Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

I Love To Hate You

Chapter Thirty Eight: Intervening

Edward's POV

I shouldn't have hit Masen even after he hit me first. We were never brothers who fought with each other and I didn't like that we had started. I would have to apologise but a part of me then had to admit that I was wrong about calling Bella a vindictive whore.

Okay so maybe she's not a whore but she is vindictive. I will stand my ground there. Regardless, I still had to make amends despite the fact that we wouldn't see eye to eye on this issue.

"Can I talk to you for a sec?" I asked, standing in the doorway to Masen's bedroom.

"Yeah I guess." He swivelled his chair round to see me.

The bruising on his face was more obvious but as were mine and after our scuff I came out looking worse than him. I'd like to put that down to me holding back as he's family but I knew it was only because he could actually kick my ass even though he was the younger brother. For me, it was embarrassing.

"I'm sorry for lashing out at you and-" I waved my hand, indicating to his face. "-you know."

"I don't care about you lashing out at me, I care about Bella. Are you sorry you called her a whore? The both of us know she's not one." I was a little relieved he never brought up the vindictive comment.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that too. I was just pissed off, I still am but that's no excuse."

"So you're looking for forgiveness?"

"Sure." Masen knew how much I hated saying sorry. He chuckled and shook his head. "Since I know what kind of mood you're in I won't tell you that you'll have to do better than that. I forgive you but now you need to forgive Bella."

"No." My tone changed immediately and I was gritting my teeth. "Absolutely not." I went to walk away but Masen yelled for me to just listen.

"I know you don't want to but please, just listen." He nodded at the bed so I sat down. "Now don't talk until I'm finished, no matter what I say."

"Alright, alright. Will you just start?!" Masen rolled his eyes but did finally begin.

"I'm aware of what happened between the two of you and I'm aware of almost everything. From the time you guys were getting even to her destroying you while you tried to win her over, I know it all. I read the letters and if you read them after everything that's happened there's a tiny little thing that pops up. You mention forgiving her if she was ever to do something horrible as that's how much you care for her."

I knew exactly what he was talking about. Bella had said she'd done something awful and someone wasn't going to ever talk to her again. Hell we even spoke about me being pissed off at the person who tried to ruin me and she never said a thing, just took it all in and knew what to expect.

"Obviously no one expects you to instantly forgive her but now you know she's been worried about this for a very long time. It's not like Bella was getting cheap thrills, she felt like shit after it all. So I know you think that she's been trying to have the ultimate payback by getting you to fall for her but that's not the case. She loves you Edward. I've seen it myself to know that."

"I know you love her too. Deep down I think she does too as there's sometimes a glimmer of hope but that goes and comes. You may not want to but you should talk to her or at least think over everything. Remember who she is, Bella, the girl you've been infatuated with since we were small. Don't forget the good qualities just because lately you've seen some of the bad ones."

"Are we done?" I brain was reeling and I wanted to lie down.

"Sure." Masen shrugged and turned his chair so he was back at his laptop, no longer interested with my presence.

I left the room and went back to mine. He told me several things I already knew but there were some surprises in aswell. It was becoming more and more apparent that I would have to talk to Bella but I didn't want to, not yet.

There was going to be plenty time to speak to her but I did have to keep in mind that the longer I left it the longer she's had to stew with her feelings and possibly decide not to forgive me for losing my temper at her.

It seemed like we both had something to apologise for.

Well I wouldn't be apologising today so I may as well get comfy. I settled down on my bed and started on some of the work I had to do before going back to school which was sooner than I'd like.

Things would get sorted, eventually.

Alice's POV

Bella had been moping for days and was sour about everything. I was snapping her out of it before school started up again tomorrow. There was no way I wanted her depressing attitude around much longer.

So after my day out with Jazz, who I was 100 percent in love with, I stopped at her house. Charles let me in and gave me the run down. She was doing everything normal, showering, dressing, eating etc. but she lacked her personality and was apparently a complete shell of what she use to be.

I had to see for myself so made my way up the stairs to her bedroom, taking two and a time, and hurriedly threw her door open. Bella spun round, startled by my entrance, and then visibly relaxed when she saw it was me.

"Geez Alice, dramatic much?" She rolled her eyes and although her comment wasn't very welcoming it still had a little bit of Bella's edge to it. That gave me some hope that my friend hadn't disappeared completely.

"I'm sorry. I just had to see how you were." Again she rolled her eyes.

"No one died Alice. I'm fine."

"Actually you're wrong on both counts there." I stated, sitting cross legged on her bed. "My best friend Bella who never let a guy get her down died and you're also not fine. I know you're not so don't lie to me."

Bella sighed and her attitude changed drastically. Before she was angry and sad Bella, now she was vulnerable and tearful Bella and for once I didn't know how to handle this.

"I…don't know what to do and all I want to do is go to him and apologise for being an idiot." The tears were silently running down her cheeks.

"Hey, this isn't how we handle this. Rather than cry and bawl over our lost loves we either get even or find a way to make it up to them for really screwing up. Now, since getting even was what got us in this mess in the first place I say we go for the second option." She nodded glumly and wiped her eyes with a tissue.

"I think I can do that but how?" I pursed my lips in thought.

"I'm not sure but I'll think of something. Plus I'm not doing this alone."

"Who's helping you?"

"Masen." Bella blanched at me and shook her head.

"I have no hope." She said.

"That's not true. He's our inside man and has instant access to Edward. He can convince him to talk to you. We need to Masen."

"If you're sure." She said, unconvinced.

"Oh I am. Now school is tomorrow and I want you to go with the I'm-really-sorry-but-also-gorgeous-look. That's what we're going to for so let's get your clothes that'll pull that off." I raided her wardrobe and brought out the appropriate things. "This will all do nicely."

Bell glanced over my choices and nodded before dropping herself onto her bed. I could tell she wasn't interested but that was understandable. To Bella the chances of Edward forgiving her were very slim and almost nonexistent.

I had more hope though.

"Right my work seems to be done. I'll be on my way. Don't mope too much." I hugged her and then left.

My next stop was Edward's house. Masen had sent me a text telling me that he had spoken with Edward a few days ago and that he seemed to have warmed to the idea of talking to Bella. I just hoped that was true.

Edward answered the door and shot me a confused look before opening it wider for me to step in. I did so, smiling at him cheerfully and made my way upstairs to his room.

"Make yourself at home." He muttered, walking up behind me.

"Oh I will, don't you worry. Now school starts tomorrow and I'm disappointed that you never got around to speaking to Bella over the rest of the holidays."

"What did you expect me to do?" Edward shrugged and planted himself on his bed.

"I expected you to hear her out. She was a royal mess for about six days before I could get her to cheer up."

"Ooh only six days, how awful." He rolled his eyes.

"Don't be a snippety little git Edward. I'm doing you a favour."

"Oh really, and what's that?"

"I'm trying to get you back together with the girl you love." I said, crossing my arms in annoyance at his attitude.

"Who says I love her anymore?"

"I say you still love her."

"And what if I don't? What if I finally realised that the sun doesn't shine out of Bella's ass and that she's actually just another annoying girl who thinks she can get away with everything she does?"

"Well if that's the case you can rot in hell Edward." I stormed towards the door.

"Alice, wait!" He was up on his feet when I turned to him.

"Yes?"

"I do still love her, you're right. I'm just angry and that's the only reason I haven't gone to see her. I would lose my temper and then we would be back at square one. It would be better if we moved forward, not backwards." He said with so much conviction in his voice.

"To be honest Edward I don't think you two could go any further backwards. About your temper, that's not an issue. The minute Bella sees you she'll expect a fight so why not give her one if that's how you really feel. Tell her why you're so angry and explain everything so it's all out in the open. That's the only way things will improve and you two have a chance of survival."

"What if she doesn't want me back?" Edward asked, sound so much like the scared little boy I knew in the sandpit oh so many years ago.

"She does. It's breaking her heart to think that you hate her."

"I don't hate her. I'm fucking pissed at her but I don't hate her, not anymore."

"Well that's good, you two have already made some improvements and she doesn't even know." I smiled at him, trying to be reassuring but he still seemed unconvinced.

"What makes you think that we're meant to be together? What's there to say that this shouldn't be the end of us?"

"Could you live without her Edward?" I asked, stunning him momentarily.

"No I don't think I could."

"Then there's your answer." He nodded and slumped onto the bed. "Don't stop fighting for her, she hasn't for you."

I kissed his cheek then left. My job seemed to be done for now. The both of them were thinking things over, considering talking and knew how they felt about the other. That's all that I needed to make this work.

Granted five days ago I would never have thought they would stand a chance of getting through this but they pleasantly surprised me. Tomorrow would be the first time they've seen each other since that night and I know that the day will be filled with awkward silences and tension in the air. But I was hoping that they would be reminded of the good times and want them back.

After all they just had to talk to each other to for the misery to go away. How hard would that be?