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5
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If I'm not the one thing you can't stand to lose
If I'm not that arrow to the heart of you
If you don't get drunk on my kiss
If you think you can do better than this then I guess we're done
Let's not drag this on
Consider me gone
-Reba Macentire, Consider Me Gone
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Bella sighed as she chopped the potatoes in front of her for dinner. It'd been little more than a week since she found out from Jacob and Quil that Edward had been kissing on another woman. Again. She'd stayed away from everyone since then- even Jacob, Quil and Embry. She'd told her dad she and Edward had gotten into a fight and if he came to the door to ask him to leave until she was ready to speak to him. Tonight, though, was unavoidable.
Before things had gotten turned upside down, she'd gone to the Uley's ranch to invite Sam and his family to dinner. Out of respect for what Bella had been going through, Allison had given her a week to come to terms with things. She'd run into Charlie at church, and like any good southern woman, offered up some of her home made pecan pie to help Bella feel better. That had prompted Bella to remind her dad that he'd invited them over for dinner. That was where she was now, fixing dinner. Rosemary herb roasted chicken and potatoes with green beans. It was one of her dad's favorite meals and she made it well.
With another sigh, she took a minute to pop her back and readjust the table top fan so it wouldn't blow onto the cooking food. Even with the screen doors open at the front and back and all the windows open in the house, the air had been stagnant in the kitchen. She shed her flannel print button down shirt in favor of a favorite spaghetti strap tank top to help keep her cool. She didn't like to wear it often without an over shirt because it clung to her like second skin and nine times out of ten gave Charlie a mini heart attack.
A knock on the front porch screen door pulled her from her thoughts. "Coming!" She called placing the knife down on the counter and grabbing a towel to wipe her hands.
Sam grinned when he saw her. "Hey Bella." He said trying hard to not stare at her body in the second skin covered top and cut off shorts.
"She lives!" Paul crowed. He smirked when she blushed.
"We got used to seeing you around- even if it was only when Embry was there- then you up and disappeared on us." He added with a pout.
Bella shook her head and tried not to grin. It didn't work. "Sorry guys.. I had a lot on my mind. Come on in, I've got to get dinner finished or we won't eat on time…" She said opening the door wider. "Where's your mom and dad?"
"Still at the house. Mom's making pie like she promised." Sam shrugged.
"Makes sense." Bella nodded.
Jared snorted. "She just wanted us out of her hair."
"So she sent you to me?" Bella wondered with an arched eyebrow.
"Not per say… we just figured we could help if you needed anything done still- if not, we'll at least keep you entertained." Paul grinned.
"You know… for us not running in the same circles growing up… you three are so much like Jake, Quil and Embry." She laughed.
"Well… Embry is our cousin…" Paul reminded her. "And we didn't want to see you so upset about the idiot anymore."
"I sometimes forget you guys are brothers… you two kept your last names.. And thanks... for offering to keep my mind off of things."
Jared shrugged. "Yeah.. Well… we were given the option to take Uley as a last name. I wanted to have something good to my last name.. and Paul… well…"
"I wanted to honor my dad." He said, leaving it at that.
Bella knew when to leave well enough alone. "Ok… kitchen is this way.. Lets get out from in front of the door… it blocks the air flow. My kitchen is hot enough already.. Not having air in there would damn near kill me…" She quipped.
"Bella?"
She froze, her eyes wide. She ignored the curious stares of her guests, turning to face her estranged boyfriend. "Hi Edward." She said watching the way his eyes hardened upon seeing Sam, Paul and Jared.
"I guess I can see now why you've been avoiding me. I came to talk. I can see that won't happen now." He sneered eying Sam, Paul and Jared behind her.
Bella took a small step back as if she'd been physically smacked. He had the gall to accuse HER of cheating? She bit her tongue to keep herself from laughing. Paul and Jared had to hold Sam back from going after him.
"They're here for dinner as guests of my dads, Edward. I'm sorry if you don't like that, but you weren't invited and they were. We'll have a chance to talk another night. If you'll excuse me, I need to go finish getting dinner ready." She said dismissing him.
"I don't believe that for a second, Bella. Your dad isn't even home!" He huffed.
Bella sighed. "Look, Edward, I've been avoiding you, I know. I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not. I needed some time to think about a few things. When you're ready to tell me who Emily is to you, and when you're ready to be honest about who Lauren was to you.. And Tanya too… then we'll talk. Until then, I have dinner to get finished. You'll forgive me for not talking anymore."
"Bella…" He sounded annoyed with her.
Paul moved in front of Edward's view. "Listen and listen good, fucker. You may have money, but it won't be enough to buy you out of the ass whoopin' my brothers and I are fixin to dish out if you don't remove yourself from off this porch. I'd suggest you take your sorry excuse for a carcass away from here until Bella decides she wants you to come around again."
"Then again… if you'd rather stay, I'd be more than happy to teach you how to treat a woman." Jared all but growled.
Sam cracked his knuckles and arched an eyebrow. "Cheatin ain't one of the proper ways to treat 'em either, dip shit.."
Edward frowned and held his hands up, trying to placate him. "You tell Bella I'll be back later."
"No you won't. We'll still be here later. You don't want to see us pissed off at the same time. You've already seen Sam. Do you want to see Paul and I pissed as well?" Jared spat.
Edward had had enough. "As if you could do anything. My father would have your buried in seconds. All I have to do is call him. How would you feel knowing you cost your family their ranch. Oh wait… you don't have a family. Poor Jared… beaten daily by a drunkard who then killed himself after leaving you motherless…"
Sam saw red. He was out the door with a bang and in seconds had his hand around Edward's shirt collar to draw him closer. He barely registered Bella calling his name.
"Go ahead big boy… dare you to hit me." Edward hissed. His false bravado astounded even him.
"Hey boys… come on now, break it up now!" Charlie said, his voice quiet but firm. Sam wondered when he'd gotten there.
"You listen, and you listen you pansy ass son of a bitch. You can come after me all you want. You go after my family like that again and I'll put your ass under in three seconds flat. Don't. fuck. With my family. You get me?" Sam growled.
Charlie arched an eyebrow and put a hand on Sam's arm. "Come on son… let him go." He coaxed.
Sam glared for a few more minutes before sneering and dropping Edward. "Sorry chief."
"Just go on inside, Sam. We'll talk in a few minutes. I think Bella is upset can you calm her down some? Come on now…let him go son."
"Yes sir." Sam finally said before walking in the house without a backwards glance.
Charlie sighed and shook his head. "Edward… I've known that boy since he was knee high to a grasshopper ridin' on that tire swing still in my front yard. Whatever you've done to insult him doesn't bode well for the mess you're already in with my daughter. I suggest you take yourself on home now… think on what happened. I don't want fights takin' place on my property again. You respect Bella's friends or you keep that mouth of yours shut, get me?"
Edward bit his tongue and clenched his jaw. His eyes narrowed when he saw Jared and Paul doubled over laughing. "Of course, sir." He said before leaving.
Charlie only sighed and looked at Paul and Jared who leaned against the side of the house. "Boys… y'all goin in the house?"
"Wanted to give Sam and Bella some time. He kinda ticked her off I think. Didn't wanna see him getting his tail handed to him." Paul shrugged.
Charlie nodded. "Smart man. Alright, come on inside now. Your folks called. They'll be here soon."
Charlie poked his head into the kitchen and grinned. Sam had his arms around Bella while she ranted into his chest how much of an idiot he was.
Charlie didn't know she'd been ranting about Edward while Sam eased her frazzled nerves. "Everything ok?"
Bella sighed. "Fine dad. It's fine."
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Bella rested her head on Sam's shoulder where they sat on the porch swing. Paul and Jared sat with their backs to the porch railing. "I'm sorry you guys had to deal with Edward."
Sam shook his head. "He'll learn."
"Speak of the devil." Jared said nodding his head towards the driveway.
Bella sighed. "Edward, why are you back?"
"I want to speak to Sam, if I may." He sneered.
"Edward… please?" Bella sighed.
"You're defend them? Isn't it bad enough you have to hang around those other idiots? Now you've added three more to the list!" He snapped.
Paul watched Bella closed her eyes, clench her teeth and ball her fists tight. He couldn't wait for the day she forgot what being a lady meant and just went off on him. Embry had told him that she had a temper to her once or twice. He looked forward to seeing how well she could throw a punch.
Sam stood and moved to the porch railing. "What do you want copper top?" He asked.
"Pretty boy is a better name…" Jared muttered.
Paul snorted. "Nah… bitch is a better one."
"Cute.." He retorted.
Sam rolled his eyes. "If it fits… now what do you want?"
"I want you to stay away from my girlfriend! She's mine. She's already seen whoring around with enough rednecks. I don't want my reputation tarnished in town just because she chooses to be seen around trash." He huffed.
"EXCUSE YOU?!" Bella hissed. Jared put a calming hand on her shoulder to keep her in place. The last thing she needed was to attack him on just the provocation of his words- cutting as they were.
"How do I know you're not sleeping with one of them, Bella? Huh? Maybe that's why they're still here. Your dad leave for work yet? You gonna invite them up to your room? What about Jacob and his friends? They gonna come over too? No? well then send them home. Dinner is over, you're always finished by 7. It's an hour past, yet there they are."
Paul's jaw dropped in shock. "You're one dumb mother fucker…" He mused before standing.
Bella shook her head. "Is that what you think, Edward?"
"I don't know what to think about it anymore!" He sighed.
"You're delusional. I'll tell you right now. Get your act together, or don't come back after tonight. I'm so tired of feeling like this." She said before turning away from him. She didn't want him to see her tears.
"Jay… you may wanna stay inside with Bella. I'll be in in a second. Gotta take the garbage out first." Sam mused.
Jared sighed. "Come on Bella. You don't need to hear this." He said, coaxing her into the house and closed the door behind him. He would ask about it later. For now, the one thing he knew to do was distract Bella. After the tongue lashing Edward had given her, she needed it.
It took five minutes before he got a hint of a smile from her and ten minutes after that before he got a watery chuckle. She waved him away when he asked her if she was alright. She didn't want him to see her tears but it didn't stop him from pulling her into his side.
"Kim's lucky." Bella pouted.
"How so?"
"Because you're not afraid of seeing a woman cry." She shrugged.
Jared mimicked her. "Yeah, well… Kim subjects me to chick flicks. I'm used to it." He teased.
"Thanks Jared. I know we didn't run in the same circles growing up, but you're a good friend."
Jared grinned. "It's nothing. Just remember, you do have friends. Don't let the dbag pull you down Bella."
Bella only giggled. Maybe the night could be salvaged yet.