First off, it's not really necessary, but it was fun- and requested. There's outtakes for Through Glass now- check my profile if you're interested. It's only one chapter, so one POV long so far- Tanya's POV (an outsider POV) from last chapter. It might answer a few questions, but really, it's just fun to read! :p

The number of hits to last chapter astounded me! Thanks so much to everyone that is giving the story a chance and sticking through the Jasper/Bella bits! You guys are so awesome! To those who are leaving me reviews (thanks to you all – it means so much to me) if I haven't responded, 'cause I suck at being timely, I will! Promise!

Again thanks everyone for reading!

Everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

Love is like a dying ember,
And only memories remain,
And through the ages I'll remember,
Blue eyes crying in the rain.

-Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Willie Nelson

I rose from my chair to make my way outside. From the sound of him, Jasper was beyond drunk, there was no telling what I would find out there. I was really not looking forward to dealing with this. It had been bad enough earlier, when he was sober, now… well I just didn't have any idea.

"Bella-"Edward started, grabbing my arm gently to get my attention. I turned my head to him and was overwhelmed by the emotions shining through his eyes. The love for me was absolutely there, but there was also worry, anger and… was that regret?

"Bells stay here. I'll go deal with Jasper," Charlie said in his authoritative tone. I tore my eyes from Edward to him and shook my head at Charlie. I opened my mouth to protest, but was cut off, "Don't argue with me young lady. No good can come from you walking out there right now."

And with that he strode from the room. I made to follow, I knew Charlie was wrong- no good could come from him out there dealing with Jasper, but was held back by the hand still wrapped around my arm.

"I think you should listen to him, angel," Edward said softly. "Jasper is obviously drunk. Just let Charlie do this, please. He's right- it wouldn't be a good thing if you went out there right now."

"You're wrong," I argued and pulled my arm from his grasp. Swiftly moving out of the kitchen to keep someone else from trying to stop me, I approached the door just as Charlie stepped out of it.

"Jasper," Charlie nodded to him. "You mind telling me how you got here?"

Straight to business, Charlie- trying to give him a DUI?

"Chief Swan," Jasper croaked. "Please- I need to talk to Bell. Please, sir- it's important."

"Yeah, I heard," Charlie said shortly. "I asked you a question, young man. How did you get here?"

I stepped out onto the porch, behind Charlie and took a long look at Jasper. His head was down, so I couldn't see his face, but his hair was matted and wet- there was no telling where he'd been or how long he'd been outside. His clothes looked drenched and clung to him messily. There was a bottle of Jack Daniels in his right hand and a wet, limp cigarette in the other. Belatedly I wondered why Jasper thought it was a good idea to show up at the Chief of Police's house like this. And then I worried about him getting sick from being out in the rain and the cold in this state. I opened my mouth to say something but Jasper cut me off.

Without raising his head, he told my father, "I drove. I'll willingly let you arrest me for that- I know I broke the law. Just… please sir… I need to talk to her."

Charlie sighed, "Jasper… you really think it was a good idea to go drinking and driving? I'm gonna-"

"I swear I wasn't out drinking and driving! Well, I was to get here- but I didn't get drunk while I was driving!"

"That doesn't matter, and you know it. Right now? I'm looking at a DUI, a public drunkenness, and an open container- you wanna tell me how I'm supposed to ignore that?"

Jasper didn't answer and after a moment, I raised my hand to my father's back. Charlie jumped slightly- he hadn't realized I was there and turned an angry expression to me. "Damnit Bells! I told you to stay inside!"

Jasper's head popped up to look at me and I felt the breath leave my lungs at the sight of him. His face looked as it did when I told him that I was in love with Edward, but there was something else there as well now. He was looking at me with hope in his eyes and I knew then- Charlie was right. I'd given him the wrong impression by coming out here. No good could come from this.

When I found my voice, I asked, "Dad, can I just… have a minute? With him?"

Charlie shook his head, "No. You wanna talk to him- say what you gotta say. Same goes for you, Jasper. Anything you wanna say to her- you say it in front of me."

I sighed as Jasper nodded his head. I didn't want to admit how comforting it was that my father refused to leave me alone with Jasper- I didn't really want to be.

"Bell- I'm so sorry," Jasper started. "I thought about it- really thought about it, and I realized that you were right. I didn't want to listen to you- I didn't give you a chance to explain anything. It's my fault, Bell. Please, you have to forgive me!"

I took a deep breath, turning my eyes to my father and finding the reassurance I needed to say, "Jasper… I… I… we've both made mistakes-"

"And you were completely justified in what you did, Bell! The way I acted toward you- hell! I'm just… fuck, baby, I'm so fucking sorry." And he broke into a fresh round of tears, crying loudly and just repeating how sorry he was over and over.

I didn't know what to say to him. Really, I had thought that finding out about Edward, whether it was what he had thought it was or not, would have been the final straw for Jasper. Now, he was willing to forgive me for that? I just… didn't know what to say to him.

"Bell, please, just hear me out, okay?" His cries had subsided slightly, allowing him to talk a little more clearly. "Look- I know that shit I said to you in Jacksonville was wrong. I had issues with trust from before you and I let those totally rule me. I was wrong, Bell. So fucking wrong and I'm sorry," he bent over, setting the bottle in the grass at his feet along with the limp cigarette. Straightening back up, he said, "But you have to forgive me, baby. You have to! I don't know how to… to… to be, without you! You- you're everything! Everything to me Bell, and I promise I won't pull shit like that on you again!"

"Jasper-"

"No, Bell, just let me finish, please?" I sighed but nodded for him to continue, "I'm also sorry for what I said to you tonight, at my parents' house. You didn't ask for me to treat you like that and I didn't even let you explain anything. Again. If you want to tell me the whole story- I'm all ears, baby. Tell me whatever you want, but please forgive me. Give me a chance, Bell."

He took two unsteady steps toward me. How in the hell did he drive? My father grunted in disapproval next to me, loud enough to stop Jasper where he stood. He looked toward Charlie and nodded once, "I know that I messed up, sir. I messed up bad and I know that you don't think much of me. But, I love your daughter- I think I have forever. I will make it all up to her, I swear that to you."

Charlie sighed, "Jasper, son, its not me you need to be sucking up to. And I think you need to take a step back and really think about what's going on here. Bells is… she's happy with him. If you love her… you'll let her be happy, no matter how."

Jasper's bottom lip quivered as he stared at my father, and he sniffled loudly before saying, "I respect that, sir. But you'll have to forgive me for not wanting to let her go. I love her too much." He turned his gaze back to me, "Bell, I won't stop loving you- you can't ask me to. And I can't give up on us- so don't ask me to. I know how bad I messed up but-"

And I couldn't sit there and listen to him browbeat himself anymore, "Jasper, did you miss the part where I said that I cheated on you? With Edward? Who I'm in love with? Because it sounds like you've just blocked that out-"

"No, I didn't forget," he mumbled. He looked down at the ground and shuffled his feet in his spot. Minutes passed and I thought maybe I had gotten through to him when he dropped to his knees in front of me and said, "Isabella Swan, I know this is fucked up and I don't have anything rehearsed and it's not the best day or time to be doing this, but… I love you," he raised his eyes to stare in to mine. I knew exactly what he was about to do and I couldn't for the life of me stop him. My whole body was frozen in place, my mouth was stuck shut and dry as hell. His right hand reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black, velvet box. "I asked my Momma for this yesterday, and I know you heard from Alice earlier… anyway," he opened the box and showed me his great-grandmother's ring.

Guess Charlotte decided not to tell Esme after all.

I opened my mouth to cut him off before he could get the question out, but I was cut off by Alice. I didn't even know she'd been listening in, or standing right behind me for that matter.

My powers of observation continue to astound me.

"Are you fucking serious, Jasper? After what she told you today, you're still gonna do this?" she shrieked at him.

"Alice," Charlie started.

But I was still staring at the ring. The ring that his great-grandmother wore on her finger through thick and thin. She wore this ring when one century turned to another and she wore it when she could barely put food on the table to feed her children. Her husband put this ring on her finger when she was seventeen years old and her family took it off when she died at the age of eighty seven. Seventy years she wore this ring. She wore this ring when she married her husband and it was there when she buried him. Charlotte treasured this ring; hell the whole family treasured this ring- much like they treasured the woman who had worn it. The ring itself looked brand-new. Five diamonds, round cut, lined up perfectly on the thin band of white gold. It had served as her engagement and wedding band, as was the tradition in her time.

Conversations were going on all around me. I could distinctly hear Edward and Tanya bickering from behind me, and Alice and Charlie bickering to each side of me. I heard Esme's voice trying to reason with everyone all at once and I couldn't take my eyes off of the ring that Jasper had just presented to me. Only when the ring moved, did my eyes. Jasper had stood from his position and was walking toward me.

My eyes popped up to meet his. The blue was sparkling again, pleased with my reaction to the ring. A small smile stretched on his lips as he made his way, as gracefully as his drunken body would allow, to me. He stopped less than a foot in front of me and raised his hand to cup my cheek.

"I know that I'm not the man you thought I was," he whispered. "But I can be, if you just give me a chance, Bell. I'm never gonna stop loving you, baby. I don't think I ever can," he reached for my left hand, cradling my ring finger gently between his pointer finger and his thumb. Mentally, I screamed at myself to stop him, to look away from the spell his eyes were casting on me and the inevitable hurt involved in his actions. Physically, I was still frozen. The ring slid smoothly onto my finger and he asked, "Will you marry me, Isabella Swan?"

My eyes closed of their own accord- they were burning from being left open while staring at Jasper and the ring. He must have taken that as affirmation because his lips touched mine quickly. My eyes popped open and my body came back to life. I raised my hands to push him back from me but all of a sudden, and without help from me, Jasper was flying backward.

The noise hadn't registered in my fuzzy ears and everything happened in slow motion. Edward's form flew past me, at Jasper on the ground and I heard the noise for what it was. Skin against skin, bone against bone. Edward threw another punch at Jasper, to the opposite cheek this time. And then again and again until Jasper's body caught up to what was happening and then he was off the ground. As if the punches had immediately sobered him up. He began to throw a punch at Edward and everyone came to life.

My father made his way quickly to the two men, trying to push and pull and get them away from each other. His voice was drowned out because of all of the yelling. Edward yelling at Jasper, Jasper yelling at Edward, Alice yelling at Jasper, Tanya yelling at Edward, Esme yelling at Jasper, Alice yelling at Edward, Tanya yelling at Jasper, Alice yelling at Tanya. Lights were flickering on all up and down the street, doors were opening and people were stepping out in their robes and nightclothes. A loud rumble got louder and the old truck that my father had bought for me when I was in high school pulled up in front of the house.

I belatedly wondered how it was still running- Charlie had made me sell it and helped me buy my car when I went to college. He wanted me to have a more reliable form of transportation. He had bought the truck from Jake's father, Billy Black and Jake had been overjoyed. He did all of the work on the truck himself and used it as an excuse to try and woo me with his mechanical skills. When we had told him that we were going to sell it and buy me a new car, Jake had begged my father to let him buy it back. He paid for it with a year's worth of yard work and a new paint job on Charlie's house.

Jake hopped out of the driver's side of the truck and I saw two more Res boys hop out of the passenger side. I remembered them immediately but was still shocked at how different they looked. Quil and Leah's brother, Seth had grown up a lot since last I'd seen them both.

"Dude!" Jake yelled, grabbing hold of Jasper's arms and yanking him backward. He motioned with his chin toward Edward and Seth immediately stepped in between the two men, effectively cutting off any cheap shots that Edward could have and possibly would have taken. "What the fuck, Jas?"

"Thanks, boys," Charlie grunted, wiping his jeans free of the grass and leaves that were stuck to him from trying to get Edward and Jasper apart. "Are you the ones that got him drunk and let him drive tonight?"

"Got him drunk, yes. But we sure as hell didn't let him drive. He snuck out while we were getting snacks. Swear, Chief," Jake said and then grunted as Jasper got an elbow free and promptly jutted it into Jake's side. "Fuck Jas, that shit hurts!"

"Let me go then, dumbass," Jasper spat, struggling against Jake's renewed hold on him. "I'm not gonna do anything! Besides, that fucker started it!"

"You kissed my woman! What did you think was gonna happen?" Edward yelled at him. He was trying to find a way around Seth- Edward would take a step one way only to have it mirrored by Seth. "You should learn to keep your hands off what doesn't belong to you!"

"Fuck you! She's wearing my ring, you asshole! That means she's my fiancée! Did you forget that you have one of those yourself?!"

Edward laughed mirthlessly, "Funny. I, in fact, don't have a fiancée. Which you would know if you ever let Bella talk! Did you forget that you have a wife? So you know, having a fiancée on top of that is kind of… trashy. Don't you agree?"

"Doesn't fucking matter! Nothing changes the fact that Bell is gonna be my wife so you'd do good to get the fuck out of here! What the fuck are you even doing here, anyway?"

"I'm here for Bella. She called, I came. What are you doing here? Besides pissing me off!?"

"Enough!" There! I found my voice! All heads turned toward me with wide, shocked eyes and gaping mouths.

Jake recovered first, giving me one of his big, goofy grins, "'Sup Bells? Where you want us to put these two?"

But I didn't have a fucking clue as to what to do with the two of them. I didn't want them in the same room with one another but I didn't trust them to their own devices either. I knew one thing though- this ring had to come off my finger. It fit too perfect and looked too amazing and it was seriously clouding my judgment. So, I decided to talk to Jasper first. "Could you guys all go inside? I need to talk to Jasper, please," my voice was so quiet, I was almost sure no one had heard me. But then I saw Jasper's smug grin and knew that everyone had heard me. Even Edward.

He trudged back toward the house, slowly and it looked as if every step was a test to him. He stopped just to the left of me and glanced down at the ring that was nestled on my finger. Gulping, he began, "Bella, please tell me-"

"I'll be in soon, Edward. I promise we'll talk then," I interrupted him. I needed to do one thing at a time. My list was made; I just needed to check things off now. First thing was giving this ring back and telling Jasper that I couldn't marry him. "Please, Edward. It has to be him first. That I talk to, I mean. I have to talk to Jasper first. Please?"

His stare was intense, so much so that I had to look down and away from him. I hadn't changed my mind in regards to Edward, and all of this was just making things worse. It was going to be harder than ever to do what I'd resolved to do. I heard his eventual sigh and peeked at his face from under my eyelashes. His face was twisted in an anguished grimace- he had to have known what I'd decided. The look on his face was one of resignation and regret. I ignored the tears threatening to spill over onto my face, thinking about being without Edward- I loved him. I didn't deserve to cry for my callousness though, and I wouldn't allow the tears to fall. His eyes closed and he nodded, taking the last few steps into my father's house.

Alice, glaring at my ring finger was followed by Tanya, Esme, Seth and Quil into the house. Charlie walked close to me and quietly told me, "I don't feel really comfortable leaving you out here like this, Bells. I think I should stay-"

"No, Dad," I croaked, still fighting with the tears in my throat. "I need to do this alone, please."

Charlie sighed but nodded, "Don't let him leave; one of the boys can drive him home. Okay?"

I nodded and Charlie reluctantly made his way past me through the door. That left only Jasper, Jake and me outside. I turned to Jake and raised an eyebrow- he was still strong holding Jasper's arms.

He grinned again, "You sure you want me to set him free? I got a pretty good lock on him right now."

Jasper grunted and struggled again as I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, Jake. I need to talk to him. Do me a favor?" Jake nodded, his expression solemn now, "Keep prying eyes and ears away from the front of the house?"

He let Jasper go, clapping him once on the back and sending him a playful grin, "No prob, Bells. Hey- Leah told me to tell you that you need to come by while you're in town. She got some new kitchen thingy she wants to show you. I think she wants you to tell her how to use it."

I laughed lightly but nodded, hugging Jake as he went past me into the house as well. The door closed with a resounding click and I turned my full attention to Jasper. He was still wearing that smug grin and the twinkle in his eyes was showing his happiness, clear as day.

I cleared my throat, "I need you to let me talk. To not say anything at all and let me say everything that I need to. Okay?"

His grin dimmed a bit at the sober droll I'd used. But he motioned with his hand and a nod to let me know that he would grant my wish. I took one deep breath and spilled it all. How long I had loved Jasper, why I had moved, what I felt when I found he returned my affections, how overwhelmed I'd been when he'd shown up at my door, how upset I was that we hadn't talked that week, meeting Edward in the bathroom, how I'd knocked my head open, how hard it was to send him home, therapy after he'd left, conversations with Rose, conversations with Edward, conversations with Angela, that conversation with Alice, dinner with Edward, party at Angela and Ben's, an extremely edited version of what happened between Edward and I that night, Edward's admissions about his relationship with Tanya- everything, like I said. And he kept his promise, he remained quiet throughout. His emotions were plain on his face, the anger, sadness, regret, hurt.

When I'd finished, I told him, "But regardless? I can't marry you, Jasper," he opened his mouth- the first time in almost an hour. "No, please. I need to finish." He sighed and ducked his head mumbling his assent. "You were right, Jasper. This? Us? We weren't meant to be. If we were, you wouldn't have turned to Alice that day. I think that the attraction was always still there, and neither of us could help that. I do love you, and I don't doubt that you love me, I just… I don't know. It just shouldn't be this hard, should it?"

He raised his head, not looking at me and whispered, "Is it easy with him?"

I blew out a breath, "That doesn't matter. I'm not talking about him. I'm talking about us, Jasper. I mean, we argued within a day of being together."

Jasper nodded, "I'm sorry for that, Bell. Really I am."

"Jasper, it doesn't matter, not anymore. I forgive you- if you even want my forgiveness anymore."

He turned to me, "So, that's it? You're done with me?"

I closed my eyes, "I'll always love you. I just… can't be what you need me to be. I am sorry for leading you on- I just didn't think it was the best time to bring any of this up."

"I get that. Really, I do. Bell?"

I re-opened my eyes and stared into his. He whispered, "I love you. You know that right?" I nodded; I did know he loved me. "If he fucks up, I'm here. I'm not getting past this anytime soon- but I'm not like extending an invitation or anything. I just mean… I'm here. If you need me."

The tears that had been threatening to spill over, finally did. He pulled me into a hug and I cried on his shoulder this time. He was being far more amicable than I would probably be able to and he didn't know what he was saying. He shouldn't be offering me his comfort when I'm the one that ended things. I pulled back from him- it felt wrong to receive solace from the man who I had hurt so badly. I slid the ring from my finger and passed it back toward him. He took it gently, holding it out in front of him and examining it.

"It's a gorgeous ring, Jasper."

He smiled, "Yeah. I mean, thanks," he laughed a bit. Rolling his eyes at himself, he told me, "Grandma Maggie told me it would be mine one day. She told me I had to ask my Momma for it when I was ready, and that I would know when the time came," a sharp pain stung my heart again at his words. I never meant to hurt him like this, "I never even thought about giving it to Alice. I don't know why- I had thought I was sure about her when I decided to ask her."

"She really wanted that ring," I sniffed. Her attitude from earlier still had me a bit upset.

"Yeah, she really wanted a faithful husband too," he scoffed. He tucked the ring back in its box and slid it into his pocket. "She'll find one, one day. But, if I've learned anything from all of this- it's that Alice and I aren't meant to be."

I laid a hand on his arm, "You sure about that?"

He looked at my hand and placed one of his own over mine, "I'm sure. She deserves more than I can give her- she's a good girl. She needs to learn to keep her mouth shut, but she is a good girl."

I nodded, "I don't know if she's gonna accept that. She's made it pretty clear that she's holding out for a reconciliation with you."

He jerked his head up, "Are you shittin' me?"

I shook my head, "She said so, earlier. We had a bit of a screaming match here before you showed up. She let it out then."

He gasped, "You and Alice?"

I smiled, "I'm not her favorite person right now. She thought I was leading the both of you on. She didn't understand why I was doing what I was doing."

He shook his head and sighed, "Damn. For a minute there I was holding out hope that you two were fighting over me. That's pretty hot to think about."

I looked at him incredulously, "Are you still drunk?"

He nodded unashamedly, "I drank a whole bottle before popping that one open," he pointed to the forgotten bottle of whiskey sitting in the grass. "I think I'll still be drunk tomorrow."

I laughed at him, "You're terrible. And a lightweight. You know that right?"

He smiled, embarrassed at his inability to drink like he could in college. We sat there; enjoying the silence between each other for once- all the tension of before was gone and replaced with a tranquil hum. The rain had let up, just a bit, the pitter-patter a delicate lull now.

Suddenly, he turned to me and asked, "Was it love at first sight?"

I looked at him, confused at the question. He clarified by asking, "With ass-Edward. Was it love at first sight?"

The peaceful was gone, just like that. It was all the reminder that I needed as to what I was going to do. I had fooled myself, sitting out here with Jasper and thinking that everything was okay now. It wasn't- only two things were marked off of my list. And Edward was the next thing.

I hated doing that. I hated departmentalizing everything going on around me right now- especially Edward. He wasn't an item that I bought and could return. And I didn't want to return him. I didn't want to give him up. I wanted to walk in there and tell him I loved him in front of God and everybody and fly back to Jacksonville with him and spend forever with him. Yes, it was love at first sight- I knew that. But in light of what I was going to do… it felt wrong to admit to it.

"Bell?" Jasper's tone had turned concerned. "What is it? I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, I'm sorry."

I shook my head, "It's not that."

"Then what, darlin'?"

I sighed, "It's nothing. Just thinking."

Jasper's hand grasped one of my own, "Hey now… we just got everything out- let's not start right back to keeping secrets."

But it wasn't something I could talk to Jasper about. So I consoled him with, "I'm just… It's just… weird to talk to you about him."

He chuckled and muttered, "Tell me." He squeezed my hand, "Bell?"

I looked up, meeting his eyes. "Look- for all the shit I talk about him and regardless of the brawl we got in to earlier… He was the first motherfucker up there today, pulling me and Momma off the ground. And I was gone, but not so gone that I didn't know that was him that kept my ass from falling on the way to the car. He's- fuck," he raised his free hand to his face and roughly scrubbed at it for a moment. When he'd collected himself, he told me, "He's a good fucking man. Anyone can see that. If the situation were reversed- I would've punched his ass too."

I furrowed my brows. Was Jasper giving me his approval? Seriously? "Jasper-"

"I just- okay I'm sorry for cutting you off, but I gotta get this out while I'm still being all gracious-like," I sent him a small smile and tilted my head in acknowledgment. "It's so fucking obvious how much he loves you. He's here, for one. And he's so protective of you. It's just there, in his eyes and his face. It's been there. Since that day in the bathroom, and that's why I reacted like I did. It was love at first sight for him. I just didn't really believe that it was you guys' first time meeting. Now, I know different."

And with a long breath he said, "There. That's it. That's what I wanted to say. I'm sure you know now that he loves you. I mean, I'm sure he told you he loves you. Did you tell him you love him? What the fuck, Jasper?" He hit himself in the forehead with the butt of his hand. "Of course you told him you love him. And he's here- you called him and he came. That's love. And- fuck I'm rambling."

I laughed at him and he eventually gave in and joined me. "I think… it's time for me to go home."

"Give me your keys- you got off light ya know. I don't think Charlie is gonna haul you in. But he asked me to get one of the boys to drive you home. Jake can follow."

He nodded and pulled them out, handing them to me, "We didn't get to do it in my truck, Bell. That's kind of a tragedy, ya know?"

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, yeah."

"Hey! C'mon! I know it's obnoxious of me to ask- I'm gonna pass it off on my drunkenness, 'cause I can," Jasper gave me my favorite smile. He asked, "We were good together. Yeah? Like that, I mean? I mean, in bed we we-"

"Yes, Jasper," I cut him off. While it was funny listening to him ramble, I didn't want to think about sex with Jasper Whitlock anymore. And especially not the night I gave him up as my lover. "We were perfect in that department."

He leaned toward me, watching me closely. I could give him this- one last kiss.

His lips met mine hesitantly, testing my reaction. I wouldn't resist him. I moved my own lips against his and with that encouragement, he began to move his own against me. It was the most heartbreaking thing I had ever experienced and when I tasted salt from my tears, I opened my eyes and pulled back from him. He was crying too. He whispered his love for me and turned his head away from me swiftly. I raised my hand and touched his hair, one last time. I whispered that I loved him too and stood quickly, making my way back inside.

I stood at the front door for a moment to collect myself- this was the hurt that I had anticipated. The hurt that I prepared for. The hurt I deserved.

I wiped my eyes and made my way to the kitchen, where I heard everyone's voices. It was late, they all sounded as tired as I felt. My eyes found Jake and I told him Jasper was ready to go. He nodded and the boys said their goodbyes before all stopping to hug me on their way out. I made myself look toward Edward and tried to find my voice to ask him if we could talk. I couldn't make it work- my body didn't want to cooperate with me again. Everything in me was screaming at me to not do what I was about to.

I didn't get a chance though, Tanya's voice cut through the silence, "Bella, we're all exhausted, perhaps we could all talk tomorrow?"

I jerked my head toward her and saw her cut her eyes at Edward and then back to me. There was a warning in her expression. It baffled me.

"Uh…"

"Tanya's right," Esme said. "Tomorrow, everything will be much clearer. We can discuss this further then. Alice? In light of… things… perhaps you would like to share a room with me tonight?"

Alice nodded and rose to follow Esme out. Edward wasn't looking at me. I needed to talk to him! This couldn't go on any longer.

I was vaguely aware of Tanya murmuring goodnight to everyone and snapped out of my trance when her fingers dug painfully into my arm. I jerked my head up, shocked at the grip she was holding me with.

Her voice was quiet, muted, but hard as nails, "I think we need to talk. Now."