"Are you alright?" James asked.
"I just want to get on this plane and straight off again…" Bella whined.
"Don't do well with flying?"
"Sort of… I don't do well with confined spaces…" She admitted shyly.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine."
"I'm glad you have some faith in me, because I don't…"
Announcement:
Flight number 1902 to Georgia, Atlanta is now boarding.
"Well, that's us, are you ready to head to the gate?"
"Ready, as I can be…"
…
Bella found her seat rather quickly, she got herself sorted placing her headphones over her ears. Her plan was to listen to some music, and hopefully the music would let her relax.
"Now I'm a fat house cat
Cursing my sore blunt tongue
Watching the warm poison rats
Curl through the wide fence cracks"
"BELLA!" Edward yelled at her.
Bella removed her headphones, "What do you want?" She asked annoyingly.
"I was going to ask you to remove your bag from the seat, so I can sit down." He said with an eye roll.
"Nope, I'm good!"
"Bella, this is my assigned seat, it's not like any other mode of transport where you can pick and choose where you sit."
"I know that, but whoever has sat us together has a death wish!"
"Sounds like a drama."
"My life certainly is when you're around." She said dumping her bag, between her legs.
"Always a drama queen aren't you?" Earning Bella another eye roll from him. "Look I'll take my seat and we don't have to say a word to one another." He said in defence, holding his hands up to her.
"Sounds perfect."
…
After the flight, once they had arrived at the hotel all Bella wanted to do was wash the plane smell off of her and crawl into bed. But apparently the guys had other plans, and who knew where the night would take them?
Bella spilled her whole suitcase on to the hotel bed. Searching for something decent to wear in a short amount of time. She finally decided on her sparkly green mini dress, that stopped just above the knee and paired it with a black choker and heels, as this is what Rose assisted on her wearing, when she rang in panic just before.
"You'll knock them dead wearing that!" Rose encouraged before ending the call.
Bella just had to remind herself to wear it with confidence! She met some of the guys with James in the lobby of the hotel.
"The others have already gone ahead." Paul informed.
"Then let's go, I'm starving." James insisted.
Bella noticed how most of the guys were staring at James.
"What have you done with you hair?" Eric asked in horror.
Bella and the rest laughed at Eric's sudden outburst as James felt offended.
"You do realise how many headaches I get from having my hair up in that manbun all the time? Sometimes I need to let these luscious golden locks down." James explained flicking his hair.
The small group laughed once again.
"Now let's eat!" Paul exclaimed.
Bella did a once over of the lobby once more. No Edward in sight, maybe he was already at the restaurant?
…
They ended up at a sushi bar which wasn't really Bella's cup of tea.
"Remind me to never to eat sushi again!" Paul whined.
"Come on man, you didn't even have that much to eat." Jasper told him.
"He had like 40 platters of sushi to himself, how is that not much?" Bella questioned.
"Did you really?" Jasper asked in disbelief.
"It's not my fault, the tuna speaks to me."
"Whatever you say Aquaman!" Tyler laughed at Paul.
"I'm going to call it a night." James said, "Are you guys coming?"
"Nah, we're going "sight-seeing" for a bit." Eric replied with air quotes and a wink to the PT.
"Oh, I get your drift! Sounds good just be responsible!" James added "And look after my trainee." And with that he was off.
…
As they walked off to find a bar, Bella feel in walking place with Tyler.
"I don't wish to intrude." She spoke with uncertainty.
"You aren't!" He smiled, "It's nice to have you here with us, just like old times!"
"Yeah… Just like old times…" Bella repeated.
"How are you feeling?"
"A bit cold…"
"You know that's not what I meant."
"What would you like me to say, Tyler?"
"Just be honest, that's all I ask no beating around the bush."
"Okay… Why isn't he here with us?"
"He made other arrangements…"
"Has he met up with someone?"
"Yes, He's having dinner with them…"
"Oh?" Bella pondered "Ty, I think I'm going to just head back to the hotel…"
"Are you sure? Do you need me to walk back with you?"
"I'll be fine, I'm sure I just need to clear my head and I don't think the drink would help. I'll message you when I get back to the hotel."
…
Bella didn't attend the boys practice the following day, she just stayed in the hotel room. Considering if she should continue with this career path, working for the boys… The truth was she didn't feel like she should. This was Edward's team his turf, and she was invading it…
All the guys had welcomed her into their group, bar Jasper. He was slowly starting to accept her, but she knew he would never fully accept her, with Bella being close to his estranged sister, but that was a story for another time.
Bella was really at a crossroad in her life, why couldn't someone just tell her the answers she needed!
Sometimes she wondered why she was too damn stubborn for her own good.
She also wanted answers to why she felt like Edward going out for food with another woman, would send her into this downward spiral.
Can someone just give her a sign!
…
Sunday afternoon, just before the away game started in the guest locker room.
"Have you saw James?" Bella asked Jasper and Edward.
There was silence for a moment between the three of them. "Yeah he's already in the dugout."
"Thanks Jasper." Bella mentioned before leaving the room.
"Well, that was awkward." Jasper confessed.
"Sorry, man. But what am I supposed to do? If she doesn't want me to talk to her."
"Honestly, I have no idea. Have you tried again since we go here?"
"No, once we landed I dropped my stuff off at the hotel and went for dinner."
"Hot date?"
"I wish, I just met up with Emmett."
"He's here!?"
"Yeah he's been in Atlanta for a few months for work. I haven't seen him in a while, so I took advantage of seeing the only sane person in my family." Edward chuckled.
"Is he attending the game today?"
"No… Unfortunately, he has work, but he would like to meet up later."
"Great! Maybe we can go for drinks in the hotel bar with him later." Jasper suggested.
"I'll text him and let him know our plans." Edward said pulling out his phone.
…
Forks Spartans win the game with 5-2. Better look next time Atlanta Beavers.
…
Back at the hotel
"Just a rum and coke for me, love." Jasper requested, with a wink to the waitress.
"I see you still have bad taste in your choice of drink, Jasper." Emmett laughed as he approached his little brother and friend.
"Emmett! My man!" Jasper greeted pulling him into a manly hug. "You missed a good game earlier."
"Did you guys win?"
"Of course, we did. How could we lose with me as the captain." Edward chimed in.
"Don't get too cocky." Emmett warned.
"It's not cocky, it's confidence, can't you see it radiating from me?"
"Sure, whatever you say, little bro." Emmett says with a hitch of his brow, "Anyways I have exciting news to share."
"Well, whatever it is spit it out already, we didn't come here to celebrate you, we came to celebrate the Spartans!"
"You seriously have no patients."
"Hey! I grew up with you and Alice, my patience was limited." Edward defended himself.
"Now that I think of it, you make an excellent point." He chuckled.
"I know! Now tell me before I grow old!"
"I'm moving back home! To be closer to Rosie."
"I think I'm going to throw up." Jasper added.
Both Cullen brothers rolled their eyes at Jasper.
"Ignore him, Emmett. That's amazing news, I'm glad you've decided to come back."
"Me too, this long-distance crap is tiring."
"I still can't believe your dating my sister, it's disturbing."
"Well believe it man it's almost been three years, time to get over it."
"Whatever…" Jasper muttered before downing his drink.
"Mate we'll be brothers sooner then you think!" Emmett teased.
"Fuck you, Emmett!"
"No thanks that's your sisters job."
"You want to say that again?" Jasper threatened, squaring up to Emmett.
Edward rushed his way in between the two men, "C'mon Jasper it's just some harmless banter. Isn't Emmett?" Edward eyed his brother.
"Yes, I'm sorry man I didn't mean to push it that far." Emmett apologised.
"I'm sorry too, I think the drinks giving me more Dutch courage than I asked for…" He sighed, "It's just talking about Rosalie is a touchy subject for me." Jasper admitted.
"And on that note, I think we better change the topic of conversation." Edward suggested, "So, when do you think you'll be coming back to Forks for?"
"Well, I've just handed in my two-week notice, so possibly in three weeks' time."
"I bet your Mom and Alice will be excited on your return." Jasper assumed.
Emmett stared daggers at his friend, "Or not?" Jasper suggested.
"I haven't spoken to them in a while, and I don't plan to change that." Emmett said sternly with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Are you still arguing? I don't even understand what happened?" Edward asked.
"They did something stupid, and I don't want to play their childish games anymore. And that's all I'm going to say."
"What about Dad?"
"What about him?"
"Has he reached out to you? I haven't heard from him in a few weeks."
"He just told me he was busy with new cases. You know how it goes Edward, with all these sports teams and their scandals they need lawyers to take care of them, make it quote on quote disappear."
"Ahh the important life of a lawyer, seems interesting." Jasper wondered.
"RING, RING"
Emmett's phone rang out, he glanced down at the screen and silenced the call.
"Do you need to take that?" Edward asked.
"Nope, it's just Mom trying to talk to me again."
"She seems desperate… Seriously man, why don't you just pick up and hear what she needs to say."
"I don't think it's necessary to listen to what she has to say."
"Does it have something to do with me? Because you're acting kind of shady." Edward called his brother out.
Emmett didn't reply
"So, it does?" Edward asked angrily.
"Yeah… I'll tell you, but not now, I don't think it's appropriate to air our families dirty laundry in a very public place."
"I don't have any dirty laundry to air!" Edward shot back.
"Please Edward. I'll tell you soon, okay? Let's just enjoy the rest of our night together."
"Fine…" Edward said defeatedly, but he wouldn't let this rest.
"Anyways, let's toast to the Spartans win!" Emmett encouraged, lifting his glass in the air…
…
A/N: So there seems to be a lot of secrecy and drama involving the Cullen clan… Now with Emmett moving back home, will it all come to light? Esme seems to be quite the troublemaker. Sorry guys for the short chapter. But I'm straight on to writing chapter six now.
See you in the next one!
Becca x