You didn't have me at hello
A/N Don't own Twilight.. boo hoo hoo
Chapter 3 – The "Reunion"
Emmet, Jasper and Edward POV
First, if you would have told us that we would be meeting someone from our past that we had tortured, we would have told you that you were crazy. We were rotten kids. We were and the only reason why was because dad and mom had money. Everyone knew it and many took advantage of it. The only one who didn't was Bella Swan. She didn't care and because of that we made fun of her. Much less, she didn't dress well and she was not pretty and she was chubby. She constantly fell and was such a nerd. With all that, we had no right to do what we did to her.
We do remember when Billy Black came to our home to talk and scream to Carlisle. We hadn't even noticed that Bella was gone. But when Billy went off on Carlisle, Carlisle went off on us. We accepted on our punishments and as we grew up we understood that what we had done was completely destroy a life. How could we be so evil? We were monsters. After the incident with Billy, we tried to make up for everything we had done. We volunteered in after school programs, in the hospital and in the reservation. Billy and Jacob came to forgive us kids but never trusted us.
Now, Isabella Denali is in front of us. Bella Swan. She is so beautiful, smart, kind and loving. We could tell just by having her sit near us for just a few minutes. She spoke to our father with so much respect and love. We knew that she would come to love our father since our fathers were long time friends. We hope she takes the job. If she does, we will make up for every little torture we had her go through.
Carlisle and Esme's Apartment – 7:30pm.
Bella POV
We arrived on time at Carlisle and Esme's apartment. Mum, dad and I spoke extensively on the position. Once we had made our decision at the restaurant, we back to the hotel room to change for dinner. Mum had a beautiful black lace dress with her signature pumps and her hair flow on her shoulder. Dad wore his grey suit with no tie. He always looked so debonair in the suit. I decided to wear my dark green v neck dress that draped and curved my body so perfectly. Since it was winter, I decided to wear my stiletto black boots to accentuate my butt and not leave me so tiny. I decided to wear more dramatic makeup and darker red lipstick and place my hair up with loose curls falling down. We took the limo to the Cullen's apartment. When we got to the elevator, Dad and Mum asked again, "Honey, are you sure on your decision." I nodded to their answer.
Carlisle and Esme lived on the penthouse. Carlisle greeted us at the door. "My, Liam, I am extremely jealous here. You have two beautiful women on your side." My dad smiled, "Jealous huh. Well deal with it." They both laughed as they hugged again. Carlisle embraced my mum and then me whispering in my ear, "Bella just breathe." I did. I must have looked very nervous.
I was amazed at the beauty of their apartment. Carlisle brought us into the living room, where we met his beautiful wife Esme. Her beauty reminded me of Rita Hayworth. She was very classy and kind. Esme welcomed us and hugged my mum and dad. Then she came over to me and I saw a tear in her eye. "Bella, it is so good to finally meet you. I have heard so many good things about you." "Thank you Mrs. Cullen. It is a pleasure meeting you." She smiled, "Please Bella, call me Esme. I hope if you can consider me your friend." I smiled because I knew she was genuine on what she had stated.
Esme then continued, "Let me re-introduce you to our family." She introduced my mum, dad and me to Rosalie, Alice, Lauren, Edward, Emmett and Jasper. I shook everyone's hand as I would shake any one's hand, but I did so with reserve. As Esme was about to say something the doorbell rang. Carlisle then said to us, "That must be Billy and Jacob." I gasped. I needed to control my emotion. I was ready to see my old friends, but emotionally was I ready to open this life of me which I had closed when I left for London. My mum took my hand and dad was rubbing my back whispering beautiful fatherly things in my ear. As usual, they both were my pillar of strength. I heard commotion and talk and Carlisle, Billy, Jacob and other voices were so glad to be reunited.
Carlisle led them to the room. "Everyone, the Blacks are here." Billy was going to go to Esme to say hello when Jacob turned and saw me. He gasped "Bella!" My eyes were filled with tears as I saw my best friend all grown up. He was so tall and so handsome. He was no longer the little boy I left but a man with a wife and a child. He gave the child to the woman I assumed was his wife and we walked to each other and he held me in his arms. We were crying like little babies what felt for hours but we couldn't stop. How could two best friends lose each other and then see each other after so many years. It was a miracle to us. We had missed each other. We were family. He placed a kiss on my forehead and "Bella. My Bella, how I have missed you." I smiled and place my hand on his cheek, "And how I have missed you too my dearest friend."
Then I heard Billy crying with Carlisle making sure he was ok. I had worried this would take a toll on him, but he spread his arms and I ran to him, knelt in front and we held each other like long lost father and daughter. "Please don't cry Billy. Please don't. I don't want you to get sick." He sighed, "Oh my little Bella, how I worried about you and now look, you are a beautiful strong young woman." I took his face in my palms. He had gotten old but he was still wise in his eyes. I showered him with many kisses across his chubby cheeks as I had done when I was a child. He laughed so loudly that it broke the tear-fest we were having.
We finally calmed down. I noticed that everyone in the room was crying, except for one. I went over to my mum and dad, took them by their hand and led them to Jacob and Billy. "Jacob. Billy. I have the greatest honor for you to meet my mum and my dad, Tanya and Liam Denali." They all hugged and cried. Billy thanked them for taking good care of me and thanked Liam for allowing this meeting to happen. I looked at them and then Jacob took me by the hand. "Bella, I would like you to meet my love of my life, Leah and my son, Jacob Jr. Leah, Jake, this is my sister Bella." Leah and I hugged and she was so excited in meeting me. She had heard so much about me and always wondered if she would ever meet me. I took his son, Jake, in my arms. He was only 6 months old but he was a precious little thing. "Hi Jakey. You are such a good boy Jakey. You look just your daddy. Hmm baby boy. I am your auntie Bella. Now, Jakey, you listen to me, you can come to me for whatever you need, especially when your daddy is an unreasonable man." Jacob and the rest laughed. Everyone knew that I knew Jacob very well. For this moment, I finally felt I was home.
We all finally calmed down and we all sat down to chat. I was talking with my Jacob and his Leah as while the others tried to chime into the conversation. Jacob knew me very well and knew I wasn't going to be able ever fully trust the Cullens and Hale kids. Worse, he noticed that Lauren had not shed a tear during the reunion and was hatefully staring at me. As Jacob was about to say something, Carlisle announced dinner was ready. We all slowly entered this magnificent dining room, set with antique china and silverware. The lighting was perfect and classical music was playing in the background. I sat next to dad and mum sat next to Esme. We were all in different seating arrangements. As the food was getting served by the waiting staff, the order of business had to commence.
Carlisle POV
We had just had one of the emotional moments I have seen in my life. When Bella and Jacob saw each other, it was like to soulmates finally seeing each other after centuries being apart. We were all crying, except for Lauren. I never liked Lauren and I couldn't imagine why Edward had asked her hand in marriage. She wasn't part of this family. She kept looking at Bella with so much hate. Bella was more like family to Esme and I and she had only been in our lives for less than a day. Now, I wanted to know her decision. I noticed the tension still between my kids and Bella, but they dealt with it like adults.
As we were finally sitting down for dinner, I couldn't take it anymore. "Bella, I hope you and Liam and Tanya have spoken on the position we have offered you today." She smiled and she spoke with such poise, "Yes, Carlisle. We have spoken on this." I see she was dragging her answer as Liam smiled. "Liam, please can you let me know what your daughter has decided. It is killing me." Liam laughed, "She will tell you her answer when she is good and ready." I saw they both smiled. Then Bella spoke and everyone was very quiet. She had already spoken to Billy, Jacob and Leah on the offer and they had offered a place to stay and to consider staying in Seattle. "Carlisle, after talking and thinking about your position, I have made the decision to take your offer. It would be an honor to work with you on your projects." I couldn't be any happier. I had to get up and hug Bella. "Thank you my dear. You have made me and Esme so very happy. You bring so much talent and I know you will be able to help us find remedies and cures for many health issues." Then I decided to make a toast. " Toast everyone. To Isabella Denali, thank you for accepting us into your life and accepting to work with us. In the few moments that you have been present in our lives, you have brought a light in our family. Liam, Tanya, we will take care of Bella so don't you worry. To Bella."
Alice POV
I would have never thought my life would have changed on January 20, 2009. Today, I met a woman that I wanted to become lifelong friends with. Life is really weird isn't it, because this same woman I had created hell of a life in elementary school. I was a brat in school, so was Rosalie and the boys and now as we think about it, we were rotten kids. Now we have the person that was the brunt of our hostility in front of us, all grown up, smart, beautiful, strong and kind. I wanted to be her friend. I wanted to be her best friend, but I knew this was going to take time.
After dinner, we all scattered around. I noticed that Bella wasn't around. As I looked, she was drinking a glass of wine and looking out the huge windows from the dining room, thinking. "Isabella." She turned to me and with self confidence, "Yes Alice." I didn't know what to do. "Isabella, I just wanted to apologize what I did to you in the past. I come to you hoping that you will be able to forgive me and my brothers and sister. I know we have no right to ask you this, but I hope you and I can become friends." I see that she took every single word in and sighed. That's when Jacob came by, "Bella, are you ok?" She nodded. "Alice, thank you. I need to get used to this. It was 7 years of torture and laughs and jokes on me that I need to forgive. I hope I can forget, but for now it is forgiven. On the question on friends, well, let's take it day by day. For now, we work together, ok?"
I nodded. I knew she wouldn't be able to forget right there, but I do hope she and I would be able to be friends.
Edward POV
The night finally ended and Bella and her parents left as did Billy, Jacob, Leah and Jake. Those six decided to meet for breakfast the next morning to catch up on old times. I know we all felt out from the celebration, but it was well deserved. We were really terrible kids and what Bella endured was a lot. Bella has become a strong and beautiful woman. Liam and Tanya should be extremely proud of doing such a great job with her.
In my own words, Bella was an angel walking on earth. She was extremely beautiful, dazzling, stunning, and exquisite. She was extremely smart and her eyes demonstrated kindness and compassion. When she came in and took her coat off, I had to stop and catch my breath. She wore a beautiful green dress that emphasized every wonderful and delicious curve on her body. She walked with so much elegance, grace and style.
When I noticed that Lauren seemed to be disgusted at what was going on between Bella and the Blacks, I became disgusted with her. Lauren and I were having issues for a while and I didn't know what to do. To see her reaction on this reunion, it gave me more of a reason to break our engagement. I had never fallen in "love" with Lauren. She was a great lay and I thought to give her an engagement ring because I was the last to be married. Now thinking about it, she just wasn't right for me. When I saw Bella, there just seemed to be something special that I needed to learn from her. She gave me the incentive to be something better and to have something better in my life. I was considering she was the best thing in my life. Now, the question was how to get to her after everything that I had done to her.