Chapter 12

It was a text from Edward that had put such emotions in my head. It had only been a day, and here he was telling me that he didn't feel the same way and he was still in love with Tanya. My heart ripped. I had wanted so many things through him. But now, it was over. Just like Jacob Black, Edward Mason now held a piece of my heart.

I watched as my world came crashing down around me. Jacob had left me, Edward had left me. Was I destined to lose the people I love for the rest of my life?

I texted him back saying okay. I asked him if we could still be friends. I didn't want to lose him completely, as I had Jacob. He said of course, and that he thought we were good friends. I was glad of that.

I called Alice and told her what had happened. She was very sympathetic.

"I'm sorry, hon." she lamented.

I realized that this was bound to happen. I had just thought, you know, after two months he'd be over her. Guess what, folks. I was wrong.

I texted Edward frequently, of course. After the incident, we didn't talk about who we liked much. I'm pretty sure he knew I still liked him, though. It was less exciting, thats for sure, but it was life.

One day during our night owl conversation, about a week after the incident, he seemed different. He texted way too many smiley faces,and said lol far too often. I was getting rather suspicous...

We had a swim meet that weekend. I was excited! It was going to be held at the King County Aquatic Center. It was a pretty long drive, but a really nice pool.

Edward was staying at a different hotel than I was, but that was okay. It was a championship meet, so I'd see him all day long, what with finals and everything.

Sam, Edward, and I met on the bleachers. We set our stuff down and raced down the stairs to warm up.

"I'm going to beat you, Sam!" I called as he ran ahead.

"Bells, Sam, SLOW DOWN!" bellowed Edward from behind us.

Sam and I were pretty good runners, but Edward was not.

"Hurry up, slow poke!" I laughed.

I was sad that QVD was not going to be at this meet. I would not get to see my beloved Emily! But that meant I would be able to spend more time with Edward.

"Sam," I exclaimed. "Get in the pool!"

I swear, that boy takes absolutely forever to get in the water. Edward and I splashed water on Sam until that kid finally jumped in.

Later on, Sam was trying to play Dr. Phil.

"So I think you two should hug." Sam informed us.

"Maybe you wanna hug Edward." I accused him.

"Maybe I do." Sam looked thoughtful.

"Okay... I really do not want to hug you, Sam." Edward looked uncomfortable.

"Edward!" I cried suddenly.

"Bells!" he mimicked.

"We should arm wrestle!" I exclaimed.

"Okay!" he replied.

So we flopped down on the floor in the arm wrestling position.

He of course won, being a muscular 14 year old swimmer, and I being a scrawny thirteen year old girl swimmer. That was a fact of life.

Sam continued to try and be Dr. Phil throughout the weekend, ending with Edward and I telling him to shut his face now or we'd do it for him. He was a good boy after that.

Edward and I had dinner together Saturday night. That was fun. I, being the carnivore I am, ordered a 14 oz. New York steak. He ordered a burger. A match made in heaven!

On Sunday afternoon, he admitted that he had been texting Jessica a lot. And that she knew something I didn't. Well this of course drove me insane. I badgered him as to what it was. All the way home I asked for hints as to what this thing that Jessie knew was. He gave me a couple clues. One was I'm tripping. What kind of clue is that?

I became so exasperated with him that I told him to tell me or I'd shoot him dead. So he told me.

See at this meet, happiness was constructed. At this meet, no pain followed after, at least not for a while. And I wasn't in blissful oblivion either. This was real. This was perfect.

"I'm in love with you, Bells." was what the text message said.