Thank you all for reading. I will get to review replies after I have escaped from the seventh circle of hell aka work. I love you all for reading. I love my beta Mid and my pre-readers Annie, Kenny and Missy. Also did you see the banner Missy made for this thing? She does book covers too! I can't remember the proper spelling of her company name but I will post it next chapter!

October

"Your friend Bella is hot!" James yelled in my ear. When we'd arrived at his place, I was concerned someone would call Campus Security on him, but he'd assured me it wouldn't be a problem.

I looked over at Bella; she was laughing at something Bree had said to her.

"You think so?" I asked.

He laughed. "Don't play dumb, Cullen. I know you've got fucking eyes, man. The girl is smoking."

I shrugged. "I guess I just don't look at her that way. I mean, yeah, she's hot. But I've got a girlfriend."

He rubbed his hands together. "I think I'm going to give her my number."

"What about Vickie?"

His smile dropped from his face. "She's gone, man."

"What? When?"

"Her grandfather got sick; she left last week with her family, back to Ireland. They don't know how long he has left and they wanted to spend as much time with him as they could. She didn't want me to put my life on hold. I gotta try."

"Well, just to warn you, I think Bella has a boyfriend."

James laughed again. "Well, it's too bad for him, he isn't here."

I shook my head, huffing a laugh as he walked over to Bella and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. I couldn't hear what he said to her, but she laughed again; and as they walked by me into the kitchen, he winked at me.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, then immediately vibrated again. It vibrated once more before I could even pull it out of my pocket.

I saw three texts.

Why aren't you online?

Where are you?

I tried to call but there was no answer.

Before I had a chance to type my answer, another came in.

I thought we talked about this. You're making me feel bad again. Do you want us to break up?

I sighed. This was getting ridiculous. Instead of texting her back, I hit her number on my phone and walked out the front door.

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.

.

"I don't know, Mom." I scrubbed my hand over my face. "This semester is pretty busy. I don't think I'm going to be able to make it home for Thanksgiving as I planned."

"Oh, Edward. Your sister is going to be so upset."

"I know." I sighed. "But I'll talk to her. I'll make her understand. I'll come for Christmas; I promise."

"But what will you do? I don't like the thought of you being all alone for Thanksgiving, honey. We could come there. Let me talk to your father."

"Mom, I appreciate it, but honestly, I have a ton of schoolwork to get through. I would hate for you guys to fly out here for me to ignore you pretty much the whole time. I can figure out something."

"Are you sure, honey?"

I laughed. "I'm sure, Mom. Put Heidi on and I'll explain it to her. Love you."

"I love you too, sweetie. We'll talk soon."

.

.

.

"You can't do this to me, Edward."

I almost growled, but caught myself in time. "Ang, I've tried to explain it to you over and over. I don't know what I have to do to make it sink in. I can't come home. I just can't. You don't think I'll miss my family on the holiday. For fuck's sake, if I could I would be there, in a heartbeat."

"What am I supposed to do, though? What about me? I'm going to be all alone."

"Rose, Alice, Jasper, and Emmett are coming home. Spend some time with them."

"Ugh." She huffed. "And be the fifth wheel? No thank you, Edward."

"They're your friends too, Ang. Don't you miss them?"

"Not as much as I miss you."

"I miss you too, but I can't come. I've got too much work to do."

She sniffed, and even though I felt bad that she was crying, again, there was nothing I could change.

"Listen, I've gotta get to class. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

She didn't even say goodbye to me before she hung up.

.

.

.

"So tell Mom she can stop worrying about me; I'm going to my friend Bella's for Thanksgiving."

"Ohhhhh, who's Bella?"

I laughed. "She's just a friend, you dork. I'm going to miss you guys, but at least I'll have a home-cooked meal, and someone to work on these papers with."

"I miss you, Eddie!"

"I miss you too, Squirt, but I'll see you at Christmas."

"My gift better be amazing!" She giggled.

"It will be. Love you! Be good for Mom and Dad."

"I'll try."

I laughed, hanging up the phone.

"You're such a good big brother, Edward." Bella sat down at the table across from me at the library.

I smiled at her. "I try to be. Some brothers are really mean to their sisters; I can never figure out why. Heidi is the best little sister a guy could ask for."

When I looked back up at her, she had tears in her eyes. "You okay?"

She wiped under her eyes. "I'll be right back. I have to make a call."