Chapter 7: Originally Chapters 28 p.2- 33
On the walk home the brisk air kept my mind from wandering too much and I made a point to get home in record time without wiping out. I was feeling pretty invigorated and decided I would go home, grab my waterproof iPod and hit the gym at Dartmouth. Who else would be doing that the morning after Thanksgiving? I should have my choice of machines and I won't need to share a swimming lane and my day was getting brighter and brighter by the minute.
I dumped my sleepover bag on the living room coffee table, made up a quick gym bag and then strolled over to the gym on campus. I swiped in with my student Id; waking up the poor kid who got this shift and looked honestly dumbstruck that another human was in the building. I smiled brightly at him because that meant I was right about the place being empty.
The women's locker room was recently cleaned and had huge lockers that easily fit all of my stuff. I changed into a sporty one piece and tossed a lock on to the locker. Then I jumped in the shower to rinse off my body and wet my hair, slicked on a swim cap and strode out to the pool deck. I saw some ripples in the water and upon closer inspection noticed two people swimming in the 50 meter Olympic sized pool, but there was 8 lanes so I was still happy and hopped into one of the middle lanes.
The lifeguard on duty had her eyes fixed on a TV that was being played in front of some of the aerobic machines. The room of machines could be seen through big windows along the length of the pool. Her lack of attention was not appreciated, but I could understand how boring that job must be.
I hopped into the clear water, set my iPod into my ears, tucking the extra cord under my swim cap and started an easy warm up. Salt n Peppa's Push it was flowing through the little speakers and I getting lost in the music and the feel of the water running over my skin and around my muscles.
I have a secret habit that makes swimming laps even more enjoyable and that is to spray on perfume before swimming. I squirt a wrist, rub them together, and then rub my wrists onto my neck. Then during the entire swim instead of harsh chlorine or kiddy pee overwhelming my senses I smell a hint of orange blossoms and gardenia and it is paradise.
Once the warm up ends, I take it to the next level, using flip turns and make it my goal to swim at least one mile, that should take me about 25 minutes depending on quality of the swim.
My arms were cutting through the water, DMB "Shake me like a monkey" was playing and I was in my element. I noticed by the time I had swum 1000 meters that I was the only one in the pool and the lifeguard was asleep. Seriously? No matter how boring her task, she should have brought a coffee or a 5-hour or stood up out of her damn chair, no one is paid to sleep, especially not lifeguards.
I pushed my muscles a little harder focusing on pulling the water down past my body and kicking my legs from my hips. Sandstorm was playing now and I was trying to match my strokes to the beat and was flying through the laps.
I did not feel the need to stop once I hit one mile, but I switched to butterfly because that is the most tiresome and I wanted to get as much out of my swim as I could before deciding what machines I would use after I was done swimming.
Zombie Nation came on and I sang the notes while I exhaled under water. The big stroke was getting to me, but I felt weird doing less than 100 meters at least. The song was still playing and I felt like I could keep going after the 100 meters was up. I started my next 50, promising myself I would switch strokes once I finished this 50 and pushed hard off of the wall.
Then I felt a sharp stitch in my side. Like I had been stabbed. I tried to swim through it but the pain doubled in intensity. I abruptly stopped the butterfly stroke and started to tread water. I was dead center in the middle of the pool. The sides of the pool were the closest way to an exit to dry land. Did I really need to side exit? I was debating with myself; it was almost an out of body experience.
I used to swim competitively until I moved to Forks and the high school didn't have a swim team and Charlie didn't want to have to drive me down to Port Angelos for swim team 5 days a week. I put swimming back into my routine when I was in undergrad and found a group of other students who would join me on weekdays with odd numbers and loved it. So I don't understand why my body is hurting so much right now.
I tried kicked my legs a few more times and the pain was so strong it brought tears to my eyes and my goggles got wet on the inside. I started to panic. I need to get out now. I dunked under water to swim under the lane lines and get to the side of the pool. I tried not to kick my legs but just use my arms to pull through the water.
The motion of bringing my arms above my head had the effect of stretching out my side which sent another wave of blinding pain. I gasped out of instinct. But I was underwater. I started to cough and tried to bring myself back to the surface of the water but the sharp cramps were so intense and horrific that it seemed like my body was denying my frantic attempts to move my legs or arms.
Terror.
Sheer terror and panic.
What do I do? How does this situation resolve its self?
Tears.
There was more water above my head now then just a few seconds ago. I mentally berated myself to swim. Go go go go, swimmmm.
What the fuck?
I screamed underwater and before I knew what I was doing I took one big deep breath in.
. beep...
...beep...
. beep..
I woke up.
That was a dream, a horrible dream.
I felt freezing cold and wet and naked. I was involuntarily moving around and my solid nipples were bouncing. Something sturdy was on my face and the air was extra squeaky-clean smelling. I took in more of my surroundings and there were two EMTs hovering over me inside of an ambulance.
They had cut off my bathing suit. I had two sticky pads attached to my body. Their eyes flooded in relief. I shuddered. My throat felt raw, my head felt heavy, my eyes were full of fear. I knew a thing or two about defibrillators. It meant that my heart had stopped beating. It meant that someone tried to do CPR on me and I probably had a broken rib. I felt sick to my stomach. I felt boiling hot tears leak out the sides of my eyes.
The beeps continued and I realized it was a monitor that was keeping pace with my heart.
"Miss, my name is Colin I am an EMT, you were pulled from a pool and had to be resuscitated by administering CPR. We are bringing you to the hospital now. You were only missing a pulse for about a minute, but just now regained consciousness. A doctor will be able to check you over in a few minutes. It will probably hurt your lungs to speak but if you understand what I just said will you please blink your eyes twice."
I could not shake the fear out of my system. I blinked twice.
My heart stopped? It took a minute for that to settle in. My heart stopped.
And now I am naked in the back of a hospital bound truck.
My lungs burned with fire but I spoke up. "Will you please cover my tits?" No sense in being cold and humiliated if I am getting a second chance at life.
The EMT Colin and his unnamed comrade smiled a little at each other and the unnamed EMT pulled out a blanket that looked like it was made of tinfoil. "Now that you are revived, I think you deserve to be warmed up." He smiled at me but looked slightly disappointed to see the blanket cover my nipples.
A creeper EMT, really? The world is not a safe place. Why do I want to do criminal defense work? Sigh.
The ambulance pulled into the hospital smoothly and the EMTs kept me on a stroller and rolled me into the ER. A doctor was waiting for me and quickly directed the cart into a room barking questions at the EMTs and at me.
"My name is Dr. Gerandy, what is your full name?"
"Isabella Clumsy Swan"... Oh shit... no no that's not right. I blushed " I mean, sorry, it's Isabella Marie Swan".
The doctors eyes softened and it looked like he was trying not to smile and joke with me, but he continued on asking questions. "DOB?"
"September 13, 1991" my voice was scruffy and painful but the questions just kept coming.
"Do you know today's date?"
"Yes, November 23, 2012." We got through the basics and then he asked for a contact number for any loved ones.
"Um.. My phone, did anyone bring it?" The doctor looked to the EMTs who shook their head no. "Crap, all of my contact numbers are saved in my phone... My dad lives in Washington State, I have our home phone memorized, but he doesn't use that phone and his work cell phone number is always changing." My mom always called me from pay phones because she wasn't responsible enough to keep a phone on her person, but I didn't want to have to explain that to the doctor. Regardless I don't call her, she calls me.
The Doctor nodded solemnly. "Kids are always saying that to me these days. It's a shame honestly but I will have one of the nurses try your father's number and we will go from there. The EMTs told me what the lifeguard said happened. I am going to do some x-rays and run some tests. Do you remember what happened before you went underwater?"
"Sure, I had a really bad cramp in my belly or side that hurt to kick my legs or use my arms and I started to panic and I tried to swim under the lane lines to get out of the pool and was not successful." I felt stupid. I guess I have heard of good swimmers who have needed rescue after cramping up but I thought they must have pushed way too hard, I barely deviated from my normal routine.
Dr. Gerandy just kept nodding and writing things down. "Does your side still hurt?"
I was lying flat on my back and tried to kick my legs and move my arms up, it didn't hurt like it did in the pool. "No, it's fine now."
He leaned over my body and took off the warming blanket. His cold hands pressed along my stomach and his eyebrows furrowed. "Well I was just going to do an X-ray to see if you had broken ribs, but I would rather do an MRI because I am a little concerned about this cramp you are mentioning. Is there any chance you are pregnant?"
My eyes widened momentarily and I laughed. "Not unless I am carrying the anti-Christ."
He smiled at me "Hang tight, the nurses will take you to the MRI and I will come back later and explain the results.
A few hours passed, tests were completed and I was lying in a lonely hospital room. I started to panic. This is going to ruin my study schedule for finals. I need to get the fuck out of here.
I rang the nurse. "I would like to be discharged now, I didn't drown so I should be alive and well enough to leave."
Her name was Victoria, "I understand sweetie, I will have the doctor check you over and give you the results of the tests you went through. If everything is okay I will get you the discharge papers." She promptly walked out of the room.
Dr. Gerandy came in holding my chart and MRI photos. "I hear you are trying to get discharged?" He smiled a little.
I nodded quickly.
"Well my dear, it looks like we are going to need to keep you here for a few days. You have appendicitis, I know you said your stomach feels better now, but your appendix has burst. Within the next 24 hours you will start feeling a different kind of pain that makes it very uncomfortable to walk or laugh. Your appendix broke open, probably when you were swimming. The condition is life threatening, so we need to operate right away." Dr. Gerandy finally stopped talking and looked up to see how I was taking this information.
I was shaking my head no in disbelief but I finally mumbled "Just do whatever needs to get done so that I can study for finals and won't fail out of law school my first semester." I felt some tears squeeze from the corners of my eyes in frustration.
"Yes, we will have you out of here in no time my dear, just stay positive. We are going to be prepping you for surgery." Two nurses flanked the side of Dr. Gerandy and removed the rest of my bathing suit then transferred me to different bed and put a little sheet over me.
Before long I was in the operating room, my stomach was covered in iodine so it was a creepy yellow color and a handsome man named Garrett promised I would wake up good as new and inserted a needed into the crevice of my elbow to administer the anesthesia.
I woke up in a white room with a curtain drawn around my bed. I had an IV in. They were giving me pain medication. I peeked under my johnny and saw that my ribs had been wrapped and I had a big bandage on my right side. I fell back asleep.
When I woke up again, Victoria was bringing in a small tray of food and propping my bed up slightly.
"Good morning Isabella, eat whatever you can so you can get your energy up and go ace those finals you keep chatting about in your sleep." Her dark brown eyes crinkled at the sides in amusement but the rest of her expression was solemn. "Dr. Gerandy will be in here in a few."
I stuck my spoon in some vanilla pudding and started eating, it was gross. So I stopped attempting to eat that and started popping little pieces of fresh orange into my mouth.
"Good morning my dear, we are going to keep you here for the rest of today and tomorrow to observe you. The surgery was a success and your appendix was removed so besides those two broken ribs which will cause you some discomfort- you will be back on your feet in no time." He actually sounded pretty chipper.
"Broken ribs? From the CPR?" I figured that would happen but I was really hoping for a different result.
"Yes, the administration of CPR tends to cause bruised or broken ribs, unfortunately yours broke. You will need to be wrapped up like this for a few weeks until they heal." Dr. Gerandy had removed the little sheet to show me what he was referring to.
I was so sad. I'm on the opposite side of the United States; no one knows I'm here. I look like Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry. I don't have any of my stuff to study for finals. My cell phone and house keys are in a locker at the gym.
And I feel stuck.
The doctor was still in the room, waiting for my response. "I understand. Is there anyway I can call the office at Dartmouth Law?"
"Yes of course, I will have a nurse look up the number and bring you a phone." He started leaving the room.
"Thanks Doctor Gerandy."
He nodded.
I was eventually brought a phone with a little post-it note containing Dartmouth law's number, but first I had to try my Dad.
I dialed my Dad's house phone number.
It rang, and kept ringing, and rang some more and he never picked up and the answering machine never started. I hung up frustrated.
Then dialed the number off of the post-it note.
"Hi, My name is Bella Swan, I'm a 1L here at Dartmouth. I'm at the hospital right now and don't have a way of contacting anyone. Is there any way I could get Billy Black's cell phone number from you? He is a friend of my father and should know how to get in touch with my family."
The secretary said she did not have that information at all because they were not supposed to give it out even though she wanted to in this instance. She sounded disappointed and said she only had office numbers and promptly transfered me to Professor Black's voicemail.
"Hi Billy, it's Bella Swan. I'm at the hospital but I don't have my cell or anything. When you get this could you tell my Dad that I am okay, I just have two broken ribs and had to get my appendix removed. Oh today is the day after Thanksgiving. I know you went home for the holidays but I am hoping you will still check you office voicemail. Okay send my love to everyone."
I hung up.
I was frustrated again but this isn't the end of the world. Once I get out of here I will just pick up where I left off.
I fell asleep and woke in time to be served dinner. The nurse who took my tray was named Irene. She looked at me full of concern.
"Isabella, you look a little warm..." she glanced over at the machines, I had an IV hooked up but nothing else. "Usually an IV causes an individuals body temperature to drop. I am going to have to take you temp."
She stuck a thermometer in my ear and I started giggling about the last time someone did that. Ah hot doctor Cullen.. a smile spread across my lips.
She misinterpreted my giggle, confusing it for insanity or something and concern tripled on her features.
"You have a slight fever at 100 degrees." Then she reached over and pulled my sheet down and lifted my johnny up, letting the fabric of the sheet settle over my hips.
She gently pulled my dressing off of my stomach. The stitches were grotesque and made my stomach twist in nausea.
"Shit" she mumbled.
Oh damn it. That is not what I want to hear any medical person say... I felt the fear rise up and put a chokehold on my voice.
"It's infected. The incision. I'm going to need to get a doctor in here and we will probably have to give you a shot of penicillin and we are going to have to keep you here a little longer until you body is strong enough to fight this on its own."
I just submitted. Letting the hospital staff poke and prod at my body. Praying that I would heal in time to study before finals.
EPOV:
I watched Bella walk away from me. Her small figure strode down the street with ease and confidence. I didn't like her walking by herself but I won't kid myself and pretend that I have any control over her.
Bella Swan is an enigma. By looks alone she is fragile and breathtaking and beautiful. Her personality is like fireworks and satire and infuriating. She is clever and caring and passionate. I have never met some one who drives me as crazy as she does.
I wanted to tell her not to walk home, that it would be safer for me to drive her. But on the few occasions I had the confidence to address her I always end up pissing her off or offending her in some way. So I watched her walk away from me and my heart did little nervous flips, like I was making the wrong decision. Again.
At least this weekend was a success. I was able to relax and be myself around her for the first time. Tanya was actually friendly to Bella and I was so grateful for that. I can see that all of us could be friends. I turned and walked back into Alice's house thinking about the fact that I would get to see Bella later today and I smiled to myself.
"Hey Tanya, think you will be ready to head out soon?" I called out to her from the living room. Alice had apparently pulled Tanya and Rose into her room to show her something from her closet.
"Yeah babe." She called back.
I saw Emmett and grabbed a glass of water and laid down on the couch in the living room.
"So the Tanyanator was on her best behavior last night, she seems to have changed her mission?" Emmett looked at me, his expression was a little unsure.
"Ah I guess. She is a huge bitch to everyone until she decides that they can be trusted around the people she loves. Usually by the time she trusts them, no one likes her. I guess you guys passed the test." I ran my hand through my hair and my other arm relaxed back over the couch.
"Edwardo- sorry about Rose and I basically hooking up with her last night, things got out of hand." He had the decency to look sheepish and sort of apologetic.
I spoke quietly to Emmett. "Well it's not like we are engaged yet. We gave each other free reign in college. Then when we would visit with her family or my family we would act exclusive. We both know I was exclusive and she wasn't. But she is not the one who asked to be in this relationship with me." I signed. My love life is a joke.
"I was hoping that going to the same law school would change things, but it hasn't. The more I see her the more I can tell she wants something different." I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. How did I get here?
"Why do you stay with her if you know she wants something else? You don't seem happy bro."
I glanced over at Emmett. "Fuck man, I told you why." Every time this came up my reasoning felt less and less legitimate and I was honestly sick of questioning myself, wondering if the last 6 years of my life were wasted on a shitty relationship.
He let it go.
A few minutes of awkward silence passed.
"So, Sleeping Bella is sexy as fuck, I was disappointed she didn't decide to join Rosie and I last night" He was wiggling his eyebrows.
I picked up the back couch cushion and hummed it at his face. "Isn't Rose enough for you? You asshole."
"Rose is more than enough for me Edwardo, we just like to share the love." He continued to wiggle his brows at me.
I gave him the middle finger and grumbled "Well don't share the love with her. She is different."
Finally, Tanya was ready to leave so we loaded up my car and I drove us back to her loft.
"Eddie, will you help me bring these things inside?"
"Sure Tanya." I grabbed the bags she left in my car and walked up to her place. She only lived a few streets down from Bella's place.
"I am going to take a quick shower. Care to join me big boy? I feel like I owe you after leaving you all hot and bothered last night.." Tanya purred.
I started thinking about Bella moaning my name, screaming out Edward in a voice that has been the star of my dreams. I can hear the fast sloshing sound of water coming from the shower head and moving against Bella's flawless skin. Then her coming out of the shower in that basically see through robe, and her nipples hardening and her skin flushing even more when she saw me. It took so much will power not to fuck her.
And now- I was rock hard.
Warning for those of you who don't want Edward to have sex with anyone other then Bella, keep scrolling until you see the next set of words between line dividers.
"Come on baby. Let me make it up to you, join me in there in 10 minutes after I wash the night off of me." She grabbed hold of my hard cock, thinking it was for her and I groaned.
I wasn't going to go in there but at the last second I decided my girlfriend did owe me from last night. I was still all excited from thoughts about Bella and I was going to pretend my pretty blonde girlfriend was the beautiful brunette who brings me to my knees every time I see her. This wasn't the first time I was going to pretend this.
I stripped down, entered the shower and pulled back the curtain. Water was covering Tanya's body dancing its way down her skin and to the drain. I ran my hands up her sides, holding her boobs and pinching her nipples. She kissed my mouth and turned us so that I would be under the direct spray of the water.
I washed my hair and soaped up my body as Tanya put some conditioner in her hair. I started rinsing all of the soap off of me and when the water ran clear Tanya was down on her knees with her hot mouth around my dick.
I held on to the shower wall and started thrusting into her mouth. She let me. She likes being "man handled". I wrapped my fingers into her hair and in plain language- fucked her mouth. The sensation was too much and when she started sucking in earnest I stopped seeing Tanya on her knees and started picturing Bella.
Beautiful Bella Swan who I have heard say on a two occasions how much she wants to suck my dick. Once when we were fighting in the library and once when she was high on flu medications. That girl drives me crazy. And at this moment I was pretending it was her sucking my dick. Groaning, I came into Tanya's willing mouth. Still, it wasn't enough so satisfy my urge to fuck Bella, I was rock solid and remained turned on.
I pulled Tanya up off of her knees and turned her around, pressing her breasts against the back shower wall. I pulled her hips back and pushed down her lower back so her round plump ass was raised up to me. I ran my hand down her crack to her wet pussy. I stuck my thumb into her pussy and felt how ready she was for me. I lined myself into her and kissed the back of her neck before thrusting in hard and fast.
She was moaning my name and rubbing her clit and I was imagining taking sweet Bella from behind like this. I was fucking Tanya so hard and was so lost in my imagination that her orgasm took me by complete surprise and its grip on my cock felt so good that I immediately pulled out so I wouldn't cum.
Instead, I rubbed my finger around her tight asshole and pushed my way in.
She took a sharp intake of breath. I then opened her ass up some more and replaced my finger with my cock shoving it up her ass as far as she would let me.
The water running down my body and off of my dick acted like lubricant as I continued to fuck her ass. She kept rubbing her clit. I knew it was wrong to be thinking about Bella while fucking Tanya but it had become second nature. How much I wanted to fuck Bella's tight looking ass. She was so beautiful.
Last night I wanted to give Bella anything and everything she could ask for but she reminded me that I wasn't available. So here I am now, fucking my pretty girlfriends ass because I am un-fucking- available and have been un-fucking-satiable since the day Bella's body collided with my back.
I came into Tanya's ass and out of guilt slipped my fingers into her slick pussy and pressed all of the right places until she was moaning again and came. I washed my dick again and stepped out of the shower while she cleaned herself off.
I got dressed and when Tanya emerged from the bathroom in a towel I gave her a peck on the lips and told her I would see her later and headed home.
Okay Edward's dick is in his pants. Read on.
As soon as I got home I started prepping my desk to study for finals. I had my notes out and decided now would be a good time to call Bella and see if I could drop them off.
I pulled open my phone and scrolled to the contacts and saw she had saved herself under Bella Clumsy Swan, which made me chuckle and made me hard because it reminded me of almost licking her pussy. Because she is clumsy, especially when she is turned on. I pressed send and waited.
"This is Bella Swan, after the beep leave a message and your number if I don't have it, and if you know it- the date. I will try to call back today. Thanks!" Even her voice makes me hard. Damn it. "Beeeep."
"Hey Bella, this is Edward Cullen. I was going to drop off my notes, it's about 2:30 pm. Call me back when you get this." I hung up.
I started working on my outlines, going over them and reducing them into smaller outlines. The clock was showing 7 pm. I thought I should probably try Bella again.
I dialed and it rang and she didn't pick up. Her voicemail started, I hung up.
My stomach rolled in unease but I continued with my studies.
10:30 PM I called again. No answer. I hung up.
I brushed my teeth and got ready for bed. Maybe I had offended her and she doesn't want to talk to me. I know we might have crossed the line after drinking so much last night. I sighed in frustration with myself and at my behavior when it comes to all things Bella. You would think I was raised by animals, everything she does gets me to respond in ways I didn't think were possible.
If she does hate me now that she is sober and has come to her senses then that is that. I guess I can't lose something I never had. As I slipped under the covers and reached to shut off the light I decided to let it go.
I will try calling her again in the morning.
I tried calling Bella yesterday and the day before, I have been texting her as well. She hasn't gotten back to me.
Now, I don't know her phone habits, maybe she doesn't pick up often. Maybe she doesn't want to speak with me, but she seemed intent on borrowing my notes. Her voicemail left me thinking that no matter what she would try to call back with 24 hours.
Something didn't feel right. The pit of my stomach twisted. Maybe she hates me after the stunt I pulled taking the shot off of her, or grabbing her in the kitchen. I shouldn't have done any of that, she probably doesn't want to face me, thinking I am some creep that cheats on his girlfriend.
I decided to call Rose and see if she wouldn't mind getting my notes to Bella. I know Bella hangs out at Alice's bar and if she is really trying to avoid me, then maybe getting someone neutral like Rose to give her my notes will show Bella that I am not a complete prick. That I can respect her need for space.
I dialed my cousin's cell number.
"Hey Rose, are you going to work at the bar today?"
"Oh Edward, I am doing great thank you for asking, how are you doing?" Rose sounded sarcastic over the phone and I rolled my eyes.
"I am doing well Rose, are you going into work today?" I chuckled.
"Yes yes," She responded in a bored tone "I am actually already here, my shift started an hour ago. Place is pretty empty. Why what's up?"
"I was wondering if I swung by there if you wouldn't mind giving Bella my notes from Con Law and Torts. She isn't answering my calls but I told her I would get them to her. I think it would be best if you could give them to her at the bar so that she doesn't have to deal with me if she is trying to avoid me." The disdain for myself was evident in my voice.
Rose was silent.
"I know I am a prick but please Rose?" I wasn't above begging.
"Edward, if she comes in today I will give them to her."
"If she comes in? I thought Bella was there every day?" Maybe Rose didn't know that, why do I know that?
"Well she hasn't been here, Alice and I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving. Let me ask Alice if she's talked to Bella recently, one sec."
Rose put her phone down and I heard her walking up some steps. I started feeling sick with worry my heart was clenching, like I just finished running suicides.
"Edward? This is Alice." Her voice had a tremor in it that left me on the edge of my seat. "I haven't seen Bella since she left my house, I have called her a few times and I expected to see her here but she hasn't gotten back to me. I was hoping she was just wrapped up in finals and forgot to charge her phone."
That was a possibility but I felt like we both knew that isn't the reason Bella has failed to return our calls.
"Edward would you go over there and check on her? I can't leave." She sounded desperate.
"Of course, I will call Rose back a little later once I know what the deal is." My voice sounded just as desperate and frantic and I shook my head and hung up the phone.
I grabbed the notes I wanted to give Bella and tossed on my winter jacket and started running out to the car.
My trusty Volvo pulled up to Bella's apartment complex in no time and I ran up the emergency stairs, not wanting to waste any more seconds waiting for the elevator.
"Bella? Bella it is Edward Cullen." I knocked on the door. There was no response.
I tried the knob and it was locked. I held my ear against the door and prayed to hear movement but there was dead silence.
I knocked harder "Bella! If you are home, please open the door." My voice was wavering.
Finally, I took in my surroundings and noticed a little slip of paper stuck into the side of her door. I pulled it out.
"Black Friday shopping extravaganza, today only, ends at 11:45 P.M. Bring this coupon for extra sales." My breath caught in my throat.
Today is Sunday.
Bella hasn't been in her apartment since at least Friday.
My ears started ringing and my head pounded and I remember how uncomfortable I felt watching Bella walk home from Alice's place. A pretty girl like Bella should not have walked home by herself. I knew that. I shouldn't have let her. I should have at least offered her a ride but I didn't want to get shot down. My pride got in the way.
Fuck!
I knocked again, as loudly as I could and yelled her name. Two neighbors stepped out into the hallway to look at me cautiously.
"Have you seen the girl who lives in this apartment?" I think my eyes were watering and dilated.
One girl fearfully shook her head no and quickly shut and locked her door.
The second person, a guy, seemed to take pity on me and responded, "Do you mean that cute brunette?"
I locked eyes with him. "Yes, her name is Bella, have you seen her in the last couple days?"
He shook his head, "Normally we get our mail at the same time and exchange pleasantries. I didn't see her Friday or yesterday. Mail isn't delivered today. I figured she must have gone home for the holiday."
I sighed, that wasn't what I wanted to hear. "She didn't go home for Thanksgiving, she was here." I didn't know what to do.
The guy looked like he felt bad for me. "My name is Seth. Why don't you give me your number and if she comes back I will tell her you were looking for her and I will give you a call that she is back."
I took the coupon and asked him for a pen then scrawled out my name and number. "Thanks Seth."
He nodded while taking the note then went back inside his apartment and shut the door.
I ran back down to my car and drove over to Alice's bar. I jogged inside, Rose was standing behind the bar and looked a little shocked at my arrival.
"Edward was she home?" Rose sounded concerned.
"No, where is Alice?" Rose pointed up and I sprinted up the stairs, I had never actually been up there before but I figured Alice wouldn't mind.
At the top of the steps I was surprised by the fancy little cafe and patio, but now was not the time to dwell on it. "Alice! Are you up here?"
"Coming!" She twirled out for a little kitchen door. "Oh Edward, did you see Bella?"
"No, is she here?" I started looking around, misunderstanding what she was really asking.
Alice had a scared look on her face "No."
"Have you talked to Jasper, has he seen her?"
She shook her head. "He has been staying with me since Thanksgiving but I just called him and he said he hasn't seen or spoken to her since she left my house Friday morning."
I mumbled, "fuck!" and we both exchanged a look.
"Alice, I am going to call the police. I feel like something is wrong."
Alice started to cry. "Okay call them." She sat down in a cafe chair and stared at the ceiling. Her elbows rested on the table and her hands were cupped over her mouth while tears spilled down her face.
I felt like I was going to start crying too.
"911 what is your emergency?"
"I would like to report a missing person, Bella Swan."
Alice spoke up "Isabella Marie Swan" and gave me a pointed look.
"Correction, Isabella Marie Swan."
The operator started asking me a series of questions and told me to come down to the station to fill out a missing person report. I hung up the phone, asked Alice for her and Jasper's phone numbers and told her I would be in touch as soon as I knew something. Then I ran to the police station.
The desk officer was nice enough to me and once he realized that Bella had been missing for 48 hours he sent out an alert over the national database per office policy. Then he sent me back to Detective Aro Volturi, who said that the first steps were to check all of the local hospitals and morgues and see if she is there.
At the first mention of morgue I felt my face pale and my body went rigid. How could I have been so fucking stupid, calling her non stop without just going over to see if she was okay. Not driving her home in the first place.
The detective started placing some calls to the morgues in the area and my heart was lodged in my throat.
"Oh? You do have a Jane Doe?" Aro glanced at me sideways. "Mr. Cullen, how tall did you say Ms. Swan was?"
I wanted to cry when the detective used the word "was" but I managed to respond. "She is about 5'4."
He turned to face me, "do you know if she had a tattoo on her inner thigh?"
My eyes lifted in joy realizing that I knew the answer to this and that the Jane Doe lying in the morgue wasn't my Bella. "No, no she definitely does not."
I exhaled a big breath that I didn't know I was holding, in relief.
The detective gave me an assessing look and told the medical examiner that he would be in touch but the Jane Doe was not the missing girl he was looking for.
He continued his search and called the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, the closest hospital to where we were.
Carlisle works there part time but he cashed in his vacation hours to go celebrate his anniversary with Esme and the Hales and won't be back at the hospital until after New Years.
"I am looking for a missing girl by the name of Isabella Marie Swan, she has been missing since Friday, could you check your records and see if she is a patient there?"
We were put on hold.
Aro didn't look at me this time just starred at the phone. I took his cue my eyes focused on the phone, willing the person to return with good news.
It wasn't long before someone took the call off hold and Aro quickly responded. "Oh I see, great. Thank you."
Now I was impatiently waiting for the detective to confirm Bella's whereabouts or not.
"Mr. Cullen, we seem to have found Ms. Swan, she is at the hospital and is in stable condition. Would you like to come with me to go see her?" The detective walked around me and patted me on the back.
I didn't realize until that moment that I was quietly crying.
I was so relieved that she was okay, in stable condition, but I felt such guilt for not doing something sooner. I felt like I should have been more aware of her and for some indescribable reason I felt like her well being was the most important thing in the world.
The detective's phone started ringing and he held his hand up to tell me to wait. It was another medical examiner at a coroner's office in Maine saying they had a Jane Doe that matched Bella's description to a tee. I wanted to vomit even though I knew my Bella was okay.
What if that had been her up in Maine, her dead body caught in the wide nets cast by local fishermen into the dangerous ocean waters. A chill went down my spine and I felt like my feet were glued to the floor.
The detective thanked the M.E. and explained that the missing girl had been found and hung up the phone.
It rang again. Even though I knew Bella was okay, these phone calls, the constant ringing felt like absolute torture, like a level of hell designed specifically to cause me pain. Every time the phone rang I would have to imagine another devastating situation that resulted in the death of Bella Swan and it was a direct punch in my gut that took my breath away.
I wanted to run from the room but found that I was eavesdropping on the detectives conversation again. I must be a fucking masochist.
"Chief Swan, I am sorry you found out about your daughter via the national alter system but I have good news for you. I just located her in a nearby hospital and she is in stable condition. I am on my way to the hospital now along with the gentleman who put out the alert. We were about to go see how she is doing." The detective looked at me and nodded.
"He would like to speak with you." Aro handed his office phone over to me.
"Hello?" I stated unsure, my voice sounded like someone who had just cried for days.
"What is your name son?" A gruff voice questioned.
"Edward Cullen, Sir."
"Edward..." I heard some sniffles on the other line. " Thank you so much for getting the police involved to find my baby girl." More sniffles. "I am going to get on the first flight out there. Will you go see her at the hospital and tell her I am on my way? Tell her Charlie, her old man, will be there as soon as he can."
My heart broke for him; I could hear how upset he was and how much he loved his little girl.
"Of course sir, I will tell her that as soon as I see her."
"Call me Charlie. I look forward to meeting you. Thank you again, so much." He sucked in a deep breath and then sobbed out one more "Thank you" and hung up the phone.
I put the phone back down and thought about her poor father, how devastating it would have been to lose Bella.
The detective shook me out of my thoughts.
"You ready to go see your girl?"
I smiled at him and nodded and didn't bother to correct him.
BPOV
My body hurts. This stupid infection is keeping me in the hospital longer than necessary and lying in the same position is causing me to be stir crazy.
How am I going to get out of here once they do discharge me? Do they have pity taxi ride to drop me off back into the real world?
The reality check that I am all by myself in this secluded state of New Hampshire keeps washing over me and making miss Forks, the little town that embraced me after moving there when I was already in high school. I couldn't step outside without some friendly face asking how I was doing. During the numerous trips I made to the hospital while I was there I was always surrounded my people who would come check on me and see if I needed something. Usually I had broken some bone while trying to be active like a normal child so I didn't need anything but the offer was there.
Support was there. Back in Washington State.
Not here.
I felt the pressure build behind my eyes and I started crying.
I miss home.
I really like the people I have met here so far; Alice and Jasper are my favorite. Rose and Emmett are great. Even Edward Cullen has drawn me in. But their absence right now hasn't gone unnoticed.
Maybe I should transfer to UDub Law.
The thought made me even more upset. Leaving my dream school because I needed a security blanket of friends.
What is wrong with me that I haven't managed to find people that care about me? That know me so well that the first place they would check is the hospital if I don't return a call within 8 hours.
My friends from home knew. Even strangers knew- the doctors at the hospital had a long list a contacts for me and would call everyone on the list before I was finished filling out admission papers.
I crossed my forearms over my face and just cried. The door to my room was 9/10ths closed. No one was around. It was the perfect time to throw myself a pity party and just get it out of my system.
I sobbed, as much as my broken ribs would let me.
"Bella...?" A smooth familiar voice called to me, I left my arms above my face. "Oh Bella!"
I heard footsteps move swiftly to the side of my bed and a strong warm body leaned over me and hugged my upper torso with hands reaching up and gently squeezing my shoulders.
I pulled my arms off of my face and was so shocked to see Edward's handsome mug looking up at me from under my chin.
My heart started beating really fast and happy tears replaced my sad ones. Thank God the heart monitor wasn't attached to me or I would be dying of embarrassment at my absurd response to Edward Cullen.
"Edward, " My eyes met his. "You found me?" I was overwhelmed with feelings of joy that someone who actually knew me was in my room right now, and to be honest I was really excited that person was Edward.
He looked so happy hugging me and seemed to realize that I was injured and pulled his body off of mine.
"Yes Bella, we were so worried. I actually need to call Alice right this second and tell her where you are." He starts pulling out his cell phone. "I am so fucking happy we found you and that you are okay."
Edward didn't take his eyes off of me and started speaking quickly into his cell phone while assessing my body.
"Alice, hi.
She is at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, room 408.
I don't know yet.
Just get here as soon as you can.
Tell Rose and Jasper too.
Okay see you.
Yeah that's right, room 408.
Bye"
He looked relieved to be off of the phone now and turned his full attention to me, pushing some hair behind my ear.
"Edward..." I looked up at him shyly. "How did you know I would be here?"
He shook his hands through his own hair. "Fuck Bella, I didn't know. I have been trying to get in touch with you since you left Alice's place and finally I put everything together and realized you were missing." His eyes were bloodshot and glassy.
"I thought you died or were abducted. I shouldn't have let you walk home from Alice's your too beautiful..." His voice trailed off and sounded dark and angry.
I blushed a little that he called me beautiful, but quietly corrected him. "I got home just fine Edward. Nothing happened."
He ran his hand over my body that was still covered by a sheet. "Something happened Bella. Why are you here? Why didn't you return any of our calls?"
"My phone is locked in a gym locker. My appendix burst and I drowned... I had to be resuscitated." My eyes stung with tears again remembering how horrible that was. How painful and how helpless I felt.
"You had to be resuscitated..." Two little tears pulled out of his eyes and scurried down his cheeks. "May I?" He motioned to pulling down the sheet that covered my body.
I nodded.
He started to pull the sheet down but looked unsure when the johnny blocked his vision of my injuries. I stopped his hand and put the sheet over my waist and lifted up the johnny to show him the bandaged incision on my side.
He ran his fingers by my bellybutton. "Bella..." Then his eyebrows quirked and he started pushing the johnny up further until he saw that my chest was wrapped tightly and he gently ran his hand under my chest along the lowest wrapping. "They crushed you..." some angry emotions stormed in his eyes.
I shook my head in disagreement. "It's just two broken ribs. Who ever performed the CPR on me saved my life." I continued to watch the emotions play across his eyes.
He nodded and looked a little defeated. He was sitting on the edge of my bed and put his hand against my face. "I am so fucking happy I found you."
I smiled a little.
"Oh, Charlie told me he was going to get on the first flight out here. He is really worried."
Tears pooled in my eyes again. "You knew to contact Charlie?" I pulled Edward's hand to my mouth and kissed it.
"Edward, just before you came in, I was feeling so alone. So sad that no one here would find me, that no one knew me enough to know I was missing or to get in touch with my family." I sobbed a little because everything I was feeling was so intense I could basically taste it, desperation and relief all rolled into one.
"I was debating transferring..." I paused and sucked in a breath, then winced noticing how that hurt my lungs. "How did you find him, how did you know to look for me here?"
His expression was torn and unreadable. "You were going to transfer?"
I nodded.
He ran his hands through his hair again, his sex hair was getting to be a little absurd. "I reported you as a missing person, your name was put into the database and Charlie called the police station while I was still there. He loves you so much Bella."
Gasping, "Charlie found out through a database? That must of killed him..." Guilt washed over me. "He is getting too old to handle shocks like that."
Edward shook his head "You are lying in a hospital bed after being brought back to life and you are worried about how your father found out you were missing?" He laughed in disbelief. "You are different, Bella, special."
He smiled at me. "Charlie knows you are okay, he sounded very relieved on the phone. He will be here before you know it."
I pulled Edward's hand that I didn't realize I was still holding and bought his body down to mine; trying to give him the best hug that I could. Through my hug I was trying to express how grateful I was to see a familiar face, his face. With his ear near my mouth I sighed "Thank you Edward" then pulled my head back and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
He smiled at me and let me go.
"Bella!"
My head turned to the door and Alice and Jasper came into the room.
My eyes filled with happy tears again and at the sight of me crying and my johnny pulled up exposing my injuries, Alice started to sob.
"What happened, why didn't you call us, are you okay?" she shot off questions like they had been running through her mind for hours.
They each wrapped me in a soft hug and I explained everything that had happened. I forgot about the pain coursing through my body as my heart pushed feelings of love and appreciation for these three through my entire system.
"I love you guys" I smiled.
Alice and Jasper repeated "We love you Bella," with beaming smiles on their faces.
Edward looked at me with a smile but also had another emotion playing in his eyes something that looked like regret and desire.
Detective Volturi entered my room after having met with some of the hospital staff, he wanted to speak with me in order to finish up his report.
"Edward, thank you for reporting Ms. Swan's disappearance so we were able to get this mystery resolved quickly. It looks like the staff wasn't sure what was going to happen if no one was here to pick her up after discharging her. I will write this up as a successfully closed case and be on my way." Aro shook Edward's hand then looked over to me.
"Ms. Swan next time avoid swimming when you are going to have an organ burst." The old detective jested.
"And starting today I am ordering you to memorize the phone numbers of everyone here in the room right now. Specifically your boyfriend, Edward. If I see him in tears in my office again because you didn't call and let him know where you were I am going to presume you actually did die because no one would willingly put this boy through that amount of stress twice. Surely a sweet girl like you wouldn't." He stuck his hand out for me to shake. "Deal?"
I glanced over at Edward, surprised to hear how hard he took it that I might be missing and I put my hand in the detective's and gave it a hard shake "Deal."
Edward looked a little uncomfortable and shifted in his seat.
Detective Volturi made his exit.
"So Edward, I didn't realize you and Bella were boyfriend and girlfriend." Jasper called Edward out.
Edward mumbled in response. "The detective made an assumption that I didn't bother to clear up."
I smiled a little at Edward's discomfort. "Jazz leave him alone, it's not a big deal. Everyone in this room knows that Edward loves Tanya and Tanya loves Edward." I reached my hand out and patted Edward on the arm reassuringly.
Edward didn't meet my eyes.
"Okay.. Bella! When can you go home? You should come home with me so that you have someone looking over you until you are completely recovered." Alice tried to redirect the conversation, glancing wearily in Edward's direction.
"I think I can leave tomorrow as long as I don't catch another fever or infection. But if Charlie is coming I should probably just go back to my apartment so he can stay with me."
Alice looked disappointed. "Well after Charlie leaves then come stay with me?"
I started laughing a little. "Yeah maybe, but pretty soon I will be back in Forks for winter break."
Alice took the news hard and Jasper didn't want her to be upset. "Do any of you need any thing to eat, snacks? Bella, you should pick a movie that we can all watch so you can just relax and we can all hang out. "
"Okay, and for snacks...I would really love a hot cocoa. And a banana. And a grilled cheese sandwich...is that pushing it?" I was hungry. Hospital food sucks.
"I will see what I can do."
"Jasper, would you mind grabbing me a cup of coffee? I need that more than air right now." Edward stated, his crooked smile starting to rise.
Alice asked for hot cocoa and sweedish fish, then offered to go with Jasper to help him carry stuff. They left the room and it was just Edward and I who remained. The air was cackling with energy and it was making me fidget.
"Coffee more than air? You've started cramming for finals then?" I feared again how behind I must be getting.
Edward chuckled. "No not cramming yet, I had other things that kept me from getting sleep over the last two nights."
"Gross Edward, I don't need to hear about what goes on at night between you and Tanya." I scrunched my eyes shut in exaggerated disgust.
He looked confused. "What?" Then he realized where I went wrong. "Bella, the only thing that kept me from sleeping was because I was worried about you. I thought you weren't returning my calls because you were mad at me. Then I thought something had happened to you. The last 48 hours were torture."
He sighed and ran a shaky hand through his hair.
"I'm sorry." I meant that in many ways. Sorry for assuming. Sorry for making him worry. Sorry for taking away his sleep. Sorry for taking up time during finals.
"Don't be sorry, Bella. You had no control over any of this. I am sorry that we didn't get here sooner so that you didn't feel so alone." He spoke gently to me and his voice vibrated softly though my bones and I sighed.
"Thanks Edward." I smiled.
I realized that my outfit was still in disarray and pulled my johnny back down then snuggled under the sheets. I started flipping through the movies and ended up with Thor. "Gah this main actor is so sexy, we are totally watching this!"
Edward grumbled. "He is not so sexy..."
I side-glanced at him and scoffed "Just because you have a dick doesn't mean you can't admit to a hot male specimen when you see one."
Edward chuckled and took the remote from me. "You should be watching something relaxing." He started flipping through the channels and ended up with some paint by numbers guy who kept talking about what techniques viewers at home should use to achieve the same results.
"Leave me alone in the room for 15 minutes while Thor's on and I will be plenty relaxed." I winked.
Edward started chuckling. "So 15 minutes huh?"
I raised an eyebrow. What is he getting at?
He smirked at me. "I got you to cum in under 2 minutes during that body shot the other day."
I muttered under my breath "what do you expect when your fantasy comes to life?" then blushed.
"Bella did you just say that I was your fantasy…?" Edward's stare was making my girly parts tingle.
"No." I denied it. That was not exactly what I said...
He growled.
"Bella Swan. You drive me Nutcracker crazy. " Edward stated in a smooth and demanding voice that I will replay back in my dreams.
I glanced up at him unsure of how to respond in this climate that felt so full of sexual tension.
"I'm sorry?..." I was a little breathless still from hearing him growl. Yum. More please?
"I should probably get going before..." His sexy voice trailed off sending tingles up my spine. He didn't finish his sentence.
I waited. But I couldn't take it. I wanted to go there. "Before what?" I think I know what but… I am longer thinking with my mind, my vagina is now speaking on my behalf.
"Bella..." Edward growled my name as a warning to stop.
I feigned innocence "Yeah?"
He shook his head.
"Come on Edward, before what? What are you so afraid of?" I grabbed onto the edge of his sleeve's cuff between my thumb and pointer finger and tugged lightly on the stiff fabric.
"...before I make you cum again." His eyes are closed and his hands are clenched shut. "I need to get out of here before I act on any of the 100 ways of making you cum that have crossed my mind in the last 3 minutes." He stands up as if to head toward the door.
I can see his long strong dick straining against his pants as he stands. Holy shit, I have the undeniable urge to blow him. I run my tongue over my bottom lip and suck it in. Again my brain isn't functioning as it should.
He moans. "You are starring at my cock..."
I am caught. "I'm sorry..?" I repeated, what else can a girl say?
"Fuck. And you are biting on your lip like you are constantly doing when I look at you in class." He used his thumb to pull my lip free from my teeth but rested it on my bottom lip. "What is going on in that pretty head of yours when you are bitting on your pouty lip?"
He asked.
I answered.
Wordlessly.
I sneak my tongue out and circle the tip of his thumb before sucking his thumb into my mouth with a "pop". He groans and pushes his thumb into my mouth a little more and starts moving it in and out like very slow deliberate thrusts. I suck his thumb completely into my mouth and hum around it. He groans again but removes his thumb from my mouth and rubs it along my lips.
Time stands still. Electricity is shooting between us.
"I need to get some air."
"Edward you walk out that door and I will definitely be cumming to images of Thor in 10 minutes."
He looks angry and frustrated at that notion. He leans over me and speaks into my ear. "There is one thing I can give you that might change your mind..." A devilish smirk adorns his face.
I feel a wave of wetness rush between my thighs. I love his handsome smirk... sigh. I cross my fingers that he is going to replace his thumb with his cock, which I am sure is glorious and will taste as good as he smells. So I wait becoming more and more flushed.
He is still really close to me. I can see the stubble on his face that spread across his perfectly square jaw. Having his face this close to mine is almost too much for me to handle. I want to lick his jaw line and his bottom little puffy lip. Then bite his lips and have my way with him.
I moaned. "What can you give me Edward?"
He growled again and stood up to go to the door. He pulled out his notes from Torts and Con Law. "This is what I can give you right now." He looks frustrated and his whole body appears to be stiff.
I want to look grateful but I feel disappointed. My girly parts are waiving a white flag in surrender.
"Thank you Edward, for the notes." I try to sound genuine, because I am thankful. "Now if that is where this ends, will you please take your unwilling good conscience out into the hall and man the door for a minimum of 15 minutes. I need this room to be like Pompeii for a time, under complete lock down."
I place the notes on my bedside table and see that Edward was smirking down at me. He must think I am joking. Can't he see my back arching toward his touch despite my bruised ribs. See the perspiration that has broken out over my body. I am basically for panting for a release.
I give him a little wave of the wrist to step outside. His smirk disappears.
"Really Bella? You want me to stand guard while you touch yourself and get off?"
"Yes. I would have been fine if you didn't keep reminding me of bigger and better things. Now I am going to be all achy and frustrated until I handle the situation."
He glances at me again to check for jokes, but fuck it I am serious.
He sighs and walks out the door. It shuts with a resounding click.
15 minutes, 1 muscled Thor and 1 happy Bella later.
Edward taps lightly on the door.
"You can come in."
I am now resting my head on the pillow with my eyes closed.
"Hey Edward will you wake me up if Jazz and Ali return with some hot chocolate?"
"Bella... you are absolutely killing me. How do you expect me to be able to keep my hands off of you when I had to hear your quiet little gasps and whispers of moans for the last 15 minutes and now the room is perfumed with your arousal."
I feel his breath on my face, a inch from my lips.
"Were you really fucking your hand while thinking of Thor?"
I don't respond but I shiver at his possessiveness.
"Bella," His warm breath blows across my neck and whispers into my ear. "You have to tell me if it was images of Thor that made you come or if it was me, because a few times I could have sworn you were moaning my name again."
I answer simply "You didn't make me cum." He can take that anyway he wants. He doesn't need to know that he still plays a role in my fantasies.
I am sleepy. My priority now is to nap and eat so I ask him again, "Wake me for hot chocolate?" and let the sleepy feeling wash over me.
At some point I wake up and Edward is holding a Starbucks hot chocolate with whipped cream on top.
My eyes widen and I am immediately turned on again. Not because of the drink but because Edward had dipped the tip of his thumb into the whipped cream and is running his thumb around the crease in my lips before dipping it in just a little.
I wrap my tongue around his thumb to get off the whipped cream and nibble gently on the pad of his thumb before releasing it and softly kissing the tip and glancing up over at Edward to see his reaction.
His cock is in full salute but is suffocated by his pants and his eyes are glued to my mouth.
I peel my eyes away from him and address Jasper and Alice who are watching Thor now. "Thanks for the hot cocoa guys, it totally hits the spot."
"No problem Bella. I couldn't find you a grilled cheese so I got you some cheez-its, and here is you banana." Jasper walks over to me with a little bag. I take it from him and pull out the banana.
"Thank you!"
Jazz nodded.
I start to peal the banana and notice that Edward's eyes are trained on my mouth. So I nibble my way up the side of the banana and push it into my mouth pretty far before pulling out some and biting off a decent piece of it. I chew slowly and moan a little at the vibe of pure lust that Edward is sending my way.
I repeat my ministrations mock blowing the banana and Edward remains transfixed on my lips and tongue.
Now it is my turn to smile, if I couldn't get what I wanted then neither can he.
Give her something more Edward!
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