Chapter Three

"You have to tell Jacob."

"She doesn't have to tell Jacob."

"Kelsey."

"It's not like she's hooking up with this guy. She's just showing him around campus. You can be friends with your ex, Bella. It's totally acceptable."

"Friends," I repeated numbly.

"Do they know each other?" Rachael asked.

"Uh," I estimated. "Not really. Not well. They know of each other."

"And?" she pushed.

"And what?"

"And, you know, how do they feel about each other? I mean; you know the situation better than us. Would Jacob be cool with you being friends with this guy?"

Uh, no.

"Are you cool with it?" Kelsey held a hand up. "You seem pretty freaked by this. Do you want to see this guy?"

Well, there's a question.

"I don't—" Rachael crossed her arms. "So, you dated this guy in high school, right? But, he's only starting college now?"

I'd gotten much better at covering for supernatural activities with a werewolf boyfriend. "He took some time off before college. He was in the Peace Corps."

Kelsey nodded appreciatively. "Wow."

Rachael eyed me cautiously. "You don't still have feelings for this guy, do you, Bella?"

Heh.

"No," I said, though it was clear that neither of them believed me.

"Okay, then," Kelsey leaned forward. "Well, that changes things."

"No, really," I swore. "It's not like that. Even if I was," I cringed, "Still a little bit interested, he's not. He has made that very clear."

"So he broke up with you," Kelsey guessed.

"Yeah," I said, remembering that event only in abstract, vague moments. "It was a tremendously one-sided decision."

"Ouch," Rachael said sympathetically.

"And then you started dating Jacob," Kelsey surmised.

"Well," I shrugged, "Yeah."

"Jacob, who loves you and wants to be with you and is practically perfect in every way," Rachael pointed out.

"Thanks, Rach, I don't think I was feeling guilty enough," I sighed.

Kelsey bit her lip. "I don't think there's anything for you to feel guilty about. So you might still have feelings for the guy. That's not the end of the world. Nothing's going to happen. You know what? I'll bet—you go see him, your head all-full of this idealized, perfect high-school guy—and he'll probably be all fat and hairy and whatever. I bet he's changed completely. Two years is a long time."

"Yeah," I said. "I don't think I should count on that." Because, oh, did I not mention, he's a vampire. Like, a vampire. So, yeah, probably less fat and hair and more muscle and perfection, but whatever.

"What was his name?" Rachael asked.

"Edward." It was strange saying his name again. I had convinced myself it was a neutral grouping of syllables, but as it formed in my mouth, the images of him returned with a thundering boom in my mind, like a time bomb of memory just waiting for the right moment.

"Edward," Kelsey tried it. "Ed. Eddie. Okay, I can work with that."

"It's not," I worked to keep my voice even so as not to sound like an attack dog. "Eddie. It's Edward."

She smiled at that. "Uh oh, Isabella." I was clearly unsuccessful at that. "I'd work on the impartial tone before you go telling any of this to your boyfriend."

"Bella," Rachael muttered, shaking her head. "What are you going to do?"

"I really don't have the faintest idea," I told her.

"When are you supposed to meet him?"

"Tomorrow at noon." I was beginning to sweat as minutes ticked by, bringing me closer and closer to seeing him again.

"Maybe one of us should go with you," Rachael offered.

"Oh, come on," Kelsey said, shaking her head. "She doesn't need to be babysat. Bella can make her own decisions here, Rachael."

"Seriously," I told them. "I know nothing will happen. He's not interested. He could not be more uninterested. Really."

Rachael shook her head. "Then I don't understand why he would specifically ask to see you, Bella. That doesn't seem a little bit weird to you? I mean; if I was trying to avoid an ex, I think going to her school and asking to spend the day with her would be really low on my list of fun things to do."

"No," I swore. "You've got it wrong. There's no way."

AN: Review! Tell me what you think so far! I've got up to the ninth chapter ready to go, so let me know that there are people out there who want to read it, and I'll post!