Author: Rebecca.
Title: Saturday Night Fever
Category: AU. All human. Edward and Bella.
Rating: M
Disclaimer: Don't own them, just love them.
Summary: While everyone else in their group gets along just fine, Edward Cullen and Bella Swan simply seem to hate each other. If they talk at all, it's only to insult each other, or make fun of the other… the question is, is there something else behind their supposed animosity? And if there is, what will they do once they acknowledge that fact?
AN: Hey! Thank you for coming to this thread. This is just a short story (well, kind of, it's quite long in fact, but it'll only have two chapters) that I wrote a whiiiile back when I had some inspiration. My muse has been on vacation for a while now, since I've been dealing with some stuff in my personal life that hasn't been exactly helping the artistic juices flow, but during my mild 'depression' I discovered Twilight and the Twilight fics and I thought this could actually make a nice 'Edward and Bella' story (it was originally written, under another username, for Roswell fanfiction) so I just decided to have it change a little bit to fit the Twilight Universe and here I am… hopefully some of you will like it!
Any comments will, of course, be highly appreciated! So without further ado, here is the first part!
Crap.
Crap.
Crap.
And… more crap.
How could it be so hard to find anything to watch on TV on a Saturday night?
Harder than she would have thought, obviously, she realized as she kept changing from one channel to another without finding anything to her satisfaction.
God, she was so bored, even going through Emmett's DVDs collection and watching Braveheart for the millionth time seemed tempting at the moment, she mused as she threw a quick look at the mural clock and realized the time.
It was definitely too late to put on a new DVD however, even if it was too soon for her to go to bed just yet.
She should have gone with Emmett and Rosalie after all, even if the thought of going to one more of those parties they both liked so much wasn't more thrilling now than it had been a few hours ago when they had both tried to convince her to come.
Still, at this point, anything looked better than watching reruns or those horrible reality shows so many people seem to be so fond of now these days. Heck, even dealing with a drunk Mike Newton hitting on her like a crazed man sounded like more fun.
She had chosen not to go however, deciding that a calm night on her own was just what she needed after being finally done with all her mid-terms and all, but now she was starting to rethink the whole thing.
The worst of it all was that normally she shouldn't even be there, this being the first holidays she hadn't gone back home since starting College, but her parents had told her only a few weeks before Spring break that they were leaving to join her grandmother for an 'extended and well deserved vacation' and that she was free to go home to Forks if she wanted to nonetheless, or stay in Seattle.
The choice had nearly been taken away from her when it had been announced that her Residence Hall would be closed during the whole period of school break due to some work of renovation they intended to get done, but when Emmett, who fortunately had his own apartment, had offered her to stay with him for a few weeks if she wanted, she had thought it would always be better than going home and being alone.
Her parents had been happy to know that she would be staying with her cousin of course, as they knew that like always Emmett would take good care of their daughter, but she couldn't help but point out to them how bad their timing was, if only to make them feel even just a little guilty for abandoning her to go have fun in Europe instead.
In all honesty she had wanted to go with them, and would have gone, too, if she could, unfortunately they wouldn't be back for a whole month while she only had two weeks of break, and while going even for that short amount of time had seemed tempting, she hadn't felt like making the trip back all alone.
Staying with Emmett wasn't that bad anyway, considering how close they had always been, closer maybe even than most cousins were, and since Rosalie, her best friend and as it happened Emmett's girlfriend as well was staying with them, too, she had really thought they would all have a blast together.
The first few days had actually been quite fun, with both girls trying to drive him crazy, more than the usual even if that were possible, but by the weekend Bella had realized that Emmett and Rosalie probably needed time on their own as well rather than having her constantly with them, and that had been one of the reasons why she had declined their offer to accompany them, no matter how much they had insisted.
She could always have found something to do with Alice then, but she had already had plans with Jasper, and she hadn't wanted to play gooseberry more with them than she had wanted to with Emmett and Rosalie.
They had all grown up together and really got along fine, well minus 'The one whose name should remain unspoken' and her of course, but sometimes she couldn't deny that it was kind of hard to see everyone coupled up around her.
It was all the harder since she had broken up with her own boyfriend herself not so long ago. Not that she had been in love or anything, it had been way too soon for that as far as she was concerned, but at least then she had had someone to keep her company when the others started to get a little too lovey-dovey around her for her liking.
She was kind of used to being alone however, since she was the youngest in their tight group and she had to see everyone leave for college before her, first Emmett followed soon after by Alice and her evil twin, 'Fuckward' -not that she had really given a damn about his leaving of course- then Jasper and Rosalie a year later, but she would lie if she said it hadn't been an awfully long year to her before she could leave as well and join them, too.
There had never been any doubt or any second thoughts about the fact that they would all go and attend the same college, wherever that was, and when Emmett, the oldest of the group and first one to leave, decided on SU to not be too far from home, they had all known that that was where they would all be.
Seattle wasn't that bad, even if their parents would have certainly wanted them to go to some more prestigious town or university, but they were glad nonetheless to have them close. A little more than three hours and they could be home if they wanted, whether it was for the holidays or just even the weekend.
If there was someone waiting at home of course, she thought once more despite herself, a small frown momentarily marring her face again while her fingers still pressed restlessly on the remote control little keys.
You would think that with as many channels as Emmett could have she would find something really worth watching but after another fruitless attempt, the only movie she could find that held the minimum of interest was Saturday Night Fever, and though she had already watched it several times, she momentarily stopped on that, if only to distract herself for a little while.
The dances scenes were definitely not that bad, and John Travolta didn't hurt on the eyes either, even if she had to admit that his haircut made her want to laugh more than it made her drool over the guy. Still, at this point she would take her fun wherever she could get it.
She was really starting to get into it in fact, when she heard the front door being opened, alerting her of her best friend and cousin's return, way earlier than they were used to. Well, obviously that party hadn't been so much fun, good thing she hadn't gone after all then.
"Hey, guys… you're back early… I thought you'd…" she started, an eye still on the TV and when the door closed and she turned around, she couldn't prevent the small groan that escaped her lips when she saw that instead of Rosalie and Emmett, it was the last person she had expected to see who had entered. "Oh, it's you."
Just what she needed. Not. And here she thought she would be spending a quiet night for once, moreover when she had been convinced he had still been away wherever the hell it was he had gone this time. She should have known better, though. When had that guy ever given her a break in all the years she had really known him, huh? Never. That was when.
Not surprisingly, even if her tone was clearly disgusted, the smile on his face only grew wider and she wondered if Emmett would really be pissed if she went and hurt his best friend really badly, like she had so often dreamed she could.
"Swan." he said for all greeting and quite politely in fact, but she could see that she had definitely not been the one he had been looking for by the way he looked around the apartment, obviously in the hope to see if her cousin was around.
"Cullen." she replied back, dismissing him almost instantly and turning back to the television, like she had already forgotten he was there.
Of course she was very much aware of his presence in the room. She had always been unfortunately, though she preferred to not dwell too much on why that was. And she also knew that it was no use wishing he would suddenly turn around and go back to whatever he had been doing before it crossed his mind that it would be a good idea to stop at Emmett's, on a Saturday night, without checking if he would be there first, but one could always hope, right?
"Nice to see you, too." she heard him say in answer and she couldn't help rolling her eyes heavenwards in annoyance.
She didn't know why he even bothered talking to her, after all they both knew how that would end. Just like any other time. In a verbal fight, where they would try to see who would piss off the other one the most, but he had apparently still not learned his lesson.
"Whatever." she grumbled, eyes fixed ahead of her, while she prayed that he would get a clue and understand that he wasn't welcome here and just leave.
"Emmett?" he uttered questioningly, ignoring her tone and coming to stand almost directly behind her, which he could tell by the way she almost immediately tensed only served to unnerve her even more than she probably already was to see him there.
"Out… with Rosalie… at a party…" she couldn't be more curt even if she tried, but like she had already expected it, it didn't stop him from insisting.
"Oh… what are you doing here then? Shouldn't you be with them?… or out with Jacob Whatever-His-Name-Is-Not-That-I-Care." not for the first time the way he spoke to her made her grit her teeth, and it was on the tip of her tongue to tell him where he could shove his sarcasm and his questions.
"Not that it's any of your business, but I didn't feel like going out… and I'm not seeing Jacob anymore." she answered as patiently as she could instead of telling him what was really on her mind, but she suffered from no illusion that he would leave it at that. She knew him too well for that.
And he of course proved her right not a second later.
"What? Did preppy boy finally open his eyes and saw you for what you really are?" he replied and though she couldn't see his face because he had chosen just that moment to go and stick his head into the fridge in search of whatever the heck it was he could be looking for in there, she clearly heard the smirk in his voice.
"Again, I don't see what it is to you!" once more she chose to answer as calmly as she could, knowing by experience that he was doing it on purpose and only trying to get a rise out of her.
"Oh, did I hit a nerve?" he was moving to her again, cherry coke in hand like he had any right to behave like he was welcome in the place and could take or do whatever he wanted, and this time she clearly saw just how proud of himself he obviously was.
"Hardly!" she replied quite indifferently, but it didn't stop her from openly glaring at him when he came too close.
She wasn't about to let him know the reasons why she wasn't seeing Jacob anymore anyway, or even less that it was actually all his fault.
It was definitively not the perfect and loving romance she and Jacob had gotten going on, but they had been doing just fine for a few months, until Jacob had started questioning the weird 'relationship' she apparently had with Edward. If you could call that a relationship of course.
She had been too stunned to answer at first, and then she had thought that he had simply lost his mind when he had insinuated that there had been too much tension between them for it to be nothing.
He had been convinced in fact that there had to be something more behind the cold stares and constant barbs they threw at each other at every turn than what they had both been ready to admit, and therefore had told her that it was not only too weird to be honest, but more than that, that he was sure she was hiding something from him. And since she had more than once heard him say during the short time they had been seeing each other that if there was one thing he couldn't stand it was secrets and lies, that had not been acceptable according to him.
She had tried to make him understand how wrong he was of course, because clearly one would have to be completely insane to think there could be anything between her and Edward Cullen beside the blatant hatred that had been a constant since they were children, but Jacob had just retorted that they should both seriously stop fooling themselves.
At that point Bella hadn't known if she should have him committed right away, or laugh herself silly at the ridiculousness of the statement, but Jacob had been adamant that he knew sexual tension and 'passion' when he saw it, and had suggested that they took a step back, while she took the time to really think about her feelings for Edward, whatever those were, and that maybe then, if he were wrong, they would try again.
It seemed reasonable enough if you thought about it, only Bella had been so mad at him for insinuating that she could feel anything for Edward, that she had blown a gasket and told him that since that was obviously what he was looking for, they were through.
Sexual tension.
Passion.
What the hell did he know about that, huh? Not a thing. He was clearly crazy and blind to have seen anything there.
At least that was what she had kept repeating to herself in the beginning.
She hated Edward Cullen with every fiber of her being. Had ever since they were kids and he would always pick on her for a reason or another. He would always make fun of her, or call her names even when she wasn't doing anything to provoke him.
She had never understood him and had given up trying a long time ago.
He was the most infuriating, obnoxious and self-centered man she had ever met. And who cared if he was the sexiest and probably most handsome as well. His good looks certainly didn't make up for his horrible personality in her eyes, no matter what others could say or think.
Of course, why would they see past his appearance when he was nothing but charming with them and only reserved his Mr. Hyde personality to her?
She didn't think that she had ever heard anything nice coming out of his mouth when he addressed her, not since she was a little girl and he still seemed to somehow tolerate her at least, so thinking that he could feel anything for her was simply ludicrous.
And it didn't seem to matter that she had noticed in the last few months that he had somewhat calmed down and wasn't as bad with her as he was when they were younger, even if he still clearly had his moments like tonight obviously.
It didn't seem to matter either that after Jacob had started putting all those crazy thoughts into her head, she had indeed caught herself staring at him, way too many times for her liking, or that it had made her realize that she was definitely not as immune to him as she would have liked to be. One would have to be completely blind or dead to not find Edward Cullen gorgeous and she wasn't either of that, but still, as long as she still managed to convince herself that she hated him with a vengeance, she seemed able to reign on that stupid and so not welcome… attraction, or whatever she felt was and that was all that seemed important. That was all that had to matter.
No, the last thing in the world she wanted or needed, was to let herself mull too long over the fact that it was entirely possible she liked him just as much as she could hate him, even if she wasn't at a stage yet where she could admit that, even just to herself, without thinking herself that she was completely crazy and needed to be locked up.
"Now the question is, what are you doing here?" Bella shook her head all of a sudden, refusing to let herself go any further down that road, and returned his question thinking that if anyone was out of place here, it was definitely him.
"I thought I would hang out with Em… but since he's not here…" Edward trailed off as he realized that he should probably have called him immediately upon returning from his camping trip instead of just dropping by, but what was done was done now, right?
It wasn't as if he really minded his absence that much anyway. At least when he wasn't around he could bug the hell out of his dear cousin without fearing that she would call him to her defense.
"… You're leaving… oh, that's so sad, but I promise to at least wait until you do to completely lose it and shed the first tear!" she finished for him with an exaggerated pout that clearly belied how pleased she actually would be to see him leave at last, and Edward couldn't help the grin that crept upon his lips in reaction.
Too bad, but he wasn't about to do anything to please her. Where would be the fun in that?
Truthfully, he hadn't made up his mind until that very second, but if he could piss her off some more, why not? He wasn't one to pass on such opportunity.
"Actually, if you don't mind… I think I'll stay for a while." he smirked and said, and he had no sooner finished his sentence that he was already sinking down on Emmett's comfy couch. Not too close to her, but definitely enough to feel her stiffen once more.
"Well, actually I do… but like you care, huh?" if looks could kill, he would already be six feet under given the way she looked at him then, but that didn't stop him from getting even more comfortable in his seat and bringing his feet to the coffee table in front of them.
"You're right, I don't…" he took a huge gulp of his soda and concurred impenitently, knowing that there was no reason to lie to her.
They both knew he didn't give a damn about her or what she could think of him. Or so he liked to make her believe.
"God, don't you have anything better to do than ruining my night?" Bella all but cried out, and while she almost winced herself at her own tone, the cocky bastard didn't seem the least fazed to see her slowly losing her temper.
"Hmm… let me think about it…" he feigned to have to ponder it for a few seconds, and then shrugged and smiled at her again ."Nope, I don't… sorry."
Of course he could easily find out where the party was taking place this time and go and join Rosalie and Emmett, but something told him he wouldn't have so much fun there and would probably miss something if he left right now.
"Yeah, you really seem to be…" Bella scoffed, not believing for a second that his 'sorry' could have been sincere, and then she decided to give just as good as she was getting. "Shouldn't you be out yourself… fucking 'What's-her-name-again-not-that-you-ever-cared'?"
Edward Cullen was well known to be unable to make any type of commitment, at least where girls were concerned, and she knew well what a womanizer he could be, another reason why she hated him so much. Too many times she had heard about his reputation or his supposed conquests, and it made her sick to think that women were practically waiting in line just to see if he was as good as the echo of his sexual prowess made him to be.
"Ouh… do I sense some underlying jealousy in there, Swan?" he questioned teasingly, making Bella groan out loud and wonder why she hadn't seen that one coming. Like he could have answered with anything but his usual boastfulness.
"Yeah, it breaks my heart every time I think of all those blonde tramps hanging all over you… I just don't know how I keep going on without throwing myself at you as well… I must be out of my mind!" she threw back sarcastically, and Edward remembered why he actually liked so much to fight with her.
If he tried this with anyone else, they would be out of replies in no time, but he could always count on Bella to find something to counter him. Or at least she always tried.
"You're such a comedian, Isabella." the way he said the words sounded almost admiring, but Bella chose to ignore it, knowing that he had most likely not meant it that way.
The day Edward Cullen would pay her a compliment and really mean it, pigs would fly, the cows would come home on their own, vampires would roam the Earth claiming to be vegetarians, and it would probably be the end of the world, all wrapped in one.
"And you're such an idiot, but I guess that's life." she retorted with a fake sigh, and then acted like what was airing on TV was the most interesting thing in the world.
"Ouch, be careful, Cullen… she's sharpening her claws." he responded, faking a shudder himself, and Bella wondered how well he would take it if she went psycho on him and bashed his pretty face against the coffee table. "Should I be scared?"
"You know what? Why don't you spare us both the torture of having to listen to you, and get the hell out of here already?" she suggested tiredly, and out of spite, turned the volume up another notch. Not that he seemed to care, but still, at least it would drown some the sound of his annoying -though admittedly sexy- voice.
"As I see it, it doesn't look like you have anything better to do than hanging out with me." he told her with a smile, like she should be oh, so grateful for that, or that was actually the best thing that could have ever happened to her.
"I was watching TV and doing just fine until you decided to grace me with your presence." she informed him, even if that was a lie considering how bored she had actually been before his arrival.
Yet given the choice, she would rather die of boredom than having to spend a whole night with him, listening to him talking to himself.
"Saturday Night Fever? Come on, Swan, even you can't be that lame!" he cocked an eyebrow at her and snorted, making Bella blush despite herself.
Okay, it was pretty lame indeed, but it wasn't her fault there wasn't anything better on TV tonight. Her only bad luck had been to have him coming and catching her watching it. But like he wouldn't have found something else to make fun of her if it hadn't been for that anyway.
"I happen to like John Travolta… so what?" she answered with as much conviction as she could muster, even if it didn't seem to change anything for him.
"Well, I happen to like J-Lo, but you didn't see me running to go and see 'Gigli', did you?" he mocked quite openly, and Bella barely resisted the urge to hit him this time.
God, could anyone be more annoying than this man?
"If you don't like it, you know where the door is… believe me, no one here is going to ask you to stay!" she pointed out and not for the first time over the years, she wondered how it could be possible for Emmett to be friend with someone like him.
They were nothing alike, or at least they weren't anymore from what she had witnessed. She still remembered a time when Edward had been the sweetest boy she could have met, and yeah, she could admit, at least to herself, that she had been crazy about that boy back then, but then unexpectedly he had done a complete 180° and she hadn't even gotten a glimpse of that boy ever since that day. Not when he was with her at least.
"Why so cruel, Swan?… don't you even care that you're breaking my poor little heart?" he pouted exaggeratedly and brought a hand to his chest, like he were suddenly in pain, but it didn't move Bella in the least. On the contrary.
"I wasn't aware you had one!" she volleyed back, pleased with herself when he looked almost hurt by her response. Or maybe he was just surprised. After all to feel anything, he would indeed need to actually have a heart to begin with.
"And you wonder why you're alone on a Saturday night?" he shot back, and though his statement lacked the heat she had been expecting after her own sentence, she had obviously hit a nerve. For whatever reason that was.
"I'm alone because I choose to be… and you know what they say anyway… better be alone than in bad company!" she responded right away, and for the first time tonight, she really looked at him square in the eye, hoping, maybe foolishly, that he would take the hint. After all, how much clearer could she be?
"Yeah, and watching Saturday Freaks' Fever… come on, say it with me… pa-the-tic…" he said, enunciating the last word slowly, like she was some retard and wouldn't get it if he talked any faster, and she didn't even have time to think about a reply of her own before he was leaning closer to her. "Give me the remote."
She had barely registered his words in fact that he had already taken it from the armrest near her and was changing channels, and she scolded herself for having let herself be momentarily distracted by that familiar cologne he used and that always made him smell so damned good. And to say that she had been doing so good until that second.
She had even managed to ignore the fact that he looked completely drool worthy in his tight jeans and black Scarlet Fields tee-shirt, but one moment of inattention had just ruined it all.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing? I was watching that!" she all but yelped when she recovered and that even if she had lost interest in the movie ever since he had appeared. It was hard concentrating when he was 'yapping' near her. And yes, that was the only reason she couldn't concentrate. It had nothing to do with him, or his scent or… whatever.
"Well, you're not anymore!" he announced unrepentantly and kept channel-flicking, hoping to find something that wouldn't make him want to swear that he wouldn't listen to a Bee Gees' song ever again. There was only so much of those high-pitched voices a guy could take before he seriously lost it.
"I was here first!" Bella remarked and almost cringed herself when she noticed just how whiny she had sounded even to her own ears.
"I was here first!" Edward parroted mockingly, and switched the remote to his other hand when Bella moved to her knees and tried to steal it from him. "How old are you again? Five?"
"I live here right now… you don't!" she reminded him and hit his arm when he kept swatting her hands away. "Give me that remote back!"
"Em's casa es mi casa… so I guess I have as much right to be here as you do… and choose what I want to watch!" he informed her and even had the nerve to poke his tongue at her as he finished.
And here he was insinuating that she was the child.
She didn't care that he and Emmett were such close friends that he could come and go as he pleased, she had a room here right now, she was the one momentarily living with Emmett, and that was enough to give her priority in her eyes. Wasn't it?
"Edward Cullen, speaking another language… and here I thought he barely knew how to spell his own name… wonders will never cease." she gasped as if in awe, and Edward nearly laughed at the expression on her face.
Maybe he hadn't been that far off the mark earlier. She could definitely have been an actress.
"You'd be surprised to hear all I can say in Spanish!" he answered back and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, which only made Bella think that she definitively didn't want to hear whatever that could be.
"Oh, my… and he actually knows it's Spanish!" she continued and brought a hand to her forehead, as if learning that was too much emotion at once and she would just pass out if he didn't stop.
"Te follaria ahora mismo si no supiera lo frigida que eres…" he drawled out huskily, and this time there was nothing faked to her gasp or the slight blush that tainted her cheeks when she heard him. (Translation: I'd fuck you right now if I didn't know how frigid you are.)
Fortunately, she recovered quite quickly or he would have certainly thought it was the idea of him actually going through his 'threat' that was making her flush like a schoolgirl.
And who cared if hearing him say the words had actually shot a jolt of desire through her entire being, the end of his sentence was enough to make her anger cover that unwelcome feeling.
"Why don't you shove that plan… dondé el sol no brilla?… a ver como te siente!" if he could speak Spanish, she could as well, after all they had both had one Rosalie Hale, whose mother was half Puerto Rican, to help them with that. Though she had to wonder what could have been going through Rosalie's mind when she had taught him to say such things. She should have known he would use them at the most inappropriate moments. ( T.:Why don't you shove that plan where the sun don't shine… let's see how that feels.)
"I'd rather stick it to you… I could even make sure it feels good for you, too… if you're nice enough of course!" he teased playfully and couldn't help but smirk when he saw Bella's nostrils flare in anger.
He didn't need much to rile her up most of the times, but sexual innuendos always seemed to be the quickest way to achieve that goal.
"God, you're so… so… " she stuttered in rage, her arms flaring around her, and Edward prudently slid further away on the couch, just in case she would decide to punch him this time.
"Charming… hot… sexy… devastatingly handsome?" he enumerated shamelessly, knowing that if he had never really thought so himself, it didn't hurt to use what he had heard on more than one occasion to irritate her more.
"Infuriating!… you're the most exasperating person I've ever met… god, who the hell do you think you are?" she gritted out and she only got even more angry when she saw him look at her like he didn't have a care in the world.
He even had the nerve to smirk at her once more, but it was when he snapped his teeth at her and didn't even bother answering her that she really lost it.
"Aahhhh!" her frustrated cry startled Edward so much in fact that before he could even react, she was already up and moving to leave the room.
"Where are you going, sweetheart?" he called sweetly after her nonetheless, obviously not knowing when to quit, and he couldn't help chuckling softly when he noticed how rigidly she moved. Someone was obviously very pissed right now.
Cullen 1- Swan 0.
"Bathroom!" she threw over her shoulder, and as she exited the room, she could have sworn she saw him checking her out. She dismissed the thought almost right away however, sure that she was just imagining it, because clearly Edward wouldn't demean himself by looking twice at her. Not when he claimed loud and clear that she wasn't woman enough to him. No, it must have been all in her imagination. Definitely. "And I better see John Travolta shaking his ass again when I'm back, or you'll regret it!"
"What about I shake mine for you, sugar?" she heard as she opened the bathroom door, and for a short second she stopped in her tracks as that particular image invaded her mind.
Oh, no, she was so not going there.
"Yeah, like it could compare!" she snorted as she slammed the door shut, but he heard her all the same and he couldn't help laughing at that, even if that had probably not been what she had been aiming for.
The smile slipped off of his face the second silence engulfed the apartment again however, and he threw his head back against the couch, releasing the breath he had not even been aware he had been holding.
Get a grip, Cullen, he scolded himself and wished his body to calm down.
Man, this was really getting out of control. He wasn't only hard when his mind took him to places he would normally never dare go but in his dreams, he was hard when he was fighting with her now as well, and that was absolutely not normal, or even acceptable.
It was all her fault though. He hadn't had so many difficulties before, and then she had to change so much he barely knew how to behave around her anymore.
God, where had all that ass and boobs come from, he pondered for the umpteenth time, wondering how he had managed to not have a heart attack upon entering and seeing her sitting there in nothing but a small sleeveless top -obviously sans bra- and a pair of shorts that left absolutely nothing to the imagination, even when God knew he had a lot. That girl had turned so hot, he was burning up every time she entered a room now, or he did and she was already there.
Saying that he had had the shock of his life when he had seen her for the first time after two years would be an understatement, because clearly nothing had prepared him for the vision she had become in that short time, even if he wouldn't admit to her how completely enthralled by her beauty he had been on sight then.
The last time he had seen her in fact, just before departing for College, Isabella Swan had been nothing more to him than Emmett's bratty cousin. A flat-chested fifteen years old whose favorite pastime had been to play softball with the boys, even when most of the times they didn't want to have anything to do with her.
She was annoying and would have been easily mistaken for one of the boys as well with her short hair and skinny body, if it hadn't been for the feminine softness of her facial features.
He hadn't had any problem ignoring her then so, or ignoring the fact that despite her boyish looks he still found himself strangely attracted to her, even if he hadn't been quite as successful to stop his heart from beating a tad bit faster every time he saw her and they engaged in their usual banter.
When he had moved to Seattle to attend college and his parents had followed not too long after so his father could take up the new position that had been offered to him at Seattle Grace, Edward had barely thought of her, or at least he had tried not to, and he hadn't even been more bummed than that when he had come back to Forks with Emmett during the following summers and he had been told that she had gone away to Florida to visit another one of their aunts. Or so he had managed to convince himself of. He had lived without Bella Swan in his life and he had managed just fine.
All that changed at the beginning of this school year, however.
Edward had of course been warned beforehand by Emmett that Bella would come and attend SU with them, and if he had anticipated her coming, he hadn't expected to see her all grown up all of a sudden, or to find himself desiring her to the point of pain on the spot, a feeling that had only been growing with months.
The more time passed, the more he was itching with the need to be with her, to make her his, even if he had somewhat managed to reign on that need until now. He had even been almost grateful when Bella had started dating Jacob, even when at the same time he didn't think it could be possible for him to hate the guy more and had wanted to break his neck on more than an occasion, but at least then he had had an excuse to not try anything.
He didn't know what he could have done anyway, or what he could have told Bella once he realized that what he felt for her was starting to take scary proportions. What was he supposed to say with all that had already been said and done between them? He was her childhood living nightmare and consequently, probably the very last person in the world she would want to be with or just associated with.
She definitely didn't have a high opinion of him either, that much he knew for sure. Hadn't she even insinuated not even a half hour ago that she obviously thought he had no heart? That was quite explicit enough in and of itself, wasn't it?
He wondered however, what she would think then if she knew that lately it had felt to him like his heart was only ever really beating when he was with her or he knew she was close.
Would she even care? Would that make her change her mind about him or change how she viewed him?
He seriously doubted it, and yet despite all that, despite how wrong it would be to cave at last, or knowing that he would only be setting himself up to heartbreak if he did, he wasn't stupid enough to not know that it wouldn't be long before he wouldn't be able to control himself any longer around her. And tonight was only proving him just how right he apparently was.
He didn't know if it was because he knew now that she was single again or what, but he was barely able to resist jumping her as it was, which was why he was rethinking the whole idea to stay, and yet he couldn't bring himself to leave for all that.
Admittedly, he had known that there would be a good chance Bella would be there tonight, with or without Emmett, but the more he tried to convince himself that she hadn't been the one he had wanted to see, maybe even more than his best friend, the less he succeeded.
He knew Emmett would probably kill him if he tried to make a move on his cousin though, and moreover with the way he had treated her through the years, but at that point, Edward didn't seem able to find in him the will to care.
He would go nuts if he didn't have her soon, he was sure of that, and at the same time he didn't know how they would go from there if anything happened between them. For all he knew Bella hated him about as much as he pretended to hate her, so that definitely screamed disaster.
It didn't stop him from wondering how she would feel in his arms, or writhing under him for all that, and not for the first time he prayed for the strength to go through another day without touching her. Without trying to make her his. Without crossing a line he knew they weren't ready for.
Little did he know of course that at the same time, in the confines of the closed bathroom, Bella was sending prayers of her own, even when she knew it would be of no use.
She could be so stupid sometimes, she thought self-depreciatively as she splashed cold water over her flushed face, and when she caught sight of herself in the mirror she could only cringe at her own reflection.
She really didn't know why she always let him get to her that way, moreover when she knew how much he enjoyed seeing her losing her temper. The guy just seemed to live for that, though she still couldn't understand why his mean nature seemed to only come out around her.
Rosalie had insinuated not so long ago that Edward was probably one of those 'If I hate you so much it's actually because I like you too much' type of guys, but that was just totally ridiculous as far as Bella was concerned.
Rosalie didn't know what she was saying more than Jacob had, because if what she told her was true, then Edward didn't just like her, he was freaking in love with her considering how he was with her, and that… well, that was simply impossible.
There was no way it could be, or life was even weirder than she had always thought it was.
She wasn't even his type anyway from what she knew. He was more into blondes apparently if she judged by how many times she had seen him with one, or how many claimed to have gotten him.
Yeah, completely ridiculous. That was what all this was, she concluded once more as she dried her hands and then took in a few heavy breaths to compose herself again.
She wasn't looking forward to going back in there and dealing with Edward again, but it wasn't as she had any real choice. She couldn't really stay locked up in here and hope he would eventually grow tired of waiting for her to come back and leave at last. Besides, she would rather face him than having him gloating at her for having managed to scare her into hiding like a fragile little child.
Meanwhile outside, Edward couldn't help wondering what was taking her so long, and he was just about to go and knock on the door and investigate when Disco music filled the room again, indicating that he had inadvertently stopped on Bella's movie again.
Despite himself he couldn't help but watch briefly and he even smiled when he saw what Bella's dear John Travolta was wearing. Well, he and about every person around him. Way too cheesy and old-fashioned if you asked him. And he better not even get started on that hairdo.
Couldn't it have been Grease? That one he could have watched. At least that Sandy chick was kind of cute compared to the one Travolta's character was trying to impress here.
No, Saturday Night Fever was definitely not something he was willing to let himself watch for too long. And even less when the familiar voices of the Gibb brothers drifted to his ears again.
Oh, girl, I've known you very well,
I've seen you growing every day
I never really looked before,
But now you take my breath away Suddenly you're in my life
Part of everything I do
You got me working day and night
Just trying to keep a hold on you.
The lyrics made him groan out loud as he realized just how close to his situation they were. Bella Swan definitely did take his breath away, turned his world upside down, made him lose his mind, no matter for how long he had known her or how much he had tried to deny it until now.
How lame could it be that his own life or feelings could somewhat be compared to a 70's song, huh? Moreover when it came from a movie he all but hated. Could you say pathetic?
He didn't have time to dwell that much on that though, since he heard the bathroom door being opened at last and he was quick to flick channels again.
Bella herself wasn't even surprised to see that he had absolutely not listened to her when she eventually got out of the bathroom a few minutes after having entered it, and before she could understand herself what she was doing or where such anger had come from, she was storming to him and all but throwing herself at him.
"Give me that remote… now!" she ordered him, trying her best to reach for the remote he was unfortunately holding too high in the air for her small stature, and when she realized she wouldn't be able to take it from him, she couldn't help hitting him childishly in retaliation.
The fact that he was openly laughing at her, like he didn't even care in the least that he had managed to piss her off once more, didn't help either, and as a last resort she found herself straddling him and yelling again.
"Give me the damned remote, you freaking retard!" she repeated, not even aware of her position, or the fact that she was closer to him at that moment than she had ever been. Too close even probably.
"Careful, Swan … you keep that up and I might think you actually want me!" Edward couldn't help teasing as she, most likely involuntarily, lined up her body to his in a desperate attempt to reach for the object still in his hand, but it didn't stop him from swallowing thickly the next second when he felt her breasts pressing a little too much for his own comfort into his chest.
At that moment he really wondered if she realized what she was doing to him, if she knew the effect she was having on him and just didn't care, or if she was completely unaware of the fact that having her so close to him was literally driving him crazy.
"Give it to me, Cullen… give it to me right now, or I swear…" she left the sentence hanging there, and though Edward could see her eyes screaming possible murder if he didn't comply right away, he was too far gone already to take her too seriously.
"If you wanted it that bad, all you had to do was ask, love." he breathed out huskily, his own eyes meeting hers and leaving little doubt about the fact that he was clearly not talking about giving her what she had been really asking for.
Despite herself, shivers ran up Bella's spine at the not so covered proposition, and for a few seconds all she could do was look at him, wondering if it would really be so wrong if she just took him up on the offer, until the feel of his hand drifting up her bare leg and stopping inches from her behind brought her back to her senses again.
What the heck had she been thinking? Giving in to him would be like a complete disaster and she should really not let herself even just consider it, no matter what her traitorous body was screaming at her.
"You're a dick… you know that?!" she spat out and pushed down on him before moving to sit back where she had been a moment ago, and she hoped with all her might that he wouldn't notice how much his touch had actually affected her.
She hated the fact that her insides felt like they had turned to mush all of a sudden or that she was trembling all over just because of his closeness or his words, when she was sure that he had only meant to push her buttons once more anyway.
Why would it be anything else, no matter what she thought she had read in his eyes a few seconds ago, huh? She was delusional, that was what she was! And stupid, oh, so stupid! And god, she needed help. Fast.
"Yeah, I'm all dick… or so I've heard before." Edward answered slyly and Bella could do little more but scowl at him and make a gagging sound, clearly disgusted when she saw him cupping himself as he talked, like his words weren't already crude enough all by themselves.
Of course she had no way to know that that had actually been the only way Edward had found to readjust himself as discreetly as he could in his suddenly too tight pants, all thanks to the stunt she had just pulled on him, and it was little wonder then if she looked at him like she wished he would just drop dead on the spot and leave her utterly satisfied at last.
"Stupid bastard!" she mumbled under her breath as she kept glaring at him and she cursed him some more just for good measure when he started flicking through channels again.
"Bitch!" Edward retorted, glowering back at her, though he was clearly more upset with himself for not being able to control his reactions to her, than he truly was with her.
"Asshole!"
"Frigid little girl!"
"Coming from you, that means shit… Fuck-… w-ward…" they could have kept going at it for a long while without even tiring probably, but Bella found herself trailing off awkwardly when uneven breathing and strange moans suddenly filled the room, and as she looked back to the television, she couldn't help gasping when she saw three people going at it hot and heavy on the screen.
And by people she meant, two guys and a girl, naked as the day they were born, and doing things she never thought she would have to see until that day.
And to think that, as a joke, Rosalie had once tried to make her watch a porn movie and she had managed to keep her eyes closed during the whole thing to not be scarred for life, and now that idiot just had to go and stop on one of those stupid movies.
"Close your mouth, woman… or you might give a guy some ideas!" she heard coming from next to her and that was when she realized that she had been just sitting there, with her mouth hanging open while her eyes remained riveted on the freaking screen, obviously too dumbfounded to do anything else.
In reality Edward's words were nothing more than a growl, but Bella was too embarrassed at having been caught gawking to really notice at that moment.
The truth was that he had probably been as shocked as Bella could have been herself, if not as embarrassed, but it was the sight of her, sitting there, mouth opened in a perfect 'O', that was really driving him out of his mind at the moment and definitely not the big breasted blonde he had caught a glimpse of not a minute ago.
It was the thought of Bella doing to him what 'Blondie' had been doing to one of the guys on screen that was threatening to make him blow a fuse, though he was lucid enough to realize that it would most likely not be a good idea to suggest to Bella she tried it on him.
"Change it back, you disgusting pig!" Bella all but yelled at him and punched his arm when the blonde on TV started screaming her lungs off in pleasure, like she was really enjoying what those two guys were doing to her.
"Why? Isn't that better than Saturday Night Fever?" Edward asked tauntingly before he could stop himself, even if he could already predict that she would certainly not agree with him and that his casualness about the whole thing would only upset her more.
"Only you would find cheap porn better than a movie that's practically considered cult to a whole generation!" Bella threw back, sickened that he could say such a thing, and then turned her head to the side so that she wouldn't have to see more of the awful spectacle. It was already bad enough that she had to listen to it because the animal next to her refused to do as she asked.
"Me and about a million other people, darling!" Edward snorted, knowing that if you gave any guy to choose between that cheap porn as Bella had called it, and a movie that was older than himself, John Travolta would certainly not win that one. Not by a long shot.
"Change it now, Cullen, I won't tell you another time!" Bella growled and hit him with a pillow this time, the material barely missing his face by an inch. Not that it calmed him down apparently, or stopped him from coming back with one of his usual stupid replies.
"Come on, don't say this is not turning you on… I can see you squirming on your seat!" he accused her just for the hell of it and though all Bella had done was to change positions and sit straighter.
"Shut up, moron!" she cried out, mortified that he could think she was actually liking the sounds of all those moans and grunts that resonated around them, and that apparently had no effect on him.
Probably because he had already watched hundreds of those movies before, she pondered and couldn't help but grimace at the thought. The pig probably liked it even, that would certainly not surprise her.
"You should watch, Swan … maybe you could learn a thing or two!" he advised then as he saw her looking at anything but him or the television, and he couldn't help smiling when he saw her lips moving and mumbling what he was sure could only be some other insult she was so fond of and always got for him.
"Look at her… I bet no one has ever made you feel that way!" he insisted when she absolutely refused to look at him or answer to him, and Bella barely resisted the urge to tell him that if anyone had ever screamed like that when being with him, certainly it could only be all faked.
"Okay, that's it… I'm out of here!" she announced instead and tried to stand up, but Edward stopped her before she even could, and that was when she noticed just how dangerously close to her he had moved while she wasn't looking.
"What, Swan? Can't take a little heat?" he drawled out into her ear as he softly stroked her wrist, the situation starting to have quite an effect on him as well, even if he tried to at least hide it from her.
"Screw you!" Bella spewed out, fuming inside now, yet when she knew she should have been up and getting the hell away from him, she suddenly couldn't move, much to her dismay.
God, what the hell was he doing to her?
"Told you… I'd rather screw you, beautiful!" Edward whispered out and Bella sucked in a breath when he let go of her arm at last but pushed a few strands of hair behind her ear, the tender gesture in complete opposition with the vulgarity of his words.
"Do those lame pick-up lines work with anyone?… I mean with anyone with some brain?" she questioned acerbically, though she couldn't care less about his answer.
Girls were probably tripping all over themselves every time Edward Freaking Cullen as much as looked their way or just opened his mouth anyway, and she wasn't willing to listen to him bragging about it.
"You'd be surprised." Edward just uttered distractedly, suddenly more enthralled by the sight of her bare neck now than he was focused on her question, his mind taking him to places he shouldn't let it go if he didn't want to lose it for good.
Her skin looked so soft and so tempting, it was nothing short of a miracle if he had not tried yet to have a taste of it.
"I doubt it!" it was Bella's turn to snort this time, knowing that if stupid girls were unfortunately legions in Seattle, those with a minimum of sense were definitely fewer, and therefore that Edward had most likely never been able to hold a serious or intelligent conversation with any of the girls he had managed to lure into giving him a chance and screwed.
"Maybe I should try some more with you then… after all, you're all brain… aren't you?" Bella knew it could have been a compliment, if it had come from anyone but him of course, and so instead of making her feel better or at least somewhat proud of being praised on her own intelligence, it only infuriated more, which was probably why he had done it to begin with.
"God, why don't you just leave me alone already?… Don't you have anyone else to go see and bug?" she gritted out, truly reaching the end of her patience with him.
It didn't help either that he was so close she could feel his hot breath stirring down her neck every time he spoke or took in a gulp of air, and that it was making her feel all kind of crazy things. God, she really needed him away from her. Miles and miles away.
"You know you like it when I bug you… why should I stop then?" Edward demanded, though he knew she would rather die first before admitting that she actually appreciated their bickering just as much as he did himself.
"Get the hell out of here, Cullen, or my cousin will find a dead body when he gets back!"
Anyone else would have backed off faced to such a threat, but Bella should have known better than to just even think that Edward could have been even slightly intimidated by her tone or the possibility of dying that night, whether she was serious or not.
"You know you're hot when you're pissed, Swan?" he said for all answer, thinking that she was certainly one of the only persons he knew of that looked even more beautiful if that were possible when they were truly upset.
"Yeah, that's just me… I just ooze hotness!" Bella deadpanned, thinking that he was poking fun at her once more, but Edward surprised her when instead of one of those lame remarks she was used to hearing coming from him, he just looked at her seriously and smiled almost genuinely for once.
"Have you looked at yourself lately?… you could drive any guy nuts!" he told her sincerely, speaking what had been on his mind ever since he had arrived, ever since he had seen her again for the first time a few months ago in fact. "Besides, when have I ever lied to you, huh?" he then added when she kept looking at him like he had grown a second head and she couldn't figure out what to do with him, and he wasn't even aware his hands had grown a mind of their own until he heard her commenting on it.
"What… what are y-you doing?" Bella stuttered when she felt his fingers caressing the inside of her thigh, the soft contact causing goosebumps to break over her skin.
"I want you!" Edward just blurted out, having finally grown tired of this game between them and knowing there wouldn't be much more of it he could take.
"Are you on crack? What the hell is wrong with you now?… You… you see a girl naked and that's it… you're losing it?" Bella shrieked and did her best to ward his hand off, only to have Edward resist and squeeze her flesh a little harder.
"This has nothing to do with her… it's you… Can't help if I find you hot!" Edward nuzzled her neck in the most disturbing way and contradicted her when she insinuated that it was the sight of that naked actress that was making him react that way.
Coupled with the fingers she couldn't seem to pry away from her skin, it was enough to drive Bella insane.
"Since when?" she sputtered incredulously, wondering if he really thought she would believe him now, when all he had done for years was to find new ways to humiliate her and ridicule her. "Weren't you the one almost always saying 'Here come McCarthy and the Swan's son', whenever you saw us together?" she couldn't help asking then, remembering how much she had hated it when he made fun of her boyish looks or the fact that she had absolutely no grace whatsoever back then.
"Well, that was me being young and stupid… you can't hold that against me." Edward said almost regretfully, but it didn't move Bella at all, if that was what he had been expecting or hoping for.
"Young and stupid, huh?" she repeated like that had been the craziest thing she had ever heard, which wasn't very far from the truth if you thought about it. "I heard you say so not three years ago!" she then reminded him, thinking that at eighteen he could hardly still be considered a kid back then.
"Stupid indeed." Edward just mumbled, nibbling at Bella's bare shoulder now, and barely managing to pull away and avoid being hit when she shrugged it to make him go away.
"Yeah, and now you're horny!" she accused him, not believing for a second that it could be anything else that was causing him to react so irrationally or making him come on to her so strongly all of a sudden.
She didn't get it anyway. At least when he insulted her or pick on her for no reason, she knew how to react and how to defend herself, but at that moment she was completely and utterly lost, which could definitely not be a good thing.
"That I am… and it's all because of you, baby!" Edward concurred easily, though she had not been expecting the last bit. Not that it changed anything for her, but she would lie if she said he wasn't making her insides quiver the more he talked to her, for whatever reason that was.
"Well, why don't you go and see if any of the little bimbos you keep on the side can help you with that… I'm sure they would be more than willing!" she suggested sarcastically and tried to reach for the remote control once more, if only to spare her ears the trouble of having to listen to more of those disgusting sounds that would obviously not stop any time soon, only to have Edward turn off the TV and throw it away a mere second before he took her hand in his instead.
"I could… only problem is… you're the only one I want…" he admitted truthfully, knowing that if he really wanted he could find someone who could be easily convinced to help, but none that would satisfy his present needs. No one but Bella would be able to at this point. He had learned that the hard way. "You're the only one I've wanted for a while, Swan."
His lips grazed her jaw line as he spoke that last sentence, while his fingers traced teasing circles in the center of her palm, and Bella couldn't help closing her eyes reflexively, praying for the strength and the will to not do something she would most likely regret almost immediately after.
God, did he have to sit so close? Did he have to touch her at all? And did he have to kiss her? Even if it was the lightest of kisses?
What was going on here anyway? And why couldn't she find the strength to really push him away like she should, before it was too late?
"Yeah, and I'm supposed to believe that?… it's Saturday night, you're horny, probably haven't gotten any for a while now, and I'm the closest warm body you could find apparently… sorry, not gonna happen, Cullen!" she protested almost right away, but even to her own ears, her voice sounded weak, which only made her cringe inwardly.
She shouldn't let him get to her, not if she didn't want to end up hurt and heartbroken, which she was sure was what would happen if she didn't fight him while she still could.
"Come on, Swan… don't make me beg for it… it wouldn't be becoming." Edward tried to joke, but he knew well that if it had to come to that, if that was what it took to finally know what it felt like to be with her, he would certainly be ready to do just that.
"I'd like to see you try!" was Bella's next sardonic answer but she cursed herself when she couldn't prevent the soft moan that escaped her lips the next second when she felt Edward's tongue toy with the rim of her ear.
"What would be the point, really? You know you want it, too… I can feel it…" Edward pointed out to her, like it was the most obvious thing in the world and Bella glared at him before gasping with his next sentence. "I can smell it!"
"What y-you're smelling is your own horniness!" she instantly retorted indignantly, but couldn't stop herself from blushing slightly as she wondered if he could really smell… anything coming from her.
As much as she tried to remain unaffected, she knew she was reacting pretty strongly to him and his closeness, or to the fact that he was still touching her.
God, you couldn't even trust your own body these days.
"Are you sure?" he persisted, his fingers creeping up her thigh again and stopping just millimeters from the hem of her shorts. "Aren't you wet right now, Swan?… Would I not find you soaking if I were to touch you now?"
"D-Don't you dare… god, let go of m-me!" Bella ordered in a trembling whisper, her own fingers closing around his to stop him from going any further and finding out just how right he was.
"You know you don't really want me to stop!" Edward breathed out, nibbling his way up to her chin now, and he was barely able to hide a smile when he felt Bella's grip on his fingers tighten even more the closer his lips came to what they both knew was his final destination. "Do you, Swan?"
"I-I thought you hated m-me!" Bella didn't even bother contradicting him this time, knowing that denying it would only be lying, but that didn't mean that she was ready to admit it out loud for all that.
"Maybe I do… but I think I like you even more!" Edward whispered with a soft smile that contradicted the fact that he had just admitted he hated her in a way, and for some strange reason Bella felt her heart skipping a beat.
She knew that things were about to change drastically, and she couldn't help wondering if she was really ready for that, no matter how much she knew she actually wanted it. Oh, god if she did want it.
"I-I hate you, too!" she murmured back but with so little conviction it was almost laughable. There was absolutely no way Edward would really believe her, not if he paid even just a little bit of attention.
"That's good… at least we agree on something for once!" he turned her face fully to him then and when he smiled at her this time, she knew she was lost.
She felt his thumb trace her bottom lip in the most gentle way first, and the next second, when it was replaced by his own lips, Bella forgot about even the mere thought of breathing.
Despite all her protests, it wouldn't be the first time she had imagined being kissed by Edward, but as he did at last and let her get acquainted with the feel of his lips on hers, she discovered that nothing could compare with the real thing.
The first few kisses were actually way more tender than she had been expecting them to be considering what had transpired between them just seconds ago, but Bella was still fighting for breath when Edward eventually pulled away and rested his forehead against her own.
"God, you drive me crazy… come here…" he murmured a short moment afterwards when he had managed to calm himself some down, and then moved slightly away from her, settling himself in the middle of the couch to give them more room and inviting her to join him. "Come here, Bella." he pointed to his lap and reiterated when she seemed to hesitate, and if nothing else could maybe have made her cave, the way he breathed out her name then was her undoing.
For years she had been nothing but 'Swan' to him or any stupid moniker he could think of and hearing him calling her by her first name now after so long did things to her she would rather not analyze at the moment.
The whole situation was crazy in fact if you thought about it. Here she was, just having been kissed by Edward Cullen of all people when not ten minutes ago they had been throwing insults at each other, and now she had to decide if they would stop at that, at a few simple kisses, if you could call it a few simple kisses of course, or take a step she knew they wouldn't be able to take back later.
Part of her was terrified at the thought of what could happen or what that could mean for them, but the other part of her already knew that there would be no way to stop them now that they had started. Nor did she want them to, truthfully. They had gone too far already for that.
TBC…
So what do you think? Let me know!