A/N- Hiii, thanks for all the reviews again! They are all really nice ones which of course are the best :) 47 people now have this on faves so thats really nice as well :)

So this update was a lot quicker then the last one, but I had all of today free- I've literally been writing it all day aha. Let me know what you think and I'll try to update in 5 days again, I'll try anyway! But please continue reviewing.

Hopefully people like this chap :)

Previously

I was confused as to why he had changed his mind so quickly, and suddenly seemed so much warmer as compared to the way I had to leave him yesterday.

But I wasn't about to argue or dare to ask him why.

Because tomorrow once Edward's gone it'll all be so much easier, it'll be Luke and me… Edward and Tanya…

Although I will always wish for different circumstances and to have Edward, is this the way it's supposed to be?

…After all this isn't a fairytale, I know that.

So can I live happily with Luke and forget about Edward eventually?

…I hope so.

Chapter ten: Sunsets and smugness

Bella's point of view:

The rest of the day just breezed by. It felt as if you could blink for just one short second and then once you opened your eyes you would have found that you missed it all.

…The expression 'time flies when you're having fun' was most definitely proved true.

Luke left shortly after asking if I could meet up with him which I thought was a little unusual. Actually… reflecting back on it, the whole situation felt bizarre, but like I said- I wasn't going to ever argue or question him.

I walked back over to Edward to find him sitting engrossed in what book he was reading. I leant down to get a look at what it was- I laughed out loud when I saw his choice.

"Really, Edward? You're reading a book by Anne Cassidy?" I asked him, acting outraged- no need to tell him I have one of her books back at the dorm.

"What's wrong with my choice?" Edward asked confused, standing up from the sofa.

Now that the book was in better view I glanced quickly at the title- how could I not notice it? – It was 'just jealous.'

I wondered briefly is that book about me then? …Was it about the way I felt whenever he was with Tanya?

"Nothings wrong with it at all" I told him honestly, "It's just not the sort of thing you read that's all" I said, shrugging my shoulders.

At that point his beautiful smirk formed again on his flawless face, "Alright then…" he murmured, thinking hard for a moment. "What books do you think I read then?" he asked me.

All I remembered was what he chose to read at school- it had been months by now, I assumed his taste must have changed.

"Stephen King?" I replied, my response coming out as more of a question.

He laughed quietly shaking his head, "…Because I love horror," he said more to himself then to me.

It was silent for a moment, until he spoke again.

"Are things okay?" he asked, "with you and… Luke?" he said quietly- and if I wasn't imagining things- through gritted teeth.

"Yes, it's fine" I replied quietly looking down at my shuffling feet, not wanting to go into too much detail- I didn't exactly want Edward to know that things were… awkward… between me and Luke. Because the odds are he would ask me for the reason, and that's a conversation I never plan on having…

"Right, that's good" he replied, sounding distant now, staring ahead.

"Are you okay?" I asked him, virtually repeating his earlier question, "things are okay with you and Tanya right?" I asked, putting fake concern into my voice.

Don't get me wrong- I hate to see Edward in pain… but it's not like I'm going to cry if I find out that things are less then perfect with his barbie bride-to-be.

"Yeah… I think so" he murmured quietly, I frowned slightly and opened my mouth to ask him more when he spoke again.

"Let's get going then, I think Alice will be all too ready to tear our throats out if we're gone too long" he said, smiling slightly. I knew it was deliberate- him changing the subject, I don't know whether that annoyed me or not.

On one hand maybe I didn't want to know what was wrong… meanwhile I thought the opposite- I felt like I needed to.

Instead of arguing with him, I also smiled softly, "Too late for that" I said in reference to his 'Alice tearing our throats out' comment. I continued talking though- "But yeah lets go, I just need to pay for the books" I told him, gesturing to the cash point.

He only smiled wider, "Too late for that" he said teasingly- copying my sentence from a mere 5 seconds ago.

It sunk in what he meant when I noticed the bag leant up against the sofa, filled with books. "You didn't…" I gasped in recognition.

His smile turned into a smirk as he reached down for the bag, "Yeah I did" he replied. He must have seen my now horror stricken expression because his own one changed- into an incredulous one. "…Don't you dare argue with me for it" he said shaking his head, smiling at me.

"But I-" I began to argue with him, my voice desperate.

He sighed, reaching out a hand to cut me off, "Bella, Bella… don't you dare say you don't like having money spent on you, because guess what? …What's done is done" he told me smugly.

"Fine, but I'm not happy about this" I informed him, speaking through gritted teeth.

His smug expression and tone stayed in place, "I wouldn't expect you to be" he replied, shrugging lightly.

"Hm" I grumbled, folding my arms across my chest. I knew that I probably resembled a sulking child right now, yet I still didn't move from my position.

I heard Edward laugh quietly, "Come on" he said gently, taking me by the hand and pulling me along with him to wherever we were heading next.

We walked together silently through the now darkening streets- I stared at the sky and noticed how it was now a mix of orange and red with the sun sinking in the distance. I recognised the time it was- the time that Edward had mentioned before we left Alice and Jasper behind.

"It's twilight now" I whispered, still looking above. Through the corner of my eye I noticed that he was watching me with interest.

"You're right" he murmured, now joining me with looking up at the sky, "and you know what? …It's my favourite time of day" he murmured, his voice thoughtful.

"Why?" I asked him gently.

He laughed quietly; "You might think this sounds crazy but… I love that it means change." He replied now looking directly at me, I faced him as well frowning at him in confusion, he smiled softly and then explained more- "I like that it's the middle of everything, because it's neither day or night. I also like that it is going towards the darkness but still lingers on the day and the light." He replied, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as he spoke the last part.

Didn't he notice the irony or the parallel to us in his explanation?

…I don't exactly mean that Tanya is the 'darkness' – even though I think and know that she is evil- and I'm not saying that I'm the day part of his description because facing facts- I've never been 'little miss sunshine' or anything.

What I mean is- Edward's heading in one direction, and yet here he is- still lingering on his friendships from his childhood.

He's heading towards his future but still lingering on the past.

… Just like I am.

"…It's my favourite time as well" I choked out, my voice coming out surprisingly weak.

"It is?" he asked, sounding surprised but happy, his smile beautiful, "That's good to hear… it's almost as if it's… 'Our time' if that makes sense?" he said, his voice marvelling, he looked ahead of us as we began walking again.

"…It does," I said softly, smiling widely. I leant into him slightly, and we continued our walk alongside each other.

I watched his face as we walked, smiling at his beauty, his wonder… everything about him. I'm certain that he knew I was watching him, as he kept glancing in my direction, his own expression curious.

…Could he not see how much I love him?

Couldn't he see what I was constantly telling him without words?

He looked away from me, and I sighed quietly in defeat.

… Maybe not then.

We found Alice and Jasper only a couple of stores from when we left them, still in the same type of situation- Alice running around as if possessed, and Jasper following her.

True love, eh?

It wasn't long before we were noticed, Alice's reaction wasn't bad- admittedly when she first saw us she looked terrifyingly angry and I felt afraid. But then once her eyes focused on Edwards arm around my shoulders, and the blissful smile on my face- still smiling from a conversation we had on the way there- she smiled knowingly.

"Where did you two go then?" she asked accusingly, stepping towards us.

I sighed, gesturing to the bag full of books that I was now holding.

She rolled her eyes dramatically, I was certain that she muttered something sounding like 'again?' under her breath- though I couldn't be certain.

"So, are you done with shopping for today then pixie?" I asked her, my voice hopeful.

She looked at both Edward and me as we both put on our best pleading expressions- the pout. Impossible to resist!

"Fine" she grumbled, seeming unhappy about it.

Sweet victory!

Jasper soon had her smiling again though, after agreeing to come with her next Saturday. I told her that I would not be coming however… something that made her protest again.

We all walked on together heading back to the dorms, all laughing and smiling the whole way.

…And then the rest of my time with Edward went, in the blink of an eye.

And then the dreaded time came.

Edward's point of view

My final 24 hours or so in Hanover passed in a blur, and soon we were arriving at the airport, where I would shortly be catching a flight back to Miami and back to where my fiancée was.

We all walked the short distance from the car lot to the terminal all talking about last night- Bella, Alice, Jasper and I all hung out in the dorm for the night. And although it was simple- eating pizza and watching films, I really enjoyed it. After all I didn't really have many friends in Miami and it was nice to hang around with different people who I missed here.

When we arrived by the entrance of the airport, we continued to talk and then it was the time I had to go.

I hugged Alice, kissing her spiky hair, telling her I would see her soon, knowing it was only a month until I could. I shook Jasper's hand, happy for both him and Alice- that they had found eachother I mean.

And then I went to Bella, unknowing at the time just how difficult this goodbye would be for me.

I held her tight, pressing my face into her hair, my arms holding her to me. I whispered in her ear just how happy I was that our friendship was perfect again, and that I would see her soon.

I held on to her for a long time, longer then Alice. I felt the most unusual feeling that I didn't understand, I only knew one fact- that I didn't want to let go of her.

This felt so much more painful then the last time when Bella left, and I knew why- this time it was me that was leaving, and it was not completely by choice.

To my dismay it was Bella that pulled away from me, kissing me on the cheek as she did.

Her expression was sad, and something else that I couldn't identify. I frowned slightly examining, still completely unaware of what her eyes were telling me.

Sighing sadly as I glanced at my watch I spoke- "Well, guess I have to go then"

"Are you sure you don't want us to come in with you?" Alice asked, her arm now linked with Jaspers.

"No, no we've said our goodbyes… it will make it harder if you all come in there, and we have to repeat them" I said reluctantly.

"Okay" she said nodding, a small smile on her face.

I nodded as well, and although I knew I had to go to get to check-in on time… I didn't feel ready to.

Bella was still staring at me as well, her beautiful brown eyes still telling me something.

I glanced at Alice who was also watching Bella- she seemed to know that I wasn't ready to walk away yet, despite already saying goodbye to Bella.

"Well we need to be heading back to the car anyway. Edward- you had better call me when you get back home okay?" she asked me in a tone that told me 'do not argue with what I am asking of you.'

"Sure, sure Alice" I agreed softly, nodding again.

With a last smile and wave Alice and Jasper began walking, but just as Bella turned to follow them I grabbed her elbow.

She still looked at me with the same expression from before. Again it was times like this that I wished I could read her mind.

"I'll miss you," I said quietly and sadly,

She smiled softly, "I'll miss you too" she whispered, her voice breaking.

I leant forward slowly; pressing my lips to her forehead and letting them linger there, one of my hands on her shoulder.

"Be safe" I whispered against her skin softly.

And on that note- I turned and walked away, all the time ignoring the weird ache that told me to go back. I couldn't even look back.

I wiped away the wetness on my cheek… wait, I was crying?!

My mind kept repeating the same three statements, all consisting of- don't go back to Miami, stay here instead… don't leave your friends… don't leave Bella.

…Why was I thinking these things? Why was the pull to stay here, to stay with Bella so strong?

Surely it has to be something more then liking the town and the college, because if it was that I know that I wouldn't be feeling this way. There was something else, something stronger that made me want to stay here… was it because I was leaving Bella? I know I had felt pain like this when she left last time, but somehow the pain and the pull to her was different this time.

…Was it because I knew that our friendship would eventually fade away, and I was afraid to let her go?

I pondered all of this as I walked through the relatively quiet terminal, my bag slung over my shoulder.

Because I now wasn't looking where I was going I was constantly bumping shoulders with people, no one protested or complained though.

Even if they did I may not have heard- I was so lost in thought after all, it almost made me dizzy.

However as I began closing in on the distance to the check in desk I bumped into someone else, only this person shoved me back. I glanced up quickly as a reflex action only to be faced with none other then Luke.

What was he doing here?

Immediately my lingering thoughts of missing Bella changed as I remembered he was the one who I wouldn't ever trust with her.

I hate this guy.

"Hello Edward" he said slowly and cautiously.

Acting as if he's the good guy… of course.

"…Luke" I barely grumbled in response, before I turned to step around him.

He stopped me though by grabbing hold of my sleeve forcefully, bringing me to a stop.

Sighing I turned to face him again and his expression was the complete opposite of what I had seen just a second ago- his black eyes were glaring at me, his whole expression hateful.

This time, he didn't speak in such a friendly tone, instead opting to growl out the words- "I need to talk to you now, it's about Bella"

So is Luke as nice as he makes out to be..? Kind of got a twist planned with him, hopefully it will surprise everyone, I'm thinking it might do. :)

Bit of a cliffy again, I just can't help them :) New chapter will be as soon as possible, thanks again to everyone who's reviewed so far! Especailly to all those who have stayed loyal to this story so far, its so appreciated :)