Chapter 1-Jar of Hearts
*2012*
Bella's POV: Beep! Beep! BEEP! I finally roll over to slap the annoying rattling alarm clock to snooze for five more minutes of precious sleep. When 6:30 A.M. rolls around, I decide I should probably get up and get ready for class. While leaving my room, my eye catches the picture from my 18th birthday. It's been three years, I should really throw it away, but those captivating topaz eyes tell me otherwise. At the end of the skinny hallway is a small add on room that Charlie and I spent the whole summer building for my beautiful three year old daughter, Juliette. I enter her purple room and gently sit on the twin bed covered with the quilt my mom made for her. I gently shake her, "Come on sweetie, it's time to get up!" I tell her happily. When she groans and rolls over I say, "Don't make me bring Grandpa in here! I'll do it!" "No, you won't!" she says, calling my bluff. "Oh yes I will! But first here comes the tickle monster!" I start to tickle her franticly until she's out of breath and she pulls open her eyelids reviling those damn green eyes. Of course she'd have her father's eyes. She pushes herself up so her back is resting on the headboard. Her red, bronze hair has managed to tangle and rat to the top of her head. "We've got a lot of work to do!" I tease while pulling a rat free.
*Flashback 2009* "Ang, I'm never late," I tell my best friend while pacing in her room. "Bella, think about it, it's been four weeks since you guys did it and you're late. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you really could be pregnant," she says quietly so her pastor dad won't hear us. "Yes, that would make since, but that's impossible. Edward got in a car wreck a while back and the doctors told him he wouldn't be able to have kids," I agree, while lying to my best friend. There is no way I'm pregnant with a vampire child. Impossible. "But doctors don't believe in miracles," she says with a small smile. "And we won't know for sure until we get you a test. You stay here and as your best friend, it's my duty to go buy you a test. I'll be back in ten minutes," Angela says cheery to lighten the mood. "Thanks, Angie," I say, my eyes full of tears.
As soon as she leaves, I text Edward, "I love you," but he doesn't answer, he hasn't answered since I lost my virginity. I lie on her bed and try to convince myself that I'm really not pregnant, but let's be honest, I've been throwing up and been eating everything in sight. I snuggle into her multitudes of pillows and close my eyes to wait for her to return. "I'm back!" I hear Angela shout as she enters her room. "Okay Bella, I got three tests, a timer, a gallon of your favorite tea, and a pound of chocolate. You can do this," she says, pushing her glasses up her nose and tucks her straight, light brown hair behind her ear. I nod as I grab the bag and go to the bathroom blinking the tears out of my eyes the whole way there. I stop to open the tea and take a big gulp. Before I take the tests, I stop in front of the counter and look at myself in the tiny mirror. My brown eyes are puffy and red and my cheeks have been stained with dried tears. Why did I agree to this. I knew I wasn't ready. I finish half the gallon of green tea and convince myself to take the tests. After five minutes I return to her room with the three tests. Angela starts the timer and I start snacking on the chocolate. "Its gunna be okay, Bells. Either way this turns out I'm here to support you. If you are I'll love that baby to death, I'll be with you at every doctor's appointment and even when you have her. Even scarier, I'll be there when you tell Charlie," She chimes into the silence while holding my hand. But I never lift my head to meet what I'm sure is a comforting gaze. "Briiingg!" "Are you ready?" She asks. "As ready as I'll ever be," walking over to her dresser I can only hope it's negative. I've never wanted to fail a test so bad in my life. I pick the first one up, and I start bawling. Positive. I look at the rest. All positive. "This is impossible!" I shout while collapsing to the floor. Angela runs over to me and pulls me into her chest while I cry the rest of the night.
The next morning we decide to tell Charlie. "Dad," I say, trying not to start crying again. "Can we talk?" Angela grabs my hand and we walk towards him. I look down and quietly say it. Those horrifying words that I still don't believe, "I'm pregnant." I watch Charlie's turn red then blue then purple and slowly fade back to his normal pale self. "What." Charlie says, doesn't yell he actually calmly looks me in the eyes. "How did this happen?" "How do any of these happen? We went too far one night," I reply. "I always knew you guys were doing this, but I thought you were mature enough to be safe, Bella," he says his voice staring to rise. "We didn't think it was possible, Dad," I reply starting to cry. "Oh honey, it's going to be okay. Daddy's here," he says soothingly stroking my hair as he pulls me into a hug. *End flashback*
After convincing all of Juliette's gorges ringlets to stay in place, I let her pick her outfit while I get dressed and we go downstairs to join Charlie for breakfast. "There's my favorite little girl! Come give your grandpa a hug!" He sets aside the morning paper and his coffee to scoop Juliette up. "Good morning, Bells," "Morning dad, what do you want for breakfast?" I ask. "Whatever's easy," he replies. I crack six eggs in a bowl and add some cheese, spinach, a couple of green peppers and a purple onion and whip them together. After dumping the mixture into the steaming skillet, I poor Charlie and I glass of orange juice, and fill Juliette's' Sippy cup with milk. I proceed by filling the toaster with bread. "Breakfast is ready!" I holler into the living room. I serve Charlie the biggest portion and divide the rest between Juliette and me.
"What's on the agenda for today, Bells?" Charlie asks. "Well, I've got a couple of finales today, and I need to run to the grocery store after work. Is there anything special you need me to get?" "No, I don't think so. I'll call you if I think of anything," "We better get going Dad, we'll see you when you get home," I say. "Have a good day, Bella," He says as I close the door. I fasten Juliette in her car seat and I drive to the reservation and drop her off at Billy Black's house where she'll spend the day with her best friend Jacob. "Bye, bye sweetie! Have fun and be good!" I tell Juliette as she runs into the tiny house. "Thanks for watching her today, Billy," I usually just take her to Seattle University with me and she stays at the campus daycare. "Not a problem Bella, I love having her around, she makes Jacob so happy. I hate to tell you this Bella but those two are going to fall in love one day," He says with a chuckle. "Yep, I know. I'll be back to get her after my shift at work!" And with that I'm off to school.
But not without making the same pit stop I've made every day for three years. I drive my old Chevy until I reach the path that leads to the Cullen's house. I could always just drive to the house but I like to cut through "our" meadow. *Flashback 2009* "Edward" I say quietly. "I need to tell you something. I know this isn't possible, but I've taken three tests, and I'm pregnant." "No you're not!" Edward screams. "That's impossible!" "I know it is but I've taken three tests, I've been throwing up, having weird dreams. I've been eating things I don't like, Edward. I am, and this is happening," I scream back, eyes full of tears. "I'm not the father," Edward says harshly. "Yes you are. You are my first and my only," I reply devastated. He knew this. "Bella, were leaving Forks, were over. Deal with that thing by yourself. I'm not responsible for this mistake," He says, angrily. "What, how can you call our baby a mistake? This was more your idea than mine! I told you I wasn't ready, Edward!" I said, devastated. "No, I will not be responsible for this. Have a good life," "No! You are as just as responsible for this baby as I am. You are not leaving. Carlisle and Esme will not stand for this!" I yell. "Carlisle isn't aging he's raising suspicions, I'll remind him of that!" He hollers back. "I don't care! I know they've always wanted to have grandchildren, Edward! What about Rosalie? You're going to rob your sister of a chance to actually help raise a baby? You know if it was possiable for this to happen, she would have found away!" I cry back. "Oh, please, don't sit here and try to lie to me. I know how Rose feels about you. She woulnt want to be in ten mile radious of your baby," he says with a cold sting. And with that I slap him, full well knowing it won't hurt him, but I couldn't hold back. "This is your baby too, Edward!" "Goodbye Bella," and he disappeared into the woods.*End flashback*
When I see the empty, lifeless house my dreams are crushed. I don't want to see Edward, I miss the rest of the family. I regret that Juliette will never get to meet her aunts and uncles, her grandparents. They're who I miss. I swallow my pride and slowly make my journey back to the road. This abnormally sunny day catches my attention and right when I notice, overcast sets in. So I pick up my pace to avoid the rain. In the tree line next to me, there is rummaging. I pick up my pace a little more when I hear the sound come closer to me. I'm almost at a full sprint when an all so familiar vampire cuts in front of my path. "Jasper! You scared the shit out of me! What are you doing here?" I shout, my heart beating a million beats a minute. He walks towards me slowly and steadily. He brushes my loose strands of hair from my face behind my shoulder, leaving me with chills. "Bella. Welcome to the game." He purrs into my ear, sinking his teeth into my neck.