Charlie almost missed the turn into the Cullen's drive even with Alice telling him it was coming up.

"Emmett hasn't cleared the foliage like Esme asked yet. It's very easy to overlook, Charlie."

He smiled at her in through the rearview mirror as he continued up the winding gravel way.

The trees suddenly gave way to a clearing and a home that looked like it belonged on the front of a magazine rather than in the woods outside of Forks, Washington. It looked to be three stories with the entire front made entirely of glass. The porch was to die for with the little garden in full bloom in front of it. The garage was open, and I noticed a Mercedes, Emmett's Jeep, and a yellow Porsche inside. Edward's Volvo was parked outside the garage.

Wide-eyed, I stepped out of the car. Alice bounded out and to the door in record speed, urging us to come in.

As she reached the door, Emmett opened it.

"Hey there little sis," he ruffled Alice's hair and she huffed.

"Hey there big bro," she elbowed him in retaliation. "These are our guests tonight. Let me introduce you to Chief Swan, his wife Renee, and daughter Bella."

He welcomed us in before shaking Charlie's hand and kissing Renee's. He told us that his parents were in the kitchen finishing up should they care to join them, but kept me and Alice with him.

He whistled with a smirk, "Well, daughter Bella, don't you look gorgeous tonight?"

I blushed under his gaze that was slowly working its way up and down. I had already felt a little self-conscious about the length of the skirt Alice had talked me into, but now I definitely regretted it. "Thanks," I managed to get out.

Alice just chuckled as he threw an arm around each of us and led us up the stairs. She leaned around him to look at me saying, "You'll get used to him, Isa; he's after anything in a skirt since Rose has started ignoring him lately."

Emmett huffed something about stupid blondes and not getting any.

I just nodded at her words and thinking that I didn't quite like that nickname she had just dubbed me with.

Almost like a savior, Edward appeared at the top of the stairs to rescue me from his brother.

He smiled crookedly at me, "I thought I'd heard you arrive. The rest of us are in the lounge on the third floor."

He took my hand and stole me from Emmett. As we walked ahead, I heard Alice squeal and looked back to see her thrown over Emmett's shoulder. He had smacked her ass before rushing past Edward and me to where the rest of his siblings were. Roughhousing I understood among siblings, but that? I looked to Edward and he just smiled.

"You'll have to excuse him; he's just overly affectionate at times."

I raised my eyebrows but just nodded along. We entered the room to find Alice sideways in Emmett's lap talking to the third brother. I recalled Alice saying earlier that his name was Jasper, and their sister Rosalie sat on her phone but was currently glaring at Alice and Emmett. She looked to us when we walked in and turned back to her phone without a word.

"Hey there, darling," Jasper greeted as Edward led me to a small love seat in front of the couch the other three occupied. His drawl made his welcoming ten times better.

I smiled. "Nice to meet you."

With a laugh and nod to Edward, he replied, "We could have met earlier, but Edward called dibs and told me to back off."

I sent a questioning look to Edward and he just shrugged.

"When I noticed you in the parking lot this morning, I just knew I'd have to find a way to meet you. It was quite a nice surprise to find that we'd be biology partners for the year."

"Wasn't that lucky, then." I felt a little giddy form the attention. I was so used to being "one of the boys" that I'd never gotten or even paid attention to anyone looking to give me attention in an un-platonic kind of way. Well, besides Mike, but he doesn't really count anymore because he and Jess are basically already married in everyone else's minds.

"Very," he murmured moving his arm from the back of the couch to around my shoulder and pulling me a little closer.

Was it getting a little warm in here, I wondered as I uncrossed my legs just to cross them again.

Emmett's booming laugh interrupted whatever was happening between Edward and I. We turned our attention to the ones across from us.

Jasper looked to Edward, "Have you told her what we're doing tonight?"

His arm tightened around me. "No, I was going to let it be a surprise."

A scoff from the armchair in the corner of the room had me look over to Rosalie. "Like Ms. Goody-two shoes will even want to go if you told her. She's probably never even had a drink."

Emmett's eyes met mine as he said, "I bet I could loosen her up some.

Rosalie shot me a glare and started to say something else when Dr. Cullen popped in to let us know dinner was ready.

He extended a hand to assist me up before placing a light kiss across the back of my hand. Edward wasn't kidding about the manners thing.

"It's lovely to meet you, Isabella." His smile was gleaming and his face was angelic. How in the world were all of the Cullens so attractive? He turned on his heel and left as Esme called up the stairs for us.

Edward pulled me from my wondering by taking my arm in his and following his siblings down the stairs.

"Don't worry about Rose, love," he murmured into my ear. "She's just been a bit put out over the move, and that she and Emmett are in a bit of a fight. It's not helping that he's been all over Alice lately. I'm shocked Jasper hasn't said anything, but he's always liked seeing Rosalie get in a huff."

I shivered at his breath fanning across my neck and wondered at the implications of his words. Were his siblings together? As in like together-together?

We entered the dining room and, again, I noted that this house could be in a magazine because of how lovely it had been built, decorated, and furnished. I noticed mom talking to whom I guessed to be Esme and each had a glass of wine in hand.

Edward walked us over to them and they turned to us.

"You must be Bella," she smiled, pulling me into a hug. "It's so nice to meet you. This one here talked about you nonstop this afternoon."

Edward blushed and shrugged as he placed his arm around my waist. "What else can I say, she's lovely, isn't she?"

"That she is. I'll trust you may be able to keep him in line?" she asked.

I returned her smile, "I'll do my best, Mrs. Cullen."

"Oh no, just Esme, dear."

Dinner was just as delicious as it looked and the small talk never ceased throughout the meal. My parents were quick to accept another dinner invitation for the next weekend. After dinner, I helped Esme and Alice clear the dishes along with Renee. As we worked, Esme gushed about how she could tell Edward was already quite smitten with me, and Alice was quick to agree.

"And what are your thoughts on him dear?" Esme asked.

"Well, he's certainly a gentleman, I can already tell." Esme smiled and urged me to go on. "He's not bad on the eyes and form talking earlier, we have a lot of common interests. I look forward to getting to know him," I replied honestly.

My mother listened to the exchange quietly, which is very odd for her. I figured she was trying to gauge my reactions to Edward to how she thought I was with Paul. On the drive home from my Charlie-forbidden visit yesterday, she had grilled me about my visit and that goodbye kiss that had me blushing almost all the way to the house. I liked Paul a lot. He was a great friend, funny, caring in a roundabout sort of way, and made me feel wanted. On the other hand, Edward was… I don't know- dazzling, almost. I knew we'd definitely be talking about boys later from the look in her eyes.

"So do you think Bella might be able to stay the night, mom?"

Esme put away the last of the dishes before turning to us. "I don't mind if her parents don't, darling."

Renee raised her eyes to me. "It's up to you, Bells."

"I don't have clothes or anything though," I said to Alice.

"Don't worry about that, you look like you're about Rose's size. I'm sure she won't mind you borrowing some."

From my impression earlier, I believed she would very much mind, but I agreed to stay. Besides, it made more sense than me going home. Everyone would just have to come in pick me up when they snuck out later.

I wish I'd known then what I was getting into.

A/N: I suck at updating because I don't write my chapters in advance and suck at sticking to schedules. RL is slowing down a tad for the next few weeks, so updates should be frequent. I really like this story in my head, I've just got to get it typed out for you all. I hope you enjoyed everything so far, but the real fun starts next chapter!

Xx Strawberri