SM owns Twilight.

Chapter 14: Break Down Here

Bella giggled loudly, her face red and puffy as tears ran down her cheeks.

"This is serious, Bella!" Alice exclaimed, a dramatic huff escaping her lips.

"I'm sorry. I've never done anything like this before!"

Bella was sitting in the grass, shoes cast aside, soles of her feet pushed together. Alice's position mirrored her own. She was supposed to keep her eyes closed and her mind clear, but she kept giggling every time Alice would start to hum. Alice was convinced that Bella needed to heal her aura; she'd given Bella a box of Epsom salts the day before, to put into her bath, and today she suggested meditation.

With her eyes closed and her palms pressed together, Bella desperately tried to cast away all of her worries, but the whole thing just seemed completely ridiculous. In a moment of weakness, she let out a loud, unladylike snort, right before peals of laughter overtook her body.

Alice shot her a baleful look and rolled her eyes, but then her face broke out into a grin. Before long, both women were laughing loudly, collapsing against one another in the damp grass. When the giggling subsided, Bella spoke up.

"I'm really sorry, Alice. I think maybe this just isn't for me."

"It's okay. This might be a little advanced for you; we'll have to work up to it. Just promise that you'll keep wearing the bracelet I gave you and that'll you'll try to spend more time outside."

"Promise," Bella replied, and the two women sealed the oath by connecting their pinkies, much like small children.

Despite her initial hesitation, Bella had grown to really enjoy Alice's company. Encouraged by Sue and Alice's own persistence, Bella had finally given in and called the little hobbit. For the past few days, the pair had been meeting during Alice's lunch hour, getting to know one another and solidifying a burgeoning friendship. Though some of Alice's beliefs seemed like ridiculous mumbo jumbo to Bella, there was something about her exuberance and cheerful disposition that pulled Bella in. She smiled as she thought that, for the first time since she was a child, she had gained a true friend.

Conversation between the two women remained superficial, mostly because Bella was still hesitant to delve into the sordid details of her past. Alice seemed to sense her profound sadness, but she never pressed the issue. Instead, she gave Bella a hug and a healing bracelet made of shiny, pink stones.

"You should come over to the house for dinner. I've finally gotten everything unpacked and all of the rooms decorated like I want. And you can finally meet Jasper!"

"Thanks for the offer, but I can't," Bella replied with a shrug. Alice didn't say anything, leaving the pair in awkward silence. Uncomfortable, Bella realized that maybe it was time to share some of her life with Alice—to put herself out there and try.

"It's not that I don't want to. It's just that with my new job taking up so much of my time, I don't have as much time to spend with…my son."

"You have a baby?"

"Yeah, Ben. He's three months old now."

"Well, you could always bring him with you," Alice said with a smile.

"You wouldn't mind?"

"Why would I mind, silly? I love babies!"

"Okay," Bella replied, a smile once again gracing her face. For the next half hour, the two women sat in the grass together as Bella shared stories about her son. She told Alice about the smiles he reserved just for her, the way he would coo and giggle when she came home from work, and how he loved to nap snuggled up on her chest. Alice never asked about Ben's father and Bella never offered to share; that was a story for another day.

~ O ~

Edward sat at the breakfast nook, sipping coffee and perusing the local paper. Upon arriving back in Forks, he had decided to take a few days to get some things together before starting work at the clinic. The moving truck was set to arrive with his things in a couple of days, but all of that stuff would have to go into storage. The closing on his new home was taking longer than anticipated, leaving him in a bit of limbo. His first inclination had been to simply rent a room at the local motel, hoping that he wouldn't be stuck there for more than a couple of weeks. His mother had practically blown a gasket when he'd voiced that idea, seeming offended that such a thought would even enter his mind.

He'd always been hard-pressed to tell Esme no, which was why he had woken up this morning in his old bedroom. It was oddly comforting to be back in his parent's home, taking up residence in the bedroom that belonged to him in high school. He hadn't spent much time in Forks since college and was shocked to see that the room was almost the same as he'd left it. The walls were covered with posters, academic awards, and pictures of his friends from high school. Edward chuckled as he opened the closet to discover a Star Wars poster on the back of the door. He'd always been a closeted geek.

On the bookshelf were some of his favorite books, trophies from his accomplishments in baseball, and a framed collage of photos. The photos brought back lots of memories, particularly one of his friends at the beach in La Push. They were all huddled together on a large rock, clutching cans of cheap beer while a bonfire raged beside them. Rosalie was perched on Emmett's lap and Angela Weber was kissing Edward on the cheek, a big smile on both their faces. Looking at the other grainy faces in the photo, he realized that almost all of them had either never left Forks or returned in the years since college. He was the last to return—the proverbial prodigal son.

Just as Edward had finished reading the newspaper, Esme came fumbling into the kitchen, her arms full of glossy magazines, folders, and a potted gardenia. Edward simply stared at her as she joined him at the nook, unceremoniously dumping everything she carried onto the table. She let out a huff of resignation and annoyance as she slid into the bench beside of him.

"Mom, is everything okay?"

"Yes. No. Maybe?" she questioned. "I just have tons of paperwork to do for the flower shop, trying to decide on flowers and arrangements for the fall. What are you up to?"

"Just reading the newspaper—all six pages," he replied with a laugh.

"Breakfast?" Esme asked, but she was already moving towards the stove before he even had time to answer.

~ O ~

After spending the morning with his mother, Edward decided to head into town and do some exploring. There weren't many things about the small town that had changed over the years, but he welcomed the chance to stretch his legs and get some fresh air. He rode into town with his father, realizing that he desperately needed to buy a car of his own. There was no need for one in Chicago, but the idea of public transportation in Forks was laughable. In fact, he was pretty sure there was only a single, decrepit old cab that hobbled around town, driving the inebriated from bars and the elderly to the bank and post office.

When they arrived at the clinic, Edward followed his father inside. He went straight to his office, working to arrange the boxes of stuff that he'd brought by the day before. He found the perfect place to display his diplomas, and then worked diligently to fill his bookshelves with research journals and medical books. Finally, he pulled out a few photos, the ones his mother had placed in matching silver frames.

There was a photo of him with his parents on the day he graduated from medical school, another of the entire family—including Jasper and Alice—standing beside Lake Michigan. It was from two years prior, when they'd all made a rare trip to Chicago to visit him. The final photo was from Homecoming his senior year of high school. Rosalie stood between him and Emmett, her white blonde hair and pristine appearance a deep contrast to the two boys that flanked her sides. She was clad in her cheerleading attire, her tiara glistening under the bright stadium lights. Still wearing his uniform, Edward's hair was messy and wild, his cheek smudged with mud. Emmett had pulled off his jersey and shoulder pads; his white undershirt was sweat-stained and riddled with dirt and grass, but his smile was brilliant, showing off the dimple in his left cheek. Edward grinned as he looked at the photo. It was good to be home.

With his office now in order, Edward set out on foot, knowing his father would still be busy for several more hours. Carlisle had come in on his day off to work on paperwork and make phone calls to some patients he was concerned about. As Edward walked down the rain-sprinkled sidewalk, a small car lot caught his attention. It was a "buy here, pay here" operation, the space filled with late model sedans and sturdy pick-ups. But it was an old red Chevy that caught his eye, a rusty old relic to a time long forgotten.

Not even taking a moment to second-guess himself, Edward jogged across the street and walked straight up to the truck. The body was in good condition, the rust spots to a minimum. Edward thought that with some minor improvements and a new coat of paint, the truck could be shiny and beautiful once more. An older man with a grizzled beard and greasy overalls walked out to greet Edward, shoving a red bandana into his pocket as he extended his hand.

Less than twenty minutes later, after a short negotiation and an even shorter test drive, Edward found himself writing out a check for five thousand dollars, now the proud owner of a backfiring hunk of metal. The engine roared loudly as he fired it up, the clutch sticking as he tried to navigate the desolate city streets. Before leaving the lot, he'd called a mechanic in town and made an appointment to have the truck looked over. He knew it would take a lot of money to get it back in pristine condition, but he was willing to pay whatever it took to restore the truck to its former glory.

Though it was still a little early for lunch, Edward didn't need to have the truck at the body shop until much later in the afternoon, so he decided to stop in at Rosie's for lunch. Walking inside, he was surprised to find the place mostly empty. Two old men sat stoically at the counter, drinking coffee and discussing the weather. A waitress stood behind the counter, wiping down trays and smacking her gum. To the left, a young couple sat in a booth, both squeezed into one seat. The right side of the dining car was empty, so Edward headed in that direction, sliding into a booth near the kitchen.

"Bella, you've got a customer!" the gum chewing waitress yelled, her voice deep and reminiscent of a lifetime smoker. She didn't even look in Edward's direction.

Moments later, a waitress came scurrying out of the back, hands frantically trying to tie her apron around her waist. "Sorry," she whispered to the other waitress, staring at the floor as she moved towards where Edward sat. Her eyes widened when she finally looked up to see him sitting there. Her face flushed with embarrassment and Edward worried that he was making her uncomfortable, yet there was something endearing and innocent about her the way her cheeks turned to a light shade of pink.

"Welcome to Rosie's. I'm Bella and I'll be your waitress today. Our lunch special today is the grilled, two-cheese sandwich with tomato soup. Can I get you something to drink while you look over the menu?"

Edward looked up at Bella and grinned. "Water."

~ O ~

Before long, the dining car began to fill with the usual lunch crowd. Bella took extra care as she refilled water glasses and deposited meals. She felt at ease with most of the customers, teasing the regulars and joking with the other waitresses. As she worked, however, her eyes kept wandering toward the auburn-haired man in the corner.

She was sure that he had been teasing her when he placed his order for water, but that still didn't lessen her embarrassment. As she moved around the dining car, she could almost feel his eyes upon her back, but each time she turned, he would be immersed in his turkey sandwich and fries. Each time she stopped by his table, to refill his glass or make sure everything was okay, he would always greet her with a kind smile.

As the lunch rush died down, Bella positioned herself behind the counter, refilling ketchup bottles and salt shakers. From where she was standing, she had a perfect view of the intriguing man. There was something about him that held her attention, though she tried to convince herself it only mere curiosity. She'd never seen him in town before and new residents weren't exactly common in Forks.

Moments later, her eyes widened in horror as she realized exactly who this handsome stranger must be—Jasper! Oh my God! I hope he didn't notice me staring. I knew I was no good at this friendship thing.

Bella felt like an idiot, standing there ogling her only friend's husband like he was some statue to gaze at in wonder. Alice had never described Jasper, but this man seemed about the right age. And as Bella examined him closer, she realized that his hair was nearly the same shade as Esme Cullen's.

Turning quickly, Bella gave the half-filled sugar shakers her full attention. Though the urge to look—to take just a little peek—remained, she refused to give in. When the man finally vacated his table and moved to the register to pay, Bella remained where she was standing, her legs frozen like a statue. Anger flushed through her as she listened to Carmen's attempts at flirting, though she was relieved that Jasper didn't seem to welcome her advances.

Thankfully, as she looked up at the clock, she realized her shift was over.

~ O ~

As Edward sat in his booth, taking his time enjoying his lunch, he couldn't seem to take his eyes off of the petite brunette as she moved about the diner. Bella. Watching her with the other customers, Edward envied the ease and familiarity she displayed. At first look, there seemed to be nothing particularly special about her, but as he watched her, he began to notice the small things—things beyond her brown hair, brown eyes, and pale skin.

When she would smile at a customer, he found himself smiling back, even if the gesture wasn't meant for him. He noticed how she would bite her lip with nervousness as she poured water or coffee into waiting cups. He also decided that she must not like the waitress with the pink lipstick and frosted hair; whenever she would go near Bella, her entire body would stiffen momentarily.

Before long, he realized that his fries had gone cold and his sandwich was only half eaten, though he no longer felt hungry. Throwing a twenty dollar tip onto the table, he moved to the register to pay for his meal. As he stood at the register, ignoring the blatant flirting of the waitress that rang him up, his eyes kept drifting Bella's way, yet she never looked up.

Outside, he hopped into his truck, but as he turned the key in the ignition, the truck coughed and sputtered, refusing to start.

~ O ~

Exiting the diner, tips in hand, Bella was shocked to see Jasper under the hood of a rusty old Chevy. As she moved closer, she heard a string of muffled profanities as he tried in vain to figure out the problem. Normally, she was too shy to approach a stranger, but knowing that this was Jasper, Alice's husband, she found the courage to speak up.

"Excuse me, is everything okay?"

Shocked by the sound of her voice, Edward moved too quickly, banging his head on the underside of the hood as he climbed down from his perch atop the bumper.

"Shit!" he yelled, rubbing his head as he turned to face Bella.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—" Bella began, but stopped as he turned toward her and smiled, continuing to rub the bump that was surely appearing on his head. "Something wrong with your truck?" As soon as the words left her lips, she felt embarrassment wash over her. What a dumb thing to say! Of course there was something wrong with his truck.

"Yeah, it won't even turn over. I was supposed to take it over to Blacks' later this afternoon. I guess I'll have to call and have it hauled in."

"You don't want to take your truck there."

"Is there something wrong with that garage?"

"No...well, I don't really know, but my sort-of-brother, Seth, works at Uley's in La Push. So I would recommend that garage."

"Sort-of-brother?"

"His mom is dating my dad. Umm…I could give him a call, if you want?"

"Thank you."

Bella dug around in her purse, trying to fish out the prepaid cell phone she rarely used. She really didn't see the need to have it, as she never ventured outside of Forks alone, but Charlie insisted she keep it with her at all times. She found the can of pepper spray he insisted upon as well, just before her hand finally felt the cell phone in the bottom of her bag. Powering it up, she hit speed dial three and waited patiently for Seth to answer.

"Bella! What's up, sister?"

"Hey Seth. I'm at the diner with a customer. His truck won't start and I was wondering if you could come by and take a look?"

"I just happen to be in the area with the wrecker. Be there in ten. Don't leave! I haven't seen you in weeks."

"Okay. See you in a few."

Bella ended the call, relaying to Jasper that Seth would be there shortly. She stood on the sidewalk uncomfortably for a moment, clasping her hands tightly in front of her. Jasper moved to the back of the truck, letting the rusty tailgate down. It groaned and squeaked as he lowered it, probably from years of disuse.

"You're welcome to sit with me, if you're waiting on your sort-of-brother."

Hesitating only for a moment, Bella walked to the back of the truck and gingerly moved to sit down. "Thanks."

"I'm Edward, by the way," the stranger said as he extended his hand toward Bella.

~ O ~

A/N: Huge thanks to my beta lislar for reassuring and helping me flesh out my ideas. Thanks to shoefreak37 for pre-reading when I was having my weekly 2am freak-out. And, finally, thanks to Jjuliebee for the rec. Check out stories by any of these ladies, as they are all excellent. Reviewers get a tease!

Recs this week:

Lessons Extracted Through Using Sex For Underpaid Computer Knuckleheads by shoefreak37 and miss winkles – If you're looking for a hilarious crackfic, this might just be the one for you. It's a crossover with Zack & Miri Make a Porno.

Some Life in Me by Pinkpixiechick – I am completely obsessed with this story right now. After the tragic death of his family, Edward just walks away from his whole life. And then he meets Bella, who's been through some trauma of her own. It's so good!

Bam! Pow! Zap! by Alby Mangroves - A one-shot entry for the Public Lovin' contest. If you like Emmett and Rosalie, or just a good, smutty one-shot, definitely give this one a try.

See ya' next week!