Thanks for all of your reviews! Sorry I didn't update yesterday. Someone in my extended family died (it'd take forever for me to explain how I was related to him) so I had relatives staying at my house yesterday and last night for the funeral this morning. So here's my shout out to Pop: though I didn't get to know you as well as I would've liked, I still loved you, and you will be missed. Put in a good word for me up there. Rest in peace, Pop.

I apologize in advance if this chapter isn't as good or long as the others. I obviously have other things on my mind, but I really wanted to get a chapter up for you guys. Again, I'm sorry if this chapter isn't my best work.

"Hey, and I'll look away, pretend I'm okay, I'm back on the road again, and, please, could it be true, that I still love you?, and my love's unworthy, shades of gray, and please fade away, and, oh, what have I said in vain?" - Shades Of Gray by Waking Ashland

It had been two weeks since the fateful kiss. Edward had tried relentlessly to talk to Bella, but she wouldn't have it. She always found a way to escape him, catching up with a "friend" who was actually a stranger or hurrying to her next class, even if she didn't have one. She couldn't stand to be around him. She knew one look at his face, his lips, would cause her to jump on him and continue where they left off. But she couldn't do that. Edward probably wouldn't like it. She still thought that he only kissed her to get his best friend back.

But Edward knew otherwise.

He knew she wasn't just a friend. That kiss awoke something in him, something he could no longer ignore. Even now, he wasn't sure that it was love. He was still waiting for something, the thing that would make it all clear. Edward knew talking to Bella would be of no use if he didn't know his true feelings, but he couldn't stand being away from her. Which was what brought him here, to this club.

Bella hadn't gone back to her promiscuousness, but she could still go to the club and have some fun, right? She had no idea that Edward followed her here every night. He sat in a secluded corner of the nightclub, making sure to stay out of sight. Bella wouldn't see Edward unless she looked directly at him and stared. But she had no reason to look his way. She was too preoccupied on the dance floor.

Men surrounded her, too close for Edward's comfort. Their proximity kept her from falling, seeing as Bella was never very graceful. They took turns putting their hands on her hips as she grinded against their groins. Edward wanted to choke them all. He watched as one of them bent their heads and buried it in her hair. Bella reached back and wrapped her arms around his neck in turn. The guy turned his head and placed a kiss on her neck.

That was it.

Edward crushed the peanuts that he had in his hand. Something started gnawing at his soul like some kind of acidic and corrosive material. It consumed him. He wanted nothing more than to go over there and murder all who encircled Bella. Hate for all of them engrossed him. Fire burned blue inside of him as he saw Bella smile at the dick. His breath quickened and he abruptly stood up. How dare they? How dare they touch Bella in such a way? She didn't belong to them. They weren't allowed to touch her like that. She was his. His Bella. How dare they touch the love of his--?

"Oh, fuck," Edward whispered with eyes wide. He dropped back in the chair. The love of his life. Bella was the love of his life. He was in love with her. Edward looked up to find her, but only saw her back going out the door. He didn't run to catch up with her. He couldn't tell her now when he had just realized it himself.

He needed a drink.

Edward sighed and walked up to the bar, hoping the bartender was like good ole Joe and wouldn't ask for I.D.

"Can I get a Flaming Black Russian?"

The bartender, who seemed to be about 55, looked him up and down. "There ain't no way you're 21, boy."

Edward ran a hand through his hair. "Did you see that girl dancing in the middle of all the guys a second ago?"

He nodded.

"She's been my best friend since I was four."

The bartender, Mitch, stared at him. "So?"

"I just realized I'm in love with her."

Mitch put down the glass he had been cleaning. "Let me go get you that drink. Have a seat."

"Thank you," said Edward as he sat down. Mitch soon returned with his drink and leaned across the counter.

"Alright, boy, start from the beginning."

"…then I saw that guy kiss her neck and that was it. I had finally realized it," Edward finished. Just like Bella had on her first bar visit, Edward had told their story from that historic day on the playground to where he was right now. Mitch shook his head.

"You sure are dumb, son."

Edward sighed. "Yeah. I know."

"No, really. I knew you were in love with her when you said you got butterflies when she grabbed your hand on that first day."

Edward looked up at him. "You really think it was that quick? The whole 'love at first sight' thing?"

"Yep."

"Ugh," groaned Edward before banging his head on the bar.

"Careful. You're gonna hurt yourself, kid."

He lifted his head back up. "There's no possible way I can feel pain worse than what I've been through the past 6 months."

"Yeah, you could."

"How?" he questioned.

"You could've gone through what Bella went through."

Edward furrowed his brows before softly asking, "I really hurt her that bad?"

Mitch chuckled. "You have no idea."

He looked at the bartender with a helpless expression. "What do I do now? Tell her?"

"She won't believe you."

Edward moaned. "How do I make her believe me?"

"Look, kid, I don't know the girl. Your best bet is to go home for the weekend and tell the people you and her know what's going on. Ask them. Plan something out."

He nodded somberly. "Yeah, I guess that's my last hope, huh?"

"Sure seems like it. You screwed up real bad, boy."

"I know."

"You broke her heart."

"I know."

"You drove her to alcohol."

"I kn--"

"And sex."

"I know!" Edward exclaimed. "I know! I'm a terrible a person! If she doesn't believe me…" He stared off and said in a quiet voice, "If she doesn't believe me, I deserve it."

"Now, now, don't go feeling sorry for yourself. Go home. Rest. Get advice. Win her back. You've already got her heart. All you need is her trust."

"That's not an easy thing to gain."

"No, it's not. So you better get going."

"Yeah." Edward stood up and handed Mitch a stack of bills.

"One drink ain't that much."

Edward shook his head. "It's not just for the drink. It's for everything." And he left.

Mitch shrugged and put the bills in his pocket.

Edward sped back to his dorm and hastily packed a weekends needs. His plane left in two hours. He yelled a farewell to his dorm mates and made it to the airport just in time. He allowed any and all thoughts to take over his mind as the plane left the ground.

He mostly thought of Bella, how much pain he had caused both of them, how he was going to fix it, how much overwhelming love he felt for her. How could he have overlooked this sensation for so long? It was so powerful, so tremendous; it seemed like his heart would burst out of his chest at any second. The passion radiated so brightly that he was sure everyone on the plane could see that he was a man in love. Edward briefly thought of his family and friends. What would their reaction be when he told them? Would they believe him? Probably not, but he didn't care. The only person he needed to believe him was Bella.

Edward sighed and rested his head against the headrest as he drifted into dreams of what could be.

I once again apologize for the shortness and inadequateness of this chapter, but I think it got the point across pretty clearly.

Please review.