Song: For blue skies by Strays Dont Sleep.
Chapter 2: I forgive you:
It's been a long year since we last spoke;
How's your halo? Just between you and I
"Alright, I'll see you later" he said, giving her a peck on the lips and walking her to the door. She turned around and answered his awaiting lips, mirroring his excitement, before she walked out.
"Bye" she mumbled and walked out. He closed the door right behind her.
He made his way to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and hoped that that'd be it without having Emmett on his back all the time. But when he heard his bigger and older brother tsk right behind him, he sighed and just knew he wouldn't get away with it so easily.
Maybe he was done with Bella but not with his relatives.
Of course not.
Not quite… yet.
And for his luck, this was Emmett… the least nagger of them all.
"What?" he snapped a little too coldly, while giving him a perfect view of his back the whole time.
Emmett jumped to the kitchen counter and ate his cereals, getting ready to have a talk with his brother.
"Why do you keep doing that to her?"
"Stay out of it" he answered all too quickly.
"I mean, c'mon! It's one thing for her to have to hear about it constantly down the hallways… but also to have to watch it at home too? That's just sick, even for you! Have some respect for the girl, for God's sakes!"
Edward turned around with a stern look and raised eyebrows.
"You done?" he asked, Emmett laughed shaking his head; pulling a spoon full of cereal to his already full mouth, "Nothing happened!" he emphasized his words.
Emmett gave him a look.
Edward simply scoffed.
"I just let her give me heads, that's all" he shrugged his shoulders and took his bottle heading straight for the stairs. But his brother's voice stopped him dead in his tracks.
"I don't know what ever happened to you guys, but you seriously need to work it out"
That's somewhere he didn't want to go, there's been too many rocks on the road and he didn't want to pay them a visit anymore. They had stumbled a few times and managed to be on their feet. Edward was not one to go back and he was not gonna start now either.
Maybe he just didn't know he never walked straight ahead, maybe he didn't know he just stayed behind all this time.
"Why you keep doing her wrong, Edward? I mean it's Bella! She's one of the most beautiful and soft girls in the whole universe. What could she ever do to get this kind of side from you?" Edward slowly turned around to stare at his brother whom if knew better, he would simply hush.
"I mean it's just Bella! She can't hurt a fly! Everybody just wants to date the girl…" Edward glared at him but Emmett kept going, "Hey! Every boy has come up to me and asked me, dude! I'm just saying! I mean Marshall, John and Tyler… and everybody!"
"Are you done drooling or…"
"I just want to know what ever happened?"
You and me and the sad lights
I never believed you; I only wanted to
And that was something between Bella and Edward only.
Edward simply walked out; leaving his brother with the same exact question, just like all of the other times. He never gave up; he had to hand it to him. Emmett had some spirit. The guy! But would never cease to crack an answer out of Edward. Not a chance.
Not when it came to Bella.
Never when it came to Bella.
Bella danced, contemporary dance. It was something she had a passion for. She couldn't walk straight on two legs even if her life depended on it. But one of the things she could never escape from, was dancing. It was her only way out. So, when she had the time she went to the academy and practiced on her moves.
It's been ages since her last show, but she never lost the habit or the morning practices. Ever since her mother put her in a tutu, those feet were made to swing around the room.
Before all this; what did I miss?
Do you ever get homesick?
Dancing was a way to relieve some stress; a couple of moves here and there, a flip, a jump and a graceful move of your arms… and you'd feel like your work in this world is done.
She moved around with the beat of the song, that no matter how many times she'd listened to it, by now, she'd never learned to stop crying when it reached her ears.
It reminded her so many things, some bitters some sweet.
I can't get used to it
I can't get used to it
Most bitter.
She moved her leg up with the same move of her arm; then slumped all the way down to the floor; splitting her legs apart. She stopped when it was too much to bear.
Sweat came down her face and her chest jumped up and down, panting hard.
Edward was getting to her. Yet again.
His full act and temper have never been this outrageous before and she has experienced worse.
What was she thinking! Inviting him to come over to Phoenix with her?
Well, it's not like she could exactly dump his ass till she got back a week later. Or, maybe she could but could not live to talk about it.
Yeah, there was no way that would work out.
She wondered if she could ever get used to his coldness, she wondered if she would ever be good enough to earn his forgiveness and trust back.
He picked her up at 10 AM the next morning, waited for her outside of the building till she reached the door and climbed into his silver Volvo. She smiled at his choice of outfit, dark blue jeans Nike sneakers, Abercrombie t-shirt, RayBan sunglasses and couldn't miss the usual cap he wore backwards all the time. Edward was the all-American type of guy, the Abercrombie and Fitch model girls drool all over for.
"Morning" he mumbled leaning to kiss her, she smiled against his lips and pulled him in closer, dragging him by the neck, he smirked at her after they parted.
"You're in a good mood" he said awfully quiet but with a stern smile.
She knew Edward was not a morning person, that's why he was so quiet and calm during the mornings. It was like watching a baby wake up all mornings; so soft, calm and happy before they destroyed good part of their toys and objects around the house.
"I'm excited" she said calmly putting her seat belt on, "It's been a while since the last time I've seen my mother. Besides Sam must be getting pretty big by now" she smiled remembering the last time she saw her baby brother. Part of moving away to collage was leaving behind family; and she was saddened about the fact she didn't spent any time with her small 'relative', Phil's and Reene's son.
"What is he, like… 4 now?" he asked and she nodded happily.
He pulled up to a coffee house; she soon followed after him knowing full well their morning ritual. Edward would stop by for some coffee handing her her cup and candy bar while taking his own cup and mints.
When they turned around to leave the shop, something unfortunate happened, Tanya walked in wearing her usual white perfect toothy smile coming their way; eyes colliding with Edward's green orbs.
"Oh… hi, guys!"
"Hey" Bella muttered politely keeping Edward's tight hand on her, never parting but never stepping up her plate. Tanya with all her ruffles, good looks, blonde hair and a body everyone would kill for intimidated her. She wasn't sure why Edward still stuck with her. When he had all this wanna-be-models worshiping the ground he walked on.
He gave Tanya his usual coy smile which she knew he gave to all female population, part of keeping his good and clean act on. Making every girl see that he was a cocky son of a…
"Are you guys joining my party this weekend? We'll have a pool night…" her eyes were fixed all the time to Edward even if he had sunglasses on.
Bella felt like a third wheel in this exchange, so she just parted away from the conversation they were having; taking his hand away and going around to roam while they ended their chat, when suddenly…
"Oh my God, Bella… hi!" she looked up to see Damon Smith's, school classmate, grin on his face.
"Oh, hi!" she exclaimed, acknowledging his presence with a big smile, not a fake smile just a 'glad to see you' smile, he was a good kid and used to have one or two classes together but never really talked.
"It's good to see you, how's everything going for you?" he asked interested like the good kind of guy he was.
Damon, he could be a great friend, wonder why they never really talked… There was a reason she was sure, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it…
"I'm…"
"We're leaving." her boyfriend took her hand without giving her much of a look and pushed her out of the shop.
Oh right! That's why.
I'll never get used to it,
I'll never get used to it…
Inside the plane, Edward moved aside to let her sit on the window while he took the aisle seat; he has been awfully quiet during the whole trip and she was not one to get him to talk either, she could tell he was stressed.
And being his punch-bag for the moment, didn't sound so inviting right now.
So they stood quiet. Hours flew by quickly and before they knew it, they were walking to welcoming arms.
"Oh my God! Bella!" her mom squealed when she had finally her child in her arms holding her for what it felt like forever before she finally let go.
"Hello, Renee" Edward said politely with a nod of his head, Renee laughed and pulled him into a hug.
"You're still giving too much work to Charlie?" she grinned making Bella roll her eyes.
"Yes, m'am" Edward grinned at her parting away.
Renee laughed and winked at him.
"Good"
The moment Bella had her younger brother in her arms, it was done. There was nothing that would make her put him down now. They ate dinner and had small talk about everything they've been up to, Edward explained how crazy his year had been in med school and talked about all the courses he had done over the summer. Phil seemed really impressed as they engaged each other in 'questions/answers' game, it was a way for Phil to get to know Edward, the guy that has been for as long as he could remember in a relationship with his daughter.
Not actually 'his'… but the feeling was there.
Edward didn't mind at all. He had to put up worse when it came to Charlie. And no matter how many times Bella asked him to respect her father, Edward wouldn't play that game. He gave the same as he received.
But a third degree coming from Phil, who had no bad intentions and didn't judge him based on the looks and rumors, didn't upset him greatly.
Wouldn't answer a 'where is Bella?' with a… 'Still recovering from the last time I opened her legs' like he did with Charlie countless of times.
What can I say? He liked to have the old man on edge.
"Oh, Bella, we're gonna have so much fun! I couldn't wait to have you back, even if just for a while, I was so excited that I couldn't keep my mouth shut. I had to go and tell the whole town that my baby was back" Renee's eyes filled with tears and Bella stared at her having pretty much of an idea where this was going, "So the minute Claire Bennet, you remember her right? The pretty girl with glasses and green eyes? The one who would always do community work for help, such a sweet heart won over Ruines Fall's hearts,…"
"MOM!" Bella snapped her mom out of her rambles, laughing a bit as she did so.
"Alright, alright… she was a very nice girl and your friend too, remember? She's having a 'get together' tonight and she asked me to invite you, it would be good to catch up with old friends, Isabella!" her mother told her and she could hear the authority, Bella was never a party cougar, never liked crowd areas, she fled from it like it was the plague. She was the kind of girl who would stay to read a book on Friday night. Many of her fights with Edward were due to this.
But when it came to her old childhood friends, she had greatly missed she was torn, it would do her good to hang out with that crowd that were responsible for many of her laughs and morals today. Of course, most of her life, she had lived with her father in Forks, but still visited on summers and there were always those few people who had full access to her heart, that she remembered sweetly.
"I don't know…" she hesitated, holding up her brother, handing him the toy which he threw time and time again.
"Oh, c'mon, what is it?"
She looked up to Edward and she wonder if it would be a good idea, he was probably tired and would not want to go anywhere.
Her mother looked up at her eyes and saw the reason of her debate almost instantly.
Before Bella could stop her, her mom was already cornering Edward and almost pushing him towards the door to get Bella to the reunion.
He didn't say anything but kept a polite smile on his face while Renee talked non-stop. She wouldn't reach his eyes, but didn't take her long to know that he was mad.
She came down the stairs wearing a salmon-button shirt with short sleeves and her mini jeans skirt, with her ballerina flats on her feet. She liked keeping it simple when it came to dressing; nothing ever made her look trashy or voluptuous. It was because of her tiny frame that everything fit her just right.
She watched as her mother gave Edward the keys to her red Wagon. It was not his Volvo; not even near comparison to his 2008 Audi, or his brand New Maserati he got for Christmas, but it got the job done.
They got inside the car and drove off just in time to hear Bella say, "Are you cool?" she asked a little afraid, holding his hand tightly to her.
He looked up at her with tired eyes and furrowed his eyebrows.
"I'm good, don't worry about it. Just tell me where to go…" he nodded, letting her know he was okay with it; she gave him some instructions and after a second asked,
"Are you mad?"
"I'm tired, Bella" he sighed heavily; squeezing her hand a little, "There's really no saying 'no' to your mom, she's a fire cracker" he laughed softly, she gave a small smile in return.
She couldn't say no to that.
Too bad she didn't get that from her, of all things!
"But when I say 'we're leaving', we're leaving" Edward kept his tone of voice in control, giving her a look after he said it, not engaging in a discussion, it was his choice.
Bella didn't part her eyes away from his.
"And I don't want to hear it" he added giving her a stern look.
She nodded, like she was supposed to.
Bella, she was the kind of girl who wouldn't dare to do the trick if she didn't get the treat.
She was just that fragile and weak.
I'm under that night, I'm under those same stars
We're in a red car, you asleep at my side
They parked the car in the residence where they could see people were gathered around just outside the house. Bella recognized some of them and a small smile crept to her lips. It was like flashes of middle school coming down upon her and she instantly brightened at the thought of sharing some time with her old friends.
She climbed out of the car without waiting to get the door opened for her. She simply took his hand and led him on. Edward stood behind her with a tired look on his face; he didn't like to feel intimidated. He wanted to be in control at all situations and right now he felt like an outsider, a fish out of the water.
Watching how Bella sparkled when she said 'hi' to her friends, or how she talked with them, infuriated him. He should be happy for her, but watching her light up that way and spend quality time with them only made him see how bad things had gotten between them. She wasn't bright and happy with him anymore. She didn't talk freely and with volume up with him. She was not this out going anymore, it made him nervous… nervous that he might be getting aware of Bella's absence.
Of Bella's departure… perhaps?
Now that's something he would like to see happening, yeah right! Not on his watch.
Never on his watch.
It wasn't his fault after all; she was the one to build the wall, brick by brick.
He kept that intense gaze on her the whole time; holding her hand tightly whenever she would go hug someone, or make small chat with someone else. She introduced him to everyone and he was curt and polite, but never gave too much away, no one was worthy of him but her.
Suddenly, it got too heavy for him to handle, he wanted her all to himself.
He was being apathetic and didn't want to fit in with anyone; he just wanted her to spend time with him and him only.
He sat on the concrete step, elbows on knees; a little distant from the group with an unfinished beer they offered to him in hand, when she came up to him, his broodiness taking the best out of her.
A hand fell on his shoulder to gain her weight while she seated beside him, trying to bring him back to reality with a brush of her shoulder.
"Are you okay?" she said in a small voice so no one would hear, she didn't want to cause any more attention to herself than she already did.
People talked how she had a boyfriend, saying comments like 'finally someone's worthy of Bella Swan' in a joking manner of course, not trying to upset her, but just teasing her a little. Everybody knew Edward Cullen, he was a guy who came from powerful family. So, the first time they learned that Bella was dating someone that big, they were surprised. Bella was the quiet girl who studied even in the bathroom, they never pictured her dating someone who had the world at his feet and so… social, which she was not. Over time they got used to the idea, now they teased her about how long they had lasted and were still going strong.
"I want to go" he breathed without looking at her.
Silence.
"What's going on?" she asked confused, maybe something had upset him.
"Let's just leave" he pleaded turning his head around to catch her confused dark brown eyes.
"We just got here" she said after awhile not moving from her seat, he didn't make a move to get up either, but just looked at her with that intense gaze she knew all too well. He was mad. Something was up his butt; and he wouldn't say what. He wouldn't be honest with her about it.
It unnerved her.
Her eyes never strayed away from his, as if maybe if she looked straight at him, it would be enough to read him.
Going in and out of the headlights,
Could I have saved you? Would that's betrayed you?
She couldn't save him from his dilemma; she had tried in the past.
He got up extending a hand to take hers. She watched him intently, his other hand searching in his pocket for the car keys, his eyes parted from hers not taking the intensity of the moment.
She looked down on the floor after a second and sighed, but followed him, taking his hand.
"Bella?! Where are you going?" many complaints were heard. She just put a hand up to silence them for a minute, giving them a small smile to assure them that she was okay, like 'I'll be back in a minute'. If she had known better, she would have just said goodbye properly to the crowd.
Edward opened the car and he climbed waiting for her to do the same, she just opened the door and kneeled down to look at him, her body out of the car, he gave her a glare.
"Bella…" he warned when she was not being quick enough.
"We can't leave now, Edward, it's not even midnight! Please?"
"Get in the car!" his stern look hurt her.
It was unbelievable how stubbornly she was acting! He had given more than he would usually give tonight!
She sighed and sat on her seat, leaving the door opened for her escape, so he wouldn't dare to turn the engine and just speed off.
"Unbelievable!" he mumbled flipping his hands in the air, giving her a look.
"Edward, not even half of the people have arrived yet!" she tried to explain herself looking hurt, she had wanted to talk to Haley and Jenna before leaving and they were still not here, "I just want to say 'hi' it's not every day I come here…"
"I'm tired and I want to go, I'm done, these people are stupid!" he snapped, she shook her head not even bothering to give him a look but she knew his look was on her, burning holes through her skull.
"You're not being… rational about this… besides,"
"I'm not staying any longer, I'm sorry" he shrugged.
"Edward, I don't dis your friends, I don't do that…" his voice overpowered hers.
"I'm tired and I want to go home, can't you understand that?"
"I know and I'm sorry, I asked you if you were okay with it after we took off but it's just so rude if we leave now without even saying 'goodbye' to anybody or even wait for Claire who went to get food for all of us…" he sighed heavily through her speech, both of his hands wiping his face in exasperation, "… these people actually mean something to me… and I'm having fun for the first time in…" he cut her off.
"Five more minutes, no more no less"
She sighed and closed her eyes, looking down afterwards not meeting his awaiting eyes.
"Edward, c'mon…" her voice was pleading.
"Five minutes take it or leave it…" she sighed.
"Edward, don't…"
"We're leaving" he taunted for her to take his offer.
"No, we're not" her tone of voice was menacing and challenging him, he wanted to laugh.
"We're leaving, right now!" he reached his hand out across from her to close the passenger's door.
She took his arm to try and stop him.
"Edward, please! C'mon!"
He closed the door and put down the locks, she didn't dare to even touch the door.
"Okay, I'll take it!" she sighed in defeat, he simply shook his head without looking at her.
"Too late" he laughed, it was something he did when he was mad. Instead of frowning or scowling he laughed, it was like he was re-playing in his head the scene that got him mad and would think with a smile 'how dare she/he'.
I wanna burn next film,
You alone with those pills
The ride back was pretty much silent; Bella was not one to cry at the things that Edward did to her. If she shed a tear every time he'd upset her, she would be dry as a bone.
No, she was not a cry baby, instead of crying though she remembered.
And that was far worse.
You see, at least with crying there was a way of shedding the feeling, crying was a perfect way to shake it off and move on. But whenever Edward did her wrong, Bella remembered how and when he started becoming the way he was.
Plain cold and cruel on the spot.
She even remembered the 'why'… which got her praying for some tears.
He could never let it go.
He could never forgive her.
He would never learn to forgive.
And each time and day he would do things like this to her, she would gain more strength and more confidence in herself. Much confidence to forgive him herself. To forget her mistake and be the forgiving one.
She forgave him first and foremost, 'cause he never gave her a chance. He never gave her a chance to forgive herself for her mistake. With his cold treatment he would always remind her of what she'd done. She forgave him 'cause he never gave her a chance to redeem herself, to win his trust back.
He never let her in again.
What you couldn't do I will: I forgive You
I forgive you
"I forgive you" she mumbled to him watching him intently, when his eyes fell upon her glowing ones.
He stared back at her and he got the message alright, he knew she was not talking about tonight.
If he knew!
He stared back at her with as much intensity as her own if not more, his eyes watered and then he stared back at the road while she fell into a nice slumber.
"Why are you back, so early?" Renee's surprise showed with a lot of disappointment.
"We were tired" Bella gave her a look. Renee simply nodded at her.
"Well, your bed is all set" she smiled warmly then she turned to Edward, "I don't know how you play along on your own, or how Charlie does it but in my house, mister, you got the couch" she gave him a stern look, Edward laughed looking down at the floor a little embarrassed.
That was new.
"So, I'll leave you to it" Renee said taking her glass of water upstairs with her, Bella followed her without turning once to Edward who was making his way to bathroom to change in some dark green slacks, a pair of white socks and nothing more.
He waited five minutes and when Bella didn't come down, he grew obstinate.
He contemplated on whether to go upstairs and fight with her, or ravish her. He was in the mood right about now, whenever he was mad and wanted to relieve some tension he would always be in the mood.
She danced to relieve stress while he had sex.
But something bigger was in between, right now he wanted company only, he didn't want her to be obstinate with him, or give him an attitude.
But he was out of his territory; it was fucking unnerving to him this whole situation.
He sighed one more time before strolling his way up not caring to knock the door on her room as he walked in watching her pull a shirt on, catching a glimpse of her pink bra, she didn't even jump or became surprised when she saw him standing at the door with that look on his face, she was too tired to fight with him. Besides, she knew he had to come and get what he wanted sooner or later, a whole day without skin to skin contact would not be part of his agenda, not even hers.
"Wanna watch a movie?" he asked in that tender voice it made her heart jump.
She nodded in approval, like she had another option.
He waited for her to move and come with him but she didn't.
"I'll be down in a sec" she assured him, her eyes never met his.
He nodded and looked down, closing the door behind him.
This is how nights will always end with them.
She found him laying on the couch, head resting on its arm. One knee up bent with his foot pressing down on the other, he flipped through the channels when he saw her come in. He held his hand up for her to take, she stared at the screen while approaching him taking his hand and making him cradle her.
Her back was pressed against his chest and his arms wrapped around her tiny waist, his nose pressed down on her throat but it was not enough to make her give away her attention. Finally, he turned her around in his arms, making her face him; she looked up with a sad look at him while biting her lower lip. It just cut his inspiration.
"Don't look at me like that" he said, pulling some of her hair behind her ear.
"I'm not trying anything" she said firmly.
"Kiss me" he said after awhile, looking at her lips with longing.
She obeyed, reaching her soft lips down to capture his. Capturing his lower lip first and then opening her mouth to capture the other, she opened her mouth again just in time for him to move his tongue for the kill; searching for hers for a reunion. It was demanding contact and she gladly offered some, his hold on her tiny frame tightened as his legs made room for her to go completely against him.
Make out sessions with Edward were glory, they were tender and slow at first, like lovemaking and then they got hard, rough and sensual like fucking.
Her fingers pressed those locks of bronze hair closer, twirling them in her fingers, pulling him closer if possible, his hands instead travel down to the bit of exposed skin on her lower back when her shirt raised up a little to when she pressed herself against him.
They never parted their lip-lock, as hands began to explore, as they began to search, as they began to grope.
The hand that was on her lower back rode up revealing more of her skin and the other pushed her body down hard to his own body by her ass; so, she could feel the reaction she was creating in him. This way, he could get have his erection get some friction with her body contact.
"We should stop" she mumbled between kisses.
"Can we go upstairs?" he mumbled not letting her part away.
Somebody answered for her.
"Isabella, your room, now!" her mother sing sang from the stairs, Bella smiled between his hard lips as he took his hands off of her and let them fall on his sides like dead weight, not holding her against him anymore.
"Good night" she said softly as she gave him a peck on the lips and got up leaving him all hot and bothered.
He watched her go with small steps, he pulled the sheet up his body and sighed pulling a hand inside his pants.
This was unfortunate.
It was going to be a long weekend.