What Lies Beneath
Disclaimer: I never owned anything… I'm just a fan… so, Ms. Meyer is very, very fortunate… but at least, I look like Bella! Just kidding…. Please review!
Chapter one:
I never knew that this day would come, when I reached all my goals and have fun and still live simply. I am Isabella Marie Swan, family friend and best friend of the Cullen family.
But my closest friends among the Cullens are Edward and Alice. We are just in the same ages; I remember our times as children and high school buddies. I am always the crybaby, Edward's my protector, and Alice is my little stylist. I felt embarrassed being with them before, they were so beautiful, but I never saw my beauty.
Tried avoiding them, made me want to be with them more. I loved them with all my heart. Esme and Carlisle are my second parents when Charlie isn't around, I'm there, dropped in their house. And when I have problems that involved Charlie, they were there to protect me.
But there was something I felt for Edward, he was my best buddy, he's there to be my brother and a protector, when Alice and I have some fights, he'll comfort me. But there's something more…
I fell in love with my own best friend.
He left after we had graduated to study in a university for doctors. It's been four years when he left, I cannot even imagine what'd would he look like. And I am now a working person. Actually, I'm spending my whole summer with the Cullens, since my mother and father got back together again; they planned to go away for a second honeymoon. Fine, I said. They may do whatever they please.
But he was always on my mind all of these years. I waited for him to come back, just as he promised he would.
Could he remember me when we see each other again?
"Bella! What would you like to do after we finish eating?" Alice shook me awake. My thoughts of him, faded away and I once more got distracted. We were shopping for Rosalie's birthday gift; she's celebrating her birthday today. We're going to throw her a big birthday bash, which was supposed to be a surprise until Emmett accidentally, slipped and then, she already knew. I've been there for three days and nothing interesting happened until then, I would wait for something. I hope.
"Uhm, we might as well go to the bookstore to buy some books, or the video store to rent or buy some movies. I'm getting bored one of these days. Isn't there anything fun to do this summer?" I asked as I groaned when she eyed a boutique full of make up she entered.
"Well, you will be surprised later, Rosalie thought she had everything figured out, but she has one missing pretty little drop in her pink icing." She giggled as she replaces the mascara she placed in her eyelashes.
Rosalie didn't know that drop of icing, and so did I.
"Alice, what's that missing drop? Do I know that?" I asked. I was dying of curiosity. I wish she would tell me. "Hmmm…. Practically, no, you are not involved in it. You will be surprised as well. Perhaps, a surprise for you two if you can't guess it right?" she asked. She was smiling and then I just shrugged and then I changed the topic.
"Is… is… he?" I cannot finish the question. But she finished for me.
"Oh, does Edward come home every summer? Well, that depends upon the big buffoon." She smiled. "Oh." Was all I could answer?
I might not see him after all. I might as well stop hoping.
"You want him to come home?" she asked me. "Well, of course he is my best buddy after all… I miss the big guy." I finally confessed. "Bella, Bella, Bella, you know, I know you have a crush on Edward." She teased. My cheeks heated up.
"What? No I don't!" I denied. She just laughed. "Really?" she asked warily. I nodded, still looking down at the lip balm I was holding.
"Then why after all these years, you never answered any of your suitors? You just told them 'I'm waiting for some one, sorry'" she mocked.
"Well… I am waiting for someone right, and I think it's not Edward. And besides, it would be awkward, my best bud and my crush? Doesn't' make any sense to me." I defended. But the way I said those words hurt me.
I am in love with him, and I couldn't deny it inside.
"Fine, I'll let it go. But you don't know what you're saying. Did you know that half of the population of the people in the world ends up with their best buddies?" she convinced.
"Fine, but Edward might have a girlfriend when he comes back." I insisted. She just sighed and pulled me out. She pointed at her clock and we ran to the gift shop to get the wrapped present for Rosalie. And after that, we went to buy some books and rent some movies. And then we went straight home.
It was four o' clock when we went back home. We have to prepare everything before Rosalie comes home from their honeymoon. I was assigned in the kitchen. I was the one who'll cook food and then prepare the table. I wore my best outfit. I wear a knee long skirt and a pretty midnight blue long-sleeved shirt; it was cold in their house.
Soon, Carlisle and Esme came home from their ordinary work. And then after three hours of preparing the food, finally, the birthday girl arrived. We all gave her kisses and then they talked inside the living room from her experiences with her honeymoon with Emmett. They weren't eating yet.
And then I was getting out of placed so I excused myself and I was still cooking her favorite food: lasagna. After all, I was not yet finished cooking stuff. I finished cooking and another bell rang. Maybe some more visitors, I might as well stay here.
And when Alice opened the door, I heard her shriek. But this was a secretive shriek. She was hiding the visitor from me or from Rosalie. But Rosalie gasped and then she ran towards the visitor I think and then she giggled and I heard a big punching sound. Who ever received that, I pity the poor person. And then they were all talking again. I was looking around my pretty work.
Pink roses in the windows pink vases with pink roses at the middle of our table and then I looked at the lights when Alice's phone rang. I jumped up in surprise.
"Can you get that please, sweetie." She yelled from the other side of the room.
"Hello?" I asked. "Bella, good it's you, we need you and Alice here tomorrow. You've got a new project. Can you make it?" the agent asked. "Yup, sure I would." I said with a big grin in my face. And the line hung up and then I ran outside the room and I yelled Alice's name.
I saw the visitor. He was the most handsome person I have never see then he had bronze hair an he was pale, but still… So handsome. He looked like Edward. No, he couldn't' be.
"Oopss, sorry about that. But may I just please borrow Alice for three minutes?" I asked. Esme smiled and then pushed Alice towards me and then I pulled her in.
"What? Did the agent called?" she asked eagerly. Then I nodded. Then we both hugged each other rolling around the kitchen yelling. And then we came out very tired and gasping.
"Sorry about that. I'll go up and check on Jasper, he might be still sleeping." I said then I walked towards the stairs.
"Wait, Bella. Don't you know who our guest is?" Carlisle asked. I looked back at them and then I saw the man still staring at me, I stared at the people around him, they were stopping their giggles from bursting out, when I turned my eyes on Alice, she was flushed. I know this, she thinks something's romantic.
"Excuse me?" I was so confused. Who was this mysterious visitor? And why is he looking like he's trying to recognize me? If I could only remember one of Alice's statements when we were at the makeup boutique store. The missing drop of icing…
And then I knew it, he was someone I knew. Then he began to speak up.
"Wait mom, did I hear it right? You called her Bella? Bella Swan?" he asked blinking at her mother. She nodded then he whispered something to her.
Alice came running to me and she pulled me down, but I was frozen in my position, she kept on pulling me down until my own feet got tangled all over and then I fell, just a bit. I struggled to keep myself in a sitting position; it was just to protect myself from everyone to see what's underneath the skirt. That happened to me at junior high. Good thing, Edward didn't see.
"Bella? Don't you recognize him? He's Edward! He's back, that's the surprise for you! He's here! Your 'best buds' here!" she shook me. I was heating up.
I knew it, my waiting was worth it…
He came back… finally after four years…
"Alice? You are telling the truth right?" I looked at her with hope in my eyes.
"Yes, silly!" she giggled. I shivered. And then my eyes looked at his face, examined his beauty so I could recognize him next time. And then the next thing I know, he stood up and his arms were beckoning me to come in. he smiled while he chuckled, "Hey, long time no see… BellBud…"
And then I couldn't stop it much longer, I ran to him, I jumped at three steps of the stair just to reach him and when I jumped, he caught me. Tears came, just a bit. I wasn't wailing like before.
"Edward! You're back! Finally!!" I yelled as he twirled me around. I felt him kiss my hair.
"You haven't changed at all, Bella." He complimented. It wasn't for me.
"Hey lookie here, pal. You are the one who never changed. If you just know my occupation, then you'll fly to the moon." I smiled as he let me go. I looked at him and I realized, he got a bit more muscular. I smiled another big one.
"What's your occupation?" he asked. I winked and then I giggled "Secret. Guess for yourself." I turned my back and then he pulled my waist and he took off my ponytail.
"Your hair got shorter but still soft," he whispered. I was stuck in my place and he placed a kiss on my cheeks… We stood in silence, even the others were shocked. And then I heard him laugh then he pushed me slightly, just like a brother would do with his sister.
I looked at him, "You're as mean as ever." I snarled and then I pretended I was mad at him when he shook me and apologized and then he hugged me from my back and whispered to me very softly that no one could hear.
Just the two of us…
"You know, I still remember what I did to you before I left. And I missed you really…" he said. I shivered when he began chuckling. I was blushing beet red… my goodness. The memories of the event that happened before he left me came flashing into my mind and then, I couldn't' take it anymore. I turned and looked at him. I held his face and then I stuck my tongue out.
Restrain… I need it… I'm not going to tell him… not now…
"Stupid. Now, let Rosalie's party begin! I'll go get Jasper up." I ran through the stairs and then I felt someone pulled me down again. I looked behind me and I was hanging… my shirt was gripped by Emmett.
"Buddy, let me go…" I said. I shook my feet slowly so he would have the hard time gripping my shirt…
"Bella, stay here. You've got to tell Edward about your suitors and college life when he left." Alice yelled so Edward could hear. "You know, he was looking for you before you came out and told me the new news." She whispered.
"Fine. Emmett, you can let go of me already." I sighed and he let me go down. I cleaned up my shirt and then I turned to look at Alice while she as running above the stairs yelling Jasper's name. She was like my old grandmother when I was seven; she used to yell ate me when I'm not yet awake at seven thirty in the morning.
Yuck…
"Bella, talk to me please." Edward was holding my shoulders.
"Oh!" when he pulled me down on the stairs and then I noticed that everybody was not here, they were eating in the kitchen. I was shaking… shit, my nerves are jilting!!
I looked at him like we're just total friend and then I smiled at his reaction. He was blushing and I could tell, by the way he holds my hands, he was shaking as well…
"So, what do you like to talk about?" I asked.