~I don't say this enough, but if you read my stories whether you review or not, I honestly do appreciate you for taking time out of your busy lives to devote a few minutes to enjoy my attempts at trying to entertain you. There are actually a couple of moments of comic relief in this update because I worked you over in the last chapter with emotions and there's tons more of all that, so this is a bit lighter. Love to hear if anything gave you a chuckle.

Copyright disclaimer: Twilight and all recognizable characters are sole property of Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 4: Maybe It's Not Goodbye

Bella was practically snatched inside while she was unlocking the front door. Barry was already home. He made his own hours, but Monica was still working. Thursdays were her late day.

"Well, how was it? Was it great or did it suck? Did he get fat or look old? Don't tell me, my worst fear, he's balding?"

She tried to think about his questions in order. "It was unexpected, but sometimes predictable. Parts were great and other things sucked." It was great being near Jake, but it sucked how much she hurt him. It double sucked he was about to get married even though she assured him she happy about that. "And Jake looked absolutely amazing, not fat, old or bald. The years have been really good to him." How was it possible he looked so much better? Her memories hadn't done him justice.

Barry wanted more details than she really wanted to give. "Can I just take a nap? I really don't want to talk about it."

"Fine, do you want me to draw you a bath?"

"Yeah, that sounds nice." She honestly, didn't let him baby her nonstop, but sometimes it was nice when he offered to take care of her.

"B, you can tell me. I mean, I'll listen and not judge, but it's plain to see, you've held back lots. This guy means everything to you. Why can't you be together? What are you running from?"

Bella had never told him the whole story. She honestly could never ever tell these things to Monica. She couldn't keep a secret to save her life. She knew she could trust Barry. "I've kept some deep, dark secrets. Jacob is never going to forgive me. Besides, he has someone else. A fiance."

"He might be lying about that. It's probably a defense mechanism."

"No, Jake doesn't tell lies. That's my specialty."

"Deep, dark secrets, huh? What did you do, kill someone?" He laughed at his joke.

She confessed her crime, "Yes."

Barry's eyes bulged. "Holy shit. I was kidding. Oh my God! Who? Why? Is your name really Bella?"

"Yes, that's my name, and the person I killed was me."

"So confused right now, honey."

"I faked my death. Jacob found out I was alive when I called him last night like a crazy person."

Bella tried to explain the story as best as she could leaving out vampires and wolves because she couldn't tell him that much of the secret. Her half ass explanations made her sound even more ridiculous. Barry didn't get it, but he still hugged her and let her cry it out. He wasn't going to judge her. She fully expected some unsolicited advice later, but all she cared about after her epic cry was to lose herself in a hot bath with a lavender bath bomb. She soaked for a long while until she just about shriveled up. Then she went to her room, hoping for a short nap before dinner. Bella was sad he didn't say goodbye, so she texted out a parting message before falling sound asleep.

She woke up to an incoming text, which was completely unexpected. He was pretty clear about how he was feeling when he exited her car. She knew that was the end and he never wanted to see her again. What changed? There was no way she could meet him for a drink. She politely declined, but then he asked for Monica and Barry to come. That didn't sound quite as complicated. She'd have her friends by her side for support.

Bella stumbled out of her room with her phone in hand. Barry was making sandwiches and Monica was asking him a million questions about how their meeting went. He was being pretty tight-lipped.

"Guys, Jacob wants us to come to his hotel for a drink?"

They were ecstatic, almost too excited, which started her worrying once again. She regretted saying they'd come. They probably shouldn't go. She definitely shouldn't. If her roommates wanted to meet Jacob so bad, they could go without her.

Barry shoved a sandwich between her fingers. "Eat. You need something in your stomach or else the alcohol will cause a problem. Mon, go raid her closet. Find something decent. Better yet, check your closet instead."

Bella looked down at her holey tee and sweatpants. She definitely couldn't wear that, but she wasn't going to overdo it. She wasn't going to try and impress a very taken, old friend.

"No, I'll get my own clothes. Thank you. We're not going to make this a whole thing. It's going to be casual."

"Let me guess, you were going to wear those hideous cotton granny panties and that blue polka-dot bra?"

Bella glanced down at her thin, pale yellow shirt. Of course, he saw her polka-dots. It was her favorite bra, the only one that made her feel like she wasn't wearing one at all. She liked her cotton underwear too. They didn't ride up her ass. Why would her choice in undergarments make any difference?

Barry was shaking his head affirmative, but hers was moving side to side. He looked conniving. "No."

"Oh yes! I'm thinking sexy undies... black lace and satin. You know the special set we bought you for your last birthday? The ones you never wear, mind you." She shook her head harder. "Yes, you damn well better put them on. You can't meet your one without them. You need to feel sexy and confident, show him what he's been missing. Shit, I just realized I haven't gotten you a free wax in ages. Did you trim the hedges during your soak?"

Bella put both her hands up and waved them rapidly to slow his ass down. He was overstepping, nothing new there. Jacob wasn't going to be anywhere near her underwear or her hedges. "It's a drink, in a public place. I don't need sexy lingerie, hot clothes or a waxed coochie. He's engaged! We are ancient history and it never was like that with us anyway. And for the last time, stop calling him my one. That shit doesn't exist!"

"Fine, but I want you to cover all your bases. It's obvious this guy has a hold over you if he still makes your secret spot tingle. That says something after... how many years?"

"Eight and what? I never said he makes anything tingle. I'm rethinking my decision to allow you both to meet him. Please don't embarrass me."

Monica joined in about guys that gave her that sort of buzz down below just by a look. She insisted it was rare and Bella again insisted it never happened even though she knew it damn well it did so many times with Jake. She never admitted the truth, because who in the hell talks so freely about things so private?

Monica had a skirt in her hands. Bella knew the skirt. It was her roommate's sure thing skirt. She was not about to wear that sexy garment. Jacob didn't expect her to wear clothes like that. He'd never seen her dress in those types of clothes, so why start now. She told them again they were barking up the wrong tree. Jesus, those two needed their own dates and to stay out of her love life.

"Stop living in the past, B. You two knew each other as kids. This is a brand new day. It's time to show him how you are as a woman, so he can make an informed decision whether you two are really over or not."

They had just released Barry's car to the valet and were about to enter the hotel. Bella straightened out the black skirt which was entirely too short and tight. She felt like a damn fool in heels, but Monica said they were a must.

Monica insisted the skirt was now her property. "You look so much better than I ever did. My ass always fell flat in that thing."

Bella told her no, but Monica said if she got lucky then it was definitely hers, if not, she was giving it to Goodwill. Bella chirped, "Well, Goodwill's getting a pricey donation Monday, because for the last time, you have the wrong idea about Jacob."

She drew the line when it came to the red top they picked out for her. She chose a stylish, dark blue blouse instead. She felt like it was professional, but attractive. She'd worn it a few times for some school functions. They struggled over the details of her appearance, but she let Barry do her hair and Monica applied her makeup. She was way overdone, but she felt kinda pretty. She knew her roomies were content they won the war. She did have on the black matching bra and panties. Damn them. She was mum about the state of her private parts even though Barry asked again just before they arrived. She knew it made absolutely no difference, because it was just a drink. However if any man, not Jake, she knew it would never be Jake, saw her nether regions, he shouldn't be grossed out. She took care of things.

They were almost to the bar entrance when she felt the urge to go over the plan one last time. "Okay, once more. It's introductions, small talk, one drink and then we go. Jacob has business and a flight tomorrow. That's it, right guys?"

"Yep, sure."

"Of course, B. You're in the driver's seat. We'll follow your lead."

"One drink or else you know I get stupid."

Barry brushed one stray hair out of her face and winked at her, "Exactly. We wouldn't dare allow you to be reckless. One drink."

One hour later, Bella was laughing like a fool sipping the tail end of her second glass of red wine. Jacob got along with them better than she would've guessed. They were talking sports and favorite movie quotes like old friends. Of course, they stared at him for the first twenty minutes. She hadn't elaborated on his appearance before. Jacob asked to be excused for a minute. He left them alone at the corner table. She felt a twist in her gut. Was he just taking a restroom break or was he checking in with his fiance? She tried not to dwell on it.

As soon he was out of range, Monica said what was on her mind. "Oh my God! He is so hot. How were you only that man's friend? So help me, if you don't make a move soon, I will."

Barry swirled his drink in his hand, "Me too."

"Shut up. You two are crazy. We're just friends and Jacob's still pissed at me." He wasn't nearly as chilly as the car ride before, but he was mad. He had to be. He was only being pleasant because of her friends.

"Have we taught you nothing over the years? He might be pissed, but he doesn't look at you like a friend. I can practically feel the heat across the table. What's been going on over there under the tablecloth?"

She knew they could hold their liquor way better than she could, so there was no way they were drunk. However, they were seeing something that wasn't there. "Nothing. We're not even touching." Once or twice there had been an incidental leg brush, but that was it. They weren't playing footsie. Although, when he surprised her with a hug before they had a seat, she swore he moaned against her hair and his hand went a little below her waistline in the embrace. It made that tingle happen in dark places that they mercilessly teased her about earlier.

Jacob rejoined their little party. "Did I miss anything?"

"Nope. We were just chatting. You and I are pretty similar, I hear. Bella says you design things. So do I?"

"Oh yeah. What do you build?"

"Confidence, friend. I'm a genius with the shears, a blow dryer and the flat iron."

Jacob touched her arm and he didn't pull his hand back. He leaned in and whispered too close to her neck. "I'm lost. What does he mean?"

More tingles.

"Um, Barry's a hairdresser."

"Master hairdresser. Our Bella always understates. I take care of these girls' needs. Don't they both look fabulous."

"Yeah, they do." He said they but Bella only felt his eyes on her. She couldn't stop focusing on that hand on her arm. He started to move it. He was sure to let go now, but instead he slid it the rest of the way down until he was toying with her fingers under the table cloth, directly over her thigh. She froze briefly, but when he went for holding her hand, she laced her fingers with his like it was the most natural position for them.

Barry took a sip of his drink and then pointed to her with his glass. "Well, that one is a bit picky with her hair. She'll let me style it, trim her ends or color it occasionally, but she won't give me free reign like Mon. I've always wanted to give her a short style but she won't trust me. I think it'd be hot with her bone structure."

Jacob looked at her again. He admitted he always liked her hair long. She knew that by the way he touched it years ago. She might have kept it that way for him and this was the first time she admitted it to herself.

Bella had practically lost her touch with reality somewhere between her second glass of alcohol and Jacob touching her. Surely, she didn't hear them right.

Barry and Monica were standing up. "Well, we know you two have tons more catching up to do, so we're going to head out. I have a super early client tomorrow. She's very high end," he whispered, "movie star."

Monica agreed, "And I have that early morning thing too."

Bella knew they were both bold-faced liars. Barry had never cut a movie star's hair, some fledgling actresses maybe, but movie star was a stretch and she and Monica had Friday's off. The only early morning thing she did on Friday, was sleep in.

Jacob stood to shake their hands. Bella made an attempt to get up as well. If they were leaving, then so was she. Barry's hands clamped on her shoulders firmly. He wasn't allowing her up. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Be reckless for once. Love ya."

They disappeared and Jacob sat back down. "I'm so sorry. They're honestly great friends. I'm sure it looks strange, them ditching me. They don't know everything obviously. I should leave soon."

Jacob licked his lips while watching her mouth move with meaningless explanations. She suddenly felt like hers were also dry. Her entire mouth felt that way. "I like 'em. I feel better about your situation. They've got your back. Would you like another glass of wine, Bells?"

She inadvertently giggled. "Oh, no two is definitely my limit. If I drank a third. Who knows what I might do?"

Jacob waved at the waitress. "One last refill, please."

She openly flirted with him, "Why, Jacob Black, are you trying to get me drunk?"

~Thanks so much for reading.

Please let me know what you think will happen next. I swear if I get a bunch of reviews, I might post Ch. 5 super quick. Who knows what might happen if Bella drinks that 3rd glass of wine. She might even go to Jacob's hotel room to watch television or "something." ;)