Review loads, guys! I'm seriously getting addicted to this story. New ideas just keep coming…and I have tons of ideas for new stories. Best part is, school's starting tomorrow after a one-week break-which is actually why I've been updating so fast. And a special shoutout to all you readers out there. Do go to my profile and read my latest story, Playgirl Meets Womanizer, which is AH and I promise will give you two completely different styles of writing for both Edward and Bella.

Tuesday

Houston, We Have A Problem

I was getting woozy. Ripping out tubes pumping fluids desired by my body wasn't such a smart move for me. I touched the bandage at the back of my head, coated with dried blood. Tiny flakes of it came off when I touched it. It was disgusting and it smelled of Dettol. Gross.

I really did not need to trip and cause a catastrophy in the hospital where one patient is frantically being revived, another is recovering from a heart attack, a third just regained consciousness and a fourth just fell and hit her head for the second time in two days. Carlisle would have a fit.

Emmett had already caught me thrice and Jasper twice as I tripped and stumbled my way to Ward A, bed 92 (AN: I don't really know what the hospital system is like, unlike Bella I always refused to go to a hospital when I get injured). If the situation hadn't been so serious Emmett would probably have burst out laughing. As it was the corner of Emmett's mouth was twitching.

Alice was tearing up again. It was wrong. Alice was always so chipper and lively. Seeing her break down should be illegal. I slowed down and took her hand. She smiled at me gratefully, sniffing daintily. Trust Alice to make every movement, no matter how unladylike, seem elegant and petite.

We burst into the ward only to find an empty bed with the plaque '92' over it. The blankets were made neatly and the pillows smooth. We froze. Jasper hit his head and groaned.

"Emergency room! They'd be in the ER!" he yelled, frustrated, and we took off again, Jasper cursing under his breath at his stupidity the whole time until Emmett told him to stuff it and that there were more serious issues at hand.

But then of course we weren't allowed inside the ER, so we went to the waiting room which was more of a torture chamber. We just stood outside the room where they were doing some sort of surgery or another on David. At least the AED had managed to start his heart pumping again.

When we stepped into the hot, stuffy waiting area, my heart gave a jolt. Edward was sitting on a foldable metal chair, his face buried in his hands. I frowned. Where was Lauren? It was her father undergoing a major operation, wasn't it?

Edward didn't look up when we entered. Alice's sobs were hint enough. "Is…will he be okay?" Alice asked, her voice wavering.

"They said it might not be okay. Carlisle said there's a ninety percent chance he…he'll die." Edward's voice cracked at the end. I felt a tiny stab of pain in return.

He looked so vulnerable. He looked seven years old again.

The door joined to the operating room opened then, sending a gush of stagnant air tinted with the smell of blood. The scent was strong. I felt my head spin.

I saw Carlisle leave the room, his face set in a grim mask before turning to surprise and fury when he saw me. I paused. Why was he angry at me?

"Isabella Marie Swan!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the tiny room walls. I saw Edward's head snap up. His eyes bore into mine. Carlisle ranted on. "What are you doing out of bed?! Your head is still bleeding and I still need to give you stitches! And of all places what are you doing here, with lots of blood?! Emmett Cullen!" he turned to yell at Emmett. "Why did you let her come? You know how she gets around blood!"

"Oh, crap," Emmett cursed. "Sorry Carlisle, I forgot," he apologized. Emmett sprinted to me, holding my waist tightly. I swayed. "Bellsie? You okay?"

"Close the door," I muttered weakly. Carlisle slammed the door shut, cutting off the tainted air immediately. I slowly felt my legs return to me. "Thank you," I mumbled, leaning against Emmett.

"Edward, Esme raised you to realize chivalry is not dead. Give Bella the chair. Emmett, Alice, Jasper, I need to speak to you." Carlisle left the room, followed by Alice and Jasper. Emmett released me slowly, and making sure I was okay, left.

Great. Now I was alone with Eddie dear.

Edward got up stiffly and moved across the room. I stumbled over to the metal chair, the pale walls swirling around me. It took a record two seconds before the floor rose to greet my face.

A pair of strong hands caught me around the waist just as the two friends were about to meet. I sighed in relief. Chivalry really wasn't dead yet. Though the sense of male friendliness wasn't quite present in the act. Edward lifted me up and set me on the chair abefore retreating to the furthest end of the room to sit and sulk at the corner. I grimaced, the pale walls still vibrating gently.

We sat like that for countless seconds staring at each other with unreadable emotions. Our attention was away from the drama taking place inside the operation room, though a small part of my mind took note of the muffled beeps from the heart monitor. The moment the beeping stopped, my attention would digress. For now, though, it was perfectly secure.

When the clock almost hit one full minute, Edward spoke, his husky, silky voice raspy from stress. Somehow it made him seem even sexier than usual. Maybe because now he was more of a man than of a model. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I had to gather my wits before answering. "I couldn't," I said simply. "If I did, it would make things awkward."

"And it isn't awkward now? What were you thinking?" Edward half growled, half yelled. "Don't you ever think?!"

I swallowed back tears, not failing to realize that he had avoided using my name, alias or otherwise. He was staring at me, his face a cold, unreadable mask. I swallowed repeatedly.

"I-I'm sorry, Edward. I didn't realize," I whispered. "It was a spur-of-the-moment decision and I'm sorry, okay? I wasn't thinking! I know I'm a idiot but you don't exactly have to rub it in, you know!"

Somehow during this little rant my volume had rose to a deranged scream.

Edward kept staring at me, though now he looked a little shocked and strangely amused. I knew him well enough to be able to read his emotions like a book. "You really haven't changed. Crazy, screaming girl."

I sniffed. "You sound like Emmett," I said, miffed. Edward turned to hide a laugh.

Things weren't okay between us yet. I was convinced that it would take a lot more persuasion for all-rounded forgiveness. But then at least I knew we were getting somewhere. It was a lot better than thinking we were stuck in a rut.

Edward wasn't the type to hold a grudge, but he didn't forgive and forget easily, either. It would take some convincing to cool him down, and for a matter as huge as this, it would take many, many hours. Not to mention bucketfuls of tears and sweat. But I would make it up to him. I had to. There was no way I could be on good terms with all of the Cullens save Edward. Now that would really be an awkward situation.

Edward turned back to the window then. The medical team were doing something disgusting with the organs. I didn't have the guts, or the stomach, to watch. Apparently it was a stressful sight, though, because Edward started pacing the length of the stuffy room, stirring the air around and sending dust particles up my nose.

Finally I had enough and I got up, stormed over to him, grabbed his shoulders and pushed him against the wall and held him there till he stopped fidgeting. From the panic in his eyes I could tell he thought I was going to rape him or something.

"Good," I said finally. "Don't move. Stay there. It'll help better." Then I stalked back to the stool and plopped down on it, fanning myself with one hand. I thought I saw Edward smirk. The atmosphere was literally buzzing with the tension in the air. It was so dense I could probably cut through the tension with a knife. A butter knife at that.

Emmett slammed the door on his way in. The loud slam cut through the sexual tension buzzing around the room. He sighed, obviously relieved at something. "Great! I thought you two were murdering one another." Emmett raised an eyebrow.

"Don't be so immature," Edward and I said at the same time before turning to one another with eyebrows raised. Emmett snickered.

"Whatever," Edward muttered, slouching against the wall as Jasper, Alice and Rosalie entered the room.

I sagged on my seat. Yeah. Whatever.

Sorry if the chapter is kinda boring, but I think this chapter was a necessary milestone in their love/hate relationship! So now they're one step closer to reconcilation, and the next chapter will have a lot of Lauren and some Jacob!