Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight; all rights go to Stephanie Meyer.
Chapter Ten, Bella's Blues, Rose's Revenge, Edward's Emotions, and Emmett's Enlist.
"Hunny, you look so tired!" The little old lady that comes in every Friday morning told me as a poured her a fresh cup of coffee.
"Oh yes, but I'm fine." I tried my best to smile genuinely at her.
She made a face at me, "You need sleep! You are far too young to have those bags under your eyes!"
I chuckled a little, "I feel like in the past few weeks have been a life time."
The little old lady clicked her tongue at me and motioned to the seat across from her, "Sit, sit!"
I looked around me, "Uhm, I don't know if I can…I am working."
The lady rolled her eyes, "No one is here this early! That's why I come in the morning. Now sit down!" she waved her hand towards the seat.
I sat down at her request. What am I getting myself into?
"Now tell me what the problem is." She said pulling knitting supplies out of her purse.
I wasn't sure what I should tell her, is it really alright to tell this lady my problems; well the ones I am allowed to share?
She must have realized my hesitation, and looked up at me. "Sometimes it's good to have an unbiased, outside source to have a look at things. A pair of fresh eyes." Then she laughed, "Although mine are not as fresh as they used to be, they are still as sharp." She smiled at me kindly; it reminded me of Esme's encouraging smile.
"It's a long story." I warned.
The lady waved her hand at me, "I've got plenty of time!"
I took a deep breath and began telling the little old lady my story of the past few weeks. I told her a little about my sister and I moving here to Forks to live next to my uncle Todd (but this was brief because I felt terrible lying to her) and then I told her how I met all of my friends and then my stress causing me to pass out. I told her about their little protection detail and I told her how I started to know Jasper, I told her about Maria and what she did to my house last week. I also told her about the conversation Edward, Rose, and I overheard between Peter and Jasper.
"But that isn't even when things started to get bad."
The little old lady raised her eyebrows at me. "I'm guessing Jasper is at the center of it?"
I smiled at her, "If it was only that easy."
"Well don't keep me waiting! What happened next?"
I closed my eyes as I remembered everything that has happened this past week; and goodness a lot happened.
"First it was Bella drama on Monday."
Monday Flashback
It's 6am. I can't sleep, I can't focus, I can't do anything; I feel useless. I rolled around in my bed, moving pillows around, changing my position until I was done trying to fall back asleep. I looked around my room for some inspiration on something to do. Tennis shoes…maybe I should go out for a run? That doesn't require much thought or focus; I can just lose myself. Smiling at the thought, I got up, changed and put my trusty coral colored sneakers and went outside.
"Hmmmhhhhmmmmhhmhmhmhmmmhhhhhmmmmmhhh" Humming as I jogged down the sidewalk, it was like suddenly everything that has been weighing down on me from the past month or so was gone; and I was free!
So let's run a little faster!
It was like the farther I ran the lighter I felt, and I just couldn't stop.
Isn't this considered running away from your problems? A little voice in the back of my mind asked.
Hm…probably, but I don't care right now…I'm FRREEEEEEEEEEEEEE! The rest of my body sang back to the little voice.
I felt empowered.
SMACK
The collision caused me to fall backwards and I landed on my butt.
"OW! Dang it! Why am I always getting hurt? God, do you have some agenda against me that I just can't see or understand right now? Is that what yesterday's church service was about? HUH? God was a plan for your life, but it's something that you won't know until it happens?" I yelled out loud.
"Er…are you okay?" Somebody asked me.
…oh I didn't give a thought towards what I had run into.
I looked up to see Mike Newton.
"Oh, hey Mary!" He said excitedly, extending his hand down to me.
I grudgingly took his hand, and he helped me up.
"Can we just ignore the fact that I randomly shouted up at Heaven?" I asked him.
"Ha, uh, yeah…sure. So what are you doing in this side of Forks?" He asked me curiously.
"Oh I was just out running." I said looking around the neighborhood that I was in.
"Oh yeah? I run this neighborhood every morning." He said proudly.
"That's nice."
As I was looking around I saw the familiar old, busted up, red Chevy in the distance.
"Oh, Bella lives here!"
Mike looked down at the ground, "Oh does she? I didn't know that."
He sounds embarrassed. I had to hold back the smile that was threatening to show.
"Okay, well I'm going to go see if she is up!"
End of flashback.
"I jogged over to Bella's house, not really even thinking about the time it was. I just thought that I would either find her awake or sleeping, and maybe I could talk her into getting breakfast with me. That is if I didn't smell too terrible."
The little old lady smiled and looked up at me from her knitting. "But you found something more?"
I grimaced, "Oh yeah…a lot more."
Back to Monday's flashback.
I was only a house or two away from Bella's when I noticed a car behind her truck. It didn't look like the police cruiser. I slowed to a walk as I made it to her house.
What's that noise?
There was this strange, but quiet noise coming from behind Bella's car. I walk slowly around her car.
"AAAHHHHHHH!" a scream escaped my lips.
Bella was tangled in the arms of a tall tan guy; their faces had just been all but glued together.
The both of them turned around and I realized that the guy was Jacob.
UH! So much for being a brother!
Bella was shocked, and stood there staring at me like a deer in headlights.
"Who are you?" Jake asked me.
Oh yeah. I know him but he doesn't know me.
"My name's Mary. I'm Bella's friend." I looked over at Bella as I said this.
Bella finally regained composure, although her cheeks were as red as tomatoes. "Oh, uhm, th-this isn't what it looks like!"
"Really? It looks pretty obvious." I said in a slightly irritated tone.
She was all ticked about mine and Edward's friendship!?
"You have to keep this a secret!" She said suddenly.
"And why do I have to do that?"
Bella frowned, "Because I thought you were my friend."
End of flashback.
"Edward is my best friend, and he is head over heels for this girl. I thought she liked him, I mean we all did…but finding her making out with her supposedly 'brother like friend'. That was too much."
The lady grimaced, "Have you told anyone yet."
I sigh, "Not yet. I told her that she needed to tell everyone herself."
Back to Monday's flashback.
Bella stood there looking at the ground. "I…Jake maybe you should go for right now."
Jake looked a little hesitant but he got in his car and left silently.
"Coffee? I have a fresh pot inside." She pointed towards the house.
I nodded, "As long as you don't mind the smell?" I said motioning towards myself.
Bella cracked a smile, "No, I don't."
I followed Bella inside, and she poured us both a cup.
"Sit, this is a little complicated." She said motioning to the table.
We sat down, and she took in a deep breath.
"Okay, this is simply complicated…I like them both." She blurted out.
Oh boy.
"I know, I know! Don't give me that look. Mary, I just…I can't help. Jake's my childhood friend and everything, and Edward is…Edward" She said this dreamily.
~000~
About an hour later I was jogging home.
Seriously, who makes out that early in the morning!?
Well this morning started out as a freeing run, but it ended up putting me in a cage of secrets.
BRING BRRIINNGG BRRRINNGG
My cell phone went off.
"Hello?" I answered without checking the caller I.D.
"I'm officially asking Bella out today!" Edward's voice came through my cell.
I stopped dead in my tracks. "WHAT?" I screamed.
"Yeah, I'm walking over to your house now. Have you had breakfast yet? Let's go out for breakfast, my treat!" He spoke enthusiastically.
"I'm on a run right now. I'm probably ten minutes from the house. So if you let me shower first we can go."
"Okay. I'll just let myself in. See ya soon!"
Beeep beep beeep.
I can't say anything to him; it's not my place or secret to tell
I really need to learn to channel my visions to let me know things like when I'm going to run into someone and when my phone is going to ring.
I shook off the uneasy feelings and ran home.
~000~
"Mmm…chai tea latte. Yummy!" I whispered as I took a sip of my drink and bounced around in my seat.
Edward and I were at the usual little café that we probably come to three times a week.
Edward just gave me an amused smile. He was in an extremely happy mood today.
*"Bella! What are you doing here?" Edward jumped up out of his seat excitedly. Bella's eye's turned into the shape of saucers. Jake was standing next to her holding her hand. Edward's face fell a couple hundred degrees. "Bella?" He asked hesitantly in a quiet voice.*
Uh ooh.
Edward was staring at me. "What…wh-what was that?"
I hurriedly stood up and grabbed my coffee and purse, "Let's go!"
Edward sat in his seat, not moving. I walked over and grabbed his arm.
"Let's go, now!" I said pulling him up out of his seat.
I dragged him outside, he looked zombie like, so it was rather hard to get him to move at a decent pace. We were almost to his car when I heard her voice.
"Mary?" Bella said.
And there she was holding hands with Jake.
Really Bella! REALLY!?
"Oh hey, your dad is Dr. Cullen right?" Jake said enthusiastically.
Apparently Bella hasn't told him the whole story yet. Edward stiffened at his words, and didn't say anything.
"Uh dude, what's your problem?" Jake asked, he was obviously affronted by Edward's behavior.
"Jake, it's okay." Bella said, tugging his hand. "Let's just get breakfast."
Jake shrugged and followed her.
I had a really bad feeling about all of this.
"BELLA!" Edward yelled.
Bella and Jake turned around.
Edward went towards them, and I tried to hold him back; but I wasn't strong enough, he slipped right through my hands.
"Why didn't you just tell me? Why did you lead me on like this?!" Edward cried.
Bella looked down at the ground, "I didn't mean to."
"You didn't mean to?" Edward asked quietly.
Jake was looking between Bella and Edward, "This is my competition?" Jake laughed.
Edward lunged at Jake.
"Edward!" I screamed.
Jake and Edward fell to the ground.
"EDWARD!" Bella screeched.
I ran over and helped pull them off of each other.
"What the heck?" Bella yelled out.
She was holding back Jake and I was holding Edward. I couldn't help but feel like a line was just placed between us; like everyone had chosen their sides. I let go of Edward as Bella let go of Jake. We all just stood there staring at each other.
"Forget it. Whatever was between us Bella, I want nothing to do with you." Edward spat.
Bella gasped and Edward continued. "I don't want to waste my time with someone who was messing around with two guys at the same time. I hope you're happy!"
Jake looked angry, like he was ready to lunge at Edward again; but he wasn't quick enough.
Bella slapped Edward across the face, "Well I hope you are happy!"
Then Bella rounded on me, "I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIEND!"
I felt mixed emotions as I stood there. First Jasper, now Bella…people are never completely predictable; even if you can read minds or see the future.
END of flashback.
The lady gasped, "She really slapped him?"
I nodded my head.
The old lady gave me a stern look and clicked her tongue. "I will hold my tongue until the end of the story. What happened next?"
I sighed, "Tuesday, Edward was a complete and total mess."
Tuesday's Flashback.
I decided to go running again this morning.
Maybe I can get that "freedom high" again…well without the price of bad things happening.
BRRINNGG BRRINNGG BRRRRINNNGGG
Man, I really need to learn to give myself a vision warning before my phone rings…because that would be so cool!
"Hello?"
"What did you do to Edward?" Emmett accused.
"I'm sorry?"
"Ever since he came home yesterday he hasn't said a word. At first that was fine, and it was fun to tease him but then at four o'clock this morning when dad left for work, Edward got on his piano and hasn't stopped playing the most depressing songs. What the heck happened yesterday?"
I sighed, "Bella is sorta, kinda, possibly, maybe with Jacob Black."
Emmett was quiet for a few moments. "You're a girl…please come and deal with Edward's emotions before I beat my face in with a bacon greased frying pan!" He said seriously.
"Why would you do that?"
Emmett laughed, "Because I'm making bacon, and it sounded like a good idea. So please can you come over and fix him?"
"I'll try."
I definitely need to somehow get vision warnings.
~000~
When I walked over to the Cullen's house, what I found was sad. Emmett had taken me into the upstairs music room where Edward was playing his piano, swaying to the music. His eyes were shut and he looked completely closed off to the world.
I don't think I can fix this.
END of flashback
"I tried talking to him, fixing him breakfast, but he didn't even notice my presence for a while. But eventually he just asked me to sit with him while he played out his heartbreak. So that's what I did, for eight hours. I was lucky I didn't have to work that day."
"You sat there for eight hours? You are a good friend little lady." She smiled kindly at me.
I shrugged, "He laid on the sidewalk with me while I cried for an hour. It's just how we are."
"Those are the friends you keep throughout your life, hold on to them well." She told me wisely. "What happened on Wednesday?"
"Rose…she, well she did something I have been secretly dreaming of doing for days…but in a more Rosalie like manner." I smiled a little at the memory, "It was after work."
Wednesday's flashback
"He totally likes you!" I said between giggles, "No one gives a fifteen dollar tip on a six dollar check."
Rose rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Tyler…he has always been a little nice, but I didn't think he liked me."
"What guy, other than Edward, doesn't like you?" I asked her.
She shrugged, "I don't know, but I don't think Edward likes anyone right now."
I sighed at the thought, "I just can't believe Bella."
"Neither can I. The little tra-" Rose said, but I cut her off.
"Rose, she is still our friend. You cannot drop people just because they mess up, even if it's something big like this."
Rose rolled her eyes, "Yes mother." Then she smiled, "I know, let's go out for dinner! Life has been too much of a drag lately, and we need some time away. Let's go to Port Angeles!"
I smiled, "Okay, just let me call my sister and let her know."
~000~
Almost three hours later we were walking out of a restaurant laughing and carrying take home bags.
"I can't believe the waitress was hitting on you! She even put her number your hand, and you let her!" I said pointing at her hand.
"I was shocked! I didn't know what to do!" Rose said laughing.
We got into Rose's car and started driving home.
"I don't know what to do about everything right now Rose." I said sadly.
"I know, it's like I don't want to take sides or anything; but what Bella did was really wrong."
"Maybe we could take our leftovers over to the Cullen boys? You know Emmett's always open to food."
Rose laughed, "Ha! Isn't that the truth, and there is a lot left over! Those chicken baskets were gigantic."
~000~
We decided to surprise the boys and we were just pulling into the Cullen's driveway. We excitedly got out of the car and knocked on the door.
Carlisle opened the door. "Hello girls." He said kindly, but he had sad eyes.
Rose pointed to our take home bags, "We brought some food for the guys, are they here."
Carlisle hesitated, "You may come in, but please, I don't want to have to pull out my medical kit."
Rose and I exchanged looks, "Uh what?" I asked, confused.
Carlisle didn't say anything but he ushered us inside.
We carefully stepped inside, not knowing what to expect.
*"JASPER WHITLOCK!" Rosalie screamed!*
I felt my whole body tense, and suddenly Edward was right beside me. "Why are you guys here?"
Rose ignored him as she walked farther into the house, and then I heard it.
"JASPER WHITLOCK! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I haven't seen you home for a week! BUT I find you here?" Rose screamed.
Edward and I walked in the living room where Rosalie was standing. I grabbed on to his hand, nervous about seeing Jasper again, not sure how much more my stress level could take.
"Rose, I came here to see Emmett and Edward; although Edward is refusing to talk to me, which I don't blame him. But I need to talk to Mary and everyone else and explain what happened." Jasper said calmly.
Rose threw the basket at him, "WHAT!?" food went flying all over the floor. "Jasper you have done a lot of terrible things in your life, but this is beyond them all! You not only left Mary alone, after all the times that girl has been hurt, but you THEN went back to Maria! You have no right to talk to any of us. I am your sister, and I will always love you, but this…this is unforgivable."
Jasper sighed, "Rose, please…at least hear me o-"
Jasper was cut off by Rosalie slapping him across the face. The whole sound echoing throughout the house.
Rose turned around and left.
Emmett, who had been sitting quietly on the couch, jumped up. "Rose! Wait!"
Rose turned around sharply. "YOU!" She spat, "I don't even know what to say to you!"
Then Rose walked briskly down the hallway and left out the front door. Jasper started walking down the hallway and then stopped dead in his tracks.
"Mary?" He whispered to me, tears filling in his eyes and a hand mark on his face, "I am so so-"
I cut him off, "I can't hear that…" I said and then I turned around and followed Rose's example and left. I heard Jasper trying to walk after me, but Edward held him back.
"You have to let her go." Edward said roughly.
I ran home, and all the way up into my room, colliding roughly with my bed. I cried myself to sleep, and fought back and forth between my thoughts on whether or not I should have stayed and listened to him.
I woke up Thursday morning still in my clothes and make smeared all of my face and pillows.
Great, I look like a monster.
I walked into the bathroom to wipe off all of my make up, but when the water hit myself I surrounded with the Cullen's kitchen.
*Emmett put down the letter, a mixture of excitement and pride crossed his face. "I'm accepted. I leave a couple months after I graduate!" Emmett said happily. But Rose sat there in front of him, with tears threatening to spill of her lashes, "Em…I don't want you to leave. I love you, and we are supposed to get married someday and have kids, and grow old together! B-but we can't do that if you go off and kill yourself in some other country!" Rose stood up and ran out of the Cullen's kitchen. Emmett no longer looked happy, he looked torn.*
I looked up at the mirror. I didn't know Emmett wanted to join the army. This is going to cause walls between Em and Rose. The vision was so clear; that was definitely going to happen. I felt numb.
Why are all these terrible things happening? Why?
I finished wiping my face off, changed into comfy clothes and walked down stairs. I went into the kitchen and I grabbed the jug of apple juice out of the fridge and a bag of Fritos from the pantry. There are just so many things a girl can take, and this, this is too much. But at least I know I am not the only one with problems. And with that I opened my apple juice and my Fritos and I did what every girl considers a sin but it's something we all do, I partook in feeding my emotions until there wasn't a drop of juice or a crumb of Fritos left...and it felt good. Everything was falling apart, everyone's relationships were ending, and I am just tired of it.
That's how the rest of the day went, I just sat there until Esme got home. She made dinner and we ended up watching a night full of chick flicks. Esme always seems to know how to make me feel better; even if it just a little.
END of flashback
I couldn't tell the lady about my vision, but I told her everything else. She looked at me long and hard for a second before she pointed behind me.
"I think you should start off by going over there and talking to that sad young man who keeps looking at you like you are his entire world."
I quickly turned around to see Jasper sitting down in a booth across the diner, but then just as quickly turned back to the old lady.
"Oh no, I ca-"
The lady cut me off, "Ah, ah, ah! But before that, let me tell you a little story. When I was about your age, I met this wonderful man named Howard. We fell madly in love, and very much like yourself, problems got in the way; including other people. We didn't see each other for another twenty years. I married a man that I knew I would never in my life love, like I loved Howard. We both ended up marrying and the moment we saw each other we regretted it." She frowned at her own words, "But then another thirty years go by and I saw him again, both of us were widowed and we decided to do what we should have done fifty years ago. We talked about everything and we got married. Now don't get me wrong, I loved my first husband and would never take back those years or our children; but I would have done things differently and worked things out with Howard in the beginning. Because, although the good Lord gave us a second chance, it was very short. Howard died ten years later, which was five years ago." The little old lady had tears in her eyes.
I found that I did too, "I am so sorry!" I choked out.
The old lady smiled, "It's sad yes, but I will see him again when the time comes. But I do wish now and again that I would have gotten over my hurt and pride and talked to him, then we would have had sixty years instead of ten." She waved her hand at me, "How about you bring me my check and then go over there and talk to Jasper."
I immediately got up and got her check for her. The old lady grabbed my hand and wished me good luck after I did so. I took a deep breath and walked over to Jasper was sitting. He looked surprised at first, but he quickly smiled.
"Hi." I said quietly.
"Hi." He said back, motioning to the seat across from him.
A/N Yeah, Jasper and Alice are going to talk things out next chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
I have a little challenge for you, IF you give me a review, I will post another chapter tomorrow. I am going to be really busy the next couple of day, and I have already posted three chapters this week. So I am offering to post the next chapter tomorrow IF I can get lots of reviews! (: SO I am thinking like maybe 10, at the least. Show me some love guys!
Ooh and also, I am working on another story, I will be posting it in a couple of weeks. It's an Esme and Carlisle story! (: So keep an eye out for that if you are interested. AND those of you who don't know, I do have chapter one of Jasper's POV posted, I am working on the next couple of chapters, so be looking out for those as well! 3
Here is the preview of the next chapter!
Chapter Eleven, Jenks
Jasper grabbed my hand across the table, "I'm sorry." I pulled my hand away, "Jasper, please just tell me what happened." Jasper looked down at the table, "I don't know where to start." "Jenks."
~000~
"I WILL KARATE CHOP YOU IN THE FACE!" I screeched!
~000~
Emmett grabbed my hand, "Thins will work out in the end, I promise."