Disclaimer: Characters belong to Stephanie Myers. Plot line is mine.
"Can you grab the Basil?" Alice questioned. She was seasoning her one of a kind, spaghetti. I was just in the way most the time in her kitchen. She had always been the main chief, and I developed a bad habit of sitting on the counter, in front of the seasoning rack. I gave a slight giggle before tossing it to her.
"It feels amazing to be home," I announced hearing the pitter patter of the rain against the ceiling. Alice and I moved to Arizona for college. We wanted to start over, get out of the small washed up town. Neither of us thought that we would actually miss the place as much as we did. Which is why we decided to come home for the summer. I guess home is where ever your family is.
In our case, this is where they are. Alice and I have been best friends since the second grade. We were eight and she was the new kid no one wanted to talk to besides me. We became fast friends, even though we seemed to have nothing in common. She loved sports, I couldn't even walk without tripping. She played every single instrument, I couldn't even play the piano. Her parents were filthy rich, mine weren't. At the age of eight none of that mattered, actually, with us it never really did. The only thing that did was the fact that no matter how many differences we had, we always seemed to balance out in the end, in some way.
"Rosalie and Emmett are coming home as well," Esmé announced walking into the kitchen. Esmé is Alice's mother, and acts like a mother to me as well. "Edward might be coming, but who knows with that boy," she said shaking her head taking a handful of grapes. There was never a dull moment with the Cullen/Masen's.
"Edward's coming home?" Alice questioned not bothering to take her eyes away from the food. Carlisle came into the kitchen giving Alice a kiss on the head before snagging a taste of her food.
"He said he'd come down with Emmett, but he said that last year to," she said letting her annoyance come out. Esmé was the best mother in the world. How Edward always seemed to ditch out on the family summers was something I would never understand. She loved him, no matter how annoyed she got with him.
"He got busy," Carlisle defended his son. "This year he can manage from here. When they need him he can fly down," he explained the business side of whatever Edward did now. "He'll be here," he promised Esmé grabbing her waist. Esmé and Carlisle were the worlds cutest couple.
"Joy," I groaned making Alice give me a slight kick. Edward and I never had the easiest relationship. In fact seeing him again was probably going to be something heart wrenching.
"He'll be good," Alice said with a smile. "If he doesn't give you one hell of an apology I'm going to shove his face in the dirt and make him eat worms," she ranted. Alice wasn't Edwards biggest fan since our break up,if you can even call it that. You see, Edward and I dated in high school all through his senior year. Then one morning he was just gone, no note, no nothing, he told his mother and father, and left. Didn't bother to tell me. So it was a break up, a harsh one at that.
"Edward probably hasn't changed that much," I said popping a grape into my mouth. "He's never been one to apologize." Esmé was standing in the kitchen pretending to be washing dishes. In reality she was listening to the two of us talk about Edward.
"Oh he'll apologize. He'll get on his hands and knees and beg for your forgiveness. Honestly, he's such a little fucking prick," Alice ranted taking the spaghetti off the burner getting down the plates. "I listened to you cry for a fucking year over that little ass hole and now you're not even mad?" She questioned shaking her head.
"I'm not mad anymore," I said honestly hopping off the counter handing her the salad mix. "He left, that was his choice. Don't get me wrong, when I see him I might break, I might get mad, I might start balling, but there's nothing I can do about the past, so why stay bitter about it?" I questioned shrugging my shoulders.
"I'm going to kill him," she said simply shrugging her shoulders.
"They're here," Carlisle called making Alice raise her eyebrows before turning off the stove.
"Emmett's here," she said with a smile.
"I told you he would be here, Esmé," Carlisle said pointing to Edward. Emmett had that look on him face, the one that said, I'm sorry but he's my brother. The one he always had when he was doing something he knew was going to hurt me. Alice smiled at Emmett walking over to him, while I stood frozen at the doorway looking at Edward.
"Hi Emmett," she said throwing her arms around his neck. "You've gotten bigger, or I've gotten smaller," she laughed not bothering to look in Edwards direction. I couldn't help but look at those once loving green eyes. I wanted nothing more but to run into his warm embrace, to have him tell me he left because he had no other choice. Anything, I would have been happy to hear him say anything.
"Am I going to get a hug Bella?" Emmett questioned pulling me out of my trance.
"Huh?" I questioned looking over to him. "Yeah, sure," I said walking over to him wrapping my arms around his neck. "You know Alice is right, you've gotten bigger since last year," I said noticing Rosalie standing behind Emmett watching me like a hawk. Emmett filled her in on the situation.
"Hey," Edward said clearing his throat.
"Hey?" Alice scoffed knowing he wasn't talking to her.
"Hi," I said not bothering to move.
"Can we talk?" He questioned making me give a laugh before clapping my hands together.
"Can we talk?" I repeated glaring at him. "A little late for that isn't it?" I hissed taking a step back from him.
"I just needed space," he aid in a voice so low I know he didn't want anyone else to hear. Everyone had though.
"Space," I laughed shaking my hear feeling the tears come on. Crying was rare for me to do in front of anyone. Even family. I never cried, but seeing him was a kicker. "For space you go on a camping trip, Edward," I said struggling to keep my voice even. "Whatever, I'm not doing this," I said shrugging my shoulders. "I'm going for a walk," I said more to Alice seeing the pure rage in her face.
"You're a real piece of work," she screamed making me stop in my tracks before looking to Emmett.
"Not your fault you're brothers a dick," I said knowing that look in his eyes. "I'll be back once I'm not about to stab him with the nearest knife," I said wiping away the tears. "Might want to hide those from me for a while," I suggested as a Joke before finally walking away.
I didn't stray too far from the house, knowing there was a log I liked to sit on from time to time as a kid not to far from here. When I finally found it, I smoothed out my summer dress looking at the waves crashing against the shore. It was soothing in a way to see the ocean come up so close, but never actually touch my feet.
"You can get through a summer with him," I said to myself taking a deep calming breath. "He is nothing. He is nothing," I repeated to myself grabbing onto the log.
"He's got washboard abbs," Rosalie announced letting me know she was there. The thing that shocks a lot of people about Rosalie, is the fact that she's actually a good listener. Something you wouldn't expect from a model like girl. "Emmett told me the story," she said sitting down next to me. "Sounds like a prick."
"Emmett told you a good portion of the story," I said shaking my head. "He's a bigger prick than most people realize," I said kicking the sand. "I gave everything to him, you know?" I questioned looking over at her not really wanting her to answer. "And he just left, without a word. It was like, cool see you never again, bye," I ranted shaking my head. "And I really want to hate him. I want to loath him, but the shitty part is that he was standing there, and if he would have uttered the words I'm sorry I would have fallen into his arms," I said more mad at myself than him. "I'm pathetic."
"No," Rosalie said calmly. "Just not out of love. You can't hate him, because you love him. You wish you could hate him for what he did to you, what he put you through, but you can't. You don't hate anyone but yourself, because you're finding a way to put all the blame on yourself. Which is fucked up on so many levels, but what can you do? You love him. No one else will get why, but you do, and nothing is going to change that," Rosalie announced shrugging her shoulders. "Been there."
"I thought I was over him. But then I see him," I said running my fingers through my hair.
"You know Emmett cheated on me?" Rosalie questioned tilting her head. "We were together for about a month, and he got really drunk and cheated. I was pissed, mad at the world, almost killed the girl he was with, but never once did I blame him. It was messed up because I should have been making him beg for my forgiveness, but I found a way to blame myself. I took him back a week later." I'd never pegged Emmett for a cheater. Never in a million years would I think he would be capable of something like that.
"You just took him back?" I questioned.
"I love him. What can I do? Not be with him and be miserable, or be with him, take a chance, and maybe be happy? Everyone has their reasons for doing what they do. You never really know until you give them the chance to explain," she said before getting to her feet. "No one knows about the cheating thing here, so don't say a word," she warned before helping me to my feet. "Dinner smelt amazing."
"Alice is a really good cook," I said seeing her still in Edwards face. "I should probably do something about that," I said jogging up to the scene. Alice was inches from her brother, Emmett and Carlisle trying to break up whatever was going on.
"You're a fucking prick!" Alice screamed shoving against his chest. "You think you can treat my best friend like a piece of shit and come back here like nothing is wrong?" She was more pissed off about the situation than I was. Against my better judgement I stepped between Alice and Edward facing Edward instead of Alice.
"Go," I said pointing to the chair. "Edward, seriously go stand over there for ten seconds," I said seeing his hands bunched into fists. "Please," I said letting my voice go slightly softer placing my hands against his chest giving him a slight nudge. I knew, just like Esmé, if Alice didn't stop there would be holes in the walls.
"Alice," I said placing my hands on her shoulders. "I love you. I want to watch you make him eat dirt like you did the first time you met him. Acting out teenager meets mothers boyfriends new son," I explained to Rosalie. "But, you're not really mad at him. He's your brother, your family. Despite all his celestial flaws, he's a good guy. You know that, and I know that," I was speaking low enough so he couldn't hear the words I was saying. "He's the one who helped you write that English paper on Hamlet, and the one who beat up Mike after he broke your heart. He's the one that made damn sure no one picked on us in high school. He's a good guy, with flaws. So he fucked me over. He's still you're brother, and I know Esmé hates seeing you fight, please stop. Edward and I can throw down if we need to, and If I need you, I'll let you know" I said shrugging my shoulders.
"You're not mad?" She said disbelieving.
"I'm pissed," I said matter-of-factly. "But weather I like it or not, he's here for the summer. The least you can do is play nicely. Go get dinner ready, no more fighting with Edward allowed for you. Unless I ask real nice," I said giving her a wink shoving her in the direction of her house.
"Thank you," Esmé said giving me a hug before following Alice. Taking a deep breath I looked back at Edward sitting in the lawn chair hands in his head.
"Everyone makes mistakes, big ones," Rosalie whispered in my ear before dragging Emmett in the house.
"Hey, Masen," I announced sitting on the edge of the chair.
"Alice is never going to forgive me," he said not bothering to look up.
"She's not mad at you," I explained. "There's this thing girls do, they take on the anger for one another. She's mad like I should be, but she knows I'm not, so she's taking it all on." I explained.
"You're not mad?" He questioned raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
"I'm pissed off at you, Edward. Don't misunderstand me, I'm just not as mad as I should be. But I set Alice straight, she won't be picking fights that I should be picking," I said licking my lips.
"I'm not going to apologize if that's what your looking for," he blurted out saying what was on his mind.
"Wasn't looking for one," I said getting to my feet. "Same Edward, just dressed in a tux," I said looking up and down his body. "Dinner's ready," I announced walking inside the mansion sized house. "No fighting," I reminded Alice knowing Edward was walking behind me.
"So Bella," Esmé said taking a bite of her salads. "What's the latest gossip?" She questioned making me smile slightly. It was just like old times, kind of.
"Boys, grades, or girls?" I questioned taking a bite of my salad. Esmé only raised an eyebrow as if saying surprise me. "Well there was this really cute - and when I say really cute Rosalie I mean six pack, messy brown hair, baby blue eyes, god like creature - who asked Alice out," I said providing a visual aide not missing the fact that Edward gripped him fork slightly tighter.
"Alice!" Esmé scolded making her give a shrug of the shoulders.
"He really wasn't that good looking. Bella, tell mom about your date last week," she said focusing the attention on me.
"Total disaster," I said rolling my eyes. "You know you would think Arizona would at least have the occasional hottie with nothing but sex on his mind. No such luck," I said sarcastically making Rosalie and Carlisle chuckle.
"So your dating?" Edward questioned making it come out like more of an accusation.
"You've got a different girl on your arm every week," I said. "Not like that's any of your business anymore," I explained making him roll his eyes.
"Are you going to be childish all summer?"
"Are you trying to pick a fight. If you want to lay everything out on the table we can," I said tossing my napkin in my salad. "I have no reason to pretend like I care about what you think of me."
"So that's a yes," he said taking a bite of his salad. "This is why I left in the first place. You couldn't grow up," he hissed glaring at me. Esme only closed her eyes and shook her head. Alice shrank back in her seat glaring at him. Emmett, Rosalie and Carlisle stayed quite knowing this was going to happen sooner or later.
"Oh that's why?" I questioned getting up from the table. "I thought it was because you finally got what you wanted. Or was it simply a coincidence that the morning you left was the night after we made love," I put quotes around the word watching Alice's face go from pissed off to shocked. "Or fucked, because that's all it was. It meant nothing, and you mean nothing to me," I hissed watching his fists clench. "Get mad!" I yelled slamming my hand on the table. The sound was so loud it seemed to echo.
"What the fuck do you want me to say?" He yelled getting up from the table. "I'm not apologizing for my decisions!" He screamed making Emmett get to his feet along with Carlisle.
"Oh no Edward Masen is too good to apologize to anyone!" I yelled shaking my head. "You've always been so stubborn. Rule number one: I don't apologize. Rule number two: I don't talk about my past." I repeated the things he told me before we even got together.
"You were such a waste of my time!" He yelled hitting the wall behind me making me flinch slightly.
"Dude," Emmett said pulling him away from me.
"Looks like we agree on something, you were a waste of my time to," I said shaking my head. "I think I'm going to go to sleep. Esme told me I could crash on the couch in your room, but seeing as that won't end well, I'll share Alice's room," I explained glaring at Edward.
"Alice doesn't even have a couch," He said trying to calm himself down. "Sleep on the fucking couch, Bella," he said pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Isabella," I corrected him. "Only my friends get to call me Bella. As far as I'm concerned, you're my friends brother, not my friend. I'd rather sleep on the floor," I muttered walking up to Alice's room.
A/N: What do you think? Edward mysterious left for four years, but why? Is he hiding something, or did he just decide to bail out. And when about Bella? Is she really over the fact that he just left her, high and dry? Will they be able to fix things, or will they remain once lovers? Love it? Hate it? Tell me, constructive criticism is welcome!(: