Disclaimer: Still don't own.

At Summer's End

Chapter 4

BPOV

I didn't fall asleep until the wee hours of the morning, figuring I'd sleep through the day anyway.

That was until Rosalie and Alice took it upon themselves to barge into my bedroom, throwing open the curtain and then proceeding to dog pile me.

Why did I love them again?

"Wakey, wakey," Alice sang.

I buried my head further into the pillows, grumbling at them to go away.

Usually I'm not a morning person but add on the headache I was currently sporting and I definitely wasn't in a happy place.

"Don't be a grump. It's nearly eight o'clock already," Rosalie said, pulling one of the pillows from over my head.

"Why do we have to be up this early again? I believe you failed to mention the reason."

I heard Alice giggle, causing me to unbury my head and turn toward her.

"Alice…met somebody," Rosalie said.

"When?" I sat up, throwing the covers off.

"Last night."

"I don't remember any guys…" I trailed off, the fog of last night making it hard to remember clearly.

"You kind of disappeared towards the end of the night Bella. Of course you didn't notice," Rose noted.

My mind immediately remembered the face of…Edward. Damn he was beautiful…too bad his personality didn't seem to match.

"Uh yeah…I went to get something to drink and ended up getting a bit sidetracked. Sorry I missed him Ali," I said sincerely.

"No worries. You'll get another chance because he invited us to breakfast. So get your ass shaken girlfriend…he's staying with his cousins. Male cousins," she said while waggling her eyebrows.

"You can stop right there. I don't need you to play matchmaker," I said.

"Quit being a prude. You're in a new place…starting a new chapter of your life. Live a little."

With that both girls left the room, telling me again to get dressed.

-oo-

Not even an hour later we found ourselves parking outside of a small hotel. I felt a bit weird going to some random person's room, but obviously I had little choice in the matter.

"Okay…his name is Jasper. He drove up yesterday from California with his cousins. Right now he's on summer break from Northwestern where he'll be a junior," Alice prattled out as we made our way from the elevator and down a hallway.

"He goes to school in Chicago?" I sighed.

"Yes! Isn't that the best part? Just imagine it…if this goes somewhere then I'll have an even bigger reason to visit there!"

"Thanks Alice…glad to know I'm not a big enough reason," I mock pouted.

She playfully hit my shoulder. "You know I didn't mean it like that."

"I know. And with that being said…I know how you are. Especially with guys. Please don't jump in heart first. Use your head."

Alice stopped in front of what I presumed to be Jasper's room. Just as she raised her hand and knocked on the door, Rosalie chimed in. "I agree with Bella. Just don't…expect too much I guess. It is summer afterall."

We stood there silently while we heard the locks being undone. Slowly the door was pulled open revealing a tall man with a severe case of bedhead and glasses. My eyes started at his bare feet, taking stock of him. When I finally made it up to his eyes, I suddenly froze up.

Green eyes…crooked nose. Edward.

-oo-

EPOV

She appeared in front of me, almost like an apparition.

Bella did not look like the same girl from the previous night. Beautiful as ever, yes. However now she had her hair pulled into a high ponytail, a snug v-neck t-shirt, jeans that looked warn from use and an old pair of Chucks.

"B-Bella?" my voice croaked. "What are you doing here?"

Her eyes were still wide with the realization of who I was.

My eyes left her for a moment to take note of the two other girls flanking her. Both had their arms crossed, eyebrows raised in question.

"Who are you and how do you know Bella?" the taller of the two ordered.

"I should be asking you the same thing," I muttered.

"I'm here to see Jasper. You must be his cousin?" the other one said with a kind smile.

"Um, yes. I wasn't aware he was expecting anyone." My eyebrows scrunched together, trying to remember if he had said something. I'm pretty sure I was passed out before either of them got back from the party.

"Oh," her eyes fell a bit before holding out her hand. "I'm Alice."

I wordlessly took her hand, not sure what else to say.

"That's Rosalie." She pointed to the tall, moody one. "And you obviously know Bella from somewhere?"

Before anyone could say much else, the sound of two doors opening echoed throughout the space.

Jasper dragged his feet towards us, his eyes widening once he spotted Alice.

"Oh shit. I knew I forgot to do something last night," he groaned, running his hands over his face.

"Forget to set an alarm?" Alice asked.

He closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around her waste and effectively pulling her into the room. "I'm sorry."

Rosalie and Bella silently entered behind them, though it looked like Bella needed to be pushed in.

-oo-

I was working on the last batch of chocolate pancakes all the while trying to avoid being obvious in my perusal of Bella. Trying and failing.

She still hadn't said a word to me and they had been in the suite for almost a half-hour.

Instead she stuck close to her friends as they entered, proceeding to grasp on to Rosalie for dear life. At one point I thought she looked a little green around the edges.

Maybe I should offer her some Ginger Ale. It's supposed to be calm on nervous and weak stomachs, right?

I flipped the last pancake on the plate before turning off the griddle. I walked over to the larger dining room table, placing the batch of pancakes next to the first. I tried to make a spread of everything: eggs, pancakes (both regular and chocolate chip), bacon, sausage and toast. Nobody had said anything along the lines of special requests – so I suspected I was safe.

Entering the living room I noticed that Emmett and Jasper had made themselves at home with the girls. They even had Bella laughing. Her eyes danced with delight at some stupid impression or story that Emmett was talking about.

Taking a deep breath I cleared my throat, awkwardly hovering in the entryway. They all quieted instantly and turned toward me.

"Uh…breakfast is ready. If you're interested…" I mumbled, looking down at the floor.

Immediately I heard shuffling and everyone passed by me, Emmett leading the charge of course. Bella was the last to pass me, intentionally giving me a wide berth.

I couldn't help the frown as I followed her in.

The food didn't last long and I was glad I had made extra of mostly everything.

"This shit is great bro," Emmett managed to say through large forks-full of eggs.

"Thank you for being so thoughtful to include us," Alice said kindly. I looked up just as she shot a quick glance towards Bella.

Her plate was only half touched and she hadn't said much during the course of the meal. Surely the food met her satisfaction?

Suddenly Emmett's praise didn't mean as much after I saw Bella toying with her food.

"Yeah, it's great Edward. Isn't that right Bella?" Rosalie added.

Bella's eyes looked over to Rosalie before she quickly glanced my way. "Yes…it's delicious."

"My pleasure." I looked down at my plate for the rest of the meal.

-oo-

I was the first to get up from the table, gathering up all the empty dishes to wash. And there were a lot of them.

Humming a random Black Keys song while I loaded the side tray, I didn't hear anybody behind me.

"Uh, here are some more for you."

I gasped and nearly seared my skin off when I stuck my hands into the flaming water. My eyes immediately burned, fogging up my glasses slightly.

"Oh shit…I mean…uh…oh no. Are you okay?"

A hand appeared from beside me, flipping the faucet on to cold. I automatically pushed my hands under the cool flow, sighing in relief.

My eyes slid over to Bella, noting that her face was a bright crimson and she was staring really hard at the counter.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Didn't hear anyone behind me."

"You were humming pretty loud."

"Didn't realize I was." Now it was my turn to blush. I made it a point to not sing, dance, hum or play instruments in front of anybody but my mom. Emmett had always ribbed me for playing the piano even though the asshole practically begged me to teach him guitar in high school.

Another moment passed in silence, neither of us knowing what to say. Rounds of laughter could be heard from the living room…the other four had obviously bonded easily.

"Okay…well I'm gonna go now. See ya!" Bella squeaked before practically running from the room.

I slumped forward, my elbows resting on the edge of the counter in a defeated position. She obviously hated me from the party and now she saw how I really was completely sober.

Awkward. Geeky. Loner.

-oo-

A/N: Poor Edward. Will he ever get to talk to Bella? I can guarantee it next chapter. Thanks for reading!