So here it is. Thank-you for your lovely reviews.
I would love to dedicate this chapter to Graassss, for the determination you showed. Your review made me smile.
And Ole Miss Chick, you may very well be as omniscient as Alice...!
Alrightly, you know the drill, I'm not SM, this is a fan fiction, kk?
"I choose to be human." I sighed and concentrated on the bracelet on my wrist, to stop me having to look at their faces.
"We understand Bella" Carlisle started.
"I'm sorry, I really did want to be one of you, but I want to be human, at least for now if it has to happen" I shuddered with the threat of the Volturi. I wanted to be human, but there was a very good chance that I would become a Vampire or die a painful death, likely at the hands of Jane... Or Felix or Demitri. It would be a Million Times worse than anything Victoria would do.
"Bella, the Volturi won't check on you for a long time" Jasper spoke. "You could be Fifty before that"
Urgh. I shuddered at the thought of getting old. But I had made my decision, maybe I would get Botox, or a good plastic surgeon... No. Aging was natural, just like breathing.
"I know, but Something has to be done about the Volturi" Carlisle was deep in thought, the Volturi were once his brothers. But the Volturi were like the Royal Vampire Family, minus Prince William and most definitely more evil. But anyways, you still don't go around trying to get rid of them.
"Enough" It was Edward who interrupted, the mission plan and situational analysis.
And with that he strode off. I sighed. I didn't like this Edward, the melodramatic, super in control. I knew why he was being Melodramatic. I knew what me choosing to remain human, would look like me doing a total 180. Explaination time.
"Excuse me" And I trounced off into the forest. I could feel their eyes on my back, but I ignored it. I could hear Rosalie jumping for Joy and Jake and the Pack starting to celebrate.
I walked for what seemed like forever and He was leaning up against the tree, trying to keep himself clam.
"Go on, Say it. You don't want me" He wouldn't even look at me. "From that first day in biology, there were only four options Bella. I tried to force you into option one; that you wouldn't feel the same way and foget about me. Option two, to stay with you in your human life and truly I thought that it was the right choice. But you fought me so hard, begging me to change you. What happened?" Deep breaths Bella. Keep going.
"I realised that you were right."
"Of all the times Bella. Why not when I told you I wasn't good for you? Why didn't you listen to me then?"
"Edward, I don't know. Well, you know what Rosalie Said?"
EPOV
Rosalie? What had she said, of all people to ruin this for me. For my Bella.
"About what happened to her"
It was a statement, not a question.
"Without a doubt Bella, Rosalie was the one with the most to loose. She was about to get everything she had ever wanted in her human life, she of course is bitter." And shallow and self absorbed. But that would have been impolite to add.
"She would give anything to be human, and here I was giving it all up without a second thought."
I had a sinking feeling and the desperation was getting to me. I longed to be able to read her mind, to understand what she was getting at. She would surprise me without a doubt, she always would.
"I'm sorry Edward, I really am. We've gone on as the lion and the Lamb long enough. Lions Eat Lambs, and I'm done. I will always love you, just not in maybe the right way. You were so intriguing when I met you, like nothing else and truly you are. You are nothing like me, and it hurts. I'm not anything like Alice or Rosalie, I'm not a Vampire Edward. Everything about you draws me in. Your appearance, your scent, everything, so you can kill me Edward. I know how hard it was for you to resist in that first Biology lesson, and thanks for not killing me, really." She tried to lighten the mood, trying to joke with me, but I was hardly in the mood to sit around and laugh. I had to know.
"It would be easier for you if I became a Vampire, you wouldn't have to fight having to kill me everyday and for a time, that is what I wanted. The dynamic of our relationship rested on you and your self control." More like my complete and utter lack of self control, but that was not the way that she saw it. But it was for her good, so that I wouldn't hurt her unintentionally.
You said I could be changed after the axe was gone, and it's still there, it's never going to go away. I love my humanity, and I couldn't just leave Charlie, when he's only just got me back. If I was a Vampire, I wouldn't be Bella. Two left feet, no coordination, practically living in the emergency department and Blushing at everything would all be gone. I know you protect me for my safety, but this is all about what I want. And you can't offer me you human. I wish that you could and I know that you would in a heartbeat, but the inequality between the two of us is killing me. I'm sorry."
For the first time, i felt broken-hearted. Sure, I didn't have a heart to break but this feeling was foreign. I would fight for her, undoubtedly.
BPOV
"Why now Bella, we have risked so much for you, and why have you really changed your mind about immortality?" He was stricken with emotion.
"Because, Edward, I realised that I wouldn't be doing it for me"
"But I love you Bella, more than my own life"
"Edward, I love you too, but it's too much to have to give you my life"
"So this is it?"
"Yup" popping the p. Wow the awkward silence was killing me. I was awkward enough without the silence.
"What about option two Bella, you wouldn't have to change for me"
"I couldn't not change for you either? Don't you get it?" I would absolutely not stay with him, frozen at seventeen forever, whilst I aged, and the people asking whether he was my grandson? No thanks.
"Are you telling me that I'm not Romeo? Bella, I assure you I envy Romeo very much, to have Juliet"
"Pfft. You envy the ease of suicide, that is it. But, I think for the Moment Your Rosalind" I was fuming. He didn't see it, but in a twisted way I had to explain.
"Rosalind? Bella I'm the male here?" wow my logic was twisted. Figures.
"That would make me Romeo in a twisted sort of way. .. I wanted you Edward, but you never really gave me your full attention and now I've found someone to really be happy with..."
I didn't realise how deep I would have to force the knife to make him realise, just how deep my descision was going to go.
"I want to be friends Edward, but Nothing more, I'm sorry"
It was such a disbelief for me to have to say those words. Never in a million years, even if I had lived for eternity would anyone have forseen this conversation. I was dumping Edward. Edward Freaking Cullen as Jessica would have said it. Part of me rolled my eyes at that, but it was nice to be absorbed by high school drama, not life threatening supernatural situations.
*****
I flipped out the little silver phone that I still had not given back to Edward and dialled a number that Edward most certainly did not have on speed-dial.
Ring Ring... Ring Ring...
"Hello" Jake's familiar husky voice affirmed that I had made the right decision.
"It's Bella, hey are you doing anything?"
"Nah, just finished Patrol with Sam, Why, what's going on Bella?" he sounded like he was trying to be very careful not to give his feelings away. He knew that I had chosen Edward over him before, but boy was he going to be shocked now.
"Meet me at the beach in Twenty minutes?"
"Sure sure, see you then Bells"
Then I hung up. I still had a bit of a problem. How the Hell was I going to get to La Push. My truck was at Charlies and no-one was going to drive me there, especially Edward.
"Bella?" Alice's familiar musical voice filled the air as I walked back into the house. She was the only one that I could see, the rest must be upstairs.
"Oh Alice" I rushed to her side and she wrapped her stony arms around me.
"I'm sorry Alice, though I'm sure that you already know that"
"No actually, I can't see the mutts remember?" I smiled. Alice annoyed was adorable.
"Aww. Poor Ali!" I mocked her. It would do her some good to have to be normal for once in her life, if life was the right term.
"But, I did have a graduation gift lined up that I thought, well maybe you'll like it I can't See!" I couldn't help but snicker.
"Well, life ain't fair is it? Should I be worried? Did you spend a lot of money?" I hoped not, but knowing Alice....
"I didn't spend as much as I could have. I restrained myself a little bit."
"A little bit Alice?" but she was already pulling me through the doorway out through the front door.
"Oh My God. Alice!"
She looked at me smugly. She knew the bigger the horrid reaction, the more I probably liked it.
The graduation present was a shiny Blue Mini Cooper S.
A little bit over the top, but hey, this was Alice.
"Just something that your going to need... The truck Isn't going to start again, so don't you even try!"
I wasn't angry that she had sabotaged my beloved truck, nor that she had given me this incredibly expensive present.
"Thankyou Alice!" I said as she handed me the keys. I raced into the drivers seat, inhaling the glorious new car smell. It was perfect, just enough character.
"Go on" She said wistfully, and I turned on the ignition. "But hurry back"
"Oh Alice, you'll always be my best friend. Love you" and with that I felt tears sliding down my face.
As I slid out of the Cullen's driveway, in the immaculate mini, I could think of nothing but Jake, and raced toward La Push like my life depended on it....
*****
Okay. Team Edward Flame me all you like. This is a fanfiction, so obviously there will be some differences. But he's not all bad and I do intend on not letting him mope around. Team Jacob... YAY! But your going to have to work for the next chapter. Twelve reviews gets you Jacob and Bellas reunion... And a nice talk about the sun, the earth, the moon and the pesky little Eclipse.
- B