And here we go! Another chapter, right on time as promised ;)
I also decided to update my other stories after finishing this one but you may find a random update or two sometimes . . .
By the way, thank you for all your spectacular reviews that make the sun shine brighter :)
Through Your Window
By writingunderatree
Chapter 11
Thunder
The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storm –Charles Colton
Previously . . .
It's good to know I'm not the only one who loathes that woman.
"So, Alice, can you meet with me at your place on Tuesday?" he asked me hopefully.
I laughed. "Of course I can! You know I wouldn't miss your girlfriend for anything, even shopping!" I declared proudly as I emphasized the word 'shopping'.
"Glad to hear that, Alice. I'll see you there on Tuesday for lunch! Bye!" he said, unnaturally giddy as he hung up.
I felt so happy for him.
Edward's Point of View
Monday Afternoon.
I was going to break up with Tanya because I loved Bella. Being in love with her was something I was so sure of that it hurt--so, so much. I was prepared for whatever bitch fit Tanya will throw because I know that it won't make me sway. I talked to Eleazar this morning and he assured me that I am no longer obligated, mentioning the fact that he thought we were already through since she has been seeing someone else.
So she's been seeing someone else on the side; maybe that explains the four month period when I heard nothing from her because she was supposedly vacationing in Italy.
Frankly, I don't care who it is, whoever it is just provided me with a load of ammo before I face the war.
My eyes met with the view of the café Tanya wanted to meet me in and I saw her purple Camaro parked in front of it. I sighed. That means she's here. I was relying on her to be late as usual. I needed those extra ten minutes to get a hold of myself but I guess I'll have to suck it up this time.
I entered the café and saw Tanya sitting down on a corner table. Once she saw me, her face instantly brightened up and she ran over and hugged me.
"Oh Eddie I missed you like crazy!" she said as she hugged me even tighter.
"Um . . ." I said; trying to think of something to say that wasn't on the lines of: 'sure you did, because going to "Italy" for the past four months just screams "I MISS YOU."'
"It's Edward, Tanya, not Eddie," I told her. I guess that was the best thing to say without seeming distant or happy without giving away m current annoyance.
"Ok, Edward," she replied, emphasizing her use of my name. She pulled me towards the table and I rolled my eyes when she wasn't looking.
We sat down across each other and Tanya ordered coffee. Once the waiter left the table, she immediately started talking.
"So, where'd you run off to over the weekend? I came over and Angela said you just got in your car and left," she asked, looking at me suspiciously. Frankly, I couldn't understand how it could possibly be fair for her to question my one weekend of absence while I, on the other hand, went through 4 months with no contact from her.
I shrugged. "It's nothing; I just needed to be alone to think about something. Speaking of which, I talked to your father," I said, trying to see if that opening would draw any reactions from her.
My suspicions were confirmed when I saw her eyes momentarily widen. I've never done this before, and I don't think I ever will again—so I must not screw it up.
"Tanya, why didn't you tell me you were having an affair?" I asked her softly.
Her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion—she was playing dumb. "What are you talking about sweetie? What affair?" she asked me innocently.
"The one you've been having for the past four months when you were supposedly vacationing in Italy," I told her.
"I—I don't know what you're talking about!" she told me defiantly. We paused as the waiter came back to the table, putting Tanya's coffee down in front of her.
We started speaking again when the waiter was out of earshot. "Tanya, your dad already told me. It seems like you told him that you weren't seeing him anymore. Before you start yelling or doing whatever it is you normally do, I want to say something," I told her. She stayed quiet and looked at me.
"When I left for some alone time last week, I got to thinking about us I realized that it's not working," I said with a sigh. There, I said it.
"What are you talking about? We work great!" she told me. She sounded as if she was on the verge of mild hysteria.
"No, we don't," I told her bluntly. "If we did, you wouldn't be gone all the time, I would actually learn to tolerate you sometimes and you wouldn't be having an affair with someone," I said. I didn't mention Bella, knowing that it would just add fuel to the fire. It may sound quite hypocritical, not telling her about my own affair, but if I respected the anonymity of the man she was sleeping with, then she should respect mine.
"Edward!" she said, a little too loudly, but luckily, we were in a secluded spot in the café so no one noticed.
"That's it Tanya. I can't do this anymore, I can't live like this! I've finally come to terms with myself and I found peace and acceptance. I have gained the approval of my parents and of your own, so please respect that. You're a great girl and lucky to have found someone else who will have you. I've said my piece," I told her as I got up and left.
When I exited the café, I felt considerably lighter, like the burden was lifted off my shoulders by some assisting crane. I felt light, lighter than when I told Bella I loved her, lighter than when I came to terms with myself and lighter than when I made up my mind to break up with Tanya because this time, I did it. My self-induced torment was over—I've found closure.
Bella's Point of View
"Hello?" Rosalie said over the phone, confusion evident in her voice. I'm sure she didn't recognize the number on her phone since I was using Edward's private line.
"Rosalie? It's me, Bella!" I told her over the phone.
"Bella, I missed you!" she said happily. "Where are you? Why'd you call?"
"Rosalie, I found him. I finally found the one who can help me!" I told her happily, gazing up at the ceiling dreamily as I reveled in the softness of Edward's bed.
I heard something fall to the floor before I heard her loud: "WHAT? REALLY? Tell me everything!" she demanded.
"I don't have time to do it now. Are you at our place? Is it safe to go there?" I asked her.
"Yeah, Emmett's here too. Renee and Charlie are supposed to come back tomorrow but I think you can sneak in," she said in a distracted voice, probably assessing the situation at hand.
"I'll be there in an hour, wait for me at the usual spot." I told her as I grabbed my bag.
"Bye Bella!"
"Bye Rose!" I said before hanging up.
The cab drive to my house was uneventful. I asked the driver to stop a street before the back gate.
As usual, I tried to walk casually but tried to stay inconspicuous, being careful of those houses with nosey neighbors or family friends who might recognize me. Rose was already waiting for me at the back gate, when she saw me and waved me over. She gave me a quick hug and opened the gate, making sure it didn't creak.
We crept in quietly, using the trees to obscure any view of us as we entered the back door of the house. For once, I was thankful for my mom's eccentricity. I never knew that her idea of putting trees near the back door could be such sheer genius! It's the one time odd things like these actually worked to my advantage.
We entered the kitchen before Rose stopped abruptly and shoved me into the . . . pantry. I could hear her voice and it sounded like she was talking to our cook, Evelyn.
"Oh! There's no need Evelyn! I'll get that bag of flour for you," I heard her say as the pantry door opened. I slipped into the shadows before the lights turned on and I saw Rosalie looking for the flour.
"God, that was close one," she told me, sighing.
"Yeah it was, aren't you glad we actually have a push-door pantry?" I replied teasingly.
She rolled her eyes. "Am I ever," she said as she found the bag of flour and lifted it. "I'll come back for you, I'll just clear out." She left, letting a small patch of light enter the pantry as she opened the door and then I found myself immersed in darkness again once she closed it. I heard Rose's voice, most likely telling the maids to take a lunch break, seeing as it was near lunch time. The clicking of her heels could be heard, getting louder and louder as she reached the pantry door. I crept into the shadows again in case it wasn't her. Knowing my rotten luck, that was actually a possibility.
The door creaked and I saw her peek inside. "Bella?" she said.
I stepped out. "I'm here, is it safe?" I asked her.
She held out her hand to me. "Yeah, it's clear; I told the staff to have lunch. Let's go." We left the pantry and made a beeline for the stairs, running quickly to her bedroom and shutting the door behind us. I locked it.
"BELLA!" I heard a booming voice yell before I was swept off the ground and into the arms of my big brother.
"Can't—breathe! Need—a—air!" I gasped out as I tried to get out of Emmett's grasp. He let go of me immediately and set me down on the ground.
"Oops, sorry there sis. I just missed you," he told me sheepishly.
"Awww, don't be sorry! I missed you too Big Bear!" I said as I gave him a hug.
"Ok! Now that the reunion's over, and thank God it is before you two start making me gag if you start crying," Rosalie said as she rolled her eyes. "Bella should share some details—now!" she demanded as she and Emmett sat down on the bed, looking at me eagerly.
I sighed, knowing that there was no escape from the inquisition that I put upon myself. I sat down on the black bean bag that looked strangely out of place in Rosalie's mint green and white bedroom.
"I met this guy . . ." I started, trailing off. Rose's eyes widened at the mention of a guy and Emmett's eyes narrowed slightly, memories of Jacob probably running through his head.
I told them all about Edward and how he said he could help me. I didn't know yet for sure, but I felt confident that this was the moment I've been waiting for. It was the conclusion to my pain, my hard work and all my hiding. Emmett relaxed when I told them of how well Edward treated me and how I saw him treat others and how they gave me the seal of approval. Rosalie's eyes shined with happiness, glad that I was finally able to "snag myself a man" as she so aptly put it.
After I concluded my story, I stood up and told them that I'd be meeting Edward's sister tomorrow.
"I'm nervous," I confessed as I paced around the room. Rose stood up and gave me a hug.
"It's okay Bella. I'll help you pick out an outfit from my own wardrobe," she said happily. Emmett grunted. "Ewww, girl stuff!" he said. "I'm getting out of here!" he said with a mock salute as he exited the room. We laughed at him—as usual.
Tuesday morning.
I grew up in a family that was usually the center of most social gatherings, so of course I was used to meeting people all the time.
The part that irked me the most was the preliminary nervousness that settled on the pit of my stomach. Sure, I was used to meeting them, but the nervousness never subsided until I was sure they didn't seem piqued by me.
Let's just say that the nervousness was multiplied by ten this time.
Edward seemed to notice my inner predicament and squeezed my hand gently. We were standing outside the door of his sister, Alice's, condo unit. The condominium was somewhere near the end of the Upper East Side, but far away from where Rose and I normally hung-out. No one on this part seemed to recognize me, but for safety measures, I wore a scarf over my head and sunglasses. I probably looked like I just had plastic surgery, but I didn't care. It was natural in these places anyway.
"There's nothing to be nervous of, love," he whispered in my ear. I could tell he was trying to suppress a chuckle.
"Oh, go ahead and laugh," I said, acid lacing my tone as I rolled my eyes at him before smacking his arm--hard. "Of course there's something to worry about!" I said through my gritted teeth, keeping my smile intact as I heard someone say "coming!"
"Calm down," he murmured, as footsteps drew closer to the door. I didn't know if he was talking to me or to his sister, whom he said was quite the energetic one. I moved to stand behind him.
"Ah, hello there Alice," I heard him say as he hugged his sister. She was tiny! Her height seemed to be about 4'10 with inky black hair in a pixie cut. Of course, she was as gorgeous as Edward said she was and dressed tastefully from head to toe.
"Hello Bella!" she said; her voice like tinkling bells as she walked over to me and pecked my cheek.
"Hi Alice," I said nervously.
And that ends chapter 11! What do you all think? Pass or fail? It's also earlier from what I promised!
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