Hello all! How's it going? Ready for a new chapter?

I don't think I'll be able to update for the next two weeks, coz I have to go do work experience, doesn't that sound like fun? Get to spend the next two weeks doing work for free to see if that's what I want to do for the rest of my life, joy…

Are you shivering with anticipation as to what's gonna happen in this chapter? I know I am, woohoo! So let's begin!

I really hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my plot, the characters are Stephanie Meyer's, sorry!

Lovage!

Paula

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~Bella~

Bella slipped through her bedroom door and sat down on the edge of her bed. She hadn't gone back to the Cullen's house after her encounter, she didn't have the effort to face up to what was waiting for her there. She had certainly had an interesting day. Fred and Diego. Fred creeped Bella out a little bit. The fact he didn't really talk did not help. She liked Diego, however. She admired how much he liked Bree. Well, you're doing him a favor, she thought to herself, smiling.

Are you doing it for her, or for yourself?

That was the question that was bothering her. If her plan worked, then Bree would pass her test with the Volturi, then run off with Diego, who she really wanted to be with and leave Edward behind so he could have time for her again. She hated the way Bree would look at Edward with that look of adoration in her eyes, it made Bella sick. How would she feel if she looked at Diego that way!

Well, you don't know what she would think, because she doesn't know that Diego is alive.

She looked at herself in the mirror in her room and frowned. Was it wrong that she was keeping that a secret? Should she tell Bree? Of course she should, but she wasn't going to. Bree would find out, just not quite yet. Bella shrugged. A few days wouldn't make much of a difference to Bree. Not when she could spend the rest of her afterlife with him. The only remotely selfish part of the plan was making Bree feel like she wasn't welcome here, but that was just her way of keeping Edward. That was the only thing that was in it for her. She wasn't being selfish. No way. She was doing this for Bree. She stared at her reflection. The face that looked back at her in the mirror was full of doubt and conflicting thoughts.

"I just... don't want to lose Edward to her..." she whispered to herself. She took a deep breath, then started getting ready for a shower.

I am doing the right thing.

She just wished that she could be completely sure of that.

~Diego~

It had been a few hours since Fred and Diego had met Bella. Neither of them had said anything since, they were both too busy going over the conversation in their heads. Should Bella be trusted? How could they know she wasn't just messing with their heads? But why would she be? What could she possibly gain from it? Her vampire friends had killed their group of vampires, so what would they need them for? It's not like Diego had any special powers, and Fred wouldn't be much use if he didn't want to be. If they wanted Fred, why didn't they just take him, why send the girl? Unless they didn't know what special powers they had. But then why didn't Bella ask them to go back with her?

Unless she was acting alone...

But that didn't make sense either! Why would she want to bring Bree to him? What could she possibly gain from it! It was clear she was close to this Edward guy, judging by the look on her face when she said his name.

Is that the look I have on my face when I say Bree's name?

Was Bree a threat to their relationship? Were Bree and this other guy together and Bella wanted to split them up?

What Diego didn't understand is why didn't she just bring him to her! If Bree mentioned him and Fred to her, wouldn't that mean that Bree would want to see him? Unless that's what that "two day" thing was about, Bree needed two days to get far enough away from him as she could, so that he couldn't follow her...

Now you're just being stupid. Stop.

But how did he know that Bree even cared about him at all? He was the one who kissed her. Not the other way around.

Stop! You'll find out when you see her. Now stop thinking about it.

"Hey Fred, can we go to a music store? I want something new to listen to." Diego said, finally breaking the silence between them. He wanted something to numb his brain, to make him stop focusing.

Fred shrugged and off they went.

~Edward~

Edward stood in Bella's room. She was in the bathroom having a shower. He listened to the sounds of the running water and Charlie snoring in his room. His mind drifted back to earlier with Bree, tickling each other on the couch and laughing. It was so nice to have someone to just kid with. It was even nicer to see her happy again. That Diego guy must have been one pretty cool guy to have Bree so upset. And then Bree to finally cheer up a little and then just to have Bella threaten her? It was way out of line. How dare Bella? It wasn't like her to be like this. She better have a damn good excuse.

Edward heard the sound of the water turning off and Bella stepping out of the shower. What would she say when she saw him? Would she deny what she had said to Bree or would she pretend to be innocent? Would she play victim? He heard the hum of the hair dryer and Bella say "ow" every time she brushed a tangle in her hair.

Why would she think that Bree liked him? Sometimes Edward wished that Bella wasn't so self conscious, that she could just believe that he wanted her and no one else... Was she gonna be like this with every girl he was friends of? Would she start to get jealous of his relationship with Alice and Rose? Could he handle that for the rest of eternity?

Bella stepped into the room wearing a string top and pajama bottoms. She looked surprised to see him, but that was soon replaced by a look of confusion when she saw the angry look on Edward's face.

"What's wrong, love?" Bella asked, walking over to him.

"What did you say to Bree?" Edward asked. He saw Bella pale at this and she stopped a few feet away from him, just out of arms reach.

"What do you mean?" Bella replied. So she's going for feigning innocence.

"You know exactly what I mean." he replied coldly.

"I didn't say anything! She's lying to you, whatever she said. And you're falling for it. Don't you trust me?" Bella accused, trying to sound hurt.

"She wasn't lying. She didn't tell me and she wasn't going to. I read it in her mind. How could you be so thoughtless? Can't you imagine what she's going through? She lost everything! She lost her life when she got changed into a vampire. Then she lost everyone that she knew, because we killed them, including her love. Then she had to live with people she'd always know as the enemy, and then you make her feel like she's not welcome here, just because you think she's a threat to you! That's shallow, Bella." Edward glared at her. Bella's eyes started to water.

"I did it for you, Edward-" Bella started.

"No, you did it for yourself. I see you're not trying to deny it. Do you have any idea how angry I am at you right now? I love you, but I don't know if I can stay loving you if you're going to be so... so..."

"Say it Edward. Say what you really think." Bella said, icily.

"So cruel" he spat out.

"Fine. I see. Leave Edward. Go on. But she's going to leave you. I know she will. You can count on it." Bella said, turning away. Tears were rolling down her face, but she kept a solid expression. "She'll leave, and you'll come back. Talk to me when you find out what she's really like. I'll be waiting. I'll always wait for you Edward. I love you. Now leave."

Edward stood still for a while. Finally he nodded and turned away, and within moments he was gone.

~Bree~

Bree was confused when she heard Edward come home. It was still night, very early night. And he was alone.

She left her room and went downstairs. Edward was sitting with his back against the door with a furious and lost look on his face. Bree walked over to him. He didn't look up at her, he just stayed staring at his feet. Bree sat down beside him and he rested his head on her shoulder. They sat like that for hours. Neither of them said a word. They both just got lost in their thoughts.

"I'm sorry Edward" Bree said. "All I've done is cause you trouble since I came here. I really don't want you and Bella to fight because of me..."

"No, don't apologize. You showed me what she's really like, I should be thanking you." Edward murmured.

They sat in silence again, until the sun came up.

"Another day." stated Bree.

"Another day." Edward agreed.

~End~

Don't kill me!

Bet you're dying to know what's gonna happen next, right? Will Edward and Bella get back together? What will Bella say to Diego now?

Please review! Reviews make me all happy inside!

I'll try to update soon, but no promises!

Lots of love,

Paula

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