Chapter 21:

A/N: Hello friends! I apologize for having such a delay in my updates! The story has taken a back seat to some exciting stuff that is happening in RL right now. MrShortHand and I just bought our first house! Most of my free time has been spent negotiating, signing tons of paperwork, and starting to pack. Our settlement isn't until April, though, so now it's just a waiting game.

I'm hoping to crank out a few more chapters before life becomes a whirlwind again, when we actually move at the end of April. But please bear with me if updates are sometimes sporadic.

Anywho – let's get straight to it! Thank you to my awesome beta, Coleen561, she nominated me for the Inspired Fanfic Awards. I'm not sure if I made it past the nomination round, but if I do – please vote for me

Please
Take this
And run far away,
Far as you can see.

I am
Tainted.
And happiness and peace of mind
Were never meant for me

All these
Pieces.
And promises and left behinds,
If only I could see

In my
Nothing
You were everything
Everything to me

-Nine Inch Nails

Edward's POV

Day 1

"Hey, it's Isabella, I can't answer my phone but leave a message!"

"Bella, baby, please call me back. I'm so sorry. So fucking sorry. I hate myself for what I did to you. Please…I just need to talk to you."

Day 2

"Hey, it's Isabella…"

"Bella…please. I need to know you're ok. I just….I need you. Please give me a chance to explain."

Day 3

"…leave a message!"

"I miss you. God damn, I miss you so much. I miss your smell and your smile. I miss your voice. Please come back to me."

Day 4

*Beep*

"I'm so lost, Bella….so fucking lost. Please forgive me."

Day 5

"The number you are trying to reach has been disconnected."

I threw the phone across the room and buried my head in my hands. She had changed her number. She never wanted to speak to me again. She didn't want me anymore. And I deserved all of it.

I had called her every day, hoping to just hear her voice. I had no clue how to make any of this right, but I swore that if she would just give me a chance and pick up the phone, I'd do anything to get her back. But she wouldn't give me that chance. By Bella disconnecting her phone, she sent me a message loud and clear: I never want to speak to you again…I'm moving on without you.

I absentmindedly rubbed at the ache in my chest and threw my head back; the dull thud of my head hitting the wall was the only sound in my hotel room. Just as I had done every night since Bella walked out on me, I would come back to my room after performing and curl up in a ball on the floor. I didn't want to believe any of it was true. I kept convincing myself that if I stayed in the same position she left me in, I'd eventually wake up to find it was all a dream – or some horrible, crazy, drug-induced trip that would set me back on the straight and narrow. But instead, the only dream I had was constantly reliving the night that she left me over and over again.

(5 days earlier)

Having Bella back on tour with me was supposed to change everything. She was my safe haven. The past few weeks without her had been hell for me. Without her, I was spinning around in circles; I didn't know which way was up. She was my compass: having her back by my side would give me the direction I needed.

I promised myself I was done with the drinking and drugs once she returned. As she lay asleep in my arms, our first night back together, I swore I would do the right thing. But the next morning, when I got the text from Garrett, the urge to get high one last time was too overpowering. So I lied to Bella…again. And I convinced myself it would be the last time I ever lied to her…another lie.

When I returned from the club that night, I was relieved that Bella was still working on her song. I didn't want her to see me in the state I was in. I woke up the next morning with a splitting headache and still hadn't caught up with Isabella, but I didn't think much of it. It wasn't until I arrived at the venue that I felt a change in the atmosphere. Something felt off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. People looked at me like they knew something that I didn't. I tried to shrug it off as paranoia from the drugs still in my system, but when I went to search for Bella and couldn't find her, I started getting more suspicious.

I went to my dressing room to get ready for the show. By the time I had changed and downed a few Ibuprofens, Isabella was already on stage, singing. I walked to the side of the stage and was surprised to see so many people watching her perform. Sure, this was her second performance since the accident, but it was the same performance she gave every night on tour – yet Rose, Alice, even Emmett and Jasper, all stood staring at her.

I was about to ask them what was going on when Isabella began playing the song she had just finished writing for the movie. I was so caught up in her haunting tune that all my focus went to her on stage. The song was beautiful. It was heart breaking, and she put so much emotion into her lyrics and voice that I could have sworn she was crying as she sang it. She was so fucking talented…so unbelievably amazing as she sang. My heart swelled watching her.

I didn't have time to find her after she was lowered below the stage to tell her how I felt about the song. The guys and I were immediately rushed out onto stage to do a quick guitar check and get ready for our opening number. By the time we were done with the concert, the worries and suspicions I had felt before the show had started to disappear.

I had gone back to my dressing room to shower and get changed before venturing out for the night. I had just pulled a clean t-shirt over my head when there was a knock on the door; Emmett walked in without waiting for an answer.

"Are you ok?" he asked me.

I looked at him quizzically. "Yeah, man. Why wouldn't I be?"

He just shook his head, not responding. I shrugged at his lack of conversation and pulled on my Chucks.

"So, what are the plans for tonight?" I asked him.

"You should go back to the hotel, man."

"Nah, I'm too wired up. Let's round up the group and plan an after party."

Emmett looked at me sadly and slapped his hand on the back of my shoulder. "Just go back to Isabella, bro."

Before I could ask him to explain, he turned around and walked out the door. His cryptic message left me feeling more annoyed than concerned. What the fuck did he mean by that? Where did he get off thinking he knew anything about my relationship with Bella?

When I got back to the hotel, I opened the door and found the room dark and empty. If it wasn't for Bella's silhouette backlit by the city lights out on the balcony, I wouldn't have even known she was there. I watched her as she leaned over the railing, taking a deep drag off the cigarette she was holding. Maybe Emmett had been right – something was clearly wrong. The fact that Emmett knew that before I did aggravated me.

"Bella, baby, what's wrong?"

And with that question my entire world began to crumble around me. She knew. She knew everything. All the lies I had been trying to hide from her; everything I had tangled myself up in as I tried to save our relationship. She found out everything…and it wasn't from me.

"Tell me what you did. If you could fucking do that to me – then you can certainly stand here and tell me to my face," she spat at me through angry tears.

But I couldn't. How could she ask me to say those words? If I spoke them out loud, it would finally become true. Saying "I cheated" would give the phrase so much meaning beyond those two simple words. There was no meaning or explanation for what happened – only regret.

"I'm so sorry…so fucking sorry."

It was a pathetic attempt, but I had nothing else to offer. When I looked up at her tear streaked face, I could see the heart break in her eyes. I knew there was nothing I could ever do to make this right. All I could do was beg for her forgiveness and hope that she would have mercy on me.

I stepped forward to try and touch her…to comfort her, but she slapped my hand away. The act stung more than the physical contact. She didn't want me near her. I could feel myself beginning to drown. I desperately needed Bella to hold onto - to save me. But as I watched her gasping for air, I realized that I had already thrown her overboard, and she was sinking right in front of me.

I did the only thing I could think of and began rambling off excuse after excuse. I had to make Bella see that I didn't mean any of it. It was one stupid fucking mistake. It meant nothing. Bella was my everything. I just needed her to give me a chance.

But Bella made it clear that I was out of chances. She refused to believe anything I told her. After all, I had told her so many lies – how could she know what was the truth? I paced back and forth on the balcony, frantically trying to figure a way to dig myself out of the hole that was getting deeper and deeper. I finally stopped and looked her straight in the eyes. So much of my fucking dirty laundry had just been tossed out in front of us; it was time to finally come clean with it all.

"I was on drugs that night."

I was expecting Bella's initial reaction to be shock or anger. Instead she gave a resigned sigh; her face filled with sadness as though she had already accepted this fact.

"How long have you been using?"

"It was just a onetime thing." The lie rushed out before I could even think about what I had said.

Clearly, this was not the answer that Bella was expecting. She pushed past me with such force that I stumbled back a few steps. I watched helplessly as she stormed over to my suitcase and began throwing its contents to the side. I had a sinking suspicion I knew what she was looking for…but I had no clue how she knew.

When she stood up, she violently flung the brown package, which we both knew was filled with coke, at me. It bounced off my chest and hit the floor with a dull thud. I stared at it with contempt. It was like all the lies I had been feeding to Isabella were nicely packaged up in that brown parcel and laying there in front of both of us. I felt sick.

"How long have you been using?" Bella repeated.

There was nothing more I could say. I bowed my head in defeat. "Since my birthday."

Bella let out a strangled sob and turned away, disgusted to even look at me.

"You are so fucking stupid," she told me.

I knew I was.

The realization that she was already slipping through my grasp caused me to fall to my knees. She was leaving me. I could hear it in her voice; see it in her face; and, deep down, I knew it would end like this. It was an insecurity I struggled with since the morning I woke up next to Tanya – one day Bella would learn the truth and realize that she deserved better than me.

I didn't even realize I had said all my fears out loud until she tearfully agreed with me. "You're right. You don't deserve me."

She crouched down and touched my cheek, telling me how much she loved me. I could hear the finality in her voice and knew this was the last time I would ever hear her say those words to me. When she stood up and turned her back to me, I knew she was seconds away from walking out the door and out of my life.

Still on my knees, I cried out and grabbed at her ankles, physically trying to keep her by my side. I could feel my face wet with tears, and I choked back on the sobs that were convulsing through my chest. Any other time, I would have been ashamed at my display of emotions. Edward Cullen didn't cry. Edward Cullen didn't beg. But in that moment, I didn't care about anything but Bella.

I wept and blubbered out apologies at her feet. I spewed out empty promises to fix everything and make it better…even though I had no clue how anything could ever be better after this. I desperately begged her not to leave me.

"Please…I love you…I don't want to lose you."

"You already have."

She yanked her legs out of my grasp and walked out the door; she didn't bother to look back. The door snapped shut with a click. I lay on the floor, motionless, while my brain tried to catch up with everything that had just happened.

Bella was gone.

She left me.

She broke up with me.

My sobs grew louder with each minute that passed, and she didn't return. My cries echoed around the empty room.

Empty.

"BELLA!" I clutched my chest; my heart felt like it was going to explode.

My world felt like it was spinning into darkness. What should I do? How could I get her back? How could I go on without her? I crawled my way over to the wall closest to the door and curled up in a ball, praying that she would return…

…I wasn't sure how much time had passed. My knees were pulled up against my chest and my head was in my arms when I heard the door click open and then shut again.

"Bella?" I asked wearily. I tried to lift my head and look up, but my eyes were heavy and swollen from the amount I had been crying. "Bella…I'm so sorry."

"Oh God, Edward!" I heard a gasp.

A figured dropped down beside me and it took me a minute to adjust my focus and realize that Rosalie was on her knees next to me. I glanced up and saw my brother standing by the door, looking at me sorrowfully. Rosalie wrapped her arms around me and started to cry. I listened to her weep in stunned silence. Why was she crying? It couldn't have been for Bella – she barely even liked her. And it certainly wasn't for me…if anything she should have been mocking me: the Great Edward Cullen had fallen from grace.

"Edward, I'm so sorry," she cried, still hugging me tightly.

I shook my head, unable to comprehend this side of Rose. I dropped my head back down on my knees. "Go away," I mumbled into my arms.

I heard Rosalie sniffle and felt her pull away from me. "Edward…please talk to us."

I stayed silent. What was there to say? Why did she even care?

"You can't be alone, Edward. You're going to drink away your pain and that's not going to help anyone. Isabella wouldn't want you to be like this…"

Hearing Bella's name caused me to snap and lash out. "The only thing that Isabella wants is to be as far away from me as possible! Isabella was the one who left me like this! Now GO AWAY!"

Rose took a step back and wiped at her tears. Emmett cleared his voice and rested his hand on Rosalie's shoulder. "Give me some time alone with him."

She nodded and paused before opening the door. "Edward…"

I stared into emptiness, not wanting to acknowledge her. She sighed and walked out. Emmett stood by the door, continuing to observe me. Neither of us spoke. After what felt like fucking forever, he finally walked over and slid down the wall, sitting next to me.

"She left," I rasped out after an uncomfortable amount of silence.

"I know."

"She hates me."

Emmett turned his head to look at me. The sadness I saw in his eyes mirrored my own. "Me too."

I choked back a sob and buried my head back in my arms, embarrassed that I was now crying in front of my older brother. I felt Emmett's arm wrap around my shoulders. and my body shook violently as I tried to control my tears.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this, man," I wept. "She wasn't supposed to leave me."

"She'll come back…just give her some time."

"No, she won't," I said dejectedly. "I've told too many lies."

Emmett pulled his arm away from me and scrubbed his hands over his face. "It's my fault. I told you to lie. I tried telling Iz…but she just slapped me in the face."

For all the times I had thrown Emmett's words back in his face, I now felt guilty that he had been dragged down into this mess that I had made. While he gave shitty advice, it was my own fault for listening to him. It was my fault for cheating on Bella. It was my fault for doing the coke. Emmett said not to tell Bella because he was looking out for her. I chose to continue lying to her because I was looking out for myself.

"It's not your fault, Em. None of this is."

We sat in silence; both of us staring at the wall, lost in our own thoughts. Neither of us knew what to say to each other, but I could tell Emmett was worried to leave me alone. When I couldn't take the stillness anymore, I stood up and walked over to the bar. The package of coke was still out in the middle of the floor. I walked past it; glaring at it as if it had betrayed me..

"What are you doing?" Emmett angrily asked when he saw me unscrew the bottle of whiskey.

"Forgetting." I poured the contents of the bottle into a glass and swirled it around.

Emmett stood up and marched over, standing next to me. "Nothing is going to make you forget! You really want to lock yourself up in this room and drown away your sorrows, trying to forget Isabella? You should be figuring out everything you need to do to get her back!"

I slammed the glass down on the counter. "She's not coming back, Emmett!" I roared. "There is nothing I can do to get her to come back because I don't deserve her! I've fucked up too many times. She's not going to forgive me!"

Emmett looked at me disgustedly. "So you're just gonna keep on fucking things up?"

"And what do you think I should do? Please tell me, Em, because, so far, your advice has been SO helpful!"

"The love of your life just walked out the door a few hours ago, and you've already given up on her? You're right…you don't deserve Isabella."

I glared at him murderously. How dare he say that to me! I didn't just let Isabella walk out the door. I crawled on my hands and knees and clung to her, begging her to stay. He didn't know shit! We both knew that if he wasn't my brother I would have already punched him by now.

"Isabella left you because you cheated, lied, and are using," Emmett continued. "You don't want to lose her? Clean the fuck up, man! Remind her that you're still the same guy she fell in love with. You have to prove yourself to her and prove that you've changed."

I looked down at the liquor dejectedly. "She deserves to be happy," I whispered. "I can't make her happy."

"Not now you can't! But I guarantee that you've made her very happy over the past year. Clean it up, Edward! You think she's happy right now? You make her happy."

I shook my head and raised the glass up to my lips, anticipating the burning sensation that was about to go down my throat.

"And what about you, Edward?" Emmett countered, causing me to pause before taking a drink. "Don't you deserve to be happy?"

I stared at the whiskey in the glass, pondering Emmett's question.

"Not anymore." I threw the liquor down the back of my throat and immediately poured myself another drink.

Emmett glowered at me. I knew he was disgusted by my behavior, but I didn't give a fuck. Isabella was gone…no amount of his "logic" was going to bring her back. Emmett walked over to the door and opened it, preparing to leave.

"You know, you're my little brother, Edward; I'm always going to look out for you. But at some point you're going to have to start looking out for yourself."

He slammed the door behind him, leaving me alone and staring at where he just exited. The same door Bella had walked out of just a few hours earlier. I wondered what she was doing right now, where she was. I closed my eyes and pictured her face as she crouched in front of me, seconds before she left. It was full of pain and heartbreak…it would always be the last memory I had of her.

Emmett made it sound so easy – stop drinking, stop the drugs, get her back. He didn't see the finality in her eyes. He didn't know how badly I had broken her. This would be my penance for my sins – to live the rest of my life with regret. Isabella would eventually move on and find someone that would make her happy…make her forget.

I imagined as the years passed, my Bella smiling with another man…kissing another man…starting a new life together…walking down an aisle in a beautiful white dress to a man that wasn't me…running after little kids in a backyard. I squeezed my eyes shut; the images in my head caused me to double over in pain. I had never imagined my future without Isabella. But up until now I had never really pictured what our future could have been. We were young and stupid and in love. I hadn't thought about marriage or kids. I hadn't even realized I wanted all of those things with Isabella. Now that I had finally figured it out…it was too late.

I raised the second glass of alcohol to my lips and paused, thinking back to both Bella and Emmett's words about me needing to get help. I angrily threw the glass across the room and watched it shatter across the wall.

How weak and pathetic I must have looked to both of them!

I didn't need their pity.

I didn't need anyone's help.

Day 6

I left the hotel room in a drunken haze and pulled my sunglasses down over my face to cover my bloodshot eyes. After violently throwing my alcohol across the room the night Isabella left, I really had tried to start turning my life around. Sure, I still drank myself into a stupor every night, but I hadn't touched the cocaine in five days. Remembering the look of disgust on her face when she told me how I was so stupid, was enough to make me stop cold turkey. That all changed last night when she disconnected her phone.

After reliving the nightmare over and over again in the dark room, I gave in to my inner demons. "Why are you trying to change for her?" they whispered to me. "She doesn't want you anymore." So I stumbled over to my suitcase to where the brown parcel lay unopened, and finally let myself forget her. Alcohol couldn't erase the memories – but I knew the cocaine would wipe her from my mind for at least a few hours.

The only problem was when morning came…her face was still the first thought to pop into my head. As much as I tried to forget her, nothing could erase the pain. And even though my head was throbbing, it was nothing compared to how much my heart continued to hurt.

I made my way down to the hotel lobby and was immediately swarmed with dozens of paparazzi and reporters in my face, asking about Isabella. The crowd continued to grow each day that she was gone and each day that I remained silent. Rosalie had already come up with a generic statement about Isabella's departure. As far as I knew, Isabella's publicist only blamed it on her needing more time to recover. Even though nothing else had been implied by either team, it seemed that everyone knew Isabella and I had broken up.

I remained silent to the media. They didn't need to know shit about our relationship. I kept waiting for the day when Bella would finally open up and tell-all about my problems and why she broke up with me. She had the perfect opportunity to drag my name through the mud; she would come out on top of this whole mess. Yet, so far, no one had seen or heard from her in the past five days.

I pushed my way through the throng of cameramen, trying to make my way to the car service waiting outside.

"Edward! What can you tell us about Isabella Swan's sudden departure?"

"Is it true you two broke up?"

"Do you have anything to say to Isabella while she's recovering?"

"What was the real reason for her leaving?"

I kept my head down and ignored all their questions. When I reached the handle to the car door, a hand clamped down on my shoulder. I spun around, ready to pounce. A tall, brown-haired woman stood in front of me, smiling brightly.

"Edward Cullen, I'm Laura Saltman, a correspondent with Access Hollywood."

"I don't care."

"Edward, you have to understand everyone's interest. The two of you were Hollywood's 'It' couple! Isabella came back on tour for two days, was supposedly even strong enough to make her newest music video…but then suddenly leaves the tour, saying she's not fully recovered? It just doesn't make sense."

"That's not my problem," I said, dryly. I tried to turn back around to the car, but she stepped in front of me.

"Do you miss her?"

I tried to mask the sudden pain I felt ripping through me from her stupid question, but Laura must have seen how her question caught me off guard and she pounced.

"I'm getting some reports that there was another man– that you kicked her off your tour?"

I snorted at the ridiculousness of her "reports." We both knew she made that up on the spot to try and read my reaction. I turned back around and opened the car door.

"Nice try, sugar."

"So why did you kick her off the tour then?"

I shook my head, annoyed that she wasn't getting the hint. Bella just needed to speak out and tell everyone the truth – then everyone would know what a fucking asshole I was and leave me the fuck alone. I was tired of this shit.

"You want to know what really happened? Why don't you go and ask Isabella yourself? She's the one who left me." I jumped into the car, not giving Laura a chance to respond, and slammed the door in her face.

I sat in the car and contemplated why Bella's camp was being so silent these past few days. Surely, James would have jumped at the opportunity to play Isabella as the victim. I wondered if she was getting bombarded with reporters the same way I was. I wondered where she was and how she was feeling. Each day I checked the gossip sites, waiting to hear her side of the story. While I knew it would bring a shit storm on me, I was disappointed each day there was no news. I just wanted to hear her voice. I just needed to know that she was ok – even if she was angry as hell at me.

The car dropped me off at the venue, and I began to make my way down the hall. I knew I was the last one to arrive, but I didn't care. Ever since the night Bella walked out, Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie had steered clear of me – only speaking to me on a need to know basis. I made the mistake, one night, of trying to ask Alice if she had heard anything from Bella. Alice sternly put me in my place, informing me that we could talk about shoes, makeup, and fashion – but Isabella Swan was off limits.

As I rounded the corner, I walked straight into the last reporter I wanted to see. The fucker had avoided me the past six days, which only solidified my suspicions that Jacob Black somehow played a role in Bella finding out the truth. If he was smart, he would have continued hiding out. I was already in a foul mood, as it was, and Jacob was about to get the brunt of my anger.

Jacob saw the fury in my eyes and instinctively stepped to the side, putting a bit of distance between us.

"Edward…"

I didn't let him get another word out. I lunged towards him, catching him off guard, and threw my right fist into his jaw. He stumbled backwards and held onto the side of his face; his eyes were wide with a mixture of surprise and fear.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" he shouted.

I continued to stalk towards him while he stumbled backwards down the hall. "'What the fuck' is right, Black," I growled at him. "What the fuck did you say to Isabella?"

Jacob didn't get a chance to respond. Out of nowhere it seemed everyone had quickly crowded into the hallway and this increased the distance between the two of us. Emmett held back Jacob, while Jasper stood in front of me. I summed up the situation and figured I could easily take Jasper…getting past Emmett to Jacob would be the tricky part.

Rosalie marched down the hallway, looking livid as hell. "What the fuck are you doing, Edward?"

I ignored her and kept my eyes on Jacob. "Answer my question, Black!"

"I didn't tell her shit! She knew everything – and what she didn't know, you showed her yourself."

I took another step towards him but Jasper put a hand on my chest and pushed back, hard. I was surprised; Jasper was much stronger than I had expected. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Isabella came to me that night, frantic and begging me to take her to 40 Deuces." I inhaled sharply, and Jacob smirked as I remembered how that night's events had played out. "She saw everything."

"And I'm sure you were more than willing to help her find me in a compromising position, weren't you?" I lunged for him again, breaking free from Jasper. Before I could even try to make my way around Emmett, Rosalie stepped in front, blocked my way, and shoved me backwards.

"Are you out of your mind, Edward? You just attacked a reporter! He could sue you! Get the fuck back to your dressing room!"

"I'm not leaving 'til this fucker gives me answers!"

Jacob laughed and rubbed at his jaw. "I've told you everything. I had no clue you were even at the club until I saw you with my own eyes. I have no idea how Isabella knew you were there. That's something you'd have to ask her…oh, wait, that's right – she's not here anymore."

"You fucking piece of shit!" I struggled as Jasper wrapped his arms around my chest from behind and pulled me backwards.

"Get him out of here!" Rosalie yelled at Jasper. Emmett left Jacob standing by himself and walked over to me, roughly grabbing my shoulder.

"Calm the fuck down, Edward! He's not somebody you need to fight."

I took a few deep breaths and shrugged myself free from Jasper's grasp, continuing to watch Jacob from a further distance.

"I apologize for Edward's behavior," Rosalie said to him. "Let's get you checked out by our medical staff. I'm hoping we can come to some sort of agreement so that this incident stays out of the press and court room?"

Rosalie extended her arm ahead of her, silently ushering him to walk with her and remove himself from the situation. Jacob snorted and shook his head.

"Whatever, I'm not pressing charges." I glared at him as he started to walk past me. Jacob caught my eye and sneered. "Having Isabella realize that her boyfriend is a lying sack of shit was worth getting punched in the face."

"I'll fucking ruin you, Black! You hear me?" I yelled. "You're fucking fired! I'll call up Rolling Stone myself and tell them you've been sabotaging my relationship. Hell, for all I know you've been sleeping with Bella this entire time!"

Jacob stopped a few feet ahead, his back facing me. Emmett's hand dropped from my shoulder as soon as those ridiculous accusations left my mouth. Jasper frowned, and Rosalie turned to look at me, horrified.

I didn't believe a word of what I had just said. As much as I was sure Jacob would have loved for it to be true, I knew Bella would never do that to me…not like I had done to her. But it had already been established over the past few nights that without Bella, I wasn't much of a man – and I had no problem hitting below the belt.

Jacob chuckled to himself, and I watched the back of his head slowly move from side to side. "You know what? Fuck it. If I'm going to get fired, it may as well be for something I actually did. At least then it'd be worth it."

He took a step forward, and I thought he was going to walk away before he quickly turned around to face me.

"This is for Isabella, you selfish son-of-a-bitch!"

The last thing I remember seeing was Jacob's fist coming straight towards my face.

Last note: I know the end of this chapter may leave some people hyperventilating, thinking I'm going to turn this into a JxB fic. Please don't write me and threaten to stop reading it if that happens. I've said it before and I'll say it again – this is all ExB.

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