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This next chapter is going to take everyone's lives forward a couple of years.

Thanks giving was weird to say the least that year..I had decided to skip the basketball game and fain illness due to the fact that I didn't want to take anymore crap from the boys…Mike surprisingly understood and wasn't hurt at all that I missed the game, he just hoped I got better soon. We showed up at Emmet's & Edwards's parents' house for thanks giving dinner to say it was odd would be an understatement. Emmett, Edward, Jasper & I all tried to play nice but it wasn't working. I went in the kitchen to help my mom carry out some food when Edward came in; I noticed his left eye looked bruised & bloodshot. "Edward what happened to your eye?" I asked him. "Its nothing, it comes with playing basketball." "Oh…" I said looking down. "Bella." "Edward." We said at the same time. "You go." "No you go." "On Three."

"Sorry."

We looked at each other and laughed..this is the Edward and I that I remembered. We might have started out as Emmet's little brother and Emmet's best friend but I thought along the road we became friends at some point. "Bella, I'm sorry that I went at you that way, you know that I don't do that." "Its just .." He stepped back. "It's just you are important to me…umm and Emmett, Jasper and everyone else and I don't want to see you getting hurt." I looked at him. "Thank you Edward, but I am seeing clearly and I do see who my boyfriend is, what ever reputation he might have is just something that got blown out of portion. " I never stood in the way of Jasper or Emmet or you for that matter dating anyone and believe me I did have the veto power with Em & Jaz." I smiled. "So let me be a big girl and make my own choices ok?" He looked like he didn't agree but said "ok." The rest of the weekend was great. Every time I asked Mike if he wanted to do something with the guys or meet them, he said he was busy, I couldn't figure out why, he seemed so egger before the basketball game, so I figured the boys had done something brotherly that I would have to smooth over later.

**July 2001**

Mike & I had been dating for 3 years…wow it went by fast. In that time Emmet had been signed 5 years on top of his original 3 year contact with the modeling agency that he was with. Jasper had jammed through college getting his bachelors in 3 years and was now VP of public relations for his Uncles company. Edward and I had kept contact, we didn't bring up Mike we would email back and forth on movies, music, the economy, newest cars (he's a freak when it comes to cars) and just about anything else. He was working for the local animal hospital so that kept him pretty busy but we did seem to still be able to email 3-4times a week. I on the other had had finished my associates degree in social services and started working for the State of Washington. I was working 40hrs a week and Mike was working part time 15-20 hours a week at his grandfathers sporting equipment store and going to college at a leisurely pace. We were sitting on his bed one night in his apartment. I don't know why and I know that its not "normal" these days but I just kind of felt weird having sex before I got married, I mean even my own mother for petes sakes told me I needed to "test drive the goods" before I made that final commitment. Mike & I were watching TV sitting on his bed (funny he's the only person I knew that had one TV and it was in his room) but that's beside the point.

Mike looked over at me and said "Hey Bella, with your work you have really good health insurance don't you?" I looked back at him and said "Yeah I guess, why." "He said well grandpa is having to cut back and the first thing to go will be health benefits." I looked at him again, not really seeing what his point was, did he want to come work with the state like I had. "So I was thinking, do you wanna get married?" "I mean it's like we already are, we know were going to spend the rest of our lives together so what is a piece of paper." "Lets do it for the health benefits he said. " I looked at him like he was insane and thought why not, I do love him. The next day we went down to the jeweler store to pick out my ring (talk about cart before the horse) it was 2700.00 total and our payments were 85.00 a month…or more should I say my payment because for some odd reason I was the one who made them. I told my mother (via email) and my father (via phone) that we decided we were going to get married and we would be flying to reno to have a little ceremony.

My parents were pissed to say the least, but they both agreed it was my choice. I next had to inform my friends. I called Em & Jaz on a 3-way.

"Hey guys, long time no speak." I said

"Hey Jelly Bella." Em said to me, followed by a "Hey Asshat" to Jasper

"Hey little lady." Jasper said back to me and a "Hey Fucktard" aimed at Emmett

"Boys, Boys" I said. "I have some important news to tell you."

In unison

Jasper yelled "Your moving to Texas." & Emmet yelled "Your moving to Minnesota."

I giggled…"no you guys, I'm getting married."

SILENCE….

Emmet yelled "What?"

Jasper said "No fucking way Bella."

I sat there for a moment and then said "well I'm glad my very two best friends in the world are there to support me. Jasper spoke first "Bella, I know there is nothing I can say that will change your mind, you are stubborn and believe me after knowing you all these years I know that once your mind is made up you are not going to change it come Hell or High Water." "I just want you to make sure that you are making this decision for you and that you are not being forced into anything out of obligation." I was silent for a moment and said "thank you Jaz." Then Emmet spoke. "Bella, my dear sweet naïve little Bella, I love you like the sister I never had, but I need you to step back and look at all of your options. Mike is really the first person you've ever dated and I don't know for sure and I'm sure you'll say its none of my business, but he is probably the only person you've had a physical relationship with." I smirked. "Yeah that is none of your business." He signed. "What I'm trying to say is I agree with Jasper you need to step back and look at things, but I feel your stubbornness and loyalty is clouding your judgment in this current circumstance. " Once again I was pissed

"Why do you two feel like you can treat me this way, that you all of a sudden know all that there is to know about relationships, because correct me if I'm wrong but when is the last time either of you had something of a relationship that lasted longer than a month?"

Crickets…

"I thought so." I have to go I will call you guys with when and where it will be, I hope you guys will show up and at least support me in my decision."

That night Mike came over and I told him that I was upset from the reactions from everyone, he told me that all that mattered what the two of use and he wanted us to leave right then and go get married. I figured might as well. We didn't make it to Reno, hell we didn't even make it out of Port Angeles, we went and applied for a license the very next day and got married. That night we got a hotel room in Port Angeles it was called the Paradise Inn and in that $59.95 a night room I lost my virginity and set forth on my new life with Mike.

Please Review…I know I know I'm getting to the whole mike is an ass and everything in the next couple of chapters, I just really need you guys to understand the background story, I always hate reading things that feel like they are on fast-forward and skipping ahead too quickly :o)