Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. All recognizable characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. The original content including, but not limited to, the ideas, plot line, characterization and intellectual property of this story are owned by OliviaRising. August 2010.

Important Announcement: I've combined chapters 1 & 2 because I didn't like that they were so short on their own. No content has been cut out, I just feel that chapters 1 & 2 flow better when placed together. So this is the new chapter 9, and I promise there won't be any more confusing chapter changes from here on out!

**** I have just been informed that if you reviewed on the previous chapter 9, FF won't let you review again for this chapter. There is not much I can do about that, so if you don't mind the trouble, go back to a previous chapter that you haven't already reviewed and leave me a review there! Sorry for the inconvenience!

A/N: I know, I know- you guys are in shock! A chapter update already? It can't be! Well, you better believe it! This chapter pretty much wrote itself, so when I sat down to write it, I just couldn't stop! And now you guys are reaping in the benefits!

Is it too much to ask for each and every one of my amazing readers to write me a review since I popped this one out so quickly (by my standards)? Pretty please? I believe this is the longest chapter yet, so it's a double whammy!

Reviews = Teaser!

And the angst continues...

A Beautiful Melody

Chapter Nine

The moment I step into my apartment, I break down. I don't even make it to the living room couch, I just crumple up in the foyer and cry and cry and cry.

The worst part is, I don't even know what I'm crying about. Because he kissed another woman? So what? He's not mine. Just last week I was telling Alice that he was just a crush, nothing more than a hot body. So why does my heart feel like it's been crush by an eighteen wheeler?

I don't know how long I spend sobbing in the entranceway, but, after some time, I hear Alice come through the door and immediately wrap her arms around me. She is saying something, but my mind can't process it, all I can do is cry... and feel.

I am vaguely aware of Alice trying to pull me up and drag me into my bedroom, but I can't move. I try to make an effort for Alice, but, in the end, she has to practically carry me into my room. I collapse on my bed without really registering my whereabouts, while Alice struggles to unzip my dress.

She covers me in an oversized t-shirt and then wraps me in my blankets. Some time around three a.m., my sobbing turns into sleeping, with Alice lying next to me.

I awake tangled in my sheets with sunlight blaring down on my face and a dull ache in my chest. My eyes feel heavy when I try to open them, and my throat feels raw when I swallow. The clock on my nightstand reads 11:26 a.m., and I am shocked to see that I have slept through most of the morning.

I drag my heavy limbs into bathroom and gasp when I see my haggard face. Puffy eyes, red nose... I look like shit. I force myself to keep focused on getting through my morning routine instead of thinking about last night. I brush my teeth and shower without any real effort or thought. My body moves through it's usual routine while my mind stays on lock down.

After showering and changing, I wander into the kitchen wearing my ratty sweats, and find Alice cooking breakfast. I should be shocked that she is actually in the kitchen... using the stove, but my mind is too numb to create a reaction.

She watches me warily, as if I will collapse at any moment, and places a stack of pancakes in front of me. I want to say thank you... not just for the pancakes but also for last night, but I can't seem to form any words. Alice seems to understand and just hands me a giant bottle of water. I'm not really hungry, but I am beyond thirsty. I down over half of the water and then just sit on the bar stool, staring at the strawberry happy face on my pancake. Only Alice would do something like that. Surprising even myself, I feel the corners of my mouth slightly turn up into a ghost of a smile.

Alice doesn't say anything but I can tell she is pleased by my reaction. She flits about the apartment doing this and that while I eat. I can tell that she is waiting for me to say something, anything... but what is there to say? I'm not even sure what happened last night.

I've certainly never reacted so strongly... and badly... to anything in my entire life.

"Why?" I croak out, not really sure what I'm asking.

Alice stops straightening the magazines on the coffee table and walks over to me. She wraps her arms around my sagging form and strokes my hair.

"Oh, Bella. You love him."

Love? Is that what this awful feeling is? If so, I don't want any part of it. How can I love him? I don't even know him...

Thin rivers of tears stream silently down my cheeks, while Alice holds my shaking form.

I've read about unrequited love in many novels over the years, and, sure, I feel sympathy when the heroine is snubbed my the man of her dreams... but I never imagined it could be like this. Words cannot describe the heart-wrenching, all-consuming pain that plagues every cell in your being when you see the man you love with another woman... holding another woman... kissing another woman.

Love... I never though much about that word before now. I've never been in love, so it's no wonder that I couldn't accurately label my feelings for Edward. My heart simultaneously warms and breaks when I think about Edward and love... that I love Edward. It seems so foreign, yet natural, when I say it... even if it's just in my mind.

They say there's a thin line between love and hate, and I completely understand that now. I hate him so much... yet, I'm irrevocably in love with him. How can that be?

When did lust turn into love?

But it doesn't matter, because there is no way he will ever, ever redeem himself in my eyes... and heart. I only just found out that I... love... him, so I'm sure I can forget just as fast... hopefully.

He probably doesn't even care that I'm in so much pain over this... he probably doesn't even know.

He's probably in bed with that skank right now.

My body is racked with more sobs at that horrid thought. No, I don't want him to be with other women... even though I hate him... even though I love him...

I'm not sure how long Alice held me, but eventually she had to go to an editor meeting and I crawled back into bed.

When a girl goes through a bad break up in a movie, she eats ice cream, gets drunk and bitches to her friends about how small her ex's dick is, but none of that sounds appealing to me... maybe because I'm not actually going through a break up... and I've never seen Edward's dick... i'm sure it's not small...

I spend Sunday in much the same way- curled up in a ball under my covers. I keep the curtains drawn at all times, so my room is bathed in perpetual darkness... much like my heart. I now fully understand how Carrie felt when Mr. Big got cold feet... except he didn't cheat... and neither did Edward. Ugh! I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore! I feel like I've just been through this huge betrayal, and yet, he was never my boyfriend... not even kind of.

I wonder if I'm being overdramatic. But it's not like I actually want to be in this much pain! On top of the unjustified heartache, I also feel pathetic. Edward's probably... well, I don't really want to think about what... or who... Edward is doing right now, but the point is that the Earth has shifted on its axis and I, apparently, am the only one who has felt it!

I have spent the last two days sobbing into my pillow, while Edward galavants to and from other women's beds. Well, it's time I put my big girl panties on, so to speak. I can't pretend like the heartache has suddenly vanished- not even close- but I can suck it up and move on.

I am a successful young woman. The world is my oyster... whatever that means...

So when I wake up bright and early on Monday, I am prepared to conquer the world... or at least the reports that have been piling up on my desk.

Alice is visibly relieved that I have finally left the dungeon of darkness, formally known as my room. She refrains from mentioning the events of this weekend, probably in fear of ruining my good mood, and I am thankful. But I'm not actually in a good mood- the pain and dull ache in my chest is still there, I've just decided, with much effort, to push it aside for now and focus on my work.

I spend my first three hours in the office going through all the work that Jacob normally does, and I am startled out of my work mode by a chime on my computer. I pull up my calendar and almost have a heart attack when I read the notification.

12:30 p.m.

Aid for Africa meeting at Cullen Enterprises

*Bring spreadsheets

Shit! I completely forgot! I look at my watch and am relieved to see that I still have fifteen minutes to get there... but with New York traffic, it's a crapshoot.

I hastily grab my purse, the necessary folders and spreadsheets, and hightail out of the office. Luckily, I have use of the company car and arrive at Cullen Enterprises with five minutes to spare.

The meeting with the Cullen Enterprises team is the same as usual, with the same people attending. I am bored out of my mind as the people from accounting discuss funds and budgets, when suddenly the door swings open and the atmosphere in the conference room turn icy and tense.

Everyone immediately sits up stiffly and straight in their seats as the big, bad boss strides purposefully to the head of the table. Angela almost trips over herself as she falters to move quickly from the head seat to the one on the right. I only see his profile as he strides to his seat with Irina trailing behind him with a pen and notepad.

When he sits down and lifts his face, I am shocked to see that he looks... like crap. I mean, he still looks like a Greek god to us mere mortals, but he is definitely worse for wear by his usual standards. His beautiful face is haggard and weary, and I can't help but hope that it's somehow due to guilt over his shitty behavior... though the realistic part of me knows that he's probably just tired from a sex marathon from the night before.

The accountants recover from the interruption and begin, once again, to drone on and on about budgets. I use all my willpower not to look at Edward, but I can feel his piercing emerald eyes staring at me... into my soul. I won't give him the satisfaction of knowing how he effects me, I won't look at him. He means nothing to me.

I keep my eyes trained on whoever is talking and feign interest in what they are saying. My mind is in utter turmoil... just one look... just a quick peek. But I stay strong and make it through the entire meeting without so much as a glance at Edward.

While everyone begins to file out of the room, I pack up my things and prepare to make a hasty exit. Edward was one of the first to leave the room, and I am beyond relieved that he has decided not to corner and confront me.

But I was wrong.

As soon as I step out of the conference room, I am face-to-face with Edward. The other people from the meeting pay no attention and walk right on by until Edward and I are the only ones left in the corridor. I am cornered against the wall, with Edward right in front of me. I am suddenly plagued with visions of the last time we were in this position, but I quickly push them aside- this is no time for weakness.

"Isabel-"

He is interrupted by a sharp slap across the face, dealt by yours truly.

I don't stick around to witness the outcome of my actions, because the moment my red hand print becomes visible against his pale, flawless cheek, I turn on my heel and run toward the elevator.

As the steel doors shut, I can see him staring dumbstruck at me from where I left him, his hand rubbing his pink cheek.

Once the doors shut closed, I breathe a sigh of relief. I can't believe I actually did that! Sure, I dreamed about it over the past week, but I never thought I'd actually have the balls to do it! I feel oddly vindicated and powerful... don't mess with Bella Swan!

As the car takes me back to Black Corporations, the victorious feeling begins to wear off, leaving behind the ever-present ache in my chest. He deserved the slap... but now I'm left all alone. Why did I have to fall in love with such a douche?

I spend the rest of the afternoon letting my work consume me. I don't want to think about Edward, and I most certainly don't want to think about his plethora of women. But the curious and masochistic part of me wonders what Edward was about to say before I slapped him.

Alice isn't home when I get back to the apartment. She has another work function with her fabulous coworkers, and I am left to my own devices.

Too tired to make dinner, I call up the local Chinese restaurant and order take out. Half an hour later there is a knock on the door, and I jump up from my comfortable spot on the couch to answer it.

Digging through my wallet for change, I open the door without bothering to look up.

"How much is it, again?"

There is an awkward pause.

"Uh... these have already been paid for... are you Miss Isabella Swan?"

I look up in confusion and gasp at the sight. A freckle-faced, teenage boy is holding a giant bouquet of pink lilies and blood red roses. (Link on my profile.) The arrangement is so large that the poor boy has to strain his neck to see around it.

I am speechless.

"Miss Swan?"

"Um, yes, that's me..."

"Great! Do you mind signing this?"

He attempts to reach for his electronic signature machine, and almost drops the bouquet in the process. He's obviously new at this.

"Here, let me take that."

I carefully take the arrangement out of his hands and almost collapse under the weight... jeez, this weighs more than I do. I place it gingerly on the small table in the foyer and refrain from reading the small card. Who are these from? There must be some mistake... There are at least two dozen long stem red roses and about a dozen lilies mixed in together. This must have cost a fortune!

The boy hands me the small, grey contraption and I sign it hurriedly... I want to read the card!

"Thank you, ma'am. Enjoy the flowers."

He smiles shyly and then quickly leaves.

I shut the door and turn back to the flowers... they really do look beautiful as the centerpiece in the foyer. I reach out for the card, my hand shaking in anticipation. There are only two words written on the the small, white card stock.

Forgive Me

There is no signature or valediction, just two words written in elegant script.

But I don't need a name to know who it is. No one else needs forgiveness.

I don't know how I feel about the gesture. The flowers are beautiful, no doubt, but they in no way make everything all right. They don't erase the painful memory, they don't numb the pain, they don't mend my broken heart.

He doesn't say sorry, but it wouldn't be Edward if he did. He is obviously remorseful... I know that he is not a man that apologizes often... if ever.

But the bottom line is that flowers don't magically make everything okay... even if they are from Starlight Floral Designs. He can't use money to fix his problems. He should tell me how he feels face-to-face... maybe that's what he was trying to do earlier...

Well, too bad- he should try harder. Not that it makes any difference... he obviously feels bad about leading me on and wants to clear the air. He technically did nothing wrong... he was just being a total jackass... and that's what these flowers are for-

Forgive me... for being a total jackass.

I should throw them away. I'm not going to forgive him and things definitely can't go back to the way they were.

But I can't dwell on it any longer because there is another knock on the door, and, this time, it's actually the Chinese food.

I fall asleep before Alice comes home and I know that, in the morning, I will be bombarded with questions about the flowers. No, I didn't throw them out... I wanted to, I really did... but they were just too beautiful! If the only alternative is the trash can, then they might as well stay in the foyer and look pretty.

Tuesday begins much the sames as Monday: wake up, brush teeth, shower, eat breakfast. The only difference is that Alice isn't home. I don't know if she came back last night, but I have the sneaking suspicion that she's keeping something form me. For the first time since Friday, I remember the blonde man sitting at our table. Could she still be seeing him? A part of me hopes not because he, unfortunately, was privy to my grand exit and I will never be able to look him in the eye... and that may become a problem if things get serious between them.

I have another meeting with Cullen Enterprises today and I am seriously considering skipping it. But then Jacob would find out and ask questions and get pissed, so, rather than get fired, I decide to risk another run in with Edward.

Edward doesn't attend the meeting- what a surprise- and I find myself growing more and more angry about the situation as the minutes tick by. Why does he get to show up or bail out whenever he pleases? I am required to go to meeting after monotonous meeting, while he pops in when he feels like it!

When the meeting finishes, I find myself stomping off to his office. His pretentious office located on it's own pretentious floor.

In the back of my mind, I know that I should cool down before making any rash decisions- but it's too late. My legs are walking on their own accord, and before I know it, I am flinging open the wooden door to his office.

My mind takes a few seconds to catch up with the rest of my body, and by the time it registers the scene in front of me, I am seeing red.

Edward is sitting all high and mighty in his desk chair and that blonde slut is standing in front of him.

They aren't doing anything indecent or remotely inappropriate, but all of my pent up feelings from the last week come bursting out. All I can see is him and another woman.

"This- this is what you all day in your office when you should be attending meetings?"

My voice comes out like a screech, but I can't control my volume or my temper.

"Bella, please- it's not what you think!"

"Like hell it's not! Just like you weren't sucking face with that redhead tramp at the banquet!"

The blonde looks at me like I'm insane and quickly rushes past me and out the door. Does she think I'm actually going to attack her?

I look back at Edward, and suddenly my anger melts into pain.

"What am I to you? How can you- how can you treat all of these women like this? How can you treat me like this?"

My voice becomes steadily softer and softer until the last part is nothing more than a whisper.

"Bella, they all know. I tell them from the start- I don't do relationships. And they all understand... they- they aren't like you."

"Like me? What, naïve? Naïve enough to believe that you actually have a soul... a heart?"

The anger is building up again, and my voice almost cracks form the mixture of ire and pain.

My words seem to have struck a chord with him, because his soothing tone quickly transforms into one of frustration.

"Goddammit, Bella! What do you want from me?"

That's a loaded question... the list is endless.

"This... this is who I am- I warned you from the start!"

He runs a frustrated hand through his messy hair and then drags it over his weary, beautiful face.

I want you to love me, Edward. I want your love.

But no matter how forceful and sure the words are in my mind, I can't seem to get them out.

"I want you to get the hell out of my life."

Dun dun dun... Cliffhanger!

Maybe I should write an angst fic... the darkness just flows out of me!

A lot of you wanted Bella to make Edward extremely jealous, but as I was writing this chapter, a scene like that just wouldn't fit. I love jealousward as much as the next gal, but I wanted to make this realistic. Bella is truly, genuinely heartbroken over Edward, and when something like that happens, a girl first cries and mourns, not schemes of payback... that comes later. Bella was in pain, and we just saw her anger, and now we can progress to the fun part- revenge and jealousy. So, I hope you jealousward lovers can understand- I'm just keeping it real!

I usually leave questions here for you guys to think about, but since so much happened in this chapter, I think I will just let you guys have free reign to comment on whatever you want!

Reviews = Teaser!

xXx Olivia

****** I have just been informed that if you reviewed on the previous chapter 9, FF won't let you review again for this chapter. There is not much I can do about that, so if you don't mind the trouble, go back to a previous chapter that you haven't already reviewed and leave me a review there! Sorry for the inconvenience!

xXx Olivia