A/ N: So, I'm going to tell you right now that you're all going to get whiplash from this chapter. It's going to come out of nowhere making your head snap so fast that you're going to say, and I quote, "Did that just happen?"

On another note… It makes me very happy to have my readers actually like a character with Bella other than Edward. Riley loves you all too. Okay, back to the previous note…

Yes, be scared! Be very scared!

Songs for Chapter-

Note to Self- From First to Last

Better Off Alone- Marie Digby

Chapter 16

I couldn't get the image out of my head. He deserved her. She was pure, lovely, and most of all, she was worthy. She would be good for Edward. The image of the two of them danced in my head all night and at four a.m. I was out of bed and packing my things.

Alice had spent the night in Jasper's room since I had turned in earlier than everyone else last night. I placed two envelops on the small table for Alice to find. One had Alice's name written on the front and the other had Edward written on the front. It was too easy to slip out undetected. The others had probably only gotten to bed a couple of hours prior to my escape.

The clock read 5:30 a.m. I grabbed my suitcase and wheeled it down the deserted hallway. I stepped into the empty elevator and pressed the button that would take me to the lobby. I leaned against the wood paneled wall and once again went over my actions. I had gone over this decision many times while I laid awake upstairs. I hoped that Edward could just get over me as he had before. I had learned first hand the result of "out of sight, out of mind".

My mind was elsewhere when I collided with the sweat-clothed man. His hands came out to grip my arms, but only to steady me. He dropped his hands from my shoulder and used one hand to pull the hood off his head. Chace's disgruntled features filled my eyes. My perfect plan was now faltered.

"You're leaving?" He asked gesturing toward my bag.

I nodded. "Yeah, I have to get to California and pick up my stuff."

He nodded but his face was skeptical. "Okay, well can we keep in contact or something?"

I shrugged and reached in my purse to pull out my card. Alley had persuaded me to keep some business cards with me incase of different circumstances, but I guess this applied. I quickly crossed out the home number that I shared with Riley and wrote my cell phone number directly below that.

"Here, that's my cell phone number. The other one will change soon but if you want to reach me call my cell." I handed him the card and slung my purse back over my shoulder.

He smiled weakly. "I can't believe you're already leaving." He paused. "Well, it was nice getting to know you."

I dropped my bag and reached up to wrap my arms around him. He gave me a tight hug and then let go. "Bye Bella, safe travels?" He smiled and winked at me.

The corner of my mouth lifted in a half smile and I took hold of my suitcase handle and urged it forward. I took one last glace in his direction and saw the elevator doors closing as he kept his eyes fixed on me. This was the best for us. He was one less person I would have to hurt in the process of my life.

I stood out on the barely lit street and saw that taxis were surprisingly rampant this early in the morning. I lifted my hand and one of the taxis pulled up to the curb. I quickly slid my suitcase in the back and then followed it.

"The airport please." I spoke softly to the driver.

The older man nodded quickly and the taxi silently lurched forward to its destination. I've always heard in life that "it's not the destination, it's the journey". That cliché reverberated throughout my head as I thought over my short life.

My life had gone from good to complete hell when I was the age of fourteen. Edward showed up when I was seventeen and after that first night with him, my life was pretty good for a while. I didn't have to worry about my mother coming home and beating me bloody. I didn't have to worry about how I was going to cover up my latest bruise. Most of all, I didn't have to fight the urge to take my own life away. I call that period of life my "Edward era".

After Edward, I practically had to learn to live again. I went through months of monotonous life. I went through the motions of going to work, coming home, going to sleep. I was like a robot moving in slow motion. The world was going at full speed yet I was standing still.

I owed my sanity to Riley. Without Riley I would still be standing still. I owed Riley everything yet I knew he was better off without me. I would pick up my stuff from Riley's house and head north. I hoped to inevitably end up in Forks.

I went through the motions of buying my ticket and then I waited for the next plane. Luck was on my side and I ended up getting a one-way flight to California. I settled in a seat near the entering gate and let my mind wander. It wandered to places that were fairly typical for me.

I imagined Edward's reaction to my letter. He would be angry to say the least. I hoped that he would heed my advice and stay with Rachel in New York. I wished to see him fulfill his dreams. He was every bit capable of this and he and I both knew it.

I then imagined Alice's reaction. She would be upset that I didn't call but I figured she would understand. She would then be jumping up and down with joy for I had foreshadowed that I would be heading back to the rainy little town of my childhood. I was going to try to get a job with our old high school. I'm sure Mrs. Cope was liable to retire soon and if not, I still had a hefty sum of money thanks to my book.

This would all work out. Somehow, there was a plan in the making.

I sat on the cement steps with my key in my hand. I wasn't sure exactly how I should approach the situation that lay in front of me. He told me to call but my phone had been shut off for hours. At a decent time in New York, Alice's number plagued my caller ID. I kept rejecting the calls because I didn't want to talk to her just yet. I had some things to take care of before I answered to someone. The first issue of business was for me to load up my little Toyota RAV4 with the stuff that waited behind the locked door.

My head popped up when I heard the click of a door and then bare feet padded toward me. Riley plopped down next to me on the cement stairs. "I've been watching you for the past hour." His tone was weirdly guarded.

I turned my key in my hand and sighed deeply. "I didn't want to wake you." I whispered trying to come up for a believable excuse.

He laughed under his breath. "It's noon."

I shrugged. "I thought you might want to sleep in."

He stood up and held out his hand for me. I checked his warm expression and then hesitantly placed my hand in his. He clasped my hand tightly pulling me up from my sitting position. This was weird for me. Should he be this friendly?

He let go of my hand as soon as we were inside the familiar apartment. There were boxes lined around the door and my mouth dropped open. I didn't know I owned so much stuff. No wonder we never had enough room in this apartment. There were words written on the boxes. One box had pictures written on it while another one had clothes and another had shoes.

"Thanks for doing this." I turned to look at him and he smiled softly.

"With school being out, I didn't have much more to do." He skated around my thank you and I knew exactly what he was doing. I knew him too well.

I took a deep breath and picked up the first box. He followed my example and picked up one next to it. I stepped out the door and cautiously made my way down the steps. I clicked the button to unlock my trunk and I sat the box down so I could open the trunk. Riley slid the first box in and then also slid my box in after his.

It took us about an hour to pack all the boxes into my car. They fit when I put the back seat down and with a sigh of relief I slammed the trunk closed. Riley lingered at the bottom of the steps and I approached him. His eyes avoided mine.

"Thanks for all of this." I gestured toward my car.

He nodded his lips pressed in a tight line. "So I guess this is it?" He said softly.

I nodded. "Yeah, I guess so."

His eyebrows furrowed and I saw a question lingering on his face. He opened his mouth and then closed it just as quickly. I could almost see him biting his tongue. He finally gave up and he parted his lips to speak the words.

"Are you with him now?" He asked letting the pain slip into his words.

I took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eyes. "No." I said rather bluntly. "He doesn't even know I'm gone yet."

His eyes widened with surprise. "Really? Why not?"

I shrugged. "It's complicated." I paused. "I believe that he has a good thing going in New York. Who am I to taint his dreams?"

Riley shook his head probably with disbelief. "Bella, sometimes I just don't get your logic."

I shrugged. "Yeah, neither do I."

Riley quickly stepped toward me and wrapped his arms around me. He pulled me into a tight hug kissing the top of my head. "Take care of yourself Bella."

I pulled away to look into his eyes. They twinkled with sincerity. "I will." I promised.

--

I pulled out of the apartment complex and onto the main road. The Californian sun followed me as I headed north. I wasn't sure what may lie ahead but the sun was on my back and the radio was blaring through the speakers of my car.

A/N: Okay, so I hope you liked the little Riley bit. I didn't want them to end on a sour note. Riley deserves much more than a chaste goodbye.

Review!

Kayla