Listen to My Words

Chapter 11

"Changing Tides"

Here's the story…

I snuggled up closer to his body and breathed him in. He smelled like Snuggles laundry softener. I looked up at his face but I couldn't see him clearly. Rubbing my eyes I called out to him. He looked at me. We were standing now. His arm gradually reached out to me but the closer he got to me the father away I was from him. I tried to take one step closer, but a girl was now where I once stood. Her hair was blonde. Strawberry blonde. My eyes snapped up to Edward's and I realized that he wasn't reaching for me. He was reaching for her. Suddenly she was in his arms and Edward was speaking to me. I couldn't understand him. All I could do was look at her face. It was taunting me. I felt something wet roll down my face. I wiped it away but the second I saw the crimson liquid, I jumped back. I touched my face with my other hand and more appeared. Screaming out to Edward I asked him what was wrong with me. Pleaded to him, begged him, to tell me but he slowly turned away taking Tanya's hand. I couldn't let him go. I ran to him but forcefully I was yanked back. I turned back to look and I saw his face. It was different now. It showed affection while he pulled me back to him and placed his hand on my stomach. Unknowingly I looked down. I couldn't have been farther than six months. My heart cried at the thought of having something with Jared that Edward and I could not have had together.

His words echoed in my minds, "We're a family. You're now mine forever."

I snapped up in bed clutching my chest. My heart was going to pop out considering how fast it was racing. I tried to catch my breath as I threw the pillow off my body. That would explain the scent. My eyes immediately snapped up to Rosalie's bewildered ones. She, too, was clutching her chest, but I could see she was frightened.

Cautiously she walked up to the foot of the bed, "Are you okay?"

I continued to heavily breathe in and out. That was a good question. Was I okay? That was by far the creepiest dream I had ever had. Could it be considered a dream? Nightmare is more like it. Feverishly I nodded my head and swung my legs off the bed. "Yes," I breathlessly added.

She took a moment looking at me before she came closer, "Edward left you a note on the fridge." She passed it to me and continued, "I dropped by Alice's to get her dress and the works before I came here. You'd never believe the amount of crap she has." I watched her as she went back to the packed bags.

"When'd you get here?"

She pulled out some containers and metal boxes, "I'd say about half an hour ago. You were sleeping so well I didn't want to wake you," She turned back to me, "but it looks like you woke yourself." She walked into the bathroom and raised her voice, "Where did you have in mind to go shopping?"

My mind couldn't interpret everything she was saying. Let alone her odd sunny outlook on today. It makes me wonder what she's planning on doing. I played with the post-it note. "Just to the mall."

I read the note. It wasn't anything personal.

I'll be back around 5 or 6. See you guys tonight.

-E

My face twisted in disgust. See you guys tonight. Obviously this note was meant for his two ladies.

I finally took notice of Rosalie standing in front of me. Awkwardly, I placed the note down and ran my hands threw my hair. "What?"

She threw me a knowing expression so I fessed up, "This note isn't for me Rosalie. It's for whoever happens to be in the house today," I half mumbled, "I thought he'd at least leave a note on the bed."

Rosalie heard me, "Oh, he did."

My eyes instantly met hers, "He did?"

She crawled onto the bed, flipping up sheets, and found the note, "It was ever-so-neatly placed on the pillow before you went all crazy on it."

I grabbed the note, pathetically expecting some sort of love confession.

Boy was I wrong.

We need to talk tonight. I don't care when. We need to talk.

My eyes involuntarily widened and my eyebrows rose. How many times does the shit have to hit the ceiling?

"Well what's it about?" She sat on the end of the bed. I crumpled the piece of paper and threw it in the garbage can. Rosalie's eyes followed my hands and then back at my eyes. It might just be better to shred the note. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I carefully ripped the note into small bits and threw them in the trash.

Nonchalantly, I walked into the bathroom, "Like you don't know."

"But I don't," she called out after me. I answered with the closing of the door. I took another show, washed my face, brushed my face, you know ordinary things, but my reflection caught my attention. I turned all kinds of directions in the mirror. I failed to put a finger on exactly what it was, but I looked hot. I know I'm attractive but I don't know if it's the freshly blow-dried hair or washed face that sealed the deal. I put on my foundation and opened the door to head over to my closet. I was expecting to see it exactly the way I left it last night. What I was not expecting was to see Edward's drawers half-opened and nearly half of all his shirts strewn on the floor. To make matters worse, Alice and Rosalie's bags were everywhere with half made outfits on the counter. My breathing picked up as I took in the scene.

I heard her voice behind me, "Now I know what this may look like, but in my defense half of this mess was here when I arrived." I stepped over to my dresses ad picked out a navy romper with small pastel pink and white flowers. I grabbed a pair of black strap heels and walked out of the room.

"Really, don't be mad. Once you see what the guys have downstairs, this will look spotless." I was placing one leg into my romper when her words hit me. This will look spotless? If I knew having everyone over meant a trashed house, I feel I should've at least received a waiver to sign. I mean, I cleaned this freaking house four days ago. I calmed myself down. Today is going to be a fun day. We're going dress shopping, having dinner with everyone, and then a nice night of dancing. This day is going to be just fine.

"I'm not mad or at least not trying to be. Today's going to be great."

Her smile widened as she took my hand, "Fantastic because I'm really excited about what Jasper and Emmett brought."

We walked downstairs and I saw some bags which I assumed were Jasper's and Emmett's. I didn't exactly know that Edward and I were going to have a full house tonight but maybe that's one of the things he failed to mention.

"So everyone is staying over?"

Rosalie went over to the refrigerator, "Yes, Emmett and Jasper will be here around five and Alice when she gets out of the office. Lord knows when that'll be."

I nodded my head as I took in the information. "Should I cook anything? I mean since everyone one will be here?"

She laughed as she opened the refrigerator and freezer, "Does it look like we'll be eating?"

The refrigerator was filled ceiling to floor with drinks and margarita mixes. My heart nearly stopped at the amount. It was insane. We're having a night out not hosting a college frat party!

"Sweet isn't it?"

I was finally able to speak, "Why would we need such an insane amount of alcohol?"

She shrugged as she closed them back up, "I don't know, we didn't really plan. Emmett impulse buys with alcohol."

I laughed and walked to the pantry. "So where's the princess?"

She automatically knew who I was talking to, "Sleeping. I'll wake her up and a…" A smile appeared on her face and my stomach instantaneously hit my gut.

I grabbed a bag a bagels and turned towards her cautiously, "What?"

"Maybe you should wake her up? It'd be awfully nice."

I placed the bagel in the toaster and tried to understand where she was going with this.

She continued, "She's Edward's best friend, Bella. I think you guys need to get along for Edward's sake."

"Seriously, who are you?"

She couldn't help but laugh, "Kill her with kindness. We both know she thinks she's a bad bitch and fighting fire with fire doesn't work so we might as well make her miserable."

I rolled my eyes. "What do you want me to do? Walk into her room and hope she had a goodnight's sleep?" Her smile somehow got even larger.

A bagel and a forceful pep talk later I was standing outside the bitch's room.

Just open the door. Tell your arm to reach for it. Tell your brain to make your arm do it. Tell yourself to tell your brain to tell your arm to do it.

Why am I so nervous? This is my house. That is my room and those are my sheets she's sleeping in.

Go, Bella, go!

I crept into her room and I took it in. Edward definitely made her feel comfortable. Her clothes were strewn everywhere and it made me shutter at the thought of what the bathroom would look like. Makeup would, no doubt, be caked on the counter with the amount she needed for her mammoth-looking face. I pondered as to what I could do and an idea hit me.

Lights, camera, brightness!

I swung open the blinds and I clapped my hands, "Time to wake up Ms. Bitch!"

Her eyes immediately sprung open as if I summoned the devil. "What did you call me?"

I skipped over to her bed and jumped on it, "I was just saying good morning." Insert fake smile here, "We are going to have the best time today looking for dresses. I suggest you hurry because we're leaving in awhile."

The beady eyes stared at me, "What's awhile?"

I made myself look apologetic, "45 minutes. I'm sorry, you just looked so peaceful so I let you sleep. But hurry, go to the bathroom, go!" She gave me a dirty look and with that she went into the bathroom. I couldn't help but place a big, fat smirk on my face. Looking around her room I found her push-up bra and took it with me. Bella: 1. Bitch-0

It turns out that Rosalie was waiting for me outside the door. She immediately took notice of what I had in my hand.

"Ooh, lemme see." She surveyed the bra and scoffed. "What is she? 12?"

We let her get ready in peace while Rosalie helped me set up the guest bedrooms. After countless disagreements about the set up downstairs we were finally finished and so was Ms. Bitch.

"I'm ready." Oddly she stood in the doorway looking somewhat awkward, uncomfortable even. My heart melted a little.

"Okay, well let's go."

We walked into my car and as I reversed I asked Rosalie where we're going.

"To our little Soho district."

I chuckled, "You wish you were in New York, don't you?"

She sighed and clutched her chest, "I would die to go, but with work it's a hell of a shot away."

We continued talking about whatever came up and I realized how amazingly chill this chick was. It was easy to relate to her and I felt like I had known her for years. How could I have thought she was messing with Edward? Inside I shook my head. But no matter how tough I was trying to act, the fact that Tanya didn't say one word this entire fifty minute ride was eating me up inside.

Here goes nothing, "Tanya what have you been up to?"

Rosalie shot me a look but I quickly dismissed it. I waited for her to answer but all I could hear was the hum of my car.

She had better be swallowing her pride to be taking this long to answer, "I've been working." Again I waited for her to speak again but she said nothing.

"What do you do?" I probed again.

"I'm a nurse." I swear it's like pulling teeth with this woman.

"Oh that's nice. What made you want to be a nurse?"

I saw her expression sour in the rear-view mirror.

"Just stuff happened."

Tanya's death stare prompted me to shut up. Let's just say that the rest of the ride was silent and the shopping wasn't that productive either. Rosalie was too preoccupied to making me miserable that I couldn't keep tabs on the girl. After three hours of uncomfortable clothes and fitting room waits, I could honestly say we lost her. Well, no, reword. She lost us. She didn't listen to us when we said we're done and whenever she was done she walked out of the damn store like she drove herself here. So that brings us to the present: Calling Edward for Tanya's number.

Edward's voice rose, "What do you mean you can't find her?"

I rolled my eyes, "Edward, it's not that serious. I just need her number."

I heard him take a deep breath, "907-664-0843." He paused, "You guys didn't do this on purpose, right?"

I resisted the urge to say something smart, "No. Thanks for the number. Bye."

I hung up the phone with allowing him to respond.

He was acting like we lost his blue-ribbon Indonesian parrot or something. It's a girl. A girl who knows what she's doing.

Rosalie called Tanya to get her ass over to the food court.

I placed my head in my hands, "What is his problem?"

"What'd he say?"

"As if you couldn't hear him from where you're sitting." I sighed and ran my hand over my hair. "Where is this girl anyways?"

A good twenty minutes later and Tanya was still a no-show. Rosalie and I decided that we would try and find her no matter how much our feet were hurting.

"This has to be a cruel joke, Rosalie." I squinted my eyes to get a better look on the crowd.

She remained oblivious to my complaint.

"So…" She paused and allowed myself to become nervous. "How are you and Eddy-boy? And before you say: We're okay Rosalie, why wouldn't we be?" Do I really say that that often? " I want you to cut the crap. No more bullshit."

I breathed in and tried to find a place to start. That was easy, "Ever since I slept with some guy, things have been…not so good."

"Before you continue, tell me everything that happened. The truth. I only know Alice's twisted tunnel vision story."

"Well, we were at a party and I was obviously drunk and I got confused."

I left it at that. I pursed my lips and scanned the kiosks for her. For once I needed this girl. I needed to take the attention off of me and back on her. Where it should be.

"Bella," Rosalie paused. Most likely trying to correctly phrase her question, "How do you get confused?"

I halted my teeth grinding session to answer her question. Her question that, I'm sure she knew, was loaded with bullets. "When I'm drunk, I get horny." I could feel the blush overcoming my face. "So my drunken logic was that I get Edward and have a little fun."

I heard her snort. Instantly I gave her a death glare. "Rosalie, this isn't funny."

Low laughs poured out of her mouth, "What do you define fun as?"

Rolling my eyes, "You know…fun."

"Fun like jumping on a trampoline?"

I deadpanned, "No."

"Rollercoasters?"

"No."

"Singing 90s songs in your car?"

"No, Rosalie!"

Her laughter filled my head, "I won't stop until you say it!"

I mashed my lips together out of frustration. She knew what I was talking about. She knew. She just wanted me to say. Well, fine. Rosalie gets what she wants, yet again!

"Sex! Okay! I wanted to have sex with him!"

A twinkle appeared in her eyes, "Oh no. You didn't want to have sex with him. You wanted to smush with him. Get freaky with him. You wanted to whip out the leather and spank his little tush!"

An old lady mortifyingly looked at Rosalie and walked a little faster. Oh, Lord.

"I swear you get off by talking about people's sex life. Especially mine."

"Yes, Bella, you're lack of a sex life is what gets me off each and every night."

I rolled my eyes yet again. "And you had to take it to the next level."

Her face calmed, "In all seriousness, how did he take it?"

I guess you could blame the fact that I had no source to vent to but I was suddenly overcome by verbal diarrhea. "He left me. Like it wasn't even the day after. He just drove me home, packed his stuff, and left. And I was a hot mess. I don't know if it was the alcohol or the fact that we've never been apart that made him leaving so horrible, but I think it's actually made me stronger. I mean a couple days later, I grew confident in knowing that I would get him back no matter what I wanted to do. Plus I couldn't stand not having him by my side. He really is all that I have." I ended my powerful rant with a mumbled sentence. A mumbled sentence that made me feel somewhat insecure with the honesty that was packed in it. He is all that I have.

"Bella, I know this may be out of context or whatever, but you can't be that dependent on a man. It just isn't healthy. What if he does leave you? He decides that he doesn't want to be with the woman that cheated on him and wants some other girl? What are you going to do? Become a mess? No. That's not an option. Who knew I'd be teaching a married woman how to be independent?"

"But you don't understand. He makes me so much happier than I would be without him. I can't picture my future without him. The father of my children, growing old. Those are all the things I imagine for us. I mean when we're not fighting, we're great. He comforts me, I comfort him. It's just that we haven't had any problems. That's why this is so rocky."

"Denial is basically dripping from ever word you just said." I cast my eyes down. She was right. "Let me tell you something that I've observed. You suck at voicing your opinion when something happens and you bottle it in. He sucks and I mean sucks at expressing his feelings no matter if it could kill him. So that makes you unleash all of your fury out on him which makes him even more defensive. And you might think that he's open with you but I'm pretty sure that you don't know everything about him especially with his mouth of steel glued shut."

I was speechless. I've never been called out to that degree before and wow did it feel…shitty.

I didn't know which was harder to accept: That she has observed this within the past few days or that Edward really doesn't talk to me. At least not on a real heart to heart level.

Rosalie began speaking, "Now I'll let that sink in for you because I know that was a lot and I'm sorry that I had to lay it out like that but…"

I couldn't focus that much to what she was saying because another voice filled my ears. It was a woman's for sure. A full out screaming match with whoever she was talking to, but I couldn't tell where it was coming from.

"Shh…"

Her face instantly showed she was offended.

"No! Listen!"

The woman was quiet and then there was a loud sigh, "No. I'm not agreeing to this. I deserve him just as much as you and what sickens me is that you never wanted him in the first place!"

Rosalie and I looked at each other with the recognition of who it was.

Tanya.

We shuffled closer together to try and understand the words that were flying out of her mouth.

"I'm here for some support which you've never done. You say you want him now but have you ever thought that supporting him means supporting me? I don't understand why you're doing this!" Her voice became unstable and I could hear the tears forming.

My heart became even softer towards her.

"You force me out of my home, take him away from me, and all for what? Tell me." In her listening to the person's reply I could hear her trying to calm down.

"Because I'm an unfit…?" She scoffed, "I can't deal with this here. You're not taking him that is final."

I was stunned in silence. What is she dealing with?

But then if things couldn't get even worse, she turns around so fast we weren't able to react.

Her face automatically refigured itself into a stone wall.

Being at a loss for words, Rosalie stammered, "…Tanya."

All I could get out was, "We tried to call you."

She sneered, "I was obviously caught up, don't you think?"

Rosalie again tried to say something but was cut off by Tanya, "I'm tired, let's go home."

I've never seen a girl walk so fast for the elevator.

The car was difficult. I was torn between comforting her or face the threat of getting my head bitten off by her. To make matters worse the moment we step inside I get a text from Edward.

From: Edward

To: +513-449-3820

What did you to her?