Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight!
Chapter 24
BPOV
Another week passed but I cannot say it was an easy one. There was no improvement in my relationship with Adrian, well we just hadn't talked at all for the whole week. Not a single text message not a call just to see if I was alright.
But I wasn't better. I was far too stubborn to do the first step. He was the one to be blamed for the whole situation after all. He had to call me and apologize for being such a jerk to me. He had no reason to act like that, his reaction showed only a big lack of trust in me.
And that was the part that hurt me the most. And as much as it hurts me to do, I had to keep myself from calling him or texting him or sometimes even thinking about him.
That part wasn't so hard anymore given the fact that the last two days I was in bed with flu. On Wednesday afternoon I started felling a little tired and I had a splitting headache not able to concentrate on anything.
The next day I woke up even worse but I managed to take a couple of Tylenols and drag my pained ass to school. The seven hours of school was a pure torture to me but I had to endure it, I had to sniffle my nose all the time and my eyes were red and they hurt.
In addition to all I had a sore throat that was killing me and I was coughing like crazy and all my muscles were protesting for the many hours I spent sitting on a wooden chair. All in all I was a wreck.
Fortunately school was over and I finally had the chance to lie down on my bed and get some valuable sleep but my situation didn't get better. Lucky me! My body felt so exhausted and my throat was so sore that I could barely speak.
Renee was running up and down the stairs all the time bringing me painkilles for the headache and cough syrups along with burning tea for my throat. She also brought me soups given that it was the only kind of food I could swallow but I was so exhausted that I'd lost my appetite.
Later the same night I ran a temperature. It wasn't really high but it was enough to make me shiver for hours under tones of blankets in my bed.
At this point Renee called Carlisle and he agreed that I had caught a really bad cold and that I had to stay in bed for the whole weekend and of course no school for me tomorrow. He would call the school and take care of it.
After I had taken a whole bunch of different pills and drunk enough tea and syrup my body and my mind fortunately sunk into a dreamless long sleep.
I woke up the next day with the sound of my cell ringing on my nightstand. I looked at the clock and I realized that I'd overslept! It was almost midday! I sat up and picked up the phone.
"Hey Alice, what's up?" I asked with a hoarse from sleep voice. I was happy to realize that the syrup had done a really good job and my throat felt a lot better.
"Bella are you okay did I wake you? I'm so sorry I just wanted to see if you're better." She asked worried.
"No, its okay it was about time for me to wake up anyway. I'm better than yesterday but haven't recovered entirely yet." I still felt tired and worn out because of the fever.
"Oh, I hope you get better really soon. Dad said you were pretty bad last night I'm glad you're feeling better now. Are you alone in the house, do you want us to came over after school and keep you some company?" of course she'd spoken with Carlisle.
"No Alice I'm fine you don't have to come over here maybe it's not just a flu and it's contagious, I don't want you to become ill too. Hey I almost forgot, the karaoke party at Rose's is tonight right?" I had completely forgotten about it and maybe it was a good thing that I was ill after all. At least I had a really good excuse not to go!
"Yeah it is tonight but it's really sad you cannot come, though. It won't be fun if you're not with us." She trailed off and I could hear the sadness in her voice.
"Come on don't worry for me I'll be fine, I'll probable spend the day on the couch watching cheap TV shows. You go and have fun, okay?" the thought of avoiding the karaoke thing so easily made me feel so relieved and happy that it wasn't hard to convince her go without me.
I also felt a little guilty for feeling that way but I would be definitely embarrassing myself if they make me sing.
"Alright fine, but promise me you'll call me if you need anything alright? Call me and I'll be there in a flash!" she said with an intimidating tone.
"Sure I promise but really you don't have to worry about me I'll be fine." I reassured her. Now that I was thinking about it I felt really hungry, I hadn't eaten properly for two days and my stomach was growling.
"Alright, alright I'll call you again later, I promise! Get well soon Bella! Love you!" she told me seriously.
"Have fun tonight and stop worrying about me 'kay? Love you too Al, bye." I said and hung up.
I sat up from the bed stretching my sore muscles because of the many hours I'd spend in bed the last two days.
I walked to the window and looked outside. It was a gray, windy day with heavy purple clouds lingering ominously above the city.
I'm glad I had to stay at home today.
I went to the bathroom and looked my face on the mirror. To say I was pale was an understandment, my hair was a nest from the sleep and I had dark shadows under my eyes. Great I was looking like a walking corpse.
I had to take some rest so my body and organism could go back to normal. That meant I'd had to spend the entirely weekend relaxing at home. As I excited the shower, feeling awake and refreshed than I had in days, I put some comfortable clothes on and exited my room.
Apparently it was strangely quiet for that time of the day. Mum and Emma should have been home by now, it was close to two o clock in the afternoon.
"Mum? Emma?" I shouted but it was obvious that no one was home.
I headed to the kitchen and I found a note waiting for me on the kitchen counter. It was obviously written by mum and I could tell from the letters that she had written it in a hurry.
My Bella,
I'm flying all the way to California because Grandma Marie had a heart attack last night. They called me early this morning and I had to leave immediately to go to her.
Please call me as soon as you see this.
Love,
Mum
Oh my God, I let the note drop to the floor and ran all the way up to my room and grabbed my cell. I dialed mum's number with trembling hands and waited for her to pick up. Come on mum, come on.
"Bella? How are you?" I heard her asking worried.
"Mum I'm fine, way much better today, don't worry. How's Grandma, is she gonna be okay?" I asked quickly, I thought it was ridiculous to worry about my flu when Grandma was in the hospital.
"Yes, yes she is out of danger. They had her on intensive care when I reached the hospital but she is stable now. Don't worry, baby she'll be fine." I could tell from the sound of her voice that she was really tired but at the same time so relieved.
"Oh thank God, I was so worried. Is Emma with you? And dad?" I asked really curious now that the first shock was gone.
"No sweety I left Emma with the Hales, she'll stay there for the weekend, and dad has the nights swift so unfortunately he couldn't stay with you today.." mum explained.
"Mum you shouldn't have left Emma to the Hales, I could have look after her she's not a baby anymore."
"You were really sick honey I didn't want to burden you even more, and apart from that she was more than excited to stay over her friends house. I'm so sorry I couldn't stay with you but I had no other choice. I know you really mature and responsible and you'll be fine but I'd prefer to be there in case you're not feeling well again." She was rumbling really anxious about leaving me.
"Mum stop don't worry I'll be fine, it was just a random flu I'm feeling so much better already, plus I'm not alone I have dad and the Cullens are a phone call away now. So stop stressing yourself out and stay as long as you need." I reassured her, sounding calm and really mature.
"Alright but promise me that you'll stay at home and relax, you need rest. Am I clear?"
"Crystal."
"Good, I'm less worried now. Oh Bells there's food for you in the fridge, okay?"
"Okay. Don't worry you can stay with Grandma as long as she needs, we'll be fine here, I got everything under control." I told her reassuringly once more.
"Okay, I'll call you again later. Bye Bells, love you." oh I'm sure she was going to call every one hour to check on me.
"Bye mum, love too." I said and we hung up.
I remained in silence for a couple of minutes trying to put my thoughts in the right place. I was still deep in thought while I prepared me some lunch and sat alone in the kitchen to eat. It was so quiet in the house.
With two more siblings I didn't have the chance to stay alone in the house and I wasn't really used to it but at the same time it was nice to have some alone time for myself.
I was still feeling quite weak, so I just grabbed a warm blanket from the cupboard under the stairs and settled myself down on the sofa and turned on the flat screen. But my mind wasn't into it, I was just watching at the screen without really seeing.
My mind went to Adrian and the many days I hadn't heard from him. I wanted to talk to him so badly, to hear his voice but at the same time I replayed our conversation in my mind and I was being furious again. I was expecting an apology and I wasn't going to call no matter what.
Somewhere between watching boring reality shows and thinking about my Adrian I must have fallen asleep because I woke up two hours later by the sound of my phone.
Disoriented and dizzy from the sleep I found it somewhere around the blankets and picked it up without seeing the number on the screen.
"Hallo?" I asked in a husky from sleep voice.
"Sexy voice Chocolate, really sexy." I heard Edwards voice teasing me. Unconsciously a smile formed in my lips.
"Hey Edward." I said stretching my arms and sitting up.
"How are you feeling Bells? Did I wake you up?" he asked with concern.
"Way better, thanks for asking anyway. Don't worry; I don't need more sleep for the time."
"I'm glad, then. So how are you spending the night?"
"Are you kidding me? I cannot leave the house so I'm guessing I'll spend the rest of the night flipping the channels on the TV or reading a book or something." I answered already bored by the idea.
"Oh, poor B, you'll lose the karaoke night that you've been waiting for so long." he said mockingly and added before I could answer back "I have to go, see you in ten." And with that he just hung up! What did he mean by that? I told him I wasn't going to the party what was he thinking about?
Not ten minutes had passed and the doorbell rung. Reluctantly I sat up and went to the door and as soon as I opened it a smiling person appeared in front of me.
"Edward? What are you doing here?" I exclaimed all excited to see him!
"I'm here to make your night a lot less miserable Chocolate." He answered winking playfully at me.
"Oh yeah? What exactly are you planning to do?" I said in a light tone. I was so excited I wasn't spending the night all alone, it was so nice of him to come.
"For starters, I'm making you dinner." He said triumphantly, earning an eyebrow raising from me.
"Are you serious?" I said when I realised he wasn't kidding.
"But of course!" he replied and when I remained silent just looking at him in utter disbelief, he added "Hey are you questioning my cooking skills?"
"Definitely!" I said as a matter of-factly.
"Huh? Why so?" he asked intimidating.
"It's simple Edward you just can't cook. Plus a food poisoning it's not high in my list of do's right now." I said folding my arms over my chest mocking him.
"How do you even know what I can or cannot do?" he questioned back this time raising his eyebrow to me. He had me there though. That was true I didn't know much about him especially about his recent life in California.
Who knew? Miracles could happen and speaking of, Edward had managed to prove me wrong the past couple of months.
"Fine, go ahead then. But if you burn the house to the ground I won't be the one to save your sorry ass Cullen." I saw his eyes widening at my last comment but soon enough a smirk formed to his lips.
"Don't underestimate me Swan…" he said not finishing his line but giving me a really sexy look. I gulped. God sometimes he had such an effect on me. Wake up Bella he's your friend and you have a boyfriend! Remember Adrian?
Yeah right I shook my head, kicking away all the inappropriate thoughts about Edward.
I sat on the counter while watching him rummaging through the cupboards.
"Don't you have any flour?" he asked desperately after a while.
"Of course we do, it's on the cupboard on your right." I was really curious about what he was going to make. What on earth did he need the flour for?
"You're making me a pizza? Seriously?" why we didn't just order one and he had to create that mess in here?
"I see you're smart Chocolate." He said teasing me. He was actually making my favourite one.
"How did you know I prefer pizza margarita?" I asked overwhelmed by my curiosity.
I didn't expect his reaction though. He averted his attention from the food and looked at me completely shocked.
"What?"
"You don't remember?" he asked in disbelief.
"Remember what?" I was so confused now.
"It was on my sixth birthday and my mum had made homemade pizza, this particular recipe to be exact…" He trailed off leaving me some time to refresh my memory, but still nothing.
"Sorry, still doesn't ring a bell." I shrugged my shoulders apologetically.
He then sighted and continued. "You say you don't remember the part that you grabbed Tanya by the hair for stopping her from eating the last peace of your favourite pizza?" before he's even finished his sentence I had already remembered the scene he was trying to describe.
It was something that I was trying to forget for a really long time and I had managed it until now that he brought it up again! Judging from his amused expression he'd realised I'd remembered.
"Gosh! After that it was a nightmare, Tanya screamed and spilled the juice she'd been holding all over me, poor Esme was trying to release her from my grasp and her mum was yelling like a maniac! Hell broke lose for a slice of pizza!" by the time I'd finished my sentence I'd been laughing so hard at that memory that tears had escaped my eyes.
Tanya was always a spoiled brat that had turned to a possessive bitch when she'd grown up. She deserved what she got!
"Yeah I'll think it twice if it comes to the last piece tonight!" he teased me while putting the finished now pizza into the oven.
"Yeah you better do that." I teased him back.
"Come on chocolate, get of that counter, we have a while before the pizza is ready." He said offering me his hand and leading me to the sitting room, his touch warm and gentle.
All too soon he left my hand and went to the coffee table where he had placed the things he'd brought to me. I recognized a couple of DVD's and a pack of notes.
"What are these for?" I asked curiously.
"Oh I brought some movies to see and also the notes you missed from school these couple of days." He admitted proudly. "I thought you might want to catch up as soon as you recover." he continued giving me a dazzling smile.
"Oh that was really thoughtful of you, thanks!" I said taking the notes he was handing me, but soon the smile left my lips.
"Aaargh! I can't believe I'm left behind in physics once again! It took me more than a month to understand what Mr. Nelson was talking about on the first place! Fuck!" Oh god I was so frustrated, all the happy feelings instantly disappearing.
"Hey Bells calm down! No panic! What am I here for huh?" he said running his hands up and down my arms soothingly and when I looked him questionably he continued "I can help you catch up with physics right now if you want."
"Can you?" I asked hopefully.
"Of course I can!"
"Honestly, Edward I owe you one for this."
"Don't even talk about it Bella, it's my pleasure, physics my favourite subject anyway." He said taking his notes and sitting on the floor by the coffee table.
"I always knew that something was wrong with you." I said mockingly as I went to sit by him on the floor.
The next one and half hour passed quite pleasantly with us eating the most delicious pizza I've ever had and me understanding physics for the first time in my entire life.
"Officially, you're a life savior!" I said the moment I solved the last exercise correctly and quite easily!
"Tell me something I don't know." he replied nonchalantly winking at me.
I just had to roll my eyes to that before grabbing the last piece of that heavenly made pizza and wolfing it down.
"Mmm that was so good, Edward you make the best pizza margarita ever!" I admitted rubbing my full belly.
"Again I'll have to repeat myself chocolate, tell me something I don't know." He teased, winking at me playfully.
I stung my tongue out like a five year old, but that caused him to laugh out loud.
We stayed there, sitting down on the thick carpet talking casually about almost everything. He told me for the first time about his life in California and how different he used to be, he even described the way he sees himself right now and how much has he changed.
"Don't judge yourself so strictly Edward, we all make mistakes. The most important thing is to recognize them and try to make things straight again. As far as I can tell you are doing your best here, just don't give up." I told him and I saw with satisfaction, the corners of his moth turning up in a peaceful smile.
"Do you really believe that?" he asked tilting his head to the side and looking at me questioningly.
"What?" I asked confused not knowing what he'd meant. I've told him so many things.
"That I must not give up…" he explained.
"Sure. I think that you should have a goal in your life and to do everything possible to achieve it. Even if you don't make it at the end you will know that you have at least tried. The journey is what matters they say." I replied giving him a reassuring smile.
"Since when did you become so smart?" he joked playfully lightening the mood.
Hours passed and we remained there talking and laughing and teasing each other. It was so nice having a friend back. No actually with Edward was a completely new story.
It was like having a new friend who I was now going to know better. We've been close once but we were so young, only children playing together in the forest. It was so different than what we're starting to built here and now.
Sometime around midnight I was in the bathroom when I heard Edward calling my name from downstairs. I cracked the door opened so he could hear me better.
"What?" I asked curiously.
"You're cell is ringing."
Damn I was half naked changing into my pajamas and I couldn't go out like that but what if it was mum and something serious had happened?
"Who is it?"
"I don't know, it doesn't say!" fuck!
"Just pick it up and I'll be down in a sec!"
I changed into my pajama bottoms and ran down the stairs barefoot. I found Edward standing in the middle of the room with a really strange expression in his face.
The hand he wasn't holding my phone was clenched in a fist, his knuckles white from the pressure. He looked not quite mad but irritated maybe? He was trying to keep a calm face and maintain his voice straight and casual.
"Who is it?" I asked stretching my hand to take the phone. He offered it to me immediately without a word but I could tell he was relieved to get rid of it.
"Hello?" I asked really curious to see who had caused Edward to react that way. He was just fine five minutes ago.
"Bella?" Adrian? That explains a lot. I felt so relieved for a moment realizing that he'd finally called to talked to me, I hoped he was going to apologize, I was expecting from him to be worried about me. It felt so good to hear his voice after all these days.
"Adrian?" what a conversation… really smart indeed!
"Where are you?" oh don't be so worried about me I'm fine!
"I'm home, why?"
"Are you saying that you're alone with Edward?" here we go again…please don't start now…please…
"Yeah… why?" I asked hesitantly. "I'm reassuring you he doesn't bite." nice joke Bella… now he's definitely gonna relax…
"So I guess that's why you've completely forgotten me huh? You have your precious Edward to keep you company!" straight to the subject…alright Adrian since that's what you want… I can play this game too…
"I have completely forgotten about you? Are you serious? You are the one that made a scene without a reason and disappeared for a whole week!" I was starting to losing it here. How could he be so selfish? He didn't speak for a minute but I could hear him taking deep calming breaths.
"I wanted more time… to think things through and calm down a bit. I admit that I wasn't fair with you last week, I had no reason to talk to you like that, you are right and I'm sorry." he apologized silently. Huh? I didn't expect that but honestly that was what I wanted to hear.
"It's okay, I just need you to trust me. You have no reason to worry and you know that right?" I asked hesitantly.
On the one hand I felt so relieved that I had the chance to talk to him and so happy to hear his voice again but on the other hand deep inside me I knew that something was wrong. I had a strange feeling that the scene last week it was only the beginning. And I was damn right….
"I don't know if I can Bella…" he said bitterly.
"What?" I whispered. He couldn't be serious could he?
"I said that I'm not sure if I can trust you, not with Edward around anyway…" he admitted shamelessly.
"How can you say that?" it was the only thing I could say.
He admitted openly that he didn't trust me! Ouch that really hurt! I didn't speak for a moment, I was trying to proceed his words, it was like my brain couldn't understand their meaning.
"Answer me one more question Bella, what the hell is he doing at your place at this time at night?" what was that? A fucking interrogation?
"He came by to keep me company because I was sick with flu and I'm on recovery now. But of course you didn't know that right? Because you were all to busy being selfish and couldn't set your huge ego aside to fucking call me! That's why!" I lost my self control and started yelling at him but I wasn't giving a damn. No one was speaking.
I was breathing heavily trying to calm myself down and find my composure, I could tell that Adrian was in shock and Edward was sitting silently on the couch not wanting to interrupt. I breathed a couple of more calming breaths and told him sternly
"Listen Adrian, please don't call me until you're sure what you want. Take your time to think and whatever… I don't want to be with someone that says he loves me but he is unable to trust me…" I don't know where I found the courage to say those things but I knew that it was the right thing to do.
He had to sit down and think things through if he still wanted to be with me. He said he loved me and that he wanted to try and be with me even with the distance between us. If that was true then he had to fight away his fears and insecurities and be the Adrian I used to know.
"But Bella…?" he was in shock; I could tell he didn't expect something like that from me.
"No more buts Adrian do what you have to do and call me back when you're ready. I will still be here for you. Goodbye Adrian." I hung up the phone and finally left the tears that I've been holding all the time, to run free.
Edward was by my side in a flash, he didn't ask anything, not that he hadn't understood why I and Adrian had fought again. He wiped the tears from my eyes softly and trapped me in a warm hug. It felt so nice to have him here by my side, to know that he cares for me.
"Hush now, please chocolate look at me." he whispered, moving one hand to touch my chin and make my look at him. "You did the right thing Bella; if he can't trust you then he doesn't deserve you. Please don't waste any more tears for him, you'll see he will come to his senses again." He told me softly, caressing my cheek.
"And what if he doesn't?" I muttered my voice hoarse because of the crying.
"Then there's tone of fish in the water beautiful." He replied smiling genuinely. I sighted heavily and buried my face in his chest breathing his sweet scent. We remained like that for several minutes with him playing softly with my hair, before I titled my head up to look at him.
"Can you stay the night please? I don't want to be alone right now." I knew it was too much of me to ask something like that but I knew pretty well that the moment he'll be gone I would be sunk into depression once again. I need a friend so badly right now.
"Sure, whatever you want Bells."
He turned off the lights and we went upstairs to my room. Only the moment we entered we both realised the big problem we had to solve. Where was Edward going to sleep?
Like he'd read my thoughts he said "I can sleep on the floor…"
"Don't be ridiculous your back will hurt for weeks." Yeah right, so where is he going to sleep smartass?
"I can sleep on Ian's room if you want, I'll just be a room away…" no! I wanted him by my side I wanted to feel him close! But what else could I do? Sleep on the same bed with him? Tell me about an awkward situation…
"Yeah alright…" damn I didn't like that idea at all but I had no other choice.
"I'll be just in the other room Bella whatever you need me I'll be a second away." He reassured me, taking a strand of my hair and putting it behind my ear.
"Alright." I tried to smile but I'm sure I failed.
"Promise me you'll come to me if you need me."
"I promise." I saw his body relaxing and his lips forming a crooked smile. He bent to leave a kiss on my forehead and walked to the door.
"Sweet dreams chocolate." He told me before exiting the room and closing the door behind him leaving me alone.
"Goodnight Edward." I whispered to the closed now door.
I spent the next two hours tossing and turning and crying. I was so exhausted but every time I closed my eyes the conversation with Adrian was invading my mind and along with that came the tears.
I'd been debating for quite long now if I should go to Edward but I was hesitant. Was it right for us to sleep on the same bed? A secret voice in my head told me that we were friends and there was no big deal but I still couldn't make myself walk to the next room.
But again I thought that I'd had no problem sleeping with Jake so many times then why not with Edward? Was there something more than a friendship? No! I felt about him the same way I felt about Jake! Then take your sleepy ass and go to him; commanded the voice in my head.
And that's exactly what I did. I sat up from my bed and walked to Ian's door. I stayed there not knowing what to do next. Should I knock? I decided that if he was asleep he wouldn't hear me so I just opened the door and walked inside.
"Edward? Are you asleep?" yeah I know silly question but I didn't know what else to say!
"No, I couldn't sleep either. Come here Bells." He said like he had been expecting for me to come eventually. He moved to the side to make room for me. Without further thought I climbed up the bed and crawled in his arms. It was nice and warm here instantly I felt so relaxed and secure.
Exhaustion overtook me within minutes and I was half asleep in his arms when I realised that he was singing for me to sleep.
So as you can see I'm still alive! I know I'd promised an early update but the plan didn't work out eventually! I know that probably most of you celebrated Easter next weekend but for us here in Greece Holy Week had started and we're celebrating Easter on Sunday, so I'll take a brake and take a vacation tomorrow until next week!
The next chapter is almost ready but I need to check it again and correct some mistakes so I really hope that I'll update as soon as I'm back from my trip! Oh and one more thing, I'm looking for a beta so if any of you have a good one in mind please let me know!
I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Review and let me know what you think!
Until next time!
xOxO