Well, the poll was tied. 3 votes for 'I don't want the Thief to end but a sequel would be cool.' and 3 votes for 'Yeah, that was the perfect ending paragraph. End it at chapter 25 and do a sequel.'
Well, I had to do a chapter 26. And a sequel will be on its way! Thanks to eveyone who voted, even though it only made me had to decide for myself. lol.
Special thanks to Obsessed.with.writing who has let me use her name and personality as a character in this story! So thanks Ashleigh!! And thanks for all of your ideas!! People, most of my stuff would not exist if Ashleigh had not given me ideas! So thank her yourselves by reading and reviewing her stories!!

I do not own Twilight, paramore, or any of the songs mentioned in this chapter!

Ashleigh's POV

"So, Edward came into the diner where I worked..." I was telling the Cullens about what happened from the time Edward and I met to when we got here. Though I was concentrating on telling the story, I noticed when Edward watched as Bella went out the door and followed her.

Good. That's exactly what I wanted him to do.

The Cullens didn't seem to notice Edward or Bella leaving. But it was understandable, I was telling the good part of the story now. Italy.

All of the Cullens' eyes were riveted on me, following my every word. Including Daniel's. Hm. Daniel's eyes seened to hold more interest than the others'. And his eyes were more attractive. The topaz color of his eyes were the exact same color as mine and the Cullens', but it was somehow more beautiful. Of course, his entire face was pretty goodlooking. His hair was insanely lush. He was just so hot and so fit. But why was I thinking that? I loved Caleb. And Daniel loved Bella.

Still, I could notice his attractiveness, couldn't I?

By the time I finished my story and answered all questions the Cullens had, Bella and Edward still weren't back. Again, no one seemed to notice.

"Hey, Ashleigh. Wanna do karaoke?" Alice was asking me excitedly.

"Not really," I tried to answer politely.

"Aw, come on. That's what we were doing before you and Edward came in and broke up the party." She pouted and I laughed.

"You know you're glad to see him."

"And you. Come on, it'll be fun. Besides, you already said that you sang out loud in the airport. Why not now?"

"Because. That's exactly why. I've already suffered the embarrassing experience of singing in public."

Alice groaned. "It's not embarrassing, and we're not public. We're your friends. Come on, I'm sure you have a great voice! There is only one vampire capable of having a bad voice, and you've already heard him sing." I sneaked a peek at Emmett, who was looking at Alice in confusion. I stifled a giggle.

"Come on," everyone was saying.

"Yeah, Ashleigh." It was the first time I heard Daniel speak and the sound of his voice surprised me. I looked over at him. When my eyes caught his, he quickly looked away.

"Okay fine. But you all have to do karaoke too. I won't be the only one." I smirked at Emmett and Alice while the Cullens cheered.

"Yay! I love karaoke," Alice said as she danced over to the stereo.

"What song are you going to sing, Ashleigh?"

"Um. I don't know."

"Ooh, how about the one you sang at the airport?"

"Which one? I sang 'Running Away' the whole song, but I whispered the chorus of 'crushcrushcrush.' "

"Hmm. You're right. 'Running Away' won't apply right now. Just do 'crushcrushcrush.' I love that song." Alice decided eagerly.

My eyes glanced over to Daniel. He saw me look at him. I looked away quickly.

"Sure," I drew in a somewhat shaky breath as Alice started the music to the song.

Edward's POV

Bella and I were walking towards the house when I heard singing. Ugh. They were doing karaoke again! I groaned, but then I realised that the voice sounded vaguely familiar.

I got a lot to say to you.
Yeah, I got a lot to say.
I noticed your eyes are always glued to me,
keeping them here and it makes no sense at all.

They taped over your mouth, scribbled out the truth with their lies.
You little spies.
They tapedover your mouth, scribbled out the truth with their lies.
You little spies.

The voice was familiar, but with different words. It was Ashleigh's voice, but why did I think I had heard it in a song before?

Suddenly I remembered. The airport. 'Running Away' by the Midnight Hour. That was Ashleigh? She was at the sirport at the same time I was? Odd.

"What?" Bella's voice jolted me out of my thoughts.

"What?"

"You hummed."

"I did? Sorry. I was thinking."

"About what?" It was nice to hear Bella's voice again, reminding me of the time when we were together and I had never left. Everything was back to normal when I was with her. It's like life apart from Bella never existed. And it shouldn't.

"You hear that? Singing. It's Ashleigh. I heard her singing at the airport, but I didn't know it was her."

"Oh." Bella settled back into her own thoughts, but I could tell she was uncomfortable at the mention of Ashleigh.

Soon, we were close to the house.

Crush... crush... crush... crush crush.
Two three four!
Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone.
Just the one two of us who's couting on.
That never happened, I guess I'm dreaming again.
Let's be more than this.

I felt Bella stiffen beside me.

"What's wrong, love?"

"The song." She clenched her teeth.

"You don't like the song?"

"No, I like the song. But, she's singing a song about having a crush on someone and she just got back from Italy with you!" The jealousy in Bella's tone made her voice rise.

"Oh, Bella." I stopped walking and turned around to face her, embracing her in a hug.

"Bella, I love you. Not her. It doesn't matter if she's singing the song about me or not. And I doubt she is, since Alice loves the song and probably forced her to sing it. But Bella, I could never love anyone other than you."

"I guess I was just being stupid," she sighed and we continued walking.

"You are only human after all," I grinned at her. She rolled her eyes but smiled back. I was so glad we were together again.

Ashleigh's POV

By the time I finished the song, Edward and Bella were back. They'd come in sometime during the second verse. Bella was happy to be with Edward again. It was so sweet, seeing them together. It made me happy that I had forced Edward to come back. I knew it would turn out well for them.

I couldn't help but smile as I went to take a seat on the Cullens' sofa.

"Yay! Ashleigh, that was better than I thought it would be! But now it's my turn to sing! I wanna do another paramore song!" Alice was so enthusiastic about karaoke. It was slightly unnatural.

"I'll be right back," I heard Edward whisper to Bella. He walked over to me.

"Running away?" He smirked. I looked at him, confused, but then it clicked. The airport. I muttered a curse.
Edward was there when I sang at the airport. If I had known, I could have stopped him sooner. How did I not notice he was there? And why did I let myself sing at the top of my lungs? Embarrassing enough that a bunch of strangers had heard it, but someone I knew?

It didn't make sense that I cared this much, since I had just done karaoke in front of all the Cullens. But I did. I cared.

Why why why why why?

"Yes, I am," I answered him as I got up from the couch and darted out the door. I raced to the rental car and got in, speeding away quickly.

Why? Why had I done that? Why did I leave? Why did I care that he had heard me at the airport? Why had I sang at the airport? Why why why why why?

Daniel POV

When Ashleigh was telling her story, it intrigued me. She was a good storyteller. A writer. I couldn't even focus on her words, just the way her mouth moved as she spoke them. I noticed it when she looked into my eyes. She seemed startled and her words faltered slightly before continuing again. I couldn't help but watch her talk. It was mesmerizing.

I was jolted out of my trance when she stopped speaking and Alice asked her to do karaoke. I was eager for Ashleigh to continue speaking, so I could hear her voice and watch her mouth move. She looked hesitant to do karaoke.

"Come on," everyone was saying.

"Yeah, Ashleigh," I encouraged her. Her eyes glanced over to mine. She was looking into my eyes. I dropped my eyesight quickly, thankful that I could not blush.

Ashleigh agreed and we all cheered. I risked a look at her face again. It was beautiful. Her topaz eyes were much more attractive than mine or any of the Cullens', even though they were the same color. Suddenly, her eyes flickered over to mine again. This time, she was the one to drop the gaze first. Not that it was much of a gaze, since it barely lasted a second.

"Sure," she said shakily as Alice started the music to 'crushcrushcrush' by paramore. Again, I was thankful that I couldn't blush. If Ashleigh had looked at me and then away quickly because of the nature of the song... No, that surely wasn't why. And I didn't care anyway, did I?

She started singing and I was again pulled into a trance as I watched her lips move and heard the beautiful sound of her voice. I never wanted it to end. But it did. And then Edward was talking to her. What was he saying? Pay attention, Daniel!

"Running away?" He smirked. There was a pause and Ashleigh muttered a curse.

"Yes, I am." And she took off quickly. She was out the door before I knew what was happening. Why was she leaving? And why was I feeling compelled to follow her?

I shook my head and turned away from the door. As soon as I did, I regretted it. But I felt happy, too. Edward and Bella were sitting on the couch. Well, only Edward was sitting on the couch, seeing as Bella was sitting on his laps. He had his arms wrapped tightly around her. When Bella saw me looking she jumped up and walked over to me.

"Daniel." Her voice was thick with remorse. I knew what was coming, and it surprised me how calm I was about it.

"You and Edward are back together." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

"I'm so sorry, Daniel." She reached out to stroke my cheek. I closed my eyes and enjoyed her warm touch, for the last time.

"I knew it would happen eventually. You loved him. You needed him." I tried to smile. I thought Bella had loved me. I thought I had loved Bella.

"I needed you too, Daniel. But to keep me from falling apart while he was gone. I'm so sorry. If I had realised it sooner, I would not have let us grow as close as we did. I don't want to cause you pain, Daniel. I do love you."

"You just love him more," I finished her unspoken sentence.

She sighed. "Yes." She looked at me with sadness and apology in her eyes. But there was something different about her eyes. A light. He made her happy. And who would I be if I denied her that happiness? I never could, of course. As much as I thought I had loved her, I suddenly didn't care for her in the same way as I had. I still cared about her, but not in the same way as she and Edward cared for each other. And that was what love was all about, wasn't it?

Bella kissed me on the cheek and returned to Edward's arms.

"I think I'm going to go back to my life of solitude. This whole coven thing didn't work out for me. Sorry." I went upstairs quickly to pack my things. I didn't want to say goodbye to everyone, but I couldn't stay here. Not only would I have to face the full force of Bella and Edward's love everyday, but I would be denying it to myself. So I was off to find my true angel. The one who would love me back unconditionally.

At least I hoped I would find her.

Ooh, I wonder who it is! Or will Daniel find her at all? Is he doomed to be heartbroken? Or will Bella realise she doesn't love Edward and go back to Daniel? Has this crazy love triangle got you going insane yet?!

Stick around to find out what will happen, because I will be writing a sequel to The Thief!! It's yet to be titled.

REVIEW!!

Thanks again to Obsessed.with.writing, the best non-beta beta anyone could ever ask for. xoxox