Hello readers!

This will be the second of three chapters this week, which will hopefully be posting schedule until next month when life gets super busy for me.

Huge thanks to jented777, Micahcupcake, lantus123, VioletDream13 & Beertjes for fav'ing, following and reviewing the last chapter. I'm excited to have you all join me on this little adventure.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. I do own a very old, very deaf but oh so lovable cat.

:-D

EPOV

I quickly realise that an unsupervised hike with a group of teenagers is not the best setting to practice my abilities as a leader.

As we reach the site, almost everyone ignores my instructions to set up camp and immediately break off into their groups to relax. No amount of motivational words and encouragement can convince them to do anything other than sit and eat. I decide that the best thing to do is to lead by example.

After a quick game of scissors-paper-rock with Jasper to decide who gets to set up our tent, I empty the poles and get to work while Jasper boils water for our instant noodle lunch. My weeks of practice pay off when I get the tent assembled in record time. The jocks are smiling and laughing in my direction when I stand back to admire my handiwork. I knew that they'd be impressed.

"Umm...Edward?" I turn to find a nervous Alice standing behind me.

"What do you want Alice?" I sigh. I warned her at home that if she wasn't going to practice, I wasn't going to help her put her tent up.

"Angela was carrying our tent," she says, gesturing to where Bella stands a few feet behind her.

"Okay," I say slowly. I don't know why she feels the need to tell me this. She should just get the tent off Angela and- "Oh..."

"Yeah," Alice says weakly.

"Why didn't you get it off her before she left?"

"I wasn't thinking, everything happened so fast."

Her bottom lips starts to tremble and I can see tears in her eyes. I wish Mr Molina would hurry back. I'm in no way equipped to deal with a crying girl, even if she is my own sister.

"It's okay," I tell her, hoping she won't make a scene. "Just wait until Mr Molina gets back, he'll know what to do."

"But what if he doesn't make it back before dark? We can't sleep out here," she cries, hysterically waving her hands around. "What about the bears? The wolves? We'll get eaten!"

I look away from Alice, trying not to laugh. Because she's already crying and that would be cruel, but there are no bears or wolves in this area so the most dangerous creature that she could be attacked by are mosquitoes.

And then I see Bella nervously worrying her plump rosy bottom lip with her teeth. I realise then that if I leave Alice to sleep outside, I'll be leaving Bella too. The gentleman in me could never let that happen.

"If he doesn't make it back before dark, then..." I pause, watching Jasper from the corner of my eye. He's slowing shaking his head like he knows exactly what I'm goin to say. "...you can share our tent."

"Really? Thank you so much Edward. You're the best brother ever," she squeals before running back to tell Bella.

"Why did you do that?" Jasper groans.

"Look, I know that it's going to be uncomfortable for you-"

"Uncomfortable!" he hisses. "It's going to be a total freaking nightmare."

"I know, I know. But it's only one night, please? It's Bella, man. Bella Swan! Please?" I'm so desperate right now it's pathetic, but Jasper knows how long I've waited for this moment. I'm praying he'll let me have my chance.

"Fine...but you owe me. Big time," he sighs. He's obviously not happy and I'm surprised that he gave in so quickly, but I'm too excited to dwell on it.

With a painfully wide smile on my face, I start loading our gear into the tent that Bella and I will be sharing tonight.

With my best friend...

And my sister...

Maybe my personal celebration was a little premature.

As the hours tick by, tents are erected, meals are eaten and the sun slowly sinks below the trees.

But there is still no sign of Mr Molina.

And I've completely lost control of our group.

There is smoke and laughter coming from Eric and Tyler's tent. When I attempted to remind them of the rules about smoking, I was told to go away. Only not in those words. I made a record of their behavior in my notebook to show Mr Molina when he finally returns.

The jocks and groupies have joined their three tents together to make one giant tent. I don't know if that is against the rules, but considering that Jasper and I are sharing our much smaller space with two girls, I decide not to intervene. Though I do attempt to lecture Emmett about throwing his apple core into the forest.

I don't think he appreciated my reminder, but I did hear him telling the others about food and killing animals, so I'm glad that he helped me by passing the message along.

After playing cards and, in Jaspers case, postponing the inevitable, we join the girls inside. Bella and Alice are curled up, sleeping in the middle of the tent, leaving our sleeping bags rolled out at their sides. It makes me giddy to see my bag beside Bella, but I don't think Jasper shares my enthusiasm when he sees his bag near Alice.

We quietly crawl into our sleeping bags and settle down to sleep. Bellas's scent surrounds me as I relax into the warmth of my bedding.

"Goodnight Jasper," I whisper, careful not to wake my sleeping beauty.

"Night," he slurs sleepily.

Just as I begin to drift off, I feel Bella roll over. I think I might be dreaming when I feel her tiny body curl into my side, her hand resting on my chest.

"Goodnight Edward," she sighs.

Yep...definitely dreaming.