CHAPTER 3:

MOVING ON

When the cruiser pulled into the drive away, I saw a silhouette pass over my window. Edward had not left. We had been taking down flyers all day, and the on coming rain clouds had made it get darker earlier. I had stopped crying, but I still felt the same pain. Before I even had my seat belt on, Charlie put his hand on my knee. "It's okay, Bells," He said, "Billy is right. He'll come back when he's ready."

"I'd like to believe that," I said, my voice slightly hoarse, "I'm going to go to my room."

"Sleep well, Honey," Charlie called after me, "I'm going back to Billy's. I'm taking him out to eat."

"Okay." I said, shutting the front door behind me. I shed my coat and threw it over the couch, and I kicked off my shoes. I ran up the stairs where Edward was waiting. "Alice called," He said, "She told me you were upset."

"More than upset." I said as I slammed the bedroom door behind me. Edward's brow slightly furrowed, "Did I do something wrong?"

I resisted the urge to jump on him and start pounding, "Edward, it's what YOU did that drove Jacob away!"

"What I did?"

"Jacob: I'm breaking the rules by sending you this. She was afraid of hurting you, and she didn't want-"

"You saw that note?"

"Yes, Edward, and it broke Jacob's heart. He probably thought you were rubbing it in."

Seeing Edward's face fill with sincere apology made me forget I was angry with him for a moment. "I know you didn't mean to do it," I said, "But it happened, nonetheless." I looked down at my wrist, where I still wore the silvery charm bracelet Jacob had given me. On it, a wood carving of a wolf. Beside it, a shimmering heart shaped diamond. Both representing something dear to me. Edward got off of the bed and took my hand in his, he fingered the bracelet. "Bella," He said, "Jacob is young. Immature. He was bound to run away regardless of the note I sent." He took my chin in his hand, bringing my eyes to his. They glowed as never before, trying to make me understand. "But, Bella," He said, "It was not you. It was us. He hasn't accepted it yet."