Ch 29 A Bitter Gnawing Feeling

"Hello Bella, how are you baby girl?" The voice was deep and rough just like a remembered it and Alice looked at me worried.

"James."

He chuckled again. "Very same how are you?"

"How'd you get my number?" He 'tsked' and I knew he wanted something. That's why he called. That's why he always called.

"I have my ways. You did take forever for me to locate you though. I need you to do me a favor." As if. "Meet me in the café in Port Angeles next to the hair salon." The phone almost slipped out of my hands and my hands went ice cold. He was here. After all this time, running, it was good for nothing.

"And if I refuse?" "Then I'll go find you myself. You wouldn't want Charlie to get hurt. That is your dad's name right? Charlie?" My worst nightmares, James is here. My past is meddling with my present.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Okay baby girl, don't you worry. I'll be here sitting real tight." I pressed end on the phone my mind flooding with different questions that had no real answers to them. I turned to an equally terrorized Alice, who mirrored my same expression.

"I have to go…" My voice cracked and she shook her head.

"No! Take the police, he needs to be arrested."

"No, Al, he'll hurt Charlie. I'm going can you keep this a secret for now? I'll tell Edward when I leave him and go over, okay?" She didn't seem convinced but agreed.

"Fine." I kissed her cheek goodbye and drove off quickly to Port Angeles. The quicker I see him, the quicker I get this over with.

I arrived there right on time and parked next to a plain black car, feeling like my legs were jello as I stepped out of my truck. I clutched at my heart and took multiple deep breaths praying that everything would go okay and he'd disappear forever after this.

When I walked in my eyes immediately picked him out from the crowded café, he wasn't hard to locate. He was sitting in the middle of the café, like in the movies and I took a seat seeing he had ordered me an orange juice that looked disgusting. "Bella." His eyes sparkled as he got up to kiss me but I leaned away not being able to smell his atrocious odor of malice and disgust. "Nice to see you again after," He chuckled and I wanted to slap him. "All this time."

"What do you want? Laurent told me you had matters to discuss with me." His eyebrows knitted together and he huffed angrily.

"Traitor." He muttered before composing himself. "Yes, it seems we have a problem. I need you to remove that order of restraint against me." I wanted laugh. Ha! That's the only thing that can guarantee my safety, well except for now of course…

"Why?"

"I want to go into the enforcement career and I need my record spotless for that. I know someone who can clean it but first I need you to order the removal for it." His hazel eyes were serious but his face held that arrogant smile as always.

"No." I said simply and his smile fell.

"Excuse me?" I stood up ready to walk out and leave this pointless meeting. "No, what part don't you understand so I can break it down for you? I will not remove that order you should've thought of that before you hurt me." He grabbed my wrist harshly and I wanted to whimper feeling the same nails that dug into my skin before dig into my wrist.

"Sit down," He hissed. "Don't make a scene. It'll be bad for you." I reluctantly took a seat knowing he was serious, no one paying attention to our exchange. "I need you to do it."

I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "No." If he asks again I might just slap him, it will sure put my twitching hand at ease once it's fulfilled its urges. He put his finger to his lip and raised an eyebrow impressed with my defiance.

"Well you certainly are a tough cookie now aren't you? You sure as hell got better than when I last was with you." His eyes raked over me and I felt the need to cover myself while he laughed. "Still a little nun, huh? Well guess what sweetheart you haven't been all too pure since my fingers were inside you." He lifted up and wiggled his fingers, the ones that once hurt me and I flinched remembering those moments of despair.

"That's not even the matter." Don't mention anything about Edward, leave him out of this. "I'm not giving you it, that's final."

He banged the table and I jumped. "I fucking need it, you're going to fucking give it to me or you're going to fucking give it to me. I don't have time to play your little games. I'm working on a deadline."

I took out some singles and left it on the table standing up. "I am too. A deadline when you're finally out of my life for good." He stood up ready to stop me again but this time I wouldn't let him manipulate me. I turned around to warn him. "Don't follow me. The restraining order is still intact." I walked out feeling lightheaded, not as brave as I felt inside, but still good. I did it. I really did it!

Edward's POV

My phone vibrated and I thought it might be a text from Bella but it was from a number with no name.

Edward, its Tanya, you're little girlfriend is not so innocent. She's sitting in a café in Port Angeles with a boy talking pretty closely. If you think I'm lying then how would I know her car is a beat down old Chevy red truck and she got a new hair cut?

-Tanya

The phone slipped out of my hand and I felt sick to my stomach. Bella told me she was going to pick up groceries after dropping Alice off, this can't be true. But how would Tanya know all of this? Bella's with another guy right now. She lied to me…

Anger bubbled up on my surface and I ran downstairs glad my parents weren't hope and grabbed a bottle of liquor my father had and brought it to my room, pouring myself a glass. I knew I shouldn't have fallen in love. This is why I didn't! I fell for Bella and I love her so goddamn much only to have her lie to me! Why! I banged my fist against my shelf and the CD's moved some knocking over. She'd be over later and that's when I'll confront her.

I waited for an hour and a half, hearing Carlisle and Esme come home but not bothering to say hello I just kept pouring more drinks. One after the other, drowning the pain into numbness with liquor.

"Hi Esme," I heard Bella's cheerful voice greet and my heart stopped for her. It called to her to just kiss her but no; I had to get the truth.

"Hi dear, how are you?"

"Good, thank you. Is Edward here?" "He's upstairs, he hasn't come down all day." There was a silence before light steps were heard coming closer to my room. My door opened and Bella gasped.

"Edward, what are you doing?" She asked concerned and I turned to see her picking up my CD's.

"Leave it." I said icily. My voice was so cold it felt like I could pierce someone with it. She stopped looking at me stunned and that's when she noticed the glass of liquor in my hand.

"You're drinking…" She looked almost disappointed but I couldn't worry about that. There were bigger matters she was going to clear up for me.

"You lied to me." Her eyes widened and then she blinked.

"What?"

I put my drink down taking a step closer to her and she stepped back looking afraid. Relax. "You said you were going to go grocery shopping but you went to go see another guy!"

She nearly stumbled backwards. "How'd you find out?" so it was true? She admitted it!

"Tanya texted me." Her eyes suddenly blazed and she looked furious.

"Tanya?"

"She's not what we're discussing!" I screamed and she cringed at my tone of voice. "Why!"

"Edward I didn't lie to you." I barked a laugh and clapped my hands. "Then what did you do? Because you told me you were going to one place but ended up in another."

"I dropped Alice off and I got a phone call from an unknown number and I answered it. It was James, Edward; he threatened me to go meet him so I did. I was going to tell you when I left." She clasped her hands looking afraid. "That's what I came here for."

James? Tanya said a boy. She didn't describe him, but it couldn't be James, he doesn't know where she lives. She disappeared! She's lying.

"Why didn't you tell me while you were on your way?" I tested her.

"Because I don't call while driving." I snorted although it was the truth. "I came now to tell you."

I grabbed her arms and shook her somewhat roughly feeling all the anger burn up and heat me from my core. "Why did you do this to me?! Don't you know I love you? Why Bella?" I shook her again and this time she pulled away hastily looking angry, lifting her jacket back up her shoulder that had slipped off, when my room door opened violently, slamming against the wall.

"Let me the fuck go!" She screamed and Carlisle stood looking at me with a surprised face after he examined the scene in front of him. I looked like a ravaged animal. "Let her go, Edward. Relax." Carlisle placed an arm on her shoulder moving her out of my way so I wouldn't try to grab her again.

"I'm sorry." I apologized knowing shaking her was wrong, that's not how any woman deserves to be treated. "I shouldn't have done that." "It's fine. Edward, believe me."

When I looked at her face all I saw was pure sincerity, pure love and hope. It made me want to believe her but then I thought about what Tanya said and the jealous, hot tempered side of me was blinded by rage by absolute fury and wasn't listening to reason.

She noticed the debate on my face because she looked surprise, tears forming in her beautiful eyes. "You don't believe me…" She stated her voice cracking and that's when I knew she was telling the truth. Her face held sincerity. I pushed away all negative thoughts and let my trust for her come out. When I opened my mouth to say something she closed her jacket tightly around her and nodded. "Then this has no point. We're done Edward." As the words left her lips, I still couldn't believe it, all I heard was the shattering of my heart as the pieces fell to the floor.

"What?"

"It's over." She repeated trying to be stern, but the tears in her eyes told me this was hard for her too. No, she can't leave me. I need her, by my side. Forever. I was never going to leave her even when I was blinded by rage I wanted her by my side, she can't quit on us now!

"No!" I shouted flying to her, but Carlisle blocked me, scared of what my temper could do. "What do you want me to stay for, you don't believe me!" She screamed letting some tears fall. All my life and love felt like it was being pulled from underneath me like a rug and I was falling down into a pit less fall.

"I do—"

"Good bye Edward," She wiped her tears and ran out of the house without looking back once. I stood up and tried to run after her, but Carlisle restrained me, putting his hands firmly over my shoulders. "Bella!" I screamed letting the tears of anger at myself and sorrow spill as I sank to my knees.

"Son, you can't go out in this condition." "Bella!" I screamed running to the window. Her truck was still here, but her figure was far away. "Bella!" I shouted like a madman and Esme ran in, her eyes all glazed when she saw my appearance and she ran over to me, cradling me to her chest as we both sank to the floor. "Mom," I cried.

"Oh, my dear," She mumbled combing my hair with her fingers, passing Carlisle the bottle of liquor with her other hand. "Get that away from here. You know I hate it."

"Mom, I love her."

"I know, dear. I know." I stood up and walked over to my canes, wobbling slightly from the alcohol that still buzzed in my system and from the numb feeling that was spread to every inch of my body when Bella left, taking one in my hands gripping it tightly and crashed it against my vases hearing them shatter like my heart. Esme ran over to me and hugged me, ripping the cane away from me. "Stop, dear. Stop."