Chapter 4: Sleeping Bag

EPOV

The bonfire lasted through the night, and dawn was quickly approaching us over the horizon. The sun would rise in a few hours, and hopefully the rain would hold off until the night came again. If I had known that this event was going to last so long, I would have brought a tent myself.

Bella and I had been talking about random things before I noticed when she started asking more questions about me specifically. I couldn't tell her much without giving away who I truly was, an FBI Agent, but I would try for her.

She was genuine and sincere, funny and smart, and she was gorgeous. I hadn't anticipated this strong affect she had on me, but I was hooked to her, listening intently to everything that came out of her mouth. She was much wiser than her years in knowledge and in her attitude towards life. She didn't seem like your ordinary twenty-three year old college student like her roommate was.

It all went beyond me craving the information she gave so freely, though. Instead of constantly hoping something she said would give the killer away, I started to care about her, what she said, and what she did with her time. She was carefree, and that worried me, but she didn't know of a killer on the prowl, and I couldn't exactly tell her that, either.

We sat up against Jacob's truck and sipped on water now, finally over all of the alcohol intake. I watched as people slowly began to fall asleep around the fire, and others pitch their tents. I was desperately trying to stay awake, but exhausted from dancing with Bella, my work out at the gym before coming here, and another run in with Emmett.

The man was relentless, and if he wasn't such a close friend, I would ignore him entirely. I wanted to tell him of my undercover work, but I knew he would get mad, and maybe even tell the assistant director because he's "worried." I couldn't have that. I was onto something here with these kids.

Seth seemed nice enough, if not a little quiet, which could speak volumes to a cop. Most every other guy that came here, showed up drunk already or high on something else. Jacob and Alec worried me the most. They were both intent on getting what they wanted in Bella and her friend Jane, but nothing was solid, yet, so I continued to watch them closely. Of course I was on edge and high alert, but Bella helped calm me, and no woman had ever done that to me before.

"Are you from here?" Bella asked, taking me away from my thoughts.

"Not far from here, yeah. I don't think I could ever move away for good."

"Me either. I love the mountains too much. You're not living on campus though, are you?"

"Uh, no," I stumbled. "I have an apartment downtown."

"Ugh, I'm jealous," she breathed. "I get tired of being in a sorority. I can't wait for graduation." I chuckled at her.

"Not long now. It's already the end of April." Bella smiled at the thought.

"So, why psychology?" She asked.

"I want to know why people do what they do. In love, in pain, and in confusion, it all fascinates me." When I had told her my major, it wasn't exactly a lie. I already had a degree in psychology, but it was primarily set on people who committed crimes, and what drove them to do such heinous things.

"It is interesting," she commented lightly. "How old are you?" I could feel the heat coming off of her body next to me. She was a girl on fire, brighter than the sun, and I wasn't the only man who noticed it.

"Twenty-six," I lied. I couldn't go any lower than that. Being thirty was a tough year, and most of the time, people always thought I looked even older than my true age. Bella smiled shyly, and I wished I could hear what she was thinking.

"You?" I asked lamely, trying to sound curious. I kind of wished that I didn't know the basics about her already, so that I could learn about them from her specifically.

"Twenty-three, going on fifty," she laughed. I snorted, and furrowed my brow questioning her. "I like music and movies from a different generation. I don't care for today's fashion, and I would rather be camping than out at a sorority party."

I couldn't stop my broad smile. That was the information I longed to hear. "So why join a sorority at all?"

"My mother was in the same one. She is an alumni of UT. She and dad pay for me to be apart of it, and it doesn't hurt to have on my college resume," she replied with a shrug.

I nodded knowing. She would appear to be a follower of sorts, but really, she was more of an independent. "Why civil engineering?" I asked her, honestly curious.

She shrugged her small shoulders again. "My parents urged it." She laughed lightly. "I like it, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather be doing something else."

"Like?"

"I don't know, which is partly why I chose engineering. Not only because my parents so desperately wanted it, but because I would have a decent job after graduation, and I can always go back to school when I figure out my passion."

"You're very mature," I commented lightly. Bella blushed, and looked down to her water.

"You mean, I'm not a bimbo," she corrected, teasing me. I chuckled.

Set off not far from us, on the other side of the fire pit, moaning sounded loudly from a tent. The small structure shook rapidly. Bella and I laughed, covering our mouths trying to be more quiet.

"Finally," she whispered, still laughing. "Jacob won't bother me for a few days or so."

"Oh?" I couldn't help my body tensing up at the sound of his name.

"He likes Bree, just not as much as me. I don't know what his deal his."

"Have you dated him in the past?"

She shook her head strongly. "No, no. He's just a little...relentless. I don't like him the same way he likes me, and he doesn't understand that."

"He's definitely persistent. Be careful there," I warned. Bella frowned, and looked back to the shaking tent.

"He's harmless. And so is Alec. I'm sure you saw him sulking earlier. I know he was mad about Seth dancing with Jane, but they're just stupid, smart rich boys."

"What about Seth?" I asked. "He looks older."

"He is. He's a year older than you, and majoring in nuclear engineering in the doctrine program. He's a really sweet guy that spends most of his time studying. We're trying to break him out of his shell."

"Yeah," I said lightly, not wanting to elaborate any further on her friends.

Suddenly, Bella yawned next to me, laid her head back against the truck, and wrapped her arms around her chest. I tried to advert my eyes away from the black bra that was clearly visible through her sheer shirt. I swallowed hard.

"Are you cold?" My voice cracked. Her brown eyes looked up to me.

"A little, yeah. I can't find my jacket. I must have left it in Jane's car." I stood up, and looked into the bed of the large Chevrolet to find Bella's green sleeping bag. I grabbed it, and pulled it open.

"Do you want to go by the fire?"

"Yes," she said, nodding. She stood up, and followed me, stepping over sleeping bodies along the way. It was still dark out, but we found a spot close to the burning coals and I laid out her sleeping bag.

"Will you stay?" She asked, almost pleadingly.

"Yes," I told her. And I would, for more than just my obsessive reasons. Bella sat down and scooted into her sleeping bag. I stood awkwardly, not sure if I should lay next to her, or sit up. I noticed her shiver, so I sat down.

"It's so cold," she said through chattering teeth. I laughed at how cute she was, her long hair falling down her back as she pushed it to the side and laid down.

"No pillow, dammit," she groaned. I knew she liked me. Her advances weren't exactly subtle, but I was trying to be careful. She seemed fragile, and I didn't want to break her heart or her spirit. It hurt enough already to lie to her, but when she shivered again, and her teeth kept chattering, I gave in.

I laid down slowly, and turned on my side. My right arm fell to the ground next to her head. Bella sat up and smiled seeing my arm, then laid her head down onto it softly. Her hair tickled my forearm. I heard her sigh contently. She left the sleeping bag unzipped, and rolled on her side so that her back was to me.

I noticed a dusting of freckles across her shoulder, and scooted in closer. My chest was against her back, closing the small space, and flames started to blaze within me at the close contact. The smell of her perfume overwhelmed my senses entirely. Bella hummed in comfortable approval, and fell silent. Her breathing matched mine, and before I could protest, I fell into a blissful sleep next to her.

So we got into Edward's mind a tad more, but I like to keep him as mysterious to us, as I do our Bella for as long as I can. Keeps all you lovely readers thirsty for more ;)

I may disappoint some of you when the killer is revealed, but eh, you'll live and forgive me, right? NO it isn't Edward. LOL.

The next chapter, being when everyone wakes up, should get you guys more antsy as the ball really starts to roll! :p hang tight! xxoo