I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT
Hey everyone, thanks for hanging in there, life has been busy, and this chapter was hard to sort out, it's a short one, but a good one I think. Thank you for starting this journey with me, we will get there eventually.
Please give me some feed back, it helps to keep me going ;)
Listen While you read:
"Only In Dreams"-Kitchen Tape Demo: Weezer {For you Renée ;) }
"Running for Cover": Ivan & Alyosha
"Into Giants": Patrick Watson
*****Chapter Eight*****
"Edward" she whispered.
I could feel her chest rise and fall, and her breath was hot in my ear as chills ran down my body; but I wasn't cold, I was warm and comfortable. I tried to open my eye's but the harder I fought the more they stayed closed. Her hair tickled my cheek, and instinctively I knew I was smiling. I flexed my arms realizing they were wrapped around her, and pulled her closer pressing her against me. I ran my fingers across her back gently, and her lips moved feathery soft from the base of my ear to my neck, and then along my jaw line. My heart was so full , this was exactly where I wanted to be.
My lip's moved but nothing came out, I wanted them on her skin more than I had ever wanted anything up until that moment. My hand trailed up her back to the nape of her neck and then into her hair, it was like silk. Her lip's were at my ear again and I felt her teeth graze against my skin sending a wave of desire over me.
"Edward." she murmured once more.
Her cheek was on mine and I tried to move my lips to kiss her. I wanted her so badly. Mustering all of my concentration I pried open my eye's.
It was deadly quiet, and I was sweating.
My heart was racing, and I was alone.
I took in a sharp breath and angrily shoved the top blanket off me.
"Fuck" I groaned.
It was a dream. My brain finally catching up to the reality that I was in my bed and she wasn't here. I threw my arm up over my forehead sheltering my eye's from the golden peals of light working their way in through the curtains. My body was shuttering and a surge of yearning stabbed and scraped though my ribcage. Her absence was so acute that I could feel it pressing in all around me, though I had never had her.
I flopped over onto my side frustrated, maybe I could go back to sleep, maybe she would come back to me. My mind was working hard to hold onto every detail, but the realness of the dream was creeping away. As I concentrated on making my breathing even I began to slip under again.
When I woke up the next time it was slow and painless. My room was filled with gray light and I sluggishly glanced at the time on my phone, it was only seven-thirty. It felt much later and my body ached a little as I gradually began to remember how I had woken the first time this morning. I stretched and turned over to lay on my back hugging a pillow over my chest and head. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't stop thinking about her. She was in every part of my head; like an infection deliberately chipping away at me internally. Snippets of last night, small flashes of her, morphed to fill in parts of the dream, and I struggled against my self trying to piece together what was reality and what was make-believe.
My phone vibrated irritatingly and I lobbed my pillow across the room wondering who the hell would text me at 7:30am on a Saturday morning. I grabbed my glasses off the night stand and blinked a few times trying to focus.
Excitement sprang in me as I read the screen.
B: Pancakes?
E: Yes. When? I typed as fast as my fingers would go.
B: Half an hour?
E: Where?
B: The Mecca?
E: YES.
Through our weird short hand I realized Bella had just asked me to meet her for breakfast.
I sucked in a shallow breath and got to my feet. Shower. I desperately needed a shower, perhaps a cold one.
It was for the best that I needed to haul ass to meet her; given any more time I would have had difficulty fighting the temptation to relieve all the pressure and tension building up in me. As it was I struggled just to stop the dream from replaying over and over in my mind. My craving for her physically was almost out of control, but what I couldn't get passed was the sheer feeling of joy I'd had in the dream. The sensation that I was completely satisfied, and so secure. There was a small ach in my chest now, dwelling on it was painful.I had to get my self together or I knew I wouldn't even be able to look her in the eye without all of it flooding over me.
I pushed the dream out of my mind and scrambled around the house determined to get to her on time.
Bright patches of vibrant pink and orange dotted a crisp morning sky, but I could tell the clouds were coming. I filled my lungs, taking a deep drag of air in and out as I searched for her car in the parking lot. She was already here. Peals of expectation rippled through me. I couldn't wait to see her, be near her.
I swung open the door of the Mecca, I had been here countless time's before but, somehow this time seemed different.
It was loud with the hustle and bustle of the breakfast crowd as I scanned the interior for one pair of eyes. She found me first and as I caught her gaze she sat up more straight, a bright smile canvasing her face. She watched me walk towards her, never braking eye contact. Every time I saw her it was like seeing her for the first time again, my chest constricted and my legs felt unsteady.
There was no hint of apprehension or bashfulness in her expression now and I wondered if this was the same Bella I had come to know. She was sitting in a cozy booth towards the far corner of the restaurant nestled next to a window overlooking the street; the soft glow of the morning light only helping to strengthen the etherial haze that seemed to be surrounding her.
Subconsciously I saw my self as I slid into the seat across from her. I looked like a pitiful dope, totally helpless grinning from ear to ear.
"Morning" I finally broke from her gaze, it felt like my internal organs were doing jumping jacks.
"Morning." she answered back.
She took a sip of something from the mug in front of her trying to hide what I had been expecting to find on her face. I allowed my eyes to apprise her as a rose-colored heat blossomed over the exposed skin around her neck and then moved up to her lips.
She was so damn beautiful.
She flashed a grin at me. "What?" she asked suspiciously.
Shit, I'd been caught.
"Nothing." I picked up my menu divergently.
"Cullen?" she was smirking, her eyebrows riding up suggestively.
"How did you sleep?" I asked studying the plastic page in front of me but taking in nothing.
"Alright, thank you."
"Good."
I felt like I was going to burst out into infantile giggles at any moment. Pull it together ass hole I shouted at my self.
"How did you sleep?"
I sucked in a breath, "Great" I said giddy. "Just great." Even then my body shook reminding me she was the one I had dreamed of only hours ago.
I felt her eye's warm on my face and I looked up to her, shoving all hints of the intimate way I had imagined her out of my expression. She held my gaze until finally I asked, "How was your date?"
"Oh," her features fell and she pursed her lip's forming a slight frown. "Well, Ange didn't really have time this morning. She thought she would but, it just really didn't work out."
My heart fell a little as I registered the disappointment in her tone and posture. "I'm sorry." I added distressed that she had obviously been let down.
"It's alright" she promoted. "I know she is really busy."
She laid her menu down and clasped her hands around her coffee cup. "We'll find another time." she dismissed.
"Yeah, but, you were really looking forward to it, hu?" I inferred.
She took a moment then smiled keenly "Yeah," she confessed "I was."
"I have a friend Garrett" I began, "we were room-mates at college, and even after that he lived here in Seattle with my brother-in-law Jasper and I for a while, well before Jasper married my sister." I paused realizing I was rambling. "Anyhow, I went from seeing him almost everyday of my adult life to only seeing him a couple of time a year. I mean I love my brothers, they really are my closest friends, but Garrett and me," I stopped, how did I say this without sounding like a girl?
"He is your Angela?" Bella half smiled at me as she finished my thought in her own way.
"Yeah," I chuckled "He is my Angela. We have been through some hard shit together." I breathed.
"I get that, but why do you only see him a couple of times a year?"
"He lives in Alaska."
"Alaska?" she was frowning.
"Yeah he lives up there with his wife Kate, he's an environmental lawyer."
"I see."
"Anyhow, I told you all that only, to let you know that I understand how you feel about your friend. It's hard to let people you love go so far from you."
"Hey Sugar" an older woman threw at me as she reached over and turned my mug over. "Coffee?"
"Please." I smiled politely.
"Room for cream?"
"Nope, fill it up. The blacker the better."
"Alright, a man's man." She snapped back. "You two kid's know what you want?"
"Yes." Bella answered quickly.
"Okay lay it on me honey."
"May I please have the short stack of sweet cream cakes?"
"How do you want your egg's?"
"Over easy."
"Are you sure that's what you want?" I eyed Bella sceptically.
She flushed and smiled "I'm sure."
"For you handsome?" the woman boomed at me.
"Well in the interest of me actually getting to eat what I order, I am going to have the same thing as the lady, only I think I'll have scrambled, please."
The waitress smiled at me over her glasses and then turned to Bella, "Honey you sure did get a hunky one. Hold on to him."
I watched Bella's face turn a deep red as she glanced to me and then quickly back to our waitress sputtering and stammering, "Oh I'm not, I mean we're not.." but the older woman was already on her way to put in our order.
I was not about to let this slide, it was way to easy.
"Did you hear that?" I leaned towards her over the table.
"What?" she asked unable to look up.
I waited patiently for her to break and meet my eye's. When she did I gave her a cocky half-smile, "I'm a hunk, and you should hold on to me."
She grinned and then stopped her self, "I think it's her who want to hold on to you."
She was deflecting now, and two could play at that game.
"Oh yeah? Maybe I should try to get her number, those glasses and orthopedic shoe's are really doing it for me."
We chuckled together and then she added "Yeah, I'll help you. I'll let her know we aren't together and I'm not interested in you at all."
The smile fell from my face as I heard her word's "Your not?" I blurted out both my eyebrows ridding up.
"What?" She asked nervously.
I let a disappointed look wipe over me, as if I were truly hurt.
Her eye's were getting larger by the moment and it was all I could do to keep from laughing. Why did she make it so easy to tease her? Emmett was going to love her, or make her cry, maybe both.
I let her suffer in silence just a minute longer and then I met her eye's dejectedly.
"Swan" I swallowed pitifully.
"Edward, I.." she faltered staring at me.
Transforming my expression I smiled ruefully at her.
"I'm just messing with you." I laughed mischievously.
Her eye's narrowed and she smirked crossing her arms around her self, attempting to show me how angry she was.
"It's okay Swan, I know your interested in me." I was reaching now, but maybe with the power of suggestion she would reveille something and show her hand.
"You just keep telling your self that Cullen."
There was a strange intensity in her eye's and although she was mad I could see that I had struck a chord in her.
"I don't have to, you tell me your self every time you blush."
I'll admit I was laying it on think now, but damn she was making me crazy. She may have had denial on her lip's, but there was desire in her eye's, and she couldn't hide it.
She nibbled the corner of her mouth and held my gaze, but then defeatedly looked down at the table, her hair falling around her face so that I couldn't see her expression.
"Damn! That's not fair." she said in a small voice.
She was embarrassed now and I felt guilty for driving her there. It was silent between us, I had to give her something that would put me out there just as much as I had forced her.
"Bella," I said softly, she looked up slowly, her brown eye's meeting stomash tightened apprehensively and I swallowed dryly. "It's actually really beautiful."
I smiled tenderly and as if on que pink rushed to the sides of her face, "See," I nodded to her, "beautiful."
"More coffee honey?" Our waitress was back and grabbing for Bella's cup.
"Thank you. " Bella said a little reserved.
"And for you good lookin?" She turned to me, and I leaned over to read her name tag.
"No Shelly" I breathed, "I'm doing fine, thank you."
She smiled wide, "Handsome, I bet you drive all the ladies' crazy don't you?"
My gaze fell on Bella, "Only one of them I hope."
I was flirting shamelessly now.
"Yep," Shelly swung back to Bella and patted her arm in a friendly way "he's a keeper. Your food will be right up."
I was defiantly giving her a big tip.
"So," Bella said a bit clumsily. "Tell me more about your Angela."
We spent the rest of breakfast talking and laughing about old adventures and how friends can force you to do outlandish thing's you wouldn't normal do.
I nearly choked on my egg's when she told me about a time she had been dared to break into the public pool, go skinny dipping, and almost been caught by her father, of all people.
I told her all about how I had traveled Europe the summer of sophomore year in college with Garrett and how we had nearly been arrested in a little town in Italy.
When Shelly came by with our check she slipped it on the table in front of me and winked, "No rush handsome."
"Actually, I'll take that." Bella held out her hand expectantly.
"No you won't."
I slid my card from my wallet and handed it right back to our waitress.
"Edward." Bella said chiding me.
"Oh honey, never refuse a man who want's to pay. Their few and far between, believe me."
I grinned triumphantly, as Bella eyed me warily.
"So what are you up to today?" I asked.
She didn't answer immediately and I began to wonder if she really was up set the check but then a piteous look worked its way to the surface of her gaze. She smiled and rolled her eye's slightly.
"Laundry."
"Laundry?" I echoed. "That sounds really,"
"Boring." She smirked. "I know."
"Well Swan, I have an idea, that is if you can tear your self away from your chores."
"I might be able to." she said pretending to only be casually interested. "What's your idea Cullen?"
"I propose that we throw caution to the wind duck out on work, and enjoy this great city we live in."
"I'm listening." she declared wrapping and unwrapping the paper casing of a straw around her finger.
"Since your still relatively new here, yet seem to know some pretty cool places, last night is proof of that, what do you say we pool our knowledge and visit our top five favorite places?"
"Each of our top five?" she clarified.
"Yes. We'll be explorers for the day, instead of the workaholic responsible adults we normally are."
Her eye's constricted and she studied my face.
"Cullen? Are you trying to 'Before Sunrise' me?
My mind snapped quickly to the movie she was referring to, "Yes, I am." I stated flatly.
She bit her lip trying to stifle her amazement and then shrugged her shoulders. "Alright. But I get to be Jesse the greasy yet charming american. You'll have to be Celine the demure yet firy young french girl."
I chuckled at the way her brain and sense of humor worked.
"Fine. But that means your going to have to be the cynically philosophical immature one."
Leaning her elbows on the table she answered coyly "I think I can manage that."
"And Bella, one more concession."
"What is it Cullen?" she breathed feigning annoyance.
I spread a smug grin on my face and leaned towards her. "I get to drive."
She gave me a tight smile, "Fine, but I pick the music."
"What!?" I cracked, "It's my car."
"Take it or leave it."
"Swan you drive a hard bargain."
"Charlie taught me well." Her upper lip twitched slightly at the hint of her victory.
"You can play D.J." I agreed, finding it hard to say no to her.
"Alright handsome, your all set." Shelly set my card and recite down then looked wistfully between Bella and I. "How long you two love bird's been together?"
I looked to Bella and smiled, entertaining the idea of making her squirm, however her only reaction was to fold her hands in her lap and stare at the table top.
"Shelly, that is sweet, but we aren't together." I grinned slyly back at our waitress.
She glanced at Bella and then winked at me, "Well you should be honey."
Before Bella looked up I nodded my head conspiratorially.
"Well, you kid's come back and see me sometime."
"Oh, we will." I assured her gently. "Thank's"
"Thank you." Bella finally spoke, "Have a nice day."
"I will dear, you too."
I watched Shelly exchange a look with Bella over her glasses and then she was gone, moving onto her next table.
"She's a character hu?" I grinned as her eyes met mine.
"She certainly is."
"Well Jesse, shall we?" I raised an eyebrow suggestively.
"Yes Celine, let's get out of here."
"Ya know this isn't quite fair," I surmised verbally, getting to my feet.
"What's not fair?"
"Jesse could be a boy's or a girl's name. But there is no mistaking Celine."
She patted my arm in a chummy way, with a fake expression of remorse.
"I know." she said then grinned wickedly.
Something coiled deep inside me, everytime she touched me I felt like I was going to erupted.
The clouds had already started to roll in creating an eerie glow that made everything look fuzzy and green.
"It's gonna rain soon." I let out looking up.
"Yep." Bella confirmed.
"Hey, why don't you park your truck at my house. I have a garage, it's just a few block's from here."
"Um," she hesitated momentarily."Are you sure?"
I smirked and nodded my head.
"Thank you."
"Just fallow me?"
"Okay" she smiled.
My phone was ringing when I got to my car. Glancing at the screen I slid my finger on the answer button.
"Hey man, what's up?"
"Morn'in" Jasper drawled. "You still coming over to watch a little college football today?"
Shit! I'd forgotten about hanging out with Alice and Jasper.
"I a..aa.." I stuttered feeling bad. Alice did not take rejection well, especially in her current hormonal state.
"Oh man! No!" he wheezed and then went silent a moment.
"I'm sorry Jazz."
"Noah's gone. Please tell me your not skippin out to work."
"Jasper, I am not skipping out to work."
I couldn't stop the smile spreading on my face as I glanced in the rearview mirror to see a hulking red truck behind me.
"What is it then, clearing out your gutters, detailing your car?"
"Um," I paused not sure how to put things. "I'm spending the day with Bella."
"How did that happen?" he asked after an extremely long silence.
"It's a long story, I'll tell you later. Can you please just keep this to your self?"
He didn't answer, probably debating on what the consequences would be for keeping something like this from Ali.
"Jasper." I said to get a response.
"Yeah," he said reluctantly. "I'll keep it under my hat. But only until later tonight, don't make me your secret keeper and longer than a few hours."
"Thank's" I breathed out relieved.
"And Ed?"
"Yeah?"
"Have fun. Im happy that your ah, getting back out there."
"Thank you man." I let out. "Don't tell Alice!"
"Less than 24 hour pal."
"Enjoy your game today." I commented referring to the football.
"Enjoy you own." He giggled.
Why did it always feel like Jr. High anytime the subject of Bella came up with my family?
I hung up and tossed my phone in the passenger's seat as I pulled up to a stop light. Glancing back at her I saw that she was staring out the window her hand resting over her mouth, looking far away and sort of sad.
She had such expressive eye's. Sometime's I felt like I could see right into her; I could tell what she was feeling but never why she was feeling it.
She caught my gaze and I smiled at her through the mirror. She straightened and half smiled back giving a slight awkward wave of her hand.
When we got to my house I stood at the edge of the garage and watched as she slid from the cab of that monstrosity of a truck.
"For a second I thought maybe your beast wouldn't fit." I grinned slyly, letting her know I was only joking.
She looked at me pointedly, "Ha ha ha."
She started towards me and I rounded on her motioning with my head, "Fallow me."
I opened the door to the house and held it for her.
As she stepped through her eye's met mine, giving me a look of curiosity mingled with trepidation. Impulsively I slipped my palm to the small of her back attempting to sooth her inhibitions.
She tensed and turned to me, "What are we doing?"
Half smiling I prodded her into the house towards the kitchen, "We have to make our lists don't we?"
She came to a halt and swiveled her head to me. "Edward," she exclaimed unobtrusively with a small voice, "This is beautiful."
She smiled beginning to survey the room. I watched her, an excited tremor rising in me at how natural she looked in my home.
"Thank's" I shrugged running a nervous hand over my wild hair. "It's just this way" I pointed and moved towards the kitchen.
"So where's Noah?" she followed me.
"He is with his mom, it's her week. Tanya and I triad off week's every Sunday, so I'll get him back tomorrow night."
"He is such a sweet boy." she beamed genuinely.
"He is." I conceded.
"Is it hard letting him go a week at a time?"
She leaned against the counter and stared up at me.
I narrowed my eye's slightly and thought a moment, "Yes." I finally answered. "Just because I miss him so much when he's not here, the house get's way to quiet and way to clean." I grinned. "But, it's getting to be more of a routine, and now thing's are much better with his mom. I know he need's her, and he is just as loved and taken care of there as he is here." I paused taking in the smile on her face. "Plus I'll be honest it gives me a chance to work hard when he is gone so that when he is here, I can take it easy and have more time for him."
She let her eye's fall to the ground, "It's great that you and his mom have such an easy arrangement."
"It is, but it took us a while to get there."
It looked as if she were deep in thought and I wondered if she was thinking of her job.
Moving to a drawer I grabbed a small notebook and two pen's.
"Right" I cleared my throat and tore out two sheets.
"May I?" she asked motioning to a high stool at the counter top.
"Of course."
I slid the paper and pen in front of her.
"So, top five?"
"Top five." I confirmed.
She took the pen and covered her paper, starting her list in secrecy.
When I glanced at my own page my brain was suddenly flooded with one thought, one over whelming urge. Now that this beautiful dream girl was in my house there was only one place I wanted to take her; it was down the hall and to the left.
Once I got her there I was fairly certain I would never want to be anywhere else ever again.
