It's Just the Aftermath
AN: Thank you all so much to those who have marked this story for their favorites and marked it in their alerts! It's very encouraging.
Beta'd by Irritable_Grizzzly. She's awesome.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Bella Swan
"You never thought to mention that before? Where's your ring?" he hissed and leaned over the table.
"Not that I owe you and explanation, but I left it back at the hotel," I snapped. "My pressing issue right now is how the hell do we get out of here without being hounded?"
"See, that's where this is your problem, and not mine," he sat back with smug look on his face.
I felt as if I had just been slapped across the face. Maybe this whole mutual attraction thing was just in my head. This whole notion of sleeping with someone just because I could before I got married was one of the stupidest things I could have ever thought of. I was fooling myself to think that A) I could do this and B) Edward Masen would actually be attracted to me enough to want to fuck me.
I constantly found myself wondering what the hell Emmett was doing with me, and now at this moment, it dawned on me, I could lose everything. For what? A fantasy? I could suffer from PMS (Poor Me Syndrome) later, now I had to focus on getting out of here.
"You're right, this was a mistake. I should have never come here," I opened my wallet and threw down a couple bills, and stood up to leave. "Edward, it was a pleasure meeting you; I hope we never do this again." I turned and left. I made it to the entrance of the restaurant, and I could already see the flashes from the cameras popping off.
I took a deep breath and put on my sunglasses. I stepped outside, the yelling became instant.
"Bella, how do you know Edward Masen?" His friend hit on me at the pool.
"Bella, are you sleeping with Edward Masen?" If you only knew.
"Hey, Bella, where's Emmett?" Sucker punch, thanks for the reminder assholes.
"Bella, is it true that you're pregnant?" That one made me laugh.
I turned to face the vultures, plastered on my fake smile, and took my sunglasses off; batting my eyelashes. "Hey guys!" I yelled. They all stopped shouting, but the flashes were still blinding. "You guys wanna know something?" I paused and spoke with my best fan girl voice, "Edward Masen and I just had lunch! So, to answer your questions, we met here, we were both having lunch!" I let out a fake squeal; causing some of the photog's to laugh.
"I am not sleeping with Edward Masen. I know you haven't forgotten Emmett's early work. It's not even comparable I'm sure." I flitted my hand casually, they all laughed again. Suckers.
While Emmett was in college, he was injured his freshman year. Since he wasn't allowed to practice, he took up modeling in his spare time. I still give him shit for it.
"To answer the next question, Emmett is in New York. I am here for my dress fittings, and I am not pregnant. There is a reason I'm wearing white for my wedding. Now, I really must be going boys, any chance you can snag that cab for me over there?" I pointed to a line of cabs near the curb. I heard at least three photographers call the cab over for me. One of them actually opened the door, fucking priceless. "You boys have a great day. I don't care what anyone says, you guys are great." I blew an exaggerated kiss before climbing in the cab. "I believe Edward Masen is still in there, good luck!" I called out before the door shut.
Once in the cab I called back Emmett. He picked up on the first ring.
"Bella, what the fuck is going on?" he sounded slightly more calm.
"Babe, I swear nothing is going on. I was by the pool at the hotel, and one of his friends approached me and asked me out for lunch. I won't lie, Em, I was curious. After all the joking we had been doing, I thought it would be funny, I really did. I don't know what those pictures are that are online, but you know how these things can get blown out of proportion," I pleaded. "Besides, there was someone else there the whole time."
"Bells, swear to me, there is nothing going on."
"I swear to you. It was just lunch. If you wait a couple hours, I can promise you that you'll love the press conference I gave just now." I was lying. It wasn't just lunch, at least not for me. Something in me had changed. I was always comfortable and content in Emmett's presence. I was happy for the most part with him, but spending time with Edward, it was different.
"Bella, please tell me you didn't…"
"No! Of course not! I learned not to joke about sex tapes, but…." I paused, "I may have mentioned your GQ days…"
I could hear him exhale through the phone. "You know for a Media Relations manager, you really suck at dealing with the press. I gotta run, Bella. My mother is about to have a stroke."
"I have no doubt. Tell her to have a vodka tonic on me. I'm gonna go, I need to check on Alice. She's got food poisoning…" I heard a click telling me another person was calling in. Charlie. Fuck awesome. "Em, daddy is calling."
"Have fun with Charlie."
"Good luck with Maria. I love you."
"I love you too."
I hung up with Emmett, dreading the phone call with Charlie.
"Hey, daddy"
"Isabella Marie Swan!" I cringed.
"Yes?"
"Why am I getting phone calls trying to confirm that you are having an affair with some actor?" Oooh, he was pissed. I could tell by the tone in his voice that Renee was probably rubbing his shoulders or tempting to give him a de-stressing blow job.
"Okay, I'm only going to say this once and I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Emmett. It was just a lunch. Nothing happened, there was another person there the whole time, and I swear nothing is going on."
"Have you seen the pictures yet?"
"Not really, but I did hold a mini-press conference."
"Oh Bella, tell me you didn't…"
"No, I did not mention sex tapes. Jesus! Why won't you all just let that one die?"
"Take a look at the pictures, Bella. It's not too hard to jump to conclusions." His voice was soft. I knew that tone too, it was his tender voice. I gulped, what exactly did he see?
"Alright, I will look at them when I get back to the hotel."
"Let me know if you need anything."
"I will. I am really sorry for this whole mess, I really am."
"I've gotta run. The Post is having a field day with this. I'll talk to you later Belly." I was relieved he used my childhood nickname. It meant he was easing up on me, but I knew this wasn't over. I needed to look at those pictures.
I leaned back into my seat. I felt guilty, but it was guilt for the wrong reasons. I had the feeling like I had done something wrong. I needed to talk to Alice. She would be able to help me sort throughout this whole ordeal.
Maybe imagined the whole thing, the connection between the two of us. I just know that the times when our hands accidentally touched in the bread basket or when he shook my hand at our introduction, I felt calmness and a sense of something right. I didn't know my life was missing anything, but now that I felt this new energy, I wanted it, and I craved it. It is possible to crave something or someone, if it's all one sided? My brain told me that it wasn't just my imagination, that he did want me too. He had offered to spend more time with me after lunch, so that could have possibly meant something, right? I couldn't, hell; I shouldn't let my self hope like that.
After getting to the hotel, and checking on Alice, who was still passed out, I decided to login and see the pictures. If I thought I had been slapped before at Edward's attitude, this was nothing. I could feel the color drain from my face. There were three pictures on the site with Pepto colored background.
The first was of our introduction, our hand touching, when my eyes had shot to his, to see if he felt the feeling of whatever it was in his hand too. For some odd reason, I felt violated having these pictures up on the internet. I felt like my privacy had been intruded upon, but with the feeling of anger, also came the feeling of hurt.
The second was of Edward and I in an intense gaze, our time together seemed to have a few of those, but my guess this was right after I had ordered my food. The photo looked like an intimate moment, shared by two lovers, not that of two people who had just met for the first time. I felt a flutter in my stomach at the memory of the past few hours.
I scrolled to the third picture posted. It wasn't nearly as incriminating as the first, because Jasper was in the picture, and could see the three of us laughing. I was a bit more relieved, but not by much.
More than anything, I felt guilty for feeling this way, when I'm supposed to be marrying someone else. Edward Masen had thrown me to the wolves, in a sense, but I felt guilty for pulling him into this. He was an ass; there was no doubt about that. Masen was a cocky, handsome, charming ass. But still, he didn't deserve to be in the middle of this shit storm I had created.
Edward Masen
Engaged.
Well that's just fucking great. As pissed as I was, I instantly regretted being an asshole to her when she asked for my help. I know she worked in some kind of public relations, but it was still wrong to throw her to the wolves like that. The moment she was out of sight, I missed her presence, and ran after her. I watched her get into a cab, but I couldn't believe my eyes. She was smiling and one of the vultures actually opened the door for her. I found myself adding intrigued to the growing list of emotions that I felt towards Bella Swan.
Bella had mentioned pictures on that damn celebrity gossip site. I honestly didn't mind, more than half the shit on those sites isn't true, so I've learned to ignore it. I know the truth, and that's what mattered. She lied to me that was the truth.
Did she lie? I never asked her if she was involved with someone. Being engaged, that's not shit you just leave out. Fuck it, whatever. I know I wasn't the only person that felt the connection, Jasper wouldn't have mentioned anything if he didn't see it too. I didn't ask. That was my fault, if I had asked and she said no, that would be a lie.
I left The Ivy and somehow got into my car, avoiding the paparazzi. The bastards had the nerve to try and follow me to my car, asking me if I had any response to the statements Bella had already made. I told them that everything Bella had said was the truth, even though I had no idea what she said. I felt the pang of guilt again about the way I treated her when she asked what we were going to do. If Elizabeth were here she would have slapped my on the head and tell me she raised me better than that. I needed to apologize.
I grabbed my iPhone and called 4-1-1 and asked for the number of the Four Seasons. If I could get her room number, I could at least leave a message.
"Thank you for calling the Four Seasons, this is Jane, how can I help you?"
"I need to be connected to Bella Swan's room please." I waited a few seconds, listening to Jane key information.
"I'm sorry sir. We don't have anyone here by that name. Can I try another room for you?"
"No, thank you," I hung up. At least now I knew she must be registered under a different name. Now my interest was peaked. Why on earth would the media be so interested in her? Her job wasn't that unusual, her family was powerful, sure, but it didn't garner any major press. I remembered the heated phone call that came right before she stormed out of The Ivy, from her fiancé.
I pulled into the driveway and made a beeline to my laptop. I immediately went to Google and typed in 'Bella Swan'. A slew of articles popped up, including sex tapes. Bella had a sex tape? I clicked on the link, and found myself reading an article. Apparently photographers had been caught on the Swan property in the Hamptons, trying to get a picture of Bella and her fiancé by the pool. There were some amazing pictures of her ass in a white bikini, and a couple of her straddling a dude, who was huge. The article was lengthy, but one paragraph captured my attention.
When reached for questioning about the incident, Ms. Swan only had to say 'If you nosy bastards wanted a picture of my ass, all you had to do was ask. I would have gladly given you our sex tape.' Isabella Swan and Emmett McCarty were vacationing at the Swan compound in East Hampton over Memorial Day weekend to celebrate their engagement. No wedding date is currently set.
*Update: Since the date this article was published, Ms. Isabella Swan and Mr. Emmett McCarty have issued a new statement. Ms. Swan has requested that we inform our readers that there is not a sex tape in existence. She sends apologies for raising the hopes of young boys everywhere. The editors of Twilight Magazine wish Mr. McCarty the best of luck.
Emmett McCarty? The same Emmett McCarty that was injured last season playing for the New York Giants? Well that would explain her fascination with football. I went back to my search results, and found hundreds of images of Bella and Emmett. As I clicked on each one, seeing them smiling at each other, kissing, they looked like two people in love. The more and more I searched the, the stronger the urge to vomit became. I was making myself sick. It felt wrong to be looking at these. I couldn't help the overwhelming feeling that it should be me in those pictures, and not McCarty.
I opened a new browser page, and went to Perez's page. As much I couldn't stand it; he was one of the more up to date. The pictures I saw made my heart clench. The images only re-affirmed what I already knew. I was looking at her as if I was about to throw her up against the wall and fuck her senseless. The others made it look as if we were caught in a private moment, despite the fact Jasper was right next to me.
Questions were filling my head. What did she think of these pictures? What did her fiancé think? I still needed to apologize. If I really admitted anything to myself, it was a weak and sorry ass excuse to make contact with her. Right now though, it was all I had, and I needed to find a way to get touch with Bella.
I puttered around my house for hours, thinking. I thought about how I wanted someone that I couldn't have, my family, my career, women I could have; but no longer wanted. I thought about everything and nothing all at the same time. I had promised Carlisle that I would try to catch up on my scripts, but I could never make it past the first few pages. I couldn't focus on anything but the brunette from this morning. It wasn't right that she consumed my thoughts like she did.
I suddenly had an idea. Remembering how Bella said she worked in public or media relations for her father's company, surely she would have a business line or at least a work email. After twenty minutes of digging I was able to find her corporate email. It would have to do for now.
I sat at my computer screen hoping it would tell me what to say, but no luck. I reminded myself that I was writing to apologize, not propose… someone else had already done that. I read the email over and over, and hoped I didn't sound like a complete fucking moron.
Bella,
I hope this email finds you well, or at least better than when you left The Ivy. I wanted to apologize for my actions or rather inactions. It was not fair to leave you alone to handle the press. I do hope in the future that you can forgive me and we can be friends. I enjoyed getting to know you and the few hours we spent together. Please let me know if I can make it up to you with lunch another day.
Edward
PS-I'm also giving you my phone number, while I know it wouldn't fetch as big of a price as a sex tape, please don't sell it.
I hit send before I could erase it and take it all back. It was out there in cyberspace now; all I could do was wait. My house was already clean, Jasper was out, and I didn't feel like going anywhere. I was bored out of my fucking mind. I got up and walked away from the computer only to find myself coming back a few minutes later to check my email. Still empty.
I took a shower. Fuck if I knew why. I was bored, and not concerned with the conservation of natural resources. That shit was up to Leo and Ashton.
No email.
I noticed Jasper was still gone, wondering when he was going to be back, I checked my phone. The battery was dead. I plugged it in the charger and turned it on. I noticed I had three texts.
Grabbing dinner with Pete, be home later. U can join. -J
The second text was from my half-sister, Tanya
She sent me a copy of the pictures from the net, but made me laugh.
You could do a lot worse. Actually, I know you have. Call me, I miss you.-Tanya
The third text message didn't have a name, but I saw it was a New York area code.
Thank you for the email, apology accepted. Pull shit like that again and my selling your phone number will be the least of your concerns. Had to cut my trip short, leaving LA tomorrow night. Maybe next time.-Bella
I was torn. One part of me felt defeated that she wasn't going to be in LA for her original couple of weeks. Another part of me didn't care. I now had Bella Swan's phone number.
If you'd like to read the alternate ending, please read Snacktime, a series of outtakes for It's Just Lunch.
Thanks!
