CrashIntoMe: Chapter27:

"Carlisle, I need to talk to you," Bella said closing the door behind her. He wasn't at all surprised to be seeing her. He knew that this was coming. He hated to admit it but Victoria had been right. This entire thing was blowing up in his face.

"I expected you sooner," he said solemnly.

"Would you please tell me what the hell's going on with Edward? He just basically ripped me up one side and down the other for trying to help him. What's going on here?" Bella was visibly exasperated.

"I think part of this is my fault."

"How?"

"I have misled you. I let you believe that Edward knew you were helping me. But he didn't know. He didn't have any idea. I never told him. I knew him well enough to know that it wouldn't help him knowing. I was wrong, so wrong."

"Damn right you were!" she raged. "I trusted you Carlisle. I wanted this to be above reproach. I wanted to start out on the right foot with Edward. Now that's all been trashed. He won't even talk to me!" she held back the tears that threatened to burst threw at any moment.

"Bella," Carlisle began delicately, "You have to take some of the responsibility too."

"How so? You told me not to worry, that you had taken care of everything." Bella couldn't help wondering if there would ever be a man alive who would ever own up to his own misdeeds without somehow trying to place the blame on a woman.

"Edward came in here this morning totally blindsided by the fact that you were wealthy. You never told him? I mean your father is Charlie Swan for god sakes."

"I didn't think it was necessary. I mean listen to how you just now said my dad's name. I just assumed that everyone knew. I thought it would be common knowledge. Hell I didn't think it even mattered," she gasped still confused as to why it did.

"Bella, do you know how much you sound like your mother right now? I am sorry about all of this. Give him some time. He'll come around," Carlisle pulled her in for a hug. His only wish was that he believed his last words. Edward Masen was a tough one and Carlisle knew that this wasn't going to be easy on either of them.

"Sharon, have you seen Edward anywhere?"

Bella asked not at all ready to heed Carlisle's words of giving Edward some time. Time was something she knew he didn't need more importantly she was pretty sure what he would do with that 'time' and that scared her.

"Yeah, he's out back with the little kids in the sandbox."

"Thanks," Bella stopped by the window. She saw Edward's image through the sheer liners. He was helping Agnes build a sandcastle. Gone was the angry person who confronted her before. She was almost afraid to go and speak to him.

"Edward, we need to talk."

"I don't have anything to say to you!" he returned without even so much as a look in her direction. He knew if he looked at her he would be forced to recall how much he loved her and right now he couldn't let that happen.

"Well then at least listen to what I have to say." He remained silent as she continued, "I finally figured out what you were talking about. I am sorry. I thought that Carlisle told you about my helping him. Edward, in fact, he told me that he talked to you about it. I wanted you to know from the very beginning. I thought that us being up front about everything from the start was the best way to go," she said with an anguished filled voice. "I am sorry that you found out the way that you did but I was just as surprised as you."

"So much for being up front about everything – didn't you think telling me who you really were and where you were from classified as being up front? Or what would it have ruined the blissful feeling you got whenever you thought about how good helping this poor pathetic street scum made you feel? I don't need your fucking pity! Just stay the hell out of my life!" The old Edward Masen had returned with full force.

"I didn't think it was necessary to tell you. Hell my name should have said it all. This is totally ridiculous. I shouldn't have to justify my feelings for you against my father's bank accounts. I've never pitied you either Edward. I've done everything but that. I'm in love with you…you dope. If you don't choose to believe me fine, but I never thought I was making a fool of you."

"Save your bullshit for someone who gives a damn!"

She wouldn't let him see her cry. Before the tears could fall passed her lashes she exited without a word to anyone.

Bella took every chance she got to attempt to talk to Edward. But he had always been too busy or just flatly refused to be anywhere around her. She ached inside. She longed for him to hold her, kiss her again. She wasn't complete without him.

"You ready for tonight's performance?" Riley asked coming up behind her.

"I guess," she returned in a noncommittal tone.

"You okay?"

It wasn't hard to tell that in the last few days Bella had lost her newfound spark and even though she was still performing the part of Maria perfectly something was missing. One of the stage hands called them to the stage before she had a chance to answer his question.

That evening's performance was as spectacular as all the previous nights. Bella and Riley received a standing ovation. There were only two shows remaining before the play was to come to an end. On one hand Bella was overjoyed to see it all coming to an end doing the play night after night only served to intensify her longing for Edward. She saw his eyes in every scene. Yet on the other hand when this was done there would be an even bigger gaping hole in her life.

"You need a ride home tonight?" Riley asked Bella as she sat in front of the dressing room mirror.

"No I have my own car. Besides I have somewhere I need to be."

"Bella, are you sure everything's okay?" Riley was losing his patience. This plan of his was wearing thin on his already raw nerves. He needed to wrap it up soon.

"Yeah – yeah I'm fine," she said with a distant voice.

Bella walking into Hampton House with a heavy heart. She had to try to talk to Edward on last time. She couldn't continue going on like this.

"Alice, hi."

"He's in there," Alice pointed to the main room before Bella had even finished her question.

"How is he?"

"I think you still have a battle on your hands."

"Damn!" Bella commented under her breath. "Alice, I need to ask you something."

"Okay."

"When you found out my last name was Swan why didn't that send you running too?"

"Why?"

"Well it seems to be what Edward is so hung up on. He thinks I am one of them, whatever the hell he means by that," she cried.

"I have known who you were from the beginning and I knew you were so much more than your name. I really didn't really care who your dad was. I have never even met the man. Bella, if Edward is what you want then fight for him. Make him remember the person he met and fell for, not the person he thinks you are because of your last name."

"That's good advice, but will it work? Better yet you think you could just tell him for me?" Bella grinned sheepishly.

"I already did. I don't think he listened though. Good luck," she patted Bella on the shoulder as she headed to face Edward.

"Edward, please wait," she pleaded as he tried to walk away. "Please talk to me. I feel awful about all of this. I understand that you think I betrayed you. I didn't do it intentionally. I really thought that Carlisle had talked to you about me. I would have never hurt you on purpose. And about the rich thing…..well I don't even know what to say about that. I can't change that anymore than you can change who you are. I really thought you knew. I'm sorry."

Edward was bowled over as he tried to digest what he had heard. It would have been so easy to fall back into her arms and his heart desperately wanted to do just that but his head would have no part of it. "Did you forget? I told you to save the BS for someone who gives a damn!"

"Edward, please, I want to be with you. Why do you insist on punishing me for something that is beyond my control? Can't you remember that I'm Bella – just Bella? The girl you gave this beautiful necklace to just days ago?" She brought forth the golden charm from beneath her sweater.

"You knew you were keeping things from me! You knew you were doing it but kept right on doing it. How do you expect me to trust you again?" She heard his voice waver, "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"But, Edward…."

"JUST GO!" he bellowed throwing his hands up in the air.

Bella didn't hesitate. She turned and ran for the door tears streaming down her cheeks. Edward watched her retreating form swallowing hard around the lump clogging his throat. What had possessed him to be so cruel? She didn't deserve his hatred. All Bella was doing was her best to explain but all he could do was throw it all back in her face. He couldn't deny the connection that there was between the two of them. It ate away at him to think that he was losing the one person he was the closest to. Bella had given him purpose. A thing that he hadn't had in ages. He had a reason now to be the person that Jasper always said he knew he was inside. No matter all the logic that Edward was using he still wasn't able to let himself get passed this. He just wasn't able to let himself forget. Secrets and lies were such a big deal for him. He thought that Bella understood that. He had been lied to most of his entire life since his parents died. He had just never expected Bella to do it too. There was no way he could forgive her, he just couldn't.

Edward leaned against the cold brick wall of the center still wrestling with what he saw as betrayal. It wasn't fair. He had put so much faith in her. As much as he couldn't forgive her but he couldn't forget her either. Without realizing it tears dampened his cheeks for all that he had lost with her. "Why – why – why?" he whispered drying his face with the back of his hand.

The tap on his shoulder caused him to look up to see Jasper standing beside him. "Hey, I wanted to know what happened to you this morning. Mom had breakfast all ready but you were gone."

"Sorry. I had to talk to Carlisle. I had to let him know what I found out about Bella."

"Well how'd that all go?" Jasper questioned leaning against the building next to Edward.

"He knew. All the time he knew and the worst part is that she was helping him with my case. God, this is such a mess," Edward covered his face again fearing that tears might fall again.

"Okay, so she was helping him. What does that really matter?"

"Why can't I make you understand?" Edward questioned bewildered.

"No, it's you that needs to understand. She was the best thing to happen to you. You know it, I know it and no doubt that Carlisle knew it too or he wouldn't have asked her to help. So get off your high horse about the money and think about the girl."

"I wish it was that simple."

"It is! You're just too damn stubborn for your own good."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. The girl you introduced me to was genuine. She adored you and as far as I could see she didn't act like some rich bitch to me."

"I know," Edward returned softly his head finally relenting a bit.

"So then what's the problem? She doesn't give a hoot where you came from. Why are you giving her such a hard time about where she's from?"

"Jasper, I know we have been friends forever, but in case you haven't noticed you and I aren't really running in the same circles that often anymore. This thing with Bella is only going to come back to haunt me over and over again. They're just not going to accept her."

"Well, then buddy if you ask me you need to find some new friends. Because the way I see it you're the only one that loses here besides Bella." Jasper started to walk away. He couldn't get through to him no matter what words he used and could no longer take this conversation. "You know you're always welcome in my house," he said just as he rounded the side of the building.

Again Edward buried his face in his hands trying desperately to make sense of it all.