Previously:

Edward realized that all he wanted to do the rest of his life was to protect her from anything that would hurt her. That he would lay down his own life for her. That he would do anything to make sure she was happy. He hated to see her cry, to see her in pain. He was falling in love with her and it scared him to death.

Chapter 7: Open and Closed

"Cullen, can I have a word?" Coach Smith asked after practice.

"Sure," Edward said as he landed in a chair facing the coach's desk. He was exhausted from the day's workout and still had a bunch of school work he had to tend to.

"I got a call from a writer from Sports Illustrated and they want to do an article on you," Coach Smith explained. "I know we've had this discussion before about your career, and I accept that, but I think that it would be good if you put your side of the story out there for others to hear." Edward had been dealing with the same issue since he was a senior at Villa Teresa High.

"I don't know coach," Edward hesitated. He had been getting quite a few letters from disgruntled fans wondering why he hadn't taken the offers from Major League Baseball.

"Cullen, as much as I hate to see your natural talent go to waste, I respect your decision. I'm just so grateful to have been able to coach you these past two years and am looking forward to the next two. You're an outstanding man on and off the field. You are by far the best player I have ever coached and I thank you for that. You could be the next David Wright, and they know that, but they don't understand your choice. I think they deserve to at least hear that. Just promise me you'll think about it and let me know by the end of the week."

"Coach, you have no idea what that means to me. I'll think about it," Edward said running a hand through his hair. "Thanks."

"You deserve all the praise in the world, kid," Coach Smith smiled. With that Edward smiled in return and went to hit the showers.

He had made his decision a long time ago and there was no amount of money that would make him change it. He always used baseball as an outlet. A way to get away from the stress of school. It wasn't something that he planned on playing after the fact. Edward let the warm water rain down on his tired body as he thought about what the right thing to do was.

After Edward was done with practice he made his way over to Bella's dorm to get some studying done. When he arrived there were no hugs exchanged, no smiles, just a grunt before he grabbed his organic chem. book out of his bag and fell onto Bella's bed. Bella hadn't realized that he had even come in until he heard the bedsprings squeak. She had been sitting at her desk working on Statistics.

"Edward, what's wrong?" Bella asked turning around in the chair to face the bed. Edward had been really distant the last couple days and Bella was getting tired of waiting for him to tell her himself. It had been two days since Bella told Edward she wanted to be with him, but on the third day things started to go in the wrong direction.

"Nothing," Edward answered his head in his organic chemistry textbook. He seemed to have been on the same page for an hour.

"Are you sure, because you haven't seemed like…" Bella started, but was cut off.

"Seemed like what?" Edward snapped. He was tried of people prying into his life, thinking they know what's best for him. It was his life, not theirs.

"You just seemed like…like something's been bothering you, is all," Bella answered softly. She didn't want to upset Edward, she just wanted to help him.

"There is something that's bothering me! You people just can't stay out of my business," Edward growled as he slammed his book shut and rolled over on his back placing his arms over his face. He didn't mean to get so upset, he just had a lot on his mind and it was getting extremely overwhelming.

"Edward, I didn't mean…" Bella said softly

"Bella, I don't have time for this," Edward said slamming his book shut and shoving it into his backpack.

"I knew this was a bad idea!" Bella spat. She was willing to open up to Edward about something that kept her from letting people in, but he was shutting her out.

"Knew what was a bad idea?" Edward asked frustrated.

"This! You and me! Apparently, you AREN'T ready for a real relationship. Meaning it involves TWO people!" Bella yelled holding up to fingers in front of Edward's face.

"Why are you yelling at me?" Edward raised his voice. He knew that he had been keeping to himself lately, but he didn't think Bella would understand what he was going through.

"Because for the past week, you've been walking around here in a daze. You won't talk to me about what ever is bothering you. If you just tell me, I'm sure we can figure it out together." Bella calmed herself feeling bad that she was yelling at him. She just didn't know what else to do.

"You wouldn't understand," Edward picked up his backpack and started out the door.

"Then help me understand," Bella said more calmly. Edward stopped momentarily before entering the hallway.

"Oh great! Way to act like a MAN, by walking away!" Bella yelled as she picked up her worn chuck taylor hitting him in the back.

"Real mature," Edward said as he walked down the hallway seemingly unphased by flying objects. Edward sat down on a bench outside Bennett Hall, where Alice and Bella lived.

"What?!" Edward answered his phone not bothering to see who it was.

"What the hell, Edward?" Alice screamed on the other end. Edward held the phone away from his ear cringing.

"What do you want, Alice?" Edward yelled back.

"Are you trying to be an ass on purpose? I come home and Bella's in here crying into her pillow!" Alice was sitting on Bella's bed rubbing her back to try to calm her down.

"Alice, it's none of your business!" Edward wanted to run back up there and apologize for leaving like that. He hated it when she cried, and hated himself even more for making her cry.

"Like hell it is! This is Bella we're talking about! What the hell is wrong with you?" Edward knew Alice was right. Bella was the only person Edward could see himself with for the rest of his life and if he let something like his future career get in the way of that, he would hate himself for the rest of his life. But, he wasn't sure how to explain to her what's been bothering him for the past three years. It's not something he has really discussed with anyone except for his coaches and his family.

………………..

"I don't know what the deal is today, but some of you need to get your shit together if you even want to see the field during the Pack-10 Tournament! Hit the showers, I've seen enough of you all today." Coach Smith yelled from behind home plate.

"What the fuck, Cullen!" Edward heard from second base.

"Give me a break, West. You and I both know coach was talking about you," Edward spat as he yanked off his hat as he headed toward second base.

"Bullshit! If you didn't have your head up your ass, you would have fielded those two balls and not missed your target," Brandon West said yanking off his hat as well.

"Don't even talk to me about fielding errors, you son of a bitch, I don't know how many times I had to back you up last season to keep us in the running for the Championship!" Edward yelled as he stepped forward standing toe to toe with Brandon.

"Dude, calm down. He's not worth it," Jacob said grabbing Edward by the shoulder. Edward was breathing heavy, fists clenched at his sides.

"You know nothing, West. So, leave me the fuck alone!" Edward growled before he turned and headed for the showers.

"Cullen, what was that all about?" Jacob asked as he walked along side Edward.

"Fuck!" Edward yelled as he ran his hand over his face.

"Cullen, if this is about Bella..." Jacob started but was cut off before he could say anything else.

"Black, you don't know anything," Edward seethed.

Jacob took a huge step in front oh Edward to stop him from walking.

"I do know that she came into class today upset. I do know that she hasn't been sleeping, due to the dark circled under her eyes. And when I asked her what was wrong she told me it was nothing. It's obviously not nothing."

"What goes on between me and Bella is between me and Bella. Just drop it ok?" Edward sighed as he side stepped Jacob and walked toward the locker room.

"You have to tell her, you know that right?" Jacob yelled to Edwards back.

This made Edward come to a halt. "She deserves to know. I know you won't explain it to any of us, bit this is Bella were talking about."

Edward let Jacob finish his rant before he continued his way to the locker room. Edward knew that it was all about Bella. He knew that what he had been doing would affect his relationship with her. He knew that if he wanted her, he had to do something about it.


A/N: Sorry it took me a little while longer to get this one posted. And it's a bit shorter. But, I hope you enjoy it!

I'm still working on a new one-shot. I've been working on it for the past few months, a little bit at a time, so it's taking me FOREVER, but I just want it to be really good!!! But, I am going to try to get it up before I head of to NYC!!!!

FEEDBACK LOVE!!!!