I'm on the couch with Edward when Alice walks in – and right behind her is Emmett.

Edward's body goes stiff and he tries to release my hand, but I stop him. Emmett looks over at both of us, and before he can say anything, I tell him to keep his thoughts to himself. He nods, and Alice pulls his hand and leads him to the love seat.

We all sit there in silence. And it's awkward, but I don't care. I'm not going to be the first one to say anything. After all, he's here, too. And he has to room to speak.

"So," Alice says with what I can only assume is mock-enthusiasm. "Are we all ready to play spin the bottle?"

I gasp.

Emmett looks horrified.

But when I look at Edward out the corner of my eyes, he's laughing silently.

"That's gross," Emmett says.

"That was kinda the point," she tells him flippantly. "Jesus, you guys really are like Mormons."

Ignoring her, I ask, "What are you doing here? Won't Dad wonder what you're doing? Where you are?"

"Nah," he says. "I told him I was going to Newton's after work. He didn't even question it."

"Oh," I say, remembering how strange he'd been earlier. "Has he been…I don't know…kinda weird lately?"

"He's been weird our whole life," he says.

And just for a moment, I feel like maybe we shouldn't talk about this in front of Edward and Alice. Like, I should feel embarrassed or something. But the feeling of Edward's hand wrapped around mine reminds me that I don't have any secrets with Edward anymore.

Especially after tonight.

He knows everything.

And the truth is – I realize now that my family isn't the only fucked up family in the world.

There's something comforting about that.

"So, really…what do you guys want to do?" Alice says.

"We could watch Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman," Emmett says, grinning.

"If you tell me you watch Dr. Quinn, I'm breaking up with you right now."

"Ah, don't be like that," he says, wrapping his huge arm around her tiny body. "And you can't break up with me if we aren't officially a couple. Are you saying you're my girl?"

I can't watch anymore – even if it is making me really happy to see Emmett happy. But I do lean over and lay my head on Edward's shoulder.

"Are you my girl?" he whispers.

"Yeah," I whisper back. "I'm pretty sure that was a foregone conclusion a while ago."

"Pre or post graveyard?"

"Pre."

I forget about everything else – you know, like the fact that my brother who has historically-questionable feelings about Edward is sitting across from us – and I kiss him.

We kiss a lot.

And I don't care.

And I also never really want to stop.

Unfortunately, Alice interrupts. "Hey, why don't we let the guys get…I don't know…get to know each other," she gives Emmett a pointed look, "and you and I can make some snacks while they pick out a movie for us to watch."

"Oh, umm…okay," I nod.

Edward squeezes my hand one last time before I stand up.

"Do you think they'll be okay?" I whisper as soon as we're out of earshot.

"They'll be fine," she says. "They're going to have to start getting along eventually."

I nod – even though I don't know that's entirely possible.

"So you and Emmett…" I hedge.

"Yeah," she says, smiling. "I know it seems…strange. But I like him a lot. I hope you're okay with that."

"I mean, it was weird at first, but I get it," I tell her. "Em's a good guy."

"He is," she says. "He makes me laugh."

She laughs a little and her cheeks turn pink – almost like she's remembering some secret I'm not privy to. I don't ask her about it.

"And you…you don't mind about the whole…situation with our dad?"

"Nope," she says. "I mean it's weird, but Emmett told me about what happened with your mom. And that's all kinds of fucked up." She looks contrite for a moment. "I'm…I'm really sorry that happened to you guys. And I hope you're not mad that he told me."

"Nope," I tell her, shrugging. "It happened a long time ago."

"Your dad will come around, Bella."

"I don't know," I tell her. "I hope so. But even if he doesn't, I only have eight more months that I have to put up with it."

While we're in the kitchen, Alice is making pizza rolls and I'm pouring Tostitos in a big bowl. I inadvertently scratch my eye, and it starts to sting and burn.

"Oww!"

"Are you okay?" Alice asks.

"I'm fine," I mutter. "I think I just got some salt or something in my eye. I'll be right back. I need to rinse out my contact."

"Okay."

When I get to her bedroom and open my bag, I realize I've left my contact solution and case at home.

Damn.

"Alice," I call out, "do you wear contacts?"

I check again – just in case. Nothing.

"No, why?"

"I left mine at home."

A couple seconds later, Edward and Emmett are both at the door.

"I'm gonna have to run home to get it," I tell them. "I have to have it."

"I'll take you," Edward says.

I smile at him.

"What if Dad's home?" Emmett asks.

"I'll tell him Alice brought me. He doesn't need to know."

Emmett looks uncomfortable, but he nods his head.

"Don't worry," I say. "It will be fine."

.

.

When we pull in at the apartment, I tell Edward, "I'll be right back."

He kisses me quickly.

"Hurry."

I notice Charlie's car in his spot, so I know he's home. I expect him to be in the living room when I walk in, but he's not.

Perfect.

He's already gone to bed.

I quickly go to the bathroom to get my stuff. After I clean my contact and flush out my eye, I head out to leave. When I close the door, Charlie walks out of his room. He's only in his boxers – awkward.

"Hey, Dad," I say calmly. "I forgot my contact stuff, so Alice brought me home to get it."

I hope the lie sounds easier than it feels.

He looks tense. Although, it's entirely possible that it's my own tension. I always feel like I'm seconds away from being discovered. And I know that I just need to be honest with him.

Tomorrow.

I'll sit down with him tomorrow.

"I'm just gonna…"

I haven't even finished my sentence, when Sue Clearwater walks out behind him.

Wearing his shirt.

Only his shirt.

Everything in the word stops…except for my voice.

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

.

.

.

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Marvar is my girl, and I love her more than I loved pizza rolls in 1994.

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Thanks to everyone who voted for Adult Book Store for Fic of the Week on TLS. You guys are forever making my life.