Please forgive me for taking a wee bit longer than expected to pull this out of the bag. I hit a wall soon after I posted Heartbreak Warfare and had a hard time shaking it. Thank you Cevvin, your tip really helped :)
This chapter is half & half. One part E/B, another part everyone else. Some of you will be surprised what will come out of this update but I just want to tell you off the bat: I've been dropping hits for both so please no flames! (wow that feels like an outdated term no?)
Another note: keep in mind EVERYTHING I write has a rhyme or reason to it, I don't write to fill space. Ok enough with the serious talk, here's the ending of a phase and the beginning of another. Sorry in advance for the ending A/N.
The Who- Behind Blue Eyes
2003.
I sneaked into Edward's bedroom even though I knew he was sleeping off his jetlag. He'd arrived from Hanover that afternoon and I'd come over for dinner to see him. Alice had been very disappointing when she found out Jasper had decided to go to Memphis to check out another property Principal Whitlock gave him; although something told me he was hiding behind something but I couldn't place it. That or I'm just crazy.
I managed to convince Alice and Esme to let me see him and give me a moment alone with him. Esme agreed but told me she would be checking up on us every ten minutes.
I understood where she was coming from; Charlie must have spoken to them about rules and whatnot. Esme must not want to come off as a-
I was in the middle of my thought when Edward stirred in his bed, hugging a pillow to him. He was as always, shirtless and only wearing pajama pants. I couldn't help but smile as he laid in bed looking like a grown-up angel.
I took him in once again; his lines were defined and maturing; there weren't any boyish lines anymore and it made me both nostalgic and proud. For the first time since I'd known him, I noticed he had long lashes that were slightly darker than his hair. He had a five o'clock shadow, something I was getting used to on him. His sharp nose and sharper jaw made me want to trace him. I imagined myself drawing my sleeping cherub making me wish I'd learn to draw artistically.
I smiled when my eyes reached down his prominent Adam's apple and fell onto his flat chest and sexy tattoo, handsome and adorable all in one package…
"Mmmm…" He sighed snuggling into his second pillow, "Bella." I blinked thinking I'd been caught staring at his sleeping form but he just rubbed his nose on the pillow and sighed contently- a tiny smile in the corners of his plump lips.
My heartbeat picked up and I felt air in my throat which I let out quickly, feeling guilty for staring at him while he slept but part of me was boasting his possible dreaming of me. I played with the thin silver necklace with a small infinity symbol he'd sent me last February, quickly becoming my favorite piece of jewelry.
"I love you." He sighed again, smiling wider. I grinned feeling a warm buzz all over my body, "I love you too." I whispered hoping my dream self would tell him for me.
His eyes shot open, green sparkles all over as he stared up at me. My mouth dropped as I gaped down at him. I was about to pull away when he grabbed me like a snake attacking its pray in the long grass and pulled me down on the bed holding me between his thighs.
"Say it again." He whispered throatily.
"I-I thought you were asleep." I croaked as I held on to his chest trying to create some space between us. My veins protested from the heat and speed my heart was beating out blood making me wonder if I could possibly die from high blood pressure at the age of seventeen.
"Say it again." He told me roughly as he pressed me deeper in the bed. "I want to hear it again."
"Edward."
"I said 'I love you' and you said…"
"Edward." I protested, angry at him for trying to force it out of me but then again I had said it when I thought he was sleeping. How cowardly of me.
"Bella." He moaned kissing the crook between my throat and jaw. My eyes rolled back, getting high off his husky, pine scent and the sensations he stirred in me. I groaned into his ear knowing it would drive him crazy. He wrapped himself around me bringing his arms to bind me and push me up to him. I could feel his firm erection against the inside of my thigh, my body moistened immediately. "I love you." I said hoping he would feel what I felt at that very moment.
His breath hitched and before I knew it his tongue was down my throat possessively. I mentally rolled my eyes at his greediness but I reveled in his attention equally. His body began to move above me, "I need you." He told me after he pulled away. He was out of breath and connected our foreheads, his eyes were closed and he seemed in pain. "I need you." He told me desperately, "so bad."
My epiphany was still fresh in my mind and the idea of him and I together in that way had seeped itself into my consciousness. Thinking of my growing acceptance of myself and subsequent revelation of both my love for myself and him I'd come to terms with letting our feelings lead us down that path.
Rose had told me she would accept her first time when and if it came and even though I hadn't agreed with her at the time, I understood she was being realistic while Alice wanted what Hollywood thrived on, idealism- I would mix the two.
I would get the flowers and candy with the boy I'd recently fallen head over heels but I would accept it occurring, whenever that may be.
I wouldn't fight it any longer.
I'd done that long enough and I wouldn't let myself go down that hole again. I would not go blind again.
"Yes." I sigh hugging him to me, "yes, baby yes." Edward pulled away slightly looking at my eyes for any kind of wavering. "Are you sure?"
I looked up at him both elated he was giving me an out and annoyed he was looking for doubt in me. I mean I'd just told him I loved him, what else was there to do but go the extra step?
"I love you Edward," he hugged me infinitesimally tighter and creating more moisture deep inside me. "you've always wanted to fuck me-"
"I want to make love to you four five times before I fuck you Bella." He told me shaking his head, "I so want to get to the fucking but I want to worship you more than anything else." Oh. I blinked feeling a jolt of electricity going through me. "I see." I was breathless but not because he was holding me tightly to the point of slight pain but because he always seemed to render me speechless.
Why is it that he always manages to take my breath away?
"I want to make sure you're ok before we go forward," he let out a shudder, "once we start I doubt we'll- I'll be able to stop." He groaned into my throat, licking it slowly.
Oh…
My mouth watered just thinking of a naked Edward… "Oh." I voiced wiggling underneath him; he chuckled darkly making me wonder what he was thinking. "W-well," my voice shook slightly trying to find my voice again but like I said, the boy always managed to take my words away. "Well stud," I grinned pulling his glorious face to look at mine, "I'm more than willing to let you lose control."
His eyes dilated and became dark all in one second, his lips parted and his breath became labored. This is what I do to him. I grinned arrogantly, proud of myself for causing him to turn into my bad boy cherub I so loved.
"You're on the pill right?" He breathed out, swallowing hard.
"Yes." I nodded.
"There's a two percent chance it might be faulty." He said in a serious voice making me think to Dr. Cullen, his evolving doctor voice.
"I've been good with it-"
"I don't want to risk it baby," he told me letting me go only to hold my face in his hands, "I'm going to run to Dad's office- he keeps condoms in there for Emmett and I." A very faint blush crossed his cheeks making me grin.
Dr. Cullen, always prepared to the chagrin of your children.
"I'll be right back."
"Ok." This is happening, this is really happening. Oh fuck.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Tell me the truth Bella."
"I want you, you want me. Go get your condoms." I told him pushing off me. He got up staring at my eyes waiting to see doubt and uncertainty cross them but I stayed resolute. He let out a loud breath and left for his dad's office.
I threw myself on his bed grinning. I want this. I want this. I want this.
Right?
I cleared my head to get a better answer, after a moment I naturally answered myself, yes.
"Hey Bella, darling." Esme popped her head in, Edward had left the door open when he hurried out. I stood up feeling like I'd just been caught doing something illicit.
Which I have to some degree…
"Esme."
"Where's Edward?" She looked around and towards the open bathroom door.
"I need some help with my cake recipe, sweetie." She told me smiling but I could sense something was up. "Why don't you come downstairs and see what I'm doing wrong."
"Uh-" I looked behind her thinking of Edward but what was I supposed to say to his mom? Oh sorry Esme, you see Edward and I are in the middle of getting it on and would like to be left alone for an undetermined amount of time. He and I need at least forty hours to ourselves, thank you.
Oh sorry Esme, I'm about to let Edward fuck me up and down this enclosed space and possibly our bathroom- oh and my bedroom of course. You'll have to excuse us.
Oh sorry Esme, I'm currently dripping wet and I wish your son would suck me up and eat me out to make it better.
Oh sorry Esme I want your son's dick inside me and I want it now!
"It'll only be a minute darling." She told me grabbing my hand and pulling me out, "I want to surprise Carlisle with this and well I've never made it so…"
"B-but-" For a petite woman like Esme, I finally understood where Emmett's force came from. She was strong and well-built. We met an anxious looking Edward with his hand in his pocket. When he saw me with his mother his face went from surprise to shock to worry.
"What's up Mom?" He croaked. Poor choice of words baby.
"Nothing much honey," Esme told him not bothering to stop, "just borrowing Bella for a bit." She laughed as we rounded the corner before reaching the kitchen stairs. I sent Edward a look of consternation before being pulled down the stairs.
Esme ended up "borrowing" me through dinner and she let me go until right before I had to go back home, much to my boyfriend's dismay.
Well… there's always next time…
Right.
~.~.~.
2004.
"Please rise." Principal Greene spoke into the microphone; you could see the sky behind him through the wide windows, pearly pinks with orange streaks behind sporadic clouds letting us know the darkness was coming. We'd been blessed with clear weather but we knew it was expected to change the next day.
My classmates and I stood up en masse, a sea of dark red and black- girls in red, boys in black. I could make out Alice and Rosalie in their own seats as they looked towards each other and I- pure excitement for what was about to happen.
"It brings me great pleasure and pride," Principal Greene announced to the assembled family and friends of my class, "to present to you the class of 2004! Graduates, you may shift your tassels now. Congratulations!" The audience behind us stood up and roared even before Principal Greene had a chance to present us.
I, Bella Swan was a high school graduate and I would be moving to New York in three weeks to start culinary school in September. That is after my best friends and I go to Los Angeles for a week as our graduation present from our parents.
There were cheers from all over the auditorium; everyone around me threw their caps into the air creating a cloud of red and black for less than a second. I caught mine while bumping into a few people, we all apologized to each other giddily.
I caught the eye of Kate Denali and she sent me two thumbs up, I waved back smiling widely. I'd decided to take her up on her offer and was willing to move in with her. She was scheduled to move next week to get everything ready, I'd asked her if she wanted me to cut my trip short but she just laughed and told me I was crazy.
Alice and Rose reached me we hugged each other and jumped up and down. "New York here we come!" Rose yelled, laughing out loud.
"Congratulations Flower!" Mr. Roger Hale arrived from behind his daughter, patting her on the back with one hand and a huge white lily and pink tulip bouquet with green ivy in the other. Rosalie turned around and bear hugged him. Catharine, her mother blew her nose into a crisp white handkerchief.
"Thanks Dad!"
"Alice, Bella!" Esme called out to us from behind Mrs. Hale, the Cullens all reached us, Emmett roared grabbing Alice and spinning her around. "Congrats Pixie!"
Alice squealed slapping him playfully, "thank you Mattie!"
I threw myself on Edward which he caught me kissing me passionately. Emmett whooped somewhere behind me. I pulled away red-faced and off-balance, Edward held me tightly laughing not bothered by the attention our PDA created.
Dr. Cullen was now giving Alice a huge peach rose bouquet, I internally laughed knowing Alice hated peach roses but was too cowardly to tell her parents so.
"Bella." Charlie called me, he gave me a small white rose bouquet as I one-armed him. He hugged me back whispering how proud he was of me. "You have no idea Bells." I noticed the corner of his eyes begin to water.
"I know Dad," I felt a frog stuck in my throat. I hugged him again feeling the new sense of loss I'd began feeling lately.
"Let's head home shall we? Eliza and I prepared a feast for you!" Esme told us corralling us around her. "You're more than welcome to, Cathy."
"Thanks all the same Esme but we have reservations at the Elk Lounge in Port Angeles but our invitation still stands to go shopping before the girls leave for Los Angeles."
"Definitely," Esme said nodding and turning serious, "we only have two days before they take off."
"Alright, alright ladies we'll continue to discuss this tomorrow." Dr. Cullen chuckled obviously thinking of the steak that was waiting for him at home.
After a lot of discussion and reluctant agreeing, Charlie allowed me to go L.A. only if Emmett managed to go- he knew how to get around because of having gone to school there and because he had shown himself to be a responsible adult.
He asked for special leave at the firm, promising to take extensive notes on the architectural significance of the city and how it could be applied to the firm's advantage, he was allowed the seven days' leave and had more than willingly agreed to chaperone us.
"Let's go then." Charlie said looking to me, I blushed trying not to feel guilty. "Do you mind if I go with Edward?" Charlie looked at me surprised, quickly glancing at Edward who smiled lightly trying to not break under Chief Swan's inquisitive stare.
"It takes just under twenty minutes to get from the high school to the north side of town," Charlie said speaking to me but still watching Edward. "I'll be counting down the minutes." I rolled my eyes turning to Edward who still kept eye contact with Charlie. He wasn't going to break.
"Ok Dad," I tell him since my overconfident boyfriend won't be the first to fold. Charlie unwillingly looked away just as the Cullens spoke amongst themselves trying to look uninterested in our conversation.
Charlie stalked off with Dr. Cullen who began speaking to him about our accommodations at a well-known hotel in a suburb of Los Angeles. Esme had wanted us to stay at a Beverly Hills hotel but Emmett complained that the best touring we would do is by staying "close to the ground."
"There are great hotels in the suburbs, Mom." He said after Alice trying punching him in the gut, "I don't see why we have to go to Beverly Hills to get the L.A. experience."
"Good point." Said Dr. Cullen to which Mr. Hale and Charlie agreed whole-heartedly. The day I graduated was a Thursday and as was the Cullens' preference to fly on the red eye, we'd be flying out of Sea-Tac the following Tuesday at one fifteen a.m.
"Let's go to my Volvo." Edward told me keeping his left arm around my waist as he held my hand with his right. I nodded before going to Rose and kissing her goodbye, "see you tomorrow."
"Take care," Rose winked putting something in my hand discreetly. She winked and walked off to hug Alice goodbye who was too engrossed in a "I hate you" tirade with Emmett. She still held him accountable for not getting the Beverly Hills treatment.
I looked down at the wrapped thing to gasp loudly and put it away almost immediately. Fucking Rose, I thought bitterly. I'd told her about my conversation and subsequent foiled plans with Edward last December and since then she'd been working on getting me laid.
Last Christmas had been hellish to say the least. It seemed like Esme and Alice were hell-bent on getting me away from Edward. Alice planned nothing but girl-friendly/guy-wincing activities. Makeovers, sleepovers, weeper marathons, embarrassing period conversations with Edward who tried to be as objective and mature as possible but couldn't really succeed when he'd realize he was talking to his little sister about menstrual discharge and adequate hygiene.
Esme pulled me aside and had The Talk 2.0; I had to sit through "the changes of the female physique and what responsibilities came with maturation." I mean seriously, my mother/boyfriend's mother was giving me this talk. I was mortified mostly because of the latter.
According to Edward, Dr. Cullen had pulled him aside and had the same exact conversation except on the responsibilities of a guy and knowing how to control "the urges." He'd even given him a brown plastic bag of various different types of condoms, from thin ones- "for extra sensation," to She lubricated condoms- "designed for women to give her heightened ecstasy. My favorite though was Confidence- "for the lucky stallion, a condom just for the bigger gentleman."
"Should I feel happy or humiliated that A. Dad took the time to buy me these and thought of everything and B. He thinks I'm some phallic marvel?"
"Well aren't you?" I'd asked between embarrassed yet surprisingly relieved giggles. "I don't know, am I?" He wiggled his eyebrows encircling me in his arms.
"You'll have to show me some examples to compare." He let out a primal growl from deep in this throat before pushing me against the wall and eventually making me writhe on top him.
"I love hearing you call me out but I need a different kind of fix."
"Pig."
"You know you love it."
"I do, I really do."
I sighed contently thinking back to that day, "what are you thinking about?" Present-day Edward asked me as he opened the door to his car. There were people walking around getting into their own cars, a mixed sea or black, red, balloons and flowers.
"Us." I said winking as I got into his car. His eyes flashed giving me a perfect, angelic smile. He closed the door with a snap going over to the driver's side in less than a second.
"What part of our long affair were you reliving?"
"The day you showed me your brown paper bag." He started the car, turning on the lights as dusk began transforming into night.
"That was a semi good day." He nodded, falling behind a blue beemer I knew to be Jane Winter's family car.
"Semi good day?"
"We didn't get to use any of the contents of that paper bag."
"Ah." I nod feigning naiveté. "I see."
"You know that's their plan right?"
"What?"
"To keep us apart in that way."
"Oh?" It had dawned on me after Alice- who usually begged me to get in a swimsuit whenever we went to the lake had asked me not to wear anything revealing in hopes I didn't get sunburned.
I was naturally pale, but how the fuck would I get sunburned in fucking Washington? Especially considering that the day we'd gone was another typical cloudy day.
Edward nodded not saying anything and getting out of the traffic near the school. He drove through the back streets coming to a stop five minutes away from his house in a little forested area. He played Pat Benatar quietly on the music system. "Baby," he told me taking out a little box, "I got you something to celebrate your graduation."
Edward knew my love for the Yellow Power Ranger and had given me my early Trini lunchbox. I'd asked Renee for one and finally got it for my eleventh birthday; I'd considered it lost soon after I got though, believing I'd forgotten it during one of the school's weekend picnics.
Don't kill me. Remember I love you and murder is punishable in all civilizations even the most primitive.~ E.
"EDWARD FUCKING CULLEN!" I'd exclaimed when I realized what this meant, I opened the box to find a close up of him with the peace sign. The back read: from your stalkerish boyfriend, happy birthday beautiful~ EAMC ß- I haven't written my full initials in so long… please don't let it be the last time…
For his twentieth birthday I gave him a piece of black coal only to replace it with a fancy black fountain pen and had 'Wasn't the last time' inscribed in the length of it.
"Did you swipe my one hundred and twenty-count Crayola set from middle school and have kept it for five years?"
He winked kissing me swiftly. "I used them that one time you came over with them and broke Sienna Brown."
"Fucking…" I whispered between my teeth, I'd thought I'd broken it and somehow made myself believe I had amnesia.
"I was and am crazy about you." He brought out a small, black box.
"What is this?"
"Open it." He told me excitedly, "I hope you like it." I laugh opening the little box to find a simple silver bracelet. "Oh Edward." I grinned, I kissed him as a thank you. Other people might have thought it to be a plain gift but I loved it. Simplicity at its finest.
"Baby," he looked at me surprised, "you think that's it? An ordinary silver bracelet? Really?"
"It's beautiful; it matches with my Valentine's gift." I frowned not understanding why he was knocking his own gift. He shook his head, "look under the lid." I cocked my head to the side turning back to the seemingly empty box only to realize there was a hidden compartment under a white inner lid.
I found little crystal beads in different colors and what seemed like six different charms- a small cube, a little fish, a hand mirror, a rotary phone, a little dress and a heart, all were forged from an identical gray metal.
"It's a charm bracelet." He whispered putting my loose hair behind my ear. "Guess the meaning of every charm."
"What's this?" I asked taking out the little cube.
"It's sugar." He whispered with sex dripping from his voice. "Oh." I nodded, slowly beginning to grin.
"Pour Some Sugar On Me…" I pointed at the sugar cube remembering our quiet acceptance of our game the day we listened to that song. "The halibut." He nodded, grinning and biting his lip, "our long conversations on the phone." I pointed to the tiny rotary phone, "a heart because… well…" I blushed kissing his neck. He moved his face and giving me a lingering kiss, "we love each other," he finished for me, I nodded biting my lip too.
"What else?" He whispered into my lips. I looked down still keeping contact with him through our connected foreheads, "I don't get the mirror or the dress."
"The dress because I met you the day you were born." My heart fluttered, "you don't remember that, you were two."
"Yes but I've seen photos of that day." I felt my hands begin to sweat and my heart begin to pound, will he ever stop surprising me? "Can you guess what the mirror stands for?"
"No." I shook my head, my mind still reeling from his very simple but incredibly romantic words.
"You finally loving your body the way I love it and the night I became Professor Cullen." He added darkly. I laughed nervously, "Mmmm…" I nodded once, unable to stop my face-hurting grin.
"You like it?"
"I love it." I looked at him straight in the eyes and smiled widely, "just like I love you." He dropped his eyes before looking up slowly and bashfully making me think of middle school Edward. He sighed lightly. "I might just tattoo that in my body."
I gaped at him, "you'd be insane if you did!" He shrugged noncommittally, "am I insane?"
"Edward!"
~.~.~.
"Wow." Rosalie breathed looking at the now-full charm bracelet on my wrist, "what do they all mean?" We were in Port Angeles having lunch with Esme, Alice and Catherine. She and I had excused ourselves to go to the ladies' room.
"Our love of music, long-distance relationship and a few inside jokes."
"Tell me about them!"
"Nope." I shook my head, feeling somewhat protective of our secrets. I washed my hands, Rosalie scowled, "you'll see when you get a boyfriend." I tell her sagely as if having a boyfriend is akin to gaining the secret of life.
"Um…" She looked behind us. The bathroom consisted of two stalls, one small one and the handicap stall. She checked both before continuing on. "I need to talk to you."
"What's up Rose?" Turning to her, I watched her closely because this wasn't like her.
"Jamie had dinner with his family at the Elk Lodge last night too and Dad let me go home with him intead."
"Uh huh…"
She took a deep breath before continuing, looking at the floor. "I'm a stereotype Bella."
"What?"
"Jamie was being really sweet and well he had a bottle of Jack on him and well… I drank a little and well…" My mouth dropped, I understood where this was going to… "I gave it up! In his car! The night of graduation!"
"Rose…"
"Don't hate me please." She grabbed my hand, begging me. Her ice blue eyes were watering, I felt a sort of loss but at the same time I knew this was bound to happen. "I don't hate you, why would I hate you?"
"Because you're so good and well I don't know." She looked around, shaking her head trying to find a good reason. "Rose, I'm no angel." I laughed internally at myself. Of course people around me believe the vengeful angel persona I've taken on. I thought ruefully.
"Rose," I felt sudden dread and instant rage, "he didn't take advantage of you right?"
"No!" She shook her hands in front of me defensively, "I drank but I wasn't drunk. I knew exactly what I was doing, I swear!"
"You sure?" I squinted my eyes, watching her closely for any kind of signs. Jamie Harkin was a good guy but considering the fact that he'd gotten her drunk to soften her up made me very angry.
"Bella trust me, I don't regret last night; I just don't want you or Alice to hate me for not waiting any longer- promise me you won't report this to your dad. Jamie did nothing wrong."
"Come here." I hugged her trying to convey my solidarity with her, "was he any good though?" I said to try and lighten the mood.
"I don't know but I know it took three minutes for him to cum." Rosalie shook her head regretfully.
"That sounds bad." I shake my head, giggling.
"It is."
"How do you feel though?"
"Ok, a little sore but I'll get over it." I look at her face and see nothing different. Call it childhood naiveté but the way people described losing your virtue, you suddenly became lustful and hard but Rose looked just like she'd done the day before.
"Tell me the truth." I knew she was holding something back. She sighed again taking mental inventory before answering. She pulled away, tucking her straight blonde hair behind her ears before folding her arms around her.
"I shouldn't have let my impatience to get it over with take over, but it happened and I accept it." She stepped away still thinking. I suddenly felt like I was in Dr. Carter's office but instead of being me, I was her.
"Do you think it will hit you later?"
"No. No I don't. Jamie's a good guy,horny as fuck but I can't fault him; I knew what he wanted and I gave it to him."
"Where do you stand now?"
"After last night, I don't think I can be anywhere near him. Not because I feel bad over it but because it was just so bad." She turns her neck to look at me, giving me a tiny smile. I nodded hugging her again, "don't ever think that I'll close the door on you; you and Alice opened up to me and allowed me to be me." I suddenly felt like crying because not only did I feel like I'd allowed my stupid soapbox to come between me and my best friends but I felt like a traitor for only focusing on myself yet again.
"Thank you." Rose sniffed hugging me fiercely. "Let me tell Alice though." She let go, biting her lip nervously. I nodded not saying anything else.
We bought a few things. By a few I mean, I bought some shorts, light blouses and a lot of sunscreen while Alice and Rose bought a full wardrobe and about ten different kinds of swimsuits, something I wouldn't even consider.
I accepted myself, yes but I knew I wasn't going to display myself just like that. No thank you.
~.~.~.
"Be safe ok?" Charlie kissed me goodbye before going to our designated waiting area. He wasn't allowed beyond the check point so it was time to say our goodbyes. Alice and Emmett both hugged their family, Rose's parents were sitting with her in a bench a few feet away.
"I will." I appease him, this would be my first time flying and I didn't know what to make of it. Dr. Cullen had allowed me to take some sleeping pills just to make sure I didn't become overwhelmed. Rose had flown before, she had family in Connecticut and had gone to visit them during her early childhood but she didn't remember it much.
The Cullens, too had family cross-country and had visited Esme's family's ranch in Tennessee years ago but being Alice she took it as an adventure.
"Call me when you get to your hotel."
"I will."
"And don't forget your rape whistle, Los Angeles is three to four times bigger than Seattle and that much more dangerous."
"Dad, I'll carry my whistle with me but I trust Emmett." I discreetly remind him his one condition in allowing me to go. "That reminds me." He walked off towards the Cullens looking to speak to Emmett. "Emmett, you have the notarized letter right?"
"Yes sir." Emmett reached into his carry on satchel pulling out a black folder, "here it is." Since I would be minor for a few more months, Charlie and Emmett had to sign a notarized permission slip giving Emmett authorization to travel with me with the possibility of giving me full medical attention during the trip.
"Don't lose it ok?"
"Dad, you've asked him to show you that thing three times now," I blew out, rolling my eyes. Edward grinned on the side, shaking his head slightly, "I hate being a minor."
"Yes well," Charlie answered stiffly, I knew he hated it when I chastised him in front of the Cullens. He threw Edward a suspicious look, "your eighteenth birthday is not until September and I will take care of you like a minor until then." Edward blanched looking away. Huh? "There are certain things you can't do until then and traveling without my consent is one of them." I stared at him not understanding why he was being so weird.
Edward cleared his throat, shifting on his feet and whispering something to Alice. It was obvious he was trying to avoid Charlie's glare, I looked to my father who was now talking to Emmett about having all of his contacts in case he needed him for anything.
"He just wants to take care of you Bella." Dr. Cullen told me to the side, I looked at him blushing slightly. I remembered the bag he'd given Edward making me flare up even more. "Take care sweetie." He squeezed my shoulder to which I nodded as a response.
"I think it's time no?" Catherine asked coming to us with Rose and her husband.
"Yes, they need to check in at the gate in half an hour." Dr. Cullen answering looking at his elegant watch. I didn't recognize the brand but I knew it was expensive just by the look of it.
After saying our goodbyes yet again, and kissing Edward goodbye much to my embarrassment, "don't miss me too much." He whispered darkly sending a chill down my spine. "I can't make any promises."
Edward grinned, winking quickly and letting me go because my father wanted to hug me goodbye one last time.
We eventually boarded and I became agitated when the captain announced lift-off. I dug my nails into Emmett's leg as the plane taxied down the runway, and absolutely hated the feeling of my stomach dropping and being pulled as it lifted off. I felt like throwing up but Emmett just held my hand through it all.
I turned to him but he wasn't looking at me, he was whispering something to a similar stricken Rosalie. She nodded fiercely to whatever he was saying; he nudged her lightly making her smile just as the plane reached its desired altitude. Alice sat to right and unlike Rose and I, her eyes were closed as she grinned widely. I shook my head, she was so weird.
The flight attendants began to make their rounds, offering from the drink cart. I asked for water and took my sleeping pills, I was a nervous mess and I wanted it over and done with.
I closed my eyes and what felt like a blink later I had been woken up by an excited Alice, "we're here Bells!"
"What?" I asked groggily, the dose had been a little strong.
"You slept through the whole thing! We got to see the city as we descended! Nothing but tinkleing lights for miles!"
"It's a city Pix," Emmett said getting up, I looked around and noticed people already taking down their things from the overhead compartment. "Of course there are going to be lights everywhere."
"Whatever." She huffed unbuckling her seatbelt and getting up. She looked at me expectantly, telling me to get up. I scrambled up but lost my balance, Emmett managed to grab my hand stopping me from crashing face first into my seat. "The pills really knocked you out huh?"
"Seems so." Rose said stretching as a man walked behind her, she turned to him angrily stomping on his foot before he could get away, he doubled over howling in pain. She turned to the woman that walked in front of him, "your boyfriend/husband has long hands- you're fucking lucky I turned eighteen last month son of a bitch." She looked at him, "otherwise I'd be calling the cops on your sorry ass."
"What?" The woman asked the man who was now trying to scurry off the plane as everyone around him stared at him. "Nothing, nothing."
"Fucking pervert!"
"Rose what happened?" Emmett asked her.
"That motherfucker palmed my ass and squeezed it for good measure."
"What?" Emmett boomed, he pulled her aside, "Rose get my bag, Bella don't step off the plane until I come back please."
"Emmett-" Emmett made his way around the sardine can of a plane reaching the man who was at the head of the line to disembark. "What the hell?" Alice whispered craning her neck to get a better look, Rose had a look of mild surprise as she stared at Emmett.
After a few condescending words from Emmett, who towered over the small Pee-Wee Herman-like man he made his way back apologizing for going against the current of human salmon. "Come on."
"What did you say to him Emmett?" Alice squeaked.
"Nothing Pix," Emmett answered taking his bag from Rose's hand telling us to get in line. I looked at Rose who kept her eyes on Emmett, she had a faint blush on her alabaster skin as she bit her lip delicately. I grinned, Emmett's back, back, back, back again, -gan –gan. Emy's back, back, back tell a friend, -end, -end.
I cracked myself up.
~.~.~.
"Holy…" Rose gasped as we made our way into the big Roaring Twenties-style lobby of our hotel. There were a few guests milling around in the lounge area where a baby grand stood around a circle of luxurious-looking sofas; there was a small art deco chandelier over it and a small bar that was obviously closed- giving it a speakeasy feel. The hotel dripped of old school sophistication whether it was real or fabricated.
"Come on ladies, don't drool." Emmett winked as I bumped into an awestruck Alice. "Sorry."
"Is k." She answered not bothering to look at me.
"Good morning sir welcome to the Hilton Los Angeles, how may I help you this morning?" The tall, thin and well-maintained concierge asked Emmett who was the first to get to the polished maple desk. Two bellhops carried our luggage in shiny gold carts, "we have a reservation under Cullen."
The man typed something up and asked, "E.A Cullen or E.M. Cullen?"
Huh?
"Did Edward reserve our rooms?" Alice asked Emmett, he shook his head. "No, Dad did- I'm sorry," he leaned in somewhat confused, "E.A. Cullen?"
"Yes, but I'm assuming you're E.M. Cullen?"
"That's right." Emmett nodded, taking out his wallet, "may I see your ID sir?" Emmett showed him his driver's license before the man finished his sentence. "Great, may I see a credit card sir? Just to have on record or will you want it charged to the credit card with which you reserved the rooms?"
After we checked in we were taken to the "North Tower" of the hotel, the twenties' feel following us everywhere. "Was this place built then?" Alice asked one of the bellhops but Emmett beat him to the punch, "no. Conrad Hilton came to Los Angeles in the forties, the company probably wanted to go with the theme. The building itself is obviously pre-war not art deco." He said in a very un-Emmett way.
Alice, Rose and I stared at him with our mouths slightly open. Emmett liked to talk about architecture but was always shut down, "that's cool Emmett; yeah uh huh, yeah." But he sounded so cool talking about it now. I glanced at Rose who kinda sorta swooned.
Emy's back, back back…
We were led to a huge suite, complete with living area, a small bar and huge palatial bathroom. "Holy fucking room, Batman!" Rose said popping her head into the bathroom. The actual bed was inside a bedroom.
"Dad wanted you to have the Presidential Suite," Emmett laughed not putting his things down since his room was next doordd. "He had to pull a few strings but he managed it."
"Clinton stayed here during office," one of the bellhops, a cute blonde told us, "S.S. reserved the upper floor and lower floor during his stay."
"Hence the name?" I asked looking out of the huge windows that overlooked California suburbia, the bright sun was rising, giving the area a sunflower yellow hue, it was already hotter than the hottest day in Forks.
"That's right. It takes up half the floor, there are smaller suites around you." The second bellhop, a freckly redhead told us pointing to the walls adjacent to where I stood. We all nodded knowing it was his way of reminding us we weren't the only ones on the floor.
"Ok, ladies I'm going to run upstairs and freshen up. Do you have jetlag?" As soon as Emmett said this, I felt the weight of the pills come back. Alice and Rose said no but I nodded yes.
"I'm sleepy." I told them yawning.
"Oh come on Bella!"
"No let her, she's not used to it."
"Nor am I!"
"But you don't have spunk reserves, Ro." Emmett laughed coming to me, "get into your king-sized bed and sleep while we go downstairs and get a tour. I'll give it to you when you wake, huh?" I nodded thankful sweet Emmett was on my side. "I'll have them send breakfast in two hours."
"'K." I said going into the muted bedroom and falling on stomach into the soft, pillowy sheets.
In less than a second I a heard muffled voice somewhere to my right. "Bella's sleeping." The voice was soft and musical but it was somewhat foreign. I sighed digging into my pillow, stupid dream.
"Ok don't worry I won't wake her… yeah… yeah I know. Y'all have fun." I smiled, I love the southern accent. "Bells," I began to shake uncontrollably.
I opened my eyes, "HOLY SHIT! EARTHQUAKE!" I jumped up remembering that California was earthquake country. "IT'S THE BIG ONE, IT'S THE BIG ONE Y'ALL!" I said in a horrible unintentional southern accent that carried from my dream. I jumped on the bed, scrambling to get up and run to where my friends were.
"Bella relax, Bella!" Someone grabbed me and pulled me down, I blinked a few times to find Jasper's baby blue eyes on me. "Jasper?!"
"You ok?"
"W-what are you doing here?" I looked around and noticed through the open bedroom door that the sun was high in the sky by how harsh the light fell into the room outside.
"I need to talk to you in private." He told me, leaning in and whispering.
"Huh?"
"Edward made me promise to let you sleep so as to not disturb you and not ruin his surprise but I need to talk to you." His eyes moved around on the bed not looking up at me. "Edward's here?" My heart skipped a beat, awww! My boyfriend is such a stalkerish sweetheart! He's lucky I'm just as possessive as he is though.
"I've been desperate to talk to someone about this and what better person than you?" Jasper brought me back from my mental conga dance.
"What are you talking about?" I began to worry, what would Jasper need that only I could give him?
"Promise- no," he shook his head emphatically, "swear to me that you will not tell anyone- especially Edward about this."
"Jas-"
"I-I swear." He insisted holding my hand tightly and staring hard into my eyes. I was seriously worried now. He searched my face looking for something, I don't know what- before he let out an aggressive breath standing up from his little perch and pulling on his hair as he spun around, "I like Alice!"
My mouth dropped, my face coming forward. If it hadn't been properly connected and inside my body it would have come totally unhinged. My heartbeat skipped a beat for Alice and I cheered a sisterly cheer in my head. YES! YEEEEEE-SSSSS!
"A-and…"
"And I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place with Edward." He told me desperately. I stood up, "oh." I nodded once, swallowing hard. "Oh."
"Things shifted last year." Jasper told me but going back to avoiding eye contact, "I was depressed because of Karla and my situation at home… and Alice was there to listen to my ramblings and rantings, always having a reassuring word to say." I nod trying hard not to smile for my friend. "Before then, I saw her as 'Edward's sister' but then…" he slowed down, softening, "I saw the way she fiercely defended your friendship albeit somewhat flawed and I thought 'wow, she really loves Bella; jeez I wish someone would love me the way she loves her.'"
I blushed, smiling sheepishly; he went on, "being an only child and having come into a poisonous family made me a very lonely kid." He told me, looking up slowly, "my mother cared more about her materialistic pleasures and my father was obsessed in using me as his personal pawn. My extended family saw me as both a little prince and an untouchable phantom. I moved around a lot," he chuckled darkly, "I went to every private school on the eastern seaboard as well as Los Angeles, never really sticking to one place or the other because of David's fancies or because I didn't want to be there."
I felt a pang of empathy, "I didn't have any real friends because they all saw me as either the new kid, the kid with the Yosemite Sam accent- even though mine isn't as pronounced, or as the oil tycoon's grandson." I bit my lip, my eyes watering slightly, "David told me to go to Dartmouth and study Business and Finance so I'd be ready to take over when the time came but I asked him if I could chose the way I would live there.
"I wanted a sense of independence no matter how fleeting, hence answering Edward's ad for a roommate." I nodded, but didn't interject. Jasper was opening up to me and I couldn't interrupt him, "I liked Edward immediately. I don't know if it's because he likes The Doors or James Dean or because he didn't give a fuck when I told him the truth about who I was- one of the only few people to react this way and be genuine." He chuckled, "the thing is Bella," he stepped forward looking sad, "Edward has grown to be my brother and the only person I can truly trust; he's my Alice or Rose…" That's why he's asking for my help, he identified with me.
"So…"
"So I'm asking you as a friend to help me gather courage to come clean to Edward and get Alice to fall for me."
Why is it that everyone sees me as a little cupid? I asked not angry or insulted but genuinely curious. Alice and Rose had asked me the same thing at different times and now Jasper. I just had Emmett left to check off.
Jasper saw me waiver and quickly added, "please." I looked at him thinking it over. Alice was already head over heels for him so that was not even a question but Edward…
How would Edward feel about his best friend dating his little sister and how would he feel about his little sister dating his best friend?
Hmmm…
Gasp! Hahahaha! No seriously, who guessed Rose and Jasper's plot lines? I know a few of you did :D
Did anyone catch what Charlie was trying to convey after the graduation ceremony and at the airport? ;) It's immature of him but very plausible.
Oh! I know I was pretty vague as far as "Junior Year" hints but they'll get bigger once Bella and Kate begin living together. Los Angeles will probably consist of one full chapter if not less, I'm using it as a transition.
(BTW The Hilton Los Angeles doesn't exist- there is a Hilton in a neighboring city to LA but it's called something else. As you know, I don't own that either although Paris has a cut in the fortune. -rolls eyes-)
Besos! ~I.E.
P.S. Thank you to those who read and/or reviewed George Clooney's Brother- if i decide to write another chapter, I'll send it via PM to those who've reviewed/alerted it. That is all.