A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited and story-alerted this. I assure you the reviews did make me work faster.

My normal schedule seems to be one chapter for this and the next for If I Get Burned, but I'm having a little writing block with that story so here's another chapter of this. I really tried to get it out sooner but my classes this semester have been killing me. I don't know if you've heard what is happening at New College of Florida, but that's my school and Desantis has made it his mission to destroy everything good about it (and every college in Florida) so it's been a rough couple of weeks and it doesn't look like it will be improving there anytime soon. Anyways, enough of the real world.

I know not every author on here puts lyrics or quotes at the start of their chapter but I have found some of my favorite songs this way.

Beneath my smile, my thoughts run wild.

Though I try my best, I can't forget my past.

So once again, I send it on to the place where love lost overflows.

Seems to me, it's over. I'll get used to it eventually. Over and over again, brutally.

It's just the way it's meant to be.

Brutally - Suki Waterhouse

Chapter 9: Interlude

Interlude noun

in· ter· lude: an intervening or interruptive period, space, or event: INTERVAL. A short period when a situation or activity is different from what comes before and after it.

I would have never thought airports would be such a pivotal, life-changing spot in my life. The spot where I saw Charlie for the last time was when Renee forced me to leave my father for a new life in Phoenix. The spot where he was anxiously waiting for me twelve years later when I decided to move in with him. The place where I escaped Alice and Jasper's watch to meet the nomad intent on my death. The place where Alice and Jasper blew back into my life like a hurricane. Where I said goodbye to my best friend and my human life.

It was no secret that I never wanted to move to Forks. My mother had complained about the small, inconsequential rainy town almost every day of my childhood in one way or another. It was no surprise that I hated that little rainy town growing up and never thought there would be any reason I would want to be there, let alone not want to leave it. I used to count the days until I could leave it behind forever, it's crazy to think how much time has changed things.

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.

Time is a fickle thing; it's never on your side. When you are having the time of your life, time flies by; you wish that you could make time stop, make it freeze in that exact moment forever, but you never can and it never will. Worse still, time seems to slow down exactly when you need it to speed up. It slows to a crawl during the most inconvenient moments. It lingers there as if to tease you; forcing you to dwell in the most unbearable situations for what may seem like an eternity. These circumstances are some of the most aggravating, and exasperating.

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.

Those first few days after Edward and the Cullens left time seemed to stop. Every second dragged on yet still time passed in a blur that was somehow never ending and all-consuming. One second it was there in the cold, dark forest and a moment later weeks had passed.

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.

In airports time doesn't matter, it's like there was a pause in the real world inside the walls of the airport. Same with being on an airplane, especially if you are crossing time zones. Your phone won't switch over to the new time zone until you land, it just chooses when to exist or change. And when time doesn't move, it somehow drains you more than if it is speeding by.

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.

Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second-hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a fresh bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but pass it does. Even for me.

The ticking of the clock continued. Roughly forty minutes later my plane was touching down in Seattle.

Another perk of having a first-class ticket, even with a plane as small as his one, I'm one of the first to disembark.

I meet up with Alice and Jasper in Seattle. They were waiting at the gate where my plane let off, close enough to still be obviously waiting for someone at this gate while being far enough away that they weren't trapped in the mob of people I have to maneuver thru. When I reached them Alice wrapped me in a hug that I half-heartedly returned, and Jasper took my carry-on for me so quickly I didn't have a chance to protest.

Alice was subtly attempting to scrutinize my boring outfit which consisted of a sweatshirt, leggings, and sneakers in a way that probably should have made me self-conscious but my mind was on other things. She was probably plotting another makeover. I sighed. My indifferent attitude to fashion was a constant thorn in her side, even after all this time. If I'd allow it, I'm sure she'd love to dress me every day―perhaps several times a day―like some oversized toy doll.

She doesn't comment and neither do I.

We had around an hour and a half to kill before our connecting flight starts boarding so we were in no rush. We walked leisurely towards our gate, Alice looking in the shops as we went, window shopping turning into actual shopping in a time longer than I expected. Jasper towed our luggage behind us and I had to admit it was easier than me struggling to carry everything while attempting not to run into someone at this very busy airport.

"What did you guys pack?" I motion to one of the suitcases next to him.

"It's some clothes and some things Esme asked us to bring back. There's a tapestry she made for Carlisle, some pictures, stuff like that." He answers. "It would be a red flag if we didn't have luggage."

"Why did she leave them behind in the first place?" If they meant that much, wouldn't she have brought them with her?

"We never planned on being away forever, Bella."

I didn't know if that answer was comforting or not. I chanced a quick glance at Jasper as we moved through the airport terminal knowing the humans' presence wasn't the only thing causing him pain. He was enduring everything I felt and I knew exactly how difficult it was to stand upright beneath the weight of it. "You planned to come back?"

"All of us expected to return within weeks, so we were reluctant to settle in New York fully."

"But you never did?" It was a question I already knew the answer to.

We only make it past two more stores before Alice takes off at a pace a little faster than a normal human would to look in the Coach store. Jasper motions to the bench outside and I collapse thankfully.

"Was this layover planned purely for Alice to shop?"

He cracks a smile. "Seems like it, doesn't it? But no, this was the closest direct flight, I swear. I was the one who made the reservations."

I remember something Edward said, "don't trust vampires, trust me." I didn't trust the smirk on Jasper's face an inch.

Alice makes a purchase shortly and Jasper adds the bag to the pile he's already carrying while she makes her way to another store, not even looking back to see if we're following.

"What kind of reception is waiting for us?"

"What do you mean?" Jasper asks as we sit outside a store on an empty bench with the luggage, watching Alice shop in one of the airport gift shops. What she could possibly need there I don't know.

"Is someone picking us up at the airport? They know I'm coming, right?"

He chuckles. "Of course, they know you're coming, Esme just finished renovating your room. All your things have arrived as well, by the way. They're still packed in the boxes because we thought you'd rather put your things away yourself."

"Yeah, now that you mention it I probably would." I also imagine my things smell like werewolves.

"That's what Rose thought as well. As for someone at the airport, I believe Carlisle is planning on picking us up on his way home from the hospital."

"Didn't you guys have his car in Forks, though?"

"No, that was a rental. We just chose that car because Alice saw you'd recognize it."

"Oh." Alice is always right.

"Bella. . . Are you sure you are okay with this? We want you to feel comfortable." He says and I roll my eyes.

"We're here to kidnap you and bring you across the country so we want you to feel comfortable. That's such vampire logic." I mumble sarcastically under my breath.

"That doesn't answer my question," he reminded me. "When I ask if you're okay, that's to open an avenue of conversation, I already know you're not, even without my gift."

I shrug, "it is what it is, Jasper. I don't really know how I feel about all this." I couldn't elaborate because I told him everything. At one time this was everything I ever wanted but the time since has left me broken and jaded.

How many nights did I lie awake romanticizing seeing Edward again? Hoping our reunion would make all the pain go away.

His letter still confused me, though the main emotion is still anger. I packed it somewhere in my carry-on, not wanting anyone to find it back in Forks. I'm still torn on confronting him about it, demanding to know what he hoped to accomplish by leaving it for me to find.

I absolutely didn't want to face him, yet at the same time so desperately wanted to see him.

My conflicting emotions were a doozy to me, I can't imagine what Jasper is feeling.

"You're making it out to be worse in your head." His deep voice breaks through the fog of my mind.

I responded with acceptable "Fine," and "Okay" to Jasper's innocent questions and remembered to say "thank you," when he held doors and acted kindly as the clock continued to count down til we leave. He did not pry into my short replies and eventually contented to my side quietly.

Alice, on the other hand, was not satisfied with silence. "So. . . Tell me about Jacob."

I grimaced, not wanting to talk about the boy whose heart I broke, no matter how noble the reason. "There's nothing to tell." My eyes drop to my wrist where the small russet brown wolf lays against my skin, my Christmas present.

She scoffs. "I can think of a handful of things off the bat."

I roll my eyes as I massage my temples. "He was my best friend," I say to my former best friend. "He was there when I needed him, he kept me alive. . ." In more ways than one. "He proposed to me the night I broke it off."

"Of course I want you to be with my brother. . . but I'm sorry we complicated things for you."

"This wasn't your fault. I-" would I have accepted if I hadn't seen Alice and Jasper at the airport? Could I do that to him, stay half in a relationship where he was so obviously giving it his everything? "I-I think my answer would have been no, regardless. He deserves better than whatever I have left to give him." We weren't happy, not really.

"We were happy, Bella."

I sigh, turning around so he can't read my face. "No. I haven't been happy in years, Jacob. You weren't happy either because I could never give you what you wanted. . . It wouldn't have lasted. We wouldn't have lasted."

My mind returns to the present when a stewardess walks our way, offering a glass of wine. I take it, gratefully.

"Two, please," Alice accepts one as well and the second mine is empty, she replaces it with her full cup.

"I was selfish but Jake was my whole life after you all left. He was the only one who knew the truth and wanted to love me anyway."

"When did you guys get together?"

I swallow hard, wincing at the pain in my throat. "Um, maybe like three years ago. It. . . It took him a long time to convince me I was even worth being in a relationship with. . . Edward did a real number on me," I admit, my voice breaking the air of nonchalance I was trying to pull off. I'm sure they heard how off I sounded. Because I felt it in every part of my body.

I kept a tight rein on my emotions, keeping them hidden under a shroud of cynicism and indifference. Still, there were times I felt like at any moment I'd break apart again, the pieces blowing away like ash in the wind.

"You deserve to be happy, Bella. If you want a life with Jacob then we will do everything we can to ensure your safety." Alice says after they gave me a moment to collect myself. "I know this is unfair to you. We all know it and we can only imagine what you feel being asked to sacrifice your life like this."

I smile tightly, unsure if I truly believe her, the sentiment is appreciated, though. "If we were both human we'd be together but he was never mine to keep. . . I love him but we're not meant to be. . . If we were, he would have imprinted on me." I meant what I told him when I said he'll find his imprint someday, and I can't bear the thought of seeing him in the pain Sam feels every time he looks at Leah.

"What's imprinting?" Jasper asked, his tone curious.

"It's the wolf version of love at first sight," I tell him simply, knowing the wolves wouldn't want their supposed enemies to know the nitty-gritty details. "He might never find that but if he had while we were together it would have killed me," it wasn't an exaggeration, and while I would have had a hard time, I still only want the best for him and that has never been me.

We had the whole second row of the first class to ourselves, Alice and I on the right while Jasper sat by himself on the left. They had purchased the seat next to him in advance, I guess it made air travel as a vampire easier.

I watched out the window as the jet slowly gathered speed before it lifted off into the gray Seattle sky. It was too overcast to see the land below.

I said a quiet goodbye to Washington as I headed east to begin the next stage of my life.

I wanted to sleep more than anything at the moment. Sleep and stop talking but since their return, my nightmares had made a return as well and I didn't want to risk that on a packed plane like this one. I reached over and closed the window shade. The three cups of coffee I drank this morning have left me more jittery than awake and as my stomach churns I can't help but think that the fourth cup I had while we were waiting to board in Seattle didn't help. But in my defense, Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks so I couldn't get one while I was here. I probably won't ever be back here as a human who could actually enjoy it, or at least that was the lie I told myself.

I didn't choose this town, I dreamed of getting out.

You're On Your Own, Kid - Taylor Swift

I never wanted to move to Forks. I hated that little rainy town growing up and never thought there would be any reason why I would want to be there, let alone not want to leave it.

Something changed in me when I moved back there. No matter how much pain I went through, that I'm still going through, I wouldn't change my decision to move there. If anything I wish I could go back in time and move there sooner, maybe things would have worked out differently if I had.

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.

The little plane on the back of the seat in front of me showed we were somewhere over the Midwest. I pull my earbuds out of my ears and turn to look at Alice who is waiting (somewhat) patiently waiting for me to speak again.

"Why did you guys come instead of Edward?"

"A few reasons, actually. Even though I haven't been able to see you I can sort of feel a sense of where you are, so we had the best chance of finding you. Jasper is also the best tracker in the family."

"I wouldn't say I'm the best but I have the most experience."

"And if you didn't run into me at the airport?"

"I was hoping Charlie wouldn't hate me as much as he does Edward."

"Oh." It was a decent plan, even now I know Charlie still loves Alice for all she helped me with after Phoenix. ". . . And if I didn't agree to come along?"

Alice sighs softly. "I didn't plan for that, not really. We would have tried our best to protect you but the Volturi would come after us first before they tried to go after you."

I nod. I know I made the right choice, even though there wasn't much of a choice. If I stayed- no, I don't even want to think of what would have happened to Charlie and Jacob, let alone everyone else.

Is it normal the way I can't help second guessing?

Is it normal wishing I could put my thoughts to bed?

And be in the moment, for just a moment,

cause it feels like I'm always somewhere else instead. . .

Is it normal how I get stuck in my head?

Stuck In My Head, Blü Eyes

We just crossed state lines into New York when I get up to use the bathroom. I struggle to wash my face in the little sink, finally ending up just wiping a damp paper towel under my tired eyes. When I look in the mirror, I barely recognize the broken girl that's staring back at me even though I've been looking at her for years now. My brown eyes are darkened by the discolorations left over from many years without a full night's sleep and something else, something that goes deeper, and honestly, I couldn't even say when it happened. Was it when Edward left. . . Or was it when I noticed him pulling away after my birthday, the stress of those few days when our future rested solely in his hands and nothing I could say would change that?

I look away from my reflection, taking a deep breath before returning to my seat.

We sat in silence. I could feel Alice's eyes on me, but I refused to meet them.

She finally exhaled heavily. "Bella, are we going to talk about this, or not?"

I looked at her when she spoke, admittedly a little sheepishly. "Can I choose 'not'?"

She was about to reply in the negative but the pilot came over the speakers, giving us an update on landing and asking us to buckle our seatbelts for the descent.

I realize now that I should have asked more questions about what was waiting for us, but I don't handle shock well, and my mind sort of blanked. Even now when I know I should ask questions I can't come up with any.

"For someone who doesn't want to be any trouble you sure like to be difficult," Alice mutters under her breath. "Everything will be ok, I've seen it. It's just going to take time, Bella," this time her words are spoken at a normal volume as if I wasn't supposed to hear the first part.

"Is Carlisle here yet?" Jasper asks, voicing my thoughts as well.

Alice nods. "He's waiting for us by the baggage claim."

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.

The plane hits the ground with a thud and faint applause rings out behind us. I didn't clap, but for a while, Seth got really into those Air Disaster shows and I knew how hard it is, and how much work goes into landing a plane so I feel the applause is always well deserved.

My leg starts bouncing as we taxi to the terminal, time moving at a snail's pace. I just want to get this over with, the imminent reunion one more thing I can mark off my list. I try to distract myself, taking my phone off airplane mode to see what we've missed but my mind goes back to Carlisle, the man that was once like a father to me.

I wanted to put all this off for just a few more minutes, a brief spec in time

Time doesn't make sense. It's not just and it's not fair. It doesn't care if you want it to stop. Usually, if you want it to stop it does just the opposite, it moves faster. The sun shines again, and the world continues to turn. . . Even when sometimes you wish it didn't.

Time is a fickle thing, and even though I know it won't change anything, I wish I had more of it.

I take a sip from the water bottle Alice had a good mind to request from the flight attendant before we started our descent, my mouth uncomfortably dry.

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. A clock slowly ticking closer and closer to its alarm

A/N: What do you think? I originally planned to have Bella's reunion with Carlisle in this chapter but it's been over a month since I last updated so I made the executive decision to cut it off so I could post it sooner rather than later. When I came back to writing and posting on here I wanted to make my chapters longer (personally I don't bother reading a story here unless it has over a thousand words per chapter). I was wondering if you'd prefer this chapter to have shorter chapters and more frequent updates or longer chapters (for reference this is around 3900 words as compared to a chapter of like 1500 words).

Next up: Carlisle and the rest of the journey to the Cullen Residence in Ithaca!