AN: Hi, and welcome to my first fanfic in...well, in so long that it might as well be my first one ever. I own nothing- I only wish!-, all characters belong to the beautiful and talented Stephenie Meyer. Many thanks to Jenn for being such a fantastic beta reader--you're a doll.
And now, onto the story.
Edit--I have re-added in the chunk at the end that mysteriously disappeared when I uploaded this chapter. Sorry about that!
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I groaned, standing up from where I sat on the couch in Edward's bedroom, slamming my book shut—I wasn't retaining anything, anyway--and moving to stand and stare out the window at the ever-present downpour. Time was moving way too slowly this weekend. Edward and his family were gone on a hunting trip, and it felt like they'd been gone for weeks instead of just a few days. Edward had left me a key-just in case, he'd said. I'd told him he was being silly at the time, that of course I'd be fine, but as time passed I found myself glad that he'd left the key. I felt a little bit less alone, even though I couldn't get in touch with my best friend.
It had been four days since I'd talked to Jake. Not by choice, mind you-I just couldn't seem to connect with him. The phone was almost never answered; and when it was, it was Billy with yet another lame excuse. More often than not, the phone rang ten or twelve times and then I gave in and hung up, knowing that they weren't going to answer. I just couldn't figure out why Jake was avoiding me now. It wasn't like the last time, when he was first a werewolf, ordered not to tell me, and avoiding me for what he thought was my own safety. We had no secrets now. It couldn't be my upcoming wedding to Edward-I hadn't discussed that with him since I'd told him my choice. He'd said we would stay friends, and I didn't want to jeopardize that by discussing an extremely taboo topic (in his mind) with him. And yet, I hadn't seen him, or even heard from him, in what was starting to feel like forever. I missed my best friend.
"Bella?" A familiar, musical voice jolted me out of my musings.
"Edward! You're home." I said, pushing myself away from the windowsill to turn and wrap my arms around him tightly. "In fact, you're early! I missed you. How was your hunting trip?" I asked as I pressed my lips to his.
He laughed as he kissed me in return. "You know, love, it is difficult for me to answer you when you follow up your questions like that. The trip was fine. I came back early because I didn't need to be gone anymore, and there was no way I was staying away from you if I didn't have to."
I looked into his eyes and saw that they were a clear, light butterscotch colour. "I'm so glad you're home." I said, clinging to his marble-hard chest by entwining my fingers in his shirt. He wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his cheek on my head.
"I'm glad I'm home too. You looked very unhappy when I came in here. Has something happened?"
"Well," I said, pausing, "It's more that…nothing's happened. In days." Edward looked at me blankly. "It's Jacob, Edward," I said, watching his expression carefully. He was more accepting of my best friend now, particularly since Jake had agreed to stop pursuing me, and as our wedding day drew closer and I made it clear that I wasn't going anywhere, but I still wasn't quite sure how he'd react to this. "I haven't been able to get ahold of him, and Billy hasn't gotten any more creative since the last time this happened, which means Jacob's avoiding me. I don't know why." I noticed Edward's facial expression change slightly, then return to its' neutral expression. I looked at him suspiciously. "What's that about?" I asked.
"Well…" Edward said.
"Edward Anthony Cullen. What have you done?" I asked, feeling anger growing in my chest.
"Only what I would have wanted done for me, if it were the other way around." Edward said, calmly.
"What did you do?" I asked, furiously, my voice low. "Edward, if you have done something to make me lose Jake earlier than I have to-"
"Well, first of all, you don't have to, period. I'd be quite alright if the circumstances in which you would have to lose his friendship never came to pass, quite frankly." Edward jumped in.
"However, it will come to pass, and that's not the point." I said. "So you'd better have a really good excuse for this."
"I didn't do anything, Bella!" Edward said. "I sent him an invitation to the wedding. That's it."
I stared at him in shock.
"I'm sorry; I must have heard you wrong." I said, slowly. "Could you repeat that, please?"
"I invited him to the wedding." Edward said.
My eyes welled up with instant tears. Whether they were tears of anger, sadness, or both; I wasn't sure.
"I have to go for a walk," I said. "I'll be home later." I said, turning and walking away from the man that I had pledged to spend eternity with.
