A/N: Thanks for all of the lovely reviews...I really love the ones full of encouragement!! They always give me confidence to keep writing (gosh reading some of those other fics out there can be a bit intimidating!!)

CHAPTER 16: Signs

EPOV

Sunday morning I was up and out of the house before I heard anyone else stir. Mom and Dad were away and everyone else was hung over as all hell. I contemplated going into Alice's room and waking her up to get her help, but she was pretty hammered when I last noticed her so I figured she'd probably be as useful as tits on a bull. And anyway, I should do this on my own, it had to come from my heart.

Mom's garden had a few flowers, but it was down by the stream I found some flowers for Bella. I picked what I could, figuring she'd appreciate something handpicked rather than flowers from the florist. God I hope I was right about that. I wrote a note, actually I wrote several notes before I settled on 'You are the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning. I could never regret that.' I just prayed that she understood the meaning. She was my first, she knew that. And I hadn't regretted that night with her and I didn't regret last night. I wanted to make sure she understood that I had no regrets, when it came to her at least.

I dropped the flowers on Bella's front doorstep after I'd seen Charlie leave in his uniform. Chicken shit I know, I should have knocked. But I decided to sit in my car just down the street and wait for her to come out and get them. I was in Mom's car which she hopefully wouldn't recognise. I could be there all fucking day for all I knew but I got lucky when a delivery van pulled up out the front of Bella's. Or so I'd thought, luck was definitely not on my side when I saw what he was delivering. Fuck. How could my dodgy bunch of handpicked flowers compete with a big fuck off bunch of roses. They must have cost James, presumably, a fortune. I just wanted to get out of my car, run to the door and salvage what dignity I had left by throwing those goddamn handpicked flowers away.

The delivery guy knocked on the door. I saw him look down and cock his head to the side as he noticed my flowers. Kick them to the side, just...kick them away so she doesn't notice! Please put me out of my misery. My head dropped to my hands as I growled in frustration. When I looked back up Bella was at the door and the delivery guy was handing her the flowers. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of her, as usual. As he walked away I got a look at her face and it was stony. And then she did it, she looked down. Shit, shit, shit. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel just watching the train crash as it happened.

But then she smiled. She actually kind of smiled as she looked down. She fell to her knees laying the roses across her lap looking down at my ridiculous fucking bunch of flowers. But then she pulled an envelope off the roses pulling out a card. Fuck, I couldn't even manage a proper card, I'd just attached a tag to my flowers. My inadequacy was really shining through today. Nice work Cullen!

She didn't look impressed with the card. Good! But I wasn't out of the woods yet. Or maybe I was, I hadn't actually signed the tag, maybe she wouldn't know who it was from. Please let her have lots of admirers who could leave notes like that. That way she wouldn't know it was me!

She looked down at my flowers, reached out and flipped over the tag, the roses seemingly forgotten as they fell off her lap. I watched as her mouth dropped open as she read my message. It looked to be affecting her, more so than the note on the roses had anyway. She picked them up and looked at the flowers, studying them. They were seriously the worst bunch of flowers known to man, and I'd left them on the doorstep of the girl I had a serious thing for the morning after I'd kissed her when we both had significant others. Although I don't think 'significant' was the word I would use for Jess. Noose around my neck was a better descriptor. Bella cocked her head to the side in thought and then scooped up both bunches of flowers before standing up and going back inside.

Shit. Now I had to figure out what my next move should be. I had a few options. I could go see her today. James obviously hadn't shown up so at least I wouldn't run into him. But she may need time to calm down. At least she hadn't stomped on my flowers. Alternatively I could just leave it until school tomorrow, hope she didn't go off at me in the middle of class or in the cafeteria.

I opted for the latter, hoping to catch her in the car park first thing in the morning. If I did that it wouldn't look as desperate as it would have by showing up today, but it wouldn't have looked as cowardly as it would have when I was forced to see her in Bio.

I made my way home and by the time I got there every one seemed to be up and had either left or were in the kitchen just having finished with the clean up. Rose and Emmett were on their way out the door. Emmett just grunted at me and Rose patted me on the back on their way out. They never talked much when they were hung over.

It was just Jasper and Alice when I walked into the kitchen. They were on opposite sides of the island, she was giggling at something. Alice raised an eyebrow at me when I walked in and plonked myself onto a stool next to Jasper.

"Well good morning Edward."

"Jesus, why aren't you wrapped around a toilet bowl this morning?"

"Where did you go so early this morning dear brother?"

"Had something to do," I replied nonchalantly, reaching over and pinching some bacon off the plate that was sitting between Jasper and Alice.

"Have anything to do with you chasing Bella out of the house and Jess not being here last night?" Jasper asked without looking up at me, just smirking at Alice.

I looked up at Alice and then to Jasper, they were both smirking.

"How much did you see?"

"Not much, just another party in which you were noticeably absent, then all of a sudden I saw Bella come flying down the stairs, you flying after her out the front door only to return in a filthy mood. And then someone alerted me to the fact that Jess wasn't there at all. So tell me, did you finally break up with her?"

"What? No." I said defeated. "Her grandmother had a stroke, she had to go to Portland to be with her they don't think she's going to last very long."

"Is that right?" Alice asked incredulously.

"What?" I asked.

"Oh, nothing."

"So operation 'dump Jess' ass' has hit a bit of a hitch?"

"For now. Bella is with James anyway so what does it matter? He just sent her the biggest fuck off bunch of roses you've ever seen."

"How do you know?"

"I just left some dodgy flowers on her doorstep and then this delivery guy turns up with this huge bunch of roses that I can only assume are from the dickhead."

"Did she see you?"

"No I was in the car watching. But seriously you should have seen that shit I left for her. I didn't sign the note so maybe she won't know they're from me."

"Well there are other guys around who have a thing for her." Jasper replied. "She is pretty hot."

"Not helping Whitlock." I elbowed him in the ribs.

"So, what are you going to do?"

"Fuck I don't know. Got any suggestions?"

"Well," Alice piped up, "I'm going over there this afternoon for a bit of girl time so I'll see what I can find out for you."

"I think you need to make the grand gesture." How did Jasper know about shit like that?

"I kinda did....last night."

"What, what did you do," Alice practically screamed.

"I kissed her," I said sheepishly, knowing this would cause a barrage of questions from Alice.

"Oh my god, did she kiss you back? Please say yes."

"Yeah, she kissed me back, it was perfect. Then she pushed me away saying we had to stop and that's when you saw me chasing after her. So I just laid it all out there and told her how I felt."

"Fuck, Edward what did she say."

"Nothing, just that it was wrong and we couldn't and stuff."

"Yeah but, it's a start. I'm so excited. I'll do some recon on the flowers this afternoon. Sus out what she thinks."

It was the longest day and night in history. Alice took forever to go to Bella's and then took forever to get back. It was after seven by the time she walked into my room with a smug little smile on her face. I was lying on my bed doing some study. I think I'd read the same page about fifteen times just trying to concentrate, but I couldn't take my mind of the kiss.

"So, whatcha doin?" Alice walked in looking all smug and twirled around looking like a little fairy.

"Alice, just spill it, what did she say?" I pleaded flinging my text book on the floor next to my bed instantly losing interest in anything that wasn't related to Bella. Alice perched on the edge of my bed.

"Well, she didn't say anything. She didn't have to. When I walked into that house you could smell those freaking roses, they were asphyxiating. But I couldn't see them. We went into the lounge room and they were nowhere to be seen. Not on the dining room table either. We went up to her room and there sitting on her desk was the most miserable looking bunch of flowers I've ever seen. Really Edward, you should have asked for my help."

"I just wanted to do it myself."

"Well, for some unknown reason it seemed to work, because she'd put them in a vase in her bedroom." That had to be a good sign, right?

"But where were the roses?"

"I'm getting to that bit. So we're sitting on her bed just talking and I just couldn't contain myself any longer so I made some excuse about being thirsty and insisted I could help myself so I went to the kitchen and there they were, just sitting on the kitchen bench starting to wilt. She hadn't done anything with them. Just left them there."

"That's a good thing right?"

"Are you kidding. That's a great thing. It means she's pissed with James."

"But what about me. She was really pissed off with me when she left last night."

"Well, it doesn't look like she's pissed anymore. Or it doesn't look like she wants to be anyway."

"So she didn't say anything?"

"No, not a thing, but Rose was there as well so we didn't exactly get the chance to talk about the flowers or the kiss for that matter."

"Fuck. What now?" I ran both of my hands through my hair in frustration.

"Have you spoken to Jess today? When's she coming back?"

"Yeah I spoke to her earlier. Her grandmother's not great but she's stable. Jess just sounded really tired, like she'd been up all night at the hospital or something." I thought I heard Alice breath 'or something' under her breath. I just scowled at her and ignored it.

"So what did she get for Valentine's Day?"

"Nothing. I didn't send her anything. She left at the last minute so it's not like I had time."

"But what were you going to give her?"

"Chocolates."

Alice snorted at me and started laughing hysterically. "And here I was thinking you were an absolute pussy. You bought the most weight conscious girl I've ever met chocolates for Valentine's Day. Did you do it on purpose?"

I didn't answer, just smiled wryly at her.

"So, any secret admirers buy you anything this year Alice? Any flowers, chocolates, jewellery to speak of?" She blushed. My sister Alice actually fucking blushed. And then looked down at her hands trying to hide her smile. "Spill it Alice."

"It's nothing." She replied shyly, tracing the pattern on my blanket still hiding her face. "I'll tell you when I'm ready OK."

"Ooookay. But if he does anything to hurt you, I'll kick his ass, you know that don't you?"

"A little too well Edward," she said looking up into my eyes with a fairly serious expression on her face. I meant it, I'd kick the ass of any man that hurt my sister. I knew she still hurt over the fact that her father had done the bolt, I didn't want her to suffer anymore. I only hoped that whoever it was was worthy. She deserved to be treated like a princess.

::::::

I didn't get a lot of sleep Sunday night. I knew I had to speak to Bella this morning. If I didn't I was a pussy. There was just no other way of looking at it. I could step up and do this.

I got to school early and just sat in may car waiting, hoping like hell no one would notice me sitting there like the fucking stalker that I was. After yesterday and this morning I was really beginning to feel like one. All I needed to do now was sneak into her room at night without her permission and I was there. Fuck, that's not a bad idea. Fuck me Cullen, get a grip. OK, right.

The car park filled up but there was no sign of Bella yet. She was cutting it mighty fine if she wanted to get to class on time, and I was running out of time to say what I needed to say. When she finally arrived I knew the bell was about to go for first period so the speech I'd prepared would have to be cut down somehow. I got out of my car and watched as she tried to swing the behemoth of a truck into a parking space. I watched as the stupid thing rocked back and forth over the gravel a few times as she tried not to hit the other cars. It was a miracle she didn't hit anything and I couldn't help but laugh.

She looked up just at the wrong time and caught me smirking at her. Shit, that's not good. She just scowled at me, turned her truck off and made to get out. I walked towards her as she headed straight towards the school building without giving me a second look. But she must have heard my footsteps as I followed after her.

"I'm glad you find my parking abilities amusing Cullen." She yelled over her shoulder. My heart did a little twirl in my chest. Don't be such a fucking girl.

"Well, you've got to admit it's damn lucky you didn't hit anything don't you think?" I caught up to her and was now walking beside her. Casual conversation, this was good. I can smell her hair, that's not good.

"I'll have you know that my father taught me how to drive. Lots of defensive driving and all that. I'm a very good driver."

"I'm sure you are Bella, but that truck kind of takes up an inordinate amount of space don't you think? You do a fabulous job parking it."

"Are you trying to butter me up or something?"

"Yes." I smirked.

"Why?"

Hmmm, an opportunity. "You know why, I told you on Saturday night."

She stopped in her tracks biting down on her pretty bottom lip and looked down at her feet. Her hands fiddled with the strap of her backpack that was slung heavily over her right shoulder.

"Look Edward....." she looked up at me and I tried not to lose my shit. I just wanted to be with her so badly. I was drawn like a magnet.

"Bella..." I stepped towards her, closing the distance to less than a foot. I moved to place my hand on her cheek but she turned her face to the side a bit eluding me.

"We can't......." she was just staring at me so I smiled a little. I was using it and I knew it. Arrogant I know, but I was done playing Mr Nice Guy. "I mean, we just can't.....we've got to sort our shit out first OK."

Was that a green light.....well an amber one anyway. "So exactly what are you saying Bella?" I couldn't help but smile, I was doing a massive fucking happy dance on the inside.

"I mean..." the fucking bell went. Shit. "Look, I've got to go....it's just.......not yet alright?" And she was off, just like that. What the fuck was that supposed to mean? I think that was good. I mean, it was better than no wasn't it? I couldn't fucking wait for Biology, I'd get her talking then.

::::::

So Bio came and went and we didn't get the opportunity to talk. Banner had us taking notes all class so we just sat awkwardly next to each other and fidgeted, me running my fingers through my hair, Bella punishing her bottom lip, raking it in and out of her mouth....yes, I happened to be looking in her direction a great deal so I did notice. Did you expect anything less?

By Wednesday afternoon when I saw her in the parking lot just about to drive off I was going out of my mind with frustration from the lack of opportunity to talk to her privately. She didn't look like she was actually avoiding me, I noticed the odd sly glance, and she was being friendly when we did have the opportunity to speak, but there were always other people milling around so.....

Alice got into the car and was babbling on about something, she'd been like this all week, as if someone had put a firecracker under her ass and lit the fuse. The kid was on some drug of some description. All I could do was watch Bella as she drove off in her truck giving me a shy smile and a quick wave. Alice wasn't even looking in her direction so I'm pretty sure the wave was for me, and not for her. Definitely not ignoring me. That had to be a good sign right?

I was drawn from my day dreaming by Alice's incessant voice.

"Jesus Christ Alice can you just shut it for a few minutes, a little peace and quiet would be really good right now."

Alice stopped mid sentence and just looked at me a little shocked. "Well what's eating your ass today? It can't be that skanky girlfriend of yours as she clearly hasn't returned from whatever she's doing in...where was it...Portland."

"Shut it Alice. You know I can't do anything about that at the moment. How much of an asshole would I be if I broke up her while her grandmother's on her death bed?"

"Oh, probably no more of an asshole than you would be if you kissed another girl while you're still seeing her!"

Clearly I had no comeback for that one. I just huffed childishly and kept driving while Alice sat silently beside me. At least she wasn't rubbing it in.

"So Bella is coming over to study tomorrow night," Alice said almost to herself.

I glanced at her sideways but she wasn't looking at me, she was just looking out the window innocently. Have I mentioned how much I loved my sister.

"Is that right?" I asked.

"Hmmhmm. Maybe she'll stay for dinner." Maybe she'll stay the night! Suddenly my mood lifted and I was thinking about all of the things I could do to....I mean with Bella if she were to stay the night. I'm sure Alice wouldn't mind if I absconded with her for a while.

We arrived home and Alice forewarned Esme that we may have an extra head for dinner tomorrow night and there was a possibility that she'd stay. I went upstairs and tried to keep myself occupied just so my mind would stop wandering to the possibilities of Bella and I together. I opened books and tried to study, I cleaned up my desk, which turned into a full scale clean up of my room. The possibility of Bella being anywhere near my room made me nervous. I even changed my sheets. Was I hoping to get laid....absofuckinglutely. What hormonal teenage boy wasn't. Did I really expect that I would? Not entirely.

But Being with Bella was so much more than that. I just wanted to be with her. She fascinated me and warmed my heart with just a smile or a glance. I just wanted to see her happy with that mischievous glint in her eye, like she had back in Summer, before the accident. With Jess it had never been like this. I don't think I'd ever cleaned the sheets for her. Not that she'd ever stayed the night in my bed, but she was my girlfriend, wouldn't it have been logical that I would have wanted her to stay, and in clean sheets. You would think so wouldn't you?

So when Thursday came and Bella and Alice arrived home after school I was disappointed that she wasn't carrying an overnight bag. And then she was whisked away to Alice's room to study. I thought that was just a ruse so I could spend some time with her, but I could hear them giggling and gossiping so I didn't think much studying was taking place and they certainly hadn't invited me in. I really only got the opportunity to stare at her across the dining room table. My foot brushing hers a couple of times, each time she'd look at me and she'd blush before looking down at her meal. She was so fucking cute. I don't think Jess ever blushed. Not that that was a sign of anything bad, I just really fucking loved it that Bella did, it was an outward sign that I was having some kind of affect on her.

But she didn't stay. I don't know whether she never intended on staying or whether the phone call that Esme answered right as dinner was finishing up changed her mind. But her face fell a little when we could hear Esme asking the person on the other end how their grandmother was and then saying 'I'll just get him' and handing the phone to me with a raised eyebrow. So, yeah, I'm guessing that didn't help matters.

So on Friday at school I made a decision. I was going to go to her house tonight and confront her. She already knew how I felt, I just needed to know how she felt. Exactly. I got the impression she felt something for me, I just wasn't sure what. I wanted to know what she meant when she said "not yet."

Before leaving school on Friday I caught up with Jasper. He'd been pretty quiet all week and we hadn't seen that much of each other. There was something going on with him judging by his aloofness and complete lack of perving on chicks and I realised we probably needed a bit of guy bonding time. He was at his locker shoving some books into it.

"Hey man, you doing anything tomorrow afternoon, I thought maybe we could hit the batting nets or something before going to Ben's place for that piss up."

Jasper shifted nervously. "I can't tomorrow man. Got plans."

"Really?" I eyed him sceptically. He shifted again knowing that I was onto him. "What gives man? You getting some from an unknown source? It's not like you not to brag." Jasper was a pig when it came to girls, but this seemed different.

"Yeah, well.....I don't know...." Jasper ran his hand through his hair nervously. What the fuck? "This is different."

"Who is it you sly prick?"

Jasper looked up at me sheepishly and then took a deep breath. "Look, it's new, and I really like this girl, it's not like any of the others, I think this might......I think it might be kind of.......well......serious, or something."

"Fucking hell Jas, who is it, just tell me."

"You've got to promise you won't flip out on me."

Flip out. Why would i .......... Oh.

Oh shit!

My heart began to palpitate in my chest like it was on speed or something. No, he wouldn't would he? I squeezed my eyes shut tightly and pinched the bridge of my nose waiting for him to say it was Bella. They'd always had some sort of weird connection but this.....this I was not expecting. Especially after I'd asked him not to.

"Edward, what are you thinking?"

"Is it Bella?"

"Fuck no, I know you want her you moron. I would never go after her." Thank fuck.

"It's Alice." He breathed so quietly I almost didn't hear it.

What. The fuck?

"Alice. As in my little sister Alice." Jasper just nodded his head silently. "As in sweet little innocent never been touched, never been kissed, never been fu...."

"Hey, I haven't.....we're just taking it slow. She doesn't trust me yet, and I don't want her to cop the wrath of girls like Lauren. So we're just taking it slow."

I scrunched up my face and just looked at Jasper for a really long time. I didn't know what to say. He was my best friend, and as such I should be able to trust him with my sister. But as my best friend I knew him better than anyone.

"So you haven't touched her?"

"Well, we've kissed. We went on a date a couple weeks ago. Look Edward, I really like your sister. I've always really liked her. She's...I don't know....she's just different. Special. I promise I won't hurt her."

"You bring one fucking tear to that girl's eye and I'll pound you into the fucking ground Whitlock. She doesn't need another douchebag leaving her. She doesn't deserve that."

"I'm not going to fucking hurt her....." he pleaded. I slammed my fist into the locker beside Jasper's head and walked away before I did something I may very well regret. I knew I couldn't talk Jasper out of this. But maybe I could talk some sense into Alice.

How did I not see this coming? I don't even know if I was angry about it or not. I mean, she's my sister, and he's my best friend. How did I not notice? Oh yeah, that's right, because you've had your head up your own ass trying to figure out how to dump one girl and get into the pants of another. How could I be angry at Jasper when he was actually doing the right thing? It's not like he was committed to someone else while he was trying to date Alice. Fuck my life.

I went home wanting to calm down a bit before going over to Bella's. We weren't meeting up at Emmett's this week. He and Rosalie were going into Seattle for the weekend to check out UW. We were all thinking of moving to Seattle after school and neither of them had ever been to the campus.

Esme was seated at the dining room table with shit spread all over it. There were colored pieces of paper and fluff and stickers and all sorts of crafty looking crap. And then there were photos, lots of photos everywhere.

"Good afternoon Sweetie." She chimed cheerfully as she used a machine to punch some sort of funky hole into multiple pieces of paper.

"What's all this?"

"I'm making a photo album, well there will be multiple photo albums by the time I'm finished, but I'm just starting out so..." I continued to eye her as if she was a crazy woman. Why not just put photos into a bought album like a normal person....or better yet, just move into the twenty first century and go digital. "It's called 'Scrapbooking' Edward. It's very popular." Who knew??

"Hmmm...OK, I guess I'll just have to take your word for it."

"So, what's going on with you? You seemed a bit quiet last night at the dinner table." Esme flicked her eyes up at me briefly with a shit eating grin on her face. I wondered exactly how much she knew.

"Just figuring stuff out, that's all," I replied.

"I thought you already had it figured out." She looked up at me and I just returned her stare as if to say I know you know I'm in a bit of shit when it comes to the girls in my life. I felt like deflecting the conversation onto Alice's current love life but I didn't know if Esme knew anything and I wasn't that much of an asshole that I'd dump her in it. "So, Bella hmmmm?"

I pulled one of the dining room chairs out and sat heavily across from her, my head dropping into my hands in frustration. "I just can't help it."

"Well, you've got yourself into a bit of a pickle then haven't you." Esme raised her eyebrow at me waiting for my answer. Like I had any idea how to answer that fucking question.

"Tell me something I don't know."

"Well, what do you plan on doing about it?"

"I can't really break up with Jess while her grandmother is just about to...you know. I can hardly do it over the phone." I picked up a couple of photos of Alice and me when we were about twelve and looked at them. Life was so much easier then, back before I hit puberty and didn't really look at girls that way.

"I see," Esme mused.

"Yeah, so I'm sort of stuck in this hell. Not to mention Bella has a boyfriend."

"Hmmm, so I hear." Esme didn't look up, just continued with her snipping and gluing. But I knew she was riveted.

"So what do I do?" I asked.

"How much do you like Bella?"

"Oh, god Esme you have no idea. The first time I laid eyes on her I was....enamoured. That was in August. We just...I don't know, we just got along so well, and we have this....chemistry I guess that I've never felt with any other girl. I can't stop thinking about her."

"And what about Jess?" Esme looked up putting her scissors down and taking her glasses off her face waiting for my response.

"God I don't know. I never felt this." Without even realising it I clenched my hand into a fist and put it in the middle of my chest where it hurt. I'd never felt this about anyone.

"Then why are you together Edward?" Fair question.

"I don't know, it just happened, she's a great girl, most of the time. But she doesn't do this to me. It's not like I don't care about her. I do. I just don't think about her much if you know what I mean? When we're together I make sure she's looked after and having a good time or whatever, but outside of that I've never put a lot of thought into her. It was just a bit of fun to begin with, it was never supposed to be anything serious."

"And do you think stringing her along while she's in Portland is wise. Aren't you just prolonging the agony for both of you?"

"It would just be worse if I did it now, over the phone."

"Yes, I expect you're right on that one. Well honey, I can't give you much advice on this. You've always had a pretty level head on your shoulders, I can see you get that from your father. But tread wisely here, it's more than just Jess who could end up hurt."

"I know, and I don't want to hurt Bella. She's come so far since I've been talking to her about her mom. She really opens up about her now."

"So she talks about her mother now?"

"Yeah, I get her talking sometimes, it seems to help. Although she hasn't talked about the accident yet."

"That's going to be difficult for her."

"Yeah, I know. But I'm hoping to help her with it."

"Well, she looked a lot better last night than she did when she first came back. Not as fragile, and very definitely appears to have a thing for you."

"Do you think?"

"Oh I know. The way she blushed ever time you looked at her. I'd say there's definitely something there."

I just groaned in frustration knowing more than ever that I had to go and see her. While my initial intentions were to see her so I could find out how she felt about me, now all I wanted to do was set the record straight and make some sort of amends. Make sure she knew why I had kissed her and how bad I'd felt for kissing her while I was with Jess and she was with James. Make her understand that I had every intention of righting the situation. And if she told me how she felt then so be it. If she didn't then I'd just have to wait until we we're both free to discuss our feelings.

:::::

I pulled up outside Bella's and sat in the car for a few minutes just to calm my nerves. There was a light misty rain falling now but I wasn't going to let that deter me from walking the short distance to her front door. I figured this could go one way or the other. I wasn't coming here for a repeat performance of last Saturday night at the piano. I just wanted to talk to her. Make sure she knew that Jess and I were through as soon as she returned to Forks, and that I was sorry I put her in an awkward position. Hopefully that would mean something to her.

Charlie's cruiser wasn't out the front when I arrived, but there was another car pulled up along the curb out the front. I skirted around Bella's truck and walked across the wet grass and up the front foot path. As I placed my right foot on the bottom step I looked up into the window of the family room. My beautiful Bella was standing there, her back to the window. Her beautiful brown hair was out, and I paused and watched her for a moment as she stood there so still, hoping she'd turn around and see me. My heart ached as I thought about what I wanted to stay to her, what I felt for her and how much I wanted her in my life, with me. How much I'd wanted it from that very first night, I still couldn't fathom how it had only taken one night to fall for her. But it had. In that first glance I knew I was done for.

Before I had the chance to take another step a male I didn't recognise stepped towards her wrapping his arms around her waist pulling her into him. His lips meeting hers, lingering. He pulled his head back from her and smiled briefly before pulling her into an embrace, her chin tucked under his head. He could see me out on the steps and he scowled but then smirked as my heart shattered into a million tiny pieces. It could only be James.

A/N: Eeeek, so I'm thinking you're going to hate me for this one!

So, I'm going to be in Thailand next week on holidays. That means my writing will go one of two ways. Either I'll do loads, or I'll do none at all. Hopefully it's the former!!