Chapter 7

The Cullens Pt. II

Most of the people have left by this time. It's only just me, Em, Rose, Jazz and Alice who are left behind. We were seated around the living room talking about the holiday plans. I take the corner of the couch next to Rose and Em. Seeing as I'm with couples, they've all started cuddling with each other while I braid my long hair.

"I think we should go camping," Emmett suggests and everyone seemed to be excited about it. Except me. "What do you think, Bells?" Em asks. I tell them it's cool, figuring out as I really have no choice. Besides, it's not like we're always going to do it.

I tell them I'm going to the toilet but really I was going out. I pass by my coat to grab my lighter and pack and head of to the car. I decide I should walk a little into the woods so no one could see me and I do. I light one and take a hit. It's one of the stuff I picked up living in New York.

A throat clears behind me and I turn around to see. In all her beauty, my bestfriend has caught me smoking. I hide my cigarette behind my back as I acknowledge her presence.

"Come on, B. It's not like I can't smell it," she tells me. I shrug at her in response. "Why?" she asks.

"I don't know," I took a pull. "Things started becoming tough there," I flicked the cigarette from my hand, feeling as it was rude to smoke in front of someone who didn't know I do.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" she follows the cigarette as it falls on the ground and I step on it. I pick it up to throw it properly later on.

I don't answer. I can't lie to her.

"Did you really want to come back for the holidays?"

I tell her, "of course. I just didn't expect the whole crowd would be here, you know. It's just kinda overwhelming."

"The whole crowd or just Edward?"

I look down and sigh in defeat. She could always read me. Even better than my brother can. "It's just that you guys all seemed happy in there while I...I don't know, I'm a mess?" I smooth out my hair and wrap my arms around myself.

She comes near me and gives me a hug. "Is it true, then?" she asks, "that you and Edward had a thing?"

I nod and ask her, "how'd you find out?"

She shrugged, her arms still wrapped around mine. "I don't know. I've always had a hunch but I knew you weren't keen on dating your sibling's bestfriend so I shrugged it off."

It was quiet for a while before her next question. "To what extent was it, though?"

I just looked at her blue eyes and heard her gasp. I knew then that she understood.

"I'm so sorry, Bella," she explained, "I was so hung up on your stupid brother then that I failed to notice. I should've been there for you."

"It's alright," I tell her, "I should really stop brooding over it. I mean it's really so far before now that it's almost inexistent."

"You're still into him, though," she states not asks.

I nod, "I don't think I could ever forget him, you know."

She hums in understanding.