Edward:

Day 4

A loud rumbling cuts away the silence with strong tremors rocking everywhere. The sudden noise and movement jolts me awake, wide awake.

I hear a high pitched squeal before feeling arms wrapping around me, squeezing me tightly. For a moment, I revel in the feeling of safety and closeness while the noise continues.

As the tremors die down, I open my eyes – that were previously tightly squeezed shut – and look at the girl clinging to me as if her life depends on it.

Fuck, it's Bella!

Who else could it be, jackass? My subconscious retorts. I roll my eyes at myself.

"Bella…" I begin, just as another jolt rocks the cave.

"HOLY FUCKING SHIT!" My eyes bug as I realise it wasn't me shouting the curses.

"Um, where's Bella and what have you done with her?" I joke, looking down at Bella. Who's still in my arms.

Quite comically, Bella's eyes widen as she realises what she says. Her hand clamps over her mouth while she shakes her head from side to side.

"I don't swear. Ever," Bella mumbles, her hand making it hard for me to understand fully what she's saying.

"Looks like you do," I tease, smiling down at her. "I swear all the fucking time!" I add, grinning.

"You're such a bad influence on me…" Bella mumbles – at least, I think she does. Her hand is still covering her mouth.

I reach forward and – with the arm that isn't wrapped around Bella – I move her hand away from her mouth. She blushes, trying to use the hand to cover her face, but I hold it away. I'm much stronger than her, so in the end she gives up.

"Now I can understand what the fuck you're saying," I chuckle lightly. Bella still looks to be in shock.

Just as she's about to reply, yet another jolt rocks the cave. This one, unlike the other, is more powerful. Another squeal comes from Bella as she buries her head into my chest, her arms clutching hold of me.

Truthfully, it feels pretty fucking good.

Not that I'll ever admit this.

Ever.

Whilst Bella's clinging on to me, I try to soothe her in some way. I gently rub up and down her back, having no fucking clue if I'm helping or not. I hope I am.

"It's alright. Just an avalanche. Like that guy said," I say, hoping to reassure her.

"I know it's just…scary. It makes me remember that first one," Bella admits shyly. "Sorry for clinging to you," she adds, shuffling away a bit.

I don't why I do it, but I wrap my arms around her, stopping her from moving. She gasps, as I accidentally bring her closer to me.

Damn, her lips are so fucking full and pouty…

"Uh, don't apologise. I don't, um, mind, it feels…" Fuck, I can't tell her it feels good. Can I? No. My feelings are messed up, there's no reason to confuse her as well. "It feels safe," I settle for saying.

"O-Ok," Bella stutters.

Shit, now I've scared her.

"We don't have to…um, cling to each other. You know; if you don't want to or, fuck, yeah." I've never stuttered so much before. What the fuck is wrong with me!

"No, I like it." Now Bella's blushing, looking embarrassed. "It feels, um, safe, like you said." Bella nods, as if trying to convince herself.

This is weird…

Before I can process this any further, another avalanche hits. Bella snuggles into me as my arms tighten around her small frame. Only when I'm this close do I realise just how small she is. And curvy, even with all the thermal outfit.

Other girls I've been with have always been stick thin, and pretty tall. But, lying here next to Bella, feels more comfortable than I've ever felt with those girls.

Fuck, I don't like where my thoughts are going!

It's just…I haven't seen anyone else – any other girls – in a while. Maybe I was right about the sexual frustration.

And now I'm trying to lie to myself.

Fucking brilliant.

"Edward, I'm scared," Bella sobs. I hadn't realised she was crying.

Reaching up, I brush away some of her fallen tears. "It's ok, Bella. We'll be fine. You'll see. Mike said they were sending out a rescue team to start moving snow tomorrow, as soon as the avalanches stop." I'm just repeating information, but it seems to work.

"Ok. Thanks. Sorry. For freaking out. And not making sense," Bella shakes her head, looking confused at herself. "You didn't swear," she adds, smiling slightly.

"Oh, well, I should probably make up for it," I smirk, chuckling. "Fuck, shit, bloo-"

"Ok, ok, I get it!" Bella covers my mouth with her hand, laughing loudly.

I lick her hand to get her to remove it, which works well.

"Ew! Edward!" Bella shrieks, wiping her hand over the sleeping bags.

"Boy cooties!" I shout, triumphantly. Bella laughs even more.

"You have the mental age of a five year old!" she announces, now in hysterics.

"It's more fun," I shrug, smiling. "And swearing's pretty fun." I wink, since I know she swore. She just rolls her eyes at me, while I grin triumphantly.

"While there's a break in the tremors maybe we should get some food?" Bella suggests.

I nod in agreement and – pretty fucking reluctantly – loosen my arms from around her. As we move out of the tent, Bella still looks pretty shaken up.

We move quickly around the small space, trying to make breakfast before there's another shock. I'm surprised at how many there's been already. Surely this means that even more snow is being piled on top of our cave, further blocking the entrance.

No, don't think like that. We'll be fine. There'll be a big rescue team, just waiting to save us.

Thankfully, we managed to eat breakfast with no shakes. Each minute that passes with no tremors relaxes Bella even further.

Not that I minded having her wrapped up in my arms…

As soon as breakfast is over Bella grabs her book from her pack and starts reading. I want to talk to her, but I'm scared of what might slip out.

You know how we were cuddling in the tent? Yeah, I liked that shit.

That wouldn't go down well. And me? Liking cuddling? That's new.

Girls never usually hang around for cuddling. And I've never wanted them to. But now, that's all I want to do with Bella.

If I told her that, she probably wouldn't understand what I was trying to say.

I want to cuddle with you, but not have sex.

Also probably wouldn't go down too well.

Damn, why is this so fucking complicated?

Maybe if I keep myself busy? My thoughts to not be focussed on Bella?

That could work…

I remember Bella saying yesterday something about writing a diary. I could do that.

Dear Diary,
I'm so fucking confused right now. Bella's just…different. So different. From all the others girls, from what I thought she'd be like. My thoughts always go back to her, constantly thinking about her. What does this mean?
I tease her a lot, winding her up about liking me. In truth, I don't think she likes me. Not even as a friend. When I suggested we become friends, she froze. I can't say that I blame her; I've never made an effort to talk to her before. Why should that change just because we happen to be stuck together?
This was actually supposed to take my mind off Bella. Instead, I'm writing all my thoughts and feelings on a piece of paper. At least I don't look fucking crazy just staring off into space trying to figure things out…
Another thing that confuses the shit outta me is Bella's mood swings. One minute, we'll be having a conversation, and the next she'll be tensing up because of something I've said. What's up with that shit? Hell if I know. I try to talk to her without shouting or losing my temper, but she just confused me so damn much! I think it's more frustration at myself, which I take out on Bella.
I really hope that when we get out of this stupid cave we'll at least be friends. At least be friends? Why did I write at least? I don't want more than friendship…do I? Fuck, I think-

My hands shake, the pen drawing a line over the paper before it falls to the fall. As the cave begins to move I clutch onto the paper, terrified Bella might read it. I look over to Bella's, who's dropped her book, and is staring back at me.

Slowly, I make my way over to her. But not before folding up the paper and stuffing it safely away in my pocket.

Remind me why I thought it was a good idea to write down my feelings.

"It's ok, Bella, I'm here," I soothe her as I sit next to her. Before I'm even properly sat down Bella is clambering into my lap, wrapping her petite arms around me.

"There wasn't an avalanche for ages…" Bella mumbles, her voice muffled since her face is pressed against my chest.

This avalanche doesn't last too long, but even after the shaking is over Bella stays still, hugging me. I try not to think of how good it feels, or what I would've written on that damn paper if I hadn't been stopped.

"What were you reading?" I ask her quietly, trying to keep the topic of conversation away from the avalanches.

"This book called Noughts and Crosses," Bella answers. "Dammit! I'll have lost my page!" she suddenly exclaims, shuffling back a little on my lap.

"What's it about?" I ask, chuckling a little at the look of annoyance on her face.

"It's about black and white people, only they're called noughts and crosses, and it's the black people who have power. It's a really good book," Bella nods, reaching over and picking up the book.

She flicks through the pages, probably trying to find which page she was on. When she finally finds the page, she slips in the bookmark and places the book back down.

Meanwhile, she remains sitting on my lap. More than anything I want to wrap my arms around her, but I feel like that would be crossing boundaries. Would it? Probably. All I know is that it would be so easy to wrap them around Bella, holding her to me.

Would she hate me if I did that? Slap me and tell me to stay away from me?

I don't think I could handle it if she said those things to me.

Bella and I stay in comfortable silence. We leave it that way, both of us knowing we'd probably end up arguing if we opened our mouths. Something stupid always slips out.

During the next avalanche, Bella clings to me once more. With some impressive self-restraint, my arms stay by my sides. I don't want Bella to think I'd be taking advantage of her when she's scared.

"Hold me, Edward, please," Bella whimpers, burying her face further into my chest once she's said this.

How can I refuse? My arms quickly wrap around her, pulling her to me slightly. She looks up at me, silently questioning why my arms were so quick to move.

I don't know either…

"They'll be over soon," I say, referring to the avalanches. Part of me hopes they'll end soon – they're pretty fucking scary – but another part secretly hopes they keep going, so I get longer to hold Bella.

Then I feel bad for thinking that, when the avalanches are clearly distressing Bella.

The rest of the day consists of Bella and me holding onto each other, only talking about little things between avalanches. It was nice, though, peaceful.

Aside from the earth-moving avalanches.

Even when we went to sleep in the tent, Bella insisted on still clinging to each other. So, we went to the sleep, arms and legs tangled with one another.

And I've never felt more content.

Fuck.

A/N: Thoughts on the new developments? ;D

Review please! :)

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P.S. The book Bella was reading, Noughts and Crosses, is written by Malorie Blackman. You should all check it out, it's a really good book, and there are more in the series!