I stood facing Edward in the middle of the forest as I waited for him to say something.
"Bella, we're leaving."
I took a deep breath. I had been waiting for this moment for a year, so I played along.
"Why now? Another year-" But I was cut off by Edward.
"Bella, it's time. How much longer could we stay in Forks, after all? Carlisle can barely pass for thirty, and he's claiming thirty-three now. We'd have to start over soon regardless."
"When you say we-," I whispered.
"I mean my family and myself." He said as if he thought I didn't understand. But I did.
"Okay," I said still playing along. "I'll come with you."
"You can't Bella. Where we're going... It's not the right place for you." He looked down at the ground. At this point I was doing a little 'dance' in my head.
"Where you are is the right place for me." I stated.
"I'm no good for you, Bella."
"Don't be ridiculous." I wanted to sound angry but I was too happy so it sounded like I was begging. "You're the very best part in my life."
"My world is not for you," he said grimly.
"What happened with Jasper- that was nothing, Edward! Nothing!"
"You're right it was exactly what was to be expected."
"You promised! In Phoenix, you promised that you would stay-" I said trying to sound desperate.
"As long as that was best for you," he interrupted to correct me.
"No! This is about my soul isn't it?" I shouted, acting furious, yet I still wanted to make it sound like a plea. "Carlisle told me that, and I don't care! You can have my soul. I don't want it without you- it's yours already."
He looked at me in the eyes. "Bella, I don't want you to come with me."
I was so happy that I started crying. "You... don't... want me?" I said trying to sound confused.
"No."
"Well that changes things." I said. My voice was now calm.
"Of course, I'll always love you... In a way. But what happened the other night made me realize that it's time for a change. Because I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not, Bella. I am not human," He paused looking up from the ground. "I've let this go on much too long, and I'm sorry for that."
"Don't." My voice a whisper. "Don't do this."
"You're not good for me Bella." He said harshly.
"If... that's what you want."
He nodded. "I would like to ask you one favour though, if that's not too much," he said.
I wonder what he saw on my face, because something flickered across his own face in response.
"Anything," I said not meaning one word.
"Don't do anything reckless or stupid," he ordered. "Do you understand what I'm saying?" I nodded. I wasn't stupid; I knew more things about the supernatural world than they thought.
"I'm thinking of Charlie, of course. He needs you. Take care of yourself- for him."
I nodded. "I will," I whispered.
"And I'll make you a promise in return," he said. "I promise that this will be the last time you'll ever see me. I won't come back. I won't put you through anything like this again. You can go on with your life without anymore interference from me. It will be as if I never existed."
"Don't worry. You're human - your memory is no more than a sieve. Time heals all wounds for your kind." He didn't know anything about my kind. Time did not heal our wounds, potions did.
"And your memories?" I asked.
"Well." - he hesitated for a short second - "I won't forget. But my kind... we're very easily distracted." Did he just say I was a toy? I got angry but then I remembered that I would be going home soon.
He took a step away. "That's everything, I suppose. We won't be bothering you again." And with those last words he was gone in a flash.
I started dancing back to Charlie's home. I was finally going back home to Hogwarts, with the Marauders', to where I was known as Audrey Whyte.