Chapter 23
Last time...
That's when Grandma Sue tells everyone who's present that we're so in love. And something in my heart agrees with that.
"Yeah, I don't understand why Rosalie is so scared to meet my parents. My mom is the sweetest person ever and my dad is just loud but cool. She wants to stay here for the whole summer. But I want to see my folks." My phone is on speaker as I attempt to make some recipe I saw on the food network channel. I look at the screen of my laptop and then grab the salt pouring some into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
Finals were finally over! In addition, everyone was leaving or staying in New York for the summer. Emmett was complaining and all I could think about was how annoying this was. His mom was sweet, but I would have to disagree with his statement. Edward's grandmother Sue was amazing. She was so kind to me, I wished she were my grandmother.
Edward and I had been on rocky terms since my bluff of calling Emmett a few weeks ago. I had honestly never felt so much like a pile of shit in my life. He is not as warm as he used to be. I know this is all a front... but that fact has not lessened the way I feel. He does not initiate conversations as he used to, and his answers are always short. I whisk the dry ingredients and continue to think about Edward and me.
"I know I can always count on you to come home with me, Bella. You're like the coolest girl ever." I roll my eyes. He was still on the phone? Wait, what did he just say? How is he going to assume, I would drop everything to go home when he is ready to. Edward is slightly right; Emmett is sort of an asshole.
"That's not happening Em." My face scrunches up as I frown. I grab my bowl of eggs and set it next to the dry bowl, and walk to the fridge to get my chicken out.
"Why not?" He raises his voice and I hear him perfectly clear, despite my head being in the fridge moving all of Lauren's shit out of my way. She's almost never here but is always stocking up on everything.
"Who are you raising your voice at?" I grab my plate, walk to the counter and place it down.
"Bells, I don't know where all this attitude is coming from... actually I think I have an idea. But anyways I asked you a question" was he serious? I literally gawk at my phone, shocked by his words. I hear a knock on my door and I turn my head to look at the door. Who the hell is that?
I hang up on Emmett first and foremost. Secondly, I walk to the door and look out of my peephole to see it is my neighbor, whose name I never fucking remember. He has some redhead girl chick with him. What in the actual fuck did he want? I unlock the door and open it.
"Beautiful brown eyes" he starts and I shake my head. I do not want anyone who is not Edward calling me that.
"Name's Bella"
"Bella" he repeats my name, then continues, "Well Bella, we were wondering if you had a little, you know" Moving his eyebrows up and down suggesting something. I just stare at him. What is he talking about?
"You know" he smiles as if that would make it any clearer. I shake my head, as I say "what?" The redhead girl rolls her eyes. "Can't you look at her and see she won't have any"
"Chill Kate, Bella is cool" if one more person calls me cool, I think I am going to scream.
"My name isn't Kate" What in the hell am I watching.
"She's right, I don't have any" whatever it is. I close my door and continue making my Alton Brown approved Chicken. I hear another knock on the door and I roll my eyes. I wash my hands off in the sink and wipe them dry on my shorts. I do not bother looking out of the peephole figuring it is just my neighbor.
"Look I don't have" I stop talking mid-sentence because it is Edward at my door. My shoulders fall a bit and I smile at him.
"Hey!" I say as I lean against the door, one hand still on the knob and the other pressed against the front of it.
"Hey..." he shoves his hands in the pockets of his jeans and it feels awkward. I step to the side and open the door wider, suggesting he come in. He walks in and I close the door and lock it.
"So what don't you have?"
"The guy next door"
"Oh Benjamin, yeah he's pretty cool" Edward cuts me off.
"You know his name?" I ask. He shrugs.
"Well, Benjamin and his thing for the night asked if I had any assuming drugs," I continue as Edward just nods and begins to walk into my kitchen. I follow right behind him.
"What are you cookin?" He moves to my laptop and looks at my recipe.
"Why does it feel like you're avoiding me?"
"What do you mean?" He pivots so that he is facing me. His intense stare, almost has me convinced that I am just imagining this. I am tempted to just say forget it, but I cannot.
I pout and start whining.
"Edwwwwwaaarrrrd" I drag out his name, moving closer to him. I make sure I stop only keep a few centimeters between him and me.
"Are you seriously asking me why your brain is imagining things?" His lips quiver and I can tell he is trying to hold in a smile. Of course, this goofy boy would laugh at himself.
"I'm not imagining anything, you've been acting weird" I huff as I finish my statement and lean back some to cross my arms in front of me.
"I'll be honest Isabella" he paused and sighed. I could tell he was still contemplating telling me what he is thinking.
"I have been acting weird, but it has nothing to do you and all with me. I'll work on it" I almost believe him. ALMOST.
"Just talk to me. I know I am your fake girlfriend, but I am your real friend Edward. Alternatively, I hope I am. We can talk to each other." I grab his hand and hold it between both of mine.
"Bella, that's sweet. However, you are not a man. You won't get it. We are cool! I wouldn't be here if we weren't" he squeezes one my hands.
"Now I'm hungry... finish cooking woman" Attempting to sound macho. I immediately start to laugh and he frowns.
"That wasn't meant to be funny"
"I know baby, I'm sorry" I hold in my laugh and attempt to give him my best serious face.
You just called him baby! Bella you just called him baby.
"Did you just call me baby?"
"Do you not like that name. Hmmm, maybe I'll call you my sugar plum, love bug and other cute names" I change my tone a higher pitch
"I'd rather be called baby... in your normal voice." Is Edward's response as he pulls the chair from under the table and sits. I go back to my chicken and start cooking. He will tell me in time, I am sure. The room is silent, but not like our normal, peaceful silence. This is still tense. I rack my brain, attempting to remember what I did. The only time I can think have when Edward has been mad at me was when I threatened to call Emmett. He can't still be mad at that... could he?
'How would you feel if he did that to you with that Zafrina girl?' I question myself. Nevertheless, how do I bring it up? I feel myself losing my appetite. Edward is perfect, and using Emmett to get a rise out of him is not right.
"I'm sorry." Bring a complete coward, I refuse to turn around and look at him.
"What are you talking about Bella, why are you apologizing?" He sounds genuinely confused.
"I'm an asshole and I'm sorry. I totally understand why you have been distant. In addition, I do not blame you. I deserve it." I know he's about to lie and say he does not know what I am talking about, so I continue "me throwing Emmett in your face was awful of me... and I want to apologize I'm sorry." I finally turn to Edward and he is still sitting, staring at me.
"It was a shit thing to do Bella. I know you like him. But I don't. It fucking... it's fucked up." He stands and walks over to me. He engulfs me on a hug, resting his chin on the top of my head.
Why can't I stay mad at you?" He murmurs.
"Because you love me as much as I love you" but there is a part of me that feels like I'm not really joking.
I pray you are all staying safe! please don't hate me. I really like this chapter, what did you or didn't you like? Your feedback is important to me!
