AN: Hi guys! I'm still alive! Real life is crazy, but I'm hoping it settles down soon! Here's Chapter 3 of Comfortably Numb. Chapter 4 should post around the end of June.

Chapter 5 will be featured in the compilation for Fanndom 4 No Kid Hungry, a fundraiser that I'm proud to say that I helped organize with the ever-awesome ysar. We've done amazing, raising over $3,000 for Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Iniative. Today, June 1st, is the last day to donate and send in your receipt in order to receive the awesome compilation, which is full of awesome authors! Check it out if you can!

/ / : fandomcause . info

o~o~o~o~o

Chapter 3: She's Long Gone

o~o~o

*ring*

*ring*

Fuck. Who the hell is calling me—I glance at the clock—ten minutes before I'm ready to walk out the door?

*ring*

"Edward Cullen," I speak into the receiver tersely.

"Ed, my man!" the voice of my best friend calls out, bringing a genuine smile to my face.

Jasper Whitlock has been like my brother for the past twenty years, ever since we met in grade school. In fact, he'll legally become my brother-in-law in six months, when he marries my little sister, Alice.

"Jazz! What's up, man?"

"I got my promotion! Allie's out of town for the weekend, and I want you to come celebrate with me."

I grin, happy for my best friend. He works like a dog, and it's about time he finally got some recognition.

"Dude, congratulations! That sounds awesome. When and where?"

"Are you getting ready to head out? How about twenty minutes at Full Moon?"

Thinking of the last time I'd gone to Full Moon for drinks, my mood suddenly sours. I hadn't been back there since I met Bella. Fuck, I wasn't going to let my shitty mood interfere with Jasper's celebration.

"Sounds good, man. I'll meet you in twenty."

o~o~o

Stepping back into this place brings with it a rush of apprehension, as well as misguided hope. Would she be here? If she was, would she even acknowledge me? Damn if I wasn't still pissed off at how she left, but me of all people got where she was coming from. I was a one-night fuck. And what a fuck it'd been.

Shaking those thoughts off, I make my way to the bar where Jazz is sitting and chatting with the bartender. I've known James for years, and when he catches sight of me, I can see his eyes light up and I steel myself for whatever ribbing he's about to throw my way.

"Eddie-o! Nice to see you back, brother. Did the brunette throw you off-track?"

Jasper turns to me and raises an eyebrow in surprise. "Brunette?"

I shrug and hang my jacket on the back of my chair. "She was a'ight." I try to play it down, but Jasper knows me better than I know myself sometimes. I know he isn't going to let that slide.

When James wanders away to help other customers, Jazz turns on me swiftly. He suddenly reminds me of my sister when she smells good gossip in the air. That shit's scary.

"Okay, spill."

"What are you talking about?" I feign nonchalance.

"You know what the fuck I'm talking about, Edward," he replies, annoyance coloring his voice.

I sigh and figure it's better to get it over with instead of ruining his night by being stoic.

"Long story short, I met a girl. I took her home. I had the best sex of my life, and she bailed on me while I was in the shower the next morning."

Jasper blinks several times as he tries to digest what I've just admitted.

"This was the brunette?"

I nod.

"You took her home?"

I nod again.

"To your home?"

I sigh in exasperation. "Yes, Jasper. I took her to my home. We fucked twice that night, and once in the morning. While I was in the shower, she left a Dear John note, thanking me."

"Huh," he murmurs before taking a swig of his beer.

"What do you mean, 'Huh'?"

He shakes his head. "I just don't know what to make of it—of any of it. You completely went out of your comfort zone, not only picking up a brunette, but bringing her back to your place. What prompted this change of heart, or libido in this case?"

I roll my eyes and down my whiskey. Leave it to fucking Jasper to want to analyze this shit. It's not like I'd talk to anyone else about my, erm, predilection for blondes, but it's annoying to hear him ask the same questions I've already been asking myself.

"I don't know, Jazz. There was just," I pause, trying to gather my thoughts, "something about her. I was drawn like a moth to a flame. Would you believe I was actually pissed that she fucked and ducked on me?"

I grimace and motion to James for a refill. When he's gone again, I turn to Jasper and he's quietly watching me, like he'll find the answer written on my face.

"This is kinda big, Ed," he says in a serious, low voice.

I sigh and scrub my hand across my face. "Fuck, I know. I can't stop thinking about her and how she felt in my hands. I don't know her last name or if she'd even want me to find her. I mean, it was she who left the 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am' note."

"If this didn't have you in knots, I'd almost say it was a good thing. You haven't been this passionate about something since—"

"Don't," I growl, interrupting him. "Don't even say her name."

He sighs, almost as if he's disappointed. "Man, you're never going to be able to heal if you don't let her go."

I shoot him an incredulous look. "What the fuck are you talking about? I let her go, I'm done with her slutty ass. Emmett can have her."

"Emmett's not with her; he never was" he says quietly, almost in a whisper.

My stomach twists painfully. In all the time that's passed since I walked in on my brother fucking my girlfriend, I've never let anyone plead his case—never listened to his side of the story. He was in my bed, fucking my girlfriend, what more is there? It was the ultimate betrayal, and I remained adamant that I never wanted to see his face again. I know it broke my mother's heart and put my family in bad position, but I can't face him—not yet.

"How about we change the subject?" I ask, trying to lighten the mood. "It's your night, let's have some fun."

Thirty minutes and a half-assed game of pool later, we're half-way to shit-faced. It's good thing neither of us have to work in the morning. As I'm leaning over for my final shot, I feel a small hand caress my lower back, and I'm instantly transported back to that night over a month ago, with the writhing brunette underneath me.

I'm slightly drunk and optimistically hoping that it's Bella standing behind me. No such luck. A tall, buxom blonde leans in dramatically and says something about a cue. The words are fuzzy, and her voice is too husky for me to understand what she's saying.

"What?"

She leans up against my chest forwardly and strokes my cheek with her finger. "Why don't you come home with me, and I'll show you what I can do with your stick?"

I've never been fond of girls this forward. I've only ever taken one up on her offer, and she was the one who shredded my heart. I gently extract myself from her grip, taking a step back.

"No thanks."

She pouts, and it looks ridiculous. "Why not, baby? I could rock your world."

I'm not gonna lie; I'm a man, and I briefly consider the offer. The idea of burying my cock in a warm pussy is a welcome thought, but the idea of doing it with this girl makes my balls want to shrivel up into my body.

Brown eyes suddenly flash in my head, and I blink them away.

"Again, thanks for the offer, but I'll have to decline."

She smiles and licks her red lips. "I'm sorry to hear that. It's your loss, mister." She smirks and saunters back to a table full of girls, who immediately break out in giggles.

Completely befuddled, I turn back to find Jazz staring at me intently.

"What?"

He smiles and shakes his head. "Nothing. I just think you're further along than you think."

"Further along than what? What the fuck are you rambling on about, brother?" I'm tired and annoyed at this point.

He walks over and claps me on the shoulder. "Forget it, Ed. How about we get out of here? I think I'm done for the night."

o~o~o

I get home and silently make my way into the bedroom. Jasper's last comments at the bar are still weighing heavily on my mind. I'm practically sober now, my buzz having died down. I flip on the light and empty my pockets onto my bureau. I place my hand flat on the wood and breathe deeply as I recall fucking Bella on top of it.

Jasper's words come back into my head. Further along than I think? Further along than what? For some reason, that comment is really bothering me. It dawns on me that he was probably referring to getting over my ex, which opens a floodgate of emotion I'd rather keep bottled up.

Could that really be the case? Could I honestly be ready to move past that part of my life and start fresh? Too many unnamed emotions assault me at once and I want nothing more than to clear my head. I strip down to my boxers and flop down onto the bed, taking in the floral scentl still on my pillows, a memento of my night with Bella. Fucking masochist that I am, I haven't been able to bring myself to change the sheets.

Steeling my resolve, I jump up and strip the bed and head to the laundry room. I quickly stuff in the sheets and pillow cases, adding detergent before I can change my mind. A part of me aches for the loss of this connection with my brown-eyed girl, but another part of me is proud for trying to start fresh.

Time would only tell if I could actually move forward, though.