Author's Note: Hello, my lovely fans! I know my updates are getting delayed more and more each time, and I'm so sorry for that. But here I am again, so read on!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.


Chapter 38

It was eleven o'clock in the evening. I made sure that Alice was asleep before slipping out of my own bed and slipping on jeans and a hoodie. I tucked my laptop and a textbook under my arm and headed for the library.

I shivered as a slight breeze brushed past me. I swept my long hair to my shoulders before putting my hood up. I felt better when I approached the dim lights of the library. I slipped inside the nearly empty library and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw a librarian at her desk. She was typing away on her computer, squinting at the computer.

I walked down the aisles slowly, heading for my usual spot in the library. It was in the corner, where there were private work desks. People who were going to talk, even for a bit, weren't allowed there, and neither were people who were intending on just hanging around, doing nothing. I loved the space. I could truly concentrate and get work done on time.

Since it was the middle of the night, I didn't expect a lot of people there. There were only a few students left in the library at the moment, and none of them looked up as I walked past, immersed in their own studies.

I turned right past a bookshelf, then froze in my tracks. So much for hoping to be alone in the private section.

Edward was sitting in my usual chair, frowning slightly as he rifled past the pages in his textbook, looking for something. I knew that expression. There was only one subject that could make him frown like that, and it was Biology.

I couldn't help but smile slightly. At least his hatred for science hadn't changed a bit.

He was so annoyed with his textbook that he didn't even realize I was there. I took a few steps forward and cleared my throat.

No response.

My smile grew more pronounced. "It's rude to steal someone's seat, you know."

Edward finally looked up, startled. His eyes brightened when he recognized me. "Bella."

I set my things down on the desk and sat next to him. I opened my history textbook and flipped to the page I wanted. "You think Biology is going to give you all the answers if you just flip through those pages randomly?"

Edward chuckled lightly. "You know me so well. How did you know I was doing Biology?"

I shrugged. "I have my ways."

He watched me turn on my computer, then open up Word to write my essay. I began typing quickly, having already brainstormed about what I'd wanted to write about. When his staring became too much, I paused and glanced at him. "It's also rude to stare."

He smiled. "Sorry. It's just..." He shrugged. "I missed you."

I quickly looked back at my laptop screen, blushing slightly. "I see you all the time."

"But you were avoiding me." He looked disapproving. "Don't think I don't know."

I felt guilty. "No, I wasn't."

He pursed his lips. "Sure." He turned back to his book, then seemed to remember his annoyance. He closed his book, then exchanged it for his math book. "Biology will be the death of me, I swear."

"Biology isn't Chemistry or Physics," I said. "You complicate things by thinking too much. It isn't brain surgery, Edward."

"Yeah?" he challenged. "I bet you can't remember what the endosymbiotic theory is."

"It's how eukaryotes evolved from prokaryotes," I shot back. I couldn't help but smirk at his disappointment.

"Why can't I have your memory?" Edward grumbled. "I had to look it up."

I returned to my essay. After ten minutes, I had an introduction and a body paragraph. I'd been so immersed into it that I didn't realize that Edward had been staring at me the entire time.

I finally came to my conclusion paragraph. I was halfway through it when I got stuck. How would I be able to conclude this paragraph smoothly? I'd always sucked at writing the last sentence. Summarizing my entire essay in one sentence was impossible for me.

I began tapping my finger jerkily on the table, looking back at my textbook for inspiration. His warm hand closed around mine, stopping me. I looked up.

"Relax, Bella," Edward said softly, his eyes warm and trusting.

I felt like I'd gone back in time, back to the time when we were kids. Whenever I was nervous, he would take my hand and look at me in the same way he was looking at me now. It would warm up my insides, and I would let go of all tension and relax. My reaction to his actions hadn't changed either.

Then what had changed? The way I felt about Edward hadn't changed at all. I still loved him – if possible, more than I had before. Elise had told me that his feelings for me hadn't changed either.

Maybe I'd just been thinking that everything had changed just because we had been separated from each other for a year. Why had I automatically thought that when I moved away to Florida? Why had I thought that things would change?

Nothing had changed. Absolutely nothing.

"Better?" Edward asked. He could always tell when I felt more comfortable.

Gently, I slipped my hand from his and turned back to my laptop. Edward Cullen had always been my inspiration.

I saved my essay and stretched back, satisfied. "Done."

"That's good."

I eyed his books. "I can't say the same for you."

He dismissed it with a wave. "I'm done. I was just looking over the information on the test we had today."

I gave him a small smile. "That's good."

He laughed. "Thanks." He inclined his head. "So...what made you want to talk to me again? If you saw me here, I thought you would just leave."

"Then why are you sitting here?" I asked. "You probably knew that this is where I always study."

"I told you," he said simply. "I missed you. And I was getting incredibly frustrated with Biology, so I was hoping if I sat in your chair, I would be able to figure it out better."

"That's stupid," I said, turning off my computer.

"It was just wistful thinking, of course." He paused. "But I'm glad I came tonight. I got to see you."

I dropped my gaze to my history book. I'd finally found something that had changed. I had never before been so embarrassed or afraid to meet his eyes. Now, when I saw him, my heart beat much faster than it should, and I blushed too noticeably.

"I missed that too," Edward said, watching my face. "Your blush."

I cleared my throat. "I'm going. You?" I rose to my feet and gathered my things.

He smiled knowingly before standing up as well. "I'll escort you."

"You don't need to," I said quickly.

He shook his head. "It's dangerous to be walking alone at night, even on campus. Especially on campus. There are so many psychos around here."

Silently, we left the library and headed for my dorm. Suddenly, I remembered what Elise had told me earlier this afternoon. "Shouldn't I be walking you to your dorm?" I teased lightly, though I felt bothered internally. "I heard your fan club is unhealthily obsessed with you."

Edward's eyes narrowed. "More like stalker club," he muttered under his breath.

"You have an admirer as well," I said. As soon as I said it, I cursed at myself. I sounded like I was beating around the bush, like a jealous friend. I was jealous, but letting him know would just make things more awkward for me.

Sure enough, he caught on quickly. He grinned. "Suzanne's pretty cool."

He's doing it on purpose, I told myself. He's doing it on purpose.

Still, I couldn't fight the rush of jealousy that coursed through me. "Cooler than Elise?"

Edward laughed, seeing my internal struggle. "Way cooler."

I exhaled exasperatedly. I knew what he was doing, but I couldn't control myself. It frustrated me. "I think I liked Elise better. At least she knows who you are. Suzanne probably doesn't know what your favorite color is."

"Well, if you want to put it like that, neither does Elise."

"Huh?" I looked at him, surprised. "What do you mean?"

He stared ahead, with a small smile on his lips. "Elise doesn't know what my favorite color is. She can never guess it. She thinks it's some lame, common color like blue or green."

"Brown's common enough," I said mildly.

"Yes, but not even you know why I like brown," he countered amusedly.

I frowned, taken aback. I'd never really thought about it. "Uh..."

He laughed. "As for me, I know exactly why you like green."

I threw him a sharp look. "It reminds me of Forks," I stressed.

"But it reminds you of me more."

"Well, someone's got a sense of his own self-importance," I snapped.

"And someone needs to get back in bed." Edward laughed. "You're getting cranky."

We arrived at my dorm. "Bye, Edward," I mumbled, annoyed. I turned to go inside.

"Wait."

I looked back, and saw him with a serious expression. He raised his hand slowly, then pulled my hood back. He stroked my cheek softly with his finger.

I couldn't breathe. His touch felt like electricity, and I was frozen where I was standing.

"I feel better now that I've seen your face," Edward breathed softly. He leaned closer to me as if he wanted to kiss me, then seemed to think better of it. He hugged me instead.

"I'm glad you're back in my life," he said.

Slowly, I raised my hands and hugged him back. His scent was like home, comfort and in my safe zone. Edward Cullen was everything to me. He was a brother, a friend, and my crush. He was shelter, warmth, and protection.

And I loved him for it.


AN: So... I foresee the closure of this story very soon. Sad? Then write me lots of love and reviews before it all ends!