Thank you for reviewing. No, I won't kill James off I was just wondering who hated him. Lol. Anyway, here's the next chapter...
Chapter twenty-nine.
"I don't want to hide anymore", whispered Edward in my ear. His breath was hitting the skin of my neck, making me shiver. "I love you Bella and I'm tired of trying to hide that fact."
His words made me feel so weird that it was hard to explain. Everything about Edward made feel like I was floating.
We both leaned in closer and our lips connected in the middle of the feelings and the warm atmosphere that we had situated ourselves in.
My fingers brushed and circled around in his soft luscious hair. Edward lifted me up onto the counter so that he didn't have bend down and our lips never broke the passionate kiss that we were experiencing. He positioned himself in between my knees and our lips parts as he tongue darted inside of my mouth gently, stroking and massaging my tongue.
His touch was sending shivers and waves of pleasure through my body and I only hope that I was doing the same to him.
We slowly separated and broke apart. Not because we wanted to but because we had to. It wasn't exactly the perfect place for us to be kissing. Especially since we were in my house, in my kitchen and my brother was upstairs.
But that didn't really matter. Not when Edward was so close to me. I could feel our love for eachother radiate into the air. I wanted to cling to him. I wanted him to hold me so tight and never let go.
I also didn't want to hid how I felt about him. I hated the fact that we were sneaking around and could get caught. I also hated the fact that we did get caught. The consequences that were lined up weren't good. And I had to face them.
"I don't think my parents would let…let me go out with you", I whispered to him, "that's why we can't tell them, Edward. That's why we have to hide."
Immediately he frowned and shook his head.
"No", he persisted, "it doesn't have to be that way. Bella, that can't be the only way for us to be together."
"Well, I can't –"
"Bella! I heard you come in, where did you go?"
James' rasping voice stopped me talking mid sentence. I felt like I had frozen. Again. My stupid brother had to ruin everything. Always.
"Shit", I muttered as I pushed Edward away and slipped off the counter. My heart was pounding again. I couldn't bear to imagine what would happen if James came downstairs.
"Go", I whispered urgently to Edward, "you have to go. NOW!"
"Bella, this is –"
"Please", I whispered to him, "Edward, I'll get in so much trouble. I already am in so much trouble, this won't help."
Edward sighed in a resigned way.
"Yeah…if you want", he said as I grabbed his hand and led him towards the hallway. I had such a bad feeling about this whole thing. That's why Edward shouldn't have brought me home. But I wanted him with me. I loved his company and his comfort. I sighed as I realised he had to leave now. Before James would see anything more.
Just as I opened the door I could hear James' pounding feet down the stairs and ––
"You just go looking for trouble don't you?" a startling voice sneered. He descended the last few steps slowly. Edward gripped my hand tighter. I pulled him behind me, hoping that this was all a dream.
But I knew it wasn't.
Everything was falling apart again. I wanted to cuss aloud. To punch everything single thing that was making me life so wrong.
"Please don't tell mum and dad", I whispered desperately. James crossed his arms on his chest. "Please. I swear I'd do anything, James. Please don't tell."
He arched one of his eyebrows. My stomach was now hurting really badly but I kept my hands behind me, gripping on to Edward's.
"Anything?" James repeated, smirking.
"Forget it, Bella", whispered Edward in my ear, "he's going to tell your parents anyway. Look, I'm sorry that –"
"That you've convinced my sister to think that you're a saint?" James cut in, narrowing his eyes at the both of us. I felt Edward stiffed behind. I rubbed his hand with my thumb. I needed to sort this out. Things couldn't get any worst, I wouldn't let it.
"I'm far from a saint, James", hissed Edward, "but then again, look who's talking."
"I'm trying to protect her", snapped James, his nostrils flaring and his face getting red.
"I don't need protecting", I shouted at him, "besides, since when do you care about what happens to me anyway? Hmm? You've never cared before, why start now?"
James looked taken back by my outburst. He stuttered a couple of times before speaking again.
"Bella…I've always care", he said in low voice, "you just…you always choose and do the wrong things. Then I have to pick up your fucking mess! Then you think that I'm the bad guy."
"What are you talking about?" I demanded in confusion, "James, look; I don't have time for this. Are you going to tell mum and dad about…about everything that you know?"
I held my breath.
James pursed his lips. Running his fingers through his blonde hair, I felt no hope as I looked into his eyes. His face was blank and completely expressionless.
Then his eyes flickered up over my head and at Edward. James smirked even wider.
"Victoria took the pictures", said James, shrugging easily. He leaned against the wall smiling as if we were old friends, as if nothing bad was happening here.
"Is that what she is to you?" asked Edward, "you use your friends that way?"
"I didn't tell her to do it", hissed James defensively.
"Then why would she?" I asked him. "Why does she hate me so much if you don't have anything to do with it?"
"I would never tell Victoria to follow you around like that", snapped James, clearly defensive now, "I don't know what her problem is, but it's got nothing to do with me."
"It's always got everything to do with you", said Edward, tightening his grip around me, "what are you going to do now James? Huh? Tell mommy and daddy again? Strip Bella's happiness from her like you always do?"
James winced and looked away. There was a moment of silence of which I had no idea what to say. Edward wound his arms around me and held me close. I didn't know what to do as we stood in the hallway. James was leaning against the wall but it looked like he needed it to be there for him to stand up.
Edward and I had our backs to the door.
James sighed heavily and looked up again. "Alright then."
I stared at him sceptically.
"What?" I asked him.
"I said alright", snapped James, "I won't tell. You can go off with him. And you know what? I don't care. You were right; I don't give a shit about you anymore. Because every time I try…I end up being the bad guy."
It took a while for his words to sink in. and when they did I was still confused. James bit his bottom lip, staring at my reaction. He was breathing pretty loudly and his face looked flushed.
"So you'll keep your mouth shut?" demanded Edward. James narrowed his eyes.
"Keep me out of it", he said shrugging, "this is your problem Bella. I give up, all right? If mum and dad catch you, then you'll get punished badly. You know that, right?"
"But you won't tell?" I asked cautiously.
"What am I, a broken record?" he snapped sarcastically, "I won't tell, Bella. But you're on your own."
"That's it?" I asked suspiciously. "You're really going to…I mean…the photos?" my voice went higher and higher with every word.
"What's the catch?" asked Edward stiffly. Yes, there had to be a catch. There was no way that James would just let me get away with all this.
"The catch?" repeated James looking up properly now. He took a step closer, never looking at me. His eyes were glued over my head at Edward. He was glaring this time; there was nothing cold in his gaze.
Instead he looked firm and determined. I really hoped that he meant what he had said but somehow I couldn't believe it. It wasn't something that I was used to. Everything normally went wrong in my life, I was used to that. Now, James giving up without a fight. Surely not, I was certain that he was going to get something in return.
"Spit it out", I demanded to him, "go on then. What do you want from me in return?"
James glanced down at me. He smirked and looked back up to Edward.
"I don't want anything from you Bella", he said in a calm voice. Then he took a step back and smiled at me. Sickly sweet.
"And what about your stalker friend?" said Edward, "keep her away from Bella and I."
"I'm not Victoria's boss", explained James shrugging indifferently, "she does what she wants with her time. I told you, I'm not getting involved."
"Why not?" I asked him curiously, "It was ok for you to get involved before, why stop now?"
"I've already told you my reasons", he said quietly, "Besides…it won't last. And when our parents find out, well…you'll see."
"We're planning to tell your parents the truth", said Edward. I didn't say anything. Mostly because we hadn't discussed that yet and I didn't want to tell my parents about Edward. They had managed to take away everything happy from my life; I wasn't going to give them a chance to take Edward too.
"Like I said…your problem", muttered James, shaking his head as he headed back towards the stairs, "by the way Bella…"
"Yeah?"
"Getting involved wasn't always what I wanted", said James. Then he ran up the stairs, out of my view.
So do you think James has an ulterior motive or is he genuine...?
Thanks for reading.
xXx
