Fighting Temptation

Chapter Twelve: Pretty Little Liar

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are property of me, Dobber17. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

This chapter has been edited by CherryBerry12.

Bella Swan

I stirred when the door opened, refusing to open my eyes. I felt like utter shit. I was beyond exhausted, my brain felt like it was swelling inside my skull, and sleep had barely helped to reduce my nausea. After I fell to the floor, I had barely managed to crawl to bed before sleep took me.

A hand gently brushed the hair from my face and I slowly opened my eyes. I blinked a few times before I was able to focus on Edward's face. My eyes slid over to the neon numbers on the clock. It should have been lunch time.

"Hey, how are you feeling? Can I get you anything?" Edward whispered, his eyebrows pinched together.

"I'm not exactly sure. Tired, I guess," I responded groggily. "Water?"

Edward moved to where my gym bag rested on the ground near the bed. I slowly pushed myself into a sitting position while Edward fished out my water bottle from my bag, still half full. He unscrewed the cap before passing me the bottle, and I fought the shaking in my hands as I lifted the bottle to my lips.

"Are you sick? Do you want me to take you to the clinic?"

I shook my head before he even finished talking. Did I feel awful? Yes. Was I praying sleep

was all I needed? Yes.

"It's nothing. I just need to sleep it off ," I mumbled, trying to convince myself more so than Edward. My eyes closed on their own accord. I felt the blankets shift around me as Edward pulled the covers over my shoulders. The bed shifted next to me as all trace of Edward eased from the bed.

"Stay with me?" The words spilled out before I could stop myself. I didn't even have the energy to feel embarrassed.

"Let me shower first. Then you can steal all the covers you want from me."

I snorted but couldn't find it in myself to object.

"There's my girl." He squeezed my hand and disappeared into the bathroom with a bundle of clothes.

My girl.

My heart squeezed tight in my chest. I didn't remember falling back asleep, but true to his word, I woke up to Edward next to me on the bed, looking tousled and relaxed with an arm propped behind his head. My secret admiration didn't last long as the door opened for Mike and Tyler, still covered in sweat and carrying four to-go boxes. The smell of meat sauce wafted across the room, proving to be more effective than any alarm as Edward was awake in moments. My mouth watered, but I quickly discovered I was only able to nibble on a few bites of pasta before I lost my appetite.

"That's it?" Edward asked, gesturing with his fork to my box where I was simply pushing food around.

I nodded, forcing myself to eat another bite before putting my leftovers in the mini-fridge. Wordlessly, I crawled back under the covers, letting sleep take me once again.

~!~FT~!~

I jolted awake. The room was still and quiet, but my stomach was anything but. I vaulted off the bed, reaching the toilet just in time for my dinner to make an unwanted appearance. I washed my face and brushed my teeth, trying to get the feel and taste to go away. It took more effort than expected, and I allowed myself to sink to the floor, letting the tub prop me up.

I felt awful. Everything ached and my whole body shook. I let the tears flow, keeping as quiet as I could. Edward was right. Of course, he was right. I was sick and didn't want to admit it.

I was hit with a few more waves of nausea before I decided to just sleep in the bathtub, both from embarrassment and for practicality. I would be close to the toilet if I needed it again, and it would be a battle to make it back to the bed anyway. I drifted in and out of consciousness. The bathtub provided no comfort between seeping the warmth from me and its unforgiving walls.

The blaring sounds of Edward's alarm was both a blessing and a curse. All I had to do was fake normalcy for less than an hour before I could crawl back into the comfort of my bed. I heaved myself from the tub and started brushing my teeth for the fourth time that morning. A tentative knock on the half-open door sounded before Edward popped his head in.

"You're already up?" he mumbled, not quite awake himself.

I spit out a glob of toothpaste, fighting the dizziness from standing. "Yeah. Do you need the bathroom?"

"Just whenever you're finished. No rush."

I let him in the bathroom after doing a quick sweep to ensure nothing appeared amiss. He was out in mere minutes, concern flashing across his features as I slid back in, claiming I had to shower. Which I did. Ineffectively. The lack of food made my pitiful energy crumble even further, leaving me to sit in the shower like a graceless blob. I let the water hit me, barely managing to wash my body before my arms felt leaded. After what felt like an eternity, I turned the water off, realizing the guys would need the bathroom soon. I heaved myself from the tub, my head dropping at my oversight. In my rush to get back to the bathroom I didn't grab clean clothes.

I cracked the door open, letting the steam furl out. With one hand on the door and the other securely holding my towel, I stuck my head out. Mike and Tyler were still dozing while Edward was perched on the edge of our bed, his calculating eyes meeting mine.

"I need clothes. Can you grab me some and toss them over here?" I asked, working to keep my voice low enough not to rouse Mike and Tyler.

He ignored me. Running those calculating eyes over my face. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Yes," I fibbed. "Either I'm wearing my clothes or yours, you pick."

His assessment finished as a broad grin spread across his face. He rummaged through his bag before presenting me with a handful of fabric.

"I don't get underwear?"

He hesitated.

"Side pouch. Whatever you grab first will work."

Despite feeling awful, I smiled. For once, Edward was the one with colour staining his cheeks as he rifled through my bag, looking long enough to ensure he grab a bra and a pair of underwear before making his way across the room.

"Will this work?"

I nodded, thanking him as I closed the door behind me. I changed as quick as I could, gritting my teeth with the effort. I emerged to find a cross-armed Edward still standing near the door.

He opened his mouth, but I cut him off, fearing if he asked if I was okay one more time I would cave and tell him the truth.

"Your clothes are very comfortable." And they truly were. The worn cotton t-shirt fell to my thighs and I had to roll the waist of his shorts, but they felt like heaven.

His arms loosened. "You look good in them," he said softly, giving me a brief smile before taking his turn in the shower.

I curled up in bed, paying little attention to Mike and Tyler as they eventually woke and got ready.

Tyler took notice of my still form. "Bella, why aren't you dressed? Aren't you coming?"

Like clockwork, Edward emerged from the bathroom, ready for the day while I hadn't stirred from my position on the bed. Those cool, assessing eyes returned as Edward crouched near the bed. "I thought you said you were feeling better."

"I'm not going because of what happened with Reid yesterday. I really don't want to see or hear him." I promised myself I wasn't lying, just failing to tell him complete truths.

Edward cocked his head to the side. I froze. I hadn't told Edward yet.

Shit.

His voice was calm. "What happened with Reid?"

"Nothing. I handled it."

"You handled it?"

"Jasper helped."

"Jasper knew?"

Mike and Tyler wisely left the room.

"Bella," Edward called softly, turning my attention back to him. "What happened?"

I pushed myself up to a sitting position. Then I cracked. I told him. I told him everything that transpired with Reid and waited as he stayed unnaturally quiet.

"Please don't be angry," I finally said, unable to bear the silence any longer.

"I'm not angry," he finally gritted out.

I shot him a look.

"I'm … upset," he amended, raking his hands through his hair, making it wilder than it already was. He released a breath and took my hand in his. "I'm going to have a word with him today."

"No, Edward. Don't do that."

"Why?"

"It's completely unnecessary!"

"Why?"

I groaned. It was like talking to a child. "Because it doesn't matter! Who cares - "

"Unless you like him?" Edward cut me off. I wanted to laugh but it only took me one heartbeat to realized Edward was serious. His eyes held a tightness I had rarely seen and his whole body was rigid, waiting for my response.

I recoiled. "What? No!"

His face remained tight but relief, pure relief flash in his eyes. "Then I'm finally going to tell him to back off and leave you alone. Let me at least do that. Let me take care of this for you. Let me take care of you. Please."

It was the last word, his voice breaking as he begged that had me nodding.

"Thank you," he breathed, leaning forward to press a kiss to my brow. He pulled back with a frown, reaching his hand to feel where his lips vacated.

I found the strength to bat his hand away.

He let me, a hint of a smile on his lips. His joints popped as he stood from his prolonged

crouch. "Take it easy today. You're still looking a little rough."

"Thanks," I muttered dryly.

He threw his bag across his shoulder. "That's what friends are for."

I made a vulgar gesture with my hand. Edward laughed and raised his hands in surrender, walking backwards toward the door.

"Drink some fluids!" he hollered back as the door closed behind him.

I repeated the gesture to the closed door but went to the bathroom to fill a glass with water regardless. I barely made it past the first few sips before it came right back up. I sank to the floor and let frustrated tears fall. I was sore and weak, and just wanted to sleep for a week straight.

I climbed back into the tub, lingering wetness and all. Pride be damned at this point. I tried my best to settle in. My back was already in agony … what was a few more hours in this depth of hell.

~!~ FT ~!~

"Oh my!"

I heard a soft thud. Standing at the threshold of the bathroom was a wide-eyed housekeeper. Her share of wrinkles were prominent near her eyes and mouth, and her dark hair was back in a smooth bun, revealing strands of grey near her temples. A pile of clean towels were in a heap by her feet.

"Are you alright? What are you doing in the tub?" She came closer to me, her hands flitting around. She dropped to her knees beside the tub, the buttons on her blouse straining against her generous curves as she hoisted my shoulders.

The nausea wasn't nearly as bad as the dizziness. "I'm a bit sick. The tub is closer than the bed," I explained.

"Good heavens, dear. Did no one offer to put a garbage can by your bed?"

I tried not to feel guilty. "It's not their fault. They don't know I'm sick."

"Well, no one is sleeping in a tub on my watch." She continued to pull on me, and I stood on shaky legs. She supported me as I made my way to the bed. She wasted no time in emptying the small garbage in the room, replacing the plastic lining and putting it on the floor next to me. She turned over the rest of the room in a matter of minutes, checking on me once before leaving.

As the door clicked shut behind her, I grabbed my phone from the bedside table, fighting the thrill through my heart as Edward's name appeared on my screen. I scrolled through the few texts he sent, my heart aching to the point where tears blurred my vision.

Joking aside, please drink some fluids. Sent this morning shortly after he left.

Just checking in. I haven't heard anything sassy from you in a bit. Sent during lunch.

And the shortest, most recent, most heart wrenching of all: Please text me back.

Sobs wracked my body. Not from the pain, not from feeling disgusting, but from realizing how much Edward truly cared… and I took that for granted. His concern for me was unwavering - not just today. I cried because I was in love with my friend and it took so long to admit it to myself. I cried because I was in love with Edward and hoped he loved me back. I cried because when I finally texted him back, admitting I wasn't okay, his reply was instant.

I'm on my way.

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