Hello everyone. New chapter today. If you follow my shifter stories, you know that I never paint the Cullens in a bad light. I feel like they made an honest mistake and thought they were doing what was best, even if they hurt her in the process. Edward made the decission for everyone.
This chapter has a sweet moment between Charlie and Bella.
Pd, is it eyeing or eying? English is not my first language and I'm not sure how it's written :)
Pd2. Please recommend me any fic of Bella/Edward, or Bella/wolf :) I'm looking for new things to read. Same with Harry Potter (I just finished the books for the first time and I'm kind of hyped about it) But please, no drama :)
Stay safe and enjoy.
KISS PROTOCOL
Chapter 16: Goodbye.
Bella didn't ask Jacob about his visit to his mom; she knew he'd tell her when he was ready. In fact, she suspected he was coming to terms with it himself. He had held such a grudge at the world when he first phased, he had been so angry. Angry at his father for not telling him, angry at Sam for being something different that he had thought. Angry at Embry for liking it. Angry at Bella for having been involved with a vampire, and for not realizing sooner what he was.
Before then he used to visit his mom a few times a month. He missed her so much, it had become a little ritual for him. He felt guilty about messing with his ritual for six months. He went to ask his mom to forgive him. He hadn't mean to be rude, but he had a lot on his mind. Yesterday had been the first step into also forgiving himself. Billy knew where he had gone and was glad his son was coming back to his normal self and accepting his fate. Bella had a lot to do with that. She made him happy, and he was glad they were there for each other to get through tough times.
Currently, Bella was lying around in the Black's backyard enjoying the sun. Jake and the guys were each working or patrolling. Jake had found a job in a garage in Forks. He said it paid better than the one in the reservation and he had plans for that money he was earning. Bella had let go of the Newton's job in these six months that she had been catatonic, and when Jake told her about his job, she facepalmed herself. She hadn't touched her savings (after earning back what she had spent on the bikes), but she knew that was not enough if she wanted to go through college (either community or in Seattle), and if she wanted to eventually move in with Jake. So, she went to the dinner in Forks and asked for a job. It might have helped a lot that she was Charlie's daughter, because they immediately agreed (also, it might have helped the fact that they were short in personnel). In fact, it had been very lucky that one of her dad's deputies had been there, because once he saw her, he praised her cookies. Apparently, her dad had been taking cookies to the station.
"You can bake?" The manager asked desperately.
"Yes." She answered unsure.
"How are you under pressure?" This had turned into a different kind of interview.
"Well, I try to do my best while working with a deadline. I have never worked in a kitchen before. I bake recreationally and never thought about it as a job. I think if you're asking how I'll do with baking as a job, then I say that I'll work and learn at the same time." She wasn't sure what exactly she was saying but felt that it was the right answer when the manager gave a short smile.
"That'll do. We want to expand the snacks for the in between rush hours, trying to attract more people during the down hours of the day. We recently added wi-fi to try to attract students and people working from home, and we thought that having those snacks would help."
She nodded, she thought it was a good idea, and it made sense to try to attract more people than the usual customers for the rush hours. The dinner had been there forever, and it was a good business idea to work with the changes in scenery. She told them so.
"Do you still want the waitress job?" The manager asked.
"How much is the difference in pay?" It was summer and she thought maybe she could do both jobs, but baking for a dinner took time, so maybe it was better if she didn't strain herself too much. Maybe she could ask Angela if she wanted a summer job.
"You'd be gaining almost the double as you'd do by being a waitress. We're really desperate for a baker and we're willing to try you for a period of time and see if it works. Does that work for you?"
Bella thought about it, and it made sense. The manager only knew her as Charlie's daughter, and she was willing to try her out without experience. It was a good offer, so she accepted it. "I can ask a friend and see if she's interested in being your waitress if you want." Bella offered.
The manager agreed and then proceeded to show Bella her working space and proceeded to explain what were her ideas and the owner's ideas for the snacks and the bakery part. They wanted things like sweet croissants, cinnamon rolls, cookies, cupcakes. Nothing elaborate since it was an informal dinner, and their guests hadn't been too receptive to fancy cakes when they tried them. Then, she gave Bella her uniform which consisted of a net for her hair and a shirt akin to those that the Chef wore. She was happy with everything.
She was due to start on Monday, so she had all weekend to rest and prepare for her new job. She was excited about it, and so were Jake, Billy and Charlie when she shared the news. They promised to go there whenever possible and try her creations. Charlie knew Bella was very capable of doing it, not only because she was an excellent cook and baker, but because she had the passion for it, and she would make it work. He had all the faith of the world in her.
When Bella told Angela about the opening for a summer job at the dinner, she immediately agreed and after speaking with the manager she got the job. She got a similar tour as Bella had, and she was given an apron that she had to wear as part of the uniform, which consisted of dressing all in black. She was also due to start on Monday, so Bella and Angela agreed to carpool there.
Bella's phone brought her back from her summer plans. It was Alice who was calling.
"Hi, Alice." She greeted. She was a little unsure about the reason of her call, but she had her suspicions.
"Hi, Bella." She greeted back. "We wanted to say goodbye to you, if you want." Alice had never been shy, but she was being it now.
"I'd love to, Alice. Where do you want to meet?" She stood up and gathered her things. It was time she got home anyway.
"Would it be alright with you if we met at your house?" Bella smiled softly, they knew it was likely that a wolf was patrolling her house and they were giving her the choice of meeting somewhere that was comfortable for her and for the wolves.
…
…
…
They were all there, along with two other vampires she never met. Those must have been the two vampires that the boys had chased up to the Cullen's house.
Alice was the first one to approach her in her usual chirpy manner. Bella laughed and returned the embrace. When they broke it up, Alice handed her a piece of paper with numbers and names scribbled in it. "Our new contacts." Bella's eyes filled with unshed tears at the gesture. Alice knew what the last time they left without giving her their contact information did to her. She appreciated the gesture. She loved each and all of them, and the fact that she was no longer with Edward didn't mean that she would stop loving them.
Esme and Carlisle each gave her a tight hug and whispered their love for her. "Thank you, for everything." Esme patted her cheek lovingly and nodded before stepping back. Rosalie, to her surprise, hugged her as well.
"I'm proud of you." Those words, and the fact that they came from Rosalie left her speechless. She knew they meant that she was proud of Bella for taking control of her life, for sticking to her decisions, and for not letting Edward bring her down again.
"Thank you, Rosalie. It means a lot to me."
"You can call me Rose." Rose winked and Bella smiled brightly. At least, she got another friend out of the ordeal.
Emmett looked like he was about to cry, but Jasper approached her first. Bella opened her arms and he stepped in them surprised. "Stop feeling guilty for something that was out of your control." She never blamed Jasper for anything that happened at her party. She didn't want a party in the first place.
She felt Jasper sacked in relief. She imagined that he had been feeling a lot of pressure and didn't have an outlet.
Alice smiled widely and lovingly at Bella and Jasper hugging. Jasper retreated feeling a little embarrassed but happy. Alice kissed his cheek and rested her head on his shoulder.
Edward was next. Bella didn't know what to do with him. He had hurt her deeply. He had been the only person she had trusted not to hurt her, and he had. Even if she had forgiven him, it was still hard to forget. Edward approached her with his usual stance, his head held high, shoulders straight, and hair in disarray. He was handsome, there is no denying it, but her heart no longer skipped a beat at the sight of him, and her breath no longer hitched at his closeness.
"I really am so sorry for hurting you, and for my behavior these past few weeks." He looked sincere and that was enough for Bella. She didn't want to hold on to any past grudges or bad feelings.
Bella hugged him briefly. He gave her a soft smile and retreated to stand next to his family.
Next came Emmett, probably the most difficult person to say goodbye to. She would miss his sunny disposition, his ability to see the good in everyone, his silent support and even though she spent little time with him, she knew he had fought with teeth and nails not to leave. Emmett approached her looking so sad, and down. Rose was eying him with a proud smile on her face.
"I'm one call away, sissy." Bella nodded on his shoulder. "I want to know what goes on with you. Everything." He kissed her forehead. "I might be far away, but I won't forget about you." Bella nodded and Emmett cleaned a stray tear off her cheek.
"I promise." She meant it. She would keep him updated. She could see herself calling him to tell him that Jake had asked her to move in with him, or when she graduated college, or when she got engaged. He saw herself calling him after realizing she was pregnant. It would be great still having Emmett in her life, even through the phone.
Alice smiled widely. She couldn't see what Bella had decided but she felt it was good.
"Take care, everybody." She said hugging herself and watching them getting into their cars. She felt tears run down her cheeks. It was a sour sweet goodbye. She felt someone hugging her with one arm. She looked up to see Charlie at her side. She hugged him accepting his comfort.
"It was nice of them to say goodbye this time." He muttered watching the cars disappear.
Bella snorted but couldn't say she disagreed with him. "Thank you, daddy."
Charlie smiled and blushed but kissed his daughter's forehead. He would always protect his little girl.
