I survived Nashville! It was pretty amazing, but I don't want to see another beer for a very, very long time. Twelve girls in one hotel room was certainly quite the show, as well. But it was amazing, and I'm so happy for one of my old friends as she prepares to get married in just two short months. I can't believe so many of my friends and classmates are doing so, but well, we are that age!

Thanks for reading and reviewing. You have no idea what it means and how much it warms my heart; keeps me going. I love you all.

Edward's coming out to talk this chapter for a while, then it's back to Bella for the rest of the chapter! Enjoy.

…

Edward Masen Cullen

It had taken me days to work up the courage to give Emmett my address to slip to Bella. I could have sent her a text message, but I didn't want her to feel like she had to respond. We had texted a few times since I told her about getting the Boston internship, but it just didn't feel like something I could send to her in a text message.

Time was passing, but I still hated myself for breaking up with the woman of my dreams, especially in such a cold way. I had detached from the situation the week before it happened, but it had blindsided Bella. I knew that, and it still gnawed at my conscious.

I threw myself into my studies, and then when exams were finally over, I focused on my upcoming internship and move to Boston.

My father was happy for me and I knew that despite of this, it was still a little bittersweet for him. He still wished that I was a young boy; because those were the days my mother was still with us. I wished that she could have seen me accomplish these things. However, I knew that she would be proud of me no matter what, but especially because of what I was doing. I was so close to achieving all the success I had ever dreamed of, but I couldn't help but think of the girl I had let go. I would have loved to have her at my side through all of this.

Things had gotten so bad that I just hadn't been able to see an end to the madness. We were struggling, and had put off fixing things for far too long. Every problem, for the most part, had been ignored. We had lived in a blissful bubble, and it had been wonderful while it lasted. I never knew that I could love another person as much as I loved that girl. I just wish I hadn't broken her heart like I did, smashing mine in the process as well.

…

"Well, that's the rest of it," my dad said, dropping the last box on the floor in my small apartment. I had actually saved up enough money to get my own place, and even though it was tiny, it was mine.

"Thanks, dad," I said, looking around the small space.

Emmett and my dad had come to help me make the move, but I would be unpacking and getting set up on my own.

Like everything else, it was exciting but nerve wracking at the same time. I wished Bella was here with me, and I couldn't seem to push that thought out of my head. It was the first week of January, and I knew that she didn't start classes again until the following week. I was sure she was still staying in Newport with her family, and Emmett confirmed it when I finally asked.

Later that night, Emmett and my dad left after a round of beers at a nearby pub, and I headed to my new home alone.

The apartment was dark as I entered, and I immediately climbed into bed. I was a little sore from moving, and completely exhausted. However, I couldn't stop myself from reaching for my phone as I laid there on my back, staring up at the ceiling.

I stared at her contact entry in my phone address book for a long time. The red heart that still followed her name taunted me and made me feel a little sick to my stomach.

...

Bella Swan

I was staring up at the ceiling of my bedroom at Phil and Renée's house in Newport, unsure why I couldn't seem to fall asleep. I'd had a busy day with family and friends as we are preparing for winter break to come to a close, but I've been in bed for hours chasing sleep.

My phone chimed suddenly, and I contemplated ignoring it and continuing to try and fall asleep. It chimed again, and my mind was made up. I reached over and picked up my phone, squinting at the bright screen. My heart fluttered when I saw Edward's name on my screen, and I couldn't believe what I was reading.

Bella, I know I screwed up. I needed time but I didn't do it the right way, and breaking up certainly didn't solve our problems if we wanted to continue in the future. Could we try to be friends again? I'm not asking for anything else. I just can't imagine going any longer without talking. I'm really sorry if this is out of line, and I don't want you to feel obligated to talk to me if you don't want to. Just know that I am sorry, and I know you don't owe me anything. I hope you're doing well.

I read it over and over again, trying to process the words he had sent me. My heart was beating so hard it felt like a hummingbird in my chest, frantically trying to escape. I had been waiting for him to say these words to me, and I couldn't even tell if it lived up to my expectations. I felt lightheaded, but also excited, and I couldn't help but smile.

I would really like that.

After I hit send, Edward replied quickly and invited me to lunch in Boston in a few days. I thought long and hard before accepting, but I came to the conclusion that this was really what I wanted to do. Even if we would be nothing but friends from here on out, I couldn't deny that I did want him in my life, no matter what the circumstances were. I didn't want to cut him out completely, and I didn't want him to feel that way about me, either.

I accepted his lunch invitation, but spent the rest of the night awake; wondering what was in store for us.

…

Edward looked exactly like I remember, but somehow different at the same time. He was wearing a Nationals pullover and a backwards Yankees cap, and the scruff on his face was still that gorgeous red-brown color that I loved. But he stood up straighter; held himself differently. He had somehow grown up a bit more in the last few months.

He smiled at me in greeting, and told me I looked nice in my yoga pants and Brown sweatshirt. He held the door open for me, and pulled out my chair when the hostess showed us to our table.

We had decided to meet at a small café, which Edward had said was just a few blocks away from his new place. The conversation was a little stilted at first, awkward and full of polite conversation, but Edward somehow found a way to thaw both of us out.

"I really have missed you, Bella," he said softly, looking at me earnestly.

"I missed you, too," I said honestly, holding eye contact. "I'm glad you reached out to me, really. Even if we never get back together, I hope that we can be friends. You're still very important to me."

Edward nodded, and I could see the relief on his face. "I know I was wrong for breaking up like that," he said. "I hate the way I did that, because it caused you unnecessary pain. And now that I've taken a step back and seen what it's like without you…I know that I want to aim to fix things, not just cut one another out of each other's lives, you know? Even if we don't get back together, I don't want it to mean that we're never going to speak again. I can't do that."

"We both have a lot of changing to do before that happens, but I would like that. We both have a temper but you're so hotheaded, Edward, that you lash out when you feel even the tiniest bit defensive. It caused a lot of unnecessary fighting. I know that I can be judgmental, and that there are many things that I need to work on as well. But for now, let's be friends."

"I would love that."

…

The change was subtle, but it was definitely there. We didn't talk every day, or even every week, but the lines of communication were open and we began to share parts of our lives with each other once again. We sent each other little updates about school or me or work for him, along with funny happenings or pictures we stumbled upon. We didn't meet up again in Boston until the end of February, and even then, we just grabbed lunch together and talked like old friends.

I still craved his touch and wished that things could be different, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy about the way we were doing things. Edward wasn't nearly as temperamental, and I wasn't confrontational or clingy. Friendship actually came easily to us.

At the beginning of March, Rosalie came down to Providence to go over wedding plans with me and have a girl's night at my apartment, like we always used to do. She showed me the wedding dress she had finally decided on, and the bridesmaid's dresses she was stuck between. I would be here maid of honor, so I was thrilled to be able to help her with anything that I could. The wedding would take place at in Southampton, but it would still be a very formal event, and Rosalie's parents were sparing no expense.

"I'm going to ask you something, Bella, and you have to be honest," Rosalie said, looking up at me from her wedding binder.

"Shoot," I said, taking a bite of the ice cream that sat between us and continuing to flip through one of the wedding magazines she had brought along.

"Well, Emmett chose Edward as one of his groomsmen," she said slowly. "His best man, actually. So…"

I swallowed my ice cream quickly, realizing immediately what that meant. "Oh. Well…I mean, sure it might be a little weird, but it's your wedding, Rosalie. I want it to be perfect. It won't be a problem, honestly. We both want to be there for you and Emmett on your special day."

"I figured, but I wanted to say something to you and make sure it was okay before it just got sprang on you at the rehearsal or something," Rosalie explained. "I didn't want you to be surprised."

"Well thank you," I said, smiling at her. "That's very considerate. But Edward and I are friends- it might actually be fun."

Rosalie laughed, shaking her head at me. "I'll never understand you, Bella Swan."

…

Thanks so much for reading. Let me know what you thought!

I did post part one of the Four Hundred & Twelve futuretake on Sunday, so if you were interested and missed it, go check that out!

Updates will be a little weird this week because I'm going to be working with part two of the futuretake, as well. See you again soon!