I'm glad you guys liked the Edward/Bella pictures, I'm going to post a few more.
"Hey, Emmet, can you pass the ketchup?" Alice called from the far end of the picnic table. It had been five months and a week today, and Alice insisted that I join her and Emmet for a 'Best Buddies' camping trip.
So here I am.
We ate in silence, except Alice's random chatter. I couldn't help but think that the last time I had been here was with Edward. It was getting a little easier to think about him, but impossible not to.
"Bella? Is that you?" I whipped my head around and was stunned at who I saw.
"Mike! Hey!" I awkwardly hugged my ex boyfriend/former best friend. "How have you been?" Mike hesitated slightly.
"Good, great actually." He cleared his throat. "How have you been holding up?" He asked quietly, obviously uncomfortable. I forced a smile; it was my second nature now.
"I'll be fine." I assured him. "So, are you here alone?" I asked, peering over his shoulder.
"Oh, no!" Mike gestured behind him. "Jess and Jacob are here too. You want to come over and say hi?" Mike asked. I looked over at Alice, who waved me on.
"Go have fun." She grinned. "We'll be here." I flashed a smile and waved a little as I followed Mike to his campsite.
"How's Jacob?" I asked in a strangled voice, trying to sound nonchalant. But Mike knew me to well for that.
"He's good, Bella. Not dating anyone….mostly just hangs out with us these days." Mike cast me a sideways glance. "He really wanted to talk to you after…..after the accident, but Angela and Jessica and I told him it was too soon." I immediately blushed and looked down at the uneven ground.
"Yeah." I muttered, kicking at the rocks underneath my feet. "Definitely too soon."
"Here we are." Mike said, and Jacob, Jessica, and Angela came into view.
"Bella!" Angela exclaimed, scrambling to her feet. "I've missed you so much, how have you been?" God, every time someone asked me that it made me feel worse. But I pushed the feelings back and offered Angela a smile.
"I'll be fine." I said for the second time that day. "So…I haven't seen any of you since we met up in Portland over a year ago!" Ugh. Edward had been with us then.
"I know!" Jessica pouted. "It's been boring without you! So, I was wondering, if you an Edward had gotten married, would I have been invited to the wedding?" My heart immediately sunk and I inhaled sharply. Everyone else's eyes widened and Mike elbowed Jessica in the ribs.
"Jess!" Angela hissed, her face bright red. I closed my eyes and tried to calm down, but it was impossible.
"I….I need to be alone." I choked out, and ran off, escaping into a haven of trees about 200 yards away. I sunk into the moist earth and started crying, wrapping my arms around myself. I rocked back in forth with my head in my lap, taking deep breaths.
"Bells." A familiar deep voice spoke from somewhere behind me and I continued to cry, not caring who saw me at this point. His arm was suddenly around me and I cringed from his touch. "What do you need?" He whispered, making me cry harder.
Edward. I need Edward. Edward Anthony Cullen. No one else will do.
"I need him." I wailed, clenching at the dirt beneath my hands.
"I'm here." Jacob reminded me quietly. "Please, Bella, let me help." He begged, kissing my forehead sweetly. That act of affection made everything that much worse.
"I just want everyone to stop forcing me to think about him more than I already do!" I choked out. "Bringing him up, taking me places I went with him….It's not fucking helping!" Jacob didn't say anything; just let me cry in his arms for at least ten more minutes until I was gasping for breath and the tears were starting to dry on my face.
A/N: I know this is a short chapter, but it really needs to end here. Please review and check out all the extras I posted for this story under my profile.
Xoxo-Melodyella aka Mellie