Chapter 14
Sounds like life to me it ain't no fantasy.

It's just a common case of everyday reality.

Man I know it's tough but you gotta suck it up.

To hear you talk you're caught up in some tragedy.

~It sounds like life to me- Darryl Worley

The mystery of Demetri's crush on Bella had been solved. Bella and Alice both felt extremely silly for having thought that the man had a crush on Bella. It turned out that he had a crush on Max, and the reason he wanted all of them to go out so often was because he wanted an excuse to spend time with Max. Even though Max seemed to only show interest in women, Demetri enjoyed his company and merely admired him from afar, keeping his crush a secret. Bella thought back to all those times she had assumed that Demetri had liked her and realized her imagination had grossly exaggerated Demetri's actions and intentions.

Alice seemed very relieved to find out that Demetri was gay. "It just makes sense now." She said aloud as Bella graded her papers at Alice's dining room table. "He didn't choose you, an unavailable married woman, over me, an attractive single."

Bella glanced up from her paper and gave Alice a look. "It's been over a week since you found out he was gay and you're still going on about this?" Bella returned to grading her papers and wrote a B+ at the top of the paper. "Besides, I'm attractive."

"Of course you are Bella." Alice patted her on the back. "But you're not single."

"Whatever happened to that internet guy? What was his name? Mazz? Pazz?"

"Jazz." Alice stated simply. "Things are going well. He's definitely expressed interest in me."

"Well that's good right?" Bella set the graded paper to the side and grabbed her final one. "Maybe he's your soulmate."

Alice removed herself from the table she had been sitting atop. "I suppose. He's been acting weird though."

Bella scanned the essay and sighed. "I'm tired. This person is also getting a B." She didn't even bother reading the essay but marked a B in her red pen at the top of the page. "How has he been acting weird?"

Alice sighed dramatically and flopped her body against Bella. "Sometimes when I ask him about parts of his life, he dodges the question or redirects it. I'm starting to think that he doesn't like me as much as I like him."

"Aw Alice, I'm sorry." Bella stacked her papers into a neat pile, then removed herself from the table. "Well if he's not the one, ditch him. There are plenty of fish in the sea and men in the world."

"I guess." Alice walked Bella to the door and held it open for her. "I'm going to ask him on date. Since he won't take the intuitive, I will. I can't figure why he wouldn't want to meet me." Alice gestured to her immaculate attire. "I look good dammit. He better not be catfishing* me."

"I hope everything works out well for you Alice." Bella left Alice's apartment and entered her own. Jacob was on the phone and Bella had a severe case of deja vu. Over a week ago Jacob had been on the house phone with the same expression. She had meant to ask who called, but had been distracted when she couldn't find Renesmee. Bella put away her graded papers then waited for Jacob's phone call to end. "Who was that honey?"

Jacob looked at his wife with an unreadable expression. "The company isn't paying me for my time at Filmores when I was in South Carolina."

Bella was shocked to hear this news. "What do you mean? You earned that money."

Jacob's fist clenched together and he hit it against the couch in frustration. "There's been some error or mix up. They think they paid me already but I haven't received any money!"

Bella wrapped an arm around Jacob's neck and tried to draw him to her body. "It'll be okay Jake."

Jacob shrugged off his wife's arm and stood from the couch. "No it isn't Bella! We needed that money!" Jacob tore at his hair and began to pace. "When we went to Seattle that weekend, I spent a lot of money. I know we ran into your friends and they gave us that hotel room, but I had already rented a room and it was nonrefundable." Jacob lowered his voice and turned away from his wife. "Then there's your car that still seems to be in the shop. This isn't good!"

It wasn't like Jacob to yell at Bella so unabashedly. It made her nervous and triggered thoughts of being with Edward. "We'll get through this Jacob. Just like we get through everything." Bella told him quietly.

"Why is this happening now?" Jacob complained, while pacing the living room. He began to murmur to himself and cursing lowly.

"Why is this happening now?!" Edward growled, pointing a pale finger at Bella. "You did this didn't you?" He raised his hand as though he wanted to strike her but quickly dropped it and changed his tone. "Sorry for raising my voice to you, Isabella."

Bella flinched when he caressed the side of her face. She knew why his changed his tune as there was only one reason.

"Edward, your assistant has need of you in the office." Esme told him. Her voice came from behind Bella and after speaking, Bella felt relief wash through her. Edward never abused her when people were around and he always treated her respectfully when his mother was near.

"Thanks for letting me know." He told Esme before exiting the kitchen.

Esme watched her son leave, then stood beside Bella, rubbing her back in small circles. "You alright dear? I know my son can have a fierce temper sometimes, but he means no harm." Esme sent Bella the sweetest smile that had the brunette choking back tears. "What's wrong Bella?"

Bella didn't have the heart to tell Esme that her son was a monster. That Bella had fantasies of running away or killing herself, just to escape him. Whenever she had thoughts of running away, it seemed as though Edward had a sixth sense and picked up on it. He would make her like no one else in the world would ever love her because she was worthless. He drilled it into her head that he was the best she would ever do and to leave would be the biggest mistake she could ever make. After all, who would want a bruised and battered woman? She didn't have any skills and would fail at any job. Sometimes the darkness would take over and she would have thoughts of ending his life…

"I'm fine." Bella lied, faking a smile and turning back to the burnt chicken on the stove. "I'm just a little miffed that I burned the chicken." Bella frowned at the blackened meat. "Edward asked his cook to prepare this for the dinner party later, but I guess the cook forgot the chicken was in the oven." Bella's hands began to shake. "So it's my fault." She nearly whispered.

Esme gently pushed Bella to the side and eyeballed the chicken. "I know a wonderful restaurant a few minutes from here that serves the best chicken." Esme sent Bella a secretive smile. "I'm sure the dinner party won't be able to tell the difference." She winked at Bella, then whipped out her phone to make a call.

Bella didn't have the words to thank Esme for saving her. Edward hated when things didn't go smoothly when he hosted dinner parties. Bella lifted the sleeve of her shirt and studied the dark bruise he had given her the other day for doing something wrong. She was really hoping this dinner party would go smoothly as she didn't want the bruise to gain a family.

"Bella? Bella it's okay. We'll figure out the money situation."

Bella didn't realize Jacob had his arms around her and was rocking her from side to side on the couch. He loosened his grip when she reached up to rid her eyes of the tears she had not realized were pouring down her swollen cheeks. Memories of Edward were fleeting and soon she felt very grounded in the present. "Sorry Jacob. I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me Bella." Jacob kissed her wet cheek quickly and rested his head against her shoulder while keeping one of his arms slung around her. "It's Edward isn't it?"

Bella nodded slowly. Since she and Jacob had been together, there had been a few occasions where she was triggered by past experiences with her ex and sometimes broke down and cried and shook with fear while staring blankly at the world. "It's okay. I'm better." She looked at her husband and reached for his free hand. "Don't worry too much about money, please. We will be okay. Don't forget, I have a job too."

"That's true." Jacob exhaled loudly. "I just don't like the thought all this financial instability."

"It happens." Bella told him. "It's not like we're millionaires." When Jacob made a face at her, she rolled her eyes. "The past is the past, Jacob. Let's just take it one day at a time right now." Bella thought back to what Jacob had said. "So you won't be paid for your time away. Think of it like a mini vacation. At least you still have a job. That, I might add, you're getting your next paycheck this Friday."

Jacob made a noise of disgruntlement but couldn't help a half smile stretching his lips. "It's going to be a crappy paycheck in comparison to what I could've earned. But I guess you're right. At least it's a check."

"See? You can find a brightside to anything if you try hard enough." Bella kissed his lips sweetly and felt that she accomplished in diffusing her husband's anger.

By the time Friday rolled around, Bella was happy the weekend was nearly upon them. It had been a long week and she was feeling fatigue settling in. As she passed back some papers to her final class, she found herself ready to collapse from lack of energy. She was starting to regret her decisions to skip lunch and grade papers. But she had wanted an essay free weekend so that she could relax. Luckily for her, Alice and even Demetri had helped her out as they noticed how worn out she seemed to be.

The bell rang dismissing her last class and Bella wished her students a good weekend. As they were filing out, Demetri entered with Alice at his heels. The pair had grins on their faces and Bella was interested in finding out why. "Whatsup?" She asked while cleaning off her desk.

"I got him to agree to go on a date with me tomorrow." Alice squealed. "I'm going to get to meet him in person and woo him with my assets." She struck a sexy pose that had Bella covering her mouth to stifle her laughter.

"Well I'm happy to hear it." Bella congratulated her friend then looked between her and Demetri. "Is there something else?" She asked when Alice looked at her expectantly.

"Well, you remember what happened last time I had a date at the tavern?" Alice looked away from Bella's eyes in embarrassment.

"I do." Bella replied solemnly. "It was terrifying."

"It was." Alice scratched her neck nervously. "Well I don't want it to happen again. So I was wondering if you and Demetri could come on the date with me."

Bella's brow raised in confusion. "Excuse me?"

"Technically," Demetri interjected. "We wouldn't be on the date with her. We're going to go to the same restaurant as them is all. But we're not going to sit at their table. We will keep an eye on her though, just to make sure this Jazz guy isn't someone shady."

It all made sense to Bella at that point and she smiled at Alice. "I see. Sounds fine with me. But I'm inviting Jacob along."

Demetri made a noise of displeasure. "I'm going to be a third wheel."

"Invite Max." She teased lightly, causing the man to blush heavily. "Or I can."

"Are you serious?" Demetri asked, voice catching in his throat.

"Sure." Bella looked to Alice, then back at Demetri. "I'll tell him it's a work thing."

Alice clasped her hands together. "Sounds like a plan!"

A/N: Catfishing is when someone pretends to be someone they're not. It happens online mainly through social media. They can even go so far as to give fake pictures and a false life. Just in case anyone was unfamiliar with the term I wanted to clarify. Btw, I'm busy with college and RA duties so the next update won't be for about 2 weeks. Hang in there!