A/N: Thanks to everyone still reading! Here's another update. I promise things will start to heat up soon :D

~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 4: Needles & Pins

Edward bypassed the kitchen when he got home, heading straight up to his room, not wanting a repeat performance of the day before, although he was quite certain that wouldn't happen again. At least not for a while.

Locking the door behind him, he tossed his bag on his bed and shed the leather jacket, dropping it absently on the overstuffed chair that sat in the corner. Esme had set up a reading area for him in the room when she decorated it. In one corner, with the large casement windows to the right of it, sat a large overstuffed easy chair with a matching ottoman. Edward had curled up with a good book there many nights, and woke up there a good many mornings as well. These days, however, he rarely sat down and relaxed with a good read. He rarely relaxed at all anymore. He seemed to always be running. To school. To work. And when he wasn't running, he was stressing and tense. Sleep was fitful at best for Edward.

He paced back and forth in front of the large windows, running his hand through his already messy bronze hair as he looked out the window, not really seeing the dismal view. He had done as Alice had asked him. He had sat with them at lunch. They ignored him. All except for Alice. Every time Alice tried to draw him into the conversation, Rose or Jasper would change the subject, effectively blocking him out. Had Bella Swan not joined him for a cigarette, he would have ditched the rest of the day.

Bella Swan.

He lay down on his bed, arms crossed behind his head. What, exactly, was it about Bella Swan that made him feel so good? Was it the fact that, in each of their encounters, she had sought him out? Was it the way she looked? Was it that damn lip ring and the dirty thoughts he had about her?

A knock on the door once again took him from his thoughts.

"Who is it?"

"Alice," her voice was sing song.

He grudgingly got up from his comfortable position and unlocked the door, opening it just enough to peer out at her.

"What?"

"May I come in?" She stood with her hands clasped in front of her, bouncing up and down on her toes, brown eyes expectant.

"Whatever," he groaned as he swung the door open before shuffling back to his bed.

"What do you want?" He was not in a good mood and he was not in any mood for more of Alice's suggestions.

"I just wanted to talk to you, that's all. You're my brother and I care about you." She followed him to his bed.

He laid down, trying to ignore the fact that she had parked herself on the edge of his bed. He folded his arms behind his head, positioning himself as he had been before she interrupted his thoughts, and closed his eyes.

"You know, you can close your eyes, but I'm still here, Edward."

"I'm making a wish…" He opened his eyes. "Nope, didn't come true. You're still here."

She rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Edward, I just wanted to talk about what happened today at lunch."

"Why? I did exactly what you wanted and you saw the results. So, next time you have an idea? Save it."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think they'd be that rude." She smoothed out the comforter with her delicate hand.

"Why should today be different from any other day?" He rubbed his eyes with his right hand.

"I don't know. I thought that if they saw you trying to build a bridge, then they'd meet you halfway." She looked at her brother.

"Obviously, you thought wrong."

"I'm so sorry, Edward. Really, I am." Her eyes were sad. "I had thought for sure this would work. I would have bet anything on that."

"Does Jasper know it was your idea?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I told him. He was all pissed that you sat with us. I wanted him to know that it wasn't your idea at all."

Edward snorted. "I bet! I'm sure Rose and Emmett gave you an earful and then some!"

"I'm sorry," she repeated.

"Tell them not to worry. It won't happen again." He looked at the clock on the nightstand and sat up. "I need to get my homework done so I can get to work."

"Edward?"

"What?" He sat up and unzipped his backpack, taking books out but not looking at her.

"You don't hate me, do you?"

"Of course I don't," he shook his head. "You aren't..." his voice trailed off as his eyebrows knit together. "You aren't like them, Alice. You never were," his voice was low.

"We were always so close, Edward. I'd hate to lose that with you as adults." She reached out and touched his arm lightly.

He stared at her hand for a second, not knowing how to answer. Once upon a time, they had been very close. But things had changed since then. Drastically. She had to choose between him and Jasper, and Jasper had won. He didn't fault her for it. Choosing between an adopted sibling and someone you'd fallen in love with should be a no brainer, and he was fairly certain it had been an easy choice for Alice to make. From that point, he kept his distance, hoping to make things easier for her. She had always been his favorite. She still was. He could never say no to her, which is why he sat at the stupid table with them to begin with.

"We won't, Alice," he assured her. "I have to do my homework now." He hated dismissing her, but the last thing he wanted was for anyone to find out she'd been in here with him.

She sat on the bed, watching him. He stopped leafing through his copy of The Grapes of Wrath and stared at her.

"What?"

"Nothing. I just enjoy being with you. We don't have to talk or anything." Her fingers absently traced circles on his comforter.

Edward sighed. "Alice, I love you, but I really have to read some of this stupid thing before I go to work."

She looked down, and slowly stood up. It was then that Edward understood.

"Come here," he held his arms out wide for her and she bounced into them. "Tell me what happened."

Alice let all the pent up hurt and frustration out, crying and babbling in Edward's arms. He held her tightly, listening and nodding, letting her get what was on her chest off.

"Jazz just doesn't want to understand," she sniffled. "And I can't understand his point of view. You never did anything to any of them, Edward."

"It doesn't matter, Alice. It's the way they want to be." He rubbed his big hand up and down her back, trying to soothe her sobs.

"I want things to be the way they were," she frowned into his now wet tshirt.

"I don't think that's ever going to happen," he sighed, glancing quickly at the clock. He needed to get to work.

"I know, but I can still hope, right?" She slid from his lap and stood up, wiping her puffy red eyes with the backs of her hands. "I know you have to get to work, Edward." She leaned forward and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back. "I love you."

"I love you too, Alice."

~*~*~*~*~*~*

He guided the hand truck out of the stock room and down the aisle, coming to a stop in front of the canned fruit. In a quick, deft movement, Edward had sliced open the top box, revealing a dozen cans of sliced pineapple to light applause.

"Very impressive." He turned to see Bella Swan standing there, leaning on her cart.

He couldn't contain the huge grin that spread across his lips. Nor did he try. "So, what? Are grocery stores the cool place to hang out in Phoenix or something?"

"Very funny," she rolled her eyes. "We needed some things. Charlie, my dad, doesn't exactly stock up. I guess he ate out more than in when he was alone."

"Do you call him Charlie to his face?" Edward stacked the canned fruit on the shelf, flipping each can into the air as he picked it up and catching it confidently before placing it lightly on the shelf in front of him. He knew he was showing off for her.

"Yeah, well…yeah," she sighed, resigned. "I try not to in front of people." She looked down when she said this.

"So…first, I was only halfway interesting. Now I'm not people." He shook his head, a teasing look on his face. "I have to tell you, lady, this is no way to win friends and influence people."

She buried her face in her hands and giggled. "I keep doing this when I talk to you!"

"So I noticed." He placed the last can of pineapple on the shelf and turned, leaning his elbow on another box of canned fruit, crooked smile playing on his lips.

"Actually, I was kind of hoping you would be here today," she looked up at him through her heavily mascaraed eyelashes. He hadn't shaved in a few days, she noted, and his heavy growth made the severe line of his jaw that much more prominent, drawing her eyes right to it.

"Really?" His eyebrows shot up. "Why?"

"I…I was going to ask if you wanted to sit with us at lunch tomorrow."

For a moment, he didn't know what to say. No one ever invited any of those weird Cullen's to sit with them. It had been that way since they came to Forks two years ago. And no one ever even approached Edward, the weirdest of all the Cullen's, for anything, let alone to have lunch with them. No one, that is, until this new girl. A girl who looked like she stepped right out of a Wes Craven movie. A girl who was, obviously, nicer than her appearance let on.

"Uhh…wow…" He looked down, feeling the color rising in his face.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Edward. I've offended you, haven't I?" She held her well manicured hand up to her pierced lip.

"No! No, not at all!" He shook his head deliberately, holding his hand out in a 'stop' gesture. "Not at all." He then ran the hand through his hair nervously. "It's just that, well, I'm not really used to anyone asking me to sit with them at lunch, that's all."

"Because you sit with your family." She nodded her head. "They won't be offended that I asked you to sit with us, will they?"

He looked at her, taking her in. Today, she was wearing a short, tight black skirt with a tight dark green shirt. The worn denim jacket was over it. Edward noted the buttons on it this time. Greenday. Muse. Paramore. Meat is Murder. This time her black tights had no holes in them. The same black combat boots were on her feet, but between where the boots ended and her knees began, were green and black striped knee socks over the black stockings. Bella Swan definitely had her own sense of style.

"No, I don't usually sit with my family. We aren't…close."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Edward. I didn't mean to pry." Now it was her turn to blush.

"Nah, don't worry about it. I just sat with them today to make Alice happy. I couldn't even make it an hour without needing a cigarette." He waved his and, pretending it was fine.

"I'm really sorry. Maybe I should go now," she mumbled, looking down. Edward noticed her shopping cart was empty and wondered if it was even possible she'd come today just to see him.

"Yes," the thought made him grin.

"I'll see you tomorrow in Bio then," she started to walk away.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm leaving?"

"Why?" His eyebrows knit together. He didn't want her to go.

"I said maybe I should go and you said yes?"

"I meant, yes, I'll sit with you at lunch. If you don't think Newton or Yorkie will mind too much." He smiled his crooked smile at her.

"You will?" Her entire face lit up. "Oh, don't worry about them. You will get to see first hand how they make ass's of themselves." She couldn't contain her smile. Edward Cullen had accepted her invitation to sit with her at lunch!

"Cullen, need you in dairy!"

Edward turned around and looked, nodding at the fat, balding man standing at the end of the aisle with his hands on his ample hips as he eyed Edward and Bella suspiciously.

"Save me a seat next to you," he smiled, winking at Bella before slipping his pricing gun in his back pocket and following the round man to the dairy department.

~*~*~*~*~*

Bella picked at her left over lasagna silently as Charlie at his heartily. She shifted uneasily before finally deciding to ask.

"Hey, Charlie, what do you know about the Cullen family?" She tried to sound casual about it.

Charlie looked up, surprised. "Dr. Cullen? He's brilliant. Very young, but also very compassionate. I hear nothing but good things about him. Why do you ask?"

"Well," she didn't want to give too much away. "Some of the kids were gossiping about them yesterday at lunch."

Charlie put down his fork and reached across the table, taking her hand.

"Bells," he smiled, "they are all adopted. They aren't really related, regardless of what those morons you go to school with think."

"Oh, I know they are. Not that it stops them from talking about it though." She shook her head. "I just wondered why they kept saying how weird they were. They look pretty normal to me."

"I couldn't tell you that, Bella." He went back to eating his lasagna. "You know how people are. The Cullen's are new and live outside of town. They're not a traditional family, so I guess that makes them weird to some folks.."

"I have a class with one, and he seems really nice," she added absently.

"Really? Which one?"

"Edward."

"Tall, skinny kid? Crazy hair?" Charlie motioned over his own hair with his hand to illustrate.

"That's the one," she nibbled on the lasagna on her fork.

"He works at the Thriftway. Good worker, I hear. Only one of the Cullen kids that actually does work." He took another bite of lasagna.

"Yeah, I was talking to him there. He's my lab partner in biology."

"I understand he's pretty smart. You could do worse for a partner. You could get stuck with Crowley." Charlie nodded to emphasize this.

"You don't seem to like Tyler much," she giggled.

"Drives too fast. Cullen doesn't bother you about how you look, does he?"

"How I look? Please, Charlie! I don't care what anyone says!" She dropped her fork.

"I know you don't, but I do."

"No, Edward's never said a word. In fact, he's been the brightest spot in an otherwise dismally disappointing first week." She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

He looked at her, fork filled with lasagna inches from his mouth. A slow smile broke out across his lips raising the tips of his full mustache into a wry grin.

"You…you have a little crush on the Cullen boy," he chortled.

"Oh my God! I do not!" She could feel her face getting redder.

"Yes, yes you do! Charlie laughed more heartily now.

"Ok, maybe I like him a little," she offered. "But I only like him because he's the only person who didn't gape and gawk at me like I was some exhibit at the zoo. And he's not trying to one up anyone else to impress me. And he's not gossiping about people to the new girl to try to win her confidence." She shook her head. "Ok, so I like him…but only a little." She smirked at her father.

Charlie wiped his mouth with his napkin before taking her hand in his. "Does he like you back?"

"I-I think he might. He always seems really happy to see me. Even at the Thriftway." She looked down, knowing her face had to be crimson by now. "I asked him to sit with us at lunch tomorrow."

"What did he say?" Charlie's eyes were bright.

"He said yes," she sounded amazed.

"He likes you," Charlie beamed, then put on a serious face. "Just be careful. I know all about teenage boys."

"Charlie, it's lunch. At school. In the cafeteria. With, like, everyone in the school sitting there. I don't think you can get more careful than that!"

"Still, be careful."

She stood up and began to clear the table. "I will. It will be the single most cautious lunch I ever ate."

~*~*~*~*~

Edward lurked around the corner from the cafeteria entrance as the students filed in for lunch. He had been let out of his class early and had gotten to the cafeteria well before Bella would. As much as he was, he didn't want to appear eager. So, he slipped off to the side, waiting for Bella and most of her lunch bunch to enter the cafeteria before going in himself.

He paced back and forth, nerves making him unable to stand still. He felt as though he were on needles and pins waiting. What if this wasn't such a good idea? What if Yorkie and Newton started shit with him? And that creep Crowley. What if no one talked to him or Bella? And Stanley. What if she sat there gaping at him with her mouth open like he'd seen her doing fairly often. What if his presence turned Bella's new friends against her? And the worst thought of all: What if, after spending an entire hour with him in a social situation instead of just sitting in a classroom or chatting a few minutes at the Thriftway, Bella realized Edward was an even bigger tool than Newton?

He spied Bella walking toward the door with Newton and ducked back before she could see him. He waited a few minutes after they walked into the cafeteria, pacing around in a small circle and counting to himself One one-thousand, Two one-thousand, Three one-thousand until he was sure enough time had passed and they were sitting at their usual table. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Edward entered the cafeteria.

~*~*~*~*~*

Bella could feel her stomach flipping as she walked into the cafeteria. She glanced around quickly for him, but he wasn't there yet. When she and Mike reached their usual table, she pulled out her usual chair, and quickly snatched the seat next to it from Mike Newton's hand.

"If you don't mind, Mike, I asked a new friend to join us today?" She looked up at him from under her long lashes, blinking quickly a few times.

Mike looked at her blankly for a moment, then smiled. "Sure thing, Bells. I'll just sit here instead." He went around to the other side of Bella and pulled out the chair, plopping down in it just as Jessica Stanley reached the table.

"Up, Newton. That's where I sit. Go to your own seat."

"I can't," he protested. "Bella's saving it for some new friend."

"A new friend?" Jessica dropped her books in front of Mike. "I said get up, Mike! Are you deaf or just stupid?" Grudgingly, Mike Newton rose from Jessica's usual seat, shuffling across to the other side of the table, where he reluctantly dropped down in the chair directly across from Bella with a grunt. "So, who is she? Do we like her?"

Bella looked up and saw Edward Cullen striding confidently across the cafeteria toward the table. A huge smile lit up her entire face. "I don't know. Here he comes now, so you can ask him yourself."

Jessica looked up. "Oh. My. God!"

Mike Newton twisted around in his chair and turned back to the girls quickly. "You asked Cullen to join us?"

"Sure. He's my lab partner. Is there a problem, Mike?" Bella looked at him with hardened eyes.

"I don't have a problem with it," Jessica giggled, squirming in her seat.

"No, Bella, no problem," Mike glared as Edward Cullen stopped at the seat next to Bella.

"Hi. I hope you don't mind. Bella asked me to join you for lunch today," he politely motioned to the chair next to Bella.

"Not at all, Edward!" Jessica seemed giddy as Mike rolled his eyes.

"Sit down, Edward. I saved you a seat, just like I promised," her eyes met his. She'd only now noticed how green they were.

"Hey guys. What's Cullen doing here?" Erik Yorkie took the seat next to Mike Newton.

"Shut up, Erik," Angela Weber sat down next to Jessica. "So happy you could join us today, Edward," she smiled politely at him.

"Thank you, Angela," Edward leaned over the table to smile at her. The shy girl looked down as the color rose in her cheeks.

"So, Edward," Mike Newton had brown bagged it and reached into his bag, pulling out a smushed peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "What made you decide to join the living today?"

"The living?" Edward looked at him questioningly, then stood up and looked down at Bella. "Did you bring lunch, or do you need to go get something?"

"I didn't bring anything," she smiled at him as she stood up.

Edward motioned with his head. "Let's go get on line then." They walked toward the food line side by side, stealing glances at one another.

"I can't freakin' believe she asked that freak Cullen to join us!" Mike was incredulous.

"Mike, what the hell? What's Edward ever done to you?" Jessica took a bite of her sandwich. Turkey on wheat. "Why do you hate him so much?"

"Why do you like him so much?" He shook his head. Erik stabbed at a juice box with

the small, pointed straw that had come affixed to the side. "Does your mother think you're still in third grade, Yorkie?"

"Hey, don't take your insecurities as a man out on me, Mike." One final stab and the straw sunk into the hole.

"I'm not insecure," he took a bite out of his sandwich and chewed angrily. "I just don't get why anyone would even want to associate with someone as weird as Cullen." He said Edward's last name with venom.

"What makes him weird, Mike? The fact that he doesn't follow what everyone else does?" Angela Weber had laid out her lunch neatly in front of her. Bologna on white bread, cut into fours. A container of milk, and a little sandwich baggie with chips in it sat on either side of the sandwich.

"Yes, Angela, as a matter of fact that's exactly what makes him weird. We're teenagers. We're supposed to follow. That family~those Cullen's~they are absolutely unnatural in every way!" Mike pointed his finger across the table at her, stabbing it into the air several times to punctuate his remarks.

"And the fact that he's the most beautiful thing any of the girls have ever laid eyes on doesn't help either, Angela." Jessica snorted.

"Well, Mike, then following your definition, the girl you've spent the last few days trying to impress should be considered weird as well, right?" Angela looked across the table with a smug expression on her face.

"It doesn't apply to girls, Angela," Erik shot her a look.

"That's just stupid, Erik. Of course the same rules apply. Bella's not exactly like everyone else here. And what makes Edward so different, anyway?" Angela crunched a chip as Jessica chewed a bite of her sandwich, nodding in agreement.

"No one here wears a leather biker jacket, Angela. No one but Cullen." Mike slurped a can of Coke.

"So? A jacket makes him weird?" Jessica looked at him.

"Yes, it does." Erik had systematically removed the crusts from his sandwich.

"Then you must be weird too, Erik."

"Why's that, Jess?"

"Because you're the only student here wearing a tie." Jessica smiled triumphantly. "Now be quiet because they're coming back."

"Sorry it took so long, guys." Bella put her tray down on the table as Edward held her chair out for her. "Thanks, Edward." She noticed Mike rolling his eyes.

"I told you everyone else would be eating meat, Bella," Edward grinned as he flopped down in is chair.

"You have a serious problem, Edward," she rolled her eyes as she ripped the foil lid off her container of yogurt.

"Yes, I like tasty food. That's a real problem," he smiled, biting with gusto into the ham sandwich he'd purchased.

"So, how do you like having Bells here for a lab partner, Cullen?" Mike crinkled his brown paper lunch bag in his fist.

"I like it. Do you?" What a friggin' tool, he thought.

"Hey, sorry I'm late," Tyler Crowley pulled an extra chair up to the table. "What's Cullen doing here?" Mike Newton leaned back in his chair and pointed at Bella.

Jessica rolled her eyes as Bella answered. "I asked Edward to join us for lunch. Is this a huge problem, Tyler? Because we can go sit somewhere else if it is." Her exasperation with the boys was showing.

"Just ignore them Bella," Angela shook her head. "They are insecure, immature idiots."

"Edward, have you filled Bella in on Mr. Banner's tests?" Jessica chose to ignore Tyler.

"No, I have not, Jessica. I thought it was only fair if she was as shocked as we were." Edward shared a conspiratory smile with Jessica.

"Ok, what is it that you two aren't telling me?" Bella was scraping the bottom of the plastic yogurt cup with her plastic spoon.

"Should we tell her?" Jessica was enjoying Edward's attention.

"I'm not so sure, Jess," Edward glanced at Bella's concerned face.

"Oh, for crying out loud, just tell her already!" Mike's hand came down on the table hard, causing everyone to jump.

"Screw you, Mike!" Jessica glared hard at him across the table. She was happy to see him so annoyed by Edward Cullen's presence. Since he had ushered Bella Swan into their little circle, Mike hardly even spoke to her anymore. All he seemed concerned with was Bella. Edward sitting with them at lunch was just the punishment Mike deserved.

"It's ok, Jess. I'm sure Edward will tell me later." Bella wiped her mouth with a napkin and looked over at Edward, who was just swallowing the last of his sandwich. "Smoke?"

"Thought you would never ask!" He stood up, sliding his leather jacket on and tossing his backpack over his shoulder before grabbing his lunch tray. "Thank you all for letting me sit with you today. It was very…enlightening." He smirked right at Mike Newton as he said the last word. Mike responded with a one fingered salute. "See you in Bio." Edward smiled as he turned and headed for the trash can.

~*~*~*~*~*

"I'm really sorry, Edward," Bella fished around inside her bag for a book of matches as they stood next to her old, red truck.

"Sorry for what?" He held out a lighter to her.

"Thanks." She leaned in, taking a light. "I had no idea you and Mike didn't like each other."

"To be honest, Bella, I didn't either. At least not until lunch," he chuckled softly.

"I guess that's all the proof we needed to show we were right. He's a tool," she shook her head, laughing. "At least, maybe now, he'll leave me the fuck alone."

"Don't be surprised if he doesn't. He probably thinks he's in some sort of competition with me now." Edward took a long drag on his cigarette, savoring the soothing smoke.

"Competition? For what?" She leaned against the truck, looking straight ahead.

"You."

"I'm not a prize, Edward."

"I never said you were."

"You think that's Mike's problem?" She lifted her cigarette to her lips.

"Aside from being a monumental asshole, yeah, I do. I think he sees me as some sort of threat."

"A threat? To what?"

"Oh, come on Bella. You can't see that he's hot for you?" Edward laughed.

"Pffft! Mike fuckin' Newton? What the hell would I do with him?" She guffawed.

"I don't know…kick him in the nuts?" Edward smiled.

"Don't tempt me!"

"Seriously, don't you see how he looks at you? He thinks that he's the front runner in the 'Be Bella's Boyfriend' competition." He took another puff on his cigarette, flicking the ashes off the end when he was done.

"I hate to say it, but, yeah, I've sort of felt that. Erik too." She shook her head. "I swear, Edward, I never did anything to make them think that I liked them."

"Sure you did," he stared at her intently.

"Am I sending out some sort of signal I don't know about?" Her brow furrowed.

"Nah, nothing like that. It's just that you're the new girl, and they are just tripping over themselves to get your attention," he laughed.

"Really? Hmph. You'd think boys here would be afraid of a girl like me or something," she shook her head.

"Why? If anything, you intrigue them. They can't stand the mystery. They want to be the one to discover the real Bella Swan. To get to the bottom of the whole mystery. To get you." He sucked on his cigarette before continuing. "So, they figure by being your "friend" they have a leg up on the competition." He made air quotes when he said the word "friend".

"The competition?" she looked up at him, eyebrows knit together.

"The competition," he pointed to himself and smiled.

"So, are you telling me you're in the Be Bella's Boyfriend contest too?" She smiled slyly.

"I might be," he looked to his right as a car pulled out of its space across the lot.

"You might be? Don't you know?" Her grin was playful. There was no one in this school she would rather see win the Be Bella's Boyfriend contest more than Edward Cullen.

"Or I may just be perceived as being the competition. Seriously, Bella, do you think I'd be stupid enough to tip my hand to those friggin' jerks?" His smile smoldered at her, making her knees go weak.

"So…do I…do I intrigue you?" She avoided direct eye contact when she asked this.

He couldn't help the way he smiled when she asked. "I might be."

"Or…you might just be perceived as being intrigued?" She gave him a big, wide grin.

"I might." He blew a straight line of smoke from his mouth.

"So…um…who chooses the winner of this contest?" She took a final puff on her cigarette before dropping it onto the ground and stamping it out with her Doc Marten'd foot.

"Well, I would think that you would be the only one truly qualified to judge all the competitors, Bella." He sucked on his cigarette stub for the last time, before tossing it to the ground and crushing it under his own boot. "After all, you are the Bella in question."

"In that case," she moved closer to him, "I already know who the winner is." Her voice was almost a whisper.

"Do you now?" His eyes narrowed down at her, shining like emeralds.

"Yeah, I do." She reached up, staring intently into his dazzling eyes, and grabbed his leather jacket in her hand, drawing him down closer to herself.

~*~*~*~*~*

A/N:

Once again, thanks to everyone who's reading. Reviews would be awesome and are always welcome :D Like I said...things are going to start heating up a bit now.

Updates are likely to start slowing up a bit, what with Thanksgiving and the holidays fast approaching. I'll be away for the long weekend, so it seems unlikely that I'll have anything up before that. I'll be working on it upon my return though, so stick with us :)