EEEEEEEK I love you all. Thank you for the amazing responses so far.

Then

Edward brought Bella back to his home. He wasn't sure why he did, and Bella wasn't sure why she agreed. Yet, here they were in Edward's car, heading to his parents' home. They surely would get detention. Her grandmother...actually her grandmother wouldn't care that she was with a boy. Well, she wouldn't care as long as the boy didn't harm her. Considering he had ditched school for her because she'd said, 'I don't know" to his question, she couldn't imagine that Edward wanted to hurt her. Grandma Swan would probably force Edward to do some work around her house if she ever had him over, and he probably would do it happily from what Bella guessed.

She was thinking about inviting Edward over now? She had gone from purposely ignoring him to suddenly thinking about the next time she would spend time with him again. The fact that he probably would run for the hills if he saw the animal hearts or … what she was capable of...no, this would be the only time they hang out.

They turned the corner to the street he lived on. Edward's home was in the nicer part of town - not that Bella lived in a bad part of town. A small town like the one her father had grown up in didn't have "bad parts". She still felt a pang in her chest when she thought of him. And her mother...oh how she yearned for her mother...to be able to talk to her about everything happening in her life. It had only been six years but she still missed her parents every day.

He used his key to open the door, allowing Bella inside first before stepping around her and leading her. She followed behind him, analyzing her surroundings. Aside from her powers, Bella lived a relatively bland life. She stayed out of trouble, kept to herself. She controlled herself. Being at Edward Cullen's home, following him with no adults around, in the middle of a school day...well, that was entirely out of character for her.

Yet, she followed willingly. On the walls of the hallways, there were pictures of Edward as a young child, with (she assumed) his parents.

"You played baseball?" She asked, stopping when she saw a picture of him in a baseball uniform. She guessed he was probably eight or nine in the picture. She imagined what his old life was like. A boy who was probably very popular, very happy, having to pick up his life and move to start over. Perhaps, that was why she was drawn to him. She, too, had to start over.

Edward glanced back at her and laughed. "Yeah. I wasn't very good. I was fast, but I couldn't hit a ball to save my life."

"I find that hard to believe."

For some reason, this made him laugh harder. The sound made her belly fill with a warm feeling. His eyes crinkled around the edges and his lips revealed perfectly straight teeth. Bella would recall this moment, remembering how handsome he looked.

If she could read his mind, she would realize that he, too, would remember this moment. Edward had always liked Bella. She didn't give a shit about school, but she was always kind to everyone. She also was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He knew her parents had died and assumed that was why she always looked so sad. A tragic, beautiful girl.

The idea of being alone with her had him jittery.

"You wanna smoke?" He asked her as he led her to the back porch.

"Smoke?" she frowned. She didn't like the smell of cigarettes. A woman who often came to her grandmother's home always reeked of them.

"Not cigarettes...weed." He shrugged. "It...helps me with anxiety."

"Sure," Bella responded, even though she had never smoked weed before. Edward disappeared for a moment before returning with something in his hand. He gestured for her to follow him and they headed to the backyard.

He led her to the side of the house, holding out what looked like a small cigarette.

"What is that?" she asked.

"You've never smoked weed before?"

She shook her head.

"Do you want to?"

She nodded. She took the joint from him, her fingers accidentally brushed against his. Bella was not immune to Edward's looks. She was well aware that he was handsome and charming - the exact type of boy that would have her doing wild things. Like smoking pot, for starters. She glanced at him and he raised his eyebrows.

Without breaking eye contact, Bella placed the joint in her mouth and leaned forward so Edward could light it. His pupils darkened as he watched her suck in with her red lips. His eyes crinkled again. This was the third time in just an hour that she had seen that smile. The half smile that he normally gave her could get him out of detention - and had. That half smile was lethal.

His full smile, though…

Well his full smile made her knees weak. She exhaled without breaking eye contact. Since she had never smoked anything before, it was no surprise that she began coughing uncontrollably. She coughed and coughed and coughed so hard that she thought she may never breathe in clean air again.

A hand started pounding on her back as she continued her hacking fit. Her eyes watered as she gasped in before coughing some more. Edward bent down on one knee and guided her down against the brick wall.

"Shit, Bella," she heard his frantic voice beside her. "You took a huge hit."

She shut her eyes, feeling the effects of the lack of oxygen and the marijuana. She felt Edward's arm slide behind her, pulling her down to sit. She leaned into his body and still hadn't opened her eyes. He smelled like the pine trees that were behind her grandmother's home. She sighed as she snuggled further into his chest. His free arm was digging through his backpack, trying to find the water bottle that he had shoved in his backpack.

Edward never packed water bottles. He didn't see the point. There were water fountains around the school and vending machines. And if he brought a water bottle, it was highly unlikely that any teacher would allow him to drink it in class.

Today, though, he just decided to drop a bottle in his backpack. Things like that often happened in his life - where he was unintentionally prepared for something unexpected.

"Here," Edward handed it to her. She lazily grabbed for it and began chugging, water dribbling down her chin and onto his jacket.

She put the bottle of water down, gasping again. "Thank...you...Edward."

He chuckled, relieved that she was okay. He pulled her closer to him. "Always prepared."

She giggled and glanced up at his face. He was looking down at her with sweet adoration. They were only inches away from each other's mouths. Bella's eyes glanced between his eyes and lips and back again. The look in his eyes was so tender that Bella couldn't help but lean in and kiss him. She pulled away almost as soon as her lips met his. Her eyes were wide and she felt her face burn.

"I'm so sorry," she rushed out. "I think I may be feeling the -"

Before she could finish, Edward's mouth was back on hers, kissing her again.

And again.

Sigh...

-Bravery