E pov.

When someone leaves you for a higher place, aren't you supposed to feel delighted for them? Aren't you supposed to feel miserable too, but be overcome with a strange sense of serenity? And isn't everything supposed to close with a happy ending?

Obviously not.

If it was supposed to be like that, my mother wouldn't be in hysterics right now.

"Edward, don't take the car! You'll end up like . . . like . . . your . . ." she sobbed. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her nose had become red and puffy. Seeing her in this state was unnerving. My mother had always been calm. Even in our most hurried moments, she got things done and done right.

"Father?" I finished exasperatedly. At that she only wailed harder. I hated seeing my mother in so much pain, but we had, had this discussion every morning for a month. Never have I crashed or even gotten a ticket. I had to admit that I was a good driver. But with a car like the beautiful one I have, it's hard not to be.

"Mother," I said patiently. "I'll be back soon, and even drive really slowly. You can call me if you need." I spread the words out, almost as if I were talking to a crying toddler. She nodded slowly and didn't protest when I pried her wrinkled fingers from my shirt.

The morning air was heavy with a mixture of fog and tension. The pressure was almost tangible, as if I could reach out and grab it. Streaks of orange and red were splattered across the sky in an almost artful way; no sign of the sun among the brilliant colors, though. Only tiny, unimportant noises reached my ears. The sounds of a mother's shrill order to a child or the constant twitter of a sparrow.

I couldn't help but wonder what coursed through Bella's mind when she heard these sounds. Did she feel confusion at the strange clatter, or become overwhelmed with awe at its novelty? She would have to be reacquainted with every new echo, scene, and touch. Due to her memory loss, her father Charlie had hired a tutor in order for her to relearn her lessons. Jessica had droned for hours yesterday, but finally managed to verbalize some piece of valuable information. She had said that Bella was learning quickly, and could already read simple texts and write a few words. Some knowledge had stayed with her. Jessica had gotten word from Charlie that she still knew her colors and how to draw. She could mix and blend with ease-- not to mention shadowing. Then her topic turned back to shoes.

Also somewhere amidst the drabble, Jessica had wanted me to meet her behind building five. I had hesitated at first. Building five? That was the place where Bella and I had grown to love each other. I had told her there about Maddie, and she had comforted me in my weakest moments. But now that I had had someone stolen from me, I didn't know how I'd get through it without her. I had done well since the crash; only singing her to sleep in the hospital, and a couple of wistful stares when she wasn't looking. She had been like a lost puppy. Searching for the things she had lost, though her memories would never return. The teachers had wanted her to sit in on our classes so that she could still gather information. And even in confusion, she was so angelic and beautiful. Jessica didn't deserve to stand in a place where Bella had been so glorious. None the less, I was still walking towards it.

I felt a pair of vanilla-scented hands cover my eyes.

"Guess who!" Jessica squealed. Oh how I loathed that voice . . .

"Jess." I said shortly.

"Yay! You got it right!" she chirped. "I think you should be rewarded now."

Her tiny hands turned my shoulders around abruptly to face her. In her eyes was a sickeningly devious look. She grabbed my wrist and dragged me over to the back of the building. As soon as she was sure no one could see us, her lips crashed down on mine.

To most, Jessica would seem a good kisser. To me, she's an aggressive mongrel. Her hands uninvitingly roam across my body, and for me to come along for the ride.

She tongue slammed against my bottom lip and demanded entrance. I obliged. But then she did something that crossed a line she had been bordering on for so long: her hands moved to the buckle of my belt and attempted to undo it.

I pushed her away. "No, Jess. I don't want that!" I hissed.

"Oh yes you do." she argued, slamming herself against me. She didn't hesitate to move her hands back to their former position and push her tongue into my mouth.

"Stop!" I commanded, pushing her back a few feet.

"Why, Eddykinz?" she whined.

"Look, Jess, I have a lot of things going on in my life right now, and I don't think I'm ready for that." I said much more calmly. Having that happen right now would make things a lot more complicated. And I simply didn't want to do it with her.

"You're denying me this just because your dad died?" she asked, obviously shocked. "He was a retard anyway. All he ever did was serious stuff, not even having fun like we are. You like fun don't you, Eddie?"

"You think my father was a retard?" I asked, my tone dripping with surprise. My father had never been the pinnacle of kindness, but none the less he was my father.

"Yeah, but who cares? He's dead. I don't think he'd mind if we had some fun." she growled, taking a step toward me.

"Maybe not, but I would." I spat. "Look, Jess, these past months have been . . . interesting, but I-" I was cut off by an angry Jessica.

"Are breaking up with me?!" she shrieked. I nodded. "You ass! Get the hell out of my sight! I never want to you ever again!"

I walked away happily. I had never loved Jessica. I had never wanted to be friends with her. Now that I think about, it I can't even remember why I pretended to at all. Was it to show everyone that I had supposedly move on? I pushed the thoughts out of my mind as I made my way towards a good spot to sit. I'd need some thinking time.

~!~!~!~!~!~

I was glad I had arrived at school almost an hour early. The ordeal with Jessica had taken over twenty minutes. Not only did I have time to think, but to also read. Ever since my first biology class with Bella, I had meant to read Wuthering Heights again, just to attempt to see it from her view. My read was going along smoothly. The twists and turns in the book kept me content until I heard a familiar, slimy voice.

"Come here. I want to show you something." Mike Newton said. I heard his voice coming from the back of the building. It was a quiet voice, so I edged closer to the sound. Who was he talking to?

"You'll love this. I just know you will." he said in an attempt to produce a husky voice. My eyes peered around the edge of the brick wall. He was with Bella! She was against the wall, and by the looks of it, afraid of Mike. His face was in a very small proximity to hers, and his hands were already around her waist. They traveled downwards toward the hem of her red shirt.

"Why am I going to do this?" she whispered. She was slumped against the wall, and making efforts to push away Mike's over-eager hands.

"Because you love me, that's why." he purred.

"No I don't!" she protested. His hands were moving farther up her stomach.

"Yes you do, now shut up!" he spat. Bella attempted to fight back, but his hand went over her mouth. Her hands were flailing in the air, trying unsuccessfully to swat mike away. I heard a muffled scream filter through his fingers.

I stepped forward boldly. "Get away from her, you sick creature!" I yelled. Mike froze and his eyes shifted to my enraged face.

"Why should I? She wants this just as much as I do." he said nonchalantly, as if he raped girls all the time. Though you can't help but wonder . . .

I ran forward and grabbed Mike's shirt collar. "If you ever touch her again, I swear to the good Lord that you will die!" I hissed. My fist retracted backwards slowly, and then shot forward at a blinding speed. Blood dripped out of his nose as he howled in pain. His eyes swerved upward to mine, anger shining brightly in his blue irises. "Leave." I spat.

Like a dog that had just been scolded, he hurried off. Bella was lying on her side, shaking. Her face had become even paler. I gently scooped her up from the dirt and cuddled her to my chest. She stopped shaking and looked at me. Though I knew she had lost all of her memory, her eyes held a majestic wisdom. Even in such a frenzied state, I couldn't help but admit that she was the most magnificent thing I had ever seen.

"Do you want me to set you down?" I asked warily. She was probably scared of me now after watching me boil with anger like that.

"No. I know I'm safe with you." she answered. Her voice was smooth and steady.

"How do you know?" I questioned. How could she know she was safe in my arms? For all she knew about me now, she might not know my name.

"Because I know I love you, that's why." she replied. I'm sure I looked shock, because she continued. "I feel like I don't know anything. But I know I love you. I have this one image in my mind where you're in this place with grass and flowers, and you're telling me that you love me. And I feel it, too. The love." she paused. "You do love me don't you? Because after you told me that you loved me, you did this thing with your lips on mine. It was fun!" she chirped. She remembered the meadow?

I chuckled at that last sentence. "That lip thing is called is called a kiss. And yes, I do love you." I mentally slapped myself. Don't intrude on her life, Edward! You're such a dope. my conscious screamed.

"I want to try it. The kiss." Bella decided. "Can we? Please?" she begged, drawing out the word.

"Are you sure you want to?"

"Yes." she replied. She closed her eyes and gave me power. I leaned in slowly, testing the water. "Shouldn't this go faster?" she whispered. I chuckled and resumed my slow lean. She grabbed my head from the back and pulled my face to hers roughly. For someone who had lost all of their memory, she was not a bad kisser. Her hands played with my messy hair, mine doing the same with her silky hair. It was so soft! My fingers moved to her cheek and stroked the soft skin there. She pulled away, gasping.

"That was . . . amazing." she breathed. "What was that tingling I felt?"

"That, my dear, was love." I explained before she pulled my face back to hers.

Chapter End Notes:

I finally get a happy ending out! Took a while, but I did. I hope you guys liked that, but the only way I can know is if you leave a review. *hint hint*