"Bella, wake up."
A groan escaped Bella's lips as a strong hand continued to gently rock her body from side to side.
"What?" She mumbled.
"We fell asleep Bella," Jacob chuckled lightly. "It's past eleven at night."
"Are you serious?" Bella asked, her eyes shooting open immediately.
"Yea," Jacob leaned back against the back on the couch to try to get a good look at the clock that hung on the wall over the couch.
"Shit," Bella groaned as she sat up. "God, everybody is probably freaking out."
"It sounds like they already have," Jacob as Bella's phone beeped from the kitchen.
"Fuck," Bella huffed and hurried into the kitchen.
Jacob sat up on the couch and fiddled with his fingers nervously, watching Bella's shadow as she paced back and forth in the kitchen. She wasn't saying anything as she held the phone to her ear, running a hand through her hand nervously as she listened.
"I have to go," she said as she came back into Jacob's living room.
"I figured," Jacob said as she slipped on his sneakers.
"I need to go to Alice's," she said and tossed her cell phone into her purse as she gathered it from the coffee table. "Emmett headed over there as soon as they couldn't get a hold of me."
"To the Cullen's we go," Jacob frowned and lead Bella out of the house.
The two were quiet as the piled into Jacob's truck, taking more of a slow and patient pace then Bella would have liked.
He knew once they got there that there was going to be a large amount of tension, both from Bella's family and from Edward. He was partially responsible for what she was going to have to deal with this evening, yet he still felt slightly tense at the thought her of her being close to him.
"I should probably do this alone," Bella said once Jacob pulled into the Cullen's driveway.
"Are you sure?" Jacob asked as his hand still on his seat belt buckle.
Bella nodded, "Unfortunately yes. I don't know what's waiting for me on the other side of that door and I don't want to subject you to it."
"I had something to do with it though, I should have told you to call them when…"
"It's OK Jake," she kissed his cheek lightly. "I will call you when everything is done and taken care of OK?"
He only nodded, unable to hide the disappointment on his face.
"Thank you for everything tonight," she squeezed his hand and hopped out of the truck.
Bella took her time dodging the various cars parked in the driveway, fighting the urge to kick in one of the doors on Edward's Acura as she walked by it.
The sound of busy chatter met her as she walked inside, dread rising within her as the two families stopped talking at the sound of the front door closing.
"Look, I'm sorry…"
"Don't start," Emmett held a hand up in protest. "Sit."
Bella closed her mouth abruptly and made her way across the living room, passing the members of Edward's family as well as Jasper, Emmett, and Charlie as she quietly made her way to the couch. A frown crossed her lips as she eyed Edward, who sat miserably on one end of the couch. He ignored her as she sat down at the opposite end, his gaze set ahead and his arms tucked tightly to his chest.
"Alright," Charlie said as he stood up, his hands on his hips as he stood in front of the two seated on the couch. "We are going to move ahead from Bella's effective disappearing act, which will be dealt with at home later. What we are going to handle this evening is the issue that seems to be going on between you two."
"We know little about what's going on here, besides what Alice and Jasper have decided to share with us. And with that and our own theories, we are running a sort of intervention if you will." Carlisle said as he came up beside Charlie, "Whatever is going on between you two has to stop. It's harmful not only for the wedding, but for your families as well."
"And with that being said, we are putting you both on probation." Charlie said, receiving confused looks from both Bella and Edward. "You two are going to play out the rest of your wedding duties together, meals and most of your free time as well. These rules will be set from tomorrow morning, until the day of the wedding."
"You make it sound like we are going to be living together or something," Edward snorted.
"You practically are."
The jaws of the two young people dropped as Carlisle spoke.
"Excuse me?" Bella asked.
"You heard him," Charlie eyed his daughter sternly. " We know the two of you have some sort of an issue going on, which I will be the first to admit I thought was primarily Edward's fault. But Bells, but you suffer from the same hardheadedness that I suffer from and that can make you really good at holding grudges for a long time."
Bella arched one of her eyebrows and looked at him, deciding to remain silent as he shot her his famous 'don't even try it' look.
"Basically Bella, we kind of felt that you guys are just sitting there trying to beat the snot out of each other." Alice bit her lip nervously, "You guys are both really good at the grudge thing actually."
"Well so do you," Bella interjected.
"I know, OK?" Alice sighed, "It's just that it seems to get worse every time you two are around each other. I know that Edward and I have our very own set of issues to work through, and we have been trying to do just that."
"Is there any reason why Bella and I couldn't make that same effort?"
"Every time something comes up it throws the whole wedding off," Alice shifted her weight nervously. "We aren't doing this because we feel you guys are completely off your rockers. It's just that you both are people I truly care about and I just want to see you guys get along, or at least be able to function civilly in public. I know you can do it, I've seen it."
Bella shot a glare in Edward's direction, receiving a similar un-amused look.
"It's only three weeks you guys," Charlie took a shot at encouragement as the looks of discontent began to grow as the two sat there.
Three weeks too long, Bella thought glumly.
"Are we done?" Edward asked coldly.
Carlisle nodded, which was all Edward needed before shooting off the couch and heading up the stairs without a word to anyone.
"Well that went well," Alice frowned as she stared after her brother.
"Bella, are you OK?" Alice asked once Edward disappeared into his room, carefully sitting down on the couch next to her friend.
"Sure," Bella said as she put everything she had into trying to sound positive. "I just have a headache."
"Are you ready to go?" Emmett asked as he approached his sister.
"More than you know."
Emmett shook his head, giving Alice a reassuring smile as she followed his sister. Charlie nodded at his two children as he stood on the far end of the living room, seeming to still be in deep conversation with Carlisle and Esme.
"How long have you been here?" Bella asked as soon as they were outside.
"A few hours," Emmett shrugged as he unlocked the doors to his SUV. "Alice called me after she spent a while driving around Port Angeles looking for you. Speaking of that, where in the hell did you go?"
"Jake found me wondering around, he took me back to his house so I could calm down and warm up."
"OK, well we are going to leave that out of whatever conversation you happen to have with Charlie." He said as they climbed into the car. "Seriously though, you running around there by yourself was not a good plan."
"I know," Bella said as she let her head rest against the back of her seat. "I wasn't thinking."
"Yea well, that's my point."
"Look Emmett, I know I should have done that. I just didn't want to stay there, it just felt that the walls were closing in and, well I don't know…I guess I was trying not to make a scene."
"Well you definitely failed there," Emmett chuckled.
"Story of my life," Bella said, causing Emmett to laugh harder. "You know, I feel like I'm on some sort of reality show for this whole thing."
"Survivor! The Edward edition."
"That's hilarious," Bella shook her head. "You always knew how to cheer me up."
"Well Bells, I don't want you to look at this whole thing as a punishment. I just want you to try to resolve it so you can move on with your life. I feel like he's tainted your trip here. You've had to deal with him since you got here practically."
"He's like a disease," Bella chuckled. "I trying to make peace with him and he spreads a whole other mess of shit around."
"Men are complicated."
"I'm learning that more and more," Bella frowned. "I still can't figure out how you guys managed to come up with this whole plan."
"Well, we kind of had to sit down and look at it from both ends. Each family was being kind of one sided in one way or another until we came together and talked about it. We all have an idea of what the underlying issue may be, but there's other stuff going on that's keeping you from getting over it."
"We just have to stay apart Em, plain and simple." Bella shrugged.
"Avoidance never solved anything Bells."
"Sure it does."
Emmett sighed heavily, "You definitely have Charlie's hard headedness."
"Speaking of Charlie, you didn't get any shit from him did you?"
"No, but you almost did." Emmett shook his head, "Definitely had to talk him off of the cliff there."
"I was worried. I could think about when I woke up was him pulling me away from you."
"You know I wouldn't let that happen," Emmett said as he smiled at his younger sister. "We all need to live and learn."
"So when does my first round of punishment start?"
"Bella," Emmett warned. "Stop it."
"OK. So when do I get my day pass with Edward?"
"Tomorrow," Emmett chuckled as he shook his head. "Jasper is taking Alice out for the day but the bridal registry pick up isn't finished. So you two are going shopping."
Oh goody.
Bella clamped her lips shut; deciding Emmett had probably had enough of her negativity.
The car fell silent as they made their way across town, Emmett's house sitting peacefully against the thick row of trees that stood tall behind it.
A single light shone brightly from Emmett's office as they parked in the driveway, Rosalie's golden hair could be seen through the glass window.
"Is everything OK?" Rosalie asked, rushing into the entranceway as soon as she heard the front door open.
"Yea, we found her." Emmett smiled at his girlfriend, his chocolate eyes roaming her features.
Rosalie wore a pair of oversized black sweat pants with a white tank top that left an inch of her mid-drift exposed. Glasses sat on her perfect nose, and her honey blonde hair was uncharacteristically messy.
"Working hard?" He smiled, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"I couldn't sleep. I tried to, believe me." Rosalie squeezed Emmett's shoulder before wrapping Bella in a tight hug, "I am just glad you are OK. Where were you?"
"Jake's," Bella said simply. "I just fell asleep on the couch."
"She was in good hands thankfully." Emmett said, receiving a relieved smile from his younger sister.
"Good," Rosalie yawned. "I can go to sleep now."
"I'll be up in a minute," Emmett gave her a quiet kiss and waited until she was upstairs before heading into the kitchen.
Bella stood in the entranceway as she continued to ponder what Emmett had just said, the loud grumbling of her stomach bringing her out of her thoughts.
"Want one?" Emmett asked, not looking up from the BLT he was making as Bella walked into the kitchen.
"Sure," she said as she pulled his plate towards her and look a large bite out of the freshly made sandwich. "Thanks."
"Brat," he frowned and pulled the bread back out of the cabinet.
"Hey Em, did you mean what you said earlier?"
"About what?"
"Jake?"
"I like him," Emmett shrugged. "He seems like a nice kid, pretty responsible from what I've heard."
"You haven't even met him."
"Alice talked him up pretty well," Emmett chuckled. "She's been talking a lot with that woman that owns the bridal shop."
"Could I bring him by one day while I'm under probation?"
"If you behave and don't kill Cullen."
Bella sighed, "You drive a hard bargain Emmett Swan."
"Hey take it or leave it," Emmett grinned.
"Fine," Bella huffed as she stood up and set her empty plate into the sink. "I'm going up to bed."
"What no couch tonight?" Emmett called after her.
"You're an asshole Emmett," Bella laughed and dragged her tired body up the stairs.
She didn't even wan to get undressed as she jumped onto her bed. Deep down she was hopeful Edward wouldn't show up, spending all day with him in a crowded store was not her idea of a good time.
She wanted to be with Jacob, her body longing for the warmth of his touch as she lay on top of her cool sheets.
Yet Edward in all of his perfect ness was there on time, knocking on Emmett's door shortly before nine the following morning.
"Morning," he smiled at her sleep deprived look as she pulled the door open.
"Let's get this over with," she mumbled as she walked past him towards his car.
"You know, this would go a lot easier if you at least tried to act friendly towards me." He said once they were both inside.
"Edward don't start, I know damn well that you don't want to be here anymore than I do." Bella huffed.
"Well you're right," he chuckled. "I think the way our families are handling this is a little out of the ordinary but we might as well go along with it. Both of our fathers are a little too close to the law for me to try to disagree with them."
"I never looked at it like that," Bella shook her head.
"Just think, If you defy Charlie…you and me could end up in an eight by ten cell together."
"Don't scare me like that," Bella teased.
"It's going to be a long day isn't it?"
"Considering our first stop is Bed Bath & Beyond, yes I would say it will be." Bella frowned as she looked down at the list Alice had emailed her earlier that morning.
"Ah come on Bella, this could be fun." Edward nudged her lightly, "After we pick out towels we can harass the store clerks by jumping on all the beds."
"You're such a child," Bella rolled her eyes. "I just want to get it and get out, and of course get home."
"You have someone to see?" Edward kidded.
"As a matter of fact, I do."
He turned to look at her suddenly, the same un-amused look he had given her last night had returned.
"I'm not going to start anything Bella," he said coldly. "Sorry I brought it up."
Bella clenched her teeth together as she shook her head, trying to do her best to not reach across the car and choke him.
"Are you two dating?" He asked, a pale white spreading across his knuckles as he gripped the steering wheel tightly.
"I thought you weren't going to bring it up?"
"I'm just asking."
"Yes we are," she said simply.
She could almost fell the words slam into him as she spoke, finding it surprising that he hadn't run them off the road.
"Well that was fast," he muttered.
"I said stop it," Bella snapped. "This whole thing doesn't concern you. Stop making me feel bad for paying attention to someone other than you."
"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "Actually you know what? I'm not."
Bella looked over at him angrily, "I don't like where you are going with this Edward."
"Bella, how do you think I feel?"
"Considering your shitty attitude, I would say you're not happy about it."
"I feel like an idiot," he sighed as he pulled into the large parking lot of the department store. "I've been sitting here hoping against all odds that everything would somehow work out."
"You told me that," she sighed. "I was just trying to look out for you."
"I know, I know." He huffed. "I'm just stupid. It's been bugging me ever since the morning after Alice and I got into our argument."
"Edward, I know that mistake when I first talked to you that day but I also told you that it can't happen."
"Mistake," he bit his lip as he nodded. "Well, I guess that ends that."
"Edward I didn't mean mistake, I mean…"
"Don't worry about it," he mumbled as he pulled the keys out of the ignition and hopped out of the car.
"Shit," she cursed at herself as pounded her first on the dashboard angrily.
"Edward wait!" She shouted as she scrambled out of the car.
He didn't acknowledge her shouting or her presence, his back to her as he walked quickly towards the front doors of the store.
"Damn it," she huffed and took off after him.
The workers towards the front of the building eyed her curiously as she ran into the building, looking around the various groups of people in search of Edward's signature messy hair.
God he moves fast, she frowned as she finally caught him towards the middle of the store.
"Did you not hear me call you?" She breathed as she caught up to him.
He looked up from the rack of towels he had been looking at, no emotion showing on his face at all.
"Get in and get out right?" He said finally.
"I didn't mean what I said Edward," Bella's head hung in defeat. "You were right all along OK?"
"What was I right about?" He asked as he pulled two matching towels off of the rack and tucked them under his arm.
"Everything," Bella sighed. "I mean, we should really try to be positive about this whole thing."
"Is that all you meant?" He asked, not looking at her as he walked off down the isle in search of the next thing on their list.
"Do you want me to be honest?" She threw her arms up in defeat.
"I was kind of hoping you would be," he sighed as he stopped in the center isle of the store and looked around. "Why wouldn't they keep the bathroom stuff with the other bathroom stuff?"
"Because that would be too easy," Bella chuckled. "What are you looking for?"
"A god damn shower curtain," he frowned down at the list in his hands.
"Try the bath isle there genius," Bella laughed as she pointed to a large sign that hung a little father down the isle."
He shook his head as Bella continued to laugh, a smile unable to hide behind his seemingly stern demeanor.
"So are you going to answer me?" He asked as they shuffled through a crowd of people to get into the bathroom isle.
Bella sighed and bit her lip nervously, "Should I?"
"Bella the suspense is going to kill us both, please."
"Fine," she huffed and leaned against one of the racks in the isle. "I don't know what I want ok? Part of me feels like I should stay with Jake, he's stable and hasn't done one thing to upset me at all. But then there's you and the cluster fuck of emotion you keep sending in my direction. I cant stay mad at you, I want to but I cant. I don't know why! Part of me feels like I'm falling for you and part of me feels stupid for that. Why am I falling for someone I cant have!"
Edward smiled, "You said cluster fuck."
"Edward!" Bella exclaimed.
"Sorry, I have never heard anyone say that before." Edward's smile was brilliant, showing his first sign of happiness in days. "I'm just trying to get over what you said."
"Well laugh it off," Bella pouted.
"No Bella, I'm just laughing at your terminology. That and the fact that I'm laughing because I'm happy."
"You are?" She eyed him curiously, "Why?"
"Because you said you're falling for me," he smiled.
"Why is that a good thing given your current situation?"
"Bella, I've been thinking ok and just hear me out." He grabbed her by the arm and led her through the bathroom isle and into the bedroom area, plopping her down on a large mattress and set the items he had been caring down before he joined her.
"Do we need to be violating store rules to do this?" She blushed as some of the people walking by ended up staring as they passed.
"We're shopping," Edward shrugged. "But they don't matter, what we are here to do is talk about what you just told me. Bella I know what I am going to be on Monday OK? But that doesn't mean I cant live, if we were together we wouldn't have to scream from the rooftops that we were either."
"Well there's an additional complication," Bella bit her lip. "I am incredibly indecisive and there's someone else in the mix as well."
"How about I make you a deal then? You give me this three weeks we are going to be stuck together and I'll do my best to prove it to you, and if you aren't convinced then you can do whatever you want."
"What would I tell Jake?"
"Be honest," he shrugged. "If he feels you're worth it then he will welcome the competition and the chance to prove himself."
"Edward this is crazy."
"It is," he said as he hopped up. "But you know what, I'm tired of sitting here and being so bummed out about what is going between the two of us. I have to agree with you too, I couldn't stay mad at you either ad frankly I don't want to."
"Edward, I don't know. Someone would figure it out," Bella frowned as she picked at a frayed thread that was sticking out from the comforter they were laying on.
"How?" He asked as he propped himself up on one elbow, "Think about it. You're an English Lit major and I'm going to spend all day in the music hall helping with band practices and stuff. We won't even be in the same section of the building."
"You've done a lot of thinking about this haven't you?" She grinned at him.
"Like I said, I've put a lot of thought into it. I just wanted to figure out a way to either get over it or to make it happen, and since getting over it really doesn't seem like an option well…Here we are."
"Do you think this is our families plan? You know, to get us together?"
"I was onto them for a little while," Edward chuckled. "If anything happens, we'll give them credit."
"Oh Edward," Bella sighed as let her head fall to the mattress. "You definitely know how to make life interesting."
"How do you mean?"
"Well everytime I think I have everything situated with my life, you come back in with something totally unexpected."
"You don't have to hold yourself to anything with my Bella, I'm just asking for the chance."
"I have one request."
"Shoot," his eyes shone bright with excitement.
"Don't hurt me," Bella looked at him sternly. "Because if you do I swear Edward…I will be done with you for good."
"Don't you worry about a damn thing Bella," Edward said as his fingers grazed the soft skin of her arm. "That won't ever happen."