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Chapter 50: A Wedding Date, A Road Trip, and a Possible Murder
EPOV
Bella looked at me in disbelief. "You want to go as my date to Lucy's wedding?" she asked me, "You remember this is Lucy Hastenings right? The girl who threatened to castrate you? Her ex Peter is going to be there. That guy I dated right after you, Tomas, is going to be there. Edward – there are a lot of people at this wedding who really hate you."
I blushed, realizing that she was right, my ass was going to marked if I attended. However the thought of pounding that douche bag she had been dancing with back in high school more than made up for any bodily threat.
"Look," I said, "Listen – we're going as friends not a couple. Why are you embarrassed to be seen with me?"
Bella gave that look she reserved for people whom she thought were barking mad.
"Don't be an idiot," she said, "I'm here aren't I? In a public place – without a mask?"
"Then don't worry about me getting my ass kicked," I told her, "I'll worry about me – you worry about having a good time."
"Are you sure Edward," Bella asked, "I don't need a date to this thing. Believe me – I gone solo to weddings before."
"Have you ever gone with some one," I asked.
"Nope," she said, popping her p's.
"It's vastly more fun and safe. Trust me you'll be thanking me when Lucy's drunken Uncle Lester makes a pass on you," I replied, remembering that I lost my virginity with my mother's friend at a wedding. Briefly I wondered if Bella remembered that from our high school days.
"Wait – didn't you lose your virginity at a wedding," Bella asked, clearly remembering that story.
"And I didn't have a date," I replied hoping to do damage control, "You're doing me a favor – 2 days away from Alice's wedding."
"I thought you were doing me a favor," Bella said, raising an eyebrow.
"It's mutual if you promise to never bring up that story about how I lost virginity again," I said winking, thinking of my assorted love life. Bella was the definitely the highlight.
"As friends and only friends right," she said.
"Of course – what else would we be," I replied, staring at my wine.
BPOV
After much debate we decided to rent a car and drive up to Nottingham. Edward wanted to take his car service and I wanted to take the train. Edward pointed out that the train could be late and I pointed out that it was ridiculous to pay someone to do a skill that I was perfectly capable of doing. We agreed to meet at Heathrow to rent the car Friday night after work so we could make the rehearsal dinner.
I just needed to call Lucy and let her know there had been a change in plans. Dialing her number I wondered if I was going to have revive her off the phone.
"Hallo," I heard her pick up on the other end.
"Lucy – it's Bella," I said, missing the days of regular phones and their cords that I could twist. My handheld just wasn't doing it for me.
"Bella – what's up – you're not canceling aren't you," she asked a little breathless. For moment I wondered if I interrupted sexy times with her and Matt.
"Hardly – just a change in plans," I said, pulling on my hair.
"Riley can't make it," Lucy said, rather then asking. I had told her a little about Riley's father. She was probably expecting me to come by myself. Mrs. Hastenings had been vocal about wanting to set me up with her bridge partner's son. I was really glad all the sudden that Edward was coming with me.
"Yeah – he can't but a friend of mine is coming in Riley's place," I explained, avoiding the fact that Riley and I broke up. I was pretty sure that Lucy's mom would have taken that as a green light.
"Whose the friend – Jasper? Your other friend Ben's wife is pregnant right? Is it Emmett," she asked, probably wondering who to engrave the place card too. Unlike Alice's crystal bells, Lucy was giving out heart shaped wine corks too. I liked the sentiment. It was more my style.
"Uh Edward is actually," I answered, waiting for her reaction. I could hear the count down in my head. Three, two, one, I thought.
"Edward – you mean Edward Cullen – Edward from Trent – Edward the boy who used you, Edward whose is engaged to married," Lucy shouted her voice getting louder, I held the phone from ear. Matt spoke up in the background confirming my earlier thoughts.
"Actually Edward isn't engaged anymore – he broke it off with his fiancée a few weeks ago," I explained.
"Okay – let me get this straight – you want to come to a wedding with your newly single ex-boyfriend," she asked. God – I thought, that sounds as bad as it did in my head.
"Yup – that sums it up," I replied.
"Okay and want does Riley have to say about this," she asked, "I can't imagine that he's okay with you being with your newly single ex."
I decided honestly was the best policy. "Riley and I broke up," I explained, "And no before you asked it had nothing to do with Edward. Riley's dad is really sick. There is no way he's coming back anytime soon. It's not going to work."
"Oh Bella – I'm so sorry," she replied, some of the wind out of her sail.
"Don't be," I replied, "given the situation it would have been worse if we let go any further. At least this we're still friends and you never know about the future."
Lucy was quiet for minute. You could hear the gears moving in her head. "Jesus Bella, you're coming to this wedding single with your single ex."
"Look he offered to do me a favor because everyone likes setting me up," I replied, irritated that I was even having this conversation. I was 26-year-old woman for God Sakes!
"Bella – I told you before you – I don't want to see you hurt," Lucy said, "That's my only issue with this. Edward was a prick in high school and I honestly don't see him changing."
"I would have agreed with you six months ago but he's really different," I replied, "I wouldn't be friends with anyone that I thought was a waste of time."
"Just don't do anything stupid," she said trying a breath in, "Also – don't remind anyone here who he is. There a number of people in the Hastenings family who would like to fuck him up."
"He's been duly warned," I replied, relieved I wasn't getting more of a lecture. She must be really stressed about the wedding. "What's happening with the wedding?"
"Bella – that woman," Lucy started say, that woman being Lucy's future mother in law, "Wants puce in the wedding – puce! Is that even a real color? Wasn't it in that ridiculous movie about Santa Claus 20 years ago?"
Friday afternoon I met Edward at Heathrow. For all his reassurances that this was okay, he was obviously nervous about this. I chuckled as filled out the paperwork for the rental. "You sure you want to do this Edward," I asked, "you can back out – I won't be offended."
"Of course I do, " he replied, "Don't be silly. "
I shook my head and signed the rental agreement. "Here you go Miss," the young rental agent said, "you'll find your car in the park, in spot 24."
"Thanks very much," I told him, taking the key, "We'll be back on Sunday."
Edward opened the door for me, "Shall we," he asked.
"We shall," I said exiting the opposite. Luck was on our side this weekend. The company was out of compacts so they gave a mid size instead. At the very least Edward wouldn't be so cramped, at 6'3 I couldn't imagine it was comfortable to be folded like that. It was Ford, the European version of the Contour. For a brief moment I was reminded of the Crown Victoria that Charlie drove with the department. Pushing the wave of nostalgia back, I hit the trunk button so we could put our bags in.
"Let me do that," Edward said grabbing my rollaway back and art tote. He glanced in the bag and pulled out the box that Charlie had given me that last Christmas. Frowning he looked it over, running his fingers over the graffiti he had left on it.
I couldn't get rid of that box – it had been the last thing that Charlie had given me. There was just too much sentimental value with it. I had never bother to fix it as it been a reminder of how far I had come. Angela, Jasper, and Ben had bought me a new one that first birthday back home. But I made them take it back. They had the unfortunate luck of giving it to me at the height of my depression and I just lost it, the pain being too much.
"Please put that back," I said taking it back from him and putting it in back in my tote.
The three of us got into the car, me, Edward and the little white elephant that appeared when Edward grabbed my box. We drove in silence as I navigated out of London with my MapQuest instructions. The silence kept up a good 15 minutes out of London.
Edward finally cleared his throat. "I'm surprised you still have it," he said softly.
"That box was last thing he gave me. I wasn't giving it up," I replied, "No one was going to make me do that. Not even a group of spoilt rich kids."
Edward winced. "I said I was sorry," he said.
"I know – doesn't change the fact you that you hurt me deeply," I retorted, furious, that he had to bring this up. It may have been unintentional but he was salt in some very old wounds. "Listen this is a very long drive to a place that has a lot of bad history for both of us. Why don't we both just shut the hell up."
He nodded looked outside as the scenario passed. Then he turned around. "You know what – no I don't want to shut up. Every time that you and I stop talking things get worse and I don't bloody well see you for 10 fucking years!"
"Edward – you're spending the fucking weekend with me. And I'm going to be a bridesmaid in you sister's wedding so her fucking symmetry wasn't off. Not to mention her gallery opening. Don't worry we going to be stuck with each for a long time," I yelled.
"You know that isn't want I mean. I fucked up with Alec – I know that. And you had every right to be angry but you shut me out," he yelled back.
"You turned my hair orange," I screamed, remembering the Sassette like color and my panic filled afternoon trying to save my hair.
"You didn't tell me you were applying to Cambridge," he yelled back, "And you didn't tell me you were leaving early."
Unlike the peaceful journey I had envisaged that reflected our new found friendship, this was turning into the most violent fight we even had, even worse the one where I gave him a black eye. We had been screaming at each other for over an hour when my cell phone started to ring.
"Your bloody mobile is going off," he growling grabbing it and throwing it at me.
"Hey – Einstein – I'm driving – can you open it yourself or do you do need a tutorial in that as well as being a decent human being," I retorted, furiously.
"Oh – I'm sorry – Miss Goody Two Shoes, let me get that for you," Edward barked and answering it. "Hallo," he barked, "Lucy – I'm so sorry – she's driving – what's up? Oh – ok –I'll put you on speaker."
"Bella," Lucy's voice filled the rental.
"What's up Lucy – I'm a little preoccupied," I replied, glaring at Edward out of the corner of my eye. Between our fight and the storm that had started as a drizzle and was now a full downpour I was at my wit's end.
"I'm glad I caught you – listen – pull off the road," she said, "The storm is bad and power is out in the area. You're not going to be able to get in until tomorrow morning."
"Jesus – she's right," Edward said, taking in the rain, "we used take this road up to Trent. If the weather is bad you can't get through."
I cursed inwardly knowing that they were right. My 10th grade year there had a been a freak summer storm and I had arrived a few hours early from the rest of the student body. I had the run of the dorms by myself for a couple of days.
"Okay – I'm getting off. I'll text you when I get settled. See you tomorrow," I replied.
"Good – see you," she said hanging up.
The silence finally permeated the car, a temporary truce as I looked for lodging. I figured that we were all in the same boat with other travelers so I skipped the first couple of motels thinking they were probably getting booked up. It was a trick Charlie had taught me. "Bells – you skip the 1st two and look for the 3rd – everyone is going to hit the 1st at once. Work smart not fast and sloppy."
"What are you doing," Edward asked, irritated when we drove passed the 2nd motel, "We need to find a room dammit!"
"Look asshole," I snapped, "There is an entire freeway of people doing the exact thing as us. They're going to swarm the first couple of hotels trying to find a room. Charlie taught me that one. "
He just shot me a look and kept his mouth shut. Seeing the Holiday Inn ahead of me, I pulled into the parking lot. "Bella – the luggage," he yelled as I ran towards the hotel.
"Edward there are three other cars coming in here. I'm not taking the chance of losing a room because you're concerned someone is going to make off with your underwear," I shouted over the rain.
Realizing I was right, Edward just ran in with me. Fortunately we were the only ones in the lobby, other then the female clerk. I hope that was a good sign, I was concerned that the reason why this was empty due to all rooms being taken.
"Hi – we need two rooms for the night," Edward said, getting his wallet out.
"Very good – I would be happy to help you with that sir," the efficient clerk, whose name, Brittany, was proudly displayed on her bosom, "We have rooms with doubles or queens."
"Whatever works," he replied, eyeing the storm outside.
"Very well sir – the rooms will be 60 pounds each," Brittany said, "Our credit card terminals and ATMs are down so it will have to be cash please."
I shook my head and grabbed my wallet, thankful that Charlie always insisted that I carried cash with me. Edward frowned and I had a brief flashback to by birthday party and him realizing he had no bus fare.
"You don't have any cash do you," I said, rather then asked. The look on his face was enough of answer.
"You know I don't – bugger," he snapped, slamming his wallet shut.
I counted what I had in my wallet, I had 30 pounds left over from the 60. Fuck, I thought, looking at Brittany, "You mentioned you had a room with two double beds," I asked.
"Yes ma'am," she replied. I wondered for a moment when I became a "ma'am".
"It's the same price," I asked and Brittany nodded, confirming my belief that the fucking universe was against me, "Okay – put us in there."
Edward looked me like I had a 2nd head and I couldn't blame him. "Cullen – unless you want to spend the night in the car – I suggest you just shut up," I hissed.
His mouth in a firm line, he replied, "Fine by me – I'll the get fucking bags from the car."
I gave him the keys and asked Brittany was watching with amusement. "Which is it," I asked, glaring at her now, my irritation on full force. Through I had to admit the thought of my one time bully being at my mercy for a nature really brought the sadistic side of me.
"Room 235 ma'am," Brittany said handing me two metal keys, "Just turn left by the elevator"
"Thank you," I said, as Edward came back looking like a drowned rat.
Game on, I thought.
AN: Wow – that's a trip down memory road. I promise that we'll not be dwelling on the past for too long but I didn't feel that they could avoid blow up at some point. Passion feelings are that – passionate feelings.
Sorry if the formatting is off. My Word program is doing something weird.
Thank you everyone for taking the time to read/view/review/favorite/follow this story. I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year!
