Chapter #04: Tell Me Lies
'Cause I don't wanna know if I kissed your lips for the last time
Please don't say if it's so, tell my heart it's not goodbye
And do this one thing for me, make up some stupid story tonight
It's all right, keep your truth and tell me lies ~ Ashley Tisdale
BPOV
Edward has a fiancée. He has a goddamn fiancée! Why didn't he mention this before?
"Oh, I see. Thanks for asking anyway, Edward. I'm sure I'll be able to find someone to take me to the charity gala," I smile blandly at him. My empty stomach twists and I feel like throwing up. Why the hell am I in Edward's past again?
"Mom, don't overstate things. Sophie is not my fiancée. Technically," he adds, gritting his teeth. Turning to me he says, "I can introduce you to a few of my friends at school. I'm sure one of them will be more than happy to take you to the gala."
What the hell?
"I can get my own date, Edward," I say icily.
An awkward silence fills the room. I stare angrily at my plate. What did I expect? Of course Edward has a fiancé. Why wouldn't he? He's eligible in every sense of the word!
"Let's start eating, shall we?" Mr Masen clears his throat in an attempt to dispel the tension at the table.
Luke steps forward. "Sir, the doctor is on the line. He wants to know how Miss Swan is feeling."
Mr Masen pauses, his spoon halfway to his mouth. "Dr Cullen? Oh tell him Miss Swan is feeling better."
I feel the blood drain from my face. The spoon I was holding clutters back on to the porcelain plate. Edward halts Luke immediately.
"Miss Swan? Are you all right? Maybe I should call Doctor Cullen to come over to check on you." Concern is evident on Mr Masen's face.
"You should go back to bed, dear. I'll get Beth to send you some food later," Mrs Masen suggests.
"Did you say Doctor Cullen?" I ask, hoping my ears aren't deceiving me. I feel like banging my head against the wall. How could I have forgotten about Carlisle being here?
"Yes. He was the doctor we called over to examine you. Is something wrong? You look very pale," Mr Masen adds.
"No, I'm fine. Please excuse me," I say hurriedly as I practically bolt from the dining table. Carlisle must have a way to get me out of the mess I've made.
I hear the tap of expensive shoes against the marble floor before I feel him. What in the world does he want now?
"Why are you following me, Edward?"
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to see Carlisle," I tell him with a 'duh' tone. Isn't it obvious where I'm headed to?
"Who?" he asks, confused. Oh of course. I doubt he'd be on first name terms with Carlisle.
"Doctor Carlisle Cullen," I clarify. I lift my dress slightly to avoid stepping on the hem as I quicken my pace.
"You know him?"
"He is... an old friend." There. He doesn't need to know all the gory details.
"Miss Swan, wait." He grasps my arm to stop me from walking.
"What is it?" I say, exasperated. Why does he keep meddling in my affairs?
"Firstly, you're heading in the wrong direction. The front door is that way," he gestures in the direction where we came from. "And secondly, do you even know how to get to the hospital? And which hospital he works at for that matter?"
Crap. He's right. Carlisle's never mentioned the name of the hospital he used to work at.
Edward gives me a smug smile which pisses me off. I feel like slapping that smile off his face! Or maybe licking it off would be a better choice... I shake my head to wipe the image out of my head. Where the fuck did that come from?
"So what do you propose I do, Mr smart ass?"
Instead of becoming pissed as hell as I am, he throws his head back in laughter. This irks me even more.
"Smart ass? Oh Miss Swan, you never cease to amaze me with the words you use," he shakes his head.
I try hard – and I mean really hard – to stop myself from laughing with him, but I can't. His laughter is infectious. He looks so young and boyish.
"I'm still mad at you," I say.
"I know." He runs his fingers through his hair. God, I feel like running my fingers through them as well. His hair looks so soft...
I can feel my face start to flame at my less than appropriate thoughts so I return to the matter at hand.
"Where does Carlisle work?"
"I'll take you there after you finish your dinner," he says softly, coaxingly.
"I have to go now," I insist. I can't stay here a second longer. Not without knowing what will happen in my own time. To my Edward.
"Please, Miss Swan," he urges, unleashing the full force of his gaze on me. Dammit, this is so fucking unfair. Why does he still affect me this way?
With great effort, I turn away from his forest green eyes and stare at the ground. "I have to go."
I shrug my hand out of his and start walking in the direction he gestured. Maybe I can ask Luke or one of the Masens' many servants to take me there. Surely one of them will know about Carlisle.
"Why?" Edward asks as he catches up with me in a second. "Why now? What's so important that you have to see the doctor right now?"
"I can't tell you that," I whisper.
We walk straight past the dining room and into a large foyer like area. The front door is cream colored with a brass knob. I pull on it, expecting it to be locked. The door swings open, surprising me.
"Which hospital is it?" I ask, shivering slightly. Jeez. It's cold out tonight.
"Miss Swan, I -"
"Look I'm going to do this with or without your help. Though without it will take much longer."
"Wait here. I'll grab my keys," he relents.
Edward returns a few minutes later, a black coat draped over one arm. He's wearing a similar one over his shoulders.
"Here," he says, and helps me with the coat. It is unmistakably his - his sweet, sweet fragrance engulfs the entire coat. "I don't want you to catch a cold. It's chilly outside tonight."
He cares! About me! Suddenly, I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And with those feelings comes the guilt. Guilt for feeling like this because of Edward. He is not my Edward. It feels like I'm betraying him by allowing myself to feel this way.
"Let's go," I say and step outside into the cold night. There are several vehicles in the front yard. I see two Model T Fords and three Chevrolets. Which car are we taking? And why in the world does he need so many cars anyway?
Edward takes my hand and leads me to one of the Model-T's. A sleek black 2-door sedan. Okay, question answered. Vaguely, I wonder if his fiancé has ridden in his car before.
Well of course she has! Which girlfriend hasn't sat in her boyfriend's car at least once? My sub-conscious scoffs at me. Perfect.
I open the door to the passenger side and slide in. Edward pauses at my side of the car for a while before going round to the driver's side. His lips are pursed. Now what?
He starts the car and we're off. I raise my eyebrow at the speed we're going. He's driving at the same speed as my Chevy back home!
"What's with the speed?" I tease him.
"Too fast for you, Miss Swan?" he matches my tone.
Fast? He's got to be kidding me. "I believe I've seen cars that go faster than this."
He raises an eyebrow. "That's hardly possible, Miss Swan. This is the fastest the car can go, and this is one of the newest cars in the market."
What? Oh shit! I want to smack myself on the forehead again. Of course! 40 miles an hour was considered fast back in the early 20th century. Oops.
"Oh. It doesn't feel that fast," I say lamely.
"Huh."
As I look out of the window, I feel my whole body tingle. Every nerve in my body wills me to reach across and make contact with his skin. The car is rather small, and my thigh is just inches from his. The electricity between us is palpable.
I peek at him from the corner of my eye. Edward doesn't seem to be feeling what I feel. His fingers are gripping the steering wheel without unnecessary force and he looks almost...relaxed. It's the exact opposite of what I feel.
He doesn't feel it. My heart clenches at the realization.
I bite my lip and force myself to look away. Damn it. Why does this hurt so much?
The car turns into a rather crowded driveway and Edward pulls over. "We're here," he murmurs.
Cook County Hospital. Hmm. I start to get out of the car.
"Don't move," he orders and I freeze.
"What's wrong?"
He doesn't answer. Instead, he gets out of the car and walks over to my side with unconscious grace. Damn it. It's just what I need – a reminder of how undeserving I am of this man, human or vampire.
He opens the car door on my side and holds out his hand to me, offering to help me get out.
I roll my eyes but take his hand anyway. "I can get out of the car myself, Edward."
"I know you can," he says in an annoyed sort of tone. "I'm trying to be a gentleman here."
I snort. "You don't have to try. You already are."
"Why, is that a compliment, Miss Swan?" I can hear the smile in his voice.
"I believe so, Mr Masen," I smile at him.
With that, he takes my hand again and leads me into the hospital.
Cook County Hospital is pretty much just like any other hospital in the 21st century. Except, of course, that we have, well, much better technology and facilities.
"Excuse me. We're looking for Doctor Cullen. Is he busy at the moment?" Edward says to one of the receptionists.
The girl, who looks around my age, blinks and gapes at him, her mouth falling open. Every nerve in my being urges me to tell her to back off but I resist. After all, he's well...not mine.
She blinks twice more before she registers that we are waiting for her to divulge some information. "Doctor Cullen? Uh... Yes, he's in his office at the moment. It's on the fifth storey," she adds, not acknowledging my presence at all.
"Thank you," he says softly, his voice unintentionally seductive. The girl flushes but keeps her eyes on him as he walks away from the desk.
"Okay you can go back now. I'll go home once I'm done," I tell him. Home... It feels weird to call that mansion 'home'. Home is where my Edward is. Back in present day Forks.
"Don't be ridiculous, Miss Swan. I'll wait for you outside Doctor Cullen's office. Surely that's enough privacy for you?" His tone is chilling, bordering on spiteful. Jeez. What's with him?
"Suit yourself. I don't know how long this will take though," I warn him as we head over to the elevators.
O.o.O
Edward makes a big show of looking disgruntled as he settles down into one of the uncomfortable chairs in the waiting area. I can feel my heart thumping in my throat as I approach his office. Why the hell am I so nervous?
I rap thrice on the wooden door. "Come in," Carlisle's voice comes through the door. Swallowing, I twist the knob and let myself in.
I gasp once the door is firmly shut behind me. Carlisle looks exactly the same. His blond hair, the blue eyes, the model worthy face...
Holy crow. If I hadn't met Edward first, I sure as hell would have one heck of a crush on this hot shot doctor.
I take a deep breath to dispel my nervousness. I don't have anything to be nervous about. I know Carlisle would never do anything to harm me.
"Can I help you?" he asks gently. He looks concerned. Ha! He thinks I'm here because of my head injury. Well, he is going to get one hell of a shock.
"I know what you are."
Carlisle raises an eyebrow. "You know what I am?" To anyone else, his act would seem genuine – that he truly doesn't have a clue of what I'm talking about. I know better, though. A flash of suspicion appears momentarily in his eyes but he smoothes it away quickly.
"Yes, I do."
"You mean you know who I am," Carlisle corrects me, smiling, but it doesn't reach his eyes.
"No, I mean I know what you are, Carlisle. You work nights at this hospital because you can't go out in the sun. Your skin sparkles like a thousand diamonds if you do. You don't eat or drink anything except for animal blood."
I pause briefly, looking at him to assess his reaction. He looks surprised. Wary as well.
I don't give him a chance to recover. "You were born in London in the 1640s to an Anglican pastor. You were attacked by a vampire in the streets when you were twenty-three. You hid in a cellar, buried under rotting potatoes for three days while you changed."
I look up at him again. His face is ashen. He sits down on his chair, fighting for composure. He won't lose control...will he?
I take a deep breath and continue. "You tried to destroy yourself after that. Guess that didn't work out," I tell him dryly, gesturing at him.
A glimmer of a smile tugs at the corner or his mouth, as if he tried to fight it, but couldn't. Ah, there's the Carlisle I know.
"When you realized you could survive without human blood, you swam to France. There, you decided to pursue medicine. Need I go on?"
"I think you've said quite enough, Miss Swan," Carlisle says quietly. He stands up and walks slowly toward me. I hold my ground.
"You're not afraid of me?" he asks incredulously.
"Should I be?"
He shrugs.
"Look, Carlisle, I mean you no harm. I just need to ask you something. I need your help."
"Harm? What makes you think you can harm me?"
"Well I don't mean in the physical sense, obviously," I say defensively. Jeez. Why is Carlisle acting like this?
"So what's your idea of 'harming' me?" he is smiling now.
Wait. Is he amused by all this?
"I'm obviously not a threat to you, Carlisle. You can trust me."
He gazes at me, uncertainty in his eyes. A few tense seconds later, he sighs.
"I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, Miss Swan. What is it you need?"
Finally.
"You might want to sit down before I rehash the gory details," I warn him.
He eyes me like I've forgotten something important. I roll my eyes. Does he seriously think I've forgotten he's a vampire?
"I'm serious."
"I think, Miss Swan, after that bombshell you've dropped on me, I can handle pretty much just about anything," he says dryly. "So, what do you need from me?"
I take a deep breath. Here goes nothing. "Carlisle, I'm Isabella Swan. I'm from the future."
He doesn't react like I expect him to. Huh. This is...surprising.
"I guessed as much. When I examined you the night before, you were wearing some strange apparel. I don't know how you fooled the Masens about your previous whereabouts but you sure as hell can't fool me."
"Okay. Anyway, in my time, I'm about to get married to Edward Masen. Only he isn't called Edward Masen anymore. He is Edward Cullen."
Carlisle gasps. "Edward Cullen?" he asks. "I don't –"
"You changed him, Carlisle. In 1918, he was dying. His parents were already dead and you desperately wanted companionship. Elizabeth Masen begged you to change him, so you did.
"Anyway, in 2008, my friend, Jake, he gave me this candle. A magic candle. I made a wish to come back to 1918. Only that didn't quite work out, because it's 1917 now."
Carlisle swallows with great difficulty as he blinks at me. "You made a wish. On a candle. And you came back in time. May I ask why?"
"I wanted to get to know Edward while he was human. I wanted to understand him better. Only now I'm stuck here for a longer time than I bargained for and I don't know what will happen in my time."
I can feel tears burning in my eyes. I try to hold them back but they start pouring down my face.
"I made a mistake, Carlisle. I should never have made that stupid wish. What if time doesn't freeze in 2008? What if Edward is waiting around for me to return? Oh God I'm so selfish! I didn't even think of all this before hand and I just jumped into it!"
I start sobbing into my hands as I sink down onto the floor. All my pent up fears and guilt is just too much to handle.
"Hey... It's okay," Carlisle murmurs soothingly as he pats my back awkwardly. His hands are cold.
"You wished to come back in time to get to know Edward right? Maybe that's all you have to do. Maybe once you've achieved that, you will be returned to your own time."
I wipe my nose with the back of my hand. "You really think so? And what if time doesn't freeze? What if it continues moving forward?"
"I can't do anything about that, Isabella. I can ask around and see what I find. You said you made a wish on a candle? Where did Jake get it?"
"I don't know. I didn't ask. He's a werewolf. From the Quileute Tribe."
"You're friends with a werewolf? A child of the moon?" he asks incredulously. "And before, you mentioned that you were going to marry Edward even though he's a vampire?"
His eyebrows are raised so high that they look as if they might disappear into his hairline. I have to fight to not giggle at the thought.
"The werewolves aren't as dangerous as you think they are. And Edward has extraordinary self-control. Plus I love him."
Carlisle looks resignedly at me. "C'mon. Let's get you up."
He helps me up and hands me a handkerchief. It's soft and white. It even has his initials sewed on one edge.
"Thank you," I say gratefully.
He walks me to the door. I remember something. "Carlisle? Can I ask another favor from you?"
O.o.O
"Thanks for everything, Carlisle," I tell him as I leave his office. I feel lighter. Like a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
"You're welcome, Isabella. I'll contact you once I have some information," he smiles warmly.
Edward all but rushes to me the moment I step out.
"Mr Masen," Carlisle nods at Edward.
"Doctor Cullen," Edward replies stiffly. I roll my eyes at their exchange. What's up with them? Jeez. I start heading downstairs.
Edward presses me for information immediately.
"So what did you and the good doctor talk about?"
"Stuff."
He catches my wrist and halts me in my tracks.
"What?" I snap at him.
"Have you been crying?" he demands to know, looking in the direction of Carlisle's office.
"Yes, but it had nothing to do with Carlisle," I tell him quickly before he decides to do anything rash. The thought of him going against Carlisle makes me shudder.
"And why did he call you Isabella?"
I sigh. "That's my full name, Edward. I prefer to be called Bella though."
And that reminds me. Why does he keep addressing me as 'Miss Swan'? Why can't he just call me by my name?
"Come." He drags me along with him.
I shrug my hand out of his once we're clear of the hospital.
"What now?" he asks in an irritated sort of way.
"Stop dragging me around like a child!"
Headlights flash and a horn blares loudly at me. I squeeze my eyes shut instinctively. What the hell?
"Bella!"
A hand yanks me back and I'm thrown against a hard wall of muscle.
"Are you all right?" Edward asks anxiously. He spins me around and steps back to check for injuries.
Hell, the car could have run me over and I wouldn't have noticed. He called my name! I want to jump up and down like it is Christmas.
"You said my name," I whisper.
He stares at me like he's unsure of how to react.
"Say it again," I say, almost pleadingly.
"Bella," he whispers. Oh God. How can he make my name sound so seductive?
"Again," I demand, closing the distance between us.
"Bella, Bella, Bella," he chants in my ear. And suddenly I don't care that he has a fiancée. I don't care that it is practically illegal and that I may be arrested. I throw my hands around him and crush myself against his chest. He is warm. So warm.
Tears leak from my already swollen eyes, stinging like fucking hell. He smells of apples, sandalwood and Edward. It is the same smell as my Edward, just slightly less enhanced.
"Ssshhh. It's okay, Bella. I'm here. You're okay. You're safe," he murmurs against my hair.
For some reason, his words bring about a whole new round of tears. This Edward and my Edward are so different and yet the same. I know I love the Edward I left behind. But what about this Edward? They are the same person but it feels like I'm betraying one of them. How do I deal with this?
I realize I am probably staining his shirt with my tears. I pull away from him, immediately missing the contact and his heart thumping against my cheek. This Edward is alive.
"Your shirt," I tell him, half sobbing.
"I'll survive," he says dryly.
"Feel better?" he adds softly.
I shake my head. Technically, I am still in deep shit and I am confused as hell. Nothing has been resolved.
He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. It's tempting. I can feel my fingers itch to join his.
"What can I do?"
Nothing. But I don't tell him that, of course.
"Let's eat ice cream."
Edward raises his eyebrow. "Ice cream? I know the perfect place."
O.o.O
He takes me to a small restaurant just a short drive from the hospital.
"Table for two?" the host asks Edward, practically eye fucking him.
Edward nods, flashing her a smile.
She flushes and tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. "Of course. This way, please."
She leads us to a small table in the back, not much different from the small ring of booths in Bella Italia back in Port Angeles.
She leans forward once we're seated, practically throwing her chest in front of Edward's face. I raise my eyebrows in surprise. Aren't the girls in the 20th century supposed to be more reserved?
"Your server will be right out," she says too sweetly. I have to fight the urge to gag. Luckily she's blond. I don't know what I might do if she is a brunette.
Edward nods brusquely. The smile has vanished from his face.
"Now that was just plain rude," he remarks crossly.
Wow. This side of him really hasn't changed. At all.
I chuckle at his expression.
"What's so funny?" he asks curiously.
"You have to admit, the whole thing is quite funny. Not to mention entertaining."
"You mean entertaining for you, Miss Swan." One corner of his lips tugs up in a crooked smile. My crooked smile. It's appearance causes my heart to skip a beat.
"It's still rude though. Why can't the women respect themselves?" he grumbles.
What am I supposed to say to that? A waitress approaches our table, saving me from replying.
"Can I take your order?"
"Yes. We'll have two flank steaks, medium-rare with mash potatoes and some greens. Whatever your chef has today."
What the hell? Aren't we here for ice cream?
"Anything for you to drink, sir?" she flutters her eyelashes at him.
Back off, lady, he's mine. In the future, at least.
He looks at me. Oh now he decides to get my opinion. I glare at him.
"A glass of water," I snap.
"Two glasses of water," he tells her.
"I thought we are just eating ice cream," I hiss at him once the waitress is gone.
"You hardly touched your food, Miss Swan. Eating ice cream on an empty stomach? I don't think so."
"Seriously? We're back to 'Miss Swan' now? I thought we were past that already!"
He glares at me but doesn't reply. He is so infuriating!
We continue to stare each other down until the waitress returns with our water and meal.
"Took you long enough!" Edward snaps at her as he downs his water. The waitress blinks at him in shock. For a moment, I think she's about to cry, but she collects herself.
"Eat!" he snaps at me. What's his fucking deal?
I fold my arms, refusing to listen to him. Who does he think he is? My dad?
"For God's sake, Bella, please, eat. I don't want you to fall sick," he says softly.
Fine. At least he called me Bella. I pick up my knife and fork and start slicing through the juicy chunk of meat.
Edward visibly relaxes and he looks somewhat surprised. "That was easy."
We finish our dinner in silence, and finally, finally, he signals the waitress. Ice cream!
"Bella? Do what flavor do you want?" he asks as the waitress is walking over. I wonder if they have chocolate flavored ice cream yet.
"Chocolate," I grin. At least he is asking me instead of choosing for me.
He returns my smile. With a fucking panty-dropping smile. Oh God. I can feel my knees turning into jelly. Luckily I'm sitting down.
"Two chocolate ice creams. With the cone."
The waitress nods and clears our plates. She doesn't do anything more. Hmm. Maybe Edward's reaction has scared her off.
We take our cones and Edward fishes a five dollar bill from his wallet. "Keep the change," he tells the waitress who eyes the money in shock. Jeez. One would think she's never seen that much money in her life. Okay, maybe she hasn't. Five dollars was an insane amount of money in the past.
"I'll pay you back," I promise him as we head back to his car.
"Don't be ridiculous. It's just a meal," he rolls his eyes.
"Yes, it's just a meal. No big deal if I pay you my share of it," I shrug. Damn this ice cream is good!
"No, Isabella." His tone makes it clear that he won't hear another word of it.
O.o.O
Edward is gone when I wake up. Mrs Masen is outside somewhere settling some stuff about her charity gala and I have nothing to do. Quite frankly, I'm bored out of my mind. None of the hired help allow me to help them with the household chores and I don't feel like curling up in the library to read Anne Karenina in the day. It feels so...unproductive.
Maybe I should go out and get a job. Now is as good of a time as ever.
"Thia?" I call her while she's busy mending clothes. I think. She comes over to me immediately.
"I'm heading out for a while. Tell Mrs Masen or Edward that I'll be in town."
"Yes, Miss. Do you know the way?"
"I'll try and figure it out. It shouldn't be too hard."
"Miss." She nods and returns to her work.
It turns out that "town" really isn't that hard to get to. The roads are clearly marked and there are even sign boards. The only problem is that it's too damn far to walk! It took me a good hour just to walk from the house to the marketplace. The shops are further downtown.
Maybe it's time to invest in a car. Or I shall ask Edward to lend me one of his. The thought brings a smile to my face. I can almost imagine the look on his face when I do just that.
For the rest of the day I go around inquiring about job vacancies. There are job vacancies, but everyone kept telling me about how over or under qualified I am! It's just ridiculous!
It's almost dusk. Surely Edward will be home by now. Time to ask him about that car.
O.o.O
"Where have you been?" Edward yells at me the moment I step into the house.
"Yes, Edward, it's nice to see you too," I mutter sarcastically.
I sit down on one of the plush couches and pull my boots off. Oh the sweet, sweet relief!
"Don't start with me, Isabella Swan. Where were you?" He moves to stand in front of me.
I have to tilt my neck almost 90 degrees upward just to look at his face. Jeez. He is so tall!
"I was out. Looking for a job," I whisper. For some reason, I know he is going to blow up.
"What? You don't have to get a job, Bella. I can provide for you."
Seriously? Does this man even know what he is saying?
I stand up, ignoring the blisters on my sole. "Provide for me? Do you know what you're saying? You're just a kid! A sixteen year-old kid for God's sake!"
"I have money. You don't have to work under those horrible conditions and get under paid!" he roars.
"Look, we're not even friends, Edward. And even if we were, friends don't provide for each other!"
He blinks at me.
"Look, I'll find a reasonable paying job okay?"
"No. Stay at home," he murmurs.
"Don't be ridiculous. I need to work."
I look into his forest green eyes and sigh. It doesn't look like this conversation is going anywhere.
"Go to the gala with me," he changes the subject.
"Aren't you going with Sophie?" I ask in surprise. What's going on?
"I'm not. Anymore," he adds. He takes my hand and thumb rubs small circles on the back of it.
Oh so that's it.
"You're asking me because your date cancelled on you?" Tears spring to my eyes. What did you expect, Swan? Why would he choose you over his fiancée?
He hesitates. "Bella, I -"
"No. I'm not going to be your second choice." I pull my hand away from his. Pain laces my gut as the tears start falling.
"Goodnight, Edward."
O.o.O
A/N: Okay, so it's not really a cliffy this time. How was the chapter? I've gotten about 10 reviews for the previous chapter that's why this chapter is up so early. See? Reviews make me extremely happy.
Anyway, can we have 15 reviews for this chapter? If we get that, next chapter will be up within the next week.
Show me some love, and let me know what you think.
XOXO, DILK