Hi! With the world on a safety lock down, I got more time to write so you get a new flash fic! The prompt will be at the end of the fic so you can see where the idea came from once you finish reading. Enjoy!

Chapter-2: Love you, Goodnight

Edward holds the steering wheel with both hands, gripping it tightly to stop himself from doing something stupid. At the moment, something stupid will entail reaching over and placing his hand on hers.

One sniffle from her has him taking his eyes off the road and looking at her for a split second. At first, he pretends not to notice, but when she sniffles a few more times, he decides that is it.

Without saying a word, he pulls into the parking lot at the Walmart close to her house and kills the engine.

She must sense the lack of mobility through her now soft weeping because she lifts her eyes from her lap and looks at him. "Edward?"

Edward tries, really tries to keep his anger in check but the sight of her tear-streaked face in the harsh glow of the LED light outside makes him lose it. "Are you out of your mind? What the fuck is wrong with you? Don't you have a shred of respect for yourself?"

There is shock in her eyes as his words hit her. Slowly her eyebrows pull together and then a hardness descends on her features. "I can walk home from here," she says in a tight voice. "Thank you, and I'm sorry for your inconvenience."

Edward closes his eyes, cursing himself for being so harsh on her. "Bella, please," he pleads. "I'm sorry for snapping at you. I just ... " he stops and sighs before continuing. "I hate seeing you getting hurt like this again and again."

The fight goes away from her eyes and she lowers her head again, sinking back into the leather seat of the car. "You're right though," she mumbles. "I am shameless for taking him back after I caught him cheating. It was only a matter of time until he did it again. I'm such an idiot."

He starts shaking his head as she berates herself. "Bella, no!" he protests. "You're not an idiot. You're just too innocent for the likes of Jackass Black. You wanted to see the best in him. It's not your fault that he keeps tripping and falling right into Lauren's vagina. He's a dick who can only think with his dick. I'm sorry for being so crude but that's the truth."

A surprised snort of laughter leaves her and then she's laughing uncontrollably, making him smile in response to the soft timbre of her laughter. Once she quietens down and pauses for breathing, she reaches over the console and places her hand on top of his, squeezing gently. "Thank you, Edward. I am sorry I'm such a pathetic loser, but I am lucky to have you by my side."

Edward seizes his opportunity and flips his hand over and squeezes hers back. "You're not a loser, Bella. You just attract pathetic losers," he corrects her.

She nods. "You're right. I should stay off the dating pool for some time, I think."

"Yeah, I think that would be for the best," he agrees, suppressing the defeated sigh that wants to escape him.

When he drops her off at her home, he walks her to her door and wishes her a goodnight before taking his leave. His heart yearns to take her in his arms, to tell her that she doesn't have to stay off dating if she dates him. He wishes he was saying "I love you" instead of "Goodnight", but he knows that she isn't ready.

So he leaves her with a goodnight wish and a silent prayer for her to dream of him. For now, that has to be enough.

Bella watches until she can't see the headlights of his car anymore before unlocking her door and stepping inside. She closes the door behind her and leans back against it, willing her tears away.

Of course in the privacy of her home, the tears fall freely. She doesn't wipe them away because she knows new ones will take their place.

"Why, Edward?" she whispers into the silence of the night. "Why can you only see me as your friend? Why don't you tell me to stop wasting my time with the likes of Jacob and just be with you?"

She presses her hands to her face and lets out a loud sob, wishing she wasn't so hopelessly in love with her best friend to endure being insulted by Jacob's repeated infidelity just to gauge the depth of his feelings for her.

As new tears roll down her cheeks, she dashes them away. Enough is enough, she decides. If he won't say it, she will. Just a goodnight wish is not enough for her anymore.

She wants more … with Edward.

Prompt:

He wants to say I love you

But keeps it to goodnight

Because love will mean some falling

And she's afraid of heights

A/N: Like it? Hate it?

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In the light of the recent Corona virus outbreak, please stay away from human contact as much as you can. Wash your hands whenever you come home from outside or get to work. Instead of spreading panic, let's spread awareness. Let's not hoard ridiculous amounts of supplies; and instead, share them with the rest of the world because that extra bottle of purell you got from CVS? You might not even need it months but that could've saved the life of the little boy next door who's undergoing chemotherapy or the elderly neighbour with suppressed immunity who always greets you with a smile. So please, let's not allow this mindless panic ruin humanity before the virus does. The world needs us to be our best selves now more than ever.

Prayers, healing thoughts and lots of love for you all.

Ann