Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

AN: So, I gave you guys an assignment (review), and I must say, you responded magnificently. :D Thank you all, my lovely reviewers! You have helped this story to, in eleven chapters, get more reviews than I'll Make a Believer out of You did in seventeen! Even more exciting, I only need one more review to break the one hundred mark!! :D So, because of that fantastic response, here's chapter twelve. :D I thought I wasn't going to have enough to say in this chapter, but, as always, Edward surprised me by having much more going through his head than I thought he would. :D But, even so, this one is a little short, I'm sorry. Now, read on!


I spent the rest of that day in the cemetery, going in circles. (figuratively, of course.)

I was now seeing better the consequences of my decision for everybody, not just me, but I still couldn't see a solution, a way to make things better.

The obvious avenue that would make my mother happy, at least, would be to make up with Bella, and continue on a path that would fulfill the conditions that would allow me to go on, allow both of us to escape this half-life we were trapped in.

But what was I supposed to say to Bella? "I'm sorry, but we were wrong originally, and it turns out I've fallen in love with you, so if you would be so kind as to return the sentiment and tell my past self that, I'll be on my way"? No, obviously, fulfilling the conditions for my release from earth was out.

So, I couldn't see a way to make my mother happy, but I had more pressing concerns.

I was more or less resigned to the fact that I was going to be miserable for the rest of my existence, along with my mother, but now I had somewhat snapped out of my self-indulgent fog of the last few days, and was trying desperately to think of a possible solution to make Bella happy.

Going and talking to her was out, because what could I say?

That we were wrong, but I couldn't tell her the right plan? No, I knew her, and she would work tirelessly until she figured it out.

That I'd fallen in love with her? Obviously not. It would just cause her unnecessary grief.

No, better to let her think I was angry with her, as much as that pained me. She would get over it in time, and be able to lead a happy life again. Which was just the way it should be. I was past saving now, but last least she could be happy.

So I'd made my decision, figured out a course of action(which was, basically, do nothing). But I still wasn't happy with it. I felt like I owed Bella more. And, as much as I might try and trick myself, I really didn't relish the thought of being trapped here for all of eternity, pining for a lost love. It sounds romantic in the context of a novel, but in real life - as I was realizing after only a few days - it sucked.

But, I was still unable to come up with a better solution, so I returned to the house. I still wasn't ready to face my mother, but I realized how little time I might have left to even see Bella, because who knew when she would move away.


When I reached the house, darkness had already fallen, and as I drifted into Bella's room, luckily not having encountered my mother yet, she was already sleeping.

It was an uneasy sleep, and even though I was there the whole night, she never quieted, tossing, turning, and muttering in her sleep until morning. I wondered what was bothering her, and wished I could comfort her.

When she woke, looking distinctly unrested, her parents were already gone.

I left her alone for a brief time, because I am not a totally unscrupulous stalker, and when I returned, she was rummaging in her desk drawers for something. I was happy that she seemed to be moving on, concentrating on something else, until I realized what she held in her hands.

As I drifted near the ceiling of the piano room, watching her thumb through my worn diaries, I figured she was again trying to see what she'd gotten wrong, figure out another plan.

But, as she sat there, staring at a certain page in one of the journals, with the old photo clutched in her other hand, I could've sworn I saw moisture in her eyes, and wondered if perhaps I was wrong.

But I didn't have time to puzzle over that very long, as right at that moment, she started to disappear. I started as a gradual blurring of her image, then a rapid fading, and by the time I had my wits about me enough to do something, she was gone.


I was in a near panic for a moment, not knowing where she'd gone, but also having a small suspicion of where it might be, but not one that was at all comforting.

My fears were confirmed a moment later, when I felt the familiar sensation of a new memory washing over me.

I was thrilled to see her, naturally, as she hadn't been back for a week, and I'd wondered if she had left.

I watched him greet her enthusiastically, and then, soon after they had sat down in the little wicker swing on the porch, I heard in the memory-thoughts what I had been dreading. Unrestrained by any of the fears that held me back, my past self had made his decision. He was going to tell her.

I could barely bear to watch the destruction of all my careful plans, but yet I was morbidly curios to see how he would say the words that I had wanted to say for so long. Regardless, I couldn't have stopped it if I'd wanted to.

"Isabella," he started, making sure to catch and hold her gaze before continuing. "Before this summer, I've never known anyone who I wanted to spend time with in a way other than my mother and father. I've never really even had a friend, someone my own age, that I've wanted to spend more time with than just the boys playing baseball, football. But this summer, Isabella. I feel like I could spend hours just talking to you. Before this summer, my biggest wish was to join the war. I love my mother and father, Isabella, but I was willing to leave them behind for that. But this summer, I found that there was maybe something I wouldn't sacrifice for that." he was building up to it, and she could tell, I was sure, but her face was unreadable. "Isabella, I love you." her face barely changed after his pronouncement, but he seemed to see something in it, because he leaned towards her. "May I?"

"yes," she breathed, and my heart leapt before I savagely beat it down. Because of course she couldn't actually mean it, there had to be some explanation, there was no way -

with my obsessing over her acceptance, I'd missed the memory kiss, but was pulled back by Bella's next words, confirming my worst fears and dearest hopes. "I love you."


AN: And there we have it!! Casper finally knows the truth. But what does he think of it? You'll have to wait for next chapter to find out!! mwa ha ha. :D

I must say, I love some of his lines in this chapter. :) But I'm worried the ending maybe fell a little flat, I hope it didn't. :P

As I said, you can expect that one sunday night, because I won't have internet all weekend. Which means I probably won't see a lot of your reviews until sunday, but I will be looking forward to lots in my inbox (hint, hint) when I get back ;). And now, I must say again a huge thank you to all of my last chapter reviewers!! You make my day!!

Have an excellent weekend!

-SkySong :)