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no beta'd

storyline - Heart/Crystal Beachin'

prompt - astrology

Bella moaned a little.

It was not the most innocent of sounds, and in fact it made Edward tingly down there. He took a small step back before his boner poked her.

"Did you kiss me because you felt bad for me or because you wanted to?" Bella asked curiously. The wind whipped her hair around her face, making her look like a mermaid on the front of a ship.

"Um, both," Edward said. "But mostly cuz I wanted to. I've wanted to kiss you for awhile actually."

Bella blushed and looked down, smiling shyly. "Really?"

"Yeah."

The cool air, and slight distance from Bella, helped calm Edward's hormones. Confident that he was no longer pitching a tent, he came close enough to take Bella's hand. They walked down to the shore, kicking their shoes off along the way.

The night was clear and the sky wide open, dotted impressively with a smattering of stars. Edward smirked to himself. Girls loved to be reveled with the tales of the constellations – stories of powerful warriors and romantic couplings.

"You know anything about astronomy?" he asked casually.

Bella shook her head, making a face in the darkness. "No. I'm not in to horoscope and things."

Edward frowned. "Not astrology, astronomy. The study of the stars and all that? Constellations?"

"Oh!" Bella warmed in embarrassment. "No, I don't really know about that either, then. But I'd like to…"

"Well, see that star, right there? The really bright one? See the star right next to it? If you follow that line…"

He went on and on. Half the time Bella didn't even know what she was supposed to be looking at, but she just smiled and nodded and acted interested.

Anything to keep him talking. Anything to keep him next to her.

And when he still hadn't shut up thirty minutes later, she tripped him in the sand and fell on top of him, by mistake on purpose.

Now it was her turn to bust a move on him, and so she did. Again and again.

When Bella woke up the next morning, she was in the best mood ever. Not even the slight headache she had was enough to derail her from her post make out happiness. She couldn't wait to gossip about it with the girls.

Until she heard the thumping, anyway.

Bella jumped, startled.

The thumping was low, rhythmic, and right on the other side of her wall.

"Emmett – Emmett – Emmett-Emmett –ahh-Emmett!"

Oh, gross. Plugging her ears, Bella got out of bed and went downstairs, to where the warm and welcome smell of French toast was wafting from the kitchen.

"Alice, I –"

But Jasper was the one manning the stove. Alice was sitting on the counter next to him, chattering happily as she sliced strawberries in to a bowl. She grinned when she saw Bella.

"Hey, sleepyhead!"

"Hey," croaked Bella, glancing at the clock. Holy canoli, it was ten already!

"I was about to come up and get you," Alice said, making googly eyes at Jasper as she popped a strawberry in to his mouth.

Bella scowled. "No need; Rose and Emmett woke me up."

Jasper glanced over his shoulder, sharing a sympathetic smile. "Where's Edward? Didn't he stay?"

"No, he felt it would be more gentlemanly to go home for the night," Bella sniffed, secretly pissed that she was obviously the only one who hadn't gotten lucky the night before.

Not that she would have had sex, but a little fondling would've been nice.

Meanwhile, Alice and Jasper were sharing secret smiles. They'd had an interesting evening, to say the least. Despite what Bella thought, they hadn't slept together either.

Alice had, however, become quite acquainted with Jasper's talented tongue.

Sighing, Bella wandered out on to the patio. Evidence of the night before littered the scene; empty glasses and a kabob sticks by the grill.

It was a beautiful morning, though. The air was still cool, despite the brightness of the sun, and if she listened hard enough, she could just barely hear the waves. Or maybe it was the far off rush of traffic. Either way.

She retrieved her phone from the pocket of her bathrobe and called Edward, her heart pounding and crazy. Even though they'd kissed for hours the night before, she wasn't sure how things would be in the light of day.

"Hello?" he sounded tired, like she'd woke him up.

"Hi, Edward? It's me – Bella."

"Oh, hey, Bella." He cleared his throat. "What's up?"

"Nothin'… just wanted to hear your voice I guess."

He chuckled lowly, his voice all husky and sexy.

"You know your friends stayed the night," Bella continued, looking disdainfully back at the house. She could see Alice and Jasper through the window, tonguing down. Ugh.

"I kinda figured."

"I wish you'd stayed the night," she blurted, immediately covering her mouth.

"Oh yeah?" He sounded wide awake now. "Well what are you doing right now?"

"Nothing…waiting to eat breakfast I guess."

"Wanna come over?"

"Yeah! I mean, I'm in my pajamas, so –"

"Stay in them. I'll be down in five minutes."

"Okay," Bella agreed happily.

They disconnected, and Bella went back inside.

Seven minutes later, Edward pulled up in the driveway wearing his jammies.

Several of the Arthurs were outside, having bloody marys on the front porch. Mike glanced over at Edward.

"Wouldn't bother, man. Those chicks're cold as ice."

Edward glared at him, but said nothing. No sooner did he ring the doorbell when Bella appeared, anxious to reunite.