A/N: So.. to make it dark, to make it not? … Again I apologize for not updating. I realize the cure for apologizing so much is to not do anything worthy of apologies but… life is hard sometimes. We'll just have to see what the characters want. It's no good to choose for them. And so what if there's a difference between what they want and what they need… it's not right to choose for them, they're grown-ups, they can make their own decisions. No need to be an Edward-like author… (sorry sorry sorry!) K, anyway, leave me a review and let me know what you think of the story. It's coming to an end… can you get me to 300 reviews? I think you can… please? And yes, I know it's pathetic to beg for reviews, but you know… I'm pathetic anyway, so.

Kasey

Previously: "I can't stay away from you any longer I can't live without you. I love you, Bella," he said.

I couldn't come up with the words, couldn't make my mouth work. Finally I mouthed, "I love you too." And then he pulled me into a deep, send tingles down your skin, light you on fire from the inside out, burning in flashes, a searing fire that was ice cold and scorching hot at the same time, kiss. And I completely forgot all of my problems, and I could focus on nothing else but Edward as my fingers wrapped themselves into his wet hair, and it was perfect for a moment.

For a moment. Just a pretty little moment. And it all crashed back down from the clouds it was floating in the second my rational thought caught up with my actions. Pushing him away, I walked around him to the door. Slowly, I opened it, my eyes stinging and a piece of my brain screaming at me.

"I'm sorry, I can't do this. That was wrong of me. Just leave," I said softly as I opened the door. His eyes lowered, glaring, but he stepped back out into the rain. I sighed, turning away and went to shut the door. In a very cliché like manner, he stuck his foot in the door, blocking its closure and keeping the barrier from getting between us.

Grabbing my wrist, he yanked me outside.

"Ugh, just go away. You didn't have to get me wet," I said angrily, trying to take my own self-induced hurt out on him.

"Bella this is just stupid. Stop it."

"I see no reason to. This is for the best. And besides, high school relationships don't work out anyway, it had to end sometime. Just give up."

"Not when it had just started! And you didn't have to end it early!" he yelled.

"And what about Alice?" I demanded.

"Well, what about her?"

"You know she doesn't approve to begin with, and then seeing you happy when she isn't is just not fair to her."

"So she won't see us," he responded.

"Keeping secrets from my best friend? Right, great idea. You're an idiot. You just don't understand, go away."

"I will not go away until you give me a good reason why we shouldn't be together. So far you're just making up excuses. If you don't like me, tell me, but considering I think you do, there's another reason. Could it be that you're afraid?"

I didn't answer.

"I can assure you I will do my best not to hurt you. But you're never going to get anywhere in life if you don't take chances. Sometimes you just have to run, jump, and trust that the bungee cord is attached."

"And if I fall to my death?"

"Someone will be there to catch you, death won't be necessary, especially not because of me. I won't let that happen."

I shivered once, but other than that, I ignored the rain. I looked down to keep my eyes clear, and to keep from catching Edward's eye.

"Bella, be selfish, you can't give up everything for someone else if that's the story you're sticking to."

"I've been selfish. I had to stop, it was only hurting people." I looked up at him, to plead with him, try to make him understand. That was a mistake. Pain was visible in his eyes, though he quickly hid it.

"But now you're hurting me," he said quietly. "If you won't do this for yourself, do it for me. Bella, I care about you, so much, and I can't stand seeing you miserable. I know I made you happy, I could see it, and forgive me if it sounds vain of me to say that, but I was good for you. And I enjoyed it. So, make me happy. Alice still isn't happy because of this, you can't make her happy, but you can make me so happy. Do what you can and forget what you can't."

"Edward."

"Bella," he responded stubbornly.

"Ugh," I groaned. "Stop it. Stop trying to change my mind. You know this is best, so just stop."

"No, Bella, you stop," he argued.

I got the sudden urge to hurt him and hurt him badly, he was too convincing and my will that was already weak was getting weaker. I was about ready to say "screw Alice" and throw the whole plan to hell for the demons to snack on. And then the idiot went and totally killed all my thoughts.

"Fine," he sighed. "I'll go, but when you can't sleep at night, just remember I'm thinking of you too. Have a good life I suppose. I'll work on getting over you, thanks for the pain, it was great while it lasted," he guilted.

"Damn it, Edward! Don't you get it?! This isn't about me and you, this is about Alice. Until we can fix her, there's no use making it worse."

"Bella, you are. She's blaming herself for your unhappiness as well as her own, this isn't helping," he told me. I still don't know if he was lying or not, but that was all it took to completely break me down.

"It's… not?" I asked, my voice nothing but a whisper.

I sank down to the ground not caring I was getting muddy, I was already cold and drenched with rain water anyway. Thinking back now, it was a little dramatic of me, but it was all I could do as exactly how stupid I was being hit me like a spun-out car going seventy hits a side rail.

"So, I just hurt everybody, for nothing?"

"Bella, you know I didn't mean it like that."

"But it's true."

He grinned slightly. "I'll forgive you if you'll take me back."

"How can you smile at this! I'm nothing but a giant glob of skin, bones, blood and destruction!"

"You were doing what you thought was best. The thought behind it was sweet and despite the fact that it didn't work, the point is that you'd hurt yourself to help your friends, and that makes you a good person. And I wouldn't care if you were a bad person, Bella. Love is unconditional."

"With conditions kept of course."

"No silly, no conditions. I love you for you, no matter what you do."

"That's dangerous."

"Yeah, well 'love is giving someone the ability to hurt you but trusting them not to'."

I laughed slightly. "Where'd you get that from?"

"Internet. I googled it," he said in a mocking tone.

"Ha, are you turning into a girl? 'Hi, I'm Edward and I look up girly love quotes in my spare time.'"

"Hey, I wouldn't have so much time, but its break, there's no school to occupy my time, you'll have to forgive the lack of things to do."

I laughed with him again, feeling bi-polar for the emotional switch.

"So, would you take me back? You know you want to, just look how loveable I am," he said, grinning a crooked grin and holding his hand out to help me up.

"What a gentleman," I said as I took his hand. Feeling like a cliché again, I let him wrap his arms around me as I leaned my head against his chest. Gently grabbing my chin, he tilted my face up so he could softly kiss me as the rain poured around us. Since when did I become the star of a chick flick with a cheesy ending? But it's not the end yet my head reminded me.

A dark car, spraying water as it drove past a puddle, slowed to a stop outside my house. Edward tried to ignore it, but I pulled away, looking to see who it was.

A spiky haired pixie like face with sad eyes and smile on her face stuck her head out the window and into the rain. "Edward! Mom wants you home, oh and Bella, glad to see you're not being stupid."

"Well tell her I don't want to go home."

"Well I want you home," she responded. "I have something to show you." She smiled and the sadness seemed to disappear from her eyes.

Edward sighed. "Just tell me what it is, Alice. I'm kind of busy."

"I can see that," she said, and I blushed, attempting to step away from Edward; he just held me tighter. "Bella can come too."

He sighed again. "Fine."

"Bella, go change or you'll catch a cold, we'll wait for you, I promise." I ran inside, quickly changing out of my wet clothes, thinking of some way I could make it up to Alice for being so horrible but unable to stop smiling.

As I came to the door again, Alice was outside the door holding an umbrella. "Smart," I commented. Trying to be more serious, I looked at her. "Alice, I'm sorry, and if there's anything I can do—"

"I know," she interrupted me. "It's okay now Bella." Confused, but unable to argue, I nodded.

She pushed me towards the car and I climbed into the back seat, a wet Edward up front. Driving slowly on the slippery roads we finally made it to the Cullen's house. Ready to sprint towards the porch and cover from the rain, I opened the door. Edward laughed as he passed me, chuckling at my slow run. I glared at him. I got there only about a second after him, there was no need to laugh. Jerk.

"Kidding, Bella," he said, responding to me glare. "You better be," I told him, laughing as well. Alice danced out of the car, her umbrella opened again, and I noticed again how it seemed her sadness was slowly disappearing.

"Patience is rewarded. You could have waited for me, you know, and then you'd be dry."

I looked sheepishly at my feet and she giggled. "But I forgive you." The door opened behind us. I stopped laughing as I saw a tall, honey-blond young man standing at the doorway, his gaze only on Alice.

What the hell?

A/N: oh, and please don't hesitate to check out my story "The Sky Cries For You". It's my favorite, and no one has reviewed it. Please? And review!

With a cold heart, I love you,

Kasey