Disclaimer: Don't own it. You all know the drill.

Edward's POV:

The rest of the trip was awkward. Bella would not even look me in the eye, which pained me more than I ever would have thought it would. I didn't want to approach her because I knew that it would pain her, and I didn't want to cause her any more misery.

Alice was constantly to force us to talk to each other, but her efforts were in vain. Bella, at the most, would only speak a few syllables at a time to me, while I, in turn, spoke little, not wanting to somehow further the already wide gap between us.

The whole time I longed to hold her in my arms and feel her soft lips on mine, but I restrained myself. At times, I thought that she wanted that too, but I told myself that it was simply my imagination. Bella must hate me for leaving her even if she didn't show it, and I didn't want to give her any further cause to look at me with disdain.

The need I felt to explain everything to her, why I had left, that I loved her more than she would ever know, was stronger than even my need for blood. I wanted, no needed, to tell her truth, but I stopped myself whenever I worked up the courage to try. If she rejected me, I would be broken. I couldn't handle that.

"How was the trip?" Esme asked after greeting us. I grimaced, but Alice bounded cheerfully up to Esme.

"Oh, it was fine, but you'll never guess what happened with Bella!" Alice said, her voice filled with awe.

"What happened?" Carlisle asked, suddenly appearing by his wife's side.

"Well, we were hunting, and all of a sudden we smelled a human, but Bella for some reason wasn't affected. It was so. . ." Alice trailed off.

"Really?" Carlisle said frowning and looking over at Bella. "Do you have any idea why this might have happened?"

"I was very opposed to blood when I was human, so do you think it makes sense that I'm not affected now?" Bella said softly. I smirked. Opposed to blood wasn't strong enough for Bella's repulsion to blood.

"Perhaps," Carlisle said, frowning thoughtfully.

We stood, silent for awhile, just thinking when Carlisle broke the silence.

"Bella, you know that you cannot live with humans," Carlisle said quietly. I watched Bella's expression carefully. It slowly turned from confusion to dread.

"But Charlie," Bella said, her voice expressing her helplessness.

"I wish there was another way," Carlisle said sadly.

"But Bella's not affected by human blood!" Alice protested.

"Perhaps it was just her lack of knowing what human blood smelled like. Or maybe her instincts weren't working properly," Carlisle said calmly.

"We could test it," Alice said. "I'll take her to the mall. We need to go shopping anyway."

"But to put those people at risk," Esme said frowning.

"It will be fine if we all come with her to make sure she doesn't cause anyone harm," Carlisle said, reassuring his wife. He put his arms around her, and stared into her eyes. I cringed. They looked like the epitome of love. I wished with all my dead heart that I could take Bella in my arms like that and hold her.

The next day, everyone, even Rosalie prepared to go to the mall.

Alice's thoughts were a mess of inconsequential things, such as shopping, and serious matters, such as if we would be discovered today, and if Bella would hurt anyone. I too had my own doubts, but I suppressed my worries.

When everyone was almost ready to depart, I walked outside and to the cars. Surprisingly, Bella was there too. I had thought that Alice had kept her as her personal"Barbie doll" as Bella called it. I almost went inside, but then I caught a closer look at Bella.

Bella's face was paler than any vampire's I had ever seen when we arrived at the mall. She was frowning and nervously biting her lip. I longed more than ever to take her into my arms and comfort her. It pained me so much to see her like that, but I knew that I couldn't bear for her to push me away.

"Everything will be fine," I said reassuringly to her, surprising myself. I hadn't planned to say anything. Bella stared up at me in surprise.

"I hope so," she said nervously, taking a deep, unnecessary breath.

"Are we ready?" Alice asked, walking up to us. I looked at Bella again then nodded, heading over to my Volvo.

We rode in two separate cars. To my relief and dismay, Bella and I didn't ride in the same vehicle. I looked through the window of my car to see the inside of Carlisle's car, I saw Alice take Bella's hand then she opened the door. All of a sudden, without any warning, Bella leaped from the car. She turned to face us quickly, her eyes burning with hunger and desire. I leaped out the car and ran to her at my full speed, not caring whom saw.

I pinned her arms to her side, and held on. It was not an easy task since her strength surpassed mine. Emmet appeared by my side quickly and helped me restrain her. Together, we took her back to the car and put her inside of it. I looked at her with sadness, not because I was ashamed of her, but because I knew that she would be angry with herself once she realized what she had done. The thought of Bella in pain caused me pain.

When I walked into the living room after the tense car ride I was greeted by sullen faces.

"Can't I just say goodbye to Charlie one last time?" Bella asked, her voice sounding desperate.

Carlisle shook his head sadly.

"No, I'm sorry, Bella," Carlisle said, shaking his head.

"But I suppose you could write him a letter," Esme said quietly.

Bella nodded, then walked out of the room, her expression one of pure, and utter hopelessness.

Author's Note: Oh my gosh! I am so sorry that I haven't updated since, well, a really long time. I swear that I will get the next chapter out sooner. I really hope that this chapter kind of expressed what Edward was feeling and what his motives behind everything he did were. I hope I did Edward justice. He's just so hard to write about in first person. Anyway, you guys know the drill. Please read, review, and review some more! If I'm lucky I should have the next chapter out long before Halloween, but if not because I've got tons and tons of homework, Happy Halloween!

PS. Here are the sneak peaks of the next couple of chapters. Well, they might be revised a little, but these are the general outlines. Enjoy!

Chapter 22: Filler chapter. How they faked her death. Ect.

Chapter 23: THE Edward and Bella talk (finally!)