AN: (Longer AN below) Contains Quantum of Soalce spoilers.

We're onto double digits for the chapters in this story! yay!

I stood in shock. I should've expected this, though. Of course they'd want to know about how it went. They were acting as if it were their first date when I left...

"Um, well... uh..." I stammered.

"Yes?" Alice asked impatiently, glaring. My eyes widened.

"What she's trying to say," Rosalie said, "is that maybe you should start from the beginning...?"

"O-Okay," I stuttered, walking over to join them on the bed. As soon as I sat down, Alice and Rosalie bombarded me with questions.

"What did you guys do?"

"Where did you go?"


"Was it romantic, stereotypical, or hot and heavy?"

"What did you talk about?"

"What's his favorite flavor of pie?!"

"Wait...what?" Alice and I asked Rose at the same time.

"Sorry. That kind of slipped out. One of the randomest things Emmett told me on our first date was what his favorite flavor of pie was."

Alice and I both gave Rosalie a look, and then Alice continued her interrogation, the questions flying out of her mouth a mile a minute.

"ALICE!" I yelled. She stopped and looked at me curiously. "Stop! I can barely understand a word you're saying, how do you expect me to respond?!"

Alice looked at me sheepishly. "Sorry. I'm just really excited to hear all the juicy details." Rosalie nodded in agreement. I sighed in resignation. They'd obviously want every detail, not just the altered version I was hoping on giving them.

So I proceeded to tell them all about our date. The car rides, the concert, the dinner, the imaginary couple we invented; everything. By the time I was done, I had answered all of their questions. And it was now one in the morning.

"Guys, I'm beat. Was that a good enough explanation?" I asked tiredly.

Rose and Alice shrugged. "Sure," they said nonchalantly as they stood up from the bed, heading for the door.

"But be warned, on your date next week, you can expect us here. Same time, same place. And yes, Bella, that means you're staying over. Rose, you too," Alice said.

Well, my plans for next weekend were made. At least I could dodge Mike at school now.

Rose and Alice left my room, leaving me to collapse on my bed exhaustedly. I kicked off my shoes, hearing the muted thud they made on the carpet, and sighed. I really didn't want to get up, but I knew Alice would kill me if I slept in this dress. I didn't even read the label, but the dress... I don't know. It exuded designer origin.

I got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom, changing as quickly as I could. The warm cotton from my pajamas greeted me and I reveled in the feeling. Nothing like worn in pajamas after a night of designer elegance...

Quickly washing my face and brushing my teeth, I padded out of the bathroom and across the floor to my bed. Pulling back the thick covers, I slid into bed, and into a wonderful night's sleep, filled with dreams of Edward.

The next morning I woke to an aggressive pixie.

"Wakey wakey Bella," Alice said in my ear, playfully threatening me as she jerked back the covers, exposing me to the cruel, cold world.

"...mmph....noooo," I groaned, searching blindly for the covers as I refused to open my eyes just yet. My searching hands found the blankets and I seized them, bringing them up to my neck and snuggling in deeper into the bed.

Thankfully, Alice didn't pull them off of me again, instead she oddly left the room.

Too tired to wonder why she did, I fell asleep again instantly.

....Only to be awaken again by the door creaking very, very conspicuously.

"Alice. No. She's tired, I'm tired, the whole sane world is still asleep," Edward said, his melodic voice thick and cracking with sleep.

Wait.

Edward?

I didn't make a move, though somehow Alice knew that my eyes had snapped open, even though I was facing away from the door. I tried to keep my breathing even, filling my mind with images and thoughts of Edward to calm myself. It worked.

"Alright Edward. Fine. I'm just going to go make myself some Lucky Charms....have fun waking Bella up!" Alice called suddenly as she shut the door.

Hmm...Edward waking me up. I could have fun with this...

Edward sighed, but oddly did not leave the room. Instead, though I barely heard him approach my bed, he pulled back the covers, though less roughly than Alice had, and got into the bed. He pulled me toward him and I felt the hard muscles of his sculpted, bare chest against the skin that was not covered by my threadbare tank top. The heat made me blush, and I was grateful for my long, thick hair that prevented Edward from seeing it.

Edward wrapped his arms around my waist and his head nestled in the crook of my neck. I tried so very hard not to blush, but it still showed. I internally cursed myself, surely Edward would know I was awake now!

But no.

Instead, Edward had already half fallen asleep, his breathing slowing a bit. I grinned; I would get more sleep. Snuggling further into Edward, I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around one of Edward's, and let sleep overtake me.

I awoke in a warm embrace, the covers pushed down to my shoulder. The golden canopy above me sparkled in the morning rays. Ahh. The sun decided to show itself today, warming my face. I tried to move delicately to see if Edward was awake, but he beat me to it.

"Good morning, beautiful," Edward said as he kissed the tip of my nose. I smiled and blushed at his comment.

"Morning," I replied, kissing just underneath Edward's chin, the highest place I could reach without too much effort.

He smiled and bent down to kiss me softly on the lips.

The door burst open with a loud slam.

"AHA! Is that how you wake up Bella?! Ewww. I can't do that, sorry," Alice said. "God, Edward, I send you in here almost two hours ago and you go to bed? That's a job well done," Alice said sarcastically.

"Alice, you sent me in here at frickin' seven in the morning. On a Sunday."

"Your point being...?"

Edward and I sighed. Nothing stopped Alice.

"Anyways Bella, get up. We're going sho-"

"Don't you dare say shopping or I will... I'll.... I'll take away your Lucky Charms!"

Alice gasped. "You wouldn't!"

"I would. We went shopping yesterday. Can't we just relax today?" I almost begged.

Alice narrowed her eyes at me, but unwillingly grumbled, "Fine. Today only though. How about going to the movies? Jasper and I are going out for lunch later, but we can go see a ten o' clock showing. GET UP SO WE CAN GO!" Alice yelled.

Edward and I jumped, causing us to land on top of each other as we toppled out of bed.

"Good. Okay so go... grab an apple or something and get ready. I'll wake up everyone else and meet you at the door in twenty minutes. UP AND AT 'EM! C'MON!" Alice bellowed as she walked out the door. Edward and I stayed as we were for a moment as we listened to Alice wake up everyone in the same way, the sound reverberating throughout the house.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Emmett roared. We heard a loud crash and Alice cackled manically. Note to self: read ingredients in Lucky Charms.

"Right. Well, um, I guess I should go change," Edward said. Suddenly, I remembered I was still lying on top of him. I blushed and got up.

"Right. I guess I'll see you in a few then," I said.

"Yup," Edward said as he walked out to change. Sighing, I walked over to my bag and pulled out a simple white cotton tee-shirt, a yellow hooded sweatshirt--if I had learned anything in Forks it was to never let the sun fool you about the weather--and gray sweatpants with the word Nationals in black on one of the legs. Charlie had given them to me for my seventeenth birthday, explaining that it was Washington's baseball team. Knowing Alice would complain about my outfit, I argued to myself that we were just going to the movies.

Of course, I knew that Alice would take that as a personal offense. You couldn't say you were going 'just' anywhere. Everywhere deserved fashion.

Grabbing the Adidas shoes Alice had given me a few days before, I walked out the door, making sure to grab my wallet and phone, and went to the kitchen to, like Alice had suggested, grab an apple.

I met a very unhappy Emmett and Rosalie, who obviously had just been woken up by the Alice alarm. I decided to see how grouchy they really were.

"Good morning!" I sang brightly, trying to annoy them both.

"Shut up," they both whipped at me with irritated voices.

"It's such a beautiful day! The sun is shining, the apples are crisp!" I said as I sunk my teeth into a fresh Granny Smith apple.

"I said shut up Bella! That was so... Wuthering Heights," Rose grumbled as she remembered the name of my favorite book.

"Which was what I was aiming for. You two are so funny when you wake up early."

"Is Alice rubbing off on you? Please tell me you don't enjoy being up this early on a Sunday?" Rose asked through her sleep. I saw Emmett at the corner of my eye, his head was drooping dangerously close to the stainless steel countertop.

"No, don't worry. I just did this to annoy you both," I said as I munched on my apple. We stood in silence for a few minutes until suddenly a loud bang was heard and Emmett's head was resting on the countertop.

I sighed and threw my apple core at his curly hair. It hit him and he grunted, but he didn't get up. Rose stabbed him with her heels.

Nothing, though he did wince slightly. Rose sighed.

"I really don't want to do this Emmett, but...ALICE!" Emmett's eyes snapped open in fear and he jumped up.

"NEVER MIND!" Emmett boomed.

"So Bella, are the apples really that crisp?" Emmett asked as he studied a red apple.

Later on, we all piled into Emmett's Jeep and went to the movie theater.

"Bella... What. Are. You. Wearing?!" Alice asked, horrified.

"Movie watching clothes. Something comfortable. There's absolutely no need to wear ridiculously expensive designer to watch... wait. What are we gonna watch?"

"THE UNBORN!" Emmett yelled enthusiastically from the driver's seat.

Jasper and Rose immediately agreed. Alice seemed unsure at first, but then shrugged. "Why not?"

"Hey guys?" I asked, freaking out about watching the movie. "I hate scary movies."

Everyone besides Edward groaned. "Bella," Emmett whined. "Pleeeeeeeeeease?"

"C'mon Bella!" Alice pleaded. "There's a super hot guy in it! Not as much as you Jasper, but you know," Alice added quickly, looking at her boyfriend. Jasper's cheeks tinged pink, and he was looking down, smiling.

"No," I said firmly. "We watched Jigsaw on Friday. No."

"Ugh. Fine," Emmett acquiesced. "What do you want to watch. Some chick flick?" He said sarcastically.

"YEAH!" Alice and Rosalie yelled at the same time.

"Though we don't enjoy the term 'chick flick,' Emmett," Alice said. Emmett shrugged.

"No chick flicks... Action? Can you deal with action Bella?" Emmett asked, looking at me in the rearview mirror.

"Yeah...I guess," I said reluctantly. I could deal with action only because the blood was hidden, and three quarters of the movie was computer generated...

"QUANTUM OF SOLACE!" Jasper and Emmett said together. (AN: Really good movie actually... though I liked Casino Royale more...). I could see Edward also wanted to see this movie; his eyes showed me what he wouldn't want to say to make me unhappy.

"Alright," I said, giving in, "you guys win." Emmett and Jasper hi-fived at a stoplight.

"You see Rose? Bella doesn't mind," Emmett said, turning to look at Rosalie in the passenger seat.

"I don't either! I want to see this movie! I've been waiting for weeks!" Rose said, looking incredulously at Emmett. "Did you not hear me asking you to go?"

Emmett didn't respond.

"Emmett..." Rose trailed off threateningly.

"Sorry, babe, gotta keep my eyes on the road," Emmett said nervously. We all rolled our eyes at Emmett's excuse, knowing full well that half the time Emmett didn't pay attention to the other cars.

Ten minutes later and we were at the only movie theater for fifty miles around. Thankfully, out of the five movies they were showing, Quantum of Solace was one of them. Emmett and Jasper whooped, and even insisted getting a photo on their phones with the poster. Well, the Bond girl to be exact. To get back at them, of course the girls posed with Daniel Craig. As soon as they had the photos, the guys practically picked the girls up and ran with them into the theater, as if Daniel Craig was about to jump out of the poster and take them for himself.

Edward and I soon followed, as we didn't want a photo with a movie poster. (AN: Gotta admit that I did take a pic w/ me and the Twilight poster. But I saw other peeps do it after so i was like, heeeeyyy i'm not crazy after all! lol) About half the theater was filled, which was about fifty people. All the couples (I was still adjusting to referring to Edward and me as a 'couple'. I loved it) sat in different rows; Alice and Jasper in the middle, Rose and Emmett in the back, and Edward and I were in between the two couples.

The previews went on for about twenty minutes, in which time the theater filled up to about seventy-five people. Edward and I had already dove into the large bucket of popcorn and had played three rounds of 'Two Truths and a Lie'. Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and you could hear everyone settling down, turning off their phones.

"Please take time to notice the emergency exits at the beginning and end of the theater. Thank you for choosing Forks Entertainment," the pre-recorded message was old, black-and-white on the screen, actually, and scratchy. It rang through the theater and you could feel the excitement buzz in the air. This movie only played once every other day, so those who made it today obviously had bragging rights toward their friends.

The Bond theme song rang through the theater and I settled into my seat, for once actually not afraid to see a movie Emmett picked. Edward was clearly excited for the movie; his green eyes were alight, visible even in the dim light emanating from the screen and he had a small smile on his face. I grinned to myself; if Edward was happy, I was happy.

That brought me up short. I mean, I had always felt that way, even when we were just friends, but now that we were actually together, it felt different... Better, almost.

I shook it off. It was probably just me being happy for being with Edward.

The movie progressed and forty minutes in, two car chases, one jet-ski chase and a few minor murders had been committed. (AN: if i remember correctly...)

Standard Bond, I suppose.

The popcorn was halfway done, and my Coke was nearly empty. Bond had just hooked up with a redheaded girl, and that was completely awkward when I was sitting next to Edward. I mean, if I'd seen this with Rose and Alice that would've been okay I guess. But now, with Edward, my boyfriend, sitting next to me.... watching the love scene... oh God. My face was redder than a tomato, though thankfully no one could see it.

Suddenly, my right shoulder was being shocked, like a lightning bolt was striking it repeatedly. I looked down inconspicuously and saw Edward's pale hand, his arm wrapped around my shoulders. I swallowed loudly and looked up at the screen again. Bond was asking for information from the girl in bed with him. Hopefully they'd cut to a new scene soon.

My hope was not wasted. In a matter of seconds, the two were at a party. Thank god. With Edward's arm around my shoulders, the sparks were never ending, and I found it hard to concentrate on the movie. Not like I was before, but now it was impossible.

...Especially when his other hand started to play with my hair on my left side. Edward's left hand twirled strands between his fingers, his right hand moving a little from my shoulder to massage my tense neck a little. Oh god.

I looked around. Our row had a few people here and there, but everyone had really crowded past us into the front. The whole back half was virtually empty, seven or eight people scattered in the row randomly.

I looked back at Edward, shifting my head ever so slightly.

His eyes were locked on the screen, like his delicate movements were completely effortless, instinctual almost. I looked at him incredulously, hoping he'd see me from the corner of his eye. At first it seemed like it was useless, but when I turned I could have sworn I saw the edges of his mouth twitching. I rolled my eyes, and then an idea came to mind.

Well, Edward was teasing me, why couldn't I do the same to him?

His hand was still on my neck, so I leaned into it, increasing the pressure of his precise hands. Hmmm. It actually felt quite nice; I hadn't noticed how tense I was. I sighed contentedly, pouting ever so slightly.

I saw Edward's eyes widen a bit as he swallowed; I watched the way it made his Adam's apple bob slightly. Abruptly, I saw his mouth set in a particular way and suddenly the hand that had been twirling my hair pushed it back, exposing my neck. I saw his head dip ever so slightly as he kissed the area between my neck and shoulder, nearing my back.

Obviously, my plan had backfired.

My eyes widened as he started to circuit up my neck and down again, softly and caressingly. He repeated it two more times, and then innocently lifted his head, as if nothing had just happened.

Quite the opposite, actually, as my breathing had gone from normal to fast, broken and heavy breaths. My eyes were wide, and yet I saw nothing. My neck was burning, and from more than just the blush that now resided there. Knowing so only made it worse. I swallowed loudly and, looking over, I saw Edward almost normal.

Almost. For his eyes were ablaze with...desire? Conflict? His breathing had gone from quiet, normal and even breaths to slightly louder, slightly heaved breaths. I watched his chest rise and fall in the darkness of the theater, quicker than was in the norm.

Well, at least I raised some sort of reaction in him.

The movie was quite dull after I collected myself as much was possible. Nothing but Edward seemed to captivate my interest after what he had done. So, I contented myself with watching him. Of course, he was studiously looking at the screen; I could see his eyes, from what little was illuminated from the screen, had grown darker.

Wow. This kind of Edward was interesting, and undeniably attractive.

I wanted to see it get worse, just for fun. You can't blame me really, as this was Emmett's choice of movie, not mine.

So, I leaned in close to him; extremely close. Moving with as much grace as I could, I leaned my head on his shoulder innocently. His arm, already around my shoulders, tightened to bring me a little closer.

Huh. So his eyes were on the movie, but not his mind.

Staying in the comfortable position for a few minutes, I watched as Bond met the black haired girl and did a few more stunts, I wasn't really sure what they were. It was too fast paced and my eyes were on Edward half the time, my mind always on him.

Okay.

Whoa.

What was with all these.... girly comments.... that I was thinking?! My mind was always on him, if he was happy I was happy.

Seriously, Bella?! Could you be more cliche?!

I shook my head briskly, quickly dispersing the thoughts. I'd think about it later.

Anyways.

I looked up... to see Edward's very angular chin, paler than normal in the light of the movie; more translucent. How had I gone to see a movie with him before and not held this extreme attraction as I did now?

Well Bella, my mind reminded me, back then you didn't know what it was like to kiss him. And, of course, he wasn't your boyfriend.

I had a point...

Without much, if any, conscious decision on my part, I slowly, hesitantly, started to kiss up his jawline, reaching just beneath his ear, then quickly shifted back to a normal position in my seat.

....

What the hell was that, Bella?! That was so not like you! That's left to Emmett and Rosalie, not you and Edward! Oh God, this is so embarrassing, this is so embarrassing this is so embarrassing!

Interrupting me from my mental rambling, I noticed Edward's grip had grown increasingly tight around my shoulders, his breathing harsher than normal.

That's why I did it. I was simply testing the reactions he could get from me.

Sure, that was my only motivation... I thought wittily to myself.

Another half hour passed, and the first to even out was Edward's breathing, after about five minutes. Next was his grip, which loosened progressively throughout the thirty minutes, until his hold was as it was before.

As I was actually getting into the movie, I realized it was ending soon; it had maybe ten minutes to go. I also realized the Bond Girl was avenging her parents in a huge hotel explosion. Each section of the modular hotel was erupting piece by piece, gasoline and fire mixing to blast louder. The man who had killed her mother was nearing the Bond Girl, about to kill her, and before I knew it I was actually at the edge of my seat. From the corner of my eye I saw Edward, slightly amused at my antics.

Suddenly, I heard a gunshot and at first I thought the Girl had been killed, but then I saw the body of the man on the floor, and I sighed audibly with relief, relaxing back into my chair.

"Since when are you into Bond?" Edward asked as we exited the theater. Was it just me or was he slightly jealous?

Ha. Like anyone could be better than Edward.

There goes the cliche thoughts again.

"Since a few minutes ago. It got to me! I thought the girl was dead, that that cruel man had finished off her entire family!"

Edward simply rolled his eyes and kissed the top of my head, his arm wrapping around my waist.

We met the others outside the theater. Alice and Jasper had to leave for lunch, which was coincidentally two blocks away, so the let Emmett drive us all back home.

As we were driving, I checked my watch, and started when it was nearly two.

Crap. I had to be at home in an hour. And pick up Charlie from the airport in two hours. I didn't want to deal with him just yet.

Just get it over with.

"We never played Halo," Edward said, jolting me from my thoughts.

"We'll play when we get back, then."

"Can I watch?" Emmett asked. "I wanna watch Edward get beat by his girlfriend." We heard a loud smack and Emmett was suddenly clutching the back of his head.

"That's what you get for being sexist, babe," Rose said nonchalantly as she checked her nails innocently.

We pulled into the Cullen garage a few minutes later and we all hopped out of the car. I quickly went to my room and packed the few things I had taken out, plus Alice's new clothes for me, then dropped my bag by the door.

"C'mon," Edward said as he grabbed my wrist, startling me. He took me to the living room, where the XBOX was set up, and he handed me a controller.

"Alright, Bella," Emmett said, making me jump as he entered the room unnaturally soft. "This here is called the 'A' button," he said, speaking exceptionally slow as he pointed directly to said button. "You select stuff with it. This is the 'right' button. It lets you shoot people. Don't worry, it's all fake. Next-"


"Emmett, I know the controls."

"Well! Sorry for trying to help!" Emmett said indignantly, though I saw the mirth in his forever childish eyes. Edward and I rolled our eyes and started the game.

Fifty minutes, many cries of protest and agitation, and thousands of virtual bullets later, Edward had defeated me.

He smiled sheepishly at me, and I laughed. All throughout the game, he had been worried about shooting me. We had all had to point out many, many times that it was a game, a virtual stimulation, and therefore not reality.

"Crap. I have to be home in ten minutes," I said worriedly.

"Alright. I'll drive you," Edward said, standing up.

"See ya at school Emmett," I said to the big teddy bear, who was currently starting up a game of Halo for himself.

"Nggh," was his grunt of a response.

As I dumped my bag in the trunk of Edward's car, I contemplated what I would say to Charlie, how I would act. Should I give him the silent treatment, the could shoulder? Or should I be the rational, responsible person I knew I was and talk things through with him.

My rational side was screaming at me to do the latter, though a small part of me wanted to be childish.

Maybe Edward would know. I'd have to tell him sooner or later, either way, as he'd find out one way or another, and I'd rather it was from me now than from Charlie later.

"Edward," I said as he backed skillfully out of the driveway.

"Hm?" He responded.

"I told Charlie that we're dating," I said quickly.

I felt the car slow down, but not stop completely. "You did? Well, I guess that's fair enough, as my parents probably already know. What'd he say?"

"He doesn't like it. He was so manipulative! I told him and he had the nerve to say I was supposed to be with Jacob!"

Edward's eyes were at first hurt, then concerned, confused, and finally a little jealous.

"Who's Jacob?" he asked, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"A friend of mine. Well, if you could really call it that. I hung out with him when I was little and visited my dad. He was one of the only familiar faces I saw in Forks."

"And your dad tried to set you up with him?" Edward asked, a little of the jealousy gone, some amusement dancing in his eyes. Most likely at the thought of my father setting anyone up, not to mention his own daughter.

"Yes."

Edward cleared his throat and coughed to hide a laugh.

"Edward!" I exclaimed. "How is this funny to you?"

"Sorry, I'm just imagining this all. Don't worry, I have faith in you to completely make this right."

"And if it doesn't?" I asked, terrified at the thought.

"If it doesn't... well then, we just try harder. And of course, we always have Alice," he said as we pulled up to my house. "Call me when it's all over; let me know how it all went."

"Okay," I said as I opened my door. Edward opened his and sprinted to the back to pop the trunk and grab my bag before grudgingly handing it to me; ever the gentleman.

"I'll see you later," I said as I placed a sweet kiss on his lips. He smiled against mine and nodded.

So that it wouldn't be more painful to say goodbye, I swiveled on my heel and went inside my house, closing the door with one last wave to Edward.

Watching him through the window in the living room as he started the car and left my street, I dropped my bag on the floor and sunk down to sit against the wall.

Now that Edward was gone, along with the protective aura he brought with him, how would I face Charlie?

AN: Okay, I'm sorry for the evil cliffie, but it is currently 12:15 AM and i have been writing for about 40 minutes now. I just got a burst of a writing bout so I used it to my advantage.

I AM SO SORRY IT TOOK THIS LONG!!! i feel like such a horrible author, i made you wait for more than a month. i know i hate it when authors do that, so please PM me or something, keep me on my toes! i don't care if you ask me "WHEN WILL YOU FRICKIN' UPDATE?!" i need that kind of stuff to motivate me!

though the delay was not entirely my fault, as my very suckish internet recently got fixed, which is a miracle that needed to be reveled in (lol) and then i got grounded for a few days =/

BUT! All for you guys, I got a chapter out in one of my record timings, i think....

Thank you all for reviewing/reading/sticking with the story. It really has been too long and I apologize for it =/

If it's not too much to ask of my lovely readers, I'd appreciate it if you clicked the review button and told me what you thought of this chapter. I'd especially like to know what you thought of Edward and Bella's little... incident... in the theater. Was it too OOC for this story? Let me know please.

-cullenite21