I do not own Twilight.

Enjoy! :)

-MW-

Chapter 10

"Take Me Away (Acoustic) – Lifehouse"

"Vegas Skies – The Cab"

Bella POV

So here I am, sitting in my office, minding my own business…

Okay, that sounds so cheesy, but that's what I was doing. I had the afternoon off since Edward was coming for the meeting, so I was just sitting behind my desk, waiting for him to arrive.

*Knock knock knock*

"Come in!" I knew it couldn't be Edward because then he'd be 2 hours early for our meeting. Not that I'd mind at all…

"Rose!" I said in mild surprise.

"Hey, Bella, I need to talk to you."

"Okay, sure, what's up?" I got a glass of water from behind my chair and drank some of it.

She crossed the room in a few strides and sat on one of the chairs in front of the desk, facing it towards me.

"Do you love Edward?" I was suddenly choking on my water.

"What *cough* are you *cough*cough**cough*…!!!"

"Bella," she said more seriously, "do you love Edward? Enough to stay here – in New York – for him?"

I stared at her with my eyes wide.

Love Edward? Do I love Edward?

"Why? What's going on, Rose?"

She sighed and got up from her seat, pacing back and forth.

Then she sat down again and took my hands in hers.

"We had a breakthrough."

"Really? Where?" Suddenly everything was coming together, piece by piece. But I still didn't understand why Rose asked me if I loved Edward.

Oh yes, you do.

"Italy."

"Rose, that's great!" I said, happily, "But what does that have to do with Edward? And love?" I asked, still a bit confused.

She was just staring at me for a while, and I could see a lot of emotions going on in her eyes.

"Rose, you're scaring me…"

With the way she was looking at me now, I couldn't help but feel a lot of anxiety. I was shaking on the inside but then I noticed that my arms were shaking as well. I almost felt like I was going to crumble soon…

"They want you to go."

And I did.

-

We both just sat there, talking about what Newton told her about Italy.

"How long am I supposed to be gone?"

"He said at least a few years."

"When?"

"One week."

I thought about everything at that moment. I thought about my dad and how happy he would have been to hear that we finally broke through to the European market. I thought about New York and how different it would be compared to Italy. I thought about the day my mother left us. I thought about Alice, Rose, Emmett, Jasper, and even Jacob. But the one I thought about the most was Edward.

We had grown so close these past few months, and what we had was wonderful. There weren't any words to describe this feeling. It was better than what I had with Jacob, more powerful than anything I've ever experienced before. And yet here I am, about to go to Italy in a week, leaving behind so many wonderful… Wait a minute.

"One week?" I whispered.

A few tears escaped from my eyes and I quickly wiped them away, hoping that the part about me leaving wasn't true.

"You should ask him to the Ball tonight." Rosalie said, smiling weakly.

I laughed bitterly and wiped my eyes again. The tears were still escaping.

"Edward! You're right on time! Please, come in!" I faked. I really couldn't afford for him to see me cry.

"Edward! I see you're here for the monthly meeting again!" Rosalie said, smiling.

"Hello, Rosalie. Yeah, I am…"

I was just staring off past Edward's figure, thinking if I should tell him about Italy. I didn't know how he would react. Heck, I didn't know if he would react at all. Maybe I'd misunderstood him…

"Well, I suppose I'll leave you two now. Bella, call me." Rose said, shutting the door behind her.

"Call me?" he smirked, "What, did she ask you out on a date or something? Finally getting rid of Emmett, huh? Can't say I blame her." He joked.

I didn't have the energy to joke around with him today. I just smiled weakly at him.

"Let's get started."

I was arranging the books on my bookshelf – Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, Sense and Sensibility, just some of my favorites. I could feel Edward's gaze on me. I really wish he'd stop looking at me, like he was expecting me to tell him everything. Although, I probably would…

"Bella, what did Rosalie say to you earlier?"

I stopped fixing my books. I sighed. I suppose now's a good a time as any.

I turned to him – with the book I was holding earlier still in my hands – and walked towards him, thinking about what Rose said earlier.

"Do you love Edward?"

"You should ask him to the Ball."

"Bella, do you love Edward? Enough to stay here – in New York – for him?"

I put the book down on my desk, crossed my arms and smiled at him.

"Would you like to go to the Charity Ball with me, Edward?"

"Yes." He answered. I would have laughed at his eagerness, but I didn't have the heart for it.

"Bella, what's going on?"

"Edward, I'm leaving." I said quickly. Like a band-aid, I thought, quick and easy. His expression fell.

"…on a business trip?" I sighed and sat down in front of him.

"Something like that." His eyebrows furrowed.

"I don't understand," he took my hands in his, "Bella, what are you talking about?"

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I started to cry again for the second time.

He stood up, pulling me along with him, and held me tightly to his chest.

"Shh… Bella… Shh… It's okay… Don't cry, please?"

This felt like the pain after you ripped the band-aid. I didn't want to feel like this. And I didn't want Edward to feel like this because of me.

I didn't want to see him sad, and I especially didn't want to leave him. He meant too much to me.

I pulled away from him and looked him in the eyes.

I could see myself in them, they were so clear. I wanted to be able to do this all the time – have him hold me like this and just stare into his eyes – but under better circumstances.

"They're asking me to move to Italy."

Yeah. Like that could happen now.

-

"W-What? Why?"

I wanted to answer him in as little words as possible.

"We had a breakthrough." He was silent for a moment.

"Do you have to go?" I sighed and rubbed my temples.

They told me I could send someone else, but they'd prefer it if… I… went instead."

"Then don't," he pleaded, "Bella, please, don't go…"

My phone vibrated and I quickly read the text message.

Alice.

"I'm sorry, Edward, I have to go." I left the room without letting him say anything else.

I met Rose in the elevator and the moment the doors closed, tears flowed freely from my face, while she rubbed my back, soothing me.

Alice POV

Today, I was going to pick up Bella and Rose so we could head to my studio so I can let them try on their gowns for the Charity tonight. It's going to be so fun! I always love a good party!

I pulled up to the Swan Corp. building and sent a quick text to both of them, saying I was outside.

I looked at the tall building beside me and frowned.

I was glad I didn't have to work in a place like this – it's so closed off. I'd probably die before I ever get employed in a place like this.

Bella and Rose came out of the revolving door and I immediately noticed the look on their faces, it was hard to miss.

They both had frowns on and their eyebrows were slanted downwards. And they weren't talking to each other.

I sighed to myself. This was probably about the Italy thing. Rose called me earlier and told me all about it. She also said that she told Bella to ask Edward to the Ball tonight.

Now, I still wasn't too keen on Bella and Edward being together just because of my brother's pigheadedness. But if Bella's happy, then I will beat some sense into that boy.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" I asked as they got in my car.

They just shook their heads and I took that as my cue to step on the gas.

"These will look so good on us!"

By the time we got to my studio, the mood had lightened up and everyone was in almost high spirits again.

"Alice, these look beautiful!" Rose gushed.

"Yeah, they really are, Ali. Thank you." Bella smiled.

I just laughed at my friends' antics.

"You guys! It's not like I haven't been designing for you all your life! But thank you," I smiled widely at them, "Now, go try them on! I want to see what they look like on you!"

(AN: The gowns can be seen in my profile. /~michaelawrites/)

-

We all came out of the dressing room at almost the same time, and when I saw Rose and Bella, I just had to marvel at the workmanship.

"Oh, I am good."

"Alice, these look beautiful!" Rose said again.

"You did an amazing job!" Bella complimented.

Looking at Bella spin around in front of the full-length mirror reminded me of how happy I've seen Edward around the house lately. He's been coming home earlier, spending time with the family, eating dinner with the family, and he even cleared a few days off his schedule just to take us all on a mini-vacation.

I still wasn't sure if Bella was the cause of all this and I still wasn't sure if Edward's intentions were pure. But I did like the new Edward. He was easier to be around and talk to.

"Bella! Come here!" Rose called her over to the catwalk I had built in the studio, and they were pretending that they were runway models, posing for the nonexistent photographers at the end.

I smiled at the both of them.

I suppose I did accept this new Edward. Apparently, he's doing some good to Bella as well. She has never set foot on that catwalk since the first day I had it installed there, claiming that she had the grace of a pro-wrestler on ice.

But now, looking at her, she's smiling and laughing, posing for pictures for Rose's camera even! She looks and feels different. Never in a million years would she have posed in front of any kind of camera like that.

"Okay, guys! Enough with the fun! My glam squad's coming in soon to prepare us for the Ball tonight!"

They both ran over to the vanities that I had installed as well and started calling dibs on the seats they wanted, mostly fighting over the one with the biggest mirror.

I just laughed throughout their whole conversation.

"I have more hair!"

"Rose, we both have the same hair!"

"Uh… I'm blonde!"

"So??"

"Haven't you ever heard that blondes have all the fun?"

"Yeah, whatever." Bella mumbled under her breath.

"What was that?!"

"Nothing! Just let me sit there!"

"No! I called dibs on it first!"

"No, I did! You were late by two seconds!"

"Oh, so now you think you run faster than me?"

"I know I do 'cause I got here before you did, ergo, my seat!"

"This is so unfair! Alice! Will you please tell her that I got here first?"

"Oh, so now you're dragging Alice into this?"

"Well, she owns the place!"

I sighed, shaking my head.

It's like they have never been here before in their lives.

I walked over, put both my hands in front of their faces.

"Quit it!" I said.

Then I reached towards a piece of wood that was dividing the mirror and I pulled it down, and did the same with the second one.

"There!" I said, rolling my eyes, "Geez, it's like you guys have never set foot in here before!"

They just stood there with their mouths formed into small O's.

How excitiiiiing :D

R&R, please! :)

-MW-