Chapter 8 is up! I've been in a really good mood lately, so I figured I'd add a little more than usual.

Special thanks always to my beta lellabeth.

Also to UnderlinedSmile and nikitabella for their sweet reviews.

Thank you both so much!

Hope you guys like it!

Ps. I do not own twilight, all twilight related characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

Previously on 'You Found Me'

Edward?... Oh shoot!

I turn back to Jacob apologetically. "I'm sorry Jake, I really have to go."

"It's fine, don't worry about it." he says.

"Okay, let me at least give you my number so we can meet up sometime. I'll be in town until the 2nd so call me so I can meet that fiancé of yours." I say, grabbing a pen out of my bag and writing my number on his hand.

"Sounds good," he says, pulling me into a warm good-bye hug.

"Oh, and Bella?" he calls just as I'm about to walk away.

"Yeah," I say, slowly turning back to him.

"Where did you find those strawberries?" He asks innocently. I can't help but smile.

I turn and point him to the aisle. "There, right next to the berries."

While running over, he turns his head and looks back to me. "You're a lifesaver."

Chapter 8: Troubles Await

BPOV

After getting all the groceries into the truck and thanking Jeff, the store manager, for all his help with putting away the cart, I drive out of the parking lot and make my way back to the house. Along the way I think about my encounter with Jacob. It's been so long since I've last seen him, years probably, but when we were talking it didn't feel like that. Sure, there were some awkward moments but it was okay. We still laughed and caught up, just like old times. If anything, it felt as though I had last seen him the day before. I can't believe I forgot that he still lived here! The last I heard about him was a few months back when Dad was bragging about finally getting a better car than him. To this day, I still laugh at that memory. I don't know why I kept pushing Dad away - it wasn't that he did anything wrong, but at the time I was so caught up in getting away from here, I didn't realize I would be leaving behind my parents. Maybe if I realized that sooner, I wouldn't have left, but there's no point in hoping for that now.

It's not that someone was pushing me to leave this town as much as I was just so tired of it. I always saw the same people every day. Everyone was nice - except for your everyday gossip queens. Nothing big ever came of this place, it was always so... simple. I agree that it is a perfect place to settle down in, but in my mind it's no place to explore. I wanted to travel the world; see Paris, go through London, maybe even get a Russian boyfriend. But I spent too much time dreaming and not enough thinking. I never once considered the cost. Once I realized that my parents wouldn't be able to pay for all that I began saving my pennies, but by then it was too late. The little money I did have bought me a train ticket to Jersey. I figured 'I'll just earn more money there rather sitting around in this place for much longer'. I went there, and was able to rent a small apartment for myself. Job searching was difficult, since I was not attending college but finally I spotted an opening as a waitress at the diner and jumped at the chance. I needed to be able to pay my rent and seeing as that was the only way I was going to do so, I jumped off my high horse and started working. It took a while but after about two years of saving I finally had enough to pay for a vacation to Florida. The only problem was that I couldn't take the time off work - there weren't that many workers, and if I took time off they'd be struggling. Jessica, my boss, told it to me straight: Florida or my job. I couldn't do that to my co-workers - Steve works long hours as it is, and he has a wife and children at home. Lucinda is a helpful woman trying to make ends meet, while taking care of her mother who had an early retirement due to an arm injury. I couldn't add to their workload. So instead when Jessica gave me the ultimatum, I calmly walked out of my boss's office biting my tongue. Ever heard of the saying 'Life's not fair'? Well it couldn't be truer for me. How did life's dreams come to this?

Since that day a year or so ago, the diner has hired five more people, making us a grand total of ten workers. Steve's wife wrote a book about life as a stay at home mom and while it's not a best-seller, it's doing well enough that they no longer live in debt and they're having a fourth child. Lucinda has done well too, so Jessica came to me two weeks ago saying that if I still wanted to take that vacation, she could give me 10 days off in January. I jumped on the offer and thanked her, then I bought the tickets just before coming here. My flight leaves at nighttime on January 5th and I couldn't be more excited.

My thoughts come to a halt when I find myself in Edward's driveway - I didn't even realize I was still driving. I check the time on my watch and see it's just after 10. Have I really been gone that long? The market is just around the corner. Wow, time flies.

Quickly, I hop out of the car and go to get the groceries when I see Edward already holding them in his hands with the boot up.

"How did you know I was-"

He smiles sheepishly, stopping my talking. "I saw you pull up and rushed out to help you," he says, taking the keys to the car and locking the door before walking away and leaving me stunned. I didn't even see him walk out of the house.

"I was already outside if you would have looked," He yells from the doorway, gesturing to the blanket laying on the grass. Did I say that out loud?

"Yes," he replies back, still standing by the doorway. "Now can you please come back inside? My arms are starting to hurt" he whines making room for me to enter the house.

Snapping out of my trance, I run to him and grab one of the bags. "Breakfast will be ready in 30 minutes," I tell him, while grabbing the other bag and setting them on the table. "What do you think about chocolate-chip pancakes with sausages?" I ask innocently, while taking out my hair from under the apron ties. "

I think you should stay here forever," he jokes, helping me pull out all the ingredients. I can't help but smile and think 'So do I'.

Once the pancakes are ready Edward dives right into them, covering his face in syrup and strawberries.

"I'm guessing you liked them?" I laugh, taking both of our plates to the sink.

"Loved them," he replies, humorously causing me to laugh. He grabs the rest of the cups and utensils, bringing them to the sink and helping me clean; him washing and me drying. It goes peacefully until the water bounces off the plate and onto my shirt, causing Edward to look at me with a shocked expression.

"I am so sorry Bella," he says slowly and carefully as though I'm about to blow up on him. "It bounced off the plate, I swear," he explains, dropping the spray to lift his hands up in defense. Normally I would have laughed, but my giggle was stopped short by the shock of the cold water that sprays all over Edward and me.

We bend over quickly to pick the hose up, instead slipping over the water on the floor. The spray is going all over the place and soaking everything.

"Turn off the sink!" Edward yells at me, trying to catch the spray. I turn back towards the corner and lean over to turn the knob. It takes three tries but finally the water stops and the shower of water raining down stops.

The room is quiet after that, me leaning against the counter and Edward with his knee on the spray. Both of us just sit there, the only sound coming from the water dripping off our clothes. After a minute we both turn to each other and start laughing like mad men. We finally collapse with our heads next to each other staring at the ceiling and taking in the moment.

"If you could be one place forever, where would you be?" He sighs, shifting over so that he's facing me.

"Home," I tell him without hesitation. "And that could be just about anywhere."

He smiles as though he's pleased by my answer.

"Where's yours?" I ask him a moment later.

"Where's my what?" He asks, turning back to me.

"Where's your place?" I ask him more directly.

"Oh," he whispers before turning back to the ceiling. "Mine is... here."

I turn towards him, sending him a confused look. "Here as in New York? Or here as in this house?"

"Just here," he states, smiling.

BrPOV

Its 11 o'clock when Jacob's car pulls up outside. Looking in the mirror quickly I fix up my hair and move to stand in front of the door with my hands on my hips.

"Honey, I'm home!" Jacob yells, opening the door.

"Jacob Black-Clover! How could you-" I stop half way through my shouting when I see what he's holding. In one hand he has my favorite flowers, purple lilies and in the other is groceries. While the bag isn't exactly clear, peeking out of the top is a pack of strawberries and some chocolate. "-bring me such lovely things." I finish, smiling joyfully as I grab the bag to bring in the kitchen.

"It was nothing, really." he states, shrugging off my excitement and following me into the kitchen still holding my flowers.

"But it is! You haven't brought me home anything since we first starting dating," I tell him, walking over to stand closer. "It really does mean a lot to me."

"It was just to show you that I'm sorry about our fighting lately. I don't like you mad." He explains, looking deeply into my eyes.

"I know," I say, exhaling a breath I didn't know I was holding. I grab one of his hands and bring it up so that he can see ours together. "But times like these make it all worth it."

He smiles gently, never taking his eyes off our intertwined fingers.

"Now, hand me over my flowers!" I laugh, reaching for them. Just as he hands them to me I see a dark smudge on his hand. "Wait, what's that?" I ask before letting go of his hand and grabbing the other one in front of me. It's writing, and I fume as I see '1 (234) 567-8910 Bella's cell. Call me!' across his skin. Instantly I drop his hand along with the flowers and back away, my eyes becoming foggy.

"How could you?" I whisper, deathly quiet.

Understanding what I saw, Jacob's eyes grow wide and the smile is quickly wiped off his face.

"Baby, it's not what you think." he tries to tell me calmly, taking small steps towards me.

"And what exactly am I thinking Jacob?" I ask him harshly.

"She's just a friend,"

"That's what they all say! She's just a friend; it didn't mean anything. Tell me, did you tell this friend you were gay?!" I scream, feeling as if steam is coming from my ears.

"I... I- I told her I was bi,"

"YOU TOLD HER YOU'RE WHAT?!" I yell, not caring who hears me. "WHY WOULD YOU TELL HER YOU WERE BI?!"

"Because maybe I am," he states firmly. "And I didn't cheat on you either."

After hearing his reassurance I calm slightly but my anger is still there. "Honey, what would make you reconsider your sexuality?" I ask him, feeling the tears well up in my eyes.

"I'm still attracted to women, Brad."

Shocked, I pull a chair out from the table and sit down, hearing his words replay in my head. "Could it be because of your past? Because of how you were?" I whisper.

"Maybe," he says, coming over to me and taking a seat. "I mean I've been going to the bar lately, and the dancers there-"

"You still go to the bar?" I ask, feeling the fire in me rise up again. "You've been watching those dancers?" I ask, disgusted. I stand up and shake my head. "I can't believe this. WHEN I'M HOME CRYING MY EYES OUT FOR YOU, YOU'RE AT THE BAR GETTING A GETTING A GOOD DANCE WITH THOSE, THOSE-" I can't even say it, instead grabbing my coat and keys.

"Hey, hey!" he screams, taking my coat from me just as I open the car door. "What are you doing?" he asks with fear in his voice.

"The same thing you're always doing, leaving." I tell him, and with that I yank my coat from hands, slam the car door shut, and speed out of the drive way.

I'm done with this.

Don't forget to review and tell me what you think!

- B