Bella sits sullenly on the couch in the Cullen's living room while Edward glares at his family members each in turn. He doesn't glare at her though, which she's glad of.
It's this waiting that attacks her insecurities and fears, however silly they may be.
He doesn't want her.
The Volturi will come after the werewolves as well as her.
He doesn't want her.
The vote will be no.
He doesn't want her.
The jagged thoughts tear a track in circles around her head, making her feel panicky and empty inside.
Try as she might to forget him, Seth figures prominently in her thoughts, making her wonder whether she really is sure this is what she wants. It's hard to think about loving Seth though, living on La Push among all the reminders of the terrible things that happened. She cares for him as a brother, she cares for him unconditionally, but kissing him would be wrong for her.
Edward and his family finally assemble in the living room, all wearing different expressions ranging from cold anger—Rosalie—to concern—Carlisle—to excited laziness—Emmett.
The knock on the door means Sam has arrived, and Edward and Emmett stiffen. Sam brought Seth and Embry and Quil with him. It was obvious why, he didn't want to be outnumbered.
Bella wanted to scream at the obvious eagerness to be fighting.
The vote starts.
Rosalie wants her human.
Edward wants her human.
Carlisle, Esme, and Emmett want her to be changed.
Sam wants her human.
Bella glares at Edward. She is not giving up. They are breaking this tie.
She looks at Seth and he nods.
Edward is suddenly livid. He's stiff, his eyes so cold and remote Bella is almost scared. Whatever Seth is thinking he doesn't like it.
It's too late, Seth has offered to break the tie, and everyone but Edward agrees to let him vote. Bella looks pleadingly at him, and Seth's eyes are unsure, confused.
Seth is doing the hardest thing he has ever done, will ever do. He is killing his imprint.
Seth wants her to be changed.
Edward looks at Seth in flat out disbelief, and then unexpectedly his face is gentler, more vulnerable. Seth takes a step towards Bella, anguish clear in his face, and then he turns and phases out the door. Quil and Embry follow him. Breathing hard, Bella forces herself not to block the image of Seth's pain, to see it and know it's her—all her—and that it's ultimately for the best. She can't be torn and still grow strong. She needs to be whole, at peace with all of herself. Equal with her soul-mate. With Edward she can be as strong as him, with Seth she'll always have to be the delicate fragile one in the equation. She reaches out for Edward and he is there, pulling her close to his stone chest and putting his arms around her.
Sam growls in disgust and informs Bella and the Cullen's that they have a week to get out of Forks. After that…
When Bella Swan is a Cullen, there will no longer be protection, help, or any sort of tie to the La Push wolves. If she's a vampire, the imprint will become a memory, swallowed up in the pull of the instinct to attack an ancestral enemy.