The Twilight Twenty-five

Prompt: Bitter

Pen name: bonnysammy

Pairing: Edward/Bella

Rating: M

A\N:

Thanks to my betas from Project Team Beta--SayGoodbyeAgain, Jessica0306, and BookGeek80. You guys are unbelievable for working with me on this. (If there are any parts that are questionable about the storyline or wording, my beta who is below age does not get to see it. So she does a great job with the info she gets)

I hope you enjoy.

I do not own any of these characters, or the original plot to the Twilight Series. Everything publicly recognizable belongs to their owners. I am doing this only for the pleasure I gain from writing and I am not associated with anyone or anything to do with the Twilight Series. There is no financial benefit, whatsoever, though I may wish there were.

4 – Bitter

Of course, the fruit I actually wanted would be forbidden. Hot Bartender Guy was off limits, so much so that it was almost painful.

Damn. Of course it would be him. The ex-boyfriend.

Edward Masen.

The only guy who would every truly hold my heart.

Had I jinxed myself by thinking of him earlier?

His eyes locked with mine, and I knew in that instant that he was well aware who I was. The way he arrogantly sauntered toward me affected me more than my loneliness ever had; angry tears welled and threatened to fall. I held up my hand and shook my head, demanding that he not come any closer. I needed to compose myself. I needed to get my emotions in check. I needed to get out of there.

I ran back to my table, stumbling too many times to maintain the illusion that I was only a little drunk. My embarrassment and inebriation caused my clumsiness to return ten-fold.

"I'm leaving," I hissed at Jasper. At that moment, I realized that he knew exactly what was going on. I was pretty sure he'd orchestrated this 'chance meeting' between us tonight. That explained his desire to leave home for here. "You've got a lot of explaining to do," I said bitterly, emphasizing my point by jamming my finger at his chest. "But it'll have to wait until later. Tomorrow, I expect some answers."

My index finger was now aching. Maybe I'd been too overzealous with my prior jab..

"You can't leave right now, Bells," he begged. "It's almost midnight. Just stay a few minutes more."

"No way, Jasper H. Whitlock--" Yes, I was using my 'I'm pissed with you' name for him-- "I'm not staying just to be trapped in a place with him. How could you do this to me? You know what it means, what he means."

"Bells, calm down," Alice soothed.

"Yeah, just calm down," Emmett quipped.

"Calm down? Calm down? Was everyone in on this? Let's just play with Bella's emotions. I thought you guys were my friends. Why would you do this to me, tonight of all nights? It was supposed to be a celebration."

I roughly grabbed my coat from the back of my chair and thrust my arms into it. The fabric fought against me as my irritation increased. Clearly, the sleeves had turned themselves inside out when I'd taken it off.

"I've had enough," I practically screamed, fighting back the moisture in my eyes. "I'm leaving."

I whirled around, right into the chest of a man. The muscular chest that I'd spent much of the night ogling.

Oh shit. Not now. Why couldn't I have been quicker?

"Oh, no you're not," a familiar, though somewhat deeper voice spoke. "You're not walking home alone in the freezing cold... especially not this late at night."

"I think you of all people have no say in the matter, Mr. Masen," I rebutted. "You gave up that right long ago. Now, leave me alone. You found that easy enough to do before."

I looked up into his face. He appeared stricken. I guess he hadn't expected me to stand up for myself. Old Bella never had, but I wasn't that person anymore; I refused to be.

"I'm going," I announced again. "If you guys are staying here, I have no problem with going home alone."

"No," Edward protested again, his voice more forceful than it had been previously.

He had no right imposing his will on me. "Like I said--"

"Look," he entreated, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "They can run the place without me for a twenty minutes. I'll walk a few yards behind. You won't even know I'm there. Just don't walk home alone. You don't know what kind of creeps are wandering around out there."

"No, but I know what kind of creep is in here," I retorted, curling my lip in a sneer. "I'm not going home with you."

"You wouldn't be going home with him," Jasper appealed. "You'll be going alone. He'll just happen to follow you. No harm done, and you stay safe."

I didn't want to be indebted to Edward Masen. He'd done enough damage to my heart, damage that hadn't even begun to heal. I didn't need to further that pain.

I heard multiple sounds of assent from the table behind me. I was sure Alice had prodded them, and I knew it was useless to argue my point anymore. Besides, Edward appeared strong, and he would keep any crazies away—well, any other crazies away.

"Fine. I'll do it. Just stay out of my line of sight. More than that, stay far enough back that I can't hear you. I don't even want to know you're there. Okay?"

He nodded, that afflicted look even stronger on his face. Had I thought him handsome earlier tonight? Now, as I looked at him, he appeared weak, a shadow of the memory I had. Had I really built him up so much in the passing years?

"I'll be good," he sighed, and then mashed his too thin lips together into an even thinner line. He nodded, then gestured for me to pass him, a la Vanna White exposing a letter on Wheel of Fortune.

That's right, Bella. Attribute female characteristics to him, That'll make you feel better.

I turned around to the table. "G'night, everyone." I was sure my sarcastic grin was not lost on anyone, "See you later." I faced him again, only to find him in the same ridiculous pose. Normally I would've laughed, but since it was him, the only emotion I could muster was annoyance. I huffed, squared my shoulders and walked past.

The walk home was uncomfortable, to say the least. Even though I couldn't hear or see him, I knew he was there. The air was thick and oppressive with his presence.

After eight and a half minutes in my own personal hell, I arrived at the main door to my apartment building.

"I'm here," I called. "You're free to go about your normal business. I'd say it's been fun, but well..." I left the sentiment hanging in the air.

I put the key in the lock and began turning the tumbler, when I felt chills run up my spine. I was sure that if I could've seen my arm, it would have been covered in goose bumps.

"It was nice to see you, Bella," his voice whispered in my ear, far too close for comfort. "I'm sorry you don't feel the same." He paused, took a deep breath and continued, "Can't we at least be friends?"

"Yeah, right, Buddy," I sighed and shook my head. "Listen, you ruined any chance at a relationship, friendship or otherwise, years ago. Just let me go and you'll never have to see me again. And hopefully, I won't see you, either." My heart twisted in my chest at my own words, but I would not allow him to have this power over me. It was unhealthy. "Now, please step back so I can open the door." I didn't want to risk the chance that I would touch him if I swung the door open. I wasn't sure how close he was, but I knew he was closer than was safe.

"Okay, Bella." His voice sounded defeated, and I nearly turned around to read his face. I knew if I did that all was lost, my anger, my frustration, my resentment, my bitterness, everything. I refused to let him win.

"I'll leave you alone." His voice was farther away, so I knew he'd stepped back.

"Thank you, um...for walking me home. Have a nice night." I quickly stepped through the door, closing it behind me. Stupidly, I allowed myself to look at his retreating figure through the tiny window. He walked away, his shoulders slumped and his head down, looking like a little boy who'd just had his favorite toy taken away.

I nearly wrenched the door open and threw myself at him, before I came to my senses. What was I thinking? He'd ended us long ago. There was no way he could feel guilt; he'd always been to arrogant to regret anything. Yet another piece of my shattered heart was left by the door to my apartment building as I trudged up the stairs.

I opened the door and walked into my apartment, throwing my coat on the couch—I'd take care of that in the morning. The tub called my name as I walked past the bathroom, so I ran myself a hot, soothing bath. After pouring myself a glass of wine and quickly downing it, I settled on taking a second into the bathroom with me. I felt angry, bitter as I tried to recover the numbness that I had surrounded myself in earlier.

My legs were extremely unstable as I lowered myself into the warm water of the bath I'd run. Soaking in the tub, I allowed the tears to overtake me as I thought about my shell of a life.

End Notes:

Hope you enjoyed.