As always, I hope you enjoy reading.

Disclaimer: All characters, plots, and settings related to Twilight are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended by the author.

Chapter Five

We are Partners Then

Edward followed me home, smiling all the way. I glared at him through my side mirror. He laughed. He has been laughing since the monster was out of the store.

Before I could even get out of the truck, he was already leaning against the hood of his car. I gripped my jacket closer to my body as I slowly walked over to him. "All of this may be funny to you, but it really is not for me. You say I'm stuck in shit, but this is my shit, so I'd rather you stay out of it. You seem to get along with him, and yes, I hate his guts so much, I don't want that to change between you two."

His amused face quickly turned sober. "I don't think this is funny."

I snorted.

He sighed. "Okay, so maybe I do find amusement in the situation, but I'm not laughing at you. And yes, Jake is a friend, we're buddies, but just because I hang out with him a few times does not make him less of an ass that he is."

I nodded, already tired of the conversation. "Just don't start anything with him because of me..." It was pretty vain of me to say that, but whatever.

"His name is Jacob."

I frowned. "I know that."

He leaned closer to me. His eyes seemed to be searching for something on my face. "I haven't heard you say his name even once."

"I haven't?"

He shook his head, his face still serious. "No, and I don't think you've said it for the past two years. Am I right?"

I hated hearing the name, but I hated saying it more. He was 'monster' or 'dog' or 'shit' to me. I shrugged, my hands forming into fists inside my pockets.

"Tell me his name, Bella."

I just stared at him, my lips smashed together. I could be quite stubborn if I wanted to.

"Say it." Wisps of cold vapor escaped his lips, his voice as cold.

For a second I was a bit stunned, standing there staring up at him. This was a side of Edward I haven't seen before, and with all the casualness gone, I saw his eyes. It was the first time I really took notice of his eyes. Green. So green...

I shook my head, urging my mind to get back on track. He seemed to be waiting for me to say something - the name. I turned my head to the right, my mouth shut. I'd really rather not say it.

It took a long moment before he gave up. He leaned back, his face and posture relaxed again. "Alright, I won't force that out of you." The playful smile has surprisingly returned on his face.

I smiled back in thanks, relieved.

"But if you change your mind and you want me to teach him a lesson, call me."

I turned towards the house. "That's suicide, Edward, and I already told you to stay of out of it."

He followed right behind me. "Why not?" Suddenly I felt his arm around my shoulder. "We're friends, aren't we?"

I turned my head to look up at him. Edward and I? Friends? I shook his arm away.

He chuckled, obstinately placing his arm over my shoulder again. "Okay, maybe not. We're partners then." He laughed louder. "Partners in crime."

Oh, boy.

"What do you say, Bells?"

I froze on the nickname. A very familiar voice instantly filled my head, and I tried my hardest to push it away. Hey, Bells! I can't wait to see you, Bells. You're beautiful, Bells. I'm always here for you, Bells. I love you, Bells. I love you. Crap. My spine felt strained and rigid and I was sure Edward noticed it. I swallowed the lump that was on my throat. "Don't call me that."

He slowly pulled his arm away from me, confusion all over his face. "What? Call you what? Bells?"

Hearing it one more time made me cringe. I quickly hid it with a scowl. "Yes, that."

"Why not?"

I gave him silence. I learned that from my father. He could always get away with my mom's interrogations with silence.

But Edward's eyes instantly narrowed, and I knew he understood the reason. I didn't miss the pity in his gaze, and I hated it. "Bella…" he said my name in a soft voice. He was giving me his pity, his pathetic pity.

My chin jutted upward, my vision slowly blurring with tears of anger. "Don't, Edward. I don't need it. I am fine. I just don't want to hear it, okay?"

"You're fine?" He snorted. "Look at yourself right now. You're bordering on pathetic."

"Stay out of it, Edward."

"After two years, Bella? How long will this last? Don't you know that it's fucking ridiculous seeing you act all messed up just because a guy cheated on you?"

"Shut up, Edward…"

"That was two years ago, Bella! Two fucking years!"

I've heard those same words from my mother and Alice, but hearing it from Edward made me see red. How dare him! "Shut up! So maybe I am a little messed up, but I have a reason, damn it! I gave everything to that ungrateful jerk, but all it did to me was bite me in the ass! So sue me for being ridiculous! I had my stupid heart burnt to the ground, and you have no idea how that felt, Edward! Just because you can move from one girl to another in a matter of days doesn't mean that everyone else can be like the unfeeling asshole that you are!"

Whoa. Word rush. I stopped myself from saying one more word. My head was still spinning and my heart pounding when I noticed Edward recoiled, taking a step away from me. I looked up to see his face. It was immediately came rushing in. Crap. I was never good in making fights. I hated the guilt that always comes afterwards.

"Edward, I…"

I would have apologized if it wasn't for my mom coming out of the house, calling us to come inside. I didn't turn away from Edward. He, on the other hand, made the effort of smiling to my mom as he declined, but it was obviously forced. Renee wouldn't take no for an answer. I later found myself walking into the kitchen like a zombie with Edward right behind me.

My mom served cookies. I didn't take one. She and Edward talked. I didn't listen, creating my own bubble inside my head.

The guilt was making me nauseous. It was cruel of me to call Edward an unfeeling asshole when I didn't know him well enough. I was provoked to fight back, and somehow I had offended him as a defense for myself.

What made it worse was the fact that Edward was right. For the past couple of years, I was aware I had difficulty letting go. I couldn't go back to La Push. I wouldn't say his name. I hated that one nickname. I still dream of him more often than not, although that was entirely out of my control. I always told myself that was all reasonable because of what I've been through. But things were different since yesterday when I saw the monster again. Worse. I couldn't act normal. I became tensed all the time, especially at work. I was focused on avoiding him thinking it would make things easier, but it only infuriated me more. It was messing up with my mind. I was cranky too, and my recent outraged words to Edward was a proof to that. It was only two days since I saw himagain, but it was already draining me to the point of exhaustion.

I let the shadow of a monster control me for two years. Pathetic. Ridiculous. Sick. I groaned. Maybe I should have gotten myself committed to an asylum two years ago.

"Bella, are you okay?" my mom asked, popping my fragile diffident bubble.

I nodded. I just wanted to go up to my room and curl up on the bed. But then I had to apologize to Edward before he leaves.

"How was work, sweetie?"

I looked up to see my mom, her concern and love for me always on her face. I have always pretended to be okay, but I decided now would be an exception. "It was horrible," I said, my small voice sounded horrible then, too. I took a deep breath. "The only thing I do is look at the clock and count down to closing time. I really wanted to quit but I don't think I can since I only started yesterday. Mike is always pestering me. Jacob is there in the afternoons. It's like hell. He doesn't talk to me, and that's fine, because I don't talk to him either. But he walks around acting all arrogant, and I just know he's laughing at me inside his head. I have no idea of half of the products that are being sold, and I feel like an idiot when someone asks me about something I don't know." I paused to catch my breath. "I feel like such a loser."

Awkward silence loomed in the air after my speech. I blushed, embarrassed by my whining.

My mother, being herself, flung herself at me. "Oh, my poor baby…" I was never a fan of being fussed over, but I let myself be hugged then. I needed some comfort.

Still in my mother's not-so-gentle arms, I glanced up to see Edward looking at me. Surprisingly, there was a small smile on his face, just the corner of his lips lifted. I look at him questioningly. I expected him to be mad at me, or hurt, at the very least.

My mom kept murmuring sweet nothings to my ear, but I was distracted by Edward's unexpected smile that I haven't heard a word she said. I replayed my speech in my head, searching for something that might have been funny to Edward. That was when I realized I actually did it – I said his name. Jacob. It felt strange, and I repeated the name over and over in my head. Jacob. Jacob. Jacob. It wasn't the same as saying it out loud, but it was enough for now. Jacob. Jacob. Jacob. I waited for the painful memories to flood my brain, but with Renee and her motherly love literally surrounding me, and Edward Cullen smiling at me instead of being mad, there was nothing! I felt my lips forming into a small smile of its own.

Seeing my smile, Edward grinned.

And when he grinned, I grinned back.

Renee then stopped her murmurings as she pulled away and held me at arm's length. "Do you want me to call the Newton's, Bella? I could…" Her sentence faltered when she saw me smiling. Oblivious to the reason of my abrupt mood change, she turned to Edward and became more surprised to see him smiling as well.

"It's okay, mom. I think I can handle it," I answered. I hope.

She eyed me longer this time, her eyes like a hawk's. When my smile did not waver, she gave a smile of her own. "Alright, but tell me if you can't, okay?"

I nodded.

"And Bella, if that scum of a kid does anything to hurt you again, you tell me right away. Are we clear?"

Before I could say yes – although I doubt that would happen, my fake boyfriend butt in. "Don't worry, Renee. I'll be taking care of that."

I stamped down the impulse to roll my eyes. Perfect line for your perfect boyfriend role, Edward?

My mom practically glowed at Edward's pretentious knight-in-shinning-armor words. She removed her hands on my shoulders and clapped. "Well then, let's stop all this talk about horrible jobs and ungrateful dogs, shall we?"

We shall.

Edward excused himself, saying he really needed to go home. My mom hugged him goodbye. I raised a brow at that.

I walked Edwards to the door, feeling a little uncomfortable with all that has happened just a few minutes ago. "Hey…" I started, a little nervous.

"Don't worry about it, Bella," he shrugged. "It's okay."

Since no one was watching, he didn't say or do anything a boyfriend would. He walked straight out of the front door.

He said it was okay, but because I still felt guilty, I called out. "Hey Edward, it's okay, or we're okay?"

He turned around, looking amused by my query. "Don't they mean the same?"

"Do they?"

He rolled his eyes. "It's both, then. Everything's okay, Bella." He waved as he walked over to his car.

Before he got in, I realized I haven't actually apologized for my unjustified insult. "I forgot to say something! I didn't mean the insult!" I was almost shouting at this point, "I'm sorry, partner!"

He waved again without turning around. When he finally got inside the car, I noticed him laughing. I took that as a sign of forgiveness.

AN. I don't think I do drama very well. Let me know what you think. And yes, I thank you.