Nothing on Earth

Edward leaned against a tree and stared at me, his expression unreadable.

“Okay, let’s talk,” I said. It sounded braver than I felt.

He took a deep breath.

“Bella, we’re leaving.”

I took a deep breath, too. This was an acceptable option. I thought I was prepared. But I still had to ask.

“Why now? Another year-“

“Bella, it’s time. How much longer could we stay in Forks, after all? Carlisle can barely pass for thirty, and he’s claiming thirty-three now. We’d have to start over soon regardless.”

His answer confused me. I thought the point of leaving was to let his family live in peace. Why did we have to leave if they were going? I stared at him, trying to understand what he meant.

He stared back coldly.

With a roll of nausea, I realized I’d misunderstood.

“When you say we-,” I whispered.

“I mean my family and myself.” Each word seperate and distinct.

I shook my head back and forth mechanically, trying to clear it. He waited without any sign of impatience. It took a few minutes before I could speak.

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll come with you.”

“You can’t, Bella. Where we’re going… It’s not the right place for you.”

“Where you are is the right place for me.”

“I’m no good for you, Bella.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” I wanted to sound angry, but just sounded like I was begging. “You’re the very best part of my life.”

“My world is not for you,” he said grimly.

“What happened with Jasper – that was nothing, Edward! Nothing!”

“You’re right,” he agreed. “It was exactly what was to be expected.”

“You promised! In Phoenix, you promised that you would stay-“

“As long as that was best for you,” he interrupted to correct me.

“No! This is about my soul, isn’t it?” I shouted, furious, the words exploding out of me – somehow it still sounded like a plea. “Carlisle told me about that, and I don’t care, Edward. I don’t care! You can have my soul. I don’t want it without you – it’s yours already!”

He took a deep breath and stared, unseeingly, at the ground for a long moment. His mouth twisted the tiniest bit. When he finally looked up, his eyes were different, harder – like the liquid gold had frozen solid.