It's been a few weeks since Edward showed up on my doorstep, Ben gave me an ultimatum, and I took serious stock of my situation and how I got here. Jasper's been hanging out at the condo a lot, and when I ask if he's babysitting me, he blushes and tells me he doesn't want me to be alone.
Ben and I have gone out twice, but I can tell that while he likes me, his heart isn't in it anymore. When we have lunch during the workday, he tells me that he doesn't think we should keep this up. "I think you're probably right. I don't know what I'm feeling or what I want, and that's not fair to you."
"It's not fair to you either. I hope you figure it out though, Bella. I hope we can be friends," Ben says as we leave the restaurant and head back to work.
"Me too."
I've been in the condo for three weeks when Jasper comes to me while I'm folding laundry in my room. "What's up?"
He's leaning on the door, looking down at the carpet. "I'm going to be gone for the weekend."
"Okay … I'm not your keeper, Jas. You don't have to tell me when you won't be here." I smile as he moves into my room and sits in my desk chair.
"Can I talk to you about something?" He swings back and forth, but he looks serious. So I sit down on my bed, looking at him expectantly.
"I'm going on the weekend family cruise for the ship."
"I thought that was like a month ago, two months ago?"
"It got rescheduled. But, I feel bad because Edward isn't going because he's moving this weekend." Jasper chews on his thumb nail, making me sigh.
"Well, it sucks that you can't be there to help him, but you have to be there for work. That's non-negotiable. I'm sure he understands." I start balling up socks but pause when Jasper doesn't say anything. "What?"
"Emmett and Rose are out of town this weekend." I'd forgotten they'd planned a getaway. "And Edward and Jake still aren't speaking …"
"Well, no one is speaking to Jake. What are you getting at, Jasper?" I toss a balled-up pair of socks into the basket.
"I don't know. I feel bad that he's going to be alone." He shakes his head, letting out a puff of air. "I sort of feel like I've been a bad friend lately."
"Hey." I scoot across the mattress so I'm directly in front of him. "It's hard to be a good friend when the other person isn't letting you be one."
"It's not that. I didn't come in here to talk about this, but he's different. Little things, but he's changing. It's just weird; we're all scattered now. Jake is … I don't even know."
"Jasper, things change. That's what happens; your ability to handle it and handle it well is the only thing you can control." I reach out and pat his knee.
"You're sorta smart," he says with a snort, and I laugh.
"I'm really not. I've just been trying to think of the bigger picture lately." I shrug and go back to folding my laundry.
"How's that going for you?"
"Terrible." I smile as he stands. "Wanna order some food later and watch a movie?"
"I'd love to, but I'm taking Alice out for dinner. Raincheck for when I get back?"
I nod. "Absolutely."
On Friday, I log out of work early and decide to start my weekend alone with a glass of wine. As I'm pouring my glass, I think about my conversation with Jasper and make a decision. I find my phone and send him a text, hoping he gets it before the ship pulls out. If I do, then I have my answer; if not, then this isn't the right time.
Jasper: You want Edward's new address? Are you sure?
Bella: Yeah. He's going to need some help this weekend, right?
Jasper: You're crazy. Take my truck.
Jasper sends me the address and tells me that Edward's plan is to be gone from the old house while Jake and Embry hit the farmer's market first thing in the morning. Knowing Jake the way I do, he'll be up and out by seven. That means I should be there by seven-thirty. I've got a plan, but I contemplate texting Edward to tell him that I'm going to come by. When I pick up my phone, I hesitate.
Would he want me to be there to help him? What if, even if Jasper said he's different, he's got some other girl helping him? It's a chance I've got to take.
When I get up the next morning, determined to make this work in whatever way I can, I grab Jasper's keys and head over to the old house. Jake and Embry actually pass me on the street, but they don't seem to notice me. When I pull up, I take a deep breath before climbing out and walking up to the door and ringing the bell.
It takes a minute for Edward to get down to the door, but when he opens it, he smiles. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard it was moving day," I say, spreading my hands out in front of me. "I thought you could use a friend to help you out."
Edward continues to smile at me. "I really could. Thank you, Bella." He steps aside to let me in, and as he shuts the door, he begins to tell me what needs to be done.
"Everything is packed; we just have to move it down," Edward says, and I nod, fishing Jasper's keys out of my pocket.
"I have Jasper's truck. Back it up, and I'll start bringing stuff down. We'll get it done." He runs out, and I move upstairs to his room to grab the first items.
Within an hour, we have Jasper's truck loaded up with all the boxes and totes in the bed, and the cab has all his uniforms. Edward's truck has his mattress, box spring, bed frame, and dresser. He's tying everything down as I do a last sweep of his room. I don't see anything, but I run outside to tell him to check just as Jake and Embry pull up.
"Why don't you head over to my new place and wait for me? I'll be right behind you," Edward says quietly, but I'm rooted to my spot. This is the first time I've seen Jake since before I moved. He looks pissed … but not at Edward or me.
He's yelling at Embry in his car. Edward and I are fixed to our spots as we watch Embry try to calm Jake down before they both realize they have an audience. They climb out of Jake's car and walk up the driveway where Jake smiles at the two of us, and Embry heads straight into the house.
"So, this is it, huh?" Jake says, gesturing to Edward's truck. Edward nods and finishes tying everything down.
"I'll just run up and check my room." He runs into the house, leaving me and my former best friend outside, alone.
"Are you okay?" I ask quietly. Jake's face and eyes are red. If I had been yelling like that just a few short moments ago, I wouldn't be able to have a conversation with anyone.
"Oh, yeah. Embry's just a flirt." Jake dismisses my question and forces out a laugh. "How's your new place?"
"It's great. I don't answer to anyone but myself." I give him a pointed look and sigh. "Are you happy?"
"I'm great, Bella. I'm glad you're happy." With that, Jake dips into the house, and I wait as Edward comes back out.
"Looks like I'm good to go. Everything all right?" he asks as I stare up at the house.
I nod. "Yeah, let's get you moved."
Ninety minutes later, all of Edward's stuff is moved into his one-bedroom apartment that's only a few miles from where I live. I'm hanging up his uniforms in his closet when he tells me that he needs to go get quarters so he can do some laundry before making his bed.
"Um, I have a washer and dryer at my place. You can use it, and we can eat some lunch," I offer and hold my breath, waiting for his response.
"That's really generous, but I think I've taken up enough of your time today." Edward touches my shoulder, and I turn around to face him. "I really appreciate you showing up for me."
I shrug, smiling. "That's what friends do, right?"
He nods. "Yeah."
Half an hour later, I'm sitting on my couch, watching TV, when my phone vibrates with a text.
Edward: Check your door.
I'm confused. I hadn't heard anything, and I seriously doubt that he's shown up after this afternoon. I open my front door to find takeout from our favorite little Italian place on my doormat. I bring it inside and see that he got all my favorites.
Bella: Thank you.
Edward: Thank you for your help today.
I wait longer than I should for another text from him before pulling out some food and digging in. Reflecting on the morning, I realized Jasper might be right. Edward was calm, kind, and quiet. He always used to be a cocky, self-assured guy, like he wanted to be the center of attention. Today, he was just thankful to have a friend to help him out.
Today was a good Edward day.