Chapter Seven

You're gone away

The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away

(Seether)

I blinked hard and shook my head.

"I'm sorry, did you say Social Services? Is something wrong?"

Alice gestured to my face. "You tell me."

I went into lie-mode in an instant. Mad at myself for jinxing myself today at the zoo. Or maybe mad at Cullen for jinxing me. Did he call someone? Is that who he was all along, a social worker?

I touched my cheek and laughed.

"Oh, this? Pfft. You should see the stairs! I keep making the mistake of wearing socks and running up them. Wooden. You get the picture."

"I see," Alice replied still smiling sweetly, "Could I still come in?"

I opened the door for us both.

"After you."

.

..

.

"Right, and you've been married how long?" Alice had her pen pressed to her legal pad, collecting as much information as possible.

I knew the drill. I also knew how to play along. I'd tell her everything she needed to know, without telling her anything. The second I got defensive is the moment her flags would fly up.

"Three years now, time flies!" I spoke sweetly, glancing at a picture of James and I on our wedding day.

"And where is he now?"

"Business trip."

"Where?"

"Phoenix"

"How long?"

"Tomorrow night."

Alice finally paused, looked up and took her tiny reading glasses off her nose.

"Are you okay, Isabella?"

I didn't waiver.

"Never better, you?"

.

..

.

My meeting with Alice was short lived after that. I knew she wanted more and I didn't give her a single opening for digging.

She left with the promise of coming back to talk again in a week. Standard procedure and all. Apparently it wasn't Cullen at all who'd told someone. I wasn't as good a liar as I thought and the last time I got stitched, the nurse called it in.

It made me sad to think that if I'd met Alice under any other circumstances, I'd probably become fast friends with her. She was small but seemed feisty and passionate. Probably why she chose this line of work, which is also why we'd never be friends. She could single handedly ruin my life if I let her in.

I made every effort to get Alice and Cullen both out of my mind. I called Rosalie and left her a message. Gave her the cliff notes version of the meeting, knowing I'd only have to recall the entire day when she called me back.

I made my way through the house, cleaning the already spotless rooms. I had to force myself to put the Clorox away when I'd almost passed out in the bathroom. Stupid small room with no window.

I scrubbed the kitchen until my fingers ached, vacuumed everything, including the closet floors. Then I finally set my sights to the laundry. I only had one load to do, but there wasn't any time like the present. I began the process of emptying the pockets and checking for stains, when I came across a piece of paper. A piece of paper with one sentence that made me see red and had me calling the last person I should be calling at that very moment.

.

..

.

"Vodka tonic, please," I asked the bartender, and slipped onto the high bar stool. Despite my rush to get out of the house, I couldn't make myself leave the way I looked. I took a shower and took my time with my hair and even put some makeup on. Nothing too noticeable, but I felt like I made my eyes stand out and my lips a little fuller.

I wore a short sweater dress with patterned nylons underneath and knee high boots.

Of course I felt ridiculous the second I left the house, but I'd gone too far by then.

Almost as soon as I sat down, my guest sat next to me and flagged down the bartender. I didn't look up just yet, in fear of losing my words or blushing him away.

"Are you alright, Miss Swan?" his velvet voice coated me like it did during our first phone call.

"I'm sorry, I just needed someone to talk to. Someone who had the power to stop me from flying to Phoenix myself and strangling the bastard." I slipped the travel itinerary toward him, the one that listed not only James but Victoria as well. Who Victoria was, was beyond me. But on this single piece of paper it had them listed as married rooming together.

"Does this hurt you?"

I laughed loud and saw him from my peripheral, with focused emerald eyes.

"Hurt? God, no. It infuriates me! He left this in his pocket on purpose. James doesn't like the salt and pepper shaker to be even a fraction off. He wouldn't be so careless as to forget a piece of paper in his pocket. He's rubbing it in!"

I cleared my throat and looked around the room to be sure I hadn't gained an audience with my outburst.

"I see." was his response.

I downed the rest of my drink and flagged the bartender for another.

"I suppose I should tell my partner to go home then," he looked over to a blonde man who was sitting in a booth by himself.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry. You thought I needed you for the job?"

He nodded.

I put my face into my palms, humiliated.

"It's alright, truly Miss Swan. I'm happy to stay and help you cope with your... anger."

I peeked out through the spaces between my fingers and took in his expression. He was being sincere. I then looked over to the elusive Hale.

"Let me buy you both a drink. Come on."

I jumped up and grabbed his hand. He instantly squeezed it softly. I pulled him with me to the booth where Hale sat.

I slid in, dragging Cullen behind me.

"Hello!" I smiled to Hale and held out my hand. "Bella Swan, nice to finally meet you."

He grinned big, reminding me a little of The Joker. But less creepy and more endearing.

"Jasper Hale, nice to meet you as well, ma'am." He replied, shaking my hand.

"I'm so sorry I asked you two out and made you think it was more important than my own stupid emotions." I spoke quickly and apologetically.

"We're under your hire, ma'am. We'll be whatever you need, whenever you need. Count on that." Jasper said then pulled a thin, hand rolled cigarette from his coat pocket, lit it and pulled a long drag.

His words comforted me, and gave me an odd feeling at the same time. If I felt for Cullen, what I felt for Jasper then it'd be all comfort. But my twisted mind wanted Cullen to want to be here. Not because I hired him.

Only then did I realize my hand was still in Cullen's. He'd made no move to remove it and neither did I.

I was careful not to twitch even in the slightest, in case he hadn't noticed either. I made no plan to remind him to let go.

"So have you two discussed a..." I looked around the room again. No point, the place was eerily empty for a Saturday night. "time line?"

Jasper nodded. Cullen spoke one word. "Soon."

"You should know that after tonight we should not be seen in public anymore. You will have no tie to the two of us in the worst case scenario." Jasper's tone was hushed and serious. I'd just noticed a very slight southern drawl to it.

"Worst case meaning you get caught?" I asked

Cullen and Jasper nodded once, simultaneously.

"I see."

"I should go. I'm sorry, again. I was being irrational and silly."

Edward's hand twitched in mine; I squeezed on instinct in response. The action alerted him, and he pulled his hand away.

I blushed and chastised myself for being such a preteen.

Edward stepped out of the booth to let me out.

As soon as I stood, a voice chirped at me from behind.

"Isabella?" She asked. I knew the voice instantly and cursed fate. How the hell could this all be happening in one day?

I fixed a smile onto my face and turned around.

"Alice! What a coincidence!"

She was smiling bright, and dressed much differently than she was earlier. Less business class and more bubbly girl now.

She smiled up at Cullen then turned to face Jasper.

I could see the stars in her eyes.

"Alice, this is Mr. Hale and Mr. Cullen. I was meeting them for..."

"A job interview." Cullen interrupted.

I nodded and smiled again.

She broke her stare with Jasper and nodded to me, still a little starstruck.

"Oh! Interesting. What line of work?"

I was at a loss there.

Cullen's muscles visibly trembled and Jasper gave him a look of defeat.

"Therapists. We are both licensed therapists and we own a traveling business. We take in big cases that require one on one extensive therapy outside of an office."

Jasper lied smoothly. Too smoothly. I looked up at Cullen and saw the beaten down look all over his face. Jasper was shooting him a look that said I'm sorry and I told you this was coming.

I understood what Jasper was saying to me minutes before, about being here for me.

But what about their comment about the time line? About getting caught?

Alice was speaking, but I couldn't hear a word she was saying. Jasper was talking back to her but their words were drowned out by my own thoughts.

Cullen was staring at me. His entire body tensed, his green eyes were soft for the first time since I'd met him only eight short hours ago. How can I get so involved with someone, and yet get so heartbroken in one day? And on top of that, learn the truth right in front of a social worker invested in my life?

"I'm sorry.. I have to..." I muttered and rushed out the door.