The Twilight Series belongs to S. Meyer, no copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing with the characters.
AN: Hopefully, there will be a few clues here. Enjoy!
The rising sun didn't provide enough warmth to keep her from shivering. With her first shiver, the arms around her tightened; pulling her further into his warm embrace. Guiltily she thought of how comfortable it felt to be wrapped in his arms. What was she doing? Sam, her boyfriend, the love of her life was gone and she was thinking about someone else. It didn't matter what he told her—she was a horrible person.
She was torn; wanting to pull away and move closer at the same time. He was Sam's friend—her friend by extension. He was only this near her to provide her comfort. That's all. Her fucked up feelings towards him were her problem, not his.
Clearing her throat, she shifted; trying to put distance between them. For a moment, it felt like he tried to stop her and hold her closer. Shaking her head, she told herself she was imagining things. He had never expressed any type of interest in her nor her in him. They were just two friends coming together due to a tragedy.
"Better now," he asked.
"Yeah, I guess. Thanks for..."
"No worries," he told her with a shrug. "You know this is one of those times you shouldn't be alone. Have you talked to your family?"
She frowned and he felt tempted to smooth the wrinkles from her forehead. "They...I've tried...they don't understand it. They keep telling me to let go and I'm ready but I'm not. I know they don't mean it but...it's like they minimize what our feelings for each other are...were. That our feelings couldn't be that strong..."
"Well, if you need someone to talk to—I can listen. I can't guarantee I'll be helpful but I'll try."
She looked in his eyes and saw the sincerity there. It was exactly what she needed to hear. All she wanted was someone on her side, someone who would try to understand and not make judgments or tell her what to do.
"Thank you," she spoke softly as she moved the final few inches out of his arms. Standing up, she shivered when the breeze hit her body fully. "I hadn't realized how cool it was this morning. I should get going."
She extended her hand in a gesture of help and friendship. When he grasped it her palm tingled—a feeling of electricity jolted through her skin. Gasping, her eyes darted to their joined hands as she tried to figure out whether it was her overactive imagination at work. He held her hand as he pushed himself up and she found herself craning her neck to look into his eyes. Dark eyes so similar to her own; limpid pools of dark brown that she could lose herself in.
Blushing, she glanced away. Why now? she wondered. She felt pulled toward him. The forces of nature and fate deciding to completely change everything she had believed in. And in that moment she made a choice—she didn't want to go through this alone and he had offered to help her.
"Do you think...if you're not busy, of course," she stammered. "Would you want to come over tomorrow and watch a movie? My mom's working all day. And my dad and Seth are going camping. I just...I don't want to be by myself."
"Sure, what time?"
"Around noon?"
His hand squeezed hers and he nodded. Reluctantly he released her hand. She was the first to turn away. His eyes following her retreating form. She was no more than a dozen feet from him when she turned to look at him a final time, "I'll see you tomorrow." A small smile accompanied her words along with a wave.
As wrong as it might be he was willing to admit he still had feelings for her. But these were no longer the feelings of a young boy. His soul was going to be damned for all eternity but he no longer cared. He wasn't going to deny how he felt and maybe it wasn't the right time but he hoped someday it would be.
The following day she waited impatiently for the morning to pass and for noon to arrive. She was nervous and excited; refusing to delve into the reasons why. It had been so long since she had done anything other than worry and pray. She needed to just take a moment to breathe. A moment to be who she was a few weeks ago before life threw her this curve ball.
The small grandfather clock that had once belonged to her grandfather Clearwater sounded the hour. The booming chimes rattled her psyche. What had she been thinking? It was too late to call and tell him to stay home, to un-invite him.
She jumped at the soft knock on the front door. Her palms were slick with sweat, making it all the more difficult to grasp the door handle. Her hand slipped for the third time so she finally wiped her palm on her jeans. Once again grasping the handle; this time her efforts were met with success. The handle turning easily and she opened the door.
As the door opened wider, his profile came into view. She was unable to stop her eyes from roving over him. He was so similar yet different from Sam. The same copper-colored skin, the midnight black hair, the tall physique and musculature. That was where the similarities ended.
There was a roundness to his face reminiscent of his young age. His face was free of worry lines that were so prominent on Sam's. When he turned to face her fully, his lips curved into a soft smile. He was breathtaking in that moment and it tore her already fragile heart into a million pieces.
"Good afternoon."
"Hey, thanks for coming over," she replied, stepping to the side to allow him entry.
"So, what movie's on the agenda?"
"I figured we'd stick with a classic," she chuckled softly before continuing, "The Princess Bride."
"As you wish," he replied with a small bow. "Lead the way."
They walked into the living room together, taking a seat on opposite sides of the couch. She had already put the movie in the player and had beverages and snacks arranged on the coffee table. Starting the movie, they sat in silence; both of them pulled into story of Princess Buttercup and her love, Wesley.
She had forgotten how much she enjoyed this movie. How much she had wanted someone to love her like that. To fight for her and defeat the obstacles in the way. But real life was not like a fairy tale or a movie. The hero didn't always survive against all odds.
She didn't notice the tears running down her cheeks nor her shaking frame, at first. It wasn't until he was pressed firmly to her side with an arm wrapped around her that she realized she was crying. Without thinking about it and against her better judgment she buried her face into his chest.
"Shh, it's okay. I'm here," he murmured to her.
His warmth and strength seeped into her. How could she deny the comfort his embrace offered? She stopped trying to fight it and curled further into his arms. And he pulled her closer to him; his arms tightening around her. One hand began to softly stroke along her back.
His voice whispering in her ear; little things that she could barely focus on. The words didn't matter; instead she drew strength from him and her tears slowed until finally stopping. Her face reddened with embarrassment when she realized the intimacy of their embrace.
She pulled away so quickly her head smacked into his chin. "Ouch," he grunted; a hand reaching upwards to rub his chin.
"Sorry...sorry for...umm...falling apart there and...your chin."
"It's okay. My head's tougher than it looks."
She edged her way out of his arms. Her gaze focused downwards so she didn't see the frown on his face nor the hurt look in his eyes. It would be so easy—easy as breathing to love her. But this wasn't the time. She was still hurting over Sam and it felt like a betrayal to his memory.