Continuing with the trend…it's still a REPOST with edits. New chapters starting in 15 more chapters!
As always, DISCLAIMER: I don't own Twilight or DWTS. Just this idea! Thanks!
Now, on with the show...
EPOV
I was vaguely aware of the phone ringing in my hand as I watched Bella slip through the door and out of the studio. I felt that I had just lost a part of myself and I didn't know how to gain it back.
When the door completely shut, I could feel the studio grow darker as if the light had been sucked out of it, like life itself had been sucked out. Looking through the windows showed that the sun was far from setting, so the room reflected my mood and not the weather outside.
I had pulled the phone up to my ear subconsciously and I would have continued to sit there with the phone in my hand without uttering a word had it not been the voice on the other end screaming.
"Edward? Edward! Are you there?!" The recognition in the voice snapped me out of my stupor.
"Yes, Alice. I'm here. Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts for a moment."
"I see…Bella just left, didn't she?" What did she think she was implying in that statement?
"Yes, she. It's five o'clock and she had to run to the airport and catch a plane." I debated with myself internally to decide whether or not to tell Alice of the Forks connection.
Part of me wanted to share the knowledge and see what Alice thought about this new information. The selfish side of me wanted to keep this a secret so that I could figure out what this meant to me. I couldn't really wrap my brain around this new tidbit.
"Oh really? Where is she heading off to this weekend?" Uh oh. Don't lie Edward, just don't tell the truth.
"Um. She was heading back…home…to finish some work and see her dad." Please please please leave it at that. Some higher power was with me, because after a small pause, she did.
"Oh! Well, that brings me to why I was calling." This ought to be good. Couldn't wait for her reasoning on this one. She took my silence as a reason to continue.
"I was thinking that maybe we should go home this weekend as well. Mike doesn't really have a family for me to 'meet' for the show, so we figured we'd meet mine." Simple. Direct. And last but not least…bullshit.
"But why would you need me there?" I had to admit, it seemed innocent enough, but I knew it wasn't as simple as that.
"Please, Edward. You are a part of my family so you should be there. You're my brother for god sakes!" Nope, still not believing it. There is something else she wanted.
"Alice, what do you really want? Just spit it out!" I was getting slightly frustrated. It was the end of the day, the end of the week, Bella had left for another state and now Alice was wanting me to go home, which happened to be in the same state as Bella. I wanted to jump at the opportunity to be near Bella again, but I wanted to stay away and figure out what the hell was going on with me!
"Ok, fine. I really need you to show some things to Mike." Ah ha! And there is it! "He's just awful and I don't know what to do, Edward. It's so frustrating, nothing is sticking. It's like teaching a brick wall to move, let alone dance!"
I couldn't help but allow a chuckle to escape my lips. Bella wasn't that bad, but I could understand Alice's plight. Teaching Bella was just as difficult. She tried her hardest though, bless her, but it was as if everything I said went in one ear and out the other. What was worse was that Bella was doing everything to try to retain what I would tell her, it just didn't matter. Her body was against her.
"Alice, I understand. Really, I do, but I don't get how me being there with you and Mike is going to help things. Why can't you get Jasper to do it?" I had to be honest. I really didn't see any correlation between me and Mike and I really didn't know why she wouldn't go to her own husband.
"I did go to Jaz first, but he's dealing with Jessica. Apparently she isn't all sunshine and roses so he can't help me. Listen, I think Mike just needs to see how you move. It's one thing for me to tell him, but I think he's more of a visual learner. Maybe he'll be able to mimic you? Hell, I don't know! I'm desperate!"
Ugh. I knew where this was going.
"Please, Edward. I'm begging you. Say you'll come home and help me! Please!"
I knew I was going to cave. I could just picture that pout that she had perfected over the years. Her eyes would become big. Her dark black lashes allowed her silvery eyes to pop. Her bottom lip protruded ever so slightly more than her top lip, creating that signature pout. As if she really needed that when the pout didn't work, she would just wear you down with the never-ending amount of energy she always seemed to have. I decided to just end it now and save myself the headache I could feel coming on if I denied her.
"Alright, Alice. I'll come home this weekend and I'll see what I can do to help you with Mike. But you owe me BIG." I could hear the start of Alice's high-pitch squealing. Lord.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you Edward! You really are the best brother I have!"
"Ha! I'm the only brother you have…of course I'm the best." I could hear the eyes rolling through the phone. Only Alice.
"Yeah, yeah. So…" Great. Now where was she going? "How are things going with Bella?" I could hear the smile in her voice now. How are things going? Depends on what she means by things. I sighed audibly and dove right in.
"Slow. But I have to give her credit. She really is trying. I feel bad though. I've been really short with her most days when she doesn't pick up a step quick enough." I grimaced as I remembered all the times I lost my temper with her.
"It's just that I want her to do well, but it doesn't seem to matter what I do. She just isn't getting it." I sighed again. This was going to be a difficult season. I was pretty prepared to kiss that trophy goodbye. It wasn't going to happen with Bella. I just needed to fully accept that…I just didn't want to.
"Well, that doesn't sound like you." Leave it to Alice to state something that is apparently obvious to her and yet confuses me all at the same time.
"What doesn't sound like me?"
"Well, you feel bad. You feel guilty because you've been rude to Bella. AND, you want her to succeed. Not you. Her! This is fantastic Edward, better than I had hoped!"
"Better than you'd hoped? Hoped for what, Alice?!" What the hell was she not telling me? I could just picture that far-off look she would get in her eyes as the wheels would turn in her head. You had no hope once she set her mind to something. That's what worried me.
"It doesn't matter right now. I'm just glad that you are being more cognizant of how your attitude affects other people. Now, get back to your apartment, pack a bag and we're off!"
"Let me guess: you've already got the tickets, even though you didn't know if I would say yes." I wasn't surprised. What Alice wants, Alice usually gets.
All I got for a response was a dial tone. My own sister hung up on me!
I took a quick look around the studio to double check that I wasn't forgetting anything and that everything was turned off. I stuffed my phone into my pocket and crouched down to sift through my bag trying to find my keys. I looked away while my fingers continued to search and my eyes came to rest on the corner where Bella usually keeps her things.
There in the corner was a small bundle of fabric. I left my bag on the floor, keys forgotten, and headed over to the unidentified object. Bending down, I picked up Bella's navy cardigan. I recalled her coming into the studio wearing it this morning.
I knew she had been uncomfortable when I brought up the need for her to wear tighter clothing. Over the last few days she seemed to have loosened up a bit and became more at ease. This morning she had shed her cardigan like a second skin and was fine.
I smiled at the memory. Once the sweater was gone, she was in a tank top and Capri cut yoga pants. She looked great. She has a great body. True, she's no Rosalie, but honestly, who is? There are days when I don't think she's human anyways. But Bella, she's perfect just the way she is. I wish I could make her believe that; to show or to tell her that I believe that, but it would probably be a little creepy for her.
I pulled the blue fabric up to my nose without thinking and inhaled. There was a faint hint of what I had come to call the 'essence of Bella.' Subtle fragrances of freesia and strawberries would fill my nose and lungs when I'd walk past her, hold her, catch her. It didn't matter. Those smells were always around her, and apparently remained in her clothing.
I stood up and walked back to my bag, sweater in hand, and looked again for my keys. Once I had them in my palm, I looked at the clock. Shit! How much time had I spent smelling Bella's sweater?! Grabbing my bag, I hauled ass out of the studio, quickly locking it, and ran to my Volvo parked out back. I'd have to race home, shower, pack whatever the hell I thought I would need for the weekend at home and meet Alice at the airport. I'm sure I'd be getting a phone call any minute asking where the hell I was and when our flight would be leaving.
I placed Bella's cardigan over my shoulder, so I could continue to breathe her in, and stepped on the gas. I knew I was taking this piece of clothing with me. I knew it was stalkerish but I couldn't help it. I would be away from her this weekend, even though we would practically be down the street from each other, but I wanted a part of her with me.
Who knows, I could always figure out where she lived and stopped by, just to drop it off.
Right, 'cause that's not weird.
Jasper was right. I do have it bad. Now what was I going to do?!
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