Chapter Three

Edward POV, age seventeen

I'd arrived at the Swan residence in a rush, barely remembering to put my car in park. I ran up to the front door. This was Bella, my Bella, and I needed her. I knew she hated me. I knew it, but it was Bella. She'd always been a way better person than me, and she'd always forgiven me when I'd fucked up.

So, she'd forgive me now...right? She had to. I needed her.

I knocked repeatedly on the door until it swung open to reveal a rather angry Charlie Swan, Bella's father and Chief of Police here in Forks, Washington.

"What the hell are you doing here, Edward?" His voice was angry and he was quickly turning a dangerous shade of red.

Shit, I better make this quick. I knew he owned a gun.

"Uh, i-is Bella here, Chief S-Swan?" I asked, stumbling over my words like a nervous thirteen-year-old boy about to lose his virginity.

He glared at me. "She's not here. Even if she were, I wouldn't let you in to see her," he said gruffly.

I swallowed hard. "Where can I find her? Please, I really need to talk to her."

He smirked then...almost triumphantly like he'd won something. I stared at him puzzled, waiting for an answer as a disturbing chill ran up my spine. I knew whatever he was about to say would hurt.

"She's at the airport," he said smugly.

My jaw nearly dropped and my heart skipped a few beats, but I refused to believe what he was telling me.

"Why is she at the airport?" I demanded, feeling sick.

"She's moving to Phoenix to live with her Aunt," is all he would say.

No...

I couldn't lose her, not Bella.

My stomach turned and I could feel the color drain from my face. "She...she's not coming back." It wasn't a question. I already knew it was true.

"No. No, she's not, and it's all thanks to you," he snarled at me. "I hope you're happy with your choices that led to this, Edward." He smiled bitterly at me, probably happy to see my broken expression. "She's gone. Have a Merry Christmas with your family, Edward."

Then he slammed the door in my face.

Bella is my family, I wanted to say.

The realization hit hard as I stood on Bella's porch alone as the whistling wind blew snow around me.

She's gone.

I couldn't feel my legs anymore, and pretty soon they were gone beneath me.


EPOV, present

"I'm telling you it's not a good idea, Edward," Emmett told me for the millionth time.

I ignored him, refusing to believe Bella would shut me down in person. Years had gone by without any of my e-mails or phone calls returned, but she was here now, in person. I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by.

She was still Bella. She would forgive me. She had to. I needed her to.

I couldn't lose her again. At least not without trying.

So, against Emmett's, Carlisle's, and Esme's protests I drove to Bella's house. The word had already spread that she was back in town, and I knew where she'd be. It seemed like it took me forever to get there, but eventually I did.

I walks hastily up to the front door, and nervously, with sweaty palms, rang the doorbell.

No answer.

I knew she was in town. Everyone was talking about it. Maybe she just wasn't home...?

I ran around back and scanned the yard. No Bella. The shed had been opened though. Slowly, I walked closer, listening for anything. I heard a swift shuffling sound inside and took it as an invitation to go in.

"Bella?" I asked quietly as I entered.

And there she was, eyes wide when her eyes found me. Her chocolate eyes locked with mine and I almost smiled. Almost...until I saw the hatred spark in them.

Shit.

Her mouth opened and closed several times, but nothing came out. No words were formed.

There she was. She'd only grown more beautiful over the years. She had more curves now. Her mahogany-colored hair was up in a sloppy bug. Loose curls hung her face. Her plump lips were set in a pout.

She couldn't have been more beautiful.

She was perfect.

I came closer, but the look on her face was still partially full of shock.

"Bella?" I repeated carefully.

It felt almost odd seeing her after so long, but a good odd. It felt like some monumental piece that had been missing in my life had returned. And that's exactly what had happened. Bella was my monumental piece that I simply couldn't do without.

"What are you doing here, Edward?" she asked flatly.

"I came to see you," I told her. The same thought kept running through my head. Please don't hate me.

Please don't hate me, I thought desperately as I saw the crushed looked on Bella's face out of the corner of my eye as I walked down the hall hand-in-hand with Tanya.

Bella, who was near tears, was standing next to Emmett who looked like he wanted to beat the shit out of me. And I would have let him.

I did not look at them as I walked by, and I laughed as Tanya whispered something I wasn't paying attention to in my ear. All the while, my stomach turned with guilt and pain of hurting Bella.

Bella was my best friend. She always had been. She'd understand when I told her later. She had to. I needed her to.

She eyed me suspiciously. "Why? What do you want?"

"What do you mean?" But of course I knew exactly why she was acting this way.

"I mean, I haven't talked to you in years. You never seemed to give a damn about me before, so what is it you want now?" she demanded, the anger in her voice rising.

"Carlisle called me that day from the hospital," I said.

I looked away then, pretending to be busy with inspecting my old truck. "Yeah? And?" she demanded childishly.

"Bella..." I began, frowning.

"Edward," she said, cutting me off. "I want you to leave."

"No, I'm not going anywhere," I said, happy my voice didn't crack. "Charlie died, and I'd want you here if it had been Carlisle."

I paused, thinking for a moment.

"You'd come, wouldn't you?" I asked.

Right? Please, please say you'd be there for me.

She rolled her eyes at me. "Of course I would, but only for Esme, Emmett, and Carlisle," she said bitterly. "How did you even know I was here?"

"News travels fast in Forks. You know that..."

She shot me a murderous glare. "I don't need you here."

I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my chest...my chest felt too small. Just like I had the day she left Forks. She couldn't possibly mean that, could she?

"It's just like when we were kids in high school, huh? Always pretending I didn't exist until no one else was around," she spat at me, laughing mockingly.

My mouth dropped. I didn't know what to say... She was right, of course, and it hurt all the more because she was.

She glared at me. "I don't need you here," she repeated. "Just get out. I listened to enough of your pathetic apologies when we were young. Enough," she said as she began rummaging through a nearby box of Charlie's stuff.

She turned to look at me again, fire in her eyes. "Get out!" she yelled, angrily motioning towards the door.

I didn't move right away.

"Get the hell out of here!" she yelled even louder before going back to looking through the box.

I'd never seen Bella angry before...ever. And she'd never yelled at me.

It was time to stop fooling myself. She had finally wised up when she'd fled Forks and realized what a selfish idiot I was.

Wordlessly, I left her alone.

I got in my car and before I knew it I was at Emmett's house, not really remembering how I'd gotten from point A to point B. He was outside already, getting ready for the barbeque tonight. He gave me a knowing look as I slowly got out of my car.

"I told you so," he said.

Wow, I guess I looked as crappy as I felt.

"Emmett, you have to help me get her back."