I decided to change my number as soon as I moved to Seattle, only close family members, and my cousin, James had it.
He was about the same age as me, give or take a few weeks, and helped me through the first year of living in Seattle.
Not only that but he also helped me 'break out of my shell' as he told me.
His friends Laurent and Victoria helped me change my outer image by doing a makeover from hair to makeup, to the wardrobe.
I felt immediately more confident, and comfortable in my own skin. I gained the confidence to not stumble through my words as I spoke to someone else.
It helped so much that I ended up deciding to become a registered nurse. To help people like I wanted to do since I was a child.
10 Years Later:
"Come on, Bella," Jessica complained as she dragged me into the bar.
I sighed and shook my head, "We only have two days off and you want to go bar hopping when are we supposed to rest? Why am I friends with you again?' I asked her, amused.
She rolled her eyes at me, " Because you love me! Besides it is my duty as your friend to get you out of the house when I deem it so... also we can rest when we're dead. Now, come on! Marnie said there were soldiers here tonight!" She said excitedly.
I rolled my eyes as I followed her inside, as she squealed excitedly.
She quickly led me through the throng of people, until she found our friends sitting at one of the tables.
Marnie, Laurie, and Kendra were already on their second margaritas. I could tell by how rambunctious they were as we began to approach the table.
Honestly, I didn't like going bar hopping all that much, but I hated the thought of something happening to my friends, so here I was. Though, I preferred to stay at home and read a book or watch a movie, I always accomplanied them out a few times a month, as a bargain.
Jess had insisted specifically tonight, and after bowing out the last four times, and running out of excuses to not go out, here I was.
So, she came over after we finished our shift at the hospital and helped me pick out what she considered a good outfit for tonight. Said outfit consisted of a pair of high-waisted, light-washed jeans, a deep blue long-sleeved shirt with a deep v-neckline, and a pair of black, kitten heels. She did my hair in beach waves and put on a thin layer of makeup. Giving my eyes a smokey eye, and lips that looked like I had on a permanent pout.
I had complained but when she told me it had been a while since we went out and let loose, I had no other choice but to concede after she told me this and pouted.
As Jess pulled me to a table where the girls were already waiting. I looked around the bar curiously.
I didn't see the apartment male specimen that Marnie had been telling us over the phone about, yet as we finally arrived at the table, she turned to me with a wide smile and pointed towards where the bar was located.
Jess turned immediately and smiled as she looked over to where Marnie was. I turned slowly as Kendra and Marnie were smiling excitedly.
As I did I felt the smile on my face fall, and the blood drained from my face.
"Jess," I whispered, frantically pulling at her sleeve as I tried to rein in the panic I suddenly...
She turned to look at me immediately. "What's wrong, Bee? You look like you've just a ghost." She told me frowning
"Soldier number three. He… I knew him. I know him. He— Me— Shit— We grew up in the same town. We ran in the same social circles. I have to get out of here." I told her.
She frowned, "If you know him, why are you running from him?" She asked me, confused.
I shoved my hand into my hair and moved it away from the left side of my face as I twisted the opal ring on my forefinger. "Senior year. A 'friend' of mine found out I had a big crush on him, and she went after him. And told everyone that I liked him in front of the entire school. They all laughed at me, which is why I left." I told her.
She frowned, "I'm sorry that happened to you, Bee, but the past is the past. If it's here knocking, you control whether or not you want to let it in." She told me.
I nodded, as she offered me a drink.
She was right, why should I allow someone to have any power over me? Especially someone who hurt me so much.
Without another word, I chugged the drink and smiled at her as we did our secret handshake.
As the night progressed I realized that I had nothing to worry about. He didn't see me, though what was so surprising about that? He never noticed me when we were living in Forks, what did I hope was going to happen now? That he'd confess to me his undying love for me like some sort of cheesy romance novel or movie?
I had a few more drinks before I decided I'd had enough, despite enjoying the show of Marnie, and Kendra dancing all over two guys from the group of soldiers, and Jess getting on the electric bull, only to fly off after a few seconds. I was tired after the long day at work.
"Hey, Jess, I think I'm done for tonight. I'll see you Sunday." I told her.
She sighed as she turned to look at me from the guy she was talking to. "Are you sure?" She asked me in disappointment.
I nodded, showing her my watch. "It's just after twelve," I told her.
She gave me a sad smile before nodding and standing up to pull me into a hug before sitting back down.
"Bye, Bellsy." One of the men said.
I frowned and turned to see the familiar baby face, and sandy blonde hair, only the hair wasn't spiked but in a buzz cut. "Mike?" I gasped.
He smiled and lifted his hand to wave before standing up and pulling me into a hug. "Yeah, haven't seen you since- well, a long time. How ya been, girl?" He asked, amused.
Jess raised a brow and stood too. "You two know each other?" She asked, giving me a confused look.
I nodded, "Mike and I grew up in the same town. Haven't seen him since senior year." I told her.
She smiled, "That's great. So, how long will you be in town? Maybe we can grab lunch tomorrow or something." She hinted.
Mike gave me a confused look and I laughed, "She wants you to ask her out, genius." I told him, plainly.
He turned and gave her a wide smile, "I can do that. You free tomorrow morning? I know a place that makes a great omelet." He told her.
"Definitely." She replied, immediately.
I smiled at both of them, "Alright, I'm going to start heading out. Have fun you two." I chanted as I turned and began making my way out.
I had only made out past the door when I felt a familiar presence.
"Hello, Bella." He said.
I turned, my eyes widening as I turned, my hands flying up protectively as I did.
"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you." He told me with an eye roll.
I sighed, I guess this was unavoidable. Should have seen it coming, I mean we had been friends for so long, did I expect anything less of him, probably not.
"What do you want?" I asked before grabbing my bag and moving out into the pouring rain.
"Bella, wait." He called after me.
I turned to look at him before sighing, "What do you want, Edward?" I repeated as I felt the rain soak through my clothes.
"Look, what happened that day? I didn't know. I didn't find out why everyone was laughing until after Emmett told me." He told me.
I scoffed, "It's been ten years. I've- I've moved on." I whispered before turning away and beginning to hurry away, despite my shoes feeling slippery.
"Come on, you were my best friend. Nothing is ever going to change that, sweet bee." He told me with a half smile.
My mind immediately went to all those memories we shared growing up. But I shook them away.
I quickly reached down, unbuckling my shoes, sliding them off before taking off in a run. I didn't want to hear it. I couldn't. It was too late. Ten years too late.
I could hear him chase after me, but I tried to run faster.
Before I made it home I felt an arm wrap around my waist and pull me up into his chest.
"Put. Me. Down!" I screamed, as I kicked my legs viciously.
"No. We need to talk. You need to hear me out, you stubborn little shit." He groaned as he pulled us out of the rain.
I glared at him as he set me down, looking at him only to realize he had gotten a lot taller than I remember. His bronze, penny-colored hair was shaved down to a short fade. He had filled out nicely, no longer lanky, but fully broad and well toned.
I could see from under his wet long sleeve that he had tattoos.
"Call me that one more time." I threatened.
"You. Little. Shit." He enunciated, with a gleam in his eyes.
Without hesitation, I pulled back my fist and slammed it to his stomach. I winced as he let out a sharp breath, before he pinned me to the wall with his body.
"Stop." He firmly said.
"You can't tell me what to do, you ass." I growled back as one of his hands pinned my hands above my head.
"Look, I'm not fucking here to hurt you. Or to tell you that I'm fucking mad at you. I just wanted to let you know that I did feel the same thing for you, back then. Not only that but that it hurt when you fucking left me. I had grown so fucking accustumed to you being there that I never fucking realized how much I fucking needed you there until you were fucking gone. You fucking left me without a look back. And I missed you every fucking day. I still do." He told me before letting go.
I shook my head, still staring him down angrily. "And you fucking forgot about me the moment Tanya took my place. So, don't be acting like I betrayed you. When you're the one who betrayed me!" I spat out.
"Tanya was just a friend. Your friend. She only ever was a friend. I never liked her. I never fucking wanted her near me in the first place. You're the only who fucking asked me to be nice. That was all your doing." He told me.
I laughed cynically. "If it was all my doing, then why the fuck did you take her to prom? Huh? Why her?" I asked, trying to swallow back my emotions.
He sighed, "I didn't. I never even went to prom. My dad had a fucking event in Seattle and forced us all to attend. Who the fuh-" He began to say only for his eyes to grow angry and for him to drop his head, "I guess I deserved that after everything I told her." He mumbled to himself before looking up at me. "I'm sorry. This is all a misunderstanding, Bee. The pain she caused you is my fault." He told me.
"How is it your fault?" I asked, confused, tilting my head to the side as I stared up at him.
"When she asked me to prom, I told her I wouldn't take her if she was the last girl in school available. I told her I've rather lose my dick than fucking take her. When she asked me why I preferred you over her. I told her the truth. You're the greatest person I know, selfless, loving, caring. She's nothing but conceited, selfish, and pigheaded. She told me I would regret it. I guess I now know what she meant." He explained, rubbing the back of his neck shyly.
I frowned, "She told me you were taking her. She said that you two even got a room at the hotel where prom was supposed to take place." I mentioned.
He nodded, "That day at lunch I had just gotten back from turning in a paper to Mr. Berty and homework to Mr. Varner. She smiled at me, and I swear my stomach dropped when I saw you running out of the cafeteria. I tried to chase after you but fucking Jasper and Tyler got in the way. When I went to your house that night, your dad told me he wanted me to stay away from you. Starting that second." He whispered.
I nodded, "Makes sense." I mumbled before shaking my head, as I realized that we had been standing outside of my building.
I sighed and pulled the keys out and walked in.
"Where are you going?" He asked me.
"To dry off before I get the cold of death. Now, are you going to stay down here or are you coming up?" I asked as my hands shakingly jammed the key into the keyhole and turned.
I heard him sigh and follow me up to my apartment. As soon as I walked through the front door, I made my way down the hall and into my room.
"Guest bathroom is down the hall. Shower and leave your clothes outside the bathroom and I'll wash and dry them," I called back.
I then showered in a hurry, before changing into my flannel pajama bottoms, and a plain white t-shirt. Rushing out and gathering the wet clothes before heading to throw everything into the washer.
I lent him a pair of oversized sweats, and a t-shirt from the Forks P.D, which I got from my dad. Then proceeding to head into the kitchen to grab myself a drink, chugging down a shot of tequila before moving to the living room to sit down.
"Hey.." He mumbled as I sat down.
"Hey." I mumbled as I pulled my throw blanket around myself and pulled my feet up to my chest.
"So, what have you been doing all this time?" He asked.
"Maturing, working on myself mainly. Working at the hospital that's three miles from here." I told him.
He nodded as he sighed as he ran a hand through his short hair. A small chain, and the dogtags swung forward in the air as he leaned forward, clasping his hands in the air between his slightly parted legs.
I raised a brow as I eyed them. "Soldier, huh? What happened to becoming a doctor or lawyer like your parents?" I asked as I ignored the look on his face.
"I did go to medical school, eventually, but I was so depressed that I ended up dropping out." He informed me.
I sighed, "Why would you do that? You worked so hard to get into it and you let the opportunity go. You messed up your entire life." I whispered.
He shook his head, "I didn't realize it at the time but that was something that needed to happen… I was very unhappy. I'm happier now than I have been." He informed me.
I nodded, smiling at him, "I'm glad you're feeling okay, when do you go back?" I asked him.
He sighed, "A week after New Year's." He said as he looked down at something on the coffee table.
My eyes followed his line of sight and then my eyes widened as I saw it was an old picture of our group of friends which I had taken out of the photo album I had and planned to throw away.
"You still have it?" He asked jutting to the picture.
I nodded as I pulled the chain out of my shirt, "I couldn't bear the thought of parting from it." I whispered as he reached out and touched the small heart-shaped diamond solitaire.
"Remember how much I had to beg you to accept it?" He asked me.
I nodded, my face flushing as I looked down at my lap.
"So, you're a nurse?" He asked me, as he pointed to the picture of my parents and me smiling widely as I held my official certification.
My mother was so proud of me she wouldn't stop crying when the ceremony finished.
I nodded, looking at the last picture I had of me and my parents before they passed.
"How are Charlie and Renee doing?" He asked me.
I looked down, "They're… they're gone. They have been for four years." I whispered, blinking rapidly.
He moved quickly to my side and pulled me into a fierce hug. "I'm so sorry for your loss, sweet bee." He told me.
I felt the tears I'd been holding back fell as I allowed myself to relax in his arms.
When the tears finally stopped, I pulled away, and looked at him. His expression was showing concern as his mesmerizing green eyes watched me.
I needed to busy myself. I knew I did before I did something stupid.
"Do you want something to drink?" I asked him, as I stood up quickly and headed to the kitchen.
"Sure…" He told me as he followed me to the kitchen.
I pulled out two bottles of beer and handed him one as I went to get a glass.
He mumbled a quiet thanks before twisting the cap off and chugging a good portion of it as I led him to the stools by the counter.
As the night progressed, we began sharing memories from our times in Forks. Eventually, the night blended together.
The next morning, we woke up in my bed, fully hung over, in the same bed. It was clear to us what had happened. Yet we didn't utter a single word, opting to lay there instead. We stared at each other, as he wordlessly slid his hand into mine, intertwining our fingers together as we did, smiling at each other.
I opened my mouth but he shook his head at me, "This wasn't a mistake." He interjected.
I frowned, "It was. I mean, you're leaving soon… we shouldn't have done this..." I whispered.
He sat up, and my eyes were immediately glued to his chest, full of tattoos. My mind went blank for a few seconds before I blinked and looked up and realized he was smirking at me. "I'm sorry were you saying something?" I asked, blinking again.
"Yes. I was, actually. I was telling you that I want to pursue something. I don't want this to be a one time thing. That I want this to work. I really missed you. I don't want to lose you again. I can't." He told me as he placed his palms on the surface of the bed and leaned back. "So, what do you say?" He asked.
I gave him a small smile before nodding. My mind was wondering if this was the correct thing to do. "How long will you be gone?" I asked, as I grabbed a t-shirt and pulled it over my body.
"Two years." He told me.
I swallowed hard before nodding, and looking down at my hands, fiddling with them nervously.
"Hey, look at me, Be. You and me? We're solid. Nothing will separate us. I promise." He told me.
I nodded, as I bit my lower lip, as he sighed and pulled me into a hug. "I promise you. I will come back to you. Always." He whispered again.
We laid there for a while, before he sighed and told me that needed to go back to his apartment to get a few things, "Do you want to come?" He asked me.
I raised a brow, but realized he was just trying to prolong our time together before having to head to his parents house in Hoquiam. "How far is it?" I asked.
"On third and spruce." He told me.
I sighed as we got out of bed, and changed my clothes.
Remembering that his clothes were in the drier. I went to retrieve them and hand them to him with an amused smile, "Here." I whispered as he pulled on his black t-shirt, and the light gray button down before slipping on his boxers and pants.
He asked me to drive, and I happily obliged after stopping to get coffee and a breakfast sandwich from Oonie's Diner two blocks away. His apartment was down the same road.
Being with him felt as easy as breathing. As we made our way down the street, he held my hand and told me the reason why he joined the military.
As it turns out, a friend of his, Garrett, had told him about his experience, and since Edward had just come out of his depression and was essentially living with his parents when he decided to sign up himself. Though his parents didn't agree with his choice they supported him. He acquired the apartment a few months ago. But is hardly home due to being on active duty.
As we walked into the apartment, I was surprised to the a familiar bunny sitting on the shelf.
I turned to see him flushing red as he rubbed the back of his neck embarrassed.
"You have it?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. "Why do you still have it?"
"Of course, I do, I had to keep the one thing that reminded me of you." He mumbled as I stood on my tiptoes and reached up to get the familiar raggedy old rabbit my Nana Marie gave me.
"I'm sorry I never gave it back to you." He whispered.
I hugged it to my chest as I shook my head. "It's alright, I had hoped that he was in good care when we didn't find him." I whispered.
"He has been. He went to college with me. Came back and has been here since I've got this place." He told me.
I frowned, a sudden thought occurred to me. "How often are you here?" I asked him.
He frowned, "Two weeks maybe three out of the entire year. My lease is up next week, I'm debating whether or not to renew it." He told me, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
A smile pulled at my face as I looked up at him thoughtfully, "Why don't you put your things in my spare bedroom? I mean, you're not here half the time. It's a waste of money to be paying rent, and utilities for this place while you're gone most of the time. I have a spare bedroom, I don't use it, well, I use it as an art room but you can use it if you want." I told him.
He raised a brow at me, "Are you sure?" He asked.
I nodded, "Yes, I mean, if you want, I don't mind. It is your money after all." I told him.
He nodded, "If you're sure then I guess I think that's alright." He told me.
"When is your lease up?" I asked.
"Monday." He told me, as he got a thoughtful expression on his face.
I nodded, as I looked around, he showed me the kitchen, bathroom, and his room. All the rooms were furnished to the bare minimum.
"The furniture is second hand, so I can place it in a storage, the rest is my clothes and a few knick knacks in a box I've got." He told me as I looked around his room.
"You're going to need the bedroom furniture." I pointed out, with a smile.
"Yeah I know, smart ass. I think if I call Emmett and Jasper to come help me move that it can be done before Monday." He told me.
I frowned, "You kept in contact with everyone from Forks." I stated, unsurprised.
He looked at me confused, "No, just a few of them. Mike is the obvious one. Emmett is my cousin so, of course, I still talk to him, and Jasper is my best friend. Alice and Rose are their wives so that's another obvious." He told me.
I nodded. "What about Tanya and Lauren?" I asked.
He shook his head, "Nope. Last I heard Tanya got married to some guy named…Jacob? And Lauren married Tyler." He told me with a shrug.
I nodded before sighing and getting up, "I'll let you make the preparations for the move while I head back and organize the spare room. Call me if you need anything." I told him as he got up.