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BPOV

I stood in front of the mirror, leaning to the side as my hands slowly advanced towards the permanent ink trailing across my lower back. I could almost feel the tiny needle piercing my skin as I thought back to that day. Remembering the silly tears that flushed past my cheeks, the cold draft of the parlor…his soft hands entwined with mine.

My eyes darted towards the door as a soft knock penetrated the room.

"Bella are you okay?" Alice asked, concern wrapping around the usual perkiness of her voice.

"Yah, I'll be out in a second." I replied.

I stood in silence as I waited to hear her receding footsteps. When I was sure she was gone, I returned my gaze to the mirror. A set of black numbers glanced back at me.

4-21-87

I smiled as I covered the tattoo that I had gotten my when I was seventeen. Charlie had blown a fuse when he discovered it and Emmett had laughed at the stupidity of it, but I never regretted it. And even in the bottomless pit that I now found myself in, I was still somehow able to smile at the soft numbers of my best friend's birthday.

I opened the door quietly and wondered if Edward too was smiling down at my numbers that branded his left bicep.

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It had been three days since the batting cage incident. I had called him repeatedly but was only met with the answering machine. Needless to say, it was also another "date" ruined with Jacob. He understood, much to my surprise, but at the same time I could tell he was disappointed. I would have to make it up to him. But first I had to fix things with Edward.

I pulled at the loose strands of my ponytail as I slumped into the soft folds of the couch. I felt the beginnings of the defined dip in the cushions due to my lack of activity.

"So has he called?" I asked, looking up at Alice who was slicing an apple beside the house phone.

"No" she said quietly, placing the knife into the sink. I winced as I heard the sharp sound of metal licking metal. "I'm sorry."

My hands reached my thigh and I shrugged. I didn't deserve his phone call regardless.

"Bella, would you just tell me what happened." She said, crouching beside me. "Jacob said Edward looked really upset."

I shook my head as I stared into the blank television.

"He thinks I hate him." I said softy, refusing to look at her.

"Why would he think that?"

"Because…"

"Bella, I think you should go talk to my brother. Face to face I mean." She said, not allowing me to finish.

"I don't think I can do that" I said, fighting tears. I hated myself for crying. I had brought this on myself.

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EPOV

"Your apartment is a pig sty," said Jasper shaking his head in disgust.

"Then leave." I snapped back. My eyes were glued to the television, as my hands thoughtlessly flipped through the channels.

"You have to stop this Edward. You've had fifteen years to tell her. But you haven't. Get up. Live. And for God's sake, take a shower."

I rolled my eyes as I shifted my body from the couch. Pizza boxes and red plastic cups strewed across the coffee table and a pile of unclean clothes blanketed the floor. So maybe my apartment was a mess and maybe I was moping around, but I didn't care. Making an effort to pretend to be okay had ended days ago. I was lost without Bella. There was no need to hide it.

"You're still coming to the dinner right?" Jasper said glancing at the clock.

I closed my eyes as I remembered the monthly dinners that my parents held. Everybody came, Emmett, Alice, Jasper…Bella; the whole gang. Ever since we were in high school, we looked forward to the ritual. Now here I was, pathetically trying to shield the thoughts of torture I was likely to endure from sitting across Bella in our current condition.

"Well seeing how it is at my parents' house, I don't think I can get out of it." I said slapping the arm of the couch.

"Don't stress," Jasper shrugged, "It's just dinner. When we get home you can continue on with your moping. No worries."

I was quiet for a minute.

"Did you know Alice was in love with you before she told you?" I asked suddenly. It always bothered me how easily my sister had found love while I, on the other hand, was struggling to mutter the three simple words.

Jasper sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

"Man I don't know. I mean I guess I sensed it…" his voice trailed on.

I nodded my head, flipping to another channel.

"Edward, she does love you. I see it. Alice sees it. We all do."

"No she doesn't." I said quietly. "I kissed her and she's throwing me out like trash."

"She's just scared."

"Yah well, what am I supposed to do." I said, anger pulsing throughout my body as I turned to glare at Jasper.

"I showed her how I felt and she's not even willing to acknowledge it. It's like I'm the plague. You should have seen the way she looked at me yesterday…like I was a burden or something."

"Whatever Edward. I've had this conversation with you for years and I'm done. You don't fight for Bella and then you wonder why things are the way they are."

I sat back, surprised at the harshness of Jasper's words. My hands balled into fists as I heard him slam the door on his way out. I was pissed. I fought for Bella. I showed her how I felt, and I fought for her at the batting cage. I pleaded with her to try and fix us and she did nothing. I fought for her.

My hands rested on the back of my neck as I recoiled into the couch trying to convince myself of the latter.

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BPOV

Sighing, I pushed through the grand doors of the Cullen's house.

"Bella!" Esme yelled she as she flew around the corner, her delicate arms wrapping around my torso. I smiled back at Edward and Alice's extremely attractive mother and returned the hug.

While growing up, Esme and Carlisle had become family to me. I had spent so much time at their house between sleepovers with Alice and hanging out with Edward that they even had pictures of me hanging on their walls. I smiled as I was welcomed into my second home.

"Mom, let her breath" Alice giggled from the side of me.

"Oh sorry," Esme said, releasing me and giving Alice an equally heart felt hug, "I just miss my girls so much!"

I smiled as I followed them past their mahogany entrance and into their newly renovated kitchen. I awed at Esme's great eye for detail as my eyes trailed along the granite countertops. She always said if she hadn't loved teaching so much, she would have started her own interior design company.

"The boys will be here any minute." She said, returning to chop at a stock of celery.

My body tensed as I thought about what that meant.

"My three favorite girls!" Carlisle exclaimed, removing me from my panicked state as he glided into the kitchen. He was always very protective of me and it made me smile as I remembered all the guys he and Charlie would scare off during high school.

"Hey Carlisle!" I said giving him a tight hug. He kissed my forehead and moved to embrace Alice.

We spent the next five minutes telling Esme and Carlisle about our apartment and college life. I'd missed them so much that it felt good to just relax and have a normal conversation for once.

There was a knock at the door and suddenly four voices filled the room.

I turned my head and smirked as I saw a new comer's hand snagged in between my brother's.

"Hey Rosalie" I said, as Emmett's "nurse" gave me a hug. I couldn't believe that they were already on "meet the parents" level. Emmett was also really close to Esme and Carlisle, almost more than he was our own parents, so having him bring Rosalie over for our monthly dinner meant he was serious.

I smiled as I watched Emmett look at Rosalie. It was loving and soft. Definitely not my brother. Almost immediately I was pulled from my gaze as Jasper entered the kitchen… with Edward trailing behind.

"Hey boys" Carlisle yelled as he and Emmett retreated to the television for a game. Jasper walked across the room and grabbed Alice by the waist making her squeal while Rosalie left to help Esme with the food.

I felt the hairs on my body curl upwards as I faced Edward.

"Hey" I said awkwardly. His amber eyes gazed into mine and for a minute he didn't say anything.

"Hi" he finally said placing his hands in his front pockets. His arms flexed and I could see the muscle beginning to trail down his toned biceps. If I wasn't so nervous, it would've annoyed me how easily he took my breath away.

"Edward can you grab me the wine from the fridge." Esme called nonchalantly, turning towards our direction.

"Yeah sure mom" he said, not even bothering to look at me as he walked away.

I sighed as I made my way towards Alice. I knew I had a long night ahead of me.

"So Emmett, where did you meet Rose?" Esme asked softly as she slid a bowl of mashed potatoes in his direction.

"She was my nurse" he said quickly through mouthfuls of food. "You know, after the accident." I frowned at his lack of manners. But then again, I guess it didn't matter if Rosalie had already accepted him enough to be sitting next to him while he ate.

"Oh how's your leg?" said Carlisle.

"It's fine. Sore, but the doc says I should be good in another four weeks." He replied rubbing his knee.

"You wouldn't have gotten into the accident if it weren't for that stupid motorcycle." I snapped, rolling my eyes at him.

Emmett only smiled as he shoveled another heaping of food into his mouth.

"I can't help it Bells. I love my ride. And you know what they say about love…"

"What?" I asked returning his smile.

"That you can't hide from it, especially when it sits across the table from you." He said, glancing at Edward.

Edward and I both choked on our food at Emmett's sly remark. I gave him a serious glare and kicked Jasper under the table who was practically turning red from holding back his laughter.

"Love also makes you do stupid things." I said, tapping my head with my index finger. I was still upset with Emmett for being so reckless and not to mention sprinkling the table with cryptic messages for all to ponder.

"You would know." He said winking at me.

I rolled my eyes in frustration and continued to eat my food. We were going to have to have a serious talk after dinner.

Esme cleared her throat after frowning at Emmett and I and redirected her attention towards me.

"So Bella have you met anybody at school?" she said, moving her eyebrows up and down.

I glanced up to answer her but not before noticing Edward's head snap in my direction.

"No." I said shaking my head.

"Oh come on Bella, there must be someone that interests you. You can't be that preoccupied with your studies, " she said smiling.

"She's preoccupied alright", I heard Emmett chuckle from across the table. Out of the corner of my eye, I still could see Edward staring at me.

"No, really" I said clearing my throat. How this conversation ended up circulating around me, I had no clue. "There's nobody." I lied. This time my eyes stretched across the table to meet Edward's. He glanced at me momentarily before turning his head. He looked angry and hurt…and sexy and gorgeous all at the same time. It was frustrating.

"Well I'm sure you'll find someone soon." Esme said reassuringly as she began to get on Emmett for his lack of manners.

My head swirled as I listened to the pointless conversation that surrounded the table. Sometime throughout the dinner my thoughts were interrupted by Alice's loud shrills.

"It's snowing!!" she yelled pointing to the window.

Sure enough white specks were beginning to blanket the night air.

"That's…crazy" Rosalie said, walking over to the window. "It's snowing…in Forks…and it was just over eighty degrees yesterday."

I pulled my eyes from the window and frowned. Although it was mid October, it was way to early to be snowing.

Esme had already made it to the kitchen plasma and was snapping at the remote until she made it to the weather channel. We all stood and listened as the weatherman warned of the severe snowstorm that was expected to sweep through during the night.

Twenty minutes later, the foundations of the house could be heard moaning as strong winds blasted through the air. The snow had picked up and soon there was nothing but white windows and white grass.

"Well you all are definitely not driving home in that." Carlisle said quickly as he turned on the fireplace.

"Yes, you guys can just spend the night and leave in the morning when the weather clears up." Esme quickly agreed, giving Emmett a tight squeeze who looked rather disappointed. He hated the bad weather just as much as I did.

"I'll go get the rooms ready." She said as she turned towards the staircase.

"I'll go get blankets and we can watch a movie" Alice said as she hopped down from the kitchen counter. A bright smile crossed her face and I could tell she was excited.

"Oh don't sweat it Emmett," she said, giving him a playful pat on the back. "It'll be just like old times when we would all sleep over. Oh and plus we have Rosalie now."

He smiled weakly as he went to help Alice get the blankets. I laughed slightly at the sight. Even in high school short, quirky Alice had always been the one to calm Emmett down. It was rather amusing.

"You guys used to have sleepovers?" Rosalie laughed as she looked at me.

"Yah," I replied, "All the time. You're in for a treat." I said, giving her a wink as I thought back to countless weekends at the Cullen's house. Alice and Emmett would argue over what movie to watch. Jasper would make nasty concoctions in the kitchen only to get scolded by Esme. And Edward and I would sit back and laugh at it all, content in our own world. My stomach quickly churned as I realized that not only would things between Edward and I not be the same tonight, but probably for a long time to come.

"Oh crap.." Esme said, gliding down the stairs. "I forgot that I'm renovating two of the guest rooms upstairs. You guys will just have to pair up. Alice, you and Rose can take the first room, Emmett and Jasper can share and then….Edward and Bella." She said nonchalantly.

My heart sped as I realized the compromising situation I had just been placed in. Then I panicked as Edward's eyes once again flickered in my direction.

I see some sexual tension in the next chapter and maybe some confessions! What about you? Review!!