AN: Yeah... so I kinda stopped posting this for... like ever. I had some real life stuff going on and fanfiction fell to the wayside. Anyway, thanks to the ever awesome twilight-is-lovee for being my beta. Enjoy
Playlist:
I Think I'm Paranoid by Garbage
Because Of You by Ne-Yo
Cooler Than Me by Mike Posner
If I Had You by Adam Lambert
It Wasn't Me by Shaggy
EPOV
My mother hated me. I came to that conclusion the second she invited Chief Swan to dinner knowing full well that he disliked me before I was dating his daughter and now probably wanted to kill me. I had just had the hottest make out session of my life with his daughter and desperately needed to change my pants, but the memory was completely tainted by the fact that her father was on his way over and I actually had to sit through a meal with him.
"Would you relax? I won't let him shoot you." Bella snickered at what she thought was a hilarious joke, and I scowled at her.
"You can joke about that shit all you want, Bella, but he seriously hates me. He can see right through a lie. He'd cut my dick off if he knew what we just did!" I whined into her hair. Bella laughed and pulled away from me.
"Go change your pants while I clean myself up. I'll hold your hand through the entire dinner. Charlie really isn't as bad as you make him out to be. He's lightening up on the idea of you and me together." She smiled as she turned to walk to the bathroom. I groaned out loud at the sight of her ass swaying with her walk.
We managed to keep our hands to ourselves and watched a movie while we waited for the dinner from hell to descend upon us. I was fidgety and nervous the entire time. Every little sound made me jump ten feet in the air, which only served to irritate Bella. I eventually moved to the other side of the couch and tossed her an apologetic glance when she pouted at me.
"I'm sorry, Bella; I just don't want to piss your dad off. Him coming down to get you for dinner and seeing you all wrapped up in my arms wouldn't be the best was to welcome him into my house," I pleaded with her to understand, and she just rolled her eyes and stretched out on the couch to finish the movie.
"You are quite pathetic, Edward." Her voice was laced with annoyance as she made her statement.
We had finished our movie just as my mom called down the stairs to let us know that dinner had arrived along with Charlie. My entire body stiffened as Bella stood up and stretched her long, lean body like a cat. I let a small whimper escape, and she turned to me with a smirk.
"Come on, Cullen, it's time to turn on the charm." She grinned like the Cheshire cat with her hand reached out to pull me to my feet. I sighed in defeat and gripped her hand in mine before rising to my feet.
"I guess it was gonna have to happen sooner or later," I mumbled as we made our way to the stairs hand in hand. Just before I opened the basement door to the main hall, I felt Bella lean into me, and her hot breath blew over my neck and ear, causing goose bumps to form over the exposed skin.
"I'll make this worth your time tomorrow if you play nice," she whispered before pulling my earlobe into her mouth and sucking on it for a moment. She released it with a loud pop before yanking open the door and dropping my hand to walk into the formal dining room.
I stood there gaping like a moron as she pranced away. I was painfully hard again from that move, and I knew that I couldn't possibly make it through dinner like that. She was evil.
"There you are, Bells. I'm glad Esme invited me over. It's nice to spend some time away from the house," Charlie's gruff voice floated from the dining room, immediately deflating my hard on. I gulped nervously and shifted my feet on the floor, trying to bring up my courage to walk into that room.
I didn't want to see the disgust on Charlie's face when I sat down next to Bella. I didn't want to hear him sigh or see him roll his eyes at us. I knew that he didn't approve, and I wasn't ready to face that reality. Bella and I were happy in our little bubble.
"Where's Edward?" Carlisle asked, and I cringed. I knew that I had to go in there and face Chief Swan. I didn't want to disappoint Bella. I was so damn torn.
"He went to the bathroom. He'll be in here any minute," Bella's sweet voice saved me for a moment. I peeked into the room and saw her smiling and talking comfortably with my parents and her father. I was amazed at how quickly she became comfortable in my house. She was so shy in the beginning.
"Good evening, Chief Swan," I mumbled as I took the few necessary steps into the dining room to announce myself. I couldn't stand in the hallway all night.
"Edward," he greeted me with a tightlipped smile. I could practically read the thoughts screaming from him. He was thinking that it would all be over when Bella went back to Phoenix. He seemed to being putting up with it for her.
"Bella said that you like sesame chicken?" Esme broke the tension, and I crossed the room to take a seat next to Bella. Charlie's eyes narrowed as he watched me. I gulped again nervously and smiled at Bella.
"Yes, Esme, thank you. It was sweet of you to invite me over for dinner. It's nice that Bella is getting a break from cooking for her old man. She doesn't understand the concept of 'vacation,'" Charlie gave Esme a real smile, and I felt myself sink back into my chair. I knew what he was doing. He wanted me to know this wasn't a permanent arrangement.
"I just know that she and Edward are practically inseparable, so I figured we could all enjoy an evening together that way we wouldn't need to tear them apart so soon." Esme grinned at Bella and me as she spoke. I saw Bella blush and look away before Charlie cleared his throat.
"So, anything interesting happening in the Forks PD lately?" Carlisle asked as he plated up some food and passed the containers down the table.
Charlie and Carlisle exchanged gruesome stories about car accidents and surgeries that either of them had experienced. They already had a working relationship due to Carlisle being the only surgeon within a 50-mile radius and Charlie being the police chief, but I hadn't expected them to get along so well.
I tried to keep to myself and avoid all conversation with Charlie. I didn't want to give him any more reason to hate me than he already did. I kept my eyes down on my plate and my hands to myself even though Bella kept trying to grab my hand under the table.
"Edward, Chief Swan asked you a question dear." Esme looked at me worriedly as I lifted my head with a look of confusion. I thought that he and my dad were still exchanging stories; I had no idea he was talking to me.
"Um… I'm sorry, sir, I didn't hear you. Can you repeat the question?" I asked quietly. I heard Bella giggling at me under her breath. I gave her a sideways glance, and she tried to stifle it before I turned back to her father.
"I asked you what your plans are after graduation this spring. I know Carlisle here has his heart set on you going to medical school." He let out a forced smile as he looked at me. I gulped and turned back to my plate. I hated this question. I was currently undecided on what I wanted to do with my life.
"I'm… well, to be honest, sir, I don't know yet," I sputtered out nervously. I looked back up to see Carlisle's face staring back at me in shock. I hadn't told my parents that I didn't know if I was sure about medical school.
"You what? I thought… you said that… what happened to Stanford?" Carlisle choked out. Esme stood up and walked quickly to his side.
"Can we talk about this later?" I questioned without looking at either of them. I felt the sweat on the back of my neck and Bella's hand was suddenly gripping my thigh tightly.
"Don't worry, Edward, you have some time left, but I wouldn't wait too long to make that important decision. It really does determine the rest of your life." Charlie smirked at me, and I wanted to jump across the table and smack the smug look off of his face. "Thank you for dinner, Esme, Carlisle. It was wonderful. I hope to spend some time with you again soon. Bella, I expect you home in an hour," he stated as he stood and began to walk from the room. My parents both stood and followed him out, and I finally released my breath as I collapsed against my chair.
"I'm so sorry about that, Edward," Bella sighed as her arms wrapped around my shoulders from behind.
BPOV
"It's not your fault. I wasn't prepared. I just don't know if I want to go to medical school. I've been looking into a lot of things. I love science and everything, but I just want to be… me. I want to be Edward Cullen. I don't want to be known as Carlisle Cullen's son. This is about identity to me. I just hope they understand," Edward sighed to me. I smiled at him and pressed a kiss to his temple.
"Your parents are great people. I'm sure that as long as you are happy, they will be proud of you," I tried to sooth him but the sarcastic eye roll and grunt he gave me let me know that I was way off base.
"Yeah, in a perfect world that would be so. My dad nearly had a heart attack when I told him I didn't know what I wanted to do." Edward stood up and wrapped his arms around my waist. I ran my fingers gently through his hair.
"He was just shocked, that's all," I tried again, but he shook his head, effectively ending the conversation.
My father's opinion of Edward didn't change much over the summer; in fact, the more time I spent with Edward, the more he hated him. He loved Rose though. When Alice came over for a week she brought her brother Emmett along, and Rosalie said it was love at first sight. I swear her jaw dropped to the floor when Alice's teddy bear of a brother knocked on my bedroom door while Rose's hair was in curlers, her face covered in a green mask and cotton balls between her toes.
"What the hell, Bella! That's so cruel! Why didn't you tell me he was fucking hot?" Rosalie screeched at me. I grinned at her as Alice faked a gag.
"That's my brother… ewww." She played it up with a fake shiver and went back to painting Rose's toenails.
"I thought you had a thing for Edward. Didn't think you'd be interested, honestly," I replied as I tried to hide my smile from her. Rosalie's eyes narrowed before she spoke.
"Edward is dog shit compared to that hunk of man out there. I swear to you Bella, I will make him mine before this week is out." Her voice was calculating, and her whole face scrunched up as she contemplated.
"Damn it, Rose, do you want to start over? Stop moving your face and quit talking before the mask dries!" Alice chastised her. I took my place on the bed and giggled at the scene before me.
Alice and Rosalie got along great, just like I knew they would. The makeover for Rose went better than I had planned. Alice took her shopping and bought her an entire new wardrobe along with getting her hair styled professionally. The basic blond hair that Rose usually tied up was left to fly with its new layers and subtle highlights. Her big blue eyes were enhanced by contacts and her clear skin was immaculate with the barest amount of make-up. Every outfit Alice picked out fit her with an unbearable amount of perfection. I loved the new, confident Rose.
Suffice it to say that Emmett was one lucky man who kissed the ground that Rose walked on when she walked into my house that next morning. I don't think he had spent more than ten minutes while he was awake without talking to her or seeing her. It was ridiculously sweet, and I wanted to pat myself on the back for my matchmaking skills.
Alice approved of Edward immediately. They got along just as well as Emmett and Alice did. I was so relieved that my best friend approved. The day Emmett met Edward would always be solidified in my memories though. Edward had come over to pick up Alice and myself for a movie. Emmett opened the door, and I watched from behind him as Edward looked around to see if he had the right house.
"Um… is Bella home?" his voice squeaked out at the intimidation of seeing a guy as big as Emmett for the first time.
"Who the hell is asking? I don't remember my sister mentioning your punk ass," Emmett roared out. I held back my giggle as I listened to the exchange from the hall.
"I'm… Edward… I'm taking her and Alice out with my friend Jasper," Edward's meek voice filtered in. I could hear the confusion in his voice. He knew I was an only child.
"You think that I'm going to let you take both my little sisters out? You're fucking nuts!" Emmett cried out. I couldn't help the giggle that burst through my mouth, and Alice quickly slapped her hand over my face.
"Bella never mentioned siblings… Alice is her sister? I thought they were friends?" the confusion was mounting for Edward as he stood on the porch.
"Maybe not by blood, but they are by everything that matters. I swear to you, Eddie, if you hurt Bella, I will snap your neck," Emmett's voice was calming and friendly as he gestured for Edward to enter the house. I popped out of the hall and ran to give Edward a hug.
"Sorry about that; he insisted upon it. This is Emmett. Don't let his size intimidate you 'cause he's really just a big teddy bear." I smiled up at Emmett as I spoke, and he winked at me before he walked back into the living room where Rose was already stretched out on the couch.
"Damn it, Bella, that was fucking scary! I thought I was going to get crushed on your front porch!" Edward whispered harshly until both Alice and I were laughing so hard tears rolled down our cheeks.
That night, Alice met Jasper, and it was absolute chaos. Alice looked out the car window and saw the tall blonde-haired, blue-eyed god of a guy and began to hyperventilate. She yanked out her compact and began to primp herself immediately. I had never seen her act that way around a guy. The second the door opened though, her panic attack disappear and she was relaxed and calm. It was ridiculous. That night, she jumped my case about not warning her.
"He was like a god, Bella! You could have told me I was going out with the sexiest man alive!" Alice whined as we collapsed on my bed.
"Sorry, I don't agree with that statement; I'm biased." I giggled, and she glared back at me.
"You know what I mean. That is like my dream guy. He is all man, and I want him. Why does he have to life in Forks, WA?" she dramatically sighed and rolled onto her side.
"If it makes you feel any better, he was staring at you all night," I tried to fix my blunder of not warning her. She rolled her eyes at my attempt and smacked my arm.
"Staring isn't always a positive thing," she groaned pathetically. I smiled up at my ceiling and gave myself another pat on the back for matching people up. Jasper had cornered me and asked me all about Alice, but I wasn't about to tell her that yet.
Alice and Emmett didn't go home at the end of the week. I think Charlie was relieved by that fact. He loved that I wasn't alone and that Emmett was huge so he thought Edward was terrified of him, but Charlie didn't know that Edward and Emmett got along very well. Alice and Jasper were still skirting around each other, and I had to roll my eyes at both of them. We were all six gathered in Edward's basement watching movies when they finally acknowledged their mutual attractions.
"God, who picked this movie? Really guys… it's so cheesy," Rosalie complained as she curled herself further into Emmett's side. I grinned at her as her face flamed red and her eyes narrowed in warning.
"You picked it, Rose," Emmett laughed heartily. Edward turned a wide-eyed stare at Emmett waiting for an outburst from Rosalie, but was floored when nothing came.
"Wow, Em, I have to give you credit. You tamed the wild beast." Edward smirked over at the couple, and I choked back my laugh as Rosalie's eyebrows shot up into her hairline.
"Beast? What the fuck, Edward? You are a fucking prick!" Rose huffed out with her arms crossed over her chest and her bottom lips sticking out in a sultry pout.
"You're no beast, Rosie," Emmett's soft response brought a gentle smile to Rosalie's face. All of her features softened as she looked up at Emmett.
"I'm going for a popcorn refill, anyone else need some?" Alice asked suddenly. I could see her nervousness as she shuffled her feet and picked at her shirt hem.
"YES!" the room chorused out to her as she started to walk out. Jasper popped up from the recliner he had be sitting in and followed Alice into the kitchen.
"I'll help you. That's a lot of popcorn to bring out by yourself." He smiled shyly at her. Edward rolled his eyes at him before tightening his grip on my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder.
"Bet you they're in there making out like two dogs in heat," he whispered in my ear.
"Alice would never do that! You're on. What are your terms?" I whispered back to him. Edward's smile was sly and made me kind of nervous.
"If I win, I want you over here this weekend. Tell your dad you're staying at Rose's house. My parents are going to Chicago for the weekend. Please, Bella?" Edward whined as he bit my ear. I nodded my acceptance. I had been avoiding being 100% alone with him because I was terrified that if we had sex… he wouldn't like it.
"If I win, then I want you to go fishing with me and my dad next weekend," I whispered back evilly. I knew he would hate those terms, but I couldn't help it. I really wanted my dad to like him. It seemed like our relationship was instantaneous. I hadn't expressed my feelings because I didn't want it to hurt when I left. If we had sex, it would screw everything up. It would kill me to give so much to him just to leave him behind.
"I'm not scared because I know Jasper, and I know for a fact that I'm winning this bet." Edward stood up and set me on my feet. We both snuck toward the kitchen receiving awkward looks from Rosalie and Emmett to which we responded with quiet signals.
I leaned around the corner to peak into the kitchen and my jaw hit the floor. Jasper had Alice pressed against the refrigerator with his hands down the back of her pants squeezing her ass with her legs wrapped around his waist as Alice let out a soft moan. Alice was grinding herself against Jasper as their mouths met in a violent round of kisses. A small moan escaped from Alice again just as her eyes opened and she looked directly at me. I burst into laughter as Edward peaked into the room.
Alice gasped and shoved back from Jasper as she dropped her legs. Jasper stared at her in shock before following her gaze to see Edward and me in a pile at the door laughing our asses off. My stomach hurt from laughing at the two of them.
"I knew it!" Edward cried out when he caught his breath. Jasper glared at him as he grabbed for Alice's hand, but she jerked it out of his reach.
"Ahh… Ali, don't be a prude! I knew you wanted him, and I'm honestly surprised it took the two of you this damn long to act on your attractions," I giggled. Alice stomped out of the kitchen and into the bathroom before Jasper turned on the two of us on the floor.
"You two are fucking assholes! Seriously… she's shy as it is, and now I'll NEVER get her to kiss me again!" Jasper growled out.
"Oh, she'll kiss you again, and she is NOT that shy. She was just nervous you wouldn't want her, and she was a little worried that you live so far away." I sighed as I caught my breath. Jasper finally let a smile grace his lips before he leaned back against the counter.
"So, was it worth waiting for?" Edward asked. This had apparently been a topic of conversation for the two of them prior to that day.
"I would have waited lifetimes for that kind of kiss. You have no idea… I'm going to go check on her, though," Jasper spoke in a dreamy voice as he left the kitchen.
"Pack light, Bella; you won't need much for this weekend." Edward grinned down at me before pressing a kiss to my lips.
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