Edward

Bella leaned forward on the couch, resting her elbows on her knees and holding her head in her hands. Edward and Alice had been gone for awhile. She was starting to worry that only one of them would return. She remembered Alice's rage just at the mentioning of Edward's name. She also remembered the strange glare that he'd given Alice when he walked through the door. If tensions weren't high enough, Bella had to go be a moron and hug him hysterically. It's not that she regretted the hug though. Rather, she just wished she'd done it differently. Her melodramatics were always impressive but hardly ever necessary. She knew that she'd probably hurt Alice greatly. However, not hugging Edward would have hurt him. Who should she worry about more? Bella sighed, gripping at her skull with her nails. She didn't know. She honestly didn't know.

A flash of motion darted across the room and Bella's head shot up. However, that was all that she could do before Edward collapsed next to her on the couch and held her tightly against his chest. Bella froze for a moment before finally gaining enough thought to put her arms around him, pulling him closer. He smelled so…spicy. Something like cinnamon or gingerbread. It almost stung her nose since it was so used to the simple but breathtaking scent of Alice. Edward did smell very good though and she smiled warily as she looked up at him.

"Where's Alice?"

Edward frowned, a low growl rumbling in his chest. Bella tried to pull away from his grasp. His intensity was frightening. However his arms held her firmly against him. If he didn't so something soon, she was going to start panicking. Luckily, Edward exhaled sharply through his nose and turned away. "Alice…went away for a little while."

"Went away? As in, she's gone?"

"Yes,"

"Why?"

"Because she still needs to figure out some things."

"With Jasper?"

"Yes,"

Bella took the hint of Edward's tone and pushed the Jasper subject no further. However the fact that Alice had just left, vanished without so much as a goodbye was almost heartbreaking to her. "Will she come back, Edward?"

"She said she would. I wouldn't worry about it too much though."

"How can I not worry about it? Alice is gone!" Bella shouted, becoming frustrated. Edward scoffed as Bella tried to free herself from his arms. Suddenly, he released her, only to grab her by the shoulders and shake her vigorously.

"And I'm here, Bella! Why are you worried so much about her after all she's done to you?" he shouted, his voice harsh and intimidating. Bella shivered in his grasp, tears automatically coming into her eyes. She tried to focus on Edward's topaz colored irises. That's what she did when he acted like this. She would lose herself in those beautiful pools until he calmed down. However, the relief wasn't coming this time and she was still very much frightened. Edward then sighed, kissed her temple, and released her slowly, allowing her to sit back on the couch. When she was away from his grasp, Bella allowed herself to collect her thoughts. She remembered what Edward had said, but it didn't seem to make sense. After a few moments of collecting her breath, Bella made eye contact with Edward again.

"What do you mean? What has she done to me?" Edward looked at her incredulously and frowned in disappointment.

"She came home. She wasn't supposed to, but she did and thus ruined whatever chance you had at a normal life."

"N-normal life?" Bella couldn't seem to comprehend what was coming out of Edward's mouth. It had to make sense, it just had to. Edward gave that familiar crooked smile and pulled her closer to him, nuzzling in her fair hair.

"Bella, you are so beautiful and kind. You have so much to give to the world. The last thing you need to be doing is hanging around with those that don't deserve you," he murmured, inhaling deeply. Bella pulled her head away so that she could look him properly in the eyes.

"So…you're saying that you're not good enough for me? None of the Cullens are good enough for me?"

Edward's brow creased again and he sighed roughly as he leaned back against the couch. Slowly, he reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "I'm not good enough for you. Alice is not good enough for you. Why waste your time withering away with us when we cannot even touch with as much love as we'd like? Why would you choose to live forever in a life with love, but nothing but words to show for it? I love you, Bella. But I cannot control myself around you. It's too dangerous. You're better off being happy with someone who can give you everything rather than fools who can't give you enough."

"But what if that fool loves me?"

"It doesn't matter, Bella."

"What if I love that fool?"

A loud crack echoed throughout the room as Edward clenched his teeth tightly shut. He balled his fists and brought them together for a moment before slowly exhaling and pulling his hands away. "You don't love them, Bella. You don't love her. Alice took advantage of your weakened state and hers by coming over here and making a mockery of your heart. I don't want to hurt you, love, but she doesn't love you. She loves the idea of you. She is still very much in love with Jasper." Edward smiled painfully and pulled Bella into another tight embrace. It was too tight, but Bella hardly noticed.

Her mind was a swirling torrent of thoughts and emotions. Edward could very well be right. Alice always tensed up when Jasper's name was mentioned and she never did get the reason as to why he didn't come along with her to the trip. Maybe Alice did use Bella. Maybe she was just the rebound girl…. Tears began to slide down her cheeks as she absorbed herself in Edward's arms, clutching onto the only thing she knew was real: his presence. Edward hummed softly, kissing the top of her head, and rocked her back and forth.

They rocked for a few more minutes until Bella had calmed down. Then Edward pulled away from her, a small smile on his lips. "Will a kiss make you feel better?" he teased. Bella laughed, wiping away the remaining tears from her eyes, and nodded. Edward shrugged innocently and leaned forward. Just as he placed his lips on hers, his hand rested gently on her thigh. However, the friction caused her shorts to grind against the healing wounds on her legs and she hissed as she roughly pulled away from her. Edward glared at her for a moment, confused, before he noticed his hand placement. Slowly, he pulled his hand away, staring at it as if it had committed a crime. Bella watched his expression change from anger to frustration to sadness and back to anger all over again, repeating the cycle.

"Alice mentioned your fall," he said distantly, still looking at his hand. "Now, I can't say I'm surprised, but she informed me that your injuries were pretty severe." He reached his hand back out towards her shorts, stopping just before he reached them. "May I?" he inquired, motioning towards the fabric. Bella nodded, biting her lower lip, and closed her eyes as she felt his frigid hand on her bare skin.

Like Alice's, Edward's cool touch eased the fiery pain of her healing wounds. Carefully, he grasped the fabric and pulled it away from him, exposing Bella's thigh. This time, as he stared upon the vibrant red streaks, a growl formed in his throat. Bella's eyes widened as she sat up a little, the growl putting her further on the edge. Slowly, Edward placed his palm on her thigh, sliding it lower until it rested on her knee. Though the touch was gentle, Bella still winced at his touch. However, she tried not to pay too much attention to the pain. She was far more concerned with what Edward was thinking. Right now, his expression was unreadable. The crease of his brow showed immense rage. However the slight trembling of his lower lip suggested that he was deeply hurt. Bella was starting to get a little tired of all of these mixed signals and she quickly covered up her legs. As soon as she did, she started to wish she hadn't.

Edward removed his hand with a jerk, snarling as he glared at his palm. Bella gasped at his sudden burst and his eyes found her quickly. He was taking slow, even breaths. It made him even more menacing. Bella swallowed but did nothing else. She was almost afraid. Edward looked to be on edge and she certainly didn't want to send him over. Then, Edward's eyes softened, and the rage was gone. The hurt was still very evident to her though.

"Those…are slashes," he said slowly, eyeing her legs again. "Cliff diving can't make these kinds of cuts." His eyes flashed over to Bella again and she blinked, trying to cover her legs further. Alice must have lied about her cuts. And now as she sat before him, she could understand why. "What happened?" Edward murmured, his eyes never leaving her legs.

I…fell," Bella answered. Her cheeks flushed when her voice cracked and she knew that he would see right through her lie. Edward smirked, shaking his head as a light chuckle rumbled through him.

"What happened, Bella?"

Bella considered the question for a moment. She used to be able to read the vampire like a book. Now, she barely knew who he was anymore. She'd been silent for too long and he straightened, urging her on. Bella coughed and looked away. "I fell…onto glass."

"Intentionally?"

"Why would you think that?"

Edward shrugged, looking away as well. "You were so fragile when I left you, Bella. You're still fragile. It just doesn't seem like shocking idea." Heat flooded to Bella's cheeks as she felt tears in her eyes. She'd never felt so worthless before. Had Edward always been like this? Edward made a strange noise then, causing Bella to turn. When she faced him, she realized that he'd moved closer. She gasped at his proximity and his expression softened. Silently, he lifted a hand up and placed it on the side of her face, caressing it sweetly and slowly. "This is because of me, isn't it? It's all my fault." He hung his head and sighed heavily. "I don't deserve to be in your presence."

"Huh?" came Bella's lame reply. Since when did the conversation switch to him?

"I'm a monster, Bella. I ruin everything." He motioned to her legs again. "I should never have come back."

"No, don't say that, Edward," Bella chided, reaching out to him. It was strange. It was almost instinctual to reach out and console this pitiful creature. He was hurting so much. Edward cringed under her touch, reaching up to take her hand in his.

"No, please don't touch me. I can't do this again. I can't…get attached."

"Why not?"

"Because, it's not safe for you. I don't want you to get hurt. And that's what would happen should I choose to stay. I've overstayed my welcome already." He stared intensely at her, though neglected to move from the couch. Bella nodded sadly as tears began to fill the crevices of her eyes. Edward's expression softened for just a moment before his eyes became hard again. Too quickly for Bella to resist, he reached out and grasped her hand again, pulling it closer to him and squeezing it within his own. "But, before I go, Bella, I want you to promise me something."

Bella nodded blankly, sniffing just a bit. Her thoughts were contorted, jumbled. It was a struggle just to remember how to breathe. Poor Edward, so caring, so compassionate for her and her alone. She closed her eyes, remembering his previous departure. How much it had hurt. This time was no different. Edward sighed, then clenched her hand again.

"Don't do anything reckless or stupid," he ordered. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Bella felt anger growing inside of her and she was quick to pull her hand away from his, disgusted. Edward looked up at her, a confused expression crossing his face. "Don't tell me what to do," she said softly but with fervor. Edward gave a small glare.

"What did you say?" he asked incredulously.

"I said, 'Don't tell me what to do.' I'm not yours anymore, right? We shouldn't be together, right? You don't want me, right? So why the hell should I listen to one more command you give me!" she shouted, violently standing from the couch.

"Bella, what's the matter with you?" Edward half growled in return. "I'm trying to help you!"

"No, you're trying to help yourself!" Bella screamed, completely livid. Alice was so right…so damn right. How could she have been so stupid, so blinded? Well, she had been for a few years and again so just a few minutes ago. She was just as pathetic as Edward gave her credit for. But not anymore. She sighed, trying to compose herself as Edward rose from the couch, looming over her with a daring glare. However, as quickly as it'd come, the glare vanished.

"What's the matter, love?" he asked, his voice soft and tender like it was before. Bella shook her head, smiling at the fact that she was undaunted by his smooth voice.

"I'm not your love. I'm not yours. I'm Alice's love. I'm Alice's."

"Come again?" The frightening look was back again. Bella became slightly fearful but refused to show it.

"Edward, I don't know of your real intentions. But I do know that you are manipulative, abusive, and possibly sadistic. I was a fool to fall for it before. And I was a fool to let Alice walk out the door too many times. Please, Edward, leave." Bella closed her eyes, feeling the tight emptiness leave her being. She felt lighter, yet more complete. She felt happy, unrestricted, uninhibited.

However, the feeling was short lived as she felt her head smack roughly against the plaster of the wall. Black eyes poured into her as the growl within Edward's chest was reverberated through her own.

"I'm not going anywhere."