I began writing this when I was 14 (I think!). I started reading Twilight again about two weeks ago, looking to relive my teenage memories. It brought be back to this, 10 years on.

The house was back to normal. I was back to normal. A steaming, hot shower managed to make me feel more like a human and washed all of the alcohol away. Alice's shower was huge. Marble tiles marked the walls, the flooring a deep grey colour. The waterfall shower head was a good pressure and almost gave me a mini scalp massage. The scents of vanilla and jasmine from the shampoo and conditioner floated in the air. Smells that remind me of Alice. I looked up to the shower head, closed my eyes and let the water take over my face, washing any remnants of makeup down the drain. It was good to feel fresh again. My thoughts took me back to this morning- Edward, the small talk, the barely-there touch when I handed him the glasses. It sent a shiver down my spine. I was being silly. This is normal, is it not? To have a little crush on your friend's older brother. But that spark was not just a spark. It electrified me from the inside out.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped soft white towel around my body. I brought the edge of the towel to my nose. God, everything smelled good in this house. I took a smaller towel and wrapped my soaking wet hair up so it wouldn't leave a wet trail behind me. I unlocked the wooden door and stepped into Alice's bedroom.

"That's my queue to leave." Jasper said, averting his eyes. I rolled my eyes. As close as we were, Jasper was probably being gentleman-like around Alice. She didn't seem to care though. She gave him the puppy-dog eyes as he jumped off of her bed and swiftly left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Quickly, she turned her gaze to me and smiled the biggest smile I had seen from Alice, ever.
"Yes?" I asked, sitting down by her full-length mirror and untangling the towel out of my hair. I knew exactly what she was wanting to ask, I was just waiting for her to say the words.
"You know exactly what, Bella! Tell me. What was my brother doing with you this morning?" She squealed as she spoke. Alice needed to know everything; however, she was not overly nosy. If I did shut her down, she would stop asking questions. But I had nothing to hide. Nothing happened, right? He helped me. I got to know Edward a bit more. He got to know me a little bit more too. Totally innocent.
"Nothing happened. He just helped me clean up the mess." I continued combing my fingers through my hair. Her conditioner had done the trick of getting any tangles out. I needed to ask her what brand it was- but knowing Alice, it was probably very expensive or needing to be shipped over from England.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know that part!" she spoke loudly. I wondered where Jasper had gone. Hopefully he was in a room far enough away he couldn't hear the conversation.
"I don't know what you want me to tell you, Alice. We chatted; he told me about his job. He asked me what my plans were after graduation. He asked about Charlie, my mom. That was about it!" I replied, continuing to comb through my hair, as if I wasn't interested in the conversation.
"Hmm," Alice crossed her arms over her chest, not overly happy with my response. She wanted to know more, for a change. "My brother has never, ever, spoken to my friends like that. Normally, he shows no interest. Let alone, help one of them clean up…"
She raised her eyebrow at me. I moved my eyes down to the floor where I sat, trying not to let a smirk spread over my face. So, he is maybe the teeniest bit interested in me. Or maybe, just trying to be friendly. Don't get ahead of yourself, Bella.

My hair was still slightly damp as Alice and I trudged down the stairs and into the kitchen. Alice had let me borrow some leggings and a sweater. To our surprise, Edward and Jasper were sitting at the breakfast bar, talking about a football game. I looked at Alice, she looked at me. The conversation seemed mutual enough. I could feel Alice's worry slide away from her as she took a deep breath in. I could tell Edward wasn't happy that Jas has stayed the night. That was obvious when I looked at him this morning. The glare coming from those dark eyes. His jawline more rigid than normal. But now his face was relaxed, his eyes more wistful. His eyes caught mine as I came over to lean on the counters. I held my breath in, looking at him then looking away to Alice wrapping her arms around Jasper.
"Alice, next time, please let me know you'll have guests staying." Edward said, as he stood up from the breakfast bar. I studied his face for a second. He didn't look angry now. Maybe slight annoyance. Alice rolled her eyes at her brother and didn't respond.

"Yeah… That's my fault," said Jasper awkwardly. "Won't happen again."

"Eggs, Jas? Bacon?" she said quietly in his ear. I hoped this offer was open to me too.

We sat and ate- Edward had already eaten- and chatted for a period of time about the events of last night. Alice said it has been a huge success and people had asked when the next party would be.
"Do you not remember Jess being pushed into the ice sculpture?" She laughed out loud and made a snorting noise. I was surprised she wasn't upset- hadn't the ice sculpture been ruined? All of her hard work jeopardised?
"I don't, was I there at that point?" I asked, unsure if it was the alcohol fogging my memory, or the evens relating to Jacob. Relating to Edward. He sat listening to Alice's story intently, laughing under his breath at the thought of the ice sculpture losing its head.
"I was wondering what the crash was," he said, a crooked smile on his lips. Edward turned to me, leaning against the counter. "You were upstairs being treated as a patient at that point."
That makes sense then. Why I didn't remember watching Jessica Stanley take a tumble. Alice had invited our whole year group. Jess wouldn't have been my first choice on the list. I smiled faintly back at Edward, a blush rising in my cheeks. He has been so careful with me last night, treating my injured hand. He had been so careful with me this morning, when our fingers met. I felt the faint electricity in the tips of my fingers again, as if he were touching me again at the breakfast bar. I held my injured hand up to my chest, my good hand clasping my wrist. I breathed in deeply, wishing the faint pulses of electric would leave. They made me uncomfortable. But also, not uncomfortable. A strange feeling, but a good feeling. A feeling that got stronger the more I thought about it.
At that moment, Edward picked up his empty cup of coffee, placing it in the sink. Alice and Jas continued to talk, totally wrapped up in each other's words. I smiled to myself. Alice had been in our small group for coming up to almost two months. However, it was like she'd always been part of it. I couldn't imagine her not being with us- sitting in the cafeteria together at school, spending time at her house or mine on school nights, spending weekends with her and Rose and the boys. She slotted in so well- like a missing jigsaw piece.
"Bella, before you go home, let me check your hand again."
I looked up from the breakfast bar and his beautiful, dark eyes locked onto mine. I nodded my head, unable to force words out of my mouth. I don't know what it was about Edward. He made me a little nervous. His face was serious, no smile painted across his mouth. He looked genuinely concerned. My hand felt fine. A slight ache but I expected that to be normal, after the events with Jake.
"Come find me later, then." Edward said in a low tone. Again, I nodded. Verbal communication was failing me. I felt my cheeks grow hot. I prayed I hadn't turned the colour of a tomato.

I did as he said. Jasper and Alice had put a movie on in the sitting room. One I'd seen a few times before- a rom-com. A good story, a good few funny scenes, but not overly interesting to me.
"I'm going to make sure I have everything packed." I said, standing up from the overcrowded sofa, excusing myself. I stretched my arms out wide, my back stiff and sore from not sleeping in a bed last night.

"If you need a hand, give me a shout!" Jasper called to me, his eyes not moving from the gigantic television screen.
I made my way up to Alice's bedroom, knowing fine well that my things were packed in my bag. I hadn't planned on staying the night, but had my makeup bag, my dress and heels in my school backpack. Alice had lent me her clothes and had a spare toothbrush for the likely event of me falling asleep on the sitting room floor. I took my leather jacket off of the hook on the back of the door and placed it next to my backpack on the bed. Everything I had brought was in once place, ready to go. Charlie was going to pick me up, I just needed to text him when.

Can you swing by in an hour?

I didn't expect a response straight away. Charlie still wasn't big on texting, although I'd shown him exactly how to type, send and delete messages. He was kind of a dinosaur when it came to technology. I slipped my phone into my backpack- it was on vibrate. I promised myself I'd check my messages in ten minutes, to see if the dinosaur had replied.
I turned out of Alice's bedroom, closing the door quietly behind me. I looked at the set of stairs, a ten or so steps along the hallway. Edward's room had been on the top floor. I remembered from last night. The first room I'd walked into.
Why was this making me nervous? He had literally asked to see me before I went home. He wanted to ensure my hand was OK. The butterflies I'd felt this morning began to rise in my stomach again. There was no way of pushing these ones down. They were stronger, bigger, and were confident in making me feel even more anxious than usual. I swallowed and let a big breath escape my mouth before reaching the first stair. I carefully stepped up them, refusing to allow my clumsiness to take over. What would I do? Would I knock? Would I announce it was me? What if he was busy? What if he wasn't even in his room?
You're being stupid, Bella. If he's not there, you turn around and join your friends again. No harm done.
I knocked. I waited. I waited what felt like an age, but was probably a handful of seconds. I knocked again. I waited. My heart was thumping in my chest, the butterflies perfromning a rhythmic dance in the pits of my stomach. I wasn't going to knock a third time. I wasn't desperate to see him. My hand was fine. I sighed, not even trying to hide my disappointment and turned towards the stairs.

"Oh shit, sorry. I had my music up," a voice came from behind me. Edward pulled the headphones out of his ears and shoved them deep into his pocket of his sweats. I turned to look at him and climbed up the few stairs I'd made it down. He offered a small smile and leaned against the doorframe.
"What are you listening to?" I asked curiously. I was interested to find out about his music taste. He shifted about from foot to foot awkwardly, like he didn't know how to answer.
"Ehhh… Debussy." He said quietly.

It wasn't the answer I expected, but I knew of some of the classics by the famous composer. I smiled at him, to show him I wasn't judging his taste. Although I'd expected him to tell me a different artist, like Paramore or Green Day, I appreciated his honesty.
"Clair de Lune's great."
He stared back at me, his mouth breaking out into a crooked smile. An agreeing smile. Edward moved from the doorway slightly, giving me enough space to make my way past, not touching him. He left the door ajar. The room was bright and open, white and clean looking. Almost clinic-white, as if no one had truly lived in this room. Dark curtains framed the large floor to ceiling windows. A desk sat in the corner of the room, piled with books and notebooks and an older looking laptop. To the other side, nearer the window, was a huge white, wooden bed frame. A simple duvet covered the bed- no cushions for decoration, no silly throws layered on the edge like a show home. A simple dark grey duvet and matching pillows. As soon as I was in his room, I was unsure what to do. Do I sit on his bed? Do I stand awkwardly next to it? Do I perch on the end like a parrot would? I was definitely overthinking it. One of the walls in his bedroom took me by surprise. A bookcase that touched floor to ceiling, as wide as the wall itself. The white shelves were scattered with CDs, vinyls, some open, some shut; hardback books with cursive lettering on the spine, large chapter books with intricate designs, some open, some shut. I noticed a stack of books on his bedside too, taking up most of the room.
"You have so much music." I noted, taking in the sights of the wall.
"It keeps me sane," Edward voiced in a melodic way. "Reading, too. Anything to keep me sane."

I nodded my head. I did the same. I listened to music, I read. Maybe not as much as he did, but I had a good collection of genres and playlists on my music account. I'd read the classics: Wuthering Heights, Little Women, Romeo and Juliet. Although my grades would disagree, I enjoyed English class. I fingered the pages of one the open books on his bedside.
"Frankenstein. I've read it before. I have a habit of, you know, going back to what I know." He murmured. I did know that. I have done the same with many books and TV shows. When it is something you really resonate with, you can watch – or read- it over and over again. It made me feel better, knowing he did the same as me, for comfort.

"Let me see that hand." He slowly made his way toward me. I forgot that was the reason he had asked to see me after breakfast. He smiled a gentle smile and looked deeply into my eyes. I hesitated for a moment, considering my movement over toward him. Or would he move to me? My breath caught in my throat as I imagined the same static that I'd felt previously this morning- the pulsing electricity in my muscles, my tendons, my pumping arteries and veins, as he briefly brushed my fingers. I stared back for a moment before my legs kicked into action. I was still wearing the temporary brace he'd placed on my sore hand last night. I'd taken it off to shower, then placed it right back on. I stepped the few steps toward the other side of the bedroom, to meet him in the middle, and offered my arm out instinctively, still staring into those beautiful green eyes. They looked lighter in the well-lit room. More emerald in colour than forest green. Again, the rooms in the Cullen household were almost all made of glass. The sun filtered in through the array of tall trees outside, making the space warm.

He gently held my arm at my elbow, unstrapping the Velcro that held the bandage in place. I watched him closely as he did. I didn't want to make it awkward so I made sure my gaze left his beautifully carved face to watch his fingers in action.
"Does it still hurt?" He asked softly, as he continued to carefully pull the bandage off of my hand. As he spoke, I could smell the faint smell of mint from his breath, and almost a pine smell, like a fir tree that had recently been showered with the rainfall of spring.
"No, it feels fine." It came out as a whisper.
Edward let the bandage fall from his hands onto the carpet below. He began carefully pressing down on areas of my arm, down to my wrist. I could sense the hairs on my arms beginning to rise- not to do with being cold, but the sensation of his fingertips grazing my skin. It felt like I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. Starting a steady, resting pace. Speeding up, becoming less rhythmic and more of a chaotic frenzy.
"Let me know if it hurts." He spoke louder than me. He continued to press alone my bones and muscles making his way closer to my hand. The dull ache began as he used his fingers to push on the skin near my wrist. It wasn't sore enough to make a noise, but it didn't feel normal.
"Okay, that's sore," I looked into his eyes. His eyes raised to mine. There must have been about thirty centimetres of space between our faces. The electricity began to make my fingers tingle. Edward's fingers felt cool on my skin. Suddenly, he moved his eyes from my gaze and pulled his head further away from mine. A more serious expression run across his beautiful face and he let go of my wrist and hand. I let it flop down to my side. My cheeks started to burn and I prayed they would not betray me and turn their crimson colour of embarrassment. Why had he moved away from me? All silly thoughts crept into my brain. How did my breath smell? I had consumed a whole lot of tequila last night. Did I stare too long at him? Did he sense my pulse beginning to race as he touched my bare skin?

"Okay, I think you'll live," he finally broke the silence that engulfed us. He bent down, grabbed the bandage off of the carpet and handed it to me. I took it, careful not to let his skin touch mine again. I didn't need my heart to be exploding out of my chest again. "Just no baseball practise for a couple weeks, right?" He winked at me, sending my heart into a burning frenzy again. I looked down at the cool coloured carpet, refusing to allow my blush to reach the surface.
"I don't have to worry about that, baseball isn't for the uncoordinated." I muttered. He laughed lightly and crossed his arms across his chest.
"Don't worry, I've heard you should not ever be allowed to play in a sport." He laughed again as he spoke.
"How do you- Alice!" I exclaimed. She was letting my secrets out. How did Edward know I was completely and utterly useless at gym? Alice was the only one of my friends in my PE class. I stared up at him, my mouth hanging slightly open, knowing Alice had spoken about me to her brother. About my inability to catch a ball or walk in a straight line. As soon as my eyes caught glimpse of the laughter lines that etched Edward's face, I couldn't stop my own mouth from curving up into a slightly embarrassed smile. I broke our gaze by carefully slipping the bandage back over my injured hand, fidgeting with the Velcro straps. An impossible task to be done independently- and with only one good hand.
"Here, let me," he said, moving again closer to me and placing the straps neatly round my wrist. "Wear it for a few days and see how it is. No sports, no gym, no drunken punches to any other ex-boyfriends." Again, Edward's face broke out into a crooked smile, his white teeth gleaming.
"Oh, Jake's not… That's not it." I said.
"Oh."

"Oh indeed," I sighed. "I mean, the positive is at least I'll get out of gym class this week, maybe next too. Maybe I should go around punching people more often." I raised my eyebrows at him, and his smile grew what felt like ten sizes.
"As your Doctor, Bella, I am not going to recommend that."
The way he said my name made my heart do twenty flips in my chest. It rolled off of his tongue so smoothly, like honey.

"Bella?" A muffled voice called from another floor of the gigantic Cullen household. Edward's body seemed to tense at the sound. I turned my head towards the slightly open door. I could explain this to Alice, right? Me being in her brother's bedroom. Totally innocent- all he did was check my arm. I gave one last look to Edward before turning my body and stepping towards the door.
"Thanks." I whispered, before leaving the room and making my way for the stairs. I didn't even wait for a reply. Or a look. Though I so wanted to. Those beautiful dark eyes. I want them to stare deeply into mine forever.

"I think your dad's here!" Alice shouted from the hallway of the ground floor.
"Coming!" I called down, making a detour into her room to grab my things. I slid on my coat. Although the sun was still shining lightly, we were in Forks. It was September. It wouldn't be warm. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and stomped down the wooden steps. Alice gave me a puzzled look as I made it down the last step. Her accusing eyes knew I was not just getting my things together, yet she didn't ask.
"I was just freshening up." I said innocently. She kinked her eyebrow and her arms crossed over her body.
"Sure you were," she smiled slyly at me, knowing fine well that was not the truth.
"Thank you for a great night," I stepped towards her with arms open. I was not much of a hugger, but Alice was. "I had an amazing time. Maybe celebrating a birthday isn't so bad."

She squealed and pulled me in tighter.
"Just wait until the next one! I'm thinking hiring a venue, a different colour scheme to this one, maybe disco balls… Oh! Maybe a theme, too? Dress up, cowgirls and cowboys, 80s disco…"
She kept rambling on about the different themes that came into her head. I stepped round her, popping my head into the sitting room and giving Jasper a wave. He looked half asleep on the couch, a blanked draped over his legs.
"Bye Bells." He half spoke, half yawned, giving me a small wave.

I trudged over the stony path towards Charlie's cruiser. I now wish I had driven myself. It wasn't my dream to be carted around in a police car, but I should be grateful for the favour.
"Hey, good night?" Charlie smiled at me as I opened the passenger door, slinging my backpack into the back seats.

"What's with the hand?" Charlie never misses anything. I groaned internally. How do I explain the amount of alcohol consumed by under-agers last night? How do I explain punching his best friend's son in the face? How do I explain Alice's older brother patching me up and making my heart beat a trillion times over?
"Oh, it's a long story."