A/N: Thank you all for continuing to read this story here. I wasn't able to get to many of you last chappy, but sometimes I've got to choose between replying to reviews or writing. :( I'll continue trying thought. :)
So it seems we may have had a bit of a breakthrough last week…
Betad by the lovely Michelle Renker Rhodes
Most characters belong to S. Meyer
Chapter 10 - The Missing Piece
EPOV
The first things I remember about that day are the soft, childish giggles before I heard the knock on my bedroom door. I raised my head off my pillow slowly, but even that action hurt like hell.
"Edward, it's Mel and me," Alice said softly. "May we come in?"
"Hold on," I rasped through a dry, aching throat. I needed a drink bad, but wasn't getting one anytime soon - not with Jasper here. Instead, I licked my chapped lips, biting off the peeling skin and hoping that the pain and taste of blood would take the craving away.
"Edward?"
"Alright, alright." I sat up and carefully swung my legs around to the side of the bed, covering up myself with the thin sheet and trying hard not to moan too loudly at the way my brain spun around and around.
When the bedroom door slowly opened, I squinted my eyes against the dim, muted light that streamed in from the hallway, bringing with it more pain. Just as my eyes began to acclimate themselves to something other than the darkness I'd been in for the past three days, the bedroom light flickered on, and before I knew it, a soft, little body threw itself at me full speed. Yeah, it hurt like hell, but I couldn't be angry; I could never be angry with her.
"Uncle Edward!" Mel cried. "You're finally awake! Mommy said you weren't feeling well, so I had to wait a little longer to wake you! Are you feeling better?"
She was only four years old at that point, but always older than her years, Mel spoke as clearly as any adult.
"I'm feeling much better now that you're here," I lied, because the truth was that I could barely see straight. "When did you get here?"
"This morning. Mommy says Daddy had to stay with you all these days because you were sick, and I couldn't come see you until you were all better. So are you all better now, Uncle Ed? Did you have a bad cold?"
"Something like that," I lied again.
"Oh. Then let's play checkers!" She bounced off my legs, dropped to the floor and began digging into Alice's bag.
Alice took a seat at the edge of the bed, and though I could feel her eyes on me, I couldn't make myself return her gaze. Not yet.
"Mel, honey, Uncle Edward looks like he might need a little while longer before he's ready to play. Why don't you go in the kitchen and ask Aunt Rose to make you a snack? I'll be right there."
Mel stopped rummaging through her mom's bag and looked back up at me. "Is that true, Uncle Edward. Do you need a little longer to be ready to play?"
"Yeah, Mel. I think your mom might be right. I'll play with you tonight, okay?"
"Okay," she shrugged easily before looking at her mom.
"Go ahead," Alice smiled at her tenderly," and don't forget to say please and thank you."
"I won't!" Mel laughed, and then stood up and wrapped her tiny arms around her mom.
"Love you to the moon and back," Alice reminded her with a kiss on the nose.
"Love you to Neptune and back," Mel giggled in return. It was their standard saying for whenever they were going to be apart for even a few seconds.
Once Mel was out the door, Alice turned her blue, blue eyes my way, and though I knew I couldn't avoid them anymore, I tried holding out as long as possible.
Yet when I finally gave up and met my sister-in-law's gaze, there was no anger or accusation there. There never was with her. I often found myself wondering what Jasper ever did to get so lucky and find himself someone like Alice. See, she wasn't just beautiful; Alice was fierce; she stood up to her rich parents even when standing up to them meant being disowned. She was loyal and loved my brother insanely. She worked hard for her small family, adored and took great care of their daughter.
She even took care of me.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like shit."
"Yeah, you look like shit."
She was honest too.
"Thanks," I chuckled.
"Hey, I'm just telling it like it is, little brother," she grinned. "You're usually a really good-looking dude, almost as handsome as my husband, but right now…" - she narrowed her eyes, studying me - "no…not so much."
I snorted and looked away from her.
"So that's what they call going off on a bender, huh? You must've had some kind of time!"
"Yeah," I smirked. "Some kind."
"Where were you guys, anyway?"
I closed my eyes and tried to remember, but it hurt like fucking hell to think, and as far as I could get was knowing that I'd met Sam and a couple of the other guys at the bar. There may have been a few girls involved; I thought I vaguely recalled someone on my lap, someone on Sam's…the rest was a lost and drunken haze.
"Wow, you really can't remember." Again, there was no accusation, no judgment in her tone. "It couldn't have been that good a time then."
"Alice-"
"Edward, I'm not here to rag on you or lecture you, little brother. You've got your sister to do that, and even Jasper's got a few choice words for you when you're ready to leave this room. He was down to kick your ass a few days ago. You're just lucky I reminded him of something."
"What did you remind him?"
"I reminded him that you're him, Edward…you're him without Mel or me."
"Al…" – I scrubbed a hand down my face hard, over and over, trying to push away that taste, but it was still there. Lately, it was always there. "Al, honestly, my brain's fried right now," I snorted. "Can we talk about this later?"
Alice reached out and pulled my hand away from my face before moving in and placing a kiss on my forehead.
"You, Jasper and Rose, the three of you have a piece missing here," – she said, taking my hand and placing it on my chest – "and it's none of your faults. It's the fault of those that should've been here for you. Mel and I fill that space for Jasper, and Edward, when you find who fills that space for you, you won't need any of this anymore. I'm so, so sure of it," she smiled.
And with that, she got up. "Now get yourself together because your niece wants to play checkers."
OOOOOOOOOO
Monday morning, as Mel and I step out of our apartment building, I spot Heidi leaning up against my truck.
"Edward!" she waves when she sees us coming, bouncing on long, sharp heels.
Mel stops walking. "Uncle Ed, I thought you said I'd be staying with Miss Bella from now on? I swear if you ask Heidi to pick me up from dance tonight, I will run the hell away."
"Come again?" I scowl, raising a brow.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Ed," she backtracks quickly, much quicker than I honestly expected her to. "I just meant…please don't ask her to pick me up. I want to stay with Miss Bella. She's so cool, and Heidi is such a...I mean, I'm sorry I said 'hell'. I'll try to watch my language."
I'm honestly too taken aback by all the 'sorrys' in that sentence to respond right away. With a wary smirk, I raise the truck keys and unlock the door.
"Just…get in the truck. You will be staying with Miss Bella."
Mel sighs in obvious relief. "Thanks, Uncle Ed!" She skips to the truck and gets in - but I don't miss the evil eye she sends in Heidi's direction first.
While Heidi makes her way over to me, I light up a smoke.
"Eddie, honey! I'm so sorry about last Friday! I had three last minute customers for spa manis and pedis, and I couldn't exactly turn them away! Do you have any idea how much I can charge for those just because I add some mint extract to the water and cream? I'll pick Mellie up tonight, okay? Even if I have to turn down customers. I'll do anything for you, Eddie."
I stare at her, tilting my head up to blow the smoke out in the air between us. I don't smoke around Mel, and when Bella's near, I always snuff out my cigarettes. Smoking keeps me sane right now, but I don't need either of them inhaling it second-hand. Yet if Heidi wants to stand this close to me, she's going to have to deal with that shit.
"You know what, Heidi? I can understand that something came up; things come up sometimes," I say, more or less repeating what Bella said to me the other night. "But you want to know what pissed me the fuck off? It's that you didn't even bother to call and tell me that you couldn't make it. Now I realize you were doing me a big favor, yeah, but this is my niece we're talking about," I stress.
"Oh, Eddie, I said I'm sorry," she pouts, reaching up and resting her hand on my bicep - exactly the same spot where Bella rested her hand a few days ago.
The open glare I give her makes her drop her hand away quick fast.
And shit, now I feel…dirty - wrong for having allowed her to touch me where Bella's hand lay last. And while Heidi goes on and on, I'm wondering if there's any way I can get Bella to touch my arm there once more…
"…anything you want to make it up to you, Eddie."
With a deep sigh, I take one more drag before dropping the cigarette. "Thanks for your help in the past, but I've worked out a better solution." A much better solution.
Heidi's heavily made-up eyes narrow. "A better solution? You've got someone else picking up the kid?"
"You don't need to worry about that," I smirk.
"You found some other stupid bitch to help you take care of the kid, so you're setting me aside? Is that it?"
"Goodbye, Heidi," I snort and turn around because I don't have time for this shit.
OOOOOOOOOO
Rose calls me later on that afternoon because apparently when it rains, it pours.
"Listen, I won't be able to do it on a long-term basis, but I can pick up Mel for you this week and next. I had a long talk with Royce. He's promised to get home earlier, so I'll have him watch the kids while I go-"
"Thanks, Rose, but I've got it covered."
"What do you mean you've got it covered? I thought you had to work late for the next couple of weeks?"
"I do, but…Mel's dance teacher is going to be watching her until I get off work."
"Didn't you say Mel's dance teacher was on your case because you were picking her up so late?"
"It was a misunderstanding. She just wanted to make sure…look, I took care of it, alright? Mel will be fine now."
I draw in a deep breath, releasing it slowly as I let those words sink in, really sink in. Mel will be fine now. She'll be safe and well taken care of - thanks to Bella.
Thanks to beautiful, perfect Bella.
"How the hell did you work that out? Mel's dance teacher…Edward," Rose sighs, "please tell me you're not screwing with Mel's dance teacher!"
"Rose, I'm not screwing around with Mel's dance teacher."
"Good, because if you were, and you fucked it up, who do you think she'd take it out on? I mean, does she even know what a nasty piece of work you are when you're drunk?"
"I said I'm not screwing around with Mel's dance teacher; therefore, she doesn't need to know what a fucking asshole I am when I'm drunk, does she? And by the way, thanks for that reminder. Mel's dance teacher is watching Mel because she cares about Mel. It has nothing to do with me," I hiss.
My sister is silent, but I can practically feel her incredulity through the cell waves.
"I hope you're not lying, Edward, and I hope that doesn't change because if you did, you'd just be jeopardizing what sounds like a pretty good set-up for Mel."
"Believe what the fuck you want. I don't have time for this. I've got to get back to work."
"Fine, but don't say I didn't offer to help!"
"Yeah, now when I don't need it anymore. Now everyone's coming out of the fucking woodwork."
"Good-bye, Edward!"
"Bye, Sis."
OOOOOOOOOO
We're in the middle of a break at work, and Emmett is on the phone, gesturing wildly though he doesn't look upset. I'm having a smoke and watching him, though who I'm really seeing before my eyes is Bella…and remembering how it felt to have her in my arms…
"...you'd just be jeopardizing what sounds like a pretty good set-up for Mel..."
I snort and drop my head, shaking it back and forth.
"Woohoo!" Emmett yells after he hangs up. He claps me on the back and like me, squats down.
"That was Mr. S," he grins. "He says the owners are happy with the progress we've made in the past couple of weeks! And when the owners are happy, Ed, Mr. S is happy, and when Mr. S is happy, he tells his buddies, and his buddies give us a call when they need a construction crew!"
"Finally, some decent news," I agree.
"Not just decent news, Ed," Emmett vibrates, "great news!" He looks around carefully, but the rest of the crew is either having their own smokes or caught up in other break time activities.
Emmett leans in closer and drops his voice. "Listen, I told you about the office building they're putting up a few blocks from here, right?"
"Yeah."
"A couple of days ago, I heard that they'll be breaking ground in early spring. Mr. S is one of the head contractors for that job, and I just found out that he'll be putting out an RFP for subs before the holidays."
"You think we got a chance at that?"
"If you would've asked me that a few months ago, I wouldn't have thought so. It would've been too big a job for us. But we've grown our crew, and this job here's been great experience for us. It's shown Mr. S that we know what the fuck we're doing. I think we've got a good chance, Ed, especially with you as my right hand man."
"Thanks, Em, I really appreciate it."
"Look, I know things are tight for you at the moment, and I can't offer you an increase now-"
"Emmett-"
"But if we win that bid, Edward, McCarty Construction will be in a completely different category. It'll be a whole different ballgame and the pay will increase, Ed. Things'll get better for all of us."
A huge breath of air swells up my lungs.
Emmett chuckles. "And I made sure I let Mr. S know that you're a big reason for why this job is going so well. I mentioned you by name, and though he may not know who the fuck you are right now," he snorts, "he will soon. He'll know us all by name when we win that bid," he says confidently.
"That sounds really great," I chuckle heartily.
"Yeah, it does." He looks at me curiously. "Hey, you've seemed really…mellow today. Besides the news I just gave you, what the fuck is going on with you?"
"Nothing," I shrug, still grinning. "It's just…things seem to be working out better lately."
"Yeah? Glad to hear it," he says, clapping me on the back. "You finally figured out the pick-up situation with Mel?"
"Yeah. She's going to be staying with her dance teacher in the evenings until I can pick her up."
"Really?" Emmett says, jerking his head back in surprise. "That's really cool of her dance teacher."
"Yeah. She's a really great…dance teacher."
Emmett stares at me. "What exactly does this great dance teacher look like?"
My grin widens.
"Oh shit," he chuckles. "You tappin' that?"
And the grin fades. "Nah, Man. It's not like that. She's not like that. She's just a…really great person, gorgeous and great. She's not the kind of girl you fuck around with."
"Oh really?" Emmett asks, and I can hear the surprise in his voice. "Well if that's the case, why don't you make an honest move then?"
"Honest move to what, saddle her with all my fucking problems?" I snort, the good mood I'd been in quickly disappearing. "It's already bad enough that she's going to be watching Mel for me free of charge and is even giving Mel a friggin' job. I mean, from what you just told me, things may start looking up financially, but right now, I'm one fucking broke ass bastard. What girl do you know would want to involve herself with someone like that?"
"Well, I don't know anyone personally that would," he jokes, but this time, I can't laugh along with him. "Does she know about your addiction?" he adds bluntly.
"What, everything else I mentioned isn't enough?" I snort.
"Hey, you might as well lay out all the cards on the table and take your chances."
I stare straight ahead at the dozer digging up earth and rocks, but what I'm seeing again is Bella. Everywhere I look, I see her. Everything I do, she's there; in the back of my mind. Sometimes in the forefront. She's everywhere.
Yeah, she's attracted to me; I know she is. Maybe almost as much as I'm attracted to her, but that's because she doesn't know. She knows some, but she doesn't know it all. She doesn't know the worst parts, and if she ever found those out…
"...you'd just be jeopardizing what sounds like a really good set-up for Mel..."
I stand up and stomp out my cigarette under the tip of my old boot, digging it deep into the muddy ground.
"Come on, let's get back to work. I want to try to finish this up by the end of next week before that other fucking owner shows up and starts talking shit to Mr. S."
OOOOOOOOOO
Hey, Uncle Ed. Miss Bella asked me to text you and let you know that we're headed to her place now. She said to just come over whenever you're ready.
Alright, Mel. See you in a few. Behave.
Duh. Of course.
Hi, Edward. I just wanted to let you know that we're headed back to my place now. We'll be there when you're ready, okay?
Alright. Thanks, Bella. This is really great of you. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. I don't know what I'd do without-
I quickly 'x' out that entire message.
Okay, thanks. I'll see you in a few. Thanks again. Really. You're so great. You're the best thing that's-
I erase that one too.
Thanks, Bella. I'll see you and Mel in a little while.
I stare at that one for a couple of seconds and then hit send.
OOOOOOOOOO
For the first time in months, when the sun begins to set that evening and I'm still at work, I don't feel a wave of guilt creeping up on me because Mel is either home alone, or waiting for me at the studio when she should've been picked up hours ago, or waiting to eat, or waiting to do her homework.
She's safe. She's happy. She's with Bella.
Beautiful, perfect Bella.
OOOOOOOOOO
When I ring the doorbell that night, I can hear classical music playing through the closed door before it opens, and I'm greeted by the smile I'm starting to see in all my dreams.
Bella is dressed in yoga pants and a cropped, loose shirt that falls off her shoulder, and I can see the honey-toned skin of her shoulders and midriff. I swear I don't know which look I prefer, this or the dance leotards. Both have also been in my dreams as of late, as well as images of me peeling either outfit off of her body…images of what the rest of her honey skin looks like…dreams of how sweet her skin tastes. The imaginary taste of her skin on my tongue has even managed to push Jack Daniels over as the last thought before I close my eyes.
"Hey, Edward. Come in," she offers, dark eyes sparkling.
"Thanks," I breathe, feeling the familiar inability to form words that I tend to feel around her. But I struggle against it. "Should I…take off my boots?"
"It's up to you," she chuckles.
So I kneel down and take off my boots because she's got a really great place and I don't want to dirty it. It's a large space: about two-thousand square feet, I'd say, with what looks like an extra four hundred square feet in a smaller loft space over the spiral stairs. There are no dividing walls; it's just one big, open loft, and shit, the things I could do here… Don't get me wrong; it's easy to see that she keeps it clean and neat, but as with the dance school, there's not much in the way of fixtures or personal touches.
As I walk further in, I spot Mel in the middle of the living area, dressed in a leotard and one of those dance skirts.
"Hey, Uncle Edward!" she calls out cheerfully.
"When did you get that outfit?"
"Miss Bella gave it to me for our ballet lessons!"
"We were just in the middle of our first one," Bella says behind me.
I turn to face her. "Ballet lessons? I haven't signed Mel up for-"
"They're informal," Bella says carefully. "Just she and I fooling around, that's all."
I don't say anything, but I get the feeling we're getting more free stuff from Bella.
"Uhm…Mel and I made rice, black beans and steak for dinner. Would you like some?"
My stomach rumbles because yeah, I can smell the lingering scent of perfectly seasoned steak, but she's already doing so much, and now fucking ballet clothes and lessons…
"Smells great, but I ate something a short while ago." Bullshit. "Thanks anyway."
That perfect smile she's been sporting since I walked in seems to falter, but she recovers quickly.
"At least take some home then. You can have it later. I know my Dad tends to get the munchies when he's worked a long day." She gives me a tempting grin, as if all her grins aren't tempting enough.
"Uhm…if you're sure…"
She rolls her eyes. "Come on," she says and walks towards the kitchen. "Mel, just practice first and second position a few more times," she calls out. "I'll be right back."
And I follow her because how can I not when that ass is moving that way?
When we reach the kitchen, she gets on her tip toes to reach one of her cabinets and pulls out a couple of plastic containers while I watch her from the other side of her counter, heart slamming against my ribs because when she reaches up, her shirt rides up even more and I clearly see more honey skin than I've ever seen, including the bottom swell of a delicious-looking breast covered by a black bra and fuck me…
"Do you need help?" I manage to choke out.
"No, thanks. I've got it."
So she starts spooning rice into a container, and her ass looks so damn good, and I'm already sporting a semi, so I force myself to look away.
"Those flowers are still alive?" I ask while attempting to focus on something other than how good she looks just standing there.
"Of course they are," she responds. I can hear a smile in her voice. "I told you I wouldn't let them die."
She puts the rice container down and starts filling another one with a few pieces of steak.
"Mel made the rice by herself, and helped me season the steak," she says, completely oblivious to the fact that I'm about to lose my shit over here. "I mean, I supervised, but it was mostly her. I hope you like steak. My grandma taught me how to season it the last time I visited her in Puerto Rico."
"When was the last time you visited her?" I ask, just as an attempt to get the image of her breast and bare torso and black bra and perfect ass out of my head, but fuck if it's working. I'm stiff and still behind the counter, watching Bella close one eye and stare up at the ceiling thoughtfully.
"I was thirteen, I think, almost the same age as Mel because you know-"
"She's almost thirteen," we both smirk at exactly the same time - and then start laughing.
"Thirteen is a difficult age for a girl," she says, raising her brows.
"I wouldn't know," I shrug, crossing my arms against my chest.
"No," she chuckles, "I suppose you wouldn't. Girls start thinking about boys and make-up and clothes...What were you doing at thirteen?"
It's the perfect opening. "I was taking my first drink," I could tell her. "Which led to another, and then another…"
"So why didn't you visit your grandmother after that?" I ask instead.
She doesn't answer right away. Instead, she sets the containers down, covering them tightly before looking up at me through dark, captivating eyes, and despite the awkward question she just asked half a minute ago, I'm suddenly consumed by such a sense of…peace, of relaxation; as if somehow, Mel and I are exactly where we belong right now on a Monday night. It may just be the warmth of her apartment, or the delicious scent of home-made food, or how comfortable yet delicious she looks in her yoga pants and little shirt, or just how relaxed she seems herself.
Either way, she leans across the counter, propping herself on her elbows, and gazes at me fully.
"Well…it's a complicated answer. Do you really want to hear this?" she grins impishly.
"Of course I do," I respond. And I mean it. I really want to hear it. I may have started the inquiries as a way to get my mind off of other things, but I realize that I do want to hear her story; I want to hear anything she says.
Her grin widens. "Okay. When I first started going to Puerto Rico as a little girl, it was to visit my mom, Renee."
"Your mom lives in Puerto Rico?"
"She used to. She and my Dad met over there one summer while he was on vacation with a couple of his buddies. She fell in love with the cute, white boy from the big city," Bella smiles, "married him and came back to New York with him."
"What about the language barrier?"
"Well, I was born ten months after they got married, so I've got a feeling they weren't doing much talking."
I chuckle aloud.
"Anyway, after a couple of New York winters, Mami missed her warm and sunny island and decided that maybe marriage and a kid weren't her thing after all."
"So she went back?"
"Yeah," she shrugs. "But though my dad didn't have much family, he's always had good friends. They helped him. He was very…strict with me while I was growing up. I was never left home alone or allowed to go anywhere by myself, or allowed to do much on my own…"
"Unlike what I allow Mel," I nod.
"Everyone's circumstances are different, Edward. Besides, I think it's good that Mel has some freedom, or else…or else she may not know what to do with it once she has it." She swallows thickly and for one moment looks almost ashamed before tearing her dark gaze away from me, dropping her eyes to the counter between us.
"Hey. You okay?" I ask, immediately missing the warmth of her gaze.
Her head snaps back up and she's smiling again, but this smile doesn't seem to completely reach her eyes.
"Sure. Anyway, back to my mom. She and my dad worked it out so that I'd visit her for a couple of weeks a year every summer. Funny thing is that when I'd go, I'd spend more time with my grandmother than with her. When I was ten, she met another white boy-"
"She liked the white boys, huh?" I cut in, surprising myself with the teasing tone of my voice.
She laughs, but her cheeks redden a bit, as if I've embarrassed her somehow.
"Yeah, I suppose she did like the white boys..." she breathes, watching me carefully. "Anyway, this one was from Phoenix, and I guess that climate suited her better. I haven't heard from her since."
"I have one of those."
It takes me a few seconds to realize I've said it aloud. And by the way Bella stares at me, I seem to have surprised her as well.
We're both silent for a couple of minutes, locked in each other's gazes while some classical piece plays on in the background, drowning out our voices.
"How old were you when she left?" she finally murmurs, quietly and carefully as if she's afraid to speak above a whisper.
"Sixteen," I shrug. "So she stayed around a bit longer than yours, but that's probably just because my dad up and left when I was two so she had to stick around for a while by default. And unlike yours, mine seems to prefer colder weather. Last I heard she was up in Alaska somewhere with some cousins."
Again, silence.
"I'm…sorry," she whispers eventually.
"For what?" I snort. "The going got tough, so she left. It's how life is."
Her beautiful eyes hold my gaze full of so much emotion I have to look away because I start feeling…the anger building up, the craving rising into my throat…the need to chase it all away, and just when I think I may explode and say something stupid again, something I won't mean and that I'll regret as soon as it's out of my mouth, my hand is suddenly enveloped in the purest warmth imaginable.
When I look down over the counter, Bella has her small, warm hand wrapped around mine.
"It's not always how life is, Edward. Not everyone leaves when the going gets tough. Look at you…"
Slowly, she rounds the counter, never letting go of my hand, never releasing me from her gaze, and when she's right before me, so close that the warmth of her body seeps into my bones, she tilts her head up, searing me with her dark eyes.
"You've stayed, Edward. Regardless of what else is going on in your life, you've stayed for her. And that makes you…such a strong and wonderful person."
"…Does she know what a nasty piece of work you are…"
She squeezes my hand tightly in hers, so tight it's as if she's squeezing my heart and I've got a strange and vague concern about how rough my knuckles must feel against her smooth palm. How it must chafe her perfect skin, but she keeps squeezing, keeps holding on; grounding me, anchoring me and for one long moment I want to show her more. I want to show her everything inside me. I want to do as Emmett suggested and just lay all the cards on the table, on this counter next to us. I want to let her into this world of mine full of vague memories where demons in bottles rule because maybe…just maybe, she can help me exorcise them.
"…when you find who fills that space for you, you won't need any of this anymore…"
"…you'd just be jeopardizing what sounds like a pretty good set-up for Mel…"
My head spins. I can barely breathe anymore while my heart hammers in my chest, while she holds my gaze, waiting...
"I…I'd…better get going."
I turn away from her, my chest heaving while the hand I've just pulled out from under hers shakes almost violently.
"Mel's got school tomorrow, and I've got…"
I trail off, unable to speak anymore, unable to think clearly.
"You don't have to leave, Edward."
"I think…right now it's better if I did."
After a few seconds, I hear her release a long, heavy sigh. "Alright, but don't forget your food. Heat it up in the microwave for about two minutes each container. No longer than that because then the food might start popping and get hard, and then it's all just a nasty mess."
Her awkward reheating instructions manage to dispel some of the tension, and we both release a couple of quiet chuckles. I turn around, but can't make myself meet her gaze as I take the two offered plastic containers from her.
"Thanks, Bella. I'll be careful reheating them."
"Good."
I turn back around.
"Edward?"
It takes every ounce of strength I have not to turn around when I hear the plea in her voice, the longing…because she doesn't know. She doesn't know.
"Yeah," I say, keeping my back to her like a coward.
She doesn't answer right away.
"I'll see you and Mel on Wednesday, right?"
"Of course, Bella. Where else would I go?"
And then I leave.
A/N: Thoughts?
Song in my head while writing this chapter: Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve.
Twitter: PattyRosa817
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See you all Thursday!