Bella’s POV:

The next week passed rather lazily. I politely declined Jacob’s invitation to see
Aubrey again. Jake said that we just needed to give each other a chance and I did
not want to hurt his feelings, but I really could not stand the girl. I spent time
with Charlie and he even dragged me to go fishing with him. Never again.

And of course, I spent time with the reason for my existence. He had really shown
a tolerance for my stupid movies and I could swear that he was starting to enjoy
them. Right now we were at my house, watching Monty Python. We were side by side
on the couch and he was watching intently with his arm around me. I leaned over
and planted light kisses along his jaw as a reward for being so tolerant.

I was feeling quite mature now that I wasn’t trying to seduce Edward anymore. I
would wait until I was a vampire if I needed to-- it was no more than a year away.
We were going to be mature adults. That was the plan.

He pulled me onto his lap so I was sitting sideways on him, mumbling something
about not straining my neck. If that was his excuse, it sounded good to me.

He threaded his hands through my hair and kept them there as he stared into my
eyes. His were golden; he went hunting with Jasper not long ago. I got lost in
them as usual.

My breath came back by the time he leaned in to kiss me sweetly. It was slow-paced
and romantic, like Edward himself. But I was impatient and human, so it just
wasn’t enough.

I clung to his hair since he still was loosely holding mine hostage, and sped my
lips up. He didn’t seem to mind. He moved his hands to my hips for a second and
then removed them. I sighed internally; my bruises were gone but he was overly
conscious of that area now. He settled for my waist instead.

I moved my lips to his neck and gripped his shoulders. It was immature but I
really wanted to hear him groan again like he did in his room. I decided to suck
lightly on the skin near his ear. But all he did in response was stiffen a little.
So I parted my lips and bit down, not bothering to be gentle since his skin would
not break.

He jumped probably three feet in the air.

But I can’t be sure of the exact measurements because he pushed me off him
simultaneously to the other side of the couch and my head spun.

He stared at me with an indescribable expression.

“Oops,” I breathed.

I expected him to laugh at my trademark line but he was still standing frozen next
to the couch.

“Edward?”

Nothing.

“I’m sorry. I mean that didn’t hurt-- or remind…?”

I wanted to kick myself if I had reminded him of his painful transformation or
something.
He chuckled at my guilty expression and I started breathing again. He sat back
down and smiled crookedly at me.

“I didn’t mind. It just surprised me because…”

“Because if anyone was doing the biting, you expected it to be you?” I teased as
he let me crawl back on his lap.
“Something like that.”

I could see the lust in his eyes and knew we were in dangerous territory, but I
really didn’t care. He moved his hands so they made a clenching fist in his lap.
Then he deliberately turned his neck and I did not need more of an invitation than
that.

I nipped at his ear a little before revisiting the smooth slope of his neck. He
shuddered slightly beneath me. Then I bit down next to his hair line hard enough
that it would have normally drawn blood. He whimpered softly and I grinned against
his cool skin. I didn’t know why I got so much pleasure from making him feel good,
but I did. And as long as our clothes were staying on, he didn’t seem to mind.

I dug my nails into his shoulder and got back to work. I was just about to try
something with my tongue when he murmured “Charlie’s home,” in a strained voice.

Then it was my turn to jump. He laughed breathlessly when he prevented me from

hitting the floor.

“We really should have stayed at your house,” I mumbled.

I almost checked his neck for evidence before realizing that duh, he doesn’t scar.
Having a vampire boyfriend has so many advantages.

I opened the fridge just to make my shaking hands do something before Charlie
walked in the door.
_________________

Edward’s POV:

Jacob and I never told Bella what we did every week because we knew how pissed she
would be. And that would be fun to watch, except that I was sure she would rebel
and try to do exactly what we were doing. She was just too damn breakable and
unlucky for this. Not to mention the irony.

“Cannonball!”
I looked up from the water to see my former enemy leap from the cliff. Jacob said
it was even higher than the ones at La Push. He flailed around a bit before indeed
doing a cannonball. I did not feel like getting splashed or landed on so I dove
under. The water was so clean that I could see everything on the ocean floor. I
lost track of time a little since I did not have to breathe and all, so I figured
I should check on Jacob at the surface. Dogs could not swim as well.

“Hey I thought you drowned. I was about to console Bella for you.”
I sent a torrent of salt water his way. “Ass. Besides, you’ve got your own
obsession now. I mean she’s in almost every thought you have,” I teased.
Jacob grinned the goofiest grin possible and he did not even seem to notice.
“Yeah…” he said shyly.
“God your blushing would give Bella a run for her money.”
“Can it, bloodsucker.”
I chuckled and we headed back to shore.
“Hey Jacob?” I said as we walked up the beach toward our dry clothes.
“Yeah?”
“Something’s been bothering me for a while. You know when Bella met you and
Aubrey?”
He nodded.
“She came home kind of upset.” I paused but Jacob did not explain.
“I was wondering why that was,” I prodded.
“Aubrey doesn’t have much of a filter when she talks, like me. I love that about
her, but sometimes others don’t.”
I tried to pick the problem from his thoughts but there were too many examples of
Aubrey’s outbursts.
“I don’t want to hear vague crap, Jacob. What did she say?” I was growing
impatient.
He raised his eyebrows at my tone then sighed in defeat.
“She asked if she was going to college in the fall and when Bella said no, she
asked if it was because she could not get in.”

I couldn’t stop the rage before it consumed me. Bella was one of the smartest
people I knew. It was obvious from when we first met and had to do that silly
biology lab. She could go to college if she wanted. In fact I wanted her to go
with me, at least for a bit. But she wanted me to change her before she was 20
This blonde moron had nothing on her.

“Well did you stand up for her?” I asked through my teeth.

“I…” But I could already see in his head that he didn’t.
“You stupid mutt! Bella is supposed to be your best friend and you weren’t there
for her?” I asked incredulously.
“Don’t you dare tell me that it was ME that wasn’t there for her,” he spat. “She
may forgive you but no one forgets.”

I’d had enough of this half-breed. I jumped on him and started pounding his chest,
stomach, anything I could reach. He did the same but it was pretty pointless,
seeing that I was as hard as a rock. After a few blows I realized that my punches
were pretty pointless too since the injuries would last all of five seconds. It
was like I was attacking a punching bag or a pillow. I wouldn’t dare hit him as
hard as I could, so I reluctantly climbed off of him.

“What the fuck is your problem?” he sputtered.

I’ve got lots of them-- take your pick, I thought to myself.
“You should have stood up for Bella. I know you’re all lovey-dovey now, but this
Aubrey sounds like a real bitch.”

And then he lunged at me and it started all over again. He finally stopped when I
couldn’t stop laughing.

“Stop laughing, you freak.”

“I can’t,” I howled.
“Why not?” he huffed as he shoved me away from him.
“We’re both so whipped, it’s pathetic.”

And there was nothing either of us could say to deny it.

_________________

Bella’s POV:

I was having Edward withdrawal so I waited at his house until he and Jake were
done with their outing. Wherever they were. I bet it really is a strip club.
I heard them laughing at the front door like idiots so I walked over to them. They
were joking like old friends and I was unable to halt the smile that came across
my face. They really had come a long way from wanting to kill each other.

Jacob had not seen me yet and was holding his hand out in front of him like there
was something wrong with it. My smile faded.

“What happened, Jake?” I asked with concern as I walked into the foyer.
“What?” He looked down at his hand. “Oh umm..bar fight. Carlisle needs to look at
it since it healed weird.”
I raised my eyebrows at him.
“Your hair is a little wet.”
“Yeah, they spilled their fruity drinks on us too. Those girls,” he scoffed.
Edward’s lips twitched. I walked over and grabbed his bronze hair, yanking his
head down to my level.
“Smells less like a Cosmo and more like salt water to me.”
“Well we jumped in the water to clean off, of course,” Jacob said matter-of-
factly.
I crossed my arms.
“Why were you at a bar when Edward can’t even drink?”
“You always need a designated driver. God Bella, how reckless do you think I am?”

I did not even bother to give him a reason to pull out his fake ID. I huffed and
walked away, hearing their snickers on my way to the kitchen. No one could beat
Jacob at bullshiting.