Ok, so obviously I decided against the Edward POV, I just think it would give away too much. But I think this is a fun chapter, new developments between Edward and Bella, a panic attack, and an awkward moment, FUN FUN!
I've gotten a few messages from people pretty pissed at Edward, I understand he's been a bit of a dick. But let's not forget, things are hardly ever as they seem! Don't be so hard on him, I'm sure he'll explain himself soon! Hope everyone is still enjoying the story, I know I am!! Of course, as always, feel free to review and let me know your thoughts!!
All week long I threw myself into work, determined not to think of Edward, not to talk to Edward, not to look at Edward, I wouldn't even watch movie or TV shows with a character having that freaking name. It paid off work wise, I was completely caught up on the five pieces I had been slacking on, and they were really quite good.
Having all my work done turned out to be for the best as well, cause I had been planning on spending all this weekend catching up, and thought I was going to miss Saturday with Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Leah, but now that I had it all done, I could spend today at the zoo. Yes the zoo, Alice for some reason has this deep love for the NYC Zoo, I've never been too impressed, but for some reason she thinks it's amazing. I wasn't going to argue, it would just be nice to spend the day with my friends, even if I was the fifth wheel. Being around happy in love couple all the time tended to make me sick, so I had to take a break every now and again.
All four of them were standing outside the gate, in a circle talking when I walked up.
"What a cute dress!" Alice gushed as she met me and wrapped me in a hug.
"Thanks." I squeezed her back.
It's hard to imagine me casually wearing a dress, but since I had grown up a bit I've actually become quite fond of effortless sundresses. Summer was coming to an end soon so I was taking advantage of them every chance I got.
"Good to see you Bells!" Emmett messed up my hair.
"You too! All your fingers still attached?" I laughed and removed his huge hand from my head.
"Of course!" He held up his hands, wiggling all ten fingers.
"Nothing short of a miracle." Leah snorted.
"Do you hear this Bells?" He wrapped his arm around Leah and smiled. "No faith in me at all!"
"Can you blame her?? How many trips to the ER this year?" Jasper punched Emmett in the arm.
"Ready to go in?" I asked, still chuckling at Emmett and Jasper play fighting.
"Umm, well actually…" Alice started!
"HEY GUYS!" A voice called from behind us.
I didn't have to look, I'd know that voice anywhere, it had been playing in my head nonstop for the past month!
"Alice you have got to be freaking kidding me!!!!!" I turned to leave, completely fed up with people trying to push me into being friends with Edward.
"Bella, wait, don't go!" She hissed so that no one else could hear. "I'm sorry, I didn't even know he was coming until we were on our way here. Jasper didn't think you were coming, I forgot to tell him that you called to say you could. He only asked him cause he thought you wouldn't be able to make it. It's my last day here, don't leave." she pleaded quietly.
Damnit! I did want to spend the day with them, especially Alice and Jasper since they were going back to Boston in the morning. So I forced a smile and turned back around. No one else seemed to notice Alice and my conversation, they were all busy saying hello to Edward.
"What a pleasant surprise. I didn't know you would be here Bella." Edward grinned.
I just shot a glare his way and continued to the entrance. "Ready guys?" I smiled at the rest of our group.
"It's nice to see you guys are over the awkwardness." Emmett laughed and said to Edward, but loud enough for us all to hear.
"We were making some headway until she got offended when I didn't like her boyfriend." Edward chuckled.
"Boyfriend?!" Alice and Leah both asked shocked.
I turned to them to explain who he was talking about but of course Edward beat me to it.
"You mean you guys haven't met Axel Rose?" He looked shocked.
"Axel Rose? Really?" I glared. "Anyway," I turned to Alice and Leah "yes they have met Felix"
"He made boyfriend status???" Alice asked, excited at the idea of news.
"No." I rolled my eyes.
"So he's not your boyfriend?" Edward grinned.
"Fuck buddies." Emmett giggled.
"Shut up!" I scolded Emmett.
"Sorry." He muttered
"Really?" Edward grinned. "Huh, well who's the whore now??"
"Don't you dare call her a whore!!" Alice screeched.
"No I wasn't really calling…" Edward started.
"That sure is what it sounded like to me!" Leah joined Alice, both standing in front of Edward arms crossed, defending me.
Edward shot Jasper a worried glance.
"Don't look at me dude, I can't help you!" Jasper chuckled.
"OK!" I yelled above everyone. "Look, let's just stop. No one is a whore, I don't have a boyfriend, and Edward is an idiot, but we're already all here together so we might as well make the best of Jasper and Alice's last day in town!"
Everyone seemed to agree. Alice and Leah both shot Edward a warning glare before returning to being polite. Perhaps now Alice would see what the hell I have been talking about!
From there the day was going pretty well. Everyone was having a good time checking out all the animals, laughing and taking pictures. Edward and I kept our distance, but managed to actually speak to each other decently a few times.
We had all just agreed on being hungry, and set out to find one of the overpriced food venders when Edward squeezed in to walk between Emmett and me.
"See we can be nice to each other." he grinned.
"Let me alone Edward." I just didn't want to deal with him.
"Come on, we're neighbors, we are going to have to get along."
"People live in the same place for thirty years and have no clue who their neighbors are." I sighed. "That's the kind of neighbors I want to be, I don't want to know you Edward." I quickly glanced at him, for once a smug his smug smile was missing.
"But you already know me Bella." His voice sounded almost sad.
"No, once upon a time knew you. Actually not even that, once upon a time I thought I knew you. I was wrong, and that's not a road I'm willing to go down again."
"Damn Bella, I'm sorry." He pinched the bridge of his nose, as if he had the nerve to be upset with me. "How many times do I have to say that before you believe me? Shit!"
His frustration lit my fuse. Just like the night of Alice's party, he fucked up and then had the nerve to be mad at me. "I don't want your damn apologies Edward, how many times do I have to say that. I just want you to let me alone."
"And if I don't want to?" He asked, smug.
"Well then perhaps I'll call your mother." I almost didn't continue, I had been trying not to bring it up but he was begging for it. "I mean, she certainly wouldn't approve of you being around me, and we all know, all she has to do is say the word and you'll be gone in a heartbeat."
He was quiet for a minute. Apparently I finally found the right button to shut him up. "Ok fine, neighbors who don't know each other." He didn't bother to look at me again before increasing his stride and went back to the conversation everyone else was having.
My stomach twisted as he walked away. There was no freaking way I was actually feeling guilty right now?! What the hell is wrong with me? He deserved it! And if it makes him leave me alone, I don't care if it hurt his stupid feelings. If he had just stopped when I asked him to begin with, I wouldn't have had to bring it up, we could have just kept on acting like it never happened. It was his own fault. I was trying to convince myself, but it didn't stop the twisting in my gut.
I might as well have just went home after that conversation, because my body may have been there but my head definitely wasn't. Edward didn't say another word to me, he didn't even look at me, it was like I didn't exist. It was exactly what I wanted. Yes, I did want him to let me alone, but somehow it felt lonely. It was almost like I missed his stupid comments, I missed him trying to get a reaction out of me. No that couldn't possibly be it, I don't know what the hell was going on, but it sucked.
Another week passed, and there was still nothing but silence coming from Edward. We would pass each other in the hallway. Sometimes we'd be coming or going from our apartments at the same time, but he still didn't say a word. Occasionally I'd get a half smile and then a nod. I even tried saying "hi" a few times, he just smiled. There were no witty comments, just nothing. I'd hear his women coming and going, and check them out, from the peep hole. Well, actually, there had only been one woman lately, she was blonde, and of course beyond words type gorgeous.
I had gotten exactly what I wanted. I wanted him to let me alone and that's exactly what he was doing. I hated it, I don't know why, it made no sense but I was positive that I didn't like it.
Somehow this wasn't the exciting life of my single 25 year old self living in New York City I had spent so much time dreaming about.
I guess it was a fairly typical Sunday, at least it wasn't a Friday night and I was in, watching My Best Friend's wedding, curled up on the couch with Coltrane sleeping on my chest. The movie was making me bitter. Julia Roberts was chasing her best friend through the city, trying to convince him that he really did love her and not Kimmie. Of course he marries the blonde chipper Kimmie anyway. I was freakin screwed! If Julia Roberts could get her guy, I might as well get real used to these nights cuddling with Coltrane.
Just the fact that I had those thoughts was pissing me off even more. I didn't do this, I didn't lay on my couch and wish I had a man laying with me instead of a cuddly puff of fur. But tonight, that's exactly what I was wishing. I considering calling Felix, I was fairly sure he'd come over, but I didn't want to have sex, and the thought of doing anything else with him made me suddenly very thankful for Coltrane.
My moping was interrupted when I thought I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look beside and behind me, but there was nothing. Great now I've progressed into hallucinations I laughed at myself before settling back in to finish the movie.
"What the hell?" I grumbled as I caught something moving again. That's when I saw it. The big, furry, devil creature lurked it's way closer to me. "SWEET MOTHER OF CHRIST!!!" I screamed, threw Coltrane off of me and perched on the back of the couch.
Now, I can take a lot of shit. Snakes don't bother me. Walking through New York at night by myself, no problem. Freddie, Jason, eh no problem. Spiders on the other hand, yeah big fucking problem. But don't be confused, this was no cute cartoon "Charlotte" type spider, and there were no happy little talking pigs running around. This was without a doubt Satan's pet tarantula escaped from the fiery pits of hell.
"Get it Coltrane!" I nudged him with my foot, hoping he'd go all lassie and rescue me. Instead, he glared at me, obviously pissed at my throwing him off my chest. "Useless!" I scowled at him.
Ok, I can do this, just kill it Bella. I shrugged to myself. Not wearing any shoes, definitely can't step on it. My eyes started darting around me, searching in panic for something large enough that I could just throw at it. This bastard could probably fit most of my clothes, I couldn't get too close. THE REMOTE! I sighed in relief as I discovered it tucked between two cushions.
I slid slowly off the couch, and inched closer holding the remote above my head ready to strike and run. I had made it about three feet from the monster when I froze. SHIT, what if I miss, what if I miss and it ends up touching me?!?!?! Just then, it must have smelled my weakness and it waddled three inches closer to me. That's right, it didn't crawl, oh no, it was so damn huge it freaking WADDLED!
"OH GOD NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!" I shrieked and hurled myself back onto the back of the couch.
BANG…BANG…BANG!!
The sound of someone hammering on my door scared me so bad I jumped and fell off the back of the couch with a huge THUD. "OUCH DAMNIT!" I yelled, rubbing my elbow.
"BELLA ARE YOU OK??? BELLA OPEN UP!!! BELLA" His velvet voice, raspy with concern yelled from the hallway.
Oh thank you Jesus! I sighed to myself as I jumped up and darted for the door, my eyes never leaving the hairy monster, just in case it decided to attack.
I slammed the door open in panic with all the force I had, and then froze at the sight of Edward's bare chest in front of me. He may have changed in a lot of ways, but his body definitely was not one of those ways, my eyes scanned over each muscle, each cut of his abs. God he was perfect.
"Bella?" he reached for me, his face distorted with worry.
I quickly snapped back to my nightmare, grabbed his arm and practically threw him inside. "There's a fucking tarantula in my apartment!!"
"What?" he looked at me like I was crazy.
"Over there!" I pointed towards the couch. "A FUCKING TARANTULA!! KILL IT!!"
"Are you serious?" he chuckled.
"No Edward, I'm totally joking, I just wanted to see if I screamed at the top of my damn lungs if you'd come save me!" I glared at him. "Yes, I'm fucking serious!" I jabbed my finger towards the couch again.
"Ok, calm down!" He grabbed my shoulders "I'll check it out." he turned toward the couch.
"By the rug." I pointed, and stood on my tip toes trying to see over his shoulder.
He walked towards it and then his body was shaking.
"What, what's wrong????" I was freaking out.
"This?" he laughed. "This is a tarantula?!" he was almost doubled over laughing at this point.
"Of course it is! What the hell would you call it?!" I yelled, offended.
"I would call this a house spider!" he grinned.
"That is no house spider, that is radioactive, hybrid, man eating, huge arachnophobia spider that jumps on the man's face at the end of the movie!" I shivered at the thought.
He continued laughing and swatted the beast with a shoe I had on the rug, and then scooped it up with a magazine from my coffee table.
"What would you like me to do with it?" He asked, still chuckling.
"Garbage disposal!" I pointed towards the kitchen.
"Ok." He smiled and started toward the sink.
I sighed in relief as I heard the disposal running. The relief only lasted a few seconds, before my mind was worrying again, if there was one of those creatures in my house, there were probably more. I was all out freaking out again.
"Are you ok?" Edward was beside me again.
"Umm.. Yeah I'm fine." I lied.
"Bella, you're actually shaking." He sounded concerned.
"I'm sorry." oh god I was crying. Crying over a damn spider!
He pulled me into his chest and began rubbing distracting light circles on the small of my back. His bare chest felt good on my face, but no where near as good as his long muscular arms felt wrapped around my body. My breathing started to slow as I was losing myself wrapped up in him.
He tilted my chin up to look at him. "Are you ok?" he asked softly.
"I have a slight fear of spiders." I all but whispered.
"So I see." He chuckled lightly, still not letting my chin fall.
His eyes were the most magical thing I've ever experienced. They had me trapped, I couldn't look away, even when his face started to lower towards mine. Every part of my brain was screaming to run away, this was the worst idea ever, this I would pay for, but my body refused to react. His bit his bottom lip lightly before bringing his mouth to mine. All my reason was screaming at me to get away, but my hands rebelled, tangling in his hair and pulling him tighter to me.
Nothing mattered anymore, I was just Bella and he was just Edward, he had never hurt me, I never hated him, no time had passed at all since we had been together like this, no one else existed except for him and I. The world completely stopped and it was just us.
"Knock Knock" A voice called from behind us, snapping me back to reality.
I quickly recognized the voice, and shoved away from Edward to find Felix standing inside the door that had been left open.
"Felix! Hi! Umm, Edward just killed a spider!" The words flew out of my mouth before I could realize how stupid they were going to sound.
A deep chuckle escaped Edward's throat at the ridiculousness of my reaction, he quickly tried and failed to cover it with a cough.
"I see." he wouldn't meet my eyes. "So, I forgot my guitar here, I need it for tomorrow so can I get it?"
"Oh yeah, I put it in the spare room. I'll go get it." I quickly turned around thankful for the minute to think.
This shouldn't matter. I mean we weren't actually dating, he wasn't my boyfriend or anything. We were just friends, not even friends. Well sort of friends, who sometimes slept together. That was all, he wouldn't be mad. I mean surely he's kissed other girls. He probably kissed another girl today. I mean he's in a band, and there are groupies, and the guitar player always sleeps around, it's like a rock star rule. I was trying to convince myself as I made my way to get his guitar.
"Here it is." I smiled awkwardly as I emerged from the dark hallway, guitar case in hand.
The mood in the room definitely hadn't lightened while I had been gone. Felix was still standing in the door staring at Edward, looking pissed off. Edward was leaning on my bar, with his smug grin planted firmly on his face. Oh God why could nothing in my life be simple??
