You all are so clever. And pretty fantastic reviewers too. So, for you my lovelies, a new chapter.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Not mine.

EPOV

I knew it the second the door opened. I could practically hear how angry they were. The look on Alice’s face confirmed it. We were dead.

In a futile attempt to soften the blow, Alice jumped from the table and ran towards the living room. They made it to the kitchen before she made it to them.

“Daddy,” she squealed as she wrapped her arms around Carlisle. Esme rolled her eyes. Carlisle didn’t look like he bought it either.

“Alice go sit down.” Oh, yeah, he was definitely pissed. Carlisle and Esme just stared at us, their arms folded. They knew we did something wrong. We knew that they knew we did something wrong.

“Which one of you wants to explain what happened last night? And while you do that could you also explain why I should refrain from killing you.” I knew Carlisle’s scary voice well. This wasn’t the first party I had been busted for.

“It’s my fault. Don’t blame the others,” I volunteered. I could be the martyr. If it meant that the others could get away scot-free, I could deal with being grounded for two weeks. Bella’s dad would kill her and then me if he found out.

“No, Edward. You are not taking the blame for this.” It was noble of Emmett, but it really meant that we would both be imprisoned without a possibility of parole or time off for good behavior.

“It was my idea. I roped everyone into doing it. Don’t blame them. It was all me,” Alice said. I didn’t realize that my siblings didn’t understand that I was offering myself up as a sacrifice. Now we were all screwed.

Carlisle scowled and turned his back to us. Esme put a hand on his shoulder. She shook her head.

“I’m very disappointed in you. We trusted you alone. And you broke that trust.” I hated it when Esme said that she was disappointed. That was infinitely worse than being grounded. She had been so good to us and we let her down. Carlisle spun back around to face us.

“Would someone like to tell me about the sleeping arrangements? Because as I see it there is Alice and Jasper, who are dating. And then there is Emmett and the girl that he drools over.” Carlisle completely ignored Bella and me. I wanted to smile, but I held it back. We were the only ones that actually did anything.

“Rosalie slept with me in my room, Dad. Gosh,” Alice said.

“And Jasper slept in the guest room on the second floor. I know it’s all socially acceptable and whatnot for two guys to share a bed and all, but Jasper is so not my type.” Of course Emmett would have to make it into a joke.

Then, I felt Carlisle’s eyes on me. I wasn’t off the hook like I had hoped. He cleared his throat. Slowly, I looked up at him.

“Yes, Dad?” I asked calmly.

“Everyone’s sleeping arrangements are covered except yours and Bella’s.”

“I didn’t realize we were under scrutiny,” I told him. He frowned.

“Edward, you are not that good at hiding your emotions. Do you seriously want me to believe that you have come to love Forks for the culture? Or might it have something to do with the girl that you tease every time she comes over to visit Alice?” I, apparently, was an open book. How long had everyone else known that I liked Bella? It had to be well before I realized it myself.

“I…How long have you known?” I asked.

“A while,” he answered with a half-smile.

“It’s actually really sweet,” Esme threw in. She smiled a real smile at me and then at Bella.

“You have yet to answer the question, son.” Crap. I was hoping that I distracted him.

“Sir?” I heard Bella say beside me. I reached underneath the table for her hand. I couldn’t believe that she was answering.

“Yes, Hon, what do you want to say?”

“I slept on the floor in Edward’s room.” I squeezed her hand.

“Where did Edward sleep?” Carlisle seemed calmer addressing Bella than he had with me.

“Next to me, but nothing happened. We were listening to music and we just fell asleep.” The complete truth. I don’t know if I would have been so truthful. It was a definite gamble, but it might just pay off.

Carlisle pinched the bridge of his nose. He sighed. Esme began to massage his shoulders.

“Go clean up the house. I’ll decide what to do with you all later,” Carlisle said.

We all got up quickly and rushed out of the room. But as soon as we got there, we realized that we didn’t have any cleaning supplies so I was volunteered to go back into the danger zone. I ran in and grabbed the box of trash bags, running straight back out. It didn't really matter, though. Carlisle and Esme went up to their room.

In order to avoid temptation, Alice suggested that us guys clean the first floor and the girls take the second floor. It was a decent idea. At the very least, we would avoid an awkward situations with the parents.

Emmett held open a trash bag while a grabbed cups and bottles and cans. There was so much alcohol. I couldn’t blame them for being mad when they saw how trashed the living room was. The bad thing about drunk people was that they really didn’t care where they put their empty beverage holder.

“You realize that Bella probably saved your ass back there. She had to go and put on the respectful, truthful, virtuous girl routine. Parents eat that stuff up,” Emmett said.

“Yeah. I know.” It was totally true. “Did you hear how Dad described Rosalie as the girl that you drool over?”

Emmett started laughing. Jasper punched him in the arm. For a few seconds, they just stared each other down. Then everything was fine again.

“That’s my sister,” Jasper said.

“Says the guy who stuck his tongue down my sister’s throat during breakfast,” Emmett replied.

“No. That was you and it was with my sister.” Em laughed.

“Oh yeah. Sorry, man.” Jasper laughed.

“Don’t worry about it.” I liked that they were arguing, but I knew that it would eventually end. And when it did I would be the focus of their torture.

“So, Eddie boy,” Emmett said. And here it was. Pain and agony. “How many bases?”

Time to play dumb. “I don’t play baseball, Em. You must have me confused with your other brother.”

“That was the sorriest attempt to deflect a question that I’ve ever seen,” Jasper said. They were both against me. Wonderful.

“Well, Edward. You guys drank together for the first time. I saw the bottle and the cups. And you mentioned kissing her early, so I know that you guys have done that together. What else did she do little brother?” I felt myself start to growl. “Did she pop your—“ I tackled him. And I started swinging. Jasper pulled me off him and held my arms.

“You do not talk about her like that, not ever. You got me?”

“Wow. Defensive, are we?” Emmett asked with a smile. I lunged at him again, but Jasper still held a firm grip on me.

“He can’t hold me forever, Emmett. And you shouldn’t be mad at me just because you didn’t get any last night. What was it Rose said? Something about her not having sex with you?” His eyes got wide. Yep, Emmett-buddy, I was awake for that.

“Oh, he got you Emmett.” Jasper let go of me. Now Emmett was the one getting defensive.

“Please, Jasper, like you are getting any.” He raised his eyebrows.

“You know nothing about my and Alice’s relationship.” This was the wrong thing to say. Emmett pushed him up against one of the living room walls.

“You even think about having sex with my baby sister and I will gladly murder you.” Emmett sounded really scary.

“I would say the same thing to you, but I already know that my sister won’t be sleeping with you. Can you say the same?” It was my turn to threaten the boy. I liked him a decent amount, but not that much. I had just pushed him back against the wall when someone yelled out my full name.

I turned to see all the girls on the stairs. Alice had her hands on her hips. She marched down the stairs and pushed me away from Jasper.

“Get the hell away from my boyfriend, Edward. What do you think you are doing?”

“He is talking about sleeping with you,” I said in defense of myself.

“So? It’s none of your business.”

“Like hell it’s not.”

“Edward, seriously, this is me we are talking about. I love Jasper. And if we decide to do anything, then it is none of your business. Neither of you can keep threatening him for doing or wanting to do with me what you guys want to do with your girlfriends. Well, Emmett has a girlfriend. You have a cuddling buddy.” I looked briefly at Bella. She was blushing.

“But Alice,” I started to say that it was different with us. I tried to find some logic in my own argument and came up empty.

“But nothing,” she said. Jasper wrapped his arm around Alice’s waist. He smiled at her.

“You love me?” he asked. She smiled wide.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Reviews are honestly the reason why I write so fast. It's like proof that someone actually likes what I write. Encouragement is the best muse.