Chapter 26

He parked his car in front of her small two bedroom home. He couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia, imagining late nights as she snuck back into her home. He remembered sneaking kisses, reluctant to let her leave the warmth of his car.

Now he was almost glad to watch her grab the door handle.

Almost.

"Thanks for the—er—ride," she said.

He nodded. They hadn't been able to shake off the awkward tension that followed them from the diner. He opened his own door and headed toward his trunk. He pulled it open and pulled out her bag. She offered him a grateful smile and took it from his hands.

She turned to walk toward her home when he grabbed her elbow and pulled her toward him.

"I don't want to say good-bye," he admitted, speaking of more than just this moment. She smiled.

"I don't either," she whispered, stretching on her tip toes and placing a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth. She turned and he watched her walk back toward the house. He stayed until she walked in and then he headed to his own home. He parked and made his way into the house.

His mother was pacing the living room floor, talking on the phone with a look of exhaustion etched on her face. He felt his stomach clench in nerves. When she spotted her son, she smiled.

"Alright, alright. Here he is," she mumbled and practically threw her cell phone in his hands. Startled he fumbled with it before putting it to his ear. By the way his mother ran from the room, he knew who was on the other end.

"Hello?" he said with a heavy sigh.

"What are you doing? I just…I need to know what you are doing!" she screeched and he flinched. He knew his sister cared, but sometimes she was a pain in the ass.

"I really don't think that's any of your business," he said, his jaw clenching.

"Oh yeah. My brother is all over the internet but I'm just supposed to stay out of it?"

"Yes." He thought it was obvious.

Rosalie did not.

"What! Are you kidding me? After everything you went throu—"

"Yeah, Rosie! I went through it. Me. You want answers, well, I don't have them. I don't know what the fuck I'm doing. I really don't. In the end, it's my problem. Mine."

He was so tired of having Rose nag on him like a real life conscious.

"Yeah, well, I was there when she wasn't."

It was a simple sentence but it spoke volumes. He owed a lot to his sister. She got him through when it felt like he'd given up on everything. She helped him pick up the pieces and build them new.

"I know. You always will be. But maybe this is a mistake I have to go through again. Maybe it's not. I don't know if I don't try and I don't want to wonder fifties years from now how different my life would have been. I want to know," he said, plopping down on the sofa.

She breathed a heavy sigh.

"I just don't want to see you hurt," she whispered.

"I know."

Guys I'm really sorry. I am super sick and I feel like death. Hopefully I'll update soon, but if I don't I apologize in advance.
Review. Maybe they'll cure me.

-T