I took another pull from my cigarette as I rested my forearms on my balcony railing. The damn thing was near the end and almost burning my fingers. I huffed and dropped it into the ash tray before collapsing into a deck chair.

Nothing had gotten better, a three weeks later. I hadn't heard anything from my parents, or Edward or anyone else. I went to work every day, collected the papers Edward left for me, worked until five and then came home. Where I pouted, watched television, or smoked. I was honestly considering resigning from that fucking job anyway. Sure it paid so well I would be able to buy my own house in three months, but it was also painful… Even though he was never in the office.

Christmas came and went, and I sat on my ass the entire time. Of course, I still got a tree, only days before Christmas day. It was a Charlie Brown tree and I loved it even more because it looked as shitty as I felt. I'd drowned it in garland and tacky ornaments that I bought from Wal-Mart. The big day passed without any fanfare. I didn't get a call from anyone but Alice and her husband Jasper.

Don't think I'm downing them. That call meant more than Christmas itself to me even though it was less than a five minute call. I smiled for almost an hour after the call before sinking right back into my sadness. My dad did send me a text message saying Merry Christmas, but then again it had someone else's name at the end so I didn't really think that should be counted. I smoked a half pack of cigarettes after my father's slip up.

So yeah, it pretty much sucked.

I groaned and pulled a blanket over my shoulders, looking up at the bright sky. I stuck my head phones in and put on a sad playlist. My toes started to turn numb after about an hour of just chilling in the chair, so I stood and walked to the railing again. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I lifted it, my heart skipping when I saw that it was Edward.

Where did you put the Anderson file? -E

Bottom drawer on the left, under A. –B

I responded immediately and when my phone buzzed again I knew I'd have to start looking for another job. Maybe teaching again. The kids would probably give a shit. I'd be making more of a difference in a school than I would filing and typing up Edward's papers.

Thanks –E

I swallowed a lump in my throat and nodded before throwing the phone inside the house. A large cherry red Jeep pulled into the parking lot and I furrowed my eyebrows, knowing that no one living here could possibly own that thing. A large man stepped out and then retrieved a small child from the Jeep too, the two of them strode up to the doors and waltz right in, like they'd been here before, which I strongly doubted they had been.

I rolled my eyes and walked around the balcony a little more as it began to snow. Some asshole started banging on my door and I jumped, ready to attack the fucking spinster next door. The bitch had been complaining about every fucking thing I did and I was ready to rip her a new one.

I stormed to the door and yanked it open to see the man from earlier hulking over me. He stared at me with wide eyes, then down at the little girl and back up to me.

"Good morning, princess." Emmett Cullen boomed sarcastically, swinging Emily up into his arms. "You look lovely." I huffed and didn't move out of the doorway.

"Hi, Aunty Bella!" Emily waved, making me smile. The kid was literally a ray of sunshine, something she no doubt got from Emmett.

"Hi, honey." I said waving my fingers.

"Are you gonna' let us in, B?" Emmett asked, looking over my shoulder and wrinkling his nose. "Have you been smoking?"

"No, I'm not letting you in and yes I have been smoking." I blew a strand of hair out of my face and stood my ground.

"Look honey, Aunt Bella got a tree just like the one you wanted." He said softly to her, setting her on the ground. She clapped and ran past me into the house. He raised his voice and spoke to me, "What has gotten into you, Bella Swan?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, "What are you talking about?" I hadn't seen Emmett in over four years. I saw Emily constantly because Edward babysat her every month, to give Em and Rose a break, but I hadn't seen Em in forever.

"No one's heard from you in over two weeks and you think that's okay?" He asked, raising his eyebrows angrily. I walked away from the door, knowing he'd have to come to get his get anyway, so blocking him was futile. He followed me as I headed to the kitchen and pulled out a water bottle.

"Emmett, I haven't spoken to you since a week after she was born. Are you really going to pull this three week crap on me?" I asked watching Emily stare at the tree in awe. Emmett was two years older than Edward and I, despite the age difference though, we managed to remain friends throughout school and it was when he started dating, and later married his wife Rose, that we lost touch.

"People are worried about you."

"Okay, whatever? How'd you get stuck with the task of making sure I hadn't offed myself?" I asked.

"Bella!" He hissed leaning across the counter. "That is not why I came here. I wanted to formally invite you to the Cullen's New Year's party."

"Thanks but no thanks."

"Why?"

"The last thing I need is to spend the night with your brother. He most likely doesn't want me there anyway. So why would I even bother?" I shrugged and Emmett rolled his eyes.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "You're going to let Edward keep you away from all of us?"

"Why do you all of a sudden want me around?"

"Kid, I've always wanted you around. I just haven't had the time to hang out… You know, with the move and then with her." He pointed to Emily who was bouncing in place on the couch.

"Emmett, no matter what, my being there would be awkward and I'd be uncomfortable. As would Edward. What about 'family first'?"

"I go off of more of a 'who do I like more' thing."

"That's horrible," I said, a smile breaking through despite my words. "I don't know why I come before Edward on that list though."

"Do you even know what this fight is about?" He asked, putting his fists on his hips and cocking an eyebrow.

"Pretty sure, yeah."

"The asshole thinks you're out for his money." He rolled his eyes.

"Yeah,"

"That's the most ridiculous shit I've ever heard."

"He told you everything?"

"Yep, me and dad. We both think it's crazy. Of course he waited until after Christmas to tell us why you were no longer coming." I sighed and took another sip of water. "I think he might be worse off than you." I frowned at that, immediately going into worry mode. I faked nonchalance though as Emmett spoke, even though I wanted to rip out my hair.

"I doubt it." I said through my scratchy throat.

"You two are the most co-dependent fuckers I've ever met in my life." He scoffed, shaking his head. "You're over here giving yourself cancer and Edward's done nothing but work and sleep. Hell, we had to get him wasted just to tell us what was going on with him."

"Yeah?" I asked pouring more water and then offering him and Emily a glass. Emmett shook his head but Emily skipped up to me, nodding excitedly.

"Yes, please!" She said loudly, I chuckled and poured it into a cup of hers that Edward left here.

"Does Edward even know you're here? I don't think he'd approve."

"Why are you so worried about Edward?" He asked looking miffed for a reason unknown to me.

"I don't know, Emmett. We've been friends since we were little, feelings don't just up and disappear." He pursed his lips and reached into the bag he'd brought in and put a pair of my sweats, a brush and a pair of my earrings on the counter. My eyebrows rose and I blinked rapidly, as I looked at the things that had been at Edward's since our senior year of high school. Just like I had a pair of his pajamas and his toothbrush. They were things we kept with us, through college and our moves. If things weren't feeling official before, they sure do now.

"Hmm…" I said before swallowing thickly. I reached out and touched the items as my eyes started to water. "Excuse me." I walked around the counter and headed outside, reaching for a cigarette, as soon as I had it lit it was knocked out of my hand and flew down all three stories, landing in the grass.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"You already knew I was smoking again." I said, panic seeping into my voice as the lit cigarette caught on a small shrub. "Damn it, Em!" I grabbed the pitcher of water and ran out of the house, running down the steps. By the time I'd reached the shrub it was smoking pretty badly, but I didn't see any flame. I dumped out the pitcher on it, and once I was satisfied it was pretty much out, I stomped out the cigarette and picked it up.

"Sorry, I forgot cigarettes involved fire." He said seriously, leaning over the rail. "You aren't giving yourself cancer on my watch kid. I'll be your new Edward, if it'll help. What's he call himself? Your living nicotine patch?" I nodded and smiled, thinking about Edward saying it in his country accent.

"I don't think I need another Edward." I yelled up before heading back into the building. I made it up to the apartment quickly and Emmett stood by the door with wide eyes.

"You're pretty fast for a smoker." He said with a slow clap.

"Thanks," I'd also taken to jogging every other day. After that run from Edward's office to the lobby I realized I was out of shape like you wouldn't believe. Jogging made me feel better and I tended to smoke less on the days I jogged as well. I should have gone jogging on Christmas Day.

"You know what you should do?" Emmett asked, I cocked my head to the side. "I know you have some of Edward's shit, give it to me and I'll take it back to him. It'll make him feel like shit and realize what an ass he's being." I gestured to Emily with wide eyes as she looked up at her dad. "Sorry, Em. Cover your ears." She nodded and giggled as she covered her ears, turning and plopping down on the couch.

"I don't want to make him feel bad." I sighed. "Emmett, I'm not mad at him." I tried to explain. I wasn't mad at him, but I was unbelievably hurt.

"Give me his shit, I want to make him feel bad. I'm tired of seeing him pout." I shook my head and went to the couch, sitting next to Emily. Emmett leaned down and whispered something in her ear.

She looked up at me with wide eyes, "Aunty Bella," She started and Emmett headed down the hallway toward my room.

"I'm going to the potty- I mean, bathroom!" He called, making me and Emily laugh.

"What were you going to say, honey?" I asked brushing her blonde curls out of her face.

"Will you stop smoking? For me?" I narrowed my eyes and looked over my shoulder towards the direction Emmett disappeared in. That was a dirty move and he knew it.

"I'll try."

"Don't try, do." She said. "Try-ers aren't do-ers. They're non-committers."

"Do you know what that means?" She nodded unsurely and I laughed, opening my arms for a hug. Emmett came back into the room, zipping up his bag.

"Why don't you two just kiss and make up? You're putting all of this stuff in Edward's hands? Why?" He asked, picking up where he left off.

"I tried to talk to him and he kind of blew me off and ultimately told me we were over."

"What a fucking idiot." Em grimaced and I did too. "I'll talk to you tomorrow. Pick up your phone?" I nodded and he stuck out his pinky. I smiled and linked fingers with him.

"Deal." We agreed before he collected Emily and they exited the apartment together.

What'd you all think?

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