A/N: So… all of you want Edward and Bella to move together… or you want Edward not to move. I still need to get started on the next chapter of my cross story. Too many things to do, and not enough time to do it in!

Chapter 38

Have you ever been told something so devastating that you don't know if life could get any worse? You feel like someone has thrown a ton of bricks into your stomach and there's nothing you can do to stop the pain? Well let me tell you now… it feels like crap.

"When?" Emotion was absent in my face.

"Friday, tomorrow will be my last day of school." He studied my face.

"Why?" I waited for the tears to come, but they didn't. It was as if someone had drained my soul from me and turned on the auto pilot.

"Carlisle has been offered a job as head doctor of a hospital there. It's not an offer he can refuse." His voice was unsteady.

"Okay." I stood up and walked hypnotically toward the window ducking out and crawling back through my window. I closed the window behind me and that's when reality set in.

Edward was moving. He was leaving me to go live in North Carolina. I would probably never see him again. I would never wake up next to him in the morning and I would never have him sing me to sleep. I would once again be alone in the world. I sank down onto the floor and rocked myself back and forth the tears streaming down my face.

I felt a cool breeze and then Edward's warm arms embraced me. He rocked me back and forth kissing my head. "Shhh, it's okay. I'm here."

I shook my head. "How can you leave me?"

He pulled me away to look in my eyes. "Just say the word and I'll stay."

His eyes were full of mixed emotions and I knew that he wasn't telling me the whole story.

"Wait, you have a choice? You're choosing to leave?" I didn't understand. I thought he loved me.

He shrugged. "Yes and no. Carlisle has promised me that I can go to the school of arts there if I move with the family."

My face masked horror. "Go then." I pointed toward the window.

He shook his head. "Bella, I won't leave unless you're sure."

I stood up gathering myself. "Leave Edward."

He stood up walking toward me so I pushed him toward the window emphasizing what I wanted him to do. "Just leave."

He looked back at me longingly and then he was gone. Part of me wanted to run and jump into his arms begging him not to leave. The other part of me knew that this time I had to take care of Edward instead of him taking care of me. I let that side win me over. What was in Edward's best interest was what needed to be done regardless of how it was slowly killing me.

I didn't feel like doing my homework, so I didn't. All I had was calculus so Riley wouldn't mind. I quietly walked down stairs to make dinner for Billy and Jake. I wasn't feeling too hungry. I pulled out the steaks I had left out to thaw and I cut them up into pieces throwing them in a skillet. I pulled out the rice and placed that in another skillet. I poured in the water and let the rice simmer while stirring the meat. I went through the cycle of mixing the guacamole taking out the seed. After finishing dinner I fixed Billy and Jake's plate setting them on the hot stovetop. I washed the dishes and sat them in the draining tray trudging back up the stairs.

My arm was killing me thanks to the stupid Gardisil and my stomach felt all queasy. I clutched my stomach and then it passed. I shrugged it off and opened my door.

"Bella?" Alice sat cross-legged in my bed tear streaks down her face.

I ran to her pulling her into my arms. "Alice, why does everything good in my life have to leave?"

She shook her head. "I'm not leaving. I can't and I won't." She clung to me like a spider monkey. "This is where I belong and this is where I'm staying."

I pulled back. "But what about your family? Your Mom and Dad."

She cringed. "Carlisle has no right to insist I move. I have my real mom's inheritance. She has quite a sum. Carlisle said it's my choice. I'm 18 and therefore I am old enough to live on my own. I've already decided. I'm getting an apartment in town."

I hugged her more tightly. "Alice! Are you serious! You're staying?"

She nodded and looked around my room. "I couldn't leave my best friend in the whole entire world. Besides, I think you should be my room mate."

I grinned. "That would be great. Billy and Jake can have the house. I need to get up with my lawyer though."

She squealed. "Did you really think I would leave you?"

I frowned. "It would make more sense then…"

She lifted my chin looking me in the eyes. "It's a hard choice Bella. It's either his girlfriend or his career. You know very well it's always been about the future for Edward."

I sighed. "So let me contact my lawyer and then we'll get everything together!"

She smiled. "We need to plan for a time to go apartment shopping."

I contemplated what she said. "How about tomorrow after school?"

She scrunched her eyebrows at me. "Don't you want to spend the day with Edward?"

I shook my head. "We have till Friday. It's only Monday Alice."

She grinned. "Okay, well I'm going to go."

I nodded. "And I need to get up with Mr. Baker."

I grinned as Alice hopped out the window. Our conversation had just brightened my mood. It was good to know that I wouldn't be completely alone. I walked over to my desk avoiding the window and pulled out my address book looking for Mr. Baker's phone number.

I found it and dialed the number. "Hello, Jackson Baker's office. May I ask who's calling?" A woman's voice came over the phone.

"Yes, hello I'm Isabella Swan and I need to speak to Mr. Baker." I sat back on my bed playing idly with the Rubik cube on my table. One of Emmett's jokes.

"Please hold."

I listened to elevator music until my lawyer's friendly voice came over the phone. "Ms. Swan?"

"Yes hello, I was wondering if you could help me. I need to go over my inheritance."

He chuckled. "Yes of course. Just come on down here right now. I have a free spot."

I grinned. "Okay, thank you. I'll be right there."

I stood up and decided to get changed. Pulled down my blinds taking a glance at Edward's darkened room. I sighed and pulled out the white skirt from Edward and mine's first date. I pulled on a black tank top that Alice had gotten me. It tied at the sides and the strings flowed down. I pulled on my white boots and zipped them up. I got up and grabbed my purse heading toward my door. There was a soft knock on my window and I turned around to answer it.

I pulled up the blind and Edward's jaw dropped. I lifted the window and he stepped through. He pulled me into a hug kissing my neck. "Where are you going?"

I pulled away. "We can talk later. I'm going to see my lawyer."

He watched my face intently. "Why?"

I started walking toward the door. "I'm moving in with Alice."

His eyes grew wide. "You're what?"

"I'm moving in with Alice. I just need to sort it out with my lawyer." I made it about two feet from the door when Edward pulled me toward his body.

"Let me come with you. Just let me get my coat." He headed back toward the window taking me with him.

"No Edward, I want to go by myself. Besides, shouldn't you start packing?" I pulled out of his grasp and headed back toward the door. The tears threatened to spill onto my face.

I held my breath and quickly walked out the door and downstairs. I have learned throughout the years that the best way for me to deal with my pain is to block it out. I was being torn apart inside, but I couldn't let anyone know.

I climbed into my old truck and started the ancient engine. I put the car into reverse and slowly backed out of the driveway. I made it to the firm in ten minutes and glided into the office.

"Ah, miss Swan. It's nice to see you again." Mr. Baker shook my hand. "Right this way."

He ushered me into the office. "So what can I do for you?"

"I want to move out of my house and into an apartment with my friend Alice."

He nodded. "Very well. And the house?"

I shrugged. "If Billy and Jake want to move back to La Push they can but if they want the house that's fine too."

Mr. Baker took care of everything. He even set up a meeting with Billy. I had a feeling that he might want to move back to La Push. If this were so we would sell my house and move all of my belongings into the shared apartment. I was kind of glad to get rid of the house. It carried too many bad memories. I thanked Mr. Baker once more and then I left.

I felt like crap so I wanted sweets. I stopped by the grocery store and walked in grabbing a basket. I made a bee line to the mixes and grabbed brownie mix. (Sorry, had to throw the Promises of a Lifetime bit in there) I then headed toward the ice cream isle and found the cookie dough ice cream.

I came out of the desert isle and felt like something was missing. I headed toward the candy isle and grabbed the big bag of peanut butter M&Ms. Suddenly I was craving pomegranate with chocolate. I headed toward the fruit section and put one in my basket grabbing some Hershey's syrup along the way. Now everything was here. I walked out of the candy isle and ran into something hard. I looked up and stared right into the eyes of Riley.

"Hey Bella, what's wrong?" He searched my face with concern.

"Nothing, why would anything be wrong?" I tried to step around him but he held my shoulders firmly.

He gestured toward my basket. "It was just a guess, do you want to talk about it?"

I shook my head. "Nothing's wrong."

He sighed. "When is he leaving?"

A/N: So, Bella's still sick or whatever it's just less evident thanks to all the stress. At least she still has Alice. What do you think about Edward's decision? Going to art school is a huge thing for Edward. It's something he's always dreamed of. Professionally playing the piano. What a great opportunity.

Also, now that Edward's leaving will Riley move in on Bella? Is Tanya really what Edward thinks she is… just a fill in until he can get Bella? With Bella so vulnerable does Edward have to worry? He'll be all the way in North Carolina… he'll never know… right?

Tell me what you think. (7 things you love or hate about my story!) Are you up to the challenge?

Kayla