The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25[dot]com

Prompt: 20 - Parking Lot
Pen Name: Miss Winkles
Pairing/Main Character(s): Bella/Edward
Rating: M

Multi-chapter.

Photo prompts can be viewed here:
thetwilight25[dot]com/round-six/prompts

"You know, if you keep cooking like this, I'm going to have to charge you extra rent to pay for a gym membership," Edward says as he polishes off his second plate of syrup-covered French toast.

"Well, maybe if you didn't eat your weight in sugary breakfast goods, you wouldn't need a gym membership."

He practically whines as I pull the empty plate from under him. One thing I've learned about Edward in the weeks we've been living together is that I can make him do practically anything if I bribe him with food. Only yesterday, I'd convinced him to schlep down to the convenience store for more milk in return for a batch of homemade meatballs. Easy.

We'd fallen into an easy routine since we began living together; I cooked, he cleaned. It was a match made in heaven - especially for me, who hated cleaning. And apart from the household routine, it hadn't taken long for a sense of familiarity to kick in between us. I was comfortable and happy. It was one of those rare relationships that made it feel as though you'd known each other for years, rather than weeks.

Leaning back on his chair, Edward rubs his hand over his stomach. "What are you up to today?"

"All sorts of fun things," I lie. "Laundry, cleaning my room, paying some bills. Want to join me?"

Edward makes a face, shaking his head. "Fuck, no."

I read my sections of the newspaper while Edward cleans the kitchen, tidying up my cooking mess. "Jesus, did you have to use every pot and pan in the kitchen?" I flip him my middle finger, and just as he finishes the dishes, his phone rings. I watch as he flips the dishtowel over his shoulder and takes the call out on to the balcony. It's easy to see what Sam sees in Edward. He's extremely witty and sweet and good natured. Other than the fact that he leaves his half-empty coffee cups all over the apartment, he's a totally awesome guy. I try not to watch as he paces up and down the balcony looking frustrated. I keep plugging away at the newspaper, reminding myself not to pry, while making a conscious effort to remember what it is I'm reading. I'm failing miserably - I've read the same line three times - when Edward comes back inside, tossing his phone between his open hands. I want to ask if everything is okay, but the look on his face tells me to let it go. Instead, I bite my tongue and watch him disappear into his bedroom from the corner of my eye.

After a morning of procrastination, I pack the paper up and head to my room to get my laundry sorted. I despise laundry with the fire of a thousand suns. If I had enough money I'd just have everything dry-cleaned. Lucky for me, Edward stops me in the hallway before I make it to my room.

"You want to get out of the apartment for a while?"

The pile of clothes in my bedroom is mountainous – the old pair of underwear I'm wearing cements that fact. But Edward looks so hopeful, and I can see he's got a whole ton of pent-up frustration he's trying to vent. So who am I to refuse?

"Sure."

Out of the apartment, Edward leads me a few blocks away where a market has been set up on the streets. Vendors selling everything from food to clothes, antiques to jewelry, line the streets. It all culminates in an empty parking lot where the stalls mishmash together to create a bazaar of sorts; their colorful awnings brilliant in the midday sun. We wander through the busy streets smelling handmade soaps and perfumes, picking through boxes of vinyl records and drinking local cider.

"This is so great," I gush, my cheeks feeling warm and a little flushed from my fourth apple and blackcurrant cider.

Edward grins, and I can see he's already feeling better. Whatever was troubling him earlier seems to have evaporated with time, fresh air and tasty booze.

"They have these markets every three months, but I've never come down before."

"Never?" I ask, gobsmacked.

He shrugs one shoulder. "Sam's not really into any of this stuff."

It strikes me as odd that Sam wouldn't make the trip just to make Edward happy, even if he isn't into it himself. But whatever, their business is their business.

"Tell me more about your family," I ask, stopping at a second-hand clothing stall. "Is it just you and your sister?"

Thumbing through the clothes idly, Edward nods. "Uh-huh. My parents didn't think they could have any more kids after me. Alice was sort of an unexpected surprise later in life."

I pick up a black knitted cap and push it onto Edward's head. "I bet they just love Sam."

He checks it out in the mirror, nodding his approval. "I guess so. They're really supportive of our relationship. They know it's not easy."

Edward laughs as he tugs a brown furry beanie onto my head, complete with ears and long tassels. "Cute."

I roll my eyes and pull it off. "And do Alice and Sam get along okay?"

Edward pays for the cap and a scarf for me, ignoring me as I try to offer him money. "Most of the time. Ali can be a handful; she's only fourteen. I think Sam gets a little suffocated by Ali's attention, you know?"

"I get it. Fourteen-year-old girls can be a little over the top sometimes."

"Yeah, Alice is dramatic at the best of times."

With our shopping bags in hand, we begin the walk back to our apartment. The sun hangs low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the footpaths as we walk along the esplanade.

Edward pushes my shoulder lightly with his, smiling. "Thank you for coming out with me today."

I sigh, content and tipsy-happy. "It was my pleasure. I had a lovely time."

Meg and Tiff, along with PTB made this chapter perfect and sweet like apple cider. Thank you.

And thank you all for reading :)