A/N: This one is a short one, but trust me, you'll love the next chapter...
I numbly sat on my bed, my eyes wide and unfocused. She hadn't mentioned anything about meeting anyone in any of her emails, Alice didn't say anything either. Jasper sat next to me while Emmett searched Facebook to see if he could find who Bella was seeing.
"You okay? I'm sorry, Edward." Jasper noticed the photo album on my bed and closed it, sliding it under my mattress.
"Thanks," I said, my voice hollow and monotone. This never happened to me before when Bella had found a new boyfriend. Maybe it was the distance thing that had me bothered about this.
"Found him. Jacob Black is his name. Goes to school in Seattle, when to high school on that rez' in La Push. You know, the Quiluete one. Shit, man. He's stacked. Looks like he could snap Bella in two if he ever got in a bad mood." Em swiveled the monitor towards me. I groaned and fell back on the bed, covering my face with a pillow.
"He's exactly Bella's type." My voice was muffled, but clear enough for them to hear.
"What? An eight-foot 'roid head with a rat tail? Give me a break, Edward. This is definitely not Bella's type." Emmett emphasized his not-so obvious comment by nudging me forcefully with his foot.
"Knock it off. I've had enough conversations with her about this more times than I can count and I'm one hundred and twenty-five percent positive that this Jacob Black is exactly Isabella Marie Swan's type."
"It had to happen in the past few days because Bella didn't say a thing last week," Jasper murmured, getting off the bed. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out. It was a new text from Bella.
Like my surprise?
I sighed, closing my eyes. What was I supposed to say? Of course I don't, but still, I'll be waiting for the frantic phone call at four in the morning because he just broke up with you and you need to vent. I've done this routine time after time and I was sick of it. I hit reply and typed my response.
It's sure a surprise, all right.
I tossed my phone on my desk and stretched out on my bed. Emmett was texting, most likely to Rose, to tell her what happened. The phone buzzed again and I ignored it.
"It's Bella, Edward." Jasper said, picking the phone up.
"I don't care anymore." I whispered, finally making up my mind.
Bella Swan was never going to be mine.
* * *
I don't know when or how I fell in love with Bella. I think it began when we both lived in Phoenix, Arizona. Bella and her mom lived next door and our mothers were close friends. We grew up together and there were countless pictures of us in various stages of development. And then Renee got married when Bella and I were eight. Bella's step-father, Phil, played baseball and traveled all over the country. Renee sold their house to live in an RV with Phil during the season and sent Bella to live with Charlie in Washington. I was devastated, to say the least. For the first couple months, we called and talked to each other daily, but as we grew up, the phone calls became weekly, monthly and then at holidays. Soon, I had lost complete contact with my best friend.
When I was a freshman in high school, my father Carlisle was transferred to a new hospital in Washington State. We packed up and moved to a tiny logging town called Forks and discovered why they nicknamed it the 'rainiest place in the world.' While waiting out in the rain one morning for the school bus to arrive, an umbrella appeared over my head and a figure in a yellow rain jacket stood next to me.
"Thanks." I said loudly, the thunder rumbling.
"You must be new here. Everyone carries one of these with them at all times. Never know when it's gonna rain." I smiled, glad to know that the figure was a girl.
"Yep. Moved here from Phoenix a few days ago. Edward Cullen." I stuck my hand out to her and heard her startled gasp.
"Edward?" She brushed back her long brown hair and I let out my own surprised gasp.
"Bella?" At that moment, both Emmett and the bus arrived, jarring our reunion.
"What up, Smelly-Belly? Long time, no see. Sweet, I didn't miss the bus!" Emmett climbed into the bus and it honked impatiently when neither Bella or I moved to get on. From that moment on, Bella and I were inseparable.
Until now.
Eh? Eh? What do you think about it now? Next chapter up soon, I promise.