All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.

not beta'd

storyline - beginning

prompt word - novice

"Dude, you suck!" Tyler bellowed, flinging himself back on to the couch. He tossed his Wii remote down and picked up his beer, sulking.

"Not my fault you're such a novice," Jasper crowed, smiling smugly. "You said you knew how to play."

"I do, but come on. That last move was hella shady," complained Tyler.

Bella rolled her eyes at their antics, standing up to clear the coffee table. The last thing she needed was an over-enthusiastic arm flinging a half empty beer bottle or bowl of Cheetos to the floor.

Alice followed right behind, carrying a couple of glasses she'd found lying around.

This was their Friday night un-wind. The cast of characters swelled and shrank, the core always remaining the same: Jasper, Tyler and Lauren from work, Ben and Eric from school.

"So, have you spoken to him since the café?" Alice asked, scraping a plate before putting it into the dishwasher.

"No," Bella said, suppressing a sigh. She thought of Edward more than she cared to admit, but things had crossed a line on New Year's.

She didn't know why; Edward had been wishy washy the whole time they'd been hooking up, and while leaving her at Rose's had been the worst yet, it wasn't that far off from his usual crap.

Bella decided it didn't matter. The point was, she was ready to move on – regardless of what feelings lingered.

Alice grabbed another set of beers from the fridge. "You gonna call him?"

"Psh, no," Bella said. "I'm over his games."

"Really?"

Bella shrugged. "Not saying I'm over him, but I refuse to give in to him anymore. We've been at this what… a year and a half? The glamour's long worn off."

"What's worn off?" Ben asked, joining them in the kitchen.

"Nothing." Bella smiled, shaking her head. "What's up? Refill?"

"Nah, I think we're gonna head out. I'm going fishing with my Dad at the buttcrack of dawn," Ben said, grimacing. "Anyway, see ya." He bent to hug Bella, and then Alice, before the three of them made their way back out to the living room.

Tyler, Lauren and Eric had all gotten to their feet as well.

Bella sighed inwardly. It was past eleven, but she wasn't in the mood to be alone with her thoughts just yet. Jasper appeared to be staying, but he and Alice were in to each other and while they hadn't moved n it yet, it could happen any time. Bella loved them both and didn't want to impede on that, which meant she'd probably end up chilling in her room, "catching up on reading."

Lauren yawned, giving Bella in a hug. "You working tomorrow?"

"Nope; got the weekend off," Bella said.

"Ugh. Lucky bitch. I'm working the four to ten."

"Yeah, have fun with that," teased Bella, walking her to the door.

Tyler swept her up in a tight hug, kissing her cheek. "Later, B."

"Bye, Ty."

Bella watched the group walk away, shivering in the wind. She was about to shut the door when she noticed a parked car across the street.

Edward was sitting on the hood, smoking a cigarette.

They stared at each other momentarily; she huddled in the doorway, he tossing the butt aside as he slipped off the car.

He walked over and stopped, hands in the pockets of his jacket.

"Hi."

"Hi," Bella said, regarding him warily. Nothing good came out of these late night hook ups.

Well, they could have been good if they'd been part of something else. As it were they were out of context, singular instances of like and lust and nothing more.

"What're you doing here?" she asked, after a prolonged silence.

"Came to see you," he said, nodding toward the house. "I didn't know you had company."

The tone of his voice suggested he meant more than just a group of friends, and Bella wondered if he'd taken Tyler's goodbye to mean more than it did.

"I always have company on Friday night," Bell said, shrugging. "Seems like you should know that, but… whatever."

"You still mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you; I'm done with you."

Edward frowned, casting his eyes downward. Yes, he'd known Bella's breaking point was coming. He hadn't been sure that tonight would be the night, but he'd known it was an eventual inevitability. And yet, now that she'd said the words he was left feeling bereft and a little empty.

Bella frowned, too. Edward was so incredibly difficult to read. Now he looked almost sad.

Well, honestly. What did he expect?

"What?" she asked, irritated at his quiet, irritated at the situation, irritated at the damn frigging freezing weather.

He came closer, so close that they were almost touching. It was harder when she could see his eyes, how beautiful and green they were even in the dark, fringed with lashes so long they kissed his eyebrows.

"I'm sorry, okay? For…everything. I know it hasn't been easy for you. I'm not saying this to get you to change your mind, I just… I'm sorry."

Bella nodded, aching to put her arms around him.

Behind her, the hushed rise and fall of Alice and Jasper's conversation continued, punctuated by his chuckle and her laugh. Bella envied their ease. She wished she and Edward had remained friends, but that had never been an option for them.

They had too much chemistry, too much spark.

And not enough substance.

Edward reached to touch Bella's face, pushing strands of hair from her face.

"Can I just ask one thing?" she whispered.

He nodded faintly.

"Why can't I be what you want?"

His heart fell. "It's not about that."

"Then tell me what it's about."

"I can't be what you want. Or need," he said, a little brokenly.

Bella fought the urge to cry. She'd never cried over Edward, not even when she was frustrated or angry or both. She wouldn't do it now, either.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded and stepped back, closer to the warmth of her home.

Edward followed, slipping his hand around her waist before she could retreat further. He lowered his face to hers and kissed her.

She let him, moving her mouth and tongue with his even as she pushed him away.

He tightened his grip and then let go, leaving without another word.

Bella shut the door and went to her room, suddenly very glad for the time alone.