Full Summary:

No matter how you interpret a play, it must always end the same - happy, or tragic. Just as Edward returns, chaos rides into Forks. Bella and others barely escape alive, and now strain for their happy ending. The roles are all set up, but can Bella fulfill the part of heroine? Will Bella and her allies be able to reverse the damage dealt before more comes their way? Or will this play end tragically?

Hope's luster, where art thou?

Hope's Luster, I'll Return

Chapter 1-The Whole Shebang

-Bella-

When I woke up, I still was not used to being so...refreshed. Everything could be seen with better clarity.

Especially the vampire sitting beside me on my bed.

And, of course, everything was due to Edward's return. My routine of dragging myself through my days-though with Jacob's help-had so easily returned to the life of ease that had existed beforehand.

Of course, unlike back then, I didn't have to worry about an adolescent werewolf getting himself hurt...physically, and emotionally. I knew that he was still hurting from my quick departure to go to the rescue of Edward (I rescued him, for once), and I knew that I needed to apologize, though I was not repentant of saving Edward from killing himself.

"Good morning."

I turned to Edward, my thoughts already totally realigned on him. Smiling, I yawned, "Good morning." I stretched to wake myself up.

He smiled back, the onyx in his eyes melting. He still hadn't left my side to hunt-which slightly annoyed me, because I knew I was an extreme temptation to him as is.

But, truth was, I wasn't ready for him to leave, either. Not that I didn't believe him when he said he'd stay-I fully believed that. I was still scared for him to leave my side so short a time after he'd come back.

"Did sleeping beauty get enough rest with me around?" Edward teased.

My smile widened as I replied, "Extremely so, thank you."

"Was I the star?" he pressed.

"As usual," I smiled.

"So, it was a nightmare," he stated.

I gawked at him. "Of course not! Why would it be?"

"I'm a monster," he said in a joking tone.

"No, you're not," I declared.

He was about to argue further, but I pressed one of my index fingers against his lips to silence him (trying to ignore the butterflies that wiggled in my stomach). He looked at me questioningly, waiting for me to say something. I was momentarily stunned by his beauty.

"Uh..." I shook my head, and offered, "Let's not argue about this anymore. I love you." Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath of his aroma in satisfaction. "You love me." I was extremely happy to the fact that I finally believed that. Opening my eyes, I whispered, "That's all that matters."

He smiled, removing my finger from my lips. "You forgot one thing that matters."

"And that would be?"

He pulled me into his embrace, kissing me gently for a moment. My heart started to race. His lips twisted upward into a smile against mine before he separated us. "I'll never leave you again."

I smiled as I tried to recover from my daze. "Okay, that matters, too," I agreed.

He smiled at me for another moment, then looked over my shoulder. "Time for the human to get ready for school," he announced. Freeing me of his embrace, he got up, as if to leave.

I sighed. Edward, seeing my immediate change of mood, assured, "I won't be gone for long."

"But you'll be gone," I mumbled.

He took a breath, torn in decision. Finally, he declared, "Half an hour. I'll hunt, and fetch the Volvo to drive you to school. In the meantime, you get ready for school." He took me in for another short kiss, setting my heart racing. Separating us abruptly, he said, "There will be more of that from where it came from if you listen."

I stopped myself from arguing. He was offering more kisses...How could I resist?

"Fine," I smiled.

"I'll be back soon," he assured me, kissing the top of my head before I could protest, and left.

For the first time, he was gone.

Before I could start panicking over his absence, I reminded myself that it was only for half of an hour. He would be back soon.

I took a deep breath before crawling out from under the covers, and taking a hurried shower, getting dressed afterward. I ate some cereal for breakfast, and then impatiently brushed my teeth. I brushed my hair before putting it into a ponytail. I looked at my watch.

Five more minutes.

I huffed, before deciding to read my book to pass the time. But I soon figured out that I was too tense to settle down to read, so I decided to pace while I waited.

Before I could stop myself, I started to imagine Edward's golden eyes-which I hadn't seen in a while. He would be hunting, which meant that his eyes would be golden again. Would they be different than how I remembered them? That was half a year ago...

Finally, the long awaited sound of a car pulling onto the gravel driveway came. I immediately leaped out the door, my book bag already in hand, and found Edward holding the passenger door open.

I giggled, still unaccustomed to his gentlemanly habits, as I climbed in. Before I could get my seat belt on, he was already in the driver's seat, backing the Volvo out of the driveway.

I stared at him, but he was concealing his golden eyes, for the moment, looking in the opposite direction of me as he drove in reverse. I wasn't disappointed for long, though; finally, he turned his head back toward me, revealing the topaz I hadn't seen in such a long time.

It took a while for him to notice my scrutiny. "Is something the matter?" he asked, slightly confused.

I couldn't tear myself away from his eyes. "Your eyes..." I trailed off.

Immediate understanding lit his face. "It must look weird, huh?"

I immediately dejected, "No! Of course not!" Taking hold of his free hand that rested between us, I added, "Haven't I told you before that my favorite gem is topaz?"

He smiled sheepishly. "I guess...I assumed it would go back to garnet during my absence."

"Why?" I pressed, confusion obvious on my face.

"I still have yet to hear an official dismissal of the felony I committed," he smiled.

"Huh?"

He hesitated, my favorite smile fleeing from his face, leaving despair in its place. "I left you...that's reason enough, isn't it?"

I squeezed his hand, and reassured, "My favorite is still topaz." Leaning my head on his shoulder, I added, "You need not guilt yourself over your absence. Your presence now makes up for it-and more."

As he parked the Volvo in the high school parking lot, facing the road, he turned to me, and whispered, "Maybe I'm the one that needs convincing."

I rolled my eyes, then set my hand on the door handle to open it.

Edward set his hand on mine, saying, "We still have about ten minutes before class starts." Taking my hand, he said, "Besides, it's raining cats and dogs out there."

I smiled at him, then leaned my head on his shoulder. He set his head on mine, and started to soothingly pet my hair.

I closed my eyes, and wished for this moment to last forever. And I knew it would. I had the whole shebang, after all. Edward was all that I needed to enjoy life to the fullest.

Suddenly, Edward stiffened.

Alas, I should have known that it was all too good to last.

MUAHAHAHA! I'm so evil! I leave you to dangle off cliffs!

BTW, I'll name each chapter of this story after plays/musicals, because Bella reflects on lots of plays that she's read/seen. Give me ideas for what to name my chapters! Tell me about a good play/musical you've seen/heard of, and I'll consider using it for a title, and basing the chapter on it.

(cue for reader to press review button and give a few words summarizing their thoughts)