19
BPOV
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" asked Esme.
"I guess," I whispered, going over and sitting on my bed. For a moment neither of us said anything. "Um, were you going to talk or…"
"Yes," she smiled. She turned on her bed so she was facing me. "Bella, I owe you an apology."
"Why?" I asked, surprised.
"Because I didn't want you and Edward to be friends," she said, honestly.
"Oh," I whispered, looking down at the floor. I really wasn't sure what else to say right now.
"But I was wrong, Bella," she said. I looked up at her. "I'm very protective of my little brother, Bella. I spent ten years wishing that my parents would give me a brother or sister. When he was born, I made a promise to him that I would always take care of him. Being an army brat is not an easy life and I've tried to make that as easy for him as I could but there was only so much I could do. Edward learned a long time ago, as did I, not to get too attached to people because it only ends up in heartache. I guess that maybe, I thought that if he was friends with you that he wouldn't need me anymore," she said, letting her tears fall. She shook her head and wiped them off. "I'm sorry, I thought I could do this without getting emotional."
"It's ok," I whispered, bringing my knees up to my chest. "I could never take your place with Edward, Esme."
"I know that," she smiled. "I should have seen that you two were more than friends before now."
"So you're ok with us being together?" I asked.
"Yes," she said, still smiling. "But I don't want him to get hurt, Bella. I don't know what your story is, and it's none of my business, but Edward is. He cares about you a lot."
"I care about him too," I whispered, through my tears. I laid my head on my knees. "I, um, I don't let many people in but I couldn't help but let him in. Trust me, I tried but he's kind of pushy."
"Bella, I know that you have a lot of…issues, or whatever," said Esme, moving over to my bed. She slowly reached out and grabbed my hand. I looked up at her as I let a tear spill from my eye, down my cheek. "But I want you to know that if you ever need anyone to talk to, about anything, that I am here for you."
"I'll remember that," I cried, softly. "Sometimes, I get tired of being around the boys."
"I'm sure you do," chuckled Esme. I wiped my tears off my face as I looked back up at her.
"Do you love him?" I asked.
"Who?" she asked, looking at the floor.
"Carlisle," I whispered. Esme smiled and looked back up at me.
"I don't know," she said. "I like him, a lot, but I don't know about love."
"Esme, Carlisle is…" I trailed off, taking a deep breath. "He gave up a lot for me. He never complains, at least to me. But I…"
"I won't hurt him, either," she smiled, letting my hand go. "I've never…I've never felt like this, Bella. He makes me smile and laugh. He makes me feel…"
"Happy, safe, like you can do anything?" I asked, smiling at her.
"Yes," she giggled.
"Edward makes me feel like that too," I whispered. "I don't feel crazy with him."
"I'm glad," whispered Esme. She stood up and went over to the mirror. "Wow, I look like shit. Well, we had better go and get this over with."
"Ok," I said, softly.
I followed Esme out in the hall and found Edward leaning against the wall. He was tugging at the hem of his t-shirt, nervously. I shared a look with Esme as she walked past him down to the elevator. I went over and laid my head on his chest, sighing contently.
"You ok, Baby?" Edward asked, wrapping his arms around me.
"Yeah," I whispered. I leaned up and pressed my lips to his. "I'm great."
"You sure?" Edward asked, frowning. "You look like you've been crying."
"I'm sure," I smiled. "Esme and I had the talk."
"Oh, the talk, huh?" He grimaced. "Can't say I'm too surprised."
"She was just worried about you, Edward," I said.
"I know," sighed Edward. "You ready to head down for dinner?"
"No," I laughed. "Everyone is going to be all over us demanding details."
"True, but we have to face them sooner or later," Edward smiled. "We're doing it together. Besides, I think we could take them."
"Me too," I snickered, pulling away from him. I molded my hand around his. "Ok, let's go."
Edward chuckled softly as we headed down to the elevator. We stepped off in the lobby and everyone looked over at us. Just based on the looks on Emmett and Jasper's faces, this was going to be one hell of a long night. I rolled my eyes as I pulled Edward over to them.
"Look, we will give you the chance to voice your opinion but you should know that it doesn't matter. Edward and I are together, end of story," I growled at my brothers.
"We'll see about that," muttered Emmett. "Let's go."
Edward held my hand tighter in his as we followed them out to the cars. We slid into the back seat of Carlisle's car while they climbed into the front. Neither of them said anything as we followed Emmett, Rose, Jasper, Alice, Charlie, and Renee to a local pizza joint. After working as hard as we had today, we both needed to replenish some carbs and pizza would be the just the thing. Edward and I followed Carlisle and Esme into the crowded pizza joint with our hands intertwined together.
"Baby Cullen!" yelled James. I snapped my head to my left and saw him and Vic sitting at a big table in the back. He looked down at mine and Edward's hands and smirked as he shared a look with his fiancée.
"James, stop yelling," I hissed as we followed the rest of our family over and joined them.
"Baby Cullen, are you shacking up with the boy?" asked James, motioning to Edward.
"Shut the fuck up, James," I muttered, sitting down next to Edward. "We are seeing each other, you ass."
"Hmm," snorted James, looking around at my brothers.
Emmett, Jasper, and Charlie were all scowling. Carlisle had his arm on the back of Esme's chair. Rose and Alice were sitting on either side of Emmett and Jasper. Both of them were smiling as they looked from me to Edward. They were enjoying this way too much. Oddly, Renee was also smiling as she looked at us. It was kind of creepy.
"Well, maybe we should go," snickered James, sharing a look with Vic.
"Nonsense," muttered Jasper, staring right at me. "You are practically family, James. Bella would love to get your opinion on this, too."
"No, I wouldn't," I said.
"Sure you would, Bell," growled Emmett, trying to stare me down. I kept my eyes locked on his until he cursed under his breath and turned away.
"Welcome to La Bella Pizza, what can I get you to drink?" asked our waitress. Her nametag said her name was Kay.
"Water," muttered everyone but me and Edward.
"Coke," I said.
"Same for me," replied Edward, tightening his grip on my hand.
"Do you know what kind of pizza you want?" asked Kay.
"We'll take four larges, pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, and supreme," said Carlisle, looking up at her.
"I'll have them right out," smiled Kay.
No one said anything until after Kay brought our drinks out. James and Vic were enjoying the stare down I was having with Emmett and Jasper. I bit back several curse words that wanted to be let out and struggled not to give them both a series of hand gestures. Finally, after several minutes of just staring at me, one of them spoke.
"It ends now," growled Emmett.
"No, it doesn't," I said. His jaw tightened and he narrowed his eyes as he looked over at Edward.
"Boy, it ends now," he repeated.
"No, it doesn't," echoed Edward, calmly. "I understand-"
"You understand nothing," seethed Jasper. Alice placed her hand on his shoulder in an effort to calm him down but he shrugged it off. Wrong move.
"Jasper, calm down," muttered Alice. Her tone was deadly. Jasper turned to glare at her but his icy expression melted as soon as he saw the look in her face. Sucker. "Let them explain before you go all ape shit on them."
"There is nothing to explain," mumbled Jasper. "She's not ready for…anything."
"That's not your choice," I said. Jasper sighed as he looked back over at me.
"Considering everything we've done for you over the last couple years, I would say I get a word in the matter," he said, harshly. I turned and looked away, guilt washing over my for everything my brothers had done for me. "Bella, look at me."
"No," I sighed, keeping my eyes locked on a picture on the wall. "I know that all of you have sacrificed a lot for me. I know that I've…but I…"
"Bella, please, look at me," said Jasper. I looked back over at him. His expression was much softer. "You've been through so much. How can you be sure that you are ready for a relationship?"
"I don't know," I said, feeling very uncomfortable with everyone looking at me. Edward slipped his hand out of mine and moved it around my shoulder. I looked up at him.
"It's ok," he whispered, just loud enough for me to hear.
"He makes me feel safe, Jas," I said, keeping my eyes locked on Edward's. "When I'm with Edward, I don't feel like I'm losing it. I don't feel crazy anymore."
"You're not crazy," murmured Edward, leaning his forehead down on mine. "She makes me feel like it's ok to be myself. She makes me feel like it's ok to let people in. I've never had a friend, besides Esme, before. I care about her so much."
"I care about you, too," I whispered, a tear slipping down my face. I quickly wiped away as I looked over at my brothers. All three of there were watching me with awed looks on their faces. "Look, I know it seems sudden and rushed but I need him."
"Are you in love, Baby Cullen?" asked James. I coughed as I looked over at him.
"What?" I asked.
"Are you in love with the boy here?" he asked, smiling at me and Edward. I blushed as I looked up at Edward, who was also bright red.
"I don't know," I muttered, shifting uncomfortably.
"Boy, are you in love with Baby Cullen?" asked James.
"I don't know," admitted Edward, tightening his arm around my shoulders. "I care about Bella, a lot more than I ever thought I could care about someone. I don't ever want to lose her, not only as my girlfriend but as my best friend either."
"I don't want to lose you, either," I murmured, staring him in the eye.
"Fuck," muttered Emmett. I tore my eyes away from Edward's and looked over at Emmett. He was watching me and Edward with an irritated look on his face but his eyes were kind and gentle. "I don't like it but I guess it's ok."
"Thank you, Em," I said, smiling at him. I looked over at Jasper, who was glaring at Edward. "Jas."
"Bell," he whispered, shaking his head as he looked from Edward to me. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Yes," I smiled.
"Fine," he said. He looked back over at Edward. "Hurt my sister and I will kill you."
"I'll help," growled Emmett.
"Me too," piped up Charlie. All of us snapped our heads over to him. He was glaring at Edward. "I don't like it at all but it's not my place to tell Bella, or anyone, what to do. But know this kid, if you hurt my little sister, I will gut you like fish."
"I won't hurt her," said Edward.
"I hope not," muttered Charlie. I gave him a soft smile. My brother in law had never really made a stand for me, or anyone for the matter.
"Well, I guess that ends that," chuckled Carlisle. "Now, how were your matches?"
We spent the next couple hours rehashing every moment of our matches. I was impressed with the way Carlisle described Edward's matches. I knew he was an amazing fighter but I also knew he was really nervous. By the end of the night, I was sitting with my head on Edward's shoulder while he leaned his head down on mine. It was the most relaxed I had felt in a very long time.
"We should get them back to the hotel before they fall asleep at the table," smiled Renee, standing up.
We paid our bill and headed outside to our cars, saying goodnight to James and Vic. The car ride back to the hotel was quiet, peaceful. I was almost asleep when Carlisle pulled his car into the parking space. WE climbed out and headed inside the hotel. Renee grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the elevator with her, leaving the others behind.
"You really like him, don't you?" asked Renee.
"Yes," I mumbled. "A lot."
"I can tell," she smiled. I looked up at her. "I know that I'm difficult, Bell. It hasn't been easy for me, either. I'm not like you and the boys. I don't really like fighting but I missed you, a lot."
"I missed you, too, Ren," I whispered, looking down at my feet.
"Well, maybe, you and I could hang out sometime soon," suggested Renee as the elevator doors opened.
"Sure," I smiled. "As long as you aren't a bitch."
"I'll try not to be," snorted Renee, shaking her head. We walked down the hall to her room. She turned and looked back at me. "Mom and Dad would have loved to watched you fight today. You beautiful out there."
"You think so?" I asked, biting my lip.
"Yeah," she said. "Although, you need to keep your elbows a little tighter tomorrow. They are going to clean your clock if you don't."
"I know," I muttered, shaking my head.
"Get some rest, Bell," smiled Renee as everyone caught up with us.
"I will," I smiled. "Goodnight, Ren."
Renee smiled at me as she pulled Charlie into their room. My brothers all looked from Renee back to me before they headed into their rooms. Edward pulled me into his arms and gently pressed his lips down to mine. I sighed into his lips and kissed him back.
"Goodnight, Bella," murmured Edward.
"Goodnight, Edward," I whispered.
I kissed him once more before I turned and went into the room I shared with Esme. I pulled out my pajamas and went into the bathroom and quickly changed. I climbed into my bed and pulled on my iPod, setting it to my Glee play list. As Esme turned off the light and climbed into her bed, I smiled to myself. I think I was falling in love with Edward. For some reason, I wasn't scared.
