Another quick one - although this one's a little short but things are starting to get a little less happy, so trying not to hit you with the bombs all at once :) Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns everything Twilight.

"No way, you've got to be fucking kidding me!" I squealed, jumping up and down with the paper that determined the rest of my life flailing in my hands.

"Bella, language!"

"Sorry, Dad," I apologized, but squealed even louder while jumping even when I saw Alice and Edward walk through my front door. I ran towards them and pulled Alice into a hug, probably making her ear drum bleed with my high pitched screams.

"I got in! Harvard gave me an early acceptance!"

"What!? Oh my God!" Alice yelled and joined in on the squealing and jumping for a while, but it was short lived when I noticed Edward still silent and frowning by the door. "Hey, what's wrong? Aren't you excited, this is amazing!"

He immediately wiped his frown off his face and smiled, but it never reached his eyes. "Sorry Bells, just caught me by surprise. I'm so happy for you!"

Before I could overthink it, he walked over and pulled me into his arms and gave me a chaste kiss, whispering how proud he was of me. But that's when it all started.

For the days that followed, Edward began to become distant. It wasn't much at first – we still spent all of our spare time that wasn't spent studying together, and we were still having the most amazing sex ever. But I could tell he was holding back from me. I loved him, more than words, and I respected his privacy so I waited for him to take his time and come to me when he was ready.

But he never did. And soon later, he started ditching out on our plans last minute, making excuses for not being able to see me but spending more time with his guys. Which was never an issue, I couldn't stand those people who would dump all their friends for their significant other. But it was more than just that. It felt like Edward was ignoring me, or ignoring something that had to do with me. Hell, I was so damn frustrated – I had no idea what the hell was going on. I had asked him a couple of times if everything was okay, and he assured me over and over again he was fine. The last time I had asked, Edward had gotten mad and said I was nagging him, so I stopped. Either way I would love him regardless and be there for him, so I just waited even more until he was ready.

Graduation had come sooner than expected, and Alice and I planned a girls trip to a boutique out in Port Angeles to go dress shopping for prom. When she noticed that I wasn't as excited as I usually had been since being accepted to Harvard, I finally let it all out and told her how Edward had been the last few weeks.

"I don't know Bella, he's been like that for everyone. Even Mom and Dad have noticed, and they asked him at dinner the other night. He just lost it and stormed off."

"But why? I don't get it," I sighed, raking my fingers through my hair in frustration. "He's never been like this. I don't know what I did wrong."

"Hey, don't blame yourself! I'm sure he's just going through something, don't worry it'll all work out," she assured me, pulling me into a quick hug before running off in search of another dress for me to try on. And she found the perfect one. It was midnight blue, Edward's favourite, an off the shoulder dress that bunched up around my waist and cut off above my knees. It definitely flaunted my figure, and I felt beautiful in it, so that was that.

The night before prom, I was on the phone with Edward and had practically begged him to sneak out and come by through my window. And when I say begged, I mean I kind of pulled him into a guilt trip about how I barely saw him anymore. And that I loved him. I even pouted, knowing that he obviously didn't see it, but hoped that it'd still make an effect on him. Sighing, he agreed and said he'd be there shortly. A few minutes later, I saw him climb through my window and sit on my bed.

"Hey," I said softly as I sat up on my bed. I leaned up, placing my lips on his before he pulled away. Frowning, I let it pass because I didn't want to ruin his mood, especially the night before prom. "Everything alright?"

He sighed and shook his head. "No, everything's not alright Bella. Everything's pretty fucked up right now."

He shook his head again and turned away from me, so I placed my hand on his cheek and pulled him back. "You can come to me about anything, and I'll be right here for you. You know that, right?" He sighed again and nodded, so I waited for him to finally tell me what had been haunting him these last few weeks. And then he dropped the biggest bomb on me.

"I'm not going to Harvard with you. I'm going to Stanford."

Forever and always, Bells.

That was no longer real. I looked down at my lap, letting his words sink in.

"I'm sorry, I just…" he started, but shook his head and stopped.

"But, you said it was your first choice. That we'd be going together," I whispered, my mind denying everything that was going through my head.

"I know, but there were some issues, and I didn't get in. And Stanford's a great school too, so I'm going there," Edward explained and looked back at me, his face void of any emotion. He didn't feel upset, or pained over what he was telling me, not like I was.

"Why wouldn't you tell me, Edward?" I swallowed the lump that was forming in the bottom of my throat and begged for my voice not to shake. "I had applied there too, I could've picked it instead."

"But Harvard is your dream. I'd never take that away from you."

"But you'd rather leave me instead?" I spat, resisting the urge to walk away from him. He fooled me for months, thinking we had a future together yet he hid something so huge from me.

You're so pathetic, Bella. Look at you.

I could practically hear my mother's voice in my ears, taunting me. Laughing at me.

"This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you!" His voice rose and he ran my fingers through his hair, pulling slightly in frustration.

"Why, because you knew I'd be upset? Why wouldn't I, Edward? I love you, and you kept this from me, and expect me to just be okay with it?"

My voice began to rise before he clamped his hand on my mouth and told me to keep quiet or else Charlie would've caught us both. I took a few deep breaths and tried to calm down my racing heart, willing myself to relax and lose the adrenaline building inside me because I didn't want to fight with Edward.

"So… what now?" I finally asked, breaking our silence.

"I don't know," He breathed out, reaching over and clasping my hand in his. "But we'll figure it out, Bells. I promise. Anyways, I should go. You've got a big day tomorrow."

"We both do, right? We're still going together to that"

Edward sighed. "Of course, where else would I want to be?"

I nodded, biting my tongue and not allowing the thoughts in my mind be spoken in words, before he kissed me chastely once more and began to make his way out my window. I followed him and watched as he climbed down the tree and he landed safely to the ground before calling out to him.

"Hey!" I yelled, waiting until he turned back around and faced me." I love you, forever. You know that, right?

He smiled again, but it was a sad one that never reached his eyes. "Forever and always."