Huge thanks to Twilly and Lellabeth for being amazeballs!
All mistakes are mine.
SM owns all things Twilight.
A/N: This is the last regular chapter. I just want to thank you all again for reading and for leaving me so much love.
Chapter 11 - Backwards
The house is blessedly empty when I get home. Mom has a meeting today after her classes are finished, and Dad still has a couple more hours of his shift left.
After a long shower, I head back to my room and dress in pajama pants and a t-shirt. No reason not to be comfortable on the most miserable day of my life.
Sitting in my chair that faces my bay window, I just let myself wallow in it, at least for a few minutes. I think I've earned it.
Someone knocks on the front door, but I ignore it. I'm sure it's Alice coming to check on me.
She's probably ready to kick Edward's ass.
I'd buy tickets to that show.
The knocking continues, growing more and more insistent, so I finally trudge down the stairs and swing the door open.
"I'm fine, Al—"
My voice dies in my throat when I realize it's Edward on my doorstep, and my hackles rise.
"Come here to gloat?"
He stuffs his hands into his pockets. "No. I came to make sure you were okay."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Well, I'm just hunky dory, so...ya know. Enjoy your celebration or whatever." I start to close the door, but he sticks his foot out and stops it.
"What were you about to say when you were interrupted earlier?" he asks. "You didn't...what?"
Swallowing, I try to find my words again. I take a second to really look into his ocean eyes, and the vulnerability I see there just about makes my knees buckle.
It also makes me realize that he's been going through much the same thing as I have for the past week, and I feel a pang of guilt even though this whole misunderstanding isn't entirely my fault.
Opening the door a little wider, I invite him in, and we sit down in the living room. I sit on the couch, and he takes the chair to my left.
I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before speaking. "I was going to say, I didn't bolt without a word. I—"
"Yes, you did," he fires back, his eyes flashing with anger. "You even went through my fucking desk to get your precious little headband before you left. You—"
"Edward, please listen." I tug at my t-shirt nervously. "I left you a note."
"I didn't see a note."
"I realize that."
"Well, what the hell, Bella?"
"I don't know. You fell asleep, and I had to get home for curfew. I left it on my— I mean, the pillow next to you, and maybe you knocked it off in your sleep. I don't know. I'm sorry, but I did leave one."
Edward leans forward in the chair. "What did it say?" he asks, his voice much softer than before.
"I wasn't sure what to say. I was feeling so many new things. I just ended up putting my phone number on it and said to call me."
He blows out a breath. "Well, shit."
Tears well up in my eyes. "How could you think I'd just run out on you after everything?"
Edward moves off the chair and drops to his knees in front of me, taking my hands. "I didn't know what to think," he says. "I woke up at like, three o'clock in the morning, and you were gone, and there was absolutely no evidence you were ever even there. I just..." He expels another heavy breath and then looks back up at me. "Hey, don't cry. I'm sorry. I should have given you a chance to explain. I just had myself convinced that you'd used me for some reason, and it all just sucked. Really hard."
I nod and laugh a little through my tears, and he starts wiping them away.
"Don't cry, sweet girl."
"That night was amazing, Edward," I tell him, running my thumbs over the backs of his hands. "You're amazing. Can we just...start over?"
He pulls me forward as he moves up, and our bodies crash together as he claims my lips. His warm hands cradle my face like I'm the most precious thing he's ever held, and that's exactly how he makes me feel.
Edward presses two more soft kisses to my lips and then rests his forehead against mine. "I think starting over is a really good idea," he murmurs. "We sort of did things backwards anyway."
I laugh. "Yeah. Sort of."
He moves up onto the couch, and I snuggle into his side, linking our hands together in his lap.
"Congratulations on your win, Edward. Seriously. You deserve it."
"You don't have to do that, Bella. I know how badly you wanted it."
"Yeah. I did. But I have faith in your presidential skills," I tell him, tracing his fingers with my free hand. "You'll be great. "
"You're right," he replies, and I laugh at his cockiness. "You wanna know why?"
"This oughta be good."
"Because I'm gonna have a kick-ass VP."
"Oh, really? Eric's going to save the day, huh?"
"Not Eric."
"Oh." My eyebrows furrow in confusion. "Who then?"
"You," he replies. "I hope."
I gasp. "What? How?"
"Well, it turns out that Eric's father just got a transfer, and they'll be moving out of state in a couple months. So Principal Banner told me I could just name my new VP since my running mate wouldn't be here next year." He unlinks our fingers and brushes some hair behind my ear. "So...will you be my Vice President, Bella?" he asks. "And...my girlfriend?"
A slow smile blooms across my lips, and soon, my whole face is lit up with happiness. "Well, you know what they say: 'behind every great man is an even greater woman'."
The hand Edward has at my side starts tickling me, and I giggle uncontrollably.
"Is that a yes?" he asks once he's finally stopped torturing me.
"That's a yes...Mr. President."
"Oh, I like that. Always call me that, okay?" he says, leaning in to kiss my neck.
I don't think I've ever laughed so much in my entire life. What a day. "Yeah, that'll happen."
Edward tickles me in response again and then locks my body into the tightest hug I've ever gotten in my entire life. "Thank you," he murmurs into my hair.
Being wrapped up in him like this fills me to the brim with warmth, and I hold onto him like he'll float away if I let go.
And I'm pretty sure I'm going to fall in love with this beautiful boy.
Thank you for reading!
I'll be posting an epilogue/futuretake tomorrow. Be sure to wish Dreamweaver94 a very happy birthday tomorrow! She wanted E/B rivalry, and this little fic was the result. I truly hope she has enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it for her!
