13

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to SM. The all human world that the character play in, belong to imperial violets.

A/N: It's been a while. Thanks again to all the readers who have reviewed and/or put me in their alerts/favs.

And most importantly I need to thank my dear beta Lady Gwynedd, for her super quick and awesome beta'ing

Enjoy,

iv

CHAPTER 8

Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty,

Sounds of their breath fades with the light.

I think about the loveless fascination,

Under the milky way tonight.

Wish I knew what you were looking for.

Might have known what you would find.

And its something quite peculiar,

Something that's shimmering and white.

Leads you here despite your destination,

Under the milky way tonight.

The Church – Under the Milky Way

While listening to her iPod, Bella sat on the front porch that evening thinking about everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.

Her eyes kept ghosting over Edward's driveway, hoping that his truck would miraculously appear out of nowhere. She still hadn't seen him after she gave up looking for him at the fair grounds a few hours ago.

When she got back home earlier, Leah and Seth were already there and Edward's truck was gone. She had no idea what to think. Was he mad at her or, disappointed? She felt like she needed to explain herself to him, but something told her that he wouldn't really care for an explanation.

She was furious at Jacob for putting her in this situation. How could he have done that? He knew better! Although it was never said, there was an invisible line between the two of them that was never crossed… until tonight. What made it worse was that he knew what he was doing and did it anyway. The ass managed to single her out and made her feel uncomfortable. He had never touched her like that, even when they were teasing Lauren and Jessica with false attention towards one another.

Things had definitely changed between them. Now she had another thing to add to the list of changes that had happened in Midland, a town that was not supposed to change. Charlie seemed very guarded lately and Sue didn't act like herself even if Bella considered Sue's pregnancy into the equation. Emmett had turned into a jerk and Lauren and Jessica had become meaner. The only two changes that Bella accepted was Edward being here and the fact that Jasper and Alice were finally together. Even if it meant that she saw less of them, she was happy for the couple.

Bella was startled out of her thoughts when Charlie sat down beside her and held out a fleece blanket. She quickly took out one of her ear buds in order to hear him.

"You could use this, it's getting cooler," he said handing Bella the blanket.

"Thanks." Bella quickly wrapped the blanket around her, only realizing then how cool it had gotten. She resumed her original position and stared at the moon

"I've never seen you this idle before, Bella, is anything the matter?"

"Nothing really, just thinking," she hummed.

"Anything in particular?" he asked, trying to engage her in a conversation.

Bella looked over at Charlie and shrugged she didn't feel like talking to Charlie at the moment, even though he looked eager to have a father daughter talk and offer up advice.

"I just had a bad day and I really want to forget about it."

Charlie nodded, and knew not to pry any further. Instead, he just sat with her and kept her company while Bella's thoughts drifted all over.

"I can't believe so much has changed over the past year," Bella whispered to herself, forgetting that Charlie was beside her.

"Here, in Midland?" Charlie asked, startling her again.

Bella nodded slightly.

"Everything changes, Bella, sometimes you don't notice it because you change right a long with it. Other times you take a different route… that's when you notice the differences."

"I'm still me," she grumbled.

Charlie chuckled. "Yes, you're still you, but you have changed."

"How so?" she asked skeptically.

"Well, first you're not my baby girl secondly, you're old enough to make your own choices. Choices that take you in different directions that other people didn't expect you to go. Hence, change."

Bella shook her head, "I don't like."

"You think I like the fact that my daughter is going off to school to start an independent life away from her family? But, that's life and we need to adapt in order to survive."

Bella rolled her eyes at Charlie.

"I'm being serious here," he replied defensively.

Bella smiled at him, "No, you're being a dad."

"What does that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. I just missed this," she replied waving her hand between the two of them.

"Me too, Bella."

Her father was about to say something else when Leah and Seth ran out the door and interrupted them.

"Daddy, let's go! The fireworks are going to start soon," Leah said in an urgent voice, obviously not wanting to miss a thing.

"Alright, alright," Charlie laughed and got up from his seat beside Bella. "Are interested in coming with us to see the fireworks," he asked.

"No, I'm too tired and besides," she said stifling a yawn, "I'll be able to see some of it from here."

Charlie laughed and confirmed her fatigue. "I don't think you'll make it more than halfway through the show."

Sue ushered Seth and Leah, who were waiting impatiently, off the front porch.

"Goodnight, Bella," she called out to her.

Bella acknowledged her with a smile and a wave.

"Dad! Let's go!" Leah yelled, before Sue scolded her.

"Goodnight honey," Charlie said and kissed her on the top of her head, probably out of habit from having two small kids again, "Don't stay up too late."

"I won't. Goodnight, Dad."

She watched the happy family walk down the street until the disappeared from sight by turning the corner.

As tired as Bella was, she had too much to think about that she gave up her attempt to go to bed, knowing it would be in vain because she already knew she would have another sleepless night ahead of her. She also gave up waiting for Edward. It was the fourth of July, so he probably would get back late.

She sat and listened to the quiet. Having had enough after a few minutes, she put her ear buds back in, wrapped the blanket around her, and with a huff decided to walk to the Town Hall to join the fourth of July festivities.

On here way there, she hoped that she would bump into Alice and hopefully pull her away from Jasper long enough to talk to her. If not, maybe Rose would be around to talk to and at the same time disprove Bella's theory by acknowledging that she did have too much too drink last night.

Halfway to town, the eruption from the fireworks display started. The loud cracks and pops, accompanied by the burst and streams of various colors lit up the night sky. She smiled with amazement at the simplicity that something so old could create something so grand.

She began to hear the 'ohhs' and 'ahhs', when she approached the Town Hall.

While the fireworks were going off, the people of Midland congregated on the green outside the hall.

Bella saw a few people from town that she recognized and could have easily joined their company, but she wasn't in the mood to speak with anyone. Instead, she stayed off to the side hid under one of the old maple trees that lined the perimeter of the property.

She sat down and took out her iPod to choose some songs from her playlist to accompany the fire works.

Bella was content for a while until a figure a few trees away grabbed her attention. Victoria Hewitt, an old neighbor of hers, was standing there by herself, looking disappointed. She was a year older than Bella, but they did go to high school together even after she moved from town three years ago.

Before Bella got up to approach her to say hi, Victoria's face lit up in a genuine smile. Bella turned towards her gaze to an approaching figure, who soon turned out to be Edward.

He drew closer to Victoria sheepishly and they exchange a few words. Unfortunately, the blasts from the fireworks and the fact that they were practically whispering, didn't allow for Bella to make out a word they said to each other.

Victoria coyly pulled Edward by his shirt and carefully backed away into the maple. Judging by the body language, Bella didn't need to hear them to know what they intended. They were in a game of lust.

Edward had her blocked between the tree and him, playing with a strand of her red curly hair.

So that was Edward's type, Bella thought to herself. Victoria wasn't pretty or cute, like Bella was, she was beautiful and completely opposite in physic to Bella's. She was tall, curvy, and had a snow-white complexion. There wasn't even one freckle on that girl probably from diligently protecting herself from any sun damage from the day she was born. Bella also knew that she had emerald green eyes that matched Edwards, even though it was to dark and too far to see.

Bella didn't want to watch what was happening. Not only did she feeling like a peeping Tom, encroaching on their privacy, but also, she was getting a little jealous and she knew that she couldn't express that feeling. Edward and Bella had nothing between them other than a platonic, neighborly relationship.

She wanted to leave—wanted to leave them alone in the seclusion they thought they had. But if she stood up now, Edward would notice her and it would only add to her embarrassment.

Bella had no other choice but to set her eyes on the sky to watch the fireworks and pretend that she hadn't even noticed them in the first place. As much as she tried, every now and again, some movement passed in her peripheral vision, which forced Bella to turn her head, only to see them with their hands all over each other.

Eventually, it became too much and finally an opportune moment came when they were heavily making out and Edward's back faced Bella.

She wrapped herself tighter in her blanket, to further conceal herself and got up, moving very quickly to distance herself from the couple.

When she was far enough away, she turned her head back to determine is she was noticed by them. Of course she wasn't. Victoria was busy sucking Edward's face, and Edward was groping her ass with one hand, while the other was up the back of her shirt.

Bella must have stared too long when she continually moved away from them and it caused her to bump into a hard body.

"Sorry." She mumbled and turned away from the body without looking who it was. She was embarrassed enough.

She heard the familiar amusement in the voice right away.

"Smart guy. I didn't think he'd fight fire with fire," Jacob said, "I guess all's fair in love and war. How about we beat him at his own game."

Before Bella had a chance to protest, Jacob embraced her in a tight hug. It wasn't as bad as before, but she was still furious with him.

"I told you not to touch me," She yelled, removing herself from his embrace.

"Shit, Bella, now I'm really in trouble," he stated.

Yes, you are. I'm still mad at you!"

"That's not what I meant."

"Bella?" Edward called out to her before she had a chance to ask Jacob what he meant.

She quickly turned around, and forced herself not to blush. "Edward, hi," she choked out, hoping she was far enough away from their spot so it wouldn't look obvious that she saw them.

"Is everything alright?" Edward asked, while he looked at Jacob accusingly.

"Y- yeah," she sputtered.

"You sure? I heard you scream." His eyes were on hers now, staring intently and waiting for her to tell the truth.

"Yeah, I'm sure – Jake… Just, um… he startled me."

He looked unconvinced, especially when Jacob tried to create a united front and took a hold of Bella's hand only to have Bella quickly pull away from him.

Edward sighed and came closer to her. "Can you excuse of for a moment?" he asked Jacob, although it sounded like a demand.

Jacob wordlessly backed away with his hands raised in surrender.

Bella didn't know what Edward wanted from her. Was he going to ask her if she saw anything? Just thinking about it caused her to blush and her embarrassment grew stronger from the awkward situation.

When Edward felt that Jacob was out of earshot, he continued, "Bella," he said calmly, but his jaw was clenched in anger, telling a Bella that he was mad at something, "Don't make excuses for him. You know better than that. If he did anything you didn't like, tell me now and I'll take care of it."

Bella looked back at Jacob. Yes, he did do something that she didn't like, but it wasn't something that was worth Jacob getting beat up over, and with Edward's body language, she did believe that was his intent.

"No, I put him in his place already for startling me," she replied, failing to even convince herself.

He nodded, "Let me drive you home then."

"No. I'm fine, really."

Bella distracted herself from his concerned expression by looking over his shoulder. She saw Victoria standing a few yards away from them looking worriedly at her. Bella gave her a meek smile and half wave to let her know she was okay, before she focused back on Edward.

"Your girlfriend is waiting for you," Bella told him as evenly as possible.

Edward glanced over his shoulder. "She's n… never mind. Are you sure you don't need a drive home?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," she answered quietly.

Edward nodded more so to acknowledge her stubbornness than her answer. "I'll see you tomorrow, Bella." He turned to walk away, but he abruptly stopped and turned back. "Can I see your cell phone for a second?"

Without asking why, she hesitantly handed it to him.

"I want you to call me if you need me," he told her when he was done with her phone and handed it back with his number programmed in it. Edward took a looked over at Jacob and then back down at Bella. "I meant it."

"Okay."

Edward went back to Victoria, and wave one last time to Bella before he threw an arm over her shoulder and walked away somewhere more private.

"Looks like you got his number, that's a good start," Jacob said as he approached her.

"Shut it, Jake," she said and slapped him on the back of his head, "He was ready to kick your ass."

"I know, so, thanks for that."

They stood their silently together, looking at the people milling about. The firework show was over and people were saying their goodbyes and getting ready to go home.

"We cool?" Jacob asked her seriously.

Bella sighed. "Ask me again tomorrow."

"How about tonight?" he retorted, "Come over to my house tonight. Lauren and Jessica are at the lake tonight so it will be just the six of us."

"Rose is going to be there?" Bella asked surprised.

"Of course, why wouldn't she?"

"I thought…"

"Bella, you worry too much," he chuckled. "So are you in?"

"No. I'll see you tomorrow Jake."

He nodded with disappointment and didn't bother persuading her any further, "Goodnight Bella," he said as she walked away.

On her way back she bumped into Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Rose, who looked a lot better from the night before. When Alice asked her if she was joining them Bella made her excuse that she was tired and needed to get to bed.

Bella didn't fail to notice the concerned look on Emmett's face when she left them, but it was only halfway home that she realized that Edward looked at her the same way tonight. It was then that she realized that not only was she not Edward's type, but there wasn't even the smallest chance of getting together. Edward was concerned for her the same way that Emmett was and that was as friend and protector.

A/N:

So what did you think? looks like Bella was wrong about Rose and Edward doesn't seem interested in Bella. The poor girl can't get break, or maybe she will in the next chapter. How does a nice day by the lake with Edward next chapter? Let me know.

updates and information:

I have youtube links to all the songs featured in this story, check them out. Also, in the next little bit I'll be posting links to samples of the art the Edward and Bella paint.

For those of you on Story Alert, I have started two new stories. The summaries and prologues to Austenesque and Shelter from the Storm can be found in my stories.

Finally, Law of Superposition is complete and I have it now edited and posted over at Twilighted. A special thank you goes out to my Validation Beta Robbsweetangel for the super quick validations.

I have nothing more to say.

Until next time,

iv