Chapter 20: She kissed Jacob?

Edward POV:

I did not want to leave Bella, but I heard Charlie´s car and I just knew she didn't want to explain this to him just yet. So I ran back to my house, telling myself that patience is key. Hopefully, someday she would allow me back into her house. Until that day I would happily be her friend. She had let me back into her life, which was already more than I deserved. I did not need to push my luck any further.

I pinched myself, to assure the last thirty minutes really happened. Bella kept surprising me, over and over, even now. When she apologized for being angry, I didn't know what I heard. I was almost angry at her; why didn't she scream at us, why didn't she throw a rock at our heads, even though it would do no damage, the message would be perfectly clear. Why did she apologise?

Because she did not want to upset us, that's why. She did not want to hurt our feelings. It hurt to hear her say that, even after everything I´ve put her through, she did not want to hurt me on purpose because she cared too much. Even though I had damaged her self esteem, she did not want to hurt me. It unleashed a feeling of hope within me. When she forgave me, I saw she truly meant it. I wasn't ready to forgive myself for it just yet, but knowing she was ready would already be enough. And even though I could not hold her hand and she wanted to stay just friends, that was enough. I will earn her trust back someday, somehow. She had rightfully guided her heart and I needed to show her she could trust me. Esme was right about that.

And I would love to be her friend for now. Alice would for sure freak out. Being her friend, I was allowed back into her life and it meant the world to me.

For a moment, I was afraid I pushed my luck a bit too much when I asked her about her other friends. I figured it wasn't a hard conversation topic and I did not want the night to end just yet. So I might as well engage in some small talk with her. And hearing her say she had gotten closer to Jessica and Angela warmed my heart, as I saw how fondly she spoke of them. I was happy she had found some companionship with them. However, hearing her talk about that Jacob Black kid gave me a little familiar stab in my stomach, one I had to get used to. I saw she flinched a little bit when she was mentioning Jacobs name, so I couldn't help but wonder if they were in a fight recently.

She also mentioned the party Jessica had thrown last Friday night, and my face revealed how funny I thought it was. She could not hide her embarrassment when I asked her about the alcohol at that said party. She didn't know I was keeping an eye on her and would never tell her, she would for sure freak out about it.

She joked about me being cryptic and I was happy about that topic. I pushed my luck just a little bit too much, trying to flirt with her but keeping it low key. She returned it, since it was similar to how she would always talk with Emmett. Light and jokingly. I had to slow myself down, afraid that if I pushed too much, she would run.

She then talked about coming over to our house in the next upcoming days. We would certainly get no work done, but that didn't matter. It would be wonderful to have her over as a friend, knowing she would stay, talk and eat, just as she did before we all left. I slipped up and told her I would make sure the fridge would be constantly full and I could slap myself for that. This was it. I pushed it too far. Again. This was the moment she would demand me to leave. She would think I was some kind of creep and I ruined it, just mere minutes after becoming her friend. Over and over again, I neglected her boundaries.

And then, she surprised me once more, making sure I knew she appreciated it. I could thank all the Gods that are out there for her response. Unfortunately, that's when I heard Charlie's car coming our way and told Bella our night had to end here.

I almost arrived back at my home, when I saw a small pixie running towards me. Her short, black hair was a bit wild, and I'm guessing she ran her hands through it a few times this past hour. She was agitated, happy, afraid, but Alice mostly craved my hug. She ran into my arms and I held her close to me.

´She forgave us, Alice.´ I whispered in her hair, even though I knew she must have seen it in her visions.

´I can't believe it,´ she silently sobbed. I rubbed her back.

´Me neither. You had to see her, Alice. She really forgave us, I could see it in her eyes. And she even apologized for hurting our feelings too much, can you believe it? She's truly amazing,´ I ended with a sigh.

Alice released herself from our hug. ´Let's go inside now. The rest of the family had a hard time dealing with me seeing multiple possible endings of how the night would end.´

We silently walked inside the house. Jasper was already sitting on the carpet and Alice sat down next to him. He wrapped his arms around her while they both turned to me, waiting for what I´ll tell them. Carlisle and Esme were sitting on the sofa, her hand resting in his. And Emmett sat in a chair, Rosalie sitting in his lap while he softly caressed her back. Each and every one of my family members portrayed how much they loved their partner, just in the act of sitting right next to them.

And at that moment, I felt jealous. Jealous because I've wanted to join them. I´ve also wanted to sit there, only with Bella right next to me. For the longest time, I thought it would be impossible to find love but now that I´ve had a taste of it, I´ve wanted it back.

´Son, what happened?´ I turned to face Carlisle, who did not understand why I was this quietly standing in front of everyone.

I shook my head, I needed to compose myself. ´She forgave me,´ I just responded. In that one single sentence, everything was said and done.

Esme smiled at me. ´I´m happy for you, but that little stunt you and Alice just pulled…,´ she angrily shook her head. ´That was completely unnecessary.´

´I agree, it was stupid. I was so frightened when she saw us sitting there,´ I said.

´Me as well, but I still don´t understand why she was alone,´ Alice added.

With everything that had happened, that thought had completely slipped my mind. We had heard her correctly, right? She would be on a date, then why was she indeed alone in a movie theatre? That did not make any sense.

´I don´t understand it at all, but I´m happy with how the night proceeded. And don´t worry, Esme. She was indeed very mad at us,´ I assured Esme. She shook her head at us, mumbling how on earth could we have been this reckless.

´So now I need to share her with all of you again. Man, it was fun while it lasted,´ Emmett said. ´And this doesn't mean our wager is off; you still need to drive the Hummer.´

´Gladly, Emmett, gladly,´ I responded.

´Is she still coming over tomorrow?´ Jasper asked from the carpet.

´Yes. Why?´

´I shall make sure I´ll be hunting then,´ he explained. His answer surprised me. Hadn't Bella already forgiven him, the second the accident occurred? Alice also turned around to face her boyfriend.

´What do you mean? Bella was never angry at you,´ Alice helped him remember.

´I know. But I'm still not exactly comfortable with everything. I´m sorry, love,´ Jasper kissed Alice on her forehead.

´Don´t worry Jasper. I'm sure with time, everything becomes normal again,´ she turned to look at me, hinting that she meant Jasper´s guilt because of the accident, but also my relationship with Bella. I hope she was right and that everything did, in fact, return to normal again.

Everyone was silent for a second. Lost in thought about Bella, our renewed friendship and the fact she would be coming over tomorrow. I listened to their thoughts.

As always, Carlisle was happy his family returned a bit to normal. Being away from Bella had affected us all.

Esme could not wait to see her again. She had loved the days Bella came to our house and was delighted she had forgiven us.

Jasper felt guilty for everything and was a bit scared of her returning to us again. Even though Bella was never angry at him and forgave him the quickest, he still had the feeling that if the party had not ended the way it had, everything would have been different. I guess I´ll understand his thoughts, for those are the same ones that I always tell myself. If I hadn't done this, would the outcome still be the same?

Alice was the complete opposite. She was as optimistic as she could get, already debating what she would tell Bella the first when she would see her again. Her head was filled with outfit choices so I quickly went to Emmett.

Emmett´s thoughts were hopeful. The last few days with Bella were fun and he loved to tease her a bit more.

I finally arrived in Rosalie´s mind. She was particularly quiet. When she finally opened her mouth to speak, I was angry at myself for not listening in on her thoughts sooner.

´So, first, you spy on her and then she forgives you? She hasn't changed a bit,´ Rosalie said, while six pairs of eyes turned around to face her.

´Care to elaborate?´ I asked through clenched teeth.

She rolled her eyes at me. ´Don´t be all defensive, I´m just stating facts. She just doesn't have a lot of backbone. It's not wrong, per se, just the truth.´

´Rose, please don´t,´ Emmett quietly pleaded in her hair.

´Fine, fine. If you all just want to celebrate her coming back, be my guest and fine by me. Now, if you´ll need me, I´ll be in my room.´ Rosalie got up and left, while Emmett turned around and thought a little apology only for my ears to hear. To me, it didn't matter what Rosalie thought, because tomorrow would be a better day. I looked at Alice and saw she was also beaming with excitement.

The next day, Alice was anxious but overjoyed to see Bella again. She was simply a hot mess but no one could blame her for that. It took all of my strength to keep her from running over to Bella's house and riding with her to school. Eventually, we took Emmett´s Hummer and finally drove away. Alice was jumping up and down the whole time.

´I can´t believe I´ll see her in a few minutes. Can´t you drive any faster?´ she asked me, but I didn't budge.

´I can´t Alice, I´m sorry.´

´You´re no fun,´ Alice sulked. Jasper had to laugh as she was obviously displeased.

After a rather short ride, we arrived at school. Bella just got out of her car and started walking towards the entrance. Before me or Jasper could stop her, Alice already jumped out of the car and quickly walked over to Bella. Before she approached her, she was a bit hesitant as to how Bella would react to her. But Bella had already heard her, so she turned around to face Alice.

´Alice!´ Bella exclaimed, holding her arms in front of her, inviting Alice in for a hug which she gladly accepted.

´I´m so sorry, Bella,´ Alice tried to explain.

´Shhhh, Alice. I told Edward yesterday already that I don't want to hear it anymore. I don't condone your actions, but I understand them if that makes sense. Now just be quiet and hug me, I´ve missed you,´ she whispered in her friend's ear.

´I´ve missed you too, so much,´ Alice started sobbing even though tears could no longer leave her eyes. They were holding each other, happy to be rekindled. Jasper was thrilled with these emotions as he felt them intensified and Alice was simply lost for words with how happy she was at this moment.

Among these happy thoughts, I also heard some stunned thoughts, which I recognised as Jessica´s and Angela´s. Jessica was slightly annoyed while Angela was more hopeful for the future.

Why is she hugging Alice? Did they make up? When? She was so angry with the whole Cullen family before, what had changed? That stupid Biology assignment, they are messing with her head! Be careful, Bella!

I'm hoping they won't hurt her again, but I´m happy she seems at peace right now. She looks so relaxed right now, let's hope it will stay that way. That Biology assignment was a blessing in disguise.

Jessica called Bella over, and she looked up to see her friends standing there, waiting for her. She turned to face Alice. ´We will talk later, alright? I can't wait to see you after school again. I have so much to tell you, but I´ll better run. Don´t want to be late for class.´ She kissed Alice on her cheek, as they always did, and went to see her human friends.

Alice returned to us again, glowing with excitement. We had another class to attend in the meantime but hearing Alice´s thrilled thoughts made me also overjoyed for our next Biology session. I couldn't wait that long to see Bella again, so I concentrated on the talk she had with her friends.

´So Bella,what was that?´ Jessica asked her.

´What do you mean?´ Bella teased her since she knew Jessica would love to hear any gossip as quickly as possible.

´Oh come on Bella, why were you hugging Alice? I thought you hated the Cullens,´ Jessica could not hide her excitement for this new change in direction.

´Jess, leave her be,´ Angela quickly jumped in

´It's alright, Ange. But to answer your question, Jess; I saw them last night, we talked a lot and we´ve made up. And I´ve never hated the Cullens,´ Bella explained.

In Angela's mind, I could see Jessica frown at that statement. ´But… I have so much to ask you. How? Why? When?´

Bella laughed. ´Gee girl, get a grip. I saw them yesterday at the movie theatre, so obviously I was displeased seeing them. I was angry at them, but then I realised I didn't want to have this anger in me anymore. I looked at them and I thought to myself; I have to let it go. So I did. I told them I forgave them for leaving, and now we try to be friends. Does this answer your questions?´

´Euhm, no?! Are you now friends with Edward?´ Jessica demanded more answers.

´Yes, I´ll try to be,´ Bella answered. I´ll have to admit, I was hoping she would deny it and tell them she wanted to be more, but that was just my imagination doing tricks on me.

´I´m happy for you. You were really down for a while, but I see you´re a bit more relaxed now, so to say. Hopefully, everything will turn out great,´ Angela said while smiling warmly at Bella.

´I hope so too. I have missed them,´ Bella smiled back.

´How did Charlie react?´ Jessica demanded.

´I haven't told him yet. Seeing them yesterday came as a bit of a surprise. I wasn't really prepared.´

´Speaking of last night, how was the movie?´ Angela quickly asked, and I heard she tried to move the topic over to something else. She saw Bella was done with the conversation, done with explaining her reasoning for wanting to be friends with us and she tried to help Bella. Jessica could be a bit too much, and Bella was finished with that topic.

´Oh, it was amazing. That actor, what's his name again? Robert Pa… Pat… Something like that... Anyway, he could portray Batman so well, it was almost scary. Really recommend it.´

´Now that the Cullens are back, are you still going on these little dates?´ Jessica asked, knowing that the topic ´Cullens´ was over but still wanting to sprinkle their name into a new topic every now and then.

´I don't see why not. I really like it.´

´It might be a bit weird.´

´I don't see it that way. I mean, treating myself to these dates has been so wonderful. I feel instantly relaxed, and I intend to keep doing it. It's the ultimate way to treat myself. But please enough about me, tell me more about Owen. You haven't mentioned him at all today,´ Bella winked at Jessica and I finally understood it. She was alone yesterday evening because she chose to be. No one had left her alone, she wanted to be alone. She was treating herself. I felt instantly relaxed. Good for her, I thought. She deserved it.

Bella POV:

The day proceeded as normal until it was time for me to go to the Cullens again. I said my goodbyes to Jessica and Angela and walked over towards my car, where I saw Alice jumping right next to it. She was frantically looking everywhere until she caught my scent and turned to face me. Her smile grew even brighter.

´Hey Alice, what´s up?´ I greeted her.

´I figured, if you´re driving to our place, I could maybe drive with you. Only if you don´t mind, of course, no pressure,´ she ended, maybe regretting the over the top way she was acting around me right now.

It was almost endearing to see her being this awkward with me. Almost. ´Of course, I don't mind. Hop on in, Alice,´ I said.

Her face lit up. Her eyes were beaming and her smile would lighten up the whole school. I giggled, I have missed this.

We both got in the car and I turned on the stereo. The stereo they have given me for my birthday party. It was to show her I still used it and I was happy with it. I hoped it did not trigger any unpleasant memories for her, as I mainly used it as a peace offering.

´I see you still use it,´ Alice gladly noted.

´I mean, it's a great gift, don´t you think? I use it a lot.´

´I'm glad….´

I turned around to face her, to see why she was this quiet. I mean, I could guess it already. ´Hey Alice, don´t hold back, okay? I've forgiven you both, I mean it. I don't want to dwell on the past. If you want to be my friend again, you also need to let the past go, okay? It had happened. Nothing we can do about it now.´

She faced me. ´You are right. I just can't help but feel such remorse about it. I feel like I can never tell you how sorry I am.´

´Don´t, Alice.´

We drove in silence. This wasn't how I imagined our reunion to be. Time to engage in some good old fashioned small talk!

´I really like your skirt, is it new?´ I figured a compliment would be the best way to start.

´Oh, I´m so glad you noticed. I´ve made it myself this past week. I really like the colour,´ she stroked the emerald green fabric.

´It´s a beautiful colour, really compliments your skin tone.´

´You mean my ashy white skin tone?´ she jokingly said.

´You know what I mean,´ I rolled my eyes at her as she started grinning. Eventually, I also gave in and had to laugh until my stomach started to hurt. Alice even had to grab the steering wheel for a bit since I was laughing uncontrollably. And at that moment, I felt we would be okay again. The rough edge of it all vanished and we could focus on our rekindling friendship.

As expected, Edward and I could do no work on our assignment that afternoon. Carlisle was working at the hospital and I´ve been told Jasper was hunting. Rosalie was nowhere to be seen, so I´ve been left alone with Emmett who was constantly joking, Alice who could not stop talking, Esme who was feeding me uncontrollably and Edward who was watching all of this, amused.

We comfortably sat down in the living room with Alice in front of me on the carpet, Edward right next to me on the couch and Esme and Emmett on two sofas. As we sat down in these positions, Emmett jokingly said; ´Get a room, you two,´ since Edward and I sat down next to each other. This resulted in a low, angry growl by Edward and a disapproving look by Esme.

I just had to laugh at his statement. I wish! I wish Edward would have done something to me that needed ´a room´ when we were still together. Unfortunately, we could go no further than kissing because he was afraid he would hurt me with all of his strength. I mean, that was indeed a possibility, but I still craved him, you know?

´Don't listen to him, Bella. He was just being annoying,´ Alice tried to comfort me. Oh shit, I was glad Edward could not hear my thoughts. He turned around to look questioningly at me and I felt slightly embarrassed. My cheeks turned red and I had to contain myself. Emmett burst out laughing as if he knew what I was thinking. From now on; focus Bella!

´Don´t worry, Allie. I can handle it,´ I managed to mumble.

´I´m sure she can,´ Emmett continued to snort. Damn you, Emmett! Esme quickly interfered by offering me another brownie but I was truly full.

´I hope my children aren't bothering you too much,´ Esme said.

´Not more than usual,´ I assured her while laughing.

Alice kept tugging at my leg, grabbing my attention. ´Not fair, Emmett is the one who is constantly annoying you. I don't want to be named in the same sentence as him.´

´I don't need to grab her leg in order to get her attention, little one,´ Emmett sarcastically said to her.

´Oh, shut up, Em,´ Alice replied.

Edward turned a bit to face me while inching closer to me. My heartbeat quickened in response. He whispered as if the rest of his family could not hear him. ´Happy we have already done a lot for Biology, right?´

I nodded in response. I did not trust the steadiness of my voice right now.

´Speaking of which, Bella, when are you finished with it?´ Alice asked.

´I think somewhere next week, right?´ I turned to face Edward who also nodded. Alice´s face fell so I quickly added. ´But don´t worry, I´ll still be coming over if you would like that?´

She jumped up and gave me a fierce hug. It took me by surprise so, after a second or two, I was hugging her back.

´I would love to,´ she kissed my cheek again before sitting in front of me.

´Then it's settled,´ I smiled back at her.

´Get a room, you two,´ Emmett continued his teasing joke.

´Why? Wouldn't you just love to see us doing something that requires a room?´ Alice turned around to provoke him. It worked, as he was too flabbergasted to respond to her.

´Euhmm….,´ was all Emmett could say.

´Hashtag Team Alice,´ I continued.

We all burst out laughing at that silly little joke. After Emmett found his voice again, he also laughed with us. We laughed until I heard my phone vibrate in my pocket.

Edward POV:

The moment Bella´s phone went off, three major things happened.

First, I couldn't help but notice who texted her. It was that Jacob kid again and I also could not help but notice what he sent her.

Let's meet up this weekend, Bells.

I had no reason to instantly feel this jealous, I told myself. I had no possession over her and she was free to meet up with one of her best friends anytime, so step back, Edward!

Second, the little noise of the phone vibration and Bella´s obviously pleased reaction to the text message, made the blocking in Alice´s mind go away. She saw Bella and Jacob meeting up this weekend. But I also saw something more, something that she tried to hide from me two days ago. The reason why Bella was so upset when we met her in the movie theatre.

I saw Bella and Jacob kissing passionately. I saw she clung onto him, grabbing him and holding him as close as she could. Closer than she could have done with me. I saw red. I was envious.

Third, I broke the armrest of the couch, where my hand was gently resting just a second ago. Four people turned around to face me, to see why I was breaking the house down.

´She kissed Jacob?´ I whispered, defeated, crushed, in pain.