Update time!

Disclaimer: NOT MINE.

Edward's POV

Thankfully, Esme came back that night so I didn't have to go one more day without feeling comforted. When morning came, I just wanted to curl up against her warmth and comfort instead of walking through the rain and ice.

"Good morning, Edward," she murmured tenderly. "How were you?" I stayed silent, wrapped in her embrace. There were times when I felt like such a little kid, and other times when I couldn't feel anything.

"I missed you," I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut. Esme sighed softly.

"Oh, Edward. I'm so sorry. You know I had to leave."

My chest constricted at the word 'leave.' I took a deep breath and let her go. "I know," I said quietly, keeping my eyes trained on the ground, refusing to look at her and see the sympathy in her warm eyes. "Sometimes I wish that you didn't, though."

"I know," she replied. She reached out and squeezed my arm. "I love you, Edward."

I nodded, heading toward Emmett's Jeep. I couldn't stand another 'family meeting' over my sanity and how I was feeling. It nearly made me sick to my stomach that four people knew. Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, and the damned principal of the school. Apparently, Carlisle couldn't wait to broadcast that I had finally gone insane. Esme insisted that it was for my safety. Something about if I had a panic attack, then they would know what was going on and why.

I thought it wasn't necessary, but they obviously did.

"Hey, Edward," Emmett greeted as I climbed in. "Ready for another fantastic day of learning?" he asked sarcastically.

I glared at Emmett for a few moments and leaned my head against the window, wanting a few extra minutes of sleep. I faded in and out of consciousness until we arrived at school. When we got there, I didn't say a word to Emmett. I just opened the door and bolted. I knew how things worked. There were always about ten girls that waited for Emmett to get to school. I was not going to be in the middle of that screaming chaos.

I ran into Jasper in the hallway, and he seemed nervous for some reason. "Good morning, Edward," he murmured. His voice might have been calm, but his eyes were restless, and he was tapping his foot anxiously.

"Morning, Jasper," I replied. "Nervous about something?"

He smiled quickly at me. "Uh, yeah, I guess. I went through the yearbook last night - nobody else with Alice's initials."

I managed to smile at him. "That's great, Jasper. So what are you going to do about it?" I looked at the floor, trying to pull it together, to act like I cared. Which, I did care, but I couldn't find the enthusiasm. When he didn't answer, I looked up and found him staring behind me, his eyes focused.

I glanced back and saw Alice, Rosalie, and Isabella standing together, chattering and smiling.

Chuckling, I swung my gaze back to Jasper. "You are a love-struck fool."

He grinned. "Sorry." His eyes got that glazed-over look again, and I sighed. Come on, Edward. Find a little bit of your old self. An unexpected rush of confidence came from nowhere, and I grinned back at Jasper.

"You know what you need to do?" I asked, arching an eyebrow easily.

Jasper looked shocked at how responsive I was. "What's that?"

"Just go ask her. Stop pining and ask, Jasper. What's the worst she could do? She can say no, then you try again until she finally gives in." I shrugged. "What have you got to lose?"

He looked at me for a moment, then glanced at Alice once more, who was watching Isabella and Rosalie talk, her eyes locked on Jasper's form. A small smirk curled my lips. I knew how to read girls.

"Fine. I'll go ask." He turned and headed straight for the girls. I watched Alice's expression. Her eyes widened, and her lips moved as she presumably spoke to Rosalie and Isabella. Which reminded me - I still had to get Rosalie to go out with Emmett. I nearly burst into laughter as Jasper's hand wrapped around Alice's tiny wrist, and he tugged her into a deserted hallway. Rosalie and Isabella glanced at each other and chuckled.

They spoke for a moment before Isabella glanced back, and her eyes met mine. I stared at the ground, my confidence disappearing. I backed behind a corner, wanting to separate myself from this girl who so obviously wanted to say something, but also didn't want to push it. I waited, my eyes flickering to Isabella's form for the few minutes that Jasper was gone. Finally, Jasper emerged from the hallway.

Alice wasn't with him, but he was grinning, so I took it as a positive thing. "She said yes," Jasper murmured, smiling.

"That's great," I replied. "What did you ask?"

Jasper shrugged. "Just wondered if she would go to dinner with me on Friday?"

"What did she do?"

A grin spread across Jasper's face. "She fucking glowed, Edward. I thought she was going to pass out on me."

I smirked. "See? What did I tell you?"

Jasper rolled his eyes. "Don't forget. At least I did some of the work."

Snorting, I said, "Yeah, right. What work?"

"I was the one who had to actually go up and talk to her."

There was a short pause. "So how is Isabella?"

"Actually, she said it was just Bella. And she's fine although I wasn't necessarily focused on her at the time."

"True." I glanced back at the three girls, who were smiling and talking happily, excited for their friend. Isab - Bella was smiling but wasn't jumping up and down excitedly like Rosalie and Alice. I smiled at her self-restraint. At that moment, she looked up and saw me smiling at her. Terror seized me. What if she wanted to talk to me because she'd caught me looking at her at the wrong time? What then?

But for now, Bella glanced to the side. I noticed a hint of a smile on her face, and I shuddered. Hopefully, she would be the same as she had been yesterday - quiet and calm.

I needed that peace.

All right, here is the update! I want reviews, por favor? I'm tired, it's 3 a.m., and I except three reviews by the time I wake up... So that gives you guys roughly ten hours to come up with three reviews. Hopefully, you'll be able to accomplish it.

Review... Or I'll die from lack of sleep, and then you REALLY won't know what's going to happen.

- J.C.