A/N: Sorry this took so long. I got hospitalized... AGAIN. Fuck, I hope that's the last time. Seriously. All better now, though. Can't say the same for my goddamned laptop. It ATE my 'stories' folder. Fucking. Ate. It. So, I'm rewriting the next few chapters so this will take longer than I wanted it to originally but hell, 8 years later and I'm actually finishing the damned thing. Whatever. I'm finishing it. Due to having had to rewrite this whole chapter, I made it longer, but I cut the cruise right short. I just want to finish this now so I'm thinking two or three more chapters and I'm ending this bitch. Love you guys. I really do. But I'm going through so much bullshit, I don't know if I'll have the heart to write much for a while. Give this until April. I swear it will be finished by the end of April at the latest.
~BLOOD
Chapter Twenty-Five: Live and Learn
To be perfectly honest, I wasn't entirely happy about the little stunt Lee and Chelsea pulled with the yoga instructor. But then again, I couldn't say I was entirely unhappy about it either. The man really did act completely unprofessionally and illegally by molesting a minor… not to mention MY woman. I don't share. And I KNOW Chelsea doesn't either.
I had Lee and Chelsea seated in front of me, sitting on the bed that Lee and Eddy shared while Eddy paced behind me. "You do know what you two did was overboard, right?" I asked sternly.
Lee folded her arms over her chest and wouldn't look at me, her nose in the air, while Chelsea stared at her hands folded in her lap. I had just finished explaining to Eddy what had happened and he surprised me by telling me we needed to sit the girls down and talk to them about it.
"I get that the instructor acted completely inappropriately, but putting on that drama and getting him fired?" I sighed heavily and dragged a hand down my face. "I'm not saying I'm okay with what he did. It was completely inappropriate and he should have been reprimanded, not fired. He was flirting and thought you were of age. You two could very well have cost him his livelihood and for what? Petty revenge." I sighed and stood up. They wouldn't even look at me. "Fine. I'm going for a walk. I need to think about… things for a while." Chelsea winced but I couldn't find it in me to care at the moment.
As I walked out the door, I could hear Eddy talking quietly with Lee while Chelsea followed me out. She went to our room while I took a stroll up to the deck. I really did not like that the girl I loved could be talked into doing something that cruel. Despite my initial anger and disgust with Pierre, I couldn't help but feel bad for him. I decided to use the card Greg gave me and called him to try and see about working things out for Pierre.
An hour later, I was satisfied and walked back to my room to change into my swim trunks. Chelsea was curled up on the bed sniffling and I felt my chest tighten. "Sweetheart?" I asked softly, sitting beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I spoke to Greg about Pierre. He isn't going to be fired, just transferred onto another cruise ship."
She shuddered and rolled to look up at me with hopeful, bloodshot eyes. "Really?" I smiled softly and nodded. "I'm glad. I felt so horrible when Greg told us he was getting sacked."
That actually made me feel better, knowing she regretted it not just because I was upset. "Just, please, don't pull anything like that again." I asked softly, stroking a loose tendril of hair behind her ear.
"I promise I won't." She breathed. "D?" I looked at her and waited for her to speak. "Would you… would you have forgiven me as easily if you couldn't get him his job back?" she asked hesitantly.
"I don't know." I answered honestly. "But that's neither here nor there. Let's forget about it and enjoy our vacation, alright?" I asked and she nodded. I leaned down to kiss her and she held onto me tightly, pulling me down. In moments we were undressed and moving together intimately, slowly, and tenderly. We tidied up and both decided to go for a swim together. The rest of the trip was relaxing and entertaining with nary a trouble.
Even the horrific Karaoke contest turned out to be fun.
I wasn't surprised when Chelsea won two prizes on her own. I'd heard her sing plenty before and knew she had a beautiful voice. I was, however, completely taken aback when Eddy and Lee won the Lounge Singer Couples round. They could both croon. Who would have thought? Embarrassingly, I actually won one on my own… the Singles Country round. I could not believe how many people liked my rendition of Garth Brooks Friends in Low Places. And then Chelsea and I actually won the Couples round for Country as well. Whiskey Lullaby was apparently a big hit.
Chelsea and I spent our days exploring and our nights intimately entwined. I seriously couldn't have asked for a better vacation and I was not looking forward to going home so soon. I wanted more time on the cruise. More alone time with Chelsea. Just… more.
We debarked back in Italy, meeting back up with my Aunt Isabel to stay for another night before catching our flight in the morning. Things stayed happy, though not too eventful, for which I was grateful. When I bid Aunt Isabel goodbye, I let her know that I would be returning the end of June to stay with her until the first week of September.
"I love you so much, my dear Eddward." She whispered as our flight was called.
"I love you, too, Zia. I'll see you again before you know it." I replied and kissed both her cheeks before reveling in her tight familial hug. "Bonjourno Zia!" I called from beyond the gate. I hear her shouted reply and sighed as I made my way to First Class with Chelsea tucked close to me.
"You really hate leaving her alone, don't you, love?" Chelsea asked softly. I nodded, sighing again as I grabbed my bubblegum and MP3 player. "Well, we'll see her soon enough and she won't have to stay alone for long." She said causing me to brighten immediately.
"You mean, you're going to come back with me?" I asked excitedly.
She giggled and took her seat. "Of course, you dipstick. You think I could bear to be away from you for so long? And any excuse to see Isabel again is a good excuse." She admitted, pleasing me further. I slid in next to her, disappointed to see that she was wearing jeans instead of a skirt. Noticing my pout, Chelsea giggled. "What? You think just because I'm wearing jeans, we can't mess about?"
I ducked my head, trying in vain to hide my blush. She giggled again but didn't say anything else. When we were an hour into the flight, she requested a blanket and I looked up hopefully. She either didn't notice or pretended not to and I tried my best not to pout again.
"Did you want to share?" she asked casually, stifling a yawn.
I stretched before nodding and opened my arms to her. She snuggled close as I wrapped my arms around her and surprisingly we both fell asleep rather quickly. At least, I thought we both had… until I woke with a start to her lips and teeth at my belt line. We closed the curtain we had for some privacy and I had to quiet a rather loud groan as she moved the blanket and I saw that she'd shed her jeans and panties, her button up blouse gaping open.
"Oh, sweet baby Jesus…" I breathed and she giggled. Safe to say, we officially joined the Mile High Club… three times… to the full extent of the title. Afterwards, we both slept like the dead for the rest of the flight.
My parents picked Chelsea and I up while May took Lee and Eddy home.
"So, how was Italy?! How was the cruise? Is Aunt Isabel doing alright?" My mother squealed once we started driving home. I couldn't help but laugh, smiling cheerfully when Chelsea snuggled into my shoulder. I placed my arm around her shoulders and answered her questions, Chelsea chiming in with her own perspective and happy experiences.
By the time we got resettled at home, it was getting late. Thankfully, jetlag helped us sleep rather quickly and we were able to readjust to the time change within a couple of days. Once back at school, I noticed something different.
"Have you seen Kevin?" I asked Chelsea at lunch.
She giggled and started messing with her cell phone. After a moment she handed it to me. Curious, I looked at it and gaped. There was a photo of Kevin and Miss Fredericks in front of City Hall, a marriage license in their hands and that little baby being cuddled between them.
"WHOA!" I couldn't help but shout. "What the hell? Isn't he rushing into this? Aren't BOTH of them rushing into this?" I couldn't calm my racing mind. What kind of an idiot jumps into something like this?! Jesus!
Chelsea looked at me strangely. I couldn't pinpoint the look on her face. "I think it's wonderful." She said quietly. "He got his GED and asked her to marry him. They're living together in her apartment and he's working for Eddy's father's law firm full-time now."
I handed her phone back, still frowning. "Well, as long as he's being smart about this. I'd hate for that baby to gain a father and then for it to not work out because they rushed into things."
Chelsea smiled up at me. "I understand. But I have a pretty good feeling that things will work out just fine."
Sighing, I shoved my hands into my pockets uncomfortably. "I don't know. I guess I just think that everything that has happened so recently with him and Marie, that he should have waited longer. I mean, he did try to kill himself after he found out Marie had been pregnant with his child. That's kind of a big deal. And rushing into something as serious as marriage with a woman who has a child already from a previous relationship… I just… the thought makes me really uncomfortable." Looking away, I cleared my throat. "Can we talk about something else now? I'm kind of sorry I asked about him in the first place." I mumbled.
Chelsea frowned but nodded, talking about Lee and Eddy's wedding. They were already planning to get hitched at the end of the summer before heading off to college. That was good. At least we'd be back from Italy in time for their nuptials.
I drove home after my last class with Chelsea quietly beside me. I don't think she was entirely happy with my opinion of Kevin's new family. Not that I could help how I felt. He was being stupid and reckless, in my personal opinion, and Chelsea would just have to accept and get over it. She was happy for him, and I was, too, to an extent.
My foot hovered over the brake as we passed Kevin's parent's house and I wondered vaguely how they were doing. I wonder if they were okay with it in any way shape or form? Something tells me his dad is fine with it but his mom… Eeyup. She is not happy. I thought as I watched her angrily burst out her front door and throw a suitcase into her car. Yikes. Harold looks tired. I thought, eyeing the slumped shoulders of Kevin's father as he put his own suitcase in the car, quite a bit less violently than the missus. Parking carefully, I got out and watched as the two drove away, feeling confused and a little sorry for Kevin.
"What was that all about?" I asked no one in particular as Chelsea watched, just as wide-eyed as I was.
"Kevin is supposed to be coming home today to pick up the rest of his things… I guess his parents don't want to be there for that." She cleared her throat and looked away. "Let's go inside." I nodded, beginning to feel even sorrier for Kevin. Seemed like his parents thought along the same lines as I did… and strangely, that made me feel even worse. He probably needed all the support he could get right now, especially if he wanted this to work. So, I fired off a quick text.
'Chelsea told me the good news. Congrats on your new little family, dude. Hope things are well.
~DD'
His reply was swift but heartfelt. 'Thanks, man. I don't think I've ever been this happy. Sorry for breaking the "no feelings" rule we had going. Lol. Talk to you later.'
And with that, I let my judgment go. Wasn't my place. Chelsea helped mom cook while I sat at the kitchen table and worked on my class project. My phone rang and I looked at the number. Dammit. I don't wanna talk to her. Stupid project partner.
"This is Eddward." I answered as smoothly as I could.
"Hey, Double D. It's Lindsey. I was wondering if you'd mind if I can come over so we can… work on our project." She sounded like she was trying to… oh, gawd, no. She's trying to be seductive. Why me?
"Are you sure? Your voice sounded weird for a second there. Are you feeling okay?" I played dumb and prayed to the powers that be that she would get over this really quick.
She stammered a moment, seemingly embarrassed, before recovering. "No. No. I'm fine. Just eager to do the project and hang out with you."
I held the phone away and heaved a sigh. A lot of girls were acting weird around me today. Eddy said the same thing happened to him when he and Lee became sexually active. Like people could smell the pheromones. I wondered if Chelsea had any of the same reactions from the opposite sex… and if there were any faces I needed to rearrange. I looked at my phone in annoyance, noticing Chelsea's curious look.
"Sure, Lindsey. Hang on a sec." I muted it and asked when dinner would be ready.
"Why don't you invite her to stay for dinner?" Chelsea asked with a predatory gleam in her eye. I swallowed thickly and had to discreetly adjust myself. That was surprisingly hot. "There's more than enough."
My mother chuckled as she left the kitchen, shaking her head and smiling.
I shrugged and unmuted the phone. Inviting her over and to stay for dinner went as smoothly as I expected, with Lindsey accepting eagerly and a little over-excitedly. "She'll be here in an hour." I grumbled and Chelsea ruffled my hair affectionately.
"Your mum can finish supper if you want to take a shower… with me…" She trailed off biting her lip and I couldn't help but gape at her boldness. I think I liked jealous Chelsea.
When she giggled and bolted up the stairs, I tripped all over myself to run after her making my mom laugh as she came back into the kitchen. "Let me know when Lindsey gets here! I'm taking a shower!" I shouted over my shoulder.
We fooled around for only fifteen minutes before my mom knocked on the door and told us Lindsey was here. I cursed her out under my breath into Chelsea's ear as I had her pinned to the wall, her legs around my waist. We were just barely getting started and she giggled, clenching around me. I shuddered and nipped at her in reprimand. "Well, she'll have to wait at the kitchen table. She said an hour, not a quarter hour." I called to my mom.
"Alright, sweetie. Just keep it down in there, you two. I don't need to hear it." She quipped and ran off laughing.
Chelsea and I both blushed in embarrassment. We weren't being loud but I guess we weren't exactly stealthy about it, either.
"We should probably get out…" Chelsea whispered but I pinned her harder against the wall.
"I'm not done with you, love. Not by a longshot." I growled and began moving within her once more.
She gasped a little and closed her eyes, biting her bottom lip to keep quiet…er. Another fifteen minutes later and a quick wash when we finished had us finally getting out of the shower. I knelt before her on the bathroom rug, drying her off lovingly. I was so ridiculously smitten with her and I wanted her to feel thoroughly loved, emotionally as well as physically. I didn't want her worrying or thinking there was anything between Lindsey and I.
Lifting her into my arms, I carried her into my room and set her gently on my bed. "Alright, beautiful girl, let's get dressed." I murmured.
I quickly threw on some boxer-briefs and a pair of comfortably worn blue-jeans and ogled her as she pulled out some spare clothes she had stashed in my room. A pair of Daisy Duke jean shorts and one of my button up long sleeved shirts had me drooling all over again. I walked up to her and tied the front together and helped her roll up the sleeves.
"You look so hot in my clothes." I groaned and pressed against her.
She moaned and pushed away from me. "D, I love you, but I don't think we… should… oops." Her eyes widened as she turned my head away from her with her small soft hands. "I, uh, may have marked you in a mild jealous fit." She stammered and blushed.
"Good." I said and held her tightly. "I like that you marked me. It's not only hot but it'll serve to make Lindsey back the hell off." Then I frowned. "That reminds me… are you getting this strange reaction from guys like I am from the girls? Eddy said this happened to he and Lee after they started making love… like people could smell the pheromones and reacted to it."
She frowned and cocked her head to the side. "Y'know, love, I think so. I got asked out in third period but he backed off when I said I was happily spoken for. And guys who hadn't talked to me before suddenly look for topics to discuss with me in class… I thought it was weird but now that you mention it the way you did… Hmmm. That makes sense." She nodded to herself and yelped when I latched to the side of her throat, intent on marking her as she had me. "Oh, D, love," she breathed and moaned when I bit down, "ooohhhh, love, stop. Aunty Catherine will have a conniption if you bruise me too much." She snapped and shoved at me giggling.
I grinned, completely unrepentant. "Oh well. And she will not. She knows how teenagers are when they first start fooling around. Though, I doubt very much this so-called 'Honeymoon phase' will pass with us. I can't imagine ever NOT reacting strongly to you, my love." I stroked her cheek and kissed her smartly on the mouth. "I love you."
She sighed somewhat dreamily. "And I love you." She said and poked my chest. "Now put a shirt on. I'm not sharing your sexy body."
I saluted. "Yes, ma'am!" I threw on a Shaun of the Dead T-shirt with a thumbs up from my ladylove. She quickly brushed her wet hair and threw it up in a messy bun. I waggled my brows, and cupped her bottom when she hugged me. "You know, I would love to see you in a pencil skirt, white blouse, hair up in that sexy messy bun, and add some sexy little kitten heels and cats eye glasses… unf. I don't know why that all of a sudden popped into my head, but now that it's there…" She giggled and rolled her eyes as she pulled away.
"Sexy librarian fantasy, Eddward? Really?" she asked.
I waggled my brows again as I followed her out my room. "Or naughty teacher…" I trailed off hopefully. She giggled again and didn't object when I grabbed her hand and interlaced our fingers. When we turned the corner into the dining room, I waved. "Hey, Lindsey. You bring your English Lit book?" I asked in my best no-nonsense voice. Yep. All business here.
"Yes, I sure… did." She paused when she saw Chelsea.
"Hello! I'm Chelsea!" Chelsea said cheerfully and surprisingly genuinely. She walked over and offered her hand to Lindsey and it was then I noticed the subtle differences between the two girls. Lindsey had shoulder length bleach blonde hair, green eyes, a decent, real tan that was actually attractive, very obvious curves in all the right places, and a wide, bright smile. But she just didn't do it for me. Chelsea is everything I could want in a mate and friend and Lindsey, though pretty and nice, just wasn't for me.
Lindsey introduced herself. "I'm Lindsey. I have English Lit with Double D. How do you know each other?" To any outside observer, it would seem like a friendly question but I saw it for what it was. An inquisition to see if she had a chance. Hell, I'd done it, too, when the girl I was sort of interested in a year or so back was showing interest back. She ended up having a boyfriend.
"Oh, our mums grew up together but mine moved to England where my brother and I were born. They… they passed away from a car collision last year and Eddward's mum, I call her Aunt Catherine, well, took me in. D and I became rather close rather quickly." She finished with a small smile and a blush.
"I think I fell in love with you the moment you started cursing that moving box to the seven depths of hell." I joked, chuckling as she threw her head back and laughed.
"That quickly?" She asked softly. I nodded and kissed her cheek. "I'm gonna go see if Aunty needs my help." She turned to face Lindsey. "You're staying for supper, too, yeah?" she asked. Lindsey nodded stiffly.
I sat across from her after Chelsea left the room and Lindsey spoke up. "Isn't she a little young?" She asked and I had to fight not to roll my eyes. It was Erin all over again.
"Not that it's any of your business, she's only a year younger than me." I answered, narrowing my eyes at Lindsey who back-pedaled and held her hands up in supplication.
"Sorry. I didn't mean it like that." She quickly defended.
I shrugged and opened my backpack to get what I'd need. "Let's get this project-" I frowned when I noticed her staring below my eye level with her own eyes narrowed. "You know, it's rude to stare." I pointed, a brow raised.
"Sorry, but you have something on your neck…" I sighed and rolled my eyes.
Better be blunt with this one. "It's called a hickey. Chelsea and I were fooling around in the shower before you got here and apparently while you were here because you were 45 minutes earlier than you said you'd be." Lindsey looked taken aback. "Anything else you'd like to know about my private life while I'm feeling generous in sharing it?" I asked sarcastically. Her face flushed and she opened her book.
"Are you two fucking?" She blurted and I almost gaped at her.
"I was being sarcastic." I snapped angrily. She nodded, clearly sulking. "Let's get to work. The sooner we finish, the better." I muttered causing her to sink lower in her seat. An hour later, dinner was served.
I had Chelsea next to me, my mother and father sitting close together at one corner, and Lindsey to my right and then I felt a foot rubbing mine. I was about to grin at Chelsea when she stood and walked to refill the water glasses and the foot was still rubbing mine. Are you fucking kidding me? I sent a glare to Lindsey. She wasn't looking at me, merely smiling down at her plate. I brought my foot down on hers, practically stomping on it and she quietly gasped, bringing hers away from me.
"Are you okay?" Chelsea whispered in my ear.
I nodded, smirking and leaned over to her to whisper, "She just tried playing footsie with me and so I stomped on her foot."
Chelsea choked on her water she was sipping. I patted her back in amused worry and my mother began asking Lindsey about our project. It was about dissecting the story 'Of Mice and Men' and comparing it to the other stories by the same author. Suffice to say, I wasn't surprised when Lindsey had little to no knowledge of John Steinbeck.
After supper was done, I bid Lindsey a very bland standoffish goodbye. "Bu-but we're not done with the project!" She stuttered.
"We're done with the joint bit. All that's left is our individual perspective. I've actually already finished mine. You have your essay to write. See you in class." I started to walk off as I heard my mom guide a stuttering Lindsey out the door.
"What was that all about, Eddward?" Mom asked me a few minutes later.
"We finished the joint portion of the project and she was sexually harassing me in the hopes I would write her essay for her. I knew there was no way she should have been in AP English. She's probably been whoring herself out to whatever poor sucker gets saddled with her so she never has to do her own work." I finished nonchalantly.
Mom gaped at me and shook her head as she muttered. "Like mother, like daughter."
It was my turn to gape at her. "Seriously?" I asked.
She sighed and nodded, her soft smile turning to a hard smirk. "You know how your father sometimes does a guest lecture at the community college?" I nodded. "Well, he was invited to one of the faculties Christmas parties and Lindsey's mother, Jane didn't seem too happy that he brought me as his date. She spent the entire evening plying him with whiskey in the hopes of getting him alone. Well, unfortunately, I had to use the ladies room. When I got back she was climbing all over him and he looked ready to scream like me when I see a mouse. I yanked her off him by her nasty extensions and knocked her out with the hardest right cross I've ever thrown."
"That was the year you-"
"-broke my pinkie on Christmas Eve, yes." She finished for me. I stared at her in a new light before I burst out laughing.
"Epic Mom is epic." I chuckled. She rolled her eyes and giggled before walking off, probably to find my dad. I eventually climbed into bed and smiled when Chelsea slid in with me. I had almost fallen asleep disappointed. I really wanted to hold her. "I feel so dirty." I joked and Chelsea giggled. I could almost hear her eyes rolling.
"Don't whinge. You're fine, love." She said and shut me up with a nice goodnight kiss.
A/N: It has been brought to my attention that I did not point out "Whinge" is actually what my family from the UK says. Whinge and Whingeing (I have no clue on the spelling nor do I care. Lol. Pronounced "Win-Jing"