Well well, it looks like I have a few new readers :3 Welcome! I'm so happy you've come to look at my stuff. And if you're interested in my book, the information to order it is on my FF page. And I know that Emmett's name keeps changing, but that's because... um...

Btw – the "boner" line is sort of an inside joke. A friend of mine always says that when he's displeased about something...

Fourteen: Almost

Getting up that morning was a very tedious thing for Bella. She had spent all night tossing and turning in a fit of nightmares, waking up every few hours in a cold sweat. So, when her alarm finally did go off for school, she couldn't help but lay there in a slump, not wanting to move at all. Her limbs felt like led, and her eyes had a rim of crust around them. However, she knew she couldn't be attached to her bed for too long, and so she got up to shuffle into the bathroom. Getting inside, she took her time to brush her hair and teeth, her eyes shifting to the window in her room. It was cloudy today. Which meant it would be very easy for Victoria to track and corner Charlie. After brushing her teeth, she splashed her face and went to the window. His cruiser was already gone. Cursing under her breath, she got dressed, slipped on her mother's cross, and grabbed her back pack. It had gotten considerably colder, now that the first week of December was almost up. There predicted to be at least a light snowfall before the month was over. Bella even heard that there would be snow before the high school was out for break. As she drove to said school, she had to admit that it was hard, knowing she would have to leave it. When could she come back, she wondered? Perhaps not until Victoria was dead. And with the ability to take the form of anything or anyone, that was not such an easy task. She remembered the night where she herself was tricked and nearly killed by the woman, who had then disguised herself as a little boy. A shudder came over her as she parked.

Stepping outside into the chilly morning air, she saw her friends sitting around Tyler's van, as usual. Jessica seemed all a flutter about the upcoming dance. It was the third Saturday of the month, and seemed to be coming up quicker every day. Bella could just imagine what Jessica was saying at that moment. Just two more Fridays after this one! She smiled fondly as she adjusted the straps to her backpack. How she would miss this group. The kind, friendly, happy group of friends she had come to love so dearly. Taking a breath, she approached them. It'd be better to tell them that she was moving now than to just leave one day without a word. Approaching them, Tyler caught her eye and smiled. "Morning," he said pleasantly.

"Good morning," Bella replied. Jessica was still yammering on to Mike about how they should match at the dance. Mike didn't seem to be paying too much attention, but still nodded politely every now and again. "Um... guys?" Jessica was brought out of her word vomit to look over, as Bella caught there attention. "I have... well..." She took another breath. "I need to tell you guys something. After winter break... I'm going to move to Jacksonville." Part of her words were drowned out by voices asking her the usual questions: "What?" "Why?" "How come?" And so on. She held up her hand to quiet them, smiling meekly. "Things just haven't really been working out with my dad lately. That's all. So I'm going to move back with my mom."

"Awe, can't you at least wait until we're graduated?" Jessica wined. "I wanted us all to get our diplomas together!"

"I wish I could," said Bella honestly. "But I really can't stay for much longer. It's... just what's best for me, that's all."

"Well that bites," said Eric with a shake of the head. "Do you have a set date yet?"

"Probably after Christmas."

"Before New Year's?"

"Yeah."

"Boner!" said Tyler in disappointment. "That means you have to miss my New Year's party this year."

They continued the dialog, clearly wanting Bella to stay for at least Tyler's party. But she knew that if she stayed longer than needed, it was just more of an opening for Victoria. The others mused about throwing Bella some sort of going away party. They would have to have some kind of send off for her. After all, they had spent over a year together. Bella insisted that there wasn't any need for one, but her pleas were drowned by the ideas that the others bounced off one another. The conversation stopped, however, when Bella felt a rather large hand rest on her head. Looking up, she saw Emmett smiling back at her, his face shadowed by his gray hoodie. He looped an arm around Bella's shoulders, smiling at them all.

"Morning!" he said brightly. Bella looked around his massive figure.

"Emmett... where's Rosalie?"

"Ah... Rosie's not feeling too hot today," he explained. Bella could see double meaning in his eyes. "Don't worry about it though. She's got a great dad."

A wave of relief fell over her and she smiled. So Rosalie was watching Charlie? Good. Emmett's eyes flashed over beyond the other humans and blinked. "Oh. There's Eddie. Oy!" He raised his hand, and Bella turned. The gesture caught Edward's attention from across the parking lot. The vampire stared at the both of them for a moment or two before turning away and slinking through the school doors. Guilt settled in Bella's stomach. Emmett probably told him that she was moving. Why couldn't she tell this to him herself? Perhaps she was too cowardly? That could be the only reason. As the group chatted, Bella was able to slip away from the others and quickly walk into the front building of her high school. Luckily, she found Edward standing beside his locker, putting his books in for the day. It was probably just a routine for him – the backpack couldn't be too heavy for him if he was able to cary people on his back. She caught his eyes before approaching him. Her hands nervously went behind her back.

"Hi," she said tentatively.

"Hey." He slid the last book into his locker before shutting it, spinning the lock, and turning to her, his back pack over one shoulder. "So... Emmett says you're moving?"

Who would have guessed? "Yeah," she said with a nod. "Um... at the end of the semester. Probably right after the dance." Jessica would track her down and skin her alive if she left before hand. An awkward silence followed her statement and she shifted from foot to foot. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you in person – "

"It's good." Blinking, Bella looked up to see Edward with a blank expression on his face. "That you're leaving, I mean. It's a lot safer if you're not here."

For some odd reason, even though it was the logical answer to agree, Bella couldn't help but feel stabbed at those words. What had she expected his reaction to be? Fall to his knees and beg her to stay? That wasn't Edward. He was brave, he was strong... But a perfect knight in shining armor he was not. Besides, if he had done something along those lines, it would have made things so much harder on Bella to do what was right. Still, it was hard to keep her disappointment from rising to her face. She pulled her backpack strap closer to her neck. "Yeah... I know." She let her eyes wander about the hallway, taking in its features and minute details. The way the paint was fading, the faint rust around the water fountain nozzles... "Still... I know I'm going to miss this place."

Turning to look Edward in the eye, she saw him start to turn around. They began walking to class together, side by side. "What... you're going to miss this damp little rag of a town?"

"Yes," said Bella defiantly. "All the friends I've made... my father... Jacob and the other shifters... and you too, Edward..." A pause settled between them once more. "Who knows? Maybe I can come back once the coast is clear?"

"And when will that be?" They stopped walking in the middle of the hallway, Edward turning to her. "Bella... It could be years until Victoria lets up. Then what? You'll come back for a friendly little visit? Soon you'll get..." He paused. "I mean – it's just that – " He fumbled around with his words before putting a hand to his forehead. Bella was confused.

"Edward? What are you...?"

He was quiet, trying to contemplate his next words. Slowly, he began to say them. "Bella..." He let his hand drop, only to raise it and touch her cheek. The leather was soft against her face, the cold skin beneath it making her shiver. "I just... I – I want you to know that I still... really..."

Bella's heart began to thud rapidly within her chest. "You still what?"

Edward's golden eyes shifted to hers, and the two stared at one another. Her mind pleaded with him to go on. What was it he still... did? Or felt? What was the ending to his sentence? Bella was dying to know. Before she knew it, he had taken a half step closer, his hand still on her face. She could see the faded freckles on his cheeks, long since paled from his initial transformation. His lips were a mere inch or two inches away. He attempted to say a word or two, but they died before he could finish his thought. But just before Bella was about to lean up and give in, a voice broke the moment.

"Ah, there you are," came the cheery tone of Jacob Black. Bella jumped slightly, immediately stepping away from Edward. They both looked over to see Jacob stride towards them, an all-too-merry smile on his face. Bella's insides twisted into knots, and she almost felt nauseous. What was she doing? Or once more, what was she going to do? She had made her decision all that time ago that she wouldn't side with either one. She cursed her hormones for nearly tricking her into a kiss. Her head only tilted back up when she felt Jacob's hand on her shoulder. "Couldn't find you earlier. You had me worried for a minute there, Bella."

"What, are you her tracking dog now?" said Edward sourly. Jacob flashed his silver eyes in his direction.

"If it is, I don't see how it's any of your business," he said cooly.

Bella pulled herself away, not in the mood to witness another squabble. "Guys... Control yourselves. Please?" She shook her head. "It's been a long week. I don't want a fight to break out before the weekend between you two."

They looked from Bella to one another. Edward waisted no time simply turning around and walking away. Jacob seemed like he had a good word or two to shout in Edward's direction, but thought better of it. Instead, he turned to Bella and gave her another bright smile. "So then! I heard that you're leaving." His smile became a bit sad. "I figured you'd go the safe route."

Bella recalled herself, ignoring Edward's receding figure to speak. "Yes. It's best for everyone." She ran her fingers through her frizzy brown hair. "Once I'm gone, no body would have to fuss over me. Everyone can just go back to normal."

Jacob scratched the back of his neck, frowning off to the side. "Well... I guess that's true, but..." He turned back to her and lightly tapped her chin. "You know we don't mind fussing over you, right? At least I don't." He then gave a coy smile, his eyes twinkling in a charming fashion. And yet... Bella could only present a small smile in return.

"I know, Jake. And I appreciate it. But I'm still going."

"Yeah, I know, I know..." Jacob let his hand drop, his dark hair falling about his neck and shoulders. He put his hands in his pockets before turning to look up to Bella. "You're still going to the dance, right?"

Bella chuckled. "Yes, I'm still going to the dance."

"Good... Because I want at least one slow dance before you leave."

Bella opened her mouth to respond, but the bell above her rang before she could. She and Jacob hugged before parting ways and heading to their first classes. Emmett was already sitting in his seat, waiting for her. As she sat beside him, he propped his chin into his hand, looking at her. Bella gave him a strange look as he kept his stare. "What?"

"I saw you talking with Eddie," he remarked. "What does he think of you leaving?"

Remembering the onrush of sudden feelings, Bella tried to be as nonchalant as she could about the whole thing. "He thinks it's the best choice for me. I agree with him." She pulled out her notebook and flipped it to an empty page. "Why? What were you hoping for?"

Emmett let out a long, dramatic sigh and put his hands behind his head, leaning against his chair. "Nothing, I guess," he said simply. "But you know he's going to miss you like crazy... right?" He shifted his glance towards her out of the corner of his eye, as if to see her reaction. Again, Bella tried to seem apathetic, despite her inner turmoil.

"That's not my fault," she said, rather coldly. "We had our time together, but that's all over now."

"Is it?"

Bella felt a jump inside of her and she turned to look at Emmett. "What do you mean by that?"

Emmett merely shrugged before laying his forehead on the table. "Just that he's already exiled from home anyway. It wouldn't hurt to let him know you care before going." With that, he laid on his cheek and shut his eyes. It was, after all, time for his mid-morning nap.

So there we have it. It looks like Bella's really going to go, doesn't it? Leave a review! How do you think the dance with Jacob will go over? And do you think Eddie will get over his shyness?

Till next time

~T.