Author's Note: I see that DECADE's hits are going up. How many of you actually went and re-read DECADE even a tiny bit since YEARS was posted?

Disclaimer: I am getting tired of doing this. Do we really have to do this every chapter? Anyone know?

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Days came and went without a single moment of happiness. My lips have forgotten how to smile and my tongue lost the ability of speech too. I answered when I was spoken to but never uttered a complete sentence. My family have stopped asking me to accompany them anywhere since eight years ago. I was dead inside and didn't bother to hide it.

I looked around and saw that my room was just as empty as I felt inside. I had stripped myself of my music collection when I found that every single song brought back memories that excruciatingly painful. I thought I might get closure if I went to her funeral but the sight of her empty coffin has haunted me until this very day.

Eternity was just too long.

I got up and went into the bathroom to shower and get ready for another dreadful day at school.

After all these years, I finally understood why my family was so convinced that I should change Bella. They knew that I was going to be nothing but miserable if I lost her. But that realization came too late, I already had.

I picked a random shirt and pants to wear. I never cared much for what I wore and I cared even less now. When I finished getting ready, I heard a knock the door.

Edward, it's time to go.

I got up and opened the door to reveal Alice. She smiled at me, I nodded to acknowledge her but my expression didn't change.

He's been wearing that expression for ten years. How much longer can this possibly take?

I ignored her thoughts and walked out of my room and down the stairs. The others muttered their greetings but I just continued out the door and to the car. I got in and started the engine while the other made their way over.

I waited until they were all inside before pulling out of the driveway and drove to school. I tuned out their thoughts and focused on the road. The trees on either side of the road whizzed by in a blur and it made me remember how Bella hated my driving. I thought she was silly, of all the things she feared, it was my driving. The memory made the regular aching flare up even more and I winced at the pain.

"Edward, are you okay?" Jasper said attempting to send a wave of calm over me. The pain eased slowly back into its usual ache and I relaxed a bit. He sighed and shook his head.

These occasions are getting more often with every passing day. He has to stop tormenting himself like this.

Easy for him to say, I don't think he could do that if he was in my situation. I scolded myself for thinking those thoughts as soon as they began. He was not to blame, he may be the only reason why I was able to live with the pain till this day.

I pulled into the parking lot and parked easily in my usual spot. Since the first day, I had chosen the spot as far away from the front as possible to avoid the thoughts of those shallow girls who followed me everywhere for almost a week. The bell was going to ring in five minutes so I got out and made my way into the school.

I stared into space while the so called teachers lectured about whatever topic it is we were covering today. I answered their questions without hesitation but wasn't really listening to the question. I gave the expression 'I live in my own little world' a whole new meaning. The first two periods passed slowly like they were being squeezed through a narrow tube and then it was lunch time.

I made my way to the lunch room slowly not finding any reason to hurry. All I would do is sit there and pick at the tray of food until the lunch period ended anyway. I met up with the rest of the family outside the lunch room and pushed the double doors open to enter.

Something I never thought I'd smell again drifted to my nose and made every nerve in my body suddenly become alive again. My brain began functioning properly suddenly making the connection to one very special person. It was so much the same but so entirely different somehow. It can't be her.

I turned and focused on the spot the heavenly scent came from and instantly met a pair of golden eyes. I felt my eyes bulge out of my skull. Her face held the same shocked expression as mine did but her's held horror too. It looked like she was having an inner battle within herself.

"Bella," I whispered making it inaudible for human ears but I was sure she heard me.

She suddenly tore her eyes from mine and strode over to the nearest trash can and threw her untouched tray into it. She took off towards the exit at the speed that she thought was human but it was a bit too fast for a normal human being.

My mind screamed at me for letting her run away. I can't lose her again now that she's back.

What the heck are you waiting for? Go after her or you'll never forgive yourself! I think we are all very tired of seeing you so depressed all the time.

This was Rose's thoughts. She was actually encouraging me to go after Bella. I turned to her and nodded before heading towards the exit too. I wasn't going to let go this time. If she wants to leave, it will have to be over my ashes. It took longer than I wanted because I still had to walk human speed to avoid exposure for my family.

Once I got out to the parking lot I started running around to find Bella. It wasn't that hard considering she had the sweetest scent that has ever existed. I picked it up and tracked her down in her car near the front of the school.

She had her head on the steering wheel and her eyes were closed like she was concentrating really hard on something. My frustration at not being able to hear her thoughts flared again and I knocked on her window impatiently. She propped her head up and turned in my direction. The horror in her eyes returned and she gasped loudly. Her arms moved at lightning speed and she shoved the door opened. I jumped out of the way just in time to avoid getting hit by the her door.

"Bella?" I asked hardly being able to believe that she was still here. She was sitting in front of me. She was alive and as lovely as ever. All of my pent up emotions broke free all at once and I could no longer retrain myself.

"Bella!" I said excitedly and pulled her to me and held her against my chest. My heart danced with happiness inside of me. She had lost her warmth but I didn't care as long as I was able to see her again I was content.

All too soon, she pushed me away roughly and stepped back putting a small distance between us. Even though it was only a foot at most but it felt like she was miles away. It felt like she was no longer there. What else did I expect? I was the one that caused her pain and I can't just ask her to fall back into my arms after all this time.

I stared at her and marveled at her. She was still herself but her features were brought out and became perfect. If I thought she looked like an angel before, she was a goddess now.

She shook her head, turned away, and ran back towards the school.

I stood there, paralyzed. She was back and she was probably angry at me. She had every reason to but I couldn't let go of her again. I will do whatever it takes to keep her by my side and I will shower her with love for the rest of eternity. I will not rest until she feels nothing but happiness. I took in a breath and walked back into the school.

My family stood outside the cafeteria with wild thoughts.

Is that really her?

How can she still be alive?

Who changed her?

What happened?

She's back.

I nodded simply and turned to walk to my next class. I had to gather my thoughts but fact is still fact. My angel was back and more heavenly than ever. I had some explaining to do and I couldn't afford to do it wrong. I couldn't afford to do anything wrong anymore.

I was willing to face anything if it's for her.