Author's note: Hope you like the new character introduced in this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight Ms Meyer does
Chapter Songs: Starlight – Muse
We woke early the next morning and after a quick but hot shower I got dressed in skinny jeans, a white tank top and a purple, blue and white plaid shirt with a pair of grey converse.
I met Edward downstairs in the kitchen where Esme was already cooking us breakfast.
"Good morning dear! That purple shirt looks really pretty on you" she told me with a huge smile.
"Oh thank you" I replied smiling back.
"I hope you're hungry, Mom's cooked heaps. Did you forget Emmett's not here?" Edward asked her teasingly.
She laughed, "It must be habit" she replied cracking eggs into a large frying pan.
"Good morning!" Carlisle greeted us walking into the kitchen and planting a kiss on Esme's cheek. "Coffee anyone?" he asked turning on the machine.
"Please" I replied, "I can't function in the morning without it"
He chuckled "Neither can I."
"So you're helping your sister Leah move today?" Esme asked putting bread in the toaster.
"Mmm we are, her cousin Emily has a friend living in Seattle who has a spare room in a really nice apartment. So she offered it to Leah, she managed to get a job working in a childcare centre downtown too" I replied.
"Oh that's wonderful, it'll be so nice for you to have her living nearby" Esme replied.
"It will, I'm really looking forward to it" I told her.
Esme dished up breakfast, eggs, bacon, sausages, hash browns, toast, mushrooms and tomatoes and placed our plates on the table. After eating we decided to head to La Push, we had promised Leah we would be there by eight so we had to get going.
"Please come and bring Bella back soon to visit us" Esme made Edward promise.
"I will Mom, we'll come for the weekend soon or something" he said.
"You better, see you soon Bella. It was lovely seeing you again" Esme said giving me a hug.
"It was nice seeing you too" I told her, "Thank you for having us, I can't wait to come back."
"I'm glad" she replied beaming at me.
"Take care Bella, it was great to see you" Carlisle told me also giving me a hug.
"I will, and it was good seeing you too" I told him.
"You look after her Edward" Esme called as we got into his Volvo.
"I will Mom!" he called back before speeding off down the drive.
We made it to La Push before eight; we drove down the road to where Leah was currently living with Kim. We passed the Black's place and I felt a sick feeling in my stomach. Should I go and visit Jacob while I was here and just pretend like nothing had happened? I asked myself. I didn't think I could do that, it would be just so awkward, but then on the other hand I missed my friend and would do anything to get things back to the way they were.
Edward must have sensed I was thinking about it because he reached over and squeezed my hand. "If you want to go and visit him you should" he told me.
"I don't know" I replied, "It'd be too awkward and besides he hasn't made any effort to get in contact with me so maybe I'll just leave it up to him." I knew I was being slightly childish but the topic of Jacob was still a sore one.
"Whatever you decide I'll support" he reminded me, "I'll even come with you if you'd like, although I don't think Jacob would appreciate that much" he mused more tom himself then me.
"Maybe, I mean if you'd come with me then it might not be so bad" I replied. "I'll think about it, maybe I'll talk to Leah about it."
"That's a good idea love" he replied squeezing my hand. I wondered how I got so lucky, I wasn't sure if the situation was reversed I'd be able to be as calm and mature as Edward was being.
"What house number am I looking for?" Edward asked me breaking me free of my thoughts.
"Oh, it's that little blue wooden place just there" I replied pointing at Leah's. Edward turned around and parked right outside Leah and Kim's house. As usual he managed to get out of the car and around to my passenger door to open it for me so fast I swear he could move at a supernatural speed.
"How do you move so fast?" I asked him stepping out of the car, "You're not a vampire are you?"
That made him laugh, "Nope, otherwise I would have bitten you by now, you taste delicious" he whispered in my ear sending warm tingles throughout my body.
We walked up the path to Leah's front door hand in hand and just as I raised my hand to knock Kim flung the door open.
"Hi Bells, how are you?" she squealed, not quite an Alice worthy squeal but it was up there. "Hi Edward, it's so nice of you to come and help."
"Hey Kim, we're good, how about you? Excited I bet?" I asked her with a grin. Kim and Jared had decided to take the next step in their relationship and move in together and I could tell excited didn't even cover it.
"Very!" she answered, "Come on in, Leah's just in her room packing some stuff into boxes" she told us leading us down the hall. I loved Leah and Kim's little place, it was homey and cosy and now it was going to be Kim and Jared's place.
"So when does Jared move in?" I asked her.
"Today as well, that's why the place is such a damn mess!" she told us, "The guys have been helping him move all his stuff in over the past few days."
"Bells!" Leah exclaimed jumping up from her spot on the floor surrounded by boxes, "Thank you so much for helping me today" she said hugging me.
"Anything for my sis" I replied hugging her back.
"Hi Edward, thanks for coming" she said as she pulled away from me walking over to give him a hug too.
"No problem Leah, we're happy to help" Edward told her. "Put me to work" he added with a grin.
"Okay, so ummm" she said looking around her room, "As you can probably tell I left a few things to the last minute. I got a little overwhelmed" she told us sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it Lee-lee" I replied, "How bout we move all of the boxes that are ready to go into the car into the hall?" I suggested.
"Great idea, see this is why I wanted you to help Bells!" she told me grinning.
"I'll load them into your car if you'd like?" Edward offered.
"Sure that'd be great" Leah replied tossing him the keys.
Edward loaded up his arms with a couple of boxes and headed out to Leah's car. Leah and I grabbed a box each and started to pack clothes into them.
"So Bells all is well with your hunky Greek Adonis then?" Leah asked.
"More than well, things are going great" I told her unable to stop the huge grin that took over my face. "He's amazing."
"I'd bet he is" she replied winking and elbowing me lightly.
I giggled; Edward chose that moment to step into the room grabbing a few more boxes. "What are you two giggling about in here?" he asked an amused expression on his face.
"Just girl talk" Leah replied, "Things boys would never want to hear about."
"Say no more" Edward replied rushing out of the room.
That caused us to giggle again.
"There's something you want to talk to me about isn't there?" Leah asked suddenly after a few moments with no talking.
"Gee are you turning all psychic on me like Alice?" I asked her teasingly.
"I just know how to read you well" Leah replied with a grin, "So out with it missy."
I took a deep breath, "It's about Jacob."
She nodded encouraging me to continue, "I think he still hates me, I still haven't heard from him like I told you the other night. Anyway I was wondering, do I go and visit him while I'm here?" I asked her.
"Hmm, well do you want to?" she questioned.
"I really don't know, on one hand I'd love my best friend back but then I'm still angry at him" I told her.
"I can see your dilemma, what did Edward say about this? Have you talked to him about this?" she asked.
"He's cool with it either way" I told her, "He's being supportive, telling me to do what I feel is the right thing to do."
"Damn girl, you might just have yourself the perfect man there" she said squeezing my shoulder, "I'm a little jealous" she added grinning. "Part of me wants to say just leave him be and when he finally realises what an ass he's been he'll come to you."
"Hmmm maybe you're right" I mused, "But anyway enough about my problems, tell me about your new roomie to be and your new job?"
Two hours later we had packed up the majority of Leah's things and were taking more and more boxes out to Leah's and Edward's cars to pack. Paul had hired a U-Haul since he, Quil and Embry were also moving today, he had offered to come around and put Leah's bigger item's in it and drive it to Seattle.
"Right, that's all the boxes" she announced dusting off her hands on her jeans. "Now we just need to move the furniture out here for Paul."
We began packing the last of the boxes into the cars just as Sam pulled up with Jacob in the passenger seat and Jared in the car behind.
"Ah looks like you won't have to go and visit after all" Leah whispered to me discretely.
"This is going to be awkward" I moaned quietly straightening up.
"Hey guys!" Jared greeted us jumping out of the car.
"Hey Jared" I replied smiling at him.
"Paul's on his way with the U-Haul" he told us, "Do you want a hand getting everything out here?" he asked.
"Thanks J that'd be awesome" Leah replied.
"I'll give you a hand Jared" Edward offered.
"Sweet man, thanks" he replied, "Lead the way."
Edward and Jared headed inside to get the furniture as Leah and I continued to pack the car.
"Hey there Bells!" Sam called getting out of the car, "Hey Leah!"
"Hey Sam" we called in unison.
"Need a hand with anything?" he asked.
"We've got things sorted here, but maybe Edward or Jared could do with a hand?" I suggested.
"On it" he replied with a grin, "Good to see ya Bells, don't leave without catching up yeah?" he told me patting my back.
"Sure thing Sam" I replied with a smile. I'd always liked Sam, he was a genuinely nice person and so was Emily. He was like a big brother to me growing up just like Jake had been. He jogged up the front steps and into the house.
Jacob finally made a move to step out of the car, "Hi Bella, Leah" he greeted us walking over slowly with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
"Hey Jake" Leah replied.
"Hi Jacob" I said placing another box in the back seat of the Volvo.
"How's things?" he asked me.
"I'm just gonna go make sure I got everything" Leah told me squeezing my shoulder. I knew that was her subtle way of giving me a chance to have a moment alone with Jacob.
"Great, never better" I replied closing the boot after stuffing a box in the last available space.
"So everything's going well with Edward?" he asked scuffing his shoe on the ground.
"He's amazing" I answered. Man this was awkward times ten, I really didn't know what to say to him.
"That's good" he mumbled, "Man I've been such an idiot!" he blurted out all of a sudden making me jump.
"Bells, I'm really sorry about everything" he said, I could see the sincerity in his eyes. "I was such a dick, I feel really bad about what happened. I am happy for you Bells, you seem happy with him. You deserve it and he doesn't seem like such a bad guy after all."
"Thanks Jake, that means a lot to me. He isn't, he's pretty damn amazing" I told him.
"I missed you Bells" Jake said, "I'm sorry for being such a jerk."
"It's okay Jake. I missed my best bud too" I replied with a smile and it was. I couldn't stay angry at Jake when he was being so sincere.
He gave me a bone crushing hug, "Jake can't breathe!" I gasped.
"Ooops!" he laughed letting me go. "So you and Edward are pretty serious then?" he asked me, the mood had lightened considerably and now he seemed actually interested.
"Yeah" I replied with a grin.
"That grin says a lot" he laughed, "So its love then?"
I nodded in reply.
"I'm happy for you Bells, really. We obviously weren't meant to be" he said with a shrug.
"Better as friends" I replied elbowing him.
"Best friends" he corrected me with a grin.
We were interrupted by a loud honking noise coming up the road. Before I had even turned around I knew it would be Paul. He pulled up behind Edward's Volvo with a grin on his face.
"Yo Bells! Jake!" he shouted opening the door.
"Nice wheels man" Jake commented gesturing at the U-Haul.
"Jealous?" Paul asked joining us.
"You wish" Jake retorted.
Paul just laughed, "Right so where's all of Leah's shit then?" he asked looking around.
"Edward, Sam and Jared were supposed to be on it" I replied with a frown.
"Come on let's tell them to hurry the fuck up then" Paul said nearly running up the front path.
"He reminds me a little of a male version of Alice, except much bigger" I told Jake who laughed.
"I heard that" he called.
The guys lugged all of Leah's furniture outside and into the U-Haul, as soon as Edward wasn't needed he came over to me and pulled me into his embrace.
"How'd your chat go with Jacob? Leah gave me a heads us to give you two a chance to talk things out" he murmured.
"It went well, he apologised. We're friends again" I told him.
"I'm glad love" Edward replied kissing my forehead.
"Thank you" I told him pulling back and looking into his sparkling green eyes.
"For what?" he asked gazing deep into my eyes.
"For being you, for being wonderful" I replied kissing him lightly on the lips.
Half an hour later we had packed all of Leah's stuff into the vehicles and were ready to hit the road.
"Mom and Charlie are on their way, they wanted to catch up with all of us before we left. They're bring lunch" Leah told us all.
"Lunch?" we heard Quil ask walking into the living room followed by Embry.
'Trust you to turn up when foods mentioned" Jake quipped.
Quil just shrugged, "I've got good timing."
"I hope they bought enough" I told Leah looking around the room full of Quiluete boys, they all had an appetite like Emmett's which meant a hell of a lot of food would be needed to keep them happy.
"Mom will have it sorted" she replied.
Sure enough ten minutes later Sue and Charlie arrived with enough food to feed an army.
"Hi honey" Charlie greeted me with a hug.
"Hey Dad, how are you?" I asked him.
"I'm fine" he replied in a gruff tone, "It's you I'm worried about. Are you okay?" he asked concern etched in his expression.
"I'm great Dad, Edward's been taking good care of me" I told him smiling so he knew I was telling the truth.
"Good" he replied, "I like him" he told me just as Edward walked over to say hello.
"Hi son" Charlie greeted him clapping his hand on Edward's shoulder.
"Charlie, it's good to see you!" Edward replied with a smile.
"And you. I just wanted to say thank you for looking after my baby girl son" he told Edward with sincerity.
"I'd do anything for Bella" was Edward's simple reply.
"I know, I appreciate it" Charlie told him with a true smile.
"Thank you" Edward replied patting Charlie's back.
"Right well better help Sue with the food then" Charlie said patting my shoulder. "You kids need to come and visit soon" he told us.
"Anytime Dad, just call and we'll come for the weekend" I told him.
"Good, I'll do that. We'll finally go fishing son?" Charlie asked Edward. They had talked about taking a fishing trip together at Christmas, I was pretty surprised by Charlie's eagerness to go fishing with Edward. Fishing with Charlie meant you were in his inner circle.
"I'm game" replied Edward grinning.
"Good man" he replied walking off to find Sue.
"Wow so Charlie really loves you" I replied staring after my Dad in amazement.
Edward just shrugged his shoulders and smirked at me. "It's a relief really" he told me putting his arm around me, "I was so worried when I met him that he'd completely hate me and try to shot me with one of his guns."
I laughed, "You laugh now but it could still happen" he said.
After lunch we were ready to leave, we had quite the convoy today. There was Leah and I in her car, Edward in his Volvo, he had insisted I go with Leah for some sisterly bonding, Paul in the U-Haul, Sam driving Paul's car, Quil and Embry also driving their own car's respectively.
Leah and I were going to take the lead as she had suggested I drive since I knew my way around Seattle now. Once we had said goodbye and see you soons we hit the tarmac.
"It's gonna be so awesome" Leah sighed happily as we made our way out of La Push, "I can't wait to spend more time with all of you."
"Me either" I replied grinning, "Although I'll warn you now, sometimes we're a little strange and some of us can grate on your nerves" I told her laughing.
She laughed in response, "I think I can handle that" she replied.
"Oh you'll fit in just fine" I reassured her.
We chatted about anything and everything for the remainder of the trip. The time flew by and in no time we had reached the city limits.
Leah gave me the address and we found the street easily.
"Oh I'm getting nervous!" she exclaimed as we looked for the right building. "I wonder what my roomie will be like in person" she pondered.
We had lost part of our convoy by the time we found Leah's new home. Quil and Embry along with Sam had gone on to their new place to start unpacking while Edward, Paul and I were going to give Leah a hand with her stuff.
We found the building and pulled into the car park, the apartment building was really nice. Newish and well maintained, I could tell Leah was buzzing with excitement. We walked towards the lobby doors leaving Paul and Edward by the cars.
We found the right number on the intercom and pressed the button.
"Hello?" answered a woman's voice.
"Hi it's Leah" Leah said into the speaker.
Before she could say another word the woman replied, "Oh! You're here! Come on up!"
We pushed open the door and headed towards the stairs and up to the fifth floor. We reached apartment 502s door and knocked.
A woman opened the door, she was our age, with tanned skin just a touch lighter than the Quiluete skin tone. She had glossy dark brown, almost black hair that reached just past her shoulders, it was poker straight. She was about my height with hazel eyes. She beamed at us.
"Hi! I'm Nessie!" she introduced herself, "Well actually it's Renesme but please call me Nessie!"
"I'm Leah" she replied with a grin, "And this is my sister Bella" she introduced me.
Nessie beamed at me, "I'm Isabella" I introduced myself, "But I prefer Bella."
She gave me a knowing smile "Come on in! I'm so excited your here" she exclaimed. "So your sisters?" she asked.
"Well step sisters really" Leah replied.
"Oh that's so cool" Nessie replied, she seemed really nice, I liked her already.
We smiled back at her, "Let me show you around real quick and then I'll come down and help you with your stuff" she said. She gave us a quick tour and then we headed downstairs to find Paul and Edward.
Edward and Paul had began to take Leah's things out of the U-Haul and stopped when they saw us coming.
"This is Edward Bella's boyfriend and our friend Paul" Leah told Nessie introducing her to the guys. "Edward, Paul, this is my new roomie Nessie."
"Hi" they both greeted her with a smile and a wave.
"It's really nice to meet you both" Nessie beamed at them.
We spent the afternoon helping Leah take all of her stuff up to the apartment, with five of us it didn't take too long.
"Right that's the last of it" Paul told us poiting to the last few boxes on the ground beside the cars. "I better get this baby on the road" he told us patting the U-Haul.
"Thanks for all your help!" Leah told him giving him a quick hug.
"Anytime Lee-lee" he replied before turning to hug me, "See you Saturday night yeah?" he asked.
"Most definitely" I replied.
"Looking forward to it!" he exclaimed, "Edward man, thanks for the muscle" he said to Edward patting him on the back.
"No problem" Edward grinned back at him.
"Nice to meet you Nessie, I'm sure I'll see you soon" he told Nessie with a smile.
"And you Paul" she replied still beaming.
We waved Paul off before saying our goodbyes too.
"Are you sure you don't want a hand setting anything up?" I asked Leah.
"I'm sure, you've already helped so much today Bells" she replied, "Thanks both of you. I'll have to have you all over for dinner or something" she continued.
"That'd be great" I told her, "But we'll see you Saturday anyway."
"Can't wait" she told me giving me a quick squeeze, "Can we invite Nessie?" she whispered in my ear.
"Of course!" I whispered back pulling away. "Hey Nessie, we're having drinks around at our place on Saturday night to get all the whole gang together and take the newbies out on the town. We'd love it if you could come?" I asked her.
"That sounds awesome!" she told me excitedly, "I'd love to, thanks!" she gave me a quick hug.
"Great, we'll see you then!" I replied.
Leah thanked Edward and after we said goodbye we headed for home. The gang were in the living room evidently waiting for us to get all the gossip of moving day.
"So" Alice said handing Edward a beer and me vodka and juice, "What's Leah's new roommate like? Oooo did you see Jacob? How is everyone in La Push?" she asked excitedly.
That was so Alice, so many questions she wanted answers for but too excited to pick just one.
"Leah's roommate is really nice, her names Renesme but she prefers Nessie and she works for a party and event planning company owned by her aunt. She coming to drinks on Saturday night so you'll get to meet her then" I told them all.
"She sounds like our kind of girl!" Rose commented.
"She is, you'll love her" I replied.
"Did you see Jacob?" Alice interrupted eagerly, she looked backwards and forwards and both Edward's and my expressions.
"Yeah I did, we talked" I told them. "It was good, he apologised, admitted he had been an idiot and we're friends again" I couldn't help but grin.
"Finally!" Alice said happily.
Rose however didn't look as pleased, "Well he'll have to prove himself to me" she told me, "But I'm glad he apologised Bells and you got to talk it out."
Author's Note: Hope you all like Nessie! You'll be seeing her a lot more in the coming chapters =)