Chapter Eleven

"So...?"

I look up from my textbook. "So."

Jasper grunts. "Are you seriously not going to tell me anything?"

I nod my head. I'm dead serious.

He huffs in annoyance. "You do know that Bella is probably telling the girls all about it right now, right?"

I nod again. "I'm sure she is."

"Then why aren't you telling me?"

"Because a gentleman never kisses and tells."

He snorts. "You're not a gentleman."

I grin at him. "Oh yes, I'm definitely not."

This time, he growls. Like, he properly growls. "I can't believe I came all the way to the library for this shit. Why didn't you just tell me you were going to be so tight-lipped?"

"I did tell you," I tell him. "Or have you forgotten?"

"Did you tell me that before or after you mentioned my possibly trying again with Alice? Because I blocked out everything that you said after that."

I glare at him.

"Have you been speaking to Alice?" he asks.

"Have you?"

He folds his arms across his chest and leans back. "I don't want to talk about Alice."

"Well, I don't want to talk about Bella either," I say and, as soon as her name leaves my mouth; I smile like a total idiot.

Jasper shakes his head. "God, you're pathetic."

"I am," I admit because I don't fucking even care.

He spends another moment glaring at me, before he starts to pack up his things. "I have practice," he says, but I'm half sure it's a lie. Once he's ready to leave, he holds his hand out.

Without a word, I hand him the keys to the OB. I'm convinced that he should rather just keep them. I mean, I've done such little driving ever since Bella and I made it 'official.' Her security has increased since then as well, which I think is the reason why I'm never allowed to drive myself to meet her.

"Jazz?"

"Hmm?"

"This life we live is unpredictable, and it can be short," I tell him sadly. "I have enough experience to know the truth of that. If I were you, and I had even the slightest chance of spending my life with my own Bella; I wouldn't waste a fucking second." I meet his gaze. "I won't claim to be an expert but, if you feel even half of what I feel for Bella for Alice; I just can't fathom how you're still standing here."

He narrows his eyes.

"I get it," I add. "Falling for someone is scary. I'm fucking terrified every second of the day." I shake my head. "But look at you. Look at you right now; look at all the decisions you've made lately..." I'm referring to Jessica and he knows it. "You're the alternative."

He looks shocked for a moment, before his head jerks in a nod.

A moment later, he's gone.

I get back to work. Well, I try. It's difficult to pay attention to organic formulae when I know what it feels like to have Bella's bare hands all over my naked body. Seriously. How do people in relationships manage to get any work done? I should probably try to focus more because I can feel my panic rising. My upcoming exams are going to be do or die.

Just before seven o'clock, I start to pack up my things. The library isn't exactly quiet, but not many people are paying attention to me, which is probably the main reason why I prefer to spend the time I'm not in class or in my room in the library.

It's no secret that Bella and I spent Valentine's weekend away. The press managed to get pictures of our return to Chicago and, you know, the world hasn't imploded because of it. My brother called me the morning the pictures were published and all he said was 'Congratulations,' and then hung up. I laughed for a solid minute. I smile every time I think about it.

And then I think of Bella and smile even more. I'm ruined, I tell you. I'm ruined forever, and I can't even bring myself to care. I'm so desperately in love with her that I can't even think of a life beyond her. This is for forever - I just know it.

At exactly seven o'clock, I walk out of the library, down the front steps and straight into the waiting SUV. The door closes behind me, and I drop my head straight onto Bella's lap, immediately relegating my bag to the floor. I've missed her, even though I saw her just last night.

"Hello, you," I say, and her fingers immediately find my hair.

She kisses my forehead. "You're punctual."

"I missed you."

Her features soften, and I love her; I love her so much. "I missed you too," she says. "Though, tell me, have you been accosted about our weekend away as much as I have?"

"Jazz keeps asking about it," I tell her. "And random guys keep high-fiving me - it's fucking weird."

"Is it?"

"Not really. People are people. They can think what they want to think."

"Because we know?"

"We do, don't we?"

She quiet for a while, as the car rolls on. Truthfully, I have no idea where we're going and I find that I don't care. We could go anywhere, as long as I'm with her. This is my completely falling into this unknown with her.

She continues to play with my hair and she nibbles at her bottom lip, as if she's gearing herself up for something. "I have to tell you something," she says.

My eyes are already on her face. "Okay," I say, trying to keep my sudden nervousness out of my voice.

"I talked to my dad."

I take a deep breath and hold it.

"It wasn't exactly a pleasant conversation," she explains. Her eyes flick forward, as if she's worried that what she says will get back to her father through her Secret Service. I see her resolve shift. It's either she doesn't care or she's decided to give her boys the benefit of the doubt. "He thinks that this is all some stunt to get his attention," she eventually says.

"What is?" I ask on an exhale.

"You."

"Oh."

She sighs. "He's not here. He doesn't see." She shakes her head. "I love you, Edward. That means something to me, and I won't have him relegating you to someone I would use to make his life more difficult." She takes a breath. "I admit that I've done it before, but I'm older now. I know better, and I've never truly felt even half as much for those boys as I feel about you."

I blink. "Not even Jake?"

She hesitates, and I wait. "I loved him," she eventually responds; "but it didn't feel like this." She thinks for a moment. "I feel you in my veins," she tries to explain. "You're in me. Does that make sense?"

Nothing has ever made more sense to me. I sit up to look at her properly. "Does that make sense?" I echo. "Nothing and everything about this makes sense to me, Bella, but I love you. I love you so much." I lean in to kiss her cheek. "I'm sorry that your conversation with your dad didn't go well. What can I do?"

"You're doing it."

I take hold of her hands and bring them up to my lips. Then I grin at her. "So, let me get this straight: your dad, who also happens to be the President of the United States, doesn't like me?"

She laughs. "Probably hates you."

"Lovely."

"But I love you."

I raise my eyebrows. "Say it again."

She shakes her head in amusement. "So needy."

And maybe I am. But this is it. She told me I could need her; that I could hold onto her.

I intend to.

Bella finds it hilarious that I refuse to sleep with her in my bedroom. We do other things, of course, but there is no sex happening in this fraternity. She's hell bent on trying to convince me though. The thing is that I don't really know why I won't, but I just can't.

I think I'm doing it for her, but it's probably for myself. It's weird, and I fully accept it. I'm a weird guy, but she loves me, so who's the delusional one here? She laughs every time I tell her that, before she proceeds to make me beg.

And I do beg. My girlfriend can be such a tease sometimes.

The rest of February is rather uneventful as it rolls by, and it's absolutely wonderful.

I have a standing date with my mom at eight o'clock every night, regardless of how much work I have. Sometimes our conversations are just a few minutes long, or sometimes we talk for hours. Bella's there sometimes, and the three of us talk. Or, rather, Bella and I talk, and my mom listens. She doesn't do as much talking these days. I think she's just content to hear us. I mostly tell her about my days, complain about the amount of work I have, gush about my beautiful girlfriend and bitch about my best friends.

Jasper and Emmett join in when they can, but I suspect that they talk to her in their own time. We all know what's coming. There's no denying it now; no avoiding it. My mom is dying and there's nothing I can do to stop it.

I haven't had enough time.

She's supposed to wait. So is Riley. I still have too many years of study to go through, and they are supposed to wait.

"Oh my God!"

I startle, and look up from my work. Bella's sitting up on my bed, staring at her phone in disbelief. "What's wrong?" I ask, the hairs on the back of my arms standing on end almost immediately.

She blinks rapidly. "Uh." She gets up and moves towards me. "Can you get onto the news? Something happened at the rally."

"What?"

"Something."

I quickly open Google, and wait for more instructions. Google will know. "Bella," I prompt.

"I don't know," she says in mild annoyance, her nervousness making me antsy. "Swan rally. Pittsburgh. It should come up."

And boy does it. She makes me scroll to the fifth hit, and I open the video in a new tab. For a moment, I'm not entirely sure what I'm watching, but then it starts. President Swan is in the middle of a speech of some sort, but he's interrupted by what sounds like an explosion. I can't help my gasp, and Bella's hand flies to her mouth. In the video, the lights go out, and there's lots of screaming.

"Shit," Bella says, as she hurries back to her bed and retrieves her phone. A second later, she's dialling someone. Her mom, I assume. Someone in her family.

I look for another video, and I watch the entire thing play out again. What the hell?

"Sam?" Bella suddenly barks into her phone. "Oh my God, are you guys all right? What the hell happened? Where's Mom?"

I turn in my chair to face her, just waiting. I need her to give me some sort of clue as to what I should do. Does she need me to get Harry? Does she want me to hold her? Should I take the phone from her and find out how her family is for her?

I don't know what to do, so I do nothing. I just sit and watch as the tension in Bella's body dissipates the moment that she speaks to her mom. She asks questions, and the answers seem to placate her.

When she finally hangs up, she quickly types something, before she turns to look at me. Her eyes are shining with unshed tears, and her facial features are stricken with concern. Even though we both know that her family's okay; she still looks devastated.

I immediately stand up and move towards her, but she puts her hands up to stop my approach.

"I'm okay," she says. "Just, if you hug me, I won't be."

"Bella," I whisper.

"I'm okay," she says again. "They're okay. It was just a dummy explosion; meant to cause chaos. Nobody actually got hurt." She shakes her head. "Just, somebody really doesn't want my dad to win this election."

"Bella," I say again.

"I'm okay."

I don't believe her. So, going against her wishes, I step forward and wrap my arms around her. She tenses for a moment, before she relaxes into me, her arms snaking around my waist and squeezing me tight. It hurts a little, but I don't say anything.

"They're okay," she whispers against my chest.

"They're okay," I echo, soothingly rubbing her back.

"I'm sorry," she says.

I shake my head. She can be so silly sometimes. I kiss the top of her head before I pull back enough to look at her face. "What do you need?" I ask her, touching her cheek with the back of my fingers. Her skin is dry of tears, but she still looks a little shattered. "What can I do? Tell me what you need."

She opens her mouth to say something, but her phone starts to ring. She immediately releases me, shifts towards the bed and answers the phone. "Mom?"

I take a step back and watch as she absently makes her way around the bed and settles down. She shifts to lean against my pillows, tucks her feet under her and replaces the phone at her ear. I can immediately tell that this is going to be a long conversation so I just smile at her, before I return to my desk. I want to give her some privacy so I shift my headphones into position and attempt to reacquaint myself with organic chemistry. It's the one subject that really breaks my brain and, with exams coming up, I can't help how anxious it all makes me feel.

This year has been difficult. They've been ups and they've been downs.

I don't know how to tell Bella, or even my mom, just how terrified I am of underperforming in my upcoming exams. Third year is supposed to be the make or break year, and I have to keep my GPA up if I'm ever going to get into medical school. I mean, it isn't as if it's dropped in this time, but it's still a worry that continually plagues me. I can't save my mom, but maybe I can save Riley, and I have to do well if I'm going to do that.

I'm in the middle of balancing a stoichiometric equation when I feel Bella's hands on my shoulders. She massages my muscles for a moment, before she drags her nails down my chest, making me shiver. She nudges my left headphone aside and kisses my ear.

"Thank you," she whispers, her breath warm against my skin.

I take my headphones off completely and turn my head to look at her. "For what?" I ask softly.

"For being you," she says, kissing the side of my head; "for being exactly who and what I need. I truly do love you, Edward."

"I love you too, Bella," I tell her because I think she needs to hear it. "I take it everyone's okay then?"

She nods against me, and I smile. "Just a little shaken up. I'm just glad that Emily wasn't there with the kids. Sam's already in a panic; imagine if his wife and kids were there." She shudders. "They're all okay though. Dad's waiting until tonight to release a statement. Whoever set that thing off is clearly trying to send some kind of message, and he wants everything investigated thoroughly before he makes decisions."

There's something in her voice, and it puts me on edge. "Bella?"

"He's a suspicious and paranoid man," she tells me.

It takes me a moment to figure out what she's trying to tell me without actually saying it. "Oh."

"I love you," she says again.

I blink a few times. "Your father finds it suspicious that these things are happening now that I'm in your life?"

She squeezes me tight. "Like I said: completely paranoid."

I don't know what to think. Or say.

Bella, thankfully, saves me from either. "I also got a text from Angela," she says. "She's reached crisis mode about her date with Ben tonight."

My mouth isn't working.

"First dates can be daunting, and I'm needed to reel her back in," she explains, releasing me and standing up straight. "A room mate has to do what a room mate has to do."

I shake my head. "Wait." I clear my throat as I turn in my chair to look at her. "Does your father think that I'm using you to get to him?"

"Or is it that he thinks I'm using you to get under his skin?" she counters. "Whatever he thinks is his problem, Edward. I know who you are, and you know who I am. We're working things out as we go along, but I kind of don't give a fuck what my father thinks right now."

I can't help my grin. Bella doesn't always swear but, when she does, it's important.

And fucking sexy.

She probably notices the change in my facial expression, because she lets out a happy laugh. "You're insatiable," she says with a smile. "It's too bad you won't sleep with me in your room."

I growl from deep in my throat.

Bella just laughs as she starts to gather her things. She doesn't take everything, because we both know that she'll be back. Slowly, I've accumulated more and more of her things and I love it. I know it's a stupid thought, but I kind of like the idea of my room feeling more and more like ours.

It's even making me think about possibly moving out of the fraternity next year.

No. That's blasphemous.

Emmett would probably kill me, and Jasper would castrate me. But then again, maybe they could come with me? It's definitely a thought, especially since it looks as if Newton's going to end up flunking this year as well. I won't survive another year with the idiot.

Once Bella's ready to go, she comes to stand in front of me, settling in the V of my legs. She runs her fingers through my hair. "Please don't worry about my dad," she says softly. "Truly, Edward, there's nothing to worry about."

She's insane if she thinks that's going to work.

"Maybe, with me gone, you can actually pay attention to your work," she says knowingly, and I can't help the pink tingeing my cheeks. "Edward Masen, my little genius." She kisses my forehead, the tip of nose, and finally my mouth.

A moment later, she steps away from me, turns on her heel, and then strides out my door. I immediately stand and follow her out, just far enough to see her make it out of the house without any of my brothers bothering her. There's a general understanding among the house that Bella is off limits, even to talk, but then we do live with the excuse for a human being that is Mike Newton.

I return to my room, leave the door open, and sit back down at my desk. It takes me a little over ten minutes to get fully immersed in the endless formulae, and I lose track of time until my mom is calling me. Her immediate expression tells me that she's heard about what happened at the rally, and I love her even more for worrying so much about my girlfriend and her family. I'm quick to assure her that everyone is safe, and she breathes out a heavy sigh of relief.

Fifteen minutes into our conversation, I get a text from Bella. Well, she's sent me a picture of both her and Angela, with a caption saying: 'Please tell her she looks hot. She doesn't believe me.' I let out a light laugh and show the picture to my mom. The girls are both posing, and they both really do look hot.

"Oh, they look so lovely," my mom says, which is what I tell Bella when I reply. And that they both look hot.

My mom asks me about Angela, and I tell her all I can while I nibble on some day-old pasta for dinner. It's the first time that I realise that I don't actually know Angela all that well. Besides the fact that we hail from the same state, there isn't much that I know. And this is a person who's very important to my girlfriend. I make a mental note to rectify that as soon as possible. Maybe now that she's dating Ben; we'll start double dating. Jasper's always said it's a terrible idea, but I think it's time to stop taking relationship advice from him.

Bella's own reply comes several minutes later.

Bella: Success! Angela's on her way, and so am I. See you in a bit. X

I can't help my grin, which my mom makes me explain. I blush as I tell her that Bella is coming over again, and she just laughs at me. I'm so in love, and I'm not even a little bit afraid that my mom knows how much. I feel that she has to know. I need her to know that I'll be okay when she's gone.

She has to believe it, even if I sometimes don't.

"When are you coming home?" my mom asks, her voice taking on a whiny quality that Bella accuses my voice of doing sometimes.

I lean back and sigh heavily. "I can't make it back until after my exams," I tell her. "I'm - " I hesitate.

"What, Edward?" she immediately asks. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

I run a hand through my hair, tugging hard.

"You're going to end up bald if you keep doing that," she tells me softly. "Now, please tell me what's bothering you. Talk to me."

I look away for a moment, trying to find the words. In the end, it truly just boils down to one thing. "I'm scared," I whisper. I'm fucking terrified.

"Of what, honey?"

"Failing."

"At what?"

"Everything."

She leans forward. "Oh, Edward."

"I don't feel as if I'm prepared at all," I tell her. "I mean, I have been working, and I go to all my classes, but I just..." I trail off. "I'm just so tired, mom, but I can't sleep, because I can't stop stressing about everything I have to do and everything I have to learn. I'm just, I'm - "

"Edward?"

"I'm stressed. The other night, I woke up in a straight-up panic, my heart racing, because of the sheer amount of work that was sitting on my brain, just needing to be done. I don't know how people do this. What if I can't do it? What if - " What if I'm just not cut out to be a doctor?

I don't want to pile all of this on her, but it's coming out. I'm bound to freak out about my exams, and I'm not sure what's going to happen then. I mean, I should be able to talk to my mom about this kind of stuff, right? This isn't even halfway to my potential breakdown, but she can help me with this, surely.

And she does.

There's something oddly comforting about having her tell me that she's still going to love me, regardless of what happens to my GPA. Her love for me isn't based on how smart I am. She even assures me that everything I'm feeling isn't anything that other students haven't dealt with before. Even her. She eases my mind by relaying stories of her own days at university, and it does calm me a little. Not much. But enough.

We're still talking when Bella gets back, and she and my mom start up their own conversation. I use the time to excuse myself and catch a long, hot shower, letting the stream of water ease the tension in my back muscles. I think it's just what I need because I do feel much calmer when I step out.

The lights are dim in my room when I make it back, and my pajamas are spread out at the foot of my bed. It's just a plain t-shirt and checked cotton pants. I know they are one of Bella's favourites though. She likes to rub her bare legs against my pants.

Speaking of Bella. She's already in my bed, her eyes watching me carefully.

"I think it's time for bed," she says softly; quiet enough for me to know that she and my mom probably discussed my state of mind. She pats the bed beside her, inviting me to join her. "We can deal with all of that in the morning," she says, referring to the contents of my desk. "Just come lie with me."

I go.

Well, I get dressed first, and then I go.

Bella wraps her arms around me as soon as I've climbed in beside her. She wriggles in nice and close, and I can feel her soft breath against my skin. Her hold is tight and comforting, and I can almost feel the anxiety swelling up inside of me slowly start to dissipate. I'll probably freak out in the morning, but this moment is perfect. She claims that I'm what she needs, but she'll never truly know what she does for me.

I don't have the words to explain it to her, because I don't think that I can get through the next few weeks without her.

Bella and I spend the last night before Spring Break truly begins making our official debut at as a couple a frat party. Rose and Alice claim that it's a big deal, but it's just a party, right? If I'm being perfectly honest, half of my mind is already in Seattle. I haven't been back home since before Valentine's Day, so I'm a little antsy. Every day that goes by brings us closer and closer to the end.

The inevitable.

I'm also relieved that I survived my exams. They took a lot out of me, and I can literally feel the exhaustion in my bones. But I'm going out tonight, even though I'm not entirely convinced I want to. Bella doesn't seem all that keen either, but we both know that our friends will literally come and drag us out if we don't at least make an appearance.

"Apparently we have to match," Bella tells me, standing in front of my open closet with her hands on her hips.

I'm standing just behind her, my hands snaking around her waist. I'm fresh from a shower, dressed solely in dark jeans and socks, and it's an incredible turn-on having my girlfriend pick out what she'll want to take off of me later.

"Edward," she says with a sigh, before she steps forward and grabs for a pale blue shirt on a hanger. She turns to look at me and holds the shirt out in front of my bare chest. "Alice will kill me if you wear this."

I raise my eyebrows. "You could just tell her that I didn't listen."

"She'll know," she says. "I was given strict instructions."

"What colour am I supposed to wear?"

"Green."

My eyes rake over her body. She's in a forest green dress, black leggings and the kind of heels that brings her eyes up to the level of my nose. "My green shirt is in the laundry," I tell her.

"Are you trying to get out of wearing green?"

"I'm trying to get you out of wearing green," I say, and she giggles. I raise my eyebrows in question, a knowing smirk taking over my face.

"First, let's find you a shirt," she says, turning back towards my closet.

I take steps back until I reach the end of my bed and sit down. She said first, which gives me hope of something.

Bella eventually decides on a pastel green shirt. It's one I even forgot I had, and it has a long crease along the front that she stares at for a long while, before she declares that it'll just have to do. I know I'll end up having to iron it out before we leave anyway. She lays it over the back of my desk chair, before she makes her way over to me and stands in the V of my legs.

Her fingers find my hair, and she brings my face forward. With her heels on, my head rests just below her breasts, and the warmth of them is so comforting. Just her. All of her. Everything. Without my say so, I sigh contently and my eyes close. I never want to move. This is the girl for me. She's the one. I can feel it.

Sometimes I get the impression that she feels it too.

"What time is your flight?" she asks, her voice soft and breathy.

"Early," I say.

"Have you finished packing?"

"Haven't started."

She clicks her tongue in disapproval. "Edward Masen. Why?"

"Because I'm a lazy fuck?"

She laughs, and it vibrates right through her body. But then her phone is vibrating too, and she fishes it out of the little purse hanging off her right shoulder. She steps back from me to answer.

"Hello." She sighs. "I know. I told him. We're coming. No we're not. I might, if you keep nagging me. Shut up. I will. Fine. Jesus. I hate you too." A long pause. "Fine. Fine. Quit bitching." And then she hangs up.

I just stare up at her.

She smiles at me. "That was Rose," she tells me. "They're already at the party, and Jessica's already got her eyes on Jasper."

I groan.

"Also, she said that she may or may not hurt you if you make us late."

"Why does she think I'm the one who's going to make us late?"

Her eyes rake over my body, and I can't help my shiver. "You aren't even dressed."

"You're the one with the clothing instructions. I would have been ready ages ago," I argue. "My perfectly blue shirt is just sitting there, waiting to be worn."

"Do you want Alice to kill us?" she asks, rolling her eyes.

"If that means that we don't have to go, then yes."

She laughs before she steps further back and away from me. "Come on - let's get you dressed."

"Just so you can undress me?"

"I thought we weren't having sex in your bedroom," she points out.

"And I thought you weren't sleeping with me," I shoot back.

"Get dressed, Edward."

I do.

It takes us another ten minutes to get out of the house. If she were any other person, we might have walked to the Delta house; but she's the President's daughter, and Harry would never allow it. I don't mind. I think I'm getting used to being driven around. So is Jasper.

Speaking of Jasper.

As soon as we arrive, we're accosted by Rose.

"Thank God you're here," she says, loud enough to draw attention to us, as she slips an arm through Bella's. "Eddie, please can you get Whitlock away from that skank? I'm about to slap a bitch."

My surprise outweighs my annoyance at her use of my hated nickname.

"Now," she growls.

I let out a laugh, drop a kiss to Bella's temple, and then head off in search of my blond friend. It doesn't take me long to find him. All I have to do is follow the annoying shrill of Jessica's laughter. I roll my eyes as I head into the kitchen to find Jasper leaning against a counter, with Jessica hanging off of his neck.

"Whitlock," I say, and his eyes snap towards me. They widen for a moment, before he's pushing Jessica away from him. "A word," I say. It's not a question. There's no hint of a request in my tone, and he follows without question.

We're barely out into the corridor before he's talking.

"Whatever you want to say; just save it," he says, sounding annoyed.

I just stare at him.

"What do you want from me?" he asks accusingly. "Not everyone can be fucking perfect like you. We don't all get the happily ever after."

He's drunk; I can tell. He wouldn't be saying any of these things if he weren't.

"I'm not the guy who gets the girl, Edward," he says. "I had her, and then I fucked up." He runs a hand through his hair, tugging on it until it looks like it hurts. "I keep fucking up, and she deserves better. Of course she does. She's fucking perfect, and I hurt her. I'm a fucking asshole, Masen, and this is what I deserve."

If I'm being honest, I didn't know what I was going to say to him when I asked him to come out here. Now I'm even more lost. Who am I really to tell him how to live his life anyway? All I want to tell him is not Jessica. Really, anyone but Jessica. Anyone else. Everyone else.

"So just save it!" he finishes, and then stalks away. He heads back into the kitchen. I hear him mutter something dismissive to Jessica, before he comes back out with a bottle of gin in his one hand and a Corona in the other. The Corona's for me; I can tell. "I'm a fucker, so I may as well get fucked."

"Can I join you?" I ask unnecessarily. Maybe I haven't been spending enough time with him, given schoolwork and my family and Bella. I also think that I'm harbouring some displaced resentment towards him regarding his apparent knowledge of the true extent of my mom's illness at Christmas. I'm working through that though.

He hands me the Corona, and then starts to walk.

I follow.

We end up outside on the grass, lying on our backs and staring up at the stars. We're not talking and, despite bringing alcohol out with us, neither of us has had a sip. I think he's trying to make a decision, and he recognises that he needs to be coherent to do that.

It's some time later that we're joined by Emmett, Rose, Bella, Angela and Ben, Angela's official boyfriend. Wait, and Alice. They kind of form a ring around us, forcing us both to sit up. Bella leans into me and asks a question with her eyes. All I can really do is shrug, because I don't know what's going on in Jasper's head. I barely know what's going on in my own half of the time.

We all chat about nothing in particular. Well, not all of us. It becomes painfully clear to all of us that Jasper isn't participating in conversation because he is blatantly staring at Alice. Really, he's unashamed about it, and I don't know whether to hug or to kick him. I nudge him instead, and it's like he comes out of a trance.

His eyes turn to me. "What?"

"Dude," I say, extending the word. I lean in close to whisper. "Are you just going to sit there or are you going to do something?"

It takes him another moment, before he seems to make that all-elusive decision. He stands up quite suddenly; much quicker for someone who was halfway to plastered not some forty minutes ago. He walks through our little circle, and extends his hand to Alice. "Miss Brandon," he says, adding his undeniable Southern charm to his voice; the wanker. "Might we talk?"

Alice just stares at him, blinking repeatedly.

It's funny; I've never seen the little energy bunny so silent before. Alice gets her own nudge from Rose, and then she and Jasper are headed off further into the darkness of the back yard of the house. Hand in hand.

They're out of earshot when Bella and Rose let out a squeal in unison. Great. My girlfriend is also a squealer.

"It doesn't mean anything though," Rose says calmly, bringing herself back down. "They're just talking."

"Oh, I really do hope that they do talk," Bella says, before she turns to look at me. "What did you say to him?"

I blink. "Nothing," I admit, which is the truth. "Literally nothing."

Her brow creases. "But - "

"Don't analyse it," I tell her; "Just take the win, Bella."

It's only later, and after quite a few drinks, that we find out what that win truly means. I get a text from Jasper, and Rose gets one from Alice. I don't ask what Alice's says, but I show mine to Bella.

Jasper: You were right, but don't let it go to your head now. I'm sorry about the shit I said... We're going somewhere else to talk some more. And yes, just to talk.

Another one arrives twenty minutes later.

Jasper: Fuck, you were right, Masen! You were so fucking right. I don't know how I ever spent a second without her.

And another one two minutes later.

Jasper: Is it too soon to tell her I'm desperately in love with her?

I consider my response carefully, consult Bella, and then tell him to do whatever he thinks feels right. I don't get a text after that, which makes me assume that things must have gone well. We all toast to them, and then get completely smashed.

Well, not Bella. She's too mindful of people and their smart phones, as well as her Secret Service. I pout a little, but she assures me that we'll have our own private party later.

In the end, it definitely is an interesting night, and Bella and I make it back to my room just before three o'clock in the morning. I'm a little drunk. Okay, I'm a lot drunk, which is the only reason that I allow Bella to undress me when her hands start on my clothes. She asks me if I'm okay, and I remember nodding. She kisses me, and then I kind of forget everything that happens after that.

Just hands and mouths, tongues and fingers.

I love her. I love her. I love her. Over and over again. I love her. I love her. I love her.

Bella's still in my bed when I wake up, though she's fully dressed and typing something on her phone.

"Oh good," she says, eyeing me; "you're up."

I groan, blinking tiredly. "Wha - "

"Wha to you too, Dr Masen," she says with a laugh.

I close my eyes again and clear my throat. My head is pounding. "What time is it?"

"Six thirty."

"Fuck," I groan again. Trust me to be the one to fly home hungover.

"The boys are ready to go in half an hour," she tells me.

I roll onto my back. "Fuck, Bella - I haven't even packed."

"Well, it's a good thing that you have me then, isn't it?"

My eyes snap open. "What?" What did she just say? Did she pack my bag for me? I look around and spot my suitcase perched by her feet, already packed and ready to go. Oh my God - this girl.

She rolls her eyes at my bewildered expression. "You know, I get ridiculously happy whenever you actually act your age," she says gently. "You really are such a guy sometimes."

"Because I didn't pack?"

She nods her head. "And you got ridiculously drunk, and then totally let me have my dirty way with you."

I groan again, remembering. "Oh, well, fuck."

She laughs. "Is that your new favourite word?"

"You took advantage of me," I accuse playfully, and she just looks deathly amused.

She hops up off the bed, seeming a little too happy this morning. "I don't care what you think happened, but I wasn't the only one participating." There is so much in her tone of voice, that I can feel my entire body beginning to tense up. I'm definitely awake now. "Consider this room officially christened," she says with a smile, and I immediately lunge for her.

She squeals, and then harrumphs once I've got her under me. "Edward," she says breathily. "You have a flight to catch. We don't have time."

Maybe we don't. Not right now, at least.

But it doesn't stop me from thinking that the two of us, well, we have forever.