Chapter 2 - Engagement Ties

Bella POV

"Bella, I erm well…" Jake looked into my eyes for a few, long seconds before getting out of his seat and going down on one knee in front of me.

Oh God no. This is a dream! Please tell me that this is a dream! But it wasn't a dream. "Jake, what are you doing?" The words trembled out of my mouth.

Suddenly the lights were dimmed, and everyone in the crappy little restaurant was staring straight at me and Jake. All I could hear was the heavy beating of my heart in my chest and my loud breathing, matching it perfectly.

"Bella Swan." Jake grabbed my left hand from me and held it. "I love you. It's as simple as. I always have done and I always will do. Forever and always. That is how us is going to be, I promise. So please Bella, marry me." It wasn't a question, more of a demand. The whole speech was a sick, promise of the imprisonment of my life to Jake, forever.

I froze. I could feel the stares of everyone looking at us… no at me. What was I meant to say? No? No I hate the way you treat me like shit? I'm only with you because of my psychotic mother and dead father? How could I say that? No, I went with what my brain told me to say. "Yes, I will."

The whole room erupted from its silence into a massive applause. I tried to put on the best smile possible, and tried to breathe when Jacob lifted me from my chair and into a bone-crushing hug. An act was all it was. Recently it felt like that was all my life was at the moment; a big, endless act. And I was fed up of being an actress.

~STSY~

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" screamed Renee, my Mum, as soon as I entered the front room. "Bella! Oh my goodness! At last! Well come on, let's see the ring!" I didn't even remember Jake putting a ring on my finger; the last half an hour had just been a complete blur and my head hadn't stopped spinning. But, sure enough, as Renee lifted up my left hand, I saw that there on the second finger in from the left was a massive diamond. Eurgh. I hated rings and jewellery like this, the flashy type. Did I want people to know so badly that I was engaged? "Wow! It's beautiful and so big! Jake must have spent lots!"

"Sure did, anything for my Bella." Jakes husky voice spoke, from behind me as he circled his arms around my waist and pulled me into his chest, so my back was pressed right up into it. It was a movement Jake performed regularly, to really show that I was his Bella and no one else's. It made me sick.

I tried to smile, though I knew that it didn't reach my eyes; luckily Renee didn't see. Not that she would have cared.

"This causes for celebration! Where's the champagne!" she cried out, as she flung her arms helplessly in the air and ran out of the room into the kitchen.

I sighed, before breaking myself out of Jacobs grip and racing after her. Alcohol was a very bad thing for Renee at the moment. Ever since Charlie had died last year, in a car crash, Renee had never quite been the same. Being drunk 24/7 was one of the after-effects, but also just not being her- not at all. She had been such a caring, happy, playful person. Now she was either drunk off of her head, or a controlling bitch. She was worse then Jacob about who I 'belonged' to; she made it so that Jake and I spent as much time as possible together. She never cared about my feelings anymore or about me really. We never spent time together and we never talked anymore. It was like she'd switched around with herself from a parallel universe- she was in everyway completely different to her old self. I tried to get her to get professional help, but oh boy, that did not end well.

"Mum! Come on; you know you can't drink alcohol!" I pulled back her arm, before she entered the kitchen.

"Oh sweetie, one glass won't hurt dear!" She laughed, as she tried to struggle from my grip.

Luckily I was stronger then her. "Mum, one drink will lead to two, then three then God knows what!"

"Bella, you have just got engaged! We need some way to celebrate!" Renee said a lot more sternly, almost scaring me.

"Alcohol isn't the way Mum!" I shouted back.

"Why can't it be?" An evil chuckle from behind me interrupted us. "Bella, your Mum is perfectly capable of looking after herself! Quit interfering!" Oh yes and the other thing: Jake and Renee always teamed up against me.

I looked up at Jake in complete shock, as he untwined my hands around from Renee's wrists and helped her get the very old champagne bottle out.

"Wait!" I called out.

"What now Bella?" Jake sighed.

"That's… that's Charlie's! We can't use that!" I pleaded.

"Bella, your father was keeping it for a special occasion! He would have used it now!" Renee bitterly smiled back at me. The sound of my mother's voice made me want to puke; the way she talked about him like he was nothing… like he'd always been nothing. I knew that Renee had adored Charlie; her life had only been complete when she was with him and I still couldn't believe that she was acting this way about him.

I just shook my head. "Mum, what… what have you become?"

"Oh poor little Bella, always overreacting! Now lighten up and drink some of this! You just got engaged for Christ's sake! You should be happpyy!" At the moment I felt anything, but happy. Actually, I couldn't even remember the last time that I did feel truly happy and at ease.

"No. I'm not thirsty," I half lied.

"Well whatever. Woah Jake!" she screamed as he accidentally poured some champagne over her as he opened the bottle up.

"Jake! It's, everywhere!" I complained, as I walked over to where they were and started to wipe away some of the spilt champagne.

"Bella, please relax! We can clean it up in the morning!" Jake put a warm hand over my frantic one which was mopping the floor up with a piece of kitchen tissue.

"The morning? Jake I have work tomorrow; I need to wake up in my own house!" I complained, while standing up.

"Aww come on! Neither of us are going to be able to drive home!" Jake pointed out.

"I don't want to drink," I replied, folding up my arms stubbornly.

"Come on Jake, just leave her. More for us!" Renee grabbed Jakes shoulder and tried to turn him around. But Jake didn't move; he just stared at me for a while, before sighing and turning around.

I sat down at one of the kitchen bar stools, watching Jake and Renee pour down glasses of champagne. Jake, though, kept looking up and checking on me, while giving me weird looks. He knew something was up but he just couldn't figure out what- especially with the alcohol in his body. Though both were still quite sober… for now at least.

"Bella!" Renee randomly shouted, running over towards me with her hands in the air. "You and Jake's wedding is going to be utterly amazing! And big! We will invite everyone!"

"No Mum, you know I only ever wanted a small wedding- a few close friends and family. You know I hate the attention and fuss!" I moaned.

"Don't be so silly! Your wedding day is meant to be the best of your life! We must start organising it immediately! Better still, your Dad left you a load of money for your wedding! We can buy someone to organise it!" Renee squealed in delight.

I sighed, knowing that when Renee was in this state, there was no way I could speak to her properly. "Mum, let's talk about this later, yeah?" I pleaded.

"Bella you're such a bore! It's not like someone died; you just got engaged!" Renee threw her hands in the air dramatically before walking into the lounge with the whole bottle of champagne.

I could feel the traitor tears start to build up in my eyes, but refused to let them fall. My Mum shouldn't be making me feel like this, not at all.

"Babe, you know she's trying to help. She's had a rough year." Jacob spoke softly, walking towards me.

"Yeah she has a grand way of showing it! Jake she's cried once; for one week after Charlie died she was depressed! After that she's been acting like nothing's wrong! It hurts to see her like that…" I trailed off.

Jake sighed, before leaning over me and encircling his warm, strong arms around me, so that my face was tucked nicely into his muscled chest. "Babe, people deal with things differently. Renee turned to drink, which wasn't a wise move- but at least she's getting better now?"

I couldn't help but love this Jacob, when he was my Jake. Around anyone else, he built this wall around him and acted completely differently- but when it was just us alone, he let all of his guards down and showed the world what a genuine guy he really was. But could I put up with his changing attitudes for the rest of my life? The way him and Renee always ganged up on me? But alone… he was so different.

Jake nestled his face in my hair and started kissing the top of my head. "Try being happy, it's like you don't want to marry me."

"I will. I do. Of course I do Jake. It's just, when she's like this! I can't be happy!" I mumbled into his chest.

"Always the worrier Bells," Jake chuckled. "She'll be fine Bella. She just needs her fun! Charlie wouldn't want to see her unhappy! Or you!"

"I guess." I sighed.

"Aww!" squealed Renee, from somewhere behind me. "Look at you two love birds! So sweet!"

Jake gently released me, but held onto my hand; I liked the warmth it gave me. I smiled sweetly at Renee, deciding to take some of Jake's advice.

"My daughter! So grown up! Brings a tear to my eye!" Renee rushed over to where I was sitting and pulled me into a tight hug. I used to love Renee's hugs; they had been filled with such warmth and compassion. Now, though, I hardly ever received one unless she was drunk, like now…

"Eh Mum, I'm not that old!" I pointed out, causing Jake to laugh from behind me.

"I know, I know! Just wow… getting married." Renee let go of me and brushed a fallen lock of hair from my face.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked, suspicious of her sudden change of attitude.

"Well… I have some news!" She jumped up and down like a little girl- like my old Renee.

I eyed her suspiciously. What now? "Which is…?"

"Well, I was out- last week- and I met this guy, Phil. Bella you should know him! He trains the baseball club at Forks school!"

I nodded, remembering passing Phil in the staff room- at Forks school, where I worked as a teaching assistant.

"Well, we started talking! At a club in town." Renee's other hobby she'd picked up after Charlie's death was clubbing. "And, well, we went for a few drinks, blah blah! And Bella he's so nice! And kind of coming around in 5 minutes!"

I could feel my whole body shake. I knew that it had happened a year ago, but a new man, so soon? Renee hadn't even properly grieved over Charlie! How could she do this? What new woman was she turning into? Because whoever it was, I already hated her.

"Renee, that's great!" I heard Jake say from behind me.

I shook my head at her and stormed out of the room, removing my hand very viciously from Jake's. So many different emotions were built up inside me, anger, hurt, sadness but most of all betrayal. Betrayal to my father! Of course I expected that one day she'd find a new man, but when she was in this state and so soon? No.

"Bella!" I heard Jake's voice and footsteps following me up the stairs. I knew that Jake was faster than me so would probably catch me up pretty soon, but I still stormed as fast as I could up the rickety stairs to my old bedroom door.

"Bella!" He'd finally reached me and grabbed my shoulder to turn me around just as I was reaching out for my door handle. I could feel the traitor tears had fallen this time, but I didn't care anymore.

He swiftly pulled me into another vice tight hug, but wasn't he just on Renee's side? "Baby don't cry," he soothed me. "What about what we were just talking about, huh? As long as Renee's happy, right?" I knew that, but surely this was completely different?

"C-ch-charllieee!" was all I could blurt out.

"Bella, please be reasonable! It was a year ago and Charlie would be happy for your Mum!" Jacob grabbed onto my shoulders and pushed me gently away from his chest so that he could stare into my face. "Don't cry, honey. You should be happy! Please, for me." Jake started to wipe away the tears from my face.

The doorbell went from downstairs, with a small squeal from Renee following it. I took a deep breath and nodded at Jake. Maybe Phil was mature, and could be a good thing for Renee? Start to help her get back on her feet, maybe?

"That's my girl." Jake grabbed my hand and helped me walk down the stairs.

As soon as we got down them, we saw Renee and another - very much younger than Renee - man, snogging each others' faces off. It made me feel sick, and not just because I was seeing my Mum kiss someone.

"Mum, please!" I cried out.

Instantly Renee giggled, like a child, but pulled slowly away from Phil- but never leaving the protective cove of his arms around her. "Bella, this is Phil. Phil, my daughter Bella!" All of this was said with Renee never looking away from Phil's eyes.

I mumbled a hello, while Phil turned to stare at me. He looked at me up and down before licking his lips and letting go of Renee. I thought he wanted to shake my hand, so being nice I extended mine towards him. Phil just pushed it away though and instead gave me a big hug. I uselessly put one arm around him, feeling sick because of the disgusting smell of his overpowering aftershave. I felt his head move so that his lips were by my ear, as he whispered, "Very nice to meet you Bella. Renee has told me so many good things about you." The tone of his voice gave me shivers down my back, making me instantly push him away from me.

I looked over to see that Renee and Jake were in a conversation so did not see any of what just happened. I sighed.

"How old are you?" I couldn't help but ask him.

Phil laughed momentarily, before slyly winking at me and running a hand through his greasy brown hair. "28," he replied.

I slowly nodded. "So why would you want to be dating a 45 year old?" It was like I had no filter; I just couldn't help it.

Phil shrugged his shoulders. "Guess the older ladies do it for me."

"I hope that you weren't referring to me then! I am not old!" Renee laughed, as she swindled herself back into Phil's arms.

"No." I smiled sweetly back. "Just pointing out, how very young Phil is… in comparison."

Phil again laughed- though I found nothing funny myself. "Your Mother is very hyperactive Bells." Shivers ran down my back at him calling me Bells. "She needs someone young to keep up with her!"

I raised my eyebrows at him, before nodding. I hardly knew this guy and I was too tired to argue anyway, maybe I would like him more in the morning?

"I'm…I'm going to go to sleep," I said, mainly to Jake while pointing behind me, up the stairs.

"Okay, I'll join you in a sec," Jake replied, smiling.

"But Bella, it's only 11!" Renee cried out, like I'd committed a crime or something.

"Yeah, but I've got work tomorrow. Doesn't help that now I have to get up extra early to get all my stuff from home." I sighed, while turning around to walk up the stairs.

"Night Bella! I do loveeee you, you know!" Renee shouted out.

"Sure, sure," I mumbled.

I walked into my old bedroom- hating the wave of nausea I got from it. Old memories seemed to hit me in here, like a ton of bricks. So many happy times, of just me, Charlie and Renee. The three musketeers, the trust we had was so strong. I remembered that I never, ever kept a secret from them- including crushes. Well, crush. I remember after starting my first day at Forks high, coming home and telling them about a boy in my biology class. Charlie didn't like the fact that I was suddenly taking an interest in boys- but Renee was over the moon. She made me gush out every little thing about him, and I was happy to tell her. How his hair sparkled perfectly bronze in the sunlight, how his crooked smile made my heart beat erratically, and how him running his hand through his hair was one of the sexiest things ever. Renee begged me to talk to him, or at least approach him. But all I could do every biology lesson was stare at him. Then he started dated girls, all just one night stands I'd heard- and I instantly went off of him. And then Charlie introduced me to Jake.

Jake never used to be a moron. Like Renee- he was once one of the sweetest and kindest men I'd ever known. He was two years younger then me, and when we were kids I had never let that go. We instantly became best friends and he'd always watch out for me and be very protective of me. That protection grew stronger and I guess worse when we finally started dating. He made it clear to any passer-by that I was his and no one else's. When I was still a teenager I found it very romantic while now it was just an annoyance. But I did love him; at least his heart was in the right place.

I slowly started to unravel the grey skirt I was wearing and then I took off my purple blouse over my head and threw them both on the floor. I had no PJs to wear, of course, so undies would have to do. It was times like these in which I did see the bad side of Jake- it would have been so much easier just to go home tonight, for me at least.

I looked in the mirror, as I unravelled my hair out of the sleek ponytail it was in. Something shimmering took my notice in the mirror. I quickly realised it must have been something on my hand, as it was where my hands were now, taking my hair out. I removed my hands from my now-messy hair and looked down to see the cause of the sparkle. The ring. The engagement ring. I stared blankly down at it for a few minutes, thinking of all the meanings this little ring held. Love, commitment, spending the rest of you life with one person, Jake.

"Hey beautiful," a voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Hey." I smiled back in the mirror.

Jake walked over to me, while stripping off his black tie and throwing it on the floor. Then before wrapping two strong arms around my waist, he unbuttoned the top buttons of his white shirt.

"Feeling okay?" he asked, before slowly kissing the side of my neck.

I sighed, unable to feel any emotion to him at the moment. "I'll tell you that in the morning."

Jacob chuckled against my neck, before continuing to kiss it again, but this time he started to move around to the back of my neck and slowly down my back.

"I better go to bed," I said, getting up and causing Jake to fall backwards onto the floor behind me, I hadn't realised he'd been using me to keep him standing up. "Ahh shit! Sorry Jake."

"It's fine," Jake mumbled, before getting up off the floor and following me to my old bed. It was a single bed -I'd had it since I was 10- so Jake and I had to squeeze very tightly together to fit on. Usually I just lay on him instead of the bed, but I wasn't in the mood to do that tonight, so instead squeezed myself into the top corner.

"It's weird," Jacob mumbled from the other side of me.

"What?" I questioned, really too tired to be bothered in what he was going to say.

I could hear Jake turning over beside me and moving one of his arms, so it was draped over my body and then moving his head so he could whisper in my ear, "I kind of thought that the night we got engaged would be more… exciting then this?"

I groaned. "Well maybe if you hadn't asked me on a work night or then insisted thatwe came back to my mum's then it would have been…"

"Bella, why are you so unhappy?" Jake whispered again in my ear.

"Do you really want me too rattle off all the reason, or are you going to let me sleep, so that I can be awake for work tomorrow?" I complained.

"I have work too," Jake mumbled.

"Yeah, work which requires you to get up at 9am!" Jake was a fitness coach, created out of his own company. He mainly got woman to pay him to help them get fitter so they could watch his body all day. But it worked for him- he got the money, and the lie-ins.

"Fine Bella. Night." I could feel his body turn away, and some of the heat of his body move off of me.

I sighed. "Night Jake."

A/N: So like a new story from BPOV (: I hope you like it, and I know Renee's character is a bit different here then in the twilight book; but she needs to be evil! Hehe. Also Jake- I think he's 50% nice and evil, so make your own mind up with him. It'll take it turns (except from the next chapter) of BPOV and EPOV until they meet (;, which won't be long!

I have my big exams starting this weeks- so who knows when I'll update this or BIOSD, which I apologise for, but exams MUST take priority! And Revision :/

Please tell me your thoughts and review!

Thanks Laura x