It was bad.
It was terrible.
It was horrific.
It was any and every other synonym you can think of for bad.
All of the people I couldn't stand were stuck in one room with me. Granted it was a large room but our eight person table wasn't as large. Someone, who obviously hated me, put the tables together based on age, assuming it'd be best that way.
It wasn't.
Our table was pretty much a table of our old clique in high school. Mind you, Edward, Emmett and I were the only ones that still liked each other from that clique. Tanya, Lauren, Tyler Crowley, Emmett, Rose, Edward and I sat around the large table looking disgruntled. My parents, the Cullen's, the Denali's and another couple I didn't recognize sat at the table to our left.
I couldn't help but shift awkwardly in my chair as my mother blatantly flirted with Carlisle. Every time I glanced at their table, she had a hand on his arm, or was leaning in to him too much with an overzealous laugh. While I was so amazed and annoyed by Charlie and Esme's nonchalance, the same shit was happening right next to me. Not only was Tanya all over my boyfriend but Lauren was too.
"Come on, babe." Edward said with a chuckle. "At least try to look like this isn't killing you." Edward said as the skank duo headed off to the dance floor. He rubbed my shoulder and I nodded towards our parents who were all laughing and appearing to thoroughly enjoy each other's company.
"How do they do it?" I asked, biting my lip. He turned to look at our parents and smiling at his mom when she waved.
"They feel secure in their relationships, Bella." He said a hint of sadness in his tone. I shook my head and looked up at him. He'd turned around and was solely focused on his water glass.
"I'm secure in our relationship, but those bitches still piss me off." I said quietly. I reached up to cup his cheek and he grabbed my wrist, holding it still as he turned his head and kissed my palm.
"They also don't have the same history as you two do with the Bleach Blonde Bimbos." Rose piped up, making me furrow my eyebrows. "It's a bit of a different situation." I turned to her and she shrugged. There was no way she could possibly know what we were talking about.
"Don't give me that look. You of all people should know by now that I am the eyes and ears of this family." She rolled her eyes. "I know all about your mom and Carlisle. It's a little ridiculous that you're worried about it now."
"Worried about what?" Emmett asked around a mouth full of food. Edward wrinkled his nose in his brother's direction and I giggled. No matter how well put together, and nicely dressed Em was, he was still an oaf at heart.
"Nothing." Rose sighed.
"What do you mean now?" I asked, leaning forward curiously in my chair.
"This has gone on for years. If something was going to happen, it already would have." My eyes widened and I resisted the urge to throw my hands into the air.
"Why did everyone and their mother know about this before me?" I asked, looking back to Edward who shrugged.
"Baby, no one talked about it because it isn't anything to worry about." He shook his head and put an arm over the back of my chair, massaging the back of my neck. "You're going to give yourself an aneurism if you keep stressing about this. Don't worry about it. They're adults and so are we; we've got our own drama to deal with. Let them have theirs." He said, sitting back in his chair.
"I guess…" I sighed looking into my lap. Edward stood from his chair and pulled mine back a bit. "What are you doing?" I asked, looking up at him.
"We're going to mingle and have a good time." He said, casting a glance at Tanya and Lauren as the approached the table. He held out the crook of his elbow and I took it warily.
"Oh Isabella, I'm glad you've gotten your life back on track." Mrs. Carmen said with a smile as she laid a frail hand on my arm.
"I'm sorry?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.
"Your parents told me about you letting go of your roots, throwing your life away. What a shame." She shook her head, looking at the floor with a shrug. I glared at her and her frumpy purple smock with annoyance. Of course a woman I haven't spoken with in three years would assume I was throwing my life away because I cut myself off.
"I didn't let go of any roots." I shook my head, lifting a confused eyebrow. The woman grinned and patted Edward's face. He sent her a dazzling smile and she batted her eyelashes.
"I'm glad you've got sweet Eddie here to help you though." I sighed and shook my head. "Good for you dear. Your parents, heck, all of us were waiting for this to happen. I'm just surprised you didn't make a public announcement. Let the cronies know that you're taken." She gestured over her shoulder at Tanya and her dogs that were standing by the bar.
Edward snorted and my eyes widened. Mrs. Carmen, also known as Mrs. Denali was Tanya's mother. They were never the closest mother daughter pairing but… Jeeze.
"Thanks." I said with a surprised chuckle. Edward wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side.
"So..." Mrs. Carmen looked over her shoulder nonchalantly and lifted her wine glass toward her lips. "When's the wedding?" She asked before taking a gulp of the alcohol.
I coughed in surprise and Edward rubbed my back. "No time soon, Mrs. Carmen, we've not been together all that long." He said smoothly.
"Oh god." Another small woman approached Mrs. Denali with a roll of her eyes. "Looks like we'll be waiting another ten years. You two..." She shook her head and Edward chuckled leaning forward to kiss the woman on the cheek. She quickly turned her head though so that his lips met hers and winked at me. I furrowed my eyebrows at her and she waved me off.
"You know I don't do cheeks, dear." She shook her head.
"Of course not, Mrs. Mallory." He said with a cautious glance my way as she lifted a hand and wiped the remnants of her lip gloss off of Edward's mouth.
"Mrs. Mallory?" I asked, my voice holding unnecessary surprise. The woman looked different every time I saw her, it shouldn't have surprised me. Even with her families being financially unstable she still managed to get another nose job or face lift. Of course I should have recognized her by her overzealous greeting, it was unmistakable.
"Of course! Hello, dear!" She pulled me in for a hug and smacked a kiss on my lips as well. "How are you?" She asked with a bright smile and sharp eyes. The woman hasn't been able to even tolerate me since my high school years so the smile was more of a shock than the glare.
"Fine, and you?" I asked, my lips sticking together a little due to her lip gloss. Mrs. Denali rolled her eyes and handed me a towel.
She ignored my question and turned back to Edward. "Well maybe if they hold out long enough one of our little girls will have a chance." She giggled before turning to Mrs. Carmen who didn't look as amused. Mrs. Mallory tossed a look over her shoulder to Lauren who quickly looked away when my eyes followed her mother's gaze.
"I don't think we'll be waiting that long this time, right, babe?" He asked pressing his lips to my temple.
I shrugged and turned into him, resting a hand on his stomach. "It's your call." I said with a lifted eyebrow, before wiping more of the lip-gloss from his mouth. He winked and kissed my forehead.
"Okay, okay. I'm here." My grandmother trotted up from who knows where. She looked gorgeous as always in a sleek but age appropriate black gown. "I'll entertain the wolves." She smiled and I hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek. Mrs. Denali and Mrs. Mallory just chuckled, knowing the worst they could do was stand against one of the oldest and most powerful socialites there was in this part of the country.
"Mrs. Swan, always a hoot." Mrs. Mallory gushed. Grandma gave her a dirty look and reached up so that she could hug Edward.
"Good god, you've gotten to be a hunk, haven't you?" She asked pinching his cheek before hip checking me. He shrugged and winked at her and she shook her head. "Cockiness isn't becoming on most.. But on you it works." He laughed and hugged her again, whispering a quick thank you before grabbing my hand and pulling me away.
"Your grandmother is the second love of my life." Edward proclaimed with a laugh as we moved towards the dance floor.
"And your first would be...?" I asked coyly.
"Well your mother of course. I have an affinity for the Swan women." He said earning a slap to the bicep. "Too soon?" I nodded and he wrapped his arm around my waist, holding my other hand up by his shoulder as he started to move us around the floor. "To be fair it was a silly question." He smiled rubbing the tip of his nose against mine as we danced.
"I guess." I smirked and he dipped me back. "Of course I should have known the answer is David." I lifted my eyebrow. A camera whirred past us snapping pictures as it went but Edward and I stayed locked on each other.
"Actually, that leads me into my next point." He said, spinning me out and then pulling me backwards against his chest. "I'm bored."
I furrowed my eyebrows, not quite understanding the connection. "With women?" I asked.
"No-"
"Heterosexuality?" I tried again, he gave me an annoyed huff.
"Stop-"
"With pretending to be British?" He wrinkled his nose.
"No, stop guessing, you're terrible at it."
"Way to break me down." I shook my head with a fake pout.
He ignored me, "The way I see it we have two options." His eyes darted around the ballroom and I leaned in hoping to catch on to whatever he was talking about. "We can find an empty room or closet and get it on like teenagers or we could act like adults and sit through the painfully snobby ceremony." He spun me out again after he finished and I moved back towards him, facing him.
"We are adults... Or at least that's what they think." I nodded to the tables that held our "friends" and family. "Then again our teens were the glory years." He nodded pretending to seriously ponder my words.
"Decisions, decisions..." He mused, as we danced our way to the door. My underwear dampened in a way that made my eyes shoot open.
"Damn it!" I hissed as he let go of me in the hall.
"What?" He asked as I pressed my legs together.
"I need to head to the bathroom." I said, as urgency crept into my tone. He furrowed his eyebrows and I blushed.
"Do you still keep those tampons on you?" I hissed even though there was no one in earshot.
"Tampons? Ew no, I stopped doing that after you forgave me."
"I need to get to the bathroom." I frowned, feeling like I could cry.
"I think this moment is telling us that we are too close." Edward said giving me a wary look.
"That's not funny! Oh but we weren't too close for you to carry a tampon for two years?" I wailed, feeling overcome with embarrassment.
"Don't cry. God, PMS just like snaps on doesn't it? No warning-"
"Edward!" I pushed his shoulder and took of down the hall. I heard his footsteps behind me until I crashed through the door to the Women's bathroom. I darted past the two women at the mirror and into a stall, undoing myself to check my underwear...
Nothing.
I huffed and a tear slipped down my cheek. What a dumbass...
I could've sworn...
"Isabella? Is that you?" Tanya sneered from the other side of the door. I couldn't see her but nastiness saturated her tone.
"Good." I hissed to myself before straightening out my shit and wiping my wet cheeks.
I was reaching for the handle when Lauren spoke, "Tanya, I don't think this is a good-" I pulled the door open and a fist snapped forward, nailing me in the cheek. I gasped and knocked away her arm after she swung a second time.
"You bitch!" Tanya hissed stalking toward me as I stumbled backwards. My cheek stung with a dull ache as I looked at her. "He was mine before you crossed his mind!" She kept her voice low and dangerous, probably so that she didn't alert any guards.
"What?!" I hissed cupping my cheek as her foot connected with my leg. My cheeks flushed angrily as I fell backwards, the fabric of my dress sent me skidding until I hit the toilet.
"What the hell is your problem?" I asked looked up at her and then Lauren who looked exited. "You crazies..." I scrambled to my feet, grabbing the skinny metal toilet paper holder from next to the toilet as I stood. Her eyes widened as I pulled it back and swung it at her like a baseball bat, connecting with her waist and sending her into a wall.
Tanya hit the wall and slid to the floor. "That's not fair!" Lauren yelled pointing at me.
"You are jumping me in a bathroom!" I said before the back of my knees were kicked sending me to the floor again. The toilet paper stand skidded away and I gasped.
"Why don't you just agree to back off of Edward? It'll make it easier on all of us." I sat up only for Lauren to kick me in the stomach.
"He doesn't want your poor ass anyway! He called me last week." She lied, "Said you were a bore." I shot onto my knees and lunged at her. I landed on top of her and through punches, aiming for her face as she blocked it.
My neck was grabbed by Lauren, who with surprising strength pulled me off of her friend. I, once again, went sliding into the wall.
Another set of heels clicked into the room as Lauren and Tanya approached me. Tanya who's eyes glowed with rage didn't give a shit though as she threw a bony punch into my stomach, making me wheeze. Lauren's heavy hand shot across my face and I stumbled to the side, managing to see Rose come up quietly behind the women.
"Why the hell are you doing this?" I groaned in pain and Tanya pulled back a fist only to have Rosalie grab her bleached locks and yanked her down, backwards. My blonde friend threw a fist into Tanya's cheek before dropping her.
"Edward!" She screamed as Tanya went for her while Lauren kneed me between the legs. It hurt but, being a woman, not as much as she intended. When she made contact there were two distinct rips that I ignored. I grabbed her hair, taking the tip from Rose and pulled her in my direction before dropping my shoulder so that she hit the wall.
"Rose?!" Edward's distinguishable walk echoed across the bathroom before he stood at the door to the handicap stall we were in. Once he took in the scene he yelled for more help before pulling Rose out by the waist and then coming back in for me. He wrapped his arm around my waist and literally lifted me from the floor as he walked out.
"What the hell is going on?!" He hissed as guards rushed through the door. Rosalie shrugged nonchalantly and I leaned over, giving her a big hug.
"Are you okay?" She asked quietly, her stone blue eyes locking on mine. I nodded and turned to stop Edward from fussing over me.
Apparently word had spread extremely quickly and Emmett and a group of others joined us in the bathroom.
"Let's..." Edward gestured to the door. I nodded as he pulled me into his arms, leading me out of the bathroom. On the way out I caught my mothers disgusted eye and ducked my head to prevent seeing her disappointment.
Once we were outside Edward cupped my face, giving me a critical once over. I was a little shaky after the debacle and very bruised, I was sure.
"What happened?" He asked quietly after pulling my shaking frame into a hug, I felt pitiful.
"I walked out of the stall and Tanya just decked me." I said softly, letting him pull me in tighter as we headed into the dining hall. "I just don't know why...?" Except, I did kind of know. She wanted my boyfriend and was angry when she couldn't have him. It was still a little outrageous to attack someone because of a little jealousy.
"I think they're just jealous because you are much more beautiful than all of them on the inside and out." Edward said as we crossed the dining hall. I rolled my eyes and he offered me a cute smile.
"I think they're pissed because you're off the market." I groaned realistically, flipping the wet napkin over and pressing it to my nose which was apparently bleeding. "Maybe going out the front door isn't the best idea." I said grabbing his arm and coming to a stop.
"Why? Everyone who would make a big deal about this is in here." He said looking over his shoulder to see Carlisle and Esme marching over to us angrily. I cringed under their glares as they met us.
"Stupid whore." Esme growled, "This is the last time she'll be invited to my events." She growled, pulling a tissue from her clutch before starting to fuss over my face. I sighed, relieved that she wasn't angry with me. Rosalie soon appeared behind her in laws and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
"I've got you." She winked and nudged my arm as she passed us, arm in arm with Emmett who desperately tried to shield them from cameras.
"Thank you," I said earnestly, stopping her and hugging her tightly. She nodded and waved at the rest of the peeved group around her. Emmett tugged her from us and through the front door, most likely wanting to get out before the press or police showed up.
"And you know what?! Mallory's dumb ass should have left you alone. We'll sue her for everything she's got." Esme continued to rant. "All five dollars that is." She rolled her eyed and nudged a stoic Carlisle. I bit my lip and Esme's eyes locked on mine, immediately softening.
"Are you all right?" She asked with a shake of her head before she pulled me into a hug. My nose started bleeding again and she made me tilt my head back. Carlisle had pulled Edward to the side and they spoke in hushed tones a few feet away from us. "You should come home with us, honey." Esme whined as she looked over my shoulder. Carlisle cast us a glance and said something about Esme being drunk, which explained a lot.
"I'll nurse you back to health, it'll be like you're my little girl all over again." She wailed, throwing her arms around me and tucking my head into her neck.
"Isabella!" My mother's icy voice snapped from behind me. I pulled my head from Esme's grasp and looked up at her. Mom stood bone straight, with my father giving me a sympathetic look from behind her. Esme pouted at me and patted my back before letting me pass her and going back to her husband.
"I asked you to be civil, just this once!" She waved her finger at me and my heart dropped. "And you're in the bathroom fighting like you're in fucking high school!?" I blanched at her use of the f-word.
"Mom, I-" She held up her hand and my chin fell to my chest, as I felt unfairly berated.
"No, Isabella! You are a disgrace!" She said loudly, garnering looks from those immediately around us.
"Renee! Shut the hell up!" Esme barked from behind me, taking my arm and pulling me behind her. Edward caught me as I stumbled backwards and pulled me into his chest. "You should be ashamed of yourself for saying that to her!" My stomach churned as they argued and I turned into Edward's embrace. Mom leaned around Esme, still yelling at me as Edward pulled me backwards.
"You're officially cut off! I don't even want to-" Carlisle stepped forward and held Esme still as she moved closer to Mom.
"Edward, go." Carlisle said before Edward pulled me towards the door.
"Baby, it's alright." Edward whispered in my ear as we were escorted through a crowd of loud, fast talking, camera snapping bodies.
"Isabella! What happened to your dress?!"
"Cat fight, Isabella?!"
"Is this Edward's doing, Isabella?!"
I kept my head down and Edward helped me into the limo. Once I was safely in I bit my lip, my chin still tucked to my chest.
"My place please." Edward told the driver who'd picked us up earlier in the day. We were silent for a few minutes until the seat next to me shifted and Edward's thing pressed against mine.
"It's alright. Everything is fine." He soothed, kissing the top of my head. I held my hand out for him and he took it, lifting it to his lips. He laid a soft kiss on my hand and wrapped his arms around me.
"I mother was tipsy-" He said uneasily as he brushed my bangs from my face.
"She was provoked." I whispered, putting a hand on his thigh.
"By who?" He shook his head.
"Me, Mom was completely sober."
"Bull. You were jumped in a restroom. That's no reason to-" By that point he was fully in the cockney accent then he stopped and his eye twitched. I patted his chest.
"She was looking for a reason to fly off the handle at you. Fucking ridiculous." He picked up his keys and spun them around his finger.
"It doesn't really matter..." I whispered biting my lip.
"It does matter because she's hurting you." I gulped and shrugged a shoulder. "When you're hurting, I am too." I swallowed thickly and pulled up my knees a bit. "I love you, babe. More than my own life."
I blushed and hugged him tightly. "I love you too." I tilted my head up and he wiped a tear away with his thumb.
"My sweet girl." He murmured before pressing his lips to mine. "Maybe we can convince Em to give your Mom a good dicking, then we can move on." He huffed, an irritated edge still in his voice even though he was joking. He pulled my hair out if my bun before resting his head against my neck.
"Whatever happens, everything will be fine." I pursed my lips and gave him a sly, disbelieving look.
I've heard that before.
(^)
I hope you enjoyed!
I'm sorry for the delay!
But please review!
BTW: For those of you reading even though you dislike the story…(?)… Have no fear. The end is near.
I'm not even going to attempt replies though. I'm SO sorry :( Opening night for the musical is this Thursday and things are super crazy D:
