It's Not That Easy

Chapter 16 - Pick Your Battles

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. - Victor Hugo

Chapter 16 - Pick Your Battles

Edward's POV:

"Did I do something wrong?" Addyson asks as she sits in her yoga pants cross-legged in the middle of her bed. The question comes from left field, since we have been sitting together for almost an hour while she studies, silently.

Confusion reigns down on me. "What are you talking about?"

"You. You're not acting like you." Addyson stares straight into my eyes like she is trying to read my thoughts. "Are you mad at me? Have you changed your mind about us or something?"

"Cara, where is this coming from?"

"You. I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with me that makes you act like you do."

Holding the nape of her neck, I pull her to closer to me. "Nothing is wrong." I breathe onto her forehead with my lips gently touching her. "Tell me what's going on."

"You. You're what's going on, and I'm living with the cold shoulder." I scoot so that I'm sitting beside her. My hand soothes her skin from the base of her neck to her mid-back as she continues to talk. "The last time you kissed me, like really kissed me was the night of the hospital benefit. It's been more that two weeks. What's wrong with me that you won't even kiss me?"

"I kiss you all the time, Addyson."

"No. No, you don't. You put your lips on me; you press them against me now and then, but you pull away, every time. Every time, Edward." No, I don't. I don't do that. I don't pull away from her. My lips meet hers. She's angry, but she opens for me; she kisses me back. I hear her moan, as I taste her mouth. I watch her eyes flutter open, and she says, "You just did it again."

Her chin quivers, and she refuses to make eye contact. She moves to the edge of her bed, ready to bolt out the door. "I need to study. You should go home. I'm sure Holden misses having a roommate." She picks up her books and laptop and walks across the hall and slams Joel's door behind her.

My hand is poised to knock. "I wouldn't do that." Joel says with a stern look. "I don't know what just happened, but you may need to leave for a little while and let her cool off. She's been like this most of the day. Whatever's wrong you can't fix it right now." His face changes of to one of concern, sympathy.

I grab my few things I have in her room and leave hoping she'll talk to me soon.

Addy's POV:

"You want to tell me what that's all about?"

"No."

"Then, you want to explain what's gotten you all worked up today?"

"It's nothing."

"It feels a lot bigger than nothing. You're a little snippy, and I don't just mean to Edward."

"I would rather study. I'll tell you about it later. I promise." I give him a halfhearted smile, trying to get my crazy emotions under control. "Now, get your books."

"Fine, scoot over or I will sit on you." He tells me as he pulls his class notes into his lap. We spend the next hour and a half going over the last three days worth of work from class, coming up with possible test questions and similar vocabulary terms, clearing up misunderstandings with our texts and online sources.

"I'm going to grab a drink. You want anything?" Joel asks. I know he's not really thirst, he's just antsy. Like always.

"No, I'm... on second thought. A glass of water would be nice. No ice."