"Jessica, I think I'm going to need a place to stay for a couple of days."
She looked at me with her eyes bugging out of her skull. I had told her that my relationship with my husband wasn't great, but I didn't go into details and now I think it was time for it.
"Of course you can stay here. I'll call Mike and tell him to bring home dinner and wine. What happened?"
"Well it's a long story and you and Mike are big part of it." With that I began telling her everything. Starting at just before I started going to the gym. At certain points in my story she would get confused or upset but I just kept on going. By the end of the story she was half smiling and sympathetic.
"Jessica, I just told you that my marriage is over and you're smiling?"
"Don't get mad, but I'm a little flattered."
Huh?
"Um… you're flattered because…I'm going to get divorced?"
"No silly. I'm flattered because while Mike is good looking, he's no model, and Jake thinks that someone as beautiful as you would go after my husband."
"Oh my god Jessica shut up. I'm not beautiful and I would never cheat on my husband, especially with Mike. No offense but that would never happen and it has nothing to do with his looks."
Jessica wore the biggest smile as she called Mike at work and told him about me staying there. She always seemed to know what to say to make me smile. She was the one would could find some sort of humor in the darkest of places.
After Mike got home with Chinese and wine. We ate and drink every bit of alcohol that was in that house. By the end of the night I was drunk enough to not feel so bad. I went to the guest bedroom for the night and couldn't go to sleep at all.
I thought about what I would tomorrow. I knew that I was not going back to Jake, but I couldn't stay here. I had enough money in a separate account that would keep me until I could find a job. But I knew that I didn't want to stay here in Washington. While I loved it here and called it my home, I couldn't stand to be this close to Jacob if we were really getting divorced. So I dug my phone out of my purse and called my friend Alice.
"Hello?"
"Uh hello? Is this Alice Brandon?" Wow I'm drunker that I thought. I hope I have the right number.
"Yes it is. Who is this and why would you call me at such a late hour?"
"Oh thank god. Alice it's me Bella…"
"BELLA? Oh my god Bella Swan why are you calling now? You should have called a long time ago. I can't believe you waited this long to call me. How are you? You better be planning on coming out here to visit me. I haven't seen you in three years and I haven't talk to you in a month. You better have a good explanation."
I forgot how excited she can be.
"Alice, first of calm down. I'm drunk and hey you know that is not my last name anymore I didn't understand half of what you said…"
"Why are you drinking? Is something going on? You never call me enough. You know what? I come out there are you busy next week?"
"Alice Brandon shut up and let me talk you over excited short person. So I just left my husband, Jake. You remember him don't you? And I miss you terribly. I was calling to ask if you wouldn't mind a houseguest for a week or so? I need to get away from Forks for a little while. I honestly don't think I can live here anymore. So I need an escape."
"Bella, What happened? Of course you can stay here. You can move here for all I care. I miss having you around. We used to have so much fun together. But you are drunk so how about you call me again in the morning and we hash out a plan?"
"Okay. Alice?"
"Yeah?"
"You really are the best friend I have ever had, and that's not the alcohol talking."
"I know, goodnight."
"Goodnight"
After snapped my phone closed I went back to the bed and tried to find a way to tell Mike and Jessica I was leaving for a while. I thought I would take the next flight out of here to Chicago and stay with Alice. I just don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, and I sure as don't want to see Jake again. I, however, do need shoes.
~*~
"Good morning guys!" I couldn't believe after a night of drinking I could be so excited.
"Good morning Bella." Mike and Jessica said in unison sounding half dead and severely hung over.
"Why are you so happy this morning, Bella? You drank more us last night." Mike said while Jessica sat down at the table and rested her forehead on it.
"Well I am a bit hung over, but I'm excited because I'm taking a trip. I really appreciate the both of you letting me stay here last night, but I can't stay here forever and I'm not going back to Jake, so I'm going to visit a friend of mine in Chicago."
"What? Seriously? Why?" Jessica's head popped up looking like she was about to cry.
"Because. I have an appointment at one to go visit a lawyer about a divorce. In just a little bit I'm going back over to my house to get some things, then I want to stay away from Jacob Black."
"Oh uh how long are you going to be gone for?"
"I don't know, but I'll call you know keep in touch and what not. I don't know when I'm leaving yet so would you mind if a stayed another night or two?"
"No of course not Bella. Do what you got to do. We'll miss you though." Mike said. Looking a little upset.
After we finished our coffee Jessica and I took Mike's truck over to my house. There were no cars in the driveway so we made our way in. We quiet as we worked to put all my clothes, shoes, and toiletries in garbage bags. I don't think we said more than three words and within and hour and a half Mike's truck was full and I had another hour before my appointment with the lawyer. Once we got back to Jessica's house I had just enough time to take a shower and leave to go to the lawyer's office.
Once at the lawyer's office it was short sweet and to the point. I told the lawyer I wanted the divorce to be final as quickly as possible and that was all that mattered. I told him I was planning on going out of town for a while and gave him my cell and Alice's address if he needed to get in touch with me. On my way out of the office my phone rang,
"Hello?"
"Hey Bella it's me Alice. Your not drunk today right?"
"No not currently. I'm leaving the lawyers office. When I get back to my friends house I'm going to check out plane tickets online and I'll let you know when my flight lands."
"So you're serious about this? I'd love to have you here, but you've been married for a couple of years now. Is this what you really want? You know there is no going back to him once your divorce is final. At least it won't make sense if you do."
"Yes I'm sure. To tell you the truth none of my family has liked him, you warned me against him and we've been dealing with the same issues since before we got married. I don't even know why I agreed to marry him, let alone stay with him for so long."
"Okay. Well then call me when you know you are going to be here and I'll pick you up at the airport. Once you get here you do realize that we are going to be drunk for a day or three, right?"
"That's what I'm counting on. Find me some eye candy to look at. I won't do anything until my divorce is final, but I sure as hell could use a change of scenery."
"Oh I have the perfect guy in mind. He's quite different than Jacob, but he's a looker. I promise you won't be disappointed in his looks."
"Good. I'll call you later"
With that I hung up and was pulling into the drive at Mike and Jessica's. Jessica the lifesaver that she is, found a storage unit and put my stuff there while I was with the lawyer. I sat down at the computer and found a flight that took off later that night. I told everyone and packed a suitcase and called Alice on the way to the airport. I left my car at Mike and Jessica's. They thought it would be best if they kept in their garage so that no one especially Jacob would see it. With a few more tears and couple hugs I said goodbye to Mike and Jessica and boarded my flight.
