A/N: OMG guys! I have swine flu! I have been so ill in bed with it all week, but you know...being quarantined to your room for this long is boring so as I am feeling marginally better today I have finished the chapter for you! Sorry if the last half of this chapter is complete crap...I have a headache so bad I feel like someone is hitting me with a hammer! Doctor says I have a mild case too...i swear I hope that once you get it, you don't get it again...had enough of this! Knowing my luck I'll end up with regular flu at chirstmas time just as per usual...
Oh well enough of my rambling...this is the last chapter!!! OMG what will I do without Homecoming?!?! Well first off I'm going to start on my epilogue, I so know what I want to do there so hopefully it won't take me long. Be warned, this is a long chapter! (10,000 words!!!) I honestly did not mean it too be as long as it's turned out, I'm seriously glad I split it up before or it would just be at that too long stage!
Oh and one last thing...please check out verycrazytwilighter's profile page, she at the moment has a Harry Potter and Twilight Crossover Contest that you should all totally check out and get nominating for, totally not getting enough people there...go go go!!
Anyway let us continue with the story and please review at the end, it would mean so much to me to hear what you all thought of the final chapter!
BPOV
"Bella would you stop playing with that!" Edward moaned exasperatedly.
"What? It's too hot in here." I answered back whist fiddling about with the controls on the car to turn the heat down. So far I had found the dial to make the air blow faster and accidently changed the settings to his CD player. He let out another groan as he watched me mess about with the dials some more. "Well what one is it then Edward? You could have told me ten minutes ago!"
"I know, it was amusing at first watching you figure things out, now...not so much. It's the button right in front of you, press the blue one pointing to the floor, funnily enough that makes it colder." He spoke as if he were speaking to a child. I rolled my eyes and pressed the button, the air escaping the vents instantly cooling the car. I let out a breath of relief and I'm sure Edward did the same. I wasn't the only one suffering from the heat in the car, Edward's face was starting to turn flushed.
It was an unusually hot day, even more unusual based on the fact it was almost winter. But I wasn't going to knock it. With the clouds from this morning vanishing hopefully Charlie's bad mood would also, leaving him nice and cheery for meeting Edward tonight. And pigs could fly. I decided not to let the impending dinner with Charlie ruin my so far great day and turned to smile at Edward even though he was acting a little weird.
"You know what...I got a feeling about today. I think it's going to be good."
"Yeah, I got a bad feeling about today. It's school and then round to meet the Chief. Maybe you're not stressed but I am." He whined.
"Oh stop moaning Edward, honestly, my dad promised to be on his best behavior and I know he'll just love you anyway. He is not expecting someone so clean cut." I hinted.
"He doesn't know it's me yet?! Bella!" His voice raised an octave higher, the panic obvious.
"Aw chill it. He likes you Edward. He actually told me before and I quote "Why can't you date a nice boy like Edward Cullen?" then I think he hinted at something like "probably cause you would spoil him...bla bla bla!"" I rolled my eyes knowing how accurate that was of how my dad thought of me. God Charlie was an ass. Edward snorted at me. "What?!"
"You."
"And how am I so funny Cullen?"
"Cause you are Swan." He shot back at me.
"well what did I say or do that was so funny then?"
"It was just your face when you were imitating Charlie there; I swear you even looked a bit like him."
"Aw hell Cullen, you shut your filthy mouth! I look nothing like Charlie...I take after my mom so there!" I stuck my tongue out at him in defiance. How dare he say I look like Charlie?
He kept his mouth shut after that...which was good for him. I was trying to think of the best way to kick his ass while he was driving that didn't involve an accident but came up short. I suppose in a way he was getting his punishment in meeting Charlie.
For some reason, I could feel the tension rolling off of Edward.
"Edward, would you chillax? You've got a whole day of school ahead of you before dinner."
"Yeah, I know. I'm not looking forward to that either." I rolled his eyes at his attitude. So pessimistic, as if the whole day was going to be awful.
At school we parked in the usual spot, away from everyone else. Alice may be being nice to me right now, but there was still the rest of the school to worry about. I supposed that in some ways it was fair enough for Edward to have such a cynical view of the school, he had attended for some time and every day had been difficult for him from what I had heard.
"So I guess I'll see you at lunch then?" he asked me as he held my hands and stood outside the main school building. I leaned into kiss him when I heard the catcalling around us from other students heading to first class. Edward instantly pulled back from me and quickly said bye before scurrying away. I was left standing there staring after him as he walked quickly into the building, his shoulders hunched. I had really thought he was starting to get over all that. I sighed and turned round to look at the faces of people laughing at the fact that I had been denied a kiss. I felt like punching each and every one of them. Glaring at them, I pushed past and walked through the double doors to first period.
"A little late this morning, are we not Miss Swan?" Mr Varner's acerbic tone hit me as I opened the door quietly and crept in trying not to draw to much attention to myself. He wasn't even looking at me as he said it! How had he known it was me? "I simply assumed it would be you Miss Swan, now I see I am correct." He said as if answering my internal question. "Do you know how I knew it was you?" He asked rhetorically. I slipped into my seat as he spoke, everyone in the classes eyes on me while Alice gave me a comforting look. "You were always quite the trouble maker, weren't you, I see things don't get any better."
"No offense Sir, I was two minutes late and I am sorry about it." I said politely. I couldn't understand why he was being so hostile towards me, what had I done that was all that bad this year?
"Do not disrespect me Isabella!" Varner's voice became squeaky when he got angry, part of the reason that we had always wound him up before I left for Arizona.
"Sir, I am truly sorry if you think I have been disrespecting you. I honestly was just under five minutes late and can't understand why it's such a big deal!"
Varner seemed to have some sort of vendetta against me this morning for some reason. "It's a big deal Isabella because you are specifically told time and time again not to be late to school and well, here you are again...late!" He walked over to my desk and stood in front, hands on hips. If I hadn't been so annoyed I would have laughed at his silly pose, trying to pretend he had power over the class.
"Yes, by five minutes. Not even." I spat out at him, my frustration at his idiocy boiling over. The whole class was completely silent; the usual whisperings that went on between students had vanished.
"If you were in on time you would not be disrupting the class." His eyes were now squinted shut, his rage boiling over more than my own.
"Oh my god! You are the one disrupting the class! I was all quiet on the way in, didn't make a sound, your "bat" like hearing picked it up! And you know what, I would have accepted a whole "Don't be late again" warning, because you know, that would only be fair. You have no right however to turn this into some thing you have against me personally or whatever. You said I was late, I apologized that should have been it! But no, you gotta turn this into some big thing. Tell me, is your life really so boring that you have to take things out on students to get some amusement?" I suddenly realized I had stood up in the middle of my tirade, my face as close to his as possible. Hopefully my angry rant had involved some spit ending up in his face.
He stood dumbfounded for a few seconds before regaining some composure. "Detention!" He screeched. Two people at the back of the class started giggling and he turned on them. "You! Riley, Jane! Detention!"
He looked round the rest of the class, nostrils flaring, ready to snap at anyone who gave him cheek.
"c'mon Sir, are you not being unfair, Bella was only like three minutes late!" Emmett's voice boomed from the front of the class. Why was he sticking up for me? He would get away with it though, he was too big and scared Varner.
"I don't think that's any of your business McCarty." He shot icily back at Em.
Thankfully this had deflected some of his attention from me and he scarpered back to the front of the class. I smiled gratefully at Emmett and he replied with a curt nod.
"Excuse me class." Varner said as he rushed out the door. Probably heading to get the headmaster. The noise in the room started building up again, everyone discussing what had just unfolded.
"Wow, Bell's, what did you do to that man?!" Alice asked me, her eyes amused.
"Nothing! That's what I don't get! I suppose he has never liked me though." I sighed as I grabbed my books out of my bag and put them on the table.
"Good weekend?" Alice asked. I smiled coyly and turned to her nodding my head. "Oh! Is that a blush Isabella? My my, what have you been up to?" She grinned impishly at me expecting a big detail by detail account of my weekend.
"What do you think? We took our relationship to the next level!"
Alice squeaked beside me, "By that I hope you mean you consummated your love for one another?" I laughed at her choice of words and nodded my head. "Oh, it's so exciting! When how and where did it happen?" Her high voice chirped about a million octaves too high; piercing my eardrums. I winced before smiling at her.
"I'll tell you later Al, not here ok?"
"No, Bella, now!"
"Alice! Don't push it!" I really didn't want to have to replay my first sexual encounter with Edward in front of a class of tosser's who would obviously use it against him.
"Jeez Bells, for someone who finally got their release of sexual frustration you sure are acting like a crazy moody bitch." She narked.
"Look sorry Alice, I just don't want to repeat it all in front of everyone in this class. Edward got scared off enough as it is this morning because people where jeering that he was about to kiss me." I admitted. Alice's face contorted into a grimace before she made an inward hissing noise.
"Bells, do you not maybe think that being with Edward isn't good for you? Maybe you should consider dating someone on the football team with Em? I'm sure he would set you up with someone." She looked at me sympathetically while I stared back at her, shocked.
"Alice, how can you even say that? Being with Edward has been one of the best things to happen to me!" I burst out, angry at the fact that she must not have been listening to things I had said to her in the past about what Edward was like.
"Bella, I know how you feel about him, but maybe it's better if you see someone else...someone who can stop all this nonsense about who your dating."
"What the hell? Is this just because the guy you've been fantasising about for years isn't worth it? He's not good enough so now you've got to make everyone else as miserable as you?" I shouted incredulously. "Tell you what Alice, save it. I don't need to hear how bad you think Edward is for me, at least I don't go for guys that lie about sleeping with their best friend." I grabbed my shit off the table and moved to the very front of the class shouting at the poor boy that just happened to be occupying the seat I wanted. "Get out the seat, go sit with Alice." The anger in my voice must have caused him to scarper from the seat, recently I would not have got what I had wanted from anyone. I sat myself down in the seat and made sure not to turn around where I knew I would meet the eyes of Alice. I could feel her stare burning into my back and I didn't like it.
Thankfully when Mr Varner came back into the class he was acting as if nothing had happened. There had been no principle Greene on his tail ordering me to come to his office. The class dragged by for the rest of the lesson. I felt so uncomfortable knowing that everyone had heard mine and Alice's fight, everyone was darting their eyes between us when he bell went, hoping for another round of verbal abuse between us.
They were left disappointed.
I felt even more lonely and isolated in fourth period, desperately waiting for it to be over so I could go and sit with Edward again. My argument with Alice that morning only fuelled more rumours about the incident which had left me battered and bruised the other week. Of course it would though, this school was like a feeding ground for the morally impaired who found nothing better to do than spread shit around the place.
Once the bell sounded for lunch I rushed out of my seat and threw my stuff into my bag.
"Eh, hold on a minute Miss Swan." The teachers voice came from the front of the class. I slowly trudged my way to the front dreading what I would be in trouble for this time.
"I forgot to give you back your essay you handed in last week. This really did show your amazing talents you have when it comes to writing. It was insightful, well structured and beautifully written." He handed the stapled pieces of paper I had typed up two weeks ago back to me. I grabbed them quickly, able to see the A+ marked on the top left hand corner. I suppressed a smile.
"Thanks." I mumbled as I put it in my bag.
"You know Isabella, Seattle Times is sponsoring a High school Literary competition, I would love to enter you in it. No-one from this school has entered it for five years; I feel it is missing out. I also have the utmost confidence in you to at least get through the initial stages." I looked at him hesitantly. "I should maybe point out to you also that taking part in this would look good on any college application, I know you would need that Isabella." He smiled kindly at me.
"Can I get back to you on that Sir?" I asked him, because as much as I was interested in improving my chances to get into college I needed to make sure Edward was ok at lunch.
"Make sure you do Isabella. I wouldn't want you to give up such a fine opportunity." He warned me as he smiled and let me leave the room.
I hoped Edward was ok by himself, we had decided that now was the time to enter back into the cafeteria to eat food. The longer we kept away from all of that attention the more time it would take for everyone to get bored with the story of us and move on to something else. It was now time to face the demons and stop running from them. Although after this morning I was wondering whether it was still maybe too early for Edward to try this.
I rushed through the corridors thinking with hindsight that maybe it would have been a better idea for him to wait outside my class for me before walking in together - a united front. But you know what they say, hindsight is 20:20.
I slammed the door to the cafeteria open and scanned the room for Edward. When I finally made out the bronze looks that could only be him I noticed two other people sitting at the same table. Emmett and Alice. Fuck! I glanced at Edward who was looking uncomfortable and slightly distressed. I walked over to the table as quick as I could but was stopped in my tracks when Emmett's booming laugh erupted from the table, looking at Edward I could see a smirk on his face. What the hell were they doing to him? Why the hell were they sitting there?
Warily I walked towards the table and stood at the end. Emmett saw me first.
"Ah, there she is! I was wondering what was keeping you! I was just telling Edward here about that time down at La Push beach when you feel in that rock pool! Do you remember?" Emmett started laughing again and I scowled at him. Of course I remembered, I had soggy jeans and had ruined my new boots my dad had paid $100 for. On top of that I earned a twisted ankle and about a million cut and scrapes which stung more because of the salt water. Shaking my head it suddenly occurred to me again that Alice and Emmett shouldn't be here.
"What the hell are you two doing sitting here?" I snapped at them.
"Bella, I wanted to come over and apologize to you. I didn't really mean what I said. I know we're on shaky ground as it is with our relationship and I really don't want to have made it worse. I am sorry." Alice apologized sincerely. I stared at her, wanting to hate her a little more for what she had said in class but couldn't. Her stupid pouty face always won me over. I could never stay mad at Alice for too long. I nodded at her and she clapped her hands together excitedly like a child. I looked over at Emmett for an explanation from him, he didn't appear to be as forthcoming about why he was sitting next to Edward.
"Well?" I spat out.
"Well...Alice came over to Eddie here to look for you and I followed." He explained. I looked back over to the large table in the centre of the room where I could see Rosalie drawing daggers at us all.
"Oh yeah, what about Rosalie?" I asked, hands on my hips.
"Well, Rose was kind of giving a lot of backtalk about you and Eddie so I told her to stop. She told me to pick whose side I was on. I love Rose, but I have some weird admiration for you Bella, you did an amazing, but stupid thing for Mike, you still tried your hardest even though Rose was giving you shit when you came back, and, well, just look what you did for Eddie."
"Stop calling him Eddie! He hates that!" I shouted at Emmett.
"No he doesn't, he said he didn't mind!" Emmett shot back. I raised my eyebrows at Edward who just shrugged his shoulders.
"He's just too much of a wimp to say anything to you! Why are you trying to ruin my life! Would you just fuck off and leave me in peace. I've had enough of all this shit!"
"But Bella..."
"Look, just go sit at your table and leave us alone. Please." I begged - I couldn't have us being ruined again. I needed Edward now; I was so totally in love with him, so much so that I was terrified of losing him. My ex-friends were not going to let it happen.
"Bella we're not trying to do anything..." Alice began.
"I don't know what bullshit stories you're going to tell him about me...I can't be bothered hanging about to find out, so please just stop spreading rumours, stop getting people to beat me up and just leave me the fuck alone!"
"Bella they weren't doing anything." I looked to Edward who had a shocked expression on his face. "They were being nice." He spoke softly.
"You don't know these people Edward, they'll be all nice to you and then stab you in the back. I was best friends with her" I pointed at Alice, "nearly all my life, I used to date Emmett and look how they treated me!"
"Bella you have every reason to be pissed at us, we had no right to be like we were with you when we found out who you were dating. Alice here though did have reason to be annoyed at you...remember?" Emmett pointed out. Feck.
"That wasn't my fault." I was getting defensive.
"Bells, we are willing to forget this outburst, if you can forgive us, please." Alice begged, her eyes pleading. I looked over at Edward and it looked like he was willing me to forgive them. I sighed and stood behind Emmett.
"Move, go sit by Alice."
"Oi! None of this bossiness, women! You don't own me anymore!" He joked.
"Oh, I own you alright Emmett, you had better move or everyone gets to hear the party pants story." Threatening Emmett always seemed to work. His face wavered for a second.
"Heh, your bluffing!"
"You really willing to take that risk Em? I'm pretty sure I have that on video somewhere...maybe my laptop." I said thoughtfully, whilst holding my finger to my lips.
He scarpered out his seat so fast and was by Alice in a flash who looked confused.
"Well I don't know about you Edward but I want to hear about this party pants story!"
"Not just now Alice, it's Emmett so he's bound to trip up soon, I'm sure I'll be able to tell you before the week is out." We both giggled, Edward laughed and Emmett stared open mouthed at me.
"You wouldn't!"
"Wanna bet? You are now my bitch Em, anything you say against this can and will be used against you. Watch your back babe!" I laughed as I snuggled into Edwards side.
"Eww PDA! Guys stop it!"
"First warning." I pointed out to him, I was desperate to tell this story, but seeing how worked up it got him it could possibly work better in my favour if I kept threatening him with it, because that was funny too.
"Aw come on!" he moaned. We all laughed until we heard someone clearing their throat. We looked up to see Jasper standing where I had been standing five minutes previously.
"Uhuh Jasper, get lost." Alice warned him, I couldn't blame her.
"Alice I'm sorry, I really am. Bella, I'm so sorry. Edward, I can't even tell you how bad I feel about all of this stuff."
"Jasper, you already apologised to me and Bella. We've both accepted your apologies, maybe you should concentrate on someone more important to you." Edward spoke up while directing his eyes to Alice. Jasper nodded at him and turned his attention to Alice.
"Alice I've been such a fool. I don't know why I thought I wanted to be with Bella, I should have realized it was you all along. It's always been you!" His voice sounded broken.
Edward and I averted our eyes from the scene unfolding whilst Emmett kept staring intently. Giving him a swift kick under the table he shouted out in pain before he took the hint.
I tried my hardest not to listen to what they were saying by whispering to Edward.
"I'm sorry I said you were a wimp earlier on. I didn't mean it, I just couldn't understand why you would let Em call you Eddie? I know you hate it." I questioned him.
"I know, just he started calling me it, and well, I am a wimp. I didn't want to tell him he got it wrong. He still kind of scares me!" I laughed at his honesty and he looked at the table sheepishly.
"Hey, he is just a big softie, you will see that. His image is nothing on who he actually is under all that muscle. Honestly." I said trying to comfort him as I squeezed his hand.
I looked up as Jasper walked behind Alice and poke Emmett on the shoulder.
"Move Chuckles."
"What?!" Emmett cried. "I ain't moving again, I've already been moved so those loviedovies could sit together! Shove off J!" I kicked Em under the table again and he frowned back at me.
Smiling wickedly I began to talk, "You know, Em likes to try on women's underwear."
A chorus of shocked "Whats!" came from three occupants at the table while Emmett leaped across the table trying to cover my mouth.
"He also likes to dance about in said underwear!" I laughed dodging his hand.
"Nooo!!! Shut up! I'll move, I'll move. Jasper you can sit down. Just shut up Bella!" He begged me, I did feel slightly sorry for him.
"Sorry Emmett, I'll save the video for later then shall I?" He smirked at me, he really didn't think I would do it? We would see. "So what's the deal with you two?" I asked Alice and Jasper trying to change the subject.
"We're going to give it another go." Alice smiled as she looked into Jasper's eyes. Usually I would pull a face and make some sickening noise at such displays of affection but I now knew what it felt like to be head over heels in love with someone. I turned and smiled at Edward who smiled back at me. "I love you."
"Love you too Bella."
"Oh for pete's sake, can a guy not get a break, did you not hear I just split up with Rosalie?" Oops I had forgotten.
"Aw Em, she's still looking over here at you if that's any consolation, go say sorry. I don't care if she says shit about me, it's fine." I was sure I could dig up dirt on her any day anyway.
"Honestly Bells?" he asked, "I don't want to hurt you...again." he whispered.
"Hey it's fine, go on, anyway if looks could kill" I motioned over to her, "then you wouldn't be the one hurting me." I grinned at him as he stood up. "Go get your woman Emmett!" we all shouted at him. He shook his head laughing at us as he walked back over to Rosalie.
"Hey guys let's not watch, I don't want to be a witness to this." I moaned.
We sat at the table for the rest of lunch and I couldn't believe how Alice and Emmett had both accepted Edward so easily, especially after their reaction to me dating him. I was beginning to think it was all Rosalie after all. Even Jasper had taken to Edward, even after their little incident last week.
The rest of the afternoon sort of dragged by. I noticed in Biology that Edward was getting more and more agitated as the dinner drew closer. His leg was jumping up and down, his foot tapping off the ground. Even after I nudged him about it he would apologize and start again in a matter of seconds. He began pinching the bridge of his nose towards the end of the lesson after I was sure I had had left a few marks on his arm from elbowing him. Then came the hand running through the hair. Yup, my Edward was stressed.
After Biology, as we walked out I pulled him into a space between lockers.
"Hey, would you calm down already? You have nothing to worry about" I stressed.
"Right. Sorry." He mumbled.
"Please relax baby. It's going to go great." I smiled at him trying to encourage him to reciprocate. He meekly gave a half smile and I shook my head exasperated. "It will be fine." I told him again as I pushed him out and kissed him quickly before running off to gym.
Thankfully I no longer had to take part in gym. Lauren and Jessica's beating had ensured I was allowed most of the year off. Who knew the skank's would be good for something? I sighed and fished through my bag for my phone spending the majority of the lesson checking emails and messing about on the internet.
I met Edward out my his car after school. His hands were shaking so much I offered to drive us home. Of course I was refused as it was "his baby." Phh men - so possessive. The car ride was so much more awkward than the one to school and once we finally arrived at his house I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn't have to be stuck in such a small confined space as the brooding, moody idiot. Ok he wasn't an idiot, just infuriating. I had tried countless times to calm him but to no avail. I would definitely have to speak to Charlie and make sure he would be nice to him.
I helped him pick out a shirt and pair of smart jeans to wear and watched as he put them on. I decided I liked brooding Edward. His chiseled features became more prominent and it looked like he had more of a purpose to himself when he was storming about. If we had time, I could only imagine what the sex would be like...unnngh.
I shook my head to rid myself of those thoughts; I could not have dinner with my father smelling of sex. And I was sure that Edward would definitely not hold up if Charlie suspected anything - or hell if he would even hold up at all if we did it – never mind my dad knowing.
"Ready Eddie?" I asked inwardly laughing as I saw his face. "uch, it rhymed, you gotta give me that!"
"Are you sure English is the right path for you?" he joked raising one eyebrow. I decided not to tell him what Mr Mason asked me to do, so I just settling on sticking my tongue out at him instead.
He had seemed to calm down slightly when we were back in the car.
"Bella, I am sorry about how I was acting earlier, god I'm panicking about dinner, I know I shouldn't be. Just what if your dad decided I'm not good enough for you, or that we shouldn't be together."
I had to snort at that. "I know Charlie will think either of those things. Trust me."
"Ok." I laughed at the worried expression he was wearing and he managed to crack a smile.
"Oh my god, someone get a camera, is that an Edward Cullen smile? Like jeez, ain't seen that sexy ass smile since this morning."
"Stop mocking me." He complained. The journey from his mansion to my house didn't take long but Edward was still nervous as hell. I turned the radio on but unfortunately after all my twiddling of the buttons this morning the station I was looking for had been unprogramed from the first channel. Edward flinched as he listened to the lyrics to the song that came on, his eyes opened wide.
Somebody get my shotgun
Gonna shoot him sure as rain
You can run as fast as you want to boy
I'll kill you just the same
I reached for the controls to try and change it but landed on another channel that were unfortunately playing old AC-DC songs. Shoot to thrill came on over the speakers and I saw Edward flinch again.
I'm gonna take you down - down, down, down
So don't you fool around
I'm gonna pull it, pull it, pull the trigger
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
He reached over my hands, "You know how about we just turn this off," he switched the off button with his fingers as quickly as he could.
"I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean to muck up your channels." I pouted, I really had not made the situation any better. I had really thought me talking would have been the worst thing to go do...apparently not.
"It's...it's fine B, just not what I wanted to hear..." I rubbed his shoulder in support but I didn't get much back out of him.
That caused the rest of the journey to be awkward. We both sat in silence, every so often I would turn and try to catch his attention but he was too focused on the road in front. He was so concentrated on the road I had to remind him to stop as we passed my house. My dad wasn't back yet so I was to start making food. I hadn't really given much thought as to what we would have, I just hoped there was actually something edible in the house somewhere.
"Shit! Should I have brought something, like chocolates or wine or something?!" Edward panicked from the corner of the cable.
"Nah, don't worry. Charlie doesn't eat chocolates and as for bringing wine into the house, you would get a huge speech, "Where did you get that alcohol son? I hope you hadn't originally bought it for yourself, where did you buy it, who let you purchase alcohol illegally?""
Edward laughed at my almost spot on impression of my father and I was glad to see he seemed back to his usual self. I didn't want to say anything and jinx it so stayed mum.
I managed to find some mince in the fridge that I remembered buying at the weekend, I also found a quick bolognaise sauce and decided that's what he would be having. I rummaged about in the kitchen cupboards in search of spaghetti.
I threw the mince into a pan and snapped the spaghetti in half before chucking it in a pan of boiling water.
"Do you need any help?" Edward asked from behind me.
"Nope I'm all good I think. You can set the table for me if you like?"
"Sure."
"Cutlery is in the drawer to my right, glasses are in the cupboard above it. Oh and the plates are in the cupboard underneath the cutlery."
"Wow nice and simple then." He laughed while I laughed in agreement. Like Charlie would ever have it any other way.
Charlie was late. He rushed through the door at quarter to six. After telling Edward to sit down at the table and wait for me I went through to give him an earbashing.
"Dad!" I hissed through my teeth. "I told you to be home by half past, you're late. You owe me."
"Bells, I'm fifteen minutes late. Don't forget who the parent is here."
"Well it must have slipped my mind considering that I am always the one cleaning this place, I am the one always putting food out for you, and I am the one that always does the shopping!" I said through my teeth. I didn't want Edward to hear our little spat, he would just become more worried than he already was.
"Bella, I apologised for this before. I am sorry I am late but don't think you can chastise me for it, you are my daughter for crying out loud! I am the one that punishes you, ok."
"Your form of punishment is sending me to fucking Arizona! You don't punish me, you send me to mom to do that." I shouted as Charlie's face turned purple with anger.
"Enough Bella! Look is it enough that I am meeting your boyfriend, whichever junkie it is and I will only be on my best behavior with him if you are on yours with me. Got it?" He angrily shouted back at me, his eyes looked like they were about to burst out of his head, the vein on his forehead was more prominent than ever. He took a few deep breaths. "I'm going to the toilet and when I come back you can introduce me to him." He sidled off up the stairs and came back down a couple minutes later.
"Please be nice to him daddy." I tried. "He's really nervous about meeting you."
"Course he would be, I've probably booked him for something." He sighed. I let my hands clench into fists. Oh he was going to get a shock. I opened the kitchen door and Edward jumped out of his seat and walked towards Charlie. Charlie's mouth was wide open.
"Nice to meet you Chief, I'm Edward Cullen." Edward stuck his hand out and Charlie weakly latched onto it. He looked open-mouthed between me and Edward and I smirked at him.
"Edward Cullen is your boyfriend?" He asked me incredulously. I nodded my head and smiled fondly at Edward. "What did you do to him Bella? Oh shit, if Dr Cullen finds out you've turned his son into a drug toting alcohol swigging teen he will kill me!"
I felt my smile fading quickly the tears stinging in my eyes, so hurt that my own father would rather think I had turned a good boy into the opposite than that I had actually changed.
"Actually Sir, I don't condone either of those activities and I know that Bella no longer does either. Bella has also met Dr Cullen and Esme and they were both enamoured by her. They really were quite taken. You should be proud of you r daughter Chief Swan." I smiled at Edward through my tears, thanking him silently. "She's an amazing woman." He smiled back at me.
Charlie stood with Edward's hand still in his absolutely flabbergasted. He reluctantly let go when I hissed at him too. "Do you want to sit down guys, I'll bring dinner over." I sniffed.
"I can do it Bella." Edward offered. I had never been so in love with him than I had this moment.
I sat down next to Charlie who grabbed my hand, "Bella I'm sorry, I don't know why I thought you weren't telling the truth. I guess Leah just planted some doubt in my head."
"Leah?" I almost shouted the bitches name, what the hell had she done now?
"Oh, she told me that one of the boys down the reservation saw you out in town the other weekend at that club...bamboo? Anyway apparently you had been smoking and drinking." He whispered.
"No, I was with Edward that weekend!" I couldn't believe that bitch had made shit up about me again. She was going to pay for it.
"Oh, maybe Leah misheard or something." Charlie said obviously sensing my anger.
"She'll have trouble hearing after I see her alright." I menaced as Edward put the plate of food in front of Charlie and then myself before going back to pick his own up. My dad tutted before deciding to grill my boyfriend.
"So Edward, what are your intentions with my daughter. I hope there is nothing I would need to inform your father about?"
"Uch Dad," I moaned as I turned to Edward, "don't listen to him."
"Sir, I love your daughter very much, she is precious and so very special to me, I would never do anything to hurt her, I swear." I looked over at Edward, proud of his answer, my dad sure wouldn't have expected that.
"You love her? How? Does she not boss you about all the time?"
"Oh she does yes, but I find it endearing." Aw such a sweetie, wait did he just say I bossed him about! I would do no such thing!
Charlie laughed, "Aw that will wear off after being with her for a while. So are you kids going to get married one day?"
"Ehm, I would love that very much, if Bella would do me the honor of being my wife. Of course I would ask for your permission first, obviously." Oh my god what the hell was Edward worrying about? He was doing great.
Charlie was obviously blown away with Edwards answers to his questioning. "Now, you hear I do not want grandchildren for at least another few years. Wait until you graduate and get married, then go crazy."
Edward and I laughed nervously knowing full well that Charlie was implying we be celibate until we get married. Like yeah right. I avoided eye contact with Edward, knowing I would laugh and giggle and Charlie would find out we were already doing "it".
Dinner was actually not too bad an affair, it was going smoothly. Once we had finished Edward announced that he would have to leave and finish a paper that was due to be handed in tomorrow.
"Well one more thing Edward, if you ever hurt my daughter I will hurt you, I love her, she means the world to me, I don't have many things around me that I love, so just know that I will protect her no matter what."
"I have no intentions of hurting Bella, if I did I you couldn't hurt me anymore than hurting her would, I could never do that to her."
"Good answer son. Good luck with that paper of yours" my dad answered before retreating to the living room. I heard the TV being turned on and I could feel Edward slump his shoulder in relief.
"Oh my god! You did so well baby, come here." I said as I pulled him in for a kiss. As soon as his lips touched mine I knew I wanted to do more than just kiss. "Pity you have a paper to finish tonight." I mumbled once he had pulled away.
"I know." He whispered back. "I love you Bella. Night." He planted another kiss on my check before he left the house. I watched his ass as he walked back to his car parked out front. Mhm, what I wanted to do with him...
I pulled my mind out of the gutter in time to see him wave at me. I blew a kiss back at him and he dramatically "caught it" before putting it in his pocket. I laughed and shook my head, only him. I mouthed that I loved him and watched him drive off before closing the door and smiling, relieved that tonight went ok. Well except for the bit where I bit Charlie's head off.
I sighed and walked into the living room, where Charlie jumped up and apologized to me at the exact same time I apologies to him. I ran over to him and hug him.
"I am sorry Dad, I didn't mean to shout at me. It's just, it's like you weren't listening to me when I said I wasn't doing anything wrong anymore. I had been trying so hard. Edward has changed my life around drastically, he really has. I hated that you couldn't see me for who I was, you just remembered what I was before and assumed."
"It's ok Bella. I am so sorry that I would listen to Leah over you. I should have realized it wasn't true, I know you two do not get along." He smiled at me and mussed up my hair. "Well kid, I really liked Edward. I wouldn't be so opposed to you dating him. Very polite boy, not at all what I expected. How long have you two been dating?"
"Oh a few months." I replied smiling, if only he knew the troubles we had had at the beginning. "I'm going to go to bed now dad...if that's ok? I'm just really tired."
"Sure honey. Well done, he's a catch." He said winking at me.
"I love you Daddy." I admitted to him, hoping he would see just how much.
"Love you too honey. Have a good nights sleep." I quietly shut the living room door and went to get ready for bed. Inside I was singing, tonight had gone so well, Edward had been amazing and Charlie had behaved. The two things I had worried about going wrong were Edward panicking and my dad being an arse to him.
I flopped down in my bed in relief, my dad had hopefully seen what I had become, not what I was. For a while before, I really thought I had got through to him, I couldn't believe Leah's lies and accusations; what sort of person did she have to be to go out her way and be a bitch like that?
******
I ran behind Edward laughing as we made our way towards our very own secret place. More secret than the meadow, more amazing that the meadow. The long grass was tickling my skin, the cool air wafting off my bare legs. The tiny shorts I was wearing were definitely Arizona wear.
Arizona...definitely a place I no longer missed. Nothing I wanted was in Arizona, everything I wanted was running right in front of me and I was never going to let it get too far ahead.
"Edward!" I screeched causing him to turn round in panic but continue running. "Slow down!" I heard him laughing ahead as his feet took smaller steps at a slower pace until I caught up.
"You're an ass! You can't run away from me!" I whacked his shoulder.
"I can and I did, do I have to prove it again how much faster than you I am?" he chuckled. Grabbing the arm I hit him with he pulled me over his shoulder fireman style and started running with me again. I screamed and hit his nice firm ass as I saw how fast the forest floor was speeding past us at. No lie. Edward is fast.
"Put me down Cullen!" I screamed in protest as I continued to pound his ass and legs with my fists. I didn't so much mind my head being near his ass though...
Eventually my yells and beatings got through to him and he stopped running, smacking my head oh his nice firm ass as I lost my grip on him and slid down to the floor. Edward turned round quickly and upon seeing my lying on the grass began killing himself laughing. Nearly doubled over.
"Shut up. Ass-wipe." I huffed.
"Oh Bella...that...that was so...funny!" He choked out through his fits of laughter. I jumped up and ran at him full force, fully intending on hitting him cannonball style in the stomach before he raised his arms in front of him and picked me up, spinning me around.
It wasn't until he put me down when I suddenly realized where I was. After my double vision cleared I was able to take in the grotto again.
"Wow. I don't think I could ever get used to this place." I stated. I felt Edward drape his arm around my shoulder.
"I know. It's beautiful." He whispered. "But I still think it pales in comparison to you Bella." He murmured in my ear, his breath doing funny things to me. He grabbed my hand and led me over to the purple-grey rocks before sitting down, our legs dangling over the edge.
"I used to come here sometimes, when we just moved here. After my first day at school, I, well I struggled, shall I say...I found it completely by mistake, just stumbled upon it that day when I really needed comforting" he smiled at me squeezing my hand, "I sat and stared at the beauty of this place for so long I completely lost track of time, it washed every problem of the day away. I realized my mom would be getting worried so I had to leave. I tried to find it again, but it was like it was a place I could only find when I really, really needed it. It took me two months to come across it again. By that time I had given up trying to find it, it just so happened that it had appeared after I had a really hard time at school." He paused and looked into the water, almost in a gaze. I leaned against him, feeling the warmth radiating through him. "I honestly never thought I would find something more beautiful than this place. But I was wrong."
"Where, where is more beautiful?" I asked, desperate for him to show me. His gaze moved from the water to my eyes, the blue water reflecting off of his own eyes causing them to appear almost the same shade of brown as my own. He placed a finger on my lips and I resisted the urge to take it in my mouth and suck.
"Well, I found this other beauty completely by mistake, stumbled upon it. Well more like fell for it." he paused again and winked at me causing me to giggle after working out what he thought was more beautiful than here. "I sat in that tree and stared at you for so long, trying to get a better glimpse of you, and then I had the fortune of being able to speak to you. I liked that. But then I lost you, more than once. And every time it scared me and it hurt. God it hurt so bad thinking that was us over. But you always came back for me when I needed you the most. For that I love you Isabella Swan."
"I love you too Edward Cullen." I whispered back as I leaned in to kiss him, as our lips met they tingled with desire, he took my top lip into his mouth and I shivered. He pulled away before running his lips over my neck before finding a spot to bite down on.
"Ungh Edwa-" I was silenced by his lips crashing down on my own. His tongue swept along my bottom lip just before darting past my un-part lips. My own tongue moved to meet his and they danced for power, his winning. His fingers made quick work of my hoodie, pulling it off over my head quickly so that our lips were only apart for seconds. His fingers trailed down my arms before going back up and across my breasts, my skin set alight with his lightest touch. He slowly began working his fingers down to my stomach towards the button on my shorts.
Pulling away from him I jumped up and undid the button and zip before slipping them off. Stepping out of them I bit my swollen lower lip as Edward stood up and pulled his own top over his head. Edward made me hot, standing outside in just my bikini I didn't feel the cold one bit. He walked over to me slowly before reaching his arms out for me, the lust in his eyes evident. I took a step back from him before turning round and jumping off the edge of the rocks. I felt my body freefalling before diving into the warm water below. I resurfaced and shook the water from my hair and face and giggled as I saw Edward's shocked face staring down at me.
"Are you crazy!" His voice carried down ricocheting off the rocks making it sound as if there were ten Edwards shouting the same thing in the same tone at different times.
"Yes!" I shouted back up at him. "Come down here already." I swam over to the roaring waterfall, amazed that the noise it made was hardly audible up the top of the rocks – it wasn't that high up.
I heard a splash and looked over to the edge where Edward had previously stood but was now empty. He surfaced a second later before gasping for breath and wiping the water from his hair, before he vanished under the water again. Oh shit...could he swim?! I started to panic and floundered about waiting for him to re-emerge when I felt something come flush up against my back, gliding over my hips and snaking around my waist.
I screamed as I realised I should have asked Edward if there was anything lurking in the water. I couldn't believe I was going to get eaten by some sea creature. I thrashed around kicking at whatever had caught me when I felt something interlace with my hands and heard something come up for air from behind me with some added coughing and spluttering.
"What the hell Bella?"
"Oh shit! I'm so sorry Edward! Fuck I thought you were an eel or something! Are you ok?" I asked panicking I had hurt him.
"Yeah, probably just a few bruised ribs, adding those to the injuries you gave me earlier everyone is going to think you're a husband beater. Do I have to get your own father to arrest you?" He asked sarcastically. I couldn't see but I bet he was quirking his eyebrows and rolling his eyes. "I guess I probably shouldn't have snuck up on you like that."
"Yeah, you were asking for it buddy!" I laughed as I elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ouch!" He whined behind me. Oops.
"It's so peaceful out here. I can't believe I never found this place before." I marveled, changing the subject.
"I know." He breathed in my ear. "Seriously, you thought I was an eel?" He asked, unbelieving.
"Well...I dunno...I thought it had already eaten you and it was coming for me! Sorry."
"It's ok. I Forgive you." His hands lifted my ass up using the buoyancy of the water to keep me afloat, my feet trailing out in front of me. I leant back against him, my head balancing on his shoulder as we floated in the water. We drifted further towards the waterfall before Edward kicked out and we were pushed in the opposite direction in which we had came from.
"Your hair is tickling my chest." He mused, his voice tranquil. His fingers unlatched from my own and tingled their way up my back before pausing on my shoulders. His nimble fingers quickly untied my bikini top from around my back and threw it onto dry land.
"What are you doing?" I asked as his hands went over my shoulders again and grazed over my breasts, flicking my nipples. I could feel my body reacting to his touch, the desire burning deep inside of me. "Uh...Edward..." He stopped treading water and turned me around to face me, his tongue slipped back into my mouth as he stared swimming backwards using one arm, his other grasping onto me. I let him take control as his mouth detached from mine leaving a small trail of kissed down my neck before I felt myself being shoved against a rock behind me. His hands ran down over my body down to my ass where he kneaded my cheeks. He replaced his mouth to mine and I moaned in to it. He kissed me harder and our lips parted slightly as our tongues entered into each other's mouths.
I pulled away for breath when his hands slid under my ass to my entrance and the breath caught in my throat as he fingered my clit. I held back the moan that was building in my throat. He removed one hand from my body and grabbed onto the head of the rock behind me, pushing me further into it pushing himself into me in the process. I could feel the bulge of his erection pressing aginst me and I let out the moan that had been building as he kissed me neck. The rocks around us caused the moan to echo and I was glad there was no-one around to hear. Edward smirked at me, knowing full well what he was capable of doing to me. I wrapped my hands in his hair trying to stop myself from sinking and he growled against my neck. He took a deep breath as he suddenly submerged himself under water where I felt him place his mouth against my nipple, flicking it with his lips, the sensation causing me to slam my back into the sharp rock behind me.
"Uh...Edward!" I screamed out as his fingers and mouth worked magic underwater. He came back up gasping for breath and crashed his lips against mine and I was able to feel the outline of his erection against me once more.
"Fuck! I need....nee" I gasped out.
"What do you need Bella." He asked huskily. "TELL me what you need."
"YOU!" I screamed out as I felt my walls clench around his fingers. He retracted them instantly and almost replaced them straight away with his stiff hard cock pumping into me hard and fast. I knew I wasn't going to last long. I cried out in pleasure, I was too far into bliss to take note of the pain in my back from the rocks; I just knew something was scratching me.
It wasn't long before I felt the familiar feeling washing over me, the moment before pure ecstasy was upon me and I heard Edward growling in my ear, "Let it go Bella, let it go! Come for me."
As his thrusts became harder and deeper I cried out louder and louder and as I couldn't hold it any longer I felt my back arching off the hard rock letting out a strangled cry of pleasure while I felt Edward follow after releasing into me and groaning. He started moving slower until he stopped and rest his head against my shoulder and wrapping his arms around me.
We stayed in the same position for a few moments. "Do you realize what we just did in this peaceful serene scenic spot. We've ruined it!" I laughed and I felt his shoulder go up and down as he chuckled. "Thank fuck I'm on the pill eh?" He laughed at me as he reached up and grabbed my bikini top from the rock above and helped me put it on, tying it up behind my neck for me. Kissing me on the lips slowly he retracted from within me and fixed his trunks. Using his feet he pushed off the rock into the water again and turned me around so we were laying the way we were before, my feet floating out in front, almost peaceful again if it weren't for the post-coital buzz we had going on.
"Do you know I love you?" I asked him sounding calm, the water soothing my scratched back.
"As I love you." He replied peacefully.
"I never want this to change."
"Me neither. It is perfect the way it is."
What we had was true love, difficult to find. And no matter what obstacles and hurdles we came across we could fight through them and jump over them because we were Bella and Edward, we were in love and a love as strong as ours would last forever.
A/N: Uh, sniff, hold on while I wipe away my tears...we're all done :'(.
I'm so sad this is over! And come on, i think I totally deserve some reviews for that chapter, think of the amount written while ill!! I think it's actually not half bad either!
Quickly though...before you all hit that review button I want to thank everyone who has ever reviewed Homecoming, I think I tell you all enough how they have kept me going when I thought my was writing rubbish! You really mean a lot, your kind and inspiring words have kept Homecoming on my mind and got it to the stage it is at now. This chapter was dedicated to you all, thank you so much!
Now please review and I will send you a huge snippet of the epilogue...I'm so desperate to get that finished now!
Loz
xx