Thank you all so much for the positive feedback! Here's a little gift for you…CHAPTER 8

Chapter 8: EPOV

"Bella, may I come in?" I said gently into her door. I heard her gasp. I attempted to turn the knob, only to discover that it was locked. I could break through the door with no problem whatsoever, but there were too many humans around.

"Bella, please open the door," I pleaded.

After a moment of silence, I heard a click. Slowly, I turned the knob and walked inside, revealing myself to her. I glanced quickly around her dressing room. No boyfriend in sight.

Then, I focused my eyes on her, sitting at her dresser. Her once chocolate brown eyes now matched my gold ones. Even though she looked miserable, she was even more stunning up close.

Her gaze bore into mine, skeptical. I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut me off.

"How'd you get back here?" She asked dully. She appeared apathetic.

"I paid off the guards," I answered truthfully as I shut the door behind me. I didn't mention that I had to charm my way past the female guards.

"Mm. So, did you bring your girlfriend back here to get a signed picture of me?" Her tone changed to cold. "Because she's not getting one."

My eyes widened as I stared flabbergasted at her.

"I don't have a girlfriend! But what about you? You seemed pretty happy out there performing all you love songs! How many different guys are those about?" I accused.

"I didn't write any of those, Edward," she shot back, still keeping her cool. "The only one I wrote was that last one. And yes, that one's for you."

She shifted her gaze down to the table, her expression changing from sinister to hurt.

"It was a really beautiful song," was all I managed to choke out. I was confused. She didn't write them?

"Thank you," she whispered. She still wouldn't look at me.

During the silence, I suddenly became angry. Someone had turned her into a vampire. She didn't do this to herself. This was not what I wanted for her, even though I did for myself.

"Who changed you?" I asked sternly.

"What's it to you?" She finally looked up at me.

"Bella, who did this to you?" I prodded, ignoring her question.

"Victoria did. Because you weren't around to help me." She said sternly.

Guilt hit me. This was my fault! How could I be so stupid as to leave her? I meant to protect her when all it did was harm her because I wasn't there to fight off the evil!

"Don't worry," Bella said, lowering her tone. "Laurent saved me before she was able to finish me off," She fingered with a tube of lip gloss. "Which she so very nearly did. I wish she had," she murmured the last part, looking down again. If I didn't have heightened senses I wouldn't have heard it.

"Why on earth do you wish she killed you?"

"What's the point, Edward?!" she suddenly yelled, and stood up clenching her fists.

"The point is that I love you!!" I yelled back, stepping so that I was a foot away from her.

Her anger softened as she stared up at me.

"No, you don't," she said weakly.

"Yes, I do Bella," I reached my hands up and gently grabbed her arms, pinning her in place.

"No, no," she shook her head and looked down.

"Bella, look at me and listen." She obeyed. As much as she looked like she wanted to recoil, she didn't. "I lied to you. That day in the woods was a lie! I left because I wanted to protect you not because I didn't love you! I didn't even realize that leaving would put you in even more danger." I paused. Her puppy dog eyes looked skeptical again.

I continued. "This past year, has been the worst one of my life. Without you, my life is like a starless night." I moved to cradle her face in my hands. "There wasn't a moment of any day that you weren't on my mind. I missed you so much! And then I saw your music video and I was so curious! I didn't know if you had moved on or not and it killed me! I just had to know. Have you?" I asked hopefully, staring into her eyes.

She sighed. "Never. I never wanted to. This music…thing, it happened by accident. The reason I did was because it helped me forget about you. But…" she hesitated. I released her face. "I guess inwardly, I hoped that this would happen. That you would see me, and come find me." She nervously bit her lip.

"Answer me this one question," I said.

"Anything,"

"Do you still love me?" I looked straight into her eyes.

"Yes," she whispered.

And with that, I grabbed her face, and kissed her more passionately than I ever had before.