Disclaimer: I own nothing but a small amount of free time.

Alright Edward, you can do this. There's a chance she'll say yes. Slim, very slim, but it's there.

He had hopes that if he gave himself a good enough pep talk, things would turn out the way he wanted them to.

It was Saturday afternoon in his house. The sun was bright in the clear blue sky, the birds chirped and wind blew softly but constantly. Emmett was on a hiking trip with a few buddies from the basketball team, Carlisle was on call and Esme was visiting a bunch of houses for some interior design thing she had to do. Edward was never quite sure what it was his mother did, except that she left places much nicer than she found them.

This meant he was was all alone with one Bella Swan, presently blinking owlishly at a rerun of Scrubs, one of his favorite shows. Bella wasn't big on TV, but she seemed to like most of what Edward was into; so whenever he felt like revisiting a season of anything, his best friend was usually on board.

"I love the Janitor. He's the best character along with Dr. Kelso," Bella was saying, absentmindedly chewing on some popcorn.

Edward just nodded, his heart pounding a million miles an hour when he heard her say she 'loved' something. His hands were clammy, so he rubbed his palms over his jeans to try and dry them. They did, momentarily, only to be sweated up again within moments.

"Edward? You ok?" Bella asked worriedly, putting Netflix on pause. Edward was looking a little pale, a little green, and a lot like he wanted to puke. Maybe something hadn't agreed with him?

Blinking rapidly, Edward turned his body to face his best friend. Her hair was piled on top in a bun, and she was wearing sweatpants as well as one of his football jackets. They were a couple of months away from ending junior year of high school, and the cold in Forks hadn't let up one bit. Seeing Bella in his jacket did things to him.

"Fine," he squeaked out, but Bella's worried look intensified. She didn't buy his shit for one moment, and the fact that he wasn't immediately sharing what worried him in turn made her that much more suspicious.

"Really?"

He had to give Bella credit; she conveyed a lot in just one word.

So he gave himself a final boost and turned off the TV altogether.

"No, not really. There's something I need to talk to you about Bells, it's important."

Bella frowned.

"Is it about college? Are you… not coming to U-Dub too?"

Bella wasn't stupid; she knew that Edward could not only afford an Ivy League school, he had the football and grades to get him into one. She didn't, so she was going to the University of Washington. Edward had said he would, too, not wanting to be far from home, but she didn't know if he'd changed his mind. Bella hadn't spent more than a month away from Edward since their friendship solidified, and she was reluctant to find out what would become of her if her partner in crime was on the other coast of the country.

"God no, of course I am. That's not what this is about." A small piece of Edward, one that hadn't been fully concentrated on the task at hand, rejoiced. It seemed like Bella would care, at least, if he wasn't there with her for college.

"Oh. Then what?"

Edward turned his body to fully face his best friend, needing a certain level of comfort to do this. Her warm brown eyes just looked at him expectantly, her undivided attention on him. It had always been that way; even if she'd never been a talker, she'd always been a listener. She cared more about him than anyone else he knew barring his family. She was sweet, funny, smart, and so fucking hot.

The second that Edward had come back from vacation in Hawaii with his family, he'd gone to meet up with his fellow about-to-be eighth grader. It had been a month and a few days, and Bella had sent him a text saying her braces had come off. He'd just had to see for himself, so on his way from the airport he'd asked Carlisle to drop him off at Bella's.

Who had opened the door had been not Bella. The girl had a brilliant smile, and boobs, and the hint of a waist, and the rosiest cheeks, and did he mention boobs? Stupefied, he'd let Bella grab his arm and tug his body and heart after her, ready to hear all about his trip.

"Edward?"

He shook himself out of the memory.

She was looking even more worried now, unused to her best friend not replying. It was expected of her, but never of either of the Cullen twins.

"There's something I need to tell you," he reiterated, and Bella just kept observing his face for clues. She had no idea, did she? She seemed totally oblivious to any possibility of the oncoming conversation. For a moment, he felt guilty —he was about to possibly shatter their friendship, although he wasn't quite worried about that. He knew Bella Swan and the type of person she was; no matter how awkward they could become, she'd do her damnedest to conserve the friendship. She cared about few people, and once she did, that didn't change.

"Yes?"

Here goes nothing.

"I—" he cleared his throat, shook his head at himself. "Bella Swan, you're my best friend. You have been since the Felix debacle and you finally started acknowledging I was Emmett's better half. But that's not all I want from you anymore." Edward started nervously, and to his utter disbelief, Bella still didn't seem to be caught up on what he did want from her. So he ripped the proverbial band aid off. "I love you, Bella. Not as my best friend, not as the girl that puts up with my brother and I, not as a bro. I'm in love with you."

He knew his answer before the first sentence had been finished. Her wide eyes, dropped jaw and stilled hand over the popcorn spoke enough about her surprise that she didn't actually have to say anything. It was alright; he knew from the start he'd be telling his feelings to a girl with a crush on someone else. That the girl he was in love with was emotionally retarded, as Mrs. Swan liked saying. Because for as much as Bella claimed she felt things just like everyone else, it always took her twice the normal amount of time to catch up on what, exactly, she felt.

"You're in love with me." Bella didn't ask, and she didn't degrade herself by asking why such a grade A dude would love her. She just thought it, a bit quietly, a bit angrily; she hated self-deprecating thoughts, but even she could tell the differences between them. It was scary to think this, because never before had she thought to question her worth when it came to someone. Edward certainly hadn't even hinted at the 'honor' it must've been to be liked by him, but here her subconscious was saying it for him.

"I am," Edward nodded.

"Me?"

"Yes, you, the girl who still remembers the day that Cassie Cain accidentally brushed against me the wrong way and gave me a hard on in front of gym class."

May 7th.

Seriously Bella? All that memory and such useless ways to waste it.

"In all fairness, you never said anything the first time I stained my jeans with blood," Bella shrugged unapologetically, and though Edward saw absolutely no connection, he refused to give in and let himself be led astray from the conversation.

So he just blinked at her, hoping she'd get the cue that this was where she mercilessly tore his heart out.

He waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Of fucking course Bella couldn't put him out of his misery quickly.

"Bella!" He snapped after five minutes of the girl just frowning and staring him dead on the nose (he refused to meet her eyes).

"Sorry, sorry," Bella muttered, shrugging half-heartedly. "I just… don't know what to tell you."

How about that you love me? How about that I'm the fucking love of your life and that sometimes you wonder if I hung the moon and the stars? That you often wonder, like I do, if I was made for you because there's no way any two people fit so well together? That every time you see me with another girl you want to rip their nails out the way I want to leave Emmett sterile every time he 'accidentally' cops a feel when you two wrestle? That you tell no one but me your secrets, or at least the ones you don't think Alice will understand? That you wish you could be forced into a deserted island with me just so you could show me endlessly your love?

None of this is it.

"It's just… I'm not in love with you, Edward," Bella whispered, and even as his heart shattered, Edward saw her hands clench into tight fists. She was holding everything in, probably thinking that she had no right to feel hurt when she was breaking his heart. "I've never seen you that way."

His heart might as well have crumbled to dust.

"I know, Bella. I just… needed to tell you," he mumbled, getting up. Popcorn fell to the floor, probably joining his stomach. "It was selfish of me, I'm sorry."

"No!" Bella uncharacteristically raised her voice, her hand snapping out to enclose his wrist, not letting him take another step. "Don't say that. Thank you for telling me."

Hand shaking, he clasped it over Bella's, trying to pry it off. Her fingers were deceptively tight, though, and he only managed a finger before giving up. He still avoided looking her directly, hating to think of what face she could be making. Did she resent him? Did she wish she hadn't come today, wished she'd been meaner to him so he'd never have had these feelings? She was just being nice right now, Edward knew, by not denouncing their friendship. She wasn't that kind of person. The kind of person that cruelly tore your heart out and threw it down the drain.

No, she was much softer.

There was a reason why he loved her, after all.

"Let me go," Edward mumbled, but the order carried no real petition. He didn't want her to stop touching him, ever, and if this could be the last time she willingly touched him, he wanted to relish in it as much as he could. He loved her so fucking much he was willing to scald his skin with her love.

It was ironic, being hurt by love.

Or maybe it was an Alanis Morisette-type of ironic?

"I don't want you to hate me," Bella whispered, the heartfelt words being heard in every fiber of his soul. Selfish as telling her how he loved her had been, it also meant that he could hear this; hear the hint of feelings for him buried so deep that no one knew they were there.

But now he did.

In the act of utmost selfishness, Edward decided that he'd make Bella see it. He'd bring out that small, almost microscopic feeling inside of Bella Swan and make her see it. He'd let her see just how much she loved him, because his sanity depended on it. His love for this quiet girl gave him the courage to get his heart broken again and again on the off chance that one day, hopefully, she'd be just as in love with him as he was with her.

And time went on

"Yo, dude, aren't you tired of asking her out every fucking day?" Emmett questioned his twin one night while they were playing a hardcore round of Halo. As always, Edward was crushing it and the big oaf needed to distract his opponent somehow.

"Nah man, she's close to cracking. I'm like super close to breaking her down," Edward said with confidence he didn't have. Bella was hella killing him.

"Bro, you've been at it for like a year or something, and college isn't making it any easier. That guy Newton has his eye set on Bells, and I hear he's a persistent one," Emmett supplied the information helpfully, though no one asked. Really, he thought he was being helpful.

Edward scoffed.

"Em, you just said yourself that I've been wearing Bella down forever. No way she'll cave that easily for that douche." Not that Mike was really a douche, but he wanted his Bella damn it, and that made him suck. "Besides, I've got the perfect idea for next week."

Emmett questioned his brother's statement, wondering out loud what he meant.

"Oh, you'll see my man."

(He wouldn't)

His confidence faltered though when the next day he found Bella willingly engaging with Newton. It wasn't that it was an important-looking interaction, but the fact that Bella Swan, the epitome of anti-social human, was talking to the nut meant something incredibly disturbing for Edward.

So, faking ignorance, he strutted over to the pair and slung an arm around Bella's shoulders.

"Newton, what's up?" Edward asked, raising a fist with the arm not otherwise occupied. Newton flickered his eyes between Bella and the slung arm before finally bumping Edward's fist.

"Edward, man, nothing much. I was just talking to Bella about one of our assignments, but I've gotta run now. See you later, Bella," Mike flashed her a nervous smile, his eyes flickering briefly to Edward's before scattering away.

Scowling, Bella turned to look up at Edward.

"You didn't have to do that."

"Do what?" Edward asked innocently. "I just came to say hi, you know."

She rolled her eyes, clearly not believing him. As always, she was right not to.

"Why were you talking to him? You don't even like the guy." Edward continued, though he hadn't known it was more of Mike saying things and Bella nodding or shaking her head. Still. He should've guessed.

"He's an ok guy. We were talking about a class." Bella repeated Mike's earlier words, knowing that if she told Edward he'd asked her out to one of the frat parties, he'd freak.

Unfortunately for her, Edward was reaching the end of his patience despite what he'd told his better half. It had been over a year of incessant love confessions, and truth be told, he didn't really feel like he had made any progress. She appeared to respond to him the same way she always had, treating him pretty much the same as she treated her other boy friends. A part of him wondered if this is what Bella thought of him, too; that he was an 'ok guy'.

So Edward sagged, all the motivation he'd had hours ago suddenly escaping his body.

"Oh," he mumbled, letting go of her shoulders. Instantly, she missed the warmth. "Alright."

Bella was confused.

Edward, her friend-but-probably-more, was usually a lot more persistent about her talking to any boy that wasn't Emmett or Jasper. Who was this person that had shrugged off Mike's flirting? Even her oblivious self could tell the blond had a thing for her.

So why had he just accepted it?

"I'm going with Jazz and Em to the frat party tonight," Edward said dejectedly. "So I don't know if I'll be alive enough tomorrow to give you a ride to the volunteering place."

Oh.

Bella's good spirits kept dropping.

"Who's designated driver?" Bella asked, as always worried about responsible drinking.

"Jasper. Alice said she'd hang him by the balls if he arrived at brunch with her parents hungover tomorrow." Edward chuckled despite himself. "He's so whipped."

Bella stayed quiet, because she could hear the jealousy beneath his words. It almost sounded like Edward envied Jasper's devotion to his girlfriend. Or was it the girlfriend herself? No, Bella couldn't let herself think that; it wasn't Alice he wanted. It never had been.

"He is," Bella agreed, having seen the couple first hand as well. "Edward… are you ok? You seem—"

They were interrupted by a small body crashing into Edward.

"Eddie!" The chipmunk squealed, nearly bursting Bella's eardrums. "Found you!"

Fuck, she had. Edward had been avoiding Irina Denali, Tanya's cousin, for the better part of their short college run. Most days he shook her off; other days he had to tough it up.

"Irina," Edward gave her what he hoped was a smile and not a grimace, doing his best to subtly shake off her claws that held onto his arm. No luck. "Hey, remember Bella?"

Irina cast a quick overview of the brunette, and whatever she found, she wasn't impressed because her smile became wider.

"Hey Bella! Nice to see you again," Irina chirped.

Fuck you, thought Bella, surprising herself. She wasn't one for violent thoughts, but the fact was, this girl was grating on her nerves. Something about the way she looked at Edward, who had yet to shake her off, bothered her. Of course she knew of who she was related to, and it didn't exactly help things.

Instead of saying anything, Bella just nodded in acknowledgement. She didn't trust what words could come out of her mouth, and despite it all, she'd never been one for hurtful words.

Irina said something or other to Edward, who responded with polite words, though Bella wasn't sure what was discussed, and by the time the strawberry blonde left, Bella was plagued with questions.

Why was she so chummy with you? Why didn't you shake her off violently? Why did you smile at her or engage her in conversation? Why are you so friendly to anything that moves? Do you still like me, or was that an offer limited by time? Have you slept with Irina, or do you plan to? Do you ever kiss girls that aren't me at these parties, even if it's just because you're drunk? Do you still like me even though I'm so stubborn?

She asked none of these.

Partly out of fear of the answers, and partly because it just wasn't in her nature.

When Bella said nothing, Edward sighed in defeat. He felt like boulders were suddenly placed on top of his shoulders, and they whispered words of discouragement and self-pity.

"Bella," Edward sighed, and the way his shoulders dropped alarmed her. "Do you even like me enough to go out with me?"

Bella didn't say anything, and this only agitated Edward further.

Agitated and broke him.

"Fine," he said, pressing his lips together in barely suppressed fury. Bella tried not to flinch, but it was hard; the last time he'd been so angry with her it had been when she'd accidentally bumped his Volvo when parking behind him, and he'd forgiven her pretty quickly. He didn't seem like he'd forgive her anytime soon. "Have it your way. I'll stop pressuring you to go out with me, Bella. I'm sorry I've been such a pain for so long."

Edward stomped off, and the romantic in him hoped against hope Bella would run after him, tug him back and tell him she was just as desperately in love with him as he was with her. But Alas, this never came to be, and the further away he got from the woman he loved the further his heart cracked in two.

"I think I hurt him," Bella admitted later that night, watching as Alice painted her right toe nails and Angela her left ones. Both girls glanced at each other, then their oblivious friend, and sighed.

"Bella, he's been telling you how much he loves you every day for the last year. More, even," Alice said slowly, trying to think of the best way to say this. "And all you've done in return is…?"

Bella blinked.

"Nothing," Angela hinted helpfully, and ducked when a pillow was thrown her way. "Hey!"

"I have," Bella defended herself. Both girls arched an eyebrow. "I, uh, let him touch me?"

They rolled their eyes.

"You've let Emmett inspect your ass just to prove that you have a funny birthmark, Bella, and you'd bite off your own tongue before having sex with him," Alice snorted, shaking her head at her friends. Brilliant, they were not. "As far as Edward knows, you've never stopped treating him like a friend."

That wasn't…

Bella groaned, realizing she was unable to name a moment where she hinted at Edward he was charming the soul off her.

She looked up at he ceiling.

"He said… he'd stop," Bella whispered, her heart hurting beyond belief. "He'd stop asking me out."

The two girls were beyond shocked, having thought the smitten boy capable of waiting a decade for the thickheaded girl to go out with him. Then again, Bella was quite hard to read, and it had to be tough to not know whether your efforts made any difference at all to the person you liked.

"Well, do you want him to stop? Would it bother you if he started going after another girl?" Angela questioned curiously; for as close as she and Alice were to Bella, they'd yet to hear the full extent of the girl's feelings. They knew it had to affect her somehow, how sweet and caring Edward was, but they'd yet to see that it had made a difference.

When Bella didn't answer immediately, the two girls looked up from their task again to stare questioningly at their friend. It had been a simple question that only required a simple answer.

"Bella?" They asked again, appearing to snap her out of whatever trance she'd been on.

"I want him," Bella finally mumbled, feeling it was wrong to admit it to them before saying it to Edward. Still, she didn't voice this concern, instead letting her friends squeal excitedly over Bella Swan finally catching feelings. Besides; she needed to come clean about her ability to feel every once in a while, lest people forget she was capable of it.

And she did so want Edward Anthony Cullen. He was sweet, and cool, and fuck-hot. For prom he took them to his meadow (where she had permission to go to only with him), brought music and Christmas lights to hang around the trees and invited her to dance. For her last birthday he bought her a limited edition of Wuthering Heights, Bella's favorite book, and cooked for her chicken ravioli. On Christmas, Edward took Bella on a road trip to the Grand Canyon, something that had been on her to-do list for the longest of times. For graduation, when their parents took them on a fancy dinner, Bella almost fell over when she took a look at her best friend in a tux. Edward getting accepted into a pre-med program, the biology major and for a football scholarship had made her so proud of him and see just how hard he worked. Edward Cullen was, for lack of better words, the boy that had her heart in a death grip.

Not that he knew, obviously. Bella was far too quiet and too self-conscious to offer the information so readily. She knew it was bad —it couldn't be as easy as Edward made it seem, getting rejected— but she had no way of stopping herself. Whenever she thought of saying yes to a date, her stomach fluttered with fucking stoned butterflies that threatened to eat their way up out her mouth. Graphic, but also true.

"Alright, I know what we need to do," Alice clapped her hands, and although 'we' sounded like too many people, Bella let her friend continue. "You, my friend, are going to ask Edward out on a date. Yes, I'm serious, and no, it's not up for debate. It's the least you could do for the poor fella."

And even though Alice was right, Bella dreaded how the event would go down.

By Saturday evening, Edward was absolutely miserable. He hadn't sent a single text to Bella, or shown up at her doorstep unannounced with Chinese food, or driven her to volunteer or done any of the things he'd been doing nonstop to get her attention. The fact that he hadn't heard from Bella in roughly twenty-four hours was also despairing, and though he tried not to dwell on these things, he was still moping around the apartment he shared with his twin. Practice had been grueling, more so because he was hungover and heartbroken. Getting home to shower had been a small reprieve from his miserable thoughts, but it wasn't as calming as he would've hoped; he'd thought he could use the shower to let some steam off, but whenever he pictured the only woman he was interested in having sex with, his heart became heavy and he couldn't finish himself off.

So much for being in love.

The doorbell was ringing desperately by the time he came out of the shower. Groaning, he slung a towel over his hips, knowing that it was his douchebag of a twin that had locked himself out again.

"Emmett, for the love of—"

But the innocent, wide brown eyes staring up at him were most definitely not those of his brother's. Instead it was Bella, dressed in a skirt and pretty shirt, wearing makeup and with her hair done up, that was in front of him.

Looking him up and down again and again. Mouth hanging open, blinking rapidly, the whole shebang.

"Bella?" Edward's own jaw fell open, only to slam closed when a chill went by him and he realized he was half naked in front of the girl of his dreams.

"Um…" Bella's blush was starting to rise from the tips of her toes to the very top of her head, and she was suddenly feeling very, very hot. Sexy quarterback say what?

"Fuck, I'm sorry. I thought you were Emmett. Give me two minutes to put on clothes, alright? I'll be right out," Edward rushed out, leaving the door open as he, quite frankly, ran away. From a girl.

What was he, four?

Bella watched him run back to his room, and quickly she stepped into the apartment and shut the door behind her. Hopefully, nobody got a peek at the goods. Not that this should've been her worry —Edward was used to being seen half-naked by strangers, what with people going in and out of locker rooms all the time.

Still, when Edward came out of his room less than a minute later sporting jeans and a red t-shirt, Bella knew that it was now or never. She twitched on her spot but didn't otherwise move until Edward was standing in front of her.

"Bella?" He questioned, looking at how red his friend was, and finally being able to process how gorgeous she looked. "Why are you here?"

It was as good a time as any to remember he was heartbroken.

"Uh…" Bella shuffled, and abruptly she whipped an arm out from behind her and presented it to Edward. In it was a dandelion with a paper attached to it.

Frowning, Edward avoided looking at Bella as he opened the note.

Dear Edward,

I'm sorry I'm so bad with words that I can't say this out loud, but I figure written is better than unsaid. I've been doing a lot of thinking, and even though I know this might not be fair to you… I'm sorry for the last year. I shouldn't have dragged it on for so long, but I was scared. I wanted to be so sure of your feelings I never stopped to reassure yours. I hope that you'll give me one last chance and be my date tonight.

Hopefully yours, Bella.

Edward shot tearful eyes up at Bella, who was blushing a terrible shade of red and now holding out a sunflower.

"Please, Edward," Bella said softly, hoping that the written words and her eyes conveyed everything her mouth could not.

He grabbed the sunflower, his fingers lingering against hers. The spark that always flashed between them when they touched was ever-present.

"You're unfair, you know," Edward said, but Bella simply nodded helplessly. She was. "I fucking lay my heart out in the open every time I ask you out and all you do is give me a note and two flowers, expecting me to let bygones be bygones."

Bella had no answer.

"Lucky for you, I'm a sucker for pain and not willing to play hard to get. Let's go on a date, my Bella."

"Are you nervous?" Emmett wiggled his eyebrows in an exaggerated manner, making Bella roll her eyes good-naturedly. "I mean, I know for a fact Eddykins is, so there's no shame in admitting you're freaking out internally."

Bella cast him a dubious glance through the mirror.

"Ignore him, Bella," Rosalie accommodated a brown curl that had threatened to get out of place. "He's just upset that he won't be able to annoy Edward over you not dating him anymore."

It was the honest truth.

"Rosie," Emmett whined, lying back on Rose's bed. The movement tilted over a bit of the chips he'd placed in a bowl, but never being one to spill, Emmett returned to the bowl whatever didn't go into his mouth. "Be on my side for once, please?"

Rose rolled her eyes.

Emmett Cullen and Rosalie Hale had met one stormy night during spring break of junior year of high school. Basically, Bertie, Emmett's rusty old pick-up truck, had broken down to the point where he had to take it to the nearest mechanic instead of the usual one. There, he was received by the feisty college freshman that was Rose, who threw a wrench his way when he wiggled his eyebrows one too many times.

Emmett still wasn't sure that Rose had intentionally missed.

Still, when they'd started dating, Rose had been all too willing to hate Bella to pieces. She practically lived in the Cullen household, and every time Rose made a surprise appearance Bella was for some reason either in a wrestling match with Emmett, draped over him or shoving her boobs in his face in order to plaster him to the couch. Rose's sole consolation had been Edward, staring at the two with a disinterested face chewing on popcorn, giving her simple comfort:

"I'm gonna marry that woman and even I know Bella would rather swallow a thousand needles every day for the rest of her life than ever kiss Emmett romantically," he would say, turning with a sympathetic shrug to the blonde. "I don't like it any more than you do, but if you say something, you can bet your ass they'll amp it up."

This had been a couple of weeks before Edward had confessed his undying love to Bella, and it had shocked Rose enough that she had relented on her jealousy and let things go. Besides; much as she'd tried, Bella's quiet nature and friendly disposition had made it near impossible for Rosalie to dislike her.

So now that Edward and Bella were finally going on a proper date a month after their first impromptu one meant that she and Emmett were tasked with dollying Bella up.

They were, in a way, the chosen ones.

(Read: Angela was out with her boyfriend and Alice had gotten so hyped up that Bella had withheld all power she might've given over her makeup out of fear)

"But really Belly Jelly," Emmett continued, relentless as always. "You're gonna tell me you're cool as a cucumber about all of this? I mean, what's the last time you even got kissed?"

February 2nd, freshman year of high school.

Bella really wished she could've forgotten that particular date, but as luck would have it, this type of memory was both beneficial (for instance to tease people and for history class) as much as it sucked ass.

The glare that Bella cast him was answer enough.

Rose giggled.

"You know, I love that you're not a chatterbox, B, but sometimes it's kinda unnerving how everyone around you is already so used to filling in the blanks."

Bella just shrugged with a half-smile, which sent a clear message that there wasn't much she could do about it.

Despite her words, Rose turned to Emmett.

"Em, you do realize that it's been three hours since Bella got here and she's yet to say a word, right?"

Emmett waved away her concern.

"Yeah, Bella mutes up when she's nervous. I haven't actually expected any response from her other than eye-rolls, shrugs and—" Emmett grinned at the middle finger that he saw reflected in the mirror. "—obscene gestures."

Something about having known each other pretty much their whole lives gave him insights into his best friend that felt as natural as breathing to know.

"I can be unpredictable," Bella huffed, making Emmett and Rose laugh. It was consistent with who Bella was to deliberately foil someone's predictions of the future; Bella didn't usually mind being predictable, but she didn't mind either going out of her way to surprise others.

"Yeah, sure, Ms. Jack-In-The-Box," Emmett chuckled, his teasing cut off by the sudden ringing of the doorbell. "That would be the ugly zygote at the door." Emmett rose from the bed. "I'm so glad we were two separate eggs. I'd hate to look like Edwina."

Emmett left to go open the door, and Bella met Rose's gaze in the mirror.

"I wouldn't have touched Edward with a ten-foot pole if he looked like Emmett," Bella whispered, and the guffaw Rose released could have only come from her time having dated Emmett Cullen.

"Is my date ready?" Edward called loudly as he approached the bedroom, obnoxious on purpose to make sure he wouldn't be intruding on something he wasn't meant to see.

"She is!" Rose called back, handing Bella the lipgloss she'd used for safekeeping and bending down to whisper in her ear. "Don't worry, Bell. You had a terrific time on your first date, and this will only be better."

Overcome with gratitude towards the blonde bombshell, Bella gave her a quick but nervous grin before standing from the chair she'd been confined to for the last hour and a half. The sight that greeted her was wholly welcome —a blue dress, made-up hair and simple makeup. Not too fancy, but not casual, either.

"Thanks, Rose," Bella mumbled thankfully, giving the girl a quick hug before making her way out of her bedroom and into the living room, promptly crashing into her date that had been trying to sneak in.

"Woah Bells, don't go falling for me yet," Edward chuckled, righting his date before she could hit the ground. Bella mumbled out a thanks, watching nervously as Edward pulled back to survey her.

"So? What says you of my masterpiece?" Rose teased, coming up behind them and leaning against the doorframe. She was really enjoying how red Bella was and how star struck Edward seemed to be.

He gulped.

"Thank God you don't dress up every day, Bella, because I don't think my heart could take it," Edward whispered, grabbing her hand and bringing it up to lay a soft kiss on its back. "You look even more gorgeous than always."

He let her hand fall to lay on top of his heart, where Bella could feel it beating out of control. Her own heart threatened to burst out of her rib cage with how much it was growing for this boy in front of her; he wore black jeans and a vest, which was a refreshing change from his usual sports outfit. Not that she complained whenever she saw his muscled arms or six pack. Not at all.

"I'm gonna puke," they thought they heard Rose whisper, but they were so absorbed in each other that they paid her no mind. Edward was thinking of ways in which he could tear that dress off of Bella, and Bella… well, she was thinking of ways to tear off everything on Edward but the vest.

Bella clenched her fingers slightly below Edward's hand before flattening them and twisting so she could curl her fingers around Edward's, letting their hands fall to their sides.

"Oh, right," Edward suddenly recalled, untangling his hand from Bella's. This did not please her at all, but she didn't really think of it as she watched Edward scavenge in his pockets before flickering his eyes up to hers.

"Close your eyes," Edward commanded softly, and because Bella trusted him implicitly, she did. She felt him move behind her, place what was most likely a necklace around her neck and then step back to face her. "Open them."

She did, glancing down at the dangling charm.

It was a glass sunflower.

The type that probably cost a lot, and usually Bella would've complained but Edward shut her up.

"It's a late birthday gift coupled with something to remember our first date by," Edward explained, pulling out a Polaroid with the sunflower she'd given him in a vase. "I just thought it'd be nice to give you photographs to commemorate special occasions."

Bella quirked up an eyebrow, not letting on just how fucking touched she felt by the gesture. The necklace was beautiful, but the photograph took her breath away —Edward really liked photography, and he'd always said it'd have been what he'd dedicate himself to if he hadn't settled on medicine.

"We've only gone on one date."

Edward shrugged.

"First of many. I told you I loved you, Bella, and that's not ever changing. You can bet your sweet ass I'm gonna make it my life's mission to fill up albums with pictures that mean something to us."

He would.

He'd give her a Polaroid for every year together, for their wedding, for their first jobs, their first house, the birth of their children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. Every time their life spun, he gave her a picture that captured something special to them, thanking her for the role she'd played in making his life that much better.

At that moment, Bella felt the words resonate with confidence and truth, and all she could do was wrap her arms around Edward's neck, kiss his cheek and thank him for the thoughtful gift. She was truly blessed with having his heart.

"Should we tell them we're still here?" Emmett mock-whispered to his girlfriend, who'd moved to her boyfriend's side so they could, together, intrude on the sweet moment.

Edward groaned, letting Bella move off of him.

"You asses," he said, grabbing Bella's hand again. "Thanks for helping Bella, but don't overdo it dear twin of mine."

Emmett raised his hands in a gesture that clearly stated 'it wasn't me it was Rose take it up with her'.

Well, clear to Edward, who huffed in response and tugged Bella behind him.

"Thanks!" She called back, chuckling as she was lead away by her sweet boy.

"Thank you for tonight," Bella whispered to Edward, swinging their twined hands between them. His hands were warm, a nice contrast to her ever-freezing hands. She was leaning her head against his arm, seeing as his shoulder was just out of reach for her short self. Edward turned his head to lay a kiss on the top of her head, feeling his heart accelerate at her sweetness.

"Believe me when I say it's my pleasure," Edward returned, squeezing her hand. He plucked the keys out of her hands, which she'd taken out of her purse in preparation to open her dorm room. "Angela's staying at Ben's, right?"

Frowning, Bella nodded.

Edward practically led them skipping all the way to the third floor which hosted her room, and though Bella tried not to, she couldn't help giggling at Edward's excitement.

"Come on slowpoke," Edward laughed, tugging her along at an impossible pace until they were hurrying inside of her room.

"I'm not having sex with you yet," Bella said as soon as they made it in, needing to make sure he wasn't thinking of anything that was too far out of her comfort zone for a first date.

Edward barked out a laugh, closing the door behind her and caging Bella against the wood.

"Really? You think I'll try to get in your pants when I haven't even kissed you yet?"

Bella begged to differ.

"Technically, we—"

Edward shut her up with a kiss, and Bella forgot all about the technicality of them having already kissed once in the eighth grade when Siobhan made them kiss as punishment for Bella refusing a dare. Bella had shrugged and smacked a wet one on Edward, unknowingly solidifying the crush he'd started harboring for his best friend.

This kiss? It was nothing like their first. This time there was nothing one felt that the other didn't —a desperate need for love, an increasing desire to consume the other, an inkling that life wouldn't have been complete if they hadn't tasted each other's lips. Bella let herself be pushed against the door, her fingers finding purchase in Edward's hair and his finding home around her jaw. He captured her upper lip, letting his tongue savor strawberries and bubble gum and even a hint of the pizza they'd just had. Bella thought she should sell this flavor —something that she couldn't describe because she sucked at deciphering scents but knew it was all Edward and pizza.

"Bella," Edward let out a reverent sigh, letting his hands wander down to grip her hips and press their lower bodies together. Bella gasped, for a moment pressing closer, but then pulling away. Her head was spinning and her heart was threatening to run away from her. "Shit, sorry Bella, that was too much, wasn't it? Fuck."

They were both breathing hard.

"Um, guys?" A voice interrupted them, draining all blood from their bodies. They turned to look at Angela, who was turning on her bed-light. Sheepishly, she spoke through her embarrassment. "Um, well, before you fornicate against our door, I just thought you'd like to know you've got company."

It took a month before Edward was able to be in the same breathing space as Angela, and another before he could be in the same room without hiding his face in his girlfriend's shoulder.

Bella had laughed herself to sleep.

"I still can't believe that Edwina's vows were practically a treaty and you just said like six words. Don't you feel even a little bit sorry for my twin?" Emmett was annoying Bella, who was on the verge of hanging up on her annoying brother-in-law.

Edward came up behind his bride, snaking his arms around her waist and grabbing the phone, which was on speaker, from her.

"I'll have you know that her words were perfect, you dimwit," Edward defended her, making Bella smile brightly and reach up to kiss his jaw. He hummed in contentment.

True enough, when the priest had told them to speak their vows, Edward had expected a little more from his bride for such a monumental moment. He spoke of how happy she made him, how he wished he would never live a day without her, how delirious he was that she'd agreed to spend their lives together. His speech had gone on for a while, and though the rest of the churchgoers were ready to clamp Edward's mouth shut, he'd seen in Bella's eyes how wonderful she found his words, so he'd ignored the glaring eyes of his best man that were hurrying him up. Then he'd stilled himself for the once-in-a-lifetime vows.

"I give you my heart."

And no, it hadn't been a speech, but to Edward those words had meant the world. It was what he'd once implored of her to give him —her love— and she gave it to him. He could do without any other oath, because in that vow he heard the promise of a happy lifetime together.

Bella heard the twins banter for a while, just resting her head back against her husband's chest. She loved thinking she was Edward's wife, that he was her husband, that they were now as committed to each other as two people could be in this society.

The wedding had been perfect, even though Charlie's absence had been palpable. It had been three years since his death, and Renée had recently started dating a man called Phil Dwyer; she'd been getting the spark back in her eye, but Bella knew that her mother would never get over the death of her first husband. She wished them the best, even if she felt it was too soon for her mother to be dating again; then again, in her heart, she would've never wanted her mother to find another man to love, despite wanting her mother's happiness. So it hadn't been Phil to walk her down the aisle but Carlisle Cullen, who'd been for all intents and purposes her second father. Emmett had been the best man and Alice the maid of honor, and Bella had seen how deliriously happy her friends had been for their union. Nothing, though, defeated the look of love and devotion on Edward's face as he saw her walk down the aisle. She knew her own face reflected the same emotions, and neither of them could help but let a few tears slip when she'd finally reached him.

"Love me," Edward had whispered.

"Always."

She hadn't needed to request the same of him, because Bella knew that there was no one else for him but her. She didn't need words like Edward, just actions; and he was always showing her.

She was pulled back to the moment when she heard Edward say his goodbyes.

Peacefully, Bella stood there for a while, feeling herself be embraced by the love of her life. It was late, and they could hear the sound of the waves outside softly crashing against the shore.

"Edward?"

He hummed, not wanting to make the effort of speaking.

"I love you," Bella said, her hands stroking his arms that enveloped her. "I love you more every day that goes by, and I cannot imagine someone who understands me more than you do. You make me so happy, and it amazes me what an amazing man you are every single day. You… You're my soulmate, Edward Cullen. I've always liked who I am, but you've made me into a woman I love. I hope that I make you half as happy as you make me, and I really hope you know that you're the only man I could ever give myself to this way. Bella Cullen is the best me I've ever been."

Edward couldn't keep from crying at her words.

He didn't remember the last time Bella had spoken so much at once, and moments like these made the words that much sweeter. He'd known from the start she never would've been so public about her true feelings, but he hadn't expected her to profess them in the privacy of their beach cabin, either. He'd always thought this kind of speech would've been the kind he'd have to wait till his deathbed to hear, so it was nice not having to be near death to be privy of her feelings.

Bella turned in his arms, softly cupping his cheeks and wiping away the tears as they fell.

"I'm yours," Bella said softly, making eye contact despite the embarrassment she felt at being so open. "But you're just as much mine, too."

They took their time; nothing could rush them in this time of sweetness and honesty, not even their feelings of lust and love. This was the first night of the rest of their married life, and though they were both impatient, both wanted to commit the moment to memory.

"I love you so much, Bella Cullen," Edward cried, and to their surprise, a few tears slipped past Bella's guard, too. She stopped undoing the buttons on Edward's nasty ass Hawaiian shirt to stand on her tip toes and give him a deep kiss. They were a mess of bodily secretions and endless love.

"I love you, Edward," Bella sniffled as she sunk down on him, gasping at the feeling of physical and emotional fullness. He gripped her hips tightly and buckled up, unable to get a single word out that could even begin to explain the pleasure coursing through his veins. Usually, in a reversal of roles, Bella was the more vocal one between them in bed, Edward being usually rendered into silence by awe and pleasure.

"Fuck," Bella moaned when Edward flipped them, needing to set a faster pace. Her hands searched for his ample back, finding purchase on his ass and attempting to drive him deeper into her. His own hands were busy grabbing the back of her knees, needing to spread her legs. "Edward, please…"

He bit her lower lip, brow furrowed in concentration. He needed to take them to Nirvana, and he could feel they were both close.

"Edward! Please, deeper!" Bella moaned, and Edward complied, changing his angle until he could feel a rougher patch of skin grazing against his head. Yes, yes, yes—

"Fuck!" Edward couldn't help but come, his orgasm being forced out of him by Bella's own climax. They weren't always in tune, but it was incredibly satisfactory that they'd both reached their peaks at the same time on their wedding night.

Careful not to crush her, Edward laid on his side, Bella gripping him tightly for fear of losing their connection. Neither wanted to part for a second from each other.

"I love you."

The words were left unsaid, but their matching heart rates spoke the truth. As they drifted off to sleep, tired of an eventful day, music spilled from somewhere in the otherwise still night:

"…love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go. You have made my life complete, and I love you so."

"Bella... did you just fart?"

Hi! Um, so, I hope I didn't step on any toes by posting an outtake. I promise this is the only one I'll do of this story; it's just that I was left with this feeling of wanting to show certain scenes from their time together. I actually debated with myself a lot about posting this because I'm so happy with the oneshot, but I've always liked reading outtakes and hopefully this was a good surprise. I love these two because I wanted to change the stereotype; usually it's all about how unsure the girl is that the taciturn boy loves her, so I wanted to turn it around so that Edward was the blabbermouth in touch with his feelings instead of Bella.

Leah.

P.S. Thank you so much to everyone that has reviewed, favorited and followed this story. I was moved by the kindness in my feed, and specially by Debbie and by ForeverRobsessed. They recommended and shared my story, and they really didn't have to; this outtake goes out to them and their effort, hoping that they like what I did.

P. P. S. This fic was nominated for the top 10 fic finished by august, and even though it didn't win (cue sad face) I'm extremely glad it was nominated and I thank whoever voted for it.

P. P. S. I was gonna leave it on a sweeter note, but then I was like... Nah.