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Thank you to MC for helping make Sweetward extra sweet! Love you babe!
Tick Tock Chapter 8
BPOV
"So do you need any help with Mr. Daniel's homework? I know he assigned a shit ton," Edward asked, sliding his backpack off of his shoulder as we entered his room.
My skin seemed to prickle every time he would talk to me, even if it was about boring school stuff. He had this deep, smooth voice that I could listen to for hours. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it was just so entrancing.
I finally had some free time to spend with him. And as promised, we were hanging out. It was at his house and in his room. Neither of which I was opposed to, but there was a nervous clatter on the radar. It was, after all, the first time that it was just the two of us. Alone. I was excited but admittedly nervous… This was another first for me.
I shrugged. I didn't really need his help, I understood the subject just fine and I actually enjoyed the challenge of a great deal of work. But homework actually sounded like a good ice breaker, since I was all out of things to talk to him about.
"Alright, let me just go get us a snack and then we can start?" he said sounding like it was a question, so I answered with a soft, "Sure, that'd be great."
He headed back downstairs and I took that as the green light to look around Edward's room alone.
I slipped off my backpack and leaned it up against his before letting my eyes roam around the semi-neat bedroom. Certainly not what I'd expected for a boy's bedroom.
It was so out of place from the rest of the house.
Mrs. Cullen seemed to be into the country vibe, which consisted of all sorts of little knick-knacks and a rustic looking house, while Edward's room was far and beyond removed from that look.
There were a couple of Red Sox posters on the wall that butted up against his bed. And then above his pillow, on the wall, there was a hat hanger with like a bazillion ball caps on it. The room had plush tan carpeting and soft off-white walls with a soothing green trim. It would've probably fit the home, if it weren't for all of Edward's stuff.
I turned to see his dresser that was cluttered with old tickets from movies and games. Some arcade tokens and a change bowl with more silver in it than pennies.
My eyes zoned in on the picture sitting there. It was of a much younger Edward, probably ten or eleven, all suited up, posing for little league photos. He was adorable even then. I smiled as I examined the picture more closely and the proud smile on his face as he held up a small trophy.
It was abundantly clear that Edward liked baseball. I was going to make it my mission to understand the damn game if it killed me.
"Hey, find anything interesting?"
I jumped and my hand flew to my chest, as my heart pounded, and I turned to find him smiling at me with a huge bowl of popcorn and two waters in his hands.
I shook my head real fast, watching as the smile fell from his face.
"You didn't look in the nightstand, did you?" he questioned warily, making me wonder what the hell was in his nightstand.
I cleared my throat with a cough. "No, I wasn't snooping. I was just admiring your picture here," I told him, pointing to it. "You look so happy."
He smiled and walked over. "Oh yeah? Is this what kind of guys you go for?" he joked. "I hate to break it to you, but I don't have any younger brothers, Cougarella."
I snorted out a laugh. "That wasn't what I meant and you know it."
"Uh huh, sure it wasn't," he teased lightly.
"I was just wondering if you still look good all suited up?"
He shrugged, and said wistfully, "I wouldn't know. EBHS hasn't had money for baseball in three years. And I'm too old for the city league now."
"Awe, that's too bad."
"Yeah, oh well. There's always college, right?"
The thought of college hadn't crossed my mind in a long time. I really never expected someone like me would ever make it that far. But there was always a possibility… For now, though, it was just one day at a time.
"Sure," I offered him kindly, hopefully for Edward there was always college if that was what he wanted. He must have noted something in my short response because he regarded me curiously, but, thankfully, didn't press the issue.
"Come on, let's get Mr. Daniel's homework done so we can watch a movie together," he suggested, tugging me towards the bed.
It made sense to sit there. It really did, since there was only one chair at his tiny desk in the corner, but it was still a bed and last time I checked, Edward was still a boy. So of course this whole scenario made me nervous. I took some deep breaths, and followed him slowly.
He plopped down and I sat on the other side, a decent amount of distance away from him. I was looking out for him, I told myself; I didn't know what his parent's rules were for girls. I didn't want him to get in trouble because he was helping me with my homework and wanted to spend some alone time together.
Edward though, scooted closer, laying out both his notebook and textbook in front of us.
I did the same and pulled out a pen.
Then he moved the popcorn bowl in between us.
We worked for an hour at it, taking turns eating a few kernels and then scribbling out answers. I finished and then waited a few minutes for Edward to be done.
"D'ya want me to check yours over?" he asked as he closed his book with a thud.
I shrugged, I was pretty confident, but he could if he wanted too. "Sure, but I think it's okay."
Edward smiled and grabbed my notebook, holding it in one hand and his own in the other as he looked over our answers.
He was silent for a few moments.
"Wow, I can see why you're in Mr. Daniel's class," he said blowing out a breath and handing my homework back to me.
I beamed at him and replied, "Thanks, I like English, actually." It wasn't as if I didn't know I was intelligent, but it was nice to hear coming from Edward.
He smiled back. "Okay, so you wanna watch a movie now?"
I just nodded, because suddenly my throat felt tight. But it didn't feel like the normal panic attacks. This was different, new…and a bit scary.
He went over to his stand in the corner, squatting down, and I couldn't help but take in the view. His back muscles flexing under his red t-shirt and his bum…in those delicious looking khaki pants… It was getting a bit warm in the room, I noticed.
Feelings like this hadn't ever taken over me before, and I wasn't sure how to process them. I'd never really found guys butts to be all that attractive, but there was something about Edward's that made it so I couldn't stop staring.
He made me jump a little when he looked over his shoulder holding up a movie.
"How about Iron Man? I fucking love this movie," he asked smiling.
"Sure, that sounds great," I murmured, avoiding his eyes, folding my knees up in front of me, under my chin. I didn't want to tell him that I hadn't seen it and it wasn't even that I didn't like comics. But I couldn't say anything about that part of my life…yet.
Maybe one day with Edward, but not right now. I just wanted him to like me for me…with no pity or special treatment involved in those feelings. If something did develop further between us, I knew I would have to tell him everything.
He popped it in and then came over, back to the bed. He sat where he had before, but a little closer to me this time, moving the popcorn further down on the bed.
The movie played and I enjoyed it. It had a good storyline and was genuinely entertaining. I'd never seen a movie like it before…the action was exciting.
It was really getting interesting and my mind was so completely focused on the TV that I had forgotten Edward was sitting next to me. Well, that was until his warm hand crept over mine. They had been lying there, flat, next to each other.
But now, Edward's hand was directly over mine and his fingers were wrapping themselves between mine. I turned my head, feeling his eyes on me, and he smiled, as he rubbed his thumb over my hand.
My heart began to race, but I instantly tried to calm myself. He'd be able to feel my palms sweat if I let myself get too worked up over it. I smiled back and then turned back to the movie.
We stayed like that through the rest of the movie and all of the credits, but just as the DVD began to shut itself off a woman's voice rattled through the house.
"Edward, I'm home!"
He smiled, so it mustn't have been a bad thing. He kept a tight hold on my hand and it was a strange but wonderful feeling; the warmth of his hand seemed to radiate all through my body.
"Come on, you wanna meet my mom?" he asked, tugging me off the bed before I could even decide.
It wasn't that I was overly opposed to meeting his mother; it was just that I always felt like adults could look into my eyes and just know. There was a sense of a certain embarrassment there; I didn't think my self-consciousness would ever go away.
I checked my shirt, making sure I was covering everything before heading out the door, my hand still firmly in his as he led me down the stairs.
"Hey Mom, where are ya?" Edward hollered when reached the bottom step.
"In the kitchen, honey," she shouted back.
He glanced down at me with a big smile, before giving my hand a squeeze and leading me towards the kitchen.
We walked through the doorway and my nerves began to race again, but Edward tried to calm me with another hand squeeze, while repeatedly brushing this thumb over my wrist.
"How was your day?" a petite woman, with honey brown hair asked with her back turned to us.
"It was good, Bella came over to work on her homework with me," Edward told her. "And we just finished watching a movie."
And the tiny woman turned around, with a warm smile painted on her lips.
"Bella?" she questioned, looking surprised.
Edward nodded and they shared a meaningful look, like maybe they'd talked about me before.
"Oh Bella, it's so nice to meet you, finally! I'm Edward's mom," she said rushing over to pull me into a hug.
I awkwardly hugged her back, still not used to sharing unfamiliar touches with strangers.
I coughed, clearing my throat, I said quietly, "It's very nice to meet you too, Mrs. Cullen."
Her eyes softened and she stared at me for a moment, like she was trying to read me or something. This was exactly why I hated meeting adults, but her expression was so endearing that I did relax a bit.
"Would you like to stay for dinner, dear? We have plenty," she asked sweetly, indicating the pot on the stove that must have been prepared earlier.
And while the smell of home cooked spaghetti was enticing, I knew I had to get home to my dad.
I promised her I would be back soon and gave her another awkward hug, before scooting up the stairs to collect my backpack and right back down, and out of the house.
"Do you want a ride home?" Edward asked as he followed me out. The sound of the screen door slamming behind him made me jump a little.
I looked out to the street. Boston was still new to me. The streets weren't scary as in frightening; it was just that I didn't know them well, and I was getting somewhat tired.
"Um, yes, if you wouldn't mind, "I replied and he smiled, making my heart race yet again.
There was just something about that boy's smile that was like none I'd ever seen before.
"So what's your dad do?" I asked, trying to make conversation as we pulled out of the driveway.
"He's a doctor," Edward said, almost looking annoyed.
I cringed.
"But you probably won't meet him any time soon. He's really busy," Edward said, just as I was about to mentally swear off going to the Cullen's ever again.
I smiled in relief, and heard Edward sigh, then he reached over and gently took my hand in his, once again linking our fingers.
We held hands until we pulled up outside of my building and I thanked Edward for the ride before promising to see him at school the next day.
In the apartment, I went through the normal routine before hollering to my dad to tell him I had made it home.
"How was your day?" he wondered, once he had ventured out to living room.
I was actually feeling really great today, considering it had been a long day for me.
I told him all about Edward and the movie. I would never keep secrets from my dad, honesty was imperative for us, and I wanted to share this new experience with him. I felt great!
Plus, Dad was cool with guys, he knew I had a good head on my shoulders and wouldn't do anything stupid. We both knew what my limitations were, and he trusted me to respect those.
"That's great baby, I'm glad you made a new friend," he told me honestly.
"Yeah it is, he's pretty cool, Dad, we get along great."
Dad flipped on the TV and we watched our shows for a few minutes before I got too tired. I grabbed my dinner out of the microwave and scarfed down some of it before saying goodnight. "Goodnight baby, don't forget you have an appointment Friday."
I grumbled something that resembled acknowledgement before heading into my room for the night. I was now completely beat since I hadn't had my afterschool nap today.
But it had been totally worth it, I smiled to myself, as I remembered my first, perfect date alone with Edward Cullen.
Any new theories?
How about their little date?
Or Sweetward?
Mhmmmm I love him so much!
