Author's Note: So this is it... the Epilogue. Don't kill me.

Song that it's named after is "I Hate Christmas Parties" by Relient K.

Epilogue: I Hate Christmas Parties

One Year Later

I hope it snows this week,
A snow flake on your cheek
Would make this Christmas so beautiful.
But that would just bring the pain
Cause things can't stay the same
These holidays won't be wonderful

Bella sighed as she straightened her skirt and entered the bar. It was lit up for the holidays and everybody around her were wearing Santa hats and talking animatedly while sipping on eggnog. The previous year, Bella was as festive as the rest of her co-workers. School had just been released for the winter holidays and Christmas was right around the corner.

But after last year's party, Bella took off with her friends to Tahoe, and there she fell in love with Emmett's cousin. She sighed again, thinking about Edward.

Bella could kick herself for letting the thought of Edward bring her down. She only knew him for a week and a half, and no man should be the reason for not enjoying Christmas. Not for Bella, at least.

"Bella!" She turned her head to see the tall pretty brunette approach her followed by a shorter brown-haired man. Immediately, she plastered a fake smile on her face to greet her friends.

"Angela! Ben! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" Angela returned, throwing her arms around her friend. "Come on, there is someone I want to meet," she continued, pulling Bella by the hand towards the back of the bar.

"Who?"

"The replacement for Janean." Janean was an English teacher at the district's high school who left for maternity leave. It was highly suspected, though, that she was not to return even after the leave was over, wishing to be a stay-at-home mother. All the employees at school knew that whoever was hired for the six weeks was probably permanent.

"Anybody we know? A sub?"

Angela shook her head, "No. Nobody who has worked here before." Angela finally stopped in front of a tall man. He had a boyish face, with curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

Hmm. Kind of cute, Bella thought as she appraised him.

"Bella, this is Mike. Mike, this is Bella," Angela introduced, smiling slyly while looking back and forth from one to another.

Mike held out his hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Bella."

Bella blushed as she took his hand to shake it. "Likewise."

It was in Mike's face that Bella finally had hope that she could get over Edward.

Eventually.

CtR

Edward was starting to question why he asked Tanya to accompany him to the Christmas party. All she did was cling to his arm and talk his ear off. The thing was she was beautiful – and actually, brilliant.

But she was not Bella.

Emmett reminded him almost weekly that he had no right to brood over her. He was the one that left her with nothing but an email address. He was the one who did not have the courage to tell Bella how he really felt. And now it was he that felt the consequences. Even though he fished for information about Bella, Emmett refused to tell him anything. After all, Edward had made the choice when he left on New Year's Day.

Now he was making small talk with his fellow students, giving everybody fake smiles while trying to ward off Tanya's advances. He was not in the mood to celebrate the holiday that brought so many bittersweet memories back of the previous year. However, he knew that it was unfair to Tanya to cut short her time when she was enjoying herself.

So out of obligation, he stayed, and when he dropped Tanya off at her home that night, he respectfully declined her invitation to come in to her apartment. Instead of catching a taxi, he took the long walk home in the cold, hoping that it would numb the pain.

As he climbed into bed that night, all he could think was I hate Christmas parties.

I look under the tree,
But there's nothing to see
Cause it's a broken heart that you're giving me.

I can't figure you out;
Is this what Christmas is all about?
Cause it's a broken heart that you're giving me.

End Part I

AN: Who DOESN'T feel sorry for Edward? Raise your hand!

So I lied. This isn't the end. Stay tuned for Part II, which is not yet named. I'm thinking of "Fool Me Once" or just "Part II" (because there's a Brad Paisley song named that which goes along perfectly).

And as always... you can follow me on twitter. Although I'm a little nuts. chicabonita519