Here's the next chapter. Enjoy.

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Chapter Two: Asking Never Hurts

About five minutes before we arrive at our destination, Edward told me to close my eyes, wanting it to be a surprise. Of course, I hate surprises with a passion, but seeing the sincere, pleading look he gave me...just made my stubborn heart give out. So, I closed me eyes and waited somewhat impatiently.

"Okay, Bella. We're here. You can look now." I heard Edward's voice beside me and I opened my eyes expectantly. I took one look out my window, and I knew where we were; the most beautiful place in the dreary town of Forks.

I turned to Edward with a bright smile. "Why...why did you bring me here?" I asked, a bit confused.

Edward chuckled lightly and smiled at me. "You'll see." He got out of the car, and in a nanosecond using his vampire speed, he was at my side of the car, opening my door for me, extending a hand to help me, which I eagerly took. He shut my door for me after I got out and he stood, looking at the forest with a small smile. "Ready?" He asked and he knelt down. I wearily stood behind him and put my arms around his neck. He stood up and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I hated it when he ran faster than two hundred miles per hour with me hanging on for dear life.

He took off into the forest on a very familiar path that we had taken several times before. I closed my eyes, feeling the wind whip past my face and I waited for the impact of Edward running into a tree...I knew that was going to happen one of these days. But, I should trust him, and his vampire instincts and reflexes.

Soon, Edward stopped running and I opened my eyes and slid down from his back, looking around with a broad smile on my face. The meadow was as beautiful as I remembered, especially since it was in the middle of spring. Flowers were blooming everywhere; varying in colours from blue, purple, pink, orange, to yellow. The trees were swaying slightly in the light breeze that was blowing past and I could hear birds singing deeper in the forest itself.

I walked out into the middle of the meadow, Edward following behind me, holding my hand.

When we were in the center of this beautiful Heaven-like realm, Edward pulled me to him and pressed his forehead against mine. "Bella...I love you. You know that, right?"

I looked at him. "Edward, of course I know that. I love you too." I said, wondering why he even needed to ask me such a question. How could he ever doubt my love for him.

Edward smiled my favourite crooked smile, and his tawny sparkled in the slight ray of sunlight that was shining down through the trees on either side of us. "I have something to ask you." He said in a serious voice, though he was still smiling. With one hand, he reached back into his back pocket and with his free one, he held onto mine, as he kneeled down on one knee. This wasn't happening...no. It wasn't. Please, God, no. Not yet. I wanted to marry Edward, I wanted it with all my heart, but another part of me was scared of commitment. I didn't want to make the same mistake Charlie and Renee made when they were my age. I was afraid that it would ruin what I had with Edward. But that was silly; Edward and I loved each other no matter what, so why should something as simple--or big. However you want to look at it--ruin something that would never disappear from our hearts?

Edward looked up at me, and I could sense his nervous manner. "Isabella...You know that I love you with all my heart and with my entire soul and being. My love for you is stronger than anything I have ever known and it will never fade. You are the other half of me...and I would truely die without you by my side, and without your love." He opened the small, red, velvet box he held in his hand and there sat the most gorgeous diamond ring I had ever seen in my life. It had a silver band with small roses and a vine engraved on it and had a 24 karat diamond sitting right in the middle with tiny sapphires forming a heart around the diamond. "Will you marry me?" He finished, his voice coming clear in my head which was fogged with a hundred emotions running wild.

I was silent for several long moments staring down at him and at the ring, knowing what that ring meant. The word 'commitment' kept ringing through my head and I just wanted everything to stop. Let the world stop turning and just...just let me think!

"Edward..." My voice came out a mere whisper and I cleared my throat, trying again. "Edward." My voice came stronger this time, though I could feel myself trembling. "I...I just can't."

Edward's face dropped. "Why not, Bella? Give me a good reason." His eyes bored into mine.

"I'm scared." I know that wasn't a good reason, but it was hard to think of a plausible one that would make the bigger difference.

"That's your reason? You're scared? Bella..." He shook his head in disappointment. "Strange, I thought I knew you better than that."

I felt pain rising in my chest from the heartache I was experiencing. I had a feeling that, if he could, tears would be falling from Edward's eyes right now. That's how upset and let-down he looked.

"I'm sorry Edward. I just can't. Not right now." I said to him, shaking my head. I noticed my voice was ready to fail me and tears spilled from my eyes. I didn't know why I was saying no...something inside of me was yelling for me to say yes, but that other part of me...my mind...was nagging at me to refuse. Turn away. Never say yes. It felt like my throat was closing up and I could no longer breath. I wanted out. I wanted to run away and never look back. But I couldn't do that. Never. Edward was now standing back up straight, his back turned on me, his hands clenched. I noticed the ring box was back in his pocket, where he'd kept it before.

"Edward..." I took a step foreward, putting a hand on his shoulder. He didn't move. Didn't look at me. "Edward, please...please just look at it from my point of view." I said, pleading with him. Still, he didn't look at me. Instead, he said, "Why Bella? I thought you loved me."

"I do love you." I said urgently, my voice shaking as tears continued to fall from my eyes.

"Not enough." He replied tonelessly.

That got me thinking. I wanted to say that, yes, I did love him more than that, but...the words wouldn't come out. What if he was right?

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Okay, I had to leave it off there...just too good to resist. Let me know what you think! Constructive critism is welcome. No flames!!!

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