ConSeQuences Chapter 6, a twilight fanfic

Thank you to my pre-readers, my co-writer and BohemianRituals!

Chapter 6: Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me

Bella

Tanya picked up her glass and took a sip. "Well, if it isn't Dicks-R-Us." She raised an eyebrow at Piper. "And the girl who eats her cake and others too." She grinned at Alice.

These two fuck buckets are the last ones I felt like be bothered with tonight.

"Really?" Piper placed her hand on her hip. "Is that all you got, lame jokes.

"Oh no, I've got much more." Tanya chuckled. "And they're not jokes, if they're true." She tilted her head to the side and blinked at Piper.

"Hmm." Piper clicked her tongue. "Well, I guess you're not completely wrong." She turned to me and smiled. "There are a lot of things that are true."

I raised an eyebrow. "And you're proud of that?" I leaned toward her. "You know there isn't anything wrong with leaving something to be desired."

"Edward didn't seem to have a problem with his imagination."

I narrowed my eyes.

She bit her bottom lip, fighting a smile.

Bitch.

I opened my mouth to respond but before I could say something Tanya snorted. "That really doesn't help your case."

"I wasn't talking to you." Piper narrowed her eyes.

"But I'm talking to you." Tanya said sharply.

"Why don't you call your guard dog off, or aren't you capable of fighting your own battles?" Alice pursed her lips, looking at me.

Alice has been out for my blood for the past three years because of what happened between her and Chris, and if I sneeze too hard this crazed bitch has something to say about it.

"Actually, Alice." I smiled knowingly. "I'm more than capable, I just don't feel the need to embarrass myself like you did when you snook into the locker room trying to surprise Chris, after he dumped you…" I paused purposely. "… but it was you who got surprised when the football coach found your nasty ass butt naked.

Alice's lips pressed together in a tight line.

"The only thing that's embarrassing is how you can't keep a man." Piper grinned.

"No." I snorted loudly. "What's embarrassing is the way Cedrick rejected you, you fuckn cunt cake."

"That's a lie." Piper gritted her teeth. "I could've had him if I wanted to but why would I want his basic ass when I have Edward." She pointed to herself. "You jelly because you're not me?"

"Girl, sit your hallucinating ass down somewhere." Tanya laughed. "I mean really, you're on some cloud-cuckoo-land shit."

"Bitch, please you've been banged more than a damn snooze button on a Monday morning." I chuckled. "There's no way in hell I or anybody, for that fact, would be able to keep up with you."

"Maybe you could learn a thing or two from her, what's that saying." Alice sucked her teeth. "What one won't do another will."

"Really?" I frowned. "I thought the saying was once you learn to close your mouth you'd work on your legs."

Tanya snickered.

Alice twisted her mouth up at Tanya.

Piper's shoulders were rigid. "You little tra—"

"Yep, Loyola South and Naperville Valley's whole…" Tanya waved her hand. ".…football team."

We laughed and high-fived each other.

"You dumb bitch." Alice hissed through clenched teeth. "You still haven't learned to mind your own business."

"And you still haven't learned how to move on." I defended.

Alice pointed at me. "If it wasn't for you, I'd st—"

"Uh no." I shook my head, cutting her off. "If it wasn't for your own actions you'd still be with Chris, instead of using this flunkey…" I paused and looked Piper up and down. "…to get back at me."

"Edward likes this so-called flunkey." Piper put her hands on her hips.

"Really? That's not the way I heard it." Tanya sat on the edge of her seat. "Seems like you've been the desperate flunkey, chasing him around."

Piper's face slightly fell but she quickly covered it with a hard expression.

"I don't give a fuck what you think you heard. You can't believe everything you hear." Piper bit out.

"But yet, you have no problem running your damn mouth. I guess the only way to keep your mouth from running is to stick a dick in it, huh?" I asked sardonically.

Tanya cackled, as her hand hit the table.

Piper's face tightened and Alice's mouth pinched.

Just because I was still getting over what Edward did, didn't mean I would allow these two tramps to say whatever they wanted to say.

"Shut up." Alice glowered. "I'm sick of you two bitches." She pointed to Tanya. "Just because you've been with Garrett, your uppity, self-important ass, thinks you're better than everybody else. Everybody has a weakness and don't think Garrett's weakness won't come along one day and fuck your perfect little world up."

"Unlike you, neither of us would fuck up a good thing." Tanya deadpanned.

I don't know if she chose to ignore that or didn't actually hear what Tanya said.

She turned to me with a condescending glare. "And you." She took a breath. "Edward played you the whole damn time. He fucked who wanted, when he wanted to. But you were too stupid to see he's incapable of loving anyone."

Piper's head jerked back, as she frowned at Alice.

My heart thudded dully in my chest.

That hurt.

But I could throw punches below the belt too.

"Chris has a new girlfriend." I blurted out.

Alice's eyebrows pulled together, the crease deep and evident.

"He's crazy about her too, and his parents love her. He sees a real future with her."

"Fuck you, Bella!" A visible vein throbbed through Alice's forehead.

I smiled disingenuously.

That wasn't enough for me.

"I heard Jayden got back with his ex-Teagan and they're engaged."

"Why would I care about that?" Alice asked nonchalantly.

"Oh, I don't know." I shrugged half-heartly. "Just thought you'd want to know since you tried to break them up, with your sexting pics."

"Then you should know Edward and I—"

"Girl." Tanya titled her head to the side and shook it. "Don't you get it? He. Does. Not. Want. You."

"How would you know that?" Alice snarled.

Tanya crossed her legs and looked at Piper. "Edward had you looking like a damn fool, talking to yourself at Billy's and even at the shop you kept throwing yourself at him to only get refused over…and over…" She took a dramatic pause. "…and over, again, embarrassing yourself." Tanya shook her head. "I guess you're too far gone in the head to realize, your Eddie…" She mocked Piper. "…doesn't want to have anything to do with you."

Damn, this was news to me, I didn't know all that happened.

"I got text messages that would say differently." Piper set her gaze on me with a satisfied smile.

She's lying.

He wouldn't text her after begging me to take him back.

I guess.

Truth is, I don't know if she's lying or not.

It's not like Edward has been honest.

I didn't know what was real and what wasn't.

Was our whole relationship one big lie?

"Yet, I don't have a fuck to give." I half-shrugged.

"You care, I know you do." Alice jutted her chin.

"No, you want me to care." I pointed at her. "You want me to be as miserable as you are and you're just using Piper to do it."

Alice stepped toward the table. "I'm going to make your life he—"

"Well." Tanya sighed. "This has been fun, but I'd appreciate if you two crawled back to whatever hole, or dick, you came from." She shooed them away.

"Who's going to make us move?" Piper raised her brow.

My patience had run out.

"Please." I stood up, with my hands flat on the table. "Please give me an excuse to throw both y'all asses overboard."

"Come on then." Alice waved me over, egging me on.

I pointed my finger at Alice. "I told yo—"

"Darlings." Eliana called out as her stilettos clattered on the parquet wood flooring.

Alice and Piper plastered fake smiles on their faces before they turned around and faced Eliana.

"Here you are." She smiled. "I've been looking all over for you all. I have someone I would like for you to meet." Eliana glanced at Alice and Piper. "Am I interrupting something important?"

"Phew, important?" Tanya rolled her eyes. "God, no. Lead the way."

Alice briefly squinted her eyes at Tanya before she looked at Eliana again. "Good evening, Ms. Eliana." She beamed, as Piper stood off to the side. "Everything looks so beautiful."

This hussy was spreading it on thick, but from what I've heard she's good at that.

"Thank you, Alice. I hope you're enjoying yourself, yes?"

"Yes, I am."

"Good. Glad to hear it." She slightly peeked around Alice. "Hello." Eliana looked at Piper and then to Alice. "Are you enjoying yourself…" She paused as if she was waiting on Piper to say her name.

Alice's eyes widened. "Oh, I'm sorry. This is my best friend, Piper."

Best friend my ass… more like puppet.

"She can't speak for herself?" Tanya smirked at Alice.

Alice shot Tanya a look as she cleared her throat. "Um, sure, of course she can." She stepped to the side and gave Piper a pointed look.

"Hi, I'm Piper Collins." Piper smiled nervously as she put her hand out to Eliana.

Eliana extended her hand to Piper. "Nice to meet you. Have you been in the boutique before?"

Tanya and I exchanged a look, clamping our lips together.

She had to have known from looking at Piper's tacky dress that she didn't shop at her boutique.

If looks could kill, Tanya and I would've been dead, the way Alice glared at us.

"Um." Piper smiled, weakly. "I've been in the boutique with Alice when she was on one of her many shopping sprees."

"Ah, I see." Eliana nodded. "It was nice to meet you Piper and hopefully, I'll see you the next time you're in the boutique."

"I'll make sure you do." She smoothed her hand down her tasteless dress.

"Alright, girls are you ready?" Eliana exhaled looking at Tanya and me.

"Ready when you are." We sang.

Eliana hooked her arms in the both of ours before we walked away from the two hellions.

I'd bet my last dollar Piper and Alice were pissed since the impending smack down was interrupted.

I won't lie, I wanted to toss both those air-headed bitches overboard.

I would've felt better.

"So." Tanya started. "Who are we meeting?"

"No one." Eliana smiled mischievously. "That conversation looked…" She paused, seemingly to find the right word. "…intense." She stopped walking. "I don't know everything, but something tells me those two aren't friends of yours. Alice, I know, and she's a handful by herself, but that other one…" She trailed off whistling.

"If you hadn't come when you did, they were both going to take a dip." Tanya said.

Eliana shook her head and laughed. "Well, I guess I got there right in time then."

We walked down to the lower deck and sat with Eliana and Hugo talking and laughing, for another hour sampling some of the many desserts.

Around midnight Tanya and I began to yawn and decided to call it a night. We kissed Eliana and Hugo good night on the cheeks and headed to Tanya's car.

We were both quiet for a few minutes until we both broke out in a fit of laughter.

"Would you have really thrown Alice off the ship, if I threw Piper?" I asked catching my breath.

Tanya glanced over at me. "Do you have to even ask? You know I can't stand that bitch."

I smiled and shook my head.

All humor left Tanya's face. "So, Bee, do you think Edward has been sending Piper text messages?"

"I have no idea, honestly." I shrugged my shoulders. "Even though I don't respond back to him, he's been texting me every day, telling me how much he loves and misses me, and he wants to see me."

"He's done some low-down shit, but do you think he'd be that low to still be fucking her and trying to get you back?"

"I don't know." I sighed deeply, looking at Tanya as she looked ahead driving. "I can't say what he will or won't do. I thought I knew him, but obviously I never did."

"But it's not like Piper isn't above lying too." Tanya said.

I drew my head back quickly. "You're taking up for Edward now?"

"Bee, are you drunk or some shit? It'd be a cold day in hell before I took up for that ass wipe." She rolled her eyes. "The point is, she is a little lying bitch too. She probably said that to get a rise out of you, that's all I'm saying."

"It's neither here nor there, I'm not chasing a lie. They're both liars and the silly heifer didn't get the rise out of me that she was looking for." I turned and looked out of the window, wanting the conversation to end.

I was doing good not thinking about him, instead of rehearsing the 'shoulda, coulda, woulda,' that usually ran through my head, daily.

As if on cue, Tanya got the message and changed the topic. "So, what are you up to tomorrow?"

I smiled at the thought of how I would spend my Saturday. "Dad and I are going fishing at Northerly Island."

My dad has been taking me fishing since I was seven years old. Mom would come sometimes, but it was mainly a daddy, daughter trip. It was our place to talk about any and everything.

While he's known as Dad to me, at DePaul University, he's known as Dr. C. The passionate psychics professor that cracks jokes and sits on his desk while he's lecturing.

All of my friends from school and the neighborhood loved to be around because he was the cool, laid-back dad.

"I know you'll have fun, we always do. Maybe we can get a trip in before school starts again." Tanya said.

I turned my head towards Tanya. "He would love that. Especially if it's a group of us."

"Let's rent out one of the house's nearby and make a weekend of it. I'll ask Garrett, I'm sure he'll come. Maybe Samantha, and whoever she wants to bring, Tiffany and Cedrick." She paused with a goofy grin on her face. "And you can ask Grayson… as a friend."

I chuckled and ran my hand through my hair. "We're back to this again, huh?"

Right in time, Tanya pulled up in the driveway. "Bee, I know I'm the best friend anyone could ever have." She placed her hand dramatically over her heart. "You're the luckiest bitch in the world to have me, but you could use another friend."

I shook my head, swallowing my laugh. "You're crazy and persistent as hell." I grabbed my purse from the back seat and got out of the car.

Tanya laughed, leaning towards the passenger window. "Hey, I wouldn't be me if I didn't try."

"That's the damn truth." I waved her off. "Good night. Call me when you get home."

She nodded once. "Okay, I will."

Tanya always waited for me to get in the house before she pulled off, so I turned around before I went in the house after unlocking the door. "Thank you for tonight, I needed it."

"Girl, you know I got your back. Always."

And she did, no matter what.

"Night, T." I smiled.

"Night, Bee." She said while she backed out of the driveway.

When I entered the house, it was dark, with the exception of the light on over the kitchen sink. Mom always left that light on when one of us would get in the house late.

By the time I got in my room and kicked my shoes off, my phone rang.

"Hey. I'm in." From the way Tanya was breathing, I could tell she was walking up the stairs.

"Okay, cool. Get some sleep."

"Headed there now. Talk to you later."

"Later." I disconnected the call.

I washed my face, put on my P.J.'s and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.

CCCCCCCCC

Needless to say, I was groggy when Dad came in my room at six in the morning and shook me.

He had given me an extra hour because usually we would have been on the road by six.

I ran into the bathroom and took care of my hygiene, then found some comfortable jeans, a t-shirt and my chucks. I put my hair in a high ponytail and headed downstairs.

I couldn't get to the kitchen fast enough for a cup of liquid energy, there was no way I'd get through the day without it.

On the ride to the lake, Dad and I talked like we normally did. He shared with me some of the highlights of his work week, as I shared mine. We talked about everything and nothing, until he parked the car.

We quickly unloaded and headed to our favorite spot, a secluded corner most people didn't know about.

There wasn't anything I needed to do or place I needed to be. It was just Dad and I in the open fresh air, with the early morning sun beaming down on us, as I watched other fisherman drop their lines, sitting in their boats.

I even turned my phone off. I didn't want to be bothered with the daily text message or the notification letting me know Edward left a voicemail. Everyone who needed to know, knew where I was, and Dad had his phone on vibrate.

The quiet gave me the opportunity to think, reflect, on the past few weeks and the emotional roller coaster I'd been on.

For the first couple of days, I didn't know if I was going or coming.

I couldn't eat.

I was nauseous.

I slept for only a few hours, watching the sun come up most mornings.

I put on a 'happy face' just enough to get through my workday.

I fooled most, but not all.

Despite how quiet I was, Grayson sat with me during lunch like he'd been doing since we met. He knew something was off, but he didn't push.

Sometimes you don't need a person to say anything, just their presence is enough.

Mom knew I hadn't eaten for two days, so after she got in from work, she made sure I came downstairs to eat dinner with her and Dad.

They had given me space for a few days, so when they asked me after dinner, what was going on, I told them, everything.

I didn't feel the need to hide. We were a close-knit family, without secrets, at least the important stuff.

As angry as my mother was, she stopped Dad from going out to find Edward and beating the living day lights out of him.

Once Dad calmed down, he pulled me into a hug, picked me up bridal style and walked over to the couch. He rocked us back and forth, like he's done since I was a little girl, whispering encouraging words in my ear, as I cried in the crook of his neck.

My mother gently rubbed circles on my back, sitting beside us, until my sobbing turned to soft whimpering.

I didn't think I had any tears left as much as I cried the first few days but sharing everything with my parents felt like pouring alcohol on an open wound.

In spite of dredging down memory lane, I needed this, from my parents. The non-judgmental, comforting words, and warm touches, from the two people who has always been there for me, through thick and thin.

When I finally went to bed, after we talked a little longer, I laid in the dark wondering why didn't I walk away the first time?

What made me stay?

Hell, this wasn't even the first time.

I tossed and turned for I don't know how long, trying to come up with an answer but I came up blank.

Nothing.

I'm a fuckn chemistry major, solving problems, logic, reasoning and working all kinds math problems, but I still didn't have a clue what the hell was I thinking.

I was tired of racking my brain for an answer, I was physically and emotionally exhausted.

My body won the fight, as my eyelids closed, involuntarily.

That night was the first night of some type progress.

According to science, when you cry, I mean really cry, you release endorphins.

Obviously, I release enough because I felt a little bit better, calmer.

I let go of trying to figure out "why" and decided to enjoy the rest of what was left of my summer break.

I still loved Edward, it's not like I could turn it off and on like a light switch, but I was tired of him and the whole shit show consuming my thoughts, my life.

I was taking steps, small ones, but steps nonetheless, to get back to me, Bella.

I started running again, in the afternoon, when I got home from work; something I hadn't done since I started dating Edward.

One evening my parents and I went bike riding on a trail, ate a light dinner and watched a movie together.

A few days laterTanya called me and asked if I wanted to go kayaking with a group of some of our old high school classmates, she hooted over the phone when she didn't have to beg or threaten to kidnap me to go.

The next morning, I woke up refreshed and ready for work. The sun was bright, and the weather would be perfect for all of the outdoor activities we had planned for the kids.

From the moment the kids hit the campus they were stoked. Their day started with a life-sized board games, then we took them inside to the computer lab, for creative art and lastly, we played charades before they headed to lunch.

Grayson and I flopped down on the benches after our assistants lined the children up and took them to the cafeteria.

"Phew." Grayson stretched his neck and rolled his shoulders. "I'm beat. It's a good thing the water Olympics is this afternoon."

"I'm ready for a nap." I sighed.

Grayson snorted. "That's not happening. You know we still have to get in the pool, right?"

"Yeah, I know." I chuckled as I sipped on a strawberry smoothie.

We sat in silence for a few minutes, and people watched.

Grayson nudged my shoulder with his. "You seem better."

I turned to him and smiled. "I am."

He searched my face for a moment. "Good."

It looked like he wanted to say more but decided against it.

I wanted to keep things light. "Any plans this weekend?"

"Nah, not really. Graham and Leo wanted to go to the Taste of Chicago, but I'm not sure if I feel like the crowd."

"Yeah, it's definitely going to be crowded, like it is every year." I nodded.

"We'll see, I may still go just to soak up some sun and check out the live music." Grayson drained the last of his muscle drink. "What do you have going on this weekend? You should come."

"I planned on slumming it, unless Tanya came up with some last-minute plans."

"Bee, that sounds like a whole lot of nothing to me, why stay in the house when you could eat some good food with some good company." He lightly bumped his elbow to my arm. "Come on and hang out with us and bring Tanya too."

"Maybe." I playfully rolled my eyes. "I'll check with T and let you know."

"Okay, cool. Just to let you know, we're going to drive to the station and catch the train down, instead of fighting with downtown traffic."

Tasting different food while listening to music would be a nice way to spend the day instead of staying in the house watching movies or cleaning up my already clean room.

I'm sure Tanya would come and possibly Garrett, if they didn't already have plans.

Even as a little girl, I've always enjoyed riding the trains in Chicago, just to sit back and watch the beautiful scenery.

"That sounds good. Maybe we can meet at the train station and ride down together."

He nodded and leaned back on the back of the bench. "I'm fuckn starving, I got up too late for breakfast, and I don't do good eating before getting in the pool."

"Me either." I shook my smoothie bottle." "I'm thinking about picking something up on the way home, since my parents have plans tonight."

His eyes brightened. "Have you ever eaten at Manny's Delicatessen before?"

I dramatically gasped, with my hand over my heart. "They only have the best pastrami in Chicago."

"Well, how about we go have the best pastrami in Chicago when we get off? I can meet you over there."

"Okay—"

"Um, excuse me, Mr. Grayson." Nick, one of the kids in Grayson's group, said as he walked up.

"Hey, what's up buddy." Grayson scooted to the edge of the bench.

Nick stepped closer. "Dorian had a um…" He bit the side of his lip. "…accident." He mumbled.

Grayson stood up quickly. "Oh, o-kay." He dragged out, looking concerned.

Grayson had a group of eight-year-old boys, accident could've meant anything.

Grayson turned and looked at me. "I'll catch up with you later."

"Alright." I smiled.

He looked down at Nick. "You ready?"

"Yep."

I watched them walk away until they met Morgan, one of the camp assistants, who walked with Nick to find us.

I needed to meet Josie, my assistant and my eight-year-old group of girls in the cafeteria, in the next five minutes. I pulled my phone from my back pocket and sent Tanya a text asking her Saturday.

I threw my bottle in the trash can, tugged my phone back in my pocket and walked to the cafeteria.

My group was done eating, they were talking and laughing with each other, as Jodie sat at the table with them.

"So, who's ready to play sharks and minnows? I excitedly asked the group, when I walked up.

All the girls raised their hands.

Gracie stood up. "I hope Mr. Grayson plays the shark again so he can catch me."

"Why is that Gracie?" I smirked.

She looked around at the other girls that were now quiet, looking at her. "Cause he's cute."

The other girls agreed, shaking their heads, giggling.

"I thought you didn't like boys." Jodie laughed.

"I don't." Gracie shrugged her shoulders. "They're yucky."

"They smell funny." Janie scrunched her nose up.

"Uh-huh, they smell like worms and dirt." Ruthie added.

I folded my arms across my chest, trying not to laugh at them. "But Mr. Grayson doesn't smell like…" I looked over at Ruthie. "…what was that Ruthie?"

"Worms and dirt." She said matter-of-factly.

Gracie smiled. "He smells nice."

The girls looked at each other, hiding their giggles with their hands.

"And how do you know he smells good?" I teased.

Her eyes sparkled. "One day he sat next to me in art class and I smelled him."

The rest of the girls busted out in laughter.

I snorted a laugh and shook my head at them.

We started to get curious looks from others.

"Shh" I put my index finger on my lips. "Keep it down ladies."

They definitely kept me on my toes, but they were so much fun.

I looked at my watch and noticed we needed to get over to the locker room.

"Okay, ladies. Grab your backpacks so we can get changed." I paused smiling. "And Jodie, keep an eye on our little ladies sniffing Grayson out."

The girls exchanged knowing looks with each other, as they leaned on each other laughing.

Jodie grinned. "Come on girls, get in a single-file line."

They lined up with Jodie in front and me trailing behind in the back.

We were all dressed in our swimming suits, Jodie and the girls were waiting on me,

when I was just about to close my locker, my phone buzzed with a text message, from Tanya.

"Jodie, go on and take them out, I'll be out in a minute."

Jodie nodded and the girls followed her out.

"Hell yeah, Garrett and I will scoop you up and we can drive to the station

together."

I knew Tanya would say yes.

"Cool. TTYL, I'm headed to the pool."

"TTYL."

I put my phone back in my back, locked the locker and went to the pool area.

About thirty-minutes later, my girls got their wish because Grayson and a few of the other male counselors were the sharks in the game.

I couldn't help but laugh when I caught a few of them sniffing Grayson.

Three hours later all of the kids were worn out, skin looked like prunes, eating their snacks, as we waited for their parents to pick them up.

"Bye, Ms. Bella." Gracie and her mom, Mrs. Pierce, waved, walking to the car.

"Bye, Sweetie." I smiled, as Grayson sat down next to me.

"Thought you could use this." He handed me a bottle of water.

"Thanks." I opened it and drank the cold water down.

"Mr. Lambert just picked Adam up, I'm all yours." Grayson smiled.

I put the top back on my water bottle. "Well, I have a couple more from my group, Rebecca and Joanna."

"Is it okay if I wait with you?"

"Yeah."

He rubbed his stomach. "I think I'm hungry enough to eat two sandwiches."

"Those sandwiches are pretty big, you sure about that?"

He didn't get a chance to respond.

"Hey, Grayson." Lauren said in a sickly-sweet tone.

This shameless tramp.

She glanced at me but didn't speak.

I could've cared less, I only talked to her when I needed to.

I had to make myself not roll my eyes.

Usually, she hung out with Weston or Tyler, they must have left already, so I guess Grayson was her next victim.

"Hi Lauren." Grayson said.

"A group of us are going to Giordano's, you wanna come?"

I snorted a laugh.

I rolled my eyes this time.

"Nah, I'm good." Grayson said.

Her shoulders slumped.

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying not to laugh.

"Oh." She tried to laugh it off. "You have other plans." Her eyes quickly darted to me.

"Yeah." He was short.

Her lips pressed tight into a grimace.

I bet she doesn't hear no often.

"Well, if you change—"

"Enjoy your weekend, Lauren." Grayson curtly nodded.

Her forehead wrinkled, as she tucked hair behind her ear. "You, too." She muttered and walked away.

I think I was embarrassed for her… maybe.

Grayson rubbed the back of his neck and sighed, deeply. "I wish she'd just stop. Every time she has asked me out, I've turned her down."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Gray, the girl is in shock." I chuckled. "Didn't you see the way she looked."

"So?" He raised his eyebrows.

I bumped the side of his knee with mine. "You rocked her little world, and not in the way she wanted." I laughed.

"Not interested." He rolled his eyes. "Half the dudes we work with, has had her. I wouldn't touch her if she was the last woman on earth. He looked directly in my eyes. "Besides, I'm willing to wait for someone special." His hazel eyes stared intently into mine.

My mouth slightly fell open.

I blinked slowly, in a daze.

"Have a good weekend, Ms. Bella." Rebecca said.

That pulled me out of my gape. "You too, Sweetie." I waved as she walked away with her father.

That was a little intense.

Goosebumps still trickled down my arms.

He's never stared at me like that before…has he?

Could he have meant…

"Jo-Jo" Joanna's mother, Ms. Anderson, called out to her.

"Mommy!" Joanna ran to her mother. "Bye Ms. Bella." She waved. "See ya Monday."

I returned the smile and waved back at them. "See ya Monday, Jo."

Before I could move, Grayson stood up and grabbed my backpack, looking down at me smiling. "You ready?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Walk you to your car?" He thumbed behind himself.

"Okay." I stood and we walked side by side to my car, in silence.

I chewed the inside of my cheek, wondering what the hell was that.

I was too chickenshit to ask.

I unlocked my car and Grayson put my bag on the passenger seat.

"Thanks. See you in a few." I said.

He smiled and started walking backward, still facing me. "See you soon."

Okay, so maybe I read too much into it.

I waited for him to get in his car before I pulled off.

The ride over was short and sweet, since it wasn't too far from the campus.

I pulled into a space and turned the car off. I decided to shoot my mom a text letting her know where I was, while I waited on Grayson.

Moments later Grayson pulled in next to me, smiling.

I chuckled at his goofy grin, as if we hadn't seen each other all day, grabbed my bag and got out of the car.

Once he exited his car, he held his arm out to me. "Milady."

I chuckled at his chivalrous gesture and linked my arm through his.

When we entered the restaurant, it was a nice crowd, but it wasn't too crowded. There were plenty of seats to choose from inside and outside.

We stood, with our heads slightly back, looking up at the menu.

A teenage girl walked up, with all white on. "Welcome to Manny's." She smiled. "Are you ready to order?"

Grayson motioned for me to go first.

"Yes, I'd like a Reuben sandwich, with a mustard potato salad, and a raspberry lemonade, please."

She's punching in my order as I rambled on, then she turned her attention to Grayson.

"I'll take the same." Grayson said.

"Alright." She nodded. "That will be $38.90."

I pulled my bag off my shoulder to pull my wallet out to go half on the bill, but Grayson pulled his debit card out and handed it to the cashier, shaking his head at me.

"I asked you to come, so I pay."

"Thank you but you didn't have to do that." I pulled some cash out.

The cashier cleared her throat. "Here's your receipt, sir." He took the piece of paper from her. "You're number 586." She said before she walked away.

Grayson turned back to me. "It's my treat, Bee. I'm not taking your money."

My shoulders sagged, stuffing my money back in my wallet. "Lunch is on me tomorrow."

"Okay, I guess that's fair, but I invited you to that, too."

I twitched my lips. "Too bad, I called it already."

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Come on, let's get a table."

It was a sunny with a nice breeze, so we took advantage of that and sat outside.

"So." Grayson started. "Do you have any other plans this weekend?"

"Not really. But I'm sure after walking around tomorrow, I'll probably sleep in longer than I usually do."

"As much as I try to sleep in on the weekends, I can't. My eyes pop open at five."

"In the morning?" I titled my head.

"Yeah." He chuckled.

"Why don't you go back to sleep?"

"Because I can't. Once I'm up, I'm up."

"Gray, why were you waking up that early, in the first place?"

"My first class started at nine, so I woke up at five so I could have enough time to work out, shower and still get to class on time.

I could see the commitment too.

"That's some serious dedication."

"I've been doing it for years, it's a habit now."

"I used to run about three to four times a week, before class, or go to the gym and hop on the treadmill if it was too cold outside." I said.

"Used to?" Grayson frowned.

"I was too tired after driving home more often to see Edward." I fidgeted with my watch.

I didn't realize how bad that sounded until I said it out loud.

I put his wants before my own.

Grayson frowned. "He had you driving back and forth to come see him?"

Edward has done some shitty shit, but I had to own my part in this too.

I held my index finger up. "Hold on, Gray. He didn't have me doing anything I didn't want to do." I leaned forward, putting my hand on the table. "Besides, that's over now and I've started running again, in the afternoons."

A relaxed smile crossed his face. "Good, that's good, Bee. Hey why don—"

He was interrupted.

"Number 586." Someone said over the microphone.

"I'll get it." Grayson said, as he stood up.

I sighed in relief after Grayson walked away.

Our conversation had been light, and I was going to keep it that way.

Edward was the last person I wanted to talk about.

Moments later Grayson came back with the tray of food and drinks.

Once we separated our food and took our first bite from our sandwiches, we hummed, in unison.

We were both quiet, too busy eating to talk, for a few minutes.

Grayson cleared his throat. "Either this is good as hell or I'm really hungry."

I chuckled. "It's both."

He shook his head, forking some potato salad.

I wiped my mouth with a napkin. "What were you going to ask me before you left the table?"

"Mmmm." He held up his finger, still chewing, asking me to wait. "I wanted to know if you wouldn't mind a running partner…" He paused. "…some time?"

Although, I was just starting to run again, I wouldn't mind if Grayson joined me.

He was becoming a good friend to me.

I initially met him back in March, during the camp counselor's meet and greet. Right from the start, Grayson was down to earth, easy to talk to, and fun to be around.

I also found out he grew up less than thirty-minutes away from my parents' house, and he attended the same school as Edward, Loyola University. The campus is enormous, so I would be surprised if they knew each other.

I placed my hand under my chin and smiled. "I'd like that. I'm going Monday, after work."

"Great." He smiled back at me. "By the way, have you given the camping trip anymore thought?"

Actually, I had thought about it, and I decided to go.

Sitting in the house brooding over him wasn't going to change what happened.

I needed to move on.

I wasn't jumping into another relationship any time soon, but I had to face reality that what Edward and I had was over.

I bite my lip and nodded.

"Yes?" His eyes were bright.

"Yeah." I laughed at his excitement.

Grayson's grin was so wide, I couldn't contain my own.

"Bee, I'm so glad you decided to come. We're going to have a blast. We're going water skiing, bike riding, and of course we're bringing the paintball guns."

I leaned in closer to him. "Did you say paintball?"

He shook his head. "Uh-huh."

I squealed and touched his arm. "You don't understand, Gray. Tanya's father has been taking us to Sudden Impact to play since we were twelve years old." I tsked. "I hope you're good or either you're on my team because you might be in trouble if you're not."

He rolled his eyes and snorted. "Bee, Please. I've been playing paintball since I was ten and hold an undefeated record. So, I doubt it very seriously that I'm in trouble."

"Okay, Mr. Undefeated, I'm about to tarnish you little record." I threw my napkin at him.

His body quaked with laughter, loudly. "It's on, it is so on." He ran his hands through his hair. "I'll be nice enough to save you for last so you can at least play for a little while. And since I'm being so generous today…" He squeezed my hand. "…I'll do you a favor and go easy on you."

He didn't even know what he started.

I'm competitive as hell playing paintball.

I feel sorry for him.

Poor thing.

"You do that." I smirked.

I looked forward to wiping that smug smile off his face.

"I tell you what, let's make it more interesting." I sucked my teeth. "When I win, you have to wear a mankini for the rest of the day."

Grayson leaned back in his chair, his face turned red, and he shook his head laughing.

"Okay, okay, deal." He caught his breath. "And when you lose, you'll wear a t-shirt, that I'll get special made just for you, that says, 'Grayson Balled Me'."

I wanted to glare at him, but I couldn't do anything but laugh.

"Is it a deal, Bee?"

Tanya would never let me live that down, but I wasn't worried, I wouldn't be wearing it.

We shook on it. "Deal. What size do you wear, I want to make sure I pick up the correct size for you?"

He waved his hand at me. "You can pick whatever size you want I won't be wearing it. Make sure you hold on to your receipt so you can take it back."

"Oh, you're wearing it alright and I'm taking pictures too." I smirked.

He raised his eyebrows. "Nope, no pictures, Bee. That's taking it too far."

"Aha, why are you worried about pictures if you're gonna win?" I teased.

"Humph, I am going to win. I'm thinking about you, you're already going to be embarrassed enough, why add to it."

I laid my hands on the table, leaning in closer to him. "Loser has to take pictures in his mankini."

"Whatever you say, Bee." He waved a dismissive hand at me, smiling.

I smiled back at him, taking a sip of my drink.

Grayson swallowed and briefly looked down before looking at me. "Seriously, I've enjoyed being here with you, it was fun, but then again, it always is." He laid his hand on mine and gently squeezed it. "It's good to see you laughing again. I knew something was wrong these past few weeks, but I wasn't going to pry, you would tell me if you wanted me to know." He rubbed his thumb across the back of my hand. "Bella, I'm here for y—"

"So." We flinched back; unaware he was standing there.

Edward's green-eyed gaze was cold on me. "This is why you've been avoiding me."

A/N: So… do you think Bella would have really thrown Piper overboard? You've seen more of Alice, what are your thoughts? Who do you think won the war of words? Tag team B & T or A & P?

I want to give a S/O to Missysue32 for the encouraging review. You have no idea how much I needed that. THANK YOU!

Thank you for all of the reviews, follows and alerts… and most of all, your patience.

This update took longer than expected. I have a new position with more responsibility and longer hours, some days. So, when I have long days at work, it's very difficult to sit down in front of another computer and create. Sorry, not sorry. But just know… I'm not abandoning my story.