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Prompt: grumble, tumble, humble

I spend my day practically attached to Edward. From the moment he sits down next to me at breakfast until we tumble into bed together at night, we are touching or almost touching somehow. He feels like home and he's so in tune with me that I decide he's safe; that I don't want to hold back like I do with everyone else; that I'll give in this one time to what I really want.

With Rosalie's continuous encouragement and the nods I get from Angela, I don't regret it and keep saying thank you to God over and over again in humble gratitude. I know I will treasure this day, remembering every little special look or every little something more that I get to share with Edward.

He seems just as happy as me, and I think we're both on some sort of giddy high around each other.

I let it all just happen without worrying or thinking about the past and the present. I don't think about how we just have this one day and I don't make it into more than it is.

Edward is clearly my good, good friend, a bond we share based upon our history together, our mutual friends, and currently, our love of football.

He gives me the stink-eye when I scream excitedly for my side, and I grumble when Northwestern makes good on a field goal to tie the game. Periodically - and this is the stuff I live for - he nudges me with his hip or his elbow when U of I scores, and humorously rolls his eyes to show his solidarity. My heart is warm with his generosity, even though it's just about a football game.

We make several beer runs together, food runs, and when it's time to go back to the hotel, we sit next to each other in the back seat, squished together. At dinner in the hotel restaurant, we talk with each other and everyone else, and when we go to the hotel lounge after changing clothes in our rooms, we challenge each other's creativity on the dance floor.

He's silly and sweet, and I can tell I'm all starry-eyed around him. When we three girls head to the bathroom, we all share make-up excitedly, primping for the boys and feeling like this is one of those nights - the good ones where you're on top of your game - and the world is in the palm of your hands. You're going to get the boy and it'll be the best night of your life.

I find myself wishing he lived closer; that Emmett and Rosalie lived closer; that we could all hang out again; that it wasn't just one night. I try to squash the thought so I don't get carried right out of the moment into sadness.

Back in the club, slow music is playing and we all pair off on the dance floor. Edward and I don't get cozy exactly, but we do get closer face-to-face than we've been since our welcome hug. He isn't scared to touch me, but he's respectful, keeping a friendly distance but fully engaging me with his eyes as we talk and laugh. At one point he leans in close and my heart thuds.

"Check out Ben and Angela," he whispers. I turn my head and in doing so, lean a little bit closer to him. For the briefest of seconds, he rests his cheek against my hair until I look up and say, "Are we matchmakers now?"

"Looks that way." He smiles down at me and I smile up at him and I think he could be a heartthrob movie star if he wanted to be.

We keep looking at each other for just a beat beyond friendship and that's when my friend Angela taps my arm and motions me away.

"I'm sorry," she says. "You look like you two were having a moment."

"No - no..." I deny. I try to focus intently on her. "What did you need?"

"Ben asked me if I wanted to get a room and I do but would that make me a total whore? I mean, I like him a whole lot but I don't know if I want to sleep with him, ya know?"

"You'll never be a whore Angela. Just because you like a guy and want some alone time doesn't make you a whore, okay?"

"And I don't actually have to do it, right?"

"God no you don't have to do it silly girl!"

"Okay. I'm going for it. Thanks Bella!" She gives me a quick hug and flits off apparently to tell Ben because then they leave quickly.

I rejoin the remaining three at our little table and say, "Apparently Ben and Angela have something important to discuss." I raise my eyebrows and smile slyly.

"Ahhhh - I think Rosie and I have had that discussion before." Emmett nudges Rosalie and gives her a 'come hither' look. She punches him playfully and Edward and I just sit there in awkward silence

Yes, Edward and I have had that discussion as well.

"I think I'm about done," says Rosalie. "Are we ready to go back up?"

We all load onto the elevator and first go to mine and Rosalie's room. Once inside, Rosalie says, "Is there any way you would be okay if I spend the night with Emmett? I mean, it's find if the answer's no, it's just that, well..."

"You're all horned up with no place to go?" I finish for her, laughing a little.

"Kind of..." she drawls, "But only if you're okay being in here with Edward, ya know?"

"I'll be fine with Edward, Rosalie. He's a nice guy and if it's okay with him, it's okay with me."

She packs a few little things in a bag and heads out. "I'll send him your way."

"Have fun!" I say and waggle my fingers at her.

I'm lying flat on my back trying to quell my nerves when I hear a quiet knock. I open the door and there's Edward, head bent forward until he raises it and says, "Are you sure this is okay?"

"It'll be fine," I say, sort of wishing that we didn't have any history and that we could just be around each other without the heavy cloud of our past hanging over us.

"Wanna watch a movie?" I ask. "Whenever I'm in a hotel I tend to stay up way too late watching pay-per-view movies."

"Sure!" He seems to genuinely like the idea and I sit on the edge of the king-size bed, flipping through previews until we decide on a comedy. He sits in the arm chair by the bed, his feet propped up on the hassock. I lay back, piling up the pillows and stay that way until we agree to put on our pajamas and get ready for bed.

I get under the covers and feel super exposed without a bra on while he sits in the chair and pulls a pillow over his chest. I can tell he's cold.

"Edward?" I say this during that part of every comedy where the main character learns some poignant lesson.

He says nothing but just turns his head and asks with his eyes.

"You're not going to sleep there are you?"

"Nope," he answers quickly, and launches himself under the covers with a shiver.

"Were you cold?" I can't help but giggle when I ask.

"Freezing!" he admits.

I smile to myself under the covers and we watch the rest of the movie. We say good night and turn to face each other across the big bed. He smiles at me and we turn off the lights. In the dark, he's still smiling.

"What?" I finally ask.

"I've never slept with you before," he says.

I hit him with the small throw pillow between us and then settle back down to fall asleep.