BPOV

Edward and I were sitting in his Volvo, with Alice in her car and Charlie and Renee in my truck not far behind us, on our way to Seattle. I'd originally decided that Edward would stay in Forks when I left to move in, but he suggested that he could be of some help with the whole process, and he was right. There were exactly four boxes that fit perfectly in the back of the Volvo. Plus, it was about eight more hours that I wouldn't be missing him.

I could tell that he sensed my mood, because he reached over the console and grabbed my hand, stroking the outside of it with his thumb. "It will be September first before you know it," he reassured me.

"I know," I said simply and gave him a small smile. I wasn't sure if it fooled him, but as soon as he looked into my eyes, his eyes seemed to soften and he took our interlaced fingers and kissed my knuckles. My heart ached a little as he did this, because I knew it would be too long before I would see or feel him do it again.

When we finally arrived at my apartment in Seattle, Edward's mouth fell open. "Bella, this is your building?" he asked me.

"Um…yes?" I replied, confused as to why he was asking me when he'd never even seen the place. "Why?"

"This is my building," he said in a tone that sounded like a mixture between shock and exultance. When I first heard his words, I was unsure about how I felt about Edward and I living in the same building. I wasn't sure how it would work, but I did have an entire month to think about it. Then my uncertainties disappeared when I saw Edward's smile as I turned to face him. Suddenly the idea of living so closely to him was very appealing.

A huge smile spread across my face. "Seriously? We're moving in to the same building?"

"So it seems," Edward said with a laugh. I joined him as he leaned in to kiss me softly.

We all moved my stuff in as quickly as we possibly could, which both relieved and worried me. I was in no hurry for this day to be over with, I didn't know how I was going to survive an entire month without Edward. School started in two weeks, and until then, I didn't even have a job to occupy my thoughts. Thank god Alice was staying with me until I went back to UW, otherwise I wasn't sure I could do this without Edward. Then I remembered how close we would be, every day, and all of my worries nearly dissipated.

Once everything was finally inside, of course Alice insisted that we start unpacking right away. I was relieved when Edward was also eager to help, giving me more time with him. We got a decent amount of all my things unpacked, my bedroom was mostly put together, which I was happy about, and the living room was still waiting for my new couch and a coffee table to be delivered. Alice and Renee had helped me pick out stuff for the kitchen, and Charlie had made sure that the refrigerator would be delivered today, along with the rest of the furniture for the living room.

Renee and Charlie left around three, leaving me alone with Alice and Edward. We were unpacking dishes in the kitchen when my stomach decided to tell everyone in the room that it wanted to be fed.

Edward laughed. "Are you hungry babe?" he asked me. it kind of sounded dirty for a second, but I quickly shook my head, in attempt not to torture myself further, and then nodded.

"Yeah, do you guys want to get Chinese or something?" I began. "Give us a chance to see what places are good around here," I said with a laugh.

"You know I saw a Chinese menu on the floor by the doorway, someone must have come by knowing that Bella moved in," Alice said with a small giggle. I turned to glare at her, but I knew she was right. I did love my Chinese food.

Once we finished what we could of the food, we settled down on my brand new, and fucking comfortable, new couch to watch an episode of The Big Bang Theory. Edward and I laughed the entire time, while Alice stared at us like we were crazy. That was another thing I loved about spending time with him, we had nearly identical senses of humor. Most of the apartment had been unpacked, but there were still boxes everywhere, and I still wanted to unpack more in my bedroom. Edward followed me, leaving Alice to talk to Jasper.

Edward and I were making up my new bed as we were listening to my iPod, which had been the first thing I'd hooked up in there. "I can't wait until the next time you're with me in here," I said with a nervous laugh. I never understood why I opened my mouth half the time, but it was still the truth.

"Neither can I, Bella, neither can I," he told me as we both sat down on the bed. I really wished that Alice wasn't in the next room. Edward took me into his arms and we laid there listening to the music. "What is this?" he asked me, referring to the song that was playing.

I smiled. "It's Keane. 'Somewhere Only We Know.' You don't know it?" I asked as I yawned.

"Actually I don't, but I like it," he said as I felt his lips on my hair. I inhaled his sweet scent and then everything was gone. I drifted into the most relaxing sleep I'd ever had.

The next thing I knew, the sun was shining in my eyes and I felt someone stroking my hair. Edward. I stretched my body and gripped his tightly. "You fell asleep here," I said in a sleepy voice, and not being able to hide the smile that this thought brought me.

He chuckled beneath me and the bed shook gently. "Yes, I did. You fell asleep and I didn't want to wake you, and I couldn't leave without saying goodbye." I pouted to myself and buried my face in his chest. We sat like that until we heard someone stumbling around in the living room, Alice.

Edward chuckled. "I guess I better be going soon," he said with sadness dripping from his voice.

I squeezed him tighter. "Coffee first," I said. Anything to get him to stay here for five more minutes.

"Coffee first," he repeated. We got out of bed and found Alice had already started a pot, like she needed any caffeine.

"Morning!" she said, sounding chipper as a bird.

"Morning Al," I said. "How's that pull out couch?"

"Pretty damned comfortable, actually." Edward let go of my waist and headed into the cabinet to get three mugs for our coffee.

Once we all enjoyed some coffee, and some eggs that I insisted Edward eat before he headed back to Forks, Alice left the two of us alone to say our goodbyes. Once we reached the door, Edward pulled me into his arms.

"I'm going to miss you," I said simply.

"I'm going to miss you more," he challenged. I hugged him tighter. I never wanted to let go of him; I wanted to keep him here in my arms. I inhaled his perfect, sweet scent deeply. If I couldn't keep him here, then I at least wanted to have his scent bottled up for frequent use. He pulled my body back from his slightly so he could kiss me. It was gentle at first but then it started to build, and soon our tongues were moving against each other. I never wanted this moment to end. I gripped his hair, hoping that I could force him to stay. When I needed to breathe, I reluctantly pulled away.

He gazed into my eyes as he place his hand on my face and stroked my cheek with his thumb. "Goodbye Bella," he said.

"Goodbye, Edward," I replied. It felt like we were parting forever with the solemn vibe he was emanating from himself. He walked out the door after our brief words and I already felt lost. Why was he acting as if I would never see him again?

I turned around and swung the door open. Edward was still walking down the hallway and I ran after him. I ran into his arms and threw my arms around his neck. "One month, right?" I asked, as I stroked the nape of his neck, tears almost spilling over my eyes. Doubt filled my voice and I was afraid that he wouldn't want me a month from now.

The look in his eyes was a mixture of shock and sadness. His expression softened and he cupped my face in both of his hands. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, they were shining with happiness and he was smiling. "It couldn't be here soon enough, Bella," he said simply as if he knew that I needed reassurance. He kissed me softly, and then we both pulled away from each other, keeping contact for as long as possible until we had to release our hands as he walked away. We were smiling at each other as he turned away, and I stood in the hallway until he got into the elevator. I still felt a little bit lost without him, but my mood was now hopeful. It was going to be a long month.

EPOV

My heart almost broke when Bella came running to me in the hallway. I could see in her eyes that she doubted what I was feeling, but leaving the woman you love for an entire month doesn't exactly call for a cheerful demeanor. I couldn't pretend that the situation was okay with me, but the second I saw her expression, the hurt and doubt in her eyes, that was one thing I could pretend for.

The drive home was lonely, but I knew that I would be keeping myself busy at the hospital for the next two weeks; I was taking the last two to make sure I had everything packed up for the move.

That night I sat in bed listening to 'Sky' by Joshua Radin, and immediately thought of the way Bella had thought I doubted our relationship. If she only knew how I was really feeling. Then why don't you tell her, you moron? I knew I couldn't tell Bella that I was in love with her, she'd just gotten out of a bad relationship and I didn't want to scare her off.

The first week was the most lonely. I spent a lot of it in the hospital, trying to keep my thoughts occupied. Bella and I talked on the phone every night, and whenever we had free time during the day. After that first week was when we were both starting to feel the effects of being apart.

"Hello?" Bella answered Friday night, which was exactly one week after I'd left her in Seattle. She was yawning as she spoke.

"Hey beautiful. You sound tired, everything alright?" I asked.

"Yeah, I am. Alice has been wearing me out trying to get everything organized out here, plus dragging me shopping to pick up things that I really don't need. And I haven't really slept that well this week," she told me. "I can't wait for school to start so I'm not being towed around stores everyday," she said with a sleepy laugh. I really wanted to talk to her, but I didn't want to keep her awake.

"Babe are you sure you're awake? You sound like you could pass out any second," I told her with a nervous laugh, I was praying I could hear her voice for just a few minutes tonight.

"I'm fine, really. I want to hear your voice, I miss you."

If I was being honest, I was dead tired. I hadn't slept quite the same since the night I fell asleep with Bella on her bed. Every time I fell asleep alone, without her in my arms, I felt cold and alone. The night she slept in my arms was the happiest, most well rested I'd ever felt. "I miss you too, Bella," I said with a sigh; three more weeks until I could hold her again.

We talked about what she and Alice had been doing in preparation for Alice's departure to New York, and it involved a lot of shopping, which Bella wasn't too fond of. I briefly wondered what Jasper was going to do about Alice moving to the other side of the country. I would have to ask him.

"I have an interview at a school in the city next week," she told me. I could tell she was ready for sleep.

"That's great baby. I think you should get some sleep. You sound so tired," I told her, regret seeping into my voice. I really didn't want to say goodbye to her.

"I think you're right. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I miss you."

"I'll call you. I miss you too." I love you. We hung up and I headed to my cold, empty bed.

On Wednesday I finally got the chance to talk to Jazz, he stopped by the house. "Hey man," I said to him as he walked into the house and l led him up to my room where I'd been packing.

"Well, you're making progress, I see," he said with a chuckle. Most of my room had already been packed, because I was so eager to get back to Bella.

"Jazz, what are you going to do when Alice goes to New York?"

"Honestly, Edward I have no idea. We haven't really talked about it. There's no way I can let her go though," he said, his voice sounding poignant.

"Have you told her you love her?" I asked. I was curious, Jazz always seemed to sense what others were feeling, so he probably knew if Alice loved him back.

He shook his head. "What about you and Bella?"

"I know how I feel about her, but I knew she just got out of a bad relationship with that asshole Jacob, so I don't want to scare her off," I told him honestly.

"You should wait. Alice told me some about what happened with her and that Jake guy, and it sounds like you shouldn't rush her." Well that was all the reassurance I needed.

"Thanks Jazz."

After my last day at the hospital, the days got longer, and my phone calls with Bella got shorter. She started school and barely had enough time to tie her shoes. Honestly, most of my time was spent wallowing. It was sad, but Bella was all I could think about. I did everything that reminded me of her. Ate pizza, listened to The Weepies, and I went to the little meadow that Bella had shown me practically every day. Sometimes I even did all three of those things at once.

The night before I went to Seattle, I went online and searched for places for Bella and I to have dinner. I wanted it to be sweet and romantic, because that's what my girl deserved. Finally I found a small Italian place that was supposed to be pretty intimate, and if it turned out to be nothing like the site said, at least we would have the memory of laughing about it. Plus, we would have the after part of the date, which I hoped with everything would go as I planned. Since Bella and I hadn't had sex, we were both pretty much equivalent to a couple of sexually frustrated teenagers. I couldn't wait for her anymore, and I hoped she felt the same way, which I was pretty sure she did considering her behavior the last couple of weeks before she moved to Seattle.

I called her to let her know we had reservations. "It's a small Italian place I found," I told her after she'd insisted I tell her where we were going. "It's supposed to be pretty nice, but that was only according to the website," I said with a laugh.

"Edward, honestly, I don't care where we are. I just want you," she told me, sounding serious.

"I want you too, Bella. You have no idea how much."

"How about right now?" she asked. I was shocked for a second. What was she talking about?

"What?" I asked. She was silent. "Bella?"

"Ever had phone sex, Edward?" My eyes bugged out of my head, and I spat out the coffee I had been drinking. Was she serious? I must have been quiet for a while, because the next thing I knew Bella was saying my name again. I could feel the pressure start to build in my jeans, just at Bella's mention of phone sex.

"Edward?"

"Yes?" I squeaked.

"I was only kidding," she said as she began to laugh. I joined her.

"Don't tease me like that baby," I told her. "I can't wait to see you tomorrow."

"I feel the same way. I really should get back to work, though."

"Goodnight, Bella. Until tomorrow."

BPOV

After Edward left, Alice of course wanted to drag me out shopping for new things that I really didn't need. I consented and went into my room to get changed. I turned on my Joshua Radin playlist and started getting dressed as 'Sky' began to fill the room. It briefly reminded me of how I'd reacted to Edward as he was telling me goodbye, and I realized that I was being irrational. Of course he wanted me, otherwise he wouldn't have stayed with me. Right?

Every day the next week, Alice was coming up with some ridiculous thing to buy for my apartment. Damn that pull out couch for being comfortable and not wearing out the little pixie. By the end of the week, my apartment was completely unpacked furnished, and then some. Thank god I had her with me, otherwise I would have spent the entire month alone wallowing without Edward. We talked on the phone every chance we got, but it still didn't seem like enough.

One afternoon while Alice and I sat in a small café, which had excellent coffee and I made a mental note to take Edward here, I asked Alice what she and Jasper were going to do when she goes to New York.

"I don't know Bella. We never really talked about it. I think I'm avoiding the subject, because I just feel so happy with him, I don't want to make it real," she said, it was one of the few times in my life that I'd seen Alice upset.

"It's alright, Al. Everything will work out, I promise," I said as I reached over the table and put my hand on hers to show her my support.

"Thanks Bella. I hope you're right."

"I know you, Alice. I can see how you feel about him. You should tell him how you feel," I told her honestly.

"Thanks, Bell. What about you and Edward?" I knew that Edward and I weren't ready to discuss how we felt about each other. I didn't even know how I really felt about him. I hardly knew him, and yet it seemed like I'd known him forever.

"I don't know. I mean, I know we started dating around the same time as you and Jazz, but…" I paused for a moment, trying to think about how to phrase my feelings. "I don't want to over analyze it. I did enough of that with Jacob, blaming myself, wondering what I did wrong, figuring out that I didn't do anything wrong. It was so hard and I want to just…be with Edward. No bullshit."

"I understand," she told me as she squeezed the hand that was holding hers.

When school started, it was time for Alice to leave. We'd never been separated for so long, or by such a far distance, but we would never let any amount of time or land weaken our friendship.

It took us about an hour to finally say goodbye, but we managed it. I was lost after she left. I still had two more weeks until Edward came back, but school would hopefully keep my mind occupied.

School completely absorbed all of my time, and all of my thoughts except Edward. I had no time for anything I was so busy, and I was both thankful and tired. I hadn't slept as well as I had the night I fell asleep in Edward's arms. With his arms around me as I slept, I felt like I was being protected by a blanket that would never let any harm come to me. It was wonderful, and I longed to feel it again. Without him sleeping next to me, my bed felt desolate, and I felt unsheltered.

I'd gone for an interview at a high school in the city, through UW, and I was so nervous, new English teachers weren't exactly a rare commodity. I was still waiting to hear back from them, and probably wouldn't for a while. Hopefully Edward would be back with me when I finally did, I would need him for support if I needed to keep searching for a job. I would have to start night classes if I did find a teaching job, but I needed it, and would welcome it with open arms.

Every hour of the next two weeks, despite how busy I was, felt like a lifetime. I needed Edward. Alice had already taken me out to look for something to wear for the date I had with Edward the night he came to Seattle. I swear she was psychic. It was black, and it had a sleeveless satin bust, with a chiffon skirt that flowed down to just above my knee. The cleavage was modest, and I thanked Alice for that, but the back of the dress was almost completely open. I agreed to the black pumps, because apparently the dress and the shoes were a match made in heaven. I just shrugged Alice off on that one. The only real reason I even agreed to the heels, which I referred to as death traps, was because I was desperate to seduce Edward. I figured I would need all the help I could get.

I was so relieved when August 31st finally came. That night I shyly joked to Edward about having phone sex, and I'm pretty sure I nearly gave him a heart attack because after about three minutes of silence, I had to call his name to see if he was listening. When he finally answered me, his voice was no higher than a whisper. I gave myself a pat on the back for having such an effect on him.

I barely slept the night before Edward got to town because I was so anxious to see him. I had classes until three, so I was hoping that I would find him moving all of his stuff in when I got back.

Sure enough, when I walked into the building, I spotted Emmett moving some boxes into the elevator. I ran to him before the doors closed. "Hey Em!" I said as I hopped into the elevator.

"Bella!" he said as he gave me a hug. I hadn't gotten the chance to know Emmet very well while I was in Forks, but I liked him. He was like a giant teddy bear that you could just hug the shit out of all day long. He released me and I waited impatiently for the elevator to reach Edward's floor.

As soon as the doors opened, I ran out of the elevator and to Edward's door. I knocked, figuring I would surprise him. When he answered the door, an enormous smile spread across his face, and I'm pretty sure I did the same. He quickly closed the distance between our bodies. We wrapped our arms around each other as he buried his face in my neck, and I inhaled his sweet honey scent.

"Bella," he sighed into my neck, and I was home.