Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Faith, Hope, And Love

By Momma2Fan

Chapter 05:

Separate lives…

It took four months until Bella was so busy with classes and the friends she had made that the everyday calls dwindled to almost once a week. She wasn’t the only one. Edward was focused and studying hard so he could get the placement he wanted when it came time for his residency. He had also met someone who helped to take his mind off Bella, although she was never out of his heart.

He had met Heidi in his chem lab, and they had agreed to be partners. Lunches became dinners, which became sleepovers disguised as study sessions. He wasn’t a virgin, but his first time had been rushed in the back seat of a car with a senior his sophomore year. With Heidi there was no heat, but it was gratifying nonetheless.

Bella had met and begun dating Liam. He treated her great and helped keep her mind off of missing her friends and Edward. On their three month anniversary, Bella had finally caved and slept with him. She had told herself she was saving it for marriage or for Edward, but she decided that part of her life was over and it was time to move on.

It was two weeks before Thanksgiving when she got the email.

Bella,

I haven’t talked to you for two months, so I wanted to warn you—I’m bringing my girlfriend home with me for the holiday. Her name is Heidi and she is a med student like me. I think you’ll like her. Can’t wait to see you.

Edward

“What are you looking at, Sweetheart?” Liam asked from behind her.

“An email from my friend, Edward. He was letting me know he was bringing his girlfriend home.”

Liam nodded. “Have you told anyone I’m coming with you?”

“Yeah, everyone knows.” Bella smiled.

“Everyone except Edward, right?”

Bella spun in her chair to face him. “I haven’t talked to him in two months, Li. No, he doesn’t know.”

“Tell him, Babe.”

Bella turned back to her computer and composed a quick email in response.

Edward,

Thanks for the heads up. I guess I should warn you my boyfriend is coming with me. His name is Liam and he is looking forward to meeting all of you. Can’t wait to see you, too. I’ve missed you.

Bella

“Good, now he’ll know you’re taken.”

Bella turned from her computer, stood up, and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You have nothing to worry about. It was never like that with Edward and me.”

“Whatever you say.”

**FHL**

Bella walked through the crowded terminal filled with travel weary passengers, Liam hot on her heels. She hopped up onto a chair and scanned the sea of faces looking for her father, but she couldn’t see him.

“Can’t see him?”

“Nope. Let’s just get our bags and then we can walk outside.”

Once they had procured their belongings, they headed toward the front entrance. They were just about there when Bella heard someone yell her name. She looked up and saw Alice and Jasper heading straight for her.

Bella dropped her bag and ran to her friends. Jasper picked her up and spun her around, while Alice hopped up and down beside him. As soon as Jasper put her down, Alice grabbed her in a surprisingly strong hug for someone her size.

“I’ve missed you, Bells.”

“I’ve missed you, too.” Bella pulled away and turned to Liam, ushering him forward. “Guys, this is my boyfriend, Liam. Liam, this is Alice and Jasper.”

Liam held his hand out to Jasper, not surprised when it took him a minute to take his. “Nice to meet you.”

Jasper was polite, but standoffish. Bella couldn’t understand what her friends problems were, but she didn’t want to spend her vacation fighting with them.

Alice looked down at their luggage. “Is this everything?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

The foursome walked out to Jasper’s waiting SUV and climbed in once everything was loaded. The drive to Forks was filled with uncomfortable silence. Alice and Jasper would periodically glance at one another, Alice wondering how Edward would react to Bella’s boyfriend and Bella to his girlfriend. Jasper couldn’t wait for the trip to be over so he could get back to school…back to where things made sense.

After they were dropped off and Liam had met Bella’s father and survived that interrogation, Bella got her list together and they headed down to the store.

“Bella, how many people do you cook for on Thanksgiving?” Liam asked as he pushed the cart that was filling quickly.

“Um…generally about five, you make it six this year,” Bella said as she perused the shelves looking for what she needed.

Liam only nodded, choosing not to distract her with needless conversation. They were just about through the store when he heard someone yell Bella’s name. He watched as she spun around and then ran into the arms of a bronze haired man.

Edward picked Bella up and crushed her to him. “I missed you, Bella.”

Bella turned her head into his neck and breathed him in. “I missed you, too.”

The clearing of a throat behind her pulled them from the embrace. Edward turned and saw Heidi tapping her foot, while Bella turned and saw Liam with his arms crossed.

“Eddie?”

Bella turned back to her friend and raised her eyebrow; Edward just rolled his eyes. “Bella, this is Heidi.”

“His girlfriend,” the tall brunette women said as she stepped forward and placed her arm through Edward’s in a possessive manner.

“Nice to meet you,” Bella smiled, turning and ushering Liam to her. “This is my boyfriend…”

“Liam,” he said as he wrapped his arms around Bella’s waist.

Bella was suddenly annoyed. She didn’t appreciate the possessive nature of Liam’s hold and immediately pulled out of it.

“Edward, we’ll see you this evening. I have to get the groceries back to Charlie’s.”

Edward nodded in understanding. “Okay, Bells.”

Bella grabbed her cart and headed for the check out. She was silent all the way back to her father’s; she wanted privacy for what she was about to say.