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-*+ 27 +*-

{ - I am so sorry for the long wait! Writer's block sucks, and my motive for writing has deteriorated. I can't guarantee that I will be updating nearly as much as I used to, but don't fret about me quitting, because that will never happen! Thank you for being patient! - }

-= Bella =-

When we all gathered back at Edward and Emmett's house, Edward quickly dismissed himself to the living room with Emmett where they began whispering sketchily.

Rosalie and I hovered by the kitchen counter, occasionally chattering but mostly seeing if we can pick up on the conversation.

A few minutes passed and I turned to get some milk from the refrigerator. I opened the carton and Rosalie thoughtfully handed me a glass.

"WHAT?!" Emmett boomed. My milk sloshed out of the carton and I fumbled to prevent the whole thing from falling to the linoleum floor.

"Emmett," I whined. Rosalie shook of her shock from his hollering and snickered before handing me a paper towel. I wiped up the spilled milk on the counter and the drops dripping to the floor as Emmett apologized and continued his whispered conversation with Edward, who was holding back his laughter.

I threw away the paper towel and finished pouring my glass of milk before joining Rosalie, who was now leaning onto the counter from the front, facing the boys. I stood beside her, locking my eyes on Edward who was too in depth with his conversation to notice us watching.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Rosalie asked me, not moving her eyes from Emmett.

I pursed my lips before taking another sip of milk and setting the glass down behind me with a clatter and turning to Rosalie. I glanced at her for a moment before looking back at them.

"I don't know," I admitted. "It must be important, though. I've never seen Edward look so focused... besides when he's studying his lines, of course."

"I know, right? Did you see Emmett's face when he apologized to you? He was frantic. It must be pretty shocking, whatever it is." Rosalie replied.

"Well, it's probably none of our business. You want to go home?"

"Yeah, okay. Do you know where I put my keys?"

"I think you put them in my bag," I said, picking up my bag from the floor and rummaging through it. I heard a jingle of metal and plucked Rose's keys from my bag, handing them to her before slinging my bag over my shoulder.

We glanced back at Emmett and Edward before stepping towards the door. I shrugged on the jacket that Rosalie brought for me as she opened the front door.

Bitter, cold air blasted into the kitchen as the door swung open, making me shudder from the sudden drop in temperature.

Hearing the door open, the boys looked up, giving us confused glances.

"Are you leaving?" Edward asked, standing up and fixing his shirt. While he was slouching, it had risen up, showing the bottom of his abs. I forced my eyes away and up to his face.

"Yeah, we figured we should probably head home. It's getting late, and it's my turn to do the laundry," I explained.

"Okay," Edward said, walking over to me. "Be safe."

"We will," I promised. I quickly noticed that Rose didn't have a jacket, and she was shivering by the open door. I shrugged off the coat she brought me and handed it to her.

"Bella, no. I brought this for you," she said.

"I'm fine, Rose. Go heat up the car, I'll be right out."

"Okay. Bye, Em," she pecked Emmett on the lips before disappearing out the door. I turned back to Edward to was staring at me disapprovingly.

"What?" I asked him.

"You need a jacket. You could get sick," he said.

"I'm fine," I insisted. He shook his head.

"Wait here."

He disappeared up the stairs as I lingered by the front door. Within a minute he was back in front of me holding out one of his own jackets. {The one Edward gave Bella in the actual Twilight book}. I eyes him questioningly, but he just turned me around and helped me put it on.

"Thanks," I said, trying to hide the blush that was flooding my cheeks.

"No problem." he said.

I turned to leave, walking out the front door. I was electrically aware that Edward was following me, and I heard him shut the door behind him.

My warm breath made the air around me swirl, and the bitter cold stung at my nose. A warm hand grabbed my wrist, and before I knew it I was pinned against the side of the house.

Edward stood in front of me. He unclasped his hand from my wrist before his arms formed a cage around me. I could almost hear my pulse quicken as my breathing became heavier - embarrassing in general, humiliating even more so by the cold making it visible.

"I'm serious, Bella," he breathed.

"About what?" I asked. My voice was barely above a whisper, as it was all I could manage. I didn't understand why he was making me feel like this.

He leaned closer to me, I felt his warm breath on the side of my face as his lips barely brushed against my left ear.

"Be safe."