When I awoke the next morning I kept my eyes closed for a minute, not wanting to wake up. It seemed almost impossible that the events of last night had actually happened. I wanted to believe it, I desperately wanted to, but a large part of my brain was screaming that it couldn't have happened. Was it possible? Was Edward here? When I opened my eyes, at first I didn't see him.
"Your hair looks like a haystack...but I like it," his unruffled voice came from the rocking chair in the corner.
"Edward! You stayed!" I rejoiced and thoughtlessly threw myself across the room and into his lap. I froze for a moment in horror at my thoughtless action.
But he laughed.
"Of course," he stated, startled, but seemingly pleased by my reaction. He rubbed my back.
I laid my head on his shoulder cautiously, breathing in the smell of his skin.
"I was sure I'd imagined it all," I whispered.
He scoffed, "You're not that imaginative." I rolled my eyes but smiled. It was real. It was all real.
"Mom!" I suddenly jumped up as I remembered Mom and how angry she probably is because I know they have all probably been home for hours.
"She's outraged, to say the least. She tried to break down the door several times last night but Emmett stopped her. The whole family, including Dana, has been trying to calm her all night."
"Dana? Is she still here?" My throat suddenly became very tight. He shook his head.
"No but she told Alice to tell you goodbye." I blinked away the tears that threatened to expose my sadness though I was sure he could already tell. I had planned on being able to say goodbye to her but I couldn't regret the actions that made that impossible.
"Are you alright?" Edward asked as he stood and stroked my cheek. I stared into his warm eyes that were now filled with concern and then wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and continued rubbing my back, soothingly. For a moment we just stood there, until I mumbled,
"I need another human minute." He pulled away, making my heart skip a beat.
"Take all the time you need. I'll be here."
I grabbed a plain white t-shirt and some jeans before going to the restroom. As quickly as I could, I took a shower. I tried to be as fast as possible but it took awhile to shave my legs. After the shower I tossed on the clothes, brushed my hair, and brushed my teeth. As I stared in the mirror I allowed a few tears to stream down my face.
No matter how much I knew it was the right thing to do, it didn't change the fact that Dana was my best friend. We had spent so much time together and we grew up together and now, in one day, I had to give it up and I didn't even get to say goodbye. I was sure that if Dana had realized we were never going to see each other again she would have stayed longer but she was completely oblivious. More tears streamed down my face. This had to stop.
It's for the best, I reminded myself. I sniffled a little before wiping my eyes and focusing on something else. Edward.
I sprinted out of the restroom to find Edward perched against the bedroom door looking more like a Greek god then any person had the right too.
He walked over to me and examined a strand of my wet mop of hair. I grimaced and he murmured reassuringly,
"You look beautiful."
I blushed. "Thanks." I glanced at the door and gulped. He raised an eyebrow and asked,
"Are you ready to face Rosalie?"
How was I supposed to answer that? The thought of facing Mom when she's angry is terrifying but that wasn't the worst part. It really upset me to know that I wouldn't be able to get support from my own mother. I wasn't sure what was more painful at the moment: my mothers rejection of my feelings for Edward or having to let go of Dana.
"Lets get this over with," I muttered and he chuckled, overconfidently. We walked out of my bedroom and down the hall to the living room to face our entire family, including a really upset looking Mom.