A/N: Here we are at last! I've been looking forward to writing this chapter from the beginning. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it :)

Also, disclaimer again! Forest scene is from New Moon directly. And just in case anyone is concerned, no, this is not literally 'The End'. That was just the chapter title in the book for the breakup scene and I wanted to use it ;)

……..

Earthshine

Chapter XXIII

"The End"

…

Step by step, one foot in front of the other. Count to ten, hold your breath then count to another. Rising to ashes, falling to flame. None of it matters, it all ends the same. Keep on moving forward through the cold. - Portair

…

[Edward]

"Bella, we're leaving."

I watched her take a breath and I wondered if she would immediately argue. She didn't look surprised, though. She almost looked like she'd been expecting this. But she was intelligent. She probably guessed that I'd try and do the right thing.

"Why now?" She asked. "Another year—"

So she didn't entirely understand. Not the urgency of the situation anyway.

"Bella, it's time. How much longer could we stay in Forks, after all? Carlisle can barely pass for thirty, and he's claiming thirty-three now. We'd have to start over soon regardless."

Bella only stared at me, uncomprehending.

To be fair, I was being indirect. Stalling. Putting off the inevitable. I held her eyes and gazed into them with a frozen expression, eyes hard, as I waited for her to grasp my meaning.

And she did. In the next moment, she looked almost sick with the realization.

"When you say we—," her voice was barely audible.

"I mean my family and myself." I announced each word purposefully, hands moving to my pockets so she couldn't see the way they tensed.

She shook her head and I prepared myself for the fight I was sure was coming. I waited patiently for her to gather her words. I took care to keep my cold stare fixed, to not let it waiver, so she wouldn't see the truth. I had to let my mask speak as much as my words did, or she would successfully unravel this whole thing.

"Okay. I'll come with you," she said resolutely. Oh, how I wished I could oblige her, but it tore me apart to see how willing she was to throw her entire life away for me. To leave Charlie, her mother, everything that mattered to her.

"You can't, Bella. Where we're going…it's not the right place for you."

No human should live among vampires. It was unnatural for a reason.

"Where you are is the right place for me."

Warmth flooded me and I forced it down. "I'm no good for you, Bella."

"Don't be ridiculous." Her eyes turned pleading, her voice desperate. "You're the very best part of my life."

The very worst, I corrected. There was nothing ridiculous about it. She was always so quick to dismiss how undeserving I was. How corrupted.

My face turned solemn. "My world is not for you."

"What happened with Jasper — that was nothing, Edward! Nothing!"

"You're right," I nodded. "It was exactly what was to be expected." Exactly what I'd foolishly ignored.

My frustration flared. She was also so unaware of how precious her life was. So passive about the fact that my brother had nearly ended it. It was far from nothing. I couldn't understand how she could be so blind, but I supposed that was my fault too. It was often said, after all, that love was blind. My love was blinding her.

"You promised! In Phoenix, you promised that you would stay—"

I cut her off quickly. "As long as that was best for you."

She was very angry now, eyes flashing as she practically screamed at me. She had every right to be angry with me too. I was fully aware that I'd implied promises I never intended to keep.

" No! This is about my soul, isn't it?" She shouted. "Carlisle told me about that, and I don't care, Edward. I don't care! You can have my soul. I don't want it without you — it's yours already!"

And there it was. The very worst thing she could have said to me. It was like the final nail in the coffin, so to speak. Her words shot through me painfully and it took every ounce of self-control to keep myself from wincing. To reacting. I breathed in and my eyes shifted down to the damp earth beneath our feet.

This was how far down I'd dragged her. This was the damage I had done. The revulsion toward myself was so intense that it filled me with a horrendous agony.

She didn't care. Didn't care if she followed me straight into hell. I felt a sharp wave of grief over that truth.

This beautiful, innocent, precious girl no longer cared about her own life. No longer cared for her soul. She was carelessly casting it aside.

Her soul was not mine, the very thought was grotesque.

My decision, which had been clouded in darkness, suddenly became very clear to me. This was, unquestionably, the right thing. I wasn't just ignoring my doubts now. They had ceased to exist at all.

I felt my mouth twist, the faintest expression of my own self-hatred, before I felt my eyes grow hard as I finally looked up at her. My resolve solidified and I was ready to deal the final blow. It was time to voice the ultimate lie.

The air stilled before I spoke, and when I did, the words were drawn out and direct. I held her eyes and made myself watch as she processed what I said.

"Bella, I don't want you to come with me."

She took a moment before repeating the words. "You…don't…want me?"

"No."

She was confused, as I knew she would be. She looked into my eyes and I could see that she couldn't grasp my words. They were such a fabrication that who in their right mind could?

But I held her gaze without wavering. I had locked the truth so far down that I knew my eyes would give nothing away. And she was searching, she was trying very hard to see the truth.

Now she'll use all the evidence of the past against me. I was sure it would feel like a volley of arrows.

When she spoke though, it was not to argue. It was not to defend the obvious contradictions to my lie. When she spoke, she was detached. Resigned sounding.

"Well, that changes things."

Her acceptance was nearly enough to undo me. How could she just take it like that? It was painful how quickly I could see my lie taking root. Excruciating. Did she really not understand me? Did she really not know how deeply I'd loved her all of this time? How could she believe this? And so swiftly? Not even a single question asked?

I swallowed hard and moved my hands out of my pockets, almost subconsciously bringing one hand to my wrist, where I grasped the charm there.

She followed my movement and I saw her mouth fall open, some new understanding crossing her face.

"Is it because of her?" She whispered. "Vitalia?"

A crease of my brow was the only expression of my shock. I lowered my hands, glancing to the bracelet before looking up at her again.

She honestly thought my feelings could be so easily transferred? She thought the reason I was so thoroughly removing her from life was because I had feelings for someone else? I was floored. She believed me to be so fickle?

I worked through my shock then considered this angle. Should I use it? I had been prepared to use anything.

Analyzing her face again though, I saw that it wasn't necessary. I didn't need to use this because I'd already succeeded in convincing her. If convincing was even the right word for it. No, there was no need to drag Vitalia into my farce.

Of course not," I answered evenly. "This has nothing to do with her. You think I'd move on from you to another mortal? No. I've learned my lesson."

She flinched back a bit at my words, but I saw she wouldn't argue that point.

I looked away from her, watching as the branches of the trees moved in the gentle breeze. It was peaceful looking. A cruel contrast.

"Of course," I made myself continue. "I'll always love you…in a way. But what happened the other night made me realize that it's time for a change. Because I'm… tired of pretending to be something I'm not, Bella. I am not human." The words were ice as they rushed through me. My eyes slid back to her. I certainly felt inhuman right now. "I've let this go on much too long, and I'm sorry for that."

At least there was some truth here. I was more sorry than she could possibly know.

"Don't." I saw on her face that she believed every word. In her eyes, I could see that she completely believed I no longer wanted to have anything to do with her.

And I was still reeling from that fact. One word was all it had taken to break her faith in me. How? How could she? Had her trust in me been so fragile?

I thought of her reaction to mine and Vitalia's friendship and knew that, yes, it had been fragile. For whatever reason, Bella had never been able to see the depth of my feelings.

"Don't do this," Bella begged in a faint whisper.

But it was too late. I stared at her blankly. There were no words she could say that could persuade me to stay.

"You're not good for me, Bella." I spun my earlier words around. They felt like poison as they slid from my mouth.

And again, she did not argue. She opened her mouth to say something, and I thought that maybe, just maybe, she might point out the flaws in my words, but she stayed silent. I waited patiently, absurdly hoping that there was some part of her that doubted me, even a little.

But when she spoke, I felt a seering pain as my foolish hope was buried.

"If…that's what you want."

I could only nod. I could feel my composure slipping. The pain was unimaginable. Soon, far too soon, I would be stepping out of her life forever. I struggled to get a grip on myself, but I couldn't quite manage it. I fumbled for composure, but it was failing me.

I considered then a concern I wanted to address before I left. I thought of the image of her in her state of depression, as Alice had seen it, and was unable to completely ignore my paranoia. I didn't think she'd purposefully harm himself, she was much too responsible for that, but I wanted to be as sure as I could.

"I would like to ask one favor, though, if that's not too much."

Something gracious and obliging crossed her face, her complete devotion to me, and I knew that she would honor whatever I requested. I felt a flicker of longing cross my face, a need to reach for her, before I quickly forced it away.

"Anything," her voice was stronger now.

And as her selflessness struck me, I felt my mask unravel. My eyes warmed and the intensity of my feelings for her overpowered me. I couldn't manage to keep my expression in place while I was freely expressing my concern for her — when the words I was speaking were no longer practiced half-truths.

"Don't do anything reckless or stupid." Please don't hurt yourself over me, I thought before looking at her more intently. This was important. It needed to be said. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

She nodded immediately.

And now I had to say something to justify my concern. I needed to pull myself back together. Just a little longer, I told myself. Don't fall apart just yet.

I summomed all of my strength again and pulled my expression into one of remote coldness before speaking in a more offhand tone. "I'm thinking of Charlie, of course. He needs you. Take care of yourself — for him."

"I will," she whispered and nodded again.

I felt myself relax a little at her answer. I felt assured. I knew how much she would suffer from Alice's vision, but I also knew she was strong. She was mature. She would not try to harm herself. Her pain would not lead her there.

"And I'll make you a promise in return," I continued. Each word I spoke felt like a weight which was resisting all of my efforts. I pressed on, fighting through my own resistance. I fought through the heartbreak as I purposefully continued to hurt the girl I loved. "I promise that this will be the last time you'll see me. I won't come back. I won't put you through anything like this again. You can go on with your life without any more interference from me. It will be as if I'd never existed."

I could see her start to shake, shocked by my unfeeling words. Her heart was pounding faster in her chest, the blood rushing through her body. It was so difficult to watch her this way, but I told myself it was only temporary. I was breaking her, but she would heal again, and she would be stronger for it.

I smiled at her gently. "Don't worry. You're human — you're memory is no more than a sieve. Time heals all wounds for your kind."

What a gift that was! I already longed for it. For the ability to move on. To heal from this. But it was not possible for me. I would carry this agony forever. This was only the beginning.

"And your memories?" Her words sounded thick, like she was trying not to cry.

"Well—" my voice caught at hearing the pain in hers. "I won't forget. But my kind…we're very easily distracted."

It was somewhat true, as hyperfocused as we could be, but I doubted there'd be anything that could distract from this.

I smiled a soft smile — one that came across as peaceful — but I wasn't sure how effective it was. I pushed away from the tree and took a step back, a step away from her. How could something feel so right and so wrong at the same time? "That's everything, I suppose. We won't bother you again."

Something about what I said surprised her and I gave her a brief quizzical glance before she tried to speak, but really there was no sound, just her lips forming the words: "Alice isn't coming back."

I slowly shook my head, eyes set on her pale face. I did wish there had been some way for the two of them to say goodbye. "No. They're all gone. I stayed behind to tell you goodbye."

"Alice is gone?"

There was so much disbelief in her voice. She was questioning Alice's disappearance? How could she so easily trust in my sister's love, but not mine?

"She wanted to say goodbye, but I convinced her that a clean break would be better for you."

Bella swayed in place and she was trying to control her rapid breaths. I felt almost numb now as I stared at her. My voice took on a soothing, lulling tone. I consoled myself again with the knowledge that I was doing right by her — that I was finally doing the proper, loving thing.

"Goodbye, Bella," I said quietly, softly.

She stumbled forward, reaching out for me. "Wait!"

I reached out too and grasped her wrists tightly, halting her movement, before lowering her hands to her sides. Feeling a savage, ripcurrent of pain, I leaned down and allowed myself a final, gentle touch. Feather light, I brought my lips to her forehead and kissed her. "Take care of yourself," I breathed against her skin.

Then, abruptly, I tore myself away. Swiftly, at one with the gentle sway of the breeze, I disappeared from her sight. I didn't stop, I didn't look back, I just kept running forward.

It was so difficult even to put one foot in front of the other in the growing distance between Bella and I. I was going to have to struggle through every single moment.

But maybe it wouldn't have to last forever. I had always planned on finding some way to end my life as soon as hers was over. That plan didn't have to change. In eighty years or so, there could be an end to the agony.

Her horrified, shocked expression kept replaying itself in my mind. The pain I'd caused her tugged on my conscience. It was unforgivable. Her loss of faith in me too, seeing that trust so absolutely severed…it was almost more than I could bear.

I stumbled to a stop and reached out to support myself against a nearby tree. I closed my eyes and held my head down, waiting for the waves of anguish to ease even a little so that I could keep moving.

I'm so sorry, Bella. I repeated the apology over and over again.

I felt a tremendous pull to turn around and take it all back — to beg her to take me back — but I tightened my hand into a fist and slammed it down against the tree, splitting it apart with a crack as loud as lightning.

Somewhere in the haze of my grief, I remembered that I'd left my car parked in Bella's driveway. I knew I didn't have the strength to go back and grab it and force myself to leave again, so I exhaled a loud breath then took my phone out. I dialed Alice and she picked up on the first ring.

"Edward?"

"Are you nearby?" I asked.

I suspected she'd wanted to stay close until after I ended things.

"…yes. Port Angeles."

"Good. Will you pick up my car from the Swan house? I just left Bella there, and I don't think—" I winced. "I don't think I can go back to—"

"I'll do it. Don't worry about it."

"Thank you, Alice…" I sighed.

"How was she? From what I could see just now, she didn't look good at all, Edward. What if she tries to…you know, end the pain? I feel like she will."

I shook my head against that thought. "Bella promised. She's stronger than you give her credit for. She'll get through this." My eyes hardened as I spoke into the phone. "Just grab my car and get out of there, please. Don't say anything, just leave her be. And don't be looking for her future, either. We've done enough damage."

There was a very long pause on the other end before Alice spoke again. "…alright, Edward. And how are you doing?"

"I'll survive," I answered. "Meet me back in Port Angeles. We'll part ways there."

I hung up and my arm fell limply at my side.

As long as Alice hadn't actually seen Bella hurt herself, then I would have to believe she'd hold up her promise to me.

It was over. It was done. I stared unseeingly into a vast, empty future and I struggled to convince my feet to move. How was I going to do this?

Another wave of anguish shot through me and I felt that my dead heart might be crushed by it.

I breathed in and out and stood for a long time there in the dense forest. I stood there until the afternoon light started to transition into early evening.

I sought some sort of strength, but I barely had enough left. I glanced desperately to my bracelet and stared down out at it for the space of another breath before I focused my thoughts and let my feet guide me to the East, back towards Forks.

But not to Bella. I purposefully kept my thoughts from her so that my traitorous steps wouldn't get the best of me. I focused on a singular point and let it possess me like some sort of anchor, keeping me from drifting.

I hadn't wanted to break this promise to Bella, but after what I'd just done…did it really matter?

No, I had to see Vitalia right now. I had to feel her light and let it strengthen me so that I could actually go through with this. Even just a glimpse…even that might be enough.

I moved through the forest quickly and slowed my steps when I caught sight of the little cabin ahead. The scent of woodsmoke hung in the air and there was something sweet baking inside. Pecan pie? Eden was humming to herself, Diego was working on some sort of wood carving and Vitalia…she wasn't there in the house. I searched for her through the eyes of her parents, but there wasn't any sign of her.

I searched for her thoughts, hoping I'd pick up something. Anything. Did she usually wander off by herself at this hour?

I walked forward, the bramble crunching beneath my feet as my breaths left my mouth with heavy wisps in the evening chill.

What am I even doing here? I questioned myself. This isn't where I should be. I moved forward regardless though, following the trail Vitalia and I had walked many times during my afternoons here.

Then I caught something. I heard her playful mind imagining some sort of fantasy scenario. She was listening to mediaval music and pretending to be some sort of wood nymph. I saw the forest scenery spinning by as she moved around in a circle.

I moved silently then spotted the fort she had mentioned in some of our final texts — it was a solid structure, but also a little hazardous-looking, the way some of the wood pieces stuck out in all directions. She was there next to it, arms outstretched as she twirled in circles and danced over the spots of fading light on the ground.

I stood and watched her motionlessly, my misery still overwhelming me. But the sight of her always transported me outside of myself somehow. It was almost like a dream, not seeming quite real in the midst of my plight.

I'd already known that there wasn't a need to worry about Vitalia after ending our friendship, but seeing her actually thriving in spite of it the loss…I found myself hoping that Bella would eventually thrive too.

From beside me, a frightened fox suddenly scurried away, drawing Vitalia's attention.

What was that? She wondered as she stopped to peer into the long, twilight shadows. I watched her squint her eyes and crouch lower before she spotted the fox. A delighted grin broke across her face before she straightened. Well, hey there, little guy.

I was hidden where I stood in the dark of the looming trees and I could easily turn and continue on my way, but I had already used up most of my resistance in my confrontation with Bella. I could hardly summon enough willpower to turn away now.

I knew I should though. I didn't want to interrupt her joy, taint her light, but I was too far gone to do what I should.

Vitalia glanced at her iPod, mentally reading the song names, and I stepped forward, purposefully stirring the leaves and twigs beneath me so as to announce my presence.

She looked up quickly, confused for a moment, before she saw me and her brows shot up in surprise. What?!

"Eddie?" She asked, half-smile forming. Is that really him? Yes! I think it's is! Wow! I knew I'd see him again, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. "What are you doing here?! I thought you left."

She pulled her earbuds out and quickly made her way over to me. When she reached me though, she took a closer look at my face. Her smile fell and I lowered my eyes, ashamed at what she must be seeing. I couldn't force back the agony, even for her benefit. I couldn't hold back the flood.

Oh no…what's wrong with him? He looks so lost. Did something happen?

"Hey, are you okay?" She asked, reaching out to touch my arm.

"I-" I struggled to speak and squeezed my eyes shut. "I'm sorry for coming here, but I-I'm trying to make myself leave. I'm trying to do the right thing…"

"What'd you mean? What happened?" She asked.

"Exactly what I was afraid would happen." My eyes snapped open. "Bella…she was hurt. She was hurt and it was all my fault. Because of what I am-" I stopped myself. I shook my head and stared hard into the forest around us.

Bella was hurt? She thought, seeming concerned. However, her thoughts quickly turned to the much more astonishing detail I'd let slip. Because of what he is? I can't just, like, not call that out.

"Because of what you are?" She moved her hand from my arm.

My defeated eyes shifted over and I met her sharp gaze. I held it a long moment, wondering if I should say more. Then I sighed loudly, expression contorting with grief and self-loathing.

"You know, don't you?" I said, voice lowering. "You know there's something… off about me."

Her breath caught in surprise and her eyes were curious as they ran over my face. In her mind, I could hear her battling that curiosity — battling it against her more immediate concern for me.

"I know there's something dangerous about you. About your whole family. I don't know what you mean by off, but…yeah, there's definitely something different. I just haven't been able to figure out what." She raised a brow then took a step closer, her eyes reaching into mine as she tried to unravel my secrets. Are they really some sort of government assassins? He said Bella was hurt because of what he is…so maybe their cover was blown and someone came after her? I hope she's okay.

"What happened with Bella?" She asked.

I shook my head and my eyes drifted up to the darkening sky. "I can't really explain it without revealing too much, but…because of what I am, what my family is, Bella was caught up in the crossfire. It could've been a lot worse, she's okay, but afterwards…I decided I couldn't keep putting her in danger. I couldn't keep risking her life. I had to let her go. I had to give her a chance to live an ordinary life without me."

"So you ended things with her?" Vitalia clarified. But even as she said that, she was still trying to puzzle out the rest of my words. Her life was at risk? Whoa. That's pretty heavy. And he keeps saying what he is instead of who." Her head tilted and her eyes narrowed. I wonder why?

"…yes. It was the right thing to do." Bella's anguished face entered my mind again and I winced.

"I'm sorry…" she said softly. "Sorry you had to do that."

My eyes lowered again and I nodded. There was another long moment and I took a step back, about to announce that I should leave, before Vitalia brought her hand to my arm again, effortlessly halting my movement.

"Eddie…don't forget, okay? You can choose to be whoever you want. You want to be the guy who does the right thing? You can do that. You can keep going. If this is what's best for Bella, if staying would hurt her, I know you can do whatever you need to do." She smiled at me and took both my hands in hers. I stared down at our clasped hands, clinging to her words desperately. They were exactly what I needed to hear.

However dangerous he is, he's a good guy deep down. I don't know how Bella was hurt, and maybe he is at fault for it, just like he said, but he's setting things straight now.

My eyes slowly lifted to hers and I stared into the confident,vast blue of them. I let myself get lost in them, soaring there and unburdening all the weight I was carrying inside of me.

I tightened my hold over her hands and, without knowing what suddenly possessed me, I leaned toward her.

My life had just imploded, everything was chaos and havoc, but she was a source of stability. Maybe I was seeking comfort, or maybe her light, or maybe just her support. I wasn't sure but, for a moment, I felt the faintest sense that if I closed the distance between us, I might be able to subdue the agony — if only briefly.

I brought my lips very near hers as the echo of my curiosity from that night on her front porch, where I'd wondered about kissing her, rang clear in my mind. Her warm breath drifted across my face before she brought a fragile hand against my chest.

"Don't," she told me in a quiet, commanding voice. She looked up at me and met my hazy eyes fiercely. "Don't do it, Eddie."

I can't go there. She thought. I care too much about you for this not to mean everything to me.

I didn't move, still caught up in the strange daze that had drawn me close to her.

"You have some things to figure out," she continued. " A lot of things. You can always come and find me when you have. But for now, I'm not going to give you a reason to look back on anything between us with regret. And I know you'll regret this."

I blinked and sighed before slowly drawing back, reality taking me again. What was that? I wondered. Was I so weak, so deep in my grief, that I had lost my ability to reason? I was suddenly grateful that she, at least, was thinking clearly. That she'd stopped me when she had. It wouldn't have been right. I would've been using her as some sort of escape and that wasn't fair to her. It also wasn't fair to Bella, who still held my complete devotion.

"Thank you," I muttered, ashamed again.

"No problem," she gave me a little smirk. "I've got your back." Her heart was beating wildly though, her eyes ablaze with excitement. I almost let it happen though. Kinda wish it could have.

The fact that she'd wanted the kiss, yet still managed to see through that to help me do the right thing, softened my expression and I gazed down at her in wonder.

How was it that she understood me so much better than Bella? She knew exactly how I'd react and what I needed. She saw right through to the intent behind my actions.

Still holding one of her hands, I pulled her close. She tensed, then relaxed as I bent to gently kiss her cheek. "Thank you," I said again as I whispered into her ear. "For everything."

She caught my eyes as I moved away again. She nodded at me, her hand patting the place where my heart should beat. "Stay strong, Eddie."

He's, like, frozen solid. She was thinking as she replayed the kiss in her head. My cheek is all frostbitten now. Her eyes were curious again and she looked to her hand as her brows creased. She pressed harder against my chest and I knew she could feel nothing but stillness. That's weird…I can't feel his heartbeat.

She breathed out heavily, little wispy clouds escaping from her mouth before she looked to me again. "What are you?" It was the first time she'd openly asked.

Maybe I'm on the wrong track completely, she thought. What if this is something else, something more…mythical?

I stared at her intently and deliberately nodded.

Her brows shot up at once. "You're reading my mind?"

I could alleviate this mystery, at least. It was already helping to distract her from my lack of pulse. "Yes."

Her mouth fell open, smile spreading around it. "Really? That's crazy!"

I managed a faint chuckle. "Tell me about it." Then I tilted my head at her. "Does that bother you? That I've been able to hear what you're thinking this whole time?"

She paused to consider that before shrugging. "No, I don't think so. I mean, I don't have anything to hide."

"Still an invasion of privacy."

" True, but I'm not that private of a person anyway."

That was a good point. She didn't seem especially bothered by those things.

She tilted her head at me again. "I guess you can't explain how you can do that without explaining all the rest?"

"Not really, no."

"But it's something mythical? It's not, like, some secret government thing?"

I shook my head. "No, but it was a reasonable theory."

"Wow…" she trailed off, eyes drifting down. "I mean, I guess that makes sense. Not the first I've heard of something like this. There's other things out there too. Dark things. Like the humanoid creatures who hunt people at night. My dad has stories he used to tell around the campfire about them. Have you ever come across one of those?"

"…I might have." I hedged. Her misconceptions about vampires were still keeping her from recognizing that I was one of those creatures. It was probably a good thing.

She shook her head. "There's so much out there. A whole world no one knows about."

"Well, there's a good reason you don't know." I answered. "It would probably be best if you tried to let go of your curiosity about it."

"Right. Like that'll happen." She chuckled.

I sighed. Had enlightening her been wise? I didn't think she'd be able to find out anything more, but then Bella had surprised me with her own deductive skills. I just didn't want Vitalia to stumble across anything that would get her into trouble.

"There's a lot of dangerous things out there," I explained, hoping that the fact wouldn't excite her even more.

"More dangerous than you, you mean?"

I solemnly nodded.

We stood there in silence a long moment before I looked to the forest behind me and at the final glimpses of sunlight.

"You have to go?" She guessed.

I nodded again and my eyes slid back to her. "I should. Alice is waiting for me."

Vitalia released my hand and gave me an encouraging smile. "Go on then. Hope you're able to find some peace out there, you know? With this decision."

"…we'll see." I tried to return her smile but failed. Then I shifted to walk toward her cabin. "Let me walk you home first. It's almost dark."

"My home's not very far," she said as she stepped to my side and matched my steps.

"I know, but like I said, lots of dangerous things out there."

"Right. Lots of things that could be lurking in the forest watching me. Strange, mind-reading, mysterious, supernatural boys."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes. Things like that."

We walked in silence as the night critters all scurried away from me, leaving only our footsteps to echo off the trees. The breeze picked up and the air began to smell like rain. There would probably be a downpour soon.

When we reached her porch, she took a step then turned around. "Guess this is goodbye. Again."

"It is. And hopefully the final one." I paused, then looked at her mournfully. "It's better for you too, you know. That I'm leaving. Bella isn't the only one I could end up hurting."

You say that, but I keep thinking of what you did for my dad. I know you're dangerous, but you're capable of making good decisions. Capable of really helping people. She thought.

I sighed. "There's a limit. I don't have complete control of myself. Though with you…with most people, I do come pretty close."

Her eyes widened. "So weird." It was the first time I'd directly responded to what she was thinking. She blinked then pointed at my bracelet. "Remember me, okay? When you're out there on your adventures."

I nodded then looked to the charm on her own wrist. "You too. I'm sure your adventures will far outweigh mine."

"Don't challenge me." Her eyes sparked.

I held her energetic gaze, feeling like I could stand here and bask in it for hours. It was the same way I felt in moments of pure sunlight. The way it warmed my glistening skin. The way it radiated through me.

I don't know how to describe that. When you look at me that way. She was thinking.

I forced myself to look away, feeling the daze from earlier start to take me again. I didn't want to repeat that mistake. "Stay out of trouble, Vi."

"No promises."

I chuckled hollowly then turned to face the looming, empty forest.

"Bye, Eddie."

"…bye." I glanced back and sent her a little smile before running forward, only picking up speed when I was out of sight.

From the porch, I continued to hear her thoughts as she started running through theories about what I was.

A ghost maybe? That'd explain the no heartbeat thing and the cold skin. She paused. The cold skin matches up with the blood drinker thing too, but he comes out during the day. His eyes aren't red either. He did say he wears contacts, but those creatures are supposed to prey on people. That's not something he does. He's kind of done the opposite. There's no way he sees us that way. What about some sort of half-breed? What are they called?…dhampirs? He still has human traits, but also some suoernatural ones… or maybe he's, like, an elf or some sort of shapeshifter. Or something no one's even heard of before. Can't forget about the mind reading. Which creatures can read minds? I cant believe this stuff actually exists! I mean, I always kinda thought it did. My dad seemed pretty serious about those stories…

Her thoughts drifted into silence as I put greater distance between us. I ran faster, feeling the crashing sense of despair chasing after me. I knew that as soon as I slowed and Alice and I parted ways, when I would be truly alone…that all of this would catch up with me. I would have to face everything I'd been keeping at bay over the last couple days.