I met with Bella after school. She'd finger spelled 'can we talk after school?' during English class. I met her outside on the picnic benches near the cafeteria, luckily the rain had held off today so the area was dry enough to sit down.

I asked if everything was ok. She sat beside me, fidgeting with the straps to her backpack, as she said she was worried about me and sad that she'd upset me the other week. She wanted things to go back to how they were before. It was difficult to work out what the best thing to say was, but Bella, ever sensitive to my needs, said "I just wanted to apologise and see if we can get back to where we were. What can I do to make it better?"

I told her I was sorry for running away and being a coward and promised to try harder. I confessed that I did want to tell her about it all, but that I couldn't.

When she looked at me with her deep umber eyes all the fear and frustration of the last few months welled up and overcame me. The dam just broke. I started trembling and stuttering, gasping for breaths I didn't even need. I curled up on the seat and put my head on my knees and kept repeating "I can't, I can't" in a fractured whisper.

Bella grabbed my hand and pulled my arm around her, guiding my head to her shoulder and embraced me. Everything was still and beautiful in that moment. Her cheek was so soft against the crook of my neck, it was something I had dreamt of many times, but the reality far surpassed any pale fantasy. Her scent filled my lungs, but I did not want to feed, I just desperately wanted to kiss her. And maybe sniff her a little bit.

In that instant I knew with all certainty that everything would be fine as long as I could stay right there, feeling her pulse beat against my chest and the warmth of her body wrapped around mine.

After a moment she drew back but kept holding me, and ran one small hand through my hair as she looked into my eyes and said "Edward, you know every thought I'm thinking, so I don't understand. Why don't you know that you can trust me?" Without a second's thought I blurted out "But I can't, you're the only one I can't hear." I saw Bella's eyes widen and then some glint of recognition grew within them as she said "Is that it? Is that why you liked me?" I explained that at first, yes, she was mysterious and so peaceful that I was drawn to her, but now I am getting to know her I can see she is far more than just those things. She said "You're far more than you appear to be at first too Edward."

I pulled her a little closer, not wanting the moment to end, I felt so desperate, what if this was the only chance in all eternity I would have to be this close to her? To be held by her? I must have looked quite pained as her eyes searched my face and she pulled my head to her shoulder again and stroked my hair whispering "Shhhh, it's going to be ok. You worry too much."

I let out a sigh and finally started to feel the tension loosen in my shoulders as I heard the first raindrops starting to fall. As the pace picked up I stayed still, not willing to break the stillness we shared. After a minute Bella shivered a little and I remembered myself, releasing her and making to leave. I hurried to her truck with her, not speaking, but gave her a parting look and said thank you before she climbed into the cab. She gave me a dazzling smile and asked "We good?", I nodded and she got in her truck and drove away.

I stayed standing there in the parking lot for a long while until I was quite soaked from the rain. I am not sure exactly what happened, but I know that the earth has shifted somehow and now everything is changed indelibly.

A/N: Please leave a review! Thanks so much to my wonderful beta wh1teow1, please show some love and read Moirai, a reimagining of Twilight for the new decade! FINALLY! Our boy got a hug. The next chapter will be the longest to date, put the kettle on!