Disclaimer- Stephenie still owns the usual suspects.
I own my original characters and original story.
**kind of a housekeeping chapter for E
******************************LRM**************************
Chapter 10 - Making Plans For A New Start
As much as I wanted to stalk Bella on New Year's morning, I decided to be a non-creepy boyfriend and stay away.
I thought about what I needed to accomplish today. Knowing that no matter how Tanya dealt with the dissolution of our arrangement, my life was going to change as of Monday. There was no doubt that Felix would no longer be working for me, so I decided to broach the subject of working for me full-time with Sidney.
I had no idea what his personal situation was, but knew that it would be much easier for me if I were to replace Felix with someone I was already comfortable with.
The night before, I'd arranged with Sidney to take me to my parents' home for breakfast. Hoping to meet with him beforehand, I sent a text.
Sidney-
If you're free, let's meet at the hotel's coffee shop at 9am. There's a matter I'd like to discuss with you.
-Edward Masen
I received a response almost immediately.
Mr. Masen-
Will do. See you at 9.
-S Coleman
As soon as we were seated with our coffee, I began. "Sidney, I'm not going to beat around the bush. I need a new head of security in L.A. I don't know what your living situation is, but I wanted to see if you were interested before offering it to someone else."
Sidney looked a little surprised, but definitely interested. "I'd like to hear more about it Mr. Masen."
Holding out hope that this matter at least could be resolved today, I continued. I'll have my accountant contact you with an exact salary offer. My current bodyguard has a slightly different arrangement than what I'll require from you."
I plan to need Sidney more than I needed Felix. With Bella now in my life, the days of reclusive Edward Masen were hopefully behind me.
"Also, you would be able to live in the guest house on my property, if you wish, rent free with all utilities paid."
I never use that house anyway. My parents always stay with Alice when they visit.
"Is it something you may be interested in?" I asked.
Sidney cleared his throat. "Very much so sir. I don't have any family here. My son lives in Colorado. I've been divorced for years. Parents are dead. I've got a brother in Nevada. So, if the salary is right, I think we'll have a deal."
I smiled, this was the most Sidney had ever spoken to me at one time. "How soon could you move to California?"
"Give me three weeks to a month sir." He smiled back.
On the ride to my parents' house, I had one more phone call to make.
"Happy New Year Edward. To what do I owe the honor of a call from your grouchy ass so early in the morning?" Alec's voice blared through the phone.
"Sounds like you're the grouchy ass this morning Alec. Happy New Year to you too. I need you to do something for me."
"Whatever the fuck it is Edward, I hope it can wait until I've had coffee. Unlike you, some of us actually partied on New Year's Eve." Alec yawned in my ear.
The photos of Isabella and I dancing last night must not have hit the internet yet.
"I'm going to need a new bodyguard for a few weeks when I get back."
"Is Felix finally making the move over to Tanya's security?" He questioned.
"Something like that." I answered.
"I sense you're not telling me everything."
"I'll fill you in on Monday."
"Yeah that reminds me, why aren't you coming back tomorrow? And what's with the photos of you on the internet with that Swan chick? The tabloids are going to blow that shit up into a romance. She's hot, though. Do you know if she's single?"
"Her name is Isabella" I growled. "And you will stay away from her. Do you understand?"
"Ho, a little touchy there aren't we Edward? I didn't mean anything by it, really. Are you actually seeing her?"
"Alec, you know that I'm uncomfortable having these types of conversations over the phone. It's all part of what we'll speak about on Monday. Especially since, knowing you, you aren't alone, and your girlfriends like to blab to the tabloids."
Alec chuckled quietly. "Dude, last night was New Year's Eve. Can I help it if I'm a pussy magnet? And you know that I never discuss you with my hookups."
I cringed at Alec's blatant disrespect for women. "Alec, you know that half those women follow you home because you tell them you work for me." I sniped.
"I've got to use everything I've got Edward." He continued to laugh quietly. "Okay, well I'll see what I can do about the security. I'll send you a text later. See you Monday dude."
"Thanks, see you then. Goodbye."
It was always like this with us. We insulted each other constantly, but deep down I really liked Alec. He was like a younger brother, an irresponsible, partying, whoremongering, younger brother.
I had an enjoyable breakfast with my family, although I wished more than once that Bella could have been there with me.
My parents kept trying to pull me into conversation, but I was very distracted. Every few minutes I glanced at the clock, trying to calculate if Bella could be out of church yet.
"Jasper, Alec informs me that there are photos of Isabella and myself on the internet. Have you seen them?"
"Edward, they're just photos of the two of you going into your hotel, and some at the Arboretum. Perfectly innocent."
I made a mental note to check into that later.
At the exact moment that I'd actually reached the bitter end of my sanity, while waiting to hear from Bella, my phone chimed with an incoming text.
E-
Arriving home right now. How soon can you be here?
-B
The way the text was worded, told me something. She didn't ask when would I arrive, but when could I arrive. She needed me. I texted back that I was on my way.
The doors to both apartments were wide open, as Bella and Rose worked in both kitchens, carrying the prepared food to Emmett and Rose's dining room table.
As soon as I got there, Emmett handed me a beer, and felt the compulsion to share the story of their very eventful morning at the Cathedral.
"Edward, dude, you should have seen our little Bellaboo in action today. I was damn proud."
I looked at him questioningly.
He laughed as he thought about something. "I was so exhausted from last night's events, that I really zoned out through most of the Mass. I perked up just in time for the 'sign of peace' when I noticed Bella avoiding shaking hands with this little dude sitting in front of us."
"When I tried to force her she screamed at me, in the House of God." He snickered.
Still not getting it. Maybe Emmett is easily amused.
"Let's just say that is wasn't the fact that she yelled in church that made this funny, it was what she yelled. I'll paraphrase "THAT KID'S GOT A BOOGER ON HIS FINGER AS BIG AS JUPITER, I CAN'T SHAKE HIS HAND. FROM NOW ON WE DON'T SIT NEAR ANY FUCKING CHILDREN." It was priceless."
Even though I knew that Bella was mortified by the incident, I couldn't help myself, I laughed with Emmett for five solid minutes.
Damn I wish I'd been there.
After the laughter ceased, I watched Bella as I always did, but noticed that something was off. Surely she wasn't still agonizing over her slip of the tongue in church?
"What's wrong Bella?" I asked as I moved closer to her. Not able to stand there to be much distance between us.
"I think I'm going to Hell." She stated plainly.
She was beating herself up over this. I laughed again. "I doubt it Bella. You're too good a person."
"Edward, I said the 'F' word in Church, in front of children!"
Probably no worse than they hear at home.
Trying to improve her mood, I decided to share my most humiliating moment.
"Would it help if I told you my most embarrassing story ever?" I asked.
"I guess so." She answered in a small voice.
"Let's see, when I was twelve, my friends dared me to sneak into a neighbor's yard with them one night, and skinny dip in their pool. The neighbors were out of town, and the deal was that we would each take a turn accepting the dare."
"I was so gullible that I decided to go first. I stripped and cannon-balled into the cold pool water. When I came up for air, I saw my friends grab my clothes and run out of the yard, laughing their asses off."
"I chased them down the street, hoping no one would see me, trying to get my clothes back. And, I was freezing. As luck would have it, I had to pass by the house of a girl I had a crush on."
And her gorgeous sixteen year old sister.
"Oh no." I could tell she wanted to laugh.
"Oh yes." I grinned. "She was out on her porch greeting friends because, as I found out later, she was hosting a slumber party. I'm sorry to say that those girls got a glimpse of the Full Monty."
Should I tell her the most humiliating part? I don't know if Bella will feel comfortable with me mentioning my junk in polite conversation.
"What Edward?"
"I don't know if I should tell you the most embarrassing part."
I'm really not sure about this.
"Oh come on Edward."
"Well, I have to admit that I'm not hurting in the size department, but because the air was really cold, and I was completely freaked out…." I coughed. "Let's just say that those girls were less than impressed." I chuckled at the memory.
Thank heavens she giggled, obviously not offended.
"I gave up trying to catch my friends, and headed for home. There on the front porch was a small stack of clothing and a note, from Alice of course. She reminded me that she had tried to talk me out of going, but I wouldn't listen. She'd left the clothes to spare me any further embarrassment."
Alice has saved me countless times over the years, and she helped plot the perfect revenge for my jackass friends.
She looked happier by the time we sat down to dinner.
Bella was a fabulous cook. She had told me that she taught herself at a young age, because her mother was a disaster in the kitchen.
One dish I'd never tried before was black-eyed peas. The peas themselves didn't have much of a taste, but Rosalie had mixed a little pork and stewed tomatoes with them, making all the difference.
A few minutes into the meal, Emmett jumped up from his seat. "I'm just going to put on some 'holiday' music."
It struck me as weird to still be playing Christmas carols on New Years Day, but Emmett was a little unpredictable.
.
What you gon' do with all that junk? All that junk inside your trunk?
I'ma get, get, get you drunk, Get you love drunk off my hump.
My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump,
My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely little lumps
.
Rose dropped her face into her hands and muttered. "I'm so glad we only eat black-eyed peas once a year."
I could feel my shoulders shake with my silent laughter.
-V&V-
I was ecstatic when Chief Swan headed for home. As he was saying his goodbyes, I found it quite difficult to keep the smile from my face. When we finally went across the hall to Bella's apartment, it was as if every muscle in my body relaxed.
"So. The photo-shoot was rescheduled for tomorrow morning, and I promised you a car ride tomorrow afternoon." I suddenly had the urge to be alone with my girl in a darkened movie theater.
"Yes?" Bella asked.
"Let's go out."
"Out where?" She was always so curious.
"I have a few ideas." I smiled as I grabbed her hand "Change into your jeans and a hoodie."
I changed into the casual clothes I'd brought. It was my usual 'disguise' clothing when venturing out into public places.
Bella chuckled when she saw me. "Much less recognizable Mr. Masen."
We ended up at the old Majestic Bay theatre. I wasn't kidding about taking her to the movies. "Wow, we're going to the movies?"
"I thought it might be fun." I suppose if I were a marine biologist, I'd want to take her to an aquarium.
"Okay, but I get to pick." Something about that suggestion made me uncomfortable.
"I want to see Time Stands Still."
I couldn't help the groan that escaped. As a rule, I never watched my own movies.
Somehow, in the back of my mind, I knew this would be Bella's choice.
"I haven't seen it yet Edward. I wanna go!" She whined.
I laughed.
How could I refuse her anything?
I admit that I saw red for a moment when she wouldn't let me purchase her ticket, but she was right when she pointed out that this technically wasn't a date. Not yet. This caused a new wave of guilt to come crashing over me for not being able to tell her my whole truth yet.
I'm still an asshole.
I soon forgot my feelings of guilt when I had my arm around Bella and she snuggled into my shoulder.
Admittedly, I paid no attention whatsoever to the movie, spending the time watching Bella's face instead. I studied her profile as she became engrossed in the film. She really had no idea how beautiful she was. I often found myself just staring at her, trying to memorize her face for the times we would be forced to be apart.
If we were in the same room, I couldn't stand to not be touching her. I had become addicted to the feel of her soft skin and the electric current than hummed between us when we touched. And her eyes, I could get lost in those brown eyes, the windows to a beautiful soul. Whenever I looked into those eyes, I would see the love I felt reflected back to me. Those beautiful eyes, always so full of hope for the future.
Those eyes that for some reason were starting to fill with tears at this very moment.
What happened?
I wasn't sure what was wrong. Was she in pain? Did the movie remind her of something traumatic? I started to panic as I led her to the lobby.
During out stilted exchange which existed of blurted words between Bella's sobs, I was able to discern that the bout of tears was brought on by the movie's sad ending.
Just when I think I can't possibly love her more, she does something adorable.
Once she'd calmed somewhat, Sidney helped us escape to the car.
"Bella, are you okay?"
"You died." She said, wiping her nose on her sleeve.
"Bella, it was just a movie."
She suddenly looked very determined. "Edward, this is really important, you can't die, promise me. You can't leave me."
She was being immature and irrational and I loved her completely. "I promise Bella. I'll try my best to stay alive so that we can be together. Better now?"
"Yeah, it just came as a terrible shock you know?"
"Maybe I should have warned you."
"No, it's okay, I'm just being silly."
"And I love you for it Miss Swan."
"I love you too Mr. Movie Star." she grinned.
-V&V-
Five more fucking minutes. That's all I'm giving these people before I tell them we're done, and walk out.
When I agreed to a few shots for their magazine, I didn't think it would include being dragged all over greater Seattle to do it.
The only thing keeping my temper in check was my view of the lovely Isabella as she sat on a bench watching me.
Sidney was certainly earning his pay today, his secret service background serving him well. The crowds had grown larger at each subsequent location throughout the morning but, thankfully the magazine had seen to it that a lot of Seattle police officers would be on the scene.
The minute I was finished with this shit, I was taking my girl for a ride in the Vanquish. I couldn't wait.
Before my five minute deadline arrived, the photographer walked over and shook my hand, thanking me profusely for my time.
I said my polite goodbyes before making my way over to Isabella. She was chuckling about something.
"What are you thinking about Miss Swan?" I asked quietly.
"To be honest, Mister Masen, I was thinking about that fuckawesome car ride."
On the same page with me once again.
"Well, everything is wrapped up here, shall we go?" I asked as I offered my arm.
Bella seemed to enjoy the ride. Except maybe the first few minutes when, neglecting to have put on the seat belt, she slid onto the floor when I stopped at the end of the driveway.
I'd learned that her emotions were somewhat unpredictable, so I wasn't sure whether she was laughing or crying at first. Sweet silly girl.
Within fifteen minutes of being on the highway, Bella dozed off.
She looked like a small child when she slept. All the cares and worries of her life disappeared, and she was at peace.
It was difficult to keep my eyes on the road and off of the angel to my right, but I did my best.
When I stopped the car beside a lake just inside Olympic National Park, Bella woke up.
"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. I fell asleep."
I laughed. "I think you needed it Bella, it's been a very busy, long week."
"Yes it has. Full of surprises."
Life-altering surprises.
"Not all unwelcome I hope?" I asked.
"Definitely not Edward. You are the perfect surprise. You're better than all my Christmases and birthdays wrapped into one."
My sentiments exactly.
"Do you realize that my hometown is on the other side of this park?"
Thankfully Chief Swan is also on the other side of this park.
Bella was quiet for a moment as she thought about something. "I think." She began. "I think I'd like to tell you the rest of my story now, if that's okay?"
If this was what she wanted and needed, then I was ready to listen. I took her hand in mine. "Anything you want Bella."
*************************************************A/N****************************************
A/N Song Rec: Do I even have to say this? 'My Humps' by The Black-Eyed Peas.
Not a terribly exciting chap….just carries the story a little further along. The next chap will cover the rest of Bella's story.
Thanks for all your reviews. They make me very happy! Next…leaning toward an outtake for V&V…a Thanksgiving outtake from the past possibly. I'll post something hopefully by Friday.