So, I'm still so new to this and I have no idea how to get a beta, so if anyone can help me, it would be sooo appreciated. I'm pretty sure I need the help! But with that said, here's my next chapter! I hope you like it!

I own nothing, unfortunately. It all belongs to the great Stephenie Meyer.

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As I look out the window of Emmett's jeep, I can't help but cry. I know I'm only seventeen, but walking in on Edward while he had his face attached to that wench was undoubtedly the worse moment of my life thus far. I can't even begin to put to words the pain that radiated from my heart to my stomach as I watched her run her disgusting fake nails through Edward's beautiful hair.

The hair that I was supposed to be running my hands through. With my freshly polished nails courtesy of Rosalie. I choked back a sob and sniffed angrily.

Ohhh, Rosalie Lillian Hale was in for one hell of a tantrum from me.

I'm going to find the most hideous pair of sweatpants I own and take great joy in seeing her suffer wearing them. You just watch.

Rosalie, that bitch, convinced me that Edward shared all the same feelings for me as I did for him. She had such conviction when she was talking about the way we were together. And then I went ahead and did the dumbest thing I could possibly do. I believed her. I actually believed her when she told me Edward and I were going to be exclusive by the end of the night.

But as witnessed by myself and Emmett, that was the farthest thing from the truth.

Edward had feelings alright. But those feelings certainly weren't aimed in my direction.

Laughing coldly, I looked to my left and saw that poor Emmett was sweating bullets trying to figure out the best way to approach the situation.

My cell phone rang, for the fifth time, displaying Rose's name, but I dismissed it, each time getting a disapproving look from Emmett. Back off, buddy. Not the time to defend your girlfriend.

He must have seen me looking at him because suddenly, panicking, he said, "I'll kick his ass if you want me to, Bells. You know I will."

I smiled my first genuine smile, "No. It's okay, Em." He smiled back sadly and we continued driving. Where we were going, I had no idea. It just felt good to be far away from our houses.

I knew that something wasn't right in Edward's eyes when he asked me to hang out and then go to the movies. I always pictured Edward wearing a smile that went all the way to his beautiful green eyes before asking me on our first date.

Instead, he gave me the half smile just so I would agree to go. I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong then, but I know now.

The talk he wanted to have at his house was most likely about the girl attached to his face. Whenever Edward would actually agree to having a girlfriend, which didn't happen often, he worried that I would be jealous.

I, of course, would tell him to get over himself and hang out with Rose until they broke up.

Which was always pretty quick.

I liked to tell myself that he broke up with them because he missed hanging out with me and I was the one he really wanted to spend time with, but I knew it was only because Edward was bored with the girl.

The girls he dated or fooled around with never came to Edward's house though. It was like his unwritten rule. 'No girls allowed' or something equally juvenile.

Well, no girls but Rose and me.

So, the fact that this girl was not only kissing Edward, but she was inside his house while doing it, spoke volumes about their commitment. She was his girlfriend and Edward and I were still Edward and Bella, best friends forever.

I sighed because even though it wasn't the outcome I wanted, I could never have Edward out of my life completely.

I knew I would accept whatever Edward told me and play the picture perfect best friend because that's what I was and would always be.

I shook myself out of the funk I was in and turned to Emmett, "Okay, I'm done pouting. Let's go pick out Rose's anniversary present, Big Fella."

He smiled hesitantly, "Are you serious? What about everything that happened? Don't you wanna talk about it?"

"Honestly, I'll feel better if we don't talk about it right now. Trust me, Rose is going to give me the third degree when I get home tonight so the longer I can put that off, the better."

He ruffled my hair, "I'm proud of you, Bells. Don't give him the satisfaction of seeing you cry."

I took in a weary breath, "I'm not going to let him know I'm upset. Neither are you. As far as he knows, I thought I was going over to see a movie with my friend and that's it. No romantic implications, whatsoever."

He started to object, telling me that it was better for him to know but I stopped him. "No, Em. Seriously. The less he knows the better. I'm cashing in on you owing me for Rose's present with this. Do not say a word to him, please?"

He blew out a breath, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Yeah. Sure thing, Bells."

I closed my eyes, put my head back, and listened to the radio as we drove on towards Port Angeles to get Rose's present.

----

"Bells, that's like the twentieth time Rosie has called you. Don't you think you're over-reacting just a little bit?," Emmett dared to say as we walked into the third jewelry store that day.

"Don't start with me, Emmett. I'll talk to her eventually. I'm just making her sweat it out a little."

"That's not very nice, Swan. She's worried about you. She knows how much Edward means to-," he stopped to peek at his phone and continued, "-you and she only wants to talk to you to make sure you're okay," he finished, proud of himself.

"Did you just read that from a text message she sent you?"

"No, I have no idea what you're talking about," he looked up at the ceiling as he said it, a complete indication that he was in fact reading said message.

I was about to yell at him for interfering when I saw the perfect present for Rose in a display at the back of the store. "Emmett, come here! This is it!," I called to him.

He walked up to the display and his mouth dropped. There in the case was a diamond encrusted sports car that hung daintily from a simple, white-gold chain. This necklace screamed Rosalie Hale.

Emmett called the salesman over and purchased the necklace and then we made our way out of the mall.

I climbed into the big old Jeep and we were on our way home. I closed my eyes and must have fell asleep because the next thing I knew, I felt Emmett shaking me awake. I blinked and realized we were already in his driveway. The whore's red car wasn't there anymore, not that I noticed or anything.

"Thanks so much, Bells. I think Rose is going to freak when she sees this."

I smiled, "No problem. Just remember what you're doing for me in exchange. Not a word to Eddie-boy."

I couldn't help but feel an ache in my chest as I said his name, even if it was only his ridiculous nickname that Em and I use to get on his nerves. It still hurt.

He nodded and smiled, "Whatever you say Jelly-Belly. As long as you think it's what's best."

I smiled and reached into my purse, pulling out my silver cell phone. "Well, time to face the music," I peeped as I pressed number two on my speed dial.

"Where the hell have you been? I've been calling you non-stop for the past two hours. You had better be on your way over here or so help me God," Rosalie shrieked at a decibel that rivaled that of one only dogs could hear.

I listened to her yell for a second more before telling her I was on my way to her house and hanging up. I hugged Emmett and climbed out of the monstrous Jeep. I waved bye to him before he shook his head no and scooped me up in one of his famous bear hugs. "I love you, Bells. Keep your chin up."

I trudged over to my house, looking back to see Em open and close the door to his house. I walked up my drive, into the front door, and called to Charlie in the living room. "Hey, Dad, I'm home. Sorry about dinner, I had to go with Emmett to pick out Rose's anniversary present."

He grumbled, "So that's why she called here ten times in an hour. She almost convinced me to send a search party out for you."

I grimaced. Rosalie must be feeling extra guilty if she called and bothered Charlie while he was watching baseball. That was like the worst thing you could do in Charlie's book.

I decided to take it easy on her as I trudged up to my room to change out of my ridiculous date outfit. It wasn't Rose's fault that Edward didn't feel that way about me. I'm sure to the casual observer that Edward and I look a little couple-ish but being on the inside I should have known better.

Shaking it off, I grabbed a change of clothes and my toothbrush, reached for my keys and headed down the stairs, tripping only once, and told Charlie I was staying over at Rose's. I kissed him goodbye and grabbed my bag from the table next to the door. Making sure I had all the provisions for the night at Rose's, I walked over to my beat up Chevy truck. She was old and rusted, but she was also solid and reliable, and I loved her.

Just as I was about to reach for the handle of the driver's side door, I heard a noise behind me. I turned around and saw none other than Edward himself shuffling his feet from side to side, looking at the ground.

I took a deep breath and waited for the inevitable news that Edward was once again seeing someone. After what seemed like a year of awkward glances and uncomfortable tension between the two of us, Edward decided to talk.

"So, I'm really sorry that things turned out the way they did today. I never intended for you to see that and I know that I said I wanted us to hang out it's just-," he stammered at a speed I almost couldn't keep up with.

He almost seemed… nervous?

Impossible.

Edward Cullen doesn't do nervous.

Before he could spew any more word vomit, I assured him that everything was fine. I knew in my heart that he didn't need to explain anything to me. However, my traitor brain begged to differ.

"She must really be special if you allowed her in your house, huh?," I edged looking him in the eye.

He nodded sadly, "I know that you get uncomfortable when I have girlfriends but I can assure you that our friendship will remain solid, Bella."

Friendship.

I felt that last bit of my resolve fade and a tear dropped from my eye. He wanted to remain friends?

And there it was. The last piece of my heart had been ripped from my chest. It's only fitting that he was allowed to break it like that.

He owned it after all.

He reached up to wipe the tear that fell from my eye and my breath caught in my throat. "Don't, Edward. Things are different now. You have a girlfriend." I pulled away from his hand and turned towards my truck.

"Bella, come on, don't pull the unreasonable jealous harpy card now. Nothing about our friendship is going to change."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He asks me out on a date, something he's never done before, and all the while he has a girlfriend. And I'm unreasonably jealous? Oh no. Fuck that, Edward.

"Everything about our friendship is going to change, Edward! You made a fool out of me today. For what? Were you just messing with Emmett asking me out on that date?," I asked, afraid of the answer and kicking myself for not thinking of it before.

"I thought you knew," he said, almost to himself.

"Oh my God. Oh my God. You were joking with me?," I yelled. "You can't just go around playing with people's feelings to get even with your brother, Edward! It hurts people. You hurt me!" What an asshole. I am through with you, Edward Cullen.

He looked surprised. He actually had the nerve to look surprised. "Bell, I knew you were going to take this girlfriend news hard, yes, but I didn't think you would care that we didn't go out on a date. I thought you were just going along with the joke."

He looked thoroughly confused and remorseful and I wanted to kiss him to make him feel better and then I slapped myself internally for thinking those traitor thoughts.

He broke your heart, idiot.

"Bella, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you would get this upset over this. What can I do to make it up to you?"

I looked at him like he had two heads because surely he could not be this blind. How can he not see that I'm not just upset, I'm completely heartbroken?

"Edward, I'm more than upset. I'm devastated. I was an idiot and let myself believe that you wanted to date me. I let Rosalie polish my nails for God's sake!"

I shoved my hands in his face to prove my point. He took one look at my nails and knew that this was serious.

"Bella, I had no idea. I don't even know where to begin to apologize to you. Anything you want, I'll do."

"Anything?"

"Yes, I will do anything to make this up to you."

"Give me space, Edward. I thought I could look past this and pretend like I was still Best Friend Bella but I just can't. I'm tired, Edward. I'm tired of competing for your attention. And I think that I'm not going to be able to find someone if my whole life is wrapped up in you."

"Bella, don't be ridiculous. We've never spent more than two weeks apart from one another. You'll get over this."

I shivered at the thought of being separated from Edward, but I couldn't bear to be near this version of him. This person who was so callous with my feelings.

"Yeah, well, maybe that's our problem. We spend so much time together we forget that we have feelings. I'm not your sister, Edward. You can take things too far with me. And you know as well as I do that things have been different between us the past couple of months."

He wavered slightly, "Is this about me kissing you?"

"You remember doing it?," I asked in disbelief.

He blushed sheepishly, "Well, yeah, but you never mentioned it so I thought it was okay. I liked kissing you."

"Edward, did you ever wonder why I never said anything about it?"

He shrugged, "Because you didn't want to embarrass me?"

I shook my head, "No, because I was confused and, well, I liked it, too. But you know me better than anyone, Edward. You know that I don't go around kissing drunk guys. How could you not have known what those times meant to me?"

His face paled and he ran his hand through his already disheveled head of hair, "Oh my God. I'm so sorry, Bella. I'm such an asshole."

I couldn't disagree with him, and smirked sadly, "Well I knew that already, this just put the final nail in the coffin."

He frowned and blew out a breath, "Where do we go from here? I can't lose you in my life."

"I think right now, we have to spend some time apart. Leave the situation at me being dumb for thinking Edward Cullen could fall for the girl next door and Edward Cullen being an asshole for leading her on."

He looked insufferably striking as his eyes implored me to listen, "I don't want to spend time apart. Let's just pretend this didn't happen. I'll get my head out of my ass, I promise."

My whole body was trembling but I managed to get through what I had to say, "If you really want our friendship back, you have to let me heal, Edward. It's not your fault you don't feel the same way. But I need a clean break from us, just to sort through everything."

Before I lost my nerve, I turned around and hopped in my truck.

I waved to him sadly before backing out of my driveway and heading in the direction of Rose's house. I dialed her number quickly, "Rose? I'm almost there. Have the vodka ready. I'm gonna need it."

----

Rose looked like I'd run over her puppy when I relayed everything to her. I conveniently left out the part about shopping with Emmett, but told her every painstaking detail of my conversation with Edward. It's like my brain memorized our entire dialogue knowing that it would probably be our last for awhile.

"Are you okay, baby girl?," she asked as I laid my head on her shoulder.

I knew she felt bad. That's why when I walked into her room and she had two vodka shots with lemon slices and sugar waiting, I forgave her instantly, running to hug her and finally let my tears fall.

Four lemon drops and one quart of ice-cream later, we lay in her bed, pajamas on, talking until sleep overcame us.

"He just stomped all over my heart and I can't even be mad at him, Rose. I'm only staying away from him because I think it'll be easier to get over him."

She nodded in understanding, "Of course you need to stay away for awhile. Do you think it would be healthy to hang around him and that slut? Absolutely not and I'll make sure he doesn't parade her around it front of you."

"He won't. He knows now that I have feelings for him and he wouldn't intentionally hurt me."

Our conversation was interrupted when Rose's cell phone went off. It wasn't Emmett's ringtone so I wondered who would be calling her this late.

As she talked, I drifted in and out of sleep, trying to listen in to her conversation but feeling the effects of the vodka. I thought I heard her say something that couldn't possibly be true.

I could have sworn I heard her say, "What?! Jasper, you're coming to Forks?!."

Yep, that's what I was afraid of.