A/N: Does anyone read Twilight fan fiction anymore? I wrote this story years ago, took it offline, and now am reposting. Is our community still alive? Leave a comment and let me know! This chapter wouldn't have happened without gredelina1 helping me through it line by line.
EPOV
"Bella?" I whispered, standing across the room by the window. As soon as I saw her I would have wrapped her in my arms, but the look of terror on her face made me pause.
Renee and Phil's apartment building had three floors and they lived on the third floor. Jasper and Alice were waiting for me on the roof, standing directly above the room Bella was staying in order to be close enough for Jasper to get a read on her emotions.
She's terrified! Jasper thought, confirming what was clear for me to see.
Bella's eyes flew open and she gasped. I opened my arms, beckoning her forward so I could embrace her. She took one step forward, then took a step back. Her heart was pounding. She'd never denied me before, she usually ran into my arms eagerly.
"Love, what's wrong?" I pleaded.
She cringed, but quickly her face turned to stone.
"What do you want?" she asked, icily.
I swallowed nervously, surprised at her attitude. "Alice saw you were sick, I was concerned and came to see if you were alright."
An unreadable expression flashed across her face. "I'm fine."
We stared at each other, neither of us saying a word.
In my mind I could see Jasper talking to Alice. She was concerned. "Bella is using the same tone with Edward as she used with me…what is she so upset about?"
"Her emotions are all over the place….it's hard to get an accurate reading."
"Why did you leave Forks without telling me?" I asked, quietly. I couldn't mask the hurt I felt.
Bella glared at me. "You don't tell me everything."
I was confused. "What is that supposed to mean?"
She looked at me suspiciously and closed her eyes. "You're too good…." she mumbled.
I took a step forward. "Love, did I upset you? What did I do? Tell me and I'll make it right…"
Bella put her hands up. "Don't come near me. Don't touch me," she hissed.
I froze.
Less than half an hour earlier, when I spoke with Renee her thoughts revealed that she believed Bella and I had broken up. I immediately dismissed it because it was a preposterous, impossible thought. Now, with the way Bella was acting, I wondered if there was some validity to it.
"Please, Edward, don't be cruel," she whimpered. "Just leave me alone."
I had never seen Bella be afraid of me before, not once. Yet, she was practically trembling in fear.
"I won't hurt you, Bella," I whispered, although in all honesty, I always struggled with my blood-lust and the monster raging inside me that wanted to drain her. I remembered the sweet taste of her blood when I was sucking out James' venom from her system and how I had the strength to stop before I killed her. My love for her was strong, unchangeable. If she died, I would seek destruction. Bella was my life.
"You're a monster," she spat.
It was written all over her face, but Jasper's response of shock confirmed it. Bella was disgusted with me.
I had referred to myself as a monster so many times and Bella always argued with me, saying that I wasn't a monster, that I was good, that I was strong, that she trusted me and wanted to be with me forever. For Bella to call me a monster...it was the absolute worst thing she could ever say to me. And it was intentional. She knew exactly what she was saying and that it would hurt me deeply.
The only reason Bella would act this way was if she didn't want to be with me anymore. She was letting it be made known without actually saying the words. Bella had fled to Jacksonsville because she was breaking up with me. I needed to hear her say it, though.
"You don't want me?" I asked in a whisper, so low I wondered if Bella could hear me.
She paused for a moment, but looked me directly in the eyes.
"No."
One word. No. It cut me like a knife. My chest felt as though it was being ripped open and my dead heart was being torn into pieces.
Jasper and Alice both gasped out loud, looking at one another in confusion and panic. If I was alone with Bella, I would have possibly gotten on my knees and begged her to reconsider. But, with my brother and sister listening, I tried to hold myself together.
I took a deep breath. "I'll always want you," I spoke slowly, wishing desperately I could hear what she was thinking.
Bella cringed and refused to look at me again. She seemed still afraid of me and I wondered if she thought I would harm her. I tried to calm her fear.
"I'll leave you alone now," I assured her, taking one last glance at the reason for my existence, turned around and escaped through the window. I climbed up on to the roof where Jasper and Alice were waiting.
Alice immediately attacked me with a hug. "I'm so sorry, Edward," she sobbed.
Jasper was sincerely bewildered at what had just happened. He looked at me with compassion and sent comfort my way, but didn't say anything.
I untangled myself from Alice's embrace.
"Let's go," I responded flatly. I didn't want to break down in front of them. I had to process this in private.
Jasper looked at me curiously. I obviously couldn't hide my feelings from him, but I was trying desperately to make it seem as though I wasn't completely destroyed.
"Why is she acting this way?" Alice asked. "What did you do?"
I shook my head. "It's not what I did. It's what I am. Bella doesn't want me anymore."
Alice grabbed my arm, upset that I wasn't displaying more emotion. "Go back and make her talk to you. This isn't right!"
I shook my head. "I can't do that, Alice."
"Why?" she whimpered, almost as hurt at Bella's behavior as I was. After all, Bella wasn't just rejecting me, she was saying goodbye to the whole family.
I turned to my brother and sister, replacing the devastation on my face with determination.
"It was the best decision Bella ever made."
