BPOV

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Once again Edward had been acting off while at work. When I went into his office to ask him a question, it was like he could barely stand to look at me. I was starting to think that working together wasn't such a good idea.

"Where is he running off to?" Alice asked as Edward practically sprinted from his office. From me.

I shrugged. "I don't know. He wasn't mean but he seems off. I'm starting to think I should look for another job. Maybe me working so close isn't good for him." I sighed.

"NO!" Alice shrieked and came rushing over to me. "You can't leave me dumb and dumber." She said referring to Jessica

"Alice, I'm sure you could find someone more qualified than I am." I went to sit back down at my desk. "Maybe I could just move departments and stay at Cullen International."

"Nooooo. Bella, I know you don't see it but having you here is the best thing that could ever have happened. You don't see the changes in Edward that I do. So what if he's still a little moody. At least he's not all RAWR!"

I laughed a little at her bear interpretation.

"Okay, I'll stay but I just don't know if this is good for him or me."

We worked in silence only asking each other questions here and there but it was a good work. Alice had popped out for lunch at one and was kind enough to bring me back a sandwich but I had failed to eat it because I was so focused on trying to get my work done seeing how I came in once again, late.

"Hey, he's been gone for a while. Should I go check on him?" Alice asked.

"No. Let me. If it is an issue with me, I want to know." I replied getting up. Man it felt good to stand. I had alphabetized papers at my desk all day.

"He's on the roof. Just take the stairwell one floor up." Alice informed.

I carefully climbed the stairs and quietly opened the door to the roof.

He was standing there staring out over the city. It was actually quite a beautiful picture with the sun setting, the sky was filled with oranges, reds and yellows and there stood Edward, king of his castle on top of the building he built.

"Edward…uh…it's five o'clock. I didn't take a lunch to help make up my time. Are you planning on staying?" I cringed wondering if he was going to get mad at me for disturbing him.

"Do you think Alice could give you a ride home? I need to stay and work more." He replied quietly.

He still wouldn't look at me. He was being really weird. What had set him off? He was fine this morning…well other than the fact that I had told him that we couldn't sleep together any longer. But I did that for him. It wasn't fair for him to have to be uncomfortable lying in a bed with me while I snored or worse sleep talked.

But for some reason he did seem upset with me for telling him that it wasn't a good idea from now on. Should I say something? No. Just let it go.

"Okay. Did you want me to stay? Maybe I can help?" I asked hoping that he would at least look at me.

"No. please just go. Get yourself some dinner and I'll see you later." He sounded lost. Like he wasn't even in his own body anymore. I sighed and turned to leave. Maybe time apart was what we needed. Having me around twenty-four seven probably was wearing on him especially since he told me that he wasn't used to having people around.

I climbed back down the stairs and went back to my desk.

"Alice, would you mind taking me home. Edward said he wants to stay and work a while longer. I think he just needs a break from me." I confided.

"Trouble in paradise?" Jessica sang from behind me.

"Jessica, shut it!" Alice rebuked before turning back to me. "No problem. Oooo I have a great idea. Come home with me for dinner. Emmett and Rosalie will be there." Alice was smiling so wide one would think she was the Cheshire cat.

"Uh…" I started to say something, I still didn't know if Emmett could be trusted.

"Come on, Bella. I promise it will be fun. Jasper's making his lasagna."

"Okay. I guess. Maybe I should tell Edward."

"Please, I'll have you home long before he leaves this place. Besides he'll call me if there's a problem."

We gathered up our things and left for the day. I looked back at Edward's office one last time and felt a sadness come over me. What was wrong with my friend?

Alice's home was adorable. It was small but incredibly cute. It was painted yellow and had the perfect white picket fence all around with a beautiful garden.

"Oh, Alice…I love your home." I gushed.

"Thank you."

We walked in through the front door and I was overcome with the most delicious smell I think I have ever smelled. My tummy rumbled reminding me I hadn't eaten anything that day.

"Hello again, Bella." Jasper greeted me after his wife attacked him for a kiss.

"Hi, Jasper. Thank you for letting me crash you dinner party." I replied.

"Not a problem. The more the merrier." He smiled.

"Damn, I'm so hungry I could eat a bear." A voice roared from behind me and I couldn't help but jump.

"Shhh. The whole neighborhood doesn't need to hear you." Rosalie chided.

"Hey, look who's here. Bella, so happy you could join us." Rosalie said as she entered the house with Emmett.

"Um….yeah it's nice to be here."

"So dinner's about to be served. Can I get anyone a drink?" Jasper asked.

Jasper took everyone's order and Alice went to help him out.

"Bella, this is my boyfriend, Emmett." Rosalie bit her lip nervously and unfortunately I was mirroring her.

"Nice to meet you." I replied softly.

"Nice to meet you too, Bella." Emmett replied sincerely.

We all moved to the dining room table and took a seat. I dug straight into that lasagna as soon as it was appropriate to do so.

"God, Jasper…this is amazing." I boasted.

"Thank you." He replied.

"I told you it'd be worth it." Alice rubbed it in.

We sat around talking about this and that. Emmett didn't seem like a bad guy and I could feel myself start to loosen up around him but part of me still worried.

"So, you knew Mr. Money Bags long before he was rich…what was he like?" Alice asked.

"Well, Edward was wealthy back then so…he just never told anyone. I only figured it out by putting the clues together." I replied.

"Yeah but…you say that he was different, that he had soul…" Rosalie said in disbelief.

"He…was amazing. You have to understand that life for us wasn't easy. We were picked on horribly. Edward did everything he could to protect me. I remember it was Christmas break and he had promised me that he would come over and spend the majority of it with me. He said we would watch movies, he even said he was going to teach me how to ice skate but he didn't show until the very end of the break. I was so mad at him and I was hurt. I didn't even talk to him and I wanted to slam the door in his face when he did show up but I could see the traces of bruising on his face and for a minute I wondered if his parents had done that.

I didn't find out the truth until we arrived back at school. The last day of school before we had gone on break, a girl in my class well she did something really horrible to me. She hurt me and left me in the school showers with no clothes and two very sprained wrists. Edward found me and took care of me. When I returned to school after the break the girl who had hurt me started taunting me. She said that her boyfriend kicked Edward's ass and that he was lucky he was still walking. I actually had the courage to ask her what she was talking about and she told me. She said that Edward was mad at what she had done to me and that he threatened her and then her boyfriend pummeled Edward for it. He doesn't know that I know. I wished I could pay him back. He always looked out for me even when I didn't even know it."

"Wow." Alice sat back in amazement. "You see. I knew there was something in him."

"I…I…can't believe it." Rosalie looked sadden by my story.

"Well, like I said…Edward was my best friend. I owe him so much more than I could ever repay."

There was a loud knock at the door that had pretty much startled everyone. We all looked over at the door wondering who could be pounding on the door with such force. It sounded like they were about to break the door down.

"Excuse me." Jasper said wiping his face with his napkin and standing from the table.

We all watched on as he went to the door and opened it. I swear I thought that my heart had fallen straight out of my chest right to my stomach.

"Hello, can I help you?" Jasper asked.

"Jacob?" I asked quietly wondering if this was just a dream.

"Told you I'd find you." He smirked.

I got up from the table, "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

"I was informed that you recently took a job at Cullen International and they had this address as your new place of residence. What do you think was going to happen? You thought that you could just run off? You're coming home, Bella. I'm not happy with you. I have wasted quite a bit of time looking for you."

"No. Jacob, I'm not. I told you. It's time to move on. I don't love you and I'm sorry because I know that's not fair to you and the time I'm sure you feel that you wasted but it's time to go and find someone who you love as well."

"You think this is about love?" he started laughing. "I don't give a shit about love. You're coming home because you're mine." He took a step forward and grabbed ahold of my arm.

"Hey, I'm pretty sure the lady made it clear that she doesn't want you. Now let her go?" Emmett stood up and walked over.

"Who the fuck are you? Have you been fucking this guy?" He asked tightening his grip.

"No." I cried.

"I said let her go." Emmett intervened and pulled me from Jacob.

"You're making a big mistake. You have no idea what you are messing with." Jacob growled.

"You think your badge is going to do anything here. Wake up, I have jurisdiction in this area and I suggest you take your sorry ass back up where you came from and leave Bella alone." Emmett towered over Jacob.

"You're a cop? What happened to honor among brothers?" He spit.

"I'm not brothers with anyone who would abuse women. Now get the fuck out of here before I make a stink up at your department." Emmett barked pulling me behind him.

"This isn't over, Bella. You're coming home whether you like it or not. Stupid bitch." Jacob yelled from the doorstep.

"You come after her, you'll be coming after me, asshole." Emmett slammed the door and Alice ran over to the window and pulled the drape back.

"He's gone." She announced.

"I…I…" I was in shock.

"Bella, sit down. It's going to be okay. Calm your breathing." Rosalie sat me down in a chair and I hadn't even realized that I had been breathing so hard.

"I…I..I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. I should never have put your address down on my paperwork." I panicked.

"It's okay. Don't worry about that." Alice consoled.

"No. you don't understand. Jacob…he…could hurt you. I need to leave. I have to get out of here." I jumped up from the couch.

"Bella, he's not going to hurt you. He won't hurt anyone here." Emmett vowed.

Suddenly the past nine years flooded my mind with their memories and I understood what Jacob was capable of. I couldn't have him hurt my friends and if he came after me; I needed to find a way to take care of myself. I couldn't depend on anyone fighting my battles any more. We weren't in high school and I needed to start standing up and defending myself.

"Look, I really appreciate everything but I can't stay here. I need to…I should go to Edward's. Jacob doesn't know anything about Edward and Edward's security system rivals most nuclear testing sites."

"Bella, you don't have to leave." Alice pleaded.

"Please, I do. I should go." I started to go toward the door.

"Well, at least let Emmett and I take you to Edward's. You don't want to wander the streets at this hour." Rosalie offered.

I nodded my head, "Okay. Again I'm truly sorry." I looked over to Alice and Jasper.

"There's nothing to be sorry for. We'll be fine." Jasper replied.

I got in the back of Emmett's car and stared out the window as he drove towards Edward's mansion in the hills. I could see people walking down the street happy as could be while my world seemed to fall apart.

I didn't understand. Why would Jacob want me? He never loved me; in fact he made it very clear how much of a nuisance I was to him. I honestly thought I could move on and eventually he would get over me leaving. The only reason I feared him before was because I thought he would be upset for having to take care of me all those years. I had no job or income and I relied on Jacob's salary to feed and clothe me.

I used him.

But now I just feared him.

Would he find a way to take me from my new life? Take me away from Edward? I hated that I was putting Edward in danger with my drama but I also knew that Edward seemed to be able to take care of himself. I should leave and get as far away as possible from Edward but I needed Edward, now more than ever because I wasn't planning on leaving myself helpless any longer. I needed to train and get to a place where I could defend myself and Edward was the only person I knew who could help me. I would stay with Edward but I made a deal with myself; the minute Jacob showed up and knew about Edward I would be on the first bus out. It was only fair.

"We're here." Rosalie called softly waking me from my thinking.

"Thank you. Truly. Thank you, Emmett."

"It's not a problem. Call us for anything." Emmett replied.

"He's right. You can call at any time, day or night." Rosalie added.

I nodded and stepped out of the car. I walked up to the strong massive front door and put my code in to open it. Once inside I reset the alarm and looked around at my surroundings.

I wasn't planning on leaving this house until I was sure I could take care of myself. I went straight upstairs to find something to work out in. Unfortunately all the clothes that Edward had given me looked far too fancy to work out in. So eventually I made my way to his closet and pulled out a t-shirt and sweat pants. I had so pull the drawstring on the sweat pants tight in order for them to stay up but it was something.

I made my way down to Edward's gym and slowly walked into it. Everything seemed so daunting as I took in the punching bag and different machines he had. Where should I even begin?

I couldn't help but look towards the wall where I knew his weapons laid safely stashed behind.

"I'll get to you soon enough." I said determined.

I saw a wall of weights and decided to start there. If anyone needed muscle it would be me. If I had muscle then I could definitely defend myself properly. I walked down the wall and could see weights of all shapes and sizes.

I didn't have the foggiest idea of where I should even start. I pulled a weight off and I practically dropped straight to the ground. It was fifty pounds and it took everything in me to move it back to its spot.

Okay fifty and above, let's leave that for later.

I moved on down and saw a thirty. I picked it up and still had trouble but at least I could carry it. I thought back to every stereotypical movie I ever saw that had body building in it and tried to pump iron as best as I could but I couldn't even raise the barbell up to my chest without using both hands and even then it was a strain.

Dammit Edward. Where are you when I need you? I needed my trainer.

I put all my might into that stupid barbell but I lost my grip and it went crashing to the ground thankfully missing my toes.

"Dammit!" I yelled out with frustration.

"Bella, is everything okay in here?" Edward practically gave me a heart attack. I guess I should understand now why it's not good to interrupt a person while they are weapon training.

"No. Everything is not okay. I can't even lift a fucking barbell. Stupid barbell." I kicked the damned barbell and it wasn't the brightest moment of my life.

"OW!" I tried to keep in my pain. Pain is weakness leaving the body.

"Okay, calm down. First of all you started with far too heavy of a weight. You should start off with a five-pound weight." Edward reached down and easily retrieved my thirty pound weight like he was picking up a Twinkie. He walked over to the wall and came back with the smallest weights he had.

"Five pounds? I may not be as strong as you but I can lift more than five pounds." I grumbled. I probably shouldn't have been talking to him with such disrespect but I didn't have time to waste. The clock was ticking and I couldn't waste my time on baby weights.

"Bella, you have to start off small and strengthen your muscles before adding weights. You start off with thirty and you could injure yourself." He said handing me the stupid baby weights.

"Now raise out your arms like this."

I did as told trying to keep my irritation at bay but failing miserably. "Edward, I told you this was too light. I don't have time for baby weights."

"Do that fifty times in a row and then I'll move you up." He raised a challenging eye brow at me and I started. Probably a little too quickly at first.

"Slower." He barked. "You go that fast and it's just momentum. Those don't count."

I huffed and went slower for sir. A minute ago I was begging for Edward and now I wondered if I could do better on my own.

"Gee maybe after this I can move up to the six pound weights."

"Gee maybe after this, you'll thank me." He replied back using my same disrespectful tone.

I continued on. I could start to feel my arms having trouble but I brushed it aside and kept on. I won't be weak. I won't be weak.

"What's wrong Bella, having trouble with the baby weights?" Edward sang probably seeing the trouble I was having.

"Shut up." I snapped.

"So…what spurned all this on?" He asked.

"I'm concentrating." I wasn't about to tell him about Jacob. I had seen how he had reacted before when I brought up Jacob's name and I didn't want Edward to go all kung fu master on him. Jacob wasn't his problem. He was mine.

I started staining and I could feel the beads of sweat start to drip down from the top of my head. I won't be weak. I won't be weak.

"Put the weights down. You're done for tonight."

Edward didn't even let me get to fifty.

"No. I have to do this." I gritted my teeth.

"You don't have to do shit. Put the weights down and go to bed. You're the one who doesn't want to be late to work in the morning." He ordered.

I wasn't planning on going to work in the morning.

"You go to bed. I don't need a baby sitter. Just go already."

Leave Edward. I'll do this without you.

"Fine, I will." Edward lashed out. He grabbed his suit coat and banged his way out of the gym.

And then there was one.

I dropped the weights only making it to forty-eight. Pathetic.

I would never reach my goal at this point. I put my head in my hands and started to cry. Oh god, Bella. What have you gotten yourself into?

Suddenly the gym didn't look so inviting. I needed my trainer and he had already given up on me. My arms were sore and I was worse for wear after only an hour. I needed sleep. Maybe if I could get a real good night's rest, then I could start over tomorrow.

I checked the house alarm once more just to make sure and made my way back up to my room. I jumped into the shower and sadly started to get that feeling. You know the feeling…the kind that you get when you're walking down a dark path and you wonder if something's going to jump out at you.

I kept my eyes on the door the whole time I showered as if Jacob would come busting through that door and drag me out by my hair. It wouldn't be the first time.

I continued getting ready for bed and settled myself down in my bed but I was too scared to turn the lights off. I kept staining my ears wondering if that sense would pick up something first.

It was completely ridiculous. Jacob wouldn't just find me like that. He didn't know about Edward. I should feel perfectly safe here but I couldn't go to sleep. I wish Edward was here. Why did I tell him not to sleep with me?

STUPID BELLA!

The hours started to tick on by and I was completely wired. It was near two in the morning when I finally swallowed my pride and went to Edward's room. With my blanket wrapped around me, I peeked into his bedroom and could see him snoring peacefully in his bed.

This isn't right. You shouldn't be here. Go back to your own bed.

On the other hand, Edward can protect you. You can't even protect yourself. You can't even life a thirty pound weight properly.

Well, I don't have to sleep with him. I could lay down by his bed for a couple of hours and get up and out before he knows it. That way if something did happen, Edward would be here and if it doesn't then he never have to know.

I set my makeshift bed down on the floor beside Edward's bed. I wished I had brought a pillow but I was counting on the discomfort to wake me up every couple of hours so that I wouldn't over sleep.

But my plan failed and the next time I opened my eyes the sun was shining and I was warm laying in a comfortable bed with Edward's arms wrapped around me. My body jumped when I realized what happened.

"Are you okay?" Edward asked.

"Uh…sorry…what?" I looked around trying to remember what happened. Did I crawl into bed accidentally?

"I found you this morning lying on the floor. What happened, Bella?"

"I…don't…know." I rubbed my head. "Maybe I was sleep walking."

I lied.

Edward's phone started ringing and he reached over to his bedside table to answer it.

"Yeah."

There was silence as I tried to rub the sleep out of my eyes and pat down my bed hair.

"I'll call you back." Edward shut his phone off and looked over to me with anger in his eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me about last night?" he growled.

AN: THANK YOU FOR READING AND REVIEWING! I apologize in advance that there will probably be one update for this story next week.