Sorry for this being so late!! Massive failure on my part! I won't bore you with excuses, just know that I am sorry…I hope you can forgive me J Anyways, I want to thank all of my readers and reviewers- You guys are the best…I'm serious amazing!! Okay go read the chapter now…

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Disclaimer: I sadly do not own Twilight or any of the lovely characters. They belong to the wonderfully talented Stephenie Meyer. I do own the original story line and any original characters. But I do own: All of the books, soundtracks to both movies, Team Edward t-shirt, Twilight the movie, New Moon the movie and used ticket stubs to Twilight and New Moon. ************************************************************************

Last chapter

"When you say your whole family, do you mean…" I started to ask.

"Yes, my brother James and Megan will be there," he said, his tone hard.

"As in your brother who stole your fiancé? So Megan would be…"

"Megan would be my ex," he replied with his face tensed. I am sure he was replaying unwanted memories in his mind.

Well, that would explain his shitty mood earlier.

"Is this the first time you have seen them since they told you?" I asked.

"Yes. I have made a point of avoiding any kind of situation that they would be present, but I can't avoid this one. My grandpa is too important to me, and it would break his heart if I didn't come. Besides I am over it. I don't have any feelings for her anymore, and my brother, well I will just avoid being anywhere near him."

"Are you sure?" I asked, I understanding where he was coming from, but still I can't believe that he was completely over everything. Maybe that was only because I was projecting my own shortcomings on to him.

"Definitely. I really want you to meet my grandparents; they are going to love you," he said, ending any further discussion about his ex.

"Well I can't wait to meet then either. From what you have told me about them, they sound like extraordinary people."

"They are," he said, turning his body so that he was angled towards me. "Bella?"

"Yeah?"

"I need to apologize for something," he said.

"What?" I asked.

"Earlier, at the bar, I just blurted out to Edward that you were my girlfriend. I realize now that was out of line. That was not how I meant for us to have this conversation. But it's out there now, and I guess I was wondering how you felt about being my girlfriend?" he asked, looking down right nervous.

I thought about what he asked for a minute. I hadn't really noticed his declaration at the bar. We have been spending a lot of time together and I guess I just assumed we were already at that level, and I told him as much.

"I guess I already assumed that we were 'together". I mean, when never really discussed it, per se, but I just figured. Though it wasn't really cool that you announced it front of Edward like that. I don't want our relationship to be about one upping him."

"I know, and I am sorry for that. I don't know what came over me. He was looking at you like that and something in me just snapped. I can't apologize enough for my behavior." He said, looking down at him lap.

"You're forgiven. Just ignore him next time, I do."

"So, I guess this means you're my girlfriend, huh?" he asked smiling.

I chuckled. "Yeah, I guess it does." Upon saying those words, a weird emotion flashed across my body. It almost felt like a mixture of guilt and sadness. I quickly shook my head; I had nothing to feel guilty about.

"Well I guess I should get up there," I said, pointing at my apartment.

"Yeah, I guess you should," he said leaning across the center console towards me.

"I'll call you tomorrow," I said, placing my hand on the door handle. For some reason I had the urge to bolt. I think too much has happened this evening; I needed a strong drink and a good night of sleep.

He leaned in closer and pressed his lips softly against mine. It was nice, but the guilt and sadness were back and I could slowly feel bile rising up my throat. I abruptly pulled away.

"I've got to go," I said, pushing the door open quickly.

"Are you okay?" Concern was written all over his face.

"I'm fine," I lied "I'm just really tired."

"Okay," he said "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Alright, goodnight."

Then I was out of the car and closing the door. I barley heard his goodnight returned. I know I was being a bitch, but I couldn't help it. Riley was an amazing guy, I was starting to think that I was too messed up for him. He deserved better then someone who was still too tangled up in her feelings for her ex. That thought made me realize that was the first time that I had acknowledged my still existing feelings for Edward.

I need an even stronger drink and Alice. I walked into my building and rode the elevator up to my apartment in deep thought. Once I was behind the closed doors of my home, I walked into my kitchen and pulled out my emergency bottle of vodka and took a shot straight out of the bottle.

I welcomed the burn that followed. I deserved it and more. Two more shots later, I found my purse and pulled out my cell phone. I quickly found Alice's number and pushed send.

"Bella Baby," she answered. I could hear music and shouting in the background. She must still be out.

"I need you Alice," I slurred heavily into the phone. Wow, the vodka was working faster than I thought.

"Are you okay? Did something happen? Why do you sound drunk?" She rushed out. I heard Emmett start asking her questions. Something along the lines of "Do I need to kill someone?" Then I heard the voice that I was dreading and dreaming about.

"Alice, what is wrong with Bella? Did that fucker do something to her?"

"Shut it, both of you!" she screeched and then it got quieter. She must have gone outside.

"Bella, are you still there?" she asked, making me realize that I was sitting there silent.

"Yeah,"

"Are you okay?"

"No?" I croaked out and then I started to sob.

"I'm a horrible person," I choked out.

"No you're not."

"Ye-ye-yes I am,"

"Why do you think that honey?" she asked in her comforting tone.

"Cause I'm Riley's girlfriend."

"Sweetheart you're not making any sense. I'm on my way over there okay?"

"Okay."

"Give me a few minutes, I have to go calm all those meatheads down." she said, the background starting to get louder again, she must be back inside. After a hurried goodbye the line went dead and I flopped myself onto my sofa. I really needed Alice, if anyone could make sense of the mess that I had gotten myself into; it was her.

Twenty minutes and two more shots later, Alice was sitting on my sofa, cradling my head in her lap. She was slowly running her fingers through my hair; it was something she had done since we were little to calm me down.

"Okay B, start at the beginning," She said in a soft comforting tone.

"Riley asked me to be his girlfriend tonight,"

"And why did that cause you to run home and drink a half a bottle of vodka?" she said, channeling her inner psychiatrist.

"I don't know," I sighed. "I like Riley; he's fun, nice and incredibly handsome…but…"

"But?"

"He's not Edward," I whispered, finally admitting to someone, out loud, my feelings.

"That he's not," she said. "Do you want him to be?"

"No! I don't know? I mean I don't know what I want, hence the vodka and the crying," I said, waving my hand towards the now almost empty bottle on the coffee table.

"Hmmm…." she hummed.

"Hmmm….what?" I asked, looking up at her expectantly. I wanted her to give me all the answers that I needed. I knew that was silly and wasn't possible, but I still wanted it.

"I don't know what to tell you B," she said, pausing her strokes through my hair. "I wish I could tell you an easy answer to fix everything, but I think that this is something that you are going to have to work out on your own."

"Thanks for that outstanding advice," I said bitterly.

"Hey now, no need to get all pissy. I'm trying to help Bella, but this isn't something someone else can fix for you. The only advice I am willing to give you is: Take your time. Spend time with Riley, but don't lead him on. Spend time with Edward, but most importantly you need to spend time with yourself and decide what is best for you. Maybe one of them is, maybe neither of them are, but that's something that you are going to have to decide on your own," she said, and then continued to stroke my hair.

"So you don't think that I should stop seeing Riley with the way I am feeling?"

"Do you want to stop seeing him?" she asked. Gah! I hate when people answer a question with a question.

"No, I don't think I do. I enjoy spending time with him, plus I told him I would go with him to his Grandpa's honorary dinner in two weeks."

"Well then take the next two weeks to sort through your feelings. Attend the dinner with him by all means, but make a decision Bella. It's time to buck up and stop straddling two horses."

"Are you quoting Jasper now?" I asked. The horse metaphor is something Jasper says all the time.

"Yes I am, I think it fits your situation perfectly," she said, a smug smile adorning her tiny face.

"I miss spending time with you," she said after a moment.

"I miss you too, Al," I said, smiling up at her.

"Well let's fix that. You need a dress for this dinner right?"

"Yes," I answered, I see a shopping trip with Alice in the future.

"Okay then. Next Saturday, you, me, and your credit card are going to spend some quality time together,"

"Sounds good to me," I said, a huge yawn busted out before I could stop it.

"Well that my pretty girl, is my cue to leave," she said.

I reluctantly sat up.

"Jasper is probably wondering what's keeping you anyways," I said.

"Oh, I doubt that. He probably has his hands full with Edward," she said, slipping on her coat and gathering up her purse.

"Hands full with Edward?" I asked.

"Oh you know. He was freaking out about your phone call. Jasper had to literally hold him in his seat to keep him from rushing over here while I was talking to you,"

"Sounds like Edward," I commented. When will he learn that he can't always be my knight?

"Well I made Jasper promise to keep him entertained until I left here," she informed me, pulling open my door.

"Well tell Jasper thank you for me," I replied.

"I will and I will be here to get you at eleven on Saturday," she reminded.

"See you then, Al."

"See ya," she chirped, and then her tiny frame disappeared into the elevator. As I was climbing into bed, eager to just pass out, I heard my phone chirp to signal a new text message. I quickly grabbed it off of my night stand and read:

"Bella, I was just checking to see if you are alright. Alice returned a couple of minutes ago and I just wanted to check on you- E"

I sat and stared at his message for a minute, contemplating if I should text him back. I decided that I better; I really didn't need him showing up at my door to check on me.

"Edward, I am fine. Thank you for checking though. - B"

I had just settled into bed again when my phone chimed again. I should have known that Edward wouldn't leave it at that.

"Bella, I'm glad that you're "fine". If you need someone to talk to, outside of Alice of course, I am here for you. I know that I came on a little too strong at the bar and I want to apologize for that. Maybe we could meet up for lunch sometime this week. Let me know.-E"

"Edward, I will keep you in mind next time I have a breakdown. ;) Lunch would be nice, I will call you when I know what my schedule looks like and you're forgiven for your actions, I'm use to you. Goodnight.-B"

"Bella, Goodnight and sweet dreams.-E"

I turned off my phone before I returned it to the night stand, I had enough interruptions. I rolled back over and feel into a peaceful sleep.

The next week went by in a blur. I saw Riley on a regular basis, but things were a little cool between us. I know that it was mostly my fault. I'm sure that he was picking up on me moving slightly away from him when he would sit by me on the couch. How I barley let him linger once the evening was over, and how I had taken to ending our goodbye kisses quicker and quicker.

I felt bad, I really did. I know that I needed to make a decision, but it is harder than one would think, trying to decide where to let your heart lie, and to finally decide where you belong. If I was being completely honest with myself I already knew the answer to all of those questions, but thankfully I was a huge liar when it came to inner discussions.

Edward and I had not been able to meet up for lunch as planned. Whenever I had a free afternoon, he was busy and whenever he was free, I had a meeting. He, of course, wasn't letting me off that easy, he was pushing me to have dinner with him and I was trying, successfully so far, to avoid that situation. Lunch was safe, the sun was shining, and "friends" have lunch. Now dinner on the other hand was intimate, dimly lit restaurants, candles and wine. Dinner was out of the question, unless I could talk him into meeting me at a McDonalds'.

I spent all day Saturday with Alice, it was nice. I had really missed my best friend. We spent the whole day looking for the perfect dress. Well Alice spent the whole day looking for said perfect dress. I spent the whole day being shoved into different dressing rooms and different dresses. We finally found it, the perfect dress, in a tiny boutique named "Jane". It was run by this tiny, little, blonde that was amazing! She took one look at me and stated that she had the perfect dress for me. After being shoved into another dressing room, Jane brought me a gorgeous blue dress.

As I slipped the silky material on I heard Jane giving Alice the details on the dress.

"It's a Julien McDonald silk-satin floor-length corseted gown with Swarovski crystals, beads and silver-tone sequins. The gown has under wired cups, boning and a concealed side hook fastening, V-neck with snap-fastening cross-over shoulder straps, a concealed zip fastening at the back, and an asymmetric vented hem," she sprouted off like she was reading a cue card. I really didn't know what any of that meant; I just knew that the dress was perfect.

"It's exactly what I have been looking for," Alice replied with glee. "Bella looks amazing in blue."

As they continued talking about fashion, I tuned them out as I took in the dress. It fit me like a glove.

"Bella, if you have it on please come out here," Alice asked nicely.

I pulled open the door and walked out into the little sitting area.

"Oh! It's perfect!" Alice exclaimed. "It's everything I wanted."

"I'm glad that we were choosing what you wanted," I teased her.

"Hush you, I'm enjoying this moment," she said, her face was settled into a mask of pure euphoria. "Alright, this is what we are getting."

"I knew the minute that I saw her, that this dress was made for her," Jane said, taking in the lines of the dress on my body.

"Yes, that shade of blue works beautifully with her skin," Alice added.

"It does, and the cut is perfect for her body type," Jane said. I decided that they no longer noticed that I was in the room. I was going to have a Steel Mongolia's moment and yell out "Stop talking about me like I'm not here."

"Okay," Alice said, with a clap of her hands. "Get changed. I think we're done here."

Once I was changed, I took the dress to the check out and cringed slightly as she ran my credit card. I spent more on that dress then I have on groceries in two months!

We spent the rest of the afternoon buying accessories. After finding the perfect shoes, silver heels, and a silver clutch, they were done. Thankfully, Alice decided against any jewelry since the dress was adorned with crystals and sequin on the neck line.

She dropped me off at my apartment, after making me promise that I would let her do my hair and makeup next Saturday, and then she was gone. I fell heavily onto my couch, my feet throbbing from walking all over the place. My stomach growled angrily; reminding me that I had only eaten a half of a bagel today. I was starving. We didn't stop for lunch, because Alice was caught up in the "perfect dress" hunt. I had barley pulled off of my shoes, when there was a knock on the door. Groaning I stood up, my feet protested angrily.

"Who is it?" I called through the door.

"Edward."

I pulled the door open. "Hey," I said, eyeing him. Why did he have to always look so good? But what made him look even impossibly better was the bag of Chinese food that he had clutched in his hand. I eyed the bag hungrily.

"So," he started. "Jasper told me that you were spending day shopping with Alice, so I figured that you might be hungry."

"Yeah, Alice doesn't really allot time for food breaks," I said, stepping aside and letting him inside.

"Also, I figured that you would be too exhausted to think of an excuse to send me away," he said, giving me his signature crooked grin.

"You were right," I said, leading him into the kitchen. I started grabbing plates and utensils. "Would you like anything to drink?"

"Juice, if you have any."

"I have orange and grape," I said, pulling open the fridge.

"Grape," He said, grabbing up the plates and silver ware and walking into the dining room.

I quickly poured us both a glass of juice and joined him in the dining room.

"So how did you know I would be home?" I asked him once we had dished up our plates.

"I was with Jasper," He said, after taking a big bite of fried rice. "Alice called him right after she dropped you off; she joked that she would be surprised if you even made it past your couch, given how exhausted you were when she dropped you off."

"Oh," I said dumbly.

"I figured that it was a safe bet that you were here and hungry, and since our schedules hadn't really matched up this week for lunch, I figured I would surprise you. You don't mind, do you?" he asked, looking nervous.

"No, it's fine. I was here and hungry," I joked, trying to dissipate that tension that was starting to flow between us. "So what did you and Jasper do today?"

"We went down to the Croc center and played a little one on one," he said, spearing some steamed broccoli onto his fork. "Did you and Alice find whatever you were looking for?"

"Oh, yeah. I needed a dress," I said, looking down at my plate.

"What for?" He asked, the forgotten broccoli hanging limply from his fork mid bite

"I have a thing to go to next Saturday," I explained, hoping that would be enough for him. I don't know why I was feeling this way. It's not as if I owe him an explanation.

"What kind of event? Something for work?" Damn he is being persistent.

"No, umm…it's not work related," I mumbled, suddenly feeling not very hungry. I started using my chop stick to push my rice around.

"Oh, it's a date thing," he said, quickly shoving the broccoli into his mouth.

"Yeah, Riley's grandpa is being honored," I said.

He looked at me for a minute, I could see the wheels turning in his head, but his face wasn't giving anything away. After a minute he cleared his throat, "Well that sounds nice," He forced out and then took a big interest in the spring roll that was lying on his plate.

"Yeah, it should be," I muttered.

"So how's work going?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Oh, busy you know," he said, thankfully accepting the change in topic. "We have a new club opening next Friday."

"That sounds like fun," I said.

"It's a lot of work," he said.

"I bet." Gah! I hate this awkwardness. We never use to have problems making conversation, but I guess a broken engagement and four years will change things.

"Bella, I…." he started then quickly stopped.

"You?" I prompted him.

"Nothing," he mumbled.

We finished eating in silence. Edward seemed to be warring with something internally. Part of me wants him to finish what he was saying, but part of me was glad that he stopped. I wasn't ready for that conversation just yet. I need to make a decision about Riley before I make a decision about Edward.

"Maybe you need to make a decision about Edward, so that you can make a decision about Riley," my subconscious pointed out. I chose to ignore her.

"Thank you for dinner," I said, as we cleaned up the mess.

"Your welcome. Thank you for not kicking me out," he said, tossing a quick grin my way to show that he was joking.

"Well if you didn't have food with you, it may have went in that direction," I joked back. At least the tension seemed to be gone, for now.

"That's why I came prepared," he said, putting the leftovers into my fridge.

Just as I about to spout off a witty retort, a yawn decided to break through.

"Well that is my cue to leave," he said, pulling his jacket off the back of a chair.

"You don't have to-," another yawn decided to interrupt me, "Go"

"Yes I do. You look dead on your feet."

"Alright," I wasn't going to argue, I was incredibly tired. I walked him to the door.

"I would ask you to have lunch with me this week, but I know that I have a packed schedule with the club opening," he said. Disappointment quickly flooded my body, I'm not sure what he saw in my face, but whatever it was caused him to smile. I quickly adjusted my face and put a cap on my feelings.

"That's fine," I lied, biting my bottom lip.

He smirked, causing me to realize that I had given myself away. I quickly released my lip, frowning slightly.

"I call you if anything opens up," he said, stepping closer to me. Close enough that his scent surrounded me.

"I might be busy," I forced out, trying to get the upper hand back.

"That's a chance I'm willing to take," he said, leaning in closer to me. Crap he's going to kiss me again. I stood there paralyzed, wanting to move but at the same time not wanting too. Just as his lips were a breath away from mine, he changed course and planted a soft kiss on my cheek. He pulled back slightly, his lips still grazing my now blushed cheek.

"I guess I should go," he said.

"Yeah," I responded dumbly.

"I'll call you," he leant in and pressed his lips against me again and then he was gone, the door shutting softly behind him.

I am in so much trouble……

Well there you have it! Hehe…I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you think by leaving a review!! I love every single one that I get!!

I will be sending out an excerpt from next chapter to everyone that reviews. I can only send it to signed reviews. So if you are reviewing anonymously then I won't be able to send you anything, so, sign your reviews and get a little treat!!! I still love all you anonymous reviewers though, so still feel free to review and let me know what you think!! Have a great week!! ;)