Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all of its beautiful characters. This story is loosely based off of plot lines from the original Beverly Hills, 90210 TV series. I have taken many liberties with them. No infringement is intended to any media franchise. The remainder is my original work
A/N: I know you've been patiently chomping at the bit for an update. This is the first time that I haven't managed to get you two updates in a month. I blame it on the worse flu ever and the fact that February only has 28 days (just missed the cut off). Shucks!
Today is my lovely beta's birthday! Please take a moment to wish Hibbleton78 a very happy birthday. This story would not have happened without her. She's talented, generous, selfless, and simply amazing. Hibbleton78 - Love you, bb! Happy birthday! This chapter is dedicated to you.
Finally, thank you so very much for your heartfelt responses to chapter 10. Your reviews really blew me away. I know it got a little heart-clenchy at the end. I apologize to those of you that would have appreciated a tissue warning in advance. Note taken, I promise. I am happy to report that you will NOT need a tissue to get through this chapter. Sit back and enjoy! 3
Chapter 11
"Take Back the Night"
I watched, stunned and helpless, as Bella stood and walked away from me without a word. The despair settling over me was in complete opposition to the all consuming elation I'd felt mere seconds before as our lips and tongues mingled together for the very first time.
I heard myself ask Ben a half thought out question as the cursed game of Truth or Dare continued on around me, my friends seemingly oblivious to my distress. The dull droning of Ben's voice filling the room was the only indication that what I had asked even made any sense. I paid no mind to his reply.
My thoughts and heart were consumed by the brunette beauty making her escape. My eyes tracked her every move as she wandered towards the bathroom and then made a last minute detour to the stairs. Her movements worry hurried and frantic, as if she couldn't get away quick enough.
I didn't know if I should chase after her or stay put. Did she need comfort or space? I wanted to go to her for my own peace of mind. I wanted to tell her that kissing her was perfection—that she was perfection. But it appeared that my feelings on what had transpired may not be reciprocated. Whether she fled out of fear or anger, I wasn't certain. The one thing was sure of, my heart was breaking—for me, for her, for the possibility of us.
Up until a few minutes ago this had been the most perfect evening of my life. Bella had let me hold her, touch her, dance with her, and then without warning everything had spun completely out of control. I was stuck between a rock and hard place the moment Rose dared me to kiss Bella. I couldn't pass on the dare without it appearing like I was rejecting Bella which couldn't have been further from the truth. And yet, I really didn't want to accept knowing that this monumental step in our relationship was going to be shared with a bunch of drunks as the result of a juvenile game. I wanted our first kiss to be about the two of us caught up in the perfect moment. I wanted it to be about us coming together, finally.
I warred with myself about the dare up until the moment that my lips met Bella's. As soon as she began to respond all of my worries disintegrated. Kissing her was sheer bliss. I didn't want it to end. Ever.
When Rose called time I pulled back just enough to peer down at Bella, reluctant to let her go. For just a split second I thought I saw a hint of a peaceful smile on her face, but I must have imagined it because quicker than I could blink it was gone. Panic welled in me as she began to retreat from me, refusing to meet my eyes. She shrugged out of my arms and put as much physical distance as she could between us.
A gentle tap on my shoulder jerked me from my thoughts. Angela appeared in my line of sight, physically placing herself between me and the staircase where Bella had disappeared. She looked at me with concern and asked if everything was okay to which I could only shake my head and shrug like the confused fool that I was.
"I'll go check on her," she offered, trying to ease my worry.
"No, I should go. I need…" I trailed off as my feet began to retrace Bella's path of their own accord.
My eyes followed the soft glow of light in the darkened upstairs hallway to Alice's bedroom. I knocked lightly on the door as I peeked through the cracked opening. When I didn't hear an immediate reply I slowly pushed it open, revealing my sister's empty bedroom.
I began to back away to go in search of Bella when I heard a soft whimper from deep within the room. My heart leapt into my throat as I followed the sound to the door of Alice's bathroom. Heart wrenching sobs poured from the other side of the door. Panic began to well in me as realized just how worked up she was. This was bad, really bad.
I dropped my forehead to rest on the back of the door as I listened to her cries of sorrow. My own eyes became glassy with unshed tears as I willed her to feel my comfort through the door, imagining my arms wrapped securely around her. I wanted to absorb her pain and make it my own, my personal heartache taking a back seat for the moment.
After a few long minutes Bella's crying ceased and I heard her get up and turn on the water. I quietly backed away from the door and sat on the edge of Alice's bed waiting for her to emerge from the bathroom.
I barely heard the click of the bathroom door opening over the thundering of my own heartbeat in my ears. I swallowed past the lump in my throat as I braced myself to look up, my stomach twisting with dread. Her face was red and splotchy from crying, but there was no evidence of the tears she had shed. She wore a careful mask of calm. We were locked in a tense stare for a long moment before I realized that I would have to man up and be the one to speak up first.
I cleared my throat and began to explain my presence. "I came to check on you. And then I… I heard you crying. I just wanted to make sure you were okay after…" After you gave me the most amazing kiss of my life and then turned and walked away without so much as a word.
"I'm fine," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Her bottom lip began to tremble with emotion, spurring me into action. I stood immediately and began to approach her.
"Shit. Bella, I'm so sorry," I apologized ruefully. "I should have just passed. It was stupid."
"No." Her harsh reply stopped me dead in my tracks. "I mean… it's fine. I'm fine, really. It was just a dare."
Her words were a stake through my heart, deeply wounding and making me feel sick to my stomach. I tried to conceal my hurt from her, focusing my eyes on a spot on the wall above her head as I attempted to reign in my emotions. I blew out a long, cleansing breath and pinched my eyes shut as I repeated her words back to myself, "Just a dare…"
I couldn't look at her, embarrassed that she may see the heartbreak in my eyes. This night felt like a bust, but I would continue waiting for her, fighting for her, until she told me for certain that she didn't want me. 'Just friends' wasn't even an option for me anymore. I'd passed up being only a friend to her long ago. We were both quiet for a lengthy moment before Bella finally broke the silence with her own apology.
"Look, I'm sorry that you had to… you know. If I would have known that you… that you didn't want to, I wouldn't have said anything. I'm sorry," she sobbed. I blinked at her in confusion, my mind taking a minute to comprehend what she was saying.
"You thought I didn't want to kiss you?" I was dumbfounded.
"I know that you didn't. I just…" She didn't have to say any more. The expression on her face spoke volumes. She was sad because she thought I didn't want her. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I was eager to set her straight.
"Are you kidding? Of course I wanted to. I've been dying to kiss you since the first moment I saw you. Sometimes I feel like you're all I can think about." My voice cracked with desperation as I put myself out there once more.
I began to approach her slowly with my hands raised in surrender as I corrected this blasphemy of a misunderstanding. "Bella, I've fantasized about kissing you for so long that it borders on ridiculous. But I always thought our first kiss would be… I don't know... special, I guess." I came to a stop right in front of her. "It should have been private"—I carefully tucked an wayward strand of hair behind her ear allowing my fingertips to brush against her cheek—"romantic"—I reached down to take her small hands in mine—"slow"—I leaned down to look her in the eye—"sensual"—I brought her hands up around my neck—"and… not the result of a stupid dare."
Bella shocked me when she cut me off by pressing her lips firmly against mine in a chaste but passionate kiss. An unrestrained grin split my face as relief coursed through me, and I found myself smiling against her mouth. She pulled back and smiled tentatively back at me, still looking a bit unsure.
"You still want me?" she asked in a hushed whisper.
"God, yes!"
"I want you too. Edward, I'm ready… I want to be your girlfriend. That's what I was going to tell you earlier."
In a split second she was in my arms, her feet leaving the ground as I scooped her up and spun her around in sheer joy. Laughter rang out from both of us as I carefully lowered her back to her own feet. Our eyes locked in a heated gaze as we clung to each other in elation, neither of us able to take a single step apart now that we had finally arrived at this overdue moment of perfection.
Bella's hands were trapped between us against my chest, fisted tightly in my shirt. I moved my hands to cover hers as I whispered, "My girlfriend," with all the adoration in my heart. Her hands flattened against me as I ran mine up the length of her bare arms over her shoulders tracing the straps of her tank top.
With my left hand I found the small of her back and tugged her closer to me—always closer—while my right threaded into her hair and angled her face up to mine. It was almost the exact embrace we had shared earlier while dancing, and I found myself unconsciously smiling at the memory.
I dropped my forehead down to hers and took a moment to just breathe her, committing every little detail to memory: the scent of her shampoo, the silken texture of her long hair under my fingers, the warmth of her breath on my face, the golden flecks in her big doe eyes staring back at me, her pink lips calling out for my affection, and the pounding of our hearts thundering together in exultation.
My eyes closed involuntarily as I lowered my lips to hers in a soft kiss. "My belle Bella… so beautiful," I murmured against her lips, my voice sounding low and husky to my own ears. "Mon petit chou." When she whimpered my name in reply, it was nearly my undoing.
In the blink of an eye, I had her pinned against the wall behind us. My entire body pressed tightly up against hers, my hands cradling her face, as my mouth finally descended upon hers in a searing kiss. I pulled her plump bottom lip between my eager lips before switching to the top and then back again. I angled my head and gently lifted her chin as my tongue begged for entrance into her mouth. She granted my desire and my tongue immediately sought out hers.
Tasting her, exploring her in this intimate manner, was better than anything I could have ever dreamed up in any fantasy. She was white hot heat, branding me with her unbridled passion. We kissed, sucked, licked, and nipped our way into frenzy, gasping into each other's mouths as our lips continued to move together, both of us refusing to break apart.
As our kiss began to slow, becoming much more languorous and cherishing, I lowered my hands from her face, ghosting them down her arms until I reached the dip of her slender waist. Bella freed her hands from chest and wrapped her arms around my neck, plunging her fingers into my hair. The action caused her silk tank top to ride up under my hands exposing a sliver of skin between the bottom hem of her shirt and the top edge of her tiny skirt. I groaned at the feel of her soft skin under my fingertips, causing Bella to moan in reply.
Encouraged by the way she pushed her small body further into mine, I cautiously slipped my hands just under the hem of her shirt. I began to sensually caress her lower back, not daring to move any farther up, but enjoying the feel of her bare skin nonetheless.
Bella dropped her hands down to my arms and slid her fingers up under my sleeves, massaging my biceps and tugging me closer still. My hands stroked up and down her back just below her bra strap, over her hips and ghosted over her ass. We continued to allow our hands to wander in exploration of each other's bodies, thrilling in this new found level of intimacy.
The last bit of my control snapped the moment my fingertips grazed the supple flesh of her sexy thighs peeking out from under her short skirt. I felt my body respond immediately, my hardness straining almost painfully against the fly of my pants. I regretfully pulled back, ending the most amazing kiss of my young life, but not wanting to push her too far too soon.
"Wow," I whispered against her lips.
"Wow," she echoed with her sweet, shy smile that never failed to tug at my heart.
"Can I ask you something?" I questioned cautiously, still cradling her to me.
"Anything."
"Why on earth did you think I didn't want to kiss you?"
"I don't know how to explain it exactly. Earlier when we were dancing I thought maybe you were going to, but then we were interrupted. But when Rose dared you…" She turned her head away lost in the scene replaying behind her eyes. "You got this look on your face like you were disgusted." She spat the last word as if it tasted bitter in her mouth.
"I'm so sorry. I was frustrated with the situation, but I never meant to make you doubt my feelings for you. You mean so much to me," I pled, as I hugged her to me placing a soft kiss on the side of her neck. Bella responded by turning her head to capture my lips in yet another earth shattering kiss.
"We should probably head back downstairs before we get caught making out in my sister's room."
"Too late!" Alice's high pitched voice rang out victoriously from the doorway. She wore a mischievous smirk on her face as she sauntered into the room. "I came to check on Bella, to see if she needed any help kicking your ass, but it looks a lot less like ass kicking and whole lot more like spit swapping. Care to explain?" she teased.
Bella's cheeks flushed a beautiful shade of pink at Alice's crass words. I chose to ignore her, slinging my arm over Bella's shoulders and directing her towards the hallway.
"Wait! Aren't you going to tell me what's going on? I mean, are you two like official now?" she hedged cautiously, well aware of Bella's previous hang ups in classifying our relationship as anything more than friends.
I glanced down at Bella, noting the pleased if not slightly embarrassed smile playing on her lips, and decided to put my sister out of her misery. "Alice, I would like to officially introduce you to my beautiful girlfriend, Bella," I said formally with and exaggerated gesture of my hand, earning a giggle from each of the girls.
Alice clapped and squealed in her signature overstated manner, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I was happy, Bella was happy, and we were finally together. Everything was exactly right in my world.
Or so I thought.
As Alice led us back downstairs to rejoin our friends, Bella nervously chewed her bottom lip, lost in deep thought. I stopped her with a gentle tug on her elbow, quietly allowing Alice to continue on without us. As soon as she was out of ear shot I turned back to Bella who was looking at me with wide, anxious eyes.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, hoping and praying that we were over all of the obstacles standing in our way.
"I think so. I mean, I hope so. I don't know," she started to ramble. "There's still something I need to tell you, something about me that you need to know. It's kind of important, and I think you should know before we tell anyone else that we're together. You know, in case you change your mind or…"
"Change my mind?" That didn't seem likely.
"Maybe. I hope not, but…"
"I don't think there's anything you could say that would change my mind about you. I mean, you're not like a criminal or anything, right?" I teased in an attempt to get her to relax.
"No, of course not. Well, I don't think so anyway." I chuckled at the concerned look on her face.
"Bella, whatever it is… you can tell me. We'll get past it or work through it together. I promise." I cupped her pretty face in my hand and pled with my eyes for her to just open up to me.
"I can't talk about it here," she said, shifting her eyes over to where Lauren was sitting a few feet away. "Too many ears. Will you come with me to my house tomorrow? I think it will be easier to just show you."
"Your house? Sure." Her request caught me off guard, but I agreed with an easy smile, immediately excited by the prospect. "I'd love to, mon petit chou," I said, placing a chaste kiss upon her swollen lips.
"Are you ever going to tell me what that means?" she asked, her forehead wrinkled in thought.
"What? Mon petit chou?"
"Yeah."
"I'm surprised you haven't figured it already," I teased.
"I tried," she admitted sheepishly, "but I think I must have spelled it wrong, because it didn't make any sense." That made me chuckle, because I was willing to bet that she had it correct and didn't even realize it. "Oh that's funny to you?" she challenged.
"Yes, but not for the reasons you think. Mon petit chou is a term of endearment. It's what my grandpa used to call my grandma. It doesn't translate very well, but it's essentially the same as calling you my sweetheart," I revealed feeling irrationally shy about admitting this to her.
"Sweetheart?"
"My sweetheart."
"You've called me that for a long time."
"I have."
"Wow," she breathed, wrapping her arms around me. "You are just… the sweetest boy ever."
"Mmm, and you are the sweetest girl."
"So, what does it translate to?"
"Huh?" I questioned, distracted by the way she was now running her lips up and down my neck.
"Mon petit chou? You said it doesn't translate well, but I know mon petit means my little one. What does chou mean?"
Clever girl just couldn't let it go.
"Umm… The literal translation is mylittlecabbage." I rushed out in a single breath as I launched a strategic assault on her neck in a deliberate attempt to divert her attention. My lips found the soft indent below her ear, earning the sexiest throaty groan from my girl.
"Hmm?" she attempted to question as I continued to kiss her, allowing my breath to wash over her ear and drown out her own thoughts. "I didn't understand what you said," she persisted.
"My little cabbage," I said with a resigned sigh. "It means my little cabbage." All kissing ceased immediately.
"Cabbage?" Her eyes were wide as saucers.
"Cabbage."
"Are you kidding me with this?"
"Nope."
"Cabbage? Really?"
"Yep."
"Do I stink?"
"What? No, of course not. Wait. What does that have to do with anything?"
"Cabbage stinks when it's cooked."
"Oh."
"I can't believe you've been calling me cabbage. Cabbage!"
"Sweetheart. I've been calling you my sweetheart."
"You expect me to believe that you weren't using it just because you thought it was funny that you were getting away with calling me a little cabbage? Honestly?"
"Well, I'll admit that I always thought it was pretty funny growing up, but that's not why I use it for you. Look, I know it's not a traditional term of endearment like baby or honey, but it's special to me. My grandparents had the most amazing relationship. I don't know what will happen to us long term, but Bella, I've never felt this way before. That has to mean something."
"Aww... Fine, dammit. You can call me a cabbage," she relented in a teasing tone, hugging me tightly while mumbling something about a stupid sweet boy with stupid sweet French grandparents. My body shook with laughter at her grumbling. She shoved my shoulder in response, and then quickly pulled me back down for another kiss. I decided that I liked playful Bella—a lot.
After that we rejoined our friends in the living room. The girls questioned Bella, making sure she was truly okay after her sudden disappearing act earlier. Rose was especially apologetic, worried that her dare had somehow come between us. Bella assured her that everything was just fine, leaving out the part where she had kissed me senseless and told me that she wanted to be my girlfriend. I was ready to shout it from the roof top, but I was okay with waiting if that was what Bella wanted and needed.
Fortunately the dreadful game of Truth or Dare had died out in favor of everyone lounging around while Jasper plucked out random songs on his guitar. I bit back the tinge of jealousy that reared its head as the girls, namely my sister and new girlfriend, gushed about his raspy voice and obvious talents. I didn't fully understand the hold he seemed to have on the female population. Most guys had certain types of girls that they attracted, but Jasper seemed to effortlessly draw them all in. Bella affectionately called it the Whitlock charm, whatever that meant. Regardless of the cause, I was more than a little uncomfortable with the sultry looks my twin sister was sending his direction. I vowed to keep a close eye on her as the night wore on.
Bella and I had resumed our earlier position in the same chair with her sitting comfortably in my lap. She was reclined against my chest and I had my arms wrapped around her with my chin perched on her shoulder. I took every available opportunity to sneak in a quick kiss when no one was looking. Of course, we weren't nearly as stealthy as we pretended to be. It became obvious that they were on to us by the quirked eyebrows and suggestive looks I started receiving from our friends. The blatant thumbs up that Emmett shot me did not go unnoticed by Bella.
She quietly excused herself to go use the restroom and I assumed to put some safe distance between us for the sake of prying eyes. I took advantage of the free moment to run into the kitchen to grab some bottled waters for Bella and me. Emmett followed after me, obviously fishing for the scoop.
"So… You and Bella were looking mighty cozy in there?" he hedged.
"Yeah?"
"Dude, are you two, like, together now?"
"Uh…" I scratched the back neck nervously as I gave him a guilty look trying to confirm his suspicions without actually saying the words and betraying Bella's request to keep our relationship between us until we had a chance to talk tomorrow.
"Oh my god. You totally are! I saw you sneaking in kisses and feelin' her up on the sly, you dirty dog."
"I was not feeling her up."
"Yeah, yeah. Looks like we'll both be sleeping comfortably tonight, if you know what I mean," he hinted, wagging his eyebrows.
"Sorry to disappoint you, man, but I think the girls are all planning on crashing together in Alice's room."
"Yeah right. Can you not feel the sex vibes flowing between Jazz and Alice? There's no way he's letting her out of his sight now that he has a chance to—" He stopped himself short as he caught on to the deadly glare I was sending his direction. "Shit, man. I'm sorry. But seriously, if they want to do it, they're gonna do it."
"Not while I'm around," I ground out between my clenched teeth. Emmett raised his hands in a sign of surrender and turned to leave the kitchen mumbling 'Jasper's fucked.'
I went to the fridge and grabbed two water bottles, standing in front of the open door a moment longer than required. I let the cool air of the refrigerator calm my thoughts while I regained my composure before I turned to head back to the living room. Standing in the entry way blocking my path was none other than Lauren.
She eyed me for a moment like a jungle cat stalking her prey before she sauntered towards me, running her fingertips along the granite countertop. She jutted her chest out as she came to a stop right in front of me, the sickly sweet smell of her perfume gagging me.
"Hey, Eddie," she purred. I cringed at the nickname. It reminded me of Tanya.
"Hi. Did you need something?" I asked, gesturing to the fridge and taking a conscious step away from her.
"Yeah… You. I've been waiting to get you alone all night." I felt my eyebrows furrow at her statement. "I see you were finally able to break free from Bella Swan."
"She just went to the restroom. She'll be right back," I corrected, uninterested in playing her games.
"You know, Edward, I get the whole rebound thing, but that doesn't mean that you have to slum it. You have options. Very. Viable. Options." She reached out and traced a single perfectly manicured nail down my chest. "I can do things for you, things she won't. I can make you feel things you've never felt before."
I scoffed at her, shoving her hand away a little more forcefully than was absolutely necessary. I turned and stalked out of the kitchen, not even dignifying her lewd offer with a verbal response.
I walked back into the living room to find Bella curled up like a kitten in our chair. I made my way to her and bent over to wrap my arms around her from behind.
"Come upstairs with me," I breathed into her hair. She looked at me skeptically as I continued whispering to her. "I just want a little more time alone with you before Alice takes you away for the night." Her cheeks pinked, but she nodded her head and stood, grabbing my offered hand.
"Damn! Sneaking off together already," Emmett crowed.
"Shut it, asshole," I retorted.
"I'm just playin'. Dude, can I use your bathroom? Rosie's gonna help me shave my legs," he said, pointing out the huge rectangle strip of hair missing from his right leg.
"Yeah, sure." Quicker than I had the words out of my mouth, he pulled Rose up from the floor and ran ahead of us, quickly hauling her up the staircase. "No fucking in my bed!" I yelled after him. He shot me the finger over his head and disappeared around the corner with Rose. Bella shook with laughter next to me, her face a shade of red that I had not yet seen on her.
"Oh you think that's funny? You won't when you have to help me burn my sheets tomorrow." Her nose wrinkled in disgust as she continued to snicker. "Come on, I want to show you something," I said, pulling her up the stairs and through the double doors of the study.
"The library?" she questioned, the awe in her voice bringing a smile to my lips.
"Uh, yeah. Have you been in here before?"
"No, not really. Alice showed it to me once, but we didn't go in."
"Well, this is my favorite room in the house," I explained as I ushered her in, making sure to close the doors securely behind us.
She looked around in wonder at the vast shelves of books, her fingers ghosting over the worn spines. I led her over to my baby grand piano in the corner of the room and took a seat on the bench, tugging on her hand for her to join me.
"You play?" she asked as she sat down next to me.
"I do. You?"
"Definitely not."
Without any preamble I ran my hands over the ivory keys and began playing for her. I ran through a few scales before I launched into the Peanuts theme song, "Linus and Lucy."
"Charlie Brown?" she giggled.
I winked at her and continued on playing. Her smile was the only encouragement I needed to show off a bit. I slowed the music and started in on Debussy's "Clair de lune," a long time favorite that exuded romance. I felt Bella's eyes on me as my body began to gently rock with the highs and lows of the melody. I poured myself into the song, willing her to feel the depths of my feelings for her in each note. I turned and looked her in the eye as I played the closing chords.
Bella's mouth hung open in a stunned, silent stare. I smiled at her, suddenly feeling shy and in need of her validation. I knew the piano wasn't necessarily considered the coolest instrument to play in high school. Tanya had certainly always acted bored whenever I'd tried to play for her, but I held out hope that Bella would appreciate my effort.
"So, what did you think?" I asked quietly, well aware that I was pathetically fishing for a compliment.
"Edward, that was… Wow. Is there anything you can't do?" I chuckled, relieved that she seemed to enjoy it.
"Not that I'm aware of," I teased, earning a playful shoulder bump from Bella. I nudged her back and then wrapped my arm around her shoulder and placed a sweet kiss on the top of her head.
"Do you know how to play 'Chopsticks'?" She shook her head no, and I launched into teaching her the basics of the classic childhood song. We laughed, bantered, and played for a long while.
A while later, after Bella had relocated herself to the small leather couch in an attempt to escape my persistent tickling and teasing, I began playing a song that I had known for years but had only recently become important to me. I played through the chorus once before I began softly singing.
"And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight
And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am"
I was so lost in the music, in the passion of the moment, that I didn't notice Bella approach me until I felt her hands on my shoulders and her lips in my hair as I closed out the song that my heart sang for only her.
"Oh Bella, I just want you to know I am
I just want you to know who I am"
"Edward," my sweet girl whimpered behind me. My fingers stilled on the keys as I turned to look up at her. She regarded me with so much intense emotion swimming in her eyes. Locking me in her gaze, she sat down next to me with her back to the piano and leaned over me bringing us face to face.
"Kiss me," she whispered quietly. I leaned into her and covered her lips with mine. She opened up to me immediately and we were quickly left gasping into each other's mouths. As we broke apart, I kissed her once, twice, three more times before placing a final peck on the tip of her nose.
"That was really beautiful." I wasn't sure if she was speaking of the song, the kiss, or perhaps both, but I decided that it didn't matter.
"Thank you."
"Why such a sad song?"
I shrugged, not sure how to vocalize everything I was feeling in the moment or had been feeling for so long now. I'd spent weeks worried that I had missed my chance with her, and then after the dare tonight I feared that the door had been closed on the possibility of us for good. Our relationship seemed to teeter on some invisible high wire. I was still worried, perhaps irrationally, that she would allow whatever it was that she needed to tell me tomorrow to come between us. I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. And I would quite literally give up anything just to hold her forever in this moment.
But Bella knew what I was thinking, as if she could read my thoughts spelled out across my face. She took my face between her hands and stared intently in my eyes.
"I'm so sorry that I made you wait." It was such a simple apology, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. My forehead fell softly against hers in relief.
"Don't be. It was worth it… You are worth it." I kissed her soundly once again just to prove my point.
She tried to hide her yawn from me as I pulled back, but I caught it. A quick glance at the clock alerted me to the late hour. We'd been hidden away together for over two hours, and while I'd happily keep her to myself all night, I knew that she had other people that wanted her attention.
"It's getting late. I should let you get some sleep. Alice is going to kill me for stealing you away all night." I took a tiny bit of pleasure in the disappointed look on her face, knowing that I wasn't the only one that didn't want this night to end.
"Yeah, I guess I should go find Alice. I'll see you in the morning?"
"See you in the morning. Night, Bella."
"Good night."
I sat alone in the quiet for a moment with a stupid, happy grin on face as I reminisced about the enormity of everything that had happened today. I didn't want to forget a thing—good or bad. I stood with a content sigh and closed up the room as I turned to head down to my bedroom, praying that I wouldn't find a naked Emmett inside.
I was surprised instead to find a very nervous Bella standing alone outside of Alice's bedroom. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head when she spotted me. She quickly rushed towards me, stopping me in my tracks.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, wondering what she was doing just standing out in the hall.
"Um… yes? I mean, fine. I'm fine. Everything is fine, but it sounds like Alice is a little busy. Is there somewhere else I can sleep?"
"Busy? Doing what?" I started towards Alice's room, but Bella threw herself in my path.
"Nothing! I mean, I don't know for sure, but her door is locked so…" Just then a light bulb clicked in my head at the same time that an unmistakable moan erupted from my sister's room. Bella looked at me with wide frantic eyes as my mouth dropped open. She quickly grabbed onto my arm as I made a dash for Alice's door. "Trust me. You do not want to go down there."
"Is she in there with Jasper?" I asked stupidly, already knowing the answer. Bella gave me a sympathetic shrug and started pulling down the hall and away from the source of my distress.
Just then Angela appeared at the top of the staircase. She looked cautiously between Bella and me, obviously sensing the tension.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yep. Just fine," Bella replied with forced cheeriness while I swallowed back the bile in my throat when an even deeper groan sounded from down the hall.
"Okay… Well, I just wanted to tell you that we're leaving. I've decided not to spend the night. Ben is going to take me home."
"Oh. Maybe I should just go with you then. It sounds like Alice is a little preoccupied anyway," Bella suggested. She wanted to leave? Suddenly I didn't care nearly as much about what Alice was doing.
"Actually, I was going to stay with Ben at his house. His parents are way more understanding than mine, and my parents already think that I'm going to be here all night, so we thought we'd take advantage."
"Oh! In that case you should go. Have fun. You two deserve a night alone," Bella enthused.
"Are you sure? I mean, Ben will understand if you want to come back to my place instead. I don't want you to be uncomfortable here." I snorted at that, certain that Ben would in fact not be fine about his plans with his girlfriend being thwarted at the last minute. Bella quirked an eyebrow at my outburst, but tried to pacify Angela.
"It's fine. Go be with your boyfriend. I'm sure the Cullens have a spare bedroom I can stay in."
"Actually, I'm pretty sure that Em and Rose already claimed the spare room," Angela said warily.
"Oh, well I'll just sleep on the couch or something. No big deal."
"Bella can sleep in my bed. I'll take the couch. Problem solved," I offered.
"If you're sure?" We both nodded in agreement. "Okay, then. Night, guys." We stood together and watched Angela walk quietly back down the stairs.
"I guess I should show you to my room," I said breaking the silence. Bella followed wordlessly behind me as I led her into my room. To sleep. In my bed. Suddenly my concerns about my sister were long forgotten as my heart began to thunder double time in my chest.
"So this is my room," I said, swallowing hard and running a shaky hand through my hair.
I watched in awe as my girl took in my most personal belongings. She slowly walked around picking up small trinkets, her fingers ghosting over my various baseball trophies and picture frames. She would pause every few seconds to read something or look at a picture more closely. When she came across an old black and white photograph of my grandparents she picked it up and turned to me, her eyes alight with interest. She glanced back and forth between me and the picture.
"You look just like him," she finally commented.
"Mmm, that's my grandpa, Laurent Evenson, my mom's dad. He passed away about two years ago. My mom says I look just like him. I never used to see it, but the older I get the more obvious it is."
She nodded, "He's very handsome." I smiled at her observation. "This is the grandpa that called your grandma mon petit chou?"
"That's him."
She delicately placed the picture back down on my dresser and resumed her perusal. I can't describe how amazing it felt to watch her smile appreciatively at the many sentimental mementos that catalogued my life. My heart rate quickened as she made her way over to my bed, her fingertips sliding across the soft brushed cotton of my charcoal gray comforter.
She came to stop at my nightstand, the corner of her mouth turned up in a soft smile as she picked up the single photograph that was lying propped up against my lamp. I hadn't had a chance to put it in a frame yet, but I kept it out where I could see it every morning when I woke up and every night before I fell asleep.
"Did Ben take this?" she asked, flashing the candid snapshot of the two of us at me. We were sitting together at one of the work tables in our journalism classroom. I was talking animatedly about something, and Bella was listening quietly with the most adoring smile.
"Yeah. He gave it to me last week." He had wordlessly dropped it on my desk on a day that I was feeling particularly pessimistic about the prospect of anything romantic ever developing with Bella. She was so hard for me to read sometimes, and I wasn't sure that any of my attempts were actually getting through to her. But then he had given me this picture and I just knew. Her feelings were evident in her tender smile. That photograph gave me the reassurance I needed to keep on waiting for her.
"Hmm. I'm gonna have to ask him for a copy."
"I'm sure he would be happy to make you one."
"This is a big bed," she commented suddenly, catching me off guard with her train of thought.
"Uh, yeah. It's a king."
"A king? I thought king size beds were for married couples that needed to sprawl out away from each other?"
"Well, I do sprawl, and I'm a little on the tall side if you haven't noticed."
"Yeah, I guess so. You probably wouldn't be very comfortable in my little twin then." The hint of flirtation in her tone was driving me even wilder than her actual words.
"Oh, I'm sure I would manage just fine in your bed," I teased. Like clockwork my beautiful girl's cheeks flushed a deep crimson.
"So… Since Alice is holding your bag hostage in the den of sin, do you need something more comfortable to sleep in?" I asked, gesturing to her silk tank top and denim skirt.
"Uh, yeah. That would be really great actually."
I rummaged through my dresser for a newer pair of boxers and a plain white undershirt. I turned to hand them to her, to find her studying me carefully.
"Thanks. Are you okay, Edward? About Alice I mean?"
"Uh, yeah… I guess. I'm just worried that she's repeating history, rushing into things. I don't want her to get hurt. I can't handle seeing her like that again."
"She's been hurt before?"
"Yeah, her boyfriend back in Minnesota, Peter. He broke up with her right after they became… intimate. You'll have to ask her the details. She won't talk to me about it."
"Well, for what it's worth, this is definitely the longest Jasper has ever waited to sleep with a girl, and I think he really cares about her."
"I hope you're right."
She rose up on her tiptoes and placed a sweet kiss on my jaw whispering, "Me too."
"I'm just going to get changed," she said, holding up the sleep clothes.
"There's a new toothbrush in the top drawer that you're welcome to use."
"Thanks." With that she disappeared into my bathroom.
I took a moment to quickly change into my own pair of boxers and a clean shirt to sleep in. I was just grabbing a pillow off of my bed, when Bella reemerged. She looked adorable swimming in my oversized clothes.
"You're leaving?" she asked, staring daggers at the pillow in my arms.
"I'll just be down the hall. I'm going to crash on the couch in the study."
"I don't really feel right about kicking you out of your own bed," she said, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
"Don't be ridiculous. I wouldn't have it any other way. Do you need anything else before you go to sleep?" I asked, walking over to give her a goodnight kiss.
"Just you. Please don't leave. You have a huge bed… Stay with me." To say I was stunned would have been a gross understatement.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, but just to sleep."
"Just to sleep," I agreed.
I couldn't contain my grin as kissed her smiling lips. "I'm just going to run downstairs and make sure the house is locked up. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back."
"'Kay."
After flipping off some lights and arming the alarm, I headed back to my room. I closed the door behind me, taking in the sight of Bella sitting up against the headboard of my bed. I switched off the light and crawled in next to her, lying flat on my back. She scooted down and lay next to me. We weren't touching, but I could feel the energy vibrating off her body along the length of mine. We were both quiet, the sound of our nervous breaths the only noise in the room. After a long moment, Bella spoke quietly into the darkness.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"D-Does it bother you that I'm inexperienced? That I'm a virgin?" I don't know what I was expecting her to ask me, but that definitely wasn't it. I understood her line of thought, though; between the way Lauren had put her on the spot during Truth or Dare and they way everyone else had coupled off for the night, sex seemed like an imminent topic.
"No… No, it doesn't bother me at all," I replied, rolling onto my side to face her. I could just make out her profile in the darkness. I traced a finger over her cheek and she turned into my touch. Her eyes shined brightly into the night.
"Really?"
"Why would it bother me? I think it's amazing." I reached out and pulled her towards me. "It means that no one else has touched you. It means that this is probably the first time that you've ever laid in a bed with a guy. And it means that if anything ever does happen between us, I will get to be your first. So you see, I think it's amazing."
"Thank you. I don't know if you're just trying to make me feel better or if you really feel that way, but thank you."
"Bella…"
"Hmm?"
"I'm a virgin too."
"What?" She sat up suddenly. "How is that even possible?"
"Why is that so hard to believe?"
"Because you're gorgeous! Because you had a sex goddess for a girlfriend! Because I know that you loved her! Take your pick," she burst.
"Tanya was pretty, and I loved her as a lifelong friend, but I was never in love with her. Trust me, it wasn't for lack of her trying, but… I don't know. Maybe it's an old fashioned notion, but I've always thought that the first time that I did that, it would be out of love. So, I guess I've just been waiting to find the one."
"God, Edward." Her breath was hot on my face as she leaned in to kiss me. "Every time I think you can't possibly get any sweeter, you go and say something like that. I can't believe that you're my boyfriend. What did I do to deserve you?"
"Please say it again."
"What?"
"The part where you called me your boyfriend."
"My boyfriend." Her arms came around me as she began to kiss with me fervor. "My Edward."
"My Bella," I sighed into her mouth.
I rolled into her, pressing her upper body down into the mattress. My hands were in her hair, on her face, roaming up and down her sides, everywhere I could reach. Her legs crept forward seeking mine, tangling us together as we continued to rain affection on each other with our lips and tongues. As the kiss slowed, I laid back down, pulling her down to lie on my chest.
"We really should get some sleep."
"Mmm… Good night, Edward."
"Good night, mon petit chou." I kissed the top of her head and stroked her hair until her breathing evened out indicating sleep. I staved off my own slumber for as long as I could, cherishing the feeling of her warm body cradled against mine. When I finally succumbed to sleep, it was only to dream of the brunette beauty in my arms.
When I awoke it was to a cold empty bed, the glowing numbers on my alarm clock indicating that I had slept well past 11:00 a.m. I got up to use the restroom and clean up before heading downstairs in search of Bella, my sister, and our friends.
I followed the dull murmur of voices into the kitchen, and stopped short in the arched entry way. Alice was perched on Jasper's lap, wearing only his shirt from the day before. I hadn't given any more thought to the physical steps that their relationship had likely taken last night. I was too distracted by Bella and now even more grateful to her for allowing me to stay with her. I doubted I would have been able to sleep knowing what was going on, if I hadn't been consumed with her.
"Morning, Edward," Bella said softly with a shy smile when she spotted me. I focused solely on her as I walked into the kitchen, thankful once again to have a distraction from the otherwise awkward situation. I kissed the top of her head and went to pour myself a cup of coffee.
I pulled out the chair closest to Bella and took a seat. The silence in the room was deafening as I sipped my coffee. Bella reached over and grabbed one of my hands, twining our fingers together and instantly putting me at ease.
I looked up to find Alice staring at me. Jasper on the other hand refused my eye contact. I attempted to smile at my sister, but I'm sure it came out as more of a grimace. Alice took it as a good sign though, and embraced the opportunity to try and make small talk.
"So, Bella tells me that you're going over to her house today?" she started.
"Uh, yeah." Bella squeezed my hand reassuringly.
"You're taking Edward to your house?" Jasper asked, looking up at me for the first time since I entered the room.
"Yep."
"Wow. That's great, Bells. That's really great. I'm happy for you." The pride in his voice struck a chord with me. I suddenly realized that Jasper knew exactly what it was that Bella wanted to tell me, or show me as it were. Bella nodded with a small smile playing on her lips.
"Well, I'm jealous that my brother gets to go to your house before I do," Alice said.
The table slipped back into a slightly less uncomfortable silence. I looked up when I heard Alice quietly whispering. Her mouth was at Jasper's ear, speaking softly to him. He turned and kissed her cheek and mouthed something to her that made me go slack-jawed.
"What did you just say?" I inquired before I could stop myself.
Jasper and Alice's eyes shot to mine immediately, Alice glaring and Jasper smiling.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. It's none of my business," I quickly retracted.
"It's okay. I said that I love her. And I do," Jasper replied, confidently holding my gaze. My eyes flicked to Alice's and she nodded confirmation.
"I love him too. Please be happy for me, Edward."
"You're in love?" She nodded again with a huge smile, and I could see their love plain as day on both of their faces. "Then I'm happy for you. But, that doesn't mean that I want to see or hear you molesting my sister," I said, narrowing my eyes at Jasper.
"Fair enough," he agreed with a smirk, earning a giggle from both of the girls.
"Morning, party people!" Emmett bellowed for the entry way. Rose shushed him as made her way over to the coffee pot.
"Does someone have a hangover?" Alice teased.
"Why the hell are you so chipper? You drank more than I did," Rose grouched.
"I think I burned most of it off last night," Alice giggled.
"La la la la la la!" I hollered, covering my ears. "That's exactly the kind of crap that I do not want to hear."
"Aww, what's wrong, Eddie? No lovin' for you last night? Cuz I could have sworn that was Bella that I saw sneaking out of your room earlier this morning," Emmett taunted.
"That was not what it looked like," I defended, immediately feeling responsible for tarnishing Bella's reputation. I looked at her with wide worried eyes, to find her chuckling along with him.
"He's just teasing, Edward. I already explained to him that nothing happened."
"Yeah, relax, dude. I know Bella's a good girl." The entire table joined in laughing at my expense. When Emmett turned his ribbing onto Jasper and Alice, Bella stood to wash out her coffee cup.
"I'm gonna take a shower in Alice's room. Can you be ready to go in about thirty minutes?" she asked.
"Yeah, sounds good."
Thirty-five minutes later we were climbing up into her beast of a truck and on our way to her house. I hadn't had much time to think through the implications of the trip, but as I sat next to her while she quietly sang along to the radio I grew more and more nervous about what it was that she needed to tell me.
She drove down out of the hills and made a left heading east on Santa Monica Boulevard. She continued following the road as it turned into CA Highway 2. The farther we drove the more anxious I became.
"Is your dad going to be home?" I asked, fishing for what to expect and wondering if she had warned him at all that I would be accompanying her.
"Umm… He's probably working right now, but he should be home soon. I want you to meet him." I bobbed my head in understanding to the same quick beat that my knee was nervously bouncing.
Twenty minutes later we were still on the same freeway. We had driven through Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hollywood, and other parts of L.A. that I wasn't even familiar with yet.
"Wow. How far away do you live exactly?"
"Sorry. We should be there in about five to ten minutes. I live in Glendale. It's in the Valley," she said, looking ashamed. My own nerves were forgotten as I tried to piece together why she was apologizing.
"The Valley? As in San Fernando Valley?"
"Yep."
"Wow. You drive this every day?"
"Yeah. It's a lot worse in traffic. Takes me about forty minutes to get to school."
"Forty minutes! Why didn't you say something? I can get a ride with Jasper and Alice from now on. There's no way I'm letting you drive any farther out of your way just because I'm a loser without a car."
She shrugged sheepishly, "I like spending time with you."
I reached over the bench seat and grabbed her free hand. "I like spending time with you too."
When Bella finally turned off the main highway the Mercedes and BMWs that were typical of my neighborhood gave way to Hondas and Fords. The five bedroom mansions were replaced with modestly sized homes. Designer stores swapped out for J.C. Penney's and Target.
"What do you think?" Bella asked softly, refusing to meet my eyes as she pulled up in front of an older white house.
"It's nice. Quaint." I said, and it really was.
"Really?" She looked so nervous, and didn't understand why.
"Really… Hey, what's wrong? Why do you look so scared?" I asked, unbuckling my seatbelt and scooting over next to her.
"I'm not from a wealthy family," she whispered. "My dad's a landscaper. We live paycheck to paycheck. I don't come from the same world that you do." Tears welled up in her big brown eyes as she watched me like she thought I was going to bolt.
"Oh, mon petit chou, please don't cry," I pled, as I cradled her face in my hands and kissed away her fallen tears. "Is this what you were so worried about? Where you live? How much money your dad makes? Because those things aren't important. I like you for who you are, and who you are amazes me. Now why don't you take me inside and show me around? I want to know everything about you."
xoxo
A/N: Aww, we've made it up to the big reveal. Bella has a lot more to tell Edward, but I'm feeling pretty good about the two of them now. That boy is just too sweet for words. And it seems that these two don't want to keep their lips or hands off of each other now that the flood gates are open. Things are really going to start to heat up. So what did you think? Did you enjoy the mushy turn this chapter took, finally relieving some of the angst? Let me know. Your reviews warm my heart.
Thank you to Hibbleton78 and Holly1980 for your invaluable advice.
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