A/N: Trevvy, you are the Harry to my Draco. No no, the Draco to my Harry. Because I'm in the innocent one.

Rachel, you are my favorite bagel.

Disclaimer: I don't own coffee cake. Or Twilight.


I met up with my traitor best friend again at lunch.

"What, no detention today?" She lifted her eyebrows once at me, smirking.

I glared at her. And followed it up with an eyeroll. "Tomorrow."

Her laugh was abrupt and genuine, and caused a couple stares.

"You didn't happen to see the hat on anyone while you were gone, did you?"

"No," I sighed as we headed through the lunch-line. "You?"

"Nope. Unfortunately."

"We'll just have to keep looking."

"That's the spirit."

"I can be quite determined when I want."

"I know you can." She handed me a Coke. "It'd probably help though if I'd actually seen this mystical hat so I knew exactly what I was searching for."

"Valid point."

We plopped our trays and asses down at the nearest open table, staring at each other for a beat.

"Look around the cafeteria?"

I grinned. "You scan the west, I'll take the east."

"Deal."

Our heads twisted, necks craning, eyes searching.

"Well shit." Another sigh escaped. "No luck for me."

"You'd pee your pants if I told you PG was standing right behind you."

I whipped around, seeing only students.

Alice just laughed when I turned back and threw a glare her way.

"You're evil and mean and cruel."

"Yet you still love me. Whacko."

I stuck my tongue out at her and ate a French fry. "Eat your food. I've got chemistry homework to finish."

"Forget about it last night?"

"Yes." Sighing seemed to be favored pastime today.

"Too busy playing with your pet butterfly, eh?"

"Alice!" I threw the fry halfway to my mouth at her.

She giggled, using her hands to form a halo above her head. "What?"

"If PG was any smarter," I leaned down and pulled my chemistry book from my bag, "you'd have detention too."

"He's standing right behind you."

"I see you drivin' 'round town, with the girl I love, and I'm like..." I sang under my breath while looking deliberately at her, instead of saying the words outright.

Just in case PG did happen to be lurking around somewhere.

"Ooouch." Decal held a hand over her heart and faked a wounded expression.

"Now shut up. I've got to finish this before sixth period."

She saluted, banging a foot on the tiled floor for dramatic emphasis. "Yes, ma'am!"

Smiling, I focused on my homework, losing myself and my surroundings in the unchangeable bliss of science.

A hissed Bella accompanied a sharp jab to my shin, snapping me out of my chemistry-induced fog.

"Ow!" I looked up at Decal, glaring daggers and icicles and rocket launchers and other harmful things at her. I'd probably have a bruise tomorrow. "What the—"

The air seemed to shift, and without thinking about it I knew what the hell had been up with her enough to kick me.

"Need some help?"

I swallowed thickly at the voice, too close to my ear. Breath too enticing. Compulsive desire to turn in his direction too strong.

I couldn't see him, but I could feel him behind me.

Feel his chin an inch away from my shoulder.

Feel all the warmth of him so close to touching my back.

Feel his hand stir, probably pulling out of a pocket.

My nerves were on such an edge, I almost jumped when he braced his hand on the table, a cough of movement away from brushing against mine.

His face shifted even closer, now aligning with my own, both of us looking down at my chemistry book.

I could have sworn the roughness of his scruff brushed against my soft cheek at one point.

But I had no idea if that was reality or wishful thinking.

"Ahh. Chemistry homework."

A part of me wanted his other hand to mirror his first, to press his front completely against my back.

Caging me, totally surrounding me.

"I'm quite good at chemistry."

Nothing on the page was visible to me right now, and I still hadn't looked at him.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't need any help." I almost wanted to cheer; my voice hadn't sounded as shaky as I felt.

"I'm offering."

"I noticed."

"And you're denying me?" The yet again was heavy in his tone.

I didn't know what to think anymore, or even what to feel. My brain had become scrambled eggs.

"Are you?"

His prompting words brought me back, made me realize I hadn't actually answered him.

"It would appear so."

He breathed quietly onto my neck and the bottom of my ear, disappearing from me without another word.

And I hadn't even ever seen his face.

Couldn't tell if he'd been smiling or pursing his lips when he'd walked off.

I definitely had no clue what to make of whatever that had just been.

Some things were just better left unanalyzed. Sometimes better if you just didn't think about them much at all.

"Whoa, dude." I glanced up at Decal's words, taking note of her wide eyes and open mouth. "Watching that was like..."

"Watching what?"

She gestured hastily to me, exasperated. "That!"

"Oh. That. Yeah." I faked clearing my throat.

"Yeah, that." She breathed deep. "It was like... Holy socks, Bella! That was like watching a," her voice lowered as she leaned across the table toward me, "a PG-13 porno."

"What?" I understood what she meant, completely. But if she could detect those notes from just that one interaction...

Not good.

"It was subtle and not even really very much at all, not by itself." I almost laughed when she literally waved her hand at herself, using it as a fan. "But sitting here and seeing it, watching it, picking up that weird tension between you two, it was charged."

"Charged?"

"Oh boy, was it ever!" My best friend was such a dork. "Who knew that subtle thing could be so effing sexy, ya know?"

I let out a single, laughed breath. "Yeah, who knew."

She started looking around the cafeteria, scanning and obviously searching for someone.

All while still fanning herself.

"Looking for Jazzermeister?"

"Fuck yeah!" Her fan-hand slapped over her mouth as the words tumbled out, eyes moving back and forth swiftly and guiltily.

And really really funnily.

"Relax, Decal," I managed through laughs and chuckles. "Pea-Greene's not behind you."

Her hand fell away. "Thank fu-... -dge!"

"Goody two-shoes." But my smile was fond and aimed at her.

"You're lucky he's not here, by they way. You know how much he hates that name."

"Who?"

She threw me a pointed look. "Jazzermeister."

I snorted, remembering how trashed he'd gotten when he'd earned himself that nickname. "Yeah, well I don't see him here."

"Lucky for you, unlucky for me."

[~|~|~]

Decal was late.

School was out, and she was late.

I wasn't sure how that even happened, or why she was late in the first place. I'd be damned if I was gonna go searching all over school for her, though.

She'd come to me if I just waited in plain sight.

"Don't mind if I do," I told the stubby wall next to the parking lot. Settling down on it, I opened my messenger bag and pulled out my latest batch of chemistry homework.

If I started it now, maybe I wouldn't wind up scrambling to get it done tomorrow at lunch.

Lunch. Chemistry.

A shiver slithered up my spine with the memory.

I pushed everything away, forcing my eyes to my textbook, willingly losing myself in it.

Just as I had at lunch.

"You know, sitting on cold concrete will give you hemorrhoids."

My body tensed, startled out of my daze, recognizing that voice.

Sparking at it.

Even when my brain was doing nothing but rolling its metaphorical eyes.

"No, that's kidney infections it gives you."

He threw a long leg over the low wall, effectively straddling it and focusing right on me.

I didn't turn to him, but in my peripheral I could see him staring at me.

And not saying much of anything in reply to my witty kidney comeback.

"I didn't need help with my chemistry homework at lunch, and I don't need it now."

The similarities between what had happened then, and my current situation, weren't lost on me.

I suspected my chemistry book had it out for me, somehow summoning Edward Cullen to interrupt whenever I opened it for studying. The evil thing.

"Hm. More chemistry homework?"

"Yeah, teachers tend to give you more at the end of the day."

"And you're sure you don't need any help?"

"That's still a no." I didn't even so much as glance at him. "A definite one."

I felt him shift closer, seeing the movement out of the corner of my eye. "Positive?" He rolled the word out teasingly, spending more time on the first syllable.

"Didn't I just say I was definitely sure?"

"I don't know, I was distracted." I could see his hand, palm flat on the stone underneath. So close to touching me.

But not going the extra distance.

I hated that I couldn't think of anything to say, that I let the first stupid thing slip out. "Distracted?"

Closer still.

"Didn't I just say that?"

Annoyed at having that thrown back at me, I finally looked at him.

Mistake.

I lost myself even more doing it. As shallow as it totally made me.

Fuck, he's pretty.

"You waiting for someone?" He smirked a little, as if trying to keep it small.

"You know I am."

"How would I know that?"

I didn't have to fake my eyeroll. "Because you're not stupid."

"I'm pleased you think so."

"Ugh, you're so slimy!"

"You like it."

I ignored that completely. "And because you're not stupid—an idiot maybe, but not stupid—you know I wouldn't be sitting here if I wasn't waiting for someone."

"I had deduced as much, yes."

Grabbing at the spine of my chemistry textbook, I fought to keep from showing how annoyed I was. "Then why'd you bother asking?"

"Because you hate rhetorical questions."

"Button-pusher," I muttered quietly.

I was so busy being irritated and confused and frustrated, I didn't even see his hand creeping forward.

But I sure as hell felt it when he snuck underneath my skirt, just the very tips of three fingers brushing the bare skin of my outer thigh.

My head was on a string, a puppet being snapped to his gaze.

Something dangerous and unidentified flowed between us, clenching in my abdomen.

"Bella! Oh my ugh. It was like every person from here to the Atlantic wanted to stop and talk in the hall today! Made the trek from—"

Decal's river of words froze mid-rush when she saw who I was sitting next to.

Who I'd just been locking eyes with.

I had no idea what it'd looked like from the outside, and her expression didn't help me at all.

"It's fine, Decal. I just started in on some chemistry while waiting."

"I'll say you did," she grumbled low in her throat. I pulled my lips into my mouth, mashing on them to keep from snickering. "Well, are we leaving or what?"

"Yup, sure thing!" I hopped up all too quickly, snatching my bag and holding my book in front of me.

"Bye, Bella."

I felt it in my stomach (and other places) when he said my name like that.

Looking to the side as Decal and I walked toward Buggy G, I called, "Later."

It wasn't exactly smooth, but I couldn't take it back now, anyway.

All I could think about were his fingers, his touch, his legs, his body, his eyes, his smirk, his mouth, his hair dancing to the lazy beat of the wind.

"Well that was interesting."

"What?"

Decal licked her lips aggressively. "You're not even listening to me, are you?"

I hadn't noticed we'd shuffled into the car. "I'm sorry! What did you say?"

"You're my best friend."

She didn't continue, so I answered her non-question question. "Yes. And you're mine." I touched her forearm, connecting us in a small way, solidifying us. "You already knew that. Why do we need to reiterate it?"

Her laugh wasn't amused, and scared me a bit. "Because. You're being weird."

"That's nothing new."

"It is when you keep secrets from me."

I inhaled sharply, not expecting her to have gone there.

"You never used to keep secrets." That was true. So true. "You never used to be able to stand it."

Again, nothing but true.

"I'm worried about you. Worried about the fact that you seem okay with secrets now."

"Alice..." I didn't know where to start, and I knew this wouldn't go away. She wasn't the type to shake her head and tell me to forget it. She was a solver, one who faced their problems instead of hiding from them.

"If you don't want to tell me, I guess-... I guess I can understand that." She nodded determinedly, and I knew she was being completely honest. "But don't try to pretend you're not, don't avoid my questions or keep me out or shake me off."

Her head turned, looking directly at me.

I saw worry, and such total, unhindered and nonjudgmental love I couldn't help but crumble.

"I've seen Edward Cullen naked and masturbating and I kind of keep stalking outside his bedroom window so I can continue seeing him naked and masturbating but I have no idea what happened to start with him pursuing and chasing me and I don't know what the hell is up between us but it's scary and good and fuck me if I don't enjoy every single second and tingle of it."

Desperately, I sucked in air. My lungs definitely didn't appreciate blurted and jumbled and mumbling run-on sentences.

Judging by Decal's partially blank face, I figured she didn't appreciate them either.

"Wait wait wait. What?"

I shifted, fingers moving to tangle together in my lap. "Uh, yeah."

"No no no, repeat! Some of it. I'm..." She shook her head, hair flying out of form. "Confused."

"Which part?"

"Just..." She exhaled heavily. "Oh boy. Just clarify for me as I try to get this straight, alright?"

I nodded quickly, hardly even realizing I was doing it. "Okay, I can do that."

"Alright." Decal rolled her shoulders as she turned in her seat to face me. "Let's start from the beginning."

"Beginning?" I wasn't sure I even remembered that anymore.

"Yes. Beginning. You've been letting out your inner peeping tom with Edward Cullen?"

"Peeping Tina, thank you very much. But yes."

"And in doing this you've..." She gulped, and her eyes got a little far-away.

"Seen him naked and jerking off?" I grinned.

She sounded like she choked, and I could only grin more. "Yes. That."

"Yup."

"And why the hell didn't you video record it?"

I laughed, abruptly and so genuine and free and good.

Why hadn't I told Alice before? I could see now how right it was to share with her.

"I don't know, didn't think of it?"

"Selfish bitch," she muttered before perking back up. "Wait though, you said you didn't know what happened that made him start..." Her hands waved impatiently, clearly at a loss for what to call the change.

"Nope, not a clue."

"Could he have... Seen you?"

Oh shit. I hadn't thought of that before. "I hope to hell that isn't it!"

"Well why not?"

"For one, it's embarrassing! For two, it doesn't make any sense. He knows I peep on him, so he decided to... start whatevering?"

"True, doesn't make too much sense." She stared at me closely. "Are you sure he wouldn't have seen you sometime?"

"I'm pretty sure, at least." My voice turned grumbling, "Although lately there hasn't been any chance for him to catch me."

"What?"

I let out some breath and faced her more easily. "Lately, he's been doing... Well, kinda what he does here at school. Only, when I go to sneak up on his window and peep at him."

"Are you saying he's having charged moments with you outside his bedroom, instead of masturbating?"

"Yeah. At least, on the times when I go to peep he hasn't been wanking the bank. He used to be on a sorta schedule, right? I got it down pat at one point. And then bam." I slapped my palm against the top of my fist. "He stops. Nothing. Nada."

Decal's head banged roughly against the headrest, one eye peeking open at me. "How was it?

"How was what?"

She reached over and flicked my forehead, eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Don't play that. Now that you've spilled your coffee beans, you better fucking share the barista boy."


A/N: Next update is shooting for the eighteenth, heh. I love each and every one of you who's still on this ride. :)