-:- 6 -:-

Betas: ChocolateMango and Beautifulnightmarex

Summary (made by Ele05gs): Edward and Angela are the two people Bella counts on the most. But what do you do when those closest to you start acting suspiciously? Is it okay to doubt them? To think they are hiding something from you? Or should you just trust them with everything you have? Bella doesn't know what to do, but we are about to find out...

-:- Heart of stone -:-

Bella and Edward had been together for almost a year now, and Bella was still totally head over heels for him. She'd never thought she would find someone as amazing as Edward. But every time she looked at him, or kissed or touched him, it felt like the first time all over again. That tingly feeling in her stomach never seemed to go away.

However, about a week ago, Edward had started to act weird around her. He seemed distant, and when she looked at him, he became nervous and avoided her eyes. She didn't really know what to think of it, so she went to Angela, her best friend, for some advice.

"He's acting weird, Angie," she said quietly, fidgeting with the sleeves of her hoodie. "It's never been like this before. He seems distracted, like his mind is somewhere else. He doesn't listen to me anymore, and when I ask what's wrong, he just barks at me that everything is fine, even though I know something is clearly bothering him!"

Bella was pacing back and forth across the room, trying to figure things out.

"It doesn't sound that weird, Bella," Angela said. "Maybe he is having problems at home. You know it's not easy for him. Or maybe the pressure at school is becoming too much or―"

"That doesn't explain why he was two hours late yesterday!" Bella snapped. "He said he'd come to me after practice, but he didn't. When I asked him about it, he came up with some lame excuse that he went for a drink with the guys in the canteen."

"And that's strange because?" Angela arched her brow.

"Because the canteen isn't open after practice." Bella threw her hands in the air. "He's lying to me." She pulled angrily at her ponytail. Was she going to lose Edward? After everything they'd been through?

To Bella's surprise, Angela acted indifferently. "Boys," she said lightly. "They are always acting odd. I wouldn't think too much of it if I were you."

And before Bella could continue, Angela made it clear she had to leave to go to the hairdresser.

"Okay, I guess I'll see you later then." And with that, she left. Bella had felt torn as soon as the lie left Angela's mouth. She'd been to the hairdresser at the beginning of the week.

Both her boyfriend and best friend were lying to her. What's going on?

During the ride home, Bella felt nauseous. She had no one to go to.

First, her boyfriend started to act weird with the hiding and lying, and then Angela was writing it off like it wasn't big deal, like it didn't even interest her. Bella had to fight hard to keep the tears away.

-:-

A few days later, Edward drove Bella home after school. He acted like nothing was wrong between the two of them, as if he hadn't lied to her at all. Bella chose to ignore it. Maybe she had imagined it; maybe her mind had played tricks on her.

They were lying on Bella's bed, just cuddling and enjoying each other's company, while soft music played in the back ground.

Bella's eye fell on the picture on her nightstand.

"I miss her," she whispered as she looked at the picture. It was one of Bella standing on a beach with her beloved pug, Cookie, cuddled in her arms. Cookie's tongue was hanging out of her mouth so it seemed like she was smiling as well.

"I know you do," Edward said tenderly as he tightened his embrace.

"It was a silly name though," he added jokingly after a while, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

Bella shoved him. "Shut up, you! I was five!"

She smiled at the memory. Bella's parents, Renee and Charlie, had given their daughter the liberty of choosing any name she wanted. She hadn't had that much imagination, so she decided on either Unicorn or Cookie. Her parents had taken Cookie as the most suitable one of her choices.

"She was amazing, though," Bella mumbled. The name had suited the pug brilliantly, because after every meal she begged for a cookie and she would follow Bella throughout the entire house until she got one.

Cookie had been Bella's best friend. She would wait for her owner in the hall until Bella came home from school. She would bring her leash so that Bella would go for a walk with her. She would whine and push her little snout against Bella's leg until Bella caved and took her on her lap. Cookie had been spoiled, but everyone in the family loved her. She was treated as a second child.

However, about two months ago, Cookie started to act strange. She wouldn't come out of her basket; she didn't whine for a cookie, and she didn't bring her leash. She didn't wait in the hall; she just lay there, barely moving, barely knowing what was going on around her. The bit of food she ate came right out again. Cookie had always been energetic, running around. So with a heavy heart, Bella and Edward had gone to the vet. Everyone thought it was just old age. Pugs could reach the age of fifteen, some even older. Cookie was twelve.

It was possible…

However, when the diagnosis finally came, everyone had been devastated.

Brain tumor.

No one had seen it coming. For Bella, it had felt like the ground was kicked out under her feet. She couldn't even remember all the questions that were asked. The only thing she still knew was that she said goodbye to her best friend. She remembered Cookie being taken away from her to go to surgery. She never came out.

Bella had been in a catatonic state for a while. She couldn't accept the fact that her dog was gone. That she wouldn't feel her in her arms anymore; that Cookie wouldn't be there when she got home from school or that her little pug wouldn't wake her up in the morning. After a while, though, it finally sunk in.

Bella had been lucky to have Edward, Angela, and her parents to help her. She just couldn't recall a day where Cookie hadn't been with her. Now, two months later, Bella had made peace with it. She missed Cookie terribly, but she stopped looking for her around the house.

The screeching sound of Edward's phone brought her back to the present. He took his phone out, read the message, and put the phone on the nightstand. Bella asked who it was, like she did most of the time. It wasn't to pry; she was just curious.

"Oh, someone from practice," Edward replied absentmindedly. "He wants to know if I'm coming over tomorrow after school."

"I thought we were going to watch a movie," Bella said reluctantly. Edward always came over on Friday night. They would make dinner together before they went out with their group of friends or watch a movie.

"I guess I can't tomorrow." He pushed her away, not so gently, and got up. He walked out of the room toward the bathroom.

How can he go from being loving and warm to this cold iceberg? Bella wondered. A nagging feeling started to creep in her stomach.

"Don't do it," she whispered to herself, clenching her fists as she looked at his phone. She couldn't take his phone. It was private. But she knew Edward was lying; she could always tell. Reluctantly, she took the phone and went to his inbox.

Her mouth fell open. That last message hadn't been from one of the guys. It had been from Angela: "You coming over tomorrow?"

Tears welled up in her eyes. How could he? How could he lie to her like that, and with her best friend?

A few minutes later, Edward came back to find a seething Bella on her bed.

"How dare you!" she snapped at him as she threw the phone toward him. "I trusted you!"

"What are you talking ab–?" he stammered as he ducked to avoid flying pillows.

"Get out!" Bella shouted. She marched toward him, pushing him out of her room.

"I never want to see you again!" She slammed the door in his face. Edward stayed at her door for a few minutes, asking what was wrong, but after a while he gave up and went away.

The next morning, Bella told her mom she was sick. She didn't want to go to school, because Edward and Angela would be there.

She got several messages from Edward. "You okay? Can we talk, please? Love, E."

She hadn't wanted to reply, but her mind formed the words without even thinking.

"I thought you had to be with Angela after school. Keep your love for her, bastard!"

Her phone buzzed a couple of times, but she just turned it off. Edward was the last person she wanted to talk to right now. She couldn't believe it. He was cheating on her. With Angela! Of all people, he chose her best friend.

Bella stayed in bed the whole day, refusing to come out for dinner, and she didn't go out with her friends like she normally did on Friday night.

Sunday wasn't any different. Bella stayed in bed, feeling miserable and betrayed, but the first time since she'd found out about Edward and Angela, she was able to eat a bit. Renee had figured out things were rough between her daughter and Edward but was sweet enough not to ask for details.

During Sunday afternoon, Renee came in for another check-up.

"Honey, Edward and Angela are here. He wants to see you. Can you come down?" She sat beside her daughter, gently caressing her back.

"Tell him I don't want to see him," Bella mumbled in her pillow, throwing a blanket over her head.

"Are you sure?" Renee persisted, gently taking away the blanket.

"Yes, I'm sure. I don't need people like them in my life."

"Maybe you should come downstairs, honey. You don't want to miss this."

That spiked Bella's curiosity, just like Renee knew it would. With a heavy head, Bella crawled out of bed and stumbled down the stairs. Edward was standing in the doorway, looking extremely awkward. Bella looked at him for one second and decided it wasn't worth the pain. Before she could turn around, he called her name.

She looked back, and Angela stepped out behind Edward with the cutest little bulldog in her arms. She put it carefully on the floor and the little puppy stumbled toward Bella. It had a blue ribbon around its white furry neck.

Bella almost choked as tears fell on her cheeks. "What is this?"

"I'm sorry I hurt you," Edward said, love radiating through his eyes. "Angela and I have been planning this for a while now, and you know how bad we are at keeping secrets from you."

The puppy finally made it toward Bella and it pushed its little, wet snout against her toe. Bella crouched down and picked it up. Her heart had already taken this little one in.

"She's gorgeous." It squeaked a little, but then found a way to lay comfortable in Bella's arms.

"She is yours." Edward smiled lovingly at her.

"We knew how much you missed Cookie, and you weren't the same after she passed away. We just…we don't want to replace her, but we wanted to do something nice for you," Angela said sincerely. "You have to know, Bella, that I would never do something to hurt you. Neither would Edward. I'd never ever try to take him from you."

Bella saw how quick she had been to making assumptions and wanted to kick herself for being so incredibly judgmental. She was wrong.

Bella ran toward her friends. She took them in an awkward, one-armed hug, earning chuckles from the both of them.

"I'm so sorry I didn't trust you," she whispered, tears falling on her cheeks. "Thank you so much, both of you."

She felt the puppy lick her arm, and she knew everything would be all right again.