Broken Promises and Romance
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyers owns all Twilight and the Characters
I don't own any of the locations, stores, newspapers, news stations, or brands mentioned in the story.
Song(s) for the Chapter:
Address in the Stars By: Caitlin and Will
Brighter Days By: Leeland
Chapter 24: Stop Blaming Yourself
EPOV
Once I started reading her book, I couldn't put it down. She was the most amazing girl in the whole world and I didn't deserve her. She had been through so much and I caused over half of it.
"Hey," I heard Alice say coming into my office. "Did you stay up all night?"
"Alice," was all I could say as a stray tear ran down my face.
"You read it," she said quietly.
"What have I done," I answered her. "She was always there for me even though I never knew it."
"I know," she said sitting down beside me. "She was always there to cheer you on."
I remembered reading a chapter when Amanda was at one of Anthony's games.
I stood in the stands watching Anthony take the final snap of the game. Even though I went the rivalry school, I always cheered for Anthony. He was my best friend, no matter what happened between us. After the game I saw him walking out of the locker room. I was going over to talk to him, until I saw Tonya jump into his arms. He looked so happy at that moment. That's what I wanted was for him to be happy. I turned around coming face to face with a very angry James.
"I thought that I saw her but I chalked it up to my imagination," I told her. "I was right there, and didn't do anything."
"There was nothing you could have done," she told me. "Stop blaming yourself over it. That was the past, it's time to work on the future. How do you feel now after reading it?"
"Jasper and Emmett were right about one thing," I said looking up. "I need to see her. I need her right now. I'm in love with her and I need to tell her again."
"I have the perfect setting," she said happily.
"When," I asked her questionably.
"She is almost done with her book tour," she went on saying.
"What does this have to do with me seeing her," I asked again.
"Her last day is scheduled to be in Forks," she said.
"What is the damn date," I said. It was like pulling teeth to get answers from her sometimes.
"September thirteenth," she said.
"Her birthday," I gasped out loudly.
"Yeah," she went on saying. "She will be staying with mom and dad when she is in town. We're having a get together for her just like old times. Hold onto that last thought."
She held out her hand to stop me from saying anything else. Then her phone started ringing, and she answered it. I didn't know how she did that, but she could predict when her phone would ring.
"Hello," she said answering it. "How was your flight?"
She was on the phone with Bella. My stomach started to get butterflies the moment I knew it was her. I wondered if she would ask Alice if I read her book.
"What are you doing today," she asked. "Are you sure you want to do that?"
What did she want to do that Alice wasn't to happy about.
"Okay," she said defeated. "If you need anything please call mom and dad."
Now I wanted to know what the hell was going on and where she was going.
"Be careful," she went on saying. "Love you too."
When she hung her phone up I wanted to pounce on her. I wanted to know everything that was just said.
"What's wrong," I asked her.
"Nothing," she said. "That was Bella on the phone."
"I king of figured that out when you asked how her flight was," I told her.
"She's going to La Push today," she said. "She's going to go see Billy Black."
"Isn't that Jacob's dad," I said with caution. "Why in the hell is she going down there?"
"Every year on the anniversary of their deaths they get together," she said looking at me.
"Why celebrate his death," I said pissed the fuck off. "He's the one that caused the pain."
"They get together to celebrate Charlie and Renee," she fired back trying not to cry. "Charlie and Billy were best friends before all this went down."
"Why would you be best friends with the father of the son who was beating your daughter," I asked wanting an answer now.
"They knew nothing about any of it until the restraining order was put into effect," she said. "Billy blames himself for what Jacob did. They get together and go out to eat once a year on that date."
"Not this year," I said to clarify a point. The anger was starting to wear off as she explained things to me. I just couldn't figure out why Bella would want to deal with him after what Jacob did. After listening to Alice I can understand now why she did it.
"Except this year," she said being a smartass. "So she was going to see him today."
"Thank you," I said hugging her. "For explaining it to me, I had no idea."
"Now back to her birthday," she said wiping the tears off her face. "What are you going to get her?"
"I think I have a pretty good idea," I told her eyeing the box on the desk.
BPOV
I woke up the next morning feeling well rested. I looked over at my nightstand and saw the letter sitting there. I got up and got ready for the day with a plan in mind. When I got into my truck I headed down to La Push.
Every year on the anniversary of my parents deaths Billy and I get together for dinner. He still blames himself for everything that happened. I have tried to tell him numerous times that it was never his fault, but it has never sunk in. I ended up having to stop in Port Angeles for gas along the way. As I got out of my truck I prayed that no one would remember me or even try to notice me at all. While I was pumping gas I dug my phone out and called Alice. I knew where she would be, she would be at Edward's but I still needed to talk to her.
"Alice," I said when she answered.
"Hello," she said answering it. "How was your flight?"
"It was actually pretty good," I told her. "Sorry I didn't get a hold of you last night but I kinda fell asleep when I got in."
"What are you doing today," she asked. He had to be within an earshot for her not to be talking that much.
"I'm on my way to La Push to see Billy," I responded. I just hoped that she wouldn't give me hell like she did last year.
"Are you sure you want to do that," she said.
"Yes," I told her. "You know that we do this every year. I was in New York this year and I want to make it up to him."
"Okay," she said defeated. She realized that I was going to do what I wanted to do. "If you need anything please call mom and dad."
"Don't worry about it," I told her. "If anything happens I will call Carlisle and Esme."
"Be careful," she said.
"Always am," I responded. I remembered Charlie would always say that when it was time for him to leave for work. That was his own personal way of saying 'I love you'. "I'll talk to you later. Love you."
"Love you too," she said and I hung my phone up.
I got back into my truck and drove the last half of the trip. I must have been day dreaming because I was almost to Billy's before I realized it. I pulled up to a little red house with a building out back. Jacob's rabbit was still sitting there with a 'For Sale" on it. This place hadn't changed since the last time I was here many years ago. I parked behind his truck and jumped out.
"Bella," I heard a voice say. "Is that you?"
I turned around to see a male with short black hair, very tan, and having a very cocky smirk. I knew exactly who this was.
"Paul," I said when he picked me. "What are you doing here?"
"Visiting my father-in-law," he said holding his left hand out. "I'm officially off the market."
"Congratulations," I told him. "How is he?"
"He's doing pretty good considering what time of the year it is," he said looking down. "You know that I'm sorry for not stopping it."
"I don't want to hear any of it," I told him. "The past is the past and it's time to move on."
"I knew all along what he was doing," he said. "I should've done something about it."
"Come on," I said. "Help me surprise Billy."
"Okay," he said cheering up.
When we walked into the house I noticed a very pregnant Rachel sitting at the kitchen table. She was talking to Billy until she heard the door shut and I saw her smiling.
"Hey honey," she said making Billy turn around.
"Surprise," I told him. When he saw me he got up from his chair and hugged me.
"This certainly is a surprise," he said when he let me go. "What are you doing down here?"
"I had a free day," I started to say. "Since I was out of town, I wanted to make up for missing 'our' dinner."
"Thank you," he said.
"Bella," Rachel said coming up to me next. "How are you?"
"I'm doing pretty good," I told her looking at her pregnant belly. "How far along?"
"Almost eight months," she said.
"Have you chosen a name if it's a boy or girl," I asked.
"That's something we wanted to asked you," she said grabbing Paul's hand. "If we have a little girl we want to name her Renee."
"If it's a boy we want to name him Charlie," Paul said speaking up.
I had tears running down my face. I couldn't believe that they wanted to name their child after my parents. This was probably the best thing I had ever heard.
"I think that is a lovely idea," I said hugging Rachel again.
We spent the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing. Paul and Rachel were perfect for each other. They balanced each other perfect, and almost moved as one person. I was glad to see Billy laughing like his used to before everything happened. After a late lunch Paul and Rachel had to leave for a doctor's appointment. I told them to call me when the baby was born so that I could come down and see them. Once they were gone I was going to talk to Billy.
"Are you okay," I asked him sitting on the porch.
"It's just hard this time of year," he said. "I miss them and my son."
"I miss them too," I added in.
"I'm so sorry Bella," he said with tears in his eyes.
"There was nothing you could've done," I told him. "Please stop apologizing."
"How did you get through it," he asked.
"To be completely honest with you," I started to say. "I wrote everyday to where I ended up writing a book."
"You're parents would have been so proud," he said looking at me.
"Billy," I said to him. "I'm not mad at you. Please stop blaming yourself for what Jacob did. You have a grandchild on the way, to spoil rotten, and tale stories too. That baby is going to need their grandfather to be happy and full of life."
"You're right," he said with confidence. "You should come down more often then."
"I will," I told him laughing.
Not long after our little talk did I start to make my way back to Seattle. While I was driving I couldn't help but think that Edward hadn't called me yet. Alice would have given him my number if he asked for it. I was sure that when he read the book, he would call me. There was no call at all from him not even a text message. I had to remind myself that he had a busy lifestyle in New York, and probably didn't have the time to read it. This was why I told him no more promises. I was always the one getting hurt in the end.
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