I walked outside as I felt the cold refreshing air hit my face. I couldn't let myself turn around to see Edward's face, I knew as soon as I did I would let my guard down and rush back into him crashing myself against his chest, which would be completely wrong since he had a girlfriend.
I arrived home a few hours later as Alice meet me at the door in a panic state she was holding what seemed to be a stack of papers all fixed into a binder. "Where the hell have you been?"
I sighed as I pushed past her while sliding my arms out of my wet rain jacket. "I had to talk to Edward, the wedding is off" I said as I waked into my kitchen preparing for hurricane Alice to rush in after me with a million excuses for why the wedding should still be going on. I waited for a while but nothing happened as I turned around expecting to find Alice but instead I found the binder on the coffee table and no sign of Alice. Great she hated me.
I grabbed my coffee from the island as I walked into my living room still avoiding the binder filled with all of Alice's ideas for the wedding which she spend hours on top of hours to complete. I sighed as I turned on my TV hoping to find something to pull my thoughts out of the horrible day.
My mind was filled with excuses I could tell Alice to get back my wedding, but every one I came up with had the same outcome as the last. Edward wouldn't love me he would still be cheating on me with whoever he was seeing and I didn't want my life to be filled with lies.
My phone ringed as I reached over to pick it up hoping to hell it wasn't anyone with the last name of Cullen "Hello?" I said holding my breath in hope.
"Bella honey, how have you been?" My mother's voice was like a day of sun in this god forsaken place. I smiled as I turned off my TV and brought my empty cup to the kitchen.
"Hey mom, I've been .. better how about you?" I wasn't in the mood to get into details about the Edward situation over the phone, in fact I didn't want to speak about it ever again.
"Well that's why I called Phil has cancer honey "I stop in my track as my hand covered my mouth
"Your joking? Since when? How?" I pulled out a sit as I sat down leaning my arm against the island. I wasn't close to Phil but I knew him enough to trust him with my mother while I moved to forks with Charlie. Phil has cancer was a huge shock to me, he was active.
"No I'm not joking, we found out an hour ago. He was playing a game when all of a sudden he fell, so we rushed him to the hospital where he has been for a week now doing all sorts of test and they told me they we're going to do a test on cancer to rule that out and the results just came back" My mother voice broke at the end.
I jumped off my seat as I rushed over to my laptop pulling up a website "I'm coming as soon as I get a plane ticket down there, you need me to be there with you" I scrolled down the page as I filled out all the requirements.
"Bella honey don't we will be fine"
"No mom, you need me there I'll call you back when I get my ticket" I hung up as I checked over the information I put and clicked booked. I redialed my mother number as her voice nearly broke my heart when she answered, I told her my plane was for tonight and I'll be there in the morning.
Packing wasn't hard I've only had two suitcases of suitable clothes for Jacksonville, I didn't think I would wear a long sleeve sweatshirt in blistering heat. I looked around once more making sure everything was turned off as I walked downstairs into the living room as I looked around when my eyes fell to the binder. I sighed as I bend down and picked it up shoving it in my carry on bag.
I arrived at the airport as I looked around at all the family's and couples saying their goodbyes to each other. I sighed as I sat down on the cold plastic seat and waited for my plane to be called. I knew my mother needed me but deep down inside I was running away.
I was running away from a live I should be attending, so what my future husband was sleeping behind my back, so what my life would be full of lies, so what I would have to spend every waking moment hoping for him to change. I knew I would be doing Edward a huge favour but I didn't want my love and life to be apart of someone's favour.
I looked around as my eyes fell upon a small family consisting on a father, mother and child. The father was dressed in camouflage and holding a sack. He was leaving behind his family, the one's he loved with his whole heart to fight for our freedom. If someone was strong enough to leave behind everything he has ever knew to go to a place where he would fight and have to watch people get killed for our freedom why the hell would I just give mine up.
"Flight 921 now boarding" I stood up along with everyone else who was waiting and bid farewell to my old home, hoping to never come back.
Jacksonville, Florida was as sunny as ever. In fact I've never remembered it bringing to hot before. I stretched my hand over the swarm of people looking for my mother as someone wrapped their arms around me from behind.
"Bella honey" I smiled as I turned around and hugged my mother back. My smile faded as I finally took in the full sight of my mother. She was a wreck, her perfect straight brown hair was now in a messy bun while her clothes looked all untidy and wrinkled.
"Mom, let's get you home and all cleaned up" I pulled up the handle on my suitcase up. My mother just simply nodded as we walked out of the airport.
"I've worn the same clothes for two days now, and I haven't gotten the chance to fix my hair" My mother sighed as she closed the back of her SUV and turned towards me "This well get a lot worse, they don't think Phil can survive longer" My mother leaned against the back of her car as she pulled her hand trough her hair.
"We will talk about this later alright, and how about I drive?" She wasn't in any state to drive at this point, she nodded again as I helped her to the passenger seat safely closing the door and running around to the driver side.
The drive to her and Phil's house was pretty long due to traffic and the fact she lived beach side. My mother explained to me how the cancer got the best of Phil before anyone knew. He has the chance to go through test and to see if he could fight it but the doctors said it was expensive and the chance of it working was very slim, so in other words waste of money. I glanced over at my mother every now and then as she fell asleep, my mother's happy bubbly face was now a worried, tired, sad face.
She was married to a guy who was spouse to be healthy and a minor league baseball player, who health was consistently checked up on, I mean a broken arm or leg would have been found but cancer! Really. The doctors and trainers was paid a lot of money to find things that are in danger of the player's health.
I pulled into my mothers drive way as the house was had all the lights on, I clicked the bottom as the seat belt released around me and I turned off the car. I opened the door expecting for cold air like in Forks, but instead I was greeted with warm air which was a pleasant change.
"Isabella" I turned to find Phil on the sidewalk of his house as he gave me a small smile "Thanks for driving, your mother has been by my side for the last past two days and she refused to go home"
I nodded as he walked over to me "Someone by the name Edward called for you" My head snapped over to him as he gave me a small smile "Don't worry I told him that you we're not here, I assumed if he was your boyfriend, or friend he would have knew you would have been here"
"Thanks Phil" he pulled me into a hug as I hugged him back trying to hide tears. He was a sweet person and someone like him had to die.
"Lets get her inside" I closed the door to the SUV as I followed him to my mother's side opening the door for Phil.
"You sure you can carry her?" Phil reached in a he wrapped his arms around my mother's small body and turned to me.
"So what if I have cancer, I'm not going to let that stop me from every thing I've done" I closed the door as he walked towards the house.
I smiled as I toke my suitcases out of the back of the SUV and walked into the house. "The guest room is upstairs to the left"
The room had a sandy colour on the wall and a king size bed in middle of the room. I unzipped my suitcase on the bed as I started going to work placing my clothes in the dresser that was beside the bed. I grabbed my carry on bag as I unzipped it, the white binder made it's self present. I grabbed the book as I walked to the other side of the bed sitting on the edge and opening the binder.
The book was filled with every detail possible for a wedding, all waiting for mine and Edward approval. Edward signed every page on the bottom with his elegant writing, of course he probably didn't care. I pushed the book off the side of my bed as I lid down again this time letting the dark silent dreams come over me.
I woke the next morning as I pushed the blanket someone placed on me last night. I rubbed my eyes as I sat up on the bed. The warm air was flowing in through open window as the curtains we're blowing in the breeze, I looked around as I toke notice that my suitcase was unpacked and placed neatly in the corner. "Good Morning Honey" My mother walked in holding two mugs. "I thought you might need a pick me up"
I laughed softly as I smiled "yeah that would be great, but I'm not the one who needs to be picked up" I said eyeing her over the steamy mug.
She smiled as she placed a small hand on my lap "Bella honey just because Phil has cancer don't mean I'm going to go all crazy zombie woman" she laughed as she turned around placing her mug on the night stand then reaching back for mine. She looked down as she slowly inched closer to me "Bella I do love Phil with my whole heart but I know if I show him how worried about him I am then he would just go around being all depressed which is the last time I want for him now"
She looked me in the eyes as she smiled "I'm helping him out by not backing out, I could leave now because I'm scared to death of what's going to happen in the future just like what I did with Charlie but what kind of person would I be?" I looked down as she moved back "Don't answer that question" The bed shifted as she stood up handing me my coffee before smiling at me then leaving.
There was more behind what she said, some meaning she wanted me to understand and why she left so fast. I slowly got up as I placed my mug on the night stand again and walked over to the closet when I notice it, the white binder with a new piece of paper attached to it. I shifted to my other food as I closed the closet door walking over to the binder.
Renee's messy writing on the new piece of paper as I snatched it and opened it
My dear Bella.
For once in my life I can give you some advise, I wasn't much of a mother to you but when I came in early this morning to check up on you I notice this binder filled with precious ideas for that amazing day, your wedding day. Bella please don't ruin your life like I have, Phil and you are the only things in my life I can actually say I'm proud about. This Edward guy must be going crazy trying to find you, so please go back. I can handle things here.
Love your mother. Forever.
I crumpled up the piece of paper as I ran out in the living room in search of finding her. "Mom?" I rounded the corner that lead to the living room as Phil looked up at me puzzled.
"Bella what's wrong?" I lifted up the piece of paper, I knew he would never understand. "I don't understand" He lifted himself off the couch as he walked over to me.
"Mom wrote me this letter this morning, she doesn't know" I couldn't believe this kept following me, this horrible nightmare that I thought I got rid of in Forks but chased me all the way down here and now has my mother on its side. Phil looked at me curiously as I passed him the letter and started for the fridge. The cold water pursued my dry throat as I looked back at Phil.
"You we're engaged with him?" Phil asked me as he walked over to me "If I knew I wouldn't have told him you we're not here .. I don't understand" I watched as he tried to understand.
"It was arranged. I never wanted it" I walked pass him as I opened the back door and out to the back porch.
"Who was making you marry him?" Phil followed me as he sat down across from me.
"Dad, Carlisle, Everyone"
"Did they know you didn't want it?'
"I was choice to do it because Carlisle, Edwards dad knew me personally so he knew what I loved to do like read and apparently Edward's were the same"
"Why did Charlie do it?"
"Because he was looking out for what was best for me" I used bunny ears on the 'looking out for me' part "He knew the Cullen's we're rich and Edward was going to become a doctor like Carlisle so the money wasn't the problem. The only thing Charlie didn't watch or cared about was my happiness and wants"
"What a jerk"
"Yeah I know. I decided to do it anyways thinking he would fall in love with me and we will have a happy family but I was wrong he already had another girl"
Phil shook him head as he stand up "your welcome to stay here as long as you want .. and for your mother I'll make her stop getting in your business and when your ready to talk to her you can"
I smiled as he started to walk into the house "Hey Phil" he turned around and looked at me "For the record you're an amazing step father"
He smiled and laughed "For the record you're an amazing step daughter".
I grabbed the glass as I walked back into the house, opening the fridge as I pulled out a pack of bacon and eggs. I opened and closed cabinets as I looked around for a frying pan "Over the stove" Phil's voice floated from the living room as I looked over the stove and grabbed a flying pan.
I turned on the burner as I placed the bacon in the pan turning around to find a fork. Cooking always made me feel so much better, it was hobbies that I would do when I was having an off day.
"Now this is a sight I can get used to" His voice stopped my every move and breath as I closed my eyes trying to convince myself I was just dreaming it but sure enough I couldn't trick my eyes when he was standing in front of me with that same stupid grin.
"What are you doing here Edward?"