Author's Note:

Hi everyone! I want to give a huge thank you to everyone supporting me with this story and my newest story, Pretend for Me. It means the world to me...

If you haven't already check out, Pretend for Me.

Summary: They've been connected since they were four years old, each other's constant companion and protector throughout foster homes. Years later, Edward has turned into everything he swore he wouldn't become. Bella can't reconcile the man he is now with the wild-haired boy, so she runs off into the night. Can they find their way back together without pretending?

s/14066714/1/Pretend-for-Me

Please let me know your thoughts...lots of love!

It was as cold as Victoria's icy heart in the Black's living room. Seth had been long asleep, and Bella dozed off waiting for Bill.

It was after midnight when only the sound of wheels rolling could be heard.

"Bella," Bill spoke to the quiet, darkened room. He rolled his chair closer to the large chaise sofa and nudged her shoulder.

She woke disoriented and rose quickly once she realized where she was. "I'm sorry." She stumbled, her equilibrium betraying her. She grabbed her bag and started to shove her belongings in it.

"Relax, take your time. Victoria's not back yet. Do you need a ride home?" Bill looked at Bella, fondly. Despite her father's issues with Bill and vice versa, he looked out for her.

"Yes, please. Is Paul still at the guard's office?" Bella hated being a burden, but she had already failed her driving test twice and wasn't about to go for a third. She couldn't take the failure.

"Yes, let me call up there." Bill made his way to the kitchen and pressed some buttons on the phone connected to the security cameras. He spoke too low for Bella to hear what he had said but satisfied with the answer on the opposite end of the phone, Bill hung up and rolled back towards Bella.

"You're all set. Paul is going to wait for you at the gate; it's the black Escalade." Bill added.

Bella nodded and thanked him, turning and looking at him for the first time in a while. Bill was a tall, tanned skin man with jet black hair. In his younger years, his appearances made Carlisle look like Ronald McDonald. He looked sharp in his suit and clean, combed-over hair, but there was a sadness that hadn't been there in months prior, and he looked frailer than usual in his wheelchair. Almost as though it was swallowing him up.

"How are you feeling, Bill?" Bella asked, playing with the strings of one of the bags she was holding.

"I'm hanging in there. You know, as much as I hate this disease for what it's done to me, I hate what's done to Vic and the kids. They didn't sign up for this. Jake and Leah have already been through so much, and now to watch me— it makes me sick." Bill confided

Bella smiled sympathetically and nodded, not really having much to say.

"The climb to the top is lonely, Bella. Remember that when you go towards whatever future endeavors you have planned. If I had known then what I know now… anyway, I hear Ally is back in town." Bill tried to lighten the mood.

"She's back; I'm not sure for how long but I'm trying to convince her to stay."

"Good luck with that. Alice isn't one to be held down. That's for damn sure. She missed the holidays, right?"

"You know she's not one for organized family time. I mean, have you met my parents?!" Bella laughed.

"It's hard for her to be back here. But she's so strong…"

She saw something in Bill's face like he wanted to say more. Bella looked at him questioningly. The moment had ended and whatever Bill intended on sharing wasn't up for discussion anymore. His face was back to being the guarded businessman.

Disappointed, Bella walked towards the door. With a goodnight to Bill, she made her way down the pathway.

LtD~

December 29, 2021

Buzz Buzz

Edward's phone was vibrating on his nightstand, he looked down to see Bella's name and answered in a voice still full of sleep, "Hello, babe."

"Hey, I was just making sure you were awake and getting ready for the party-planning committee meeting." Bella was typically not a morning person, but she loved being co-chair of the planning committee at the high school. "We have to be there by nine, and you promised to pick me up; if it's a problem, I'm sure Alice can drop me off–."

Edward groaned. Between this early wake-up and Carlisle's bitchfest last night, Edward was a max capacity for bullshit. On top of it all, Edward still couldn't find his suit for the Gala; stupid fucking Gatsby-themed dance, he thought.

"No no, don't bother your sister, give me twenty minutes. Love you, Bee."

Edward threw his pillow over his head and screamed, women!

LtD~

After calling Edward and confirming he would be accompanying her to the committee, meaning that she took the liberty of signing him up for, Bella made her way downstairs. She rounded the corner to the kitchen anticipating Alice sitting drinking her black coffee. Black like my soul, Alice often joked. But she found the place empty.

Little did she know, Alice booked out of the house early in an effort to avoid Bella. Since Jake saw her at Royce's, she couldn't run the risk of Bella giving her the Spanish Inquisition. It was bad enough that her parents probed her every chance they got; she couldn't see the same face of disappointment in Bella. Out of everything that Alice had survived, that would kill her.

Alice ran and ran until she couldn't think anymore. She was never much of a runner until she felt the crisp New York air her first winter on the East Coast. It was the healthiest way to escape her demons and having Central Park as her view wasn't so bad either. Alice paused once she got to the barriers that led to the reservation. She twirled her headphone wire in her hands, debating where to go next. She couldn't blindly trust her legs to bring her to her next destination. No, especially after last night's scare. Everything she worked so hard for ruined with a touch of coke. Alice shook the thought out of her mind and made her way across the barrier. She picked up her pace and leveled her breathing.

Passing the greenery that made up the Pacific Northwest almost made her miss it. But then she remembered–she remembered what she could. Some days she couldn't tell if she chose not to remember the past or if she actually couldn't as a consequence of all the shit that transpired. Alice paused once she reached the beach. Panting, she looked around and satisfied when she saw nobody she let out a soul-crushing scream. The seagulls, perched along the pier, scattered, getting as far away from the agonized broad as possible.

Alice doubled over panting. Everything she had been clutching to keep at bay was rising to the surface. "Alice." She heard a voice call from the other dock parallel to her. Alice straightened, fixing her disheveled self, attempting to wrap herself up and contain the monster, aching to break free.

The voice got closer, and it was none other than Victoria. "Vic." Alice sighed with relief. She couldn't bear if it was one of her mother's friends, who would undoubtedly report back about her breakdown.

"I was meaning to call, but I know how things can get in that house…" Victoria smiled sympathetically.

Alice nodded, not expecting anything from anyone. If she had no expectations, there was no way of being disappointed, and God knows Alice has been through her fair share of disappointment. Sure, Victoria and Alice formed a pretty close friendship in the years she babysat Seth and cleaned her house, but Alice programmed herself to detach easily. There was no way to tell what was real and what was fake. It's the only way she knew to survive.

Victoria reached in and hugged Alice. She truly missed her. She was the one person in this town who wasn't a poser, and it didn't hurt she hated these rich motherfuckers just as much as her. Probably more.

Victoria pulled her back and gave her a cheeky smile, "So how's the guy?"

Alice furrowed her eyebrows, "How do you know there's a guy?"

"One, you just confirmed it, and two, you look different… lighter, and three, as much as I love you there's no way you can afford the Chanel bag you wore yesterday!"

"How did you–"

"Tanya told Mallory and Mallory told Rose and Rose told me when I ran into her at Starbucks this morning…" Victoria knew about Rose and Alice's history, but she said nothing because those two bitches even gave her a run for her money, plus there was always Royce…

Alice groaned, "So the whole town is stalking me." Victoria nodded, even though she knew it wasn't a question. Alice knew the town loved the gossip surrounding the Swans, and there was plenty of it.

"You really shouldn't care what they think of you. They are just a bunch of crotchety assholes with money. Take it from me; being rich really isn't all that great. I mean, sure it fixes shit and fast, but I can honestly say the last time I was truly happy was back in my trailer, with five bucks to my name."

Alice looked over Victoria's shoulder and saw the beach becoming more crowded. She didn't need any other surprise encounters today, especially seeing as she was already going to be late for the Gala planning meeting where Esme had Bella ask her if she would volunteer.

"Do you want to be my guest for dinner tonight, at my parents? I know Bill won't come, but it would really mean a lot to have another friendly face. You know Esme tries, but there's only so much she can do, and it's adults-only because they are discussing the budget for the Gala. Bella has plans with Edward, so I'll be solo…" Alice tried to make the thought of having dinner at the House of Horrors, also known as her childhood home, appealing.

Victoria was always one who enjoyed drama and could handle herself in a room with miserable old people, "I'll be there."

LtD~

Esme Cullen struggled to carry the two clumsy boxes of pamphlets that needed folding when she heard her name being called from across the school's parking lot.

"Esme," Rosalina bellowed, waving her hands, "Let me help you." She jogged hurriedly to Esme's aid.

Rosalina Hale King was a beautiful woman. She had a rare beauty, effortless, oftentimes making those around her envious. But Rose, as she was affectionately called, hated her beauty. After all, it was the cause of her pain; it was like a curse she carried.

In high school, she didn't realize she could tone down her beauty, but nowadays, as she copes with the aftermath she plays it very safe dressing simply and not being very friendly or memorable to anyone. It was easier this way, safer. Esme was an exception as she's the one who helped put Rose back together again, in addition to Royce.

"Thank you, Rose; you didn't have to do that!"Esme smiled gently. She liked Rose a lot; having seen her in her worst moments and being able to help her live as normally as she could gave Esme a great deal of pride. Not to mention, she was one of Esme's last patients.

"Of course." Rose followed Esme into the school's auditorium, which had been renovated over Winter Break to look like Gatsby threw up all over. Welcome to the Roaring Twenties, all right.

"Did the DJ send you the approved list of songs? I want to make sure we have a good variety. You know if our board members hate the music, they won't open their wallets." Esme bit her lip; this event was her pride and joy. She would hate for it to be a disaster.

"They will open their wallets when they start getting drinks from the bartender! Were we not at the same planning meeting last month trying all those boozy desserts and cocktails?! I got so drunk Royce had to carry me to bed!" Rose laughed lightly at the memory. Sure, her husband was a dangerous and powerful drug dealer, but she saw great comfort in the fact that nobody would hurt her again, no matter what.

Committee members started filing in one by one. Alice arrived before Bella, which she was happily surprised at. She thought the longer she avoided her, maybe Bella would forget Alice's trip to Royce's office.

Rose spotted Alice and turned her head with disgust as she saw her walking towards her. Alice would not be deterred; she was now a woman on a mission. Making amends. It was an important step for her, and she was tired of this weighing on her heart eighteen years later.

"Rosalina." Alice pleaded as she saw her turning for the door that led to the classrooms.

She continued following her as Rose reached for the auditorium door, Alice grabbed Rose by the bicep, "Please, I want to–"

Rose whipped her body around and snatched Alice's hand holding it in the air in a tight grasp. "DO. NOT. TOUCH. ME." Rose managed to say through gritted teeth, attempting not to make a scene in front of her students.

Alice nodded, not even making an effort to break free from Rose's hold on her wrist; she didn't want to cause her any more distress.

"Rose, please." Alice rarely exerted herself to seek someone's forgiveness so vehemently, but the situation with Rose was different. While Alice doesn't remember the particulars, she's heard a million versions of the story to know she was a piece of shit at that moment, and she wanted to make things right… well, as right as they could be.

Rose looked Alice up and down, avoiding her eyes until the last second. Then, when she did meet Alice's panicked expression, she glowered at her, boring her hatred through her blue eyes.

"Don't call me Rose. We are not friends. We never were; you made that clear when you turned your back on me during the most humiliating and painful moment of my life. Friends do not do that. Whether my husband still feels sorry for you is his misjudgment. But please know this, Allyson, I know who you truly are. You are not a good person. You can do your best to hide behind those designer clothes and "changed" persona, but I'm not buying it. Whatever game you're playing, you will soon reveal your true colors, and I am just going to wait until you fuck yourself. Again. Good Luck, you're going to need it."

Rose walked away, flipping her dramatically. That was cathartic for her, almost nineteen years of pent-up anger, and frustration. No matter how hard Esme tried to sway Rose on how forgiveness would set her free from the eternal hell she lived in, she just couldn't manage it.

Alice waited for Rose to make her way to her classroom before turning to face the room, who undoubtedly saw the heated conversation between the pair. Everyone thought they knew their history.

Bella was watching the exchange between Rosalina and Alice intently, never having been told the story of the reason why Rose hated Alice so damn much, curiosity got the best of her, and she slowly but surely made her way closer under the guise of moving flowers.

Bella heard enough of the conversation to know that whatever this secret was, must have been awful if Alice, of all people, was so desperate to apologize. This did not bring Bella any solace when thinking of ways to justify Alice's reasoning for visiting Royce the previous night. Bella intended on confronting her when the opportunity presented itself, but she had to tread lightly. With Alice, you had to poke her just enough to draw blood. But once the wound started to gush, you were done for. She would be as spooked as a horse, and you would never get the chance to puncture her delicate skin again.

Alice made no attempts to move from where Rose left her. She stood frozen as Bella made her way over to her slowly, unsure of what to say but knowing that Alice needed her to show her loyalty in this room of vipers. They all were waiting for what Rosalina expressed so eloquently, for Alice's next failure. Bella needed to rein Ally in before she self-destructed from the doubt surrounding her.

Wrapped her arm around her shoulders, she walked with Alice by her side to the seating area where all the pretentious bitches were folding name cards. So they folded like nothing had transpired.

They were Swan's after all.

LtD~

January 6, 2022

Riley Biers wasn't intimated often but it wasn't every day that a drug lord entered his interrogation room willingly. Royce King called him early this morning to come in and give his statement on last night's events. He wanted to cooperate. What he really wanted to do was get ahead of any backlash that may come out about his and Alice's semi-sordid past.

Now Royce was a bastard, but he was fair. He didn't want to derail an open investigation, especially one where his business wasn't the focal point. For all Riley knew, Royce wanted what he wanted. Common interests.

"Royce Patrick King, what do I owe the honor? You must be pretty cozy in that seat. Judging by your file, it reads more like a rap sheet. Possession with intent to distribute, money laundering, assault, public indecency…the list goes on." Riley shook his head, tossing the file across the table.

Being the OCD maniac that he was, Royce adjusted the file on the table. He looked Riley in the eye with a smirk, "What can I say? Rose loves car sex." He said cheekily, not addressing the other charges.

"Don't play cute; we all know what goes on in that warehouse," Charlotte interjected. She had enough of his smugness the last time he was called down to the station, eight months ago.

Royce found this whole exchange comical. They still weren't smart enough to realize that the only reason he was there was because he wanted to be.

"And here I thought I was adorable." He put his head in between his hands and smiled childishly.

Riley took the focus from his dealings to more pressing issues, "Can you tell us about your connection to Allyson Swan? You went to high school together with your wife?"

"Yes, Alice and I went to high school together. We were best friends."

"Who slept together?" Charlotte was done with his cute bullshit. "Does your wife know? Because that seems like a contemptuous relationship…"

"Whatever happened between Alice and I happened before I even met my now wife. I had no clue who Rosalina was before her attack, and from that day forward. I've done nothing but stand by her." Royce was a lot of things but he loved his wife. Seeing her so vulnerable and hurt changed something in him.

"But you're still close to Allice? The person who caused her all this pain?" Riley implored.

"Contrary to what everyone, including my wife, believes, Alice is not the reason for my wife's attack. Yes, she didn't help her, but Alice had her own issues. She was drugged out of her mind. Let alone the girl was going through so much shit and couldn't even believe what she was seeing. Surely, you've questioned her parents, if you knew the half of it, you would be her friend too. Not to mention, the fuckwad had a whole foot on her and a hundred pounds. What was she going to do? Once I figured out what was happening, I intervened."

"That's when you walked in and beat him half to death? You know he can't see out of his left eye, right?"

"That's when I defended the innocent woman who was beaten and raped at her first high school party. She lost everything to that monster. She can't have children…" Royce looked away, he wanted to give Rose everything but even some things were out of his control.

"Drug dealer with a heart of gold. What a hero." Charlotte laughed, holding back a snort.

Royce rolled his eyes. "Did you two find out why Alice ran away yet?" He folded his hands behind his head, and now it was his turn to laugh as Charlotte and Riley looked at one another.