Ch. 10

Jake and I walked to the town car he had picked me up in slid in after opening my door. As he got in, his forehead bent down to rest on the top of the steering wheel.

"Jake, are you ok?" I mean he didn't look sober. He didn't look ok at all. His head quickly picked up.

"Jake?" His questioning tone, made me remember that I'd just called him Jake. When it was supposed to be Jacob, I really hated formalities but I mean come on, with the other stuff he's let me admit, Jake is really low on the totem pole.

"Sorry, Jacob." I smiled as the red mark on his forehead slowly disappeared.

"It's okay, I don't mind, just like my parents won't even call me Jake anymore." He laughed and laid his head down again as he waited for me to respond.

"Oh. Jake I think you need to go to sleep." He was like almost passing out just sitting in the town car.

"Want to sleep with me?" He coyly looked up to the side without taking his forehead off the steering wheel.

"Jake?" I playfully smacked his arm, "That's a little promiscuous."

"I'm sorry, yeah I think I'll take you home and go to bed. Alone." He started the car.

When we reached my home he raced around the car and opened my door taking my arm as I stepped out. We walked up the steps and I pushed the door open, Irina was cleaning the main room as we walked in.

"Oh Miss Isabella, back so soon?"

"Yes, Jake is feeling quite tried." I kissed Jake quickly on the cheek and ushered him out the door. As he walked out Irina started to talk again,

"Ms. Rosalie's driver Mr. Ronald, stopped to say Ms. Rosalie wanted you to join her for shopping later today. I can have her called to cancel but I took the liberty of telling him that you would be more than willing." Well I guess today was going to get more awkward before it got better. I confirmed her already accepted invitation and walked upstairs.

I stripped out of my dress and pulled on a more comfortable shopping dress. It was tan and black with a large chevron pattern on the skirt and a simple black full sleeved top. It had a slight sparkle to it so I would be easy to find if Edward sent his goons after me again. I waited for about an hour half-assedly pouring over a Latin book.

When Mr. Ronald had pulled onto the driveway, I walked out the front door with a purse stocked full of spending money from Charlie, who was exceptionally happy with my continued dating with Jacob. I waited as he opened the door for me and hoped in besides Rose.

"Hello." I started the conversation as Rose's attention was focused on her nails.

"Hello, Isabella. How are you? I haven't seen you since last night." Her sarcasm was clearly audible and I could tell she was maybe just as peeved as Alice is.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry I didn't leave with you guys I just trusted him. And for the record he was a perfect gentleman." I retorted hoping I could completely knock her into her place.

"Well Isabella, didn't you luck out. You do realize that the black Lincoln with suicide doors has been following us for four blocks. I'll give you three guesses but you probably only need one."

I tossed a look over my shoulder and saw that she was right. Crap, I hate when Rose is right, it makes spending time with her obnoxious.

We reached our destination a small lane of shops in the upper upper part of town and walked into the first store. We looked tried clothes on and finished buying clothes, mostly in silence, but small talk was exchanged here and there.

This pattern continued as we made our way through almost 15 stores. When we finished we grabbed tea at a café and the argument continued. I hadn't even seen the Lincoln in about four stores.

We sat on the small patio portion of the little café and random men, some married and some not paused to look at Rose. Some days I hated how pretty she was. I mean it's horrible but she's so pretty her dad uses her to help his business. But then again I guess I couldn't say anything because Charlie was literally marrying me off to make a business deal go through.

The conversation once again migrated back to my unapproved leaving from the club last night.

"You do realize that he's a well-known GANGSTER, right?"

"Yes, Rose. I understand, but with all the crappy shit we do, is dating a gangster really the worse think I can do? I mean I've been black out drunk at clubs with worse people then Edward, and with Edward. I was sober enough to make my decision." At that moment I wanted nothing more than to blow Rose off and walk my own ass home. Though I feel like Charlie and even Edward would have a serious problem with that.

"Bella, you've lost it. You need to accept that he's not who you should be hanging out with. And honestly you think that Jacob would ever approve?"

"Actually Rose, Jacob approves of a lot more. Edward probably not but it's not like we're getting married."

"Bella, your more naïve then I thought." She kind of cackled as we threw dollar bills on the check and walked out of the café.

"What?" really Rose was way past pissing me off.

"Bella, there is only one situation where you don't end up married to Jacob. That's the one where you pull an Alice and wind up in a crappy apartment above a club. I honestly don't think you have the guts to pull that one off."

Wow. Rose was being such a Bitch. Really?

"Well Rose I guess I'll just try and have the guts to completely follow my heart." I walked way in head and only heard her shout the following,

"Follow your heart, give me a break. You meet him like yesterday." Great hyperbole Rose.