The combination of coffee, Advil, and Bella's company worked their magic on Edward's hangover. Slowly, his headache subsided and his stomach began feeling more normal. He was less than thrilled about the fight that he and Rebecca had gotten in the night before, but was pleased that Bella had at least tried to appease her. He knew that was probably difficult for Bella to do. He didn't really understand why, but the people (especially the women in his life) had a very difficult time accepting his relationship with Bella. His mother, his sister, and his significant others all tried to convince him to change his relationship with her. His mother and sister were very adamant that the two of them belonged together—although the idea made him both laugh and cringe. His significant others, on the other hand, had never been able to accept his friendship with Bella as a simple friendship. The only one who did was Amy, and she was long gone now—getting her doctorate in biochemistry at the prestigious NYU. His infrequent emails with her had told him that she would start her first semester in the doctorate program this month. He was proud of her, but he couldn't help but miss her some days.

After about 20 minutes of teasing and conversation since Edward had entered Bella's room, the two of them were ready to really start their lazy Sunday. As usual, the two of them would spend the day together. For the most part, this meant watching TV—football when applicable, or Netflix during the off season. The Washington Redskins were their obvious choice of favorite team. It was only August, however, and while football season was mere weeks away, it hadn't begun just yet. This meant they would be spending the day watching their current favorite TV series: The Tudors. It had been Bella's choice, but Edward was enjoying it. He had chosen Doctor Who last month. It had taken them all month to get through the six seasons of Doctor Who on Netflix—and they watched it more than just Sundays. The Tudors wasn't nearly as long. Once they could get their hands on Season 7 of Doctor Who, they would switch back again.

Bella poured them both a bowl of cereal—Frosted Flakes for her and Froot Loops for him—and Edward poured them each another cup of coffee. They both sat down in front of the TV and using Bella's laptop (which was plugged into the TV), they began the next episode of The Tudors. Bella was unusually quiet during the episode. It was strange because she had the habit of responding to events happening on the TV. She would make sarcastic comments, talk to the characters, or make observations to Edward during the show. It annoyed the hell out of most of their friends, but Edward loved that quirk about her. It was always interesting to watch TV with Bella. After about 20 minutes of silence, Edward nudged her knee with his own. She jerked, as if she had been far away in her own thoughts.

"Bee, you okay?" Edward asked, he looked concerned, especially because she had jumped.

"Um, yeah. I'm alright. Just thinking." Bella said, but she didn't act as though she was going to elaborate on it. Edward waited for her to do so, but once he realized she would need more prompting, he turned to face her.

"Talk to me." He said softly.

"It's nothing, Edward. I don't really want to talk about it. It's nothing." She responded, looking at her hands in her lap. She was very uncomfortable, Edward could tell. It was weird for her to be uncomfortable around him, though, and it worried him.

"It doesn't look like nothing." Edward said, with a bit more venom than he had intended. It hurt him that she didn't want to talk to him.

"Don't. Just don't. Okay? I promise it's not a big deal." She said, touching his arm.

"Fine." He sighed, not really giving up. They watched the rest of the episode in silence. Once the credits started rolling, Edward started to get up to start the next episode. Bella stopped him by putting her hand on his knee. He sat back down.

"I love you." She told him quietly.

"I love you, too, Bee." He smiled softly at her. They had said this to one another countless times before.

"No, I mean I love you." She put emphasis on the L-word.

"Oh. Um…oh." It was Edward's turn to be silent and stare at his hands.

"I'm sorry." Bella told him. She knew this completely changed and probably ruined everything.

"So…um…I…um…when?" Edward couldn't form a clear thought.

"I don't really know. It just sorta happened." Bella responded carefully. What happened next surprised both of them. Edward reached out, cupped her face, and brought it to his own. Seconds later, they were kissing with all of the passion they could muster. Before long, clothes began flying and the carefully protected and defended "just friends" status of their relationship was altered forever.

Outside of the tiny apartment, a woman who thought she had Edward's heart was reduced to tears as she listened to what unfolded inside the walls. She had come to surprise him, knowing that he always spent Sunday at Bella's. At the first moans of pleasure, she turned and ran.

The lovemakers hadn't even made it to the bedroom, but gave way to their passions right on the couch. Almost immediately after his release, Edward felt an immense shame mixed with severe awkwardness. This wasn't right. He was with Rebecca. Bella was just his friend. They had both struggled with feelings beyond that of friendship more than once during their lifelong bond. It wasn't new to them to feel something more for each other. It just had never happened at the same time before, and they always moved past it—acknowledging that their friendship was too important for that sort of thing. He still didn't believe that he felt anything in return for Bella. She had looked so helpless and sad, he had only wanted to comfort her. He had taken it too far, and now there was nothing he could do to change it.

He stood up quickly and began putting his clothes back on.

"Bella, I…um, this wasn't right. I mean, it was a mistake, right?" Edward said, struggling to find words again. Bella, seeing him look so upset, also started putting her own clothes back on. This wasn't how she imagined making love to Edward would be. She had expected something more, something…special. Instead, she felt used and alone.

"It would seem so now, wouldn't it?" Bella responded, fighting back tears, but with obvious anger coating her words.

"I mean, we're friends, Bee. Friends! And I'm with Rebecca…" He trailed off and his voice got quiet.

"Rebecca! She's a bitch, Edward! She treats you and me like shit!"

"No, she doesn't. Don't talk about her like that."

"Fuck you, Edward. Fuck all of this." Bella grabbed for her purse on the side table by the couch and took the three steps out of the door. She slammed it, and with tears running down her face, got in her car and drove away. She didn't know where she was going—just that she didn't want to be here.

Edward, physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted, collapsed on the couch with tears of his own.

That evening, after several hours of waiting for Bella to come back and after several attempts to call her, Edward finally decided to leave her apartment and head home. On his way home, he called Rebecca and asked her to meet him there. He had something important to tell her.

She was waiting in the driveway when he got there. She could tell something was bothering him, and followed him into the house silently. Once inside, he ushered her to the living room where they both sat on the couch.

"Bella told me that she loved me today. Like, really loves me." Edward told her, deciding that the 'ripping off the Band-Aid' approach was best. Rebecca's response was to break down and cry. Edward touched her shoulder, trying to comfort her, but she pulled away.

"Why are you telling me this?" Rebecca asked him.

"I guess I thought you should know." He told her. After seeing her reaction to Bella's confession, he decided it was best not to tell her how the rest of their morning had gone.

"So what did you say back?"

"That I was dating you." He responded.

"That we're dating? That was your answer? So if I wasn't in your way, you'd be with her?" She yelled.

"No! I didn't mean it like that! You're not in my way!" He yelled back. She shook her head, obviously not believing him.

"Did anything else happen? You guys just talked?" Rebecca asked, quieter now.

Edward shook his head violently, "No, I promise. That was all. After I told her that I was with you, she got mad and left. I was trying to get a hold of her all day, waiting to see if she would come back to the apartment so we could talk about it, but she never did. She probably went to her dad's or something."

Rebecca hung her head. She wasn't appeased in the slightest. A new round of tears started to flow. "I've tried really hard, Edward. I really have. You don't understand how this relationship with Bella that you have affects me. I know that you've been friends forever. I know that she's important to you. But I have friends, too, you know? And I don't have the relationship with them that you and Bella have. It's like you share something that no one else can have. I will never be able to have that relationship with you. I'm a strong believer in friendship as the basis for any romantic relationship. If a relationship is going to last between a boyfriend and girlfriend and turn into something more, they have to be best friends, too. But no one can be that for you, because that job is already taken. You know? It's hard to compete with that." She stopped to wipe the tears from her eyes, but more just fell.

"Rebecca, I.." Edward started but she held up her hand.

"No, let me finish." She said. He nodded.

"You and I will never have that sort of relationship. It's only something that you and Bella can have—no one else can get between you. I'm tired of being around the two of you and feeling as if I'm the third wheel. Like I'm getting in your way. You share so many memories and inside jokes. Sometimes you guys don't even have to talk to one another—just share a look—and you'll be in hysterics. I will never share that with you. And maybe it's not fair, but I want to have that sort of relationship with you. I want to share jokes and looks and memories. Sure, we have some of that, but not like you and Bella. It's not easy being around the two of you. Even when it's just you and me, you talk about her a lot. You text her a lot. It's like my company isn't good enough. She's the one you want to be around. And now that I know she's in love with you…I just, I don't know if I can hold out any longer. I feel you slipping away and I don't know what to do." She stopped talking and wiped away more tears.

"Rebecca. I'm with you, not her. Just because she feels that way doesn't mean I do. I want to be with you, I really really do." He took her in his arms and hugged her as tightly as he could. "Please believe me."

She pulled out of his hug and held his face in between her hands. "I do believe you Edward. I believe that you want to be with me. That that's how you feel right now. Or at least, that's how you want to feel right now. But I also know that this changes everything. And changes nothing. Not only am I going to have to compete for your friendship, but now I'm going to have to compete for your love, too. I just can't do this. I'm not strong enough. I'm not a good enough person to be able to share you. I want you to myself, and that's just not possible. I'd be a fool to think it was."

Edward hung his hand, because he knew that if she gave him an ultimatum between her and Bella, he'd pick Bella. "I'm sorry." He said.

She nodded, knowing the battle was lost. "Me, too. You really are a great guy, Edward. I hope you find happiness." She kissed his cheek and let herself out of the house. For the second time that day, Edward let his tears fall freely. This time, he wasn't sure if it was because Rebecca had broken up with him, or that he finally realized that he would pick Bella over any girl in the world.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Hello to all my new readers! What are your opinions on Edward's reaction to Bella? What about Rebecca—I kinda feel bad for her, poor girl. Review and let me know what you think! If I get some reviews, I'll update again this week!