*edited as of 9/2017

Chapter 15

"Fate controls who walks into your life,

but you decide who you let walk out, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go."

- Anonymous

Isabella's POV

"So I think I'm going to ask Bree to marry me." Diego says suddenly and I nearly trip over my feet in shock. Quickly placing down the tray I'm carrying, I turn around abruptly to face him.

"You want to do what?" I ask loudly and Diego looks around suddenly in embarrassment. Doing the same, I quickly remember that we are both at work and are out on the floor in front of customers. We gain a few stares from a few awaiting guests and I quickly apologize for the disruption as Fred gives me the stink eye.

After getting two other servers to cover our tables, I grab Diego's arm and pull him towards our break room. Our break room was really nothing but a small room in the back with a few tables, chairs and a fridge. It wasn't the best place or time to have the conversation but I really wanted to know what was going on inside of his head. Diego follows behind me and I close the door.

Turning back around to face him, I watch as he fidgets nervously and brushes a few wayward curls from his face.

"Now Di, care to repeat that statement?" I question and watch as he lets out another deep breath.

"I said I think I'm going to ask Bree to marry me." He repeats.

"Okay...so maybe I wasn't just hearing things." The boy has finally lost his mind." I mutter under my breath, but being Diego and having impeccable hearing, hears this and eyes me cautiously.

" Bree is it for me." Diego replies rubbing the back of his neck. I'm suddenly at a loss for words as he continues. "You know how long I've pined after her Bella. She's funny, beautiful and listens to me. I could talk to her for hours on end about life in Spain; you know the rough years before I came to the America….. The best part is that even if I repeat the same stupid story over and over, she listens to me with such attention and fervor as if she is hearing it for the first time." Diego gushes.

I ponder my words for a moment so I don't offend him. While as not prominent as before since I've started dating Edward, the cynicism in me begins to rear its ugly head at the thoughts of everything that could go wrong.

I was overreacting but Diego was my best friend. I didn't want him to get hurt. I decided to voice my opinions anyway

"Diego..." I step away from him and begin pacing.

"Are you even sure about this? Like actually thought this whole thing out? I mean you two haven't even been together that long! Hell you two don't even live together and you're considering marriage!" I blurt out harsher than I originally intended. Diego stares at me incredulously.

"You and Edward haven't been together long either chica. I thought you like Bree?" Diego questions and I nod my head.

"I do like Bree. She's the sister I never had and always wanted. This…this is just so unreal and moving kind of fast. I mean has she even met your mama yet? You know how Mama Carmen gets with people around her baby boy. I mean it took years for her to warm up to me." I grumble.

Diego lets out a small laugh. "What's so funny?" I ask.

Diego shakes his head. "While very true, I'll have you know Isa that Bree and Mama talk every week. She even calls Bree her future daughter-in-law." He grins gazing off.

"And her parents?" I push.

"Meeting them next weekend. I'll ask for their blessing then." Diego smiles proudly.

"You really want to go through with this….why does this seem so sudden?" Diego smiles tightly and gives me a grim look.

"Well if "someone" took the time to be a good friend and talk to their best friend every once in a while, you would have been known that I've been planning to propose to her. You've been so caught up in your own stuff that you've failed to realize that the world doesn't revolve around you. I have to be realistic here. I have plans." Diego huffs.

"Plans?"

"Yes plans. You know this isn't forever right?" Diego gestures wildly around the room.

"The break room? Wait, what do you mean?" I question and Diego grabs my hand.

"Isa, you don't expect to work here forever do you?" He asks with curious brown eyes. I shake my head.

"Well no, but..." Diego cuts me off to speak.

"Exactly. I have dreams outside of this place. I doubt anyone grows up as a child aspiring to be a server. Hell, we're the oldest ones here with nothing but college kids taking over. I can't do this for the rest of my life. You must know this. Look at you with your Art history degree. Don't you want to put that into use?" He probes.

"Duh. That's my dream. It just isn't the right time." I reply honestly. Diego smiles softly at me.

"Well I feel like it's my time right now. I'm getting tired of being here. I want to see what else is out there. You know I've always wanted to work in construction and Bree's thinking about returning to nursing school in the fall. I've been looking at various construction firms and even apartments. Bree's been thinking about moving closer to her folks and I don't think I can let her go. In fact, I won't let her go. I love her. "Diego finishes.

"You're leaving me..." I gasp as the reality of what he just said dawns on me. Diego rolls his eyes at me in annoyance.

"Oh please. Out of everything I said, that's what you hear? Now is not the time to act jealous." He growls.

"I am not jealous." I pout.

"Not in the way you're probably thinking, but you are. I know there are no romantic feelings between us. Maybe at one point in my life, I saw you that way but after everything knew better than to act upon it. It would ruin our friendship and I would rather have you in my life as my friend than not at all." Diego admits.

I'm stunned into silence. Diego and I were always close growing up. I guess to outsiders it would come off as flirtatious but I would never guess at one point he had feelings for me.

Maybe I was naïve.

"Isa, I'm not getting any younger here. I'm thirty and in the point in my life where I'm ready to settle down. A man can dream right? I want it all. It may be cliché but I want the wife, the big house and picket fence with the 2.5 kids. I'm not a man to waste time and you know this. When I want something I go after it." Diego lets out a deep breath and his words hit home as I remember Edward saying the same thing when he first asked me out.

"I want that dream Bella and I want that with Bree. She walked into my life and I'll be damned if I let her walk out of it." He concludes looking at me. Diego waits for me to say something.

Rational Bella should try to be sympathetic and understand that my best friend wanted to move on with his life and be happy…the part that should grasp that I was no longer a major part of his life anymore.

The other part of me; the more conflicted and selfish part, wants him to stay. To find some fault in Bree and have them break up, if only temporarily. Out of everything that's happened over the past decade or so, Diego has been the only consistent thing in my life. Through every heartbreak and tear, he was there for me even when I didn't need or deserve it. I mean he moved across the country and back with me so that I wouldn't have to do it alone.

How many people could say that their best friend did that for them?

Maybe I was jealous.

Not of Bree or of their relationship, but the realization that I wouldn't be a part of Diego's life anymore.

That he would leave me just like everyone else did.

I had Edward but would he be enough?

I didn't want those doubts in my head, but old habits die hard.

Diego puts a hand on my shoulder to get my attention. "Sorry I zoned out. But don't you think you should date a little longer or perhaps see what else is out there..." I blurt out and I swear it feels like someone else said it and not me.

From the painful look that appears on Diego's face, I instantly regret my words.

"Isa, do you hear yourself? Stop being so melodramatic. You're my best friend and I love you but sometimes you can be so damn hardheaded and selfish. I just want to shake some sense into you." Diego growls. I wring my hands together nervously as I attempt to apologize.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry." I sigh hoping that this conversation was over. I hated confrontation but somehow always seemed to be the one who initiated it. From the agitated look on his face, I knew it was far from over as he was now the one to begin pacing back and forth angrily.

"No Isa. I don't think you get it. I tell you that I want to marry the woman I'm in love with and you try to find a fault in it."

"I don't mean to. Honestly." I plead. Diego turns away from me and lets out a deep breath.

"And that is what makes this conversation so hard. I know you don't mean to interfere because you're not that kind of person. You're not malicious enough for that, but the reality is that you do it. You wait for everything to come tumbling down before it's even started. Sometimes a good thing comes around without any catches. You my friend have a commitment phobia. With all the crap that happened with your parents and the whole cheating fiascos with your exes it's understandable you're a little weary." My eyes suddenly filled with tears.

"That's been your excuse for years and you've used it as a crutch. Unfortunately, I've been aiding in that crutch but now it's getting old. You've been hurt but so have many others in the world. Guess what? They move on. Don't place your doubts onto me because you're too afraid to face your own crap. It's time to make a bridge and get over it. You're my best friend and I want you to be happy for me. I love Bree and I don't want you to make me feel like I have to choose because at the end of the day, you're not going to like my answer and you will be alone with no one beside you." Diego finishes quietly before brushing past me without another word.

I can see a few of the other servers scatter as the door opens; no doubt listening to our entire conversation.

As if I needed to add more fuel to the flame.

…..wltyas….

Flopping down onto my bed with a groan, I peel my painful heels from my feet.

Last night was rough.

The restaurant got slammed and we were short-staffed, making nearly all the servers stay late into the early hours of the morning just to play catch up. I'd stayed behind a little longer to help prep before leaving just as the sun was rising. Diego and Bree were working that night as well but since our argument had been avoiding me. Bree tried talking to me a couple of times, but then I avoided her.

I felt weird around her considering my previous conversation with Diego and how he should perhaps see other people. It was selfish and idiotic and I regretted my words as soon as they came out my mouth but I wasn't sure if it was enough.

After a few days of declined calls and visits she gave up, which she rightly should considering the weird funk I was in. Even Edward tried to resolve my mood with great sex and dates (which I loved) but didn't help in absolving the sinking feeling I had in my stomach.

I couldn't talk to Diego or Bree since I was pretty sure they were still mad at me and Edward was probably asleep.

Suddenly at a loss, I called the one number I knew I could count on.

"Hey baby." I let out a sigh of relief as my mother's voice greets me over the phone.

"Hey Mom." I sniffed. I press the phone closer to my face as if that could make her closer to me. I really did miss her. Something about being across the country or even a city could make you realize how much you missed your parents. I had no excuse considering mine were only a few hours away. I'd been caught up so much in myself lately that I hadn't been a good daughter. I hear a soft groan on the other line that is no doubt my father's as he mumbles something about coffee. I hear my mother whisper something to him and immediately feel like a dunce realizing it's barely 6:30 in the morning and that I must have woken them both up.

"Geeze, I'm sorry. I forgot how early it was." I apologize.

"No its okay baby girl. I missed hearing your voice and obviously you had good reason to call. Now tell me what's wrong." She coos.

"How do you know something's wrong?" I deflect.

"Call it mother's intuition. I didn't spend seventy-two hours in labor to not know when something is wrong with my child. Now tell me." She demands and so I do.

I spend the next forty-five minutes telling her everything that's being going on since my last visit. I explain my fears about Edward and Diego along with the uncertainty I felt with the direction my life was going in. I notice it's silent on the other end and wonder if she had fallen asleep on me.

"Uh Mom, you there?"

"Sorry baby. Still processing all of what you said. You have a lot on your mind I see." She responds.

"More than I would like to admit." I reply honesty. I hear my mother sigh deeply and I immediately know I'm not going to like what she's about to tell me next.

No one likes hearing their mother tell them what they're doing wrong.

"Just give it to me mom."

"Diego's right. You are being selfish." I let out a mini scream into my pillow.

"Ugh, I knew this was coming. Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" I whine, resorting back to my inner six-year-old self.

"Honey, I'm always on your side and you know this. By being on your side that means I need to let you see the error of your ways even when you don't see them yourself at first." She adds.

"I guess, but selfish really mom?" I whine again.

"Yes selfish. From what you've told me about Bree she seems very good for Diego and a good friend to you."

"Yeah Bree's great." I agree.

"And this thing with Edward is going well. He seems to be treating you well I presume."
"It's going great and he does…but maybe this is all going too fast…or maybe too slow. Oh god, I'm almost thirty and you guys aren't getting any younger and dad's retiring soon and I'm cheating you out of grandkids and what if Edward isn't the one and I end up all alone and my degree goes to waste and …" I continue to ramble about possible disappointments in my life.

"Bella!" My mom screams over the line interrupting my mini panic attack.

"Jesus sweetheart. I now know what your father means when he tells me I go off on a tangent. Sad to say you definitely got that trait from me." She says. Her soothing voice tells me to take a few breaths until I can feel myself calming down.

"Now listen here Bella and listen well. You're afraid of change. Things are moving at a brisk pace in your life and you're scared. It's okay to be scared. It happens to everyone. You're in the stages of falling in love and so is your best friend. If he supports your relationship with Edward you should do the same for him with Bree."

"I do support his relationship." I add.

"If you did, then you wouldn't be trying to stop him from proposing to her. You can't expect him to not go on with his life because you're afraid he won't be around as much. Don't project your insecurities onto him nor on this relationship you have building with Edward. It's selfish to him and yourself by being a negative Nancy and it won't get you anywhere."

"So what if you're almost thirty. No one has all the answers. Trust me I'm forty four and I'm still trying to figure life out." I used to wallow in my own self pity…. but if your father could take me back after everything I've done and vice versa and show me that our love was worth fighting for then I know there is hope. My life is the one I'm living now. Stop living in the past and worrying about the future. Think about now and just go for it. You worry too much, something you definitely get from your father!" She boasts and I could hear my dad grumble in the background. I let out a small laugh feeling suddenly lighter.

"So I guess I have some apologizing to do huh?" I sigh quietly knowing I wasn't the best at giving the greatest apologies.

"Yes my dear, you need a big ol slice of humble pie." She laughs and once again, I'm reminded of how much I miss her.

"I miss you mom." I whisper.

"Oh I miss you too sweetheart. Maybe your father and I can visit up there soon. He misses you too."

"You guys should, although make sure Dad leaves the weapons at home. I don't want him scaring Edward off."

"I'll try my best. You'll figure it out, don't fret. I love you Bella."

"I love you too mom."

…

A knock on the door interrupts my binge marathon of House.

I make no move to get up as it's a quarter till midnight and anyone knocking on my door is probably a lunatic…or Edward…. but he would at least call now if he were coming over. After another hard knock, I reluctantly get up and stumble over to my door grabbing one of my converse to use as a weapon. Not the best choice but it was all I had at the moment. I swing the door open and drop my shoe in shock as the last person I expected grabs me in a hug.

"Maggie? Is that you?"

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xoxo Sylvia Cullen