I do not own Twilight.

Sorry for the late (and short) chapter, but I did promise another update today and hopefully by the time this goes live, it will still be Friday. I have about five chapters typed out and ready to be posted, so I'll be uploading those tomorrow and Sunday.

Enjoy!

Charlie is over the moon that we are leaving, but my mom seems confused and concerned. She knows it's not like me to leave a hospital bedside for anything less than another emergency, but honestly, I'm too exhausted mentally and physically to explain.

With a quick nod to our upcoming finals, Charlie keeps my mother from questioning us and is all smiles when he waves us goodbye.

"Drive safe," he says. "And don't call every three hours to check up on me."

I roll my eyes and bend to kiss him on the temple.

"I'll text you, honey," my mom promises and after hugging first me, and then Mike, we are making our way out of the hospital and back towards the parking lot.

I put out my hand for the keys and Mike drops them into my palm. I'm desperate to get out before we have another run-in with Alice.

"So," Mike says as I'm merging onto the main highway back towards U-Dub, and I already know what he is going to say. "Is this a long enough ride back for the story?"

I grit my teeth and my hands tighten on the steering wheel.

"I guess," I conclude and then purse my lips, glancing over at him. He's watching me with piqued interest but reaches out to put his hand on my thigh.

"If you want to," he assures, but I can see the burning desire for knowledge behind his eyes.

"It has to do with Edward," I say quickly, before he gets his hopes up.

His eyes darken a shade and it seems like he is seeing something in the distance before he mutters, "Doesn't everything?" and I'm a little shaken by his reaction because I tried my hardest to not make everything about Edward.

"Do you want to hear or not?" I snap and he takes a second to gather himself, looking slightly wounded by my tone of voice. Finally, he sighs and nods once, his hand moving from my leg to fist over his own.

"Yeah," he says. "I do."