Disclaimer: All Twilight names, places and characteristics belong to the talented Stephenie Meyer. I just play with her toys.
Authors note: Apologies in the update delay. The combination of working with young children, college work and working in a shop make for a very tired author. I happily bring you chapter ten!
Eric opened his door just a little way, I couldn't see inside.
"Hey, Bella Boo... Feeling better?"
"Not really, can I come in?"
I needed my friend.
"Um..." He pondered with a hand on his hip, "I don't know,"
I narrowed my eyebrows in complete confusion.
"Do you have someone in there with you?
"What? No!"
There was a few seconds of silence before Eric sighed and swung the door open. I walked in and practically faceplanted the bed.
"So, what's kickin' chicken?" He said casually, leaning out of the open window for a cigerette.
"Eric, did you know who Edward was before we got here?"
"Edward? What the porn virgin? No," He shook his head, blowing smoke out into the open air.
I sighed laying flat on my back.
"Apparently I did," I muttered.
"What, you guys fuck or something?"
I sat up and laughed. Eric was so blunt.
"Maybe this would be easier if I had!" I flailed my arms around, my voice rising with each word.
Eric threw his cigerette end out of the window, pulled it closed and raced to my side. A supportive arm slid around my shoulder and squeezed me.
"Bella, calm down,"
I took numerous deep breaths and nodded.
"Edward, is a childhood friend," I stared down at the ground.
I replayed my conversation with Edward in my head like a movie reel. He understood his feelings at fifteen? What did that mean? What did it mean now?
I explained everything Edward had said to me, minus the kiss. Eric fitted in a few gasps and 'OMG's' – Yes, that's literally how he says it. I finished with my demand that Edward left before Eric gave me his conclusion.
"So he signed up to a sex film, just to see you again? Aww, it's like fate!" He cooed.
"Things are going to be weird now." I mumbled.
"Bella, it's just a job, people get their 'Friends Reunited' on all the time, maybe it'll make filming easier," He suggested.
"No. Maybe they can get someone to replace Edward?" I wondered.
"Contracts were signed, B. Besides Marcus told me that Jasper and Emmett spent ages trying to find a willing friend to do this job with them. It was only when they mentioned your name that Edward spoke up and offered... I guess now we know why," He laughed awkwardly.
"Hey..." He soothed, putting a friendly hand on my shoulder. "It'll all work out,"
I shook my head and curled up into a ball on Eric's bed. I eventually fell asleep, waking an hour later. I opened one eye to see Eric at his door, sneaking none other but Marcus out of his room. I knew the entire time he had someone here.
Eric was no better than I was. I was kissing on the job, he was... I dreaded to think. I closed my eyes and listened carefully.
"I swear, I didn't know when they signed up," Marcus insisted with a soft tone.
"I believe you... but I don't think Bella is interested. I'm flying her home as soon as filming is finished," Eric whispered.
I peeked one eye open to see the two men.
"What about us?" Marcus asked sadly.
"Just call this what it is, Marcus. A holiday romance. We have jobs to do," Eric's tone was just as sad. I felt pained for him, maybe he'd finally met someone on his level.
I closed my eye again and heard them whisper a hushed goodbye. A few seconds later, the door closed and Eric crawled into bed beside me and went to sleep.
-BS-
Eric and I were woken in the morning by the sound of loud knocking. Repeated, loud, knocking. The sound went right through my aching head.
"WHAT!" Eric screeched in fright, sitting up in bed suddenly.
I looked at him over my shoulder and laughed. His eye mask was crooked and nearly hanging from his nose. He reeked of Marcus' cologne.
"You're anything but subtle, my darling Eric," I giggled.
The banging continued. Eric crawled down the bed and off the end to the floor, making his way into the bathroom.
"Gotta learn to be a morning person, Eric!" I called out, laughing.
Suddenly things weren't so funny when I heard the voice out in the hall.
"Bella? Bella? Open up, it's Edward,"
I cupped my hands over my mouth to keep quiet. It seemed silly when I doubted Edward would hear me three doors down.
"Bella? Come on, I'm not leaving till we've straightened shit out,"
He continued.
Knock.
Knock.
I threw back the covers and swung my legs over the edge of the bed.
Knock.
"Bella!"
I sighed and pulled the hotel room door open. I saw Edward's fist aim for the door again.
"Alright! Do you want to wake the whole hotel?" I hissed.
"Bella," He breathed, turning around to look at me.
He was dressed casually in dark denim jeans and a white tee-shirt with some kind of British logo on it. A tick of some sorts. It was entirely random to me. His hair was dishevelled. My eyes were locked his long fingers that were combing through his locked. I remembered our kiss from the night before and my body immediately felt flushed.
"What do you want, Cullen?" I asked harshly.
"To talk, discuss. Whatever you want to call it. Just not out here in the hall,"
I slid my hand into the back pocket of my jeans and found my keycard. I felt it between my fingers, pondering before I brought it out. I held it in my palm and nodded.
"Okay,"
"Thank-you," Edward sighed with relief.
I walked up to my hotel room door and shoved the keycard into the slot. I felt Edward's body dangerously close to mine. Almost touching. A part of me wanted to drop everything that had happened in the last twelve hours and let him kiss me again.
Instead I walked straight into the room and threw my keycard onto the bed. I heard the door click close a couple of seconds later. I anticipated that Edward was right behind me. I could see his shadow vaguely in the bedsheets and on the walls. His hands hovered above my shoulders. I turned quickly, he jumped back.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Bella," He began.
"For which part? Freaking me out and acting like a stalker, or for kissing me?" I folded my arms and looked down at my sock covered feet. It seemed more sensible than looking into Edward's dazzling eyes.
"Both?" He spoke optimistically.
We both chuckled quietly.
"For the first part, I'm incredibly apologetic, Miss Swan, I approached our reunion in the wrong way, I didn't mean to scare you,"
I somehow knew that Edward was being genuine. When certain things happen, at the time you think you're dealing with them appropriately or in the only way you know how. It's only when it's all over that you realize you could have handled it better.
"And for the second part?" I finally looked up. Edward's eyes looked regretfully sad. I'd forgotten all about him for so long, I imagined he must have felt deflated to see that I'd forgotten and he hadn't.
"I won't apologize for that. That kiss was the single, most perfect kiss of my life, Bella,"
I smiled.
"And hey, Wednesday will be even better when I get to screw you too," He winked at me and laughed.
I laughed too and nudged him in the arm.
"Hey!" He rubbed his arm in his attempt to fake injury, though his laughs told me I hadn't hurt him.
We both fell into that awkward silence. Like the kind when you receive a Christmas present you really hate but still say thank-you. I sat down on the edge of the bed, Edward eventually sat next to me with his hands in his lap.
"Bella, I'm petrified," He whispered.
"What of?"
"All of this. Wednesday. Having to act like someone I'm not and take advantage of you,"
I could hear how truly terrified he was in his voice. I shifted backwards on the bed and crossed my legs, turning to face my childhood friend and I grabbed his hand without hestitation. The words came out before I registered them in my mind.
"Stay with me this weekend, spend time together," I babbled.
"What?" Edward's eyebrows furrowed at me with his confusion.
I could understand why, I'd gone from bitch to sympathetic within a few minutes.
"You wanted to get to know me again right? Let's do it. I can prepare you for our day on set. I have stories, I can listen to you. Maybe make this entire thing easier on you. It can't have been easy to agree to though I'm sure Emmett managed to persuade you. Let me help,"
"Yeah?" He lifted his head, perking up a little bit.
I nodded, a smile forming on my lips. Edward was soon nodding with me.
"Okay, Miss Professional. Where do we start?"
My stomach growled and I laughed.
"First we start with breakfast," I grinned, reaching for the phone to call room service.
Edward leant across with me. Just as I lifted the telephone handset, Edward's large hand completely covered mine and put the phone back down.
"If we're doing this, Swan. I'm doing it properly. Let me take you out for breakfast?"
"London style?" I asked, tempted.
He looked at our hands, his still covering mine. It was warm, his palm was soft. It felt good. He chuckled, his smile becoming a small smirk and nodded.
"London style,"
This story should update again tomorrow!
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