3
The minute Jasper's arms were wrapped around her, the dam Bella had put up around her heart broke and she heard herself crying for the first time in three years. The first, real, hard, from the depths of her soul cry over the life she had given up, the life she was stuck in, the life she wanted more than anything.
"Shh, Cricket, I've gotcha, darlin," he whispered, and she felt him press his lips against the top of her head before his arm slipped down under her knees and he lifted her off the ground, cradling her against him. She couldn't stop herself from wrapping her arms around him, letting him hold her, letting him soothe away the broken pieces of her heart.
He carried her over to one of the porch swings, sitting with her on his lap as he had done so many times. The memories of them on the porch swing, her in one of his button ups, him in only a pair of board shorts bombarded her. Early mornings had always been their favorite time, when the sun was just starting to awake up. They'd spent hours talking about their hopes and dreams, planning their life together. One phone called ended all of that for them, though.
Jasper brought his hand up to the side of her face, tilting her head back and looking down at her. He smiled just moments before his lips touched hers, and she moaned, her mouth opening and giving him access to tease her with his shallow strokes of his tongue. More times than she could count over the last three years, she'd laid in her bed in the middle of the night, imagining what his kisses felt like, slipping her hand into her panties and pretending that he was the one touching her, loving her, taking care of her. Of course, then Renee would remind her that she was alone and pathetic and worthless.
"Jay, stop," she whispered, placing her hand on his chest and pushing him back gently. "Stop."
"Why?" he asked, breathing heavily before leaning toward her again.
"Jay, stop!" she said again, pushing a little harder as she scooted backward off his lap and onto the swing, her legs still laying across his. "I haven't seen you in three years."
"It's actually been three years, two months, and sixteen days. I could give you the hours, too, but I don't want you to think I'm that lame, Cricket."
She smiled at the silly nickname. He was the only one allowed to call her that. His rule not, hers. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too." Jasper brought his hand back up to her face. "I didn't think you were coming."
"I didn't, either," she admitted, leaning into his touch.
"How is she?"
"She's . . ." Bella shook her head, frowning. "She's the same. Some days are good, most are bad," she whimpered, feeling her lips trembling. "Sorry."
"Don't be sorry, Cricket." Jasper paused. "Did you ever go back?"
Bella shook her head. "No, can't really do both school and work, so . . . Did you finish?"
He shook his head. "Wasn't really the same without you. Who was going help me with my homework?"
She laughed, placing her hand back on his chest. "You never needed my help, Jay."
"Bullshit," he scoffed, letting his hand come to rest on her thigh. "Alice knew you were coming, didn't she?"
Bella cringed as she nodded. "She didn't tell anyone, you know, in case I backed out."
"Figures," he said, looking toward the front window and then laughing. "She's watching."
Bella turned toward the window just as the curtain dropped back into place. "Don't be mad at her. She just . . . she didn't think I was actually going to show up."
"I'm not mad." He smiled. "I am anything but mad right now, Cricket."
Bella lifted her hand up to his face, feeling him inhale a sharp breath as he leaned into her touch. "I really did miss you, Jay."
"I missed you, too." Jasper leaned in and pressed his lips against hers again. "More than she did, by the way. Let's just settled that right here and now."
Bella laughed. "I'm not getting in the middle of two and your constant battle to prove who loves me more."
"You never did," he snickered, sighing when he looked back at the window. "I have to share you now. I'm getting the look from Ben."
Bella bit the inside of her lip as she turned and looked at the window, finding Ben standing there with a smirk on his lips. The tall, dark haired man with thick black glasses raised his hand and gestured for them to come inside, which she wasn't sure she was ready for her, but knew she couldn't put off any longer.
"We can hang out here all day if you want," Jasper suggested, stroking the outside of her thigh and drawing her attention back to him. "Just say the word, and I will fight all of them for you, Cricket."
"No, you won't," she said, laughing as she shook her head.
"Fine, I won't, but I would like to keep you to myself while I can."
Bella shook her head, placing her hand on his chest. "Jay."
He groaned. "I know, I know. I can't."
"We have a few days together, at least."
"What if I want more than a few days?"
"Then I should just leave now." Bella twisted and pulled her legs off his lap and started to stand, but he pulled her back against him. "Jay, nothing's changed."
"I said I wasn't ready to share you yet," he teased, leaning down and kissing the side of her neck. "If all I get are a few days, then I guess I had better make the best out of them, shouldn't I?"
"Jay," she whispered, turning and looking over at him. "I don't want to hurt you again."
"You won't," he lied, bringing his hand up to her face and pulling her back. He placed a searing kiss on her lips again. "Can't we just enjoy being together right now?"
"Yeah, I guess we can."
Jasper leaned in and kissed her again before he stood up and reached for her hand, which she eagerly placed in his. He pulled her to her feet and led her over to the door, which opened thanks to Alice before they could each touch it. She was grinning like a fool as she stepped backward and waved the two inside. Bella could feel her legs shaking as she stepped into the house, finding herself face to face with the people who meant more to her than they would ever know.
Ben stepped up behind Alice, slipping his arms around his wife and grinned as his eyes shifted from her to his brother. Twins born just ten minutes apart, they looked nothing a like until they smirked, and then it as eerie how similar they looked.
"Hey, honey."
"Hey," she whispered, biting the inside of her lip.
Tears burned her eyes as she looked around, finding Carlisle and Esme Cullen wrapped in each other's arms. The tall thin blond haired blue eyes man had been in love with the caramel haired beauty since they were fifteen years old. Next to them were Emmett McCarty and Rosalie Hale. Emmett, a big, brawny man with curly brown hair and a dimple dipping into his left cheek, had his arm wrapped around the tall, curvy blond with dark brown eyes.
"Wow, Bella, you look great," Esme said, sharing a look with Carlisle before she walked over and gave her a hug. "We've missed you."
"I missed you, too," she admitted, her eyes shifting to Rosalie who didn't look as forgiving as everyone else. "Hey, Rose."
"Bella," she clipped, folding her arms in front of her and ignoring the glare coming from Alice, who had always been fiercely protective of Bella. "Good to see you're alive, and you know, not dead, seeing as you can't even reply to a text message in three years."
"Rosalie, stop," Jasper hissed, but before Bella could reply, she heard a loud gasp, followed by, "Holy shit."
Startled, Bella threw her hand up to her chest, and looked behind her, finding Edward Masen standing at the base of the front steps with Garrett Mitchel, Angela Webber, and Kate Denali next to him.
Edward looked at each of them before he turned and looked at her. "Bella? You actually came?"
"I did," she said, trying to smile. "Unless you're high as shit again. Then, I guess I could just be a hallucination."
Edward laughed, while Angela, Kate, and Garrett all scoffed. "I gave that shit up a long time ago, Swan."
"Then I guess I'm real," she quipped.
Edward shared a look with Jasper before he walked up the front steps and pulled her into a hug. "Damn, girl, it's good to see you."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Get off me before your man gets jealous."
"No shit, babe, I'm standing right here!" Garrett snickered, coming up behind them and wrapping his arms around both of them. He leaned in and kissed Bella's cheek. "We've missed you, Bella."
"I missed you, too. Not him, though."
Edward gasped, and stuck his lip out in a pout. "Whatever, Swan, you know I'm your favorite."
"Whatever, dude," Carlisle scoffed as he hurried over and pulled Bella into his arms. "Everyone knows Jasper is her favorite, followed by Alice and Ben, and we all tie for a close fourth."
"I don't have a favorite," she denied. "Except for Jay. You're right there."
"That's right, Cricket." Jasper winked at her before he walked over and grabbed the handle on her suitcase. "Help me take this up to our room."
Bella grinned as she walked over and took hold of his hand, laughing when she heard Emmett yell, "You can't hog her, Whitlock!"
"Sure I can," he yelled back as they started up the stairs.
Jasper looked back at her as he led her up to the second floor, down the hall to the last door on the right. Every time they came out there, they always stayed in the same room, their bedroom. He opened the door and waved her inside. She felt her heart racing as she stepped inside and looked around. Nothing had changed. The walls were the same dark grey and the windows were covered in white curtains. There was a queen size bed with a grey comforter, and a white wooden dresser. In the corner of the room was an oversized grey chair with a red throw across the back.
Jasper tossed her suitcase on top of the bed before he turned and looked at her. "Still remember where the towels and everything are?"
She nodded, gesturing toward the private bathroom.
He smirked and walked over to her, his hands sliding along her hips, under the hem of her shirt. "We could take a shower together."
"Jay," she whispered, putting her hands on top of his. "I need to call and check on her."
He tensed, but nodded before he leaned down and kissed her. "Later then."
"I'll be down in a few minute." He gave her a look, so she added, "I promise. I just need to check on her."
"Okay, Cricket."
Bella waited until he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him before she pulled her phone out of her pocket and walked over to the window. Scrolling through her contacts, she stopped at Heidi's name and hit call. The phone rang three times and she was about to hang up when she heard a breathless, "Hey, Bella."
She could hear Renee raging in the background, the words, 'cunt' and 'slut' being screamed followed by the sound of something breaking. "Heidi, is everything okay?"
"Yep, sure is," Heidi replied, but Bella could hear the stress in her tone.
"I knew I shouldn't have left," she whimpered, turning and hurrying over to the bed, grabbing her suitcase.
"Yes, you should have!" Heidi exclaimed and a moment later, she heard her close a door, the sound of her mother's rant muffling. "She got a little upset when she realized you had left for a few days, Bella. Felix and Jane are here. We have everything under control. She just needs some redirection, distraction so she can calm down."
"Heidi," Bella cried, turning and sitting on the side of the bed.
"I know it's hard, honey, but this is pretty normal for her lately, which is why I think you need to find someplace that can help take care of her. Have you looked at the brochures?"
"I just got here." Bella sniffed back her tears. "Alice said you texted her my bus schedule."
"Yeah, well, I figured if I didn't, you would bail as soon as you got there, so . . ." Heidi sighed. "I have everything under control, Bella. I promise. Just . . . just really think about what's best for your mother, okay? And what's best for you."
"She's my mother, Heidi."
"She was your mother, Bella. She stopped being her the night of the accident. Bayview is an amazing facility that has people trained to take care of people like her. They can give her structure and the attention she deserves, Bella."
"I don't know. I just . . . How I turn my back on my mom?"
"It's not turning your back on her, Bella. It's giving her the care she needs, while taking care of yourself, too. Will you at least look at the brochures?"
"I told you I would," she said, turning and looking at her suitcase.
"I should get back inside. Try to enjoy yourself for the next few days, Bella."
"I'll try." Bella ended the call and placed her phone on the bed before she unzipped her suitcase and pulled out the brochures Heidi had placed inside.
There were five in total. One for Bayview, a place called The Traymore, Morningside, Quail Park, and Park Place. Each one had pictures of men and women in their golden ages, smiling and happy, the kind of woman her mother used to be. Then one night changed everything. A semi driver had a heart attack while driving, jumped the medium, and hit her parents head on.
Charlie Swan died at the scene, but Renee Swan suffered a traumatic brain injury. In that one instant, she went from being the most loving, caring, adoring mother a girl could have, to be being mean and hateful, abusive, and Bella had been the dumbass who decided to walk away from the love of her life because her mother needed her.
Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews!