Disclaimer: do I really have to? No copyright infringement intended.

Huge thanks to A Jasper For Me and Cullen Confection (check out her story, link down below!) for the awesome pre-reading & beta skills. I really suck but I think they still like me.

Chapter Ten

So, I lied. I didn't actually mind what was going on between Bella and me.

She was pretty chill, so tolerating her was easy. She got along with my friends and could probably out-drink me. She also didn't put up with my shit, which was a nice change compared to every other girl I had been around.

What I was trying to say was I liked Bella. But, this wasn't news to me. I obviously had some sort of attraction, some pull towards her. Otherwise, we wouldn't be in this situation right now.

Her ass also had a lot to do with the attraction, not going to lie.

So when Ben invited me and a few other friends to stay at his parents cabin for the weekend, I automatically felt sick. Not my normal reaction to a weekend full of gun powder and binge drinking.

The only thing I could think of that would make me feel uneasy was the fact I knew Ben would be there with Angela. I also knew Emmett would never walk across the street by himself, let alone leave the fucking city without Rosalie.

Did this mean I was supposed to invite Bella?

According to Emmett, yes.

According to me, it meant Bella had the opportunity to say no; reject my invitation.

When I spilled all of this to Emmett over sushi at Uchi, he almost choked on his spicy tuna roll from laughing so hard.

After settling down, he asked, "Since when do you care if a girl rejects you?"

"Since never having been rejected before, and it would ruin my streak. Obviously." I explained as I intricately dipped my roll into the soy.

"I bet she's already going anyway. Isn't she friends with Angela, Ben's girlfriend?"

This was true. Why hadn't I thought of that?

"How do you remember so much shit about Bella?"

Emmett shrugged. "I just listen. You gonna eat that?"

Pushing the rest of my Alaskan roll towards him, I pulled at my hair. "It's this weekend, you know."

"Yeah. I know." Emmett fell silent, knowing I was no longer speaking of the camping trip. "Does Bella know?"

I shook my head, letting my voice drop to almost a whisper. "She knows they passed away but not the details; not the date."

"Guess you aren't going to make it to the annual dinner and therapy session Esme has planned this weekend?"

"Do I ever?" I scoffed.

Emmett knew I never attended that shit. I knew it broke Esme's heart and Carlisle considered it disrespectful, but I couldn't handle the pseudo-therapy over a five course meal. Besides, I didn't like the fact they hardly ever brought my parents up, save for that day. I thought about my parents more than I liked to admit, so honoring them only three hours out of the year seemed like more disrespect to me than anything.

Emmett brought me out of my thoughts as he said, "I think C works this weekend. We can do something with them when we get back."

"Sounds good. You should be the one to tell them though."

"I'll call Esme tomorrow," Emmett said easily. "Oh, and you should invite Bella. Text her or something."

"Why are you so adamant on me inviting her?"

"Because I know you fucking want her to go, but you're too much of a pussy to actually invite her."

Emmett being right all the time was getting old, fast.

Edward: plans this wknd?

Bella: I work until 9pm Friday, off the rest of the weekend.

E: you going to that rock place w/ Ben & gf?

B: Enchanted Rock? lol yes & her name is Angela. I'm assuming Ben invited you?

E: yea. me, Em & Rose are going. prob some other ppl u don't know

B: cool. make sure your aunt & uncle know that we're spending the wknd together. that should look good for your little plan.

E: yea, that's what I was thinking. we can pick you up after work so you don't have to drive out there alone.

B: I can drive myself.

E: not an option. I don't trust your truck.

B: well, then don't you drive it

E: give it up, Bella.

B: I have to head back to Austin early Sunday afternoon to visit my Gram, that's why I need my own transportation, k?

E: that's fine. I can drive u back early. Em & Rose can ride back w/ Ben. i'm trying to be nice.

B: lol whoa, okay, if you insist.

E: good girl. see you friday night.

I glanced up to let Emmett know Bella was in and caught him staring at me.

"What are you looking at?" I asked, letting my smile fade.

"Nothing. She in?"

"Yeah, she is."

"Good. Tell her she better be prepared to listen to Journey's Greatest Hits or else she's walkin'."

The week passed by quickly and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Before I knew it, it was Friday and for some reason I was fucking nervous.

After picking up Bella from work, the four of us were on our way to Ben's parents' cabin in Fredericksburg.

"Have any of you been to Enchanted Rock before?" Bella asked, more for the conversation, less because she actually cared.

Rosalie, who was seated in the passenger seat due to her "car sickness", snorted. "Oh, yeah. Fresh air, hiking and nature. We just love Enchanted Rock."

"Remind me again why you came along?" I snapped from the driver's seat.

Bella caught my eye roll in the rear-view mirror.

"Ask your brother," she said icily.

Emmett snaked a hand over Rosalie's seat, touching her shoulder. "Bonding, baby. Bonding."

"Right. Bonding," she said in a bored tone.

The next hour and a half was spent listening to Emmett and Bella fight over which Journey song was better while Rosalie snored. In her defense, she has a deviated septum, and it was pretty late at night to be taking a road trip.

As we pulled into the mile long driveway of the cabin, Bella sat up a little straighter and let out a whistle.

"You said cabin and I pictured a one bedroom shack. This does not qualify as a cabin, whatsoever."

I had to agree, even I was impressed.

After struggling to wake Rose, the four of us emptied the car and walked into the house.

"I was getting a little worried about you guys," Ben said as he opened the door for us.

"Nice place, man," Emmett said.

"Thanks. My parents just had it renovated. Hope it was easy to find in the dark." Ben smiled, and hugged Bella.

Since when were they close enough to greet with hugs?

"So, Angela is already asleep." Ben and Bella both laughed. "Eric and Tyler are out back drinking."

Emmett smiled widely. "Sweet. What are we waiting for?"

"The room situation," Ben started, and I heard Bella groan next to me. "Angela and I have the room downstairs. There are three upstairs; two are left. I'll let y'all duke it out for the bigger one," Ben said in a breezy tone. "Unpack or whatever and meet us out back."

"Sounds good," I said as I grabbed Bella's bag from her shoulder.

"So..."

"What?" I asked, trying not to smile. I knew what she was worried about.

"Is something wrong, Bella?" Rosalie smiled sweetly. "The bedroom situation shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Bella had trouble, but finally smiled back. "Not at all."

"Good. You know, since you and Edward are dating. It only makes sense that you two share a room."

I had a bad fucking feeling Rosalie knew what was going on, but instead of making a scene, I nudged Bella's shoulder and pointed her in the direction of the stairs.

"Let's go pick the room with the biggest bathroom. That'll really piss Rose off," I said loudly as Bella laughed.

After we unpacked a few things, we all spent the night sitting on the patio around the fire, drinking and fucking around.

I tried not to drink too much, knowing the alcohol would only intensify my emotions. Being here with everyone was the last place I wanted to breakdown. Em knew what this date meant, but no one else knew what we went through on this date years ago.

I knew it was about time for me to make an exit before anyone realized I wasn't drinking anymore or really joining in the conversations going on around me. I used the excuse of using the bathroom and left everyone on the patio.

I went to the bathroom down the hall from the room Bella and I were going to share, then went to the bed and laid down with my arm draped over my face.

I stared at the ceiling, lost in thought, lost in memories, lost in the blank space that had existed since the accident. Not sure how much time had passed, I heard footsteps in the hall. The next thing I knew, the bedroom door opened.

"There you are." Bella's warm voice filled the room before the light blinded me. "What are you doing in here?"

"Tired," I mumbled, covering my face with the blanket.

I felt the bed shift as she crawled towards me.

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Turn the light off."

Bella scoffed as she hopped off the bed to turn the light off, then jumped back onto the bed.

"What are you brooding about?" she whispered.

"Not brooding," I said without missing a beat.

She giggled, pulling the covers off my face. "Of course you are. I know brooding when I see it."

"You're drunk," I said with my eyes closed. "You smell like whiskey."

"You smell like whiskey."

"Good one," I deadpanned. "If you aren't going to sleep..."

"Oh, you're no fun." She sighed and slid under the covers.

"You were a champ earlier with those drinking games."

Bella shrugged. "Why are you being anti-social?"

"You don't want to know."

"Yes, I do."

"Emmett probably already told you with that big fucking mouth of his," I snapped. Even in the dark, I could feel her eyes on me. "Today is the anniversary of my parent's death. It's been 12 years, to the day."

She shifted a little closer. "Oh."

"Yeah. Car accident. Head on."

"Edward..."

Rolling over to face the wall, I said, "Don't, Bella. You don't have to say anything. It was a long time ago."

"That's awful," she whispered, her voice breaking on the last word.

Waiting a full thirty seconds, I sat up and poked her shoulder. "Jesus, Bella. Are you crying?"

"No, I just-" She wiped at the corners of her eyes. "I knew your parents passed away, but I didn't know how. You miss them."

It wasn't a question.

"Of course I do, but even before the accident, Emmett and I spent most of our time with Carlisle and Esme. My dad traveled a lot for work, and my mom didn't want to take care of us on her own. We were sent to boarding school in Austin when I was eight."

Bella finally sat up, sitting Indian-style, and faced me. "Seriously? Boarding school?"

"It wasn't that big of a deal. It's not like they didn't love us. They were busy trying to give us a certain lifestyle."

Bella wasn't buying it. "But it's-"

"Not a big deal. Like I said."

"So were you not close with your parents? I mean, did you ever see them?"

I nodded. "Holidays, yeah. Emmett and I weren't close with my father; he preferred it that way. My mother was..." I trailed off, wondering if I should allow myself the memory. "I remember I always sat on the counter as she baked. There was one time she allowed me to eat the leftover icing before Emmett could get his hands on it. She said it was because I was her favorite, but I had a feeling she used to tell Emmett the same thing."

Even though I could barely see her in the dark, I knew Bella was smiling, waiting to hear more. But that was all I could share.

As if I hadn't faltered, I cleared my throat and put my wall back up without hesitation.

"Why do you give Carlisle and Esme such a hard time?" she questioned.

"I would be more concerned if I didn't give them a hard time." I smiled slightly. "They know I appreciate them."

"Do they actually know though?"

I shrugged. "What time do we need to leave on Sunday?"

It took her a second to realize the conversation about my parents was over.

"Ten would be good."

"Ten it is," I said quietly. "I really am going to bed though. Knowing them," I nodded towards the door, "they will all be up for a few more hours, so feel free..."

"No," she said, a little too quickly. "I'm tired and don't feel like being hungover tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Okay," she repeated.

Before she could lie back down, I pulled her shoulders into me and hugged her tightly. "Thank you," I mumbled against her hair.

I wasn't exactly sure why I was thanking her and that was kind of weird.

Maybe it was for listening to me talk about my parents. Maybe it was for agreeing to this fucked up deal. Maybe it was for putting up with my shit. Any of those would have sufficed, but, for some reason, Bella never questioned what I was thanking her for.

After the initial shock wore off, she wrapped her arms around my neck, squeezing me once.

"You're a good guy, Edward," she whispered into my ear before pulling back.

I stared at her, really stared at her, and realized I really fucking liked hugging her.

"We should get some sleep," I said, clearing my throat.

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right. Goodnight." Bella sighed as she crawled under the covers.

"Hey," I whispered as I stared at the ceiling. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too," she murmured, on the verge of sleep. "Thanks for telling me, Edward."

Unfortunately for me, sleep did not come easily. That was, until Bella rolled over a while later and nuzzled into my side.

I listened to her soft, shallow breathing and only hoped that tomorrow I could forget about all of this.

A/N: Sometimes it's nice to be vulnerable. Thanks for reading!

Don't forget to check out Boys of Fall by Cullen Confection! http:/www[dot]fanfiction[dot]net/s/6507291/1/Boys_of_Fall