A/N: Hi everyone! Thank you for the reviews from the last chapter. I'm really glad Riley's character went over well. It's hard to introduce new characters to a story because you never know how people will react to them.

Sorry for the late update, but I've been pretty busy the last few days. To make up for it, I'm giving you a EPOV.

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight.

Chapter 21 - Jealousy

EPOV

As Bella and I walked out to my car, I started to think about everything that happened tonight.

It was supposed to be a fun night for everyone to celebrate Bella getting hired at Fork's High School.

That being said, I was probably the only one who didn't have a good time. How could I? I was invited to a celebration for a person who hates my guts. In fact, she didn't even speak to me at all, until she asked me for a ride home.

But then again, I didn't go out of my way to talk to her, either. I wanted her to have a good time tonight and I know that I have a tendency to bring out the worst in her, so I did my best to stay out of her way.

I guess my brother figured that I'd do something like that, so he invited my friends, Alice and Jasper to tag along to keep me company. Emmett actually told me that he invited them because it would be a good opportunity for Bella to get to know some of her new coworkers, but I saw right through him. He did it for me.

I had met Alice after she had moved to Forks from Biloxi, Mississippi, a few months after had Bella had left. I found her to be a bit too hyper at first, but she just kind of grew on me, I guess. I never told her about Bella, but I did tell her about some of my other problems. She was one of the people who helped me when I needed it the most. Over time, I came to think of her as a sister.

Jasper moved to Forks from Houston, Texas, during our Senior year of high school. He and Alice hit it off pretty quick, and soon the three of us were hanging out together. Eventually, we all ended up going to the same college, and pursuing different types of teaching careers. Luckily for us, we were all able to get jobs at Forks High School.

I know that seems kind of unreal, but I guess the high school had decided to make some changes, such as hiring some new teachers and a principal. Like I said, we were lucky.

"Edward!"

I whipped my head towards Bella, startled out of my thoughts by her calling my name. She was standing on the other side of my car, looking at me with a irritated expression on her face. I didn't even realize we had reached my car because I too busy thinking.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"I've been trying to get your attention for last 2 minutes."

Really? I hadn't even heard her until a moment ago. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. "Uh, sorry about that. I was thinking about some stuff."

Bella rolled her eyes at me. "No kidding. You were quiet the entire way to your car, and when we reached it, you just kind of spaced out. It was kind of creepy."

I unlocked my car and got in, and she did the same. We put our seatbelts on and just as I put my key in the ignition, she blurted, "Wait!"

I looked at her. "What? Is something wrong?"

"I forgot to ask you if you had been drinking before I asked you to drive me home." She ran her hands over her face and muttered, "God, I'm such an idiot. I can't believe I did that."

I looked away from her and stared ahead. "I don't drink," I answered softly. When I glanced back at her, she looked surprised.

"At all?" she questioned.

I shook my head. "No. I used to, but not anymore."

Bella looked down at her lap and said, "Oh."

I could tell that she wanted to say something else, so I asked, "What? I know you want to ask me something, so just ask."

"Why don't you drink?" she asked me curiously.

As I opened my mouth to answer, she said, "You know what? Never mind. You don't need to tell me. It's none of my business anyways."

Not wanting to go into details, I simply told her, "I didn't have a drinking problem, if that's what you want to know. I just don't like how it makes me feel," I explained. I wasn't lying about that. Drinking just made me think of doing other things - things that had a role in ruining one of the best things in my life, and hurting the people I care about.

"That's understandable, I guess."

I hummed in agreement, started the car, and began the nearly 3 hour drive back to Forks.

The first half hour was spent in a peaceful silence. The only downside to that, is that it gave me even more time to think. More specifically, about what had happened after everyone else had gone to the bar and dancefloor.

(Flashback to a few hours ago)

As soon as the other's left the room, I left Alice and Jasper's sides and walked over to the large viewing window and watched them, well, just Bella to be exact. Emmett had disappeared somewhere in the crowd of people, most likely chatting with someone, while Bella and Rose contined to walk to the bar.

I had always thought that Bella was beautiful, but time had made her even more so. Tonight, she looked absolutely stunning.

And I wasn't the only one to notice either.

As I watched, I saw the bartender walk over to the two women and give them a flirtatious smile. I saw him speak to Rose first, and a moment later he handed her a drink. Then he turned to Bella, and spoke to her as well, but instead of giving her a drink, he went to deal with another customer.

A few moments later, he made his way back over to her and began to talk. It was clear thet they were flirting with each other.

The thought made me feel...I don't know...angry.

But why would the sight of her flirting with someone make me feel that way in the first place?

We were nothing other than colleagues now. It shouldn't matter to me what she does, so why does it?

I couldn't stand to watch anymore, and I walked back over to to my friends. I let myself relax while I talked to them about whatever. After about an hour, Emmett, Rose, and Bella, hadn't come back up again, so I once again walked back to the window to look for them.

I almost wished I hadn't.

I spotted Emmett and Rose practically having sex on the dancefloor and right beside them, was Bella. With the bartender. Dancing.

I began to feel angry again, but at the same time, I felt sad. Sad because, she looked so happy and carefree, like she did before I fucked everything up.

I felt someone walk up next to me, and a quick glance revealed it was Alice. I turned around and looked for Jasper, but he wasn't in the room anymore.

I turned back to the window, and without looking at Alice, I asked, "Where's Jazz?"

"He went to use the restroom."

"Oh."

"What are you doing?" she asked.

I sighed and ignored her question, and instead, I told her softly, "If I had done things differently back then, that could be me right now."

She looked at me, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

I just nodded towards the window and she followed my gaze.

"Oh! You're talking about Bella."

"Yeah."

"You have a lot of history with her, don't you?" she asked curiously.

"I do. To make a long story short, we used to be best friends. We did practically everything together." I took a deep breath. "At least until I ruined everything. Up until we had started high school, the two of us were often bullied. Bella was kind of overweight back then, and well, you've seen some pictures of me from around that time. I was pretty dorky looking.

But the summer before we started high school, puberty kind of caught up to me and suddenly, I wasn't dorky anymore. When school finally began, I was approached by some of the popular kids, wanting me to join them.

I figured, that if I was popular, maybe I'd be able to keep some of the bullies off Bella's back, but unfortunately, that plan backfired.

I was stupid. I hated being bullied before things changed, and I didn't want to go back to that, so instead of trying to stop them from doing it to Bella, I joined them. I started to only hang out with her outside of school, and we never went out in public anymore.

Somewhere along the way, I got mixed up with drugs, and I started spending less time with her because I was too busy getting high. But when I wasn't getting high, I was with her. For whatever reason, she continued to be my friend, even though I didn't deserve it.

I treated her so badly for almost two years, until I did something to her that she couldn't forgive, and as soon as school ended, she moved away without even telling me or my family.

And then you came along, and you know the rest from there."

"Wow. Now I get why Bella didn't want to talk about you. Does she know you had a drug problem?" asked Alice.

"No! And she's not going to find out until she's ready to talk to me."

Alice looked at me sideways. "Do you love her, Edward?"

I thought carefully before I answered. "I care about her. But I don't know if I love her."

Alice sighed and gave me a hug. "I really hope that one you can fix things and find out."

"Thank you, Alice."

"You're welcome," she said as she walked away.

I went back to looking out the window and saw that Bella was now alone. As if she could feel my eyes on her, she looked up at me before turning and saying something to Emmett and Rose.

A few minutes later, she came upstairs to ask if I could give her a ride home, and I agreed.

(End Flashback)

The rest of the ride home was quiet. Bella had fallen asleep about half an hour ago, so I decided to put on some soft music.

A while later, we had made it back to Forks. I dropped Bella off at home first, and then I went home.

I hoped I would be able to get a good nights sleep tonight, and not end up lying awake thinking about what Alice had asked me.

Do I love Bella? I'm not sure.

All I know, is that not only do I have to worry about fixing things with her, but now I have to figure out if I have feelings for her too.

A/N: How did I do?

Well, Edward finally revealed what one of his problems was, although I suspect that some of you already figured it out. :)

Now, all he needs to do, is wait for Bella to talk to him, so he can tell her.

See you soon!