A thank you to an unidentified guest, sindhura and CullenBlack1986 for leaving reviews. Your words were amazingly motivating!

Warnings: Violence, angst, drama, and just the tiniest bit of cute, romantic slashiness.

Again a thank you to Lineia and dantemalfoy for providing comments!

Chapter 3: A Cold Farewell

As Edward was standing there in the room, head drooped and shoulders hanging, he felt like the entire world was out to get him. All eyes in the room were on him. The piercing gazes of his family members made him feel mocked and insecure.

Alice had now also come down and was staring at him from the stairs, probably startled by the shriek her mother had let out when his head had hit the coffee table. But, she too had done nothing for him, and thus she was no better than the rest of the traitors that he had the undivided pleasure of calling his family. Alice had been crying; red eyes, cheeks and smudged mascara showed her self-pity.

Hypocrite!

Then his father set off in his direction. Edward, suddenly freaked out that he would be hit again, averted his face so as to not incur another hit on the chin. But that's not what happened; instead, he was roughly grabbed by the collar of his shirt and dragged along, so that he nearly fell on the floor as the collar momentarily squeezed his windpipe shut.

Now coughing, breathing forcefully as he gulped for air out of sheer panic, he was pulled out of the room, through the hallway, down the stairs and to the front door. It all happened so fast that he would later remember it only as a blur in which his mind was assaulted with thoughts of confused panic as he heard the click of the front door and felt the fresh air on his face as he was hurled down the steps.

Flailing wildly with his arms as he came down to the ground, his attempt at breaking the fall failed so that his face met the cold mud of the driveway. Unlike before, he didn't remain on the ground for long, attempting to get up instead. Now on all fours, panting from the sudden physical exertion, his pants torn at the knees and the knees scratched, he slowly erected himself and turned around. His father was standing at the top of the steps to the front door.

When he saw his son standing up, a flicker of hatred was enough to make him walk over to his son and give him one last, harsh slap in the face. The boy shuddered as a spiny tingle of pain launched itself down to his feet and up again, erupting in a burst of headache that made him cringe, stumble, and almost had him fall back to his knees. He kept his face averted and had his eyes shut, as if to show surrender; that he had been defeated. The submission repulsed his father.

"Don't ever come back!", his father hissed at him.

He made his way back to the front door, walked up a few steps, and turned around. Edward had opened his eyes and had watched his father walk away from him, his heart aching with sorrow and self-disgust.

"But, father, please!" he started, but his father's eyes shot fire, and he snapped once again.

"Do not call me your father, you sniveling little shit! You're an abomination! Do you have any idea what grief you caused your mother? Hideous and disgusting, that's what you are, certainly not a child of mine!"

He had started back in the direction of Edward, but had stopped short of the last step. Edward's lips were trembling again as panicky thoughts clouded his judgment. There had to be a way to salvage the situation, to make his father understand. He took a step in the direction of the front door.

"But father, please…"

Again he was interrupted as his father shouted several more insults at him, paced back inside and slammed the door shut with a bang that the entire county must have heard.

Edward was left to stand alone, outside, in the cold, a frigid winter evening, with only the clothing he was wearing. Hot tears of agonizing panic started streaming down Edward's cheeks as he fell down to his knees and buried his forehead in the mud, his arms over his head and his fists clenched tight in despair, rocking softly to and fro. His body shook under the weight of the sobs.

This evening he had lost everything but his life; a life that he didn't feel was worth living anymore anyway. Maybe… just maybe he ought to end it all. For how could he possibly have been so stupid… This evening needn't have happened! All of it just because of one stupid mistake; a rule he had set himself in the summer and that he had said he would never, ever break.

He broke it. Last night.

He had gone to Gaya again, as always making sure family members hadn't followed him. When he was sure that wasn't the case, he sighed, took a deep breath, opened the door to the bar and stepped inside.

It had been roughly six weeks since he had seen Jacob. He had popped in on two more occasions, but had always been disappointed not to see the native. As he came in this time though, around 11PM, he shot a glance around the bar and felt his pulse quicken when he saw a familiar pair of Nike trainers sticking out from behind a wall that separated the main bar area with one of Gaya's smaller backrooms.

He nearly threw his jacket towards the coat rack, so impatient was he to see Jacob again, after which he paced towards the bar, got himself a drink and strode towards the wall from where the trainers were poking out around the corner.

Glass of beer in hand, he approached. His hands started to become sweaty and he felt his grip on the glass lessening, so he clenched it, nervously, hoping the glass wouldn't drop from his now slightly trembling hand.

He inched ever closer, not knowing what to expect. What if Jacob didn't recognize him anymore? What if he had misunderstood all of Jacob's flirtations? Why did Edward think himself so special anyway… Jake was pure hotness; he probably flirted with pretty much anything that he fancied, and had been fucking around like crazy in his absence. Why would such a hot guy fancy him? Him, Edward…

In the meantime he found himself standing about half a meter from the pair of trainers, still poking out from behind the wall. Edward stood there, silently, waiting to calm his nerves. He gulped, straightened his back, and hastily guzzled the beer, putting the empty glass on an empty, nearby table.

Suddenly the trainers retracted and disappeared. Edward looked at it with astonishment. He was so focused on those trainers that their disappearance almost abolished the reason to go check if it was Jacob. As if now there was no possibility that he could have ever been there in the first place.

His heart had skipped a beat when that happened, disappointed due to a sudden, unexplainable feeling of loss. But, then it skipped another beat, as hope flared up vigorously above the ashes of fire that consumed his heart. To Edward it came as of nowhere: he stood face-to-face with a rather handsome, young native.

Edward must have looked like he was staring at a ghost, eyeing the native with a stunned perplexity that seemed entirely out of place, for Edward vaguely recognized him from last time. His polished contours gave him a rather exquisite look in the dimmed lights of the bar, his elusive black hair lost against the dark background of the bar's weakly lighted backroom. He wore a black, V-necked shirt and shorts. The guy looked great. Not like Jacob, but very nice nonetheless.

"Hey, you're Ed right? The guy that found my wallet a few weeks ago."

The talking yanked Edward out of his silent contemplations regarding this young native's beauty. The vague smile that had formed on his face was wiped away as confusion set in.

"I uh… Yeah, erm…"

The native eyed him curiously, waiting for Edward's sputtering and stammering to stop.

"Yeah uh… Yeah, that'd be me. I uh… am Edward."

He reached out his hand, waiting for the native to reciprocate. He didn't have to wait long. The young native ignored the hand and pulled Edward into a hug, patting him on the back three times so hard, that it felt more like slapping than anything else. Edward was astonished. Finally, the native pulled back from his manly hug, and held Edward by the shoulders, staring into his eyes.

"I know, right? I'm beautiful. It's okay that it makes you speechless. It's a very common reaction people have to me," he said with a wide grin. The joking relaxed Edward somewhat and he managed a rather pained, uncomfortable smile. The native only chuckled lightly.

"My name is Embry. Pleased to see you again. I was about to get me and the guys some beers. You want one?"

"Yeah sure, thanks…" Edward replied, still a bit baffled by this surprise encounter. Though realistically it needn't have been very baffling: last time Jacob had been here, Embry had been there too. He and Jacob had shared a kiss, right next to Edward.

Embry walked over to the bar, drawing his wallet. Edward watched it intently while Embry's arm smoothly pulled it out of his pants and with a firm swat deposited it on the bar. The indentation of the condom was still there…

"I'm not going to lose it again, don't worry," Embry announced, grinning jokingly. He hadn't understood that this wasn't the reason Edward had looked at the wallet so closely, but he decided to let it slip. He barely knew the guy; to start about condoms and the amount of sex Embry might or might not have had didn't really seem like the best idea. Instead, he laughed meekly and walked over to Embry, resting his arms on the bar, leaning on them as he scanned the many strong drinks that were displayed behind it. Embry just watched Edward.

"We haven't seen you for a while. Been busy?" he inquired curiously. Edward repositioned himself to more comfortably look at Embry. His jaws looked nice. Jacob's were nicer.

"Yeah, I guess so," he replied. He didn't really want to start about his parents right now. "Had a lot of schoolwork…"

Fuck, that was a stupid excuse! He had forgotten that it was summer vacation right now. And indeed, Embry looked at him with a clouded smirk, but he had apparently decided to drop it.

"You been here often since I found you your wallet back?" Edward responded. Embry just chuckled lightly as he glanced back at the bar. The bartender had appeared in front of him. Embry ordered five beers, and waited for it to be delivered. Meanwhile, his gaze slid back to Edward.

"I've been here a couple of times, together with Jake and some of our mates from the reservation," he answered, but his voice darkened as he continued:

"It's always fun to watch Jake approach guys."

The candid smile that Embry had probably meant to adorn his young face sadly fell apart into a painful expression of optimistic agony. On top of that, that sentence had come out like a sigh, as if his voice was suddenly failing, and his head drooped as his gaze traveled from Edward to the bar and the wallet that lay in front of him. His eyes stood sad behind a veil of loose, black hair. Slowly he turned his gaze around to the back room, looking almost hopeful. Then he signed again and returned his attention to Edward, while straightening his back. Edward gazed back at him, suddenly blurting out the obvious question:

"Embry, are you gay?"

The question rudely yanked Embry from his quiet thoughts, as he fixed a surprised look on Edward. This felt bad instantly.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," he added apologetically. "It's just… I saw the imprint of the condom in your wallet. Jacob said none of you are gay except for him, but I have to ask: what straight guy takes condoms with him when he goes to a gay bar?"

Embry looked positively miserable at that remark. He buried his face in his head as his black hair loosely fell around his face, slowly massaging his forehead with his fingers. A pang of hurt caught Edward as he saw the young native suddenly so sorrowful. He awkwardly put an arm around Embry, tapping his back lightly. Embry quickly recovered and looked Edward straight in the eyes.

"I want no mention of this to anybody, and certainly not to Jake, okay?" His gaze was intense, taking Edward aback a bit.

"Hey Embry, where's the beer!"

Embry turned around sharply.

"Coming!" he cried back.

He turned back to Edward.

"They are getting a bit rowdy over there. Come join us, but seriously, no word."

Edward nodded gravely as he took some of the beers and waited for Embry to put his wallet back in his pocket. Embry then took the remainder of the beers and together they walked to the backroom. Once there, the sight of Edward elicited some welcoming smiles and shouts from the natives. To his total delight, Jacob was there too. In turn, Jacob grinned warmly when he saw Edward step inside, which provoked an inelegant grin on Edward's face. He slid onto a chair.

Jacob looked very stylish that night. His black hair was styled into a neat crest, pointing forward. A V-necked, grey T-shirt fit tightly around Jacob's muscled body, so that his nipples were easily recognizable. Edward gulped at that sight and felt the palms of his hands itch, so much did he want to pinch those manly nipples. He could already hear Jacob yelping as he did it… A smirk formed on Edward's face.

When Jacob reached out for one of the beers, his strong arms getting ever more exposed as he stretched it out, grabbing the beer and reeling it in, Edward looked upon it with admiration. The shirt fit perfectly with his jeans, and he wore what looked like sturdy, light-brown hiking shoes.

A subtle but firm punch in his side, delivered to him by a very annoyed Embry, accompanied by a scowl, brought him back to reality. Jacob had been talking animatedly with Paul, and was thus oblivious to both Edward's staring and Embry's punching. Finally though, when all were sat at the table, Jacob let his gaze travel the table and all that were seated around it.

"I suppose a round of names is in order," he announced.

Pointing at each one of his mates, he called:

"So that's Paul…"

"…Quil…"

"…and Embry, whom you already know."

"Guys, this is Edward. He's the guy that found Embry's wallet back a few days ago." He grinned at Embry mockingly, who made a face in reply.

"Always the joker, eh Jake?" he retorted sarcastically, after which he glared at Edward briefly as if to say "Play along, and no word!" reaffirming his earlier warnings. It started to annoy Edward; two warnings weren't enough already? But he let it slip and decided to get to know the natives better. Jake especially, of course.

From that moment onward, time had progressed quite rapidly, with hours turning into minutes, and minutes turning into seconds. Slowly he got to know Jake and Embry's mates, as they laughed, cheered and drank together. They were all great people and they appeared to be loads of fun; by all means a merry bunch, as a schoolteacher of his sometimes said.

As he sat back in his chair and swallowed the last of his beer in quiet contemplation, he looked over his new friends and couldn't help but feel a pang of regret that his father had never allowed him to go to the reservation. His father had always been a particularly narrow-minded, religious zealot. Thus the tribe was a "bunch of pagan heretics", and gays were an "abomination on mother earth to be wiped out like a piece of dog shit is flushed away by rain."

His father was an extremist in that regard, though, and fortunately Edward had been lucky to meet lots of people that were both religious and allowed Edward to live, regardless of his sexual orientation. Though they didn't know that he was gay, of course. He had always hidden it from pretty much everybody. People knowing would just lead to a greater risk of his family finding out. And if that were to happen… He shuddered at the thought, when he felt a warm hand slip around his back and a breath of warm air making the hairs in his neck stand upright with delight. A tingle of divinity shot up his spine at that sensation.

He looked around in surprise, and saw Jacob's welcoming grin just to the right of him, at the same level of his eyes. He had crouched down beside Edward as he had wrapped Edward's shoulders in his strong arm's embrace.

"You okay?" he asked, a subtle expression of worry just barely noticeable in his twinkling eyes, but still with an unwavering smile on his delectable face.

Edward nodded. "Yeah I'm fine, why"?

"Dunno, you seemed a bit lost in thought. Anyway, I was going to get us some more beers. Want to come along? Help carry it back?"

Jacob had meanwhile stood up from his crouching position and motioned with his head to the bar in that wonderfully cute way that he had done a few weeks ago, his manly chin playfully thrown about in the air as it pointed out destinations in space.

Edward didn't need long to nod in confirmation and stand up, inadvertently glancing at Embry in the process. This threw him a glare of such intensity that it would have successfully scared off a lion in mid-pursuit. It took Edward aback a bit, even though he really had no idea why Embry had taken such a frantic distaste of him so suddenly. But, frankly, Edward couldn't be bothered with it. He wanted to get closer to Jake, so that's what he was going to do.

Slightly nervous, though excited, Edward followed Jacob to the bar. Jacob had already made it there and had signaled for the bartender. Meanwhile he leaned against the bar, curiously eyeing Edward as he was approaching him.

"So I haven't seen you in a while. Where have you been?" He asked, a friendly smile making the corners of his mouth curl in that way that Edward found utterly adorable.

The question was a bit of a disarming one. While he had decided to lie to Embry, he thought he might as well be frank with Jacob. He wanted to get closer, and for as far as he had seen, honesty usually accelerated that process. Often enough had he witnessed people beating around the bush instead of just charging in, head-on. And while sometimes tact was the way to go, at other times just going for it proved to be the best way forward.

"Honestly, it's my parents," Edward started. Jacob lifted an eyebrow in surprise as his smile partly evaporated from his russet-colored face. "How so?" he asked.

Edward glanced at him from his leaning position, then shifted his gaze to the floor as he fidgeted with the zipper of his pull-over.

"They are very religious. Especially my father can be very adamant. He would never approve of me being here." Jacob nodded in understanding.

"So you have to sneak out with some kind of lame excuse?" he deduced from what Edward had told him. To that, Edward nodded in approval, content with Jacob's quick understanding.

Not a dumb one, this one, he though happily; a happiness that permeated his face – a smile had formed as he gazed down, still fidgeting with the zipper of his pull-over.

Jacob observed him inquisitively, as the bartender brought the first three beers. These he took, pushing himself away from the bar with the foot that had been placed against it.

"I'll be back in a sec, will just bring these to the guys," he said while starting in the direction of the backroom. Edward stayed behind and waited for the delivery of the last two beers, which were brought soon. He took them and also started in the direction of the backroom after having cursorily explained that Jacob would come back to pay.

As he started moving, however, Jacob had walked back briskly and laid a hand on Edward's thigh. The feeling of Jacob's warm hand melted Edward's flesh, so that he loosened his grasp of the beers, nearly dropping one of them. The slippage of the glass quickly brought him back to reality as he watched Jacob intently.

"Nah, let's hang at the bar for now. Unless you want to go back and sit down?" Jacob's question had sounded hesitant, as if he hoped Edward would not want to go back.

"Yeah, let's stay here for now," Edward said, only happy to comply and have some private time with Jacob. His answer was greeted by a dramatic widening of Jacob's grin, exposing those wonderful teeth of his. Edward had nearly forgotten their wonderful sight; their brilliance, as they shined in the dim lights of the bar.

"So where were we," Jacob continued their conversation.

"My father, the religious zealot…" Edward replied, sighing.

"Ah yeah," Jacob nodded and looked down at the floor, a bit at a loss for words.

"So that's why I haven't been here quite as often as I had hoped. And when I was here, you weren't…" Edward has raised his gaze to cross Jacob's, as they now stared at each other, leaning at the bar, beer in hand. Jacob took a sip.

"It's a pity, I would have like to stay more in touch. You still ought to come with us once, for the cliff jumping, remember?"

"We will certainly do that, except that my father will probably not allow it…" Edward's gaze went back to the floor as he drooped his head, ducking Jacob's gaze. Jacob reacted with a simple "oh?" in surprise to Edward's statement.

"Yeah, he says you are pagan heretics," Edward said as he managed to produce a hesitant and apologetic smile. At that statement Jacob's expression had changed to one of recognition. His nostrils flared up a little and an angered frown defiled the young native's face ever so slightly. A smile simply made his face so much more attractive…

"Ah, I see," he said, the words rolling out of his mouth with clear agitation. "You are one of the Cullen boys then, aren't you?" As if in thought he had raised an arm to his face and held the palm to his cheek, supporting the arm at the elbow with the other arm.

"Yes… yes I am," Edward reacted hesitantly, still ducking Edward's gaze.

He was aware of the bad blood between the tribe and his family. His father had at multiple occasions tried to get the tribe to relocate to Alaska by using the argument that the far north of the continent of North America had anyway been forgotten by God. The logic went that a Native American tribe defiling those lands would therefore not have an impact on the proper, decent people of the Americas – the whites – those chosen by god himself to act as a shepherd for God's flock and more of such crap. Edward had nothing against the believe in an almighty God to protect him when the going got tough, but his father's offending declarations went way too far for him.

Edward's gaze shifted back to Jacob's, who was now staring at his beer, lost in thought. He swiveled his torso so as to reach Jacob's right arm and gently laid down his hand on Jake's, waiting for him to raise his gaze. As expected, and with an expression of surprise, Jacob did just that. Soon their gazes were locked.

"Listen, I'm not like my father. He is a religious zealot and a creep, and I'm scared of what he can do… His religious mind is extreme and he will, upon finding me out, not hesitate to disown me. I'm sure of that. You have an ally in me Jake, you truly have."

Jacob's expression had relaxed from the earlier agitation, and he even managed a weak smile at those words. He put down his beer on the bar, the movement resulting in the loss of the physical connection between Jake and Edward – this to the slight disappointment of Edward.

But, the ice had been broken, and with the tension between the families laid bare and Edward's affirmation of Jacob's position (and thereby negating his father's position), the conversation resumed merrily. Edward had noticed that now and then Embry's head had poked around the corner of the doorway to the backroom. He was obviously not pleased, but Edward didn't care too much. He was now with Jake – that was all that mattered.

The conversation had been going for about half an hour when Edward started to feel around his pockets to grab his phone – it had vanished, much to his dismay. He looked at Jacob with an expression of worry and panic. "What?" Jacob inquired.

"I think I lost my phone…"

Jacob chuckled. "Don't worry, it's in the backroom. You took it out to message a friend of yours I think, but had forgotten to put it back in your pocket afterwards. It's fine."

Edward was relieved at the news. He looked back at the backroom, wondering whether he ought to go back and fetch it. He decided against it. Jacob had a phone too…

"What's the time?" Edward asked.

"Getting fed up with me?" Jacob responded, grinning jokingly.

"No, absolutely not..." Edward hastened to clarify, looking a bit concerned at Jacob. "No, was just curious…"

"It's alright, don't sweat. I was just joking," Jacob reacted, his calming voice soothing Edward somewhat. But, Edward was sweating. He was hitting it on with one of the most beautiful guys he had ever seen; he absolutely didn't want to fuck it up!

Jacob took out his phone from his pants' pocket, and pressed the power button to awake the screen so he could check the clock. The screen lit up, briefly hurting Edward's eyes as he stared at the bright, mirror-imaged iPhone screen in Jacob's firm, masculine hand, his fingers curled handsomely around the iPhone's edges. It was 1:58 A.M. Jacob put the phone back in his pocket, mischievously grinning at Edward.

"It's nearly 2A.M. You know what they say about 2A.M., right?" He slightly raised his eyebrows, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

Edward grinned and nodded. In unison they quoted How I Met Your Mother:

"Nothing good happens after 2A.M." and they chuckled gaily.

"We should probably go home; go to bed, before we… fuck things up," Edward remarked, a suggestive, playful smirk spread out over his face as he eyed Jacob's fantastically male jaws.

Jacob replied with a similarly playful smirk, as he leaned casually onto the bar with his right arm placed on it, his left hanging loosely, the hand causally tucked inside his pants' pocket.

"What's that Cullen? Do I hear you saying that you want to go to bed?" His grin broadened as he awaited Edward's answer, a roguish twinkle in his eyes. Edward, meanwhile, had noticed the fortuitous location of Jacob's arm.

He pulled Jacob's hand towards him, reeling him in slowly and steadily. If he hadn't wanted this, Jacob had every chance to escape Edward's grasp. But, soon he was close-by enough for Edward to put his other hand on Jake's firm ass, and pull him into an embrace that made both of them hot with anticipation, the sweat making their skins glimmer ever so slightly in the dusky bar's lights.

Holding each other, they stood in silent anticipation, a tension of passion permeating the air around them. Their breathing quieted and synchronized, as chests heaved in unison. Both their smirks and foolish grins had evaporated, revealing their boyish vulnerability. They held each other gently. Their eyes met when they raised their gazes concurrently. Time slowed to a standstill as all sound of the bar was drowned out.

"Yes…" Edward whispered.

Jacob gulped.

He heard the front door click open. Back in reality, a pang of relief made him look up as he saw his father throw him a pair of underwear, pants and a shirt. He then stood there, looking at his son, his flesh and blood, kneeled down in the mud, going crazy with desperate fear.

"Your mother wanted you to have that. But it is the final thing this family gives you – ever. Now get out. You're no longer welcome in this house."

He went back and was about to close the door when Edward started.

"You bastards! You sick-hearted bastards!" he screamed at the top of his voice, so that he was sure everybody in the house heard it. His father stood at the door, watching him, the door opened a mere two centimeters.

A pang of sorrow caused his rant to be interrupted abruptly as an agonized moan escaped his sore throat, but he regained himself quickly.

"You people are truly a bunch of cold ones!" Edward continued, still trying to scream as loudly as he could, but regretting the weak insult he had just produced. Surely he could come up with something better? He had to make sure his mother, sat in the living room, the treacherous bitch, would hear his agony, to make her shudder and shatter her heart.

"A bunch of cold-hearted bastards! Sending their son out when…"

Edward's voice gave way to his emotions, as he slumped back onto the cold earth and hot tears of sorrow flowed freely. His father shook his head in disgust and dissappointment, cursed under his breath, let the door go, and walked away. The door closed with a soft click.

And thus family life had ended for Edward: with a cold farewell.

A/N: The next chapter will take a bit longer to write, so hang in there. It will come!