CHAPTER 44: The Run-In

"Are you for real?"

"Yeah! No joke. So what do you say?"

"I say hell yeah! Nessie will be stoked."

I still can't help but cringe every time Jacob calls Renesmee by that nickname. She thinks it's cute, I think it's horrid. No one should be called a sea creature, not one as beautiful as this girl.

Because my family will be at the premier I asked Aro if I can also invite Jacob and Renesmee knowing they'll enjoy being at the event as well. It'll also give Jake a chance to show his girlfriend around Volterra and where he got the wolf bracelet he bought for her, which I hear she never takes off.

"Well, let me know what she says so Jane can book your tickets. She'll need a valid passport, too," I say into the phone.

"Hey, Bells…are you sure Aro's okay with paying for our trip?"

"Don't worry about it. I was going to pay for your tickets because I'm the one who wants you to go, but he offered and he wouldn't take no for an answer."

Alice is paying me a ridiculous amount of money for being her assistant so it's something I can afford. But because Aro's excited that I confirmed my attendance, and knowing how close I am to Jacob, he insisted on paying for their tickets and having all of us stay at his villa again. He probably figures my best friend from Forks going to Italy ensures I won't back out.

And at this point, I can't, really. I've already spoken to my parents (and Phil) that I was going to see them there. My mother is beyond thrilled because she'll finally see her baby girl. She's still disappointed that she couldn't be there for me when I had that boating accident last year, mainly because I told her not to come…

I I I

"Is that boy going to be there?" she asks.

No doubt she's heard about my complicated relationship with Edward. Renee can be oblivious sometimes, but I know she hasn't been living under a rock.

"Mom," I roll my eyes, not that she can see because she's on the other line in Florida, "I really don't want to talk about him—or my past. Please. I just want to move on."

"Okay…okay, honey. I just wanted to be sure you're okay."

"I'm fine…it was months ago. And I've been really busy, which is nice."

I I I

After the short conversation I had with her, I'm relieved she's relieved and the prying questions were quickly nipped in the bud. Charlie was more convinced into going only after I told him he, Jacob and Renesmee could fly out together.

"Hey Bells…"

"Huh?" Jacob's voice shakes me from my thoughts.

"I don't want to be another annoying person asking, but…you gonna be okay with…ya know…him being there?"

I shrug to myself before answering. "I don't know…I haven't seen him in months or know what he's been up to. And it's not something I like thinking about, you know?"

"Yeah…that's cool. I understand. You know I'm here for you. I'm kinda glad we're going because it means I can keep an eye on that guy—in case he tries anything."

I can hear the distaste in his voice for my ex-boyfriend. He and Edward never really got on the right foot enough for a bromance to blossom, but they kept civil around each other for my sake. Whatever chance Jake can take to let out how he really feels about the actor, I'm sure he's not going to be afraid to show it, given the opportunity.

"I love you, Jake," I smile into the receiver.

"Love you too, Bells. I'll call you back later after I've talked it over with Nessie."

"Sounds good."

I I I

"Home, sweet, home!" Alice smiles as we land at LAX Airport.

She's excited to see Jasper who she's been talking to nonstop for the last couple of days. He's also been anxiously waiting to see his beloved girlfriend. I just hope they keep their public displays of affection down to a minimum.

On the flight home, I thought some more about looking for a place of my own. I don't want to intrude on Alice and Jasper's privacy and it's about time I handled things on my own. With the money I've saved from working at Starbucks and the increase in salary from working for Alice, I should be able to afford a small condo if I invest correctly.

After everything that's happened, I'm starting to feel like I'm finally coming into my own.

"Jasper!" Alice beams.

The Hobbit spots him right away near the baggage carousel. Every time we're here I get flashbacks of my embarrassing incident when I walked onto the conveyer belt trying to save that birthday bracelet Edward gave me. To this day, I still can't believe I did that!

The bracelet, along with everything else that reminds me of him, is now stored away in a box somewhere in the dark depths of Alice's storage closet.

"Hi, babe," Jasper longingly smiles at Alice, scooping her up with one arm and kissing her. Alice prolongs the kiss, making me feel a little embarrassed to be standing next to them.

"Hey, Bella…it's good to see you, too," he smiles at me, looking a little embarrassed himself. "Oh, and these are for you ladies." He hands us both a bouquet of flowers he was holding in his other arm.

"Oh, Jas! They're beautiful. Thank you," the Hobbit gives him a quick peck on the cheek.

"Thanks, Jasper. That was thoughtful of you," I smile.

After grabbing our luggage, Jasper drives us toward Alice's place. "Are you girls hungry? We can stop and get some food somewhere."

"I'm famished!" Alice exaggerates with her body.

"You always seem to be hungry, Alice. I really don't know where you keep it," I snicker in the backseat. Since this whirlwind fashion tour of hers, I swear this little designer has been eating for an entire army.

"I tend to burn a lot of calories when I work, especially with this crazy schedule I've had. I felt like if I didn't eat every two hours I'd collapse or turn into the Hulk!"

"No need to get you hangry," Jasper chuckles.

"Hangry?" I ask.

Alice turns in her seat to face me. "I am the worst person to be around when I'm hungry. When I'm hungry, I'm angry, so I turn into a hangry person," she laughs.

"Oh!" I laugh aloud with her. That's pretty funny although I'm glad I haven't witnessed it yet—knock on wood.

"That's why you've been such a huge help, Bella! Before, whenever I'd ask someone to get me something to eat or snack on it'd take forever. And you know me—I'm not always so patient when I'm frustrated."

"Is that why the venue director kept looking so nervous around you whenever you had food in your mouth?"

"What?" Jasper laughs.

She playfully hits him before turning to me again. "I did a smaller show there a couple of years ago and I was running on fumes. I might have accidentally yelled at the venue director and refused to do anything until someone brought me a decent three course meal," she sheepishly smiles.

"Are you serious?" I gape at her. She nods. "And they still let you return?"

"I apologized, of course, and he forgot all about it because of the great reviews his place also received," she replies, brushing off the incident.

"We're here," Jasper tells us, pulling into a parking lot. "I know you're a vegetarian, Bella, so I hope you like this place. It's the closest veggie place I could think of."

It was some kind of fresh deli with lots of organic foods. "Cool. Thanks. But…what about Alice?" This isn't really her type of place for food.

"We'll stop by a burger joint for Alice after," he grins at me.

"Thank you," she nods matter-of-factly because her boyfriend knows exactly what she likes. If I could maintain a body like Alice I'd practically eat anything myself.

I shake my head, laughing at my short little friend. I also have them wait in the car since I don't plan on taking long. I'm exhausted and want to sleep in my own bed after I eat.

There isn't a long line but long enough to give me some time to decide what I want. There's a pretty good selection but I want to keep my order simple so I can be in and out. I know Alice is also hungry and I'd rather not make her hangry.

"I think that's you," the lady behind me says, pointing to my purse.

"Excuse me?"

"Your phone?"

"Oh." I was so focused on the menu that I didn't even hear my phone ring. "Thanks….Hello?"

"Bella!" Alice hisses frantically on the other line.

"What? What's wrong?"

"You need to get out of there—right now!"

"Why?"

I hate it when she doesn't make sense.

"What would you like?" the cashier asks with a smile.

"Alice, I'm about to order. What's wrong?" I quietly hiss back at my cell.

"Edward!"

"Wha…"

Before I can finish my reply, in he walks with a pair of sunglasses, unaware that the person now holding up the line is me. Crap! He's standing behind four other people still clueless that I'm trying to hide at the front counter as he answers a sudden call, talking, and absentmindedly looking at the décor of the deli.

"Ma'am…are you going to order?" asks the cashier. He's a freckled face teenager who clearly thinks I'm older than I look by calling me 'Ma'am'. "If you're still undecided can you please let the other customers ahead of you order?"

"I umm…" I stare at him dumbfounded. I can hear Alice still yelling my name on the other line saying Edward just walked in.

Really? It's kind of a little too late to be telling me!

"I normally get the number three. It's pretty good. I think you'll like it if you've never ordered here before," the nice lady behind me smiles.

I smile apologetically at her. "Thank you."

The cashier hands me my order in exchange for the signed card receipt. Aiming for the side entrance, I hug my to-go bag tightly and speed walk out in that direction so I don't have to pass by Edward at the main entrance.

"Ma'am! Ma'am!" I can hear the cashier calling me but I pretend not to hear him. "Miss Swan? You forgot your receipt." I cringe at the fact that he just gave me away. He's probably looked at my name printed on the receipt in his hand.

"Bella?" says Edward, unsure of it's really me he sees fleeing. I subconsciously turn my head at the sound of my name from his lips. He's taken off his sunglasses, shock written on his face and starts quickly making his way toward me.

Without thinking, I ran out the door, looking for Jasper's car. He pulls up in front of me, Alice motioning for me to hurry inside. She must see the freaked out look on my face because her eyes are wide when she sees Edward exiting the deli behind me.

"Bella! Wait!" I hear him yell.

"Hi brother! Bye brother!" Alice gives him a curt smile and a wave. I'm in the car and we're out of the parking lot before he reaches us. I dare not look back at him. My heart feels like it's still running a marathon at full speed.

"Are you okay, Bella?" Alice asks with concern.

"I'm so sorry, Bella!" Jasper says, looking at me in the rearview mirror. "I wasn't thinking. Edward's trainer has him on a strict diet for his new role and I totally forgot he mentioned he sometimes goes to this deli because it has stuff he'll actually eat."

"It was an honest mistake," I reply quietly.

What a rush and a relief to be driving away. I feel a little stupid running away like that but I didn't know how else to react. I haven't seen him in months and he can't just casually walk into a place that I also happen to be at and not expect me to freak out a little—or a lot.

He looks good. Really good. And not that he wasn't handsome before, he just seems to look even better post-breakup. The unexpected encounter with this Adonis god suddenly makes me feel fat and ugly. While he's looking as beautiful as ever, I've turned into a sloth.

"Hey Bella…you okay?" Alice asks softly.

"Yeah. I'll be fine. Just give me a minute."

"I'm sorry, man, but…it's two against one. There's nothing I can do," Jasper says apologetically into his cell. Who's he talking to? I hadn't notice him take the call.

"It's Edward," Alice whispers to me.

I changed my phone number before we left for London—one of the reasons why I haven't heard from him. Alice also refused to give it to him when he asked about my other line being disconnected so he can't reach me directly. The few people I gave my new number to, I made them swear not to give it to anyone without my permission…which really means don't give it to Edward.

"What does he want?" I whisper back.

Alice leans next to Jasper's Bluetooth hanging on his ear. "He wants to talk to you," she shrugs.

I tap Jasper on the shoulder. He looks at me again in the rearview mirror with an apologetic half-smile. "Tell him to leave me alone until the premier. And if he does…I'll talk to him then—but not before."

That should give me some time to think before I have to face the music. I was hoping this was all behind me but it won't ever be, not until Edward and I have some kind of closure or Tanya's kid is born.

Ugh. The thought of how messed up everything is is dreadful on me emotionally and mentally.

"Yeah…okay. I'll tell her and see what she says. Later, bro."

"What'd he say?" I lean toward Jasper as far as my seatbelt will let me.

Jasper looks at me from the rearview mirror once more. "He says it'll be too crazy during the premier and he doesn't want to give the tabloids anything they can publish. So…he'll talk to you afterwards when the whole thing is over—after the crowds and the media have died down."

"Sounds…fair enough."

Honestly, I'm surprised he doesn't want to talk to me before the premier itself knowing we're all going to be there a few days before the world viewing. Maybe he wants me to enjoy my time with my family and friends…not that he really knows they're coming. Does he? Whatever his reasoning to talk when the night is over is fine with me. If my nerves kick in, I can always try to dodge him in the crowd.

"Thanks for not giving her number out, Jas," Alice places a soft hand on his arm. "I know how close you and Eddie are."

"You're my friend, too, Bella," he says directly to me. "And this is between you two. None of us should meddle in your business."

"Thanks Jasper," I half-smile. "I'm sorry for involving you guys in our drama."

Alice merely shrugs with a smile. "We know… but it can't be helped. We love you both."

Her words bring me some comfort after that experience because it makes me feel that I'm not alone in this. I've really had no one to talk to except for Alice and Jacob, but Jacob is a little more brisk with his advices and he basically wants me to pretend Edward is dead to me. But that's easier said than done.

"Hey Alice…"

"Yeah?"

"I've been thinking about this for a while now….and I think it's time I find my own place."

"What?" she turns to me, surprise on her features. "Are…you sure?"

I nod. "I think so."

"You know you don't have to rush into anything. I actually love being roommates!" the Hobbit looks disappointed at my decision. She's done so much for me this past year but I need to venture out on my own.

It's time.

"It has nothing to do with you Alice," I try to assure her, "I'm very thankful you've let me stay with you and given me this awesome job, but I need to start standing on my own two feet. Even when I was living with Aro, it was only a temporary arrangement until I could afford a place of my own. And now that I can…I should start looking. I also have you to thank for that."

"Okay," she finally nods. "If that's what you want. I'll miss being roomies, but I'm happy you're moving forward with your independence. We can start browsing online and checking out a few potential properties later this week if you want."

"Thanks Alice."

I I I

It feels good to be home. Well, Alice's home, anyway. I've grown fond of her condo and I'll miss staying here but I have to stick to what I said I was going to do. Maybe I can find a place close to Alice so we can commute to work together.

The car Edward bought me I returned to him. There's no way I can drive it after the bombshell I dealt with. I opt for a used car that gets me from point A to point B, which is all that really matters. Alice doesn't like the used pickup truck I bought so she usually drives the both of us. She thinks it's a death trap of a car but I love it. It reminds me of my old truck back in Forks.

There's a lot I need to prepare for before the premier. With the down time Alice and I will have, this is the best time to get my plans for myself underway. I just hope I can accomplish everything in time.

"Hey, Bella?" I hear Alice knock on my door.

"Come in."

She peeks inside before walking in. Alice looks like she has something on her mind. "Umm…"

"What is it?"

"There's someone here to see you." From the nervous, unsure look on her features, it can't be who I think it is. She would never let him get this close without warning me first.

"Oh, no, no!" the Hobbit waves her arms at me. "It's not him. It's… Irina Romanov."

"What? Irina? Are you serious?"

Last I heard she was still in Russia. What on earth could she possibly want?

"She's in town for a few days for business and well…I guess she heard about what happened today from Edward. Apparently he was on the phone with her when he saw you."

"And she wants to see me?" I ask bewildered. "She's not here to yell at me for my behavior or something is she?" I know she's close with Edward and I don't need another Tanya case on my hands.

"No, it's nothing like that," she shakes her head. "Irina actually apologized for what Edward did today. She just wants to apologize to you personally, since Edward can't really do it himself. I let her in because I trust her and I know she's not going to do anything to make you upset. If she does, she knows she has me to answer to."

The look in her eyes tells me she's dead serious.

"I see."

"I told her I'd see if you want to entertain her. If not, she's not going to force you to see her."

Irina and I have never formally met and I admit I'm curious about what she wants to tell me. Maybe Edward passed her along some message hoping I'd get it. Whatever the case may be, something inside me tells me that I shouldn't ignore her. She's never done anything malicious to me or talked badly about me to the media, or at least news that I know of?

Taking a deep breath, I nod to Alice. "I'll be out in a minute."

Author's Note: Stay tuned to what Irina says!

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