Word Prompt: Collide
Seeing Edward become so nervous was harder than I thought it'd be. On one hand, I felt bad for pushing, while on the other hand, I knew that this story needed to come out. Whatever it was, it could not be any worse than I was already concocting in my head. I thought about everything from his first true love to psycho ex, and everything in between. I worried he still thought about her, though his attention never seemed to waiver from me, and I wondered if I'd ever passed her on campus. It was getting bad, so I needed the answers for my own sanity.
"I met Kara when I was a freshman during rush week," Edward explained. "I had gone to a few houses to scope things out with Emmett, while Rosalie did the same with a few girls she'd met in her dorm building. One of those girls happened to be Kara. She wasn't a freshman like us, but her sorority house was full so she was staying in the dorms. She seemed nice and at every turn, it was like we constantly kept running into them. I never thought much about it, she was in a group with Rose and she and Emmett seem to collide without trying." He paused for a second and looked away. I could almost feel his frustration roll off of him, but he kept on.
"After our initial rush period and getting bids and pledging, life seemed to just settle down. Emmett and I chose ASP, Rose didn't get a bid into Kara's sorority but they still remained friends since they lived on the same floor. All seemed fine for a while, we all hung out on and off campus and naturally our group sort of paired up, except me. When I got to school I still preferred to be a little more reserved and I was never one for huge parties, Emmett well, he dragged me around a lot. After a few months and Emmett's push I decided to give thing with Kara a go and asked her out." When he stopped talking again, I almost spoke up, but something told me not to.
"When I look back now, I know that I wanted to like her more than I did. I figured with us always being out together anyway that it wouldn't be that big of a change, but I was wrong. Slowly she started popping up more than she had before. I was pledging to a house that traditionally doesn't link up with hers and she began pushing me to de-pledge and attempt to go over to DE's house the next year. I had made the commitment to ASP, as had Emmett, and I wasn't leaving, but I didn't think much of it at the time. I was still young, maybe a bit naive, and I assumed it was because she didn't like going to every event solo. A few weeks after that, I had gone out to a party with some of the ASP brother's off campus. I wasn't old enough to drink, so I was technically acting as their DD, but it was just like another bonding thing. The Tri-Delta's house was there and that was actually when I met Stephanie, she was there acting as a DD for her sister's, and we started talking. Honestly, it was innocent, but Kara showed up about an hour in and blew up. She went after me, than tried to attack Stephanie, I got pulled out and was handed my ass by Drew, the ASP President at the time, and the whole night ended with a mess. I apologized to Steph about twenty times before she'd even talk to me and it just got ugly. That night, I broke up with her."
As Edward started to talk, I was starting to see that she was probably in the psycho ex range, but she also sounded very clingy and very insecure. Of course, in the same thought I started to wonder if I had done anything to make Edward think I could turn into a psycho at a moment's notice.
"Anyway, she didn't take it well. She screamed and cried and cried some more, but I was done. I can handle a lot of things, but trust is huge with me. Once she showed how little she trusted me it was over, but that wasn't good enough for her. It started with random texts throughout the day about how sorry she was, and I heard everything from she'd been drinking to someone had told her more had gone on to she hadn't had enough sleep. Eventually, I called to block the number from contacting me, so she got a new number. That went on for a few days before I started getting random letters on my dorm room door. They were more or less the same, but a little crazier. I contacted her sorority President who swore she'd put an end to it, but then it just got worse. She stated popping up in my classes, at the cafeteria, at my car, at ASP events; you name it and she was there. Sometimes she'd try to talk to me and sometimes she'd act like I didn't exist. One night before Thanksgiving break she cornered me in the parking lot and told me I'd be sorry for not taking her back. I had finally had enough and went to the dean with everything. She vowed to step in, but it was Thanksgiving break and I was staying at my parents for a few days, so I never had a chance to follow up before driving home. My parents' house is only about forty-five minutes away, so I wasn't far." Edward took another break and after a second I held my hand out for his. He willingly put his hand in mine as I gently rubbed his knuckles. When I had asked about Kara, I guess I hadn't realized it would be so in-depth, but I could tell the end was near.
"When I got home, everything was normal. My mom and aunt were in the kitchen, my dad and uncle were watching a ball game, Emmett and Rosalie were off doing something, and when the door rang I didn't think twice but to answer. We were expected a few family friends anyway, but when I opened the door to see Kara I freaked. We had only gone on a handful of dates; it wasn't like I had introduced her to my parents or gave her their address. I quietly tried to get her to leave, but she had other plans. My mom, of course, rushed to the door and before I could even utter a word she told my mom she was pregnant and it was mine."
"What?" I blurted out interrupting him. My eyes blinked rapidly as I tried to take in what he had just said. Edward chuckled for a second and shook his head, before hushing me so he could finish.
"In the moment, I froze. I hadn't realized exactly how vindictive she was at the time, but I did know she was very desperate. My mom then started to freak out which grabbed the attention of everybody in the house, my parent's friends showed up about ten minutes into this huge exchange that had Kara explaining to my mom and aunt that she had told me and I told her to get an abortion and I offered to pay for it and on and on. No matter what I said, nobody listened until Emmett and Rosalie came in and Rosalie flipped out. She had known everything that had been going on, on campus and she freaked. I've never seen Rose explode quite like that, but by the time she was done everyone was just as confused as they were from the start. It ended up being one of the worst trips home ever, my dad lectured me on the importance of who I associated with, my mom wasn't sure what to believe but Kara had brought a positive pregnancy test so she believed she was pregnant, my aunt tried to comfort me, and my uncle gave me a good lecture on life lessons. Of course, being the doctor, he immediately offered to take her to the hospital right that second to verify that whole mess and when Kara didn't refuse I had a gut feeling that she wasn't lying. One ultrasound later and her pregnancy was confirmed, but when my uncle gave me the dates I knew it wasn't mine."
I nodded my head somewhat relieved that Edward didn't have a child I wasn't aware of, but his statement about casual sex was definitely starting to make a lot more sense to me too.
"My mom wanted to go after her for defamation of character, which I refused. I denied that I could have been the father for almost two weeks before she finally broke down to one of the sister's in her sorority. She had always known the Cullen and Masen families had money, so when I asked her out, she wasn't going to say no. Her parents are well off so she wanted more or less the same, but then she got pregnant from a random hook-up about a week after we started dating. When I broke things off with her, her plans had gotten ruined because she had already told her parents about me. She didn't go home for Thanksgiving because she told her folks she was invited to my parents' house which is why she used that moment to make a scene. She never expected so many questions and she figured I'd bow down because she knew I was a 'good guy'." He actually used his hands to quote those words. "Her sister ended up going to the dean because she feared for Kara's life, it seemed the further along she got, the more alarming her behavior got."
"Her dad showed up at my dorm room the week of finals to inform me that Kara would no longer be bothering me and they were moving her to a school out east. I haven't seen nor heard from her sincer, but I spent most of sophomore year talking exclusively to ASP Brothers and Tri-Delta Sisters. So, that is the story of Kara, and why Rosalie felt the need to warn you or warn me, I don't know. You're not her, but she's always told me I'm nicer than I should be and I guess she felt like I had put myself in a position to be vulnerable again. When I look back now, there were a lot of things I ignored even early on before I asked her out, but I try not to think about it now."
There was a slight pause and I realized it was now my turn to talk, but what did you say to that? Kara was definitely a psycho ex-girlfriend and I was mildly offended that Rosalie would even put my name in the same sentence as this chick, but I could see her being protective of Edward. At least she liked me now, I guess.
"When I asked about Kara I was not expecting that," I informed him with a sigh. "And, I guess it makes sense why Rose is go protective of you, though our names better never be in the same sentence again."
"Bella," Edward said as he moved to sit next to me again. "You're not her; I wouldn't be here if I thought you were.'
"Well, that is reassuring," I replied sarcastically still a bit shocked from his story. I realized we had been sitting in the same position for a while when I tried to turn my body and I winced in pain from my leg falling sleep.
"What's wrong?" he asked immediately with concern. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, my leg is just asleep and it feels really weird," I explained as I tried to massage it so it'd wake back up. When Edward pushed my hands out of the way and started kneading just above my knee my breath actually hitched a bit. He looked up at me and smiled just a bit.
"Better?" I nodded my head and twisted my body so that I was back to being closer to him.
"I guess it goes without saying that you slept with her?" I had asked about Kara, I didn't figure there was much more that could be worse and if we were doing serious, I was ready to get serious out of the way so we could focus on everything else.
"I swear you have ADD sometimes, but yes, I did," he answered honestly with a chuckle. "I have slept with two girls in my life."
"I'm assuming Kara is the reason behind your casual sex rule?" I looked over at him in time to see his head slightly nod.
"Yes and no. Emmett had made me go with him to a party our senior year and I ended up losing my virginity that night to a girl I had been friends with for a while. We were close to graduating, she wanted to and I let my hormones rule me. Nothing happened again after that until Kara, and then after that whole mess I had sort of ruled out the idea of dating all together. My focus really was on school and I had a timeline for my life, I want kids one day but not now and especially not then, but my uncle sat me down after it was all said and done and lectured me a bit. He reminded me that sex had a purpose and I needed to choose wiser. I knew I was never going to see Rebecca after graduation and I thought of Kara as more of a fling, so by the end of his speech I felt a little guilty. I made a resolve that night to be more careful in a lot of aspects of my life, and sex was one. I've been on a few dates since Kara, but I had never met someone I could see being with long term so it never really became an issue," Edward explained seriously. "And, then I met you."
I looked over again and saw him smiling though the glow of the lamp blocked a lot of his face with shadow. He leaned over to kiss my forehead and I sighed into his chest.
"And, then you met me," I repeated his words out loud. "You see a future with me."
"I do," he replied. "I think there are still things we're learning about each other and I think it'll be a learning experience, but I can see a future and I like the idea of that. You took my breath away the second I saw you and even when I thought you hated me; it took a lot for me not to think about you. In a way, what I went through is part of why I tried to push back from you so much. I didn't want to turn into that and I never wanted you to feel as uncomfortable as I had been. I cared about you then, and then we finally started talking and you just bring this peace I've never felt before. When Emmett got the call, if things had ended differently." He shook his head and sighed before finishing, "I would have always thought about the what-ifs."
"Well, I'm here," I exclaimed in a cheesy tone that made him chuckle. He kissed me again before pulling back with a smile.
"You are here. However, since we're in the realms of pasts, fess up," Edward pushed and this time it was my time to groan.
"Can we lay down first, my back is starting to hurt," I said and cringed as I tried to move my back against my wall.
Edward helped me adjust the pillows behind me as I stretched my arms over my head to help my muscles relax a little bit. He ended up turning the lamp off before getting in bed right next to me. Once we were settled, I knew it was my turn to start talking.
"Well, I don't have any really entertaining stories, but I dated a few guys in high school. My dad is the police chief so that was intimidating, but there was this guy, Seth, that I dated the longest and who I lost my virginity to. The first time was awkward and we chose a really bad spot, we had a sex a few more times before I broke up with him. It wasn't that great," I explained anticlimactically. I didn't really have much of past or much dating experience. I stuck to school work, I hung out with friends, and while I wasn't an outcast, I wasn't Miss Popularity either.
"That's it?" he asked and I was glad he couldn't see me rolling my eyes.
"Pretty much," I replied. "I told you, my life wasn't all that exciting. This past week had been the most excitement I've had since I got my bid to the Tri-Delta's and before then it was getting my acceptance letter to UW."
"You call this past week exciting?" Edward's tone threw me, I wasn't sure if he was teasing or being serious.
"Sure, my parents came to town, I got waited on hand and foot, I heard three pretty awesome words from my boyfriend, ya know, pretty exciting if I do say so," I teased.
"Boyfriend, huh. Anyone I know?" When Edward slipped his arm out from under my head and prompted himself up over me, I knew he had taken the hint that I was joking.
"I think you might; really good looking, pretty tall, auburn hair, green eyes…ringing any bells?" I went on before Edward came down to kiss me. Instead of letting go after a few seconds, I kept my hands pressed on his shoulders so he wouldn't move. When he deepened the kiss even further I had to focus on not moaning into his mouth and trying to stay grounded at the time. It wasn't easy.
When we broke apart, I was left momentarily speechless as Edward moved back to lying next to me. I had almost forgotten about what we were talking about until he spoke up again.
"Now, being serious, what didn't you like?" While Edward's question was valid, it was also sort of awkward to answer. I guess this was part of communicating so I went with it.
"The first time hurt, not like getting your leg pinned by a steering wheel hurt, but uncomfortable. We tried like two or three more times after that, and it didn't hurt, but it felt like nothing. I don't even know how to explain it, I just didn't enjoy it," I mumbled the last part quietly.
"I see," Edward replied and it almost sounded like he was holding back a laugh. I appreciated that he hadn't laughed because at the time it worried me. I eventually did more research and realized it probably had something to do with positions and inexperience, but after the last time I almost caved and asked my mom if I was broken. I was old enough to know sex was supposed to feel good and I felt nothing…well, it was wet, and uncomfortable, and awkward, but it was also boring and sleep worthy.
"Can we drop it now?" I asked to ensure it wouldn't come up again for the moment.
"If you'd like," he answered. "But, Bella I have to warn you about something."
"What?" I snapped a little louder than I had intended because I fully expected him to crack a joke or something.
"I was just going to tell you, that when it does happen, because it will, there isn't a chance in hell that you won't feel it."
I wasn't sure whether to smile or smack him. So, I did both.
And, then, I cursed the damn cast.
I'm tired, good night :)
