Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in forever, but I had lots of schoolwork and I got grounded. I promise the next chapter will be almost as long and I will post it sooner!
Review and enjoy
Bellabookoworm9
Disclaimer – Twilight, New Moon and all of its characters belong to Stephenie Meyer!
"So Bella, how are you and Edward doing?"
If I answered that question truthfully, Renee would flip out.
I almost did something I did with Edward. I almost said "next" but I knew that would give me away, so I settled for something simpler.
"We're doing great." Wow. Really bright Bella.
"That's good to hear. How's Charlie?"
The obligatory divorced-parent question.
I breathed a sigh of relief at the much-needed distraction.
"He's fine. A little lonely, maybe, but he's happy enough."
"Do you still cook for him?"
"Yeah. But I don't mind. It's something I enjoy. He's probably eating pizza and wishing I was there right now." We both laughed a little at that.
"So what do you and Edward do?"
Here we go again.
"Well, I go over to his house sometimes and we watch movies and stuff with his brothers and sister."
"Charlie lets you do this?" She probably didn't believe my remark about Emmett, Jasper, and Alice.
"Mom, Charlie loves the Cullens. He knows Edward wouldn't make me do anything I don't want to do, and besides, Esme is always in the house when I'm there." Not completely true, but it would keep her from calling Charlie.
"Okay. I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable, but I just don't want you to get hurt."
"I know mom."
I didn't remind her of the number of times she had gotten hurt and I'd had to console her.
By this time, we had reached the mall and were walking through the first store. My mom was grabbing things off the racks almost as fast as Edward did, but I was sure they wouldn't fit as well as the things he picked out.
"So how are things with you and Phil?"
I was desperate to get her of the subject of Edward and I.
It turned out to be a great distraction. She talked about all of their friends, what they did on their dates, all through the first five stores. Renee was a talker.
I listened attentively for the first ten minutes or so, but then my mind began to wander. My mom wouldn't notice. She was too absorbed in her stories.
I was thinking of Edward, and how nervous I felt without him, when I felt something cool touch my hand.
I lifted it up and found a note,
Bella,
I found a place to hunt, about ten miles from your mother's house.
I hope you bought your two things, I wasn't kidding about your truck.
I'm here now, so you can stop fidgeting. And yes, you were. I've been watching you for about five minutes and you've never looked more nervous.
Relax.
I love you.
Edward.
I did relax. Just the thought of him being anywhere near me was enough. Even if he couldn't be right there holding my hand, I knew he wouldn't let me be hurt.
Renee was still chattering on, and I kept seeing things. At first, it was small things. A shirt would twitch on the rack I was looking through or I would feel a cool breeze on my neck. Then, things started disappearing. I sweat I saw him at the register of one of the stores.
I was getting annoyed when my mom decided it was time to go. I was sure he wasn't buying anything for himself.
I had gotten a few nice tops and a few pairs of shorts. Also, so that I could keep my truck, I bought myself a bikini. At first, I had been tempted to go and buy some shampoo and conditioner from the dollar store, but I was sure he would get mad at me. Besides, even if it was a little expensive, the suit looked great on me. It was a dark red color that contrasted nicely with my pale skin, and revealed only a small amount of cleavage. Edward would love it.
"Bella?" My mom had stopped in the middle of the mall, and was looking like she expected something.
"Sorry mom, I drifted off there for a second. What is it?"
"I was wondering if I could just stop in this store real quick."
"Sure mom, I'll just wait right here."
I sat on a bench and waited for her to come out again.
A boy about my age sat down next to me.
"Hello. Do you live here?"
This kid was too much like Mike Newton for my taste.
"No, I don't. I'm visiting my mom."
"Well if –" He stopped short.
Edward had appeared in front of us, snarling and looking livid. I could only imagine what the boy must be thinking.
"Get. Away. From. Her." Edward was furious.
The kid was looking scared stiff.
"Meet my boyfriend," I said, "Edward."
The boy looked like he understood now. He took off running.
"I hate it when they do that."
"What? When they speak to me or when they think about me?"
"Both." Edward had a problem with jealousy.
I could see Renee at the register over his shoulder.
"You better get back. My mom's checking out and we're leaving when she's done."
"See you at the house."
He kissed me swiftly and sweetly, but my heart was still beating erratically when Renee walked out of the store.
"You ready Bells?"
"Yeah mom lets head back."
Renee talked about her purchases on the way home. As if I hadn't already seen every one of them.
I sensed she was at a loss for conversation material when she began repeating herself.
"So, mom," I interrupted during her third description of the red blouse from Belk's, "when is Phil coming back?"
"He should be home around noon on Friday, but sometimes the team stays an extra day or comes home early."
Just then her cell phone rang.
"Do you mind?"
"Not at all mom."
In truth, I was thankful not to have to struggle to converse with my mother. She used to be my best friend, but now I couldn't even find anything to say to her. It was crazy how I could be more open with my boyfriend's vampire family than I could be with my own mother.
As my mom spoke to whoever was calling her, I thought of Edward's adoptive family. Alice, my best friend, her husband, Jasper, who could alter people's feelings, Emmett, the big brother I never had, Rosalie, who hated me, Carlisle who created all of them except for Alice and Jasper, and Esme who was the perfect mother figure for the closest family I had ever known.
I missed them all already. I hadn't even been gone a whole day! Of course, Alice, Esme, and Jasper all left yesterday for Alaska, but it hadn't been that long.
Renee pulled up in front of the house and I helped her unload our myriad of bags. I hadn't realized we bought this much stuff.
"Mom, I think I just made you go broke."
"Don't worry about it, I told you I've been saving up, and Phil's getting paid next week."
"I just feel bad about spending your money without paying you back."
"You never used to worry about my spending money on you." She sounded worried.
"I think I'm worried about this money thing because living with Charlie is like having my own place and I mostly buy my own stuff."
"Oh. Are you sure you don't mind? I could send you some money or something."
"Mom, I'm sure. I like it. I'm too much like Charlie to be bothered by it. And I'm looking for a job so I can make more money anyways."
"Alright, if you say so." She still looked skeptical.
We were sitting in the kitchen and my mom was taking a pitcher of lemonade out of the fridge.
"Want some?"
"Sure." I was wondering what Edward was doing.
"So where am I going to be staying?"
I was eager to sit down and I didn't want to be carrying these bags around all day.
"Come here, I'll show you."
I set my glass down and followed her down the hall.
As we walked past Edward's room, I heard water running. I breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, was consumed by a fit of giggles.
I had never thought of Edward taking a shower before. The thought made me nervous and so, the giggles.
"What?" My mom was looking at me like I was crazy.
"Nothing. Just remembering something."
"Here's your room."
She stopped at a room at the end of the hall – the farthest from Edward's room. That wouldn't be a problem for him, but it felt strange being so far apart from him.
Renee was going to bring in the Spanish Inquisition as soon as she saw Edward again, I was sure.
"So, if you want to put your stuff in the dresser and take a shower or whatever –"
"A shower sounds great. Thanks for everything mom."
"No problem Bells."
I looked at my room for the first time. It was painted a pretty green color and the furniture was my stuff from Phoenix.
I brought my bags over to the dresser and opened the drawer to put my clothes in. There were already some things in it. I took them out to look at them.
There were a few tank tops I had left behind, because Forks was too cold for them, and the Victoria's Secret pajamas I had thought of the first night Edward spent the night at my house.
He had insisted I wear my sweatpants and holey t-shirts to bed, so I still did--but why not give him something for surprising me like this? He would love it, I was sure.
I finished putting away my new clothes, thinking of Edward's expression when he saw me in the silk tank top and shorts. I was glad to have something to give back to him.
I climbed into the shower in my spacious bathroom and found bottles of my favorite shampoo and conditioner already there. I was touched that my mom remembered. She usually forgot about small things like that.
As I got out of the shower, I heard my mom talking to someone and I hurried up. I hoped Renee wasn't embarrassing Edward. I pulled on an old tank top and a new pair of shorts and walked out of my room.
I found them in the kitchen. Renee was offering Edward something to drink.
"No, thank you. I'm not very thirsty right now."
I breathed a sigh of relief and Edward turned around.
His eyes bugged slightly and then he smiled.
"Hey, Bella. Your mom and I were just talking."
"I hope she wasn't embarrassing you too much," I said, walking into his open arm.
"Not at all. I was actually about to ask if you would like me to take you two lovely ladies out for a nice dinner."
"Oh! I'd love that!" that was Renee. "I had no idea what you two wanted to eat and I forgot to go shopping." She looked slightly embarrassed at that last part.
I was thankful my mom hadn't changed too much.
"Not too expensive, right?" I looked up at Edward.
"Fine, Bella, not too expensive." He rolled his eyes. "Would you like to pick the restaurant Renee? I've never been to Jacksonville before."
"Oh, I know the perfect place! It's right on the water and they have the best food. The waiters are cute too." She winked.
I felt Edward stiffen.
"Mom—"
"I know, I know, I was just joking."
Edward relaxed and I smiled. It was so easy to make him jealous.
"Renee?"
"Yes, Edward?"
"May I borrow your car? I only brought one change of clothes." He looked uncomfortable.
"Sure. Bella, would you like to go with him so he can find the mall?"
Renee had no idea she was giving me exactly what I wanted at that moment.
"Okay."
Renee tossed Edward the keys and we were out the door. Edward didn't need directions and as soon as we were out of sight of the house, he reached over and pulled me closer.
"Your mom's a lot stricter than Charlie."
I nodded. I was too close to him to be able to speak coherently. I breathed in his delicious scent and savored it. Who knew how long it would be before I got the chance again?
I could feel him breathing in my scent in my hair, just as I was doing from his chest. I laughed.
"Even if you didn't crave my blood, we would still be the strangest couple ever." I laughed again.
"What's so strange about us?"
Well, there's the fact that you are unbelievably gorgeous and I'm the plainest Jane, but we're sitting here smelling each other."
He laughed and then said,
"You're not plain. You're the single most beautiful thing I've ever laid my hundred-and-four-year-old eyes on."
"Ditto" I said and tweaked his nose. "except for the hundred-and-four-years-old part."
He laughed again.
His maniacal driving had gotten us to the mall faster than I thought possible. He was now grabbing things off the rack like they would disappear if he didn't.
Edward paid without trying anything on. I knew without a doubt that everything would fit him perfectly.
"Now, we have to get something for you to wear tonight."
"Edward, I already went shopping today."
"The place your mom recommended sounds pretty casual, so you don't need a dress--"
"Edward. Hey! Edward!" I was snapping my fingers in his face. "I already know what I'm going to wear."
"Really?" He sounded skeptical.
"Renee saved my clothes from Phoenix and I think I have the perfect outfit."
"Can I ask what it is?"
"No you may not. It'll spoil the surprise."
"I hate surprises." He mumbled in a perfect imitation of me.
I had to laugh at that and he joined me.
"Well, lets think of this as payback."
"Sounds fair enough."
"So what do you want to do now?"
We couldn't go back now. No human could get to the mall, buy three bags of clothes and return in less than an hour.
"Hmm. I was thinking—" He pushed me against the wall and started kissing me.
It was a little rougher than I was used to, but I wasn't complaining.
We must have been there for at least fifteen minutes, when Edward looked up and smiled.
"What is it?" I was still a little breathless but I was getting better at speaking when he was just touching me.
"If you could only hear what everyone's thinking." He was still smiling.
"So tell me."
He sat down on a vacant bench and he pulled me down next to him. He started kissing me again.
"Those girls over there have been watching us for a while. They're thinking, 'That guy is so hot. She has no idea how lucky she is.' and someone keeps thinking, 'That is so disgusting. Ever heard of getting a room?' I think that one was either recently dumped or insanely jealous."
I was laughing so hard I was crying.
"Any more?" I was curious about all the people around me now.
"Those girls who were saying you're lucky to have me are thinking about that guy who was talking to you earlier. They're wondering if they're going to have to avoid 'The Mall Stalker' again." He frowned.
"You mean he does that to lots of girls?"
"I think so."
"I'm so glad I don't live here."
Edward smiled.
"I think we can leave now."
We stopped a few miles from Renee's house and kissed for a few seconds. He went back to the sweet, tender kissed that protected me from his razor-sharp teeth. I loved them but sometimes I wished he didn't have to be so careful.
He pulled back and grinned.
"Renee is getting slightly impatient.'
I sighed.
"Fine. Bring us home."
Renee was watching TV when we walked in.
"Hey mom." I said.
"Hey Bella, hey Edward. What time did you two want to eat? I would have made the reservation but I didn't know."
"How does seven sound?"
"Seven sounds great to me." I said.
"Seven it is."
"I'll make it." Edward had to be in control of every situation. "I'm paying, so I should make the reservation."
"Okay. Well, here's the number. The phone is over there." Renee pointed.
"Hey mom!" I had an idea. "You want to do that thing we used to do to get ready for your dates?"
It was a sort of ritual we had. We would do it whenever the guy she was dating wanted to "meet the kid". I had grown to like it, even if I didn't always like the guy.
"Oh, that would be so much fun! But what about—" She pointed to Edward. Part of the ritual involved dancing around in our bras and underwear. Not something I wanted my boyfriend to see.
"Hey Edward!" He was looking faintly uncomfortable in the kitchen, done with making the reservation, "Can you go in your room and get ready? But don't come out until we tell you to."
"Umm, okay." It sounded like a question.
"Mom, I'll be there in a sec, why don't you start setting up?"
"Alright." She practically skipped down the hall.
I turned back to Edward.
"If you listen to my mother's thoughts from now until we leave I will—"
I couldn't think of anything I could do to him. I couldn't kill him—he was already dead. I couldn't leave him—it was unthinkable.
"I think I understand. Mother-daughter thing?"
"Yeah. You can go run or something if it'll make it easier."
"Alright, sweet Bella. I'll be okay." He pecked me on the lips and disappeared into his room.
I really hoped he wouldn't even peek. I didn't want him to see me acting like a crazy person in my undergarments, but I also wanted to surprise him with my outfit.
Renee was setting up the radio equidistant from our rooms. She tuned it to the station every town has that only plays "all the hits" and we began. We started singing the songs we knew and screamed random things during the ones we didn't.
We went into our separate showers and tuned the radios in there to the same station so we could keep it up during the shower.
I washed my hair and thought of what Edward must be thinking. He was probably thinking my mom and I had some sort of mental disorder.
Soon, I was too consumed in the ritual to think about Edward. The whole point of it was to keep Renee's mind off the date—she had terrible nerves. Normally, I would not do something like this but it was the only thing that kept my mother from getting too nervous and that was something I tried to avoid at all costs.
Renee and I met at the equidistant stereo in our underclothing and started the part I didn't want Edward to see. We jumped and danced our way to my mom's bathroom.
She did my hair first, then her own. Mine was curled from the root and I brushed it out while she flipped the ends of her short hair out. It was her best look.
I searched for Renee's makeup and started applying a peach shade to my eyelids. Alice had taught me how to do this a few months back.
Renee was looking at me when I opened my eye.
"What?"
"Where did you learn to do your makeup?" I forgot I used to be very bad at this type of thing.
"Edward's sister, Alice, taught me. She's my best friend in Forks."
We had both changed a lot I guess. Renee had gotten more responsible, I had gotten love and a group of friends who I could relate to. Most people would have been sad or even mad about the change, but I was happy for my mom and I loved my new family.
I finished my makeup and went to get my clothes from my room.
I put on the dark blue jeans with the loose leg that I had bought this morning and put the top on. It had been one of my favorites in Phoenix but I left it behind because it was too thin for Forks. It had a square neckline, a fitted bodice with a few pleats in it and the peach-and-white striped material flowed down to mid-thigh after that. I grabbed a cream-colored peacoat and went to see what my mom looked like.
"Mom?" I knocked on her door, "You ready?"
"Yeah, come in."
I peeked in and gasped. Renee looked amazing. She had on a knee-length black spaghetti strap dress. Her makeup looked natural, but her eyeshadow was a bright aquamarine that matched her dangling glass earrings and necklace. The overall effect was stunning. She looked at least five years younger.
"Mom, you look great." I was still a little shell-shocked.
"So do you." She sounded shocked too.
"I guess this proves how little we've seen each other in a while." I laughed.
She laughed too.
"Yeah. So you ready to go blow your boyfriend's socks off or what?"
I laughed because I was sure he would be surprised. I didn't know if his socks would blow off, but I had to settle for something.
I knocked on his door and said in an obnoxiously high voice,
"Come out Edward and meet your two gorgeous dates!"
Edward opened the door and we were all gaping. He looked absolutely breathtaking. It almost beat the tux he wore to prom. He was wearing khaki pants and a dark blue sweater. He hardly ever wore dark colors but they looked amazing on him.
"Wow." We all breathed at the same time.
