Eight.

I got tired of waiting

Wondering if you were ever coming around.

My faith in you was fading.

APOV

I knew it.

I knew it the moment I saw Isabella Swan enter the garden.

I had spent my entire life trying to get Edward out of his shell, and I had never been successful.

But when I saw Isabella Swan, I knew my hard work would be rewarded.

From what Angela had told me, she was perfect for him. After seeing her at the party, my suspicions were confirmed.

I sent him off to meet her, and he returned to us hopeful.

That hope was dashed three weeks ago.

There was nothing we could do. The world we lived in was suffocating at best. I thanked Fate everyday that my parents "made" me marry Jasper.

They didn't know he had asked me to when we were six.

Jasper told me the story, and it just broke my heart.

I could only imagine how Edward was feeling.

EmPOV

Damn, we really messed up this time.

The worst part?

I still had to look into Edward's eyes everyday, and see the pain Jasper and I caused him when we pulled him away from Bella.

Honestly, though I ragged on him a lot, I couldn't stand to see him in pain, especially knowing that I caused it.

Jazz and I tried to make amends by taking his letters to her.

She wasn't doing well either. She looked like a dead person.

But my brother's letters brought her to life.

So I kept sneaking out to bring them to her.

RPOV

Edward is moping about that stupid Swan girl. I offered to talk to Duke Carlisle about marrying him to one of my cousins.

I got a glare.

Oh well.

JPOV

I hated to see my brother upset this way, but we had no choice.

Cullens hate Swans. We don't mix.

The least I could do was exchange their messages.

She really was a sweet girl. Alice was almost upset as Edward was about the whole thing.

I was crazy for Alice. I would do anything for her, but I couldn't make Bella and Edward be.

I wanted it too.

But it couldn't be.

EPOV

The next weeks were a blur of pain and loneliness.

The first night, I stared at the tiny light I could see on her balcony.

The second night, the light was gone. I stared at the ceiling.

The third night, I stared at the note. A note to.. her. I couldn't think her name. It shot spasms of pain throughout me.

The fourth night, I stared at the door, waiting for Emmett or Jasper to come back with her reply.

The fifth night, I just stared. Stared into space, trying not to remember, but not allowing myself to forget.

The sixth night the light was back. I stared, trying to picture what she was doing. It took away the pain for a few hours.

But then the light went out. And so did the hope I kept.

So I remembered and fought against the memories.

But mostly, I stared.

BPOV

It had been three weeks.

Three weeks without him.

Three and a half weeks ago, I wouldn't have noticed.

But now, it was like trying to live without air underwater.

It was like meeting Edward took away any hope I had of living underwater.

Because I wanted the air. I wanted the life I imagined with Edward. Because it was better.

I remembered him constantly.

Standing in my room, getting my wedding dress fitted, I escaped to my memories.

Sitting on my balcony at night, I imagined that I could see him through his window.

I treasured his notes. They were the tiny links to the air, and they kept me strong enough to survive another day.

I all but yanked Emmett and Jasper over my balcony rail at night when they brought them.

Just as I had expected, I liked them a lot. They had tried to apologize, but I didn't let them. I understood how it worked, and so did they.

Living the lives we did, our desires came last. Our lives were controlled by the whims of our parents.

The most we could do was band together, and soldier on.

And so we did.

Sorry for the shortness! Thank you so much for reading, and Happy Valentines Day!

To answer a question: The year is about 1870s. So the women still wear pretty poofy dresses but guys clothing has gotten more modern.

And don't get me wrong, I love me some Charlie. But he kinda has to be evil in this story.

Thanks for all the reviews!