EIGHT MONTHS LATER
"Is that all of it?"
I turn to face Edward, running a hand through my hair, smiling.
"I think so." I nod, huffing a breath. "Yeah, that's it."
We've arrived in Seattle, preparing for college, in an apartment much too big for the both of us, but Carlisle and Esme (and Edward's therapist) thought it best that he stays far away from college dorms and their … temptations. It's been a bumpy road so far, and it's best to keep the scales tipped in Edward's favour.
So, after eight months of therapy, finishing school and the stresses of applying to colleges—we're here. Me riding on a full scholarship, Edward flanked by a beaming Carlisle and Esme who are all too happy to pay his way.
"This is … insane." I look around at the apartment in awe, even though I've been here twice before. It feels like home already, but I'm fairly certain that's because Edward is here and he's my home.
I feel his chest against my back, his chin resting atop my head as we both look out the large window, over the city.
"It's pretty badass," he whispers. I can hear the smile in his voice.
It didn't take much for him to make me realise that moving in together was what we both wanted. I fought it for a while, believing that it was too soon to take such a massive step; adamant that kids in college didn't do this … but I quickly realised, with the help of my therapist, that I was allowing the exact same reservations that had plagued me my whole life, to continue to hold me back.
I'm always thinking about what I should be doing, and not about what I want. Holding myself back has never worked in our favour before, but it's a tough habit to break.
When she asked me what I wanted to do, what my heart wanted, I didn't even need to think about it.
Edward.
I wanted to live with him. More than anything, I wanted him and me to go out into the big wide world and navigate it together.
So I did. We have. And it feels amazing.
But it hasn't all been plain sailing. We fight like cat and dog sometimes. He gets angry, I get angry … but last month, when we both fought and he left in a blaze of glory —slamming doors, stomping feet and loud curses— he only made it to the end of the hallway before he came back —albeit begrudgingly— and threw himself on his bed, quickly opening up and talking through his anger.
That was massive. And though he was furious, I smiled through my tears as we sat and talked, listened … discussed.
Our first set-back came in the form of my mother—go figure—and the letter she left behind. In it, she told me that she was sorry for what she did, for abandoning me; her excuse was that she just wasn't maternal enough to think of me above herself.
Edward was livid. Shouting, venting about how she could apologise for abandoning me and then proceed to do it again. To me, it was more closure. To me, it solidified the fact that I didn't need her in my life. I wasn't angry, I wasn't bitter. I was indifferent, and Edward couldn't understand. He shouted, I snapped and shouted back at him. Thankfully, Carlisle intercepted Edward as he tried to flee the scene and made us sit down and talk about it—like adults.
We came to an understanding. I understood why he felt so angry, and upon listening to my side, he understood why I wasn't angry.
He's been my rock, I've been his.
Carlisle and Esme have become my parents just as much as they are Edward's.
Thinking back, I smile as images of Esme giving Charlie a piece of her mind a couple of months ago, comes to the forefront. Neither of my parents turned up to my graduation, and when I got home, my dad was there. He forgot. I hadn't realised Esme had followed Edward and I into my house and all hell broke loose.
Esme is a Momma Bear. I realised that day, that I loved her more than I love my own mother.
I've never seen Charlie so speechless. But the bottom line is, he doesn't care. And neither do I. His escape from life was to work hard and spend most of his life sleeping on his friends' sofa. It is what it is, I guess. I don't need his explanations, or his excuses; in my mind, he's no different to my mom—but at least he stuck around enough to keep a roof over my head.
More closure. Another weight off my shoulders.
There were no tears, no hurt. I told him I no longer needed him, for anything, and he didn't put up a fight. I think both of us were relieved it was over. Charlie could move on and live his life, and I could do the same.
I said goodbye and left, not even looking over my shoulder.
Surprisingly, there were no hard feelings.
That night, I moved in with the Cullens and I've never looked back, I've never been happier.
I'm a different person and Edward is too.
Our therapists deserve a pay rise.
We're normal teenagers now, and although we still have our issues, they don't define us and we no longer use them as an excuse for our behaviour.
I never thought I'd ever feel this way.
"Let's go to dinner," Esme offers, looking around at our boxed belongings, pretty pathetic in their number.
"Thank fuck!" Edward cries, ignoring Esme's narrowed eyes at his choice of language. "I'm starving."
"Emmett will meet us there," Carlisle adds, tucking his phone back into his jeans.
"Rose will too." I can't hide my mischievous smile.
Yeah, Rose and Emmett hooked up over the summer. And now Rose is in Seattle too, the two of them are 'trying things out'. I'm ecstatic, Edward is not. Rose and Edward tolerate each other, but that's it.
Emmett and I have a plan. They'll warm up to each other, we know it.
Dinner is full of laughs and chatter, light-hearted banter and teasing.
It's taken nineteen years for Edward and I to find this —a sense of belonging. True happiness with so much promise of a bright future.
His hand hardly leaves my leg whilst we're seated, small glimpses of biology classes gone by, and driving each other insane.
We still do that. But the implications aren't as heavy. That fire that brought us together is still there, but our outlet is a lot healthier.
Sex.
We're … active. Insatiable.
"I want you," he whispers into my ear, as we drive back to our apartment, Esme and Carlisle upfront lost in their own conversation. His long fingers tease, and I narrow my eyes, warning him. "I want you right now," he continues, his breath teasing, light and warm against my ear.
"Stop it," I hiss, my words lacking conviction. God I want him too. I always want him.
He chuckles, but doesn't pull back.
"We'll see you both in the morning?" Esme asks as the car draws to a stop outside out apartment block.
"Yup," I reply. "We'll need all the help we can get."
Thanking them for dinner, Edward and I make our way upstairs, so desperate to be alone in our own apartment for the first time.
"So," I start, removing my shoes. "Rose and Emmett looked cosy, huh?"
He snorts and shakes his head as he walks away, turning on the lights as he goes.
"You know, you can't just ignore them forever."
"I'm not ignoring them," he argues. "I'm ignoring her." I roll my eyes, which makes him narrow his."How did we get from the promise of sex, to talk of my brother and Rose?"
Every time he refers to Emmett as his brother, my heart skips a beat. He's been doing it for a couple of months now. I don't even think he realises, but it's a huge deal, especially for him.
Last week, when Esme called his cell, he declared, "it's my mom," before he answered, catching himself instantly and swallowing hard, wide eyes terrified. But he recovered quickly. I did a happy dance which quickly brought him back to the present, humoured yet unimpressed by my display.
"Is sex all you think about?" I ask, like the giant hypocrite I am. Most of the time, it's all I think about. His smug, incredulous look tells me he's thinking the exact same thing.
"Not always," he answers, unable to hide his mirth.
"What about the news of Jacob?" This question garners more of a reaction; his eyes narrow, though no longer teasing; his jaw tensing.
Carlisle told us at dinner that Jacob was arrested last week. I didn't listen to the particulars, too busy watching Edward for his reaction. The two former-friends haven't spoken to each other since Edward was stabbed. Jacob was the one who called the ambulance for Edward, but didn't stick around for his friend, choosing instead to give into his own fear of being caught and running away like the pussy he is.
Since then, Jacob has been on a downward spiral and Edward has been bettering himself, day by day. The karma has been enough to placate me, and I no longer feel the overriding urge to rip Jacob's throat out at the mere mention of his name.
"I truly, honest-to-God, don't care." I can hear the truth in his words. It's reassuring.
"Good." I smirk and make my way towards him. He watches me as I approach, waiting me out, letting me take the reins. I love it when he does this. He's just as much a dominant lover as he is a gentle one, and I love how easily he switches between the two. He seems to always know what side of him I need. But sometimes, like right now, he leaves it up to me, and it's exciting.
"Edward?" I ask quietly, my voice low. He swallows hard, a low hum. "Take me to bed and fuck me forever."
I laugh loudly when he grabs me, growling, throwing me over his shoulder and quickly stalking towards the bedroom.
If the rest of my life is spent this way, I'll die a happy woman.
I think I deserve it. Edward does too.
And the best part? This is only the beginning.
THE END
*exhales long breath*
Wow. Where to start.
It's been one hell of a ride, guys. Thank you so much for reading along, and for all your reviews. And to everyone on Facebook who has recc'd this story.
The response has been overwhelming.
To Jemster23 - my partner in crime, my TW rock; you are THE BEST. Thank you so much for coming along on this rollercoaster with me.
To all the girls in my Facebook group - I wouldn't have been able to keep up with this without you. You've kept me on my toes and kept me laughing through it all. I LOVE YOU!
There WILL be future-takes posted, but I'll taking a break from these two for a while, so make sure you have this fic on alert if you want to read those.
Until next time, THANK YOU and stay safe.
Lauren x
