I know you all have been waiting for this chapter so here it is. I'd say I hope you all enjoy but I don't think this is really something that you can enjoy, so instead I hope you all cry. Thank you to Guest and Guest for leaving reviews.

Chapter 29: Broken Promises

Edward and Alice never came over that night and the next morning, I woke to find that my wrist was a dark purple, the edges an almost sickly green. It was still a little sore to move, along with my shoulder but it definitely looked worse then it felt.

The area around my nose had also puffed up through the night though at least it wasn't bruised or discolored.

As I got dressed, I ruffled around in my jewelry box before pulling out the gel bracelets that had been big when I was in middle school. I hadn't worn any of them for years but today seemed like a good day to bring the trend back. I stacked them upon my wrist until the bruise was fully covered. It helped that most of the bracelets were dark colored, blacks and purples, with only a few light blues, greens and reds so the bruise mostly blended in.

My phone vibrated as I pulled it from my pocket, flipping it open. It was a text from Alice. Be there in a few.

I was slightly surprised by it because Alice and Edward had never sent me a text beforehand. They had always just shown up. I shrugged it off though, grabbing my stuff and heading downstairs so I could quickly make toast before they got here.

It had just popped when I heard their engine outside. I buttered it before running out, my bag bouncing against my back as I approached their car. I slid into the front seat as I shoved half of a piece in my mouth.

"Morning." Alice said.

I mumbled it back although I wasn't sure that she had understood it around my full mouth. She smiled weakly at me though and I glanced at Edward. He seemed just as tense as he had yesterday, if not more so, probably still beating himself up over giving me a nose bleed.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as he pulled away from the curb.

I swallowed before turning to them. "So did you get everything sorted out?" I questioned before taking another bite of my toast, a smaller one this time.

Edward's hands tightened around the steering-wheel before giving me a curt nod.
"What was it even about?" I asked, trying to get more information out of him.

"Alice had a vision." It was the first words he had said this morning and they were almost void of emotion, not quite monotone but almost there.

"Do I get to hear what the vision was about?" I asked, glancing toward Alice.

Her eyes flickered to me before she looked back out the windshield. "Later."

We were already at the high school and I assumed this was the reason. I just hoped that her vision hadn't been too serious, although I don't see why either of them would act this way if something big hadn't happened.

Was someone going to get hurt? Were there vampires that would be coming around? I could feel my heart thud heavily in my chest at the thought.

"Are you coming?" I glanced up to see that Edward had already opened the door for me and was waiting for me to get out.

I moved to do so but was pulled back into the seat. "Whoops." I said, fighting against the blush rising in my cheeks as I undid my seat buckle. This time I was actually able to get out.

Edward lips twitched into a small smile and I couldn't help but grin back at him.

The rest of the day, Edward and Alice were both more reserved than normal, hardly speaking at all in classes. Mostly they just looked like their minds were elsewhere but every now and then I caught them throwing glances at each other.

This continued for the ride home, even after we picked up Alisha. This time when he dropped me off at home I wasn't expecting him or Alice to stay so I wasn't surprised when they drove away soon after.

That night and the next one following were mostly just Alisha and I. Edward and Alice never stayed, even after Alisha begged them to. Dad also came home late both nights, only having enough time to say good night before we were heading to bed.

By the time Thursday came around, it was like the Cullens weren't even there at all. They were both completely silent in classes and at lunch. Not only that but they were withdrawn, sitting on the end of the table by themselves, not even glancing at anyone when they were spoken to. It was like they were in their own little world, one I wasn't included in.

"Is everything okay?" Lauren asked as we headed to Stats.

I nodded, biting my lip as I did so.

"Well it doesn't seem that way. Did you and Edward fight?"

I shook my head, knowing I couldn't really say anything. It wasn't like I could just tell Lauren that Edward was a vampire and about everything that actually happened.

"You know you can always talk to me." She said, reassuringly. "About anything."

I almost snorted but I managed to hold it in, nodding instead. Part of me wished I could talk to her about this, that I could extend my shield so that no one would know but beyond that, I wanted her kept safe.

I think out of everything the worst part was that I hadn't even had time to talk to Edward about what had happened yet. Alice was always with us and I couldn't bring myself to broach the subject even the few times we had been alone. More than that, I hardly ever saw Edward outside of school any more. It was like he was my chauffeur and that was it.

At night, I didn't sleep well, the stress of it causing me to toss and turn more than actually sleep. Thursday night was no different and Friday morning I woke with crusty eyes and a killer headache. All I wanted to do was climb back in bed and sleep for a week but I had an essay due today and I didn't want to leave Chelsea to have to work on her own in Home ec.

Still, getting around was a slow process. I was relying on the Cullens driving to get me to school on time. I sat at the table, glancing at the clock while I waited for them. Usually they were here by 7:30, it was 7:35.

Had something happened? I checked the weather with my phone but just like any other day, it was supposed to rain, no chance of sun. That wouldn't keep them away and if something had happened, shouldn't they have called or at least sent a text?

By 7:40, I was pacing the kitchen, wide awake. I didn't know what was happening but either way it was worrying me.

7:45 I was playing with the keys of my truck, biting my lip as I stared out the window, hoping and praying that Edward's silver car would come into view at any second.

At 7:50, I had given up on them and was gunning my truck to life. It had been a while since I used it seeming one of the Cullens were always around but apparently they weren't this morning.

I drove to school, pushing my truck to go fifty in a thirty-five. If I was lucky, Charlie wouldn't be around and if he was, maybe he would let me off. Thankfully there weren't any cops around and the traffic was reasonably light so I was able to make it so school with no time to spare. As I glanced around the parking lot, I caught sight of Edward's car and scowled at it. It was only because I was running late that I didn't stop so I could use my power to yell at him, he was so lucky right now.

I arrived in senior history five minutes late and after a warning from the teacher, I slid into my seat next to Angela. My face felt hot as I stared at the front and I knew that it wasn't flushed from embarrassment.

I didn't know what was going on but I was tired of it. I was going to get answers tonight and I was going to get Edward to talk to me. There was no reason I should be treated like this or that he should be acting like he was. What had happened on Monday wasn't even big, it was time for him to get over it.

"Annabell, are you coming?"

I looked up to see Angela staring at me, a small frown on her face and her eyebrows drawn together. Around us the class was emptying and I was surprised to find that I had missed the entire class lost in my haze of anger.

I nodded, standing and walking out the door with her. Edward and Alice weren't there like they usually were so I walked towards Brit lit, ready to start a war.

The class was mostly empty when I walked in so I didn't feel bad about slamming my bag down on my desk as I looked at both of the Cullens.

"Nice to see that both of you are well." I said in a sickly sweet voice. "After this morning I was expecting one of you to be down a limb."

Alice's lips managed to curl upward just a tad but it didn't reach her eyes. Edward only glanced my way before looking back at the board. "Later." He muttered.

I rolled my eyes and dropped into my seat, folding my arms across my chest. The entire class I spent like this, blatantly ignoring everyone around me. This continued throughout the day when I had classes with Edward. Alice seemed to be a bit better, at least not seeming as detached when we were together in physics.

At lunch, I knew that we didn't have enough privacy so instead I sat there, stabbing at my food. Angela and Lauren were talking about the tryout that had been set for next week, Angela had decided that she would at least try out but she wasn't going to attempt any tumbling until after she had made the team.

Angela, Lauren and I went to Stats. after that and then I headed to home ec. Chelsea and I had gotten to know each other a little better and despite the fact that she was two years younger than me, I liked her. She was still shy but every now and then she would make a joke about something that had happened. It was nice to know that she had a wicked sense of humor.

By the time that gym was over, my temper had relaxed a little but I was still set on getting my answers and making everything go back to normal. I was tired of the tense silence and not knowing what to do. I wanted to act normal, be me again and I didn't want to worry about what was wrong. Thankfully we had the whole weekend to work this out.

Edward walked me to my truck but he didn't speak to me until I had already climbed in.

"Are you going to pick up your sister?" He asked.

"Who else would be?"

"Rosalie."

I paused, looking at him in surprise. "She's back already?" I questioned. Rosalie and Emmett had left soon after Alisha birthday to go on a vacation. They had promised to be back in time for my birthday next month but I hadn't expected them this soon. I thought for sure that they wouldn't be back until at least the end of this month.

"They got back yesterday. Rosalie wants to surprise Alisha and pick her up from school." He explained.

I broke into a grin at the thought, Alisha would love it. She had been sad about them leaving and this would make her day. "Sure, I'll call in a bit and let them know that Rosalie is picking her up instead."

He nodded, pausing before he spoke again. "Is it okay if I come over in a little bit?"

"Since when have you ever needed to ask?"

He gave me a small smile before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to my cheek. "I'll see you later then."

I nodded, watching as he walked back to his car and got in. I turned to my phone then, calling the school as I promised I would. When I was done, Edward was gone and most of the parking lot was empty. I was just about to start my truck when there was knock on the glass.

I glanced over, surprised to see Alice standing there.

"Didn't you leave with Edward?" I asked, surprised.

"No, I wanted to talk to you and I knew he wouldn't be happy about what I had to say." She informed me before she climbed into the passenger side.

I drove out of the parking lot, waiting for her to speak. When she finally did, we were almost to my house.

"I'm sorry." She said, her voice cracking on the last word.

I glanced over at her, before looking back to the road. Her shoulders were hunched in and she was gazing down at her hands in a sort of defeated way.

"About what?" I questioned. Something more seemed to be going on then just the way they had been acting recently.

"Everything."

I'm sure that was the only answer I was going to get from her so I let it drop.

I pulled in to the driveway, turning my truck off. I climbed out and Alice met me at the front of my truck. I paused there, looking her over.

"Is something wrong?" I asked hesitantly. "Like really wrong? You guys haven't been normal lately."

Instead of answering, she pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tightly. I was about to protest but I stopped. Alice seemed almost desperate so instead I returned the hug, squeezing back with as much force as I could muster. I'm sure it was almost nothing to her but she seemed a bit comforted by it anyway. When she pulled back, her eyes were glossed over with venom and her bottom lip was trembling.

"I need to get headed. Jasper is waiting for me at home." She said, glancing into the trees. "We're going hunting for the weekend so I won't see you."
I nodded. "Have fun. I'll see you on Monday when you get back."

She took a few steps towards the forest before turning back. "People can be stupid sometimes, remember that." She said, loud enough for me to hear.

She disappeared after that and I felt a heaviness settle into my chest. The last time she had said something similar, Edward had acted like I didn't exist for a month.

I turned, walking towards the house, as I made myself take calm, slow breaths. I needed to keep myself occupied or else I was going to start worrying over nothing.

I headed to the kitchen, already starting on supper even though it was hours away. I figured that we could have a chicken dinner so I peeled potatoes and carrot before putting them in a pot with a full chicken. I added a few onions and some spices to the water before sliding it into the oven. It would take three hours or so to cook so it would be ready in time. After that I got out my physics homework, deciding I would start on that.

It was three when I heard a knock on the door. I glanced down at my book, my physics homework was done, all three pages of it and I didn't even remember doing anything past the fourth question.

I shook myself and met Edward at the door. The worry I had been trying so hard to ignore flooded back when I saw the grim look on his face. I stepped back, making space for him to walk in but he didn't move.

"Come for a walk with me?" He asked, although it sounded more like a statement than it did a request.

I paused, before stepping through and closing the door behind me. I didn't bother to lock it, knowing that Alisha and Rosalie would be back soon. Edward started heading across the lawn and I ran to catch up with him, taking his hand in mine. He didn't squeeze back but he didn't remove his hand either, it just stayed there, limp.

I bit my lip, trying to ignore the thought that something that had once given me so much comfort now did the exact opposite. I almost dropped his hand but instead I squeezed tighter, as if that could make everything better.

We walked across both mine and Charlie's front yard before walking down the path. We had only taken a few steps, the house and road still in place when he stopped. I was pulled to a halt before he took his hand from mine and turned to me.

My stomach dropped when I saw the look on his face.

"We're leaving." He said, carelessly as if he was commenting on the weather.

I stared at him, not quite grasping the concept of what he was saying. "What do you mean?" I questioned, my voice sounding strangled.

"It's time for us to move on, start over. Carlisle hardly looks thirty and he's posing as if he's thirty-three. Someone will start noticing and asking questions soon." He explained, his voice still lacking emotion.

"So, Alice and Rosalie. . ." I said, not able to finish.

He nodded. "We are all leaving."

I bit my lip, but a part of me didn't believe it. They would never leave me and Rosalie would never leave Alisha. She was like a daughter to Rosalie, the one thing she always wanted and would never have.

"I don't believe it." I announced, my voice sounding small.

He grimaced and I continued. "If this is about what happened recently then that's stupid. It was nothing and no one even got hurt."

He moved faster than I could see, grabbing my arm and yanking it up. My wrist was eye level between us, the bruise prominent. Although it had started to fade, it was still mostly green and yellow.
"This isn't nothing." He said, spitting the words out. "And neither was what happened in gym. We are getting to used to your presence, we are forgetting that you are still human and that's putting you in danger. Jasper almost attacked Alisha at the birthday party and I almost lost control in gym when I smelled your blood. I could have exposed my family in front of twenty children and an adult."

I flinched back at the acid in his voice but my temper quickly surfaced at his own. "But nothing happened. Jasper ran off and you were able to control yourself. Even if me being human is the problem, that doesn't seem to matter. You yourself said that I didn't have much time left." I tried not to think about what I was saying, about my eventual future.

"I'm trying to protect you. Why can't you just accept that?" Edward asked, dropping my wrist before turning and starting to pace.

I watched him for another few seconds before he turned back to me. He took a breath before turning starting. "Alice had a vision."

The change of topic surprised me and I couldn't think of anything to say before he started talking again.

"She saw you, human. She saw you growing up, getting married and even adopting children. You were happy. You got to live with your friends and family, you got to stay with Alisha and your father but the only way for that to come true is if we leave, right now and never come back." He said, emphasizing his words.

I still couldn't make my brain work. Alice had seen me as a human, living and dyeing as one. I felt such relief that I almost collapsed. I didn't have to become a vampire but at the same time, my whole body started aching. They would have to leave. If I wanted to stay human, I couldn't be with Edward.

"It's either me or them." He continued and I could see it in my mind. Two paths, one of them was eternity with Edward as a vampire, the other was an actual life with my family.

"If you want to stay with me, than tell me right now that you honestly don't mind becoming a vampire. Tell me and I'll do it now. You'll be like us in three days time and you'll never have to be away from me."

I glanced to him, meeting his eyes. He looked so fierce, so sure of himself. I didn't know what he was expecting me to do but beyond that I didn't know how he was doing this to me. How could he expect me to choose? He knew what my family was to me and he knew that I loved him. How was I supposed to pick?

The silence stretched between us and eventually a sad smile stretched across his lips.

"I thought so." The words were filled with disgust and self-loathing. "I guess I'll always be third place, I'll never be good enough for you. At least now I know the truth."

I tried to protest, to tell him that he was wrong but I couldn't seem to find my voice.

"As soon as I leave, you'll never see any of us again. We'll disappear and it will be as if we were never here in the first place. Soon you'll forget about us and you'll go on to live the future that Alice saw. I hope you'll be happy."
He turned as if to go and I shouted after him. Thankfully he paused. "What about you?" I asked, tasting salt on my tongue. I lifted my hand to my face and when I pulled it away, it was covered in tears. I hadn't even realized I had started crying.

Again that sad smile. "I'll never forget you but I'll move on soon enough. I'll always love you, in a way but I need to find someone my own kind. Soon enough what I feel towards you will lessen, especially seeming I will no longer be around you so your blood won't pull me in."

I jolted at the words. He made it sound as if my blood was the only reason why . . . I shook the thought away. "But you promised. You said that you wouldn't leave." I told him.

He shrugged, as if his promise meant nothing. "I'm sorry I lied but even at the time, I knew we couldn't last. This is the end." He paused before he was in front of me again. "I know I don't deserve it but will you promise me something?"

A sob escaped through my lips and I was unable to answer him.
"Promise me that you'll live your life, that you'll be the human you would have been if you had never met me?"

I couldn't speak again so I simply nodded, not even sure what I was agreeing to.

He smiled again, this one reaching his eyes for the first time since Monday. He looked like his old self again and for a moment I wanted to imagine that none of this had ever happened.

"Thank you." It was barely a whisper and then his lips were pressed against my forehead, lighter than a butterflies touch before he was gone.

The urge to go after him was astounding and I had even taken a step deeper into the forest, ready to yell to him, to do anything to make him come back but my thoughts shattered when I heard the high pitched wail.

Instinct took over and I turned, stumbling back to the house. The door was open, swinging on the hinges as a flash of white disappeared into the forest. I didn't stop to see anything else because the wail came again, wet sobs following. I burst through into the living room to find Alisha on the floor, curled into a ball. Her face was pressed against the knees and tears were already soaking her pants.

"Alisha?" I croaked.

She looked up, her eyes already red before she threw herself in my arms. "Rosey," she said, hiccuping. "Rosey said she was leaving and that she was never coming back."

I felt my eyes dry as I held my sister, the shaking and hurt that I felt slowly subsiding.

"She said that I couldn't see her anymore and that I was annoying and a brat, she said that she was only ever nice because of Eddy. She said that even Eddy didn't like us and Aly didn't either or Emmy or anyone."

Her cries continued on for hours and she kept repeating what Rosalie had told her. I hugged her tighter every time but it didn't seem to comfort her at all. Eventually she drifted into a restless sleep. Even when she was asleep, she still cried, every now and then her whole form would shudder.

As I watched her, I felt numb. There was no pain, no nothing, I just felt empty.

Dad burst through the door a little after that, looking frantic. His eyes landed on us and I could see the distress in his face. "Carlisle resigned today, said they were moving. I came home as fast as I could." He said, sounding winded.

I nodded, noticing for the first time that we were still sitting on the living room floor and that there was a burnt smell in the air. I stood, the muscles in my leg protesting as I passed Alisha to him. After I walked into the kitchen, opening the oven and pulling out the chicken I had made.

In all the commotion, I had forgotten that I had even put supper in the oven. I took off the cover and smoke poured out. All the water was gone, the carrots and potatoes scorched to the bottom of the dish. The chicken was completely burnt black, nothing salvageable from it. I could still feel the heat from it and as I looked I could almost imagine that my heart probably resembled it.

"Anna, is everything okay?" My dad asked, following me into the kitchen. "Is Alisha alright?"

Dry, desecrated, destroyed. My whole chest felt warm and full, like I was filled with lava. It took me a second before I could put a name to the feeling.

I felt furious, rage consuming me and for a second, I swore everything was tinted red. I didn't care what Edward said to me, I could handle it. I could live with it but how dare any of them say anything like that to Alisha.

I was sure that Edward had made Rosalie say those things to and he hadn't even wanted Alice to say goodbye to me. I could now recognize what her apology before had been, that she had actually been warning me but unlike last time I didn't care how stupid Edward could be. Because of him, Alisha has lost another mother.

It's a good thing that he promised that I would never see him or any of the Cullens again because if I did, I would kill him.

"Annabelle!" My dad's voice rang out. "What's going on? Is everything okay?"

No, it wasn't.

So, how many of you actually cried? I got my friend to tear up while she was reading this so I was excited about that. Okay, next chapter is kind of just about how Annabelle's life is going to be after the Cullens have left and don't worry, she's not going to have the whole Bella shut down thing happen. Well, see you all next Thursday then.