Summer solstice

Set The Fire To The Third Bar

So for this chapter, you should all look up the lyrics to Set The Fire To The Third Bar by Snow Patrol. This song basically inspired the entire chapter and just screamed of Bella and Alice. Enjoy.

Set The Fire To The Third Bar

Without Alice, my days had started to blur together and they slowly just dragged on. I had become a shell of my former self as much as I had tried to fight it. I had been the one to end our daily phone calls, each one causing me more pain than the last. I couldn't hear her voice without being able to touch her. It was too much to handle. I had cut off all ties with the outside world, with the exception of Angela. Even if I could not tell her the whole truth, I tried to tell her as much as I could. I told her of Alice and I and how the Cullen's' left due to Dr. Cullen's job and how hard it was to be without her. She had been so caring and accepting that she became my only comfort in that time.

She did come but not as often as I liked. And whenever she did, Jasper would always be lingering close by, masking their scents from the wolves. Between hurries kisses and I love you's; Alice was always gone before I wanted her to be. I tried to find the positive but my entire world was growing darker. I was strong and independent but it didn't mean anything without Alice. Fear of losing her forever paralyzed me to such an extent that some days I never made it out of bed. Charlie didn't know what to do with me and suggested that I go and visit Alice for a weekend. I wish it were that easy but I never knew where they were. None of the Cullen's wanted to put down permanent roots in the hope they could come home soon one day.

I was jarred from my thoughts as Mike jerked the car to a stop. We had all gone out that night, my effort at Angela's request to try and become Bella again. We went to some cheesy romantic comedy and I had somehow gotten placed between Jessica and Mike. I had told Jessica to just go for him but she didn't listen and I was rewarded with death glares. Yes Jessica, I really wanted to be sitting right next to Mike for an entire movie. Sighing, I turned to Mike and unbuckled my seatbelt.

"Thanks for the ride Mike." I told him with a smile as my hand reached for the handle. I felt a pang of sadness, remembering how Alice always had the door open by the time my hand got there.

"It's not a problem." He responded really cheerfully, "Yeah, no I wanted to talk to you actually so it all works out." Mike was bobbing his head, as if it was to reassure me of something.

"Okay." I said slowly, knitting my brow in confusion, "What's up?"

"Well, uh, you've been done lately and I know you were friends with Alice and everything so I just wanted to let you know that I'm here."

I couldn't tell if he was working up towards saying more or if he was leaving it at that. If that was all there was, I was happy with that. It was a nice offer. Sure, I'd never take him up on it but it was still nice.

"But there was something else I wanted to ask you." He added in a rushed tone.

Of course there was a but; this was my life after all. I said nothing and finally forced myself to look at him, knowing he wasn't going to talk until I did.

"I just was wondering if maybe you wanted to go out some time. Like the two of us?" The look of hope on his face made it too hard to just say no and crush him. I was married to Alice, even if she was kind of MIA.

"Let me think about it Mike. I got a lot on my plate right now." I said smiling as best as I could, "It sounds fun though. Thank you." I leaned over and gave him an awkward hug, only to pull back and see him smiling like a moron. My easy let down work.

"That sounds awesome Bella." I smiled again and waved a little as I stepped out of his car. I slowly walked towards my front door, looking around in my bag for my now lost keys. I was completely oblivious towards anything as I did so or else I would have seen Jacob step out from the shadows.