Chapter 34: Fighting
Spring came faster than Edward thought. He was counting down the months, and soon he'd count down the weeks, then days till his change.
The first month of the new school semester earned them more stares, especially upon Bella. People didn't believe when they explained that the ring on her finger was indeed an engagement ring. As it sank in, it got better and worse at the same time. Some were jealous and had horrible comments for them, while some – Angela and Ben – were supportive.
"There's a storm later. Do you want to join us?" Emmett asked Edward at lunch, on a late March day. He knew Emmett was talking about baseball, and he knew Edward liked to play with them.
"Probably not. I want to study for History class. We have a test on Monday."
"You do know it's only Wednesday, right?" he mocked.
"Not all of us are geniuses," Edward grumbled.
"I'm not a genius. I just have a photographic memory." He winked.
Edward gritted his teeth, and focused on his Biology papers. There was a pop quiz coming.
"You're not joining us," Alice whined, putting her tray on the table as she took a seat next to Bella, opposite Edward.
He glanced at her, frowning. She tapped her head and he rolled his eyes, refocusing on the Biology notes.
"It's not difficult, stop fussing. I'll help you, I promised," Bella whispered.
"Why aren't you joining us?" Alice insisted.
"You know the answer. I want to study."
She sighed and dropped it.
"It's not that I don't want to, Alice," Edward groaned. "You know that I like baseball."
She shot him a blinding smile and leaned over the table, hugging him. "Sorry, I guess I'm too insistent sometimes." She sat back in her chair.
"You think?" He raised an eyebrow, amused. She huffed.
When Biology finally came, Edward realized that he didn't remember much from the notes. The quiz was easy though, and with everything he knew, and Bella's help, he managed to finish it with lighting speed.
"Are you going to play with them?" he whispered, as the teacher walked between the rows, making sure those that were working on their quizzes weren't cheating.
"Probably not. I'd rather stay with you and finish some homework."
Edward grinned and took her hand, linking their fingers. "Good. That means more free time at night."
"You're such a teenager sometimes." She shook her head, giggling.
"Me? Never," he said in mock irritation.
"You two, keep quiet if you finished," the teacher told them.
Edward bit his lip to keep from chuckling. Bella nudged his leg, narrowing her eyes.
When they finally left school, they went to Edward's house. He went to change out of his clothes and wash his hands as Bella heated up food. They had fallen in this pattern since the second semester started. It felt like they were doing this for years, not mere months.
Returning to the kitchen, he found Bella next to the counter with an envelope in her hands.
"What's that?" he whispered, stopping behind her and slipping his arms around her waist.
"You tell me." Her tone was clipped.
"Hey. I didn't do anything."
"I thought you didn't want to go to college," she retorted, whirling around in his arms.
"I don't." He frowned at the envelope. What is that? "A college…? What the hell?"
"You don't remember writing a letter like this?" She scoffed.
"Bella, I swear to you, I never did it."
He took the envelope from her and looked at it, nearly dropping it. "Holy crow!" Oxford, England, United Kingdom. Europe. What the fuck? He'd never applied. He opened it hastily and skimmed over its contents. It was a freaking acceptance letter.
"No fucking way!"
"You act as if you didn't know-"
"Bella! For the last time. I didn't apply to anything. All I want to do next year is…restrain from becoming a mass murderer." He shot her a weak smile. "I promise I didn't send this."
"Then who, pray tell did it? Must have been Ginger," she said sarcastically, still not believing him. He was too shocked to argue with her.
They dropped the subject as he grabbed his plate. Edward didn't tell his parents about the mysterious letter.
The middle of April brought another mystery letter – this time from Dartmouth. Those stupid letters were coming from Ivy League colleges.
Edward decided to tell his parents at dinner. His mom had just sat in her chair after putting food in their plates. He cleared his throat. His dad looked at him curiously.
"I…there's something weird happening," Edward mumbled.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked worried.
"A while ago…I got this letter…from a college. Today, I got another one…" His voice wavered with every word when he saw a smile forming on his lips, and growing. "What have you done, Dad?"
"I took matters in my own hands, son. You are going to marry Bella and you don't want to go to college! How will you support your family? We'll help you, you know that. But son-"
"Dad! Stop f… interfering!" He shouted, catching himself in time before he said a bad word in front of his parents.
"What colleges? What is he talking about, Ed?"
Holy crap. He did this behind his mom's back. He was in trouble. Edward had her on his side.
"I applied for him at a few colleges. He has very good grades."
She freaking smiled. "About time you took an initiative. Very good. Now, you just have to choose, honey," she told her son.
Apparently, she was on her husband's side. Just Edward's fucking luck.
"Mom, Dad…I am not going to college. I thought I made myself clear," he insisted.
"Nonsense," his dad said vehemently. "This autumn, you'll be freshman in college."
"What about Bella? We're getting married," he snapped, slamming his fork on the plate, making a chunk of fish fly to the floor. Ginger will have a feast.
"Don't raise your voice at me!" he yelled, turning red.
"Then stop making me do things I don't want to! Why did you apply in my name!? Do you know that I fought with Bella because of your stupid letters?" he yelled back.
"That's it, isn't it? She doesn't want you to go to college?" His dad asked, incredulously.
"We'll both go. In a few years," he explained. Not like you'll understand what we're doing once we leave town. He wanted to add, but refrained.
"How will you provide? How will you live? Off the back of the Cullens?"
Edward planted his hands on the edge of the table and pushed his chair back, scarping the legs against the tile.
"We just want to be together. Alone. For one year or so. Is it so fucking bad?" he yelled.
"Mind your language and tone," his dad warned. "And I have the same question. What are you going to do during this rebellious year? How will you live?"
"ARGH!" Edward stormed out of the kitchen, up the stairs and slammed the door of his room. "It's not like you can fucking understand," he grumbled, kicking his backpack.
He sat on the edge of the bed, putting his head in his hands. He had no idea what to tell them. "I don't need to go to college. I'll be busy lusting for blood," he said to myself. Yeah, that sounds great.
"Who needs college when you're a vampire?"
"You see…I can't go to college because…I'll be a vampire. Yeah, no joking."
Edward laughed, falling back on the bed. For the first time, he wanted more than ever to tell his parents the truth. He wanted them to understand why he wouldn't go to college and that he'd have literally forever for college.
He wished one of the Cullens was around, but they all were hunting, along with Bella. He needed to talk to someone – someone that understood him.
He shot up, knowing just the right person. Edward grabbed his phone and car keys then rushed downstairs. Just as he reached the front door, his mom called his name. He turned around and went to the kitchen, looking down, embarrassed from his outburst.
"Where are you going?" she asked softly.
"Out. I'll be back before ten." It was brusque, but he was still upset.
"We're going to talk about this when you come back so don't stay out too late," she said. "Your father is really upset."
"I'll be back around nine, okay?" he asked. She nodded. With the corner of his eye, he saw Ginger eating his piece of fish and smiled, letting himself out of the house.
The drive to La Push was refreshing. He parked close to the First Beach and went near a driftwood, sitting down and looking at the ocean. He put the phone to his ear after dialing the number.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Lee," he whispered.
"Edward! What…what is it?" she asked confused. He hadn't called her Lee since they broke up.
"Uhh, can you…come down to the First Beach? Our spot?"
"I'll be right there."
Edward hung up and lay on the sand, looking up at the first stars. It had been so easy to keep the secret. Why was it so hard, suddenly?
Every time he thought of June, he started panicking. He didn't want to make his parents think something bad had happened to him, because that's what they'd know. Carlisle had told him that they had to lie to them – tell them he had an accident either on the honeymoon or on the way to Alaska. Edward wanted them to know he was still alive. He wanted to visit them when he was strong enough to be around humans again. He wanted them to know that vampires weren't really a myth.
Leah's head appeared above his. She looked worried.
"Lay here," he said, patting the spot next to him.
"What's wrong, Edward?"
He sighed, turning his head to look at her. "Is it hard to keep the secret?"
"What secret?"
"About what you are, about vampires…about myths that aren't myths." He shrugged, searching her black eyes.
"Sometimes….it's overwhelming. I can't wait to go to college in the fall. I'll be away from this place."
"Here it comes. That awful word – college," he grumbled. "Wait!" His eyes widened. "You're nineteen!"
"Yeah. Why?"
"See? Perfectly normal not to go to college after you finish high school!"
"Oh, you're fighting with your parents again?" She was a clever girl.
"Dad went and applied in my name for a few Ivy League schools. Surprise of all surprises…I'm accepted."
"You don't want to go," she murmured, shifting closer.
"Of course not! Well, maybe…in a few years. Not now, anyway."
"Of course." She smiled, taking his hand. "You're busy becoming a cold one."
"Leah," Edward groaned.
She giggled. "I don't know how much colder you can get, though. You're already freezing."
"You're too hot," he mumbled.
"Thank you," she said, laughing.
"Shut up!" He nudged her shoulder.
They sat in silence for a few minutes. His left hand was sweating. She was too freaking warm.
"I want to tell…"
"You have to keep the secret."
They talked at the same time. She just placated his thought.
Leah shot up then leaned over him, her hair tickling his neck. "You can't give away the secret! Not when their leaders are watching you. Edward, don't be stupid."
Edward looked away. "It's so…hard sometimes," he mumbled.
"You have two more months, not even that. Don't do anything stupid in the meanwhile."
He propped himself on his elbow, bringing their faces inches apart. He'd never seen her looking so serious.
"Promise me, Edward."
"Okay, okay." He averted his eyes.
"No, don't do this. Look at me and promise me, Edward." She took his face in her hands. "Please."
He looked into her eyes and sighed in defeat. "I won't tell them. It was a stupid, errant thought that gave me…hope. I want to keep contact…I don't want to hurt them! I don't want them to think I'm dead when I'll be alive," he babbled.
"It's for the best. Surely, you know that," she whispered, leaning down and putting her head on his shoulder, letting her weight drape on the left side of his body.
He let himself doze off, thinking of the upcoming talk with his parents. He was pulled out of a weird dream where he was telling his parents why his eyes were red by vibrations near his hip. There was something heavy on his chest and he was really sweating.
Edward realized his phone was ringing and the heavy thing was Leah. She shifted and snuggled better. He snatched the phone from his pocket, and looked surprised at the sun that was rising from the ocean. What is going on here?
"Hello?" he answered groggily.
"You're alive!" Bella shouted in his ear.
"What? Why wouldn't I be?" Edward wondered.
Leah moaned, turning over and falling face first in the sand. She shouted and sat up, spitting sand. He chuckled.
"Who's there with you?" Bella asked.
Edward ignored her question. "Is it morning?" he asked, rubbing at his eyes.
"Yes, it is. I'm here with your parents. They called me, worried when you didn't make it back by midnight. They thought you were with me."
"Oh, I fell asleep," he said, mostly to himself.
Leah rolled her neck making it pop. "Ouch." Her hand shot up to the nape of her neck. Edward snickered, but regretted it when he moved in a sitting position. Every muscle in his body ached.
"Edward, where are you, love?"
"The beach," he mumbled, rubbing his lower back. Who would have thought the sand could be hard?
"That explains why Alice didn't see you. Here, your mom wants to talk to you."
Before he could say no, he heard his mom's worried voice in his ear. "Edward! You have no idea how worried I was! You said nine last night and it's seven in the morning!"
"Mooom. I lost track of time, sorry."
"Sorry? I thought you… I thought I lost you!" She cried. "After our fight, I was certain you left."
"Where would I go?" Edward asked, glaring at the sun. How could he have fallen asleep? "Look, I'll be home shortly, okay?"
"Okay, we're going to talk."
"Yes, Mom. Tell Bella I'll be there soon."
They hung up and Edward flopped on his back, groaning. "We fell asleep."
"No kidding?" Leah said mockingly. "I have fifty missed calls from Mom, Seth and Jake."
"I'm sure I have some too," he mumbled. He looked at his phone. "Yep. Fifty five." He grinned. "Mom, Dad, Bella, Alice, Rose…holy shit! I know how to worry everyone."
She giggled and grabbed his elbow raising him up. "Let's get you home."
"Hey! Be careful. Don't break my arm," he protested, rubbing his elbow.
She rolled her eyes and dragged him to his car. "Drive me home."
"Why, of course! When you ask so nicely…"
"It was a demand," she said, snatching the door open and slamming it shut behind her.
Edward got behind the wheel, bringing sand inside. It would be a pain in the ass to clean it. "Be careful with her."
"With who?" Leah asked surprised.
"My car. Don't hurt her."
"Just drive me home, car lover." She suddenly started laughing hard. He glanced at her worried. Had she lost her mind? "You kind of love inanimate objects."
"Leah! Are you ever going to drop it?"
"It wasn't meant as an insult, I promise. It's quite funny."
"If you say one more bad word against Bella, I swear to you, I will never talk to you again, Leah," he threatened.
"Sorry, gee. You're cranky in the morning."
He parked in front of her house. Sue shot out of the house like a bat out of hell and snatched Leah out of the car, scolding her. She shook her forefinger at Edward in warning and he raised his hands in defense.
"I'm really sorry, Sue. We fell asleep," he said, leaning over the console and to the open passenger door.
"We talked on the beach," Leah told her, shooting him a death glare.
"I have to go. My parents are worried," he said, closing the door. She nodded and waved him off, pushing Leah toward the house.
Edward felt bad that Sue thought they had done something they didn't, but who wouldn't think of that when they both went missing last night? Holy shit. Bella is going to be upset, he realized.
Once home, he didn't even have time to twist the key to kill the engine before his door was open and Bella was hugging him. It was brief, though. She stepped back and a small snarl escaped her.
Uh-huh. Here it comes.
"You've been with her," she shouted incredulously.
"Yeah." He went with the truth.
"You're not even denying it!"
"I won't deny it. I know what happened and I'm sorry I fell asleep." He stepped out of the car. "I had to get out of the house and talk with someone that understands me," he explained, stepping closer to Bella.
"Why didn't you call me? Or one of the Cullens?"
"You were all hunting. I didn't want to…interrupt."
She shook her head. "Okay. So you went to Leah," she hissed. "What happened next?"
"We met on the beach and talked….and somehow…we fell asleep," he mumbled, dropping his eyes.
"Somehow? Do you expect me to believe you?" Bella inquired.
"Nothing happened."
The front door opened and his mom stepped out. Bella chose to ignore that.
"Can I trust her?" Bella asked.
Edward hoped his mom couldn't hear them yet. "You can trust me, sweetheart."
"It doesn't work. You can't sweet talk your way out of this one."
"Bella, trust me. We just talked," he insisted.
"You stink. It's like you hugged her or something."
"We sort of did," he admitted.
Bella's topaz eyes flashed.
"I'm allowed to hug my friends," he snapped.
"Not the ones that want you as more than friends!"
"I only want you! Leah's just a friend!"
She sighed loudly. "I wish I could trust her, but you can never trust a dog."
"Will you quit with the insults?" Edward shouted, getting really angry. Was it that difficult to talk about the other one without saying something bad?
"Are you on her side?" Bella growled.
"I'm on no one's side! I'm fucking neutral in all this mess! I'm the air between oil and water."
She opened her mouth to say something else, but he'd had it. He took the steps separating them and slammed his mouth on hers. She didn't respond immediately, but after a few seconds her fingers knotted in his hair, and his back hit the side of the car. They were a frenzy, tangling limbs, lips and moans. Something cold touched his lips and Edward opened them. A groan escaped him when he realized her tongue was in his mouth. He grabbed her shoulders and with her help, pressed her back to his car, switching their positions. He was getting worked up and he didn't give a shit. If she'd let him, he'd have her right there.
The kiss was like a piece of heaven. Something he'd always wanted coming true. They were really kissing.
"Edward Anthony Masen! I'm still upset!" He heard his mother screaming. Best way to kill the mood.
Edward separated from Bella, but not too much. He leaned his forehead to her cold one and breathed in their combined scents.
"I love you," he murmured before pressing his lips back to Bella's.
"As I love you," she replied, taking her hand from his back pocket. "Is this sand?" She wondered as they made their way to the house.
His ears turned red. "I told you we fell asleep on the beach."
"When you say beach…"
"I say exactly that. Sand under my ass, ocean to the side and moon above…or Leah." His eyes widened. "Not like that," he added quickly.
She giggled and grabbed him behind the neck, lowering his head to kiss her. "I'm sorry I acted like that. I was so worried."
"I understand. Just…save me in case they want to kill me," he whispered in her ear as they approached his fuming mom.
"Always."
