Author's note: This little story started from a prompt at the fic lab over on Facebook. I had so much fun getting involved and was overwhelmed by the response. I've now decided to turn it into a short story.
It's just a bit of fun before I start posting an exciting new project which is slowly coming together. More details to follow on that soon, but I hope you enjoy this in the meantime. Chapters are short, and most of this story is written, so I'll be posting twice a week, maybe more until complete!
Thank you as always, to the wonderful Fran, who never tells me to get lost when I come at her with more things to beta. Thanks also to Sassy Noles, for prereading and encouraging me to go for it!
Chapter 1
"Bella, please, just wait to hear him out. Don't throw away what the two of you have over a silly mistake!"
Silly mistake. Is she for real?
A silly mistake is forgetting to put the lid down on the toilet seat—A really annoying mistake, at that. Finding out your boyfriend of two years is cheating on you is a choice … a decision … the ultimate betrayal.
I don't pause. I'm on a mission to get packed and out of here before the tears come - which they will. I need to get away from everything that reminds me of the dream life I thought I was living, complete with the perfect boyfriend.
Turns out it was all one big lie when I walked in on said, cheating, lying, two-timing boyfriend in bed with another woman. Just the thought of the two of them together makes me feel sick.
I need to get out of here.
Now!
However, for every item I put into the suitcase, Alice is pulling it out. Pushing her hands away, I glare across at her.
"Alice, you can either help me pack or get out of my way." Her eyes meet mine, and I cut her off before she starts defending him - again. "And before you start, nothing you say is going to stop me from leaving his sorry ass. We're over!"
"You're blowing this completely out of proportion," Alice tries to tell me.
Pausing, I temporarily stop throwing whatever I can find into my suitcase, glaring at my best friend. Or should that be former best friend? That's what Alice is to me now. After all, she lied to me too. She knew all about his wandering eyes and straying dick!
Figures she'd defend him. I'm the one that's been humiliated, but blood is thicker than water, as the saying goes.
"Are you fucking for real? Tell me something, Alice; just how long have you known about the two of them?"
Alice looks uncomfortable, and so she should. I'm a fairly level-headed person, but nothing hits you deeper than betrayal, especially by those you consider friends … family.
"How long, Alice?" I snap, losing my patience.
"A couple of months," she whispers, her guilt-filled eyes struggling to hold mine.
"Months." My voice comes out as an angry, strangled cry.
Oh, this just gets better!
I could work on forgiving her knowing a couple of days … a week maybe, but months! That's a whole other level of betrayal ... deceit.
Suddenly all the late nights in the office … all the last-minute trips out of town … the canceled dinner plans that I praised my hard-working boyfriend for spring to mind. At the time, I never questioned Alice about her silence at said praise.
It all makes sense now; She was in on it too. They all were. I bet they had a right laugh at my expense. Stupid, gullible Bella.
Turning away, I return to the task at hand; packing up my stuff. I don't care that I'm twenty-five years old; I'll crawl back to my dad if it means getting out of here. School is on summer break. I'll find another job in the meantime.
I need a fresh start. A clean break. I'll figure out the rest when I get home to the one man who's never let me down my whole life.
Charlie …
Grabbing as many of my bags as I can physically carry, I begin the task of loading up my car. When I'm done putting the last bag in the trunk, Alice steps in front of me, arms folded over her chest and an annoyed look on her face.
"I'm sure you can work through this, Bella. He made a mistake!" She pleads.
"Alice, stop! I'm never forgiving him, and I can't believe you're asking me to!"
"He's my brother," she says defensively.
"Just go, Alice. Tell Leah she's welcome to him. I have a feeling you two are gonna be best friends now because I'm out of the picture."
And with that, I get into my car, turn the ignition and push my foot on the gas.
Forks, here I come.
…
I berate myself the whole way with thoughts of all the things I should have done differently to make him pay. Scratch his car … shred his clothes … tell all his precious friends and family what a lying, cheating bastard he is.
Instead, I ran.
I feel angry at myself for letting him off so easily. Well, he can think again if he thinks this is the end of it. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. I'm distracted, planning my revenge, when a siren and flashing light catches my attention.
Shit! I missed the hidden police car parked on the side street by the res.
I know this town. I know every stop sign, speed camera, and every police officer's lookout point.
I should know better.
How fast was I going?
Pulling my car over to the side of the road and let my head fall back against the headrest. I'm half praying it's Charlie who caught me … half hoping it's not. I don't know which is worse.
Watching in the mirror, I see a body come into view. One thing for sure, it's not Charlie. This person is younger … more toned … and more defined.
Pushing my hair back off my face, I take a deep calming breath as I turn to the side to take in the man now leaning down against the window.
Fuck me.
How did I forget he was back in town?
Charlie only drops hints about my not-so-secret high school crush every damn time I'm on the phone with him...
"Edward," My voice is low … breathy.
"Hello, Bella," he says, sending me that crooked smile that has me blushing like my sixteen-year-old former self.
And suddenly everything doesn't seem so hopeless after all…
Author's note; Seems as some of you may have already read this, I will post chapter two soon.
In the meantime, check out a fun little contest Fran has set up over at www dot fanfiction dot net /u/15012689/Song-To-Story-Challenge. Just replace the dots and remove the spaces.
There are some really great snippets that I'm hoping with some encouragement will turn into extended stories. So head over there and show them some love ... maybe even get involved xx
