Disclaimer:
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. Stephenie Meyer owns anything and everything relating to Twilight and its characters. No copyright infringement is intended.
The original aspects of this story—all of the original characters, plot, names, nicknames are all the property of the author—eternally addicted. Unauthorized use of such material is plagiarism. In simple terms—it's theft. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise mentioned in this story. No reproduction, downloading, copying, reposting, or any other kind of redistribution of this story or its contents is permitted without my express written authorization.
Thank you to My-Bella and Hope4More for all their help and support. I couldn't do this without them.
*{Edward}*
"So how'd you do it, Cullen? You sweet talk her? Fill her head with smooth words? I'm just dying to know how you reeled her back in so quickly."
I didn't have to turn around to know whose smart assed remarks those were. The sound of Luke's voice grated on my nerves like the screeching sound of a fork being purposely scrapped across a plate.
My shoulders stiffened and my hands clenched—one around the book I was holding and the other into a fist at my side. Despite wanting to turn around and clock him in the jaw in retaliation of his punch to mine the other night, I wasn't going to start a scene or give him the satisfaction of knowing he could get to me. Besides it didn't matter now that Bella and I were back on track. Luke could say whatever the hell he wanted as far as I was concerned. Nothing could ruin my mood today.
"Not that it's any of your business, Mathews, I told her the truth," I replied calmly, keeping my cool as I turned and came face to face with him. If he hadn't been directly in my path back to the table where Bella and I were sitting, I would have simply ignored him and walked away.
"So you told her what an ass you are and how you don't deserve her? I find that hard to believe. I'm betting your version of the truth greatly differs from the real truth," Luke rebuked as I moved past him.
"Look, I don't owe you any answers or justification for what I've said or done. The only person I owe any sort of explanation to has been given one and she's happy with what she's been told and more importantly believes it as the truth, because that's exactly what it is. If that's not enough for you, Mathews…" I paused to keep from telling him to fuck off—It made no difference to me if he believed me or not. But he was obviously trying to rile me up and I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. "Then I encourage you to ask her yourself. I doubt she'll tell you much more than I have."
As much as I'd love to witness Bella shutting him down, I really didn't want her anywhere around him right now. However I didn't think he'd take anything I had to say as the truth and would no doubt as her himself sooner or later. By offering for him to ask her, in my eyes I was only further proving to him I had nothing to hide. Plus if I knew Luke like I thought I did, he'd want to do it now, with the hopes he had some miniscule chance of proving me wrong right in front of me. This way I'd have the added bonus of watching Bella confirm what I'd told him and he'd be the lost puppy running off with his tail between his legs. Not me.
Don't get too cocky, Cullen, I thought. But I didn't think I was. I knew my girl. We'd talked everything through. I knew what she wanted and it wasn't him.
"Ask and tell who what?" Bella questioned. She slid herself under my arm, snuggling up against me as her hand slipped up my back and latched on to my shirt, anchoring herself to my side. I fought the urge to flash him a taunting smile over Bella nearly wrapping herself around me right in front of him.
Take that fucker. She's all mine.
"I was just asking Edward here how it is that he convinced you to take him back so quickly. I'm a little surprised after how you left things the other night."
"Well not that it's any of your concern, but we talked things out. The same night in fact," she informed him. There was a bit of a sharp edge to the tone of her voice, telling me she was as annoyed by his disbelief and cocky attitude as I was.
"Must have really been some talk," Luke quipped, but the sting of rejection was evident in his eyes.
"Why do you sound so surprised, Luke?" Bella asked him. Sounding a bit more annoyed than before she added, "You've been aware the whole time that working things out with Edward was what I wanted."
"I guess I just didn't expect it to happen so quickly," he said, while in my head I thought, more like you didn't want it to happen. "I thought you'd make him work harder for it. After defending your honor the way I did, I didn't think you'd be such a push over."
"What did you call her?" I growled lowly, getting in his face until I felt Bella's small hand pushing me back as she stepped between us.
"You listen here, Luke Mathews," she ordered poking him in the chest with her other hand. "When, where, how, or why Edward and I have worked things out has nothing to do with you. It's our relationship, our decision. And I don't know what you meant by defending my honor, but whatever it was you did, I never asked you to do it.
"I know you may have been holding on to the notion that there might have been something between us if Edward were out of the picture permanently, but that's just not going to happen. I've been nothing but completely honest with you regarding my feelings on that as well as how I feel for Edward. I love him. I always have. So please, if you ever really thought of me as a friend, let this go. We're happy, try to be happy for us. And if you can't, then at least just leave us be. That's all I'm asking from you."
As if he hadn't heard a word of what Bella had said, Luke glared at me and snickered sarcastically. "Didn't tell her how I rearranged your face, huh Cullen?"
"Wasn't worth mentioning since I hardly felt it," I lied. It had hurt but it hadn't been the smackdown he was making it out to be.
Bella gasped. "He hit you?"
"It was nothing." I slid my arm around her and nudged her towards our table.
"Didn't seem like nothing when you were grabbing your jaw," Luke shot back at me. "Go on wa—"
I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see the librarian scolding Luke for raising his voice above an acceptable level and caught a few words of her telling him to tone it down or leave.
Laughing internally, I hid the smile on my face as I leaned down and kissed Bella on the top of her head.
Reaching the table we both sat down. I leaned over and whispered I love you in Bella's ear and stole a quick kiss from her lips. I was searching through the book I'd found before Luke's interruption when Bella reached over and put her hand over the page I was skimming.
"Which side?" she inquired.
"Which side what?" I asked, mistakenly thinking the subject of Luke hitting me had been closed, yet still trying to dissuade her from bringing it up again.
"You know what I'm talking about, so quit the act. Which side of your face did he hit you on?"
Should have known she'd never let it go.
"My left. Why? It really was nothing, didn't even hurt."
Lifting her hand to my face she rubbed it over the left side of my jaw. Despite my best efforts I flinched ever so slightly from the area still being a bit tender to the touch. I knew instantly from the look in Bella's eyes that I hadn't fooled her for a second.
"Nothing huh? There might not be any visible signs, but I can feel a slightly swollen spot and judging by your reaction it's at the very least a little sore. Why didn't you tell me?"
Her eyes remained locked on mine as I replied. "Because I honestly didn't think it was that big of a deal."
"Mmmhmm," she said with a teasing smile, telling me she wasn't buying it.
'What?"
"You're such a guy."
"Well yeah, last time I checked that was a good thing," I teased right back.
She just shook her head and laughed softly at me.
"Come on, Bright Eyes. You're right, I am a guy. Unless we're wimps, we don't usually whine about the scuffles we get into."
"Don't worry, I promise your macho status hasn't been tainted," she assured me before crossing her eyes and sticking her tongue out at me playfully.
"Oh, I see how it is. Would you have preferred for me to have come crying that Luke hit me and ask you to kiss it and make it all better?"
"No, that's not what I meant. I…I guess I just want us to share everything. Especially since he hit you because of me. I don't like it," she said looking down at the table like she was feeling responsible for the altercation.
"Hey," I said softly, lifting her chin, returning her gaze to mine. "It's not your fault. If it's anyone's it's mine. I'm the one who pissed around on making a decision about us and left you out there waiting. I probably deserved it. In fact I know I did. Okay?"
"Okay. But next time I want to know about it."
"Next time? You planning on having me beat up, Bright Eyes?"
"Well, no. I didn't mean it that way. I just meant that if someone does something or says something to one of us that has to do with the other, I think we need to let each other know," she clarified.
"Deal."
"Deal," she repeated back to me, solidifying our promise to each other.
Unable to resist I leaned over and placed my chin on her shoulder and said, "You can still kiss it all better if you want."
"Get to work," she said with a laugh and shoved my head softly. "We don't have much time left before they lock the doors."
Knowing she was right, I did as she asked and dug back into my research book.
*{SIB}*
"You want me to walk you up to your dorm?" I asked Bella as I got out of my jeep and tried to make it around to open her door before she did it herself. She was gorgeous as she sat there with her hair windblown from the top of the jeep being off.
"You can if you want."
"That's not what I asked, Bright Eyes." I pulled her against me as she climbed out of my jeep. She slid the hand that wasn't holding her book bag up my chest and around to the back of my head and rubbed back and forth over the short hairs there.
"I miss your hair," she said softly instead of responding to what I'd said.
I removed one of my hands from her hips and rubbed it back and forth over my fuzz covered head a couple of times. "It's just hair, it'll grow back."
"I know, I just liked playing with it."
With her words my hand automatically slid into her hair and toyed with a lock of it.
As if she knew exactly what was floating through my mind she made the comment, "So I can get mine all cut off too. I mean it's just hair, it'll grow back."
"You wouldn't."
"What? You wouldn't still love me with some choppy rock and roll haircut? You're the one who said it's just hair." She flashed me a teasing smirk while at the same time giving me a look that was challenging me to tell her she couldn't cut her hair for some stupid reason like because she was a girl.
"Seeing how just about any way I respond to that I'm not gonna win, and I'm highly likely to put my foot in my mouth and say something stupid, how about I offer a compromise?"
"Like what?" she requested.
"You keep your hair long and I'll let mine grow out," I offered.
"How long?"
"I don't know. Longer than it is now but not too long. You want to date a hippie?"
"No," she said with a snort before adding, "But I like the way your hair was before." Her fingers rubbed up and down the back of my head with just enough pressure for her nails to scratch my scalp lightly.
I wanted to purr like a cat. I loved it.
"Would you settle for not that long, but longer than it is now?" I asked and pressed my lips to hers for a soft lingering kiss.
"Trying to bribe me, Cullen?" she whispered.
I pulled away just enough to say, "Is it working?" and felt her lips form a smile when I leaned in for another kiss.
"I suppose I can live with that."
"Good. And just for the record, I'd still love you even if you were bald." I gave her one more quick kiss and then got back to my original question. "Now do you want me to walk you up to your dorm room?"
I rested my forehead on her shoulder and breathed in her sweet scent while waiting for her reply.
"If you're willing to risk the possibility of being ambushed by Al and Sky, then I'd love for you to," she replied.
"I think I can handle that. Let's go." I grabbed her hand and led her up the walkway to the building.
"What's wrong?" Bella asked when I suddenly paused at the entrance of the dorm building. "You rethinking that ambush?"
"No," I told her while looking around. I thought I had heard something and had the strangest feeling like we were being watched.
"Then what is it? And don't tell me nothing, I can tell by the look on your face there's something," she demanded.
"Just thought I heard something, had a weird feeling like we were being watched," I told her honestly.
She giggled softly. "It's probably just your imagination now that I've told you we might get ambushed by the girls. If anyone was watching it was probably them from my dorm room since it faces the street. Or maybe it was Kelsey pouting from her room over seeing you kiss me."
"She can pout all she wants, won't do her any good."
"Better not," she teased as she reached into her bag for her ID card which was also a magnetic key for the dorm building.
After the short elevator ride up to Bella's floor, we made the short walk to her dorm room. Bella's comment that it had been her friends watching us from her dorm window made sense unless they had a crystal ball they saw things in, or spy cameras watching the halls, because the second Bella's hand touched the doorknob it was flung open revealing Alice. She was standing there filled with energy, looking like so excited she was about to vibrate where she stood. Skylar who was standing next to her holding the door open, looked just as eager.
"Finally," Skylar sighed. Cocking her thumb at Alice as she looked at Bella she added, "This one was about to drive me batty. Patience is definitely not one of her strengths."
"Hey," Alice whined, dragging out the word. "You're the one who's been pacing the floor and checking out the window constantly. How else would we have known when they'd be at the door?"
So it was them watching us. Still doesn't explain the sounds I heard though.
"Great," Bella groaned. "Two energizer bunnies. And you've never been a patient one," she added smirking at her friend before she stuck her tongue out at her when Alice pretended to pout. "And she's going to have to wait a little bit longer since I'm not ready for you to leave yet."
I followed after Bella when she tugged me by the hand through the shared kitchen into her side of the suite.
"But…" Alice cried after us.
"Patience, Mary Alice," Bella returned, winking at me over her shoulder as she shut her bedroom door with a sly smile on her face.
"So," I said as I took in her room. "Do you really want me to stay or are you just torturing Alice?"
"Can I pick both?" she asked sitting down on her bed. She patted the spot next to her, inviting me to join her.
*{Bella}*
"Both huh?" Edward asked as he sat down next to me.
"Well, yeah. Al is going to talk my ear off until she's gotten every little detail from me. I'm simply taking the last opportunity I have to hold her off a few minutes longer. Besides she really does need to learn to be more patient."
"Clearly," he replied with a grin. "And the other?"
"Other?"
He moved closer so that his nose was brushing against mine and rubbed it back and forth a few times, teasing me as his lips barely skimmed across mine. "The part about you wanting me to stay," he whispered.
I could feel his warm breath on my ear and neck as he rested his head on the side of mine, causing goose bumps to spread all over my skin from the sensations it stirred within me.
"I'm not ready to say goodbye yet? Is that okay?" I asked turning my head so I could see his eyes.
"It's more than okay," he murmured right before he buried his hand in my hair and dove in hungrily for a kiss that took my breath away.
When neither of us could go any longer, we broke apart. "I wish you could stay, that you didn't have to go home. I miss our nights together in the tent," I admitted.
"Maybe we can do something about that."
I scooted back enough so I could get a clear look at his face. I wasn't sure if he was serious or not. But the calm sincere look on his face told me he was definitely not joking around.
"As much as I'd love to be held in your arms again all night, you know I can't risk you getting caught staying the night here in the dorms. I so wish I could, but I have enough to worry about with trying to figure out my financial crap for the next semester. I can't have them booting me out of the dorms too. I hope you understand. I'd love nothing more than for you to be able to stay the night here," I explained hoping I hadn't hurt his feelings.
"Silly girl." He leaned forward and kissed the tip of my nose. "Of course I know I can't stay here. What I meant was having you stay at my place."
"But—"
"But what? Are you worried because my parents are there?"
"Well duh. I can't imagine they'd let me sleep in the same bed with you even if I did stay at your place."
"You're forgetting one very important thing," he replied.
"What?"
"My parents were right there and knew we were sleeping in the same tent, actually the same sleeping bag, back in the DR. I honestly don't think they'd have a problem with it."
"Really?"
"Really. I'll talk to them about it. I don't think they'd like us to make a habit of it, but if say like next week you were to go to dinner with us at my Uncle Tyler's house, since we have classes early the next morning, and they tend to have dinner a little later than most folks, I think it would be okay with them for you to just stay at our house," he suggested.
"Only problem with that is I haven't been invited to your uncle's for dinner, and even if I was I'm still a little worried about how he'll react to who I am."
I felt stupid for still being nervous about the rest of Edward's family after the chat I'd had with Esme following my dream this afternoon, but it was something I was going to have to work on. Something I needed time to adjust to and see how things went to become more comfortable with the situation.
"You remember what my mom told you earlier?" he asked as if he were hearing my thoughts.
I nodded.
"She's right, Bella. You know Jasper and Rose aren't an issue. As for my aunt, uncle, and grandmother, they will see what a wonderful person you are and that is the only thing that will matter to them. I know it's really hard for you to accept this. Especially with how judgmental your parents are. But please trust me when I tell you they will not judge you because of what your last name is. They will only care about you, what's in here," he said assuring me as he placed his hand over my heart.
"Okay."
"Okay, then that means Wednesday night you'll be my dinner date?"
"Yes," I told him. "I'd love to be your dinner date." And I meant it, I really did. Despite my worries, I couldn't imagine being part of a better family.
Don't get ahead of yourself now, Bella. You guys just got back together. Don't go sending out wedding invitations yet.
We heard what sounded like someone shuffling around outside my door and what I swore was a muffled giggle and a whispered, "What do you think they're doing in there?"
"How long you planning on torturing her?" Edward asked. "I can go if you want to talk to her."
"I don't know." I smiled as I snuggled closer to him and rested my head on his chest. I was in no real hurry to move from my spot and even though he offered to go, his actions said the opposite of his words. With his left arm wrapped securely around me and his right hand tracing the seam of my jeans on the leg I had draped over his, I knew he was very content to stay right where he was.
We continued lying together on my bed, talking softly of things we'd like to do while Edward gently caressed the outline of my face and swept his fingers gently over my arms, legs, and up my back where he'd make a couple of passes back and forth along my spine. He then moved back to my face and began again. I wanted to close my eyes and get lost in his touch, but his green eyes seemed to sparkle in the dim light of my bedside lamp and held my gaze like they'd cast a spell on me.
I listened as Edward told me more about his family in between the kisses we stole from one another randomly when the urge struck one of us. Eventually though, after trying to ignore the movements in the hall became such a distraction that we found ourselves snickering and listening to what was going on out there instead of talking and kissing.
"I guess I should just get it over with. While patience isn't one of her stronger points, stubbornness is, and Al will sit out there all night if she has to," I informed him with a sigh.
For a second he looked like he was going to suggest we test my theory of Al waiting us out all night, but then he kissed me softly and said, "Given we both have class in the morning, let's do this. I'm ready for anything she has to say to me."
We slowly lugged ourselves up off the bed. I held my fingers up to my lips, silently indicating for him to keep quiet as we tip-toed over to my door. Hovering my hand over the door knob I glanced up at Edward and smiled widely, knowing what I was about to do. He grinned back at me with a bit of an evil glint in his eyes that showed me he wasn't sure what it was I was going to do, but that he was very curious to see it.
As fast as I could, I turned the knob and jumped back, pulling the door open with me. Edward and I both busted out laughing as Al and Sky lost their footing. They'd been leaning on the door and tumbled backwards landing on their rears.
Sky started laughing with us, but Al huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "That wasn't very nice," she whined.
"And eavesdropping on your best friend and her boyfriend was?" Edward shot at her.
She rolled her eyes as she sat up next to Sky who had already done so. "Ugh…fine. I guess you caught us. Not that we heard anything."
"Well have at it," I urged her. "I know you must be about to bubble over with questions, so ask away. Edward is willing to answer any you have for him too."
I stepped over Al and Sky's legs and stood next to him, grabbing his hand and linking our fingers together. He smiled down at me and kissed the top of my head.
"Awe, they're so cute together," Sky said in a sing song voice.
"Cute or not," Al huffed as she stood and began making a bee line over to us like she was on a mission. "If he hurts her again, I'll hang his balls—" Al had begun to threaten Edward, however just as she reached him and was about to dole out the rest of her warning, she tripped on one of my flip flops lying on the floor causing herself to be thrown right into Edward's arms.
While still holding Al up off the floor, Edward flashed her that charming lopsided grin of his and asked, "You'll hang them where? 'Cause I'm pretty fond of keeping them right where they are now." For added effect he winked at her and widened his smile. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud at my best friend and boyfriend. She had come at him like an angry mountain lion and now was hanging from his hands like a confused kitten.
Grasping Edward's shirt and hoisting herself up on her feet, Al finished her spiel. "Right next to my pink fuzzy dice on the rearview mirror of my car."
"Ouch," Edward said with sarcasm as he faked wincing in pain.
"You think I'm joking?" she asked trying to pull off being put out by his reaction. However I caught the quick wink she shot me and saw the twinkle in her eyes that told me she was just giving him a hard time for fun.
"No. I'm actually quite worried for my future ability to have children," he taunted.
"As you should be," she said sternly placing her hand on her hip one second, and then bursting into a fit of giggles the next.
We all joined her. Al hugged me tightly and then Edward too as she told us both how happy she was for us and then added that it was about time we got our shit together.
After a couple of moments we settled down and Edward gave Al the green light to grill him. "You can ask me anything, Alice. I want Bella's friends to know I am certain about being with her. I know I had my head pretty far up my ass."
"I appreciate that, Edward. I really do. But honestly I need to talk to Bell first. I'm sure you can understand that."
"I can. So I'm going to get going and I'll leave you ladies to chat," he answered. Looking down at me he asked, "Walk with me to the elevator?"
"Sure," I agreed.
"Hurry back. Don't take ten years making out," Al called after us. "You've had all day for that." I flipped her of behind my back, knowing for certain she'd know I was messing her.
And I was right when I heard her laugh and responded with, "That's not in my job description as best friend.
Edward stopped me just before we reached the elevator doors and pressed me against the wall and kissed me soundly. "I don't really want to leave, but I know I can't hog you all for myself even if I want to," he admitted a little reluctantly.
"I don't want you to go either, but I do need some girl time with Alice and Skylar."
"She's something else—a little spitfire. It's great she's so protective of you, but I can totally see why she has Jasper's head spinning." He chuckled and shook his head a couple of times.
"She will definitely keep him on his toes. But despite her hellcat exterior, she's got a big heart."
"A big heart? Sure she does. That's why she wants to make car decals out of a certain part of my anatomy," he huffed playfully.
"Awe, I promise to protect you from my big bad best friend," I promised softly in a teasing tone as I trailed soft kisses along his jaw and down his neck.
After letting out a low groan he stood up a little straighter and took a step back. "Okay, I really need to go or I might just be tempted to break the dorm rules and drag you back to your room for the rest of the night."
"You realize Al would never let that happen. Right?"
At least not tonight.
"Of course she wouldn't." He sighed audibly and scrubbed his hand over his face a few times. "All the more reason for me to go."
I nodded knowing he was right.
We kissed for a few more minutes before he reluctantly left, promising to call me before he fell asleep. I waved goodbye and blew him a kiss right as the elevator doors closed, concealing him from my sight.
Time to calm hurricane Alice, I thought as I made my way back to my room.
*{SIB}*
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
"I'm here!" Al exclaimed as she entered my room. "And I come baring gifts."
"What gifts?" I mumbled around my toothbrush, sticking my head out of the bathroom.
"These," she offered, sporting a wide toothy grin and holding up two bags. The logos on the sides of the bags told me she'd been to the mall. "And before you complain, they are a belated birthday gift. Mom and I picked them out when we were shopping yesterday."
"Belated birthday gift? Are you having memory lapses, Al? You've already given me a birthday present. Remember the whole outfit you gave me? Do I need to pull it out of the closet to jog your memory?"
Did she really think I'd fall for that?
"Of course I remember, silly."
"So why try to pass whatever is in those bags off as a belated birthday gift? I refuse to accept another birthday gift from you."
"Well then I guess it's a good thing it isn't from me," she announced excitedly.
"What do you mean it's not from you?" She had me completely confused now.
"It's from my mom. She's been trying to figure out what to get you for weeks now, and when I mentioned you could use a new outfit for tonight, she didn't hesitate on getting you one."
"I really appreciate that, Al. You know I do. But it really wasn't necessary. I have dresses to wear."
"If you think I'm going to let you wear that outdated, out of style, tie died, sheet looking thing you showed me the other day, you've lost your mind, girlfriend."
I sighed and shook my head at her. I hadn't been crazy about the dress I had chosen myself, but it was the one that had seemed the most appropriate for the occasion. I had plenty of simple casual dresses and some that I'd wear on a date with Edward, however those were either too casual or too I guess you'd say sexy for dinner with Edward's family.
"I don't have time to argue with you so let's see what you've got there."
"Really?" she squealed.
I nodded and waved for her to hurry and show me. Seeing she was practically bouncing as she walked over to the bathroom where I was, I added for fun, "Just know if I wear this, I am doing so under duress."
"Noted," she said rolling her eyes at me.
Half an hour later when I was all dressed and Al had just applied the last of the makeup she insisted I wear, I looked at myself in the mirror and saw what I should have known all along. She was spot on with everything—the dress, the makeup, my hair…all of it.
"Thank you." I turned to her and gave her a hug.
"You're welcome." She returned my hug and asked, "You nervous about spending the night at his house?"
"Yes and no," I answered honestly.
"Yes because?" she prodded.
"Just because it's at his parents' house. I've never slept over at a guy's house before."
"Well you've never been in love before either," she returned. "So the 'no' part would be because…"
"Because it's not really the first time I've spent the night with him. We slept together in a tent every night for days over the summer," I reminded her.
"True," she acknowledged and added. "Please tell me you have something cute to sleep in."
"Define cute?" I teased, having a good idea what she meant already.
"Not those frumpy t-shirts and shorts or ratty sweats you normally sleep in."
She'd kill me if she knew I'd gone shopping without her and purchased myself some new sleepwear earlier today. But I'd wanted conservative and cute and I didn't think I'd have been able to achieve that combination with her in tow. I'd likely have been pushed into purchasing something I'd never wear and end up in the so called frumpy t-shirt and shorts she was referring to.
Luckily I was saved from elaborating on my sleepwear any further by the dinging of her phone with an incoming text message.
"That was Jazzy, he says they're here," she indicated after checking her phone.
"Jazzy?" I quirked a questioning eyebrow at her as we headed towards the elevator.
"It's a nickname, so shut it, Bright Eyes," she teased and stuck her tongue out at me.
*{SIB}*
"Everyone is downstairs in the media room," Rose announced after opening the door to her home. She must have been watching for us to arrive since she had the door open the second we'd pulled up in front of the house. "You want the grand tour now or after dinner, Bella?"
"Um…how about after dinner," I replied.
"Sounds good." She then turned and made her way down the hall.
"Relax," Edward whispered in my ear.
I nodded and sucked in a long slow breath of air.
He kissed me softly and slid his fingers through mine. Giving them an encouraging squeeze he led the way to where his family was waiting.
While the outside of the historic looking house had been perfectly trimmed and manicured, and had given you the impression you might be walking into a very formally decorated home, the inside was more relaxed and cozy than what I had been expecting. It was classy but still gave you a feeling of warmth and home, not the overdone stuffy, gaudy, flaunting way my mother decorated. "Casually elegant" were the words I remembered Al using to describe it and it fit perfectly.
I wasn't sure what I had been expecting, but if the rest of Edward's family were as warm and welcoming as their home felt, then I might survive the evening after all.
Edward must have noticed my eyes roaming as we made our way through the home. "Not what you expected?" he asked with a knowing grin.
"No."
"Is that a good thing or bad?"
"Good. Definitely good."
"Here they are," Esme stated as the two of us entered the media room behind Jasper and Al. Both were immediately pulled into a hug by a woman who I guessed had to be his mother.
"Hello, Son, Bella," Esme greeted us, doing the same as Jasper's mother had to them, hugging Edward and I.
After she released us, Carlisle made his way across the room from where he'd been talking with a handsome dark haired man who I knew was Tyler Cullen from the campaign adds I'd seen on TV. After he hugged us he insisted, "Bella, dear, let me introduce you to my family."
He began with his sister-in-law who had been the closest to us. Elizabeth, or Liza as she preferred to be called, greeted me with a hug much like Esme had. Carlisle then moved on to his brother and lastly his mother. "Mother, this is Edward's girlfriend, Bella Swan. Bella, this is my mother, Barbara Cullen."
"Good evening, Mrs. Cullen. Thank you for having me in your home," I said to her, holding my hand out to shake.
Instead of shaking my hand she grasped it between hers and held it between them tight enough to tell me she was sincerely glad to meet me. "It's wonderful to meet you, dear. But none of that Mrs. Cullen stuff. You can call me Barbara, Babs or grandmother with the rest of the young'uns around here, but nothing else."
I nodded my head in agreement.
"Now I've heard my grandson rattle on about you until he's blue in the face. Now I want to hear it from you. Tell me all about yourself, dear."
I stole a glance at Edward when she said this and saw his ears turning slightly pink from being outed by his grandmother. Catching my gaze for a second, he winked at me and gave me a soft smile.
Edward's grandma was very sweet and seemed genuinely interested in my schooling and just me in general as we talked for nearly twenty minutes before Liza announced dinner was ready.
I was surprised to see a very large round dining table instead of a traditional rectangular shaped one. I was relieved to see that I was seated between Edward and Al and again surprised to see the rest of the seating arrangements. Tyler took the center seat on one side of the round table with Carlisle to his right followed around the table by Esme, Liza, Barbara, Jasper, Al, myself, Edward, Emmett, and lastly Rose who was on her father's left. Being that there were eleven of us, we were a little snug, but not uncomfortably so. And I certainly didn't mind being so close to Edward that we could hold hands under the table off and on over the course of dinner.
At first I'd been a little hesitant about the glass of wine I'd been given to accompany dinner. That is until Al noticed and gave me a helpful suggestion.
"It's okay to drink it if you want or leave it if you don't," Al whispered softly to me. "Jasper assured me he and Rose were drinking wine with dinner long before they were of age and you know my parents serve it occasionally too."
In the end I'd chosen to drink it, having done so before at Al's house and welcoming the aid it would give me in calming my nerves.
Once dinner was under way, everything else melted away and I enjoyed the meal and the chitchat I made with my friends as I took in how everyone else was doing the same. Carlisle and Tyler talked sports and a little politics. Barbara, Esme and Liza were talking about some dinner fundraiser coming up and us young'uns as we'd been referred to talked about school and general stuff going on with each of us.
When we'd all had our fill, Edward's parents, aunt, uncle and grandmother made their way to the family room, while Rose made good on her offer to show me the rest of the house. She ended the tour in the media room where we all decided to stay.
Al, Rose, and myself were on one side of the huge sectional, talking about getting together for a girls day at the spa, lunch, and some shopping while the guys seated on the side facing the giant TV, were watching a baseball game and having a beer.
Before I realized it, nearly two hours had flown by and it was getting late. Edward asked me if I was about ready to go.
"If you are," I responded. We both had class early the next morning.
He nodded and tipped back his beer downing the rest. "We're gonna head out, guys," he told his cousins and their dates.
"Bow chick a wow wow," Emmett bellowed.
"Fuck off, Emmett," Edward shot at his friend in a joking manner.
"What?" Emmett cried in his defense. "I'm not the one having my girl spend the night with me."
"Shut up," Rose told him, laughing as she smacked him lightly on the head.
"Damn," he muttered. "Just having some fun with them. Shit."
I just laughed and shook my head at him, trying not to blush and give him any more ammunition to hurl at us.
We said our goodbyes to them—Edward did the one-armed, guy hug with Jasper and Emmett, and gave both Al and Rose a friendly peck on the cheek, while I got hugs all around from each of them.
Stopping off at the family room we said our goodbyes to the rest of his family, expect his uncle who looked to be in the middle of an important phone call. I thanked his aunt and grandmother for having me to dinner. We both hugged his parents after Edward told them we'd see them soon at his house since he'd gotten their approval for me to spend the night there, and turned to leave.
We'd barely made it out of the room when we were called back by his uncle Tyler. Stepping back through the doorway I noticed he still held the phone in his hand. Actually he had a death grip on it, telling me something was going on. What I didn't understand was what it had to do with Edward or me.
Maybe he's just upset over the call he was on, but wanted to say goodbye to us, I thought. Edward had told me how close his family was becoming once again, so I tried not to think anything of it.
However my opinion began to change quickly as I took in the others in the room. They appeared just as perplexed as Edward and I were as they stared at Tyler, waiting for him to reveal why he had called us back. I felt the emotional high I'd been on from the night going so well, seep out of me like a balloon that had just been popped.
God, please tell me I didn't unintentionally do or say anything tonight that has upset or embarrassed them in any way.
I stole a quick glance up at Edward who was wearing a curious but calm expression. Telling myself I was overreacting, I fixated my gaze back on Tyler.
This can't be good, ran through my mind instantly as I took in his appearance. You'd have to have been blind to not notice how visibly upset he was. His chest rose and fell quickly with each breath he inhaled and he had a whole range of emotions playing on the features of his face—everything from anger, remorse, worry, and even love. I next saw that Edward running his hand though his hair when stressed must be a Cullen trait as Tyler did so before scratching his fingers across the thick beard on his jaw.
"Tyler, honey, what is it?" Liza asked, standing and placing a comforting hand on her husband's arm. His features softened momentarily as he gazed at his wife, before returning to a blazing glare when he looked back at the phone in his hand.
He cleared his throat, his eyes darting around the room before landing on Edward and me. I felt a cold chill run down my spine reaffirming my earlier feelings of dread.
"I was just talking to Garret," he stated in a very controlled manner, pausing to pull in a long breath of air.
Again I looked up at Edward, silently questioning who Garrett was and what he might have to do with what was going on.
"He's Tyler's campaign manager," he whispered.
I nodded and retuned my attention to Tyler.
"I've just received some disturbing news."
Edward and I simultaneously tightened the grip we had on each other's hand.
"Edward, you might want to bring Bella in here and take a seat…"
We did as his uncle had asked, but I could feel the hair on the back of my neck standing on end in anticipation of whatever we were about to be told.
"I've just been notified by Garrett, who in turn was informed by a contact he has linked to all the local news outlets, that a local reporter has taken some pictures of Edward and Bella during some…shall we say, intimate moments, and plans to go public with them."
"What the fuck!" Edward exclaimed.
"Edward!" his mother scolded immediately.
I sucked in a gush of air as my eyes closed and I held my breath. What kind of damage am I causing this family?
Hearing Edward's voice, I opened my eyes but still found it impossible to let out the gush of air I was holding. I was afraid if I did I'd fall apart.
"Sorry, Mom, I just don't see what the hell some jackass reporter could possibly hope to gain by splashing some unauthorized pictures of me and Bella during private moments in the news. Why the hell would the city of Baltimore care if I kissed Bella in public?" he asked gruffly. His hand flew to his hair like a magnet, only being able to rub across the stubble of his cropped cut.
My mind was reeling with the same question Edward had spoken out loud.
"Bella?" Tyler called garnering my attention and startling me into letting out the breath I'd been holding. "When was the last time you spoke to your parents?" he asked.
"Um…not since the Black and White Ball or shortly after. I had a huge falling out with my mother that night. Why?"
Were they behind this? Would they try to use my relationship with Edward for their political gain somehow? How would that even work?
I leaned into Edward's arm that had slid around me for comfort and strength. I couldn't fall apart now. Not here in front of him or his family. If this was because of me, I had to stay strong and help them figure this out. Give them my complete support.
God knows my parents had done nothing to deserve it.
"The only remotely sensible explanation Garrett can come up with at this point is that they may somehow be involved. He hasn't seen the pictures yet, but is in the process of obtaining a copy of them. Once we have them maybe we will know more. But until then I'd like for you and Edward to keep things low key in public and I promise you we'll find out exactly who is behind this and what they want," he assured us. "It could just be some idiot trying to trump up drama because of who your father is and because you and Edward are together."
"Okay," I said in a slightly shaky voice hoping no one noticed.
"You're not suggesting we stay away from each other are you?" Edward asked. "Because that's not an option," he added firmly, leaving no room for argument.
"No," Tyler stated solidly. "Bella is with you, that makes her a part of this family regardless of what her last name is at the moment."
At the moment? What did he mean? His words only boggled my brain even more and I couldn't concentrate on that and what he was saying at the same time so I chose to listen to him for now and go back to his earlier statement later.
"And I won't tolerate anyone trying to exploit any member of this family for any reason whatsoever. I can promise you both we'll get to the bottom of this. Frankly my team has been prepared for someone to try and use your relationship in some type of publicity stunt, as Carlisle and Esme were certain the two of you would work things out."
I peeked over at Edward's parents and saw Esme watching me with a knowing smile. It warmed my heart in a way I'd never felt from any other woman before to know she'd had confidence in Edward and I all along.
Tyler continued to explain, "We have to see what they have first and go from there. I am only asking that you be a bit more mindful of where you display your affection publically for now."
"That's not a problem," I answered for the both of us, trying to remain calm and hoping to calm Edward in the process. He'd already had one outburst. I didn't want him to lose his temper. If I remained strong, I believed he would too and that would bode well with his family. I wanted so badly for them to be proud of having me by Edward's side.
You don't have to be anything but who you are, an internal voice chastised me.
Tyler then told us we were free to leave and asked us to inform him immediately if anyone in the media or otherwise tried to contact us. He apologized for putting a damper on our evening, and again promised he'd get to the bottom of things.
Edward and I were both quiet on the drive to his house. I could see his jaw twitching when I'd glanced over at him a couple of times, giving away he was still fuming over what we'd been told. I was upset too, but more than that, I had all sorts of thoughts running through my head—who was behind this, what did they want with pictures of Edward and I, and why?
"Hey," he said softly placing a kiss on the back of my neck as he crawled into his bed behind me.
I closed my eyes and tried to relax against him, but I was finding it impossible to do and keep up the strong façade I was trying to maintain.
"Roll over and face me. Please, Bright Eyes," he requested.
I did but kept my eyes closed, afraid he'd see the fear and turmoil swimming in them. He was so good at reading my emotions through my eyes.
"Open your eyes, Bella."
"I can't," I muttered softly.
"You can," he ordered gently. "You think that just because your eyes are closed I don't know what's going on inside that pretty head of yours? You think I don't know how this is eating at you? I know, baby. I know it's killing you and I know you are probably beating yourself up too, thinking it's somehow your fault."
He caressed my cheek with the pad of his thumb and kissed me slowly and gently, telling me through his actions that he loved me, was there for me, and asking me to trust in him to let him be there for me.
"Please?" he whispered ever so softly, cracking my reserve with the level of emotion in his voice. "Oh, baby," he choked out as soon as my eyes flitted open. "It's going to be okay. I promise you." He peppered soft kisses all over my face until he found my lips again.
My shoulders began to shake with the sobs swelling in me. I couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Let it out," he whispered, tucking my head under his chin and my body tightly against his. He wrapped himself around me like a protective shell as I came apart and cried.
"Why?" I cried. "What does it matter that we are together? We aren't the ones running for office."
"I don't know, Bright Eyes. My uncle's team will get to the bottom of it. That I can promise you."
"They must wish you'd never met me." The fear slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
"Look at me," he ordered again. I didn't hesitate this time. "They aren't thinking any such thing. They love you just as I do. Bella, my grandmother is enchanted by you. She gave you more undivided attention tonight than she ever did Emmett or Alice when she met them."
"But why? Surely she likes them."
"Yes she does. But she sees what my parents see, what Alice sees, and what I see. We all see how special you are, Isabella. Your beauty goes so much deeper than your skin. I so wish you could see what the rest of us see. I can't wait for the day when you shake this fog your parents have pulled over you. If it's the last thing I do I'm going to show you what I see inside you."
He wrapped me in his arms and held me as I cried some more. In that moment, with his words and his actions, Edward had made me feel more loved and more wanted than I'd ever felt before in my entire life. As I cried though, I began feeling a sensation of relief, like I was cleansing my soul of the years of grief my parents had laid on me. I had a feeling of true strength beginning to well up inside me.
"Okay," I told him, as I rubbed my face on his shirt, wiping away my tears.
"Okay what?" he questioned.
"Show me. I want to see what you see in me. I want to let go of the pain my parents have caused me."
"I will, Bright Eyes. I promise you I will. We are in this together and you won't ever have to face them alone again if they are behind this. Like my uncle said tonight, you are a part of our family now and we will show you what it's like to be a part of a real family. We have each other's backs, Bella. We will all have your back," he promised reverently with determination and love in his voice.
"How can you be so sure? Hasn't your family just reconnected after many years of being apart?" I asked trying not to sound as if I doubted him. That wasn't what I wanted him to think.
"You're right. They have." He rolled over onto his back and sighed.
I scooted closer to him and propped myself up on one arm while resting the other on his cheek and turning his face towards me. It was my turn to get him to open up to me.
Running my thumb back and forth across his stubble covered cheek I clarified what I'd meant to him. "I'm not doubting you."
His eyes snapped to mine quickly, telling me that's what he'd been thinking. He reached up and took my hand into his and held it inside his against his chest.
"I'm sorry if I gave you that impression," I told him with a soft smile of reassurance. "I guess…I just guess since I've never really had much faith in my parents being there for me when I needed them to, I'm curious how you can depend on and believe in yours so easily after all that you've told me about them. Your parents I have no trouble believing in. They've already been there for me in more ways than my own have. But it's the others I am referring to."
"You're right," he said, moving so he was facing me again. He slid his arm around me and held me close to him and he gazed intently at me. "My family has had their issues and you're also right to trust in my parents. But despite their misgivings over the years, even when my grandfather was being a stubborn tyrant over how my father chose to live his life, the one thing they have always, no matter what they've done, is they have always been honest."
He reached up and brushed my hair back from my face and kissed me lightly before snaking his arm back around me. "I guess I shouldn't have promised you that my uncle would fix things. That I can't really promise. But what I do know about my uncle is that no matter what he's a man of his word. If he says that he will have his men find out what's going on, then that is exactly what he'll do. I can't promise you that no one will flash pictures of us in the news, paper, some rag-mag on the stands or anywhere else. But I can promise you that Tyler will do everything within his power to prevent that from happening."
"I think that's a promise I can trust in. I love you, Edward. So much."
"I love you too." He kissed me until I couldn't breathe. "Together. That's all you need to remember. No matter what happens, we'll get through it together."
I promised him I would. Hopefully we would have some answers soon, and before whoever was doing this had a chance to cause any damage. Feeling the weight of the evening draining my will to remain awake, I closed my eyes as I laid wrapped in the cocoon of Edward's love and arms, truly believing that we'd get through whatever lay ahead together.
I'd always wanted to find somewhere I belonged, to have a real family. Now that I was being given the chance to have one, I wasn't going to roll over and allow anyone to take it from me.
So, Bella survived dinner with Edward's family and being pumped for details by Alice too. LOL Who do you think is behind the pictures and what do they plan to do with them? I can't wait to hear all your theories. And don't forget to check out the girls' outfits for dinner on my blog. Link is on my profile page.
I want to thank each of you for all the amazing supportive messages you sent while I got things figured out for myself and my daughter in our new home. It truly meant the world to me. Life is a lot, I mean A LOT, less stressful now and so far that is working out well for my ability to write. That also means I will have time to reply to reviews in the future. I apologize for not doing so these last few chapters. I can promise they were all read and loved. I've already started on the next chapter and can tell you it's got some excitement happening in it.
Thanks again for your patience and support. Let me know what ya think.
See ya next time, EA