A/N - Happy New Year, Everyone! Best wishes to you all, now and always. :)

Chapter Eighteen: Running

"Owwwww."

I sat up gingerly, placing a hand to my head. Dear God, it's me, Bella – NEVER EVER LET ME HAVE ALCOHOL AGAIN. Just smite me, or something, will you?

I heard a low chuckle and I sat up a little straighter. Mmmm…on the other hand, if alcohol means good Edward dreams, then I'm all for it.

I blinked, and a very real, very non-dreamlike Edward swam into view. Oh, he was still dreamy, of course, but he also looked very solid. My jaw dropped. Shit.

"Good morning," he was smirking slightly "I thought this would help." Edward handed me a steaming paper travel cup of what smelled like coffee. "I can't promise it'll taste good," he said with mock regret, a smile still in his voice "but it should help with the head. Just so you know, I risked my life and walked all the way down to the cafeteria to get it."

I accepted it gratefully and took a cautious sip. That'll do, pig. That'll do.

"The cafeteria is three buildings over," I reminded him.

"I know," he grinned.

It was quiet as I took another fortifying sip of coffee, and the world came into focus. And I suddenly realized that I was quite naked.

"I…um," I clutched the sheet around myself as I progressed instantly from pale pink to fuchsia. "Did we…?"

Edward looked slightly uncomfortable, and I wanted to hit myself in the head for my stupidity. Obviously, Bella. Why else would you be in his room, on his bed, NAKED?

He nodded. "You don't remember?" he asked quietly.

Actually, now that you mention it…OH MY GOD.

"Did I tell you I loved you?" I squeaked in horror.

"Um. Yes," he said, looking even more awkward now. I might have shrieked a little then, and buried my face in the pillow.

SMITE ME NOW. If there was ever a better time, it would have to be pretty damn good.

I could think of little worse than having a drunken one night stand with the man I'd been in love with for six years and, while under the influence of alcohol, having told him that I was in love with him. Yeah, totally my Saturday night.

"What time is it?" I asked quietly, interrupting his silent floundering for words.

"Erm," he flipped his wrist over rapidly to check his watch. "Five minutes to seven."

"Crap," I moaned.

Edward looked surprised. "We don't have to walk them into town until noon."

"Right," I agreed slowly "but how do I get back to my dorm without getting caught?"

Now for the dreaded walk of shame. Or dash, actually. At this late hour, the quad would be swarmed with kids. I was so screwed – if we had just used my room, then he would have to make a run for it. Seeing as he was the better runner, it seemed only fair. I was going to snap Rosalie's copy of Legally Blonde in half.

"Oh," Edward frowned, seeing the problem in this. "I could um, create a diversion."

I raised my eyebrows. Seriously? Underneath the many layers of my embarrassment, I felt sort of bad. The poor guy was obviously trying hard to help me. In fact, when he'd first come in the room, he'd seemed like he was in a good mood. Now, he just looked slightly miserable.

"Look," he said hastily "why don't we find you something to wear, first. You're welcome to anything I have…" he trailed off, gesturing to his dresser and closet.

"I appreciate the offer," I said as gently as I could, given the situation "but I think that me running out of here in one of your dress shirts would perpetuate the Morning-After image."

"We could pretend that Drag Day came early," he suggested.

We both chuckled awkwardly at the memory of Drag Day from our youth. Alice and Rose's theme of the Morning-After look would have worked for me, if it weren't for the fact that Drag Day was next week.

"Give me your smallest, most unisex hoodie and pair of sweatpants," I sighed, and he strode to the closet, returning with the requested items.

"Erm," he said again as it dawned on us both that I was still wearing nothing more than a sheet. I could not risk going to the bathroom to change, which was down the hall, in between the boys' rooms. "I'll just…" He turned around, blushing, and I jumped into those clothes like a lobster out of a pot of boiling water.

"So…what did you have in mind for a diversion?" I asked, by way of telling him that it was safe to turn around.

"Early Drag Day," he shrugged.

That brought me up short.

"You would do that?" I asked, completely touched.

He grinned. "For you, I would."

In five minutes, Edward was all done up in my outfit from the previous night, which was thankfully mainly comprised of spandex. One-size-fits-all may provoke Alice's disdain, but it has many uses when avoiding the walk of shame, I was learning.

"Okay," he whispered at the door. "I'm going to go out, and it'll take about 5 seconds before they notice me, and then their eyes will be on me for at least forty seconds. That gives you a thirty second window to get across the quad before anyone notices. Can you handle that?"

"I think so," I said nervously, nearly drowning in his hoodie and pants. There was always the chance that I would trip on the hem.

"Here I go," he said grimly, throwing in one last reminder. "Count to five."

He stepped out the door, already gone by the time I whispered my thanks. One Mississippi, Two Mississippi…

I bolted.

I threw everything I had into that dash, forgetting subtle, forgetting inconspicuous. All I needed was speed.

I hurtled over the volleyball court, around the benches, and through the door to the girls' dorm. I tripped up the stairs to my room and sank against the wall, panting for breath as somebody came out of the bathroom.

"Where were you?" Jessica asked with wide eyes.

"None of your business," I snapped, fumbling with the lock on my door. As her lip pouted with hurt, I backpedaled. "Look, can we keep this between us?"

"Of course," she said earnestly, looking for gossip as she made the Brownie sign to let me know that she wouldn't tell a soul. Right.

I winked conspiratorially at her, biding my time while my poor brain could come up with a story. I sincerely hoped that I hadn't just sold my soul to this annoying little twit.

"Bella!" I flinched as I turned to face yet another person. Luck was on my side; it was Alice, and she goggled at my bedraggled state before smiling at me.

Jessica was still waiting for the goods as Alice approached, surprising me with a hug.

"Thanks again for your help last night, Bella. You're such a good friend."

I looked at her in confusion, but Alice raised her eyebrows – just go with it.

Slinging her arm around my shoulders, Alice turned to Jessica. "Can you keep a secret? I was having boy problems, and Bella's such a good friend that she stayed with me all night."

Jessica nodded, looking slightly disappointed that – as far as she knew – I hadn't slept over in the way that she'd thought.

"Breakfast," I told her firmly, and she scampered off.

"You. Are. A. Lifesaver," I sighed, letting Alice into my room and leaning my head against the wall.

"Don't I know it," she agreed cheerfully. "Now, spill."

"I went home with Edward," I groaned.

"That much," she said dryly "was obvious. Did you sleep with him? Was it good?"

"Yes, and yes," I admitted shamefully, tacking on "I think," at the end. At the time, I had been nowhere near sober enough to judge quality, but I was sure that, Edward being Edward, it had been amazing.

Alice slapped my arm appreciatively, and waited for me to shower and grab breakfast before bombarding me with more questions.

The thing was, after I came to terms with the fact that I had made a complete and utter fool of myself, professing my love to Edward, I couldn't help but notice that he hadn't said it back.