The Face I Can't Forget
Written by: TwiliteAddict & RosaBella75
Disclaimer: We don't own much – except (hopefully) your continued interest in Bella and Edward getting close in our little story. All characters owned by SM, story owned by CandraJade through her contribution to the Support Stacey Auction. Thank you also to Viola Cornuta, our fine beta!
TwiliteAddict: Wow! Here we are with another chapter!
RosaBella75: I know, and a new POV featured too!
TwiliteAddict: I think this chapter is kind of fun. And for those readers who have been with us since the beginning (yes, through the long drought between chapters 8 and 9), we just wanted to remind you of an important piece of information: Bella attends Seattle University and Edward attends Cornish School of the Arts.
RosaBella75: Got it? Okay, enjoy!
Last time:
She smiled hopefully, and the knife in my gut twisted, "Why don't we grab a bite before we go? Um, my treat?" Her voice shook slightly as she spoke. Suddenly she seemed so small and fragile as she looked up at me.
"Bella, I would really love to do that, but I have somewhere I really need to be today... And the drive back and all…"
The glint of hope began to fade from her eyes, and the knife inched deeper.
"Oh, yes, of course. I really do need to get back, too. My roommate is beside herself with me being gone so long - presumably with a stranger." She laughed nervously and sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth before shifting her weight from leg to the other.
This was torture to watch. I needed to just rip off the final piece…
"Okay, well, I wanted to give you this phone number." I reached into my pocket and pulled out a business card and handed it to Bella.
Her eyes lit up as if I was handing her something she really hoped to receive. That was until she read the card, then her brow furrowed and she looked up at me with a confused look and asked, "Who is Daniel Marks?"
Chapter 10: Best Laid Plans
BPOV
"Daniel Marks is my family's accountant. I know you are hesitant to take the money, Bella, so I thought if you contact Dan, he'll be able to help you invest the money. Who knows, maybe you can use just the interest or dividends to pay your tuition. So you really wouldn't be spending the money – just borrowing it."
At first I stood speechless staring at him until I finally found my voice, "You want me to call your accountant?"
"Yes. I know how important staying in school is to you."
"Other things are important to me too, Edward."
"I know. But this is your priority. The check is in your purse."
"I never agreed to take your money. We need to talk about this..." Somehow, I needed more time with him! It couldn't end like this. Not again.
"We made a deal. We both met the terms of that deal. There's nothing more to discuss."
"And that's it?" I blurted out in anger. "I promised a night of sex, and you promised a half a million. So now do we shake hands as if this was just a business deal and go on with our separate lives? Is that all this was to you?"
"Bella, please…"
"No, no. That's fine. My mistake."
The rage I felt inside over my foolishness and the sudden rush of shame made me light-headed. My breathing quickened and I feared tears would betray my childish hopes. I feigned interest in the brickwork beneath my feet.
Edward never made any promises except to honor his commitment – paying for my schooling.
"Bella, I'm sorry. But if you want to make me happy, you'll take the money and use it."
"You're sorry?" I huffed finally tapping into the burning fury underneath my humiliation. My head snapped up so I could look into his eyes. "You know, you're right. I will use the money. I've earned it, haven't I?"
My words struck him like a slap in the face. "Bella, it's not like that…"
"Then what, Edward? Tell me!" I could feel the tears threatening to fall.
"This is the best decision, that's all." He leaned forward and placed a lingering kiss on my forehead. My heart dropped into my shoes and melted.
"Goodbye, Bella."
And with that he turned and strode away. He never once looked back.
APOV
It was dark before Bella finally came through the door with bare feet and red, swollen eyes. She looked like hell had chewed her up and spat her out … and then stomped on her for good measure.
In one hand she held the clutch I let her borrow and the heels she had carefully chosen; in the other she dragged her suitcase behind her.
"Bella, my God, what happened to you?" I rushed over and took everything from her hands.
"I'm so glad to see you, Alice." She tried to smile, but her chin began to quiver and her voice cracked. "It happened again..."
Before I could ask for clarification, Bella burst into tears.
"Oh, Bella!" Dropping the stuff on the floor, I wrapped my arms around her as she clung to me and sobbed uncontrollably.
We stood like this for several minutes in the middle of our room before Bella's breathing finally slowed enough for me to lead her over to my bed. We sat quietly on the edge until Bella spoke between sniffles.
"It was so wonderful. He was so wonderful. But I guess it was only about the one night after all."
Bella got up and retrieved my clutch. She fished through it and pulled out a business card and a check. "This was all he wanted to give to me." She placed the items in my lap.
"Bella, this really looks like it's a real check!" I held it up to the light in disbelief. "You had great sex with a hot guy and came home with a half a million dollars! I understand you wanted to keep the guy too, but, baby, you ended up doing quite well."
But my "look at the bright side" pep talk didn't have the effect I hoped it would.
"I think I would have fared better if my bidder had been anyone else. Even a creepy stranger."
"Bella, I'm sorry, I just don't understand."
"Let me show you." She went to her footlocker and began rummaging through her personal effects. Bella loved memories, and it appeared she brought most of them with her to college. She gingerly pulled out a piece of paper that looked as if it had been crumpled up and then smoothed out again before being handled repeatedly.
"Remember I told you about the guy from high school that time you and I played truth or dare. You asked me my biggest regret, and I told you about Edward, how I knew there was something special about him but my pride got in the way.
"Yes, I remember."
"I didn't tell you the whole story. He wrote me this letter. But when my friends made fun of it, I played it off and balled it up and tossed it in my locker. I believe Edward saw me do it, and I never had the fucking guts to find out for sure, apologize, and tell him how I felt. I let him think I didn't care to save face. How pathetic is that? Karma's a real bitch."
Taking the letter from her I skipped through the gooey prose, but read the final paragraph out loud:
"Bella, love is a constant guide to us as we move through life, but we can't really see its true value even if we could quantify love somehow. Love doesn't vary with time; it stays constant even until death. If I am wrong about love, then I never felt anything worthwhile…and nobody has been in love. So are my feelings for you.
E.
"Wow," I exhaled heavily. "This guy is in love with you big time."
"Was... then. Not now. Not anymore."
"I don't believe that, Bella. No one writes something like this and then changes his mind."
"People fall out of love all the time, Alice. My parents did. Maybe Edward just thought he still loved me, but then realized he didn't feel the same once we were together."
"But look, Bella, he showed up again when you needed him most. He found you and came to the rescue." I waved the check for effect. "That's lo ve in my book."
"They why did I only get Daniel Marks' phone number?"
"I don't know. I guess that part doesn't make sense." I conceded to her logic but wouldn't give up the cause. "When you - you know - made love, what did your heart tell you? Did it seem like he was ju st after a one-nighter?"
"No, Alice. It felt so real. So forever." Bella flopped backwards on the bed and covered her face with her hands. "Ugh! That's why this stings so much. Why am I so fucked up? How could I have so badly misunderstood his intentions?"
"You have to ask him, Bella. You deserve an answer!"
"How?"
"Well, what do you know about him? There has to be some way you can reach him."
"I know where his family lives."
"Okay, so call there."
"And say what? 'Hello, Edward's dad, do you know why your adopted son screwed me so passionately my toes curled and then left me with a half a million for school expenses instead of his phone number?'"
"No, I don't think you should say that, but you could ask his dad for a cell number reach Edward."
"Edward told his dad I needed money. What if his dad wants details… I'm not ready to discuss that. Hell, I don't even have the answers anyway."
"We'll figure this out, Bella. Somehow, okay?"
She looked at me and smiled kindly, "Thanks, Alice. You're the best. But I don't want to talk anymore. I think I'll just climb in bed and try to shut my brain off."
"I get it. No problem. I hope you sleep well, Bella."
"Oh, Alice, one more thing." She sat up, snagging my clutch. Turning it over she unceremoniously dumped the contents on my bed. About a dozen and a half condoms plopped into a messy pile. "I won't need these again for quite some time. You may as well enjoy them before they expire…or whatever."
She stood up and handed me my empty purse before stripping off her dress as she headed to her bed. "You can have that too, if it doesn't fall off your minuscule body. I don't ever want to see it again." Snapping off the light, Bella threw on her ratty PJs and climbed into bed without another word – but she sniffled long into the night, and my heart just broke for my friend…
The next morning Bella slept through my preparations for work and classes. She was still sleeping when I left. The cloudy, overcast day matched my mood, and I didn't try to hide my scowl from anyone who passed me.
As I walked to the coffee shop where I worked pouring too many trendy, overpriced lattes, cappuccinos and espressos to privileged and deprived college kids alike, I hoped no one wanted to engage me in chipper Monday morning prattle. Truly, I hated waitress work, but the shop was ideally located smack-dab between two neighboring elite schools: Seattle University and Cornish School of the Arts. Two private schools located just one and a half miles apart meant the tips were worth the torture.
As I tied on my apron, I dismissed the thought of making good tips on this shift though. Today, I just wanted to make it through without biting someone's head off – because someone's head needed to roll for the way my Bella was hurting. If I only could get my hands on that fucker who -
"Morning, Pixie Stick," came an oddly monotone, grumbling voice as gray as the day.
My eyes focused on the face in front of me sitting at the counter. His was probably the only face I didn't mind seeing. My favorite regular customer…
"Morning, Maestro. What will it be today?"
"Got anything with a stiff shot of alcohol in it?"
"Only if a pour of Irish Coffee syrup in your usual is your bidding."
"Don't mention bidding," he scowled.
"What crawled up your ass and died? You look like hell," I quipped as I served him his usual skinny latte.
"Do you think it's possible to have the best weekend and the worst weekend of your life at the same time?"
"Huh, I would have said no if it hadn't been for what my roommate experienced this weekend. What happened to you?" Just for shits and giggles, I wanted to know if it could compare to Bella's wretched experience.
"Eh, never mind. It's too depressing. How was your weekend? Found a new boyfriend yet?"
"Not unless you're asking me out, Maestro." I toyed with him, still planning to drag his miserable story out of him. Maybe I could secure some fodder that might make Bella feel her weekend wasn't the complete shittiest out there.
"Trust me, you would not want me for a boyfriend. I don't have a heart. It's always been hers. And this time I was so close. So close. But maybe after graduation…if she hasn't found someone else by then… fuck me!"
He dropped his head on the counter with a pathetic thump, drawing curious looks from a few patrons.
"Dude, that's just unsanitary," I grumbled, looking down at the back of his unkempt bronze-colored head.
"Sorry," he mumbled into the counter.
"Just spill it! What happened?" Now I was getting frustrated. Fine to be so mysterious, but if he wasn't going to tell me, I wished he'd just move on. I could only comfort one person a day, and today wasn't his day. And tomorrow didn't look very promising either…
"You really want to know?" His head popped up, and I saw a wild desperation in his eyes.
"Yeah, I really want to know." And I did - especially now that my curiosity was piqued.
"I fell hard for this girl in high school. She was smart, sweet, and beautiful in a simple kind of way. It just felt good to be around her, you know. But when I declared my feelings for her in a letter, she chucked it. That was the first time I lost my heart to her.
"Then this weekend, I made, um, arrangements to see her again – Fairmount hotel, night at the symphony and, oh, you're gonna love this, I shelled out insane cash from my trust fund to pay for her schooling! I was pulling out all the stops to show her again how I truly felt…"
The blood drained from my head all the way to my toes like the rush of a clogged sink finally breaking lose, complete with the sucking sound at the end. My jaw dropped open as my blood figuratively spilled out my feet even as he continued babbling on without noticing the change in my expression.
"...and I did it! I finally told her. To her face this time. She told me the whole tossed out letter was a mistake, and she had feelings for me too. And then we, well, that's private, but it was glorious."
I just couldn't hold back anymore… "But you left her?"
"I had to! I didn't think she'd take the money for school if I stayed connected to it. And trust me, after the stunt she tried pulling, she must really want to stay in school. I didn't want her to have to choose between me and the money." He shrugged. "So the white knight gave away his heart and fell on his sword, Pixie Stick. And that's my massive sob story."
I paused for effect and then added…
"That is the stupidest, most pig-headed, lame excuse I have ever heard for breaking a girl's heart! EVER!" I exclaimed, maybe a bit too loudly, provoked by emotion yet careful to not reveal my "Bella connection."
"What?"
"Do you really think that B – that girl – would rather have your money than you? If she loves you, don't you think that is more important?"
"She didn't say she loved me." He looked totally bewildered by my somewhat exuberant outburst.
"But she does!"
"How – how do you know?"
"Okay," I sputtered, "then how about this, what if she does? What if she told you she loves you – then would you let her keep the money and your dim-witted ass?" I was practically begging even as I berated him…
He scratched his head looking at me like I had totally lost my mind. "Only if I knew she'd keep the money and stay in school, I guess."
"Great! Okay, then, there's hope, isn't there?" I insisted.
"How many cups have you had today, Pixie Stick?" He backed away from the counter, tossing a ten spot on the counter. "I've got to go. Nice, um, talking to you…"
He turned for the door.
"Wait! Edward!" I shouted over the hubbub of the shop at his retreating form before cringing for using his name. I had never asked for it in all the time I had known him as a customer.
He turned, shooting me a confused look.
"Will you be back tomorrow?"
"Probably."
"Okay. See you then."
"Yeah, I guess so." He shrugged as he left.
Somehow fate had dealt me two separated pieces of a whole - entrusting me to somehow fit them back together – the sooner the better…
Unfortunately, I didn't see Maestro – Edward—the rest of the week, which put a total crimp in my plans. I needed to find him. From our conversations over serving his coffee, I knew he was a classical piano student at Cornish and figured finding him would be a snap if I could get his last name out of Bella. But every time I tried to bring him up in casual conversation, Bella refused to even speak his name. She tried to tell me she was "doing fine," had accepted that she and "her free-ride" weren't meant to be, and that he had probably gone back to his girlfriend.
I let her think she was fooling me. She didn't know I heard her quietly crying at night or notice she was losing weight, too. The only thing not suffering was her studies. She had dove headlong into her books and spent every waking moment committed to school work.
Out of desperation, I skipped classes on Friday and spent the afternoon inquiring at the musical performance buildings at Cornish for Edward, purposely seeking out students of the female persuasion…
Finally, I hit pay dirt at Raisbeck Performance Hall. A slender blonde's eye glinted at the mention of Edward's name and description. Wearing a pair of painful looking stilettos, she was about a foot taller than me, and I doubted the authenticity of her barely contained… upfront assets.
"Yes, I know Edward. But I haven't seen him around lately. Which is so not good. He has an important audition for the classical ensemble coming up soon. It's rare for someone still in freshman year to even get an audition. Missing all this rehearsal time – he's gonna screw himself right out of a once in a lifetime opportunity to get noticed and really have a shot at something special."
She eyed me warily. "Are you his girlfriend or something?"
Me-ow!
"Just a good friend, and I haven't seen him either. I was concerned." I grasped at straws for more information. "Do you know where I could find him, you know, to check to see if he's all right?"
"No, but his roommate Emmett is in the Drama Program. You can usually find him at Nick's Bar on Friday nights hamming it up on amateur night. You can't miss him – he's as big as a bear and almost as easy on the eyes as Edward…but not as talented." She winked before she sauntered away, leaving me to contemplate the true meaning behind her last statement.
"Thanks, Barbie," I muttered under my breath.
I had succeeded in finding a lead to Edward, if not finding Edward himself. At least I hoped I had as I planned my attire for my evening at Nick's Bar.
True to her new routine, Bella was spending Friday night at the library, so I didn't have to worry about making up some excuse as to where I was going. As soon as she left, I pulled on a pair of black leggings, knee-high boots, and a long shirt cinched at the waist before making the short drive just off campus to Nick's bar.
Nick's was a rathskeller with a hippie feel to it. It was dark, wooden, and had a bit of a musty smell – a combination of cheap beer, which was sold by the bucket, and the dampness of being located in a basement.
Hoping Bosomy Barbie's words would lead me in the right direction, I sat at the bar, ordered a drink, and began my survey for a guy in his late teens or early twenties who was good-looking and resembled a bear. There were several large men milling about the dimly lit, somewhat crowded space, but once the host announced the start of "open-mic" night, I crossed my fingers that my prey would soon reveal himself.
I sat through an acoustical rendition of "Puff the Magic Dragon" that I truly believed would make my ears bleed and then cringed through two beatnik poetry readings before I saw the sight of my life. There in front of the microphone stood a gorgeous, dark-haired, blue-eyed masterpiece of a man. He was slightly more than six feet tall, wide as a football linebacker, and sported a fine sculpted muscular build.
He was almost hot enough to pull off the ridiculous costume he wore: an oversized red puffy shirt, matching feathered hat and - oh no he didn't - dark purple tights under his getup!
He tapped the microphone amidst the hoots and whistles, obviously undeterred by the audience's behavior. I turned in my stool to face him and grinned. This was going to be interesting to say the least…
Clearing his throat loudly, the noise in the room settled.
"Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II…
"But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off."
At this point he looked dramatically into the audience before stepping among the patrons as the spotlight followed him about the room. At last he stopped in front of a leggy redhead dressed in a short tight dress. He took her hand and led her to back to mic and then got down on one knee before her and continued…
"It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!"
"Oh, brother," I groaned as I forecasted the inevitable.
What a ham.
The extra-large orator placed a kiss on the blushing girl's hand, rose from his knee, and with feigned hesitancy, reached to touch her cheek before the spotlight faded to black.
What a player.
Then my stomach flipped and I felt my eyes widen. Good-looking, larger-than-life, talented in a way Barbie would appreciate... yep, all the qualities were there before my eyes. This had to be the guy I was looking for! This had to be Emmett.
By the time the lights rose and applause morphed into chatter, Emmett was already guiding his "victim" to the bar for a drink. As a psychology major, I was more than willing to sit back and observe the time-honored mating ritual these two were about to engage in, but I had more pressing matters to tend to – a weepy roommate and a depressed customer who need a major intervention.
Downing the last gulp of my second Sloe Gin Fizz, I moved down the bar to find out if Edward's hulk of a roommate was someone I could consider a useful ally or just another pretty wanker.
Standing close to him, I truly appreciated his height. Raising my voice over the din, I called up to him, "Hey, Romeo. Got a minute?"
He turned. "Did you hear something?" he questioned out loud, as his eyes searched the room over the top of my head.
"Very funny," I rolled my eyes at the joke that lost its appeal years ago.
"Oh!" he exclaimed as he looked down. "It's a little person! I thought I heard a scene from The Wizard of Oz was being done tonight."
"I'm not a munchkin, you titan in tights. They have no fashion sense."
He eyed me quizzically and then cracked a smile. "Can I help you, little lady?"
"Are you the Emmett with a very pitifully depressed martyr of a roommate?"
His eyes popped. "Yeah. You know something about how he got that way?" He raised an eyebrow at me inquiringly.
It appeared he was involved...
"I think he's in love with my roommate."
"You don't say? Well, you know more than I do. But I can tell you, it's been hell living with him. He's like a slow-rotting tomato, just oozing all over the place. Won't say why, but it's obvious it has to do with a chick. It's pathetic really. He's usually just uptight - you know, I'd actually prefer that to what I've got now."
"Good, then are you willing to help me get them together, because my roommate is just as oozingly pathetic." I was more than grateful to have another mind to brainstorm with.
"Can I buy you a drink?" he offered, much to the displeasure of the redhead he had been wooing just moments ago.
"Sure."
After ordering us both a Bud Light, I followed him to a recently vacated table.
"So, tell me about your roommate," he said, handing me my beer while taking a long swig from his bottle.
"Her name is Bella. She and Edward apparently had a crush on each other in high school, but nothing ever came of it."
"Not surprised. Edward seems out of touch with the whole dating scene. He's one of those brilliant brooding musical types, mostly keeps to himself."
"Well, he must be a really nice guy. He actually saved Bella from auctioning her virginity for college tuition..."
Oops, maybe I shouldn't have…
Emmett choked on his beer - I even think some of it actually shot out of his nose before he began howling in laughter. "That son-of-a-bitch!"
He started laughing harder.
"Um, could you let me in on the inside joke here?" I demanded, not finding humor in the situation.
"Oh, little one..."
"My name is Alice," I corrected him.
"Alice," he managed to get out between wails. "I showed Edward that posting weeks ago. You mean to tell me that was his long lost high school sweetheart? I thought I saw something in his eyes! Oh, that tricky bastard. He finally got laid!"
"Ha, ha. Now could you please contain yourself." I was starting to get frustrated - and Bella was going to kill me for spilling the embarrassing beans.
"Sure, sure. I'm sorry, Alice," he began catching his breath as he held his sides. "Really. This is just too weird. So let me get this straight, Edward bid on your roommate's virginity and won?"
"Yes. But he didn't say who he was until he saw her. To make a long story short, it sounded to her like he did it to protect her and to help her with school, which sounds like love to me. She thought they were going to finally be a couple, but then he left. She's a damn wreck because she loves him. Just by coincidence, he happens to be customer at my coffee shop, but I didn't know his name until he told me the whole ridiculous story how he left this girl because he didn't think she'd take the money for school if they were together. I put two and two together."
"Well, it sure sounds like Edward's fucked-up, convoluted thinking." He nodded then shrugged.
For a full minute I watched him ponder the situation. Then with a shit-ass grin he began rubbing his monstrous hands together enthusiastically, looked at me and with mischief in his voice, and said, "So how do you propose we get our star-crossed lovers back together?"
TwiliteAddict: *giggles* Emmett in purple tights! I just couldn't resist – what a visual!
RosaBella75: It was awesome! I'm still laughing about it. I just love it… and what about Alice's sass! They make quite the pair, don't you think?
TwiliteAddict: Hope everyone got a little chuckle in between the E&B angst. Many of you guessed correctly (or were at least close) on the Daniel Mark's question – bravo! But my fav response was from Socceredout who ventured Edward was pimping her out to someone who can give her money for sex!
RosaBella75: *smacks forehead and shakes head* Playa Pimpward! Ugh! So, what's next?
TwiliteAddict: Um, actually, we need to write that yet – but I got a few ideas that may just produce another chuckle or two and then I say we give the readers the big HEA!
RosaBella75: Yeeah! Sounds like a plan. Let us know what you thought! We find it sooo motivating!