Into the Night, pt II

I won't even... yeah. You know.

If it makes it any better, there's a pretty decent reveal in this chapter. Um. Yeah.

:)

It's the moment of truth and the moment to lie
The moment to live and the moment to die
The moment to fight, the moment to fight, to fight, to fight, to fight

30 Seconds to Mars – This is War

x.x.x

Edward.

Fuuuuuck.

That was the only rational thought that was running through my mind as I jumped away from Bella like a kid caught elbow deep in the cookie jar.

Fuck.

And then I just kind of completely froze. I was unable to move or react or say anything. I just stood there… unable to remove my eyes from him.

And Jasper was livid; his face was twisted up with the anger he usually reserved for me as he stared Bella down. His eyes were narrowed, his lips were twisted up into a terrifying sneer, and his chest rose and fell to the heavy pounding bass of the song blaring from the surrounding speakers. The party continued on around us, completely oblivious to the shit-storm that was surely about to unfold right in the middle of it all. But the five of us stood frozen; shell-shocked. And nobody moved. And nobody spoke.

And for a second… just a flash of a moment that passed almost to quickly for me to register, I found myself sympathizing with Jasper. I mean, he caught me with a handful of his best friend's ass and my tongue rammed down her throat. Yeah, maybe I wanted to torture the man a bit but this… this wasn't how it was supposed to happen. This wasn't how it was supposed to go down. Damn the whiskey and tequila and damn Bella for being just way too fucking hot for me to keep my hands off… and damn my cock and my horny un-laid ass… Just… damn it all.

And man, I thought he was going to throttle me. Because I would have, if I'd caught him feeling up Alice like that with no warning, with not even the slightest glimpse of a red flag waving in the distance. I was fully expecting Jasper to fucking jump me. But instead he turned his anger on Bella. But Bella didn't deserve that look, that hatred… so when she rushed off to follow him after he turned his back and walked away, I was right behind her.

I was shaking my head and muttering to myself as I dodged the guests and tried to keep up. For someone who couldn't run across a smooth paved path without falling on her ass, the girl was surprisingly fast in high heels. I started unbuttoning my cuffs and rolled them up with one hand as I wove through the crowd, hoping for Bella's sake that this wouldn't come to blows, but really, I had no fucking clue what was about to unfold. So I was going to be prepared.

Somebody grabbed my shoulder as I dodged some swaying drunk chick, and I almost just fucking started swinging because well, that's where my head was at. I turned in anger, just ready to knock whoever the fuck it was out, but I shook myself when I realized it was just Andy.

"Dude. Where's the fire?" he asked, jerking me back slightly so he could yell in my ear and be heard over the music. His eyebrows raised and he grinned, looking amused at my reaction.

"Hey man, right now, not a good time," I said, shrugging out of his grasp. I cast him what I hoped was an apologetic look over my shoulder as I continued on. I scanned the crowed in front of me and caught a glimpse of the gold of Bella's dress before it disappeared through a door in the hallway. I half-jogged after her, dodging people as I went.

"Jasper, fucking talk to me!"

I cringed when I heard Bella's angry cry from outside the door that led to the garage. I carefully twisted the knob and pushed the door open with my hip, slipping inside.

As soon as I step through the door, I felt like I'd entered a battlefield. Jasper was standing in the middle of the empty garage already smoking a cigarette, his back to Bella, his shoulders stiff. Bella was facing him, her feet planted firmly on the cement floor, her body tensed as if ready to spring and attack or bolt at a moment's notice. Alice sat on a wooden bench that lined one of the walls, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, her eyes wide and looking like she was wondering if it was a good idea for her to have followed Jasper in here. I stood in the doorway, wondering the same thing myself. Maybe we should just leave this to Bella and Jasper to hash out. But I didn't want it to be like I was abandoning her, not now. Besides, I wanted to be there if shit got too heated.

And by the looks of things… it was going to get heated. Fast.

It wasn't that I didn't trust Bella to stand up for herself – because I knew she could. Hell I knew better than anybody that Bella didn't lack a strong backbone, but I didn't want to ditch her with this either. If we were going to be together, then we were going to handle this shit together, too.

"Jasper, come on. Look, I get that your pissed, but at least talk to me!" Bella's hands were planted on her hips, her voice full of frustration. Her shoulders were shaking, and she took a step forward, towards Jasper, but then stopped herself. I could only stare, struggling with myself, wondering if I should step in or not.

"No." Jasper turned his head to the side, his back still to her. His lips hardly moved, but his reply sliced through the thick tension in the air.

Bella let out a long sigh, shaking her head at his back. "You want to be a fucking baby about this? Fine. But you are going to stand there and you are going to listen to what I have to say. We are doing this now, Jasper. And Alice, I'm sorry," Bella paused, glancing briefly to where Alice was almost flattening herself up against the garage wall, looking like she was almost in a state of shock. "I'm sorry that it has to be on your birthday, at your party, and I know that's shitty of me, but I'm not doing this – I'm not going to let Jasper give me the fucking silent treatment until I break and come running back to him." Her gaze was back on Jasper, her eyes narrowed, her chin raised. "I'm not a fucking child anymore, and maybe you're trying to protect me, Jasper… but you have to let me do this, you have to let me make my own choices and my own mistakes."

Bella paused again and took a deep breath, and then turned around and looked over her shoulder, her eyes meeting mine. I stared back, just feeling like I was in a fucking weird place, my skin buzzing, my mind reeling, my ears adjusting to the echoing silence of the garage and my body still cooling from the heat of our kiss. But Bella raised her eyebrows and held out her hand, beckoning me to her side and I pulled my hands from my pockets and was next to her in an instant. She wove our fingers together, squeezing my hand tightly before letting our joined hands drop so they swung between us.

Her eyes were on mine when she spoke, and her lips turned up into a smile. "Jasper, you have to let me make my own happiness."

I smiled back at her, feeling far too many emotions at once to even try and speak. I could only stare at her, feeling dazed and proud and happy and a little drunk and I was so fucking caught up that I didn't even realized she'd turned her attention back to Jasper.

Jasper. Right.

I turned back and faced him, Bella's hand still intertwined with mine, our shoulders touching. He and turned around so he was now facing Bella and I. He was stamping out his cigarette with the toe of his shoe, his arms crossed over his chest. His face held no emotion, his mouth set in a straight line, his eyes blank as he stared back at Bella.

Bella rounded her shoulders, refusing to back down from his gaze. "Jasper, you've been my best friend since I was eight. Of all the shit I've been through – of all the shit we've been through – separate or together, I have to say this is the most fucking ridiculous thing we've ever fought over. You're my best friend; you should want me to be happy! Instead, I'm scared out of my goddamn mind, so worried about what you're going to think about this because your opinion matters to me, and it always will. But right now… it's just all so fucking wrong. You were hiding things from me, for four years you were hiding it. I know that Edward showed up at our house the next morning after we broke up, and I know what you did to him! And you know what? I'd be willing to bet there are more details you just 'forgot' to mention. For four years, you kept that from me. We were supposed to have shared everything, Jasper! But I guess that was all just a lie, too."

Her trembling hand tightened around mine, but she didn't let up. "And I hate who you are for being angry about this and I hate who you are for being so against Edward and I, and for being such a fucking hypocrite that I can't even stand to look at you! You're wrong about this, Jasper. You're so wrong."

Jasper finally spoke. He let out one low, sarcastic laugh as he shook his head. "Bella, are you listening to yourself right now? I wish… fuck, I wish I could record you words right now and play it back to you a month ago. You want to know what your reaction would have been? You would have laughed in my face. And then you would have jumped on my back and laughed and made some stupid joke and told me I was on crack. Because that's who you are. But for some reason, Cullen blinds you and I don't know what the hell it is, why you're so convinced you're fucking right. And for some reason, you're willing to give him a second chance, no matter how badly he hurt you. No matter how badly he fucked you up."

I stiffened, and instantly Bella's grip on my hand tightened, and I could almost feel her begging me to stay put.

"How many second chances did you give in to your father?" she hissed, her eyes narrowing. I almost flinched at that one – she was aiming to injure. It had been an unspoken rule around us as teenagers – you don't bring up Jasper's family. Ever. But Bella continued, "How many times did you go running back to him, no matter how fucking bad he hurt you? And even when he almost fucking killed you, you couldn't go up on that stand and testify against him. So don't you ever fucking feed me bullshit about second chances, Jazz. I can't… I won't… And Edward… Edward would never hurt me like that."

Jasper's face was less angry, his gaze dropped and he looked almost… sad. "Is it really that different, Bella?"

I saw the tears gathering in her eyes, but she raised her chin, her grip on my hand tightening, her strength surprising me. In more ways than one.

"Yes."

"Bella," he began, his voice cracking. He looked up and met her gaze. "All I've ever wanted is for you to be happy… to be safe and happy. And I can't… not with a good conscience, just stand here and let this happen. Because I know how it's going to end."

I opened my mouth, ready to speak the fuck up already, ready to lash out. But Bella cut me off.

"So it's completely fine that you get everything you want – you get Alice, you get to experience everything that I know is out there – that I know is standing right next to me? You get to be happy and I – what? I get to sit on the sidelines and live vicariously through you? I don't think so. You want me to be happy? Let me be happy! Don't stand in the way of this. Don't ruin this for me, Jasper."

"Jasper…" Alice cleared her throat and got slowly to her feet and we all looked over at her in surprise. "Jasper, maybe Bella is right about this."

"Alice, don't. You don't know anything about this."

Alice flinched at Jasper's sharp words and it was that one small cower that made me snap. In an instant, I'd dropped Bella's hand and taken a quick, deliberate step towards Jasper. I felt Bella grasp at my shirt and heard her yell my name from behind me, but I shook my head, my temper flaring. I'd had more than enough of Jasper and his douchiness for one night. My hands balled into fists at my side as I turned on him.

"Listen, buddy, I don't know who the fuck you think you are, talking to the girls like this. Get the hell off your high horse and look at what you're doing here! Look at what you're saying to the people you claim to love. You're fucking problem is with me, not with them. So let's hear it." I held out my arms. "Why am I such a piece of shit? Why the fuck am I so undeserving of Bella? Come on, let it the fuck out."

Jasper's eyes narrowed. "I'm not doing this."

I laughed bitterly and shook my head, letting my hands drop to my side. "It's pathetic, you know. Truly fucking pathetic. You know that your fear of losing her is going to be what ends up driving her away, right?"

I heard Bella and Alice both yell before I saw Jasper coming at me. By the time I'd registered what was happening, my back was being slammed up against the wall, the back of my head knocking painfully against the unfinished plywood. Jasper's fists were clenched around my shirt, his face mere inches from mine. "You don't know anything about me and Bella," he seethed, his voice low, his grey eyes boring into mine. "And just because you managed to weasel your way back into her heart for now, it doesn't mean you'll ever know anything about us."

I tried to shove him off me as the girls continued yelling behind us. I wasn't registering any of it as I struggled against his grip. "Get the fuck off me, Whitlock," I growled. "Because right now, I have a lot more allies at this party than you do. So don't do something you'll regret."

"Like I fucking care." Jasper held me tight and lowered his voice further as he hissed his parting words in my ear. "And I know what you've been up to the past five years, Cullen. Good luck explaining that all to Bella." He pushed me hard, one last time, then let me go. I slumped back against the wall, my mind reeling, trying to keep up to what the fuck had just happened. I ran my hands through my hair, chanting in my head, over and over again, telling myself not to hit him. It wasn't worth it. It wasn't going to make this better. It probably wouldn't make this better. But it would feel so, so good.

When I finally looked back up, I realized the scene before me had quickly turned into a shit show. Alice was standing between Bella and Jasper, her eyes wide and glistening with tears, her lower lip trembling as she looked between the two of them helplessly. Bella was right in Jasper's face, her entire face crimson as she yelled at him, her body shaking.

"-the fuck is the matter with you? What's your problem accepting the fact I might actually be happy? You're acting like a fucking crazy person! Why are you so fucking against this? I just don't understand, Jasper!"

"Bella!" Jasper's reply came out strangled. "I want you to be happy. More than anything, that's what I want for you. But I will not stand back and watch Cullen break your heart. Not again."

"Who says he's going to hurt me? Anybody could hurt me." She threw her arms in the air. "There's a million goddamn ways for me to get hurt, every single day. Stepping out the goddamn hotel room door every morning is a risk! You know that. Everything we do is a risk. Fuck Jasper, you held my hand right before we threw ourselves out of a plane. So cut the fucking bullshit. You can't be there to protect me all the time."

As Bella spoke, I reached out for Alice and pulled her trembling body into a hug. I felt to terrible she had to be a part of this. Especially since… well… a lot of this shit was seriously hitting home. For both of us.

"Maybe you're right, Bella. But I'm sorry; I don't want to leave when you change your fucking mind about this. And when he breaks your heart just like he did five years ago, I'd don't want to be the one who has to put you back together again. I can't, Bella."

"Why are you so fucking convinced I'm going to hurt her again?" I growled, releasing my hold on Alice and clenching my hands into fists. "Maybe there's a chance that I somehow managed to learn from my mistakes, after regretting everything that happened back in Jacksonville every single fucking day for four goddamn years? Can't you even give me the slightest benefit of the doubt? Maybe I've actually grown up, Whitlock."

Jasper rolled his eyes in my direction. "Maybe you've grown up, Cullen," he said, and the way he spoke, like he was talking to a child, did nothing to alleviate my urge to knock him on his ass. "But that doesn't mean the dynamic in yours and Bella's relationship has changed. You guys will be happy for ten minutes before you're at each other's throats. I know. I've seen it. Growing up doesn't change that. Nothing changes that. It's how you guys are – how you'll always be. And Bella doesn't do long term anything anymore. She can't even eat the same thing for lunch two days in a row. She switches brands of smokes every week, her favorite band changes every other day. She'll get bored of you, Cullen. Quickly. Then you get to deal with the pain of losing her again, too."

"You ever think that maybe it's because that's who you've made her become? Dragging her across the country on some kind of nomadic crusade?"

"Because we had to escape you, your memory, after you--"

"STOP IT!"

An angry cry from Bella cut through the air and Jasper and I both stopped and slowly turned to Bella. Her eyes were wild and she stood with her hands on either side of her head, rocking back and forth. She resembled a fiery goddess the way the anger rolled off her in waves as she looked back between Jasper and I, her head shaking.

"Just… stop it! I can't, you guys…" Her arms dropped to her side and she let out a long breath, her shoulders slumping. "I'm not doing this anymore. This is the end of this fucking discussion."

"Bella --" she held up her hand and stopped Jasper.

"I'm with Edward. If you're going to let this get between us, then I guess our friendship just wasn't what I thought it was," she shrugged, though I saw the shaking of her hands before she curled them into balls. "There's obviously nothing I can do to change your mind, but I'll be waiting for when you want to talk about this. Rationally." She raised her eyebrows then turned to me, her eyes still blazing. "And Edward… I know you're trying to stick up for me… but Jasper's right. This is what I've become. I'm not used to being in one place, or sticking to one thing, but I'm going to fucking try. Because I want this. I want you. I've been running for a long time, and I probably would still be if it weren't for the both of you. And I mean that. And there's going to be days when I just need to get out of here, and go running or driving and see different scenery… but I'll come back. As long as you want me to, I'll always come back."

I could only nod slowly in response.

She closed her eyes and let out a long breath and nobody moved until she spoke again. "Look… we still have a few hours left of Alice's birthday, and I say we all go out there and fucking enjoy the night. I'm going outside, because I really need some fucking air. So… please just... don't fight anymore, okay? And don't follow me. I'll be back inside soon, but I just need some space."

With that, Bella nodded and then turned on her heel and walked slowly from the garage. She was taking deep breaths, her head still shaking in disbelief. And I was left staring after her, wondering what in the hell just happened.

Alice, Jasper and I were left standing in the middle of the garage, heads spinning. It was Alice who moved first, turning and slowly following Bella's lead and exiting the garage. Right before she pulled open the door she stopped and turned back to Jasper and I.

"Jasper," she said quietly, clearing her throat. Her fingers brushed the doorknob and she looked over her shoulder and met his eyes. "Just know, if you hang onto her too tightly, you're going to end up losing her. Trust me."

I glanced over at Jasper, who was staring at her questioningly, his lips moving silently.

"I know because… because that's how I…" Alice's gaze flickered to mine. "Because that's how I almost lost Edward." Alice pulled open the garage door and slipped back into the house. Jasper's eyes met mine for the slightest of moments and I swear I saw something soften, some change before moved from his place beside me and was jogging up the garage stairs after Alice.

x.x.x

Bella.

My mind was a mess as I pushed my way through the crowd of the party and made my way outside. I felt like I was in a daze, my mind still reeling no matter how hard I tried to push it all away. I was confused, and I was angry… but above all I felt relieved. Free. Like so much had just been lifted from my shoulders. And it was about fucking time.

I ordered two Jack and Cokes on my way outside, chewing on the short, black straw between sips as I wove through the hordes of people. I could almost feel myself relaxing with every step I took away from the mess behind me. It was perfect – it was all I needed.

When I stepped out on the patio, the first person I saw was Emmett. He was standing in the dim light off to the side, a beer in one hand, and he was reaching over to put out his cigarette in an ashtray. Without even thinking, I slipped to his side and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Whoa," he chuckled in surprise. It only took a moment for him to return the hug. "Swan, what's going on? Are you all right?"

I shook my head and swallowed hard as I pulled away. "I'm fine," I replied, a little amazed at the confidence in my voice. "You know, big night," I tried to wave it off like it was nothing. Like I didn't just rip a strip off my best friend. Like I didn't almost just lose him.

Emmett nodded slowly in understanding, arching an eyebrow. "Want to go down to the beach or something?"

"Sure," I nodded. That sounded fucking perfect. And drama free. So Emmett threw his arm around my shoulders and led me down the slope of the lawn to the empty beach. I stopped him when we stood on the edge, right where the grass met the sand, and I stripped off my high heels and set my drinks on the grass next to them. Then I took a running leap into the sand, sighing and melting a little inside at the feel of the cool gritty sand against my hot, tired feet. I breathed in the sweet, cool night air and raised my arms to the cloudless sky above me and twirled in a slow circle, a laugh escaping my chest, the freedom in the air almost tangible.

I could hear Emmett laughing from behind me. "You are the most bizarre person I've ever met," he said as he approached, one of my drinks in his hand. He held it out to me and I stopped my spinning long enough to polish off the liquid, then threw back my head and chewed slowly on the ice.

"So… what do you want to do?" Emmett asked, raising his eyebrows as he faced me.

"I want to…" I swallowed, looking around. There were a couple people I recognized still out on the patio smoking, thin grey wisps of smoke curled above their heads and up into the night sky. The music was still pounding from inside the doors, people were yelling and laughing and dancing all around. I didn't want to go back in there. I was too alive to be traditional and drunk and dancing with everybody else. I wanted to climb a fucking mountain – or go run barefoot through the woods screaming at the top of my lungs. But what if I ran into a bear? I wondered if Emmett would come and protect me from bears. It seemed like a chivalrous Emmett-type thing to do.

But I decided I needed to do something slightly less dangerous. Tomorrow... tomorrow I could climb that mountain. Tomorrow I could do anything I wanted. Speaking your mind was fucking empowering. I could do anything -- I could do it all, and they couldn't stop me. I could still feel the adrenaline from the fight coursing through my veins. I flexed my fingers, chewing my bottom lip as I deliberated. "I want to go swimming," I finally decided, turning back to Emmett.

"Here? Now?"

"Yes."

He hardly hesitated before he laughed and shrugged in what I assumed was agreement. "All right. But clothing is not optional – I am not getting caught skinny-dipping with you tonight."

I giggled, "All right, all right." I swiped his beer from his hand, took a long gulp, then passed it back to him. I swayed slightly but nodded. "You know… you just get me, Emmett. With us… it would just be so easy. Why couldn't we fall in love?"

Emmett sighed, and he draped his arm over my shoulders. He put the beer back in my hand and sounded almost apologetic as he spoke. "Because I'm not Cullen… and you're not Rose."

"And cause I know nothing about engines or transitions?" I teased, my words slurring slightly together.

Emmett chuckled. "Transmissions, sweetheart. And yeah, that too."

I rolled my eyes. "Same difference. So will you wait for me to go get my bathing suit then?" I had a feeling Alice definitely wouldn't appreciate me ruining my brand new dress by jumping in the lake fully clothed.

"You seriously want to do this?"

"Yep."

"All right. I'll wait for you."

"Great!" I dashed across the yard to the beach house, thankful that we'd thought to leave a few lights on earlier in the day. I went skidding through the door and quickly stripped down and went into the bathroom where my bathing was still hanging up in the shower, drying from the day before. I slipped it on, grabbing two towels and gathering my dress and sprinting back out of the room. I was halfway down the path when I realized I forgot to shut the door behind me and came to a skidding stop as I turned raced back, slammed it, and was back on my way to Emmett. He was waiting exactly how I'd left him, his suit jacket hanging from one hand, a beer bottle in the other. I went racing across the beach, kicking up sand behind me, when he looked up and saw me. His face broke out into a grin.

"That was fast."

I nodded breathlessly, tugging on his arm. "Come on."

Emmett laughed again as he began following me out to the dock. We didn't stop until we were at the very end, and he set down his beer and stripped down to his boxers. I smirked at him and stood at the very edge, my toes curling over the end of the smooth wood. I could hear people gathered down at the beach, yelling and laughing and cheering us on. With one final grin in Emmett's direction, I grabbed his hand, counted silently to three, and leapt off the dock.

Cold. The water was very cold.

Scratch that, the water was fucking freezing. I came up sputtering and yelling and laughing, and Emmett came up right beside me swearing. I threw my head back and laughed, treading water as I smoothed back the hairs clinging to the side of my face. I could hear people cheering and clapping but I blocked it all out and turned to Emmett.

"I did it," I said quietly, but Emmett was already climbing out of the water, still cussing too loud to hear. But it didn't matter, because I fucking did it. And it felt great.

I backstroked slowly away from the dock into the dark waters, unable to fight the smile on my face or cease the laughter bubbling from deep in my chest.

I did it.

I sat on a stage in a small, crowded bar and played my guitar. I was honest with Edward. I spent the night in the same bed as Edward. I panicked and I came to appreciate all these things I have in life that I can't touch but I can feel and I know are real. I wore a short dress and high heels. I reached the point of no return. And I stood up to Jasper.

And I'd done it all in three short days.

Another laugh escaped me and I dove under the black surface of the cold, refreshing lake water.

Life… it was fucking crazy sometimes.

I continued to swim around for a bit, until it really was too cold, and then joined Emmett on the dock, where he had the towel ready and waiting. I grinned at him as I wrapped up in it. "That was fun," I told him.

"Mmmhm. And hypothermia is going to be a blast."

I shoved him half-heartedly and took a seat on the dock next to him. And we sat shivering in silence, sharing the rest of his beer and gazing out into the darkness. The euphoria from the swim slowly drained from my body as we sat there. My skin was tingling from the chill of the water, and I felt re-energized. Renewed. Our audience at the beach had dispersed right after our jump in the lake and now it was very still and peaceful. I don't know how much time had passed when Emmett spoke up, but the shivering had subsided and I was leaning back on my elbows, still wrapped up in the fluffy towel, my gaze on the same night sky Edward and I had sat under the night before.

"So… Bella, I know it's not my place to say but I just feel like I have to." Emmett cleared his throat awkward and slowly looked over at me.

I nodded slowly as I chewed on my lip. "Ooookay."

"You know… as pissed as you are at him right now, you know you're lucky to have a friend like Jasper, right?"

I only sighed, twirling a damp piece of hair around my finger as I stared out onto the lake.

Emmett leaned back on his elbows so he was level with me. "Seriously. I mean I get it. He's looking out for you. Most people call themselves friends… or best friends… but they're just as likely to stand by and watch you get hurt as a perfect stranger is. But Jasper… he'll tell you what he thinks, even though he knows it's going to piss you off. I'm not sayin' he's right… just that you're lucky."

"Thanks, Em," I said softly, resting my head on his shoulder. He was right, I knew he was right. But still… it didn't take back the words Jasper and I had exchanged. We'd never, not in all our years, ever had a fight that bad. And it had taken a lot out of me.

"Even if he's the only family you'll ever have… you got it pretty good," Emmett said, and his voice sounded far away, like his mind was somewhere else completely.

Suddenly, I turned. "Emmett… what about your family? Will you ever tell me about them?"

Emmett let out a long breath, then reached into the pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out two cigarettes, lighting them both and handing me one. "Honestly? Well… there's not a lot to tell."

"You don't have to," I assured him softly. "But it feels good, sometimes. Just to get it all out." Trust me.

Emmett sighed. "It's just… Well... my dad… he's just not a good person. From the outside, I mean, we had it all. Big house, big farm, lots of workers… my dad never had to lift a finger if he didn't want to. But he was very… insecure. Like… he'd watch us all the time, and if we made one wrong move…" His voice trailed off and he shuddered and my stomach sank. I had a pretty good feeling I knew what he was trying to say. I just stared at Emmett, big, cheerful Emmett, and tried to imagine anybody hurting him. It was just so wrong it made my heart hurt. And then I thought about Jasper's dad, and Edward's dad… and realized it was so much more to it than what we knew. So much more had brought us all together, more than we could ever imagine.

Emmett cleared his throat and continued. "I was too restless to stay on the farm. But my dad… well, he decided when I was very young that that's all I'd ever do. Work on the farm, while he sat up in his big office and watched. Then, one day I'd take his place. Simple." He snapped his fingers, and then shrugged. "Out of high school, I had money saved up and took off to Thailand with some friends. It was the best month of my life. Of course, my dad wasn't in on it. He thought I'd gone backpacking through Italy or something… gaining some worldly knowledge," Emmett rolled his eyes, "when I was really drinking booze out of a bucket and getting shit hammered every night on the beach. But when I got back, he never mentioned the trip. Just handed me my coveralls and told me the barn stalls needed cleaning. And that was that."

He cleared his throat before he continued and I sat quietly, afraid to move or speak and startle him out of the trance he seemed to be in.

"I worked for him for a long time…. But eventually I just couldn't do it anymore. I moved to the city, I tried going to school, got a different job. But even there, he just haunted me. It's like… he had people everywhere, always watching me, just because he could. He was so afraid… afraid I'd make one wrong move and his entire reputation would go down the drain. And I just never got it. How he could put on such a fucking act all the goddamn time. And we all had a part to play… the perfect son, the perfect mother, the perfect daughter… it was exhausting. I just… I couldn't do it anymore. So I made a run for it." Emmett chuckled quietly. "The first time, I made it two towns over before one of my dad's 'friends' hunted me down and drug me home. I took my own car, used my credit cards…" He smiled, as if reminiscing. "Well, I didn't make that mistake the second time."

He looked right at me. "I think the biggest risk I took the second time was taking you guys to the beach house. I mean, he could have so easily had someone watching the place. But I wanted to show him, show him that I was better at it than he was. I want him to know I was there, and he will, he'll know I was there and there's nothing he can fucking do about it. But… I feel now like he's given up almost. I don't know." He shrugged. "Maybe he let me go. Finally."

"But your mom… and your sister…" I frowned. "They have to be so worried."

Emmett laughed. "My mom never wanted kids. She married my dad to be rich, and that's the god's honest truth. I think having kids was part of the contract when they got married, and believe me, I bet my dad made her sign one. He got what he wanted, she got what she wanted. And he wanted kids… to take over the family business. And she… she wanted the name. And the money, of course. But she never wanted to be a mother – she never really was a mother. I was raised by a nanny who died when I was sixteen. I doubt my mom even misses me."

"I find that hard to believe," I told him seriously, unable to imagine a mother give birth to a child and watch it grow up before her very eyes and never really love it. "But… what about your sister?"

Emmett smiled sadly. "I talk to her, actually. Her and her husband, Peter. They're amazing… I miss them so much. They have two kids, Carter's five and Emma's two and I miss them more than words can say. But… I knew what I was leaving behind when I left. And as much as I miss them, I'm so much happier where I am now. And I know I'll see them again. Eventually. Once I know my dad's let me go for good."

And I just stared at Emmett as he put his cigarette out on the dock next to him, and wondered how I never saw it… how I never saw that he was going through so much. Maybe he was like his dad more than he knew… he could put on that happy facade that nobody could see through. He was still playing the part of the perfect son.

Emmett turned back to me, cutting off my train of thought. "And that's why you're lucky to have Jasper. Somebody who really cares about you. They way he looks at you… it's like he's guarding his life. And I know, maybe it can be suffocating at times, but not everybody gets to experience something so intense. And I'm sure once he sees how truly happy you are, Bella, he'll be okay with everything. Just give the guy a little time, that's all."

I nodded slowly. "I know… and honestly? I don't think anything could ever come between Jasper and I. Not even Edward," I laughed quietly. "We've just been through too much together… That kind of bond… it wears thin at times, like tonight. But there's just no breaking it."

Emmett laughed. "Okay, shit's officially gotten too fucking sappy for a party like this." He sat up and rubbed his eyes, before glancing over at me. "You ready to get back in there, tiger?"

I let out a long, long breath. "Yeah," I said finally. I got to my feet and shook out my dress, which had been lying on the dock next to me. My bathing suit was fairly dry, so I pulled the dress over my head, suddenly lacking the energy to go back and change into dry underwear.

Today had been a long fucking day.

I paused as I waited for Emmett to get dressed, my gaze wandering over the beach. I stopped when my eyes fell upon a dark shape standing out against the sand, and although he was far away, just a silhouette in the darkness, he was unmistakable. I could see one of his hands hanging casually from the pocket of his pants, the other holding a cigarette to his mouth. The glowing ember was just barely discernible in the distance. His suit jacket was back, tossed carelessly over his shoulder. His head was ducked slightly and I could almost make out the twinkle in his eye, his head tilted toward me. I lifted my free hand to wave and he made the same motion with the hand that was holding the cigarette, our actions mirrored. The smile that overtook my face was immediate and genuine.

I glanced hesitantly back at Emmett.

"Oh, fucking go see him," he said, rolling his eyes as he finished buttoning up his black dress shirt.

I smiled. "Sorry Em," I apologized because I realized it was the second time tonight I'd ditched Emmett for Edward.

Emmett rolled his eyes again and gave me a light shove in Edward's direction picking his tie up off the dock and pulling it over his head. I didn't need to be told twice. I gave Emmett one last apologetic smile and dropped the towel on the dock as I began jogging barefoot down the dock to Edward's awaiting arms.

"Ugh, you're wet!" was his greeting as he caught me and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into his chest.

I giggled. "I might have gone for a little swim."

"I might have heard about that," he murmured, pressing his lips to my temple. "You must be freezing."

"It's not so bad," I told him honestly, but that didn't stop him from pulling his jacket off his shoulder and wrapping it around me. He smoothed back a few stray hairs and laughed at me. "Your make-up is kind of… all over the place."

I groaned and began wiping at the skin around my eyes. "I kind of forgot about that," I laughed sheepishly.

Edward didn't reply, just looked at me intently.

"What?"

A smirk played at the corners of his lips. "It's… really hot, actually."

I shook my head. I had to have looked like a complete mess. I could feel that some of Alice's carefully placed pins had slipped from my hair and it was kind of hanging messily down my back, curling into random disarray as it dried. I was sure that my bathing suit was nowhere near dry enough not to seep through my dress, the water most likely leaving darker spots on the fabric around my top and bottom. I licked my fingertips as I tried to erase the rest of the make up from around my eye, but Edward placed his hand over mine, effectively stopping me.

"Seriously, Bella. It's a very sexy look for you."

I rolled my eyes, pretty certain that raccoon-eyes weren't a sexy look for anybody. But stopped because I honestly didn't really care how I looked. I didn't have to stare at myself all night long.

I could feel Edward laughing at he wrapped his arms around me again, trying to inconspicuously adjust the jacket on my shoulders. "I've got some friends that want to meet you," he told me softly. "Do you want to go back inside for a bit?"

I nodded but neither of us moved to go back to the cabin. I was too caught up in my own little bubble of awesome, my cool face pressed to Edward's warm chest, the serenity of the moment too genuine to end just yet.

I heard a light cough, someone announcing their presence, and I looked up to see Emmett strolling down the beach towards us, his shoes swinging from his hand. "Hey, Edward man, have you seen Rose?" he asked, nodding in our direction.

"Um… she was dancing with the girls when I left," Edward told him, resting his chin on my shoulder.

"Thanks dude." Emmett grinned and winked in my direction before turning and heading back to the cabin. I watched him go, realizing that for as much as the bond between Jasper and I had weakened tonight, the friendship between Emmett and I had grown. It was nice, being able to share those kinds of things with somebody other than Jasper. And as I watched him go, I felt more thankful than ever for that random day on the random empty highway when I'd turned down Don't Stop Believing and demanded that Jasper stop the car so we could pick up the random hitchhiker on the side of the road.

Except none of it was really random at all. Because it had all brought me here, to this warm summer evening, wet knotted hair and running make up. Because it brought me here, back in the arms of Edward Cullen.

x.x.x

Edward.

Andy and Derek absolutely loved Bella. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that they wouldn't like her, but I just didn't expect them to warm up to her so fast. She was just so much different than the sorority-tail they were used to chasing. But Bella won them over the moment she sidled up to them with two cold beers and her award-winning grin, smudged make up and damp hair. They both just gawked at her and at first I wanted to knock them out, because I expected them to say some dick line and make her uncomfortable. But the way their eyes were trained on her every time she moved or spoke made me uncomfortable. Fast. Jealousy was not a trait I played nicely with. So I lured her back to the dance floor and the guys flipped me off behind her back and I could only shake my head and mouth "fuck you" in return.

Of course I trusted the hell out of Bella, but I didn't trust them. Those two… they had no boundaries. Not even when it came to the friend's girl. So I ushered her away before they could make a move and force me to throw punches tonight.

So Bella and I danced and laughed and kissed, and I was so glad she wasn't dwelling on the fight. But I didn't miss the way her gaze flickered periodically to Jasper as he danced in the corner with Alice. And when Jasper approached us as the song changed to something slower and asked to dance with Bella I smiled and promised her it was okay. Because it was. I said I wasn't going to stand in the way of their friendship, and I truly meant it.

After Jasper and Bella disappeared into the crowd on the dance floor, I sought out Alice and we danced. We were quiet, both unable to discuss the night's events, both of our attention focused on finding a different couple on the dance floor. Both protective and concerned and trying like hell not to show it. The only words that were exchanged between Alice and I as we danced were when she looked up at me, her dark hazel eyes boring into mine and quietly said, "Edward… you'll tell her soon, won't you? About…"

I gaze flickered back to hers and I nodded so she didn't have to finish that thought. Bella needed to know. Bella deserved to know. Just… not tonight. The quota for the day's drama had been more than filled – I didn't want to add to the mess. Bella had enough to think about tonight. So not tonight. But soon… I would soon.

It was just before two when Bella and I headed back to the cabin. Her dance with Jasper had been uneventful and I was glad they managed to keep it together. Bella leaned up against me as we walked back to the guest house in silence, and I practically felt her exhaustion seeping into me.

It had been such a long day… but I was glad it was finally out there. Now things could start to get better.

Half of the worst of it was over.

Soon… soon it would be time for more truths and more pain. Not tonight.

But soon.

x.x.x