Twelve Things To Do In A Power Cut

Chapter 4 – Gorgons and PG Cream

Slamming the door in frustration, I threw myself down on my sofa and groaned. Class had been awful. Not only had I had a dressing down from the head chef, but I also had not been allowed to cook anything and had been forced to do everyone else's washing up for them. On top of everything else, as I was dragging my sorry ass out the door at the end of the day, the secretary handed me a formal letter, informing me that if I was late again, I would lose my place on the course.

"Fuck fuck FUCK!" I screamed, throwing the cushions across the room and beating my fists on the sofa. Heaving my weary body across the room, I stomped angrily into the kitchen, flung the fridge door open, and grabbed a bottle of wine. Snatching a glass from the cupboard, I filled it to the brim, then hurled half of its contents down my throat in one go. On my return to the shelter of the sofa, I seized a bar of chocolate from the side, and settled down to my misery.

Half a bottle of wine later, feeling pleasantly removed from my worries, I decided I needed some pick me up music to make me forget my day, if only for a brief respite. Flicking through my CDs, I quickly found the one I wanted and flung it into the CD player. With a swift flip of my wrist, I turned the volume up high, caterwauling along, and (to my later shame) started to dance.

So I put my hands up

They're playing my song,

And the butterflies fly away

Noddin' my head like yeah

Moving my hips like yeah,

And I got my hands up,

They're playin my song

I know I'm gonna be ok

Yeah, It's a party in the USA

Yeah, It's a party in the USA

Halfway through the second chorus, my epic singing was interrupted by a knock at the door. Assuming Alice and Rosalie were actually on time, I threw the door open and screeched "Well there's a first time for everything, I always say..." when I realised it was not as I had thought, Alice and Rosalie, but Edward.

Beautiful, beautiful Edward, and I was standing here in the ratty sweatpants and vest top I had thrown on this morning, hair still unbrushed, grease stains down my front and stinking of smoke and sweat. In a state of complete shock, I was still staring blankly at his exquisite features when I realised he was speaking to me.

"... I felt bad about eating all of your delicious dessert last night, so this is a peace offering. I come bearing cake!"

I'd like to come bearing your cake... I shook my head to clear my thoughts of lustiness and tried to focus on what Edward was saying.

"Um..." I looked down at my dishevelled appearance. "Can I have a human minute?"

~*~

Several human minutes later, I was, wonder of wonders, curled up on my sofa next to the Greek God, wet hair in a bun, in my cartoon pjs, eating hot chocolate goodness out of my favourite bowl.

I'd like to eat Edward's hot chocolate goodness... Shut up Bella!

"So... no offence Bella, but you look like you've had a shit day."

I nodded my assent, shoulders slumped wearily.

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

Surprisingly enough, I did. Me, who had problems discussing anything personal or emotional with anyone except Alice, Rosalie or my mum, suddenly wanted to pour my heart out to this near-stranger. He leaned forward, head propped on one hand, and I found myself divulging my entire awful, shameful day – although not including the hot and steamy daydreams I'd had over the hot and steamy washing up.

Somehow, throughout the recount of my day, I had ended up leaning in myself until we were almost nose to nose, his free arm casually resting on my thigh, his fingers softly stroking from my mid-thigh to my knee and back again. Looking up through thick lashes, he tentatively tilted his lips towards mine. Our lips almost touching, his hot breath tickling my skin, I felt my heart speed up in response. Hesitantly, I ran my fingers softly up his arm, feeling his muscles clench under his warm skin. He gently pushed a lock of hair back from my face with one hand, while the other hand moved up my thigh, across my hip, coming to rest gently on my waist. He pulled my body closer and –

The fucking doorbell rang.

"Isabellaaaa!"

Fucking Alice.

With a sigh, Edward reluctantly released me. Snatching a pen from my coffee table, he quickly wrote a series of numbers on my hand, then held the pen and his hand out to me.

"Give me your mobile number – I want to see you again once the Gorgons have left."

About to protest that my best friends weren't Gorgons, I remembered what they had just interrupted and hastily wrote my number on his hand. He gently grasped my hand, and pressed his soft lips to my palm.

"See you soon," he promised.

Swiftly opening the door, he successfully avoided Alice and Rosalie's clutches and quickly escaped upstairs. I, however, was not so lucky.

~*~

"Fucking get some already Bella! Your antics are altogether too PG for my vicarious needs."

"Classy, Rose, classy," admonished Alice. "Don't listen to her Bella, you take it as slow or as fast as you want to."

"But that's the problem!" I protested, "I don't know what I want!"

"That's just a blatant lie Bells. You know exactly what you want – you're just too chicken to take it."

"I wouldn't have put it as harshly, but I have to agree with Rose, honey. You know what you want, but you're scared of getting burned again."

"Please don't make me talk about that Ali, you know it still hurts."

"But you've got to talk about it sweetie, if you ever want to make it work with hottie upstairs."

I had to admit that Alice was right. But talking about Jacob was still painful, so I tried to brush it off casually.

"What's there to talk about? Best friend, first love, found out he was cheating on me the morning after I lost my virginity to him. Bastard. Enough said," I spoke rudely, trying not to let the tears out that were threatening to fall.

"Well, I think Edward has a right to know if you want this to go beyond 1st base hun, or it's going to overshadow and spoil everything with him." Alice squeezed my hand, unspoken support for what I couldn't hide from her.

"We've only almost kissed a couple of times - I don't even know if he likes me!"

"Then don't you think it's time you fucking asked him?" shouted Rose over her shoulder, as she headed into the kitchen for more wine. Bitchy as always – unfortunately right as always as well.

~*~

Ciao Bella. Have the Gorgons left yet? E

Not yet. Soon tho. B

Let me know as soon as they do. I can't wait to see you again x

I will x

"Mmmm I sense text sex goodness. Bella's grinning like the cat who's got the cream..." Alice grinned.

"Well someone's cream anyway..." said Rose archly.

Alice swatted Rosalie on the arm.

"You don't need to be quite so vivid Rose, we all know that you and Emmett are very open and vocal – but please tone it down, or you'll scare Bells off!"

"As a matter of fact, it was a text from Edward, but it was not text sex. Rose, go wash your mind out! He just said he was looking forward to seeing me again," I finished shyly, the tell-tale blush staining my cheeks.

"Yay!" Alice cheered, squeezing me in a huge hug. "Right Rose, we're going, so that Romeo can come on down and woo his Juliet. Bella, text me if you need anything, ok? Even if it's just cos you don't know what to say next, or just to update me on what's happening. Good luck!"

And with that, the mini whirlwind that was Alice on a mission, swooped up all their detritus, grabbed Rose by the arm, kissed me goodbye, and was out of my apartment in two minutes flat.

I quickly flipped my phone open before I lost my nerve.

They're gone... x

Chewing on my thumbnail, I waited impatiently for a reply, getting more and more worried by the second, the longer it took him to reply. After what seemed like hours, but was probably only about a minute and a half, my phone beeped loudly. Nervous, I debated whether or not to open the phone and read the message, not wanting to know what it said. If he still wanted to see me, I was in deeper waters than I'd been with anyone since Jacob. I was right out on the edge of the plank, about to leap full length into possibly shark-infested waters. However, if he'd changed his mind... I would be devastated. It would be a pale echo, and a painful reminder, of Jacob's rejection of me, and I knew I would retreat even further from the world. These two conflicting desires chased each other around my head – one, to stay safe, away from the fire, and the other, to finally be able to trust someone again, the desire to be desired - before I mentally slapped myself for being ridiculous. Just open the fucking phone Bella!

I'm coming down now xxx

Three kisses! I did the abridged version of my happy dance before reminding myself not to get too excited. Taking a deep breath, I quickly took stock of my current situation, and decided I needed some quick renovations before Romeo appeared. Rushing into the bathroom, I hurriedly cleaned my teeth, took down my hair so it fell in its natural curves around my shoulders and splashed my face with cold water to help me calm down. Contemplating whether to change or not, I ran out of time because, at that second, the doorbell rang.

~*~

A/N – I hope you are all enjoying this as much as I am! Thank you to all those people who have me on Story and Author Alert, and Favourite Story/Author, it means a lot to me. Please review as well – I'd really like to hear your views. Thank you to all those who have reviewed already – I'm glad you like it! The full list of the 12 things they are going to do together is not yet compiled – if you have a suggestion or would like to request something Edward and Bella could do together in a power cut, please review with your ideas! xx