A/N: here we are folks!

Chapter 11: New York

May 2021, The Reunion

Alice got engaged to Jasper and there's no way I'm missing an opportunity to say congratulations in person since we've all been safe. Besides, I've been so absent. It didn't hit me until recently.

Felix was invited to come and he chose not to get on the plane the last minute. His schedule was completely clear. There was no excuse. It's fucked up. I don't know how I've overlooked it until now but it's fucked up. Things between us have just been fucked up in general. I can't even remember the last time I had sex. A month ago? Two months ago? My relationship has been slowly dying or maybe it was never really alive in the first place. I don't know anymore.

My flight to New York was five hours of me fuming. To top things off, my suitcase was the last one to come out at baggage claim. It's late as fuck and I just want to get to Alice's as soon as possible.

I grab my suitcase, rush to grab a taxi, and 30 minutes later I'm outside of Alice's apartment.

This isn't the first time I've ever been to New York, I went once with Dad on a business trip, but this is my first independent experience. I love the city. There's no doubts anymore. It has to happen and I need to move.

I text Alice that I'm outside and Jasper is the one who comes down to grab me and my bags. Alice is literally half my size so I'm glad she sent the muscle.

We ride the elevator to her penthouse because it's Alice. Of course she's got penthouse apartment in the Upper East Side. I barely have time to appreciate the place because the second I see her, the tears burst out of my eyes which in turn makes her cry.

"I missed you! Congratulations Alice and Jasper. I'm so happy for you both"

Jasper joins in and this becomes a little group hug. I'm such an asshole and of course have to crack a joke.

"Wow this is setting a mood. Should we have a threesome?"

Jasper snorts and Alice smacks my arm in response. Yeah, I'm home.

"Where's Edward?", I ask.

We pull apart and it's silent for a minute before Alice replies.

"His new girlfriend is throwing a bitch fit. He was supposed to be here an hour ago. Something about how he doesn't spend enough time with her. I don't know."

I just give her a half assed smile and shrug in response. Relationships are hard.

"I'm dumping Felix over text. He didn't get on the plane. Maybe I'm immature by doing it this way but it was the last test you know? I have to get my shit out of his place as soon as I'm back in California"

The room is silent again. Jasper goes into the kitchen, gets us all a Truly lemonade, and shoves the drink into my hands. Thank you Jazz. I take a few long pulls of my drink before breaking out in tears.

I spend the rest of the night crying and be held by my best friend and her fiancé. Jazz and I aren't best friend status yet but we are getting there. I tell Alice to tell Edward not to come. I want to sleep it off and she agrees.

Around 2 am my phone goes off and I see that it's Edward.

"I'm sorry B. I should've come over to at least say hi."

I'm not mad at Edward. Relationships are tough but I also don't know what to say in response. So I tell him I'll see him tomorrow and that I hope he can figure things out.

I wake up the next morning and send Felix the text that we are done. For a good hour afterwards my phone is blowing up. Between him and our mutual friends I'm literally being roasted alive. We drink to that one because when you're this old, have nothing to your name, and no degree you just have to focus on yourself.

"Crazy idea B and hear me out, why don't you just transfer school? Come to New York. Fuck California. If you don't leave now you never will."

"Seriously? Where the fuck could I stay? I'm too broke. I have no idea what's going to happen to the world. I just pulled an Eat, Pray, Love. Should I even entertain my next idea? I don't know why nobody has told me this but I might be dramatic."

I'm ranting. I'm going full blown neurotic on Alice and Jasper. I mean it's comical how one day I woke up and actually thought "this is not my life". I basically drifted through seven years with no real purpose. Then I decided to hop on a plane, run away, end things, and here I am debating my next move.

Alice gives me a second to calm down after my ranting before she replies. She's used to this by now.

"Okay B. I get it. I would be majorly freaking out if I were you. I don't even know how you're so composed anyways".

"It's mommy daddy issues Alice. They've prepared me for this moment. Don't get too close and everything will be all good.", I deadpan.

Jasper tries to cover his laughter with a cough but I hear it. I just shoot him a brilliant smile and then find myself crying while laughing too. Edward chooses that exact moment to walk through the door I guess because suddenly it's not just me, Alice, and Jasper.

"Ummm…what the fuck?" , Edward asks out loud with a clearly alarmed face.

This just makes Alice join in on the laughing and my tears are gone. Edward is here and I don't want to cry anymore.

"Five minutes is the maximum time I'll cry. It's been like three minutes. That means I'm good now.", I say once I can contain my laughter.

I pick myself off the rug I've been laid out on while having my slight mental breakdown and get up to greet Edward. I bury my face in his chest and hug him. Edward wraps his arms around me in return and I take comfort in the familiarly. I step away once the hugs are out of the way and finally greet him properly.

"Did you take over the world Edward?"

Edward gives me a lazy smirk, recalling our parting words from that summer. We've never brought it up outright. It's the comfortable white elephant in the room. Whatever we felt got put away in the closet after he left. We both moved forward.

"I'm still in the process B. But I'm getting there", he retorts.

Alice gives us a second to say hi before she brings up the topic at hand once again.

"You're moving here. Take time to think on it but I know it's happening. I can feel it".

Alice likes to think she's got some sort of psychic powers telling her shits gonna happen. She's usually pretty right but I'll never tell her that. No need to have her think she's actually omniscient. I'd like some semblance of autonomy.

"I'll stay for three weeks. Leah wants me to come see her anyways in New Jersey. I'll stay there for a week next week then come back to the city with my decision. Happy now?", I tell her.

Leah is my cousin. She's kind of the black sheep of our family too so naturally we've gotten along more over the years. She's older than me by like 6 years. She moved to New Jersey from Arizona a few months ago after her shotgun pandemic wedding. I'm not judging her but I'm acknowledging that this pandemic has shit happening.

Edwards still a little confused so I catch him up to date as bluntly as possible.
"I broke up with Felix over text. Typical. I'm pulling an Eat, Pray, Love. I'm going to discover myself for these next few weeks. I'm fine or maybe I'm not. I don't know. Ask me after we've gotten drunk."

Jasper, upon hearing this suggests shots. I love that man.

Three shots and two Truly's later I'm pretty drunk. Alice is completely fucked up and Jasper and Edward are riding a nice buzz as well. We play some music, sing along terribly to throwbacks, and dance in the living room. It's kind of the perfect way to deal with a breakup. My friends are the best.

When I start to feel dizzy from all the dancing I lie down on the ground and everyone follows suit.

"We better pregame like this tomorrow before your engagement party.", I announce to the room.

Alice agrees immediately and Jasper nods his head in approval. Tomorrow is their engagement party and extended family has been invited. Old money is hard to deal with and we definitely need a good buzz to deal with the pompous sides of the Cullens and Masens. Esme was formerly known as Esme Mason, coming from old money herself. Nobody can stand her side of the family but they have to be invited. Esme is nothing if not classy. Besides at least Emmett will be there. He's Alice and Edwards' cousin on their mom's side. He's basically the only tolerable Masen. We all spent a decent amount of time together when he would visit in the summer when we were in high school.

Edward suggests we all go to bed and call it a night so we aren't too hungover for tomorrow. If we are dealing with old money we have to be at our sharpest.

We all say goodnight and head to bed. Edward calls a Lyft to take him home and I turn off my phone before going to sleep. I don't need Felix calling me again and waking me up.