The following Saturday came quickly and I found myself leaving my parent's house after dropping Carson off.
I said bye to my mom and blew my boy a kiss. I went to the living room to say bye to my dad and then headed for Angela's, where I was getting ready. Angela was driving us to Port Angeles and then we were staying the night in a hotel so we didn't have to drive home.
After an hour and a half of her bitching at me for wearing jeans and black again we left. Angela was driving and were just going to stay in PA for the night. It meant we could have a few drinks without worrying about getting home.
I had chosen to wear a black silk halter top that opened from the neckline to the waist at the back. Not like a huge hole but as if the fabric had been slit. I paired it with my dark blue skinny jeans and a pair of black patent open toed shoes.
I always liked black and denim. I didn't wear a lot of colour. Angela was wearing a green chiffon button up shirt with short black shorts and black wedges that tied round her legs. We were actually having some nice weather for a change. We headed for PA to meet the Cullens.
We checked into the hotel just before seven and then walked to the restaurant Ang had arranged with Alice to meet at, Roma. We were about to walk inside when I heard someone call out Angela and then I was hit by someone. I almost fell but managed to hug the person attached to me back.
I realised from the black hair it was Alice,
"Bella it's so good to see you!" she squealed. Yup, the grown woman actually squealed like a four year old.
"It's good to see you too Alice. Hi Rosalie." I said politely.
She smiled back but never said anything.
"Shall we go in?" Alice asked after she had finished greeting Angela.
The four of us made our way in and told the hostess we had a reservation under Cullen for six.
She showed us back to our table and just as we sat down Emmett Cullen and Jasper Hale swaggered toward us.
"Bella, Angela you remember Jasper. And this is my brother Emmett, I don't know if you'll remember him."
"Good evening ladies" was Jaspers reply as he sat down beside Alice.
"Hey girls. Alice has been yammering on about you two all week. I hear you guys knew each other in high school" Emmett said as he took his seat beside Rosalie.
We were sat at a big round table.
"Yeah, Alice, Bella and I had a few AP classes together and we worked on the newspaper." Angela answered.
We chatted for a while over dinner catching them up on the latest gossip in Forks. I mean really, if someone put there garbage cans out on the wrong day it was news for a week.
"So Bella what about you? You married or anything?" Alice asked.
"Nope, still single. I have a son though. Me and his dad were just friends but, you know, these things happen. In fact you'll know him, Jacob Black?" I answered.
"You're kidding! I knew you guys were close but I'd never have guessed that. So you and him weren't together?" she asked again. I had the feeling Alice didn't have many boundaries when it came to asking questions.
"No. Well, we were together one night, obviously. But no we've never been in a relationship."
"Not for his lack of trying," Angela snipped.
"Ooh! I sense a little hostility from over there. Care to share?" Emmett wiggled his eyebrows.
"He's in love with her, wants to be a proper little family with her and Carson, but can't bring himself to see his son more than once a fortnight. Every few weeks his dad gives him a talking to and he comes around begging her to give him a chance only to be rejected time and time again. He's a grade A ass." she finished and took a drink of her wine.
"Why does he only see his son once every two weeks? Is that your custody agreement?" Rosalie asked quietly.
"No. We don't have a custody agreement. He was away when Carson was born and when he came back I said he could see him as much as he wanted. I thought it would mean that Carson got to see his dad more often than the kids you see at McDonald on a Sunday afternoon, but instead he spends the majority of his time going from crappy job to crappy job and hanging out with his buddies. I think to be honest the only time he sees him is when his mom comments that she's seen Carson."
"That's terrible. I mean, if I was lucky enough to have a child I would want to spend as much time with them as possible." she said fiercely. "People like him don't deserve to be parents." she spat as I saw a tear come to her eye.
"Excuse me I need some air." she whispered as she stood from the table and briskly left the restaurant.
Emmett smiled apologetically and followed after her.
"You'll have to excuse Rose. Her and Emmett have been trying to get pregnant for the two years and they're having some problems." Alice said quietly.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I'd never have rambled on if I knew I was going to upset anyone." I replied feeling bad.
"No, not at all. You couldn't have known Bella, don't worry. Emmett will look after her. She'll be fine in a bit. So where should we go now?" she asked changing the subject.
Ten minutes later Emmett and Rosalie returned to the table. Rosalie apologized and we all told her to be quiet. We decided to go to a new bar that had opened near the hotel we were all staying at. It turned out we were all booked into the same one.
We arrived at Hudson's shortly after leaving the restaurant and managed to grab a table. It was packed. Emmett and Jasper went to the bar and us girls sat down.
I checked my phone and as I rejoined the conversation I heard Rosalie ask Alice where Edward was.
"I'm not sure. I know he had to work today. I think he's headed out here today to see the studios mom looked at for him."
Edward Cullen was coming home.
"Oh, Edward is moving back here too?" I asked, trying to act nonchalantly.
"Yeah, he's going through a divorce right now and his ex is a bitch, like major bitch, so when we said we were going to move back here originally Rose and Em were going to stay in Seattle. But then they decided they were moving too and Edward wanted some distance between him and his vapid whore of an ex so he decided to follow suit."
"I bet your parents were happy with that" I replied.
"Oh my mom is over the moon. She's been a big help over the past few months. She found a house for Jasper and I back in Forks and she's about to close on one for Em and Rose here," she nudged Rosalie who smiled in return. "Now she's found a few for Edward to look at when he gets here. I think he's looking at a studio space tomorrow. He's meeting us for breakfast. You guys should come."
"Maybe, we'll see in the morning. I don't like to stay away from Carson for too long."
"So, what's your son like Bella?" Rosalie asked.
"Oh, you're asking a question now. I could talk about him all day long." I laughed. "He's two, three in December. He's a little character. He adores Finding Nemo and Cars, um, he's kind of a little mix of both Jacob and I. He loves when Miss Angela over there comes to see him because she spoils him rotten. And he'll do anything for a chocolate chip cookie from the bakery I work at. He's just great."
"He sounds adorable. I'd love to meet him sometime." she said shyly.
I told Rosalie a few stories about Carson as Angela and Alice talked. Emmett and Jasper had brought us over a couple of drinks each plus a tray of shots, something about a long line at the bar,
An hour and a half later we were all feeling the effects. I was talking to Emmett about the bar he wants to open when I heard Alice yell out,
"Are you kidding me? We sooo have to set them up," as her, Ang and Rosalie turned to stare at me.
"Do you get the feeling they're talking about you?" Emmett asked me with a laugh.
"You think?" I replied.
I looked back at the three witches staring back at me with knowing smirks on their faces.
"I'm just going to go the ladies," I said and stood and walked away before they could say anything.
I got to the door when two hands pulled me back. I turned to see Alice behind me.
"I'll come with you," she said as she grinned at me. I done my business and went out to wash my hands. Alice was at the mirror fixing her make up.
"So I hear you had a crush on my little brother," she said as she smirked at me in the mirror.
"Um, no. Angela is just a tad too drunk for her own good." I said as I dried my hands.
"It's fine Bella I'm just teasing. So are you seeing anyone?"
"No. To be honest I really don't have the time. I'm at work from six every morning, I pick Carson up from daycare when I finish at three. By the time I get home make and have dinner, get Carson a bath and put him to bed I barely shower before I pass out myself. I'm happy just taking care of my boy." I say as I put on some lipgloss.
"Bella it sounds like you are an amazing mother but don't you ever want time for you?"
"I do have time for me. Carson stays with parents almost every other Saturday so that I can go out with Angela. Honestly Alice, I'm just not looking for anything right now. All I want to do is concentrate on my son, learn everything I can at work and then open my own place."
"Okay I believe you. Just, don't close your self off to the possibility. You never know what's around the corner." she said with a knowing smile.
We left the bathroom and headed back to the table where there were an abundance of drinks for us to work through. The last thing I remember is cat calling at Angela when she was grinding on a guy on the dance floor.
I could hear a really annoying beeping sound coming from somewhere near me. I opened one eye and immediately shut it again when the blinding pain pounded through my skull. My mouth felt like a sand box. I blindly felt around for my phone to shut off the damn alarm. I turned my head to see if Angela had woken up but when I looked at her bed it was empty.
I sat up and looked over at the bathroom but the door was open and there was nothing but silence in the room. I checked my phone to see if there was any messages but there were none. I got up to go and see if she was with Alice or someone but then I remembered I didn't know they're room numbers. I called her cell but it went straight to her answering service. I left a message to call her and then I decided to see if reception would give me one of the Cullen's room numbers.
"Hi, I'm calling from room 507. I'm wondering if you can give me my friends room number so that I can call her as I can't remember what it is."
"I'm sorry I can't give out guests room numbers. I can connect a call through if you give me your friends name."
I gave her the room number and she put me through.
"Morning sunshine. I trust you slept well." Alice was way to perky after the amount of booze we tanked last night.
"Hey Alice. I kind of feel like I've been run over by a bus. Anyway, do you know where Angela is? Her bed hasn't been slept in."
"Yeah. She went home with Ben Cheney last night. Do you not remember her grinding all over him on the dance floor? I was getting hot just watching it!" she purred.
"I remember the grinding, just not much after. I hope she gets back here in time to head home."
"I'm sure she will. She knows we're going for breakfast at ten thirty. Why don't you get dressed and we'll meet you at your room. What number are you?"
"I'm in 507. I can just meet you guys down in the lobby."
"No, we'll come get you. That way you're not waiting around on your own if Angela isn't back. We'll come down just before ten so that we can all check out in time."
"Okay I'll see you then."
I hung up with her and then got in the shower. It was unusually hot for these parts right now and I was making the most of it. I pulled on my denim cut offs, layered brown and white tank tops and pulled on my tan leather cowboy boots. I put my hair up in a messy bun and put on my long gold necklace. Once I done that I put on a little concealer, some mascara and a little lipgloss and spritzed some of my Angel perfume.
I gathered up mine and Angela's stuff that was lying around and put it in our bags. I was just finishing when the door knocked. I let everyone in and Emmett lay down on Angela's bed.
"I am so tired." he moaned.
"I feel you big guy" I mumbled as I zipped my bag.
I grabbed mine and Angela's bags and we made our way to the lobby. We left the guys with the bags and went to check out. When Alice and Rosalie were done they went to sit down. When I was done I left the desk and started towards them. I was so busy putting my wallet back into my bag I didn't look where was going and walked right into someone.
I looked up and could've died on the spot.
I had just almost knocked Edward Cullen on his ass.