*V*V*V*V*V*

Two Months Later

"What are you doing for the rest of Christmas break?" Alice asks me, lounging on my bed in pajamas even though it's three o'clock the day after our fourth annual end-of-the-semester sleepover.

I shrug. "Probably just hanging out with my mom and Edward." She allows him to come over two nights a week for chaperoned dates, though we still go out for the occasional movie or meal far away from Forks.

"Do you want to come hang out with Jasper and me sometime? He says he misses you," she says, laughing.

"Awww, I miss my cowboy, too," I whine at her. My internship ended in October and I haven't seen my honorary older brother since. "I would love that."

"Awesome. I was thinking maybe next Friday?"

"Oh, I can't do that day. I'm hanging out with Tori then."

Alice rolls her eyes at me. "I still can't believe you're friends with her."

"Oh, stop being jealous. She's cool," I defend, even though I can't believe it either. It's not exactly a friendship I initiated, but she pulled me aside before my last day and gave me an entire speech about how she was cheering on my relationship with Edward, how she would kill me if I hurt him, and how she thought I was smart to not bang him because Edward had – and I quote – filled her in about everything . . . yeah, it was a weird conversation. But I appreciated her frankness and she took me out for a drink afterwards. We laughed at the same shit and hated the same people at work, so our friendship just kind of happened. It makes Edward sweat a little to have two of his lady loves bonding, but I consider that a hilarious bonus.

"Whatever you say," Alice says. "So if you can't do Friday, what day?"

"Maybe Saturday?"

She shakes her head. "Carlisle wants us to come to some charity ball on Saturday."

"Another one?"

Sighing, she says, "He just keeps inviting us to stuff."

"That's because he's still trying to make up for being shitty at first."

"Ugh, don't remind me." As charming as Carlisle is, he basically asked Jasper if he was a pedophile during their first dinner together and then gave Alice hell about keeping her relationship from her parents. In short, it did not go well. Luckily, he came around after about two weeks of Jasper not speaking to him and has since gone off the deep end trying to be inclusive.

"Sorry. But at least you get to go to a ball now. No one's ever invited me to a ball before."

"Hey, if you feel like coming, be my guest. You could be Edward's date."

In response, I huff out a breath. She knows good and well that I can't go with Edward. Too many important people, too many business associates of Carlisle's, too many people that might ask the wrong questions. Not to mention Carlisle has no idea.

"Suit yourself," she says with a shrug.

"I'll just have to hang out with you and Jasper another time."

"We could double date!" Alice says with sudden enthusiasm.

I wince. "I don't know about –."

"Oh, come on! It'll be fun!"

"I'll ask Edward," I groan, thinking that will be the perfect excuse to turn her down. It's not like I don't want to have a double date or see Jasper, but things with Edward are still so new. We've barely figured out our own rhythm, let alone trying to balance with a whole other level of weirdness.

"Don't make that face," Alice chides.

"What face?"

"The face you make when you're trying to get out of something."

"I'm not trying to . . . ok, fine. I'm just nervous about it. He's been much more distant with me since the whole homecoming fiasco and –."

"I thought you guys worked that out!" she interrupts.

"We did," I assert quickly. "I mean, mostly. He's been better about not feeling like he's depriving me of some normal teenage experience, but I think hanging out with yet another student on a double date would be a bit much."

"Bellaaaah," she sings, "what's more teenager-ish than a double date?"

I sigh. I suck at saying no to her.

"Hey, look, if you're really not comfortable, that's fine," she says conciliatorily. "I just want everything to be relaxed, you know? I want it to be ok for all of us to hang out. I mean, if everything goes well, we'll all be in each others' lives a long time," she points out.

Exhaling once more, I say, "I'll ask him."

*V*V*V*V*V*

"I don't know, Bella," my mom sighs, looking up from her knitting.

"I don't understand why this is a big deal."

"Because going to his house is very different than going out to a movie or something."

"Mom, what exactly are you worried about?" I prod. "Alice and Edward's brother are going to be there tonight and we're all going to watch some movies. We're not going to do anything," I say pointedly.

"I don't know," she says again slowly, shaking her head.

"We have been completely platonic and followed all the rules and have respected your decisions. Why don't you trust me now?"

After a long pause, she blurts, "Mrs. Stanley told me that you and Edward seem awfully close."

I blink for a moment, uncomprehending. "What?"

"I ran into her when I went to buy some new boots. She said that Jessica said something to her about noticing how friendly you two are towards each other."

Immediately, I try to recall every time I've seen Jessica over the tutoring periods, reanalyzing my behavior. I feel like I barely even spoke to Edward whenever someone else was in the room. Maybe the occasional joke here or there, but nothing inappropriate. Unless she saw something?

But we've been incredibly cautious. Whenever we go out, we drive separately to some remote location far away from anywhere a Forks resident might wander. Easily the most suspicious part of our relationship is that Edward's car winds up parked in our driveway two nights a week, but we live on an isolated, private road. Who would even be around to see his car?

"Bella," my mom prompts.

"What?" I murmur. I can feel that I've paled.

"Are you ok?"

"What did you say back to her?" I demand, not answering her question.

"I said that it was nice to hear that because you've always spoken very highly of him."

I exhale. At least she handled it well.

"I don't think Mrs. Stanley meant anything by it – or at least she pretended not to once I answered her – but my point is that people are noticing. Maybe you need to take it easy with him."

I can't imagine what "easy" means to her considering Edward and I are practically martyrs in the name of chastity, but I shake my head anyway, feeling tears threaten. "Mom, we haven't done anything. I swear. We've been," – god, here come the waterworks – "so careful."

"Oh, baby," she coos, dropping the knitting and holding out her arms for me. I sit next to her on the couch and let myself by enveloped by comfort and warmth. "This is not the end of the world. Someone just mentioned that you two are friends. That's it. I don't think there's any harm done – not yet, at least."

"The thought of someone finding out . . . god, I'm terrified," I sniffle.

"I know. I know. I'm very proud of how you've handled everything so far and how responsible you've been. But it's hard to hide when you're in love," she says softly.

"I guess."

Her arms linger around me for another moment before she exhales. "You can go to his house."

"But I thought you said –."

She shakes her head. "Honestly, you're probably in more danger at school every day than in Clallum Bay," she admits. "I was just feeling protective."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. It kills me when you cry. Just be safe, ok? The roads are pretty bad right now from all the snow. And say hi to Alice for me."

*V*V*V*V*V*

"Bella," Edward says for probably the fifth time, elbowing me.

"Huh?"

"I asked what movie you wanted to watch next. It's your turn to pick," he says delicately, though I can see the concern etched in his face. Although I'm not turned towards Alice or Jasper, I can feel their eyes on me, too.

"How about The Shining?" I mumble, picking from one of the movies I remember Edward listing off from his prodigious collection.

"That's a classic," Jasper says with approval.

"And maybe a bit too close to home considering the weather," Edward adds, inclining his head to the window where the snow is blowing horizontally.

"You picked a shitty day to do this," Jasper jokingly accuses.

Edward rolls his eyes. "I only picked today because you're busy all the goddamn time working to inebriate the public," he fires back.

"It's a hard life catering to the intellectuals in the morning and the inebriates at night."

Normally, I would be enjoying their brotherly banter and perhaps even joining in, but I've barely spoken all night. Alice gives me a look, but it's not like she's been talkative either. Maybe we're both in a funk.

"I never understood why you took that job," Edward says.

"Because I'm a night owl and the tips are good. Besides, if I hadn't taken that job, I wouldn't have met Alice and you wouldn't have met . . . uh, never mind," Jasper finishes ever so elegantly, blushing and making panicked eye contact with me.

Edward tenses beside me, but everyone here knows exactly how Edward and I met. I shake off the embarrassment easily, though I feel that same shiver of discomfort at having such a topic mentioned so openly. I suppose we've gotten too used to hiding.

"Are we watching the movie or not?" Alice pipes up helpfully. Thank god for my best friend, I think. Under the large blanket draped over all of us, I squeeze her leg in gratitude. She envelops my hand with hers and threads our fingers together, offering me a small smile.

Once the movie is on and we're all settled into our respective spots again, haphazardly passing around a bowl of popcorn, I find myself relaxing despite the whole Jessica thing weighing on me. I feel safe. Tucked under Edward's arm with Alice's hand in mine, it occurs to me that this all seems so normal. I can easily picture our futures together, two couples frequently double dating and enjoying our time together, just like Alice said. Awkward mentions of our scandalous past aside, there's a special kind of ease in being with all these people I love.

It's a little over half an hour into the movie when my phone starts vibrating in my pocket.

"Oh, shoot, sorry," I mumble, removing the blanket from Edward's side to let myself out. Of course, I glance down and he's definitely hard. God, drool.

Luckily, my lustful thoughts are impeded by the fact that it's my mother calling.

"Should we pause the movie for you?" Jasper asks.

"No, I'm good," I say, excusing myself to the kitchen to keep my interfering noise to a minimum. "Hello?" I answer.

"Hey, Bella."

"Mom, is everything ok?"

"Listen, I don't want you driving home."

"What?"

"I ran out to do some errands and the snow is so bad around Forks that my car wound up stuck in a snow bank."

"Oh my god!" I exclaim. "Are you ok? What can I do?"

"Nothing. I'm fine and the car's fine, but I had to call some of the Clearwaters to help tow it out."

"Jeez, thank god for the Clearwaters," I mutter.

I nod at him.

"I know. It probably would have cost a couple hundred otherwise."

"So what do you want me to do?"

There's a long pause before she exhales loudly. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I want you to spend the night at Edward's. I shouldn't have let you go in the first place, but I didn't realize how bad the roads would be and I don't want you driving home right now."

"Wow."

"I know," she says tartly. "Believe me, it wasn't my first choice, but considering my car just got yanked out of a ditch, I'd rather not risk your safety."

For a moment, I am absolutely overwhelmed with love for my mother. "Mom, this means a lot to me."

"Honey, I just –."

"I know you just want me to be safe, but you trusting me is . . . it just means a lot." Especially after our conversation earlier tonight.

"Oh, Bella," she sighs sweetly.

"I love you. I'll give you a call back in the morning and we can see how the roads are."

"I love you, too, Bella. Make sure Alice is safe, too."

"I will. Don't worry."

"Ok, baby. I'll talk to you soon."

"Ok, bye."

Upon hanging up and returning to the living room, Edward pauses the movie and the three of them crane their heads at me.

"Everything ok?" Edward asks.

"So, my mom wants me to spend the night here because the roads aren't safe. She said her car skidded into a ditch because it's so icy."

"Jesus, is she ok?"

"Yeah, she's fine and the car's fine, but she doesn't want me driving right now." I'm trying not to smile. The thought of a sleepover at Edward's is beyond anything I dared to hope – at least not until after graduation.

"Your mom is the fucking coolest," Alice says with utter sincerity. "If it was my mom, she'd rather I die trying to drive home than spend a night anywhere near a man." Sadly, I don't even think that's hyperbole.

"Speaking of which, what are your plans?" I ask her. "My mom wanted to make sure you're safe, too."

"We are just on the highway the whole time to Port Angeles," Jasper reasons. "It's probably already plowed and salted, so I don't think it's a big safety issue."

I shrug. "So Alice will just go home with you?"

They both nod at me. I suppose it's not a big deal since her mom thinks she's spending the night at my place anyway.

"And you'll stay with me," Edward pipes in, like that wasn't already obvious – though I suppose I never asked for permission. I could swear he looks nervous. Or maybe anxious?

"Right. So everything's settled," I say nonchalantly, like it's not a huge deal that I will be spending the night at his place.

"Right," Edward affirms softly.

It's decided that Alice and Jasper will leave at the end of the movie, but I find it difficult to pay attention as Jack Torrance loses his mind because I'm too busy losing mine. Honestly, I'm overthinking and making myself nervous, but I wonder if Edward and I will sleep in his bed or in separate beds – I'm pretty sure he has a guest bedroom – and if anything physical will happen. I can't deny that I want all sorts of delicious, devious, sexual things, but I don't delight in the notion of putting Edward into an uncomfortable position. He wasn't expecting me to spend the night and we've both been very clear about the rules – in fact, his arm around me right now is the most physical contact we've had since we decided to give this whole dating thing a try – so I don't want to make assumptions about tonight's activities. Besides, everything my mom told me about Jessica and Mrs. Stanley is still fresh and threatening to my baser impulses.

As Jack Torrance freezes in the maze – as Edward said, far too close to home with the frigid weather – Alice and Jasper begin to shift on the couch, readying themselves for departure.

"Good movie pick, Bella," Jasper says.

"It's one of my favorites," I admit. "Anyway, you guys drive carefully, ok?"

"We'll take it really slowly," he assures me.

"Text us when you get home," Edward orders, moving to stand and patting Jasper's back. He looks at Alice and hesitates, unsure how to say goodbye.

She goes in for a hug, never one to skimp on physical affection. "You're all right, Masen," she decides.

A surprised laugh erupts from his mouth, his arms gently wrapping around her. "Don't tell anyone, though. You might ruin my tough guy reputation."

She withdraws, rolling her eyes. "You're not fooling anyone."

He rolls his eyes back at her, but he's smiling. "Fair enough. Now get on the road before the snow gets any worse."

"All right, bye, man," Jasper says to Edward.

"Bye, Cowboy," I say, winking at him.

He scoops me up in a tight hug. "Bye, Jack. Don't be a stranger just because I don't pay you to hang out with me anymore."

"Technically, your father paid me to hang out with –."

"Ok, smartass," he interrupts, smirking. "Maybe I'll call you Jack Torrance."

"Then I'd have to redrum you."

We both do the redrum voice at each other for a bit before Edward interrupts, "Ok, ok, you guys are friends. We get it. Now quit stalling and start driving."

"No manners, this one," Jasper says to me in a stage whisper, winking even as he heads for the door. "Seriously, though, it was fun. We should all hang out again. Maybe my place next time."

"Sounds good," Edward agrees. "Drive safely. And you know you can always crash here if the roads are too shitty and you want to turn around."

"I know. See you soon."

"And text when you get there," Edward reminds him, holding the door as they shuffle out.

"We will. Have a good night, you two." He looks a little too smug as he says it and Edward rolls his eyes, shutting the door after him.

And then it's just the two of us in his home, alone for the first time all night with hours and hours ahead of us.

*V*V*V*V*V*