So Twilight and all character belong to Stephanie Meyer. Plus, I just realized that you can actually reply to reviews so I will try to do that from now on to show how much I love and appreciate you all!!! Um, the title says it all?

BPOV

Let's just say, his shirt was pretty wet and my eyes were pretty dry and I was pretty sure things were going to get a whole lot more complicated.

But nevertheless, I couldn't pass off good ice cream and I was particularly fond of that flavor. That is, until tonight, when I realized I would never fully enjoy it ever again.

So I removed myself from Edward, hesitantly, and grabbed my spoon from the table. The ice cream had started melting but it was still just as creamy and rich and I savored the taste in my mouth. It was really refreshing after all that bitterness that had just happened.

And I decided now would be a good time to come clean about things. We would talk his problem out and I would demand Edward to define our relationship because I wasn't sure if I could handle it being so fuzzy anymore.

That is, until, my cell phone buzzed in my pocket and I jumped a little. I took it out and the screen read 'Charlie.' So I picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Bella. Jessica called asking if she could speak with you. And of course, she wouldn't need to call if you were at her house, would she?"

I was fucked, that much I knew. How bad, I had no idea. I didn't know how to answer, but thankfully in that moment, Edward pointed to my broken wrist, oh right….

"Well, Ch- dad, I told you I was going to Jessica's because I didn't want you to worry when you found out I actually broke my wrist at school today because I tripped and--"

"Well then, where were you?"

I could hear the annoyance, concern, and disappointment seeping into his voice. Annoyance for my long-winded explanations, concern for my wrist, and disappointment in my failure to tell him the truth.

"Ms. Stuart, the nurse, was nice enough to bring me to the hospital to have me x-rayed and fitted with a cast. Then Ms. Cullen, a nurse at the hospital, offered to take me home but first said she would have to feed me because my blood sugar was low…"

Charlie knew nothing about medicine, that's the only reason it worked,

"That's nice of her. Are you on your way home now though? Or do I have to come pick you up?"

"No, I'll be home soon. No worries. Love you, bye!"

And when I flipped the phone shut, I sank into the couch. CLOSE CALL. No pun intended. And he had actually believed the low blood sugar bullshit. I was safe, for now.

"You were really lucky just now."

"Yeah, I know. I should probably get home before he sends a search party after me."

"Yeah, sure. I'll drive you home. And I'll pick you up for school tomorrow, because you obviously can't drive."

I didn't want Edward going through that much trouble for me but I didn't really have a choice, so I waited for him while he put the ice cream back and followed him silently out the door to his car.

It was chilly, so I was already shivering by the time we sat in his car, and he just handed me his jacket from the back seat which I gratefully put through my arms.

The ride home was fairly quiet until we hit my gravel driveway and things got impossibly more tricky.

Because it was in that moment, that I realized my whole body was completely tense, feeling Edward's presence just radiating from his body towards mine and the same sparks from before filling the car with almost tangible energy and attraction. I wasn't sure if I should just say bye or hug Edward or whatever. But not to worry, Edward was already on that.

EPOV

Once I put the car in park, I finally grasped the intensity of the situation. Bella and me were only feet apart and the small space of the car's cab didn't seem capable of holding all the tension between us.

I wasn't sure what she wanted to do, but I was sure of what I needed to do. I needed to feel her soft lips on mine and I decided it was worth a try. I know I had said I would let her lead, but in this moment, I was overcome by my own selfishness and greed. So I slowly inched my face in closer to Bella's, silently asking and warning with my eyes if this was okay, fucking praying it was, and she just parted her lips ever-so-slightly and gazed into my eyes, willing me to come closer.

So I did. And I teased her a bit, stopping right before our lips touched, and Bella just couldn't wait, so she pushed her lips to mine, pretty fucking forcefully too, and we were kissing.

And it was bliss.

BPOV

I had never kissed a guy before so I wasn't really sure what to do, or even if Edward was enjoying it half as much as I was.

I knew I probably shouldn't have pounced on him right before he was going to kiss me, but I just couldn't wait. I needed his lips at that moment so badly, it was a miracle I didn't just jump out of my seat and over the stupid transmission.

And I felt kinda embarrassed by the feelings raging inside me. Yeah, my heart was pumping, and yeah, my brain wasn't working straight, and yeah, I was experiencing a new hunger that I had never had before. And it had nothing to do with food.

Later that night, I tried a million ways to describe it but I couldn't think of a single word great enough or big enough to hold what that kiss had held.

I replayed it in my head when trying to fall asleep. The way Edward's lips had followed mine and the taste of his sweet breath in my mouth…

By the time Edward was ready to end the kiss, because I never would, I had forgotten the time and place, only super-aware of Edward's lips slightly pulling up at the corners into a grin and more aware, that they were pulling away from me.

He had taken a deep breath and just chuckled. I am assuming he was laughing at my face because it probably looked pretty ridiculous. Eyes closed, and the widest grin just plastered on my face.

"Um, I think you better go inside. Charlie's waiting for you."

"Hmm, what? Charlie… CHARLIE!! Oh my god, yeah. See you tomorrow?"

I couldn't help but ask it as a question. I wasn't sure if Edward was just a part of my imagination, too good to be true, or even if he was real, if he would still talk to me the next day.

"Yeah."

And with that, I got out of the car, and walked toward the front door. I thought I heard the quiet sound of an automatic window rolling down but kept walking.

"And Bella," oh, so I had heard the window, and I just turned to face him.

"Try not to trip on the stairs."

And with a crooked smile he rolled the silver Volvo's tilted window back up, so I could no longer see his face, and drove off.

Once I got inside, the interrogation started.

"Bella, whose car was that outside?"

"Edward Cullen's."

And I swear Charlie's face turned a darker shade of red when I said his name.

"Why were you in Edward Cullen's car?"

"Because Esme offered me a ride home and Edward was kind enough to bring me." And I thought it would be easier just to share it all at once, so I said,

"Edward will also be picking me up tomorrow morning at Esme's request because I can't drive. You know, he's not as bad as you think. He seems pretty nice, from what I got in the car ride."

I wouldn't tell Charlie how much more than nice I actually thought Edward was—perfect, gorgeous, and impossibly screwed up, because that might actually induce a full-on heart attack.

And with that, I walked up the stairs, careful not to trip for Edward, and hummed all the way to my room, unable to contain my happiness.

Then I remembered Jessica. Ugh, might as well get that over with. So I called her.

"Hello? Bella? Oh my god, you have to tell me everything!" And she squealed.

I was really tempted to squeal along with her but I wasn't sure what was going on between Edward and me or if he would appreciate me telling everyone how far we had gotten. Okay, so it was only a kiss, not even French, but it was the farthest I had ever gotten.

"What do you want to know?"

"You can start with what happened at lunch."

"Well, I broke my wrist, he found me, and helped me get to the nurse's office. He then offered to bring me to the hospital afterschool and helped me get a cast."

"That's it?" She seemed kinda disappointed, as if the story was lacking in the juicy department.

"Yeah… pretty much."

"So, do you like him?"

"Yeah, he's not as bad as I thought he was." He was a million times better.

"No, but do you like him like him?"

This is where things got fuzzy. Of course I liked him, but I wasn't willing to tell Jessica that. At least, not yet. So I avoided it.

"I'm not sure. But today, in Government, Mike asked about you, and what you were doing this Friday."

"Really? Tell me exactly what he said."

And I spent a whole hour on the phone with Jessica breaking down the five minutes during which Newton had actually had a decent conversation with me.

And at 10:00, I finally started my homework. It would be a long night, but I didn't mind one bit because a majority of it had been spent with Edward.

When I finally laid my head down to rest at 3:00 am, I assessed the situation.

Tuesday had been an interesting day, to say the least. There were the new developments between Edward and me that neither of us would be able to avoid anymore, and there was his… habit that needed to be addressed too.

But, despite his problem, I couldn't come to like him any less.

EPOV

Fuck. I had kissed Bella. Or more accurately, Bella had kissed me. It wasn't so much the kiss that had surprised me, although she was a pretty fucking fantastic kisser, it was the fact that she had kissed me after learning about my stash.

So she was… okay with it? What the fuck? Just when I thought I had figured her out as the good girl, the Chief's fucking daughter, she surprised me by just fucking accepting my addiction?

And I left that thought unfinished because on the way home, I realized I hadn't smoked at all since Monday, which was only yesterday, but today had been one fucking stressful day and I needed a release fast.

And because the school was on my way home anyway, I decided to stop there and walk out to the spot to get a much needed fix. Anyways, it was a new stash and I was dying to try it out. Literally. I was so fucked up I even had started joking about life and death? Shit.

So after I had parked the car, I got out my flashlight and put my jacket on because it was pretty fucking cold and walked to the spot. After I rolled it up, pretty expertly if you ask me, I lit my joint and took a big puff.

The last thing I remember was nodding my head at the thought of Bella seeing me do this…

And then it was Wednesday. And I was still stoned as fuck. I wasn't sure what had been in the new stash, but it lasted a fucking long time.

And suddenly I dreaded going to school. It wasn't because I cared about being high in class, I had done that shit tons in the past. I was worried about being high in front of Bella. I was afraid of disappointing her, but it wasn't like she didn't know. Plus, if we ended up kissing again, I didn't want to be high while doing it. Because I wanted to remember everything clearly, not in a fucking haze.

BPOV

I decided I wouldn't confront Edward about his problem until I knew exactly how bad it was and did some research first. I didn't know the first thing about drugs, and all I could remember were the obvious facts from D.A.R.E. class. So, needless to say, I had a lot to learn.

He didn't show up. Edward DID. NOT. SHOW. UP. So I had to be driven by Chief Swan, in the cruiser, to school in front of everyone. It was brutal. But the embarrassment was nothing in comparison to the pain I was feeling from Edward's no-show. I felt inadequate, unimportant, and ignored. And quite frankly, a bit pissed too. I decided I would go all bitchy on him when I had the chance because as much as I liked Edward, he needed to be slapped around a bit. Of course not literally, but if need be, then yes, I would give him a good smack on the head and just ask him "What were you thinking?!?!?"

Wednesday went by pretty quick with all the anticipation building inside me to see Edward again. Even Jessica told me I was fidgeting at the lunch table. I blushed at that but brushed off her questions. I wasn't ready to tell her anything yet.

Finally the last bell rang and I basically sprinted out of the classroom, down the hall, around the corner, to the tutoring room. It was more than an intense power walk and faster than a jog so it was pretty much full-out sprinting. I knew the sensible thing was to avoid acting like a madwoman, but I just couldn't help it. I was excited. But no worries. I was still pissed too, I would let him have a little bit of both my extreme emotions.

I was about to walk into the room when someone lightly tugged on my backpack. So I turned around to see Edward, intensely gazing at the ground.

He didn't look happy. Which made me unravel inside. So I would save my bitchiness for later, because right now, Edward needed something other than criticism.

"Edward, hey, are you okay?" And he just kept starring at the floor with a regretful look on his face. Oh no… he didn't regret the kiss did he? Because I sure as hell didn't.

"Bella, I don't think… I don't think we can have a lesson today."

Now I definitely was crushed.

"Why?"

And at that, Edward gave me a silent response. He only lifted his gaze from the floor to my face, but that was enough.

I could tell he was high because his eyes were vaguely bloodshot, pupils dilated, but most of all, his eyes seemed so lifeless, empty.

"In school?" I asked incredulously. Smoking in your free time, okay. During school, not so much.

"No. Yesterday, after I dropped you off. It's just taking a while to… wear off."

And then, I had this absurd notion that my kissing had been so bad he had felt the urge to smoke, but that was just my self-conscious, utterly ridiculous, teenage self talking. Right?

"I'm sorry, Bella. I.. I don't know what to say."

And despite all the anguish he was feeling, and I was feeling for him, I couldn't stop myself from putting my fingers on his cheek and slowly stroking his face. Anything to make the crease in his forehead go away. Anything.

I took a deep sigh. His problem was worse than I had anticipated and I would need to act fast. I could do that, learn fast, act fast. So, to get to my research, I would have to somehow tell Edward it was okay that today was no good and hurry home to my laptop.

"It's okay. Just, get better, okay?"

I meant sober up, but what he probably didn't catch was that I meant sober up, permanently.

And Edward silently nodded his head, closed his eyes, and took my hand that was stroking his face and brought it to his lips.

I took a sharp intake of breath. I couldn't help it, the energy was all around us again and it was overwhelming my mind.

He kissed my hand gently, opened his eyes, and moved to my other hand, the one in the cast.

And silently, he just kissed every finger so tenderly, I barely felt his lips, and he gazed into my eyes. Then, without saying a word, he let go, turned, and walked away.

Though I was frozen in place, only one thought went through my mind. He had let go of me.

Phew! Longest chapter yet! But totally worth it! Love you all... and I was asked if other characters from Twilight will make appearences.. So I'm not totally sure where chapters go until right before I write them so if they really are essential then maybe, but I might not complicate the story by adding a ton more characters. But I really do love Alice... so maybe her. Ha ha. I'm a pushover too ;)

Reviews are awesome! :)