I'm glad to welcome you back. As you can already tell, this story is quite different from the rest of the one's I've written. It's not as lighthearted as any other one. I hope you all enjoy this if you read Remember Me.
Also there is one important detail:
This story is told entirely from Edward's Point Of View. Unlike my other stories, I won't be switching from multiple character perspectives. This story is told solely from Edward's perspective since I thought it would be a good idea to solely explore the mind of the male character for once. For future reference, if there's ever any sort of switch in perspective in a chapter it will be due to a flashback.
So please, read and enjoy it. Send me comments, feedback or suggestions. Even theories. I'll see you guys soon with another update, I'll hope you will all embark with me on this new journey.
Chapter 1
I pulled on my collar, popping open the top two buttons, to loosen the hold it had on my neck. It was raining, like it fucking always was. Rattling the keys through my door, I was met with the smell of apple pie floating in the air in a leisurely fashion. It smelled mouthwatering and suddenly my main emotion was hunger, not anger. I heard humming from the kitchen and walked in to see my mother with an apron around her torso and her hair pulled into an elegant chignon.
"Hi mom," I greeted and she straightened like lightening.
"Oh Edward," She breathed, pressing a hand over her heart. "You scared me." I noticed she was wearing her pearls and I frowned. She only wore those pearls for a special event. Did I miss someone's birthday? I doubt it; Emmett's passed a month ago.
"Why the pie and the pearls?"
"We have company." She responded with an easy smile painting her features. There was a glint in her eyes that confused me. "Emmett and Rose should be here soon." She got all dolled up for them? She turned, fitting an oven-mitt over her hand, and reached into the oven to take out the source of tantalizing smells. It was smoking right on the surface meaning that it was perfect temperature. "Why are you home early?"
"Finished presenting my project." The work plan had gone as expected but Eric's lack to accept the deal could piss anyone off. I saw her lips rub together and I suddenly felt like she didn't want me here. Taps of expensive Italian soles alerted me and I turned to see my father walking down the stairs, fixing his sweater.
"Edward, you're home early." He noted with surprise in his voice. Is it really that alarming that I'm home for once?
"Dad." I gave him a handshake and a quick hug. His emerald green eyes were drooping slightly and I imagined that it had to do with his overnight shift at the hospital.
"Carlisle, could you please bring out the wine glasses?" Esme asked kindly and he immediately nodded, walking towards the cabinets. I yawned and drummed my fingers on the marble island top. The door instantly opened and I heard the loud announcement, giving away the person instantly.
"We're back." Emmett's loud voice echoed through the house and his steps came closer until he walked through the door, damp curls and a dimpled smile. We hugged it out and he slapped my back once, hard. He seemed to forget that he was once a gym freak, going twice a day, six times a week and was therefore able to hurt anything.
Behind him appeared his slender opposite, Rosalie. She was tall with long legs, pale skin, blonde hair that swirled with shine and smoke, gray, eyes. She had a wonderful figure that she's kept in shape since I've known her and she was always well groomed. A warm smile painted across her face and she gave me a hug, wrapping her arms around my neck.
"Welcome back." I said and she wrapped her hand around Emmett's bicep, displaying her glinting diamond that accompanied the platinum wedding band. Emmett took a noisy whiff and let loose another grin.
"Is that pie I smell, aunt Esme?" She laughed and nodded. "Good because Rose and I worked up an appetite." Some things never changed; he was always hungry.
The gray cloud loomed darkly over and let the rain pour down onto the pavement, making a crackling noise every time. All I wanted was pie, a shower and sleep. Rosalie flitted to help Esme, buzzing lowly probably about some gossip they heard.
"You look exhausted." Emmett noted, pulling up a stool and sitting down beside me.
"Beyond." I rubbed a hand at the back of my neck to try and loosen the knots. A cigarette was probably something else I needed. Something to relieve the stress.
"I'm surprised you're home." I slanted my eyes to him.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're usually out until later." I shrugged.
"I wanted to be home, I didn't think it was a sin." He rolled his eyes.
"Don't get your panties in a twist." He brushed off and I heard Carlisle coming back into the kitchen with a few beer bottles. The offered one, making the glass clink together, noisily. "Yes, please." Emmett took it without hesitation, expertly flicking off the bottle caps, handing me my beer. He held up his bottle in suggestion and I raised mine to his, clinking them. "Cheers."
"Cheers." I put my lips to the ice cold rim and felt the barley-flavored liquid roll down my throat. It was slightly relaxing but it's not the usual drinks I go for. Anything's better than nothing. "You and Rose seem to be doing well."
"We are. She's happy teaching the kids at school, she says their smiles are rewarding." She was a first grade teacher, meaning she dealt with teaching kids how to read and cut and spell.
"She's always liked kids." I murmured against the rim, when I heard a knock at the door. I frowned instantly and glanced towards the living room where Carlisle walked off to. "Aren't you the guests?" Emmett stayed quiet, tilting his beer bottle from side to side.
"Welcome, I'm so glad to see you." Carlisle's informality piqued my interest. His steps were getting closer and his voice was getting louder as he rounded the corner, the person a few steps behind him.
"It smells like Esme's pie." That voice. My heart stopped, my eyes widened, and my breathing ceased. It was as if everything around me halted for the moment and I was staring at some ridiculously corny movie.
Behind Carlisle walked in the one girl I could pinpoint from a mile away. She was just as I remembered her, but yet, strangely different. She was fully developed now, with curves in their right places. Her hair was still long but it was lightened a few shades of brown from its traditional mahogany. Her skin was still fair but it wasn't so milky anymore; it had the faint tinge of a fading tan. The only unchanging feature was her eyes. They were still the burning hazel that lit up the room with their golden spark.
"What the actual fuck." I spit out without thinking, making all eyes, including hers, turn to me. "Bella." Her eyes widened fractionally before she composed herself.
"Edward." She gave me a curt nod and then turned to look at Esme who completely enveloped herself in Bella's aura. "Esme, I'm so happy to see you." Esme's smile was blinding as she took in all of Bella.
"You look absolutely divine, my sweet darling." Her voice was high-pitched and excited. She's right, I thought. She looked better than I could have ever imagined. Her answering smile was exalting and she pressed herself against Esme. "I've missed you."
"And I missed you." Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment before pulling back and walking towards Emmett, who picked her up in his arms and twirled her around.
"Look at you!" He declared with shining eyes. "Finally!" He boomed and she laughed. He took a step to the side, to allow his wife to walk one step ahead with happiness radiating off her body. Her smile was pearly and her cheekbones were lifted highly.
Rose threw her arms around Bella's smaller form, bending slightly to hug her. Bella's eyes glittered with familiarity and love as she wrapped her own slender arms around Rose. The two best friends reunited once more.
"You don't know how long I've waited for this!" Rose squealed like a little girl, her aura contagious. "Esme's right. Divine is a word that falls short." Her eyes scanned over Bella quickly and instead of blushing like she normally would, she giggled into her hand, the sound like tinkling bells.
She turned and I continued to study her. She was encased in a pair of her traditional jeans, except these were skinnies and they showed off her physique. She wore a silk, long sleeved, blouse and on her feet were a pair of heels that added to her small frame.
Her eyes turned, scanning me, but she kept her distance and didn't bother to say a word. I couldn't help but feel slightly stung by her indifference after so many years. She would've never done this back in the day, she would've ran to me and thrown her tiny arms around my neck in a 'proper greeting' as she called it.
"Esme." She said softly. "Let me help you with something." Esme immediately shook her head and untied the apron, placing it softly on top of the countertop.
"No such thing." She countered. "You are my guest."
"But—"
"Besides, everything's all done." A mischievous glint sparkled in Esme's eyes and I realized she must've purposely baked ahead of time so that Bella didn't have anything to help with. As expected, Bella's lips pursed before she sighed in resignation.
"Let me see!" She suddenly spluttered happily, grasping Rosalie's left hand in both of hers, spreading her fingers to get a good look at the shining rock on her finger. "It's gorgeous." She said dreamily and Rose's answering smile was one of confidence. She loved showing off her engagement ring and would frequently be caught mid-conversation going on about it. Her smile waned for a moment as she stared down at Bella.
"I'm sorry." She whispered and Bella's head lifted in response.
"Sorry? For what?" Esme gave Carlisle the wine and then proceeded to grab the pie, walking in her towering stilettoes, to the dining room. She was going to inspect that all the silverware was in its correct place and that the lighting was perfect for the occasion. She was a woman who prided herself in the tiny details and would often check every inch of something before it was put to display. Today seemed to be no exception.
"For the wedding." Rose seemed so ashamed to say it. That's right, I thought, Bella never came for the wedding. Bella wrinkled her nose but otherwise had no negative reaction.
"I understand, don't excuse yourself. I don't blame you." I could read it in her eyes why she didn't feel offended, it's as if they were screaming 'I haven't been around'. At the thought, I picked up my beer and swung it for another sip, my eyes never removing off of her.
"So after eight years, you're our guest of honor?" I heard the sarcasm rolling off my tongue in my own ears. She glanced in my direction and shrugged.
"Clearly." She replied shortly. Emmett's eyes grew wary as he stared between me and her. Rose bit her lip, giving me a subtle shake of her head. Everyone was on their toes but I remained seated as calmly as possible while I continuously stared at her. I half-expected her to start squirming as she usually did, in her old black converses, but instead she stared straight at me, without so much as a twitch.
The staring went on for another thirty seconds, the heavy ticking of the clock heard throughout the house. Her eyes weren't blazing but rather controlled behind a thick mask. She was hiding something that much I could tell, but I had no idea what it was.
"Edward." Emmett warned slowly but I barely looked his way, my eyes pinned to Bella's form. Rosalie opened her mouth to say something when Esme called.
"Pie!" Rosalie peeled herself from Bella and reluctantly walked to Emmett so they could make their way to the kitchen, their quiet whispering trailing along behind them. Bella and I stayed for another minute, our eye contact still intact, but we remained silent.
"You look different." I observed, taking another drag from the bottle.
"As do all of you." I shrugged, tilting the beer bottle in my hand for lack of words. My throat was parched and my usually sharp tongue was lied still without a single thing to stay. The sounds of heels clicking alerted me to her departure from the kitchen into the dining room. I frowned but otherwise made my way to the table where everyone sat, taking my place directly in front of her.
Esme had an equally proportioned part on everyone's plate matched with a glass filled with white wine. Linen napkins lay opened and the appropriate silverware was directly on top. I removed my suit jacket and placed it on the couch closest to the table. It was silent, the room filled with the semi-quiet chews, clanking silverware and soft tapping of wine glasses. The aura was too quiet that it was sickening and I was slowly driving myself mad.
"Bella, what brings you here after so long?" I picked up a piece of the pie to put into my mouth casually. I emphasized the word long and I saw Emmett's eyes peek up to me. I could practically read the harsh warning in his eyes. She finished taking a sip of her white wine, placing the glass back delicately on top of the table, before wiping her lip and giving a tight smile.
"Personal matters." She replied smoothly. No sign of red cheeks, no sign of down casted eyes. From my peripheral, I saw Carlisle wipe at his lips, reaching for his glass. Personal matters? What could she possibly still hold onto in Forks after being gone so long? Her empty smile and lack of response irked me, it gnawed at my insides. The familiar feeling that had been dormant, woke up, and bothered me to continue poking at her until I got a response.
"Oh." I slowly swallowed. "How long will you be gracing us with your presence?"
"For the moment, indefinitely." Although, the strange spark flared through my body, I couldn't help the growing irritation that came along with it at her vague answers. I wanted responses not half-ass answers. I opened my mouth to say something, when Esme cut me off.
"How has everything been?" Esme was truly curious to know how life was for her. She had known Bella since she was practically born which led to us growing up together. My mom and Bella's mom were school friends and were inseparable. Renee was her name and she was a very pretty woman. Certain features of hers were passed along to Bella, like for example, her eyes.
"Everything's been good. Alice and I recently redecorated our apartment." The infamous Alice was her cousin from her father's side. Her first cousin. Aro was Charlie's brother and therefore Bella's uncle. They didn't live in Forks though because, from what Bella told me, her uncle moved away as soon as he graduated. She used to go visit them for three weeks at a time twice a year but I never met them. So she's been living with Alice.
"How is Alice?" Esme asked, cradling her hands together on the top of the table.
"She's good. She came with me to Forks."
"You must bring her!" Esme suggested instantly and I crinkled a brow. "I'd love to officially meet her. You and her have been living together for a while?" Bella's lips rubbed and she stared at her half-eaten pie.
"You could say that." Her voice was somber and I saw the reaction on Esme's face. Upset would be an understatement. The awkwardness in the air confirmed that Bella had been living with Alice ever since her mother's passing.
I remember passing by my mom's room on a Sunday night after football practice and seeing her crying, with puffy eyes, and black mascara down her cheeks. I was so worried, frantically asking her what was wrong until she reluctantly confessed that Bella's mom had passed that morning. She was distraught over the knowledge of her best friend's death and I was…stunned. I shook my head, pushing the memories away that seemed to start pouring back with her appearance.
"I'm sorry." Esme excused herself and Carlisle placed a soft hand on top of hers, in a form of comfort. Bella shook her head, poking the pie.
"Don't be sorry. It's okay, don't worry. But I'll bring Alice so you could meet her." Esme's spirits seemed to have lifted, making my father equally happy.
The conversation went on smoothly for the rest of dinner for everyone except me. I barely uttered three more words with the events that happened today. Esme eventually cleaned up with Carlisle's help and danced off to the sink to wash everything, leaving the four of us sitting together around the large table, like when we were younger.
"You're staying in Forks, Bella?" Emmett asked idly playing with Rose's long fingers. It was a habit he'd picked up from when they first started dating.
"Yep so you'll be seeing me." She gave him a soft smile.
"We have to hang out." Rose piped in like a singing bird. "To fill each other in on the details of life."
"Sure. I'll stop by your job afterwards to come here. I'll bring Alice." Rose had never met Alice and although she was wary of meeting new people, especially women, she was sure that a friend—or rather a family member—of Bella's was a good person.
"You know where I work right?" Bella rolled her eyes with an amused expression.
"Probably at the only elementary school in town. Forks is small and everything gets around fast." I didn't miss the way she stressed the word everything. I tilted my glass back all the way and finished the remaining liquid in one shot.
I remained observant rather than aggressive throughout the rest of the night. I studied her reactions to everything, comparing them to the one's I knew so well and seeing where they changed. At nine, she decided to leave and head back to sleep saying she was jetlagged after the long trip. She pecked, Esme, Carlisle, Emmett and Rose's cheek and went to walk by me. I half-raised an eyebrow, following her to the living room, feeling the burning eyes Emmett on my back. She reached down to grab her black bag and I stopped behind her, watching her body freeze in response. So she's not completely unresponsive to me. I bent down so that my lips were by her ear and felt her slow breathing.
"I'll be seeing you tomorrow then, Bella." My lips found her cheek pressing down, as the tradition we had, before pulling away. She frowned and stomped out the door, not daring to look back once. I was half-satisfied, half-disappointed. I saw her pull out of the driveway, in her black rental car, into the main road.
"What was with all the interrogating?" Emmett questioned from behind, his voice firm. I merely shrugged and plopped onto the sofa.
"I was merely asking questions that I was curious about." His brow furrowed. "I would hardly call that interrogating."
"Oh please. You're a fucker and I know you too well. You were purposely trying to provoke her so that she'd tell you the answers. You were dying to know more about her because that's always been you when it came to her." He had a knowing look in his eye. "You've always wanted to know more."
"Its human nature to be curious." I tapped my fingertips against the cushions of the couch.
"Except human nature isn't your thing." He countered. "Listen, I know you too well to know where you're going with this." He picked up a hand. "Leave her alone, Edward. I mean it." I leaned forward, relatively bored with this speech.
"I didn't know she also paid for a lawyer." He shoved at my shoulder. He continued talking but I tuned him out. I didn't need to hear his tired, brotherly, threats and I certainly needed more time to get this girl talking. Talking like she used to talk to me all that time ago.
Now in my room, I stared at the ceiling, wondering what the difference in her was besides her appearance. I hadn't expected the largest hug in the world, but I was definitely not expecting such indifference—especially from her. Not after everything.
