N/A: So, as I promised, this is the edited version of the chapter. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

And thanks a lot for the reviews! I love the favorites and alerts, of course. But reviews make my day!

Just one thing makes me sad. Everyone just review this story! The other ones are there in my profile, forgotten. They are not that bad, guys. Give a shot, okay?

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my friend, Zie, who makes time to fix my awful English mistakes.

The chapter itself it's a bit different, just a few sentences. They don't interfere with the final result.

Chapter 16

Every Me, Every You

"In the shape of things to come

Too much poison comes undone

Cuz there's nothing else to do,

Every me and every you."

Placebo – Every Me, Every You

BPOV

I woke up feeling crappy and groggy because of the painkillers I took yesterday for the pain and noticed Edward was already out of bed. It was just a bit past 7 am. I sat up and whipped my damp hair out of my face and looked out of the window.

It was snowing.

Really snowing, like someone had pressed up the bottom of "winter" climate, so, instead of golden, slightly cold autumn, we were in "frost tundra" modality. Park Avenue seemed too different and almost silent outside, with one or another person, braver enough to face the elements. I shivered, thinking how cold it must be outside and if Edward made his way to the Lincoln Center safely.

It wasn't cold out of the bed because someone – probably Edward, remembered to turn on the heater in his bedroom. Since his parents knew we were dating, there was no need to pretend we weren't. I think they were happy for us, especially Esme. It seems like Edward, during his College years, was the "ladies man" type, with too many girlfriends and too much little relationship, his brother and sister included.

I felt so guilty about that, Emmett and Alice not talking with Edward, I mean. I know they did, partially, because of me. We were really good friends in High School. It's awful to think, because what happened to us – all the misunderstanding and miscommunication, they got apart. When I think Lauren – and I caused all it, because part of the fault was mine – I start fuming.

Scowling a bit, I pushed Lauren back to the end of the line. I'd find a way to deal with Lauren – and that harpy of her aunt, with time. But things were going my way, this time. My terms.

I went to the bathroom, washed my face and brushed my teeth and hair. Just because I was staying indoors today, it doesn't mean that I have to walk around looking like a witch or something. I was almost suspended, but I didn't lose my dignity. Yet. I put on my favorite faded jeans and an old sweatshirt and headed to the dinning room, to grab some breakfast.

And, to my surprise, found my almost-home mates sitting there and eating breakfast, I mean, Edward was, because both Emmett ("No, man. You can't just transfer the guy like that. I know he's a con, but…") and Alice ("I'm so sorry, Kelly, but it'll be impossible to get to Washington Square today, I mean, it's 20 inches of snow outside. It's like the Ice Age") were on the phone, looking both a bit desperate.

"Hey", I said, approaching Edward and kissing his temple, before taking a seat on his side. His hair smelled like fresh lemons and pine today. He looked at me and flashed my favorite crooked smile.

"Hey, you. Did you sleep well?" he asked, pouring some fresh, hot coffee in cup and handing it to me.

"Yes, but I'm feeling a bit groggy." I took a sip and almost moaned in bliss as the caffeine got into my system, "Aren't you going to practice today?" I asked, crossing my fingers to his answer would be negative.

I think he noticed my anxious face because his smile grew wide as he passed the bagels. I picked up one and passed on a generous layer of cream cheese.

"No, today, I'll be practicing home. So, do you have any plans?" he asked. His eyebrows furrowing. "Like work? Aren't you late?"

I sighed, preparing myself to the battle. "No, I got a little vacation… because of the wrist."

My voice broke in the end of the sentence and Edward narrowed his green eyes.

"Bella."

I gulped and continued, speaking very fast "Okay, so I got a little vacation because I tripped and fell because I was running away from Jacob. So, my boss gave me some time off, since I can't do my work because of the hand and…"

"Hold on a second." He interrupted me. "What do you mean with 'tripped and fell because of Jacob.'"

Oops.

I bit my lip and looked at him. His face was hard and sharp and he had curled his fists. This is what I didn't want," Edward getting upset because of my little struggle with Jacob.

"So..." he trailed, "Is that why you didn't call me when you were at the hospital?"

"You were at work." I said, feeling awful. Somehow, my plan of letting the Jacob story out of it didn't seem so brilliant now.

He got up, looking angry. "Bella. That guy hurt you and you didn't say anything because I was at work? You didn't think that I would have left anything I could be doing to take you home and support you? You lied to me!"

I nodded, feeling ashamed. Of course I knew he would have done just that. Left everything behind to check on me and take care of me. But I really needed to stand up for this on my own. I had this impression I always stayed behind others when it was about my own business.

"I'm sorry." I muttered. "I didn't want to upset you."

His angry face faded at the same instant. He sat down again and cupped my face with his big, warm hands, but, as usual, very carefully.

"I'm not, sweetie. Not with you. I just hate the idea that guy hurt you and didn't come to me. Damn, Bella I'm your boyfriend. You didn't even give me the chance to punch the guy." I rolled my eyes at him and Edward smirked, amusement in his eyes now. His changes of humor always left me puzzled and out of breathe. But I knew the worst was over now. "Seriously, what kind of boyfriend can I be if I can't even defend my girl?"

"The type who doesn't want to get arrested?" I said, crooking an eyebrow at him.

He thought for a second. "Good point."

I smiled when he said that. I loved this. Being his girlfriend and by his side. He bent closer and, gently, pressed his lips against mine. I closed my eyes and tasted the coffee on his lips. It was addicting.

I heard someone sniffing and we turned to see Emmett and Alice watching us with teary eyes and holding the napkin close to their chests.

"You two are so cute together." Said Alice, whipping a tear off her face.

"Seriously, man. It's far better than that soap opera they put on Lifetime Channel." Said Emmett, snorting.

I blushed furiously and Edward grabbed an apple from the basket and threw it at them across the table "Fuck you two. At least, I have a girlfriend."

"Hey, I have a girlfriend too!" protested Emmett, grabbing the apple in the air. Edward raised an eyebrow.

"I think Rosalie said for you to butt out of her relationship."

"Funny, I'm speaking of Kate. Kate Denali, blonde and gorgeous, who lives two stories down this apartment? She's my girlfriend. I don't need to date Rosalie Hale." He bit the apple "I have my own hot, blonde chick. Plus, she thinks I'm husband material." He added with a wicked grin.

The three of us snorted. Nothing personal, I love Emmett as much as everyone, but I wouldn't marry him.

"The poor girl doesn't know what's she's talking about." Smirked Alice, raising a spoon filled with strawberry yogurt and granola and eating it, "If she saw your room, she definitely wouldn't be saying that kind of stuff."

Emmett frowned his face at her "Hey, just because you'll be baby sitting my kids, you don't have to be all bitchy." He said, quoting something Alice said to him a few days ago. Edward and I cracked up when Alice got up, looking livid.

"Oh, my God! I can't believe you had the guts to say that, Emmett Cullen! Because there is no fucking way that I'll be single until you put a ring in someone's finger. "

Emmett leaned against the back of his chair and looked at her with a tiny smirk on his face "Wanna bet?"

"Screw you, Emmett!" said Alice, her face red as a tomato.

"I mean it. Do you wanna bet that I'll be getting married and all that Martha Stewart stuff before you?"

Alice studied her brother's face for a second and then she said. "Deal. If I don't get married before I get thirty, I'll baby-sit your children. But if you don't, oh, sweetie. Saturday night will be dedicated to your nephews for a year."

Emmett stretched his massive hand and Alice took it with her tiny one. "Deal."

The rest of the breakfast, we spent jesting and chatting. It was easy to see mornings like that. After that, we all sat in the living room, each one with our own laptop and started working. Just because we weren't going to work because of the storm, it didn't mean the work was buried in snow.

I made some research and read some articles on Internet about Forensics. Edward was composing on his laptop, his head on my lap, so I could stroke his soft bronze hair as much I wanted and from time to time, he handed me his earphones and played to me. I never, before, was part of a composition. But it looked so complex. I was flattered because he let me hear it before it was done.

"Ha!" said Emmett, after one hour. "Bella, check this out." He turned his laptop and I saw a picture of Jacob on the online first page of the NY Times. He was wearing a wrinkled suit and sunglasses. Alice took a peek and laughed.

"Jesus, who does this guys just think he is? Horatio Caine?"

But Edward wasn't laughing. "Is this jackasses case over?" he asked Emmett.

"Well, yeah. He even says some kind of crap like 'the citizens of NY can rest now, since we got the perp.'" Emmett grimaced. "It's been a while since I read so much bullshit.

I typed in the site of the Times and read the article "Well, actually, he was in a big shot case." The other three raised their eyebrows, alarmed.

Scream "crime" in NY and no one will even blink. But shout "serial killer" and people will panic in a second. They were not common, but, yeah, it happens. I shrugged "At least, now he doesn't have a reason to be here anymore, so he can take his smug butt back to Seattle, where he belongs."

Edward picked up my hand and kissed it, but I could see the smile didn't reach his eyes "That's definitely good news."

"Hey, Bella." Called Alice, "Did Carmen say when we can move in?"

"She said we could move tomorrow." I said and everyone stopped what they were doing to look at me, wide eyed. Alice gasped. I hurried to say:

"She just sent me an e-mail letting us know." I knew Alice was starting to freak out with excitement, and would find a way to convince us to face the snow storm to check on the house, so I quickly added." She attached some photos, too." Oh, I think I said the magic words, because Emmett and Alice hurried to my side, so the four of us were staring at the screen of my lap top. No, Sir. No trips through Iceland to check on houses. I know, it's my house, but we will just freeze our butts outside.

The pictures showed a very different house that I remembered. Nothing of the horrible mustard. The walls were all creamy and warm, with some details in yellow and deep blue here and there. She kept most of my old Grandma's furniture, but all restored. My bedroom had a pretty shade of blue, not too girly, but still feminine. The result was very nice. We were checking on Alice's new room – very nice, Japanese style, when one of the maids – Clarissa, this time, appeared at the door and said.

"Excuse me, but Miss Denali is here to see Mr. Edward."

Edward pressed his lips in a tight line and I looked at him curiously. He looked at me and said. "I'll be right back." And kissed, lightly, my cheek.

I knew it was Tanya who wanted to talk to Edward. I just didn't understand why she just didn't come in and say "hi". Because she definitely didn't have trouble of doing that when I met her, last week.

I didn't like this.

EPOV

I went to the Family Room where I knew Tanya was waiting, feeling both pissed and guilty, because I didn't like to argue with Tanya. She was, after all, my friend from College. But it was annoying the way she was always trying to get something else. I never saw her like that. She had to respect that. On the other hand, I wished I hadn't scowled at her the way I did.

Why do women have to be so complicated?

She got up when I came in, looking pale and, to my surprise, with no make up at all. Her eyes were also a bit red, as she was crying.

"Tanya." I said, my shoulders falling a bit "What happened? Why are you crying?"

She whipped her tears and said. 'I'm not crying. I just came here to check if everything is okay between us. Because I guess I kind of screwed up yesterday, didn't I?"

I passed my fingers through my hair, trying to figure it out what was best. Tanya was my friend and I liked her, but I knew the fact she was in love with me – if it was true – could be a problem. But you don't dump someone, especially a friend, just because the person is in love with you and you are not. So, I decided not pushing her away, but I'd make myself clear.

"Tanya, I want to make things right with you, because I didn't act right. I shouldn't have responded that way… that was rude."

"Edward..." She trailed, but I interrupted her.

"I want stay friend with you, Tanya. But that's all. I love Bella and only her. If you can't understand that, we can't go on. Got it?"

Her face went pale and she nodded. "Of course. I won't stay in the way. So, are we… in peace?" she asked, her deep blue eyes examining my face. I nodded and smiled at her.

"Yes."

She flashed a faint smile and said. "Good. So, are you going to practice later? I'm having a bit of difficulty. I was never good playing Strauss songs. Could you give me some help?" she clenched her teeth, looking embarrassed, "Please?"

"Actually, I can't. We are going to move in to the new house tomorrow, so we all kind of have to pack and everything."

Tanya looked surprise and, tried to not look too disappointed. "Oh! Wow. Tomorrow?" I nodded and she said. "You guys need some help?"

"I think we are all good, but, thanks, " I said. I wondered for how long things would be odd between Tanya and me, "Sorry about not helping you."

"Oh, no! It's okay. I'll call Maggie or Tia later… they don't live that far and I'll practice with one of them." She shrugged. "It's not a big deal."

"Sorry, Tanya."

She waved, dismissing my apologies and picked up her keys. "Chill, Edward. It's nothing. Good luck with the moving. With this weather, you are going to need it. Tell Bella I said "hi.'"

Tanya left and I went back to Bella, who looked at me, a bit puzzled. I saw my siblings babbling in front of Alice's computer and I sat on the couch next to Bella and put her on my lap. She snuggled closer and I inhaled her delicious smell.

"What did she want?" she asked, in a light tone. Too light.

I moved her, so I could look straight into her eyes and said:

"Nothing important, Bella. We had a little argument yesterday and she came to apologize."

Bella looked at me, surprised. "You two argued? Why?"

There was no sense in lying, because later, this could be a problem. I accepted Tanya's friendship, but I was ready to let it go, if this would threaten my relationship with Bella.

"Because she crossed the line. But it's okay, now. I told her that I prefer brunettes."

Bella's eyes went wide and she got pale, "Edward, did Tanya hit on you?"

"She tried, but I said her to butt off. Its okay, Bella, she got the message."

She looked at me, scared, and I pulled her to a long, melting bones kiss.

"Bella," I whispered. "I love you. Now and forever. Tanya knows that. And you know that too. You don't have anything to worry about. Tanya is my friend; you are my girlfriend, my companion, my soul mate. Never doubt that."

Bella seemed satisfied with my answer because she nodded and leaned back into my chest. I sighed, content. I had my angel back. My siblings were talking to me again and I kept my best friend from College – how many people can say the same? And I'd deal with her silly crush on me.

And I'd deal with Jacob Black as well.

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