Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters Stephenie Meyer does.
I would like to give a special thanks to Alphie, my newly acquired beta.
Required Phrase: Where are my pants?
Required Item: Secret Diary
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Bella rubbed her eyes and wonder what time it was. It was about five. Something had startled her out of her nap, the question was what though? She heard another soft laugh and turned to find Edward seated on her bed. She wiped at what could only be described as a trail of drool from her chin. How embarrassing. She blushed lightly; giving him a look that plainly said it wasn't that funny.
"You were supposed to be studying. Let us hope you never live to do anything too important like Carlisle. People might frown upon you falling asleep during surgery."
Sometimes she swore he teased her just to get a rise out of her. She frowned once again, telling him she wasn't pleased. "If you hadn't forced me to study, I wouldn't have been bored enough to fall asleep." She gave him a pout, and shut her book loudly. "I quit."
His face still clearly rang with amusement, "I'm glad. I was getting a little jealous once you started speaking Spanish verbs in your sleep. Usually you just say my name or your mother's."
Bella walked over and settled herself in the rocking chair across from him, "You're here early today. You beat Charlie home. Any reason?"
"I have a message from Alice. She says she's going to take you shopping in Seattle regardless if you want to go or not."
Bella saw through his words, "And by that you mean you persuaded her to stay and go hunting next week so I wouldn't be left here alone with the chance that I might be attacked in Forks and die?" There was a sarcastic edge in her tone. His smile was all the answer she needed.
With that done the odd couple settled down and studied for Bella's Spanish and Literature. Everything she already knew was mapped out for her by Edward and formed into short, ten question quizzes per chapter. They worked with a relaxed ease, something that had been missing during the first part of their relationship. Six o'clock rolled closer and Bella decided to head downstairs and start dinner.
Edward showed up multiple times a week to help Bella cook. He insisted on it. So while he practiced his culinary skills, he left Bella to study alone at the kitchen table. Of course, all the while Bella watched him out of the corner of her eye. When he accidentally grabbed the cheddar cheese instead of the mozzarella, she stood up quickly before he could sprinkle it on. Her intent was to snatch it from his hands; however, things didn't work out that way. One foot tangled in the strap of her backpack, and before she knew it, she found herself falling towards the floor. Unlike most people, Bella didn't scream or throw her hands out to break her fall. She had faith Edward would catch her. He didn't fail. She smiled up at him sheepishly muttering thanks.
"And you wonder why I want Alice to look after you when I can't," he questioned her. His mouth turned up, trying to suppress a smile as he steadied her on her feet and continued his cooking. He'd explained that he felt he had to learn how to cook for her. She was going to ask why, but when she realized it was something he didn't know how to do, she thought better of it. As mean as it seemed, she enjoyed watching him struggle with something for once.
Just as he was putting the lasagna into the oven to cook, she heard the front door open. Charlie was home. The couple could hear him going through his normal "I'm home" routine. Hanging up his coat, removing his shoes, putting his hat away, and hanging his keys on the hook near the door, then finally entering into the kitchen to set his gun down on the counter. Bella hadn't moved an inch, knowing full well Edward had already disappeared. Visiting hours weren't for at least another half an hour. Charlie now taken to watching every one of Edward graceful steps, the protective father gene starting to work.
"Smells good what is for dinner," he questioned, his nose in the air sniffing the scent of the lasagna that was just beginning to warm.
"Lasagna, "Bella answered without looking up. She understood Charlie's motive for not wanting Edward around for the reason he named, but why did he have to have time restrictions? Edward seemed to be fine with them even though he hadn't explained why, but Bella would bet money it was because he was hoping somehow during their time apart, she might just grow away from him and he could stop "endangering her life." If she'd made it this far, why turn back now had become Bella's philosophy.
"Your mother phoned me today."
"Hmm," Bella feigned disinterest even she knew what it was about. Renee wanted her to come and visit over summer break. She hadn't mentioned the fact to Edward, as he'd probably just agree. Bella had been ignoring her mother's "When are you coming to visit?" emails for weeks. He mother was siding with Charlie, secretly hoping Bella would break up with the dashing man and move back where she belonged with her and Phil. "What did she want."
"I think you know what she wanted Bella, She said she'd been emailing you for weeks. Why haven't you responded?" Charlie gave her a tired look.
"I've been busy studying," Bella said, trying not to sound angry at his prodding. She wasn't used to it- time restrictions, curfews, and now prodding. It was too much.
"Call her, email her, I don't care. Just talk to her Bella."
Their discussion was cut short by a knock on the door. Charlie stood to answer it as Bella moved to check on the lasagna. She heard Edward's familiar voice as he spoke softly to Charlie. She moved closer to the door to try and catch what they were saying.
"No actually we're going camping this weekend, my brothers and I." She heard Edward speaking. Charlie said nothing, just listening. "That's actually why I'm here early. Alice was wondering If perhaps she and Bella could go shopping in Seattle this weekend. I told her I'd confirm it with you first." Edward finished. Weather he noticed it or not, his voice had moved into the silky persuading tone.
The silence continued on for a while. Bella could only guess that Charlie was taking his time thinking it over. Edward would know to say something if Charlie's thoughts and pondering started to turn the wrong way. Eventually, she heard Charlie clear his throat, " I'll talk it over with your father. Have you or Alice discussed it with Bella?"
"Yes sir, Alice talked with her about it."
She heard them both moving for the kitchen and quickly made her way back to the table. Edward gave her an amused look and whispered as he sat down next to her. " Some people would argue that it's impolite to listen in on others' conversations." Damn him and that amazingly handsome amused look he always seemed to give her.
Dinner went along as normal regardless of Edward's presence. They didn't speak much, and before long Bella excused both herself and Edward to her room to study. They walked up just as quietly, Edward always a few steps behind her in case she happened to trip. It had happened before. They weren't allowed to close the door when Edward was inside- another one of the rules since she'd started dating Edward, or at least since her accident. Bella took her normal seat at the desk as Edward settled on the foot of her bed.
After a few minutes of silence she turned to look at him. His face was set in tense lines. Something was wrong. She glanced at him curiously. "Is something the matter?"
He turned his gaze to her, his unhappiness showing through eyes dark as onyx. "Why didn't you tell me about your mother? One would assume you would want to visit her, or am I wrong?"
"What do you mean? Of course I want to visit her. She's my mother. It comes with the relationship. I just don't want to talk to her about visiting." I want to avoid it as much as possible, Bella thought glad he couldn't read her mind. I want to give off the appearance that nothing is wrong.
"And why don't you want to talk to her about it Isabella?" His face was curious and calculating, his eyes smoldering darkly, something he knew she couldn't ignore. Bella glanced down quickly before she got lost in his eyes and her thought came out unintentionally. "Don't edit it Bella, you know it drives me insane."
"I've been busy with school, you know that. I just haven't had the time." It was amazing how easy lying had become since she moved to Forks. She didn't feel like explaining how her mother's emails made her feel guilty. Guilty that her mother missed her even though she now had Phil. Bella knew when she went to visit her mother she would have a blast, perhaps too much of a blast. Her mother would try to convince her to stay, and Bella wasn't sure she could say no if her mother took the great lengths she had gone too in order to get Phil to stay extra days when they'd still lived in Phoenix. At the same, Bella knew someone would always end up being hurt. She herself couldn't move away from Edward, and at the same time she hated seeing her mother so upset. If something were to happen, and she did end up staying in Philadelphia with her mother and Phil, judging from Charlie's reaction when she left the first time, she doubted he would be too happy either. She was being pulled in three directions, and Bella knew if she just stayed here things would be fine for a while longer. Perhaps in time she could convince her mother to come up here and visit.
Bella knew Edward didn't believe her, but he said nothing. With a sigh, he leaned back seeming to drop the subject, changing it to something less stressful, at least for him. "Study Bella." He stared at her with such an intense expression, as though if he could just concentrate enough he could work out what was going on in her head. It unnerved her to no end, and she glanced away to avoid spilling her guts to him then. She remained quite afraid to glance at him as she scratched furiously in her notebook. Enough time rolled by, and she felt safe enough to risk it. His face was impassive, unreadable. Bella turned to prattling.
"Dónde están mis pantalones?" She said with a cheery tone. He raised a curious eyebrow. "Creo que los perdí en la lasaña, usted no los comió por casualidad le hizo?"
"Bella," he said with a fond chuckle.
"Creo que he estudiado bastante para una noche sí?"
"Si," he agreed with a nod of his well-featured face. "Switch me seats, Bella. I'll go over your notes make sure you have everything. She did as she was told, watching him, as he reviewed her notes for her. His hair fell surrounding his face a look of complete concentration on his face. It seemed he was intent upon making sure she passed. Bella found herself able to watch him without fear he would notice her staring at him like a teenage girl who found Orlando bloom on her doorstep for a while. She enjoyed seeing the way his svelte form shifted muscles, contracting with the slightest movement. She'd trained her eye to catch even the smallest twitch. Even still, his eyes were better than hers. No competition, yet.
She watched him drop her pencil as he finished looking things over. He sat back, relaxing in the chair. "Looks fine." He stacked her books neatly, putting her pencil into the drawer. He looked as though he was about to say something, but was interrupted by Charlie's footsteps on the stairs. Bella didn't know whether to be grateful or sad she didn't know what he wanted to say.
"Bella, Edward?" They heard Charlie's voice as he approached her doorway. "It's about time for you to leave," he said, eyes on Edward. Edward's only reply was a short nod. "Bella, I phoned Doctor Cullen." Charlie continued, "If you want to go shopping with Alice this weekend it's all right by me. If you want you could even have Alice stay over."
Bella smiled happily at Charlie's retreating back. "Alice will be happy to know that." Bella said to Edward, "You will too, won't you?" Edward simply nodded again. He stood up and kissed her forehead lightly.
"I'll take the Volvo back home and be back soon," he said, his voice husky and his eyes dark. He looked thirsty.
Bella nodded and watched as he walked out, most likely once again to be interrogated by Charlie. She would have listened in, but she had better things to do. She'd taken to showering at night as well when he left and writing in her diary while he was gone. She kept the shower on for longer then she was in it so he couldn't hear her writing. She had to record her thoughts on him somehow.
Bella grabbed her track pants and a t-shirt on her way to the bathroom. Her shower, as usual, was short. A quick scrub down and a few notes in her diary about her frustration with her mother, and the fact that Edward had questioned her on it, helped relieve some tension. After she finished writing, she tucked the small collection of her thoughts into the dirty towel to be returned to its hiding spot when Edward went for his car the next morning. This plan had yet to fail her. Neither Charlie nor Edward knew the book existed. It had actually been a going away present from her mother. 'Decorated with love' her mother had said whilst gluing flowers and sequins on the front, loudly proclaiming that it was Bella's Diary.
At first she had scoffed at the girly book, but eventually she realized it was actually a good concept to let off some steam without fear of anyone reading it. She made it back to her room after running downstairs to bid Charlie a good night. Edward was already waiting in her room, seated like a Greek statue in the corner chair. She didn't even see him move his arm, but found a note fall into her hands. Forgetting her towels and laundry, she dropped them onto the floor to catch the small note. Immediately, she noted her mistake of forgetting the book buried in her laundry. The note, too, fell to the floor as she glanced for the small book. She saw a corner peeking out from beneath her towel and grabbed the pile up quickly, praying Edward hadn't seen the book. He was glancing at her impassively, so she couldn't really tell. She could only guess how suspicious her behavior had just been. She threw the dirty clothes into the hamper as though nothing was wrong.
That finished, she picked up the small note:
Dear Bella,
I'm ecstatic your father gave you permission to come shopping. I promise we'll have fun just us. We can take the convertible. Esme and Rosalie decided to stay home, so the camping will really be a boy's night. No need to bring any money. I'll take care of it. Besides, you only deserve the best, especially for this occasion. Don't tell Edward though. We don't want him to suspect anything. I've been avoiding him like a maniac to make sure he won't figure anything out. I can see why humans write notes like this for friends. It is kind of fun.
Alice
Bella had no idea what the pixie type girl was talking about, though she had a feeling that she was supposed to. She gave Edward a curious glance, but didn't say anything. Apparently he wasn't supposed to know either. Edward didn't say anything, just watched, matching her look with an intense stare in her general direction and probably wondering what the look was for.
Bella yawned loudly covering her mouth with her hand. Edward took the hint. Turning off the lights, he placed a pillow in his lap allowing her to rest her head on it. He kissed her forehead once more. She could feel his fingers running gently through her hair, soothing her to sleep. "Sleep Bella," he soothed softly.
"Promise me," Bella mumbled already starting to drift off.
"I promise to be here when you wake, Bella," he responded.
What Bella didn't notice as her eyes closed was Edwards curious and speculative gaze drifting over to her laundry basket.
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(Spanish is not my chosen language sorry if any of this is wrong. Email me and I'll change it.)
Translations:
--Where are my pants? I believe I lost them in the lasagna; you did not eat them by chance did you?
--I believe I have studied enough for one night yes?
--Yes.
