Inked
Disclaimer: All publicly recognized characters, quotes, references, or anything else associated to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga© are not of my own creation.
~~INKED~~
Sometimes you can't find reliable quotes online-George Washington
~~Inked~~
A/N: I'm very excited about this chapter, I hope y'all are too!
It wasn't long before Rose was at the hospital waiting for me. She looked worried, and for a second I felt bad, almost, that I caused her distress; then I remembered she let me go home with Edward. Drunk. The thing is, Rose and I are best friends – but we butt heads all the time. We know how to push each other's buttons, and sometimes we're a bit careless towards each other. Of course at the end of the day I love her, but Rose really aggravates me sometimes, and I know that feeling is mutual.
"Is anything broken? What happened? Are you okay? Your insurance covers this right? Oh God, Bella you nearly scared my half to death on the phone!" Rose doesn't attempt to keep her voice down. She's let her blonde hair fall down in waves on her shoulders, and somehow she had time to pick out the perfect outfit before coming here. Compared to me, she looked like a goddess.
"Yes, long story, not really, yes, and I'm half sorry." I said answering her question vaguely. "I broke my nose and got a concussion, thank you very much. I can't believe you let me go home with Edward, Rose! I was drunk, and now you've made me look bad in front of him! Do you know how hard it'll be to look him in the eye next time I see him? Impossible, just impossible."
We're starting to draw attention, so I start heading in the direction of the exit. "Are you going to blame this on me?! You wouldn't physically leave the bar. You were pretty sure you were walking on sunshine, and Edward seemed to think he could help you home – and he called me to let me know he was just going to let you crash at his place. You're the one who made a fool out of yourself; don't turn this around on me, the person who had to pick you up from the hospital, okay?" Rose said in her you-don't-want-to-mess-with-me tone that would scare a normal person to the moon and back. Me? It doesn't even faze me anymore.
"Best friends don't let other best friends do stupid things – you should have helped me! You know I don't like drinking. I don't remember anything that even happened, and it was supposed to be the night of all nights!" I complain. I thank God our apartment isn't far, and Rose's fast and furious driving is shedding minutes off of our drive.
"Whatever, Isabella, I could seriously care less. You can talk to me when you've got your stuff straight, okay? I'm not in the mood to talk to you." Ohh, the full name. That's when you know we're actually fighting.
"Fine, Rosalie, don't talk to me then. You've been on my nerves lately anyways." I huff and look out the window.
Rosalie gasps and whips her head into my direction. "REALLY? I've been on your nerves? All I ever hear about is Edward this and Edward that. You're so stuck in your own little word you haven't asked for two weeks how I was. It's really not that hard just to say a simple, Rose, how was your day? I listen to your boring stories but you don't care about mine? Unbelievable Isabella. Seriously." That kind of hit me below the belt, and I say no more.
Have I really been oblivious to the world around me? Have I really been ignoring my best friend for some man? I have.
The next moment in the car is very awkward and the tension hangs deep in the air. Suddenly I don't feel like being mad at Rose anymore, I just want her to be my friend. Everything kind of escalates quickly and dies out quickly between us. Usually it works out find when someone admits they're wrong, or we meet on middle grounds. As much as I hate admitting defeat, I can do so gracefully, and it is going to be me who will end up apologizing. However, I don't think I can handle anymore emotions to run through my body at the moment, and I'm physically and mentally exhausted.
When we finally reach the apartment I climb out of the car and softly shut the passenger door. I follow Rose into the house and go straight to the room. We do not exchange a word and go our separate ways.
EPOV
Leaving the hospital, I feel confused and ashamed. I knew I probably shouldn't have pretended to be Bella's husband, but I just wanted to make sure she was alright. It was agonizing knowing she was possibly in pain and there was nothing I could do about it. However, I didn't think that it was going to be that big of a deal with her. I figure that Bella must've been through more than she's letting on.
However, I still cannot believe I'm going to have to work up the courage to ask her out on a date for the second time. Obviously the Friday night date isn't happening; Bella hates me as far as I know right know. Honestly, the first time I imagined Bella waking up in my bed didn't end quite like this . . . at all. I guess second times the charm right (if there is a second time). I try to catch a taxi back to my apartment, but then I remember I've got no money and I think that's what the drivers want for payment. I feel as if I don't have the energy to walk home either. I sit down on a bench and take a deep breath of air. Someone has it worse, I tell myself. Someone's more miserable than you are.
I stop to think about that. Sure, maybe there's someone having a worse day. Maybe someone just lost their job, maybe someone just got divorced, maybe someone was just killed. But, the fact that someone else is hurting doesn't change the fact that I am. However petty my complaints may be, they're still legitimate complaints, and I still deserve to be upset over them. Not being upset doesn't make all those other people happier; it just means I'm denying myself the pleasure of hurting, and that's doing no good to anyone. So, I don't restrain myself. I mentally curse and cry and yell at myself because I very well might have just made the biggest mistake of my lifetime.
Feeling like a philosopher, I get up off of my bench and proceed to walk home. The house seems lonely and cold. I wish I'd gotten a bigger apartment, maybe then this morning would have turned out differently (preferably with Bella expressing her undying love for me, but whatever). But what ifs and maybes aren't really worth my time at the moment.
I kick my shoes off and plop down on my bed. My nose is buried in my sheets in such a way that I can't really breathe, but I don't think I should get to breathe after the mess I've caused. I'd say I sufficiently screwed up my life. Maybe I'm being dramatic, but I'm okay with that. Better to overestimate than to underestimate, right? Right.
I do the next logical thing; scream into my pillow of course.
BPOV
I hate myself. I hate Jacob. I hate God. I hate Rosalie. I hate Edward. I hate unwashed bed sheets. I hate alcohol. I hate people who are drunk. I hate that I was drunk. I hate hangovers. I hate hospitals. I hate hating everything. And lastly, I hate everything.
No, I haven't apologized to Rose yet. I'm pretty sure I can forgive Edward, just not right now. I hate that Jacob left me alone in this world. I don't think it's fair to me, to be forced to go on. Sometimes I feel like high school wasn't drama-filled, and now the universe is getting back at my by throwing every imaginable curve ball in my direction.
Slowly, I pick myself off of my bed, one limb at a time. First my legs, then my arms, and then I'm walking out the door. I almost remind myself of that old Christmas special where Chris Cringle is teaching that snow monster how to walk. I give myself a small pep talk, knowing I can at least redeem myself in Rose's eyes.
I hope.
I walk into the living room and see Rose browsing something on her Iphone, watching one of our favorite comedies and straightening her hair – in other words it was a typical Sunday for her. I cleared my throat, and Rose perks an eyebrow, pausing the TV and turning her attention to me. I still felt like death, but I couldn't exactly lie down for long without my guilt eating away at me for being rude. I guess it's just not in my nature to hold grudges.
"Rose?" I start, and give a glance around the living room.
"C'mon, I don't have all day, and neither do you. Spit it out," Rose smiles and runs her hands through her hair.
"I'm sorry...I was tired and taking it out on you. I don't blame you. I blame myself, and I needed an outlet for anger, and I was tired of beating myself up, and you just happened to be the closest victim. Forgive me?" I ask, eagerly.
"Bella, I just wanted an apology; I didn't need you to psycho-analyze yourself for me," Rose laughs, and I know she's okay. We never stay mad too long (at each other anyways). "But, anyways…Edward called, I don't think you could hear it after your screaming to yourself. He says he has your address book, your phone, your purse, all of that. I didn't exactly know what to tell him, so I just said you were asleep. You might want to call him, he said something about feeling sorry…I don't want to get involved," Rose said in a voice that told me she did, in fact want to get involved. I sighed, knowing I'd have to tell her eventually.
Just not now. Baby steps. I don't think I really should have to go through all that humiliation again today. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't put of telling Rose too long.
"Uh, okay. I don't know what to tell him. I think I'm going to drive over there now…well, maybe not now, maybe after a shower or something."
"That's a good idea. In fact, take a bath, we can afford it." Rose smiled and waved me off. "Now, shoo, Gloria is about to tell Jay she's pregnant, and I know you haven't seen this episode yet. You hate seeing the endings of shows you didn't see."
"Yes, and I also hate when you give away the ending. Although I guess I already knew that Gloria was pregnant. I'm going to take a bath, preferably with candles if I can find some. Thanks, Rose." I say with a smile and walk into our bathroom.
I'm almost positive we have candles in here somewhere.
After I was sufficiently water logged and clean, I stepped out of the bath and decided it was time to go out into the real world.
I brushed out my hair and put it in a quick side braid. I put on some dark wash jeans and my college sweatshirt – it wasn't like I needed to impress Edward. He may not even want anything to do with me after tonight. I don't know if that's for better or for worse.
On one hand, if Edward was out of my life, it'd settle my completely unsettling feelings for him. My guilt would be gone. I could go back to my life, and it would be like he never existed. Though, I can't exactly see myself going back to 100%. I would miss Edward. I would have constant what if scenarios running through my head. I would imagine our children.
No…that's too soon.
So maybe I won't imagine our children. But I would imagine our house, our wedding photos. I would imagine myself driving to his work on our lunch breaks so we could be together. I would wonder if he was a boxer of brief kind of guy. Shit, I sound crazy. Maybe I'm obsessed, and maybe this is just a crush. I don't think that there's any eliminating Edward Masen out of my life.
Definitely not.
"Rose what number did Edward call from?" I ask walking into the living room. Rose hasn't moved from her positioning; only now instead of straightening her hair she was cleaning her thousands of makeup brushes.
"Um, no I didn't memorize it but if you look on my phone real quick you can call him back from the number. Hurry, though, because I was in the middle of Pinterest browsing. This lady found a new way to curl your eyelashes so they last all day, and it was just getting good. Okay?" Roses says, looking me dead in the eye. I wanted to laugh, but I know how seriously Rose takes Pinterest. It was like me, only with books.
"Yeah, I'll keep it short. Thanks babe." I take her phone and scroll to the call history list. I looked at his number, trying to commit it to memory. I mentally scoff at myself. I am pathetic.
After two rings, he picks up. "Rose?" Edward's delicious voice asks, with a tint of sadness.
"No, actually, this is Bella." I pause for a minute, "I was just calling because uh, Rose told me you had some stuff I left behind at your place, and I thought – if you don't mind of course, that I could stop by and pick it up." I'm surprised by the aura of confidence I seem to be giving off, though I can't imagine my face looks the same.
"Sure, that'd be perfect. Any idea when you'll be stopping by?"
"We don't live all that far apart, I'll be there in around 10 minutes. Sound good?"
"Yeah…uh hey I was wondering if uh-"
"Alright Edward I'll see you later okay?"
I hung up the phone after writing down Edward's address.
"Don't be too long, I rented this movie, I think you'll love it. I want you back before seven, young lady." Rose scolds.
"I promise."
This is it, I think. I certainly thought it was going to be longer before I was going to have to face him, but I think that the sooner I get this over with, the quicker I can get over (or under…) Edward.
It's not long before I'm standing on Edward's Apartment sweet Apartment door mat, debated the pros and cons of knocking on the door rather than ringing the doorbell. On one hand, I really do like door bells, and on the other hand, I could start to be one of those cute girlfriends with a signature knock.
Well, signature knock it is.
Click, clickity click click. Oh yeah, Bella. That's sexy.
Edward' doesn't come to the door. "Edward? It's me Bella." I call out, loudly enough for him to hear me, yet quietly enough so that I didn't disturb his neighbors.
"Coming!" I hear a shout from behind the door. "Hi, Bella. Sorry, I was uh…reading. Do you have anywhere to go after this?" he asks.
"Other than home and maybe the drugstore, no, why?"
"I was hoping that we could talk. I've been thinking a lot about what happened, and I want you to know, I'm sorry. I'm not that good under pressure, and when you got hurt I saw red, basically-" he stops to laugh "I even considered going to Med school, so that I could be better prepared next time something like that happens."
That confused me. Something like what? Like me going home with him drunk, or me getting hurt. I knew choice A was never going to happen again, but choice B on the other hand…
"That's funny," I stop and pause, "I hope you're not appalled with me or anything. What happened was…for a lack of words, straight up embarrassing." I find that I can't look Edward in the eyes. I put myself out there. I told him I was uncomfortable, now how is he going to retaliate?
"Really?! You were embarrassed? I was mortified! I thought you thought I was a fool," I did, "Well I don't think you should be embarrassed. It could have happened to anybody. And the getting drunk thing, well I should tell you exactly why you were drinking though…I'm not sure how much you remember, but here it goes anyways. When we went to the club, Emmett and I saw you girls. We went over and said hi. Somewhere during the night I asked you out—"
I don't hear anything else. Edward asked me out. Of course, I would have said yes, of course I would decide that I would celebrate with the rare glasses of alcohol. It doesn't matter, suddenly, because Edward and I were going to go on a date. Edward-the-boy-I'm-obsessed-with-Masen is interested in me, plain Jane herself. I start to imagine our first date. Edward doesn't exactly seem like the romantic-type, but I'm sure he is going to put something perfect together for us. Maybe we would end up going on a second date…and then a third and a fourth, until finally we were a 'thing', and then perhaps a year later we would get engaged, and eventually married. I would tell Edward my sob story, and he would hold me and tell me that thinks don't happen for a reason, things just suck, and there's nothing we can do about it. He wouldn't give me the sympathetic smile I hate; he would look at me and say he couldn't imagine what I've been through, and that will be the perfect answer. Or maybe just one date is fine. Wait – he didn't even officially ask me out yet!
"Bella? Did you hear me?" Edward asks, unsure of himself.
"What? Um, no, could you repeat that, actually?" I plead sheepishly.
"Well, they do say third times a charm…Bella, would you give me the highest honor of going on a date with me, this upcoming Friday?" Edward looks at me through his oddly long eyelashes.
"Edward, of course I will,"I say as I give a mini-screech and hug him, "I'm so glad you asked. I was beginning to think my attraction for you was completely unreasonable. I'm kind of a fool when it comes to dating…romance…all that jazz." I smile. This is turning out to be a whole lot better than I imagined this going.
"Bella, I could compare you to a goddess, how could you think your attraction was one-sided I'm so happy that you've even given me a chance, and hopefully many, many more chances in the near future." Edward lifts my hand and gives it a quick peck. I blush and smile.
If only that kiss could have been my lips, rather than my hand. "I really can't stay." I smile, "I've got an impatient Rose waiting for me at seven, and it's now 6:55. I'll surely be late."
"But baby, it's cold outside." Edward smiles, reciting words from a classic song.
"I've got to go away." I sigh, repeating the next line.
"But baby it's cold outside."
"This evening has been so very nice." I smile, standing up.
"I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice."
"Edward, if you wouldn't mind could you get my purse? After all, I do believe that's what I came here in the first place for, and it'd be quite ironic if I don't even leave with it, no?" I flirt.
"Indeed it would. Stay here, I'll be back in a blink of an eye." I give a small smile.
Edward returns with my purse and other items, and I give a quick goodbye.
The drive home I feel like I'm on cloud nine. Not even the fact that I happened to hit every single red light on my way home could bring me down.
I walk upstairs to my apartment, and funny enough, Rose is asleep.
I could've stayed longer…
A/N: Was it as good as you hoped! I know it's not very long but I think it was a nice chapter. This is the foundation for the rest of the B/E moments in this story.
For a little review incentive, here's a small exerpt from the next chapter…
At around four-thirty, I got this message from Bella:
"Hi, Edward, it's me…uh Bella. But, I mean you probably know that because this is the number that you called me from, but whatever. I was, uh thinking about our date tonight and-" there's a pause in the voicemail, and I can hear Bella give a soft cry, "I can't do it. I'm really, truly sorry.
Review and you'll get the rest of this paragraph and the next two paragraphs as well! (Oh and let's give a big thank you to my beta 4MeJasper for this ch)!
