following your dream chapter 13

BPOV

Present June 2012

I slowly woke up to the warm LA sun coming in through the window of my condo or should I say James’s condo. I love this place. It is so spacious and comfortable, but most importantly it was the only place that I could go to when I need some alone time. Unfortunately James didn't like me running off so many times to come here, so he disposed of my keys. But what he doesn't know is that I have another set and I keep them in a secret hiding spot. True, it was my money that paid for it but James made sure that everything was in his name. When I came to New York to attend school I was so innocent and naive. I know now that he took advantage of me and I let him. I was so heartbroken over Edward and I didn't want to feel anything for any other guy, so I closed my heart. I thought that I was safe with James, but I was wrong. If only I had known then what I know now, I would have done a lot of things differently.

September 2008

"Hey Bella wait up."

I turned around to see Angela Weber, a girl from my classical chamber music class running towards me. She was the first friend I had made here when I arrived a month ago.

"Hi Ang. What's up?" I greeted.

We started walking towards the school's book store.

"You’ll never guess what Bella?" she said breathlessly.

She didn’t give me a chance to answer before she continued.

"James Hunter is coming to the school to see the concert," she said giving a dreamy sigh.

I looked at her with a confused look on my face.

"James who?" I frowned.

Angela looked at me as if I had grown two heads.

“Oh my god Bella, James Hunter is only the most gorgeous, sexy, dreamy guy in the world. And on top of that he is the most popular record producer that Atlanta Records have," she sighed.

I shrugged my shoulders to show her that I didn't really care. There is no guy out there that is more handsome and sexy than my Edward.

My Edward! I had to stop thinking about him as being mine. He was with Tanya now. I hadn’t fought for him, I had just run away to New York and left him, like the coward that I was.

I looked down and started to fiddle with the necklace that he had given me. I could still vividly remember what he told me as he put it around my neck.

‘I want you to think of this pendant as a promise. I promise you Bella that I will always be there for you. No matter where you are in the world, if you need me then I will be there. It is also a symbol of us and to swear to you that you are not alone. Not now, not ever.

"Bella did you hear what I said?" Angela asked.

I shook my head hoping to get rid of the memory. I looked up at Angela and gave her a little smile.

"Yeah that's nice. It will be great to meet him," I told Angela.

"It will be great but right now I better get to class," she giggled and ran off.

I really needed to get my life in order. Edward was a part of my past and if he wanted to talk to me he would have found a way to do it. He could easily contact Emmett for my phone number but he must be too busy boning Tanya to even think about me I thought bitterly as I walked towards class.

I had to run to make it to my vocal jazz class. I was already five minutes late and Michelle Brody was an impatient woman. I turned the corner and walked smack into a hard body and fell to the ground.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," I apologized, whilst picking up the papers that I had dropped.

The person that I bumped into knelt down and helped me pick them up.

"I should be the one to apologize. I wasn’t looking where I was going,” he answered.

I looked up at him and the first thing I noticed was that he had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. He was well built, with blond hair pulled back into a ponytail. He looked like he was in his twenties. 

He smiled when I looked at him and it went straight to his eyes. They almost look like they are laughing.

"Thank you, but I'm afraid I’m late for class," I whispered.

He helped me get to my feet and handed me the papers that he had picked up for me.

"No problems Miss…..?"

"Swan, Bella Swan," I answered.

"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl," he cooed.

"Thank you but I really must go," I blushed and ran toward my class. I could barely hear him calling after me.

"I hope to see you soon Swan, Bella Swan."

          ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ FYD ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Three weeks went by and I hadn’t seen my good looking blond stranger again. It was the night of the concert and I was so nervous. The students who were just singing vocals could choose their own songs, so I had decided to sing a song that showed the love and admiration I felt for my father and how much I missed him. I knew that the guy Angela was telling me about was going to be in the audience tonight. It also so happened that today was my 17th birthday. Emmett and Rose were coming over for the first time to see the concert and to look around the school. They planned to take me out for a birthday dinner later. I was hurt that Edward didn’t come with them. Emmett hadn’t said anything about him and I wasn’t going to mention him either unless my big ass brother did first.

I was in my dorm room looking for a dress that Alice had bought me on our last shopping spree, when someone knocked on the door. I went to answer it wearing only a towel, as I thought it was just Angela, only to find Emmett and Rose on the other side.

As soon as Emmett saw me he covered his eyes.

"Oh my fucking eyes. I'm blind, I'm blind," he said jumping up and down with his hands still covering his eyes. Being the idiot that he is, he bumped into a wall and fell back.

"Emmett you doofus. Behave or go down to the Hall and save us a seat," Rose laughed.

Emmett nodded and walked away, mumbling under his breath that he needed bleach for his eyes. Rose continued to laugh as she followed me into my room.

"So what are you planning to wear tonight?" she asked while she made herself comfortable on my arm chair.

"Err, I was just looking for that cream beaded dress that you and Alice bought me before I left Seattle," I answered, while continuing to look for the dress. Rose got up, closed my closet and handed me a box.

"This is for you, it’s from Alice and me. We thought that you might like to wear it tonight for the concert and dinner. Alice told me to take lots of photos of you in it," she grinned.

I couldn't believe that they had both pulled this on me. They knew how much I hated surprises, but I opened the box anyway. I gasped when I saw it. It was a lace top black dress. It was beautiful and just right for a night like tonight.

Rose smiled as I touched the top of the dress that was covered in lace.

"It’s made by the designer Emilio Pucci," she said proudly. I quickly put the dress down on my bed and pulled her in for a hard hug.

"Thank you, thank you, and thank you. I absolutely love it," I glowed.

She laughed as she pushed me towards the bathroom.

"Why don't you finish your make-up and then I will do your hair. Trust me, you’re going to look stunning," she smirked.

Forty Five minutes later I was ready to leave. I had a minimal amount of makeup on. Rose had straightened my long hair and it fell down my back like a curtain. The dress fitted perfectly, it went to just past my knees and showed off my curves beautifully. My black Jimmy Choo toe top shoes with a one and half inch heal completed the outfit. As soon as we got to the Hall Rose pulled me in for a quick hug.

"I'll see you later Bells," she whispered and went to join my brother.

The concert had already started, so I slipped quietly backstage. I was waiting patiently for my name to be called when I heard someone behind me.

"Bella Swan is that you?"

I turned around and came face to face with Jacob Black. He used to live on the reservation in La Push, until his mother packed up and took him with her. He was only a year older than me, but the way he was looking at me now made me very uncomfortable. But I reminded myself that he used to be one of my best friends, but I hadn't seen him for like four years.

"Jake, I can't believe it. What are you doing here?"

He smirked at me as he continued to look me up and down.

"I came here with James Hunter. I've been working for him for two years, ever since I dropped out of school. But enough about me, look at you. You have certainly grown up Bells. What are you doing here?"

"I go to school here. My father and I put in the application before he died," I whimpered.

I could feel the tears coming to my eyes just thinking about my father. I hoped that I could keep it together when I announce the song that I was going to sing.

Jacob put his hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes.

"I'm so sorry Bells. My dad told me what happened to Charlie. If there is anyth..."

"BELLA SWAN. YOU’RE NEXT," yelled my vocal coach.

I nodded to her and was just about to follow her when I suddenly remembered Jacob. I turned around and he was glaring at me.

"Err, I'll see you later," I mumbled.

I could feel his eyes burning a hole into the back of my head while I watched Marcus Jones, the school’s principal, introduce me. I walked blindly onto the stage with flash bulbs going off in my face. I quickly searched for Emmett and Rose's faces. I finally found them on the second row. I kept eye contact with Emmett while I introduced the song that I was singing, so that I could see his face when he realised who I was dedicating it to.

"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. Before I sing tonight’s song, I would like to say a few words about someone very special to me. My Father."

I took a deep breath before I continued, making sure that I continued to keep eye contact with Emmett.

"My dad was a wonderful man. He always supported my dreams and it is because of him that I came to this school. He always encouraged me to follow my dreams. Sadly he died in a car crash earlier this year. I would like to dedicate this song to him. It is called Unforgettable by Nat King Cole."

Emmett and Rose's eyes were shining with tears when the music started. I waited for my cue and then started singing for the man who loved and supported me unconditionally.

Unforgettable, that's what you are.

Unforgettable, though near or far.

Like a song of love that clings to me.

How the thought of you does things to me.

Never before has someone been more.

Unforgettable in every way.

Tears were falling freely from my eyes, as I poured my heart and soul into the song.

And forever more, that's how you'll stay.

That's why, darling, it's incredible.

That someone so unforgettable.

Thinks that I am unforgettable too.

Unforgettable in every way.

And forever more, that's how you'll stay.

That's why, darling, it's incredible.

That someone so unforgettable.

Thinks that I am unforgettable too.

I finished the song with my eyes closed and you could have heard a pin drop it was so quiet. Then suddenly there was a loud cheer. I opened my eyes to see everyone in the Hall giving me a standing ovation. I looked straight at Emmett and he was holding a sobbing Rose in his arms, as he cried into her hair.

I walked off the stage, the tears blinding me. I could barely hear the chanting

Encore, Encore!!!

I knew that I wasn’t in the right state of mind to sing again but I also didn’t want to let anyone down. Luckily the principal Marcus Jones made the decision for me.

"I know, I know, wasn’t she great but I'm afraid that we will have to move along with the concert," he told the crowd.

I was just leaving the Hall to go and get ready for my birthday dinner when I bumped into the guy that I had been thinking about for the past few weeks.

"Well hello there Swan, Bella Swan. I was hoping to bump into you," he laughed.

I could feel my cheeks burning while he was talking.

"I think that it is best that I introduce myself. My name is Hunter, James Hunter," he smirked.

He sounded like James bond. It took me a few seconds to realize that this was the guy from Atlanta Records and if possible my face got even redder.

"I want to let you know that I think your voice is magnificent and I was hoping that we could maybe have a chat?"

I couldn't believe it. This gorgeous record producer liked my voice and wanted us to have a chat about it. I felt like I was in seventh heaven.

"I'm really sorry but I’m just on my way to meet my brother and his wife for dinner, so if there is any other time we could meet I would be there with bells on," I blushed.

He laughed and put his hand on my right cheek to stroke it with his thumb.

"I really like your blush," he flirted.

If possible my face got even redder with that complement.

"Well, since you’re having dinner with your brother and his wife tonight, how about having dinner with me tomorrow night so that we can talk before I get the red eye back to LA?"

"Yeah, I'd like that," I smiled.

He put his hand into his pocket and took out a card with his cell number on it and handed it to me.

"Great. How about 8.30pm at the Eclipse restaurant. Do you know it?"

I nodded yes, so he continued.

"Okay then. My cell number is on the card just in case you can't make it but I really hope that you can," he smirked and walked away, leaving me dumb struck.

It took me about five minutes to get my head together, before I went to find Rose and Emmett. I found them in the middle of the Hall talking to Angela's parents. I walked over to them, said a quick hello to Mr. and Mrs. Weber and practically dragged Rose out of the hall and up to my dorm. As soon as we got into my room, Rose put on her mother bear face.

"Okay Bells, what gives?"

"I don't know what you mean," I smirked. Rose stood there with her arms across her chest and tapped her foot, waiting for me to talk.

"You know damn well what I mean. So you better start talking," Rose demanded.

I then told her about bumping into James a few weeks ago and then about how it turned out he was a record producer. As I continued, I told her what he had said about my voice and that he wanted to meet tomorrow to talk. Rose sat patiently waiting for me to finish.

"Bells, remember that you’re my sister and I love you. Just please, please be careful around this guy and promise me that you will talk to me and Emmett before you makes any decisions," she pleaded.

I gave her a weak smile.

“I promise Rose,” I answered.

I picked up my clutch bag and wrap, and after a final peak in the mirror, we walked out of the dorms to where my brother was waiting outside.

          ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ FYD ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I pulled up outside the Eclipse restaurant at 8.20pm the following evening, thinking about what I should expect from tonight. I was so nervous about meeting James Hunter. He scared and intrigued me both at the same time.

I thought back to what my brother had said last night. I should have known that Rose wouldn’t be able to keep anything to herself.

“Bells, please don’t go into anything halfcocked. You will only live to regret it if you do,” he said.  

I promised him that I wouldn’t. I shivered wishing that I had worn a warmer coat. I looked down at what I was wearing. I had chosen to wear my black skinny jeans that made my ass look great, and a red blouse that showed a modest amount of cleavage. I walked into the restaurant and approached the hostess stand. I waited for the blondie, who was smacking gum, to acknowledge me standing there. She looked up at me as if I was the gum that she just scraped off the end of her shoe.

“May I help you?”

“Yes, my name is Isabella Swan and I am here to meet with Mr. James Hunter. I believe that he has a reservation,” I smiled through my annoyance.

Her smirk fell from her face and was replaced by shock. She looked down at the reservations and then looked back at me and smiled.

“Err...yes, he is expecting you Miss Swan. Please come this way,” she stuttered and walked ahead of me. She led me towards a private room. Inside sat James Hunter with Jacob Black. They both stood up as I walked in. James gave me a panty dropping smile and pulled out a chair for me. The hostess took my coat and I sat down opposite him and Jacob.

“May I get you a drink?

I ordered a coke and she walked out.

Jacob looked at me with a ghost of a smile on his lips.

“Hey Bells”.

“Hi Jake,” I answered. James looked from me to him.

“Am I missing something here? Do you both know each other,” he asked glaring at Jacob.

Jake looked at James and nodded.

“I have known Bella for years. Her father and my father were best friends,” he explained.

James looked from Jacob to me and smiled. This time his face was serious.

“Isabella, the reason I asked for you to meet me here is to tell you that I love your voice and that I would like to set up a recording contract. I would like you to come to LA and record an album. Not a single but a full album.”

He paused before he continued.

“Now that I have seen you, I think we should also think about filming. Are you interested?” he asked taking a sip of his wine.

I was speechless with what he was proposing. I shook my head to get rid of the shock.

“Of course I’m interested. I just need to think about it,” I said with surprised wide eyes.

I felt like I should say yes straight away but all I could think about was Edward. I subconsciously put my hand up to where the necklace that Edward gave me was still hung around my neck.

James looked at me thoughtfully.

“Are you seeing someone or waiting for someone?” He asked.

I jumped, not expecting him to hit the nail right on the head and I nodded.

“In a way, but it’s complicated,” I answered honestly.

He nodded and looked at Jacob telling him something with his eyes. They got up and James looked at me.

“They will bill me. Please order anything that you want.”

He took his wallet out and handed me a card. It was different than the one that he gave me last night. It was a business card.

Atlanta Records

Mr. James Hunter (Producer) - (225) 236-7475 ext 1741

Mr Jacob Black (Personal Assistant) (225) 236-7475 ext 1758

“We have to leave to catch the red-eye to LA. When you make a decision then please contact me,” he smiled, but I notice that this time his smile didn’t go to his ice cold blue eyes.

He and Jacob went to leave the room but before he walked out the door, he turned to me.

“Isabella, remember this. If you don’t contact me then I will be contacting you,” he smirked and left the room leaving me dumb struck. 

Teaser for chapter 12 of All Alone

“I got off the phone to mum about half an hour ago. She was furious when she heard that Carmen set Edward’s mother up as your ob – gyn. After I got off the phone with her she rang aunt Carmen and really and truly tore her to pieces. Im surprised that you didn’t hear it all with the amount of yelling that Carmen was doing. It was when mum said that her and dad are going to move out here so that they can keep a closer eye on us she calmed down. She told her that there was no need and that she would change you ob - gyn.”

Alice took a deep breath before continuing.

“Bells, I’m really worried. I don’t know what is going on with Carmen and why she is so against my parents coming here and you been in their care but I promise you that I will find out,” Alice told me with a worried look in her eyes. 

All Alone chapter 11

BPOV

"Bella, wake up! The captain has switched on the ‘fasten your seatbelt’ sigh," Alice whispered.

I slowly opened my eyes and yawned. I hadn’t meant to doze off. The last thing I remembered was getting comfortable in my seat and closing my eyes when we had been in the air for about twenty minutes.

Once Alice told me that we are landing, I was suddenly wide awake. I fastened my seatbelt and waited for the plane to land.

            ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~AA~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Thirty-five minutes later we were waiting at luggage claim in LAX for our bags. Suddenly I heard a squeal coming from behind us.

"Ali sweetie, you have come at last."

I turned around to see a woman in her late thirties or early forties, wearing a mini skirt, and a top at least two sizes too small.

"Hi Aunt Carmen," Alice said softly, as she fell into her embrace.

"How is my sweet and wonderful niece?" she cooed.

After hugging Alice for about five minutes she turned to me, and looked me up and down.

"You must be Isabella? Look at you, you’re such a sweet young thing. It is lovely to meet you. I just wish that it was under better circumstances, but don't worry we will take good care of you and your little one," she said all in one breath, while stroking my stomach.

I instantly felt uncomfortable with this kind of affection. Thank goodness Alice picked up on it.

"Okay Aunt Carmen, we are both tired, so please lead the way, “she said.

We started make our way out of the airport, but when we were approaching the exit Alice shot off and ran like a bat out of hell and threw her arms around some guy. He was good looking, tall and slim, with black hair and grey eyes. He looked to be in his early forties.

"Uncle Eleazar, I can't believe that we are here. I have missed you so much," she squealed.

He pulled out of the embrace, laughing heartily.

"Alice, Alice, you never change. You’re still a ball of energy," he laughed, whilst twirling her around.

He pulled back and then looked at me.

"Let me guess! You’re Isabella," he stated.

"Just Bella," I smiled. He took my hand to shake it but at the last second he decided against it and pulled me in for a hug instead. He stepped back when he was finished.

"I'm Eleazar, but you can call me Uncle Eleazer, as from now on you’re family," he smiled.

I smiled back, liking him more and more. I wondered how a guy like him could be married to a woman like Carmen. I took an instant liking to him, but Carmen made me feel very uncomfortable, as she kept looking me up and down.

Give her a break Bella. You only just met her and she is giving you a roof over your head. She can't be all bad, I thought to myself.

Eleazer finally decided to break the silence.

"Okay everyone, let’s get into the car so that we can go home before anyone gets any older," he joked.

We walked to the car park and got into a Toyota RAV4 EV and drove towards Beverly Hills. It was about 2.45 am, so it was no wonder that my eyes started dropping. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew I was shaken awake by Carmen.

"Isabella? Wake up, we're here!" she said in a demanding tone.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the place that Alice and I would be calling home for at least the next year and a half.

It was a single-story French contemporary, with a shared driveway. Inside were marble and hardwood floors, high ceilings and French doors. I couldn't believe that this was the place that I would be staying. It was the kind of place that movie stars lived in. Suddenly it hit me like a bolt out of the blue and I got very afraid. What if Edward lived in a place like this? The only thing that I knew was that he lives in LA. He could be the next door neighbour for all I knew. I was shaking as I got out of the car, thinking that there where spies all around the place waiting to report back to Edward.

Once I was out of the car I tripped on the marble driveway and blackness took over.

           ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~AA~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I felt like I was in a daze and the voices that I could hear sounded like they were coming from a badly tuned radio. I heard Alice, but couldn’t understand what she was saying.

"Not a good idea.....You don't know what you have done.....She is going to run.....Get her out of here....She can't know that she is here."

Then I could hear Carmen's voice.

"She is the best....Isabella should be grateful...If she is not happy."

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around me. I was in a big cream room with a king size bed and pine furniture. Sitting on the bed next to me was Alice, and her aunt and uncle were standing at the end of the bed. I looked towards Alice.

"What happened?" I croaked.

Alice looked at me and gave me a sad smile.

“You fell out of the car and knocked yourself unconscious," she said.

Carmen came towards the bed.

"Isabella, I have the ob-gyn here. She is a good friend of mine and she is the best that there is. Would it be okay if she took a look at you, to make sure that you and the baby are okay?"

I looked at Alice and noticed that she had gotten very pale. She looked like she was going to be sick at any moment. I didn’t understand what the problem was. It was only the ob-gyn.

"Sure, I have no problem with that," I said weakly.

Carmen went to get her, while Alice took hold of my hand and looked me in the eyes.

"Bells, I honestly don't think that you will want this person to be your ob-gyn. Please let us get you someone else," she begged.

"What is the problem Ali?" I asked feeling confused.

Alice took a deep breath before answering me.

"Bells, the ob-gyn that my aunt Carmen called is............"

She didn’t get chance to finish, as we heard a gasp coming from the door way. I looked over at the woman that stood there frozen on the spot.

Edward's mother! 

I laid my head back in panic.

"OMG, OMG, OH MY GOD!" I chanted. Alice looked from me to Edward’s mom, with a scared look on her face. Dr Masen finally shook herself out of her daze and came over to me.

"Bella, you need to calm down. It is not good for you or the baby to get yourself worked up," she cooed.

I looked over at her and knew that in just a few hours my time in LA would be over, and that Edward would know where I was. That thought alone sent me into another panic. Dr Masen whispered something to Alice and Alice held my hand and started stroking the back of it with her thumb.

"It's going to be okay, it’s going to be okay," she whispered soothingly.

I finally calmed down so the Dr Masen could exam me.

After giving me an examination and checking for the baby’s heartbeat with her stethoscope, she finished up and put her things away. I looked at the clock and saw that it was 7am. Apart from my nap on the plane, Alice and I have been awake for twenty four hours straight.

Elizabeth Masen looked at me with motherly concern.

"Bella everything looks to be alright, but I need you to come in for an ultrasound as soon as possible," she said calmly.

I nodded at her and she turned to go. I knew that I couldn’t let her leave like this.

"STOP!"

She froze and turned around. < here you have her going but then talking to Bella about due dates and appointments – this doesn’t really make sense to me, so I’d consider editing it!!

"Dr Masen, as my doctor I’m asking you not to tell your son where I am, but as his mother I understand if you can't keep this from him. However, if you do tell him I will have no choice but to disappear again. I won't be forced into having an abortion, not by him, not by anyone," I cried.

A flash of sadness came over her face but it was gone as fast as it appeared. She came over to me and took both of my hands into hers.

"Bella, as your doctor I can't tell Edward anything without your consent. Please understand though that he does have a good heart. He's just not thinking straight and he truly believes that he is acting in your best interests. But I know that he will hurt if you do have an abortion and as his mother I have to tell you that Edward isn’t what you think he is. It is not my place to tell you but I need you to realise that he has gone through a lot in his short life. I promise I won’t tell him where you are, but I ask you as his mother and grandmother to your baby that you go to him when you believe that the time is right."

I smiled at her and told her what she wanted to hear.

"I will, I promise."

She nodded as she took out her organiser.

"I need to know what the date of your last period was?" she asked while going through her organiser.

"Erm, it was the 7th of November, only 12 or 13 days before the premiere of Bite." I told her.

She looked up at me and smiled.

"I know only too well the date you met my son in Seattle Bella," she laughed.

She continued to go through her organiser.

"I’d estimate that you are around 12 weeks 3 days pregnant. I know that you are only just getting settled in but I would like to do an ultrasound as soon as possible. Today is Tuesday so would it be possible to come to Westside Pregnancy Clinic on Friday at 2pm, so that we can get everything done then?"

I told her yes and she made a note of the appointment.

"Bella I want to talk to you, not as your doctor, but as the grandmother of this baby. I was wondering if I could tell my husband and maybe even Emmett where you are?" she asked nervously.

I suddenly felt another panic attack coming on. Before I knew it Alice was next to me with her arms around me. She looked at Elizabeth with fury flashing in her eyes.

"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. HOW COULD YOU ASK HER THAT? WE JUST MOVED AWAY FROM HOME SO THAT YOUR BASTARD OF A SON CAN'T FIND HER AND YOU ASK HER PERMISSION TO TELL HIS FATHER AND BROTHER WHERE SHE IS? IF YOU TOLD THEM, THEN WE MAY AS WELL PUT A SIGN ON THE HOUSE SAYING EDWARD MOTHERFUCKING MASEN YOU WILL FIND ISABELLA SWAN HERE," she Yelled.

Elizabeth looked shocked at the way Alice yelled at her but nodded anyway.

"I'm sorry, I didn’t think. Of course I won't tell them but Bella, please think about letting me be a part of my grandbaby's life. He or she will be so loved by us and our family," she begged with tears in her eyes.

Alice was still trying to comfort me as well as trying to calm herself down.

"I think you should leave, Bella and I have been awake for over twenty four hours and really need to get some sleep. We will see you Friday," she snapped and turned away from her to show her that she was done here.

She continued to cuddle into me while I cried into her shoulder. I could barely hear Elizabeth Masen leaving the room. I felt like I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, so I closed them and fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

            ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~AA~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I slowly opened my eyes, yawned and looked around the big bright room, forgetting for a second where I was. Then I remembered I was in LA. I then suddenly remembered seeing Elizabeth Masen and that she was now my ob-gyn. I jumped out of bed so quickly that my head started to spin. I got a little dizzy so I sat down again. After a few minutes I got up again, only slower this time. I didn’t know what to do or where I should go. The only place I had seen was the inside of this bedroom. I didn’t even know where Alice’s room was. Then I got the sudden idea to ring her cell because I really and truly didn’t want to go looking in every bedroom for her. Just as I was about to ring her, my cell beeped with a new message.

Are you awake yet? –A

I smiled to myself thinking that she always knows the best time to ring or text.

Yeah, just woke up. Can you come to my room? -B

B right there. – A

I laughed as I put my cell down on the bedside locker, and went to have a look in my suitcase to find something decent to wear. Fresh as a daisy the little pixie came charging into the room.

“Stop what you are doing right now,” she commanded putting her hands up.

I froze where I stood, while she went over to my suitcase and went through the clothes that she packed for me.

“Why don’t you go and have a nice hot shower and I will find you something to wear,” she said, not even bothering to look up from the clothes that she was scattering on my bed.

I went into the bathroom without a second thought. I knew that when Alice gets into this mood, it’s best to simply let her be. I striped off my pjs and put the water on hot. Once I got under the spray I started to think about everything that had happened over the last few weeks and how much my life has changed. If someone had told me three months ago that I would be pregnant with Edward Masen’s baby and that I would move to LA just to get away from him, I would have laughed in their face.

As I stood in the warm shower I continued to think. I thought about everyone that I had ever cared about. I thought about Esme and Carlisle, my mom and dad, Alec, Alice, Angela and Edward. Out of everyone Esme, Carlisle and Alice were the ones that had stood by me through it all. I felt so stupid for ever falling for Edward’s charms, but he made me feel so special. Sadly, I know now that he makes everyone who he sleeps with feel special. I’m not the only one. I can’t help but think back to the night that we were together and how wonderful and sweet he was.

I sank to the floor in the shower and pulled myself up into the foetal position and cried. I cried for my parents and my brother. I cried because of how much I had turned Esme, Carlisle and Alice’s lives upside down. And finally I cried for Edward and the man that I thought he was. I so badly wanted him to be the man that I fell in love with at the premiere and for him to be a father to our baby, but I knew that wasn’t going to happened. I continued to cry until the water went cold. I could faintly hear a knock on the bathroom door.

“Bella are you alright in there?” Alice said frantically.

I couldn’t bring myself to answer her, but the next thing I knew Alice was putting a towel around my shoulders and bringing me into the bedroom. She threw a bathrobe over me and continued to rub her arms up and down over mine, to get some heat into my body. A fresh batch of tears came to surface.

“Why Ali? Why can’t he love me and our baby? Why do I have to love him as much as I do?” I cried.

She stopped running her arms over mine and pulled me in for a hug. For such a small person she is awfully strong.

“I don’t know Bells. I wish for your sake that I did. The only thing I can say is that I believe that he has deep dark issues and that they have nothing to do with you. But remember you and the baby have me, my parents and my aunt and uncle. I promise you that we won’t let you down.”

I cried in her arms for at least another hour before she pulled me up and told me to get dressed, so that she could show me the rest of the house and get something to eat.

Shortly after she had me dressed in a pair of blue skinny jeans, a size bigger than I usually wear, and a white tank top with a pair of black flat sandals.

We went to explore the house and I had honestly never seen anything like it before. I simply fell in love with the kitchen; it was very spacious and had everything that you would ever need. I loved the granite counters in there too. Alice introduced me to Heidi, a lovely woman in her fifties who was the cook. As soon as she met me she pulled me in and gave me a motherly hug. After we finished a lunch of ham and cheese subs, we continued to look around the house. I absolutely adored the beautiful poolside setting and mountain views.

We could hear sound coming from the pool side, so we went to investigate it.

Lying on a chair next to the pool was a girl about the same age as Alice and I. She was very skinny, but also very beautiful. She looked every bit the California girl, with her long blonde hair, tanned body and blue eyes. She was dressed in a shocking blue skinny bikini. Alice walk right up to her and took the ear buds out of her ears.

“Hi Irina, there is someone I’d like for you to meet,” she smirked putting her hand out to me telling me to come over. I hesitantly walked over to her.

“Bells, this is my cousin Irina. Irina this is my best friend Bella,” she introduced.

Irina looked me up and down, huffed and went to put her ear buds back into her ears. Alice got to them before she could and Irina looked at her angrily.

“What do you want me to say to the little charity case Alice? Do you want me to welcome her to the family? I don’t think so,” she said smugly.

I could tell that Alice was about to lose it when the vain in her temple started to pop. She was about to lay into her but Irina wasn’t finished.

“Do you expect us all to feel sorry for her because she is a slut and can’t keep her legs shut? How can I bring my friends around here now, when my home is invaded with a slut who is pregnant?” she spat hatefully.

I was stunned into silence. For the life of me I didn’t know what to say but Alice lost it.

“You fucking tramp. How dare you speak that way about her when she is standing there next to me and besides you’re a fine one to talk? You must have slept your way through the entire High School by now. You know what? Not everything is about you Irina,” she yelled, her voice dripping with venom.

Irina was taken aback. She was obviously a spoilt princess who wasn’t used to being spoken to like that, and who usually got everything that she wanted.

She looked from Alice to me and then back to Alice again.

“You might have everyone else running around after you, but don’t expect me to feel sorry for you. You are nothing but a slut and a whore, so you better stay away from me so that I won’t catch anything,” she smirked.

She went again to put her ear buds back in but Alice grabbed them along with the iPod and threw them into the pool. We could hear Irina screeching as Alice took my arm and walked up towards her room.

When we got to her room the tears that I was holding back came on like a waterfall. Alice tried to calm me down.

I looked up at her, my eyes red and swollen from crying so much.

“Wh-why does s-sh-she hate me so mu-much?” I hiccupped.

Alice gave me a sad smile.

“Because she is a spoiled princess who is used to being the centre of attention,” she explained.

I continued to cry in Alice’s arms, before I fell into a deep and troublesome sleep.

          ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~AA~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next three days went by fast and before I knew it, it was the day of my ultrasound at Westside Pregnancy Clinic. Carmen had tried to help get me settled into her home but I simply wasn’t comfortable around her. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was just something off about her. In the end she left me alone with Alice. Carmen had not been very pleased when she had heard about the iPod incident and didn’t truly believe Alice when she told her what Irina had said about me, immediately jumping to Irina’s defence.

Uncle Eleazer was going to drive us to the clinic and then after drop us off at the mall, as we needed to buy some school supplies ready for starting school on Monday. I felt so nervous about starting at the new school. Unfortunately Irina also goes to that school, and I can only imagine what she has been saying about me. I am so grateful that Alice will be there with me.

Uncle Eleazer pulled up outside the clinic at 1.45pm, fifteen minutes early. Alice and I got out of the car and walked in through the front doors of the clinic. What I saw next made my heart jump to my throat. It wasn’t the receptionist whom caused this reaction; it was the person that she was talking to.....

Edward.