7 messages in one day!! :)
Thanks to all the reviewers, that includes the anonymous ones, your words and opinions make my day! (even if it is a simple 'good. Update.') Special thanks to veggiegirl22, 'cuz I used your suggestion in this chapter! hope you guys enjoy it! :)
Chapter 13: Coffee cake?
BPOV
I was talking to my dad while lying on the bed of one of the Cullen's many guest rooms, he kept on insisting that he see me, and that opening a store in Forks would be a great inversion; I just laughed at that.
"Okay!" I said, finally exasperated, then, in a much softer tone added, "don't worry dad, I'll tell them."
"Thanks Bells! Be sure to remind them that there'll be hot coffee, cookies and presents."
"I won't forget! So…how's mom?"
"She's currently in Greenland, with Phil. She wants me to remind you that her new documentary premieres the day after new years." My mom, Renée, was an actress, but she discovered animals and fell in love with them. Now she presents a successful documentary program seen all over the world.
"Okay, Love you dad."
"Love you too, kid-o."
*-*-*
A few minutes later I went downstairs and found the whole gang in the living room, comfortably lying on the many couches and pillows that were placed in front of the television.
"Hey guys," I greeted "my dad's in Port Angeles and he's invited us to spend Christmas day with him. Are you up to it?" I looked at their faces and they nodded, even though you could sense the lack of enthusiasm. "There'll be presents and free coffee…" I bribed, you could see their spirits lift at that comment and everyone seemed more willing to go; Emmett even flashed me a thumbs up.
I walked over to the couch where Edward was sitting and the moment my body touched the seat Edward put his arm around me and kissed my head. I smiled and grabbed his hand, rubbing circles on it with my fingers. Soon the TV contest had absorbed me; I was oblivious to my friends' comments, until Emmett got loud that is.
"That is too easy! This contest is rigged!" Emmett shouted. Alice raised her perfectly arched eyebrows.
"Em, they have to jump from one truck to another. And the trucks are going at more than 110 km per hour. It's almost impossible."
"Well… maybe," he thought about it, "but the other task was completely effortless."
I remembered the fifty venomous tarantulas and shivered.
"You wouldn't have been able to do it." Jasper said, "You're afraid of spiders."
"I'm not afraid of spiders! I'm afraid of hurting a spider, it might be endangered, you know." He feebly intended to defend himself. "Any way, it's still rigged. Otherwise how could anyone win?"
"Talent maybe?" I offered. Emmett scoffed.
When the show was over I pulled Edward aside.
"Edward I have something to tell you…"
"Me too!" he said, excitement and something else visible in his eyes. "But, Lady's first though." He said quickly, I chuckled at his manners.
"Okay… but don't be mad that I didn't tell you earlier." I took a deep breath, "my father owns Starbucks."
"Your father owns what?"
"Starbucks… the coffee store, café…"
"Since when have you known?" He asked seriously. Did he think I was going stupid or something?
"Um… since I was five, maybe four years old…"
"And you made me pay for our frapuchinos?" he asked, quickly changing his expression from surprised to fake shocked; Soon he was moving his head in mock disappointment. I wouldn't have known he was faking if I hadn't seen the familiar mischievous glint his eye.
"Wait, you don't care that I didn't tell you?"
He laughed his musical laugh. "But you just did, you silly beautiful girl!" he said affectionately making me blush, he had called me beautiful.
I gave him a hug. And when we pulled away he kissed me gently and caringly on the lips.
"What did you have to say?" I asked, remembering his words from earlier.
"It doesn't matter, I'll tell you latter. Right now, tell me more about your dad so I don't look like an idiot in front of him."
I smiled and pulled him towards the guest room I was sleeping in.
*_*_*
I had decided to have Edward meet my dad the day before Christmas so it wouldn't be so much of a shock meeting him the next day along with Emmett and Jasper.
We were sitting in one of the booths of the only coffee shop in Forks, we had chosen this location because, not only was it close to where both of us were staying but because Charlie wanted to check out the 'competition'.
"And last but not least, let's keep our physical interaction to a minimal while Charlie's around, we don't want him to get to protective." Edward nodded and I smiled at him, "thanks E."
He held my hand and stared at me, caringly. "Bella, I think-, no, I know that I lo-" Suddenly my phone started vibrating, signaling that I had a message and causing me to giggle, it tickled me. Edward grinned and started tickling me, he was everywhere: my stomach my sides… I squirming and laughing uncontrollably, soon he was kissing me and I was kissing him; my hands in his hair, his still tickling my back causing me to sometimes buck into him. Suddenly I heard someone clear their throat. I didn't think much of it and ignored the sound, to continue kissing Edward. About a minute later a heard the sound again, this time louder and closer. I looked up annoyed:
"What?" I growled, looking up. "oh." Ups, I blushed furiously, I shouldn't have used that tone. "Hi dad."
"What in the world do you think you're doing?" he asked, his face a mix between shock and outrage.
"dad I, no it's not what, wait no- I mean…" I started babbling
"I'm so disappointed in you Bells…" he said shaking his head. Soon I was babbling again.
EPOV
I was mortified. Bella's dad had just caught Bella and me in the middle of a not-so-innocent looking make out session.
"I'm so disappointed in you Bells…" he said. Bella, completely red, started rambling again and suddenly I began feeling very guilty. I turned towards her dad:
"Sir, I'm sorry for making out with your daughter in public, I assure you that's not how I usually hold her…" I explained. Abruptly he was laughing. Bella and I turned to him.
"you think, I'm" laugh "disappointed because" laugh "you were" laugh "kissing my daughter?" Charlie questioned, I could hardly understand him due to the sound he was making laughing.
"Well, yes?" now I was confused, I guess Charlie's like Bella. Hard to understand; hard to predict.
"I'm disappointed because I thought you would hide it a little better, you know 'act'. To be completely truthful, I actually think you're doing more than just kissing. Not that I want to know." He added quickly, raising his hands in a 'stay away' gesture. Bella and I laughed with him. "Now, why don't we start over?" We nodded and he grinned. "Fix your hair and sit properly," I did as he said. "I'll be back." He said in a terminator accent before leaving.
Charlie approached our table and I nudged Bella slightly.
"Dad?" She said calling his attention back to her, "this is Edward, my boyfriend." I smiled my most charming smile and Charlie smiled back. "Edward, this is my dad, Charlie." She made introductions although I already knew her dad, and everything she could tell me about him.
"Nice to meet you Edward, I've heard a lot about you." He held out his hand to shake mine.
"You too sir." I replied, grabbing the hand he offered, after a while he let go.
"You have a firm grip son." He complimented me, "what's your favorite soccer team?"
I know this one… "Real Madrid." B's dad smiled, I'm glad I remembered Charlie's favorite team. He turned towards Bella:
"Hang on to him, Bells, he's a keeper." He stage whispered, with that said he turned to all of us. "How do you like your coffee, kids?
BPOV
"Okay, let's try turning left on the next corner…" We were driving towards my dad's shop in Port Angeles. We had decided to take three cars, in case we decided to leave at different times, and now we regretted it, sort of. Edward and I had gotten entertained at the gas station and we had lost the others, who were now at Starbucks with my dad, while we were still looking for the shop. There was no one on the street to ask for directions, seeing as it was Christmas day and there were about 6 inches of snow on the ground.
About ten minutes later we found it. It was a nice shop; I hadn't been to this one before. It looked warm and had two floors with views out to the bay. It has plenty comfortable arm chairs and sofas and the entire feeling of it's homey.
As soon as we walked in the aroma of fresh coffee burnt our noses, it was mouthwatering.
"Bells!" my dad shouted. "what took so long?"
"Hey Dad, how are you?" I looked up at his crinkly smile eyes, "I love this store! It has a perfect atmosphere! It's going to be a hit, you'll see." I smiled.
"I hope so," he grinned "you and you're friends know you're welcome here any day, right?" first he looked at Alice, Rosalie and their boyfriends then turning to Edward and me. He smirked and I blushed.
*-*-*
"Present time!" Emmett sang. My dad laughed, he had really warmed up to us in the last few hours, especially to Emmett; he loved his young spirit.
"If everyone's done eating then I think we can go open the presents." I had briefed my dad on everyone's personalities so he could get good presents.
We walked over to the closet with the paper tree taped to it.
"The presents are in here, now, when I open the door be careful, some are delicate."
When we entered what looked like a closet we were amazed. It was almost like an extra dinning area; there was a big, rock fireplace, huge beanbags, armchairs and a loveseat or two. The walls were painted a warm terracotta color and the floor was scattered with presents of all shapes and sizes. My dad had outdone himself.
Emmett's face lit up and he started searching through the presents. My dad interrupted.
"Kids, there are normal presents and there are quest presents." He smiled and looked at each of our confused faces. "The quest presents are, obviously, better than the normal presents, but unlike the normal presents to be able to open them you need a key and to get it you have to do what it says on the card."
"What cards?" Jasper asked. My dad pointed at the envelopes taped to some of the boxes.
We all looked at him; he had way too much free time.
"So… do you want to begin?"
"YES!" Emmett shouted as he lurked for the closest present with his name on it.
"Merry Christmas!" he read the card.
"What is it?" we all looked at him, excited halfway through opening one of our presents.
"A Guinness World Record's book..." he opened it. "Autographed by the worlds shortest man! How did you get this?" Emmett looked flabbergasted (A.n. I love the word 'flabbergasted'!) "It's awesome!" He exclaimed, I smiled at my dad.
"CHARLIE!" I saw a pixie fly by me, "how did you get this nail polish color? It's discontinued?"
"I know a guy…" he shrugged.
I had five normal presents, including an autographed 'the Killer's' CD, Alice had four, Emmet five, Rosalie six, Charlie even got her a new toolbox, with several cases so she could accessorize it in a color that matched her outfit; Jasper three and Edward two: a collection of 'the Beatles' music and a green shirt that made his eyes pop out.
"Quest present time!" I announced, "but first, this is for you dad." I handed him a box which contained a handmade police cop uniform, complete with a gun and cap, I didn't include bullets, in case he je got mad at Edward some point in the evening. The rest of my friends gave him his presents but the one he liked the most was Edwards: an engraved fishing rod.
I headed towards my two secret presents; they were tied together with a gold chain. The card read:
To open me you must find an open department store and…
Get a picture with an employee named Bob (or Bill)
Buy a can of Brussels Sprouts
Take a picture of a pink backpack
Take a picture of you with a stuffed animal from every continent
Record three people saying they'll come to the new Starbucks when it opens
You'll find all the necessary material on the counter in the main room. Good Luck!
I looked over at Edward's; he too had two presents, both small. His card read:
To open me you must:
Get one girl to kiss you and take a picture
Buy Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Borrow:
One pink sock
One red tie
A sneaker
A glass slipper (ask Alice)
You'll find all the necessary material on the counter in the main room. Good Luck!
Jasper and Emmett's notes read similar things, Alice's on the other hand told her to put on an impromptu fashion show using the fabrics on the table and Rosalie had to be her model.
*-*-*
"Bella, will you kiss me?" Edward asked after leaving Starbucks, "You'll help me get one step closer to finishing the list…" he said in a convincing tone, I sighed and kissed him while I heard the flash of the camera. I hadn't kissed him much while Charlie was watching, so I was itching to get to the department store, where we could find a vacant aisle and catch up on all the missed attention.
Edward, Emmett and I drove to the nearest department store, which was almost empty. You could see the employees all huddled together, playing cards and eating chocolate. As soon as we entered they jumped surprised. I approached them:
"Are any of you named Bob?"
"Nope, no Bob today."
"How about Bill?'
"No, but we do have a Quill."
"That'll work, can I take a picture with you?" I asked the teenager with golden brown skin.
"Sure." He smiled. He reminded me of Jacob,
"All you need to do is smile and subtly cover the first two letters of your name." He did as I asked and Edward snapped the shot. "Thanks." I smiled in appreciation.
We headed down the aisle and filled our cart with everything we needed. Emmett even bought the 'happy summer' greeting card. About an hour later I had almost everything I needed. The only thing missing were the voices. Edward had gotten everything on his list but the glass slippers and the pink socks, which he insisted Emmet should buy, so he could lend them to him.
"Come on! Please!" he begged Emmet.
"No Edward, I'm not buying pink socks."
"It's not pink, it's Magenta. It says so, clearly on the tag."
"Have Bella buy them."
"No. She's already buying the sneakers."
"Well, then I hope you're quest present isn't anything good, it'd be a shame not to have it." Edward grumbled a few things that sounded like insults and finally gave in.
"Fine, I'll buy them, but I'm saying they belong to one of the clerks, you better not rat me out."
We got back to Starbucks in a little over an hour and fifteen minutes and, when we arrived Charlie hurried us in saying the show was about to begin.
When we got back to the back room there were a few square tables pulled together, organized to look like a catwalk. Alice jumped on top of the improvised stage and started speaking, really fast by the way, so much coffee had gotten to her.
"Lady and Gentlemen, I give to you new fall line, courtesy of Alice Designs and Starbucks and counting with the participation of Ms. Rosalie Hale." Charlie, in his cop outfit, laughed.
Out came Rosalie, in an incredible design, then another, and another, and another. She paraded twelve outfits in total, each passing one getting more impressive and complex. At the end Alice went out and bowed.
"Okay girls, your quest are complete, here are the Key's" Charlie announced. He handed Rose a red key and Alice an orange one. "You can open your presents."
Alice went first. She opened the small box and pulled out a pair of glass high heels. She squealed and tried them on. A perfect fit.
"Thank you, thank you so much Charlie!" Alice practically squealed hugging him.
"You're welcome Alice, hon." He replied, she just hugged him tighter.
After that she proceeded to open the big box. She lifted the lid and gazed inside, there was a beautiful red fabric peeking up from under the paper. She lifted it and held up a red Valentino, it was long and had thick straps. The material was heavenly, it felt like clouds and the dress was sure to be a perfect fit. She squealed even louder, if possible and ran to Charlie screaming thanks yet again.
Thanks for all your support and for reading this fic! i hope you're liking it so far!i got 7 messages in one day for last chapter so I decided to update (my way of thanking you) another time this weekend! :P
Next chapter:Carlisle, Esme and maybe even a little LUUURVE!! :)
You know what to do!
Xoxo
Everso