Bella POV

I awoke early the next morning, sure that the last week had been a dream, but then I stretched and it took me a moment longer than it should've to realise that I should've fallen off of the bed. I jumped slightly, and then noticed that someone's cold arms were holding me up. I squirmed around in his arms so that I could see his face.

"Good morning," he murmured and I smiled at him.

"Nice sleep?" he asked.

"Yep," I grinned, "You?"

"Um… yes. It was pleasant," he answered awkwardly, but he was hiding a smile.

"What?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

"Did you know that you talk in your sleep?" he asked casually, twisting a strand of my hair round his index finger.

"Oh no," I moaned quietly, "What did I say?"

He stared into my eyes, his own softening and making my insides melt, "You said that you loved me."

"You already knew that," I pointed out.

"And you said that I saved your life," he said.

"You did," I whispered, "Without you by my side, I wouldn't have had the strength to come back. It was horrible, Edward." I shuddered and buried my head in his chest. His arm wrapped round me protectively.

"I really helped that much?"

"Of course you did. Nothing meant anything to me until I heard your voice," I admitted.

"I find that hard to believe," he chuckled.

"Well, believe it," I told him, "You really mean that much to me."

"You mean more to me." His sweet breath blew on my neck, tickling it.

"Impossible," I muttered.

"I highly doubt it."

"Well, either way, you're stuck with me," I said.

"But your mother wants to take you home today." His voice was hard, hurt.

"Edward…" I moaned, not grateful for the subject change. I was wrapped up in my perfect world for now, and I didn't want to wake up and face reality.

He stayed silent, his hand rubbing my back soothingly.

"Will you come with me?" I begged, "To Phoenix? Please? I can't go without you."

"No…" he sighed, "I can't go, Bella, I'm so sorry."

"Why not?"

"I just… can't. And I can't tell you why either, I'm sorry."

"But what else can I do?" I asked.

He didn't answer.

"I won't go without you, Edward. I'll refuse to. I can't be where you're not."

"You have to," Edward said, "Bella, it's better for you without me."

"What?" I cried, "No! I can't be where you're not! I just… can't!"

"I'm not good for you, Bella," he warned.

"I know that you're not human, Edward, I heard every word you said, remember?" I sighed, "But I don't feel any differently about you at all."

"Aren't you going to ask what I am?"

"No," I said after a pause. I could find that out later on.

I could've sworn I heard him growl but I didn't say anything, "Bella I'm made to kill. I'm made to kill humans… I'm made to kill you. I want to kill you."

"It doesn't change anything; it's too late for that," I said passionately.

"Never say that!" he growled.

I didn't say anything and neither did he for a moment. The only sound was my father's snores in the other room.

Eventually, Edward spoke again, "Bella, I don't want to hurt you, okay? That's why I have to let you go without me. Being together… Bella, it wouldn't be right."

"I'll be hurt if we have to be separated," I muttered.

"But you'll get over it, Bella, don't you see?" he looked into my eyes, "Nothing has happened between us, so you'll get over it. It's better this way than if we did have a relationship and then I hurt you."

I didn't believe that he could hurt me; why would he hurt me? He considered himself a monster, but I didn't believe that someone so perfect could possibly be a monster. I stared glumly at the floor, but then I had an idea; he said that I would forget him because nothing had happened between us, but I didn't want to forget him.

So quickly that I hoped it would take him off-guard I pressed my lips to his, just as he had done when I had been unconscious. If I had thought that that kiss was good, then I didn't know what I had been missing. This time, my head swam and I ran my fingers through his messy hair, throwing myself in at the deep end.

He pulled away quickly, too quickly, and then he sighed.

"What?" I asked, suddenly worried that he would scold me for kissing him.

"I… I don't want you to leave, but I know that it's right," he whispered.

"It's not right, Edward. I know that you won't hurt me. I trust you."

"Don't," he said gently, holding both of my hands in his.

Then he leant in and kissed me again. This kiss was more passionate, and more desperate than before, but not as enjoyable. There was too much tension… like we only had so much time left together.

"Bella, I'm going to go now," he said gently, as he finally pulled away.

"What?" I panicked, "No! No, don't go!"

"I'll come back when Renee and Phil are here; I'll help you to stay, okay?" he said.

"Do you promise?" I asked quietly.

"Goodbye, Bella," he said, "I'll see you later."

And then he was gone. He shot out of my window like a bullet. I watched as he disappeared into the misty rain, tears falling down my face again. I hadn't failed to notice that he hadn't promised, and I felt uneasy. Would he really come and help me? Only time would tell.

Edward POV

I ran as fast as I could all the way home, not wanting to stay there for much longer. I hadn't promised and I doubted that she had missed that. I refused to promise, because I would break it; I would hurt her.

It would be much better for her to go back to Arizona with her Mother. I couldn't afford to get any more attached and neither could she. She would forget me if she went, and that was what was best for her; to move on and spend her life with someone who deserved her. A normal human being, not a monster like myself.

I attempted to ignore the sadness that overwhelmed me as I realised that that had probably been the last time that I would ever see her. Selfish, selfish, selfish I accused myself. I should not be sad to do the right thing for the person I loved. And if there had ever been any doubt about that, it had vanished now. Now that she was awake, my love for her seemed more intense, somehow. Now that I knew what she was like, I loved her even more. I couldn't believe that it was possible.

I had seen her beauty before her accident and when she was in hospital, in that bed. I felt my heart ache to think of how I had felt when there was a possibility that she wouldn't wake. That had been a hundred times worse than the current situation. Now, Bella would be alive, so I could live. As long as she was alive and happy somewhere, then I could live. If she were to die, then I couldn't live without knowing that she was alive.

I could live without her, if that was what was best for her, and living without her was what I was going to do.

Bella POV

The day dragged without Edward, but somehow it went fast as well. It was strange. I wasn't looking forward to Renee and Phil getting to Charlie's house, but that was when Edward would come back, so I wasn't sure whether I wanted it to come or not.

The hours passed and the anticipation and nervousness in my stomach increased as it did. Charlie hovered over me continually, worried that I still had concussion or something. He kept muttering about how stupid it was to let me out this early. He had told me that it was Phil that had told the doctors that it was pointless keeping me in because I was a drama queen. I hadn't minded Phil back in Arizona, but now that I had been living with Charlie, I noticed just how much I really hated the bastard. And how much he returned the feeling to me.

Eventually, I heard a car pull up outside and I looked out of the window. I felt my heart sink as I saw that it was Phil's car and not Edward's. Was he actually going to come at all?

"Bella?" Mum called as she came into the house. I ignored her and continued to stare out of the window. I heard footsteps on the stairs and I felt moisture burning my eyes as I realised that Edward wouldn't come. He had never promised because he had never intended to come. He didn't care at all, he didn't love me. He didn't want me to stay.

"Are you ready, honey?" Mum came to my side.

"Yes," I whispered, unwilling to fight. There was no point in staying here when Edward didn't want me. I couldn't fight when he didn't want me. I couldn't stay when he didn't want me. I couldn't feel when he didn't want me. I felt like I couldn't breathe when he didn't want me.

I let myself be dragged away without a fight, and got into the back of Phil's car without a word. Tears flooded down my face as Phil started the engine and we reversed down the drive and began to drive away. I realised that I had been holding onto one last shred of hope as I felt a fresh wave of disappointment flood through me along with a new load of tears. I watched Forks speed past the window as I left it behind until I could bear it no longer. I turned on my IPod, put it on shuffle and closed my eyes. The first song to come on was almost ironic.

"Well, Bella," Phil said over the introduction to "Breathe" by Taylor Swift, "Here we go again." Only I could hear the hate behind his words and I bit down on my lip so hard that I tasted blood, not succeeding in holding back the fresh tears that blended in with the old ones.

I see your face in my mind as I drive away,

'Cause none of us thought it was gonna end that way.

People are people and sometimes we change our minds,

But it's killing me to see you go after all this time.

Music starts playing like the end of a sad movie.

It's the kind of ending you don't really want to see.

'Cause it's tragedy and it'll only bring you down.

I don't know what to be without you around.

And we know it's never simple, never easy,

Never a clean break, no one here to save me.

You're the only thing I know like the back of my hand.

And I can't breathe without you

But I have to breathe without you

But I have to.

It felt like my heart was breaking in two as I left Forks. As I left home. And as I left Edward behind forever.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Don't own Twilight or Breathe by Tayor Swift, but if you haven't heard that song, then head over to youtube. It's AMAZING.

So so sorry for the delay in updating guys. I really am. Think SO SO SO SO SO SO SORRY WITH MORE SORRYNESS ON TOP and you get the idea. You see, there's this thing called a life (which I seriously lack) and I have to do other stuff as well. Also, sorry that there's no quote this chapter :(

God I am so terrible at this updating thing and I'm very sorry. Hows about if I promise you an Edward - or Jacob- if you swing that way ;) (which I most certainly DON'T might I add) - muffin?

Also, check out some of my favourite stories that are on my page. Some are seriously amazing. I would recommend "Wedding Cake", "Maria" and "You Got Love!". I know they're all human fanfics, but I used to dislike AH Twilight fanfics and these three are serious geniusness.

And a good story is on my fictionpress account (link on profile- wink, wink). It's called "Behind Closed Doors" and I promise you that it's okay. I accept anonymous reviews so… head over there and say hi! Please?

And another thing, if you feel like PM-ing me, I am a right chatterbox (as you can probably tell XD) so go right ahead.

Only one thing left. PLEASE REVIEW! The button, as I may have said before, isn't there just to look sexy, people. I can see you, you know, and I can see you going to exit this window… don't even think about it. I write these lovely stories for you; it is all I ask in return. XD Two words is absolutely fine. Let's make an aim of… 100 reviews for the whole story? Maybe. Because there are so many fanfics out there that have over 1000 and I'm like "And I can't even hit 70". I'm not sure how much left there is to go, but I believe in you people. Your feedback is also the motivation I have to keep going and I promise quicker updates if there are more reviews!! (I really am sorry about that :S)

So, that's about it for this novel of an author's note, and I doubt many people have actually read all of it. If you did, you can have an extra Edward muffin XD.

I love you all for the wonderful reviews so far, but please keep it up!!! We have a target now, let's (please) get there!

And those of you that read FI, yes this A/N is mostly copied from there :P. And if you haven't read it, feel free to check it out, you know?

Steph

(PS- sorry about the long A/N, but it had to be done… well, most of it did. Well, ok, hardly any of it did, but there you go XD)