Chapter Eleven

"That's it Bella, its over" Leah laughed after we walked out of the court room for the last time. The last mouths had been hard. The trail seemed to have taken up most of my time and most of my emotions. I had to live though every aspect of it all again, as I told the court about what had happened to me.

There wasn't much to it. I was kidnapped by my boyfriend who used a false name to trick me. He refused to feed me and I managed to get his phone. I felt so ashamed of myself that I didn't tell Detective Black who it was that had taken me. James didn't hurt me until he knew he was going to get caught. See, simply. But that simply story took hours to evaluate in the courtroom and it's going to take me years to get over but I was trying with the help from my friends and councillor.

I laughed at Leah's enthusiasm as I pulled her into a hug, alone with Angela. I seriously didn't have a clue how I would have gotten through all this without them with me. They were my rocks and I loved them with all my heart. It as times like this that I truly appreciated and valued the people around me and the live I lived. Leah and Angela have always been the stars that light up my sky and have pulled me through massive milestones in my life. What they didn't know is that they were no longer the only stars in my night skies.

I haven't seen Jacob Black since he left me in the hospital. He wasn't on the case anymore and when he was meant to stand up in court, he just wrote a report instead about what he had found when he had gotten there. I hadn't seen him at all. I can't be angry at him, however, because he didn't know my feeling for him and he was just doing his job by helping me. I didn't mean anything to him and he was probably to business saving other peoples lives, just like he had mine.

James has gotten life him prison much to my relief. He shouldn't have been let out in the first place and the reasons why he had are still beyond me. It was a cruel and twisted man, if I can even call him that. I don't get how I could have fallen for his thick charm and his slimy ways, he was a disgusting excuse for a human. I was scared of him, I'll admit it. He gives off a bad vibe. A vibe in which I never noticed until it was too late.

I could move on with my life now and get back to actually living without thinking he was going to jump out at me as I walked down the street. I wasn't that scared no more knowing that the danger he offers is nowhere near me.

"So what do you want to do to celebrate?" Leah asked. I sighed, knowing these two they will want to go out clubbing or party, something of which I don't feel like doing.

"I just want to go home and sleep. It's been a long day" I mumbled. They didn't argue with me, they just agreed. I knew they would understand and respect my decision. They both walked me over to my car and waved goodbye to me as they got into their own and I pulled out of the parking lot and away from the place in which I will never have to return again.

I turned the radio up as Timbaland and Katy Perry, if we ever meet again came onto the radio. As I grew closer to the local supermarket I remembered that I had run out of milk just before I had left the house this morning. I sighed as I pulled into the parking lot and decided that I might as well grab some other things whilst I was here.

JPOV

I moved down the aisle placing random items into my trolley. My house didn't seem to have a single edible thing left in the cupboards so I had resorted into coming food shopping, one thing that I hate. The food I was piling in was randomly pulled off the shelves without so much as my attention meeting them. I sighed in a huff as I knocked a loaf of bread onto the floor in my careless attempt at hurrying up. I quickly placed it back on the shelf and turned my attention onto a list that I had in my hand.

"Jake?" A sweet voice knocked me out of my thoughts. I turned around to see a beautiful woman stood there smiling. I knew that face, I knew that voice. I should have guessed it was her, just by the name she called me. She looked happy and cheerful, something which I had not seen her like before due to the circumstances that we had met.

"Bella?" I asked. Her brown eyes held a certain shine to them and her hair flew flawlessly down her sides. She was beautiful.

"Yeah" She nodded. "Wow, it's good to see you" She smiled at me clearly cheerful.

I smiled back at her. "It's good to see you too. You look well" I pointed out the obvious and nearly slapped my forehead as the words left my mouth.

She laughed however and the smile didn't leave her lips. "Yes. Everything's healed now" She seemed calm and relaxed, unlike our last meeting.

Silence took over us and I knew I had to break it. "How have you been?"

"Good. It was the last day of court today" She told me and glanced around.

"How did it go?" I asked already knowing the answer because Quil had rung me earlier to tell me the verdict but I just wanted to prolong my moments with Bella and keep her talking to me. Selfish I know, but it was like she was here with me now and I would never be able to let her go.

"He got life" She smiled a toothy grin, which I returned. Her smile lit up not just the room but my life. She was the sun in my dark lonely life but she shouldn't be she should just be someone that I helped because of my job, not someone that I cared so deeply about.

"Wow, that's great" The smile stayed on her face, as did mine. We just stood looking at each other for what seemed like hours but in reality it was only seconds. I wanted to say something else but I couldn't bring myself to speak and nothing was coming to my head, nothing that wouldn't make me sound like an idiot.

"I best go" She looked down at the floor and I felt myself frown. I didn't want to let her go now, not again. I knew I had to, she had moved on with her life and so should I. I knew that but it didn't make it any easier.

"Yeah me too" My mouth was dry as the words left it and sounded out loud. I tried not to show my disappointment on my face but it was difficult.

"Okay maybe I'll see you around" She said as she walked down the aisle and away from me, only turning to give me a small wave.

I stood in the same spot watching the place in which she had turned the corner and disappeared. My heart dropped heavily and my insides were churning. It was a sign. They were telling me that I was a fucking idiot. They were right, I am. Bella is an amazing person and I don't even have the guts to ask her out.

I started to walk fast in the direction she had gone, leaving my trolley which still had all my food in. I turned on to the aisle in which she had gone up. She was still there but walking further.

"Wait, Bella!" I yelled louder than I expected, due to my desperation to get her attention. People gave me annoyed looks. Bella turned around to face me looking confused but placed a smile on her soft lips anyway. She didn't say anything, just waited for me to speak. I walked closer to her so that we didn't get any more unwanted attention from the curious shoppers around us. "Are you doing anything after you have finished shopping?" I asked her nervously. My words seemed to stutter out and I could feel my heart beating fast against my rib cage. I took a few deep breaths and looked down at my hands, as if I was suddenly interested in them.

"Nothing" She said quickly and cleared her throat. I looked back up at her and forced the words out of my mouth before I could even think about it.

"Do you want to go get something to eat then or something?" I shrugged. I could feel my cheeks turning red and I scratched the back of my neck uncomfortably.

Her face suddenly held joy and relief. She smiled and nodded. "Yes, I'd love too"

I'll never be the same - if we ever meet again
Won't let you get away-ay - say, if we ever meet again
This free fall's, got me so
Kiss me all night, don't ever let me go
I'll never be the same
If we ever meet again

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"So..." I spoke as Bella and I both stood in front of her door. Our date just ended and it was without a doubt the best night of my life. We had dinner at a small restaurant and talked about everything for hours. Not once did Bella's currently situation come into it and for that I knew we were both grateful. We took the time to get to know each other better and I now felt like I had known Bella for years. We just clicked and everything fell into place.

Bella smiled at me and took a step forward. "Thank you Jake" She placed her arms around me and pulled me in to a hug, which I gladly returned. The closeness of our bodies was killing me. I felt her skin against mine and it sent shocks through me. I tightened my arms around her.

"No Bella. There is no need to thank me" I told her sincerely because she didn't. I don't think she notices how much she has helped me with more problems than she even realises. For the first time in my life, I have let someone in and I don't only care about my Job. I feel like I have a life now and it is all thanks to this beautiful woman.

"Yes I do Jake. You are the reason I'm stood her" She whispered in my ear, not letting go of me.

"No Bella. I'm not. When I found you, I thou-thought you was dead. I gave up, I thought I was too late" I told her, my voice cracking slightly.

"You was in shock, anyone would have acted the same." She told me soothingly. "You still found me and helped me through my time in that room and for that I'm really thankful"

"Bella-" I was just about to argue with her when she pulled out of my arms and grabbed hold of the sides of my face.

"Jake, I'm going to tell you honestly now, I don't care if you don't feel the same and that I'm making a complete fool out of myself. I want you to know, I like you" She burst out, looking directly into my eyes.

"Like me?" Was all I could stutter out? Did that mean what I think it meant?

She blushed but didn't look away from me, she did, however, drop her hands from my face.

"Yes" She spoke softly. "I like you a lot. More than just friend's status"

I was partially jumping up and down inside, she felt the same as I did. She was attracted to me, just as I was attracted to her! It was like a huge weight had been lifted and I felt suddenly worriless and free. I felt like nothing could bring me down from this mood. So I did the one thing that seemed right at the time. I kissed her. I pulled her towards me and crashed my lips to hers. I filled the kiss with as much love and passion that I could muster and she seemed to do the same. It felt like a dream when I moved away. Only a few short hours ago, I would have never thought I was going to see her again and now I'm stood here kissing her.

"I like you too Bella" I whispered as I pushed some hair out of her face.

"I gathered that Jake" She laughed gently and brushed her lips against mine yet again.

"Have I told you how much I love it when you call me Jake?" I told her as I slide my arms around her waist to try and get her closer to me.

"Jake, suits you" She smiled and intertwined her fingers around my neck. "But only I can call you that"

"I wouldn't have it any other way" I told her and pressed my lips to hers yet again.

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I would like to say that my heart goes out to everyone in Chile at this moment in time and every other country that fears the Tsunami. I hope for the sake of everyone that the death toll doesn't increase and R.I.P to all that have already lost their lives. For most of us all we can do is hope and pray that these countries have seen the last of this disaster and that nothing else is destroyed.

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There will be one more chapter to this, then that's it due to the fact that the story can't really go anywhere else. Review and tell me what you think.

Bex

xxx