It's done! I can't say that I'm really happy about it ending. These two characters have become a part of me. As you can tell, at over 10,000 words, it was very difficult to write their ending. I tried to give them the ending they deserve. I think I succeeded. Though you all will have the final word.
Through this journey I've had a lot of people in my corner. I want to give a shout out to a few, who without their encouragement I wouldn't have gotten this far:
Rita0tx- You've been with me for every story I've written and have reviewed every chapter. You never fail to understand exactly where I'm coming from. Your encouragement has meant the world to me.
Azlady2003,ScattyCow,SarcasticBimbo,JanSails,BrendaWarren,JudyBlue95,huntingforwitches,DBrandenCullen and Twiannfav- You all reviewed almost every single chapter. Your dedication to my story astounds me.
Masonobsessed and Kikirev- Your reviews rivaled my chapters in length! Every one of them was in depth and well thought out. Your commitment to my characters warms my heart.
To all of you who have read and reviewed, I can't thank you enough. Even the guest reviewers who wished for me to die in lots of horrible ways. I'm sorry your life sucks, but thank you for adding to my review count!
To my beta, Mullet86. You encourage me when I'm convinced I suck at writing. You tell me to get off my ass and update. You allow me to bounce ideas off you and you volunteer your time to proofread, correct my grammar and punctuation. You're a wonderful beta and an amazing friend. Thank you so much for sticking with me through this and consenting to help with my next project. I love you!
Gosh, it sounds as if I'm saying good-bye forever. I'm not! I'm planning a small epi for these two and I'm already at work on a new story, The Devil's Plan. The new story is going to be quite a ride! It has fallen angels, possession, a mean Emmett and regular updates. (gasp)
I plan to have a little teaser ready for the epi. I hope you decide to put me on alerts and stick around for The Devil's Plan and anything else my warped mind comes up with.
Reflections
Chapter 36
"Are you sure you won't reconsider?"
"I'm sure."
"Well, I think you're making a mistake."
"Alice, my hair is fine. I don't need you to glam me up. I'm fine the way I am." She crossed her arms and huffed loudly in annoyance. I knew she wasn't trying to make the statement that my hair wasn't right, rather she was upset that I had resisted all of her efforts to give me a makeover. Edward would be arriving in less than an hour to escort me to the prom and I was going to meet him as the woman that I have been all along. I didn't need to have my hair twisted and pinned into an ornate twist or knot and I didn't need three layers of eye shadow to make my eyes pop. As Alice huffed and scowled over my resistance to her makeover efforts, my mind wandered to the events earlier in the day.
Graduation had gone well, I guess. It had never been a big deal to me. If I'd been back in Phoenix, I probably would have found a way to skip the whole thing. Skipping wasn't an option in Forks and truthfully I had been looking forward to watching Edward walk across the stage in his green robe and white knotted tassel to accept his diploma with full honors. He'd been singled out as the class valedictorian. An honor that he'd tried to get out of by claiming that it should go to someone more deserving. He argued that being born smart was luck and the distinction should go to someone who had to work for their high grade point. The administration had brushed him off, claiming they were not going to miss out showcasing their brightest student and highly recruited athlete. Edward had been furious when they'd told him a month earlier that the title would go to him. I remember holding in my laughter as he paced his parent's living room trying to find a way out. In the end it was Em who figured out a way for Edward's big brain to put the pieces in an order he could accept.
"What are the requirements for valedictorian?" Em asked.
"Whomever has the highest grade point in the class."
"And who has it?"
"I do. Duh!" Emmett smirked at his brother's arrogant retort. "Then it's you. Simple."
"Emmett, I have a genius IQ. It should go to someone who has to really work to get the grades." Edward had flopped down beside me on the couch, clearly exasperated with his brother.
"So, for the last two years you haven't been working up in your library hidey hole? You mean to tell me you've been up there fucking off, flirting with college coeds via the internet while the rest of us have been toiling in high school hell?" Emmett winked at me, waiting for his brother to catch on.
"Do you think it was easy to teach myself Psychology, Economics and Poly Sci? Do you think I enjoyed being separated from everyone? It sucked and I didn't flirt with anyone you dick! You know the classes didn't work that way. I've worked my ass off! It wasn't easy AND I still kept with my training and crazy practice schedule. "
Emmett just smiled and let Edward's words sink into his big brain. Edward huffed and puffed for about five minutes before it hit him. His shoulders sagged and he fell back against the cushions.
"I'll have to make a speech." He muttered into the arm he'd slung over his eyes.
"Then I guess your giant brain better get to work."
Edward's speech had been short and to the point. He told our class mates and their families high school was over and it was time to leave all of the pettiness and jealously behind. He said that college was our chance to come out from the shadows, stop allowing other people to use us for their own agendas. It was the time to find out who we were and to better ourselves, for ourselves. Several people had shifted uncomfortably in their seats when he'd commented that in ten years no one would look back at high school and care who was the prettiest girl or best looking guy. He said that we would all be remembered by how we treated each other and "Those who continued to be assholes, would forever be remembered as assholes." Principal Brandon had jumped out of his seat and tried to get Edward's mic cut off but the AV club, perhaps in a show of support, had left the power on and Edward had gotten to finish his speech. He ended by saying it wasn't too late to fix things, to make amends to the people wronged and if we really wanted to be remembered as good people, now was the time to start acting like good people. His eyes had found mine as he finished his speech. The applause hadn't come quickly. Though Emmett, the gang, and I had immediately jumped up in a standing ovation, the rest of the crowd wasn't as quick to follow. Not that Edward had cared. He'd made his point. I couldn't care less if the rest of the audience got it. After tonight, my interaction with those people would be through small town gossip and the odd sighting around town. I'd come through their worst better for it. I'd beat them and would be leaving for college with the man I wanted.
Charlie had been able to make the ceremony but was expected back at the station for the night shift. He'd been all smiles and awkward hugs when we'd met after the ceremony. Aunt Janet would hug me and then hug Jasper before returning to me and then back to her son, murmuring how proud she was of us both and how much she loved us until my uncle had stepped in and pulled his crying wife into a tight hug telling us to go find our friends. As expected Renee didn't attend. Instead, she sent a check for five thousand dollars and a half-assed apology for not attending her only child's graduation. Apparently, she was still recovering from a minor surgery, aka her second boob job, and travel was not recommended. It was my stepfather who had called this morning with praise and congratulations. He told me not to worry about paying for school. Apparently he'd started a college fund for me when he married my mother and had more than enough money to cover my tuition to any school I chose. I'd thanked him and told him I loved him and appreciated everything he'd done for me. When we said good-bye, I called him dad. Even though Charlie and I had become closer, Phil had always been there for me and I knew he deserved the title.
Edward's family had plans to have lunch with his father's parents and assorted family members who had made the trip in from Chicago, so we were only able to steal a couple of minutes together before he had to go. I told him how wonderful his speech was and how handsome he looked in his hat and gown. Laughing, he claimed no one looked good in a graduation gown and kissed me with the crowd milling around us. He left promising he'd be at Alice's by seven sharp. In a moment of weakness, I'd relented and had consented to meeting Rose at Alice's so we could all get ready together.
After our own celebratory lunch, I'd escaped my uncle's well-wishing family and had disappeared to my room, leaving my cousin to fend for himself with his grandparents, aunts and uncles. Being the first Whitlock grandchild to graduate high school was his burden to bear. Not mine.
I'd managed to get a short nap and another shower before gathering my things and heading to Alice's house. I'd been warned to arrive not one minute later than two o'clock. I don't know what the girl had planned, but it was clear I was not to be late.
Aunt Janet had come to my room as I was getting my things together. "Do you have everything?" She said, handing me my gown that she'd cleaned and pressed.
"I think so." I mentally went through the list of things I'd been ordered to bring.
"You know, I'm not really happy about this hotel room thing." There had been quite an argument in the Whitlock house over the whole thing. I don't know what magic my uncle had used to persuade his wife, but it was clear she wasn't fully on board. "I don't like the idea of a bunch of seventeen and eighteen year olds being unchaperoned in an environment like that."
"I know," I said, sitting down beside her on my bed.
"It's a recipe for a disaster. The after prom celebration is a tradition and I know from experience it's better to have a safe place for you kids to party, than to leave you to your own devices. That's why I've arranged for a few chaperones." Her eyes twinkled with mischief.
Suddenly her tone turned serious. "Promise me you'll be careful. You and Edward have come a long way in a very short time. I don't think he'll push you, but a lot of stupid decisions are made on prom night and I don't want you to regret anything."
"I'll be careful." I promised. I don't know where the night would lead Edward and me, but I knew he wouldn't push. I also knew that underneath my beautiful dress, I was wearing the fancy underwear that Alice had insisted I buy. I didn't know if Edward and I would have sex tonight, but I hoped that whatever we decided to do, it would include Edward with little or no clothes on.
"You're so beautiful." She praised, running a motherly hand through my hair. "I know I'm not your mother, but I couldn't love you more if I'd given birth to you." My eyes welled up. For all intents and purposes she was my mom. "Bella, you've grown so much these last two years. When you ran away, I was so afraid that you'd fall back into yourself. But you came back to us stronger and surer of yourself than ever. I know you still have some doubts. I saw them with Derick and I've seen them with Edward. But you always surprise me. Whenever you're faced with something that fills you with doubt, you get yourself together and face things head on. I'd like to think that I was able to help you find the courage and strength that was hidden inside."
"You did," I proclaimed, throwing my arms around her. I realized that I'd never told her how much she meant to me. I never thanked her and Uncle Marc for opening up their home and making a place for me in their family. When I was here I never felt as if I was a burden or not good enough. "I wouldn't be who I am today without you. You are the only mom I've had for years. I'll never be able to repay you for what you've done for me."
"Oh, sweet girl, would I ever ask Jasper to repay me for loving him?" I shook my head and tried not to wipe my runny nose on her shoulder. "Then why would you ever think you would need to repay me? I love you and I will always be here for you. Never forget that and promise me that no matter what happens, you'll always remember you have people who love and support you. Uncle Marc, your dad, Jasper and I will always be in Bella's corner." She wiped at my leaking eyes and then had to catch the tears that were running down her own face. "I love you baby, always. Now, let's get you cleaned up and off to Alice's before we're both in trouble. I swear I don't know how Jasper deals with her. She's very bossy." I had to stifle a laugh. Alice was a miniature of my aunt.
Alice's house-Prom night
"I still think a nice French twist…"
"Stop!" I ordered, knocking Alice's hands from my hair. "I want it down."
"Alice, leave the woman alone. You can come over here and help me with my makeup." Rose winked at me as Alice reluctantly left me to begin on Rose's face. She clearly didn't need help and was only rescuing me from the clutches of our friend.
"Wow, I can't believe we're done with high school. No more study halls with Mr. Birdie and his creepy nose hair." Alice shuddered as she started on Rose's eyes.
"No more gym classes and those baggy assed shorts. I swear, Mrs. Knutson picked the ugliest uniforms she could find so all of the guys would stare at her fifty-year old ass instead of ours." Only Rose would accuse the gym teacher of trying to steal the attention of a bunch of high school boys.
"I know! How about Mrs. Petra and those tight shirts? I swear one more day of her bending over and giving my man an eyeful and I was going to pull those fake tits right off her blotchy chest."
"What are you glad to be done with, Bella?"
"You know if you'd asked me a year ago, I'd have said everything. But this has probably been the best year of my life." Alice and Rose shared a questioning look and then turned back to me. I'm not surprised they didn't believe me. "I know there have been a lot of bad moments." Rose rolled her eyes. "But this year I got my driver's license and a car. I had my first boyfriend and break-up, my first group of best friends and then Edward." Both girls stopped primping and gave me understanding looks.
"I guess love conquers all, right?" Alice asked with a sweet smile.
"Yeah, I guess it does," I said, smiling back at her.
"That little turd better never forget what he has in you." Rose threatened. "I don't know if I could have forgiven someone doing that to me. He's lucky to have you. Don't let him forget it." She punctuated her statement with a finger point.
If she had said that to me a year ago, I'd been tempted to disagree and proclaim myself the lucky one. Now I knew that I didn't need Edward to survive. I wanted him in my life, but without him I'd made friends, had a relationship with a great guy and had the best year of my scholastic career. If Edward and I didn't work out, I knew I would be okay. But I really wanted us to work out.
"I won't." I promised.
"They're here!" Alice's voice boomed through the house. I quickly finished putting on my lip gloss and took a deep breath. I could hardly believe what was happening. I was going to prom. With Edward! I took a deep breath, trying to calm the internal somersaults of joy the butterflies in my stomach were doing and left Alice's bathroom to greet my boyfriend.
I could hear excited conversation coming from the living room. Emmett and Alice's voices were easily distinguishable while Jasper and Rose's interjections were a little muted. I stopped on the stairs, straining to hear the one voice I needed to hear.
"Would you stop pacing?! She'll be down."
"What if she's changed her mind?" My heart skipped at the sound of his voice.
"And climbed out the window in a formal and heels? Really, Edward?" Emmett's deep voice answered his brother's fears.
"Well, it would serve you right if she did." I heard Alice gasp at Rose's statement echo in the room.
"Rose, that was uncalled for." Jasper chastised.
"Low blow, Rosie." Emmett scolded.
I quickly took the last two stairs and rounded the corner just as Edward answered her, he was clearly agitated.
"You think I don't know that?! You think that I don't count myself as the luckiest bastard on the planet that Bella deigned to give me a second chance?" His back was to me as I entered the room. Rose's ice blue eyes were glaring at him as he waved his arms in irritation. "I have no idea why she's with me." His shoulders sagged, he ran a hand through his hair and he lowered his voice. "All I know is that I'm going to do everything I can every day to make sure she knows how beautiful, special and wonderful she is."
"She knows." I answered quietly, putting my hand on his shoulder. Edward tensed and then relaxed under my hand. Smiling, he turned his head to look at me over his shoulder. He reached around and brought my hand from his shoulder up to his lips where he placed the sweetest kiss on my upturned palm, his brilliant emerald eyes danced in the light to the same beat of my heart and I found myself smiling widely at him.
"Rosie, do you have a barf bag in your purse?" Emmett emitted a few gagging noises, earning him a playful smack on the arm from Alice.
The spell was broken. Edward pulled me around until I was standing next to him where he slipped a hand on my waist and flipped his brother off with the other.
"So, are we ready to get this party started?" Emmett clapped his giant hands together and like a dinner bell calling campers to the mess hall, parents started filing in from the hallway.
"Jesus. I might be blind. Do you think they took enough fucking pictures?" We all laughed as Emmett over exaggeratedly blinked.
"I don't know about your mom, but mine has enough for a coffee table book." Jasper complained. Aunt Janet and Uncle Mark had shown up at Alice's and joined the other parents in getting what felt like a thousand photos in different poses. Emmett wasn't exaggerating about the flashes. I was still seeing spots when Edward led me out to the waiting limo.
"Have I told you how beautiful you are?" He whispered, as he helped me into the car. He didn't say I looked beautiful, which would infer that it was my attire shaping his opinion. No, he said I was beautiful.
"You make me feel beautiful." I whispered back, loving the warm sensation his words had caused to blossom in my stomach.
"I'm going to do my best to always make you feel that way." He gave me a quick kiss on my cheek and we got into the car.
Dinner was uneventful, except for a mild panic attack when Emmett spilled steak de burgo sauce on his pant. Alice had saved the day, whipping out a stain stick, saving Emmett's white tux pants from certain disaster.
Luckily, we suffered no other problems and left the restaurant unscathed. Everyone was in great spirits as we left the restaurant. Emmett kept everyone entertained and pumped up. I was happy that Edward had insisted we all share a car. I wondered if the rest of the evening would go as well.
"Alright people, this is the last official function of our high school careers." Edward cleared his throat at Emmett's statement. "Okay, except for baseball season. How could I ever forget about baseball season?" Emmett fluttered his eyelashes at his brother who again, flipped him off. "Anywhoo, for the rest of us, it's our last chance to leave our mark on the Forks High. Let's go in there and take no prisoners!" Emmett raised his fist into the air.
"Em, you realize it's just a dance and not the Battle of the Bulge, right?" Jasper asked as we all laughed.
"Okay, you guys suck the fun out of everything." Emmett groused as we started piling out of the car.
"Don't worry, honey, I'll let you take me prisoner, tonight." Rose winked and patted his knee on her way out of the car.
"Hell yes!" A huge smile spread out over Emmett's face. He pushed Edward out of the way in his rush to get out of the car behind Rose.
"Emmett, you ass!" I giggled as Emmett flashed Edward a brilliant smile and rushed after Rose.
"Here let me help you." I took Edward's offered hand and got out of the car. I fluffed my skirt and adjusted my sleeves while Edward finished up with the driver.
"Are you ready?" I nodded and placed my hand in the crook of his elbow and we started for the gym. "If anyone says anything or as much looks crosswise at you, you let me know. Promise."
"They can say whatever they want. It doesn't matter. They don't matter." I assured him.
Edward stopped walking and pulled me back against him. "It matters to me. You matter to me." He whispered. I reached up and placed my hand on his smooth cheek.
"I know." I had always known. Even in the darkest days after the incident, there was a part of me that knew he never stopped caring. It was just buried under the rubble of what was left of my heart. A heart that through his love was rapidly repairing itself.
Edward sighed and pulled me closer to him. My hands went to his shoulders, sliding up into his soft hair. I pulled him closer until our foreheads rested on each other. I would have been fine if we spent the rest of the night standing out there, just holding each other, but Alice's demand that we get our "Formal wearing asses into the gym" rang out into the dark parking lot, pulling us apart.
Laughing, I dragged a reluctant Edward into the brightly lit gym. The theme was Yule Ball. Alice had fought tooth and nail for an Alice in Wonderland theme, but in the end the committee had decided it would be more fun to deck out the gym in all white. White fake snow, white fake trees and white fake candles. Thousands of clear lights were strung across the ceiling and hundreds of snowflakes hung from the ceiling while a dozen or so fake birch trees were placed around the room. The gym was a poor copy of the scene from Goblet of Fire, but I had to admit it was a vast improvement over the usual beige and grey color scheme.
"What the hell?" Edward exclaimed when white flocking was thrown on us as we walked through the entrance.
"Relax, GQ, it brushes off." Rose joked as Edward vigorously wiped all traces of the annoying white flakes off his suit. I realized that I hadn't really taken a good look at how my man was dressed. He'd chosen a suit over a tux, claiming that a tux was corny. The black pants hugged his long legs and the shiny black belt sat snugly along his lean waist. On anyone else I'm sure the black fitted jacket and white shirt would look plain. But on Edward it was a work of art. He didn't wear clothes, they wore him.
"Screw you, Rose." Edward finished knocking the flakes from his hair and shiny lavender tie.
I reached out to stroke the soft fabric. "We match." I can't believe I hadn't commented on his tie before. His tie was almost exactly the color of my dress, minus the black and silver beading along the skirt.
"Yeah, um, Alice brought it over to me last night. I forgot to ask what color you were wearing." He admitted sheepishly.
"I wouldn't have cared if the tie were yellow polka dots. Besides, I just got the dress two days ago."
"And what a gorgeous dress it is." He slowly looked me up and down, causing me to blush when he licked his lips and trailed a long finger across my bare collarbone.
"Oh, god. They're at it again. Can you two stop eye-fucking each other for five minutes?"
"Emmett Cullen, hallway, now!" Emmett's eyes widened at the principal's barked command.
"Edward, Bella, nice to see you two together. Let's go, Emmett." Mr. Brandon commented as he walked out of the room with a moonwalking Emmett on his heels.
"We've been here twenty minutes and he's already in trouble. He's like a Labrador that keeps eating Kleenexes out of the garbage but then he licks your face or falls over his own feet and you can't stay mad at him." Rose shook her head.
We all laughed and went to join Jasper and Alice at a table.
In spite of Emmett's reprimand, the evening was full of laughs. To no one's surprise, Emmett was voted Prom King. To everyone's surprise, especially Rose, he was paired with a giddy, Kate while Rose came in as the third runner up. Kate and Emmett dutifully danced the traditional king and queen dance where the gregarious Emmett kept his platinum blond queen smiling as they twirled around the dance floor. Rose had to be restrained when Kate got a little handsy with Emmett's butt and was pulled off the shell shocked girl with half of Kate's hair in her fist, exclaiming something about cheap girls wear cheap hair. Rose was escorted back to the table by a grinning Emmett.
Edward and I danced all of the slow dances. I even managed a few fast ones without grave injury to myself or my partner. Dancing with Edward was like floating on a cloud. He may not have had the talent to be a professional ballet dancer, but all of those years of lessons were certainly not wasted. Judging from the serene smile on Rose's face, I'm sure she agreed. Damn, our men could dance. Alice was not so lucky. My cousin had inherited the Swan lack of rhythm. Alice was doomed to dance every dance dodging the stray elbows and wonky feet of her date.
It was during a dance that we encountered a tiny black cloud that tried to rain on our parade.
"Look Tanya, you can put lipstick on a pig."
"What a pretty dress, Bella. How eco-friendly of you to re-purpose a circus tent." Edward's fingers tightened painfully on my hips and his nostrils flared as James and Tanya danced by, laughing at their jokes.
"Ignore them." I whispered, clutching at his shoulders, trying to get his focus back on me. He nodded at my silent plea to let their crap go with pursed lips and then with a sexy smirk he suddenly swept me up in a faultless (on his part) waltz type dance around the room. Edward commanded every one's attention as we twirled and floated around in a giant circle that ended with me breathless and dipped over his strong arm. Did I mention that the boy could dance?
The room erupted in applause. Edward leaned over and whispered, "That ought to shut those asses up." The applause only got louder when he kissed me in front of our whole class.
After that kiss, the evening disappeared in a hazy cloud. I'm sure we danced more. I'm sure we all laughed at Emmett's antics and grinned like fools when Rose slapped him upside the head for those antics. But I didn't remember a thing after that kiss. If there was anyone at Forks High that didn't know Edward and I were together, all doubts were erased with that one kiss.
At midnight the bottom fell out of Alice's boat. Jasper had to practically carry her to the limo. Rose was dragging a sleepy eyed Emmett out of the gym, only Edward and I seemed to still be moving at a normal pace.
As we neared the limo, Edward starting pulling me away from the rest of the crew. "What's going on?" I asked. He just smiled and tugged me further away. "Edward . . . Why is your Volvo here?" I looked around to see the limo we'd arrived in driving away with our friends.
"It's here because we'll need it to get us to where we're going." He cryptically answered while opening the passenger door and leaned into the car. As much as I wanted to just stare at the work of art that was his butt in those suit pants, I was more concerned with why our ride had left without us.
"But how did it get here?" He ignored my question. "Aren't we going where they're going?" I asked, pointing to the retreating car. Edward smiled and held up a dark piece of cloth. "What's that?" I asked suspiciously.
"Do you trust me?" A year ago, no. But now, without hesitation, yes.
"Edward, don't you think we're past that?" I asked, cocking my head to the side and giving him a little smile.
"Yes. But I need you to play along." He walked behind me and draped the fabric over my eyes. "I have a surprise for you." He tied the blindfold in place, completely covering my eyes. "I promise you're going to like it." My whole body shivered as his warm breath caressed my ear.
Edward had to help me into the car. Not only because I was blind but his breathy whisper had nearly rendered my legs useless.
When he opened his door and slid into his seat, I was overcome when his scent filled up the interior of the car. My God, he smelled good! I guess I was usually so dazzled by his looks, I hadn't really appreciated how mouthwatering he smelled. I wiggled in my seat when the familiar tingling started up in my lower regions in reaction to my boyfriend's utterly sexy presence.
"Is something wrong?" He tried to make his question sound innocent, but even with my eyes covered I knew there was a sexy as hell smirk on his lips. He knew what the wiggling meant and knew that it was his nearness causing it.
"Shut up and drive." I huffed, folding my arms across my chest in attempt to keep from jumping across the center console and attacking him like a starving wildebeest. Edward laughed at my half-assed order and started the car.
I didn't even try to figure out where we were going. I didn't care. I was in a car with my Edward. Nothing else mattered.
"We're here." Edward announced after what I guessed was a ten minute drive. Much less than the good thirty minute ride it would've taken to get to the hotel.
I heard Edward open his door and get out of the car. It was barley a minute before my door was opened. "Be careful getting out." He took my hand and gently pulled me out of the car. "Just a little walk and then the big reveal." I chuckled at his enthusiasm but strained to hear any sounds that would alert me to our location. I expected to hear the normal sounds of a hotel. I didn't understand why Edward felt it necessary to surprise me. I already knew we were going to the hotel, share a room and that he would see me in the cute underwear I had on under this dress, maybe he'd see me in less. That was still undetermined. But there were no such sounds. With the exception of a few crickets, in fact it sounded suspiciously quiet.
"Edward, where are we? Why don't I hear anyone?" Seriously, I should be able to hear Party Emmett from a mile away.
"Ah, ah, ah, you promised to trust me," Edward said, shushing me with a quick kiss. "Careful, there are steps." With hands on my elbow guiding me, I took the five steps and went through the door with Edward's arm round my waist. Edward was silent as we walked through a somewhat familiar smelling hallway into a bigger room. Our footsteps echoed slightly on the slick floor. "Hold up." Edward pulled me to a stop. "Here, you'll need this." Soft fabric was draped over my shoulders; instinctively I reached up and adjusted the wrap to hide my arms. "Are you ready?" He asked. I nodded and heard another door slide open. Wordlessly, he pulled me outside onto what felt like a backyard deck and down more steps. My heels sank into the soft ground causing me to wobble. "Damn, I wasn't thinking. Hey, I think I saw a pair of…hold on." He said and with a rustle of fabric I was alone in the dark.
"Edward?" Nothing but crickets. I pulled the shawl tighter around my shoulders as the wind whipped up. Where was he? My stomach started to sink. He wouldn't leave me here. Right? No. This couldn't be a joke. He wouldn't be that cruel. Not after everything we'd been through. I know he wouldn't do that to me. The continued silence was punching a hole in my carefully crafted wall. "Edward!" My eyes started to well up. Anxiously, I reached a shaky hand up to take the blindfold off.
"Here you go." I gasped at the sound of his voice behind me. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked, gently putting a warm hand on my cool cheek.
I was too embarrassed to admit that I doubted him, I didn't want him to feel the tears. I quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled it from my face. "I was just wondering where you went." I smiled, bringing his hand to my lips and kissed his knuckles.
"One second." Edward pulled his hand away. "Lean on my back." My whole world suddenly shifted forward when Edward lifted my left foot, removing the formal shoe and replaced it with what felt like a Croc? Where did he get the shoes and how were they my size? Edward's back clenched under my hand as he replaced the shoe on my right foot. "Better?"
I nodded and flexed my toes in the new shoes that were somehow my size. I felt him get up off the ground and then he was at my back. "Bella, you've probably guessed we're not at the hotel."
"Um, yeah." The 'duh' was implied.
Edward gave a small laugh and moved to stand behind me. His arms encircled my waist and pulled me back until I was effectively leaning against his chest. "I thought about what you said, that you didn't need anything special as long as we were together. But you were wrong. You deserve special, you deserve amazing," he said, allowing his breath to tickle my ear before sucking lightly on the lobe. "And a hotel inhabited by a bunch of our possibly drunk and for sure annoying classmates and family isn't special or amazing. So I came up with something that was more us." His hands left my waist and abruptly the blindfold dropped from my eyes. "Oh my God!" I exclaimed as bursts of light flashed in my eyes. We were standing in my aunt's backyard, just under the abandoned tree house. The yard and tree were covered in strings and strings of white lights that were strung back and forth across the yard like a canopy of a thousand bright stars.
"Oh, Edward, it's beautiful!" He stumbled back a step as I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him close.
"It's not nearly as beautiful as you." He promised, his arms tightening around me. I'd never felt so loved or cherished in my life.
"I can't believe you did this." I murmured into his neck as tears of joy leaked from my happy eyes. "When did you manage to do it?"
"While you were at Alice's doing girly stuff." He shyly admitted while looking at me through his impossibly long lashes.
"But there are hundreds of strings . . ." My voice faltered as I took in how much he did. Strings and strings crisscrossed the yard and pool area. "You couldn't have done this by yourself."
"I had a little help from Emmett and Jasper, your aunt and uncle helped too."
His mention of my aunt and uncle made me realize they weren't here. I pulled back to look back at the dark house. "Where are they?"
"They went to the hotel to chaperone." So that's what my aunt had been alluding to earlier. Before I could think about what their absence meant for Edward and me, he broke into my thoughts.
"So, you really like it? It's not too much?" Not trusting my voice to make noises that wouldn't sound like an overexcited two year old on Christmas morning, I nodded my head furiously into his now damp neck.
Chuckling, Edward pulled me slightly away from him. Holding my quivering chin in his hand, he wiped the tears of happiness that were falling down my cheeks with his thumb. "I'm guessing these are happy tears?"
"Yes!"
"Good." He sounded relieved. "Because I never want to see these beautiful eyes well up with unhappy tears. Especially if I'm the cause." His voice took on a sad tone. Taking a deep breath, I looked up into his gorgeous face and placed my hand lovingly on his cheek. I'd been wrong to doubt him earlier.
"No, Edward-" I tried to reassure him that we were putting those moments behind us but he cut me off.
He grasped both of my hands, bringing them down to rest on his chest, over his heart. His head was down, focused on our joined hands. "Bella, I've made so many mistakes with you. There are things I've said and done that I can't forget and don't expect you to either, but I'm willing to spend a lifetime making sure that you never feel that way again." He took a deep, shuddering breath. I wanted nothing more than to pull him close, but he continued to hold my hands immobile. "The day we met was the best day of my life."
I pulled my right hand from his grip and cupped his smooth cheek. "You danced into my life." I whispered softly, staring into his glistening eyes. "I was hiding from those mean girls at the party and then there you were, sitting on the ground surrounded by a puddle of melted ice cream, blaming me for your injury."
Edward smiled crookedly. "And you wouldn't let me get away with it. You jumped right in likening me to a drunken ballerina and told me it was my own damn fault I fell. You didn't give an inch in your defense."
His hands loosened their grip on my hand at his chest and moved to my waist, embracing me under our canopy of stars.
"When you turned back to wave at me from your perch on Emmett's back, I hoped so much that you would want to be my friend." I sighed and placed a light kiss on his neck.
"I was hoping the same thing." I turned my head slightly and met Edward's lips in a sweet kiss. I'd known that first night that this boy would change my life.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Edward pulled away, reaching into his pocket to bring out a small remote. He turned towards the house pushing one of the buttons. Soft music flowed through the outside speakers. "May I have this dance?" I nodded as Edward pulled me closer. Thank goodness he'd found my Crocs, if I'd still had my heels on there would be no way I'd be able to stay upright as we gently swayed on the soft lawn.
As we danced our kisses became more forceful. Both of us holding on to each other as if we were afraid the other would get away. Edward's hands moved from my waist to sit lower on my butt pushing me into this groin. There was no mistaking the hardness currently poking into my stomach or the tightness in my own lower region. We had come so far in such a short time.
The rational part of my brain should've been alarmed at the tremors of lust that ran through my body whenever I touched, looked at or thought about the beautiful boy in my arms. But my heart knew the feelings I was having were four years in the making and that we were ready to go forward, together.
I moved my hands into his soft hair, delighting in the moans he was emitting when I not so gently tugged on his hair. "Thank you for tonight. It was perfect." His answer was a breath-stealing kiss. The heat between us was building like a campfire. I could practically feel the flames licking my knees as our kisses and touches became more passionate. I tugged harder on his silky strands. I couldn't get him close enough.
"Bella," he moaned. "That feels so good." He whispered, breathily and pulled me impossibly closer. There wasn't an inch of space between us. His erection was hard and unyielding as it pressed firmly against me. Fearful of breaking the piece of him I'd yet to see, I pulled back slightly.
"Fuck, I'm sorry." Edward's face contorted with alarm. He mistook my action and loosened his grip from my backside.
"No!" I exclaimed, grabbing for his shoulders. "Don't pull away from me." "I just didn't want to break it." I tried to explain. The alarm on Edward's face was quickly replaced with confusion and a dash of humor.
"You didn't want to break it? What is it?"
"You know." I waved a hand in the direction of his groin.
Edward grinned and to my pleasure, pulled me closer. Leaning into my ear, he whispered, "Do you mean my dick?" I nodded; suddenly shy to be discussing the part of him that I so much wanted to know more about. "Baby, how did you think you were going to break it? It's not made of glass," he teased.
"But it's so hard . . . "
"Oh god, you're killing me." His fingers kneaded my hips before, to my delight, moving back to my butt. "I was afraid I was upsetting you," he said.
"Why would I be upset?" Judging from our last afternoon on Charlie's couch, I'd thought we were on the same page about sex and the fact that I wanted it. With him. Soon. Maybe now?
Sometimes it was easy to forget that this beautiful man in front of me was a seventeen year old boy. But when a blush appears on those high cheekbones, he lowers that glorious head of hair and looks at me shyly through his dark, long lashes, he looks just like the boy of thirteen who twirled up my aunt's driveway and changed my world.
"Um, I was afraid you'd think I was pressuring you." Uncertainty laced his statement.
"You're not pressuring me. I want this. I want you. I've always wanted you." Our eyes met as my truth settled in the air around us.
"I wish . . . I wish I hadn't been so weak and caved to all of them. I caused us both to miss out on so much." His voice was desperate with his meaning. I knew how sorry he was about what he'd said but I was beginning to feel that he was also sorry that he wasn't a virgin.
"Edward, I'm not sorry you're not a virgin." I pulled out of his embrace slightly so I could take his face into my hands, making sure he couldn't look away. "I wasn't ready to have sex with Derick and honestly I don't think he was ready to have sex with me. I wasn't saving myself for you." His eyes widened at my confession. "I'm sorry if that sounds harsh."
"No. I'm sorry. I was being an arrogant jerk. It was egotistical to assume you were waiting for me." His perfectly proportioned lips curled into a small smile but there was a hint of hurt and disappointment in his voice.
"I don't want to think about who came before. I'm with you now." He had to understand I was past all of that. I moved my hands from his face to wander down his neck to his shoulders, caressing him as I went.
"Bella," he said, breathing heavily as my hands reached his pecs and brushed against his nipples as I continued my exploration of his muscled chest. I was unable to keep the smirk off my face when his abs tightened under my touch. "Um, are you … fuck!" he exclaimed when I palmed his still firm dick. "What are you doing?" His voice was unsteady.
"Am I not being clear?" I asked with feigned innocence giving him a not quite gentle squeeze. "Edward, I love you and I'm tired of going over and over the past. I want to only focus on the future, with you. And just in case I'm really not being clear, I want you. In every sense of the word. But if you're not ready I'll wai . . ." My last word was cut off when Edward's lips descended on mine. His kisses were hard and hurried, bruising in their intensity. We were both forced to breathe through our noses as our mouths stayed constantly connected. I could do nothing but hold on as he began walking forward until my back came up against the rough bark of the tree. The bark bit through the shawl and the thin layers of my dress to rub against my skin. It didn't matter; the only thing that mattered was the hand kneading my left butt cheek and the other at my right breast. It was my turn to ask what was going on.
I tore my lips away from his and took a deep breath. Edward didn't miss a beat and moved his mouth down my neck and across my collar bone, sucking gently as he moved closer to where my cleavage was all but jumping out of my dress with my gasps. During our movement across the lawn, I lost my grip on his crotch and was now holding onto this waist as his lips attacked my chest.
"Oh, oh, Edward!" I gasped when he pulled at the collar of my dress exposing more of my breast to his hot mouth. My fingers clenched at his waist in time to the sucking motion of his mouth.
"Bella," he said while gasping into my chest. His warm breath caused goose pimples to break out over the wet, puckered skin. "I don't want to wait. I want you so much."
"Edward," I said. At my command his eyes lifted from my chest to meet mine in a lustful gaze. "Make me yours."
Under the canopy of a thousand sparkling lights, Edward sweetly took my hand and led me a few steps around the tree where a obviously newly constructed staircase of sorts led up to the tree house entrance.
I pulled back in surprise. "Did you do this too?" I asked.
"I didn't know where tonight was going to lead us, but I knew I wanted it to end in the tree house. And I knew there was no way you'd climb a rope ladder in a dress. Though I will admit I had a few fantasies of that exact scenario." I shook my head in amusement at his shy grin. He'd fantasized about getting a glimpse of my undies as I climbed a ladder? He was so cute.
I started climbing up the wooden staircase, once again grateful for my ugly yet safe Crocs. "Edward, I plan to give you more than a glimpse of my underwear tonight." I didn't bother to stop and look at his reaction. The rumbling of the ladder as he hurriedly followed, told me all I needed to know.
I entered the tree house only to be even more aware of the thought he'd put into tonight. Gone were the ugly, patched bean bags, piles of forgotten comics, snack wrappers and the stolen milk crate tables I'd remembered. Two canvas camp chairs sat facing the window that overlooked the yard. To the side of one of them was a cooler and a low table covered with one of my aunt's outside table cloths. A tray of cheese and fruit, two stemmed glasses and a vase of multi-colored roses sat on top of the table. The glow from the brightly lit lawn cast the room in a warm glow.
I turned to find Edward leaning up against the far wall. Beside him were several blankets and pillows folded neatly. A week ago their intended use would have been for the two of us to wrap up in to keep warm as we read comics in the drafty tree house. Tonight their use was far more appealing to me.
"Bella, come here." His voice was soft yet commanding. I took a deep breath and began moving to him. I was always moving towards him. He's always been my destination.
"I know I kind of took over tonight's plans. But from here on out, I want you to be in control. You lead and I'll follow." I closed my eyes for a moment and let what he'd said sink in.
"I hope you can keep up," I said in a voice I hoped sounded halfway sexy, before placing my hands flat on his muscular chest and pushed him backwards. His back hit the wall with a dull thud that echoed in the room but was soon replaced with the sounds of our passionate embrace. I couldn't decide where to put my hands first. They moved jerkily from his hard chest to his hair to his shoulders. I wanted to touch him everywhere at once.
"Baby, are you sure?" He whispered into my mouth while still keeping his lips in contact with mine. "I want you but only if you're sure." I could only groan out a barely recognizable "Yes" in response when his hand left my waist to lift my skirt, skimming his hand up my bare thigh.
"Your skin is so soft and smooth," he said before abruptly changing our positions so I was the one with my back against the wall. I don't know whose hands were the grabbiest as we tugged, pulled and basically mauled each other. Soon our explorations reached a crescendo. Our hands pulled at our clothing as if their very presence was offensive. Edward's jacket hit the floor followed by my long forgotten shawl. I kicked off my pink Crocks while he loosened and removed his tie. His shoes soon followed. The buttons of his shirt slid open easily despite my uncoordinated and frenzied movements. Our lips remained connected as the white shirt floated to the ground to join its other discarded brethren.
"Hold on," he said, pulling his mouth from mine. "Let me get the blankets." Reluctantly, I loosened my grip on his waist and tried to catch my breath, fat chance of that happening, as I watched him make us a pallet on the floor. My pulse quickened with every movement of his long, lean, athletic body, increasing my need to touch him and feel his hands, lips and body on me.
Finally, he finished and held his hand out for me to join him on the floor. I wasted no time plopping myself onto the floor like a dropped shoe. I suppose it would have been more ladylike to have gently leaned in and lightly kissed him rather than pulling him on top of me but honestly the idea never occurred to me. I wanted him on me. All of him. Now.
Edward's body covered mine from head to toe. His long legs were settled in between mine, hindered for only moments by my dress, before Edward unceremoniously pushed my skirt up until it rested fully at my waist, exposing me to his glassy-eyed stare.
"Are these new?" He asked with a smirk as he ran his fingertips gently up and down my silk covered pussy. I could only nod and grab onto his wrist as he increased the pressure. I could feel myself swell and open under his touch.
I've always thought the one sense I could never give up would be the sense of sight. But after feeling the delicious weight of Edward's body fully prone over mine and the magic that his fingers and lips were currently performing on my body, I knew without a doubt is was the sense of touch I couldn't live without.
"Please." I begged as I arched my back, shameless in my attempt to get him to increase the pressure where I needed it the most. "Please. More. I need more." Again, no shame.
"I know what you need, baby and I'm going to make sure you get it. But first, we need to remove a few more obstacles." Distracted by his lips, I didn't register the silky slide of my panties until they were mid-thigh. Panic set in as Edward shifted his weight back onto his knees to pull them all the way off. He'd touched me there, but hadn't gotten a full frontal view. Would my parts look like the other girl's? Would he agree with Alice that bare was the way to go? Once my panties were gone, there was no hiding anything.
Edward's hands stopped moving as my legs tensed up. "Bella, we don't have to . . ." I knew what he was going to say. And despite the anxiety over my body size, I couldn't bear to have him stop now. In a graceful move that surprised both of us, I lifted my legs up and tore off my panties, hooking then with my fingers and flinging them into the nearest dark corner. Edward's eyes widened in surprise at what I hoped was my acrobatic like contortion and not because he thought I had a weird looking vagina. My usual response in this situation would be to quickly hide myself and find a deep, dark hole to crawl into but not this time. I'd broken myself wide open for him. I wasn't going to fall back into my old habits. I was Bella two-point-oh. And she was done messing around.
"Edward," I said huskily, laying back down and placing my legs on either side of his thighs, essentially taking him prisoner between my legs. "Take me to bed or lose me forever." I didn't even have a chance to take a breath before he was back on top of me with what felt like his whole hand down there rubbing me into blissful oblivion.
"You're so sexy." He murmured into my neck while working my body into a writhing mess. I couldn't voice a response. His ministrations had rendered the part of my brain that made actual words useless. All that was coming out of my mouth were moans and groans as his magic fingers found my clit and my body's reaction kicked into overdrive. "Is that good, baby?" Apparently, Edward's brain was still working. I could only nod. "Let go. Let go for me." As Edward increased the pressure on my pussy, my legs started to quiver uncontrollably and the burn in my stomach intensified. I knew my orgasm was seconds away.
"Edward!" I moaned as the wave of pleasure he'd been creating washed over me and my limbs fell limp to the floor. Edward didn't give me a moment to recover before his lips descended on mine. His movements were more frenzied than before. I knew what he needed and I was more than ready to give it to him. I yanked on his shirt, eager to feel his skin under my fingers. But Edward was more impatient than me. Without completely removing his lips from my skin, he wiggled and moved until his dress and white undershirt were gone. My eyes and fingers roamed greedily over his naked chest and shoulders. His muscles and tendons moved in tandem with our hurried movements. No words were needed as our hands and mouths told the story of our need for each other. My dress was already bunched up at my waist but soon it was being pushed up past my chest until it reached my neck.
"Lift your arms, baby."
With a little maneuvering I was left in nothing but my bra, though Edward didn't leave that covering on for long. The cool air hit my overheated skin and Edward left none of it untouched, licked or kissed. "Perfect." He moaned. His mouth reached my nipple, pleasure pulling at me, tugging me further up the wall of pleasure he was building with his kisses and ardent touches. Edward's tongue licked a trail from my right to my left breast, his thumb and fingers tweaking and pulling at the already wet and swollen nub. "Edward, pants, off." I ordered.
"Yesssss." Edward hissed as I struggled to release his belt. Victory was mine when the buckle gave way. I practically tore the button and zipper open, pushing his pants down over his toned cheeks. Edward ripped his mouth from my breast and pushed himself off me to finish removing his pants. It was dark in the tree house, yet the beauty that was his body was fully evident to my searching eyes. I welcomed his weight back on top of me with open arms and legs. His erection was hard and insistent at my center when I locked my legs around his hips, holding him tightly to me. Our bodies slipped and knocked against each other, creating the most amazing jolts of pleasure coursing through my already oversensitive body.
"I want you so much." Edward's voice was hoarse with desire. Both of our bodies tense with the need to complete our journey. I took his hand from my breast, squeezing it gently and plucked out the condom wrapper he'd subtly taken out of his pants pocket when he removed them.
"You have me, you always have." I promised, kissing him roughly, placing the sharp edged package in his sweaty hand. Edward kissed me deeply and moved to cover himself with the latex sheath.
Once his, what I guessed was a considerable sized penis was in position, he gently cupped my cheek and looked deeply into my eyes.
"I love you," he said with nothing but honesty in his voice.
"I know." I answered with equal sincerity. With my body still enjoying the aftershocks of my earlier orgasm, Edward tilted his hips and pushed inside of me. The pain I'd heard about, feared even, was there but was second to the feeling of finally being one with the man I loved and who loved me.
"Are you okay?" He asked huskily. "Can I move? If it's too much I can sto . . ."
"Don't you dare stop!" My hips arched roughly into his, bringing hardness deeper into me. Edward reacted instantly, his hips taking up a relentless in and out rhythm.
"You feel so amazing." His words were quick and halting as he kept up his movements.
"Edward . . ." I choked out hoping he would know what I needed.
"I got you, baby." Edward whispered before moving his hand down to where we were connected, applying pressure with his thumb to my already sensitive clit. Once again pleasure started to build. The now familiar tightening in my abdomen intensified with Edward's movements. "I'm coming. Please tell me you're close." Swear dripped off his forehead, landing on my heaving chest to roll down my side. His hips confirmed his words as he started to lose his pounding rhythm. I cupped his cheek, holding his gaze steady as he moved within me.
"You've already given everything to me. Let go, baby." Edward closed his eyes, his impossibly long lashes brushed his beautifully flushed cheeks. His eyes glowing with gratitude, he leaned down to kiss me gently before letting go with a burst of energy. I could only hang onto him as he moved within me.
"Ahhh, fuck, ahhhhh!" Edward moaned out his climax. Three more slow thrusts and pressure to my swollen clit sent me toppling after him into the abyss.
"You know, Emmett will never forgive us for defiling the tree house." I laid my head on Edward's shoulder, pulling the blanket tighter around us as we sat together enjoying the glow of the yard lights and the afterglow of our first time.
"Are you kidding? It was practically his idea." I shifted in his lap so I could look at his face.
"No. He knew we were headed in this direction and he knew I'd rented a room for us, but he said that a girl as special as you deserved to have her first time somewhere meaningful and a room at the Holiday Inn surrounded by drunken idiots didn't fit the bill."
"Why the tree house?" Edward moved us so I was straddling his lap. I ignored the pain this new position caused as his fingers moved in soothing circles on my hips.
"This tree feels like us. Remember when we climbed up here the first time?"
"When we found Emmett's porn?" Edward nodded. "I was terrified that rope ladder wouldn't hold me. I was sure I'd fall and you'd realize you had an elephant for a best friend." I sighed into his shoulder. "But you kept telling me I could do it. You wouldn't give up on getting up here."
"No, I wouldn't give up on you," he said, shaking his head. "I knew what you were worried about. Sure I wanted up here, but I wanted to prove to you that your size wasn't a big deal. " He kissed me lightly on my shoulder while I sniffled back the tears.
"Do you remember that stupid fight we had after you spent the day on the reservation?"
"Yes. That was after you lied to me about being busy with your mom but you were actually ditching me to go to the movies with James." In spite of the tenderness we'd just shared, I stiffened slightly at the memory of that phone call and the feelings of betrayal it had invoked. Edward's arms tightened around me.
"I regretted that lie immediately. I still remember the look of betrayal on your face as you went into the house. I hated myself for hurting you but I was so caught up in wanting them to like me that I was willing to sacrifice my best friend." His voice was hoarse as he got those last words out. "Afterwards when I couldn't get a hold of you . . . I thought I'd lost you. I was so jealous of Jacob Black. You followed me out here and we talked it out."
"I'd hoped you were a little jealous." Edward chuckled at my admittance, kissing me gently.
"After . . . "Edward paused, he took a breath and looked deep into my eyes. "After you left, I was beside myself. You leaving like that tore me apart. I know that was my fault and that I deserved it, but my arrogance and stupidity kept me from seeing the truth. Anyway, I'd come up here and cry. I'd cry until it felt as if I didn't have a drop of moisture left in my body and the ache in my chest was so bad, I was afraid I couldn't take another breath. And then I'd just lay here on the floor until I fell asleep. Several times Miss Janet would send Emmett or Jasper up here to get me and my big brother would have to carry me home like a baby."
"Oh, Edward." My voice caught at the pain of his words. We'd both suffered so much. Even though I was clearly the hurt party, my actions had prolonged the pain for both of us.
"Bella, this tree house kept me connected to you. Your discarded comics in the corner and favorite bean bag reading chair were all I had left to prove you'd been here. Things that we only shared with each other," he said, pausing to wipe the tears from my cheeks as drops of moisture fell down his own face. "I know it took me a long time to get here and I'll never forget how I hurt you, but Bella, I promise to never forget how lucky I am to have such a smart, funny, sweet and beautiful woman in my life and I promise to work every day to be the man you deserve."
"And I promise to never run off instead of confronting you on your bullshit," I said, earning a laugh from Edward before Our lips met in a consuming kiss confirming our promises to each other.
In my heart I knew that we would work together to keep those promises and just as surely as I knew that across town my aunt was very likely chasing a toga wearing Emmett around a hotel lobby, I knew that no matter what it took or how hard or long our road was, Edward and I would share every loss, victory or challenge together.
Edward was my first love, my true love, but more than that he was my best friend, for now and always.
THE END (almost)
See you at the epi.
Have a wonderful weekend.
ruinedbyrob