Ingenue started as a story with no definite course, I was literally flying by the seat of my pants, and along the way it's been hell trying to think of what Bella's next adventure was going to be. I thank you for sticking in there through the long lapse and hope you'll continue to enjoy it!
I was also hoping to plug my favorite story of the moment that has made me fall head over heels in love with the sex-on-a-stick character that is Emmett Cullen. Best and most legit fanfiction I've read in awhile. For the non-EmxB shippers, give it a try...it's deliciously wicked.
If It's The Beaches by EmiBella
As always, my "recommended soundtrack" for this chapter:
"Beautiful" Late Night Alumni
Jasper's mouth gaped and proceeded to open and close like a fish out of water, gasping for air, gasping for a way out. "I'll go get father then." He muttered, rushing out of the room with a quickness.
Why the fuck was I here, Why was Jasper here? I checked my plastic wristband, Kingston Hospital, bloody hell. I was halfway across town, with a massive headache that had to be attributed to something more than my head banging against a headboard. Wait, had Jasper said father? As in Carlisle?
And like clockwork, or some sort of black magic voodoo knowing my luck, Carlisle walked into room 303, exposing his pearly whites to match his equally important white lab coat.
"Bella, it's a pleasure to see you again. Are you feeling well? You've suffered from a mild concussion, but it seems you will be fine with a little rest and monitoring." He said, rustling through his all-important papers on his clipboard.
I glanced at the clock, 6 am. I had been here for about five hours, two minutes of them awake -and in those two, I was already strategizing how to get the of the paper gown that seemed to be betraying me, exposing my hard nipples, and out of the damned hospital period. Where there's Jasper and Carlisle, there had to be Edward.
Yet here stood Carlisle, mind you, I hadn't seen this man in three years and he was acting like we had just had tea and fucking crumpets this morning. "I'm fine, I just have a headache."
"Well, we can give you some medication for that and it should clear it right up," He replied.
"Oh dear god!" I heard from the doorway. Howell was here, her massively ostentatious fur coat swinging about on her tiny frame. It was the unmistakable sound of her "I've completely lost it" voice. She grasped at my hands, not before blatantly checking out Carlisle's bum and other bits with eyes as big as dinner plates. "Is she going to be okay?" She asked melodramatically, letting out a breath of air.
"Yes, she'll be perfect. I'll be back with some medication Bella," He gave me a knowing nod and whispered gently, "We've missed you."
Howell was a frenzy as soon as he left the room, "Bloody hell Bella, do you know that bloke? Did you see his arse..." And that's about the point where I tuned out. I was very well aware of my ex-boyfriend's father's perfect ass, sinewy arms, and package that you could practically make out through his pants -blah, blah, blah. It all felt a little incestuous thinking of him that way.
But Howell was interested. More than interested, she wanted to jump his pale, more importantly unavailable, perfectly-toned ass. She was twittering on while little images of last night started to return to my head. Including asking Colin if I could leave... I didn't finish the job.
"I really do apologize Colin, I just don't feel well. But I'm completely willing to recompensate you for tonight, this is all I have for now. You can expect the rest tomorrow morning in your account." I put on my best sad puppy eyes for him, pushing 500 pounds towards him on the marble dresser.
"Don't be silly. Tonight was well worth it. Eve, that was amazing. You've discovered a couple tricks since we first met."
I smiled at the compliment, almost in disdain. Of course Colin, I'm a fucking professional. "Then we'll meet up another time? You'll be here for another month, am I correct?" Honestly, I didn't know if there would be another time. Edward reappearance was seriously fucking up my ability to...well, fuck basically.
"Yes, another time." He petted my bare leg and pushed another 400 pounds in my direction. "This is to ensure there's a next time, and it'd better be damn good Eve. I'm counting on you."
I smiled and threw my trench coat and heels on, shoving the money into my clutch. I didn't need any more insisting, I wanted to get the hell out of there.
The streets were glimmering that night, fresh from an evening shower, and the distinct smell of it was in the air. I decided to walk to Howell's place to enjoy some solitude, as I knew that she had a client tonight and wouldn't be there. I couldn't risk going back to my apartment and letting Edward find me, not before I had at least strategized what I was going to say. What could I say? "I'm a whore now Edward." I'm sure that would blow over well. Not that he didn't have any apologies of his own to dish out.
I crept into Howell's flat, leaving footprint-size puddles of rainwater on her precious hardwood floors. The fresh scent of jasmine and tuberose invited me in, and I breathed out a sigh of relief, not before I heard a low, muffled moan coming from her bathroom. I pressed my ear up against the door, feeling a bit pervy, to listen closer, only to hear the sound of wet, sweaty skin slapping together. Definitely sounds of coitus. Suddenly I saw the brass door handle jiggle from beneath my palm. Perhaps it was my cue to leave?
I turned and ran as quickly as I could back towards the front door, and fell, almost comically, head first. Howell rushed out, behind me, naked as the day she was born, skin still glistening from the shower and sex. She was going to try to help me up, reaching for my arms.
I don't know why I even attempted to get back up with her help. The woman was fucking naked and slippery. I got up halfway and fell again, this time with the gracious opportunity to meet Howell's giant tits in my face as she fell on top of me as well. My head met the wooden floor, and hard. Doubly hard, with all 125 pounds of Howell landing on me as well.
And this is the part where I blacked out, which seemed to be an increasingly common thing in my life.
I managed to make it out of Kingston half alive and preventing Howell from asking Carlisle if she could do him in the janitor's closet or some such. And rest I did, for 2 days straight.
I think I slept 11 hours the first day back, spending the waking hours in between contemplating the past six years, contemplating how I was going to face him again.
One thing I knew for sure, I didn't know whether I could continue escorting. To continue to fuck, to be some rich old sap's inane eye candy. Sure it paid well, and I was good at sex. I guess I hadn't really thought the job through when I started two years prior. Perhaps I could find a more suitable job as a secretary? Bartender? Hell I was qualified, I had a college degree and more street smarts than some abysmal bank-teller, but really? Could you imagine me, dressed in a boring muted-tone skirt and heels stamping checks all day? Hell no.
I was roused from my thoughts when I heard low, bass-toned murmurs outside my front door. Fearful and half-naked, I checked the peephole. Jasper had found me again. Damn that Carlisle, didn't patient confidentiality mean anything these days?
It was just before dusk when he arrived at my apartment. The sun was hazy and pouring into my apartment, gracefully creating glimmering chandeliers out of my mirrors and the miscellaneous glasses of water I had strewn about. He knocked again on my door, running the other hand through his blonde locks. I peered through the peephole into his eyes, still bright, still full of innocence. It was hard to believe this was the man who raped me a few years prior. I panicked. I swept my hair into a ponytail and slipped on a pair of jeans. I palmed a Valium, rotating it between my fingers, just in case.
I turned the brass knob and swung the door open, eyes closed, not knowing what to expect on the other side of the door. He stood there, staring at the floor, fidgeting with his jacket zipper. The hallway light cast a warm glow atop his beautifully chaotic mess of frizzy blonde curls, creating a halo of sorts. A silence fell between us, and it was Jasper that finally let himself in.
"Bella, before anything I'm sorry..." He started in an exasperated tone.
"Jasper, we've been over this, it's been years now, and I'm fine. I've already accepted your apology, and frankly I'd like to move on." Did I sound cold? I didn't meant to sound rude. "Why are you here?" I thought I'd be blunt.
"Well I wanted to see you…" he replied, taken aback.
"No I mean…why? Why? Why after all this time? Why, after all of that, are you and Carlisle in London?" I bit back the tears and turned away from him.
He went back to his staring match with the floor, no response in mind.
"Is Edward here too? I've seen him, I've sensed him."
"Yes. He's been looking for you for a long time Bella. And if it's okay with you, I'd like it, if I could get to know you again. We all do."
I sighed, defeated. "It just doesn't work like that. I left for a reason Jasper."
"I know. Don't walk away Bella. Edward, I know he's done so much, but I know he still loves you Bella. He's gone mad, spending his days just hoping he'd find you."
His eyes met mine, pleading their case, arguing their warm caramel-colored argument. They drifted behind me and settled on the fireplace mantle.
"You kept it." He gasped, voice dripping with child-like joy.
I stood completely still as he walked up and reached above my shoulder, gripping the porcelain ornament with one large, nimble hand. He breathed out a sigh and I saw a flicker of some bittersweet emotion cross his face, only briefly. Our heads bowed together, observing the tiny prancing horse.
"Of course I did." I replied, and felt his warmth envelop me slowly, a familiar feeling of comfort and for a fleeting moment, -longing? I could have sworn that I saw his face move slowly towards mine until I heard another familiar voice at my door, Edward.
I looked into Jasper's eyes in panic. He knew I wasn't ready. He snaked his arm around my neck in the gentlest way, bringing his forehead close to my own.
"Don't be afraid." He whispered.
I closed my eyes. Jasper had never once expressed any sort of romantic interest in me before, and now I was fearing the possibility of a kiss while Edward stood outside of my door. The tingling sensation where his arm made contact with my neck, the chills were so inexplicable.
"Bella…I've missed you." He breathed softly onto my cheek. His arm withdrew from my neck and he ever so gently cupped my face. The cold pads of his fingers stroked my face and with one swoop he placed the kindest, most demure, whisper of a kiss onto my lips.