B

B

The hours flew by, it's nearly five o'clock now and I'm exhausted. I've been cleaning, recleaning, and triple cleaning every inch of my apartment since I hung up with Mister Cullen. It's been sunny all day and now it's so cloudy, it'll probably rain tonight. I sift through my closet and drawers, frantically looking for something appropriate to wear when he gets here. Suddenly the phone starts ringing; I grumble to myself and answer it.

"Hey Bella, its Angela."

"Hi Angela what's up?" This isn't good, she's still at the diner, which means that someone didn't show and I need to come in.

"Ashley is going to be late; do you think you could come in for a little while? We're pretty busy."

"How late is she going to be?"

"She said it would be before eight."

I can't leave Angela hanging like this. I could go in and leave before Ashley gets there and I'd be here in time to meet Mister Cullen.

"Yeah, I'll be there soon."

She thanks me profusely and I hang up. I grab my uniform and throw it on. My eyes settle on the phone with his number next to it, I should call him. But if I push him off it'll look like singing isn't my priority. But he seemed so nice on the phone, I'm sure he'd understand if I called and asked him to wait until nine. But his assistant said he was busy today, he could be taking time away from business to see me. No, I'll just be back before he gets here I decide and walk out the door. This is such a bad idea, I know it in my heart but I can't risk having him think I'm not serious about working for him.

I step out of the elevator and hear an engine roar outside. As I walk out of the building I see a black luxury car pull up to my building right in front of me, the blue and white BMW logo on it plain as day against the black finish. The engine purrs to a halt and the driver-side door opens. The guy who steps out is about my age, his brown hair and striking azure eyes enhanced by his pale complexion. The dark suite he's wearing has to be custom fit because it hugs all the right places on what is probably a well-defined physique. Simply put, he is gorgeous, and he's staring right at me.

E

She blushes deeply at my gaze, I give her a friendly smile, even in simple black pants and a white blouse she is a vision of elegance. I keep the car between us, the pull of her scent still intoxicating, I cannot trust myself just yet.

"Good evening miss Swan." Remembering that she has yet to actually meet me, "I am Edward Cullen."

Her eyes go wide with surprise, "Oh! Mister Cullen! I wasn't expecting you for a few more hours."

"My apologies, I should have called you. My schedule suddenly cleared for the evening and I thought the sooner I gave you this music the better prepared you could be." I reach out to her mind to see where she might be going…and find nothing. What is this? "Am I keeping you from something?" I reach out again…and still, her mind is blank. I keep my composure but my mind is racing at the possibilities.

"My restaurant called, one of the waitresses was running late and they're getting really busy, they needed me to cover until she got there. I was supposed to be off before you arrived."

It is time to test my control, "I'll drive you there if you would like."

She blushes a little more, "Oh, you don't have to. It's just a few blocks over."

"Then at least let me walk with you, this neighborhood seems a little unfriendly." And you would know that if you could remember.

I close my door and lock the car, "Lead the way." I say as I walk up next to her. We walk down the street, side by side, saying nothing for a long while. I reach out to her mind again and still find nothing. What has changed? Why am I unable to read her now? We turn a corner and I can see the diner, the crowd inside looking unruly.

"It looks like they really do need you tonight." I say, attempting to make some kind of conversation before she has to leave.

"I guess so." She turns to me, about ten yards away from the diner. "Thank you for walking me here Mister Cullen."
"Edward." I correct her.

"Edward…" she hesitates for a few moments, "I'm sorry about this. If you'd like, I can tell my boss that I can't come in after all and we can work on your song."

"No, that will not be necessary. Please go, they need you, call my phone when you finish your shift and I will pick you up." She is trying to impress me with her devotion, it worked. But I can only promise her so much with her singing career so I would rather her keep a good rapport with her current employer should things turn sour. Not that I would not try to provide for her if she chooses to stay with me.

She sighs, "Thank you mist-…Edward. I'll call you as soon as I can." She turns and runs inside.

J

Sitting on the couch, watching TV, doing a whole lot of nothing; not much has changed between Sam and me. He hasn't really talked to me since I got here, I figured he probably wouldn't. I called him the day Bella moved and told him I'd be chasing her at some point, he was completely against it and for good reason. He was right when he said she doesn't want to see me, she told me so.

"Be straight with me Jacob, why are you here?"

"I want her back Sam. It's just that simple."

Frustrated, he turns in his seat towards me. "Then why'd you let her get away in the first place?"

"You know what happened Sam."

"I don't think I do Jacob! Tell me what happened."
"You know what happened Sam."

He's pissed now, "Damn it Jacob, I don't! Tell me!"

I sigh heavily, Yes you do Sam.

His eyes go wide, his temper doused, and he just looks at me. He turns back to the TV and settles deeper into the couch. We sit there for a while longer, watching the TV.

Damn Jacob. I hear his voice in my head.

I told you, you knew. I answer him.

Screw you, how was I supposed to know?

You seemed to know for everyone else. I reply. The mental link between us is strong now and talking is easier.

You were in Show Low, a thousand miles away, so back off. The link doesn't work over that long a distance. He says.

I guess not.

We stay quiet for another long while, letting him absorb the reality of it all.

"You didn't think she could handle it?" He asks me out loud.

"You really think she could have?"

He sighs again, "Come on man, she was your wife."

"Shut up, no she wasn't. We were engaged when we split and you know that!" I hate when people get that confused, only because it reminds me of what could have been. "Look, the change started happening after we got engaged. I didn't know what to do, I didn't eat or sleep for days, my body always hurting, and all of that just made me irritable and pissy. Eventually she came to me and asked what was up, when I didn't answer her…she accused me of cheating."
"And that was your out." He says.

"Yeah, I didn't try and stop her. I thought we'd both be better off, I wouldn't have to worry about ripping her apart and she wouldn't have to live with a monster. I didn't know that I would be able to control it so well later on. If I had, I would have told her."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you through it Jacob."

"Whatever, what's done is done. But I need your help now, just put me up for a while until I can get settled here."

We don't talk for a while, surfing the channels as the hours tick by.

Fine, his acceptance is short and to the point.

Suddenly I need to go, I'm restless and need to move myself. I stand up and grab my jacket, knowing better than to ignore this feeling.

"What's up?" Sam asks.

"I'm not sure, but I need to…go."

"You're tracking; just go where the feeling leads you. Do you want me to come?"

"No, I'll call if I need some help. Thanks Sam."

B

Running around like a crazy person, story of my life. The shift was hard but once I got there the customers started to calm down. I look up at the clock, Ashley should be here soon and things are finally calming down. Dave tells me I can head out; I thank him and go to hang up my apron. I walk out of the back and over to the payphone when a tall, broad-shouldered man with a deep tan walks in. I know him in an instant, Jacob Black. His eyes dart around the diner before they find me and he looks almost shocked to see me. I know better, he's probably been looking for me.

I walk over to him and whisper, "What are you doing here?"

"Hey Bells, how are you?" He says, using the nickname reserved for people I actually like.
"Don't call me that again! What do you want?"

"I just want to talk to you Bella."

I stare daggers at him and as much as I want to just throw him out I can't seem to do it. "Fine, follow me."

I lead him out of the restaurant and around the back, it's as private as I'll allow.

"Say your piece Jacob, I have things to do tonight." I try to be as cordial as possible, honestly I was going to find Jacob at some point but I was hoping it would be after I was a success so I could rub it in his face.

"Look Bella, I'm sorry about what happened between us. I wasn't myself after I proposed to you."

"An understatement." I'm passed trying to be nice.

"Granted, you don't know how much it hurt me to put that distance between us."
"Then why did you Jacob?!" I can't believe he just said that.

"Something…changed in me that day. I don't know how to explain it to you and I don't think I really can."

"So you've come here just to piss me off then?" I'm ready to leave now.

"Listen! I'm sorry for what happened okay! We had a great thing between us Bella and I miss it."

We're both quiet for a while. I don't want to admit out loud that I miss it too. But he had his chance, "I can't just pretend it didn't happen Jacob," he looks at me confused, "Isn't that what you want?"

"I can't ask you to do that, I know better. I just…I just want a chance to redeem myself. Can I at least have that?"

I look at him hard, I want to say no, I know I should say no. The memories of our relationship come to me in that moment. We were so happy together and that ultimately wins me over. "Fine Jacob, you'll get your chance."

His thank you is drowned out by the sound of a familiar engine's roar.