A/N: I know this is a little later than I have been updating lately but in my defense it was my birthday week, my friends took me to Disney World and I am also pretty sick. So I hope that's okay. Lol, this is also a bit longer than the other chapters I hope it's not overwhelming. Enjoy, see you at the bottom.
By the time I'd stopped crying I was still sitting at the bench Edward had taken me to. He promised he would be right back and I had to stop myself from bolting several times. He was kind enough to help me out of the bookstore the least I can do is stay here and thank him…even if it is embarrassing. I try to make myself presentable for him; luckily I don't have any makeup on and don't have to remedy raccoon eyes. They are a little puffy but there isn't anything I can do about that now.
When Edward comes back there is no evidence of my little episode left on my face. When he looks at me he smiles shyly and his face kind. His eyes are not tight with worry or pity. He has remained himself which in turn makes me feel more like me.
"Hey," His eyes dart between me and the empty space next to me. He runs his hands through his hair and his twitches put me a little more at ease.
"Hey," I say to his shoes "So, I'm sorry about…that. Um, thank you for getting me out of there. I just had a memory hit me, it took me by surprise and I got overwhelmed. But I'm…well anyway just thank you." My cheeks are warm and I'm glad he isn't quite looking at me either.
"I didn't really do anything. I, um, well I just got of work and I needed to get a book for one of my classes. I put off buying it way too long and so that's why I was here. There wasn't anyone else around so…you don't have to worry about anyone else seeing you. Just in case you were. Not that you should be…Here," Suddenly I have a soft serve ice cream cone in my hand. I didn't notice he had two ice cream cones but now I see the sweet cream running down his hands. He's wiping on hand on his jeans while trying to lick up and clean his other hand and his cone simultaneously. When he once again runs his hands through his hair it's still sticky and he creates a mess of his already unruly hair. I chuckle but then busy myself with my own cone I don't have the heart to tell him how crazy he looks.
We sit eating our ice cream in silence. I'm a sucker for soft serve. Edward relaxes his shoulder and I can see a smile on his face while he enjoys his treat. I have to stop my eyes from staring at his tongue as he eats his ice cream. It gets increasingly more difficult when he runs his tongue up the side of the cone getting any melted cream that's escaped from the top. He looked up at me just as I was going to look away…again and we both get a little pink. I don't let myself do that again.
The weather has held the sun warming my face as I look around one my cone is gone. I don't want this set back to mess with the rest of my day. I could still go and get my nails done or at least buy a new polish so I can do then myself it would be an excuse to use that manicure kit mom bought me.
"So," Edward interrupts my musings, "I'm not sure if you would be interested but I'm having a barbecue at my house. My parents throw one a few times a year and it's the perfect day to whip out the grille. My mom has this uncanny ability to predict when the weather is going to be nice. Anyway…would you like to come? No pressure," He smiles crookedly at me and my stomach tightens. Why did he have to be so pretty? Why did he have to look so cute when he was unsure of himself? Why couldn't he just be unattractive so I never have to worry about his company? Why haven't I answered him yet?
"Oh, um Edward you don't have to invite me. Really. I was going to do girly things today, get my nails done and stuff. I would feel horrible imposing. And I don't even have anything to bring with me. Really I'm fine. I just…I don't….I mean," I forced my face into my hands. Those bright eyes could still render me stupid if I wasn't prepared.
"Hey, hey, hey, calm down," He pulls my hands away from my face with a wide smile, "like I said no pressure. You don't have to come, and my mother would murder me if you brought anything anyway. My dad and her make all the food last time I told someone to bring a side she slapped the back of my head while they weren't looking. The only person mom will let help is my cousin who is just as crazy as she is. I usually beg people I invite not to bring food." He rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head as if he was trying to clear it and I laughed.
He huffs but his smile belittles his irritation. "It's just…well I'd really like for you to come. Some of the guys from work will be there along with my family so you won't be surrounded by strangers. It's really a small thing. My mom always tells me invite my friends. So if you want to come, I'd like you there." He smiled.
I thought I wanted to spend my day alone, but the more I think about it I've spent so much time by myself as it is. A nice meal with some of my new friends actually sounds like a better way to pamper myself.
"Exactly who's going to be there?" His answering smile tells me I made the right decision.
I gape at the structure in front of me. This couldn't be a house. I think my house could fit inside it two times…or more. Edward gave me directions before he left. I ended up just following him here, I hate using my GPS, Gypsy I so lovingly named her. But she was the most flighty GPS ever invented. Sometimes she flat out gave me wrong directions and I didn't really use her unless I she was my only option. I would have been have way to Seattle before I realized that I wasn't going the right way.
Driving up to their house was like going through a national park. Trees lined the drive on either side providing shade from the sun, or more likely protection from the rain. There were flowers blooming behind them that you could peak at through the tree foliage and also boulders and other structures that were too perfectly placed to be naturally there. The landscaping was beautiful and it was done it a way that looks natural, as if you just stepped into a fairy tale. But the real gem was the house.
It stood three stories high and glorious. There were ivy trellis's that took you to the front door and the whole thing was made of dark brick. The white shutters made it feel homey and a little southern, So much of the house had these gorgeous full length windows and I could tell from out here more than one of them were just behind a nook where you could sit and read or just relax. It was just beautiful.
Edward waited for me by his garage that's not even connected to the main house.
"Thank you for inviting me to dinner your highness." I giggled, actually giggled like a little girl. I couldn't help it. For a time I was interested in architecture. And being this close to a building so beautiful made me feel things. It was like a shiver in my core but also pretty electric. "Your house is gorgeous."
He shrugs both hands in his pockets, "It's my parent's house. I just live here. And I guess it's big but my mom loves interior design she loves doing up the rooms. I think my dad got such a big place so she could have room to play. My aunt and uncle own a landscaping company and they worked with my mom on the whole concept for the lawn. It's extravagant for just the three of it, but my mom loves it, so…"
"You're moms an interior designer? That's cool. Maybe she could help out my mom; she's wanted to fix up our house for years." He kicks rocks and pebbles out of the way on the way to the house. He meanders up to the door slowing down the closer we get to the front.
"Nah, mom's a therapist. Interior design is a hobby of hers. My parents met while they were doing their residency in a hospital in Chicago. After all the commotion of the big city so they wanted something a little slower paced so they moved here. My mom grew up in Forks, my dad wasn't used to such a small town so they decided they would build something that was halfway between Forks and Port Angeles that way she was still pretty close to her family and they were close to work as well. They're respected in their fields and Port Angeles fits their needs."
"What's your dad do?" I ask as I inspect the trellis we stopped under. Ivy and flowers I couldn't identify snaked up the slats. His entire family was so talented and since we started talking about them I wanted to know more.
"He's a surgeon."
"Ooh plastic?"
"No!" He laughs abruptly, "He does transplants and stuff.
"That's very impressive Edward." Suddenly I felt out of place next to him. My dad was the chief of police and mom was a business consultant. We lived well but this was something else. He came from such prestige and talent. Clearly his family had money. I look down at my ripped jeans and wonder if I'm underdressed for a barbeque here. I felt so plain in comparison to all of this extravagance. I try to think of a way to politely back out of this when he opens the door to his house. His foyer is as beautiful as I thought it would be. He calls out to his parents and I figure it's too late to turn back now.
"Mom, Dad I'm home!"
"In the kitchen, dear," I hear a lovely voice call back. He motions me further into the house and when I see the kitchen I want to give up life because I will never own a kitchen this beautiful and if I can't have it then life isn't worth having. The counters are a dark granite and all of the appliances are black and sleek and beautiful and the little girl in me, who is definitely my mother's child just wants to die in here cooking all of my favorite foods. There is an island in the middle with a hanging wine rack above it. The gas stove shines brilliantly and has multiple ovens perfect for when you need to cook a big meal. There are chef grade knifes on the counter and so many cupboards I can't imagine what could possibly fill them all but I know I want to find out. This kitchen is like a picture out of a magazine. I'm so taken by it that I don't even notice the woman wearing a black apron with white pok-a-dots smiling at my awe.
"Well, hello, who is this Edward?" I startled and blushed when I finally see her. Edwards's mom has hair that is the same strange shade of red and brown as his. Her hair is perfectly tamed and frames her face in ringlets that I could never hope to accomplish with my hair. She looks so young like she could be his older sister instead of his mother. But the way she holds herself speaks to her age and sophistication. She also looks like she could come straight out of a cooking magazine. Her eyes are a lighter shade of green then Edwards, I almost feel like I can see right through them. I can tell she spends a good amount of time smiling due to the lines are her face but she wears it well. She is beautiful and I feel that she is also kind.
"This is a new friend from work, her name is Bella. Bella, this is my mom."
"I love your kitchen!" I blurt out. My face heats immediately. This is not the first thing I wanted to say to her. My cheeks darken even further as she chuckles at my antics. "I mean…it's nice to meet you. But I do really love my kitchen, I mean your kitchen it's beautiful. Well your whole house is beautiful. Not that I've seen your whole house. Because I haven't yet…just your foyer and a hallway and now I've seen the kitchen. And the landscaping outside which is also beautiful. But um yeah, you have a lovely home."
"Oh goodness," she chuckles, "Thank you Bella. But for the love of God breathe," She smiles at me and gives Edward a little smirk as well. "I didn't think someone could ramble as well as you, Edward." He mumbles something under his breath that sounded like a denial. "Welcome dear," She goes on ignoring his quite protest, "I'm so glad you will be joining us for the festivities. You're a bit early I must admit." She gives Edward a sharp look and he coughs. "But Edward can give a tour of the rest of the house. Please tell me what you think of it, I've decorated all of the rooms myself, I do hope you like them."
"Thank you Mrs. Cullen."
"Oh dear, you are going to have to relax around here young lady. My name is Esme. My husband is Carlisle. You're a guest here and we want you to be comfortable, okay?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Oh dear," I'm sure she would have had a comment but the over started beeping and she excused herself to finish cooking.
"Come on I'll give you a tour of the rest of the house." And he did, I had a tour of all three stories. The only rooms I didn't see were the bedrooms. But after everything I saw I don't know if my poor head would have survived seeing anything else. My previous statements were inadequate. I didn't have a work in my vocabulary to describe the Cullen house. His mother was an artist. Every room had a unique feel to it. I could feel the love she had for the house and her family in every room.
"Your mom may need to change her profession. She's a wonderful interior designer." I tell Edward still overwhelmed as we sit in the living room in one of the window nooks I saw earlier.
"She's a pretty good therapist too," He joked.
"She's not upset that I'm here right? She seemed a bit irritated with you in the kitchen." I hoped he wouldn't get in trouble for inviting me. I really liked his mom.
"Nah. She's just a little peeved at me because the house isn't ready. She takes a lot of pride in the house and the food she serves and she wants it to be perfect before guests show up. She's a little anal retentive about it. That's why she doesn't want anyone to bring food. She thinks it would make her a bad host or something."
"What more could she possibly do to the house? It's perfect."
"You'd be surprised." We lulled then. I looked out the window still not quite believing I was just thirty minutes out of Forks. I couldn't quite grasp that there was anything this beautiful this close to me. But here I was.
When I looked back at Edward his eyes were on me. His eyebrow was hitched up and a smile grew on his face.
"What?"
"I don't know. I guess I didn't really expect you to come. I seem to remember a conversation we had where you said you didn't want to make friends. You've been friendly. But you still never really hang out with the group so I wasn't sure how you were feeling about us. I guess this answers that for me. Thank you.
"For what?"
"Being my friend, coming here today,"I smile looking back out the window to hide my blush from his view. I don't think anyone has taken as much pleasure in being called a friend by someone they were starting to like than me. I've heard my friends lament to me about a boy putting them in the 'friendzone'. I know that most girls would be distraught about this fact. For me though, it's so refreshing that Edward seems content with my friendship. Because what I need more than romance and charm is trust. If I can build on that foundation I know I can handle our friendship going in any direction it may. If the trust wasn't there first I would always be weary of this creature in front of me.
We spend the rest of our time tucked away in this nook just staring out the window admiring the landscape that's in front of us, or watching Esme float around the house making it look ever nicer if you can believe it. The smells wafting out of the kitchen was making my mouth water and i remembered the only thing I ate today was the ice cream Edward offered me. My stomach felt like it was hollowing itself out and I wondered if I brought my medication with me.
As I was about to search my bag the front door banged open and the sound startled me and Edward both jumping and breathing heavily. I heard a thunderous voice roar and Edward shook his head with a wry smile.
"Come on," he said, "I'll introduce you to my cousins." He helped me up and I left my bag on the seat as i followed him to the front. "Although you already know Emmett. He works with us. His siblings are not as obnoxious as he is though, I promise."
As we make our way to the front of the house we happen upon Emmett lifting Esme off the floor, he has caught her off guard and she is hanging on for dear life as he spins her around she's laughing and squealing and seeing her like this makes her look even younger to me. And I smile at their antics. What a happy little family this has turned out to be. I'm so happy that I get a chance to see this. I laugh as Emmett puts her down gaining a loud smack to the side of his arm which he pretends hurts him and I giggle. We don't talk much at work but Emmett is really nice, even though he's built like an ox he always has a smile on his face and is ready to share a joke at a moments notice.
I feel a cool hand on my shoulder and turn expecting to see Edward. I gasp when I look into familiar blue eyes.
"Bella?" I'm frozen.
A/N: Hi. Don't hate on the cliffie it took me forever to figure out where to end this because I didn't want to write too much, then I wrote it and it was perfect but the computer didn't save it and I had to write it again and I know it isn't as good but my brain couldn't remember all the little things I loved about the first version. Sigh. Now to the good stuff: thank you all for your support, reads, likes, reviews and follows. I know I said I was getting discouraged and the love really lifted my spirits. I heard what you said anisha rpa (IDK what fanfiction has against dots smh) and I'll keep going if for nothing else but for me. But the added support really makes my heart soar. You as well shaz308 your reviews and guesses and interest made me smile so big my face hurt. You are very astute you are. Okay. As soon as I post this I'm gonna start on the next Chapter. Until next time. :-*
