Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, Stephenie Meyer does.

A/N: I am soooo sorry this took about a week and a half for me to write.

I had been super busy this entire time and could not get any writing done. I hope this chapter makes up for the wait. I love it, so enjoy!

Review!

My Dark Angel

Chapter 17

Kiss

"Bella! That is incredible! I can't believe that happened!" Alice shouted while we were in the car driving back to my house after I told her what had happened with Edward and the meadow.

"I know! I am still in shock; I can't believe he brought me to the meadow. I can't believe it actually exists!" I replied with almost as much enthusiasm.

"How did it feel, seeing it and knowing that it is real?" Alice asked in amazement.

"Well, I was in complete shock. I didn't know what to think. I was happy and I was sad, I was confused and I was angry. There were a million emotions running through me Alice, it was so crazy."

"I can only imagine…. What did you do?" She asked, and I got a little embarrassed at the question.

"I cried." I told her. Alice raised an eyebrow.

"You cried?" She asked taken aback.

"Yeah, the meadow was so beautiful; I hadn't seen its beauty in such a long time that I couldn't control my emotions. I lied down in the middle and began to cry, just like in my dreams. When I was there, it reminded me of my dark angel and how I had lost him. The pain came back with a new sting and I cried even more when I realized that he wasn't there."

"But Edward was there."

"Yeah, he was, but we still don't know for sure that Edward is my dark angel. That is just some crazy hypothesis that you came up with."

"Bella… all of this is crazy, but it's happening. You have to believe. You honestly cannot tell me that Edward is not your dark angel."

"I don't know Alice. It felt like he was there in the meadow, that he was all around me, but I couldn't see him. I only saw Edward, but maybe that meant something."

"Uhhh….yeah! That it's Edward."

I rolled my eyes and Alice rolled hers as well.

"Face the facts Bella." She said.

"I'm trying Alice. Really, I am. I just need more proof."

We drove in silence for another minute or so until we finally pulled into my driveway.

"I just hope you finally make the decision." Alice said quietly as I put my truck into park.

"What decision?" I asked.

"You know, Edward or Jacob."

"Oh right, that decision." I said with a frustrated expression on my face.

We both exited my car and then walked into my house. Charlie was sitting on the sofa watching a game and Renee was around the house somewhere.

"Hey you two," Charlie said from the living room, not moving his eyes from the T.V. screen.

"Hey dad," I said.

"Hi Charlie!" Alice said happily. She was always quite fond of him; he was like a second father to her.

"Where's mom?" I asked.

"Oh she's out and about, roaming the streets of Forks trying to find another class to join."

"This late?" I wondered.

"Yeah, you know your mom; it's never too late to be young and hip."

We all laughed and Charlie shook his head.

"That woman is crazy," I heard him mumble, I couldn't help but smile. "So what have you two been up to?" Charlie suddenly asked.

I looked at Alice and she looked at me simultaneously. "Uh not much, I went over to a friend's house with Alice."

Charlie then turned to look at me from the living room. "What friend?" I looked back at Alice with slight alarm, I still hadn't told Charlie about Edward.

"Oh you know, my friend that I had been working on that science fair project with." I said all nonchalant.

Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Is this friend a guy or girl?" He asked speculatively.

"Guy," I quickly said as if it were no big deal. Charlie was surprised.

"Does Jacob know about this?"

"Yes dad. Jacob knows. It's no big deal." I replied.

"Well what's his name? This boy you've been working on projects and hanging out with?"

"His name is Edward, Edward Cullen." Charlie was even more surprised. Did he know Edward Cullen? If he did, then I was the one who was surprised. I had no idea that Charlie even knew he existed.

"Dr. Carlisle Cullen's son?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, that's him, I've met his family. They are really nice people," I added, I tried to make Charlie like them, especially him, as much as possible.

"Am I ever going to meet this Edward?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure dad, whenever you want."

"Good, I'll feel better about you hanging out with him once I meet the boy." He said. I looked at Alice and rolled my eyes, she just laughed. Charlie turned his attention back to the T.V.

"We're going upstairs now," I yelled to him, trying to talk over the loud and obnoxious sports game that he was so entranced by.

Charlie grunted a little bit, his way of acknowledging people's words when focused on something else.

Alice and I walked up to my bedroom. She sat on my bed and I closed the door behind me once I entered.

"You really need to tell them about Edward. I can't believe you haven't. He needs to meet your parents." Alice quickly said.

"Yeah I know; I'll get around to it."

"You better, because he is a really important person in your life and you don't want Charlie to hate him right off the bat. Especially if he meets him after the whole Jacob thing goes down."

"Yeah, you're definitely right about that." I nodded. She smirked.

"As I always am."

I laughed, "Are you sleeping here again tonight?" I asked her.

"Yeah, but I'm leaving tomorrow, I have to get back Monday for school." She answered.

"Okay, I wish you didn't have to leave. It has been great since you came to visit."

"I know; it has brought back so many memories. I've missed my best friend."

"Me too," I said with a smile. Alice reciprocated.

"I hope you'll be okay though once I leave. I want everything to be sorted out for you."

"I'll work on it."

"You better," Alice said sternly. I sighed and she smirked at me.

"God I am so tired," I said.

"I bet you are," Alice said raising an eyebrow.

We both got ready for bed; I took a quick shower then let Alice take one. We both finished brushing our teeth and putting our pajamas on then climbed onto my bed.

"Goodnight Alice," I said teasingly with a smile.

"Goodnight Bella."

I turned the lights off and we both dove under the covers and fell quickly to sleep. Though sleep wasn't the best place to be, the meadow that I was entering was not the same one I had seen today, but the same dark cold place I had come to fear and loathe. I knew that after seeing the meadow for real that I had to see it again. It was my only permanent evidence that my dark angel existed. I needed to see it again, I needed to lie in its beautiful flowers and smell its sweet fragrance. I would do anything to be there one more time, and I was certainly going to try soon…

"Bella," I heard a voice calling my name, it was soft and angelic, a high playful pitch.

"Five more minutes," I replied to the pretty, light voice.

"Bella, wake up." It said now with less softness and more force.

I slowly opened my eyes to see Alice sitting right next to me.

"Bella, I have to leave. Get up."

I opened my eyes fully and stood up from where I was laying. It was only 8:30A.M.

"So soon?" I asked with a yawn.

"Yes, there is only one flight to Alaska today and it's at 12:00. I need to quickly leave and get on the road."

"Oh, okay." I said as I got up. "Are you leaving right now?" I asked as I saw that she was fully dressed, make up on and hair perfectly in place.

"Yeah, I have to." She said sadly. I frowned, but she shook the look off.

We both headed downstairs, Alice said goodbye to Charlie and Renee, and then she turned to me.

"I'll miss you Bella," she said as she pulled me in for a hug.

"I'll miss you too Alice."

"I will visit soon!" She said then adding, "Please call me and answer my calls now!"

I smiled and nodded my head.

"Please take care of yourself, Bella," she whispered so that Charlie and Renee couldn't hear.

"I promise I will." I assured her.

"And please Bella... listen to your heart."

"I will Alice, I always will."

"Good," Alice said as we heard a honk outside. "My ride's here."

"Okay," I said to Alice, embracing myself for the departure.

"Bye everyone!" She chimed as she headed for the door.

"Bye Alice!" We called back to her.

I could see Alice's eyes watering a little and I felt my own doing the same. I watched as she entered the car waiting to take her back home. It was the same car I saw her by when she was waiting outside my house the other day. I didn't know when the next time would be that I would see my best friend again, but I did know that I would miss her dearly.

She sat in the back seat, turned her head and waved to me as the car slowly sped off into the foggy streets of Forks.

"Aw I'm going to miss her," Renee said while placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Me too," I replied. It felt like old times when Alice had arrived, and I didn't know how much a part of me was missing until she left again. I only hoped that she would return soon.

I didn't know what to do with myself today; I walked back upstairs and lied on my bed, thinking of what I could possibly do. Then the idea hit me. I could go to the meadow; I could look for it, and find it. Crap, but I didn't pay much attention to how I had gotten there. I was pretty sure I was able to find the trail, but I wasn't sure I was able to find the actual meadow inside the woods.

I decided to go for it anyways; at least an attempt was good enough for me.

I quickly put on some hiking boots and jeans, preparing myself for a whole day of searching. I packed a backpack with all the essentials, just in case the worst were to happen. People never knew when it came to me, I was as clumsy and unlucky as it got, and no precautions were unnecessary or too large for me. I could use every bit of safety and carefulness that I could get.

I walked downstairs after I was fully packed and dressed and headed for the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Charlie asked while walking out from the kitchen.

"Uhh…just a short little hike." I said truthfully. Charlie raised an eyebrow speculatively.

"You…hiking...?" He asked with a slight chuckle.

"Yes, me...hiking. What is so hard to believe about that?" I asked defensively.

"Oh calm down Bells, I'm just joking." He said smiling. I rolled my eyes.

"I don't know when I'll be home, I'm looking for something and I don't know how long it will take me to find it, but it won't be too late." I told him.

"What are you looking for?" He wondered.

"Just a trail..." I half told the truth. I was looking for the trail, but only so that I could not follow it and then hike inside the woods to find the meadow.

"Alright Bells, but you be safe. Don't go off the trail and don't go too far." He said, I internally laughed, because I was doing the complete opposite of what he told me to do. I was going off the trails and I was going pretty far into the woods.

"Yeah yeah, bye dad." I said as I walked outside and headed for my truck.

"Bye honey, don't do anything stupid." He added as I shut my truck door and turned the engine on. I backed out of the driveway and headed down the road towards Edward's house. I knew that if I wanted the best chance of actually finding the way to the meadow was by taking every familiar path. The drive heading there only made sense if I began at Edward's house, so that was where I was going to start.

I was getting closer and closer to his beautiful home, I saw the hidden turn into his driveway, but did not enter. I didn't need to enter, but the temptation to pull in and see him was overwhelming me. My heart raced as I saw the tree opening to his far off house. I wanted to see Edward so badly, but I couldn't. I had to find the meadow.

I drove quickly past the entrance to his long driveway and realized I was heading the same way I had the day before, to the meadow. Thank God, I was on the right track.

I saw familiar roads and turns that I had seen with Edward the day before.

I was glad I had paid attention to my surroundings yesterday. I tried so hard to figure out where I was that I took every part of the drive into my memory and focused on it. I was able to remember the entire way to the hiking trail, and I was extremely proud of myself for being able to.

I knew there wasn't much time left until I would arrive to the parking area for the woods. I remembered asking Edward how much farther and him only saying a few more minutes. Indeed, it was only a few more minutes.

I did another slow turn and saw that in front of me a few yards ahead was the hiking trail. I smiled to myself, happy that I had accomplished such a task. It wasn't very easy trying to find this place; luckily I had paid attention before.

I parked my truck into an empty spot then jumped out of it after turning off the engine. I grabbed my backpack and prepared myself for what I knew was to be a long and strenuous search for the place I loved so much.

I knew it was going to kill me to see it again, but I wanted so much to see it, no matter how much it would hurt me later on, I had to see it. My memories were so distant and I needed the meadow to bring them to life again, though that was probably the stupidest thing I could do to myself, remember the dark angel. Forgetting him was most likely the wisest decision, but I knew I would never allow myself to do such a thing. I would never forget him, never.

I stood in front of the trail and the area that Edward had led me into. I stood, staring in both directions. If I took the mysterious path, I could get lost, hurt, or distressed; if I took the trail, I would never have the opportunity to find the meadow. Only one way was certain that I had at least a chance to find the place that I desired to be, and that was the unknown. I would have to walk through the mysterious path that Edward had taken me, thought it wasn't a path, only trees and trees of woods. It was no trail, no assurance of safety or solitude. It was my chance to find what I so longed to see, whether that chance was slim to none; it was still a chance worth taking.

I began my journey into the unknown depth of the forest.

I saw familiar areas for the first few minutes of the hike, and then it all went downhill from there. I saw the same area about five times.

"I must be walking in circles," I mumbled to myself. There was the same spot I kept seeing over and over again, a tree with an oddly shaped hole inside of it with moss growing out of it.

I kept walking, hoping that I'd find something familiar from yesterday's walk that would lead me to the meadow, but there was no hope. I kept walking and walking, but there was no breach in the forest. I was exhausted and needed a break. I sat on a nearby tree stump, breathing heavily and taking some water out from my backpack and drinking it.

I looked at my wrist watch, 4:00P.M.

I had been walking around in circles for around seven hours. I was mad at myself for not being able to find the meadow, frustrated that it had taken me seven hours and still not even the slightest bit of progress.

Why am I so stupid? I thought to myself.

I drank a few more sips of my water then placed it back into my backpack.

Ok Bella, you can do this, I assured myself. Find the meadow.

I kept on walking, faster now and more determined. My face was focused and my thoughts were only of finding the meadow.

I can do this, I can do this, I kept repeating to myself.

I kept walking around the woods, what seemed like hours later and still no leeway. I was still failing; there was no site of the meadow or any significant place that I had remembered from yesterday.

The sun was beginning to set and I knew that Charlie would soon worry if I wasn't home before it got too late. But I didn't know if I was able to find my way out of the woods to even get home. I lost all of my tracks and had no idea where I had even began the hike. I didn't even see the tree with the strange hole anymore. I was lost, and I was panicking.

I began to run, desperate for any way out, I needed to get out. I gave up on finding the meadow, and all I needed was the open air, I needed to get home. I ran and ran until finally I saw a breach, but it wasn't the road that I was expecting where I thought my car would be. Instead, it was the meadow, in all of its glory.

The sun had fallen and I had finally found the meadow, my only worry was that I still wouldn't be able to find my way home. It was late now, and I had no idea how I was going to leave this place without taking hours to find the exit.

I ran into the meadow, falling to the ground and crying at my sudden success, but failure at everything else. I found the place I had dreamed of, but now I was trapped in its dark beauty without knowing a way to escape to safety.

"Bella!" I heard a familiar voice calling my name. "Bella! Thank God! There you are!" He said to me.

I looked up and to my amazement it was Edward. He rushed to my side and picked me up from the ground, holding me in his arms.

"God Bella, why would you come here alone? I was so worried about you!" he said over and over again. I was confused. How did Edward even know I was here? How did he know any of this?

"Edward, how did you even kno-"

"I called your house this afternoon to see if you wanted to come over. I was actually going to take you to the meadow," he scoffed, "but your dad answered and said you had gone hiking. I was surprised, I never imagined you hiking…by yourself." Edward shook his head, his expression with worry now. "He was a bit worried too, he told me you were looking for something and that you had left early in the morning and you still weren't back. I thought to myself where you would be and I knew you would be looking for the meadow. I told Charlie I knew where you were and that you were perfectly safe. He seemed relieved."

I looked at Edward and smiled, glad that he solved Charlie's worry.

"I then told him that I would be sure that you got home safely. After I talked to him, I rushed over here and searched for you. I went straight to the meadow, and when I got here, which was only a few minutes ago, I saw you on your knees crying. I had never been so scared and happy in my entire life. Don't ever go off into the woods alone like that Bella, do you understand me?" His face was broken, remorseful even.

"I understand. I'm sorry Edward. I just really wanted to see the meadow."

"All you had to do was call." He simply said. I smirked.

"Yeah, well I know that now."

"Good, I don't want to have to search for you in these woods ever again; it nearly killed me to think about all the possible things that could have happened to you."

"I'm sorry." I said again, Edward held me closer then led me to the middle of the meadow.

"Do you want to stay here for a little bit now that you have found it?" He asked with a grin.

"Yes please." I said smiling. He held my hand gently and pulled me to the ground with him. Edward had his arm around me and we lied staring at the stars. The night was extra clear at that moment, the stars radiating its magnificence and light upon us. I was in awe of its immense beauty and Edward's. I turned to look at him and he was watching me, smiling ever so cleverly.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked him. He smiled even more then looked at the stars for a brief second.

"I'm thinking of the beauty in front of me," he said. My face fell slightly. He was looking at the stars in front of him.

"Yeah, the stars are pretty awesome." I said quietly. Edward turned to me smiling even more.

"Bella, you are what's beautiful." He said, with a slight frustrated expression. "Why don't you ever believe that?"

I didn't answer him; I just kept looking at his face. I was hoping this wasn't the time that we were going to "talk." I wasn't ready for the conversation we would inevitably have about our relationship, but I knew I had to sooner or later.

"The beauty of the stars could not come close to comparison to your beauty," he said smoothly and deeply. He gave me his gorgeous crooked smile and my heart felt like it had stopped beating in my chest. I was in shock, and my mind was spinning. My body and my mind were internally flipping and freaking out from happiness. I was so close to telling Edward that I loved him, but I knew I shouldn't.

He moved his head closer to mine and stared longingly into my eyes. His expression was so deep and sweet. The electricity between us was as strong as it had ever been and Edward slowly moved his face even closer to mine. He began to close his eyes and I began to close mine. His soft lips gently touched mine and I couldn't catch my breath. I was frozen from the electric current that pulsed and rushed through our bodies. I had never felt such sensations before. My mind was sky rocketing and my toes were tingling. Edward's kiss was the most exhilarating intimate touch I had ever experienced.

I was hungry for more, I couldn't stop. I wanted nothing but Edward at that moment, and I wanted all of him.

Unfortunately for my greedy self, we only kissed one long, soft, gentle kiss. The best kiss of my life. He slowly pulled his lips away and I did the same, though I didn't want to. He looked at me again and I knew it was time.

We had to talk.

I also knew something else….I had cheated on Jacob Black.

A/N: Uh oh! What is Bella going to do? dun dun dunnnnn...! haha

Well FINALLY they kissed! yay! I was glad to finally write this chapter. Thank goodness! I am sooo glad it is finally in there.

So, lucky for you guys, chapter 18 had been written like 10 chapters ago lol. Well only like the first/opening page of it. So I should already be inspired to add on more to it. So no worries on having to wait another week and a half for the next chapter. This should be out MUCH sooner. Especially since I am on spring break this week. THANK GOD! I have been so tired of school lately, I am just ready to leave! Senioritis is bad! haha

So anyways, what did you guys think of this chapter? Love it, hate it, favorite line or part? What do you want to see happen next? I would love to hear from you. And also, please please please...

Write a review!

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