AN: Kids, life isn't cut and dry. I'm not giving you the whole story in every chapter. Bella was a stupid kid. I was a stupid kid.

The italics are memories of the past. Not in particular order and snippets that occur as Bella remembers them. That's how the mind works.

Enjoy.

Chapter 10

"You have Sasquatch feet, Black!" I exclaimed. It made me giggle loudly and it echoed through the sculpture studio.

Jacob and I were flat on the floor with the bottoms of our feet touching in the air. It was in the wee hours of the morning and the many hours of trying to finish our projects had made us start acting like the insane.

He snorted. "Whatever, Swanie. Have you checked out those banana boats you're sporting? Those feet of yours aren't the feet of a delicate damsel. You could kill a man with those toes. The stench alone could put a man in a coma."

"Fuck you, Jake." I put my feet back down. The soles were a dirty brown from the dust that covered the ground.

"We all know you won't be doing that," he answered with a chuckle. "I'm so glad that I'm not your boyfriend."

I stood and dusted myself off. "Because I won't put out?"

"Nah. It's because you boss me around and make me carry your laundry." Jake stood up and headed toward the small fridge in the corner. "That thing is like carrying bricks."

"It's how I smuggle booze into the dorm for you, asshole. You need to worship me for breaking the law and getting you beer." I watched him take out a solitary soda. "Yo Black, try to be a gentleman for once and get me a drink too."

My friend tossed a Coke at my head. I fumbled to catch it and it landed on the floor. Jacob laughed hard and grabbed another. He handed it to me and bowed. "I bestow to you this fine carbonated beverage, Queen of Fumble."

"Shut up." I glanced at my cut up hands from the wire I was trying to sculpt into a wise oak tree. Little, bloody lines made designs on my skin. "We are never going to get these things finished in a couple of hours."

Jacob wrapped his muscular arms around my shoulder. "Of course we are, annoying one. You and I make a kick ass team."

Pennsylvania had been good to me. This university, that was nestled in a small town surrounded by Amish farmlands and outlet malls, helped me find my center. My grades had improved tremendously with my rediscovered study habits. Instead of always searching for unattainable boys, I was now happy to just sit under a canopy of trees rereading great works of literature. Mary Shelly's monster was now my company on dark nights instead of living male monsters in ominous fraternity houses. Those places could be truly frightening.

It wasn't as if I was a hermit. I went into Lancaster with Angela and her friends to go to the old movie theater. We'd watch John Cusack movies and swoon. There were poetry slams every weekend where I would go up and tell dirty limericks to get a laugh. Live music at the student center with Jacob on Thursday nights where I would mock his bad head banging skills. I had a full social life that lI didn't have to feel embarrassed by.

Jacob was the best addition to my life. I never knew I wanted to have a little brother, but when I met the massive Native American boy I knew that he was it. He was the annoying, little brother I never wanted bothering me. Jake believed that we were probably siblings in another lifetime. Turtle siblings to be exact. My raven haired friend was an odd kid. It was always an enjoyable adventure with him around.

This was my life now. I had found peace when I was awake, but my dreams still were filled by Edward Cullen.

"Seth wants to ask you to have lunch with him at the Sunny Side Diner on Sunday," Jacob announced. He was fiddling with the head he was attempting to construct with cardboard, paper towel tubes. "You know how Seth is. He needed my big balls to ask you."

I glanced at Jacob curiously. Of all of Jacob's friends, Seth Clearwater was the quiet and studious one. A baseball cap always perched low over his eyes, his nose was buried in heavy books. I didn't know much about the guy, except that he was kind to those around him. He volunteered at the local soup kitchen. Seth Clearwater was perfectly nonthreatening. It would be comfortable and—

"I don't think so, Jacob. I'm flattered. Really. I just think I shouldn't." I cut my finger on the wire I was trying to trim. "Fuck! I should have made this thing out of tissues."

Jacob hit me in the head with a box of band-aids. "Don't get blood all over the studio. You need to stop the blood shed and meet a nice guy."

"I'm not a nun," I disagreed, as I wrapped a band-aid around my dripping wound. "I went for coffee with Angela's friend. His name was Scott or Sam. Maybe Jeff?"

"You don't remember the poor dude's name, Bell! Damn, you criticized everything about the poor guy." Jacob started using masking tape to create a hooked nose. "Rosie said that guy you used to like moved to Germany."

"Edward's doing study abroad." Alice had called me to tell me. It was better that he was in another country. He was single and so was I, but I needed to focus on my future. "Do you believe in fate, Jake?"

"Yeah. I guess." He chuckled. "I believe that I'm fated to be irresistible to all the ladies."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Seriously."

"Yes, Isabella Swan, I believe in fate. I also believe in the Loch Ness Monster."

That was a true fact. He was saving up to go to Scotland.

I rubbed my eyes. "I think that everything will work out the way it's supposed to. If things were meant to happen then they will."

If I ever saw Edward Cullen again, I was going to take my chance. I was going to rely on fate and hope to get me there. There were infinite possibilities in this world and I was planning on embracing them all.

"You know . . . I will go to lunch with Seth as friends. You can never have too many of those," I told Jacob with a grin.

There was plenty of time for love, but a new friend couldn't wait.

XXXXXX

Edward stole a strawberry off my plate. He popped it in his mouth and looked at me wickedly.

"You still steal strawberries!" I shook my finger at him. "You're a naughty man, Edward Cullen."

He held up a blueberry at me. "These still your favorite?"

I smiled as he tossed it toward my mouth. It flew past my face.

"I see you still miss," he added. "Let's try this instead."

Edward placed a blueberry in my mouth. His fingers stroked my lips.

"I think I like this new way of eating, Edward." I grinned happily. Then pulled away to start eating my waffles. "I have an idea."

"Do tell, Miss Swan." Edward grabbed a piece of bacon and started to eat it. I wanted to lick his lips.

We were eating Florence's famous waffles at the Morning Glory Cafe. The place hadn't changed at all since we first started going there to nurse hangovers freshmen year. The wallpaper was still covered with tiny purple flowers and breakfast was served on paper plates. I watched as a blonde waitress slipped muffins to her friends. Rosalie did the same thing for us when she worked here.

"Let's clear the air about the past, so we can start fresh. This is the perfect time. The morning light streaming through the window. Hot cups of coffee waking us up." I rested my elbows on the table and placed my chin on my fists. "Let's start with Tanya."

He mimicked my pose. "Or we could start with Emmett?"

"Fine." I sat up tall with my head held up high. "I liked you, Edward Cullen, from the first time we met. I wasn't going to break up your relationship, so I decided being your friend would be enough. I didn't want to pine for you. Emmett came around and I thought the attention he gave me, the good and the bad, would help me get over you."

Edward's face still rested on his fists. His eyes bore into mine. "You were hanging out with him at the student center. Emmett. After that night we were together."

"The naked drawing night," I stated nodding. "It was an accidental meeting that time. I saw you and could have stopped talking to him, but I was mad. You were still with Tanya."

"No, I wasn't! We had broken up the day before. I just didn't want you to be the rebound when I was drunk. That night started out one of the best in my life and by the next morning everything was shit." He looked at me in frustration. "I was going to explain everything, but—"

I looked at him sadly. "Emmett?"

"He told me you two were dating," Edward explained. "I was told to back off."

"Emmett only dates his dick. It randomly sticks into holes that are quickly forgotten about. I'd learned my lesson long ago," I sighed. "There were moments Emmett would seemly want to reconnect while you were MIA, but it didn't go past kissing and watching Friends. I couldn't trust him with anything more. He was a distraction from you. It was a major crash and burn situation from the very beginning."

"I'm going to punch that asshole," Edward hissed, taking my hand. "I should have talked to you. I was going home on weekends to help with my grandmother."

I squeezed his fingers. "Ditto for me. So after that you got back together with Tanya."

"No. Who told you that?" Edward brushed a waffle crumb off the side of my mouth.

"Tanya." I moved my hands away to sip my coffee. The strong brew jolted me with new energy. "She kindly told me you were practically engaged."

He started laughing. "That little liar. She was always causing trouble. Those kids of hers are going to be evil. It serves her right. I'll have her call you and confess."

"Kids?"

"Twin boys. They are holy terrors. Poor Felix is sleep deprived," Edward explained. "Felix was my best friend in high school. He should have been the one with Tanya since the beginning. Those two are happy and complete. It's really great."

I had to smile. "Wow. That's great. So why didn't contact me after I transferred? Wait . . . I will fully accept blame for not contacting you. I relied on fate to bring us together."

"That's kind of dumb."

"I agree." I gave a shrug.

"Though I admit it worked out. The fate is happening now, so maybe it was inspired," he stated kissing my palm.

"No, it was dumb. We could have talked years ago if I called you." I took one of his blueberries.

He took one of my strawberries. "You see, cute berry thief, Rosalie told me you needed time to find yourself and I needed time to become great for you."

"What? She did?" I wanted to be angry, but Rose had a good point. I needed to transfer to another school. It was a great place that helped me discover a love of art and education. I needed to focus and find clarity. It was a place that allowed me to do that. "She's a smart lady."

"She is," he agreed. "I think we would have failed before now. We needed to grow up first."

We did. The fact that we were talking things through and not assuming was what should have happened years ago. Unfortunately, we were not in a place to do that back then. Now our future was wide open. I found it thrilling.

My phone beeped and I glanced at the screen. "Jacob is a dumb ass."

"Who's Jacob?"

"Friend, surrogate little brother, annoying gnat, and groom-to-be are a few names we could call him." I smiled at Jake's crazy message. "I'm Best Lady and he's freaking out about his bachelor party. Want to help me plan one and be my date?"

"Of course!" Edward exclaimed. His face was pure joy.

"You done, Edward?" I asked looking out of the window at the beautiful day.

He put his napkin on the table. "I'm all yours."

"Sir, let's go by the water and watch the rowers. We can kiss and you can help me plan this crazy mess for Jake." I stood and held out my hand.

"Your wish is my command, madam."

Our hands met and it felt like a perfect fit.