I still don't own any copyrighted material....fucking redundant...
A/N: Yeah, I know this should have been out earlier, but it was a holiday weekend and I spent most of it chasing my kids away from large bonfires....they are such big firebugs it's not even funny. I blame their dad and their uncle for that.
Kismet and Kindred Spirits
Chapter 11
Friday Night Fights/Saturday Morning Sweets
~Bella~
I'm still not quite sure how Emmett managed to talk all of us into going to the damn football game, but now that I find myself here, sitting with my friends, I realize that the vodka mixed in with my Code Red definitely helps take the edge off of things. Alice, Rosalie, Victoria, and I had been drinking since right after school when we had been dragged to Alice's house to get dressed up for the game. It wasn't fair to the boys, but we couldn't help ourselves. I usually hate drinking around people, but having Edward near to keep me from doing anything stupid aided me in lowering my normally stringent defenses for just one night. After all, it wasn't our idea to go in the first place so we were going to make the best of it.
We had ended up wearing matching outfits in different colors. Snug fitting tee shirts, too tight vests that maximized our cleavage, short plaid skirts, knee-high socks and different styles of Mary-Jane's; mine were black leather with chunky three inch heels. We look like demented, Goth porn versions of school girls from a Rob Zombie video. This is Alice's way of getting revenge on our boyfriends for making us sit out in the cold, damp weather of Forks for a stupid game. She even made sure that our canvas half trenches and umbrella's matched our outfits perfectly. I accepted quickly that if it wasn't for the alcohol in our systems, we'd be bitchcicles as soon as we stepped out of the house.
After the guys picked us up and drove us to the stadium, we chose seats that were closest to the band because Alice was a majorette her freshman and sophomore year and is still in the concert band that performs when football season wraps up. Angela and Ben are also in the marching band, playing flute and trombone, respectively. I had a brief stint in the jazz band until I got into an argument with the former band director over people fucking with my amp when I left it in his office overnight once.
"What are you thinking about?" Edward asks, drawing me out of my musical musings.
"Mostly about how the marching band is more interesting to watch than the damn football game," I admit, laying my head on his shoulder and snuggling deeper into the fleece blanket he had thoughtfully brought along in case I got cold.
"It's almost half time," he informs me, "Me and the guys were going to get something to snack on and maybe some hot chocolate, do you want me to get you anything?"
"A hot chocolate sounds perfect," I decide then break out into a fit of giggles when I see a cheerleader, it looks like Lauren Mallory, slip and fall on her ass during one of their routines.
Edward cocks an eyebrow at me and I point at the clusterfuck that has just occurred and we share a bout of mirth over the incompetence of some of the cheerleaders. He, Jasper, and Emmett begin cracking cheerleader jokes until I remind him of his promise of hot chocolate.
"Anything for you, we'll be back in a few minutes," he proclaims with a wink and nudges Jasper to indicate that it was time to go.
After giving us quick kisses, the four boys shuffle passed the other fans and make their way down to the concession stand.
"Do you plan on being unconscious by the end of the game?" Rosalie asks Alice, who is currently chugging her one liter bottle of vodka and cherry Pepsi.
Alice shrugs and takes the empty bottle from her lips, "I'll still be awake, don't fucking worry, you Brit bimbo."
Rosalie smacks the tiny woman's arm, "Keep it up you mini hippy freak and I will take some lighter fluid and a match to your fabric room."
The little pixie's eyes grow wide, "You wouldn't dare Rosalie Lillian McCarty!"
Rose's cherry red lips turn up into an evil smirk and her violet eyes twinkle mischievously, "You bet your ass I would Tinkerbell, don't push an English bitch when they're liquored up, you might not like the results."
Victoria stands up and stretches, "I don't know or care what you do to Ali's clothes, all I know is that I have to pee so bad that my back teeth are starting to float. Who's going with?"
We argue a bit until it's agreed that it's better that we go as a group so that our guys worry less. The rain has stopped for the time being so we leave our umbrella's and blankets in our seats and wind our way through the crowd towards the restrooms.
Of course there is a line a mile long by the time we arrive, so we take the opportunity to sneak in a cigarette while we wait. I wind my arm around Victoria's waist and rest my head on her shoulder for warmth as we chat while Alice does the same to Rose. We're about four people back when I hear a nasally voice from behind us.
"Geez, would you look at that Brandy, I didn't know that you could order color coordinated prostitutes," one wannabe Gossip Girl girl sneers.
"They must be down here trolling for teenage boys with twenty dollars to burn," cackles an Entourage reject.
The logical part of my brain is screaming for me to let it go, that I don't want Edward to see that side of me, but the vodka addled side is foaming at the mouth, screeching for a chance to knock the bitches teeth out of their fucking heads. The battle is short, vodka fueled bitch Bella wins.
I turn around and zero in on the group of eight girls, looking out of place at a high school football game in their fake Prada's and knock off Gucci's. "Sorry, but the stupid bitch bathrooms are over on the other side of the bleachers," I tell them in my sweetest voice, "Move along now little girls, before you get hurt."
"Oh my god, the trailer trash can string more than two words together that aren't associated with her disease infested orifices," one of the orange skinned blondes snickers.
"Please Bitchzilla, go eat another Ho-Ho and spare us your horrible O.C. impersonations," Victoria quips, earning a high five from Rosalie.
"And we're supposed to be scared of the dyke brigade?" Blondie snaps in her whiny soprano before cracking her gum in such a way that makes me want to rip her jaw off and beat her about the head and shoulders with it.
Instead of acting on that impulse, I raise a finger, "Hold on a sec. You might want to think about this a bit first. You seem to be challenging us to a battle of wits and yet you've obviously come unarmed. Should we give you a few hours to prepare before we kick your asses? Or were you in a hurry to have it done?"
I see the first hit coming and easily step out of the way, it's the second hit that I just manage to meet with my own fist with that surprises me. In the next moment, everything explodes into a flurry of fists, feet, and hair amidst banshee screams of rage and flow of curse words.
I catch one girl in the side of the head on a back swing and laugh as it knocks her head first into one of her friends who instinctively retaliates and punches the girl in the mouth. I admire the attack for a second, watching the girl scream bloody murder before kicking her in the chest and effectively shutting her up.
A chubby brunette tries to scratch at my face when she jumps at me, but I hit her with a front kick to the gut and knock the wind out of her, then grab her by the hair and drive a knee into her face before dropping low and sweeping the feet out from under two girls who are trying to tag team Alice. I have to jump backwards to keep the one from landing on me and I feel the sock on my right calf catch on the uneven concrete and shred as I move.
Suddenly my head gets wrenched backwards when another girl jumps on my back and proceeds to try and rip my hair out. I reach back and grab two fistfuls of hair and yank with all my strength as I bend forwards, successfully dislodging the bitch from my back. Gum popper girl streaks passed me and I manage to clothesline her, then stomp on her stomach as I step over her prone form and tackle the bitch who is aiming for Rosalie's back.
"Bella! Alice! Rose! Run! Cops are on their way!" I hear Jasper's voice over the din of the crowd that has gathered to watch the fight.
I quickly spot Alice again, who is sitting on a girl, pummeling her mercilessly, and run over to her. "Ali, we gotta get the hell out of here right now, cops!" I shout at her as I help her to her feet and throw her arm over my shoulder.
As we move I spot Emmett pulling Rose off of the orange skinned chick while Edward and James are ushering Victoria out of one of the gates to the parking lot.
Jasper appears at my side and picks his girlfriend up bridal style, "Let's get the fuck out of here before Paul shows up! If he finds out you were involved, he'll run straight to Jake and Leah!"
"No shit, that fucking Deputy is pissed because I wouldn't give him any," I growl as we run through the gate and into the parking lot, "Are you okay Jazz?"
He looks at me, confused, "You're the one who's just been in a kick ass chick fight and you are asking me if I'm okay? You really are brain damaged, aren't you baby girl?"
I give him the middle finger as we reach our cars, "I'm only as retarded as my family made me. Keep that in mind before you go bashing my mental stability BB."
Edward scoops me up in his arms and begins carrying me the short distance to his Camaro, which is already running, "I didn't mean to break up your sibling bonding session but we have to get you girls the fuck out of here asap."
I gratefully sink into the seat, "I'm fine honey, just shut up and drive. I need a minute to clear my head, I've got too much fucking booze in me."
He slides into the driver's seat and we take off after Emmett's Jeep, "I warned you that getting hammered at a football game may not have been the best idea tonight angel. It fucks with your judgment and gives you a short fuse."
I light a cigarette and roll the window down, "I'm not completely trashed Edward. I only had a touch of the warm and fuzzies before those fucking cunts decided to ruin our good time. As for affecting my judgment or having a short fuse, you ought to fucking know that they swung at us first and we were defending ourselves, so get your fucking facts straight before you start preaching to me on what was or wasn't a good idea. Besides, I knew that you'd protect me if I needed it."
He glances at me sideways and nods curtly, "Bet your ass I would, but let's not push our luck angel. We are going to my house to get you girls patched up, dad keeps enough first aid supplies to take care of an army battalion."
He hears my sharp intake of breath at the mention of his father and rushes to calm me, "Don't worry though, mom is with Leah and Kate for a girls night out and dad is working the night shift so there won't be anyone home to start any shit." He reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before adding,"By the way, watching you kick another girls ass is hot."
I roll my eyes and pull my hand away, giving him an evil grin when his green eyes flash in my direction, startled by my sudden action. Without giving him any warning, I put both hands on the door and heave myself out of the open window until my ass rests on the frame. I close my eyes and revel in the feel of the cold wind on my face as the car barrels down the blackened road.
"What the fuck are you doing Bella?!" Edward shouts, reaching for me with his free hand while trying not to jostle the car, "Get your ass back in the car before you get hurt or we get pulled over!"
"Calm the fuck down Edward, I've done this before, just ask Jasper," I chuckle, hitching a thumb at the Mustang behind us, then take a drag off my cigarette, "I trust you not to get me killed and we don't have to worry about the cops because they're all at the game. All four of them."
"That's not the whole point Bella," Edward counters, his tone growing more anxious by the second, "Your jacket is gone, that shirt is torn up, and your legs are bare. I don't want you catching pneumonia or losing your grip and falling out. Now get back in the damn car before I have a heart attack."
"Edward, for the last time, I'm fine," I snap, finally annoyed with his over-protectiveness, "We are almost to your house anyways."
He's quiet a minute before delivering a low blow. "Please get back in the car Isabella, you're scaring me," he nearly sobs in a voice so low that I can barely make out his words. I feel my stomach twist into a knot and the alcohol in my brain evaporate, leaving me with a crystal clear head.
Without another word I ease myself back onto the seat and put the safety belt on. I can't bring myself to look directly at him, but I can tell he has a death grip on the steering wheel. I keep my head down and study my dirty, scraped up hands for the rest of the ride. I try to find something to say, but the words won't come so we spend the rest of the car ride wrapped in a tense silence.
When we come to a stop, I glance out of the corner of my eye and realize that we are in front of his garage. I tilt my head in Edward's direction and chance a glimpse at my kismet. He has one arm folded across his chest and the other rises upwards to where he is pinching the bridge of his nose. His eyes are clamped shut and his featured are wrought with unreleased emotion. Both cheeks have silver trails of wetness running down them and it hits me just how badly I fucked up.
"I'm sorry Edward, I was just trying to have a bit of fun. I didn't mean to scare you like that," I attempt to explain, but my heart isn't in it. I'd frightened my kismet to the point of tears and there is nothing in this world that will justify my actions now. "I won't do it again if it bothers you that much."
In a flash, he turns towards me and grabs me by my arms, "Promise me that you will never do anything so stupid and reckless ever again Isabella," Edward pleads, his voice raw with emotion and his eyes frantic, "Promise me right here, right now or I swear I will have Rosalie help me dismantle every single vehicle that you own so that you can't even go get a pack of cigarettes without someone giving you a ride."
"I promise Edward," I choke out, my own cheeks gaining their own trails of wetness as I speak. I'm willing to say pretty much anything to get rid of the haunted look in his eyes.
His body instantly slumps with relief, "Thank you Bella. You have no idea how much that means to me," he drops his hands to gather mine into them, "We've just found our way back to one another and dammit girl, I can't live in a world where you don't exist, so from here on out, please refrain from doing shit that could take you away from me."
"I'll do my best Edward, but I'm not perfect. I'm far from it actually. I'm just a sarcastic, broken screw up," I confess, fighting back a fresh batch of tears. If he only knew about some of the things I had done while he was gone. Things I did out of a need to feel alive again, just for a little while, instead of the dried up husk that I had normally walked around as.
He leans forward and his lips brush against my cheeks, wiping away my tears. "You're perfect for me Bella," he states reverently, "And I don't think you are broken or a screw up. People just don't know how to react to someone who is in the habit of thinking for themselves instead of conforming with what the main stream media views as acceptable. I'd rather have my intelligent, drop dead gorgeous, quirky, sharp tongued, free-spirited, and unique girlfriend than a cardboard cut out of one of those bitches from High School Musical or some shit."
"Okay, a little overboard on that one darlin'," I chortle, "Can we go in the house now? I'm freezing my ass off here."
Edward runs his nose down my jawline, to my ear and back, then kisses me softly before nodding, "By all means, my love." He cuts the engine then quickly jumps out to run around the front of the car and open my door.
"Trying to butter me up now?" I tease as he takes my hand and pulls me out of the vehicle.
"Not at all, I just want to get you inside where it's warm," Edward qualifies and leads me up the stairs to his front door, which is swung wide by James as we near it.
"It's about damn time Romeo," he taunts my kismet as we enter the house, "I was wondering if we were going to have to come and rescue fair Juliet here from you mauling her."
"You should be warned that Em, Jazz, and the girls have raided the liquor cabinet Edward," James warns while handing him a first aid kit, "Apparently Alice and Jasper remembered exactly where your parents used to hide the key and found out that no one bothered to move it anywhere else in the past few years. I am not cleaning up any vomit, just so you know."
I hiss as Edward takes an alcohol pad to my torn knuckles. "Sorry love," his tone is repentant so I simply nod and bit my lip while he continues disinfecting my wounds.
Alice, Rosalie, and Victoria prance into the room, carrying multiple bottles of liquor. Emmett and Jasper follow behind, their eyes gleaming wickedly and their hands grasping bottles of some sort.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to P-A-R-T-Y!" Alice squeals as she sits her armful down on the coffee table and kicks off her shoes.
Victoria giggles from over by the entertainment center, occasionally pulling out a cd and glossing over its cover before returning it to its rightful place and taking a drink from her bottle of what appears to be Grey Goose. "Aha!" she finally exclaims and loads one of the cds into the stereo system, "I absofuckinglutely love Fat Boy Slim!"
Edward rolls his eyes but smiles at her enthusiasm as he finishes bandaging my hands. "Time to do your legs now love."
I lift my right leg, which happens to be in the worst shape, and can't stop a sigh from escaping as he slowly pulls off the shoe and ruined sock before planting a kiss on the arch of my foot. His lips anywhere on my body will always elicit a similar response from me. It so happens that he knows that and is now exploiting it in front of our friends.
Jasper distracts him by touching a bottle of Jack to his shoulder, "Drink up Cullen, it's not like you'll be driving anymore tonight and one or two isn't going to diminish your ability to drool over my little sister."
Edward stares at the bottle for a few seconds, then grabs it and takes a couple of long pulls from it before handing it back to my brother. "Give me a few minutes to clean Bella's legs up and then I'll set the pool table up for everyone to play."
Emmett offers me a bottle of rum and I shake my head no, earning a gasp of surprise from everyone in the room but my brother, who grins mischievously at me and draws from the bottle in his hands. Jasper is finally getting a chance to relax, his confidence in Edward's ability to look after me giving him the green light to have some fun of his own now that I'm safe.
"What?" I ask, tearing my eyes from Jasper to glare at the others, "I've had enough to drink for one night and you fuckers are going to need a babysitter so you don't accidentally burn the place down. Quit gaping like fish at me and have your fun before I change my fucking mind."
Edward smirks as he finishes bandaging my scraped legs then helps me to my feet. After a chaste kiss, he leans down and whispers in my ear, "Don't fret Isabella, I'll stand vigil over the village idiots with you this night. Set up the pool table with me?"
I nod and he presses his lips to my temple. "Before I forget," I look around the room until I find what I need, "Jay, grab that bowl off the shelf behind you and pass it around so everyone can put their car keys in it."
There is a collective groan and I cross my arms over my ruined shirt, "Hey, if I'm babysitting you fuckers, we're sticking to the rules, and one of those rules is that you give up your keys if you're going to imbibe any alcohol so either cough them up or put all the liquor back."
It doesn't take any more convincing for everyone to place their keys in the wooden bowl. Once it is safely in my hands I look to my kismet, "Now we can go play a game of pool. I wouldn't have been able to concentrate knowing that this bunch of drunks still maintained the capacity to commit suicide by motorized vehicle."
He takes my hand, "No, now we get you into some clothes that aren't torn to shreds. I'm sorry I didn't think of it before asking you to help with the pool table, it was thoughtless of me. You can wear one of my shirts, if you'd like. If not, I'm sure I can find something of my mother's that will fit you."
"You know how I love wearing your shirts Edwards," I respond, wondering what the hell has gotten into him.
Edward leans down and kisses me softly, "I was hoping you'd say that," he murmurs against my lips before tugging on my hand and pulling me in the direction of the stairs amid cheers and catcalls.
When we reach his room, he plants a kiss into my hair and scurries to his closet. My gaze wanders over his room and takes in how grown up it looks now compared to the last time I had seen it. Light blue gray walls are the backdrop for the black and stainless steel furniture in the room.
Gone are the posters of comic book and video game characters, making the walls look strangely naked now. The curtains framing the ceiling to floor windows at the back are a midnight blue brocade. His king sized bed sits before the window, it's intricate wrought iron headboard peeking out from a mountain of midnight blue, black, and silver pillows. The duvet spread across the mattress is ink black.
I turn to the left and notice black shelving nestled in the corner beside his 42 inch plasma screen and it's filled with pictures. I draw closer to inspect them and am pleasantly surprised that easily half of them are pictures of him and I growing up and the rest are a mish-mash of our friends and family that were taken during numerous get-together's that our families used to have.
My fingers ghost over a picture that was taken the day before Ed Masen ruined our lives. Our families were having a bonfire down by the beach at La Push and the boys decided that they were going to teach us girls how to surf, even if it killed us. I was on Edward's back in the photo, my arms wrapped around his shoulders. His hands were wrapped under my legs, which were tightly wound around his waist, and we were in our bathing suits. Our hair is wet and our cheeks a little sunburned, but our glowing smiles told the world that we didn't care.
Who could have foreseen that the innocence glowing in our eyes in that moment would be torn away in less than a day? We were so caught up in each other and our friends that we had believed that nothing could stop us, but what a cruel mistress fate can be. The last drops of our shattered innocence shed a mere 48 hours later, a tiny bloodstain on a comforter as Edward and I gave one another the only thing we had left.
"I grabbed a few because I didn't know which you would like better," Edward's velvet voice wakes me from my reverie. I notice that he took time from scavenging to change into a dark blue long sleeved tee shirt and a pair of black sweats. "What's wrong love?" his joyous tone immediately turning concerned as I swipe away the tears that had unconsciously begun to cascade down my face.
I pick up the picture and show it to him, "Do you remember that day Edward? I was just thinking about how perfect it was."
He tosses the shirts onto the bed and crosses the space to cradle the picture frame, "Me and Jazz had convinced dad, Laurent, and Jake that we should teach you girls how to surf so you would stop laughing at us when we wiped out."
I chuckle in spite of myself, "Too late you guys realized that it only made shit worse because after two hours, we were wet, cold, and really pissed off. Well, aunt Kate and aunt Esme were pissed off, me and Ali were too damn happy to have legitimate reasons to grope and be groped without fear of death or dismemberment."
Edward chuckles lightly then lets out an angry sigh, "It was the day before big Ed showed up and ruined everything," He gingerly places the frame back in its place and turns to me, "We need to talk Bella, but you must change your shirt first and get comfortable, this could take a while."
"What about the numbskulls tearing apart your house?" I inquire as I go through the pile and find not only shirts, but a few old pairs of boxers as well. I pick a Final Fantasy X-2 shirt that has Tidus and Yuna on it and a pair of blue camo jersey cotton boxers.
"We'll sit on the landing so we can keep an ear out for them," he answers and walks towards the door, "I'll get you a blanket while you change, I know how you get cold."
What the fuck? Is he finally going to tell me what transpired during his time with the bastard? By the look on his face when he spoke, almost none of this is going to be good.
I quickly strip off my decimated outfit and redress in Edward's clothes before searching out another one of his hoodies and wriggling into it as well.
I pad downstairs to the landing that sits at the top of the first set of stairs. Edward has managed to not only scrounge up an old chocolate and teal comforter that used to be a favorite of ours to snuggle under, he also has thoughtfully included two turkey sandwiches and two mugs of hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows.
"I bring tidings of food, hot chocolate and blanket to keep milady protected from catching a chill," Edward announces like he has presented gifts to the Queen of England.
My stomach grumbles over the music wafting through the house at the sight of the sandwiches, "Are you sure that you can't read minds?" I tease him as he spreads the blanket over our laps and hands me my food.
He gives me a half smirk, his jade orbs glinting with amusement, while passing me my mug, "Regardless if I can or can't love, people are usually so damn easy to read that it doesn't take a mind reader to know what they are thinking. Watch people long enough and you learn to notices things that give away everything that's going on in their heads. Too bad that rule doesn't apply to you," his last words are so quiet that I can't be sure that he's said them at all.
"Oh, how did you know I was hungry then?" I ask between ravenous bites.
He shrugs and waits to swallow his bite before answering. "I didn't, if I'm being honest. I knew I was hungry and thought it would be rude to not make you something too, just in case. I'm glad I did now."
"Am I easy to read too?" I ask, knowing that he has no trouble figuring me out, "You already know me so well that you probably know what I'm going to do before I do it."
To my surprise he shakes his head, "No, you are far from being easy for me to read Bella. It's always been like that. You have never done what I expect you to. That's one small part that makes you so fascinating. I'd give my left nut just to peek into that big brain of yours simply to see what makes you tick."
I take a drink and snicker, "I tell you what I'm thinking all the time."
He shakes his head, suddenly frustrated, "You edit and you're so good at hiding everything that none of it shows up on your face either except for the occasional blush and lip bite," he reaches out and pulls my bottom lip out from between my teeth with his thumb.
Of course I blush at that, but he quickly gives me a kiss, making me forget what I'd been embarrassed about in the first place. When Edward releases his lips hold on mine, my brain kicks back into gear and I come to the realization that he is stalling about what he wanted to talk with me about.
I open my eyes and gaze into his, "You're stalling now Edward, why?"
He kisses both of my palms and lets go of my hands, "What I have to say if far from easy Bella. Ed Masen turned out to be a bigger monster than anyone could have foreseen and I'm afraid that once you know what happened, you won't feel the same about me. As it is, you are already upset and I haven't even begun to tell you what went on."
I light a cigarette and accept the small glass ashtray he pushes at me, "Edward, if I tell you once, I tell you a thousand times, I love you and there is nothing you or anyone else can do to change that. Of course I'm upset honey. Your pain, my pain, remember?"
His shoulders slump for a moment, then he looks up at me, and I see that the haunted look has returned. I brush back the ginger locks that have fallen across his forehead and his eyes close as he leans into my touch. "I love you Isabella," he breathes, his lips caressing my palm, "More than my own life."
"I love you too, my Romeo, but you'd better start talking before I completely lose my fucking mind," I inform my kismet, refusing to be distracted any longer.
He nods once against my hand and rights himself," You're right. I've put this off for far too long as it is. Where do I begin though? That James and I thought that he had staked a claim on me so he could access my trust fund and pay off debts he owed the mafia or that we'd been completely wrong in our assumptions about it and in all actuality, he wanted use me as a stepping stone to get into the mob? A mob that my parents are seemingly connected to quite intimately or, at least, they once were?"
"Start where you're the most comfortable," is my only answer as I take his hand in mine.
By dawn, my head is spinning with images of Edward and James' underground MMA matches that took place all over the country, Ed Masen's threats to use me as a sexual reward for the other fighters to keep Edward from breaking free and coming home, the beatings he took when he refused to put on a good show, and even his thoughts of suicide when he was bed-ridden and healing from various wounds. He was embarrassed to admit the depth of the intimacy that he and James had shared during that time, and relieved when I didn't hold it against him.
One of the hardest things for him to share is that fight he and Ed got into that ended in them falling two stories to the concrete below. Edward admitted that part of him had hoped that he wouldn't survive the fall because he would rather be dead that a modern day gladiator under the thumb of big Ed, as Ed Masen insisted on being called.
His tears begin to flow when he talks about waking up in the hospital and seeing Carlisle and Esme asleep by his bed. He still can't remember the details of the phone call he had made to them, saying that he'd gotten away from big Ed, but he does remember asking them about me and hoping that somehow I would be with them when they flew to Chicago.
"I spent three months locked up in a hospital room with fifty two broken bones, including a shattered shoulder and a cracked skull," Edward snorts and lights another cigarette, "The fucked up thing is that my head healed before my shoulder and my wrist would have been healed a lot sooner if I hadn't punched a brick wall and broke all the pins holding the damn thing together."
I run my fingers over the scars on his left hand and wrist, "Why did you punch the wall?"
He watches my fingers on his skin and shrugs, "I was pissed off because dad wouldn't give me any information on you or anyone else back here. Him and mom had just spent the entire day telling me about her fight with alcoholism and his stint in rehab for coke and he had the balls to tell me that all I needed to worry about was my part of us tying to be a family again. What a fucking hypocrite. And it's just gotten worse since coming back to Forks."
"How so?" I can't help but ask, steeling myself for the next bomb to be dropped on me.
"I over heard my parents arguing the other night and the Volturi were mentioned," Edward explains, still watching my fingers, "And earlier that evening I overheard mom arguing on the phone with someone and she mentioned big Ed and 'the family'. She called the person on the phone mother, but I was always told that her parents were dead. And the family that she mentioned had to be the Volturi because they were the one's big Ed was always making nice to."
I take a deep breath to steady my voice before asking,"Who are the Volturi Edward?"
He shakes his head angrily, "Only one of the biggest fucking mafia families known to mankind Bella. Okay, that is an understatement. They're not just a mob family, they're more like a secret order that's been around for damn near a thousand years. The Volturi have fun playing judge, jury, and executioner. I think they are what gave those old Italian and Sicilian families the idea of starting the mob in the first place."
I rub my face with my hands and let out and exasperated sigh, "Wait, are you telling me that your fucking mother is part of some fucking millennia old secret order that's posing as a mob syndicate in Chicago?"
Edward laughs, but there's no humor in it, "Yes...no...I don't fucking know Bells," he runs his hands through his hair absently, "It's so fucked up right now that I don't know what to do any more. Her and dad are just going to keep lying until this shit blows up unless I can get them to admit something, anything."
"I don't mean to be a bitch Edward, but are you ready for the answers they might have to give?" I interject, genuinely fearing what that knowledge could do to him.
"I don't think I'm going to have a choice for very much longer love," he confesses in a defeated tone, "Ed Masen is alive and I've been getting the feeling ever since I heard my mom on the phone that this shit is far from over. I refuse to sit here and do nothing, especially when you and the rest of the people I care about could be in danger."
"How do you know so fucking much about it if it's supposed to be a big secret?" I blurt out before my brain filter kicks in.
"I paid close attention Bella to the things that went on around me," Edward elaborates, "It's surprising what people will say in front of those they deem nonentities."
"Edward, whatever happens, you know I'll be here for you bec--" I'm interrupted by Alice's lilting voice.
"Bellie, Cedward! I have figured out what we're all going to be on All Hallow's!" she squeals as she slides across the hardwood floor and into our line of sight.
Edward and I look at each other, then back to the inebriated girl. "Say what short stuff? I didn't know we were going to dress up for Halloween," Edward inquires, amusement clear in his words.
She puts her hands on her hips and juts her bottom lip out in a convincing pout, "I know Bellaboo won't dress up unless you do so you have to do this Eduardo, for me? Please?"
"You are drunk little sister," Edward scoffs, though his voice is affectionate, "You won't even remember asking this come morning so I don't see why I should agree."
She falls to her knees at the bottom of the stairs and puts her hangs together in supplication, "Please, oh please, oh please Eddie? It's been so long since we've all got to be together and just be stupid kids having a good time."
"What the fuck are you doing right now Alice?" Edward stares at her, disbelieving, "Having Sunday brunch?"
She stomps her bare foot on the hardwood, then grabs it and begins hopping around in pain. "We're drinking!" she argues between squeaks of pain, "It's not the same game Fuckward! Not even the same goddamn ballpark!"
I can't contain my laughter any longer. "Alice, did you seriously just stomp your foot? You're not twelve you know," I jokingly chide, "No matter how much you look it. But you know, this reminds me of a joke Ali. Couple of guys were out with their girlfriends and someone in the bar screams 'Ho Down' and one of the guys starts looking on the floor for his girl."
Her blue green eyes sparkle with unshed tears as she glares at me, "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on Bella Swan. I do not fucking look twelve! And I'm not a gardening tool!" She stomps her other foot this time and ends up falling on her ass with a shrill yelp, "Fuck that hurt!"
Jasper and James come running in at the sound but stumble on a rug and fall into a giggling heap. "We heard Alice scream bloody murder," Emmett explains, shuffling in behind them, "Just checking to see if she's dead yet."
"I hurt my fucking feet!" the little pixie in question shrieks from her spot on the floor, "And you fuckers are laughing at me!"
"That's what you get for stomping while intoxicated Shorty. Not too quick on the uptake tonight though, are we, since you did it twice," Edward deadpans, inciting another round of girlish laughter from the intoxicated boys on the floor.
Rosalie saunters in to witness the debacle playing itself out, wobbling slightly despite being barefoot like everyone else. "What are you bastards laughing about? Did you catch Edward and Bella shagging or something?" she asks, her accent thicker than normal as a result of her heightened blood alcohol level.
"Alright you drunk fuckers, it's time for bed," Edward announces and gets to his feet, "Where's Victoria gone off to?"
"She fell asleep on the pool table about an hour ago," James qualifies while untangling himself from my still chortling brother, "I didn't think it was exactly prudent for me to try to move her, giving my present state."
"Good choice Jay," Emmett booms, clapping the young man on the shoulder and knocking him back to the floor, "I knew there was a reason I liked you."
"Wait!" Jasper calls out and tries to get to his feet," What about your dad Edward? We can't let him get to my baby sister or I'll have to kick his ass and I'm in no shape to put up a good fight."
"I think he'll be more upset about a house full of drunk teenagers cavorting around his house than a sober Bella helping to minimize the damage of the aforementioned inebriates," Edward admits, "Now get the fuck upstairs and go to bed before he gets home, that way we can avoid most of the ensuing bullshit."
"We didn't make that big of a mess, but maybe we should get it cleaned up before we crash," Emmett volunteers, always the sweetheart. It's nice to know that being drunk had no effect on his manners.
"Or we could go upstairs and fuck each others brains out," Rosalie whispers none to quietly in her husband's ear.
Emmett picks up his wife, and gives us an apologetic look. "Sorry sports fans, wifey's needs come before everyone else's. Smell ya later!" he laughs and dashes up the stairwell in search of an empty room to ravish his wife in. Well, I guess I can't complain there. At least the destruction will be contained now. Hopefully.
Edward carries Victoria up to one of the spare rooms while I carry Alice since James and Jasper are absolutely no help at all as they stumble up after us. After a slobbery kiss on the cheek from my brother as thanks for carrying Alice to bed, I meet Edward in the hallway.
"You look tired angel, would you like to catch some sleep too?" he asks, running the back of his hand up my cheek, "I can't go to bed yet because I'm going to have to explain a house full of sleeping teenagers to my dad when he gets home in a little while and I don't figure that you want to be there for that."
I grab his face with my hands and pull it down level with mine, "Edward, I've already told you that I am here for you no matter what and if that means dealing with your asshole of a father, then so be it. Is that getting through that thick ass skull of yours? Let me repeat it. I. Will. Always. Be. Here. For. You. No. Matter. What. Because. I. Fucking. Love. You." I punctuate each word with a kiss on his delectable lips and finish with one that I do my best fill with all of the love that I feel for him.
When we pull apart to get some well needed oxygen, he lays his forehead against mine, "I fucking love you too and I will never doubt again."
I smack him in the stomach, making him groan and double over, "You fucking better not Edward Anthony Cullen, because I've fought too damn hard to give you up now."
"So does that mean you'd rather get a cup of coffee with me?" he gasps, a smile taking over his mouth in spite of the pain.
"I'd love a good cup of java right about now," I quip and jaunt down the steps to the kitchen where I stop dead.
Standing at the counter, still in his green scrubs, is none other than Papa Cullen himself and he's staring at me like he's just seen a ghost. His blond hair is in similar disarray to his son's and I have to admit that he looks damn nice in scrubs. An errant thought runs through my perverted brain and mental images of what Edward might look like in scrubs begin assaulting me.
"Bella love, it's just coffee, there's no nee-" Edward's voice dies in his throat as his father comes into his view. "Um, morning dad, coffee done yet?" he immediately switches gears and goes into protective mode, deliberately crossing the space between us to interrupt Carlisle's unabashed staring and snatches two mugs from their hooks under the cabinet.
Carlisle shakes his head as if to clear it and turns his gaze from me to Edward, "What? Uh, yes, the pot is almost done brewing. Your mother keeps it on a timer for me when I work nights. How was the game last night?"
Edward shrugs a shoulder as he retrieves a plate of banana nut bread and some cream cheese from the fridge, "It was cold and muddy. The girls were miserable and freezing their asses off so we came home during halftime, but we were ahead by a touchdown when we left. Truth be told, if they keep looking like this all season, we'll make state no problem. Bella, want a piece? Mom made it," he offers the plate to me.
I take a slice and slather cream cheese on the top of it, "I don't know what fucking, oh, sorry, I mean frikking game you were watching Edward, but even an idiot like me could tell that there were only two reasons we were winning that game. One was the other team sucked something fierce and two was sheer luck on that last call by the ref or we would have been tied at halftime."
Father and son look at me like I had just spoke in Latin or some shit. "What? Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't appreciate football, though I'm more of an NFL fan myself."
Edward recovers first, "So what team are you rooting for then? The Seahawks?"
"Pssh, the Seahawks are all well and good, but I'm a Pittsburgh Steelers kind of girl," I counter with an evil grin, "Mom and dad were big fans and when I started watching them to see what the hubub was about, I got hooked."
Carlisle chuckles, relaxing at the neutral territory that we'd been able to find,"So who's your favorite player then?"
"I've got a soft spot for Polamalu because it's nice to see someone else with man eating hair, but I love Woodley and Ward because those boys know how to put the hurt on people when they need to," I explain as I pick at my food, "Roethlisberger is an excellent quarterback but I'm still having trouble forgiving him for that idiotic stunt he pulled a few years ago on his motorcycle. That was a bad move from someone that so many kids look up to."
"Wow Bella, tell us how you really feel," Edward snipes sarcastically as he pours a cup of bitter brew for each of us.
"Okay, stupid football topic of the day then," Carlisle interjects, grinning like the Cheshire cat now, "and I can summarize it in one word. Favre."
I groan and roll my eyes dramatically, "You mean the damn dinosaur that thinks he can still play? I feel so fucking, I mean frikking sorry for Vikings fans right now. Not enough to spot them any games or anything, but come on, they've pretty much landed a Commodore 64 to try to surf the Internet on. I'll admit that Favre was amazing in his heyday, but it's time to hang up the cleats and stop dragging these teams down because he's too damn prideful to walk away."
After a few more minutes of inane banter, Carlisle picks up the newspaper and his mug, "I'm going up to the den to read before I hit the sack. If you catch the house on fire, wake me up when it reaches my bed."
He gives his son a pat on the back and me a quick nod before disappearing to the second floor study.
"That went a lot better than I expected. Nice save with the football chatter, by the way, I didn't know you were so knowledgeable," Edward muses while pouring himself a second cup of java.
I hold mine out for a refill as well, "I seriously believe that if his eyes could have popped out of his head when he saw me, they would have. And thank Jazz and Jake for the football shit. I honestly have no clue what I've just spent the past half an hour saying."
"Never let me tell you that you're a bad liar ever again if that's the case," he chuckles and leans over for a quick kiss, "You were laying it out so fucking good that you had me completely convinced you knew what you were talking about."
"I'll keep that in mind dear," I smirk and neatly dodge the swat that had clearly been intended for my right ass cheek.
He tries to scowl but ends up laughing before shaking his head and lighting a cigarette for each of us. "You know, there is going to be a downside to bonding via football with King Carlisle. He's going to want to drag you into conversations about it now."
"Shit, I hadn't thought about that," I confess after hopping up on the counter, "I was trying not to get my ass arrested for trespassing or some shit and when you guys started talking football, I jumped at the chance. I'm going to have to learn football for real now, aren't I?"
He nudges my knees apart so that he is standing between them and tucks an escaped tendril of hair behind my ear, "Don't worry Bella, I'll teach you everything there is to know about professional football, if you want, but I wouldn't suggest us starting on that until you've showered and I've gotten a chance to change your bandages."
Then the realization hits me, "Oh god Edward! Your dad is going to know that I've been in a fight, especially after he sees what shape the other girls are in!" I drop my head onto his shoulder, defeated, "He's going to hate me forever because I can't seem to stop fucking up. Maybe he's right Edward. Maybe you would be better off staying away from me. All I seem to do is drag people down with me."
Edward cups my chin and raises my face until I look into his spectacle covered eyes. "Goddamn it Bella, stop saying that shit before I lose my fucking mind!" he growls in frustration, "You haven't dragged me or anyone else down so I never want to hear you repeating that bullshit again. And I'm kind of pissed off now because you just promised me an hour ago that you were going to be here for me no matter what and yet here you are telling me that my life might be better off without you in it."
"I'm sorry Edward, but sometimes it hard as fuck to pretend that I didn't do all of that shit and royally fuck my life up," I challenge, not breaking our stare-down while I pry his hand from my face, "I wish that I could go back, fix things, and be the girl you think I am, but I'm not. I didn't care about anything after you were gone, not even my own life. I wanted to die the physical death that my heart had already experienced and a few times I nearly succeeded. When that didn't work, I turned the pain around and used it on other people just so someone else could take my never-ending agony away for a little while. Now no matter what I do, people like your parents will always know what kind of monster that I can be and one day, so will you. I can't seem to stop destroying everything around me."
I can feel the hot tears stinging my face as my rant comes to a close. I move to brush them away, but Edward beats me to it, lovingly brushing his lips down the wet trails before planting a kiss on each of my eyelids. "I love you Isabella, I need you," he whispers repeatedly between kisses. "Don't leave me alone, please. I can't do this by myself, I'm not strong enough," he begs when I'm slow to respond, refusing to let me pull away and shut down like I told him I do when shit gets to be too hard to deal with.
"I love you too Edward," I finally mumble against his lips and feel the corners of his mouth turn upwards when I gratefully sink into his loving embrace.
"There's my girl," he murmurs in approval and strokes the tangled tresses that trail down my back. He holds me tight and begins humming my lullaby to me, not caring who might stumble in and catch us in such a vulnerable position.
Once I'm completely relaxed against his muscular form, he carefully picks me up and cradles me to his chest as we move through the house to his room. At first I think that he's changed his mind about our level of intimacy when he lays me down on the bed, but throw that hope out the window when he kisses my forehead and tells me to lie still while he removes my bandages so that I can get a shower.
He's so careful removing the gauze and tape that I don't feel the slightest bit of pain from his ministrations. My mind and nether regions are firmly planted in the gutter by the time he is done, but my tired muscles scream in protest when he helps me to my feet and walks me to the bathroom, where the shower has been filling the room with steam while my kismet had been attending to my wounds.
"I'll go through my things and find you a pair of pants love," Edward informs me as he goes to exit the foggy space.
I grab his hand before the door closes, "Um, actually I should have a bag in Jasper's trunk. I was supposed to stay at Alice's house last night so she had me throw my bag in Jazz's trunk when I got to school yesterday. Could you go down and see if it's still in there? There's a spare set of keys to his car on my key ring, if you're willing, if not, that's okay."
He rolls his eyes at me, "Of course I'm willing you, silly girl, though I might have to hide the shirts you brought just so I can get you into another one of mine. If it's there, I'll bring it up and leave it on the bed for you, alright?"
I bob my head in agreement then grab his hand again, "Wait, where are you going to go after you get the bag?"
He pats my cheek, "I'm going to use one of the other bathrooms to get a shower myself love. You know, sleep deprivation makes you very confused angel. I'm going to have to get you into a bed soon before you start hallucinating or some shit."
I smack his hand away and stick my tongue out at him while trying to ignore my now damp panties, "You're walking on thin ice now mister. A girl can only handle being called names by her boyfriend so many times before she retaliates. Now get the fuck out the bathroom so I can use up all the hot water, you fucking jerk."
He kisses my hand before backing out of the room. "As you wish," he whispers with a bow and shuts the door before I can respond adequately.
I strip down and slip into the shower before my body overrides my mind and I go chasing after my too goddamn sexy boyfriend and fuck him senseless before he knows what hit him. As I situate myself under the water, I realize my mistake when I take what is supposed to be a cleansing breath and instead have my nose filled with the scent of his soap. My thighs are instantly soaked and it's not from the water flowing over me.
Why the fuck am I reacting like this after everything that's happened?
How long has it been since you got laid? Too fucking long, if you ask me.
We can't, Edward wants us to wait dammit.
Wait for what exactly? You're not getting any younger, you know.
He wants us to know each other again before we take that step.
No one ever said that you couldn't take care of yourself though.
Good point.
Of course it is, now get to work, I'm dying here!
I brush off the fact that I'd just lost an argument with myself and let my hands skim across my slick skin, imagining that it is Edward touching me. I have to bite back a moan when I graze my nipples with my palms, making them instantly pucker and stand erect in anticipation of the next bit of contact. I ignore the throbbing in my chest and slide my hands down my stomach, towards the ache that has begun at my center.
I lean back against the tiles and lift one foot up on the little bench to give myself better access before slowly drawing a finger along my slit. Thoughts of the sensation being brought on by Edward's tongue makes my hips twitch involuntarily and the tip of my index finger brushes my sensitive bud.
This time I fail in my attempt to stifle the sound that erupts. My free hands snakes its way back up my body to find a nipple and begins twisting and flicking it as I mimic the motions with my other hand. Soon, my body is screaming for relief and I pinch my aching nub one last time before sliding a finger into my core with a throaty moan.
I close my eyes and let my head fall back as I pull my finger out and then plunge back in with two digits this time, delighting in the mental images of Edward's engorged member being inside of me, filling me, pounding into me repeatedly. My orgasm hits me quickly with me fervently gasping my kismet's name as I fall over the edge
I feel a slight stirring of the air and my eyes snap open to see Edward, completely naked and fully aroused, dropping to his knees in front of me. "I need to taste you Bella," he half moans, half pleads, his voice hoarse and thick with lust.
I'm past the point of arguing as he wraps his muscular arms around my thighs and lifts my legs over his shoulders in one fluid motion. In the next motion, his head dips forward and his mouth makes contact with the apex between my thighs. I hiss and dig my fingers into his wet hair as his tongue begins lapping me at a furious pace. "Edward...feels...so...good," I whimper, unable to form a coherent stream of thought long enough for anything more.
He shifts under me slightly and then I feel one of his long fingers slide into my quivering center. I try to move in rhythm, but he tightens his grip on me and adds a second finger. The best I can do at this point is hold on for dear life and bite my lip to keep from screaming out loud in ecstasy. My insides clamp around his fingers when my second orgasm erupts and cry out when suddenly I feel empty. The sound is barely out of my mouth when I feel his tongue delve into me, his mouth sealing itself around my entrance.
When he feels I have no more juices to extract for the moment, his mouth releases me and he slips my legs from around him while he looks up at me. His eyes are dark and swimming with lust as his lips leave a trail of fire up my body, all the way to my mouth. His tongue forces entrance into my mouth and I can taste myself on him as our mouths devour each other. Gently, he lifts me by the hips and I wrap my legs around his waist.
After I'm safely secured to him, Edward reaches behind us and turns off the water before throwing open the glass door and moving us out into the bedroom. Our kiss doesn't break as he lies us down on the duvet. The grip I have on him with my legs relaxes in time for him to thrust his hips forward, successfully burying himself to the hilt inside of me. We both moan into the other at the feeling we've both been denying these years.
We lay there for a few minutes, nothing moving but our hands and lips as we revel in finally being joined as one once again. When the need to breathe becomes too much to ignore, our lips separate but his never leave my skin, continually ghosting across the superheated flesh of my face, throat, and even my collarbone as he begins to move at a slow, agonizing pace.
My body doesn't lay still for long and soon I am writhing and gyrating against him in perfect synchronization. I hear my name tumbling from his mouth over and over, almost like a sacred chant. I'm half surprised to hear myself answering with his own name as my lips and hands encourage him to continue his rhythmic movements.
I can feel the tell tale signs of my release approaching and try to convey my need for him to go faster, harder, and deeper without words because right now I can form none, but he understands and complies perfectly with my wordless pleas and moans. He raises himself up and begins pummeling into me with less and less restraint, the sounds of our bodies colliding now adding to the chorus of sounds flowing freely from us.
"Bella..I'm..going.." Edward pants as his movements become jerky and sharper.
I dug my heels into him, urging him ever faster, "Me too, hurry...it's safe..."
His mouth clamps down on mine as we simultaneously find our release. While not truly a kiss, it's more like crying out into each other, a completion of our souls fusing permanently, irrevocably, irreversibly, for all time.
After a minute of catching our breath, he rolls us over so I lay flat against his chest without our bodies separating. "I love you Isabella, always," he whispers reverently as he pulls me closer to him.
"As I love you Edward, always," I vow and lay my head over his heart to hear it's erratic palpitations return to a more steady cadence.
I had no intentions of falling asleep in Edward's bed, especially not naked and wrapped around him so sinfully, but the next thing I know Edward is covering my face in butterfly kisses. "Time to wake up love, we have to get dressed before someone comes in," he utters in his husky, velvet voice that I love so much, "I know you're awake sweetheart so stop hiding those beautiful brown eyes from me."
I smirk against his bare chest, but keep my eyes tightly shut. He shifts suddenly, making me gasp at the discovery that he was still inside of me. I feel myself grow wet instantly and my hips buck in response.
He doesn't fight me as I grind myself on his hard member, instead he helps my endeavor by grasping my hips and moving me on him more aggressively. This time, our love making is hard and fast, no loving words exchanged, no gentle kisses or caresses. This is a pure animalistic need to find release. He grunts and growls underneath me as our bodies crash together in a desperate race to fall over the edge of sensual oblivion. His name is on my lips as I am swept away, but it comes out as a guttural moan just seconds before it is echoed by my kismet.
"What a way to wake up from a nap love. My life will be perfect once we can wake up every day like that," Edward punctuates his statement with a kiss before rolling us on our sides and breaking our intimate connection.
I bite back a whimper at the sudden hollow feeling exuding from between my legs and sit up, "We need to get dressed Edward. It's wouldn't be good if someone like Emmett came barging in here and found us like this, would it?"
He scowls at me for throwing his logic back at him, but nods and points to the end of the bed as he rights himself. "Your bag," he explains when he notices the baffled expression on my face.
"Thanks love," I tell him as I reach down and pull the canvas duffel to me and unzip it.
Edward slides out of the bed behind me, slipping into his boxers and jeans while I dig out my underthings and a pair of jeans to wear as well. He retreats into his closet as I dress, appearing with two black long sleeved tee shirts. He tosses one to me and tugs the other over his wild head of hair. I pull mine on wordlessly and seek out my hairbrush.
I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and groan internally. "Edward, can I borrow one of your bandannas to wear? My hair has gone insane," I grumble as I give the evil eye to what has to be the worst case of sex hair ever.
A black and white piece of fabric lands on my head and I hear Edward's guffaws as I remove it from my head and put it on properly.
As soon as I have it secured, Edward's arms wrap around me from behind and his head is resting on my shoulder, "You look so damn sexy wearing my shirt Bella. Makes me want to bring one to school for you every day just so I can see you in them."
I rest my head back against him, "I wouldn't stop you if you did it love. The thought of being engulfed in your shirt and your scent all day makes me want to melt."
"I won't forget Bella," Edward warns as his nose moves along my jawline, "Are you hungry? The others are up and I have a feeling that our carnal bubble is about to be burst by people wanting to go out and eat."
I subtly grind my ass against him, "We could always stay in and eat."
I feel his tongue run up the length of my neck before he clamps his teeth down right wear my shoulders begin and he sucks hard for nearly a minute before letting me go with a snicker. "As good as you taste, I don't think anyone else would like it if I put you on the menu as my main course."
With that, he lets go of everything but my hand and drags me out of his room. I'm less than surprised to meet the others as we reach the bottom of the stairs.
"We were just coming to drag you to out of bed and go get some breakfast," Emmett informs us as we come into their sight.
"Em, it's one in the afternoon, no one is serving breakfast now," Alice responds with a smack to her forehead.
"Maybe not in Forks, but I guarantee that somewhere, someone is serving breakfast," he fires back, an ornery grin taking over his features.
"Sounds like a road trip," James ponders aloud as we move into the living room, "I wonder if crazy bitch waitress is still working at the place that doesn't sell pancakes."
"What kind of breakfast place doesn't sell pancakes?" Jasper inquires, his eyes dark as storm clouds.
"Some place in Port Angeles," Edward tells my brother," I can't remember the damn name of it, I was too fucking wasted to care at the time."
"I for one don't feel like driving all the way to Seattle just to get some fucking breakfast," Rosalie huffs and folds her arms to her chest in annoyance, "So we either give up on the idea of finding some place that sells breakfast or we go to the market and get what we need to do it ourselves."
"I don't care either way," Edward qualifies, shifting his legs and pulling my back flush against his body as he leans against the wall, "But if we're cooking it will not be done here. My dad was pretty cool about everyone being here this morning, but I don't want to push my luck with anything just yet."
My brother looks at us in confusion, "Did he know Bella was here?"
We both nod at him solemnly. "Yeah, Bella even talked football with him for a while before he stalked off to read the paper before going to bed," Edward elaborates as he takes the cigarette that I lit for him.
After twenty five minutes of arguing, we abandon our thoughts for breakfast and opt for invading Arby's because it's close and we were getting really fucking hungry.
As Edward holds the door of his Camaro open for me, I have to fight back tears as all of my friends, smiling and laughing, fill my vision. What did a fuck up like me do to deserve such loyal and wonderful friends?
"Something the matter?" Edward asks, his concern obvious.
I shake my head and smile at him, "Nothing at all sweetheart. Just deliriously happy right now."
"Me too angel, me too," he agrees in a low voice as I get in the car and he closes the door.
Within minutes, our vehicles are speeding up the highway and I can't help but smile because I have the feeling that Alice is going to get her day of having a day out with the group.
Okay, that's chapter 11 done and out of the way. Hope everyone enjoyed. If you didn't, you know what you can do by now.
Reviews are appreciated so reward my hard work by pressing the button at the bottom and give me a treat! In my eyes, rewards are almost as good as shower sex with Edward!
For those who aren't fans of shower sex:
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