BPOV

The next few days passed in a blur, one day melting in to the next the show getting closer and closer, until it was only two more days to go till curtain call, today was the day of the first dress rehearsal. Things between me and Edward hadn't really changed allot but funnily enough although we weren't on speaking terms, we had an unspoken agreement between us; we played our parts and were civil if we needed to speak, we did, if we didn't, we wouldn't.

Every now and then we would pass in the halls and I would see something in his eyes that I yearned for that made me want to run across the halls and jump in his arms and never let go, but I couldn't. Something, something was holding me back. Sometimes even are arms would brush against the others and I would feel what I felt in his house those weeks ago when we kissed. As far as the stage kisses where going we were told we didn't have to do those until opening night. I don't know what I thought about that.

Me and Jacob had become a lot closer since our date, I suppose, you could almost call us a couple, I suppose if someone called us that we wouldn't deny it, we just hadn't discussed it yet. Although we have discussed other things he seemed a little off this morning so I asked him what was wrong, I think the answer shocked me more than it should.

Jacob had his face scrunched up as if concentrating really hard, i reached and touched his hand breaking his concentration making him whip his head to look at me.

"You okay?" I asked searching his face; he stopped and looked at me i stopped with him a couple of steps in front of him. "Who died?" I asked. He just looked at me and shook his head grinning at me, chuckling then stopped himself and looked at me intently. His face a conflict of emotions, happiness, anger, and something else I couldn't decipher.

"No, no one died I just need to say something but I haven't any idea how to say it or where to start" he frowned, I quirked any eyebrow, he had my attention now. He looked down at me and smiled he leaned down and touch his lips to mine are lips moving together perfectly warmth and light spreading through my body. I lifted my hands up to tangle them in his hair his arms went round my waist and clutched me to him; it felt desperate it made me want to cling onto him for as long as I could.

He smiled into the kiss and pulled back slowly resting his forehead on mine and said to me;

"I love you, Bella. Always remember that"

I was speechless I couldn't form a sentence in my head let alone say it back to him, he was looking at me, not expectantly, but reassuring me as if he knew what was running through my mind, as if he knew something I didn't . "It's okay." He murmured. "It's alright" his bent and kissed my cheek, then looked up over my shoulder and narrowed his eyes "You go ahead to rehearsal I'll be back"

I frowned my eyebrows puckering; I turned and saw Edward standing in the middle of the corridor staring at Jacob with a hard gaze. For a fraction of second his gazes turned to me and soften eve r so slightly. I wondered how long he had been there and whether he had heard what Jake had said to me, I also wondered why i cared. "Jake, don't." I tugged on his shirt to come with me he didn't.

"Go. I'll be fine" he smiled" I can take him" he joked, reluctantly I pulled away and walked into the hall, all the gazes in the room turning on me as I entered, leaving the two guys stood in the hall walking toward the other.

When the two came in you could see the tension between them, but I couldn't tell anything that might have happened. Looking at their faces both hard and emotionless, gave away nothing, except confusion flashing across Edwards eyes so quickly it was gone before I could decipher anything more.

"Stay not, be gone. Live, and hereafter say a madman's mercy bid thee ran away!" Edward shouted as he and Jacob sparred with the fencing swords the thin metal clanging as they fought, with a bit more ferocity than they needed to. They danced around the stage, panting with the effort they were using to fight the other.

"I do defy thy conjuration and apprehend thee for a felon here." Jacob shouted back at him with as much vigour. I could have sworn I heard Edward growl at the words between pants do to the effort he was putting into this scene.

"Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy!" Edward growled and the two resumed fighting with as much power as they had started. The metal clanged together quickly as the two fought for dominance over the other neither one backing down slowly Edward was backed towards the edge of the stage my heart sped if he got too much closer he was going to fall. Just as he reached the end of the stage the two twisted so they were stood sparring both at the front of the stage.

The anger on Jacobs face was evident though I couldn't fathom why, I wasn't stupid I knew the anger wasn't from the acting but from something entirely different but I would bet it had something to do with Edward and maybe what they were talking about in the hall I didn't know but what was bothering me the most was their close proximity to the edge of the stage.

EPOV

A satisfying shiver ran through me as the two fencing swords clashed together, I liked the feeling it gave me. I could finally fight black and I knew what the outcome was going to be, I would kill him, metaphorically anyway. The fencing swords moved fast through the air making a swishing sound every time they cut through the air.

I narrowed my eyes at Jacob and growled as we twisted so both of us stood on the edge of the stage neither of us willing to back down and give the other dominance. My mind still whirled from the conversation I had with Jacob.

I ran my fingers through my hair reluctantly making my way to rehearsal, I couldn't stand having to watch Bella and Jacob make kissy face's at each other the whole way through okay maybe they didn't do it that much, but, even seeing her smile at him sickened me. I just wished she would smile at me like that again and not give me those blank looks. Sometimes I think I see her look at me the way I look at her I pass her in the hall or when were practicing a scene, I'm probably just imagining things.

I turned the corner and saw Jacob and Bella standing near the auditorium talking about something, Jacob frowned, Bella was smiling and quirked an eyebrow, Jacob looked down at her and leaned down and kissed her. Her arms were round his neck and his arms around her waist holding her tightly, I gritted my teeth resisting the urge to rip them apart and punch him. Hard. He pulled back from Bella and slowly rested his forehead on hers and told her;

"I love you Bella always remember that"

I froze, the words echoed down the hall and hit me like a tonne of bricks, he was serious about her, was she serious about him? Would she say it back? She stood there her mouth slightly open; her brows slightly rose not seeming to say anything back. This made me, being selfish want to do a happy dance in the middle of the corridor. Jacob smiled and murmured something in her ear, kissing her cheek not seeming to mind he just laid his feelings out for all to see.

Just as he said this he lifted his head and noticed me just stood there my face hardened, he told her to go ahead to the rehearsals and he'd be back. She frowned still not noticing me stood there behind them she turned and saw me I turned quickly and met her gaze my face softening when I looked at her without meaning to. "Jake, don't." she tugged on his shirt to go with her he didn't.

He looked back at her "Go. I'll be fine" he smiled" I can take him" he joked; yeah sure... she pulled away and walked into the hall. We stood for a moment and walk slowly hesitantly towards each other.

"Cullen." He nodded his voice devoid of all emotion.

"Black" my voice held no evidence of the fury I was feeling towards him right now and he knew very well I had been stood there and heard, enough of the conversation he had just had with Bella. I knew for a fact he knew how i felt and the way that made me feel, but what I didn't know was what his motives where for this. To rub my face in that he had Bella and I didn't? That seemed most likely, but, I wasn't sure. He didn't seem smug or any other emotion that would suggest that.

"I'm assuming you heard all that?" I squeezed my fists at my sides.

"Yes." I spat, I didn't have any idea where he was going with this, but i never would have guessed what his motives where even if I had tried. I think it was more what he said next that shocked me the most, more than anything else.

"Bella still loves you, you know." He told me his voice showing vague annoyance at this, i didn't know how to respond, so I didn't I just stood there like an idiot not having any idea of what i wanted to say to that, apparently I didn't need any he carried on for me. "I can see it in her eyes every time we pass you or she does a scene with you during rehearsal, do you know how much it kills me to know that? Especially when she's too blind to see it! God! I think everyone except the two of you can see it."

"I'm going to talk to her after rehearsal; I can't go on knowing she's unhappy! I love her Edward I know she loves me too..." he looked away his eyes the only indication of the emotions running through his head at that moment. His eyes finally flickered back to mine;"Just not enough" he whispered.

"I'm going to ask her what she wants if she wants you then so be it, but I need to know, I need to know" he repeated a little lower whether to himself for to me I wasn't sure. "I'm sure as hell going to fight for her" he said fixing his gaze on mine determined. If he thought the fight would be easy it wouldn't I wasn't going to let her get away again. This changed my plans but I could still use them to my advantage as one last chance to show her what she means to me, more than I knew even then . I couldn't formulate an answer so he silently walked into the auditorium his composed expression never breaking, I followed shortly after.

The two of us were in our own bubble fighting each other on the stage, not noticing the people around us looking at us watching we edged closer and closer to the very edge of the stage and then, suddenly, it was too late. we both fell, out of our bubble and off the stage tumbling closer to the ground with every second that passed, the thing that passed through my mind was Bella where was she? Was she okay?

Suddenly, i heard an earth shattering scream of someone calling my name come from nearby, before I hit the ground, then I heard a sickening snap.

BPOV

My heart pounded hard against my chest not letting up as I watch Edward and Jacob fight on the stage with those swords and edge back towards the very end of the stage, then it happened. One miss step sent them both falling over the edge towards the ground. Before my body could register what was happening I screamed out the one name that shocked everyone even me. Everyone stopped dead, looks of horror on their faces as there watched what was unfolding in front of them.

"EDWARD!" My heart thudded, shattering as I watch him hit the ground. Oh, god please, no. I screamed as I heard a loud stomach turning snap. I ran over to them tears streaming my face, not him, please not him, not him! I knew at that moment I had made my choice.

Everyone's eyes were on me Edward and Jacob and I ran to their side. A knelt at his side breathing a silent sigh of relief when I saw his feet moving and his chest rising and falling, he groaned and started to sit up . As quickly as it was there it was gone a feeling of dread ran through me Jacob I turned to him; "Oh God, JACOB!" I screamed.

He neck was twisted at an abnormal angle his body completely still, unmoving, unfeeling, gone. I through myself on his body sobs shaking my shoulders, my body not willing to moved from his, my screams echoing from the walls every time someone tried to pull me off him I couldn't be away from him. I couldn't leave him.

"Jacob, please speak to me! Please wake up! Please! Not You! " I broke into hysterics not willing to let go, I wished I could have loved him the way he had wanted me to, he had told me he loved me and I hadn't said anything back to him. Guilt racked my body, all the things he wanted to do, he would never have the chance to do. A hard, frowning, emotionless expression was now permanently painted across his face. My hands shook as clung onto him.

He would never smile again.

"WHY?" I screamed "Why?" he was too young, he didn't deserve to die, not now, he deserved a family, children, to find his soul mate.

He gave me so much strength; I owed him so much I could never give back. So much love I could never return. Everything moved so fast around me the teacher called an ambulance the whole class was being ushered out. "Jacob" I whispered "I'm sorry, I'll never forget, never, I'll never forget you, I'll never forget the love you gave me or the way you made me feel special when I was feeling down, I will always have a special place for you in my heart" I point to my chest my voice cracking laced with tears "right here"

I leant down and place a single kiss on his cheek. "Goodbye." The paramedics had arrived and wanted to take Jacob away. I couldn't let go, not yet, not now, I couldn't, I couldn't, I clung onto him not wanting to let go of him. Someone pulled me off, I kicked and screamed resisting it.

"Bella" a voice murmured "You need to let go"Finally, when I had no strength left, I did and sobbed into the person's chest shaking so hard both our bodies shook.

As I broke down for the second time I felt two warm safe arms wrap around me and hold me together in that place, as the paramedics took Jacob away from me, forever. I held on to the owner of the voice and cried, I cried and cried for so long I had no concept of time. Rosalie slowly rocked me as I sobbed into her chest.

"Shhhh" she murmured "It's going to be okay" the sobs coming from me where loud and uncontrollable, but it never deterred Rosie from holding onto me tighter as each new round of sobs overcame. "I know honey" her voice cracking, her pain was obvious too even though she was trying to hide it for my sake. We had all become close to him, it was hard not to. So we sat there in the empty auditorium together and cried letting all the pain take over, and just let it out.

"Why did he have to go Rosie." I whimpered she just shook her head her soft blond hair tickling the tip of my nose. "Why, Why?"

"I don't know, bells, I just don't know" I used all the strength I had left and pulled myself away from her and made up my mind.

"I need to see Edward" I whispered, she studied my face and simply nodded.

Rosalie's car pulled up at the hospital, the car ride had been silent I didn't trust my voice, Jacobs face kept running through my head, him laughing and smiling with me then it would change and become that cold, hard, emotionless mask that would be on his face, permanently . The two of us dashed up to the front reception.

"Edward Cullen" I breathed. She typed on her computer, when the smell of the hospital, sick and blood hit me like a tonne of bricks and I needed to get out of there and fast, she looked up.

"Ward 5, examining room 4" she indicate with her hand, and I took off running , taking a deep breath of air as I left the accident and emergency and turned the corner to the hall of examination rooms. One... two... three... four. I yanked the door about to see a shocked doctor holding Edwards's plastered wrist and a shaken looking Edward.

"Oh! I'm sorry ill just wait outside" I started to back out the room, when the doctor stopped my shaking his head.

"It's okay, I was just finishing up, well it looks like you were very lucky, your scans have come back fine, your wrist should only be in plaster for a few months, give or take..." he looked between us. "I'll just hand in your report and we will send you a letter when you need to come back to have your cast removed, okay?" Edward nodded "I'll give you two a minute."

For a while we both stayed still and watched each other, until I flung myself into his, lap and started to sob uncontrollably. I knew what I must have looked like my eyes red and puffy from crying my hair sticking up in every direction. I didn't care. When I finally stop I lifted my head from Edwards's chest, looked him deep in the eyes then, overcome with so much emotion, I kissed him, hard.

He kissed me back and I knew as bad as it may seem there had never been any question about which of them was for me, I now knew which man I couldn't live without . When I thought it was him, I died, I couldn't breathe couldn't think, Edward was it for me I could feel it with every fibre of my being. I loved Jacob but it wasn't the same way I loved Edward, even knowing this I didn't want Jake to die, even though he's gone, my love for Jacob will never die, it will live on in my heart ,always, forever.

"I love you Bella" Edward whispered, sadness lacing his voice.

"I love you too, I just wish that my Paris hadn't had to die for this to happen, for me to realise" I whispered a tightening in my stomach as I did. Edward frowned at me. I brought my hand up to his face and brushed his cheek "He was always my Paris and you've always been my Romeo I was just too blind to see it."

"I'm sorry Bella" he whispered "For everything, for this, it should have been me, after everything I've done..." I looked at him not being able to fathom him dying. I grabbed his face between my hands and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Don't say that! Don't you ever say that, when I thought you were... something had happened to you I couldn't breathe, I realised it was you I couldn't live without, I don't want to be mad at you anymore, I don't have the strength, not after that, not after thinking I'd lost you forever, life's too short and I'm just beginning to realize that" I touched my lips to his with as much passion as I could muster he winced as I pressed myself harder against him. I pulled back.

"Sorry, you okay?" I asked frowning; he gave me a sad smile. And nodded pushing himself up off the examining table with his good hand.

"Yeah, I'm just a bit sore"

"Are you allowed to leave and go home? Or..."

"Yeah I think so, I didn't bring a car..." he hesitated, not knowing what to say.

"Rosie can drop you home" I looked at him, he looked hesitant "Okay?" We walked to Rosalie's car in silence holding hands, keep each other together. I looked up at the endless dark sky when the moon stood high and proud, surrounded by the sparkling stars high above. I closed my eyes and let the gentle evening breeze brush over my face.

Goodbye Jake, I love you.