SM (who sadly isn't me) OWNS TWILIGHT AND ALL IT'S CHARACTERS

Yes, this chapter took longer then I said it would, but as always, life gets in the way. And it may not look like it, but it is in fact shorter than the last one by over a thousand words, so that's not to shabby. But the next one will be up sometime this weekend hopefully, and will be a lot shorter than the first two, it was the first two that had a lot of flashbacks (btw, this chapter is mostly in flashback tense) and the other chapters will be mostly in present tense. So, happy readings :)


Chapter 2: You're So Sober

April 2004

Emmett was just getting in from practice, and despite as much as it fucking pissed me off, Alec was with him; the Alec that caused me to see less and less of Bella every day, that same Alec that pushed her further and further away from her dreams, and the same Alec that made my girl hide under the bleachers to cry because the damn bastard yelled at her, and just because me of me, of all people.

In my point of view, he had nothing to worry about. From what I could see Bella was mad for him, that girl would do anything he asked her too. But he still didn't seem to trust us. Much to my dismay, Bella didn't harbour any unspoken feelings for me. All she felt there was friendship. That's why it surprised me when I walked off the field after gym class to find Bella crying under the bleachers.

"Bella, what…" I looked over at my best friend who was crying and practically falling apart in the corner of the stands. Bella instantly stopped crying and turned slowly to look at me. "Shit," she swore under her breath as she turned away from me to wipe her tears. My Bella never hid from me, but then again she wasn't really my Bella to begin with.

"Bells, what happened?" I asked in a low voice, trying not to lose my temper. Bella just stiffened and got up to walk away from me, "Nothing, I'm fine," was her weak attempt at an excuse.

"Bella, you are not fine. Tell me what happened," I said more sternly, no longer giving her the option. "Edward really, it's no big deal, it's just female things…"

"Damnit Bella, tell me what happened," I nearly shouted. Bella flinched at my tone and turned a little more toward me, finally giving in. The tears that she had already shed were still clearly visible on her cheeks.

"It's nothing major Edward really. I just got into a little fight with Alec that's all," she sniffled as she moved to walk around me. This was clearly not nothing.

"Bella, it's obviously something if you're crying over it." I countered.

"I wasn't crying earlier Edward; I just kind of started after I came here to think over everything that he said. You shouldn't be here," she said hesitantly.

I wasn't going to lie, it hurt badly when Bella said that she didn't want me there, but I knew there was more to it, so I didn't give up.

"Bella what is going on here? It's me we're talking about; we've always been able to tell each other everything."

Tears continued to fall down Bella's face, "I know, but Edward…we fought about…you," she said in a whisper as silent sobs escaped her chest, as she turned her back to me.

I was frozen, why would they fight about me? Was Alec intimidated by me? No, that couldn't be it, I mean he had everything I wanted, why would he be intimidated by me?

"Bella…"

"Edward, just don't say anything alright? It's just something that he brings up all the time. He does nothing but complain about 'Edward this,' or 'Edward that.' He really has a bad habit of talking about you," she grimaced, trying to make a joke out of the matter. But this didn't really seem like a joke to her.

"Bella, what stuff does he say that makes you so upset?" I asked, both wanting and not wanting the answer.

"Nothing major, really," I gave Bella another cold look before she continued. "Look, he's just…I don't know, suspicious of our relationship I guess you can say. I keep trying to tell him that you have no feelings like that toward me what so ever, but he doesn't fall for it. And then he accuses me of lying to him, and that I love you. But every time I try to explain to him the essence our relationship, which I don't think I should have to in the first place, he blows up at me…" I knew there was more to this when Bella only continued to drag on.

"There's more isn't there? I can tell, go on." Bella looked at me skeptically then sighed.

"Well it got worse today. At lunch we were talking about…I honestly don't remember now…but then all of a sudden he asked why we always had to talk about you. I said that we never talked about you, and then he yelled and pointed a finger at me and said that I always bring you up. And then I thought about it, and I guess I do bring you up in conversation from time to time, but I can't help it you're my best I told him that, and he just lost it. Saying that this was the last straw…and he…gave me a…ultimatum..."

Bella stalled again, and I suddenly didn't want to know what this ultimatum was.

I already had an idea of what she was going to say next, and I knew what she would pick and who would be left alone in the end. It all made sense; destiny was finally going to be set right; me alone and Bella forever happy.

"He said…it was him or you, and if I chose wrong, then it would be the end of us…completely." Bella looked as if her heart was breaking just by thinking it and I didn't want to stand in the way of causing her pain any longer. She deserved to be happy, and if I had to give her up so she could achieve that happiness, I would.

"Bella, I know what you feel for him," I tried to get everything I needed to say all out in one single breath, but my voice got caught in my throat as my own heart broke at the thought of what I was going to do. "So I think that you should do what you want," even though I'd hate him for the rest of my life for taking you away from me.

Bella turned abruptly and stared at me with shock and disbelief laced all over her tear stained eyes. "Edward, what are you talking about?" Bella sounded appalled and anger started to creep up into her features.

"You love him Bella, I can see that. You can't turn away from that just because you feel like you owe me; you don't owe me anything Bella."

Bella marched right up to me and looked me straight in the eye, fury and determination coming from every pore in her body.

"Edward, you are my best friend," she practically shouted as she kept eye contact with me, "I am not going to tune you out of my life just because some idiot I happen to be seeing doesn't want you in it. That's to damn bad for him; if he wants to be in my future then he has to get used of you always being there, and that goes for any other guy that I might see. Edward you're my main guy, never forget that," she cried as she threw herself into my arms.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was it possible that Bella felt even a shed for me as what I felt for her? I didn't know and at that point I didn't care, I just wrapped my arms securely around her.

"I'm sorry Bella I jus-"

"You were just being stupid," she joked as she hit me in the arm. "So, I need a ride home my main man, how about you hit me up with one," she grinned as she hooked her arm in mine, completely disregarding why she was crying in the first place.

Emmett and Alec walked into the house, both of them muddy and drenched from football practice. They were laughing about something when they came in the door, and Alec suddenly stopped when he spotted me leaning on the living room door frame.

Emmett shifted his eyes back and forth from me and Alec nervously, "Yeah…well I'm going up to have a shower," he said quickly as he ran up the stairs. Alec and I continued to glare at each other.

"So Cullen, why are you looking at me so seriously, have you finally come out of the closet? I mean if you couldn't hold Lose Tanya, then..." he taunted me as he moved further into the house.

It pissed me off on how he described Tanya, but I let it slide because I had bigger fish to fry. "So, I seen your girlfriend after school," instantly the vein on the side of his neck pulsed.

"Yeah she mentioned how you yelled at her today, mind to tell me what that was about?" I sneered. Alec snorted, "That's none of your business now is it Cullen."

I chuckled humourlessly, "You're wrong there Alec, because she's my best friend, so of course it's my business. Do you have a problem with me?"

"Actually I do Cullen; I have a problem with you being in love with my girlfriend." Alec was standing next to me in the living room now, clearly trying to rein in his anger.

"It's not like that Alec and you know it," I muttered under my breath, but Alec only scoffed like the asshole he was.

"Save all your bullshit for Bella alright, because I see the way you look at her. The way that you brush her arm in the hallway when you two are talking, and when you rush over to her truck first thing in the morning to hold her door open for her. I see it all Cullen, and so does everyone else."

I laughed, "What, are you stalking your girlfriend now? Really, the chief's daughter? Now that's not very smart don't you think?"

Alec only smirked, "You can't even deny it can you? It kills you to know that I get to kiss her neck and whisper what I'm going to do to her in her ear, and that I get to hear that special moan reserved only for me ," I was clenching my teeth together so hard I was sure I would chip a tooth, trying my best not to kick his ass in my mother's house. But it was getting really fucking hard not to bash his face in right there.

"I can see I'm getting to you right now. Admit it you love her," when I didn't say anything he went on, "Well I guess I'll go and talk to my girlfriend now, apologize like I always do, and things will be back to normal come first thing tomorrow morning," he sneered as he turned slowly back toward the door.

That was it. I know the common rule for fighting is to never hit a guy when his back is turned, but damnit, I didn't care. I launched myself at Alec's back, and he locked my arms in front of his neck as he turned to slam me back into the door. Before he did it again, he was ripped away from me and slammed up against the opposite wall from us.

"Get the fuck out of my house!" Emmett shouted as his shoulders shook with rage, holding Alec firmly to the wall.

I stood up slowly and watched as my older brother continued to beat the hell out of Alec. "You don't come in here, and start talking shit about a girl who is practically my little sister, to my brother's face. Now get out of before Alice comes in here and gets a hold of you." He shouted as he practically threw him out the door and down our front steps.

Alec got up and sprinted to his car and took off. As Emmett and I stood, trying to catch our breathing, Alice came busting out from the back room. "Why the hell did you lock me in the basement Em?! I would have beaten his sorry-"

Alice continued to go off and as she shouted at Emmett, I turned and ran up to my room. I slammed my door behind me and punched the wall behind it with all the anger and emotion that I had stored in me.

An hour later, I was lying on my bed staring at the ceiling, listening to the 'mellow' music that Bella had burned on a CD for me, I know; call me a masochist, but that shit really actually was calming. Then, there was a slow and timid knock on my door.

"Edward, can I come in?" Alice called from the other side. I sighed and rolled over to open the door for her. The both of us were silent as we sat on my bed. I pulled my hands through my hair for about the fiftieth time that night, and it was Alice who finally pulled my hands away.

"Listen to me Edward," she began, "I know you're Bella's best friend, but I'm her best girl friend. So trust me when I say that that girl does in fact love you. She loves you so much, it blinds her. I just know it. She'll see, call it intuition, but I know that she will see it, just like you have for these past years. Give it time."

Alice leaned in and hugged me tightly before she got up and left. I didn't even have to say a word, usually Alice insists that we talk to her and screams at us until we see her side. But she knew what I was going through, and she knew that I needed time to think, no matter how much pain it managed to cause me.

Around midnight, there was a light rap at my window. I rolled over on my bed to flick on the light switch as I squinted across the room to see what the hell was making so much noise.

Bella stood outside my room, drenched in rain as she knocked lightly again. Automatically I hoped up and out of bed, running to her side. When I wrenched open the window, I pulled her into the safety of my arms and held her there. She went limp in my arms, relaxing for the first time in what felt like forever. I knew I had my girl back.

"Edward," she whispered as she looked up at me. She leaned her head on my chest while I directed her back to my bed. "I ended it," was all she said as she collapsed into my embrace. She didn't cry a single tear, and she didn't make a single sound.

It was only then that it finally dawned on me that I was her first call. Just like she was mine, I was hers. It wasn't Alice or Rose, it was me, and she may not have known it, but that little known fact meant the world to me.

That night Bella and I slept in my bed, hiding away from the rest of the world. For the first time in what felt like years, it was just the two of us again.

***

June 2004

"Edward!" Bella yelled as she ran down the hall toward me with a gigantic grin plastered all over her face. She ran all the way down the hall till she reached me at my locker, when she got there she squealed as she jumped up into my arms. Alice and Tanya both stood beside me with sly all knowing smirks on their faces.

The past two months, Bella and I made up for all the time we had lost in those few years. We were graduating in a week, and senior prom was that night. Jasper was going with Alice, and Emmett was taking Rosalie, and too my surprise, Bella had more then happily agreed to go with me. She had said that she didn't think that I would ask her even though there was no one else that I'd wanted to go with.

In junior high, Bella and I had made a pact: If we were both dateless for senior prom the two of us would go together, just as long as there was no fancy and floral corsage involved (that last part was thrown in by Bella, go figure). So things were looking up. Bella and I were both attending Seattle University if the fall and everything was working out for the most part.

"You guys are never going to guess what just happened to me!" Bella grinned after she pulled herself out of my arms. I chuckled, "I don't know Bells, what happened that you're clearly dying to tell us all about," I added sarcastically.

"Ha ha," she smiled, "But even you're not going to ruin this one for me Edward, this is far too huge even for you and your brooding forehead to spoil," she teased as she patted my nose with her index finger.

"Alright well," she continued, "Do you guys remember that program I signed up for last year around this time? When that lady came here from Seattle to give us that presentation about those students who travel after graduation to other countries and teach and learn about their culture while performing a play or some theatre show?" all of us stared at Bella blankly, wondering what in the hell she was talking about.

"Anyways," she began after she realized none of us were going to say anything, "I did, and they only accept three people from each selected country, and I'm one of those three," she looked at us all uneasily, waiting for our responses.

None of this was making any sense to me, and I was hoping Alice was catching on. "So...wait, what?" I asked for reassurance.

Bella just rolled her eyes and elaborated, "Last year these people came here to do a presentation at our school from an organization called Up with People, and what they do each year is send so many people from different countries in the world. The program offers international education, and a passageway to see the world. Now, yes it is going to cost me some money, but I have saved up more then enough to cover the costs.

There are only one hundred and fifty people involved, of all ages, so I was lucky to even be accepted. The group will learn a play production and for a year we will travel to different countries and perform it to them. It's a great experience, and yes it involves singing, but I didn't have to audition for it or anything, they just accepted me based on my personality apparently."

All of us were silent while listening to Bella explain to us what this meant for her. When she talked about it, I remembered what she was referring to. She had been really enthused about the idea when the presenters, who were people who actually went on it, were talking about it.

"We go to twenty four different countries and stay with host families, and I would learn a lot while there. Now, of course I would have to put off school for a year because I'm travelling, but it will always be there."

That was my question, what about school? Charlie? Me? Great, now I was being selfish.

"I have to give Mrs. Cope a response by Monday so she can contact that agency in Seattle to tell them that I have accepted. But I still have to talk it over with Charlie and Renee. And..." she slowed her talking now, almost afraid to say the next detail. "Well, the thing is I'd have to catch a plane to Africa, where we learn the main performing act, and I would have to leave...June thirtieth.

Bella looked at me, her eyes begging me to say something, anything at all. But I couldn't, hell I couldn't even think straight. All I knew was that this was big, and it was a once in a life time opportunity, and that I desperately wanted he to stay. But how could I ask that of her?

"Bella, that's great congratulations," Tanya was the first person to say anything as she reached forward to give Bella a genuine hug. Alice was still just as shocked as I was.

"But that's...that's...soon." Alice pouted, tears threatening to pour out of her eyes. "I know Alice, but I would catch the last flight at eleven o'clock that night. Mrs. Cope and I already went over all the arrangements. Now all I have to do is talk it over with Charlie and decide if this is really what I want to do."

Just then Bella's phone rang, "His ears must have been burning," she laughed lightly as she pulled her phone to her side. "Well I better to talk it over with the big guns. I'll see you guys tonight?" she asked over her shoulder as she walked toward the main entrance.

"Yeah of course, our place at three. Don't be late!" Alice shouted out after Bella rounded the corner. While I was still frozen in shock, I tried to get the fact that my best friend could be leaving to travel the world for a year in just two weeks around my head.

"I totally think she should go don't you?" Tanya asked, and me and Alice both turned to look at her with tortured gazes. Tanya's enthusiastic smiled dropped as she took in our appearances, feeling the intensity of the situation, she turned around nervously to go out to her own car.

"What do we do now Alice?" I mumbled, Alice turned her head and looked up at me before she answered with a simple. "Go to prom, Edward."

Later that afternoon, Jasper, Alice, Em, Rose and I were all hanging around the house watching TV, when Bella walked in to join us.

Just as every night, she took a seat on the floor at my feet and leaned back against my knees. My hands went right for her hair as I played with the ends of it absentmindedly, something that I had always done for years since we were kids.

"What did your dad say?" I asked, completely ignoring my entire family being in the room. Bella just shrugged against my knees, "He said that he'd rather lock me in my room for the rest of time, but if I really wanted to go that he'd miss me and see me in a year. Then he hugged me, signed the papers, and finished his lunch." Huh, I expected more of a fight from Chief Swan.

"Want to go for a drive with me?" Bella asked me as she rolled her head back and looked up at me through her lashes. I smiled "Sure." Always, I thought to myself.

"No, Bella we have to start getting ready soon," Alice scolded and whined as she jumped up to try and pull Bella back into the room.

"Ah, relax Al," I sighed, "We still have lots of time, it's only three. The prom isn't till this evening, and we don't have to be there till practically nine anyways," I said as I closed the door behind us.

We drove in silence as we went off to the trail that led to our sanctuary.

We didn't have to say a word to indicate where we wanted to go because the both of us knew that the only place that we wanted to go was the meadow. Neither of us were speaking, both of us were trying our best to ignore the giant elephant in the car.

When I parked the car at the end of the trial, we both silently got out and started our familiar long trek. When we finally got there, Bella sighed heavily and walked ahead of me to stand right in the centre.

"Remember when we found thing place, Edward," she was looking all around the meadow completely dazed. "We were what? Seven?" she asked as she turned to look back at me for confirmation. I nodded once, we were seven, and actually lost at the time, I laughed to myself as I remembered.

"It hasn't changed has it?" she asked, mostly to herself. "I mean, that big oak tree at the edge is still there, maybe slightly taller. The purple flowers, which we still don't know the name of by the way, only grow in a small patch on the opposite side of the tree. And the rest of the meadow is covered in blue and yellow flowers. The grass is a deep, but yet warming, green. And that rotten tree stump is over under the elm tree, the one that we always use as a stool."

Bella described the meadow to a 'T' and she didn't even look up as she said these things. We had been coming here for over a decade now, and she was right, it was the same as it was the first day we stumbled across it.

"This place never changes, god I love it here," she said as she sighed and reached her hands up to feel the cool breeze. "It's familiar and its home; safe. But...sometimes, it's good to break away from familiar and step out of our hard shell that we've built for ourselves," she muttered as she turned around and looked at me, tears clearly visible in her eyes.

Bella slowly walked back to where I was standing behind her, reaching for my hand. "Its home; it's a place to come back to. If it hasn't changed in eleven years, then why should it change in another year right?"

Bella and I stared at each other, but something told me she was no longer referring to our meadow.

She took a deep breath before continuing, "I'm going to Africa Edward." Those five words tore at my insides and ripped me inside out, even though I think I subconsciously knew they were coming.

"But, I'm going to definitely miss this meadow. No where in the world will ever compare to it. I love this place," she said as she leaned in and rested her head on my chest.

Reluctantly I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her to me tightly. I didn't want to though, knowing that it was one of the last times that I could hold her as my Bella.

I was no idiot; I knew that when she was talking about the meadow that she was also using it as an analogy to us. Although we had known each other for longer then eleven years, we still didn't seem to change. So what was one year, right?

"I talked to my mom, she supports it. Actually, she's ecstatic. We've all agreed that I when I return home next summer I will return to school and continue with the main plan to pursue whatever it was that I was going to do. We have it all planned out, I just..." she trailed off as she took another muffled dry sob, "I just can't bring myself to leave my best friend."

Bella was crying in my arms now, completely torn with what she wanted to do, but she still already knew what her decision was. It was made and already set in stone, and tonight at the prom, she would tell Mrs. Cope what the verdict was, and that would be that.

But we both knew what this meant; a year apart for the first time ever. And as much as I loved her, I knew that it was what we both needed in order to grow.

"Bella, we'll be fine. I mean, it's only a year. The meadow will go on, and so will we. It's a year Bells, how much damage could a year do," I knew a year could change everything, but one can always hope. Bella continued to cry in my arms as I held her close.

"This is what you need Bella, and it's clearly fate that you got called on. We all love you here," me more then the others, "But we all need to let go of each other at some point to see where we go. And you're travelling the world. Enjoy it, and you can tell me all about it when you get back, because I'll be first in line wanting to hear all about it."

Bella cried harder, "Oh Edward," she sobbed as she threw her arms around my neck and nestled her head in my neck. "What am I supposed to do without you? I mean, I'm excited but I'm scared shitless," she mumbled.

I chuckled, "Well I'd be worried if you weren't. And you'll be fine without me."

Bella sighed as she stepped away from me and whipped her tears away, "I'm not to sure about that," I shrugged, "You'll never know unless you try."

After a few more minutes, Bella and I started to make our way back to the car. "We still have two more weeks together, and prom tonight."

Bella groaned, "Right, prom. I'm going to get it when we get back to your place aren't I?" she asked as she hesitantly opened the passenger door.

I laughed darkly, "Oh yeah, you better believe it babe." Bella groaned again as she threw her head back, "Fine, let's get this dumb prom over with." The both of us laughed as we drove back to the house, taking our time and trying to prolong everything for the next two weeks as much as possible.

***

June Thirtieth, 2004

Two weeks went by like a breeze, and as much to our dismay, Judgement Day (as Alice and I put it) had arrived.

Prom and graduation went great. Alice had forced Bella to wear this hauntingly beautiful blue gown, while Alice wore a sharp green dress and Rose wore a stunning red one. Prom was a night of fun, Bella and I watched our classmates get drunk off the cheap punch; even Alice was a fool enough to trust her classmates and drink out of the spiked bowl. I even managed to get Bella to dance with me a couple of times on the dance floor, but of course she didn't go without a fight.

I dropped Bella off at home after the dance and left quietly as Charlie cautiously watched from the front room window. We said good night, and promised each other the next two weeks of nothing but us.

But two weeks went on by much too quickly for my liking. The next thing we knew, after nights of movie watching, lounging in the meadow, talking and playing board games with the family, Judgement Day had arrived and I now stared aimlessly at my calendar with the date June 30th circled in bright red marker. It was finally here; Bella was catching her plane to Africa. She would be gone and I wouldn't be able to actually see her for a whole year.

Alice remained in the kitchen that whole morning, wrapping up the different gifts that she had bought Bella as going away presents, but why she would need some Prada thing for when she travelled was beyond me.

Bella came over later that morning and we spent the whole day in the living room with the family, just sitting and talking like always; each of us ignoring the inevitable as time wore on.

"Bella, can you come upstairs with me for a minute?" Alice asked as she got up off the couch and turned to look at Bella. Bella shifted in her seat and nodded once, it looked to me like she was trying to stop her tears from streaming down her face, but I couldn't be sure.

A half an hour later she came back into the room with both Rose and Alice, and she asked if she could talk to Emmett and Jasper alone. An hour later, when she was done talking to Esme and Carlisle, we made our way up to my room.

Bella, out of force of habit, walked straight to the bookshelf and started looking for something to read while we were in my room, then her eyes drifted to the clock and she dejectedly turned to the wide open window.

"I don't want to do this with you again, Edward," she sighed, but she still wasn't looking at me. "I can't say goodbye to you again. So, I'm going to leave. Charlie's going to take me to Port Angles and you're going to stay here," we had decided that I would drive her to the airport and that I would be the last to see her off. I went to speak up but she swiftly turned back to look at me cutting me off from all conscious thought.

"So, what I'm going to do is come over there, smile like I always do when I look at you and..." she trailed off when she was now standing right in front of me. "I've been, saying goodbye to everybody and it's been hard," I smiled at the memory of Emmett coming back in from the kitchen wiping his red eyes, he only responded with a 'Shut up, you'll get yours Edward.' Now I knew he was right, saying goodbye to Bella was going to be the hardest for me. But it was only a year right?

"Can you believe Alice bought me a Jimmy Choo Limited Edition bag? When am I ever going to need it?" she asked as she laughed half heartedly, always using humour to hide her true emotions.

She wiped the smile from her face, being completely serious now. "Edward, I..." she closed her eyes as she contemplated what her next words would be. I stupidly still hadn't said a word to her, but I really wanted to know what she wanted to say.

"I have to go," her voice broke as she looked up at me with pleading eyes. It was then that I realized that I couldn't let her leave without telling her how I really felt. It was either speak now, or forever wonder what could have been.

Bella wrapped her arms tightly around me and she sighed, before she quickly turned to leave my room. I heard the door close with a timid click before I could turn around to stop her.

When my mind finally caught up with my body, I was practically sprinting down the stairs to the living room, but when I got there, I was only greeted my family. Each of them were sitting in the living room, silent.

It was Alice who was first to speak, "You didn't tell her did you?" she asked as she shook her head at my stupidity. I knew I should have said something, but it didn't matter, Bella's mind was made up.

I took a seat beside Jasper on the couch, deciding to settle in the world of some movie that I didn't even know the name of. Alice kept glaring at me from across the room when it hit me. I couldn't let her leave without saying goodbye.

So, I hastily jumped up from the couch and shot out the door, jumping on my motor bike and cruising as fast as I could to Bella's house. But, by the time I got there, Charlie's car was gone and the house was dark. She wasn't here.

I pushed my bike to its limit and sped all the way to the Port Angles airport, praying to God the entire way that I wouldn't be too late.

When I finally arrived, I parked my bike out front of the small airport and ran into the building, never once stopping for anyone in my path. I had to find her.

When I came to her gate I was out of breath, my pulse was quickening. I was panicked, wondering if I was too late. Then I was her. She was sitting in one of the waiting to board chairs by her gate, playing with the purse that Alice had given her in her hands.

"Bella," I called as I ran the rest of the way to her. Her head immediately shot up and her eyes widened as she took me in. Shock and anger both apparent in her face.

"Edward what are you doing here? I thought I told you that it was too hard," she said in a slightly pained voice as she got up and stood in front of me.

She looked as if she had been crying, and knowing her, she probably had been the entire car ride here. "Where's Charlie?" I asked after I finally noticed that he wasn't around.

Bella shrugged, "He was here, but then he had to leave early because there was some call from work on the radio. He just left a few minutes ago," she said as she stared at me, still waiting for an answer.

"Bells, I couldn't let you go without saying anything. It's you and me here; it just doesn't work like that." I explained as I took her hands in mine. She clenched her eyes shut and took three slow and painful breaths till she finally opened her eyes to look at me. She was right, a goodbye was too hard; I'd have to do this her way.

"Edward...you can't expect me to say goodbye..."

"Well, how about a see you later?" I smiled down at her, and the best I got in return was a grimace and a single nod.

"Alright, see you later E. A. Cullen." She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me close, and I helplessly gave in and hugged her back.

"Last boarding call for flight 241" Bella froze in my arms and took a step back to look me in the eyes.

My mouth opened and closed several times as I finally soaked in what was happening; she was actually leaving.

Bella threw her bag around her shoulder and gave me one last half smile and turned to go toward the gate.

"Bella wait," I called after her once she had reached the main doors, "Did you...I mean do you..." I stumbled, now was not the time to stumble but I did.

"Don't ruin it, Edward." she said as she turned and walked through the terminal.

***

"Ed, man are alright?" Emmett asked as he poked at the untouched food on my plate.

"Yeah man, your dinner's getting all cold and eaten," Jasper joked as he pointed to Emmett. I rolled my eyes and pushed my brother on his side of the table.

"What the hell Em?" I finally asked, realizing that he had eaten half of the food on my plate.

"Well, you looked completely out of it so I thought you wouldn't mind. Besides, you don't let Esme's good cooking go to waste like that," he defended himself with a shrug.

Jasper laughed and continued to eat his own food.

"Aw whatever, I don't care. Here, you can have it." I said as I shoved my plate over toward Emmett, who shot Jasper a very confused look.

"What's gotten into him?" Emmett asked as he continued to violate my once plate of food.

Jasper just smirked knowingly at me, but before he could answer Emmett, my sister's voice broke in from the other room.

"Bella, I'm so happy you made it!"

I froze, Jasper shifted his eyes from me to the main foyer, and Emmett chuckled and smiled wickedly when he finally understood. "Oh...so the Swan Princess has finally arrived."


Okay, so I know that was a lot of flashbacks to deal with, but they're all key in the story, I didn't add anything that wasn't necessary. I'm sorry for grammer, spelling mistakes and what not, this wasn't profread all that throughly. Again, their outfits and playlist for each chapter are posted on my profile, and if you want you can check out my other story titled Colorblind, which I am still working on as well.

Reviews are great, and constructive criticism is always more then welcome.

~JustAGirl93