I Will Not Forget
Chapter One: A Day of Hope
I was sitting in my office when I got the call. "Hello?" I asked.
"Oh, thank God! Bella! You need to come home!" my dad's neighbor cried out through the phone.
"Beth, what is going on?" I asked, kind of freaked out by the tone in her voice.
"Your dad just died in a car wreck!" I dropped the phone and stared at it, completely drawing a blank. Daddy? Not you too… haven't I lost enough?!
"Bella? Bella? Sweetheart, are you still there?"
"Yeah, sorry," I said, picking the receiver back up.
"When can you get here?" she asked, trying to make sure I was there for my dad's funeral.
"I'm leaving right now." I hung up the phone before she had the chance to say anything else. I grabbed my keys and my purse, and I hurriedly locked my office letting my secretary, Jessica, know that I would be out of town for a week.
***IWNF***
The following few days had been hell on my nerves. I had put together my dad's funeral within three days and within hours everyone my dad ever knew, and all of those who respected him, would be burying him. I wished my mom could have been there, but God must have wanted me to be alone with no one to care about me. I had always been a believer, but everyone has a habit of going their own way. Then there are those who tend to lose everything and everyone they have ever cared about. It started early for me. My mom died during childbirth and she only got to see my face once. I never got to know who she was or what she was like. After all of that, some drunken bastard hit my dad's police cruiser on his way home; he died instantly. They found the S.O.B. and as far as I knew, he got life in prison… I am so tired of jerks like that.
Sue Clearwater and her kids helped set up everything, but I didn't pay much attention to them. I still couldn't believe what was happening to me.
At some point, I had gone into the room that I had slept in my entire childhood, and I had locked myself away from everyone. After about five or ten minutes, there was a knock at the door. I got off of my bed and stood there waiting to see if they would leave. After I still heard the breathing for thirty seconds, I knew they weren't going to leave.
"Who is it and what to do you want?" I asked, tired and completely ready to bite someone's head off.
"Bella, it's me…" He didn't have to finish the sentence. I knew that scruffy voice anywhere. I couldn't help it, so I opened up the door and let him in.
"Jacob? Why-why are you here?" I asked, starting to cry again.
"How could I stay away? He was my dad just as much as he was yours, and I knew you'd need me." He pulled me close so that my head was resting on his broad chest and I started sobbing. Full out, shoulder shaking, knee-weakening, sobs. The whole time, he rubbed my back trying to soothe me before he carried me to the bed so that we could be comfortable.
When we were kids, Jacob and I would always play and hang out together. He was the brother I never had. The fact that he didn't have any parents was a big part of it. His mom and dad had both died in a car accident, but somehow he had survived. Dad had taken him in when he heard what happened to Billy and Sarah. Since we were in school together, that just sealed the deal even more because my dad knew how important friends were at that age. I mean, losing your parents at the age of eight is crazy, and if it hadn't been for me, he would have gone off and lost his boyish passion. We grew up together from then on and after he graduated from high school, I was still in my sophomore year. He left Dad and I and went off to college, God knows where and did God knows what. He got lost in his schooling to the point that he'd hardly call. I couldn't believe he came home to see Dad's burial, after four years of doing his own thing.
We laid on my childhood bed for about an hour, to the point where I was almost asleep, until he asked me what I'd been up to. I told him about what college was like, about my new publishing company, and how much I loved my job as a book editor. He listened really closely, as he always has, and asked me questions when he was curious or knew that I needed to know that he was listening. The time seemed to pass so quickly that the next thing I knew, it was time to go. "Oh God…I don't want to do this…" I rumbled into his chest.
"Sweetheart, we have to. If we don't face this now, then we would have to deal with a lot of unfleshed out emotions later on. If we do it now, and face it head on like everything else we have, we won't have to do it later." He moved the hair out of my face, I nodded and sat up so that I could get ready to go.
"Let's go. He deserves so much better than this…" Dad was the kind of guy who deserved to see and help raise his grandchildren that would be around some day, so did Mom, but that was beside the point. I got off of the bed and grabbed my keys off of my nightstand. Jacob and I held hands, more for the reason that I could barely walk straight without my knees buckling, walking down the stairs and out the front door. I saw Jacob's old motorcycle in the driveway, and I raised my eyebrows at him. I didn't know that he still had that old thing.
He shrugged and said, "I had to get here fast, and she was the best way. Classics are always better than the new and improved."
I nodded in agreement just before I turned to my car and got in. I couldn't help but compare the old motorcycle to my practically brand new Roll Royce Ghost. We were silent the whole drive to the church where we attended every Sunday growing up. I got out of the car, as Jacob walked around the car to grab my hand. Jacob and I walked in together and took our seats in the front. Everyone was watching us, and I can't help but cry because everyone expected the two of us to be in this church for a completely different reason when we were older. They never expected to be there to bury my dad because of something like this. He should have been able to at least die on the job in the middle of something where he could have fought for his life. This was a total waste, it wasn't with honor, it was a drunk driver who couldn't or more like wouldn't keep his mind clear enough to drive or take a cab. Every person that Dad ever influenced and inspired with his work, and all of his friends were there for this important day. We sat through the sermon for my dad that talked about how great of a man he was and because of his faith, and his service to humankind, he was going to a better place. Once it was over, the Quileute boys: Jared, Paul, Sam, Quil, Embry, and Jacob walked up and carried Dad's casket through the streets of Forks to the cemetery. I followed them out, and all along the street leading up to the cemetery, every one from the Forks Police Department, Forks Fire Department, other police officers and firemen from neighboring cities, and even the select military men that Dad worked alongside were lined up saluting him as he was carried to his burial ground. I continued to follow my father and watched the Quileute boys place the casket down on the lowering device. Jacob stood beside me when he was finished helping. Unsurprisingly, there were tears rolling down both of our faces. When everyone was gathered around the burial site, many people were crying and I started saying my goodbyes and thanked them all for showing their respect and support of everything that my father had done for them and for their world. I placed silver roses on his casket and then after Jacob was done, I leaned into him and let the tears fall freely, not caring whether or not I got Jacob's jacket wet.
I watched as a few stragglers said their goodbyes to Dad until they all slowly started to walk away. Once everyone was gone, we had the worker lower my father into the ground. Jacob and I stood there watching Charlie lowering into the ground, and each and every click of the mechanical device drove a nail into that part of my mind telling me just how real the fact that my dad had died was. Once he was covered, I didn't stick around. I needed to be back in my room resting and completely away from everyone. Knowing that someone is going to die, say from like cancer is one thing because you're expecting it, but to have someone die so unexpectedly and seemingly out of nowhere messes with a person. Jacob grabbed my keys and helped me into the passenger seat, I didn't have any energy left. He climbed into the driver side and I leaned my head against the window, watching the rain stream down it, letting the tears go. I looked out my window the whole drive home and I couldn't help but wish that I'd been there for Dad more. I must have zoned out completely after a while because all of a sudden the car was at a standstill and Jacob was standing right outside my door.
"Come on, sweetheart, we need to get you inside," he said opening the door to the car. I nodded and he picked me up out of the car and carried me into the house, and up to my room. He laid me down on my bed, and I fell asleep.
***IWNF***
After being in the SeaTac Airport for about twenty minutes, I had decided to sit down in a chair while I waited for my flight to show up. I was waiting for my flight home because Jessica had called me earlier that morning to tell me that they needed me in the office. Ever since I got that damned phone call about my dad, I hadn't been able to get my emotions under control; I couldn't stop crying for the life of me. It hadn't been until that moment that I had realized that someone was sitting right next to me and was holding out an embroidered handkerchief with the letters EC sewn into it. I looked up at him to see the brightest pair of emerald eyes I had ever seen looking back at me. I could see the look of concern in his eyes, and it took me a bit to realize that it was because of me.
"Are you alright, miss?" he asked, completely enthralled by my crying and tear stricken face. All I could do was shake my head 'no' and I took the handkerchief from him so I could wipe my eyes and then my nose.
"Are you coming or going?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
"I'm going home." I looked up at him again, but as I looked at him, I couldn't help but notice his beautiful copper hair.
"Were you here for business, or pleasure?" he asked curiously.
"Neither, I came here for a funeral." I couldn't look at him any longer. A gorgeous guy taking an interest in me at my moment of weakness could not have been farther from realistic at that moment. At least that was what I thought…
"Oh, I'm sorry, would you like to talk about it?"
"I just lost my father..." I choked out starting to cry again. How could I not? I mean, there's a gorgeous guy finally wanting to know I am okay, and I just got done burying my dad, life could not get any weirder.
"That must be hard on you," he says sympathetic.
"I don't have anyone else. I was an only child, and my mom died during childbirth..." I could not stop crying, and growing up the only girl in front of two very manly guys, I hated crying.
"I'm so sorry, miss. Where are you going? I mean, where's home?"
"Chicago..."
"No kidding, that's where I'm from."
I started laughing as he got a look of surprise on his face raised eyebrows and everything. I shook my head and I asked why him why he was in the Seattle area. He told me about how his two brothers, Emmett and Alec, got themselves into trouble and needed his professional help. We talked more about him and then I started laughing again.
"What's so funny?" he asked, joining in with the laughter.
"I don't even know your name." He looked at me and he dragged his hands down his face, completely embarrassed.
"We've talked about our families, and yet we haven't even been formally introduced..." he said shaking his head.
"I'm Bella," I said holding my hand out to him.
"Edward, Edward Cullen," he replied.
"No way! As in the son of Carlisle Cullen?" I asked flabbergasted. This guy was the son of a very highly viewed doctor back home, and I just met the son of a wealthy doctor. It was just a little surprising that he was showing me any sense of interest.
"One and the same," he laughed.
"I think I need a drink, would you like to join me?" I asked him, smiling.
"Of course, lead the way."
I stood up, and he grabbed my bags as I walked toward the nearest alcoholic bar. I ordered my personal liquid poison, and he just went for a shot or two of Vodka. "You're full of surprises. I didn't think you were a whiskey kind of girl."
"There's a lot about me you don't know, Mr. Cullen." I took a sip of my Jack and Coke and smiled at him. I looked into his eyes and I froze for just a second; his eyes were almost black. After I finished my drink, they called our flight and we walked toward our gate.
"Well, I guess, I'll see you sometime in Chicago," he said to me, as I walked toward the plane taking my bags from him. I stopped flying coach after a while, thanks to my job and the money it pays. I got to my seat in first class and went to sit down when I saw him sitting in the seat next to mine.
He saw me enter first class and stop right next to him with a look of shock on my face. "Well, would you look at that? Back so soon? Please tell me that your seat isn't next to mine…"
"Actually, yeah, it is."
"I have to say that either God is trying to be funny with us, or you're stalking me," he said with the funniest look on his face.
"I swear, I'm just trying to get home. I didn't follow you at all. Before today, I didn't even know you existed…" I said completely honest and clear.
"Yeah, that is odd," he replies with a smirk. Oh my God, I love that smirk. "So, do you want some help, Bella?"
"No, I've got it. It's only my laptop and purse."
"Don't forget that clunky suitcase." He didn't seem to be able to stop laughing at me.
"I'll rest my feet on it. I'm good." I rolled my eyes at him and moved my stuff so that it was in front of my window seat on the floor. I finally sat down and was able to get settled in. I put in my earphones and turned on my iPod. After the plane was lifted up into the air, I heard someone say something to me. I took out my left earphone and I looked up at Edward and asked, "I'm sorry, did you say something?"
"I was just saying that that is a smart way to keep your mind on other things."
"Oh, you think I'm afraid of planes?" I asked him with a look of surprise. He nodded. "No, I was just trying to zone out, it has been a hard week after all."
"Mhmm, sure."
"What?" I asked him slightly flustered.
"You don't like me. I get it. Go on, go back to your tunes." He looks at me with a frown before looking in the other direction.
"You are one crazy man, you know that?" I said laughing. I was pretty sure that I was overthinking things, but I swore I heard him whisper something like, "You have no idea," under his breath.
I looked out the window and listened to my favorite song, Just a Dream by Nelly. The next thing I knew, I could feel something cold, I mean freezing cold, touching my hand. I looked down at it and then I noticed that Edward was holding my hand. I started to blush at the contact, as he smiled at me and kissed the back of my hand. I smiled back at him, noticing again that his eyes had changed color. When I got to my seat, his eyes were bright green, but at that moment they were nearly black again. What is it with this guy's eyes?
I couldn't stop looking into those black eyes, I was drawn to them. He leaned in and kissed me, but I was so shocked that I didn't move. A man like this wanting to hold my hand, much less kiss me? Once my mind caught up, I started kissing him back. I couldn't help how he made me feel, I felt like I needed to be with him when I saw his black eyes burning into my chocolate brown ones. When we finally pulled back to catch our breath, the pilot came on the intercom and announced that we're getting ready to land at Miles City Airport.
We both had planned connected flights which we had done once we landed, I had been in such a rush to get home that I forgot to plan my next flight. After we purchased our tickets, I grabbed my stuff off of the linoleum, and we noticed that we had nine hours until our plane was scheduled to leave. He took me into his arms and whispered, "I want you, Bella."
I shivered and wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. He grabbed a hold of my hips and pulled me closer to him, so that I could feel his erection against me. "Get me out of here," I murmured against his lips.
"With pleasure," he said as he kissed me again. He gave me enough space to back up before grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the exit. We found a nearby hotel and I walked into the lobby. Before we reach the desk, he pulled me into his arms again and kissed me, determined to make me want him more.
"Edward, baby, please, let's get a room..." I mumbled. He nodded and pulled me in against his side.
"One room, please."
"How long will you be staying?" the lady at the desk asked.
"One night."
She handed him a key to our room as he paid for it. I smiled at him when he looked at me. We walked to the elevator and once the door was shut, I backed him into the corner. I leaned against him and kissed his lips until he lifted me up high enough so that I could wrap my legs around his waist. He turned us around so that I was up against the wall. He nibbled and licked my neck and I couldn't help but moan in his ear. "God, Bella, I need you..." he trailed off kissing my neck and moving back up to my lips.
The elevator finally stopped on our floor and he carried me, dragging my bags along to our room. He set me down so that he could open the door. When we finally got into the room, I kissed him and he picked me up and in impossible speed, he had me on the bed.
"How?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't tell you..."
"What, that you're freezing cold and impossibly fast and your eyes go from green to black? I kind of figured it out...when you kissed me."
"It's not a..." I interrupted him by leaning on my elbows and kissing him. He couldn't seem to get enough of me. He quickly stripped me of my clothes, then he hissed in my direction.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"You're amazing..." he murmured, licking his lips and then he started to kiss, lick, and nibble from my chest, all the way down to the top of my thong. I moaned and he pulled it off of me, leaving me completely naked in front of him. He continued moving his body down mine until he reached my center and his head was between my legs. I started to squirm as he began to lick and suck on my clit. He continued to lick me, moving closer to my core. When he finally entered my core, I arched my back and grabbed at his hair, pulling him closer, urging him on. He started to thrust his tongue into me faster, and I couldn't stay still. He grabbed my hips and fucked me with his tongue until I was almost on the edge. Once I got to my edge, he inserted a finger into me and then started to suck on my clit again.
"Oh my...God! Edward...please, don't...stop!" I screamed. He inserted another finger and thrusted a few more times until I couldn't hold it any longer.
"Come for me, baby," he moaned against my center. It was way too much, and I came into his mouth. He started to lick me clean, and once he was done, he looked at me and asked, "Do you want a taste, baby?"
I nodded and he climbed up the bed until he reached my lips, as I eagerly locked my lips with his and I was given permission to enter his mouth. I couldn't help the moan that escaped from my throat, I'd never tasted anything like it. I couldn't get enough, but he pulled back so that I could breathe. His eyes were still black and it turned me on even more. "I need you..." he whispered in my ear.
"Yes...please!" I begged him, pulling at his jeans. He hadn't taken his clothes off yet. Edward got up of the bed and stripped as I watched. I couldn't stop staring, as he stood there in just his boxers, with his hard-on more than obvious. He noticed me staring and smiled at me, as he crawled in between my legs again. I peeled off his boxers and pushed them down with my feet. He lined himself up with my body and slowly entered me. I couldn't handle the slow movement of his cold member inside of me, so I wrapped my legs around his waist, listening as he hissed in my ear.
"I-I can't..." he hesitated.
"You won't hurt me. I promise..." I trailed off.
"If I even get close to hurting you, you tell me," he said as he yielded with my body.
"Yes!" I screamed.
He started to pick up his speed and I wrapped my arms around his neck pulling him closer to me. He pulled me up so that I was sitting on his lap with him inside of me, while he was still on his knees. I started to rock my hips and he tightened his grip on my hips, as he moved faster still.
"You like that, baby?" he asked as he pistoned inside of me.
"Yes, oh yes...Edward!" I screamed as he continued to thrust into me like a mad man.
"Oh God, Bella, I'm so...oh God...baby, I need you to get off of me..." he begged.
"No..." I continued to rock myself on his lap and he lifted my hips before slamming me back down against his hips. "Edward!" I screamed as I exploded around him.
He thrust a few more times, until he came inside of me. "Bellllla!" he screamed, as he began losing his energy and collapsed on top of me. "God, baby, that was amazing..." he said in my ear.
"Mhmm..." I hummed, as I ran my hands through his hair. We laid there for another hour, and then we made love sweeter and slower until we had only a half an hour until we had to leave. I must have fallen asleep for a few minutes, because I couldn't see him and he wasn't in bed with me. I started to hear water running, and then he walked out of the bathroom and walked up to the bed. He pulled me out of bed and carried me into the bathroom. Edward climbed into the tub and rested me in front of him. I could barely move, he had loved me so thoroughly. I cuddled into his chest and yawned, glad for the hot water and his arms around me.
He started to get my hair wet before he washed it for me. "Can I return the favor?" I asked him.
"If you think you can manage," he replied, smirking at me.
"I can manage," I said, playfully slapping his chest. I grabbed the sponge and got it soaked. I got his hair wet and then emptied some of the shampoo onto my hand. I lathered my hands together before he lifted me onto his lap so that I could run my hands through his hair. I got his hair all soapy and then I rubbed the soap into his hair. Then I grabbed the sponge again so that I could rinse his hair. He lifted me up this time so that he could get out and grab a towel. He grabbed the bathrobe for me and wrapped me up in it, carrying me back to the bed.
"Edward, can we do this again?" I asked him, hoping to God that he'd say yes.
"I hope so, Bella, I hope so."
We got dressed and went back to the airport, after dropping off the key to the room. We got on the plane and flew home. Edward and I held hands until the airplane lands. I gave him my business card, but he had nothing to give me. We parted ways and I went home to get some sleep before I needed to go to work the next day.
***IWNF***
A week had passed since my encounter with Edward, and I hadn't heard anything from him, so I decided to send Dr. Cullen a letter to give to his son.
Dear Stranger,
You saw me crying at the airport. Thank you for your understanding,
for caring, for giving me hope on the loneliest day of my life.
I WON'T FORGET
I sealed it and wrote "Edward Cullen" on the outside of the envelope hoping that Dr. Cullen would give it to his son, the one who had given me hope.
