Here's a present one day early...

Sorry about this short Chappy guys but there is more to come…


20. Payback 2

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BPOV

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"Seriously it's like I can't trust any of the men in my life any more, even Charlie turned out to be a bit of a letdown when I needed his help with Jake," I moaned to Jess.

She turned to face me her face screwed up in confusion; she ran a hand through her short cropped light brown hair. I wonder when she did tha? Jess's long hair was always her pride and joy. Not quite as beautiful as Rosalie's but almost, I was envious of both of their gorgeous locks.

"Mmm, sounds like a pickle," she mumbled, picking up another shirt, folding it and placing it in her suitcase. "Do you plan on telling James about this?"

Oh, yea James I forgot about him.

"Umm, James and I aren't together anymore," I muttered. Jess turned to face me raising an eyebrow.

"Really?"

I sighed, "yup."

"Can't say I'm not pleased about that," she smiled.

"Pardon?" I looked at her confused.

"Bella it was no secret that James was kind of a douche," she chuckled shaking her head. I couldn't help but notice that Jess seemed a little more relaxed than I had seen her in awhile.

"Well if you didn't like him why didn't you say anything?" She looked at me as if the answer was obvious.

"If Jake couldn't get you to see any sense what chance did Mike or I have?"

"Point taken," I sighed. I really owed Jake an apology but right now there was no way I was apologizing for anything.

"So who is this Edward guy?" Jess asked, turning toward me and sitting on her bed. New boy meat was always interesting.

"He and his sister just moved here, their Dad is a doctor or something…" Jess held up her hand and gave me a funny look.

"I don't want his life story Bella; I want to know what is going on between you two. What he looks like? Dirt gives me dirt." I laughed at her eagerness.

"He's gorgeous," I sighed, and sweet, smart and sensitive. "He has the most amazing eyes," that I could forever lose myself in, "and his smile…wow," I added.

"And you stopped him from kissing you why?" Jess asked incredulous, she was acting like I had just committed a crime – but maybe denying Edward Cullen was.

"I don't know," I shook my head. "Things are a bit complicated."

"What's so complicated about a hotty trying to get his thing on with you?" I laughed sometimes Jess could be so crude.

"James and I are barely just over…it's not really fair." Not fair at all, I added to myself.

"I guess, but still sounds like a no brainer to me," she shoved me in the shoulder and gave me a knowing wink.

"Mmm, but after today I doubt he will want anything to do with me." I grimaced at the thought, why did I push him away? He probably thinks I'm a complete tool.

"Well you always have Jake then," Jess offered, I could tell she was being serious.

"Oh, not you too," I whined.

"Come on Bella, you two would be perfect for one another." She gave me a 'you know it's true' look.

"Not happening Jess," I snapped, glaring at her. Luckily for her she dropped the subject and proceeded instead to pack the rest of her clothes. I picked up a pile of folded jeans in placed them in her suitcase.

Jess turned to face me a question on her lips. I reached over to her and started doing up the shirt buttons on the top she was wearing in an effort to cover the angry pink scars that were etched across her chest; she grimaced in response to my old habit but made no effort to stop me. The shirt was short sleeved so I made no effort to cover the scars on her arms, but they were old ones for which I was relieved – it appeared she had kept her word so far. I had the urge to ask her to roll up her pants or take them off, so I could check her legs but I didn't want to upset her, considering the uplifted mood she was in - one I hadn't seen in awhile.

Sensing what I wanted Jess spoke. "I kept my word, but if you want to see…" I shook my head interrupting her – I didn't need to see, for some reason I believed her. Instead, I picked up another pile of clothes and stacked them into her overflowing suitcase. "So where are you going?" I asked realizing I hadn't once asked her what was up and how she had been, I felt a tad guilty for being so self-absorbed.

"To stay with my aunt for awhile." She didn't look up at me when she spoke and I sensed there was more to it.

"Why?" I asked.

"Mum thinks it would be best for me, so I can get the help I need."

"She's finally listening then?"

"Hardly, she just wants me gone." Jess suddenly looked depressed; she stopped packing her things and sat down on her bed fidgeting with the end of her top.

"That's hardly fair," I offered, I sat down next to her and put my arm around her.

"You're telling me," she mumbled quietly, tears welled in the corner of her eyes and I braced myself for the works, but instead she hurriedly wiped them away and stood up continuing to pack.

"When will you be back?" I asked, I was worried I didn't want Jess to leave, now that Jake and I were no longer the friends I wished we were, Jess was really the closest person I had left.

"I don't know, till things blow over I guess."

"You're not going to report Laurent then?" She looked at me astonished.

"I thought that was obvious."

"No not really, I didn't know you had made a decision, you know you could still lay charges it's not too late – you don't have to let him get away with it." Saying those words to Jess made me feel bad, I was being hypocritical – I wasn't reporting James for what he did, but here I was pushing her to do what I didn't have the courage to do.

"I thought you weren't for it?" she mumbled. Wow, I wasn't expecting that. I didn't realize that's what she thought I felt.

"No, Jess I am all for what you wanted to do. You know I would stand by you no matter what right?"

She sniffled, "yea I know. But it's moot anyhow."

"How so?" I was curious.

"No one will believe me." The tears she was trying to fight back were silently falling down her cheeks, leaving wet shiny paths.

"I believe you…Mike believes you."

"You shouldn't," she spat angrily.

"Why?" My voice was soft, Jess's words were confusing me, why wouldn't we believe her, we loved her.

Jess took a deep breath, "because I lied."

"What?" her words were like a kick in the guts, they took all my breath.

"I made it up," she repeated.

"No you didn't." I knew what she was doing; she definitely did not make that shit up. I knew she was lying now about making it up because I had been doing the same – as the saying goes, it takes one to know one.

"Just leave it Bella, I made it up okay, it was stupid – I'm sorry for putting you and Mike through all this."

"Bullshit!" I yelled, Jess turned to look at me her eyes wide.

"Does Laurent have anything to do with this?"I asked, at my words she tensed inadvertently answering my question. "That piece of shit!" I cursed out loud.

"No, he doesn't Bella," Jess's answered too late, her voice was beyond panic as I got up to leave. My fists were balled; I was going to take that mother-fucker down – I had already made up my mind. "Listen to me," she cried. "Don't do anything please," she begged.

"What did he do?" I demanded.

"Nothing," she whispered.

"That's not true and you know it." I accused, I could see the hurt in her eyes.

I shook my head, in disbelief and anger. "I'm sorry Jess, I love you and I just can't sit here and watch him bully you into leaving and into lying to yourself."

"Bella please, he could hurt you too," she cried finally admitting that he had done something. She grabbed onto my shoulder trying feebly to stop me from going.

"I can handle myself Jess," I growled. I left her room, and hurried downstairs and out to my truck. I took a deep breath and turned the keys, these boys had gotten away with too much and it was time to put Laurent at least in his place. I rang Mike on the way to James and told him he needed to go see Jess, he agreed but when he asked me what was wrong I hung up. I wasn't going to let him talk me out of this. Laurent needed to pay.

I wasn't exactly sure what I was going do once I got to their flat, but I knew since it was a Thursday night that at least there would be plenty of witnesses. I didn't think I had anything to be afraid of, neither him nor James would touch me in front of others – they wouldn't want to tarnish their precious rep.

I slowly pulled the truck over to the curb outside James flat and turned it off. I gripped the steering wheel tightly and pressed my forehead to it, trying to figure out what I was going to do. I had no idea and I was sweating badly. Eventually I made the decision to just get out of the truck before my courage dissipated and I lost my nerve.

He has to pay, I told myself, you can do this, for Jess. And with that thought I found bravery or you could call it stupidity and stormed my way over to where I knew Laurent would be.

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What do you think Bella will do? What do you want her to do?

Next update Friday =) --- could be earlier... hint hint =)

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