Fan Fiction, Sex Gods and Single Girls
A/N: Back to a first dance for all...
Chapter 38: Falling Into Place
I can't believe I agreed to dance with Edward. If I step on his feet I'll never speak to myself again.
But oh...he smells so good. And that voice… How can a voice sound attractive?
Has he always been this tall? His shoulders this broad? And his hands...big but gentle. And his fingers...holy crap…they're so frickin' long!
Stop thinking about his body parts and concentrate!
Oh, God… His BODY PARTS! They're all right THERE!
STOP IT! Quit thinking about the parts you shouldn't be thinking about! You probably look like a tomato! And don't look at his face unless you want to fall flat on yours! Look at his feet. Mirror his steps and try not to be a complete dork!
"I really don't know what I'm doing," Bella squeaked, blushing furiously as she looked up into Edward's sparkling green eyes and exasperatingly amused smirk.
"You're doing fine." Edward gave Bella's waist and fingers a simultaneous light squeeze. "But if you'd prefer, you can stand on my feet and I'll dance you around like a five year old." He raised his eyebrows invitingly, teasingly.
"Not helping, Edward."
His chuckle was a soft growl.
"Now you're laughing at me!"
"I'm not laughing at you!" he laughed. "I'm laughing with you."
"I'm not laughing!" Bella giggled breathlessly. "I'm trying not to injure myself! Or you! We're both in danger here."
"You're doing fine, trust me. It just takes a little practice."
Bella stumbled and Edward caught her, grasping her more securely. A neon light, screaming the words "BODY PARTS!" flashed in her brain as he pulled her close. Reflexively gripping him tighter, the heat of a blush traveled from her face, to her neck, and into her chest, leaving most of her own body parts hot and jittery.
As the song ended, he gave her a superfluous single-armed spin and deposited her on a bench seat at the fire ring, freeing her from the throes of samba dance steps and his overwhelming Edwardness. She took a calming breath, thankful to be put her out of her thrilling misery before she'd made a complete ass of herself, swooning and passing out in his very capable arms.
Been there, done that.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked, working hard to contain his smile at the doubtful look on her face.
"Well, I stayed upright and your toes and shins are intact, so I'd say that was a definite success." Edward grinned crookedly, making her smile. "Thank you for the dance lesson, Edward."
"My pleasure, Bella. I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you." Her cheeks were still pink as he strolled away to start the grill, smiling to himself.
Bella turned to watch Edward's father dancing his pretty smiling mother about to September, another seventies song that probably had to do with their anniversary in this same month.
Alice came and plopped herself down next to Bella. "Oh, God, that was fun! Did you see Emmett?" Her silvery laugh was infectious and Bella found herself smiling even as she shook her head. She hadn't watched anyone else. She hadn't even been aware of anyone else…other than Edward.
"Emmett is such a goof!" Alice laughed, looking over at Emmett and Rose, talking with Jasper. "Rose teaches some dance in her aerobics classes, so she can samba, but Emmett is completely unteachable. He just does his own thing, gyrating around like a male exotic dancer, grinning all the while. I haven't seen Rose laugh like that in a long time."
"They seem to really be hitting it off," Bella remarked, watching them across the patio.
Alice nodded. "I always thought they'd be great together if they met, but the timing was never right. Rose was in a long-term relationship..." Alice's expression darkened as she lowered her voice. "I never liked the guy. I always thought Royce was kind of…oily...you know?" Bella nodded uncertainly. "He turned out to be a total dipstick, dipping his stick one time too many, and when Rose discovered he'd been cheating, that was it. She was hurt for a long time afterward." Alice's eyes were on Rose, smiling at Emmett as his mouth curled up in a dimpled grin. "But timing is everything, and I think she's finally ready." Alice returned her gaze to Bella, her expression lighter. "When it's time, it's time, you know?"
Bella nodded. "Emmett seems like he's all heart. With a generous side of fun."
"He is." Alice smiled. "And speaking of fun..." Alice grinned. "It looked like you were having fun. Edward was definitely enjoying himself. He was smiling from ear to ear."
Bella glanced across the patio, surprised when Edward suddenly glanced up, his eyes meeting hers. Her blush deepened and she quickly looked back at Alice. "Yeah, that was fun…and somewhat embarrassing...but I'm sure Edward got a lot of entertainment out of my lack of coordination."
"Give yourself more credit, Bella! You kept up just fine. And you weren't the only one who was unsure." Her sparking eyes traveled across the yard to Jasper and Bella smiled at her obvious interest.
The music changed once again to another old song and Bella smiled at Edward's sense of humor. He had an obvious appreciation for his parents' love by selecting You Sexy Thing for their benefit.
"Come on Rosie, they're playing our song!" Emmett blurted, grabbing Rose by the hand as he started gyrating. Rose was giggling but she went right along with him.
"Oh, God!" Alice snorted a laugh and pointed to her parents. "They're doing The Bump...the 70's answer to dance floor grinding" They snickered as they watched Emmett and Rose following Esme and Carlisle's moves. Jessica pulled Mike out to join them, and a moment later, Mary and Charles, the older couple from next door, joined in. Jasper caught Alice's eye and grinned.
Bella peeked over at Edward, wondering if he was watching the silly spectacle. He was. Moving to the catchy beat of the music as he stood behind the grill, he caught Bella looking at him and shot her a devilish grin. With a nod toward the makeshift dance floor, he raised his eyebrows in inquiry, silently, teasingly inviting her to join in. She burst into laughter, shaking her head emphatically and looking away as he laughed at her reaction.
"I just had the best idea!" Alice exclaimed, whirling to face Bella. Her eyes were filled with excitement as she grasped Bella's arm. "Jasper and I are co-advisors for the Winter Formal committee...and I was just thinking... We should go to Winter Formal together!"
Bella looked at Alice blankly.
"We'll chaperone the dance as a supervision duty!" Alice explained. "We can dress up, go out to dinner, and then go to Winter Formal!"
"Who is we?" Bella asked hesitantly, apprehension gnawing away at her stomach.
"All of us teachers! It would be such a blast!" Alice bubbled. "Oh my… I can just see Jasper in a tux!" She clasped her hands, as if in fervent prayer.
Bella knew teachers were required to supervise extracurricular activities; it was in their contracts. And supervising a formal dance together might be a fun way to fulfill that obligation.
But then Alice continued with her vision.
"I'm sure Edward, Emmett and Angela would be willing...have you noticed how well she and Ben seem to be getting along?" Alice nodded to where Ben and Angela sat in the grass, talking and laughing.
But Bella didn't look at Angela and Ben. She was too busy staring at Alice, her mouth gaping like a codfish, her brain floundering like a...flounder.
"WH-WHAT?!" Bella stutter-gasped, floundering verbally. "Why on earth would Edward, Emmett and Angela go to a high school formal?!"
Alice beamed like a halogen lamp. "Well, obviously because you, Rose and Ben would invite them! We're allowed to bring dates."
Bella was horrified.
Alice is a nutbar!
"Alice! W-We...we can't... They wouldn't... Th-that's… Holy crap, that's months away!"
Alice wasn't deterred as she continued. "And Edward really should go..." her voice dropped. "A formal is an important rite of passage...and he's never gone. He nearly went once, but… Well, that didn't happen." She gazed wistfully at her brother.
Bella threw a worried glance at Edward, now beginning to place shish-kabobs on the grill. Thankfully he was far enough away that he couldn't have heard anything that had just spewed forth from his poor, unfortunate, crazy sister's mouth. As if he sensed them looking and discussing him, his eyes flickered over, narrowing as he looked from Bella to Alice.
Bella turned back to Alice, trying to make sense of what she'd just said and why it seemed to matter that Edward hadn't gone to a high school formal.
"Alice, not every student goes to formals. I never went to any of mine." She shrugged because…it was just a dance...a fancy one...but not that big of a deal.
Apparently it was an epic deal. Alice's eyes were like saucers. "You didn't go either? Oh my god! How perfect!" She grasped Bella by the shoulders. "We're going to remedy this! This is awesome! Leave it to me!" She made a squealing noise and clapped but Bella just stared speechlessly, certain she was suffering further mental short-circuitry.
Alice is definitely mental.
"Alice!" It was Edward, interrupting Alice's moment. He was scowling at her, with his hands palm up and fingers splayed in the universal 'what-the-hell?' gesture. His eyes flickered to Bella's, as if checking to see she was unharmed, before returning to glower at his sister. "Why don't you start getting things set up?" he called, jabbing the barbecue tongs in the direction of the house.
"Be right there!" Alice called back cheerfully, ignoring his obvious irritation as she turned back to Bella.
"We have time to think about it. I won't say a word. But on Tuesday I'll go to the Activities Office and reserve Winter Formal for us to chaperone. If things work out…awesome. If not…fine. It's not like it's set in stone, but stranger things have happened!" She smiled cryptically as she got up, did another clappy-thing with her hands, and practically skipped to the kitchen.
Bella dared a bemused glance at Edward. His gaze followed his sister before shooting over to Bella. He shook his head slightly and gave Bella an apologetic little half-smile. Bella smiled back, shrugging, glad he was clueless about his sister's far-fetched thoughts.
But damn, that man would look glorious in a tux. He'd be Sex in a tux. He'd be "Stux"…or "Stex"…or "Tex"… No, "Tex" would be Jasper in a tux…
The music faded out and Bella realized the 70's interlude had come to an end when she heard the beginning of Radiohead's Jigsaw Falling Into Place.
"What was that all about?"
Bella looked up as Angela took a seat next to her. She exhaled a laugh and shook her head. "Alice thinks we should chaperone Winter Formal...as in, all of us teachers…with our dates. Apparently I'm inviting Edward, Rose is asking Emmett, and Ben will be asking you. And it's not for months, by the way." Bella's raised eyebrows indicated just what an unbalanced idea that was.
Angela was giggling. "Now I understand that incredulous look on your face, but you've got to admit, Edward would do a tux some good. And Ben wouldn't look too shabby either."
"You can't be serious!"
"No, but it's fun to imagine."
They sat for a moment before Bella finally asked, "So…Ben, huh?" She didn't need to elaborate.
Angela gave herself a hug, shrugging and smiling at Bella. She didn't need to elaborate either.
"You always were a sucker for a cute Asian boy," Bella said.
Angela's smile widened. "It's more than his appearance, B. He seems like such a nice guy...smart, with a good sense of humor. And damn, he makes great potstickers. With his mom. How cute is that?"
Bella smiled at her friend. "Do you think he's interested?"
Angela looked across the yard at Ben, smiling before replying. "Well, he seemed disappointed when I told him I didn't live in Seattle, but when I said I lived in Olympia, he said that wasn't very far away. That seems positive." Bella could see the hopeful light dancing in Angela's eyes. And then the light turned into a probing gleam as Angela turned the inquest around on Bella.
"So…Edward, huh? And don't try to deny or deflect, B. I know you too well."
Bella smiled and pinked up a little. "Like you said about Ben… He's attractive but there's so much more behind the face. He's a nice, thoughtful guy. Intelligent and funny. But I doubt he knows how to make potstickers."
Angela laughed. "Well, I won't ask if you think he's interested, because you'd just say no. But I'll tell you what I think... I think Edward is a good guy. I sort of expected a meat market today. You know, guys and...chicks...around his age. But look who's actually here...his family, a couple close friends, a handful of neighbors, all older than him, and he let his sister invite a slew of her colleagues. I'm pleasantly surprised.
"But here's what else I think... I was talking to Alice earlier, and she said he'd had some kind of epiphany this past week and he's no longer interested in seeing anyone like he was. I've been watching him today, and he's been watching you today. He's hardly spent any time with anyone else today, which makes me believe at least a part of Edward's epiphany moved in right across the street a week ago."
Bella's eyes were wide with shock and the beginnings of an epiphany of her own.
Angela's eyes twinkled at her dumbfounded friend. "He can't take his eyes or killer smile off of you, B. So, who knows..." She shrugged. "You just may be asking that man to Winter Formal a few months from now."
Bella barely heard the last of what Angela had said. Images from recent experiences, involving mesmerizing green eyes, crooked smiles, gentle words and soft touches, flashed through her thoughts. And if his thoughts were anything along the lines of the thoughts she'd been having of him lately...
Then that would really change things.
But things have already changed. He's different. This is different. This is…
What is this?
I don't know... But it's…nice. It's…inviting.
Holy crap. Edward...? Really?! Holy crap!
"You really think so?" Bella murmured.
"I know so. Don't ask me how, I just do. And so do you." Angela smiled confidently as she wrapped her arm around Bella's shoulders.
And with that, Jigsaw Falling into Place ended, and the next song, No You Girls, began.
"Come on, B," Angela said. "I think we should see if Alice or Edward could use our help. What do you say?" She smiled encouragingly.
"Sure." Bella nodded as she stood, feeling a little shaky, letting Angela lead the way.
They were met at the sliding door by Alice, who promptly handed Bella a small bowl of sauce and a basting brush. "Perfect timing! Would you help Edward with the kabobs?"
"Oh, um, sure thing." Bella took the bowl on autopilot, nodding vaguely as she headed toward the grill, while Angela stepped inside with Alice.
oOoOoOoOo
Edward's post at the barbecue grill had afforded him the opportunity to keep an eye on Bella. He was worried the house of fanfictional cards surrounding her and her quasi-secret hobby would come tumbling down around them at any moment. There were too many people here who knew, though they'd promised to keep that information close to the vest. And of course, he knew he had to lay his own cards down on the table within the week, but he wasn't ready to show his hand yet.
But there was another reason he was keeping an eye on Bella. He was watching her because he liked watching her. She was interesting and intriguing, and she was occasionally watching him. He'd get that odd little sensation, and sure enough, when he'd look...those lovely dark brown eyes would be trained on him.
She didn't look at him like other women did, feasting on an exterior and enthralled with the happenstance of an aesthetically appealing arrangement of features. Nor was it a calculating look, plotting and planning to ensnare him for financial gain or physical rendezvous.
He cringed, thinking about the tawdry and fleeting sexual experiences he'd been part of. So empty and meaningless. He'd looked at pretty faces, held hands and bodies, but it had all been physical, nothing more.
Now he was thinking about more.
He liked the way Bella Swan looked at him. She looked at the exterior, but she looked beyond it, and in the past few days, he'd shown her more of himself than he'd ever shown any other woman. She seemed interested in seeing the real him—looking into him and appreciating what was behind the outward appearance and garbage she had unfortunately also witnessed.
Edward's modus operandi with women had always been to remain polite, but detached and aloof. But he didn't want to keep Bella at arm's length. He liked their connection. It thrilled him when he could make her smile or laugh. And then there was that blush. It enflamed him as much as it did her features. He was at the mercy of that damn blush. Her smile or laughter were obvious rewards! but her blush was far more elusive, making him wonder at the concealed thoughts behind it.
He looked up to see Bella approaching with the brush and the bowl of glaze. Her eyes looked a little glazed themselves and he was momentarily concerned about the conversations she'd had with Alice and Angela. Not so much the conversation with Angela, because she was giving him a week to confess! and he doubted Alice would rat him out, but who knew what was up her fashion-forward sleeve?
"Are you going to be my little helper?" he asked Bella with a grin, trying to put her at ease and win himself a smile.
She looked up and blushed. And smiled. "Yes, Shish-ka-Boy. I'm here to help you do battle in the war on kabobs."
Edward chuckled. He stepped back, guiding her past him with a hand on her waist. "Stand over here, Glaze-Girl. I'll flip and subdue the kabobs, you glaze them mercilessly." He looked down at her profile, catching the curve of her lips as she smiled down at the grill and went to work next to him.
"Sorry about Alice, with, uh…whatever that was earlier," he said a moment later.
Bella shook her head and smiled reassuringly. "No, she's fine. I like Alice. She's just a little…" She hesitated, looking for the right word.
"Overwhelming?" Edward supplied with a smirk.
Bella laughed. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
He smiled. "Well…personal experience and all, you know? She just likes to plan and organize the people around her. So, what was that all about?"
"Oh, um, nothing important." She looked down and her hair drifted between them, obscuring his view of her face. Her action led him to believe that whatever his sister had said was a bit more than 'nothing' and her reluctance to elaborate only piqued his curiosity further. Without a second thought, he reached up, tucking her hair behind her ear so he had a clear view of her face once again.
"Tell me what she said," he persisted between kabob flips, his brow furrowing. "Was it about me?"
Bella's breath hitched. "It was nothing, really."
She was fighting a losing a battle with a fresh blush and had no idea what that did to him, simply inciting further pursuit.
He wiped the barbecue tongs off on a small damp rag. "She said something about me, didn't she? Was it bad?" he asked carefully.
Bella looked up at him in surprise. "No, it wasn't bad."
His eyes were triumphant. "So, it was about me. What did she say? Tell me, Bella, or things are going to get reeeeally ugly," he threatened in a low voice, smiling a wicked grin.
"I'm not telling you!" she said with a laugh. She pulled herself together and looked at him blandly. "You don't scare me, Edward."
The look on his face said he was willing to rise to the challenge. His green eyes blazed with mischief, and when he spoke, his voice was low and menacing. "You really shouldn't have said that." He snapped the pincer-like tongs. "Now I'll just have to tong it out of you!" He aimed the tongs haphazardly for her waist, hips, arms and hands, laughing as Bella squeaked in alarm, giggling and jerking out of the way of each teasing snap of the tongs.
"Stop!" She giggled breathlessly, turning on him with a fully-loaded glaze brush. It caught him on his hand as he ducked back out of the way.
"I've been hit!" he exclaimed, examining his knuckles as their skirmish ceased. He looked at her and grinned. "Not to worry. Just a graze…of glaze." He brought his hand to his mouth, swiping his tongue across his knuckles as Bella watched. When he looked back at her he stilled.
Neither of them noticed The Black Keys' Howlin' for You had just begun.
Bella's eyes, wide and dark as semi-sweet chocolate, were staring at his mouth. Her lips were parted and he was aware of the slight rise and fall of her breasts. She was flushed from her hairline all the way down…into her shirt. And for as brief as it was, the moment had quite the effect on his mind and body. He had a sudden wild urge to take possession of her, hoisting her over his shoulder with a growl and carting her off to the dark recesses of his home, to unleash the beast within him.
But then he blinked, gathering the shreds of his common sense. Acting on that impulse would be a lot like driving a Volvo at breakneck speed right off the edge of a cliff. A momentary thrill, followed by a crash and burn on the rocky shore below. Not at all advisable for extended enjoyment.
Best to be careful with that Volvo.
Take it easy. Go slowly. And settle the fuck down.
He shook off his thoughts and managed to smile, but suddenly she was reaching up to his face. A soft, slender finger gently touched the corner of his mouth, moving just along the edge of his lower lip. Pulling her hand away, he realized he'd had a little smear of glaze on his lip.
"Oh. Thanks," he said, exhaling an embarrassed little laugh.
But Edward inhaled that laugh and nearly swallowed his tongue as she stuck her fingertip into her mouth, sucked it, and then removed it with a little pop and an innocent smile. As he stared, open-mouthed, her expression changed and she was suddenly blushing furiously. He could see she'd realized where his errant thoughts and Volvo had detoured.
oh. fuck. me.
Focus, Cullen. Stop staring. Close your mouth. Breathe through your nose. And back the hell away from the grill before you set fire to your dick—it's got big enough problems as it is. Just be thankful for untucked shirttails. Now...collect your wits and send her on an errand.
"Bella?" His voice sounded strangled, her name coming out more like 'Bluh,' so he cleared his throat before continuing. "Would you grab the serving platters in the kitchen? I think these kabobs are about done."
"Yes. Sure. Of course. I'll get them and then I'll be right back. With them," she replied, glad for the diversion but mentally slapping herself for her ridiculous over-response. As she scooted past him, Edward scooted well back, keeping recent developments that had arisen to himself. Once she was safely inside, he shifted his stance and then shifted himself, making minor adjustments to the major problem in his pants.
What is wrong with you?! It was just a smidgen of barbecue sauce on your lip! So she wiped it off with a finger and then sucked it off...
NOT HELPING AT FUCKALL!
Okay, never mind! Quit thinking about it! Don't think about her.
I can't help it! What is it about her?!
She's different.
She is. She's just so...unaffected. And that's just so…beguiling.
This is different…
I had no idea…
And I have no idea how to do this.
Bella returned with the serving platters as the music changed to Neon Trees' Animal. She was quiet, chewing at her lip and avoiding eye contact, as Edward began transferring kabobs to platters. He glanced up, studying her, worried she was upset or offended by the awkward moment they'd shared.
Why won't she say anything?
Why don't you?
Should I apologize for my dick commandeering my brain?
No, probably not.
But Bella suddenly broke the awkward silence.
"So, um... I was thinking, I might tell you what Alice was talking about earlier."
Edward's eyes shot to hers in mid-kabob-placement and he smiled in relief. "You might tell me what that was about, now? After you clearly won the Barbecue Tool Duel?"
She nodded, smiling shyly. "Mmm-hmm. I might... But not yet."
Edward rolled his eyes in mock-frustration. "Okay. So when might you tell me?"
She shrugged. "In a couple months."
"A couple months?!"
Bella nodded, grinning at the pouty look on his face.
"Fine," Edward huffed amiably, fishing his phone out of his pocket. "I'm putting it on my calendar." He spoke as he typed. "November... Make. Bella. Spill. Her. Guts." He grinned, waving his phone at her. "There. We have a date!"
Bella burst into giggles. He had no idea.
oOoOoOoOo
Dinner was laid out buffet-style in the kitchen, and once they'd filed through, filling their plates, the guests returned outside, congregating around the fire pit and patio table to eat.
Alice followed Bella and Angela to the table, where Esme and Carlisle sat with James and Ben. Last through the line, Edward took the remaining seat, smiling as he sat down across from Bella.
Conversation centered around the food as everyone dug in, asking who had made what and complimenting Edward on the main course. He deflected, saying it was all about the application of the glaze, chuckling when Bella rolled her eyes at him.
The music had moved on through The Black Keys' Lonely Boy, Kings of Leon's Use Somebody, B. o. B.'s Nothin' On You, and Jason Mraz' I'm Yours had just begun.
"So, are all you teachers ready for the school year?" Esme asked, addressing the young teachers seated at both the table and fire pit.
They agreed that they were, for the most part. Mike was optimistic about the football team. Jessica was looking forward to using a new textbook series. Eric had a good feeling about his newspaper staff. Rose loved the new flooring in the aerobics classroom. Ben was hopeful the rotten onion scent would be gone from the previous science teacher's 'Golden Onion Award' desk drawer. Alice was contemplating using her Eiffel Tower replica as her hall pass, so students would think twice about "needing" to leave class. Jasper was excited about starting at a new school. And Bella was anxiously looking forward to starting her career.
"Oh my god, Mom! Dad!" Alice exclaimed. "i didn't tell you what crazy Victor Mason did to poor Bella!"
Edward was instantly on alert, plastic fork and knife clenched in his fists.
Who the hell is crazy Victor Mason and what the fuck did he do to Bella?!
"You remember, he was the English teacher who was across the hall from me?" Alice asked and her parents nodded. "Bella was hired to fill his position when he retired, and you'll never guess what he did! That jerk took every last thing from the classroom! Everything! Her classroom looks like locusts stripped it bare! Every poster on the wall, the contents of the desk…just...gone! Victor Mason was a big, crazy locust!" She turned to Bella. "He didn't leave you a single thing, did he?"
Bella shook her head. "Um, no, not much. There were some handouts in the file cabinet, at least, and three paper clips in a desk drawer," Bella added with a laugh as she looked at Esme and Carlisle.
"Why wouldn't he leave some things behind, if he was retiring?" Esme asked with a frown. "So you have nothing in your room, to start the school year?"
"Well, it's not that bad… I brought a few things to organize my desk, and I got supplies from the English department…"
"And luckily I came up with a couple posters for Bella," Eric Yorkie piped up helpfully, grinning at Bella from his seat at the fire-pit.
Bella smiled. "Yes. Thank you for both of those, Eric."
Edward narrowed his eyes at Eric. He felt better about who the hell Victor Mason was, but now gangly Eric Dorkie with his two piddly posters was pissing him right the hell off. He was so irritated he didn't notice Jet's Are You Gonna Be My Girl had begun playing over the speakers.
"Bella? Maybe one day after school I can take you to a teacher supply store and we can shop for a few more things for your classroom," Alice suggested.
"Oh, um… Thanks, Alice, but that's not necessary. I got quite a few more posters...already..." She glanced uncertainly across the table to find Edward watching her. He smiled softly, giving her a little shrug and a nod, and so she continued. "When Edward stopped by on Thursday with your Eiffel Tower, he saw how bare my room was, and he came back on Friday, bringing me quite a few posters he happened to have."
Alice's head spun to look at her brother. "From your movie poster collection?! You gave her posters from your collection?! Seriously?!"
Edward returned his sister's stare with a glare. "Yes, Alice. They were all for films based on novels—some of which are required reading in high school English classes. I thought Bella might like them, so I brought her about a dozen."
Take that, gangly Mr. Dorkie!
Bella smiled at Edward. "And I really do appreciate them. Thank you so much, Edward."
Esme beamed affectionately at her son. And his darling new neighbor. "That was awfully nice of you to help Bella out like that."
"Are we talking about the same poster collection you had in your room back in high school?" Ben asked.
"And in college!?" Emmett added loudly.
Edward answered both Emmett and Ben. "Some of them, yes."
"I thought those posters were sacred." James grinned. "Didn't you used to hang them up alphabetically?"
Edward rolled his eyes. "No, James. I hung them up in order of release date, and then alphabetically within that category."
"Geez, how hard is it to remember 'The System'?" Emmett teased, using finger quotes.
James snorted a laugh. "My mistake. But if I do remember correctly, Mr. O.C.D. hung them up with that sticky adhesive putty so they wouldn't get holes in them from staples or thumb tacks."
Bella gasped and Edward's eyes darted to her. She looked stricken.
"What?" he asked in alarm.
"I stapled them to the wall, Edward! Oh, God… I'm so sorry! I didn't know!"
Edward stared at her for a moment and then began chuckling. "That's fine, Bella. They're yours. I'm just glad you're able to use them. It's better they decorate your classroom than gather dust in my garage."
"I'll have to come check your room on Tuesday morning and see how it looks now." Alice grinned at Bella and then turned an impressed little smile on her brother.
Carlisle decided to help move the conversation away from Edward and his former movie poster obsession. It was obvious a girl obsession would supersede a movie poster obsession, and Edward was clearly somewhat obsessed with his pretty new neighbor. Esme's assessment that their son was falling in love seemed like it might be spot on.
"So Angela, what do you do?" Carlisle asked, taking the spotlight off his son for a bit.
"I work for a textbook publishing company in Olympia. It's not what I started out hoping to do, but it was a foot in the door and experience on my resume."
"What would you rather be doing?" Esme asked.
Angela smiled. "I'd really like to be editing fiction, of any kind. Textbook editing is rather dry."
"Well, you should talk to James, here," Esme said. "He and Edward own a small publishing house but James manages the business. Maybe he can help you." Esme smiled hopefully at James.
James shrugged. "I know I won't have anyone leaving until the end of the calendar year. That's quite a few months away, but you can always send me your resume."
"Sure, I can do that," Angela agreed with a nod.
"Hey James?" It was Eric. "Do publishing companies ever scout prospective stories or authors on fanfiction websites?"
The sudden reaction around the table and fire pit surprised Eric. At least six heads snapped in his direction, with jaws dropped and eyes popped.
"What?!" he asked defensively. "I write fanfiction."
A/N: Get the defibrillator!