Somewhere To Begin Chapter 7, a twilight fanfic

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Chapter 7: The Tree & The Apple

Aiden

"I'm sorry, Honey, your dad won't make it today." Mommy chewed on the inside of her cheek as she looked at me, her arms folded under her chin as she leaned against the arm of the couch.

I sighed as I picked at the fabric of my jeans.

Me and Dad were supposed to go mini golfing today, but now he couldn't make it.

It wasn't surprising, I guess.

Dad never kept a promise, not really.

Even when we lived at our old house, when he and Mommy were together, he would say we would go to the park, the arcade, the movies, or play basketball, but it never happened. He would tell me he was busy with work, but before me and Mommy got our new place, he said he would make more time for me.

But I didn't know if it made sense to believe him, or anything he said.

He called, sometimes, but I couldn't remember the last time I saw him, after me and Mommy moved out.

I was surprised when he showed up for my first day of school. I didn't think he would. It was nice that he did, but I hadn't seen him since then.

I wanted to see him; I wanted him to make time for me, but this? My Dad was… had been… confusing.

I didn't get it; did I do something wrong? Did I do something to make him not like me?

"Hey." Mommy rubbed my arm. "We can go mini golfing."

I nodded my head "Okay."

It would have been cool to go with my dad, but me and Mommy would have fun.

"Okay." She blew out and hit her hands against her legs, standing. "I'm going to make some lunch then we can go."

I knew I could always count on Mommy; it had always been me and her. She never broke her promises.

I looked up at her. "Can you make ham and cheese sandwiches?"

"Sure." She leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Coming right up." She said as she headed for the kitchen.

"Can I have chips with it?"

She turned to look at me. "Okay."

"And lemonade?"

She shrugged. "That's fine."

"Oh, and a cookie?" I grinned. Mommy normally doesn't let me have too many sweets.

She crossed her arms and raised both of her brows, fighting a smile.

"No cookie, huh?" I scrunched up my nose.

She shook her head and chuckled. "How about an apple?"

"Fine." I grumbled

"Be ready in a second." She turned back around and walked out of the living room. "Love you."

"Love you too." I sprawled out on the couch, picked up the remote, and turned Shrek on while I waited.

It was my favorite movie. Shrek was awesome. He always said what he thought. He had his own swamp, took baths in mud, fought a dragon, and he was funny. So was Donkey.

Watching Shrek always made me happy.

And I remember when my dad used to watch it with me a few times, I think it used to make him happy too.

"Aiden." Mommy yelled. "Come eat."

I paused the movie and ran to the kitchen and sat at the table, our food already there.

I picked up my sandwich and took a bite.

"You've been in school for about two weeks now. What do you think about your teacher? Do you like her?" Mommy asked as she placed my cup on the table and sat down.

"Yeah." I chewed. "Mrs. Cope is nice."

I liked my teacher and the other students in my class, well maybe not all the other students.

There was a girl who said I stunk.

But… she only said it after I told her she had cooties.

I had to do it, though. Mike and the others were watching me. If I didn't say it, they wouldn't have wanted to be my friends anymore.

And I didn't want that. I wanted them to be my friends. I wanted them to like me.

So, I said it, even though Mommy told me not to.

But I don't think I stink. I checked, and I showered every day.

She was wrong. I think.

"Mommy." I put my sandwich down. "Do you think I stink?"

"What?" She chuckled and put her hand over her mouth. She had just taken a bite of food. "No, you don't stink." She chewed and swallowed. "Where did that come from?"

I shrugged. "A girl in my class said I did."

"Why did she say that?" She frowned.

I looked down and picked at my chips. "Cause." I mumbled.

"Cause what?"

I didn't want to tell her. I was going to get in trouble.

"Aiden, look at me."

I sighed and looked up.

"Cause what?"

I slumped my shoulders. "I-I-" I tapped my cup. "I, um."

"Sweetheart, just tell me. I can't help you until you do."

I slumped my shoulders. "I sai-"

There was a knock at the door.

Mommy's forehead wrinkled as she looked at the door. "We'll finish this conversation later." She said as she got up and walked out of the kitchen.

She won't be happy with me, but at least I didn't stink.

Bella

Who the hell was at the door?

The front desk hadn't called. We hadn't been here long enough to have friends in the building, and I wasn't expecting anyone.

I stood on my tiptoes to look through the peephole.

Ugh, what in the hell is she doing here?

I lowered myself, laid my head against the door, and took a deep breath. God, take her now, please.

She knocked again, harder.

I guess not.

I opened the door and leaned against it. "Victoria." I folded my arms across my chest.

"Isabella." She sneered. "How nice of you to finally answer the door." She stepped forward, like I was going to let her in.

I didn't move. "How did you get up here?"

"Let me in." She narrowed her eyes.

I narrowed my eyes right back at her. "How did you get up here?"

The real question was how she found out where we lived.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't avoid telling Victoria where we lived; however, I didn't volunteer that information either. You know the whole don't ask, don't tell, thing.

Besides, we weren't close. It wasn't like she dropped by to see me or Aiden back when I was married to Alec and she knew where we lived, not when Alec wasn't there. So why did she feel the need to do so now?

But I digress… The important question here was: how did she find out where we lived?

The only two people who I knew that could tell her were Alec's father, Garrett, or Alec himself. Garrett knew Victoria and I never got along, so the likelihood of it being him was slim.

So that only left Alec.

Of course.

The next question, how did she get up here?

I'm sure she harassed whoever was at the front desk and or played the senator's wife card. She probably said that she would speak to someone's supervisor and get them fired for her inconvenience.

So basically harassment.

Victoria stepped back after she saw I didn't budge.

"Must you always be so difficult?" Victoria rolled her eyes. "You've been here for weeks now; I should've been invited a long time ago." She tilted her head and blinked at me, as if I was in the wrong.

I snorted.

She pursed her lips.

I wonder if she would hold her breath for an invitation.

"Mmm." I hummed. "What do you want Victoria?"

"I came to see Aiden." She flared her nostrils. "I didn't even know he started school. I had to hear about it from Alec."

He started school about two weeks ago, so she was late.

"Why would I tell you-"

"Just because you damaged your family and tore Aiden away from Alec doesn't mean you get to keep Aiden from me."

My head jerked back, and I chuckled humorlessly.

I took Aiden from Alec. Right. I almost forgot how delusional she could be.

"So, are you going to let me in, or will I have to continue to stand here with you?" She raised one eyebrow.

"Hmm." I acted as if I was thinking. "No."

"No?" She frowned.

I nodded. "No."

"And why not?" She said through clenched teeth.

Why would I?

"Because you think you get to come to my home and talk to me any way you want. I won't allow that. I don't have to deal with you. Not to mention you dropped by unannounced."

"I am his grandmother; you will respect m-"

"And I." I cut her off. "Am his mother, I don't have to do anything Victoria, it would be wise for you to remember who has sole custody of Aiden." I sighed. "Maybe you should put your attention on your damaged family before you try pointing out my wrongdoings." I smiled.

Yeah, I wasn't going to let that comment slide.

Victoria stepped toward me again, her face pinched together. "You insignificant-"

"Mommy, I'm done eating. Can we go mini golfing now?" Aiden said.

"Aiden." She plastered a fake smile across her face. "Honey, there you are." Her tone very different from the one she used with me.

"Hi, Grandma." He waved. "Is Grandpa-G here too?" Aiden craned his neck to look around her.

"No Sweetheart, it's just me." She smiled tightly. "But if you come with me, the three of us could spend the afternoon together."

Like I would let her take him without a sane adult around.

Aiden frowned. "Um, I don't know, me and Mommy were about to go."

I rubbed Aiden's back. "Sweetheart, we can go tomorrow if you'd like to spend the day with Grandpa-G and Big V." I grinned; she hated the nickname.

Even though Victoria and I didn't get along, Garrett and I always did, and even though she always tries to make me the bad guy, I have never kept Aiden away from any of them, especially his father. I just wouldn't leave Aiden alone with her.

He looked back at Victoria. "Grandpa-G will be there, right?"

"Well." Victoria chuckled. "He's busy right now, but he will meet up with us later."

"Are you sure?" Aiden wrinkled his forehead.

She cleared her throat. "I can call him."

Aiden nodded. "Okay."

Obviously, Aiden favored Garrett, and it wasn't because of me. I've kept Victoria's and my relationship civil, or as civil as possible, in front of Aiden.

But honestly, that's how it's always been, even when he was younger. My theory was that he sensed evil.

You know how it's said that dogs and babies can sense evil…

It made sense to me, and I would also like to point out that they never had an animal.

Okay, I'm going to be serious. I don't think Aiden disliked Victoria. I think at worst he was indifferent. She never tried to build a relationship with him, and I think he could tell.

I also think she thought she would have the same relationship with Aiden that she had with Alec. I wasn't going to let that happen.

"Hi Garrett." She smiled down at Aiden. "I'm here at Isabella's and I wanted to know if you're available to spend the afternoon with Aiden and I?"

Her eyebrows pulled close and created a crease in her forehead. "Um, yes, I'm at her place now."

Her jaw clenched before she turned her back and lowered her voice to continue her conversation.

If god won't take her, maybe Garrett will. That worked for me.

"You won't be upset if I go with Grandpa-G, right?" He looked up at me and bit his lip.

"Of course not." I kissed the top of his head. "If you want to go, you should. I want you to have fun. I won't be upset."

"Okay." Victoria's voice was tense. "He's right here." She turned around and handed Aiden her phone. "Grandpa would like to talk to you."

"Hey, Grandpa-G." Aiden beamed.

While Aiden talked to Garrett, Victoria was quiet. She held her chin high, but wouldn't look at me.

"He wants to talk to you, Mommy." Aiden passed the phone to me.

"Hey Garrett."

"Bella." He sighed. "I want to apologize for anything Victoria may have said."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see it. "It's…" I paused. I wouldn't say it was fine, it wasn't. "Thank you."

He wasn't responsible for her actions, but I appreciated that he apologized.

"It's the least I could do." He laughed nervously. "Actually, I was going to call you. Alec told me he had to cancel, so I wanted to know if it would be alright if I picked Aiden up today?"

Was that why Alec called, because he told his dad and Garrett made him call me?

"Yeah, that's fine with me." I tapped Aiden's nose.

"Great." He let out a huge breath. "I'll be there in about thirty minutes." Garrett said.

"See you then."

I ended the call and handed Victoria her phone back.

"He's on his way?" Aiden asked as he bounced from foot to foot.

I nodded and smiled.

"Well, I guess that's settled." Victoria muttered.

"Awesome." Aiden grinned and ran back inside.

"You didn't have to do that, undermine me in front him." She scowled. "I won't let you do that again."

"Hmm." I flattened my lips and nodded. "Right."

It was me. I was the problem here. That made sense.

"I've always despised you." Victoria raised a single eyebrow. "You were never good enough for Alec."

"Trust me, the feelings mutual." I smiled. "Well, Vicky, it's been fun, let's not do this again." I closed the door in her face.

I walked to the living room and plopped down on the couch. "I think I deserve a drink now."

STB

Today hadn't exactly gone as planned.

First Alec called while I was finishing up some work, and of course he was his usual charming self.

Yes, that was sarcasm.

Flashback:

Twelve Dressy Ways to Keep Summer Going:

It's all about the journey, not the destination, so treat an end-of-summer trip like the main event by choosing pieces that shimmer as brightly-

My phone rang.

"Hello."

"Isa."

I waited for him to say something more, but he didn't. "Yes?"

"Look." He sighed. "I'm just gonna cut to the chase here."

"Okay." I drug the word out. He sounded as if I was talking his ear off.

He paused for a beat. "I won't be able to get Aiden today."

"Alec." I blew out and put my elbow on the desk. "You already told him you'd-"

"Yeah, yeah I know." He cut me off. "I'll make it up to him later, I promise."

I snorted. "Alec, how many times have you said you'd make it up later and don't?" I rubbed my temple. "Your promises don't mean anything."

"Ugh." He groaned. "You're being so dramatic. I have a life of my own and I get busy sometimes, Aiden understands."

"No." I spoke slowly. "He doesn't. He's a child."

He scoffed. "I know he's a child."

"Do you?" I shrugged. "Do you get that it bothers him when you make plans, and cancel on him, consistently?" I raked my fingers through my hair. "I mean, do you even want to spend time with him Alec, really?"

"Yes." He hissed. "I want to spend time with Aiden. I'm just busy right now. It would be nice if you cared to be more understating." He huffed. "At least I called."

I closed my eyes and took a deep, deep breath through my nose. "Well, thank you for calling, this time, to cancel on your son. It really makes up for all the other times you didn't." Sarcasm was evident in my tone.

"I'm not going to argue with you about this. I'm doing the best that I can."

He always says that and yet…

"No." I shook my head. "You're not."

He let out a harsh breath. "What do you want me to do?"

"Be his father." I ended the call and tossed my phone on the desk.

End Flashback.

That was an amazing start to my day.

Talking to Alec and then having to tell Aiden that his dad wouldn't be able to make it again. I really hated how blasé Alec seemed about that, like he didn't care, like Aiden's feelings didn't matter to him.

The look on Aiden's face made my stomach turn, a look I had seen too often. His eyebrows squished together, lips pursed, and his little shoulders slumped. Worst of all, he would get quiet, and Aiden was never really a quiet kid.

Then, because the day could in fact get worse, Victoria showed up.

Those two could really turn someone's day upside down, and not in a good way, at least for me. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, I guess.

But I can't complain too much. At least something good came out of her visit. Not long after Victoria left, Garrett picked Aiden up. While I knew it wouldn't make up for Alec not showing, I knew Aiden would enjoy the time he spent with Garrett, so I guess it was worth dealing with Victoria. I took the time to talk to the front desk about visitors, but specifically, not to let Victoria back up here.

Now I was all alone with nothing to do, and I wasn't sure what I wanted more, some company or a drink.

I picked up my cell and called Alice.

"Hey, baby sis." She picked up on the third ring.

"Hey." I sighed and spread out on the couch. "What are you doing?"

"I just finished a showing." She said. "What's up?"

"Nothing much." I rolled on my side. "Aiden's with Garrett, so I wanted to know if you and Rose wanted to come over?"

"Sure, I'll wrap up here and head over. Did you talk to Rose yet?"

"Not yet. I was going to call after we hung up."

"Why do you sound like that?"

"Like what?" I frowned.

"All breathy and mopey."

I snorted. "I do not sound like that."

"You do." She chuckled. "What's wrong?"

"I'll tell you when you guys get here, but I need a drink."

"You can't say something like that and not give me a hint at least."

"Fine." I rolled my eyes. "Victoria."

"Ugh." She groaned. "Say no more, I'll get some food and wine."

"Bless you."

"See you soon." She ended the call.

After I called Rose, and she agreed to come over, I tidied up to kill time. I folded a load of laundry, washed the few dishes in the sink, swept and mopped the kitchen and dining room floors, and vacuumed Aiden's and my bedrooms.

Just as I plopped down on the couch, the house phone rang. "Ms. Swan, Alice and Rosalie are here for you."

"Great, send them up."

A few moments later, there was a knock at the door. I ran to it and opened it. "Hey guys." I smiled. "Come on in."

"Hey B." They said together and walked inside.

"You got Joe's, cool." I pointed to the bag in Alice's hand. It was one of the best seafood restaurants in the area.

"And the drinks." She held up another bag.

I placed my hand on my chest. "I could kiss you."

"I'll pass." Alice laughed.

"I brought desert, a mango cheesecake." Rose held up a glass platter.

"Looks good, let's eat." I said as I guided them to the kitchen.

"Nice place you got here." Rose said as she set the container on the counter.

"Thanks." I grabbed the plates and wine glasses from the cabinet and placed them on the table.

We all sat down and passed around the food as we poured our drinks.

"Okay." Alice said after she took a bite of shrimp. "What did Victoria want?"

"Victoria?" Rose frowned. "What was she doing here?"

"She wanted to see Aiden." I said.

"Really?" Alice raised her eyebrows.

I shrugged. "That's what she said."

"I'm sure that went well." Rose sipped her wine.

"As well as it could go." I sighed.

"Which means it didn't go well at all." Alice said.

I tapped my nose twice and pointed at her. "Bingo."

"I never understood how you dealt with her for so long. She's hated you since she met you." Rose said.

"Me neither." I chuckled. "But I can handle her."

Victoria's dislike—that turned into hatred after she saw that Alec and I continued to date—for me was instant, literally, since the day I met her. In the beginning, it confused me and bothered me. I wanted us to get along. I wanted her to like me. But I learned rather quickly that she never would, for whatever reason.

So, I stopped caring, and that seemed to make her disklike—hate—me even more. It got worse when Alec didn't go to the college she wanted him to, and she blamed me for that. When we divorced, I found out Victoria had actually been holding back.

She was always a fun time.

"Wait." Rose tilted her head to the side. "You let Aiden go with her?"

I snorted. "No, he's with Garrett, which by the way only happened because Alec canceled, again." I rolled my eyes.

"Why did he cancel this time?" Alice asked.

"He was busy."

"He was what?" Rose frowned and leaned toward me.

"Busy."

"He said that?" Alice pursed her lips.

I nodded my head.

Alice tsked. "Wow."

"How did Aiden take it?" Rose asked.

"Honestly?" I sat back in my chair and sighed. "I don't know. He got this look on his face, he always does, and I know it's not a good look, but he doesn't tell me how he feels and…" I crossed my arms. "I don't want to push him to tell me, but I know it's affecting him."

"God." Alice shook her head. "He's such a jackass."

"A huge one." Rose said.

"Yeah, well." I ran my fingers through my hair.

I wouldn't disagree.

"I don't know why you married him." Alice muttered.

"Stop, Alice." Rose threw a napkin at her.

"What." She shrugged. "We've all thought it. I'm just saying it."

"He wasn't always like that." I sighed.

"Oh, don't defend him." Alice said.

"I'm not." I frowned. "I just… All I'm saying is he wasn't always like this."

And he wasn't. Alec was a good guy. We used to get along, and enjoy each other, love each other. But somewhere along the way, that changed for the both of us.

By the time we divorced, maybe even before then, I didn't recognize him, and I'm sure he would say the same about me.

"Can I ask you something?" Rose bit her lip.

"Sure." I said.

"It's about Alec." She hesitated. "So, if it's gonna make you upset you don't have to answer."

"Okay."

She exhaled. "When you were divorcing him, you never talked about it, and you never cried. Why?"

"Oh." I sighed and leaned against the table.

"You don't have to answer that if you don't want to." Alice whispered.

"No, it's fine." I took a sip of wine. "The reason I didn't talk about it, or cry, was because I had done all of that already." I set the glass down. "I tried to talk to him, and when that didn't work, I talked to Mom. She helped me as much as she could, but it wasn't just on me to fix us. He didn't want to, or that's what it felt like. That's when I cried about it." I let out a breath through my nose. "And I cried and cried, but then I ran out of tears."

It was around that time I realized that Alec's head, or heart, wasn't in our marriage. That realization hurt, but I couldn't change it, no matter how much I wanted to at the time. I couldn't make Alec want a relationship, me.

There was nothing to save., The love we had for each other had disappeared.

"Then I found out he cheated, so…" I lifted one shoulder. "There wasn't anything to talk or cry about. I had done all that."

"Man." Rose whispered. "I'm sorry, B."

"It's fine, I'm fine." And I really was. I wanted the divorce, and I'm… happy seemed like the wrong word to use when talking about divorce, but I wasn't sad or unhappy.

Content, maybe that's the word. I was content.

"Enough about me." I took a bit of lobster. "What's going on with you guys." I looked between the both of them.

"Well." Rose sighed. "I met with some marketing guy, Emmett, that Carl recommended. He said he was one of the best. Carl thought I should expand the business and Emmett has a lot of good ideas." She smirked.

"Why are you smiling?" Alice asked.

"Because that's great news." Rose chewed on her thumbnail. "And he asked me out on a date."

"Did you say yes?" I leaned toward her.

"Hell yeah." She guffawed. "He's cute, had a great ass too."

"Rose." Alice laughed.

"It's true." She laughed.

I shook my head and turned to Alice. "What about you? Anything new?"

"Actually." She rubbed her neck. "There is." Her eyes flickered between Rose and I.

"Are you going to tell us?" Rose asked.

"I am, but you guys have to promise not to get upset."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "What did you do?"

"Nothing." She rolled her eyes. "I've, um, I…" she took a deep breath. "I've been dating a guy; his name is Jasper."

"Okay." I frowned. "Why would we be upset?"

"Um, well." She looked off to the side. "We've been dating for five months now." She mumbled.

"Five months?" Rose and I said simultaneously.

She nodded her head.

"And why are we just hearing about him?" I blinked at her.

"Yes, thank you, what she said." Rose pointed at me.

"We were just having fun at first and I wanted to see where things were going before I told you guys." She picked up her fork and moved her food around on her plate. "And I really started to like him, then we sorta, kinda fell in love, so…" She looked up. "Now we want our friends to meet, at a dinner party, at my place." She bit her bottom lip. "Will you two come?"

I crossed my arms.

Rose clicked her tongue.

"Say something…" Alice whined.

"I'm not happy that you didn't tell me earlier." I huffed.

"Same." Rose said.

Alice's shoulders slumped.

"But." I paused, making her sweat it out a bit. "I'm happy you're happy and in love, so yes, I'll be at your dinner party."

Rose sighed and rolled her eyes. "Me too."

Alice perked up. "Perfect. I know you'll love him, he's such a great guy." She smiled. "And I'm sure his friends are great too." She bounced in her chair a bit. "The dinner party is going to be so much fun; I have a good feeling."

A/N: Yeah, so that happened… that was Victoria, aka Big V… oh we can't forget our wonderful Alec (note the sarcasm) … please share your thoughts.

Whew! This was our last revision. Thank you for being patient with us during this process. Now we will get back to our weekly updates with the current chapters. As always, we thank you for your support with your reviews, follows, and favorites!

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