Hi guys. This is something new that's been cooking in my brain.
I don't own any of there characters. Typical disclaimer.
"Get up."
I frown at the man boy currently blocking my view, and shake my head.
"Bella." He draws out my name like a child.
"Em. Move."
"Are you really still that upset about this?" I look at his face, his eyes that are so much like mine. He's only thirteen months older than me, we made Mike think we were twins in sixth grade and he didn't learn the truth until graduation; but really Em failed gym so that he could have classes with me. Emmett works out, he could be a quarterback or line back or whatever the term is for big guys on a football team. I shrug, and he thinks this is an answer. We have the same eyes, and Alice calls us voodoo twins because we seem to know each other like we are twins.
"One, you're blocking my view. Two, You ate all of my ice cream earlier, turd. Three. Yes, I don't know why you invited him."
"He's my friend and he's Rose's brother."
And my ex-something. I don't know that it has a name.
"That's great. Move please; Jim is getting ready to propose to Pam."
A month ago, I made the mistake of kissing Riley Hale. His lazy smile was all it took, his fingers on the top of my arms, his arms around my waist. We always had the friendly flirting down, I had a huge crush for years and it was a night that changed everything. I thought we were growing into something more, something with more meaning.
Two days ago, I found him and Victoria making out at his apartment. Sure, a month isn't a long time; I didn't realize how I felt about him until it all came crashing down.
"Okay, regardless of the fact that you know how this-" he points to the TV, " -ends, people will be arriving in two hours. Either get up, look like a human or waddle your ass to your room because I doubt you want anyone to see you looking like you do."
"This is important to me." He adds softly.
I don't ask questions, if he wanted me to know he would tell me.
When I huff and climb off the sofa; his laugh follows me as I start the shower.
Two and a half hours later, Emmett's on the grill and I'm hiding in the kitchen. Riley arrived thirty minutes ago, and I can see him looking around now.
I don't want to talk to him.
I feel like an idiot for being so angry.
Rose comes in, squints her eyes at me and hands me a glass of wine.
"I know you don't want to, and quite frankly he does deserve the ass kicking Em wants to give him, but please; you do not wallow, Bella Swan. Talk to him."
I look at her, her blonde hair in a high pony tail, and her hand in her hoodie pocket. Rose is beautiful, and she has always been like a sister to me, which I think is a weird thought at the moment. I've seen her brother naked.
And she's seen mine. Puke.
I don't get to answer because he walks inside, anyway.
"B." He says it softly, and I take a deep breath and give him a small smile.
"Can we talk, please?"
Rose leaves giving us both a bitchy look, so I know if i high tail it out of here, she'll try to kill me in my sleep tonight.
I nod, and we walk into the living room to sit on the couch.
"I... I want to say I'm sorry, but it isn't enough. I thought we were having fun."
"Fun." I say, and take a deep breath. Fuck him and Fuck Rose for making me do this. I'm tired of being hurt.
"I don't expect you to get it and I don't want to be some stupid girl who is pissed at the fact that she thought that whatever it was that happened between us, was something real. We have to deal with each other because of Rose and Em, but I don't expect us to be friends. Victoria has herpes, by the way."
I huff, get up and walk out of the front door. I close my eyes, and lean against it.
"Hi." When I open my eyes, I'm met with the prettiest green eyes I've ever seen in my life.
He's holding a six pack, and a pan of what looks like brownies, and I kind of want to die.
"Hey, uh..." The front door opens up and I fall against Emmett. He laughs at me.
"Edward!" They do the man hand shake thing.
"This spaz is my sister. Sorry she doesn't have manners." He gives me a look, and takes the pan from Edward.
"Izzy." I cringe. "This is Edward, he started at the firm a couple weeks ago."
He motions Edward in, and Emmett gives me a WTF look.
It's only six in the afternoon, but I want to bury my head under a blanket and never wake up.
Alice shows up thirty minutes after I call her, and we sit on the back porch nursing margaritas Rose made. She's off playing hostess, Em's boss is here.
Marcus Cullen is all smiles and crinkly eyes. He's the kind of man that only gets better with age, he has to be forty, and he's a babe.
"So fine." Alice says, watching him.
I laugh but I'm watching his nephew, who just happens to be Edward.
He has a carefree way about him, he laughs and it does something to me. He wears his jeans with a purpose, and I can't stop checking him out. Alice makes fun of me and I've been flipping her off constantly.
"That ass." Alice says, I nod not even sure who she means.
I'm glad I listened to Em and took a shower.
Edward just moved to Seattle from Chicago, and they get along great.
Rose comes outside, bringing brownies and stops to drop us a few on a plate.
"I made Riley leave. Apparently, he has to make a doctor's appointment." She raises an eyebrow. I laugh.
"Good." Alice says, through a mouth full of brownie, "Your brother's a dick⦠These are amazingf"
Rose rolls her eyes at her but sits next to us, watching me.
"Soooo..." I start, waiting.
"I may have told him Vic has herpes." I shrug, she laughs.
"Okay dish." I say, eating a brownie, they really are amazing. She follows my gaze and laughs.
"You became a part of our couch last week, and now you're curious about a boy?" She says.
"Al is right. He's a dick. I'm tired of being pissed. I'm just..."
I'm cut off when they walk over to us. Em holds his phone in his hand.
"Mom and dad are running late, by the way." He says, I watch him palm his pocket. He's nervous.
Holy. Shit.
Suddenly I feel bad, He's going to propose and Riley isn't here.
"I didn't know that this was that kind of party." Rose says, rolling her eyes. She mutters something about Renee and looking like a bum and excuses herself.
Emmett sits right next to me, and I punch him in the arm.
"Shut it. He says, smirking, he adds, "Yep."
I don't think anyone else understands what we're talking about. Alice confirms it.
"You two and your freaky almost twin minds. Care to clue the rest of us in?"
Edward is looking in between the two of us, and I'm sure he knows. Alice screams when Emmett shows us the 2 carat engagement ring. We laugh because he almost drops it when Rose comes out the door. It's safe in his pocket. Marcus just pats him on the back, coughing to cover his laugh.
Rose and Renee have a rocky relationship, even though she and Em have been together since freshman year, mom thinks they got too serious, too fast. I don't understand it, her and Charlie have been together since they were seventeen.
Rose changed into a sundress, and her hair is down and wavy. She looks beautiful.
I excuse myself, feeling way too guilty. Rose and Riley are as close as Em and I, maybe closer. I don't want to be the one to steal this from him. He needs to be here. I'd kill him if I wasn't here for this.
I go upstairs to my room, he picks up on the second ring. I stare out of the window, it's still hot for September.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry about today and the last couple of weeks. Uh, I think you should come back, say you left something."
"...okay." I hear him whisper, he's with Victoria.
"Riley. You can't say anything and I swear to god if this is ruined for them, I will never, ever forgive you. Emmett's proposing tonight. You should be here."
I hear his sharp intake of breath, "Thank you. I mean it."
"Bye." I say hanging up.
I open the door to my bedroom, and Edward is getting ready to knock.
"I.. I'm lost. Bathroom?" He gives me a crooked smile.
I point to the door across the hallway. "The other right."
I hear the door open downstairs and the telltale signs of my mother.
I fidget, I want to spend time with Edward; I want to get to know him. The thought makes me confused, but it's a feeling I've been feeling a lot lately.
Luckily he comes out when I decide to just go downstairs and stop being a weirdo creep. He gives me a small smile, I ask him about Seattle.
"It feels like it could be a good decision, Em's great, insane, but he's a good guy." I nod, I couldn't describe him better. We get to the bottom of the stairs, head outside.
"I don't mean to pry, and you could tell me to fuck off, but earlier, are you okay?"
I will If he keeps smiling like he is at me like he is.
"I will be." I say, softly.
"Hi, daddy." I hug my dad, missing him even though he's here. He smells like he always has, cinnamon and outdoors.
"Hey kid." He hugs me back, mustache twitching. I watch Emmett look around, he runs his hands through his hair. It's comical.
"Your son is about to jump out of his skin." I say, squeezing him and walking away. He laughs, muttering about how I'm the only one who can contain him.
"Em." I pull him away Heidi and Tanya, smiling politely.
"Bells, I'm freaking the fuck out. I need to do this and get it over with." I nod, look around.
"Not yet. I called Riley. He's on his way." He gives me a look, "Calm down. She's going to say yes. She loves you so much it's stupid."
He takes a deep breath and nods, "Okay."
I text Riley and he says he's five minutes away. Mom is inside with Rose, and Alice is talking to someone who works with Em. Jasper.
Riley comes in the back gate, and I find a seat next to Alice. Edward sits next to me.
Emmett yells for Rose. When she and my mom come outside, Em's on his knee in front of all of us. Rose looks like she's going to puke.
"Babe. It's always been you. Always will be. I love you. Marry me?"
It's short and simple and so Em.
Rose nods, and like a scene from a movie they run to each other. Rose wraps her arms around him and "yes".
Alice is crying and saying how pretty the ring and their babies will be. Mom cries, too finally coming to stand by me as she kisses my cheek, and then Edwards. Apparently, they've met before.
I catch Riley's eye for a second as he hugs Rose, he smiles, mouths the word "thank you." I smile back.
We're not in a great place right now, but we'll have to get there.
He leaves shortly, with a wave goodbye.
It's completely typical, and once our parents and his coworkers minus Edward, Jazz and a few others leave, it's a full out party. So much champagne, Rose is radiant smiling and she's so huggy.
"Hey, SIS." She punctuates the word by pulling my hair. I like her like this; so I smile.
"That thing is going to cause you to drown if you go swimming with it." I eye her ring. It's so beautiful.
"Alice looks like it like she wants to pry it off my hand." Alice nods, even though she's still talking to Jasper. I promise to revisit that later.
"Uh, I know we've been engaged for two minutes, but will you be my maid of honor? I promise not to make you walk with Riley. He told me you called him back, by the way. Thank you."
I nod, "Of course."
She talks about wanting a winter wedding, something this year. She's in full bride mode, and I smile so much my face hurts.
"Edward won't stop staring at you." She says, softly.
I smile, again; because it's the same for me. I don't know what this pull is, and usually guys make me a nervous freak but there's something about him that seems easy.
Later, I'm in the kitchen trying to clean up. Alice is upstairs sleeping in my bed. She was all smiles and looked like she was seeing stars; so happy.
Rose and Em are on the back porch, and I'm so happy for them until Em loses his shirt. I close the blinds and curtains with a cringe, and I jump when I realize Edward just walked in.
He gives me his crooked smile, "Em knows how to throw a party." I laugh, going back to washing dishes. We have dishwasher but this reminds me of home, when mom and I would talk about everything under the sun. It's soothing.
Edward stands beside me, picking up a towel. He shrugs when I raise an eyebrow.
"I have no furniture in my apartment and it doesn't feel like home yet." I get it. I've suspected for a while that Rose and Em would be getting serious soon, so I've been looking for an apartment myself.
I tell him this, and he smiles. "I can't imagine living with them in marital bliss will be that fun."
I laugh, "Pre-marital is already bad." I gesture outside.
"I... think there's a couple for lease in my building." He says this shyly, like he's scared to over step. I wouldn't mind knowing where he lives. I nod, as he tells me the name of his building. It isn't far from here, which is good.
I don't realize its 1 a.m. until I'm yawning and feel like I can barely stand up.
Edward says he should get going, and it's weird. I only met him today, but it feels like today lasted a lifetime.
"I'll see you around." I say, walking him to the door.
"Who knows, maybe we'll live in the same building." He smirks as he passes me. "Good night, Bella."
"Have a good night."
My name off of his lips is velvet and now I'm the one seeing stars. I watch as his sleek black car pulls off, even shiny in the night.
I had a baby, forgot the password to my old fb account. I'm back.
As for UtB, I plan on finishing it this year. I'm one chapter in, and I'm thinking it'll be about four more.
xo,
Meg
