Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

An Imperfect Life

By Midnight Dreamer

Chapter 12: Time Passes

(BPOV)

That night dinner with the Cullen’s was eye opening. I haven’t felt that calm and relaxed in years. I think it’s mostly due in part to me playing on the piano. Music has always had an effect on me, even more so when I’m the one creating it. I came to two startling revelations that night.

1. There is something different about the Cullen’s. They aren’t the same as other people. Almost inhuman.

2. I love to play the piano. I had forgotten what it felt like when I played. I miss making beautiful music that fills the house with peace and serenity.

*****3 months later*****

I have recently started writing in a journal. Jasper gave me the idea. He said it might help me to cope with my unfathomable emotions. I have no idea what in the world he is talking about, but what the hell might as well.

Journal Entry:

Emmett and I have been to the Cullen’s many times in the past few months. Emmett seems to be getting closer with Rosalie with each passing day. I too have created friendships within the Cullen family. Alice my personal shopper and demon, has become like a sister.  I am pretty sure that her and her shopping trips that I am forced to attend will be the death of me. Jasper has become like a confidant that I can tell my secrets to. He would never betray me. He takes everything in stride, he is always so calm about most things. I think he has a ‘gift’ for this. Rosalie and I have a love/hate relationship. We keep it civil around Emmett but I can tell she despises me. Though I’m not sure why. Just another piece to the puzzle.

Edward and I are a different story all together.

He is like a long lost friend or younger brother that I have recently found again. We laugh and joke like children. Spending hours in the library, either reading to each other or playing the piano. I know he has strong feelings for me but I don’t know what to say about them. This friendship we have is something I’ve needed since my mother passed.

The scars of that dreadful night have begun to heal. I find myself smiling and laughing more. Watching Emmett find his feelings for a girl is a wonder to see. He is so sweet. I hope he doesn’t get his heart broke.

(EMPOV)

It’s another Monday morning. Bella like always is taking forever to get around.

“Bella let’s go” I yelled up the stairs.

“I’m coming, hold your horses. I can only move so fast.” she replied.

“Yeah I know you have only two speeds, slow and slower” I chuckled.

“Ha ha, very funny.” she retorted. “Let’s go.”

We arrived at school a couple minutes early.

As we headed toward the building those two sleazy girls Lauren and Jessica approached Bella.

“Hello…Bella how you are?” Lauren asked. I remembered her. She was hanging all over me the first day here.

“Fine I guess.” Bella replied.

“Hey” I said.

“So why are you hanging out with the Cullen’s now? No one hangs around them.” Lauren said.

“Why not? And why would you care who we hang out with?” Bella replied snidely.

“No one knows why really. They just don’t talk to anyone and they keep to themselves. At first it was just the two, Edward and Alice. They always seemed to be having private conversations with each other. It was kinda creepy. Then a year later the Hales moved here. Rosalie is beautiful but really snobby, and her twin Jasper is quiet and keeps to himself. Well at least until you guys came. You two are the first people they have talked to.” Lauren told us.

Then Jessica spoke.

“Yeah what makes you two so special?”

“Nothing and what is it to you anyway?” I retorted.

The girl looked shocked that I would talk to her this way. Well no one talks smack about my friends and gets away with it. I don’t care who they are.

“Come on Bella we don’t need to listen to these two!” I said to Bella.

“Okay Emmett let’s go.” she said. She looked deep in thought. So I led her into the school and to our lockers.

“Wow that was weird. Don’t you think Bella.”

“Yeah weird.” she replied still lost in her thoughts.

“Come on Bells they were totally dissing our friends. And from what they said they don’t even know them.”

“Your right Emmy, but we shouldn’t do anything about it. I don’t wanna upset Charlie by starting trouble.”

“Wait, what. You don’t wanna start trouble, says the girl who has been in more fights then Mike Tyson.”

She chuckled.

“Okay you got me there, I’m trying to start fresh though Emmett. So lets leave it for now.”

“OK Bells we will, for now.”

So I let it go until I could tell Rose about Jess and Lauren’s attitudes toward them. I didn’t see any of them till lunch. How weird is that. Oh well it will have to wait. Morning classes passed slowly. I couldn’t wait to see Rose again. God she was a heavenly sight to see. I love the way her hair flows to her waist in gentle waves. Her beautiful smile and perfect teeth. Her eyes are the loveliest shade of golden honey. I spent the rest of the morning daydreaming about Rose that way.

Then finally the lunch bell rang. YES! I shouted mentally. I saw Bella walking with Alice to the lunch room.

“Hey Bells, Alice wait up” I shouted down the hall.

They turned to look at me.

“Hurry up Emmett. I’m starving.” Bella yelled back.

I think I ran over some freshman and knocked over a fellow senior but hey he got in the way. I made it to them just before they entered the café.

“So ladies what are we talking about?” I asked.

“Well… Bella here was just telling me about your run in with Lauren and one of her minions.” Alice said.

Minions that was funny. Alice is always good for a laugh.

“Yeah what’s up with her anyway?” I asked.

“I think we should wait till we are at the table, more privacy that way. Less likely to have ease droppers.” Alice replied.

Jerking her head to the left. There stood Lauren and two other girls, including Jessica.

“Okay sure Alice.” I told her.

We entered the café to see that Jasper, Rose, and Edward were already at the table. I took my seat next to Rose. She smiled happily. I couldn’t help but smile in response. Then Alice of course would jump right into business. That girl just likes to hear herself talk I think. Or she can’t keep anything in.

“Well guys, Bella and Emmett had a run in with Lauren this morning.” Alice told everyone.

“Oh…What did the shrew say this time?” Rose asked.

“Nothing most people don’t already know. But it upset Emmett that they would talk so rudely about us without getting to know us.” she replied.

“I see” Jasper looked at me with a smile.

I smiled in return.

“Awe…Emmy you stuck up for us.” Rose gushed.

“Hell yeah, you guys are like family.” I told them.

Edward turned to Bella who was looking rather angry. She hadn’t said anything about the confrontation yet.

“Bella are you okay? You haven’t said anything.” Edward asked her.

“I’m fine. Just annoyed as all hell with that bitch.” she told him.

“Which one was it this time, Rachel or Jessica?” Alice asked.

“I’m not sure, she didn’t say her name but she has dark hair.” Bella said to Alice.

” That was Jessica” Rose responded.

“What’s her problem?” Bella asked.

She was clearly getting more ticked off by the minute. I could see the red starting to flush her face. Now that’s the Bella I know. I guess what ever her and Jasper have been doing is helping her keep her temper at bay. Damn it. I was hoping to see Bella kick that girls ass.

“Well a while back before you guys moved here, Jessica made her play for Edward here, but of course…” Jasper said smiling but was cut off by Edward.

“I turned her down. She has tried several other times since we started hanging out with you guys. She makes my skin crawl.”

We all laughed at Edward. He seemed to shiver when he spoke of Jessica. So that explains that.

“So she’s jealous of us?” I asked just to clear things up.

“You got it. Well not you in particular but Bella most definitely.” Rose said.

“Why is she jealous of me?” Bella asked the obvious follow up question.

“Because Bella, Edward shows attention and favor to you. He won’t even look at them.” Jasper told her.

“But Edward and I are only friends” she replied.

I saw Edwards face fall slightly when she said this. He must have stronger feelings for her then I first suspected. I will talk to him about it later when Bella isn’t around.

“That’s not how she sees it. You’re the enemy. Her competition so to speak.” Jasper smiled at this.

I think he was hoping to watch the fight also. A man after my own heart. He knew what Bella was capable of, if she was pushed enough. He also seemed to notice the change in Edwards mood. The bell rang then signaling the end of lunch. The rest of the day flew by. Bella and I got home late since we stopped off to get something to eat. Dad was working late again.

******2 months later******

(EPOV)

The days and weeks passed quickly since Bella and Emmett’s run in with Lauren. Bella seems to be distancing herself more then normal from me. I wonder if it has anything to do with it. They still come by all the time but she spends most of her time here with Jasper. I think her and Jasper are keeping things from me but of course I have no proof. Jasper has mastered keeping his thoughts from me over the years. So I’m not privy to their conversations. I have often seen Bella writing in a book. I think it’s a diary or journal of some type but I won’t ask her about it. That would invade on her privacy. I wish she would feel that free to talk to me like she speaks to Jazz. I miss my friend. I know I wish it was more but I will take what I can get.

Emmett had asked me about my feelings toward Bella and I had told him how I felt. He told me good luck with that and laughed at me. I guess she doesn’t really date or go with guys. He told me her last boyfriend was in 7th grade, when she caught him kissing another girl she beat him up and left him with a broken nose, two black eyes, a swollen lip, and a broken wrist. Ouch. I most definitely don’t wanna make her mad. Not like she could hurt me, but I wouldn’t want her to try either. I decided one day after Emmett and Bella left to discuss my situation with Jasper and Alice.

“Jazz, Alice can I speak with you? It’s about Bella.”

“Sure Edward, what can we help you with” they said it in unison. It’s kind of creepy when they do that.

“Have you noticed that Bella has been distant with me, I was wondering if you two would know why? She won’t speak to me except to say hi or later.” I asked.

“Edward you know I can’t say anything without Bella’s permission. She trusts me, I won’t break her confidence in me.” Jasper told me.

“It’s okay Jazz I understand. I just wish I could see what’s going on inside her head.” I told them.

“Edward, did you ever stop to think that it may have something to do with Jessica and Lauren?” Alice asked.

“Of course Alice, but what would that have to do with me and Bella’s friendship?” I replied.

I didn’t understand where Alice was going with this. I was getting frustrated.

“Maybe she doesn’t want trouble with them so if she stays distant from you, they will leave her alone.” Alice said. She wasn’t making any sense to me.

“Alice that makes no sense what so ever. Just because she stops hanging out and talking to me isn’t gonna make me go running to Jessica. I can’t stand that girl.”

I could feel my skin start to crawl as I spoke her name. If I could be sick I would. That girl was gross, the things she would think about doing to me, made my stomach turn. Oh how I wish she would give up already. She doesn’t even know it but she is ruining any chances I may have had with Bella.

“We know this Edward, but Bella is trying to make things easier for herself. She is using some serious restraint to not go and just beat Jessica to a pulp. She values our friendships, but she doesn’t want to outcast herself from everyone else either.” Jasper broke into my thoughts.

So Bella wanted to beat up Jessica. Maybe she likes me more then I thought. I could feel the smile starting at the corners of my lips.

“oh” was all I could say.

What Jasper said made sense. Lauren and Jessica could make Bella’s life miserable if she didn’t back away. She would be made an outcast just by hanging out with us. Bella deserves better. She deserves everything. So I will just have to let this happen. When the time is right she will come to me…I hope!

“Edward, you know Bella loves us all like her family. We know you would like for it to be more, but you can’t rush things. Bella has been through a lot before she came here. Jasper has been helping her and she has come along way but she still has a long way to go. So be patient. Please.” Alice said.

“Okay Alice, I’ll leave it go.” I told her.

What has Bella been through? She hasn’t told me anything. Why does she keep things from me. I don’t understand. I will keep my word to Alice, I will let it go. For now.