Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight.

MariahajilE beta'd this. Thank you, lady. I love your notes.

My sister and Nic pre-read for me and gave me good, honest feedback. I love those ladies (even if they are mad at me right now).

Music: "If I Didn't Know Any Better" – Alison Krauss & Union Station

Mississippiward is mine. So are any leftover mistakes.


For once, the local weathergirl is right and the rain moves in early Monday morning. Momma makes breakfast. We eat, and then Daddy reads the paper while Momma gets ready for work. Since Tanya is a loan officer, her schedule varies. She and Momma leave together since they're working the same hours this week. Daddy takes his time, sipping coffee and perusing the classifieds.

It's like he knows I'm ready for him to go to work. As I put the last of the dirty dishes into the dishwasher, he stands.

My phone is in my hand before the front door closes behind him.

They're gone.

Ten minutes later, Edward is standing on my porch, ringing the doorbell with a dripping blue umbrella in his hand. The rain is coming down in sheets behind him, and his jeans and jacket are soaked.

"You sure you want to go back to my place?" he asks, glancing over his shoulder at the storm blowing around us.

"We can stay here." I open the door all the way, inviting him inside. "Daddy might decide to stop in if he sees your truck parked out front."

He stomps his boots on the welcome mat to knock the mud off and leaves the umbrella on the porch. "Is that your way of telling me nicely to behave?"

"I'm simply givin' you a disclaimer."

He pushes the door closed behind him and sheds his Under Armour rain jacket. "I don't think your daddy is goin' to be out much today unless absolutely necessary. It's nasty out there." Then I get a sweet hello kiss on the cheek. "I'll be good. I promise."

"Feel like makin' a mess?" I ask.

"What kind of mess?"

"Come with me." He follows me into the kitchen and watches me remove the contents of two Sunflower bags onto the counter: butter, flour, sugar, corn syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, and a large sack of pecans. I was going to do this at his place, but this will work out even better.

"Are you gonna make me a pie?" he grins, obviously satisfied with the idea.

"I'm gonna do you one better. I'm gonna teach you how to make one." A man should know how to make his own favorite food. My daddy lets Momma cook all the time, because she likes to do it. She says it "relaxes" her. But anytime Momma is down sick, Daddy steps right into that kitchen and makes some of the best duck and andouille gumbo I've ever put in my mouth.

I expect an argument, or at least a dirty look, but Edward gives me neither. Instead, he looks curious and amused.

I separate the ingredients we'll need for the crust from the ones we'll need for the pie. He watches me cut a stick of butter into small cubes and quickly moves to prepare a glass of ice water when I ask for one. The look of surprise on his face when I pour some of it into a measuring cup is adorable.

Cold water works best for scratch crusts.

Once I have the dough prepared, I roll it, cut two large circles, and wrap them in plastic wrap before putting them in the fridge.

We sit at the kitchen table, cracking and peeling shells away. We don't need the whole bag for the two pies we're going to make, but I get caught up in listening to him talk about the summer he spent up in Arkansas on his daddy's brother's farm when we were 13. Before I know it, there isn't a pecan left intact.

I write out instructions on an index card for him as we follow the steps. I make sure to include a list of ingredients, assuring him that frozen pie crusts will work just as well if he doesn't want to make his own.

Sure enough, Daddy pops in right after we slide the two pies onto the baking rack in Momma's oven. Edward and I don't notice him at first, because we're busy debating what to do with the left over pecans. He's pushing for another pie. I'm leaning towards roasting them.

Daddy says to roast them, ending our discussion. Then he opens the oven to peek at the pies, glances at the mountain of broken pecan shells on the table, and asks what we're having for lunch.

Chicken salad with crushed pecans and fresh slices of cantaloupe seem to make them happy. Before leaving to return to work, he invites Edward to have dinner with us since Edward was nice enough to help make dessert.

After Daddy leaves, I show Edward how to roast pecans with sugar and cinnamon. He wears Momma's pink John Deere apron and pokes me with a wooden spoon through most of the lesson.

I use my phone to snap a picture of him and threaten to post it on Facebook if he doesn't stop.

"Does that mean you're finally going to accept my Friend request?"

"I didn't know you'd sent one. I've been on vacation the last couple of weeks."

"And here I've been thinkin' you don't wanna be friends. I was almost convinced you were only after my body."

"It must be hard luggin' that big head around everywhere."

"It's tiresome," he laughs, pulling the apron off.

He leaves around four to take care of a couple of errands he promised to run for his momma. "I'll see you in a little while," he says, opening the door. It's still gray and rainy outside, and everything smells like pine.

When he turns to kiss me goodbye, the camouflage rain jacket compliments his hair and eyes so well, I can't tell if it's the breeze or the way he looks that gives me a chill.

It happens again after he gives me a little smile and a wave, and I decide it's him. Definitely him. I'm not sure what comes over me, but I blow him a kiss before he backs the truck onto the highway.

Near the end of last semester, I deleted the Facebook app because it was too distracting. I kept finding myself staring at the phone in my hand instead of the books in front of me. It was unexpectedly freeing, so I never bothered to re-install it.

My laptop is still in its case upstairs, untouched since my arrival. It only takes a few minutes to download the app and log in. Sure enough, Edward Cullen wants to be my friend. Moments after I accept his request, there's a notification alert. A tap on the globe reveals that Edward Cullen has listed that we are in a relationship.

I haven't even seen his profile yet, and I'm already in an online relationship with him. Then the notifications really start. Several people like my new relationship status. Most of them are friends from Oxford. Tanya likes it, too.

That's immediately followed by back-to-back Friend requests from Brady and Eric.

The afternoon passes quickly, instant messaging with a few friends from Oxford and assuring a few others that I'm not dead, just vacationing.

Edward makes it back the same time Momma and Tanya get home from work. Momma's pleasantly surprised by the pies and pecans. She fries up some chicken, mashes potatoes, and throws together a green bean casserole while we're waiting for Daddy to come home.

The rain's let up some by the time we're done with supper, and I've been cooped up all day. "Take me for a ride," I whisper to Edward when I catch his hand to keep him from following Daddy into the living room.

"Where?" he asks quietly.

"Anywhere." I just want to be alone with him, away from this house and away from my family. "You could take me to Sunflower, and I'd be happy."

He drives to his place instead, and I make good use of the "oh, shit" handle while he fishtails and then circles back in his drive. Mud splatters across the windshield, and I can hear the tiny rocks and pebbles kicking up against the undercarriage. All the while, he's laughing and I'm holding on for dear life.

"I stand corrected," I say after he's settled down and parked in front of his trailer. "You can take this thing boggin'."

"It's all in the handlin'." He rubs his left hand across the curve of the steering wheel, smiling like the conniving devil he is.

Big raindrops plop on the windshield, slowly at first. Edward and I exchange a look before opening our doors. The moment my feet hit the ground, the bottom drops out and the rain soaks us before we can get to his front door.

For the second time in a few hours, I've got chills. He does his best to warm me up quickly by ridding me of my wet clothes and offering his body heat.

The rain hangs around for a couple of days and we spend most of our time in my kitchen or his bed, depending on the day and our moods. He tries to not act frustrated that work is halted until the skies clear, but I can tell it bothers him every time we park at his place.

The framing is almost finished. Soon the walls will go up, and he'll get that tin roof he's so anxious about. As it is, the rain pelting against the roof of his trailer is romantic in its own right.

Thursday morning, the sun shines bright even though everything in sight is still soaked through from the storms. The heat is back, and Edward is even more frustrated because everything at the work site is too wet to work on.

"I can't sit around here doin' nothin' all day," he says. "Why don't we go for a swim?"

"Banner's sellin' inner tubes at the station. I wouldn't mind floatin' around for a bit and catchin' a few rays."

"I've got tubes and an air compressor over at my parents'."

Since the drive is muddy, we climb into his truck to make the trip across the highway. He parks next to the house and points to the old wooden barn tucked into the woods a few hundred yards away.

"Oh, no." I shake my head. "I'm not going anywhere near that barn. You and Brady used to tell ghost stories about it at every youth group lock-in. You have no idea how many nightmares I've had about that barn."

"You used to scoff and say it was hogwash," he laughs. "I've never seen a ghost in that barn." He holds three fingers up between us. "Scout's honor."

He's cute and convincing, so I let him lead me down the well-beaten path to the barn. The smell of cut timber is strong even before Edward opens the door, and it only gets stronger when we step inside.

Off to the left, there are stacks of wood cut in every imaginable dimension. The right side of the building looks like a furniture store showroom. There's a rustic dining table with matching chairs stacked nearby.

Tucked away in the corner, next to an antique buffet, is a gorgeous wooden rocking chair. There are a few small nicks on the surface, but the design more than makes up for the small imperfections.

"I love this," I tell him, running my hand along the arm of the chair.

"It was Granny's. Mom moved this stuff out here when the house sold. First she said she was gettin' rid of it. Then she said she couldn't. Now she wants to give it all to me when my house is finished."

"It's beautiful." I glance around, noticing a headboard and matching footboard leaning against the wall. There's also a desk and a hand-carved quilt rack a few feet away.

"Bella," he says quietly. "Don't move."

As a country girl, I should know better but he said "don't move." So the first thing I do is look around. I see the copperhead peeking out from beneath the chair and feel the sting of his bite on my calf a second later.

The snake withdraws but immediately coils again. I'm in Edward's arms and through the barn door before it can strike a second time.

"Christ Almighty. Are you okay?" he asks frantically, setting me on the ground. "Let me see it."

My hands find the earth behind me and I clutch the grass, trying to stay calm because I know an increased heart rate will only make the venom spread faster. He lifts my left leg gently in his palms, leaning in to inspect the wound. There's a small trail of blood all the way down to my ankle.

A wave of dizziness hits, and it's all I can do to stay upright. "Oh, God. It burns. You're sure you're okay with the blood thing? Not gonna pass out?" If he passes out, I'm going to pass out, too. And possibly die.

"I need you to listen to me." His voice is calm as he lowers my leg carefully to the ground. "That stuff you see in the movies? Cutting and sucking out venom? It's not good in real life. It can cause… complications. I need to get you over to my dad at the clinic, and I need to do it fast."

I nod through the pain. "I'm a biologist, remember? I know a thing or two about snakes. Let's go."

He looks conflicted. "I don't want to hurt you."

"It already hurts like the devil," I hiss. "Please. Just make it go away."

He scoops me into his arms, and the initial jostling does hurt but not any worse than it did when I was sitting on the ground like a bump on a log. I'm dizzy already, so I wrap my arms loosely around his neck, tuck my head against his shoulder, and close my eyes.

He runs. I don't know how he runs so fast with my dead weight to carry, but moments later, we're at the truck.

"I'm going to be sick," I mumble.

He puts me down, holding me around my middle to support my weight, and when the vomiting starts, he uses his other hand to keep my hair out of my face.

"I'm so sorry," he says over and over.

I want to tell him that it's fine, but the pain is too much. "Make it go away."

He helps me into the truck and runs around to his side. "Dad, I'm bringing Bella…" Between the burning sensation in my leg and the nausea, I can barely breathe. "…polyvalent antivenin…" We're moving. I can feel that much, but somehow, I know if I open my eyes, I'm going to be sick again. "What do you mean? Of course I'm sure it was a damn copperhead. Saw it with my own two eyes… Son of a bitch bit her… Bella?"

We stop moving, and I'm still afraid to open my eyes.

When the truck door opens, I practically fall into Edward's waiting arms. "We're here," he says, carrying me through the entrance.

Dr. Cullen is waiting and he leads us through a set of swinging doors, taking us into the emergency room.

"How are you feeling, Bella?" he asks, pointing to an empty bed and drawing the curtains around us after Edward has lowered me onto the cool, white sheets.

"It hurts," I moan. Tears are streaming down both sides of my face and I turn onto my side, trying to make the ache in my stomach go away.

An eerie, cold sensation sweeps across my arm seconds before I feel a sharp sting in the crook of my elbow.

"I know it does," he says calmly. "I'm going to give you something for the pain along with anti-venom. We'll clean the bite and start antibiotics, okay?"

"She's vomited once, but I'm worried. She seems so out of it."

There's a momentary burn, and then a chill creeps through my veins. Everything feels cold.

"Snake venom affects individuals in different ways, Edward. You know this. She'll be fine…"

-DH-

Waking up on the sofa at home is more than a little disorienting. The last thing I remember is a cold, crisp hospital bed, but now I'm tucked under an old, mint green afghan that Gran knitted for me when I was younger.

Momma is sitting in her chair across the room when my eyes open. "Good Lord, child. You scared me to death."

"I'm sorry," I manage.

"You scared your daddy even more. Edward called the station, and Charlie blue-lighted it from the county line all the way back to town."

"Where is Edward? Did Daddy kill him?"

"No, he's fine. They're in the kitchen havin' a cup of coffee."

It's dark outside. There isn't a lick of light coming from the blinds. "What time is it?"

"Almost eleven." She stands and moves to stand over me.

"I've been out for almost twelve hours?"

"You've been in and out, talkin' in your sleep and opening your eyes every now and then, but that's it."

"Is my leg okay?"

"It is. But Carlisle said to stay off of it as much as possible for the next five to seven days and to keep it elevated. You've got antibiotics for the next ten days and a few pain killers in case you need them."

"Well, that's just great. Next week is my last full week of break, and I'm going to be stuck on the couch."

"You'll survive," she says with a laugh on her way to the kitchen.

I manage to sit up and place my foot on the coffee table. I'm tempted to unwrap the layers of bandages adorning my left calf so I can see for myself how bad it is, but my stomach turns a little at the thought.

Edward comes out of the kitchen alone and sits down next to me.

"You better not've killed that snake."

"Only you would be worried about the damn snake," he laughs. "I sent Brady over to catch it. He and Eric turned it loose in the woods."

"Good."

"How are you feelin'?" He leans over, brushes his fingers over my cheek, and shakes his head. "Nevermind. That's a silly question."

"Honestly, I don't feel so bad. I'm sleepy and I feel hung over, but my leg doesn't hurt anymore."

"You've had some heavy pain killers today. It's probably gonna hurt a lot more tomorrow."

"Thank you for takin' care of me." His cheek is stubbly and feels good under my fingers.

"Some fine job I did," he mumbles.

"Hey." I take his hand. "Snakes like to get out after a rainy spell. With all that lumber stored up in there, I shoulda known to be cautious. I'm losin' my touch at bein' country."

"We're gonna have to work on honing your skills if you're gonna be doin' fieldwork someday," he says with a small grin.

"Is that your way of tellin' me to watch out for snakes while I'm out trackin' deer poop?"

He laughs, and I realize I'm still a bit loopy when the movement of his body makes me feel dizzy. "I just want you to be careful." His lips brush the skin above my temple. "I'm askin' you to be careful."

"I'll try," I yawn. The sleeve of his t-shirt is softer than my pillow, so I don't have any trouble drifting off next to him on the sofa.

I wake up alone in the middle of the night, still on the couch, only wrapped in my blanket instead of Edward's arms. There's enough light in the room to see Momma asleep in her chair with a blanket of her own. Her worryin' and fussin' makes me crazy sometimes, but I wouldn't trade her.

Word of my run-in with the snake travels fast. Momma calls in to work Friday morning to let them know she's going to miss a couple of days. She also calls the church to have me put on the prayer list. And just like any other small town incident, visitors show up under the guise of bringing food when they're really just nosey and want a firsthand account of what really happened.

Except for Rosalie McCarty. Her concern seems genuine, and she's the only person that doesn't ask to hear about how Edward rescued me from the evil copperhead. Instead, she asks about the injury, how long it's expected to take to heal, and what classes I'm taking next semester.

"Where's Henry today?" I ask, hoping she'll stay for a spell if I continue our conversation.

"He's with my momma. She finally retired a couple of months ago, and she likes to spend a few hours with him every week." She smiles. "It gives me a chance to visit with folks and run errands."

"That's nice."

"It is." She takes a sip of the sweet tea and sets the glass on the table before looking at me again. "We've missed seein' you around at church."

"I don't come home much. I've been busy with school stuff and work."

"I remember those days. Eat, study, party, sleep… repeat." She laughs at my surprise. "I haven't always been a preacher's wife, Bella."

"I know," I mumble. She used to babysit Tanya and me on the rare occasions that Daddy and Momma would go out on dates. There was a time or two that she snuck Mike Newton in through the back door after she thought we were asleep.

"We all have to sin a little to get saved."

I smile at my lap and agree, "I guess so."

"I'm guessin' we'll be seein' a lot more of you now." The confusion must show on my face, because she rushes to explain. "Now that you and Edward are together. He's been home more often than not this last year."

"Just this last year?"

"Since Mrs. Platt died last year." She nods. "Before that, he was a lot like you; only home for a few days at a time and trying to outrun the ties. When she passed, he started spendin' more time with his family and workin' for Alec again."

"Oh." I'm not sure how she's managed to make me feel guilty, but she has. There are weeks I don't even remember to call my parents to say hello. Gran's birthday was the first time I'd spoken to my momma's parents since Christmas. I didn't even call Angela when she had the baby. Although, I did manage to call and RSVP that I couldn't attend her baby shower. I missed Tanya's competition.

Lord, I'm a horrible person.

"Well, I've got to get on over to Momma's to pick up Henry before long." She takes my hand in hers. "Do you mind if I pray for you?"

She prays for my leg, my family, my studies, and my new relationship with Edward. She ends it with a bright, happy "Amen" and hugs my neck before standing to go.

I'm still recovering from the strange feelings Rosalie's visit evoked when the doorbell rings again.

This time, it's Amber Weaver and her momma, Irene.

"I whipped this up last night after I got home from Bunco at Shirley's house. We sure did miss you," she says to Momma. She turns to me. "It's banana puddin'."

"Thank you."

They disappear into the kitchen, and Amber sits down on Momma's chair across the room.

"How's your leg?" she asks.

"It's sore and achy today."

"I hate snakes."

"They're not my favorite, especially right now."

She nods. "You and Edward seem to be gettin' along well."

"We are."

"Does he still say Katie's name in his sleep?" she asks quietly. Her words hurt her as much as they do me. I can hear it in her voice.

She's in love with him. And he's not in love with her.

"No." I've never heard him talk in his sleep. Of course, I've only spent the night with him once. I'm not sure how many times Amber has. Or how recently.

"That's good." She nods, staring at the stack of Southern Living magazines Momma keeps on the coffee table.

The silence that follows is so awkward, it's almost suffocating. We've never been friends. Technically, she stole my best friend, and I'm dating the man she wants. Conversation would be hopeless.

Our mothers rescue us from the agony by returning from the kitchen with tall glasses of ice tea for all of us. We chat about the heat, the snake, and Brady's daddy's cholesterol.

"We sure do hope you get to feelin' better soon, Bella," Irene says when they stand to go. "Enjoy that banana puddin'. It's my momma's recipe."

Momma walks them to the door.

I hobble up the stairs to my room and fall onto the bed, saying a quick prayer for some silence and privacy.

The sun is setting when Momma comes in and wakes me a few hours later. "Edward is here to see you."

"Tell him I'm not up for any company tonight." My head is jumbled up, and my whole body hurts. I don't want to see him, because I'm afraid it will only make it worse.

"I'll do no such thing. He said he texted you twice, and you didn't answer. Now, you get out of that bed this minute and carry your behind downstairs."

"Yes, ma'am."

I follow her down the stairs, wincing a little as I go. Everyone was right. My swollen, purple leg does hurt more today than it did last night.

She leaves us alone in the living room after I sit down next to him on the sofa.

"I'm sorry she woke you up," he says, wrapping his arm around my waist to pull me closer. "I just asked her to check on you. I sent a couple of texts, and I was worried."

"I was sleepin'. We've had a lot of visitors today. You're off late for a Friday." Normally they call it a day at 3:30 on Fridays. It's nearly eight.

"Uncle Alec got a call from my daddy right before quittin' time. He's bought himself a trial membership up at the Dancin' Rabbit in Philadelphia, and he wants us to check out the course with him tomorrow."

"You golf?"

"Gotta have somethin' do when it's not huntin' season." He grins, giving my shoulder a squeeze. "I'm tryin' to think of a way to convince your daddy to go in my place so I can stay here with you all day instead."

"Today was a rough day." I stare at my hands in my lap. "I'm tired. My leg is achy. You go on up to Dancin' Rabbit with Alec and your daddy. It sounds like y'all don't get to do that often."

"I'm sorry you had such a bad day. Do you want me to leave so you can rest?"

I nod, and it's only a partial lie. I want him to stay, but I need some time to myself.

Finding out he's been with Amber wasn't much of a surprise. She's a pretty girl, and they've run with the same crowd for years. That part doesn't even hurt.

What hurts is thinking about Edward being upset over Katie and asking for her in his sleep. It isn't a rational pain, but that doesn't make it any less real. She was a very real part of his life. He loved her.

The land… The house… Everything that felt so right... All of it was for her.

I've been fooling myself thinking any of this was meant for me. Sure, Edward may have had a little crush on me when we were kids. And maybe I've been gone long enough to seem new and interesting. But what's going to happen when the novelty wears off and nothing's left but a silly childhood crush? Then what?

He nods reluctantly and leans over to give me a goodbye kiss. At the last minute, I turn and his lips brush my cheek instead of their original target.

All I can think about is getting him out of my house.

Because I know. I know what will happen when this ends. I'm going to end up like Amber; in love with a man who's not in love with me.

I'm fairly certain that he knows something isn't right. He lingers in a way he never has before. "Are you free tomorrow night?" he asks hesitantly.

I point to my bandaged leg. "Where am I gonna go?" We both manage to smile, and this time when he leans in for a kiss, I meet him halfway.

A quick peck almost leaves me in tears, confirming what I already figured out. I'm in love with him.

This was supposed to be a short vacation, a visit to appease my parents. He was an itch.

All those years… I told myself I was glad Tyler asked first. Otherwise, it might've been me Edward hickeyed two weeks later and then never spoke to again. And every time there was a new girl, I breathed another sigh of relief over the bullet I'd dodged.

Now, I know most of that was jealousy mixed with a smidgen of rejection. It's always been a matter of not wanting to want Edward.

Only now it's too late.

I want too much.

Saturday evening is more of the same, and Sunday lunch with my parents is silent, awkward, and painful. It's like the two of us can't figure out what to say.

By Monday afternoon, I've made up my mind. It's time to end it and head home.

"What are you doin' up here?" Momma asks, pushing my bedroom door open. "You're makin' enough racket to wake the dead."

"I'm sorry. I'm tryin' to get packed," I tell her. "I'm gonna head on up to Oxford in the mornin'."

"I thought you were staying through Sunday." She takes a seat on my bed and watches me move back and forth between my closet and my suitcase.

"It's better if I get on back. This'll give me a chance to get unpacked and settled before classes start."

"When is Edward leaving for Starkville?"

"I'm not sure…" I have a feeling he'll be here until the last minute, working on his house and helping Alec while the weather is good.

"Is everything okay with y'all? You're not fightin', are you?"

"No, ma'am. We're not fightin'."

"Oh, good. You've seemed a little out of sorts these last few days."

"It's just the medicine, and I'm not sleepin' well."

"That's understandable. Maybe you should wait until Wednesday… It hasn't been five days."

"I'm fine, Momma. I don't need my left leg to drive, and I can lie around on my bed up there just as well as I can here."

"All right."

There's a knock on the door at 7:13. "I'll get it," I tell my parents, knowing it's Edward and that I can't do what needs to be done in front of them. He smiles when I step out onto the porch and close the door behind me.

"What have you been up to today?" he asks, taking a step closer with his hands outstretched, already reaching for my waist.

I step just out of reach before he makes contact, turning my back to him so I can stare at the highway instead of his face. "Packin'."

"Packin'," he repeats.

"I'm leavin' in the mornin'. School starts soon, and there are things I need to take care of."

"Tomorrow mornin'?"

"This was fun, but I think we both know it was just a little summer fling," I tell him, crossing my arms.

"What the hell are you talkin' about?"

"This. Us. It's time for me get back home. We've got school, plans… This was a nice distraction for both of us, but we have real lives to get back to."

"Real lives?"

"I told you that first night that I couldn't stay. It's better this way." I nod, trying to convince us both. "Nobody gets hurt. We live in two different cities, Edward. You're building a house! I don't know how long it will take me to get a position here in Quitman, if I get hired at all. You're goin' to medical school. I don't even know what that means really. This just isn't a good time. And I know you think you have a crush on me, but you don't really even know me."

"You wanna know what I know?" he asks.

"Not really."

"First, you're a terrible liar. You chew the inside of your lip and glance to your left every time. It's the exact same look you had when we all got busted eatin' the communion loaf before church that one Easter." He steps closer until I can feel his chest against my back. "Second, every relationship starts with a crush. At least it should."

"Stop makin' this difficult," I beg.

"No, you stop tryin' to make it look easy. I want you to look me in the eye and tell me this was a summer fling." I can't. "Better yet," he says, turning me to face him. "Tell me this isn't real life." He wraps both of his arms around me, lifting and pulling me to him.

I have no intentions of kissing him. That's not what I came out here to do. But all of my intentions fly out the window the moment he sucks my bottom between his and pushes his tongue into my mouth. My fingers slide from his neck to his hair and his hands are on my butt, holding on tightly so I can feel everything I don't want to be reminded of.

He slows the kiss and pulls away first. "Good luck convincing yourself that isn't real," he says. Then, he does what I least expect. He walks away, moving faster with each step. His hand closes over the door handle when he reaches his truck, and he yanks it open. "You know where to find me."

Those are his last words before pulling himself into the cab and slamming the door. He turns to look out his back window, and when the beast lurches into reverse, I want him to turn around and look at me instead.

He doesn't. His tail lights disappear in the direction of his place and I stand stock-still, praying the good Lord will give me enough strength to keep from following.


A/N- Big thanks to MrSC for sharing his firsthand account of a copperhead bite with me. He's a big, burly dude, but I've seen him scream like a girl and run from a snake. I can't really blame him. Bad memories will do that to a man. Lol.

My sister has an unhealthy love for this Edward, and she basically threatened to kick my ass after she read this chapter. She lives four blocks away, and I taught her how to fight. Since I really don't want her to beat me down, I've been working on Chapter 5 nonstop and it's almost done. There will definitely be a teaser at The Fictionators Monday, and I'll post the full chapter as soon as possible. I'm sorry for not answering reviews this time around, but I figured you guys would rather have Chapter 5 quickly, right? I read and appreciate every one and I love y'all to death.

Thanks for reading. Don't lynch me, okay?

MSC