Almost everything was back to normal in less time than I would have believed possible. The hospital welcomed Carlisle back with eager arms, not even bothering to conceal their delight that Esme had found life in L.A. so little to her liking. Thanks to the Calculus test I'd missed while abroad, Alice and Edyth were in better shape to graduate than I was at the moment. Suddenly, it was time for me to start thinking about college. I had to kick myself for not being more on top of things. Many deadlines had passed me by, but Edyth had a new stack of applications for me to fill out every day. She'd already done the Harvard route, so it didn't bother her that, thanks to my procrastination, we might both end up at Peninsula Community College next year.

Charlie was still not entirely happy with me, or speaking to Edyth. However, he saw something in me that reassured him that I would be okay this time and at least Edyth was allowed—during designated visiting hours—inside the house again. I still wasn't allowed out of the house, though.

School and work were the only exceptions, and the dreary, dull yellow walls of my classrooms had become oddly inviting to me of late. I think I was developing cabin fever. It didn't hurt the situation that I had someone in the desk beside me again.

Edyth had resumed her schedule from the beginning of the year, which put her in most of my classes again. After last fall, after the Cullens' supposed move to L.A., the seat beside me had never been filled. Even Makayla, always eager to take any advantage, had kept a safe distance. With Edyth back in my life, it was almost as if the last eight months were just a disturbing nightmare.

Almost, but not quite. There was the house arrest situation, for one thing. And for another, before the fall, I hadn't been best friends with Julie Black. So, of course, I hadn't missed her then.

I was desperate to see her, to talk to her again. But I wasn't at liberty to go to La Push, and Julie wasn't coming to see me. She wouldn't even answer my phone calls.

I made these calls mostly at night, after Edyth had been kicked out—promptly at nine by a gruffly protective Charlie—and before Edyth snuck back through my window when Charlie was asleep. I chose that time to make my fruitless calls because I'd noticed that Edyth made a certain face every time I mentioned Julie's name. Sort of disapproving and wary …maybe even angry. I hoped that she had some reciprocal prejudice against the werewolves, and not that she secretly begrudged how close I had gotten to Julie in her absence.

So, I didn't mention Julie much.

With Edyth constantly trying to win back my trust, it was hard to think about unhappy things—even my former best friend and almost love, who was probably very unhappy right now, due to me. When I did think of Julie, I always felt guilty for not thinking of her more.

I couldn't stop thinking of Julie, even with Edyth back. Yes, I did love Edyth, very much, but I couldn't deny where things had been left with Julie. I had been seconds, a breath away, from choosing Julie. I couldn't just forget about that now. Even if I had left so suddenly to go to Edyth.

Weeks passed, and Julie still wouldn't answer my calls. It started to become a constant worry. Like a dripping faucet in the back of my head that I couldn't shut off or ignore. Drip, drip, drip. Julie, Julie, Julie.

Even though I didn't mention Julie much to Edyth, eventually my frustration and anxiety boiled over.

"It's just… just rude!" I vented one Saturday afternoon when Edyth picked me up from work. Being angry about things was easier than feeling guilty. "Downright insulting!"

I'd varied my pattern, in hopes of a different response. I'd called Julie from work this time, only to get an unhelpful Billy. Again.

"Billy said she didn't want to talk to me," I fumed, glaring at the rain oozing down the passenger window. "That she was there, and wouldn't walk three steps to get to the phone! Usually Billy just says she's out or busy or sleeping or something. I mean, it's not like I didn't know he was lying to me, but at least it was a polite way to handle it." I huffed, and sunk deeper into my seat. Finally I let out a sad sigh. "I guess Billy hates me now too."

"It's not you, Bella," Edyth said quietly. "Nobody hates you."

"You didn't see Julie's face when I left," I said quietly. "Honestly, she has every right to hate me after everything."

"Julie knows we're back, and I'm sure she's ascertained that I'm with you," Edyth said. "She won't come anywhere near me. The enmity is rooted too deeply."

"Sure, sure she knows you're not… like other vampires."

"There's still good reason to keep a safe distance."

I glared blindly out the windshield, seeing only Julie's face, set in the bitter mask I hated.

"Bella, we are what we are," Edyth said quietly. "I can control myself, but I doubt she can. She's very young. It would most likely turn into a fight, and I don't know if I could stop it before I k—" she broke off, and then quickly continued. "Before I hurt her You would be unhappy. I don't want that to happen."

I remembered what Julie had said in the kitchen, hearing the words with perfect recall in her husky voice.I'm not sure that I'm even-tempered enough to handle that…. You probably wouldn't like it so much if I killed your she'd been able to handle it, that time….

"Edyth Cullen," I whispered. "Were you about to say 'killed her?

She looked away from me, staring into the rain. In front of us, the red light I hadn't notice turned green and she started driving again, driving very slowly. Not her usual way of driving.

"I would try… very hard… not to do that," Edyth finally said.

I stared at her with my mouth hanging open, but she continued to look straight ahead. We were paused at the corner stop sign.

Abruptly, I remembered what had happened to Paris when Romeo came back. The stage directions were simple:They fight. Paris falls.

"Well," I said, and took a deep breath, shaking my head to dispel the words in my head. "Nothing like that is ever going to happen, so there's no reason to worry about it. Because I hope you know I would never forgive you if you… If that happened. So you make sure that never happens, okay?"

"Yes, mam." She said with a serious expression.

"You better get me home before I get in more trouble for being late. You know charlie's staring at the clock right now."

I turned my face up toward her, to smile-halfheartedly.

My heart stopped when I saw the grave expression on her statue-still face.

"You're already in more trouble, Bella," she whispered through unmoving lips.

I followed her gaze to see what she was seeing. I don't know what I expected—maybe Victoria standing in the middle of the street, her flaming red hair blowing in the wind, or a line of tall black cloaks… But I didn't see anything at all.

"What? What is it?"

She took a deep breath. "Charlie…"

"My dad?" I tensed, panicked.

She looked down at me then, and her expression was calm enough to ease some of my panic.

"Charlie… is probably not going to kill you, but the tone of his thoughts are not… good," she told me. She started to drive forward again, down my street, but she passed the house and parked by the edge of the trees.

"What did I do?" I gasped.

Edyth glanced back at Charlie's house. I followed her gaze, and noticed for the first time what was parked in the driveway next to the cruiser. Shiny, bright red, impossible to miss. My motorcycle, flaunting itself in the driveway.

Edyth had said that Charlie was ready to kill me, so he must know that—that it was mine. There was only one person who could be behind this.

"No!" I gasped. "Why? Why would Julie do this to me?" The sting of betrayal washed through me. I had trusted Julie implicitly— trusted her with every single secret I had. She was supposed to be my safe harbor— the person I could always rely on. Of course things were strained right now, but I didn't think any of the underlying foundation had changed. I didn't think that was changeable!

What had I done to deserve this? Charlie was going to be so mad— and worse than that, he was going to be hurt and worried. Didn't he have enough to deal with already? I would have never imagined that Julie could be so petty and just plain mean.

But I knew what I had done to deserve this. I had hurt her deeply. I couldn't be mad at this betrayal because I had betrayed her first. She had put everything on the table, offered me everything, and I had run out on her.

"Is she still here?" I craned my neck, scanning the area.

"Yes. She's waiting for us there." Edyth told me, nodding toward the slender path that divided the dark fringe of the forest in two.

I jumped out of the car, launching myself toward the trees. I felt a strange tightness in my chest. I needed to talk to Julie. Now.

Why did Edyth have to be so much faster than me?

She caught me around the waist before I made the path.

"Let me go! Let me go, Edyth!" I shouted, pulling frantically away from her arms.

"Charlie will hear you," Edyth warned me. "And once he gets you inside, he may brick over the doorway."

I glanced back at the house instinctively, and it seemed like the glossy red bike was all I could see. I was going to pay for that, I was sure.

"I need to talk to Jules, Edyth, and then I'll talk to Charlie." I continued to struggle futilely.

"Julie Black wants to see me. That's why she's still here."

That stopped me cold—took it right out of me. My arms limp. they went fight; Paris falls.

My stomach dropped, my heart throbbed in my chest.

"Talk?" I asked.

"More or less."

"How much more?" My voice shook.

Edyth ran her hand through my hair. "Don't worry, she's not here to fight me. She's acting as… spokesperson for the pack."

"Oh."

Edyth looked at the house again, then tightened her arm around my waist and pulled me toward the woods. "We should hurry. Charlie's getting impatient."

We didn't have to go far; Julie waited just a short way up the path. She lounged against a mossy tree trunk as she waited, her face hard and bitter, exactly the way I knew it would be. She looked at me, and then at Edyth. Julie's mouth stretched into a humorless sneer, and she shrugged away from the tree. She stood on the balls of her bare feet, leaning slightly forward, with her trembling hands clenched into fists. She looked bigger than the last time I'd seen her. Somehow, impossibly, she was still growing. She would tower over Edyth, if they stood next to each other.

But Edyth stopped as soon as we saw her, leaving a wide space between us and Julie. Edyth turned her body, shifting me so that I was behind her. I leaned around her to stare at Julie—to show my disapproval at her actions.

I would have thought that seeing her resentful, cynical expression would only make me angry. Instead, it reminded me of the last time I'd seen her, with tears in her eyes. Any feeling of betrayal weakened, faltered, as I stared at Julie. It had been so long since I'd seen her— I hated that our reunion had to be like this. I realized what the strange feeling in my chest was. It was that last break in my heart I had felt when I left her throbbing anew.

Bella," Julie said as a greeting, nodding once toward me without looking away from Edyth.

"Why?" I whispered, trying to hide the sound of the lump in my throat. "Why did you do that? How could you do that, Jules?"

The sneer vanished, but her face stayed hard and rigid. "It's for the best."

"What is that supposed to mean? Do you want Charlie to strangle me? Or did you want him to have a heart attack, like Harry? No matter how mad you are at me, how could you do this to him?"

Julie winced, and her eyebrows pulled together, but she didn't answer.

"She didn't want to hurt anyone—she just wanted to get you grounded, so that you wouldn't be allowed to spend time with me," Edyth murmured, explaining the thoughts Julie wouldn't say.

Julie's eyes sparked with hate as she glowered at Edyth again.

"Aw, Jules!" I groaned. "I'm already grounded! Why do you think I haven't been down to La Push to see you? Or to kick your butt for avoiding my phone calls?"

Julie's eyes flashed back to me, confused for the first time. "That's why?" she asked, and then locked her jaw, like she was sorry she'd said anything.

"She thought I wouldn't let you, not Charlie," Edyth explained again.

"Stop that," Julie snapped.

Edyth didn't answer.

Julie shuddered once, and then gritted her teeth as hard as her fists. "Bella wasn't exaggerating about your… abilities," she said through her teeth. "So you must already know why I'm here."

"Yes," Edyth agreed in a soft voice. "But, before you begin, I need to say something."

Julie waited, clenching and unclenching her hands as she tried to control the shivers rolling down her arms.

"Thank you," Edyth said, and her voice throbbed with the depth of her sincerity. "I will never be able to tell you how grateful I am. I will owe you for the rest of my… existence."

Julie stared at her blankly, her shudders stilled by surprise. She exchanged a quick glance with me, but my face was just as mystified.

"For keeping Bella alive," Edyth clarified, her voice rough and fervent. "When I… didn't."

Understanding washed over Julie's face before the hard mask returned. "I didn't do it for your benefit."

"I know. But that doesn't erase the gratitude I feel. I thought you should know. If there's ever anything in my power to do for you…"

Julie raised one black brow.

Edyth shook her head. "That's not in my power."

"Whose, then?"Julie growled.

Edyth looked down at me. "Hers. I'm a quick learner, Julie Black, and I don't make the same mistake twice. I'm here until Bella orders me away."

It wasn't hard to understand what I'd missed in the conversation. The only thing that Julie would want from Edyth would be her absence.

I didn't speak. I stared back at Edyth for a moment, then sighed.

I turned to Julie slowly. "Was there something else you needed, Jules? You wanted me in trouble— mission accomplished. Charlie might just send me to military school and then I won't be able to see either of you, so I hope you're happy. So what else did you come for?"

Julie kept her eyes on Edyth. "I just needed to remind your bloodsucking friends of a few key points in the treaty they agreed to. The treaty that is the only thing stopping me from ripping her throat out right this minute."

"We haven't forgotten," Edyth said at the same time that I demanded, "What key points?"

Julie still glowered at Edyth, but she answered me. "The treaty is quite specific. If any of them bite a human, the truce is over. Bite, not kill," she emphasized. Finally, she looked at me. Her eyes were cold.

It only took me a second to grasp the distinction, and then my face went pale.

"That's complicated, Jules, I don't want to get you involved. It's not your business."

"The hell it—" was all she managed to choke out.

I didn't expect my lack of an explanation to bring on such a strong response. Despite the warning she'd come to give, she must not have thought it was an actual possibility. She must have thought the warning was just a precaution. How could she have known what had happened in Italy and how could I explain the situation I was in now?

Julie was in a fit of near convulsions. She pressed her fists hard against her temples, closing her eyes tight and curling in on herself as she tried to control the spasms. Her face turned sallow green under the russet skin.

"Jules? You okay?" I asked anxiously.

I took a half-step toward her, then Edyth caught me and yanked me back behind her own body. "Careful! She's not under control," she warned me.

But Julie was already somewhat herself again; only her arms were shaking now. She scowled at Edyth with pure hate. I'd" never hurt her."

Neither Edyth or I missed the inflection, or the accusation it contained. A low hiss escaped Edyth's lips. Julie clenched her fists reflexively.

"BELLA!" Charlie's roar echoed from the direction of the house. "YOU GET IN THIS HOUSE THIS INSTANT!"

All of us froze, listening to the silence that followed.

I was the first to speak; my voice trembled. "Crap."

Julie's furious expression faltered. "I am sorry about that," she muttered. "I had to do what I could— I had to try.…"

"I guess I can't fault you for it," I sighed. I stared up the path, half-expecting Charlie to come barreling through the wet ferns like an enraged bull. I would be the red flag in that scenario.

"Just one more thing," Edyth said to me, and then she looked at Julie. "We've found no trace of Victoria on our side of the line— have you?" She knew the answer as soon as Julie thought it, but Julie spoke the answer anyway. "The last time was while Bella was… away. We let the bloodsucker think she was slipping through— we were tightening the circle, getting ready to ambush her—"

Ice shot down my spine.

"But then she took off like a bat out of hell. Near as we can tell, she caught your little female's scent and bailed. She hasn't come near our lands since."

Edyth nodded. "When she comes back, she's not your problem anymore. We'll—"

"She killed on our turf," Julie hissed. "She's ours!"

"No—," I began to protest both declarations.

"BELLA! I SEE HER CAR AND I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE! IF YOU AREN'T INSIDE THIS HOUSE IN ONE MINUTE…!" Charlie didn't bother to finish his threat.

"Let's go," Edyth said.

I looked back at Julie, torn. Would I see her again?

"Sorry," she whispered so low that I had to read her lips to understand. "' Bye, Bella."

"You promised," I reminded her desperately. "Jules, please."

Julie shook her head slowly, and the lump in my throat nearly strangled me.

"You know how hard I've tried to keep that promise, but… I can't see how to keep trying. Not now…" She struggled to keep her hard mask in place, but it wavered, and then disappeared. "Miss you," she mouthed. One of her hands reached toward me, her fingers outstretched, like she wished they were long enough to cross the distance between us.

"Me, too," I choked out. My hand reached toward her across the wide space. Like we were connected, the echo of her pain twisted inside me. Her pain, my pain.

"Jules…" I took a step toward her. I wanted to wrap my arms around her waist and erase the expression of misery on her face.

Edyth pulled me back again, her arms restraining instead of defending.

"It's okay," I promised her, looking up with surprise in my face.

Her eyes were unreadable, her face expressionless. Cold. "No, it's not."

It dawned on me then that Edyth would see Julie's thoughts, and I had a pretty good idea of what thoughts were flashing through Julie's mind right now. I felt my face get hot.

"Edyth, please…" I tried to move away, but Edyth pulled me back again.

"Let her go," Julie snarled, furious again. "She wants to!" She took two long strides forward. A glint of anticipation flashed in her eyes. Her chest seemed to swell as it shuddered.

Edyth pushed me behind herself, wheeling to face Julie.

"No! Edyth!" I shoved myself back between them, holding my arms out against their chests. They both pushed against me slightly. "Stop! Both of you stop!"

They glared at each other for a long moment.

"Edyth, go stand over there." I finally said.

Her eyes shot to me, but I avoided her gaze.

"Read her mind, is she going to hurt me?" I asked impatiently.

Edyth hesitated for a moment before finally moving away.

I turned to Julie, her eyes were on Edyth and her face was still angry. Her body was shaking slightly.

"Jules," I reached out and touched her arm. Her attention immediately refocused to me.

In that moment, I found myself looking at everything that had happened. Every moment with Edyth from the beginning to now flashing through my mind, and every moment with Julie at odds with it. I loved Edyth, that much I knew. Standing here, though, I realized, I was never just settling for Julie; I loved her, too.

My heart didn't just belong to Edyth anymore, I couldn't deny that. Julie held a part of my heart just as firmly.

"Jules, please, I can't do this."

The way she looked down at me reminded me of the last time I'd seen her, before I left for Italy. "Bella…" She reached up and touched my cheek.

"Jules, I…" I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, there was no holding back my emotions. I felt the tears forming in my eyes. "Jules, I love you." I whispered. "You know I do."

I felt her move closer to me, her hand on my waist.

"But don't ask me to choose."

She froze.

"Because I can't make a decision here, now. I know that's not fair to anyone. After everything that happened I can't just cut off one of you to be with the other. My heart can't handle that. So, please, don't make me choose."

I felt her hand fall away from my waist, and I knew I had ruined everything. There was no fixing this. I felt a sob break through my chest, my hands flew to my face to try, in vain, to hide my tears.

"I'm sorry, Jules, I'm sorry…" I sobbed.

I suddenly felt myself being pulled forward. Julie was wrapping me in her arms, pulling me against her chest. She held me tightly in her warm embrace and I sobbed against her chest.

"Shh," her hand stroked the back of my head, "It's okay, Bella."

"I'm sorry, Julie," I continued to cry, "It's not okay. I'm not being fair to you, I know that but—"

"Bella," Julie gently pushed me back, and lifted my chin to look at her face. "I told you once I could wait. That hasn't changed." She managed a half-smile. "Because I'm not giving up. I've got loads of time."

I remembered the last time she said those words to me, what felt like a lifetime ago when we were both just ordinary humans, sitting in the lobby of a movie theatre. Selfish as it was, I hoped she was telling me the truth.

She leaned forward then, and gently kissed my forehead. She pulled me into one more tight hug, before letting me go and slowly backing away.

"ISABELLA SWAN!" Charlie's voice echoed from the house again.

"Bella," Edyth's voice came from behind me, "we should go."

Julie's expression immediately changed into the bitter mask. She backed away even further as Edyth approached.

Edyth nodded once toward Julie, and gently tugged me back towards the house. I let Edyth guide me but I kept my eyes on Julie. She watched us with a dark scowl on her bitter face. The anger drained from her eyes, and then, just before the forest came between us, her face suddenly crumpled in pain.

I knew that last glimpse of her face would haunt me until I saw her smile again.

And right there I vowed that I would see her smile, and soon. I would find a way to fix this, and if it was the last thing I did, I would never lose Julie Black as a friend.

Edyth kept her arm tight around my waist, holding me close. That was the only thing that kept the tears from coming back.

I had some serious problems.

I was in love with my best friendand with the girl standing next to me.

Victoria was still on the loose, putting everyone I loved in danger.

If I didn't become a vampire soon, the Volturi would kill me.

And now it seemed that if I did, the Quileute werewolves would try to do the job themselves—along with trying to kill the Cullens. I didn't know who would win that fight, but no outcome was acceptable.

Very serious problems. I didn't know where to begin to find the solutions. I didn't know who to ask for advice. I didn't know what I, the human amidst the fantastic, could possibly do to make everyone—including myself—happy.

Edyth stopped us in the middle of Charlie's front yard, under the spruce tree. She moved so she was facing me, putting her hands on my waist.

"Bella," her voice was soft. "I need to ask you something."

"Edyth…" I began, "I'm… sure you read Julie's mind. Can you please wait until I've had time to process everything before we talk about this?" I felt tense and anxious.

"Bella, I told you before, I couldn't blame you if you had moved on." Her voice was even, but the pain was evident in her eyes. "But I know you still love me."

"I do," I whispered.

"And I promised you I would show you how much I love you, and I promised I would prove to you that I want you forever."

"Yes, you did."

"Then, I have to ask you something."

"Go ahead." I was hesitant.

She paused for an excruciatingly long time.

"Marry me, Bella."

I felt myself gasp quietly. My stomach filled with butterflies and my eyes widened. I couldn't speak, my head swam, my heart pounded.

And there we stood, possibly on the edge of something amazing. This could be it, our shot at forever. I didn't know what the future held, and I didn't know how to fix everything. I was surrounded by danger, by loss, by heartbreak. I had gone through hell and come out the other side a better, stronger version of myself. I didn't know what my destiny was and I didn't know what fate might have in store for me. I didn't have any answers.

But right here, in this one single moment, I didn't care.

hope you guys enjoyed new moon :)