Perfect Strangers

Chapter 9: Frustration

Disclaimer: We are extremely disappointed to have to admit to the fact that we do not own Twilight or Starbucks or Publix or the Coffee Bean and Tree Leaf. Sigh.

AN: Not much to say, but . . . Here's another review that Twilight-is-Lovee loved! :) It's, again, by The Devil's Little Angel:

Yay! You posted! And my review is up there. GASP.

Okay, let's just go straight for the punch:

Jacob is a -BEEP-. I he would -BEEP-ing -BEEP- and -BEEP-. So he could live
in -BEEP- -BEEP- or -BEEP- -BEEP- -BEEP-.

Whoo. I'm done...I don't know what the hell that's supposed to say, but you
get the drift. I just had to vent my anger on the subject of Jacob...and this
bag of chips that won't open. ARGH!

Hehee.

So! It cracked TIL up! :D

Also, Keys (The Devil's Little Angel) there's something in the first paragraph that's going to make you laugh. Read it and tell me what you think I'm talking about. ;)

And now, without further ado, here's chapter 9!

Sunday, October 5th, 2008

EPOV

After my meeting with Jasper, I decided to do some grocery shopping. We needed some milk, juice, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, and various other average vegetables and such. I also really wanted to get a coffee maker. Ours had broken about a week ago, and it was a pain to survive without my handy-dandy coffee.

Wow, I've been watching Blue's Clues with Anna too much. I chuckled to myself. That show was plainly annoying. I wondered why kids loved it so much.

After I was done at Publix, the place where I always bought my food supplies, I drove to Downtown to walk at the ever-so-famous Forks National Park. If I were being honest, the only reason I didn't go straight home was to be away from Tanya for as long as possible. I really wanted that divorce, but I wasn't ready to face her just yet. I truly didn't like Downtown. It was too loud. However, I'd do anything to delay seeing Tanya.

At the park, I met a couple looking old enough to be my parents. They looked oddly familiar. Maybe it was because if you looked closely enough, you'd be able to see a hint of bronze in the woman's hair. It was strange. I'd never met anyone else with bronze hair before. Of course, mine was more bronze than hers was, but there was definitely some bronze in there. I walked up to them, intrigued.

"Hello," the man said with a smile. His smile was slightly crooked, like mine. Strange. The woman smiled as well.

"Good afternoon," I greeted them.

"I'm Elizabeth Masen, and this is my husband, Edward Sr.," the woman, Elizabeth, said. Whoa, wait. Did she say his name was Edward?! And why the 'senior' part?

"Wow, um, my name's Edward, too. Interesting coincidence," I said, still a little in shock.

"Why, that truly is intriguing, isn't it? What's your last name, son?" Edward Sr. asked. It felt weird talking to someone whom I shared a name with.

"Cullen." I then realized something, and added, "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen." Elizabeth gasped.

"It – it really is y–you," she breathed. She burst out into tears, and I felt a want – a need – to comfort her. I didn't know why, but I hated – no, I loathed – to see her cry.

"Are you okay, Ma'am?" I asked. She nodded through her tears. Edward Sr. put his arms around her and cooed words of comfort in her ear.

"She'll be okay, son. She's just surprised, is all," he said to me once Elizabeth had somewhat calmed down.

"Why is she surprised?"

"I don't think it's my place to tell you." I could tell he wanted nothing more than to tell me, but was resisting for some reason.

"Do you know someone who can tell me?!" I was getting frustrated. I wanted to know why the woman was so shocked to see me that she was crying!

Edward Sr. sighed. "Carlisle and Esme Cullen can."

"My parents?" I asked, slightly distraught. How did they know my parents? Edward Sr. nodded. "How do you know them?"

"They . . . Well . . . Carlisle . . . was the doctor who delivered my son."

"You have a son?"

"I did."

"What do you mean?"

"Listen, son, I really can't tell you all that."

"You can't tell me about your own son?" I asked, getting more and more suspicious of him by each tick of the second-hand on my watch.

"No, I cannot. I know someone who can, however. Your father and mother." I sighed. There was no way of getting him to tell me, so I just about gave up on trying to persuade him. I did have a question, however.

"Is your son's name Edward?" Edward Sr. froze for a second, and then nodded stiffly.

"Yes, it is." Well, at least that explains the senior.

"So . . . What happened to him?" I couldn't resist asking.

"Like I said, I cannot tell you." I let out a sharp sigh.

"Fine. Let's go."

"Go where, angel?" Elizabeth spoke up. I looked at her and all the fury within me melted. I couldn't remain angry once I saw her face. It was full of the tears she'd shed. Her eyes were red from all her crying. She looked a mess. I couldn't help the slight frown that came over my face.

"Please don't cry," I said softly, ignoring her question. This brought on more tears. "Alright. I can't take it anymore. We're going to see my parents. Now. I want to know what all this is about." Edward Sr. sighed, clearly expecting this.

Then, completely out of the blue, Elizabeth jumped on me. Well, more like ran to me and hugged me so tight that the air was whooshed out of me. I was frozen for a second, but slowly, I wrapped my arms around her and slightly rubbed her back.

"Sh, it's okay. It's alright," I whispered in her ear. "Please don't cry." Elizabeth reminded me of my mother, in a way. She wasn't like Esme, but she felt like a motherly figure, in a way . . . It was strange, to say the least.

She sobbed into my chest for a while, and then slowly regained control of herself.

"Oh my, I apologize. That was very rude of me," she said once she was done letting out her tears.

"It's no problem, Mrs. Masen," I replied.

"Oh, dear. Mrs. Masen is my mother. Call me Lizzie." I smiled and nodded.

"Alright, well, can we go to see my parents now? Dad should be home today since it's Sunday . . ." I trailed off when I noticed the sadness etched on Lizzie's features. "What's wrong?"

"Oh! Nothing, dear, it's nothing. Shall we go?" I didn't believe her when she said nothing was wrong because there was very obviously something wrong, but I nodded anyway.

I led the way to my car, and Lizzie and Edward Sr. followed. I unlocked the car and opened the backseat for Elizabeth while Edward Sr. went to sit in the passenger seat.

"What a gentleman," Lizzie said with a proud smile. I smiled back timidly.

I got in the driver's seat and started the car. As soon as it was on, I sped out of the parking spot. I was driving at 80 mph, much to Elizabeth's obvious displeasure.

"Edward, sweetheart, slow down. You don't want to get into a crash, now do you?" I smirked.

"I've never even gotten a ticket, Lizzie. So, calm down, we'll be fine," I said. She sighed. "You act like Anna. She used to be terrified of my driving, but she's recently gotten used to it."

"Is Anna your wife?" Edward Sr. asked, sounded very intrigued. I laughed out loud.

"No," I said between chuckles. "She's my daughter." Both of their jaws dropped.

"You … have a daughter?" Lizzie asked, still in shock. I nodded.

"She's three years old, and the most adorable little girl you'll ever meet. But I might be biased," I said with a small laugh.

"Can I meet her?"

"Well, she's with Bella and Alice, my sister, today, but maybe some other time."

"Bella's a pretty name. Is she your wife?" I blushed slightly, much to my embarrassment.

"I wish," I added under my breath, then spoke louder, "No."

"Why are you blushing?" Elizabeth asked, a hint of knowingness in her voice. I guess I can tell her . . .

"See . . . I'm married to Tanya, and I never wanted to marry her in the first place. I had to, though, because she was the mother of my child, and a child needs both her parents. So I proposed when Anna was about 3 months old. We got married and have been married since. However, I haven't loved her since the day we were pronounced man and wife, because that was when her true colors came out. Recently, I met Bella. She's the sister of Alice's husband, Jasper. I'd never met her before because whenever someone hosted a family dinner or something of the sort, one of us was always busy.

"So, we met and I realized that I was and am in love with her. I am head over heels in love with her. And I can't do anything about it. The sad part is we're both in relationships. Neither of us wants to be in them . . . But it's complicated. However, I got divorce papers today and I hope to get them signed tonight and be rid of Tanya. She's not a good mother, anyhow," I said, summarizing half my life to them. It was funny how I could be so open with them even though I didn't know them for even a day. Before they got a chance to respond to my story, we'd reached the house. I opened the door for Elizabeth and helped her out. She smiled at me.

I led them to the front door and walked in using my key.

"Mom? Dad?" I called. Five seconds later, I saw Esme running towards me, engulfing me in a hug. I hugged her back tightly.

"Edward! What are you doing here? I missed you! You must visit more often, okay, young man?" I smiled.

"Yes, Mom," I said in a whiny tone. She laughed and hugged me again. Then she noticed we had guests. She looked towards them, prepared to apologize, most likely, but as she realized whom they were, her jaw dropped so low I was worried it was going to fall off.

"Elizabeth, Edward," she breathed out. She had an expression of utter shock on her face.

She looked a little dizzy, and before I could do anything, she fainted.

AN: Hahaha, like our name for the park? 'Forks National Park.' HAHA! See, we told you we were creative with names. ;) Wink, wink.

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