We aren't immune to outside influence. Voices filter through the closed door along with the soft shuffling of feet. He keeps his distance though we move in tandem. Magnets pulling together and forbidden to touch. "How are you today?" he asks.

I feel like laughing, shaking my head. I do neither. I nod instead. "Good." He understands. "And you?"

His smile is in his eyes. "I'm good." The silence which follows isn't. It's strange. "Bella, I want to ask you something and I want you to be honest with me. I...I don't want a bullshit answer."

"Okay."

"What do you want from this, from us?" He gestures.

Us. Unobtainable. "I haven't given it much thought." It's a lie. I want it all. I adjust the bag hanging from my shoulder. "What do you expect?"

"I don't know. To be honest it scares me."

"Scares you." I shift, wanting to break away from the pull he has. I'm drawn further in, closing the gap.

"Yeah." He lowers to his chair. "I plan. I make lists of my plans. I have my future sorted. Do you understand what I mean?" I nod. It's mechanical. "I try to stick to my lists, but this wasn't planned. This just sort-of happened. My life revolves around the pieces of paper in my pocket. You're not on my list. I can't write you there, and it drives me crazy because I want to. I want to write you into them. I want to know it's sorted." He cradles his forehead in his palm.

I'm standing inches from him now. My waist equal to his beauty and darkness. "And yesterday?" I dare him to say words about it, to profess our intrigue, to fall from his mouth and tongue. I ache to touch him.

"Was foolish," he says, leaning back to catch my eyes again.

"Am I foolish?" I ask. My bag crumbles to the floor quietly at our feet. I palm the arms of his chair, bending into him until our eyes align. He wanders inside my soul. I greet him there, give him the tour. Does he know what I feel? Can I beat strong? Can I love without hope of love? Could I free myself if I must?

"No. You're beautiful, Bella, if not dangerous." He pushes me and stands, nearly towers over me. "Do you understand why I did what I did?"

"I know now. I understand. Doesn't make it hurt any less," I say.

Cool fingers brush my jaw. "It wasn't planned, Bella. It was unexpected and careless of us...of me."

"I know." I close my eyes and lean into his touch. The spread of his palm over my cheek, fingers in my hair and reeling me closer. It's a lie he feeds. A promise of closeness which leads to rejection. I despise the space, don't want it, but I pull away. If I want what I want then I must feed the green-eyed monster. "This is, too."

I retrieve my fallen bag. "I have to find Emmett before lunch."

"Emmett?" He fidgets. Hands on hips. No smile.

"He invited me over to his house tonight since his mom will be working."

I turn, carrying his expression with me when I go. I'm no archer, but I know the arrow I've fired hit its bullseye. I'm unsure if I regret it.