Hello my lovelies!

I am very excited about this chapter! I won't bore you with a long author's note, but, as usual, review!

Anywho, let's get down to business!

As we sat down for dinner, everyone besides Edward and Tanya look uncomfortable. Alice and I sit next to each other with Edward and Tanya across from us while Carlisle and Esme sit at the heads of the table, doing their best to keep the conversation flowing.

Tanya, who sits across from Alice, makes their job easy because she blabs about each and every detail of her latest movies. I poke at my peas as I listen.

"Oh Edward," she says as she turns a bright smile on him. "I just wish you could be playing the male lead. I mean, Jacob is good, but we don't have the chemistry that you and I have."

Edward smiles back and spears a piece of chicken. "There will be more movies, Tan. I promise," he says sweetly.

I raise an eyebrow. Tan? It has a nickname for her? What, does he call her pookie in private?

…ugh, get ahold of yourself, Bella.

"So Bella," Tanya says, and my palms begin to sweat. "Tell me about yourself. I already know scads about the Cullen's, but I know nothing about you," she smiles sweetly.

I shrug. "There's not much to know," I begin quietly. "I mean, I've lived here my whole life."

She giggles. "How quaint. What do your parents do for a living in such a small town?" she arches a perfect brow at me.

I sigh to myself. "My father is the police chief," I answer. "He has been since before I was born."

Tanya smiles a condescending grin. "Oh that's just adorable! What does your mom do? Oh, is she a school teacher? That would be just perfect!" she exclaims.

I see Alice tense up next to me and Edward has the decency to look guilty.

"I don't know," I answer.

That stops Tanya for a long moment before she takes a sip of her water.

"Oh!" she exclaims. "So does she like, work for the government? Are you not allowed to go?"

I sip my coke and suppress the need to roll my eyes. "No," I say. "I just don't know. My mom left my dad and me a few years ago," I admit.

Tanya's mouth drops into a perfect "o." "Well isn't that just perfectly tragic!"

"Oh yes, just perfectly tragic," I say sarcastically.

She ignores me and takes a bit of her salad. "Well listen, Bella," she says after she swallows. "I know that being a police chief in such a small town cannot pay much so college is probably out of the question for a few years. But I could get you a job backstage on one of my summer movies to help you save-"

"Excuse me, Tanya, but I am not a charity case. I can afford college and I refuse to be your lackey," I say as politely as possible.

She smiles at me in satisfaction. "Suit yourself."

Esme controls the conversation after that and, thankfully, she makes sure it stays away from me.

I skip out on dessert, choosing instead to lie on Alice's bed until Tanya leaves. I'd stripped my dress off and put on my jeans and my shirt from earlier.

After about 20 minutes of sitting by myself, I decide to sneak outside to my tuck. My backpack has my favorite book, Wuthering Heights, inside of it and suddenly, I want nothing more than to loose myself in a book.

When I'm convinced that everyone is in the living room, I sneak out the front door and, once I'm outside, I sprint to the cab of my truck, slip inside, and shut the door behind me.

I reach down to grab my backpack off the floor when I suddenly see the front door open just as an expensive looking car pulls up the long driveway.

Edward and Tanya walk outside and I duck down so that I can't be seen.

I hold by breath and listen as carefully as I can.

"Did you want to go for a ride?" I hear Tanya ask.

There's a long moment of silence before I hear Edward say "No, I probably shouldn't."

Please? I have some…stuff in my purse," she says in a suggestive voice.

"Shit, Tanya! You can't bring that into my house! What if my parents saw that? Or Alice? Or…" he trails off and my heart beats faster.

"Or Bella?" Tanya says. I hear the bitterness in her voice.

Edward groans loudly. "Drop it Tanya! Just go. I'll see you over the summer."

Tanya is quiet for a long moment before she speaks. "Goodbye, babe."

I peek over the dashboard and gasp to myself before I disappear again. The image of Edward and Tanya wrapped in each other's arms with their lips locked together is burned behind my eyelids and I find I can't breathe for a log moment.

As soon as I hear the car drive away, I peak over the edge and see Edward standing on the porch smoking a cigarette. He leans against the white post and runs his free hand through his hair.

I decide that there is no point hiding so I open my car, hoist my backpack onto my shoulder, and slam the truck shut.

I enjoy the way Edward jumps, dropping his cigarette, before he turns to look at me.

"How long have you been there?" he asks angrily.

I shrug. "Long enough."

He stomps on the cigarette and glares at me. "Didn't your parents ever teach you that it's rude to eavesdrop?" he seethes.

I shrug. "The only thing my mother ever taught me was how to stick a needle in my arm, and my dad is never around. You do the math," I throw back at him as I clomp up the stairs.

His glare begins to soften as he looks at me. "You changed out of your dress," he says randomly.

I roll my eyes. "I didn't really feel like pretending anymore. I hate dresses. I only did it tonight because Alice begged me. But next time she comes," I say as I cross my arms over my chest, "I'm leaving."

He nods. "I'm sorry about dinner. Tanya doesn't really have a filter," he says with a grimace.

I scoff. "Or boundaries," I mumble.

He raises an eyebrow at me. "Is someone jealous?" he asks with an amused grin.

I shove him a little too hard. "What the fuck, Edward? She's the one who got you into drugs, wasn't she?" I demand. "I was there. I heard everything she said! And yet you let her into your life?"

He rolls his eyes. "Bella, you know that I haven't touched any cocaine in weeks. And since you heard everything, then you heard me tell her no. So what's the problem?" he demands as he steps closer to me.

I groan and throw my backpack down. "The fact that you're with her!" I exclaim. "She's not good for you, Edward! Think about it! She's the one who got you into drugs in the first place. So what's to stop her from doing that again?"

He lets out a scoff. "What? Do you not trust me? Don't think I'm strong enough to resist the temptation?" he asks. "Well guess what, Bella. I've been resisting temptation since I arrived in this stupid fucking town."

I take another step towards him and find myself resisting the urge to slap him. "She's bad news, Edward. She's the kind of girl who will lure you into doing bad things. Someone like that is going to end up killing you," I yell. "You need someone who's balanced and knows what she's doing. Someone that can handle your stupid fucking mood swings and your addiction, even though you refuse to admit it! Someone that will support you, not try to encourage you to get back on drugs. You need someone like…" I trail off, catching myself before I said something really stupid.

Edward takes another slow step towards me. "Someone like who, Bella?"

I kick my foot into the ground, not sure of what to say. "Just…someone better than Tanya," I whisper.

"Someone like you?" he asks softly.

I look down at the ground and allow my hair to cover my face. It doesn't work as well as it did when I had long hair.

I feel his finger touch the underside of my chin as he tilts my face up. When my eyes meet his, I gasp quietly, surprised by the intensity I see in his.

"I'm not with Tanya, Bella. We haven't been together for quite some time now," he admits. His eyes are focused on my lips.

"Oh," I whisper. That's the only thing I can think of to say due to the fact that I literally cannot look away from his eyes. He has invaded me completely. His scent is heavy in my nose. I can feel the heat of his body radiating against mine. All I can hear is his deep breathing, and all I can see are his perfect lips and his green eyes.

"Bella," he whispers softly before he presses his lips gently against mine.

And then, I'm on fire.

So? What did you all think!

Tanya will only do one more bitchy thing before the story is over, so don't be too worried about her.

Please please review! It's really discouraging not to get any feedback, and I love hearing from you guys :)

Lots of love,

Emilia Elliot