BPOV
I gasped, speechless. My whole body threatened to explode. Edward looked nervously up at me, not shifting his position. Tears stung the back of my eyes as I lay my eyes on the sparkling diamond engagement ring. I stood up and he followed my actions. I gazed into his bright jade eyes, not caring about the droplets that ran down my cheeks. "I'd love to …" I couldn't hold his intent gaze any longer and took in a deep, shaky breath. "But not right now."
EPOV
Four words. Who knew so little could crush so hard? My beautiful Bella didn't want to be my wife. The whole world seemed as if it would collapse on top of me. "Why?" was all I managed to murmur. She looked up at me with sad, glistening eyes, the deep shade drowned by the tears. The tears I caused.
"I'm not ready yet Edward. My life is on the brink of perfection."
"And marrying me would ruin that?" My voice was unsteady even with my concentration to keep it otherwise.
"No!" It seemed to upset her even more and fiercer drops rolled down her pale face. "I'm just … not ready for that sort of commitment." She placed an unsure hand on my arm. "I love you, but try to understand."
My mind wasn't working properly. I sat back down, contemplating her answer, staring into space. I did that last thing I thought I would do that night - put the velvet box back in my tuxedo jacket, ring still nestled inside.
BPOV
Some time during our ramblings he had taken a seat and replaced the engagement ring in his pocket. I slowly sat down too, brushing at my eyes with a cream napkin as discreetly as possible. The mascara and eyeliner came off in smudges of black. Rosalie and Alice hadn't even put waterproof makeup on me.
EPOV
I watched her hopelessly as she dried away her tears. I wanted to take her in my arms and explain that everything would be fine, that I didn't matter just so long as we were together. But I simply sat there. I wanted to reach and hold her hands in mine and explain that as long as she was healthy and living a happy life, I was satisfied too. But I simply watched as she got up and left the restaurant. She didn't even look back as she pulled out her mobile to call for a ride. I didn't run after her, didn't even walk over to see if she wanted to talk anything over.
I watched as only minutes later, Bella got into the car she had called for and went home.
I placed my head in my hands and massaged my temples. Something good would happen. Some excuse to see her would appear out of nowhere. And then I noticed. She had left her light, cotton coat around the back of her chair.
Firstly, I would like to apologise to my readers for the huge delay on getting this chapter up. It's such a small excuse for a chapter anyway, that I feel terrible for keeping anyone waiting for this. My reasons vary from a story I entered into a competition getting published, writing my own (hopefully!) novel to just having too much homework. I finished reading New Moon, Eclipse and already know what happens in Breaking Dawn, saw New Moon in the cinema for my birthday and have tried to improve my writing techniques. It's been keeping me busy certainly.
Big thanks to beckaboowriter, one of my all time favourite FanFiction writers for posting a review - very much appreciated!
Remember the three Rs everyone!
Oh, and don't eat me for what happens here. If my writing skills are up to it, everything should turn out better later on (if the road on the way is a little bit bumpy).