Here's the next chapter. It's unbeta'd so any mistakes are my own. I hope there aren't many as I'm quite exhausted from my weekend with Twilight Crystal and our combined 5 kids ranging from 3.5 to 12 (and 2 have ADD/ADHD and 2 are suspected of having ADD/ADHD so it made for a very interesting weekend but I wouldn't have traded it for the world).

Twilight Crystal is my beta but I gave her the night off, and I only own the plot.

Cover Girl Chapter 16

Edward slowly opened the folded pages contained within the envelope and took a deep breath. He had no idea what the letter would say, but he had a sinking feeling that it was going to make him feel like complete and utter shit once he was done with it. He took a deep breath and began to slowly read the handwritten words on the pages.

Edward,

I'm probably the last person you'd ever want to hear from, but I had to write this letter to you and hope that you'd actually read it and not tear it up without ever knowing what I wanted to say to you. And what I want to say is… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Edward. I never meant to hurt you, to make you think I didn't trust you, to let the whole thing go as far as it did. I just didn't know how to stop once I saw you at the expo. I couldn't reveal myself to you there, and I just ran with the character. Also, I didn't know what you'd say or think if I revealed myself to you.

I was afraid, so very afraid that you'd hate me, that you'd think I was trash, that you wouldn't want anything to do with me after you found out. And I was right. The things you said are true to a certain extent, and I deserved everything you said to me and about me.

You see, I had this thought in my head that I could hide it all and that I'd get out of the business like I had planned all along, and then I could just be a regular college student again, just be Bella again. And you'd come to UNLV and we'd pick right back up and that would be that. But my hopes were futile and I'm so sorry that I hurt you, I'm so sorry that I lied to you, and I'm so sorry that I can't go back and change it all.

I had to get money when my scholarship was revoked. It wasn't that I got in trouble at school or anything, there just weren't enough funds to keep all those who had been granted it. I was one of the unlucky souls that got cut. I wanted to ask my dad for help, and he would have helped me out, but I couldn't take his retirement like that. He deserved it more than I and I knew I could find the money elsewhere.

But I looked and couldn't find a job paying enough that would allow me to keep my grades up, and that was when I talked to Alice. You met her as Ms. Brandon at UNLV. She's Jasper's fiancée and she introduced me to him after I broke down in her office when I realized I couldn't afford to continue school. At first I was disgusted with the idea of posing nude, but they made concessions for me, helped conceal my identity, and helped me keep some semblance of modesty with it all. I never expected that side of me to get so big or go so far, and I knew I had to end it.

And then you came along and I finally realized that there would be more to my life than crazed fans and stalkers. I knew that there would be someone who would want me as just me, as just Bella. The way you looked at me, the way you made me feel when you kissed me… I knew I had found everything I wanted in you, and it was kind of ironic given that you were my best friend as a kid.

Those few summers we spent together were the highlight of my childhood. I was jostled back and forth between my parents in their seemingly never-ending custody wars, I didn't spend more than a half a year at the same school with my mom moving for the next best thing she found, and I didn't have any sense of normalcy until those summers. YOU changed that for me, gave me a true friend, my first at that, and I think that was when I fell in love with you.

But then when I finally laid it all bare for you, exposed all my dark secrets, and I hoped that you would understand… You crushed it all. You showed me that I ruined myself with what I had done and that by lying about who I really was, both sides of me, that I was lying to you and all those around me. You were right to say those things to me and you're right in hating me. I deserve it for what I put you through and how I deceived you. I'm sorry, I truly am.

I don't know how else to say it, but I am sorry. I'm sorry that I hurt you, lied to you, deceived and tricked you, and I'm sorry I made myself out to be something that I'm not. You called me a whore, and I understand why you did it. But I want you to know that I'm not a whore, not at all. I've never given that side of myself to anyone. I couldn't just give that most intimate part of me to a random person, someone who didn't know me and all that entailed who I was.

I was a fake, pretending to be something I wasn't when I was in costume, when I was Rosalie. I just didn't want anyone to know both sides of me, not like that. Other than Jasper and Alice, you were the only person I ever revealed my other identity to. I wanted you to know, I wanted you to accept me, all of me. I had high hopes even though I should have known they were futile.

How could anyone accept a partner with that kind of hidden facet of life? How could anyone just be okay with the fact that someone they liked had been seen naked by thousands upon thousands of people? How could I have expected you to be willing to accept me with all that baggage and history? Hell, I knew that it would be extremely difficult for you but I still hoped. I always wondered if I started seeing someone and they found out about Rosalie, would they accept it or not. Well, I guess I discovered the answer.

I do want you to know that I never once was the whore you accused me of being. It wasn't as if I didn't have the option to do so either. You don't even know how many room keys and cards I was slipped, how many phone numbers I was given at each appearance or in fan mail, or the sheer number of offers I received. I was even approached for a career change with the offer of becoming a porn star. The thing is, I couldn't do it, I couldn't accept any of the offers. I firmly believe that sex is something you share with someone you love, and I couldn't just do it for shits and giggles. Hell, I hadn't even kissed a guy in over a year until that day on campus with you.

But…what I guess I'm trying to say is that I understand where you were coming from with everything you said. I was horrible and lied to you, tried to deceive you and trick you as a sordid way of testing you. I should have had to do that. I should have remembered the kind of person you were all those years ago. People that are inherently good to the core always remain that way, and you are one of those people. I'm sorry that I hurt you and I hope that one day you'll come to forgive me. If you don't, I won't hold it against you, but if you do… Well, it will be a massive relief and weight off of my shoulders.

I hope you have a great life, Edward, and I hope that all your hopes and dreams come true. One day you'll meet an amazing woman who will love and trust you. I know you'll be an amazing boyfriend, husband, and father when your time comes. Take care, Edward, and know that in my heart you'll always be one of my fondest memories. Those few summers I spent by your side are some of the best memories of my life, and I know that I'll always think of you.

Sincerely,

Bella

Edward dropped the papers and buried his face in his hands as he tried to decide exactly how he felt after reading Bella's letter. He could tell it was heartfelt and emotional, and could even see the areas where the page had gotten wet and caused the ink to bleed. The size and shape of each spot suggested that it was tears that caused the blemish on the pages. He didn't know for certain, but was pretty positive he was right.

When Edward uncovered his face, his gaze landed on the photo album Emmett had brought to his room. Unable to resist the lure, Edward flipped it to the very first page and began slowly taking in all the photos from that last summer that Bella had been in his mom's care. When he would come across a photo of Bella, Edward studied it, let his fingertips trace the images captured in each one. And by the time he flipped the last page over Edward was truly torn over everything that had occurred. The only thing he did know for certain was that he owed Bella an apology for everything he had said and done to her. The question he was struggling with, however, was whether or not he could look past all that had happened and fully accept Bella for who she really was.

So there you have it, Bella's letter. And while I know many of you are on Team Bella with what went down, remember that she was also in the wrong. It's just that she was able to see it first and come to terms with everything that happened. So, what do you think Edward will do? See you later this week with more!