I hope you don't kill me for the lack of Cooper in this chapter, but love me for what's about to happen…
Once again, you guys are the friggin' bee's knees and I love you lots like vodka shots.
I don't. Stephenie does.
Chapter eleven.
Bella
1…2…3…breathe…1…2…3…breathe…1…2..3…breathe…
My fingertips grip the side of the pool and I pull myself in and turn around to have my back resting upon it. Unsticking the goggles from my face, I rest them up on my swimming hat and take a few calming breaths, rubbing my eyes free from the water that leaked in. Thankfully, with it being eleven am on a Tuesday, the pool is fairly quiet and I can swim and swim at my leisure without anyone else getting in my way.
I try to fit a swimming session in every day, and if, for some reason, I can't then I'd make the next session longer. I wouldn't call myself a fitness fanatic or even that skilful with anything that uses more energy and focus than walking, but when it comes to swimming I've never had a problem. Maybe it's because I don't have to worry about balance or tripping over something and all I need to think about is how to work my arms and legs and when to breathe – that, and I always feel free and relaxed when gliding through the water whilst in my own little bubble.
Smiling briefly to myself I replace the goggles and get my feet up onto the pool side, focus on the water and then push off – sliding underneath the surface and then breaking into a front crawl as soon as I break free from the water.
1…2…3…breathe…1…2…3…breathe…1…2…3…breathe…1…2…3…breathe…1…2…3…
Looking at the time on the clock I decide that another 100ms and then I'll definitely need to get out. These four lengths (yeah, this pool is far from Olympic size) will take me a few minutes so I'll be out by 11:15; have a hasty shower and get re-dressed by 11:30; talk to Angela briefly and discuss opening and work times over the celebratory week/weekend and head off to the store by 12. I have some major baking business to do today or else Charlie will have my head – well, maybe not, but he'll definitely be pissed at me.
Right, Bella, stop thinking and swim!
0-0
"Bitch, you were on. fire in there!" Angela, as per usual, was leaning over the desk keeping her chest up by her arms. Anyone would think she didn't have any work to do, they especially wouldn't think she owned this stinking place by how laid back she was. Then again, the tiny gym we added had no-one in there and only two old ladies (swimming so slowly that a snail trailed faster) were in the pool, so I can see why she had sweet FA to do.
I shrugged and plopped my ass down on a stool beside her, "I just have a lot on my mind – it helps me to relax and forget it all."
"Even so, I swear you were, like, ten times faster and did extra laps. This must be something serious – what is it?"
Dropping my gym bag, I sighed loudly and fell onto the desk gripping my slightly-wet ponytail tight. "I kind of blurted out that I liked Edward yesterday…"
Angela didn't make a sound, and then she did – slapping the counter and bellowing out a laugh. "Oh…oh-ho…oh…" She continued to chuckle, wiping the occasional tear free from her face.
"Hey! It's not that funny, y'know – I know he didn't have the greatest reputation for anything other than Science back then, but he's different now and…Angela, please stop laughing!"
"I'm sorry, Bella. I'm not laughing at Edward because, believe me, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want a piece of that fine ass, but at the fact that you think this 'realisation' is so new and a big deal. It's been clear for ages how you feel about him; you simply couldn't admit it to yourself."
How is this helping?! "But I didn't want Edward to know…or his son for that matter! Coop was all giving me the third degree and asking if I wanted to be his dad's girlfriend etc. etc. and instead of being normal and answering properly (making up the odd white lie) I was a stuttering fool and…kinda…said that I did…" I groaned and slapped the desk with my palm, "oh, Angela, what am I going to do?!"
She gave me that were-you-dropped-on-your-head-as-a-baby-'cause-you-really-are-fucking-stupid look. "Is it not obvious? Now he knows that you like him and he, according to Cooper, has always liked you, you grow some balls and ask him out."
"But…is that not, like, a man's job?"
"What year are you living in Bella? This isn't 1950; women are allowed to do a lot more than cooking and cleaning, which includes asking the man out on a date. And, if I'm being perfectly honest, it seems Edward lacks in the 'got balls?' department and you'll probably have more courage."
"Hey! Don't make a judgment like that…I'm sure his balls are…fine and…well equipped for the task at hand and…Christ, now I have a picture of a dick in my head." This morning was going downhill rapidly.
Angela nudged me with her elbow, "yeah, but I bet it's nice, right?"
"Angela!"
"What? I am asking you an honest question which you should feel comfortable answering especially if you want to proceed in this journey of Edward's manhood…"
I stared at her with a worried expression. "Damn, Dr. Phil, what have you been smoking?"
"Nothing but legal substances, anyway…where was I going with this?"
She's asking me? How was I supposed to know the workings of her mind? "I have no idea…"
"Oh! You know what I thought? Y'know that summer dance Edward asked you to but you struck him down and killed his buzz by saying you were going with Tyler?"
Deep breath… "Don't remind me…"
"What? Remind you of the dance you never went to! Seriously, Bella, imagine what could have happened if you said yes to Edward and dumped Tyler Tit-Face's proposal like you did anyway."
Okay, okay, guilty. Yes, I refused to go to the dance after thinking about what it would involve and how unenthusiastic I was about going with…wait, "Tyler Tit-Face?"
"Yes! Didn't you notice? He either had a long-lasting spot on his cheek or it was a third nipple – naturally, everyone decided he had a third tit on his face."
Oh…I had never heard that. Anyway, so, yeah, I could have accepted and saved myself the guilt of seeing Edward's dejection, and there is no way I'm going to tell him that I never went.
My eyes clocked onto the time displayed on the computer – 12:05; shit, I'm running late. "Ang' I have to run. But text me when you know for definite when we'll be open, yeah?"
"We'll be closed tomorrow till Saturday but I'll message you anyway. Have a lovely Thanksgiving, Sweets."
"You as well, babes." We parted with smiles and a brief hug.
0-0
Forks Coffee Shop was surprisingly quiet for a midday afternoon, which came to my advantage – I could order my latte and be on the road to the Thriftway quicker than I first imagined.
"Hey, Jake, just my usual, please." I smiled sweetly at my favourite barista. Not only does he get the latte extra hot and creamy and just the right taste, but his dad has been best friends with mine since the Stone Age, so it's only expected.
Jake grabs the to-go cup, and slots it under the coffee machine. He measures out enough milk into a jug and steams it up. "How have you been, Bells?" He asks over his shoulder.
"I've been good, thanks. Come to think of it, I was in on Saturday with a couple friends and I didn't see you – were you not working?" Jake always works on weekends, but his hours could have changed for the week or whatever.
"Er, no; my hours have been cut from twelve to nine so I don't work Saturdays anymore."
"Nine hours a week?"
He shrugged, "unfortunately."
My coffee was passed over but I couldn't leave just yet. "Jake, are you coping okay?" He lives with his wheelchair-bound father (Billy) in a small town about thirty-minute drive from here. Due to Billy's disability he can't bring in any money and it's all left down to Jake.
"We're doing okay at the moment. I might see if my cousin Sam has any vacancies in his garage and nab them as well as this one."
I pocketed the loose change from my five dollar note. "Well I hope you get things sorted; don't hesitate to ask if you need some help."
"Sure will. Catch you later, Bells."
"Bye!"
0-0
…Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl…
Okay, done that.
…In a large bowl whisk together buttermilk and eggs, then add melted butter. Add dry ingredients and stir 'til combined…
Twenty-four minutes later and my homemade cornbread was cooling on a wire rack. Next on my list of dishes to make was the pecan pie I have made time-and-time again and Charlie adores. From experience I've learnt that chilling the pastry for an hour before using it makes a better, crunchier shell.
I was making the filling when my doorbell rang. Expecting to find Angela or possibly Charlie on my porch, I didn't think twice about my appearance or the flour smudges down my face, and opened the door to see Edward in all his beautiful glory. So he may have only been wearing dark jeans and a thin, blue sweater, but it was enough to get my girly bits working.
Homina, homina. Come to momma.
But first you might want to wipe that flour off your face…
"Shit," I whispered, rubbing away at my cheeks, "sorry, I'm in the middle of baking a pie." Edward grinned and never said a word. "Um, do you want to come in…?"
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"
No, no; I'm just getting into a sweet, sticky mess and covered in flour…wanna help?
"Not at all – come on in." I led Edward through the house and into my tiny kitchen and motioned my hand towards the bar stools and I went back to my original spot and did my best to clean up the mess I had made. I got a bit confused when Edward was paying more attention to the pecan halves and barely said a word to me. What, did he come here to watch me chop up pecans because he had nothing else to do?
Instead of being rude and asking what he wanted, I continued to finish off the pie and shoved it in the oven, allowing Edward to take all the time he needs. True enough, it was once I closed the oven door that he spoke.
"I wanted to apologise for my kid's crazy attitude yesterday and I hope you weren't too offended or put on the spot…"
He wanted to formerly apologise for something he couldn't control? Damn, that's cute.
"It's fine, Edward – you didn't have to apologise. Kids say the darndest things and you can't help that."
"But…" he waved his hands about his face, "gah, he demanded (not even ask) that you birth his siblings…that's not normal!"
"Okay, that is a little strange. But I wasn't offended so you have nothing to worry about; apart from you, clearly, needing to give him siblings."
Edward groaned and squeezed the back of his neck, "I cannot see that happening, so I'll need to think of the best way to tell him."
He can't see himself having more kids? Or, biological kids? I frown, "why do you say that?"
Edward went bright red and refused to look anywhere near me. "I'm twenty-eight, Bella, and…fuck me…I've never...um, never…I've never had a girlfriend, okay?"
Shit…I didn't want to pressure him. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…"
"No, you're fine. Basically, it would take me years to find someone and by the time I'm ready to thinking about children I'd, no doubt, be nearly forty years old!"
Okay, enough of the sob story. "There is nothing wrong with having children at forty – millions of new parents are over thirty. And, excuse me, I'm the same age as you and I dream about having my own family as well, so are you saying it'll never happen for me as well?"
"No! Of course not."
Please, speak some sense for once, man! "Woah, woah, back up. How can you be confident that I'll have all of that and you won't?"
"Because…because you're you!" Edward squeezed everything he could get his hands on – the edge of his sweater, his hair, even my counter. "I'm awkward and…inexperienced and…please, don't argue with me on this. You know exactly what I was/am like and -."
"—No, I will argue with you on that. Yes, I know what you're like and I know that you're the kindest, sweetest man who put everything aside for a little boy who would have been in social care if it wasn't for you. Edward you need to remember that people don't judge you on what you may have been like through high school. I don't."
"You don't?"
No! You absolute beaut.
"Of course I don't. And even if I did, I think you need a stronger eye prescription because there was nothing wrong with you back then." I took a deep breath, finding interest in the pastry crumbs I could finger about. "One thing I regret doing at school was letting you down after your (dare I say it) interesting dance proposal. I understand it must have taken all your courage to ask me and I barely thought twice about it and for that, I'm really sorry."
I didn't plan on letting out my heart, but sometimes you can't control it, can you?
Edward looked deep in thought; his brow kept on creasing and a faint smile painted his lips. "I'm going out on a whim here, but, right now, I don't care. I think we should recreate that day."
'Recreate' as in…"you want me to let you down again?"
His laugh was a sign that our awkwardness had vanished. "No, Bella. I'm finally listening to everything Coop has been saying and, if you're up for it, I would like to take you to a dance – something we should have done ten years ago."
Come on, how could I say no to something so cheesy?
Edward.
"Dad! You'll never guess what Uncle Emmett taught me today!"
I dread to think.
If he has taught Coop sexual positions or…anything to do with teenage feelings, I will not be held guilty for my actions.
"I don't know, what did he teach you?"
Cooper bounced on his toes in excitement. "A dance! It's a really cool dance, Dad and I know the moves perfectly. I don't know the song words 'cause, y'know, I'm only seven and three-quarters, but I gots some of them!"
"Okay, go ahead."
Cooper stared at his feet and got his legs in position and then started an odd, sideways gallop. I instantly knew which dance he was performing. "Aaaaaeee…." His right leg kicked out to the side with his hands on his hips, "…sexy lady."
I survived a whole five minutes of Cooper's attempt at 'Gangnam Style' before I had had more than enough. "Hey, Coop, I have exciting news for you!"
He gasped. "Oh, my goodness, are we getting a new pet?"
"Um…no."
"Damn. Wait, I'm getting a brother or a sister, aren't I?"
What? "No, Coop; of course you're not. It's news about me and Bella…"
Cooper bounced (yes, bounced) on his butt to get to me. "Dad, seriously, I don't think I can last much longer…You need to tell me."
"Next week…"
His eyes grew wide, "yeah…"
"I'm taking Bella out on a date…"
Cooper continued to bounce, cheering as he went. "Put it there, Daddy-oh!" He stuck his hand up for me to slap in a high five. Having enough on the ground, he jumped onto my lap and wrapped his arms around me. "You'll be having babies in no time."
0-0
Most of my Cooper moments aren't planned until I come to write the chapter. That is why they are so g'damn random.
So, we have more progress!
Facebook: RosieRathbone FanFiction for sneak-peeks, pictures and Cooper rambles.
Thoughts?