XIII. Crowded.

Edward and I sat together on the couch, with an episode of Friends playing in the background. Neither of us paid much attention. Edward was staring up at the ceiling, his head thrown back against the plush couch cushion. My gaze was on my feet, my knees pulled up to my chest. I felt a lot better now. Still, neither of us returned to school.

The silence wasn't uncomfortable. It was peaceful and nice. We didn't have to talk while being in each other's presence. We could just enjoy each other's presence without uttering a word. It was rare to be able to sit with someone in silence and not feel awkward or uncomfortable.

After a long silence passed and I switched to a new episode of Friends, Edward spoke up softly. "Do you think I could be scary?" He asked, his voice in a hushed tone. I could hear the hesitance in his voice. Like he was unsure to ask, unsure of what I'd reply.

I turned my head to look at him. I was silent for a second as I stared at him, trying to analyze his facial expression. There was not an ounce of amusement in his face. It was a serious question. "Where did that suddenly come from?" I asked softly.

"Do you?" He asked again, pushing for an answer. His head didn't lift from the couch, his head didn't turn towards me, and his eyes didn't meet mine.

My eyebrows furrowed, and then I remembered our conversation from earlier today. Of Edward being the villain of the story. "Are you talking about our conversation -about you being the bad guy?" I asked softly as I turned towards him, crossing my legs.

He sighed softly, closing his eyes, and squeezing them tightly together. "Answer my question." He pleaded softly with me.

I pursed my lips, shoving my hands into my lap. I thought about it for a second. Anyone could be scary. You never knew what people's motives were, you never knew what their intentions were. I didn't think Edward himself could be scary, but I didn't know him that well. I didn't know what he was capable of.

"I think anyone could be scary if they wanted to." I voiced my opinion as I shrugged my shoulders, my head tilting to the side.

Edward was silent for a while, his eyes remaining closed. With a deep sigh, those golden eyes fluttered open and his head turned towards me. "Even me?" He asked softly as he raised his eyebrows.

I shrugged my shoulder again and nodded my head. "Yeah," I admitted softly. My voice was light, with no malicious intent in my honest answer. Of course, he could be scary if he tried. Any man or woman could. There was no exception.

He silently stared at me for a second. There was no sign in his eyes or face that he was offended by my answer. "Are you scared of me?" He asked curiously as he raised his eyebrows.

I offered him a small smile as I slowly shook my head. "You confuse the hell out of me, but you don't scare me," I assured him and he returned a small smile as he stared back at me. I sighed and shifted in my seat. "You know so much about me, but I know nothing about you," I muttered as I pursed my lips.

He quirked an eyebrow as he stared at me. "I don't know that much about you." He argued softly as he slowly shook his head.

I raised my eyebrows as I stared back at him. Our intense eye contact didn't put me on the edge of my seat like it sometimes did with others. With most.  No one liked making eye contact with the Cullen's. "You know more about me than I know about you," I argued and he playfully raised his eyebrows at me. "What do you want to know?" I asked. I figured if I wanted something from him, I'd have to give something.

Edward was silent for a second, his gaze drifting down to his lap. He thought about it for a second, weighing his options for questions carefully. Then his gaze shot back towards me. "What happened to your father?" He asked softly.

I gave him a tight-lipped smile as I wrapped my arm around myself. "A drunk driver hit him when he was coming home from work," I explained softly. The memories of that night wouldn't enter my mind. I blocked them out like I always did. "I don't remember much from that time...I blocked most of it out." I whispered with a shrug of my shoulder. "Almost all of it."

Edward's eyebrows furrowed when I mentioned blocking out my memories. His head cocked to the side and he stared at me curiously. "Have you always been able to do that?" He asked, and the curiousness in his eyes reached his smooth voice.

"No," I replied with a shake of my head. "But since his death, I've been able to block things out," I explained softly, tugging my bottom lip between my teeth before I spoke again. "It's like my thoughts shut off," I said, sighing softly. I didn't know much about how I blocked things out. It was just something that happened, sometimes without even trying, sometimes when I tried. "Sometimes I can block out more than other times...sometimes I can block something longer." I added."I don't really have much control over it."

Edward nodded along with my words. He seemed fascinated. It was a bit of a relief, not having him think I was crazy. I've never shared this with anyone before. But something pulled me towards Edward, such a strong feeling I've never felt before. Like I could trust him with anything. I honestly was going crazy, trusting a moody boy I barely knew.

"What do you want to know?" He asked in return, and I was thankful he didn't question me anymore on what I meant about blocking out my own memories or thoughts.

"Tell me about your family." I urged him on as I shifted in my seat to completely face him. I was fascinated by Edward. He was such a mystery. He was admittedly strange, as was his family. I liked having the opportunity to learn more about him.

He nodded his head like he figured that would be my question. He shifted in his seat so that his body would face me a little more. "Well, I'm sure you already know I was adopted by Dr. Carlisle and his wife, Esme." He muttered softly.

I nodded my head in confirmation and Edward hummed as he nodded as well. "What happened to your parents?" I asked carefully as I raised my eyebrows, my head tilting to the side.

He pursed his lips. "They died many years ago." He replied softly as his gaze shot toward his lap, and he picked at his perfectly cut nails.

"I'm sorry," I muttered softly as I lowered my gaze. "I know how bad it hurts to lose a parent," I whispered with empathy in my voice.

"I don't really remember them anymore." He replied with a shrug of his shoulder as he looked towards me. He didn't seem upset. His parents must have passed years ago, when he was younger. "Carlisle and Esme have been my parents for a long time now." He insisted, his voice soft and endearing.

"You love them," I replied as I stared at him with a small smile playing on my lips. I wasn't a question. I didn't have to ask. I could just tell by the tone of his voice as he spoke of Carlisle and Esme.

"Yes." He confirmed with a nod of his head as he smiled softly, his gaze diverting down to his lap once again. "I couldn't have imagined two better people to have taken me in." He said as he gave a small shake of his head.

"And your brothers and sisters?" I asked curiously as I raised my eyebrows, tilting my head to the side once again.

"Jasper, Rosalie, Emmette, and Alice." He replied as his smile grew a little before he glanced down at the watch on his wrist. He inhaled sharply when he saw the time. "Who as a matter of fact, are gonna be quite upset if they have to stand in the rain waiting for me." He muttered as his gaze shot towards the window. It was drizzling outside, slowly working up to a downpour.

"Let me drive you back," I suggested, getting up to my feet as well when Edward stood up.

"No, it's fine." He assured me as he waved a light dismissive hand through the air, walking towards the front door.

I grabbed my truck keys and followed after him. I couldn't let him walk alone in the rain, and I doubt he could do any more damage to my truck. "Take my truck." I insisted as I held my keys out to him, offering him a small smile.

He smiled at my kind gesture and nodded his head in agreement. He held out his hand and I dropped the key in it. "I'll bring it back." He assured me as he lingered by the front door.

"In one piece," I added as I pointed a warning finger toward him, my small smile growing a little playful. "I've seen how you drive," I muttered with a soft huff as I crossed my arms over my chest, my head tilting to the side.

Edward scoffed with a grin as he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that thing doesn't go that fast anyway." He muttered, chuckling softly as he shook his head.

I let out a soft chuckle, my lips parting in playful shock. "You can always walk," I suggested playfully as I unfolded my arms and rested my hands on my hips.

"Which will probably be faster." He teased with a soft grin before he opened the door and rushed out into the rain, making a run for my truck.

I stood there by the door for a second, watching him as he drove off. When he disappeared out of my sight, I returned to my spot on the couch, paying only half attention to the episode of Friends that played on the TV.

A long few minutes later and I heard the roar of my truck coming down the road. I got back up from the couch and went to the front door. My truck with Edward inside, was followed by his Volvo with his siblings inside.

I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned with my shoulder against the door as Edward pulled into my driveway. He got out and ran for the cover of my porch, as the rain started to get a little heavier.

"Ana." He spoke with a soft voice, giving me a small smile. "How are you feeling?" He asked as he raised his eyebrows, holding out my keys.

"A little better," I replied as I returned his small smile. I held out my hand and he dropped the keys onto it. My eyes flicked towards my truck. "See my truck is still in one piece." I mused as my smile grew and my eyes returned to him.

"Indeed it is." He replied, letting out a soft chuckle as he nodded his head in agreement, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. Behind him on the street, one of his siblings blasted the horn of his Volvo and he rolled his eyes in annoyance before looking at me with a tight-lipped smile. "I'll see you tomorrow."

I nodded my head as I flashed him another small smile. "See you tomorrow," I said softly. Edward lingered for a second until his horn blasted again and he groaned before saying his goodbye and rushing off to the Volvo and again I watched him leave.

That night, my mom got home late. I had ordered pizza but didn't eat much of it, leaving the rest of it for her. I was sitting at my desk, replying to an email from an old friend from Phoenix. I heard my mom's car pull up the driveway and the front door open and close.

"Honey I'm home."She called out, her light footsteps coming up the stairs. She gave a quick knock on my door before opening it and popping her head inside. "How are you feeling?" She asked as she raised her eyebrows.

I turned to look over at her. "Better now," I replied as I offered her an assuring smile.

She nodded, staying silent for a second as her gaze darted around my face, analyzing me. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned with her shoulder against the door. "Did you drive home?" She asked and I could hear the concern in her voice.

I pursed my lips as I looked at her, propping one foot onto my chair, and pulling my knee up to my chest. "Edward drove me." I informed her.

She raised her eyebrows when she recognized the name. "The Cullen boy?" She asked for clarification and I gave it to her with a single nod of my head. She hummed in surprise. "So are you two friends now?" She asked curiously.

I took in a deep breath as my eyes diverted down to my desk. "Yeah." I nodded my head. I guess we are.

"That's nice." She replied and when my gaze shifted towards her, I saw the small smile tugging at her lips. "Nice of him to drive you." She added and I hummed in agreement as I nodded my head.

The following morning, Edward and I chatted in Biology and he had agreed to gracefully return me to my friends for a little while. I entered the cafeteria, my eyes immediately drifting towards the Cullen's table. I met his gaze and he offered me a small smile, which I returned. I made my way over to my friends' table, smiling as Angela and Jessica greeted me with big smiles. I slipped my bag off my shoulder and placed it on the floor next to an empty chair.

"La Push, baby," Eric spoke up as he folded his hands together underneath his chin, grinning towards me. "You in?" He asked as he raised his eyebrows at me.

I stared at Eric, my head tilting to the side. "Should I know what that means?" I asked as my eyebrows knitted together and I crossed my arms over my chest.

"La Push beach, down on the Quileute rez." Mike was the one to explain to me. He sat with Tyler on top of the table, just next to the one where the rest sat, their feet propped up on a chair. "We're all going after school." He added. He didn't seem hung up over me ditching him for Edward anymore. Still offering me his over adoring smile.

"Big swell coming in." Jessica nodded her head as she glanced up at me and I pursed my lips, nodding along.

Eric jumped up, grinning as he stretched both arms out to one side as he pretended to balance on a surfboard "And I don't just surf the internet." He boosted and Mike got up, standing with his legs bent on the chair his feet were briefly resting on, copying Eric's moves.

Jessica rolled her eyes. "Eric, you stood up once." She shot down his ego. "On a foam board." She added as a grin tugged at her lips and I let out a stifled laugh as Eric sat back down in his chair, scowling at Jessica.

Angela turned towards me with a small smile. "There's whale watching, too." She informed me. "Come with Stas." She pleaded softly, using her newfound nickname for me. Everyone else still kept to Ana, but she had taken to Stas.

"La Push, baby," Eric repeated as he wiggled his eyebrows at me. "La Push."

My eyes squinted at Eric as I chuckled softly. "I'll go if you stop saying that," I said and Eric playfully rolled his eyes at me. "I'm going to get something to eat," I informed them as I turned towards the food-serving counter.

"Bring me a snack, please," Angela called over her shoulder and I gave her a thumbs-up before walking away.

I grabbed a lunch tray and grabbed cookies for Angela before getting my own food, some salad. It looked to be the most appetizing dish served today. Cold pizza wasn't really my thing anyway.

"Ana." Edward Cullen's smooth voice spoke behind me, startling me for a second.

I spun around to face him, placing a hand over my pounding heart. "Edward," I muttered softly, taking a deep breath to calm myself and I could see he was stifling a laugh

"So, what are your plans for the weekend?" He asked curiously as he reached out, placing a hand against the glass of the serving counter that mostly shielded the food, staring down at me.

"Going to the beach after school, nothing special for Saturday or Sunday," I replied with a shrug of my shoulder and he nodded along. I pursed my lips, taking a long shot as a sudden idea popped into my head. "Come to the beach with us. It'll be fun. We can either watch whales or watch Eric fall on his ass." I suggested with a small smile.

Edward chuckled at my last suggestion, sending a quick glance over his shoulder. I followed his gaze, finding the two of the three boys at the table watching us. Mike and Tyler. Edward rolled his eyes at them before turning back to me. "Which beach?" He asked curiously as he raised his eyebrows.

"La Push," I replied and I could see him ever so slightly flinch, his eyebrows furrowing as he lowered his gaze. My eyebrows furrowed and a frown tugged at my lips. "Is something wrong with that beach?" I asked in confusion.

"It's just a little crowded," he muttered with a shake of his head, tapping the glass of the serving counter before he just turned around and left.

I watched him leave with my eyebrows deeply furrowed. He'd never stop confusing me.

----

He's a moody bitch but it's okay, I still love Edward Cullen.