BPOV

Edward and I have somewhat settled into a routine around the cabin. We get up in the morning, have breakfast, and then go for a walk. He won't let me go alone anymore, and frankly, I'm not mad about it. He's a natural with directions, and I trust that he won't leave me stranded in the woods. It's weird.

We usually eat lunch separately, but that's only because I'm a snacker and he's not. He likes three squares a day where I will graze if given the opportunity. He's finished the first book I gave him and started on a new one. So, while I fish olives out of a jar by the refrigerator light, he's reading on the back deck.

We split dinner duties. I cooked Sunday as a thank you for him being so nice after I fell, and the last two nights, I mostly supervised while he tried out recipes he found in one of the cookbooks here. We've played Yahtzee, and we have a pretty epic three-day game of gin going, but it's getting rough.

"We don't have a lot to talk about, Alice. So … we just don't." I'm lying on my bed, coloring on my iPad while talking to my best friend.

"I get you guys aren't close, but … you have known each other for ten years, Bella. Surely, you have some things you can talk about."

"Like what? Give me three topics, and I'll report back to you." I pause, waiting for her answer, but when she doesn't immediately reply, I know I have her. "See? Even you don't know what we should talk about."

"All right, fine. But are you two getting along?"

Huffing, I sit up, leaning against the headboard. "Ugh, yes. He's"—I clear my throat—"not that bad of a person."

"I knew you guys could figure this out."

"Yeah, yeah. How much are you piling up for me?"

We talk about work for a few minutes before Alice tells me her lunch break is over, and I tell her I'll talk to her later. I keep to myself for a while longer, but when I check the time, I realize I only have about two hours of good sunlight left and decide I want to get outside. The weather has perked up a little, and while we've gotten rain, it hasn't snowed again. It's been in the upper fifties and downright nice.

I slip into a pair of boots I brought and grab my phone. I want to take some pictures of the outside of the cabin and immediate area.

Edward's asleep on the couch, and I think about waking him but decide better of it. While we've been getting along just fine, it's getting tedious being stuck together with not much else to do. It's been a struggle not to hurl my usual barbs his way, and I kind of miss it.

Maybe I'll pick a fight with him later.

I'm outside, capturing the scenery the best I can when I hear Edward call my name. "Bella! It's getting dark. Come inside."

I roll my eyes, ignoring him. I'm not done, and there's still plenty of light. "Bella, come on. It's getting colder."

"I'm not a child, Edward. You don't need to parent me!" I walk a little farther from the house, continuing to take pictures.

"You literally fell into a river two days ago." I can see him standing on the deck, arms crossed over his chest. "Just come inside."

I stomp back over to the house, mad at Edward for ruining my mood and my fun. "Fine. Are you happy now?"

He smirks. "Yes. Was that so difficult? Do you want to get lost out in the woods at night?"

I smile sweetly. "Of course not, Edward. Thank you for guiding me twenty yards back to the house so I didn't get lost." Pushing past him, I walk into the cabin, slamming the door. When he doesn't enter directly after me, I look out to see him leaning against the railing and staring out at the sky.

He's probably trying to think of a way to kill me and get away with it.

That's when it hits me. I take one step forward and lock the front door. Edward must hear the click because he whips around like Linda Blair in the Exorcist and rushes to the door. His voice is slightly muffled through the glass door. "Bella, I swear to God, open this door."

Smiling smugly, I shake my head. "Nah, I think you need a few minutes to yourself, Edward."

He pounds on the door for a few minutes before stopping and running around the side of the house. I know he's running for the back door, and while we haven't left it unlocked once, I race to reach it and pull the small set up blinds aside to smile in his face when he finds it's also locked.

"You can't leave me out here all night, Bella," Edward says, and I can see the mix of fear and confidence on his face.

"Wanna bet?"

"I'll call Alice and Jasper." He's grinning like a loon, but all I can do is laugh.

"And what are they gonna do? Drive an hour to make me let you back inside?" I lift up my phone, pulling up Edward's contact. "Do you even have your phone on you?"

His eyes go wide for a moment as I call him, and he starts patting his pockets. I can hear his phone ringing, and I walk away from the back door to find it on the coffee table. The most hideous picture of Delores Umbridge is staring up at me with my name and my vision goes red.

Grabbing his phone, I race back to the door. "You made me a toad? How dare you!"

He throws his arms up. "At least, I didn't lock you outside, in the woods, at night, in February! Let me in, Bella!"

I check the weather on my watch, and it's only fifty-nine degrees. I decide to let him sweat it for a few more minutes. I go to the living room and build a fire before picking some stuff out of the fridge for dinner. I can make some soup with the leftovers we have from last night. Ten minutes have passed when I decide that I'll let him back in when my phone rings, and Jasper's face flashes on my screen. It's a FaceTime call, and I know I'm somehow screwed.

"Hey, buddy. How's my favorite guy in the whole wide world?" I'm smiling and avoiding any window behind me.

"Bella, you know as well as I do, that you can still use an Apple watch as long as you are within fifty feet of your phone." Jasper isn't smiling; in fact, he sort of looks like my dad used to when he'd catch me trying to sneak out of the house to meet Alice for a house party.

"Um, well that's a very helpful tip. Thank you, Jasper."

"Let him in, Bella."

"Are you … in your car?"

"I just got on the five, and I'm headed your way. I'm picking you two up and bringing you home. This obviously isn't working. Alice is home crying her eyes out, and I-I don't know what to do with you two."

"No, Jasper. Don't do that." I run to the door and unlock it, dragging a fuming Edward inside. He's cold and looking furious, but I pull him to my side and show him off to his best friend. "He's inside. I locked him out for ten minutes. It was just a joke. I'm sorry. I swear … Edward."

He looks down at me frowning. "You're such a bitch." He walks away toward his room.

"Bella, you promised Alice and me that you would be good and try your best. He took care of you, for Christ's sake!"

I can feel the tears welling in my eyes because I know everything Jasper is saying is true. "I'm sorry, Jas."

"Sorry isn't gonna cut it this time."

"Can you just … wait? Give me until tomorrow. If Edward won't forgive me, I'll let him make the call, and you can come get us."

He sighs deeply. "Give Edward his phone. I want to talk to him."

I nod. "Sure, I'll go give it to him." I walk down the hall and knock lightly on Edward's door.

"Fuck off!"

I sigh, looking at Jasper, who ignores me completely. I push open the door to find Edward packing his clothes.

"Here's your phone. Jasper wants to talk to you." He snatches it from me, and I back out of the room and walk back into the kitchen. "I guess I'll see you soon, Jasper."

He hangs up on me, and I look around feeling helpless and like an idiot for bringing this upon myself. I can hear Edward yelling, but I can't really make out the words. I don't want to hear what he's saying about me to Jasper, mostly because I know I deserve it. I'll just wait for Edward to come out before I'll go pack up my belongings.

But he never comes out of the room. Twenty minutes pass, and I get a text from Jasper.

You're getting a second chance. Don't fuck this up.

I wait for a few more minutes, but Edward never makes an appearance. I make a quick pot of soup, eating quietly before sneaking into my room and staying as quiet as possible. I hear nothing from Edward for the rest of the evening, and I slip into bed early and end up crying myself to sleep.