Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: as I write this it is exactly a week till I go to Uni, although when I post this it will probably only a few days. I am super excited but also really nervous, I am going to be all alone!
Anyway on with the show, read and review please!
Chapter Thirteen ~ When will I see you again?
Edward POV
The next day as I was going through some paper, my gaze kept flicking away from my work to the phone and to my car keys on the coffee table. I didn't know whether to call him or just go round there and talk to him. I was pretty sure if I called he would hang up or screen my calls, if I went round he would probably shut the door in my face. Either way I could make up my mind.
Deciding I wasn't going to get much work done, I pushed the papers aside and went over to my piano. Sitting down I randomly played a few notes, letting the music flow. After a minute or two I realized I was playing Grease Summer Lovin', shaking my head and chuckling to myself I changed tune but found myself playing You're The One That I want. Abruptly stopping I stood and started to pace, running a hand through my already quite messy hair.
After a few minutes someone knocked on my door, looking at my watch I saw that it was nearly seven o'clock. Answering the door I saw Leah standing there, with her hands on her hips and a fierce facial expression.
"Hi Leah, wh-" she held up a hand to silence me and then walked past me into my flat. "Make yourself at home" I muttered to myself as she stood by the couch leaning against the back of it as she looked over at me. Shutting the door I took a few steps towards her raising an eyebrow in an unspoken question, she crossed her legs at the ankles before speaking.
"I know something's going on between you and Jake"
"What do you mean?" My heart beat wildly, I was afraid she had figured it out. That I would have to Make a choice when I wasn't ready for it.
"You and Jacob had a fight, didn't you?" I breathed a sigh of relief. "When we were talking early, I asked if I had heard from you and got all..." she struggled to find the right word. "he got...bristly" she shrugged genuinely confused and concerned for her flat mate.
"Yes, that we did, have a fight that is" my voice was a little too loud and a little too forced, but if she noticed that anything was amiss, she did not show it.
"But what happened? I mean barely a few days ago you were mates like always and now he gets all defensive if I so much as mention your name"
"It's nothing we just had a bit of an argument, don't worry" her expression went from confused to angry, in a few seconds.
"Don't worry? How can I not? He started smoking again, he thinks I don't know but I can smell it on him. On top of that if he's not smoking he's drinking, he has actually taken to drinking in the morning I've seen all the empty cans and bottles that he tries to hide. If you're not worried about him, what kind of a friend are you?" she had a good point, he had been like this after Paul broke up with him, how could I not have noticed it?
Shaking my head I sat down on one of the dining room chairs, running my hands through my hair making it stand up. "I am the worst friend, you're right. Completely right, I'm such an asshole for not realising what I did"
Her expression softening somewhat when she saw how conflicted I was, approaching me she took one of my hands in hers. "What happened between you too Edward, this isn't just a little fight is it?" her voice lower and less condescending she looked at me while I internally struggled with what to say to her.
"No it isn't it's a lot more than that" she squeezed my hand, urging me to elaborate, taking a shallow breath I leaned forwards and pinched the bridge of my nose before I continued. "There isn't really a way to sugar coat so I won't try to...up until recently me and Jake have been having an...affair" for once in her life Leah was silent, she always had an opinion and gave it too people regardless of whether they wanted it or not.
"What?" was the only think she could think to say.
"Jacob and I have been sleeping together, for the past couple of months" removing my hand from my face, I glanced at her. Her mouth was hanging open in shock as she withdrew her hand from mine and stood up.
"That's the whole time you and Bella have been engaged though" I nodded, looking down at my lap and clasping my hands together.
"Yes"
"Is that why she postponed the wedding?" she started to pace in front of me, biting her thumb as she did when anxious or stressed out.
"No, she doesn't know. So you can't tell her, please Leah" she stopped pacing and glared at me again.
"You dump all of this on me and then you have the audacity to ask me a favour! I should tell her as soon as possible!" her voice barely raised that much, but I flinched anyway each word was dripping with anger and disappointment. She began pacing again, faster this time shaking her head in disgust as she looked down at the floor.
"Are you going to say anything to her?" still pacing she thought about for a few moments, her lips turned down into a deep frown.
"No, I won't"
"Thank you L-"
"Don't thank me just yet, I won't say anything to Bella provided you tell her first" I felt most of the blood leave my face and my heart drop into my stomach. Crossing her arms over her chest and letting out resigned sigh, coming to a stop and looking back at me. "Is there anything else I should know?"
"Well at Emmett and Rosalie's lunch, he told me he loved me" she let out a low whistle.
"That...that complicates things" I nodded agreeing 100 percent with her. "So, do you love him or do you love Bella?" That was the million dollar question, who did I want to be with?
"Honestly, I'm not quite sure" sighing I pinched the bridge of nose and closed my eyes. "When I proposed to Bella I thought I knew what I wanted, I thought I knew what I was doing, now everything is so complicated. On the one hand I do love Bella or I think I do, I know how much this will hurt her but I didn't think above her when I was with Jacob"
"What about Jacob?"
"Jake? He is my best friend and I can laugh with him and tell him anything that Emmett would think soft. I am also attracted to him, I can't deny that. That is the reason why I am in this situation because I'm attracted to him so much, but I've fucked that up haven't I?" Leah didn't say anything at first, moving my hand away from my face and standing up slowly, I glanced at her and most of the anger had gone from her expression but she still looked disappointed.
"Look Edward, you have made some pretty stupid mistakes, but you are good guy. You just need to make a choice, before you end up hurt those you love even more"
"I know, I know. It all sound so easy doesn't it? Just pick who you love and get over it...right?" I nodded to myself and dropped my gaze away from her and to the ground.
"It's not easy, not at all. I know that, but if it helps, think about who you would want standing next to you if the world came to an end, today" she took a few steps towards me. "I think you already know, but it's not just that is it. You need to accept it yourself, you know what your problem is Edward?"
"I have just one problem?" was my sarcastic reply as I looked up at her, her response was to roll her eyes and poke me in the chest.
"Like I was saying your problem is, you care too much about what people think. You let what others think is 'right' dictate what you do, marrying a woman, having kids, house with a picket fence. Don't let that affect what and who you want, because it's your life, not mine, not your brother's or your parents" she paused and moved her hand away from my chest. "Ask yourself Edward, what do 'you' want?"
Sighing I looked down at my watch and Leah took another step back, she gave me an encouraging look before walking to the door.
"Thank you Leah"
"Yeah, Yeah" she said dismissively, nodding at the same time" Just tell her soon, okay?" I nodded and she let herself out of my apartment.
Jacob POV
Taking a swig of beer, I dragged a black suitcase out of the bottom of my wardrobe. Leaving the wardrobe open I started packing my things, taking the time to fold my clothes carefully. I was barely half way done, when Leah came back home, poking my head round the door I saw she looked conflicted as she walked inside. Dropping the shirt I was folding on the bed, I went to her looking at her in concern.
"Hey Lee" she smiled at the use of my nickname for her, however she still didn't look too happy. "What's up?"
"Nothing, it's just that...I'm...I'm going to miss you, when you leave me"
"Aw, did Leah Clearwater just admit to caring about someone else? Are you feeling okay?" she punched my arm playfully, though it still hurt a bit. She tries to smile at me, but it looked more of a grimace.
"I just want you to know that whatever happens, I am always here for you, okay?" nodding, I smiled fondly at her and held my arms out.
"Give me some love" she put her hands on her hips and shook her head, trying to not be a total girl. "C'mon, you know you want to" I kept my tone light and teasing, smiling at her as she rolled her eyes.
"You're such a dork sometimes" Shaking her head as I wrapped my arms around her, she gave in and hugged me back her head just above reaching my shoulder.
"I will miss you too, Leah" I think it was my imagination, it felt like she hugged me a little tighter at those words. Breaking apart, I put my hands on her hips and gave her a kiss on her head, she sniffed and ducked her head so I couldn't see her face, which made me think she was crying. Hugging her one time, this time briefly, she went to get herself a drink and I went to continue packing.
My mobile rang as I entered my room, picking it up from where I had dropped it on the bed with everything else, I took the call.
"Hello, is Jacob Black there?" greeted a high pitched females voice.
"Speaking"
"I am calling about your flight in two weeks, you wanted a flight for a few days earlier. Unfortunately most of them are all booked up, the only flight that I could move you would the flight in three day time" pressing my lips together and sitting on the edge of the bed, I didn't have to think about it that much.
"Could you book me on to that flight then, please"
"Of course, Mr. Black shall I use the same credit card details?"
"Yes"
"Alright, if you could just hold on for a few moments, please"
~X~X~X~X~X~
Pouring a cup of coffee for me and Leah, she sat at the kitchen table rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and yawning loudly.
"So what is it you wanted to tell me?" was her sluggish reply as I handed her the mug of coffee, she half yawned before taking a big gulp of her drink swearing when it burned her mouth.
"By the way it's hot" she glared but said nothing. "I'm not leaving in two weeks to go to London"
"But you were so looking forward to that job, did you get another offer?" shaking my head she looked very confused.
"No, let me finish...I'm leaving on Friday" she looked shocked.
"That's in just two days"
"Yep" nodding and sitting down she stared at me open mouthed. "well, say something!"
"Um...have you told Edward?" frowning at her comment, I took my time in answering taking a small sip of my coffee before answering.
"No, I haven't why does that matter?"
"Because he's your best friend" she stated matter of factly and I couldn't help but scoff at that comment, because Edward and I hadn't been friends for a while now, not since everything changed.
"Things change" she didn't seem happy about that, but Leah wasn't always the life and soul of the party.
"Oh, okay then" then we sat in silence as we drank the rest of our coffee.
~X~X~X~X~X~
It was Thursday morning and I had less than 24 hours until my flight to London on Friday morning, and I had too many things to do. I had to drop my car off at Emmett's who was going to sell it for me and then go meet my dad who was driving up with my sister Rachel.
Managing to get through the morning rush hour okay, I pulled up in front of Emmett's house, spotting a familiar silver Volvo in the driveway. This was going to fun I thought to myself as I rang the doorbell, keys in hand so I could be in and out of here. It was just my luck that he answered the door, I had to admit he is still looking fucking gorgeous. His bright green eyes were piercing and it was a gorgeous contrast with his bronze coloured hair that was tousled, giving the illusion that he was easy going and not as straight laced as he really was.
"Hi Jake, what are you doing here?"
"Just dropping my car off with Emmett, don't you have class today?" he shook his head and stood aside to let me in.
"You know what just give Emmett the keys and tell him to let me know when he sells it" I chucked him the keys rather than risk touching him, he caught them easily in his left hand.
"Don't you want to come in? Emmett's just on the phone"
"No, it's okay. I have to run, loads of things to do" as if just realizing he had a set of car keys in his hand, he looked down at them then back at me, with a confused expression.
"Why is Emmett selling your car?"
"I'm leaving a little sooner than I had originally planned and so I won't be able to do it myself" he frowned looking somewhat sad, I really hated to make him sad but what was I supposed to do? If he had wanted me wouldn't he have told me sooner wouldn't he have tried at least to fight for me? He simply let me fall through his fingers, so it was clear he didn't love me, it was probably a good thing I was leaving sooner. With a vast ocean between us, I could get over him and maybe I could find a cute British bloke while I was at it.
"Oh, how soon?"
"A few days" making a big show of checking my watch for the time, I put my hands in my pockets ready to leave. "Well I'll see ya later"
"See you Jacob….I'll miss you" the last part was said loud enough but I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen his lips move and say the words. Mentally shaking my head, I ignored the last part of that and just walked away, from all of the missed opportunities and all of the unsaid words.
I was going to have a fresh new start one that didn't include Edward Cullen or his gorgeous green eyes and sexy as fuck hair. No a new start would be good for me, it would have to be.
A/N: I think this is my shortest chapter to date, sorry about that but it had to end there.
The next chapter is Thursday evening and Friday morning, all from Edward's POV, lets see what he does next shall we?
I think after this there will only be two or three more chapters left, so we come towards the end!