Chapter twenty-one. Part one, part two and part three.

Mike took a deep breath.

"I want to get back together with you", he told me, staring straight at me, speaking directly to me, "I still love you Bella, I want you back."

At that moment, a couple of things happened at once. My heart accelerated. Emmett growled very much audibly, on purpose. Edward jumped to his feet. Jacob stepped closer to me. Alice gasped. And a little boy started crying because his older brother crushed his sand castle.

"You can't have her back", hissed Jacob, narrowing his eyes at Mike, "she doesn't love you. So just stop making a fool of yourself and leave."

"Er, Jacob? Don't you think I can choose whether I love Mike or not?" I asked, feeling rather pissed off. Jacob looked taken back, then shrugged.

"This is ridiculous", said Emmett shaking his head, "Bella, let's go. Come one guys."

"You have to consider it", said Mike urgently. He gripped my hands and forced me to look at him, "please Bella? Or we could just talk about it? Please, just let me –"

"Ouch! Mike, let go you're hurting me", I hissed trying to pull away from his grasp.

"Just listen, Bella", Mike insisted.

"Get your filthy hands off of her", snapped Edward. He yanked Mike off in a second flat, and push him back. Emmett growled and was about to step in and add his little personal moves to the scene but Rosalie held him back. I was forever grateful to her.

"Are you ok?" asked Edward examining my wrists. They were red with finger printed bruises freshly forming. I grimaced.

"Fine", I muttered, "let's go."

"No Bella", said Mike coming towards me again, "please, just listen to what I have to say first. It's just that I really think –"

"I said keep away from her", hissed Edward with the most venom in his voice that I had ever heard. A death glare was shot to Mike and he flinched back.

The sense in the air couldn't be anymore uncomfortable. As much as Mike was an idiot, I sort of felt a bit sorry for him. The reason I had broken up with him was because he was so full of himself. We had gone out for two months and I really liked him. I could tell he liked me too, but I didn't know whether it was just because he wanted something in return or if he liked me alone.

-Flashback-

"Bella! Bella! Over here, come here", a voice called out. I whirled around to see Jessica pushing through the mounts of older teenagers to try and get to me. We were at a party and I was trying to find Mike. I really had to talk to him. The music was blaring in the background and I could barely hear myself think over the racket.

"What is it?" I shouted to Jessica although she was right in front of me.

"Found him", she called out, "he's been looking for you too. Come on, he's outside. Are you going to be long with Mike? I have to get home soon it's nearly half past two."

"Don't wait for me", I said as loudly as my voice to go, "see you tomorrow, Jess. Bye."

Jessica mouthed something I couldn't understand before disappearing through the crowds.

Someone had yanked her onto the dance floor, I think. I couldn't see properly as I was being constantly pushed and shoved to the sound of the music.

Finally, after a couple of minutes I found myself outside in the garden of Lauren Mallory's garden. Mike was there, talking to some guys. I walked right over to him, taking deep breathes to try and clear my head. I knew what I had to say. And he had to hear it.

"Hey babe, there you are", he smiled, grabbing my waist and pulling me close. Our lips made contact and I could taste the alcohol in his mouth. I was sure he could taste it in mine as well.

"I'm going back in, you coming?" asked one of the boys mike was talking to. He surfaced, shook his head and glued his lips to mine once more. I tried to pull away but he had a really firm grip. I kiss him back after a couple of moments, before we both had to pull away for air.

"You taste of chocolate…and beer", Mike remarked. I was partly surprised that he even noticed. Normally he would've gone straight to 'I did this today. I was so awesome at it. Let me bore you with my achievements.'

"I like it", he added winking at me and pulling me close again. I stepped back and pushed him away.

"Wait a second, hold on", I said to Mike holding my hand up, "I need to talk to you about something, alright?"

"Can't it wait?" he whispered into my ear. I stepped back fully and shook my head.

"It's, er, important", I explained. Mike laughed.

"What, are you breaking up with me or something?" he scoffed rolling his eyes. But I wasn't laughing. He gripped my waist and our lips crashed together. Pressing his body to mine, I could feel his erection up against me.

"No, back off", I said turning my head to the left, away from his lips, "seriously, mike. I need to tell you something."

"What? What is it?" he snapped, rolling his eyes in an annoyed manner.

"I want to break up with you", I blurted out.

And then, I watched as the amusement slowly faded on his face. Pure hurt and disappointment appeared.

-Endflashback-

"Come on, Bella", said Emmett wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I offered Mike a sympathetic glance before I was pulled away. The same look of hurt and disappointment was full on his expression. I felt really horrible.

Edward's POV.

"I'm going to the bathroom", said Bella standing up.

"I'll go with you", said Alice.

"And me", added Rosalie. They all stood up and disappeared around the corner.

We were in a small restaurant, about to have lunch. After the events that had happened at the beach, I was still pretty pissed off.

First fucking Jacob black. Then that Mike Newton guy. What the hell?

Couldn't they see that Bella was mine?

Ok, so I hadn't claimed her yet, but it was practically obvious she was taken. I was sitting right next to her! I wanted to put my arm around her shoulder but Emmett was there too, and I wanted to keep that arm.

When Jacob hugged Bella, my Bella, I fought the urge to rip his body into shreds. I was actually thinking up ways of killing him.

Wow, I'm sounding like Emmett.

But this was the effect that Bella had on me. She made me want to protect her. Keep her safe. Keep her happy. And I would gladly do any of those things. Just to make her smile. I would gladly give up my life.

Yeah all right, I'm sounding melodramatic again, it wasn't my fault. It's all Bella. I still hadn't figured out that strong feeling I felt for her. I liked her a lot, and I really wanted to make sure she knew that. I was pretty sure she knew, but I wanted to see her reaction. I wanted too much to do with Bella.

"Why do they all have to go to the bathroom at the same time?" mused Jasper, in concentration.

"I swear there's a flat screen in there or something", shrugged Emmett, "and they take their time too. Probably plotting to take over mankind…"

"I'm sure Alice can handle that on her own", muttered Jasper to himself. Emmett heard and he smirked.

"So what did you guys do when me and Rose left the beach this morning?" he asked Jasper, leaning closer.

"Swam for while", said Jasper indifferently.

"And after a while?" Emmett continued. Jasper shot me a 'help me, dude' look. I laughed into my drink and accidentally consumed some. It went down the wrong tube and I began to choke.

Large thuds banging on my back told me Emmett was trying to help. I waved his hand off as I stopped coughing.

"You ok, man?" he asked with an arched eyebrow. No, he fucking broke my back. I was sure he wasn't just helping me, probably giving me a warning to leave Bella alone in those friendly thuds.

"Fine", I said clearing my throat. Jasper smiled to me in reassurance. The girls came back after a couple of minutes and we decided to order. Bella sat next to me and I was glad. I noticed she kept glancing at me every now and then. My heart swirled knowing that she was probably thinking of me.

"Bella?" said a rough recognisable voice. I suppressed a groan but Emmett couldn't. Actually, I think it was more a of growl.

Bella, however, lit up and turned around. And I sat there, burning with jealousy and rage.

Emmett's POV.

Mike had called around our house a few times. I knew why he did. He wanted to get back together with Bella. I couldn't though. I couldn't let her get back with him. I knew exactly what raged around sixteen year old teenage boys' minds. And I knew what Mike thought when he looked at my sister.

So I tried to keep her away from him. Not going to places where he might be or steering her anywhere away from him. But stupidly, I forgot he normally went to the beach with some of Bella's other friends.

Jacob black was another sex-craved idiot. But he was still in the 'friend' zone with Bella and I knew she wanted to keep it that way. So he wasn't a big problem.

Mike Newton was.

He was like this stupid little donkey with blonde hair and baby-ish features. I couldn't wait to punch the smirk on his face when Bella's back was turned. Besides, there was no way I was going to let my sister go out with a donkey.

"Jacob!" exclaimed Bella as she stood up and ran towards him. I dropped my fork and groaned aloud. Not this again. It seemed Edward was thinking the same thing. His fists were clenched and his jaw set tight.

"Hey Bells, sorry I didn't mean to interrupt you guys eating", said Jacob sheepishly looking around our table.

"It's fine", said Bella waving it off, "come join us. Have a seat."

"Are you sure? I only wanted to make sure you were ok", said Jacob shrugging, "Mike's an idiot by the way, ignore him."

Ah, so the kid thinks like me. I like, I like.

"I will and you're not intruding or anything", said Bella smiling, "actually, I'm done eating. Wanna go for a walk?"

"Yeah sure", said Jacob brightening up immediately. Why did Bella have to do this? Get herself in the most stupidest situations? It was just plainly absurd sometimes. It's like she goes looking for trouble. And looking for the wrong guys.

Well, in my opinion every guy is the wrong guy for her. They didn't deserve someone like her. No one could possible be perfect enough for Bella.

She was slightly broken and needed all the attention in the world. She needed care. She couldn't be tossed aside for anything. I was sure, not even Edward would be good enough for her.

I knew about Edward's feelings for my sister for a while. It was there and I tried to ignore it, but I could see Bella responding to him as well. To be honest, it anyone had to end up with Bella, I'd rather it was Edward than Mike donkey-faced Newton or Jacob stupid Black.

But how was I sure that Edward wouldn't break Bella's heart? I wasn't, so I couldn't risk it.

"I'll come with you", I offered stuffing the rest of my food down.

"Actually Emmett, I would appreciate if you didn't", said Bella in an apologetically tone, "please? I just need to tell Jake something. I'll be back in a couple of minutes, alright."

No. Not all right.

"Yeah, alright", I mumbled staring down at my plate.

"Let's go", said Jacob happily, grabbing Bella's hand as they walked out of the restaurant.

Bella's POV.

When I got into the bathroom, I knew Rosalie and Alice would want to talk to me. To be honest, I didn't want to talk to them. I wanted to keep my thoughts to myself. They were the only things I had at the moment. I sighed and got in to the cubicle quickly.

I knew what I had to do. I realised it all. And I was going to do it right this time. I wouldn't mess anything up.

I knew who I had to be just friends with. I knew whom I should get together with. And I knew whom I couldn't get together with.

I had decided.

Now, time to act it all out.

I let go of Jacob's hand as we walked. He frowned slightly but didn't say anything. I sighed and went to a bench. He followed and sat next to me.

"I got to tell you something", I began. He smiled and nodded encouragingly.

"Ok, Jake, we're good friends right?" I asked cautiously. He frowned again but nodded nevertheless.

"Of course, Bella", said Jacob, still smiling.

"Ok, well I want to tell you that you're my closest…guy friend", I said to him, "and I love you a lot Jake, because I can trust you and you support me. And I hope we can stay close friends."

Jacob furrowed his eyebrows in confusion before nodding again.

"We'll always be friends Bella", he said softly, "and…I love you too."

"As a friend", I said quickly, "yeah? Your friendship matters to me a lot, Jacob and I don't want to loose that."

"So…we're friends?" he confirmed in a less enthusiastic voice than before. I nodded in confirmation. Jacob sighed then put on his happy face for me again.

"Friends we are then", he said brightly, "until anything else happens. And my friendship with you matters also, Bella."

"I'm glad", I told him, smiling faintly.

I was glad I had done this part. Only two more bits left to do. I had to handle mike and Edward.

But something that Jacob had said troubled me. It made me think that maybe I hadn't done this part right after all.

He said until anything else happens…