TWENTY-FIVE

Friday afternoon

Edward is walking through campus when he sees them.

Bella and Jacob are coming towards him, holding hands. He is talking, making exaggerated gestures with his free arm, and Bella is laughing. She looks happy.

Edward feels uncomfortable. She used to laugh with him like that.

He lowers his head and pulls his hood up, hoping that he can walk past without them noticing.

He isn't that lucky.

"Hey, Cullen!" Jake yells. Edward raises his head and a hand in greeting.

Bella doesn't meet his gaze.

"Hey, guys. Heard that you two are a thing now."

Jacob looks smug. Bella still doesn't look at him.

"Yeah. I'm a lucky guy."

"That you are."

"'Supposed to rain today?" Jake gestures at Edward's hood. He shrugs.

"Nah…uhm, just a bad hair day. I gotta run, meeting Leah at the library."

"Alright, mate. Catch you later."

"See ya. Bye, Bella."

She finally meets his gaze at the mention of her name. Her eyes roam over his face. She looks uncomfortable.

"Bye."

Edward tries not to run as he leaves the pair. He feels sick again.

Bella runs her eyes over Edward's face when she eventually plucks up the courage to look at him. She can practically feel the confidence she had worked so hard for leak out of her. She felt like she was the Isabella from sixth form once again, standing in Edward's overwhelming presence.

"Bye."

He darts off speedily, leaving Bella and Jacob standing together upon the concrete.

"Cullen's acting strange today."

Bella pulls on his hand, wanting to get back to her flat as quickly as possible.

"You heard him. He's just in a rush."

"He couldn't keep his eyes off you."

"Oh, really? I didn't notice."

"He does that a lot, you know."

"Hmmm."

"He looks as you like he thinks you might break at any moment. Like he would jump in front of a bullet for you."

Bella glances backward, but Edward is gone.

"It's probably nothing. I wouldn't think that much into it."

I feel like there's a bit of a divide - some of you still want Edward to suffer and some of you don't...the next few chapters are gonna please only some of you then ;)

If writing goes well today, I'll try and update again later!