Author Note:
Hey! I wanted to clear some things up since one or two have asked this. The reason Bella can't stay with Rosalie is because Rose(along with Emmett and their kids) lives in Forks which is almost a four-hour drive from Seattle. While Bella does work from home, the publishing house is located in Seattle. Also, she can't just up and drive four hours at night. Hotel? Well, maybe she could have the first night, but she was so emotionally overwhelmed that she really didn't think of it especially when a friend offers their place. Now that things have cooled down(sort of) a hotel would be too expensive to stay at for days on end.
Previously...
Edward and were in the middle of cooking lunch. Well, I was attempting to teach him to cook but it proved to be more a challenge than I anticipated. He was elbows deep in the sink when there was a knock on the front door. I thought nothing of it when Edward asked me to answer it, but I was quite surprised when I opened the door.
Standing there was with a grin on her face was Rosalie.
Chapter 11
"What are you doing here?" I asked. I then realized that she a had suitcase with her and my eyes widened. "You're not staying here too are you?" I asked, bewildered.
She laughed. "Of course not. I got some of your things for you. More clothes as well as other things from your apartment."
"You went to my apartment?" I asked in a serious tone.
"Yes, to smack some sense into my cousin."
I blanched. "Rose…." but then Edward's voice filtered through the air.
"Hey," he greeted from behind me. "Bella, are you to let Rosalie in?" he asked hint with a hint of both confusion and amusement.
I turned to him with a glare. "You could have told me you invited her!"
"I invited myself," Rose answered, "and Edward was more than willing to let me stop by so I could bring you some much-needed clothes."
I walked into the apartment as the two others trailed behind me. When we reached the living room, I plopped down on the couch and turned my attention to Rose. "Spill."
She raised an eyebrow at me.
I rolled my eyes. "Tell me what happened when you went to the apartment."
A smile played on her lips. I didn't know what she found amusing about any of this.
"I didn't tell Jasper I was coming by. I wanted to surprise him and surprised he was…"
"What did you do Rose?" I hedged.
The smirk that formed on her face informed it wasn't good. "I may have slapped him when he opened the door…"
"Rose!" I shrieked.
"I told you I wanted to kick his ass."
My eyes widened. "What exactly did you do, Rose?"
Rose rolled her eyes. "I didn't hurt him… much. After he got over the initial shock, he asked what I was doing there. I then threatened to stick my six-inch heel up his ass for asking such a dumb question."
"Good Lord…" I heard Edward mutter from across the room.
Rose then continued with the story. "He started apologizing then I whacked him after telling him it wasn't me he should be apologizing to. The idiot then shuts up and impersonated a statue for a good five minutes. When he saw me lugging a suitcase out your room, he snapped out of whatever trance he was in."
I glanced at the suitcase beside her. "That's not mine," I stated though it sounded more like a question
"I knew you only had one and it wouldn't hold everything you need. The other bag is in the car."
"You packed two suitcases! What the hell, Rose! You're acting like I'm moving out!" I shrieked.
Rose seemed unfazed by my outburst and Edward made no move to respond. I had a feeling he was in on all of it.
"You needed to send a message to Jasper. He needs to pull his head out of his ass or he is going to lose you for good." Rose stated simply.
"You can't just decide that I am moving out! My name is on the lease as well as the utilities. Not to mention, I can't just invade Edward's space!" I was now standing up with my arms in the air.
Rose rolled her eyes. "I ran it by Edward and he is fine with you staying here."
I turned my gaze towards to Edward. "You didn't bother to tell me!"
He winced. "Rosalie thought it would better if she told you…."
"Did either of you consider that maybe I should be the one to decide if I stay or go back? What is with you both making decisions for me?"
Rose stood and moved in front of me. "I'm trying to help you, Bella. And you're right, you should have been the one to make the decisions, but what would have you decided? To go back. Why? Would it be in your best interest? No. Because you would be back in the same cycle as before except worse. And Jasper still hasn't apologized and his behavior was uncalled for. You have helped him so much these past few months and it's time he helped himself. You've grown too soft towards him, Bella. Honestly, you can be a pushover at times with him and you weren't like that in high school. I think in the last few years you've been so scared of losing him that you let things slide and do whatever you can to help him at any cost. I get you want to be a good friend but you have to have a backbone at the same time. You've even gone lax on me! In high school, you would have chewed me out days ago. I don't know what's happened but it's gone on long enough. Should I be insisting you not go back and packing your stuff and making decisions for you? No. But Bella, someone has got to look out for your best interest because all you're thinking about is Jasper."
I had no response. Maybe Rosalie was right…
She let out a breath. "We can always take your stuff back to the apartment, but Bella…. This, in my opinion, this needs to happen."
"But he's going to think that I left him… just like everyone else." I whispered.
She threw her arms up."But you haven't! And neither have I for that matter. He's the one who moved to Seattle and stayed there!"
"Yeah…" She did have a point.
Rosalie sighed and then said, "Jasper is dealing with things that he never talks about… to anyone. He obviously has fears…."
"But he's normally so calm and put together… He always has been."
"Because he has to be to help people. He has a clear head when he looks at other people's problems but when it comes to his own… He makes some dumb ass mistakes."
"I just…" I sat down as I rubbed my hands over my face. "I feel bad leaving him like this."
"I know," Rose murmured as she sat next to me. "But Jasper needs to sort his head out. If you go back, you're going to forgive him and all that happened gets swept under the rug. None of the problems get sorted out and you both will secretly be miserable."
I was quiet for few moments before asking, "What did you tell him? About me leaving…"
"He assumed that I was taking you with me to Forks."
"Forks?"
She nodded. "I told him that you weren't going to let him run you from Seattle but you wouldn't be returning to the apartment until he got his act together."
I wasn't angry with what she told him because years ago I would have said the same thing. What had happened to me? "And his response?"
"He asked where you would be saying, but I think he already knew the answer…."
"You told him I was staying with Edward?"
"Yep and… he didn't handle it well. I heard several dishes breaking in the kitchen as I finished packing your stuff."
"Are you serious?" I whispered, my tone serious.
She nodded. "His temper is out of control. I haven't seen him this volatile since he moved to Forks after his mother died."
I was surprised by her statement. "He acted that way? When he first moved up here?"
"My parents gave him a few weeks to adjust before he started school and went out into the community. He trashed his room multiple times and would go outside and punch trees until his knuckles bled. He was so broken after his mother died. My parents gave him some time but eventually, my dad talked to him. Things got better although he there a few times he would act out. Eventually, he became the cool, calm Jasper that you knew. It takes a lot for him to act otherwise."
I processed everything she said but then a question still burned in my mind. "What happened with him and Alice's lawyer on Monday?"
Rose's face grew tight. "It's not my place to say… I've debated telling you but… Jasper needs to be the one to do so. He needs to deal with everything and one of those things is the mess with Alice and her lawyer and actually telling you about it himself."
Well, whatever it is it must bad….
"Did he say anything else?… once he found out I was staying with Edward," I asked.
Rose seems to hesitate before answering, "He said something about it might be for the best…"
My heart plummetted.
"It's not what you think Bella," Rose rushed out as she came to sit next to me, "If he would just explain what is happening with Alice and her lawyer….it will all make more sense. But I can't be the one to tell you, he needs to talk to you."
It eased my hurt fractionally. Obviously, Jasper didn't want to tell me. Maybe he would never tell me… Maybe this was the end of our friendship….
I could feel the tears across my cheeks as I fought the sob that started to build in my chest.
"Hey now… it'll be okay, It will all work out somehow." Rose soothed as she hugged me.
The tears continued to fall but I didn't let it overtake me. After a few minutes, I was able to pull myself together and ask what Rose was going to do now.
"Well, I need to head back to Forks at some point… But I figured we could do lunch first."
"We're making some," Edward offered, "But it's not done and I honestly don't know if the food has gone bad yet or…"
I rolled my eyes and a small giggle escaped me. "You're hopeless in the kitchen."
He cracked a smile, obviously happy that I was no longer crying.
"I'll help Bella clean up while you get the other suitcase out of my car. Then we'll go out for lunch." Rose told rather than asked Edward.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're bossy?" Edward asked with amusement.
"Has anyone ever told you I could break your nose and not break any of my nails in the process?" Rose asked with a smirk.
Edward put his hands up in defeat and Rose and I laughed.
Half an hour later, we found ourselves in a Mexican restaurant. Emmett called during lunch to see how things were going. He offered to kick Jasper's ass for me, but I declined and told him his wife had it all taken care off. Lunch was over too soon and Rose had to head back to Forks. Edward and I headed back to the apartment so I could unpack. Not only had Rose packed a good deal of clothes, but majority of my bathroom things as well as various other necessities.
The rest of the day was uneventful and Edward gave me some space, for which I was thankful.
Sunday he suggested we run some errands. I had a feeling he was making sure I didn't sulk.
Monday he was back at work while I worked from his apartment. I cooked dinner and who;e Edward insisted I didn't have to. I told him to shut up and eat and enjoy it while I was still here. He laughed but made no comment.
Then Tuesday rolled around. I would be leaving to meet with my publisher first thing so Edward offered to drop me off on his way to work. We agreed to meet for an early lunch after my meeting and for the first time in a few days, I felt happy. Even if Jasper still hadn't made any move to contact me.
Heidi was very excited for my summer book tour and glad I was "spreading my wings." But then she asked if my friend Jasper would be tagging along. She had called him before the meeting and offered him a freelance position for the summer tour since he had done so well at the last book signing. She was disappointed that he had turned it down and was then unsure if he would be attending at all.
"I don't actually know. We're kind of in the middle of a fight." I responded quietly, doing my best not cry or become overly emotional.
"Oh…" was her response and she thankfully left it alone after that.
After the meeting, I walked to the building Edward worked in since it wasn't raining and only a few blocks away. When we had been dating, he had worked in a lower position but for the past two years he had quickly climbed the ranks and seemed to be making a name for himself. He now had an office of his own and was looking to get another promotion soon.
Edwar's office door was open but I still knocked to get his attention. When he raised his head. He almost looked startled to see me. He then glanced at his watch and his eyes widened at the time.
"Shit. You haven't been waiting long I hope," he said while stacking various papers before getting up from his desk.
"No," I answered with a laugh, "I just got here. I walked since it was decent weather outside."
He at door beside me when he asked, "Should we walk to lunch then? Or would you prefer a taxi in case it rains?"
"Let's walk. We can always get a taxi if the weather turns sour."
Edward knew of an Italian place close by and it sounded delicious. After we placed our orders, he asked me how my meeting went.
"It went really good. Everything is right on track." I answered before taking a sip of my water.
"Good. I'm glad."
Then I remembered what Heidi had said at the end of the meeting. "Though she did bring up Jasper…"
Edward's face turned confused. "Why did she ask about him?"
"Awhile back I had asked her if I could bring someone with me for the tour. She then told me about these freelance positions the company has. She offered one to Jasper - to help with my last book tour. And she said if he did well then they may extend the offer to the summer tours. He was all for it because he needed the money and he went through all the training…. " I took a deep breath before continuing, "She said she called him before our meeting to offer him a position for my summer tour and he declined it."
Edward was quiet for a moment before I heard him mumble, "idiot" under his breath.
I fought back tears as I spoke. "He is shutting me out. I… I don't know if he will ever contact me…" That was my greatest fear. That would be the end of our friendship.
"He just needs time. I think he is making a lot of rash decisions that he will regret later. You should also consider what Rosalie said. Something is going on with Alice and her lawyer. Maybe after he deals with that then he will open to you.
"So I just stand on the sidelines in the meantime?" I asked, my temper now flaring.
"You're not. You're doing what's best for you right now. Maybe after Jasper gets all his shit straightened, you'll realize he's not worth it."
"He is worth it." I snapped.
"I knew you would say that. And it's what you need to remind yourself but... you also need to look out for you. Focus on your books and writing while Jasper gets his life straightened out."
"I was supposed to help him though… It's what I thought…" I trailed off.
"It's what you thought you should be doing?"
I nodded.
"You helped him, Bella. A lot. But now it's time for Jasper to help himself."
I heard and understood what he was saying but it was still hard. While I wanted to be there for Jasper, I knew I had to look out for myself. What Rosalie had said to me over the weekend was hitting home. I had changed so much of myself in hear of losing Jasper. While I thought he was worth it, did he think I was worth it? I knew his life had been turned upside by Alice, that I knew, but finding out that there was, even more, going on than he was telling? He had a right to privacy, sure. But he was bottling it all up and then exploding on people like me. He needed to get a handle on himself because shit like that was unacceptable.
So I decided. Before I could help Jasper further, Jasper had to help himself.
Author Note: Have faith! In due time! This all needed to happen so the characters could grow and develop.
