Hey there! Thanks again to all who reviewed. They really make my day!

Special thanks to AmeryMarie for telling me how to get a beta.

I hope you guys like this one! If you do, let me know!

Disclaimer: Ugh, Edward and the gang so don't belong to me, as sad as it makes me. All Stephenie Meyer!

----

BPOV

"Why is he doing this to me, Rose?"

She grabbed the phone from my hand and read the message that Edward had just sent me.

"Obviously he wants an ass-kicking from yours truly, that's why," she smirked as she handed the phone back to me. I was confused enough as it was, did he really need to send me a message telling me he wants to kiss me?

The sick thing was I almost texted him back, I almost gave in.

I knew it would only complicate things, though.

Plus, he has a girlfriend.

I groaned again. "What am I going to do, Rose? How am I going to get through this? I've never gone longer than a day without talking to Edward."

Who was going to stay with me when Charlie worked the night shift?

No one Bella, this break is supposed to make you independent from Edward. Break out on your own, remember?

I laid my head on her shoulder. These were the times I wish my mom lived closer to me. Isn't that what mom's do, help you get over your first heartbreak? When she and Charlie divorced when I was 12, she moved all the way to Florida.

She had asked me if I wanted to move with her but the thought of being away from Edward, Emmett, and Rose made me ill. Plus, I knew Charlie couldn't live alone. He is dangerous in the kitchen.

"I know it seems really hard right now, but I'm going to help you through this," Rose promised.

"I just don't get why he didn't tell me about her. And to make me think we were going on a date? It's so unlike Edward to be so neglectful of my feelings. Ugh, and she was in his house, Rose. That's a big deal and you know it."

"She can't mean that much. He was making out with you after Newton's party. And that was like, what, three weeks ago?"

I smiled despite the mood I was in. That night after Mike's party was my favorite time kissing Edward.

----

Edward had convinced Mike to throw a party while his parents stayed overnight in Seattle. Emmett had managed to obtain a large quantity of alcohol and had anchored himself to Mike's bar in the basement, deeming himself Bartender Emmett for the night.

I decided that since we all lived within walking distance of Mike's house that I was going to partake in drinking. Something I didn't do all that often.

I sidled up to Emmett and asked him to make me something fruity and to make it extra strong.

He started mixing stuff right away and I took a peek around the room to see if I could spot Edward. I figured he'd be surrounded by his usual flock of skanks but I couldn't find him.

When I had turned back to Emmett he presented me with my drink, "Sex on the Beach, extra Sex," and then he winked.

I clutched at my heart, "Save the sweet talking for Rose."

He scoffed, "Do you think Rosie likes sweet talking? Please, my girl's a straight dirty talker. I remember this one time she told me-"

I cut him off by putting my fingers in my ears and shutting my eyes, "I can't hear you, Em, la la la la la."

When I peeked my eyes open, Edward had taken a seat in the barstool next to me.

I grabbed my drink and finished it in one long sip. Emmett looked proud, Edward looked pissed.

"What's the matter, Eddie-boy?"

He glared at me, "I just don't want a repeat of my cousin's wedding tonight that's all."

I rolled my eyes, "Edward, I drank one glass of champagne and danced with Rose."

"You called that dancing? You were grinding on each other!"

"Tomato, tahmato, I called it dancing."

He gulped his own drink, "I just don't want to have to kick Newton's ass in his own house for grabbing on you 'cause your drunk."

"I think I can handle Mike Newton, thanks."

"You don't know how these guys can be, Bell. They take advantage of drunk girls at parties."

"Hm, sounds a lot like this guy I know, tall, green eyes, know him?"

He ran his hand through his hair, making it impossibly messier, "Hey now, this is about your virtue, not mine. Plus I never take advantage. They come willingly."

"Well you don't need to spend your whole night protecting it, okay?"

He looked at me in disbelief, like the idea was absurd.

"That's exactly what I plan to do. No one is taking advantage of you."

I saluted sarcastically, "Don't worry father, hymen's still in tact."

He smiled, smug, "Damn straight."

I rolled my eyes, pushing off the bar to go look for Rose, but Edward grabbed my arm to stop me.

"Hey, wanna get outta here?," he asked, smiling his beautiful crooked smile.

Damn. He had me.

I took his drink out of his hand and finished the rest before saying, "Okay, I'm ready but let's say bye to Rose first."

We walked towards the door where I saw Rose sitting with Angela.

I hugged her, while she whispered in my ear, "It's awful early to be going home. Are you sure you're not going back to Edward's?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

I giggled 'cause I was feeling tipsy and told her to shut it.

As Edward and I walked the short distance home, he stopped me, looking torn, "Look Bell, I'm sorry I went all SuperDad on you back there, it's just so frustrating to watch guys try to pick you up with stupid pick up lines. I couldn't stand to see you fall for some line at a party and get hurt later on."

I looked him straight in the eyes and said, "But isn't that my decision to make?"

He nodded sadly, "You're right."

We walked the rest of the way to his house in silence, slipping through his front door quietly, even though Esme and Carlisle pretty much expected me to stay over on the weekends. I mean I even had my own toothbrush in their bathroom holder.

I quickly grabbed a pair of shorts and a tshirt from Edward's dresser and made my way to the bathroom to change.

When I came back into the room, Edward had his ever famous bottle of tequila he swiped from Carlisle out.

He poured two shots into shot glasses handing me one as I sat down on the floor by his bed with him.

This shot was likely to put me overboard.

Eh, what the hell. I hadn't really had a chance to hang out with Edward lately. He seemed to always be busy these days.

I threw the shot back as Edward handed me a beer he swiped from Newton's to chase it with.

He took his shot, finishing off the beer, and placing the empty can on his desk.

We talked and laughed for a little while, until it got really quiet and an unexplainable tension crept between the two of us.

He looked me in the eye and whispered, "You know I really am lucky."

I looked at him confused, "Uh, okay?"

He laughed, "No, really. I am. I have the prettiest girl in Forks, hell anywhere, wearing my clothes, spending the night with me, and I bet I could get her to kiss me."

I blushed, "Nice try, buddy."

He stood up quickly, grabbing my hand, and pulling me so that I was standing with him.

"Bella, my Bella, you know I can get you to kiss me."

I swallowed hard. Sheesh, when did it get so hot in here?

Edward slowly pulled me towards him, placing both hands on my hips.

The feeling made me shudder. He knows what he's doing to me, jerk.

He brought his hands up to cup my face before slowly tracing his tongue along my lips, bringing me in for a kiss that literally made my knees week.

Soon we were kissing furiously, each battling for dominance with our tongues.

I was entirely too drunk for this kind of action. If he kept going I was likely to lose my V-Card right then and there.

Here you go Edward, here's my virginity, just don't ever stop doing that thing with your tongue. Seriously, it was like some weird, voodoo tongue seduction or something.

It. Was. Wonderful.

Before I knew what was happening, Edward had guided us to his bed where he started placing chaste kisses from my fingertips, up my arms, onto my shoulders before kissing a spot right below my ear that I swear if he licked it, I would spontaneously combust right there.

I felt like we were on fire.

Every kiss and flick of his tongue set us aflame even more.

I welcomed the heat.

He pulled back, with an inferno brewing in his beautiful green eyes and said, "You know I mean it when I say you're my heart, right?"

That did it.

The impossible heat that was burning between us increased, tenfold.

Burn, baby, burn.

He started to slowly put his hand under my shirt, sweeping his fingers over my stomach, getting lost further in the kiss.

He inched his way higher, until his hand was just below the underwire of my bra.

He kissed me greedily, but his hand hovered in that same spot.

I was eager to be completely engulfed by the heat, so in a ballsy move I grabbed his hand and put it directly on my breast.

It all happened very quickly after that.

Edward pulled away from me, scrambling to get off the bed and away from me.

He tugged on his beautiful bronze hair so hard I thought for sure he'd made a bald spot, "Bella, I can't believe I did that. I'm so sorry. It was wrong."

He grabbed a pillow and a blanket from his closet and made a make shift bed on his couch.

And I felt....cold.

No more burning Bellaward? Yeah, I Brangelina'd mine and Edward's name, so what?

Why did he stop? He started it after all, isn't it only fair he finished it? That thought made me furious.

He stopped and it doesn't bother him at all. When would I learn my lesson when it came to him?

I jumped off the bed, threw on my shoes, and turned to face him, "You know you don't always have to be so damn virtuous when it comes to me!"

He looked at me sadly, "Yes, I do Bells. For more reasons then you know."

I pushed past him without saying goodbye and cried all the way to my room.

----

I looked at Rose, "And we still haven't talked about it. That kiss was different than all the others. All the other times were guarded, that time he really let go."

I hated how Rose looked at me. So full of pity. She had her Prince Charming and I get dicked over by Charming's brother.

"Don't worry, we'll get through this. Let me see your phone."

I looked at her confused but handed it to her anyway.

I watched as she scrolled to Edward's message and she typed:

New Message

3/12/09 11:58 p.m.

The only thing you can kiss
is my ass, Edward.

I chuckled and managed to grab the phone from her before she could press send. She rolled her eyes, "Whatever, it's probably better that I didn't send it. He's probably drunk off his ass right now and would take that message as an open invitation."

I laughed, "You're right. It's definitely better that I don't send him any message back. He needs to know that I'm serious."

"Just think, Bell, Jasper will be here before you know it and you know he'll find plenty of things for us to do that will keep your mind off Edward."

I became giddy at the thought.

Yeah.

Maybe Jasper was exactly what I needed.

----

EPOV

It had been thirty minutes since I sent Bella that message telling her I wanted to kiss her. Thirty minutes and not one reply. Why had she not replied?

Uh, maybe because you broke her heart, dumbass.

I am never going to last not talking to Bella.

I keep looking at my phone expecting, more like willing, it to light up with a message.

I'd even take a 'fuck you, asshole' at this point.

I sulked over to my bed, tossing back the tequila bottle, gulping it greedily. How can she do this? She relies on me. I take care of her. I have to protect her.

Who will do that now?

I laid in my bed for another hour or so hoping Bella would call or text or visit with no such luck.

Why isn't this hard for her?

I feel like my soul has died.

Yeah, Em's right.

I am Emoward.

I trudged over to my laptop to make a playlist of the most depressing songs on Earth, flopped back on my bed and waited for sleep to overtake me.

----

I heard a faint noise, like the keys on a computer keyboard being tapped, and I wasn't sure if I was awake or dreaming. Maybe last night was just that, a nightmare. Maybe Bella really isn't avoiding me at all costs and maybe, just maybe, I can make sure I never screw up like I did in that awful nightmare ever again with her.

I peeked one eye open, hoping against all hope, that it was Bella at my computer but no, Emmett the Gigantor was hunched over my laptop playing online poker.

I groaned and pulled my comforter back over my head.

"Ahh, so Drunkward the Emo Bitch is wakey-wakey, huh?" Emmett mocked, with a bit of irritation in his voice.

I know that tone. He's either going to lecture me or put me in a headlock. Either one wasn't comfortable.

"Don't you have a girlfriend you can annoy? Why are you here?"

"Well considering some lovesick puppy kept his whiny, depressing music on continuous play all night long with the door locked, my choices were either pick your lock to turn it off or slit my wrists to end my suffering. Plus, Rosalie is busy comforting Bella."

He picked up a baseball off my desk and began tossing it up in the air. "Care to tell my why Bella needs comforting? I thought you were going to make it all better with her?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I tried. I didn't know she felt that way about me. When she saw me with Tanya it was like the straw that broke the camel's back. She doesn't wanna see me anymore."

"Bullshit."

I agreed, "I know, right? We could work through it."

Emmett shook his head, "No, I mean bullshit you didn't know how she felt about you."

He went on, "That girl looks at you like you hung the moon and you repay her by asking her out on a fake date? To what? Get back at me? No, no, there's something not right with this picture."

"I'm too hungover for your theories right now, Em."

His eyes lit up, "You're scared!"

Come again?

"What exactly am I afraid of, Oh Wise One?"

He answered simply, "Bella."

I rolled my eyes, "Why would I be afraid of Bella?"

He shook his head, "Not Bella, but you're feelings for her. She's not just your friend, Edward. Why do you think you are so damn protective of her? You go apeshit if a guy so much as puts his arm around her."

I tilted my head as if doing so would make what he was trying to say more clear, "So, I make sure no guy takes advantage of her because I like her as more than a friend?"

He nodded.

"Stick to football, Em. Psychology is not your forte."

He flipped me off, "Hey, I'm protective of Bella, too. But not in the same way you are. I let her make her own decisions. That's the difference between me and you. I protect her from bullies and jealous skanks. You don't let her do anything without your approval."

"I just make sure no one takes advantage of her Emmett, I didn't do any of that because I like her as more than my friend."

Emmett snorted, "Don't give me that sanctimonious bullshit attitude, Edward. You did it because you don't want anyone else to have it. You want to be her first, her last, and her only. You're just too blind or scared to see it."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Emmett. But anyways, how was she when you talked to Rose today?"

"Deny, deny, deny all you want Eddie. I know the truth. But, I don't really know how she is. As good as can be expected, I guess. Rosie is taking her furniture shopping so they can get her brother, Jasper, some stuff for his new room."

I thought hard but for the life of me couldn't place a face to that name.

"Why is he coming to Forks? And in the middle of second semester?" I asked as I slowly got off my bed. My head was pounding. Like sledgehammers to the dome, pounding.

Emmett shrugged, "I don't know, he doesn't get along with his stepdad or something. Plus, he's like crazy smart and already has all his core credits to graduate so all he has to do is take bullshit classes. He got his acceptance letter to U-Dub yesterday so it all worked out for him. Rose is stoked."

I nodded my head, "That's cool. I'm glad Rose will have her brother around now."

He grinned, "A happy Rosie means a happy Emmett, if you know what I mean."

And that's my cue to get my ripe ass into the shower.

----

Standing under the steaming hot water, I couldn't help but go back to what Emmett was telling me about Rosalie's brother.

Why can't I picture what this kid looks like? I know I knew him when we were ten but he wasn't here long and I can barely remember what I ate for breakfast yesterday.

Jasper.

Why the hell do I know that name?

I scrubbed down, not wanting to be in the shower long 'cause it was making me woozy, and grabbed a towel from the rack, wrapping it around me as I stepped out.

I must have been thinking hard because suddenly I was falling ass over end, Bella-style.

I cracked my head on the sink and cried out in pain.

OW.

I stood up slowly as not to repeat the fall.

I winced when I put my hand on the back of my head. Oh yeah, I'm gonna need stitches.

Then, all of sudden, the memories hit me.

----

We had just gotten home from the ridiculous baseball camp that our parents sent us to and I was so eager to see Bella, that when we pulled into the driveway, I just about took the car door off the hinge getting out. I didn't even bother with getting my stuff out of the car, it could wait. I took the steps leading up to Bella's room two by two and practically kicked in her door.

"Honey, I'm home!"

She squealed and flung herself into my arms. I was assaulted by her strawberry shampoo smell and knew I really was home now.

I pulled back and kissed her forehead, noticing that she had fresh stitches on her head.

"What the hell did you do to your head now?"

She chuckled, "Oh I tried surfing with Rose and Jasper. Didn't go over so well."

I smiled, trying to squash the jealous rage that flew through my body at the name Jasper, "Sounds like fun. What else did you do while I was gone?"

She squealed and said, "Oh my gosh, we had so much fun. We went to a rock concert in Seattle and we played laser tag in Port Angeles-"

I cut her off because it was starting to piss me off how much fun she had while I was gone.

"So, did you miss me at all or were you having too much fun with Jasper?"

She smiled a genuine smile, hugging me again, "Of course I missed you!"

Just as I was about to bury my face in her hair again, I looked over her shoulder and noticed something I had never seen before on her dresser.

It appeared to be a white vase with a long stem rose that seemed to be two or three days old, a note that looked like it said 'Someday', and a strip of pictures that looked like they came from one of those cheesy photo booths at the mall.

I let go of Bella, walking over to look closer at the pictures.

One was of Bella and who I assume to be Jasper crossing their eyes and sticking their tongues out.

Another was the two of them with their heads close together smiling.

And the last, made me want to rip the strip of pictures to shreds. Jasper was kissing Bella's cheek and she looked really happy.

Too happy.

----

Now this Jasper, who had his disgusting lips on Bella's cheek, was coming back for good?

And I just broke her heart to pieces.

I am so royally fucked.

I'm going to need more tequila.