Prompt: tepid

Scenario: All's fair in love and war...or so it's said. Tell us a story of how far someone would go to secure the affections of the one they love. (yes, that really is part of today's prompt. weird!)

The drive home is quiet, to say the least.

I've kept the window down, my hands folded in my lap, stared out of it not really seeing anything at all. Edward has no idea how I feel about him yet he said those things anyway. He said them knowingly and honestly and he's either very brave or very stupid.

I've known Edward for a long time, and he's far from stupid.

I wonder what he's thinking. I'm too afraid to look at him to find out. What does he want from me?

This changes everything.

He pulls up to the curb in front of my house, puts the car in park but leaves the engine running, like he's saying, "I'll sit here for a little while, but I can't stay."

I shake my head, open the door and climb out. "Goodbye, Edward."

"Bella, wait," he says, turning off the ignition then jumps out. He runs up to me, grabs my hand, squeezes and runs his thumb along the top of it, and it feels too good. I want to squeeze back, but I can't. I want to let him hold my hand forever, but it's not fair. His mouth opens and closes in this silent stutter, and I wait and wait and wait for him to say something. But he doesn't.

And then with the hand he's not holding, I slap him.

"I love you, too," I tell him because I do. The slap, however, was unintentional.

I know he understands that I'm not challenging him. I am simply following him off that ledge because I don't want him to think for a second that he's jumped into darkness by himself. My palm stings almost as badly as my heart as I look up at his stunned face.

This is the part where some people might kiss. But we're not some people, so I let go of his hand, turn, and walk into my house.

"Mom!" Garrett yells. He's on the floor in front of the television, homework spread out across the table. "Guess what!"

All the adrenaline that's been coursing through my body vanishes, leaving me shaking. "What, sweetheart?" My voice is high, trembling, and if this weight on my chest doesn't lessen in the next five seconds, I'm going to scream.

"Are you all right?" Mrs. Cope asks. "Bella, you're pale. Are you ill?" I shake my head.

"Dad called!" Perfect. "He's flying in tomorrow and wants to take us to lunch!" No, no, no. "I tried to call your phone, but it kept ringing." Dammit. "Why didn't you answer, Mom? So, can we go to lunch with Dad?"

"Stop, Garrett." Raising my hand, I say, "Slow down, for a minute, buddy. I need a second." Mrs. Cope begins to intervene, offering to have Garrett help with the start of dinner. I don't know what I'd do without her. "No, it's okay, Shelly. I promised we'd order pizza."

Garrett needs me more right now than I need time to recoup, or wallow—I can do that later, with an extra-large glass of white after he's in bed.

"Do you want me to stay for a bit?" she asks, and I nod. Shelly Cope has big shoulders and I could stand to borrow them right about now.

"Garrett, go ahead and get on the computer to order the pizza, and then you can tell me what your dad said. No mushrooms this time. Shelly? Do you want anything special on yours? Garrett likes sausage and all the veggies."

"I'm easy. Whatever works for me, Bella," she says, dismissively waving her hand.

I can hear Garrett's fingers madly clicking away, and I'm positive he's not paying any attention to what he's ordering just so he can hurry up and tell me about his conversation with Sam. But that's all right because it's giving me a second to breathe.

I haven't had to deal with this for a while. About a year, I think. This is what Sam does: he'll call sporadically, when he happens to be flying into town from this city or another. He'll make plans and either cancel at the last minute or change them so that he spends a couple of hours with Garrett instead of a full weekend like he'd promised, claiming that his passengers are counting on him to get them where they need to be.

Garrett has a drawer full of plastic wings. His own collection of consolation prizes for being the son of an asshole commercial pilot.

I'm sitting on the couch, and tell Garrett to check the Cash button for payment. Shelly comes out of the kitchen, hands me a glass of wine then takes a seat across from me.

Okay, I'll start early.

It's strange seeing her so comfortable in my home, but I'm glad she is. She's not married, a widow for quite some time, but the woman is still active. I know this because she tried to get me to set up a profile. I politely declined.

Felix hops up on my lap, like he's just now noticed I'm home. He purrs, clearly over the trip to my parents' place last week, and stretches his neck for me to pet him, and then Garrett starts in about the phone call from his dad.

He's more excited than he should be. I smile, listening, try not to be too encouraging, but I'm afraid this act of mine comes across more tepid than enthused. My heart breaks.

"I'll give him a call and see what his plans are. Let's take it easy—he might only be able to stop in for a short time," I say, and Garrett is, for the most part, content.

I swear to God if Sam disappoints my son again, I will kill him.

The pizza arrives, weighing a ton, and by the looks of it, Garrett clicked every topping but mushroom.

I've finally gotten Garrett settled into bed, even though he complained that it's Friday night and he should be able to stay up later. "Mom, come on," he said. "At least til ten." "Sorry, G, nine is the limit." He said, "Sit with me for a while." I did, and he fell asleep within minutes.

"I'm all ears, Bella," Shelly says. She's on her second glass, and I've refilled mine. "What happened today? Before the Devil called."

Shelly speaks her mind, too.

"He's not the Devil. Not totally, anyway." I laugh, for the first time today. "It's a long story," I warn. "We could be here a while."

"I've got no where to be."

"No judging?"

"None whatsoever," she assures me.

I take a huge gulp of wine, curl my feet under me and let it flow. "I'm in love with this guy…his name's Edward Cullen…"

Tomorrow's update will at least move this story along another day. I think it's been 3 chapters for Friday? :)

Thank you all so very much for reading and reviewing.