He took a deep breath before knocking on her bedroom door. The difference in her smell bothered him. It was different, probably from the lack of nutrition and all the pills she was taking regularly. It was less intense and less floral, it made him uneasy. Like she was a stranger.
Her quiet "come in" was enough to make him enter to her room abruptly and close the door, hoping that Charlie wouldn't bother them.
She was sitting on the floor just under her window, her knees pulled up and her arms around them. She was wearing the old dark green t-shirt he had seen her wear before, the difference in the way it fit to her body broke his heart all over again. Bella didn't have extra weight to spare already, she needed to eat. Her eyes were wide, watching him with a certain level of caution that he got used to.
"Hello Bella." He said. "I came to talk." When she didn't say anything, he crossed the room and sat across her on the floor.
He timidly reached out and held one of her hands. Their situation was horrible, and yet his frozen heart felt like beating, touching her again made him feel alive.
"Are you okay? We were very worried about you." A nod.
"Alice is very sorry, she didn't notice that she would set you off with the college talk. She just wanted to let you know that we are here to stay." He watched her gulp twice.
"For how long?" Her voice was broken, like she was sick. It was difficult to maintain eye contact when all he saw was pain in her eyes but he forced himself. She needed to know that he was sincere.
"For as long as you'll have me." She shook her head, tried to pull her hand away from him but he had enough. They were both hurting and being apart was only making it worse. At least they could be miserable together.
"Bella, please!" He pleaded. "I love you. I have always, always loved you and I will as long as I exist. You're hurting, please let me in." Her eyes filled with tears immediately, her body started shaking.
His whole body ached with the need to hold her. So he did. He reached out and pulled her into his lap.
She didn't hug him back but she leaned into him, her head resting on his chest while her tears soaked his sweater. He held her until she ran out of tears. She pulled back a little bit, one of her hands playing with the threads on his sweater.
"Do you really mean it?" She whispered. "You want to be with me again? After all that happened?"
"Yes. Yes I want you Bella, I want to be with you. Let us heal together, love." Her face crumbled again, at his term of endearment.
"Okay." She said, her arms wrapping loosely around him. Like she had no strength left. He squeezed her tighter. "Okay." He repeated, his nose buried in her neck, desperate to find the delicious scent but failing.