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Witfit Prompt: "I need a change of pace."

Present time...

I think of that year without her while I run.

Nothing specific, no particular memory. Just flashes of emotions.

I kicked Lauren to the curb since then. We were always off and on anyway, and she never meant a thing.

I found out from Rose and Alice that Mike cheated on her and she broke up with him.

I reached out to her about three months later.

An email, apologizing for everything, wishing her a happy birthday. It was the first time I'd ever miss one.

But I'm running now because fuck, I don't want to miss anything in this woman's life again.

I want to be right there, next to her, loving her. Only her...

My Angelgirl.

I run up the stairs to Bella's apartment and knock frantically.

The door opens.

"Bella please, I..."

"Edward?"

Alice.

"Huh? Uh, Alice, where's B? I need to talk to her," I pant, looking over her shoulder to peer into the apartment.

"She's not here." She looks surprised to see me.

"Where is she? Please, Bella? Are you here... Please I need to talk just... c'mon!" I shout.

"Woah, woah there, Edward. I'm telling you the truth. She's not here."

"Then where is she? Please, Alice," I'm begging at this point, and I really don't care how it looks.

"You don't know? I thought you of all people would know..." She looks confused.

"What? What, Alice! Spit it out!"

"Okay, jeez! She left an hour ago to the airport!"

"The airport? What the hell for?"

"She's going to Paris. She won a fellowship for six months. Something about painting with the masters or something like that!"

"What? Fuck!" I'm pacing the hall of her apartment. I don't know what to do. Impulse is telling me to go after her. But we all know what my impulses have caused in the past.

"She was pretty upset when she was here. She said, 'I need a change of pace.' What did you do?" She narrows her eyes and crosses her arms.

"She told me she's in love with me..."

"Uh huh, and?"

"What do you mean, 'and?' You knew?"

She rolls her eyes. "Edward, everyone knew."

Great. Fucking great. I'm the blind one, apparently.

"I love her, Alice. I do. I didn't get a chance to tell her before she stormed out and left. I need her. Please. What flight is she on?"

I'm going after her. She has to know how I feel. She can decide what she wants.

but I will tell her.

.

.

.

A/N: Yeah. um... yeah THE BIG chapter is next... in about 30 minutes...