By now you should know ALL the drills: this is a REPOST with edits and…
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or DWTS. Haha!
BPOV
This week had flown by and it had been hell. My muscles were cramping all over my body. I had fallen down and tripped over my feet more times than ever before in my life. Hell, even my bruises had bruises. I was miserable.
Nothing, however, compared to Edward. He was covered in more bruises than I think he would like to admit to, because, true to his word, he tried to catch me when I'd trip. The problem: I took him down with me more times than not.
He was so frustrated. He'd yell and curse at me when I'd do something wrong. I wanted to cry. Not because I wasn't getting the steps, but because I couldn't stand him being upset with me. It didn't seem like it fit his natural persona and it made me uncomfortable because I was the cause of it. It made me sick.
He would always apologize at the end of our training sessions, saying how I was getting better and to keep at it, but I knew he was lying. He would give me a hug as I left everyday but I think it was just for the camera.
I felt awful. I wanted to cry, more than anything, but I wouldn't allow myself in front of Edward. He didn't need an emotional Bella on top of the klutzy-uncoordinated one. I would always wait until I was back in the townhouse I was renting while I was in California. Everyday all I wanted to do was to go home to Washington and forget that I ever agreed to this stupid charade.
Did I want more readers? Sure, but not at the cost of Edward's and my sanity.
I was grateful today was Friday and that I would be going back home later tonight. I would be back in California on Monday morning, which meant I had two full dance-free days! Of course, it meant two Edward-free days, which hurt. But the idea of causing him any more grief or pain hurt worse. He didn't deserve to have me as a partner. It was like some greater power was out to get him.
It was almost 5PM, and I was counting down the minutes to freedom. I had a lot of editing to do that kept getting postponed due to headaches, muscle cramps and the inability to stay awake most nights. While I would rather catch up on sleep and healing my body this weekend, everything else needed to get caught up on as well.
"Bella! Focus!"
"Sorry, Edward," I mumbled, upset I had been called out.
"It's fine," he sighed, clearly exacerbated. "Let's try this one more time."
He pulled me into his arms and counted off for us to begin the same step he's been drilling into my head and body for almost a full hour. We started off fine and I could feel him relax, but I panicked. I didn't know this step. He shouldn't be relaxing. He shouldn't trust me. Apparently, my body agreed with me and when he stepped forward with his left foot, I stepped forward with my right, instead of back. I stomped on his foot. Again.
"Damnit, Bella! How many times have we gone over this? It's forward-back, push-pull. If I advance to you, you counter and move back and vice versa! Why can't you get this?!"
You know how I mentioned that I would hold it together until I got back to the townhouse? The long hours and body spasm were not going to make that possible today. I felt the tears well up in my eyes as the exhaustion set in and I lost it. At least I was quiet. No gut-wracking sobs escaped my lips, just the tears from my eyes made an appearance.
Edward looked up at me, fury still in his eyes. Then he blinked and that anger was immediately gone, replaced with remorse. He walked toward me and took me in his arms again.
"Oh…Bella. I'm so sorry. Shh. It's ok. Stop crying. I'm sorry." His words were soothing and his arms felt safe wrapped around me. He rocked up slowly back and forth. I bet he didn't even realize he danced, even without meaning to.
"No, Edward. I'm sorry. I'm just tired and my body hurts. I'm just being a baby. I'm sorry. Just ignore me." I tried to stop crying, but the tears kept coming.
"Hey. Hey! It's ok. It's my fault. I shouldn't have snapped at you." He pulled me away from his chest, but kept his hands on my arms, able to look me in the eyes. He took a breath and continued. "You're right. This has been a long week and I'm just as exhausted, so I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have snapped. I apologize, Bella. You didn't deserve that."
"No, Edward. Really, you don't have to apologize. I just…" He cut me off, swiftly moving his hands from my shoulders to my face, holding it firmly but still gently.
"Bella, stop. It's not your fault. It's mine. I'm sorry. End of story." He gave me a smile and I realized for the first time just how close we were. His eyes locked with mine and I could feel his breath on my face. It was warm and sweet-smelling. I was starting to get dizzy as I realized I had stopped breathing.
I took a deep breath that seemed to break the connection I had with Edward. He blinked and I guess he noticed how close we were as well. He immediately released my face as if he'd been burnt. I had to swallow back more tears that threatened to fall yet again. Of course, he was just comforting me. He wouldn't really want to be that near to me unless he had to.
"Uh, Tyler? I think we're going to call it a day a little early," Edward called over my shoulder. I had completely forgotten Tyler was still in the studio with us. That meant he had caught all of that interaction on tape. Wonderful.
"Sure man," Tyler responded. He quickly put away his camera. "You have a good weekend. You too, Bella!" He smiled at me as he picked up his bag and I couldn't help but smile and nod back at him.
And with that, Edward and I were alone.
"So…" he both started at the same time. Awkward.
"You go first, Bella."
"No, that's ok. You first." I really didn't have anything to say. I was just trying to end the awkward silence.
"Ok. So…what are you planning to do with your weekend off?" He had turned back to the stereo and was beginning to gather his phone and other items he brought in everyday.
"I'm heading back to Washington. I have some work to catch up on and I'm also hoping to be able to stop in and see my dad."
"Work? That doesn't sound relaxing," he said, turning his head around as he put his crooked smile on his lips.
"It can be," I said honestly. "It just depends on how the story takes me. When I write, I fall into another place and time and I get immersed in it." I was imagining all the times Angela had to pull me out of my writing induced comas.
"Unfortunately," I continued. "That doesn't happen too often when I'm editing, which is what I have to do this weekend. So, I guess you are right. It doesn't sound relaxing. It won't be. Hence why I'm going to try to get out of Seattle to see my father."
"He doesn't live in Seattle?"
"No, he still lives in the small town where I was born. Same house and everything. He's the police chief and refuses to move." I had to smile when I thought of Charlie. He was simple and consistent. I could give him that much.
I was glad Edward's back was to me while he was still dealing with shutting down the stereo. He didn't need to see my goofy smile. Plus it allowed me to get a decent look at his butt. Bella! Stop!
"So where exactly does your father live? I'm assuming it's still in Washington."
"Oh, you've probably never heard of it. It's a little town called Forks."
I had turned back to my bag to start pulling my things together. It took me a minute to realize that Edward had stopped talking. When I looked up, he was staring at me and not moving. His gaze looked as if he were searching for some sort of answer.
"Forks?" He looked confused and intrigued at the same time. Interesting, although why he would have an interest in my hometown I'll never know.
"Yeah. Strange name, right? But it's my home."
"No, it's not a strange name," he stated. "What's strange is that it's my home too."
Uh…what?
Now it was my turn to stare at his face. He had to be joking right? There was no way this god-like creature lived there. But you haven't technically lived there in the last few years Bella. True. But doesn't he live here in California?
"Forks? Forks, Washington?" I was so confused.
"Yeah. I mean I don't live there anymore, but it was where I grew up for the majority of my childhood. My…uh…parents are still there though. I would figure that I would remember you though. Odd."
"Yeah, I mean, you look to be about the same age as me. But, I actually grew up in Phoenix. I moved back to Forks when I was 17. Maybe I had just missed you? But I didn't see or hear about you back in high school. Even though I was only there for about a year and a half, I'm pretty sure I would have remembered you." I was blubbering words out of my mouth, which wasn't attractive, but I couldn't figure out this new information.
"Well, I graduated early, with my sister, when I was 17. And it would make sense that you didn't know about me in high school. I didn't go there. We were homeschooled."
"Oh. I guess that would be why, huh?" I blushed. I couldn't figure out who his sister or parents were. I didn't know any other Masens in Forks, so I was even more confused than before.
"Um, Edward. If you don't mind me asking, who…" my phone interrupted me. "Oh, will you excuse me? I'm sorry." He smiled and nodded, but I noticed a hint of relief in his eyes. He really didn't want to talk to me, did he?
"Hello?"
"Bella, it's Angela. I'm just about to pull up to the studio with the car. Are you ready? We really need to get to the airport for our flight."
Damnit.
"Yeah, Angela. I'll be right out. I'll see you soon." I quickly hung up the phone and bent down to pick up my bag.
"Sorry, Edward. That was Angela. I have to run. You know, plane to catch. But I really hope you have a great weekend too." I blushed as I took a step towards him. I wanted to give him a hug and quickly thought against that idea. I stopped in my tracks and noticed that he too had been moving closer as well, but had stopped.
A honk outside and a shrill ring inside jolted me out of my daze. I nearly jumped out of my skin. I smiled at Edward and he gave his crooked one back. I melted.
"Um…I really should go. That's probably her outside."
"Yeah, I need to answer my phone. But have a good trip, ok? And, do me a favor?"
I waited patiently for his favor.
"Be safe." His eyes smoldered and I could feel my cheeks aflame.
I couldn't speak, but I nodded and ducked my head as I turned around and headed for the door. I took one last look at him as he had started to bring his phone up to his ear. He smiled again and gave a small wave and then I closed the door.
I rushed out to the car as carefully as I could, threw my bag in the back and buckled myself into the front seat next to Angela.
"So," she started. "How was training today?"
I sighed and I released the breath I had been holding since Edward's last words.
"Oh. My. God! What happened?! You have to tell me everything!" She was practically screaming in my ear.
It was going to be a long evening.
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