Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Stephenie Meyer owns the Twilight series and all of its characters. All rights go to her.

A/N: I know you guys have been waiting a long time and I decided to get this chapter done so I could post it.

I didn't get a chance to have my beta read it over for mistakes, so I'm sorry if it sucks. :D

We're introduced to the meadow in this scene and believe it or not, there's even a smidge of Edward action at the end.

If you're anything like me you live for that. haha!

See you at the bottom!

The next morning I didn't get out of bed for a very long time. I could still feel him and his scent protruded my senses. If I concentrated hard enough, I could still feel his kiss burning on my lips.

I brought my hands to my mouth, almost as if touching them would squash these memories. I knew I'd never forget, though. That kiss would be burned into my brain for the rest of my life.

I sat there staring up at my ceiling, trying to find the urge to get up or move or anything. I couldn't.

Memories hit me like a never-ending stream of lightning strikes and I clenched my eyes tightly together. It wasn't long, though, before I could almost feel the sunshine on my skin as we ran through the forest, our young legs pumping as fast as they could go.

"Edward!" I yelled, giggling, as he dragged me along behind him. With as many times as I almost fell, I was practically dead weight to him, but he persevered as brilliantly as his seven year-old self could.

I had only just turned five the day before, and I was feeling very proud about it if I did say so myself.

"C'mon, Bella," he turned around to smile at me, his few crooked baby teeth gleaming in the light of this rare but beautiful day in Forks, Washington.

"Edward," I wined, but secretly I didn't mind. I loved going on adventures when it was just Edward and I. They were so much better than having to drag everyone else along.

"Be patient, my Bella! We're almost there!"

"Almost where, Edward?" I grumped, knowing my mom would be mad about my torn and muddy stockings but unable to find it inside myself to care.

"You'll see."

It wasn't long before we came upon a small, perfectly round meadow. As we stepped out of the cover of the trees, I was instantly bewitched by the sun shining on the grass, and the wind making the tall flowers sway lazily.

It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen up until that point.

It wasn't until much later (in my late teenage years) that Edward's "cum face" became the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, but for now this would suffice.

"Oh." I whispered softly, reverently, Edward's hand still tight in mine.

"It's really pretty, isn't it?" he mused, ruffling my hair. "I found it a few days ago when dad took me and Emmett on a hike up here."

I smiled softly, my legs slowly making their way through the tall grass. Edward unwrapped the blanket he'd brought with us in his back pack, flattening the grass as he spread it out.

"I brought us some munchies." He grinned, as if he was the smartest person in the world. And he really was, in my mind.

He pulled out a full bag of Doritos and several other junk food products. Then he brought out two Capri-Suns out of the side pocket. Our favorite drink. I smiled at how in tune we were with the other, and how easy it was to be around Edward, unlike the other boys in my school.

We both laid out on the blanket, munching on the food and sipping our drinks.

We talked about things normal children do, like friends at school and when the next time Esme would take us to the park would be.

We laid there, our tiny shoulders touching, taking comfort in the other's presence, listening to each other talk.

Edward Anthony Cullen had to be my best friend in the whole world.

I vowed to my five year old self I'd never let anything come between us, that I'd never let that change as long as I lived.

Mike still hadn't come back from his "work thing." I'd only called him a number of times, not really wanting to annoy him or seem clingy, but I missed the warmth that filled my bed at night that no amount of pillows or old stuffed animals could ever satisfy.

Yeah, I slept with my old Teddy Bear from when I was a kid. Sue me, I was lonely.

When I woke up on Tuesday I finally turned on my cell for the first time in a while.

6 missed calls, 5 voicemails and 15 unread messages.

It wasn't all that surprising. Most days when I'd wake up I'd flip open my phone and see close to that many from my boss or other employees on stories and possible prompts to write an entry about.

However, when I saw the contact name my heart skipped a beat.

Edward Cullen.

Why the hell would Edward have called me over and over again? When I checked the dates they all seemed to be from a few days ago—the day we kissed.

I winced in my head.

That damn kiss.

When I looked at the text messages, my heart nearly ripped in two.

Bella, whr r u? We need 2 talk…

I'm sorry, Bells. I'm so stupid.

We really really need 2 talk.

Call me.

Bella, why rnt u answering my calls? C'mon…

I don't regret the kiss. Call me.

He didn't regret the kiss. I scoffed. Well that was fantastic. I could sleep at night now knowing that he didn't regret that fucking kiss.

Not.

I wanted to curse myself for the butterflies that erupted in my stomach when I heard his velvet tone over my voicemail.

Bella, honey, I know I have no right to be calling you. Alice gave me your number last night. *long pause* Shit, Bella, I'm scared I just fucked up any progress we may have been making. *sighs* Call me when you get this.

Bella, love. I don't want to keep talking to your voicemail. Talk to me. I owe you the rest of the explanation, if nothing else. I didn't want you to leave like that. I'm not saying I regret that kiss because I sure as hell don't. I haven't felt that at home since you left me, baby. Please, just call me, Bella. I promise I won't try anything again… I promise.

The other three voicemails he left had the same tone, and the same pleading.

"Bells?" My dad's voice behind me made me jump about fifty feet in the air.

I put the phone down on the bed and turned toward my father, wiping at the tears that I didn't even know had fallen.

"Are you alright, Bella?" My father looked at me skeptically, one eyebrow raised.

I sniffled. "I never know anymore."

I never returned the phone calls.

As much as I wanted to hear his explanation in all its entirety, I couldn't help the nagging feeling of paranoia that I hadn't been able to shake since I'd gotten here.

It was a bad idea coming here. I'd known that from the start.

I deserved that explanation, though. I needed it. I was so close to being free I could taste it, yet for some unfamiliar reason I continually put off calling him back.

When I was being honest with myself, I didn't want to be rid of him yet. As horrid as that sounded, it was true to me in a sick way.

Even when he'd signed his perfect script on our divorce papers, Edward Anthony Cullen was still in my life, no matter how much I denied it.

He was everywhere I went.

He was in every man I saw walking toward me on the street and in every handsome man I saw on the subway on my way home from work.

It was about a week after I'd read his messages when I got a call from Alice inviting me to dinner that Thursday at the Cullen's.

I accepted under one condition: that Edward not be invited.

Alice agreed whole-heartedly and explained that Esme would never make me feel uncomfortable, especially not at the place I'd once called my second home.

That Thursday I arrived exactly at five—which was the time specified- and for some reason my stomach churned in nervousness. I couldn't understand why, I'd come here a million times and waltzed right in like I owned the place.

It had been so long, though, that I warred with myself over whether or not to ring the doorbell.

I didn't have to think long because before I could even knock the door swung open with a woosh and there stood Carlisle, looking as calm and charming as ever.

"Bella," He smiled, flashing me a smile so similar to Edward's my breath caught in my throat.

"Hello, Carlisle," I grinned, holding up the wine I brought for Esme. "It's great to see you."

"You too, kiddo," He pulled me into a fatherly hug, his scent incredibly familiar and comforting. "We've missed you."

"Bella?" I heard from the other side of the door and soon Esme appeared, her chesnut brown hair curled out at the bottom and bobbing up and down as she made her way over to me gracefully, pulling me into a hug.

"Hey, Esme," I grinned.

"Oh, Bella, darling! We're so glad you're here! I made your favorite you know, italiano," She smiled then looked contrite. "I'm sorry, dear. I mean, it used to be your favorite. I don't presume to know what you like best now…"

"It's fine, Esme," I smiled to show her how grateful I was she still remembered. "Italian is great. And yes, it's still my favorite."

She smiled, surprisingly smug that she'd gotten it right. Then she pulled me under her arm and lead me into the kitchen where the entire Cullen clan—sans Edward—were seated around the bar sipping iced tea and chit chatting.

I tried my very best to hold back the pleasant memories—the ones where Edward would have been the one to tuck me under his arm and lead me into the dining room with his family, keeping me securely under his arm all night whilst good times and laughter were exchanged.

And although this was slightly different and uncomfortable from all the other times I'd been here, it was nice nonetheless. I appreciated Carlisle and Esme's attempt at bringing me back into their family again—even if this time it wasn't by being married to their son.

"So, Bella," Emmett boomed in his usual boisterous voice. "What's the story about this Newton guy?"

I laughed lightly at his "let's get straight to business" attitude. This earned him a slap on the arm from Rose.

"Emmett! You big galoop! You don't just come out and ask that," everyone was silent for a few beats, then Rose continued. "So what the hell's up with this Newton kid, Bella?"

At this everyone laughed.

"He's just…Well, I mean, I guess we're not that serious… anymore. Or ever were, I suppose," They all waited for my sentences, staring at me unrelentlessly.

I stopped then, though, unsure what to say after that.

"He's not…"

"Edward." Alice finished, and my cheeks heated automatically.

I ducked my head and took a sip of my iced tea. "No. He's not."

It was silent for a only a few moments, but it felt like hours. No one moved, no one even seemed to breathe.

Finally, Jasper broke the silence.

"Well, I think it's time for some grub, whaddya say, Emmett?"

Emmett grinned, like nothing ever happened and beat his chest with his hand. "I say let's eat!"

We all laughed, me a little nervously, when I heard the front door slam.

"Mom!" A velvet voice yelled and everyone seemed to freeze as the tall, slim, auburn-haired boy walked through the doorframe in the kitchen. "Why is Bella's truck out fron-? Bella?"

His voice was shocked, and not just a little bit hurt.

His eyes moved from me to a very guilty looking Esme, and I automatically felt bad for insisting on them not inviting him.

Edward's eyes moved around the room, taking in the whole clan—everyone was invited but him.

I saw him swallow thickly and his Adam's apple bobbed as it usually did when he got angry.

"What the fuck is going on here?"

A/N: Yikes, I think Edward's pissed! :D

Sorry for the cliffie, but I gotta keep you guys reading somehow, don't I? hehe

The response to the last chapter was amazing! Thank you so much for all your reviews! Let's see if we can top it this time.

I've started chapter 12 already (like two sentences. haha) so there's no guarantee when that one will be up.

Finals week is coming up and it's gonna kick my ass, but then I'll have all summer to write! I know this story will be finished by at least August, if not sooner.

Thank you so much for reading!

Now, click that review button. It helps me, it really does. :D

Until Next Time...