Chapter 3: Old Friends and Waiting Tables

So I've got a longer chapter for you guys tonight. I really like this chapter. Thank you for the lovely feedback. Hope you enjoy.


Bella nodded once. 'Whatever you want to know Jacob, I'll tell you' she promised him.

'I want to know why you left Edward' he said to her, cutting out all the crap and getting straight to the point. Bella raised her eyebrows in puzzlement.

'Jacob, I told you on Sunday. I told you the reasons why I left Edward.'

'You told me a brief account Bella' he declared insistently. 'I want the full extent, the details.'

She shifted away from his relentless gaze and dropped her eyes to the floor. He couldn't ask this of her, she couldn't tell him the details. They were too hard for even her to remember.

'Jake' she started.

'You promised' he reminded her

'I know, but it was so bad Jake'

'I need to know Bella. I need to know if you came back for me.'

'The further I was away from you, the more I missed you. Of course I came back for you. I thought about you every single waking day Jacob. I realised that it was you I should have chosen, you I needed, you I wanted. Edward- he wasn't everything I thought he was.' She still hadn't looked at him and thinking about Edward bought up those memories again. Hard and fast.

'We don't have to do this Bella'

'I want this Edward, I want you, I love you so much - please'

The way he looked at her made her feel like the only person on the planet and the sunshine reflected off his heavenly marble skin. He shined like diamonds.

'So beautiful Bella' he murmured in his velvety voice against the hollow of her throat. This is what heaven must feel like she thought. He kissed her – so softly on the lips and for a moment she wished that he didn't have to be so gentle with her. She wanted hot burning kisses that would leave her breathless. She wanted him to love her physically like he claimed he loved her spiritually. She needed him to love her hard. With everything he had. She kissed him harder and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, moulding herself to his stone cold body. He immediately stopped kissing her and pried her hands away.

'Bella, my love, if we are to try this than we must be careful. We must be slow and gentle. I know that you are only human but you must not let yourself be carried away by your hormones.'

A sharp reminder that she was 'only human.' Not his equal, too delicate, too fragile.

She closed her eyes trying to banish the memories before the worse ones could come but now that she had opened the memory lane floodgate, they were coming in waves.

'Edward, gentle remember?' She tried to say softly but the panic was there in her voice. She wondered if he could detect it. Edward looked into her eyes and she couldn't figure out if he was looking into them or through them. The bed felt soft and warm beneath her but his body was so cold, oh so cold. And hard. She wanted heat. He moved to her throat and inhaled deeply, he left his mark all over her –

Bella's scattered thoughts came to a halt when Jacob had stood up, silent as he moved to the window slowly.

'Jake, what are you doing?' she asked

He held his hand out to shush her and she realised that he was trying to listen out for something. Bella stayed silent and suddenly the door burst open and Jacob was there in seconds. Out of instinct she jumped but when she looked but then realised it was just Leah Clearwater.

'Hi Jacob, I just –'

'Now isn't a good time Leah' he said hurriedly but she had already barged past him and into the house. She stopped short at the site of Bella huddled on the couch and a sneer appeared across her face.

'Back already Bella, got tired of your leech lover and think you can come crawling straight back to Jake?'

'No, I just-'

'Well you can't' Leah interrupted, a nasty snarl on her face. 'He doesn't need you in his life coming to mess everything up.'

'Leah, stop it' Jacob warned, glaring at her but she ignored him.

'Did you meet Isaac? Isn't he lovely? As you can see, Jake has done a lot of moving on since you left. A lot of moving on indeed.'

Bella wasn't surprised at this reaction, she'd expected it from everybody especially Leah but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. She cast her eyes down and Jacob warned her again.

'What Jake, didn't you tell her?' she feigned innocence and widened her eyes draping her arm over his shoulder in a seductive way. She was so pretty and tall and Bella felt so inadequate standing next to her. 'Jacob did a lot while you were away Bella. I mean, I was going through such a hard time and he was so very friendly with me weren't you Jake?'

Her eyes lingered on him and she batted her eyelashes seductively; the implication was as clear as day. He'd had a relationship with Leah while she had been away and she was doing her best to make sure Bella knew about it. She couldn't stand here any longer, for some reason this hurt more than him being with Isaac's mother. She knew Leah.

'You're such a bitch' she murmured, her eyes glassing over with unshed tears. Bella picked up her purse and walked out of the open door without a backward glance. She heard Jake shout her name but she'd already gone.

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'Why did you do that?' Jacob growled at Leah. He pushed her hand away from him and went to close his door.

'Well, she was going to find out about us sooner or later. I picked sooner.'

'There was no us' he said harshly 'just leave.'

'Oh Jacob you know that's not true. There was most certainly an us.'

He walked up to her, right in her face and told the truth. 'It was a drunken horrible mistake just after Bella left and I've never regretted anything more. It was a one night stand, what don't you understand about that?'

Hurt flashed across Leah's eyes at his statement but was soon replaced with malice and anger.

'It wouldn't have been a mistake if I'd of gotten pregnant though would it? Like with Hadley?'

'Well you getting pregnant never would have happened because you can't.'

Jacob didn't realise what he had said before the hateful words had already slipped out of his mouth.

'Look, I didn't mean'-

'Bella is never going to love you' Leah said 'she'll always have him in her heart. She will never be yours.' With that she stormed out of the house and Jacob was left rippling with anger. He was so furious and it took everything in him not to phase right then and there. Leah was wrong; if she still loved Edward then she wouldn't be here and divorced. She had been a silly teenager. He was so pissed at Leah, he'd been about to have a serious conversation with Bella and she had gone and fucking ruined it. He went straight to his phone and tried calling her mobile but it was disconnected so he dialled Charlie's house. He answered on the third ring.

'Hello?'

'Hi Charlie, it's Jake. Is Bella there?'

'She just got in' he said gruffly

'I tried her mobile but can I speak to her?'

'She's upset right now Jake, I don't think she wants to speak to you' he said in an accusing tone. Great Jacob thought. Now Charlie hates me too.

'I know but it wasn't my fault, just let me speak to her okay?' he said a little angrily. He heard Bella in the background but he couldn't quite make out what she was saying. He heard her on the end of the speaker soon enough and he could almost feel the tears through the phone.

'Jake, I'm fine I just'-

'Bella I'm sorry. Leah had no right to tell you like that, just come back and we can talk.'

'I'm kind of tired Jacob' she said sadly

'Bells, come on'

She stilled on the other end and he realised that he had just called her 'Bells' again for the first time in forever.

'I'm too tired to drive back right now Jake, can I come over tomorrow?'

'I have work tomorrow'

'Oh right' she said. 'Well, I could come by after work?' she suggested

'Yeah okay, 6ish?'

'I'll be there.'

He put down the phone and felt a little better about rearranging with Bella. Leah had been cruel to her but then again she was cruel to everybody. With nothing else to do, he decided to go to bed.

Isaac woke him up in the morning by bouncing on his stomach happily.

'Hi buddy' Jake smiled sleepily

'It's time to wakes up daddy' he grinned. Jacob lifted him above his head and started tickling him and Isaac giggled widely. He carried him downstairs and sat him at the table.

'Lucky charms or fruit loops?' Jake asked, holding up each box to him

'What Bella made'

'Well buddy, Bella isn't here so you need to pick one of these'

'Fruity' he pouted crossing his arms. Jacob chuckled and ruffled his hair playfully. After eating and getting Isaac ready he dropped him off at Forks pre-school and hugged him tightly at the door. He seemed a little upset today and didn't want Jacob to leave him.

'Hey, Bella's going to come and see us today' he told him, trying to cheer his son up 'you like her don't you?'

'Bella coming?' he asked, a big smile appearing on his face

'Yeah so you've got to go to pre-school so she can see what a big boy you are'

'Okay' he beamed. Jake kissed the top of his head and Miss Laura, aka miss constantly hitting on Isaac's dad came to take his hand.

After that he went to work for the day and no matter how much he tried not to be, he was extremely excited to see Bella tonight. It was an easy day, which flew by, and by the time he picked Isaac up it was dark. He sighed to himself, he really didn't like that he had to leave Isaac at pre-school all day but what other choice did he have? Rachel had him on Wednesday's but that was it. He couldn't expect his sister to look after his son full time. He needed to work otherwise they'd have no money but he wished that things could be different.

Isaac was extremely happy to see Jacob and ran to him with Jake lifting him in his arms and spinning him around.

'Missed you daddy' he told him, snuggling into his neck.

'Missed you little man' he said kissing his hair and rubbing his back gently. 'Want to go and get Bella?'

Isaac nodded. Jacob decided that he would go to pick Bella up because it was a gentlemanly thing to do and he wanted to see her sooner. He picked her up just a little before six and she was very surprised, but happy to see him.

'Jake, I didn't expect you to come and get me' she said happily while putting on her shoes. He just smiled at her and led her to the car opening the door for her.

'HI BELLA!' Isaac greeted her cheerily

'Hi sweetie, I missed you' she smiled at him. He chatted to Bella about his day the whole ride home and when Jake parked up she went around to lift him out and they hugged. Jacob couldn't help but notice how much Isaac needed a mother and how perfectly Bella fit that role…he stopped his train of thought. They had a lot to figure out first. Isaac ran off to play when they got in and Jacob and Bella both sat down on the couch, this time a little closer to one another.

'Let's try this again' Jacob said with a small smile. She nodded and he was momentarily stunned by just how beautiful she looked in that moment.

'Tell me about why you left Edward Bells. I know that you said he was controlling but how?'

'He never let me do anything Jake' he reply was instant. 'I couldn't go anywhere without him and he would just say it was out of fear of my safety.'

'When did you fall out of love with him?' He asked. She cringed and bowed her head as if remembering some horrific moment and he gently placed his finger under the tip of her chin, to lift her gaze to his. 'Tell me Bella' he said softly 'he's not here anymore, you're with me. Safe.'

She took a deep breath and her eyes locked onto his, those deep chocolate brown pools had him captivated just like the very first time he saw her. Her heart raced at his hands touching her and he fought to keep back a little smirk. Jake knew he completely still had that effect on her.

'I fell out of love with him on our honeymoon, the very first night. I didn't realise then but I know with crystal clear clarity now.'

'Why did you fall out of love with him?' he wasn't sure he wanted to know the details and specifics of their honeymoon but he knew it was necessary.

'He hurt me' she said, tears brimming. Jacob froze for a second and tried to beat down the anger that was quickly rising. He hurt her? How could he hurt her? Then again, he always knew what a demonic bloodsucking parasite he was.

'Hurt how Bella? Physically?'

'Both. Physically and emotionally' she took a deep breath and blinked away the tears before continuing. 'He was supposed to be gentle, he started off gently with kisses…but then' a tear escaped her eye and he wiped it away for her. It didn't register to him that she was talking about sex but when it did the anger came back. Sex with a vampire? Surely this was some kind of sick joke? He could of killed her!

'Jake calm down' Bella urged 'what's wrong?'

'You slept with a vampire Bella?' he asked. No fucking wonder he hurt her physically! He was going to find that son of a bitch and rip him apart limb by limb, give him the most torturous execution.

'No, Jake. I didn't, I never slept with him, we never did anything at all actually…he bit me.'

Jacob stilled, he bit her – then shouldn't she be a

'No' Bella said reading him like a book. 'What little venom got in, he sucked it back out of my neck when he realised what he'd done. He apologised so much, I know it wasn't his fault he'd never hurt me on purpose but after that I realised what he was. I realised the things he was capable of and, it hurt so much' she was crying steadily now and Jacob gathered her into his arms, running his fingers through her hair. Her calming scent and fragile warm body was helping to keep his anger at bay. Just.

'He'll never hurt you again Bella' he said with a firm conviction and Bella believed him with all her heart. He pulled back to look into her eyes again and rested his forehead against her own. Their connection was like a livewire, electrifying and he lowered his lips just a fraction –

'Daddy I'm hungry' Isaac appeared holding onto a piece of Lego, a frown on his adorable face.

'He sure has good timing' Jacob murmured. Bella giggled a little and then they broke away turning to him. He ran and placed himself right between the two and Bella softly ran her fingers through his soft hair. He snuggled into her side and Jacob got up to start dinner.

'Want me to help?' she asked

'Nah, I've got it. Besides, I think Isaac wants to spend some time with you.' She smiled and started to chat to her favourite little person. She played Lego and cars with him and then he started to tell her about the den house he, Jeremy and Cleo built yesterday. Cleo was Sam and Emily's 4-year-old daughter and he thought the world of her. He started to look sad suddenly in the middle of speaking about them and Bella stroked his cheek.

'What's wrong sweetie?' she asked

'Jeremy's mommy is Aunty Rachel and Cleo Emily. I don't have a mommy.'

Bella didn't know what to say to that and he clambered into her lap. 'Will you be my mommy Bella?' he asked, his wide brown eyes innocent not realising what his pure unknowing words entailed. She kissed his forehead softly and thankfully Jacob called Isaac to come and eat at that moment.

'I didn't say anything, he just said that to me out of the blue' Bella explained knowing that Jacob had heard every word.

'Don't worry about it Bella' he sighed. 'He's being asking about that for a while even though I've explained to him it's just the two of us.' Bella looked at him awkwardly for a few seconds before he told her to sit down and eat. She was impressed, the spaghetti and meatball dish he prepared was actually really really good.

'Wow, this is good Jake I didn't know you could cook' she said, trying to diffuse the awkwardness from Isaac's request.

'I have many hidden talents' he smirked and Bella started laughing. She tilted her head sideways and just took all of his beauty in. When he reached across the table to hold her hand, she didn't object. This time, Bella knew exactly what she wanted.

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The rest of the week went by fairly slowly. Bella would go to see Jacob and Isaac after he'd finished from work and usually she stayed for dinner. It was Monday now and Bella was online, looking for jobs. She had a degree in English literature which meant that she could teach but she didn't want to go back to Forks high school and she wasn't sure she was ready for that commitment yet. A small part time job would do for now, she couldn't keep scrounging of Charlie forever. There was an opening for a waitress at a small café in town so she went along there and got the job instantly. Turns out, not many people wanted that job. It was kinda simple and boring but it would suit Bella fine. She'd never really liked anything extravagant anyway. She started the very next day and it seemed to drag forever. Her boss, David kept smiling at her and asking how she was doing; it was starting to creep her out. She was glad when her shift ended at 2:00. She had short shifts and for that she was grateful, being around David all day was not something she looked forward to. Suddenly overcome with an idea, she pulled out her cell phone and decided to call Jake. He answered straight away.

'Bella, you okay?'

'Hi Jake, I'm sorry I disturbed you at work it's just I get off at 2:00 and I'm free now. I was wondering if I could maybe go and pick Isaac up from pre-school?'

'Yeah sure, that would be great actually' Jacob sounded really happy about that fact and said he'd phone them now to confirm it. Bella smiled all the way to the pre-school to get Isaac. When she knocked on the door and went in a pretty blonde woman greeted her.

'Um, I've come to get Isaac' Bella said.

'Yes, Jacob just phoned' she looked at Bella sourly and Bella wondered what her problem was. She went to fetch Isaac and he came running to her with the biggest smile on his face ever.

'BELLA! You come to get me?' he asked as she cradled him in her arms.

'Yeah, I came to get you. I missed you little one'

'I missed you too.'

'Do you want to go to the park and get ice cream before I take you home?'

'YAAY please!' he said excitedly. Bella was falling in love with this beautiful child. He had a blast at the park and when she brought him home he crashed out in her lap. She knew without a doubt she was forming a strong motherly attachment to Isaac as he was to her. She kissed his cheek and laid him down on the couch before going to make dinner. She was starving and figured she'd make herself useful. Jacob came home around an hour later and smiled at the warm homely scene in front of him. This was something he craved.

'Thanks for picking Isaac up early; he's usually there all day. Was he good for you?' he asked Bella, hanging his jacket up.

'Oh, he was an angel' she smiled, looking down at the sleeping child adoringly. Jacob smiled too and went to wrap Bella in his arms and inhale her scent. He bent down to kiss her forehead and then held her hand as he walked into the kitchen, following the smell of food. Bella rolled her eyes at Jacob and his love of eating. After dinner she regretfully had to go home, she was up early tomorrow for work and she wanted to shower, maybe hang out with Charlie for a bit. Jacob gave her a lingering hug at the door and it was clear neither of them wanted to let go. She looked up into his onyx eyes and was captivated by his marvel and beauty. How did she ever let him go? Without thinking, Jacob bent his head and Bella stood on her tip toes as he pressed his lips down to hers. It was a quick kiss but she still felt the fire tingling all the way down her body, just like all those years ago. They reluctantly let go and Bella headed to her truck, feeling like she was walking on air.

'Night Jake' she called out.

'Night Bells.'

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Bella's smile never left her face the entire journey home and well into the next day too. Not even David's creepy obsession with her could wipe her smile away from kissing Jacob last night. She went out of the kitchen to take her next order and internally sighed when she saw none other than Mike Newton sitting at the table alone. She wanted a rabbit hole to swallow her up but she just grit her teeth and went over to him.

'I'll just have the regular please' he said to her without looking up from his phone.

'Well, I'm new so what's the regular?'

Mike immediately lifted his head up, recognising that voice anywhere. His gaze met with Bella's and she could feel the beady blue eyes boring into her own.

'Bella! What are you doing here?' he exclaimed in surprise

'I'm working Mike, what does it look like?'

'Oh Bella' he chuckled 'I missed you. I heard that you were back and about you and Cullen. I'm sorry.'

Bella didn't want to hear about his false apologies. He looked anything but sorry.

'Mike? Your order?' she said impatiently 'I have other tables.'

'Just the chocolate Frappuccino please. You know Bella; you should come and hang out with us sometime. I know how much Angela would like to see you again.'

'I don't know about that.' Bella couldn't think of anything worse than having all her old school friends prying into the failed marriage of Isabella Swan. She could just picture Jess' smug face in her mind thinking I told you so. No, that was her idea of hell.

'Oh come on, it will be a laugh. For old times sake?'

She thought about it for a moment. She didn't want to appear to be abnormal and she knew she needed to blend in, just for appearances.

'Can I bring somebody?' she asked

Mike nodded enthusiastically. 'Sure Bella, bring whoever you like. So Friday, movies, 6 o clock? I'll pick you up.'

'Mike it's not a date' she warned. 'I will get there myself.' He nodded and conceded and then Bella fluttered off again, feeling drained.

That evening when Bella went over to Jacob's house, Isaac was lying on Jacob's lap on the couch and he was stroking his hair gently.

'He doesn't feel very well' Jake explained. 'Think he ate too much chocolate with Jeremy today.'

'Oh, sweetie are you okay?' she asked, sitting down next to them. Jacob put his free arm around her and she snuggled into his side. Isaac shook his head and held out a little hand to Bella. She took it and rubbed soothing patterns until he fell asleep.

'There's something I need you to do for me Jake' Bella said smiling up at him.

'What?' he couldn't help but smile back at her. Her beauty was dazzling and her smile was infectious.

'Well, I kind of bumped into an old friend of mine at work. Mike Newton. He kind of persuaded me to meet up with my old friends on Friday at the theatre and I want you to come with me.'

'Hmm…Mike Newton' he pondered. 'Rings a bell. Is that marsh mellow guy?'

'Yes' Bella laughed

'I phased for the first time that night.'

'I know. So will you come?' She battered her eyelashes and Jake rolled his eyes.

'Sure sure.'

She leaned up to give him a kiss and whispered 'thank you.'

Friday came quickly enough and Jacob left Isaac with Emily. He came to pick Bella up and then they went to meet Bella's old friends. Mike Newton grinned profusely when she came into view but the smile quickly faded when he noticed Jacob a few steps behind. Angela ran to hug Bella tightly.

'Oh Bella, I missed you. Its good to have you back.'

'Well, it's good to be back' she admitted truthfully.

'Jess cancelled' she told her. Bella pretended to be disappointed but secretly she was thrilled.

'So' Mike walked up to Jacob. 'Jacob Black, the one that threatened to put me in the hospital five years ago?'

'Guess I made quite an impression' Jake answered coyly

'So what, are you her new boyfriend now or something?' Mike asked. Bella quickly hurried over and grabbed hold of Jacob's hand. She glared at Mike.

'Stop interrogating Jake' she warned 'lets go in.'

Jacob shot the biggest smirk ever at Mike Newton as they walked into the theatre. He felt smug and he didn't care at all. The movie was lame and Bella really wanted to go home. She'd missed a whole evening she could have spent with Jacob and Isaac for a boring movie with old friends she had nothing to say to. Angela was married to Ben now and worked as a midwife at Forks hospital; Mike was still single (unsurprisingly.) Overall it was a pretty dull evening, nobody really had anything to say to each other after the initial conversation and although Angela got Bella's number and promised to meet again, she doubted they would. On the way back to Bella's place she looked over at Jacob apologetically.

'Sorry for the crappy evening' she said.

'Well it was kind of crappy' he agreed 'but at least I got to spend it with you. Still hate that newton kid though.'

Bella laughed and when he pulled up at her house she wrapped her arms around Jacob's neck and gave him a kiss.

'I'll see you tomorrow Jake, the whole day' she grinned. He kissed her again firmer and nodded.

'See you tomorrow Bells.'

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