I said goodbye to my Grandpa yesterday, the ceremony was painful yet beautiful and I'm slowly but surely getting my head back in the writing game. I hope to write more today and enjoy this chapter :)
It had been exactly two weeks since my first night at Butterfly's Lair. Two weeks of back and forth and heated banter.
Two weeks of being subjected to the most evil bit of teasing I ever experienced.
Bella's scheming began innocently enough, darting through the kitchen dressed in nothing except for a towel and some wandering droplets of water. She was taunting me and she knew it, the sneaky Butterfly.
While I was thinking about how I was going to approach the whole date-situation, she made me feel even more nervous by flirting and just being her. It made me self-conscious and postpone my plans.
The classic 'do you want to go out with me' seemed too juvenile.
'Care to join me for dinner?' Seemed too obnoxious and 'how about a movie' didn't seem date-like either.
It had been so fucking long since I'd asked a girl out, I seemed to have forgotten everything about it in the meantime.
About one week into my new living arrangements, Butterfly was busy. She kept calling, knocking on my door to ask for an extension cord and mumbling all over the place. When I tried asking what she was up too, she promised to tell me later. It was odd, since we basically told each other everything that was happening. She told me about the clients at work and all the weird stuff that happened, the lives of the girls and how much better they all felt since the new security was installed. Up until today, she still hadn't told me any more about what she was doing to fill up all of her free time. Bella was up all day, neglecting her sleep and was consuming entirely too much caffeine — even to my standards, which made her snippy as hell.
Two days after I moved in, I went back to work. I decided that sitting on my ass all day wasn't doing anything for me or my nerves. It wasn't good for the whole quitting smoking thing either, as I was anxious and angry for the littlest things. I slipped and went out to buy a pack earlier, and had three cigarettes in a row before I stuffed the pack the back of my sock drawer.
I'd badgered Carmen into taking some vacation days, so I could go and take care of the paperwork at CSC. She kindly accepted and seemed extremely surprised about my will to do paperwork voluntarily.
"So, ah." Bella began, twirling some of her hair around her index finger. She looked nervous, which was new and powered up the coffee maker for her fourth round of espresso. She'd been twitchy all morning, after she woke up at round seven.
"So, ah, is the three hours of sleep creeping up on you, Butterfly?" I joked as I leaned against the counter, packing some lunch to go to work.
Bella smiled and cradled the cup in both of her hands as I watched the steam float from it.
"I know, it's not healthy by any means," she started and took in a big breath.
"What time do you have to go?" She asked me.
I glanced at my watch and shrugged. It was only a little after eight.
"I'm the boss, so who cared." I chuckled. Bella rolled her eyes at me and turned around to make herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I took the time to look at her properly, since she couldn't catch me with her back towards me.
She seemed to have lost a little weight, the usually skin-tight yoga pants a little loose around her thighs and I worried a little.
"Are you ever going to tell me what you're up to lately?" I tried and she whipped her head to the side, looking at me over her shoulder.
"Told you I would, Good Guy. I hope you're free on Saturday?" She said and turned into the nervous little girl again, biting her lip. Her hair was all over the place in a messy bun on top of her head, several strands escaped from the poor little hair tie.
"Saturday? Yeah, I'm free then. Why?" I beamed.
"Because, first of all I'm taking you on a dinner date followed by me telling you what I've been up to." She said matter-of-factly. I think my mouth gaped open. Butterfly laughed at my expression.
"Yeah, I'm taking you on a date. If I have to wait until you ask me, I'll be waiting until I'm in a nursing home, Good Guy." She came closer to me and put a hand on my bare arm. Her hand felt warm from holding the cup of coffee.
"Ask nicely." I teased, my lips inches from her ear. She looked up and huffed loudly.
"Come on, Butterfly." I whispered.
"Edward Cullen, would you please do me the honors of being my date on Saturday night?" She asked dramatically, doing a little curtesy, which made me laugh.
"Why, Isabella Swan, I'd be my absolute pleasure." I took her hand and kissed her knuckles, my lips lingering slightly.