," Mrs. Stanley said when she saw Jessica.
"I had detention," she mumbled while shooting a glare at me.
Mrs. Stanley noticed the look that Jessica was giving me and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Why did you have detention?"
I didn't hear Jessica's response because one of my table's needed my assistance. An hour later, I left work with a little over thirteen bucks in tips. Not too shabby.
Before I pulled out of the lot, I gave Edward a quick call to make sure it was still okay if I came over.
"Of course, sweet girl. I missed seeing you today."
I also gave my folks a call to let them know I was going to Edward's. They were fine with it, just telling me to be home no later than ten since I still had homework to do.
I pulled into Edward's drive and parked behind an unfamiliar car. I figured that it must belong to Esme, Edward's soon-to-be stepmother. I'd been a bit concerned about him at first when he told me, seeing as he and Dr. Cullen were just starting to really get to know one another. Edward assured me, however, that Esme was really cool and that he liked her.
I rang the doorbell and was greeted by the most elegant looking woman I'd ever seen.
"You must be Bella! I'm Esme," she said as she let me in.
"It's wonderful to meet you," I told her, liking her instantly.
"Likewise. Your boy is up in his room moping about," she said with a wink. "Just leave the door open, please."
I grinned as I headed upstairs and found Edward on his bed, head buried in a comic book.
"What'cha reading?" I asked as I flopped down next to him, startling him.
"Jesus! You scared the crap out of me," he said, causing me to laugh.
We spent the next forty-five minutes sharing sweet kisses and talking about nothing in general.
I got home at ten exactly, causing Dad to give me a look.
"What? You said be home by ten, and I am."
I dashed off to my room and began working on the mounds of homework that I had. By the time, I was caught up it was close to eleven, and I was exhausted.
….
"So, where are you and Edward going tonight?" Alice asked as she sat on the floor in my room looking at a fashion magazine.
"We're just hitting up a movie and then getting some dinner."
"What are you guys seeing?"
I shrugged. "No idea. We'll figure it out when we get there. Why?"
"I was just wondering."
I narrowed my eyes as I looked at her. The pixie was up to something, and all it took was me threatening to bleach all of her clothes for her to spill.
"Jasper and Emmett wanted to know."
"Why? It's none of their business what Edward and I do or where we go."
Alice let out a sigh as she put down the magazine. "I know that, but you're basically the baby of the family. They like Edward and all, but I guess the boys are worried that he's going to break your heart or hurt you in someway."
Stupid, infuriating older brothers! I climbed off my bed and hunted down the idiots in their room, rocking out to some crappy music.
"Okay, you two! Listen up! If you so much as show up at the theater or anywhere else I happen to be with Edward, I will destroy you! Do you understand me?"
The boys stared at me before they started laughing, obviously not taking me seriously.
I stomped over to Emmett and got right up in his face. "Do you think I'm kidding? Because I can assure you, I'm not. I wonder how Mom and Dad would react if they knew about that tattoo you have on your butt? Or maybe they'd be interested to hear about the time that you got busted for under-age drinking in Seattle?"
The look on Emmett's face was one of disbelief.
"How do you know about that?" he asked.
"About what? The tattoo? Rose told me. As for the under-age drinking—" I shrugged. "I have my ways."
Then I turned to Jasper.
"Shall I tell Mom and Dad about the drugs that you were doing last year?"
His face drained of color. "No! Please don't tell them. I'm not doing that anymore now."
I knew that. Alice and I had caught him stumbling out of the woods behind the house, stoned out of his mind. He'd sworn it was a one time thing, but it hadn't been. It quickly become a once a day thing, until Alice and I could't take it anymore. We'd sat him down and threatened to go to our parents if he didn't quit. It had taken a bit of time and given me one hell of a headache, but we had finally gotten him to quit.
"Okay. So, we have an understanding then?"
Both boys nodded.
A little after six, Edward and I arrived at the theater in Port Angeles. I wished there was a different theater around because the minute we got out of the car, I saw Jessica, Mike, Lauren, and Eric.
I barely held back a groan and grinned when Edward let out a groan of his own upon seeing them.
"Want to skip the movie?" he asked.
As tempting as it was, it turned out there was a movie that we both really wanted to see.
"No. Let's show them that their spiteful and pathetic attitudes don't bother us."
"Well, all right then," he said, grasping my hand in his.
Ignoring them, we headed inside and got our tickets and popcorn. I didn't care that we were going out to eat later. We were at the movies. You didn't go to the movies and not get movie popcorn with extra butter.
With food and drinks in hand, we entered the theater and got the perfect seats. The middle of the middle row. At least they were perfect, until the annoying foursome showed up.
The theater wasn't overly crowded and there were plenty of seats for them to take, but they chose to sit in the seats behind us. I could barely contain a huff. I didn't like having them behind me.
"If they try anything, I may not be held accountable for my actions," I whispered into Edward's ear.
He picked my hand up and gave it a kiss.
"I'm with you," he mumbled as the group behind us began to talk quite loudly.
We talked quietly through the commercials, doing our best to ignore the idiots behind us. Finally, the lights went down and the previews began.
And the talking behind us got louder. I knew that they were doing it on purpose in hopes of gaining a reaction from either myself or Edward, but we refused to fall for their stupid games.
In the end, all they managed to do was piss other people off. Several of other movie-goers shushed them or whispered for them to shut up. Edward and I found it quite amusing.
Sadly, the movie wasn't as good as we'd thought it would be. The commercials for it had mad it out to be a cute romantic comedy but it was more of a semi-romantic, not very funny comedy.
"This move is as lame as Bella," Lauren said from behind us, causing their little band of idiots to giggle.
I rolled my eyes at their childish behavior. And on and on it went until a movie employee came up the steps.
"I'm going to have to ask the four of you to leave," he said.
"What?" Mike asked. "You can't make us leave! We paid for our tickets."
"I can and I will," the guy said. "We've had several complaints about your disruptive behavior."
Edward and I could barely contain our laughter as they were escorted out of the theater. Karma was a bitch.
"I have to say that was quite entertaining," Edward told me with a grin as we walked into the lobby of the theater.
"I have to agree. So, where to now?"
He shrugged, taking my hand in his. "I'm game for whatever."
"Really?"
He nodded.
"C'mon then," I said, dragging him out the door toward his car.
As soon as we walked out the door, we were met with four pissed off kindergartners. Or at least, that's what they were acting like. They stood there with arms crossed, trying to be intimidating and failing miserably.
We tried to walk around them, but Mike and Eric got in our way.
"You didn't have to get us thrown out?" Mike growled.
"We didn't. We were sitting in front of you the whole time. Did you see either of us get up and leave? No. Now, move," Edward said in a commanding voice that I found insanely hot.
But Mike and Eric refused to move.
"Do you want me to go back inside and get security? Because I will. Or perhaps, I should call one of the local cops. They're friends with my dad and would be more than willing to help me out, especially if I told them I was being threatened," I said.
"Watch your back, Swan," Lauren threatened as she got in my face.
I was tired of their crap. Sick and tired off it. Pulling out my phone, I made good on what I'd said. I called Tom Demitri, a good friend of my dad's and a cop.
"Tom? This is Bella Swan."
"Bella, hi. What can I do for you?"
Shooting the group a smirk, I said, "My boyfriend and I are being harassed by a group of kids from school."
"Shall I come down there and straighten them out?" Tom asked loudly enough for them to hear.
Scowling, the four of them walked off and I told Tom it wouldn't be necessary, but I appreciated the offer.
He let out a laugh. "No problem. If they give you anymore trouble, call me. I'll be more than happy to help you out."
I thanked him again, then Edward and I got into his car.
"So, where am I going?" he asked as he drove out of the theater parking lot.
I gave him directions then watched with a smile as he pulled up to our destination.
"No freaking way!"
I couldn't contain a giggle at his reaction. I knew that he'd get a kick out of it.
"Jasper and Emmett were beside themselves when they found this place. Honestly, it's amazing that it's still around considering," I told him.
His eyes were wide and a huge grin was on his face as we walked into the arcade. Yes, we were at an honest to God game arcade. They had everything from foozeball to pinball to Pacman. It was a gamer's paradise.
"This is—it's amazing! I didn't think arcades were around anymore except for the piddly one at the theater."
I snickered at his enthusiasm. "Well, it's called Arcade Heaven for a reason."
Grabbing my hand, he pulled me along behind him as he gawked and pointed at machine after machine. We shoved bills into a change machine, scooping up the quarters as they came out.
Once our pockets were ladened with quarters we spent a good five minutes debating on what to play. I wanted pinball, he wanted Donkey Kong. A coin toss determined that pinball was the game we were playing first.
I headed over to my favorite pinball machine. A 1970s bowling themed machine. Edward scoffed a bit, but unbeknownst to him, I was a pinball champion. I won against everyone I played, and Edward was about to get schooled.
I wracked up an impressively high score, breaking my own record, and grinned when I turned to face Edward.
"Your turn," I said, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
The boy gave it his best, but his best wasn't good enough. I kicked his ass plain and simple. Nobody, and I mean nobody, beat me at pinball.
"You might be the pinball champion, but let's see how you do at Donkey Kong."
It was one hell of a battle, but Edward won by a fraction. After Donkey Kong, came foozeball, then air-hockey. We lost track of time and before we knew it, we'd been at the arcade for several hours. It was the perfect date, if you know, you don't take into account the horrible foursome.
It was a little after ten by the time we got back to Forks, and I didn't want the night to end. Since it was the weekend my curfew wasn't until midnight, so we still had a couple of hours to kill.
Edward drove us back to his house which was dark. Apparently, Esme and Dr. Cullen were away for the weekend. I was fairly certain that my father wouldn't approve of me being along in the Cullen House with Edward, and I felt slightly guilty as I followed him inside.
We sprawled out on the couch in the living room in front of the huge TV and watched crime shows. There was a bit of kissing and lots of cuddling, but not once did Edward attempt anything appropriate.
A little after eleven, Edward helped me off the couch and drove me home. I invited him inside, glad when he agreed.
"Hello, Edward," Mom said as we walked into the living room. "Did you kids have a good time?"
We nodded as we sat down on the couch.
"We went to the movies and then I took Edward to Arcade Heaven," I said, grinning when Emmett came running into the room lamenting about how unfair it was that we went there without him.
"Man, I love that freaking place! Did you kick his ass in pinball?" he asked.
"Do you even need to ask?"
Emmett let out a laugh before clapping Edward on the back.
"We should all go up there tomorrow. Have ourselves a huge tournament."
Mom shook her head. "Sorry, Emmett. We're visiting your Aunt Sue and Uncle Harry tomorrow."
Em and I groaned. We hated going to visit them. It wasn't that they weren't nice. They were. It was our cousin, Leah. She was something else.
Mom frowned at us. "Don't act like that."
"But Mom—" Emmett began.
"No," she said firmly. "They're family and you will behave. I don't care how rude Leah is, you will be the bigger person and act mature."
Edward had a puzzled look on his face, and I quickly explained that Leah was our cousin.
"Mom's half-sister, Sue, lives on the La Push Reservation. Aunt Sue's got two kids, Leah and Seth. Leah is our age, while Seth is about fourteen. Seth is the sweetest kid you'll ever meet, but Leah … she's a pain."
"Ha! What Bella really means to say is that Leah is a bit—"
Mom smacked him on the back of the head before he could continue.
Not too much later, I walked Edward to the door, gave him a kiss and told him I'd talk to him later.
The following morning, we piled into Emmett's Jeep and followed Mom and Dad to La Push.
As we pulled up to Aunt Sue and Uncle Harry's house, we could all ready hear the hollering. Leah was apparently on a roll.
"Great. Just how I wanted to spend my Saturday," Jasper mumbled.
Slowly, we got out of the car and made our way toward the house. Mom and Dad were already inside. Aunt Sue greeted us with a hugs, and then we all convened in the living room. Seth bounded over to us, bumping fists with the boys, and hugging us girls. Leah, on the other hand, stood sulking in the corner.
My mom and Aunt Sue began talking about teaching while Dad and Uncle Harry discussed their upcoming fishing trip. The boys and Seth went to play football in the backyard, and Alice and Rose quickly took off after them.
As I got up to follow the others, Mom began telling Aunt Sue about Edward. That's all it took to get Leah's attention.
"Oh, please. Bella with a boyfriend? Don't be ridiculous. She probably made him up," she snarled.
"Leah!"
"What?" she shrugged. "You know it's the truth."
"No, it's not," Mom told her. "We've met him, and he's a wonderful young man. The boys and Charlie like him."
Uncle Harry let out a laugh.
"Seriously? You like your daughter's boyfriend?"
"I like Jasper and Emmett, don't I?" Dad said with a grin. "But yes. I do like Edward. He's Carlisle Cullen's son. The kid's got a good head on his shoulders, plus he throws a mean fast ball."
I could just see that Leah was going to make another snarky comment, so I excused myself and headed outside.
I sat down at the picnic table in the yard and pulled out my phone, sending a text off to Edward.
Are you surviving? He asked.
Barely. Leahs a nightmare.
Sorry, babe. Too bad you couldnt spend the day with me
that wouldve been nice.
We texted for the next half hour before we were called in for supper.
Once the boys had washed up, we all gathered around the large table that was crammed into the dining room. Uncle Harry had grilled some fish that he'd paired with corn and potatoes. It was pretty damn good.
"So, boys. Are you ready for our annual fishing trip next week?" Harry asked.
Emmett and Jasper barely contained their groans. They hated fishing, but they knew how much it meant to Dad.
"You bet," Emmett said before a sly grin came across his face. I didn't like that look at all.
"You know what? We should totally ask Edward to come with. I bet he'd love it," he said.
Dad's face lit up. He loved taking people out fishing with the exception of his daughters. We tended to bitch, moan, and squeal the whole time. What Dad didn't realize was that we did it on purpose.
Turning to me Dad asked, "Do you think he'd want to go?"
Probably not, but I could promise that Edward wouldn't say no to his girlfriend's fathers offer.
After getting permission to text at the table, something that was normally frowned upon, I asked Edward if he wanted to fish with my dad and brothers.
My phone beeped a few seconds later.
Sure. Ive never fished before though
Dad told me to tell Edward not to worry about it. That he would teach him Saturday.
Later that night after we got home, something I was ever so grateful for, I gave Edward a call.
We talked about his day and his impending fishing trip with my dad, uncle and brothers.
"You do realize that they're going to spend the whole time interrogating you, right?" I asked.
Edward let out a chuckle that warmed my insides.
"I figured as much. Although, I've sort of always wanted to try fishing. I hear it's relaxing."
I let out a snort. "Nothing relaxing about being a boat with Emmett. Just make sure you wear a life vest," I warned.
We talked well into the early hours of the morning and as we were hanging up, I could've sworn I heard him say I love you. I shook it off. I'd obviously heard him wrong, and I wasn't about to call him back and ask. But, I hoped it was true because I was so in love with him.
....
a/n: Leave me something. Love, hate, sugar-free cookies, Edward Cullen.