Haha! SNOW DAY!!! I wish I could have had all this snow on Christmas. Seriously, it was SUNNY on Christmas Day. But anyway, if this is the last post I ever write, it is because I was devoured by cannibalistic middle-schoolers. I am taking an advanced Reading class (not my choice!), which is at the Jr. High. I start on Thursday. I have to get up at 6:00 EVERYDAY to catch the bus. Life is unfair. But, enough of my complaints! I believe I left you with a cliffy!

Unfortunately, that will have to wait for my next post!

Just kidding. Ain't I a stinker? ;P

My throat felt suddenly dry. "Of course," I said nonchalantly. I was forever grateful my voice didn't crack. I sounded calm and composed; not like in a few minutes I will have to tell the love of my life that she is the love of my life.

I was ashamed. Here I was, a vampire, hyperventilating at the thought of telling a woman, 'I love you.'. Three little words. How hard could it be? Well, let me tell you. Extremely hard. Because Bella wasn't an ordinary woman. She was beautiful, and kind, and sweet, and strong, and smart. Terrifying.

And I had waited all my life for her. A small wave of peace engulfed me for just a moment. She was what I wanted, forever and ever. I would always love her, no matter what happened in this room.

My peace evaporated when she stepped through (and I mean that literally) the door. She melted through the wood, and came to sit by me. "Um, hi." She murmured shyly. She seemed nervous, too. "Uh, I wanted to say, sorry for blowing up at you."

It took me a moment to tear my eyes away from her lovely face, and recall what she meant. C'mon, Eddie boy, Alice chastised from downstairs. Get your head in the game. I remembered Alice and Rosalie sitting downstairs and eavesdropping. "I despise you," I whispered to my sisters, too low for Bella to catch. Now, I'm sure you don't mean that, Rose chimed. What would you do without us?

"That's alright," I smiled at her. She smiled back at me. I relaxed, feeling instantly better. I felt as if a heavy weight pinning me down had just been lifted. When she smiled, my stomach swooped. Aw, little Eddie has got it bad. Rose cooed. "Shut up," I breathed down to her.

Rose was elated with this turn of events. Despite their previous hatred, Bella and Rose were now good friends. She would be thrilled to have her as a sister. As I thought about this, I found my voice.

"Bella," I started. "I know this will sound odd, and I really hope that you-" What could I say?! I panicked. "What I mean, is-" Flustered, I looked around wildly, hoping for some miracle to arrive. Finally, I dropped my face into my hands. "Oh, crap." I muttered. I couldn't look at her. If I had blood to blush with, I would be bright red.

Alice and Rose were both screeching at me in their heads, but I ignored them. I lifted my eyes, and met hers. They gave me the courage to find the words that I was so desperately searching for.

"Bella, I love you." (A/N: I nearly stopped here, but then I decided it was mean to write such a short chapter.)

There was a soft moment of silence. I instantly started to babble. "I know this is hard for you and-" She pressed one finger against my lips, stopping my words. I looked up at her guiltily. She was smiling.

"I know. I was eavesdropping on you and Alice. And I love you, too." (A/N: I nearly stopped here, too.)

I was wordless, as were Alice and Rose. "You could have told me that, and saved me a mental breakdown!" I cried, running my hands through my hair.

Bella gave me a stunning smile. "I know. I just…wanted to hear you say it." I sighed in exasperation, and she laughed. "I know it's weird, but.." She shrugged, and grinned again. The female mind works in strange ways, Alice said wisely. I wanted to roll my eyes.

"You bet it does," I grumbled. I really, really wished they would go away. This was hard enough without their commentary. I tuned them out so I could focus on Bella. It hit me, for the first time, what had really happened. And I love you, too.

She loved me back. I smiled widely, looking down at her. Bella was watching me, and a small smile played at the corners of her lips. "So where does this leave us now?" She asked me, cocking her head to one side.

I hesitated. That was a question I couldn't answer. I brushed my hand down her cheek hesitantly. "I don't know," I murmured softly.

Bella's face twisted with agony, and she turned away from me. That resonated like a hammer blow, and I winced. I reached out uncertainly, and touched her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

She turned back to me, with frustration written all over her face. "You didn't do anything! It's just that-I don't know where to go from here. I love you. I realize that a long time ago. I have no experience with these kinds of things, but I do know that you can't stay here with me, and I can't follow you."

I stared at her with reproachful eyes. "I'll stay here with you forever, if that's the case."

She raised her eyebrows at me. "What about our family? Esme would be desolate. The others, too."

I felt another sharp pain in my chest, but I ignored it. "They'll get by without me," I stated brusquely.

Her eyes narrowed. "You are not abandoning your family on my account."

"And I'm not abandoning you, either." I told her resolutely.

She turned, and leaned her head against my chest. I wrapped her tightly in my arms. "I love you." I breathed into her hair.

She nodded, her eyes closed. Bella twisted away, curling closer to my side. She shifted, and tucked her feet under her. Then she rested her forehead on my shoulder. "It's incredibly frustrating" she murmured. "I shouldn't be here. I should be, well, where ever dead people go."

I couldn't help laughing. "I know all about that." I reminded her dryly.

She continued, "I shouldn't be here; and it's killing me. Well, figuratively." I rolled my eyes. "My point is, it's just so hard to be with you when I know I shouldn't. I mean, look at me," she said in despair. "I can barely touch you."

I glanced at her quizzically. She felt very real, very there, wrapped in my arms.

She sighed again. "I can become solid, if I want to, but it's very taxing. I can only do it for so long."

Bella squeezed her eyes shut. "I just don't know if I can do this."

The very thought of her leaving, even though I had spent all but the last few days of my existence not even knowing her presence, was pure agony. I lifted her chin, and stared hard into her dark eyes. "You belong with me," I told her fiercely. And I closed the distance between our lips, and kissed her.

After a long moment, when I finally pulled away, Bella was shining with a radiant glow. "Wha-" I started to ask. Bella just shook her head and smiled.

"I don't think I've ever been this happy," she told me softly. Then she kissed me again. I looked down at our hands, entwined, and I knew whatever the future held, we would face it together.