Chapter 5:
Bella pulled back, it felt too good to be held by him. She couldn't go down that road again.
"Listen Bella, I know I fucked up beyond belief, that the last two years I haven't done right by you. I can't take it back, but I want things to change baby…"
"Edward stop." Bella sighed "I know your sorry, but it doesn't change anything."
"Things could be different." Edward whispered reaching for her
Bella scooted back out of his reach.
"I can't even touch you now?" Edward sighed
"I think…. I think going forward we should just focus on being friends Edward." Bella sat up strait ready to be strong.
Edward froze, staring into her eyes, he could tell she meant it.
"You know we aren't just friends B. There's so much more between us, there always has been we can't just pretend baby" he said moving closer to her.
She stood up backing away from him before he could touch her again.
"I can't Edward. I ignored what you were doing to me for so long, but seeing it that night… it changed things for me. I can't get it out of my head."
"Look I'm sorry you had to see that, and not that its an excuse but I was drunk, I'm not even into her, shes just always there"
"Stop!" Bella yelled "Are you serious? You don't even get it Edward."
"Bella…"
"No listen to me! I've had enough, you broke me Edward. I have nothing left to give you. My feelings have changed. I want more than this!" She cried
"I can give you more now Bella I swear…" He reached for her but she moved away again.
"Its too late! I want a man who wants me always, not when nobody else is around. I want to be enough for somebody!"
"You are enough… baby it was never that" Edward whispered completely heartbroken that she felt that way.
"Look Edward, this is done. I want us to be friends, I'll always care about you. But I need to move on."
"Move on?" He asked shocked "Bella I swear to god if I see you with somebody else I'll fucking kill them"
"Your such a hypocrite." Bella scoffed wiping away her tears, she stood strong. "I hope we can be friends, I really mean that Edward. But I'm done." She said before turning and walking out the door.
Bella walked out on the deck to find Rose waiting for her in one of the lounge chairs, a glass of wine ready and waiting for her.
"Hey Girl" She smiled "How'd that go? I heard yelling…"
"Not great…. I told him that I was done and I just wanted us to be friends" She sighed
"Wow… ummm honestly I didn't see that coming" Rose said shocked
"I just can't anymore Ro" Bella took a long sip of her wine and rested her head back on the lounge chair closing her eyes and letting out a deep breath.
"You really think your like… totally done?" Rose asked
"Yeah…. I just …. I mean I'm still in love with him, but it's not good for me. Going out with Garrett the other night only made me see it clearer. To have a guy take me on a date ya know? Like I have never had that, I feel like … looking back, that I've missed out on so much"
"Well that's fair, and I mean I guess you have."
"All this time, I've been looking at you and Emm and Al and Jasper and I want that so bad, it's all I've ever wanted with him and not once have I ever felt like he wanted that too." Bella shook her head "This is for the best"
"Are you going to see him again?" Rose asked
"Yeah, he called me last night and asked me out again. He's taking me to dinner tomorrow"
"You sure your ready to date? I mean maybe you should take some time to get through this Edward shit"
"No it's time, I'm not giving Edward anymore of my time."
"Evesdropping.. really dude?" Jasper laughed walking into the kitchen.
Edward stood there over the sink, the open window in front of him he heard Bella and Rose's entire conversation and he was devastated. She really meant it this time.
He groaned turning to face his best friend.
"Did you guys finally talk?" He asked. Edward nodded his head taking a long pull of his beer. "And how'd that go?"
"Oh It went fucking great!" He groaned sarcastically. "She wants to be friends!" He scoffed
"Well that's not so bad"
"Your kidding me right? It's a fucking joke man there's no way I can be just her friend"
"Look, I get it ok, but I think Bella is right. You put her through a lot the last few years, I think she needs to get out there on her own"
"What the fuck man?!"
"Just listen, she's been sitting on the sidelines all this time. Everyone in town sees her as Edward's girl. She's never dated, never just been Bella."
"I don't want her to date!" Edward sighed, pain searing in his chest at the thought.
"Obviously, but to be fair, you have never once taken her out dude. What did you think was going to happen?" Jasper laughed "You need to accept this, give her the space she needs. Maybe if you do that things will work out for you guys in the end"
"I can't just sit back and see her with some other guy. Just the thought of it makes me want to kill someone. Fuck!" He groaned slamming his fist down on the counter. "Thinking about someone else touching her…."
"Edward your being such a hypocrite." Jasper laughed "What your feeling right now, is what you made her feel for the last 2 years. Stop thinking about yourself and think about her for a second"
He was right, and Edward knew that, but that only made it hurt that much more. Turning to look back out the window at the beautiful girl he loved he chugged the rest of his beer. There was no way he could let her go. No matter what she said this wasn't over.
The next night Bella and Garrett walked along the water toward the car after another great dinner.
When they reached the car Garrett pushed her up against it, and before she knew what was happening his lips were on hers, his hands gripping her hips.
It was different, but really good. The first time she had kissed another man. It made her feel sexy and desired, it had been a long time since she felt that way.
The moment was interrupted by Bella's phone, signaling that she had a text.
Hey B! Going to the club at 10 if you guys want to meet us, I would love to meet this guy!- Ro
"Sorry" She whispered blushing.
"It's ok" he whispered "Everything alright?"
"Oh yea, just my friend inviting us to meet them out…. we don't have to" She rambled
"I don't mind, I'm not really ready to let you go yet" He smiled giving her lips a sweet peck.
"Really?" Bella smiled, excited for him to meet her friends. "It's not far from here we could really just walk"
Bella walked into the club holding Garrett's hand. She led him up the side stairs to where her friends usually congregated.
"Bella!" Angela called her over.
"Hi girls!" Bella smiled, pulling Garrett to her side. "Garrett, these are my friends Angela, Rose and Alice"
"Nice to meet you ladies" He smiled "Want a drink sweetheart?" He asked
"Sure, just a white wine please" She smiled up at him. He dipped down and kissed her gently before walking back down the stairs to the bar.
When Bella turned back to the girls, she could tell by the look on Rose's face that something was up.
She pulled Bella to the side and whispered in her ear
"What are you doing here?" She asked sounding panicked
"What? You invited me!"
"Fuck! I know, I didn't think you would come and that was before…." She trailed off
"Whats wrong?"
"Edward got here about 2 minutes before you!" She whispered clearly freaking out. Looking around myself I found his eyes on me instantly. Glaring at her, he sat on one of the couch's a glass of whiskey in his hand. He had his hood up over his yankee cap. She could barley see his eyes but she knew without a doubt that he was angry, he had seen Garrett kiss her.
This was night was not going to end well.