Hey look, and update! Schools back in and it sucks as usual so I plan on cheering both you and myself up by posting this chapter. Thank you for any reviews or alerts you left me. They always make me smile. (They also motivate me to write. *wink wink*)

Plans

When Bella got home, she filled the refrigerator and pantry with fare and grabbed one of her many books that were scattered about the house. She went outside with a blanket and sat in the patio chair next to the flower bed she liked to take care of. There was absolute silence. No birds chirping, no squirrels playing in the yard. Just the sound of the wind and her breathing. As cheesy as she knew it all looked and sounded, she felt she had a content lifestyle. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough for her.

A couple hours and a finished book later, she started making dinner for her husband who would come home at six. She grabbed the box of pasta she had gotten earlier and thought of Edward. She had almost forgotten about him, and this reminded her to check with Tyler if her new friend could join them for dinner on Thursday. Friday's tended to be a night when Tyler came home drunk.

She heard Tyler's car pull into the garage and Bella wiped off her hands on the dish towel. Her husband walked through the door. He was dark skinned and built, though you couldn't tell through his suit and tie. He wrapped her into a hug, kissed the top of her head and breathed in heavily.

"It's always nice to come home to an amazing wife cooking," he laughed. That was routine, he said it everyday he came home from work. He went to the bedroom to change from his work clothing while Bella finished up cooking. When Tyler came back in, she handed him a plate of food and went into the living room to watch television. Bella followed behind him.

"How was your day today?" Tyler said once he found a channel that satisfied him.

"It was fine. I met someone that just moved to town." Bella bit her bottom lip and twirled the spaghetti on her fork, not knowing why she felt nervous.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, seemed really nice. I was hoping we could invite 'em to dinner this Thursday. You know, a welcome to the neighborhood sort of thing?" Her statement came out more like a question.

Tyler shifted in his seat and turned around to look at her from the recliner. "Thursday?" he asked, looking at her in the eyes.

Bella swallowed. "Uh-huh."

"Perfectly fine with me," he turned back around to look at the TV. "I don't know why you feel you would have to ask. Could you remind me the night before though? You know how forgetful I am."

Bella let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding in. Why would he hurt her for such a thing? "Sure. I'll make sure to call tomorrow and work out the details." Bella saw Tyler nod in front of her.

After they both finished, Bella rinsed off their plates and utensils, placed them in the dishwasher and got ready to go to bed. She didn't even read. Usually she didn't go to bed as early as seven thirty, but she was always tired the day after. It was strange how everything went back to normal so quickly, as if nothing happened. Bella didn't question Tyler though. He really did have a terrible memory, and being intoxicated couldn't help it.

While laying in bed, she thought about all the things she didn't do; pick up the dry-cleaning, do the laundry, call Jacob back and talk to him, but she needed a day to relax. It could all be done the next day anyhow. The last thing on her to-do list before she fell asleep was to call Edward.

She was unconscious before her husband came to bed.

~'-*-'~

Bella woke up around ten the next morning. Rather energized, she hopped out of bed and went to take a shower. Her bruises were already healing, another sign it hadn't been that bad the other night. Knowing she would have to go out today, she grabbed another long-sleeved tee. She threw a load of clothes in the washer and left to go to the dry cleaners down the road.

She called Jake back when she got back to the house. It rung two times before she heard Jacob's voice.

"Took you long enough Bella," he answered.

"Hi to you too, Jacob."

"So what happened to you yesterday?"

Bella paused. "I knocked a few boxes of pasta to the ground."

"That's it? Not surprising at all." Jacob sounded busy.

"Well I hit hands with this guy and I would look like a bitch if I just kept going on my way."

"So why didn't you call me back then?" Jacob questioned with a little amusement in his voice.

She started speaking quickly. "We started talking and he was wondering where the Starbucks was because he is new in town, so we talked over coffee." Her sentences jumbled into a fragment.

"Are you trying to replace me Swan?" he said, mock hurt and astonishment in his voice.

"It's been Crowely for a while now Black." Jacob grunted and Bella continued with a smile on her lips. "And I'm sorry, but I really didn't know how to tell you that you had been demoted."

"Yeah, well I'm glad to hear you finally made a friend after three years."

"It's been two and a half, thank you very much."

"Sure, sure Bells," Bella heard someone, Lizzie probably, in the background while Jacob muffled the phone. "Hey, I have to go Bella. We are meeting Lizzie's parents in Seattle and we have to get to our plane on time."

"Seattle? Are you staying for a while? You better stop in to say hi to me Jacob Black," she demanded. If he was already so close, she might as well see him.

"I think we come back Friday afternoon," she could hear Jacob rustling around. "When we touch ground in Seattle, I'll call you to see what we can work out."

"Okay, tell Lizzie I say hello. I'll let you go now."

"Why thank you for your permission Mrs. Crowley. I promise to call you back as soon as I can" he said, his voice thick with sarcasm.

"Goodbye Jacob," she refuted with a faux irritation. She loved her best friend.

Tell me if you like it. Leave a review, make it a story alert, whatever floats your boat. I'm gracious to all the people who do. =)

I'm working on chapter 5 now.

Music: Franz Ferdinand, Dashboard Confessional

The upcoming chapter: Calls.