49.
I stop my car near First Beach. Bella and I have been sitting together for almost twenty minutes and we haven't talked of anything except when we greeted each other outside her house.
She wants to talk.
"So..." I start.
She looks at me uncomfortably. "Can we walk on the beach?"
Alright. "Yeah, sounds like an idea to me", I smile at her.
She jumps out, tosses her sandals back in and heads to the shore with bare feet.
What is with that?
I catch up to her and see that her eyes are closed and she's breathing in the air. "Bella", I say.
Her eyes re-open. "You kissed me", she sounds emotionless.
"I remember", I say.
"Why?"
"I felt like it", I smirk. There's no harm in having some fun, is there?
"I liked it when you kissed me too", she admits guiltily.
Guilt. That's what is bothering her. And me.
But she liked the kiss!
"Paul never mentioned me to anyone,", she says looking at me. "He was hardly ever in town, claiming that he had business to deal with. He… didn't tell me that he loved me. On the other hand, I loved him madly. We fought often and he went out drinking after one of our disagreements."
"Why are you saying this to me?" I ask. "I'm no one to you."
"You are someone to me, Edward Cullen", she says. "You're the man who taught me how to move on in life."
I taught her that? Huh? How? Am I missing something here?
"The way you caring for your nephew", she goes on. "It touches my heart. I haven't met your sister or Emmett but from what I've heard, you were there for them too. You're the kind of man who doesn't leave anyone who needs him. You're a good person. Just seeing you interact with Masen gives me hope that not all days are dark."
"Do you feel something for me?"
"I don't know that yet."
At least she's telling the truth.
"I want to move on", she says. "I want leave Paul and our shit all behind."
~X~
I drop her off home and the next thing I know I'm standing outside of Forks' Graveyard.
I've been meaning to come here for some time.
I go to Mom's grave first, then Rosalie and Emmett's. Last but not least, I go to my father. I crouch down on my knees and read the engraving on the white marble stone.
"Hi Dad", I whisper. "Please don't be disappointed in me. I get it that it's not my fault you were killed but as far as Rose and Mom are concerned, I could have done something. I don't know what I could have done but-"
I pause.
"I should have taken better care of Ma while she was recovering. I should have spoken to Rose about the side effects of having unprotected sex. I should have done something!" I'm almost shouting. "I'm so sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry that I failed you and wasn't able to be the man of the house."
Rose became a teenage mother under my watch.
I love her son more than one can imagine but that doesn't stop me from thinking that he held her back in so many places.
I don't regret his birth or resent him in anyway.
It is what it is.
Even I have to let go.
Did their talk end the way you wanted it to? Do you agree with what B said about E? And what about Eddie's episode in the graveyard?
I want some nice LONG reviews! Can I get them? :)