A/N: (Friday) Sorry, sorry, sorry! I know I promised an update sooner, but so much has been going on the past few days! Omg! I cleaned all day yesterday, went to the doctor, and hung out with Karlie. Hung out with Karlie today, went out to eat, and went to graduation. Came home and cleaned up the mess Karlie left. :D Review, please! I've noticed a decline in reviews on both of my stories. Not cool. Everyone's probably going to hate me for this chapter, but trust me guys, it has to get bad before it can get better. Please don't stop reading. Give it a few more chapters, and a proposal will be on the way, promise! Keep in mind, Mike was driving, but it was Lauren's car that was totaled.
"Bella, sweetie, you need to get up. It's three in the afternoon."
Edward stared at my near-comatose form in desperation. As he had anticipated, I did not respond. I'd long given up on sleep. The dream—Lauren dead in the OR—had me waking up periodically, screaming as I had when Edward left.
His cold fingers stroked my cheek. "Baby, I'm so worried about you. Please let me bring you some food. I'll be sure to get something easy on your stomach. How about some vanilla ice cream? You know you love ice cream."
I smiled a fake smile and nodded slightly. "Ice cream sounds fine. I'm sorry, please don't be worried."
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Impossible."
"Go get my ice cream, mister," I commanded jokingly.
He raised his eyebrows in mock shock. "Yes, ma'am. I'll be right back. Do you want anything else while I'm downstairs?"
"Tell Jasper I could use some enthusiasm if he could spare it." I smiled weakly, and Edward nodded.
"I can handle it. I'll be right back."
No one had ever meant that statement as literally as Edward had. Before I had time to sit up in his bed, he was placing a blue bowl on the bedside table, and I felt like jumping into his arms, thanks to Jasper.
"Feeling better?" he asked as he sat with me, wrapping his arms around me.
"Much. Even if it is fake, I'll take this over the nightmare any day." I sighed and twisted into a more comfortable position against Edward's granite chest. "Thank you."
"For what?" He looked down at me, smiling his crooked little smile.
"For everything, silly! You're just so…perfect. You know that, of course, but sometimes I have to remind myself just how perfect you really are. So thank you."
"Well you're most certainly welcome, Bella. I love being able to do things for you. I was so accustomed to your furious protesting, this is really nice. I like being able to bring you breakfast in bed, make you lunch." He buried his face in my hair, smelling it, and kissed my head. "And I love being able to make love to you in this bed."
I giggled. "Oh, do you, Mr. Prude?" I teased, turning over in his arms and climbing onto his chest. "I think I love that, too." I pushed myself up to kiss him.
"Hmm," he purred, "Would you love that right now?" He rolled us over blindingly fast so that he hovered over me.
I responded by pulling his gray t-shirt over his head. "I think I would."
He ripped off my shirt, and I fumbled with his belt. He finally helped me out, and pulled it off for himself. After pulling off my own pants, Edward kicked his to the floor. He kissed me roughly, pulling me closer to him. I pushed his boxers down, and he kicked them, too, off the bed. I didn't realize my panties were gone until Edward pushed two fingers into me. I moaned against his mouth; he growled low in my ear. I reached up to bite his neck, and he removed his fingers.
"I love you, Bella," he panted, pushing himself against me, though never entering. "Tell me you love me, please."
"I love you, Edward."
And then he was inside me. We both gasped breathlessly, and a low, soft moan escaped my lips. He reattached his lips to mine as his thrusts came faster and harder.
I didn't really think sex could be so loving before Edward. The way his hands roamed my body, it made me feel…special. Like I was his only reason for living, and that is an amazing thing to feel.
We climaxed simultaneously, and he moved so that we were lying side by side in bed. He got up for only a moment to put in CD in the stereo; his favorite Muse album wove serene notes in the air.
"Bella, I hate to mention it, but Carlisle wanted me to ask. Do you want to attend the funeral tonight?"
"It's tonight?" I asked in shock. "Why so soon?"
He sighed. "Lauren's parents just want to get it over with that much sooner. They couldn't stand to wait."
I deliberated a moment. "I should. It's only fair to her." I sighed. "I'll need to raid Alice's closet."
Jasper retrieved the key and carefully unlocked the large, thick doors. He flipped the light switch just to the left of the door, and row by row, the spotlights lit up the long halls of Alice's walk-in closet.
"Now," Jasper began, "the blacks are down the main hall, take a left, and open the black door, okay?"
I nodded and took a few steps forward. Jasper and Edward hung back. "Aren't you guys going with me? I need opinions, you know."
The guys looked to the floor. "We're not allowed in the closet."
"Uhm…why not?"
Edward scratched the back of his head. "We…may or may not have…uhm…played paintball in the closet…once or twice…"
I shook my head. "Unbelievable. If I'm not out in twenty, assume a Prada bag kidnapped me."
"Will do," Jasper laughed as the two went to sit by the computer.
I took the given directions, and opened the door to Alice's room of black clothes. I found the light switch, and flipped it. There were six black light bulbs down each of the two rows of clothes. I shook my head; how ridiculous my best friend could be. I pulled out dresses one by one and tried each on in front of Alice's multiple mirrors at the end of the farthest hall. After seventeen dresses, I settled on a tie-front halter dress. The soft cotton fell to my knees, and I paired it with black ballet flats.
"How do I look?" I asked the boys, modeling my outfit. "It took forever, but I think I might jack this."
"Go ahead, she wore it to a car auction once, and it's been in there for months. It looks better on you anyway," Edward said, wrapping his arms around me. "Are you sure you can do this tonight?"
I looked up and smiled sadly. "I have to try…for Lauren." Tears welled in my eyes again, and Edward pulled me closer against him, burying his face in my hair.
"Shh, Bella, it'll be okay, calm down, baby," he murmured, petting me. "Are you ready to go? The service starts at six."
"Yeah," I sighed, "let's go."
Big shocker: it was raining. Carlisle took us all in the Mercedes; Emmett rode shotgun, and I sat between Jasper and Edward in the backseat. Forks's one and only funeral home was, as expected, just off the highway about five minutes past the high school.
The residents of the small town, who thought me to be the flighty daughter of the chief and his flighty ex-wife, were kind enough to leave me be while I mourned, rather than ask why I was there. The only people I wanted to see stood at the front of the room with Lauren's parents; Mike, Jess, and Tyler leaned over the closed coffin crying.
I approached slowly, Edward by my side, and placed a hand on Tyler's shoulder. He sniffled, and turned around slowly to face me. Mike and Jessica followed his lead, and the boys looked shocked to see me; Jessica looked disgusted. Tyler and Mike said their greetings and asked why I was in Forks. I told them I'd gotten the call from Carlisle and got on the first flight from Jacksonville. They talked with Edward for a moment, and I went to stand by Jessica.
"Hello, Bella," she sneered. "It's so nice to see you."
"Uhm…hi, Jess. Listen, have I done something to offend you? You seem…quite different since I last saw you."
"It's all your fault!" she cried. "My best friend would still be here if you hadn't gotten us into such horrible things! Why did you do this to us?!"
Unbelievable. She wants everyone to think I did this to them. She wants to save her reputation. What a pathetic little cunt.
"Jessica," I said under my breath, "I will not do this with you here. I refuse to disrespect Lauren and her real friends and family the way you have."
When I walked away, I wasn't surprised to hear hushed whispers and see all eyes on me. Edward caught up with me, and we took our seats with Carlisle.
"No one believes her, Bella," Edward whispered reassuringly. "They're all thinking about how horrible it was to do that to you, not to mention Lauren's parents."
"I'll be right back," I whispered, rising. I walked down the aisle toward the exit, being sure to stop where Mike sat. "Will you come with me for a minute?"
"Sure," he replied, smiling.
As we left, I saw Edward get up, but I gave him a stern look to let him know I would be okay. Jasper made him sit back down, as the service was officially beginning. Mike and I walked to his car, and I sat in the passenger seat.
"Listen," I began, "this is going to sound really weird, but don't think about anything I'm saying, okay? I really need a drink. Do you have anything with you right now?" I was ashamed, of course, but desperate times do call for desperate measures.
"Uhm…yeah, there's some vodka in the back from last night. Are you sure, though? Won't Cullen be pissed?"
"Mike," I said slowly through clenched teeth, "I need a drink. Edward is not important right now. I just lost one of my closest friends, and it really fucking hurts. Give me the vodka."
Without another word, Mike climbed over the driver's seat and retrieved a bottle of Goldschlager. Ah, my favorite.
I sighed. "Thank you. Now, could you do me one more favor? I need you to drive me to La Push."
He hesitated. "I don't know, Bella. I need to be here, but," he sighed, "I guess I could if we hurry."
He started the car, and sped off toward the one place where Edward couldn't reach me. I carefully thought out my plan as Mike drove in silence. I wouldn't touch a drop until I was safely on Quileute land. Edward had no reason to do anything until I drank. No one would be on the beach tonight; I remembered Charlie telling me something about a big party at Sam Uley's.
"Hey, Bells, I've got to get back." Mike's persistence broke me from my reverie.
"Right. Thanks for giving me a ride, Mike. And I'll pay you back for the vodka. I promise."
"Don't worry about it, Iz. I'll see you later, okay?"
I opened the passenger door. "Bye, Mike."
I hadn't noticed, but Mike had dropped me off just by the cliffs. I looked down at the black ocean, and walked down toward the beach. After finding a comfortable driftwood log, I sat down with my bottle. Tears pouring from my eyes, I opened the bottle.
It burned my throat like hell.
A/N: Don't hate me, please! I have the rest of the story planned out entirely. It will be awesome, trust me! Next chapter up hopefully by Monday! Review!