Chapter 13

EPOV

I didn't know where I was going; all that I knew was that I needed to get somewhere… fast. I needed to get my head straight, but all that kept popping up in my head was Bella's face with tears running down it. Just then my cell phone rang… it was Alice… I picked up.

"Look Alice, I can't talk right now…" I answered.

"Edward?! Where did you go? You can't just leave like that! Especially not with Jacob out there!" She reminded me for the second time tonight.

"Alice, I appreciate your concern but Bella is with four other fully capable adults in the house… I think she will be fine for a few hours." I told her sternly.

"Edward…she needs you!"

"I know she needs me Alice!" I shouted, cutting her off. "I know that every minute of every day! What do you want me to do? Tell me!"

"You know, for a med student, you are really stupid! She loves you and you love her!"

"As a sister!" I defended as I now had to pull into a grocery store parking lot because my emotions and the rain were making it hard to concentrate on the road.

"Don't give me that bullcrap Edward! You know as well as I do that she is the one that you see in your dreams every night, she is the one who occupies your mind throughout the day, she is the one you want to give your heart to… See, I am your sister and I know that you don't think of me that way so… you know what you need to do…" She scolded.

"I need to protect her Alice…" I said as her words slowly sunk in.

"She needs you to protect her heart…Edward, and believe it or not…you need her to protect yours…" Alice said gently.

"Alice…please… I just need to clear my head for a little bit okay? I will be home in a few hours…" I begged. I didn't have the energy to continue this conversation. I didn't wait for her response; I just hung up the phone and rested my head on the steering wheel.

I turned on the radio and flipped through the stations until a song came on that brought a smile to my face. It seemed to talk about the exact situation I was in…

No sir, well I don't wanna be the blame, not anymore.

It's your turn, so take a seat we're settling the final score.

And why do we like to hurt so much?

I can't decide

You have made it harder just to go on

And why, all the possibilities, well I was wrong

That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.

That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.

I drowned out all my sense with the sound of its beating.

And that's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.

I wonder, how am I supposed to feel when you're not here.

'Cause I burned every bridge I ever built when you were here.

I still try, holding onto silly things, I never learn

Oh why, all the possibilities I'm sure you've heard

I shut it off because it was starting to get painful to think of Bella again. I put the car into drive and set out on the road again… once again, not sure where I was going.

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BPOV

Alice came from out of the bedroom with a mix of agitation and worry on her face. I was sitting on the couch beside Rose who wrapped her arm around my shoulder and started playing with my hair.

"I know I need to run a brush through it." I joked softly.

"Oh shut up…" She teased.

"So, I don't know where Edward is or when he will be home. All he said is that it would be a few hours." Alice said plopping herself down beside me.

"It's all my fault… I should have known that he doesn't see me in that way… I am still that same girl I was in high school… falling for guys who are way outta my league…" I said biting my nails.

Alice smacked my hand away from my mouth.

"Don't be silly Bella," Jasper said from across the room. "He is a guy, and as a guy I can say that we aren't that good on confronting our feelings, let alone get them out right."

I started to feel a little better with his words…but at the end of the day, it was Edwards warm words that I wanted to hear. I can't believe that I had said that I would leave him… He must be so mad at me…

Just then I got a text message…it was from Edward…

Tell everyone that you are coming with me for a little bit… I am outside waiting for you.

My heart skipped a beat.

"Apparently Edward is outside and he wants me to join him… so I guess I will be back later." I said standing up.

"I'll walk you to the door." Emmett offered.

"Thanks. Bye guys…" I said walking out of the door. I saw Edward sitting in his car. Emmett walked me to the car and opened the door for me.

"Thanks Em… see you later." I said as Edward waved bye to him and drove off.

The silence in the car was just as awkward as the tension… I didn't know what to say so I just stared out of the window at the rain. After a few minutes Edward finally spoke.

"I am sorry if I am or ever was the reason for your tears Bella…" His eyes never left the road.

How do you respond to that? I asked myself.

"Wait… that's not what I wanted to say. I mean I wanted to apologize if I ever made you cry… but I want to tell you that I do love you Bella…" He said nervously.

"I know you do Edward… as a sister…" I said back to him, and yet as the words left my mouth I felt tears starting to sting my eyes.

"No Bella… Maybe that's what it started out as… just sisterly love but I know now that you mean so much more to me than just a sister… I love you Bella… I really love you…" He spoke slowly as we pulled up to a red light. He picked up my hand, brought it to his lips and planted a slow, sweet kiss on it.

"I don't understand Edward… you are so confusing sometimes…" I blushed.

"I want to give you my heart for you to protect, and I want you to give me your heart to love and protect… I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don't ever want you to leave. I need you in my life. You give me more reason than anything to get up in the morning…" He listed off as his face got closer to mine.

"You love me?" I asked still unsure.

"With every last beat of my heart… I know now that it's you it beats for…" He said as his lips captured mine.

AAAHHHHHHH!!! My heart was fluttering as I wrote this chapter! You know what to do if you want the next chapter up! It's already written but I am not posting until I get some more of those wonderful reviews!!!!

THANX!!!

-yeseniareddy