Author's Note: So I'm sorry! I'm REALLY sorry. I feel like chapter Bella to…. you'll find out if you read this chapter. I know it's no excuse but I've been going through A LOT! I understand if in your distress at not reading my story, you lost the will to live (laugh and sarcasm inserted here). Though never fear fanfiction patrons! I have not forgotten you (as I have been repeatedly stalked by Twihards and fanfic maniacs and the like). So enjoy!

As I sauntered out of the airport, I immediately was hit by the bright Phoenix sun. 'Ah Phoenix,' I sighed, 'how I missed you.' I hailed a taxi at the curb and smiled in contentment as I gave my address to the driver.

"Bella? Isabella Swan, is that you?" A girl yelled in eagerness from a nearby curb, where the taxi was parked.

I looked up, despite being distracted from my own internal musings. "Sammy, is that you?" I asked when I recognized her familiar face.

"Who else?" She laughed. "Hey, do you mind if I can share a taxi with you? I mean we are kind of heading to the same place and we can catch up."

"Of course Sam!" I enthusiastically answered as she climbed in after me.

"So Bella, what have you been up to?" She asked eagerly.

"Well, nothing much…." I answered slightly open ended, not sure how to brooch the subject of my impending wedding—if Edward would still have me, that is.

Luckily, Sam is not very observant as she smiled sweetly and said, "So do you still have a thing for hot doctors?"

I blushed beat red, as I remembered my obsession with Jack on the TV show Lost. "Yeah, well …. Yeah," I stammered.

She smirked broadly and tossed an auburn lock behind her shoulder carelessly. "You have great comebacks, as always, missy."

I laughed whole heartedly and blurted out, "I miss this."

She looked at me somewhat critically and said, "Yeah but you didn't call or e-mail. I know we started to diverge in high school: I got into sports, you reading; but we were best friends since diapers, I thought we'd at least keep in some sort of contact."

I listened intently to her rant and was impressed because Sam usually doesn't express herself; I must have really hurt her. Why did I do this? Why didn't I call? The answer was simple: because of Edward. Subconsciously, I gave him the World, my World. In return he gave me his and I thought it was a fair trade. But the thing is, is it's not. I hurt Sam and he had a right to his own friends too. I love him but I need my own life too. Maybe it won't matter after I am a vampire, but seeing Sam's hurt expression I could not rationalize myself out of this guilt.

"Sammy, I'm so sorry," I looked at her intently.

She registered my expression and gave a soft smile, "You have a lot of apologizing to do. Starting tonight, as you invite me to your parent free house for a slumber party, you can start kissing my butt."

I couldn't help but laugh at Sam's antics. "Of course, you are invited to my parent free house. After all, were adults! How much trouble can we really get in?"

"Belly Belly Boo, do you not know who I am?"

I laughed, "Point taken, so who should I call to bail me out of jail?"

She laughed along with me. Our relationship was natural, easy, even after all this time. "Someone hot, I hope."

The taxi driver gruffly announced we arrived at my house, as we quickly paid the driver and climbed out of the car.

"See ya, Bellity Bopity Boo," Sam called as she skipped to her house across the street.

I chuckled to myself; Sam really is a nut case. Since I can remember she has skipped everywhere, and evidently her seventeen years has not changed that.

"See ya in another life brotha," I called after her.

She turned back from her house and called back, "I'll be over at seven. And by the way, Desmond is mine! Don't you try to get your dirty little hooks in him! And random question: Why is there a black car in your driveway?"

"Wha-at," I stuttered, only to turn around and realize that sure enough there was a black car with tinted windows. I knew who it was and I'd be lying if I didn't say fear rose in the pit of my stomach, but I couldn't alert Sam of my distress or she would most likely elevate the stress of the situation. "Sales man," I said with an unconfident shrug.

"Oh, well tell them their lurking is a little cryptic!" She called, finally going inside.

That's when I got the text: Open your garage. –E

Oh, so he wants me to open my garage, so he can drive in without sun exposure. Well, he did come all this way and he only has my best interest at heart.

Just as I am about ready to cave, Sam opens her door and calls across the street, "And Bella, I'm REALLY glad you're back!"

With that, she slammed the door shut again and I knew what I had to do. I grabbed my spare key from under the door mat and walked into my familiar childhood home. Sitting on my couch, I opened my phone and texted back one monotonous word: No. -B