So sorry for the absence. Life gets in the way. Onward!

EMPOV (because I love him)

When the gang all split up I was a little crushed. I won't lie. We were all as thick as thieves and then one night changed everything. Our little bubble was burst and I didn't know that it would change our lives so drastically.

Edward was basically non-existent and Bella turned into a super bitch. Over the years every body had done well for themselves and I was glad to see it, but I wanted our group back together. It didn't feel right to have everyone so distant.

"You okay there, man?" I ask Edward as he keeps eyeballing Bella. I'm not gonna' lie, she got super hot. I mean, she was good-looking in school but holy crap. I love my Rosie, but Bella can definitely hold her own in the looks department.

"Yeah." He sighs and runs a hand through his messy ass hair. Sex hair, they call it. Whatever. "Man, look at her. She's bangin'." He chuckles. "But she also kinda looks like she wants to stab me in the dick, so there's that."

He couldn't be more wrong. Bella as staring at him like he was something to eat. I chuckled and patted him on the back, checking on Jasper.

"What about you? It's been awhile since you've seen Tink. You good?"

He sighed all dreamily and nods. "Oh yeah. This week should be fun." He smirks and I laugh as we start hauling everything into the house. Rosie winks at me and I blow her a kiss. This week will definitely be interesting.

EPOV:

While I was getting my things into the house I was struggling with one of my bags and Bella offered to help me. I was shocked, to say the least, but accepted the help. It wasn't that the bag was heavy, it was just awkward with all the others I had to lug up.

"Uhm. Thanks." I mutter as we set the things down in the floor. "How've you been?" I try.

She's staring at the floor and I really wish she would look up at me. But then I don't, because those chocolate brown eyes are dangerous. "I'm good. Been doing a lot work. I'm an author and I work at a publishing house, editing. Kind of burning the candle at both ends and what not."

This is the most she's spoken to me in forever and the sound of her voice made my heart do some weird shit.

"That's pretty awesome. I knew you always liked to write. Maybe I've heard of your stuff? Do you write under a pen name?" I ask her and she smirks and looks at me and my chest tightens.

"Yeah, I wrote the Unhappily Ever After trilogy? It's mostly targeted for young adults. It's kind of got a Brother's Grimm feel to it."

"No shit? I loved those books!" I gushed like a fan girl. "You're Marie Dwyer?"

She chuckles and nods. "Never took you for a teenage girl, Cullen."

I huffed and pouted while she full blown laughs and I start to smile. She's got the best laugh.

"So, I heard you're an artist up in Seattle? Have your own studio and what not?" She hedges and I am kind of shocked to hear that she's been keeping tabs on me.

"Yeah. How'd you know?" I ask.

She gives me an incredulous look and cocks an eyebrow. "You know we have mutual friends, dude. They've all gotten invites to your shows."

I felt like an instant asshole but in all fairness, we hadn't talked in over 10 years and the fact that we've managed to talk this much so far is beyond me.

"Well, I'm gonna' go." She clears her throat and points her thumb behind her at the door. I just nod and thank her for the help to which she responds with a thumbs up.

BPOV

I had to get out of that room. I don't know what possessed me to help him or whatever but I was trying to extend an olive branch of sorts. I didn't want to be stuck in a house with him for a whole week and then have our friends having to play interference the entire time. God he smelled so good. Like, all man and soap and mint.

He's got all of these muscles and tattoos and I was afraid that if I stayed there for one more second we would be recreating our first time together only it would be a lot more hardcore and then he would just think I'm a wanton slut bag.

"So, how'd that talk with Cullen go?" Rose asked me as I entered the kitchen. Alice was out back talking to Jasper and Emmett and Rose was making dinner.

"Not as painful as I thought? We didn't really apologize or anything but we managed a conversation without killing each other so that's progress, I suppose.

She nods and adds something to the pan in which she was cooking and I see Edward walk out to the back deck and light up a cigarette. I groan and Rose looks and chuckles.

"Hot as fuck, right?" I nod even though she can't see me. "Who knew scrawny/nerdy Cullen would turn out to be a bit of a bad boy and look like that?"

Who knew, indeed?