The Resolution… I Hope, Chapter Eight

BPOV

(Words Fail.)

I could barely see the street signs as they flashed past me. It wasn't that I was driving particularly fast, it was because I was bawling like a little girl. Big, choking sobs that made me glad that there was no one else in the car to see me in such a pathetic state.

I knew that it was probably a little bit dangerous to be driving in my condition, but I really just had to get away from there. Edward looked so... happy. In my heart, I knew that it was never meant to be Gemma the Office Girl that he went out with. I wanted him with me.

But I wouldn't expect him to just turn around and change his mind.

When he came to the apartment excited for his big date… I just couldn't take it anymore. I left. Even without him here, I couldn't seem to forget anything about him.

Images of Edward flashed through my mind

'So you'll stick to the speed limit?' I queried.

'Just for you'

I jumped up and hugged him. 'Thanks Edward!'

I choked back another sob

"I bet you 20 Dollars I can kiss you without using my lips... I lost."

The way his lips had felt against mine…

"I don't want to be your rebound guy Bella! Not if you're just going to go throwing yourself at the first guy you see! I want a REAL relationship"

What was I doing?

I was being so STUPID! This was Edward! The sweet, smart, funny, kind guy that I had been working with for three years! The one who I knew back to front! The one who thought I was fantastic and brave…

So much for being brave now. When it really mattered, I was in my car, driving away from what I really wanted, bawling like a baby! And he was out with… with…

He smiled. "I think you know her. Gemma?"

"Huh?"

"Um… I think she's an office girl? She helps out at this magazine? Yeah. I'm taking her to Giorgio's"

Gemma.

At Giorgio's.

At Giorgio's.

I slammed on the brakes of my car (not quite as dramatic as it sounds, since I was driving well below the speed limit) and put the car in reverse. There was no way in hell that I was just going to sit there when the man of my dreams was out with another woman. I was NOT going to lose Edward to Gemma the Office Girl just because I didn't have the GUTS to tell him how I felt.

As if a sign from heavens that I was doing the right thing, a bolt of lightning pierced the already dark sky and the heaven's opened, the rain pouring down.

I was going to Giorgio's.

EPOV

(Gemma The Office Girl)

I was on a date with a beautiful girl

Not as beautiful Bella…

I was having a great time.

But not as fun as it could have been…

Gemma was funny.

Gemma was vapid.

Gemma was... not Bella.

I was sitting in a fancy Italian restaurant, subconsciously comparing the girl in front of me (who last's name, I still didn't know) to the woman of my dreams. I honestly tired to stop, but it seemed almost impossible. Bella had set a standard which was too difficult to me. I tried to tune back into Gemma The Office Girls mindless drabble.

"… So then Miguel said that—get this- the next time a stapler got caught in a power socket, we should just call the supermarket and save everyone some time!" She let out a tinkling laugh. "How funny is that!"

I nodded and smiled appropriately so that she wouldn't see how much it was really killing me to be here.

Wasn't this what you wanted?

No. Never. I wanted Bella. She just… never wanted me.

The waiter came over to our table.

"And what will you be having tonight Sir?"

Rosalie's warning flashed through my head. And for goodness sake don't ever, EVER order something with a lot of garlic. The girl will be out of there faster than you can say… well. Anything.

I looked up at him with a sly smile.

"I'll have the garlic prawns thanks."

That's when I turned and saw a dishevelled figure staring through the restaurant window.

BPOV

(So… This is awkward. That seems to be kind of a reoccurring theme with us.)

I was dripping from head to toe as I stood outside the restaurant, looking through the glass at the warm interior of the restaurant.

I saw him.

I saw her.

Her…

Oh. THAT was Gemma. Up until now I had always thought that she was one of the people that modelled for the magazine. Damn.

They were laughing, smiling, having a great time. I shook my head. I didn't deserve Edward. I treated him like crap. I'd had three years to get my act together and ask him out, and it had never occurred to me before. Did I only like Edward now because he'd brought some new clothes and cut his hair in a different way? But even as I was trying to convince myself otherwise I knew it wasn't true.

There had always been something between us. I'd always assumed it was friendship. But now… I wanted more. But I was too late.

I had been searching to the ends of the earth for my perfect guy when in reality he had been sitting right beside me for the last three years. Like a cheesy 1970's soap opera character I had been looking for love in all the wrong places.

I was just about to step back when Edward looked up from his menu and straight at me. The surprise on his face was almost comical.

Quickly I stepped back into the shadows, hoping that he hadn't really seen me.

I turned and started to walk down the street. This had been a bad idea. Edward and Gemma The Office Girl were obviously happy together, and if anything was important it was that Edward was happy.

"Bella! Bella!"

I turned and looked at him. He was almost as soaking wet as I was. Idiot.

"What are you doing Edward? You're on a DATE! And instead you're standing out here in the rain with me."

He shrugged and took another step toward me.

"It's where I want to be."

I felt my hear flutter in my chest, and against my better instincts I began to speak.

"Just give me a straight answer, right now. All I need is a simple yes or no. And if it's a no-"

I looked up at him, staring into his bright green eyes.

"-I'll leave you. Right now. You and Gemma the Office Girl can have a happy life together, full of good looking children and late nights in front of the TV watching Masterchef.

"Just tell me Edward. Could there ever be anything between us? Is that what you want? Just discount Mike. Discount Jacob. Everything. Is it possible?"

I took a deep breath and waited for his response...

"You wait until now, until I'm on a date with another girl, after years and YEARS of opportunities, to come and profess your undying love for me. After you've just broken up with your overly gay boyfriend. And practically made out with another guy right in front of me?"

He shook his head at me.

"I just can't believe you!"

I turned, hoping the rain would partially mask the tears that were streaming down my face. I had to get out of there, my battered and bruised heart just couldn't stand the thought of being near him any longer.

"Bella" He said. His voice soft behind me.

I froze where I was standing, my determined brain overridden by my broken heart. I had to stop his pity speech. I would not let him break me.

"No Edward. I understand. It's alright-" I spun around to face him, and found him to be standing far closer than I anticipated, his chest brushed up against mine and I felt a jolt of electricity run through my treacherous body.

He grabbed my wrists and pulled me close to him. "Of course it's possible you stupid girl! It's all I've wanted for three years!"

And then his lips were on mine. His fiery burning lips that made my insides melt into rubbery goo, and that turned all thoughts that I may have previously had to nothing. He kissed me with the kind of passion that soldiers returning from months at war kissed their wives- as though he had been starved of me.

His put his hand on my cheek and dragged my face closer to his, pushing his body against mine, and pining my back to the brick wall that was behind us. I kissed him back with all the force I could muster, and as we stood on the corner of the street in the pouring rain, in one of the most utterly clichéd moments of my life, his rough lips stirred in me something that felt like the first flutter of total contentedness.

Damn that boy was a good kisser.

"Gemma…" I murmured against his lips.

He shot me a cute smile. "No, I'm Edward, remember?"

I hit his shoulder and pulled away, hating the way that my body instantly felt cold without him against me.

"Idiot. I mean what about Gemma? You can't just leave the poor girl there!"

He sighed and pressed his wet forehead against mine.

"Already taken care of. I told her that I was gay and had just realised. Nicely of course, before I sprinted out of the door of the restaurant"

I groaned against his shirt.

"I've already had a gay boyfriend Edward, I don't need another one!"

He put his ringers underneath my chin and tilted my head up toward him.

"Boyfriend? Is that what I am?"

My lips curved up into a cheeky half smile.

"As long as you promise not to turn out to be gay"

Edward put his hands on my waist and pulled me towards him.

"Don't worry" he whispered in my ear "I don't think we'll have that problem"

A/N It's done. As am I. This will most likely be my last FF story. Sad I know! I won't bore you with the whole speil behind it, but If you're acutally interested just go check out my profile. I'll really miss you guys.

Had a bit of a double whammy of chapters there, so it'd be nice to hear some feedback (come on guys! It's the last time I'll ask! haha)

I do have a prologue half written, but I'm not sure when that'll get posted (or even if it will at all) so well see. Love to you all. Thankyou for your support. FWWBH