Full Summary: Bella is a famous and successful actress living in Hollywood when she sees her childhood friend Edward for the first time in 10 years. There is an immediate attraction but will Bella's past allow them to be together, or will it literally drive them apart? AH, slightly OOC, canon pairing.
*My first fanfic, please please please comment so I know if I should continue writing.
xo
"Bella!"
"Hey Bella!"
"Look over here!"
"Tell us how you're feeling Bella!"
I tried my best to compose myself and fight the urge to yell back at the paparazzi that were just waiting for me to crack. There were at least twenty of them between the few feet I was from the restaurant door to my car. I had my large, dark sunglasses on and was surrounded by my two bodyguards, so at least they wouldn't be able to get any good shots. Emmett was a pretty big guy, covering most of their view from me, and Jasper was smaller but awfully intimidating for his size. I had gotten used to the paparazzi over the years, but now was just not the time.
I usually don't like having two bodyguards following my every move, but I was hot in the media these days and didn't want to run into any more problems. Emmett has been my bodyguard and one of my best friends since I entered this crazy career. He called Jasper last week when the press heard about my break-up with Jacob Black. We weren't so much worried about Jake coming back to taunt me but more about the paparazzi and their need to be involved in the romantic life of everyone in Hollywood.
The jerk got his revenge by not only cheating on me, but after I dumped his sorry ass, he decided to shout it from the rooftops for all of the world to know. I was big on privacy, so this only pissed me off more, which I'm sure was his intention.
And that brings me to my current situation. I just finished having lunch with my long-time childhood friend and stylist Alice when I walked out into the pool of privacy invading photographers and reporters. I had managed to stay out of the public eye for longer than I expected, so this was inevitable. I had a rep make a few announcements earlier in the week just so Jacob's lies could be shut down. He conveniently forgot to mention that he cheated on me, but this was all straightened out.
"Come on Bells, get in the car." Emmett opened the door for me and made sure I was in safely before he and Jasper got into their car that was parked behind mine. No, I didn't have a driver, I was perfectly fine on my own, but they insisted on driving behind me until I got home.
Ten minutes later I pulled into the driveway of my house in Beverly Hills. Yes, how typical. Personally, I would much prefer to live back in my secluded hometown Forks, but California is where I do most of my filming. Being a Hollywood actress is not all that it's cracked up to be.
The paparazzi wouldn't dare follow me into the gates of my house, especially with Emmett's black Cadillac SUV following closely behind.
"You guys can go, thank you for everything today." I told Jasper and Emmett with a smile, "I'm just going to stay in for the night."
"You sure Bella?" Emmett asked, "They're crazy out there today."
"No, seriously, it's not like they can get in, and I'm not going anywhere."
"Alright, but if you need anything, I want you to call Jasper right away."
"Where are you going tonight Em?" I asked him, "Hot date with Rose?"
Emmett blushed, not something he usually does. Yes, it was for sure Rosalie.
I laughed, "Just go Emmett, and yes, I promise to call you if I need anything Jasper."
The boys both said their goodbyes as I showed them out at the front door. Emmett got into his car and I opened the garage for Jasper to pick up his that he left here this morning.
I was finally left with some peace and quiet and complete solitude.
I walked up to my room to put on a bathing suit and then to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of wine. I took it outside and sat in the hot tub just reviewing my events of the day.
I was glad that I had time to see Alice today as friends and not just on business as it usually is these past few months. Every time I saw her we were either trying on dresses or rushing off to a premiere. I just finished filming my last movie for the time being, and the premiere isn't for a few weeks so we've finally had some time to relax. I hadn't seen her since the big break-up with Jake and it was good to finally talk to someone. I had phoned my mom Renee immediately after our fight because I knew she would be offended if she found out from her latest copy of In Touch magazine instead of me, but girl talk with a friend is way different. I told Alice the whole story from start to finish, and I finally felt a bit better about it. Of course the night it happened I came home and cried like a baby, but after telling Alice, I felt like I can start to move on now.
*FLASHBACK*
"What is this?" I ask Jacob calmly, sitting at his kitchen table.
About five minutes ago, I used the key he gave me to let myself in, holding a copy of Us Weekly, reading it over repeatedly, refusing to believe that what it was telling me was true.
"Bells, you know those things are never true Baby." He replies, looking down at the cover.
"BELLA SWAN'S JACOB BLACK CAUGHT WITH LEAH CLEARWATER." I read aloud. "Not true?" I ask him, getting more emotional now. "Why don't we flip to page six?"
Jacob leans forward and snatches the magazine from my hands.
"How could you do this to me?" I barely whisper, tears are building up in my eyes now, threatening to spill over.
"Bella look at me, I can explain." Jacob reaches for my waist to pull me closer but I dodge him and push him away.
"Don't touch me." I tell him nonchalantly, trying my best to control the burning rage inside me. "I don't want an explanation Jake. Nothing you say will make this better."
"I love you Bella, you know that. Not Leah, I love you." He pleads, but I have no reason to believe him.
"How come this is how I found out?" I ask, motioning to the magazine. "You didn't even have the decency to tell me yourself."
"You weren't -" He tried to speak but I cut him off.
"Of course I wasn't supposed to find out. You weren't worried about that when you were kissing her were you? You weren't even thinking about your girlfriend. Do you know what this does to me? And not just me, look at what people will think. I trusted you Jake, I thought we had something, but all you are is a liar." I finished my rant, my tears now streaming steadily down my face. I grabbed my coat and headed for the door.
"This is so like you Bella, you won't even give me a chance to explain myself. I do one thing wrong and I'm a liar. At least I'm not a coward." He shouts back at me.
"Don't even act for one second that I did anything wrong here." I snapped and yelled at him. "I don't want to see you ever again. Take your damn house key and go give it to Leah." I continued to scream, throwing the key he gave me to the ground. "I gave you all my love for two years and this is how you repay me?"
I heard him start to reply, but I was already slamming the door and running down the steps to my car.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
I've tried my best not to look at the magazines or the internet because truthfully, I really don't care what the public has to say or what Jacob has been doing since that night. I do however, get the occasional glance as I'm grocery shopping, and can't help but smile when Jake's picture is slapped on the front page of a magazine with an insult written across the bottom. I am not one to wish for misfortune upon anyone, but if anyone deserves the bad publicity, it's him. I've learned my lesson about dating people like Jacob Black, and I will never go there again.
I was brought back to reality when I heard my phone ring. I listened to the first few seconds of the chorus of "Better than Revenge" before answering. Taylor Swift is the one celebrity I've been dying to meet and I thought this particular song fit the situation quite well. I looked at the call display before answering and saw it read "Charlie Swan".
"Hey daddy!" I answered cheerfully, for his benefit.
"Hi kiddo, how are you holding up?"
"I'm fine dad, I thought I told you not to worry about me."
"Yeah, but I'm your father, it's my job. It's taking all I have in me to keep from flying down there and finding that Black boy to have a word with him."
"Dad!" I groaned, "You need to get over it, I have. I've learned how to take care of myself down here, you need to stop worrying."
"What I need to do is see my little girl. How about you come visit me later this month?"
"My movie is being released in two weeks, I wish I could." I told him truthfully.
"Alright honey, maybe your old man will come down there when you're not so busy."
I smiled at the thought, "I'd love that."
"Okay, it looks like we've got a trip to plan. I'm glad you haven't forgotten about me. I better be mentioned in your first Oscar acceptance this year."
"There won't be one, but okay." I laughed.
"Talk to you later Bells."
"Bye dad, take care."
I hung up the phone and got out of the hot tub. It would be a lonely night but I was okay with that now. I didn't need some clingy boyfriend to be with me 24/7 anyway, I was enjoying my freedom. I went upstairs to quickly shower before putting on my pajamas and crawling into bed. I just turned on the television when I heard my phone vibrating on my nightstand. Of course it was too far to reach so I was forced to get up from my comfortable position and read my awaiting text message.
I know I just saw you at lunch, but I'm bored tonight. Wanna do dinner? - A
Ah, Alice. Before replying I had an inner debate with myself. Stay home in bed, or go out and have fun with a friend. The more fun part of me won.
Yeah, sounds great. When? Where? - B
After discussing details I went to put on a more appropriate outfit for going out in public. It was important to me to maintain my image and I didn't want photos to be taken of me in my previous bedtime attire. We had planned to meet in half an hour at a restaurant in the city, but my phone suddenly buzzed, making me think that the plans were about to change. Alice is constantly changing her mind...
Can you bring Jasper? - A
I was kind of hoping to escape without my bodyguards tonight Al. - B
Not as a bodyguard, as a friend. Don't tell, but I felt something today at lunch. - A
Alice, he was standing across the restaurant facing the other way. You didn't even talk to him. - B
Call me crazy, but I have a feeling about him... - A
Fine, but I don't want to end up a third wheel. - B
Nothing's going to happen that quickly, but I can bring my brother. - A
Edward? I haven't seem him in a good 10 years... - B
Well, he came in to visit from college, just got in a few hours ago. - A
I doubt he wants to spend his time here hanging out with his little sister and her friends. - B
He'll do me this favor, and its not like going out for dinner with The Bella Swan is a burden on any 25 year old male. - A
Fine Al, why not. See you in 20. Xo - B
I quickly called Jasper and explained the situation to him. He was weary at first but eventually complied when I threatened to go out without his supervision. By then I only had ten minutes to get ready. He picked me up on time and we drove the short distance to the restaurant discussing Alice. I decided to leave out the details of her 'feeling' because I didn't want to freak him out. Alice was an amazing person, but she could sometimes come on a little bit too strong.
We arrived at the restaurant with a few minutes to spare and managed to get inside without the paparazzi knowing where I was. It will only be a matter of minutes before word gets out where I am and the fans and paparazzi start to arrive. I never used to mind them all, but it's in times like this I want to be alone the most. I gave the girl at the front my name, and she smiled as if to say that she knows who I am. She was only a little younger than me, probably eighteen or nineteen, and I watched her walk up to a colleague after seating us, no doubt telling her that Bella Swan was here. They were my favorite fans; not too crazy face-to-face when you meet them, but it's still nice to know that you made someone smile.
Jasper and I take our seats and begin to chat just as I see Alice walk through the front door.
"Alice," I say greeting her, "This is Jasper. Jasper," I motion towards him, "my best friend Alice".
"It's a pleasure to meet you Alice." Jasper says as he stands up to shake her hand. He surprises me by lifting up her arm and placing a delicate kiss on the back of her hand.
Once they finally are sitting across the table from me I ask, "So where's Edward Al?"
She barely looks away from Jasper's eyes when she says, "Oh, it's pouring rain so he dropped me off at the door. He'll be here in a few..."
I nod because her attention isn't on me anyway, which is exactly what I was afraid of. I'm surprised to hear it's raining because it wasn't a mere five minutes ago when Jasper and I arrived. My only hope now is that Edward will be here soon so I won't be the awkward friend sitting across the table.
It's almost as if my prayers are answered because I look up a moment later to see Edward Cullen walking through the restaurant doors, and believe me when I say, a person can change a lot in ten years.
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