(~BPOV~)
I'd always heard that things looked better in the morning. Several mornings later, things certainly felt calm, but I couldn't say things felt better. I pulled my jacket tighter as the cool morning air bit at my skin. I was skipping class to meet Rosalie at the car repair shop and crossed my fingers that it wouldn't be an extensive or lengthy repair. Skipping another day of class wouldn't be the worst, but once the initial shock of the accident wore off, I found myself angry at the disruption. Trapped, unable to get my fish, and uncomfortable driving a damaged vehicle. Stuck.
Rosalie was already standing outside near the lobby door of the repair shop, looking down at her phone. Her black trench coat was draped casually over her shoulders, as though she was in between photo shoots and simply waiting for direction. I looked down at my jacket - tan and worn, pulled straight from Charlie's closet when I moved back to Forks before he passed. The contrast once would have made me feel inadequate, but to my surprise, those feelings did not resurface. Rosalie must have noticed my scent or heartbeat as I walked, and looked up. "Bella," she said warmly. "I'm glad you came."
"Of course." I closed the final distance between us, but left a few feet as a buffer. "Are they already working on your car?" I gestured towards the door.
"Ah, no, no need. I was able to complete the repairs at home. But they're ready for yours, I already briefed them on what would need to be done. They should have it completed this afternoon."
I raised my eyebrow. "Seems awfully quick for auto repair." I exhaled in an attempt to release some of the tension I could feel building. I didn't want her help - their help - his help.
"I just wanted to minimize any disruption, I had hoped you wouldn't mind. I could always tell them to take their sweet time with it," she snarked back at me, and clenched her jaw.
Several moments of silence passed. I unconsciously brought my fingers to my mouth. The band-aid barriers prevented me from contacting my cuticles, which I mangled over the weekend. I shoved my hands into my pockets. With a sigh, I tried again. "No, this afternoon works fine."
Rosalie - Rose , as she so gently reminded me to call her - offered to get breakfast with me while I waited for my car. I wasn't sure which of us was more surprised by my acceptance of the offer, but I accepted nonetheless, which is how we found ourselves in a small local diner.
I pushed my scrambled eggs around with the fork before taking a bite. Rose had her hands wrapped around a mug of tea. "Would you actually drink that?"
She smiled and raised the mug as a toast, and took a long sip. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Sorry Rose, I was curious." A few minutes of silence passed as I ate my breakfast, but they weren't uncomfortable like the silence at the car repair shop. It felt easier. As I chewed, she made convincing small talk. I supposed she had a lot of practice.
"What do you have planned for the rest of the day, Bella?" She asked.
"I'm going to the pet store actually. You?"
"Oh, that's right - the water tank I saw at your place. What's in there?"
I laughed. "Nothing yet. I want to get some fish to put in it. That's where I was heading last week, anyway."
She tilted her head to the side and pushed her mug to the edge of the table. "I've never been in a pet store."
"We have some time to kill." The words slipped out of my mouth, and I cringed at myself. "Do you want to go?" I offered.
"Sure."
(~RPOV~)
I knocked on the door and waited for Bella to answer. I could hear her footsteps slowly approach. The last few weeks had gone better, albeit slower, than I thought they would. While I wouldn't say we were best friends, it seemed as though she wanted me around.
"Think about it Rose, she lives all by herself in a new place, I'm sure she enjoys some familiar company." Was the explanation that Alice had offered. I had shrugged my shoulders. I couldn't remember a time when I had felt like that. I suppose it didn't matter what I remembered, since it was all part of Alice's plan. Besides, I had found myself looking forward to spending time with Bella. I wondered if Edward had felt a similar draw, at least in the beginning. Bella opened the door with a smile and stepped aside so I could walk in.
"I brought wine, and popcorn." I raised the paper grocery bag to support my statement.
"Oh, nice. I ate dinner before you got here, but snacks and wine are always welcome here," she said with an apologetic smile. She took the bag and I followed her into the kitchen.
I leaned on the counter as she placed the popcorn in the microwave and pulled a paper cup out of the cabinet. "What movie did you pick for tonight?"
Bella didn't turn around, and opened the bottle of wine. "Just some action movie. To be honest I kind of picked it out at random."
"Ah, Emmett's favorite, he'll be jealous," I said with a laugh. She offered a chuckle and raised her cup.
"To Emmett then." She took a sip and I nodded. "If it's any good, I'll send you home with the dvd."
I couldn't be bothered to really watch the movie. Watching a movie on a small laptop screen as it rested on a chair wasn't the ideal experience, but I knew Bella wouldn't accept any type of gift to correct that. I kept cursory tabs on plot points, major action scenes, and Bella's reactions to them, but allowed my mind to review the progress we were making. My presence and company was allowed; mentions of Emmett always elicited a smile or laugh; mentions of Alice seemed decidedly unwelcome. I avoided bringing up others after that. The sound cut off as Bella paused the movie.
"The human needs a refill. I know the answer, but can I get you anything?" She offered.
"No, it's alright. How are the fish?"
"They're good."
I followed her into the kitchen to examine the tank. Three tiny creatures swam contentedly. "Did you think of any names?"
"No, not yet. Maybe the wine will help." She walked over and leaned on the counter by me to look at the fish. We watched them swim for a minute.
"How was class this week?"
She shrugged.
"Any cute boys?" It seemed innocent enough. Friends asked friends questions like that, right?
"Nah. Not for me," she said, noncommittally.
I tried another angle. "C'mon, Bella. Girl talk. What about that guy you're always texting?" I gently nudged her shoulder, mindful of my strength.
"Sawyer? It's not like that for us." Her breathing and heart rate remained even. No dice.
"Bummer." An uncomfortable pause settled in. "Do you not like to date?"
Bella laughed with no humor and finished her cup, and refilled it. "I had a boyfriend for awhile, but," she ran a hand through her hair, "it just wasn't…He wasn't…" she trailed off and looked up at the ceiling.
"Edward?" I offered. I held my breath, worried that I pushed it too far.
She sighed, and looked relieved. "Yeah. He wasn't Edward."