Chapter fourteen.

I couldn't help staring at his lips, which were right in front of me. He was standing way too close; I could feel his warm breath hitting my face.

"Thank you", I breathed gesturing the necklace.

"Sure, um, no problem", said Edward looking down at me.

I knew what were going to happen next, because it was practically inevitable and very much cliché.

I took a step towards Edward, closing in the space between us. We were standing so close I could feel his body warmth radiating off. Breathlessly, we began to lean slowly towards eachother; my eyes were set on his lips that looked very much welcoming.

And just as our lips were about to touch, Edward suddenly stepped back.

I didn't know what the expression on my face was. Probably rejection, disappointment and anger all at once.

"We, er, better get downstairs", he mumbled before quietly existing my room. I stared after him, suddenly feeling rather stupid.

What the hell just happened?

I was sure and one hundred percent sure that we were going to kiss. It was the 'moment.' Everyone knows about the 'moment.'

We were so close, leaning closer. I was sure he was leaning towards me too. I was sure that his eyes had flickered towards my lips a couple of times. Then…

He backed away.

He took a fucking step back.

I balled my hands into fists as I realised how utterly hurt and rejected I felt. Edward just made me feel like shit. He couldn't just pretend that he was going to kiss me, leaning close and all and then just jerk away.

Edward's POV.

Ok, so she was there. Yes, she was there and I was there. Ok, so we were there.

Damn it! We were both fucking there!

I was standing in Bella's room. Staring down at her chocolate liquid eyes. Her cream soft neck right in front of me. The beauty took my breath away.

Bella stepped closer, closing in the little space in between us. My eyes were fixed on her luscious pink lips. I could feel her breath on my skin.

I wanted to.

Of course I wanted to.

But then I back away like the stupid chicken that I am.

I pulled back suddenly, realising that this was Bella. Sweet innocent Bella, Emmett's little sister Bella. He would kill me.

No, he would slice off my manhood, then kill me.

My palms felt sweaty as I stared at the disappointed and hurt look on Bella's face when I stepped back. Didn't she know I wanted to kiss her? Feel her lips on mine? Pull her closer into a soft embrace and breathe in her magnificent smell?

"We…er…better go downstairs", I said turning around and practically running out of her room. I didn't do it.

I had the chance of a lifetime to kiss an angel, to wrap my arms around her little waist and for a couple of seconds call her my girl, but I chickened out and didn't do it.

Why?

Why didn't I?

I had kissed girls before, not many but I had never felt that way before. The sweaty palms and bashing heartbeats. I could feel my skin heating up too. The feeling was majestic. It was beyond anything I had ever felt. And I hadn't even kissed her.

What right did innocent Bella have to make me feel this way?

I didn't even know her that long, anyway. I had met her, in a weird situation where she was half naked in front of me. I thought I was in the wrong house. Emmett had said to get some wires from his room, when I went there I couldn't find it. He had warned me that his little sister would be there.

When he said little sister, I assumed he meant she was five or something. That's how he referred to his sister Bella as. Small, sweet and innocent.

But what I saw in front of me that day wasn't innocent.

Oh no, my friends. It was beauty beyond recognition. And I know it sounds melodramatic but even melodramatic-ness couldn't explain Bella.

The goddess in front of me had long wet chestnut brown hair. Her eyes were big and alert and absolutely gorgeous. She had pale, creamy skin with her slender arms and long legs. And the only thing that was between us apart from air and distance was that thin white towel that I wished to rip off instantly.

Her smile was like seeing the sunrise for the first time. It was like losing a penny and finding a thousand pounds. It was dying of thirst and plunging into a pool of fresh water afterwards.

It was Bella.

So once again, we tackle the question. Well, I tackle it. Why didn't I kiss her?

Was it because Emmett was her domineering brother?

Was it because I didn't want to upset my friend?

Was it because I wouldn't be able to control myself afterwards?

Or was it because she was hurting from finding out that she was adopted, and I didn't want to take advantage of that?

Bingo.

Stupid me, trying to be the gentleman. But she wanted me to kiss her, I could see it. Lust and uncontrolled emotions in her beautiful eyes.

I didn't kiss Bella. Instead, I ran away.

Bella's POV

I stomped down the stairs, feeling stupid and pissed at the same time. I couldn't deny that I wasn't attracted to Edward. I admit, he was gorgeous. But that didn't give him a reason to string me along and then just drop me.

"Hey Bella, you all right?" asked Emmett as I sat down on the sofa. Jasper and Rosalie were bickering about something. Alice sat next to me staring at my neck in a scrutinizing way. Edward sat on the end of the sofa in silence. I wanted to him an evil glare or something, but he wasn't even looking my way.

"I'm fine", I muttered stiffly.

"It's beautiful", whispered Alice next to me. I followed her gaze to realise she was staring at my necklace.

Beautiful.

That's probably what Edward meant earlier, he didn't mean me. Of course he didn't, he was older and hotter and could probably get any girl he wanted. Why would he want me?

Why would he kiss me?

He wouldn't. He'd just pretend he was about to then run out of the room.

"Are you ok?" jasper asked staring at me. I noticed everyone in the room apart from Edward was staring at me.

"You know, Bella, if you pull your fist any tighter, I think water might start leaking out", joked Emmett. I looked down to realise I was gripping the sofa side with anger. I loosen up and sighed.

"What's the matter?" asked Rosalie. I shrugged, trying not to inconspicuously point to Edward who hadn't even glanced my way. He was still staring at the TV.

Screw him! I didn't need to beg to be kissed! I could kiss whomever I wanted, and he wasn't on the list.

The doorbell rang snapping my from the little daydream of me strangling Edward.

"I'll get it", I muttered standing up. No one objected, so I went. I could hear Emmett and Alice quietly arguing about me in the living room.

"…Definitely wrong, Alice! Just look at her!"

"I think she's just a bit tense."

"Emmett, leave it alone", sighed Rosalie, "she'll be fine. Just give her some space. Maybe she feels too crowded with us al here."

"No, she's fine with us", said jasper, "there was a calm attitude on her posture before, and then when she came down she was radiating off a lot of anger."

"Dude… you're weird", breathed Emmett.

"I can just sense these things", Jasper mumbled.

I composed myself so I wouldn't scream out in anger. Typical, talking about me behind my back. Could my day get any worse?

I opened the door and suddenly, smiling sadly back at me was the least person I was expecting to see.