Chapter Seven
APOV – Present Day
My heart hurt. My head hurt, everything hurt. Bella was in pain, Edward was in pain and because they are my friends and I loved them dearly, I was in pain. Why couldn't their reunion be easy? Like Emmett and Roselie? So much anger, so much hurt. I had no idea how they would get past it.
The way Edward sounded on the phone told me a lot about how he had dealt with Bella's absence in his life. He was not in a good place in regards to his feelings for her and that scared me. I knew he loved her, but the rage he felt for her was staggering.
As I sobbed into Jasper's chest after he hung up, I couldn't stop the deluge of thoughts that ran rampant in my head. The laughing and good times in school, the pain on Bella's face the day we left LA, the anger and hurt in Edward's eyes the day I finally told him about Tanya's treatment of Bella, the way he shut down after that, the forced smiles Bella put on her face all through college and University and even now, the uncertainty in her eyes on the day of her engagement, the joy in Edwards eyes at the restaurant when he saw us walk in, the sincerity in his words when he admitted his reasons for the name of their restaurant. Last and not least, the apparent love in his eyes when he looked at her each and every time and she at him.
Could they get past this? I hoped so; with all my heart I really hoped so.
Maybe with a little help from their friends?
BPOV – Present Day
Oh for the love of all that is holy! Could this day get any worse? First this morning at court, I had been so distracted after seeing Edward that I had lost the case. Not that I had expected to win anyway, but it still bugged me that I lost. Then there was lunch. The shock had worn off, but the pain was still there. It hurt even more to see the pain in Edward's eyes. And to top it all off, when I got back to the office, I found I had a new client waiting for me, who, during our meeting decided to hit on me. Twice! Ugh! No this day could not get any worse.
I hope.
At 4.30pm, I found that my hope was in vain. This shit day, got even shittier and it was in large thanks to the phone call from a certain annoying pixie.
I had just left the office and was on my way home when my phone rang. I rolled my eyes and sighed heavily when I read the display
"Hi Ali" I said in a low voice
'Isabella Marie Swan, get your ass to my place right now!" Alice practically screamed down the phone at me. She sounded very upset. She must have been, she used my full name and she only did that when she was truly, mind-blowingly, scarily mad at me
'Calm down, Ali. I'll be there, but do you want to tell me the reason behind pulling out my full name?" I couldn't help it, I was slightly amused and the smile was clearly visible in my voice
'No, Isabella, I will NOT calm down. This has gone on long enough and it needs to stop. Right. Now. I will not allow you to continue to hurt the people I love, no matter how justified you think you are!" I froze in shock. Alice had never spoken to me in this way before. What could have set her off so badly? What was different about this time that she felt she had to use such force with me?
And then it hit me. Edward.
"Ok, Ali, I'm outside your apartment building now. Can you let me in?" Somehow, whilst still on the phone with Alice, I had made it to their apartment just a few blocks over from my own. I heard the door buzz and I pushed my way in and up the stairs.
Alice was standing with the door open when I reached their floor, tapping her foot impatiently. I smiled tentatively at her, but she didn't smile back. She merely gestured to the couch, indicating that I should take a seat, which I did. I watched in fascination as Alice paced in front of me. Wow, she looked really wound up. I inhaled deeply and exhaled in a loud puff
"Ok, Ali. Spill. What's got you so riled up?" Alice had stopped pacing and was now facing the window overlooking the stunning view of the NYC skyline. I heard her take a deep breath then let it out slowly before she spoke, still not looking at me
"There are things you need to understand. Things which affect a lot of people's lives. Things which could make or break those lives and you need to make your decision based on your heart and head and not just one or the other" I was totally at a loss as to what she was talking about, so I simply sat and waited for her to continue
"Bella-'
'Izzy, Ali, Izzy" I had lost count on how many times I had had to correct her on my name in the last few years. Alice huffed, but acquiesced
'Fine. Izzy, you have hurt a lot of people through your decisions and I have never said anything. I have always supported you and stood by you. But now…now it's time for me to step back and tell you the truth. Edward-" I shot up from my spot on the sofa, my hand held out, palm up in a motion to stop her
"No, Ali. Please, I can't" Alice whirled and glared at me then. The force of her stare stunned me speechless. Alice had never looked at me like that
'Isabella Marie, you will sit down and you will listen to what I have to say, whether you like it or not. I have a lot to say after eight years of silence and it will take a while, so sit the hell down and get comfortable, because you are going to hear this!" I could do nothing but sink back down on the sofa, mouth agape. To say I was shocked would have been an understatement. Alice waited a beat to ensure I was indeed paying attention then continued.
APOV – Present Day
I watched as Bella sank back down on the sofa and wondered how to tell her about the amount of anger Edward harboured against her. I took another deep cleansing breath and tried to explain it the best I could.
'Bella, when you left LA, you left a lot of things unfinished. I see that most clearly now. After I went back from here for prom, Edward had changed. He...he wasn't the same anymore. He was angry all of the time, quiet to a point where he withdrew from even Em. Edward started dating Tanya after you left, not before, but once I told him what she had done..." I trailed off, remembering the scene in the lunch room that day. The look of pure unadulterated fury on Edward's face. The look of fear on Tanya's. It was priceless.
"What? You told him! Ali! I told you not to say anything!" I snapped back to present time and looked at Bella. She looked upset but I was more so than her
"Are you freaking kidding me right now?" I shrieked, causing Bella to flinch "Yes, you told me not to say anything, but you were not there to stop me! You were not there to see that skank rub herself all over Edward and look smug about it! You were not there to see the pain in his eyes..." I said the last part in a softer tone and watched as those words sunk into her mind. I sighed deeply and sat down next to her and took her hand in mine
"Sweetie, you need to talk to him. There are a lot of things that need to be said on both sides" Bella raised her tear filled eyes to meet my own tear filled ones
"I know" Bella whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears
"Oh Honey, You know we only want what's best for you. I didn't mean to shout at you, but really you left me no choice. It was getting out of hand. No. It has gotten out of hand! This should have been resolved eight years ago" I wrapped my arms around her and she leaned into me as her shoulders shook with her silent tears. We sat for a long time. I don't know how long, but we hadn't moved when I heard Jasper's key in the door, returning from his errands. He had kindly left me to speak to Bella alone. He knew what I was going to say, but he also knew that this was something I needed to do alone. Now for the last point I wanted to make. I took a deep breath
"Honey, there is one other thing I need to talk to you about" Bella looked at me, puzzled, but remained silent so I continued "This thing with insisting on being called Izzy…Honey, don't take this the wrong way, but, how long can you run?" Bella pulled away and sat back with her hands folded in her lap. She still didn't say anything so I ploughed on
"I mean I get why you decided to change it, but what I don't get is why you insist on us calling you it? The people who have known you for years find it difficult to switch from calling you Bella. And quite frankly, I prefer Bella. It's much more…more you. I mean, if you real-"
"Ali..Ali! Stop! I get it. It's fine. You can call me Bella. You are right, as usual. Making you all call me Izzy, it was just one more way for me to run from my past and I'm done. No more running" She stated with a determined look on her face. I squealed and threw my arms around her. We hugged for a moment until we heard someone clear their throat. We both turned towards the sound and froze.
Jazz was not alone. Oh Shit