XXIX. Dinner.

Mike caught up with me that Monday afternoon, following me as I walked through the hallway, heading out to meet Edward by his car. "Hey, Ana." The blonde called out to me and reluctantly came to a stop. Mike had been sulking at me the whole day, and I knew this conversation was not one I wanted to have outside where Edward could hear us. He already disliked Mike enough.

"Mike," I said softly as I turned around to face him, pursing my lips tightly as I crossed my arms over my chest.

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. He stared down at me with a deep frown tugging at his lips. "So you and Cullen are together now?" He questioned as he raised his eyebrows at me.

I fought hard to not roll my eyes at him. Him using Cullen to address Edward was quickly growing old. "Me and Edward are," I confirmed with a nod of my head, putting emphasis on Edward's name.

Mike slowly nodded his head as he looked down at the ground for a second. He sighed before looking back up at me. "You know...I... I don't like it." He admitted as he shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.

My lips parted, my eyebrows furrowing as I stared at him in silence for a second. "What?" I questioned in a low voice as I quirked an eyebrow, my head cocking to the side.

Mike took a deep breath as he shook his head once again. "He looks at you like you're something to eat." He insisted, his eyebrows furrowing as his frown deepened. He looked disgusted with just the thought of Edward Cullen.

I scoffed at Mike, deeply offended by his accusation. More offended than I should have been if this was normal circumstances and Edward was a normal boyfriend. "No, he doesn't." I snapped as I shook my head.

Mike took a step closer to me and I gave him a cold stare that made him stop in his tracks. "Look I don't think you should be with him." He said softly as he shook his head at me.

My lips pulled into a tight line as I stared up at him, my brown eyes darkening as I glared at him. "This isn't your place, Mike." I reminded him in a low voice as I shook my head.

"I'm just..." He tried to explain, cutting himself off with a deep sigh. He closed his eyes for a brief second before looking at me. "I care about you." He whispered as he stared down at me with a tight-lipped smile.

I sighed softly and lowered my head. I took a second to calm myself down. "I get that, and I appreciate it, but...I'm happy with Edward." I said softly as I looked up at him, pursing my lips. "This isn't your place." I reminded him softly as I shook my head before turning around and walking away.

When I got to Edward's car, I came to a quick realization that it didn't really matter if my conversation with Mike took place inside the school building. He heard all of it. If he didn't dislike Mike before, he sure as hell disliked him now. He didn't mention the conversation, but I could tell he was annoyed. Neither of us brought it up.

Friday afternoon I stayed a little later after school. There was a big biology project that we still had to finish before the quickly approaching Spring break. I was busy for almost over an hour before I rushed to meet my mom and Charlie at the diner for dinner.

When I got into the diner, I gave both my mom and Charlie an apologetic smile. "Sorry I'm late, biology project." I apologized as I sat down in the booth next to my mom. "Hi, Charlie." I greeted the man with a small smile.

Charlie returned my smile. "Ana." he greeted with a nod of his head as three plates of food were brought over to our table. "Ordered you the seafood combo." He said as he pointed towards the plate placed in front of me. "Your mom says you like seafood."

I smiled brightly down at the plate of seafood. "Like is an understatement." I mused as I began tugging into my food. I hummed softly as I ate a piece of shrimp. "Thank you," I said as I glanced at him with a smile and he returned it once again.

"Order one for yourself next time too." My mom insisted as she pointed her fork in Charlie's direction, eating a veggie burger with salad instead of fries. "You should cut back on the steak." She warned him.

Charlie glanced at me and we shared a look as I quirked an eyebrow at him, giving him a playful 'you're in trouble' look. Charlie looked over at my mother, pursing his lips. "I'm healthy as a horse, Eleanor." He insisted and my mom hummed as she nodded her in response.

The waitress came over, bringing me a coke, both Charlie and my mom already had their own. "Say Chief, boys want to know, you find anything down by Queets River today?" She asked Charlie hesitantly as she pursed her lips.

I glanced at Charlie before looking over my shoulder at the men in the booth behind us, all of them staring at Charlie with questioning looks. Charlie sighed deeply before speaking up. "The suspect's moving east. Kitsap County Sheriff is taking over from here. They're putting extra guys on." he informed them.

"Hope they catch him fast." The waitress muttered before leaving. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. How many more people were going to die trying to catch a creature they wouldn't even possibly be able to phantom? How close were the Cullen's to catching this other vampire? Edward didn't like talking about it much, because he wanted me to have as little involvement as possible.

Charlie's attention turned to me. "So Ana, you have any plans for Friday night?" He asked curiously as he raised his eyebrows, an attempt to brush off the whole serial killer running around.

I pursed my lips as I shook my head. "Not a single one actually," I replied as I took another bite of my food.

"Not even hanging out with Edward?" My mom asked, wiggling her eyebrows and bumping my shoulder with hers as a smile tugged at her lips.

I shot her a side-eyed look. "Mom, we're not having this conversation," I replied with a slow shake of my head as I took a few more bites of my food.

My mom turned to face Charlie, her smile growing a little more. "He's coming over for dinner Sunday." She informed him and I subtly rolled my eyes a a small smile spread onto my my lips. For a woman who never cared about gossip back in Phoenix, she sure as hell loved gossip when it came to Charlie and Billy. A bunch of old women in a nursing home, the lot of them.

"Sounds like it's getting serious," Charlie commented as he glanced over at me, raising his eyebrows. My mom hummed in agreement with him as she nodded her head.

I rolled my eyes again before looking between the two of them. "It's just dinner." I insisted with a shrug of my shoulder, trying to turn my attention to my food.

"With your mother." My mom argued as she looked at me, her head tilted to the side and Charlie looked over at me as well, raising his eyebrows as they both waited for my response. Charlie gave me a look of 'She's got you there, kid.'

I took a deep breath, shaking my head at the two of them. "People have dinner all the time." I reminded them as I shrugged my shoulders. "We're having dinner right now," I said as I waved my hand over the table. My mom chuckled in response, dropping the conversation for now.

"Does he at least treat you right?" Charlie asked me as he raised his eyebrows, a serious look crossing his face. "Because I am the chief of police." He reminded me, sounding like a protective uncle.

I smiled at him, finding his protectiveness endearing. "He's the perfect gentleman," I assured him as I nodded my head and he nodded as well, satisfied with my response.

Sunday night came and I helped my mom prepare dinner. I hovered over every single thing she did, making sure there was no meat or large portions of food. It felt like serving Edward a cooked steak would be a slap in the face or some sort of cruel joke. So we kept everything simple.

When there was a knock at the front door, my mom rushed to open it before I even had a chance. I stood in the archway of the kitchen, watching as she opened the door for him, a big smile on her lips. "Edward." She greeted with a big smile and he returned her smile, holding a bouquet of roses in one hand, his other hand hidden behind his back. "Oh, it's so nice to finally meet you." She said excitedly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Come in."

"I brought flowers." He said as he stepped into the house, holding out the white roses towards her. "I hope you like roses." He said softly.

My mom gasped softly, her smile growing as she took the flowers from his hand. "Oh, they are so beautiful." She complimented as she looked down at the boquite before glancing at him. "You're so kind."

She turned around, walking towards the kitchen with her roses. As she passed me, she gave me a smile of approval and I rolled my eyes as I smiled back at her. When she was in the kitchen, I approached Edward who gave me an endearing smile. "Do I get flowers?" I asked playfully as I raised my eyebrows.

Edward pursed his lips, the corners of his lips tugging upwards."I already impressed you." He teased as he shook his head at me.

I crossed my arms over my chest, my lips playfully pouting out as I stared at him with raised eyebrows. "So no flowers?" I questioned. Edward smiled as he revealed a boquite of tulips from behind his back. A smile spread across my lips, making a dimple pop out on my cheek. I stared at him endearingly as my head tilted to the side and I blinked before glancing down at the flowers. "You are so lucky." I teased as he gave me the flowers.

"Oh yeah?" He asked, chuckling as he quirked an eyebrow at me, finding my teasing threat very amused. He wrapped one arm around my waist and placed a feather-light kiss on the top of my head.

When he pulled away, I took his hand into my free one and led him into the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready in a second you two." My mom informed us. She grabbed a vase and filled it with water, placing it next to her vase of roses. I placed my flowers into the vase, smiling fondly at the tulips. "Ana sweetheart, set the table."

Edward reached out for the plates my mom held out to me. "I'll help you." He told me as he took the plates from my mom. 

I grabbed cutlery from the drawer and led Edward into the dining room. I eyed the light pink plates. "She likes you," I informed Edward.

Edward smiled knowingly as he nodded his head. Of course, he would know. He turned to me, raising his eyebrows as we set the table together. "How can you tell?" He asked curiously.

I grabbed one of the plates he had set down and held it up. "These are her fancy china," I informed him and he chuckled softly. I placed the plate back down and glanced over my shoulder, watching my mom who had her back turned to us. I turned back to Edward, leaning in a little closer to his side. "I told her you were on a diet and everything, so she didn't make a lot of food. And no meat" I assured him softly. "You don't have to eat a lot," I said with a small shake of my head.

"I don't mind," Edward assured softly as he looked down at me with a soft smile. "It won't kill me." He assured me as he reached out, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Besides, I want to do this for you." He insisted before glancing over his shoulder at my mom."And I want her to like me." He added.

It warmed my heart to know he'd go so out of his way to make an effort. Everything about Edward Cullen warmed my heart and made butterflies flutter in my stomach. And this made me weary of the idea of saying goodbye to him one day. It was one thought I struggled blocking from my mind. Even if he hasn't been in my life very long yet, my heart ached just at the thought of losing him.

The three of us gathered around the table and I served Edward the smallest portion of food and every time my mother wasn't looking, I'd sneak a bite from his plate, making him grin in my direction.

"So Edward, I hear you're a bright student." My mother spoke up as she glanced towards Edward, raising her eyebrows. "Your dad always talks so proudly about your straight A's." She commented with a smile as she took a sip of her wine.

"I put a lot of time into my studies." Edward replied politely as he nodded his head."I have a lot of free time." He added and I lowered my head, letting a little knowing grin spread onto my lips.

"Ana mentioned you like music." My mom continued on and my head shot up, sending her a pointed look as I pursed my lips. Chances were he already knew that I talked about him to her, but she wasn't supposed to tell him.

"She did?" Edward asked and my mom hummed as she nodded her head. Edward glanced over at me with a cockly little smirk and I rolled my eyes at him. "I have somewhat of a collection." He told my mom as he shrugged his shoulders.

I snorted in amusement, giving Edward a deadpan look. "Somewhat?" I asked as I quirked an eyebrow at him."You have just about every record ever released." I said as my head tilted to the side and a small smile tugged at his lips, knowing I was just about right.

"What genre are you fond of?" My mom asked curiously as she took another sip of her wine, raising her eyebrows at Edward.

"Clasical." He replied without hesitation as he slowly nodded his head. I watched with an aching heart as he took a bite of food, keeping his face natural as he forced himself to swallow. My mom didn't notice, but I could see him slightly flinch as the food made its way down his throat.

My mom turned to face me, a smile on her lips. "I like him." She told me as she pointed towards Edward and I chuckled softly as I nodded my head. Her attention turned back to Edward. "Ana tells me you're gonna be teaching her to play the piano."

"Yes, I am," Edward confirmed with a nod of his head. "I won't call myself an expert but I have some skill." He said as he slowly shrugged his shoulders, being way too modest with skills.

"Her father loved the piano." My mom said softly as a fond smile tugged at her lips. I could tell the mention of my father made her feel a little sad and she was quick to change the subject. "Do you have any other hobbies?" She asked him.

Edward nodded his head. "Reading and hiking." He replied and that made a smile tug at my lips as I glanced over at him. "I'm really fond of both." He said.

"It's... astonishing how similar you two are." My mom mused as she glanced between me and Edward and we both chuckled softly at her words. There was a brief silence between us as we ate before my mom spoke up again. "You know, Charlie's coming over for a barbeque next Friday." My mom informed me before glancing over at Edward. "You should join us, Edward."

Edward stiffened next to me as he looked at my mom. I reached out underneath the table and took his cold hand into mine. "He doesn't eat meat mom." I reminded my mom with a tight-lipped smile.

"Right." She replied as she nodded her head. She thought for a second before looking between me and Edward. "Well the game is also on, so maybe you can just come hang out with us for a little." She suggested as her eyes settled on Edward.

Edward smiled as he looked at my mother while giving my hand a gentle squeeze underneath the table. "I'd like that very much." He replied with a nod of his head. "I'll definitely be here." He said before glancing over at me and we shared a small smile.

----

Ana's close to throwing hands with Mike, I'm telling you!!

Edward would honestly do anything for his babes!!!