Chapter Two

Things I own: This plot, peeps in the shape of a heart, Ray Ban Wayfarers for all intents and purposes my Explorer dubbed "Betty White" and an empty can of Arizona half and half.

Things I don't own: yeah well that'd be Twilight, the characters and anything else that might be associated with it.

My thanks etc. will be at the bottom if you so choose to read...

Why me? Why here? Why now?

"You two know each other?"
Bella's eyes didn't leave Edward as she nodded a yes at her sister's question. They knew each other very well.
"I-uh, yeah."

Bella's voice shook in the most annoying of ways, betraying all the different emotions and most importantly the fear that were coursing through her. She wasn't sure what to say, what to do or how to act. All Bella could focus on were the green depths of Edward's eyes.

He ran his fingers through his hair as he returned her gaze, his eyes flickering with different emotions.

"Bella what's going on?" Angela asked.

Bella swallowed back the lump in her throat, wringing her hands in front of her stomach as she spoke. "Edward and I, we- see we um had-"

"We dated." He hissed, interrupting her stuttering.

"Yeah."

"Oh shit." Kate said, groaning into her palms. "I didn't even think, she's the 'she' you've been bitching about?" Kate looked at Edward, then glanced at Bella. "Damn."

"I should go." Bella shrugged her coat back on, sliding her purse back up her arm.

As she darted off towards the entrance a pair of hands grabbed her upper arms, pulling her in the opposite direction. She knew the owners the instant they touched the wool of her coat. The familiar feeling of completeness that enveloped Bella whenever she was in proximity of him warmed her heart.

"Edward, I'm sorry. I'll leave and let you enjoy Thanksgiving. Don't let me ruin your holiday, I've ruined enough."

Luckily she was able to break free of his grip, the shock allowing her enough time to make it to the parking-lot.

"Bella wait! Bella, stop! Jesus fuck."

Bella was out of breath and standing next to Kate's Ford by the time she realized she had no ride out of here. She couldn't go back home to deal with her idiot mother, the restaurant was hours away and there was no way she was walking in the heels she had on.

"For one fucking second," Edward leaned forward, his back hunched as he tried to catch his breath. "Listen to me."

Against her better judgment Bella turned around to face Edward. But instead of allowing herself to get distracted in his face, she focused on his hands. They were in tight fists at his hips, his knuckles almost white at the pressure he was surely unconsciously creating.

"Am I going to get some answers or are you just going to run away again? That seems to be your route of choice. Do you ever talk things out Bella? Face your problems head on? Running doesn't get you anywhere, all you get is more lost."

His nose crinkled as his upper lip curled in disgust, his furrowed brow completed his angry expression. "I don't know what I did to fuck everything up, but apparently it was my fault. That's fine Bella, but to get back to my apartment and have it be empty. After you promised to be there. Fuck that hurt.

"Then there you are, curled up on the floor of your bedroom, surrounded by all your shit and the spitfire I fell in love with came out. I don't know where your anger came from, but I don't deserve that."

"That's why I left!" Bella protested. "I wasn't sure why I was like that either. I just felt so, broken."

Edward nodded as he started pacing, mumbling things Bella couldn't make out under his breath. "You didn't even give me the chance to help you."

Wait a second. Bella's thoughts rewound to what he said just now.

"The spitfire I fell in love with came out."

In love with.

Mother fucker...

"You love me?" Bella's lower lip trembled and her eyes watered as she uttered the words, hoping her mind wasn't playing games on her.

Edward took two long strides up to her, forcing her chin up with his finger. His eyes scanned over her face, his expression hard as stone.

"I loved you Bella. But you're not the only one suffering from your mistakes." He stepped back and shoved his hands into his coat pockets. "I won't allow myself that pain again. One thing I've learned with you is that there are no real certainties in your life. At least you don't allow any.

"Sooner or later you need to take responsibilities for what you've done. I just hope you survive the repercussions."

Edward nodded his head once before walking away, not even giving Bella a chance to defend her side, state her case.

But what would she say? That she was emotionally unstable? That she was the clear cut definition of "damaged goods"?

Every part of her hurt, every square inch of skin, every molecule of emotion was burning.

I loved you Bella.

Edward loved her and she ran away before he could make that declaration.

"Bella!"

Her head perked up at her sister's frantic voice and for a second she allowed herself to be swept up into her familiar embrace, to receive this tiny amount of comfort.

"What happened? Where's Edward?"

Bella cringed at the mention of his name. "He left." She whispered, hoping the subject would be dropped.

"He left? What do you mean he left!" Kate exclaimed.

"He just did."

"I'm going to kill him I swear to god." Kate muttered as she viciously punched numbers into her cell.

"What's going on Bells?"

Bella shook her head and broke free of her sister's hug. "I don't want to talk about it Ange. Please, just take me home so I can leave." A flurry of mental notes flooded Bella's thoughts. "I have to plan this weeks menu and order more food. I need to get back to the restaurant."

Angela looked at her speculatively. "So just like that you're going to wipe your tears away and go back to your restaurant? It's obvious you're important to each other."

Bella snagged a tissue from her purse, dabbing at her eyes. "We were Ange. At least in his eyes." She smoothed back her hair and straightened her posture as Kate approached them. "I'm not talking about this."

"I'm so sorry Bella, if I had only realized sooner..."

Bella shook off the apologies. "Believe me, it's not your fault. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to get to know you better. Hopefully we'll have more time?"

"Are you leaving?"

Bella nodded at Kate. "I have things to take care of, I wasn't planning on staying long anyway."

"Bella please don't leave." Angela pleaded as she held onto Kate's hand tightly. "I want to catch up, we haven't talked in so long."

Bella's expression turned cold. "It's not my fault we haven't been talking my dear sister.

Without allowing another word to be said, Bella slid into the back of Kate's car and closed her eyes, shutting everyone out the entire car ride back.

"We're coming down this weekend Bella. I'm not done talking to you."

Bella just nodded her head noncommittally as she tossed her things into the passenger seat of her Explorer. The SUV was huge and intimidating and had enough room in the back to transport anything Bella's heart desired.

She didn't hug her sister or her sister's girlfriend goodbye, nor did she go inside and share some awkward parting words with her mother. Instead Bella climbed into her Explorer and allowed her thoughts to go off in their own directions as she drove herself home.

Bella knew, the instant she stepped into her apartment, she wouldn't be weak heartbroken Bella. That mask would be locked up for another day. No, once she arrived home, she would be the confident restaurateur that was slowly taking over Seattle.

*holds up arms* Okay, okay you dragged it out of me! I'll continue. Man, I sure as hell did not expect this much of a response for this little ditty. Seriously, you guys made me tear up a little. *sigh*

Like honestly, as I was working on this part, the tab I had open of my email kept getting messages of favorites, alerts, reviews oh my! I love you all so so so much. I don't think you can understand how important you interest is to me..

I don't live in WA, nor do I live even remotely close. The only kitchen/restaurant experience I had was when I worked at a day camp that had company parties and that was a summer job I hope to forget ASAP.

I'm usually in bed about two hours ago, but wanted to crank out this chapter for everyone who reviewed! (And I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to reply to reviews, FFn didn't seem to update them as fast as my email received notification of them... I'll try to do better next time!)

Hopefully I lived up to the expectations I inevitably set...

I don't really have an updating plan because I really can't make those kinds of promises. I write when I can and update when I can. My goal is to make each chapter in Chance Encounters 4 pages minimum (in a word document) to placate you all enough…

Reviews are better than locking up masks.