All Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

Chapter 22 - Friends

Epov

I didn't know what had happened. She was gone. She was just gone.

She freaked out and left me. Again.

I wanted to go after her, but I couldn't. She told me not to leave the kids alone, so I stayed at the end of the walk, watching her until she disappeared around the corner.

I fell to my knees crying. I didn't know what I had done, but she was pissed and she was gone.

I didn't know how long I had been sitting there, when my mother drove up.

"E called me, dear," she said hugging my shoulders. "Let's go inside."

I could barely breathe. My world had just shattered.

I tried to hold it together for the kids, but failed horribly. Esme and Alice ended up taking care of the kids most of the time. I owed them big time.

The kids were spending another night at Esme's, when I heard a knock at my door.

"Edward, you sorry pussy, open up!" It was Emmett.

"My buddies, Jack and Daniel, want you to come visit!" he shouted through the door.

I still didn't budge. "Alright, you little pussy, if you don't open this door, I'll come through it! You know I will!"

I knew he would, because he had done it before, persistent barbarian.

"One!" he started counting, "Two!"

"I'm coming, you asshole!" I shouted.

"Finally, I was worried I would find you dead or something."

I opened the door and he pulled me into a hug I wasn't ready for, so he effectively squeezed all the air out of my lungs.

He pulled back and held me out by my shoulders, looking at my clothes. "Good enough," he deemed and wrapped his arm around me, dragging me to his truck.

I hadn't shaved, showered or changed for three days. I didn't give a shit, but I was surprised Emmett didn't care about the funk coming off of me.

He dragged me into a bar and shoved me into a booth. Suddenly, getting completely smashed didn't sound so bad.

Emmett prattled on about what, god only knew. I wasn't listening. His voice was a low hum in the background of my fuzzy mind. I was more concerned with killing brain cells at that moment.

I sat, mostly drunk, having just drained my sixth beer, when I felt something solid slam into my head. I just fell over. I heard shouting. I could make out one voice as Emmett's. When I blinked, my eyes opened and I saw Jake shouting at him.

"The fucking bastard cheated on Bella!" was all I made out and I jumped up. Okay, I may have stumbled to attention.

"What?" I asked trying to make sense of what was going on.

"I told you I would beat the shit out of you if you messed up, and you messed up BAD! What the fuck were you thinking fucking another chick? I would give anything to have Bella and you had her and fucked around on her?" he accused.

I looked at him confused. "She thought I was cheating on her?"

"Thought? Thought! You think she left because she only THOUGHT you were cheating on her? Dude, you were gone every night and she knew you weren't at the office, you fucking liar! She couldn't stand to be around you anymore while you were fucking some skanky bitch behind her back and lying to her about where you were!" he yelled and lunged at me.

Emmett caught him, stopping his attack. "Slow down, man. I think you've got things all wrong."

"Who the fuck are you to stop me?" Jake snapped at him.

"Apparently, the skanky bitch he was fucking after work," Emmett said seriously.

Jake looked confused, then disgusted. "You're gay?"

"Hell no, I'm not gay!" Emmett shouted back. "But he was with me after work every night. His mother was there, too."

Jake stepped back looking between us.

"He bought her a house, douche bag. We were fixing it up. It was supposed to be a surprise," Emmett informed him.

"Where is this house?" Jake asked.

Emmett told him the address and I slumped back into the seat. I didn't want to think about what was not going to happen anymore.

"That was you guys?" Jake asked. Apparently, he had passed the house a time or two during its renovation.

"Yeah, that was us," Emmett informed him and I tuned out the rest of their conversation.

Jake's pov

I was ready to kill Edward, but when I found out what was really going on, I was glad Emmett stopped me. I had driven past that house hundreds of times. It was huge and beautiful. It was probably too much for Bella, but she did deserve the best.

I looked at Edward's sad depressed form and knew the guys were telling the truth. He was miserable and missed Bella. I knew from talking to Renee that Bella was just as bad off. My plan was to beat the shit out of Edward and then go to Florida to comfort Bella.

I was still going to Florida, but I wasn't going alone.

Emmett and I devised a plan for getting Bella back. She might not be mine this way, but she would be happy and on this side of the states, which were both plusses in my book.

I called Renee while Emmett called Esme and then his workers. We dragged Edward's stinky drunken ass back to Emmett's truck. I had planned on going straight to the airport, but when I smelled Edward, I decided we should stop for the good of all humanity and make that sorry sick bastard shower and shave.

Epov

Emmett was shoving me into the bathroom, telling me to shower fast. He took my wallet and pulled out a credit card.

"Edward, get your stinky ass showered so we can go get your girl!"

My mind perked up. "Get my girl, Bella?" I asked hopeful.

"Yes, what other girl would there be?" he said rolling his eyes.

I stumbled into the shower cursing the last three beers I had drunk.

I wanted to get Bella back.

When I came out of my bathroom there were clothes laid out on my bed. I put them on as fast as possible and came out with my shoes in my hand.

"You might want to try re-buttoning your shirt if you plan on winning her back," Emmett pointed to my chest, "You look like a loser." I looked down and realized in my drunken haste that I had missed a button or three.

I grabbed a few bottles of water from the fridge and headed to the truck. I needed to flush my system if I was going to be allowed on a plane to go see Bella. We picked up Jake and drove straight to Seattle. We stopped three times for me to pee and I cursed my tiny bladder, but I was starting to feel sober by the time we reached the airport.

The guys ushered me to the check in counter. "Three first class tickets to Jacksonville, Florida under the name of Cullen," Emmett spoke to the lady behind the counter.

She looked at the three of us, "ID's please?"

I pulled out my wallet and passed it to her. She smiled and handed us our tickets.

"First class? Nice, thanks, Edward," Jake said.

"Sorry, dude, it was the only thing they had available," Emmett apologized

"It's fine. I would give everything I had if it would get Bella back."

"Yeah, well, so far you've only had to give six thousand dollars, so let's hope it works," he nudged me toward our gate.

We were just barely going to make it. Our plane was already boarding. We would have missed the flight if we had luggage to check, but we didn't plan on staying, just picking her up. My heart started pounding hard in my chest. I was going to see Bella. I hoped she would listen to me. I hoped she would believe me. I was such an idiot for lying to her. I saw that now. I had to get to her and make things right.

Jake said when we landed, he would go to Bella first and once he hugged her, Emmet and I were to come up and he would hold her still while I explained what happened. I thought it was a bit barbaric, but Jake told me that it would be necessary considering she would probably beat the shit out of all of us and take off without letting us get a word in edgewise.

Yup, that sounded like Bella.

Bpov

I stayed in bed crying. I finally was able to get out what had happened to my mother. She didn't say anything, just listened and then hugged me.

I noticed my cell phone ringing again, but I just threw it across the room. My mother picked it up and walked out of the room. I would leave it to her to tell whoever it was that I was not available. I curled back into a ball and pulled the covers over my head. Florida was too bright for my gloomy mood.

I fell asleep crying. It was all I did now.

My mother came bursting into my room and yanked the covers off of me. "You get up right now, my girl. I'll get your clothes laid out for you while you shower and make yourself pretty, and then you can come and eat some breakfast." The thought of breakfast made my stomach rebel and I clamped my hand over my mouth.

I groaned and tried to steady my stomach. I hated when my mother would get these damned bursts of cheeriness. Some days it was just wrong. Today was one of them.

"Come on, I even bought that cereal you like," she said clapping her hands by my ear. It really didn't sound that appealing right now.

"I'm awake, Mom. I just don't want to get up," I whined and tried to roll over and forget that my stomach was trying to do back flips out through my nostrils.

"Bella, it's time to get up and make something of your life. You can't lie around here and pout all day, now move it!"

I knew that at this point she wasn't going to give up. I sighed, and when I breathed in I smelled myself and had to fight to keep from hurling on the spot all over again. Gross! Yeah, I could definitely use a good scrubbing. "Fine, I'll be in the shower."

She started digging through my suitcase that I had yet to unpack. I noticed her glancing at the clock a few times.

"Hurry up!" she shouted after me.

What was she up to?

I didn't know what the hell my mother was up to, but she was up to something. After I was dressed and my mouth was stuffed with cereal, she started dragging me toward the car.

"I'm not leaving, Mom."

"Please, honey, I have a friend to pick up from the airport and I'm nervous about it. Just come with me."

"The airport?"

"Yes, now hurry, we have to get there quickly. Their plane is landing very soon."

She drove like a mad woman to the airport. I guess she wasn't kidding when she said they would be landing soon.

We got to the airport and found a place to wait. I sat on a bench and noticed that my mother's leg was bouncing. She was up to something, but I had no clue what it was. I just hoped she hadn't arranged to have some weird healer come to fix me.

"Bella!"

I looked up and saw a mass of dark hair and russet skin pushing through the crowd. I looked at my mom and she nodded for me to go to him.

I ran to Jake and jumped into his arms, burying my face in his chest. His warm arms wrapped around me and I felt safe and comforted. I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

Then I felt his arms tighten around me.

Epov

When I saw Bella run to Jake, I couldn't help but be jealous. Then I saw how she broke down crying. I felt horrible. I noticed her red chapped nose and puffy eyes. She had been crying a lot lately and I felt like an ass. I should have just told her what I was doing.

I walked up to them and I saw Jake tighten his grip on Bella. I knew it was time to get her back.

"Bella?" my voice cracked a little.

She looked up at me and glared. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I didn't cheat on you," I blurted out. I could tell by the look on her face that she didn't believe me.

"He didn't, Bells," Jake backed me up. "He was working on a house."

She looked confused.

"I bought us a house, Love. It was being renovated by Emmett. I was helping him after work. It was supposed to be a surprise."

She looked at me confused and glanced over to Emmett.

"Sorry, Herman, I didn't mean to steal your man," he shrugged and I wanted to punch him for joking about it.

"You bought another house?" she stumbled out.

"Yes, I was going to have one built, but Emmett told me about a house he was renovating and it sounded perfect. I was trying to find the right time to tell you, but you always seemed so upset with me. I didn't know what to do."

She glanced at Emmett, "He's been with you after work?"

"Every day, Herman. He wanted to make sure it was perfect for you and the kids," Emmett said with a grin.

She wiped her tears. "So you're Edward's girlfriend?"

"Yes," Emmett said smiling.

Suddenly, Bella smirked and spoke loudly, "I didn't know you were gay, Emmett."

"What the fuck? I am not gay!" he shouted and we burst out laughing.

Emmett glared at us. "See if I come save your ass next time," he pointed at me and then stormed off to the bench Bella had been sitting on.

I pulled Bella into my arms and breathed her in deeply.

"So, there's no one else?" she whimpered.

I held her at arm's length so she could see the seriousness of my face. "Woman, there has never been anyone else but you. I don't talk to anyone I don't have to, I don't date anyone and I certainly don't have sex with anyone but you. I never have. Don't you understand, Bella? You're it for me."

Her eyes watered and I pulled her into my arms squeezing her tightly.

"But your mom said all the girls wanted you," she mumbled into my shoulder.

"But I don't want them. I don't fuck just anyone, Bella. I've only ever been with you." I knew my language was crude, but the point had to be made.

I wasn't fucking around.

I heard a throat clear next to me and realized I had just said that in front of her mother.

Oh, fuck me.

"I'm…uh, I swear…I mean, I love your…I want to marry…I bought her a house!" I offered up finally, exasperated by her mother's glare.

Her mother burst out laughing and pulled me into a hug.

I was thoroughly confused.

"Don't let Charlie hear you talk about his little girl that way or you might end up losing a favorite appendage," she winked at me.

I looked at Bella, who was rolling her eyes at her mother.

"He's not stupid, Mom," she defended and I was suddenly worried about my appendages. All of them.

"So, when are you getting married?" her mother asked us.

My eyes widened and then realization set in for Bella. I had said I wanted to marry her.

She turned and looked at me. "You want to marry me?"

I shrugged. "Yeah, but you were so pissed at me. I didn't think you would say yes if I asked."

"You wanted to marry me even when I was mad at you?" she asked sounding worried.

"Well, I was hoping we would work through whatever it was I had done to piss you off. I was waiting for you not to be mad anymore."

She burst into tears again. I had no idea why. I pulled her into my arms and she pulled away and whacked my arm.

Back to square one.

"You only want to marry me because I'm the mother of your children?" she accused.

"NO, God, Bella, I love you. I always have. Even when you were away I couldn't even look at anyone else. I kept hoping you would come back to me. I was crushed when you left. I didn't want anyone but you! You're the only one I've ever wanted."

She sniffled and looked up at me from under her lashes. "But, you're so good at…um…" she blushed.

I blushed in return.

"Yeah, well, I studied after our many failed attempts," I chuckled nervously.

"With whom?" she sounded hurt.

"Just me and my anatomy book, I swear. You're the only girl I've ever touched like that."

"Really?" her voice cracked.

"Really, Love. I wasn't exaggerating," I pulled her hard against me squeezing her in my arms. "It's only ever been you, Bella, only you."

Bpov

I must have been sleep deprived, because my emotions were all over the place. I finally settled into Edward's arms, letting his scent comfort me. He wanted me, no one else. I still didn't understand why this beautiful man that could have any woman in the world settled for me. I was far from pretty. I was shy and unsure of myself. I was clumsy and often made a fool of myself, but for some reason he wanted to be with me.

I decided I would take what I could get and deal with the pain later.