FAGE The 13th.
Title: Change of Scene
Written for: Ninkita
Written By: Izzy Nava
Beta: Lovely Black Butterfly
Banner Maker: brierlynn03
Rating: M for language.
Summary/Prompt used: I did not expect to run into the love of my life today. I would have at least brushed my hair.
Pairing: Bella/Edward
If you would like to see all the stories that are a part of this exchange visit the Facebook group: Fanficaholics Anon: Where Obsession Never Sleeps, or add the C2 to get all the stories direct to your inbox.
I'd like to also give a special thank you to brierlynn03 for creating the beautiful banner! And to the Lovely Black Butterfly for betaing this story!
Enjoy!
"This is all your fault! If you had just told me what was wrong, I wouldn't have done this!"
I stared at him, feeling my blood begin to boil as I felt the remains of my life fall to pieces at my feet. "Fuck you! Don't blame your egotistical decisions and the fact that you were only thinking with your dick on me!!" I screamed back, angrily.
He was supposed to be the love of my life, we had grown up together, been there for each other after his mother passed away, yet here he stood acting like everything he had done to hurt me had been my fault.
The moment suddenly clicked. It's why I had suddenly begun to drift away. Why I had begun to add more money in my savings, why I began looking for a new apartment—on the other side of the state and nearer to my brothers. I realized the relationship was near its end.
I took a long calming breath—in through the nose out through the mouth. "You're right." I finally said, smiling at the courage I felt, and could practically taste the freedom.
His head snapped in my direction, so quickly, I'm surprised he didn't break his neck. If only I could be so lucky. "You are agreeing with me?" He asked me, incredulously.
I stared at him unfazed, as he stiffened where he stood. "I am. The truth is I am tired of fighting." I say, barely above a whisper, while calmly sitting down in the armchair. I purposely chose the only single-seated furniture in the room.
"Baby, I am tired too. Why don't we just move on?" He asks crouching in front of me, attempting to look sorry.
He was sorry alright— a sorry excuse of a man.
"Oh, we will, and I am sure of this because I am done. Jacob, I'm breaking up with you. I am breaking off the engagement, but instead of moving on, I am moving out." I say, giving him a hard pat on the cheek before yanking off the ring and dropping it on the floor next to him.
"You can't be serious! You're going to let a six-year relationship go because of one little mistake?" He asked, recovering from the initial shock and following me out of the room.
I wanted to turn and rip his cynical face off. Instead, opting to ignore his asshole-ery, and dickheadedness; I continued towards the room where a small bag was waiting for me on the bed.
I had gotten home earlier than usual today and decided to pack my things and throw them into the bed of my truck, leaving a small duffle with my everyday items in it at the foot of the bed for me to grab on my way out.
"One mistake, Jacob? One mistake would have been a one-night stand after a drunken party night. I could possibly have let that go. However, this..." I had to take another calming breath. I could feel the tears prickling my eyes and I'll be Damned if I'll shed one tear in front of this asshole.
"…You have been dating my best friend, Leah Clearwater, and me at the same time, asshole! Not only that, but she's now pregnant with your child, Jacob. That is not something I can let go of. She can have you for all I care, I am not interested in competing for someone else's sloppy seconds." I snarl at him, before snatching my duffle and purse off the bed, pushing past him towards the front door.
I quickly moved through the house, mentally making a list of all of my things for when I called the movers.
"Bella! Wait! Listen! Don't leave!" He begged. He finally grabs my arm as I reach my truck and swings me around to face him.
"Bella, you have to believe me. It's not my baby." I give him a deadpanned look as I cross my arms over my chest. "Well, it could be, but I'm not the only one she's been seeing. It could be Sam's or even Paul's…" I don't even let him finish. Leah already told me he would say that. I throw my hands up, turn and open the door of my truck and hop in, throw my duffle in the back, and placing my purse on the passenger's seat.
"Jacob, if you ever loved me at all, you would understand that this isn't something I could ever forgive, much less turn a blind eye to. I hope you aren't going to be home tomorrow because I will be back with my brothers. Goodbye, Jacob Black." Sighing, I pulled out of the driveway, and slowly made my way towards my older brothers' residence in Ilwaco.
It was only a three-hour thirty-minute drive from Forks to my brother and sister-in-law's—Peter and Charlotte. Since dad and mom moved to Arizona, I was the only Swan left in our hometown.
As I drive, I think back over my relationship with Jake. We were high school sweethearts. We'd known each other since diapers. Our dads were best friends, and our moms were pregnant with us at the same time.
We were best friends growing up, making mud pies, going fishing with our dads, and playing at the beach. It wasn't until high school we began to see each other in a new light. We began dating. He was my first and only boyfriend. I thought we were soulmates, the love of my life. But hey, what did I know?
I went away to college in Seattle while Jacob stayed and went to community college in Port Angeles so he could be close by to take care of his dad, Billy, who was in a wheelchair after the accident that killed his mom.
Whenever he could get away, he'd come to Seattle for weekends, or I would come home. Little did I know that some of those weekends, instead of spending time with me, he chose to stay and be with Leah. It wasn't enough for him when I allowed us to progress slowly. Frankly, I didn't think it ever bothered him nor did he ever express that it did. Now, I know why.
I hadn't lost much in this relationship, merely wasted time. I was somewhat relieved; my quirky perceptiveness that something wasn't right. Knowing that I might be moving, I put in my two weeks' notice a few weeks ago when the arguing began escalating and became a daily occurrence. I grew tired of it pretty quickly.
It seems; however, I hadn't thought that far ahead, and now that I had gone through with the breakup, I no longer had a place to live. I now regret renting out our family home, after my engagement. This just kept getting better and better. Kind of like getting kicked in the gut while you're already down.
My only thoughts were happy serene ones as I parked on the large driveway on the hilltop of my older brother Peter's house. I briefly wondered what I would do, what were the next steps I would take.
I don't know how long I sat there, until a knock suddenly interrupted my contemplation, causing me to screech in fear and throw myself into the passenger's seat for protection.
I laid there for a moment, waiting for my heart to drop down out of my throat. Peter swung my driver's side door open.
"Well, hello, there squirt." My brother greeted me. After I recovered, I hopped out, swung my arms around his neck for a hug, somewhat amused.
"Hey," I greeted warmly while muttering "Jackass," under my breath, as he pulled me into a tight hug.
I briefly wondered if my brother knew why I was here, or if he assumed it was a friendly visit. Peter didn't keep me wondering long as he spoke, "Jacob called flipping out about fifteen minutes ago, said you had broken off the engagement, packed your things, and left. He was hoping you would come here since you refused to answer his calls." He explained, taking a step back to look at me, with an eyebrow raised.
I could feel his silent question as he stared at me. Wondering why I had broken things off just a few months before the wedding.
"He had been dating Leah and me at the same time," I explained, answering his unspoken questions.
I could feel his silent question as he stared at me. Wondering why I had broken things off just a few months before the wedding.
"He had been dating Leah and me at the same time," I explained, answering his unspoken questions.
"He— what?! Oh, I knew that little mongrel couldn't be trusted! Jasper was fucking right, dammit!" He growled as he clenched his fists tightly.
"Why are you so angry? It was me he cheated on. Thank GOD we never went further than third base, who knows what I would have gotten. I know Leah was also fucking around with Sam and Paul for a while. That shit is gross." I muttered, shivering in disgust. Thinking back as Leah called me freaking out because she didn't know who the father of her baby was. It wasn't until they told her how far along, she was, she confessed she'd been sleeping with Jacob since I went away to college. If the bitch weren't pregnant, I'd slapped the shit out of her.
Not that it mattered now, since I was certain about who the father of that baby is.
"Wait, didn't she announce that she's pregnant last week?" He asked, making a face of disgust.
I bit my lip and nodding trying to keep the tears at bay. "Yes, I know for a fact she's only been seeing Sam since he broke up with her cousin, Emily a few weeks ago. Paul, I'm not too sure. But when they told her how far along, she was, she became adamant she knew Jacob was the father. It's when she confessed the whole thing to me," I replied as he directed me into his house.
"Jeez. This is worse than the Maury show…" Peter spoke so low; I don't know if he even realized he said it out loud.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see them there, since Jacob claims he's not the father," I replied. The look he gave me confirmed he didn't mean to say that out loud.
"...but enough about that little shit. The good thing is you are free! So, let's celebrate! I'll go tell Lottie so we can call everyone to celebrate." He rushed out, disappearing down the hall and into the kitchen. He leaves me standing in the foyer staring after him in shock.
"HEY! I didn't agree to anything, asshole!" I called after him. I head into the sitting room and drop heavily onto the overstuffed ottoman.
I had only just closed my eyes to keep the tears at bay when I heard the pitter-patter of small footsteps heading my way, and I knew my wallowing was over.
"Lala!"
I barely had time to open my eyes before I felt the weight of my niece, Morgan Grace, a.k.a. Gracie, and her twin brother Matthew Holden, a.k.a. Mattie. It had been months since I had last visited, and seeing them now, only made me realize how much I had missed my family.
"Gracie! Mattie! How are you guys? Are you behaving for your mommy?" I asked, hugging them as they each stumbled onto my lap and hugged me tightly.
"Lala, I'm a girl, and we both have been behaving," Gracie said, scowling at me for a moment.
Mattie rolled his eyes at his sister. He then turned to look at me, "What she means is that we have both been perfect little angels." He said as he slid off my lap and sat on the seat next to me.
A snort caused us all to look towards the foyer, where my brothers—Peter and Jasper—are both standing there watching us, with amusement flickering in their eyes.
"Uncle Jazzy!" The kids squealed running off to hug his legs, where he proceeded to lift them and spin them. They continue to squeal and giggle until he propped them onto their feet so they could disappear down the hall.
I smiled at their antics. I got up and headed towards them slowly.
"Hey squirt, I heard what happened," Jasper said, after pulling me into a hug.
"Mm. Word sure travels fast around here." I grumbled, throwing Peter an annoyed look.
"Hey, don't look at me, squirt. The mongrel called Jasper and Garrett too." He explained, raising his hands in surrender.
Good, God! This moron has absolutely done it now. It wasn't enough for him to cheat on me, but to call my brothers, knowing how protective they are of me, and tell them I left him, well let's just say that wasn't a very smart move. No one ever claimed Jacob Black was the brightest crayon in the box.
Especially if this news happens to fall on my parents. It's one thing to fuck up. But with me being the youngest, and the only girl, let's just say it won't end well for him.
Now, add the fact that my mother is a tad overbearing and overdramatic, and I know I won't hear the end of it. This situation just gets better and better… not.
"Of course, he did. Did the asshole bother to tell you why I broke up with him or did he just say that I broke up with him?" I asked, raising a brow at him.
Jasper's brows furrowed in confusion as he turned to Peter, a silent question passing between both of them. "He simply said you broke off the engagement. When I ask why he said you got cold feet and wanted some time apart. That you packed up your things and left." Jasper replied, raising a brow. "I take it there is another reason why you left?" He inquired, a slight edge to his voice.
COLD FEET?! Oh, I'll show him cold feet! I am going to shove my cold foot so far up his ass for lying he'll be ejaculating ice cubes for the foreseeable future.
"He has been cheating on me the entire time. He had been dating Leah and me since the beginning, and not only that, but he got Leah pregnant too." I replied, silently debating whether or not that asshole was worth going to jail for; since I was having strong urges to commit murder.
"Oh, he has, has he? That's good to know. Hang on. Dad told me to call him as soon as I spoke to you. Be right back." Jasper said, as he pulled out his phone and walked out the front door.
"That idiot called Dad, too?" I asked Peter as we both stared at the closed-door Jasper had just disappeared through.
"Probably. Look, if that is the case, just know mom and dad will be arriving here sometime tomorrow morning." He replied, patting my shoulder in comfort.
I laughed in disbelief. "Of course, they are," I said sarcastically.
A loud crash causes us both to jump before we turn to look wide-eyed towards the empty hallway. "Fuck, Charlotte is going to kill me," Peter grumbled under his breath.
"Might as well make the most of this time alone you have. If our ma is coming, Lord knows who else she is bringing with her." He added. Peter left in search of his little scoundrels, after the loud crash we heard.
I silently debated whether it was a good idea to come here in the first place. Maybe one night in a hotel would have been better just to get my mind in a good space.
I silently walked out the backdoor onto their deck, to think.
I sighed, as I sat down. I looked out towards the scenic view that stared back at me. I watched as the clouds, and a little bit of sun reflected low on the horizon off of the small lake that was just behind my brother's home.
I marveled at the sight, feeling the tension I carried slowly drift away, as my mind began to drift towards recent events.
A yelp caused me to jump up and head inside to check on everyone.
I realize where the commotion is coming from as I slowly made my way towards the kitchen. I knew my dear, hot-blooded sister-in-law was currently cooking who knows what in said kitchen.
As I walked in, I realized Alice, Jasper's girlfriend, and Charlotte were already drinking, and eating some food that was already laid out on the breakfast nook. I quickly grabbed a glass and filled it to the top with wine. I took a deep, long sip.
The taste was sweet, and tart, and was exactly what I needed after the long day I had.
"Bel-la! Belly boo! How are you, girlie?" Alice asked as she threw a grape into her mouth.
"Crap-tastic," I replied as I reached for the delicious looking plate of crab cakes and panko-breaded shrimp, leaning over the plate to deeply inhale the succulent aroma. Charlotte's lips pressed into a thin line while Alice turned to look at me with genuine concern. I sighed, then preceded to tell them both about me and Jacob breaking up.
"Oh no, what happened? I thought you two were supposed to get married in July..." She asked, turning her full attention towards me, brows furrowed.
"Not now, Ali. B here has had an awful day. The silver lining is that the mongrel has finally bit the dust! So, let's celebrate! My girl is now single and ready to mingle!" Charlotte cheered. Lifting her glass, Charlotte let out a big whoop and took a large sip.
"Single yes, ready to mingle? I don't think so. I need to be alone for a while… Focus on me." I said, licking my lips before taking another sip.
"I'll cheer for either of those!" Alice said, whooping along with Charlotte.
"Sweet Jesus, I get out of a six-year relationship and your first reactions are to celebrate? Hm. Go figure." I grumbled, taking another gulp.
I guess nobody in my family genuinely liked Jacob. Maybe my dad, but that is loosely based on him being his best friend's son. Even then, the term 'like' is figurative, because my dad at best put up with his asshole attitude, even towards himself.
"Honestly, Bella if it had been anyone else. Anyone remotely less of a pain in the ass, and you had truly been happy with them, I would have booked us all a flight to Vegas tonight, so we could wallow away in the spa. But this is Jacob we are talking about, and you were miserable with him. Besides, that asshole doesn't deserve your tears, he didn't deserve you in the first place. So, we are celebrating because you pulled your head out of your ass, and saw the light." Charlotte informed me, with a shrug and yet another sip of wine from her glass. I sadly wonder if this is how she truly feels or if it's the wine talking. I get the answer to my inner monologue from Alice as she raises her glass; maybe both of these bitches are just drunk.
"Hallelujah!" Alice cheered from her seat, drinking along with Charlotte. I look at them both in utter amazement then suddenly the light goes on in my head.
"Son of a bitch, you are both right," I say with a humorless chuckle
I wasn't happy with him; I hadn't been happy since I left for school. But now I was, and I wasn't going to waste this new opportunity.
"I will give you a heads up though, your mother is pissed at your dad, so, there may be tension this weekend..." Charlotte informed me, with a serious expression.
I give a nonchalant shrug, deciding to ignore that fact and focus on something else. "So, this celebration. What exactly does it entail?" I ask, taking a large bite of one of the crab cakes.
"You choose. We can do a barbeque, have a dinner party, or a tiki bash." Charlotte said, smiling at me, enthusiastically.
Alice practically bounced in her seat as she listened to me. I held up a finger, pulled out my phone, and checked the weather forecast for this weekend. As I did, I quickly began to erase all the missed calls, voicemails, and unread texts I had in my mailboxes. Time to block the bastard's number. I searched the weather in the area, realizing it was going to rain tomorrow until after six in the afternoon.
"The dinner party sounds wonderful. We can definitely wait to have the barbeque and tiki party when it is warmer." I replied looking up at them.
"Great. So, I'll call my cousins and parents to invite them. Charlotte can call her parents since Belly's parents will be coming in tomorrow morning! This is going to be so much fun!" Alice squealed, skipping out of the room.
I stared after her in shocked amusement I then turned towards Charlotte, who had suddenly gone quiet. "Alright, exactly what is going on? What are you hiding?" I asked, point-blank.
I watched as Charlotte choked mid-swallow, turning to the sink to cough violently over it. I watched solemnly from my seat; wondering what her reaction could mean.
"What the hell…?" Peter asked, suddenly appearing with Gracie and Mattie on his tail, and rushing towards Charlotte to pat her on the back.
"I asked her what was going on and she began to choke on her wine," I explained calmly. Probably a little too tipsy to give an appropriate response.
The room went silent. Charlotte gasped, turning to look at me embarrassed, She and Peter exchanged looks—as if having a silent conversation—that I couldn't decipher.
"Look, I didn't want to be the one to tell you but…" He sighs and slowly shakes his head before continuing. "…seeing as how Jasper fucking pulled a Houdini, and Garrett is busy with a project at work until later tonight. It looks like I'll be telling you," Peter spoke, as Charlotte quickly ushered the kids out of the kitchen.
"Good night, Lala! I love you!" Gracie chirped as Mattie parroted her before they were steered away.
I whisper a "goodnight and love you too" to them, before turning towards Peter, who now has a half-empty beer bottle in his hand.
"Alright, Pete, what is happening?" I asked as I sipped my glass of wine.
Peter looked tense as he stared out the window, giving me a side-eye glance. "Mom and Dad are separated. They've been keeping it from you, however, since they'll be here tomorrow, this is something you need to know. This isn't recent either, they have been separated for a while now, but have been working through their shit. So, don't be surprised if they're 'extra'…. attentive this weekend." He explained, using his fingers as quotations while downing the rest of his beer.
I sighed, guzzling the rest of my wine. I sat my glass down, turning towards him, hoping he'd give me his full attention. "Figures they would try to hide this shit from me, even though I am an adult, they still treat me like a child. When have I ever behaved childish, or irresponsible? I have dated the same guy throughout my high school years, and only just broke up with him today! For Christ's sake!" I rant, feeling all the anger I felt earlier begin to burn once again.
"Bella," Peter said, walking towards me, a worried expression on his face.
I moved away, shaking my head, as my eyes began to brim over. "No, Peter. She doesn't get to have it both ways. One minute she's pressuring me into getting married and giving her grandkids, but then she flips the script and keeps shit like this from me as if I'm a child.
Peter opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off before he even starts. "No, Peter…" I reiterate, "…You don't fucking understand what it is like to be the one man out. You all found your significant others. All of you paired off, and have been living your happily ever after. Do you know how difficult it is for me to listen to mom constantly ask me if I am ever going to get married or give her grandchildren? No, you fucking don't, because you were the first one to get married out of all of us…" I whispered, brokenly.
I was tired of living unhappily. I always felt like I was dragging my feet to set a date for the wedding after Jake and I got engaged, but it was because I always felt so unhappy, and now I knew why.
Peter quickly rushes forward, pulling me into a fierce hug, letting me cry out my frustrations as I finally spoke what I had been feeling all along.
"Bella, you need to quit listening to what mom wants and go for what you want. Squirt, I know the pressure mom puts on you, she puts it on all of us, but you, particularly. We are grown-ass people. We can do what we want. But you're their baby girl—their Princess. Besides, you know Ma means well. if she gets too much for you then fucking ignore her, she'll get butt hurt but she'll get over it, and she doesn't need any more grandkids. Between my Gracie and Mattie, and Garrett's Helena and Alina, she's all set." He says, with his chin on my head.
I sighed, realizing he is right. I needed to focus on my needs, wants, and happiness. Not everyone else's. "You're probably right. I should head to bed. It's been a long day and I've probably had too much wine " I mumble, hugging him back before letting go, and walking towards the room where I usually stayed.
I woke up the next morning to Gracie and Mattie rushing into my room and bouncing on the bed.
"Lala, wake up!" They yelled as they bounced all around me.
"No, too sleepy," I mumbled drowsily, as I turned onto my side.
"Kids, get your monkey butts out of that room and leave your Auntie Bella alone. She's tired." Peter called from the hallway.
They both complained, climbed off the bed, and left the room, with a click of the door.
I got out of bed a few minutes later, after failing to try to get back to sleep, getting dressed for the day.
Charlotte surprised me by asking me to accompany her to the Walmart for a quick trip to get all the food for tonight, as I sat on the nook, drinking coffee and eating dry toast. "Please, Bella? Please?!" She begged.
"Why didn't you just call Alice?" I asked her, pouting.
I had overdone it with the third glass of wine. I knew I did, but I deserved it after my previous long day. I knew it would come to bite me in the ass, but it was nothing that water and Tylenol can't fix.
" I need to take your beast since Peter took the SUV with the kids earlier. I also need your opinions on some other stuff please," Charlotte said, her eyes begging for me to acquiesce.
With a long sigh, I finished drinking the coffee and headed back to the guest room to get my purse.
I snorted, thinking, she was way too chipper for this time of the morning. I pulled on my fuzzy, soft black hoodie and grabbed my purse. Charlotte is already waiting for me at the door, bouncing on her feet in an Alice-like fashion.
As we walked out into the cool morning air, I yawned, pulled my hood over my head, and headed for the passenger's side, throwing the keys to Charlotte.
"So, what exactly is on the shopping list for tonight's dinner?" I asked, rubbing my eyes tiredly.
"Let's see. I need veggies, chicken, bread, steak, seasonings, water, wine, fruit, potatoes…blah, blah, blah," Charlotte blabbers on. "…I have the list on my phone, I'll send it to you so we can each get half and half before heading to check-out," She says, as we quickly make our way down the avenue. YEP! way too chipper for this time of the morning. And here I am thinking, I'd get a little nap on our way to the store.
When we reach the Walmart, the lot is practically empty. Charlotte sends me the list and tells me to grab the bottom half so she could focus on the top half. She quickly makes her way over to the deli section of the store.
I rapidly made my way towards the frozen section, to begin my shopping. I walked down each aisle occasionally throwing something or other into the cart.
As I made my way down each aisle, I began to feel overheated. I pull the hood off of my head, sighing in relief as I felt the cool air hit my skin. I continue shopping, dropping a few more things into the cart.
I move towards the meat section, quickly grabbing the packages I need. I then head towards the wine section to grab two bottles of all the wine Charlotte has on the list, and a case of my brothers' favorite beer, before heading to check out.
I notice they are out of stock of my favorite wine. I see bottles of my second favorite on the top shelf. As I go shelf climbing, my foot slides off, and I squeal as I feel myself fall to the ground.
I close my eyes and brace myself for the inevitable pain associated with hitting the hard floor.
A second before I hit the floor, I hear a deep, yet smooth voice, say, "Woah!" as a pair of strong, muscular arms wound around me as I am airborne.
"Hey, are you alright?"
I let out an unsteady breath. "Fucking hell..." I whisper as I move my hands around to make sure I am alright. I cringe as I feel the person's arms —who still happens to be holding me—flex under me.
"Excuse me, Miss. Are you alright? Are you hurt?" He asked, repeatedly; his voice laced with concern. I slowly peeked through my lashes to look at my savior.
Boy, I was not disappointed. Holy fuck! I've never seen such a handsome face in my life. Even Jacob's good looks are more of a boyish charm. This dude was beyond handsome, from the aristocratic nose to the sharp jawline; a full set of kissable lips, As my eyes roamed further, I noticed his unusual hair-color, trimmed and coifed into a unique style.
After my dumbass recovered from the initial shock, I finally moved to get out of his comfortable arms, and to my feet.
As I move to stand, I finally notice the broad, thick musculature that makes his body. I am practically drooling as I allowed my eyes to roam further.
"Woah," I mutter, surprised.
His responding smile practically blinds me as I stare up at him, stunned into idiocy by how handsome this man truly is.
I could feel my lady bits begin to melt into a pile of goo, and my ovaries begin to sing 'It's raining men'. All the while forgetting where I was, what I was doing, or even what my name was.
It was then I had a small epiphany in the middle of the wine aisle, in Walmart. All those times I made fun of my friends and family for believing in love at first sight, came back to bite me in the ass. That fact alone is a bitter pill to swallow.
I did not expect to run into the love of my life today. Had I known; I would have at least brushed my hair this morning before leaving the house.
But can this truly be called love, or is it just lust?
Then I remembered; oh my God! My hair! I quickly reached up to smooth that chaotic mess down with my fingers, as my face flushed in embarrassment.
Is it weird that I want to jump on and cling to him like a wicked spider monkey?
Fuck, I can smell him from where I am standing! How the hell is that possible?! Is that fucking peppermint? How in the world can a man make peppermint smell so deliciously sexy?
"Are you alright?" He repeated yet again, as I continued my outrageous ogling.
My brow furrows in confusion as my brain snaps back to reality. "I'm sorry, what?" I asked, like a dumbass.
"Are you alright, Miss?" He repeats, brow furrowed, as he stepped towards me, scanning the top of my head because obviously, I must have recently gone through electroshock therapy.
Fuck, how can a look of confusion look so fucking sexy? Fuck, I need to get my head out of my ass and focus on what he is saying and not how perfectly kissable his lips look as he talks.
"I— I think I am ok. Are you? I—I mean, you came out of nowhere. Did I hurt you?" I say as I hopped up in a poor attempt to grab the wine from the floor to avoid another accident.
"Oh, no. I am fine. I was just getting some things. Do you— do you need some help there?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at me as I hopped up and down again.
I swear, I saw amusement glinting in his amazing emerald eyes as I turned back towards the shelves. "Would you mind? It's the cherry one, and the rosé, pink one…" I muttered, blushing.
He nodded slowly reaching up to grab two bottles of each one before setting them in the cart slowly.
"Thank you so much… I am so sorry I took any of your time." I muttered shyly.
"It was no problem. Are you sure you are alright, Miss?" He asked again, obviously concerned.
I looked down at myself, then looked back up at him. I sighed, knowing I probably look like one of those 'crazy Walmart-meme people' compared to him. It was also probably the only time in my life I would ever meet a guy like him. I nodded my head in response, then turned to make my way out of the aisle without causing myself the further embarrassment.
"Wait!" He called after me.
"Yes?" I replied, turning to face him, as he slowly made his way towards the end of the aisle where I stood.
As he bends down, his face comes closer and closer to mine. I continue to watch his sexy lips. Gah! Is he going to kiss me? My eyes slide close in anticipation. I lick my lips to moisten them. At least I remembered the cherry Chapstick.
"You have something stuck on… your …" he muttered. My eyes fly open as I feel a tug on my denim-clad ass. The tips of his ears turning a deep magenta, as he reached forward to hand me the very large sticker, he peeled off my ass. A crooked smirk playing on his very sexy, kissable lips.
Oh my God!
I could die as he hands me the pretty Marie the cat sticker from the Aristocats. Oh jeez! Marie… this was not happening!
"Thank you. For everything." I mutter, as I rush out of the aisle to look for Charlotte, or die. Or pray for an exceptionally large sinkhole to swallow me up right now.
I didn't find Charlotte anywhere, so I paid, and waited for her in the truck, hiding and trying to keep my embarrassment at bay.
Charlotte showed up an hour later, whistling happily as she placed yet another cartful of groceries in the backseat, before hopping into the passenger's seat, smiling as she did so.
"Took you long enough," I muttered, as I backed out and sped out of the parking lot as the rain began to pour.
"Oh, I ran into one of Peter and Jasper's friends. We got to talking and I invited them over for tonight's dinner party." She said, smiling as she pulled out her phone and started texting away on the damn thing as I pulled into the gasoline station.
"I'll be back, I have to top my baby off," I muttered hopping out.
I quickly rushed into the small convenience store, paying forty; hoping it would be enough for the week. I rush back towards my truck only to find a familiar figure standing by the passenger's window.
Oh, dear God, Sinkhole! Now! Please!
I keep my head down as I busy myself pumping the gas while pulling my hood up. I then see a reflection of myself on the side of my truck. It was the hoodie with the bunny ears that stand when you put it on.
"So, funny running into you here." A deep, silky voice suddenly spoke, causing me to jump in surprise.
It was him, my savior from earlier, a mirth expression on his face as he stared at me, as I stared back, speechless.
"So, you know Charlotte and Peter?" He asked. He tilted his head towards Charlotte. Another man suddenly appeared and was laughing as he and Charlotte spoke animatedly.
I nodded, as I twisted the gas cap, and closed the compartment. "Peter, Jasper, and Garrett are my older brothers. Charlotte is my sister-in-law." I explained, putting the nozzle back in place.
He nodded, biting his lower lip. He scanned me, before looking back into my eyes. "You're the little sister Peter is always talking about. The one who is—?" A flash of disappointment flickers in his eyes before disappearing altogether.
"I'm his only sister. And I'm not getting married anymore. We had irreconcilable differences." I explained, looking away.
"Hm." He replies, nodding awkwardly.
I pressed my lips into a thin line and returned the awkward nod. I excuse myself, climb back into the truck cabin, and start the engine.
I spent the rest of the drive home seething, while Charlotte chatted excitedly about the upcoming dinner. My parents were already there along with Peter and the kids.
I parked behind my parents' dark blue Ford Explorer, killing the engine before hopping out.
My mother quickly appeared, pulling Charlotte and me into a fierce hug. She called my dad and Peter to bring in the groceries, as she pulled us inside, out of the icy rain.
"So, ladies, how are you two doing?" She asks, quirking a thinly shaped brow at me.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes at her poor attempt to ease the awkward tension. I don't answer. Instead, I head into the kitchen to begin helping Charlotte prepare everything for later tonight.
As my dad and brother bring all the bags into the kitchen, Charlotte hands me the vegetables as I wash my hands and pull out a knife.
I wash them silently before I focus on chopping, dicing, mincing, and slicing everything, with extra care.
When I finished with the veggies, I helped Charlotte as she began to season the chicken and steak, while my mom prepared her fish fillet.
"Are you making green beans, and mashed potatoes?" I asked quietly as she began throwing the chicken on one of the grilling pans that she has set up, and throwing the marinated steak onto the other.
"Both, but I want to add a salad or something…" she said as she turned to look for something on the counter.
I was about to tell her to make a simple mixed salad when Gracie and Mattie came in, pulling on her shirt. "Mommy, can we have a snack?" Gracie asked, looking around for something.
"Here. Go sit down in the living room with Poppa…", handing them two jello-cups and plastic spoons. "…and don't make a mess!" She called after them as they quickly took the cups and ran out of the kitchen giggling.
I smiled at their response. Turning back to one of the cabinets, I pulled out a salad bowl and began creating a mixed salad, setting it in the refrigerator to keep it cool. There is an awkward silence in the room as I move on to the next task.
Charlotte grabbed a few hors-d'oeuvres while we were at the Walmart, and had begun to set them up on a platter along with some cheese, nuts, and fruits.
Everything was ready after an hour or so, except the meat, giving us time to head upstairs to shower and change while Peter watched over the food on the stove.
Charlotte pulled me into her room. She went into her closet and pulled out a sapphire blue sheath/column dress, handing it to me.
"What's this?" I scrunch my face in confusion. It was a scooped neck, with long sleeves and floor-length. The material was chiffon with beaded lace and with a deep split front. What. The. Actual. Fuck.
"That is what you are going to wear tonight. This dinner is to celebrate your belated birthday." She said as she pulled out a forest green dinner dress, with a boat neck and cinched waist, and a thigh-high slit.
"My birthday was two months ago. If anything, we should be celebrating your and Peter's anniversary. Isn't it a week before Thanksgiving?" I asked, trying to grasp at straws as I briefly wondered if it was too late to go to a hotel.
She smiled, before pointing to the bathroom. "It is. But since that jackass ruined your birthday, we are having a reboot, of sorts. Don't be a spoilsport and just go shower and change. I promise to keep Alice away for a month if you do this."
I bite my lip, debating for a moment. "Why is tonight so important? Is there a business deal going on or something? Why are we getting dressed up?" I asked her, suspiciously, narrowing my eyes at her.
She sighed, looking up from her shoe shelf. "No, but Alice invited her family over. This is the first time we are all meeting officially, though you already met one of her brothers." She commented, keeping her eyes on the shoes.
I nodded silently, heading into the bathroom to shower. I let the hot water work the kinks from my stiff muscles, letting the past few month's tension flow down the drain with the steaming water.
After scrubbing, shaving, and exfoliating within an inch of my life, I got out of the shower and dried off. After blow-drying my hair, I slipped on the pair of small dental floss underwear Charlotte handed me because it's what all the fashionable sluts wear. I then slid on the dress.
"Holy shit…" I exclaimed, wide-eyed, as I caught my reflection in the mirror on the back of the bathroom door.
The dress seemed to be clinging to my body, hugging my curves delicately but not overly so that I look like a high-end hoochie. The slit only seemed to make the dress more enticing as I stood there shocked.
I hadn't felt this attractive for a long time, proving to me that I had made the right decision last night. Yet, I still felt the subconscious doubt begin to creep in.
"Charlotte! This dress isn't appropriate for dinner," I called, standing nervously in the doorway.
She poked her messy head out of the closet to look at me before gasping in shock. "The fuck it isn't! That dress looks fucking incredible on you! Don't you fucking dare even think about changing out of it, ya hear!" She calls, as her southern accent makes a sudden appearance.
Truth be told, that only happens when she is extremely annoyed, or incredibly pissed off. I twist and turn catching my reflection in the mirror, as I watch her. She is an inch from getting pissed at me, and I don't want a pissed off Charlotte. It's one of the reasons why Peter married her after only six months of knowing her. He loves to piss her off. Only because of the nasty consequences… *shudder*
"Alright, already! I'll wear the dress, now shut the fuck up!" I interrupt her mid-rant. She tosses me a pair of black velvet, platform, peep-toe pumps, with an ankle strap.
I scowl at the shoe as I bend down to fasten the straps.
"Now to do your hair…" she says, as she pats the seat in front of her vanity mirror. She sprays something on her hair that is now in huge curlers.
I scoff at her, rolling my eyes so hard, I could practically see my brain. "Yeah yeah," I grumbled.
She proceeds to slowly comb through my thick ass hair. By the time she's done, my hair is in some elaborate chignon with far too many hairpins. A while later someone knocks on the door.
"Hello, ladies. Do you need any help?" Alice asks as she takes a seat on the bed.
As I look at Alice. I note she is also decked out wearing a purple sheath dress. It has a sweater neckline and long sleeves. There are sparkles covering every inch of it. Her usual spikey doo is replaced by pin curls and a large bow on one side of her head.
"Hey, Al, do her make up, will you? I am almost done with her hair." Charlotte says as she finished curling the ends of my hair, and pinning one side of it, with a sparkly flower barrette.
As soon as Charlotte moves from my side, Alice takes her place. She decides to give me natural makeup, mostly. She gives me a smokey eye, complete with a thin eyeliner, and pouty rosy lips.
When we are all ready, we headed downstairs to find almost everyone had arrived ahead of schedule, and judging by the weather it seemed we would be having our guest sleepover.
As soon as we step into the room, my brothers make their way to us. They greet Charlotte, and Alice before silently asking to speak to me. They don't allow me to speak to anyone else as they began to lead me out of the room.
Just before we make it out of the room, our mother speaks. "Where are you all going?"
"To discuss private matters. Please go ahead and enjoy the hors-d'oeuvres and wine while we discuss a few things in the other room." Peter says, leading us all towards the library slash office.
As we walk in, Jasper quietly walks over to the small bar, and serves himself a drink, silently offering us one.
"No, thanks, I don't mix alcohol," I tell him. I turn towards Peter and raise an eyebrow.
"Right. So, Jasper and Garrett went to get your things from the apartment, and found Billy and Rebecca there." He began.
I nodded, tensing as I twisted the ring on my right hand.
"Jacob wasn't taking the breakup well and has moved back in with Billy on the res. Garrett and Jasper moved all of the furniture you told us to and brought it here…" Peter explained, drinking his bourbon slowly.
"Is that all?" I asked, confused as to why they were so tense.
"No, Leah got there just as we were leaving. She demanded to speak to you, and wanted to know where you were." Jasper replied, calmly.
"Alright. So, what is so bad about that?" I asked, not comprehending why that would be such a bad thing.
"Bella, something isn't right with Leah…" Garrett said, speaking for the first time since we walked into the room.
I frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Jasper sighs, as he turns to look at me. "Leah said she was almost five, six months pregnant, right?" He asked, walking towards me.
My brow furrows even more as I shrug my shoulders, "I guess, I—I—I'm not really sure…Why?" I asked as I rewind the conversation in my head. My brain sort of short-circuited after hearing the words pregnant by Jake. I don't even recall a number being said.
As an OB/GYN Jasper would know the signs of pregnancy or lack thereof. Garrett would too, what with him being a father himself, something about Jasper's question, set me on alert immediately, and had me worried for my once best friend.
Jasper turned towards Garrett and they shared a look. "She's not pregnant anymore, Bella. Her stomach was as flat as the wood in this room." He finally said.
What? How was that possible? The last time I saw her, she had a small bump in her abdomen. What could have happened?
"She started yelling at Billy about his bastard son, and what he had done to her. Then Paul showed up, as she started crying… Paul looked absolutely infuriated. My guess is that she lost the baby and Jacob did something and is likely responsible if she lost her baby." Jasper finally said.
What? No… I know Jacob said he never wished to have kids, but would he go this far? Something in the pit of my stomach told me yes — yes, he would — and that answer made me question why or how I ever saw anything good in him in the first place.
"Did you tell her where I was?" I asked quietly.
"I told her I would pass her message to you but that is all," Jasper said.
"What did you tell Billy?" I asked, in the same quiet tone.
"He demanded we tell him where you were, that you and Jacob needed to work things out, immediately. Gar immediately replied that you and Jacob had worked everything out and he had no business interfering with matters that didn't involve him," Jasper said, as his lips twitched.
I nodded, biting my lip as I thought about Billy's reaction to Garrett putting him in his place.
"If you guys don't mind, let's speak about this another time," I said, really wanting to go see everyone. "Unless you want to piss off Charlotte," I added, smirking at them as they gulped and nodded in agreement automatically.
As we exited the library and made our way towards the sitting room, we could hear the kids, noticing they were now in the theater room, watching a movie happily while the adults calmly chatted in the sitting room.
"Is that little Isabella?" A familiar heart-shaped face woman with caramel-colored hair stood up, rushing towards me.
Stepping further into the room slowly, I tried to remember why she seemed so familiar only to realize I had no idea who any of these people were…well, everyone except my family…
"Why yes, it is… who wants to know?" I asked, lifting a brow, as she walked towards me.
"Isabella Marie Swan! Mind your manners!" My mother chastised, turning to give me the 'hairy eyeball', causing me to wince and back up into my brother's chest.
"It's alright, dear. You probably don't remember us since we moved to Chicago when you were just two." The woman said, smiling at me, tenderly before pulling me into a delicate hug.
"I'm sorry. I honestly don't remember you." I replied, carefully, wincing at the look my mother was throwing my way.
"Renee, it's alright," she said as she turned to me with a wide smile. "My name is Esme. I'm one of your mother's friends. I'm also Emmett, Edward, and Alice's mother." She explained.
"That explains why I don't remember you…" I quipped, earning another glare from my mother.
My father coughed to hide his amusement, as the corners of his mouth, still twitching as he looked away.
"Well, I suppose we will all get well acquainted soon enough since Jasper and Alice are getting pretty serious. Until then, how about we all sit down and eat?" Charlotte gushes, giving me a sly conspiratorial wink as she slowly leads us all into the dining room.
Dinner at Peter and Charlotte's is always uneventful. And this occasion wasn't any different.
From the perfectly roasted rosemary chicken, and the pan-seared steaks to the side dishes we had made. Even the fish my mother had made for Esme and herself looked delicious.
It had been great, perfect even, that is until someone arrived smack in the middle of the meal unexpectedly.
"Sorry I am late everybody! I had an emergency come in just before I clocked out." He rushed after Peter had left him in.
The darkened, wet hair didn't change the unique hue of bronze locks, or the dark green eyes that landed on me as soon as he walked in.
"Holy shit!" I gasped, almost choking on my piece of steak as he came into view.
Rose, who Charlotte introduced me to as we made our way over to the table, looked over at me with an eyebrow raised. After smacking my back three times, she handed me a glass of water. Rose also happens to be married to the hilarious man named Emmett.
"Why Edward Masen! Is that really you?" My mom gasped, smiling as she got up to pull him into a hug.
"Mrs. Swan. Hello, good to see you again after so long." He greets my mother politely.
Wait, how the hell does everybody know each other?
"Bella, are you alright, dear?" Esme asked, looking at me concerned.
I nodded vehemently, feeling my face flush as I drank more water. "I'm fine, Mrs. Cullen…" I rasped, drinking more water to get rid of the scratchy feeling within my throat.
"Well, now that everyone is here. We'd like to make an announcement!" Alice said, beaming as she practically bounced where she stood.
My brother smiled at her as he stood next to her, pulling her to him slightly as they turned to us. "Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, mom, dad? We—" He began before Alice spoke again. "Jasper and I got married a week ago!" She squealed happily, flashing a large pink square cushion cut diamond ring and the thin matching band at us as she spoke.
A moment of silence passes around the room. Suddenly, we all got to our feet and rushed towards them, pulling them into fierce hugs of congratulations.
"I cannot believe you didn't tell me!" Rosalie said, smiling at Alice as she pulled away from her.
Alice rolled her eyes at her before laughing with her. Everyone seemed to be happy for them, hell even our parents who seemed shocked as hell at first, we're ecstatic.
Yet, all of this happiness only reminded me that I was once again the odd man out. It seemed everyone was pairing off, and soon my mom's annoying passive-aggressive comments would begin once more.
It seemed I was right because once everyone settled back into the meal, she began, and this time leaving out the passive and focusing more on the aggressive digs.
"So, Isabella, when will you be settling down?" She asked me, causing everyone in the room—or more specifically my brothers and their respective spouses — to stiffen in their seats.
I slowly placed my fork and knife down. Unblinking, I turned to look at her in the eye. "I don't plan to," I replied, woodenly.
"Neé…" my father warned, shooting her a warning look.
"Oh, come now, Charles, out of all of our children. She is the only one who isn't seeing anyone. I mean, she was getting married and for some reason or other decided not to, the least she could do is try, I mean she won't stay young forever…" my mother replied offhandedly.
I gasped, pushing away from the table with such force my chair fell over. "For your information, mother. The reason Jacob and I aren't getting married is because he has been cheating on me the entire time, we have been together. So, excuse me for standing up for myself, and not allowing myself to become a bitter hag for the rest of my life. Now, if you'll all excuse me, I need a moment to myself." I said, walking out of the dining room, and heading up the stairs to my room.
The moment I walked into the room; I locked the door. I kicked off the hooker heels and changed into a pair of jeans, long sleeve Henley, and a hoodie. I shoved my feet into a pair of thick socks, and black hiking boots. I cursed Charlotte as I pulled each of the one hundred and one Bobby pins out of my hair
I grabbed my crossbody bag, throwing my keys, money, and phone into the bag, and storming out again.
Just as I made it to the foyer, Peter and my mother were waiting for me.
" Just where do you think you're—"I lifted my hand to stop my mother.
"Save it. I have had a rough week, and you made it a thousand times worse with your stupid ass comments. I don't want your help, nor do I need it. There is a reason I am single, and frankly, I am an adult and can decide whether or not I want to marry someone, if at all. Pete, I'll be back later. Keep her away from me." I told them heading out the door.
The downpour had slowed to a slight sprinkle, as I stepped outside, I pulled my hood over my head then I jogged to my truck.
I wanted so bad to not let my mother's words cut me, but they had. Deeply.
So, as I pulled out of the long drive, I decided I needed something.
Alcohol was out of the question since I had to drive and didn't want to talk to anybody right now. So, coffee was the next best thing.
I found a small coffee place just a few miles into town and a few from my brother's place. I quickly found a spot not too far from the door of the quaint little shop and parked. I grabbed my bag and climbed out of the truck.
A small old woman was standing behind the counter, wiping it down.
As I walked in, she looked up at me with a smile, greeting me, "Well, hello, dear. Welcome to Cope's Coffee Sweets. How may I help you, dear?" She asked, setting down the rag, washed her hands, and came back to the counter.
I looked up at the menu boards that hung above our heads, "Can I have a pumpkin spice latte with lots of whipped cream on top and a slice of carrot cake and pumpkin pie?" I asked.
She smiled and nodded at me. I looked around at the quaint shop.
I silently paid with a twenty and chose the comfy armchair. I sat, I groaned as I sunk deeper into the chair.
"Here you are, dear. If you need anything just call me—I'm Shelly—and I'll come right out." She said after setting down the mug and plate on the table.
"Thank you," I replied, slumping back further into the chair after she left.
I could feel as my emotions swirled under the calm exterior. I need to get it together, but I couldn't, at least not with my mother nearby.
Her words proved to be harsher than Jacob and Leah's actions, and I honestly wasn't sure what I felt at the moment.
I didn't have much time to dwell on it because the seats around me were suddenly occupied.
There they were, my brothers. I don't know how they found me, but they had, and now they were all staring at me, expectantly.
"Were you looking for something or are you just here to annoy me?" I sparked, taking a big drink from my latte, groaning at the delicious taste.
"We're here because we wanted to make sure you were alright. Even Edward came, he's parking the car." Peter said, looking towards the door, just as he came in.
I choked on my coffee, before wheezing a response, "What? Why did you bring him?" I rasped, trying to wipe the drops from my chin.
"His car fit us all, and he wanted to get out of there as much as the rest of us… he did us a solid—so, be nice, squirt," Peter said, smirking at me.
Why can I be witty with everyone, yet my intelligence shrinks to the size of a newborn whenever this man is present? Damn hormones… Damn my bitch of a vagina and her raunchy tendencies.
"Hey, Ed, over here," Jasper called, a knowing glint in his blue eyes as he gestured him over.
My eyes followed him as he got out of his jacket, then slowly made his way over to us, occupying the seat across from me.
"What's going on?" He asked, looking over at the display case with interest.
Over the last few days, I debated whether or not I should do this, but after the events of tonight, I knew I had to do it. I needed to get away from here. I needed a change of scenery.
"I decided after what happened tonight that I am leaving— for a while, at least," I informed them.
I could tell they were about to begin arguing with my decision, even Edward, but I held up my hand. "At least for a while," I clarified.
"Where?" Jasper asked, concerned.
"To visit Aunt Ellie," I told them.
Their eyes widened comically as they heard my response. "All the way there? Bella, you have got to be kidding, that's in Wisconsin! You can't be serious!" Garrett said, wide-eyed.
I sighed, knowing that everyone would be opposed to me leaving but, I needed to get away from everything and everyone here. I had to make decisions without any interference from my family.
"No, no. She is right. She needs to do this," Jasper said, calmly, even though his eyes were full of sadness, I knew he understood. He knew I had to do this for myself and my sanity.
They all stared solemnly at me before nodding in agreement, well, my brothers. Edward seemed to be torn between despair and dismay, but he simply stayed quiet and let us talk.
"Have you spoken to Aunt El yet?" Garrett asked, taking a bite of my pumpkin pie.
"I spoke to her last week before everything happened, she's the one who suggested I come there—you know—if things didn't work out," I explained, looking down at my lap.
This only seemed to shock them, as they were all speechless while staring at me wide-eyed. Jasper was the first to recover; turning to me with concern etched on his face.
"Bella, how long had you been feeling like your relationship with Jacob wouldn't work out?" Jasper asked.
"A long time," I whispered, playing with my hands. "I think this is for the best. I mean, I need time to sort myself out, move on. Maybe do something outrageous. Like change my hair color or get a tattoo. But I need this, and nothing any of you say will change that." I said firmly.
As I spoke all three of my brothers lifted their hands in a 'chill-out' motion before nodding.
"If this is really what you need, and want. Then go for it, squirt. You deserve to be happy. Nobody will fault you for that." Peter said, smiling at me.
I smiled at them before getting to my feet and pulling them all into a hug. Even Edward.
As we were leaving, I grabbed his arm to pull him back, "I just want to say thank you. You didn't need to come after me, but you did, so thank you." I said with a shy smile. I stretched on my toes to kiss his cheek. Then I quickly walked out of that tiny coffee place like my ass was on fire.
I left for Wisconsin a few days after the whole dinner debacle.
Aunt Ellie is my dad's younger sister. She moved to Appleton, Wisconsin shortly after she graduated to work as a vet in a friend's office. That is where I found myself on Sunday morning.
I turned off my phone; cutting off all contact for a few days, just to allow myself to think.
My aunt picked me up from the airport. We stopped to grab a bite to eat. She then dropped me off at her house, saying she needed to check on a few of her patients.
While she was gone, I unpacked my bag. Deciding I felt grimy from the flight, I headed to the bathroom to take a shower.
It was there in the shower that everything weighed heavily on me, and I allowed myself to truly cry.
After the much-needed crying jag, I felt a lot lighter than I had in years.
Since I got my degree as an APRN, I spent the next two weeks helping my Aunt Ellie in her clinic, and at the local family clinic.
Deciding it was time to go home, a few days before Christmas I headed back. Jasper managed to get me a job in his office, and I would be starting a few days after the New Year. Coincidentally, this allowed me to get settled in the condo I rented from Ms. Shelly Cope, the little old lady that owned the coffee shop I stopped before I left town.
I was surprised to find Peter and Charlotte waiting for me at the airport, along with Mattie and Gracie.
They were all waving a large neon sign that said, 'Welcome Home Lala!' In bold large letters, and glitter.
I sighed, shaking my head as soon as I spotted it. "Jeez, I leave for a few weeks and they act like I was off touring the world," I muttered as I adjusted my double bag onto my shoulder.
"Auntie Lala!" They squealed, shoving the banner into Peter's hands, taking off in a full sprint towards me.
I smiled as they both ran flushed against me, squeezing the ever-loving shit out of my hips as I tried to walk—or rather waddle—towards Peter and Charlotte.
"We missed you. Mommy and Daddy have been sulking around the house since you left. Especially mommy…" Gracie said, pulling back as we reached their parents.
Peter caught the latter part of her words, coughing to hide his amusement. He took my bag, as Charlotte smacked his arm.
"Hey, squirt." He greeted, pulling me into a tight hug.
"Jackass," I muttered into his chest, pulling back as we turned to slowly make our way out of the overcrowded airport.
"So, how was the trip, doll?" Charlotte asked as she led the kids through the throng of people.
"It was perfect," I replied, following them out of the airport.
Minutes later, we reached the parking lot and got into their SUV. Peter and Charlotte asked question after question of what I did while visiting Aunt El, and what I had decided to do.
"Change the scenery." I simply replied, nonchalantly, as we arrived back at his house.
I rented a U-Haul and drove my things over to the condo later that day. I had everything, except a bed. I bought a new one at the mall the next day, while out shopping for some other things I still needed for the condo. The only things I needed now were groceries.
I was officially moved into my condo two days later—the night before Christmas.
I placed the gifts I bought for everyone inside a large box for easy transport.
After having the power, water and gas turned on, I decided it was now a good time to go to the store. The closest store was Safeway, a few blocks over. It was an in and out trip.
I rushed home, put everything away, and set to work to make my brothers' favorite desserts for tomorrow evening.
I baked white minty fudge squares, white chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake with white icing and chips on it, and a new recipe I found online called candy cane kisses.
When I finished decorating everything, I placed them in different containers, sliding them into the fridge, and went to bed.
Although I was tired, I spent the rest of the night tossing and turning unable to sleep until the late hours of the night. Even then, I felt tired and groggy when I woke up to the late morning sun hitting me in the face.
By the time I needed to start getting ready, I spent forty minutes in the shower, relaxing under the hot spray of the showerhead.
I quickly blow-dried my hair and curled the tips, then did my makeup. As usual, I went with a natural look, only changing my lipstick to a dark red matte to match my dress and making my eyes smokier than usual.
I slid on the wine-colored wrap dress, adding the teardrop diamond necklace and small studded earrings.
I wore the same type of shoes I had two weeks ago in a different color—a velvet tan color.
I walked out of my condo, balancing the four dessert boxes on my arms and the truck's keys. I slowly made my way to the truck, placing the plastic boxes onto the passenger's side. Rushing back into the condo and grabbing the box full of presents and rushing back out.
The song 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.' came on as I began driving over to Peter's place, causing me to laugh as I remembered my brother, Garrett, singing that song to our mother shortly after Peter's twins were born.
As I arrived at Peter's place, my brothers were standing outside with the Cullen brothers, laughing at something as the Christmas lights sparkled in the cool windy evening.
They all moved towards the truck as I parked next to Charlotte's black Honda CR-V. Jasper helped me out of the truck, smiling as I slid my coat on, and dropped the keys into my purse. Peter and Garrett opened the passenger's side to grab the baked goods while Emmett grabbed the large box of gifts.
Jasper held out his arm as we slowly made our way towards the house, where everyone seemed to have arrived already.
Everyone was dressed nicely as they sat in the sitting room. Even Garrett, who happened to hate it was dressed nicely along with Kate and his two daughters— Helena aka Leni and Alina aka Lena.
As I walked into the room Charlotte pulled me into a fierce hug. She handed me a glass of wine with a wink. I only had the chance to give her a contemplative smile before she walked away.
As the night progressed, we drank more alcohol. Eventually, we moved into the dining room to eat.
Dinner was slightly tense. No one dared to say a word, in an attempt to avoid a repetition of the fiasco that happened two weeks ago.
The night progressed slowly. I found myself smiling more often than not at my brothers and Emmett's antics.
When the kids finally fell asleep, we all pulled out the harder alcohol. We played board games until we were either too drunk or too sleepy to continue.
I woke up the next morning on the floor between blankets and a warm arm spooning me into a muscular body.
"Good morning…" a velvety voice whispered into my ear, causing me to groan at the sensation and giggle. I turned around to find Edward smiling at me.
When we realized that we were the only ones awake we left. He went back to his place and I went back to mine to change, then met up at Cope's Coffee Sweets.
With my mind clear of everything Jacob, we realized that there was a strong chemistry between us. We decided to pursue it, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Seven Years Later:
"So, dad saved mommy from falling at a Walmart?" Our son, six-year-old, Aiden, and four-year-old daughter, Serenity, asked their uncle Emmett.
Emmett snorted amused as he looked over to us with an eyebrow raised. "He sure did." He replied grinning at us, as Edward pulled me closer to him.
"Why didn't they just go out on a date like normal people?" Sere asked, confused. My daughter and her cousins Lina, Leni, and Gracie had been watching the Hallmark channel since the Christmas season began— and it showed.
"Let's just say your mom wasn't ready at that moment," Emmett replied, smiling at them.
No, I wasn't. Even now as I think about it, I knew I needed time away from everything. That trip to Aunt El's helped immensely. I will always be grateful to her for suggesting that I visit her.
"Then there was the whole homeless, crazy, whino vibe she had going on," Edward says, laughing and ducking as I'm beating him on the head with a throw pillow. Everyone else starts laughing as well.
"I mean seriously, she slipped off the shelf she was climbing to get wine, while she had a shopping cart full of wine. She hadn't brushed her hair and she had a big Aristocats sticker on her as—um, butt," Edward told them, enjoying my embarrassment. "I kept asking her if she was okay, and she just stood there staring at me like I was crazy."
Oh God, I knew that day would come to bite me in the ass. But, I was a mess that day, so I guess I looked the part.
"But Mommy never leaves the house without brushing her hair," Serenity says with the most adorable look on her face.
"And now you know why," I tell her as I bop her cute button nose.
"Is that true, Uncle Em?" Aiden asks Emmett. Emmett just throws his hands up in surrender.
"When I saw her at the gas station, she had on a hoodie with bunny ears," Emmett tells the kids, and they crack up laughing again. I just covered my face with my hands. Sinkhole. Now. Please.
"Oh… so what happened then?" Aiden asked, looking over at us with a raised eyebrow.
"Your mom needed some time to work out everything she was feeling when she came back, she was ready. It didn't take her long because she knew that everything happens for a reason, and sometimes a change of scene is all you need." Emmett said, turning to give us a serene smile.
"Thank you." I mouthed to him, wiping the tears from my eyes.
He nodded in response, before turning back to our kids, "So, who is ready to eat some freshly baked cookies?!" He asked, standing up.
"I am!"
"Me! Me!" They all squealed.
"Race you to the kitchen!" Emmett called making us all laugh.
We rolled our eyes at them before turning to look at each other, smiling.
Edward and I began to date right after Christmas. We decided to keep our dating to ourselves. We were eventually discovered by Jasper and Alice while out one night, making it impossible to hide our relationship status.
Once everyone knew, it was hard to get time together, without one of our family members making a sudden appearance.
Then came the moment we realized that we were it for each other. It was the day we ran into Leah and Paul while shopping for groceries at Trader Joe's. Brief words were exchanged and then that was it. Edward and I decided we wanted to get married.
So, we made plans to do it quickly. We took the rest of that week off and left on Friday. We booked a hotel room, set aside a certain amount of money, then got in my truck and drove to Vegas.
We drove slowly, enjoying the time we had to ourselves, and the beautiful sights we passed. Stopping here and there to top off on gas, or a roadside stop to use the bathroom or stretch our legs, before continuing the lengthy drive.
We got married without telling anyone the night after we left, just before midnight.
That is something that is still a sore subject with both of our mothers to this day, but what did they expect? We weren't going to wait any longer for something that we knew we wanted — no need to happen— in that instant. There was no point in waiting so long.
"I love you," Edward whispered, leaning to rest his forehead on mine.
"I love you too," I whispered back.
To think this wouldn't have been possible if that asshole hadn't cheated on me in the first place. It turns out all I needed was a change of scene.
Sometimes we feel as if there is no hope, or end to horrible situations but life has a way of showing us the bigger picture. All we need is a change of scene, and everything will be alright.
