Fair warning: this chapter may be a bit of a tear jerker.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Charlotte's sing-song like voice chimed behind Peter. He looked up from his next kill's lifeless corpse, leveling his best friend with a flat stare.

"What does it look like, genius?"

Charlotte flitted over to him as he finished burying his prey—a bear this time—and playfully kicked his shoulder. Peter grumbled his annoyance, looking at the small imprint of the sneaker she'd just kicked him with, "Mature of you."

"At least I'm acting mature," Charlotte quipped.

That made no sense to him but whatever. Between Charlotte and Alice, nothing they said made much sense when they were in the same room together. As if they both agreed to always confuse the hell out of everyone when the best friends were in the same room. Peter and Jasper especially.

Peter sighed, turning to face her. He tucked his hands in the pockets of his jeans, "Just say what you want to say Char."

Charlotte crossed her arms, "Your avoiding her isn't exactly fulfilling Alice's whole 'get to know her' mission."

"The kid doesn't want to get to know me, and I'm not about to force her to sit through my presence uncomfortably in her own home. There's about six vampires that I know for a fact would agree. You and Alice are in a whole other ballpark." Or planet...

"You do realize Bella is fifteen. I doubt my springing the whole mate thing will come off the right way without me sounding like a total creep."

"So instead you...just stare at her every time she walks into the room like she's about to shatter into a million pieces? Listen to her every word as if you've never heard another person speak before? Yeah, not creepy at all! Why are we still here? Why not move on?" She challenged. "Go back to the way things were and forget it, if you're so hellbent on not being near her." She was obviously goading him.

"I don't want to be near her," Peter snapped, a rarity and a side he rarely showed to Charlotte. It was evident that his slip up took her by surprise when her dark caramel eyes widened. He frowned, shutting his eyes tightly. The breeze ruffled his blonde hair and he raked a hand through the strands, "Sorry, I didn't mean to be...I'm sorry. This whole thing is fucking with my head."

The forest grew eerily quiet. As if nature itself was listening to his truth finally spill out.

Charlotte remained silent, giving him time to piece the words together.

"I don't know what I'm doing. For the first time since I was a newborn, I have no clue what I'm doing, Char. It's driving me fucking crazy. Irrational. When she had that seizure and I felt it..."

He shook his head incredulously, "I had no control over what I was doing. All I knew was that I had this instinctual, irrational need to be with her. Help her escape the Jump, and I nearly ripped her door clean off its hinges to get to her. If one of the Cullens had gotten in my way I'm not sure I would have been able to tell the difference between a fucking door or her family. This isn't me, I don't act this way with anyone—not even you."

She nodded, empathy in her voice, "I know."

He laughed but there was no humor in his words. More like incredulity that he'd been given a mate he could never be near. Not without risking killing her or jeopardizing her humanity, "Yet the only person I find myself thinking about is her, every minute. It's not her blood I crave. It's not because she's human. It's because she's my mate. My mate."

Charlotte laid a hand on his shoulder, sounding wise beyond the years she appeared to have, "Peter, it's okay to care for her. Even if nothing will ever come of it because of her humanity, it's normal to want to protect her. You can't control it. Like it or not, she is a part of your soul," She laid a hand on his chest, over his heart that would never beat again. A hollow shell that once belonged to a man full of life, full of dreams, "No matter what any of us believes, our souls lay in each of ours mates. That's why they're so crucial to us. Why they sing to us whenever they walk into a room."

Her eyes lit up, full of wonder and so much grief.

Peter looked to her, taking in the tears that lined those very eyes. A pang of guilt filled him as he realized why she was saying all of this.

Because Charlotte had a mate too. A long time ago.

He took her hand that she'd laid over his chest and squeezed it, "Charlotte."

"I can never get her back," Charlotte whispered with all the pain in her own heart, "there were so many things we could have had if she hadn't been taken from me, Peter. We lost so much time. If I could have given up the love we felt for one another and simply watched over her instead, then I'd gladly take it. I'd take anything over being separated by true death."

Peter gently brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers, as if wiping away a tear.

Charlotte looked to him with fierce determination despite her sorrow and grief for the mate she'd lost to the Volturi decades ago, "Don't be afraid to care for someone who holds your soul in the palm of their hands, my friend. Otherwise you'll have wasted every breath. Every moment. Every chance to see just how special she is."

Bella's anxiety was shooting across the entire house.

Her knee bouncing beneath the table as she waited for Flynn to let her know that he was here.

There was nothing she could do to prepare herself. Nothing at all. She had to do this. Be honest and tell him as best she could without rousing suspicion. No matter what, she needed to protect the Cullens. Her family.

Flynn could never know why she was really leaving.

How she would convince him they were simply moving because of Carlisle's job at the last minute...that was another near impossible task.

Carlisle and Esme had offered to sit down with them and like the coward she was, she said yes.

They sat across the table from her as they waited, both sharing concerned looks before directing their full attention towards Bella. Her hands were clutching the phone, her eyes trained on the dark screen. As if willing it to turn on.

When it finally rang, Bella jumped.

Her heart was in her throat when she answered, "Hello?"

"Hey I'm here! Want to come out or...?"

"I'll come out," she said without thinking. Her eyes shot to her parents and they nodded, kind expressions on their faces. They were always so supportive of her, no matter what she chose to do. Which is why she couldn't be selfish. Otherwise, they'd never leave and would risk exposing their secrets to everyone in town.

This day was bound to come, Bella. Only this time you're the reason they have to leave.

She ran out of the dining room, ignoring the concerned looks her siblings granted her when she moved past the living room. Peter and Charlotte were in there too, she knew because she'd seen them this morning after she woke up.

Charlotte had been all smiles much like she always was with the girl, but Peter...he barely granted her a glance. Not at all willing to converse as they had in the woods that day.

Her heart was pounding loud enough that there was no mistaking why that was, everyone could hear it.

Bella opened the door and made it as far as the last step of the front porch before Flynn wrapped his arms around her, lifting her up with a great bear hug.

"Hey you."

"Hey..." she said shakily. Tears stung the back of her eyes and she shut them tightly, focusing on Flynn's warmth. Savoring the sound of his heart beating against her ear. It was getting hard to breathe. Her palms were clammy and a knot formed in her throat.

Be strong, Bella. You have to do this.

"Did you want to go to the diner again? Or maybe go to the mall?" Her boyfriend asked after he finally lowered her, her tiptoes landing on the last step again. His smile faltered when he saw her ashen face, "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I-I was thinking we could go inside. Esme and Carlisle are waiting for us."

"Okay...why? I'm not going to get the talk from them too, am I? I already got one from Mom." Flynn frowned when she didn't smile at his halfhearted joke, tugging on her hand before she could turn to head back inside. Her heart lurched when he stopped her, gently turning her around to face him. Bella couldn't look at him when he asked, "Bella? What is it?"

"I..." Bella started trembling. She didn't fight him when he moved her to sit on the steps before joining her. He didn't look away from her teary eyes when she finally said, "I'm moving."

His lips quirked up in a grin but it didn't reach his eyes, "What? Moving?"

"C-Carlisle, he got a job offer somewhere else. He's being transferred next week and we have to go before he starts work at the new hospital." She recited the words much like a robot would, quick and flat. Recalling everything Carlisle had told her he would say to Flynn. Only now she was doing it. "We have to go-"

"Hold on, what? Go?" Flynn recoiled back, as if he'd been slapped in the face. A look of shock in his otherwise gentle, happy eyes. "You can't go, what about school?"

She bit her lip until she tasted blood, "I'm sorry."

Flynn stiffened. And then he was moving, heading up the stairs before she could realize what he was doing. Bella lurched forward, hurrying after him, "Flynn, wait! What are you doing—"

"They're making you leave aren't they? Because of what they're hiding." He said, an edge in his voice she'd never heard come from him before. Something akin to dread slithered up her spine. Bile rose as she caught up with his accusatory tone. Her hand shot out and gripped his arm to get him to stop before he could reach the front door.

Flynn shot his eyes down to her, hurt and determination laced in his gaze.

"They're not making me d-do anything," She tried to sound strong, sure of what she was saying to him. He'd never believe her if she didn't make him understand this was because of Carlisle's job. People moved all the time because of their jobs. It was normal.

"That's a load of bull, Bella."

"It's not!"

"It is! You think I don't know? You really think I'm that stupid!"

"No! You're w-wrong, Carlisle's job-"

"Don't lie to me!" He yelled at her, turning to face her fully now. When had they started yelling at each other? Bella's eyes widened, her cheeks were flushed with shame as he grew more and more upset. Angry. Tears picked the corners of her eyes.

The anger in Flynn dissipated when he noticed those tears. He reached up and cupped her cheek. He whispered harshly with all the hurt in the world, "Don't lie to me anymore. You really don't think I know what's going on? That you're hiding them from me and everyone else? That this family—"

"Don't finish that sentence," She demanded. "Please, don't. You can't say it. Never say it, Flynn. To anyone."

How had he realized it?

Bella bit her lip, "How long have you known?"

"A while," Flynn admitted, "mostly because I noticed Carlisle doesn't look a day over twenty. I'm assuming he's around that age?" When Bella didn't admit or deny anything he moved on, "Alice always feels cold when she'd hug me. The same went for Esme and even all those fist bumps Emmett gave me. They never eat around us, at least not normal food anyway. Their eyes...change color too."

She gripped his arms and shook him, "Flynn, you can't tell anyone. Whatever it is you think you know, you can't!"

Flynn shook his head, looking somewhat offended as he shrugged her off, "You really think I'd say anything? Me? Unlike you, I'm actually trustworthy."

A sharp pang in her chest made her pale at his words. This was going so wrong. All wrong. He wasn't supposed to know about them. Flynn was never supposed to know, and now he was telling her all of this where they could all hear?

She sounded so small when she finally found the courage to speak, "They're my family. I had to protect them. If anyone knew, we'd be separated."

Flynn's eyes shined with tears now, "And you thought so little of me that I'd go running to tell the first person I ran into? That my girlfriend's family are what? Monsters? Don't insult me, Bella. I love your family, and now you're all leaving. So what? We're breaking up now? You're not going to talk to me anymore even if you move?"

Her lips parted, an answer not coming when she had no idea what she was supposed to do. How she was supposed to fix this.

"Okay, then." Flynn rasped. He walked around her and marched down the stairs. Turning his back on her. Leaving her stunned, staring after him with wide eyes.

Bella knew she should let her go. It was for the best.

But...panic shot through her and she was running after him. Desperation and fear made her need for his forgiveness impossible to control her actions.

"W-Wait!" Her voice cracked.

Her shoes slid on the steps and just when she thought she'd fall, Flynn caught her. Pulling her to him in a crushing embrace. Bella clutched him close as he trembled, with anger or sorrow she didn't know. However, when she felt the warmth of his tears hit her shoulder, she knew it was the latter.

"Don't say anything to me," He said, his hold on her tightening to the point of hurting. They weren't crying merely because of the lies or because she was moving. This was their whole life coming to a close. They both knew it. Their friendship unbreakable by anything in the world, their first love that started to bloom between them in the most perfect of ways. Bella sobbed into his chest, "I don't want you to say goodbye to me. Just let me believe you're breaking up with me and I'll still see you around. Let me still love you. Do that for me."

"Flynn..." She cried even harder, clinging to him until he hand to pry her hands off his shirt. Gently lowering her hands.

Tears ran down his cheeks as he stepped away from her, dropping her hands as if she were on fire.

He looked into her eyes one last time, unable to hide how hurt he was by her lies and leaving him before they could fall deeper in the love they both shared. Then he was spinning on his heel and walking away.

"Flynn, wait," Bella took a staggering step towards him, breathing heavily as she watched him go. His shoulders hunched, hurrying away from her. Flynn wasted little time before he yanked the door of his mother's van open and climbed in. Her entire body shook as she wandered closer before she started hurrying after him again, "Flynn! Wait, please! I'm sorry!"

Flynn paused, his hands gripping the steering wheel.

"I'm sorry..." She whispered, out of breath as she approached the door. Luckily the window had been rolled down, "I'm so sorry. I never meant—I was never supposed to hurt you."

Flynn turned his head and gave her a heartbreaking smile, "I know. Me too."

In a heartbeat he leaned forward. She went on her tip toes, her hands gripping the door to keep her balance. They shared one final kiss, a slow caress of their lips as more tears followed.

It was in that moment that Bella realized...realized that Flynn was never supposed to be hers.

This was only ever fleeting.

A sweet dream that had to end eventually.

Neither said a word as Bella took a step back, being the first to break their kiss. Their last kiss. He took her in one more time, his face crumbling as he looked away and the van roared to life.

She felt her entire world come to a halting end as her best friend, the only piece of her life outside of her family that made sense, left her behind. Without so much as another glance back.

Her long hair flowed around her as she no longer felt the urge to chase after him, standing in the middle of the long driveway. Staring after the back of the van until it turned onto the road and disappeared.

Forever.

Her hands cupped her face as an uncontrollable wave of grief swept over her. Bella muffled her shallow breaths that turned into desperate gasps, trying and failing to calm herself. Trying to stop herself from breaking. But the trembling only became worse. Then she was sobbing in the driveway uncontrollably. Breaking apart from the inside out.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."

Her sobs only grew louder when the gaping hole in her chest and in the pit of her stomach made it unbearable.

This was terrible.

Unlike anything she'd experience before.

Heart break.

Arms wrapped around Bella and she knew Esme and Carlisle were on either side of her. Holding her as she broke apart in her parent's love. Esme held her to her chest, murmuring her name. Bella turned into her mothers arms, clutching her silken blouse as her entire body shook.

Repeating the same words over and over: I'm sorry.

Carlisle stared after the direction Flynn had gone with years of regret in his pitch black eyes.

What had they done to these children?

What have they done...

Thanks for reading x