First of all, a big shout out to my team of pre-readers and beta: NimNimBonjangles, bevey99, and Fran. Thank you so much for all the help with this story.
Secondly, a big 'THANK YOU' to all of you, who take the time to read reviews.
There's a lot happening in this chapter. I should say...pay attention to the little details because they'll make sense in the future chapters.
[Bella]
On Monday, I was up early, considering I'd crashed before nine pm the previous evening. I patted the bed for my phone to check the actual time and see if a snooze was possible when I saw several text messages from Edward.
Blinking awake, I opened the conversation string.
I forgot my gun at yours
And I'm missing a sock.
Read that as gum – my chewing gum.
I hope I didn't wake you.
I couldn't help but giggle. Only Edward could sound cute and depressed at the same time.
His messages had been sent half an hour ago, which proved he'd found the missing items while getting ready for his day.
Morning! Your gum? It's mine now.
And that sock…I'm sorry for its partner, but it will be trashed.
I went to take a shower and brush my teeth.
Sometime later, while my coffee was brewing, I heard my phone ringing from the bedroom. I hurried to see who was calling so early. I shouldn't have been surprised to see Edward's name.
"What, you dork?"
He huffed. "Left blue sock is crying right now."
I laughed loudly, returning to my coffee. "Fine. I'll treasure the right one until you come back to get it."
"Good. Clearly, you haven't seen my last messages. Feel free to ignore them," he said, amused.
"I just woke up twenty minutes ago. You're already wide awake."
"It's ten o'clock here, Bella."
"Oh, right. Time zones." I felt foolish. How could I forget that?
"Did you decide what you're going to tell Black?" he asked quietly.
The honest answer was no. We'd tried coming up with a plausible story yesterday on the way to Seattle, but everything sounded like a lie, because they were.
"You can't tell him the truth," Edward reminded me. "As much as you trust him, don't. Please."
"I'll think of something. I have to go get ready."
"Wear something sexy," he joked.
I snorted, promising to talk to him later, before hanging up.
I opted for a knee-length skirt and my favorite silky green blouse. As I got dressed, my brain kept trying to come up with a good explanation for Jake because he'd want one.
The worst idea Edward had come up with sounded like the best one right now: We'd bumped into each other at the store late at night last summer. We left together, driving in the same direction. My car broke down, and he gave me a lift home. It had been too late to call anyone, and it was pouring. The next day he'd helped me fix my car since it hadn't been anything major. He'd followed me home, and I'd invited him inside. The rest was history.
Jake wasn't going to buy it, but it was worth a shot.
In the car, I discovered the teddy bear Edward had gotten from Jake last year, after the last game. I'd seen it in his bookcase, squished between books and picture frames. He'd told me I could have it.
I'd forgotten it last evening, too emotionally drained to check if I'd left something in the car.
When I arrived in the parking lot at school, I picked up the bear. He'd sit next to the plaque I'd gotten from Edward's class at the end of last year.
Jake's bike was in its usual spot, but he wasn't there. I wasn't going to seek him out. If it were possible, I'd skip lunch so I wouldn't have to deal with him.
I bumped into Alice in front of my class. She smiled brightly.
"Good morning! You look rested," she noticed.
"I do?" I felt like I'd been run over by a train. We'd barely slept, staying up, afraid to miss any moment we could spend together.
"And happy," she added with a wink. "Who's the lucky stud?"
I hugged the items in my arms as an insane urge overtook me. I wanted nothing more than to tell her, but that wasn't possible.
Her attention was drawn to the things in my arms. She stared at the teddy bear for a while before meeting my eyes. Thankfully, the bell rang, and I ducked into the biology lab.
Everyone knew how Jacob had given Edward the teddy bear.
Fuck. I was so stupid.
I barely had time to dump my laptop bag, the plush toy, and my purse on my desk when the door opened.
Alice had followed.
"I wanted to ask you something. You distracted me," she chided softly.
"What's that?" I asked, placing the teddy bear near the plaque and pulling my laptop out of the bag.
"Would you help me organize Homecoming?" I turned to stare at her, ready to decline, but her huge, puppy-dog eyes crumbled my resolve.
"Urgh. When is it supposed to be?"
"At the end of September. We have a couple more weeks to get it done."
"I didn't say yes," I hedged.
"Pleeease?" She placed her hands together like she was praying.
"Oh, God…Alice. Fine. What do I have to do?"
"That's the spirit! We can talk about it during lunch?"
"Yes!" I exclaimed. "Staff room?"
"Sure."
I sighed in relief for having a solid out from confronting Jake. Planning the Homecoming party might be something I'd rather not do, but anything to stall that conversation.
I took a picture of the bear and sent it to Edward.
Teddy likes his new home. =)
.
.
.
By the time lunch period came, I was a mass of nerves.
Alice was already in the staff room, working on a sketch on her notepad when I arrived. She wasn't alone, though. Zafrina was leaning against the small table by the window, eating from a plastic container. Beside her was none other than Jacob.
I made a beeline to Alice, sitting next to her. "Hi," I whispered.
"What do you think?" She angled the drawing to me.
I realized it was the perfect replica of the gymnasium but decorated for a party. The lamp posts gave it the feel of being Paris … like it was portrayed in movies.
"What's the theme?" I asked.
"'An Evening in Paris.'"
"Whoa! It actually looks like Paris."
"Thanks." She grinned. "Now, let's see what we need to make this real. I already told Jazz about the basic things I'm going to need, but I really want to make the whole experience more realistic. There's no way to bring a river in there."
"Maybe some small fountains?" I suggested.
"Bella, coming to lunch?" Jake asked, as cheerful as ever.
"Oh, you should go and eat," Alice said urgently. "And the fountains are a great idea!"
"But…didn't you need my help?" I stalled.
"I didn't realize I was keeping you from eating. I'm sorry."
I wanted to protest but ended up leaving the room with Jacob.
We were quiet until we sat at our usual table in the cafeteria. It was then I noticed how tired he looked.
"Did you get any sleep this weekend?" I asked, stirring the contents of my salad.
"Nessie was sure we had to go to the hospital Saturday night. It turned out she got the worst case of Braxton Hicks."
I stared at him, hoping he'd elaborate.
"You know…false contractions?" he supplied, eyeing me curiously.
"Oh. It's not like I'm familiar with anything baby-related. And I don't want that … ever," I added under my breath.
"That's not how it works. Do you think I wanted this?"
"Stop talking about it."
Jake dropped the playful look, and I braced myself. "Of course, you already have a baby in the form of a bratty teenager."
I scowled, glaring into my salad. "He's more mature than you'd believe."
"I know how mature he is," Jake said seriously. "I don't think I want to know details, just…one thing…"
"What?" I asked warily.
"When did it start?" He sounded genuinely curious and a tad worried.
"Last summer."
Jake searched my eyes for a moment, and I must have become a great liar because he sighed in relief.
.
.
.
Time passed slowly.
At school, I was constantly busy, so there was no time to let my mind wander; at home was the real problem. Even if I had papers to grade and research to do for my classes, I felt the loneliness seeping through my bones.
Edward had taken to calling me late in the evening, and we'd talk for at least one hour. He always kept the subject light – what we'd done during the day, what were our immediate plans, nothing future-related, which always eased my nerves, yet created an irrational desperation inside me.
I had to keep reminding myself that we had several years of this trial by fire before we could be together, hopefully in the same city or within a few hours' drive.
That was another thing that gnawed at my insides.
Edward would never be able to pursue his desired career in Forks. His best option was Seattle. If our relationship survived that long, I knew, without any doubt, I'd follow him there. There were more options in the big city, and the pay would be much better.
But I'd keep all these silly dreams to myself until I was sure we'd last long enough to dream so big.
For Thanksgiving, I had no choice but to accept Mom's invitation to visit them in Jacksonville because the invitation came accompanied by plane tickets.
When Edward heard, he started making plans to meet since I'd be on the East Coast and so much closer to him. I reminded him that was virtually impossible, and he should wait to see me at Christmas.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving found me in the Seattle Airport, waiting for my flight, which had been delayed by twenty minutes due to the horrid weather. I missed the sun Florida provided.
My phone rang while I was in the middle of texting Vanessa that I was headed to my mom's for the weekend when she invited me to her house for the holiday.
"Edward," I said in greeting, smiling. "Give me one second."
"Uh, sure," he said, confused.
I finished typing my message to Vanessa before placing the phone back to my ear. "Right. I was talking to Vanessa. She apparently forgot I was going to Florida."
"Vanessa…Black's girlfriend?"
"Yeah. So, did you decide? Are you coming home?" I had no idea why I was twisting the knife in the wound.
"Uh, no. I decided to spend the two hundred bucks Carlisle sent me for the trip in a better way."
"That's smart of you."
I heard him clearing his throat, like when he was nervous. "What about you? Did you arrive?"
"I'm actually waiting for my plane. It's been delayed. You know our beautiful weather here is nothing to what awaits me for a few days in Florida." I imagined spending my evenings in the backyard with a book, basking in the warmth of the sun.
"I hear it's raining there," he said quietly.
"I hope not. The main reason I accepted Mom's invitation was to get away from the rain," I laughed. "Oh, look! My plane arrives in five minutes. Let me call Mom and tell her when she should expect me because she likes to freak out over things that are out of my control."
"Sounds familiar. Now I know where you got it from," he joked. "See you soon."
He hung up before I could make sense of his words. We'd done a few video calls; maybe that was what he wanted. I wouldn't mind seeing his beautiful face. I missed him fiercely.
I got in the lengthy line after I let Mom know I was about to board the plane. I had no idea if my connection would be on time either.
During the flight, I could only think of how difficult it was going to be at Christmas when I'd see Edward after so many months. He wouldn't be able to escape his family, not as much as either of us would want.
Our best shot at seeing each other without any trouble would be this weekend. I could escape Mom's claws sooner…like, this Saturday. A little detour to New York City couldn't hurt.
I couldn't wait to arrive and start checking plane ticket prices and accommodation close to Cornell. Edward would agree without blinking.
When I finally landed in Jacksonville, I felt like I'd traveled for twenty hours, not just seven. It was indeed raining, like Edward had predicted, but I could feel the humidity, even in the airport. It was much warmer than the weather I'd grown accustomed to.
I hadn't thought through how I'd look to the peers in Florida when I'd gotten dressed this morning. I had my trusty UGG boots on my feet because it had been freezing in Forks, skinny jeans paired with a thick sweater, and my winter jacket. That was the first thing I decided against wearing when I left the plane.
Thankfully, I'd managed to fit everything I needed in a small suitcase I could take with me, so I escaped the long wait at baggage claim.
I called Mom as I rolled my suitcase toward the waiting area.
"I'm here. Where do I find you?"
"Just outside the front doors. It's so stuffy inside."
"I know," I said, amused.
It took skill to maneuver between the crowds, but I finally reached the automatic doors. Through the large glass window, I could see her. Her back was to me, and her attention was on the young man in front of her.
I had to take a double look because I couldn't believe my eyes.
See you soon. Edward's words echoed in my head.
Holy fuck.
I hurried outside the airport.
Was this a coincidence for them to happen to be talking to each other?
Did they even know who they were to me?
I stopped next to them, hearing Edward charming my mother with some of his stories involving his college life.
Edward was the first to notice they had company. He shot me a sheepish smile, his green eyes sparkling.
Then I turned to my mother to see her smiling brightly.
What the actual hell? Was this a parallel universe?
She wrapped her arms around me. "Oh, Bella! I've missed you so much!"
A lump formed in my throat as I hugged her back, squeezing my eyes. I felt like crying, being back in her arms. I'd missed her too and only now realized how much.
"I had no idea you were bringing your boyfriend over, too," she scolded, pulling away.
I had no idea he was coming, either, I thought to myself.
Slowly, I turned to face Edward, who had the decency to look like a chastised child. I stepped closer, slipping my arms around his waist, and just like that, all my worries melted away. He hugged me tightly, dipping his head to kiss the corner of my mouth.
"Surprise?" he murmured.
"Oh, it's a big surprise," I whispered, rubbing his back.
"I'll explain later."
"The car is this way," Mom said, interrupting our moment.
Edward took my suitcase, grabbing my hand before we followed Mom.
"What does she know? Did you plan this? What the hell is going on?" I couldn't help but demand an explanation.
"Stumbling over your mother wasn't planned. I'd seen her in the pictures at your place, so I'd have recognized her anyway. You look so much alike," he said quietly.
"You're here," I said dumbly, trying to wrap my brain around this fact. "And Mom seems to like you." She hadn't been a particular fan of Alec or James, the only ones she'd met.
"Apparently, I'm good with parents." He chuckled, stealing a kiss.
"What did you tell her?" I insisted because she'd grill me, and I wanted our stories to match.
"Pretty much what you told Black. I didn't portray you as that easy to fall in bed with me the next day."
"Edward Cullen!" I gasped, slapping his arm.
He laughed, dodging me, but too late. "We kept seeing each other, talking about biology, because…you know…it's something we have in common…sort of. And the attraction was there, and I wasn't your student anymore…" He shrugged.
I was shocked my mom had bought that explanation, and somehow, I knew I'd hear all about it later. She already knew I might have or have not been doing something stupid during Edward's last month of school when I'd twisted my ankle and had to assure her that there was someone looking out for me.
We piled into Mom's little Prius. I'd be surprised if Edward didn't demand Mom pull over after a few minutes when he'd realize how slowly she drove. During our trip last summer, I'd learned the boy loved to speed.
"How long did you plan on keeping this young man hidden?" Mom demanded as she pulled out of the spot.
Edward threaded his fingers through mine. "It's still new. We weren't sure if it would work."
"You were planning to come over and surprise Bella during this holiday," Mom said pointedly.
"The plan was to find a hotel," Edward mumbled. I saw the tips of his ears reddening.
"Mom, please." I met her eyes through the rear-view mirror. Her blue eyes narrowed to slits before she focused on the road.
At that moment, it was clear to me she knew. She'd eat me alive when I found myself alone with her in the next few days.
"You're in heaps of trouble," I hissed into Edward's ear.
"I'm really sorry. None of this was supposed to happen," he whispered. "I had no idea what can of worms I was opening when I decided to greet your mom."
"I thought we agreed to see each other at Christmas."
"I couldn't wait. I was ready to find the cheapest hotel and…"
"You're coming with us, even if it's not the brightest idea." He cringed, meeting my eyes. "Sometimes you're an idiot," I added softly.
The corner of his mouth lifted. "Just like in high school. If I got in trouble, I didn't do it half-assed."
I laughed, shaking my head.
This holiday was going to be interesting, that was for sure.
Reviews are love.
Thoughts about Renee's reaction? Did you expect Jacob to believe the lie so easily?
For anyone interested, check out the other story I'm updating regularly: Undisclosed Desires (When Bella, an experienced Domme, agrees to meet a wounded Sub, she doesn't know how much he'll change her life.)
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