Chapter 15

You took my hand
You showed me how
You promised me you'd be around
Uh huh
That's right
I took your words
And I believed
In everything
You said to me
Yeah huh
That's right
…I wish I could touch you again
I wish I could still call you friend
I'd give anything…
…You visit me in my sleep
My darling…

-March-Bella, age 20 years…

"You should come up for Spring break, Bella." Alice was her usual cheerful self. "Grace is growing like a weed, I hardly recognize her whenever I come home."

"Cheryl is going to be here, I was hoping to spend time with her." I admitted. It wasn't a lie. Throughout the call, Alice hadn't mentioned whether her brother would be home for spring break. Even after more than two years, I had no desire for our paths to cross. "And I owe Daddy a little of my time. I haven't been home since February."

Chapter 14

Big hugs and thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work, song suggestions, and suffering through the angst of more than 11,000 words. Muahh!

*See you at the bottom.

*************P*S*************

Chapter 14

Love has no pride when I call out your name
And love has no pride when there's no one to blame
But I'd give anything to see you again

If I could buy your love,
Then I'd surely try my friend
And if I could pray,
My prayers would never end

But if you want me to beg,
I'll fall down on my knees,
And ask you to come back,
I'd be pleading for you to come back,
I'd beg for you to come back to me…

-September-Bella, age 17 years…

I looked down at the small silver Eiffel Tower charm lyin' in the palm of my hand, as I opened the handwritten note that Alice had slipped inside the package before sendin' it.

Chapter 13

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work.

Still a continuation of the year in Bella's life which started in chapter 9.

You may need to buckle up for this one.

*************P*S*************

Chapter 13

-Summer-Bella, age 16 years…

"I call 'em snowbirds." Wanda's southern drawl made me smile. It reminded me of my Nana. I gave her a questionin' look. "These customers." She explained while gesturin' toward the tables closest to us.

I'd gotten a summer job at the diner and even though I wasn't scheduled to start for another three weeks, Wanda, the senior waitress, was showin' me the ropes.

Chapter 12

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work. Her assistance, as always, has been invaluable. Muah! My dear.

Still a continuation of the year in Bella's life which started in chapter 9.
*************P*S*************

Chapter 12

-Spring-Bella, age 16 years…

Durin' the next month, I attempted to keep busy. It wasn't difficult seein' that I had school work to do, as well as applyin' for a summer job whilst also studyin' to get my driver's license. The day I received my license, Daddy had surprised me with a car he'd purchased a couple of months before, but had kept hidden at my Aunt and Uncle's house.

It was an old Subaru wagon, pale yellow exterior with tan seats, and although it had over a hundred thousand miles and more than a few dents in the body, I loved it from the moment Daddy handed me the keys.

There was no way that little car could ever compare to the vehicles that Edward and Alice owned, but I didn't care. All that mattered was that it was mine.

Chapter 11

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta work on this story. My betas go above and beyond with their assistance and advice. I am very blessed.

This chapter is still a continuation of the year in Bella's life which started in chapter 9.

Beginning with this chapter, we will have a little EPOV at the end, usually in the form song lyrics.

*************P*S*************

Chapter 11

-Spring-Bella, age 16 years…



The closer it got to spring break, the more anxious I felt. I wasn't sure exactly why.

Well, I had a suspicion.

Even though it was almost April, there was still a chill in the air; and as I sat on the porch, I clutched my cup of hot cocoa for warmth. Next week was spring break and I had a whole week off of school, the entirety of which I would be spendin' with Edward and his family.

I thought back to the last time I was in Pennsylvania and swallowed hard when I remembered havin' sex for the first time.

The only time...

I shook my head in an effort to clear those thoughts away.

I had returned from that visit, a nervous wreck. My attention wandered in class, I burned more than one dinner because I was distracted and not payin' attention, and I didn't finish a single conversation with my Daddy because I couldn't stand to be in his company for long. The guilt of what I'd done was almost cripplin'; and all I could think of as I looked at his face, was how he would react to news that his sixteen year old daughter might be pregnant.

In the end, I think he chalked my odd behavior up to havin' spent a very emotional and distressin' Christmas with the Cullens.

Eight days.

From the time my plane touched down in Richmond, until I finally got my period, I had to live through eight long, miserable days.

Durin' that time, Edward phoned me every mornin' and every night before I went to bed. He told me over and over how much he loved me; reassurin' me that everythin' would be okay.

Chapter 10

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work. I'd be lost without her! Muah!

Are you still with me? I hope I didn't lose anyone last chapter. I wish I could say that the angst is over…

This is the last time we will have a 'present day' to open the chapter. (I will explain next chapter)

Here is a continuation of the year in Bella's life which was started in chapter 9.

*************P*S*************

Chapter 10

- Present Day -

"Have you been crying?" I could tell he was worried even though I couldn't see his face.

I sniffled. There was no point trying to deny it. "A little."

Chapter 9

Thanks once again to the gracious and lovely aurellacullen for her beta/prereading work. I'd be lost without her help! Muah!

This year in Bella's life is so long and involved, that I found I had to split it into three chapters.
Here is part 1. (Aurellacullen has suggested a tissue warning).

*************P*S*************

Chapter 9

- Present Day -

"Bella, how are you doing, really?" Alice asked from her comfy seat across the table from me, where she sat sipping her giant cup of coffee, "I want the truth please."

The expression on her face, one I'd seen many times before, told me that she would brook no argument.