Author's note: Hope you enjoy this chapter =) Review, review review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, it owns me
Chapter Songs: All I Believe In – The Magic Numbers & Amadou & Mariam, Swing – Savage and Something Bout Love – David Archuleta
Ring ring! Ring ring! Ring ring!
It was Wednesday afternoon and I was trying to write an essay for my English class that was due on Friday, I had just got on a roll where all the words I wanted to write were flowing freely when I was interrupted by the phone.
I snatched it up answering it quickly to stop the obnoxious ringing noise that was grating on my nerves.
"Hello?" I asked pressing the talk button.
"Isabella Marie Swan!" Renee's voice shrieked at me.
Crap, full name, she only ever called me Isabella when I was in serious trouble. What the hell had I done? I thought quickly racking my brain.
"Hi Mom, how are you?" I asked being polite.
"Isabella I can't believe you didn't tell me. I had to hear it second hand from Charlie and he..." she ranted barely taking a breath.
"Hold up Mom, what are you talking about?" I asked her. What on earth would she have heard second hand from Charlie, he wasn't one to gossip.
"Charlie told me all about that horrible man, that murderer that was chasing my poor baby girl" she half sobbed into the phone. "I cannot believe you didn't tell me Isabella! We even spoke after it happened and you didn't say a word."
"I'm sorry Mom, I didn't talk about it to anyone" I promised her, "it's hard" I paused trying to collect myself. "It's hard to talk about what happened, I can't talk about it because then the memories come rushing back to me."
"Oh my poor baby" she sobbed into the phone.
"It's okay Mom, I'll be okay. I just need time to forget about it" I reassured her trying to stay calm.
"Maybe it was a bad idea for you to move to Forks, I should have insisted you come to Florida, this is all my fault"
"No Mom! It's not your fault at all, don't pin this on yourself" I exclaimed, "You know me Mom I'm a magnet for danger."
She let out a little giggle, "Oh honey, you know how I worry about you. I miss you so much and I can't bear the thought of something happening to you."
"I know Mom and I miss you too" I replied getting a little teary.
"Maybe you and Edward could come and visit us for a weekend soon?" she asked.
"That would be nice Mom, we will."
"Soon" she told me again, more firmly this time.
"Very soon" I promised, "I love you Mom and I'm sorry I didn't say anything."
"That's okay honey, I love you."
I hung up and immediately I felt guilty. I should have told Renee about James, but I couldn't bring myself to. I knew how she worried and didn't want to put that kind of stress on her. I made a promise to myself to let her know in the future, if anything else should happen that I would tell her straight away. Although I hoped I would never have to go through anything like this again.
Taking a minute to compose myself I shoved all thoughts of James out of my head and got back to my essay.
Two hours later I was wrapping up the last few paragraphs when Rose arrived home.
"Hey Bells" she greeted me as she walked into the dining room where I had been working on my laptop.
"Hey Rose, how were your classes today?" I asked her hitting the save key on my keyboard.
"Pretty good, did you get your essay done?" she asked peering over my shoulder.
"Just finished" I told her with a relieved smile, "I was just going to make a start on dinner."
"Cool, I'll help" she told me following me to the kitchen, "What's on the menu?"
"I don't know maybe stir-fry?" I asked shrugging my shoulders.
"Sounds good to me" she replied grabbing the ingredients out of the fridge.
"Renee called me today" I blurted out, "Charlie told her about" I couldn't say his name out loud, "what happened."
Rose looked at me sympathetically, "How much did he tell her?" she asked.
"Everything, which is surprising because Charlie isn't much of a gossiper, I think he thought that she already knew. She was really upset."
"That's understandable, she's your Mom" Rose said putting an arm around me.
"Yeah, she was kinda angry that I didn't tell her too. She understood once I explained but still"
"And now you're feeling guilty?" Rose asked, she knew me so well.
"A little" I admitted, "She was blaming herself, saying it was her fault and that she should have taken me to Florida with her."
"She's feeling guilty too babe, if it was my Mom she'd completely lose the plot and she can be pretty damn scary" Rose replied. "Don't feel guilty, you had your reasons for not saying anything and I'm sure Renee understands that. You know I'm here if you ever need to talk about it though and so is Alice."
"Thanks Rosie, maybe one day I will be but not yet and you're right by the way."
"Always" she said with a grin.
I felt a lot better after talking to Rose, she knew me so well she knew exactly how I was feeling and what to say. She was also great at changing the topic at just the right moment. She poured us both a glass of wine and we chatted about easy, everyday stuff as we cooked dinner.
"Hey, something smells amazing!" Alice exclaimed once she had arrived home and walked into the kitchen. I poured her a wine and she settled on one of the bar stools so I could fill her in on my call with Renee.
"Rose is right Bella, you don't need to feel guilty she will totally understand" Alice reassured me.
"Thanks Allie" I replied.
"What are you girls up to tonight?" asked Rose setting the plates on the table.
"Not much, Edward has some plans to finish drawing up so I guess I'll be hanging around here" I told her.
"Same, Jasper is doing a paper" Alice answered.
"There's a really good movie on at the moment, a tear jerker" Rose commented, "Interested?"
"Hell yes! Girly movie night it is" Alice replied enthusiastically.
"Definitely" I told her with a smile.
After dinner we grabbed our coats and headed downtown in my car to the cinema. We paid for our tickets and got the necessary junk food and headed into the cinema to find our seats.
By the end of the movie we had all been bawling our eyes out since the first ten minutes of the movie. When Rose said it was a tear jerker she meant it. Still I had to admit it did feel good to just be able to cry for a while in a dark movie theatre where everyone thought I was crying over the movie. In reality I wasn't, I was crying over the memories that flooded back to me about how close my friends and I had been to death.
"That was so sad" Alice sniffled as we headed down the road towards my car.
"Kind of depressing" added Rose.
"Let's go home and watch a musical, maybe Mamma Mia!" Alice asked.
"Sure!" replied Rose linking her arms through mine and Alice's.
Later that week – Saturday Night
"Ugh, I can't believe we're going to Newton's party tonight" moaned Jasper as we got out of the cab and walked up the street to Mike's apartment.
"Neither can I" Rose chimed in, "The slimy bastard was all suggestive when he invited us."
"The booze might not be free but the food is, I don't see any problem" commented Emmett.
"Of course you wouldn't, you always think with your stomach" replied Jasper poking Emmett in the gut.
"Don't touch things you can't afford Jasper" Emmett told him wagging his finger.
"HA I could so afford you, all it'd take would be a McDonald's combo and you'd be anyone's" Jasper retorted.
We all cracked up laughing "I'm not that cheap, if you included and apple pie and maybe a sundae..." Emmett trailed off no doubt fantasising about food.
Edward rolled his eyes and pulled me closer to him, "I'm still not convinced we're related, my theory is that he was switched at the hospital when he was born, I swear my real brother is out there somewhere" he told me.
"I heard that Eddie" Emmett called over his shoulder, "You know you love me really deep down."
"Really deep down" Edward whispered making me laugh.
We walked up the path to the front door of Mike's apartment building and waited to be buzzed in. It didn't take long and then we headed up the stairs to the third floor.
"Ugh I just realised that little bitch Lauren will no doubt be here" Alice grimaced.
"Excellent!" exclaimed Rose, "I've been looking forward to socialising with her again after I put her in her place last time."
A lot of things had changed since that run in with Lauren, Edward and I were officially a couple now so she couldn't spin any lies about being with him anymore. I figured she'd hate me even more now.
Edward snuck a quick glance at me, "We can leave whenever you want love, if she bothers you I'll..."
"It'll be fine" I reassured him, "Besides it looks like I've got a couple of bodyguards" I joked pointing in Rose and Alice's direction.
Edward chuckled, "I wouldn't want to come up against either of them in a fight."
"Neither" I replied with a giggle.
"Hey hey hey!" exclaimed an already drunk Mike opening his front door and interrupting my banter with Edward. "Come on in, the party's fist pumping excellent!" he told us beckoning us in.
"What the fuck?" asked Jasper annoyed, "Listen to him talking like that, who does he think he is?"
"He's an idiot, but he means well" Alice replied patting Jasper on the back making him laugh.
Emmett pulled three beers and three wine coolers out of the bag he had been carrying and passed one to each of us.
"We may as well just sit back and enjoy the show now" Jasper said, "Except that there aren't any seats" he looked around with a disgusted look on his face. "It'll be more like lean against a spare bit of wall."
We all laughed at that comment. "Yay Lauren's here with her sidekick Jessica" Rosalie noted. I looked over to where she was looking. "Oh look and she's bought the bitch" she added with a bit of a snarl spotting Tanya standing giggling with them.
"This is gonna be interesting" Alice murmured taking a sip of her drink.
"Did anyone know she was coming?" Edward demanded. Everyone shook their heads, "I'm sorry love this must be awkward for you" he said stroking my hair.
"No it's not, it doesn't bother me" I told him.
"That's good Bells because Lauren's coming over here" Alice interrupted.
"Quick restrain Rose she might attack her" Jasper joked.
"Thanks for the idea Jazz" Rose giggled.
"Hi Edward, Emmett, Jasper" Lauren simpered.
"Hi Lauren" Rose replied loudly.
Lauren gave Rose a disgusted look and carried on "Obviously you already know Jessica and Tanya" she said gesturing at her sidekicks.
"Yeah, we've met once or twice" replied Alice sarcastically.
Lauren snorted and flicked her hair, "So Edward I was hoping maybe you'd like to come and hang out with us" she told him putting her hand on his arm.
"No thank you" he replied in a clipped tone.
"Awwww come on Eddie" she purred.
"Would you kindly remove your hand from my boyfriend's arm before I forcibly remove it myself?" I asked her in a sweet voice.
She glared at me, "I wasn't talking to you Bella" she sneered.
"Well I'm talking to you and I'm telling you to stop touching Edward" I replied getting just a little pissed off.
"You don't own him" she spat.
"Look you bitch" Rose growled walking to my side. "Bella told you to fuck off in so many words so why don't you?"
"Back off Hale" she sneered.
"I don't think I will" came Rose's reply, "Don't think I won't kick your ass cause you know I will."
"Lauren come on" Jessica piped up, "You're kinda embarrassing yourself."
"Excuse me?" Lauren shrieked turning on Jessica.
"Here we go" whispered Emmett, "The show down we have all been waiting for." He smirked taking a sip of his drink. "Five bucks on Jessica winning this round" he whispered to me.
"You heard me Lauren, back off" replied Jessica finally standing up to Lauren.
"Who the hell do you think you are talking to me like that?" Lauren continued to screech.
"I've had enough of your bitchy behaviour Lauren, we aren't in high school anymore it's time you grew up" Jessica said hands on her hips. "Edward doesn't want you, neither does Emmett or Jasper."
How dare you!" she screeched launching herself at Jessica, who side stepped just in time. Lauren fell face first onto the carpet.
"Fuck you Jessica Stanley" she shrieked as she got up from the floor. She then stalked out of the apartment followed closely by Tanya.
"Are you okay Jess?" I asked her.
"I'm fine, it felt damn good to finally stand up to that evil witch" she replied with a grin.
"Good for you Jess" I told her handing her a wine cooler. I was glad to have the old Jess back, she and I had always gotten along well in school before Lauren took her further under her wing.
Angela chose that moment to come over with Katie, Eric Yorkie's girlfriend. "I would ask what that was all about but we heard everything" she said.
"Yeah good for you, standing up to Lauren like that, it's about time she realised what a cow she is" Katie piped up.
"Hear hear!" replied Emmett raising his beer bottle into the air.
"Ding dong the witch is dead" Jasper chimed in.
After Lauren left the atmosphere was a lot more relaxed, it was nice to spend a bit of time hanging out with the old high school crowd. Jacob would normally tag along to these kinds of gatherings back when we were still in high school so it made me miss him a little.
I still hadn't heard from him, not a peep. But I had spoken to Leah just a few days earlier; she said Jake was still sulking but not to worry because he'd pull his head out of his ass soon.
She also told me that she had decided to move to Seattle too, a friend of Emily's had just had a roommate move out and Leah had been offered the room. I was beyond excited to have my sister moving to the same city as me. Paul, Embry and Quil were also moving in two weeks so our little family was about to expand.
"Are you alright love?" Edward asked putting his arms around me, "You've been a little quiet."
"Yeah" I reassured him, "Just thinking about Leah and the big move she's making. I promised I'd go and help her move everything up her next weekend."
"I'll help if you'd like?" he asked, "my parents have been begging me to bring you round again so maybe we could call on them on our way through to La Push?"
"I'd like that" I told him leaning back into his embrace.
"But keep Monday free, you're all mine on Valentine's Day" he replied with a grin.
I couldn't help but think he had another surprise up his sleeve.
Later that week
The week had dragged on and on and finally it was Friday. Edward and I were headed to Port Angeles tonight to spend the night at his parent's and then help Leah with the big move tomorrow.
"What are you guys up to this weekend?" I asked while we were sitting eating lunch in the UW cafeteria.
"Emmett and I are going to stay at the guys place all weekend" Rose replied.
"And Jazz and I will be at our place, we'll have the whole house to ourselves" Alice answered with a wink.
"Aw Allie ew" I replied, "Try to limit it to places we don't all use would you."
"Well we'll try but I can't promise anything" she said grinning ear to ear.
"What can't you promise?" Jasper asked pulling up a chair at the table followed by Edward.
"That we'll behave ourselves having the whole house to ourselves" she replied, "I've been wanting to see what the couch would be like" she teased.
"Please don't, I like that couch and I'd rather not have to burn it" Rose told her.
"Sometimes you can't control a moment of passion Rose, you'd know all about that" Alice replied.
I laughed almost choking on my food, "Was that when you walked in on Em and Rose in the kitchen?"
"Yes, it made me want to burn my eyes" replied Jasper shuddering.
Laughing Alice patted him on the back "Poor Jazzy, still traumatised."
"I was too after I walked in on them in the family room at home" Edward piped up, "I couldn't look at either of them for weeks."
Rose just laughed, she was never one to get embarrassed or be fazed by something like that.
After lunch I had one more class until I was finished for the day as did Edward. We arranged to meet by his Volvo in the car park. Class dragged, probably because I was dying for it to hurry up and end. As soon as Mr Gerandy said we were finished for the day I leapt out of my seat having already packed my bag and hurried out the door.
Edward was waiting for me outside of class, leaning up against the wall opposite. He was wearing black cargo pants and a navy blue zip up looking sexier than the law should allow. I noticed a group of juniors standing nearby, staring at him and probably trying to garner enough courage to go and speak to him. His face broke out in a huge grin when he saw me and he strode towards me.
I still had moments when I couldn't believe he was actually mine. This was one of those moments, my breath hitched when I reached him and he pulled me into him for a kiss.
"Hello love how was class?"
"Good, but slow" I replied burying myself into his chest.
"Same, I was thinking about you the whole time" he told me giving me another kiss before grabbing my bag and throwing it over his shoulder.
The girls that had been eyeing Edward up looked awed and envious as they watched me us walk away. That's right ladies he's all mine I thought. When we reached the Volvo Edward threw our bags on the back seat before opening the passenger door for me. We sped out of the parking lot, headed for home where we quickly got changed and freshened up. An hour later we were back in the car and on the road to Port Angeles; we would easily make it there by dinnertime at the rate Edward was going.
"My parents are really excited to see you again" Edward told me glancing at me before returning his gaze to the road. "Esme in particular, she thinks you're adorable and I'm inclined to agree" he continued grinning at me making me blush.
"Carlisle really likes you too, they are more excited to see you than they are me" he added with a fake pout.
"If it makes you feel any better Renee won't stop gushing about you to everyone she knows" I told him.
"Really?" he asked looking a little pleased with himself.
"Really, she's pretty much smitten with you" I replied.
He reached across the console and took my hand in his, "I'm smitten with you" he told me eyes smouldering.
Within two and a bit hours we were driving through the town towards Edward's childhood home. Pulling up the driveway I marvelled once again at the amazing house. Edward parked his car in front of the massive garage before helping me out of the car and grabbing our overnight bags.
Esme was waiting at the door for us, evidently she had heard Edward's car pull up.
"Bella dear it's so wonderful to see you again!" she exclaimed pulling me into a hug.
"You too Esme, thank you for having us over tonight"
"Oh it's no problem at all, Carlisle and I were so looking forward to seeing you again" she told me putting her arm around me and leading me into the house.
"Hi Edward it's good to see you, oh you too Mom" Edward muttered loud enough for us to hear him.
"Oh hello dear" she giggled letting me go and giving her son a hug and a kiss on his cheek. "Sorry for ignoring you."
"Its fine Mom" he chuckled, "I can see why you'd be more excited to see her than me. For a start she's much better looking than me."
"Awww" she squealed. "Your father's in the kitchen, it's his turn to cook tonight, why don't you go and help him dear?" she suggested, "I'll pour Bella and myself a wine and we'll have a girly catch up in the living room" she said giving me a warm smile.
"Sure Mom" Edward replied giving my hand a squeeze.
We headed in to the kitchen where Carlisle was stirring something that smelt amazing. "Son, Bella!" he greeted us with a smile. He put down the spoon and strode over to give me a hug, "It's good to see you again Bella, Esme and I are so glad you could come" he told me.
"Thank you, it's really nice to see you again" I told him smiling back.
"Edward's going to help you with dinner and Bella and I are going to go and have a wine" Esme told him pouring us both a glass.
She handed me my glass and lead the way back into the huge sitting room, the fire was roaring giving it a relaxed atmosphere. We sat down on the comfy white sofa.
"How have you been dear?" Esme asked me taking a sip of her wine, "Edward told me about what happened. We were so worried about you!" she told me, I could see the concern in her green eyes; they were a slightly darker shade than Edward's.
"I'm better now, Edward has been wonderful through all of it" I told her, "I feel so lucky to have him. I'm not sure I would have been able to cope without him."
Her eyes sparkled at that comment "Well we are just so glad you were okay dear" she told me patting my knee. "Edward feels lucky to have you too you know. I remember him calling us a few days after he had met you. I could tell he loved you already by the way he spoke about you" she told me smiling.
"We're so glad Edward found that someone special, I was so worried after what had happened to him. But then he met you and the change was startling. He was quite quiet for a long time and then all of a sudden our Edward was back, joking and happy" she explained.
I smiled at her, "He helped me too, in the same way. When I moved here I had been through something very similar to Edward and he helped me see that not every man is untrustworthy" I told Esme, it was so easy to open up to her.
"I'm glad he found you Bella, you fit into our family so well, it seems like you were meant to move to Seattle."
"I think so" I told her, "I'm glad I moved too. It's turned out to be the best decision I ever made."
She beamed at me, "So tell me, what else has been happening lately? Edward told me he took you to Vancouver as a surprise? I never thought my son could be so romantic, he must have learnt more from Carlisle than I realised."
I grinned back at her, "It was very romantic, I had absolutely no idea where he was taking me. I've always wanted to go there, it was so much fun. It's a beautiful city."
"Oh it is I love it there. Carlisle and I often go there in winter for a bit of a break" she told me
"You do?" I asked.
"Yes, we've been going for years. He proposed to me there" she told me a dreamy look on her face. She told me the story of how he had proposed, it was so romantic. A warm summer's night in Vancouver, on a boat moored out in the harbour, Carlisle had arranged a three course meal by candle light while they looked out at the twinkling lights of the city. After dinner he got down on one knee and declared his love for her and asked her to be his wife.
I sighed "That is so romantic" I told her.
"He did pretty well didn't he?" she said beaming and taking another sip of her wine.
Just then we were interrupted by Edward calling us for dinner. Carlisle had cooked lemon chicken with white rice and steamed vegetables. He poured us all another glass of wine before announcing we tuck in.
"So Bella, how are your courses at UW going?" Carlisle asked me.
"Really good actually, it's hard to believe third year is half way through now. One more to go before we're all out in the real world" I told them.
"Time does fly by so fast" Esme replied, "I think it must feel like that for all mothers though" she said ruffling Edward's hair affectionately. "Speaking of mothers how's Renee Bella?"
Esme and Renee met at Christmas and got along like a house on fire. They spent all evening chatting away with Sue and Alice and Rose's Moms.
"She's really good; I spoke to her the other day. She and Phil are dying for us to go to Florida and visit them" I replied.
"I bet she is! I must call her actually" Esme told me.
"She'd like that" I said smiling.
The rest of the evening was happy and relaxed; I really liked Esme and Carlisle. They were both such caring and genuinely kind people. We bid them goodnight around eleven since we had to get up fairly early to head to Leah's.
"Good night dear" Esme said giving me a kiss on the cheek. "I didn't get the guest bedroom ready as I figured you and Edward would rather spend the night in his room."
"Thanks" I told her blushing a little.
She just grinned at me and Edward led me upstairs to his room.
I used the bathroom first, quickly washing my face and teeth before changing into my Victoria's Secret silk pyjamas, courtesy of Alice Brandon. Apparently yoga pants and a tee aren't fashionable enough sleepwear in her books.
I went and settled in bed and flicked through a book I found sitting on his nightstand while I waited for him. He walked out of the bathroom five minutes later wearing only a midnight blue pair of pyjama bottoms.
He smirked when he saw me shamelessly ogling him. "Like what you see love?" he asked climbing into bed beside me.
"Yes" I replied blushing.
"I like what I see too" he replied leaning in to kiss me.