Hi guys! Hope you all had an awesome Turkey day!

Sorry for the delay. Aside from the holiday and work, I've been so busy. But here's chapter two.

The air was much cleaner in Seattle than it was in New York City. I inhaled deeply as I stepped outside of the airport, pulling my suitcase along behind me. I had missed Seattle so damn much and I finally realized how much of an idiot I was for letting one damn person ruin my life.

The teenage years were meant for having fun and falling in and out love multiple times. My dumbass decided to stick to one guy and look where that got me. I refrained from rolling my eyes at my thoughts and shook my head lightly. I needed to get a grip on myself.

Loud honking made me look up to see Rose grinning through the window of her car.

"Hey bitches!" She yelled.

Alice squealed from beside me and ran toward the car, an airport employee helping to bring her bags over. I turned toward Jasper with a cocked brow and saw him shrug in return. Oh well.

"What Alice wants, Alice gets," Jasper said. I laughed quietly before heading over to the car to give Rose a big hug.

"I've missed you so much," she sniffled. I felt the tears, before they blurred my vision, as I hugged her tightly.

"I missed you too, Rosie. So damn much."

"Aw!" Alice's voice was so loud as she hugged both Rose and I, tears in her eyes. "The bitches are back!"

A laugh left my lips as I let go of Rose to let Jasper have his turn. Two minutes later, our bags were all set inside the trunk and we were ready to head to the house. On the ride, we talked about things we might have missed during our weekly phone and video calls and also about the wedding planning. I was super glad I got enough sleep on the plane because I knew once we arrived, we would have long days and even longer nights.

Rose started telling us about the DIY projects she was attempting from instructions on the internet. Alice vetoed those as soon as the words left Rose's lips and I had to laugh. But when she mentioned Edward, the entire car went quiet.

"He, uh, helps out with the projects and I think it looks great. He has a great eye for detail, you know." Rose's tone almost made her sound apologetic for bringing him up in the first place. I couldn't blame her, honestly.

I didn't have a problem with anyone talking about him, but when it was time to come face-to-face with him, then we'd have a slight problem. I knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to Rose's proposition to be her maid of honor. Alice and I would be sharing the title and I was honored to even be one of Rose's closest friends in the first place.

Minutes passed by while everyone conversed, but all I did was stare at the window, lost in my thoughts. They were all mostly 'what ifs' but I knew I couldn't dwell on them. I needed to be level headed and clear minded for what was to come, especially around Edward. I couldn't lose focus or control of my feelings. I needed everything to be perfect for Rose. I would never dream of messing up her big day.

The car came to a stop at the same house the Cullens had lived in for years. The house was fully white and was Victorian-styled. Large windows graced each room within and in the backyard, I was sure a garden and even a pool. It had been a while – obviously – and Carlisle had always talked about removing the pool since no one used it. I wondered if he did.

I stepped out the car and breathed in deeply. It was so weird being back, I thought, as I moved my right foot against the gravel in the driveway. Suddenly, I heard the front door open and I froze. Fuck. I really hoped it was someone other than Edward. I breathed a sigh of relief as I heard Emmett's booming laugh and a squeal, which I could only assume was Alice's. I turned to see Emmett put Alice down and give Jasper a hug and a slap on the back. He looked around before making eye contact with me over the car. His grin widened like a kid who just saw his favorite candy. Emmett literally bounced over to me and swooped me up in a hug, his biceps suffocating me as I hugged him in return.

"Emmett! Are you trying to kill her?!" Esme's voice was muffled to me as I tried to get a breath in.

I felt a chuckle reverberate through Emmett's muscular body before he let me go, my feet touching the gravel softly. I inhaled a much needed breath before slowly exhaling, flashing Emmett a small smile.

"I missed you too, buddy."

Shit. I was about to cry again and I knew Emmett was, too. He and I blinked multiple times to get our visions to clear, but as soon as Esme wrapped her arms around me, I lost it. I broke down as I wrapped my arms around her neck, my tears soaking her shoulder.

"Shhh, sweetheart. It's okay," she cooed as she ran a hand down my hair, soothing me.

I didn't even know what to say. I never said anything to them before I left for New York and that made me feel so bad for years. I never even thought to call them either because there was a big chance Edward would answer.

I pulled back just as Carlisle came over and held us both in his embrace.

"Bella, we've missed you so much." He pressed a kiss to the top of my head and gave me a small smile.

I cleared my throat to speak but before I could open my mouth, Carlisle spoke.

"We know why you did it, darling. There's no reason to apologize. We love you the same. Don't worry about anything."

I wiped my tears with the back of my hands as I returned both of their smiles, sniffling.

"I hope you guys can forgive me for leaving without a word."

Esme patted my cheek gently before speaking. "We were never upset at you, Bella, so there's no need for forgiveness. Rosalie told us what happened. Now, let's go inside and get you all settled in."

Even though the three of us had been to this house many times in the past, we were all still hesitant to walk in. I could sense it from Alice and Jasper.

That night, all those years ago, Alice and Rosalie had fought Edward. Well, more like punches and slaps. Emmett was the one who had given him a black eye and Jasper just stood and watched. Edward and Jasper were a lot closer than Edward and his brother. So, Jasper felt that violence wasn't going to make Edward feel for what he did. He decided to leave with Alice to New York without a word, effectively ending their long friendship.

Alice hooked her arm through mine and sent a small smile my way as she inclined her head toward the house. I gave her a small nod before slowly walking to the front door.

Please, God. Don't let him be home right now.

I held my breath as Alice walked through the threshold first, me second and then Jasper third. It was empty, save for us. Carlisle and Emmett brought in our suitcases and Rose and Esme followed in behind them. I shakily let out the breath as Rose proceeded to show us all where we would be residing for the rest of the trip. Suddenly, three weeks at home, by myself, sounded a lot better than three weeks in a house with Edward. Though, I kind of hoped he had gotten his own place by now. I didn't dare ask though. I didn't want to be the one to bring him up.

As Rose left us to our own devices, she and Alice went down to the living room to go over wedding ideas and plans. Jasper decided to take a nap and I was just wanting to get my mind off of my current situation. Work was the best way to do that because while I was in the zone, that was the only thing that occupied my mind.

Fishing the laptop out of the suitcase and then out of its case, I sat on the bed, up against the headboard with the laptop in my lap. Working at an insurance office sure did have its perks. Next to the pay, I loved working from home whenever I wanted. For this trip, I didn't even have to lie to my boss. She easily approved the trip with a wave of her hand and a grin. She'd send me the information in an encrypted email and then I'd get to work. Easy-peasy. Powering the laptop on, I realized I didn't have the WIFI or its password. I huffed before texting Rose and asking, because I was too lazy to go downstairs. She quickly texted back, and I sent her a smiley emoji in response before getting to work.

An hour later, my eyes were starting to droop due to tiredness and I tried to hold back a yawn. I was almost finished with one of the cases I was working and I wanted to send it to my boss before I took a nap. I needed a drink. Setting the laptop on the bed beside me, I slid off the bed and padded into the hallway, toward the stairs.

My head was down so I didn't really realize there was someone blocking my way until I was at the top of the staircase. I frowned before lifting my head a tad. Lo and behold, the one fucking person that I didn't want to run into. My jaw dropped as my gaze met those curious green eyes for the first time in five years. How I had longed to be this close in proximity to him again. Well, at least for the first year since moving to New York. After I was able to get him out of my mind and heart, it was easy to not want him. But seeing him in person again, I felt like all those thoughts had left my mind.

"Bella." His voice was still as I remembered; soft and velvety.

I closed my eyes and willed the tears away, but luck was just not on my side today. I could feel his gaze on me as a tear escaped, my hand lifting to wipe it away. Before I could, though, I felt his thumb on my cheek.

My eyes shot open in anger, my brows furrowing and my voice laced with venom.

"Don't touch me."

He shot me an apologetic glance and opened his mouth to speak, but I shoved past him and headed straight for the front door, needing some air. I ignored all of the curious looks and calls as I pulled the door open and slammed it behind me, walking out into the crisp fall air with nothing but jeans, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and socks.

All of the feelings and thoughts I had suppressed all of those years ago were flooding back to me at full force. I felt the heartbreak and the loneliness again. The number of headaches I had from crying and being dehydrated from it. It literally felt like I was being hit by a freight train.

A sob left my lips as I dropped to my knees. And here I thought I could tough it out and be able to keep calm through it all. I hadn't even been in the house for five hours yet and I already wanted to leave. Seattle had plenty of hotels, but I knew Esme and Rosalie would never let me. Not while I was suffering a breakdown once again.

Seeing Edward made me realize the amount of hate I had for him. But at the same time, there was a piece of my heart that still yearned for him. He was my first love and my first everything.

I breathed in the cold air before slowly exhaling to calm my nerves. Was I supposed to be this emotional? Hadn't I pushed him completely out of my life?

So why was I still crying?

Leave me some love!

Also, there will probably be a couple of days in between each chapter. Mostly because work has me by the balls. *Insert eye-roll here.*

xoxo