Ahahahaha, not going to lie, I feel real devious after the last chapter and everyone's reactions to it. Sorry for dumping that on you in the middle of a pandemic. But as the pandemic goes on, so does this story! Real talk, I hope everyone is keeping safe. It's a scary time.

I know everyone is concerned about what Edward did. The thing is, it's the sort of person he is. He's dramatic, a bit of a moron, and sure that he knows best. Despite how at fault he is for this, I can't help but feel a bit bad for him too. Really what happened last chapter was that he panicked at the idea of her possibly choosing to spend more time (possibly all of her time) with him.

Enjoy the fallout!

...

It was one of the worst days of Alia's life.

Only last night, she had made up her mind to stay in Forks. For him. She had been delaying choosing a university, because she was terrified of leaving her home, her parents, and Edward. So, lying there and staring up at the ceiling, she decided to listen to her heart and what it wanted.

It begged her to stay with Edward no matter what. To buy some more time. Just a little bit more.

She wanted to go to university. She wanted to meet new people and experience new things and see the world, to get out of the bubble her parents kept her in. But she was willing to put that on hold for a bit for him.

And for what? She had poured her heart into those hopes only for him to say those terrible things. It must have been why he always got quiet whenever the future came up. He was feeling suffocated and she hadn't even noticed it.

But so what if I didn't notice it? Alia thought as soon as her mind traitorously began finding ways to blame herself for his actions. It wasn't her job to figure out everything that went on in his head. Edward was an adult. He owed it to her to be reasonable and treat her decently even if he hated her guts.

And yet, didn't she owe it to him to try and figure out what went wrong? Every single time something troubled her, he figured out what was upsetting her and supported her.

It's different, she realised after pondering for a good hour. I always trusted him, always opened up to him. He always kept himself hidden. He never trusted me enough to tell me anything that was going on with him. Well, until now that is…

Alia fluctuated between grief and anger for the rest of her day, only coming out of her room to get a tub of ice cream to devour. When that was gone and her stomach hurt from all the sugar, she put on what was supposed to be a comforting Pixar movie, and immediately began crying again when "You've Got a Friend in Me" began playing over the opening credits. She had to turn Toy Story off and go cry in the bathroom. She spent the rest of the evening reading horror stories that she could consume without emotions getting in the way.

That night, after Alia's tears had dried up, and her mind was a bit clearer, she went to her computer and immediately accepted an offer to a university. It was the one she was most looking forward to, the University of Washington. They were offering her a good scholarship that covered a third of tuition costs for first year, and had the added benefit of being close to Forks. Well it used to be a benefit… It didn't really matter now, did it?

No, she told herself furiously. She still loved Forks and she wasn't going to let Edward ruin that.

With ten pages of her feelings scrawled out in her journal, a cramped hand from the writing, and fitful night of sleep, Alia rode her bike to the Cullens' house the next morning. After summoning some determination, she knocked on the door.

It only took a few moments before it opened and Esme greeted her. Even the normally warm Esme couldn't hide the troubled expression on her face. "Alia. I'm glad you came to visit."

"Hi Esme." Alia swallowed. "Is Edward home?"

"No." Esme said softly. Alia nodded, and let out the breath she'd been holding. "Please, come in. I'll fix you some tea. I still have some of your favorite."

"That's nice of you." Alia smiled, despite herself at the thoughtfulness. "But I— uh— was only stopping by. Could you please give this to Edward?" She handed over an envelope with shaky hands that Esme took. "I'm gonna go now. It was nice seeing you."

"Alia." Esme's voice stopped her as she began to back away. "Will you tell me what happened?" she asked imploringly, eyes pleading. "Did you two fight? Edward won't— didn't tell us."

Alia could only look away. "It's up to him to tell you then, sorry. Also… it's um… official. I'm going to college in September and moving away so I guess this is goodbye. Give everyone my best."

Esme surprised Alia by drawing her into a tight hug. After a moment, Alia hugged her back. "You're always welcome here, sweetheart. Always."

Alia knew Esme meant it. However, she wasn't planning on coming back when Edward didn't want her around. She blinked away the fresh tears that rose in her eyes and gave Esme her brightest smile when she drew back. "Thank you." She put back on her helmet and after a wave and one look at the house, she was off as fast as she could go.

Esme watched her ride off. "Really Edward?" she asked, knowing full well he was listening in from his room, from where he hadn't emerged since he'd gotten home the day before. "What on earth happened? The poor thing looked like she'd been crying."

Edward didn't answer, and Esme considered dragging him out by the ear. But that wouldn't accomplish anything except make him more sullen. So she went to his door and slipped the letter Alia had left underneath.

From his position at his desk, where he'd had his head buried in his hands for hours, Edward rose and silently picked up the letter. After staring at it for entirely too long, he opened a drawer and slipped it in, before resuming his original position.

He was entirely focused on listening to the sounds around the house. It was only him and Esme at home at that moment. She was painting in her studio, but wasn't humming like she normally was. She was probably worrying.

Once a few more hours had passed, he heard Rosalie and Emmett come home from wherever they'd been, soon followed by Carlisle. Esme ran to the door to greet them all as they arrived in turn. He couldn't hear her hushed whispers, purposely quiet enough to keep him from hearing, but could make a good guess at what she was telling them.

Still, no one bothered him. Even though he heard Emmett threaten to pull him out of his room by force, a quiet word from Carlisle stopped him. The attempt at giving Edward space didn't matter as soon as the loud sound of a car approached the house.

"EDWARD!" Alice didn't bother getting her luggage as she stormed out of her car and into the house. "Get your ass down here right now!"

The rest of the family had gathered around her. Jasper entered the house a moment later, expression grim. "We caught the first flight back when Alice saw… well… that Edward broke off his friendship with Alia." he said in explanation. "For good."

Esme let out a small gasp. "Why would he do such a thing?" Carlisle asked.

"Because he—" Alice threw her hands up in the air "—is a self-righteous idiot who thinks he's protecting her from himself by breaking her heart."

As she rapidly told the rest of them what she had seen Edward do, he stalked downstairs. "What happened is none of your business."

"Cut the crap." Alice snapped.

"Of course it's our business." Emmett spoke up, slapping him on the back. "This is about you and your happiness."

"This has nothing to do with my happiness." Edward scowled, shaking off Emmett's hand. "I'll be fine."

"You're a liar." Jasper said quietly. Everyone turned to look at him. "Why don't you tell them the truth?"

"Don't!" Edward snapped.

"I'm sorry. I have to. It's not just your business anymore." Jasper said. "Edward's in love with Alia. He has been for some time now."

"Oh Edward…" Esme pressed her hands together. "Does she know?"

"Of course she doesn't." Jasper said. "If she did, then she would have told him that she feels the same way. You had to know she's in love with you too, Edward."

"She thinks she's in love." Edward said, voice resigned at the shocked expressions around him. "She doesn't know any better. If she knew the truth about me, those feelings would disappear."

"Lying again. We both know that Alia's not that shallow." Jasper shook his head. "Are you going to deny that you're hurting too? Completely heartbroken?"

"What would you have me do?!" Edward snapped, grabbing Jasper the collar. "Keep up the charade for how long?! Two, three, five years? I won't stop her life from moving forward."

"Simple then." Alice said, prying Edward's hands off of Jasper with a cool glare. "You tell her the truth."

There was silence in the room until Edward broke it with a sharp, near hysterical laugh.

"Tell her?" Rosalie said at last.

"Yeah, everything." Alice said, exchanging a look with Jasper. "We talked about it on the way back, and think it'd be the best way to fix this mess."

"I won't allow it!" Edward snarled.

Alice squared her shoulders against Edward's menacing posture. "I say we put it up to a vote."

"No! We are not voting!"

"She's my friend too. If we decide on it, then I'll tell her everything myself." Alice looked at Carlisle expectantly.

Carlisle sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Alice, that means you intend for her to be turned at some point."

"Is that so bad?" she asked. "Edward would get to be with the person he loves and we would get a new sister. Our family would be complete."

"Carlisle, please." Edward said desperately. "You can't entertain this."

Carlisle looked between the two of them, until Edward growled and stalked to the corner of the room. "I'm sorry son. A vote seems fair."

"A no from me." Edward snapped. "Obviously."

"It's a yes from me." Alice chirped. "Obviously."

"Yes." Jasper said without hesitation. Edward let out another frustrated sound. "I'd rather have you happy, Edward."

"... No." They all looked to Rosalie, who had just spoken up. "I… like her well enough. She's a sweet girl, but I know that I didn't want this life for myself. I think she'll be better off living a normal life."

"Thank you." Edward said quietly.

They looked to Emmett next, who looked between Rosalie and his siblings, clearly torn. "I don't know. Edward. You were so depressed before you became friends with her…"

"I won't be happy this way, I promise."

Alice and Jasper immediately began arguing with him, and Rosalie turned to Emmett. "You don't have to agree with me."

"I know babe." Emmet sighed. "Well… shit. I'm sorry guys, but it is Edward's call at the end of the day. I vote… no then."

Edward nodded and turned immediately to Esme, who had begun pacing. "Esme… Think of her future."

"Don't try to emotionally manipulate her, Edward." Alice snapped.

"No, that's Jasper's job, isn't it." he snapped back.

"Enough." Esme said, making them both shut up. "Edward, I think she has the right to know."

"You'd keep her frozen forever like us Esme?" Rosalie said, making Esme stop in her tracks. "She'd never be able to grow old… or have children."

"Oh please." Alice snapped. "Not everyone is obsessed with popping out babies. No offense." she said as Rosalie glowered at her. "I'm perfectly satisfied without them."

"She deserves the choice." Rosalie countered.

"And she'll get it." Alice said. "We won't force her into being a vampire. Just give her the choice."

"I…" All eyes turned to Esme. She looked to Carlisle and smiled sadly. "If I knew the truth when we first met, I might have been better off. I'd have been spared a lot of pain"

"That's not the same." Edward said, his tone softer than that directed to his siblings. "It's a different time. She has the chance to do anything. Everything. Be whoever she wants."

"All the same…" Esme looked him in the eyes. "She deserves the truth. I vote yes."

Edward clenched his jaw, but nodded at her before turning to his father. "Carlisle. You get the deciding vote."

It took him a few seconds. He twined his hand with Esme's. "I'm torn." he said honestly. "No matter what I choose, there won't be peace. Therefore I must vote based on my principals."

Edward and Alice both reacted at the same time as they understood Carlisle before he spoke. He continued despite their sudden exclamations. "I have to say… no. I would never give someone this life unless there was no other choice. And there is a choice here, to let Alia live out her life without being burdened by the knowledge we have." He looked to Esme apologetically, but she squeezed his hand in response, understanding.

"There you have it." Edward said to Alice and Jasper, who were rendered silent at Carlisle's decision. "I'm sorry I ever endangered our family in the first place. But it's over now. We can go back to normal."

No one was reassured by Edward's words. As he stormed out of the house, they all exchanged wary looks.

They would stand by the vote. They always did whenever a major decision had to be made. But no one was truly happy by the outcome.

The Cullens would weather this storm, as they always did. Alia was hurt now, but Alice grudgingly admitted that she saw her making new friends in university, do well in her classes, and continue to grow to be a smart, confident, happy woman. Edward was right in that she could and would find happiness without him.

But would Edward ever smile again the way he did around her? Would he ever fall in love again? They could not know.

All of them, even Alice, who was seething at the turn of events, and Rosalie who initially was furious at Edward for ever befriending Alia, vowed to be there for him. That was what family was for.