EPOV

Bella called. It wasn't a good call either. I tried my best to cover up any indication that I was cheating on her and thanks to Tanya my cover was blown.

The conversation from that point just went downhill.

"Tanya…please." I pleaded. I just needed this one moment to ask her if she was okay and she blew it.

"I told you not to pick up the phone." It was audible enough for Bella to hear. Shit. This is not going like I planned.

"It was important." Yes, make Bella feel better.

"How is she important?" Tanya, you are not making this situation any easier.

"Because, she just is, now can you stop?!" I was starting get irritated.

I paused for a moment. How should I start this conversation after what she just heard?

"Bella?" I loved the way her name flowed from my mouth.

I heard her crying.

"Bella, please don't cry."

"I'm not crying Edward." She lied.

"Yes you are. I heard it roll down your cheek."

"Edward, I'm not going to argue with you on whether or not I was crying."

"Okay then. How are you doing?" Yeah, nice Cullen, you leave her for three days without calling her and then when you do hear from her, she hears you about to have sex.

"Edward, you left me in the meadow, crying and hurt; I sent you a text message, apologizing to you, and asking you to come and pick me up and you ignored it, leaving me to walk home; and I just spent the last three days drenched in my own sweat and tears because I have had nothing but nightmares and you're asking me how I'm doing? Are you fucking kidding me, Edward?"

Shit. She's having nightmares. Way to go, Cullen! But I didn't get a text from her. Did I?

"She's got quite a mouth for you, babe." Tanya snickered.

"Shut the hell up, slut." A growl emerged from someone Tanya's throat. I remained quiet.

"Edward, I'm waiting on you." She urged me to speak but I didn't know what to say. I had to make something up now!

"Bella, I'm sorry," I started, "You asked me to leave you when I offered to take you home. I didn't get a text from you asking for me to pick you up, and I'm sorry you're having nightmares. I can't help you with that." Yes I could. I helped her with it before.

"Listen here you ass, I sent you a text message, and later when you're not fucking Tanya you can see for yourself. And what do you mean you can't help me with my nightmares? You're the cause of them!"

"I'm the cause of them? How is that Bella?"

She laughed and I became confused. "What is so funny?"

"I just find it hilarious that you find yourself not guilty in any of this."

"I didn't do anything, Bella." Yes I did. I just can't admit it.

"You didn't do anything? I'm having all of these nightmares because you left me in the forest. I'm having nightmares because you left me in the meadow. Do you see the comparison in both of them Edward? Do you?"

I grew silent again and she continued when she didn't hear from me.

"The issue is that you left when you said you wouldn't. You promised me and you broke that by doing the same damn thing you said you wouldn't."

"Bella…I didn't promise you anything." You're digging a deeper hole, Cullen.

"Yes, you did! Why are you lying to me? Why are you lying to yourself, Edward? Does it feel good or something?" No, it doesn't. I feel miserable.

"I'm not lying to anyone. I'm telling the truth. I didn't promise you anything and I don't appreciate you calling me and instigating another argument. I left in the first place because I needed to clear my head and-"

"And I suppose Tanya is going to help you do that, Edward? You get a good fuck and your problems are suddenly gone? Wow." No, Tanya helps me forget my problems. When it's all over then I feel miserable all over again and then turn to sex once more.

"Yes she is," I spoke, "In fact, we are talking it out. She really wants to help me."

"That is some bull Edward Cullen. Talking it out doesn't include sex."

"It does in our case." It sure did. Tanya wasn't the one to talk and neither was I when I was around her. If moans and groans count as talking then, we do get some type of message out there.

"What happened to the 'I will never hurt you again?'"

Damn it. She had to pull that card. I've gotten this far, I can't give up yet.

"I never told you that. You seem to make up a lot of stuff, Bella."

I was hurting and hurting bad. Hurting because I told Bella all of this and now I have to deny it. I told her that not only as a guarantee to her but as a promise to myself. I was screwing this up bad. Yet, I felt no guilt.

"I'm not making it up! You told me you wouldn't hurt me again when we were about to leave Volterra. We were sitting in the lobby of the Volturi's office. I'm not stupid. My mind is not mediocre."

"Your mind is mediocre. You can't even think straight when I kiss you nonetheless stay conscious. I am going insane watching you try and figure yourself out. It's irritating!" I yelled.

"I was not trying to figure myself out; I was trying to figure us out. From the outside looking in, it looked like we were the perfect couple with minimal problems, but on the inside, I knew there was something wrong before I figured it out. You acted so different when I rescued you from the Volturi and I spent months trying to unravel it. The issue is Tanya."

Tanya snickered again and I had to say something. She was taking this way too far. "Tanya, please."

Tanya gave me a look and I easily ignored her.

"We are supposed to help and support each other, Edward. That's what a relationship is. That's how it lasts and that's what we did until recently. A problem surfaced itself and you ran away from it instead of us figuring it out together. We weren't a team like we always were." She was about to start crying again, but Tanya snickered…once again.

Before I could say anything to Tanya, Bella started yelling.

"Listen Tanya, I don't know what is so funny, but obviously he loves me more than you if all he goes there to do is fuck you. I mean, if you really think he does it out of love, you obviously are too deep into his good looks. It is okay to never move on to someone else but to hover is simply ridiculous on your part."

"Well obviously he comes here for me because you can't fulfill his needs better than I can. If you even tried I think you would have died by now. He is too much for you to handle. How do think it is on his side, trying to hold back on you when you can't even please him correctly? I doubt you've even had sex with him yet." The last few words went high on pitch. I turned my attention to Tanya to see she was smirking. This was definitely not going the way I wanted it to go. This relationship is over.

Bella silenced and I knew it was time for me to cut in.

"Bella," I spoke fiercely, "I will be back in Forks later tonight. I have a lot to get off of my chest that I cannot say in front of Tanya. I have to go but I will see you at your house soon. Goodbye." I pressed the 'end' button and threw my phone as hard as I could to the wall. It disassembled into many different pieces before I heard it clatter onto the floor.

Tanya moved behind me and rubbed her hands up and down my back as if she was trying to calm me down.

I flinched out of her hold and stood up to my feet.

Tanya touching only made me more frustrated at this point.

I went and retrieved my clothes and put them on.

"I'm leaving, Tanya."

"Edw-"

"I said I'm leaving. I don't want to hear it."

"Fuck you, Edward Cullen."

"You did a few minutes ago. Mission accomplished."

I heard her growl once before I exited the house and made my way to the airport.

I closed my eyes in an attempt to calm my nerves before I landed in Forks.

How was I going to do this?

Truth be told, I really couldn't do it. I hurt Bella too much and to go back and face her made matters even worse.

I didn't have the guts to do it. I was a coward; A coward who can inflict pain on others before walking away without guilt, without a burden hanging on me.

The situation I am in now was a perfect example. I hurt Bella without a care in the world and felt as if I hadn't done a thing wrong. Then I turned around and fucked Tanya, letting all my frustrations into each and every thrust.

I was heartless. I was pain. I was selfish. I was everything that I shouldn't be but I was.

I can't be with Bella and I sure as hell don't want to be with Tanya. I don't deserve anyone. I deserve to be alone and in my own domain.

I had to let Bella know that.

I couldn't hurt her anymore, even though leaving would just add to it.

"Welcome to Forks. I hope you enjoyed your flight and thank you for flying AirTran."

Well, I can't think anymore. I have to do what I have to now.

~*~*~

I found my Volvo and quickly jumped in and started the ignition. Reversing out of my spot, I put the car in gear before speeding of into the twilight.

I swerved through the cars and with each passing moment I got closer to Bella. Anxiety rose with the passing of familiar streets.

I finally reached Bella's street and turned. Upon arrival, I spotted Alice's Porsche as it sped off the opposite way.

I would see her later.

I parked next to the neighbor's driveway and made my way to Bella's house next door.

The tree climb to her window was easy as always. I agilely opened her window and slid in.

There she stood, by her closet, with a million shopping bags. She appeared to be sorting through her clothes and hanging up her shirts.

I walked with nimble, quiet steps and stopped when I was directly behind her.

Her scent overtook me once again as I familiarized myself with the smell of strawberries and restrained myself from the smell of wine.

I watched her intently, as she absentmindedly hung up her shirts.

She accidentally lost her footing stepping back and hit my chest.

She fixed her posture frantically and stiffened against my chest.

Her breath became shaky as she finally spoke, "Hi…Edward."

Here we go.

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Okay, now we have some sort of understanding as to why Edward is doing this.

Next chapter will recontinue in Bella's POV.

Review!!