Hey Guys, sorry I left it so long before posting this chapter, but I'm back now and, fully intend to finish the story. Hope you like it.
Chapter 6
EPOV
"No, Esme please, I can't- he..' I heard Bella whisper to my mother.
"Shh it's OK Bella. We aren't going to make you do anything you don't want to."
"I cant see him, I won't" I felt my dead heart break when she uttered those words.
"Please Bella, I would like to see you, just for a moment."
She didn't respond, but I could here here movements and, through Esme's mind, I saw her gathering the few things she had together, ready to leave.
"Edward" Esme called. "Please would you go downstairs and wait. Alice and I will take care of Bella."
I wanted to protest but, I knew it wouldn't help, besides, I didn't want to get on Alice's bad side, she was mad enough at me as it was – I could see it in her mind. She didn't want to but, she couldn't help but hold me partly responsible for everything that had happened to Bella.
I turned and headed down to the kitchen, carefully focusing on both Alice and Esme's thoughts as I went. Alice was trying to remain calm. She had kept her distance from Bella, scared she would frighten her – even more scared she would be rejected by the girl she still loved as a sister, but all she really wanted to do was scoop Bella up into her arms and tell her everything would be OK.
I could see that Bella had been pleased to see Alice when she entered the room and this gave me hope. It was clear that she still cared for our family in some way and maybe, one day, she would forgive me and we could start again, even just as friends. I would take what I could get. Any relationship with my Bella was better than none.
I listened to Alice and Esme as they talked to Bella. She wanted to leave and they were trying to convince her otherwise, but she was still the same, stubborn, beautiful girl I had fallen in love with. She wasn't going to stay, wasn't going to speak with me. I almost laughed when she told Alice to shut up. It was so unlike Bella and, Alice was used to getting her own way, her lower lip jutted out into a pout.
"I'm sorry Alice, I didn't mean to be rude." Bella apologised. "But, I'm not the same Bella I was 5 years ago. I'm not going to let you guilt me into doing whatever you want."
"Bella I never- " Bella's laughter cut Alice off. It was a beautiful sound. God I loved her.
"Alice, really? You're not going to tell me that you never used guilt to make me do things. All of the shopping trips, dressing me like a Barbie! Ring any bells?"
Alice and Esme joined her laughter. "OK, I admit it. I'm a bad friend."
"No Alice you were a great friend. My best friend. Do you really think I would have let anyone else get away with it?"
Alice smiled. "I guess not."
"Now, it's been great seeing you again Alice and you and Carlisle too, Esme, but I really have to go now." My heart sank again.
"Bella, please just stay a few more days. You need to recover some more and we have so much catching up to do." Alice blurted out, all of her words flowing into one.
"Alice, I will be fine. I've been taking care of myself for a long time now and I will continue to do so. Besides, I really don't feel like swapping life stories with you."
Alice's face dropped into a pout again. I would have laughed if I hadn't just heard the love of my life declare she was leaving us – me again. I had to see her, stop her. I couldn't let her walk out of my life as I had so stupidly done to her. I needed her. My life without her had been nothing but a painful, empty existence and hers had not been any better if the thoughts I was reading from my mother were any indicator.
I ran up the stairs at full speed. I heard Alice caution me but, this could be my only chance, I was going to take it no matter what. I felt the familiar, comforting burn in my throat as I pushed open the door.
"Bella." I exclaimed.
"Hello Edward" she sighed.
