snowed in ( all human twilight fanfic x brothers best friend )

three

Bella

It had taken Bella hours to fall back to sleep when she got to her room. Edward's question had bothered her, it forced her to think about it really. Why did she hate him so much? Was it justified? She thought back to the incident, and her stomach twisted uncomfortably as humiliation washed over her. She squeezed her eyes closed as she thought about it, willing the embarrassment to go away. Her heart constricted as she took in a breath. She remembered Jessica's taunts, her supposed best friend had teased her about that moment, which ultimately led to Bella putting distance between them, and eventually ending the friendship all together.

Jessica was a gossip, and loved to spread things around school, she didn't care who she hurt. Bella was thankful that her former friend kept that secret despite their falling out and demise of their friendship, Bella hadn't been sure she'd ever be able to show her face in school again, or at home for that matter, where Edward tend to frequent.

It was with these thoughts of the what ifs of Edward finding out the truth back then that she fell asleep, with a heavy mind and tired heart. Once again, she didn't know how long she was asleep, but when she woke up, she was freezing. Her teeth chattered as she sat up in bed, eventually standing up and shoving her feet into some slippers as she wrapped her blanket around herself.

Edward said he got firewood, right? Maybe she could start a fire in the fireplace. Emmett or their dad had always done that, she never had to before, but it couldn't be hard, right? She slipped out of her room quietly and started again toward the living room. She had tried to use the lights but they wouldn't work, telling her they had no power, which explained the cold. She used the flashlight on her phone to walk from her room to the living room.

When she got to the hallway leading to the room, however, she heard the fire already crackling, and she froze in her steps. He was already awake. She debated what to do, should she just suck it up and go to him? Join him by the fire? Or should she turn tail and go back to her room? She shifted her weight and the floorboard creaked. Crap. Maybe he didn't hear?

"Bella?" He called. She closed her eyes and took a breath, her decision made for her. She walks the rest of the distance to the living room and stands meekly in the doorframe.

"Hi." She says, wrapping herself tighter in the blanket. She took him in, from his spot by the fire. He was wearing wool socks, flannel pajama pants, and a heavy sweater. She guessed he had been cold too. "I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd be out here, I just was going to.." she nodded toward the fire.

"It's alright." He said, glancing back at the flames. He reaches over and pats a space next to him in front of the fire. "Join me, it's plenty warm over here."

Bella would normally laugh at the thought of getting so close to him, but beggars can't be choosers. She was freezing, and she needed warmth. She walked to him and sat down, and he offered her a small smile.

"Saves me a trip." He says, she raises her eyebrow in question and he gestures to some blankets on the couch. "I was going to sneak in your room, in a totally non creepy way, and layer you with some more blankets. It's so cold right now. The storm is awful." 

She looks at the blankets and can't help the twitch of her lips. "Totally non creepy." She says, "that was a nice thought."

His green eyes leave her and look at the fire, he shoves his hands in the pocket of his hoodie, and Bella finds herself watching him. Her stomach flips as the ancient feeling sparks in her belly. The way the light from the fire reflected from his eyes, the purse of his thick pillow soft lips, the curve of his nose, his messy hair. He really was perfect, she wondered if he knew that.