I Won't Give Up
When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well there's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?
I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find
'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up
I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use the tools and gifts
We got yeah we got a lot at stake
And in the end,
You're still my friend at least we didn't tend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn, how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I got, and what I'm not
And who I am
I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
I'm still looking up
I won't give up on us
God knows I'm tough, he knows
We got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up...
Justin Mraz
Chapter 12
Bella POV
I stood by the door, staring at the nameplate that Edward nailed to the door when we first moved in together.
Bella & Edward.
I read the names over and over. I just couldn't bring myself to walk into the house that held so many memories of the past Edward and I once shared. We should have been forever. This house should have held the promise of a loving and bright future; instead all it held was broken hearts. I took a deep breath and prepared myself to go in so that I could get rid of everything that would remind Edward of me. I slowly walked through the door of the house and took a look around the small but comfortable home. Walking into the living room, my gaze immediately fell to the couch from my old apartment. Edward and I both loved that couch and when we decided to move in together, we decided to hold onto it. We had good times and bad times on that black leather couch. I wandered over to the couch and sat down on it, immediately assaulted by memories of the first fight Edward and I ever had.
Edward and I were cuddling on the couch in my apartment living room. His hands massaged my scalp and I sighed in contentment.
"Bella, do you see a future with me?" he asked, suddenly turning to face me. His emerald eyes trapped me in place. In hindsight this was a reasonable question; we had been together for a year and a couple of months.
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"I mean do you see us together five, maybe ten years from now?"
"I…I don't know Edward."
"Can you see us married, or with a child? Or am I just a short-term thing?"
"What do you want from me Edward?" I said. "I don't know, I'm not a freaking fortune-teller!"
I was panicking. I didn't want to get married and it seemed as if our conversation was heading in that direction.
Edward got up off the couch and turned to face me. "Why are you getting so upset? I just asked you a question."
"Can't we just live in the now? Do we have to talk about the future?" I asked, sitting up angrily to defend myself.
"That's what adults do Bella. We plan and talk about the future with our partners."
"Do not patronize me Edward. I don't want to talk about it. Marriage is just a piece of paper; it doesn't mean a damn thing."
"Marriage isn't just a piece of paper Bella. It's a lasting commitment between two people; it tells the world that we belong to each other."
"I belong to you already Edward, a piece of paper doesn't change that. Getting married shouldn't matter."
"It matters Bella. Getting married matters to me."
"Getting married doesn't stop us from breaking up, it doesn't stop you from cheating on me or vice versa, it doesn't mean that we won't fall out of love. It's just a worthless piece of paper."
Edward stared at me, probably seeing me in a new light. We had never fought before and for marriage to be the subject of our first fight was just unbelievable.
"I think I should go," he said finally, removing his gaze from mine. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"So that's it? You're just going to leave because I don't agree with your views on marriage! Seriously?" I asked in disbelief.
"No Bella," he shook his head. "I'm leaving because we're both getting far too emotional to talk about this subject rationally and I don't want either of us to say something we'll regret later. I love you. I'll call you tomorrow."
He reaffirmed this while grabbing his coat and walking out the door. I sat on the couch with my head in my hands wondering how I'd let him walk out of the door. I heard the engine of his car start-up and ran outside.
"Edward!" I called out.
He looked at me through the windshield for a moment and then got out of the car. I ran up to him and hugged him with all of my might.
"I'm so sorry Edward. I just…"
'Don't worry about it, love. We'll figure it all out later."
He kissed me and all previous conversations and thoughts were lost.
I shook myself out of the bittersweet memory as my dead heart clenched itself in pain. Don't dwell Bella, I told myself. You can fall apart after you're finished here. I got off the couch and moved over to the mantle where some pictures of Edward and I sat. I picked up one of them; a shot taken of us at his parent's barbeque, the first day we met. The sun was setting behind us and we appeared to be deep in conversation, neither one of us noticing his mother taking the picture from just a few feet away from us. His hair was longer than it was now and he looked so carefree with his head thrown back laughing at whatever silly thing I'd just said. I ran my finger over his face and wished that I could go back to that wonderful day. It was a nice beginning despite our story's tragic end. I sat the picture back down in its place and decided to start in our bedroom.
Edward POV
I'd been standing stock still in the meadow for what seemed like forever, though was probably five minutes or less in reality, when I heard my cell phone ring. The caller ID said 'Unknown' and I was flooded with hope that maybe it was Bella calling me.
"Bella?" I answered.
"Wrong vampire," a wry, tinkling voice answers.
"Alice. What do you want?" I said exasperated. "Haven't you Cullens done enough?"
"Don't be rude," she scolded. "Now, I know we haven't been properly introduced, but I am going to help you fix this gigantic mess you and Bella just made of your lives. I want you to run back to your house as fast as you can and stop Bella from leaving."
"It's over Alice," I replied miserably.
"You listen to me, Edward Masen! Bella is going to leave town in the next hour. Right now she is at your house getting rid of everything that would remind you of her. You have... maybe twenty minutes if she keeps reminiscing. We have to make this quick if you want to catch her. If we don't hurry then you will be miserable for the rest of you mortal life and Bella won't last a year without you."
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't have time to answer your questions. You can still fix this but you need to hurry. Can you really live without her? Is spending an eternity with the one you love such a bad fate? Edward, you have to make a decision. I know you feel betrayed but I also know that you love Bella with all of your heart and soul. Do you really want to let that kind of love go?" she said hurriedly.
I loved Bella. There was no doubt in my mind about that, but could I love her as a vampire? Could she still love me as a vampire? Was I ready to give up my life and begin anew as a vampire?
"Edward focus, you have to decide. Forget about your pride and her lies; think about how much you love Bella. Think about the life you lived when you thought she was dead. I'm trying to help you both. As of now you only have about ten minutes to get back to the house before she leaves, fifteen if you run really fast."
I couldn't live without her. I couldn't let Bella leave. I loved her and if being a vampire meant I got to spend forever with her then I'd do it. I told Emmett that I would do anything to have Bella back and now I would make good on that promise. I was so distracted by my pain and my feelings of betrayal that I'd forgotten to rejoice and recognize that Bella was indeed alive and I never had to live without her again. I'd make sure we were never apart again.
"Good. Everything will be fine." Alice sighed in relief. "Run, Edward."
I hung up the phone and took off running as fast as my legs could carry me.
Hi Guys, I'm so sorry this is so late. I'm hoping the obviously happy ending will save me from you guys throwing things. This is the last regular chapter. I'm tempted to write my long list of thanks her but I'll save it for the epilogue. I will thank TheTinyDancer for being an amazing Beta and for sticking it out with me. Much love and appreciation to her. I am hoping that anyone who reads this story will drop me a review even if it's just to say you like the chapter. My goal for the end of this story is 100 reviews. Please help me!
