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PROMPT: Don't ask me how I've been. Don't make me play pretend.

I watched Bella wring her hands together, her lip between her teeth as she bit down hard.

"Don't," I gently told her, reaching to place my hand on hers. "You'll draw blood."

She smiled slightly but tapped her foot impatiently against the floor. "What time is it?" she asked, glancing around the room and waiting for one of us to answer.

"It doesn't matter," Esme told her. "You take all the time you need. This is a big decision."

Shrugging my hand from hers, Bella stood and began to pace, anguish written across her face. "I don't have time."

"Yes, you do," I said. "You have all the time in the world.

"But Rose, he's out there, waiting for me." She brought her hands to her mouth and bit down on her knuckles. "My dad… the groomsmen… the guests!" Her voice was getting louder.

"Shh," I soothed as I stood up and wrapped my arms around her. "They don't matter. The only person who matters in this situation is you. And Esme and I are right here; we're not going anywhere, and we'll stay here until you decide."

Blowing out a breath, Bella nodded. She pulled from me slightly and went to the window, peering out at the grounds below.

"What would you do?" she asked before facing us. "If you were in my position, what would you do?"

I looked at Esme because that was a loaded question. I knew exactly what I'd do but didn't want to influence Bella. This had to be her decision. She needed to be sure she was making the right choice for her. Not for him. Not for her father. Not for anyone else.

Calmly, Esme walked over to Bella and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Bella, we can't tell you what to do."

"It'd be much easier if you did," Bella said humourlessly.

Esme gave her a small smile. "I know. But we can't. And you have to do this."

Bella nodded, then returned to looking out the window.

Esme watched her for a moment and then stepped back to me. We were both silent as we waited.

Then she turned to face us and asked a question I hadn't expected. "Is Jake here?"

"Yeah," I said. "He arrived not long ago."

"Can you get him for me?"

"Of course," I told her, glancing quickly at Esme before I stepped out of the room.

Closing the door behind me, I blew out a breath. What a clusterfuck this had turned out to be. Bella had been all squared away and ready to get married last night. She was marrying a great man who was promising her a glittering future when her phone vibrated and the colour drained from her face. The text was simple: I love you. Please give us a chance.

That was all it took for Bella to panic and wonder about her future. Wonder if a life with Edward was what she really wanted. And I didn't blame her. She and Edward had only been together for a year. They were engaged after six months, and things moved very quickly. I half suspected that she was on the rebound, so hurt from before that she wasn't thinking clearly. Her reaction to the text just proved that.

I traipsed down the hallway, praying I wouldn't bump into anyone. We were running slightly late, and I just knew they'd start asking questions - questions I didn't have any answer to.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dialled Emmett's number and waited for him to pick up.

"Hey baby," he responded, jovial in tone. "Are you and the bride nearly ready?"

"Where's Jake?" I asked, not bothering to answer the question. Esme and I weren't even dressed for the wedding yet.

"Um, he's right here. Do you want to talk to him?"

"Yes, please," I responded, wishing I could go straight to Emmett and have him wrap me up in his massive arms. Being with him would wash all this away.

"What's up, Rose?" Jake asked in his deep voice.

"Bella wants to see you," I said.

Jake didn't respond for a moment, and I held my breath. Then he simply said, "Okay. I'll meet you on the third floor?"

"Thanks, Jake," I told him, relief flooding through me. I desperately hoped that whatever Bella wanted to say to him would help her.

/

Gently knocking on the door, I let myself and Jake into the suite. Esme gave us both a smile from where she sat on the couch whilst Bella remained at the window.

When she turned and saw Jake, she smiled at him. "You look good," she said, walking over and wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Thanks. You too," he told her, a hint of mirth in his voice as she still wore her pyjamas.

With a shaky breath, Bella pulled away from him. "Please be honest with me."

"I always am." Jake was Bella's longest friend. They had known each other since they were in diapers, and he had never once lied to her. Even when being brutally honest meant she lost her shit at him.

"Was that text sent to mess with me?" Bella looked so vulnerable asking that. Her brown eyes were wide, and her cheeks pale. It had been weighing heavily on her, and she needed answers. No matter how scared she felt.

"No. Never."

"Then why send it?" Bella asked as unshed tears sparkled in her eyes. My heart broke for her. Because I knew what she had been through. I knew how much the breakup had hurt her. Bella's heart had been smashed into smithereens, and she had to pick up the pieces. She hadn't coped well in the beginning. Charlie was so worried about her. It didn't matter what we did; she just wasn't interested. Then Edward had come along, and she seemed to get better. She was never back to being Bella. The spark that was so quintessentially her had left. She smiled now, though. And she laughed. And it felt like she was coming back to us.

"Because you getting married made her realise something."

"What?" Bella asked, almost as if she were afraid of the answer.

"That she loves you."

That was it. That straw broke the camel's back as Bella crumpled into Jake's test, fat tears running down her cheeks, sobs wracking her body.

Jake caught her with ease in his arms and wrapped them around her.

Tears formed in my own eyes because I hated seeing her like this. Esme stood next to me and pulled me into a hug.

Pulling back from Jake, Bella swiped at her eyes with her hands and then faced Esme and me. "Can you get Edward for me, please?"

/

"I just don't understand," Edward said as he paced up and down the suite. He kept running his hands through his unruly hair, eyes darting all over the place as if he hoped an answer would pop out.

"I know it doesn't make much sense, but… I've been feeling this way for a while," Bella admitted, nervously looking down at her hands and then back up at Edward. She was sat on the couch, Esme next to her as Jake and stood like sentinels near the windows. There was no way Bella was going through this alone.

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Edward's voice became harsh, and Bella flinched.

"Because I thought it was nerves… I didn't realise it was something more."

Edward shook his head. "I can't believe you strung me along for a fucking year."

"I didn't string you along," Bella insisted. "I did love you."

"Just not enough to marry me?" He stopped pacing and spun on his heel to look at her. "I gave you everything you ever wanted."

"And I'm so grateful." Bella shed several tears. "But I can't pretend anymore, Edward. I can't act like I don't love her."

"You haven't seen her in over a year!" He shouted, clearly at the end of his rope.

When Bella looked away, I knew that wasn't the case. So did Edward.

"Did you cheat on me?" His tone changed. It was quiet, the apparent anger now simmering below the surface.

When Bella didn't respond, Edward asked again. "Did you fuck her whilst we were together?"

Swallowing, Bella rose from the couch. "It doesn't matter. I'm done pretending. I can't marry you."

Edward opened his mouth, and it looked like he would launch into a tirade down on Bella.

He was only stopped by a loud knock at the door, followed by Emmett's face peeking around it.

"I know that now is a fucking terrible time, but she threatened to climb up the side of the building." He was looking right at me, his eyes apologetic and wide as he opened the door, revealing the woman beside him.

"Leah," Bella breathed, her entire face softening. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she stepped forward, seeming to forget what was happening. Then she stopped herself and looked around, almost embarrassed at her reaction.

Immediately, I was at her side. My arm going around her waist. Her fingers squeezed my hands, but her eyes were back on Leah. I knew how much this meant to Bella. How much turmoil she had been in. I was pissed at hell with Leah for what she had put her through. But I got it. I understood what it was like to have such a deep connection with someone that it literally scared the shit out of you. That's how I felt when I first met Emmett. I was terrified. Looking into his eyes for the first time, I just knew–I knew that he was it for me. Running wasn't an option, though. No, I threw myself into a relationship with him, expecting my heart to get broken. Knowing that the pain I would suffer at the end would be excruciating. Yet, Emmett surprised me. It turns out I was it for him, too. We were living our happily ever after. We were lucky.

"Hey, Bells," Leah said shakily, breaking the silence in the room as her glistening eyes fluttered over Bella. "I'd really like to talk to you."

"This is fucking ridiculous," Edward said, anger lacing his words. "She broke your damn heart!" He shouted, finger-pointing at Leah. "She fucking left you!"

His words cut Leah. Pain flashed in her dark eyes, but she drew herself up taller.

"I know what I did and am not proud of it, but that doesn't change the fact that I would like to talk to Bella."

I felt Bella's intake of breath. I saw her lips turn up as she nodded, desperate to hear what Leah said.

"We're getting married," Edward bellowed, pure rage evident now on his face. A vein in his forehead was popping, and his skin was turning a bright shade of red.

"No, we're not," Bella gently told him. "I told you. I'm done pretending. I can't do it anymore. Not for you or anyone else." With an air of authority I had only seen a few times, Bella stepped away from my embrace and walked towards Leah, Gingerly; she took her hand and led her into one of the bedrooms, quietly closing the door behind her.

Lifting a hand to her mouth, Esme tried to hide the smile on her lips. She had been rooting for Leah and Bella.

Edward stood stock still, unable to move. His chest was heaving, and fury blazed in his eyes.

Looking over at Emmett, I was slightly stunned. There wasn't much protocol on what to do when your best friend's ex-lover disrupted the wedding.

Emmett–being Emmett–simply sauntered over to Jake and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill from his pocket. "I shouldn't have fucking bet against Leah."

Jake just winked and pocketed the money.

I shot Emmett an incredulous look, and he shrugged his shoulders, deep dimples appearing on his face.

"What? Usually, weddings are boring as fuck."