NEW CHAPTER! Finally! Thanks for following along. We've got a long way to go! Enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own TWILIGHT or DWTS.
BPOV
"Damn, woman, where did you learn to cook like that?!" Emmett exclaimed, his mouth still full with his final bite.
"Don't talk with your mouth full!" Rose smirked while smacking her partner on the shoulder. She continued. "What this oaf here means to say is, Bella, that was delicious." When Emmett looked at her as if to ask 'what?' she just grinned and rubbed his shoulder in return to console him.
I couldn't help smiling at them both as Emmett practically licked the plate clean, his third plate in fact. Glancing around the table, between the food and the wine, everyone looked very satiated and content.
"Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it," I said bashfully, rising to start gathering the plates.
"Bella, you sit." Edward stood to stop me. "You cooked, we can clean. Gentlemen, if you'd follow me," he said, looking meaningfully at the men around the table.
Without another word, Jasper, Emmett, and Ben all stood and reached for every plate on the table, and quietly followed Edward back into the kitchen. All of the women starred after them and it was Alice who broke the silence first.
"Well, if I knew how to cook, I'd do it just to see Jasper do the dishes!" She raised her empty wine glass to the door frame that the guys had walked through just moments before. She took notice of her glass and picked up the wine bottle for a refill.
I'd never had anyone to clean up after me. Even when I lived with Charlie, I always cooked and cleaned. I certainly wasn't forced into it, but I never minded. It was just something that I did and really never gave it a second thought. However, I certainly didn't mind sitting back and relaxing more while someone else cleaned up.
"It's certainly new to me, not that I'm complaining," I said, giggling into my wine glass.
"It really was great, Bella. Thanks for cooking tonight," a rosy-cheeked Angela smiled in my direction. She typically didn't drink a lot on a regular basis, but I knew she had enjoyed a couple glasses of wine herself, hence the rosy hue on her face. I had noticed how freely she enjoyed the wine while she had been conversing with Ben throughout the evening, relaxed and carefree. I smiled at her in return.
"Of course, Angela." I hadn't been cooking much since we got down to California because usually I'm too exhausted after rehearsals. I was hoping I could get back into the groove now that I had the new routine under my belt here. "And Alice and Rose, thank you both for coming. I'm so glad we could have you over."
"Anytime, Bella! Like I said, because of my lack of cooking skills, I'm not one to contribute to the food, but we can always bring the wine!
"Cheers to that!" Rose agreed, lifting her glass in the brunette's direction.
Angela and I joined in, raising our glasses to meet theirs. As the glasses clinked together, the guys could be heard laughing in the kitchen, which only made us laugh in response. They may be cleaning, but at least they seemed to be enjoying themselves.
I could easily pick out Edward's laugh out of the group. Hearing him made me smile more.
"So," Angela interjected, "how has it been for everyone this past week? Bella's been pretty tightlipped about the dancing, but I'm super interested! Any fun stories from any of your sessions?"
"Well, it's early, so there's not much to share," Alice seemed to be leaving it at that, but a quick look on Angela's pouting face made Alice smile and continue. "Oh ok. I know Mike is trying, and he did improve after we worked this weekend, thank goodness, but we'll see. He's kind of like a lost puppy. Cute, like a little kid, but he doesn't really know where to go or what to do."
I nodded in agreement, having seen him this weekend as well. But I was lumping myself in with Mike regarding that description. It seemed like he and I both had a long way to go if we wanted to look even comparable to the rest of the competition.
"What about Emmett, Rose?" Angela inquired, switching to the next pairing.
"Emmett has been...interesting," Rose smirked. "When I met him at the introductory meeting, I was a bit skeptical. Don't get me wrong, he's a fine looking specimen and I know that will increase ratings, but I didn't think he'd take it seriously. He's a giant goofball."
I could absolutely see that as Rosalie described him. He always seemed to me like a kid, even though he looked far from it. It was his demeanor. Always joking. He had the energy of a five-year-old and the immaturity of a teenager, but even with all of that, I never once doubted that he was a great guy.
"Why do I feel like there is a 'but' in there?" I asked. Rose smiled back at me.
"Probably because there is. He's a joker outside of rehearsals or on breaks, but he really can focus. I'm actually really proud of the progress he's made this week. I hope he can keep this trajectory up because I think he may have what it takes." Rosalie was beaming about her partner.
Alice was staring at her wide-eyed.
"Rosalie Hale! You like him, don't you?!" Alice half-whispered, which was good considering the guys were still on the other side of the door. I could hear the water running in the sink and the occasional dish on dish sound so Alice must figure that she couldn't be heard in the kitchen.
"What?! No!" she quickly retorted, but her eyes shifted to sly as she continued. "But...I certainly don't mind being in his arms, if I'm perfectly honest." Her crisp, white smile gleamed as she brought her wine glass up to her mouth, looking back at us.
Alice tossed her napkin at Rose's face while we all laughed. We all came down slowly from our laugh fest and Rose sat up a little taller in her chair, her eyes on me.
"Anyway, enough about me and Emmett. Bella...what do you have to share with the class?" Rose smoothly transitioned the attention back to me, which quickly sobered me up.
"Um. It's been different, that's for sure. I made it through today's rehearsal without falling over or stepping on Edward's feet, so maybe there's hope for me yet."
"And…" she prodded.
"And, what?"
"And...you aren't going to mention the palpable chemistry that you and Edward appear to have?"
"Oh, yay! You can see it too!" Alice was bouncing in her seat.
"Of course I can see it. You'd have to be blind to see the goo-goo eyes those two are throwing at each other." Rosalie gestured between me and the kitchen door.
"Uh…." I didn't know what to say. It was all so new and I hadn't wanted to be so obvious that everyone could see.
"Bella, it's not a bad thing," Angela said, trying to soften the embarrassment she knew I was feeling.
"Absolutely not!" Alice agreed, and I could tell she believed that.
"Hey," Rose quietly called out to me and I turned to face her, with my eyes not fully reaching hers. "I think that it's great, Bella. I obviously don't know you well, but I do know Edward. He's like a brother to me, just as Alice is like a sister. I care about him. And what I can see is that he's happy." I met her eyes as she continued. "Yes, he's fully capable of putting on a smile for the audience and all that, but it never reaches his eyes. He's a performer. It's just for show."
After learning about Edward's past this weekend, this made complete sense to me. He always had a shield up. But it didn't seem to be that way with me. I had really started to get to know this amazing guy and everything had felt genuine with him.
"But since being partnered with you, I've seen real smiles. He's actually happy, like truly happy. And it seems that you are the reason."
"He makes me happy, too," I responded quietly, not trusting my voice.
"Good. He should." Rose said, giving me a sincere smile. "And if he doesn't, you let me know and I'll kick his ass for you." She gave me a wink, but deep down I actually thought she might follow through on that threat if there was ever a need.
"Well," Angela said, looking back at me and then to the rest of the table. "What about the rest of the contestants?"
"Oh, Jasper says Jessica is a lost cause," Alice said, smirking a bit. "He told me one instance where he was trying to get her to move her hips sensually and he said he had to hold in his laughter because it was anything but. He said he felt bad for her other…partners, if you know what I mean." She cackled out loud and continued. "He said it was anything but attractive. If anything, it should be fun, or at least funny, to watch."
We all broke down into another giggling fit after Alice finished her story.
"And who knows about that Jake guy," Rose continued to laugh a little. "Looks wise, he'll be great for ratings and I bet we could be surprised. But I don't see myself asking Tanya how it's going anytime soon so we'll just have to wait for the first show." She shrugged as if it didn't matter to her.
Clearly no one seemed to like Tanya.
"Agreed," Alice continued. "However, I'd put money on Bella or Emmett to win this season."
I choked on my wine and went into a coughing fit.
EPOV
I walked into the kitchen, placing my and Bella's plates on the counter. Jasper places his and my sister's plates on the counter as well before turning to me.
"So, Edward, when did you become so domesticated?" Jasper teased as he dropped his hand on my shoulder. I laughed and shrugged him off.
"Shut up."
He laughed with me as Ben and Emmett joined us in the kitchen with the rest of the plates.
"Man, that really was some good food, right?" Emmett apparently still hadn't finished talking about the food. I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, Bella's quite the cook," Ben agreed, leaning up against the counter across from us.
I beamed at the praises for Bella. I had only experienced her grilled cheese prior to this meal, but she really did have a knack in the kitchen. Everything had been very good. I was pleased to hear these compliments for her without her listening, meaning I knew they were all telling the truth.
I looked around at the kitchen, seeing that there wasn't much to clean up. Bella appeared to be the type to try to clean as she cooked, though I don't remember much of that since I was preoccupied with touching her when I could or kissing her neck while we prepared everything. She apparently was a better multi-tasker than me.
"So, Emmett, if you could grab the roasting pan that's sitting on the stove and Ben, you grab the empty salad bowl on the counter behind you, and bring them both to the sink, we can get those soaking." I started to dole out assignments, knowing I would start on the dishes themselves in the second sink. "Jasper, start wiping down the counters and stove top."
"Yup...domesticated. Dude, you aren't even married? Where did this come from?" Jasper stared at me with a look on his face, a cross between a smirk and something of astonishment. I shrugged.
"I'm just trying to be nice," I said, knowing full well that it was more than just being nice. I wanted to do anything for Bella, so this seemed like an easy place to start. I just didn't need them knowing that. "Bella cooked a nice dinner for everyone. We can at least clean up for her."
"Uh huh." I barely heard Jasper's response that he was purposefully keeping under his breath.
"So Ben," Emmett chattered. "Rose tells me that you had a knee injury. How's it healing?"
"Oh, um, yeah," Ben was seemingly caught off guard considering Emmett was one of the contestants and wouldn't know the history of his injury. He turned on the faucet to start filling the sink and continued. "So I tore both my ACL and meniscus so I needed to have surgery. Recovery is going well and I'm finished with my physical therapy. Now it's just a matter of continuing to build strength again and get back out on the dance floor."
I envied Ben. He's taken his injury in stride. Granted, I know he's been anxious to get back because he's been a bit bored, but he hasn't let the physical setback take too much of a mental toll on him. I know I'd be far moodier and it wouldn't be an easy transition for me.
"Dude! Been there, don't that," Emmett said. "It was the worst, and I'll admit, I was a big baby most of the time. But I have to say I've definitely taken better care of myself because of it. I wasn't that big into warm ups and cool downs and now I live by them. I stretch. I do all of my weight exercises in the gym even if I don't feel like it some days. I know it's going to keep me healthier." He began to pound on his chest like King Kong. "Gotta keep this machine running smooth."
We all busted out laughing with him. It took us a solid minute to calm down and when we did, he put his hand on Ben's shoulder, towering above him.
"You'll be fine. Just keep working to get stronger and you'll be back in no time."
"Thanks, Emmett." Ben nodded, a little glumly, but
"And if you ever need any tips or exercises or even just some manly motivation, just let me know! I'm happy to help."
"I appreciate that. I may take you up on that."
Emmett just shrugged and we went back to our cleaning duty. We split up everything. Emmett pulled over the trash can for us so he and Ben could scrape the plates of any scraps before handing them to me. I then rinsed the plates off and handed them back to Ben to put in the dishwasher. Jasper got to work wiping down the counter and stovetops.
Once we got into a bit of a rhythm, Jasper spoke up.
"Emmett, how has this week of rehearsal been for you?"
Emmett got to a good place with the trash, having pulled it out of the can and tied it off.
"You know, pretty good. I thought I'd be out of my element, but I tell you, those ballet classes my high school coach made us take are paying off!"
We all just stared at him, mouths open.
"Are you serious?" Ben asked.
"Dead serious, man. Coach was whole-hog into that training method. We'd lift heavy in the gym, play hard on the field, but he was always emphasizing our footwork and how important it was." He gazed beyond us, like he was remembering that time. "I definitely thought it was stupid back them, but he would have benched us if we didn't go, so I went. This ballroom dancing thing is no joke, but I'm honestly thinking I should pick the classes back up. I'm having the time of my life with Rosie."
I just shook my head chuckling, imagining this beast of a man in ballet. Don't get me wrong, I knew there was actually some truth to what he was talking about, the gracefulness of ballet with the athleticism of football, but for some reason I kept thinking of him in a tutu and I couldn't shake the image.
Jasper laughed along with me, gathering his composure again to continue his questioning.
"And what do you think of our Rosie?" Jasper asked, using Emmett's nickname for Rosalie.
"Tough as nails. No nonsense. Hotter than hell. I'm going to marry that woman," Emmett finished with a zinger.
"Dude! You just met her!" Ben exclaimed.
"I'm not talking right now. I mean, that would be just weird right, marrying someone you just met? But hey, when you know, you know…you know?" he said with this goofy smile plastered on his face.
Again, we were stunned into silence. I knew the feeling he was talking about though. I think I knew the moment I saw Bella, but didn't acknowledge it until this weekend. I finally spoke up, curious about my next question.
"And what does Rose think about this future development?"
"Well…I haven't exactly told her." Emmett looked around the room and probably saw looks of awe on all of our faces. "Look, we flirt. I mean, I know I'm a flirt. It's in my nature and I've been that way my whole life. But there's just something about Rosie that makes me want to settle down. She's not a 'hit it and quit it' kind of girl and I would never be so callous with her. So yeah, we flirt but I know she doesn't take me seriously, but she's it for me, whether she knows it yet or not."
Emmett began fiddling with the ties of the garbage bag again, but I could tell he wasn't really paying attention to them. I had to give him a lot of credit. It was ballsy to just express his feelings like that to us, practically a group of strangers, but like he said, when you know, you know.
I shut off the water to the sink, dried my hands with a dish towel Bellas had hanging by the sink and threw it over my shoulder to really look at him dead on.
"Emmett, if anyone can hold onto Rose's attention, I think it would be you." He looked me in the eyes, a bit of skepticism showing through, so I continued. "I'm serious. Rosalie never flirts with anyone, especially her dance partners. She shuts that shit down early, but with you….you openly flirted with her when you found out she was your partner and I'm telling you, based on past experiences, I thought she was going to be so pissed, but man….she blushed."
"Really?"
"Really. Rose doesn't do that, right Jasper?"
"Uh, definitely not," he was stunned by my revelation. Had he not seen it?
"So…Emmett, if you want her, show her, tell her, and just keep being you. I think she already likes that guy." I hope he really heard me. I was just laughing inside because this was the advice I myself needed to continue to take as well.
"Wow. Thanks, Ed." I could see Emmett puffing up his check like a proud peacock. That feeling certainly does change your demeanor.
"No problem." I shrugged my shoulders and double checked the area around the sink.
"Wait…I'm sorry man, and I'm sure it's ancient history, but just in case it isn't, didn't you and Rose have a thing going on at some point? I feel like I read that somewhere…" Emmett rambled on.
"You read gossip magazines? Really? And be honest, would that actually stop you from pursuing Rose?" My eyebrows raised, skeptically, even though there was nothing truthful about that story he was mentioning.
"Hey, I travel alot for games...airports are full of reading material, man. And hell no, it wouldn't. No offense, but I'd take you down for her. I was just…curious."
"No, Emmett. Rose and I have never, ever, had a relationship like that, nor will we. She's like my sister." I cringed a bit remembering when that story did break. Rose and I were so grossed out.
"Oh, cool."
And that was that for Emmett, which threw me for a loop and I was looking aimlessly at Jasper who just smirked at me and put his arm around my shoulder.
"Besides, Emmett, Edward has a thing for brunettes, not blondes, don't you, Ed?" he said, looking slyly at me.
"Shut up, Jasper," I said, not being able to keep the smirk off my face as I pushed past him and caught Emmett's questing look as I headed back into the dining room.
Pushing through the door I caught sight of Bella coughing and choking and immediately rushed to her side, kneeling by her chair.
"Bella! What happened? Are you ok?!"
She nodded and tried to catch her breath as she gripped my left hand that was on the arm of the chair. I raised my right hand to her face to get her to look at me, breathing with her, hoping it would help. There was no one else in the room once I looked into her deep brown eyes.
"See, Emmett?" Jasper's voice floated in the air behind me, but I didn't give it much thought, as I was focused on the woman in front of me.
"Oooooh, I get it now!" Emmett's booming voice rattled the walls as he continued laughing.
Hooray! A new chapter! I enjoy when the guys talk about their feelings too.
