Chapter 3: Sisterly Love
Author's Note:
Sorry for the filler chapters. I had to get them out of the way before we got into the good stuff. Trust me it is coming up very soon. I have a plan on how I want this story to go and I think I am doing well sticking to it so far, but I would definitely appreciate the help. Most of my chapters are not really all that edited as you can tell, so I apologize for any spelling or grammar errors. Anyways, if you guys have any suggestions feel free to PM me I would love ideas.
Bella's POV:
My alarm blared out of the speakers startling me out of my dreamless sleep. The piercing noise was amplified by ten as it was right next to my head, doing nothing good for my weak state. I hadn't had such a bad hangover since my last year of college when Edward thought it would be fun to play Rage Cage. My head pounded behind my eyelids and my stomach clenched with every move as I tried to heave my heavy body off my rumpled comforter. I stumbled to my bathroom and was hit with the god awful stench of my dinner that had come up last night.
I couldn't help but add to it once again, emptying the contents of my already empty stomach. Once I was truly unable to cough up anything more, I flushed the toilet and sprayed every sort of air freshener in hopes of covering the sour smell. Dreading what I would see in the mirror, I looked up. My eyes were puffy and red from crying and underlined with dark purple shadows from lack of sleep. My skin was a sickly pale, lacking the blush I usually woke up with. My hair was knotted and in disarray, but I couldn't find it in me to care.
After letting a warm shower, attempt to wash away my sins, I walked into my kitchen looking for anything to cure my headache. On my kitchen table sat a pile of untouched manuscripts and I inwardly groaned at the thought of work. Since that night, I had requested time off to grieve the end of my friendship and whatever else we had with Edward. Memories of us and our time together assaulted me throughout the day. Pictures of our life scattered throughout my home served as a cold reminder of the family that I have lost.
The loud hum of my cell phone called me out of my wandering thoughts. Alice calling… it read. I took a deep breath and steeled myself for the inquisition about to occur.
"Hello?" I breathed.
"Bella? Are you ok? Why weren't you answering my calls last night? I was worried." She fluttered.
I sank my tired body down on my couch, clutching at a pillow and starring blankly at the wall. "Ya, I'm ok. I'm sorry I didn't answer, it's been rough the past few days and I needed some time to….to get myself together. That's all. But I'm fine, don't worry."
"You're such a shit liar Bella, good thing you don't gamble because you'd be on the streets. Being your sister from another mister, I can hear the hungover in your voice, so that means you were drinking alone last night because Edward was with me. I know you got the invitation Bella. We have to talk about it."
Alice knew me almost as well as Edward. Even though she was only two years older, she acted as if she was my big sister and liked to boss me around. But I couldn't take it, I couldn't take this topic at this moment and tried to block her attempts to help the situation. She didn't know what I had done. She didn't know that I had fallen in love with her brother and professed that love for him. I'm almost certain Edward has already told her what happened between us two weeks ago. Nothing could help me at this point, it was over between us, he made his choice and I wasn't going to stand around and watch.
"I...I can't. Not yet. I'm not ready." My voice broke, unable to keep it together. I was pathetic.
"Bella. You have to stop beating yourself up. It was his fault and we both know it. He needs to man the hell up and tell you the truth. I can explain what I can, but you have to open the door first." She chuckled on the other end lightly.
My head shot up and I quickly unlocked my door and sure enough there was my sister for all intents and purposes. She was about a head shorter than me. Her perfectly curled raven hair was cut short, barely reaching her shoulders. Her body was thin but always dressed in stylish clothing. She was beautiful. Today she wore light wash ripped jeans, a flowy white blouse, and a cute woven purse. In her hands she carried a coffee tray, god how I loved her. She took one look at me and shook her head in worry. Not even waiting for permission to enter, she walked in as if it was her own house (which it basically was) and into the kitchen.
"Coffee to kill the hangover and me here to kill your worries. First drink, I'll make you something to eat and we will talk then." She ordered. Sometimes I really hated Alice for bossing me around as if we were kids again, but today, today I was beyond grateful. I nodded groggily and wiped my face free of tears.
While she clicked and clanked in my kitchen, I sat at the counter with my steaming cup of coffee, letting the warmth soothe my upset stomach. It wasn't even five minutes before she handed me a bagel all decked out with cream cheese and a bowl of sliced fruit.
"You need to start eating healthier, you know? If I see another can of soda in that fridge I am confiscating it, I don't care if that is where you get your caffeine fix." she mothered. I rolled my eyes at her antics and bit into my bagel. For a minute we sat in peaceful silence, the only noise in the room coming from my crunching and the low hum of the refrigerator. That bubble popped quickly.
"So you and Edward finally slept together...about freaking time. Should have happened years ago if you ask me." Her eyes gleamed with humor and dare I say pride as I choked on my banana slice. After a series of uncomfortable coughs, I stared at her in deep seated embarrassment.
"He told you?" I didn't believe for one second he would go blabbing to his older sister about his sex life, his sex life with her best friend.
"Please, like he tells me anything. That boy shuts me out more and more everyday. He just hates the fact that I call him out when his decisions are ridiculous and unnecessary. For example, the so-called wedding with Victoria. Pu-lease, as if he had the balls to go through with it, you know how they both are, she tugs the leash and he is dragged along for the ride. No, it was Emmett who told me. He was at the gym with Edward last week and saw the hickeys lining his chest. As if Vicky would have had the lady balls to even try. One mention of your name to Edward and his face was as red as yours right now. Nice job by the way, even a week later and they were still dark enough to be noticable." she chided me. She tucked a curl behind her ear and covered her mouth with her hand as if to stifle her giggles. My cheeks flamed. I brushed my fingers across the spot where love bite on my neck had once rested as if she could still see it this long after. I hid my face in my hands, wishing the earth to swallow me whole.
"Hey, don't feel bad. Feel proud. It was about time it happened. He loves you and of course I have always known you've been completely head over heels for him since we were in high school. Shit you even came to college here in Seattle, just to follow his ungrateful ass over here. As much as I like to think you came for all of us, we all know it was more for him, but I am still glad to have you close anyway so I can tell you to your face that my dumb ass brother does not deserve you. He is an amazing man. Smart, successful, kind, and not ugly, but he is selfish."
She had my attention now. I looked up from my hair in complete confusion. Selfish? Edward was many things but I could not imagine him being was the most giving man I had ever met. Countless events and scenarios ran through my mind to prove her wrong. I began to open my mouth to say otherwise but she held up one finger.
"I know he has given you more than most people. He gave you an in to a family, he gave you love when you needed it, but right now...today… he is a selfish bastard who is allowing you to hurt because he is too scared to change his life. You know what my grandparents did to me when Jasper and I married. They cut me off. They abandoned their only granddaughter because they care more about money than family. I was devastated sure, but you know what Bella? I was also free.
"Jasper has given me the best life I could have ever asked for. He is love and happiness and my entire world. We were blissfully in love and even though we may struggle for money sometimes, I wouldn't trade this for the world. Edward was younger when we went to go live with them. He was more influenced by them than Emmett or I were. Sure at 16 years old and having a brand new car, you are incredibly swayed to follow that lifestyle and all the benefits that come from it. But Edward didn't see that they were controlling him until it was too late. He doesn't really know anything else." Her clear blue eyes darkened with frustration at her younger brother. The little furrow between her brows marred her porcelain skin.
"What does this have to do with me? He likes being rich. Who wouldn't? Right now my issue is that I slept with my best friend, ruining our friendship in the process, and on top of that he is marrying another woman. I'm what I despise. I am a homewrecker. You know how much I hate that. After what my mom did to my dad, I can't stand people like that and here I am, a hypocrite. He was happy with Vic, he would tell me about their relationship all the time. 'Oh Vic and I went to LA' and 'Oh I took Vic to the mutherfucking moon'! He is much better off with Landing's princess than with me. If he wants to be rich then he should obviously stick with her. I am not that type of person Alice. You know me, I don't care about all that crap. I am happy like this." Even as I said it, I knew it was true, but I was having a hard time believing it in that moment. All my happy memories have been with Edward or the Cullens. Would I be able to create new ones independent from them? I was unsure. Alice simply rolled her eyes.
"Oh please. Did he ever tell you how they got together in the first place? You know she is the Landing's silver platter princess. Well Edward is the Masen's golden child. A match made in business heaven don't you think? The only reason Edward is with her is because of a business deal that went on behind the scenes between my grandparents and her daddy dearest. As if Edward could ever actually fall for that conceited airbag. All she cares about is being with a Masen. Had it been Emmett then it would have been Emmett suffering, not Edward, but in this series of unfortunate events, that's just how the chips landed. Edward doesn't love her at all, but I don't know why he has stayed with her for so long. I thought it would die out after a month or two, but it's been almost a year now. I don't know what his angle is or what they have over him. All I know is that that boy absolutely loves you. This doesn't count as cheating in my eyes because he can barely tolerate her let alone love her. They're not right for eachother and everyone knows it. The only thing I am confused about is how the fuck he allowed those invitations to be sent out. He hadn't even proposed to her Bella! Trust me on this one, please. He would have come to me or Emmett had he been thinking of pulling a stunt like that, but for him to secretly propose and not tell anyone for apparently a while, then wait for the announcement to be made with an invitation? He would be the sneakiest idiot alive."
The more I let Alice's words sink in, the more I knew she was right. It was so unlike Edward to just make all these big life decisions without taking anyone else into account. He at the very least would have ran it by any one of us, as a confirmation. But for this to fly so far under the radar for us not to pick it up until it was literally at our doorstep, was suspicious to say the very least. Could it be true? Edward really hadn't known or been involved in this plot? Did he want to marry Victoria? He must. He hadn't called me, contacted me, or even cared to see me in two weeks. Radio silence was not the best indicator of your love for another person. I wrapped my arms around my chest as I felt my heart tighten at the thoughts assaulting me. The hole he left behind that night was wide open now at the mention of his impending marriage and I couldn't find the strength to take a breath. My mind shot back to those last few moments with him.
The rain was still falling steadily outside my bedroom window. The gentle drops thrummed on the glass, covering it in little water streaks. My bare body was achy in the most beautiful way. I laid face down into my pillow, the soft comforter covering the lower half of my body. Next to me, he laid. Peacefully sleeping away. His stubbled face was wiped clean of every worry line that lined his tortured face the night before. He looked so relaxed, happy. I stroked his reddish brown hair away from his eyes and admired how when it caught the light from the window, it glimmered bronze. His muscular chest rose and fell steadily with each breath. I was completely and utterly happy. I sighed contentedly at his side, relishing this small slice of heaven.
I didn't notice when his eyes opened, nor when I had fallen back asleep, but I felt the bed shift slightly under his weight. I let out a small groan and reached out to him, craving his warmth. He caught my hand, stroking it softly and placed a light kiss on my temple.
"I love you Bella. I'm sorry." he whispered gravely in my ear and let go of my hand. Sorry? What was he sorry for? My heavy eyelids opened just long enough to see his fully clothed figure walking out the door of my room. My eyes shot open right away and I sat up quickly, fully intending to follow him, but when I reached the living room he had already gone. Leaving me alone to face my fears.
-0-
As if she knew what was going on inside my brain, Alice took hold of my hand and comfortingly stroked circles on the back of it with her thumb. I threw my arms around her small frame as I had done a million times before, and relished in the comfort of my sister.