Fighting Temptation

Chapter Fourteen: Taking One for the Team

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.

Tyler Crowley

I was happy for them. Even if they didn't see it. Anyone with enough sense knew it was only a matter of time before Edward and Bella became official.

Reid had been a rip-roaring asshole everyday, making his absence today even more prominent. Seeing Edward with Bella made everything click into place. I finally understood the looks Reid kept giving Edward. Jealousy. Pure jealousy. Though if Reid was attracted to Bella, putting her through hell seemed a pretty ass-backwards way of getting her attention.

And now with the flu …

The poor girl couldn't catch a break.

I pulled the collar of my coat up to my ears. The convenience store was just down the street but the air was still brisk. I would gladly make the walk and spend a few bucks if it got me out of the room. I picked up crackers, orange juice and some blue Gatorade for Bella … and some disinfecting wipes for good measure.

Mike was still in the shower by the time I got back. Though I made quick work of the walk and shopping, I was gone long enough he should have been well out by now.

"He's still in there?" I asked quietly. Bella was cocooned under the blanket with her head on Edward, her hair spilling across his chest. It was more stubbornness than a miracle they weren't dating yet.

Edward nodded. "Yeah. He's been in there since you left."

I put my ear to the door to make sure he wasn't dead. The soft grunts coming through the door made it perfectly clear he was more than alive in there.

"That's disgusting," I groaned, stripping of my coat and putting the bags for Bella on the small table across the room. I pulled out a Gatorade and a sleeve of crackers while Edward gently shook Bella awake.

She really was a natural beauty, but she was looking rough. The deep purple circles under her eyes were even more prominent on her fair skin and she moved with agonizing slowness as if she had aged sixty years overnight.

"How are you feeling Bella?"

The guttural sound she made was answer enough.

Edward helped her sit and opened the Gatorade bottle before passing it to her. A wave of pity washed over me as I watched Bella's shaking hands bring the bottle her lips. Edward watched every movement, passing her a cracker when she was done. The gentleness Edward took with her made my stomach clench. I felt like I was intruding.

After making sure they didn't need anything else, I slipped from the room.

Granted, I wasn't thrilled to be sharing a room with someone who had the flu, but I was secretly optimistic this might be what the two of them needed. Even if Bella wasn't officially Edward's girl, he was still taking one for the team.

A/N: Sorry for the little tease this one was! I'm actually re-working part of the next chapter so I split them up to at least get this posted for you guys! :)