Confused Replacement (Twilight FANFIC)

Chapter 12: Bella & Edward Reunite

https://thinkingofrob.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/volturis7.gif.

I never thought I could hate a color, especially one I've envisioned developing a hunger from the sight of it. My heart was lodged in my throat, legs aching and skin burning. Alice had warned me Edward was waiting until noon to reveal his secret to a parade of people, and as soon as her car couldn't take me any further, I ran. People were crowded like a red sea for whatever this festival was, and my body guided me to where I needed to go. My thoughts confused me, one minute I saw my body crashing into Edwards, hiding his body from all eyes and stopping his death--then he was fighting in a stone room, red-eyed men on grand chairs watching in delight. I didn't understand, but that same feeling from the beach washed over me, but how? How could any of this be the future? I was human, I was plain, old Bella Swan--I didn't have abilities. I couldn't see what was going to happen, could I?

I was finally capable of escaping the suffocating color of red, breathing erratic as my eyes cast upwards to finally see something that wasn't an illusion. A low rumble threatened to shake the stone paving as the clock struck 12, Edward slowly pulling apart the buttons of his shirt while exiting the shadows. I didn't hesitate. Legs propelling forwards as my heartbeat thumped in my ears, the cheers of the crowd silent as the still fountain's water was disturbed and a path was imprinted into the burning floor. "Don't!" I cried as my arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, head burying into his shoulder as I reveled in a touch, months of misery had withheld from me.

"Bella..." he mumbled in response, arms loosely snaking around my waist.

"You have to move," I still powered forward, encouraging him back into the darkness. His steps were slow, expression dazed when I pulled back. "Open your eyes," I whispered, a hand moving up to cup his face. "Look at me, Edward. I'm alive," my voice was quiet, tone terrified of scaring him away when I've only just got him back. His expression grew shocked when he finally saw me, "You have to move."

"Bella," he finally obeyed me completely, stumbling back into the building before pulling me into a desperate hug, head dipping into my shoulder and inhaling deeply, "...You're here..." He leaned back to assess my features.

"I'm here," I smiled.

"You're alive," his smile blew me away, I never realized how much I missed seeing it until now.

"I'm alive," I confirmed with a slight giggle, "So now you can stay alive and not feel guilty," my hand created distance between our bodies by gripping his own, "I can let you go now, just like you wanted."

"I never acted out of guilt," he forced me to maintain eye contact, "I just couldn't live in a world where you don't exist. I lied, I didn't want to leave you, I just didn't want to hurt you."

"I know," my gut promised me, and strangely I agreed with it. I knew it was all fake, I knew we'd be reunited. Why did I know that?

"You knew?"

"I don't know how, and I don't really care why because you're here and I'm here and we're together, but I knew. We're meant to be together, Edward. Forever..." I whispered as a cold palm colled my burning cheek.

"Forever..." he confirmed before his lips connected with mine, eyes fluttering closed as my wait was rewarded.

The echoing of footsteps disturbed us, pulling back my eyes open to big and small trying to portray a menacing and mischievous aura; 'Felix and Demetri' my mind scoffed, own brow furrowing as Edward's arms tried to hide me from their blood-red irises. "I won't be needing your services anymore, gentleman."