EPOV of Chapter 2. Originally submitted for the Fandom for Mental Health package.

Thanks to my beautiful team. My prereaders Nic and Sri and my beta Iris. Love you girls.

I know I should end things with Tan before I start things with Bella, but… Just because we talked on the phone that one time I don't… I mean, I don't know if she's into me. I've never known her to have a boyfriend, but she's so fucking cool. She isn't going to look at a loser like me. She's probably into college guys.

I may be acting like a creep. I can't not sit close to her. When she's standing, I'm beside her. Even when she steps away, I take another step to be near her. And that's when Alice whisks her away.

Tan wanted to go home early. I should probably be pissed, but I'm happy because it means I get to see Bella at Alice's tonight. I thought Jake would be mad, too, but he seemed just as happy to call things a night. So now I'm here, wondering where Alice has taken Bella off to.

Tyler passes me his cherry brandy, and I take a swig, quickly following it with another. Garrett's right; it tastes like fucking cough syrup, but I think I may need a little courage. Bella's not really showing any interest in me. Maybe I need to make something resembling a move on her.

Ha! As If I know anything that would resemble a move.

The brandy makes its way around again. I take a bigger swig this time. It burns, but it's going down a little easier. It's helping me formulate a plan. I'm just going to go all in.

I'm going to kiss her at midnight.

It's bold, but at least I'll know.

It makes me a huge asshole, but I'll deal with Tan tomorrow. I'm not entirely buying her excuses lately. I think she's moving on, too.

I start moving in the direction Alice dragged Bella off to. Unfortunately, Jake and Garrett follow. I'm not sure how I'm going to pull this off with them around, but I've got a while to figure it out. At least they're behind me, because when I finally find Bella, she's in the living room, curled up on the corner of the couch, watching Encino Man. I make my way to sit down beside her.

I notice there's another couple in the corner. Holy fuck! High five to you, Ben. He's been secretly in love with Angela for forever. Seeing them together gives me courage. I put my arm over the back of the couch. It's not around her, but it's close.

I can't focus on the movie. Slowly, I inch closer to Bella. My arm's steadily moving from the back of the couch to her shoulders. I'm relaxing, little by little, against her side.

I think she's also leaning into me. Is she just relaxing, or is she maybe feeling something, too? Tyler runs by yelling something, but I'm focused on the room emptying out. Now's my chance.

"Stand up for a second." I stand and hold my hand out to her like I did in the basement. Once again, she takes it, and for a moment, I think I see something—like maybe she's hoping I'm going all in.

But I can't do it. I want to. I just want to press my lips to hers and then press her down on the couch, but I can't. I'm not that guy.

But I'm not a great guy, either. I sit down and then pull her on top of me. We settle in to watch the rest of the movie.

It doesn't last long.

"I've got to get home." Jake's at the door, and he's pissed. I'm not sure when he decided to become loyal to Tanya. I know for a fact he is that guy. I've caught him and Heidi fooling around in the backroom at work.

I untangle—holy shit! untangle—myself from Bella and go to the door. I don't say anything, but I make a face at her behind Jake's back so she knows how I feel about leaving.

We're halfway through the park on the way to my house when Jake finally breaks his brooding silence.

"So what are you doing with my woman?"

His woman? What the fuck? "Your woman?"

"Yeah, man. I'm totally into Bella. What the fuck are you doing with her?"

"You're into Bella?"

"Yeah. She's, like, the ultimate hunt. She's not into any guy. I'm totally going to change that."

Fuck. Fuck. The thought of Jake treating Bella like… like prey… does something to me. I want to punch his cocky fucking face. "You think you're going to land Bella?"

Jake laughs.

"Fuck, yeah. What do you care? You've got Tanya." He laughs, like that's somehow hilarious.

"And you've got Kate." I stop and wait for him to turn around and look at me. "And Heidi."

He laughs again and turns away. "For now. They're too easy, though. Bella? Now that would be fun."

I don't know if it's the cherry brandy or the look in her eye when I was going to kiss her, but something tells me she isn't Jake's as much as she's mine.

"I'm into her, too."

If Jake thought Tanya and I were hilarious, this is a motherfucking riot to him. He loses it.

"No way, man," he says when he finally gets it together. "I had no idea. Well, I guess neither one of us can ask her out, then. Guy code." He looks at me, shrugs before turning, and walks to his house on the other side of the park.

I'm suspicious. It's not like Jake to give up so easily. I turn and walk toward the path to my house.

"Ed!" Jake calls.

I turn around. I knew he couldn't be done.

"That doesn't mean she can't ask one of us out." Jake laughs, and the only thing that keeps me from tackling him is the feeling of warmth I still have despite the January night. I can still feel all the places, from my chest to my toes, where Bella was pressed against me.

I don't say anything but nod my head in silent agreement.

It's on, Jake. It's motherfucking on.