AN: 'So Contagious – Acceptance.' Good enough. I just picked the first song I could think of. No eleborate story.

Turns out, I didn't fail Grade Ten. How about that? Though, again, we will not speak of my math mark, baha. Go die, mathematics. You and your stupid Unit Circle.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

THIS IS IT, GUYS! MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR E & B!

BPOV

Alice was most definitely serious when she 'bargained' a shopping trip out of me. I spent an entire Sunday shopping for clothes that probably wouldn't even fit in my suitcase for my return. Whoever decided shopping on Sundays should be allowed is a dead man.

I can't say I particularly missed the mall in Arizona. The mall closest to Forks might be a fourth of the mall in Phoenix. One of the few 'pros' of moving to Forks; less shopping. I imagine if Alice lived in Forks she would personally see to having a bigger mall built.

On Monday I had to leave much to both of our displeasure. I was missing the sun already. Before I even said my goodbyes to Alice I returned to Edward's old home. I knew I was hoping in vain that it would be some joke. That Edward hadn't actually moved. That he was just waiting to surprise me and miraculously take me back. But as I pulled up to the beautiful home, the home that Edward had grown up in, there it was; that daunting moving sign standing as tall and strong as ever.

I glared at it as I sat down beside the sign just gazing at the house, picturing a younger Edward running around out in the front yard, my present Edward leaving the house as he would go to school. He would hop into his silver Volvo that he had told me about back in rehab. I could tell by the way he had talked about it that he loved the car.

I heaved a surprisingly deep sigh as I sat on the –of course—perfectly manicured lawn. I obviously couldn't catch a break. It was just like me to finally scrounge up the nerve to drag myself back here and fix what I had screwed up but what happens when I arrive? I discover he's not even in the damned … state, for all I knew! As if my depression couldn't get any worse.

I didn't know when, if ever, I'd be able to get over him. I knew that I'd never really be able to but I had to at least try.

So after I had endured enough self-inflicted torture, I took in the house one last time, enjoying the unusual quiet surrounding me, and made my way back to Alice's Porsche that I had once again hijacked. Not before kicking that stupid sign to, I don't know, somehow spite it, but it only resulted in a throbbing toe on my part.

I returned to Alice's house and it was an eerie silence between us. We both knew that we wouldn't be seeing each other for a while but we promised each other that we would visit each other as often as possible, though Alice would probably be visiting my state more. Although she was now living in a foster home –she was removed from her father's home after her attempted suicide—she had large inheritances, which let her go on her many infamous shopping trips.

She drove me to the airport and waited with me until I had to leave. As my flight was called I turned to her and my heart broke to see that her eyes were watering—not that mine weren't but it was painful to see Alice cry. We seemed to have a competition of who could squeeze who the hardest in a hug; Alice won, of course, the freakishly strong pixie.

"You better be expecting me to visit within the month," Alice said in a playfully threatening tone.

"Of course. Just what I need, two crazed shoppers in the same vicinity as me," I said sarcastically, referring to Rosalie who Alice was dying to meet. She rolled her eyes jokingly at my statement. I wasn't as sad at this farewell. At least I knew this wasn't a last goodbye. "Make sure you bring Jasper with you," I reminded. I was sad I hadn't seen him this trip.

"Yeah yeah, now get! I'll see you when I see you," she laughed. Stealing one last hug, I boarded the plane, departing that beloved sunny state. I would miss Alice but I knew that she was happy here with her new family and Jasper just a short drive away.

I was obviously calmer on this flight than the last but only because I was trying my damnedest to think of anything other than the fact that I had not seen that beautiful, bronze-haired boy that had been intruding my dreams for the past couple of months. But I had promised myself to try and get over him and that was what I was going to try to do. Starting… now.

I would be returning to that dreaded cloudy, desolate town. Though I couldn't help but smile at the thought of seeing Rosalie and Emmett again. Rosalie will be nothing but pissed after hearing that the boy she had all but forced me to go see wasn't even there.

Another thought hit me suddenly and it caused my eyebrows to stitch in worry. Charlie. I had told him I was going to visit Renee and obviously I did no such thing. I could only pray that the two hadn't been in any line of communication while I was away or else I would surely be in serious trouble.

With that pleasant thought lurking in front of my mind, I boarded off the plane to see Charlie waiting at the gate for me. A stab of guilt went through me but I swallowed it down as I approached, hoping to come off as a perky girl who had just had the pleasure of visiting her missed mother.

"Bells, how was Phoenix? How was Renee?" he asked. I was surprised he was being this animated but I figured he was trying to see if I was better, emotionally. I hurried to think of a lie, I had been good at lying to the student body of Forks High, why not now?

"It was great, Dad! It was so good to see Renee again," I said in a fake content sigh. I still have it.

This was enough for Charlie and so we embarked on the drive to home.

It was a quiet night after we had arrived home, like always, continuing the same routine we had followed before I had left for a couple of days. I would cook us dinner and then we both would migrate to our respective places in the house—Charlie's being in front of the television in the living room and mine in my room.

The following day at school I was welcomed back by Emmett and Rosalie. I was thrown off at first. I had assumed they would be a little more excitable to hear about my visit to Phoenix—however depressing the news may be—than when I initially saw them.

"Bella! Welcome back," Emmett greeted me in the parking lot before school, supplying me with a massive bear hug nearly choking me.

"We missed you, Bella," Rosalie said with a grin. "How was Phoenix?"

I sighed, "He wasn't there, Rose." I could have sworn I saw a glint in Rosalie's eye at this news but I brushed it off. "I don't know where he moved to or anything but I did get to see Alice which was nice," I said sadly.

Rosalie pulled me into a hug, "I'm sorry, Bella."

"Well you never know, he could've moved closer to you than you think," Emmett said in an ominous sort of way. Rosalie and I both turned to him as he just shrugged and turned away.

I looked back to Rosalie and she murmured, "It'll be okay." I gave her a squeeze as a sign of thanks.

The morning was monotonous as per usual. I had missed a day, yes, but I had missed a school day where I really didn't miss much so I couldn't even busy myself with schoolwork. My promise I had made with myself to not think about… him was failing miserably. I could swear I was going insane as I walked the halls of Forks High. It had to be my imagination, as I would see the back of a bronze head up in front of me between classes. Then I would blink and it would be gone.

By the time lunch came around I was about ready to give up and just go home for the day. Seeing Rosalie and Emmett brightened my spirits, though, so I stayed. That and when I mentioned possibly leaving they acted as if that would be the most shameful of crimes.

I left the table and cafeteria in a hurry. Although I was glad to see them again and they were being nothing but supportive, they were just acting too weird for me to handle.

"Have fun in Biology, Bella!" I heard Emmett call. I chose to ignore that.

I only then noticed that class didn't start for another twenty-five minutes. This meant that the halls would be relatively clear, to my happiness.

I rushed to Biology, looking down at my feet as usual so as not to trip. When I reached the door to the classroom, I smashed—seriously; this was no gentle bump—into another person coming from the opposite direction. Both of our books went flying as we crashed to the floor. I was mortified, of course, so in Bella fashion I started stammering out a pathetic apology.

"I'm so, so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going." Through this I had yet to look up at the unlucky victim of my clumsiness. My eyes were glued to the floor until I heard a sharp intake of breath.

"Bella." It wasn't a question, it was an acknowledgment. A shocked one at that. My eyes snapped up at the sound of that velvety voice that I had longed to hear for too long. But it couldn't be—

There he was. In all his amazing, gorgeous glory.

"Edward?" Of course my reply came out weaker and more in an inquiring tone. I was all but questioning my sanity so it wouldn't have surprised me if I were imagining Edward sitting in front of me for my own sick torture.

We sat there in suspended silence for a full thirty seconds until Edward made the first move. He tentatively reached out until he gathered me into a hug. "I can't believe…" he trailed off.

"I'm sorry, Edward," I cried. He tried to calm me with a gentle 'shhh' but I wasn't having any of that. I continued. "I really thought it was for the best. That if we were separated you'd get over me and move on with your life. I understand if you're mad at me, if you don't want me anymore. I just—"

"Bella, Bella, stop," Edward said firmly, cutting off my embarrassing rant—thank god the halls were still empty, eh? He waited until I was looking at him again—with the help of his hands on my face, guiding me. "It's all right. I get—"

"But I—"

"Would you let me speak, you silly girl?" he choked out a laugh. "In a way, I can understand your reasons behind your actions, though I do not know where you come off blaming my issues on yourself," he scolded. "I missed you so much," he finally said as he pulled me into another hug. "And if you'd consider being mine… again, I'd—"

"Edward, are you kidding me? I love you, that's why I tried to do the 'right' thing by leaving, though obviously it just ended up being the dumbest move of the decade," I smirked. "I love you, I never stopped loving you. I don't know why you're asking me to take you back. I'm the one that should be apologizing like crazy and begging you to take me back."

Edward sighed and leaned his forehead against mine. "We're both idiots," he murmured.

That we were.

"I love you," I whispered. How I had missed saying those three words to him. Edward conveyed his love for me in a gentle kiss. How I had missed the feeling of his lips on mine.

The shrill sound of the warning bell sounded throughout the school and almost simultaneously, kids came pouring into the hall. We then realized that were still sitting down with our books scattered everywhere.

Edward and I—I sighed a true content sigh at those words—were the first ones in the Biology room. We went to our respective seats when we noticed that we had walked to the same table.

Edward smirked, "Of course."

We used that short time before class began to take in how absurd the situation actually was. I wasn't a real believer of fate but after experiencing this odd event I was going to revaluate where my beliefs lied. Turns out, Edward's father received a job offer here that he couldn't refuse. His parents also believed it would be good for Edward to get away. When Edward told me this he left the explanation at that and again I felt guilty that I had put him through pain.

We weren't finished talking and I knew that, even though Edward waved off all of my apologies saying that they were not necessary, I would continue to try and make up for what I did. I grinned at the idea of us actually being able to go out on our first date and not be confined to one building. We could actually be a normal boyfriend and girlfriend, though we had never been normal in any circumstance and I didn't mind in the least bit.

For the time being, Edward and I simply enjoyed each other's presence in that stuffy classroom. We had gone without each other for too long.

"You do realize that Emmett and Rosalie knew, right?" I muttered.

"Yeah, I figured something was up. Emmett really isn't good at subtlety." I grinned. This was true. Somehow, they must've thought not telling us would help in the long run. I wasn't going to dwell on it; I had Edward—though I strongly believed I didn't deserve him—and that's all that mattered.

As the bell to the end of the class rang, Edward's face slipped into a pout. "I'm not used to being in different classes than you. I don't like it."

I rolled my eyes playfully, "C'mon, you'll manage." Though secretly, I was thinking the very thing he had said.

"What if I can't? What if I'm addicted to your very presence?" Edward said seriously as he leaned into me, running his nose along my jaw. A shiver ran down my spine. "You're my drug."

"Don't worry, it's only one class 'til you can get your fix," I breathed. "Though, haven't you learned anything? Addiction isn't healthy," I smirked, stepping way. I started walking backwards down the hall.

I could see Edward say something in reply but it was lost in the sea of bodies in the hall. A playful glare showed on his face and I turned back around so I wouldn't trip.

I missed him by my side already but he was here and he wouldn't be going anywhere if I had anything to say about it. We were to fools who, sure, we got over our substance addiction, but we had both found something else that was far more addictive and was ten times harder to withdrawal from.

AN: 'Kay, who thought I was going to do the whole intense, dramatic cafeteria scene where everyone's all deathly silent and the characters put on a whole scene for everyone thing? Silly readers, trix are for kids.

I dunno if I liked the ending but I needed to finish it. It was vital. I'm not sure how many reviews I'm going to get for this because… what's up with not getting any alerts for updates?? Jeepers. So no worries, I have more ideas that I'm itching to get out there. Not sure how good they are but meh. Look for them soon!

That's that! Finito! I'd like to thank ALL of you for all of your support and your reviews. Man, I really didn't think I'd get as many as I did.