A/N: Soooo about half of you thought it was the paps, and the other half thought it was Tanya. Well I can tell you that half of you are right : ) You guys are so smart.
Also, it's hard to believe but I only have 2 chapters left of this story (after this one). But don't be sad because I have an idea for a sequel that would be a lot longer and stuff. Like I said this story was done as a birthday present and I didn't really have the time to make it a real fanfiction story so it's relatively short. Unfortunately the sequel will probably not be happening for awhile because of my other stories and school, but if you haven't already you should read my other stories, I have 4 completed ones : )
Edward grabbed my hand firmly and pulled me through the crowd of flashbulbs.
"Edward is this your new girlfriend?"
"What's your name sweetheart?"
"How long have you been hiding your romance?"
I blinked several times and put my hand up to shield myself from the circus.
We finally got inside and locked the door behind us. The paparazzi were lined up all along any open window they could find. Alice and Emmett ran to the windows and pulled down the shades.
"What the hell is going on?" I asked.
"I don't know Bella. They showed up a few minutes after we got back. That's when I called you." Alice said, pulling the last shade shut.
"How did they find us?" I shook my head.
"Well you should know shouldn't you?" Edward scowled. "I knew I couldn't trust you…" He turned and ran up the stairs.
I stomped up right after him and burst into his room. "Don't you dare talk to me like that! Like I'm just another one of those stupid girls who throw themselves at you in all the bars!" He might think he can throw one of those diva temper tantrums with anyone, but he wouldn't get away with it with me.
He was grabbing every article of clothing he could find and stuffing it in his backpack.
"Aren't you though?" He said through clenched teeth. He paused for a few moments. "You're just…like…them."
Those words cut me deep. I couldn't believe he was saying them, it didn't make sense. I sunk down to the edge of his bed and watched him finish packing up the rest of his things.
"Edward what are you saying?" I whispered, tears starting to run down my face. "What about us, what about New York?"
"There is no us. And I'll be leaving for New York a little early, alone. I don't need someone just looking for their fifteen minutes of fame."
He thinks I told the photographers he was here. My heart sank. I couldn't believe he could think such a terrible, horrendous thing about me. I would never do that.
There was a knock on the door and Emmett and Jasper walked in.
"The car is out front Edward," Jasper's eyes glanced in my direction.
"Okay I'll be down in a minute." He paused and turned towards me. "Bella I need to pack my things up can you give me some privacy please?" His eyes never left the floor.
I sighed and lifted myself off his bed.
"You know what Edward. I feel sorry for you. You're so damn paranoid all the time I know you'll never be able to experience love. So even though you think I betrayed you, its you who'll lose in the end. I hope you enjoyed your visit at the Harbor Lights Inn, please do come again." I curtsied and slowly closed the door behind me.
I stood in the hallway for a couple of minutes trying to regain the breath I just lost.
"Edward do you really think she told them you were here?" Emmett said.
"Who else would have Em? I thought she was different. I guess I was wrong. You can go now, I'll be down in a few minutes."
I ran down the hallway and down the stairs before Jasper and Emmett left Edward's room. Alice and Charlie were sitting at the front desk.
"Bella do you want to explain to me what the hell is going on outside my hotel?" Charlie put his hands on his hips and nodded towards the doorway. I could still hear the cameras clicking.
"No." I said softly as I walked into the kitchen. Alice quickly followed.
"Sweetie what happened?" She pulled me into her arms.
"He thinks I told them he was here. And I didn't. I don't know who did, but it wasn't me."
"Well did you tell him that?"
"Yeah he didn't believe me." I shook the tears away. Not now, I told myself. Wait until he leaves to fall apart.
I peeked around the corner when I heard footsteps on the stairs. He approached the front desk and slung his backpack over his shoulder.
"Hello Charlie. I'm just checking out."
"Checking out? I thought you were here for another week?"
"I know. I've already paid in full, so you won't lose any money. I just…something came up." He glanced my way. I was hoping he had seen the light. That he realized he loved me and I loved him and wouldn't do the terrible things he thought I did. He stared right back at me, all love and happiness gone from earlier today. It its place was the cold lost stare he had when he had first got here.
He signed some papers and turned to leave. "Thanks for the stay…" he said softly. Emmett opened the door for him as he entered the mass hysteria outside. I could hear a group of teenage girls screaming too. Damn stalkers.
Charlie watched him as he went, scratching his head. "You know…" he started once the front door closed. "That Bobby kid looks real familiar and I just…can't put my finger on it?"
"Charlie," Alice said. "You just wait until tomorrow about….8 a.m. when the paper gets delivered. I'm sure it'll come to ya." She slapped his back.
I almost missed their exchange because my whole world starting blurring around me. I grasped the counter for support, but my knees wouldn't hold and I collapsed to the floor. He was gone.
Charlie and Alice rushed to my side as I started hyperventilating.
"Charlie can you go get her some water…" Alice nodded towards the kitchen. Charlie looked conflicted, but finally did as she said.
"Here you go sweetie." He handed me the glass of water.
"I'll take care of her." Alice helped me up and we started back to our room. I knew Charlie was worried about me, but in all honesty he had no idea how to deal with things like this and I think he was almost relieved when Alice volunteered.
I curled up on my bed and refused to talk to her.
"Bella…it's okay." She started rubbing up and down my back. "He'll come back when he realizes he was wrong."
Alice laid back in bed with me and tuned on the television. She started flipping through the channels as she waited for me to talk.
"So where has the illustrious Mr. Cullen been hiding all this time? We have the scoop and a live feed coming up…" A woman with an annoying voice announced over the speakers.
Alice gasped and turned the channel.
I sat up and grabbed the remote from her. "I want to watch it." I flipped it back. It showed a live picture of the local airport, where a private plane was waiting. A small box in the corner showed a live view of the outside of the Inn.
"Okay folks," the woman's voice continued. "Edward's plane is scheduled to take off any minute now, heading straight for New York. We've learned that he's been staying at the Harbor Lights Inn in a small Northern Michigan town. Why he chose this top tourist vacation spot we don't know, but we do know this. He was involved in a scandalous affair with the owner's daughter. Talk about good advertising for their little hotel." She smiled with an over exaggerated wink.
"Stupid bitch…" I muttered under my breath.
Alice's phone distracted me for a moment, but then my eyes were glued to the TV waiting for that stupid bastard to get on his very own plane and fly his stubborn ass wherever the hell he damn well pleased.
"Jasper…" Alice answered her phone softly, stepping away from the bed.
Just then the doors of the airport swung open and there he was, surrounded by Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper, who was talking on his cell phone.
"Oh I see you!" Alice smiled a little bit, but tried to contain her excitement for my benefit. I felt bad. Just because I was miserable didn't mean she had to be. She glanced over at me as he spoke to her. "So you don't think he'll…?" She nodded her head. "Okay…Yeah…Not good…I'll call you later." She hung up the phone at the same time Jasper did.
"He's not going to realize he's wrong is he?"
"I'm sorry sweetie. Jasper said he wouldn't talk to anyone." She plopped down next to me and took my hand as we watched them all board the plane. The airport attendants sealed the door and the plane started down the runway. I held my breath as it began to zoom down the runway and all of my hopes flew away as soon as the plane lifted off the ground.
I shut the television off and sauntered out of the room.
"I'm going for a walk," I said softly as I started down the hallway.
Charlie's face was white as a ghost as he stood at the front desk, a television remote in his hand.
"What the hell were you thinking Bella?" He yelled.
"I guess I wasn't…" I passed right by him and walked out the front door.
There were a few paparazzi still standing outside the Inn when I walked outside. They took a few pictures and started following me to the beach.
"Can't you just leave me the hell alone! He's gone okay?" I turned around and screamed. They laughed and continued following me. I bet they loved my little outburst. I could just see it on the front page of Star Magazine by the end of the day tomorrow. Edward Cullen's Almost Girlfriend Has Mental Breakdown After his Abrupt Departure.
I couldn't imagine living with this all the time like Edward does. For a moment, an incredibly small moment, I felt bad for him again. They've only been around me for a day and I already want to kick their ass. That sympathy quickly subsided.
They kept following me for a while, but as soon as I hit the sand I used my special sand running skills to outrun them over the dune. I looked back just a few of them fell flat on their faces. I could even feel a slight smile spread across my face. I was grateful when I was finally alone. Just me and my thoughts. No television, no annoying bitch reporter, no paps, no Alice, no Charlie…no Edward.
I started out on the pier, walking the skinny cement slab that led to the lighthouse. It was strange to think how different it was this morning when Edward and I had been here. I pulled my sweater close to me as I continued my journey closer to the lighthouse. The waves were still crashing over the barrier, creating bursts of white against the blue sky. When I reached the lighthouse I walked around to the same spot from this morning. My fingers ran over the words he had carved into the metal. Edward loves Bella.
I grabbed my necklace from my neck and started scraping the words off with it. They disappeared quickly, along with the few that surrounded it. I guess you could say I got a little carried away.
I stayed out there the rest of the day, watching the tourists and the fisherman make their way out and around the lighthouse. I wiped away a single tear as the sun finally dipped below the water. I'd gotten through today. Tomorrow would be better.
"Bells?" Charlie called. I wiped my eyes frantically again and turned. Charlie stuck his cautiously around the corner. "What are you still doing out here baby?" He sat down next to me.
"Just thinking about some things."
He wrapped his arms around me. "I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier." He looked out over the water. "I just…I didn't know. I wish you would have told me."
"I know Dad I'm sorry." I stood up and grasped the necklace in my hands before chucking it out into the water. "But it's done now." I tried to smile. "Let's go home." He stood up and took me into his arms as we walked back down the pier and back to solid ground.