Chapter 10 – Progression

I'm so distracted Friday during my last class of the day. Between being sick of classes for the week and my need to watch ATLA, I'm going insane. Professor Banner is yapping on about good writing skills.

I'm not listening. I've got Netflix pulled up and I'm watching ATLA. Since I already watched the Waterbending Scroll, I'm watching it like a silent movie with captions. It's a shame I'm only on episode nine of book one. Alice was so excited when I told her I started watching it with Edward. I'm afraid if I don't start watching it quicker, she's gonna spoil something for me.

My phone pings.

Hey, can you scoot over to the left just a little so I can watch too? -Angela

Class finally ends after an eternity. I pack up my laptop and begin to head out.

"Alice finally cracked your exterior and you're watching ATLA?" Angela asks, catching up to me.

"Actually, Edward did."

"Woah, wait a damn minute! The same Edward you were muttering about last month?" she gasps like it's the hottest gossip on the street.

"Yes," I mutter.

"And when did this happen?"

"Monday night."

She playfully slaps my shoulder multiple times like she's really upset. "And you didn't think to tell me this on Wednesday? Or even to text me! Girl, we are having lunch together, and you're going to give me all the details!"

You know, as great as it is to talk to Alice and Rose about all this, it's great to talk to someone completely out of the circle too. We're good friends, but we're not the kinds of friends who need to text each other every day of the week to stay tight.

I get her caught up on everything between me and Edward. All the emotions shown on her face should be collected for a telenovela.

"Wow, he's makes you soft," she ends with.

"He does not," I brush off, finishing the last of my sandwich.

"Think about it, Bells. You hate everything that Field of Screams stands for. Now you're here gushing to me about the boy who will someday operate it."

"I don't hate what Field of Screams stands for-"

"Ha! Right there!" She points at me and slams her hand on the table like she just solved the crime of the century. "Alice cracked your exterior for all that stuff by convincing you to volunteer there. Edward taunts you about your skills because of your aversion to scary stuff. You push forward a hundred times to prove him wrong. You dress like Voldemort and go out to eat at a dinner while still in full costume and makeup. You, Bella Swan, with minimal resistance, go through all four attractions at Field of Screams then kiss Edward Cullen at the end of the night. If Edward wasn't in the picture, I know you would've put in more of a fight against the others. You willingly went to prove you're no pussy."

Thinking about it, Ang does have a point. If Edward wasn't in the picture, I definitely wouldn't have gone through Field of Screams.

"If you guys make it, he'll have you obsessed with blood, guts, and all that gore. My Baby Bella will no longer be a baby." She fake cries for a moment then proceeds to drink her soda rather loudly through her straw.

"Over my dead body. Maybe he's made me loosen up a bit regarding that shit, but I'll never be on his level."

Angela hums, but rolls her eyes.

We say our farewells after I promise to keep her more updated on my current relationship status with Edward.

*Field of Screams*

The upcoming Wednesday is Halloween. That means Field of Screams will be open six days in a row. Friday through Wednesday. Thursday closed. Then they'll only be two more weekends in November. That'll be it for the season.

Tonight is the first night, but it doesn't look anyone cut their heads off yet from the long week. Alice and I are hanging back a bit. She wants me to experience what the days leading up to Halloween are like in the front of the house.

We do a loop around the entrance. I swear it looks like Black Friday with how many people I see at the entrance and wandering the premises. If the parking lot is any indication, it's going to be crowded as hell and the gates just barely opened.

"Oh, I didn't expect to see you two in the herds," Masen says, walking up to us with a blonde man that looks familiar. I've seen Masen a few times since the season began, but he's been very busy between this and his day job. "Are you two guests tonight?"

Alice laughs so hard that she has to place her hands on her knees so she doesn't fall. "Mase, I wish we were. We actually went through last week against Bella's wishes. Although, I think she went easier than if Edward wasn't in the picture."

Masen lets out a belly laugh, and the man next to him, lets his own sly smile form on his lips.

"Edward's a special one that's for sure." Masen catches me glancing at his friend. "Where are my manners? Bella, you haven't officially met my brother, Carlisle, before. Carlisle, Bella. Bella, Carlisle. Carlisle's Emmett and Edward's father."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Carlisle." I shake hands with him.

The more I compare the two older Cullen brothers, I'm wondering if they mixed up their kids when they were younger. Emmett and Edward have similar facial structures to Carlisle, but the more I think about how those two act, they remind me of Masen's personality.

"My boys take after their mother in the looks departments. Masen just rubs off on them more," Carlisle says, reading my mind and laughing a little. "I've seen the look on your face many times over the years when my peers know the whole Cullen clan."

"Hey since you two are here, how about we give you the executive tour? That is if don't have plans you have to attend to?"

Alice and I look at each and agree. Our plan was to go home and order a pizza, but Masen's offer sounds more intriguing.

Learning about the history from the two who started it all is an honor. They take turns recalling their fond memories of the first few years and through its evolution. Although they have different levels of involvement with the daily operations, their passion is undeniable. Carlisle can't be as involved since he's a doctor, but loves helping out when he can. The more both of them talk, the more it reminds me of Edward on our first unofficial date.

"It's amazing to think all of this used to be just the Sinister Hayride," Masen says, walking us towards his office.

"Now here we are twenty-three years later, four attractions and three kids later," Carlisle chuckles.

"Strange how things work in the world." Masen leads up to a picture hanging up in his office. It's nice to see that his office has been cleaned up since I've been in here last. "This picture is older than you two."

It's a younger Masen, Carlisle, their wives, Emmett, Edward, and Liz on an old hay wagon connected to a tractor. It's the original Sinister Hayride. They all look so proud even though I'm sure the kids didn't really understand all the happenings.

"Soon, it's going to be time for the next generation to take over. And if that generation has anything to do with how things ran around here, I know they'll make it even scarier." Masen laughs loudly again. "They practically run it already. I'm stuck doing all the boring paperwork half the time." He calms down, but gives me a sly smile. "But thank goodness I wasn't in here last Friday when my nephew snuck in here. You'd think with all the acting skills he's acquired here, he'd be more covert."

My eyes widen. My heart stops. I've been caught red handed by a higher up by smooching his nephew. "Mase, I'm so-"

He holds up a hand, shaking his head. "Relax, I'm just teasing. If anything, I'm glad he finally got his head out of his ass. You should've seen him at our traditional opening season dinner. He was so wound up about you."

"Not to mention Emmett is quite a gossiper. Always teasing his little brother." Carlisle takes a step towards me and places a hand on my shoulder. "Edward's a good guy, but when it comes to our family business, he gets tunnel vision. I'm glad he's seen the rest of what you offer to everyone. All I've heard is good things about you, and I hope to get to see more of you."

"Perhaps we'll see you on this wall someday, Bella." Masen taps on the wall where the picture is.

"Woah, we're getting very ahead of ourselves. A month ago he hated my guts."

"He didn't hate your guts. He's simply an idiot boy – no offense, Cullens – who couldn't express his emotions for liking a girl properly," Alice points out. "Masen or Carlisle, can I hear your version of how Emmett pursued Rose?"

"Oh, I can answer that!" Masen eagerly raises his hand like we're in school. "The very short version is that Emmett was privy to seeing her backside bent over with her assets emphasized. I remember him making jokes and opening lines about butts, constantly approaching her. I had to tell him to knock it off and stop harassing her. Then on the last operating day, I had the utmost honor of finding my nephew bent over with his ass sticking out and telling Rose to slap it as payback for his earlier behavior. Imagine my surprise when she took one of the chainsaws and axes and did just that."

Okay, that's too much information. Alice and I look at each other with disgust about the images spiraling through our minds.

"As you can tell, neither of my boys are very good at expressing their emotions when they're interested in a woman. Sadly, that skill was not passed down from me."

"The next generation of Cullens can't express their emotions correctly sometimes and go way over the top. The Cullens are persistent though. Don't let them fool you."

Alice and I bid farewell to them then, deciding to grab Chinese takeout and rest at home then. We watch a few episodes of ATLA then head back, and I'm left thinking about Aang and Zuko's backstories and actions. Walking back into Field of Screams though, I can tell it's going to be a long night since there's still a ton of people going from one attraction to the next.

I'm busy removing Rose's makeup. Out of nowhere, a pair of hands wrap around my waist, pull me back and someone's giving a raspberry to my neck. The echoing shriek that escapes my lips makes the surrounding people turn their heads my way, embarrassing me.

He chuckles lightly behind me, whispering lowly in my ear. "Not so scary, huh? I wish I could've seen your face the last week. If this is the reaction I get out of sneaking up and gracing you with a kiss, I can't image what happened when Griffin separated you and you were left to fend for yourself."

I throw his arms off of me, turn around, cross my arms, and give him the stink eye. I'm not really mad at him, but again, he's pushing my buttons. I think it has something to do with this environment we're in. Rose laughs in the background.

"I'm not scared of you, Edward."

He steps closer to me with his trademark smirk. "You sure about that?" Today he's just a bloody mess. Literally. Fake blood all over his face and a deep wound across his face.

"Certain."

Staring into Edward's sparkling green eyes has me captivated. There's still a flicker of that devil inside of him, but also a flame that wants me to throw myself into his bloody ensemble.

"Uh, hello? Mrs. Moore still needs her makeup wiped off. She'd finish it herself, but Bella's hands are holding everything I need," Rose interrupts, drawing our attention to her.

"I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Moore. I'll leave you to it." He leaves with a final big kiss on my cheek.

"He's awfully cozy with you now?" Rose hints as I resume removing her makeup.

"I think that was more of a scare me tactic with a cover up of wanting to show any kind of affection."

She hums and leaves once I'm finished with her makeup.

Since it's going to be a long few days for everyone, nobody wants to hang around. Sleep is a much more pivotal need right now.

Alice and I are heading back to my car when I hear Edward shouting.

"Is something wrong?" I'm genuinely concerned because of the desperation I heard in his voice.

"Come to my place tomorrow night after everything's done." He practically begs.

"What?" This is out of the blue.

"I know you have class during the week so we can't really do what I want to do then."

"And what is it that you want to do?"

"That's my secret to know and for you to find out."

"Why don't we just hang out Sunday afternoon?

He shakes his head and tsks like I said something shameful. "There's no fun in that. Come on, you'll get the all-inclusive to Edward Cullen after dark. It's a very rare sighting outside of the Cullen clan."

I don't know what game he's playing at, but I finally agree. "But you're giving me coffee!"

Satisfied with his superb persuading abilities, a huge grin appears on his face. His strong arms wrap around me and lift me up off the ground in a massive hug. I can't contain my laugh at his reaction. He can be so cute sometimes.

"Just kiss her for God's sake!" Alice encourages from behind me.

And he does just that.

Posted: October 26, 2020

Next update Wednesday. Now what's Edward got up his sleeve? Only 3 chapters left!