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Sweeping my hair back into a ponytail, I checked the clock above the stove.

I had exactly seven minutes before Seth came to get me. Embry didn't have a car, so he had to have his friends drive him around and pick me up as well. Not the most appealing thing about him, but whatever.

It almost didn't matter though because lately I found myself thinking of him less and of Cullen more. Awkward, for sure.

It was sort of unexpected that I was this fixated, especially since I hadn't even seen him again after that one night in the loft. Apparently he had some crazy work schedule or something; I wasn't sure. I couldn't exactly start questioning everyone about him.

I was supposed to be obsessed with the drummer, not the guy on guitar.

Still, I showed up a few nights a week to watch rehearsal and even went to a couple of gigs. Embry was dedicated to the craft and while he was always happy to see me, he was usually busy playing. Which was fine with me, because I'd sort of lost interest. Or rather, the sweet and easy going interest I'd had in him had been bulldozed by an overwhelming, scorching attraction to his so-hot-it-hurt band mate with the pretty green eyes.

And that's why I showed up night after night.

I know, I know. I'm an awful, conniving wench.

A horn honked outside. Slinging my messenger bag over my shoulder, I locked up and stepped outside.

Seth drove a black 1970 Chevy Chevelle, a beautiful relic he'd salvaged and restored, and I was sort of in love with it. He actually lived way closer to me than Embry or the others, so I rode with him a lot and we'd actually gotten close. This other kid they chilled with, Jasper, was sitting up front. He made like he was going to get out so I could ride shotgun but I waved him off.

"It's cool, thanks Jasper," I assured him, patting his shoulder once I'd settled into the back seat. It was nice and roomy and comfortable. "So, where are we going?"

"Embry went with some of the guys to to run a few errands, so he said to meet them at the lighthouse," Seth said. "I was gonna swing by Cullen's for a second. You don't mind, right?"

Thank you God.

"Oh that's fine," I said casually, my stomach fluttering.

We rode with the windows down, enjoying the late afternoon breeze. It had been a particularly hot summer but tonight was mild and it felt good, the perfect weather to hang out at the bluff where the old lighthouse stood.

Cullen lived in a sprawling two story house not too far from the beach. As we got out of the car Seth explained that he lived with several roommates, all college and grad students.

So maybe he was still in school too.

Jasper rapped loudly on the front door while I lingered behind him and Seth, a little nervous now that we were actually here.

Cullen swung open the door. "What's up," he said, doing that one armed hug thing to each of the guys, his eyes trained on me. "Hey." He grinned crookedly.

I smiled back reflexively, my stomach doing flip flops.

"I was just gonna smoke a bowl," he said as we followed him down the hall.

"Perfect timing," Jasper muttered, winking over his shoulder at me.

We filed into Cullen's not too clean, not too messy room. Jasper took an armchair while Seth plopped onto the ground. I was about to join him down there when Cullen spoke up. "You can have my bed."

I could imagine all sorts of scenarios where I'd love to hear him say that.

"Thanks. I'm Bella, by the way."

He fished a lighter out of his pocket and held the glass pipe to his lips. "So I've heard."

He puff-puff-passed and exhaled slowly, regarding me through a cloud of smoke. "I'm Edward, but they call me Cullen."

That was surprising; he didn't look like an Edward. The bowl made it to me and I took a small hit before giving it to Seth. "So what should I call you?"

He smirked, teasing me. "Baby, you can call me whatever you like."

Jasper snorted, shaking his head. "Now there's the Cullen charm we all know and love."

"More like the Cullen cheese," Seth said, laughing a bit.

Well, whatever it was, it worked because I was completely hooked.

By the time Embry and the others called us to come and meet them, it was early evening.

I knew it was probably pointless, but I really wanted Cullen – I think I liked Edward better, actually – to come along and hang out. Just being around him made me that special sort of nervous and I loved it. He didn't seem to look at me quite as much as I looked at him, but frankly I didn't even care.

"C'mon," Seth said to me, starting for the door.

Jasper nodded toward Edward. "You coming, man?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, why not." I heard him grab his keys as he walked out behind us.

We went back out to Seth's car and I was pleasantly surprised when Edward climbed in to the backseat next to me while Jasper put some music on up front.

I hadn't smoked too much, just enough to feel straight, and I let myself get lost in the passing scenery outside, loving the way the colors in the sky deepened the higher they went, a stray star here and there.

A song came on that I really liked, even though I'd never heard it before, and I glanced at Edward, who was gazing out his window just as I'd been doing the moment before. He was so incredibly good looking, even better up close, and I imagined the band had groupies partly because of him. I mean, all of the guys were easy on the eyes but this kid was damn near perfect.

Seth turned onto the winding mountain road that led to the lighthouse bluff. I'd just turned my head to look back out the window when my pinkie touched Edward's hand. Vaguely startled, I looked to where my hand was on the seat between us and saw his hand right beside it.

Self conscious and a little stoned, I wondered if I should move my hand or leave it. Which would be more obvious? Wait, was I being obvious? Or just paranoid?

He didn't seem to even notice that our pinkies were kind of touching. Did he? I peeked at him again but he was still looking out the window.

The song changed to another I liked and this one I knew well.

Edward's pinkie stroked mine.

I looked at him. He was still ignoring me. Well, he was. His hand wasn't.

He had to feel this, didn't he? Before I'd really registered what I was doing, I slid my pinkie underneath his and linked them. My heartbeat doubled in anticipation of how he'd react.

He didn't really do anything. Then I looked at his face. Still looking out the window, but smiling. He hadn't been smiling before. That made me grin like an idiot so I returned my attention to my window, pretending to be entranced with the darkening shadows when really my entire existence boiled down to linked pinkies.

I looked anxiously to see if Jasper or especially Seth had noticed what was going on in the backseat but they were in their own world, talking about music.

So slowly it was like it wasn't even happening, Edward maneuvered his hand so that it was beneath mine and slid his fingers through mine.

My breath caught in my throat. He was holding my hand.

I squeezed just a little.

He squeezed back.

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i know a lot of you have already read this as a witfit, so i'm tickled seeing you review again; i love it! you guys are great.