Chapter 2: Leave me Alone!

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*****

Edward climbed into the passenger seat. "So you got an Audi after all?"

"Edward, what do you want?" I couldn't even start the car; my hands were shaking too much.

He reached over and picked up my hand, he pulled my wrist in front of his nose and inhaled deeply. "You would not believe how much I missed that."

I pulled my hand back off him and folded both my hands on my lap. I dropped my head to look at them and took a deep breath.

"Bella?" He put his finger on my chin and gently guided my face in his direction. "What is it, love."

"No," I said.

"What do you mean, no?"

I glared at him. "I mean, no, you can't just waltz in here after 7 years and pretend that everything is okay. Everything is not okay."

His face fell. "I'm sorry."

"You can't help how you felt, Edward. I'm glad you told me the truth in the end. But I can't just pretend that we are friends again, you hurt me too much for that."

He sat, deep in thought, his eyebrows furrowed together and pain written on his features.

I stared at him, I could see his jaw tensing. Even after all this time I could tell he was thirsty. How on earth could I still be so obsessed with him?

"Well, if that's all?" I snapped at him and pointed at the door.

He nodded and opened the car door. I could have sworn I heard him whisper, "I'm sorry," just before pushing the door shut. As soon as I heard the click I started the engine and drove off, revving a little too hard. My head was spinning and my heart racing. How could he affect me so much after so many years? Especially when he had made it very clear how he felt about me. But goddamn him for traipsing back into my life after so long. Who did he think he was?

*****

My second day of school was better, and worse. Worse because everywhere I went, Edward was waiting. He never approached me though. Just stood patiently, waiting for me to talk to him. I steadfastly ignored him. Better because I wasn't late. I was waiting in the classroom as the students filtered in today and I got a pleasant surprise while waiting for the students in my first class. The door opened and another familiar face bounded through the door.

"Alice!" I called, genuinely happy to see her. In many ways I had missed her most of all. She had been my best friend before Jacob. I knew that relationship would be different now but it didn't make me any less pleased to see her.

"Hi, Bella," she said. I was about to correct her when she laughed, "Sorry, Ms Swan."

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be heading to class?"

"I'm in class," she replied.

I furrowed my brow at her in confusion.

"Well, yesterday I discovered a horrible error had occurred with my schedule so I spoke with Mrs Davis in the office to have it rearranged a little." She smiled innocently at me.

"What was the error?"

"I wasn't in your class."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Same old Alice I see?"

She nodded. "You know it's strange, no matter how much older I get – I never seem to change." She laughed at own her joke and turned to head to her seat.

"Alice?"

She turned back to me. "Yes, Miss." I hadn't missed the slightly playful way all the Cullens said miss.

"Edward said something yesterday… about you two not talking much."

Alice looked downcast, the expression didn't suit her face or maybe it was just that I had never seen her face adorned with true sadness – only the play face she used to make everyone feel guilty. "He couldn't forgive himself for leaving you… and neither could I."

"Why didn't you say goodbye?"

"He convinced me it was for the best."

"But Alice, you could have said goodbye."

"I know. And for that I'll always be sorry."

I nodded, the other students were arriving and I couldn't risk losing my grip on sanity at the moment.

Edward was the last to enter the classroom. He had obviously heard Alice's need to talk to me. I was glad he gave us the time uninterrupted. I was not glad when he stayed back at the end of class remaining in his seat. I ignored him as I set up the board for the senior's lesson. Finally, I heard the door shut and sighed in relief when I turned and he was gone.

By the end of the day I was so drained from having to ignore Edward that I was ready to crawl home to a microwave dinner and an early night in bed. However, the figure I saw leaning against my car seemed to have other plans.

As soon as I was close enough that she knew I would hear Alice said, "I'm taking you for coffee."

"Alice, I just really want to get home."

"Trust me. There's a nice little coffee shop around the corner from here."

"How do you know where a coffee shop is?"

She looked sheepishly at me. "Because it is in the mall – you know that was the first place I found."

I looked at her again. "Yep, still the same old Alice."

She just beamed as she saw the future spin with my acceptance.

I opened my door and she was already waiting for me in the car. As we drove to the mall she didn't speak other than to give me directions. I parked the car and followed her as she bounced into the coffee shop. By the time I got to the counter she had already ordered for me and was dragged me to a booth in the back of the shop.

"Okay." She smiled. "We are away from the school now. Just two friends, catching up. Can I call you Bella?"

I nodded. "Just remember to call me Ms Swan while we are around other students. I don't want them thinking I give you any special treatment."

"Okay. Now shoot."

"What?"

"C'mon, I know you have questions for me. So shoot."

I shook my head, astounded, then the questions spilled from my lips. "Why are you here? Did you know I'd be here? Is that why you came?"

Alice laughed and raised her hand to stop me. "One at a time."

"Like you didn't know what I was going to ask. Like you haven't already thought about the answers."

"Still, if you ask them all at once how will you know which one I'm answering?"

"Fine, why?"

"Carlisle picked Connecticut, and Emmett wanted to be close to the ocean. So we picked Fairfield and here we are."

"And did you know?"

"Not before the decision had been made no, because I have been so careful not to look for you – it hurt too much. But after they'd picked the town I did see a vision of you walking into the school."

"So you didn't come here just because you knew I would be here?"

"No, but I didn't tell anyone that you would be here because I thought they might decide not to come. I'm sorry. I was too selfish not to see you when I knew I could."

"I understand Alice. I just… I wish he wasn't here. I've been through a very hard time lately and seeing him isn't helping much."

Alice looked confused. "What do you mean hard time?"

I decided to go with the truth. "My husband left me or I left him. I don't really know."

"Wait, you got married?"

I smiled sadly at her. "How did you miss that?"

She furrowed her brow. "I don't know. Even though I was trying not to see you some things got through, but nothing like that. Just things like your college acceptance. I didn't even see your graduation." She shook her head, trying to clear whatever thought she was having. "Talk to me, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you before but please let me be your friend again."

I sighed, I had wanted to talk to someone about this for my own sanity for so long but it was impossible to explain to any normal person what had happened. "Well, it starts when you all left."

She nodded, silently urging me to go on.

"I was hurting. I spent three months as a zombie, walking through the motions of life but not living. After Charlie all but forced me on a night out I discovered that if I did dangerous things I could hear Edward's voice. Being young and stupid I started to seek those things out. I got some motorbikes off one of the kids in town and took them to a friend in La Push, Jacob." I winced when I said his name, it still stung. Alice grabbed my hand in support. "He was the one who had fixed up my truck before Charlie bought it so I hoped he would be able to help me fix the bikes too. Well, I guess he fixed me up a little at the same time. I was never quite right but I was better, and I owed that to him. Then Laurent and Victoria came back and Jacob saved me from them."

Alice pulled her hand back and leaned forward. "What?" she hissed, "How?"

I looked around to make sure we were out of earshot. "Well, I guess this is the most important part of the story really and why I can't talk to anyone else about this - Jacob's a werewolf."

Alice leaned back, eyes wide with shock. "What? But they're so dangerous."

I felt myself becoming defensive. "Jacob never hurt me, Alice. At least…not intentionally."

"How… what happened?"

"Jacob and I became really close while he was helping me fix the bikes. He found me one day when I was about to cliff-dive. He convinced me to stop living so recklessly, and he helped me to let Edward go. The memory of Edward, if you know what I mean."

Alice seemed to get enough of her senses together to nod.

"I guess from there we just fell in love, got married and were preparing for our happily ever after."

"So what happened?"

"Well, this is where things get…weird."

She tapped her forehead. "I'm good with weird."

"Okay, so there are legends about the wolves, right. One of them is the way in which they find their match – their soul-mate."

"And that is?"

"They imprint. Like a baby chicken, you know? The first time they lay eyes on their imprint their lives change. They want nothing more than to make that person happy and be whatever that person needs."

"I assume you weren't Jacob's imprint."

I shook my head as a tear slid down my cheek. "No. He loved me, I know that without a doubt, but I wasn't his imprint."

Alice seemed to understand. "Did he meet her?"

I nodded, too far gone to talk. Alice slid out from her seat opposite me and was next to me in one fluid motion. She wrapped her arms around me and I sobbed into her shoulder.

"It's alright, Bella. It'll be alright."

I collected myself enough. "The divorce was only finalised last week. He's gone back to La Push to wait for her."

Alice gently pushed me away from her. "What do you mean wait?"

"Well, she's still only little, about five now I think. That's why it took so long for us to realise our relationship was over. We really tried to make it work – but how can you fight destiny. It hurt him too much to be away from her and it hurt me too much to know that whatever we did he would end up back with her. That's why I refused to have kids, even though we both wanted them. How could I, knowing that they would end up in a broken home."

Alice growled protectively in my ear. "Bella, I will make it my personal duty to see that no one else hurts you this way."

I laughed or maybe choked, it felt like the same thing at the moment. "It only hurt so much because I tried to fool myself that we could make it work. I think if I had walked away as soon as I knew, we might still be friends. Do you know the funny thing though?"

She rubbed my back. "What's the funny thing, Bella?"

"It made me realise why Edward left and appreciate him leaving too. I mean, now I know how hard it is to pretend you feel something when you know it has changed I'm glad he stopped playing pretend when he did."

She made a funny noise and I looked at her. She looked sad. "You shouldn't assume so much. Sometimes things are not as they appear."

I shrugged. "Regardless, things are the way they are." I didn't like the turn this conversation had taken. "Look, thanks for the coffee but I've gotta go. Did you need a lift anywhere?"

"No, I'll be fine. I'll go hunting before I head home anyway."

"Okay, Alice. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Be safe, Bella." I froze at the reminder – Edward had said that to me once.

*****

The next morning I didn't even have to wait until I got into the classroom to have the Cullens crash into my world yet again. I had just pulled into a car space and was trying to get everything out of my car when I tripped over a loose rock and nearly fell. Cold white arms were there to stop me from colliding with the bitumen and I found myself overwhelmed with the scent of Edward. It took me back to being 17 again. I quickly gathered myself up and shook him off. I started to stalk towards the school when he grabbed my arm. "Wait, Bella."

I wheeled around to look at him. "I have warned you about that. You will show me respect while we are on school grounds."

"No, Bella. This has nothing to do with school or you being a teacher. Alice came home last night with lots of things on her mind after your discussion. I need to know if it is true."

I sighed. "If what's true?"

"You married a werewolf." He hissed under his breath.

"I don't see how it is any of your business."

"You promised me you wouldn't do anything reckless."

"And you promised me it would be like you never existed. Well, look – here you are existing." I turned and walked away from him. I couldn't get into this type of discussion here. I ducked my head and headed for the office.

He was on my heels. "Bella. I need to talk to you about something."

I turned on him again. "I will remind you this is my workplace. I hope to be a teacher for a long time, long after you and your family have cleared off again. Please leave me alone." The last part came out more broken and hurt than I had meant it to.

Edward looked like his arms were aching to reach out for me but I didn't give him a chance. I wheeled and walked straight into the office.

"What's up, Bella?" June asked from behind her desk.

"Just a past that I thought was gone."

"What do you mean?"

"You'd never believe me."

"Is it something to do with your ex?"

How true that was, even if she meant Jacob not Edward. "Yeah, just a disturbing conversation, that's all. I want to get it out of my head." I smiled at her.

"Okay," - she hesitated - "Look, I know you're new in town and don't really know anyone." I almost heard her add 'except the Cullens' in her mind. "If you ever need to talk, I'm here for you."

"Thanks," I answered as warmly as I could manage.

I looked out the office door. Edward wasn't in sight, but that didn't mean he couldn't sneak up on me once I left the safety of the office. I couldn't wait any longer though or I would be late. I studied the ground in front of me carefully as I walked to the classroom. I was surprised that I had managed to make my way to the classroom without meeting him again. He wasn't in class either. In fact, I didn't see him the rest of the day. It played on my mind, I didn't want to send him away from his family with my words. I just wish he could leave me alone with my pain. Maybe I would eventually be able to be friends with him again.

When I arrived at my car Alice was waiting for me again.

"I'm not going for coffee today, Alice," I joked to her.

She shook her head solemnly. "I just wanted to say sorry. I didn't mean to think about you last night, I just couldn't help worrying."

I sighed. "Well, it would have come out eventually. Where was he today anyway? Not that I'm complaining, but I don't want to cause a rift in your family."

"First, any rift is his doing – not yours. And I also came to warn you, he won't be in school the next few days but you'll have a visitor at home soon."

I sighed. "Can't you tell him not to?"

"You were the one who told him you didn't want to discuss it on school grounds and he knows you won't go anywhere with him willingly. Besides, I can't talk to him."

"Why not?"

"He's not in Fairfield anymore."

"What?"

"He'll explain when he gets back no doubt."

Great this was just what I needed. "Thanks for the warning, Alice. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Actually, Bella."

I glared at her. "What, Alice?"

She smiled. "I was just wondering if you wanted to drop by the house and see everyone, while the coast is clear, so to speak."

"Actually, that sounds good." I climbed in the car. Alice was already in the passenger seat. I smiled at her, "Let's go."