December

"It was really nice of your dad to let us have a party here, Edward," Lauren said sweetly as she twisted a strand of bleach-blonde hair around her finger.

Bella snorted dismissively from beside her. "As if his dad knows he's throwing a party. He's at some annual conference in Dallas, genius," she told Lauren, who simply glared and flounced away.

"You are just the life of the party, aren't you, Swan?" I asked, smirking.

She stuck her tongue out at me and then frowned. "Sorry."

"Whatsamatter? Tell Uncle Edward your worries."

"No, you creep. You'll just blab to Leah or something," Bella grumbled and turned away from me.

"Leah? I would not." I probably would, actually. Ever since we'd skipped school together, the dynamic of our relationship had changed.

We were friends- as close as Jasper and I were, and we'd been friends all our lives.

"I like this guy…"

"Who, Jas?"

"Fuck you, Cullen. Did you just guess?"

"Oh, honey. Honey, no," I laughed and pulled her into a one-armed embrace. "Baby girl, it is written all over your face."

"I hate you so fucking much right now, Edward."

"If it's any consolation you are totally the object of his wet dreams," I said with a grin, and her nose scrunched up in disgust.

"You're gross."

"I'm honest. Now, get out there and find him, you crazy kid." I smacked her on the ass and pushed her out of the kitchen. "It's New Year's Eve and you don't want him sucking face with Lauren, now do you?"

"Asshole!" she yelled but smiled as she sauntered away, pulling her top lower and her skirt higher.

"What was that all about?" Leah laughed. She perched herself on the counter and I made her a drink: Cherry Coke and vodka.

"Bella's in love with Jasper or something," I told her. Her eyes went wide and I laughed. "Oh, I wasn't supposed to tell you that."

"You're horrible at secrets, you know," she mused, and I smiled.

"I bet I'd be pretty good at some."

"Don't get any ideas, Cullen."

"Where's your boyfriend? I thought he was coming, too," I changed the subject but it only earned me a glare.

"He's at a bonfire on First Beach."

"Oh? Didn't want to cross the tracks to hang out with you?"

"I guess not." She shrugged and sipped her drink through the crazy straw I'd given her.

"His loss," I said as I hoisted myself up on the counter with her.

"You think?" Her voice was quiet, but her question was loud. Did I think that it was his loss? Of fucking course.

"I really do."

I held her gaze for a long moment before she turned away, pretty cheeks flushed. Fuck, I loved when that happened.

"Edward," she said my name and turned to me. I was startled at first, because she hardly ever called me by my first name. I got over the surprise quickly when she wrapped her hand around the back of my neck and pulled me to her. Her lips met mine quickly, softly…not enough. She pulled away, stunned, like she couldn't believe what she'd done. I didn't give her much time to think about it before I pulled her back, pressing my lips to hers again. Harder this time, and she tilted her head and parted her lips, drawing me further in and making me want more.

"Hey, are you- holy shit!" Bella's outburst caused us to break apart. She grinned at us from the doorway before nodding slowly and making her way out of the kitchen softly singing "Bow-chicka-bow-wow."

"Fuck," Leah muttered and jumped down from the counter. "That can't happen, Cullen."

I frowned. "Why the hell not?"

"You know why!" she yelled and pushed me.

"I don't know why. Because of your boyfriend? He's not even here!"

"That doesn't mean that you can just do whatever you want!"

"You kissed me!" I yelled back. She was quiet for a moment, her arms crossed over her chest while she fumed. "I'm sorry," I muttered. "You're right. It shouldn't have happened. It won't happen again."

"Do you want it to happen again?" she asked quietly. I raised my eyebrow at her, and she laughed before closing the distance between us. Her arms wrapped around my neck, her lips pressed to mine, fingers in my hair and body pushed against me.

Best. New Year's. Ever.