Disclaimer: Not mine…just playing with SM's character
A/N: Thank you so much for reading & reviewing! Special early update because it's "Breaking Dawn" week! LOL, like anyone will be reading FanFic on Friday…
Anyway, check out the blog for pictures of the characters and the places in Hawaii that I send them to. BTW, Goma Tei is one of my all-time favorite places to eat in Honolulu. I wonder where Bella is going to end up eating at in this chapter… :-P
http: / / noelleseven(dot)blogspot(dot)com
Special thanks as always to my wonderful beta and friend eternally_addicted. She keeps all of my nonsense in check and makes sure everything makes sense. :-D
I'm finally waking up, a twist in my story
It's time I open up, and let your love right through me
I'm finally waking up, a twist in my story
It's time I open up, and let your love right through me
That's what you get
When you see your life in someone else's eyes
That's what you get, that's what you get
- Secondhand Serenade, "A Twist In My Story"
Chapter 3: A Twist In My Story
Age 25
"So I heard you have a date tomorrow?"
Bella was so startled by Jasper's question she dropped the bunch of clean towels she had just folded.
"Damn it," she muttered.
"Was I not supposed to know?" Jasper asked as he bent down to help.
"I…I just don't want to make a big deal out of it," Bella said, her cheeks coloring. They were always the thing that gave away how she was really feeling.
"Didn't mean to embarrass you, darlin'. Mike's a good guy, and you're a nice girl. I don't think you have anything to be worried about."
Bella paused what she was doing and looked up at Jasper for moment, there was a question that had been lingering in her mind since she met him.
"Sometimes you speak with an accent," Bella prompted.
Jasper threw her a crooked grin. "Sometimes I do. I was born in Texas. Lived there until I was seven. My dad was in the army so we moved a few times. Lived in Virginia, California, and Okinawa before we Whitlocks found ourselves here in Honolulu. I decided to stay after graduation since I liked it so much. My dad finally retired and my parents are back in Texas."
"Wow…" was all Bella could say. Before coming here, the furthest she had moved from home had been Seattle. Jasper Whitlock had seen more of the world than Bella could even dream of right now.
"Yeah. It kind of sucked moving so much, but I'll never forget the things I got to see because of it. Washington D.C. is beautiful, then you have California which is special in its own right, and then there's Okinawa. You know, Okinawa is pretty similar to Hawaii."
"Really?" Bella asked. The only things she really knew about Okinawa were what she had seen in The Karate Kid: Part II, and that had been filmed on Oahu.
Jasper nodded. "Same type of weather, except more typhoons and stuff. There are a lot of sugar cane fields, and the beaches are pretty gorgeous. Say, have you been around the island yet?"
"No," Bella replied, shaking her head. She didn't want to point out that she had read that it was actually impossible to go around the island of Oahu.
"Maybe Mike can take you," Jasper said with a grin. Bella rolled her eyes and punched Jasper playfully. The two continued to joke and laugh as they cleaned up the towels. Jasper had a way of putting her at ease, and Bella liked being around him.
It was almost lunch time and Bella was told that Jacob Black would be here today. She had yet to see him, which surprised her, but then again, Esme's facilities were quite large, and she had been with Jasper all morning. It had been decided that Bella would start working with her own clients the following week.
"You ready to eat lunch?" Bella asked as they put the towels away.
Jasper nodded. "I'll meet you there. I gotta make a call to Alice real quick. She had night shoots tonight and she's over in England now. This twelve hour time difference is kind of killer."
Bella was shocked since she could count the number of times that Jasper had ever mentioned Alice to her on one hand, but she just nodded with a smile and let Jasper be. She was really starting to wonder about Alice and Jasper. Even Eli, Alice's own brother didn't think they were dating, but Carmen was always quick to point out that it was a possibility. Alice was an incredibly popular model turned actress, and she had always stated in interviews that she didn't discuss her personal life. Bella wasn't sure, but Jasper was a good guy in her book, so she really hoped that he wasn't crazy.
When Bella entered the break room, she saw that there was only one other person there, and he had his back to her. She didn't recognize him, so she reasoned that this must be the infamous Jacob Black.
"Hi," Bella said quietly.
She watched as he slowly turned around and leaned against the refrigerator. Bella couldn't help but wonder what they put in the water here. Everyone was freaking good-looking!
"Oh hey," he said with a smile. "My name is Jacob, Jacob Black. You must be, Isabella."
"Just Bella," she replied, as she walked forward and extended her hand.
Bella had made the definite decision that there must be something in the water either in this office or in Hawaii in general, because Jacob Black was also very good looking. She noticed that he was tall and she stood just below his chin. He was well muscled and had short dark hair, friendly eyes, and an even friendlier smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, just Bella," Jacob replied with a grin.
Bella felt her cheeks go red.
"Very cute," she muttered with an eye roll.
"I try," Jacob said with a shrug.
During lunch Bella found herself going through what seemed to be the same round of questions for the ten millionth time. She didn't roll her eyes or give sarcastic answers though. She knew it was just the territory that came with being the new kid on the block. However, Bella did find that Jacob was very easy to talk to, almost like she had known him forever once they had gotten the basic questions out of the way. He was cheerful and Bella described his smile as, "sweet" in her head. She almost blanched when he too said that he liked to go surfing and she glanced at his tan skin as he told her about his surfing session from this morning.
"If I had time I would've gone to Sunset," Jacob said as he finished his lunch. "I had to make do with a trip to Point Panic instead."
Bella had lost her appetite as soon as Jacob brought up surfing. She swallowed heavily and took a sip of her water. Her fingers twitched nervously as she thought about calling her therapist in Seattle. Bella usually checked in with her once in a while, and she realized that she hadn't talked to her therapist in quite some time. Her breathing exercises probably weren't going to cut it this time. Surfing wasn't something she necessarily thought was going to be a problem trigger for her, but Bella was clearly mistaken.
"Bella?"
"Huh?" Bella replied, snapping out of her thoughts.
Jacob gave her a smile. "I just asked if you were all finished with your lunch."
"Oh…yeah…yeah, I am," Bella said, her voice still shaky.
She had never bothered to look up information about surfing or…him in all these years, but in a place where surfing was so popular, maybe she should.
The rest of the work day seemed to pass in a blur. Bella was thinking about Jacob Black, surfing, her date with Mike, him, her clients…her mind was running at a hundred miles an hour it seemed. Even Seth couldn't keep her attention with his high school drama and pinning for Bree, which Bella had finally gotten him to admit to after the welcome party. When it was time to head home, Bella was grateful. She apologized to Seth before leaving, promising she would give him some advice the next day. To her surprise, Jacob Black was waiting to walk her out to the parking structure. Bella had gotten a car on Sunday after the party at the Cullens' home…a cute little, Toyota Yaris, with four doors and excellent gas mileage. For being a used car, it was in fine condition, and Bella liked the unique metallic light green color that it had. It made her car stand out from the rest of the numerous Toyotas she saw on the roads and in parking lots.
"Heading home?" Jacob asked, as Bella tugged her bag over her shoulder.
"Yup," Bella said, popping the "p" sound. Emmett had already headed out, and she, Jacob, and Esme were the last in the office.
As Bella and Jacob entered the waiting room in the front of the office, Jacob spoke.
"So, uh, Bella…I was wondering-"
Jacob never got to finish his sentence though. The front door of the office was wrenched open with a squeal and little Caroline Cullen came racing through the doors. Bella was slightly alarmed at the sight and was barely ready when Caroline launched herself at her.
"Daddy's trying to catch me!" Caroline squealed.
"Oh…okay…." Bella said, a little uncomfortably. Jacob could see the discomfort on her face and her struggle to hold on to Caroline.
"Care Bear," Jacob said, "I haven't seen you in forever! Don't I get a hug?"
"Jake!" Caroline squealed, squirming out of Bella's arms.
Bella put the little girl down and she was promptly swept up by Jacob in a fit of giggles. Bella couldn't help but admire how Jacob was with the little girl and she turned when she heard the front door of the office open. She had expected to see Carlisle, but was stunned to find that Mike was also with him.
"Hello, Bella," Carlisle said with a knowing smile as he passed by, presumably to go pull his daughter off of Jacob and pickup his wife. Bella gave him a little wave, but she was too distracted by Mike. He had let his stubble grow out a little more since Saturday, and Bella found that it was an extremely good look on him.
"Hi, Bella," Mike said softly with a smile. She walked closer and blushed furiously when Mike bent down and kissed her softly on the cheek.
"Hi…" Bella replied shyly. "Don't um, take this the wrong way, but…what are you doing here?"
"I just thought I'd surprise you," Mike said, and from behind his back produced a beautiful single white rose. "And, I wanted to tell you that I can't wait for our date tomorrow night."
Bella gasped, and could barely form the words, "Oh wow…"
She took the delicate looking flower from Mike, and she couldn't help but let a wide grin spread across her face. Bella had forgotten what it was like to giddy over something so simple as flowers, and what it was like to just look forward to spending time with someone. She looked up into Mike's deep blue eyes.
"Thank you so much, Mike. I love it," Bella said as she clutched the flower to her chest.
Mike smiled.
"You're welcome, Bella. Can I walk you out to your car?"
"Oh sure, thank you," Bella replied. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement from the attention Mike was giving her, and they grew even more red when she remembered that Jacob, Carlisle, Caroline, and Esme were around.
When Bella turned around she saw that Jacob was still standing there talking to Carlisle and still holding Caroline in his arms. When his dark eyes found Bella's, she gave him a smile and a small wave before she turned and left with Mike. What she didn't see was the glare that Jacob gave to Mike, and the one Mike gave back in return.
"So, you like ramen right?" Mike asked as he drove them toward their dinner destination.
Bella nodded as she played with the hem of her dress. Rosalie had helped Bella pick out what she should wear for her date with Mike, and Rosalie had picked out a cute purple dress and a grey cardigan. With the weather turning windy and drizzly, Bella added black Capri length tights underneath her dress. Rosalie also let her borrow a pair of black ballet flats. She kept her hair and make-up simple since they were just going to dinner and a movie, and Bella had to admit that she felt very pretty…prettier than she had in a long time.
Emmett had been nervous when they were waiting for Mike to pick up Bella. He didn't know the whole story of what had happened to Bella in Forks all those years ago, and his father told him it wasn't his business to snoop either. All Emmett knew was that Bella had been hurt badly by a guy, and her last relationship with that Dean fellow didn't exactly work out either. He was nervous about Mike, and he was acting almost like a nervous father waiting for his teenage daughter to go out on her first date. Rosalie had elbowed him in the gut to make him calm down, and had dragged him upstairs when Mike arrived. Bella was already a blushing mess and Rosalie just knew Emmett would make it even worse.
Mike had been nothing but a gentleman when he picked up Bella. He said a brief hello to Emmett and Rosalie, before he offered Bella another white rose. She had looked up the meaning of white roses last night on the Internet when she came home from work, and the meaning, "I'm worthy of you" was what had really stuck out to her. Bella had to literally bite her tongue to keep herself from squealing. Plus, Mike looked so very handsome in a white button down shirt with the sleeves folded to his elbows, and a very nice fitting pair of jeans. His face was scruffy still, but Bella found she really liked it. To add to his gentlemanly status, Mike had held Bella's door open for her and offered his hand to help her climb into his large, black, Acura MDX.
"So what part of the island are we on?" Bella asked quietly. She had a feeling that they were close to her workplace, but she wasn't sure. She hated to admit that she needed to use a GPS system to get around.
"Well, we're still in Honolulu," Mike said with a grin. "But we're heading down to Ward Center."
"Oh…Ward like, near the office?"
Mike chuckled. "Yeah, your office is up the street."
Mike parked in an open aired lot and Bella spied the words, "Ward 16 Theatres" in big, red letters. After helping Bella out of the car, Mike led the way towards their dinner destination. Bella looked around as they walked, noticing all of the different restaurants and coffee places. They headed into an indoors part of a building across the street from the parking lot and stopped in front of a place called, "Goma Tei."
"This is the place," Mike said, holding the door open for Bella.
Bella took a deep breath and her mouth practically watered. She and Angela had discovered some great noodle places in Seattle, and Bell had a good feeling about this place as well. After being seated at a table near the back, Mike suggested that Bella try the "tan tan" broth first, describing it as being like a spicy miso-based broth. Their waiter brought a small bowl out for Bella to try and she definitely liked it. Both she and Mike ended up ordering the Char Siu Tan Tan Ramen. Of course, as they waited for their food, they talked and got to know each other a little more.
"So…what made you want to move out here to Hawaii?" Bella asked. This was a question that actually hadn't come up when they first met. She really wanted to hear Mike's reason before she shared her own. In fact, she wanted to hear all about Mike's past first before she shared any of her own.
Mike finished chewing slowly and took a sip of his water.
"Well, believe it or not, it was because of a girl."
Bella felt the blood slightly drain from her face, but Mike was quick to continue.
"It's not like how you think. I moved out here to…well, to escape the memory of a girl. I thought she was the girl, but I was wrong."
"Oh…" Bella said quietly. "I'm sorry. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
Bella also wasn't sure if she could really hear the rest of Mike's story. It already sounded quite similar to something she had done herself.
"No, I'm sorry," Mike replied. "That's not the kind of story a girl wants to hear on a first date."
"It's okay. I…I actually understand if you want to talk about it."
Mike chuckled and took a sip of his drink. When he put his glass down, he had a smile on his face.
"You actually want to hear me talk about the girl who broke my heart and why I haven't really dated since?"
"If it makes you feel better, then sure."
"Are you sure you're a physical therapist and not just a therapist?" Mike asked playfully, one of his eyebrows raised.
Bella couldn't help but blush from his playful teasing. She took a sip of water herself to help cool herself down.
"Nope…I'm just a licensed P.T., but most of the time physical therapy isn't the only kind of therapy we do."
Mike nodded with a small smile on his face.
"Well…her name was Heidi Morrison. She was actually my high school sweetheart. Followed each other all the way through college at USC, and while she worked on her Master's in Public Health, I finished dentistry school. I figured when I finished school I would pop the question and ask her to marry me, and we'd move back to San Diego. What I didn't know, and what Heidi didn't tell me, was that she had been accepted to med school on the East Coast. John Hopkins University actually. She didn't tell me because she didn't think she would get in. I was upset and we fought about it for days. In the end, she had to choose between me and med school…and she chose school."
"Mike, I'm so sorry," Bella said quietly. She didn't really know what else to say to that. That just flat out sucked.
"Funnily enough, you two sort of look alike. Big brown eyes, brown hair...guess I have a thing for brunettes."
Bella definitely didn't know what to say to that so she stayed quiet. Fortunately, Mike changed the subject, and continued his story.
"Anyway, a buddy of mine I met in L.A., named Eric, lives out here, and Carlisle is actually his dentist. He told me about Carlisle's partner retiring soon, so I made contact with Carlisle and now here I am."
"Those Cullens sure are something else," Bella said, changing the subject.
"They are. Carlisle and Esme are great, and little Caroline is a doll."
Bella couldn't help but smile and nod. Mike liked working with children, and that was a trait that she found strangely attractive, especially since she couldn't even imagine having children of her own.
The two continued to talk about happier subjects. Bella asked about Mike's sister and his nieces and nephews. His sister had four kids, two of each, and Bella could barely wrap her head around the number. His older sister, Jane, and her husband Alec were both lawyers, though now with four kids under the age of six, Jane was now just a stay at home mother. Fortunately, Mike's father was retired and he helped her often with the kids. Bella was saddened to learn that Mike's mother had run out on them when Mike was five, but it made Bella respect Mr. Newton even more for raising a son like Mike, and a daughter like Jane, who sounded like she was phenomenal.
"Are you going home to visit any time soon?" Bella asked, as she sat back in her chair. Her ramen had been delicious.
"Maybe I'll take some time off later in the summer," Mike said with a shrug. "What about you? Heading home to Washington any time soon?"
"Are you voting me off the island already?" Bella asked playfully. She had just gotten here and didn't really want to think about Washington right now.
"Just wondering," Mike said through his chuckles. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to leave this place now that I've lived here for a while."
Bella just nodded. Honolulu was definitely different from Washington and its landscape was beautiful in different ways, but there was also a feeling that swirled around in her stomach and even her heart when she thought about her home in the islands. There was something special about it, and there was something special that was going to come from moving here. Bella had to believe that she really had moved on to something bigger and better and started fresh.
"Have you hit up any beaches yet?" Mike asked.
"No," Bella said, shaking her head quickly.
"I should have guessed from your lack of a tan."
"Hey!" Bella pouted. She kicked at Mike playfully when she saw he had a smile on his face. She sighed heavily after they both calmed down a bit.
"I don't like the water," she said quietly.
"You do realize you moved to an island in the middle of the Pacific."
"Doesn't mean I have to get in the water," Bella replied. She took a deep breath when she played back her tone of voice in her head.
"I'm sorry," she said with a sigh when Mike hadn't said anything. "It's just…I don't know how to swim. It's been a sore subject for a long time."
Bella's eyes were focused on her lap, and she jumped slightly when she felt Mike's hand on top of hers. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Don't apologize," Mike said quietly. "That's nothing to be upset or ashamed of."
Bella nodded and averted her eyes from Mike's. He had been so understanding, and Bella was starting to think that there really might be such a thing as the perfect guy. She noticed that the tiny restaurant was starting to get crowded and there seemed to be a big group of people waiting outside.
"We better go," she said. "Someone else probably wants our table."
Mike agreed and let Bella's deflection go for now. When they got outside, Mike pulled Bella to the side softly.
"How badly do you want to see the movie?" Mike asked.
Bella's brows furrowed. She was confused, especially since it was Mike's idea to see a movie, and he even picked the one they were going to watch.
"Um…is this a trick question?"
"I wanted to suggest…an alternative," Mike replied.
"Okay…"
Mike ran a hand through his hair, and gave Bella a small smile.
"I want to keep talking. I want to keep getting to know each other, Bella. We can't really do that if we're in a movie theatre."
Bella couldn't help but smile. While she knew that talking could take them down some paths she didn't especially want to revisit, Mike put her at ease, almost in the same way Jasper did, and she found that she wanted to tell him everything, and get to know him more as well. They had already covered the simple topics like favorite things when they had first met, but Bella agreed with Mike. She definitely wanted to get to know him better. A movie could wait.
"I'd like that," Bella replied.
Mike grinned, and he placed his hand at the small of Bella's back, guiding her forward, and back out towards the theatres. After asking Bella what she wanted, the two decided on coffee and dessert from Starbucks, and were seated outside, in an area that was hidden from the rain and fumes from cars. As they settled with their brownies and coffee, Mike picked up their conversation from dinner where it had left off.
"Is there a story behind you not knowing how to swim?"
Bella swallowed heavily.
"I never learned how when I was a kid. We don't really go swimming much in Forks. Mostly it just rains. Sometimes we went to the beach, but I never went in the water, and it never seemed like something important."
Mike nodded but said nothing. He knew that there was more to tell.
"We were at a party, out at a friend's parents' lake house. It was the end of the school year and my best friend Angela, and her now husband Ben said we should go. I didn't really want to go to a big party, but Angela convinced me it would be fun. All these people from school were there, and I…I got cornered on the boat dock by these girls who didn't like me. I…I ended up in the water. I almost drowned."
"You…you almost drowned?" Mike replied, clearly shocked.
Bella nodded sadly and tried not to let the memories overwhelm her.
"I…I was supposed to learn how to swim after that but…but I never did."
He said that he would teach her how to swim. He promised her. Bella clenched her eyes shut and took a deep breath. Mike had shared his past with her. She figured it was fair that she did the same.
"Remember how you told me you thought that…that Heidi was the one?" Bella asked slowly.
She saw when Mike realized where Bella was going with this. Bella saw the change in his eyes and the compassion that was there now.
"I thought I found the one once too. He…he was the one who saved me from drowning."
Age 14
Bella wrung her hands nervously as they trekked through the trees from the car. It was the end of summer and kids from all over the Olympic Peninsula were heading down to First Beach in La Push for a bonfire and party. Angela had driven them down there since Ben was already there, having spent the entire day surfing with some other friends.
"Will you relax, Bella?" Angela said as the noises from the beach became louder.
"What do I say to him, Ang?" Bella nearly whined.
It had been a few weeks since Ben's party where Edward Masen has kissed her. Since then, Bella hadn't seen him around Forks, and he wasn't working the two times she had been in Port Angeles and convinced her mother that they needed a caffeine and hot chocolate fix. Bella's little fourteen-year old heart was desperate to see him. He kissed her which meant he liked her (that was the conclusion she and Angela had come to), and he had told her, "until we meet again", which again, the two girls determined meant he liked Bella and wanted to meet her again.
"Just tell him hi and see where he goes from there," Angela replied with a smile. She was happy for her best friend. Other than a crush on Leonardo DiCaprio, Bella didn't really show an interest in boys at school.
"Are you sure? I haven't seen him in a couple of weeks," Bella asked. She definitely knew she sounded whiney, but she needed reassurance from her best friend.
"Yes!" Angela said with a laugh. "Bella, after everything you told me about what happened at Ben's party, I would say that he definitely likes you."
"Okay…" Bella said with a shy smile.
When they got to the clearing between the trees that led down to the beach, Bella was shocked by how many people she saw. There were multiple bonfires burning, coolers and kegs spread out. Several people were sitting on the big logs that lined the beach, while others were lying on towels and mats, and there were even some people in the ocean that Bella could see. Bella shivered a bit. Even if it was summer, the water was still freezing.
"Let's go find, Ben," Angela said, linking her arm with Bella's and dragging her along.
Bella nodded and nervously followed. Several people said hi to Angela, and sort of just waved at Bella. She was certain a lot of people weren't all that comfortable with having the chief of police's daughter there, but at least no one was kicking her out. Angela and Ben had been officially dating since his party, and Bella was happy that her best friend was happy. Hopefully Bella would find some happiness herself that night.
As they passed the bonfire, Bella saw the blonde boy and red headed girl that Edward had left the party with. They were sitting with another girl that Bella thought looked like a supermodel. She turned away and looked at the sand beneath her feet when she saw that all three of them were staring at her with squinty eyes. Edward wasn't with them, and Bella didn't like the way they were looking at her. It made her nervous.
Ben smiled wide when Angela and Bella finally found him, and Bella was relieved to find someone that she knew other than Angela. Ben offered them both a drink, which Bella declined, and she let her eyes scan the crowd of people in front of her. Her eyes widened when she saw couples just making out like there was no one else around. There were others who were drunkenly dancing around on the beach and stumbling over their own feet. She also saw some kids smoking, what they were smoking she wasn't sure, but Bella knew that her father would've grounded her for the rest of her life if he knew where she currently was. She suddenly understood why some of the people there had given her the looks that they had.
Her eyes glanced over towards the woods and that was when she spotted him. Edward was standing against a tree with his arms crossed. The orange glow from the bonfires cast shadows across his face, but Bella could still tell that it was him. Bella leaned over to whisper in Angela's ear.
"I see Edward."
Angela looked in the direction that Bella had inclined her head and saw Edward standing there, staring off into the fire. She gave Bella a nudge on the shoulder.
"Go get him, tiger."
Bella felt her face flush but she nodded. As she walked over, her fourteen-year old mind came up with all sorts of different scenarios. Would Edward be happy to see her? Would he kiss her? Would he wrap his arms around her and tell her he missed her? Would he ask for her phone number so that he could call her and they could go on dates? Bella gripped her hands together as she approached and she struggled to not look away when Edward finally noticed her walking towards him. She saw him straighten up his stance, but her heart fell a little when his face remained neutral.
"Hi, Edward," Bella said shyly.
"Hi," was all that Edward said back. His eyes raked over Bella's body from head to toe, and Bella felt like her cheeks were on fire and butterflies had taken flight in her stomach. When Edward didn't saying anything, Bella fidgeted and felt her heart begin to drop.
"So…um…I haven't seen you since Ben's party. How…how are you?" Bella had been barely able to get the words out of her mouth.
She watched as Edward's brows furrowed, and Bella suddenly got a sinking feeling in her stomach. She opened her mouth to speak, but someone else cut her off.
"Here's your beer, baby."
Bella felt like she had been punched in the gut. She watched as Irina Petrosian, one of the most popular girls in the senior class at Forks High, wrapped her arm around Edward's waist seductively and handed him a beer.
"Thanks," Edward replied quietly, taking his eyes off of Bella.
Bella's fourteen-year old heart had felt like it had been broken into a thousand pieces when she watched as Irina leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Edward's lips. A kiss which he looked like he gladly accepted. Bella suddenly felt incredibly foolish, and she felt even smaller when Irina Petrosian's dark, perfectly made-up, eyes landed on her.
"Oh…" she drew out, a completely fake smile on her face. "You're Baby Swan right? What are you like, twelve? What are you doing here?"
"I…I…." Bella stuttered out, but she couldn't think of anything to say. Stating that she was actually fourteen didn't seem like it was going to matter.
"Baby," Irina said, practically purring and turning back to Edward. Her hand ran up and down his chest in a way that Bella assumed was sexy because Edward had a smile on his face. "Baby, this is the mousy little brunette James and Victoria said you were talking to at Ben Cheney's party a couple of weeks ago. You know, the party that you didn't remember anything from?"
Bella had to bite her tongue to keep from whimpering out loud. Irina's words were the last straw, and when she heard Edward say, "oh yeah", and nod his head, Bella knew that it was true, and all the hope and foolish ideas she had about a relationship with Edward crumbled. Edward didn't remember her at all. He didn't remember talking to her, and he didn't remember kissing her.
"I…I…I'm going to go," Bella said quickly.
She turned abruptly and had begun walking away quickly without looking back, but of course, that had to be the moment where her clumsiness decided to show up. Bella tripped over a stray tree root and was barely able to catch herself on her palms. She hissed in pain, knowing she had scraped them, and clenched her eyes shut when she felt the tears begin to pool in her eyes. The tears weren't quite from scraping her hands though. They were caused by the sound of Irina laughing behind her. Bella got to her feet and glanced behind her.
"Watch where you're going, Baby Swan. Maybe someday you'll be a graceful one," Irina managed to say through her cackling.
Bella felt her bottom lip tremble and her eyes well up. She couldn't help but look at Edward one more time, and she was only slightly relieved to see that he wasn't laughing, but staring at her in that intense way he had been when she first saw him in the coffee shop.
"Awwwww…" Irina continued. "Why don't you run along home, Baby Swan? Parties like these are no place for a baby."
Through her tears Bella scurried away, not looking back, and she hated that she could still hear Irina laughing. That had probably meant Edward was now laughing too. Angela and Ben had been watching the whole exchange from across the way, and Angela took off as soon as Bella started to stumble away. She had quickly caught Bella in her arms, and felt the tears on her neck almost immediately. Ben quickly steered the two girls away towards a more secluded area of the beach. Angela held Bella tightly as she cried and apologized profusely for encouraging Bella to go over there, and for convincing her to come to the party.
"He…he…he didn't even remember me!" Bella said through her sobs.
Ben grimaced and shifted from foot to foot as he listened to Bella sob quietly and tell Angela what had happened. He knew that this was likely a girl time moment of some sort, but he wasn't sure if his two cents would matter or not. Ben liked to go surfing on the weekends, and it was often the same crowd of guys and maybe a girl or two out there. Edward Masen was always there. Ben didn't really know him, but he had heard stories from some of the others, and he knew that Edward liked to hang out with James Hunter and Victoria Michaels. Those two were bad news, and had Ben known before tonight, that Bella had a crush on Edward, he would've said something earlier.
"Forget about him," Ben blurted out, intruding on Angela and Bella's girl time. Both girls turned to look up at him, Bella with watery eyes and Angela with a, what the fuck are you doing look.
Ben ventured closer and put his hand on Bella's shoulder.
"Look, Bella, I know you really liked Edward, but he's not the guy for you."
"Ben…" Angela growled.
"No, Ang, I'm serious," Ben said. He focused his eyes on Bella. "Bella, you deserve a good guy. Not someone who is going to forget you. I know you don't want to hear it, but you're fourteen, almost fifteen and going to be starting high school. There will be other guys. Don't get hung up on this one. He's not a good guy, Bella."
Bella's brows furrowed. "What do you mean he's not a good guy?"
Ben sighed heavily, and he hoped Angela would still be dating him after this. He really, really liked Angela, and he thought that Bella was a good friend. He definitely wanted to stay in Angela's good graces, and he also wanted good things for her best friend.
"Look…you've heard the rumors about him," Ben said. "How he moved up here all mysteriously from California, no one really knows anything about him, blah blah…but Bella, I've been around the guy out on the waves. Something is seriously wrong with him and his parents. I've seen him out there with black eyes and bloody lips. I've seen him with bruises on his back and chest. I've seen him get plastered at parties and hooking up with other girls. I mean, rumor has it his father used to be some super successful lawyer or something who is addicted to cocaine and heroin. I wouldn't be surprised if he does the shit himself too. Bella, he's just not a good guy. Don't waste your tears over him."
Bella started to cry again after hearing Ben's words. She felt so foolish. She had heard the rumors herself, but she didn't want to believe them. She thought Edward had been so nice, and he kissed her for crying out loud! She thought first kisses meant something! As Bella continued to cry, Angela just glared at Ben.
"She has a right to know, Ang," Ben said quietly.
"Well maybe not on the same night that he rips her heart out," Angela hissed back.
Ben sighed. "I'm sorry, Angela."
Bella sniffled against Angela's shoulder. Was there really such a thing as a good guy? She then found herself questioning whether or not Edward Masen was really a bad guy. Everyone around town knew the rumors about his home life. It made Bella pity him, even if he didn't remember who she was. Plus, it wasn't really him that had said anything mean…it had been Irina.
The girls decided to call it a night, and Bella stayed pressed to Angela's side as they walked back to the car in the dark. Her mind and her heart were hurting, and she couldn't quite sort her thoughts and feelings out just yet. As they walked past a dark line of trees, Bella saw movement from the corner of her eye. She gasped and stopped in place when she saw Edward appear out of the woods, almost like some supernatural being. He stopped a few feet away from them.
"It's better this way," Edward said, keeping his eyes on Bella. He didn't say another word before he turned and walked back into the woods and the direction of the party. He disappeared almost as if he hadn't been there. If Bella had been alone, she had a feeling that she would have thought that she had been seeing and hearing things.
Bella glanced at Angela before turning back and staring blankly at the spot Edward had once been in. What the heck did he mean by that? Bella wasn't the only one who had been thinking that. Angela was completely surprised and almost equally as confused as Bella by Edward Masen's cryptic words. After a few moments, Angela tugged on Bella's shoulders so that they could start walking again.
"Remember all of the rumors and what Ben said, Bella," Angela whispered. "Just forget about him."
Bella could help but think and hope that maybe Ben was wrong. Maybe Edward Masen wasn't really such a bad guy. Maybe he just needed the right girl and not someone as cruel as Irina Petrosian. Was there a chance that maybe, just maybe, he really did remember who she was? Bella's heart hurt now, but her mother always told her that people deserved a second look and a second chance. Bella decided that even though she was hurting now, she would find a way to give Edward Masen another look. Maybe there would even be a second chance.
Well? Yes? No? I know, I know…what is going on right? What happened with Edward? Where is Edward? He's coming, I promise. In fact…I believe he's in chapter 4 :)
My fic rec this week is for my talented friend and beta eternally_addicted and my other buddy the talented My-Bella. They are going to start posting a new story tomorrow called, "Beneath the Surface"! LOL, they are also going to be in Hawaii a little bit, and their Edward is Sharkward! Be sure to check it out when it posts!
It just occurred to me that next week is Thanksgiving. I don't want to post that weekend…what day do you all think I should post next week? Also, any theories? Questions? Next chapter, we'll meet Edward…officially. I promise. :-D Until then.