School went by quickly, as it always did with Edward there. Throughout the entire day, I had 'Going Under' stuck in my head. I was glad that I was immune to Edward's talent.

School had ended, and Edward and I were in front of my truck. "I can't ride with you today."

Again, my hopeless mood was now returning. "Why?" I asked.

He seemed hesitant to answer, "My family and I are…hunting today."

"Oh," My voice was weak and faltering slightly, "For how long?"

"Two days."

"Oh," I said again. I draped my arms around him and kissed him gently. His lips lingered on mine. Something about this felt different. Sort of…awkward.

"I'll miss you," I tossed at him, pulling our lips away, but still holding onto him.

"I'll miss you too." He pulled me closer. I could feel his cool breath in my hair, "I love you."

I ignored my jumping heart. He was holding me so hard; I was almost struggling for breath. "I love you too."

We released and he began walking back to his Volvo which had Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie waiting inside.

I watched his perfect figure sway back to his Volvo, wondering why I couldn't be blessed with perfect grace like the Cullen's. I crawled into my truck and roared the engine to life.

Every Cullen sat around the dinner table, which was really just a prop. Carlisle stood up from his chair at the end of the long table.

"I'm sure everyone knows why we're here." Carlisle announced. Edward sat next to Carlisle with amazing posture. He wallowed in guilt for lying to me. (Bella's not there, but she's still going to narrate it as if she were.) "Shall we proceed to the vote?"

"Yes," Esme agreed, who sat across from Edward; also next to Carlisle.

"Emmett?" Carlisle motioned toward the burly teddy bear.

"Yes."

"Rosalie?"

"No." There was no change in her cold expression.

"Edward?"

Edward turned to his father; his eyes were hard and black as flint. "No," He spat out sourly.

(Some phrases I may use are from the book, like comparing to Edward's eyes to flint.)

"Alice?"

"Yes."

"Jasper?"

"Yes."

"Esme?"

"No."

"And, you all know my feelings," He paused; glaring at Edward's clenched teeth, "So the answer is yes."

Edward stood from the table and nodded toward Carlisle. He stalked out of the dinning room and out the front door. This would surely ruin everything.

Fire blazed around me; choking me with a cloud of smoke. I coughed, my lungs flaming with pain. The trees were collapsing, nothing but ashes replacing the once tall, flourishing trees. I stayed close to the dirt floor, trying to crawl my way out.

"Bella! Bella!" Charlie shook me awake. My eyes opened, burning was the tears suddenly stopped seeping from them.

"Charlie?" I questioned, unsure.

"Bella!" He cried in relief, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah…I'm fine," I said through tortured lungs. I swiped away the tears on my cheeks with the back of my hand. I eyed my room. Nothing was changed, except the lights were on; which was odd that the light alone didn't wake me.

I was not a heavy sleeper.

"Are you sure?" My concerned father pressed, "Did you have a nightmare?"

"Yeah," Reality finally sinking in, "Sorry for waking you."

He chuckled, "No that's alright, Bells." He stood from my bed and walked to the door, "Go back to bed. You still have school in the morning."

He turned the lights off, shrouding the room in darkness. I peered around; it was one-thirty in the morning. I groaned, thinking of my lonely day without Edward tomorrow.

My grief put me to sleep early; my dreams going up in smoke.

The next two days went by slow and boring. It wasn't until Thursday when Edward came back, as promised.