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~0~
From Chapter 38 - Vivace:
"You're not running again, are you Bella?"
Running, again?
Her words shocked me. I paused, unable to answer.
Yes, I was running. I was running from Edward, again.
Am I repeating the same mistakes?
My anger turned to anguish.
"I...it's just he..." I didn't know what to do or what to say. Tears stung the corner of my eyes.
Should I go back?
~~Bella~~
"Kate, he ignored me, the whole time he was in the room, he didn't even look at me." I said softly, embarrassed that I needed to describe the awful rejection.
More than that, I hated that this night was turning out to be one of the worst of my life. Especially when I'd been convinced that we had reached a turning point and that Edward and I could be together now the damn song was out of the way.
Kate sighed. "I'm sure there's an explanation. You know you shouldn't–"
"Bella!"
I turned and saw Emmett striding towards me, his expression concerned and determined.
"Um, Kate, I'll call you back." I hung up just as Emmett reached me.
"Are you alright?" He was slightly out of breath; he must have run from the restaurant to come after me. "Edward said a guy touched you?" he sounded angry.
I closed my eyes. Edward saw that? He was watching me?
"I'm OK." I said. "I just couldn't stay. I need to get a cab."
"No, Edward wants me to take you to the hotel."
"Edward doesn't get to dictate where I go!" The adrenaline pumping through my system was making me anxious yet I was suddenly sober and focused.
I didn't want to go back to the hotel or the restaurant, but I also realized that running from Edward now was completely irrational of me. I was being stupid and childish.
"He's just trying to protect you, Bella," Emmett said. "He wanted to come after you, but I stopped him. He hates the thought of those leeches latching on to you."
"Leeches?" I asked, perplexed.
"The slimy photographers that follow him. He wants to protect you from them. I have no idea what happened in there, but when he saw you, before you went into the restaurant, he kind of had an anxiety attack."
"What do you mean, he saw me before I went into the restaurant?" I felt a new pain in my chest.
"We were across the street in my car and saw you arrive. You got out of the cab and called him. He was too blown away to even answer his phone."
"Blown away?" I said incredulously.
"Yeah, shit, it's probably my fault. I told him I didn't think he'd be able to keep his hands off you. Especially wearing that." He gestured to my dress. "He had to sit in the car for fifteen minutes to get himself together."
I shook my head. This doesn't make sense. If he was so 'blown away', why didn't he even acknowledge me!
"Well, he most definitely kept his hands and his eyes off me!" I could feel myself on the brink of freaking out. "It was like he'd never even met me. Like he didn't want anything to do with me." My hands were shaking, my heart thumping in my chest. "I'd like to know what the fuck is really going on in Edward's mind."
"Bella, he's probably just nervous. It was supposed to be a secret. Edward was going to perform at Ben's gig tonight. He wanted to sing the song, to you. Let me take you back to the hotel. He needs to know you're safe."
Secret? He wants to sing the song to me? In public? He can't even talk to me in a room full of people!
I steeled my resolve.
"You can drive me somewhere, but I'm not going back to the hotel."
~0~
~~Edward~~
I knew as soon as my eyes took in the room that my reaction was ridiculous. Bella was the only blip on my radar, but the first thing I noticed was the guy standing too close to her and the look of lust on his face.
He was staring at her lips, just like that asshole Laurent had when Bella had taken me to his club.
He wanted my girlfriend.
I knew in that instant I needed to calm the fuck down and not embarrass her, or myself, by getting aggressively protective.
Crazy images flashed through my mind. I wanted to walk up to him and punch him in the jaw. I wanted her away from him. The violence I felt, the pure jealousy, was completely unjustifiable, but I couldn't help it.
I was seething.
However, I wasn't so unfocused with rage that I didn't notice that two of Angela's friends were giggling and staring at me, iPhones in their hands. Angela was hovering, being the perfect hostess.
"Are you OK? Are you going to talk to Bella?" Angela whispered to me as she hugged me hello.
Another girl offered me a beer, and I took it, still rigid with rage. The cool familiar taste helped me clear my head, then Edward the actor took over. I laughed at their stories, I smiled and exuded charm, the whole time trying to control my body as I shook with adrenaline.
I couldn't even look towards Bella and the guy, because I knew I would completely lose it.
This was Ben's night. Luckily, Ben arrived.
"Edward, it's so great you're here! So, you're getting up on stage with me tonight. Don't try and say no, it's the only thing I want for my birthday."
"Try and stop me. You're gonna play Episode with me tonight." I stated.
"Fuck, yes!" He laughed, and I felt my rage ebb a little as I saw how happy he was. I grinned back at him. He had no clue that Angela had arranged the whole thing in the last few days.
I allowed myself a glance, the briefest look, towards Bella. The guy was still there but she had gone. She wasn't with him any more. I could have passed out with relief.
I wanted to sing to Bella, I wanted to be alone with her, and nothing else—not even my best friend's birthday dinner—held any excitement in comparison.
As Ben said hello to a few more people, I casually tried to see where she'd gone. A few minutes later I spotted her walking back into the room. She looked pale and nervous.
I need her.
"What's going on with you and Bella?" Ben asked suddenly.
"What do you mean?" I bluffed.
"I mean I thought you signed off on the song and she believed you about the photos being a set-up."
I closed my eyes. "The song is signed," I said quietly. "I don't want the paparazzi to find out about her, so we're playing it cool. They'll make her life hell, you remember what happened to Angela."
"The paps aren't getting in here," Ben protested.
"Look around Ben; even Angela's friends from the bank are trying to take pictures of me with their iPhones. They're probably tweeting them. Shit." I took a long pull of beer and chanced a look at Bella.
"Well, fuck it, Edward. I'm gonna ask Bella to sit with us." Ben stood up and walked towards Bella.
I tried not to make it obvious as I watched Ben talking to Bella. I clenched my fists when she stood up, hugged him and sat back down. My anxiety spiralled again.
I want her the hell away from that douche.
When Ben came back alone, I felt sick to my stomach.
"Yeah, Bella noticed the two girls as well. She's gonna hang with Demetri."
"Demetri? Is that the guy next to her? Who is he?" I asked.
"He's a white hot sound engineer from London. He's coming to LA to help with the album so he's mixing the sound tonight to get a feel for how we perform live."
I used that information to try and calm myself.
She should be sitting with me! Why in the fuck, out of all the people in the room, is she talking to an attractive guy? Why can't I control this overpowering feeling of possessiveness?
I distracted myself by speaking to Angela, as I forced myself not to look at Bella.
Just a couple of hours and we'll be at the club.
The appetizer arrived and everyone sat down to eat. I was very covert in my glances to the other end of the table where Bella was still seated next to the guy. Demetri.
She looked unhappy, pale, her lips white. I noticed she was sipping water instead of her wine.
Then, everything went to hell.
I saw him touch her.
I saw the look on his face.
Bella said something to him. She stood up, her hands shaking. I was immobilized by jealousy as I watched her walk out of the room.
Rage and fear took over and I raced out of the room and down the stairs after her. I was too late. There were the leeches, a crowd of them huddled on the other side of the frosted glass door.
I stepped back to the base of the stairs, took my phone out of my pocket and called her, desperate to explain. She didn't answer the first time.
I tried again, and when she did speak to me she was angry and hurt.
"Hello?" she said angrily.
"You left?" It was a statement more than a question.
"Oh, you noticed?" her sarcasm evident.
"Where are you?"
"I'm walking down the street." She said curtly.
"Did that guy hit on you?" I don't even know why I asked; it had been blatantly obvious to me.
"Why do you care?" she sounded hurt and upset. "It's not like you even looked at me the whole evening."
Oh God, Bella. I'm a fucking idiot.
"I can't do this Edward." She said before I could speak.
"I can't pretend that I didn't spend every second that you were in the restaurant, wishing I could touch you, that I could kiss you and tell everybody there that I'm…in love with you." She said softly and with so much emotion I felt my heart ache.
She loves me.
"Bella," I said wantonly. "I want that too–"
"Bullshit!" she yelled at me. "You didn't even look at me."
"Please, come back. I'm sorry. I can expl–"
"No! Just spend the night with your friends. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bella, I'll leave now and meet you at the hotel. I want you to go straight to the hotel, OK?" Fuck singing to her, I just need her.
"Why? You ignore me until another guy propositions me, and then you want me? I'll see you tomorrow."
She disconnected!
"Edward, what's going on?" Emmett stood in front of me.
"You need to go after Bella. I fucked up. She...fuck, the guy, he shouldn't have touched her! I should have...please can you find her and take her back to the hotel?"
"I'm on it. DO NOT leave this restaurant until I get back. Do you understand me?" he said, jerking his thumb towards the silhouetted paparazzi beyond the door.
I nodded dumbly as Emmett disappeared towards the kitchen and I assumed out the back exit. I couldn't seem to move my limbs.
What the fuck have I done?
~0~
~~Bella~~
I asked Emmett to drive me to the B&B, and I didn't back down when he tried to convince me again to let him drive me to the hotel.
Kate's face was a picture of concern as she opened the door. "Bella, thank God! I was so worried!" She hugged me and then looked at Emmett.
"Kate, this is Edward's friend and bodyguard, Emmett McCarty."
"Hi, it's nice to meet you, Emmett. Please come in."
"Hi. I'll just wait in the car until Bella's ready to go," he said politely.
"I don't think so," Kate interrupted. "You're not sitting alone in your car! Come inside; I won't take no for an answer."
Emmett smirked but didn't argue. Kate led us to the sitting room.
"So, Emmett, maybe you can tell me why Bella and Edward can't seem to tell each other exactly how they feel?"
"Kate!" I admonished.
"Humour me, Bella. Emmett?" she addressed him.
Emmett gave a wry grin.
"All I know is that Edward is crazy in love with her. In his situation, you know his profile, the media, the studio…he can barely look after himself, let alone deal with being so caught up with another person. When he saw Bella tonight he was practically hyperventilating," he added casually.
"Maybe, we can talk about this later," I said to Kate, shocked that she was being so forward. "Kate, please, this is kind of embarrassing."
"You should be embarrassed," Kate retorted. "You guys are acting like you're in high school, not adults. If you ask me, all this needs to be out in the open. Don't you agree Emmett?"
"Well, no, sorry Kate, I don't agree. I've seen what happens when the press and the fans find out about new relationships. They'll cut Bella to pieces. She's too inexperienced to be able to cope with it all. Edward's trying to protect her."
"Can you both stop talking as if I'm not here?" I pleaded.
"Bella, do you love Edward?" Kate challenged me.
"Yes, you know I love him! Why do you even need to ask me that?"
"OK, well, I have a solution. Come with me, both of you," she said in a no-nonsense, 'don't question me' tone.
She's going to be a scary mum.
Kate led us through the kitchen and outside, passed the pool and the rose bushes to the little cottage.
"Kate?"
"Just come inside." She motioned us through the gate.
She unlocked the front door and tapped in a code on the security panel.
Once we were standing in the kitchen, Kate turned to Emmett.
"OK, here's the deal. You bring Edward here. We lock them in for the weekend until they sort out their shit."
Emmett laughed.
"Kate!"
"What? You don't want to be here alone with Edward for the weekend?"
"I...just–"
"Right," she dismissed me. "So Emmett, this place is pretty secure and extremely private. If you can get Edward here without being followed, then we won't have a problem. Better still, the paparazzi will think he's in the hotel, so they can waste their time trying to stalk him there."
"I like your thinking," said Emmett.
I closed my eyes. This is not happening to me!
"It all sounds OK. I just need to check the windows and doors and take a look around outside. I'll be right back." Emmett disappeared.
"Kate, what are you–"
She cut me off. "Bella. You love him. If you want this to work, the first thing you need to do is communicate. Edward isn't Riley, and you can't just run every time something doesn't go your way."
"He didn't even look at me or speak to me," I whined.
She grabbed hold of my hand and walked me into the main bedroom. She let go of me when we were standing in front of the mirrored built-in wardrobe.
"You look sensational. If you want to blame anyone, it should be me. I knew this dress would look great on you. Those shoes, sexy as fuck! When are you gonna wake up to reality? He's not some try-hard artist that just wants to get you into the sack when his girlfriend goes on holiday. He loves you and is trying to give you the space to get a handle on his life before anyone weighs in on it."
I stared at myself. Then I closed my eyes.
"That doesn't explain why he wouldn't at least smile at me. He has the song...I..."
"Like I said, humour me. He sent Emmett after you. I'm sure there's an explanation, and you should at least let the man speak! Spend the weekend here. Tell him everything, and I mean everything about Riley, tell him your fears and your desires. Fuck his goddamn brains out on that bed and don't have any doubt that he wouldn't want that with you."
I heard a fake cough and looked up to see Emmett standing in the doorway looking uncomfortable. It was obvious that he'd heard.
I was mortified.
"Yeah, all set," he said. "I'm fine with it. Edward needs to attend fight training tomorrow morning, but I should be able to get him out of it. I'd have to stay in the main house to be close by."
"Great. It's all settled then!" said Kate with a clap of her hands. "You can drop Bella at the club." She turned to me. "After the gig get a cab back here while Emmett loses the fans and photographers. Then he can bring Edward here."
I could feel my face flaming as I looked around the main bedroom.
Kate's 'nesting' spree had included decorating the entire room. It was beautiful. There were candles on the bedside tables. The chiffon curtains covering the French doors to the garden were tied back with a pretty green and pink braided silk cord.
Her plan made sense. Edward and I needed to talk. I would rather it be here in this cosy little cottage than in my boxy hotel room with hundreds of people under the same roof.
"OK, well, I'm set. Shall we go?" asked Emmett.
I turned to Kate; "I want you to come with me, to the club."
She shook her head. "No, Bella, there's nothing weirder than a pregnant chick at a trendy bar."
"You come with me, or the plan is off." I tried to sound convincing. "Please," I whispered.
Kate looked to Emmett and then back to me.
"Are you comfortable driving my car?" she asked me.
I nodded.
"OK, we'll drive to the hotel, so you can pack an overnight bag then we'll drive to the club." She looked at Emmett.
"Fine by me," he stated.
"Excellent. Give me five minutes to change."
~0~
~~Edward~~
Emmett apologized when he picked me up from the restaurant. He said he'd persuaded Bella to come by telling her that I was going to perform on stage with Ben. He assured me she would be in the audience and that she had agreed to see me afterwards.
I needed to see her, so I stood in my usual spot behind the black curtain and looked into the crowd. I spotted Angela and her friends; in fact most of the people that were at the restaurant were standing close together on the right hand side of the stage. Bella wasn't with them.
I looked beyond; I even tried to look up to the mezzanine to see if she was seated. There were too many people and the lighting was too dim.
Ben's band was rocking the stage. I could tell he was more than pumped to know that he would be recording next week in LA.
Even though that douche Demetri had touched her, I had calmed myself from the level of hostility that had overtaken me when I'd been at the restaurant.
It was stupidly hypocritical of me to get jealous over one guy, when Bella had to see women make eyes at me all the time. I thought back to the cougars in the VIP bar, the two girls at Ben's dinner. She would have to suffer the attention I got from fans and I had to be man enough and confident enough in our relationship to deal with men looking at her. She is beautiful, hands down the most gorgeous girl I'd ever met. I know she loves me.
I took in a deep breath as Ben introduced me.
"A really close friend of mine promised to get up on this stage with me tonight," said Ben as the crowd applauded and whistled. "All I can say is, it's about time Edward Cullen!"
I walked on to the stage to screams, clapping and wolf-whistling. It was overwhelming.
"Happy Birthday man. Thank you," I whispered in Ben's ear.
I sat down at the keyboard and adjusted the microphone. I had to have faith in Emmett's word that Bella was here and that she would see me and let me explain.
When I looked up, I couldn't see anything except the spotlight pointing directly in my face.
"Hello, thanks for coming out." Another wave of cheering and screaming.
"This musician here," I motioned to Ben, "is a fantastic friend and an inspiration to me. Let's all give him some cheers for an outstanding birthday!"
The crowd gave it all they could. Ben just shook his head at me and I knew he knew what I intended to do next.
I took a deep breath.
"This song holds a place in my heart. More than that, it owns my soul. Someone said to me, 'the song defines the place that we occupy right now'. She said 'everything will change around us', that we would change, yet 'the words and the music would never alter'."
I shielded my eyes from the bright spotlight and looked into the audience. I wanted to see her, connect with her, and make her understand that it would only ever be her. I should have done this at the restaurant. I should have acknowledged her. I knew I'd hurt her. I was going to make it up to her; any way she'd let me.
"She was right," I said, "except now, even though the music and the words are the same, the meaning has changed for me. I can't go back to being the person I was then, and I don't want to. I only met her a very short time ago and yet, she is my life now."
There was a murmur from the women in the audience. Ben was smiling widely and my heart was beating a wild rhythm. I could feel my hands shaking.
"The song is a representation of what I want, what I can't live without." I closed my eyes and prayed she was here, listening. "I won't live without you B … please..."
I paused. I waited until the whistles and shouts of 'We love you Edward!' ceased.
The audience murmured but stayed quiet. My eyes scanned the audience again, looking for her. I knew it was pointless. I just had to believe.
"This song is called Episode. It's for the girl I love." I took in another calming breath.
"I love you," I whispered.
Just for Bella. Only for Bella.
~0~
~~Bella~~
My nervousness spiked when Ben called Edward onto the stage.
Kate took my hand and squeezed it.
I was grounded with her by my side. I knew I couldn't have sat there by myself. I didn't want to experience my love for Edward in secret, or without some support. I needed to be able to confide in someone. I needed to know that these feelings were real and not just in my head.
I'd had Jessica when I was with Riley, but her support was more like a lacklustre acceptance of our relationship. It was like she knew it wouldn't go anywhere and she wasn't entirely sympathetic when she was proven right.
I looked at Kate, she was grinning and holding her tummy as the loud applause and cheers Edward had initiated to celebrate for Ben's birthday started to subside. She grabbed my hand and placed it below her navel.
I felt the tiniest rolling movement of a limb, or something as her baby moved inside her. It was the strangest feeling I'd ever experienced. I was emotional seeing Edward on stage, but even more overwhelming was the glow on Kate's cheeks and the miracle of the life growing in her belly.
All my childish fears and doubts seemed suddenly insignificant.
The crowd's applause died down and Edward continued to speak. Kate smiled at me and I pulled my hand away reluctantly.
The cacophony eventually faded, as every one hushed to hear.
He remembered and quoted my off-handed toast that I'd made up on the spot that night we'd met in the bar. The night I'd agreed to let him use the lyrics to Episode.
He said I owned his soul. I remembered back to the lake, his declaration that we were twin-souls, soul mates. I was sure that he was just quoting from the book back then, but this was nothing like that.
He said he couldn't live with out me.
He introduced Episode and said it was for the girl he loved.
"I love you," he whispered into the microphone.
It was enough to set the females in the audience on fire.
I felt Kate squeeze my arm. Then I watched as Edward lowered his eyes to his hands that were resting over the keys.
Edward had started playing, and Ben was accompanying him on the guitar.
"Oh God Bella," whispered Kate. "He loves you!" she said, with her mouth up against my ear.
I felt a shiver run over my scalp and down my spine. I didn't know what to say back to her.
I was awestruck.
His voice was so powerful and emotional, even more so than when he'd sung at Laurent's. That time he'd sung Episode with a passionate fervour that had been a million times better than when he'd sung it in the Purple bar. This was way beyond that.
I watched his face and the way he held his body, he looked defeated and sad. I felt the emotion.
It was regret.
I wanted to sing along, but I kept my lips motionless and I closed my eyes.
He loves me.
He really loves me!
I felt my love for him expand and bloom anew in my mind and in my heart. I knew the song was burned into my soul as soon as I heard him play it the first time. It seemed that every time he performed it, my incapacity to give myself fully was being chipped away.
Kate's right. I need to tell him my fears. I need to tell him all about Riley. I need to ask Edward what he sees for our future.
I need to tell him, how much I ache for him.
All too quickly the song was finished. The applause was deafening. The girls to our right were screaming, jumping, and crying. I watched as Ben and Edward hugged and Edward left the stage. The rest of the band came back out and Ben said they had one more song to perform.
"I think we should go before the crowds, Kate." I suggested.
I led, holding her hand, weaving through the people towards the exit, ensuring no one got anywhere near her tummy.
The focus held me together, even though tears stung my eyes. I blinked them away. It seemed that the entire club was full of women crying. I had that clenching ache in the back of my throat. I was barely holding it together. When we finally got out and onto the street, I turned to check Kate was OK.
"Let's get you home." she soothed me.
I nearly broke down then, so choked up with the emotion of his words and the anguish in his voice.
Does he still want to be with me, can we both find a balance?
Then suddenly some girls surged forward out of the club, brushing passed us. Then flashes shot in a bright strobe as the paparazzi milled around. But they weren't photographing me.
"Bree! Bree! Look at the camera." one shouted.
"Bree, is it true you're dating Edward Cullen?"
I stared as a small girl was herded to the edge of the road. She was blushing yet smiling as the photographers were yelling at her to pose for them.
"Smile! Yes, look this way. Bree! BREE!" They were shouting and shuffling to get closer. The flashes were firing rapidly. I didn't recognise her; she didn't even look old enough to have been in the club.
Kate asked someone standing next to her what was going on.
"That girl was photographed with Edward Cullen last night. She's his real girlfriend. He's not dating Rosalie Hale," she said matter-of-factly.
The girl Bree didn't even look like she was eighteen.
The photographers were still shouting and pushing close to her and she looked a little frightened.
I stepped forward.
"No, Bella, let's go now," said Kate. "This is what he's trying to protect you from," she said into my ear.
I stared at the girl. She now looked petrified as some of Edward's fans were surrounding her. The crowd of women surged forward.
They didn't seriously think Edward was dating a teenager?
But it seemed they did. Fans were holding magazines out for her to autograph, while the paparazzi were firing away and shouting at her, trying to intimidate her to look into their camera lenses.
Kate and I walked briskly to her car.
I unlocked the doors and we got in.
"I don't know who she is," I said.
"Bella, it doesn't matter. He loves you. What he said, it was beautiful."
I took in a long slow breath. "I can't lose him, Kate. I'm scared I'll lose him!" I let the tears fall then.
"You won't." she said confidently.
If only I could feel a tenth of her confidence. I wiped away the tears and concentrated on the road.
~0~
~~Edward~~
Desolation. It's what I felt. I had no idea if she was in the audience. I stood like a statue backstage as Ben and his band mates played their encore song.
My phone started ringing.
It was Alice.
"Hello," I said sullenly.
"Edward what happened?" I could tell she'd been crying. I knew she'd felt everything I had during that song.
The fear that Bella would walk away from me. The hatred I felt for myself at not putting her feelings first.
I couldn't answer my sister. I couldn't pretend that I thought everything would work out. I couldn't call her out on her inability to tell me that she waited four months for Jasper and never confided in me.
I suddenly I felt angry. It didn't mean anything, her dream, her knowledge. The fact was that I'd fucked this up. Bella may simply slip through my fingers.
"I can't even try to tell you right now Alice. I need time. Please just give me some time." I ended the call.
Emmett appeared then. He looked unhappy.
"She's at the hotel?" I asked, frantic.
"I'm taking you to her." he said simply.
"She wasn't in the audience?" I said, defeated. My grand plan to play it cool, to declare myself was for nothing. She didn't even know.
"She was there." Emmett said. "So was Bree Tanner," he added.
I stared at him. "So? What's Bree got to do with it?"
"You nearly said Bella's name, but you cut it, you said B, you said you couldn't live without B. The leeches spotted her. They think she is the B, Edward."
Fuck!
I kicked a chair and pulled at my hair. How in the fuck could they think I was in love with the seventeen-year-old niece of the executive producer! I only met the girl yesterday!
"Think about it later. Bella's waiting. Calm the fuck down and look happy. I have to get you back to the hotel."
I blocked it all, the screams the flashes. We drove to the hotel. Just before we got to the entrance he spoke.
"Listen to me. Go to your room, pack a bag and meet me in the parking garage as quickly as you can. I'll take you to Bella."
"She's not here?" I demanded.
"No, please don't ask questions, just do it, Edward."
I rushed into the hotel. When I was in the elevator my fingers wanted to push for level eight, but I needed to trust Emmett. I got to my room on the 34th floor, it felt cold and sterile. My overnight bag was in Bella's room, so I forced some clothes into my gym bag and practically ran to the elevator to descend to the parking garage.
I had no idea where we were headed as I hid under a blanket on the backseat. I had flashbacks of Bella taking me to Laurent's. I refused to believe that night would be our one and only 'date'. I used the time lying on the backseat to go over in my mind how to apologize, how to convince her I needed her and that if she would still have me, I'd do anything to make it up to her.
I can't give up on her. I'll never give up.
~0~
A/N: Hello. I know, so long in updating. I appreciate you coming back. I love all of you that are reading my fic! Last chapter had the most varied reviews ever… I hoped reading Edward's perspective filled in the gaps. I wanted to keep a tally of how many of you said she should have gone back. It was a lot! This Bella could never have gone back. Kate to the rescue (Thank you RebeccaMCullen for providing the quote for Kate).
Now lock them away and make Bella take Kate's advice… yes?
