Something Borrowed

Summary: For seven years, Bella Swan focused on moving on. Now, with another man's ring on her finger, she was about to realise the true strength of first loves.

As Emmett holds my hand in his, the weight of the ring on my finger is monumental.

Not in a physical sense – although, with the size of the diamond, I'm surprised it hasn't tried to pull me onto the wooden floor below. In its elevated position, it catches the glimmer of the bar's lights, sparkling delicately. The embezzled band looks elegant, beautiful even; the type you would find in the pages of some wedding magazine. Far too extortionate for me.

I'm talking metaphorically, symbolically, what the position of this ring truly means. Resting upon my lithe finger, this little piece of jewellery symbolises the rest of my life, bound eternally to the 'man of my dreams.' No more needing to wait for my life partner because I already have him, or so it might seem. Mrs. McCarty forever.

My stomach curdles at the thought.

"Oh, Emmett, it's absolutely gorgeous," Renee exclaims, as though she hasn't asked me for a million pictures of it already. Charlie awkwardly stands beside her. "You really did pick well."

My fiancé beams in response, the pearly-whites of his teeth glowing against his tanned skin. He rubs his thumb across my own, translucently pale in comparison, before bringing it to my waist, pulling me into his side.

"From the minute I started looking, I knew it had to be just perfect for my Bells," Emmett declares, his chest protruding slightly more than usual.

Since the moment we met, my fiancé's unrelenting pride was both his biggest strength and most damning weakness. Stemming from his position as CEO in his father's company, Emmett's entire life was concerned with the way people saw him, spoke to him, respected him.

I always suspected that the ring was more a symbol of what he was able to achieve, as opposed to the love we had created together. The longer it spent on my finger, the more I knew.

I was just another one of Emmett's many achievements.

As Renee bombards my fiancé with another flurry of questions, I copy my father, allowing my attention to flit over the crowd of faces that have gathered to celebrate our engagement. Familiar, and equally unfamiliar, features greet me.

I sigh, feeling even more alone.

Watching my great-uncle Sam order yet another glass of dark liquid, my eyes finally land on the open doorway, and, immediately, I wish they hadn't.

In the illuminated space stands a dark-haired figure, accompanied by a woman with a slightly-shorter frame, their hands intertwined. Dressed in formal clothing, their polished outfits complement one another perfectly, depicting various shades of a midnight sky. If it wasn't for their close proximity, I doubt I would have even noticed the woman, with her floaty skirt and delicate jewellery.

It is the man who holds my attention.

His build is just as slender as his companion, but his shoulders are broader, and I wonder if he still plays badminton like he used to. The contours of his cheekbones poke out above a light dusting of stubble, making him look like a man. I mentally curse myself. It had been seven years; of course, he was a man now.

Unlike the boy I used to know, his hair is longer and shaggier, a bunch of loose strands decorating his forehead. He scans the room for a few moments, using his free hand to push them back before his eyes find mine, and the rest of the room fades into nothing.

That enchanting emerald shade that I remember so well makes my head spin, and, in my place, stands a sixteen-year-old girl, desperately in love with her best friend. My heart rate thunders in my ears, and tears sting the corner of my eyes as I desperately fight the urge to run over to him, finding home once more.

Except, home was no longer with Edward Cullen; it hadn't been for many years.

Time to be a big girl now, Bella.

Giving the two of them a soft smile in acknowledgment, I fight against the way my chest burns in agony, waving them over. Slinking out of Em's grasp, I try to ignore the way my tongue tastes like sandpaper as I meet them halfway, swallowing deeply.

Even that doesn't prepare me for how captivating he is up close.

"Well, I certainly didn't expect to see you here, Edward Cullen," I breathe, trying to keep a teasing tone to my voice.

"I ran into Renee the other week, and she told me about your engagement party," he chuckles, running a hand through his hair once more. I swear I can see a rosy hue on his cheeks. "I couldn't quite miss my best friend getting married."

My stomach dips at his sentiment, and I have to focus on not crumbling into a pile on the floor.

"Thank you for coming. I'm glad you were able to come by," I beam, turning to finally face his lady friend. Her brown eyes look warm beneath her glasses, and she smiles back at me. "Who did you bring with you?"

Edward clears his throat before answering, draping his arm around her shoulders. I can't deny that it makes my toes curl in my heels. "This is my own fianceé, Angela. We've been engaged for about two years."

"It's so lovely to meet you," she blurts, looking a little nervous. "Eddie has always said such nice things about you."

My jaw clenches slightly before relaxing. Eddie had always been my nickname for him, but I guess I'd lost the right to call him that many years ago.

Ignoring my heartache, I smile at her and notice her posture relax immediately.

Opening my rose-coloured lips to return her compliment, a sizeable hand comes to rest on the small of my back, and Emmett's form towers above mine. Heat explodes across my cheeks

"Bells, I was wondering who I'd lost you to," he chuckles, planting a kiss on my forehead. Territorial; unsurprising. "Who are your friends here?"

"This is Edward Cullen and his fianceé Angela," I reply, my voice slightly shaky. I can't tell whether his presence has just thrown me off or if it's because I'm far too concerned with what Edward is thinking right now. "You know, my best friend from high school."

That same warm grin takes over Emmett's face once more as he claps a hand on Edward's shoulder. " Oh yes, how could I be so rude? Nice to finally meet you, bro."

Edward smiles. "Likewise. Congratulations."

Watching as the two of them begin to make polite conversation, my first love and my fiancé, something strange passes over me. Sadness? Anger? I can't quite put my finger on it – and I don't want to wait around long enough to find out.

Excusing myself, I find refuge in the bathroom, the green stall door granting me solace from the nightmare outside. Once I'm safely alone, the tears finally break through the threshold, and I'm silently grateful that Alice applied waterproof mascara to my lashes when she did my makeup for tonight.

Seven years of pain, heartache, and moving on had completely disappeared with just one look. We agreed that night, as scared, immature teenagers, that it was never going to work, not with such different plans for our futures. Except, sitting here now, I can't help but wish that I'd grabbed onto Edward Cullen and never let go, no matter where he went.

Glancing down at my left hand, I stare past the dampened tissue it holds and look at Em's ring – truly look at it. A million questions flood my disoriented mind as I examine the ridiculously large diamond and realise, in my anguish, that my heart has always belonged to someone else.

Despite his previous nothingness, the dark-haired man who just stood before me, bashful hands holding another woman's, now meant absolutely everything.

Was it enough to throw away the life I'd rebuilt for myself?

As Alice's voice glides across the tiled walls, I know I'm willing to risk it all to find out.