That's the Way I Loved You
AN: Surprise! I didn't actually take four months to write and upload a new chapter! Inspiration struck early for this chapter and I couldn't ignore that so . . . happy birthday? Enjoy the chapter. Just a reminder: text like 'this' are text messages and text like "this" are thoughts. And E & B are now 23, obviously, since they've graduated college.
Chapter Four
September 27th, 2016 – BPOV
I let out as a breath as the plane touched down. I had been back to Forks countless times but this time was different. This time, I would definitely see Edward. I hadn't seen him since the night we broke up. To say I was nervous would be an understatement.
"Would it be awkward? Would it be like old times? Would he be seeing anyone? Has he seen anyone? Would we fall back into a pattern of old friends? Could we be friends?"
That's a stupid question – it's impossible for us to be friends because too much has happened and I don't know if I'd even want to, if he'd even want to, but we'll have to get along for Alice and Jasper's sake. I wonder how Edward will get along with Jake, and vice versa, when he comes down the week of the wedding. I was nervous about telling Jake I'd have to return for three months but it was silly to be nervous. He's perfect and took it better than I thought I would. I should really give him more credit.
September 22nd, 2016
Jake walked in the door just as I had set the bowl of spaghetti on the dining room table. He kissed me on the cheek before pulling out my chair for me and then moving to sit down at the other side of the table. I asked him why he always sits far from me once and he said that "the view from across the table is better."
"Dinner looks great, Bells. And so does the place. You did a great job unpacking and decorating. Sorry I couldn't help with it."
I smile earnestly. "It's okay – you had to work today and it was more important that you make a good impression on your first day. How'd it go? Did you like it?"
Swallowing the giant mouthful of noodles, he answered. "It's great, Bells. Everyone is so nice and really relaxed. We're constantly telling jokes and messing with each other. I was kind of worried about some of the jokes because one of the mechanics is a chick and I wasn't sure what her personality would be like. Leah's totally cool, actually. She's just one of the guys and can dish it out as well as take it."
It's nice to see him so happy and I'm glad he's fitting in and enjoying his new job. Conversation was light over dinner. He asked about my day and he told me more about his coworkers and told some stories about his customers. And, sometimes, we just ate in silence. It's nice to be at this point in our relationship – the point where we don't feel the need to fill every moment with words. We've reached the ultimate level of comfort with each other. After dinner, Jake helped me clean up and load the dishes into the dishwasher. We then made our way to the living room to watch the Seattle Mariners game we recorded on our DVR. I was never really into sports but baseball was one way I bonded with Charlie and he would always drag me to the games so it's the only one I pay attention to. Being from La Push, Jake likes the Mariners, too, and I love that we get to root for the same team. And that I don't have to fight him for the remote when they play. Jake is fast-forwarding the intermission as I get up to bring him the dessert I made.
"Black forest cake? What's going on? Why'd you make my favorite cake? It's not my birthday." He pauses the game. I put the cake on the coffee table.
"You know me too well." I take a deep breath and let it out. "I have to go back to Forks for three months. Alice is getting married and, as her Maid of Honor, I have to help her get it ready in time for her December wedding."
"Okay. We'll make the distance work. What else is there?"
Biting my lip, I say "Alice said Jasper is going to ask Edward to be his best man. Which means I'll have to spend a lot of time with him." I told Jacob a year after we started dating everything that happened with Edward. "I understand if this would make you uneasy but I promise it's nothing to be concerned about and nothing will –"
He cuts me off with a kiss. "Stop. You don't need to explain. I trust you and I know nothing will happen. Now, I take it you're going to need a date for this wedding?"
I laugh and kiss him before I pick up our slices of cake, hand one to him, and we finish the game.
September 27th, 2016.
Suitcase in hand, I make my way to the car rental stall to pick up the car I reserved. Of course there's a line but it's small so I'm out and on my way in about thirty minutes. Driving the way to my childhood home is almost like a routine. And, walking in the door, I see everything is the still exact same as it was when I lived here. Even my room is still the exact same, I see as I put my suitcase on my bed and start unpacking some essentials – laptop and charger so it can be ready for work, cell phone charger by my bed, hairbrush and make-up bag on my dresser, toiletries on the nightstand closest to the door.
I look wistfully at my body wash, wishing I had time for a shower to wash the long flight off me, but grab the rental keys and my purse, instead, and make my way out the door. Alice wants to have lunch to catch up and, mainly, to start the wedding planning.
I hadn't actually driven to the Cullen's house in years but I still know it like the back of my hand. The whole drive there, my nerves continue to increase. I'm hoping I won't actually see Edward yet but I just have this feeling that I'm going to see him today. Shaking the thoughts from my head- and trying to shake the uneasy feelings – I just focus on the drive and, before I know it, I'm at the Cullen's.
Opening the car door, I make my way up the steps and ring the bell. Carlisle opens the door and greats me.
"Bella, it's great to see you again. We've missed you in our home. We're excited you're back for the wedding, especially Alice." He smiles the warm, Carlisle smile I remember. I'm still used to it. I smile back and thank him while entering the house. Even walking through the front door feels normal. I take a look around the house and it looks like I never left. Given Esme's penchant for decorating, I'm surprised she hasn't redecorated it at all. The only difference is there are more pictures on the fireplace mantle and the shelves and the like, or, at least, it seems like there are more.
Walking down the entrance stairs, I move to the fireplace and lightly run my fingers along it, looking at the pictures there. One of Emmett and Rosalie, taken the Christmas he proposed. One of Alice and Jasper dressed in sporty apparel from one of their many baseball games played in a field nearby. One of Edward at his college graduation, alone.
Carlisle interrupts my browsing. "Did you have a safe flight?"
"Yes, I did. Well, as nice as a roughly six hour flight can be." I chuckle and he joins in.
"How's the new job? And how's Jake?"
"Both are great. I'm thankful and extremely lucky that my job allows me to travel, especially right now so I can be here for the wedding. You'll all finally get to meet Jake, actually. He's flying in the week before the wedding to be my date. The hospital still treating you right?"
"Yes, the hospital is. Everything is still the same, there, actually, except the Chief retired last year and they offered me his job. I accepted."
Moving to give him a hug, I congratulate him. "That's great! Congratulations, Carlisle!"
Our hug ends as Carlisle says, "Well, I won't keep you any longer. Esme, Rose, and Alice have been expecting you. They're outside on the patio and lunch is ready and waiting. I can't wait to meet Jacob."
He heads up to his office as I make my way towards the patio door. I take about two steps outside before Alice gracefully dances up to me and crushes me in a hug. Well, I suppose crushes is relative for a pixie. Nevertheless, I return the hug and say "Good to see you, too, Alice. Let me see the ring."
The ring looks amazing . . . and expensive. It shimmers in the Forks afternoon light as I admire the 1.5 carat, yellow, pear-shaped diamond surrounded by white diamonds with a row of white diamonds set in the band. Jasper knows Alice well. It's perfect for her. I tell her exactly that.
Alice sits down as Rose stands up to great me. Her hug is more tame than Alice's and only lasts for a second before she returns to her seat. Rose and I are great friends but she doesn't really do much hugging or physical contact . . . unless Emmett is involved. I make my way to Esme where she envelopes me in a warm hug. Esme's hugs are the best. They always feel like home and like they could go on forever. She lets me go and studies me before patting my cheek and sitting down.
I join her and look at the food set out on the table. There's a pitcher of iced tea with lemons, a bowl of fresh fruit, and a tower of sandwiches. We each grab some sandwiches and pile some fruit on our plates before filling up our glasses with tea.
"Esme, how is the event planning business?" Esme loves decorating as a hobby but plans events professionally.
"It's going really well, Bella. Thank you. I've just been asked to plan Jessica Stanley and Mike Newton's wedding, actually."
I nearly spit my tea out at that. "Wait, Jess and Mike are getting married? How did that happen? They went on, like, ten dates in high school and then fizzled out like five seconds later."
"They bumped into each other when they both came back from their respective colleges one summer and reconnected over lunch. They hung out all summer and, then, went their separate ways at the end when they went back to college. The next summer, they came back and Mike asked her on a real date. He proposed at the end of that summer, decided to go the long engagement route and, now that they're both done with school, they're devoting the time to plan their wedding but it's not going to happen until next year. Jess wants to get married in June." Rose explained.
"Speaking of long engagements, Rose, when are you and Emmett going to finally tie the knot?" Alice chimed in.
Rose just stuck her tongue out at Alice in answer. Alice has clearly been bothering them about this nonstop since it happened – and probably bothered them to let her plan the wedding – and started just giving her non-answers like this one.
"Okay, time to change the subject. As Maid of Honor, I think we should move on to planning the wedding that's going to happen in three months. Alice, where do we start?" And, with that, Alice started detailing her wedding itinerary and we spent the next hour talking about things Cullen-Whitlock Wedding 2016. Alice explained her vision and, by the end of it, we had decided to look at caterers on Thursday.
I finally told them I had to leave so I could see Charlie and Renee and wished them all good-bye. I was so close to leaving without having run in to Edward. I just had to make it a few more minutes. I'd reached the front door when I had almost done it. I was just about to open the front door when someone opened it and walked in the door. Edward. Seeing him for the first time in four years made me freeze in place. He stills looks the same, just older, and a little taller. Same pale, porcelain skin, same enticing, emerald eyes, same disheveled, bronze hair.
And, all at once, all the thoughts, all the feelings, all the memories, all the love and heartbreak came rushing back. He seemed frozen in place, too. I wonder what was going through his mind. After what feels like forever, I finally snap out of it. I continue making my way out the door and, robotically, Edward moves out of my way. I'm almost in my rental when I hear my name. I turn to face the direction it came from and see Edward jogging towards my car, towards me.
He stops in front of me and opens his mouth then runs his hand through his hair – something he does when he's nervous – and speaks. "Um, look, I know it's been a while and you don't really owe me anything but could we have lunch tomorrow? Just to clear the air and get rid of the awkwardness so we can partake in wedding activities and wedding planning with no weirdness. You know, for Alice and Jasper."
I'm shocked he's actually asked. This is different. This is an Edward I didn't expect. Something about him has changed, matured. Never in a million years, did I expect he would want to have an awkward, uncomfortable conversation. I realize I've been silent a little too long and haven't answered him yet when I see him knit his eyebrows in confusion – probably wondering if I've had a stroke or gone into shock or something.
Snapping myself out of it and releasing a breath I hadn't realized been holding, I answer. "Yes."
AN: That's the end of chapter four! Review and follow, if you want! I look forward to the feedback! If you want to see Alice's engagement ring, it's from Tiffany and Co. because, let's be real, Alice would be all about that life. It's called "Tiffany Soleste® Pear" and to see the actual diamond size, you'll have to change the carat option to 1.5 to get an idea of how large it is.
