Chapter Twenty-One: A Sighing Night

Carlisle's POV

I felt a burst of courage from Jasper and I made a mental note to thank him later. Bella was scowling and she looked back and forth between Daniel and me as she put the puzzle pieces together.

"Really, Daniel? Have you not grown up at all since I met you?" Her grip on her pool stick tightened.

"Of course not. You wouldn't love me if I grew up." He walked over to her side of the table and kissed her lightly before giving me a look that practically screamed 'Don't fuck up again'. I nodded and he handed me his cue before walking away.

"I believe it's your turn." I said almost jokingly while gesturing to the pool table. She turned her back to me as she walked over to the right before leaning over to take her shot.

"You better not be staring at my ass." She said threateningly.

"Can't help it." I responded without thinking as I admired the view. I might have heard her chuckle almost silently, but I couldn't be sure. Memories of my personal peep show flooded to the front of my mind and I tried to brush them aside. The louder than usual cracking of billiard balls together caused a few patrons of the cigar club to turn our way. Bella turned towards me as she chalked the tip of the pool stick. She remained silent, scowl still in place marring her lovely visage. I took my shot, easily hitting one of the solid billiard balls into the top left pocket.

"Will you hear me out?" I asked while trying to rid the weakness from my voice.

"Well I kind of have to, Dr. Cullen, Daniel is my ride home and I'm sure he'll idly threaten not to drive me back if we don't talk." She looked over my shoulder to where I assume he was watching us from.

"I'd be more than happy to drive you home." I was tempted to say 'take you home' rather than 'drive you home', but I knew that would just make her even angrier at me.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I have plans with Daniel tonight." I leaned back over the pool table to make my next shot. Her comment had me feeling slightly uneasy. Before I could strike the white ball again Bella spoke. "So why are you here, Dr. Cullen, interrupting my personal life?" I held back a cringe at her harsh tone of voice as I looked back at her.

"I wanted to say sorry for how I acted at the bar. It was completely inappropriate and demeaning. That's not the person I am. I really hope you can forgive me so that we can move past this." I had been beating myself up over my very big slip up and just apologizing lifted a bit of the guilt and sense of self deprecation from my shoulders.

"Really? And what exactly are you apologizing for? Destroying the little trust we had been building up, making me feel like a whore, ruining our friendship, or was it when you practically called me a prostitute? Tell me, Dr. Cullen, which one, if not all, are you referring to?" This time I couldn't hide my flinch and in the distance I heard Alice's little gasp. I took a step towards Bella and she took a step back, standing the pool stick in front of her as a makeshift barrier.

"I'm sorry, Bella, for all of those things. I acted so stupidly, maybe it was the beer?" I said quickly, without thinking.

"Oh, you mean the beer you barely touched?"

"You said that when you're around me your emotions just feel out of control. Well it's the same for me. I'm desperate for you. I felt like you were pulling away and it was breaking my heart. I would have said anything if I'd thought it'd make you stay." I didn't know how to convey my desperation and love for her.

"So you decided that acting like an asshole was the best course of action?" Before I could respond she sighed. "Look, Carlisle, I need some time to cool down and that's not to imply that I'm going to forgive you. I won't be back to my house till mid Monday so don't look for me there or try to get in contact with me." Bella put her pool cue on one of the racks on the wall. "Daniel, let's go home." As she walked towards him he gave me a questioning look. I shook my head no. He glared at me before looking at Bella with a large smile. She punched him on the arm lightly before she looped her arm through his.

I felt defeated and ashamed with myself as I walked over to Alice and Jasper.

"Harsh." Was all that Jasper said to me. I sat down heavily on the seat and picked up the useless glass.

"Jasper, Alice, I need you to do your old man a favor. I want you two to follow her until she comes back to her house, well the house that's next to mine at least." They hesitated to accept, but eventually agreed. "I want to know everything about their interactions, the good, the bad, and the ugly." Wordlessly they set off on their mission.

I leaned back in my seat with a sigh. I guess I'll just go back to my empty house…

Next chapter is in Jasper's POV! I'm really excited to write it!

Question: Would you all be interested in an accompanying piece to this story about Bella's past?