To the Guest who left the really long review; be patient you are getting ahead (but I'm really glad you're interested!) and I hope this chapter will help clear up some of your questions. If you still have some though I'd be happy to answer, just PM me!

A big shout out to my other reviewers FangsandDaggers and Lizy2000! I love the feedback and comments on my writing.

Chapter 25: Knock at the Door

APOV

A week had come and passed since Edward left me. I had gone to school that Monday after, dreading seeing him again. I just knew he would give me that same look; one of loathing. But I was surprised to find that he was not there.

Nor the next day.

Or the day after that.

Every day I waited for him to show, and every day he made no appearance. Even his family was absent.

By Friday I knew he wasn't coming back. Ever.

I supposed he had convinced his family to move. Away from the traitor and piece of scum that I was.

The week was hell.

I went to class, skipped lunch, and made no attempt to speak with anyone. I hid in the library during any free time I had. I couldn't bear to be around anyone.

I wanted to escape.

Of course anyone who wasn't present at the dance, soon heard the story about how Mike had attacked me and how I had fought back. It seemed many people were even glad to hear that Mike was in jail for the foreseeable future.

Some people wanted to talk to me, the "hero" about how brave I was. Some took my shying away as a result of the attack and let me be. Others just whispered, spreading rumors about what they thought had happened.

They wondered where Edward and his family had gone, I made no attempt to explain. This spurred the rumor that we were broken up, as a result of what happened at the dance. It was half and half on who they thought left who, although with my attitude more people were starting to think Edward was the one who did the leaving. It seemed pointless to dispel the stories as Edward and I were broken up, I wasn't going to offer details unless someone asked. As of yet no one had worked up the courage to actually ask and for that I was grateful.

Apart from school, the week was still pretty bad.

Dad wondered at my sudden change of attitude. I knew he suspected Edward and I had fought, but he didn't ask. I think he partly contributed my attitude towards the stress of dealing with the police on the Mike investigation.

The chief of police, Mark Jones had made an appearance at our house more than once, each time asking similar questions, but in a different way. I was nearing my wits end with all the involvement. I needed a break. I needed a chance to breathe in my own space without sideways glances or looks of pity or questions upon questions.

And so I did what I always did when I got too stressed to take life. I went to the Cove.

Walking along the sandy shores had always brought me a sense of peace in my otherwise hectic world. But today the sand between my toes helped little.

I stared up at the moon praying... but for what I wasn't even sure anymore.

In many ways I wanted Edward back. I hadn't been able to sleep knowing he was out there thinking the worst of me.

On the other hand I was glad he was gone, glad he wouldn't see me like this.

The mild caress of the November Ocean crept up my toes. I thought briefly about jumping in. The water was unseasonably warm; just a hint of chill that quickly dissipated. But I didn't quite feel up to swimming, so I stayed sitting in the cool sand, my feet occasionally splashed with the rolling tide.

I wrapped my arms about my legs, resting my head on my knees as I watched the sky and ocean.

It should have been peaceful, but I this nagging feeling in the back of my mind. Every time the nagging feeling would arise my mind would go back to the conversation I had with Edward before he left. Something about it just seemed… off.

I racked my brain trying to figure out what it was that was bothering me. But nothing came to mind.

I would just see his face, and the disgust. Unable to bear the memory I usually pushed it away and dared not to think on it; until the nagging feeling came back again.

But this time, I didn't push it away. I embraced it. I opened myself up to the thought and followed it through. Although it was painful.

"I wonder how far you would have let things go before telling me. A month? Two months? How long did you think you could keep up the charade Ana?"

Why would he say a month? As if beyond two months he would have found out?

"Recoiling from me when I touched your stomach, getting sick."

But why would getting sick be a sign?

"I'd never touch you or your tainted blood anyways."

"Did you really think you could hide it?"

What did he mean by tainted blood? What did he think I was hiding?

"You could have told me about the…pregnancy."

I gasped as it suddenly dawned on me. And everything clicked into place.

He thought that I am pregnant.

Of course he did. He pretty much said so, and I was so caught up in the past I never considered the present. It didn't dawn on me until now that he could have possibly been talking about me.

I was floored and relieved and yet somehow even more hurt than before.

I laughed bitterly at it all.

Everything was so clear now. And it hurt so much that he thought I would hide being pregnant from him. How could you hide that? If I had been pregnant wouldn't he be able to hear the heartbeat? Or notice a gain in weight? But I guess when you're upset you don't think about things logically.

He probably thought Mike had gotten me pregnant before he moved here. He would read the animosity between Mike and I as coming from that. Or maybe he thought Mike had forced me. That would make sense too given the most recent altercation.

Was that it then? He thought Mike had forced me? And that I had gotten pregnant from it; and was trying to hide it until I couldn't any longer?

I shook my head at myself, feeling the anger start to bubble within. I didn't want to be mad at Edward, but I could start to feel it now. How dare he? How dare he judge me? He hadn't given me any time to explain. He made accusations and ran out the door. The coward. He claimed to love me. Lies! All of it. People that loved you should at least give you the benefit of the doubt. No, Edward didn't love me. He was just an arrogant condescending jerk!

I was startled by the vehemence of my thoughts. I hadn't been this angry in so long, I almost forgot what the emotion felt like. It felt kinda good. I was allowed to be angry every once in a while. I was allowed to be justly upset. Maybe it was pointless, because it certainly didn't change things, but it did make me feel better.

If Edward didn't want me anymore, then oh well. It wouldn't be the first time I was rejected, nor the last I supposed. I shoved my feelings down, locking them away behind a wall that held other things I didn't want to remember. I would get through this. I would be okay.

Maybe he had left me unjustly, but I could get through it. I had friends now. Tyler and his crew, and Ang of course. They still liked me.

Well hopefully they still liked me, I did ignore them all week. Yet somehow I could imagine them accepting that I had been through some heavy shit and I just needed some recoup time. They would still be there for me.

As a matter of fact… I pulled out my phone and dialed Angie's number.

"Hey! Are you okay?" Angie's worried voice rang out even before I had a chance to say hello. Her concern and loyalty touched me deeply and I couldn't help the tears that formed.

"Not really Ang. I thought I was, but I'm barely holding it together." I had never been so honest with her and it felt really good to have someone to talk to.

"Where are you at? I'm coming to get you." I heard the shuffling of keys in the background. That was it. No demand of answers or guilt trip for avoiding her all week. Just 'where are you at?'

I sniffed a little before answering.

"Old Smith road. About two miles down, you'll see my truck to the left."

"I'm on the way. Sit tight okay, I'll be there in less than five."

We hung up. I knew the drive was more like fifteen minutes, but I didn't doubt she would be here in five. I started making my way to the head of the trail.

Four and one half minutes later Angie's headlights came flashing ahead. She really was putting some gas on the petal.

When she pulled in she jumped out the car and enveloped me in a great hug.

"I think you broke at least five laws getting here so fast," I told her with a watery laugh.

She shrugged a little and grinned. "Probably more like ten."

She hugged me again and wiped away some of the tears lingering on my cheek.

"Thanks for coming Ang. I'm sorry I called, I just…" I got choked up again.

"Hey, hey, it's going to be alright. I'm here." She paused for a second then looked around. "Although I'm not really sure where 'here' is."

I laughed. Ang had a way of making me do so unexpectedly.

"Here is a place I should have shown you a very long time ago." I answered and took her hand leading her towards the trail.

"Ana, I know you are feeling down, but I swear to cheese and crackers I will hurt you if you take me somewhere scary." The seriousness in her voice made me laugh again.

"It's not scary. Well I guess it might be a little odd, but I think you'll still like it. And I have a feeling you're going to be angrier that I've never brought you here before."

Angie looked dubious, but she followed me down the trail. When we came out the end to the beach I heard her gasp.

"Oh my goodness. This place is beautiful Ana." I could hear the wonder in her voice. I should have known she would appreciate it as much as I did. "And you are so totally getting your butt kicked for not telling me about this." She turned a mock scolding face on me.

"I know I deserve it. Big time. I guess I should tell you there's more, but I don't really want to go there right now."

Ang nodded her head understanding. We made our way down to the water where I was sitting before I called her.

We sat in silence for a while.

"This place really is something." Angie commented after a bit. "I know this is a dumb question, but, how are you holding up?"

I swallowed a little more than necessary.

"Not so great Ang. Not so great." I shook my head trying to clear it out. Not that it helped any.

"I know you probably don't want to talk, but what happened sweetie? You've been avoiding Tyler and I all week long. Don't get me wrong I know with all the crap that went down on Friday that you might be shaken up, but I feel like maybe this is all about something else."

I loved and hated how astute Angie could be. She really did know me better than anyone else. I had sold her short way too many times.

"I don't really know Ang. I mean Friday was… crappy, but I was okay. I mean not really okay, but I wasn't freaking out or anything. I guess I wasn't so good though, because I freaked out on Edward… more than once. And the last time," I stopped, taking a deep breath, "and the last time he took it all the wrong way. He misinterpreted my actions and everything is just so messed up Ang."

She scooted closer to me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

"I'm sure it can all be sorted out. Ana, I saw the way Edward was looking at you, he really feels something, and I think when he gets over being upset, he's going to realize his mistake."

I wanted her words to comfort me, but I didn't think it was true.

"You don't understand Ang, he really hates me. He thinks something horrible about me. We got in an argument and I though he was talking about one thing, but he wasn't and I basically let him walk away thinking it."

I could tell Angie was trying to follow, but with so many omissions of words I knew it was a garbled mess.

"I'm trying to understand Ana. I don't think he hates you, no matter what he might think right now, I really doubt it could be so bad that he would hate you for it."

"Even if he thinks I'm pregnant with someone else's baby?" I asked unable to hold back any longer. Angie's mouth dropped open. And then she started laughing.

"God men are idiots." That was it. No judgement, or asking me if I was pregnant. Reasons why I loved Angie dearly.

I started laughing with her.

"This is so not funny, but thank you for making me laugh," I told Angie. She snorted, a habit she picked up from me.

"It is funny. He's a complete ass if he really thinks you're pregnant, much less by someone else. I don't care what you said, it would take some serious lack of intuition to think such a thing."

I shook my head.

"I agree to an extent, but he more or less accused me of it, and I agreed. Only I didn't realize at the time that's what he was talking about."

Angie sighed looking at me sadly now.

"That really sucks Ana, but I still think he will come around. I mean it's gonna be pretty apparent you aren't pregnant after a few weeks. And don't you dare insult me by saying anything about an abortion. If he knows knowing else, I'm sure he knows you'd never do such a thing."

"I would never say that. I just don't know that he will even be around to notice one way or the other." The sadness seeped back into my voice.

"What do you mean?"

"He wasn't at school all week. Him or any of his family. What if he convinced his parents to go to a different school?" I knew technically this was a lie, but what else was I going to say? That he was a 111 year old vampire and if he wanted to leave, his family would follow him anywhere?

Angie looked as though she hadn't thought about this. Then her face lit up.

"He has a cell phone right?"

I saw immediately where she was going with this.

"He won't pick up my calls or text me. And before you ask, no I haven't tried. But believe me Angie, he won't."

She huffed a little.

"Do you know where he lives?"

Well there's an idea.

"I mean even if his parents did decide to let them go to a different school, which I strongly doubt by the way; nevertheless, they wouldn't have moved. You could go by his house. It might be awkward, but if you really love the guy then I think you should at least try."

She had a point.

Who was I to hold out and let things stay as they were? It was almost just as much my fault as his. If I had only told him the truth beforehand. If I didn't try, then it would mean my hurt feelings meant more to me than him. And as much as I hurt, I would take the possibility of hurting more if it meant there was a chance I could fix this.

"You're right Angie. I should go see him."

"Well go sister, but be safe." Angie told me encouragingly.

"You know Ang, I'm really sorry. You are the greatest friend and I think I've held out and not trusted you as much as I should have."

She gave me an understanding smile.

"I know. But I also know you have a lot more baggage than most people, and it takes time to trust and even when you start to trust you're gonna be more cautious about what say or do. I'm just glad to help. Besides you are my best friend and you have been there for me every time I've ever even thought about needing you. So, don't sell yourself short."

"I love you Ang."

With that we made our way back to our vehicles and said our goodbyes.

I drove with shaking hands to Edward's house. I knew even before I pulled up that they could hear me coming. I sat in the truck for a minute after pulling in, waiting for my heart to settle down.

With what little bit of courage I had, I braced myself and walked up the porch steps.

I reached up with trepid fingers and gave a single loud knock at the door.