August 12th, 2012

6:12 PM

The decision of what direction to go had yet to be decided by the two young women. The reveal of long hidden feelings had created an unintended barrier that could not easily be dismantled. They could talk all they wanted. It wouldn't ease the tension. In some cases. time was the only solution to tragedy. A tragedy made it sound far more tragic than it actually was, but to Bella, that's what it had felt like. Whether Alice liked to admit it or not, Bella had lost a part of her friend that day. A part she didn't know when she'd see again.

Although she had not received the outcome she had hoped for, she did feel some self-gratification in knowing she had finally been honest for the first time in her life. She had told the object of her affections how she had felt and even if she had gotten her heart broken in the process, it was a relief to know that be it. Once she had gotten over Alice, she wouldn't have to spend another moment asking the grand question of 'what if'. She knew the answer. The answer had been no.

That wasn't to say it would be easy getting over Alice Brandon. Bella's heart had tunnelled on her and refused to look anywhere else. No one had been able to capture Bella like Alice had. It hadn't been an option. For her, love was a commitment— even if it had been a one sided agreement. But that agreement was no longer.

Maybe that's why she found herself on a double date with Leah, Jacob, and a girl named Gianna from Seattle. On a Seattle trips a couple months back, Bella had met Gianna. It had been a wonder what charm Bella could've given off to encourage Gianna to actually want to trade numbers with her. They had spoken a few times on the phone, but Bella hadn't been interested and eventually the conversations had died off. On a whim, Bella had messaged her two days prior to ask if she wanted to do a double date with Jake and Leah. She had avoided asking her obvious choice because sitting in a dark movie theater with Alice would've been the worst possible idea. Gianna had agreed and here they were.

When they met in the lobby of a Port Angeles theater, Bella's tongue stumbled for a proper greeting. Gianna had stunned her into a bumbling mess. Perfectly trimmed eyebrows raised at her arrival. A set of glamorous, white teeth flashed into a smile. Somehow, Heidi found it all to be very charming.

"Ready?" Gianna asked. Bella could only nod stupidly.

"I know that's your date and I mean this as respectfully as possible, but she's hot," Leah whispered loudly to her. Bella could only nod along, half listening. She was more focused on watching Gianna's hips sway. Her sculpted figure accented her body well. Her cruet waist was trimmed and her complexion tan. It caused onlookers to stop mid-stride and glance in her direction as her long, black tresses flowed unrestrained behind her and tumbled down her was a sight to behold. It made it all the more shocking that she had agreed to a date with Bella.

Bella made a show of chivalry by purchasing her date's tickets, to which Gianna also made a show of gratitude that earned the brunette a kiss on the cheek. The teen's face had gone completely red and judging by Gianna's smirk afterwards, she knew the effect she had on Bella.

By the time they found their seats, Bella knew she was way in over her head. It wasn't exactly like she had low self esteem— no she did, who was she kidding? It had probably been at its lowest since Alice's rejection and sitting next to a gorgeous girl like Gianna wasn't helping that very much. Her palms had begun to sweat and she nervously wiped them on her thighs.

"I'm so happy you invited me out," Gianna whispered to her as the final preview concluded and the theater was plunged into darkness. Bella shivered at the warmth of her breath.

"Really?" She replied back, admittedly shocked.

"Of course. I thought you were really cute."

For the half hour, Bella couldn't stop smiling. She also couldn't stop sipping her soda. It was a nervous habit. It gave her something to do. Gianna wouldn't stop stealing glances at her throughout the movie and Bella's face would most likely be permanently on fire. The beverage cooled her some. By then, Christian Bale had gotten himself trapped down a well in the middle of nowhere and Bella didn't mind missing that for a much needed bathroom break.

"I'll be right back," she told her friends and squeezed through the aisle.

Bella had been washing her hands when the door opened. She watched it through the mirror and saw Gianna step inside. Her face lit up when she spotted Bella and strode over to her, leaning against the sink beside the brunette.

"I didn't want to say anything in the movie, but… do you want to get out of here?"

Bella fought down the impulse to scream 'yes' to whatever Gianna asked of her. Her friends were still in the theater and they'd notice their absence. She hadn't been in a situation like this before and regardless of how attractive her date was, it was probably still a dick move to leave a double date to pursue a solo one.

"You can text your friends. I'm sure they won't mind. They seemed pretty laidback," Gianna assured her.

Bella had no clue whether she actually believed what her date had told or that she just wanted to. At any rate, the brunette had at least thought about doing the right thing. That was enough, wasn't it?

The brunette sent a quick text to her friends— at least they would see it after the movie and know Bella hadn't fallen in the toilet or been abducted on her way back.

"Don't worry," Gianna said to her. They were cutting through the lobby and exiting out through the main doors. When it was time to cross the parking lot, she used this as an excuse to take Bella's hand.

Bella didn't mind one bit.

There was a place that overlooked the Port Angeles harbor. It had a simple structure with wooden benches beneath it. Gianna had passed over it for the grassy area behind it. More privacy, Bella guessed. She had taken a fleece blanket with plaid patterns from her trunk and placed it on the ground before encouraging Bella to sit down. Then she sat close enough for theirs thighs to touch.

The sun had begun to set and baked their skin in a palette of colors that made them glow in the dying light. It created an atmosphere that was undeniably romantic. All that was missing was a bottle of champagne and a proposal.

"My parents live a few blocks from here," Gianna shared. At Bella's visible panic, she waved away the brunette's concerns. "I'm not introducing you to my parents. That's just how I know this place. I used to go here all the time before I left for college."

"Oh," Bella nodded, feeling incredibly dumb.

"So, Forks? I don't want to sound naive, but I didn't think anyone under fifty lived there.."

Bella laughed. "You're definitely not naive. Sometimes I don't even believe I live there, but I've been there all my life. I can't wait to get out of there."

"Do you know where you want to go?"

"I don't know, honestly. I want to be a nurse and I could probably go anywhere for that. I wanted to go to UW, but a friend of mine wants to go to New York. I just don't really see myself living in a place like that. We've been friends all our life and neither of us wants to split up, so it's just kind of difficult to know what's the right choice."

Gianna had been nodding along attentively. When Bella finished and looked to the woman for advice, the raven haired beauty reached out to take her hand. "Listen. I know how hard it is to leave people behind. A few of my friends went out of state. The thing is, college is hard. It's even harder in a new place, especially when that place is in a different state. Whatever you decide to do, don't decide to do it just because of a friend. You wouldn't think so now, but you can always make new friends."

If it were any other person in the world except Alice, Bella would have agreed with her. It wasn't though. Alice had been by her side for every major moment in her life. The ones that really mattered, anyway. They had taken their first steps together. They had shared their first bath. They had even been potty trained together. That one was kind of embarrassing, but it showed a longstanding bond between them. It felt like a waste to let that sever. But Bella knew she shouldn't risk a future of misery because she was afraid to let go of the past.

"Maybe you're right," Bella admitted glumly.

Noticing the change in the brunette's demeanor, Gianna had been quick to change the subject. "Hey, do you smoke?"

"What?" Bella asked, taken off guard. "I don't really like cigarettes."

"Me either." There was a mischievous glint in Gianna's eye.

Bella seriously thought she was going to wet her pants. They were driving in Gianna's car and her date was in the middle of telling the most hilarious —and ridiculous— story Bella had ever heard.

"So, we're— we're all just in the middle of a pet store. I'm in a clown costume, complete with the makeup and everything. I have three other pledges next to me. They're in costumes too. I'm practically in tears, explaining to the clerk that we're supposed to purchase a bunny for haze week and all the pledges are supposed to have a bunny for their assigned teams so we can race them. The clerk is refusing and at that point, I'm completely hysterical. I start making a few threats and that's how I wound up becoming a viral video…"

"Oh my god," Bella wheezed. She's clutched her sides from how hard she was laughing. "That's actually one of my favorite videos. I thought it was staged."

"Nope," Gianna snorted. "That was one-hundred percent real, unfortunately. Even the part where I snatched off the clown wig and threatened to beat the cashier with it. In my defense though, he wasn't being very sympathetic to my situation."

"That situation was you dressed as a clown, threatening people if they didn't let you kidnap a bunny.."

Gianna shrugged. "I didn't make the rules. I just mindlessly followed them."

"Please tell me you didn't join that sorority."

"I had to! I threatened like five people in one day on camera. There was no way I wasn't joining after that. That would have made it all for nothing."

"That would have made you sane!"

Gianna turned to her at a red light. "Bella, you saw the video. Clearly, I am not sane."

They both burst out laughing.

The light turned green and Gianna returned her focus to the world. At least she had been sane enough to drive responsibly. Even if they were both under the influence. It took two left turns and one right before they were back and the theater. Jake and Leah had just been walking out when they pulled up to the curb. Bella felt the guilt resurface when her friends spotted her.

"I have a feeling they're going to be mad at me," Bella sighed, unbuckling her seatbelt.

"They'll get over it eventually. I know I have."

"You've been ditched before?"

"I have," Gianna confessed, then smiled. "Maybe I can tell you about it next time."

Bella felt her stomach twists in little knots. The idea Gianna wanted to do this again made her feel overjoyed. "You want there to be a next time?"

"Yes, don't you?"

It was the first time that evening that Gianna looked uncertain. The expression was out of place for a girl like her. Bella was quick to assure her that, that was not the case.

"Definitely. This is the most fun I've had in a long time."

"Good. Then we'll definitely do this again sometime."

Content, Bella nodded and reached for the door handle.

"Wait," Gianna called out to her. Bella paused and turned to look.

Gianna had started to lean over the console. At first, Bella didn't understand what was happening, but when her date's eyes flickered to her lips and back up, the brunette got the picture. She could feel her heart race inside of her chest. A rapid thumping that had her seriously concerned her heart would fly out of her chest and onto the dashboard. She eventually found herself leaning forward and soon their lips brushed, tentatively at first. When Gianna was certain they both wanted this, she pressed hers more firmly to Bella's and smiled into the kiss when she felt the brunette beginning to reciprocate. Weaving a hand in Bella's hair, Gianna gently pulled her they separated, they were both lightly panting and staring at each other. It was Bella who broke the silence first.

"Holy crap."

Then they were laughing again.

August 13th, 2012 (The Next Day)

1:06 PM

"You guys kissed?" Jasper asked from the front counter. He had worked at this convenience store every summer alongside Bella and his sister since freshman year. Bella had been the only one to work all year round. It beat flipping patties like Edward's dad had his son doing. There's no shame in working for the food industry, but there may be some in working alongside a kid like Mike Newton.

Bella carried a box from the stock room and set it in front of one of the shelves, restocking the chips. "Yeah. It was… amazing. I didn't go there with high expectations, but I'm actually really excited to see her again."

"See who again?" Alice walked out of the bathroom just then, drying her hands with paper towels.

"Don't you have a job somewhere?" Rosalie asked from the freezer she was currently leaned up against, nose buried in book on quantum mechanics. Believe it or not, that was light reading.

"At the boutique," Alice lightly corrected. "Rita's daughter is in town for the day, so she gave me the day off. I figured I could come here and help out. I doubt your boss minds a little free labor."

"Or you could go home…" Rosalie muttered.

"But then you wouldn't get to see me." Alice pouted adorably. She strode over to the blonde and placed a kiss on her cheek, dancing away before Rosalie could land a furious hand on her. "So what were we talking about? Whose Bella seeing again?"

"Her date from Saturday," Jasper revealed with a smirk, watching Alice closely. They all were, even Bella. Although she was less conscious of the fact.

"Oh— oh," Alice stuttered, wide eyed. "That's… that's great. That's amazing actually."

"They even kissed," Jasper added. "Bella said it was amazing. By the way she described it, I believe her."

"You guys kissed?" Alice gaped at her, her voice an octave higher. A nervous laugh bubbled from her throat and she tried to recover, reframing it as excitement. "Wow! That's great! I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks…" Bella mumbled, unsure just how much of that was genuine.

"I can't wait to meet her. Seriously— but hey, I'm actually going to head out. I forgot about an errand my mom wants me to run."

Jasper cocked his head to the side. "What errand?"

"Oh, you know." Alice waved her hand out flippantly. "I'll see you guys later."

"Shame." Jasper feigned looking disappointed. Bella still didn't understand what was going on and why she had a sudden rage directed towards Jasper.

When Alice left, Rosalie watched her go with a frown.

Song Used: Another Love by Tom Odell

AN: This chapter took me a long, long time to write. if any of my original readers checked in for this, thank you so much. Sorry about the fake update. I made a new cover for the story. The old one and the new one are both done by me. I really enjoy making them. Anyways, here's to the return of our star-crossed lovers! I don't intend to keep Gianna around long. I kind of forgot the direction I had intended for this story, but Bellice is still the intended ending for this.