Hey everyone :) I'm now starting a new chapter story and I hope you all like it. Review, let me know what you think. I will be posting some one~shots also. :)
Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all characters :) Any songs mentioned belong to their rightful owners
Chapter 1- A Little Bit Stronger
"I know my heart will never be the same
But I'm telling myself I'll be ok
Even on my weakest days
I get a little bit stronger"
~Sara Evans
Dear Bella,
If you are reading this it means that I am no longer with you. I know that this isn't easy for you and it is not easy for me either. I never wanted to leave you. Bella you are an amazing, wonderful, and beautiful woman and I am beyond grateful that I got to be apart of your life. I still remember the day I met you. We were about 5 years old and our dads were fishing. You were sitting on a rock and I threw mud and hit you in the face. Oh Bella, you were mad at me for days. After I apologized we became best friends. We stuck by each other's sides through the years. And eventually became more. Sophomore year of college I got the diagnosis. I'm sure you don't want the memory coming back to you but don't stop reading. That was the hardest thing to tell you. You kept me alive for two more years. My life has ended but yours hasn't. I was a chapter in your life story. Just know that I will always love you. Don't be afraid to fall in love again, take chances, travel the world, and become that author or first grade teacher you were always talking about. Now that only you live in the apartment make room. Don't keep anything you don't need. I love you so much Bella. No words can express how much I am going to miss you. Know that I will always be with you. Everywhere you look I will be there.
Love,
Jake
By the time I had finished reading the letter tears were pouring out of my eyes. I looked up to the ceiling and breathed in a deep shaky breath. I found that letter hidden in the bottom of one my drawers in my dresser. Nearly 4 months after Jake passed away. My mental sanity had slowly gone away when he left. I went to bed at night thinking Jacob would be there when I woke up. In the mornings a cloak of depression covered me and I couldn't shake it off. My parents tried to help me but it wouldn't work. Eventually they stopped. At the funeral when my mom tried to hug me I shook her off. Same with my dad. Something I rarely do. That day is a blur in my memory. I can hardly even remember the people that showed up, except one. That person was Dr. Carlisle Cullen. He was Jake's doctor through the two years and did everything he could and he was also the best doctor the little town of Forks could have asked for. I will forever be grateful. In the past four months I have barely left my apartment except for school. Even then I stayed in the back of the class, and then went home immediately after my last class of the day. No one talked to me and people that I had somewhat became friends with slowly drifted away. Luckily I only have the rest of this semester and then I graduate. But I've begun to feel acceptance for what has happened. Although it is still very difficult I am finding that I can look at a picture of Jake or hear a song on the radio that reminds me of him and I don't go numb. I am getting to be a tad bit stronger but I still have a long way to go. I put the letter away and made a decision to take a walk. Maybe the fresh air will clear my head. I threw a hoodie on, and my converse. I left my phone inside and locked up my apartment. I was almost to the elevator when I bumped into someone.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." I whispered.
"Not a problem." A soft, velvety yet masculine voice said. I looked up and was lost in a pair of dark forest green eyes. I stepped back, since I was still very close. This man was tall, around six foot two. He was skinny, but not too skinny; he was toned and had messy bronze hair. Not messy like just rolled out of bed messy but a good messy. If that even made any sense.
"Umm, miss?" I shook my head and blushed
"I'm sorry." I said again. That seemed to be the only response I could come up with. Brilliant. A crooked grin appeared on his face. I nearly melted.
"You don't have to apologize. I just asked what your name was." The man said again.
"Bella, Bella Swan." I replied holding out my hand.
"Well Bella, Bella Swan I'm Edward Cullen." Edward said shaking my hand. For the first time in four months I laughed softly. Cullen. I wonder if he was related to Dr. Cullen. Maybe I would ask him. Not today of course but in the future.
"And I'm Kaylie." A small girl's voice said. I looked down and saw a small girl, about six years old holding Edward's hand. She had an adorable little smile and bright blue eyes.
"It's very nice to meet you Kaylie." I said. She smiled again.
"Are you new to the building?" I asked, whoa where did all this confidence come from?
"Yes, I just moved in today. Right there." He said pointing to an empty apartment right across from mine. I smiled.
"Is she your daughter?" I said.
"No, my niece. She insisted on coming with me to look at the apartment and while my brother and his wife went out to dinner." Edward said.
"That was very nice of you. Well if you ever need anything I am right across the hall" I said.
"I'll remember that." Edward said winking. I blushed.
"I better get going. It was nice to meet you Edward, and you too Kaylie." I said and waved to them both as I walked away.
"Bye Bella!" Kaylie said enthusiastically.
"Bye Bella." Edward said as well. I smiled as I stepped into the elevator. Just as the doors closed I heard Kaylie say, "Uncle Eddie, I like her. She's pretty too."
"Jake this better not be your doing. I know you said take chances but this might too big of one." I said, though I knew that he couldn't hear me. I walked around Seattle for a little while. The whole time my thoughts kept drifting back to Edward. That was the first time in 5 years that I ever thought about another man besides Jake. Attempting to shake the thoughts out of my head I took advantage of the sunset since the clouds were gone. The sky was different shades of pinks, oranges, purples and blues. Walking back to my apartment building the wind started to pick up. Once I was inside and on my floor an aroma of delicious food filled my nostrils. I inhaled slowly as I walked into my apartment. I noticed that Edward's door was opened and the smell was coming from inside.
"Bella!" the unmistakable voice of Kaylie said. I turned around and saw her standing in the doorway. I smiled.
"Hi Kaylie." I replied.
"Whatcha doing?" She asked rocking back and forth on her heels.
"Just going back inside my apartment." I replied.
"Kaylie leave poor Bella alone." Edward said scolding his niece. I stifled my laughter.
"I was just sayin' hi."
"She wasn't bothering me Edward. I promise." I said. He smiled causing me to fumble with my keys.
"Come on Kaylie, let's go eat." Edward said guiding her inside. "Bye Bella. See you around." He smiled again.
"Bye." I waved.
"Bye Bella!" Kaylie said. I waved and smiled then walked inside. I threw my keys on the counter, and walked into the kitchen to make some dinner. After I ate and cleaned up I took a shower and put my pajamas on. The letter Jake wrote me was still sitting on my bed. I paced back and forth for a good ten minutes. Finally I picked it up and looked through it again. "How could he expect me to fall in love again? And get rid of his stuff?" I whispered out loud. "He's crazy." I added. I folded the letter back up and put it in the drawer I first found it. I put on one of Jake's sweatshirts like I did every night, grabbed a book and curled up on the couch. Before I went to bed I called up my mom.
"Hey sweetie." She said when she answered.
"Hi mom, how did you know it was me?" I asked.
"Mother's intuition. Is everything alright honey?"
"Yeah, I was just calling to see if you and dad were busy this weekend."
"Nope, we are going to a BBQ on Saturday but that is it."
"Could I come and stay with you for the weekend?"
"Of course. You don't even have to ask." I smiled.
"Thanks mom. I'll be up Friday afternoon."
"That will be perfect. Oh I'm so excited you decided to visit." The excitement was clear in her voice.
"Well, I'll let you go. I'm about to go to sleep. See you Friday."
"Ok sweetie, goodnight. See you Friday. I love you."
"Goodnight mom. Love you too. Tell dad I love him."
"I will. Bye sweetie."
"Bye mom." I hung up the phone. I couldn't wait for the weekend. I really missed my parents. A lot. For the first time I slept peacefully that night.
When I woke up I couldn't get thoughts of Edward out of my head. This was just after meeting him the day before. I scolded myself. How could you be thinking of another man when you just lost the one you loved? I didn't even know the answer to that question. To distract my head I got ready to go to school. My class didn't start until 11 but I needed something to do. By 9:30 I was done. I didn't bother to get dressed up since it was just school. I threw on a pair of jeans, a black tank top, a white zip up hoodie and my converse. I grabbed my bag, my phone and my keys and decided to stop at the local coffee shop. There weren't many people making it easier to grab my coffee and bagel and leave. I arrived on campus 10 minutes before my class started. No one was in the class yet; I took my seat at the back and pulled out a book. Just as I was sucked into the world of Shakespeare the other students walked in and took their seats.
"Ok class, today we are going to write an essay…" The professor said. For the next hour and half the class was silent. The essay was due the next week we were told before we were dismissed. Luckily I only had one class today but I did have to go to work. I stopped by home, grabbed some lunch and headed over to coffee shop I worked at.
"Hey Bella." My friend Jessica said as I walked in. I smiled weakly and replied.
"Hey Jess."
"How are you today?" She asked. Jessica was the only person I was really close to and who stuck by my side even when I shut everyone else out.
"I'm better today." I said.
"You sure?"
"Positive." I said as convincing as I could. I was doing better today then I had in the past. Jessica smiled.
"Well that's good. Are you ready to start making some coffee? We have a big crowd today." She said in a fake announcer voice. I couldn't help but laugh. Right as she said that, lunch hour rush came and soon the shop was buzzing with people. That is how it went until closing.
"Bye Jess. See you on Monday." I said and waved.
"Are you not working tomorrow?" She asked
"I am taking the day off. I am leaving to go visit my parents tomorrow." Jessica smiled.
"Have fun. Bye Bella. And I am glad to see you smile again." With that I left the coffee shop and headed back to my apartment. I was just about to start making dinner when there was a knock at my door. Confused, because I was expecting no one, I answered it.
"Hi Miss Bella!" Came a little voice. I looked down and saw Kaylie.
"Hey Kaylie." I smiled. "Do your parents know you're here?" I asked.
"Yup!" She said. "I just wanted to see if you were home and to see if you wanted to come over to Uncle Edward's for dinner." Kaylie added.
'Kaylie." I heard a woman's voice say. Looking up I saw the most beautiful woman. She was tall, long blonde hair, bright blue eyes. She could surely drop any girl's self esteem within seconds of entering a room.
"Sorry mom. I was just saying hi to my friend and inviting her to dinner." Kaylie said innocently. The woman got closer.
"Hi, I'm Rosalie." She said holding out her hand and smiling.
"Bella." I replied shaking her hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Same." Rosalie said.
"So Bella are you coming?" Kaylie said again.
"I'm not sure. How about another night?" I suggested.
"Bella, if you want to can join us for dinner. We have more than enough food thanks to my husband. I'm sure Edward wouldn't mind." Rosalie said smirking.
"Umm…I guess it wouldn't be a problem." I said.
"Yes!" Kaylie exclaimed.
"Great." Rosalie smiled. "I'll go let Edward and Emmett know. Come on Kaylie." I smiled.
"I'll be over in five minutes." I said. She nodded and walked back into the apartment across from mine. I changed out of my sweats and into some jeans, threw on shoes and a jacket before walking across the hall. I knocked once and Kaylie opened the door. A big smile spread across her face and she grabbed my hand pulling me inside.
"Hey Bella." Edward said as a breathtaking crooked grin took over his face.
"Hi Edward." I managed to say.
"Bella, this is my husband Emmett." Rosalie introduced me to a man who was very tall and muscular. He almost intimidated me, until I saw a dimply smile appear on his face.
"Hi Bella."
"Hi Emmett." I replied.
"So you are the girl that Kylie and Edward keep going on about." I felt my cheeks burn up and Edward punched Emmett in the shoulder.
"Bella, how long have you lived here?" Rosalie asked changing the subject.
"About 2 ½ years." I said. "My, uh, boyfriend and I moved in here right before we started college." I could have sworn I saw Edward's smile drop.
"Do you and Emmett live around here?" I asked.
"We live about ten minutes away. We wanted to be near at least one set of Kaylie's grandparents. Unfortunately mine aren't close but Emmett's live in Forks." Rosalie said.
"That's nice. Would your dad happen to be Dr. Carlisle Cullen?" I asked. I had to know. I didn't intend on asking after just recently meeting them but the opportunity arose.
"Yes. How do you know him?" Edward asked looking slightly confused. Not wanting to throw out my whole personal life I went with an alternate route that wasn't entirely a lie.
"When I was younger I was a regular in the ER and Dr. Cullen was there most of time." I said.
"So you are clumsy?" Emmett said.
"Yes, and that is how I came to meet Edward actually. I ran into him on my way out yesterday." Emmett laughed and I couldn't help but join in. Dinner was enjoyable. They tried to include me in conversations as much as possible but seeing as how I only just met the three of them it was hard to carry on a long conversation.
"Bella, want to help make dessert?" Kylie asked enthusiastically.
"Sure, what are we making?"
"Chocolate chip cookies or brownies. We haven't decided." She said. I smiled.
"Brownies are my favorite." Emmett said swooping her up and hugging his daughter close.
"How about you, Kylie and Edward make the brownies while Emmett and I clean up and do the dishes." Rosalie suggested.
"Rose, you don't have to clean. I can clean up after you leave." Edward replied.
"No, we will clean and you three youngsters focus on the dessert." Rose said patting his shoulder. Edward and I laughed. Emmett put Kaylie down and she took mine and Edward's hand pulling us into the small kitchen area. She handed me the box.
"What do we need?" She asked.
"Eggs, water and oil." I said. Edward got all three ingredients out. I turned the oven on and we began mixing the batter. Just as I put them in the oven Rosalie and Emmett finished the dishes.
"Kaylie, after you have a brownie we have to leave. You have school tomorrow." Rosalie said. Kaylie nodded and went back to playing a game of go-fish with Edward.
"Uncle Eddie! You cheated" She exclaimed. He laughed.
"I did not. I won fare and square." Kaylie crossed her arms and pouted. I stifled a laugh. Somehow I felt like I had known Rosalie, Emmett and Edward longer than a day. Not everyone would invite a stranger over for dinner. I smiled at the thought. The timer on the oven went off. Kaylie shot up, forgetting about losing the card game.
"They are done!" She said clapping her hands. Carefully I took them out and turned off the oven. Five minutes later the five of us were enjoying an oven fresh brownie with a glass of ice cold milk. After I finished mine I decided to get going.
"Thank you all so much for dinner and dessert but I have to get going." I said standing up and placing my cup in the sink.
"Bye Miss Bella." Kaylie said wrapping her small arms around me.
"Bye Kaylie. You did a wonderful job on the brownies" I replied. She giggled and smiled.
"Bye Bella." Emmett and Rosalie said.
"Bye Emmett, bye Rosalie. It was nice meeting you both." I said.
"I'll walk you out." Edward said standing up as well.
"Thank you for coming." Edward said.
"Thanks for inviting me."
"I hope this wasn't weird seeing as how we just met yesterday." Edward said nervously. I shook my head.
"I had a great time. And to be honest it felt like I had known you all much longer." I admitted. He smiled.
"Well I hope to get to know you more. Goodnight Bella."
"Night Edward." I smiled and waved and walked inside my apartment. I packed a bag for the weekend and got all my things together for the trip to Forks tomorrow. I was truly excited to see my parents. I had missed them so much.
Please review and let me know what you think! :)
