Two and a half months Later
"Are you are on your way?" Bella asked as she held the phone in the crook of her neck while she bent down to secure the strap on her black high heel.
"I'm trying Bella. I'm getting a little tied up here." Edward sigh as he glanced behind him. "It's taking a little longer than I thought."
"You are aware we have reservations tonight right?" She sighed and plopped down onto her bed.
"I know, I'm working on getting out of here OK? I will call you when I'm leaving." He said and hit the end button before she had a chance to respond.
"Oh my god, I am so tired of you fucking doing that!" Bella yelled at her phone before tossing it to the carpet below.
"Bella you know that the cell phone company is probably only going to give you one more cell phone before they tell you to go screw off." Rosalie chuckled, stopping in Bella's doorway on her way to her bedroom.
"I know." Bella muttered, looking down at the cell phone which lay on the plush carpet about to feet in front of her.
"What was that all about anyway?" Rosalie asked, setting the shopping bags she had been carrying down before walking into Bella's room.
"I have no idea if Edward is planning on joining me this evening or not. I just talked to him and he hasn't even left work yet, and from the tone in his voice…it doesn't look like that is going to happen anytime soon either,"
"Is there something that pressing that they had to make him work on a Saturday?"
"I have no idea. Honestly, that's what's bothering me more than anything else. They have never made him work like this before in the months that he has been working there on campus."
"Well there is that whole winter benefit thing they have coming up soon." Rosalie shrugged as she sat down on the edge of the bed next to Bella. "You can sit here and wonder about it though, you are going to drive yourself nuts."
"What would you suggest I do?"
"Alice and Jasper are still at Carlisle's right? Why don't you go over and visit with them and wait for Edward to come home?"
"Rosie, that is the best idea I've ever heard!" Bella hugged Rosalie tightly before hopping off of the bed. "You are a life saver!"
"Bella, don't forget your phone!" Rosalie hurried off the bed in an effort to grab the phone and catch up with Bella before she made her way out the front door. "Hell in the hell did you manage to run that fast in those shoes?"
"It's a gift." Bella grinned as Rosalie handed her the cell phone. "Thanks again Rosie!"
Rosalie shook her head as she watched Bella bound down the front steps and into her car, the silver Volkswagen backing out of the driveway at warp speed.
Bella bit her lip as she glanced down at the small phone in her palm, searching for Alice's name in her contact list.
"Hey stranger, long time no talk!" Alice's cheery voice came through the receiver. "What are you up to?"
"Visiting some of my crazy friends that just got married and that I haven't seen in like a month."
"Are you really?" The amount of enthusiasm in Alice's voice almost made it able for Bella to see the smile on her friends face. "That's awesome! Jasper and Carlisle are taking a load of our stuff over to the new house and Esme and I are baking!"
"She let you near the oven?"
"Funny Swan, you know I have to get used to this whole domesticated thing. I'm a married woman now!"
"Sure, whatever you say. I am pretty sure that Jasper is going to be doing most of the cooking anyway." Bella chuckled as she turned onto the back road the Cullen's house was located off of. "Hey, have you heard anything from your brother?"
"Nope, he disappeared this morning and I haven't heard from him since. Why?"
"We are supposed to be going out to dinner tonight, and I called him a little while ago but I haven't heard anything from him since he hung up on me."
"He hung up on you?" Alice asked as a banging noise sounded from the background. "He has been acting a little cranky lately."
"Well that wasn't what I wanted to hear."
"Oh stop stressing; it's probably just school and that job. Stop worrying about it and get here so I can give you a hug!"
"I'm pulling into your driveway now."
"I'm coming!" Alice said and hung up before Bella could say another word.
"I wish I had an ounce of the energy that that girl has." Bella chuckled to herself as she pulled into the large driveway behind Carlisle's black Mercedes.
She had barely a moment to put the car in park before Alice came barreling down the driveway.
"Look at you!" Bella smiled as she got out of the car, immediately being engulfed in a hug. "Married life is suiting you well!"
"Me, look at you!" Alice's smiled brightly as she squeezed her friend tight. "You're always gorgeous."
"Please, I've been feeling like shit for the past few days. I just hope I can keep dinner down tonight, that's if you brother ever shows."
"I'm sorry Bella; I don't know what's been up with him lately." Alice frowned as she and Bella walked into the large, glass covered house. "He's been acting weird even around us."
"Do you think I have anything to worry about?" Bella bit her lip nervously as she followed Alice into the kitchen.
"I don't think you do sweetie." Esme turned away from the batter she had been mixing in a bowl on the counter so she could give Bella a quick hug. "He worked so hard to get you back and make sure that you stayed with him. He just seems a little moody that's all."
"I wonder why though." Bella huffed as she slumped down into one of the stools that rested against the counter.
"Probably work." Esme said as she turned her attention back to the bowl. "He has been working awfully hard to make sure that he does well there."
"On a Saturday though? We have dinner plans tonight too." Bella frowned, resting her elbows on the counter top.
"He'll be here sweetie." Alice squeezed her shoulder. "In the mean time, Esme made these kick ass chocolate chip cookies."
Bella smiled and took a cookie off of the tray, the sweet and buttery taste flowing through her taste buds as soon as her teeth bit through the cookie.
"This is amazing." Bella said with a mouth full of cookie.
"Glad you like them." Esme smiled as she stuck another tray in the oven. "There is plenty more where that came from."
Esme's words held strong as the minutes ticked by. The three women sat and talked while snacking on a variety of things that Esme took out of the oven. Bella tried to keep staring at the clock as they talked, but as the minutes turned into hours she began to grow impatient.
"I think I am going to try and call Edward, we were supposed to be at the restaurant hours ago." Bella huffed as she stood up in mid conversation with Esme and Alice.
"Are you going to be OK?" Alice asked as a look of worry spread over her face.
"I'll let you know after I call him." Bella frowned and grabbed her cell phone off of the counter before heading out the glass front door of his house.
He picked up after only two rings, but the tone in his voice made it seem like he wasn't exactly happy to hear from her.
"What?" Was all he said as soon as the line picked up.
"You were supposed to pick me up hours ago and the only thing you say to me is what?" Bella asked, the anger rising inside of her almost immediately.
"Bella, I know, I'm sorry OK? I just haven't finished work…"
"I don't think sorry is going to cut it." She interrupted. "You make this big fuss about us going out tonight and make me put on this ridiculous dress and for what? So you can bail on me and go to work?"
"Bella please don't be mad." He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he eyed the dark haired woman that sat behind him. "I am almost done I swear to you."
"We're almost finished." The dark haired woman said quietly, immediately being shushed by Edward.
"Who is the fuck was that?" Bella asked, her anger had risen so much that she was shouting now.
"No one important." Edward said a little too quickly. "I swear to you Bella, I am on my way."
"No you know what, don't even bother." Bella sniffled as she walked back into the house, grabbing her keys off of the table that stood just inside the doorway. "First you tell me you are working and then you end up being out somewhere else with some other woman. I haven't heard from you all day Cullen, not once. And when I did call you fucking hung up on me. You might as well just do yourself a favor and stay where ever in the hell it is that you are because I'm leaving."
"Bella, what's going on?" Esme came rushing into the entranceway with Alice right behind her.
"I have to go, I'm sorry." Bella breathed as tears began to fall, hanging up the phone before she rushed back through the front door.
Her vision was blurry as she ran towards the car, the tears flowing freely from her eyes at that point. She could make out Alice and Esme running after her as she started the car, flooring it as she backed out of the driveway.
She had no idea where she was going; all she knew was that she couldn't go home. There were going to be enough questions coming Alice and Esme, she didn't need anymore from her own family. Her foot remained on the accelerator as she steered the car down the narrow back roads, reaching a speed she had never felt comfortable with doing before. She eventually turned off of the road minutes later, pulling into an all to familiar yet empty parking lot.
The calm and peaceful scene of La Push beach lay in front of her, no sounds but the crashing of the waves on sand could be heard. She sighed heavily and turned the car off, letting her head fall against the headrest as he eyes closed. She didn't know how long she was going to sit there, and frankly it didn't really matter to her either. She didn't want to go home, and yet she had no where else to go… at least no where else that she would be wanted.
Jacob. She thought as she sat in the silence of her car.
He wouldn't want to see her though. He had been avoiding her like the plague ever since that day they ran into each other on campus.
She reached out for her phone that lay on the passenger seat, searching through her directory until she found his name.
"Hello?" Jacob's strong yet unsure voice flowed from the opposite side of the phone.
"Jake, it's Bella."
"Yeah, I kind of figured that one out…caller ID and everything."
"Right, forgot about that." Bella wriggled in her seat nervously.
"So, what do you want?"
Ouch. She thought as she struggled to swallow the tone in his voice.
"Could I come over?" She asked, not knowing any other way to put it.
"Um, well I guess." Jacob stuttered, caught completely off guard by her question. "Are you OK?"
"Not really, but I will explain it all when I get there."
"OK, um, well just call when you get here."
Bella hung up the phone and quickly steered the car out of the parking lot and back onto the narrow back road. She had no idea what s going to be waiting for her when she got there, but she didn't really have any other options at this point.
Jacob was already outside by the time she pulled up behind his battered pick up truck, his body remaining on the front steps as she climbed out of the car.
"Hey." She said as she walked towards him, shoving her hands into her jacket pocket.
"Aren't you a little too dressed up for a social visit?" He asked, ignoring her pleasantries.
"Don't ask." Bella said as she pulled the jacket close to her, completely covering the black dress she had on. 'It's been a long night."
"I can tell." He said, leaning casually against his wooden front door. "What's up?"
"Look Jake, I know you might not want me here but I didn't know where else to go." Bella arms flopped against her sides in an aggravated expression.
"It's OK Bella, really. I don't care that you're here, I'm just surprised. Three months ago it seemed like you didn't want anything to do with me and then you just show up out of the blue. I didn't know what to think of it honestly."
"I know, I'm sorry I couldn't give you any sort of warning. I just didn't know what else to do."
"Well come on in, get warm." He rested a hand on her shoulder and led her inside the quiet house. "Is everything OK at home?"
"Yea, everything from that aspect is fine. Rosalie is pregnant you know."
"Really, wow." Jacob blushed slightly when he realized his hand was still on Bella's shoulder.
"Look I can go if…"
"No, don't be stupid… I'm just trying to get over the shock still."
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize, it's a good thing you still have that effect on me." Jacob smiled, watching as a hint of a smile tugged at Bella's lips.
"I'm sorry I rushed in on you like this." Bella said quietly.
"It's fine. I was just hanging around watching some movies anyway." He shrugged casually. "You want to join me?"
Bella nodded, remaining quiet as she followed Jacob into the living room. She took a seat on the other end of the couch, leaving plenty of room between her and Jacob.
"Bella, can I ask what happened?" Jacob asked as he reached for the remote that rested on the coffee table.
"I found out the truth." Bella shook her head. "That's all anyone needs to know."