Yay, I did two chapters in one afternoon again!

All characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. I don't own anything except the plot in this.

Chapter ten

EPOV

All week I hadn't been to school. Despite Alice claiming that Bella would soon give me another chance I still couldn't stand seeing her with that Newton at the present time, so I watched her from afar or through the minds of other people, preferably not Newton's. One of my highlights of the week was the first day I ditched school.

I was sitting in one of the many trees of the woods next to Forks high school, watching Bella's arrival at school. It was strange how the world still seemed to come to a halt whenever I looked upon her face. I allowed myself to focus for a long time on the love and awe I was feeling as I gazed upon her beauty, before Newton came strolling towards her with a huge idiotic grin spread across his face.

"Hey, babe" he said huskily.

I was pleased when I saw Bella momentarily cringe in private at the name he gave her.

"Hey, Mike" she replied sweetly.

Jealousy immediatly coursed through me when I heard her tone, and for the thousandth time I wished that she would act like that towards me.

I had to look away as I saw them kiss. That was more than I could take.

"Look, Mike..." she hesitated.

I was surprised when I caught the uncertainty in her voice. I looked up again.

"About yesterday..." she continued "well... em..."

"Yeah, gorgous?" he asked curiously.

His mind flashed to yesterday. Bella's face beautifully distorted with pleasure popped into his mind. I gripped a branch for support as I let out a growl.

"em... it was... it was a mistake"

A smile spread across my face when I heard her say that. Of course I already knew that she regretted it after Alice showed me in her mind, but it still felt good to hear. However Newton didn't take the news so well. I smiled again at his disappointment.

"What?!" he asked, shocked

I enjoyed this conversation. Hearing Bella's annoyed tone as she tried to make that pathetic Newton understand that she didn't want sex with him, and seeing his mortified and confused expression. It took him so long to get the message and understand. I shook my head as if in disgust at his stupidity. I actually wore a smile through out their conversation, something I thought I was incapable of doing.

At last he seemed to accept it, though in his mind he was planning way to arouse her. I was satisfied when I saw that all his attepts were to no avail and that Bella only seemed frustrated whenever he tried to seduce her.

When biology came, I was curious to see her reaction when she saw me absent. I expected her to shrug her shoulders or simply not react at all, but instead she looked... disappointed. When she saw my empty seat she seemed a little surprised as I was usually already there whenever she arrived to class, and then when I still had not shown when the bell rang she looked almost sad that I wasn't there. The thought that she may be upset at my absense made me involuntary smile. Maybe Alice was right. Maybe Bella would give me another chance. I felt excited when I thought of that possibility.

So I continued to watch Bella while she was at school and when she was at home (I could never watch when she went to Newton's or when he came to her house). Today she just went straight home so I knew it would be fine to watch her, I just hoped Newton wouldn't follow later. I always hated her not being in my line of sight. I treasured the times that I could simply watch her from her window.

She had done her homework when she first arrived at her home and her father later called as she ate her dinner to tell her he would be back late. I watched Bella as she lay on her bed, seeming frustrated with whatever train of thought she had taken for some reason. How I wished I could know what she were thinking. Was it possible she could be thinking about me? No. I couldn't allow myself to think that way.

She suddenly picked up her phone and dialed a number. I recognised the number as Mike's. I realised that she must have been thinking about him, her thoughts had nothing to do with me. My heart dropped.

I was curious when I saw that Newton didn't answer her call. He always answered her calls.

Then Bella suddenly got up and went outside to her truck. She was obviously going to Newton's, so I decided that was my cue to leave for now. I considered waiting in the woods until Bella came home, but then a thought occurred to me. What if Bella decided she wanted to sleep with Mike? I worried, maybe I should go and ask Alice. I quickly ran home and within seconds I was facing Alice.

No, she won't sleep with Mike- Alice.

My relief only lasted a second. I noticed that there was edge to Alice's thoughts. She was obviously hiding something from me. Why? Was it to do with Bella? I questioned her with my eyes.

Vision

Bella sat down on a bench outside the park with her hands in front of her eyes. She removed her hands and cheeks were wet with salty tears.

End of vision

My loud growl filled the room. Who did this to Bella? To my beautiful angel? Who dared to bring those tears to her eyes?

I quickly ran from the house and to where I knew Bella I would find Bella. But Bella wasn't there yet. I only had to wait a few moments before I saw her red truck pull up on the curb. I saw her tears streaming down her face as she walked up to the bench Alice had seen her sitting on. And just like in the vision she sat down and covered her face with her small pale hands. That sight caused me to feel as though a hundred knives were cutting through my heart.

I ran, at human pace in case of someone watching, towards where Bella sat.

"Bella!" I called.

She looked up at the sound of my voice. She looked almost relieved to see me, could she possibly be happy to see me? But those possibilities were not enough to take my mind off the matter of Bella's sadness.

"Edward" she said, her voice was merely a whisper from her crying, but I still heard her

"Who did this?" my anger was clear in my voice.

Her face crumpled up again as more tears came. I sat down beside her and rubbed her back, unable to stop myself from comforting her. She didn't pull back when I touched her as I would have expected her to, she just continued to cry. I was aware at the back of my mind that this contact, though simple and small, had I not been seperated from her for so long would have caused me to struggle with my control to not take her up in my arms entirely. But instead I only felt my contentment and joy at being able to have her so close to me for once. Of course, as always, she was totally unaware of the emotions going through me.

The sound of her small whimpers made the knives in my heart cut all the more deeper. It was clear she was still unable to speak for the moment, but I was more than happy for now to just keep my hand on the small of her back. For now at least I was allowed this time with her, it could be the last contact with her for all I knew, I may never be able to touch her again after this. Better enjoy it while you can. I said to myself.

Eventually her whimpers quieted down but her tears still ran down her face and splashed onto the wooden seat.

"Bella" I said softly.

She looked up at me. Her eyes were all blood-shot and her thick lashes were all wet.

"What happened?" I asked in the same tone.

"Mike..." she started "I s-s-saw h-him... and... h-he was... he was cheating on me"

My breath caught in my throat and a growl too low for her to hear rumbled in my chest. Why would that idiot sleep with another women when he had the most beautiful and perfect girlfriend in the world? Why would he hurt her like that? My expression became furious. How dare he! How DARE he!

She started to cry harder after she said that. I started to rub soothing circles in her back again. My murderous expression settled when I saw her tears, but my fury was still unquenched within. My poor angel. Any act that caused this goddess to cry in my eyes was like a crime against god himself. He deserved to be punished. He should be punished.

She looked back up at me through her tears. When I saw her face all my anger seemed to melt in a second. It was impossible while gazing upon her pure beauty to think any dark thoughts, even the darkest part of my mind swooned and was left speechless at the sight of her.

She stared at me for a long time and I stared back.

"Why are you doing this, Edward?" she whispered.

I couldn't contemplate what she meant by that. How could I not do this? How could I not comfort her in her time of sadness? How could I see her tears and not try? How could I not look at her beauty and not be reminded on my love and adoration for her?

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Why are you here like this? I've hurt you over and over again, and yet... here you are. Why?"

Now I understand. She thought herself unworthy. I shook my head at such a thought.

"I've told you, Bella. I love you. No matter what you do or say to hurt me I will never stop loving you" I told her passionatly "You may not want me but I will never stop wanting you. I am not trying to win you back because after what has passed I don't expect you to, but I need you to know that I am always here, that there will never be anyone I hold dearer or more important than you. I am yours, Bella. Nothing can alter that"

She continued to stare into my eyes. I knew all she would be able to see was my deep love going on for miles and miles endlessly. I gazed back into her brown eyes and as always found myself getting lost in their warm depths. This had been the first time I'd told her of my love in so many weeks. It seemed like an eternity since I'd last told her I loved her, how had I been able to go on so long without uttering the words? But just being here now in her presence it felt like a need to say it to her every waking minute. Of course she knew it, how could she ever doubt it after everything she'd seen? Yet I knew no matter how many times I told her she would never really and truly understand just how greatly I loved her.

"I'm sorry" she whispered.

"Don't be" I said "It's not your fault that you can't love me"

Though I spoke the words without struggle or pause, the reminder that she would never want me, like so many times before now, the knowledge tore my heart in two.

"I'm not talking about that" she shook her head "I'm saying I'm sorry that you had to imprint on someone like me. You deserve better"

How could she think that? She was the one that deserved better, not me. Bella was the best thing that had ever happened in my life, I would never take that back. Bella was more than I could ever ask for, more than I could ever deserve.

"Bella, never speak that way" I said softly "you don't realise how special you are. You are the most beautiful, loving, kindest person in this world. Any man would be lucky to have you. You deserve better than someone like Mike. I know you don't think it now during your time of sadness, but someday you'll find someone who will truly love you. Maybe not more than I do" I chuckled the last part and she smiled in return "but there will be someone. Someone who will stay faithful to you, someone who will wake up every morning just to see your face and hear your voice"

Though the thought of her being with someone other than me pained me, I knew that she derserved that kind of happiness with someone who was worthy of her. In my eyes no one would ever be worthy of her, least of all me, but she deserved that much.

She smiled at me. Her eyes were still red and puffy and tears still continued to flow. I wished I could stop them in their paths, wished more than anything that I could stop her pain. She began to cry harder again and her sobs shaked her fragile form. She turned towards me more and ducked her head under my chin. She clung onto my shirt and I wrapped my arms around her as I let her cry.

I felt such joy in this embrace. It felt so natural, like it was meant to be. I looked down at my arms. For once they were not empty, for once Bella was there as she should be. For once I felt complete in myself. Just like before their was no need to hold her all the more closer, though I would have wished to really, I was more than content and happy like this.

We stayed like this for several minutes, or it could have been hours, I couldn't tell. All too soon for me, she pulled away.

"Are you ready to go home?" I asked gently.

She nodded. It was dark now and her father would soon be home. I told her I'd drive her home in her truck, her eyes were too tired from crying so she didn't complain. This way I could spend more time with her,

BPOV

The drive back home with Edward was a silent one. I couldn't stop myself from looking over at him from time to time, and of course found him looking at me. That was just something that hadn't changed I suppose.

We arrived in front of the house in a matter of minutes, but I didn't want to say goodbye.

I turned to look at him and was met with his golden eyes.

"Thanks. For everything" I said.

"Your welcome" he replied softly.

We both stepped out the truck and walked in our seperate directions. I could feel his eyes on me as we walked away from each other so I turned to look at him, as I suspected he was looking back at me. He smiled and I returned it before I went into the house.

I walked up the stairs in a daze. I went over what had happened. I thought of Edward. I thought of how I'd felt in his arms. It was strange, but when I'd been in his arms, it felt as if I belonged there. Like that was where I belonged. I felt so safe and wanted when I was with Edward, so... loved. The adoration I saw in his eyes melted my heart and turned my brain to mush. Now that I was away from him I found that I actually missed his presence next to me. I had never felt this way with Mike. I'd never felt this way with anyone before.

Just then I heard my cell recieve a text. It was from Mike, apparently he'd sent me over thirty messages and I had missed over ten calls, all from him. I rolled my eyes. Surprisingly enough, I didn't care about Mike, I didn't care about what happened today, it just didn't matter. Any connection I'd felt with Mike seemed insignificant now. Maybe there never was a connection. I thought about that. Maybe everything with Mike had never really been real. Maybe subconsiously I'd always known that. I realised now that I'd been kidding myself the whole time.

Another thing became apparent to me now. Alice had been right. I did need Edward in my life. I did want him. The fear which used to grip me when I looked at him had really faded a long time ago, I felt no fear or anger towards him now. I knew I'd just been too proud to admit how I felt, that was why I'd gone with Mike perhaps. Because maybe deep down I'd always known that it had been Edward I wanted, not Mike.

I didn't love him, not yet. Despite the fact that I knew that I needed him, it wouldn't be the truth if I said I loved him right now, but I did know that one day I probably would. It was probably unavoidable that I would soon love him.

And I knew that tomorrow, I would not ignore Edward as I had done so. No, tomorrow I would give him another chance.

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