thanks, as always, to naelany for her awesome beta skills.
please see note at the end. ;)
Sometimes It's the Little Things
"Thank you for a fantastic day, sweetheart," Jasper said, kissing Bella softly before they went inside. Edward echoed the sentiment and the kiss, then let them in, calling out to the rest of the family.
"It's about time," Emmett said by way of greeting. "I'm starving."
"Yeah, cause you're going to waste away to nothing," Rosalie said with a roll of her eyes. "How was the trip?"
"Great," Edward answered. "The gardens were beautiful and it was all around a good day."
"Dinner's in ten!" Esme called.
"I'm going to take our bags up and wash up," Jasper said, kissing Bella and Edward before heading for the stairs.
Bella flopped down into the chair that Alice was curled up in and threw her legs across Alice's lap.
"Nice to see you too, Bella," Alice said dryly, shoving Bella's legs off.
"Spoilsport," Bella mumbled, pulling her legs back up to her chest, her feet resting on the cushion.
"Boys, come set the table!" Esme called from the kitchen again.
Emmett muttered, but followed Edward into the kitchen. Jasper came back downstairs, the sleeves of his sweater rolled up to his elbows, and in socked feet. He joined Rosalie on the couch and stretched his legs out in front of him.
"Tired?" Rosalie asked him quietly.
Jasper nodded. "Coming up on the long part of the semester," he said. Bella had a feeling that was only part of what was probably keeping him from sleeping.
Rosalie agreed, and Esme called them to the table for dinner.
Esme had gone full traditional Sunday supper for their Saturday meal together, having made a meatloaf with mashed potatoes, glazed carrots and salad. They talked about the schedules for the next few weeks. Bella had the final yearbook committee meeting coming up, Alice had been asked by the students to help plan the "Day on the Green" event that happened at the end of the semester, and Edward was pulling music to work for the graduation ceremony. Jasper had a final swim meet over Memorial Day weekend, and Rosalie was the prom committee advisor. Only Emmett, it seemed had nothing major coming up, and Bella figured that was because he'd had football in the fall.
"Oh, we'll need to go shopping for prom," Alice said cheerfully.
Bella rolled her eyes playfully. "Of course we will," she said dryly. "Day trip to Seattle, then?"
"Or Portland," Rosalie suggested with a wink.
Alice coughed harshly, spluttering on a mouthful of water and glowered at Rose.
"What? It's the same distance and we might find something different there," was all Rosalie would say.
Alice narrowed her eyes at her future cousin-in-law, and Bella could see Edward and Jasper trying to keep from laughing out of the corners of her eyes.
"So why do y'all need to go shopping for prom?" Jasper asked, clearing his throat before he spoke.
"Oh, we all have to chaperone," Rose answered. "It's a good excuse for us to get all dressed up and relive the glory days of being a teenager again," she said.
Jasper groaned quietly. "So you're sayin' I'll need a tux?"
"That's exactly what she's saying," Bella said, pinching his side. "Don't worry, I'm sure Alice will be willing to help you everything you need."
Jasper sighed, and Edward chuckled. "There are some benefits to already owning one," Edward said.
"Or three," Esme chimed in.
"Are you and Carlisle coming this year?" Bella asked. They always looked so classily glamorous on the dance floor.
"We'll see," Esme said with a smile. "We haven't decided yet."
"I hope so, you always seem to have a good time," Alice added.
With that they slipped into talk of proms past, including their own high school proms. Bella hadn't gone to hers, despite being asked by several guys. She hadn't felt comfortable with the looks she'd gotten from some of the girls at the Reservation school when the guys had turned their attention to her. Instead she'd made herself a pizza, bought junk food, and had a movie marathon of all her favorites since Charlie had been on duty that night.
"I didn't go to mine, either," Jasper admitted. "It was too close to the year anniversary of my dad and Amber's deaths, and there wasn't anyone I thought about asking, even as just friends; I'd been pretty closed off from everyone and I was getting ready to leave for the service the week after graduation." He smiled sadly. "I didn't miss anything, honestly."
"Well, you'll get the experience this year," Bella promised, making a mental note to make sure they had a good time.
They continued talking over coffee and dessert, a delicious bread pudding studded with chocolate chips. Jasper's hand rested at the base of Bella's neck while he sipped his coffee, his thumb making lazy circles under her braid.
After dinner, Bella and Jasper cleared the table, and Rosalie and Alice did the dishes. Alice took off shortly after to go back to her studio; she had another big project she was working on, and Rosalie and Emmett left arm in arm to catch a movie.
Bella, Jasper, and Edward settled together on the couch while Esme and Carlisle disappeared down the hall. Bella was flipping through the channels on the TV when they returned, dressed up slightly.
"We're going out," Esme said, as Carlisle brought over her coat and draped it over her shoulders. "Not sure when we'll be home, but you kids behave yourselves," she said, teasing.
"Yes, mom," all three of them chorused together.
Laughing, Carlisle led Esme to the door, and then out, and Bella was left alone with Edward and Jasper.
For awhile, they just snuggled up together while Bella found a movie for them to watch. She was tucked between them, though her back was slightly to Edward because Jasper had lifted her legs into his lap. Her knees were bent and he was rubbing her feet idly through her socks. Edward had loosened the ties holding her braid together and had started combing through it, leaving it to fall around them in kinky waves where her head rested on his shoulder. Bella found herself dozing, relaxed by the quiet atmosphere and the tender comfort her lovers were giving. She had a small taste of what 'home' could be like, if it wasn't such an elusive thought for months in the future.
"Sweetheart?" Edward soft voice roused her from her thoughts. The movie was over, the credits rolling on the television screen. "It's early, but are you ready to go upstairs? We can find another movie to watch, or something?"
"Mm, I think I like the 'or something,'" she teased. Jasper laughed quietly beside her, leaning over to kiss her softly.
Edward switched off the television and Jasper shifted Bella's legs off his lap before he stood and offered them each a hand up. "Let me just lock up and I'll meet you upstairs," Edward said, kissing her softly, cupping her cheek and sliding his fingers around to tangle in her hair. She leaned toward him when he broke the kiss and pulled away, trying to follow. Jasper chuckled again and tugged on her hand, leading her upstairs.
They left the main light off in Edward's room, but Jasper switched on the small reading lamp near the bed to cast the room in a soft light just enough for them to see and not run into anything. Bella followed just behind him, and when he turned back toward her, she gently pushed him down onto the bed, one of his legs between hers, and she kissed him deeply, threading her fingers through his hair.
"Got started without me, I see," Edward teased, closing and locking the door behind him.
"Only just," Bella said with a grin, beckoning him over.
Edward moved to perch on the edge of the bed next to Jasper, twining his fingers with Jasper's before kissing him deeply. Bella sighed happily and smiled, shifting to straddle Jasper's leg that was pressed against Edward's.
"I think I owe you both a little payback for this morning," she said, still smiling.
"Why, didn't you enjoy yourself?" Edward teased.
"Hm," she agreed, reaching her hand around his neck to play with the hair at the base of his skull. "Maybe payback wasn't the right word, then."
Jasper 'tsked.' "And you call yourself a writer."
Bella laughed and gently shoved him with the flat of her palm against his chest. He toppled over on his back with a laugh, though her push was nowhere near enough to have actually budged him that far. "Repayment?" she suggested. "Reimbursement? Compensation?"
Edward made a face after that last one and she kissed him softly. "Okay, maybe not," she agreed with a soft voice. "So how about I just show you, instead?" She grinned and pushed Edward back onto the bed as well, and she crawled up after them both, still straddling their thighs and peppering both their faces with kisses while her hands went to work trying to get under their shirts.
Jasper and Edward 'helped,' by getting Bella out of her sweater and camisole, and generally getting in her way of getting them both naked. They laughed and teased at each other as foreplay, but Bella was determined. She was finally able to follow through as she did her best to give them a bit of what they'd given her that morning, without the wonderful sensation of heightened arousal with the fear of being caught. With her mouth and a hand on Edward, and her other hand on Jasper she succeeded in bringing both of her men to climax within moments of each other, and couldn't help the smug smile from her face at their slightly dopey expressions.
Then they tumbled her into the bed and showed her how grateful they were.
The next couple of days were pretty normal. Bella went to classes and graded papers, and snuck whatever time with Edward and Jasper she could get that wasn't at meals. It was hard; they were all busy with regular classes and end-of-year activities started taking up more of their time than usual.
Wednesday, after her therapy appointment, Bella went first to the grocery store, then to the Cullen home. She texted Edward and Jasper before she got out of the car, and smiled at their responses before going inside.
"Esme? Carlisle?" Bella called as she dropped her keys and purse onto the small table just inside the door. The house was quiet, though she knew her parental figures were home since their cars were in the driveway. When she didn't hear a response Bella shrugged, hefted her grocery bags and made her way into the kitchen. She dropped her bags on the island, then went back down the hall to the guest bathroom.
When she emerged, she heard murmured voices. Curious she stepped closer to Carlisle and Esme's bedroom door, not intending to eavesdrop, but wanting confirmation they were home and alright.
"You need to see a doctor," Carlisle said.
"I see a doctor every day," Esme responded.
"Don't get smart with me, Esmeralda Anne Cullen," Carlisle said sharply. "This is important," he said, his voice softer. "It might be nothing, but it might not be. This isn't something I can diagnose for you. I know you hate going to see a doctor, but you have to this time, love."
"I'm scared," Esme said softly.
With that Bella turned away and padded back down the hall, already feeling like she'd intruded enough, a small ball of anxiety and worry settling into her stomach. She knew how much Esme hated doctors; they'd joked once or twice about how beneficial her hysterectomy after Edward was born had been in helping her to avoid needing to go to a clinic when her husband was a doctor who could take care of just about anything else. Whatever it was they were discussing, Bella knew it had to be serious for Carlisle to be pressing her to see one of his colleagues.
Bella tried to put it out of her mind as she sorted through her grocery bags. She'd baked enough at the Cullens' home lately that she felt she should restock some of Esme's staples of flour, sugar, etc. The knot of worry that coiled around her stomach didn't loosen, however, as she slid the flour and sugar into the freezer to keep or as she pulled sticks of butter from the box to begin to soften as she measured out the dry ingredients for chocolate chip cookies. She heard the door open and close down the hall.
"Oh, Bella, sweetheart, I forgot you were coming tonight," Esme said as she stepped into the kitchen. Her hair was down and she looked a bit pale, the slight redness of her eyes a stark contrast under the kitchen lights. She moved easily behind Bella as she went to the kettle on the counter and filled it before flipping it on. "Do you need anything?"
"Oh, no, I'm good here. I just promised the yearbook committee I'd have fresh cookies for them tomorrow. They're finalizing the layout before it gets sent off to be printed and bound," Bella explained. "It'll be a long night."
"I don't doubt it," Esme said with a soft smile. She took one of the seats at the counter while she waited for her water to heat up. "How is everything? I feel like we never get a chance to talk anymore," she said, somewhat wistfully.
Bella felt a bit guilty; she used to spend more time with her surrogate mother, before she'd gotten so wrapped up in James, and then Edward and Jasper.
"Don't feel bad," Esme said, reaching across the counter to pat Bella's arm. "You kids have your own lives and seeing you happy has definitely been worth the trade off." Her smile convinced Bella she was sincere.
"Things are good," Bella answered simply with a matching smile. "I'm happy. I still have rough nights sometimes, but they're getting better."
"And things with Edward and Jasper?" Esme prompted.
"Are you trying to get me to spill dirty secrets about my love life, Esme?" Bella teased, laughing.
"Of course!" Esme replied, her laughter matching Bella's. "What kind of mother would I be if I didn't?"
They shared a laugh over that. "It's good," Bella finally answered. "They're good," she clarified. "We're still learning, but…" she trailed off with a shrug as she started getting the butter into the mixer.
"That's something that will probably never stop, the learning," Esme said, getting up when the kettle clicked off and coming around to prepare a cup of tea.
Bella nodded. "I just feel like I need to catch up with them a little bit. They've had months together and know all these little things about each other that I don't know. Jasper drops hints sometimes, like when we were gone last week, about how to help Edward relax after he'd been on his feet all day," she explained. She looked up and smiled at Esme, who'd settled back at the counter.
"And are you helping them remember to look after you when you need it?" Esme asked, fixing Bella with a pointed glance.
Bella blushed lightly and nodded. "Yeah, though they don't really seem to need it. They're good guys," she said quietly, feeling her smile soften.
"Well, I can only take credit for the one," Esme said, her grin bright, "But I'd have to agree with you there. So, tell me more about your trip to L.A.," she asked.
Bella was slightly relieved for the change in topic and she gratefully filled Esme in on the details of their trip while she mixed and prepared her pans for baking, then joined her at the counter for a cup of tea. She'd missed the quiet moments she shared with Esme, honestly needing a mother since hers had died when she was so young. Bella knew she was lucky; not everyone found a second family so accepting, and Bella knew that even if she weren't in a romantic relationship with one of Esme's sons, she'd still have remained a full member of the family.
Carlisle wandered through the kitchen sometime after the first cookies were done and he snagged a couple off the cooling rack while Bella fixed him a mug of tea. He kissed them both on the tops of their heads as he returned to his office.
Esme helped Bella wrap up the cookies (and she left a few more for Carlisle) and carry everything out to her car. Bella accepted and returned the hug Esme gave her before she slid into her car and returned to campus.
Bella wasn't sure if she should say anything to Edward or Jasper about what she'd overheard at the house. On one hand, Esme was Edward's mom, but if she'd wanted him to know, she'd have said something to him directly. She wrestled with it all the way back to campus, and finally decided as she pulled back into her parking space, the scent of fresh cookies filling her car, that she wouldn't mention it just yet. She could keep a secret, even if she didn't know what she was keeping.
Bella left the cookies in the kitchenette with a big note that told Alice to keep her hands off. She changed for bed and curled up with a stack of papers that needed to be graded for the rest of the evening, music softly pouring from her iPod.
Thursday after classes, Bella kissed Jasper before he left for the swim team practice and she went to grab dinner to go from the cafeteria so she could meet with the yearbook group. She swung by her room and changed into jeans and a t-shirt with a Forks Academy hoodie, grabbed the cookies, and returned to the humanities building where the committee was meeting in the classroom space they used.
Bella didn't need to do much, but was there to supervise and answer questions if any of the students had them. Edward texted a few times, whining about missing her (and Jasper, who was at therapy then history club), and she just texted back that she loved him.
At 10:30, the students were still working, and as far as Bella could tell, they had several hours of work still ahead of them. She glanced up from a page a student wanted some advice on at a knock on the door.
"Pizza and coffee delivery," Jasper announced. He was holding a stack of boxes while Edward had a bag from Starbucks around his wrist and a tray of cups in his hand.
The students cheered, and gathered around them with loud expressions of thanks as they helped themselves to pizza and coffee. Edward passed over one of the cups from the trays. "I got you some tea, sweetheart."
"Thanks," Bella said sincerely. The cookies had gone hours before, and the food and caffeine were clearly welcomed by the students, and would hopefully keep them going so they'd be able to meet their deadline of noon the next day.
"Need anything else, darlin'? If not we'll get out of your hair. We just thought you guys might need a little boost," Jasper said.
"No, I think we'll be okay from here. Thanks, guys, you didn't need to do this, but I appreciate it," Bella said with a bright smile. The students were occupied and Bella gave each of their hands a squeeze, but wasn't willing to do much more than that.
Edward, however, brushed his lips across her cheek. "You're welcome. Love you," he whispered.
"Love you, too," she mouthed. Jasper winked and smiled, and he and Edward left with the remaining two cups on the drink tray after the students called out another round of thanks.
Bella didn't make it back to her room until nearly two in the morning. She couldn't help but laugh at what she found on her bed. Propped against her pillow were a white travel mug with 'Best .Girlfriend .Ever.' stamped on it in pink next to a bag of tea from the Empress hotel and a tea-ball. Along with that was a yellow camisole with "Best Freakin' Girlfriend" in black text printed on it. There was also a note. She opened up the piece of notebook paper to see Jasper's scrawl.
We know you had a long day, honey, and we just wanted to leave you a little something to let you know we were thinking about you. Sleep in – I'll have breakfast for you in the office in the morning before classes. We love you.
She smiled softly and moved the cup, tea, and ball to the table and quickly changed into her new tank-top and a pair of yoga pants. Exhaustion swept over her as she staggered to the bathroom to wash her face and brush through her hair before she shuffled back and fell into bed, barely remembering to reset her alarm for her regular time in the morning. She fell asleep quickly.
"Bella, honey, wake up."
"Hm?" She blinked her eyes open, frowning when she took in the sight of Alice perched over her.
"Your alarm's been going off for twenty minutes," Alice chided. "Late night?"
"Yeah," Bella answered, sitting up and scraping hair out of her face. "Year book," she reminded her suitemate.
"Right," Alice answered. "You're going to be late if you don't get a move on," she advised. "I'll get water on for tea."
"Jazzy said he'd have breakfast for me in the office, so I can sleep a bit later," Bella answered muzzily, her eyes sliding back closed. "Wake me in half an hour?" she mumbled.
"Sure, Bells," Alice said with a sigh.
It seemed like only moments later that Alice was shaking her awake again, waving a mug of tea under her nose. "Okay, you've got to get moving this time. I've laid out clothes for you, don't worry, it's casual Friday approved, and you've got forty-five minutes until classes start."
Bella took the mug and nodded as she took a big mouthful. "Thanks, Alice."
"Anytime, hon. Don't forget, we're off to Portland tonight!" she reminded Bella as she danced out of the room.
Bella groaned. Thankfully, she'd thought to get a hotel that had a decent spa, so she'd be able to get a little pampering while Alice was off with Charlotte on Saturday, though she had agreed to meet them both for brunch on Sunday before she and Alice came home.
She dragged herself to the shower after draining half the mug of sweet milky tea that Alice had made for her. She washed quickly but lingered under the hot water, the long hours of the day before seeming to have settled in her neck and shoulders leaving her stiff and aching. When Bella felt like she'd been in long enough she regretfully shut off the water and wrapped up in her robe and towel.
True to her word, Alice had left jeans and an academy polo and long-sleeved skinny t-shirt on Bella's table. She dressed quickly and tugged on a pair of socks with her worn pair of black Chuck Taylors. She made sure everything was in her school bag and locked her door on her way out.
Despite being tired, it was a good day. Jasper had brought a cup of oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar from the dining hall for her, and all of her classes went well. She and Alice had a quick dinner with the others, and Bella kissed Jasper and Edward goodbye when her two men walked her and Alice to Alice's car.
Bella and Alice chatted nearly the entire four-hour drive to Portland. They got checked into their hotel and Bella crashed onto her queen sized bed, falling sleep quickly to the sounds of Alice moving around and the television in the background.
Saturday, after a quick breakfast together, Alice left Bella on her own.
The spa was located on the ground floor of the hotel, and Bella went down in a pair of yoga pants, a tank top, and flip flops about ten minutes before her pampering was scheduled to begin. Though she'd had the means to be able to indulge in regular massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, whatever, she rarely took the time, not feeling that the travel time to Port Angeles was really worth it. She figured she could have found a massage therapist somewhere in Forks, but the treatment was all the more special when she was able to really treat herself on rare occasions.
Bella spent four hours in the spa. She had an hour long massage, letting her mind drift with the meditative music that played quietly in the room while her body was gently manipulated into a lazy state of relaxation. After her massage she had a mani-pedi, her toes getting painted a springy bright pink while she only allowed a clear top coat on her nails. After a light spa lunch and a relaxing soak in the lightly scented whirlpool, a facial finished off her treatment. She tipped all of the staff well when she settled her bill, beginning to feel the tell-tale soreness in her back and shoulders from the massage.
The weather was clear and warm, so after a quick trip up to her room for her purse and a sweater, she walked around Portland, ending up at Powell's for a few hours before getting dinner and heading back to the hotel.
The temperature had dropped, while she was out, and she was glad she'd thought to grab her sweater; by the time she got back to the hotel her toes were cold and her arms were tired from carrying the bag of books and small bag of leftovers (and dessert) from her early dinner.
Bella dropped her books on the bed and slid her leftovers into the small fridge tucked away in the corner of the room, deciding she'd take a shower to warm up and remove the last of the greasy feeling from her skin after the treatments earlier in the day. She piled her hair up on top of her head to keep it from getting wet and she lingered under the hot water until her skin was pink and her fingers started to prune. Relaxed and tired, she wrapped one of the large hotel towels around her body just above her breasts and tucked and wrapped the ends under her arm.
Her phone buzzed in her purse while she was digging clean panties from her bag, and she smiled as she crossed to it on the bed, having not heard from her boys all day. She found her phone at the bottom of her purse and frowned as she tilted her phone around, trying to distinguish the picture they'd sent. The caption read 'we miss you.'
Bella's face lit with a blush when she realized the picture she saw was a hand wrapped around a cock. The photo wasn't clear enough for her to distinguish any details, but she grinned as she typed back a reply, snapping a picture of herself wrapped in her towel.
'Doesn't look like it'
She set her phone back down and crossed back to her bag, finding panties, a pair of worn out cotton pajama bottoms and the tank-top Jasper and Edward had gotten her. She threw everything back on the bed as her phone buzzed again.
'Jaspers hand isn't the same as you'
A heartbeat later she got a second text, with a new picture. "Oh," she said softly, looking at was clearly lips around a shaft. 'neither is Edwards mouth'
She grinned. She could play, too.
Before she replied, Bella double checked the locks on the door and made sure the 'do not disturb' door hanger was out. She lowered most of the lights in the room, leaving just enough light to be able to use the camera on her phone. She cleared her clothes from the bed, having no immediate need for them, dropping them back into her bag and retrieving the small bottle of personal lubricant that had been in her travel kit for as long as she could remember. Bella called up a mental image of Edward and Jasper together, feeling a wave of arousal pulse through her. She used that, loosening the towel and letting it fall into her lap where she sat on the edge of the bed.
Bella cupped a breast in one hand, using her fingers to tease her nipple into a peak, feeling it send flutters down her spine toward her core. She snapped a picture with her free hand and quickly typed out a message and sent it to both of their phones.
'know what you mean'
She dropped the phone next to her on the bed, within easy reach, and continued to slowly touch herself. She skimmed her hands over her belly, the skin soft and flat, despite the fact she spent more hours sitting on her ass than anything else lately. She wanted to get back to yoga; it did awesome things for her flexibility.
Bella's hands pushed the towel away from her body as she reclined, bringing her feet up on the bed to push herself back toward the center, laying perpendicular to the headboard. She felt her hair come loose from the knot on top of her head and she caught wisps of it spilling around her. She took her time teasing herself; it had been a long time since she'd pleasured herself without assistance from something with batteries. She relaxed into it, visualizing herself somewhere else, with someone (okay, two someones) else.
Her phone buzzed again and she fumbled for it, forcing her eyes open so she could read the messages.
'is it hard for you too?' from Jasper, and she groaned out a laugh at the pun.
Edward's text was accompanied by another photo: hands rolling a brightly colored condom onto the head of an erect cock. Both of her men were circumcised, and from the view, she couldn't tell whose she was seeing. 'wish u were here'
Bella let her legs fall slightly more apart and the fingers of her left hand trailed up her thigh, her knuckles just grazing the neatly trimmed hair over her mound. She sighed softly at the contact, the scent of her arousal filling the air. She could feel the dampness pooling, but she still reached for the small bottle, spilling a few drops onto her right hand, using her thumb to coat her first two fingers.
She snapped another picture, her eyes heavy as she penetrated herself with a low moan. She opened her eyes enough to make sure she replied only to Edward with the message 'u2' before dropping it back to the bed with another quiet moan as she slipped her fingers out, then back in.
Bella dimly recognized the buzzing of her phone in the background as she concentrated on the way her body was feeling. She slowly worked herself up, allowing herself to relax into the sensations. In her mind she was with Jasper and Edward and she was pleasing herself for them.
Her orgasm washed over her like a gentle tropical wave, and she was able to coax a smaller second one from herself with her fingers before she sighed softly; she could feel the smile on her face. Bella wiped her fingers on the towel that she'd discarded to one side and lazily reached for her phone as she shifted on the bed, trying to turn the covers down without having to get up. When she was settled, her naked body between the cool sheets, curled halfway around one of the pillows, she checked her messages again.
'thank you, darlin. love you'
Bella laughed softly and returned Jasper's message. 'luv u 2'
The picture in Edward's message this time was nearly as indistinguishable as the first, and she eventually concluded it was supposed to be the two of them curled around each other in the aftermath. 'we should do that in person sometime. love you. sleep well'
'luv u 2. night' she sent back. She set the phone off to one side and reached for the remote that was on the bureau. She found a movie to watch and after a bit, slid from beneath the covers to retrieve her cheesecake from the fridge. Still nude, she curled up under the covers again and ate her dessert with her fingers, watching Princess Bride on cable and quoting along with the actors before she slid into an easy sleep.
Relaxed and happy, Bella lingered again in the shower Sunday morning. She dressed in jeans and a sweater and packed everything up, checking out of her room before meeting Alice and Charlotte for brunch. Bella noted to herself how happy Alice was in the other woman's company, but she held her tongue, happy to enjoy the meal with both of them and get to know Charlotte a bit. She seemed like she'd fit right in with their group. After brunch and Alice said her goodbyes (with a lingering kiss that made Bella wistful for Edward and Jasper after only a day and a half), they began the drive back to Forks. The drive back was much the same as the drive down, and Bella enjoyed the chance to get caught up with her best girlfriend.
Bella spent the rest of Sunday doing laundry in the basement of her residence hall and preparing the lessons for the next week while chatting with Edward and Jasper over the school messenger system. She couldn't wait until the day that they were able to just spend the weekends together, in their own space that they could call home.
There are seven chapters left of this story (well, 6 and an epilogue). Not to fear, however, I have a multitude of outtakes and future takes planned. If there's an outtake that you'd particularly like to see, I'm putting myself on the author auction block for Fandom Give Back: Eclipse, so you can bid on asking me to write something just for you. It's all for a fantastic cause. There's a link to the site on my profile.
