Chapter 9: Jackass & The Classroom
"Guys, I need your help," I plead, feeling a smidge desperate.
"What's up?" Rose asks, looking worried.
"We're meeting Jackson tomorrow night and I need to know what to wear." I don't want to admit that I'm intending to look nice for Edward.
"We? Do you have a mouse in your pocket?" Alice questions.
I chuckle, shaking my head. "Yes, we. Edward and I are meeting Jackson. Officially…"
"Wow," Rose breathes out.
"What?"
"Well, it's kind of a big thing when you meet the parents, right?"
I shrug. "Yeah, I suppose. Really, this is just for appearances. I don't particularly want to get to know him. But they're getting awfully close, and I'd rather be assured that they're both being safe."
"Oh man," Rose murmurs. "That's...holy shit."
"Yep."
"Have you thought about what I suggested?" Alice wonders.
"Oh yeah. I already have an appointment scheduled for her. But I also have to somehow bridge this gap to Edward."
"That should be fun…" Rose comments with a chuckle.
"Yes, tons. So that's why I need your help," I tell them, trying to segway back to my closet that is clearly lacking anything fabulous to wear.
Rose takes the lead and heads over to the piles laying on my bed. Alice follows behind her while I stand there not knowing what kind of outfit is appropriate.
"Have you considered whether you want to wear a skirt or pants?" Alice asks, peering around Rose.
I shrug. "A skirt, probably."
"Short?" she questions.
I cock my head. "I'm sorry. I think you have me mistaken with someone in their twenties. I don't own short skirts."
They both crack up and continue to pick through the clothes. I listen as they mix and match a few outfits.
"Here are your two options. This cream skirt with a blush top. It looks nice, classy, but also keeps you looking young and hot," Rose offers.
"And this black skirt with this gorgeous navy peplum top," Ali says, waving her hand.
"I like Rose's option."
Rose grins from ear to ear. She has no idea why I want to look so nice, though. Not a clue at all, thankfully.
I thank them both before heading downstairs and enjoying a bottle of Pinot Noir.
*ARoL*
Dressed in my cream knee-length skirt and blush top, with my hair straightened, and make-up done, I feel like I'm way behind.
I twitch with nerves as I get things ready in the kitchen. This isn't exactly how I want to spend my evening, but Alice is so right. We need to officially meet this kid and finally get to know him.
Especially if he and Rae will be...spending time together.
Ugh, that thought disgusts me more than anything.
Just as I wring my hands on my apron, there's a knock on the door. "Coming!" I shout, knowing it's Edward.
I grab one of my famous cookies and meet him at the door. "Hey," I greet casually, opening the door.
"Hi, Bella," he says with a wide smile, and hands me some flowers. "These are for you."
"Thanks! They're beautiful. Here, have a cookie." I shove it in his face.
He gives me a look. "Trying to bribe me already? I'm not even through the door yet."
I sigh. "I know, but I just have a feeling that we're going to fuck this up."
He walks in and closes the door, while I let the air conditioning blow freely on me. I'm already steamed up and I'm not even done cooking yet.
"Bella, it'll be fine," he assures me.
I shake my head. There's not a bone in my body that believes him.
He comes over and rubs my shoulder tenderly. "I'll be on my best behavior, as long as that little snot is, too."
I let out a dry chuckle.
"C'mon Bells, what're you cooking up over here?"
"Angel hair pasta in a homemade sauce."
"Wow!"
"Well, I had a bumper crop of tomatoes this year and I've been trying to eat them up."
"Even better. The tomatoes are from your garden?"
"Yes. They're delicious this year, too."
He sticks his finger in the sauce and slowly licks it. "Yeah, they are."
I somehow keep myself from melting in front of him, but my panties are definitely damp. That man is going to be the death of me. I know it. "Hey, I was wondering something?"
"What's that?"
"Does that offer of helping me with my classroom still stand?" I ask bashfully. I know it's an insanely bad idea, but there's a part of me that just doesn't care. I want to spend more time with him.
"Absolutely, Bella. You name when and where and I'll be there."
"How about tomorrow afternoon? My classroom, obviously. I can even buy you a beer after for helping."
"That's perfectly fine, and there's no need to buy me a beer. I'm more than happy to help."
"Thank you," I tell him sincerely.
"So when does jackass get here?"
I crack a smile, because hell, any way to lighten this situation is welcome. "He's supposed to be here in a few minutes."
"Oh great."
"Try to be nice, okay?" I remind him gently.
"I'll try," he says sarcastically.
The front door bell goes off, and I know it has to be him. I holler to Rae, but just as I do I can hear her hurrying down the stairs.
Edward eyes me. "Shouldn't we be out there when she opens the door?"
I cock my head to the side. "If he's anything like I think he is, she's going to need a few minutes to prep him."
"Just like you used to do with me?" he wonders, smirking.
I wave him off. "You didn't need prep, you just needed to keep your hands above my waist."
"All right, that's it, I'm going out there."
I chuckle, wiping my hands on a towel, following behind him.
It's obvious they were kissing just moments before we enter the room. Thankfully, they're smart enough to pull away and act normal as we get over to them.
"Jackson, this is my mother Bella and my father Edward," Rae says demurely. My daughter looks every bit the part of someone older.
"Hello Jackson, nice to meet you," Edward offers, jutting out his hand, making me feel weird. I don't know why, but the way he so freely welcomed him irks me.
He sounds so sincere, but moments ago he was bitching about having to be here.
"Hi sir, it's nice to meet you." He shakes Edward's hand. "And you, too, Ms. Swan."
I smile politely at him and shake his hand. "Would you like something to drink, Jackson?"
"Sure, how about a water."
"Rae, wanna grab that?" I ask her, moving the party into the living room.
Rae comes back with a water for Jackson, beaming in his direction. I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
"Dad, Mom, Jackson wants to be an entrepreneur when he's done with college. Isn't that right?"
"Oh yes, just like you, sir," Jackson says, clearly laying it on thick.
"That's nice. What kind of business do you want to have?" I wonder.
"Well, I was thinking I would start small, but one day I hope to run a tech-based company."
"What kind of tech?" Edward inquires, taking a seat, making himself comfortable. I can see that Jackson is going to make or break his reputation with Edward right here and now. I feel for Rae, but she is the one who brought it up.
"I was thinking social media."
Edward nods. "So you think you're going to create your own social media company?"
"Absolutely, there's not much that's different between me and Mark."
"You mean Mark Zuckerberg?"
Jackson nods.
"Well, that's some pretty lofty hopes and dreams. I would suggest you educate yourself before you dive in head first."
"Why?" Rae snaps, looking miffed.
"Because Mark, while lucky, happened to actually know his market, his technology, and now his shareholders. He's done his work and it's paid off for him. Something that Jackson here is going to have to think about. It's not all about getting rich the moment you turn twenty-five. It's about making your dreams a full-blown reality and believing in yourself."
"Jackson believes in himself," Rae argues.
"Confidence is one thing, even gusto, but having the means and the brains to make the dreams happen is another."
"I can assure you that Jackson has brains and will make his dreams come true. He might even do a better job than you." Rae mumbles the last sentence.
I give her a look, letting her know that she's pushed it way too far this time.
"I hope so," Edward says quietly, getting up and disappearing into the kitchen.
"Rae, can I speak with you over here?" I point to the dining room.
"What?"
"What's your problem? Your dad was trying to be nice by giving Jackson a heads up before he chooses what he wants to do for the rest of his life."
She huffs out a breath. "A heads up? He attacked him."
"I wouldn't say that. I would say it was more like a reality check and that maybe you attacked your dad."
She pouts. "I didn't mean to, but I felt bad for Jackson. It's not fair for him to sit there and be berated. He was excited to share something that he and Dad have in common."
I nod. "I'll talk to Dad, but you need to apologize for your last comment."
"Okay, I will and I'm sorry. I just feel a little protective of him since he's defenseless here."
"It's not war, Rae, it's dinner."
She nods, visibly relaxing. "Feels a bit like it, though…"
Sadly, I agree. The thing is, this is very primal. Edward is attempting to establish the fact he's dominant around here and Jackson…well… Rae is attempting to establish Jackson as the dominant. Animals do it all the time. There's usually a lot of blood involved, though. So I decide to step in before I need to get my carpet bleached.
"Edward, I need some help with dinner," I say, heading into the kitchen.
He comes in looking heated. "Why would you want to leave them alone?"
I grin. "You think he's going to maul her right there on the couch, while we're a few feet away?"
He shrugs with a grin. "Don't you remember how we were in high school?"
"Edward, it's fine. Leave them be."
"Well, what did you need help with?"
"I wanted to see if you could be civil to the prat for the evening."
"Oh Jackass? No, no way."
I let out a full-belly laugh. Once I clear the tears and regain some semblance of self-control, I turn to him. "She didn't mean what she said."
"No? It sure as hell felt like it."
I nod, knowing the weight of the words. They were intense. "She said what she thought she had to, to get her point across. She likes him…a lot. You remember what young love was like, right?"
He rolls his eyes. "Our daughter is perfect and that is what she wants to spend her time with?" he questions, motioning to the living room.
"I know, I don't like it either, but if we push her away now, it'll be awful later. Hell, she could get in a car and come back pregnant in six months if we fuck this up too much."
He nods, knowing I'm right. "When did you become the voice of reason?"
"That's me, you know, reasonable Bella. I'm amazing. You should try it."
"Fine, but if he comes off with something stupid, I'm calling him out on it."
I shrug. "Fine by me."
He wraps an arm around my shoulder. "I'm glad I don't have to do this alone. I just want you to know that. I don't know what I would do without you."
"Thanks," I whisper, grabbing the platter and leading the way into the dining room.
Dinner is served, and while the conversation is certainly lighter than in the living room, it's still tense. I would hedge my bets by saying that Rae isn't going to be hanging out alone with this guy any time soon.
And with that, I sip my wine and attempt to stifle any comments from Edward.
*ARoL*
"So how did Rae take it when you told her she couldn't see that guy again?" he asks, nonchalant, tacking a poster to the wall.
I grin and shake my head. "We haven't crossed that bridge yet, Daddy. I was going to wait until after her birthday party."
He stops and looks at me. "You're telling me I'm going to have to deal with this guy again?"
I shrug. "Well, unless some other cute boy decides to start coming around, pretty much."
"Ugh, this isn't fair."
I chuckle. "I don't like it any more than you. But she will be sixteen, Edward."
"Whatever. Let's talk about something else. Are you excited to start school again?"
"Yeah, it'll be nice to get back into a routine. This summer's been...a little all over the place."
He nods, but doesn't bother to comment.
"So what about you? Are you ready for summer to be over?"
He shrugs. "There are things I've always loved about summer, you know that, but like you said, this one's been all over the place. So yeah, I guess I am ready for it to be over. I'm looking forward to, uh, some new things—hopefully."
I notice his mood has visibly changed and his words sound unsure. He was so light before, and now…it's as if something's really bothering him. I don't want to pry, though. There're so many things flying through my head, and then I land on our little chat about his personal life.
"So how's that dry spell?" The words tumble out of my mouth before my filter can grab ahold of them. I hide my face to keep him from seeing the sheer embarrassment.
"It's, um…over."
Shocked, I stifle a gasp and turn to him. "Really?" I'm positive that it comes out a bit whinier than I'd hoped.
He swallows and shrugs.
"Is there, ah, someone new I should know about?" I ask in a quiet voice.
He looks at me, and obviously must read something in my expression. "No. It's not like that."
I frown and sigh—a little annoyed he won't share and a lot sad that he's dating. Though, he's dated in the past—even seriously, back in the day—so did I. But recently, we've been pretty neck and neck with our relationships. And, I guess, I'd thought something might be changing between us.
"Where would you like this one?" he asks, holding up a poster, his voice deeper than usual.
I think about it for a moment. "Um, how about right above the one I have?"
"Sounds good," he murmurs, and I go back to straightening the one I'm working on.
Just as I'm about to put in a tack, he's there. Right behind me. Leaning over me. I freeze, not knowing what to do as his scent washes over me. I watch carefully as his muscles strain in his arms, working to hang the poster, then I close my eyes and revel in his closeness.
"Like this?" he breathes in my ear.
I don't know what he's talking about, but I nod.
"Bella, I've been meaning—"
"Oh good, Ms. Swan!" I hear, and immediately turn my head, pushing out of Edward's arms. Looking to the doorway, I see one of the guidance counselors, Mr. Cheney, standing there. Ben Cheney. As in, the one I haven't called since the Amish restaurant debacle.
"Hi, Mr. Cheney," I offer, attempting to keep it professional. I've no interest in encouraging him.
He smiles, but I see him eyeing Edward and no doubt assessing the state he found us in. "Bella, I'm so glad to see you in here taking care of your room."
"Thank you."
"I would offer you a hand, but I can see you have some...help."
"Oh yes, thank you, though," I say, trying to get through this without introducing them.
"Who is your dedicated helper?"
I swallow and can feel Edward coming up behind me. "Uh, this is Edward, my ex-husband. Edward, this is Ben our dedicated guidance counselor here."
Edward extends his hand like a true gentleman and shakes Ben's.
"Bella and I used to date, so we have lots in common. We should get together and exchange war stories," Ben comments, leaving me at a loss of what to say. The only thing I can do is look up at Edward and try to figure out what he's thinking.
"Sorry man, I don't have any war stories. A shit load of regret, yes. But no war stories," Edward tells him.
"Oh gotcha. Well, you two have fun, I'll be in my office if you need anything, Bella," he says pointedly.
I scrub my face, and wave as he walks off. Once he's gone, I turn to Edward. "I'm sorry about that."
"About what?" He shrugs, as if it was nothing.
"I'm sorry you had to deal with that—with Ben's...whatever that was."
"Eh, it's fine. It's not as if he's your current boyfriend, right?"
"Oh, hell no, that guy was a mess. Not my type, either."
He chuckles. "I can see that. How long did it take you to see that?"
"One date."
"But he said you dated."
"Yep. See, he's crazy. He took me to that little Amish place in town and we had dinner. That's all. It was awful." I don't know why I'm telling him this, but part of me feels compelled to do it.
"Wow," he mumbles, and looks away.
For the rest of the afternoon, we don't seem to end up in the same place as we were before Ben interrupted us. But there's always another time, I tell myself.
I shrug off the feeling of unrest, as we begin to discuss Rae's party with just us. I'm looking forward to it, and I can only hope we can find some harmony there.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. I know it's been a slow burn...but we're getting there. Just need to get through the important stuff first :D I promise!
A massive thank you to my wonderful friend, confidant and beta Midnight Cougar. Without her, this just wouldn't be possible. She's my rock!
