A/N:

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EPOV - c.4

Bella and I fell asleep a while later, and I slept better than night than I had in years. I was starting to wonder how I ever got along without her. She was just...she had this way of illuminating absolutely everything around her and being near her was a fucking privilege. I wanted more; I craved it.

But how could I possibly do that? What about Jess? Didn't she deserve better, especially considering that I was supposed to be here with her, and for her? I'd just made a huge mess of everything, hadn't I? Nothing seemed like it could ever be even remotely right when Bella wasn't around and yet I was supposed to be dating her sister.

Fuck.

The sun was still a hazy orangey yellow when I woke up and felt Bella securely in my arms. I kissed her forehead gently, realizing that this could very well be the last time I had her in my arms. It was nothing shy of everything I ever wanted. But whatever. "Hey." I whispered, pulling her closer and grinning as she pulled herself closer to me. "Good morning."

Her eyes blinked open slowly as a sleepy smile spread across her lips. "Mmm... morning."

I pushed the hair out of her face, and kissed her slowly. "How do you feel?"

"Fantastic..you?" She asked, her voice light in the quiet of the early morning. I don't think it could get more peaceful, even if we tried.

"Same." I replied. "This was by far the best camping trip I've ever had."

"Agreed." She laughed, pushing up to kiss me again.

"When are you coming to Chicago?" I asked, kissing over her cheeks and hoping my breath wasn't to bad.

"August 10th." She told me, turning to face me and kissed me again. it was like she knew exactly what was running through my head.

"You should come over." I whispered against her lips, kissing her again. "I could show you around."

"I'd love that." Kiss.

"Me too." I whispered. "Thank you, Bella. Thank you." For so much; for everything. For giving me perspective for teaching me what was right and wrong. For quite simply being.

"I haven't done anything... except complicate your life." She mumbled, her face falling instantly. "You shouldn't be thanking me."

"You showed me...everything I ever needed to know." I whispered, trying to kiss away her frown. She had no reason to be that sad, ever. I didn't want that for her. "You...Bella,there's everything to thank you for."

"Like what?"

"Thank you for... existing." I started, rolling her onto her back so I could kiss down her jaw. "Thank you for even considering what we did last night." I whispered into her neck." "Thank you for being so perfect." I told her, moving down to her collar bone. "Thank you for being...thank you for being yourself; always."

"You are perfect Edward." She panted, pressing against me and pushing her breasts toward my waiting mouth. "If you're not careful you could wake up one day with me irrevocably in love with you."

Would that be awful? Right now it would. But I couldn't say no to it; I just couldn't get my mouth to form the words. "It's not my fault you're amazing." I replied, grinning lazily against her.

She smiled, sliding down a little and kissed me. "You are the amazing one. Don't forget that."

"I think...that might only be true when I'm with you." I whispered, kissing her again. Fuck, what the hell was I going to do?

"Well then, lucky me." She beamed looking at me like this moment was the best of her life. Nothing could ever come close to topping it.

I smiled down at her, realizing that nothing would ever be more perfect than this; that being with Bella would mean I belonged somewhere and with someone who accepted me despite my quirks and hang ups. She would be with me...in spite of everything.

"I barely know you but it feels like I've been with you forever." Because we fit. Because in her arms everything made sense.

"It does, doesn't it?" She agreed kissing me again.

I nodded, sucking on her bottom lip. "Definitely."

She hummed against my skin, her fingers drawing light lines up and down my back, and leaving a tingle in their wake. Her skin was...fucking electric. And addictive. "You know how you said last night that you never wanted to stop kissing me?" She paused. "I think that is a brilliant idea."

I grinned against her lips, giving her a few chaste kisses. "I have to go eventually, though."

Bella sighed, as if this was the last thing she wanted to hear and nodded. "I know. Can I come with you to the airport to say goodbye?"

"Are you sure?" I whispered, kissing her again. "I'll worry about you if you don't text me when you get back home."

"Remind me to put your number in my phone before we leave." She requested, nuzzling her nose to mine and kissed me again.

"I will." I whispered. "And...we'll talk, right? I mean, beyond that?"

She nodded, "As often as you want." Kiss. "I really wish you could hide out here for the summer."

I kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose. "It's better if I go. As much as I want to just stay here with you...it's better for me to be away for a little while."

"Not for me." She sighed sadly, pressing her lips delicately to mine again. "But I understand."

"Then...we'll figure something out." I whispered, resting my forehead to hers. "After everything blows over...I'll come visit or something and we can...do stuff."

"Visit here or Chicago?" She said quietly, her eyes drifting down to the blankets. "It's going to ache if I have to wait 2 months for this..." She whispered, her fingers lacing with mine before she lifted our hands to her lips and kissed the back of mine. I shuddered from the feeling behind it. She just...cared for me. Like there wasn't anything else that was as important to her in a thousand years.

"Here." I said, kissing her again. "I'm not sure I'll be able to stay with you like this time, but I'll come back. I promise."

"Okay." She smiled, scratching lightly at my scalp. "I hate drama, and I'm sure that considering... this could all cause a lot. So, whatever you decide you want to do, just... be honest with me, okay?"

My heart broke for her, because it was an impossible decision for her. I could run from Jess until the cows came home, but Bella was stuck with her forever. "I'm so sorry." I whispered, pulling her closer and putting my forehead to hers. "I'm sorry I've made such a mess."

"You didn't. Stop saying it like this is all on you." She murmured, kissing me reassuringly, and twisting her fingers into my hair. "I already know you're worth a lifetime of Jessica's bitching. Plus, I barely notice it anymore." She laughed, her lips barely apart from mine. "But don't feel pressure either way. Take your time and figure out what you want. The only place I'm going, is to Chicago."

I smiled at her, wondering what she saw in me that would give her this kind of trust and faith. Whatever it was, it was pretty cool.

But Bella was right, what about Jess? What about what she wanted? She was my girlfriend, after all. She was the girl I'd ordered take out with, been to tons of movies with and even woken up to for the last few months. When we were in New York, we were perfect together.

It was a problem this decision.

I closed my eyes, and suddenly my life flashed before my eyes. I saw my wife; I saw us getting married and I saw us going on our honey moon. We had a ton of kids, who we adored and they had kids we loved even more. She and I would grow old together and have matching rocking chairs and never again be apart.

She was the one.

Now all I had to do was make sure she knew it.

Bella followed me all the way to the airport, and I made sure to drive slowly so that she could keep up. I knew what I had to do; I knew what was right. I just had to clear my head long enough to do it right.

I was so twisted up with Bella-Jess-Bella-Jess that I completely forgot what the point to it all was. That's what I wanted to get back in touch with. That was what I needed. I pulled the rental back to its station while Bella parked her truck in the garage. We met back up at departures, where i pulled her into my arms. "You smell nice," I whispered as i kissed her neck.

Bella's arms wrapped quickly around me and pulled me close, like if she held me tight enough; long enough, I wouldn't go. "I smell like us."

"Are you opposed to this?" I asked, leaning into her a little more.

"No. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm going to miss it the minute I shower."

"Don't shower then." I teased, as my hand traveled down to her ass. And what a good ass it was.

She let out a moan, and I felt her teeth graze my neck. "Have I told you recently how much I love your hands?"

I grinned against her, pulling her even tighter into me. "Yeah, I think you might. But last night spoke for itself."

"I think it did too." She whispered, pulling back slightly, then kissing me. "I'm going to miss you."

I leaned my forehead to hers, feeling less and less confused by the minute. I knew what was right. It was just...inherent. "I'll miss you; but we'll talk soon. I have your number and you have mine." I kissed her nose. "It'll be okay."

"I know." She smiled, but it didn't quiet touch her eyes. "Text me when you land? So I know you made it home safe."

I smiled back at her, leaning down to kiss her one last time. "I will."

She leaned back up on her toes, and it felt like our first kiss all over again. Her breath was fanning over my face, but the electric tingle of her lips on mine was ever present. "Okay. Travel safe."

"You too." I whispered, kissing both her cheeks before I pulled away. "Bye, Bella."

She pulled back too, lifting her hand in a semi-wave and smiled a little. "Bye Edward."

I cupped the back of her head, and kissed her forehead before I turned around and walked to the gate. I took a deep breath.

The right thing.

This was all for the right thing.

My mom picked me up from the airport when I arrived and I did my best not to think of Jess or Bella for about two weeks. They both texted but I only replied to one; the one I wanted to. After a while, the other gave up.

On the beginning of week three, I picked up the phone to dial the Swans. It was time to just get this over with.

I had to make my choice.

But I had to do it in person. I owed it to her, at least, to tell her in person that she just wasn't the one. I might have made her believe she was, but...the truth was, she wasn't. I owed it to her to tell her in person.

The phone only rang twice.

"Hello?" Bella. Oh no.

I sucked in a deep breath. Oh, no. "Hi, it's Edward."

"Oh hey." She replied, smiling through the line, and it was like I could picture exactly what she was doing. Damn her for being so memorable. "How's it going?"

I was nervous, sweaty and nervous. "Pretty good, you?" Crap crap crap crap.

"Good. What's up?"

I sighed,"Nothing. I'm coming back out thursday."

"Awesome." She said, giving me a giggle and not making this any easier. But at the same time...if it was it wouldn't be worth it. "I can't wait."

"Me either." I was doing the right thing. I knew it. ""I'll see you then?"

"Definitely. Did you need a ride from the airport?"

"No, I'll rent." I replied, shuffling my things. "Thanks, though."

"Oh, um, okay." She paused, "Did you... want to talk to Jess?"

"No, just tell her I'm coming." I replied off handedly. "Thanks, Bella."

"Oh, yea. No sweat." She replied and I pulled the phone away from my face to make sure it was really there. Her mood totally changed in a matter of seconds.

"Okay. Bye Bella." I kinda yelled, hanging up. If I stayed on the phone too long, I would lose my nerve. I could do this. I was totally and fully capable of doing this.

I hoped.

BPOV

Well, that was odd.

It was obvious by how he'd been curt and pretty much hung up on me, what his ultimate decision was.

Jessica was his for the keeping.

I, on the other hand, was not.

However hurt I was, I did let Jessica know that same night of his call. She jumped up and down on her bed - esctatic that her "super sexy" boyfriend had come to his senses and gotten over whatever he was upset about.

She was on speedial with her best friend from high school, Lauren, before I'd even left the room.

She was trying to figure out the best lingerie shop to go to, to get Edward's "surprise".

I rolled my eyes, slamming her door behind me, followed by abusing my door in the same manner.

The next few days went by slowly in anticipation of Thursday.

Jessica sat on our front porch literally from morning til night the day of his arrival, waiting for him excitedly.

I, on the other hand had plans to go to a midnight showing of some summer action blockbuster with Jake. Anything to get me out of the house so I wouldn't have to hear make up sex and my sister's annoying giggle.

I hated feeling jealous almost as much as I hated feeling rejected.

A little before nine that night, I heard the piercing laugh that my sister only gave to boys when she was smitten. And then... his voice.

I never thought a person's voice would make my heart physically hurt.

Evidently it was possible.

"Hey, I'm glad you're out here." His voice said calmly. God, I missed that voice.

"I've been waiting for you. Bels said you were coming back. I'm so glad." She replied in a sickeningly sweet tone.

Ugh. I couldn't take it. I grabbed my bag and walked through the front door, pretending not to see them. Or smell his cologne. Or catch the bright orange highlights his hair had under the flourescent porch light.

I threw my bag in the truck and sped out of the driveway, flooring my truck up to a whopping 35.

My stomach felt like it was going to implode it hurt so much.

Definitely more than I thought it would.