Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight!

Chapter 20

EPOV

Her last words were still ringing in my ears as I was closing the door behind me. I was determined to leave her alone like she'd required. My steps were heavy against the wooden floor making a disturbing noise that was echoing inside my already throbbing head. I had almost reached the end of the hallway and that's when I heard her.

"Edward." She said my name with so much sadness in her voice that I couldn't help it. I cursed myself for that but I stopped dead on my tracks and turned to face her,

"What?" I even heard how pissed and abrupt I sounded, but I couldn't accept that. She had almost thrown me out and accused me of being selfish and ignorant. She'd hurt me enough. What else did she want now?

"I'm sorry." She whispered looking down at her feet blushing like crazy. Oh God not that blush, I realised a long ago that I couldn't resist to it. She took a deep breath and continued.

"I'm sorry I said those things to you. You've helped me a lot and it was ungrateful of me to speak to you like that. Actually if there's a selfish person here then that's me, not you. I'll have to get over the past, our past and accept the fact that we've grown up. Please Edward don't go, I know you have every right to be mad at me but please stay, as a friend." She trailed off beating her bottom lip and looking at me with silent tears running down her cheeks.

I took the last steps separating us and went to stand inches away from her before I could stop myself from doing it I lifted my hand and captured a single tear with my finger. She tensed on my touch but she didn't move away from me, she only sighted and raised her gaze to meet mine.

"No more tears Bella, no more sadness, please." I whispered my voice thick with emption.

She seemed surprised for only a second but then she just shook her head in agreement.

There was an internal battle taking place inside of me. A variety of emotions flooded through my mind with such an intense making me nauseous. She did hurt me no matter how hard I had tried to help her. On the other hand she did apologize immediately. I thought about it logically. I admitted that I've let her down countless times in the past and I'd never apologized to her once.

That very moment I realised how much pain I must have caused her all these years. If that's how it felt to be hurt once I cannot even imagine how terrible must be to be hurt so many times, again and again.

Moreover she did say she wanted me to stay as a friend. And I have made that promise to myself, to be a real friend for her and stand by her when she needed me, the very moment I found myself again. Without knowing it, she was giving me the opportunity to redeem myself for what I've done.

It was my chance to prove myself to her, to show her how much I cared, well as a friend. We could be friends and that was something I could be satisfied with, for the time being. And as far as I knew friends did mistakes because no one's flawless. The most important thing is to be able to recognize their mistakes and have the courage to correct them.

Finally the time had come for both of us to correct our mistakes and give our friendship a second chance.

BPOV

I sat reluctantly on my bed wiping away the remaining tears from my eyes. I waited there for Edward to come back. What had just happened? There was a complete chaos going on in my head. Edward fucking Cullen had just done his second good act in two days in a row. Not only this, but he'd done it for me. The whole thing was really confusing but I didn't have more time to think about it seen Edward had re-entered my room, holding a square wrapped box in his hands.

"What's that? What are you doing?" I asked him really curious. He was full of surprises lately.

"Alice's present and I think you'll need it now." He answered smiley handing me the present.

"But I said no gifts!" I exclaimed, my anger starting boiling again.

"Bella, we've already discussed that, so please…?" he trailed off looking me sternly.

"Fine." I said stubbornly tearing the paper apart revealing a shoe box.

"She bought me shoes?" I asked in disbelief. It wasn't weird at all for Alice to buy me shoes but…

Edward rolled his eyes like it was deadly obvious it was the most suitable thing Alice could have bought. She was an expert in shoes.

"Oh! They're beautiful!" I exclaimed as I opened the box revealing a pair of black leather ballet flats.

"Are they?" asked a really confused Edward. He was looking at the shoes with a frowned expression. I guess it was truly difficult for him to see what was so special about a pair of black simple shoes. Men!

"Well of course! I think I'm gonna wear them now!" I replied and got up from the bed to put them on so we could go downstairs. We've left them waiting for more than twenty minutes.

"Bella even I believe that you cannot celebrate your birthday wearing an old pair of sweats in which you've been crying your eyes out all these days. I think it's about time to get rid of them huh? What do you think?" he asked hesitantly pointing at the black pair of my favourite sweatpants. He was right though, I'd been wearing them for days.

I looked down at my worn out clothes and shrugged. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"So…" he started dragging the "o", while he was opening my wardrobe.

"Wait! What are you doing?" I panicked, running to where he was standing fumbling with my clothes in the closet.

"I'm looking for something beautiful for you to wear, chocolate." He said like it was so obvious, and what's with that nickname? Chocolate?

"Stop shuffling my clothes!" I protested but he didn't pay any attention to me and kept looking for God knows what - in the sea of different piece of clothing. I doubt that he could make any sense.

"Oh! Put this on. I like it!" he abruptly said handing me the black dress I had actually bought especially for this day, but that was before…

"No I don't…think I can wear this. It's too dressy for a small party. Not a good choice." I stated uneasy. This dress was reminding me of him and I had bought it to impress him but…I couldn't stand watching it, I shook my head in negation so he put it reluctantly back in its place without commenting on it. I could see him eyeing me curiously though, like he was trying to figure out what I'd been hiding.

"Huh, what about this one? It's cute?" he asked with a perplexed expression looking at an ancient brown dress I've even forgotten I owned. Geez! The last time I'd worn that must've been three years ago.

"No, I don't think so." I refused motioning him to put it back where he'd found it. I had to do a serious cleaning in my closet. Hell there was a fat chance I still had clothes I wore in junior high.

"Bella! I'm playing Alice here! Can you please be more helpful! I'm trying to match dresses with belts and shoes and everything! Please find something you actually like before I kill myself with your hair straightener."

It took me several moments to recover from the hard laughter I've burst into.

"With the hair straightener!" I was laughing, really laughing and it felt so good. So many days in no use my face muscles welcomed the smile that had formed in my face and soon I was folded in two, holding my belly in hysterics.

Edward's face was priceless. There was desperation in his eyes, but there was something more than his confusion over styling. His eyes were glistering with amusement and happiness?

The smile in his lips was gentle and real. He was looking down at me and he soon was spread all over the floor with the hair device in his hand and a dress in the other laughing so loudly near me.

God all that felt so right.

When we finally calmed down we remained in silence still smiling at each other, until I noticed the dress he was holding at his hand. I hadn't noticed it earlier because I was rolling onto the floor with laughter but it was the right one.

"Edward, give me the dress you're holding." I told him bringing him back to reality.

"Huh? That?" he asked breathing heavily and holding his belly.

"Yeah, I'm going to change." I said taking the red cocktail dress he was giving me, the one that I had totally forgotten about. Alice had insisted on buying it sometime we were on a shopping spree last summer but I don't think I'd ever wore it.

I closed the bathroom door behind me listening to Edward muttering something about 'too much dresses' and 'picked that one'. I chuckled silently as I was putting the dress on. It was really nice indeed and the bright colour was adding some light in my fair skin.

I hurried out and back to my room to find Edward starring at the huge mess we'd cause to the room with a terrified expression on his face.

"I think that I have a serious cleaning to do tomorrow, but for now I have to celebrate my birthday, don't you think?"

I pointed out as I entered the room. God only fifteen minutes had past and I sounded like a completely different person. The truth was that I was still feeling sad, Adrian's absent was making a big difference to this situation, but I had to fight the urge to burrow down in my bed crying for the rest of the week. I had to be strong. I never imagined I'd been admitting that, but Edward was right. I was being childish and it was about time for me to grow up.

He hadn't noticed me entering so the moment I spoke he turned his head to me locking his gaze on mine. His expression changed from concentrated to surprised and then a bright smile lit his whole face.

"You look beautiful Bella." He managed to say. I felt my blush spreading all over my face and thanked him for the compliment. I wasn't really used to have a decent conversation with Edward. It was a really weird feeling having him here and actually not fighting with him or wanting to slap him right in the face for being a total jerk.

I wasn't sure how that made me feel. I shook these thoughts out of my head for now and made a mental note to think about them later.

I cleared my throat and went to sat on my bed to put the shoes back on.

"Edward, can you open the first drawer and give me my grey belt?" I asked while struggling with straps of the shoes.

"Oh, yeah sure." He said taking reluctantly his eyes off me and opening the drawer.

"Bella, you have three gray belts!" he said desperately.

"The one with the red string on it? I gave him more clues.

"Oh, that one!" he gave me the belt and I put it on.

"Ready!" I said standing up and walking to the door.

Three hours had passed since the moment I left my room. Everything was great. Edward and Alice had done a beautiful job. My living room was decorated in blue and ciel and Alice had made a delicious chocolate cake knowing it was my favourite.

Blowing the candles out was actually my terming point. I wasn't a grown up only in papers and in theory any more. Watching these two little blue numbers I realised it was about time to act like an adult. Even though it was bothering me like hell to admit it, Edward was right, too damn right. Who was Adrian to worth so much pain? I just had to accept the inevitable and move on with my life. When life gives you lemons…oh you know the stupid saying.

The rest of the night was quite pleasant. After I blew out my candles and made my wish, my parents gave me their present before they went out with the Cullens. It was a pair of beautiful vintage earrings that belonged to my great-grandmother and I absolutely loved them.

I know I had specifically said no presents and all, but I think I'd been wrong about this all along. In truth I did want all these and I'd been planning a party since August, but things changed when Adrian left.

There was a huge possibility regretting the fact that I hadn't celebrate my 18th birthday, so I had to thank all of them for doing this for me and especially Edward, who had not only organised this party for me, but he'd managed to cheer me up yesterday. Unbelievable it is but that's how the things were.

After, my parents left with the Cullens for a night out, on a Sunday night? – I didn't question it further anyways and it was an extra benefit for us all to have them out of the house. Emma and Kate quickly fell asleep on the couch and we took them upstairs to sleep on Emma's room.

I soon discovered that sneaky Rose had brought drinks and stuff and as the time passed and the shots increased I became more relaxed and had a great time dancing to the music Alice was choosing like an experienced DJ.

I vaguely remember dancing around with everyone and making jokes and laughing till I couldn't breath and God does it felt great. I was feeling light like a feather and happy as never before. Maybe I should blame a little the amount of alcohol flowing through my system.

"Guys I think we should get going, it's a school night and Bells probably your parents will be here soon." I heard Angela telling me sweetly, flopping on the couch beside me.

"Yeah, I think you're right. It's too bad though,we were having so much fun. We should have done this yesterday, it's always better on a Saturday night." Agreed Rose with a pout in her face.

"Oh come on we can do it again! We can go out more often from now on!" I heard myself saying cheerfully and I couldn't believe it myself. Silence filled the room and everyone turned to look at me like I had grown three extra heads or something. I know I had been a little grouchy lately but I decided it was about time for me to live a little.

"Edward you go and I'll stay to help with the cleaning and I'll have Jake drop me home." Alice directed her brother after all the rest had left saying their goodbyes.

"No, Alice you better go, you can take my Volvo and I'll stay to help, I had quite enough drinking and I'm not capable of driving so I need Jake to drop me." responded Edward from the kitchen.

"Guys you can go I'll do the cleaning." I told them trying to get up from the couch but my balance wasn't helping me at all.

"Yeah right, sit down now and relax Bells, we'll take care of the house." I heard Jake telling me and I felt his huge warm hand pressing me to sit back down.

I leaned but to the soft pillows and felt the old worn quilt that someone wrapped around me enveloping me in warmth and comfort.

"'Kay then. Bells I'll see you tomorrow, love you." Alice kissed me goodbye and hurried to the door

"Love you more." I managed to mumble before I drifted into unconsciousness.

After a while I felt the couch moving and someone had wrapped me in a tight warm embrace. I smelled Jake's significant aftershave and I knew that Jake had just taken the seat near me.

"Do you think we should take her upstairs to her bed?" I heard Edward whispering from the other side of the couch, maybe he had taken the loveseat.

"Yeah we should but lets just hang a little let us take a breath. We made too much mess for a six people party." Jacob mumbled breathlessly leaning his head to mine and continued. "Edward what happened earlier? I mean upstairs… you know between you and Bella?" he asked hesitantly.

It took Edward some time to answer but when he did, he told Jake about the scene I made upstairs and about my childish tantrum and how we finally reached a compromise.

All this time I was slipping between consciousness and unconsciousness so I wasn't really sure if I was awake or if I was dreaming a real vivid dream.

After a long pause Jake broke the silence that had filled the room when Edward had stop talking. "You really care for her, don't you?"

"Yes I do. On a daily basis I realise how special she truly is." I heard Edward saying sheepishly. "Jake can I ask you something?

"Yeah sure, go on." he motioned him.

"How was she? I mean when we left?" he asked silently like he was guilty about it.

"Oh." I felt Jake stiffen but he came around after a while leaving a heavy sigh.

"She was in a really bad state, worse than she'd been the last week, much worse. I've come to believe thought that these events were her catalyst. She became stronger, independent. They turned her life upside down but still I believe that she was in a strange way benefited by that." confessed Jake. They were both sure that I was fast asleep by now but in truth I was in an in-between state, neither completely asleep nor awake.

"You mean after what I'd done to her in combination with our departure, right?" Edward asked not really sure about what Jake was talking about.

"No. Yes, but it wasn't just that. Haven't anyone told you about my accident? Asked Jake surprised.

"No! What accident? What happened?" asked a really anxious Edward.

"Well I think I am the right person to tell that story since I lived every fucking moment of it. Anyway a year ago, the last summer to be exact, I had an accident while riding my new motorcycle and I was severe injured to say the least. Paul had one too and I had just finished making mine, so to say we were more than excited to try them will be an understdandment. We were running all around Forks and it was when we reach the 101 that the downpour begun.

A rain so heavy was falling all around the area making the roads wet and slippery and far too dangerous for us. We were young and inexperienced but that didn't stop us neither did our blurry and fucked up from the rain vision. We kept going running like maniacs until we entered the road that lead to the reservation. We weren't not even five minutes away from my home and we instantly believed we made it back all safe and proud but we weren't that lucky. Actually I wasn't that lucky." Jake paused for a while just to take a breath and to calm himself down. I knew he wasn't feeling well talking about that incident but he took a deep breathe and continued.

"On the last turn the driver of a white old van lost control of the vehicle and was coming spinning straight to me. The brakes were of no use in a situation like that and in a road in such a bad state so I knew I was gonna die. Paul had already took that turn seconds before the van appeared so I was hoping he had reached the reservation waiting for me.

There were only two options for me to take but neither of them was good. Or I was trying to remain on the road and avoid the van- not a possible thing to do I such a tight road- or I was turning the bike on the other side out of the road and straight into the wall of trees." He said scratching the side of his face nervously.

"In mere seconds I decided the trees were a better option than the van so I quickly turned the bike straight into the forest and out of the road. I ended up lying on the hard asphalt with my heavy motorcycle covering my body and knocking the hell out of me.

I didn't die obviously but all the bones of my right side were broken so you can imagine that I was in an excruciating pain for days. My healing was slow and it took me months to fully use my limbs without being in pain again. Thankfully your dad was here visiting town because of some business he had with the hospital here so I was treated by the best and I have no permanent damage left." He finished with the story and shrugging his broad shoulders.

"God Jake I don't know what to say, I didn't know anything about it." Edward was still in a shock trying to proceed all the information.

"Alice was here too, visiting Bella for the summer. They were both by my side all the time helping me recover and making the whole healing process so much fun. It was really comforting having them around." Jake informed him, stroking my cheek.

"I don't know what to say. Hell broke lose and I was just drawn to myself once again. It's not surprising that Bella came to see the world with different eyes after all these, she had to deal with so many things at the same time and I bet your accident helped her realise what matters more in life. That's why she became stronger.

She managed to face her problems alone because someone else needed her, you needed her. You've always been her rock, since we were children remember, you used to be there for her whatever she needed but this time she had to be the rock for you and for herself. I'm so sorry I wasn't there too Jake." Edward's voice was only a whisper in the silent room but it carried so much regret I felt sorry for him.

"Don't worry Edward we all make mistakes and you're here now. I think you've learned your lesson. But it does surprise me the fact that no one told you. Esme or Carlisle? Not even Alice?" Jake asked sounded really confused.

"Jake you forget about something. They've might told me but I was ignorant and selfish that time. I wasn't paying to much attention to what they were saying unless it involved money and girls, so don't think too much about it. The answer's so easy." Edward explained was really disappointed by his own self.

An awkward silence filled the room for a long time and I was almost lost into the land of dreams when I heard Edward saying determinedly "Things are about to change Jake, they already have in a way, but today I've made the real start."

And then I was lost.

Poor Edward he still has to face the past but Bella has also some things to reconsider! ;)

A new friendship is about to be buit or their old mystakes will get in the way? That's remains to be seen! I hope I have an other fast update within the next week!

Oh and there are new pics from the last chapters on my blog! Let me know what you think!

Until next time leave me a review and I'll give you a happy Edward ;)

X.O X.O