Chapter Eight

Leah's POV

Leah had smelled the new vampire arriving before any of the rest had. She had listened to the gasps in the floor above her, and watched the argument that had taken part outside, by Edwards' jeep.

The flashback flowed into her head again now, swooping from side to side and sickening her every single second that she watched it again. She wished she had a remote control, and instead of being stuck on play there was an 'eject' button.

"Edward, forgive me"

"It's not that, Bella"

"I am so sorry"

"Don't be. I saw in Leah's thoughts how horrible you looked when you went to speak to Jacob. I am the one who is sorry here, dearest Bella. I never realized how much it pained you to be away from him."

Bella was frozen against the wall, her lips unmoving.

"Bella, I called Jacob up and left so he could be with you. Forgive me for intruding. It was uncalled for. I just- was jealous. I heard his thoughts."

"Can we just go home and forget this?"

"Bella, you love him"

"I love you, Edward!"

"I know you do"

Sighs. A low moan emitting from Bella's throat.

"Do you love me Edward?"

Pause. Bella and Edward turn in different directions, and in a flash they are gone.

Bella's POV

Running fast, head first towards the forest, the wind caressing my face and soothing my pain. It was blistering, burning, raging pain. The ground was warm beneath my feet and the mist weak and non-existent against my vampire perfect eyesight. My mind was free from choices, decisions and people telling me what to do. Right now was my time, and I was going to just think about myself. No-one else was going to disturb my quiet time now. I needed time to think.

Sometimes the world was a beautiful place. The shining sun, the vivid flowers, the majestic mountains, the cornfields and every single rolling hill could be the best things we all had to appreciate in this life. Everything was balanced, and everything worked. And like everything you learn at school, unbalanced forces did not even out.

The thing was, I already had all my forces sorted.

My sun, well, that was Jacob. He was the shining part of my life, the happiness. Alice, Rosalie, Renee and Esme were my flowers. Every one of them was unique and special in their own way. I amused myself pondering on who was which. I had already decided on Rosalie, of course. She was the breath-taking rose. Alice fitted exactly in the role of the bluebell. Such a small, delicate, beauty. I would always remember her that way.

The mountains in my world were all Emmet, and his boyish attitude. The scattered towns were Carlisle and Jasper. Charlie was my rain. He was the type of rain that poured every now and then to soothe you and comfort you. Nessie was the darling waterfall, the grace in my world and the ongoing love that held me together.

Each of them was another string, holding me upright and functional.

But Edward, he was everything. He was the essential nutrient that I needed to function, the glue that tied all my strings together. Without him, the world was not there, and I found myself having a hard time existing. Like Jacob had once said, he was my drug.

Edward's POV

I love her. I love her. I love her.

Sniffing the air again I head south, following her trail. Her scent makes me ravenous with rage. She cannot do this. She cannot abandon our family like this.

I am going to find her. I am going to explain everything again. How stubborn can Bella be?

Please do not do this to me. Please, I am begging you.