A/N: Hi readers! See, how fast it is. I want to clarify some things, so please, please see me at the bottom.

Lots of thanks to EdwardsFirstKiss for pre-reading and editing the chapter. And also for her wonderful suggestions and pretty knowledgeable comments.

Twilight belongs to SM and FY belongs to Kristie... here you go...

CHAPTER 10

BELLA

December 31, 2016

"I'm fine, Rose... Yes, I'm eating my meals properly... Yes Alice, I am coming there on the 2nd... What?... Guys, please stop fighting over the phone and speak one at a time," I rolled my eyes and Jake snickered. We're on La Push beach and sitting on a big rock when my cell started ringing, the callers being my ever-so-over-the-top-concerned friends. Rose has called and put me on speaker; so they all were shouting, god-knows-what, for me to hear. I was getting really irritated by their unintelligible talk whereas Jake seemed to be having a lot of fun with it.

"Guys, please...," I whined again.

"Bellsieeee... please tell Rosie not to put me in a purple tuxedo. Everything in the wedding is purple. Save me... Oww!" The line went silent after that and I looked at the screen gob smacked.

"Twenty dollars that Blondie banged the shit out of Muscly," Jake laughed loudly. I snorted at him. Jake has very inventive monikers for all of us. He calls Rose- Blondie, Em-Muscly, Alice-Shorty and Jasper-Brainz. He must have been listening to them as we were sitting closely together.

"I am with you on this one," I laughed with him. My cell started ringing again, and I answered.

"Sorry Bells. You know how they get," Jasper sighed over the line and I chuckled.

"Tell me about it Jazz." He huffed out a breath and laughed.

"We miss you, Bells. Come back soon."

"I'll be there on the 2nd, Jazz," I assured him.

"So, everything is good there? Are you enjoying yourself" he asked. I thought over his words. Am I enjoying myself? It has been three days since the conversation with Sarah. We haven't talked about any of it since but I was all the more eager to go to Seventh Street. My conscience was telling me that there was something hidden there. What it is, I have no idea. But every time I have heard the name, something twitches in my heart. I had thought that it was due to Edward's accident nearby but now I think that's not the only thing. Apart from that, there is the issue of Charles Black, my father, about whom we all were blank. These issues were eating me up inside because I can't talk about them with my friends. We have always shared everything and helped each other solve one another's problems.

"Bella, are you there?" Jasper's voice called my attention back to him.

"Yup... I'm good. Everything is good, Jazz," I cleared my throat.

"Are you sure, Bella? You know you can tell me anything, Sista,"his old nickname for me brought tears to my eyes, but I blinked them back. Jasper was the first man in my life, I had been close to. He was a brother to me in soul and called me Sista whenever he thought I was not feeling good. Lying to him burned a hole in my heart.

"I'm fine Jazz, really. Jake is entertaining me very well." I gave a quick glance in his direction but he had a serious expression on his face, probably due to the change in my mood. I pleaded to him with my eyes and he looked away.

"Yeah, I know he is. That's why I trusted you with him," he snorted as I muttered a 'yes daddy' sarcastically. We ended the call after a pretty loud chorus of 'HAPPY NEW YEAR, BELLA'.

"Brainz trusted you with me," I told Jake bumping my shoulder to his. He shook his head smiling humorlessly.

"Didn't you tell him that that isn't the case? That I can't make you open up to me as you are still...," He stopped at that and turned his head away. But I knew what he was about to say. I was wrong earlier when I thought that Jake couldn't have feelings for me. In the last three days, he had made those feelings crystal clear which he hadn't done in three years. The thing that annoyed me though, was that these days I was witnessing so many rapid mood changes in our conversations. One minute I was joking with someone, which is Jake, and the next minute a single word douses the happy mood with that same someone, who again is Jake. I call these moments 'Bella special, mood gone crappy moments'.

"Jake you know it's not easy..."

"I know, I know... I'm sorry, Swan. I'll take whatever you can give me," he stood brushing the sand off his pants and started walking towards the house. I stood up quickly and grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Will you? Because I don't think you can," I questioned. He rubbed a hand on his face and looked away from me.

"Swan... Just...," he sighed turning to look at me. "It's not that I don't want to give you time. I'm willing to wait forever for you. But I can't bear to look at you when you look like... like you have nothing left in your life. The Swan I met three years ago had a spark in her eyes. I know after he died, it was difficult for you to carry on as if nothing happened. I know you loved him... still love him. But you have to know that this is not the end," he emphasized.

"I know that Jake. I like you too. But I don't want to get involved with you when I still have someone else residing in my heart," I urged him to understand with my eyes.

"I get that, Swan," he freed his arm with a jerk from my grasp and stood in front of me with his hands on my shoulders. "That's why I want to help you. Don't you think you'd distance yourself better from him when you are with me? Really with me," he stared at me, his eyes full of intensity which captivated me. This moment reminded me of the same one we had in the kitchen four days ago. "He would want the same for you, Bella." Now I know that he calls me Bella when his emotions are taking a toll on him. "He would want you to move on and have your happily ever after," he whispered, our faces inches apart. His warm breath was fanning over my face and our lips were almost touching.

"Oww!" Jake gasped suddenly and sat on his haunches, holding his hands to the back of his head. That's when I saw a volley ball on the ground.

"Jake, are you alright?" I asked kneeling across him.

"Yeah Jakey, are you alright?" Someone guffawed.

"Son of a bitch!" Jake muttered standing on his feet, rubbing his head. I stood up beside him and saw a man coming towards us. He had long black hair and tan skin. There were wrinkles around his eyes and he looked to be in his thirties.

"It's not my fault. You were so busy making out with this lovely lady," he gave me a wink, eyeing me up and down, "that you didn't hear me calling your name. This was the best way I could get your attention."

"You asshole, I could have gotten a concussion!" Jake exclaimed still rubbing the spot on the back of his head. The ball must have hurt bad.

"Oh, come on. I know you have a hard head," the stranger bent his head downwards and quirked an eyebrow suggestively. It took me a few seconds to get his innuendo, and I gaped at him.

"Paul, you are one nasty fucker," Jake narrowed his eyes at him and punched his arm. He then looked at me and introduced the stranger.

"Swan, this asshole is Paul Lahote. Unfortunately he is one of my friends on the Res. Ignore him as he's used to these foot in mouth situations. Paul, this is my... Swan," he stammered in the end.

"My Swan? Wow, is she is a bird? She looks like a lady to me. Maybe it's like that story in which the girl turns into a Swan and vice versa to help the old man..."

"Yes, yes. We know how much you adore those tales," Jake rolled his eyes at him.

"I'm Bella Swan," I held out my hand towards Paul to shake.

"Beautiful," he kissed the back of my hand and I blushed.

"Argh, will you tell me why you are here?" Jake asked irritated. "And stop eye-fucking Swan."

"Chillax dude! I was just saying the meaning of her name," Paul said releasing my hand. "Bella means 'Beautiful' in Italian." Paul announced proudly.

"Oh, I didn't know you had been to Italy or taken any lessons in Italian?" Jake challenged taking my hand in his.

"Hey man, I'm not stealing your girlfriend. So stop acting like your ass is on fire," Paul commented. Jake's hand stiffened in mine.

"She is not my girlfriend, Paul. We are just friends," Jake explained and released my hand.

"Okay..." Paul said slowly as if analyzing the situation. "But she is a girl and your friend. So your girlfriend," he suggested.

"She is just a friend, Paul. Not my fucking girlfriend. Period," Jake shouted, and I startled.

"Ok. Ok. My apologies. I came here to ask you if you were coming to the New Year Eve's party at Sam's tonight? I got home an hour ago from my aunt's house in Port Angeles and heard that you were around. It's been ages since I saw you, fucker and I just wanted to see you," Paul explained.

"Sorry, bro. It's just... I've just have a lot on my mind recently. Yes, I'll be at Sam's. See you there," Jake smiled.

"Cool. So, will Miss Beautiful come too?" Paul asked.

"Go away before I rip you a certain new part of your anatomy," Jake threatened and Paul ran away laughing.

"Motherfucker," Jake muttered.

"Cool down, Jake. Is your head alright?" I asked. He smirked and raised an eyebrow at me.

"Why Swan, my head is all good. You wanna check?" He suggested cheekily. I touched the spot on his head feeling a slight bump.

"I think it's fine. There's a small bump forming but it will..." I stopped as he laughed loudly. I looked at him confused but then recalled his words. My head is all good. His head. HEAD... Asshole!

"Jacob Black, run as fast as you can or so help me as I'm going to beat the living daylights out of you," I started towards him as he ran in the direction of his house. His booming laughter was heard all the way back.

"Jake, I really don't want to go," I whined. We are in his car on our way to his cousin Sam's party. He convinced me to go with Sarah's help, who also helped me shop for a dress to wear. We had gone to a boutique in Forks where she presented me with a burgundy, floor length mermaid cut dress. It has a deep cut with slender strips on the sleeves. I tried my best to pay for it but she refused saying that it was my late Christmas present. I accepted defeat on that note. However, the dress is beyond beautiful.

"Stop whining like a baby, Swan. You look sexy as hell and you are going," he said in a tone which expected no further argument. I huffed out a breath and flipped him the bird.

"Real mature, Swan, " he chuckled.

We reached the party around ten in the evening. I'd met Sam the day after I had come to the Res where he lived with his wife Emily and his son Josh. He was seven years older than Jake. It was a twenty minute drive from Jake's to his place. Like other natives, he has tan skin, black hair and dark brown eyes with a stout personality. He greeted us at the entrance.

"Jake, Bella. It's so good to see you!"

"Hey bro. You'd done a great job with the decorations," Jake slapped him on the back.

"It's all Emily. I swear, that girl is a ball of energy," Sam shook his head.

"And you're complaining because?" Jake asked suggestively, and I elbowed him.

"Ignore him Sam. He and Paul have been spewing a lot of shit today," I glared at Jake. Sam chuckled and invited us in.

"Seriously Jake, sometimes you make me question your age and intellect." I sighed tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"Only sometimes?" Someone asked from behind. We turned and saw Paul, grinning ear to ear like the goon he was.

"Speak of the Devil," Jake muttered under his breath.

"What was that, Black?" Paul dramatically shoved his ear towards Jake. Jake gripped his head under his arm.

"Oh, I was just telling Swan about your encounter with Donna," Jake slapped him on his back releasing him.

"You were not!" Paul practically shouted, his face paling.

"You wish," Jake huffed.

"That's not fair, dude," Paul complained.

"I haven't told her the entire thing, yet. But if you don't leave us alone, I think I will," Jake declared. Paul shut up after that and left after mumbling a 'Happy New Year' to me.

"That wasn't very nice of you, Jake," I pointed out once he stopped laughing.

He swung an arm around my shoulder and said, "We are like this, Swan. Don't worry."

"You said that you came to Forks after living a long time in Rochester?. So how come you are so friendly with Paul?" I asked.

"I didn't know him from Forks. We went to college together in Rochester and he told me about his family in Forks. We separated after graduation. I'd last seen him two years ago on my 25th birthday party, whose invitation, which by the way, you declined," he said the last part so quietly that I almost didn't hear him. Great! Again with a 'Bella special, mood gone crappy moment'.

"Jake...," I started, but he cut me off.

"No, Bella. Let's not talk about it," he released me from his grip.

"Ok, tell me about Donna," I blurted, out of the blue.

"What?" his brows wrinkled as he looked at me questioningly.

"You said Paul had an encounter with someone named Donna. What was it?" I asked hoping that my technique to change the subject worked.

"Oh, that," he snorted. "I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you." He danced his eyebrows comically.

"Come on. It's not like I'll tell Paul, anyways."

"Ok fine. Donna Wolosin was our Psychology professor during our first year at the Finger Lakes College. She was young; probably in her late twenties. Paul was head over heels for her. She was pretty; I have to give him that. But boy, did he admire her like mad. He flirted shamelessly with her. Well you may not find the rest of the gory details funny but to make a long story short, she turned out to be married and her husband scared the shit out him. How? That's a story for another day," Jake laughed out loudly, gathering the attention of others.

"Wow. I would have never guessed Paul to be one to fall for a professor," I mused.

"You can't judge a book by its cover," Jake shrugged.

Despite my earlier notion that I wasn't going to enjoy the party, it worked out quite well in the end. I even danced and got drunk. Very drunk, judging from the giggles emanating from me.

"I asked you earlier, Swan whether you could hold your liquor," Jake whispered close to my ear as we were dancing, or swaying depending on whose perspective it was, back and forth.

"Shut itttt, Jakeyyyy... and daaannncce," I slurred. Wow, I'm really drunk.

"I think we should go home, Swan," Jake said grabbing my waist tightly to prevent me from face-planting on the floor.

"Na.. Noooo, babe... I jussst starrrtedd tto... haavve fffunnn...," I suddenly laughed.

"Belllaaa... Why didn't you tell me earlier what six straight vodkas do to you?" Jake muttered. Just then we heard it. The countdown for the arrival of 2017 had started. Counting down to the New Year caused my drunkenness to vanish. All I could see was the man in front of me. Not the one with dark hair, dark eyes and russet skin. But the one with green eyes, windblown auburn hair and alabaster skin. I saw his beautiful face giving me that crooked grin that was reserved only for me. I felt his feather-light but manly arms around me and not hot, stout ones. I know I was imagining things in my drunken stupor. But all thoughts left my mind when his lips whispered my name. The countdown was about to end.

Three

I inched my face closer to his.

Two

His sweet breath warmed my insides.

One

I crashed my lips to his and for just a second, my heart skipped a beat, elated.

Happy New Year!

But the moment died as soon as it came and then the lips moving with mine weren't the sweet, rosy ones I thought I was kissing. The hair I had been gripping, God knows since when, was not auburn hair. Because the man I was kissing was not my Edward. My lips stilled as the realization hit me. But Jacob's continued to move. He bit onto my bottom lip and sucked on it. I closed my eyes to stop the tears from falling and stood frozen. He must have realized my lack of response because he released my lips and loosened his grip on my waist.

"Bella...," He started.

"I'm sorry," I whispered and shrugged out of his grip. I turned on my feet to leave avoiding his questioning eyes.

As I walked past the beach, I only heard the sounds of fireworks dying away and wondered how many people were still left to be hurt by me.

January 2, 2017

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Greater Rochester International Airport. Local time is 8:16, and the temperature is 29 degrees Fahrenheit.

For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seats belt fastened until the Captain has turned off the fasten seat-belt sign.

On behalf of Delta Airlines and the entire crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this flight and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day!"

I collected my luggage, and reached the terminal as soon as we were allowed to deplane. I had to get a taxi to take me to Seventh Street which was forty-five minutes away. I deliberately looked around the waiting area, not expecting to see anyone I knew. But because my life was full of last minute surprises, I saw Alice sitting on Em's back, waving at me with both arms high in air.

"Here, Bells. Lookie here... We are here," Alice cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted. I walked towards them, blushing all the way as people turned their heads to look at me.

"What are you both doing here?" I hissed.

"Bella," Alice started as Em put her down. "We wanted to surprise you. Rose and Jazz will meet us at Seventh Street because Rose had to go for a fitting of her wedding dress. So Em and I decided to come here and surprise you. It's not like I don't want to go with Rose but you know fittings are kinda boring. It's fun to shop around but to wear the same dress again and again bored me to tears. That's why..."

"It's nice of you for being so considerate, Alice but I am asking why you were sitting on Em's back?" I asked, effectively cutting off her ranting.

"Oh, that was for your convenience so you could see us. We tried calling your cell, but it was switched off. We also called Jake too, but you'd already left. Speaking of Jake, he appeared too cheery. Like he had won the lottery..."

"Or a girlfriend?" Emmett suggested. I stiffened at his word. Yeah. Girlfriend it is. Or sort of.

"What is it then, Bella? He tells you everything," Alice smirked knowingly. How does she... Urgh! Jake and his big mouth.

"I know Jake told you," I shifted on my feet nervously.

"Told us what?" Emmett looked confused.

"That Bella and Jake are dating," Alice said casually inspecting her nails.

"I will so not call it dating. We agreed on a middle-ground!" I exclaimed throwing my hands in the air.

"What the hell! Bella Swan is sleeping with Jacob Black. I never thought that I would see this day," Em feigned wiping a tear.

"Shut up Emmett!" I screeched. "I'm so not sleeping with him. It's... We agreed to explore our relationship but we aren't exactly dating," I glared at Alice.

"But you will. I know and I'm so happy for you. Jake is a really good guy," she said enveloping me in a hug.

"I don't know Alice," I sighed once she released me. After our kiss on New Year's Eve, Jake, and I quietly left for home. The next day I had a banging headache, and I stayed in bed until the evening. Jake brought dinner for me and had a blinding smile on his face. I tried to tell him what I was thinking when I had kissed him but he stopped me. He said he doesn't want to discuss it and he was ready to explore our relationship slowly. He seemed so confident that I didn't have the heart to tell him the truth. I just agreed with what he said. So much for starting afresh in the New Year.

"Don't worry Bella. Everything will turn out to be alright," Ali smiled gently.

"Come on ladies, we have to reach Seventh Street by ten. Let's get this show down the road," Em cheered loudly.

The sign, Seventh Street came into view around half past nine. Our project was to construct a shopping center after demolishing three small houses and The Street Manor. The area had been uninhabited for years. The land was sold to Mr. Felix Wigzell who had hired us for completing the project. The weird thing was that, he had given us four years to complete it which was unusually long for such a small scale project. I mean come on; a shopping center doesn't require four years for construction.

The project was taken over in November 2014. Edward and I were to look at the site before proceeding further. But in the end, we hadn't visited the site. After Edward... died... After he died, a month later, I was scared of going anywhere near it. Two years passed and nobody dared to touch it. It was because of the stories that the manor was haunted. Both Edward and I didn't believe in those things. I believe what we can see is what is true. After Edward's death, Mr. Wigzell was pressured to drop his idea. But he was a man of commitment. He didn't deter from his deal and asked Carlisle to try to complete the project, and if he was unable to do so in four years, the project would be passed to another firm.

That's why for two years, until two weeks ago, the project had been left to gather dust in Cullen Architecture. Carlisle decided to give it a try, and so he had contacted me. He was hesitant at first because of the tragic past attached with the situation. But I knew that I couldn't avoid it forever. I have to do it. For Edward. However, I was looking at it with a whole new perspective after Sarah's tale. The meaning to carry on this project has changed. Now I want to do it to find my own answers.

"We are here," Emmett announced as the car turned into the driveway.

"Great! Hey, I can see Jazz and Rose getting out of their car. What a coincidence that we arrived at the same time," Alice bounced with excitement, exuberance rolling out her in waves. I wonder why she's so excited.

We exited the car and walked over to them. I left my luggage in the car. I looked towards the sky to see black clouds forming overhead. The weather was colder than in the main part of the city and I was surprised to see there wasn't any snow on the ground. I rubbed my arms and shivered a little.

"Bella!" Rose hugged me as I came to stand in front of her. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, Rose." I smiled into her hair. "How are the wedding preparations going?" I asked releasing her.

"Oh, don't ask. As you know, the wedding has been changed to February..."

"What? No, I didn't know it was changed. You had said it was in March," I wondered.

"You didn't tell her, Alice," Rose glared at her.

"Oops! Sorry, Rose. I sort of forgot that," she shrugged sheepishly.

"How can you forget that, Alice Hale!" Rose exclaimed.

"BecauseJaketoldmeheandBellaaredating," Alice blurted out, and I turned to look at her, my eyes as wide as saucers.

"What the... Jacob Black is dating whom?" Jasper shouted.

"Bella," Alice mumbled lowering her head.

"Come again," Jazz stepped forward.

"Ok fine. I'm sorry Bella," she pleaded. "Jake and Bella are dating," I elbowed her in the ribs at that. "Oww! Not exactly dating," she glared at me rubbing the spot, "but they have a deal to explore their relationship and Jake is over the moon. See. Happy?" She huffed looking at me.

"Far from happy," I hissed.

"Wow!" Jazz whispered absently.

"And why are you so happy?" I asked irritated.

"Hey, it's good for you, Bells. You should date. Moreover, Jake is a good guy and I trust him," he pointed out.

"No, you can't date that mutt, Bella. I didn't even invite him to my wedding," Rose whined.

"Umm... I did," Em said scratching the back of his head.

"What!" Rose shrieked. "You are fucking kidding me."

"Rosie..." Em started, but I cut him off.

"Rose it's fine. Jake is our friend and he should be invited," I said honestly.

"Aww... And now she is defending him," Alice laid her head on Jazz's shoulder dreamily.

"Look guys, I'm not dating him. We are just..."

"Exploring our relationship," they chorused and rolled their eyes.

"Ugh, fine. Let's go inside the manor now, shall we?" I proceeded to walk avoiding further embarrassment. I'm so going to kill you Jacob Black.

I heard them following me. The manor soon came into view but it wasn't what I expected. Unlike the other houses we have to demolish which were dilapidated, this manor was a palace. It looked stately with its huge pillars, and nothing like a place which was believed to be haunted. The paint was still new and the garden outside appeared well-kept.

"Are we at the right place?" Jasper asked.

"Yup dude. I was wondering the same thing. Aren't haunted places a little creepy? This place looks like it is in great condition; I mean even the garden is shining," Emmett commented.

"Haunted?" Alice and Rose shrieked at the same time. Here we go. I rolled my eyes internally.

"You didn't tell us this place is haunted. I'm so not staying here!" Alice shouted.

"Me either," Rose seconded her.

I turned to look at their pale faces. "Girls, it's just a myth to keep people away. There is nothing in there. So come on and be brave," I encouraged.

"But Bella..." They both said again at the same time but one glare from me shut them up.

"You know, we should hire you to control them," Jasper whispered and Em nodded. I chuckled and shook my head. We reached the front door and Jazz opened it with the key Mr. Wigzell had given him.

"Holy shit..." Emmett blurted out. Holy shit, indeed. The place was fully furnished. The wood flooring was shiny and polished and the walls were pure white. The owner must have had an eclectic taste because the furniture was divine. The dining table, couches and sofas, the center table, the paintings on the wall; all were spectacular. There wasn't a particle of dust on any of it. It was really incredible to see this place so... clean? I can't even see a cobweb for heaven's sake.

"Are you sure no one lives here?" Rose whispered.

"The place had been uninhabited for years, Rose," Jazz answered.

"Then how come it is so well taken care of?" Alice asked.

"Maybe there is a housekeeper we don't know about," I mused.

"This seemed like a correct explanation," Em said examining the dishware on the dining table.

"You shouldn't touch those, Em," Rose hissed.

"Come on babe. It's fun," he whined.

"We should go and freshen up. Then we can see the rest of the site," Jasper suggested. Mr. Wigzell has asked us to stay at the manor when we would come to explore the area.

"Ok. I'll bring your bags, Bella," Em said, and I smiled at him.

January 3, 2017

It was around two in the morning and I was lying wide awake in my bed. The place had seventeen bedrooms and five were fully furnished with en-suite bathrooms. So we had taken three rooms, two for the couples and one for me. We had explored the area and the other houses and I was damn tired. The king-size bed was comfy, and the room was warm. But sleep seemed to be a lost case for me at this moment.

I sighed and sat up on the bed. My heart had been thundering wildly in my chest ever since I had entered the room. I had a very strange feeling of completeness in here. Like my life was back on track again. There was elation in my every breath. Even the air flowing through the room soothed my nerves. I felt... safe. But I can't seem to decipher, why.

"My name should be Strange instead of Bella," I muttered in frustration and stood up. I opened the French doors to the balcony and walked out.

"Why does my life have to be this strange? Why can't I settle down like my friends? Why can't I have someone to share my life with? Why can't I have my happily ever after?" I questioned no one in particular. "Why can't I have Edward?" I whispered very quietly and a lone tear dropped from my eye. I turned to go back inside the room and wiped off the tear. Closing the doors, I turned to make my way back to the bed with my face lowered towards the floor. But then I stopped dead in my tracks.

Have you ever experienced a situation in which you felt like- 'out of the frying pan into the fire'? That very same thing was happening to me at this very second. My eyes were taunting me to believe what I was seeing, my brain was ordering me to run, while my heart had died and gone to heaven or hell long ago. I was nothing but a shell of my former self and if I were a fly on the wall at this very moment, I would have definitely seen the look of shock and incredulity that marred my features making them paler than they were before. What I was witnessing, out of the blue, was next to impossible.

Somewhere in my heart of hearts, I knew I must be dreaming. That somehow my mind had fabricated this for my own sanity. But then again, the pain that I always used to have in my chest, seemed to be disappearing. The horror on my face must be evident to any outsider. I can't even bring myself to stop staring and move my feet, which were glued to the floor. I was unable to decide whether to bathe myself in the sight before me or run far away and never come back.

But as I looked into those hauntingly familiar green eyes, blackness enveloped me.

Yeah! I kept my word, guys. We finally reached the prologue. Ok, like I said I wanted to clarify somethings for your convenience. I don't know whether you people read author's note or not but... PLEASE READ... Edward and Bella met four years ago in 2012 and Edward died in an accident two years ago in 2014. I'd written that he died four years ago in the previous chapter by mistake. About the ages of characters... Bella is 29, Edward was 31 when he died; Jake is 27; Emmett is 32; Rosalie, Jasper and Alice are 29. Anything else you want me to clarify then please let me know. You can PM me anytime.

One more thing. PLEASE HELP ME to find a fanfic if you can. It had been a while since I read it but it was so good and I'd forgotten the name. It goes like this... Bella and Emmett are siblings who were left by Renee and Charlie (they ran away leaving their children). There is a time gap and then we find out about Emmett's girlfriend Rose. Edward is Rose's brother who had come from England to live with Rose and didn't like Bella at first. But they become involved afterwards. Edward has his own haunting past and Carlisle is a jerk. We have Britward, Badboyward, Tattward in this story. PLEASE, please let me know if you've got it's name.

Thanks for reading this long note till here and finally let's come to the chapter. Do you like it? Kiss between Jake and Bella; just like one in Eclipse. And now we have our green eyes... Dunno what that means... *smirks evilly* What do you think about Paul? Let me know what you think guys; I should get a reward for posting this so soon. PLEASE REVIEW.

Thank you so much for reading, following and favoriting this story. And thanks reviewers for your encouraging words. :)

See you soon.

-K