So, timeline wise… this chapter starts out on Thursday. The story started on a Monday. Valentine's Day is on Saturday. :]
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Bella's POV
Charlie had gone up the stairs to take a shower and take a nap. The moment he left, everyone began to bail.
"You're just scared Charlie's going to come back downstairs." Rosalie snickered as she handed Emmett his jacket.
"I'm not afraid of anything, woman." Emmett replied.
Rosalie rolled her eyes and put on her own jacket.
"I happen to like your father, Bella." Alice said and smiled. "But, I'm behind in my designs."
"I have to follow to make sure she doesn't get stuck." Jasper chimed in.
"And Emmett's my ride home." Edward replied.
We were all standing in front of the front door. Alice ran into me and knocked me into a squeezing hug.
"Thank you so, so much!" She said. "And not just for letting me stay, but for the design cover you're working on."
"Oh, um…"
When she released me I was got pulled into a bear hug by Emmett.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Rosalie asked laughing. "Chief Swan is upstairs…"
Emmett let me go immediately and I laughed.
"It was no big deal having you guys here." I replied.
"You're the best, Bella." Emmett said before leaving with Rosalie who waved goodbye.
"I'll call you later!" Alice called leaving and dragging Jasper along as he called goodbye to me.
Edward was standing by the door, but didn't make a turn to leave. "Thank you for having us over. Most people wouldn't be so gracious."
I smiled at him, "I loved having you guys over." I said. "I don't remember being this happy in my home in… a long time."
"You're not happy here?"
"I'm not, not happy. I'm… it's hard to explain." I said.
"I can listen if you want."
"I might take you up on that someday." I said.
We heard a loud beep, probably impatient Emmett.
"I guess I should head out." Edward said.
"Alright." I said and opened the door for Edward. I stepped out on the front porch and instantly regretted it.
A large chunk of ice covered the whole step and, being me, I fell. "Damn it." I muttered.
"Bella!" Edward said coming to me, without thinking about it, he fell too.
"Oh no!" I said when Edward was next to me. "Are you alright?"
Edward laughed. "Yeah, are you?"
"As long as you are." I said and realized how corny that sounded. I looked at Edward and I realized how insanely close he was. It was just like yesterday during our snowball fight, except today I wouldn't screw it up and throw a snowball in his face. I would close the distance of his lips to mine. I didn't realize my thoughts were on the same page as Edward's, but knew it the moment I saw him doing the plan I had in my head. He was going to kiss me.
Edward's POV
The moment her lips met mine, something happened. She pulled me in closer and the gentleness of the kiss was becoming less and less.
"Edward you're taking forev–" Emmett said coming to a stop before me and Bella. "Oh, come on. If you knew you were going to make-out couldn't you have let me stay inside for a moment?"
He was just joking, but I shot him a look.
"Sorry, Emmett." Bella smiled at him as I took her hand and helped her up.
"Don't be." I told her.
She and Emmett rolled their eyes at me. "I'm going in through the backdoor." Bella admitted after looking at the steps for a few minutes. "Edward, you're sure you're okay?"
It was my turn to roll my eyes, "More then okay, Bella."
"Don't get all sappy on me!" Emmett announced and stalked off to his jeep. I kissed Bella on the forehead before taking off after Emmett.
I got into Emmett's car and before I could even close the door, he took off. The roads were still icy and not fully paved. He was concentrating hard, but still going fast. I didn't complain, though. I would have been doing the same thing.
Emmett dropped me off at my house and for once didn't come in with me. He's probably heading off to see Rosalie. Not that I'm complaining.
I walked in through the front door of the house and was greeted by my mother running up to hug me.
"You're okay?" She asked.
"Yeah." I answered stepping away and headed up the stairs.
"Edward?" She called out.
"Yeah?"
"Do you happen to know what happened to the vase I bought from France? It looks a little bit off."
I stumbled on the stair I was going up, but continued up to my room. "Um, no, I have no clue."
FRIDAY
Bella's POV
The next morning, I pulled into the parking lot of my school and was surprised to see that my dad's police car was parked at the parking lot. Probably routine stuff or something.
I laughed, though, when I saw Alice talking to him with a ton of enthusiasm for 6:45 in the morning.
"Alice?" I asked walking over to them.
"Bella!" She said and gave me a hug. "Bye, Charlie!" She called as she led me to the school. "I have a question."
"What?" I asked.
She pouted a little bit, "So I heard you have plans for Valentine's Day?"
I thought for a moment. "Oh, yeah. Jasper and I have plans to watch movies."
"Yeah, that's what he said…"
"Alice, if you want to spend time the holiday with Jasper then don't hesitate to make plans with him. I'm not going to be angry or anything."
"Don't be ridiculous, Bella." Alice said. "That's not what I was implying."
"Then what are you?"
She sighed. "Would you mind if I hung out with you guys, too? I just don't want to spend the holiday alone."
"Alice, you're always welcome over."
"Really?"
"Of course!"
"Thanks, Bella." She said and then stopped right before we walked into the school. Another big poster of Rosalie was hung up. This was one of her with Emmett that must have been taken after the snowball fight. They were soaked, but looked extremely happy and beautiful covered in snow.
"This is getting creepy." I said.
"Ah!" Alice screamed stepping closer to the poster.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Look at this!" She said pointing to two smaller photos. One was of Alice and Jasper and the other was one of me and Edward right before our almost kiss.
"This is…" I began, but was cut off by Alice.
"Oh my God!" Alice sang. "You kissed Edward!"
"I… um… you've kissed Jasper." I said lamely.
"Old news, Bella!" Alice said.
"It wasn't after this." I said pointing at the poster.
"I want details!" Alice said, but stopped when we saw the rest of our little group coming up.
Rosalie and Emmett ran up immediately after they saw the big picture of themselves on it. Jasper patted my shoulder as he walked past me and next to Alice. Edward stood next to me.
"Holy shit!" Emmett said. "You look pretty cozy here, Edward."
"What's he talking about?" Edward asked.
"So do you, Jasper." Rosalie said.
This sparked both of the guys' attention and they rushed over and pushed Emmett and Rosalie out of the way.
"Who took these?" Jasper asked.
We all shrugged. None of us knew.
The day went on slowly. I had one more class until lunch and the teacher allowed us a study hall today. I didn't have any homework so I went to pull out my book Wuthering Heights. It wasn't there, though. Frantically, I pulled everything out of my bag and my book was nowhere to be found. This can't be happening! I threw everything back in my bag and asked the teacher if I could go to my locker. When I got into the hallway I ran to my locker and tore everything out of it. It wasn't in there. I was going to cry. But, I didn't have time for that right now.
I saw Jasper walking towards me. He had study hall this period. "What's wrong?" He asked me.
"I can't find my book!" I said. Jasper's eyes grew wide. He knew what book I was talking about.
"We'll find it, Bella." He said.
"It's not in my bag or my locker." I said. "I haven't taken it out since… I don't even remember, Jasper. I can't believe what I've done!"
"Calm down." Jasper reasoned. "I'll go check the lost and found, alright?"
I nodded my head and saw Jasper run off. I was happy I had a friend who cared this much about me… and runs track.
I was still frantically checking all of my folders when a hand grasped my shoulder. I shrieked in shock and turned to see an amused Edward standing behind me.
"What are you looking for?" He asked leaning against the lockers as I continued to search.
"A book." I mumbled.
"You take the same classes as me." He said. "You could borrow one of my books for a class…"
"No." I said. "Different book. But, thanks."
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yes. No. I don't know." I said flustered.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"I lost a book. My mom gave it to me for my birthday years ago and she wrote this message in it and I lost it, Edward. I…"
"I'm sure she'll understand." He said.
I groaned. I really should tell him about my mom passing away, but didn't. "I'm sure she would, but I want it back. It means everything to me."
"Okay." He said. He probably thought I was insane. I was still tearing through my locker. "I can go check the lost and found."
"Jasper just went there."
"Want me to ask the office?" Edward asked.
"Yes. Yes, please." I said.
"I'll be back…"
Edward's POV
Bella was acting strange. And that was putting it lightly. I had study hall this period. I decided I needed to stretch my legs and when I passed Bella I was surprised. She had all of the contents of her locker scattered about the floor and she was going through each of her notebooks.
I was now walking to the main office for her, but I realized I didn't even know what book she was missing. I was almost to the office when I saw Jasper. He came up to me.
"Bella's book is missing." He informed me looking stressed.
"She told me…" I said.
"Have you seen it?"
"I don't even know what book it is." I answered. "She told me her mom wrote her a message in it?"
"Yeah." Jasper said. "We got to find that book."
"Why?" I asked. "Her mom would understand if she can't. It's just a book."
"I really hope you didn't say that to Bella." Jasper said.
"Why wouldn't her mother understand?" I asked. "Didn't she send Bella to live here a few years back? I don't get it. Her mom sounds like a jerk to me."
"I could punch you right now." Jasper said.
I took a step back. Fighting with Jasper wouldn't end well.
"You and Bella are acting insane." I said.
"You're being a jack ass." Jasper said. "You just insulted Bella's deceased mother and you think that we…"
"Wait." I said. "Her mother isn't… alive?"
"…" Jasper paused. "She didn't tell you?"
"No. Fuck."
Jasper sighed heavily. "Sorry. Didn't mean to go crazy on you."
"I… I didn't know." I said.
"Bella's fault." Jasper said. "I probably shouldn't have told you."
"You didn't know I didn't know." I said. "So… this book… her mother wrote a message in it?"
"Yes, it was the last gift Bella got from Renee."
"And what's this book called?" I asked.
"Wuthering Heights." Jasper said.
I could have punched myself. And I hoped Jasper and Emmett would when I tell them. I couldn't believe myself. I was such an idiot. I was the cause of Bella's heart break at this moment. I was the one with Bella's book from the time Emmett bumped into her on Monday.
