Hey, guys! It's taken me forever to write such a little chapter, mainly due to me having my tooth out & being groggy from painkillers... not to mention going back to school & unpacking, etc. Sorry for the delay & for such a short chapter... Classes start Monday so I'm hopefully going to get one fantastically massive chapter out before then... Before all the work starts (oy!).

Thanks for the reviews & for the well wishes with my wisdom tooth. Worst experience ever. Of course I also have to get the other three out. Ughhh!

My bad luck continues... I have a disgusting stomach virus. Please leave me some reviews to make me feel better! Please?

Haha, anyway- I hope you all enjoy!

BPOV

A week later, we found ourselves in a suitable cottage in the English countryside. It was truly beautiful and isolated from civilization; certainly an ideal spot for us.

The week had definitely been strange. Thank goodness most of it involved travelling, hunting, and avoiding humans; otherwise I would have been forced to talk to Edward about what our kiss "meant".

He'd been hovering over me lately, waiting for a chance to talk to me about our relationship. I was clever at getting away, feigning thirst or restlessness. Sometimes I just blatantly ran away from him. He let me be, for the most part, but Alice certainly didn't.

As soon as we were set up in our rooms, Alice was barging into mine. In her haste, she knocked over a box of knick-knacks Esme had bought for me.

"Hey!" I cried in outrage, dropping the book I'd been reading in shock.

"Isabella Marie Swan… What is your deal?"

I blinked at her. This was the first time we'd spoken since we came back from Italy. Usually she shot me apologetic glances or sad smiles. This newfound anger was sudden and rare and I found myself getting angry.

"What are you talking about?"

She sat down on the bed next to me and ignored my wince. "When are we going to be friends again?" Her tone had turned softer but an edge to it let me know she meant business.

That was good old Alice- straightforward and blunt. I fidgeted on my bed.

"Alice, I-"

"I love you, Bella. You're my best friend and my sister. Can we please move past this?"

Her eyes were wide and pleading and she wore the adorable pout that even Carlisle couldn't bear to see.

"Alice, you're not being fair!" I whined.

She grinned at me and jumped up. "You forgave me!"

Before I could say anything more, she pounded on me. "I saw it. You were going to say 'I love you, too'."

"I hate having a fortune-teller as a sister…" I sighed theatrically.

Alice stepped back from me and smiled. "You really think of me as your sister?"

"Of course I do. That's why it hurt so badly when you… left." Her heartbroken face nearly sent me sobbing. "But that's all in the past now," I added quickly, "and I forgive you." I kissed the tip of her nose and smiled.

"Thanks, Bella," she said, smiling softly. "Is it all in the past now for Edward, too?"

My cheerful expression quickly faded.

"I know it's none of my business but I am your sister, after all, and I just don't want to see you-"

"I don't want to talk about this, Alice," I said, gritting my teeth.

She shook her head at me. "You still love him, Bella. I know you do." Shaking her head once more, she walked out and left me with my thoughts.

That's not the point, Alice.

EPOV

One week. One miserable, unending week since I'd last felt Bella's lips on mine. I could hardly understand how I was still managing to smile, let alone stand every day. To have a taste of heaven and then have it ripped away is the most excruciating kind of punishment. The only reason why I get up every day and force myself to smile is because I know that I deserve this. I deserve every single second of this torture, even if it lasts for eternity. The sick part is that I enjoy it because it still allows me to be close to her.

She'd been avoiding me since we kissed. I can't say that I blame her. She was having a weak and emotional moment and I took advantage. If she didn't completely detest me before, she did now.

Alice kept trying to assure me that Bella still loved me and that in a matter of time she'd come around but with every tick of the taunting clock, I am more and more convinced she won't change her mind.

What will I do then?

Don't worry- it's not going to be a "back-and-forth" soap-opera thing. Bella's going to forgive everyone, including Edward(obviously), next chapter.