On 12/15 I completed moving everything I own out of my apartment into a 2BR about ten miles east, along with my boyfriend. We'd lived in the same place for the past 7 years. I caught a cold from exhaustion. So, here we go.

Chapter 37

When she came over to study for Spanish, Jess was surprisingly serious, and I finally understood why she was in the top 5 of our class. Not that there was so much competition - back home I was in the top 5%, which included about a hundred and thirty kids, but here top five percent was top five, period. Anyway she was a more serious student than you'd think just to talk to her in passing, and she didn't mention Mike at all during our review.

Which was great, because it meant I didn't have to talk about Edward. Not that he and I were having problems, per se. My talk with Angela had gotten me sort of down, though, as I certainly didn't see me and Edward sticking together the way her and Ben could. Plus, I was avoiding being alone with him till I thought I could successfully brush off the topic of Tyler. And of course, both of us had lots of homework and studying before spring break started.

So it was to my shock and chagrin that on lunch Thursday, when I asked Alice and Edward if they were doing anything for spring break, they replied in the affirmative. Not only were they doing something, they were all flying together as a family to go on a camping trip. It was still too early to go anywhere in the mountains, so they were flying south. To the Grand Canyon. I was completely taken aback. I mean, ok, sure, I hadn't been dating Edward that long, but I was kind of Alice's best friend at Forks High. If I'd known, I would have begged my dad to help finance half a plane ticket.

"Oh, right, your mom lives there," said Alice, turning red with embarrassment for me.

"No, she moved to Florida after her husband got placed there," I sighed. None of my so-called friends back there talked to me anymore, had pretty much stopped after the party after James dumped me. Well, screw them too. It was too late to get anything but a stand-by ticket, and the Cullens were leaving Sunday night for an all-week hiking and camping expedition.

"Don't worry," whispered Edward, "I'm taking you out Saturday, all day."

Well that was nice. Except, oh, wait, avoiding!

"Don't think Charlie will be cool with 'all day'," I apologized.

For the first time in ages I saw Edward looking angry. "Are you serious? I haven't hung out with you all week!"

"Not counting Monday," chimed Alice.

"No, not counting Monday. That was with the whole family," he said darkly. Alice giggled, and the familiar flames hit my face.

I was definitely feeling conflicted. On the one hand I in no way wanted to tell Edward - or anyone else - about overhearing Tyler's supplier and him Monday evening. On the other hand, I was truly addicted to the feeling of Edward's hands on my skin, and the little touches he permitted at school were hardly enough to control my jonesing. It was so stupid. There was no reason to believe that if I told Edward, he would immediately tell his parents or some other authority figure. But there was no guarantee he wouldn't, either. If there was one thing Edward did, it was follow rules like that.

So I sighed, and told him I'd talk to Charlie and things should be fine. Which of course they would, seeing as how the whole thing about not seeing Edward to make time for my other friends was complete bullshit that I made up. I figured by Saturday I'd be feeling a lot calmer about it anyway. I'd cut back on the Xanax this week for the homework, but today was my last test before vacation, so I'd be free to indulge tonight and tomorrow.

Edward was as well-behaved as ever during Bio, which meant that anytime Banner wasn't looking at our class, he touched my wrist, or my shoulder, or the back of my neck, or even my waist at one point. Mostly it was anything where I was showing skin, though. He was just as much an addict as I was, it appeared.

"What were you smiling about during class?" he asked as we packed up to go to our last classes.

"I, um, think I have a new addiction," I smirked.

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Is that so?"

I could tell he was misunderstanding, so I pulled his hand to my lips and kissed his wrist, then started sucking his middle finger. It wasn't exactly obscene, but you'd never know that by the expression on his face. He looked at me as if I'd just stripped naked.

"Ah. That addiction," he managed to get out, and softly pulled his hand back. "Jesus Christ, Bella, first you give me a heart attack, then you give me a... heart attack." He kissed my wrist in turn, smiling all the while. "I'll call you later?"

"Sure thing," I called as I walked off to class.