BPOV

It was one of those rare, hot, sunny days in Forks. The sun beat down heavily onto the Earth, the heat making the air taste thick as cotton, and you could feel the heat waves radiating into your very core. Bella had been surprised to hear from Edward at first, but after learning that Carlisle and Esme were out of town and that his course selection was arriving soon for the fall semester, she understood why she was being summoned over to the Cullen place.

She sighed deeply, upset with herself that she cared this much over a stupid invitation. But she was disappointed. It was been months since she had seen him and she heard from him once and that was to use her for her brain, not just to hang out with her. She had half a mind to just say screw it and take different classes this year, but she did honestly love having classes with his goofy self. He lightened up long lectures and helped her be the responsible one.

They each had a role. He was the reckless, loud, life loving one and she was steady. She was the one that would bail them out of jail, that would watch them skinny dipping on a beach from the shore, the moonlight bathing her in her responsibility and the one that would convince them to work at his kitchen table while he pleaded with her to go run out together and get milkshakes instead.

Responsible. That's what she was. But responsible is a slippery concept, one that can quickly be intertwined with boring, no fun and killjoy.

And how often she was reminded of that.

EPOV

Edward bit his lip, concentrating on rolling the joint in front of him. His hands were shaking as he observed the girl in front of him through his eyelashes. She was so unassuming, curled up into the patio chair, with the tiniest shorts ever, her hair all tangled and shiny and a white tank top that showcased her slightly tanned skin from spending so much time outdoors. It suited her, he liked this slightly wild version of her.

Bella had come over in their annual tradition of choosing classes together. He honestly didn't know how he would get through his degree without her, her sarcastic comments and brains got them through many late night study sessions.

In true Bella fashion, she had concocted a perfect schedule that only had them in school three days a week, not too early in the morning and all of their classes together.

"Gunna smoke this one with me?" He teased her gently.

Her lips curved up into a smile, "Of course not, just like the last 1000 times you've asked me."

He smirked at her, and his mouth moved faster than his brain. "Come 'on, don't be a prude. Live a little!"

He felt the words fall back onto him as soon as he said them, Bella's gentle smile falling and her shoulders set a little more rigidly.

"I think I'm going to go back inside and watch this stupidity from in there where there's no smoke." She turned and slipped back into the living room, and out of the heat.

"Damnit!" Edward muttered, snuffing out the joint and chasing her back inside.

"Come on Bella, I didn't mean it like that." He strode into the living room, grabbing her shoulder to try and see her face.

"I know, its fine." She said softly, refusing to turn around.

"Bella." Edward sighed, wrapping his arms around her from the back, leaning into her warm body. She hummed, and pressed into him ever so slightly. She was wound up tightly, ready to spring away from him at any moment.

"I'm not a prude." She said quietly. "I just don't do drugs and I never have any intention to. Alice is always saying it would help with my anxiety, and I'm sure that it would, but I don't know, there's something that just seems so wrong about it."

He sighed, breathing in her hair. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to, don't let anyone let you believe otherwise. Don't listen to me, I'm just an asshole."

She laughed slightly, "You're not an asshole. You're just, a baby asshole."

"I'm sorry Bell."

"It's just not funny anymore Eddie." She said, her voice sounded clogged and upset.

He cringed slightly at his nickname, she was the only person in the world allowed to call him that and only because it was her.

"I know." He said softly. "I didn't mean it. I was just teasing."

In the next room a door slammed open with gusto.

"Edward man! Where are you?"

"Shit." Edward murmured, letting go of Bella and turning quickly to face Emmett, pushing Bella behind him ever so slightly. She flopped onto the couch, sinking into the cushions.

Emmett's eyebrows waggled slightly as he came into the room, his eyes sweeping the environment but blessedly he had the decency not to say anything. He looked past Edward and broke into a wide grin.

"Bella! Good to see you girl!"

Edward looked back as she smiled, a slight blush covering her cheeks.

"Hi Emmett." She said quietly, a big smile directed at the gentle giant.

Edward had seen and heard a fair bit about the girls that Emmett… entertained… but he had to admit, it seemed like Emmett had always had a soft spot towards Bella. She was the only one on earth allowed to eat some of his French fries, and play her own music in his car. She could make Emmett laugh all the time, even when he was in one of his moods, beat him in a soccer 1v1 and she was the only girl ever that Emmett had never tried to fuck.

"So what's going on kids?" Emmett asked, flopping down onto the couch, making the pillows bounce onto the ground and causing Bella to giggle.

"I'm just heading out." Bella said, smiling a bit wider now, gracefully unfolding herself from the couch.

"Awe really Swan? So soon? I just got here- the party's just begun!"

She laughed, "Sorry bud, I'm out of here. Got report cards to write!"

Edward watched her go quietly. She walked towards the door, looking back at him for only a moment before letting herself out gently, slipping back into the heat,

"Dude. Are you kidding me?" Emmett was staring at him in disbelief from his spot on the couch.

"What?"

"Why don't you just tell her?" Emmett was staring at him like he was dumb.

"I don't know man. We're finally such good friends. I don't want to ruin anything that we have. Besides, you know the guys would give me hell for it."

Emmett stared at him somberly. "Dude, then you don't deserve her."

Edward sighed. That was the problem. He knew that.