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I sagged against the doorway in relief.

Relief of a tension I hadn't even recognized – not consciously, and not until Edward had showed up on my doorstep.

"Okay. Do you… want to stay here?" I asked, shifting from one foot to the other.

Suddenly I was thirteen again, asking the boy I liked if this seat was taken.

"I could stay here," he said, smiling in the way he did, equal parts smirky and sincere.

"Okay."

We stood in the open door a beat too long, grinning and goofy, before I stepped aside to let him in.

Edward had been inside my house a couple of times but he'd never been in my room. I was at the age where moving out was so very appealing but I just hadn't gotten to that point yet financially. I had a good thing going with my mother in that we got along well and she didn't mind me staying until I graduated from college.

But times like tonight I sort of wished I had my own place. Or at least something parent-less.

We walked silently through the house. I turned lamps and lights off as I passed them, making sure the house was put to sleep before I disappeared inside my room.

"What time does your mom go to work?" Edward asked, placing his shoes neatly beside my bedroom door as I locked it.

"She's usually up by six thirty."

"I'll be gone by quarter till."

"Quarter till six?" I shuddered. "That's so early."

He shrugged, getting into my bed. "It's fine."

After brushing my teeth, I joined him in bed.

"Leave the lamp on," he said softly, pulling me close.

"What, you afraid of the dark?" I teased, leaning up to kiss his neck.

"I like looking around your room," he explained. "It's Bella concentrate."

"Mhm. Well, it should be. We've lived here since I was a kid, right after my parents split up. I love it but I'm starting to feel the itch, you know?"

"What, to move?"

"Yeah."

"Why don't you?" he asked.

"I will eventually… once I get my act together a little more. I feel like if I can just get through school, I'll be able to focus on other things."

"That's another two years, though. You can't live your life on pause." He thumbed my chin until I looked up at him.

"I know."

His eyes drifted down to my mouth. I twisted out of his arms and got onto his lap, missing and craving his nearness. Our mouths came together and we kissed, slow, meandering kisses that wandered from deep to sweet.

"I'm so happy you're here," I sighed, pressing out foreheads together.

"I couldn't stay away. I got into bed and turned off the light but the same bed I've been sleeping in for years feels empty and strange now."

He was so calm and matter of fact about it but what he was saying was reason for rejoicing. His words went piercing through my jet-lag, fiery little arrows shot by cupid himself, I swore it.

"What should we do about it?"

He put me on my back and leaned over me, squeezing my breast over my pajamas as he nipped at my neck. "Get a place."

"So soon," I said mindlessly, grasping his hair as he shoved my shirt up and sucked at my nipple.

"Nothing about us is typical, Bella," he said roughly, unbuttoning my top. "I want you; I want to be with you. I don't like knowing what it's like to wake up next to you only to also know I can't have it anymore."

I let myself get lost in him, knowing he was getting lost in me.

In the early gray light, morning's answer to dusk, Edward's phone alarm went off, signaling that it was time for him to make his escape.

I rolled on to my side, watching as he sat on the side of the bed and buttoned his shirt.

"Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day," I recited, reaching for him.

He looked over his shoulder at me, giving me his crooked smile.

"Oh, it's day alright. Gotta go before your mother finds me in here."

"I'm too old for this crap," I pouted. Gathering the sheet around me, I sat up and scooted over to him, resting my chin on his shoulder.

He held up his hands. "Hey now, I told you what I thought we should do. But it's up to you, Bella."

"I know," I said, racking my brain. I was still over tired, and it was difficult to think. As much as I liked the notion of living with Edward, something was missing.

"Anyway, we don't have to decide this very second." He stood and then bent right back down, catching my face between his palms. He kissed me several times, light little pecks on my cheeks and lips.

I stroked my fingers through his hair, letting the sheet fall to my waist.

"Bella," he groaned, falling to his knees. He pressed his face to my naked breasts. "Why are you naked?" His voice was muffled by my skin.

"You could be naked too," I said, kissing the top of his head.

"No, I can't…"

"Okay," I said, pushing him gently away. "Go, before she gets up. Call me."

"I will," he promised, easing me back so that I was laying flat. He brought the sheet up to my chin, tucking me in. "Miss me."

"Shush, of course I'll miss you," I whispered.

We gazed at each other. The lightness of the moment evaporated, dew in the sun.

"Love you," he said hesitantly.

That was it; what had been missing.

My adoration of him hit its highest note, making me ache.

"I love you," I said, nodding slowly.

He closed his eyes and opened them, and ran his hands through his hair. "Wow."

I chewed my fingernail, my heart thudding at what we'd just said.

I floated.

Around my house, to the mail box, back to the house.

I'd requested the day after returning home off. I'd missed a few days off work already, but I knew I'd be useless if I went back to work jetlagged and out of it.

When Edward had left me early Monday morning I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't.

I stayed in bed, wrapped in an old comforter, not bothering to get un-naked. Gazing at my room, the same four walls I'd been staring at for years; the stuff on the walls had changed, evolved as I'd grown, but it was all still the same.

Only now it was different. I saw it with new eyes. Saw it through the moony fog of Edward's kiss and Edward's hands and Edward's words.

Edward's "love you".

My "I love you."

My parents, Alice and Rose were the usual recipients of those three words. I'd never said it to a guy I'd been dating.

Dating wasn't even the right word for what Edward and I were doing. We may have been dating when we went to Hawaii but when we came home afterward we were… together.

So I floated.

My mother came home from work a little later than usual. She'd gone to the grocery store.

I was in the kitchen in a tank top and panties, slathering peanut butter on to a piece of bakery bread.

"Hey, honey!" She dropped her bags and rushed over to me. I hardly had time to drop the knife before we hugged. My eyes burned; I hadn't realized how much I'd missed her till that very second.

"Hey Mom."

"How was it?" she asked, giving me one last squeeze before letting go. "I want details. You took pictures right?"

"A ton. And we had the most amazing time. I don't even know where to start. It was…" I shook my head, dazed. "Just…amazing."

"That good, huh?" Her smile turned amused, like she knew. "Edward?"

I felt like my blush probably covered my entire body. "Yeah."

She nodded, putting groceries away. "I had a feeling. Hawaii's a pretty romantic place."

"Yeah… I don't think it was just that though…"

"I know it wasn't. I'm just not surprised. I see the way you two look at each other. It was just a matter of time."

"That's what he always said," I laughed, capping the jar of peanut butter. "That this was just a matter of time."

We chatted awhile longer, and when I finished my sandwich I dragged out the laptop, where I'd uploaded my pictures earlier. Over tea, I showed her the things I'd seen and the things we'd done, warming inside every time memories of a more intimate nature flitted through my head.

I knew I was going to have to tell her that Edward and I were considering getting a place together, but I wanted to wait until things were a little more certain. The conversation Edward and I had about it wasn't exactly a serious one; I mean, it was, but we'd both been half asleep and drunk on feelings. I wanted to sit down and have a practical discussion – preferably one where we were fully clothed.

He was amazing when it came to pushing me toward a better life, to realizing my dreams. I trusted him in that regard, knew he wouldn't hold me back. And I believed I could be good for him too. I supported him.

Still, it was not a decision to be taken lightly.

I snuggled closer to him, resting my head on the pillow we shared.

He curled closer, handing me the joint.

I took a couple of pulls and exhaled slowly, liking the way the smoke sweetened the glow of everything. There was a meteor shower and we'd driven up to the bluffs to watch it. A couple of other cars were parked around, people we knew, but it was a mellow scene. No rowdiness or music tonight, just the soft crackle of the occasional car radio.

We were on the hood of Edward's car, wrapped in sleeping bags and other silly stuff meant to make us more comfortable.

There weren't as many falling stars as I'd anticipated, and the ones we saw were small, but it was still pretty cool. Every once in a while a brilliant one would blaze by and there would be a collective sigh.

At least, I thought. It was hard to hear much more than the crash of waves way down below and Edward's voice in my ear.

He hit the joint once more before outing it on top of an empty soda can.

"So, I've been thinking about it," I said, breathing deeply the briny sea air.

"Yeah?"

"Mhm. And I think… I think we should go for it. We're good together."

"We're great together," he corrected, kissing my cheek.

"And you inspire me."

"You inspire me, Bella," he whispered, catching his lips on my ear. "So much."

"I do?" That was new; he always seemed so confident, like he'd gone through this little crisis and come out stronger and was now showing me the ropes.

"You do. You make me think about things I didn't before. I want to do this right, you know? I'm ready for that."

"Me too," I breathed, closing my eyes.

A real zinger seared across the night sky, underlining our conversation.

*Romeo & Juliet, Act 3, Scene V