Well, James got what he deserved! Great story, too bad Edward and Bella never had that second date!

I think maybe he will be struggling a bit more with his conscience now! And will he find out what Bella meant about her not having an easy life?

Aww, now he's in trouble and forty dollars plus poorer! Let's hope his friends were prepared for the worst!

I enjoyed that trip into Edward's mind, though I think for all their gifts and extra senses those vampires can never see the trees through the forest! Of course Bella is going to be suspicious of Edward leaving! And for all this time that he's searched for the one he could be with, and get to know, he's dismissed her silent mind as a byproduct! Alice didn't even give him a hint, I guess he's going to have to do more work on his own!

Well, Edward is on the plus side of your last statement! I wonder, will he be able to sway her opinion of him? And did he really skip town?

Bella's inner narrative of the Cullen's looks, poses, and demeanor was priceless! It certainly seemed creepy and Stepford-like! And Mike was totally useless!

Well, it looks as if Edward did some soul searching in Alaska! Now, can he win her over? And who did he just smell?

Excellent chapter! Glad to see some answers about who might be responsible and also to see some interaction between B & E!

I like the leap Bella took here. In facing her past, she put perspective on the future and came up with a theory, while ridiculous, she can't dismiss. I can't wait to see what happens when she meets Edward again!

I think Alice should make a return appearance, and both Jasper and Bella realize that they are good friends. As for Edward, he seems way too melancholy for someone who just won his soulmate. Is he still waiting on approval from mom?

You know, my husband and I broke up for a year while dating too. We got back together for the same reasons. Every man I dated, I silently compared to him and they didn't measure up and I guess he felt the same. We had a very short conversation about what we did for the year, and then promptly moved on and the rest is history. So, there may be hope for them yet!

I'm so glad they finally got through this! Now Bella needs to rethink what she said earlier about not wanting to go slow. She wants him to have no doubt that she's his and he's hers. She needs to acknowledge the I love you, and acknowledge why she hesitated!