Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight.
Thank you readers and reviewers, I love love love your input and your interest! The appearance of Jacob in the flesh...and his determination to win Bella's heart has some of you worried. Fear not! It's Edward she wants, it will ALWAYS be Edward. I promised you a HEA and I'll deliver it...we just need to get some misunderstandings out of the way first. And I PROMISE: there will be NO CHEATING! There will be the appearance of cheating and they will wonder about cheating...but that's the extent of it.
Now...on with the story. This chapter and the next one are brief...just to get us into their mindset and where they are in all this breakupfuckery. We still need the big reveal on who is going to help them get back together, too!
Chapter 9: Gone To Ground
PEACHTREE RD.
The hours turned into days and the days into weeks. Bella busied herself with business correspondence between herself and her management team. Luckily, she had no imminent recording plans, so the stress of learning new songs and booking studio time wasn't a factor in her calendar anytime in the near future.
The gossip columns were beginning to have a field day over speculation that the GREAT ROMANCE was on the rocks. Edward was not exactly known for his subtlety, and had been photographed by the paparazzi several times at well-known Los Angeles nightclubs, each time with a different model or actress. He never spoke to the press or gave a statement, but his silence was beginning to speak volumes. Bella had not been with him on his prior club crawls, and he had always been careful to be seen entering establishments with his crew of buddies in tow. Lately though, he made a point of being seen with a new and scantily clad beauty at every party place he frequented. She saw the photos splashed across the gossip pages and struggled to hold her tears at bay. It didn't take you long to get over me at all.
She remained sequestered in Atlanta, refusing all interviews and requests for television guest appearances. She knew from prior experience that the topic of conversation would be Edward and nothing of real substance to do with her career. Unless she had something specific to promote, she wasn't going to give the tabloids any fodder for their rumor mills. Her private life was going to remain private if she had any say in the matter.
Author Notes: Art imitating real life somewhat. Oh, the irony...