Seriously, I have NO idea what has gotten into me lately, but I have been overrunning with fluff. There's even some in the LNE update so far, not sure if that is gonna stay. But wow, I am even shocking myself. *shakes head*

So yea, this is what came to mind this morning with the prompt, and it wouldn't stop…


Penname: kyla713
Creative Original or Derivative Fiction: Derivative

Rating/Warning(s): T

Disclaimer: All copyrighted, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.

Prompt: Word Prompt: Ashes

I loved coming to this park. So quiet, with nothing but the wind and the birds to disturb the tranquility I cherished. It was the perfect place to put the finishing touches on my book. Just a few more sentences and my manuscript would finally be complete.

Suddenly, a horrid smell reached me and my nose crinkled in revolt. Just as I was about to look up for the source, a small pile of ashes fell onto the pages of my notebook. I gasped and my head shot up to find the back of a man wearing a leather jacket and tight dark blue jeans walking away, taking another drag of the offending cigarette.

"Hey, asshole. You mind watching where you flick that thing?" I yelled out angrily toward him.

"Not at all," he shot back without as much as turning his head.

Downside of living in a big city? People are rude.

I quickly gathered my things and followed after him. "You realize you just shot ashes all over my notebook, ruining an entire page of my work?"

"So use another page… Bella."

My breath halted before I could complain about wasting finite resources when he said my name and I froze in place. He finally turned his head and under the brim of his baseball cap, I caught sight of a dazzling, familiar smirk. "Edward?"

Pulling off his hat, he stopped and faced me completely. "In the flesh."

"You're back!" I exclaimed, dropping my bag and notebook, throwing my arms around his neck. "Oh my god, I've missed you."

He hugged me tightly as I felt the excited tears forming in my eyes. I hadn't seen my best friend since the week after graduation when he left for LA, save for the occasional ads from various modeling jobs he'd acquired over the years. Each letter and phone call grew shorter and father between, and I'd begun to think that he was gradually letting go of his past.

"I've missed you too, Runt," he murmured against my shoulder, and I was too excited to have him here to bother complaining about his 'pet name' for me. "You didn't think I could stay away forever, did you?"

I laughed, pulling away slightly to look at him and shook my head. "You've been living it up in California for three years. What could this place possibly have that compares?"

"My best friend," he answered simply, shrugging his shoulders and I took his face between my hands, relishing in this moment. If possible, he'd only grown more handsome over the passing time, his features more chiseled and defined. "Still coming to this place, huh?"

I nodded and rested my hands on his muscular shoulders. "Yea. I'm just finishing up my book."

"Ah, your secret 'I'm taking it to my grave' book?" he asked and I rolled my eyes. "Am I ever going to get a chance to read it?"

"Not unless you're into sappy, girly romances," I replied, pulling away from him and turning back to collect my things, holding my notebook tightly against my chest. "I probably won't even get published. I'm just writing it for me."

"Fine, keep your secrets," he groaned jokingly and shoved his hands in his pockets. "So what are you doing later?"

"Uh," I replied, pausing to look down at my watch and then back to him. "I have class in an hour and a half. But I'm out at six."

"Would you like to meet up for dinner afterward? Catch up?" he asked, his head tilting his head in question.

"I'd love that, Edward."

Six months later

After weeks of edits, and even more weeks of Edward's constant coercion, I submitted my final manuscript for publication and was dumbfounded when, instead of the rejection I was expecting, I received an acceptance and advance. And now, after years of pouring my heart into it, I finally held a hard copy of my very first book.

Sitting in my bed and thumbing through the pages, I breathed in that 'new book' smell one more time before setting it on my nightstand and turning out the light.

When my phone woke me up from a deep sleep, I glanced at my clock. 3 am. Who the hell would be calling me now? I thought as I closed my eyes again and reached for my phone. "Hello?"

"Bella?" Edward's voice came through softly. "Were you asleep?"

"That's what most normal people are doing in the middle of the night, Edward," I mumbled groggily, curling myself back into the warmth of my blankets. "What's wrong?"

"I uh…" he began, clearing his throat before he continued. "I have a confession to make."

"And it couldn't wait a few more hours?" I groaned, sitting up in bed at his mumbled 'no'. "Okay, what is it?"

"When I was over this morning, I snuck one of the copies of your book out of the box while you were in the bathroom," he said nervously and my eyes widened with a gasp. "And I read it."

I brought my hand up to my face, feeling the embarrassment overrule my shock and traces of anger at him. "Edward, why?"

"I'm sorry, Bella. But it was absolutely amazing," he replied softly and a silence filled the line for several long moments before he spoke again. "Is it true that authors base some of their character's traits on themselves?"

"Sometimes, I guess," I shrugged out of habit, and began picking at the blanket covering my lap. "Why?"

"Is Charles real?"

His question caused a lump to rise in my throat and I fought to swallow it down. "Partially, I guess. Every woman has a crush and ideal guy at some point in their life."

"Someone who disappear?" he asked, and I fell sideways into my pillow, burying my face into it.

"Edward, you weren't supposed to read my book!" I exclaimed, my voice muffled by the feathers.

"Would it be too presumptuous to think it was me?" he asked, his voice lowering more.

"Edward!" I groaned loudly in embarrassment and heard a knock on my front door. "I have to go someone is at my door."

"Bella," I heard his voice filter through the phone as I made my way to the door. Unlocking the deadbolt, I pulled it open to find Edward standing on the other side with his phone still to his ear.

We stared at each other silently, never hanging up.

"Is it?" he reiterated into the phone, his eyes locked on mine. I slowly nodded, my gaze never wavering as his green depths mesmerized me. "Can you forgive me?"

"For reading my book?" I asked softly.

"For everything," he replied, lowering his phone and closing the distance between us, meeting my lips with his in an impassioned kiss.

Yep… total cheese.