AN: Oops, I'm sorry I completely forgot to post yesterday - I did everything except click the posy chapter button so my apologies for that

There will be another chapter later today to make up for it

Do we want to see a little more of Edward?

My thanks to MeteroOnAMoonlessNight and Midnight Cougar for their help. I have no idea what I do with both of you

Disclaimer: Edward Cullen isn't mine


Boyfriends of Christmas Past Chapter 4

Summary

A trip back home for the holidays shows Bella everything she didn't know had been missing from her life.


Chapter 4

Edward Cullen, the very person I thought I'd caught a glimpse of yesterday and had been on my mind ever since, pushed his body upright and stalked across the parking lot, stopping in front of me.

"I thought I recognized the truck," he said, "and I wondered if it was you."

"Yes," I breathed my reply, not taking my eyes from his face.

And what a gorgeous face it was, my memory doing him no justice. His hair was longer than it had been at school, but still the same copper, blond, and brown mix I'd named bronze. His eyes were the deepest green, piercing me right through to my soul, and gripped mine with their intensity.

He'd grown into his jaw, sharp and angular, now covered with a reddish-colored stubble. Lips made for kissing parted as he took in a deep breath.

"Edward." It seemed I was reduced to one-word sentences.

Vaguely, I heard Jess snigger and say something about seeing me later, but I couldn't have torn my eyes away from Edward's if my life depended on it. I felt a rush of heat engulf my body, a heady mix of desire and pleasure. I could feel my face color for the second time this morning.

"You're here." I almost rolled my eyes at myself. Come on, Bella. You're better than this, get yourself together and speak to the man.

"Are you back for good?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No, just visiting for Christmas. What about you?"

"I moved back here last summer. Mom and Dad decided they missed small-town life, so when our old house came up for sale, they jumped at the chance to come back." He shrugged. "I had nothing holding me in Chicago, so I followed them."

We were quiet for a moment. There were a hundred questions on my lips, but I found it difficult to articulate them, as I followed my memory back into the past and remembered how much I'd missed him. Carlisle had gotten a job at a major hospital in Chicago and had taken his family back to their home city.

I'd been heartbroken, but Jess, Angela, and Lauren had convinced me no one stayed with their high school boyfriend, even when she considered herself in love with him. Their suggestion was to get out there and meet someone else.

Now faced with the boy I'd been in love with at seventeen, I realized that no matter who I dated, there had never been anyone who made me feel the way Edward Cullen had all those years ago. I knew there was something different about him from the moment we'd become boyfriend and girlfriend.

Old habits never died, I noticed, as his fingers slid through his hair, brushing it back from where it had fallen over his forehead. It was his signature move when he was stressed or nervous, and I wondered which of those he was experiencing at this minute.

"I'd love to catch up if you have time." He gave me a brief smile and looked down.

He's adorable. I wonder if he's single? Had he ever thought of me while he was in Chicago? What had been going on in his life for the last nine years?

I was glad he couldn't hear the word vomit in my head. "I promised Dad I'd hit the supermarket today because, as usual, his cupboards are empty, but after Christmas, we could get a coffee or something, if you like? We're staying until New Year."

What the heck, Bella? You have a boyfriend. What about Alec? Should I be agreeing to this? It was innocent, wasn't it?

"Great, great. Call me when you're free?"

I pulled my phone out of my pocket, unlocked it, and placed it in his hand. My fingers brushed his palm, sending sparks up my arm, raising goosebumps. My eyes flew to his to see the same look of shock, which I'm sure was mirrored on mine.

Edward swallowed hard then looked away as he entered his number in my phone, saving it before dialing his own number. If anything, the shy smile he gave me was even sexier than his earlier intense gaze.

"There, now I have yours." He walked backward to his truck, keeping his eyes on me. "I'll speak to you soon, Bella."

I lifted my hand and gave him a small wave as he climbed into his truck and drove off in the direction of his parents' old place. Despite my inner thoughts on whether I should or shouldn't see Edward again, I could no more have refused to meet him than I could have flown to the moon. I headed to my truck with a stupid grin on my face.

You shouldn't even be thinking about meeting him, Bella.

Nothing was far apart in Forks, so it wasn't long before I was pulling into the parking lot of Thriftway. The drive to the supermarket passed in a flash, my mind going over the connection Edward and I still clearly shared.

Of three things, I was certain. First, it was clear from my immediate reaction to Edward that my feelings hadn't abated, they'd just lain dormant all these years. Second, something, somewhere inside me wanted to explore whatever that spark was between us. And third, it was time for me and Alec to have a serious talk, and the sooner the better.

In a slight daze, I collected a cart and headed through the automatic doors. The store was crowded, it being the day before Christmas Eve, and it took me some time to remember where everything was and to maneuver my way around what seemed to be half the population of Forks.

While gathering groceries, I allowed my mind to wander back to high school, something I hadn't thought about for a long time.

It was after my seventeenth birthday in September that I first noticed Edward Cullen, although it was a few months later when we became boyfriend and girlfriend. He was nine months younger than me, with his birthday in June, though we were in the same year and many of the same classes. He was gorgeous, intelligent, head of the debate team, and played baseball for the school. He was also very popular with girls and boys alike. All the girls wanted him, and it seemed all the boys wanted to be his friend. To my knowledge, he was never mean to anyone.

I never thought he'd notice me, but on the first snowfall day, on a dark Monday afternoon in January, my truck refused to start, leaving me stranded in an almost empty parking lot. I sat in the cab, shivering and gearing myself up to head back into school to speak to Mrs. Cope and get my dad to come and pick me up. I wasn't looking forward to being picked up and driven around in Dad's squad car until the truck was repaired, so I was putting it off.

A knock on my window startled me, and I looked up into Edward's green eyes.

"You okay?" he mouthed.

I nodded and opened my door, waiting for him to step back so I could get out.

"I'm fine." I sighed. "Except my truck won't start. I was just about to head back into the office to call my dad."

"You don't have a phone?" he questioned.

"Left it at home this morning."

"You can borrow mine." He pulled it out of his pocket and held it out to me. "I can take a look, if you like?" He nodded at the truck.

"Oh, I can't ask you to do that, Edward. It's okay; I can call my dad."

"It's fine, Bella. Pop the hood and I'll see if I can work out what's wrong."

"Are you sure? Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"My mom would kill me if I left you here to wait for your dad. It's already dark, and it's supposed to start snowing again soon. Let me do this."

"Okay," I capitulated, and leaned into the cab to pop the hood as he'd asked.

Edward opened the trunk of his car, collecting a few tools, then lifted the hood of the truck, propping it open. He leaned over and poked around—pulling this out, cleaning that up, tightening various parts, none of which I had the faintest idea of their purpose.

My eyes wandered over his form, noticing his strong legs encased in black jeans, and how well they fit his ass. I wondered what he looked like in board shorts and bare-chested, and I really wanted to know what it would be like for him to kiss me.

"Bella?"

Edward's voice broke through my musings, and I was thankful the darkness hid the heat of my embarrassment at being caught checking him out.

"Can you try the engine, please?"

I nodded and climbed back into the cab, then turned the key. The engine started on the first try. Edward grabbed a rag from his car and came around to the driver's side of the truck.

"All set, Bella. You should get it serviced to make sure it doesn't happen again. I'd hate for you to break down where you might not be able to get help."

"I will, and thanks again, Edward."

I tried to think of something else to say as Edward turned to walk back to his car, but my mind was a total blank. I wanted to keep talking to him.

"Edward?"

He turned back to face me. "Yes?"

"I'll see you tomorrow."

His smile lit up his face and he nodded. My heart was beating double-time and butterflies took flight in my belly. If I'd thought him good-looking before, now he was positively beautiful. Hope bloomed inside me as I contemplated being friends with Edward.

I watched as he started his car, waiting for me to pull out onto the road. He followed me to my house, though I knew he lived in the opposite direction, and I contemplated what it might mean. Of course, he could just be making sure I got home safely, but suddenly, I felt optimistic that it could be the start of something more.

Snow was beginning to fall harder now as I stepped down from the truck. I'd forgotten how slippery the ground outside the house could be, and was thankful that Edward had already driven off and missed the embarrassment of me landing on my ass.

~ oOo ~

First period the following day was slow to arrive, and I was in my seat long before the bell. Edward sauntered in right on time and looked around before making his way over to me, settling into the seat next to me.

Whispers began, only ceasing when a teacher I didn't know entered, closing the door behind her. The noise level rose as the attention switched from us to her.

"Settle down. My name is Ms. Molina. Mr. Berty won't be in today, so take out your books and read through chapters eighteen to twenty-five."

She watched as we all opened our books, then she took her seat.

"Good morning, Bella." Edward's velvety soft voice wrapped around me.

"Hi, Edward. Thank you for helping me yesterday. I spoke to Dad and he's going to get Jake to take a look at it over the weekend. Hopefully, it'll be okay until then."

"That's good. I can give you a lift to and from school for the rest of the week if you'd like. I wouldn't want you to be stranded."

"Oh, you don't have to do that, Edward. I'm sure it'll be okay." I could have kicked myself for putting him off when all I wanted to do was spend more time with him.

"No problem," he said. "The offer is there, so let me know if you need me to pick you up."

I wasn't sure, but he looked disappointed. We spent the remainder of the lesson talking about books and films, pretending to read whenever the substitute teacher's attention was turned on us. Several times, I looked up to see Jess's wide smile, and almost giggled when she tried to wiggle her eyebrows. No doubt, I'd be getting the third degree during lunch break.

Surprisingly, Edward was seated at an empty table by the time Jess and I reached the cafeteria.

He raised his hand and beckoned me over. I looked at Jess who pushed me in his direction. On shaky legs, I walked over and took the seat opposite him. He pushed a plate with a couple of pieces of pizza toward me.

"Hope you like pepperoni. I got you a soda, too."

He seemed kind of nervous, which put me at ease. If someone as gorgeous as Edward could be nervous, then I could do this. We continued the conversation we'd started in first period English. I found myself enjoying talking to him and was disappointed when the bell rang.

Edward stood and picked up the trash, then slid his hand down my arm, tucking my hand in his. His large, warm hand engulfed mine, squeezing it gently, and he looked at me.

"Is this okay?"

I nodded enthusiastically, squeezing his hand back, and we left the cafeteria to the rising sound of voices. Mike Newton stopped me in the corridor when Edward and I parted company after lunch.

"So, you and Cullen then, Bella."

I shrugged. "We're just friends, Mike."

He scoffed. "I don't like it, Bella."

"You don't have to, Mike; it's none of your business. You broke up with me, remember, and on New Year's Eve, too."

Mike had wanted me to go to Riley's party with him. His cousin was two years older than us, and I knew there would be alcohol and no adult supervision. There was no way Dad would go for it, and with Mike pushing me to have sex with him, I thought it a bad idea. So, I'd refused, and he'd been pissed with me and had broken up with me.

He scowled and turned to walk away. "He'll break your heart, Bella."

I shook my head. "Well, that's my business, Mike, so stay out of it."

By the end of the day, it was all over school. Edward and Bella were an item. Edward walked me out to the parking lot and over to my truck, where we stood facing each other. Suddenly brave, I stood on tiptoe and leaned into him, kissing him on the cheek. I wanted to kiss his lips, but chickened out at the last moment.

I felt my face heat, and the tips of his ears turned pink. We beamed at each other until Jess blasted her horn and made a sign telling me she'd call me later.

"Is your offer still open, Edward?" I asked.

"To pick you up in the morning? Yes, of course it is."

"Then I'll see you at seven-thirty," I said shyly.

From then on we were joined at the hip, spending evenings doing homework and weekends dating, and not a day went by when we didn't speak to each other at length. Initially, Dad was concerned Edward would distract me from my studies, but Edward never gave him cause to worry, and he eventually relaxed.

We'd gotten very close by the time summer vacation came around, and had ventured into touching each other over and under clothes. I was so ready to take the next step, but he dropped a bombshell not long after school ended for the summer.

"Bella, we need to talk." Those words struck fear into my heart; he sounded so serious. "Can you meet me at our meadow?"

I agreed and headed straight over there, sitting on our fallen tree to wait for him. Ten minutes later, he arrived and took a seat next to me, reaching for my hand.

"We're leaving, Bella."

"What?" I gasped. "You can't."

"I'm so sorry, Bella, Dad got a job offer in Chicago, and he's adamant. He's taking it, and we're moving in a month."

I was devastated and heartbroken, but there was nothing we could do.

~ oOo ~