AN: 'Hide and Seek – Imogen Heap.' If you play this…at the emotional 'good-bye' part of this chapter…it's epic. Okay, not really, but just go with it.

Long Italics part is a Flashback, by the way, if no one catches on… but I doubt you all are as dense as I am so you'll get it.

Look! Another chapter! Maybe i'll get chapter 15 up before I leave! :D. Maybe.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, blah blah blah. Way to burst my bubble.

BPOV

This is it. Moment of truth. Any minute now Dr. Reid's office door would open up and he'd usher me in. In that cramped little room he'd tell me my fate. Either I was rehabilitated or I wasn't. A yes or no answer. So why was he drawing it out so much? When I left I definitely wouldn't be missing the doctor. Even so, he did help me get better so I was forever grateful.

My left leg wouldn't stop bouncing while I devoured my bottom lip with my teeth. God, I wanted Edward to be sitting next to me through this but we both new how that would look. He would've been able to calm me down. Instead I had my mother beside me looking to be almost as nervous as I was. I could see the worry on her young face in the form of a wrinkled forehead. It looked misplaced on her. Renee was also biting her own lip, a nervous trait I had picked up from her. Not an encouraging site to see when you're waiting to hear if you can go home and be normal again. Yes, I really needed Edward here with me right now. I smiled as I thought back to the day before with Edward.

"Edward," I whispered not sure if I should be keeping my voice down, "where are we going?"

I could hear the smirk in his voice, "I'm surprised you haven't figured it out."

My eyes were covered with a scarf and I was being led through the building by the guidance of Edward's hand gently but securely on my back while his other held onto my hand.

"Okay, another flight of stairs. Careful," Edward cautioned.

"Another!" I said, exasperation clear in my tone, "Why are—?"

I stopped my sentence short when a smile found its way onto my face. I felt like smacking my forehead with my hand but I'm sure that, with my eyes covered, that would only throw off my center of gravity and cause a disastrous outcome.

"Yes Bella?" Edward asked innocently from my right, "Why what?"

"Hmph, never mind." Edward chuckled.

Minutes later (yes, minutes later. I didn't care that Edward was right beside me, I wasn't going to risk tripping) we made it to our supposed destination.

"All right, we're here," Edward's voice seemed to shake slightly at the end and I was suddenly all the more nervous for what Edward was about to show me.

I bit my lip to suppress the uncharacteristic squeal surfacing from my excitement and nervousness.

The sound of a doorknob turning and the creak of the door opening met my ears. Edward then guided me two steps into the room.

"Wait here for one second," Edward murmured, pecking me on the cheek as he went. I could hear him move away from me and begin to rummage through something until I heard…was that the sound of a match being struck?

Edward was back in front of me quickly unfastening the blindfold from my eyes. His warm breath on my face alerted me to how close he actually was. With one final tug, the barrier concealing my eyesight was removed. My eyes on instinct blinked rapidly to readjust to the light but the room was already reasonably dark. I looked up to find Edward's green orbs gazing down at me.

"Hi," I said quietly, breaking the silence.

In response, Edward grinned his crooked smile and after one last long look at me, he stepped out of my line of sight so I could look around the room.

We were in the piano room, of course, but that wasn't what caught my eye. In the center of the room there was a blanket laid out on the floor and on top of that was an assortment of food. The only light in the room was coming from the few flickering candles that were also atop the blanket.

I looked back at Edward, "What's all this?"

He appeared to be nervous as he wrung his hands, "I know you probably were thinking that I didn't care that you are leaving tomorrow because I didn't want to talk about it but…" he took a step closer to me, "I do care. More than you can imagine. And," he gestured to the food on the floor, "I know it's not much; it's only cafeteria food I swiped from the kitchen but I just thought we could eat up here this evening for our last night together."

Tears were now forming in my eyes from his words. "Who said I was leaving tomorrow? I may not," I said weakly.

"I know you will be. You're ready. I'm so proud of you. My selfish side wants to beg you to somehow stay but I know you have to go."

"Thank you," my voice quivered uncontrollably.

A ghost of a smile played on his lips, "Why are you thanking me?"

I choked out what I hoped sounded like a laugh. He then gave me one of the most passionate kisses I had ever received from him. I could feel his tongue trace along my bottom lip, asking for entrance and I complied. My hands reached up and tangled in his messy hair, earning a moan from Edward. In retaliation, he pulled me closer as he ran his hands up and down my back. I tried to stifle the moan but to no avail and I could feel Edward grinning from his victory against my lips.

We pulled away for air sometime later.

"Let's eat, shall we?" Edward said with a big smile on his face. I laughed at his enthusiasm.

We tried to keep the atmosphere light but we both knew deep down what the other was thinking. I was picking at the remains of my food when I couldn't stay silent any longer,

"Edward—"

"Bella," Edward said firmly while shaking his head slightly. He knew I was going to begin talking about the topic and he stopped me. The traitor tears were making their comeback once again.

"Play for me, please," I whispered, changing what would have been the subject.

Edward nodded his head in agreement and after helping me to my feet, he led us to the piano. My anxiety and fear were instantaneously calmed when the soft notes from the piano filled the room. I sighed in contentment from the sound but of course my mind had to wander to the question: Would I ever hear this beautiful noise from him again?

Stop it now, Bella.

"Bella," Edward whispered as he stopped playing. I looked up into his shining eyes, as he seemed to struggle with words. With one last sigh of frustration he turned fully to look at me, "I know you're leaving tomorrow- don't say anything; I have every confidence that you are- but I can't let you leave without you knowing…" Edward looked down for a moment to gather his thoughts and then returned his gaze to me and whispered, "Bella…I love you."

I love you.

Why hadn't I replied? I knew I loved him and yet I didn't say it back! And now I was about to leave this place for good and I'd never get the chance to tell Edward I loved him as well. But maybe this was for the best? No attachment so there would be less heartbreak in the end? Who was I kidding; I'd still feel like my chest was driven over by an 18-wheeler when I left.

It was fear that stopped me. I knew it. After years of observing my family I didn't have the greatest faith in love but I think I knew that Edward would never hurt me. So what was the problem?

"Isabella?" Dr. Reid was standing in the doorway of his office. Now?! Wait! I don't think I'm ready!

Renee tugged me into the room and we sat down in the familiar chairs, awaiting the verdict.

"Thank you for coming today, Mrs. Dwyer. I'm going to cut to the chase and save us all some time. Your daughter has shown tremendous progress over these past six months and I am proud to say," Dr. Reid looked over to me, "she is completely ready to leave the Center."

I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding at his words. I was leaving! This was what I wanted…right?

Wrong. You know you want to stay here longer so you can be with Edward.

"Thank you, Doctor Reid. This means so much to us," Renee said looking over to me with a beaming smile.

I tried to convey happiness and was successful in faking it. But was I faking it? It was like I was straddling this invisible line. On one side, there was my freedom from this place. I would be set back into the real world where I was free to go where I pleased and I'd see my mother everyday again. On the other side, however, was Edward. Enough said. And there was Alice, my first real friend who treated me decently. I was beginning to get a headache from this thinking.

"Mom, can we please leave now?" I mumbled. "Thank you very much, Doctor Reid," I added and shook his hand.

"It was my pleasure, Isabella. I hope you stay on this new path."

I nodded. I definitely was. There was no way I was going back to doing cocaine. But I needed to get out of this please before I had an emotional breakdown in front of everyone where they would question my sanity.

My mother took my hand and led me through the waiting room to the doors of the exit.

"Bella!" my head whipped around at the sound of my name being spoken by that beautiful boy.

"Edward," I choked, once again crying.

He held my face in his hands as he looked at me with frantic eyes and then he kissed me. I could hear my mother gasp from behind me but she made no move to stop us.

"Edward—" I warned. Surely this would get him into more trouble if anyone saw. And with his luck, someone would see.

"I don't care," Edward said as he kissed me again, this time desperately. I pulled away a moment later to look at him again, memorizing every feature on him. I hugged him with all my strength then moved my lips to his ear, "I love you too."

I didn't look back to gauge his reaction but instead moved to Alice and Jasper who had appeared. I hugged Jasper and then hugged a crying Alice. It tore my heart in two to see her like this and I hated that I was the cause of it.

"I'll miss you," she whispered.

"I'll miss you too, Alice." I turned back to Jasper, "Take care of her."

He gave me a small smile and I was so happy that Alice would have him when I was gone. She couldn't have chosen a better person.

I refrained from looking back at Edward, too afraid of what I would see. So with that, I returned to my shocked mother and we walked out of the building that had become my home in a sense.

"Who was that boy?" was her first question.

"Not now, mom, please," I begged. I wouldn't be able to talk about him just yet.

Renee respected my privacy for now. During the car ride home, however, I could see her looking over at me every minute or so just itching to ask me her questions. She settled for,

"Honey, I'm so proud of you." She reached over to pat my arm. I attempted a weak smile for her but it probably came out as more of a grimace.

This wasn't good. How was I going to live like this without seeing Edward? I wasn't. Perhaps I could visit him somehow? Or maybe it would be best if I just…stopped thinking about him. But I knew that would be utterly impossible.

I remained silent the entire drive and even when we had made it home. Renee insisted she help me unpack. Even when I was now stable she seemed to think I was some fragile four-year-old child.

Phoenix Rehabilitation Center never seemed more like a haven then it did now.

AN: Well, that was rather intense.