Disclaimer: The following characters are property of Stephanie Meyer; I merely like to create scenarios with them!

A/N: Ok, the plot begins a few weeks after prom. Edward has been acting strangely to Bella and she's starting to get worried.

"Edward," I started one day while we were at the meadow. He didn't pull me into his lap like he usually did, or hold me or kiss me anymore. He only barely looked up.

"Yes?" Just yes? He didn't even say my name.

"I was wondering what was wrong with you lately." I asked tentatively.

He sighed heavily, and looked at me guiltily. "Bella…I hate to say this to you but… I can't….be with you anymore. We…can't be together." I felt extremely stupid at that very moment. Not one of his words made sense.

"What?" I asked dumbly.

"We can't be together. I guess you could say…I'm breaking up with you." Oh. That made more sense. I couldn't help the tear that slid down my cheek. And then I ran; ignoring all of his shouts after me. He didn't run after me though. I ran to may car, tripping and crying the whole way there and the entire way home.

It was the Monday after Edward broke up with me, and Alice had informed me that not a day before, Rosalie had ended things with Emmett. I was at my locker trying not to fall apart (this was my fight the entire weekend while around Charlie) when Emmett came by my locker. It wasn't an odd occurrence; his locker was 2 lockers over from mine. He watched me as I tried to clean myself up so I could face him.

"Bella, you look like a train wreak. Didn't you get any sleep?" His voice held the concern I was familiar with coming from Edward.

"Oh… that bad huh?" I sniffed. Truthfully, I hadn't slept, eaten, or focused the past weekend.

"Can I do anything? Do you want to talk? We can sit together at lunch…if you want." He added hastily.

I didn't even think before I spoke, "Sure."

At lunch, I got a bottle of water and a slice of pizza, prior to Emmett's insistence. He was so much like his brother, it was concerning, but comforting. We talked about different things, interests, and insecurities. As it turned out, Emmett was having as hard a time as I was. He invited me out to dinner, and I hastily agreed. It was nice to have someone to talk to, since the entire weekend, with the exception of dinner with Charlie, I'd been alone. I held myself up in my room until he came home and I started dinner. The table had been quiet and Charlie didn't mind. I however, was ready to scream with every second of silence that went by.

Classes went by in a blur now that I actually had something to look forward to. The worst part was Biology. Edward and I spoke only when necessary, and he avoided touching or looking at me. A few times it looked as if he were about to say something, decided better of it, and closed his mouth. As we were about to leave he said, almost so quietly I didn't know if I were meant to hear it, "It's better this way."

When I got home, I went straight up to my room to get ready for my outing with Emmett. The teacher's thankfully, only gave us studying homework since finals were coming up, so I could blow it off until I came home. I took a shower, cleaned myself up, and put on makeup and a nice, casual dress, (something Alice had picked up for me on one of many shopping sprees.) I looked in the mirror and was shocked at how good I looked. It was good, compared to this morning when I'd only brushed through my hair roughly, threw on some jeans and a tee shirt at random, and put on no makeup. Makeup was something I'd done since prom, because, as Alice put it, gave me a more "Bella-like" look. ( Odd considering the old me never wore makeup.)

Emmett came around six to pick me up. I wrote a hasty note to Charlie detailing I was going out for dinner with some friends and I'd be back later. Emmett took me to a quiet restaurant with a modern look, called "Northern Bistro". As I flipped through the menu, I noticed the prices. THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR SHRIMP? Not just shrimp, in an APPETISER. "Umm, Emmett, this place is kind of expensive, are you sure?"

"Have whatever you want Bella, it doesn't matter." He chuckled at my shocked expression. "So Bella, I have a question. If you could choose any of the following things to stop doing, what would it be: Stop breathing, stop blinking, or to have your heart stop beating?"

I considered my options carefully. "Well," I started, "I suppose I've already managed to win many staring contests… I've managed to do without the breathing thing, so that only leaves the heart… Lately I only dream of it to stop beating." I couldn't believe I just said that. I've never been the depressed type, but I guess after Edward dumped me, it's pretty much all I've subconsciously been thinking about. Even before, I wanted him to change me and that would be a result of it… "I guess I've always wanted that."