CHAPTER 28 – BPOV
"Um, you should totally do it!" Ang screams through the phone at me as I click the reply button. I laugh at her excitement and tell her she should calm down before her roof blows off.
"Alright, alright. Let me just type up a quick response." I'd done my research on all things Eric Yorkie. I only did it to make sure he wasn't just a fake, and he wasn't some psycho stalker. Of course I proved myself wrong after the twenty minutes I'd spent on his page. I watched a few of his sixty something videos and learned that he's a senior in high school, and is wishing to pursue a career in music. He absolutely has the voice to make it far in the industry and I admit I'm a little intimidated to work with him. What if he didn't like the direction I was going with the song? Or he suddenly realized my voice isn't good enough?
"Yay I'm so excited! Look at you collaborating with fellow YouTube musicians!"
I finish typing up my response letter keeping it short and simple. I basically told him I'd love to record with him, but it would have to be in a few weeks as I'm currently working on a project. That being the show, but of course I couldn't release this information.
I click send without hesitation. "Okay, all done. It's sent."
"Whoa," Ang pauses. "This guy has over two million views on most of his videos!" Why Ang and I didn't know about him is beyond me.
"Well yeah he's pretty amazing."
"Well I'm going to hang up and take a listen. Call me later?" I can already hear his cover of a Mike Posner song playing in the background.
"Yeah, sure. Bye!" We hang up and I proceed to e-mailing Renee quickly before Seth and Brooke get here. God knows I won't have time to do anything while they're here.
Cold hands sneak up from behind me, covering my eyes so I can't see a thing. The voice asks me to guess who it is, and no doubt it's Edward. Who else has extremely freezing hands in the hot, sunny California?
"The kids are here," he plants a kiss on my lips Spider-man style by leaning his tall body over mine so his lips can meet my desperate ones. I like the way he says kids, it's as if they're our own. It puts a smile on my face. "This means you have to get your lazy bum off this stupid bed sofa."
"Jealous are we?" I laugh pressing the send button and logging out of my account. I close my laptop and put it aside.
"I swear this thing," he spits out teasingly, "gets more of you than I do."
"It's good to know you fear losing me to a bed sofa." I giggle kissing his velvet lips. He tastes like syrup. He shoots me his heart melting crooked smile that makes me all warm inside. I grab his hand and run of out my room before we end up locking ourselves in it.
Payton's standing by the door and asks Seth and Brooke to go to the next room with Edward so she can talk to me.
"Is everything alright with Alice?" It's amazing how many lives have been touched by Alice. "Edward called me yesterday and told me she was in the hospital, but that's all that I know."
I put on a strong smile for her. "She's fine now, healthy and conscious. She was going through difficult times which lead her to the feeling of depression. But she's better now. They requested she'd stay another day in the hospital just to be safe and sure. Everyone is there with her now."
She's frowning, obviously heartbroken from the news. "Oh I'm so sorry. Please tell her to give me a call when she can. Her phone's been off."
"Yeah of course."
She turns her heel towards the door. "Well I've got to get to work. Thank you so much for taking the kids. I know that originally Seth was the only one you had to babysit but things with Brooke's family is so terrible and-"
"Payton it's no problem!" I assure her with a smile. "Brooke is good company."
"She's such a sweetheart," she frowns again thinking of her situation. "I just wish she didn't have to be going through so much."
"We all wish it," Payton opens the door and steps out waving a goodbye. "I'll see you later."
"Thanks again!"
"Oh wait!" she stops the door with her foot. "I forgot to tell you, Bella I got promoted thanks to you guys!" She's so excited when she throws her arms around me. I congratulate her and she says she's running later so she'll call me later.
I shut the door and find Edward and the angels in the kitchen already in front of big plastic bowls.
"We're baking again?" I ask in mock shock. It's a ritual to have baking time whenever they're here. I love it though; I get to act like a kid again.
"Actually they want some pancakes a la Edward," Edward winks at me and Seth and Brooke wave their hands in the air. "Alright what shape are we making them?"
Brooke puts a finger on her chin in thought. Seth does the same. The two of them think hard and come to the conclusion of Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes. Of course. These kids never want anything simple. Everything has to be fun and imaginative.
"Can they be chocolate chip pancakes too?" Seth's eyes and mouth widen with excitement. Edward chuckles nodding his head. I know Edward's going to be one of those dads who spoil their kid(s) too much.
We have breakfast on the patio by the pool. It's complete with Mickey Mouse chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries, bananas and kiwis on the side. I couldn't resist the beautiful setting of the early sun and the small waves in the pool so I ran up to my room and grabbed my camera. I snapped a few photos setting it on timer so it can get all of us seated at the glass table by the pool. This is definitely a keeper.
Brooke is in the middle of sipping her orange juice when she happily sighs, "I like this family breakfast!"
Family. Is that what she viewed Edward and me as? I'd hate to raise her hopes about the ideal family she has in her mind because anything can happen unexpectedly. She could lose her father and be put in an orphanage until someone- a single parent or family- adopts her. I'd hate to see or hear her go through it.
I signal Edward with my eyes to ignore her comment. It's bad enough we're placing these thoughts in her mind. I just don't want her to be disappointed later. I ask them if they'd like to go for a swim, trying to avoid this conversation. Seth and Brooke obviously say yes and run inside to fetch their bathing suits. As soon as they're gone I breathe out a sigh of frustrated relief.
Edward's arm extends across the table and he takes my hand in his. "Don't feel so down, love."
"I know," I grip my hair with my free hand staring down at my plate. "But I can't help it Edward. She's already lost her mother due to neglect and now she's going to lose her father to lung cancer!"
He's stroking my warm cheeks making soft noises to calm me down. "Everything will work out fine," he begins to tell me. Edward's always about the positive sides of every situation. It's as if he doesn't believe in negativity. "He is in good treatment. Carlisle is doing everything he can to help." When we'd found out about John- Brooke's father- Edward had called Carlisle asking him to aid John. At first Carlisle wasn't positive that John's case couldn't be treated as he was a heavy smoker and the cancer had spread throughout his body already. But that didn't keep him from trying.
Seth and Brooke come running out and they dive into the pool. Edward tells me to keep any eye on them and he'll clean up the table and wash the dishes. I thank him for being such a good person and he goes inside.
I watch as Brooke climbs the mini-slide and yells," Bella watch me! Watch me!" I nod at her and start to cheer her on as she slid down and into the pool. She emerges and automatically shoots her head towards me with a proud smile giggling, "I did it!"
Seth high fives her and they proceed to play a game of tag.
"Bella can we go to the mall?" Seth asks me, handing me his wet Cars towel. This boy always wants to go to the mall. "Where's Auntie Alice?" I guess the mall reminded him of her.
"She's stepped out for a moment," It's best if they don't know the exact details. "She'll be back soon."
He shrugs, believing me. "So can we go?"
"Bella can you grab a new dress for Brooke? She just spilled grape juice on hers." Edward's head pokes around the kitchen frame. I dig into her bag realizing it's the only dress she has packed and she just put it on after swimming.
"Edward she doesn't have one. How big is the spill?" His head disappears for a second and Seth is still looking at me for an answer. When Edward appears again, Brooke walks out with a sly smile and that's when I notice that half her dress is covered in juice.
"How did this happen?" Edward picks her up and she hides her face from me, her cheeks a light pink.
"I spilled it by accident. Don't be mad at me!" She's about to cry I can tell even if she's shielding her face in the crook of Edward's neck. He strokes her hair and plants a kiss on her head.
"Don't cry princess," he whispers in her ears putting her on the floor next to Seth and I. Seth looks at me with wide eyes and his mouth in the shape of an 'o' as if she's in trouble.
"I ruined it!" she cries, rubbing the fabric of her dress together as if it'll disappear.
I tell her we'll go to the mall and get her a new one. She has been wearing the same dress for the past couple of days I'd seen her, so maybe she needs a few more. I don't mind going shopping for new clothes. It's only when I'm with Rose and Alice I mind.
Seth is jumping for joy when I tell the two of them to go put on their shoes and wait for me by the door. Edward and I go up our room so I can get ready and grab my wallet.
"I don't have to be on set today," Edward tells me when I come back into his room wearing a pair of jeans and a thin white cardigan. "I was only going to go in to review my scenes."
"You should at least go for an hour or something." I put on my black and white chucks and throw my wallet into my black Jansport bag. Edward smirks when I throw it over my shoulder. "I'm not carrying a purse."
"You're the only girl I know who prefers backpacks over Louis Vuitton's." he eyes the Louis Vuitton's bag in the corner of his room. He bought me one for our five month anniversary and I do admit that it's nice but I don't like designer. He knows that, but he thought the look on my face as I blush and lie to him about how much I love the bag was amusing. So he went forth and bought me a damn designer bag. I feel a little guilty for not using it when I follow his gaze.
"And you're the only guy I know who would blow a thousand dollars on a bag his girlfriend won't even think of using."
He kisses me softly. "I love you."
"I know," I grin at him throwing my hair up in a ponytail. "So are you still planning on going to set?"
"I'll go for a half hour and I can meet you three at the mall?"
"Sounds perfect."
"Great I'll drive."
We get into the car five minutes later making sure Seth and Brooke are buckled safely in the back of the r8. Edward takes the Audi to work every day because it's the only car that has black tinted windows. He says it's his favourite car to hide from the paparazzi. He doesn't want them harassing us if one spots us on the road or something.
I think about tonight and how it's our half a year anniversary. Six months! That's so insane I almost can't believe it. Edward and I have been together for so long I can't imagine a day without him. I can't wait until it's time to leave for San Francisco. It means no drama, no noise and absolutely no one around to bug us.
It's just me and Edward.
We get to the mall in ten minutes and I pray to God no one will harass me while I'm with the kids. Luckily, the mall isn't so busy today and I've only had a couple of people approach me nicely. Seth and Brooke didn't seem to mind the few minutes I chatted with a couple of fans. When Edward meets us, it causes a riot in the mall that security, once again, has to save us. We end up walking out of the mall with three new dresses for Brooke and a pair of shoes for Seth. Both of which are satisfied despite the short trip.
"What are you smiling about Auntie Bella?" I should've known Seth would be observing me from his spot. Realizing I've been exposed I start to blush. Seth starts giggling and whispers something to Brooke. She joins in with him.
Edward's eyes are on the road, but a smile creeps on his lips and I know his eyes are dancing with amusement. "Yes love, what is it that has you smiling so wide?"
I stick my tongue out at him and then to Seth. "Oh nothing." I squeeze Edward's hand and we share an exchange of smiles.
"Why are we at the hospital Auntie Bella?" I turn around, sitting at the passenger side to face Seth and Brooke who are staring curiously at the front entrance. Edward had stopped to visit Alice and since we prefer not to take Seth and Brooke in, I volunteered to stay in the car with them.
"Edward's just visiting someone," I hate to lie to them, but its better if they don't understand. "He'll be out soon."
Brooke sighs in her new purple dress and leans her head against the window. She's hugging her new cinnamon swirls bunny from Build-a-Bear. Edward had taken her while Seth and I stopped for ice-cream. She loves the thing so much that she'll start to cry if you separate the two for even a second.
When I look out the windshield, Edward's emerging from the automatic doors. I try to read his expression to determine any signs of news for Alice. I can't make of anything, he's unreadable. He slips his signature black Ray Bans as he nears the car.
He gets in and fires up the ignition. "Shall we drop off the kids?"
I check the time seeing that Payton will be home in fifteen minutes. "Yeah, sure."
"No!" the two of them yell from the back. Edward starts to drive off the hospital property and back onto the road in the direction of Payton's.
"Why not?" I ask.
"I don't want to go home," there's fear in Brooke's eyes. I look at Edward and he squeezes my hand knowing exactly how I'm feeling at the moment. Poor Brooke is all alone at home while her father is asleep upstairs for most of the day. "I like it better at your house."
The rest of the ride to Payton's is awfully quiet. Brooke's expression grows sadder when we pull up Seth's driveway. Brooke lives three houses down and she knows it's her turn to go right after.
"You can stay with me and momma Brook," Seth offers with a smile. "We can make Brookie's too!"
Her face lightens up at the mention. "Okay!" Well that was easy.
When I see that Payton's car isn't in sight, I dial her number on my phone. She doesn't pick up the first time and when we decide we'll drop off Brooke first, she calls back telling me that she has to work all night and won't be home until five in the morning.
"Looks like we're stuck with you Seth." I half joke.
"Hey!" he hits his seat in mock shock. I just love teasing Seth. Edward calls me out on it and Seth nods his head saying, "You're a bully!"
When Edward pulls up on Brooke's empty driveway, I spot a note on the door. I get out of the car and rip off the yellow post-it on the door. There are scribble marks as if the pen had run out. In scrawny, messy writing similar to my own it says, "Payton please take Brooke for the night. My apologies, John".
I stare at the door in hopes it would open and John would step out. After five seconds of staring I realize he's probably at the hospital or something. I walk back to the car noticing a man with a camera hiding behind a bush, and a white van parked not too far away from him. I roll my eyes when I put the pieces together. Stupid paparazzi. Why can't they just leave us alone?
I hear various clicking sounds when I get back into the car. Thank god the windows are tinted so black that even when you lean up against it, you can't see inside.
"What's the verdict?" Edward asks me seeing disappointment all over my face. I know that that the kids are important and all and I'm so ashamed of myself for being so selfish thinking about tonight and how it's ruined.
"Brooke's dad is out for the night," I buckle my seat belt keeping my eyes on my hands. I don't want to look at the door with much hope again. "We're going to have to take them back to our place for the night."
Seth and Brooke are cheering and singing happy nursery rhymes in the back while I sit in silence and stare out the window.
"Auntie Alice!" Seth and Brooke run up to Alice whose colour has returned and her smile is as bright as the sun. It's good to see her back home and well.
"Hey guys," she bends to their level to give them a hug. Jasper walks out of the kitchen with drinks and greets the kids, then us. "Why don't you follow Uncle Jas downstairs and he can put on a movie for you guys okay? I have to talk to Edward and Bella."
At the mention of my name, I feel bad news coming on.
Jasper takes Seth and Brooke downstairs and we're met by Emmett and Rose. We take a seat in the family room, each couple paired on a couch.
"What's going on Alice?" I know Edward probably already has some idea about what Alice is going to say because of the weird sibling telepathy they share, but he's trying to mask the evidence on his face.
Her eyebrows pull together, but even before she says anything the devil decides to drop by rather loudly.
"Hello, hello!" His arms are raised in the air when he strolls in and steals Emmett's drink. He gulps it down quickly and tosses the empty glass back at Emmett who sits and glares at him.
"Halloween isn't until two months," Rose mutters, crossing her arms together. "You're a bit early."
Demetri bursts out in mock laughter. "What a funny one you are."
"Okay seriously what do you want?"
He turns to me, a wicked smile dancing on his face. He doesn't scare me though I know what he's capable of. He walks towards me and Edward has a protective arm around my waist. Demetri notices and smirks.
"Hollywood's hottest couple, yes?" His voice is manipulative and demeaning. "Speaking of Hollywood, how is your movie going Mr. Cullen?"
"Fine." There's venom in Edward's voice.
Demetri won't take a one word answer. "I hear you've just about wrapped up. What's next for the big teen heartthrob?"
Edward shrugs. "Are you going to get to the point or what?"
"I see… so eager for the bad news, are we now?"
Bad news. So there is bad news. Alice must've tried to warn us until the devil himself walked in.
We all wait for Demetri to stop his ridiculously wicked smiling and start speaking already. I swear it's so quiet in the room that you can actually hear the clock ticking.
"Well I would just like to congratulate all of you for creating such disgusting drama on this show. Though I'm disappointed that all the fun started a couple of weeks before it's ending. However our audience won't know that. Of course we'll be putting the scenes of our likings together an-"
Emmett coughs loudly signaling his boredom. Demetri raises an eyebrow before speaking again. "Geeze Louis you kids are so impatient it's ridiculous," he laughs a humourless laugh. "Well, if we must get to the point," he turns to me, his eyes cold and his smile so wicked. "Bella dearest, you must love taking care of the brats downstairs, yes?"
I nod once. What is he up to?
"But do you love Edward more?"
Of course. But I don't verbally answer him, just with a nod. Behind him Emmett, Rose and Alice are staring at me with confusion and fear. Edward is squeezing my hand, and his grip around me tightens. I don't know what to think right now. I don't know what's coming.
"How about our dearest Alice who lied," his voice raised and emphasized the last word, making us all flinch, "and brought sorrows to your lives?"
"Or Emmett the big goof ball who apparently considers talking really fast as a talent. How about Rosalie? The goddess of the show? The beautiful model who didn't give a damn about anyone's pleasure but her own?"
"In the end, it only made us stronger." Jacob walks in after Rose's remark with two brown bags in his hand. He puts the bags down on the table with a frown once he sees Demetri.
"Yo Jake I-"Mike rounds the corner, stopping mid-sentence. He becomes silent and bows his head, not wanting to look directly into Demetri's eyes.
Demetri starts talking about how glad he is that the rest of the house is joining us when Jessica walks in going on about how Mike just left her in the car to carry all the two litre pop bottles and the rest of the take-out. She falls silent once she enters the room.
"Well now that you're all here, my grand finale will be three times better."
"What is he doing here?" Jessica snarls, flipping her dirty blond hair back.
Demetri turns towards her. "I'm in need of Shrooms, would you happen to have any?" Jessica is offended by the comment and proceeds to glare at him.
"Are you here to pick out our faults?" Alice speaks up, not a single hint of fear in her. "Because we already know that most of us have messed up, more than others even. But you can't destroy us."
Demetri bursts out into humourless laughter once again. "Oh I didn't need to destroy you, you've already done that to yourselves. Let's start with the beautiful Rosalie," he takes a seat on the empty sofa staring directly into Rose's eyes. "You cheated on Emmett, and yes he started speaking to you again only because Alice, who all of you have been ignoring up until her latest overdose and self-harm episode, brought all of you together. Now Rosalie, just because Emmett is speaking to you doesn't mean he trusts or forgives you." She stands up about to say something back when he says, "How do I know? Well, remember, there are cameras in this house covering every room. There's no escaping me."
"Now, Jessica, well the entire house already hated you from the start because of your attempts to separate Edward and Bella," she stomps her foot ready to bite back but he continues. "But since you've started using and sneaking boys into your room, yes she has been sneaking around when all of you are asleep believe it or not, you brought trouble to yourself and then to the house. You're hated even more now." He smiles, trying to act all friendly, but the truth is he can never be friend material.
"Shall we even begin with Bella's little alcoholic phase?"
Edward shakes his head, "No. We've heard enough."
"Oh trying to protect your little Bella are we now? Well, Bella, I have an offer for you."
"What is it?" I don't look into his cold, dark eyes. Though I can feel him burning holes through me.
"Well you see, this show is strictly for peoples over sixteen. Do you think anyone over sixteen wants to watch you and Edward play house with little Seth and Brooke?"
Oh no. He's bringing Seth and Brooke into this. Whatever this is, it's not good.
"They're not playing; they're helping out our friend." Emmett says but Demetri silences him.
"So you can either give back these children to their own parents because they are not welcomed on the show anymore, or you can leave. It's up to you. Oh I am so tired, I'm going to go home and sleep peacefully tonight. Goodnight everyone."
"What do you mean give them back?" I yell after him.
"I mean, no more babysitting. No playing house. There are no kids allowed in this house. I'm going to have to cut many, many scenes out and a lot of us are going to be very pissed thanks to you."
"But these kids need us!" I scream again because I'm so annoyed with this stupid rules. "Don't you know that Payton is a single mom and Brooke's dad is dying as we speak?" I think about the good news Payton told me earlier. How because of us, she was able to get a promotion that pays good money. She's worked so hard to get to where she is, and that may be ruined.
"Oh boo-hoo," Demetri glares at me. "I don't want to hear from you anymore. Isabella Swan, you are no longer on this show. I want you to pack your things and be out of here by noon tomorrow."
I turn back to my family feeling weak in the knees. I fall to the ground not believing what just happened.
I never thought I'd have to make this decision.
Sorry for the long wait guys.
Thanks for the support and reviews! :D
