Disclaimer: I don't own anything and no copyright infringement is intended.

This is not beta'd so any and all mistakes are mine - forgive me.

I slept a little too well waking at just before 12pm then I remembered the plans that I had. Grabbing my phone I checked to make sure that that hadn't backed out on me, they hadn't, or if they had there was no message to tell me that I would be standing on the beach alone. Getting out of bed I guessed that I would have enough time for a quick shower and maybe to grab some toast before I left. Shit! I had forgotten that Janet said she would be there, all I had to do was let her know the details and last night I hadn't.

Dialling her number I was horrified when it went straight to voicemail, so I left a message with the details of where the meeting was and that if she couldn't make it then I would understand.

The drive was painfully slow and all I wanted was to be there, and this to be over, one way or another. Pulling into the parking lot I looked around to see if they had arrived, it was just after 1pm so there was still time. I got out of the car and stood against the fence that lined the lot, staring out across the ocean towards James Island, thinking how much I would love to live there alone, then none of this would have happened. Then I heard the crunch of tires as a vehicle pulled up behind me, my heart quicken and I took a deep breath to prepare myself for what was to come. Hearing the car door slam and their approach did nothing to calm my nerves, there was no Janet here for moral support or to guide me, I was alone. I kept saying to myself that I could do this, really there was no other choice.

Turning to face them I saw a mixture of emotions on their face, anger, uncertainty, sorrow.

"Hey Jake. Thanks for meeting me." I mumbled in a low voice. He responded with a nod. "So, how are things?"

Jake laughed, I mean really laughed. Head thrown back the full works, before he leveled his gaze at me.

"Seriously? You're asking me how I have been?" I nodded in response. "Fuck me Edward, you are supposed to be bright." He barged past me and went down onto the beach, I quickly followed.

"Hey! Wait up, I called after him as I jogged to keep up with him as he marched down the beach toward the shoreline where he stopped, grabbing some pebbles and throwing them out into the angry ocean.

I stood next to him watching as he threw them further and further out. I could tell that he was trying not to speak to me, so I broke the uneasy silence.

"Jake, I'm sorry, I really am." Then I waited, watching him as his jaw clenched knowing that this anger was directed at me, and what was worse, I deserved it. "Jake, please?"

He turned to face me a spark of fury in his eyes. "Please what? Tell that it's okay? That we can just go back to being best friends when I honestly have no clue what I did to upset you so badly? I mean I remember the part where I called your folks to tell them that you were being put in the back of a Police cruiser, and you rambling about me going behind your back. Seriously though, you need to cut down on whatever pills they have you on as they are messing with your brain." He tapped the side of his head to make his point. "You have some serious issues man, and I think you need to get some professional help for them."

I stood there and didn't say a word, just letting him get it off his chest. I'd needed to do the same thing myself, luckily I had Janet to talk to, but he didn't know that.

"We were friends, best friends and we looked out for each other. Is that was being in love does for you? Did it make you forget who was there for you when no one else was? Cause I'm telling you I would rather be single forever than treat my friends like that."

Finally he stopped, threading his fingers in his hair as he clutched it in exasperation. I took this as my chance to try and explain.

"I don't know what to say Jake, seriously I can say I am sorry but that means nothing if I don't have your trust and friendship at the end of it all. I messed up, should've listened to you, given you the chance to tell me what was happening. I didn't and I'm sorry for that. My heart was ruling my head and you have to understand she hurt me, really fucking badly. I wasn't sure that I would get through it." My voice broke.

"I know Edward. I was there, remember?" He spoke, barely able to keep his voice from cracking, he paused for a moment he continued. "I was on the beach that night, with Bella. I drove her to find out when you tried to take the coward's way out of the whole fucked up situation. I was the one who called the paramedics, she couldn't do that for the person she loved. It was me that kept talking to you until they arrived, watching as you lapsed in and out of consciousness. I told you all this at the hospital though, not that I expect you remember. Had it been Bella though I'm damn sure you would have perfect recollection."

Staring at him I remembered his anger towards her that day when he told me what no one would.

"You told me that you hated her, that you blamed her for it all." I whispered. "So what changed? I saw you two on her front porch, you hugged her like you were best friends, or I dunno, something more. Maybe I didn't hang around long enough to get the full show."

Jake let out a loud laugh. "When you are you gonna get it into your thick head Cullen? Nothing happened. Never has and never will. You are my best friend, I wouldn't do that to you but thanks for giving me the vote of confidence. I tried to explain after the Police Station, but you wouldn't listen to me then either. Now you ask me to meet up and I think. Yeah great, we are gonna sort this mess out, but no. You're back to square one, seeing what you want to see and not what happened. Which was nothing. Do I need to spell it out of you and clearer?"

I looked him in the face while he said his piece, Jake wouldn't lie to me, would he? We were friends and had been for years. Had my stupidity and rage really made me so blind to that fact? The answer was quite clearly yes. I fought to say the words that were needed, they wouldn't wipe away what had happened, but they would help.

"Jake, I'm sorry. I really am. There is nothing I can say other than that, if you chose not to accept my apology, then I understand." I stuttered out, all the time praying that he wouldn't take that option.

A broad smile broke across his face. "That's okay, I forgive you. Like I said you are one of my oldest friends, one I would do anything for my friends you know that after everything that we've been through together." He pulled me into a one armed hug, almost crushing the air from my lungs. "Wanna go back to mine and grab some pizza?"

My smile matched his. "Yeah, I've just got a quick call to make first. Meet you up there?" He walked away nodding.

I felt like a weight had been lifted off me as I dialled Janet's number, again I got her voicemail but this time I was able to leave a positive message, and told her that I would speak to her at my session as normal, then I got in my car and sped to Jake's house.

We sat playing on the X-box and eating take out pizza for the rest of the afternoon, it felt good to be back with my best friend. The only downer as the elephant in the room that neither of us could bring ourselves to mention Bella. I was glad that this hadn't ruined my friendship with Jake, even though if he had told me where to go I would've had no-one to blame but myself. I should've trusted him and I sure as hell should've listened to him when he tried to explain to me.

All I had to do now was speak to Bella. Of course I now knew the truth. That had hit me like a wrecking ball, she had done nothing wrong, just like she told me. I knew that whatever I had gone through with Jake it was gonna be a million times worse when I finally spoke to her. Especially as I blamed her for throwing me to the wolves. Bella should've been the first person I went to once I get my head together, but to be honest I was scared of admitting to her that I had been wrong. I'd treated her like she was nothing to me, hurting hurt her as I lashed out in my blind rage, thinking that she had done the unspeakable and betrayed us. Finding out that it was Tanya who was responsible with the help and encouragement of James, was like a dagger to my heart. Tanya had not only hurt me with her spiteful actions, but my family and Bella too.

I really wanted nothing more than to ask Jake's advice on how I should approach Bella, I could tell that they were closer now than they had ever been. She had tried to make things right and I had refused. There was only one way to find out. I could do this, I had to take that chance, that leap of faith and pray that she would still be willing to offer me the chance to make things right. Yeah I knew that she'd sent me the email with the song, that gave me a small glimmer of hope that she hadn't closed her heart to me.

Once I got home that night I had to run the gauntlet of my mom's questions, where had I been, who with and what time did I call this? She quietened down when I told her that I had made things up with Jake and left me to my own devices for the rest of the night. I managed to speak to Janet and told her that I had sorted things with Jake. She was pleased, and very apologetic that she couldn't make it to be there with me. Our next appointment was set for the day after tomorrow so that I could work through how I felt about my friendship with Jake when I'd had time to take it all in.

That night as my head hit the pillow there was only one thought dominating it, she was all I could think of and that night she was all I dreamed of. Bella.

Waking the next morning I felt as if I could do anything, it was amazing to wake feeling like this it hadn't happened since before, well before the winter formal. I wanted desperately to call her and let her know that I was coming round, but decided against it. I have no idea how I made it through breakfast, I could hardly eat. My mom kept looking at me with a strange look on her face and I was worried that she might call me out on it, knowing that there was something strange about me, but she didn't say anything. I had expected to be grounded following my stunt with where I took my father's car, but I think that would come, they obviously just didn't know how to approach it at the moment, and I was going to take full advantage of it.

Bolting from the house I drove towards Bella's house, my nerves took over. I knew deep in my heart that I loved her still, I don't think for one second that I ever stopped if I was honest with myself.

Pulling up at her house I nearly turned the car around and headed back home where it was safe, where I was safe. What stopped me was the fact that the door to her house opened as her father made his way to his police cruiser. Slumping down behind the wheel I watched as he pulled away from the house, tires screeching in protest.

Then she appeared on the porch, staring after his vehicle. I froze in place, part of me hoping that she wouldn't see me the other hoping that she wouldn't so I could prepare myself some more for this but it was too late, our eyes met and neither of us could break it.

Slowly I got out from behind the wheel and closed the door before walking towards her. The expression on her face didn't change or soften in any way. I reached the bottom of the porch steps before I broke the stare as I spoke. "Bella, I came to talk to you, I got the message and the song." I looked back up at her expecting to see a smile on her face, but was met by a stony stare.

"Oh, so now you want to talk?" I nodded, she rolled her eyes at me. "I see. I asked, no I begged you for that chance and you denied me. You told me to leave you alone, that you never wanted to see me again and you are here. You can see why I am confused."

"I know Bella, I am here to talk to you, to sort out this whole sorry mess. Can you give me the five minutes to explain that I should have given you?"

She let out a deep sigh. "Well I suppose you should come inside then."

Authors Note:
Thanks to FFaddward for pre-reading this for me, she helped me see where I was going when I couldn't see it myself.

A million thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter, the next one is done but I will be doubt tweaking and playing with it, so if I say that the next update will be into two weeks, maybe a little earlier.