Yes people, I am updating. Stop acting so surprised! You, person points finger at reader stop foaming at the mouth. Has it really been that long? Don't answer that. Anyway, yes it is finally out. Sorry for the delay. Ok, enough mindless musings.

Here's the chapter.

There is a surprise in the author's note at the bottom, read that after you read this.

Yes, I do know that it is extremely short, I am sorry, but if you wanted this tonight, than this was the best I could do. Once again, sorry.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

"Ron, excuse me, Ronald Compton, is...was my best friend, we grew up together, it hurt so much when my parents told me that he was leaving, because I would have to leave Ron, Ronald, sorry." So this Ron definitely means something to her. My only hope was replaced with anguish, Bella obviously...loved him.

But I loved her, even now, even more so now. I would try to comfort her. "Go on. What happened?" I tried to keep my voice soft, my eyes gentle.

She seemed startled the way I was acting. From the way her dark eyes looked up at me through her tears, startled, as if she expected me to act angry, rough, or just simply despicable. That trouble me, that she expected so little of me. Even so, she seemed to be a little more comfortable, not relaxed, but less rigid with me than before.

She started to speak again, and as the thoughts came back to her she started sobbing again. "He...he...was in the...war. He said that he didn't want to leave his family, he didn't want to leave me. But he had turned 21, the Draft took him." The Draft. Every male had to go into the war once turned 21, it had started during 1917; it was always one of the main worries of my mother, that the war wouldn't finish by the time I was 21. I was 17, soon to be a man, I had 4 years left where the war would hopefully end. I could still see it in my mother's eyes though, sometimes when she looked at me, my little intuition came into play and I imagined a grave with my name on it, my mother standing before it.

Lost in thought as I was, I barely noticed when Bella continued with her story. "He was killed last month. A bombshell. I just still think of what was going on in my life during his final hours, when I was laughing with Stasya, he was breathing his last breathe. I feel guilty, Edward, I feel guilty that I should have been so happy and he was dying." She only felt guilty? Could it only be guilt? But she continued, shattering the faint hope that I hadn't even realized was rising in my chest.

"But it's not just the guilt. I miss him so much, I miss how we would talk, how he would tease me, how his big laugh would rumble around the room for minutes. I just can't stop the memories. Happy times as children, laughing, playing, joking. He was my best friend, and now he's...gone.." On that last word her voice shook, throbbing with emotion, her own pain.

"I am heartily sorry for your loss. If there is anything I can do, I will gladly do it. You must really be in a lot of grief, Bella." My voice was formal, but I meant what I said, I would try to help her any way that I could. I didn't like it that my voice was becoming stiff, formal, but it was my own subconscious way to lessen the pain. You could hide anything behind manners.

"No, thank you Edward. I will be alright." Her voice betrayed her, she would never be alright.

"I am sorry, that I had been so rude earlier. I just had no idea that you could be...sincere. Stasya had told me so much about...you. I really am sorry. I misjudged you." She was apologizing? Did she mean it? Was this my second chance?

"No, I am sorry. Stasya was absolutely right about me. I should have been more open to people, not so solitary. Don't blame Stasya for any of this, but if you could, tell her I am sorry, I don't think she would rather talk to me right now." There was a spark of laughter on her face, an upturned corner of her beautiful, full lips, a tiny sparkle in her eye, but that was soon covered up again by sadness.

"I will. But I really am sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry at all, my fault entirely, I have resolved to do better, I want to be a good person, it's simply a tad complicated.

That remark got an actual giggle from her. I rejoiced! At least we seemed to be friends now, it was promising, at least I would be near her.

"I can't imagine what Aunt Nettie feels though. She must be devastated." Her words brought the laughter from her eyes again.

"Why would your aunt feel more pain than you? He was your best friend." What was this?

She looked up at me in surprise, than in mortification as her pale cheeks were flooded with a beautiful crimson blush. "Oh! No, no, never! Edward, I think you were under the false impression that I was in love with my...cousin."

Ha! Sorry guys but your reviews were priceless! Bella's crush! Oh wow.

Anyway, yes, on to the surprise. I ask you readers? What is this story about? You readers automatically say about how Edward and Bella find each other in 1918. Well, that isn't all of it. This story is also about drimroll JAMES! As in the actual James, THE JAMES! Yes, Edward's friend is THE JAMES! But I won't be able to really get to him in this story.