A/N: Let's get back to the campsite and check in on our pair. Shorter one this morning. Longer one later today.

Thanks to Ronnie, Meg, and May for pre-reading this. I tinker so if anything is wonky I'm to blame.

SM owns, not me.

~NT~

Chapter 4: Odd One Out

The next morning, with a hangover to rival all hangovers, Bella called Alice, trying to bow out of the upcoming camping trip that they had been planning for Memorial Day weekend. She didn't want to be the fifth—ninth—wheel. Alice would hear nothing of her canceling, saying that this was exactly what she needed: some time away from the city to forget the asshole who shall not be named. She promised that Bella wouldn't feel like the odd one out.

Bella reluctantly agreed, seeing some wisdom in her best friend's words. So that was how she found herself, standing awkwardly beside Edward, sipping water and trying not to feel depressed over all the love she was witnessing.

"Heard about you and Riley. I'm really sorry." Edward spoke softly, his gaze still fixed in the direction of the crackling flames. Laughter filled the air and he smiled.

Bella nodded her head, at a loss for words. It never made sense to her when people apologized after a breakup. They weren't the ones who cheated; they didn't lie and deceive. What did they have to be sorry about? Still she appreciated the sentiment. It just hurt that the words kept needing to be uttered.

Bella cleared her throat. "Where's Tanya?" She had been surprised when Edward pulled up to the campsite with only Alice and Jasper tumbling out of the back seat.

Edward turned to face her, his brow furrowed in question. "Tanya? I don't know. Probably at Irina's parents. I think that's where they were planning to spend the holiday. Why?"

"Oh … um … I thought Alice had said that the two of you were coming … together." Bella fumbled with her words as she tried to recall any time over the last few months when Tanya's name came up in conversation. There weren't many but she could have sworn that Alice mentioned that he'd be partnered up.

"Nope. Just me." He finished off his beer, tilting it in the direction of the group. "Ready to go back?"

Again, Bella simply nodded as she followed him to the campfire. His hand hovered over her lower back, never quite touching. When they returned to the circle, Alice hopped off Jasper's lap, wrapping Bella into a hug. "I'm so happy you didn't back out. I love you, Bells."

"Love you too, Ali."

"Let's go skinny dipping!" Alice bounced.

"Let's not." Bella dragged her friend to sit beside her, scanning the group until her eyes landed on Edward. He had pulled up a chair next to Jasper, but he was looking at her from the corner of his eye. When their eyes met, he gave her a tentative smile, which she returned. Their conversation by the cooler replayed in her mind, but she didn't have long to dwell on it because she caught movement coming from Alice as she started to remove her sweatshirt.

"Alice…"

"What, I'm getting hot," she said incredulously.

Bella just chuckled. It looked like it was going to be an interesting weekend.

~NT~

Thanks for reading.