Stephenie Meyer owns twilight.


After they came back from Poughkeepsie, Bella and Carlisle went out a few more times. And each time, they ended up having sex at his place. That was until, all of a sudden, he asked her to break it up. They weren't compatible, he said, or something like that. She was looking for the love of her life, he was sure that was a lost cause. He spent his life having short-lived affairs, but he was incapable of trying a long-term relationship. She was looking for something. He wasn't, he was just wandering.

"So what do you expect me to do?" Bella asked him. "To cry, to beg or maybe start yelling?"

"What we had wasn't something to cry for or yell. I'm glad, you're dealing with this, without anger or a hurt ego."

Wrong. Of course, she had a hard time staying calm. Of course, she was hurt. Of course, she was furious with him for rejecting her. Incompatible. Alright, they were different characters. She was rebellious and undisciplined and born to be all kinds of trouble. He was calm and secure behind his perfectly created façade, but instead of being happy that a woman like her had given him her company and her interest, he stood before her with a ponderous air, telling her to break whatever was this between them up.

Fine. She would forget him and move on. Life goes on.

~L~

Losing Carlisle meant that she lost her last friend. She decided to call Tanya.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Tanya… It's Bella." Bella replied hesitantly. It had been a while since they had spoken.

"Bella! Oh, how are you? Where have you been all this time?"

And just like that Bella knew she was forgiven. "You know… Just doing stuff…" she didn't know how to explain the whole Carlisle thing.

"Have you met someone?" she asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

"Well… yeah. But it didn't work out. Waste of time." She said trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

"Hmm… Well, if you don't have anything better to do you can come tomorrow at my place. All girls from work will be here. Maria is bringing a physic here for fun. You know, hand reading, cards and stuff."

Bella thought about this. It had been a while since she last spent time with her colleagues and of course she had neglected Tanya who had been nothing but a good friend to her. And all that, because of Mr. Cullen. She was terrible.

"It will be fun." Tanya pressed when she didn't receive an answer.

"Okay. I'm coming. What time?"

~L~

She tried her best to look pretty. She was wearing a blue dress and black boots and her hair hung around her shoulders in long waves. She had applied a bit of make-up and made her eyes look smoky. She looked good.

The taxi pulled up in front of Jared's house. Tanya had recently moved in since his place was big enough for a family. The family they were going to have together. Bella took a deep breath and got out, ignoring the tug that she felt on her heart. She walked slowly to the front door and before and she could knock, the door opened and Tanya pulled her in by the hand.

Bella almost fell with the force of Tanya's hand and suddenly she was enveloped in Tanya's arms.

"Hey!" she said laughing.

Bella hugged her back and then stepped back to look at her.

"Miss Denali you look hot!" Bella said and smiled. Tanya looked so happy and beautiful. She was wearing this dress that made her look ten years younger and her face looked fresh. The ring was shining on her finger and her smile was like nothing she had ever seen. Bella felt her chest constrict as she thought if she had ever looked this happy with Jacob.

"Thank you! You look good, too. Of course, you owe me an explanation. And don't think that I bought the lame 'waste of time' excuse. Something happened here. You're so going to spill!" Tanya said looking at her meaningfully.

Bella giggled a little but said nothing. "Where are the others?"

"In here. Alice will be coming soon."

"Alice?" Bella asked.

"The physic." Tanya explained and led her through the house towards the living room.

Bella took a look around the house and admired the decoration. Jared's house was so big. Too big. She guessed Tanya had made major changes since she moved, considering that it used to be a bachelor's house.

When they reached the living room Bella sat with the others and they started talking about Tanya's upcoming wedding and how wonderful and perfect everything was. Bella was screaming inside of her. She hated having this kind of conversation. Not because she was jealous of Tanya but the wound from her marriage was still fresh and hurting.

The physic came later effectively ending the wedding conversation and they all gathered at the dining room, where Alice worked her magic. She was a petite lady with short black hair and wild blue eyes. She read cards for every woman and Bella looked at her mesmerized as her piercing blue eyes eyed the cards and her small hands touched them in a way that gave you the impression you were in the middle of a ritual.

When Bella's turn came she took her place opposite from Alice. Alice looked at her and then offered her the cards.

"Touch them." She said in her high-pitched voice. Bella touched the cards with her fingers and Alice smiled and then spread the cards.

The others watched and giggled a little.

"Trip. You're going on a long trip." Alice said her eyes focused on the cards.

"Right." Tanya said. "Christmas break." And then laughed.

"And money. I see a lot of money coming. Maybe an inheritance." Alice continued.

"You're getting a raise. Hundred dollars tops." Tanya whispered to Bella's ear, laughing quietly.

"Two men." Alice said. The others stilled. "You're between two men. The one is young, gorgeous. You're waiting for the other. But he isn't coming."

Alice tapped her finger on a card. "This one isn't coming." She told her looking at her, her blue eyes piercing. Bella only thought of two names. Carlisle. And Jacob. Those were the ones Alice meant.

Alice pressed her finger to the other card. "This one wants you."

"Leave one for us. The gorgeous one if you can." Maria laughed.

Bella laughed and everyone joined her. After that, Alice finished and left. The rest of the girls continued their party. Only this time they had opened a bottle of wine and sat on Tanya's comfy couches talking about everything and anything.

Bella smiled and talked whenever it was necessary, but her mind was wandering elsewhere. For some reason, she couldn't forget Alice's words. She had never believed in such things but something in her eyes told her that it was true.

If Jacob wasn't coming then she shouldn't bother worrying about him. She sighed and thought about Carlisle and the fact that he still wanted her. She shouldn't have let him go that easily. And… if Jacob came, she should have someone next to her. Someone, to show him that she gotten over him. That she didn't think of him anymore. That their story was nothing but a bittersweet memory.

Carlisle could be that someone. He was rich, successful, sophisticated. Alright maybe a bit too old for her but he was more handsome than other men, who were much younger than him. Jacob would be surprised to see her with someone like him. He would feel jealous. He would definitely feel jealous because she had found someone much better than him. That's what interested Bella now.

Someone said a joke and the rest laughed loudly, shaking Bella out of her thoughts. She left her plans for now, and focused on her company. Tomorrow she would call Carlisle.

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