Sorry for the lateness in posting today, I have gotten a bit behind and am trying hard to get caught up. There will be another chapter on the scheduled day of Wednesday coming, and very soon there will be another story posting that is almost completed on Facebook right now in our group page: TeamAllTwilight & AndTAT Fan Fiction. See ya at the bottom, with more authors note.
Chapter 10
Slowly, driving back to the house, trying to prolong the alone time with Bella. It's been a while since it has been just the two of us.
"Don't think you need to stay with us, if you need a break then just take one. Feel free to go sit in the study or even my office."
She nods at me and I help her out of the car.
"Oh, one more thing, I'm not sure if you spent a lot of time with Rose on Halloween ..."
Bella shakes her head and I pull at my hair. "Well, she's a bit of a bitch most of the time. She also thinks she knows everything, but she doesn't know jack shit. If she upsets you, tell me and I'll put her in her place."
Bella again nods at me, but gives me a small smile. "Emmett loves her, so she can't be that bad."
I shake my head at her. "You have no idea, Mina," I mutter as we walk into the house.
"Edward," Rose says walking to us, "Bella, it's nice to see you again," Rose continues tight lipped.
"Get off your broom, Rose, she's had a shitty enough day already, and doesn't need the ice bitch," I say moving Bella past Rose.
Feeling Rose's glare on the back of my head makes me want to protect Bella even more. Instead of saying more, I just ignore her as I walk Bella to the living room.
"Sorry about that, but I had to pick up Bella," I say to everyone.
Emmett walks over to Bella taking her from me and I bite back my pout, knowing I can't act like a child. If I act how I feel, everyone will know Bella means more to me than she should.
"I'm gonna check on dinner," I say almost walking into Rose in my hurry to get out of the living room.
Letting out a long breath as soon as I'm alone in the kitchen, I try to calm myself. Fuck I have no clue what the hell I'm doing. Giving her a pet name that clearly states my claim—even if I am the only one that knows what it means—is still wrong.
"Do you need a hand, Edward?" The soft voice I love sends tingles to my groin.
Slowly looking up to see her standing at the door with her hands behind her back biting her lip.
"Spend some time with Emmett," I say quickly so that it doesn't come out sounding hateful.
"He's showing Rose his new cup," Bella says as she blushes.
"Okay, well come on in then."
Bella moves slowly to the sink and washes her hands. Unable to help myself my eyes stay trained on her the entire time.
"What do you need me to do?" Bella asks and I look at her again, and she stumbles which makes me chuckle.
"Nothing that involves a knife," I chuckle.
Bella rolls her eyes but at least nods at me in agreement.
With Bella's help I'm able to plate up and get everything on the dinner table in time for everyone to come and join us.
"Jasper takes over saying grace as usual and then we go around the table saying what we are thankful for."
"Aren't your parents home for the holidays, Bella?" Tia asks softly and Bella shrugs.
"They decided they wanted to spend some time alone," Bella replies with her head down.
"Oh," Tia says, and I can hear the sympathy in her voice for Bella.
Feeling Tia touch my arm, I look at her to see her eyes are full of worry and hurt.
"What is it your parents do?" Rose asks in her usual snappy tone.
Glaring daggers at her, I mouth to her "shut the fuck up" which makes her glare back at me.
"My mom is a maid at a hotel and also helps out doing some administration work for a small company. My dad drives a long distance truck."
"Hmm, is Emmett your first boyfriend?" Rose carries on.
"Yes, I am," Emmett answers giving Rose his own glare.
"What? I'm just trying to get to know the girl," Rose states as she looks between Emmett and I.
"Okay, moving on. So Edward, where did you take Tia for your last date, it was what, number six?" Alice asks as she taps her foot.
"We went to a dance club, but the music was so loud I don't think I could hear myself think," Tia says with a laugh.
"No way, never ever, there's no way there is such a thing. Music cannot ever be considered as being too loud," Emmett says sounding genuinely shocked which makes everyone but him and Bella chuckle.
"Guess I'm showing my age then?" Tia says as we nod.
Bella and Emmett just look at each other and shrug.
"Hmm, a club, well did you at least have a good time?" Alice asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I did," Tia says as she looks at me.
Where I try to keep my eyes on Tia they flicker to Bella who has holds her head down now, looking at her food which she just seems to be playing with.
Earlier when Alice was talking about having both the girl I'm dating and the girl I love in the same room, she was talking about Tia and Rose, but it's having Tia and Bella in the same room that's killing me. Not wanting to hurt Tia, because she is a very nice woman, but not my one and I know it. Bella however, I feel this connection with, and she has to sit here and listen to what I've been doing with Tia. Knowing Bella doesn't feel about me the way I feel about her doesn't matter, I still don't want her hearing this.
"What was your first kiss like?" Alice asks with a dreamy look on her face.
"Uh," Tia says and I know this is over the fact I have kissed her on the cheek goodbye, but I've never even tried to give her a proper kiss.
"Emmett, how's the football season wrapping up?" Jasper asks quickly picking up on the tense atmosphere.
"Going well, but I don't really think football is what I want to do at college," Emmett says making me drop my fork.
"What, since when?" I almost shout.
Emmett just shrugs.
"I thought football was what you wanted to do, forever?" I ask.
"It was and I thought you wanted me to have another plan? So I've been working on that now for about two months. Bella took me to an animal shelter to help out and I loved it. We checked into what I would need to become a veterinarian.
"I know it's going to be hard work, but Bella thinks I should be able to handle it. I even got myself booked into a summer class at the animal shelter in Seattle. They said I can do some work with them a few times a week. Between both of the shelters, I should know by the start of my freshman year, if it's the right path for me."
Looking around the room, I'm in shock. Emmett has made a well thought through plan for his future, and I'm surprised this is the first I've heard of it. My eyes land on Bella who is looking at Emmett with a proud look.
"I just hope I don't fail," Emmett says softly.
"You won't, Em, you can do anything if you put your mind to it. It will be hard work, but I'll help you as much as I can."
"I will too," I say quickly. "Bella's right, just try hard, if this is what you want, we'll work together to get you there."
Emmett grins and truly looks happy and relieved. "You're about to hear something you never thought you'd ever hear again, but, Dad you were right, there was something that would get my full heart more than football."
Nodding at Emmett, I give him a wink.
As Rose huffs, my eyes flick to her, seeing she looks miffed about something. When her eyes land on mine she just shakes her head and I see a flash of hurt in her eyes and I'm unsure what put it there.
~MSG~
"I'm thinking the teams should be, Jasper and Tia, Emmett and Rose, Bella and Edward and I'll be the question master?" Alice says as she takes the note pad and cards of questions with her.
"Doesn't look like you're giving us a choice," Tia chuckles taking a seat next to Jasper.
"Hi," Bella says as she sits down beside me, and starts to bounce one of her legs.
"Edward and Bella you will be the horn," Alice say giving us an old bike horn.
"Emmett and Rose, the bell" she carries on handing them a bell.
"Lastly Jasper and Tia, you are the clicker."
"Thank you, darling," Jasper says huskily making Alice giggle.
"No cheating," Rose says slapping the back of Jasper's head.
"Me, cheat?" Jasper says covering his heart with his hand.
"Let's just get this started sometime today," I say knowing they will just keep bitching at each other if I don't interrupt them.
"Ready?" Alice asks as she takes her seat.
We all nod and Alice smirks.
"Then I shall begin," she states trying to make herself sound so official.
"I'll start off easy, what is the capital of America?"
Before I can honk, I hear the bell. "That's easy, it's an A," Emmett says making everyone chuckle.
"NO!" Alice says as she clicks her tongue.
"Actually, he's right," Bella interrupts, and Alice turns to her. Before she can say a word Bella carries on. "You didn't ask what the capital city of America is, leaving it to us to decide if it was the letter or city you wanted. Now the letter is a capital A, and the city is Washington, DC. Being the quiz master you should make sure your questions are more specific and clearly stated as to what exactly you're asking."
Alice glares at Bella as the rest of us carry on chuckling. Under the glare from Alice, Bella starts to bounce her leg again.
"No points," Alice says. "Next question, name all fifty states in America."
Bella honks and I look on like everyone else as she says all states in alphabetical order.
"Who was our thirty-sixth President?"
I close my eyes trying to think, but hear the honk again.
"Lyndon B. Johnson," Bella says and Alice just looks at her.
"That's right," she says slowly, and Emmett just chuckles.
As the questions keep coming, Bella just fires off the answers one after another. A few times others manage to ring the bell or sound the clicker before her, but she is really on a roll.
"And the winners are Edward and Bella," Alice claps and everyone cheers.
"I think you mean Bella is the winner, she's the one who answered most of those questions," Rose says looking between Bella and I.
"I knew the answer to the questions too, I was just giving my teammate the chance," I replay winking at Bella who blushes.
"Yeah, sure you did," Jasper counters in a teasing tone.
"As the winners of the trivia game, you two get to choose the film for us to watch," Alice says as if none of us have said anything.
"Emmett, Jasper, you two get the snacks. Girls you get the blankets and pillows," I say as I stand. Turning to look at Bella, "Come with me, we'll go and pick out a movie." Holding out my hand and as soon as her hand's in mine I pull her up. Keeping a hold of her hand, we walk out the room.
"What would you like to watch, Mina?" I ask as I guide her to the shelf of movies.
"How about something that has a little of everything?" she says with a shrug.
Nodding at her, I start scanning the titles, until I find one that I hope she will like. Grabbing my choice off the shelf, Bella tries to see what it is. Hiding the movie title from her, and tapping her on the nose with a laugh. "Trust me," I say and she blushes but smiles at me nodding.
"I do, there's not many people I trust, but you are one of them."
Walking her back into the living room, I see Jasper and Alice are on the loveseat. Tia and Rose are chatting away on another love seat. Bella walks over and sits in the middle of the sofa with Emmett at her right side.
Turning my head and moving toward the entertainment system, biting back the wave of hurt, as I load the disc.
"Okay this us idk what u r meaning here" I say looking around to see where I should sit.
"You'll need to sit with those two and make sure they keep things to a PG13 rating," Alice says with another smug grin. Her eyes flicker to Rose and Tia and I know she's thinking she is saving me from choosing between Rose and Tia. She's not saving me a choice, in fact she's making me sit next to the person I shouldn't be sitting next to. As much as I want her to be my girl, she's my son's girlfriend.
"Thanks," I snark, but take the seat to Bella's left and pick up the remote.
"I'll get the lights," Emmett says jumping up at the same time.
"Here are some covers," I hear Bella say softly as I press play.
Soon after the movie starts I can feel a buzzing sensation and my body seems to be gravitating toward Bella. Moving my eyes to the corner, I look at Bella to see if she can feel it too. Watching her intently I see her moving her eyes to look at me. When she sees I'm watching her she gasps and her leg start to bounce. Without thinking about it I place my hand lightly on the top of her leg. Starting to recoil right away, but before I can move it, her leg stops bouncing and her hand covers mine. Immediately my whole body feels at peace and the buzzing settles. Closing my eyes, I move my hand from under hers and place it on top linking our fingers. As my hand is so much bigger than hers, I am able to rub my thumb against her leg.
Swallowing slowly Bella's body seems to move on its own toward mine. Squeezing her hand once, I pull mine free, so I can put my arm behind her on the sofa. Just as her leg starts to bounce and the buzzing comes back, my other hand is sliding to hers. This whole process is leaving me clueless as to what the hell's going on between us. My thoughts are lost thinking this over and I've no clue what's going on in the movie.
"Jesus, Emmett," we all whine as the light comes back on and I see the credit rolling. I'm so startled by it, I don't have time to pull back from Bella. Sometime during the movie she laid her head on my chest, and I'm a little surprised she hasn't moved yet.
"Aww, how cute," Rose states.
Bella just hums and moves even closer to me. Glancing down at her, I see the reason she has not moved, she's sleeping.
"Sorry, Dad, she hasn't slept much the past few days and she favors laying on her left side," he says quickly as he walks over to us. "I'll carry her to her room."
As soon as he has her up in his arms, I feel a pang in my chest. Watching them walk away increases the buzz like irritation I feel. "Make sure to put her in the spare room," I call out.
Hearing Emmett chuckle but still not acknowledge my order makes me itch to follow him up the stairs.
"Edward, why don't we clean up, and let the girls get themselves together?" Jasper says and I frown at him but then nod.
"What's going on between you and Bella?" Jasper asks as soon as we walk into the kitchen.
"What? Nothing!" I protest.
"Edward, I have known you for three decades. You've never lied to me, so don't fucking start now."
Sighing, I rub my face. "I'm not lying, there's nothing—"
Jasper cuts me off by holding up his hand.
"You look at her like she's hung the moon, and the way you ran out of here to get her, well that says a lot. But what really got me was the both of you during the movie. You didn't seem to relax until, you put your arm around her."
Swallowing, I never realized anyone else had noticed my reactions.
"Fuck, okay, I'm attracted to her, and well, nothing happened okay. I know it's wrong in all kinds of ways and fuck she'll never—"
Again Jasper cuts me off. "She looks at you like she has feelings for you. Edward, man, she's Emmett's girl. It's very clear that he loves her."
Closing my eyes, I feel my heart shatter a little more. "I know," I tell him again.
"Just be careful, Edward, don't let a girl come between you and your son."
Just looking at him, I stay silent, knowing he has more to say.
"She seems to float between you and Emmett, being both what you want in a girl. With you she's the sweet girl next door, but the confident, sexy girl with Emmett."
"You think she's playing us?" I ask in shock.
"I never said that, just please don't do anything rash."
I bob my head at him.
"And maybe you should be telling Tia, she clearly likes you and it's unfair if you friend zone her without even telling her."
"Friend zone, isn't that a girlie thing that chicks do to us guys?"
Jasper shakes his head smirking at me. "Whatever, just tell her, but not tonight because I have to drop her off."
I roll my eyes but walk back to the living room with him. I help Tia into her jacket and walk her to Jasper's car. Like always I kiss her softly on the cheek before helping her into the car.
"See you later," I say closing the door.
As soon as the car is out of sight, I walk into the house locking up. Heading upstairs I walk to the spare room to check on Bella. When I get there I frown seeing she's tossing and turning. The pain on her face has me walking to her.
"No, please don't go," she sobs out.
"Mina, wake up," I whisper in her ear as I stroke her forehead.
As she leaps up I jump a little then chuckle. "You were having a bad dream," I say as quietly as I can.
"Sorry," Bella says biting her lip.
"It's okay," I swallow standing back up, "I'll let you get back to sleep now."
Before I can walk away Bella takes hold of my arm.
"Can you stay, just until I fall asleep, please? I don't like ... Emmett normally sits with me for a while after I have a nightmare?"
Pulling at my hair, I'm unsure what to do, but her quivering voice is proof enough that she doesn't want to be alone.
"I'll get Emmett," I say knowing it's the right thing to do.
"Please, no, just stay with me. I have a lot of nightmares and Emmett's like a freaking octopus. He's pushed me out of the bed loads of times."
Busting out in silent laughter making my body shake, I can just imagine because she's right he's always been a bed hog.
"Okay, I'll stay, but just until you're asleep," I say and she moves over allowing me to lie next to her.
Once I'm beside her, she turns and looks at me. Knowing this could be trouble I give her a smile. "Close your eyes and go to sleep, Mina."
Bella smiles, before closing her eyes. "Don't leave me," she whispers and I close my eyes hating to hear the pain that I'm sure her parents have caused within her.
"I won't," I tell her knowing it's getting harder to stay away from her.
A/N: So things are really odd to say the least, what are your thoughts on the behaviors of everyone when they are together? How do you suppose things will end, with Edward agreeing to stay with her?