TWENTY-THREE
Tuesday evening
Edward looks down at his garish phone screen. In the darkness, it hurts his eyes. They hurt quite often nowadays. Hours and hours of reading from his laptop had started to take their toll on him. He runs a hand through his hair and looks up at the building's exterior.
He'd never been to the bar that Bella told him to come to. He'd heard of it before – one of the football boys had invited him there a couple of weeks ago – but his heart had started racing just before, so he'd made an excuse not to go. He seemed to do that quite often since arriving at King's.
im not quite sure im at the right place.
hold on! ill come and grab u xx
His heartrate eases and his thoughts jumble slightly when he sees Bella walking towards him. Her legs are encased in a pair of black tights, but anyone with a pair of eyes could tell how graceful they were. A dark denim skirt is wrapped around her waist and secured with a belt. Her top is completely see-through, her boobs jiggling as she walks.
Edward gulps.
"Did you just not wanna walk in by yourself?" She teases loudly, taking his hand again. He can't help but pick up on how flirtatious she has become. His heart pangs when he contemplates why.
"No. I just wanted to walk in with a pretty girl on my arm."
"Behave yourself, Mr Cullen. You're still getting back into my good books, remember? And I promise you, flattery will get you nowhere."
Inside, most of the people that were at Guys before are relaxing, glasses in hand. The bar has a suggestive atmosphere to it. The lighting is dim and mostly comes from lamps dotted around the floor. The chairs are made from velvet, luxurious to touch.
Edward slides into a free chair. Luckily, it is next to Angela and she greets him with a warm smile.
"Glad you could make it tonight, Edward. What are you drinking?"
"Uhh-"
"I'll get it." Bella interrupts. "Same as last time?"
Edward nods.
"Fantastic! Anyone else for another?"
Most of the group begins to shout out their requests at Bella and she walks around, using her phone to make notes. Edward does not stop watching her.
"Not just using our Bella for her money, are you, pretty boy?" The blonde-haired girl that Bella was talking to last time asks. Her large eyes are intimidating and Edward's heart rate spikes.
"Leave off, Jane. Edward knew Bella from back home."
"Fuck off, you went to school with the most badass girl around. Lucky boy. Go on, tell us what she was like."
"What? At school?"
"Of course," Jane reclines in her chair, red wine glass in hand. "Has she always been this cool?"
"Uhh. She was…different."
"Oh, come on, you can't tease us like that. Different, how?"
"I don't quite know how to explain it. She didn't talk as much as she does now, kept herself to herself. Loved English class, hated Biology. Always wore knee-high socks to school."
"Wow, sounds like you knew each other well." Angela says.
Edward locates Bella standing at the bar, rocking back and forth on her heels. A tall man leans down and whispers something in her ear. Her intoxicating laugh echoes around the bar.
He was glad that he came tonight. Esme's words echo around his head – just focus on what makes you happy, what makes you calm.
He knows exactly who she means.
"Yeah, we were pretty close for a while."
Looks like Edward has his eyes on the prize again! Maybe it'll work out better this time?!
Happy reading :D