Possibilities

Chapter 1

"Bella, why must you go across the country?" My best friend Angela asked.

"That's where my family is and I surely don't want to stay here in South Carolina. I love you Angela. But Ben and Tyler are best friends and with him being a reporter, I'd see him everywhere. I really don't want to see him and that tramp Lauren any more than I have too." I replied.

"I guess I can understand that. But I'm going to miss you." Angela hugged me.

"Me too Ang. Thanks for being a wonderful friend through all of this, even when Ben was being an ass to me." I shook my head.

"Hey. We've been roomies and best friends for the past 10 years! I'm the one who introduced you two." She laughed.

"And we did have some good times, until he decided to stick his wick somewhere else." I waved her off.

"You have a way with words." She shook her head.

"That's why I'm a photographer Ang." I smiled.

We finished packing my stuff and loading it on to the U-Haul.

"I still can't believe you let him keep both cars, especially your Mustang! That was your baby." She sighed.

"Oh, he didn't get to 'keep' them. Well his truck he did. But my Mustang he paid dearly for in the divorce. He has a hefty alimony payment every month." I smiled.

"So you did take an alimony settlement?" Angela asked.

"Heck yes. With as much sweat equity as I put into this house, our relationship, I took it. The house he has to sell or pay me half and the judge gave him six months to do that as for the rest I get in a monthly settlement. So I'll only be living with my twin sister and her family for a little bit." I smiled.

"That's awesome. I can't wait until you get your own place so I can come and visit." Angela hugged me.

"Me too. She's got three kids and while I love my niece and nephews, I don't want my own right now. I'm only 25." I shrugged.

Angela laughed with me.

After a week of driving and picture taking, I finally reached Jessica and Mike's house.

I'd called to tell her I was a few minutes out and they were waiting for me in the front yard.

"Bebe!" Jessica ran to me and hugged me.

"Jess you look great!" I held her at arm's length. She'd just had a baby three months ago. My niece Ashlee.

"Well, when you're chasing these two and trying to keep up with Mike's schedule…" she led off.

"I'm just happy to be back home. I've missed you." I hugged her tight.

"Why don't you get your bag and shower. We're going to dinner with dad and his new girlfriend tonight." Jessica smiled.

"New girlfriend?" I asked.

"Yeah, he and Sue have been dating for several months. She just moved in with him." She waggled her eyebrows.

I just laughed at her, she and Mike were SO made for each other.

After showering and putting on a black skirt, and a maroon and black fitted sweater and my black Louie Louboutin ankle boots with black tights, leaving my hair down in waves and light makeup I was ready.

"Wow! When did you get a sense of style?" she laughed.

"Ever since I started my professional business. I needed to look a certain way for the South's elite." I rolled my eyes.

"Well, you'll be turning heads tonight." She clucked her tongue.

"Jess, that's the last thing I want to do." I shook my head.

"Yeah well, good luck with that outfit." She chuckled.

I helped her get the kids rounded up, just as Mike came through the door.

"Well, well if it isn't Bella Swan." He grabbed me in a bear hug.

"Mike, can't breathe." I slapped his arm.

"Sorry, we haven't seen you in a couple years and Jess has been stressing ever since your divorce." He shrugged.

"Well, I've assured her I'm fine. So let's get the rug rats in the Suburban and head out, I'm dying to see dad." I smiled.

Reaching the restaurant in record time, I saw my dad standing out front with his arm around a beautiful Native American woman.

I jumped out of the truck and walked as fast as I could to my dad.

"Daddy!" I ran up and hugged him.

"Bells! So good to have you home. Uh, this is Sue. Sue Clearwater." He smiled.

"Hi Sue. Nice to meet you." I held out my hand and she in turn grabbed me into a hug.

"Your dad hasn't stopped talking about you since you told him you were moving back." She said to me. "He's been over the moon and I can see why."

"Dad." I squeezed his hand.

"Hey, I've missed you. You're too much like me." He whispered to me as Jess and Mike walked up.

Jess and I might have been twins, but that's the only way we were alike.

Jess was the spitting image of our mother, or what we knew of her. She walked out on my dad when we were two and has never contacted him again.

I was just like my dad, not only in hair and eye color, but I was a go getter and quiet at the same time.

Jess was worried about her place in society and being the perfect mom. It fit Mike's personality, because he was all about his families sporting goods business that had went nationwide when Mike took charge.

They traveled and hobnobbed with some of the elite athletes and wealthy for whom Mike's second company Newton's Workout. It was a stupid name, but he got the business and built specialty workout rooms for the rich and famous.

We enjoyed dinner and as we were waiting for dessert my phone rang, I excused myself and walked outside.

"Alice? Why are you calling? It's 3am in Paris!" I laughed at my other college roommate.

"Angela called and told me you'd finally made the move! I can't wait to get back to Seattle!" she shouted.

"When are you due back?" I asked.

"Next week and I've got a business proposition for you." I could tell she was vibrating from over the phone.

"OK. I'll come to your office Friday?" I asked.

"Make it Monday. I'm going to wrap things up here and get home." She laughed.

"OK. Monday it is!" I laughed with her.

"I'll call my assistant Laurie and make sure she clears my schedule. It's so good to be near you again." I could tell she was crying.

"I can't wait to see you Alice, 4 years is too long." I sighed.

"Yes! See you Monday. Ciao!" she giggled and hung up.

Turning to walk back in I bumped into someone.

"Excuse me." I looked up at the tall gentleman.

"Can you watch where you are going?" he asked with a scowl.

"Oh, so sorry. I didn't know you owned the sidewalk." I snapped.

"Maybe not the sidewalk, but the building and restaurant." He snarked.

"Good for you." I walked past him and back to my seat, my current good mood gone.

"Everything alright?" my dad looked at me.

"Yeah, it was Alice. She's got a business proposition for me." I shrugged.

"And that's got you scowling?" he asked.

"Oh, no. I bumped into that man while walking back in and he was an ass." I huffed.

"You, bumped into Demetri Petrov?" Jessica's eyes widened.

"And?" I questioned.

"And? He owns like most of Seattle, Bella." Mike scoffed. "I've been trying to get his business for years."

"That gives him no right to be rude." I snapped.

"Seriously Bella, you have like NO idea and he's the most sought after bachelor in the Pacific Northwest." Jessica sighed.

"Jess!" Mike chastised.

I looked over my shoulder and he was staring at me.

"Seriously, he's going to stare now?" I questioned.

"That's usually a good thing." Jessica smiled.

I just shook my head and ate my dessert.

The weekend was filled with me getting my room organized, dad, Sue and Sue's son and friends unloading my U-Haul into my newly rented storage unit. Which I really hoped was temporary, due to the amount of noise in Jessica and Mike's house.

"Bella, this is my son Seth and his good friends Jake and Quil." Sue smiled.

"Hi guys. Thanks so much for helping me today." I smiled.

"No problem, anything for Mrs. Clearwater." They assured.

We were done quickly and headed back to my dad's for dinner.

"Are Jess and Mike joining us?" I asked.

"No, they had more important things to do." Sue sighed.

"That's Jess' way of declining politely." I pointed out, which made Sue laugh.

"Yes, she does it quite often when we invite them over. It breaks your dad's heart. I think that's another reason he's glad you're here." She hugged me.

"Well, I've missed my dad and I wouldn't make an excuse to stay away." I assured her.

Dinner was fun, Seth and his friends were only a year younger than me so we got each other. I could see Seth and me becoming close.

I said goodnight to everyone around midnight and headed back to Jessica's.

Alice would be reaming my butt for dark circles tomorrow morning, but it was worth it. I got to spend a lot of time with my dad and getting to know Sue, whom I was already in love with. You could not be. She's warm, radiant and welcoming, plus she made my dad happy.

I crawled into bed after a nice warm shower and fell fast asleep.

I had a feeling Alice's business proposal was going to take a lot out of me.

AN:

So… This is my newest story.

It WILL be Bella and Demetri.

I hope you enjoy it…

Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Reviews=Love