Disclaimer: All characters and other Twilight related references previously posted or posted in the future in Her Anchored Past, strictly belong to Stephenie Meyer.
Got this one out a lot sooner, just like I promised :P and it's a lot longer than my last update too!
R & R please...
As always, I hope you enjoy :)
Chapter 9 - Making Connections
I feel his presence behind me but I refuse to turn around and accept my fate.
I'm standing at the counter in the kitchen, making breakfast. I'm wearing a tight tank-top and shorts that are so short, they're barely there, because Edward is still sleeping in my bed on the floor above us.
My mind is flooded with memories from the movie premiere. But I know it's different this time. Edward is going to run down the main staircase and take me in his arms if Jacob tries to touch me.
I don't know how he got in here, but I want answers. I'm too scared to speak, or even turn around. I don't want him to know that I'm aware he is here.
I feel a set of arms wrap around my waist, but I know they're not Edward's.
Why is he here? What does he want with me? I excused his behavior at the premiere because he was drunk, but there really was no excuse.
I feel his hot breath on my neck, as he leans in.
I know I should scream for Edward, but not a muscle in my body can move.
"I'm home Bella, I came back for you." He whispers in his sleazy voice, one I wouldn't have been able to resist a short year ago.
What he doesn't realize now is that I don't want him here, but he should know this. He knows. Is he delusional? Maybe he is drunk again.
When he begins placing a trail of kissing along my neck, getting closer to my jaw line by the second, I open my mouth and scream for Edward.
I wait what seems to be minutes, but no one comes running down the stairs.
Where are you?
I think, frantically.
Jacob loses himself in his fantasies, and I wait limp in his grasp for Edward to save me. But he never comes.
I wake up in a sweat and quickly sit up as I gasp for air.
"Bella?" I hear Edward's panicked voice. "What's wrong?"
I look at him and my eyes start to water, "It was just a dream..." I chant to myself.
Edward takes me in his arms and I sob for the millionth time into his shirt. He's quiet, waiting for me to finish, before he starts asking questions.
"Would you like to talk about it?"
I shake my head, no.
He plants a kiss on each of my swollen eyes, and I give in.
"There was someone in the house."
He holds me tighter. "Did you see who it was?"
I nod, and whisper Jacob's name.
Edward tenses and pulls me closer. He kisses my hair and calms me down when I begin to sob again.
"I called for you. But you never came." I cry out.
I regret revealing this detail as soon as it's out of my mouth. It reminds him too much about the premiere when he was uselessly on the other end of the phone when I had my first confrontation with Jacob.
I pull myself together, as it's my turn to comfort him.
I twist my body to see his face, but I'm left looking at a mix of guilt and shame on his face.
"It was just a dream." I remind him, reminding myself at the same time.
"I'm sorry..." He whispers.
I just shake my head before returning it to the pillow.
I can feel him beside me now, with one hand across my waist, and that is all that matters.
*EPOV*
Bella falls asleep beside me again, and I'm reluctant to leave her, but I have to speak to Jasper or Emmett. I stay with her for a few minutes until I'm certain she is sleeping peacefully, and then I slip out gently without disturbing her.
I find Emmett eating nachos and watching television on the main floor.
"Dude, it's like four in the morning. You scared the shit out of me." He jumps up, as I approach.
"Sorry Em. Bella just woke up from a bad dream. I need to talk to talk to you."
"What's up?" He asks, cleaning up the chips he spilled when I startled him, making room for me on the couch. He mutes whatever crap he's watching and gives me his attention.
"She dreamt that Jacob Black harassed her again. Only this time, it was here. It seems to me that she's subconsciously connecting the two incidents with one another. That maybe whoever broke into her house a few weeks ago was really Jacob."
"Shit, I'm no doctor, but that makes sense." He ponders.
We're silent for a moment until Emmett has a realization.
"That would explain how he go into the house so easily, without being seen. He's been here an endless amount of times and no doubt has a key and the code to the gate." Emmett says, putting pieces of the puzzle together in his head.
She hasn't given me a key yet... I wonder when she first gave Jacob his...
My thoughts wander off, but I immediately chastise myself for being so selfish and return to focusing solely on Bella's safety.
"Is that enough to go on?" I ask, because I'm no expert in the field of law.
"Enough to give us a reason to investigate further. It doesn't help that Bella didn't report the harassment incident, but at least it's a lead. We can't go accusing him immediately though, there is no solid proof. And man, this is Hollywood, Jacob is dating Leah Clearwater. All the more reason to wait until we have some solid evidence. No need for this to get blown wide open in the media if it isn't even certain."
I nod, still coming to terms with the whole "Hollywood" deal. I thought at first that Bella's interpretation of it was an exaggeration, but now Emmett is reacting the same way. If the paparazzi would be all over Bella having a new love interest, I can hardly imagine what they would do if they found out that she was accusing her ex-boyfriend of breaking and entering into her home.
"I'll call Jasper in the morning, it isn't really urgent at the moment. And we'll discuss with Bella when she wakes up." Emmett decides.
"Sounds good, you're the boss." I tell him, "And will you do me a favor Em? I'm going to go home, I wasn't really expecting to stay the night, so I need to shower and change before work. She was really distraught when she woke up, and I hate to leave her, but at least you'll be here to tell her where I went."
"Yeah, no problem, Edward. See you around."
I run upstairs quickly to get my wallet and sunglasses before leaving through the front door.
I back off the driveway and slam on the breaks when I see someone in my rearview mirror. I curse under my breath and turn around to make sure the way is clear. But it isn't. There are at least half a dozen people standing behind the fence with their obnoxiously large cameras, clicking away.
"Shit." I mutter, thinking how I am going to diffuse the situation, "go away!" I say to no one in particular, knowing they can't hear me anyway with my windows up.
I back out slowly, and they at least have the decency not to get in the way of my car. I finally make it onto the main street and drive away faster than I should be, because I'm furious. What right do they have to stand outside of Bella's house and make note of her every move? It's barely five in the morning for goodness sake!
All I can think about on my way home is the pictures that will appear on the internet very shortly with the ridiculous headlines. What will they say?
Mystery man leaves Bella Swan's Beverly Hills home at 5:00am
Man seen sneaking out of Bella Swan's home early this morning
The possibilities are endless, and this is all I think about until I get to work until I'm finally distracted with the important issues in life.
*BPOV*
After waking up and speaking to Emmett, I text Edward good morning. After an hour, there is still no reply so I figure he is busy at work.
I have a relaxing morning. I leisurely eat breakfast and spend most of my time in front of the computer, updating my twitter and what not for the fans.
I'm getting anxious of Edward not returning my text, so I decide to call him.
"Hello." He answers in a bitter tone.
"Well hello, Mr. Grumpy. What's wrong?" I tease.
"Nothing Bella, sorry."
"First day of work thing?" I ask.
"Sure..."
"So, at the risk of acting like a clingy girlfriend... How come you haven't returned my texts?"
"It's been busy here."
"Okay... Do you have time to meet for lunch?"
When he hesitates, I speak again.
"Okay Edward, what's really going on here? Did I do something...?" I ask, irritated now by his evasiveness.
"No, Bella... Crap, sorry. I didn't want for you to think... You didn't do anything, love." He stutters.
"So what is it then?" I say, raising my voice a bit.
"The paparazzi, Bella! They freaking attacked me this morning!" He snaps. "All their pictures and questions, I'm probably on the cover of eighteen different magazines! I can't do this!"
I stay silent because I'm hurt to the point that I can't speak. I'm wounded by his words and they echo through my brain. "I can't do this."
"Bella?"
I take a deep breath, and shout at my body not to cry.
"You can't do us anymore?" I rasp.
"What? No! Bella, listen to me. That's not what I meant at all. Shit, I can't even talk properly. I need you. I need us.It's just them, I don't know if I can handle it, Bella."
Relief washes over me as I hear the sincerity in his voice. But I'm also angry. Wasn't he the one who said before that it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks? That he would handle it, for me?
"Lunch - Bella, please, let's meet for lunch."
I nod in response.
"Bella? Say something, please."
Right, he can't see me nod over the phone.
"Sure, lunch." I say, "I'll drive down to you, otherwise we won't have any time."
"Perfect, I'll see you at 1:00."
I hang up the phone.
It takes me almost an hour to drive to Anaheim, but once I'm with Edward, in the privacy of the corner of an all-day breakfast cafe, he holds me in his arms and I feel better.
"I'm sorry..." He whispers into my hair.
Edward and I have a quick lunch before he goes back to work. I share some of my tips with him on avoiding the paparazzi, but he assures me that he'll be fine. He claims that it was just the first-time experience that shocked him. We agree on not sleeping at my house for the time being, so we are able to keep out of the public eye. Edward is moving to his new house in a few days, so this shouldn't be a problem. For now, I will remain single to anyone in Hollywood who is asking, until Edward is comfortable with the whole public relationship thing.
I enjoyed spending time with Edward today, but his requests to be kept private brought my mood down. I had been planning on asking him to appear at the Academy Awards with me, but sometimes your parade gets rained on, so to speak.
When I get home, I plan my first dress picking date with Alice for tomorrow afternoon. Edward is going to meet us at Alice's boutique after work to help me pick out the perfect gown and matching jewelry and accessories.
Emmett tells me that Rosalie is coming over to keep him company, and to busy myself, I offer to make the three of us dinner.
"You really don't have to do that Bells..." He says.
"I know, but I want to. I want to get to know the only woman, other than me and your mother, who can handle my best friend." I smirk, and he laughs.
"Besides," I continue. "I feel like everything for the past few weeks has been all about me in some way or another, and I just want to spend some normal time with friends and relax."
I hear my phone ringing, so I excuse myself and find it. I see Leah Clearwater's name on the call display.
"Think should be interesting..." I say to myself out loud, before pressing the talk button.
"Hello?" I say innocently. She knows she stole my boyfriend, but she also knows now that I'm not going to risk my reputation by being a bitch to her in public - or even in private.
"Hi, Bella." She says, shyly. "I know it's weird that I'm calling, but I really wanted to say congratulations on your Oscar nomination!"
"Thanks, Leah. That's sweet of you." I tell her, semi-sincerely.
"Putting aside all that has happened, I'm really happy for you." She says, making it sound like I have done something wrong to her.
"Well, thanks again Leah, but I really have to get going, I have guests over." I lie.
"Yeah, sure, okay."
"Bye, Leah."
"Wait - " She calls out, just as I'm about to hang up, "Bella, I'm worried about Jake."
"Excuse me?" I ask, appalled.
"He's been really distant lately. And he's always busy, like he never has time for me anymore..."
"Leah, I'm not going to talk about Jacob with you."
"Right, sorry." She says, embarrassed.
"Bye, Leah." I say, for the second time.
"Bye, Bells." She calls me by my old nickname, from when we were the best of friends.
All I can think about while I prepare dinner is about how bizarre that phone call was...
A/N: Thanks for reading! Your support means a lot!
I'll send a sneak peak of the next chapter to those who review 3
Oh, and I need all of your objective opinions. Right now, I currently don't have a Beta... Do you guys think I need one or should get one? Let me know, I won't be offended :) And if yes, any reccommendations of who?
xo
