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WOW! The response to the first chapter has been amazing. I'm still working on responding to your reviews and look forward to hearing your thoughts as the story progresses. I promise you won't have to wait long for answers about what happened between Edward and Bella or why the farm is in foreclosure, but we have to go a little farther back first ...
As always, huge thanks to my prereaders, Pamela Lorraine (aka DrivingEdward) and Gabby1017. SunflowerFran is my fantastic beta and always cleans up my messes. And finally, Cheryl (Sunshine1220) graciously agreed to help me out with this one too. I have a PHENOMENAL team!
Okay, let's find out where that dollar is ...
Alice quirked a brow in question as I dropped into the seat beside her. "Will he do it?"
"Yeah," I grinned at her, giddy and more than a little nervous. "He's giving our graded exams back today, so he's gonna paperclip it to the back of Edward's. I'm so glad I don't have Biology with him; I'm puke-level nervous as it is."
Reaching for the water bottle I was squeezing, Alice pried it from my fingers while giving me an exasperated huff. "Girl, please. He's the one that laid it all out there first. You're just putting him out of his misery – finally."
She was right, of course. Three days earlier, Edward had taped 'our' dollar to a package of Sour Patch Kids and left it on the seat of my car.
That dollar had seen some serious circulation in the nearly three years since that eighth-grade trip. We'd passed it back and forth between us in some pretty creative ways. After finding it in my backpack the night of the trip, I had written my name on the bottom right corner and his on the left below his initial message. I added a mark next to my name and then mailed it to him. I didn't see it again for four months, and then it was in my locker early in our freshman year – with a mark next to his name.
We kept up the transfer of the dollar, sometimes passing it between us several times within a single month, and then forgetting about it completely as one of us would hold it for longer periods, just waiting for the opportune moment. I'd folded it into a gum wrapper and then offered him the piece, grinning as he unwrapped it and then handing him an actual strip of gum. He'd wrapped it around my pencil and taped it in place. We'd found it in cookie jars, phone cases, and even inside a fast-food wrapper – I still don't know how he managed that one. In the middle of our sophomore year, I had convinced the school principal to have him summoned to the office where he was given an envelope that, of course, contained our dollar. It wasn't seen again until the beginning of this, our junior year, when I was changing the sheets on my bed and found it in my pillowcase.
I had returned it to him the next day when I took a container of homemade peanut butter cookies – Edward's favorite – to his house. The dollar was in a plastic bag on top of the cookies.
He'd had possession of our dollar since that day, even after returning the container. After almost seven months, I was beginning to think he'd lost it or maybe just lost interest in our little game since this was the longest stretch since that day back in middle school.
Until three days ago.
Our dollar had accumulated several marks next to each of our names, with one added every time the dollar changed hands. The only actual words were our names and Edward's original message. But three days ago, the dollar had a new phrase across the top on the left side …
Will you go out with me?
I'd been late to school and panicked for my first few classes, desperate to talk to Alice. When I found her in the lunchroom and pulled her into the girl's bathroom to show her, she'd been shocked and then squealed at a pitch that was usually reserved for dog whistles.
"I can't believe he finally worked up the nerve!"
Wait. What?
"What do you mean, Alice? Did he say something to you?"
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. I briefly thought that if I had done that, I'd be dizzy. "He never said anything, but the way he is with you is different than it used to be. He looks at you like … I don't know … like you're the most important thing in the world."
I frowned, looking down at the currency in my hand trying to recall our last few interactions to see if I noticed anything unusual. Edward and I had always been close. We were a year older than Alice, so we had classes and extra-curriculars in common. We'd learned to drive together, but for the last several months, we shared a ride to and from school on most days.
"Bella?"
"Hmm?" Alice's hand grasping mine drew my attention from the dollar now crumpled in our hands.
"You look at Edward the same way. Like he's precious to you."
"Oh." I wasn't sure what else to say. My thoughts were racing through memories and exchanged words, and recalling a general sense of comfort I've always felt with him …
And the newer, confusing feelings that were growing as well.
"I think you should give him a chance."
"Really?" Her support didn't really surprise me. Either of us would support anything that gave us even the smallest chance to be real sisters, and since I didn't have a brother, Edward was really our only shot. "Are you saying that because he's your brother, or because you think we'd be good together?"
"Well, of course, you would be great together. You're perfect for each other, Bella." She hesitated for a minute and then grinned. "And I'm in support of anything that keeps Edward from being a sullen jackass!"
We'd laughed at the ridiculousness of her words – Edward was the happiest, most easy-going person either of us knew … but I understood her real meaning. She didn't want her brother to have his heart broken.
"Just think about it and be sure before you give him an answer, okay? I'm good with whatever you decide."
And just like that, Edward and I were dating. Mr. Harris, our biology teacher, had paperclipped the dollar to Edward's test, and he'd found me in the hall by my locker right after class. My face burned crimson, while the tips of Edward's ears tinged pink and his smile was so wide, I wondered if his cheeks hurt.
It was the beginning of our great love story.
Christmas was just over a week away, and I had three days left before the movers arrived. I'd finished all my holiday shopping with Alice and Rose a couple of days ago and stopped by the post office to ship Charlie's gift to Florida. All in all, I felt like the immediate issues were under control.
I'd even managed to keep my emotions under control despite the knowledge that Edward was only half a mile away.
The first night was the worst. I'd lain awake for hours, imagining his reunion with the Cullens, wondering if Emmett and Rose had been invited over …
… how he looked …
… if he ever thought about me …
I finally gave up sometime around three a.m. and curled up on the couch with a book.
The next few days passed quietly, and for that, I was grateful. Jasper and Alice were spending most of their time with family, but she did call to check on me at least once a day, and repeated the invitation to spend Christmas with them at every opportunity – just so I "knew the offer stood, but no pressure."
I stayed busy sorting and packing. It seemed the more I packed, the more was left, and I couldn't help but imagine that my household items were multiplying. I giggled at the thought of my can opener and cheese grater procreating … which inevitably led to wondering if my spoons and knives were … forking.
It was that last thought and the ensuing hysterical laughter that made me realize I was in desperate need of human interaction. I decided to have a quick shower and then load up a few more boxes to take to storage before grabbing some dinner at Jessie's. An hour later, I stepped through the door onto the porch with the last of the afternoon's boxes and turned toward the truck …
And froze.
The truth was that I had been using the excuse of packing to hide from the possibility of seeing Edward. It was inevitable that I would run into him at some point, especially if he really was moving back. I just couldn't help but hope that I'd have luck on my side, and I could avoid him until the holidays had passed.
Luck was apparently a fickle bitch.
Edward Cullen was standing on the flagstone with one foot on my bottom step, staring up at me with wide eyes.
"Bella?" His voice was just above a whisper, but he might as well have shouted my name. The effect would have been the same as my breath was stolen, and my heart began to race. My eyes focused on his face, seeking any change that might have occurred in the last three years. His hair was still the same, striking, dark auburn, but was now a bit shorter and styled in a way that could be both 'jeans on the weekend' or 'suit in a boardroom' appropriate. His jawline was well-defined as ever but had that faint growth of stubble that indicated he probably hadn't shaved today. Same full, soft, pink lips that suddenly pursed, causing my gaze to lift to meet his eyes.
Those verdant, expressive eyes that were a window to his soul were watching me with wariness, confusion, and sadness.
Honestly, I may have been projecting the sadness, but there was something there I couldn't define or label, and since I knew he had to see the same emotions in my eyes looking back at him, the sorrow seemed likely.
Neither of us spoke, just stood locked in an odd standoff while I held that box, relieved it wasn't heavy as I watched him glance at the upstairs window where my bedroom used to be before looking out over the side yard toward the apple orchards. I turned my attention that way as well, wondering if he was remembering …
"I didn't know you were here. I wouldn't have come …" His words trailed off as I turned my attention back to him. He cleared his throat and lowered his foot from the step back to the flagstone. "I heard you were selling the place and wanted to come see it before … um …"
Oh. He was trying to help me keep my dignity intact. I knew he didn't think I was selling the farm. Anyone who heard anything about it knew it was in foreclosure.
Edward cleared his throat, his words spoken with more confidence this time. "I wouldn't have come if I'd known you were still here. I thought you had already moved out."
Well, that did nothing for my self-esteem. He wouldn't have come. Of course, he wouldn't want to see me. Hadn't I spent the last few days doing everything I could to ensure he wouldn't have to? But if I were honest, I'd also spent the last few days harboring the secret hope that he would show up on my doorstep. Now that he had, I understood how painful hope could be … and had a small inkling of just how badly I had hurt him.
No, he wouldn't have come if he'd known.
I cleared my throat and shook my head, "No, I'm still here until the middle of January. The, uh, new owners were kind enough to delay possession so I wouldn't have to move out before the holidays." I lifted the box in my arms and nodded toward the truck, "I've been packing and moving things to storage, though. That's where I'm headed now."
I had just reached the top step when Edward closed the space between us and reached for the box. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking. Let me help you with that."
It was Edward's nature to be kind and supportive, and while I was sure that was his intention, at that moment, it felt like pity. It was childish, I knew, but I didn't want it. I angled the box away from his outstretched hands, tossing the words over my shoulder as I passed him.
"I've got it, thanks. The house is a mess because of the packing, but you're welcome to go in and spend whatever time you need. I'll just grab my keys and purse and get out of your way."
I didn't look at him as I lifted the box over the side and set it none too gently in the bed of the truck. When I turned around, Edward had one hand on his hip, and the other fisted in his hair, staring at the ground in front of him.
"It's all coming out wrong," he huffed, scrubbing his hands over his face. "I didn't mean … I mean, I did …"
"Did what?"
Edward's head snapped up, and I watched his jaw set as his eyes met mine. "I did want to see you. You look good." His eyes widened and he shook his head. "I meant to say that it's really good to see you, Bella."
I studied him for a moment, wondering exactly how I should respond. Aloof and uninterested? Warm and friendly? It was an entirely gray area … and entirely my fault. In the end, the sincerity and tenderness in his eyes demanded the same from me. I offered him a soft smile.
"It's good to see you too, Edward. I'm glad you came by."
Once the ridiculously long greeting was out of the way, we both stood uncomfortably, trying to look at anything and everything but each other. It took a full minute before Edward sighed and broke the silence.
"Why is this so awkward?"
"Probably because the last time we were together, I broke your heart."
And my own.
"You did," he nodded. "But I understand now why you made the choices you did. I'd like to think enough time has passed that we can get through this awkward, clumsy reacquaintance and be friends again."
"Friends." The word was a whispered repeat, but I knew he heard me as I tested its weight and sound. Could I be friends with Edward? It seemed that's what he was hoping for, but I wasn't sure it was possible. I loved him. I'd loved him for years and couldn't imagine a time in the future when I wouldn't. I didn't think it would be possible to rein in my feelings for him and be content with something less.
It was clear Edward saw my struggle as he reached out, curling his hand around my arm just above my elbow and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Can I drive you to wherever you're storing your things? We could talk and maybe clear the air. There are things to say, Bella."
"I was planning to stop at Jessie's for dinner."
His smile was wide. "Even better. We'll have dinner to focus on if the conversation lulls. What do you say?"
The look of hope and possibility was too much for me. If there was any piece of my shattered heart left, Edward took possession in that moment. Against my better judgement, I had no choice.
"Okay."