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Chapter 8:

Bella's POV

I walked ahead of Jake back to the bonfire, the crowd that was there earlier had almost all dispersed. I had no idea what time it even was and how long Jake and I had been at the beach.

Suddenly, I realized that I had no excuse for why we were gone so long. Jake and I didn't get to come up with one story. Fuckity Fuck fuck fuck. I really hoped that just maybe nobody would notice, that they were too busy tending to the broken-hearted.

A girl can dream, right?

My eyes scanned the now sparse crowd for Alice, who I finally spotted sitting at a picnic table next to Seth. I made my way over to them, preparing myself to be grilled.

Alice eyed me curiously, Seth was just Seth. "Hey Bella. Where have you been?"

I avoided both of their gazes, "Just went for a walk. All the drama here was just too much for me." Seth seemed to accept that answer, but Alice being Alice did not.

"Jake was with you." It was a statement that sounded like a question; I looked up at Alice pleading at her with my eyes not to make it a big deal at least here in front of Seth. "Yeah. We talked. About the situation, you know?" I shrugged.

I really thought I should win an Oscar for best nonchalant female performance.

Alice rolled her eyes at me, "It's getting late. Let's go Bella. Charlie is going to be expecting us back anyways." I nodded; only agreeing because I thought it would be best I get the hell out of dodge. I waved goodbye to Seth and as I walked past Jake on my way back to my truck our eyes met. I wanted so badly to kiss him gently on the cheek and say goodbye.

But we couldn't do that now, and I really wanted to know the story behind this mystery ex-fiancée that has shown back up in La Push and won the sympathy vote.

I climbed into the driver's side of my truck and started the engine with a roar, pulled out of my parking space and headed for home.

"So."

Inwardly I groaned. I knew once Alice got me alone she would want the details.

"Spill it. You and Jake were gone for like two hours. And don't lie to me Bella Swan; you know you are not a good liar."

I was in full fledge panic mode now. Do I start from the plane ride? I had no choice, Alice could see through me like I was a glass window. "I met Jake before. That's all." My words were stuttered and obviously a blatant lie.

I could feel Alice's eyes boring into my body, "And? Bella, I'm not going to tell anyone. I promise."

"Pinky swear me Alice." I stuck my pinky finger at her, which she took with her own pinky finger. "Alright, but if you tell anyone I will be forced to kill you. I met Jake, on the plane from New York back to Seattle." I paused, a little shocked at myself for what I was about to admit to. "We had sex in the bathroom of the plane. Like totally joined the mile high club."

Alice gasped and then burst into uncontrollable giggles. "Way to go Bella. He's so much better than that stick in the mud Edward." I was elated at her reaction; Alice had changed since I had been in New York. I would like to personally thank Jasper.

Jake's POV

My eyes met Bella's as she was heading back to her truck to leave. I felt a twinge of guilt for leaving things like this, but I had no choice. If Leah found out she'd probably kill both me and Bella and find a place to bury the bodies. It was one thing for everyone to be angry with me; I knew it would eventually blow over. I didn't want Bella to get her name drug through the mud for no reason.

I heard Bella's truck start with a load roar and listened as the sound of her engine drowned out as she drove off into the distance.

I hadn't seen Leah or Emily anywhere, so I knew they had to be somewhere with Vanessa. I still didn't quite understand why she had even come to La Push. Her family was in New York, friends here yes, but family came first.

"Are you going to tell her?"

Seth's voice caused me to jump slightly, I had been so lost in my thoughts I didn't even hear his usual heavy footfall sneaking up on me. I turned towards him, questioning what he just said. "What do you mean?"

"Are you going to tell Bella the entire story?"

My eyes searched Seth's face for answers, "What do you mean?" I hoped playing dumb would keep Bella from suffering the same fate I was going to for the next couple months.

"Jake. I'm not dumb. I pretend sometimes to not notice what's going on. Sometimes it's not good to get involved. I know you were with Bella at the beach. I don't even want to know what's going on between you two because frankly it's none of my business. You're both my friends, Jake. I think that before anything gets too serious you should tell her the truth. Tell her."

I was a little shocked at Seth's words, I had always had him pegged to be someone who was just a follower and turned the other cheek to everything. "I will. I just have to wait for the right time. Please don't tell Leah, hell don't tell anyone about me and Bella. Ok?"

He nodded, "I wouldn't do that. It's not my place. I don't even know what's going on between you two, and like I said I don't want to know." Seth gently patted me on the arm before walking away.

It wasn't long before I was alone. I stared up at the stars and let thoughts of Bella run through my mind. I wondered how she was going to react when I told her. So far she seemed pretty good with everything and it was a lot to take in.

Especially from someone you just met on an airplane.

"Jake."

The soft voice pulled me out of my daydream. I knew who it was without even looking, I couldn't look because I didn't exactly know what I was going to say to her.

Vanessa.

"I know you are probably so pissed at me."

I turned towards her angrily. "You are damn right I am pissed. You come here to my home and turn everyone against me. What are you trying to prove by doing this Vanessa? Haven't you hurt me enough with your lies and deceit about what happened? I never betrayed your trust and told Emily or Leah the truth. What has it gotten me? Nothing but a slap in the face."

Vanessa backed away from me; I would never hit a woman ever. I also never yelled at her like I was now, but I had every right in the book to be seething.

"Jake, I'm sorry.. I just thought.."

"You thought? I don't want to hear this. I'm leaving." I pivoted on my heel and began walking to my truck, never looking back. I could hear Vanessa calling my name followed by sobs.

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