I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Cheryl, Noles, and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch 6
My phone rang before I could switch it to silent as I walked toward the hospital.
"Hi, Alice. How's New York?" I asked.
"Wonderful. I love the city that never sleeps," she gushed.
"I thought that was Paris?" I joked.
"Huh, maybe it's both." I visualized her shrugging. "What are you up to?"
"I'm about to head into the hospital to visit Edward," I told her.
There was a long moment of silence. Alice was among those who didn't approve of me coming here.
"Bella—"
"Alice, don't start. I love him."
She sighed, then changed the subject. "I've heard news about the infamous blonde of Forks. "
"Do I want to know?" I groaned.
"Apparently she cheated on her sugar daddy. He kicked her out. It was a crushing scene," she told me.
I furrowed my brows. "Did you just steal a line from The Nanny?"
"Did I? I thought it sounded familiar. Let's hope she's never in charge of kids, though." Alice giggled. "It's true though. Once a cheater, always a cheater."
"Why am I not surprised? I've got to go," I told her, looking at the time. I was hoping to catch Edward's doctor and find out if there had been any changes overnight.
There was another long pause. "All right, call me later," she said.
"I will. Say hi to Jasper for me." I hung up then switched my phone to silent.
I entered Edward's room in a bitter mood. I fixed his hair since I hated how the nurses tried to flatten into a style he'd never wear. Then I took my seat beside him. No changes in his head scan.
"You know if I never hear Tanya's name again, I'd be happy. She has done nothing but been a constant wart in our lives." I started today's story.
Hero
Bella, 17
"I think we're the only ones not drinking," Alice pointed out as we stood on the outskirts of the after homecoming dance party. "Does that make us lame?"
"My parents would kill me. Preacher's daughter, remember? My dad smells my breath after every time I go out," Angela reminded her.
"I've never been tempted to even try it." I instantly thought of my mother, and knowing that alcoholism could be hereditary, so drinking was a big turn off. "Besides, like Angela, my father would be a literal cop about it. But if you want to get a drink, go get one."
"Maybe I will." Alice took a few steps toward the kitchen and instantly stopped. "Oh my! When did Edward and Tanya break up?" She turned back to me.
"As far as I know, they haven't. Why?" I went to her side.
Across the room, Tanya was perched on some guy's lap with her tongue down his throat. His hand had her shirt lifted enough that everyone could see her boob being groped. And they were not-so-dry humping.
"Ugh. I so didn't need to see this." I started to feel sick.
Tanya's friend, Irina, spotted me looking and elbowed Tanya. Tanya glared at her then followed to where Irina was pointing to me. At first, she looked nervous then her eyes narrowed into slits.
"I'm getting out of here. Before there's a scene." I turned to leave.
"Let me get Jasper, and we'll meet you guys at the car." Alice completely forgot about her drink.
Angela and I headed to the door. We were outside when I heard the bitch call me from behind. I hurried my steps, but she kept coming. Didn't she know it was for her own safety to stay away from me?
"Bella, wait up," Tanya called.
"What do you want, Tanya?" I asked, turning.
"You ran away before saying hi," she said chirpily. The guy she had been with was hovering behind her. I vaguely remembered him from the football team.
"You're right. Hi, Tanya. How's Edward?" I gave her the biggest fake smile I could muster.
"Edward?" the guy asked, and Tanya's head whipped around.
"You know him. Her boyfriend, who is in the army," I answered before she could.
"What?" The guy's eyes flashed angrily.
Tanya shot me a look then batted her eyes at the guy and placed a hand on his chest. "She's lying. She's always been jealous of me."
"As if," Angela muttered. "Liam, Bella isn't lying."
Liam glanced at Angela then back at Tanya. "I'm out of here."
Tanya glared, then advanced on Angela. I stepped in her path, blocking her. Angela was the most peaceful person I knew. I would be damned if I'd let Tanya attack her.
Tanya looked over my shoulder. "Who the hell do you think you are? And how do you know Liam?"
"He's good friends with my brother, Garrett," Angela said nervously.
"Back off," I told her.
Tanya scowled at me. "You two need to mind your own business."
"We were. You came after us," I countered.
"Don't go telling Edward anything, got it? Or I'll make your life miserable," she threatened.
"I'm not scared of you, Tanya. And you just answered my earlier question, so I will be telling Edward what I saw," I informed her.
"You little—" She raised her hand to slap me, and I caught her wrist.
"Don't even. I don't slap, scratch, or pull hair. I'll punch. And be warned, it was Emmett and, ironically, Edward, who taught me how," I stated.
As Tanya hesitated, Alice came out of nowhere and jumped on her back. "Leave my friend alone, bitch."
"Get off of me!" Tanya screeched, thrashing around, trying to throw Alice off.
They spun in circles with Alice holding on tight. Jasper looked like he was trying to help but didn't know how. They finally fell to the ground in a heap. Tanya leapt to her feet first, but before Alice could tackle her again, Jasper grabbed her around the waist.
"You're crazy!" Tanya screamed at her then turned to me. "Edward will never believe you." She stormed away.
Alice struggled to break free. "Let me go, Jasper."
"Calm down, Alice, before Chief is called and you're arrested," Jasper reasoned with her.
"You're going to tell Edward, right?" Angela asked.
I deeply sighed. "I have to. He deserves to know the truth."
H
When I arrived home, I went upstairs and immediately emailed Edward, asking him if there was a time he could FaceTime me soon. I knew it could take a few days to hear back from him, and I hoped we could do this face to face. It seemed cold to do it over an email or a written letter. It would be like a second-hand Dear John, and Edward deserved better.
Two days later, I received an email, telling me he could call that evening. I sat cross-legged on my bed with my computer in front of me. I nervously held the Scooby Edward gave me years ago. The alert sounded, and with a deep breath, I clicked answer call.
Edward came on to the screen, looking as handsome as ever. In the short few months, his muscles were more defined, and his hair was shorter than I ever remembered.
"Hi," I said nervously.
"Hey." He sounded tired. "I don't got a lot of time, so what did you…" He trailed off and glanced down my front.
I instinctively looked too, at my ARMY sweatshirt I got to support the boys. There didn't appear to be anything wrong with it.
"You still have him?" Edward asked.
"What…Scooby? Yeah, I still hold on to it when I'm nervous," I admitted. "Do you want it back?"
"No." He frowned and shook his head. "Can we get on with it?"
"Right." I bit my lip. "I really wish I didn't have to tell you this. But you have the right to know. I was at a party this past weekend with my friends, and Tanya was there. She and this guy…Liam"—I paused, wanting to spare him the details—"she was cheating on you."
Edward let out a huff. "Were you drinking?"
"No. I don't drink because of my mother." I was surprised he even asked. Did he honestly think I would make this shit up?
"Don't play the whole I had a bad mother card," he said irritably.
I sat there stunned and hurt. "It's not a card. What is with you? I tell you your girlfriend is cheating on you, and you accuse me of drinking and what…making it up?"
"Well, you do hate her," he accused.
"Of course, I do. She talks down to me all the time. Also, when she should've been supporting you joining the army, she threw a fit you weren't going to be a doctor," I defended myself. I was starting to get pissed he didn't believe me. I would never lie to him.
"Are you in love with me?" he asked, frowning.
I blinked several times, caught off guard. "What?"
"I talked to Tanya. She said you were acting crazy, and you were jealous of her. She thinks it's because you're in love with me," he stated.
"Jealous? Are you kidding me? Of that whore?" I snapped. The bitch got to him first, which is why he was acting this way. My anger boiled over, he has chosen to believe her over me
"Don't call her that," Edward yelled.
I narrowed my eyes. "Why not? She is one. She was straddling Liam's lap with her tongue down his throat and his hand groping her as they were not-so-dry humping on the couch." I ended up giving him the full visual.
He flinched and shook his head. "You never answered my question. I know you used to have a crush on me, but I thought you got over it."
"Oh no worries, I am so not crushing on you at the moment. I love you, but not in the way Tanya is trying to convince you. You have been one of the closest people to me for as long as I can remember. You've always been there for me. Which is why I am trying to return the favor, but you're being too pigheaded to see it." When I saw the doubt in his eyes, it enraged me. "If I were jealous, why would I wait until you were dating for almost a year and several states away to try and break you up? I'm telling you the truth. If you don't believe me then ask Liam. When he found she was still dating you, he got pissed that she was two timing you both," I ranted, my eyes started to fill with tears.
"Bella—"
I slapped the laptop shut before he could accuse me of lying still. I tossed Scooby to the side. "Argh!"
"Bella?" Dad burst into the room, startling me.
His shirt was half unbuttoned, and he glanced around with his gun in his hands.
"Dad, what are you doing?" I clutched my chest.
"Me? You screamed as if you were being attacked." He lowered the gun.
"Sorry, some guy is an utter jackass," I grumbled.
"Sure I don't need this?" Dad held up the gun.
"Tempting but no." I shook my head.
He paused for a moment. "Do you want to go talk to Esme?"
I shook my head; I couldn't go to Esme with my issues with Edward. It would unfairly put her in the middle.
"Well…maybe the boys will help when we see them in a next month. Edward always seemed ready to defend you," Dad suggested.
"What? They're coming home already?" I asked in apprehension. I wasn't looking forward to seeing Edward anytime soon.
Dad gave me a strange look. "No, family weekend and their graduation. We're going out to see them, remember?"
"Oh yeah." I nodded.
H
When we boarded the plane, I was still upset with Edward. A few weeks ago, I had been looking forward to this trip, but now not so much. I just prayed Tanya didn't show up. I didn't see her at the airport. Seeing them together would only make me feel sick.
Since the disastrous phone call, Edward had emailed me a couple of times, but I hadn't opened them. I didn't want to hear any more accusations. Plus, I was done trying to convince him of the truth, he'd have to find out the hard way.
"This is going to be so exciting. I can't wait to see Emmett. I'm so thankful I was able to come along." Rose was almost vibrating in her seat next to me on the plane.
"I'm sure Emmett will be happy to see you too. But please keep it PG in front of me," I joked.
She giggled and sighed happily. "Aren't you excited to see Edward?"
"Not really," I admitted, focusing out the window.
She frowned. "Let me guess, is he taking his bad mood out on you too? Emmett said he's been in a funk since he broke up with Tanya."
I glanced at her sharply. "They broke up?"
"You didn't know? Apparently, she's been cheating on him. Not that I'm surprised. She only seemed to want him when she thought he was going to be a doctor," Rose explained, then frowned when she noted my expression. "What?"
I shook my head. "I caught her in the act a few weeks ago. When I told Edward what I saw, he didn't believe me. He practically accused me of making it up because I was in love with him."
"Are you?" she asked.
"No. I used to have the biggest crush. But after he kissed me on my sixteenth birthday, he told me the next day it was a mistake, and he didn't feel anything for me. I made myself move on, rather than be pathetic," I explained.
"You guys kissed?" Rosalie looked starry eyed.
"You're missing the whole aftermath part," I pointed out.
She paused thoughtfully. "Wait, this was at homecoming, right?"
"Yeah, why?" I asked.
"Emmett and Edward were arguing about something after we found you two outside. I didn't catch all of it. But Emmett did say something about off-limits. And judging by the conversation earlier that night…" She trailed off.
"You think Emmett told Edward to stay away from me?" My eyebrows raised.
"Maybe." She shrugged.
"But he started dating Tanya not long after. She's my exact opposite," I stated, feeling confused.
"Exactly, your exact opposite. I think he liked you too but had to distract himself with your opposite." Rose nodded.
"And I think you've been watching way too many teenage dramas." I snorted.
Rosalie laughed before turning serious. "Maybe. But I still think I'm right. I've always noticed how you both looked at each other. You're awfully close for two people who aren't together. I think you're soul mates."
Two nights later, we went out to dinner with the Cullens to celebrate the boy's basic graduation. We had spent the yesterday on base, watching the drills and other events for families. I had so far successfully avoided being alone with Edward, yet now I was sitting across from him.
"I'm going to go use the restroom." I stood, buying time until our dinner arrived.
"I'll come with you." Rosalie broke away from her staring match with Emmett and got to her feet.
"Why do girls always go to the bathroom together?" Emmett complained.
"To plot against you, dear brother." I smirked at him.
The table erupted in laughter as Emmett scowled. We walked away through the maze of tables to the bathroom. After I finished in the stall, I found Rosalie by the sinks, fixing her hair.
"Bella, you've got to throw the poor boy a bone." She met my eyes in the mirror.
"Who?" I asked, washing my hands.
"Edward. Who do you think? The poor boy has been giving you puppy dog eyes all night. Please put him out of his misery and talk to him," she said.
"I don't feel like getting into another argument about him thinking I've lied to him, again," I retorted.
"Something tells me that since he broke up with Tanya, he knows you were telling the truth. Also, you'll never fix the relationship if you ignore him and don't speak to him," she told me.
"So you think I'm being immature?" I questioned.
"I think you're hurt and have a wall up. Are you really ready to throw years of friendship away on Tanya of all people?" Rose challenged.
I shook my head; she linked her arm through mine then led us to the door. Edward was waiting on the other side, leaning up against the wall. When he saw us, he stood up straight. Rose nudged me and gave me a pointed look before walking away.
"You know you're an extremely hard person to apologize to. Have you even read any of my emails?" he asked quietly.
"No. I didn't feel like being called a liar anymore. Or told I'm jealous… Or that I was using the mom card. When have I ever done that?" I asked angrily.
"Never, I'm sorry that was a low blow. I'm not surprised you don't drink. Emmett doesn't either. In fact, seeing drunk people usually pisses him off." Edward ran his hand through his short hair. His eyes met mine. "And I never called you a liar in any of the emails. I know you were telling me the truth."
"Telling you Tanya was cheating was the last thing I ever wanted to tell you. I didn't want to see you get hurt," I said softly.
"I know she cheated." Edward nodded.
"You talked to Liam then?" I questioned.
"No. I didn't have to. I know this won't make sense, but I knew from the start you weren't going to lie to me. But at the same time, I wanted it to be a lie. I broke up with Tanya after I called you," he told me.
"Good. But I'm sorry you got hurt," I said.
"Don't feel bad for me. I should've never doubted you. When I questioned you, I wanted to make sure I was making the right decision, since I was second guessing myself. I also hoped…it was all a bad dream." I got the hint he was about to say something else. "Once she gave the ultimatum between you and her, the answer was easy."
"You chose me?" I asked in surprise.
"Of course, I did. Things had been off with Tanya for a while. When she called me after I got your email, I had a sinking feeling something was wrong. It took me a few days to process what she said before I could talk to you. Then it all got blown out of proportion, and that's my fault. I was a jerk when you were only trying to be there for me. I'm really sorry I hurt you." His eyes were full of sadness.
"I'll forgive you. I hate being mad at you." I hugged him. I tried to ignore how firm his chest felt against my cheek.
"Did you have a good birthday? I'm sorry I missed it. I owe you something extra for Christmas," he vowed.
"It was okay. Felt so different without you guys there. Who knew I would miss Emmett burping Happy Birthday to me?"
Edward laughed then squeezed me tighter. "I've really missed you. Let's not go this long without talking or hearing from one another again."
"It's has been over a month." I glanced up at him with a frown, he still hadn't let me go.
"Way too long," he admitted. "Promise?"
"I will if you will," I countered.
"It's a deal." He squeezed me one more time before we headed back to the table.
Hero
I wiped a tear from my eye. "I hope you won't break your promise."
A/N: A rocky chapter for them. To those who thought she forgave quickly, a month has passed for her calm down.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.