Sorry I took so long again. I've been really busy with school and stuff lately, and I'm going as fast as I can.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. I've learnt to accept the fact; it was difficult, but I have.

Chapter –Dying On The Inside

Three days. Three days my angel screamed and burned as the venom ran through her blue veins and pumped through her heart. I couldn't stand to watch her go through so much pain. To know that the very thing I had broken up with her over, to protect her, had gotten her. I could have spared her so much trouble.

Bella's POV

I groaned. Where was I? I looked up into the eyes of a distressed Edward. His golden eyes were wide with worry, guilt, and pain. There was a faint burning sensation in my veins but it was fading away. "Edward"? I asked. The realisation of where I was and why I was there hit me. "Where are Ryan and Sam and Jason"? I asked, panicking.

"It's okay, they're fine", he soothed. "But, Bella, there is something else…", Edward trailed off. What? Something else? What did he mean by something else, had something else happened while I was unconscious? "What is it"? I asked. But I suddenly noticed Edward seemed distracted. He seemed…awed some how, for reasons I hadn't a clue.

"Edward"? I asked again, hysteria enter my voice. His head snapped up. It had drifted to his hands. "I'm sorry. We thought you were going to die…I didn't think there was any other choice", he sounded pained. What was he talking about? I could feel my eyes widen. I waited to feel my heart speed up, and cried out when I realised that it had stopped all together.

"Edward…", my breath started to get faster and sharper. I was sending myself into a state of pure panic. Edward's eyes were sad and guilty. I wanted to cry, but the tears just wouldn't come. My mistake. The tears just couldn't come. Edward's arms reached out to me, and I sat up quickly. "No", I whispered. There was no meaning behind my words. I just couldn't think of anything else to say. What else was there to say?

'Oh yes, thankyou darling Edward for turning me into a vampire'. I don't think that would have gone down to well. Edward seemed to be quite guilty and regretful about the situation. "A…mirror"? I pleaded. Edward nodded solemnly and handed me a small mirror. I sucked in my breath sharply. The girl in the mirror was a stranger. She had familiar features, but she wasn't the girl I used to know.

I moved the mirror around. She had rosebud lips that were a soft cherry colour, rosy cheeks, thick black lashes, cascading chocolate hair, crimson eyes, pale lavender lids, and ghostly white skin. "Tha-that can't be me", I whispered. Edward buried his face in his hands. I wanted to hate him. He had done this to me. And where was Ryan?

"Bella, I'm sorry…" he trailed off. "Where is Ryan"? I demanded. Stuff Edward. Ryan was my boyfriend. "He's unconscious at the moment", Edward replied quietly. I scowled. A small smile flickered across his lips. But then his face went grave, suddenly, and he quickly took one of my hands in his, and hoisted me into his arms. "What the hell do you think you are doing"? I screeched. Edward clutched me to his chest and proceeded to hurry out of the room.

He buried my head in his chest. It was a rather uncomfortable situation. "Edward, what are you doing"? My voice was muffled by his white, long sleeved blouse. "Bella, just trust me for now and don't speak until I tell you", he murmured. I grunted but obeyed him. But I was not letting him get away with this without a scolding and a reasonable explanation.

Finally I heard Edward's soft chuckle. He touched my silky hair. "Your safe now", he whispered. "Safe from what"? I thundered. We were in…the meadow! If he was planning some annual get-back-together…

"From…", Edward stopped and shook his head. "Never mind. Forget I said anything", he was anxious now. "Edward", I warned. Edward hung his head in shame. "I'm afraid you'll be angry with me and will hate me", he whispered. The genuine fear in his voice flattered me. "I'll be angry at you if you don't tell me. And that is a certainty", I said.

Edward met my gaze. "You don't understand! I was trying to keep you safe from yourself"! He cried. A growl escaped my lips. "How"? I snapped. Edward stared out into the forest. His thoughts were elsewhere, I could tell. "We were…in a hospital", he said, as though that explained everything. "Obviously", I rolled my eyes. He flinched away from my sarcasm. "And you are a new vampire", he added.

I let out an exasperated sigh. I wished he would just get straight to the point. "Enough with your silly little games. What is it you're trying to say, Edward"? I struggled to be calm. I was trying to take all of this gracefully, but he wasn't helping. "I'm saying, people were bleeding and injured in that hospital. If you had of smelt that, you wouldn't have been able to control yourself. And Ryan is in that hospital", he added.

I suppose he figured it would help convince me that he was being honest. "Oh", I whispered. "I knew that if I left you to smell them and if you hurt your friends then you wouldn't forgive yourself and you might try and hurt yourself", he said quietly, folding his legs and gracefully sinking to the ground. I glared at him. "You think I'm suicidal"? I shouted. I let my knees collapse. Graceful my royal butt. This was pushing it.

"Bella, I know you hate me", Edward blurted. "What had that got to do with anything"? I demanded. "It has everything to do with it"! He retorted. I felt my lip quiver. He must have seen it because he was instantly at my side, his arm around my waist. I lent my head on his broad shoulder and shook with the silent tears. "I'm sorry Bella, it's just, I wish you wouldn't hate me, and this might be easier…", Edward sighed. He was clearly mortified that he had made me 'cry'.

And suddenly a wave of emotions crashed over me. Like they had all been stuffed behind a wall, and someone had aimed and the wall and it had shattered, letting my feelings flood back. "I don't hate you. I love you", I whispered. I felt Edward shaking beside me. He would have been crying. I reached up and touched his perfect face. "Shhh, it's okay", I reached up further and stroked his hair. "I'm back now", I whispered.

Edward looked down and me and kissed my head. "But Ryan…", he glanced away. I sagged against him and snuggled closer, encouraging him to continue. "Do you love him? Even a little bit"? He asked. I froze, and I felt him freeze too. We sat in silence, listening to the sounds of the forest. The birds chirped and the creek bubbled. It was suck a beautiful, peaceful meadow.

But we couldn't listen to it forever. Finally I answered, "Maybe a little bit", I admitted. Edward kissed my cheek. "And how much do you love me"? He breathed on my face. But I was a vampire now. I could resist better. But still, vampire or not, it didn't affect my final answer. "More than anything else in the universe", I sighed.

Edward seemed contented with this. "Good. Then in which case, I will spring you from hospital and you will come with me on a date tonight", he said. "Okay"! I squealed eagerly. He chuckled. "My Bella", and he kissed my forehead.

Sometimes you walk like an angel
Sometimes you walk like a man
Sometimes you crawl like a baby
Makes me forget who I am
Have you ever been held before
Like honey to the bee
I've never been held before
Like you hold me

You make me feel like a river
Like a water overflow
Wanna shout it out from the Mountain
Wanna sing it on the radio
I'll sell my soul like a sinner
If it means you'll never go

I think the sun is finally rising
Its burning down because I miss you
I'm gonna walk right through the fires
Cos all I wanna do is kiss you
Rain falls, won't wash this away
I'll build a stonewall to make you stay

Like A River-Kasey Chambers