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this is the end of the line for these two. ;)

She Said

"Did you get it?"

Rose nodded, setting her grocery bag down. "Yeah. One of the co-ops downtown had it - they were just about to close, too…" She took a spear of aloe from the brown paper bag and cut it over the sink. "Lay flat. Take your shirt off."

I did as I was told, and she smeared aloe gunk all over my sun burnt stomach. At least I was only sun burnt on one side. It would really have sucked to have a sore ass, too. Edward would know all about that.

"Have you spoken to him yet?" Rose asked, washing her hands in the sink.

"He's made himself scarce." I sighed.

"I have to admit… I'm a little surprised he went this route. I mean, it was normal when you all first started dating but now…"

"Oh, we still have our pranks," I said, standing up carefully. "Just nothing of this caliber. Not anymore."

Alice had been watching from the corner of the kitchen, quietly munching on some granola Rose had gotten from the co-op. "Are you gonna say yes?"

I nodded, forgetting the discomfort for a second. "Yeah."

She squealed, clapping. "Oh my gosh! So exciting!"

"It really is," agreed Rose, folding her arms across her chest. "Hard to believe you guys have come this far." She wrinkled her nose, glancing again at my stomach. "Or not. I don't know."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." I looked down at my pink skin thoughtfully. "I'll say yes, but… I just need to get back at him. For old time's sake."

Alice crept closer, resting her hand on my shoulder. "What do you have in mind?"

He Said

I fiddled nervously with a beer cap, watching the two cars outside of Bella's. I knew the girls were there with her, but there hadn't been any commotion or anything. Yet.

Obviously, she'd seen my message by now. I smiled, proud of the sheer originality.

But when night fell and Bella still hadn't called or come over, a twinge of worry made its way through me. Surely she'd say yes. Right?

Right?

I'd give her 'til morning.

The next day, I got up and made breakfast, trying my hardest not to look at her house. It was a Monday, though, so I knew she had work. Kinda sucked. I needed to know what she was thinking.

It occurred to me...again... that she might be a little mad about the sun burn - as in, so mad she'd deny me on principle. Right as I glanced out the window she got into her car and left.

Crap.

She was definitely pissed.

By five I was going out of my mind with worry. I'd filled my day with as much busy work as possible, mostly for the company, but it hadn't done much to keep my mind off Bella. She hated me. She'd shut me down. She'd –

The doorbell rang.

I opened it cautiously. A delivery man stood on the porch, a pink box in his hand.

"Edward Cullen?"

"Uh, yeah. That's me."

He smiled and handed me the box. "Have a good day, Sir."

"Thanks, you too." I kicked the door shut and brought the box to the kitchen, where I opened it.

Mini cupcakes. A dozen, swooped sky-high with frosting and red sprinkle things. Little hearts all over 'em. A small pink note was attached to the underside of the box's lid, reading, "i really do love you, hot stuff."

Ah, yeah. Loved me, she did. Grinning, I popped one tiny cupcake into my mouth and began chewing, stuffing another in right away. They were good, so good...kind of different.

They were hot. So hot. My eyes bulged, my nose ran, and I quickly weighed my options: keep down what I'd just swallowed or projectile vomit and risk burning on the way up, too.

"Aw, crap!" I ran to the sink and shoved my face beneath the stream of tap water, feeling tears run down my face.

Red velvet my ass. Those suckers had chili peppers or something. Jalapeños. Something.

Nothing worked.

I ran to the lap top and Googled "how to soothe a burning mouth". They suggested yogurt. Yeah, maybe if I was Bella I'd keep yogurt in the house but I wasn't! Next they suggested milk; that I had. I grabbed the carton from the fridge and downed half the carton.

Relief.

But my tongue still hurt like hell.

A burn for a burn. Touche, lady mine. Touché.

She Said

No sooner had I pulled into my driveway did Edward appear on his porch.

If I didn't know any better I'd swear that man sat around all day doing nothing.

"Bella," he called.

I quickened my steps, knowing he was probably a little miffed.

"Bella!"

I opened my door but he was right behind me, pushing his way inside.

"Hey. Crazy. I have third degree burns on my tongue."

"And I have them on my stomach. And my boobs. No play time for you for awhile."

"So you're not mad at me?" he asked. He was talking sort of funny, lisping. I assumed it was his probably swollen tongue.

I shook my head, smiling sweetly as I sorted my mail.

"So…"

I pretended not to notice his awkwardness. "So…?"

His face fell. "You haven't even answered my question."

"Oh! You mean this one?" I lifted up my shirt.

There, in black Sharpie over the red and white of my stomach, were three letters: YES.

Edward grinned goofily. "Awesome."

I shrugged, kissing his cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too. So, when are you moving in?"

"Um, no. I'm not getting rid of this place. You can move in here," I shot back, walking into the kitchen.

"Hell no," he protested. "My house is way cooler."

"It is not. You're insufferable."

"And you're a snob."

"But you love me, Nudey Pants," I reminded him.

"I do, She Witch. I really do."

The End

thanks so much for coming along on this silly ride! love you guys.

i know some of you wanted a bit more, but this was always just a little quickie-story. ;) i'm sure we can imagine the shenanigans edward and bella will engage in, an HEA laced with pranks and sexytimes.

til next time...xoxo