HELLO! I know, I know, feel free to bitch as much as you want. I'm horrible, awful, terrible. I should leave and never come back. I KNOW that it has been three months since I have updated. I KNOW that I said I would try to get a chapter out before New Years. I KNOW that it is now spring break. I'M SORRY, OKAY?

This chapter is dedicated to Haley the Kid, mostly because she yelled at me a lot.

BPOV

I yawned as I trudged back up to my room. I had been disappointed by the selection of DVDs in Charlie's collection, and there was nothing good on television.

I sighed. I had been looking forward to my day.

I figured maybe I could read a book or listen to some music for awhile, when I noticed a something in Edward's window that hadn't been there before.

Care for a walk? Nessie's getting jumpy. Text me if you're up for it.

I stared at the sign in shock. White paper, black sharpie, same as always. But the message surprised me all the same. He could have just texted me.

I was still staring out the window with wide eyes when Edward appeared behind the mysterious little sign. He waved. I blinked.

He pointed to the message and raised his eyebrows at me. I blinked again.

He mouthed "Please?" and smiled.

Blink.

Then Edward disappeared from his window.

I sighed, collapsing onto my bed. I didn't know what to think when it came to Edward. I loved him so much, in so many ways. He was my oldest friend here in Forks, and the best one I had ever had. But underneath that there was always something…more.

The doorbell rang.

I didn't feel like getting it. Charlie wasn't home, so I figured that whoever it was would figure that out soon enough and just leave. Alice and Jasper knew where the spare key was and would probably just barge in if they wanted to.

The doorbell rang again.

I closed my eyes. Maybe I would just take a nap.

And again.

No, I had already slept enough that day. I pushed myself up and glanced around the room, looking for something of interest.

Again.

"FINE, I'M HERE!" I screamed to no one. I launched myself off of my bed and stormed down the stairs, suddenly possessed by the need to pulverize the doorbell person.

Ding.

"Would you just STOP? You'd figure someone smart enough to ring the doorbell could take a hint!" I bellowed as I threw open the door.

"Hey, Bell," said Edward, smirking.

"Oh. Uh, hey…Edward. Um," I paused. His role as the horrible doorbell person had thrown me off. "What are you doing here?"

As an explanation, he handed me a red wrist strap attached to the end of a black leash, which was attached to the collar of what appeared to be a caramel coloured rocket coated in fur. I was immediately jerked forward as the caramel rocket bolted around my yard, a fluffy, unstoppable ball of energy.

Suddenly the rocket stopped, turned, and pounced.

"Hey, Nessie! " I laughed as Renesmee licked my cheeks. She had knocked me to the ground and was currently standing half on my chest.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry Bella," Edward pulled Nessie off me and held out his hand to help me up.

I stared at his hand for a moment before placing mine over it. "No problem, I'm used to it."

I smiled at the many happy memories I connected with Nessie. I leaned forward and scratched her behind her ears. "So, are you forcing me to go for a walk with you?"

"Yes. The sign was just a formality. I was considering finding a grappling hook and climbing into your room if you didn't answer the door."

"Classic."

EPOV

Bella, Nessie and I started down the street. As our baby padded along, sniffing (and sometimes eating) anything she found interesting, Bella and I talked. About memories, about movies, about school, about music. It was so…easy with Bella. When it was just us like this, we could revert back to how we were so easily. Like nothing was out of the ordinary.

Growing apart from Bella was the biggest regret of my life. I knew it was entirely my fault. I was so superficial and, no matter how hot Tanya was, no matter how "cool" my friends were…none of them could replace or replicate the connection I shared with my childhood best friend.

It was crazy how well we knew each other, even though it had been so long since we had really been best friends. I recognized all of her facial tics – each raised eyebrow, each flared nostril, every pouted lip and reddened cheek…none of it was lost on me.

She hadn't changed.

I led her towards the only blue bench in the park. "You remember this?" she said, smiling.

"Of course," I grinned back. Bella and I had sat on this bench almost every afternoon for years, eating ice cream and talking.

"You should smile more, Edward."

"Huh?" It seemed like an odd thing to say. I smiled all the time. My smiles were nothing special.

"There's something about your smile. I swear it could light up the whole town. You don't smile enough."

"I smile as much as any other person, Bella," I shook my head at her. She really hadn't changed.

"No, you don't. I don't think I've seen you smile, really smile, for a long time, Edward."

I scrunched up my eyes and smiled as wide as I could. When she laughed, a little shiver went up my spine at the sound. It was like tinkling bells.

I slowly let my goofy facial expression fade into my natural grin. "So, how's life treatin' ya, Jelly Belly?"

"First of all, do not ever call me that again. Second, same old story, same old tune. How about you?"

"I'm good. Football keeps me busy. You know,"

"Do you still play?"

I ran my hands through my hair sheepishly. Bella was probably the only person at our school who knew I played piano. "Yeah, I do, actually. Just don't tell any of my friends that."

"Your friends don't know you play?" Her eyebrows furrowed and she bit her lip. She seemed confused. I wondered what she was thinking.

"No, I guess not. Football players don't play the piano, Bella."

"Whatever," she muttered, biting her lip. There was a moment of silence and then, "I like your jeans."

"Um, thanks. They're a little worn out. They used to be Emmett's."

"They look good," she tipped her head forward a little and a strand of her dark hair fell in front of her face. She glanced up at me, and I couldn't help but notice how long and thick her eyelashes were. She was wearing a pair of glasses I had never seen before, but her big, dark eyes were as deep as ever.

Without the command to do so, my hand reached forward and tucked the wayward strand of her behind her ear. Her head tilted a little into my hand as her mouth turned up at the corners.

God, she was beautiful.

I like how you probably hate me even more now.

I actually have the beginning of the next chapter already written out, so that might actually be up in…*GASP*…a reasonable amount of time!

I'm going to say that we're about two thirds of the way through the story at this point. I could be completely wrong, because the story is…surprise, surprise…outlineless, but that's what I THINK.

If I ever do this kind of update fail thing again, send me a message (or twenty) until I do. But actually. Do it. I don't like that I keep failing you.

Reviews are better than puppy attacks.