[Disclaimer] Stephenie Meyer owns everything Twilight. I own the plot for this story.

[A/N] I am wishing a Merry Christmas time to those of you celebrating it. May all your wishes for New Year come true. I am so grateful that you are taking the time to read my stories

It isn't what they say about you, it's what they whisper

(Errol Flynn)

Chapter 11

"I am sorry, you had to see this." I apologize to Bella when we were inside my car again. "My brother is difficult. Jess and he had some ugly scenes when they broke up."

Bella nods her head. She's still pressing the plastic bag with the ice against her eyebrow.

"Let me see." I whisper, placing my hand carefully on hers to lift the plastic bag a bit higher. In the middle of her eyebrow, is a fine reddish line. It's going to be almost invisible once it's fully healed. "Looks good," I stroke my fingertip over the skin above the scar. "I am sorry you got hurt."

My face is close to hers. It's so close that I can see the tiny freckles on the tip of her nose and cheek. One of them is shaped like a snowflake. I want to kiss real snowflakes from all over her face. I want to taste her lips. Feel if they are warm or cold. The color of her lips is a deep pink tone. It reminds me of sweet berries. They look soft, so very soft and irresistible.

"Does your brother know you are gay?" Bella asks me. Her eyelids flutter. They don't have any hint of mascara on them. Still they are long and thick. I want to kiss them. I want to blow a kiss on that ugly yellow bruise and one on her scar. I don't know how, but I need to make sure something like this isn't going to happen again. It is probably not right to hit a man in a wheelchair, but I will find a way to make sure Mr. Swan keeps his temper issues under control. Drunk people are so disgusting.

"Does he know?" she repeats her question. "You and he don't seem close."

I start the engine. "No. He doesn't know. I don't talk about my private stuff with Edward."

Bella giggles. "I probably wouldn't talk to him either. He seemed drunk somehow. Does he drink often? You told me he's an alcoholic."

"It depends. Right now he's trying to get it under control. But he's a different person when he's drunk. Can we please not talk about my brother? It's awkward."

She apologizes. I tell her it's not necessary. My hand touches against hers when she tries to change the radio station. A light electric current runs through my palm. I can feel it, even after she pulls back her hand and places them on her knee again. "Would you like to come up with me for a few minutes? I could make something to eat for us before I have to leave for my shift."

I don't like the idea of her cooking for me. Not when it's followed by a ten hour shift at the restaurant. What I do like is the idea of spending a bit more time around Bella. My stomach makes itself noticeable. When was the last time I ate? "Sure." I respond to Bella's suggestion.

On the way up to her apartment, I walk behind her. I love watching the way her backside moves while she walks. Such a cute little apple butt she got. I want to squeeze it. I want to cup it firmly while she sits on my lap. Oh sweet heaven, all the things I want to do with her.

I get an even better view at her backside when she opens the door and bends down to pick up the cat. "Mommy is home. Did you miss her?"

Pumpkin rubs his head against her face and purrs. He is ugly, but he loves her. She loves him. I feel almost jealous. A minute after we enter the apartment, I start sneezing again. What the hell? I felt perfectly fine until we came here. It's weird.

"I'm sorry. I don't have any wine." Bella says, pouring me a glass of water. I sit down on the couch, watching her maneuver around in the little kitchen. She hums. Why do woman like to sing when they are cooking? I lean back against the cushions. "It smells good." I state, blowing my nose again. My eyes are burning. "Do you need help with cooking?"

She turns around. Her face is a bit sweaty around her nose. She looks happy though. "You can try the sauce and tell me if it's too much oregano."

I get up. My blocked nose makes me sniff. I don't smell much like this. Closer to Bella who is standing at the opened window it is a little better. "Careful." She whispers, holding a wooden spoon to my mouth. "It's hot."

I blow over the spoon. The sauce is divine. It tastes like violins dancing over my tongue. The onions are sweet. The tomatoes caramelized, and the roasted pine nuts on them add a slightly salty note to the dish. "Perfect."

"You like it?" Bella asks, putting the spoon that has been in my mouth just a second ago to her own lips. She licks the remainder of the tomato sauce from the handle of the spoon. All the time her eyes stay locked on mine. "More?"

I nod. She feeds me another spoonful, letting her fingertips brush over the corner of my mouth as if she's wiping off a bit of smeared sauce. "This is very good," I tell her. "Your own creation?"

She tells me no. "I ate something similar to that when I was in Italy. The original had green olives in it but I don't care too much for those."

My nose tickles. I sneeze and sneeze for about a full minute. It is embarrassing. "I am sorry," I tell Bella. "I don't know what wrong. Maybe I am getting sick".

Bella fills two plates with pasta and sprinkles some parmesan cheese on top of the delicious sauce. I don't know what I like more. Eating her food or watching Bella eat said food. She is so sensual in the way her eyes close, and she gets a very concentrated look on her face. I eat slowly. This would be way better, if my stupid nose wasn't so itchy.

"You're a journalist, right?" She asks me, wiping her mouth with a paper napkin. "Do you write reports on restaurants, like Jasper?"

I reach for the crumpled tissue in my pocket and blow my nose again. Breathing through my mouth is making it dry. I gulp down my water and cough. "Yes, I am a restaurant critic. It's a good job. I know a lot about culinary do's and don'ts. Originally, I wanted to get into a fashion magazine but those are difficult to get into."

She nods her head. "You could always try again later, when you have a bit more experience." The tip of her tongue swirls over her lower lip. It makes my heart beat faster when I watch it lick off a barely visible cheese crumble. I want to kiss her. Or no, I must kiss her.

I lean over the table and put my hand on Bella's cheek. My fingers brush a bit of her hair behind her ear. It's so smooth and soft. "Can I kiss you?" I whisper. "Yes?"

She takes my hand from her face and blows a kiss over my knuckles. Her warm breath sends a prickling sensation of tingles up my arm and straight to my heart. I bend closer to her. Our foreheads touch. Then, Bella turns her head to the side. "I have to leave for work now."

"Oh, okay." I whisper. "Do you want me to take you?"

Bella stands up and stacks the plates. She puts them in the sink and pours water on them. "That would be nice. I will go and change into some other clothes real quickly."

The bathroom door closes behind her with a squeaking noise. "Did I do something wrong?" I ask the cat, who is looking at me with his scrunch face. "Didn't she want me to kiss her?"

The animal turns his back on me. He jumps on the table and begins to wash his left paw with fervor.

I sneeze. Damn it. No wonder Bella doesn't want to kiss me when I am full of God knows what germs.

She walks out, dressed in a yellow kitchen crew outfit. Her hair is pulled back into a ponytail that makes her look too young to be old enough to work night shifts. "You could get a job somewhere with better working hours." I tell her. "I could make some calls if you would like that."

Bella kneels down to pet Pumpkin's head. "I am fine working where I am now. Nothing there reminds me of Lauren. It's a good thing. Took me long enough to get over her."

"Do you still miss her?" I ask. "You have been together with her for quite a while."

"Why would I miss someone who stomped on my heart as if it was dirt?" Bella snaps, grabbing a scarf, she wraps it around her neck. Then she takes her keys. "I felt like crap because of her, but I am over it now."

She grants me a full smile. It's so wide that I can see the pinkish teeth ridge above her upper jaw. "I met someone new. Someone I like way better."

"Someone new," I repeat, leaning against the door and the wall to block Bella's way. "Is she pretty?"

"Very much." She says in a low voice. "It's intimating me a little bit."

I shake my head and reach out my hand to tug playfully on her silly ponytail. "She doesn't want you to feel that way."

Bella steps a bit closer against me. She places both hands on my hips. I hold my breath. "How does she want me to feel?"

"Whatever she wants me to make her feel." I respond. For a moment, I consider trying for another kiss. Bambi Eyes is a miracle to me. She's so shy sometimes and sometimes she's not. It's confusing me.

Xxxx

Tanya blows over her freshly painted turquoise shimmering toe nails. "So, nothing happened? That is lame."

I throw a pillow at my cousin. "It's not lame. She went through an ugly break-up. I don't want her to feel pressured with me."

She grabs the pillow and puts it behind her head before she leans back against the headboard of her bed. "I have one word for you. Makeshift."

"I have four words for you, Miss Denali. Mind your own business."

My cousin laughs. "My own love life is drama free. I am just watching out for you. This Bella better not use you to get over her ex. Are you two a similar type? That would show a lot about whether you are just a makeshift for Bella's ex."

She's getting on my nerves. I don't know why Tanya always knows how to push exactly the right buttons. Everything is new with Bella. There's still so much about her I don't know.

"Let's look her up," Tanya suggests, grabbing her laptop and petting the empty spot on her left side. "Come here. We will look for Bella's ex on the internet."

I kick off my shoes and climb on the bed, sitting down crossed-legs next to my cousin. "This is a stupid idea."

Stupidity never holds people back from doing things anyway. I tell my cousin the few things I know about Bella's ex. Her name is Lauren and she works at French Delight. Like a pro at spying, Tanya works her magic. A few minutes later, the picture of a platinum blonde with an awful tan looks back at us from the screen.

"She doesn't look much like me."

"I would be ashamed if you looked like that piece of white trash." Tanya wraps her arm around me. "You are way prettier than her. What the hell did she do to her skin? It looks orange."

I grab the bottle with nail polish and start applying it on my fingernails. The color is too bright, but pretty. I am going to wear my turquoise colored blazer tomorrow. "Want to know a secret?" I ask, knowing that Tanya loves gossip more than anything. I want to turn our conversation away from Bella. It's weird. Usually Tanya and I talk about everything. With Bella it feels different though. I don't want to analyze everything she said and did.

"What's the secret?" Tanya asks, leaning closer to me. "Tell me or I will make you."

I laugh, blowing carefully over the wet nail polish. "Jessica is pregnant."

"For shit? Is it Edward's? Does your mother know yet? Oh my gosh! You are going to be an Aunty!"

I shrug my shoulders. "He was a dick to Jess when she told him. She slapped him."

"Jessica should have kicked him hard in the balls instead." Tanya states. "Your brother is a prick. Wait until your mother finds out."

"You can't tell her. It's going to agitate her, and she has enough to deal with right now. Nana isn't doing well."

Tanya lifts her hand to her chest. "I promise. My lips are sealed. Oh I bet the baby is going to be so cute." She grabs a cookie from the bowl on her nightstand and nibbles on it. "Don't worry about your Mom. In the end, she will love being a grandmother."

There's a knock on the door, a moment later Irina sticks her head inside. "I am not disturbing you two, am I?"

She looks me over and sits down at the end of the bed. "You look very pretty tonight, Ali."

"Thanks." I mumble. I take another cookie and bite into it. Tanya is good with baking. The chunks of dried pineapple are delicious. "These cookies are going to make me fat."

Irina shakes her head. "Oh you shouldn't worry about that. You will look fantastic, no matter how much weight you'll gain."

I take a third cookie and chew it slowly. "How was work?" I ask Irina, who just returned home from her shift at the restaurant. She looks tired, but her cheeks are glowing. It's like she just received some good news.

"I helped Aunt Esme with ordering the wines and oh…girls, I need to tell you something!"

She tucks her feet underneath her backside and looks from me to Tanya and back at me. "I met someone! Well, technically we haven't met in person, but I just know he's the one for me."

Tanya pouts. "Don't tell me you met someone online? Are you really that naïve? He could be a fucking rapist."

Irina smacks her older sister against the shoulder. "Laurent is not a rapist. He works for the wine merchant Aunt Esme contacted. I spoke on the phone with him. Gosh, he has the cutest French accent in the world."

She clasps her sister's arm. "You need to let me borrow money to get my hair done, before he comes here next Friday to deliver the wines we ordered."

"I can do your hair here." I suggest. "How about we do it tomorrow?"

Irina's eyes turn bigger. "No. I don't want you to handle all those chemicals. Tanya can give me money to have it done at the salon. Right, sister?"

Tanya gets up from the bed and pulls some money out of her handbag. "If you marry him, consider this your wedding gift."

Her sister stuffs the money inside her purse and mutters a thank you. Her eyes move over my body. What the hell is wrong with her?

"Kate is getting on my nerves." Irina says. "All she does is stick her nose into those ridiculous books all day long. It's impossible to have a conversation with her that lasts longer than it takes to flip to the next page in the book."

I grin. "It's better than Kate getting an asshole boyfriend who breaks her heart."

For a moment, Irina looks if she's thinking really hard about something. She starts fidgeting around on her short nails, peeling the cuticles until they look ugly. "Ali, you never told us what kind of guys you like."

Tanya is being an angel and comes to my rescue. "I would be more interested in learning more about this Laurent right now? You are not going to meet him alone. Are we clear about that?"

Irina gets the sullen look of a four-year-old on her face. Usually, she doesn't care that her boyfriends need to be approved by her older sister. Tanya feels protective about her younger siblings. Between Edward and me, it has never been that way. He would probably have pushed my baby carriage off a cliff if he'd had a chance on it.

"I am not having Laurent being questioned by a wannabe FBI investigator. T, he's really special to me." She places both her hands above her chest. "I've never clicked with someone this easily. Oh and that accent. It makes me need to change my undies. My poor heart flutters when I imagine him whispering "Je'taime." into my ear. It makes me all hot."

Tanya stands up from the bed again. She fumbles in her nightstand and throws a package of Trojan's at her sister. "Take these. I want you to be careful when you get hot with the French Romeo."

"Yeah, we all should be careful." Irina giggles. "But sometimes little surprises happen. It's a good thing though. Remember how Mom thought she had cancer when in truth, she was pregnant with Vasili?"

Tanya plops down on the bed, hugging a fluffy pillow against her chest. "Sometimes, I think cancer couldn't have been much worse. The little fucker is a spoiled brat. Mom should bend him over her knee and spank him."

Irina laughs. "Ali, you wouldn't hit your kids, right? You are going to be such a soft-hearted mother to your baby. Won't you?"