A/N: Told you I'd be fast!
This one is a doozy of a chapter, too- I think 1,060 words, or around there?
I hope you like it and enjoy it! R&R! ~Dakota
Previously in Love, She Wrote:
It was too late—that's when I saw it.
That's when I saw my girlfriend making out with Ben Cheney, a friend of mine from the baseball team—but not a friend anymore.
E-POV
My mouth hung wide open. My mind was virtually shut off, which explains why it didn't occur to me to stop my legs from carrying me closer to her. Bella tried to stop me, but her attempts failed.
A voice—I suppose it was mine, but I was so out of it in the moment that I couldn't tell—from somewhere stated in disbelief, "Lauren?"
She stopped exchanging spit with Ben long enough to look at me like a deer in the headlights.
"Edward," she stated utterly surprised, "This isn't what you think."
I laughed humorlessly. "Then what is it, Lauren? Care to enlighten me? Because it sure looks pretty obvious."
Her jaw popped open and she started at me. "It's just… I… Eddie, please… you have to believe me!"
I had nothing to say to her, so I shook my head and walked away, not looking back. Bella followed silently behind me.
When we finally got to the truck, I screamed out in anger and hit my fist on the cab. I leaned against the door and slid into a seated position on the asphalt, my back to the truck and my forearms resting on my knees. I shook my head—I was still so stunned and so angry.
Bella sat next to me with her legs crossed. "Edward, I'm so sorry," she consoled.
I looked at her. Her expression was pained. "Don't be," I sighed. "It's not like you caused this."
I heard he mumble something I didn't catch before she returned, "Either way, I'm sorry that she did that and that you had to see it. I… I'm here for you if you… need me."
She put her hand on mine and smiled slightly. A while ago—a week ago, even—her action would've sent my heart soaring. But how can a heart soar if it's broken? And why would a heart soar when it had no real reason to?
"Thanks, Bells. I don't know what I'd do without you," I admitted. I hugged her quickly and stood up. It was true. Without Bella, without my very best friend, I wouldn't have been able to hold myself together at all then.
I took a deep breath and tried to push Lauren out of my head. Be strong for Bella, I thought.
All I wanted to do in that moment was to scream and yell and get all of this anger out, but instead I put on a smile and looked down at Bella, still sitting cross-legged beside the truck.
Where I expected to see a friendly smile and infinite support, I saw a tear run down her soft cheek. She wiped it away quickly, but not before I saw it.
I crouched down and put my hand on her shoulder. "Bella? What's wrong?" I asked.
She shook her head forcefully and muttered, "Nothing. Just nothing."
The anger inside me melted into compassion for my friend. "I don't believe you," I told her bluntly.
She looked up at me with frustration plain on her face. "You don't have to," she spat, her voice breaking.
I scooted closer to her and wrapped my arms around her in consolation. I rubbed her back and whispered, "And you don't have to lie to me." Another tear slid off her face and onto my skin.
"Huh," I chuckled humorlessly—nothing was funny about this night—and said, "I'm the one who just got cheated on, and you're the one who's acting up. You can tell me what's wrong, Bella."
She hugged me tight before letting go and looking at me with that indistinguishable look that was making appearances quite often lately. I yearned to know what it meant, and little did I know, I was about to find out.
"Edward, I…" she began, looking down and deliberating whether to continue or not. She peeked at me through her corn silk hair. Her corn silk hair, which I once considered the epitome of beauty, whose mahogany tone I once praised as gorgeous. Now, however, those feelings were buried deep inside and I did not have the key.
"Edward, I think I love you."
I stared at her. Did I just hear what I thought I heard? "Ex… excuse me?" I stammered in shock. Frustration and confusion now bubbled inside of me and I wanted to scream again.
Her eyes suddenly were overcome by a deep sadness. "I said, I love you," she repeated nervously, her voice breaking on "love."
Oh, the irony! I was ready to shoot myself. I had loved her for most of our high school experience, until a WEEK before, and NOW she loves me! Oh, how I wished those feelings were back in my heart then! But, alas, they were buried far deeper than I could consciously find. I stared into her doe eyes and gazed at her beautiful face, which was deeply troubled awaiting my response to her confession, and found nothing.
Even if I still had feelings for her, how could she have expected me to react; with an open heart? How could I do that after it was crushed and twisted and trampled on by Lauren when I saw her cheating on me?
I stood up and walked around, running my fingers through my hair. "Bella," I started, hating myself for saying this, "I think… I think it would be better if we stayed as only friends. I… I just can't…. You have to understand how confused I am already, and to throw this into the mix? I can't…. ah!" I pounded my fist into the side of her truck out of frustration, not leaving a dent because the ancient metal was so durable. I walked to the passenger side and sat down alone. I wasn't alone for long, though, as Bella stood up and followed me halfway. I was leaning against the passenger door, and she stopped at the very front of the truck. I reluctantly looked at her. Tears were streaming down her face as she clutched her sides.
This was my best friend, who I had known since we were practically infants and knew better than myself. This was my best friend, whom I had loved for over a year—just to finally let go of my feelings when she reveals her own.
This was my best friend, and I had broken her heart.
I had to console her, but I knew the slightest touch could torture her soul—I knew from experience. I walked over to her and tried to put my hand on her shoulder, but she pulled away. I couldn't blame her.
"Let me take you home, then," she mumbled, getting into the driver's side. I couldn't object to that, either; she could've said "go jump off a cliff" and I would've gone in an instant.
As she put the truck in drive and started the long and silent ride to my home, all I could think was, what have I done?
A/N: My angst-iest chapter yet, no? I hope I did a good job of making the emotions seem and feel real, please give me your feedback! I'd love to hear from you! ~Dakota
