Author's Note: Sorry this update took so long. I kept starting to post and then getting distracted with RL stuff. Thus being so, I'll be posting the next chapter very soon…either later tonight or tomorrow sometime :)

Chapter 6

Things were pretty silent between Bella and I for the next few days. I'd get the occasional text, but my place in her life had all but disappeared. I went from barely doing more than sleeping in my house to spending every waking minute wandering around it feeling lost. Finally, I broke down and called the one person I knew could give me solid advice. Some might think it was odd, but our relationship was of its own unique ilk and this seemed to cover the general umbrella of exism mixed with friendship when it came to Alice.

The line was static riddled as we talked in the wee hours of the morning here at home while it was mid-morning halfway across the globe where Alice was undoubtedly prancing around the streets of Milan in outrageously expensive and equally tall stilettos while chattering away at me on her bejeweled iPhone. Alice was a bit of a unique individual, but you couldn't help but love her, or at least I couldn't.

I may have always held a torch for Bella, but that didn't mean that I never fell in love. If Milan hadn't come calling and both Alice and I recognized that we couldn't steal each other from our lives and dreams, we would have went through with our wedding plans and been happily married right now. Alice was my best friend before anything else and she understood me in a way that nobody else ever would. We would have worked well as a married couple, but it wasn't our fate, and we accepted that and had the smoothest, friendliest breakup in the history of mankind. She packed up her things, leaving a few remnants of her touch on my life behind like the slippers in the guest room, and gave me a tearful hug goodbye before getting on a plane for Italy, now keeping tabs on my life via email, facebook, and texting.

"Jasper, you do realize you've just repeated your mistakes of fifteen years ago, don't you? You and Bella are so perfect for each other. I think everyone saw it, even Edward, which is why he always bristled so much when you were around. The jealousy of your friendship floated like waves off of him anytime the two of you would get into any kind of serious discussion or joke around like you always did. All I can say is you better hope that she wakes up and smells the coffee soon, because otherwise you're all going to spend the next decade twice as miserable as you have been up till now!"

I sighed. "Alice, Edward is her husband. As much as I hate it, I know Bella and she's going to follow those wedding vows till her dying day or until Edward finally cuts the cord. I can't even say in full confidence that she would leave him if he cheated again. I can't do anything about that or she'll just end up resenting me or feeling guilty. I just have to step back and let them have their space."

Alice started to mumble in Italian what I was pretty sure were a string of curse words before she switched back into English. "Jasper Lee Whitlock, when are you going to learn to embrace your destiny? I swear, if you make me fly back to the states to sort you out, I'll make you regret it."

I couldn't help but smile picturing the pixie storming in and pummeling me with her big, expensive Hermes bag before tugging me by the ear to the bathroom, putting me through a vigorous makeover before shoving me in the direction of Bella. It was a disturbing image, but it also made me smile.

"I love you, Pixie."

Alice sighed that musical sigh that always made me chuckle. "I love you too, you big, goofy, fashion disaster! Now go find your ball sack, reattach it, and do something to make your dreams happen instead of sitting back and waiting for fate to work in your favor. Sometimes you have you go chase your dreams, Jasper. I have faith that you will find your way."

"Thank you, Alice. Thanks for listening and beating me over the head with your wisdom and loving advice."

Alice chuckled before I heard a horn honk and her voice get loud and gruff as she cursed out someone on her side of the line in Italian again. "Stupid Italian drivers! They all think that every road is a Grand Prix race! You're welcome and keep me updated. Go sleep, Jazzy. I'll hit you up on facebook before I crash tonight."

"Alright, Allycat. Have a good day."

The line went dead leaving me staring out the picture window into the darkness of the front yard. I'd gotten the call just a couple of days after my infamous phone call with Bella informing me that I'd been hired at Cullen, my first day was going to start in just a few short hours. Half an hour later, I got a text from Bella informing me that she too had been hired. The possibilities were high that I'd be seeing her for the first time in almost a week and I wasn't sure how to feel about that. With a sigh, I moved to check that the doors were locked and turn off all the lights before making my way to the second floor where the master bedroom sat empty waiting for me. I released another pathetic sigh before I opened the door and climbed directly into bed, closing my eyes and wishing away the next few hours, feeling both excited and anxious at the prospects of seeing Bella again.

The night seemed like it was only a few minutes long before my alarm clock began to wake me. I rolled out of bed with a groan before stumbling into the shower, washing quickly with barely open eyes before moving to finish dressing. Half an hour after emerging from the shower I had my hair combed back, my second best suit on, my briefcase in hand, and my game face on. If it weren't for my anxiety over seeing Bella, I'd probably be smiling like a madman.

I grumbled to myself as I got in the car, thinking about how if I hadn't gone and beaten down Edward's door and made him face what was happening with his family in his absence, I'd probably be picking Bella up to carpool. Instead, I drove by myself into the city, glad that I seemed to catch a break as far as the morning traffic went. I slid into a visitor space on the first floor of the parking deck as per Carlisle's request and straightened my tie one last time before stepping out of the car and making my way toward the elevators. Tomorrow after HR had processed all of my paperwork and completed my hire, I would have my very own reserved space to find and park in.

As I was making my way toward the elevator, I saw the familiar minivan pull through the gate, sliding into the space next to my car. I debated going on to the elevator and not facing Bella right away, but a part of me though it was better to get it over with instead of dreading it the rest of the day.

Bella jumped out of the car, looking at mine as she clopped past it in a pair of heels while fidgeting with the black fitted jacket that matched her skirt while juggling her purse and briefcase. She didn't notice me until she nearly ran me over having been focused on my car more than where she was going. She began apologizing immediately before looking up to lock eyes with me, pausing mid sentence as a blush illuminated her face and neck in an adorable pink hue. The admiration quickly shifted to concern as I looked closer to see how tired Bella appeared, dark circles ringing her eyes, which seemed dull and tired.

"No, no, it's okay, Bella. I saw you drive in so I decided to wait and go up with you. No damage done."

Bella sighed and nibbled on her lip with a nod. We stood awkwardly for a few moments before she suggested we make our way up. Not much was said on the ride up except that we were both headed to human resources. There we would both endure the same process with paperwork and introductory orientation after which I would move on to my floor to settle in while she stayed in HR and learned the ropes. Before long, she was most likely going to be one of the people taking people step by step through the Cullen hiring process.

We entered the doors for the HR department, and were immediately met with a small, perky brunette who introduced herself as Bree. She led us to a conference room where folders full of paperwork were waiting for us, inviting us to begin filling out our W-4 forms and other necessary information before reviewing the company handbook which would be discussed in greater detail after the last new hire arrived.

Half an hour later, Bella and I had both finished our paperwork and were sitting in uncomfortable silence while we waited for either the other new hire to arrive and/or Bree to come back and begin the orientation proceedings. Finally sick of the awkwardness, I broke the tension.

"I'm glad you got the job, Bella, though I believed that they were smart enough to see that you'd be perfect here. Are you excited?"

Bella cleared her throat and shifted in her seat, fidgeting with the pen lying on the table before her.

"It's sort of bittersweet. I missed being able to enjoy our morning routine and seeing the kids off to school. Edward wasn't very pleased either. He wanted me to turn it down, but like I told him, I couldn't let Esme down after she took the chance on me and I don't want to be in such a precarious position if he changes his mind again. It was an…unpleasant conversation."

I frowned over at her as her shoulders hunched. She swallowed hard before looking up at me through her lashes and I realized that she was just was worried about what I was going to say to her today as I had been about her. I sighed.

"He doesn't understand, but I'm proud of you for sticking with it. I know it would be really tempting to fold and go back to the way things were, but then again, you've always been one who tries to be prepared for every eventuality."

She shot me a small smile as she nodded. "It's never going to be the same. I'm never going to feel safe again. It's disconcerting."

I nodded, not knowing what to say in reply. "Well, I meant what I said the last time we really talked. I'm here whenever, wherever, and you know I'm not just saying that. I mean it wholeheartedly."

Her eyes began to look a little watery as she smiled her small expression of gratitude just as the conference door opened. A flustered Bree came in with a scattered looking female following her, suit jacket askew, pen hanging out of her mouth as she pawed through her massive purse that looked like it could house an entire three ring circus.

Bree sighed as she took her place at the podium at the end of the table. "Please take a seat at the open folder, Mrs. Cope and begin filling out the paperwork while we begin orientation since we need to hurry up and get Mr. Whitlock up to the tenth floor for a meeting with Mr. Cullen this afternoon." She turned a slightly too bright smile at me, her eyes twinkling as she cocked her head at me before glancing over at Bella with a polite smile.

With that, the three hour long orientation session began with an hour of going through the handbook as a group before signing the agreement at the back of the booklet affirming we had been walked through the company's policies and handing it in. Next, we had to watch several reject safety films from the eighties and early nineties featuring people with big hair and hilarious period appropriate clothing directing us on the dos and don'ts of workplace safety protocol.

After that torture finally ended, we handed in our paperwork to the girl at the HR office front desks on our way out for a tour of the building that ended on the tenth floor right outside of Carlisle Cullen's office. Bree turned to me with a huge smile and wide eyes. "Well, Mr. Whitlock, this is where we leave you. I was told to have you just go right in as Mr. Cullen will be waiting for you. It was a pleasure to meet you and I hope you're very happy here at Cullen Inc. We'll see you around."

I nodded and thanked her, casting one last glance at an exhausted looking Bella. The rest of the group turned to walk away when I stopped Bella with a hand on her elbow.

"It's a major waste of finite resources for us both to drive every day. I really wouldn't mind it if we shared the burden and carpooled. What do you think?"

She nibbled her lip, her eyes looking very conflicted. "I would love to, but…"

I sighed. "Edward?"

She nodded.

I mashed my lips together to keep myself from blurting out what I really wanted to say before letting out a slow breath. "Well, just think about it. It'll save us both a bit of money that can go toward afterschool care for the kids and would help save the planet at the same time."

She shot me a sad smile before nodding slowly. "I'll think about it."

I smiled in reply. "That's all I can ask."

With that, she stepped back and turned to join the other two ladies waiting at the elevator and watching us with curious expressions. I watched her walk away for a moment before turning to face Carlisle Cullen's door. I raised my hand and knocked softly, smiling as I heard his voice on the other said.

"Come on in, Jasper. I've been expecting you."

I opened the door to find him leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head, smiling at me like the cat that ate the canary. I just hoped that was a good sign.