DISCLAIMER: I do not own Twilight despite my name being Stephanie because Stephenie Meyer owns it. See the different spelling? Yup! Also, the idea for this story was taken from the Indian movie Muhjse Dosti Karoge except I'm just changing it up a little.

"I thought I had you figured out,
Something's gone terribly wrong,
You're all I wanted.
Come on, come on, don't leave me like this,
I thought I had you figured out,
Can't breathe whenever you're gone.
Can't turn back now, I'm haunted.
Stood there and watched you walk away,
From everything we had…"

-Haunted by Taylor Swift

Chapter 14

BPOV

If you've ever been to a loved one's funeral in your life, you'd know the pain and emptiness you feel, coiled in the pit of your stomach. Losing one parent is hard enough; losing both of them is pure anguish. Edward and Elizabeth Brandon had been an enormous part of my life for as long as I could remember.

As I watched their coffins placed into the ground, I recalled all the times I had spent at their house. Aunt Eliza with her warm hugs, always so wise, had been a mother to me as much as Renee had been to me. Uncle Ed, a second father, had been the one to convince my dad to let me go out on my first date and not pick up his loaded shot gun for the terrified boy waiting on the porch.

They had been parents to me as much as they had been to Alice. Although I had dropped the "Aunt" and "Uncle" as I grew, I had never lost my respect for them. Sometimes, when I had been sad and fed up of pretending to be Alice for Edward, I used to go to Alice's house to try to escape the constant temptation of writing Edward and continuing the charade.

All those times I did, Eliza was there for me, baking cookies and brownies, trying to cheer me up though she didn't know why. She was always the wisest of all the mothers. Sometimes, I thought she knew exactly the reason why I was so sad or at least suspected.

Uncle Ed had been the comedian of the group, cheering me right out of my darkest hours. He'd been warm and soft like a big teddy bear and I had loved him almost as much as I loved my own father. Alice and I had been their daughters and now, they were gone.

I could imagine how Alice felt as she watched her parents being lowered into the ground. I felt the same for they had been my parents as much as hers, but instead, it was she who had been left the orphan.

But was she really? I wondered, pensive.

Alice was at Edward's side, his arm around her as she watched with a tear streaked face. Cloaked in black, she looked smaller than usual. Her bright blue eyes swam with tears and she buried her face into Edward's chest as if she couldn't bear to watch it any more.

Esme and Renee were at her side at once, stroking her hair and whispering words of comfort. Carlisle and Charlie stood aside their wives, their faces poignant and solemn. Emmett was situated to the side, watching the heartbreaking scene with a stoic face, ever the tough guy but his eyes were as blood shot as everyone else's.

I stood away from everyone, a family member who felt more like a stranger, wallowing in her own grief. Alice was surrounded by the people who loved her so could she ever really be alone? Instead it was I who felt the orphan in the world.

I stared at the ground, feeling the tears come to my eyes but I refused to let them fall. I knew I was alone now. After the funeral, I knew my parents, Carlisle and Esme would be arranging for all of us to go to Dartmouth together since we had all gotten our acceptance letters. Though I had been dreaming of going to college with Edward since I could remember, I knew it couldn't happen now.

After all that had occurred in Alaska, I knew it wouldn't be wise to go anywhere with Edward again. He had been upset with me since the day we fought, the day we came back. He took every opportunity we were alone together to convince me that we could still be together, but soon he'd given up when it became perfectly clear to him that I wasn't going to change my mind.

Now, he did not talk to me at all anymore. It was so obvious even the adults began to notice but since I had been withdrawing myself from everyone ever since we had returned, they assumed it was just the grief I was going through.

Grief, I thought grimly. I had lost it all.

For the short amount of time I had been with Edward, I had imagined I would get to be happy for the rest of my life. After seeing how happy Edward and I were, I had deluded myself into thinking Alice would have eventually come around and everyone would have gotten accustomed to us being a couple. But now that hope had perished since now that Alice had lost her parents, I couldn't bear to take away the one person she loved unconditionally.

Why should Alice have to give up Edward for me when she had just lost her parents? It would be unfair to her and I could not do that to her, my sister. I loved Edward, God knows how much I did, but I could never hurt my sister and best friend for as long as I could remember over him.

Even though it killed me to hurt Edward, there was some consolation in the fact that despite her grief, Alice still had Edward to lean on. I would never take him away from her and jeopardize her happiness. Even if it killed me, I would be sure that Alice was happy. I had spent my entire life with her, as her sister, her best friend, and I had never betrayed her before. I wasn't going to cause her any more grief.

"Bella?" I heard my name called softly, snapping me back to reality. I looked about, realizing I had been so deep in my thoughts that I had not realized that the funeral was over and everyone had left. Esme stood at my side gently shaking me.

"I'm sorry, Esme," I answered softly, giving her a small smile. "Lost in thought I guess."

Esme looked at me, a smile full of sadness etched on to her face. She stroked my face and I realized that the tears I had struggled to reign in had broken free. She brushed them away and placed a tiny kiss on my forehead.

"It's all right sweetheart," she said quietly. "Everyone else left already."

She hesitated before continuing. "I knew how close you were to Edward and Elizabeth. She loved you like her own daughter, you know," she added gently.

Unable to stifle my sob, I buried my head into Esme's soft motherly figure and rid my body of the pent up tears that I had held in. She stroked my back and made comforting crooning noises. Once I was better, she let me go and peered into my face.

"I'll leave you to say your goodbyes." She gave me a small sad smile and hugged me again, before leaving.

I stood before their graves, taking in the epitaphs inscribed.

Here lies

Elizabeth Anne Brandon

Loving mother, wife, aunt, sister and friend

19th March, 1966 – 31st July 2011

Edward Brandon's gravestone was similar to his wife's except for her favourite quote that had been inscribed further below it.

It was a quote from Voltaire and Eliza, an English major, had adored it greatly. I smiled as I read it silently, closing my eyes as I remembered Eliza saying it over and over again throughout my childhood.

"Love has features which pierce all hearts, he wears a bandage which conceals the faults of those beloved. He has wings, he comes quickly and flies away the same," Edward's voice whispered in my ear.

I jumped, and realized how close Edward was near to me. I took a couple steps away from him unsteadily, distancing myself both mentally and physically.

"Edward," I said my voice icy and nothing like my own.

He did not respond. His emerald eyes observed me, as wintry as my voice, but beneath them I could see fire and pain. Dressed all in black, he wore a long trench coat for protection against the unseasonably cold summer we were experiencing in Forks. His mop of bronze sat atop his head, as messy and untamed as ever.

We watched each other warily as if we were predator and prey. Which one I was, I didn't know.

He broke the silence. "We have to talk."

"No."

"Bella, we can't do this forever. Sooner or later, we have to face this."

I looked at him coldly. "What is 'this', Edward?"

In two long strides, he broke the distance between us and grabbed a hold of my arms. He shook me, his green eyes bright with ire.

"Damn it Bella! You know what I'm talking about. About this. About us."

I met his gaze coolly. The fast beating on my heart was the only thing that could betray how utterly un-calm I was. "There is no us, Edward," I said icily. "Why can't you see that?"

He shook me again, this time more roughly. "Bella," he said softly. "Bella."

And without any warning at all, he kissed me.

It was a rough kiss at first, full of hurt and pain. But slowly, it began to transform, as his lips became gentler and less insistent. I knew I should not have responded but I knew it would be the last kiss I'd ever have with him so I took it, savoring it. My passionate response gave Edward hope and we continued until finally he pulled away and crushed me to his chest.

"I love you, Bella," he whispered hoarsely. "God, I love you."

I savored everything. The loving tone of his voice, the feel of his chest against my head, the special scent of his clothing. Slowly, I stepped away.

I looked at him with no emotion in my eyes, standing there, and committed the picture to memory.

"Goodbye Edward."

And I left him there.

:-:-:

Four hours later, I was at my house. I had been driving around town blindly, trying to gain courage to go home.

Home, I thought wistfully. It did not seem like much a home to me anymore. It did not seem like the safe haven I had known for all my life. I did not know what it was to me at all. Nowhere seemed like home to me now.

I crept upstairs quietly and I watched from the second floor overlooking the living room where Alice was with my parents and the Cullens. She sat on the couch with Renee and Esme on either side of her, smiling as Charlie and Carlisle regaled her with tales of their exploits with her parents. There was only the barest hint of sadness in her eyes and a slight wistfulness to her smile.

As they all exploded into laughter over a funny story, I took in the scene, watching their happy faces remembering old times. I felt a desire to join them, but I knew in my current state I would not be able to enjoy it.

Suddenly I heard Edward's name mentioned. Unable to resist, I snuck another peak inside the room and saw that Edward had joined them and he now took Esme's place beside Alice.

"Edward my boy!" Charlie's voice boomed as he grinned at the couple. "We were just talking about you. And Alice." At the last word he gave a wink. Alice blushed and took Edward's hand defiantly. She smiled at him, love shining in her eyes.

Charlie grinned and continued. "Renee, we should start talking about college for these two shouldn't we?" he nonchalantly asked his wife. "It seems we won't be able to separate them."

I saw Alice's hand tighten around Edward's in response to the reference of their separation and I could see I had been right as usual.

Alice's response did not escape Charlie either and he smiled indulgently at her. "Yes, you're both going to Dartmouth in the fall with Bella and Emmett. We may be old but we couldn't dream of separating you two love birds," he teased.

Alice blushed becomingly and shyly glanced at Edward. I couldn't see Edward's face clearly but jealously I imagined him grinning winningly at her in his beautiful heartwarming fashion. I shook myself, trying to rid myself of the envy I felt.

Instead, I focused on how happy I was for Alice but even that did not help me escape the sense of despair I felt. Everything I had predicted was coming through. All of a sudden Emmett's words came to me.

"You've known Alice for eighteen years but you also loved Edward for most of them. Do you really think you could give that up?"

I realized I could not. I would not be able to watch it, to watch them fall in love all over again. Not after everything that had happened in Alaska. Not now, when I still had those memories burned into my mind forever.

Unable to take in any more of the scene, I fled like a coward to my room and as soon as I quietly shut the door behind me, I slid to the floor, burying my face in my knees.

Tears leaked from my eyes at an impossible speed and too weary to care anymore, I let them. I wept silently like a little girl who had lost her favourite doll and her puppy all on the same day. My heart felt like a dull empty thing that had been hurt too much to even dream of recovery.

I didn't even know how long I spent on my bedroom floor, crying my eyes out, nor did I ever want to remember. The pain, the hurt, the grief, the magnitude of all the emotions that there were in my body, I was surprised that they did not kill me.

Slowly, when my body was drained of all the emotions, I got up, numb. I realized that the sun was rising and glanced at my clock: 5:01 AM.

I had spent almost the entire night crying. Wearily I shook my head, grabbed my things and headed for the bathroom. All the Cullens stayed at the Brandon's house now, since they died, as no one wanted Alice to be alone in the house so I did not have to worry about meeting Edward or Emmett in my house anymore.

Once I was showered and clothed, I went downstairs and ate a bowl of cereal, not tasting anything but doing it mechanically.

Out of habit, I checked through the mail and came across one addressed to me. I screened the envelope and a small smile came to my face as I opened it and read it through.

I had been accepted to Oxford University in England. As I read the acceptance letter stating all the details, I felt something like hope bloom in my chest. I knew I would have to leave all the people that I loved but faced with the daunting future at Dartmouth I knew I had no other choice.

At once I went to work. I called the airlines and luck was with me since I was able to get a flight to England leaving at 9 due to an early cancellation. It would be a rush but I knew the sooner I did it the better. I packed quietly only taking the essentials and I hauled everything into my car.

Silently I crept into my parents' room and gently shook them awake. I told them about my acceptance letter and what I had planned to do.

Though happy at first, they were reluctant to let me go such a long way from home and puzzled as to why I had to leave so soon but I managed to convince them it was for the best.

They wanted to tell everyone but gently, I told them not to.

"I don't want them to know where I'm going," I said evenly. "You know Edward and Emmett; they're so protective of me they wouldn't want me to go so far away without my 'big brothers' to protect me." I smiled wryly and shrugged my shoulders, trying my best to be blasé about this.

"You can tell them that I got accepted to a great college and though I'm sorry I won't be able to go Dartmouth with them, I can't pass up this opportunity. Make sure not to tell them where I am."

"I don't see why you have to go so soon though, sweetheart," Renee fretted.

"I know Mom, but if I don't I could be letting this great opportunity go by…" I trailed off, trying not to show my desperation to get away.

"We'll let you go, Bells," Charlie surprised me by saying. He kissed my forehead. "You're still our little girl but this is something you can't pass up and we'll do as you say about the Cullens. But," he stressed warningly, "you have to call us as soon as you reach there and make sure to do so at least every week. Capisce?"

I nodded gratefully. My throat tightening with emotion, I hugged my parents tightly and said my goodbyes. I loved them so much and I didn't want to leave them but I knew I had to.

Once I was done with my goodbyes, I went down to my truck and started it, praying silently that it wouldn't wake the Cullens or Alice. That was a goodbye I sure as hell didn't want to have to do.

Longingly, I glanced at the Brandon house, wishing I could just see Edward one last time but I knew I could not. Alice would be heartbroken when I left her and she needed Edward to be there for her, especially since I could no longer to do so. I wished I could see her and Emmett one last time too but I knew it would be harder for all of us.

I looked around my house and the Brandon house, the places I had grown up. All my life I had taken it for granted and only now that I was leaving did I realize all that I had. I breathed in the clean, fresh air that only Forks could ever had for one last time.

As I pulled out of the driveway and onto the road, something made me glance at the Brandon house. There I saw Emmett watching me quietly and as soon as our gazes connected he raised his hand in a silent goodbye and nodded. Tears in my eyes, I nodded, my throat constricting and mouthed "Bye Emmy-bear."

In response, he smiled and whispered "Bye Bells."

As I set out on to my destination, I did not cry. Instead I remembered all the good times I had ever had in this place, my home town. I put on the radio, calming myself.

Destination anywhere but here.
Away from you.
Now I'm on my way to the other side,
I'll forget everything I left behind.
These empty rooms,
Are still filled with you.

I knew I was running away. I knew that I was a coward. But faced with the choice of watching him in love with someone else…I couldn't do that. Not again. Not anymore.

For the second time that day, I recalled Emmett's words that night.

"First came love, then came friendship then fate intervened."

Love, friendship, fate, I thought wryly.

How appropriate.

:-:-:

EPOV

Still groggy from sleep, I hurled myself off the guestroom bed. When we had moved into the Brandon's house, Emmett, who usually put me on the floor to sleep, decided that I needed the bed more than he did after what happened with Bella.

I did not know how he knew but he was Emmett. Although sometimes he acted like my dimwitted brother, he saw everything. And for all my academic accomplishments, it was I who was the idiot.

If I had been like Emmett, I would have seen that it was Bella I had loved and not Alice. I would have realized it all before and we would not have been in this situation today. It was my fault, mine's alone for not being smart enough to see who it was that I really loved all along. And now, Alice would be hurt by my idiocy.

I deserved everything that I was going through now. I was bound to a girl that I did not love and the girl who I did love refused to be with me because she did not want to hurt Alice. I did not want to either but I knew keeping her in the dark about everything, would only hurt her more in the long run.

One thing was for sure. I would not, could not continue the charade of loving Alice as long as Bella was around. It would be a lie to continue this way and a mockery of love. That night in Alaska had changed our lives forever and never would I ever forget it. Nor did I want to.

I could not be near her and not want to be with her and the longer I pretended to be the same Edward I was before, the more Alice would be hurt when she did find out.

I had to convince Bella that this was for the best though. Whether she'd listen to me or not was another case. Bella can be very stubborn sometimes, I thought wryly. But I love her.

My lips quirked into a smile at the thought of her and our kiss yesterday and I chuckled softly. Pulling myself out of bed, I realized that Emmett was already up and sitting at the window seat, peering through it.

I glanced at the digital clock. It was 8:10; a record for Emmett to be up before noon. "Hey Em," I greeted, yawning, "how long have you been up?"

He looked at me with fathomless eyes. "Since 6." He paused and said the two words that shocked me to my core. "She left."

I did not need to ask who he meant. I knew at once. I could feel a pit of despair and pain coiling in my stomach. "What?" I whispered, dumbstruck. "When?"

"This morning. I got up and saw her packing her truck and pulling out the driveway. She's leaving, Edward," he said, his voice emotionless.

"I have to stop her!" I yelled, already throwing on clothes. "Why is she doing this?"

"Edward, no," Emmett urgently said, "she's doing this to get away. She can't stay here anymore and you have to get that. Let her go. I don't want her to leave either but she's really fragile right now. Don't go after her. If you love her, you'll let her go."

"No!" I shouted.

If I did, I knew I might never see her again. I could not let that happen. Emmett tried to grab me but I didn't let him touch me. Seizing the keys to Dad's rental, I quickly got into the car. No one was awake yet so I didn't get any questions about my hasty departure.

It usually took an hour or so to reach the Port Angeles airport but with my driving I was able to reach there in less than twenty minutes. I ran into the airport like a mad man, frantically searching for Bella everywhere.

Finally I spotted her through the crowd preparing to enter the departure lounge. "Bella!" I shouted and I saw her freeze. She turned and stared at me, with tears in her eyes. We stood there for what seemed like an eternity and then finally she tore her eyes away from mine.

"Don't do this!" I shouted, causing people to stare. She shook her head minutely and she looked at me one last time before turning and entering the lounge. I knew there was no use going after her since they would not let me near her without a ticket.

Numb with shock and an ache in my heart, I sat down on one of the seats placing my head in my hands, refusing to let the tears in my eyes fall.

"Edward Cullen," announced a cool female voice over the PA system. "Calling Edward Cullen, please report to the systems desk."

Something like hope sprung in my dormant chest and I ran to the station, praying fervently that she would be there and everything would be all right.

"Mr. Cullen?" asked one of the attendants. I nodded and she continued, "A lady left this for you." She handed me an envelope and then left me to attend to one of the many demanding customers.

Feeling the tears of rage and sadness in my eyes, I turned away from the counter and blindly I went to the car. Getting into it, I started the car and aimlessly began the drive back to Forks.

Halfway there, I pulled to the side of the road and slowly, I opened the envelope. Inside was a small square piece of paper. It held three words and her name.

Edward, I'm sorry.

-Bella

I looked inside the envelope again and what I found made my shattered heart splinter.

She had left her necklace, the one I had given to her the night in Alaska.

Bella was sleeping near my arm, curled into a little ball. I stroked her beautiful mahogany hair and then her beautiful iridescent face. "I love you," I whispered.

"I love you too, Edward," she replied softly, her voice like wind chimes. She leaned over to kiss me and I smelled her fragrance of freesias and strawberries.

"I want to give you something," I told her and she smiled.

"What else could you give me? This night was everything I ever wanted."

"Oh really?" I teased. She blushed and nuzzled her face into my chest.

"Sit up a minute," I instructed. She did so and blushed again, clutching the sheet to her chest in shy embarrassment. "Now turn around."

Once she did so, I clasped the necklace and kissed the hollow of her neck, feeling her shiver. She touched it and looked at me with surprise and love in her eyes.

"I couldn't give this necklace to Alice that day. It didn't feel right but giving it to you today does. You're my true love, Bella," I whispered pointing at the necklace.

"And you're mine," she said softly and kissed me…

I closed my eyes with the memories that flooded my mind. All of Bella. Blind with the anguish I was feeling, I restarted the car, only to stop the car five minutes later to break down, sobbing my heart out like a little boy. Only one thing was going through my mind.

I had lost her forever.

:-:-:

Don't kill me; trust me, I hate myself right now for having to do this to them but I have to. Besides if you kill me you don't get any more chapters.

So what did you guys think? Like it? Dislike it? Tell me your thoughts in a review please. I'd really love to know what you're thinking.

Also, please tell me if you want to see what's going to happen in England with Bella. I don't know how the processes go with college and the airline tickets and what-not so if I have anything wrong, I apologize.

Thank you so much to all of you who reviewed the last chapter! These amazing people are:
EzziiBii, rosalindathevamp, EdwardxBellaxLover, vampiregurl, twilightfan, VampirePrincess1244, paggle14, superbatnerdxx, Ashlie Christine, BernieR, LissaHuff, lynnherman, AllyAlwayz and CullenLover100!

Thank you guys so much for all your support and putting up with my haphazard chapters!

Enjoy those of you who have Easter vacation :)

Please review =)

Love,

~Steph