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Dream's Shadow

Summary:
This is my take on the over- and usually poorly- done plot. Edward leaves Bella again. She is changed and they meet again in the future. There will be a big twist! Requested by Iris. Banner by Iris!

Notes:
Try it! I know stories like this usually stink, but I thought I'd give it a try. I own nothing. Stephenie Meyer owns all.

18. Chapter 18

Rating 4.5/5   Word Count 548   Review this Chapter

I knock on his door. “Edward?”

“Come in,” he whispers, resigned.

I am quite lucky he doesn’t know my thoughts. Otherwise, this whole charade would probably be impossible, and certainly this conversation.

“I heard you playing,” I say, eyes downcast. I have something of a fear he will know me if I let him look right into them… windows to the soul. Even though the color has changed, I still have Bella’s eyes.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I haven’t been very civil in welcoming you to our family.”

I strained to hear his thoughts… and found nothing.

Interesting, but decidedly inconvenient. I could have brought up the subject of myself, listened into his mind, and easily discovered what the truth was.

That had, in fact, been my plan. Now, I would have to be a bit more subtle. I might have to spend far longer, planning, plotting, carefully laying clues here and again, following the path of guesses and little hints…

It wouldn’t be easy. But it was possible.

And there was nothing I wouldn’t do for even the chance he might love me. Even if I could only convince myself, it was a start.

After all, my life couldn’t be darker than it is without him. “Don’t worry, Edward. Esme told me about what had happened…”

His eyes darkened, chilled. He was so beautiful, even in his pain. I felt so whole, so healed. I could breathe. I wasn’t just content. I was in heaven every second we were here, together.

“I can understand. I know what it’s like to lose someone…”

“You lose many things when you’re changed, Jacob. But this… it was meant to be, and I couldn’t…”

“Yes?” I was eager. What would his next words be? Would he tell me, finally tell me he loved me… could he love me?

Stupid hope would only destroy me, and yet I could not live without it.

“I am sorry. I should not trouble you with this. I should like to be your friend, I think. You interest me… you’re only the second person I’ve met whose thoughts were a mystery.”

His words warm my heart, though they are far from the ones I so crave. “More than friends. Brothers.”

He smiles, not the true crooked one that is so full of light and love, but a broken grin that nonetheless has some affection.

“All right, Jacob.”

He gestures to the interior of his room. I enter, and we both sit down on the black couch. I notice one thing right away. It is totally and utterly different than his previous chamber. The music is in stacked boxes, not shelves. He has a new sound system.

The walls are painted black. There is neither couch nor bed.

Either he didn’t care at all, or he misses me so much that the room we were supposed to share hurts him just to think of it.

Then I notice something else. The dark desk shoved against one wall is completely empty, except for one thing. There is a velvet box with a clear lid.

Through the glass cover, I can see my engagement ring sparkling.