Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

The day at school passed quickly in a blur of activity until the last bell rang setting us all free. I watched as my last class practically ran out of the room. I only wished I could follow them.

"Hey Bella."

Ben Cheney.

He was the other young single teacher in our department. He was handsome in a way that made my heart skip a beat with his dark glasses and sweet poetry that he wrote over lunch.

"Ben," I greeted him with a smile that felt off.

"What do you say to a movie tonight?" he asked with a charming grin that had no doubt wooed the hearts of many other women over the years.

"You know I'm still married, right?" I reminded him as well as myself that I was actually far from single in accordance with the law.

"So am I," he grinned, reminding me of our conversation over lunch about failed marriages and the cost of divorce attorneys.

"I don't know…" I trailed off as I thought about Jake and all the promises made as well as broken.

"It's just a movie," Ben sweet-talked with a cute grin, slowly talking me into agreeing to go with him.

"Fine," I conceded as he laughed happily.

"Meet me in an hour at the mall," he promised before ducking back out into the crowded hallway.

I had told myself I wouldn't date.

I wasn't ready, but honestly I wasn't sure if I would ever be ready after Jake.

I waited my contracted ten minutes before making my way out of the building in the mass exodus of teachers leaving for the night. It was only a short drive to my childhood home where my dad was waiting. He was on the front porch as I pulled up.

"How was school?" he called out as I got out the car, greeting me like he did when I was kid coming home from school, not a twenty-eight year old who had just completed a day of work.

"Good," I laughed as I approached the house. "Anything new to report?"

"Yeah, the Schmidt's got a new dog," he announced as he struggled to make his way inside the house behind me with his cane.

"You feel okay?" I asked him as I slowed down making it easier for him to follow me in.

"I'm fine," he scoffed as I stepped aside to let him make his way to his easy chair while I watched helplessly. Dad was a proud man who refused any type of assistance so watching him struggle was hard to do.

"How's the therapy going?" I asked only to listen to him grumble out a response.

"Jake called," he announced as I turned to leave him be.

"I don't care," I whispered as I continued my way up the stairs.

"You need to call him back," he continued on after me. "I told him you would."

"I have nothing to say to him," I called back as I opened my bed room and walked in before shutting it behind me. It was a childish move on my part, but I didn't care. I was done caring when it came to Jacob Black and he made it that way.

I looked around at the suitcases that littered the room before opening one to pull out some fresh clothes. I slipped out of my teacher garb of khaki pants and a conservative blouse.

"Fuck him and his whore dispatcher if he thinks I'm going to call him back," I muttered to myself while pulling on my jeans before slipping on the black camy that would go under the pink v-neck t-shirt that I knew made my tits look amazing.

I bounded down the steps loud and carefree before grabbing my black boots. I walked into the living room with them in one hand and my phone in the other.

"I ordered pizza for you," I announced as Dad stared at me with a surprised look.

"Where are you going?" he demanded as I sat down to put on my boots.

"I've already paid for it on my credit card as well as the tip so all you have to do is answer the door," I assured him as I tied my laces.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going out," I stated simply while slipping on the other boot.

"With whom?" he demanded harshly while I tried not to roll my eyes over his demanding attitude.

"Do I need to remind you that I am a grown ass woman," I laughed with a grin that I knew would only piss him off.

"Do I need to remind you that you are married?" he shot back with a triumphant grin, calling me out on my supposed bad behavior, but his words left no mark. I had done nothing wrong.

"You don't need to remind me, but you probably should have reminded your golden boy, huh?" I mocked as I stood up and watched his grin fade off his face.

"Bella…" he began slowly, but I didn't want to hear it. I didn't need to hear his excuses any more than what I needed to hear Jake's.

"I'll be home later," I explained while ignoring him. "It's just the movies, so maybe nine-ish?"

"I know that he hurt you," he stated simply.

"Dad...Just stop," I breathed out as I shook my head to clear it from all the emotion that his pleading invoked.

"Okay," he reluctantly agreed as I leaned over to kiss the top of his graying head. I knew he wasn't going to let this go, but at least he was dropping his campaign for Jake for the moment.

I drove in silence, refusing to let Jake ruin yet another night as I pulled into the mall parking lot. I could see Ben leaning against his car watching me with a grin as I pulled into the space next to him.

"You ready?" he called out while offering me a hand. I stood there, looking at him before he finally dropped it back down to his side with a mumbled apology.

"Sorry about that," I whispered as my stomach clenched nervously.

"Nothing to be sorry about," he assured me with a smile but I could see that it had lost a little of its shine.

Dinner moved quick as we carried on a pointless conversation discussing co workers and kids who refused to turn in work. It was easy to be with Ben, but even that comfort couldn't take away the unease I felt as we made our way into the theater.

"You okay?" Ben whispered in my ear, leaning a little too close as we settled into our seats with drinks in hand.

It was as I looked around the sparse crowd we had joined that I saw him. Edward Cullen was sitting a few rows back slouched down in his seat as if he were attempting to hide, but failing miserably. His dark eyes locked with mine causing my heart to pound within my chest as a surge of nervous energy rushed through me.

"I'm fine," I assured Ben as I turned away from Edward in effort to focus on the screen before instead of the man behind me.

AN:

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Mamasutra