I didn't expect it to get so intense. Her hands grasping my hair, pulling, tugging. Her hips grinding into mine, the friction. Oh, the friction. I'm sure she could tell exactly what she was doing to me. My hands gripped her waist, her ass, her neck, her hair. Anything they could reach. Because this might be my first and only chance to. No doubt she'd go back to him the minute the moment was over.

And the moment was. As soon as it had started, it had ended, and she was a foot away from me, gasping for breath. Much like I was. Her hands were on her knees, her chest expanding, flashing those gorgeous breasts of hers. I leaned my head back, my hands interlaced behind and cupping the back of my head. I stared into the inky blue of night. The stars blinked above me.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. I wasn't. Not at all. Not even a little. I hated Paul. Always had. Always will. But if I didn't apologize, she'd get pissed.

"Don't be," she replied, which shocked me. "That was one hell of a kiss. Tanya's a lucky girl." I let out a breath. So my kissing was good. Would it happen again? I hoped it would. "I should probably get inside…Paul's probably looking for me." She smiled at me, and disappeared inside again.

No goodbye. Just a smile. That worked for me. At least I got a smile. Half the people in our damn high school didn't get that. And I got a smile and a kiss. Beat that, motherfuckers. I laughed out loud, enjoying the moment. I had just gotten a mind-blowing kiss from the girl of my dreams. This was probably the best moment of my life.

"What's so funny?" a voice said behind me. I turned. Jasper stood there, smirking. Did he know? Would he care? He would lie for me, right?

"Nothing…" I trailed off, still chuckling. "What's up?"

"Your dick," he answered, coming up beside me. He held out his hand, and I handed him a cigarette, taking one out for myself. He flicked his lighter, the flame bursting out, and lit the tip. He kept it gassed, and I leaned forward, lighting my own. "What's going on? Why do you have a hard-on?"

I shrugged, sucking a drag. Ah. Did my heart good. Well, not really. But the taste of tobacco was comforting. Even if it was hazardous to my health, it was damn good. "Oh, no reason."

"There is always a reason. Number one rule in 'guy rules,'" Jasper responded, blowing out smoke. "Now spill." I sighed. What a dickweed. Couldn't let it go.

I shrugged again, appearing nonchalant. "No blowing the hay, got it?" How the fuck that came about, I'm not sure. But somehow our friends ended up using 'blowing the hay' as the phrase 'telling secrets.' Because 'telling secrets' sounded too damn intimate, and our group of friends just weren't intimate. Except Rose and Jasper. They were strictly platonic, but it didn't frickin' look like it. Some back history; it's a long story.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he muttered, looking at the pavement. "Just do it, dumbass."

"I kissed her," I answered, sucking in another drag. "I kissed Bella, and it was fucking amazing, and it's given me more confidence in it. Maybe hope has not been lost."

I sighed. I sounded like a whipped, lovesick fool. I was not lovesick. And I was definitely not whipped. A fool, maybe, not lovesick or whipped. I may be in love with an unavailable girl, but that did not make me lovesick. And I didn't do everything for her, so I couldn't be whipped. Right?

"You're whipped. Did you hear your voice? Wistful, dude."

"A dude is an infected hair on an elephant's butt. I find that offending."

"That's just an urban legend."

"…whatever. I don't care." Jasper laughed. "And it's not like you aren't whipped over M.A. Brandon, douche." Jasper laughed again.

"That's different."

"No it's not."

"Yes it is."

"No it's not, infected hair."

"IT'S AN URBAN LEGEND!"

I rolled my eyes. Then we both burst out laughing.

That was just our style. We'd have a conversation and end up laughing, even if we're pissed at each other.

"Where's the balls of our operation?" I took another drag of my cigarette, staring out into the parking lot.

"You mean Emmett?"

"Who else would I mean? He is the only one who thinks with his balls and not his brain. Though I'm starting to doubt he has one…"

"I've been thinking that for years." We lapsed into silence, smoking the cigarettes. It's a wonder we haven't gotten caught yet. Smoking on school grounds is strictly prohibited. And that particular rule might be the only one they enforce.

"I don't think he came." I nodded, and Jasper stamped out his cigarette. "A little advice, by the way?"

I waited, finishing my own. I looked at him, but he was contemplating. "Watch out for yourself in your quest for dominance? I don't really have the time or the will to pick up the pieces if you get hurt."

"You make me sound like a girl."

"I have my suspicions."

I snorted. "Get out of here, dickweed."

"You've got about sixty seconds before Tanya comes out. I've been counting." He left, and I stood there in the silence of night until his prediction came true.

"Edward! I've been looking all over for you!" I turned to see the strawberry blonde bombshell waving for the doorway. "Come on! It's freezing out here, and the dance is almost over!" I sighed, and made my way back inside.

It still amazed me the difference between the outside and the inside. The outside is cool, the air clean. The inside, on the other hand, was hot and sticky, and the air was full of left over air and smelled like sweat and Gatorade.

I prefer the first, thank you. I made my way through the packed bodies to where Rose and Jasper were, standing with the rest of the 'gang.' The 'gang' consisted of many: Jasper, the music buff; Rose, the quiet beauty queen; Jacob, the track star; Seth, the outgoing Freshman; Leah, the coldhearted bitch; Garret, the righteous vice-prez; Tanya, the dumb blonde; Irina, the bitchy drama queen; Kate, the strong prude; Carmen, the love monkey; Eleazar, the strange follower; Quil, the math geek; Embry, the car dork; and last and quite possibly least, Emmett, the obnoxious, outspoken, moronic, sex-driven, joke protector who happens to be my big brother. And best friend.

One might wonder why I had no idea where he was. Or if he came. Let's just say that my parents and him didn't get along; he has his own apartment close to the school. I tended to levitate there after school. That's where the 'gang' hung out every day. How we all fit was a mystery to me.

"So the hidden has arisen. It's about damn time. We've barely seen you this whole time." Emmett smirked at me. I smirked back.

"I could say the same for you, big bro." I knew he hated it when I called him that. It was all a joke though. Though he glared at me and clenched his fists, I saw the smile playing at his lips, and soon enough he was laughing.

Rose turned to Tanya then and said, "I don't see what's so funny about that." Tanya laughed, and Rose turned around, pouting, into Jasper's chest. He wrapped his arms around her, and rested his chin on her head.

Strictly platonic. It doesn't damn look like it.

A slow song. I didn't even know what the song was named. But they all paired off. Carmen with Eleazar, Jacob with Leah, Jasper with Rose, Garret with Kate. Irina went in search of a dance partner, and Tanya came to me. What fun. Seth, as outgoing as he might be, could not ask a girl to dance for his life. Poor guy. So he went to sit on the bleachers, eyes sad, wistful. He could say yes, but he couldn't ask. And nobody asked him.

God damn, I wish I was him.

I swayed to the beat, my eyes searching for a certain some- There. Across the room. She sat on the bleachers with Alice and Angela, watching the rest of the packed bodies. Where was Paul? Not that I minded. I was glad he wasn't there.

But I was over here. With Tanya. And not with Bella. Fuck.

Tanya was like one of those weirdo fish you see on the sides of fish tanks, sucking on the glass. They just latch on and don't let go.

If the shoe fits, I say. But I won't tell her exactly what I think about her. I may be an ass and all, but I am respectable and polite to women.

Sort of.

The lights flicked on, and the DJ told us goodnight. Tanya unlatched her arms from around my neck, and I wriggled about a half foot away. "I'll see you tomorrow." I turned, before she could kiss me. My eyes scanned the group of people migrating toward the door. I could tell where she was just by finding her hair. That's how attuned I was. I squeezed through the group, hearing a lot of names, and seeing a lot of fingers, but soon I was by her side, pretending to not notice she was there.

"Edward! Hey!" Good. Act like nothing happened between you, got it.

"Well, fancy meeting you here. Long time, no see!" She laughed. She's got a beautiful laugh.

"Have you met my friends, Angela and Alice?"

"The double A's? Of course I know them." She laughed again. But seriously. Who doesn't? Those three were the hottest pieces of meat in this godforsaken place.

"Edward, you're friends with Jasper, right?" That came from the little one.

"Ah…my little friend, Casper. Yes, I am. Why?" Shrimpy giggled, and I felt cold air. Wow, I hadn't realized we'd made it that far. We separated from the rest of the pack, finding a stone bench near the entrance to the school. One unoccupied by third base couples.

Alice shrugged. "I dunno. I was just wondering about him and Rosalie. They seem very close. Are they dating? You must have heard the rumors." She paused, but not long enough for me to answer. "Your group keeps your shit on the down low. And, not that it's any of my business and I won't tell the rest of these gossip shitters, but I want to know. Are they a thing?"

"Naw. He's got a thing for a certain little lady, and she's had her eyes out for a big buffoon for years now. They're strictly platonic. Practically like sibs, but they just don't act like it." I watched Alice nod, contemplating, and I noticed Bella was watching me. "What?"

"Oh nothing. You just talk different than the rest of them. That's all."

Them? Not us? Hm. "Oh." I stood, nodding at Angela, who was whispering into her phone, and Alice, who was still mulling over my words, and finally Bella. "I better be leaving. Erm…I'll see y'all on Monday."

Bella, Alice, and Angela started laughing. Did I say something? "What?"

"You just said 'y'all,'" Angela answered, stifling another giggle. I rolled my eyes.

"I'll see you guys another day. Better?" Alice nodded, and I started off. I was halfway to my supreme car when a hand was on my arm. I would know that hand from anywhere. I turned, smiling, and I met her brown eyes.

"I haven't seen you in forever."