Chapter 7
"So, how did things end up with you and Garrett the other night?" Rose asked as we walked down the sidewalk toward the shop space Alice had decided to rent.
"Not so great." I sighed avoiding eye contact "He was being such a dick, why did he have to goad him like that?"
"Not for nothing B… but anyone can see the sexual chemistry between you and Edward. That preppy boy was trying to claim his territory" Rose laughed
"God… and what the fuck was Edward so angry about? I had to see him flirt with other girls for years!"
"Bella…" Rose sighed not wanting to hurt her friends feelings. "He's in love with you and I know he fucked up and he totally doesn't deserve you, but its fucking killing him. He tried so hard to ignore him, but we both know it's not in his nature." Rose stopped grabbing her friends hand "Don't get mad but…"
"Oh god, what now?" Bella groaned
"Nothing it's just, can you honestly say it wasn't super fucking hot the way Edward went at him?"
Bella blushed and covered her face with her hands not wanting to admit it.
"Ro, how the fuck do you always just read me like that it's not fair!"
"It's a gift!" She laughed "Come on! Tell me you didn't completely swoon at the way he was defending your honor or whatever."
"God what the hell is wrong with me" Bella groaned turning away from Rose and continuing down the sidewalk. "I want to hate him!"
""I know, and I get it girl. But you can't force the kind of love to just go away. You two are doomed" Rose laughed catching up with her.
"You're supposed to be my friend, you know lift me up when I'm down and shit?" Bella punched her in the arm.
"No I'm supposed to be honest, and I always will be, with both you and Edward. I love that punk ass, he's like my brother. I mended his wounds the other night."
"Oh please what wounds? Garrett didn't even get a hit in" Bella groaned embarrassed
"He's a pussy Bella."
"Rosalie!"
"Sorry not Sorry." She laughed "You can pretend all you want that you're into him but I know better. He is sooooo not your type girlfriend. And as far as wounds go… He split all his knuckles and then I'm pretty sure he broke a couple after he punched our kitchen wall when we got back."
"Really?"
"Yeah, he's not doing so great with this whole 'you dating' thing. You going to see Garrett again?"
"I don't know, he called yesterday but I haven't called him back yet."
"Because you're not into him B. Your only dating him because you wanted to prove to yourself that you could move on. End it with the poor guy before he falls in love with you." She laughed
"Helping my sister set up her new shop was at least distracting. She hadn't brought up Bella or the fight yet which impressed me, but I was suspicious that she was only holding her breath until I finished putting together the clothing racks I was working on.
"Last one Ally, where do you want it?" I groaned
"Left front Bro" She smiled taking another of her original designs off the rack next to her to steam.
"After setting it down Edward watched his baby sister. She was in all her glory, this had been her dream since they were kids.
"I'm proud of you Al." He said wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into a hug.
"EWWWW, your all sweaty Edward, and where's your shirt?" She whined
"It's hot as fuck in here, and how about a thank you?" He laughed pulling her tighter as she squealed trying to escape.
The bell over the front door dinged as someone walked inside. They both stopped looking up.
Of coarse Alice had failed to mention she invited Bella to stop by.
"Thanks a lot Al." He hissed at her. Pissed, he walked to the back room to grab his shirt and keys. It wasn't that he was angry with his sister, but it seemed like no matter how hard he tried to leave her alone, she was always there, and seeing her beautiful face everywhere was killing him.
"Shit, Edward wait I'm sorry I didn't think you would still be here, time got away from me." She ran after him
"It's fine, sorry I'm not mad at you Ally." He sighed throwing his shirt on and hugging her tight. "I'm so fucking proud of you! Call me if you need help with anything else ok?" With a quick kiss to her forehead he charged back through the shop, passing Bella and Rosalie and out the front door without even looking up.
Something had to give. If he had to deal with seeing her all the time, especially with the new boyfriend, he was going to get himself into trouble again, and that was not something he could risk. Not even to beat the shit of that little bitch Garrett.
"Fuck! This sucks!" Alice followed her brother as he ran out the door.
"Is that because of me?" Bella whispered
"No shit, Bella!" She groaned
"I'm sorry, I'll go." She sighed
"No! I'm sorry Bella, it's not your fault." Alice sighed hopping up onto the counter next to the register. "I'm serious, if it's anyone's fault it's his and he knows it. This is just difficult for the rest of us ya know?"
"Yea, look I'll stay away from the house for a while. Here… I brought you this to say congrats. Let's just meet for dinner or something when you have time" Bella rambled shoving the bottle of champagne awkwardly into Alice's arms with tears in her eyes. "I love you and I'm so happy for you" She said turning to leave.
Rosalie jumped as she tried to run for the door.
"No more running, we're friends, let's talk about this. Alice is right, but we have to figure this out because we all love each other and this is hurting everyone." Rosalie sighed pulling her friend into a hug and rubbing her back.
" I'm so sorry you guys" Bella cried.
"Nooooo …. B" Alice sighed running to join them and wrapping her arms around her two best friends.
"I shouldn't even be crying this is your big day Al!"
"Oh shush you!" she laughed.
"I think we just all need to be more careful, maybe set some ground rules until things aren't so freshly fucked up with you two." Rose suggested "For example Alice, maybe we should give them both a heads up if the other is going to be around so they can make the decision if they want to see each other without being blindsided?"
"Yea… totally, that was my bad." Alice agreed
"And for now Bella… maybe we should keep Garrett and Edward separate. Edward can't afford another run in like that, and when he see's you together he freaks the fuck out." Alice asked
"Ok, yea, you guys are right." Bella looked to the ground embarrassed.
"And I'll speak to Edward about running in the other direction when you walk in the door. Among other things…." Rosalie sighed.
"Thanks guys." Bella whispered hugging her friends tight.
Edward showered and dressed that night with a heavy heart. It was Thursday, Bella always came over to have wine with the girls on Thursday. Inevitably we all ended up hanging out by the fire outside. It was always just the six of them on those nights, but it hadn't been in a long time now… too fucking long since he sat on one of those big deep chairs with baby on his lap snuggled in a blanket.
8 Months ago:
"Where's Bella" Edward groaned opening another beer. All his friends sat with their girlfriends by the fire, and it made him miss her something crazy.
"She said she might not make it tonight, I asked why but she never responded, probly has a test or something, you know how she is about studying" Alice replied
Edward picked up his phone immediately to text her.
How dare you leave me here by myself baby.
Hitting send he prayed she would respond. Being away from her was like torture these days. She wasn't a baby anymore and it was getting harder to remember why they weren't together. Truthfully, she was the only girl he gave a shit about.
"Bro, I'm gonna go roll up, want to help" Emmett said with a wink.
"Sure" He laughed following him up to the house. "Dude that wasn't subtle at all, you can't wink for shit."
"You're in deep shit with Bella." Emmett whispered walking into the kitchen to roll a joint.
"What the fuck did I do now?" He groaned.
"Look, you can't say that I told you, I was kind of eavesdropping on her and Ro the other night. I guess she was on her way home late from the library the other night and she saw you outside the bar with that Victoria chick hanging all over you and you were walking toward her apartment. B was like hysterical crying bro. You gotta stop this shit dude"
"Fuck, that's not even what happened Em. She's a nice girl and she was drunk, these creepy guys were watching her all night and my shift was over at the bar, so I offered to walk her home. I seriously just made sure she got in ok and came home. Come on dude, we had a beer at like 12:30 that night when I got home, my shift ends at 12, you know I wasn't doing shit."
"Look I know that, which is why I'm giving you a heads up right now. I can't go defend you to Bella because I'm not even supposed to know this and I'm not gonna fuck up my relationship for your non-existent one with Bella." He laughed
"How is it Non-Existent?"
"She's not your girlfriend Edward" Emmett got serious looking him dead in the eye. "Sooner or later, she's going to want that, and if you don't give it to her it's going to break her heart."
"You don't know what you're talking about, what Bella and I have is so much bigger than this boyfriend girlfriend bullshit"
"Does she know that?" Emmett laughed passing him the joint.
His phone vibrated then.
Busy.
That's all it said. Fucking Busy?
Don't be like that, I miss you. What's wrong baby?
I thought so, but maybe not." I sighed, staring at my phone praying for her to answer.
"Bella's not like the other girls you fuck around with, she grew up poor with a shitty mother and father who had to work so much he was barley around. She's shy and insecure, she can't handle your bullshit bro." Emmett sighed puffing on the joint.
I'm sure Victoria Price is available to fill the void. Goodnight.
"Fuck." Edward groaned reading her message. Emmett was right.
