200 Years Without The Cullens

Chapter 16-Life-Changing

I stared at the opposite wall, fiddling with my engagement ring on my left hand. The hot water that surrounded my body steamed in the cool air, creating a thick blanket of fog around me. I ducked my head under the water and let out a contented sigh when I surfaced. Despite Alice's original plans for our wedding, she'd more than made up for it with her new and improved plan, and this spa weekend was a fantastic idea.

I'd been snapping at everyone, tired and stressed out by everything. We had exams at school, and although I'd memorised every word of every textbook, the amount of assignments we'd been given was enough to make anyone cranky, even vampires. Everyone else seemed to be far better at controlling it all though, letting out their anger while hunting alone, deep in the forest.

I just couldn't perfect that art. I shouted at Alice while discussing weddings, but I'd been unstressed enough then to apologise immediately. I'd yelled at Emmett when he was cracking one of his stupid jokes, and I'd screamed at Rosalie when she'd told me I was overreacting to everything. I'd even snapped at Carlisle and Esme once, when they suggested I take a break and relax for a few days.

I really knew I was losing it when I'd got annoyed with Edward. We'd just been sitting there, scribbling down at an inhuman rate and glancing at textbooks, a movie playing in the background. After finishing the third in a long line of stressful assignments, we'd laid down our work and watched the movie.

Whenever Edward was stressed or tired, he'd whisper the lines to the film under his breath, and it always served to annoy me. That evening was no exception. After trying to ignore it for five or ten minutes, I'd finally snapped. I flew round in his grasp and glared at him.

"Will you shut up?" I snapped loudly.

"Sorry," he murmured.

We'd continue watching for another few minutes in an awkward silence, before the quiet mutterings started up again. Once again, I'd snapped.

"Edward!" I'd roared, "Shut up!"

He'd looked hurt at my outburst.

"I'm sorry Bella. I can't help it, I-" but I'd cut him off rudely.

"If you were sorry you'd shut up!" I screamed, "You just want to piss me off!" I'd yelled, completely irrationally.

"Love-"

"Don't 'love' me Edward fucking Cullen. Just don't! Leave me alone!"

After my illogical outburst, I'd ran from the room and collapsed onto my bed, my body convulsing with tearless sobs. I'd just snapped at my beloved fiancé, and I'd been utterly stupid. He must be so angry, I'd thought, furious with myself.

Ever-loving, ever-selfless Edward had come into my room tentatively a few minutes later, knocking on the door quietly.

"Can I come in?" he asked softly.

I must have been really bad the last few days to make him unsure of his welcome. I nodded stiffly, and Edward walked into the room slowly, before sitting down on the bed next to me, keeping his hands and lips to himself. I couldn't take the thick tension between us. I'd thrown myself into his arms, sobbing again.

"I'm sorry," I'd cried.

Edward murmured his gently sweet-nothings in my ear, telling me it was ok. After a minute or two, he'd pulled away from me, kissing the top of my head once.

"They were right love. Go on that weekend with Alice."

And with a few words of persuasion, I'd allowed myself to be dragged along to a spa weekend with Alice and Rosalie.