A/N: I'd just like to give a warm thanks to all of my reviewers. You guys have no idea how your reviews help my writing. The more reviews, the more chapters, remember! So thank you to everyone who reviewed. You guys rock!!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the original characters and this fanfiction's storyline. Any likeness to the third book is merely coincidental.
Edward walked behind Bella, listening to the crunch her feet made when they met the earth with each step. He yearned to say something to her, something to tell her he was sorry for whatever he did; something to tell her he hadn't cheated on her. But no words came to mind.
And it wasn't exactly like she wanted an apology. All she had asked for was time.
But still, he told himself, there should be something he could say to take away her pain. Nothing would heal her aching trust in him, but he knew he should do something, anything, to help soothe it.
"Bella," Edward began.
"No, Edward. I said later, as in later, as in, not like two minutes after I said it," Bella snapped.
"Bella, love, what do you want from me?" he replied, truly exasperated. He was trying to figure something out, somewhat like solving a puzzle, but she was keeping the information to herself, like the missing puzzle piece.
"You know what I want, Edward. And I'm sure you definitely won't give it to me now, will you?" Bella stopped. She whirled around, and Edward was amazed at how quickly she was in front of him, like she was a vampire and had sped toward him.
"Of course I will, Bella. But now you see what I was afraid of," he explained. "Bella, you just experienced the intensity of a female vampire's rage and jealousy. Victoria's wasn't nearly as bad as Wynn's was today. Wynn wasn't like that before she was changed; she was the most gentle thing on earth, according to Carlisle. Do you want to end up like her?" Edward raised his hand to Bella's face, which was now turned away from him in irritation.
"Edward, I wouldn't let my temper get the best of me. I have no temper. How could it?"
"Bella, I know you have a temper. You may not realize it, but it's unleashed itself once already today."
She glared at him. How dare he even suggest that she had a temper? He had only known her for a year! He couldn't possibly know...well, maybe he could...
"Edward, are you finished harassing me so that I can leave, or do you have more to say?"
"No, Bella. I wasn't harassing you. I just wanted to apologize."
"Because that's such a perfect way to say you're sorry," Bella droned sarcastically. All she wanted to do was to go back to the Cullens', have a nice, hot bath, drink some hot chocolate, and read Hamlet.
"Listen, Bella. Please, just listen," Edward pleaded.
Bella turned toward him and glared. "I'm listening, Edward, but not yet have I heard one thing I would have liked to."
"Bella, I swear, I didn't do anything with Wynn."
"Edward, you can't prove that. Have you ever? Did you once?" Bella accused.
"No. We've never done that. Vampires...we usually can't... we'd end up killing each other if not married."
"You mean..."
"The vampire marriage ceremony has a ritual where some sort of spell is placed on the couple. The spell prevents them from killing each other during...well...you know," Edward explained.
"Ooh..."
"Yeah..."
"But have you been married before?"
"Bella, vampires cannot get divorces. Or annulments."
"Why?"
"First, it's illegal. Second, didn't we just discuss female vampires' tempers?" Edward laughed halfheartedly. Bella joined in with a small chuckle.
"True, I suppose. But still..."
"Oh, so I'm not forgiven?" Edward asked, sticking out his bottom lip playfully.
"Nope." Bella glared and stalked off toward the edge of the forest near the meadow.
"Hey! Bella, wait!" Edward raced to the clearing, calling after her.
Edward saw Bella fall, and ran even faster to her side.
For Bella, this was awful. She hated being angry at Edward; he was trying to apologize, and she had to give him a hard time.
But she was trying to trust him. With that slutty vampire around, however, she couldn't turn away from them, trying to trust him.
She was trying to get her fiancé, and it was ticking her off!
All of a sudden, she felt weak, and her legs turned to Jell-O.
She didn't know what was happening. Her lungs constricted, and her stomach turned. Bella's brain wasn't working properly; she couldn't register the fact to shout out to Edward, who would tell her everything would be fine.
What's happening? she thought.
"Ed-" she began to shout. She fell to the ground and whispered weakly, "-ward."
Then everything went black.
"Oh shit," Edward thought. "Shit, shit, shit."
Bella was out like a light. She wasn't breathing, and her heart was sluggish in its beating.
"Aro!" he called to the black haired man. "Aro, I need help!"
"What's happened to her?" the old vampire asked hesitantly. Should he be getting that close to her?
"I don't know. She passed out, and now her heart's beating really slowly."
"You'd better take her to Carlisle, Edward."
"I know, Aro. But I haven't the slightest idea of where he is."
"The hospital? The manor?"
"Not sure." This was taking longer than expected. He felt Bella's pulse again. Even slower. "Whatever, Aro. I just need to get her somewhere safe..."
And so he held her in his arms and literally flew to the mansion.
