Thank you, Paige, for doing a wonderful job editing! Any mistakes are my own!

"You told me, I see you rise

But, it always falls

I see you come, I see you go

You say, 'All things pass into the night'

And I say, 'Oh no sir, I must say you're wrong

I must disagree, oh no sir, I must say you're wrong'

Won't you listen to me?"

-Q Lazzarus-

BPOV:

For the past few days I've allowed myself to enjoy the simplicity of a normal, everyday life. I've ignored the television, not wanting to see my face on a trailer for the movie, and have pretty much cut social media out of my life. I've just wanted to disappear for a second and focus on relaxation. I've talked to my parents, a few friends, and the people who were in my life before the 'fame'. I want to make sure I stay humble and grounded, especially considering I don't know what the future holds and I don't know how long my success will truly last.

I'm happy to have this bit of normalcy in my life. After the wild ride of premieres, interviews, and magazine covers, I love being able to relax with a cup of tea and read, or perform mundane tasks like doing my laundry. While the past few days have provided me with the relaxation I've so desperately needed, I'm already itching to find more work. There's this part of me that fears if I don't push myself while I'm still riding the waves of success, then I'll be doing myself a giant disservice and I might never star in a successful movie again. As much as I enjoy some time by myself, I truly love to work. I've looked into getting an agent so I can do this the right way. Despite my success so far, I have no idea what I'm doing and I don't know how I would fair going to random auditions without representation.

There are a few roles which seem promising. One film is another horror movie set to shoot in two months. The other is a drama that's looking for a lead actress which happens to fit my description. Both of the auditions are set for later this week and I've been practicing my lines over the past few days. The small glimpse I've had at both scripts seems promising, and I hope my current success in Hollywood helps me land another role.

Edward has called once and sent me a few texts, and while I've responded, I've kept it brief and haven't tried to be conversational at all. Maybe one day soon, when I manage to gain control of my feelings toward him, I'll be able to give him more than a few words as a response. I wonder if he's realized that I'm trying to put some distance between us? I doubt that a man like him, with so much going on in his life, would even notice I'm barely taking the time to text him back. I don't want him to hurt, I just want to protect myself. Maybe this makes me a bad person, but I can't do what doesn't feel right for me.

I look at his last text, reading it for the tenth time before setting my phone back on my lap. "There's a few directors I know who are interested in working with you already. Maybe you can join me for a drink with them sometime soon? Let me know what time works best with your schedule." I appreciate that Edward's reaching out, but it only makes me feel even more guilty for ignoring him the way I am. I haven't responded yet, but perhaps I will tonight once I decide how well I'll cope with seeing him again so soon.

Sighing, I leave my phone on the couch and head to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. My answering machine is flashing at me, and I wonder if it's my mom calling again. She saw my movie for the first time earlier today, and I've been too afraid to listen to her reaction. I know part of her will be proud of me, but another part will be horrified to see her daughter running around naked on screen for the world to see. Hesitantly, I play the message while I look for my favorite tea cup.

"Wow, Bella. That movie was definitely different. You did a wonderful job, of course, but you never told me you were working on a horror movie, sweetheart. Although I didn't need to see that much of you, I'm so impressed. You transformed into a different person entirely, I could barely recognize you."

I smile, happy she isn't railing me for showing my tits too much in my very first role. I riffle through my cabinets, reaching around to find my favorite lime green tea cup with lily of the valley on it. It used to belong to my grandmother and it's been one of my most prized possessions since she passed away. Every time I drink out of it, I always feel as though she's with me.

"I would love to come down and visit you, baby." The message continues. "Your dad is really busy with work, but I'm sure he would make an exception for you. He hasn't seen the film yet by the way. He was called into work today, so I went ahead and saw it alone. Sweetheart, to be honest, I don't know how he's going to handle it. No father wants to see their little girl in that way. It's up to you, Bella. If you want him to watch it, I'll get him to the theater. But if you would rather he didn't… well, let's just say it would save us both a lot of grief. You know how your father is. Call me back, Bella. I've been missing your voice. Love you!"

My mom's right, I couldn't stomach the thought of my very conservative, no sex before marriage, dad seeing me naked on screen. Maybe I'll just tell him about the movie and he can watch one of my next films, one with much less nudity, assuming I have a next film to see.

I let out an exasperated sigh and bite my lip in frustration as I try to reach the top shelf of my cabinet to see if I placed the cup up there for some reason. My friend Alice was house sitting for me while I was traveling from city to city on our press tour, but she isn't tall enough to reach the top shelf of this cabinet. Hell, she's barely tall enough to reach the cabinet at all, and it's not like she would be messing with my things. All she did while house sitting was bring in my mail and water my plants. After a few minutes of searching to no avail, I give up, settling on the first mug I can find. As I pop a K-cup of English Breakfast Tea into my Keurig, I assure myself that the tea cup will turn up sooner or later. I've been so exhausted lately, I could have easily misplaced it.

As I settle on my couch with my piping hot tea in hand, I glance at my phone and notice I've received a message from Emmett. I grin, I've been so wrapped up with finding some normalcy in my life that I've forgotten how much I've missed him. I quickly unlock my phone to read his text.

"Hey you want to grab a drink tonight? I'll buy the first round."

He's as gregarious and friendly as ever. I consider it for a moment, thinking perhaps a night out will be good for me, and everything is so easy with a guy like Emmett. I can hang out with him with no expectations of sex or a relationship looming over my head. That's one reason I've been avoiding Edward. I know if we're near each other things would without a doubt turn physical, and I couldn't deal with that right now. As amazing as it would be while it's happening, I know I would regret it the very next day. I quickly text back that I'm down to grab a drink, before finishing up my tea and heading to my closet to find a decent outfit for a night out with a friend.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Bella!" Emmett hollers over the large crowd looming around the bar.

I'm surprised this many people are out on a Tuesday night. I guess I've been a loner in the past, because I never went out during the week. I found it wasn't the best way for me to wind down after working all day. Besides, I got enough of the large crowds that came with working at a popular restaurant in LA. After waiting tables all day, the last thing I wanted to do was go to a bar, only to be surrounded by another mob of people.

"Hey!" I holler back, not sounding quite as enthusiastic as he did. I suppose after a drink or two I'll start feeling more social.

Emmett moves his coat off the bar stool he was saving for me and gestures for me to sit down as he orders me a drink. It's then I notice the swarm of girls around him and smile. I don't know why he even bothered to call me, it seems like he'd have a more productive night if he was all on his own. Emmett doesn't seem to notice all the women who are blatantly interested in him. I snort at how obtuse he can be when it comes to women finding him desirable.

We fall into an easy conversation over drinks and I'm appreciative of Emmett's ability to get my mind off of things. He talks about his plans to work on the set of a comedy scheduled to come out this summer and I tell him about the few scripts I've looked over. A few drinks into our time together, Emmett receives a text from Edward asking him what he's up to tonight.

"Want me to ask him to join us?" Emmett inquires politely.

As awkward as it is, I shake my head. "I'm sort of… taking a break from Edward. Do you mind if we keep it just us tonight?"

Emmett is hesitant, but he nods and quickly texts Edward back. "I've got to ask, and if it makes you uncomfortable answering you don't have to, but there was something going on between you and Edward, wasn't there? I got those vibes while we were filming, but I didn't want to bring anything up, just in case I was wrong."

I take a long chug of my gin and tonic, before flagging the bartender down to order another. I need that liquid courage if I'm going to explain to him what happened. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I was sleeping with our director. It seems like such a cliché thing to do. As soon as I receive my fresh drink, I take a nice long gulp before answering him.

"It wasn't going on the entire time," I say as I twirl my mixer around my drink as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. "We began our 'relationship', if you could call it that, while we still had a few weeks left of filming. It wasn't anything too serious, just a way to let off steam after a long day of work. It wasn't meant to last forever…"

"So, you broke things off with him?"

"Well, I just think we needed some distance. And I've just been really busy preparing for my next role," I say, and even I can hear how unconvincing it sounds.

Emmett gives me a dubious look before asking, "So, you two are just friends now?"

"I hope so," I say weakly.

"Does he know that you're avoiding him?" Emmett questions. God, I wish he could just let this go. I don't want to talk about Edward right now.

"I assume so," I say with a shrug. "I'm sure he's really busy now anyway. With the way things have been going for him, I doubt he has much time to dwell on me."

Emmett looks as if he wants to say something, but doesn't. He orders us another round of drinks and we move the conversation to something less painful. However, after hearing Edward's name, it felt like it just hung there in the air around me, making it impossible for me to think of anything other than him. This only makes me drink more, feeling guilty for leaving him the way I did. I hated walking away the way I did, but it felt so necessary. If either of us let our relationship get in the way of our aspirations, we would have just grown apart or ended up resenting each other.

Two hours and eleven drinks later, Emmett is setting up an Uber to take us home. As much as I don't want to leave my car behind, I also know I can barely walk, let alone drive. Emmett seems to be holding his liquor much better than me. I'm sure being over six feet tall and two hundred and fifty pounds has its benefits. The cameras that flash in my face as soon as I step out of the bar makes me want to hurl. The bright lights and screams in my direction are a shock to my senses and I feel my body shutting down, just as Emmett grabs me and helps me to our car.

"God, that was crazy," Emmett says with an exhilarated laugh. "You're famous now, Bells!"

I would smile at him, if I wasn't so busy trying desperately not to get sick in the backseat of the driver's car. Emmett rubs circles on my back, as he gives directions to the driver. Luckily, my apartment isn't too far from the club, so I don't have to endure driving down the bumpy streets for long. As soon as we're parked outside my building, Emmett tells the driver to wait while he helps me get inside. It's times like these I wish I didn't have a third floor apartment, because walking up or down stairs while inebriated has never been my greatest strength.

"Come on, Bella," Emmett chuckles as he helps me up the stairs, "We're almost there."

After a few minutes of awkwardly stumbling around, we finally reach my apartment. I begin to drunkenly dig through my purse to find my keys. Geez, Bella! Why do you insist on having so much crap in your bag? Emmett emits an exaggerated sigh as he watches me sift through my bag. I roll my eyes at him, and smile when I finally feel my keys sitting in the bottom of my purse. It takes me a few tries, but I finally manage to slide the key into the keyhole to unlock my door, only to find my door was already unlocked after all of my trouble. Shit, that was careless. Now that I'm a 'celebrity' of sorts, I can't just go around leaving my apartment door unlocked.

"Do you mind checking my apartment?" I slur, slouching against the doorframe. "I guess I left my door unlocked."

Emmett gives me a stern frown, reminding me a lot of my father for a split second, before nodding his head and helping me inside. I watch him as he walks around the apartment, checking behind every door before coming back to me with a lazy grin.

"It looks fine to me."

I nod my head, seeming unconvinced, and insist on looking for myself before he leaves. Drinking always makes me paranoid, but it's not just that. I'm still shaken up from that hotel stalker. Thankfully, I haven't heard from them since, but it frightens me to know that this creep is out there somewhere thinking about me...

I stumble from room to room, looking behind any spot someone would be able to hide. I feel like a paranoid lunatic for doing so, but I won't feel safe until I check every possible place. Resembling my obsessive-compulsive mother acting solely on her impulses, I check every single spot someone could be hiding. I yank open each door like a Band-Aid, with my heart feeling like it's going to burst in my check every time. Finally, I reach the closet door in my bedroom. This door gives me the most anxiety for some reason. Maybe it's all the nightmares I had as a little girl… always imagining there was a monster lurking in my closet. I close my eyes and yank it open and I open my eyes to see nothing but clothes. I push them aside to gaze behind them, only to find that white wall that is covered with various shadows. I close the door and take a final look around my room. My attention turns to my bed and I feel even more childish, as I walk to my bed and drop to my knees, looking underneath it as if I were expecting Freddy Krueger.

"Is everything good in here, Bella?" Emmett's voice booms, causing me to gasp in surprise.

I take a moment to pull myself off the ground, before snapping at him, "You scared the shit out of me, Emmett."

Emmett chuckles, apparently finding my distress over nothing funny. I suppose I do look foolish, checking my entire house for some sort of monster, but I just can't help it. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

"Sorry, Bells. I didn't mean to scare you, honest. Is it cool if I head out? My Uber's still parked outside."

I reluctantly nod, knowing that I can't ask him to stay just because I'm drunk, anxious and extremely paranoid. "Of course. Thanks for inviting me tonight. I had a great time," I slur with a small smile.

"Of course." He winks. "Let's hang out again soon."

I nod and walk him to the door, making sure to lock up behind him. I lean against the door and sigh, giggling at how easily frightened I am about the smallest things. My eyes scan my apartment, looking for signs of anyone else having been here, and coming up short. Bella, everything's all right. No one's after you, so relax. Perhaps that gift was just a practical joke. I snort at my silliness and stumble to bed, not bothering to get ready, but instead just stripping and getting under my covers.

I startle awake. My head is throbbing and I quickly jump out of bed and run to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before I puke. My heart is racing as I lay my head against the toilet seat, feeling as though I'll soon be sick again. I had the strangest dream. I couldn't see Edward in the dream, but I could feel his presence and whatever we were doing together, I was extremely happy. I remember bright skies and the warm air as it caressed my skin. I remember Edward saying something to me before everything got dark and the air became very cold. I felt hysterical, I began to run towards Edward's voice in my dream but I could never reach him. He was always close enough to feel his aura, but just out of my grasp. Then I heard another, more sinister, voice that beckoned me to come toward it. Horror overcame me and I frantically looked for Edward. Then I felt fingers running softly through my hair, before I finally woke up. Tears burn my eyes because it all felt so real. I wanted Edward so desperately and yet, I couldn't find him. A tear trails down my face as I throw up once more.

A/N: Now that I finished "Chicago" I'll be back to updating this story full time! Yay!

I'll have a teaser for the next chapter posted in my group.

Song- "Goodbye Horses" by Q Lazzarus

**Fun Horror Movie Fact- Part of the reason The Blair Witch Project breathed such rarified air of Indy film success was because the marketing campaign for its release was ingenious. In 1999 found footage was relatively unknown as a filming technique. Several weeks prior to the release, missing person posters with pictures of the film's protagonists were posted in and around student unions. If people got curious and wished to investigate online, they would find the Blair Witch Project website, complete with interviews and faked police reports of missing individuals. You can visit the website .com**