A/N- Okay this chapter is a little shorter than my others, but it's stuff that has to be said and gotten out of the way for the rest of the story. :) Remember to let me know what you think!
Cheaters- Chapter Seven
The Morning After
BPOV
"Wake up Swan. You got a lot of explaining to do." I heard Rose say as she bounced on to my bed next to me.
"Yeah Bells, it's time to start spilling some serious gossip!" Alice practically sang.
"Wait Alice, aren't you pissed with me?" I raised an eyebrow at her. "I didn't tell your brother that his girlfriend was cheating on him."
"I figure you have your reasons."She shrugged. "What I am pissed about is that you didn't tell ME! I mean we are supposed to be best friends here! I couldn't stand Tanya, and you kept something like that secret! Ugh!"
Of course Alice was going to try to convince me she was more concerned that I kept gossip from her rather than be upset that I kept that secret from Edward. She wanted the whole story to go back to Edward with. I tried to roll over and escape the interrogations that were about to happen, but Rose stopped me.
"Nope," she popped her 'p',"you are going to sing like a bird here. Tell us what the hell happened, and start from the beginning!"
"Can I at least have coffee first? Please? I had a really bad night and coffee might make me feel like actually talking." I groaned.
"Fine, Alice, get coffee and pastries from the kitchen. We will have a girl's morning here in Bella's bed." Rose smooshed her butt deeper into my mattress.
I was able to lay with my eyes closed for another twenty minutes while Alice got everything. It gave me a chance to figure out how I was going to tell them everything. Rose was definitely going to be pissed that I didn't tell her. Especially when she finds out that Jasper knows. Maybe I should keep that to myself.
"Alright, here is your coffee and sugary goodness. Now talk." Alice set the tray in the middle of the bed.
I picked up the coffee and took a long sip of it. Both Alice and Rose just stared at me. I thought for about half a second what would happen in they were made to wait longer, but then I realized that I like my life and would want to keep it.
"Alright frick and frack, calm down. It started the night that you guys had Edward babysit me while you went out. Tanya came over to surprise him. I came out of my room after getting off the phone with Charlie, and Edward introduced her to me as his girlfriend. I took a good long look at her and that's when I realized who she was." I took a bite of the bear claw.
"That's why Edward asked what was wrong with you! You freaked when you saw her!" Alice practically bounced off the bed.
"Yes, that's exactly why I was freaking out. I didn't know WHAT to do. But I decided that I would talk to him the next morning about it. Well, the next morning is when I heard Tanya running her mouth about how Jacob's ex-girlfriend must have been doing something wrong, and it wasn't his fault for the break up. I had to leave. I couldn't listen anymore and I couldn't be near her. "
"Oh my God!" Rose squealed. "That explains so freaking much!"
"Huh? What the hell are you talking about Rose?" I asked. What did that little bit of my story explain?
"After you left, Tanya changed tactics. She was no longer defending Jake, but instead the "whore" he was sleeping with. She kept making excuses for the whore, and how we shouldn't assume that the girl was a whore. It was all very confusing at the time, but now it makes total sense! Why didn't we put that together before?" Rose wondered aloud.
"Well, duh, Rose we didn't think that Tanya was the whore! Why would we? She never gave us reason to think that it was her. I just assumed that she was still trying to defend the whole Jake situation. I thought she might even know the chick that Jake was whoring around with, but never did I think it was HER!" Alice screeched.
"Makes sense to me. I mean if you guys had no reason to suspect that she'd do something like cheat on Edward, there was no reason for you to jump to that conclusion." I shrugged. "Anyways, after I listened to her Saturday I had to get out of here. I didn't have the ability to tell Edward. I decided to bus hop and try to figure out what to do. I didn't want to hurt him. I had all but decided to tell him immediately, but I ran into Leah at the café."
I heard Rose growl. She wasn't a fan of Leah's either. They had fought bitterly in high school, and neither would back down.
"Yeah, she let me know that she and Jake had been sleeping together for awhile. She also let me know that there had been quite the plethora of females in my bed when I wasn't home. I didn't back down to her, but once I got home I just lost it. Between the stress of telling Edward and then dealing with Leah I was emotionally exhausted." I sighed.
"That's why you were talking in your sleep; you always do that when you are stressed." Rose hugged me. "But babe, why didn't you tell us? Why didn't you tell us that Tanya was a whore?"
"You are going to be mad." I ran my fingers through my hair. "I was worried that no one would believe me. It would be my word against hers. And if everyone believed her, then I would lose my friends. I couldn't risk losing anyone else."
Tears formed in Roses eyes. She rarely cried, so I knew that what I said hurt her deeply.
"I'd never listen to someone over you. I know that you are the most honest person out there Bella. I can't believe that you would think that." She sniffled.
"I know Rose, I was stupid. But I wasn't thinking straight. I was dealing with the stress of Jake. I was worried about hurting Edward and the last thing I wanted was to risk what I had left." I was now crying with her.
"Okay, when were you planning on telling him then Bella? Surely, you were going to tell him right?" Alice was started to get impatient. I knew she was a bit more protective of him than she tried to play earlier.
"Yes I was going to tell him. I was going to talk to him Sunday. But then we went bus hopping and it was just a good day. I didn't want to screw it up. Alice, it was the first time in a long time that I was able to just relax and enjoy someone's company. We talked about all types of things. I took him to my favorite sub shop. We even went to a music store where we could rent a piano room for an hour so he could play. I didn't want to ruin it. I know it was selfish." I couldn't look up at her. She was his sister, and had every right to be pissed at me.
"He played for you?" She cocked her head to the side.
"Yeah, I tricked him into going to the store, but once we were in the room he played the whole hour. It was great. Why?"
"He just doesn't play very often anymore. I am glad that you took him there. Piano has always been his release." She smiled. "Now continue on."
"Well, I didn't see him the rest of the week. I didn't think it was something I should tell him over the phone either. I finally decided that I had to tell him this weekend. I know that Tanya has flights on Sundays, so I was going to tell him today. But as you now, Jake beat me to it."
"So what happened last night? How pissed way he?" Rose questioned.
"Oh pissed is an understatement I think. He was furious." My voice was barely above a whisper. "He told me to explain myself. I did and he listened. Once we got to the apartment he told me that he heard everything that I said, and to get out."
"He told you to get out of the car?" Alice's eyes were wide as saucers.
"Yeah, he did. I told him that I was sorry. I was sorry for not telling him. But mostly I was sorry that Tanya did what she did. I don't expect him to want to talk to me anytime in this decade." I pushed the tray to the other side of my bed and lay back down.
"Aw, Bells, Edward is just hurt and upset. Give him some time and I am sure he will come around." Rose smoothed my hair down.
"Maybe he will, maybe he won't. I have no control over it." I sighed deeply. "Do you think that maybe I could just lay here for awhile? I just want to be alone."
"Sure babe, we'll take the tray out. Let us know if you need us." Alice was already picking the tray up.
"Alice, are you sure you aren't mad at me?" I grabbed her arm before she could walk away from my bed.
"I am not mad. I'm hurt that you didn't trust me to believe you. But I am happy that you were worried about Edwards's feelings. I know that you are a good person Bella, and you just got put in a shitty situation. I really think things will work out." She gave me a small smile and walked out of the room.
Rose leaned down and kissed my cheek. "Rest chick, you've had a hell of a few weeks. You'll be fine in the long run."
I watched as she walked out the door and shut it behind her. I hope they were right and that I would be okay in a few weeks.
EPOV
The sun was peering through my curtains when I woke up. As soon as I opened my eyes my head started pound. This was going to be a hell of a hangover. It just proved that I shouldn't drink when I was upset, because I don't have a stop button.
I groaned and got out of the bed. Hang over or not, I couldn't just lie there anymore. I felt gross and needed a shower. I turned the water on warm and stripped down. There was a bruise forming on my left calf from where I ran into the coffee table during my drunken stupor. It wouldn't be the first bruise from me trying to walk around while drunk and stupid. I was surprised there weren't worse injuries.
Once I was in the shower, I let the water pour down on me. Last night's events were coming back to me and I was growing angry again. That whore Tanya. I still can't believe she slept with Jacob Black. And it wasn't a onetime thing. She did it several times. I wondered how many times she told me she had a flight or errands to run and really she was out with him.
I was going to have to go get tested for STDs. I always used a condom, more for pregnancy protection, but I knew it wasn't 100%. Who knew what Jake was carrying? I hoped that Bella got tested after she found out about Jake and his extracurricular activities.
Oh yeah, Bella. I had almost forgotten about that part of last night. I was so angry with her when I first found out that she knew all this time. But that anger subsided some when I heard the reasons why she didn't tell me. I was still upset with her, but I could see her side. Then when she apologized last night, not only for herself but said that she was sorry that I was hurting, my heart melted some. She really did care about me, and didn't want to see me hurt. I was going to have to talk to her, but not yet. I wasn't ready for that conversation yet.
I turned the water off, and climbed out of the shower. I brushed my teeth and attempted to do the same to my hair, but it was a lost cause. After pulling on some jeans and a t-shirt I headed to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Emmett and Jasper were already sitting in the living room.
"Hey buddy, how are you feeling this morning?" Emmett looked up from the show they were watching.
"Hung over and pissed off at that moment," I grabbed a cup from the cupboard. After making some coffee I joined them in the living room.
"So what happened last night after you and Bells left?" Jasper asked. I knew I was treading on thin ice with him about this. Bella was like a sister to him, and I had no doubt that he would have my ass if I upset her too much.
"She told me that she had wanted to tell me, but that something always came up. She had planned on telling me today. She apologized for not telling me. Then she said she was sorry that Tanya hurt me." I took a long sip of my coffee.
"What did you say?" Jasper was still eyeing me.
"I told her to get out of my car." I didn't look up at him. I knew what the response was going to be.
"YOU FUCKING DID WHAT?" He was on his feet.
"Calm down Jasper. Just chill out," Emmett said.
"Chill out? She fucking lays it all out there for you and your response was to tell her to get out of your car?" He seethed at me.
"Yes, that was my response Jasper because I was pissed off. I had a bad fucking night, and I blamed her for some of it." I snapped at him.
"She fucking wanted to tell you Edward. She didn't want to hurt you." He sat down.
"Wait, how do you know that?" I snapped my head in his direction.
"She told me Sunday morning when I woke up. Well, I dragged it out of her. She had all intentions of telling you that day, but I guess you guys were busy doing whatever and she didn't." He crossed his arms.
"Why didn't YOU tell me?" I slammed my hand on the coffee table.
"Because moron, it wasn't for me to tell you, Edward! She was the one that had seen Tanya, not me. She wanted to make sure that you were told in the best way possible. I tried to get her to march out in the living room and tell you the night that Jake showed up, but she refused. She said that it would be cruel to embarrass you in front of your friends."
She really was concerned about how to tell me. It wasn't just an excuse as to why she hadn't told me. She was worried about how I was going to take it. Hell, she didn't want to call Tanya out in front of our friends because it would embarrass me too.
The whole situation was out of hand completely. I wasn't really upset that Tanya was gone; she wasn't that big of a loose frankly. I was upset that cheated on me, and the fact that it was with that disguising pig, JB. I treated Tanya like gold. Even though I wasn't in love with her, I did enjoy being with her. She was a damn lioness in bed. But I guess I now see that some of her moves, she was practicing with others. I wondered how many others there could have possibly been.
Bella found out that there were many others with Jacob. I don't think that Tanya had the time to be with more than must Jake, but she could have lied about her flights. This is bullshit; I hate to be lied to.
If I had to be honest, I was upset with Bella because I was starting to have feelings for her. I wasn't sure about what was going on, but ever since that day on the bus, I was seeing her in a totally different light. She was smart, funny, loving, and compassionate. She wasn't totally wrapped up in herself and her own interest. She wanted to hear me play piano. She wanted to get to know me. So if my heart was broken for any reason it was because I thought that I might be able to develop something with her.
I was resting my head on the back of the couch when I heard the knock on the door. I groaned and dragged myself off the couch. Jasper and Emmett didn't even flinch from their show. God forbid they actually pull themselves away from the TV to answer the door. I opened the door, and there in front of me was Tanya. It took everything in me not to slam the door in her face.
"What do you want Tanya?" I spat at her.
"I came to talk to you about all of this Edward. We need to work through this." I couldn't believe she said this with a straight face.
"Work through what? Are you talking about the fact that you were whoring around with Jake Black? Is that what you want to talk about? "I sneered; she flinched at the sound of my voice.
"Edward, I am sorry. I made a mistake, and it's not one I will make again. Please, can't we have another chance?" she pleaded.
"Are you freaking crazy? No we can't have another chance!" I yelled at her. I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to calm down. "Look Tanya, I'm pissed at how this happen, but it was going to happen anyways. We weren't meant to be together forever anyways. We've been together for a year and half, but I am still not in love with you. We are good friends, and I enjoy being with you, but that's it. We were going to be breaking it off before too long. So let's just do it now. "
She sighed and stared off into nowhere. "You're right, we don't love each other. If I had loved you I wouldn't have done what I did. Fine, we are over. I just wish it had been on better terms."
"Yeah, me too, but it is what it is." I shrugged.
"Have you talked to Bella today?" Tanya asked nonchalantly.
"No, why would you care if I had?" That question coming from Tanya sounded suspicious.
"I was just wondering if Jake called her last night. He called me several times last night and he was fuming about her dancing with another guy at the club. He made me nervous with how angry he was. "
"I'll call Alice, but I think all is fine." I ran my fingers through my hair. "Well, I'm done with this conversation now. Please leave. "
"Goodbye Edward." She smiled slightly.
"Bye Tanya." I nodded and closed the door.
When I turned around, Jasper was standing in front of me. I could tell by the look on his face that he was pissed with me.
"So you can just let everything go with Tanya, but you make Bella feel like shit?" He snapped at me.
"How do you know I made her feel like shit?" He wasn't there, he had no clue.
"I just got off the phone with Alice. I was worried about Bella. Alice said that they talked about everything this morning, but that Bella asked to be left alone and went back to bed. She hasn't emerged since then."
"Maybe she just wants to be alone Jasper. I am starting to understand that feeling…"
"Yeah, or maybe she's feeling depressed and upset about everything." He took a step forward. "You treated her like shit last night."
"Yeah, I guess you could say that. But Jasper you got to understand something…" I took a deep breath. "I'm not that upset about Tanya because even though we were together, we never really had anything that special. I'm upset with Bella because from the moment we met, I felt a connection to her. I felt that I could trust her, and I enjoyed being with her. We were instant friends. She broke my trust."
"Oh boo- freaking- hoo Edward." Emmett jumped up from the couch."You and your stupid trust crap. She was caught between a rock and a hard place. No, I'm not happy that she didn't tell, but I fucking understand where she was coming from. If you can't, than you are a fucking moron."
Emmett stormed down the hall and slammed his door. Jasper and I both watched him in shock. It wasn't very often that Emmett lost his cool like that with one of us.
"He is right Edward. Get your head out of your ass and go talk to her." Jasper followed Emmett's lead and went to his own room. They left me standing in the middle of the living room with my jaw hanging open.
They clearly didn't understand how badly Bella hurt me. If they did, they wouldn't be pissed with me right now. I wasn't ready to talk to her about all of it yet. She'd be fine and it would give me time to cool down. Nothing would get resolved right now if I went there right now. I would get angry all over again and make it worse.
Instead of listening to my friends and going to talk to her, I grabbed my jacket and head out to get some breakfast. I couldn't spend the day here with these hot heads, so I would find other things to do. Stop one was some blueberry pancakes.
Ummm...pancakes..with edward.;)
