Bella and the Bum

By SDFreeze…Sandi

Chapter 8

Edward lives life on his own terms and meets a woman who needs to learn what life is really all about. They make a deal to spend a day in each other's world. Someone will have to change if they want a relationship, but each one is certain their way is best. Stephenie Meyer owns the Twilight Characters.

This story will deal with some mature themes with regard to abuse. If this is a trigger for you, you may want to read THE CUBE instead.


8
So here we are, two people with totally different values sparing innuendo with each other. I would take her to my mattress on the floor with my hole-filled quilt; she would take me to her bland condo on the seventeenth floor as long as I took off my shoes and got a manicure. If someone in the park asked me if this could work I would advise them to run.

Bella seemed to be thinking the exact same thing, because her hands slowly came back to the table and she began working on her small salad again. I decided to bring up my world to emphasize the differences. "Rose cuts hair," I blurted out. "It has been really helpful to a bunch of people on the street. I think the shelter should have a salon to help with self esteem."

Bella nodded and added, "Yeah, it would be great if the women could use their skills. We could have a cooking class and computer literacy."

"Lessons on how to budget and handle money," I added.

"This isn't going to be cheap," she said, to remind me who was paying.

"You can't put a price on rebuilding someone's spirit," I said and Bella laughed.

"Sure you can, my spirit cost me close to two hundred thousand in student loans to go to law school."

"Seriously?" I asked, realizing I never considered the fact she had to pay for it all herself.

"Yeah, you would think education would be free and jail should cost you money," she said with disgust.

I suddenly had an idea. We would see just how willing Alice Brandon was to offer state help in the way of scholarships for the women who needed an education or some sort of marketable skills. I told Bella my idea and promised to set up a meeting at my apartment with Alice. Bella immediately offered hers, but I refused. Alice had been to my place before and I wasn't ashamed of it.

Since we were on the subject of Alice we decided to drive over to the address she gave us. It was close to the city in an older neighborhood filled with large spacious houses. The lawn was huge and Bella mentioned something about a security gate for the driveway.

We walked around the place and found a window slightly open, so I climbed in and opened the door for Bella. "This is perfect," she gasped and I noticed the design would be easy to add onto. We could put in a small salon and some learning centers.

We entered the kitchen and a small drip was coming from the faucet. Bella walked over and tried to make it stop. I noticed her hands were shaking so I reached out and took it into mine. I didn't speak and eventually she did. "He choked me with a hand towel because the sink was dripping," she said softly.

I pulled her fingers to my lips and kissed them tenderly. "I'm sorry," I offered, knowing it meant nothing.

"Why do men feel the need to overpower us? Is there something about being stronger that propels you to make us understand you have the upper hand?" she asked me.

"I don't know how to answer that," I admitted, because I never had the urge to hurt a woman and I had no idea how any man could think that way.

She pulled her hands from my hold and let them snake around my wait. I pulled her to me and she rested her cheek on my chest. This was what she needed, a man to make her feel safe. Jake was taking advantage of her need and it angered me even more as I held her in my arms.

"How old are you Bella?" I asked her.

"Twenty-eight."

"When's your birthday?" I asked further.

She hesitated and finally said with a chuckle, "Okay, almost twenty-nine."

"Really?" I asked and pulled back to see her face. "When?"

"September 13th," she groaned and I began making plans in my head. My gift wouldn't be something expensive, but it would be an experience for her to cherish. ..If we could remain friends for two more weeks.

"I better get back to the office," she said.

I made sure the open window was shut and we locked the door before leaving. When we returned to her place it didn't seem so stuffy anymore. We called Alice and made an appointment with her. She promised to bring Jasper with her and right when we hung up Jake walked in.

"I think we found a place for the shelter," Bella said proudly. "Senator Brandon is on board also, she suggested the place."

"I'll need you to work late tonight," he said without commenting on her announcement. He glanced at me and said, "I have some briefs I need you to go over."

Bella looked mortified and I had to swallow down the bile I felt at such a rude comment in front of me. I tried, I really did, to keep my mouth shut, but my stubborn, spoiled nature won out. "Why don't you take them off and she'll look them over right now."

"Edward," Bella said harshly.

"I thought you were Rob?" Jake said too quickly.

"Yeah, I thought you were married," I added snidely. Poor Bella was stuck between our pissing contest, but I was sure to win, I mean I pulled out the wild card, his wife. Jake looked like he wanted to pummel me, and by his size it would have been an easy task, but I didn't back down. "I don't think Bella will be 'working late' anymore," I said, and even added the air quotes with my fingers.

"Exactly who are you?" Jake asked in anger.

"I'm Edward Cullen," I said and saw the light bulb go off in his head, "Bella's new friend." I didn't have the courage to add anything more than friend to my title. It wasn't respectful of Bella's situation to insinuate myself any further. But she didn't have a problem with it.

"Jake, I'm seeing Edward now. We are trying to take our relationship to the next level, so I won't be working late tonight," she said boldly. I looked at her face to see if she was saying something she hoped would happen. Just like a lawyer, she was unreadable.

"We'll be making cutbacks this year," Jake said to threaten her job. I wasn't even a lawyer and I could see all kinds of trouble Bella could cause him if he fired her. I wanted to ask her to get Mrs. Black on the phone so we could all talk together, but I managed to keep my mouth shut this time.

"Hopefully my case record will keep me on board, if not, I'm sure another firm can use my talents," Bella said and I noticed how her voice was beginning to shake. I didn't know if it was anger or fear she was feeling.

Jake walked out of the room and she collapsed with her head in her hands onto the desk. I jumped up and came around to comfort her. "Bella, I am so proud of you. You remained so calm, it was amazing."

"I should be fired," she cried. "I can't believe what I've done to my professional reputation."

I wasn't sure if she meant ending it with Jake or sleeping with him in the first place. I tried to come up with anything to make her feel better, but she was right to be upset, she really did screw herself professionally, pun intended.

"The day is almost over, let's get out of here," I pressed, dying to be out of this damn tie.

"And go where?" she asked and raised her head. I really regretting taking down the tent right now. It would have been the perfect place to go unwind. I decided to suggest her unwinding place instead.

"Let's go take a bath."

It took a lot of nerve to recommend such a thing, but my desire to live without regret spurred me on. I didn't want her to feel like I was sexualizing her so I added, "I'll wear my boxers and you can wear your swimsuit."

She smiled slowly and then said, "I used to swim in my bathtub as a child."

"My bathtub was as big as a swimming pool when I was a child," I laughed.

"I've got a pretty big tub," she added with raised eyebrows.

"I'm wearing my boxers," I tossed back.

We both smiled widely and stood to leave her office. Jessica looked flabbergasted that Bella would leave so early in the day. I loved the way Bella handled it, she looked at the young girl behind the desk and said, "Get used to seeing the back of me. I'll be leaving before you often."

We got into the elevator and I lifted her around the waist and spun her around. "I like this version, a lot," I admitted.

Her smile fell and she said, "Version?"

I quickly began to backpedal. "I only meant that I have seen glimpses of the different sides to you. I like the devil may care side." I wasn't quite honest. I wanted to tell her she had no idea who the real Bella was because she spent so much time pretending to be someone else. I couldn't rain on her parade after taking such a great first step.

We drove to her condo and I didn't complain about using private transportation once. I would take baby steps and hope Bella came to a more enlightened conclusion on her own. When we pulled into her parking garage she turned off the engine and looked at me. "Are we really taking a bath?"

"Sure," I smiled. "Spontaneous is good."

"I feel like a child playing hooky," she said as she got out of the car.

"I'll race you," I said and turned to run. I had only taken a few strides when she cried out in pain. I looked back to see her holding her ankle and realized I hadn't thought about her heels.

"I'm so sorry, are you okay?" I gasped, as I ran back to offer assistance.

She pushed me hard in the chest, sending me onto my ass and then ran in short, halted steps toward the elevator. I jumped up quickly and caught her just as she got to the doorway. I spun her around and jumped into the elevator first. "I win," I gloated.

"It's not fair," she complained. "You don't have on heels."

"See, my style of clothing is more conducive to a playful nature. I'll take you to a thrift shop for more appropriate shoes," I offered.

"I'd rather wear used underwear than used shoes," she said in complete disgust.

"That is totally disgusting," I relented, without knowing how important shoes were to a woman.

"Nobody sees your underwear," she said, and I couldn't let a statement like that pass.

"Boy, are you dating the wrong men," I mumbled.

She smacked my chest and exited the elevator on her floor. I began removing my tie before she could unlock the door. I couldn't get it off my neck fast enough. The suit coat and shirt came next and Bella told me to hang them over the back of a chair. She went to her room and turned on the water.

I walked into the large bathroom and whistled at the size of her jetted tub. She was right; her tub was perfect for unwinding. She turned off the lights and lit two candles. I had never bathed by candlelight and heard it was a girl thing. I couldn't ever remember seeing my parent's bathtub so I didn't know if my mother used candles or not. I watched Bella add some liquid that smelled great and bubbled into thick foam. I actually couldn't wait to climb in.

"You don't have to wear your boxers," she said softly. "We're both adults."

"Okay," I exclaimed and quickly pulled them off.

She laughed and turned her head. "Jesus, give a girl some warning."

I climbed into the hot water and sighed loudly, letting my long legs stretch out in front of me. Bella left the room and came back a few moments later dressed in a small robe with her hair pulled onto her head. I pulled my legs back to give her room and she removed the robe. I expected her to jump in quickly, but she walked to the towel rack and hung up the robe. She turned around to see me watching and smiled as she walked back to the tub.

"You're beautiful," I told her honestly. Her legs were long and thin and her waist curved in just enough to make her look like a woman. Her skin was so pale, even in the soft candle light, and I loved the fact she didn't go to tanning booths or look orange from a spray tan.

She sat across from me and leaned her head against the rim as she closed her eyes. "You have no idea how badly I want a cigarette."

"Turn around," I suggested and I'll scrub your back to keep your mind off of it.

She moved to situate herself in front of me and I filled my hands with foam and began massaging her shoulders. She moaned and my body naturally reacted to the sound. I needed something to take my mind off of her wet body, so I brought up the shelter.

We discussed different ideas and exactly how to market the place, but all too quickly it became time to get out of the water. This was the part I worried about the most….now what?