Take What You Want

Chapter 7

Word Prompt: Upset

Playlist: All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow

Dynamite by Taio Cruz

What You Waiting For by Gwen Stefani

Using his toes, Edward peels off his shoes, and his mother gives him a nasty look.

"Yes, Mom," he says, walking down the hall, opening a door and chucking them inside.

"Dinner will be in less than an hour. Ooh, Dad just pulled up. Meet him in the garage when you're ready."

"'K, but what about this one?" Edward points at me to explain who 'this one' is.

"Would you like to help me, Bella?"

"Um, sure."

Edward goes into his room while I join his mother in the kitchen.

"Esme, by the way," she says. "Just give me a sec, all right?"

I nod, and she disappears through a small door near their breakfast table – the garage, I think. When she returns she begins pulling vegetables from the refrigerator. "I told him to shorten their run; they won't be too long. Do you like stir fry?"

-TWYW-

I'm setting the table when loud, male laughter comes from the front room. I peek up, and Edward's dad – who's just as handsome (and stinky) as he is – takes a look at me, a look at Edward, and then smiles. "You must be Bella."

"Yeah."

"Carlisle. This dork's dad. You know Rose too, right?"

"Yeah, she was friends with my girlfriend, Alice."

"You have a girlfriend?" Carlisle's expression is giddy, if not down right flirtatious.

Oh, boy. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?

I try not to give him a bitchy look, but Edward's laughter tells me I've failed.

"I like her." Carlisle turns to Edward, clapping him on the back of his damp, pit-stained shirt. "Time to hit the showers, stinker."

"Yeah." Edward rubs the back of his neck, watching me as I finish setting the table.

"What?" I say, feeling judged.

"Nuthin'. I'mma shower."

"Good. You need to."

Esme chuckles as she enters the dining room. "I can see why he likes you."

"Mom—" Edward starts, but she cuts him off.

"Don't mom me. And clean up Bart's poop before you shower."

"Can't it wait? We have a guest."

"Like you've ever cared that we have a guest. Get your lazy butt out there."

"Yes, Mom." Edward walks past me and out the back door screaming, "Bart! Thanks for ruining my life!"

I laugh when Esme shakes her head. "Boy begged for that stupid mutt when he was ten. Swore he'd love it forever. Forever lasted two weeks. Doesn't help either that he's as lazy as they come. So smart, but lazy. I can't get him to do anything. I try, but . . ." She shrugs. "What's a mother to do?"

Carlisle comes to join us just as Edward runs down the hall to shower. "Hey, sugar momma," he says to his wife, wrapping his arms around her waist and placing his chin on her shoulder. "Should we embarrass Edward while he showers?"

"I think he embarrasses himself plenty. He doesn't really need help in that department," I say, filling water glasses with ice.

Esme and Carlisle laugh openly at their son in my presence. I'm kind of in love with them.

-TWYW-

When I get home from Edward's, I'm exhausted. My body aches from physical exertion. I lay down on my bed resting when the phone vibrates next to me.

"Hello?" I sound dead. I'm so tired.

"Hey, where've you been? Your mom said you went to get contacts, but then you disappeared for hours." Alice clicks her tongue impatiently over the phone.

"I'm sorry. I left my phone in the car. And I know I said we'd hang later, but Edward's mother dragged me into dinner, and I just couldn't—"

"You ate dinner with Edward?"

"Well, yeah. I actually cooked with his mom. He was out running with his dad, so she was like, 'wanna help?', and I was like, 'um, okay.' I thought it would be weird, but it wasn't."

"It wasn't weird eating dinner with Edward and his family?"

"No, it was fun. We played the Wii afterward. Did you know Edward's favorite game is Just Dance? Oh my gosh, you should, you—oh, I can't breath—" I go into hysterics, laughing at the memories of Edward twirling around in his living room. "You should – ho, gosh – see him dancing to Dynamite. He looks like he's throwing a fit."

"Well, well, well . . . I wondered, but now, now I know."

"You know what?"

"You're totally falling for him."

"What? I am not; we're friends. I know he likes me, but it's—I mean, I'm not—it's not like—"

"Not—hmm—what—you can't even form a sentence, you're so infatuated." Alice's tone tells me how stupid she thinks I am. Oh, well.

"I am not. He's fun. We have a good time together."

"How good a time?"

"Alice—"

"Okay, fine, don't admit it. Whatever. So can you help me with that math problem or what?"

"Yes, which one . . ."

-TWYW-

Friday proves to be interesting. I thought I would get some Jessica backlash since Edward spent dinner with me instead of her, but I don't. I wonder what he did to get out of that pickle. I figured she'd go berserk, but I also know he can be pretty persuasive when he wants to be. So who knows how he made it up to her. Frankly, I don't want to know. Not really.

What I do know, though, is today there is PDA galore from the couple. Honestly, I'm embarrassed for them. There's loads of kissing, Jessica sits on Edward anytime they're seated, and when they're not, she rides him. Piggyback, cradle, shoulders . . . you name it, she does it. It's too much, if you ask me.

However, as much as Jessica bugs me, I admire her freedom to do what she wants. She just goes for it. Kind of like Edward. Following their example, I decide I should do the same. So before the bell rings for the day, I've secured a date with Mike for Saturday night.

I plan the whole thing.

We picnic near the lake at the park and listen to a concert with local musicians. We have a good time, but I find my mind wandering to Edward. And embarrassingly enough, I laugh out loud and have to cover with a fake cough when I remember dancing with him to Gwen Stefani's What You Waiting For? He stopped doing the moves and started doing some booty slap dance. I can't stop thinking about how dumb he looked. His mother even came in the room taking a picture to immortalize the absurdity of it all.

When the concert's over we take a lap around the park.

"Do you come to these concerts often?" Mike asks.

"Mmm, I used to. My mom was obsessed with up and coming female artists, so we'd listen to whatever newbie was singing. My mom regrets not being able to say 'I knew Sheryl Crow when.'"

"Oh, I'm not sure who that is, but if your mom likes her, I'm sure she's great."

"Come on, you don't know . . . all I wanna do is have some fun?" I sing the words and worry immediately about my ability to do so.

"It's vaguely familiar. Is she brunette?"

"Yeah; she's very soulful. You'd love her."

"We'll have to listen to one of her songs together sometime."

"Okay."

Mike takes my hand, and we walk in silence, occasionally saying hi to passersby. There's loud laughter a ways off, and I watch as a couple rolls down a tall, grassy hill. I point them out and smile at Mike. "Looks like fun."

"They're gonna be itchy later," he says.

I frown and chew on my fingers. I wouldn't mind rolling down the hills with Mike. I feel a bit upset since he can't take a hint but decide to press on as a playground comes into view. "Come on! I'll race ya!" I run toward the slide, and Mike's behind me, keeping up easily.

I run straight up the slide, forgoing the stairs, and plummet back down once I'm at the top.

"You're gonna kill yourself, Bella."

"Oh, please. Kids do it everyday."

"And you're not a kid."

"I know. Come swing with me." I boldly grip Mike's hand, and we sit on the swings, keeping our clasped hands between us.

"Bella?"

"Yeah?"

"I know we've only been on a few dates, but I thought . . . well, I was wondering if you'd like to be my girlfriend?" His words are quiet but sure. He looks confident, and he should be. I like him. He's sweet.

"Your girlfriend?"

He nods, smiling.

I bite down on my lip. Is this really happening? "I'd love to."

"Can I—do you mind if I . . ." Mike leans in, and we have our first kiss on a swing set at the park.

And all I can think about is Edward.

By the time the kiss is over, I know Alice is right: I'm totally falling for him.

A/N: Thanks so much for everyone who reads, reviews, and pimps this story. I had a huge influx of readers because of word of mouth, which is equal parts awesome and scary. Take What You Want is fun to write, especially with Dirtyflirtward leading me by the hand, so it might get a little crazy around here. Sorry about that, but you know you love it anyway.