Chapter 5

Songs:

Kiss Me, Ed Sheeran
The Only Exception, Paramore
Awake My Soul, Mumford & Sons

*Link to YouTube playlist in chapter 1!

Summer through Autumn 2009

Bella

"So, what did you get my brother for his birthday?" Alice asks as she drifts across the water on her pool float. Her oversized sunglasses reflect the late-morning sun.

"Do you really want to know?" I waggle my brows over the frame of my own huge sunglasses.

She groans. "Nevermind. I do not want to hear about whatever it is you gave him."

I can't stop the giggle that bubbles out of me. "Face it. You're jealous."

"Of you bumping uglies with my brother? No, I can assure you I'm not."

"No," I say, splashing her. "Jealous that you aren't bumping uglies with anyone."

Her smile is small, but it's there.

"No," I gasp, and my eyes widen. "What aren't you telling me, Alice?"

"Nothing you need to know."

"Seriously?" I splash her again. "You're not going to tell me?"

She splashes me right back. "Nope."

"But I tell you everything."

"And that, my friend, is your decision."

"I—" The alarm I asked Alice to set on her phone goes off. I grumble as I hop up off of my float, wading through the water toward the ladder.

"Is it time to go already?" she whines.

I reach her phone and turn off the alarm. "You know you don't have to go with me."

She sighs. "Yeah, I kind of do." She slides off her float and follows me. "Someone needs to be the buffer between you and Masen when he picks you up."

I pick up my towel and rub it over my hair. "I wish I knew what his problem was. I only wanted to help. I mentioned him making more of an effort to talk to your dad one time, and he completely went off on me."

"One thing you'll come to realize is Masen is ... reactive. He doesn't always think shit through before he speaks, so when you try to bring up something he doesn't want to talk about, he either snaps at you or ignores you. He may feel like shit later—he'll even apologize, and he'll mean it—but he'll still react the same way every time. I honestly think it's a defense mechanism he's created after living with that nasty, old woman his whole life."

"Is that why you two aren't very close? Because of his attitude? I mean, compared to him and Edward, you two don't act much like siblings."

She shrugs. "Maybe. But it's probably because Mom hasn't been able to influence Edward's opinion on our brother quite like she has mine." She smiles up at me. "There's something to be said for the bond between a mother and daughter."

"Yeah, well, I wouldn't know much about that these days," I mumble as I head toward the house to get dressed.

She scrambles to follow me. "Bella, I didn't mean to—"

I wave her off. "It's fine."

"No, it's not." She grabs my elbow and yanks me back before I disappear through the patio door. "I'm sorry, okay? That was thoughtless and insensitive."

I shrug her off. "I said it's fine." I walk toward her room where my clothes are, ignoring her protests as I close the door behind me.

Masen's smile is wide when we get into the car. "Good afternoon, ladies."

I grin as I reach for my seatbelt. "What's gotten into you?"

"You're looking at the newest employee of Meyer's Landscaping."

"Really?" Alice asks, clapping her hands.

"Yup. Just got the call this morning. I start Monday," he says proudly.

"That's great news, Mase," I say from the backseat, meeting his eyes in the rearview mirror.

"Thanks." His ears redden as he checks his mirrors and pulls out onto the road. "It's hard work, but I'll finally have my own money. I can't tell you how fuck-awesome it'll be not to have to ask Gran for every goddamn dollar I need."

When I was warned about how sour Masen's Grandma Carmen was, I thought they had all been over-exaggerating, at least a little. But when I met the woman face to face, I figured out pretty quickly that everyone was right. Bitter was the best word I could think of to describe her. And if that's what Masen had to face every day, I realized just how much he could use a friend. I've since made it my goal to try and be one for him.

When we pull into the lot at the shop and my eyes land on Edward, butterflies attack my belly. With his coveralls open and pulled down to his waist, his wife beater and forearms covered in grease, he's a wet dream come to life. I smile at the thought that he's all mine.

His job at the shop is going well, but I don't get to spend nearly enough time with him. During the day while he's working, he's within walking distance of my house, but I'm not at home much these days. I spend most of my days at his house with Alice, lounging by the pool. He works from seven in the morning until five in the evening. So, our alone time has been limited, which is why I try to spend his lunch hour with him a few times a week. But it's difficult since I have to rely on his brother to get me there.

We make the most of our time when he drives me home at night, though.

"Hey, baby," Edward says as I climb out of the car. I walk his way, and he wraps his arms around me, slipping his hands down to cup my ass.

"Hey." I reach up on tiptoe to kiss him. "Did you miss me?"

He grins. "You know it. Come on," he says, tugging me toward the clubhouse. "I'm hungry, and Mom brought in sandwiches." He leans in to whisper in my ear. "And I can't kiss you like I want to with all these assholes watching."

The cool air of the AC hits me like a wall when we walk through the door, causing goose flesh to break out on my skin. I rub at my arms, following Edward as he leads me to the kitchen.

"Hey, E," one of the guys greets when we walk in.

"Oh, hey, Jazz." He pulls me forward until I'm standing in front of him, and he rests his chin on my shoulder. "You remember my girl, Bella, don't you?"

"Of course, I remember the beautiful Bella. How you doin', darlin'?" He gives me a lazy grin and a wink.

"I'm good," I say, grinning at him.

"You get settled in your new place yet?" Edward asks him.

Jazz nods as he fixes his plate. "Just unpacked the last box yesterday."

"That's good, man. It's gotta be nice to be out of your parents' place and under your own roof."

Jazz slaps a hand to Edward's shoulder as he passes us. "You have no idea, man. No idea."

With lazy mornings spent lying around the pool and afternoons spent hanging around the garage, summer passes far too fast. School starts in less than a week, and I'll have even less time to spend with Edward. I think we're both painfully aware of how little we're going to see each other, because in what time we spend together, we're almost desperate in our attentions to each other.

I lick and suck, just like he's taught me, and his eyes roll back in his head. His hand is wound into my hair as he guides me over him.

"Damn, baby. Fuck, that feels good." He looks down, panting. "Stop," he growls.

My gaze snaps to his, and my mouth opens, releasing him with a pop as my hand moves to take its place. "What? Why?" I ask, breathless. "Am I doing something wrong?"

"Fuck, no. I just want to be inside you when I come."

"Yeah? Here?"

He licks his lips and nods, the intensity in his eyes growing. "Here."

I climb up from the floorboard and slip my shorts and panties down, kicking them off before I straddle him on the backseat.

"Nuh uh. I want to try something new. Turn around."

With a giggle, I do as he asks and turn around, straddling his lap backwards. His warm hands grip my hips and move me until I'm where he wants me. I lower myself as he raises to meet me until he's sheathed inside. Both of us groan in unison. One of his hands moves under my shirt, cupping my breast as I begin to move, and the other grasps my hip to guide my movements. The new position feels amazing, just like everything else we've tried together.

He pulls me tightly against him, my back to his chest, and the fingers gripping my hip move lower, swirling around my clit. When his mouth moves to my neck, sucking and kissing, I decide this is one of my favorite positions.

The windows of the car are steamed up, even though they're cracked open. The heat of our bodies, mixed with the heat of the late-summer night, makes our skin sticky with sweat, and the air around us thick.

His control has improved in the few months since the first time we fucked, so he's able to make me come first. When my high-pitched moan tells him I'm chasing my own high, he lets go with a grunt and spills into me.

Panting and boneless, I collapse against him.

"Damn." His head falls against the seat with a soft thump. "That one's a keeper."

I hum my agreement, content to stay just like this. "Definitely."

"We need to find better ways to sneak you into my room so we can do this in my bed. I'm getting tired of my ass sticking to the seat."

"Then we'd both have to be quiet." I giggle and sit forward, slowly raising myself off of him and reaching for my shorts. "Maybe," I begin, doing my best to redress myself in such a cramped space, "you need to think about getting your own place."

He grins. "Now, there's a thought." His smile falls. "But it'll be a while before I'm making enough. Pop still isn't paying me all that much."

I lean over to kiss him. "You'll get there. But until then, we'll just have to make the best of it." I reach for the lever to flip the front seat forward and pull the door handle, climbing out into the darkness.

After righting his clothes, he follows, standing behind me and wrapping his arms around me. He kisses the top of my head. "One day we're gonna have our own place, Bella. We can do whatever we want, fuck whenever we want, and I won't have to take you home at the end of the night. But the best part," he says, turning me in his arms and looking down into my eyes, "the best part will be waking up with you beside me every morning."

I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a kiss. "I can't wait."

The drive to my house is always too quick. We take the long way home from the Cullens', and that part is always enjoyable since we usually make a pit stop. But this—pulling up to the curb a few houses down from mine—is my least favorite part of my day. Tonight, my driveway is empty and the house is dark, so I know I won't have to deal with Charlie, and relief fills me.

"You gonna be okay here alone tonight?"

I turn to him and smile. "I'll be fine."

"You sure you don't want to come back to the house and stay with Ali?"

I shake my head. "No. I'm pretty sure I'm wearing out my welcome. I spend more time at your house than mine. Besides, I'm sure the house is a wreck. I haven't been home for days. I'm sure Charlie's left me enough to keep me busy for a few days. I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow, too."

"What about school clothes shopping? School starts next week. You have everything you need?"

I shrug a shoulder. "I think so." I look down at my worn Chucks. "I'm going to ask him for some money to get some new shoes. Other than that, I can probably make do with what I have."

His brow furrows and he purses his lips. "What about your birthday? Is he doing anything for you?"

"I doubt he even remembers."

"That's kind of pathetic, baby."

"It is, but it's okay. I don't like making a big fuss over it anyway."

He gets a glint in his eye and smiles. "Everyone needs to have a fuss made over them on their birthday."

"Don't get any big ideas, mister." I laugh and playfully shove his shoulder. "And you wouldn't even know it was coming up if your nosey sister hadn't found out when it was."

He pulls me to his side and wraps his arms around me. "Well, it's on Sunday, and I'm not working, so don't make any plans." He tilts my chin up to place a kiss on my lips. "I want to spoil you."

Spoil me he does. Bright and early on my birthday, well before Charlie ever rolls out of bed, Edward is at the curb to pick me up. I leave a note on the counter and grab my bag, not looking back. During breakfast, he tells me we're driving to Tucson for a day of shopping. When he tells me he wants to make sure I have what I need for school this year, I try to refuse.

But his powers of persuasion are strong, and I'm powerless against him.

I accept a pair of jeans and some new shorts, as well as a few new t-shirts. I don't complain too much because I can tell by the smile lighting his face he's enjoying doing this for me. He especially enjoys following me around in Victoria's Secret, picking out lingerie in his favorite shades of blue.

"I wish you would've let me come in the dressing room with you," he whines into my neck, his arm flung around my shoulders to hold me close as we walk out into the mall.

I gape at him and elbow him in the gut.

"Oof," he grunts. "What was that for?"

I look up at him and narrow my eyes. "Are you serious? Do you want to get us kicked out of here for lewd conduct?"

He grins and waggles his brows. "Lewd, huh? Sounds like that could be fun."

I shake my head and laugh as I drag him toward Auntie Anne's for some lemonade. "Come on. I'm thirsty, and I want a pretzel."

We sit on one of the nearby benches and feed each other bites of the buttery, salted bread and sip from the lemonade between us. It's a nice change of pace from the usual things we do.

"So, how's it feel to be sweet sixteen?" he asks around a mouthful.

"Gross," I say, shoving him away. He laughs but continues chewing. "It feels absolutely no different."

"No? Are you excited about being able to drive now?"

"If I can get Charlie to let me get my license, sure. But I'm not very optimistic that's gonna happen anytime soon."

"Maybe he'll go for it if you tell him you want to get a job."

I shrug. "Maybe. But I'm not going to hold my breath."

Edward checks his watch and looks back up at me. "You about ready to go?" His simile widens. "Ali and Mom have dinner plans for us, and they'll have my head if we're late."

I groan as I stand. "Please tell me they aren't gonna make a big deal about my birthday."

He wraps me in a hug and kisses the tip of my nose. "I can't promise anything, but I'm pretty sure it's just dinner and a cake. Nothing fancy."

I reluctantly comply, and we're soon heading back toward his house. When we pull up to an intersection and stop, the crossing traffic is a large group of bikes, all of the riders wearing the same cut.

"Who are they? Friends of yours?"

He watches them pass with narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw. "The Desert Kingsmen. And no, they're not. Their interests are a little different than the Outcasts'."

I turn to face him. "Different how?"

"Let's just say if they can make money selling it, they run it. Drugs, girls, you name it."

It's the first time I've heard anything negative about any MC, and as I turn back to watch the last of the riders cross our path, I realize there must be a whole other side of his world I know nothing about.

Dinner with his family is great. BBQ ribs on the grill and an evening spent lazing in the pool are the perfect ways to spend the end of my birthday. And when Esme brings out a candle-covered cake and Carlisle follows behind her with wrapped presents, I'm overwhelmed with love for this family.

"You didn't have to do this," I insist, looking at all of them.

Esme just smiles at me. "Nonsense. You're one of the family, and your sweet sixteen should be celebrated. Go ahead," she says, waving me on. "Open it."

An iPod touch and iTunes gift card from Esme and Carl and a gift certificate from Alice for a manicure are more than I expected, and I embarrass myself getting all teary-eyed over it. But it's nothing compared to the way I react later when I open the small box from Edward.

It's just the two of us sitting beside the pool, the tiki torches blazing around the perimeter of the deck.

"You didn't have to get me anything else," I say as he pulls me down onto his lap. "You already did so much for me today."

"I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to." He kisses the side of my head as I stare down at the box in my hand. "All that earlier shit was what you needed. This is something I want you to have. Open it."

I take a deep breath and open the box. Nestled in the pillow inside is a delicate silver ring, the metal bent and polished in the shape of a lowercase E.

He shrugs behind me, and his voice sounds unsure when he speaks. "I want you to have something to remind you that you're mine. If you don't—"

I turn in his lap and wrap my arms around his neck, silencing him with a kiss as happy tears fill my eyes. "I love it." I pull the ring from the box, handing it to him. "Put it on me?" I ask, sniffing and wiping a hand under my eyes.

He grins and plucks it from my trembling hand. "Someday," he says softly, sliding it onto my finger with trembling fingers of his own, "I'm gonna put a diamond on this finger." His eyes meet mine. Even though I know he's nervous, I can see the sincerity in them, and it makes my heart pound. "I love you, Bella Swan, and someday I'm gonna marry you."

A/N: If you're waiting to see when it all goes downhill, the next chapter is the beginning of the end for these two and the final chapter that was in the Australian Fires comp. I really do hope you'll stick around to see how these two ended up where they are now. And I'm currently working on chapter 10 of this, which is juuuuust moving into her budding relationship with Masen. I'm thinking I'll write them at least through their marriage and probably beyond.

Remember, you can come chat with me in my Facebook group, Sunshine Fics. I also share teasers and chapter pics there. You can also follow me on Twitter at CSunshine1220.

Thanks so much for reading!

Be kind.
Stay safe.
Stay well.

Lots of love
~Sunshine