Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, I merely play in the sandbox. I do lay claim to my original characters: Ella, Adrian, Christine, Eldre, the Ethereal's and the small inclusion of the Fey world.

AN: Another week, another chapter, getting very close to the end now ~Hannah.

Chapter Eighty-Six – A Snapshot ~ Part One

I had thought about many things for the future that lay beyond my days as a high school student, but nothing could come close to the life I was living now. Continuing my education at university was far different from life at high school. I had thought the drama would be left behind but, if possible, it seemed stronger than ever and the looks of curiosity, awe, and disgust were stronger here than they had ever been in Forks.

Pursuing my dreams in music and art was a dream I'd had locked in my heart since I'd been a child and not only was I now living that dream, but I got to live it with Edward.

Life was a haze of ever moving, ever changing chaos. I'd never felt so grounded and so weightless at the same time. I was constantly running on my toes, trying to avoid boulders that might try to knock me from my course.

The workload was so much worse than I had imagined. Summer camp – the parts that I allowed myself to think about – had prepared me slightly for the horrors of university workloads but I had still been unprepared. Edward helped me through many a sob fest, breakdown, or angry shouting. He was my rock and I made sure to tell him many times a day how much I loved him and how much I valued his support.

[x]

"Are you kidding me Edward? She was all over you!"

"You're being ridiculous, there was nothing to it. We were just studying."

"How can you be so stupid? You can read her thoughts, studying was the last thing she had on her mind."

"Me, stupid? That's rich! I saw you with Paul, he follows you around like a lost puppy. What have you said to him? You're sure flirty with him."

"Paul is a friend, and I thought you liked him. I would never stray from you Edward."

"Are you saying you don't trust me?"

"I'm saying that you enjoy the attention from the gaggle of girls that follow you around."

"You're unbelievable. So, I'm not allowed to have any female friends then? Is that it?"

"You know that's not it Edward. I just want you to be less blind to the people around you."

"This is ridiculous, nothing is going on."

"I never thought you'd be this stupid. That tart Rachael follows you around like you are liquid gold. I don't have to read minds to know what she has plans for you. She even came right out and told me I should count my blessings that I'd had you for this long but that she was going to show you what a real woman was and make you an offer you couldn't refuse."

"That's stupid, she would never do that."

"You're calling me a liar?"

"I'm just saying it sounds a little far-fetched."

"Fuck you Edward."

[x]

Our relationship was constantly a source of gossip within the campus. It seemed that even at our happiest, people were conspiring to tear us apart. The amount of gaggling girls that followed Edward around, boiled the blood in my veins and caused the familiar green dragon to consume me. I knew in my heart that Edward would never leave me, nor would he encourage the girls in anyway, but it didn't stop my insecurities from raising their heads above the ground every so often.

It was the only thing we argued about, and when we argued, it was explosive. My jealously over the girls that trailed after Edward came out in screams of swearing and accusations while Edward's jealousy over the suitors he thought I had, came out in his venomous words and cold-hearted behaviour. We had once, even gone as far as to not talk to each other for over a week and it had been one of the worst weeks either of us had ever experienced.

We came to the decision that we would rebuff all advances made towards us, discourage followers, and have regular discussions with each other where we could voice our opinions, jealousies, and insecurities. It had, made us stronger as a couple and our attitude towards our respective 'followers' had stopped most of those intent to break us up. There were of course fanatics that wouldn't listen to reason, but we just employed an 'avoid at all cost' method and refused to ever be lured away by them.

We both knew our relationship was solid, we loved each other first and then the mate bond made everything secure. There was no other person out there for either of us. We were each other's other halves and that was how it was going to be indefinitely. It was just a learning curve working out how to live with each other without the support of our family around us.

I could have done without the arguing and the feelings of jealousy, anger, and guilt but I supposed they came hand in hand with life and all I could do was prepare myself and struggle through as best as I could.

I think Forks had put us in a bubble. I'd gotten used to the stares there, but people had soon lost interest in the mysterious Cullen's. I had gotten used to the attraction to the Cullen's fading with time, but Forks was a fish bowl and we were no longer in Forks. The campus here was enormous, there were so many people milling about and each thought they had the talent to make it in the world. There were so many big personalities, so much drama and so much malicious intent wandering around, it was surprising that Edward and I managed as well as we did.

I was, however, me that broke first and called Esme. Edward and I had been living in university dorms for Edward wanted me to have a normal university experience and I had wanted to see what life was like living in the dorms. Not even one month into the experience I'd phoned Esme and asked her to put us up in the accommodation I knew she'd bought for us. Moving out of the dorms did wonders for Edward and I's relationship. I didn't constantly feel like I was on guard, snarling at each female that draped themselves over Edward. Equally, Edward admitted to me that he was more relaxed now he wasn't hearing what every man within twenty yards was thinking about me.

There was a lot more coursework than I would have thought. I had thought that further studying art and music would focus on the practical aspects, but I often found myself holed up in the library researching for essays. Edward was a godsend during these moments because of his wealth of knowledge, with music at least. He never outright gave me the answer, but he always helped me get to where I needed to be with my essay.

Through the difficulties on first year, Edward and I were living our life to the fullest and trying to keep the negativity to an all-time low.

I struggled not seeing Bella every day. It was difficult to be far away from someone who was the other side of my coin. I couldn't visit as much as I wanted because my workload was so demanding. It started with phone calls every night but soon that became difficult to continue with our busy lives. Recently, we'd switched to phone calls on Tuesday and Sunday and then a skype video call on Wednesday between Bella, Angela, and I. We'd quickly become the tightest of sisters and the bond between the three of us was tighter than you would imagine. I loved Bella with all my heart and she me, but neither of us thought anything was missing till Angela became part of our family. She was the missing link that we needed to complete us. Angela was the ground that stopped us from floating up into the air.

It was amusing that we had this bond that was so strong and yet we all picked universities that were a significant plane journey away.

I missed the closeness I had with my family, all of them, from Forks to Volterra. It wasn't the same not being able to see them day-to-day. It didn't make us any less of a family, nor did it make us love each other any less. I was just having difficulty adjusting to living away from the love and comfort I'd come to rely on since moving to Forks. Every day at university seemed to be a new challenge for me. Whether it be assignments, homesickness or another argument with Edward, each day I had to draw on my strength to get through the challenge before me. Life was…difficult but manageable. I was not overly worries about things because I knew I was still thriving at life and hadn't fallen back to just surviving.

Fridays were date night. Without fail. Every Friday, dead on seven o'clock, we left everything behind us and enjoyed time to ourselves. It became Edward's game to plan the nights and each date night was as different from the last as different could be. It was great to have moments to ourselves where we weren't on guard, paranoid, or jealous. We got to relax and just be ourselves. I learnt more about Edward and he learnt more about me. With every word shared we became closer as a couple and I could almost feel the bonds of fate bringing us together.

"How has the week been for you Ella?"

"Intense, Professor Rosewater has had me helping out with the 'Musical Adventure' project where we've joined hands with one of the local children's schools to help promote an interest in music. She's been using me as an assistant teacher and while I'm grateful for the experience, it is rather stressful. How's your week been?"

"Tiring. It's exhausting to listen to the minds of people around us. I thought it was difficult in Forks, but I underestimated the minds of university students. Otherwise, my week has been average, lots of theory in music but nothing I cannot handle."

We'd made an agreement not to talk about our jealousy during out date night. As university students went, we behaved nothing like them. We were more likely to stay in for the night than go to a party and underage drink. Talking about our week was a staple of date night and was usually followed by dinner and then whatever Edward had planned. I always looked forward to the ending, where we would cuddle up together on the sofa and be content in the silences and comfort we drew from each other. Date night served as a reward for working through the week and coming out alive at the end of it.

Date night meant everything to me, I can't quite explain in words just how much I looked forward to it. My mind was a chaotic infusion of emotions come Friday but my heart was always steady in its love for Edward.

Hey Edward, fancy seeing you here."

"Rachael…"

"I was just going out to get a Starbucks, will you come with me?"

I was standing beside Edward, with my hand in his but apparently, I was invisible to Rachael as she hadn't acknowledged my presence once.

"No thank you Rachael, I'm going out with Ella."

"I'm sure she won't mind. You don't mind do you Ella, if I just borrow Edward for the evening?"

"Well, I mind Rachael. Tonight, is date night and I'm going out with Ella."

"Date night? Really? You have him on a schedule Ella? I'm sure it won't matter if you skip this one night. You can have date night another night and I promise I'll give him a better night than you."

"I don't think you understand Rachael. Ella is my girlfriend, I love her with all my heart and date night is non-negotiable. I'm sure you're a lovely girl but your insistence to try and 'show me a good time' and break what I have with Ella is wearing on my nerves. I will never leave Ella, she is my life and she holds my heart. If you continue on this path I will have to terminate my friendship with you as Ella's happiness comes before everything in my life."

"Thank you, Edward," I said while looking at him lovingly.

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I was apparently naïve in thinking that people might generally want to be friends with me."

"You weren't naïve Edward, you just forgot that drama follows us everywhere."

"Ha, yes, drama. Perhaps we should make a dedication in dramas name. I reckon Alice could help with that!"