Hello my lovelies. Hope you're all doing well?
For those of you that are wondering about Into the Shadows, don't fret, I am working on the next chapter as you read this. I should hopefully have it posted by next weekend.
Normal disclaimers apply.
BPOV
I had to wait for a month before Jasper and his team could start work on my garden. In that time Edward managed to clear away the entire tree that had fallen and had cut down the branches to make some decent firewood for the pit Jasper was planning on installing. School had let out for the summer and I had several weeks of nothing but free time on my hands. I was planning on using the time productively and had come up with multiple ways of upping my footing in the niceness scale. I refused to be outdone by a couple of kings. I couldn't call them queens because they didn't appear to have a single feminine bone about them. Both of them are very masculine and if I didn't know any better I would say they're both straight, but apart from Alice and myself, I haven't seen a single woman step foot in that house.
I had just finished preparing breakfast burritos for the guys working on my garden when I hear their trucks pull up outside. I poured them all a travel mug full of coffee and met them in the garden, handing them each a coffee and burrito as they greeted me. Alec even went as far as giving me a kiss on the cheek in thanks after pulling his long hair up into a top knot.
Jasper was the last to come in. "Mornin' Miss Bella. Thank you kindly for the breakfast. I very much appreciate it. My darlin' Alice can't cook for the life of her." He greeted in his southern twang. "Speakin' of Alice, she has a full day planned for you and her. I believe the word spa was thrown aroun' several times. She's waitin' for you outside." He chuckled as I groaned loudly at the thought of spending an entire day with Alice. Don't get me wrong, I like her, but her idea of 'fun' is vastly different than my own. The last time she treated to me a day at the spa I had to visit a chiropractor as the masseuse pummelled my back too hard.
I gave Jasper the key to my backdoor so he could make sure Jake was in and lock up once they had finished for the day, because I could guarantee Alice wouldn't let me come home until the sun had set. I kissed Jake on the head and bid the four guys goodbye for the day.
"Hey chicka!" She called from her ostentatiously bright yellow Porsche, leaning out of her window and waving madly despite only being parked at the end of my driveway.
"Hello Alice." I timidly raised my hand back in greeting and began the short walk to her car.
"Good morning ladies. Going somewhere nice?" Edward appeared in my line of sight with Ness on her leash.
"Hi Edward. We're having a girls day. Getting the works done. Massages. Skin treatments. Waxes. You name it we'll be getting it done." Alice chirped before I could open my mouth to speak.
I flushed several shades of red and scurried around to the passenger side door. I'm pretty sure Edward wanted to know that about as much as I wanted him to know, which was not at all. Before I climbed in her car I let him know he had a burrito and mug of coffee waiting for him in my kitchen. He thanked me and waved us off as Alice peeled off down the street. For such a petite woman she had a lead foot when it came to driving.
"Alice what did you have to go and tell Edward all of that for?" I hissed. "I'm sure he didn't want to know."
"Oh please Bells. Edward is a great guy and very down to earth. He's not at all phased by cramps, mood swings and the like. He's always been a great friend to talk to. He even went as far as buying me a box of tampons and the biggest box of chocolates he could afford when I had my very first period during a sleepover at his house when we were younger. He's really considerate. Honestly Bella, he is the best."
"Keep talking like that Alice and Jasper and Emmett will start getting jealous."
"Oh please. Those guys know I love them and Jasper won't leave me. He addicted to this thing I do with my tongue when I go down on him."
"ALICE!" I screeched, blocking my ears and humming to myself while she cackled in the drivers seat.
"Don't be such a prude Bella."
"I'm no prude Alice. I just think eight in the morning is a little early for talk of blow jobs."
"Pshh. It's never too early for sex talk. Now tell me, are you hitting up your neighbour for some hot and wild monkey sex?"
"Who? Mr Bolton? He's like seventy five years old Alice." I frowned.
She gave me a disgusted look. "Eww, no Bella. I'm talking about Edward."
"Wait, why would I be hitting on Edward? He's already with someone, and besides, I'm totally not his 'type'." I said, using air quotes.
"What do you mean you're not his type? You're gorgeous!"
"I don't have the right appendages to please him, if you get my drift."
Alice gave me the most quizzical look I've ever seen. "What are you talking about Bella?"
"Edward. He's gay Alice. I thought you of all people would have known this, seeing as you've known him the longest."
"Bells, Edward isn't-"
"WATCH OUT!" I screamed, cutting off what she was about to say as a logging truck came charging towards us after it ran a red light.
Alice quickly put her foot on the brakes and we skid out of our lane, narrowly missing a blue Sedan, before coming to a stop. "Oh my god!" She cried. "Are you okay? I didn't hit anything but my heart is beating a mile a minute." She said, holding her chest and breathing heavily.
"I'm alright. That guy came out of nowhere."
"Yeah." Alice unclipped her seatbelt and climbed out of her car while some police officers stopped traffic around us. I followed suit as two officers jogged over to us.
"Miss, are you alright?" One of them asked, checking me over while the other questioned Alice.
"Yes Officer Hillman." I smiled, reading his ID tag. "Just a little shaken. The logging truck ran the red light. We didn't hit anything." "
Good to know Miss..." He trailed off, not knowing my name.
"Swan. Isabella Swan."
"Well Miss Swan, you and your friend are free to go. Miss Brandon has given us her number if we need to contact either of you about todays events." The other officer spoke up.
Alice and I climbed back into her car and we slowly drove off.
"I don't know about you Bella, but I don't quite feel up to having a spa day any longer." Alice spoke in a quiet voice. "Getting almost flattened by a massive truck full of trees kind of puts a dampener on things."
"Yeah. I know what you mean."
"Let's head back to mine. I don't care what time it is, there's a margarita calling my name." Alice turned off at the next junction and we were soon on our way back home.
000
I stumbled home later that night. Tequila sloshing heavily in my stomach. The gardening team had left for the day and I really needed a lie down to process the days events. If Alice hadn't have acted as quickly as she did this morning I could be dead right now with nothing to show for my time on the planet. No husband. No kids. No knowing what the fuck-hot neighbour next door would be like in bed. The thought had a giggle erupting from me. I always found it strange how a near death experience makes you really think about life, but now I get it.
I tilted my head back to look at the stars that were starting to show in the darkening sky and suddenly found myself laying on my front lawn while the world spun around me. The swirling lights made me think of the spinning teacups I used to like riding at the carnivals when I was younger. You'd twirl around and around, getting increasingly more dizzy as the coloured lights blurred your vision.
I remember one time James threw up everywhere while riding on them after eating one too many funnel cakes. It was hilarious because he used to be the school bully, but after that no one let him live it down and he soon changed his ways. He now works as a child therapist. Funny how life turns out that way.
"Bella? What are you doing laying in the grass?" Edward's dancing form appeared in my vision, blocking out the stars.
"Edwarrrrd. Heeeey. Come and join meee. I was just thinking how the swirling stars reminded me of the spinning tea cups. You remember those right? Did you ever ride on them in Chicago?" I babbled, as he lowered himself to the grass next to me.
"I did." He smiled, eyes creasing at the corners as he thought about it.
"What are you doing out here? Why aren't you snuggled up inside with Emmett?"
"I heard talking. Bella have you been drinking?" He said, making me realise I had been talking about the spinning cups out loud.
"Yessss. Alice almost killed us so we came home and had margaritas instead. No waxed pussy for me! HA! TAKE THAT ALICE! I'M NOT WAXING MY PUSSY FOR ANYONE!" I yelled, making a few of the neighbourhood dogs bark. "I have no one to wax it for." I mumbled before bursting into tears.
"Bella?" Edward became alarmed at my sudden change in emotions. "Why are you crying? Are you hurt? And what do you mean Alice almost killed you?"
"I-I-I'm crying because n-n-no one would mi-i-iss me if I diiiiieeeed." I wailed. "And we alm-m-most got hit by a logging truck."
"Bella, love, there are lots of people who would miss you. Your family. Jake. Me. You're liked by so many people. There would be a big hole in the lives of everyone who knows you if you were to suddenly not be here any more. Come on. Let's get you inside." He helped me to my feet, or rather he tried to but my legs wouldn't cooperate. Instead he hauled me into his arms, took my keys and carried me into my home and straight up to my bedroom. He sat me down on the bed and told me not to move while he got me some water and Tylenol for the headache I was bound to have in the morning.
"Stay with me. Please." I asked when he was about to leave. "I don't like being alone all the time." I admitted in a small voice.
"I'll stay, but promise me something." He said with a sad look in his eyes.
"Anything." I replied, willing to promise this guy anything he asked of me if it took away the sadness from his beautiful face.
"Please don't drink so much. I've already lost one person I love to the effects of alcohol and I don't want to lose another."
"I promise." I laid down on the bed and patted the comforter next to me. "Let's get some sleep Edward."
Edward removed his boots and laid down gingerly on the bed next to me. I rolled towards him and rest my head on his chest. It was firm and warm and his deep breathing soon lulled me into a restful slumber.
Oop. There we go. Edward admitted some feelings, Alice was about to tell Bella the truth before they almost got killed and poor Bella is still none the wiser about her 'gay' neighbour. Honestly the woman is a little obtuse at times.
Until next time.
Much love x
