Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight characters, they belong to Stephenie Meyer!

Chapter 16-News

I was silently proud of myself for getting Alice to agree to let us come over the way that I did. I knew she wouldn't want to pass up this opportunity. Right after we had gotten off the phone, she buzzed us in and we made our way to the apartment. I couldn't wait to share the news with her. I was beaming! I even thought I would be feeling terrible about what had happened with Jacob but it was quite the opposite. It made me even more happy knowing we did it. This surprised me, but in a good way. I wasn't sure I'd ever feel this way towards another person but Edward, especially not this soon. Not when I had just made the decision that Edward would not change and I needed to move on from the idea that he could. I couldn't fix his way; the choices he made were all on him, no one else. I knocked on the door but before anyone answered, Jacob whispered something in my ear.

"Bella," he started. "Are we going to talk about what happened back there?" He seemed nervous. I looked up at him and smiled, hoping it would reassure him that I did not think of it as a mistake.

"Of course," I replied and quickly leaned up to kiss him again. Right then, the door began to open and we both corrected ourselves to be more presentable. Alice stood in the doorway,looking irritated, ticked off, annoyed and a little eager. Surely I didn't cause all of those emotions, did I?

"Come in," she offered us. "I must warn you, the apartment is a stress free zone now so if you need to unleash anything, meet me on the balcony...it's more free there." She added in a whisper. This confused me and I could tell Jacob was equally confused.

"Alice, I don't understand..." I said to her.

"Oh, you will.." she said through her teeth, the anger clearly showing through when she said this. We both stepped into the apartment and that's when I realized what Alice had meant. I heard Edward and Jasper talking in the other room but did not take too much interest to hear what it was about.

"He's here?" I said, attempting to keep my voice down.

"I'm just as happy about it as you are Bella," she answered. "I was ready to send him to meet his maker right before you called. That, and Jasper was all about 'keep calm, no stress, blah blah blah'" she went on, attempting to immitate Jasper's voice. Jacob and I couldn't help but laugh at this.

"I assume he told you what happened? I asked and she nodded her head. "Hopefully he wasn't dumb enough to lie about it."

"Oh, he didn't...I think I scared him enough already. He wouldn't go as far as to even try to lie to me."

"I guess you and I are on the same page with this," Jacob added to the conversatoin.

"If by being on the same page you mean I want to kill Edward, bring him back to clean the mess and then do it over again, then yes, we are on the same page." she crossed her arms.

"And you haven't yet, which is unlike you," I added. "What's the hold up?" I laughed.

"Jasper's such the pessimist," she said in annoyance and I laughed. I missed Alice.

"It's no worries and that goes to the both of you. Nothing needs to be done about it. He's a big boy who's made his choices. Now I'm making mine, plain and simple." I said to them both.

"You decided to be cool and nonchalant about this," she said. "I don't buy it."

"Neither do I, to be honest." Jacob said in agreement.

"That's fine, you guys don't have to. I'm just done with the drama and I'm moving on, which brings me to why I'm here."

"Yes, why don't we take this conversation out to the balcony. We'll still be uninterrupted and you'll be able to share." Alice offered. We agreed and followed her as she moved towards the balcony door. I slightly flashed back to the conversation Edward and I had on that balcony the other night but quickly snapped out of it. Seeing as how I was now moving on, reliving memories was not an option. I would do my best to keep it from happening.

"Hey Bella..." I heard Edward address me. His tone was longing, as though he hoped I would answer which I did. No reason not to.

"Hey Edward," I simply said.

"You're not ignoring me..." he said in relief.

"I didn't ignore you this morning, I don't plan on ignoring you now. No need to waste time worrying," I smiled and turned away.

"Bella, can we please talk alone?" I wasn't the one to respond to his request. It was Alice.

"She may not be doing the right thing by ignoring you, but as long as I am here, that's exactly what's going to happen," she scolded. "So to answer your question, no you may not take a moment to feed your nonsense to my sister!" He looked down, saddness and hurt consuming his face. For a moment I wanted to go over to him and comfort him but I couldn't. No more showing any feeling or giving him any idea that I cared the same way I did last night. I snapped out of it fairly quickly, more so when I heard Jacob laugh at what Alice said. Edward glared at Jacob.

"Sorry to laugh," Jacob started. "She's just so fierce and commanding for someone so small. No offense Alice." It was true though, he had Alice practically spot on.

"None taken," she beamed a big smile at Jacob, taking pride in her attitude towards Edward. This seemed to just make him more upset. "Jasper, we're going to talk on the balcony. Will you be ok in here with him?" She emphasized the word "him".

"Of course," he smiled at her. "Edward doesn't bite." She rolled her eyes and opened the balcony door for us. We each took a seat around the table they had off to the side and she crossed her arms.

"So," she started. "What's the project that couldn't wait until later?"

"Well," I smiled. "There's a place that needs an interior designer and I couldn't think of anyone more capable and more talented than my big sister..." I was right. Alice loved it as soon as I mentioned a place needing designing. She was beaming!

"Oh, what kind of place? When does it need to be completed? Who is it for? What type of style are they into? Can I start right away?" She was at the edge of her seat with all the excitement.

"The place is a loft, two floors, balcony, lots of open space, white walls, glass door leading to balcony and glass on either side of the stairs. Bedroom is huge...two walk in closets and a huge bathroom," I went on. The more I said the more she loved it. I could already tell she had ideas flying through her head.

"Who's it for? What style do they like? When can I meet them? TEll me Bella..."

"You don't need to meet them Alice," I told her and instantly she was confused. But before I would let her continue, I quickly started talking again. "It's for me. I leased a place two blocks down from here today and I'm trying to be moved in at the end of the week..." For a moment, excitement was fully showing through her face. And in the next, she was angry.

"You bought a new place!" she fumed.

"Yes I did Alice," I told her. "Why, is that such a bad thing?"

"That moron has completely broken you and you dont' even see it!"

"What do you mean, broke me?" I asked, I looked at Jacob who was getting a little uncomfortable with where this conversation was leading.

"Oh please Bella, don't play dumb with me!" she scolded. "I know exactly how you handled what you walked in on this morning and even for you that's completely unnatural behavior. And to top it off, you go and make a crazy decision to buy a new place without so much as thinking it through? This is completely wrong." she sat there shaking her head in disapproval.

"Alice, I'm not doing this because of what happened.." I said but stopped because she glared at me. Jacob had also coughed as I said this so they both knew and I couldn't deny it anymore. "Ok, so maybe it is. I can't be around him with all the stuff that's been going on. I could before but now that all feelings were put on the table and the opposite of what was expressed was done, I can't do it. That place no longer gives me a happy, home feel where I can enjoy our memories Alice. You're not there anymore. He is and he's made me upset every time. All happiness is gone. But this new place, Alice you should see it. It's incredible and exactly what I need for a fresh start." I explained to her. She sat there shaking her head.

"This is wrong. Running away is not the answer!" she said. "No matter how right it may seem to you. You're just clouded by your breakdown that you don't see it." I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"My breakdown?" I asked. "Alice, I'm perfectly fine and completely sane, thank you."

"No, clearly you are not because you are not thinking clearly. You've completely lost it."

"Alice, regardless of what you are telling me right now, I am moving into this new place," I said. "My question to you is whether or not you want to help me pick things out and design the place. If not, that's fine but I need to know."

"I can't give you my answer right now, Bella." she responded. I didn't understand why though. "I don't agree with your sudden decision to relocate so aiding with something I don't believe in would go against what I feel is right. So I'm sorry, right now I can't answer you."

"I respect that, thanks for considering it for me Alice" was all I said and I went back into the apartment leaving Alice and Jacob alone on the balcony.

"Conversation over that quickly?" Jasper asked in a surprising tone. I took the seat next to him.

"Well, there wasn't much to talk about after my sister questioned my sanity," I told him.

"What are you supposedly doing wrong this time?" he laughed.

"I'm making sudden and nonsensical decisions to relocate."

"Relocate?" It was Edward who had chimed in this time. It annoyed me but I couldn't completely ignore him considering he had been here first.

"Yea, I'm leasing a place not too far from here and she says I'm doing this because I've had some sort of breakdown." I answered, looking at Jasper rather than Edward.

"You're moving out?" He asked, hurt and anger clear in his voice.

"Yea, that's what it seems is happening..." I answered.

"And when were you planning on telling me this?" He asked, more anger flaring than hurt at this point.

"Well considering I just did it, I was going to tell you when I saw you and how about that," I said. "Here you are so I am telling you now."

"Bella," He started. "We really need to talk alone. Now please." He stood up and turned to head into the room Jasper used as an office. "Jasper, can I borrow your office for a bit?

"As long as you two don't break anything, it's all yours." He grinned at us.

I followed Edward into the office. He closed the door and took a few minutes before he turned to face me. His face was a mixture of emotions. I saw anger, irritation, sadness, hurt, love. It was all there, blended together on his face. I tried not to act like it bothered me that he was doing this. If I wanted to be friends with him, I had to be comfortable being alone with him and for some reason, I wasn't. Which told me leaving was the right thing to do. We needed time apart if our friendship was going to survive this.

"Bella, first I want to apologize for what you walked in on this morning. I wish you never had to see that and that it never happened. It did, I regret it and what I regret most is that it hurt you. I'm truely sorry," he started.

"Thank you, you didn't need to apologize though."

"It was definitely necessary Bella, we both know that," I was grateful that he was apologizing. I knew why he was. A part of me didn't want to her it though, I didn't need to. He owed me no explanations. This was something that would always happen with Edward, I could see that and instead of trying to change it and wait around for the change to happen, I was doing the right thing. I was letting him go.

"Edward, I don't have the energy to argue with you anymore, especially about this." I said as I looked down, refusing to look him in the eyes. He always had a way of swaying me to doing the opposite of what I had intended and I could not let that happen.

"Bella, who said anything about arguing? We just really need to talk, you know? It's something we have always done and been able to do. I know it's my own fault for messing up that part of our friendship but I also am ready to do whatever it takes to make things right, with you as my friend and then, hopefully with you as my girlfriend. I know we can't jump straight into that type of relationship," he paused. I heard him take a few steps closer to where I stood, eyes locked to the floor. Every word he said was perfect. I even found myself slowly drifting back to before all this craziness happened and wanted to jump into his arms and tell him I was his. But I couldn't.

"You're right," I said. I glanced up at him for a brief moment and detected the sadness in his eyes. Once again I looked away. "There is no way we can have a relationship when our friendship seems to be barely hanging on with everything that's been going on. And there is no way we can have a relationship when I can't trust that you are able to be committed to me and only me. I can't trust that I can turn my back for five minutes without some blonde popping out of no where. You just aren't ready Edward." It pained me to say this to him. Despite everything that has happened and how much its hurt me, I still cared for him. After all, he was my best friend. But no matter how much I wanted to keep him away from any pain, he needed to know where I stood with my feelings.

"Bella, I made a mistake. That doesn't mean I'm not ready to be with you in the way that you want me. In the way that I want us to be. This isn't something I've conjured up in my mind simply to make you happy and have what you've always wanted. I know you think that," he started to explain but I had to interject.

"You can't possibly know what I think Edward," I said to him as I looked up to stare him in his eyes. I caved, I knew this but what was I going to accomplish by staring at the ground? Nothing.

"Bella, I still know you better than most people. I haven't been a great friend lately but people make mistakes. But they also learn from them and when they love someone the way that I love you, they will stop at nothing to make sure they never hurt the one they love again. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to never hurt you again..." he stared at me with his eyes longing, pleading for me to accept what he said as true.

"I believe you Edward..." I said in hesitation. I did believe him, but I couldn't fall for this only to set myself up for disappointment.

"But?"

"But, I need time to see that you've changed, please understand that. Our friendship depends on this and the only way I know how to ensure we salvage what is left, is by moving into my new apartment." It seemed he had forgotten about my sudden decision to move because when I mentioned it, I saw anger take over his features.

"You have got to be kidding me Bella!" he fumed. "How could you have even entertained the idea of searching for a new place, let alone agree to buy it!" I tried my best to keep calm.

"Edward, I don't think you want to enter in a conversation with me about this." I said sternly.

"I don't care right now! Did you ever think of how your decision would effect me?" he went on. Once again, making everything about him.

"Edward, last chance. Please calm down and change the subject." I warned.

"I bet you didn't think...why would you? Once again, you're running away from your problems. How could you do this!" And there it went. All the control I had built up to avoid this argument with Edward, an argument he assured me we would not have, had faded. He brought this upon himself and I feared that by completely unleashing on him, our friendship would not survive it.

"How could I do this?" I emphasized the world 'I". "How could YOU not stop to think that for one moment that everything that has been happening is all in consequence of your carelessness? That thought never once crossed your mind, did it Edward? No it didn't! Because in all this time you've been feeding me lines about how much you love and care about me and how much you want us to be together when if you really look at it, your actions say the opposite. You don't think about anybody but yourself Edward. That's why you are always changing who you date; your mind is always changing about what you want. You even convinced yourself you wanted me and as soon as an opportunity presented itself that would make you feel good, you jumped on it, or should I say her? So you ask me how could I have entertained the idea of getting a new place and actually buying it? Try looking in the mirror. What you see staring back at you will be your answer!" I had unleashed so much anger that had been building inside me through this whole experience that I didn't realize how much I had allowed myself to say. All of it true, yes. But so unexpected for it all to have come out the way it did. I felt so much better and more confident.

I stood there glarding at Edward who had become speechless. I watched as he moved over the nearest chair and sat down, placing his head in his hands.

"I've really made a mess of things," I heard him mumble. "Bella, I truly never meant to do anything that would hurt you. I know you can't forgive me, for any of it or my selfishness but I will change." He stared at me as he said this. I couldn't stare back at him long. I took in a deep breath and let it out before I answered.

"I don't think that you can Edward," I whispered. "I don't even know who you are anymore."

"I'm still me Bella," I tried reassuring me, but it would not work.

"Somewhere in there, yes but the person I see sitting before me is not my best friend. You've changed, which is what I've feared the most." I said in defeat. I had been fighting with myself this whole time about Edward and what his actions were telling me. He really had changed. He changed into someone I could not recognize. Into someone that could not be trusted and into someone I did not wish to know. This probably was hurting me more than what I had walked in on this morning. I took another deep breath and headed for the door.

"What's going to happen now?" He asked as I walked passed him. I stopped with my hand on the door knob and turned to him.

"I'll be out at the end of the week but as to what happens with us, that's really up to you Edward. It's not up to me anymore. Good bye." I said this and I walked out the door. I had just ended a friendship with someone that meant the world to me. I knew it was for the best but as soon as I had said goodbye and walked out the door, I felt my heart shatter. It was broken. I never wanted this. I knew it was necessary but I never thought things would lead to this. I didn't know how I would recover from it, I knew I had to but how? I stood there, holding back tears and stared out the window to where Alice and Jacob had still been seated on the balcony; Jasper had joined them. I thought of Alice and her wedding and of course, her pregnancy. Time was going by so quickly and so much needed to be done. It was then I realized the best way to keep my mind off of Edward. I would completely drown myself into my school work and Alice's wedding. Afterall, I did have a party to plan and I would do it without the best man, without my best friend, without the love of my love, without Edward.

A/N: So, anyone thinking her decision was a bit impulsive? Do you guys think she'll be able to keep Edward at arms length? Let me know what you all think of the chapter, the story and what you may think will happen...you guys are in for a surprise lol