Note: This chapter will contain a big clue - it's sort of a climax point, I guess. I really want you guys to try and guess what is up with Edward! No offense, but it's really not that hard! I am already half-planning a sequel, maybe called Masen's Turn (haha - I deleted Renesmee's Turn - that other title just has a nice ring to it!). So, it will probably come into order!
Disclaimer: This is really becoming annoying. I own the freakin' plot line, rights go to Stephenie Meyer.
BPOV
"What did you do yesterday?" Angela Weber, one of my best friends, asked me. The day had gone by incredibly fast - maybe because I was anticipating this afternoon. It was already lunchtime! Edward and I had decided to actually work on the paper and I get to chose the location for a change.
"I, um , was hanging out with Edward," I said, blushing. She was one of the few people who accepted him and his family. Unlike most kids at Forks High, Angela was not a gossiper - she was pretty quiet and minded her own business - that's why I like her.
"Edward Cullen? Wow, Bella. Nice job," she joked.
I laughed. "We were only playing Twenty Questions, Angie - nothing to get excited over. We were supposed to work on that biology paper, but it kind of went unnoticed. We're meeting after school today."
"Well, have fun studying," Angela said, taking a bite of her pizza.
"Do you know where La Push is?" I asked Edward. We were sitting in his silver Volvo in the school parking lot.
"No - never heard of it. How about you drive?" he offered.
"Really?" I said in surprise. I knew how much Edward cherished his beautiful car.
"Really," he replied, smiling. He didn't look well - almost sick. Edward was even paler than normal and there were light bags under his eyes. Other than that, he was as beautiful as ever.
I drove to the Forks 'city limits' - if you can call them that - and onto the La Push reservation and onto First Beach. I drove the Volvo carefully up the rocky cliff face until it reached the top - a nearly flat ledge overlooking the sea below and a wonderful place to watch the sunset or sunrise.
I'd brought a blanket with me, and I spread it over a piece of dry ground. We sat down, got out or books and supplies, and discussed the paper. Time flew, and soon it the sun began to lower towards the horizon, turning the sky scarlet red, deep orange, and flaming gold.
"That's about all the biology I can take," I said, leaning back and propping my head on my arms. "I think death-by-homework is possible."
"We need a break," Edward agreed. He got up and stood on the very edge of the cliff - dangerously close. I followed, making sure that I was several steps behind him. The sun cast color onto his hair, making it appear completely red instead of its usual bronze. "Bella? Have you ever felt like doing something spontaneous?"
"Well, no. Not really," I admitted. "What about you?"
"I didn't use to but, lately, I've found that life is a lot more enjoyable if you…take risks." And, with that, he smiled at me and then gracefully dove off of the ledge.
My mouth fell open in shock and horror. I raced to the edge and looked over.
"Oh, God," I mumbled to myself as I stumbled down the rocky face, trying to get to the bottom. Finally, after several falls, I made it just in time to see Edward climbing out of the water, dripping wet and grinning.
"What. The. HECK?!" I exclaimed, furious. "You could've been killed! Do you have a death wish or something? That cliff is 200 feet high!"
He shook his sopping hair and ran his fingers through it. "Actually, it's about one hundred and seventy-five feet. Also, haven't you ever heard of cliff-diving? I've done it for a couple of years now."
"Well, then, educate me! I never knew that you were experienced in the extreme sports!" I huffed, crossing my arms.
"Really, Bella - be reasonable. It's not like I've never done it before. Plus, it helps if you've got nothing to lose," he retorted.
"Except your life," I muttered under my breath. We sat back down on the blanket and I tried to concentrate on the paper, to no avail. After several minutes, I couldn't take the silence any longer.
"What if you had been hurt, Edward? What about Esme and Carlisle and your siblings?" I hated to bring up the subject again, worried that I'd anger him, but it needed to be addressed.
He didn't answer. I almost felt bad for asking such a personal question, but I couldn't stop myself. Once again, I saw the pain that he tried so hard to hide in his eyes.
Edward got up and climbed into the driver's seat of the Volvo. I sighed and followed, getting into the passenger's seat. We needed to talk.
"Why do you keep doing this? Every time we become closer, you begin to pull away. I can see that something is hurting you - it's there - in your eyes. Is it me, because I will go away if you want me to," I said sadly.
"It's not you, Bella - not at all. Things are just…complicated." He averted his eyes and became silent. I turned away too, knowing that that conversation was over.
The ride back to my house was quiet. I offered him to come inside and dry off since he was still dripping wet. Strangely enough, even though he was blocking me out, I knew even better than before that I'd fallen for Edward Cullen - hard.
We said goodbye and parted, going our separate ways. I watched him leave via the window until I could no longer see the Volvo. After that, I trudged up to my room. I was on the third step from the top when I slipped on something and nearly fell, grabbing onto the stair rail.
"Are you OK?" Charlie called from downstairs. "I'm fine!" I replied. I bent down to pick up the object I'd tripped on. It was a bottle of pills with…Edward's name on it. How did that get here? I wondered. Then I remembered that I'd gone upstairs to get my jacket and I'd invited him to come in. He'd waited on the stairs - it must have fallen out of his pocket or something.
It was labeled Prozac. I'd heard of this drug before - it was an antidepressant. Was that Edward's problem - he was depressed? I remembered what Alice had told me (it seemed like a century ago): 'Edward's gone through a lot of changes in the past couple of years'. He'd said himself that things were 'complicated'. Had I finally solved the mystery? I was exhausted and decided it would be better to contemplate what I'd found in the morning when my head was clearer. I climbed into bed and soon fell into a deep, troubled sleep.
Edward was absent from school for three whole days. His siblings were there, as usual, but he was nowhere to be found. I tried to ask Alice about it as casually as I could at lunch.
"So…is Edward sick?" I took a sip of my lemonade, awaiting her reply.
"Yes, to put it simply," Alice said, faking a smile. But, like her brother, I could see that she was hiding something by her eyes. And, truthfully, the look scared me - like she was giving up on a battle.
"He's not…mad at me, is he?" I asked quietly.
"I don't think so. Why would he?"
"Well…" I was embarrassed to admit this to Alice, but I went ahead and confessed. "Edward kind of…dove off of the cliffs at La Push and I got upset."
"I can't believe he did that in front of you! How more idiotic can he get?" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air in frustration. "I keep telling him that hiding things is not the answer, but will he listen? NO - of course not! Not Mr. I-Know-Everything Cullen!"
"Wait!" I said, stopping her rant. "You keep saying that he's hiding things. What do you mean?"
She stopped. "I'm sorry, Bella. I'd tell you if it was my choice, but…I promised that I wouldn't. Not yet at least." Alice grinned at me, making me wonder what she had in mind.
Finally, on the fourth day, Edward came back. I didn't get a chance to talk to him about the pills because we were never alone, and that was definitely not a subject I wanted to discuss in front of anybody else.
After school, I finally got my chance. I held out the bottle and placed it in his hands.
"Why didn't you tell me? You can always trust me," I whispered.
"You don't even know me," he said, his eyes hard.
"No, I don't. But I want to so badly. I try and you just keep giving me these vague answers. How am I supposed to know the real you when you won't let me?" I asked, blinking to keep the tears at bay.
"Everyone has…problems," I said quietly.
"Surprisingly, I knew that already. Unfortunately, mine aren't that simple." He gave me a cold look and stormed away. Thunder rumbled through the sky, and it began to rain - half-frozen droplets mixing with the salt from my tears.
