Disclaimer: Twilight Saga belongs to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer, not me!
N/A: Hey, guys! Here is chapter 4. It's a bit longer. In this chapter, I tried to explain better what happened between Edward and Bella. I'm sorry if wasn't very clear. The story is pretty spooky, almost sordid. But it's just this part, so don't flame me please! The next chapters will be less dark!
It will take a bit longer until the great happy ending. Jasper and Rose will show up, don't worry!
Love you all and thanks for all the support!
Chapter 4 – Love is Gone
"What are we suppose to do
After all that we've been through
When everything that felt so right is wrong
Now that the love is gone"
David Guetta – Love is Gone
BPOV
"I'm his girlfriend." Tanya spat.
Oh, I see. I mean Edward is a good-looking guy. Of course he wouldn't be alone. Waiting for me, chaste and untouched. Especially after I screwed up my relationship with him. That was stupid. Reaaally stupid. Anyway, I had to answer something, didn't I?
I quickly fixed a polite smile on my face. "Oh." I said.
"No, she is not." Edward said, looking at me.
I kept myself from starting to dance the Macarena in the middle of the room. Why I was so happy anyway? There was nothing to celebrate. We dated, okay, like five years ago. And I just ended an engagement with another person. So, I wasn't looking for another boyfriend, especially Edward Cullen, who must have dozens of girls like Tanya ready at his feet.
Alice chose this time to jump from her seat and exclaim, "Oh, my Gosh! I'm so hungry! Serena, please, serve dinner!" she said, cheerfully and dragged Emmett and me with her out of the family room. Esme and Carlisle followed us and I saw Edward pushing Tanya to the other room and closing the door.
Oh boy.
EPOV
"Tanya, what the hell was that? Are you utterly insane?" I asked, exasperated.
"Edward, who is that girl?" Tanya asked me, furious.
I sighed, "I already told you. She's a friend of the family and I would really appreciate if you didn't bully her!"
She sat on the couch and crossed her long legs. "I don't like her."
"You don't even know her."
"I don't care. I'm not giving in Edward. You're almost in my hands and I swear," she rose and walked to me slowly, "you'll forget everything about her." I grabbed her wrists to stop her from approaching too much and her jasmine scent hit me, "Just give me a chance," she whispered, her eyes almost hidden behind her long and dark eyelashes.
"Tanya…" I whispered and she came closer, her eyes were fixed on my lips, "I love Bella. I always did and I always will. Please, don't get in the way. You're my friend and I don't want to spoil this. Don't blow everything up."
It seemed like I slapped her. She quickly released her arms and looked at me. Tanya may be impulsive, sometimes difficult, but she was not stupid. "You're really serious about her, aren't you?"
I nodded, happy because I didn't have to explain myself anymore.
I thought she would make this another scandal, but instead, she hid her face in her hands, "Oh, God. I don't believe this. Edward Cullen is in love. And it's not with me!" She sighed and raised her hands in defeat. "Okay, I can see I lost this battle."
"Tanya, please, play nice." I smirked. "This is not funny and I'm pretty sure Bella is not interested in me."
She raised an eyebrow "Then she should be blind and deaf, dear. And I don't think that is the case." She sat again and bit her full lip, "But she looked the stubborn type."
"You're right." I sat in front of her. "I need your help."
"I'm listening."
BPOV
We were all talking and laughing of Emmett's last joke when Edward, followed by a very upset Tanya entered the dinning room. Emmett and Alice, with Carlisle on the main chair, flanked me. Esme was on his right side, so Tanya sat across from me, with Edward by her side, in front of Emmett.
Their arrival didn't stop the conversation. Edward started talking, too. It was amazing to see the family dynamic. They almost completed each other's sentences. Alice and Emmett joined together to tease Edward. Something was telling me that one of these little teases was Tanya as well.
"So, Bella" Tanya asked me with her one million dollar smiles." What do you do for living?"
I saw Edward shoot a warning glance at her. So, this was the way we're going to play? Like in High School? Fine, it works for me too.
Bring it on.
"I'm a lab technician at the Seattle Crime Lab"
She raised her elegant eyebrows, "Impressive! So, are you here on a case?"
"No, I'm actually thinking of moving here, to New York." I smiled sheepishly.
She gasped and everyone looked at me.
"Cool!" exclaimed Emmett, "So, does this means the marriage is really off?"
I looked at him. "Yeah, there is no way I'm getting back together with Jacob."
"Oh, thank God! I don't know where you and my sister find those assholes and then insisting on moving in with them! Sorry, girls, I love you and all, but come on!"
Edward and Carlisle snorted I smacked the back of his head.
"Shut up, Emmett!" said Alice, "At least we're trying. You're the worst, who is going to baby sit our kids someday."
"Excuse, me. But for your information, I regularly date, okay? I got laid yesterday, by the way. With your sister, Tanya." He added, with a grin.
Tanya's fork fell and Alice laughed.
"Oh, shut up man. This is too much information." Protested Edward, throwing his napkin at Emmet's face.
"Thanks, Emmett. This is exactly what I needed. A picture of you and my sister in bed." Tanya rolled her eyes. "How gross!"
"Emmett, getting laid is not classified as dating, okay?" said Alice, outraged, but I could see she was almost laughing as hard as the others.
"Well, it's better then supporting these losers that you and Bella were into." He pointed out.
"Hey! I don't want to hear about my children's sex life at dinner!" complained Esme, rolling her eyes, "So, can we change the subject? Bella, dear, where are you going to live? Do you have an apartment in mind?"
"I inherited a house in Lenox Hill from my Grandma. It's pretty big. "I made a pause and, if Tanya wasn't playing fair, neither was I, "There are lots of rooms. So, if you're interested in sharing, you guys could come live with me. If you want to." I added, blushing, as Edward was grinning at me.
"I'm in!" said Alice quickly.
"Hell yeah! " said Emmett, "Can I move, like, now?"
I giggled, "No, I need to do some painting and buying stuff, like furniture and everything." I looked at Edward and all the courage I had to invite my friends suddenly disappeared. "Are you… coming too?"
"Definitely."
I smiled back at him, "Okay."
APOV
I could see what Edward was doing. He was a smart boy I have to admit. He was closer to Tanya, not so on guard, but not flirting with her either. He was forcing Bella to act.
He knew her far too well.
The rest of dinner was without much of incident. I could see the love triangle formed. Tanya had a thing for Edward, who was in love with Bella, who loved Edward. But there was also Jacob. He might have screwed up things, but I bet he was still in the game.
That will be interesting.
Mom and dad insisted on Bella, not only spend the night here – we were all drunk – but also to pick up her things from the hotel the next morning. We already have lots of things to do before moving. Tanya left, but not before putting some dark clouds over Bella's head. Later, when our parents and Bella were in their rooms, Emmett and I knocked on Edward's door.
He opened it.
"Hey, bro," said Emmett, I could tell Edward was pretty upset. "Can we come in?"
"Sure."
Things between Edward and us were never the same, especially because Edward changed a lot after Bella left. He changed girls like someone changed socks. Somehow, it seemed he was trying to find some kind of substitute for Bella and when he realized the girl of the week wasn't Bella, he dismissed her.
Emmett and me, well, we were Bella's friends and, I really didn't believe him that much, like Bella. I didn't believe in his love for her, and, pretty soon, Bella said she was dating a guy from her new school. This Jacob Black. I met him a few times. He seemed to like her, but I was wrong.
So, I think its time to make amends.
He closed the door and Emmett began. "Look, Eddie. I'm sorry about the Tanya thing. I didn't imagine that you and Bella."
"It's okay Emmett. I'm not mad at you."
I sat on the edge of his bed, "Edward, how are things between you two?"
"Yeah," agreed Emmett "You two seemed pretty close when you arrived."
Edward shrugged. "I don't know. As friends, I guess."
"Oh, come on! You're much more than that! Anyone can see it."
"But it's not so simple, Em" I said. "She has just broken up with Jacob. I'm sure she's pretty confused, right now." An idea crossed my mind, "And she probably needs a friend right now."
They looked at me, puzzled.
Silly boys.
BPOV
I rolled over on the giant bed for the tenth time, unable to sleep. Then I finally gave up and sat, turning on the light of the tiny lamp. I felt bad because of what I'd done to Edward in the past and even worse because he dazzled me all over again.
And I felt guilty because I just finished a serious relationship two days ago and I couldn't bring myself to care. Yeah, Jacob cheated on me at our engagement party and… so what? Now I was here.
Wow, I'm really a bad person, aren't I?
I heard a low knock on the door.
"Come in." I muttered and the door opened. Edward showed up.
"Hey." He said. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I just… can't sleep." I shrugged.
"Huh. Do you need some pills or anything?"
I looked at him. He seemed tired, but not asleep. "Actually, I'd like to talk to you."
He came in and closed the door. I sat on the bed, crossing my legs under the duvet and he sat besides me, on the edge of the bed.
"So. I guess I own you an apology."
He put his finger on my lips to silence me, caressing. Tears came again.
"I'm sorry, Edward!" I cried, "I don't know what happened! I was so confused. One day we were dating and on the next, there were those photos… they were everywhere! If wasn't you, how did they get the pictures of me?" I sobbed. He seemed as hurt as me.
"I had an affair with Lauren before we started dating. She got furious when I broke up with her. I did it because of you, because I couldn't stay away from you. What I didn't know it's that she had this fantasy of watching what we did. What she filmed." Edward looked nauseated. Beauty can be a curse sometimes. "So, to stalk me, she kept the camera in my room. So she could find out about the girl who I was dating and also, use this to harm her."
The whole story was… creepy, to say the very least. I wanted to say something comforting, but my mind was blank. So I touched his face and he put his hand on mine.
"I'm sorry. When did you find the camera?" I whispered.
"Two days after the pictures were posted. They were well hidden." he said, sourly. "Carlisle threatened to sue Lauren, but we made an agreement that she would change schools and keep her distance. We called your parents, but you mother said you were dating someone else. Maybe I should have insisted."
"I never knew that." I said. "I just hushed anyone who pronounced your name. It was easier to be closer to Jacob and his friends. I didn't have to think of the pain."
"How could you believe that, Bella? After everything I told you before?"
"It never made much sense to me why a guy like you would have any interest in me. Lauren and Jessica told me you made a bet with the guys of the basketball team." I shivered "On how many days you'd need to get me in bed."
He froze, and then he looked at my face and kissed the palm pf my hand.
"These people are unbelievable. "He muttered, "We were both victims of them, Bella. I don't blame you for not believing me. I was that kind of person."
"That doesn't change anything. I still didn't believe you. I ran. I got involved with a jerk because he was the son of my father's best friend. He wanted me to be with him and I, stupidly, obeyed. Because I thought it was okay for me not be in love with Jacob, as long he was and he said his love was enough for both of us. The little liar." I growled.
"You know what's worst?" I asked, when I laid on my side and rested my face on my hand. He did the same, so we were facing each other.
"No, tell me." He smiled.
"I don't care, about Jacob's betrayal. Of course I'm mad, but I'm not that hurt. I don't really care about disappointing my father and his stupid marriage plans."
He frowned.
"Does Charlie know where you are?"
I shrugged "I think my mother told him. I guess." Now I was kind of worried. I bet Charlie did call the FBI. "Ugh. Maybe I should call him in the morning. And I have to talk to Renée and tell her I'm staying."
"That is really good news." He grinned.
"I also have to call to my boss and ask for a transfer. "
"Hmmm." He muttered, his eyes almost closed. I covered him with the duvet. "Keep talking." He wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on my chest. I blushed down to my bones, but I managed to stroke his hair.
It was as soft as it looked it.
N/A: Please, review!