A/N: So, I have a lot of pressure on me this week. I have a couple of tests and then I have an interview for a chapter officer for next year. Ugh, too much to do too little time to do it in!

PS. My voices love you too. None of you have guessed right though… yet.

Chapter 18

I stepped onto solid ground. The hot Californian sky loomed above me and I pulled out my cell phone to check the time. I had left early the morning after Bella had left. I wanted to get a flight the same day but everything was either booked or not going quite where I wanted it to go. I had settled for this flight and it dropped me off in sunny California at three o'clock in the afternoon.

I shoved my phone back in my pocket and slung my carry-on over my shoulder. I followed the crowd of people exiting the plane. Some stopped just inside the doors to greet family, friends, and lovers. Their embraces were met with warm smiles and I internally frowned. I longed to have Bella at my side once again.

The idea appeared to me that I would see Bella sooner than later now that I was here in California. I figured she had moved out of the apartment she shared with Riley. She said she had some things to take care of and then she was going to head north. I hoped I could catch her before she headed out of the general area.

I headed toward the baggage claim and pulled my phone out of my pocket. I didn't know Bella's address and that might be handy if she hadn't picked up her stuff yet. At the least, I could see if I could get an answer of her whereabouts from Riley.

I dialed Alice's number and she picked up fairly quickly. "Hello?" Her voice was cheerful, as always.

"What's Bella's address?" I asked as my eyes scanned for my suitcase.

"No hello or how was your trip?" Alice teased scooting around my question.

I sighed. "Hello, how was your trip?" Without waiting for her to answer I spat my question out again. "Now, what's Bella's address?"

She giggled. "Um, it's the Dunes Villa apartment complex, 1800 Front Street, apartment 9E."

"See, that wasn't that hard." I teased her lightly while grabbing my suitcase from the rotating belt.

She sighed dramatically. "Yes it was." She paused. "Edward?"

"Hum?" I asked fiddling with the handle on my suitcase.

"I hope you can get to her." She said softly. I could almost see the compassion in her eyes.

I hesitated. "Me too Alice, me too."

I stood outside apartment number 9E. The door was gray with a metallic 9E nailed to the door. The apartment complex was really nice. It was located close to the beach and there were relatively nice cars parked in the parking lot. She had taken care of herself.

I raised my hand and let it hit on the door three times. There was an "I'm coming" from the other side of the door and I stepped back waiting for the voice to answer. I heard the promising sound of the lock unlatching and then the brief creak of the door opening. I looked into the eyes of Riley once more.

I had never really liked Riley. He had been one of the people to see me at my weakest and he even used it to his advantage. He had completely creeped me out in high school and now as he stood her glaring at me through slated eyes, I can truthfully say that the same still applied.

He took one look at me and with a disgusted grunt he proceeded to close the door in my face. I rolled my eyes and put my hand up to stop the door from reaching its destination. I pushed it lightly to hopefully bounce it back a couple of inches.

"She's not here." His voice was full of venom.

I coughed out an exuberated sighed. "Yeah, I figured that. I was hoping you knew where she was headed." I pushed against the door again this time using a little bit of force.

The door recoiled a little. "Why should I help you?" Riley's wasn't even trying to hide the bitterness laced in his words.

I hesitated for a moment trying to figure out a good reason. "Because," I started, "if you can't have her, who better than me? You know how much I love her."

Riley let go of the door sending my body flying forward into the room. "How about I know how much you hurt her when you left her. How about the joy I felt when she spent a night doing something other than crying over the fact that you left her?"

The blow was below the belt. My head popped up and I glared at him letting all my emotion fall into my eyes. "That may be so." I whispered. "How about the agony I felt when she wasn't with me. How about the thought that she was hurting because of my insensitivity? How about knowing that I was causing the pain, yet I couldn't seem to grasp the thought that I was an idiot to ever let her go. I love her. Doesn't that count for anything?"

Riley crossed the room and sunk into an armchair. "Close the door." He said rather darkly.

Without hesitation, I closed the door behind me and crossed to sit on the sofa across from him. I waited patiently while he scrutinized my face looking for any hint of what he was going to do or any ounce of humanity within his now cold heart.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His elbows rested on his knees and he seemed to be studying me with this intense expression on his face. With a sigh of defeat, his body relaxed and he leaned back into the armchair.

"You have to promise to never hurt her. If you're who she wants, you swear on your life to never leave her." Riley lips pressed together in a tight line.

I nodded. "I swear."

He nodded. "I don't know where she's gone."

I stared at him in disbelief. "All of that and you don't know where she is?" I stood up enraged now. "Who do you think you are? I come here looking for answers and you play me?"

Riley shrugged. "All I know is that she seemed to be headed to find herself. If she's going to find herself, my best bet is she'd be headed back to Forks."

I nodded tightly. "Yeah, whatever."

Riley stood. "Listen, that's all I know. She always talked about going back to Forks but she never had the time. She was super stressed about meeting her book deadline and stuff. If I were going to look for her, I'd go looking in Forks. She's comfortable there."

I listened to his reasoning and had to agree with him. Forks seemed to be where everything started for her. With an exasperated groan I headed toward the door. "Thanks Riley, I mean it."

He followed me to the door. "Yeah, just take care of her."

I stepped outside the door and turned to face him. "I will."

He stuck his hand out and I grasped it firmly giving it a good shake. "Thanks again."

He smiled weakly. "Yeah, don't mention it."

The door closed and I stood there with my backpack slung over my shoulder and my body still facing the door. I headed toward the stairs and drug myself down the cement stairway. I reached the parking lot and glanced around. There was a coffee shop conveniently located next to the apartment building.

I headed off in its direction to the promise of coffee and free wi-fi.

I surfed the Internet until I found a suitable means of transportation to Forks. I thought about driving the rented car up in search of her but then decided against it. I booked a ticket at the airport to the small air station in Port Angeles. The plane was leaving in the morning so I would have no choice but to rent a hotel room and stay the night. I needed to do laundry anyway.

I checked my email and found an email from my agent. I clicked on the link and the window opened allowing the mail to appear on the screen.

Edward,

I don't seem to be able to get a hold of you. I've tried your cell numerous times and it seems that you're not answering. I spoke to Rachel briefly and she informed me that you two broke up. I'm sorry man but that's the music business for you.

Anyway, write back when you get this. We have some companies looking into signing you, which is what we really need. Also, remember you have an interview with a couple of magazines Friday at two. Come on kid don't disappoint me.

Jed

The email sent a shot of aggravation through my veins. Of course I knew the cost of pursuing Bella. I was ready to give up all I had worked for in order to allow her to pursue her own dreams. Even as the promise of fame and fortune was laid at my feet, I would give it all up for her. This was nothing if I didn't have happiness.

I downed my last bit of coffee and shut down my laptop. I snapped it closed and slid it into the book bag. I stood stretching and my neck popped and my stiff legs cracked. I knew I could use a good night's sleep and I was eager to get into a new pair of clothes.

I stepped out into the fading sunlight and started back across the parking lot. More cars had arrived and I walked down a long row filled with cars. I found the gray Toyota and popped the trunk with the key. I slid the laptop bag into the trunk and with a little bit of force, the trunk clicked closed.

I climbed into the cramped car and rested my head against the fuzzy headrest. My eyes began to droop and I knew that it wouldn't take long for me to find sleep when the time came. I haphazardly swung the car out of the confined parking space and out onto the road. I headed toward pursuit of a soft bed and a working washer and dryer.

A/N: So, I wanted to show the scene between Edward and Riley but I didn't want Bella's POV in this chapter. I tried to drag the end out as much as I could so it wouldn't seem like I cut the chapter shorter than I already did.

The next chapter is the "official" last chapter and then there's still the epilogue. I can't believe my trio is finally coming to an end. It's almost sad for me.

Review!

Kayla