Author's Note: I know this chapter is too short. I have two midterms tomorrow. But, if you review I will send you a sneak peak at the next chapter, which should be up by Wednesday. Thanks guys! Disclaimer: I don't own Sweet Home Alabama or Twilight.

At first, I think I shocked Edward, because he didn't move. Then his hands moved to my shoulders, and he pushed me away. When I looked into his eyes, I only saw hurt.

"Bella, I think you should go home," he said softly, his hands still firmly on my shoulders. Rejection washed through me, and I felt my cheeks heat up. I grabbed my jacket as quickly as I could and nearly ran out of the house and into my car. I peeled out of the driveway and onto the dark road, driving in the direction of my parents house. Tears began to cascade down my cheeks, and I had to pull over to allow myself to calm down.

What the hell had happened in there? I had kissed him…and he had pushed me away. Not that I blamed in. He'd obviously worked very hard to get over me. I pressed my forehead into the steering wheel and cried. I was so confused. I was engaged to Jake. I loved Jake. Truly, I did. I should turn this car around right now, drive to the airport and go back to New York. I could forget about Forks. And most importantly, I could, and would forget about Edward. I groaned when I saw the flashing red and blue lights pull up behind me. It was starting to rain, and the officer emerged from his squad car in a raincoat. The officer did not come to the driver's window. Instead, he came over to the passenger side of the car and slipped in. I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized it was Emmett. He looked alarmed at my appearance.

"Bella, are you okay?" he asked, a little worried. I just nodded, leaning my head back against the head rest.

"Yes, I'm sorry I'm blocking traffic. I just need to calm down."

"What happened?" he asked quickly.

"I went to talk to Edward, and it was a good talk…we didn't fight or anything. But then, I don't know what came over me….but…but-I kissed him." I said quickly, cringing at the words. Emmett stared at me for a moment before his facial expression changed quickly from worried to furious.

"Bella, I have only asked you for one thing since day one. To be careful with Edward," he scolded, pulling out his cell phone. He dialed a number and held the phone to his ear, refusing to look me in the eye.

"Jasper, it's me. Meet me at Edward's. Bella just left-she kissed him." He mumbled angrily. My own anger bubbled too the surface. How dare he? That was none of anyone else's business. The moment he shut the phone, I told him that.

"Emmett," I nearly growled. "That was none of your business. This is not gossip. I told you that as a friend." He looked at me for a moment, scowling.

"Bella, listen to me. I'm going to be harsh with you, because you're not grasping this. Before I say it, I love you Bella, I really do. But Edward is very different than he used to be. I may not know the circumstances around your separation, but I did have to care for my heartbroken best friend when you did. There were things that happened that…" I didn't let him finish.

"Emmett, he told me all about medical school," I rolled my eyes at him. He chuckled darkly.

"Bella, you seem to be under the false assumption that he was somewhat happy, or functioning even, after you left," he told me, his voice dripping in venom. "Now, I am going to ask you once, I'm not going to ask again. Please, for his sake, leave him alone. You don't know what happened while you were gone, and we'd all preferred if it stayed that way. Please, either work things out with him, or get on the first plane out of here and go back where you came from," he snapped, quickly getting out of my car, slamming the door behind him. Emmett got back into the police cruiser, turning on the sirens, and sped off into the direction of Edward. I sat in my car, frozen in shock, until I saw it was time to start making my way to Seattle to pick up Alice from the airport.

On the way, I decided to stop worrying about whatever big secret everyone way trying to keep from me. I would talk to Alice, and I would explain everything. She would know what to do. She always knew what to do. I pulled into the airport's vicinity just as she texted me to say which door she was waiting at. I smiled in anticipation. I saw her almost immediately. She stuck out like a sore thumb in Seattle. She was too fashionable for anywhere outside the city of Manhattan. She was bouncing up and down in excitement as I pulled up next to her. I threw the car in park and jumped out of the car, running into her arms.

"Alice Alice Alice!" I squealed. We were squeezing each other to the point of air loss, but I didn't care. I had endured a very hard few days, and it was refreshing to see a friendly face. She pulled away from me quickly and glanced around in paranoia.

"Alright, lets get out of here and on the road, Bella. We have a lot to talk about," she said seriously, pushing me towards the car. I helped her throw her baggage in the trunk, and got in quickly. I sped out of the parking lot and merged with traffic.

"So, lets start with the fact that the paparazzi has officially declared you MIA." She laughed. I smiled, but couldn't laugh. Firstly, I was still preoccupied about my talk with Emmett. Secondly, I was exhausted.

"So start talking girlfriend," Alice said, moving in her seat so her back was against the window and she was looking right at me. I shook my head.

"Not while I'm driving. But I know of a good diner in the city. We'll go there and I promise I will explain everything," I told her, turning off the airport highway and onto a street. The diner was only three blocks away.

Once we had seated and ordered, I felt Alice kick off her shoes, and sat cross legged in the booth. I laughed at her.

"Getting comfortable?" I asked. She just smiled and nodded, motioning for me to begin. I took a deep breath, deciding to start from the beginning. I recapped everything she already knew quickly.

"Well, there is one aspect that I left out. Actually, it seems no one knew except Edward and I. You see, I'd filed for divorce papers, but he's refused to sign them from the beginning," I told her. I thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head, and she choked on her own saliva.

"You're still married?" she hissed, eyeing my engagement ring. I only nodded, moving my hands to my lap under the table.

"And Jake doesn't know?" she clarified. I nodded again, slowly this time. She thought for a moment.

"Bella, I think before anything else happens, you need to talk to Jake. And you need to tell him the whole story. I know it's painful for you to talk about, but he needs and deserves to know. After you need to do that, you need to talk to Edward." I nodded, knowing Alice was right. I bit my bottom lip, fighting back tears. Alice's face softened.

"Oh Bella, I can't imagine how difficult this all is. Why don't we get out of here?" she soothed, paying the bill before I could protest. She dragged me out to the car, and we made our way to Forks in almost complete silence.

When we pulled into my parents', there was a strange car in the driveway.

"That's weird," I said, furrowing my eyebrows as I pulled in behind the strange, too expensive for Forks car. Alice looked at the car in confusion.

"What?" she asked, not understanding.

"I don't know that car. In this small of a town, everyone knows everyone, including cars," I laughed. My dad was at work, but my mom was home. Alice and I got her bags out of the trunk. I let myself in the front door, and followed the voices that were coming from the living room. Both Alice's and my jaws dropped clear to the floor when we saw who was sitting in my dad's usual chair.

"Jake? What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, completely shocked.

Next Chapter: The Truth