Sorry it has been quite a while since I last updated. Writing final exams and everything gets hectic. I hope you enjoy :)
- NeverForget
Chapter 6 - Chances Are
It all happened so fast after that.
I don't know how or why. But at that exact moment that I was praying for Edward, Jasper burst through the theatre doors with Alice not far behind, stumbling on her heels, trying to keep up.
Jacob is thrown off me and onto the ground by Jasper as Alice gathers me in her arms.
Jasper pulls out his phone but I stop him.
"No Jasper, please don't. Don't call them." I beg.
Jacob is still sprawled out on the floor, probably unconscious now from the throw.
"Give me one good reason not to Bella." Jasper growls angrily.
"Jasper just drop him off at home, please. He's drunk, he didn't mean to. We don't need the extra press peering over our shoulder! Nothing even happened! And we definitely don't need to be more involved with the cops than we already are at the moment!"
Jasper grunts but he doesn't reply, so I assume my reason was good enough.
Alice walks with me outside and I call my limo driver with her phone who pulls up shortly after. I give Jasper Jacob's address and he promises to drop him off and then meet me back at the house.
I tell Alice in detail what happened on our way back to my house and she explains to me the frantic phone call from Edward she received after I left the theatre.
"You just can't catch a break Bells." She laughs.
I don't respond but I'm agreeing in my head.
"Oh, sorry. Too soon to joke?"
"Nah, go ahead, Ms. 'I have no drama in my life.'" I giggle, letting her know it's okay. "This shit always happens to me. What are the chances?"
"You're always that 'one in a million' Bells. Just sometimes that's a bad thing. Teenage girl from small town Forks, Washington gets the lead roll in a Hollywood film. Now what are the chances of that? There's always bad that comes with the good, I guess. So, you get your house broken into and you have a creepy ex-boyfriend, no big deal, if you have the odds to win the lottery tomorrow!"
"Al!" I say laughing, "How you always find the bright side of every situation, I'll never know. What are the chances I'd have a friend as great as you?"
She blushes, "I'm just glad you're okay."
We pull into my driveway a few minutes later and Alice reminds me that I should call Edward.
"He's probably super freaked out. You know Edward, he goes all Dr. Cullen when things happen."
I agree but remind her that my phone is broken. She gives me hers as we walk into the house. I go up to my room, shut the door, and dial his number.
"Shit, Bella!" He breathes out.
"I'm sorry." I whisper, not knowing what else to say.
"I'm packing right now, I'll be on the next flight out. Don't worry sweetie, I'm coming."
"No, what? Edward, wait. Stop, you're overreacting. Stay, please."
He laughs as if to say, 'yeah right', but it's an empty laugh and I can tell that he is not amused.
"Seriously listen to me, I'm fine. You need to be in Boston right now. What are you going to do about your finals?" I convince him.
"That doesn't matter right now Bella."
"Yes it does, please Edward calm down. I'm fine. A little shaken up, but fine. Please believe me. I need you to be in Boston right now, you can't just keep putting your life on hold for me."
There is a pause while he considers this.
"I don't want you to leave the house until I get back." He states, to my surprise.
"Edward, you're being completely irrational."
"Agree Bella, please, or I'm getting on that plane. I need to know that you're safe and that that asshole is locked up."
"Edward, Jacob isn't - " I begin to explain, but Edward interrupts me.
" - promise me Bella."
I sigh into the phone, "I promise."
"Thank you."
It is silent on the phone because frankly I'm pissed off at him for being so controlling and I have nothing to say to him. He clearly senses the tension.
"I don't want you to be mad at me, love." He says, a gentler voice now.
"I'm not." I lie in a flat voice.
"Bella, I just can't bear the thought of you getting into any more trouble while I'm gone."
"You can't always be there to protect me Edward. I can take care of myself." I reply defiantly, raising my voice.
"I know, I'm sorry, please forgive me. It's my nature. It will just give me the piece of mind while I'm away."
"I'm a big girl Edward."
"I know Bella, do it for me then. I won't have a clear head unless I know that you're safely at home."
"Fine." I give in, but I'm still not pleased.
"It means a lot to me."
There is another pause, this one more awkward than the last. Neither of us want to hang up, but there is too much tension to have a light conversation.
"I can't go to bed mad at you Edward." I admit to him.
"I know honey, I know. Please just try to forget about the whole thing. I'll be home in six days. You know I'm only asking you for this because I care for you. Why don't you call your dad and see if he'll come in for a few days to keep you company? I'll be back before you know it and we'll talk about all of this."
"Okay," I say brighter, at the mention of my dad. "Sorry again for everything."
"Hey, you have nothing to apologize for."
"I miss you."
"I miss you more."
"Go study Edward."
"Go to bed Bella. Sleep tight."
I hang up the phone and hear the door opening downstairs.
"Jasper?" I call down.
"Yeah?" He replies.
I make my way downstairs where he is already sitting next to Alice on the couch with his feet propped up onto the coffee table.
"Jasper, take your shoes off! You know how much I hate that!"
"Sorry, sorry, honest mistake." He says bringing his hands forward the way criminals do to show that they are unarmed.
Alice and I laugh.
"Okay, listen Jasper. Edward is going to be calling you any minute now. Long story short, I'm not allowed to leave the house until he gets back and he thinks that Jacob is with the cops." I explain, "Just don't tell him that we didn't report Jacob because then he'll leave Boston, and he needs to stay until he's finished there. Got it?"
"I'm not going to lie to him Bella..." Jasper tells me.
"It's not a lie! Just avoid it. If he finds out Jacob is out there he'll get on the next flight back and we all know it's best for him to be in Boston right now. Help me out Alice."
"Yeah baby, it isn't like Bella is leaving the house anyway. Edward can't come home, okay. This is just what he needs to believe right now." She tells Jasper.
Jasper gives in with a sigh and I grin at Alice.
"Let me make something to eat. Nachos anyone?"
I get positive replies from both of them so I get up to go to the kitchen.
Jasper's phone rings and he looks at the display.
"Got to take this." He says.
"Edward?" I ask.
"Nope, Emmett. Have to fill him in. Boy, am I gonna be in shit." Jasper mutters.
Alice comes with me into the kitchen while Jasper takes his call in the hallway.
"I'm going to call my dad, Al. See if he can come in until Edward gets back, as I'm not allowed to even go out." I grunt.
I dial his Washington number from my house phone and wait as it rings.
"Hey Bells!" He says cheerfully.
"Daddy!" I smile.
"What's up baby girl?"
"I was wondering if you would come visit me?"
"I would love to. When?"
"Uhm, tomorrow?" I ask casually.
Charlie laughs, "What's the rush?"
"I'm bored." I whine.
"Bored in L.A.?"
"Yep." I say, popping the 'P'.
"I'll see what I can do. No guarantee I can get of work tomorrow though. How long were you thinking?"
"I don't know, five or six days maybe?" I say, and Alice laughs from beside me.
"Can I call you back in about an hour? I have to figure out who'll be able to cover for me at the station."
"Yeah, no problem. Talk to you soon."
"Bye Bells."
"Bye Daddy. I love you."
Two days later, I'm waiting at home for Alice to return from the airport with my dad.
When he finally gets here we embrace and immediately go for a walk hand in hand along the property. It is a nice day outside so we're happy to walk in circles throughout the back and front yard just catching up.
I tell him about the break in, which he already knows about from my mother, and about what happened a few days ago with Jacob. His response of course was, "I never liked that kid."
"Well there's a new guy in my life, Daddy." I tell him.
He was never strict about me dating but he's been weary ever since Jacob cheated on my. Ever since I was little, my father and I had a very open relationship. I could tell him practically anything.
"Uh huh. Do I get to meet him?"
"He's in Boston right now, but maybe one day. Its Alice's brother."
He is immediately more open to this idea after mentioning Alice. He was always loved her since the first time I introduced them to each other during his first visit to California.
"Alice has a brother?"
"Yeah, his name is Edward. They grew up on the same street as me when I lived with mom."
"Oh yes, that's right. What does he do?"
"Well that's why he's in Boston. He's writing his medical school exit exams."
"Impressive."
"At Harvard."
Charlie laughs, "Oh, you do know how to pick 'em Bella."
"He'll be home in four days, if you stay until then, you'll get to meet him."
"Well, you do need my approval, so I guess I'm obligated to stay."
I laugh and smile and and we continue to talk about our lives since the time we've spent apart.
"What do you say we go out for a bite to eat? Remember that fish and chips place we went to last time? I loved it there."
"Dad, I can't."
"What do you mean? You called your old man over here then booked up your nights?"
"No, just remember I was telling you about what happened at the premiere? Well, Edward is a bit paranoid so he asked me not to go out until he got back... He needs to know that I'm safe so he has a clear head."
"He told you not to leave your own house?" Charlie asks appalled.
"Yeah, I know it sounds crazy. I was mad at first, but he's just worried dad."
"No one gets to order my baby girl around except for me." He says completely serious. I can tell this is bothering him because he's pulling at his hair.
"Dad it's just for a few days. I agreed not because I know it's safer if I don't leave, but because it will give him a piece of mind."
"Nope, I don't like it. So your own father can't take you out? I'm a police chief for crying out loud. I don't think so. We're going Bells, come on."
I follow him back into the house and hear him say under his breath, "...and you'd think a doctor would be smarter than that..."
I go out for dinner, with my now pretty ticked off father, and of course we come across no 'danger'. I feel bad about going out without telling Edward, but if he thinks I'm safely at home then what he doesn't know can't hurt him. I decide that I'll tell him when he gets back and prove to him that nothing happened anyway. If there is anyone out there to protect me, it's Charlie.
Charlie brings up Edward a few times later that week and asks me if he tries to control me in other ways. He blows it way out of proportion, now assuming that it will lead to abuse or some shit.
"Dad!" I yell, losing my cool. "Just drop it! Okay? Edward is sweet, you'll love him once you meet him! This is just one tiny thing, and it is in my best interest. Leave it alone! Please!" I snap at him.
He sighs, "You're right, I'm sorry Bells. I'm not being fair."
I talk to Edward on the phone the night before his return and tell him that Charlie is in town.
"That's great!" He says.
"I wouldn't say great..." I replied. "He's not too happy with you Edward - fair warning."
"The man hasn't met me, what could he not like?" He asks baffled.
"Well, he wanted to go out for dinner, but someone is under orders not to leave their house."
"Again, I'm sorry. We'll deal with this tomorrow, love."
"Can I come pick you up from the airport?"
"Bella..." He sighs.
"What? You'll technically be here!" I argue.
"I already arranged for Alice to get me. I'll come straight to your place though, I promise."
"I just can't wait for you to be back." I sigh into the phone.
"So you can finally go out or so you can see me?" Edward teases.
"Both, but mostly just so I can go out again." I joke.
Alice goes the next morning to pick up Edward as I wait impatiently at home. My dad and I are watching "How It's Made" on Discovery Channel when I hear the front door being unlocked. I immediately jump up, but Charlie remains putting on the "I couldn't care less" facade.
"Dad, be nice." I warn. He just grunts in response.
I meet Edward the moment he walks through the front door threshold and he gathers me in his arms. It is just a simple hug, but he smells my hair and holds me tightly. He then pulls me back at arms length, puts his hands on either side of my face and leans in to kiss me passionately. We're interrupted by the sound of a clearing throat and we both look up to see Charlie standing in the hallway with his arms crossed.
I blush furiously but quickly compose myself, taking Edward's hand.
"Dad this is Edward. Edward, my dad Charlie."
Edward lets go of my hand and takes a step forward, extending an arm to Charlie.
"Pleasure to meet you Sir." He turns on his charm and says to Charlie as he takes his hand.
After their awkward moment, I pull Edward by the arm back to me.
"So, Dr. Cullen, how was your flight?" I ask tugging lightly on his shirt.
"Too long." He says and smiles down at me.
Alice and Charlie are not talking in the hall so Edward and I make our way upstairs.
"I have to tell you some things now that you're back..." I tell him once we're in the privacy of my bedroom. "Promise not to be mad?"
"Mhm..." He mumbles, beginning to plant kisses up my neck.
I giggle, but continue, deciding it's better if I tell him while he's distracted.
"Well, first thing, I went out a few times... But with my dad, who's a police chief by the way, so I was in good hands." I brace for his reply, but he's busy planting a trail of kisses on my jaw now.
"Nothing I didn't expect." He whispers, "God I missed you so much."
He pushes me onto the bed and crawls on top of me, now going for my mouth. But before we get carried away, I have to tell him the rest.
"Edward, wait. One more thing."
He doesn't respond but leaves my mouth free to speak, and moves back to my neck.
"We didn't actually call the police on Jacob..." I spit out quickly, wanting to get it over with.
He immediately stops.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me." I tell him.
"Bella? You just let him off scott free? You get sexually harassed and you what? Gave him a ride home?"
"Well yeah, Jasper did."
"I can't believe this." He shakes his head, sitting up on the bed now. He runs his fingers through his hair.
"You promised you wouldn't be mad."
"You lied to me."
"I didn't!" I defend, "I tried to tell you that day on the phone but you cut me off! Hear me out, all it would have caused was extra press and attention and with everything going on right now, that wasn't really something I wanted. He would have just gotten charged with disorderly conduct and harassment, that doesn't change anything about my safety!"
"They would have held him over night Bella, like I assumed they were when we were talking."
"Please forgive me?" I say, kissing him lightly on the lips, trying to sway him.
"Forgive me for be irrational and making you stay inside for a week?"
I nod.
"Then yes, I forgive you." He pauses, "Besides, we have bigger problems to worry about. Like your father pulling his hand gun on me."
I laugh, "Stop, he doesn't hate you that much! Plus, he loves Alice so his mind should be easy to change."
"Good, because I know he means a lot to you." He leans against the headboard and pulls me into his lap "So I'll do my best to get him to approve of me."
I turn my neck around, and his head is already waiting there for me to wrap my arms around and kiss.
A/N: Review please =)
I would love to know what you guys think of the pace of the story overall? And of their relationship? Too slow? Too fast?
xo