A/N- I totally suck! It's been too long. I had a major block and just life in general- sorry.
Edward-
Under the guise of studying I had been holed up in my room since leaving Bella's house on Friday night. I guess it wasn't really a guise as what that should have taken me a few hours, actually took me most of the day Saturday. It wasn't because the material was more difficult than usual, I simply couldn't focus. Bella's lingering scent on my sheets was a distraction. I had tried staying away from the bed, but found myself drawn to it and the memories it brought to mind. If I were really determined, though, I would have changed the sheets. In honesty I had to admit I liked the thoughts they brought to mind.
Studying may have been my excuse and it's possible I was fueled by thoughts of Bella, but when it came down to it I was avoiding my family. There wasn't really a good reason for that. I doubted my parents had noticed anything amiss, but something definitely felt different for me. It was something I didn't understand and wasn't entirely ready to share, I guess.
I hadn't thought about the fact that my parents would be up already Sunday morning. A massive breakfast spread between the two of them. My father completely entranced by the pile of bacon and pancakes soaked in maple syrup, barely acknowledged me. While my mother hopped up to get me an empty plate, with a look of excitement on her face.
I was hungrier than I anticipated and was on my second helping of pancakes when my mom spoke. "Would you like to come to church with us, Edward?" She didn't look up from her plate when she asked, obviously expecting me to say no.
Hell, I expected to say no myself, but that's not what came out when I opened my mouth. "Sure," I mumbled through a mouthful of scrambled eggs. Both my parents looked at me like my hair was on fire but didn't say a word. I hadn't gone to church with my parents since we moved to Forks and it suddenly became optional. Emmett and I had attended a Catholic school back in Chicago and Sunday mass was a family affair. I was surprised when we didn't pull up in front of St. Anne's, the only Catholic parish in Forks.
"I thought we were Catholic." I muttered, mostly to myself as I climbed out of the vehicle.
"You're mother is," my father answered with a smile. As he spoke he quickly brushed past me, darting to open my mother's door. I watched as he extended his hand to help her from the car, though she didn't need his help. My mom placed her in the crook of my father's arm as he led her to the church. It was all very antiquated. I had never really thought much about it before, but my parents seemed to live by the words of Emily Post. Her original words. The ones she wrote in the 1920's.
After the service I followed my parents out of the church. They visited briefly with the pastor and his wife before, they meeting with some friends and colleagues on the small front lawn of the chuch. It was unseasonably warm, well just warm for Forks in general. Women were in sundresses and men in short sleeves. I stood aside while my parents talked, staring at the clear blue, cloudless sky for lack of anything better to do.
"Hey, Edward." A female voice pulled me from my thoughts.
Looking over, I answered, "Hey, Angela."
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Um." I shrugged. "I came with my parents."
"Is this, like, a first?" she teased with an eyebrow arched.
I chuckled a little. "Yeah. I guess. What about you?"
"I'm here every week. Good daughter that I am." When my brow furrowed, she added, "My dad's the pastor." An answer my unspoken question.
I nodded slowly, "Oh, yeah. I guess I did know that."
The conversation felt somewhat stilted and awkward. While Angela was someone I would count as a friend, I realized we had never actually ever spent any one on one time together. Ben was always around.
"So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?" Angela asked after a few quiet moments.
"I didn't really have any, though it is beautiful out. I suppose I should try and enjoy that." I looked up at the sky again as I spoke.
"I know. It's supposed to be even warmer tomorrow. I think Ben and I are going to head over to the beach today. You should come along." Her mouth drew into a smirk. "You could bring someone along," she said in a sing song voice.
"Ha," I deadpanned. I knew full well where this conversation was about to go.
I was saved when her phone audibly buzzed from her purse. "That's probably Ben," she said as she pulled it out. "Should I tell him you're joining us? I could call some other people."
I shook my head. Glancing around, I looked for my parents hoping to avoid a further invite to hang with Angela and Ben today. Since the party, and the incident with Rosalie, I'd noticed that Bella and Angela had been hanging out together. Ben seemed to think this was great. Lately, he'd spent a lot of time talking about double dates. The two of them were as obsessed with the idea of Bella and me as I was, except I didn't want to talk about it. "See you tomorrow," I mouthed to her when I saw my chance to make my getaway. My parents were across the lawn, talking with Chief Swan and a woman dark haired woman, I didn't recognize. When Angela nodded in response, I made my way over to the others. As I approached the conversation stopped and Chief Swan smiled when he spotted me.
"Edward," he said, extending his hand to me.
I noticed my father lift an eyebrow in question of the familiar greeting. Fixing my gaze on my shoes, I quickly shook the chief's hand.
"I noticed you didn't stop by yesterday. Alice too much for ya?"
"Uh, um..." I stammered.
"She can be a bit much. But, Bella has really enjoyed having her around for the weekend," he continued softly.
"Yeah, I can see that," I mumbled without making eye contact.
My father cleared his throat. "Well, we should probably be going."
Goodbyes were made and I followed my parents back to the car. I wanted to run back into the church really quick and pray that my parents wouldn't ask about what Chief Swan had said. Seemed I should have a bit an in with the big guy upstairs, since I'd sat through a service earlier. Please, God. I know it's been a long time, but really, I don't ask for much.
Once we had pulled out of the parking lot, my mom turned down the radio. I knew my prayers were not about to be answered. "You've been spending time with Bella?" Mom asked.
"Yeah, I guess. I gave her a ride and Chief Swan invited me over for dinner..."
"You had dinner with her and her father," she interrupted.
"Um, yeah. It wa..."
"When was this? Why didn't you tell me?" This reaction was exactly why I hadn't told my mother about what was or wasn't going on between Bella and I. She was about to pull out one of her Emily Post rules of etiquette. I'm sure she had a numbered list somewhere. #138 If an invitation was extended to you, you had a window of time in which to reciprocate. I didn't know what that window was, but she did. "We'll have to have her over. Soon."
"Mom," I sighed. "We don't have to."
It was too late though, she was already planning and derailing her plans was nearly impossible. "Oh, we could have Rosalie over as well and make a real evening of it," she gushed from the front seat.
"I don't really think that's a good idea."
"Of course it is," she said, in an admonishing voice.
I scrubbed my hand over my face. "Bella and Rosalie don't really get along." Understatement of the year. "And, Bella and I aren't, there's nothing really... I mean, I don't even know that she'd come."
"Nonsense, Edward. Of course she'll come. You're a wonderful, handsome young man. How could she resist?" She smiled over he shoulder at me then turned to my father, "She was just over the other day, you know. Though, they snuck in."
"Mom," I groaned.
My dad caught my eye in the rear view mirror and gave me sympathetic look. "Esme, perhaps we should hold off on any dinner parties. I doubt Emmett could fit it into his schedule during football season." He reached over and turned the radio up a bit, in what was probably an attempt to end the conversation.
"Fine," my mother huffed slightly. "But, we'll still need to have Bella over. Didn't you ask her to stay for dinner the other night? I told Emmett, to tell you, to ask her to stay."
"She had stuff going on." I groaned again, "Mom, can we please not do this now?"
"Just promise me you'll invite her to dinner. It could be just the three of us," she pleaded.
"Okay," I relented, but I didn't say when.
I spent the rest of the day holed up in my room, deliberately avoiding my mom who without a doubt would want to talk more about Bella and dinner plans.
~~~00~~~
Monday morning, I arrived at school early for a meeting with Mr. Banner about peer tutoring. I took a seat next to Angela who had also signed up to tutor. Several students were gathered in the room and we all were given a run down of how the program would work. After letting us know that it was up to each pair of students to mutually agree on a time to work together he passed out tutoring assignments.
Most of the students immediately paired up with their partner to work out a time to get together.
Angela groaned quietly beside me. "I got Tyler Crowley, for English and Algebra. This should be fun. Why did I sign up for this again?" she whispered.
"It'll look good on your college application," I answered her.
Rolling her eyes she answered, "It better."
I was laughing lightly at her when Mr. Banner placed my assignment on the desk in front of me.
"Who'd you get?" she asked. I picked up the paper as she looked over at it. A huge smile crept across her face. "Aww, lucky you."
I shook my head and pinched at the bridge of my nose. I couldn't believe the name. While my heart started to race a bit, I was trying to keep any excitement from my face. Isabella Swan. It was imposed time with Bella, time we would have to be together. Mr. Banner had said it himself. At least one hour per week. We had to sign a logbook weekly stating we had done just that. When Angela walked across the room to talk with Tyler, I looked down my sheet to see what subjects Bella needed help with; Trig and Bio? I hopped out of my seat and headed to the front of the room.
"Mr. Banner?" I called, as I approached his desk.
"Edward, I know Bella's not here right now. You two can get together later and schedule something."
"Yeah, okay. But..."
"I figured this would work well. Biology is one of the subjects she needs help in and since you are lab partners, it will probably would benefit both of you. Gives you more time to work together and if she's understanding things better you aren't having to carry her as much though the labs."
His logic made sense but I didn't understand how Bella could need help in Biology. I had done a couple labs with her already and she carried her own weight just fine.
"I'll let Bella know when she gets to class today. So, you don't have to try and track her down on your own."
"Um, okay," I managed to mumble as the bell rang. I didn't understand how Bella could really need tutoring in Biology, but I wasn't going to argue it was still time I'd get to spend with her.
BELLA
The three of us were sitting in the same seats on Charlie's couch. This had to have been Alice's doing. Because as much as I might have wanted to there was no way I would invite Edward Cullen into my house again. Edward Cullen. Even thinking his name caused a reaction and right now we were close enough I could feel the heat of his body. I shifted, careful not to let my body come in contact with his.
The television was off, but I didn't care I was so focused on the whatever it was flowing between Edward and me. There was something there. Something I could feel. I kept glancing through my peripheral, wondering if it was something I could see as well. I wondered if it was something Edward was aware of, but he gave no indication that it was. My concentration was so centered on Edward I almost missed Alice's murmuring beside me. Almost, but she was obviously getting frustrated because she was getting louder. I couldn't understand what she was saying though. I looked over at her, her lips were moving way too fast.
"Shh, Alice," I whispered at her, hoping to calm her.
I was finally starting to catch a few of the words flying from Alice's mouth. "Bella, come on...Go..."
As Alice got louder and made more sense, the air began to cool to my other side and the energy between Edward and I seemed to lessen.
I didn't want it to.
I wanted to turn to him and touch him. I wanted just give in to whatever it was that always felt like it was drawing me to him. But Alice wasn't going to let me. I shushed at her again, "Shh, Alice. Stop." Alice wasn't going to quit though, now she was pulling on my arm. I tried to turn towards Edward, but he wasn't there anymore.
I groaned in disgust as Alice began to make sense. "Bella, I have to go. Wake up."
Stretching and letting out another groan, I forced my eyes open. Alice was already showered and dressed, waking me up to say goodbye before Charlie drove her to the airport.
"So, what were you dreaming about?" Alice grinned at me. She was far to perky for this hour. The giggle she let out gave me the impression that she had some ideas about the answer to her question.
"What did I say?" I mumbled in my half awake state.
She giggled again in response. I couldn't understand why the hell was she so happy, she was leaving and I didn't know when I would see her again. I dragged myself out of bed to see her off. After several hugs and a few tears at the door, Alice was gone and I was back to my real life. It was too early to think about school, but my brain was too busy to let me go back to sleep. After laying in bed staring at the ceiling for a while I gave up. I found myself I sitting in Charlie's favorite chair and staring into nothingness.
I don't know how long I sat there when something broke through my haze. I huffed as my phone buzzed on the coffee table. There was only one person who would think this was an appropriate hour to call.
"Hey, M..."
I didn't even get through my greeting before my mother launched herself into conversation. "It's not too early to call is it? You're up? Of course you're up, you answered the phone. How was your visit with Alice?"
"It was good, Mom. Thanks."
"I'm glad it was good. Sorry I didn't call earlier to check. I tried calling to wish you a happy birthday. You got my messages, didn't you?"
"Yeah, Mom. Sorry I didn't call back, I was busy."
"With Alice, I know. It's okay. We're okay now, right? I know I upset you, but I just... it seem to be the best thing, Bella. It's hard being a parent, to know what's the right thing."
"We're okay," I answered softly.
"Well I have some news," she exclaimed excitedly.
"You're pregnant?" I hedged.
"Ha, Bella. No." I could almost hear her eyes rolling.
"It could happen, you know?" I teased.
"Yes, I'm fully aware of how that works. Are you?"
"Yes, Mom," I groaned, sorry I'd started this line of conversation. "So, what's your news?"
"Bella, you're being safe, right?" She was apparently going to have a 'mom' moment.
"Mom," I squeaked. "You sent me to a town where I know no one. I'm being very safe. I'm not having sex."
"Good."
I buried my face in my free hand, she would think that is good. "Your news?" I asked again, attempting to get the conversation back on track.
"Phil got a transfer to another team. It's actually up a league," she answered excitedly. "I didn't get a chance to call this weekend because we were looking for a new place."
"What kind of place?" I drawled out my question.
My mom laughed lightly. "A place to live."
"What's wrong with our house?" I asked dumbly.
"Well, for starters, it's not in Florida." I froze. "The transfer is to a team in Florida, one step down from the majors. It's a pretty big deal. So, Phil and I figured, rather than him spend his spring and summer without us, or me doing all that traveling... we'd just move. Really, there's nothing holding us in Phoenix."
"Florida," I repeated softly.
"I've already got a lead on a job. And, we found a really cute little house to rent. It has a pool and it's just a few miles from the beach. Your room even opens right out on the patio," my mom gushed.
"Florida?" I was still trying to wrap my head around the information.
"Jacksonville," she answered, then added softly, "You'll love it, Bella. You really will."
"Uh..." I couldn't come up with a response that didn't involve me screaming 'What the fuck?' at the top of my lungs.
"It's such a great opportunity. For all of us. Of course for Phil, but it also gives us all a fresh start. Seems like something we could all use about now."
My teeth were sinking painfully into my lower lip. "Um... Mom, I should get going. I have to get ready for school." I couldn't talk about this anymore.
"Okay, hon. We'll talk later?"
"Yeah. Okay, Mom. Bye."
I couldn't end the call fast enough. Had everyone completely lost their minds. I didn't want to move to Florida. Hell, I didn't want to move to Forks, but no one asked my opinions about anything. I couldn't wait until I could make some decisions for myself. Resting my chin on my hands, I didn't know what to think. It had just started and this was turning out to be a really fucked up day.
~~00~~
I was probably being ridiculous. Not probably. I was being ridiculous, but, I just needed that powerful feeling that a really hot outfit gives you. Because I was feeling completely powerless. Being that it was unseasonably warm, I was able to pull out some of my things I wore all the time in Phoenix. After tearing apart my room I settled on a spaghetti strap sun dress. It had a plunging neckline and a skirt that was far too short for school, but the colorful zigzag pattern made it casual. I also found a pair of strappy heeled sandals that I could barely walk in safely. Pulling my hair into a high pony, I was sure this was the perfect deflection. It was an outfit that would draw everyone's attention, but intimidate them enough that they'd stay away. I didn't care if they were talking behind my back. I knew they were. That didn't matter, as long as they weren't talking to me.
The first thing I saw when I pulled into the school's parking lot was that damn, shiny, silver Volvo. I may have felt sexy as hell when I left the house, but the sight of that car left me feeling all jumbled up and confused. I intentionally parked on the other side of the lot. It didn't matter what Alice had said, or even what I might feel. I couldn't involve myself with Edward. I wasn't any good for him. He deserved so much more than me. I headed to the main office, to ask about the tutoring Charlie was so set on. The secretary's eyes ran over me and lips pursed in disapproval, but she said nothing. I couldn't help but smile, that was the reaction I was going for.
"I'm supposed to ask about some tutoring thing."
She raised an eyebrow and smirked slightly, a look that said 'of course you do'. "You'll need to see Mr. Banner. He's probably in his classroom," she said with a haughty grin.
With a huge sigh, I turned and walked out the door. Checking my phone for the time, I rushed to the science building to try and catch Mr. Banner before first period.
"Mr. Banner," I said softly as I approached his desk.
"Bella, your a little late," he answered. I glanced around the room in confusion, as he shuffled some papers on his desk. "This it the basic information, if you have any questions let me know. The logbook for hours will be kept in that cabinet." He gestured to a large cabinet in one corner of the room and handed me a sheet of paper. I continued to stare at him like a deer in headlights, he obviously had me confused with someone else. "Anything you want to ask?"
"Um..." I looked down at the sheet he'd given me. It read 'Peer Tutoring Program' across the top. "How did you know I was here for tutoring?"
"Your father called to sign you up on Friday."
In a split second I went from confused to belligerent. "What?" I screeched. Mr. Banner looked at me as if I'd grown another head. I drew in a deep breath and whipped around, pulling my phone from my pocket as I left the room.
It took four rings for Charlie to pick up. Four rings too many.
"Why did you tell me to sign up for this tutoring thing and make it this big fucking deal, if you were just going to sign me up yourself," I ranted in the phone, before he could even say hello.
"Oh."
"Oh? That's it. Oh?"
"First off Bella, you need to calm down. I wasn't trying to be sneaky, or do anything behind your back. I just forgot," he said in a voice that made it impossible for me to respond. I rolled my eyes involuntarily and was kind of glad he couldn't see it. "Mark called me to ask if you we're going to do it on Friday, apparently that was the last day to sign up. So I said yes. I forgot to tell you. I'm not going to apologize and you need to check your tone before you say anything else."
"Fine," I said, curtly.
"Alright. I got Alice off okay and now, if you're over your little tantrum, I'm gonna get back on the road. I'll see you this afternoon." With that Charlie ended the call, not even waiting for me to say bye. I stood there in shock. He had pulled the Dad Card on me again, that was seriously going to take some getting used to. I threw my phone into my backpack and contemplated getting in my truck and getting out of there. As the bell rang for first period, though, I turned back to the school; I had no where else to go.