Chapter 2
The next day Bella woke with the strong sensation that something huge was going to happen. She wasn't sure if that was good or bad but tried to maintain composure. She worked the afternoon shift at the ice cream shop today, so she could lay in bed all morning if she wanted.
At around 10 she rose for her shower. There was no sound coming from Tanya's room so she figured it was safe. Gathering her clothes, she tromped off. When she returned to her room, there was also no sign of Tanward. She heard them come back last night so they must still be sleeping.
Bella hung out in her room for as long as she could, playing her guitar and checking her e-mail. She heard Tanya's door open and close a couple times, but neither of them disturbed her. Finally, at quarter to 12, she left her room, now in a rush to get to work.
It was muggy outside but thankfully there was a thin sheen of clouds blocking out the harsh sun rays. She skipped to work, tying up her hair on the way.
The bell chimed as she entered. Billy greeted her with a gruff, "Hello."
"Is Renee in?" Bella asked.
He tipped his head towards her office. She took that as a yes.
"Hey, mom," Bella greeted a frantic Renee, who was sorting through sheets of paper on a makeshift desk.
She smiled at her daughter, blowing curls out of her face. "Sweetie! You look absolutely miserable."
Bella grimaced, "Nice to see you, too."
"Sit, sit, and let's catch up. I haven't seen you since last week!"
"It's only Monday, mom," Bella hedged, not wanting to discuss Tanya and her new boyfriend.
"What have you been up to all weekend? Tanya drag you to the pool yet? The weather's been so lovely."
"Of course you think that, mom, you lived in Phoenix your whole life. And, erm, Tanya and I mostly stayed at home all weekend... The air conditioner broke."
"Did you get one of the boys to fix it?" She asks, referring to the Quileute boys who moved to Seattle not long after them.
Bella shakes her head. "Nope."
"Really? You and Jake used to be such good friends... Makes me wonder if there could be anything more there."
"Mom, Jake and I are only friends. Nothing more. Besides, he's ... not my type." Edward's my type, she thought. Then quickly admonished it.
"Hmm..." Renee says, studying her daughter with a quizzical look. Bella was certain her mother could read her like a book.
"My shift's started," Bella blurts anxiously, quickly exiting the room.
.
The rest of the day passed smoothly, Bella scooped ice cream and dealt with bitchy customers. Finally 5:30 rolled around and Bella took her break.
She stood outside, letting the warm sun bask her face. When she seen the red car she smiled, waving. Angela pulled up beside her, blaring Nirvana from the stereo. Bella makes a turning motion with her hand and Angela turns down the music.
"Get inside," Angela tells her with a smirk.
She pulls around the side, like they always do, and laugh at a joke Bella tells. "Where were you all weekend? Renee told me you had it off, I thought we could hang."
Bella cringes. "Tanya has a new boyfriend and she wanted me to meet him."
"Not another one," Ang groans.
"Yup," Bella confirms, pulling a joint from her bra and rolling it between her fingers. She had begun smoking weed in Junior year when she got really into Rock and Roll. Ever since then it had been a nice stress reliever. It also felt good to take her mind off Tanya and Edward. Even now just thinking about him and her in the same bed sent shivers up Bella's spine. Jealous shivers. And she never got jealous. Especially not over her friends boyfriends.
She lit the joint up, pulling in as much of the sweet smoke as she could before passing it over to Angela's waiting hand. The song had switched to The Doors.
"So, what's he like?" Ang asks after her drag.
"Who?" Bella asks, as if she didn't know exactly who she was talking about and hadn't been just thinking about him.
"Tanya's new boyfriend."
"Oh," Bella paused, trying to sound indifferent. "He's ... nice."
"That's all you got for me? He's 'nice'?"
"What am I supposed to say?" Bella laughs, taking the joint from her.
"I don't know!.." She takes a drag. "What do you honestly think of him? I mean, is he good for her? God knows she's dated some shitty guys."
"That's true," Bella agreed. She thought of Edward, really thought of him. He was nice, bordering on chivalrous. Easy to get along with. She remembered their conversation on the couch, how easily they clicked. Then she thought of Tanya coming back into the room and the way his eyes lit up, how he kissed her in the parking lot.
Bella inhaled the marijuana fumes once more to forget her sudden heartache. It was stupid she should feel this way. She only just met him and he belonged to Tanya. Any other thoughts of him were useless.
"It doesn't really matter what I think," Bella responded. "All that matters is that Tanya is in love with him, and I'm pretty sure he's in love with her, too."
.
After locking up the store at 10pm, Bella said her goodbye's to Billy and left for home. When she got there, she seen Edward's car still in the parking lot. It felt strange sneaking into her own apartment, but she didn't want to bring too much attention to herself.
Best not to interrupt the lovebirds, she thought dryly.
Immediately after closing her door she tore her hair down from her tight bun, shedding her clothes and tossing them aside. That's when the door opened. Tanya knocked as she pushed on it, but she was already staring at Bella's nearly bare body.
"Whoops!" She exclaimed, shutting the door behind her.
Bella slipped into boxers and a t-shirt, her cheeks turning pink. "What the fuck, Tay?"
"Sorry," she breathes. "I didn't know you'd be ..."
"Forget about it," Bella answered, then chuckled, composing herself. "It's nothing you haven't seen before, right? Just be a gentleman about it."
Tanya smiles. "How was work?"
"Exhausting," Bella answers, slumping onto her bed as if to prove her point. "How was lying in bed with Edward all day?"
Immediately after asking the question she regretted it, but somehow Tanya didn't notice.
"Perfect! You can't even imagine how sexy he is, Bells. He's a completely different person when we're alone."
The corner of Bella's mouth goes up, in a smile that almost seems sad. "I'm sure it was perfect."
Suddenly there's another knock on the door. Tanya calls him in.
Edward steps into Bella's room, a joke hanging on the edge of his lips. Something about space heaters but she doesn't catch it because he's not wearing a shirt and he looks even better than she remembered.
He stares at Bella expectantly, mouth part-ways open. She can't help but think how cute he looks. And about how she would have never let anyone see her room in this disarray other than Tanya. It was littered with books, cd's, vinyl, instruments and clothes. The mess was organized, but she was sure Edward couldn't see that. Tanya always complained about the mess.
Yet, having him in her unkempt room didn't feel so bad. It made her wonder how it would feel to have him present in other places of her life. Then she stops that thought because Tanya's laughing and giving him that loving look. So Bella laughs along with her, wondering how long this can go on for.
Bella excuses herself with the pretense of going to the washroom. After spending a good 15 minutes washing her face and applying some of Tanyas fancy creams, she stepped out, almost positive the happy couple had gone back to bed.
But when she got back to her room she was greeted with a lone Edward, who was studying the pictures on her mirror.
She stepped up behind him, clearing her throat even though he must see her. ''Where's Tanya?''
''She went to buy wine, I told her I'd stay behind.''
''You didn't have to do that."
''I insist,'' He responds, glancing back at her with a smile.
Bella steps closer to him, softened by his kindness. She looks at the picture he's studying. One of a younger Bella in a pink tutu. She grimaces. ''That's when my mom sent me to Ballet lessons.''
''Did you enjoy it?'' He asks curiously.
She shakes her head, warming at the memory.
''What are you smiling about?'' Edward asks.
Bella meets his eyes in the mirror, twinkling with humor, and decides to tell him.
''I've never been good on my feet. I fall down a lot, usually ending in injury,'' Bella confesses, her cheeks turning pink. ''My ballet instructor didn't know what to do with me, so she just stuck me in the back. Needless to say, I didn't get better. Before the first big show, I spent an hour in the dressing room crying until my mom finally caved.'' She laughs openly at the memory.
''That's horrible,'' He responds, joining in on her self-deprecating laughter. ''Why on earth would you want a reminder of that around?''
Bella shrugs, ''I think it's important to laugh at yourself. It builds character.''
He's quiet for a moment, then blurts, ''How old are you, Bella?''
She seems startled by his question. ''I'm 19.''
''You seem much older.''
Her eyebrows scrunch up and she smirks. ''Most women would slap you for a comment like that.''
''Believe me, I didn't mean anything bad by it.'' He pauses again, as if composing himself, then points at another picture. ''What about this one? You and your boyfriend?''
''Oh, no. That's my friend, Jake.''
''I see.''
They both hear the front door open at the same time, meeting eyes in the mirror. Even though they had only been talking, she felt as if they'd been caught doing something naughty. His eyes are fierce, liquid green. She wonders what made them light up like that. Tanya being home, or his conversation with her? Surely it's the fact that he could be getting laid any minute. Still, his eyes make her feel thirsty for something that she shouldn't want to begin with.
''This was nice,'' he speaks up before Tanya comes. ''We'll have to chat more.''
He leaves without another word and Bella says nothing more. She simply crawls into bed, his eyes burned into her memory forever.
.
A/N Thanks for reading, you sexy bitches! Now please show me some love by reviewing and I'll reward you with an extra juicy 3rd chapter.
Got questions? PM me! I love talking to readers. :) xxo