Short chapter (well shorter than usual!) but I had very little time to write this week and I didn't want to make you wait any longer…Edward still belongs to the other Steph.
Where to go, what to do? I just wasn't able to think properly. My life was in ruins because I had been an idiot. Believing for a minute, a second that my beautiful and experienced teacher could fall in love with me and risk everything for me was probably the most stupid thing I'd ever done in my life. I wanted to laugh at myself and cry over my lack of judgement. The problem was that, even knowing what I knew now, I still loved her.
She wanted me, thought I was beautiful and probably pitied me but that was it. I was a fantasy to her, something forbidden hence attractive. Every bone in my body, every part of me sang her name but to her, being with me "was impossible". It was on this gloomy thought that I parked the car in front of our house. I had robotically made my way back home.
When I entered the living room, I was surprised to see three people I didn't know. Two of them were vaguely familiar though. They seemed about my age, so I had probably seen them at school. The third one was having coffee and quietly chatting with my mom.
"Ah Edward, here you are! Where were you dear?" Mom asked, looking worried.
"Here and there, Mom, don't worry. I just needed to be alone for a while." She nodded and introduced me.
"Dr. Carlisle Masen, this is my older son, Edward." The man, about forty-five, I'd say, rose from the couch and held his hand for me to shake. Firm and sure of himself, I liked that.
"Edward, nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you." He smiled warmly. I had to clear it with Mom but I was almost sure he was the therapist she had told me about, who had given her the sleepy pills and brought her back to almost normalcy.
"Likewise, Dr. Masen." I answered politely even though I couldn't help wondering what he was doing here.
"And I'm sure you remember Ben Cheney and Angela Weber, darling, they're in your class." So that's why I knew their faces. I felt kind of embarrassed. I smiled as convincingly as I could and shook Ben's hand. Angela grinned knowingly. She knew I couldn't remember them.
"Hi Edward! Ben played basketball with Emmett earlier and he invited us here after. I hope that's okay." She said sweetly.
"Yes, sure. Ben, I didn't know you were on Emmett's team." He laughed.
"Oh no, I'm not. Have you seen me? I could never be tall enough! I'm just a big fan of basketball and I've happened to see the team play today so I joined them for a game. I know one or two guys, including Emmett." He explained.
That made sense. Ben was a skinny guy who barely reached my shoulders. His girlfriend was actually taller than him.
"Where is Emmett, anyway?" I asked curiously.
"I'm right here." He announced, walking back into the room, cell phone in hand. He looked a little flush and proud of himself. Rosalie related, I thought.
"So guys, wanna play video games in my room?" He asked, watching me intently.
"Sure, what do you say Ang?"
"I love video games!" she gushed, making Ben laugh.
"Edward?"
"I'm not sure Emmett…" I tried but he was having none of it.
"Yes, you're sure, come on." He snapped, almost pulling me behind him.
"Alright, alright! Calm down…" I turned towards Mom who waved us off and went back to her conversation with Dr. Masen. Why was this guy here again?
Once in Emmett's room, we played for a while and I actually enjoyed myself. It felt good to forget about the Bella's disaster for a few hours. I'd get back to reality soon enough.
"So Edward…" Angela interrupted my thoughts. "Emmett told us that you were having girl problems." Apparently, I was getting back to reality sooner than expected. I glared at Emmett.
"Wh-what do you mean?" I stuttered.
"Emmett told us you were in love with Miss Swan." Ben shrugged, as if it was perfectly normal.
"Oh my God, Emmett, what the fuck were you thinking?" I yelled. He had the decency to look sheepish.
"Well, I thought that we were both kind of lost! We needed another perspective…" He mumbled.
"We?" I was lost for sure.
"Well, you with Miss Swan and me with Rosalie, where are we? Nowhere, bro, nowhere!" He cried out.
"Yes, we're not the best with relationships but what were you thinking talking about MY situation with people I don't even know! Sorry guys." I amended.
"That's ok. Look Edward, we don't want to pry and we don't judge who you fall in love with. But there's something you can do to make her react and it would work for Emmett too." Angela smiled.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused.
"We know a couple of nice girls. They're actually together, a couple but no one knows about them so they'd agree to act as your girlfriends." Ben said, his expression perfectly relaxed.
"Our girlfriends?"
"If there is one thing someone in love but denying it can't stand, it's to see the one they love all coupley with someone else." Angela explained.
"I already called my girl…" Emmett added, looking all smug. That's why he wasn't in the room when I arrived.
"Her name is Irina. She looks like a model actually. Very very beautiful…" Ben dreamed aloud until Angela jabbed him in the ribs.
"Hey! I'm here, you know?" she pouted.
"Sorry baby. I love you, you know that." Ben kissed her, erasing the pout.
"Anyway Edward, your "girl" would be Kate. She's very pretty as well and ready to act her part too." Angela said. "So, what do you think?"
"I don't know, guys. My situation is nothing like Emmett's. She says it's a question of morals, that it's impossible. She's probably right, don't you think?" I asked unsure.
"Look Edward. You're in an unusual situation, I give you that. Falling in love with a teacher, much older than you is not the easiest way to experience love for the first time. But, you only fall in love once, maybe twice in your life if you're lucky. When I met Ang, I knew she was the one for me and I didn't hesitate. We were made for each other. What do you feel for her? Is it just lust?" Ben asked.
"I love her, I really do." I whispered. It was weird to aknowledge this in front of them.
"So do something man! You only get one chance and trust me, it'll work." Ben asuured.
"How do you know?"
"Because that's how he got me, he made me jealous and I fell right into the trap." Angela smiled.
"You did, didn't you?" Ben cooed.
"Yes, sweetie, you're irresistible, we know that." She retorted.
"So, Edward, what do you think, man? Here's Kate's number, call her and she'll give you her ideas. She's sneaky this one." Ben laughed.
"Ok, I'll call but I'm not making any promises." I groaned.
"Oh, no, no!" Emmett interjected. "I did it, you have to do it too!"
"Edward, what do you have to lose, really?" Angela asked gently.
"Come on, man do it now." Be insisted.
Sensing I had no chance against those three, I called Kate. A warm voice greeted me.
"Hello? Kate speaking."
"Hi, Kate, it's Edward Cullen. Maybe Angela mentioned me…" I asked cautiously.
"Oh hi! So, Edward, ready to French kiss me tomorrow morning in front of the whole school?"
What did I just get myself into?
Yes, Edward is desperate, he has to act. Will it work? Give me your thoughts as always.