37

We're in the kitchen drinking coffee when someone knocks at the door. Bella and I cast nervous glances at one another as I rise to see who it is.

I open the door, peering around it like a fugitive and feeling myself relax when I see who it is.

"Hey, man," Jasper says.

"Hey."

I stand back, pulling it wide enough for him and Alice to enter.

"Is this yours? It was on the ground outside." Alice holds my phone out to me and I take it from her. I check it's still working, and the screen lights up with missed calls and messages, but the battery's low and I'm guessing it will die completely at any minute.

"Thanks," I tell her, shoving it into my pocket. She reaches out and rubs my arm, a small smile of solidarity on her lips as she follows Jasper through to the kitchen.

"You okay?" she asks Bella, leaning over and kissing the top of her head.

"Yeah." Bella smiles up at her friend as she takes a seat beside her.

The atmosphere is strange and I'm a little weirded out.

"Nobody died, guys. You can relax," I tell them, sitting back down as Jas pours two more mugs of coffee.

"Ugh." Alice slumps back in her seat. "This whole situation is driving me crazy. Do you know who sent Bree the photo?"

"I'm pretty sure it was Charlotte," I tell her. "Bree didn't seem to know that Em knew."

I notice Alice watching Bella closely, so her next question doesn't really surprise me.

"So what happens now?" she asks me. Her tone is hard and she sticks her chin out. I get what's she's telling me: fuck with her friend and live to regret it.

"Alice!" Bella looks at her friend in shock, but Alice shrugs unapologetically.

"I'm not going back to Bree, if that's what you're wondering," I tell her. "I was working through a plan to leave her anyway, I was just hoping to get a few more pieces into place before I did it. For Lucy."

Alice nods, it seems she's satisfied, for now at least.

"I'm sorry," she says. "I'm just looking out for my friend."

"Well you don't have to worry, because I am too." I reach across and take Bella's hand.

My phone rings in my pocket, the battery finally giving out as I pull it out and watch it plunge into lifelessness before I can see who was calling.

"Can I borrow your charger?" I ask Jasper, aware of three sets of eyes watching me.

"Sure, I'll go get it," he says.

"Soooo?" Bella whispers to Alice as soon as he leaves. Alice smiles widely, but says nothing. Bella laughs, deep and dirty, an infectious sound that makes me smirk and Alice slap her on the arm.

"Stop!" Alice scolds her, but then the smile creeps back and Bella laughs again.

Alice looks up guiltily as Jasper walks back in and puts the charger down in front of me.

"Thanks, man."

I plug it in, resting it on the counter.

Bella's phone starts ringing as I turn back around. She looks at the screen and her face distorts into a disgusted expression as she puts it down on the table. The screen is lit up and it's still ringing as she looks up at me.

"Em," she says.

"You haven't done anything wrong," I tell her, wishing she'd believe me.

Bella's attention is still on me, so she only notices Alice snatching up her phone when it's too late.

"Hello?"

She says nothing more, but I guess Em does because she's listening intently.

"This isn't Bella. She doesn't want to talk to you." She pauses again, listening.

"Well I'll let her know. And, Emmett? If you call her again she's not only letting her dad know you've been harassing her, she's showing him the bruise on her arm from last night, Okay? Bye."

She ends the call and places the phone down carefully as we look on.

"He's prepared to forgive you," she says. Bella's eyebrows shoot up and disbelieving laugh bursts from her mouth.

"Well, that's...incredibly good of him," she says, shaking her head. "The sense of relief is overwhelming."

I try to smile, but annoyance at my brother's attitude and behavior cuts through me.

"He's a fucking asshole," I say.

"He's a fucking asshole who's also willing to take her back," Alice adds. "He says to call him when you see sense, B."

My muscles tense and I begin to pace. Bella appears in front of me, her hand on my chest as she looks right at me.

"Stop. It's never going to happen, I already saw sense."

"I don't care if he's my brother, I'll-"

"Do nothing," she interrupts. "Think of Lucy. An assault charge isn't going to help your cause."

I breathe deeply, trying to overcome the sudden ache that cripples me.

"I should go to my place. Grab some stuff…" The words sound strange; my place.

"You're welcome to stay here," Jasper says. "There's plenty of room. Stay until you've found somewhere else, or move in permanently. I don't mind."

"Thanks." I look around the room, grateful for everyone else in it. I can't imagine how much worse it would be, going through this alone.

My phone chimes to life and a message comes straight through. I go over and take a look.

My mom, worrying and wanting me to call her. I text back.

I'm fine. Call you later, I promise x

I ignore my unread messages and text Bree too.

Staying at Jasper's, coming over to get some stuff and see Lucy. Be there in 30mins.

"Will you be okay?"

Bella's at my side, her head resting against my arm.

"Yeah, I'm fine. We're going to be fine." I reach round and stroke her face, revelling in the freedom I have to do this openly now.

"I'm going to go home. Will I see you later?" she asks. It takes no consideration.

"Yeah, definitely," I tell her. "The thought of it is what's going to get me through today."

"Me too," she whispers, and reaches up to kiss me.

~RH~