CHLOE

Tonight was Zac's leaving party. We were having it at the Cullen's. All our friends from school were coming and all of the Cullen's would be there too. I was sitting on Renesmee's bed watching her aunt Alice do her hair. Mine was already done, along with my makeup and I was dressed.

"Alice I don't want it like that," Renesmee said as Alice pulled her hair into a bun. Alice sighed and dropped Renesmee's long bronze hair and ran a comb through it. The curls bounced as the comb reached the tips of her hair. Alice then pulled a few strands of Renesmee's hair back so it was in a loose half pony tail; she placed an intricately designed clip into the back.

"All done," Alice said and Renesmee stood up. She walked over to the closet, let her dressing gown fall from her body and took the dress off the hanger, she pulled it over her body and Alice zipped up the back.

"Beautiful," she said. "Not as nice as the one you have for Eddie's party but it's still nice."

Renesmee laughed. The dress was purple, it hugged her waist perfectly and it hung to her knees. I stood up from the bed and walked over to her. She took my hand in hers.

"Let's go," she said with a smile. I smiled back and we began walking out of the room. Alice followed us, already dressed and ready. We descended the stair case which caught the attention of both Eddie and Jacob who were walking through the hall talking. They turned to look at us.

Jacob took in a sharp breath as he stared at Renesmee. I smiled at him, his reaction was priceless. I tore my eyes to look at Eddie, briefly. He was staring at me. I couldn't work out his expression. He looked away seconds after I caught him looking at me. Renesmee and I continued down the stairs and Jacob met us there, taking Renesmee in his arms. He bent down to her ear and whispered.

"You look amazing."

Renesmee giggled, she dropped my hand to wrap her arms around his shoulders. He leant in and kissed her. I stepped down from the last step, giving them some room. Renesmee pulled away just as Eddie started to walk out the hall.

"Eddie!" She shouted. Eddie turned to look at her. "Doesn't Chloe look beautiful?" she asked grinning at him, Eddie's face dropped then turned to me. He nodded slightly and smiled.

"Yes," he said, I didn't know if he was saying that truthfully or because Renesmee told him to say it. I couldn't help blushing, I felt my cheeks burn so I looked down.

"Thanks," I whispered. I knew he heard me, he heard everything. He turned and walked out the hall.

The rest of the night was amazing. Alice did an amazing job with the party. All our school friends and Renesmee's family were dancing; I was sitting on the edge of the living room on one of the couches, watching Edward twirl Bella on the dance floor. She was smiling and laughing with him. Edward looked briefly at me and smiled. I looked away, apologizing in my head. Before I knew it Edward was standing in front of me holding out his hand. I looked up confused.

"Come dance with us," he said.

"Oh, no it's okay. Thanks anyway."

"Come on," Bella said smiling. I shook my head.

"I can't dance, I'm clumsy," I said, they grinned.

"Nothing I can't handle," Edward said grinning. "Bella never used to be this graceful."

I laughed; I couldn't imagine Bella being clumsy.

"She was, trust me. Bella was a danger magnet. It was a full time job making sure she didn't fall down the stairs," he said. Bella laughed and playfully punched his arm.

"If you don't want to dance can we sit with you?" Bella asked.

"Sure," I said and moved along the couch so they could sit next to each other instead of either side of me. We were silent for a few minutes. I was watching Renesmee dance with Jacob and I knew Edward was too. Jacob leant in to kiss Renesmee lightly on her lips. I heard Edward growl beside me. I looked over and saw Bella patting his leg.

"Were you mad at him?" I asked Edward.

When you found out he imprinted on your daughter. I clarified.

"Mad is an understatement. I hated it because I knew from when Renesmee was less than an hour old that he owned her, in a way both Bella and I couldn't."

"What about now?"

"Not so much. I see that he can protect her; he is the best match for her. In all honesty I'd rather her to marry and be with him forever than have to go through tens of boyfriends before she found the one she wanted to be with… Bella's reaction was the best though." Edward grinned. "She was going to rip his head off."

I laughed and looked at Bella. If she could blush I'm sure she would have been.

"Really?" I asked. She nodded shyly.

"I was a newborn, and Jacob had claimed my daughter before I had even had a chance to know her." She answered me, I nodded understanding. If a wolf had imprinted on my child when I had only just given birth to it I'd be furious too. Before we could talk more on the matter Zac came over to us.

"Hey!" I said smiling at him. I hadn't seen him much tonight, everyone wanted to talk to him and wish him luck.

"Hey," she said smiling back.

"Excuse me," Edward said and took Bella's hand as he stood up, I followed his gaze over to the far end of the room. He was walking over to Liam who was staring at Renesmee on the dance floor. Uh oh.

"Can I talk to you please?" Zac asked. I turned my attention back to him.

"Sure," I said. He held out his hand and I took it. He led us out to the back yard. Alice had a million lanterns hung on the trees that surrounded the land as well as on the patio. He brought me over to the edge of the patio and leant over the railings. I did the same. We watched the people dancing on the grass. I noticed Eddie with Chantelle. She was laughing as he playfully swung her around.

"Chloe…" Zac said I turned my attention away and looked at Zac. He was now standing facing me. "I have something to tell you," he said, I could tell he was nervous.

"Okay…" I said confused by his nervousness.

"We've been together for a few months now, and now that I'm leaving I'm afraid I will never get a chance to say it." He said staring into my eyes.

"Say what?" I asked a little shakily.

"Chloe I love you I've loved you for a while now and I'm sorry I never told you before but I was afraid you wouldn't say it back," he said fast with no pauses. I took in a sharp breath. What was I supposed to say? Should I lie or tell the truth?

"Zac… I-" I said fighting.

"May I have this dance?" Someone asked beside me, I turned to see Eddie standing there. Zac glared at him. "Oh I'm sorry am I interrupting?" he asked with a smile.

"Yeah you are," Zac said bitterly. I narrowed my eyes at Zac; there was no need to be rude.

"Sorry," Eddie said, only it didn't sound very sincere, it was almost jokingly.

"Well dude, I'd like you to walk away from my girlfriend and find someone else to dance with," Zac said angrily, he squared his shoulders towards Eddie. Eddie's grin dropped and he stepped up onto the patio, revealing he was actually six inches bigger than Zac. He turned and faced me.

"Would you like to dance with me?" he asked again. Zac fought to get his way around Eddie. I stared at him confused. Why did he want to dance with me?

"Erm… after. I have to talk to Zac first," I answered.

"What?" Zac said his voice much higher than normal.

"He's a friend Zac. There is nothing wrong with dancing with him," I said to him.

"Yes Zac, there is nothing wrong with that," Eddie repeated still looking at me. I sighed.

"Please go Eddie, I'll find you later," I said to him, I was fed up with the testosterone levels. Eddie nodded and stepped down from the patio walking over to Alice in the centre of the yard, he bowed down to her and held out his hand, I couldn't hear them but I could imagine him acting silly and asking her if she would like to dance with him. Alice giggled and nodded. I watched them dance in the corner of my eye; they were so unbelievably graceful as they danced it made me feel a pang of jealousy. I turned back to Zac who was standing and waiting for me.

"Look Zac…" I said placing my hand on his cheek. "You're an amazing boyfriend, you're sweet, kind, incredibly funny and protective and loving." I said then paused. "But I'm sorry, I can't lie to you. I don't love you," I hated myself once I had said it. Zac's face twisted, I saw him fold back his pain. He nodded.

"That's okay. I just needed to say what I felt. I'll be leaving tomorrow anyway."

"Zac I'm sorry," I whispered.

"It's okay, so this is it? We're over?" he asked. I felt my heart start to ache as I nodded. He nodded back. "Okay," he whispered. I let my hand drop from his face and I felt the tears threatening to fall from my face.

"I have to go," I whispered and ran into the house. I didn't want him to see me cry so I went to the closest bathroom. It was engaged. I sighed, I didn't want to wait. I just went up the stairs and into Renesmee's room. No one was here so I went straight into her en suite. I let the tears fall. I was such a horrible person, why couldn't I have just said I loved him? At least he would have gone away happy.

No. My conscious fought. He would have gone away thinking you would wait for him, that you wouldn't move on and that you could have a long distance relationship. That would have been no good.

I sighed and wiped my tears from my face, I noticed my mascara had run slightly, under my eyes were just a little darker than usual. I pulled out one of Renesmee's makeup removal wipes and cleaned my face. I then walked out and over to her dressing table. I reapplied my mascara and stared at myself in the mirror for a while. Taking in my appearance. I didn't look that bad. I went to the door and opened it. Renesmee was standing on the other side.

"Oh!" she said surprised. She then took in my face. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice rising. I nodded but she didn't believe me, she dragged me back into her room. "What's wrong?" she asked, walking over to her bedside table and putting her iPhone on the charging dock. She walked over to me sitting on the bed and sat next to me.

"I broke up with Zac that's all," I said.

"That's all?" she shrieked, mocking. "That's enough," she said as if breaking up with someone was enough to make you cry. She pulled me into a hug and I fought back the sobs. After nearly a minute she pulled away from me.

"You ready to go back?" she asked. I nodded. "Eddie was looking for you by the way." She said standing up. Oh crap.

"Oh, yeah." I said.

"What's that about?" she asked.

"He wanted to dance with me," I said standing up to join her. She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Really?" she asked linking her arm with mine. I laughed and rolled my eyes at her. Renesmee was infatuated with the idea of Eddie and me together. I had to admit I liked the idea too. He was the reason I couldn't tell Zac I loved him. Eddie was gorgeous and amazing and I was completely in love with him but he wasn't in love with me. He had over heard me telling Renesmee about what I felt and told me that it was never going to happen. That he didn't like me in that way. Every time I have thoughts about him that I shouldn't, I remember that conversation. I remember hearing him say 'I don't want you'.

Renesmee and I made it back down the stairs. Renesmee kissed my cheek and skipped off into the living room; Edward caught her and pulled her into a dance. She giggled and danced with him. I smiled at them and made my way out to the back yard. I walked over to the opposite end of the patio this time and sat down on the love seat. I watched the people dancing for a little while before I felt someone sit down next to me. I turned to see Eddie.

"You okay?" he asked. I nodded and looked back into the yard. "Can I have my dance now?" He asked. I nodded again. He stood up and held his hand out to me.

"I have to warn you. I'm clumsy." I said slightly embarrassed.

"That's okay." He said with a grin and I took my hand. The moment our skin touched I felt the familiar jolt of electricity charge through me. The one that made me feel alive and happy. I often wondered if he ever felt it. He led me over to the dance floor in the back yard and span me around so I landed in his arms. He put one arm around my waist and kept his other hand in mine. We swayed to the music.

"You know I was trying to save you," he said. I looked up at him and nodded.

"I know and thanks." I said, he smiled his beautiful smile.

"Sorry it didn't turn out so well," he said, his smile falling and replaced with genuine concern. I smiled weakly.

"Thanks," I whispered. We danced for a little longer without talking, as the song came to an end he leant in towards me, my heart sped up rapidly. He placed his cheek against mine so his lips were at my ear.

"Don't be sad. He wasn't the one you were supposed to be with. One day you'll be with the man you love," he whispered. I was totally and utterly stunned at what he said. With a blink of an eye he was gone. I was no longer dancing with him. I was just standing there surrounded by other people dancing. I pulled myself away from the dance floor and repeated the words Eddie had said to me in my head, over and over again. What did he mean by it? Did he mean a random human that I would meet and marry? Or did he mean him? He knew I had strong feelings for him, or at least I used to. Did he think I loved him? I didn't know. It was all so confusing. I walked into the house to find everyone congregated in the hall.

"She is my girlfriend!" I heard Zac shout from somewhere in the room.

"Not anymore she isn't. I'm pretty sure she broke up with you," I heard Eddie say. Uh oh. I squeezed myself through the crowd of people. Making it easier to see what was going on. Eddie and Zac were standing facing each other; Zac was burning in fury whilst Eddie looked like he was enjoying himself.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I saw you dancing with him, and it didn't look like you were dancing as two friends," Zac snarled at me.

"Don't talk to her like that! We are friends. Like you and Renesmee are friends. Jealousy isn't attractive Zac," Eddie said to him.

"Woah woah woah," I heard Edward say. He was suddenly striding up to the boys; he placed himself in between them and his hands on each of their chests.

"Back off, both of you." He said and glared at his son a little longer than he did with Zac. There was a hidden message behind that stare that I didn't understand.

"Your brother has been hitting on my girlfriend," Zac said. Edward turned to him.

"I am sorry for my brother's behaviour," Edward said.

"I'm not your girlfriend Zac," I said. He looked at me sadly.

"Whatever," he said and stalked off. Edward turned to look at Eddie. I felt a cold hand grip mine and pull me out of the people.

As soon as I was out of the hall I noticed Bella was leading me up the stairs and into her bedroom. I had never actually been in here before. It was beautiful; her bed room was at the back of the house, whereas Renesmee's was at the front. The room was simple and white. The bed in the centre was a four poster bed with pure white sheets; that faced out to a wall that was pure glass with a door in the middle leading out onto a balcony. The walls were bare except for two doors a chest of drawers on the east side and the bedside tables. On the chest of drawers was a few photo frames, I saw Eddie and Renesmee as children in nearly every single one. On the wall just above it was a picture of both Edward and Bella on their wedding day. They were staring at each other; the photo was so full of love it made me smile. Pulling me back to the present, Bella motioned for me to sit on the bed. I sat down without arguing. She went out the room and came back in what seemed like two seconds later with a glass of water.

"Here," she said and handed me it.

"Thanks," I whispered taking it. She sat down onto the bed and crossed her legs. She faced me and watched me as I took a sip of the glass. I turned to look at her golden eyes. There was so much love, tenderness and maternal affection in her eyes and face I was momentarily stunned. She smiled warmly at me.

"A lot has happened tonight," she said with a light laugh. Her laugh bounced off the walls like chimes. I had never spent one on one time with any of the Cullen's that weren't Renesmee before. Not properly. I hadn't really had a chance to take in any of their features or mannerisms. Staring at Bella now, made me realise how pure and angelic she seemed. I nodded at her and reached over to her bedside table to place the glass down.

"If you ever want to talk to anyone, I'm here. I just want you to know that. I know you have Renesmee and she is your best friend but she hasn't been through what I have. If you ever need to talk about Zac or… Eddie. I'm here." She said with a heart-warming smile. I smiled back.

"Thank you," I said sincerely. I didn't see Bella as my best friend's mother right now, I saw her as an eighteen year old girl, not much older than I was.

"Do you remember a lot from when you were human?" I asked her.

"Some things, it's hard to remember others. But I'll try my best, what is it do you want to know?" she asked.

"Did... did you," I stuttered.

"No one can read my mind Chloe. No one will find out what you say to me, I promise. I have my shield around us right now. We're completely alone," she said reassuringly.

"Did you know, before you started dating Edward? That you were going to be with him forever?" I asked finally looking back up into her eyes. She paused for a second, seemingly thinking it through.

"My situation was a little different than yours. I wasn't told by him or his family what he was. I had to find out myself. But yes. I think I can say I knew I loved him. Finding out he was a vampire should have made me run. I should have ran away from him as fast as possible. But I didn't. I was intrigued, and he was just so beautiful. There was nothing that could scare me away from him. I knew I wanted to be with him forever. That was even before I knew he loved me back," she said thoughtfully.

"Edward's told you hasn't he?" I asked.

"That you're in love my son? Yes," she said with a grin. I looked down embarrassed.

"Please don't be embarrassed," she said placing her cold hand on my cheek, I looked back up to her.

"What you just explained... that's how I feel," I whispered. My voice sounded pained. In all honesty I was. I was in love with someone that didn't love me back. Or at least that's what he said to me. Her beautiful face twisted in sympathy.

"It's going to be okay. You'll find someone." She said. I nodded, she was right. I shouldn't be hanging on every tiny thing Eddie does.

"Thanks," I whispered.

"Anytime," she replied and climbed off the bed. I stood up too. She walked over to the door. "You should go and find Renesmee; she has something to tell you. The guests will be leaving soon but I'll keep my shield around you as much as I can. You deserve one night of privacy from my nosey husband and son," she said. I laughed.

"Thank you," I said, I couldn't put the emotion I wanted into that. I was completely and utterly sincerely grateful for Bella, just being here.

From that day on I would always think of her as a second mother to me.