The fabulous Boo's Boys was a little tied up this week, so this chapter has been beta'd by the AMAZING ReadingMama.

Alice's sitting room all of a sudden seems much smaller, much more nerve wracking. The paisley wallpaper seems sinister somehow, as if there are pointy little ears just eavesdropping as our private pains are dissected by the Nazi in Prada.

"One of you is going to talk, damn it! I'm so sick of the both of you constantly moping!" Alice yells.

I groan, flatten my palm to my face, desperately trying to block this scene out.

"Fine," she continues, "let me ask you a question, Bella, and I want a real answer. Do you, or do you not, love my brother?"

"Alice, I don't think this will help," I hedge.

"Just answer the question, B." She stares me down.

I find myself looking away from her, and into Edward's eyes. They are blank, clearly guarded, and I find myself wondering if he even knows the answer anymore. Still I won't give this to them—I cant.

"I don't see how it can possibly matter, Alice. I'm married now, remember."

This earns a full-bodied laugh from her; it's almost manic in appearance, from this tiny pixie of a woman.

"Yes, you married Mr. December, the dumbest, most unaffectionate man on the planet, because you were shit scared of the real thing that's been staring you in the face for the last – God knows how many years. What are you going to do, Bella? Spend your life with a man that, essentially, wants you to be his mother? Be miserable and pine for something you should have had? I'm not sitting by and watching this train wreck any more, now answer the damn question!"

There was fire burning in her eyes now, and for half a moment, I was actually afraid of this person.

Realising defeat, I mutter a simple, "Of course I love him."

I should have known that this wouldn't be enough to satiate the she-devil, because next she spun around, poised to strike this time at Edward.

"And you! How could you let her marry that douche? I'm not even going to ask if you love her. You've loved her since before you knew what love is! How can you sit back and just let that happen? Do you realise what married people do in a marriage bed Edward? HUH?"

I can feel myself turning a deep shade of crimson at this comment. It's obvious that I'm not a virgin, but that didn't mean that Edward needs it shoved in his face.

"You two seriously need to get your shit together, because you're not just hurting each other, you're hurting Jake, and whoever it is Edward is sleeping with – it's not fair on them either."

She was right, I did need to get my shit together, the way I was behaving wasn't fair to Jake, or to Edward let alone myself.

I was about to tell her this when Edward rose to his feet, and so quickly I almost missed it, he launched his counter attack.

"Are you done, Alice? Because I'm reasonably certain that I've told you – on multiple occasions in fact, that you have no idea what you are on about. Do you think for a minute I didn't try and stop her? Do you think I'm stupid enough to let the only woman I've ever cared about walk away without even trying to have her see me the same way?"

"A phone call isn't exactly a dramatic confession of love, Edward," she shot back.

"Oh, I see. So your issue here isn't that I've failed to make Bella see that I need her, but that I didn't throw myself in front of the congregation at her wedding and publicly declare my love. Is that it? Sorry, Alice, I'd have thought you would know that isn't my style." He was becoming agitated now, and I wondered if she could see it, wondered how far she would push him.

"Bella made her choices, Alice. Now we all have to live with it – and that means you too. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to do." And with that he strode from the room, leaving Alice and I alone and in shock.

"Well, that didn't go at all how I'd planned," mumbles Alice, her voice contrite.

I stand immediately, and glare at my best girlfriend.

"Alice, what you did was heartless and cruel. Edward didn't deserve that." I fire at her, the rage in my body steadily building.

"Oh please, someone needs to kick the two of you up your asses."

"Seriously, Ali, you need to go and apologise to him, that was way too harsh."

She glared at me then, her eyes full of hate. "Apologise! For what, Bella? Telling the truth? I don't think so. I meant every word I said tonight, and if you're so worried about how he's doing, I suggest that you go after him, 'cos I sure as hell won't."

With that, she spun on her little heels and stormed out.

"Fuck! Fuck, fuck, FUCK! GAAAAAH!" I shout, to whom, I'm not sure, but it feels good to let some of the tension out. I realise quickly that right now, I'm totally alone. I have a husband who doesn't really love me, but considers me a live-in maid. I've pissed of my best girlfriend and screwed with her brother's heart. And to top it all off, I've hurt the only man I've ever loved.

"SHIT!" I call out one last time, stamping my foot on the ground in a childish act of defiance.

I'm sick of this mess I call a life, and know now, that it's time to do something about it.

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