Disclaimer: The Twilight Saga, including all the beautiful characters, belong to the amazingly talented Stephanie Meyer. I can only dream to be as inspirational as her.

Chapter Four
Bella

I woke up the next morning on the floor of Jaspers' room; and the room was still spinning. Holding my head gingerly, I sat up; only to see four waiting faces in front on me. Alice, wrapped in Jaspers arms, was sitting at the base of my mattress, whilst Rose and Em sat on the edge of Jasper's bed.

"I don't feel good." It was partially true; I actually felt like shit.

All of them broke out into laughter; all except Alice, who was looking at me with a great sense of concern.

"Isabella. Do you have any idea who you kissed, or consumed, I should say, last night?" She said; half concern, half pissed-offed.

Then it begun to come back to me.

All I remembered was Edward. And the kiss. And it being so... cold; and amazing at the same time. Strange.

I rolled over and shoved my face into the pillow. Alice was instantly at my side, rubbing my back gently. She was the only one who knew how much it hurt me when Edward left, and although all my friends knew Edward was my 'boyfriend', they didn't know how deeply I was in love with him.

Irrevocable. Unconditional. Both words we had used to describe it all those years ago.

"I am pathetic! If there wasn't this stupid bet above my head, I wouldn't have been on the prowl! What the hell was he doing there? What is he doing here?" My words came out in one jumbled blur. Thankfully Alice understood.

"Firstly, don't blame me or Rose for arranging that little bet! We were just trying to be good friends by getting you some action! Secondly, I don't know what he was doing at the party; it's a small town, he must have heard it was on and decided to join. And thirdly, he is back in town with his parents: I think his family is looking at buying in Forks again..."

"I think I'm gonna be sick..." I ran to the bathroom, just in time to throw up the entire content of my stomach.

Freshly showered, with one towel coiled around my damp hair and another tucked tightly around my body, I headed out into Jasper's bedroom once again. Emmett and Rose had disappeared, most likely gone home to catch up on some sleep. Jasper was not in the room, and I guessed he was in the kitchen as the glorious smell of coffee wafted up from downstairs.

Alice, however, had not left me in peace. She was sitting on Jaspers' bed, and she wanted to talk; I could just tell.

"Alice, I really don't know what to say to you..." I began helplessly. I felt like shit, and I had embarrassed myself, completely, in front of my friends and him. He, who must not be named. He, who I never wanted to see again.

"Bella, how are you feeling? I mean, not in the hung-over way, but in the fact that you kissed Edward last night? Are you ok?" She seemed genuinely concerned.

"I think I'm ok Ali. I guess I mean that I will be ok. I'm just kind of shocked right now, I mean... Did you see him? He was glorious. Like, he was always...Handsome to me... But not in that way. And I guess I want to hate him, and I kind of do, but... It's hard for me to say this..." Tears had begun to well in my eyes, and Alice came over and slowly rubbed patterns on my back.

"Alice, it was great to see him. I've kind of made up all these ridiculous stories in my head over the years, like he was kidnapped by horrible people, or his parents went to jail and he was placed in foster care... And I guess it just made me so relieved to see that he was alive and healthy." I finished with a sigh. I felt like I was spilling out my heart."You still love him." Alice said flatly, like it was a statement rather than a question.

"No Ali, no I don't. It's just good to know he's even alive. Seriously, how were his friends suppose to know he wasn't dead!" The tears welled up again. "I am just so angry with him."

"I know Bella, I know. It'll all be ok." She was trying to reassure me, and I got to say, it helped telling her about how I felt.

As long as I never see him again, I'll be fine.

"Come on babe, let's go get some coffee!" Alice said enthusiastically.

That was the best thing I had heard all day.

A.N- Please keep the reviews coming! Constructive criticism is welcome! I really want to know what you guys are thinking! :)