Hello, fanfic-er's of the world! We're overjoyed to present you with the penultimate chapter, we're nearly done. :)

Enjoy, Em & Lu x

Tune of the chapter - The A Team - Ed Sheeran

Edward

When I opened my eyes the next morning, Bella was gone and I was alone in the room. I looked around disorientated for a moment before finally remembering that she'd set her alarm for 2am and snuck back to her own room.

I sighed in relief and headed for the bathroom, wondering where Emmett had gotten to... Probably breakfast, knowing him.

I took a quick shower before pulling on some sweats and heading out for breakfast. My plan soon altered, however, as I opened the door into the hallway to find all hell breaking loose.

Banner was standing at the end of the narrow passage frantically trying to calm an angry crowd, led by a hysterical Alice.

I frowned and made my way down the hall, tapping Jasper on the shoulder, "What's going on?"

He turned round, and it was at that precise moment that I noticed the look of sheer rage on his face. On everybody's face, for that matter. What the fuck had I done no-

I didn't have chance to finish my though as Jasper swung his fist back and hit me square in the face. I cried out as I rebounded backwards and smacked the back of my head against the wall behind me. Fuck. I winced from the pain, and the blood I felt begin to seep through my fingers as I clutched at my nose.

A shooting pain seared through my head, but I tried to steady myself, preparing to fight back. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, someone grabbed my fist, stopping me. I turned to find Emmett standing beside me, looking guilty as fuck.

I shot him a look that said 'what the fuck have you done?', but he just shrugged.

I looked around. Alice had her arms wrapped around Jasper's middle, trying to calm him down. Tanya, Kate, James and Irina (who seemed to have taken back up with her sisters again) stood behind them, glaring at me hatefully. I tilted my head back to try and stem the bleeding coming from my possibly broken nose.

I looked to Tanya, usually an ally, expecting her expression to soften and for her to explain what was going on to me, but her face remained stony.

Mr Banner looked between us all and, evidently deciding that Jasper wasn't going to take another swing at me, he shrugged, "I'm not getting involved, just get this sorted out and make sure you're ready for the game." With that he retreated into his room.

I looked around once more, still faced with stony silence, "What the fuck is going on?" I asked, seething.

Emmett sighed, but still said nothing.

Eventually, Alice spoke, "I'll tell you what's going on. I just got off the phone with Rose."

The phone? Why? Wasn't Rose in her room with Bella?

Suddenly, I noticed that someone, a very important someone, was missing.

"Where's Bella?" I asked, looking around frantically.

Alice laughed darkly, "Good question, Edward. Shall I answer it?"

She paused.

"Bella and Rose are in Forks, staying at Rose's grandparent's house for the weekend."

I frowned, "What? Where the fuck is Forks? Why?" Why had she left? Especially after last night.

Jasper glared, "Why do you think?"

I was confused, "I don't know? What happened?"

Kate rolled her eyes, "You can't think of anything you might have done to upset her?"

I shrugged, "No." I genuinely couldn't.

"Perhaps Emmett will kindly explain what happened last night after Bella left your room then..." Alice suggested.

I looked at Emmett, my blood boiling in anger, and my hand still clutching my nose, "What the fuck did you say to her?"

He blushed, "I'm sorry man. I was wasted... I don't even remember the whole thing. I just, well, I might have told her about the book."

"Just the book? She went home because of the book?" Was it that bad to have consulted a self-help book? Fuck. I knew nothing about women. But still, I could fix that.

Unfortunately, the look on Alice face told me that that wasn't the full story.

"Emmett?" She prompted.

He looked at his feet, "I told her it was a bet."

"YOU DID WHAT?" I shouted at him, hot with rage.

Then it was my turn to throw a punch, unfortunately, Emmett once again saw it coming and grabbed my fist, "I'm sorry. Please. Fuck. If it makes you feel any better, Rose heard the whole thing. She's gone too."

I didn't know what to say.

I was angry at Emmett, but at the same time, I was more angry at myself. I did this. There was only so much I could blame on Em.

I turned and walked back into the room, contemplating what the fuck I was going to do.

The only thing I knew was that I had to get her back. I couldn't survive without her. Sure, this whole thing had started off as a bet, but... it was so much more now.

I just had to figure out the best way to tell her that.

I quickly had an idea - Something inside me told me that maybe it would help, despite it having been the main cause of the whole mess.

I picked up my phone and dialled.

He answered on the first ring, "Hello son, a little early in the morning isn't it?"

"Sorry. Dad, I need a favour."

"What is it?" He asked, cautiously.

"Go into my room..." I waited for him to follow my instructions before continuing, "If you just look under my bed, there's a book. Pull it out and flip to the last but one page for me?"

I heard some shuffling and movement, and then suddenly, a loud laugh, "Edward. What the hell is this doing in your bedroom?"

Not able to be bothered to think of an excuse, I quickly told him the whole story, sort of brushing over the part about the bet. "... So anyway, Emmett told her about the book, and now she's pissed off at me..."

He laughed again, louder this time.

I huffed, "Why are you laughing?"

His laughter continued, verging on uncontrollable. He took a few deep breaths and spoke, "I don't know, Edward. I just... What made you think this would work? You've never had trouble getting girls before now..."

I winced at his not so well disguised jibe at my former womanising ways, "Well, you and mom are really happy so I figured..."

The laughter started again, this time hysterically, and he shouted loudly to my mother, "ESME! Come here..."

I held the phone away from my ear, lest he deafen me, and asked again, "Dad. Why the fuck is this funny?"

"Edward! Language." He reprimanded me.

I heard my mom arrive and he quietly explained what had happened to her. Her laughter quickly joined his.

"DAD!" I shouted, trying to get his attention.

"Sorry son... Well, I hate to tell you this but I never used that book." He said, laughter still in his voice.

"What! But how... Why the fuck have you got it then?" I sputtered loudly.

"Language, Edward!"

I apologised again, rolling my eyes, and he continued, "It was a joke present from a friend at college. It's been sat in the attic ever since we moved in."

I sank back onto the bed, head in hands, "You're joking."

"Nope. Sorry son."

I scowled - He didn't sound very sorry.

"Just read today's step for me will you? Number 28. It's got me this far, it won't fail me now..."

He sighed, but read it out anyway, "Alright son..."

27-Put her first.

Yes, we know that you want to go to that game on Saturday, but if she hates football, why even consider it? Always make sure she's comfortable - with her surroundings, what you're doing, and even the conversation you're having. Make sure she feels she can come to you; you have to earn her trust.

I said goodbye to my parents as they burst into laughter once again, leaving them to their lunacy, and promising to call them later when I had news.

I was torn.

I wanted to go after her.

But the game started in a few hours. I'd never make it back if I went to Seattle, and besides, I didn't even know where Rose's grandparents lived.

I stood up and began pacing the room. I had to make a decision.

As I thought through the step, I realised that I hadn't followed yesterday's step and I briefly wondered if that had perhaps jinxed me.

Probably not.

I was just a fuck up.

Not anymore though.

I grabbed my bags, throwing things in randomly. I knew what I had to do.

Bella

I woke up the next morning in the guest bedroom of Rosalie's grandparents mansion, which was just outside of a little town called Forks. It was a few hours west of Seattle, but when I'd thought about returning to my home town, I just couldn't face it. Not at the moment.

So, Rose had directed me here, unable to drive herself after a fair amount of beers. She was pretty pissed about it frankly - the only time Alice would ever let anyone other than Jasper behind the wheel of her precious car, and she wasn't able to.

Still, I had reassured her that at some point, probably on Sunday afternoon, we would have to make the trip back to Seattle (I still had my French final to go), and she could drive then.

I rolled over, burying my face into the soft pillow as bright light filtered in through the window. Despite what Rose's Grandad had said about Forks being the rainiest town on the Olympic Peninsula, there had been one hell of a lot of sun so far.

I looked around the room, desperately searching for something to take my mind off last night, and saw my text book sticking out of my overnight bag. I quickly grabbed it and got back into bed, flicking through it aimlessly.

As I found a page that I needed to revise, I focussed all of my mind on the book, and tried to completely forget last night.

It was going well until my phone rang, and I saw his name on the screen.

I threw my textbook and phone on the floor in a fit of pique, and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

The water was hot, massaging my tense shoulder muscles, and relaxing me no end. Apparently, my ability to suppress bad memories was linked to stress, because as the tension left me, everything came back.

I didn't know whether to be raging mad, or heartbroken.

Suddenly, I heard a commotion downstairs. Commotion being a polite way to say that Rose was throwing a hissy fit.

I sighed and got out of the shower, quickly drying off and pulling on some jeans and a t-shirt.

I made my way downstairs cautiously, as Rose's screeching became more and more audible, "Who the FUCK do you think you are! You think you can waltz in and apologise and make everything back to normal? Well, I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU!"

There was a pause and someone said something I didn't catch.

Rose shouted again, "BELLA DOESN'T WANT TO SEE YOU! Why can't you get that into your thick head?"

Realising that this did indeed involve me, I quickly rushed down the stairs, being careful not to trip, and followed the noise into the hall.

I was incredibly shocked to find that the poor person who'd gotten on Rose's bad side was none other than Edward Cullen.

Shit.

I tried to back out of the room before he saw me, but no such luck.

He shouted my name, "Bella! Please... Let me talk to you?"

I contemplated running, but knew I had to face this at some point, "Edward, no. Rose's right. I don't want to talk to you."

I paused, then added a decisive, "Ever again." for emphasis.

His face fell and he looked absolutely defeated. I felt myself begin to crack.

Rose must have seen it too, because she stepped in to save the day, "Edward, you've really got a nerve coming back here after last night. I think you should leave."

He didn't move, and his face became defiant and stubborn once more, annoyed by Rose's interference.

I took a breath, "Edward. I agree. Please leave."

He didn't move. Fixing his glare on Rosalie. I sighed, maybe if I let him say his piece he'd leave.

I shot Rose a quick look. She got the hint and left quickly, shaking her head as she went, obviously annoyed at my lack of will power.

I turned to Edward, fixing on a stern exterior in an attempt to conceal the feelings of despair coursing through me. He was back to apologise, I assumed. He probably felt guilty, and more than that, he was obviously worried about his reputation.

"What did you want?" I asked, coldly.

A pained and awkward look passed across his face. He obviously didn't want to be here.

"I needed to apologise. Bella, what happened last night was unacceptable. You don't deserve to be treated like that. I'm truly sorry. Really. Emmett's an ass. But... So am I. I should never have used you like that, but at the time, we weren't really friends and I didn't know you like I do now.

"Bella, you have to understand what happened." He took a small step towards me, and I took a large one back, "Me and Emmett found the box in our loft, and assumed that it was how Carlisle had gotten Esme. I saw what they had, and although I would never have admitted it, I wanted it. Then Emmett dared me to use it... I knew that he'd been crushing on Rose for months, but didn't have the balls to act, so I used the book as leverage to get him to do it."

His eyes, deep and green, were locked on mine, almost making me believe that he was being genuine.

I refocused my gaze on my shoes instead – I couldn't let him take me in.

"I never meant for you to know. After a while, it wasn't even about the bet. In fact, I hadn't even thought about it until I was so unpleasantly reminded this morning. The point is, after only a couple of days it became pretty clear that you weren't the kid I played with in middle school. You're a fantastic, beautiful, stubborn, independent woman. And not once when I was with you did I ever see it as something I was forced to do.

"I love every single second I spend with you Bella.

I looked up again, "Well, you'll have to make do with memories now. You had your chance Edward."

I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my shoulder and spun me back forcefully, pulling me against him and cupping my face, "Bella..."

I tried to pull away, but his grip was like iron. I didn't want him to see the tears which were threatening to spill over.

"Bella, look at me?"

I reluctantly met his eyes, extremely shocked to see a lone tear streak across his cheek.

"Bella, don't do this. Please?"

I frowned, my resolve cracking more with every second that passed. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't?"

He brought his face closer to me, "Because you're my best friend. Because I can't function without you. Because I'm in love with you."

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