Word Prompt: giving
I don't prod Edward anymore about his actions on that wretched holiday. I don't want to know. I'm pretty sure that's a sign of weakness on my part. That I'd rather be stupid with love, than smart with knowledge.
I don't care.
The next few days after that he doted on me like I was priceless. I loved it. He walked me to my classes, he appeared at my door as soon as class was over. He brought me hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, or a tall ice filled cup of half sweetened/half unsweetened tea.
I don't stay mad at him for long.
I realize no one is perfect, not even Edward Cullen. He has his hang ups and drawbacks. As I do too.
I thought he might blow a fuse the first time he saw me walking down the corridor with Jacob Black. Yes, Jacob is over-friendly and super cute, but I've never thought of him that way. He's a really good study partner, since even before I met Edward and he's my friend.
I could feel the tension roll of Edward as I introduced them. His jaw bones were flexing, and the smile on his lips was straight and fake as the day is long. Jacob being the clueless one he is, didn't even notice that Edward seemed to want to smash his face.
I thanked Jacob for walking me and turned to kiss Edward on the cheek. Of course, he had other plans as he grabbed my face in his hands and practically sucked my lips off, not that I'm complaining. It was a pissing contest, Edward was staking his claim, I get it. And I may have liked it a little too much.
That night at Alice's when Edward's phone rang, for the first time ever he seemed hesitant to take the call. He walked outside as he listened, just nodding his head and frowning a lot.
He came back in with his shoulders slumped forward.
"What is it Edward?" Alice asked.
"It's an earthquake in Chile. I have to go." His eyes darted from Alice and then back to me.
He took off in the direction of his bedroom. I followed close behind.
"So, what does that mean?" I ask. He was hastily throwing things in his suitcase.
"It means I'm going to miss the hell out of you," he stated sharply. He wouldn't meet my eyes. Then he picked up his camera bag and rifled through its contents. I sat down on his bed and watched him.
"How long?" I ask because I need to know, even though I don't want to.
"A month, at least. Maybe longer." He takes a deep breath and steadily blows it out. "The cab will be here any minute. I have to take a private jet to get there as soon as I can."
"Damn." I whisper as I pick at the pillow that I'd pulled over into my lap.
As soon as he's done packing, we hear a honk outside. Alice announces his taxi is here to take him to the airport.
Our goodbye is short and rushed. He seems distant and upset. He promises he'll be in touch but barely mumblea a word as he leaves.
I stand in Alice's hall and stare at his pictures. I wonder if I'll ever be able to complete with them. If I'll ever be important enough to pull him away from them.
She walks up and stands beside me. "Don't take it personal Bella. It's a big part of who Edward is."
I nod but I feel betrayed. "He must really need the money," I say sarcastically.
"Actually, he doesn't need the money at all, nor does he do it for the money. He works for very cheap, and sells his prints for next to nothing. That's another reason he's in such high demand." She says it like it's nothing, instead of it being very important.
Alice steps closer to the next picture and I follow her. I'm confused. "I don't understand."
"Edward's a very rich man, Bella. His birth mother left him everything when she died. Edward will never have to work if he doesn't want to. She left him her royalties, all her properties, her large bank account. Edward was hurt by that for a long time. Finally, he began to understand that it was the one thing she felt like she could do for him. Maybe that's even the reason she killed herself."
Alice is quiet and sorrowful as she speaks. "Edward gives a lot of his riches away. He's a avid supporter of so many charities and organizations. He donates his time, his money, his services, whatever. But you didn't hear this from me Bella, it's one of those things he hates for people to know about. He considers E.A. Masen to be the rich man, not Edward Cullen. You get it?" She asks and I nod in agreement.
But I read so much more into than that, and the thing that I can't seem to get over is that he doesn't have to do this. He doesn't have to leave me day in and day out. He could choose to stay.
And he doesn't.
