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Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Edward or Bella... any of the characters, really... not even the dirt on the silver Volvo... but I like to play with them a little bit...
So, this is the beta-ed version... Thanks a million to MeteorOnAMoonlessNight for helping me with this story!
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If you can, listen to One More Light by Linkin Park while reading the chapter. It was what inspired this one! ;)
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Chapter 7: One step forward…
EPOV
I was still wondering how in hell I managed to invite Bella to our house and not die trying. I must thank Mr. Banner for that, though. The project was the perfect excuse. Emmett was looking at me all funny while on the way home, but I wasn't going to let him know I invited Bella over before Carlisle or Esme knew.
Besides that, I still had some problems breathing right. It started after Mike fucking Newton opened his big fat mouth and tried to take Bella away from us. I actually thought she was gonna start asking questions that I didn't know if I was ready to answer, but she didn't push it. She didn't even wonder why Mike was being a dick. She just let it be for now. And I was glad. I knew I had to tell her everything someday, but I wasn't ready. I started coughing and Alice looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
I looked outside the window until we got home, and, as always, I was the last one to enter the house. My sister and my cousin ran to different sides of the house. I smelled cookies so I went to the kitchen to find Esme. She was mixing stuff on the kitchen island and mumbling some song that I couldn't catch. I smiled but a stupid cough got to me and she raised her eyes.
"Oh, there you are. Do you want some cookies, honey?" she asked me with a smile. I could see Carlisle and Emmett entering the kitchen from the garage, laughing at something.
I went to answer but a coughing fit made me double over. It felt like something was pulling and pushing on my chest at the same time. I couldn't breathe, so my head swam and I saw bright spots in front of my eyes. I heard a clatter and two pairs of arms were immediately on me.
"Edward. What's going on?" Carlisle… freaking out… again. Dammit.
"Come on, dude. Don't scare us like this. Do you need Bob?" Emmett lost the laughing tone in his voice.
I couldn't answer. I couldn't breathe. I tried to stand straight but felt dizzy and weak. Last thing I saw were a pair of familiar green eyes.
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My body felt heavy and my arms were basically noodles at my side. Fucking hell, I passed out on my family. I heard the familiar hum of the oxygen tank close by. Even if I knew I could open my eyes, I wasn't sure if I wanted to. I feared this could happen soon, but I didn't know it would be this soon.
I felt a hand going through my hair. I keep scaring the hell out of all of them… but especially her. I opened my eyes and Alice was smiling down at me.
"You know you just scared the hell out of all of us, right?" I smiled a little. Exactly what I was thinking, sis.
"Sorry."
"You don't have to apologize, you dumb-dumb… we just need to be sure you're okay. Dad is actually thinking about staying home all weekend to keep an eye on you." I cringed. That would only mean that Carlisle wouldn't let me leave my bedroom at all. Hell, not even my bed.
"He doesn't need to do that."
"Really? Because that was some scary shit downstairs, Edward." I glared at her—at least I thought I did—and she went on. "Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine now. I don't know why I felt so bad so suddenly earlier." It was scary even for me. I didn't know what happened either.
"Well, at least you get to stay home and rest all weekend. I have to go with Emmett to Port Angeles to get some supplies for my design projects. I was about to ask you if you needed something from the art shop?" I looked away and she caught it right away. "What?"
"Bella is coming tomorrow at eleven to work on a Biology project for Mr. Banner."
She smiled sadly. "You should probably call her, then, and tell her you're not feeling too good right now."
"No!" Yep, I shouldn't have screamed. A new coughing fit started and Alice immediately tried to help me raise my head to stop it. "I… want her… to come," I managed to mutter between coughs.
"Okay, twin, don't need to get mad or anything. I have to call Dad so he can check you and you must tell him, and Mom, too. They were really scared, twin. Emmett didn't stop pacing outside your door until Dad sent him to the store to get some stuff Mom needed."
I nodded. I knew I had to do it now, because Carlisle could very easily tell me I had to stay in bed all weekend and Bella wouldn't be able to come at all. She smiled and kissed my forehead before leaving the room and calling for Carlisle. He and Esme didn't take much time to get to my room. She came to my side right away and stroked my hair.
"Are you feeling better, honey? You're so pale."
"I'm always pale, Mom. I'm good, though." Carlisle kept looking at me with his 'Doctor Mode' on. "I'm feeling better, Dad. I just need to rest for a little bit."
"Did something happen today that had you so agitated when you got home? Did you try to do something in gym class again?" he asked. I only did that once, Dad. Learned my lesson.
"No… well, I left the cafeteria a little too quickly. But I'm good now," I answered, leaving the Newton fiasco to the side. Didn't want to get into much detail with them.
"You're definitely not good. Thank goodness you have all weekend to get your energy back and I should bring you to the hospital on Monday after school so you can get a scan again, just to be safe," Carlisle rambled to himself and I looked at Mom; she saw my eyes and smiled at me.
"What is it, honey?"
"Uh… well, Bella is coming here, tomorrow at eleven. We need to start a Bio project and I told her to come here." Dad was about to shut down the idea and I panicked. "Dad! I- it's half our grade and we don't have any ideas for it. And since you're working tomorrow during the afternoon shift, I thought you could help us. I don't want to cancel." I got worked up and my breathing got worse, I just couldn't get enough oxygen into my lungs.
"Calm down, Edward," he said, and I tried, I swear, but couldn't.
"Please… Dad… Let Bella come here… I'll rest after she leaves… all weekend, I promise… I won't even leave… the bed… I swear."
"Calm down, son," he repeated and adjusted something on the oxygen machine "You really want to meet that girl tomorrow, huh?" I nodded. He looked at me with a thoughtful expression and then looked at the door where Alice and Emmett were giving him puppy eyes. He sighed. "Okay, she can come here. But we should establish some rules, just so you don't pass out during your meeting. Okay?" I nodded again "You will be hooked to the oxygen tank, no matter what. And I'm gonna help you get some ideas, but you're gonna try to stay relaxed and not do anything too strenuous, got it?"
"Got it. I'll follow your rules, Dad. I promise."
"And if you feel poorly after I leave, you'll let someone know. Just so you don't pass out again, Edward."
"Okay. Whatever you say, Dad." I smiled. Bella was going to be here tomorrow!
"Bella is coming here tomorrow. Exciting!" Alice squealed from the door.
"Yeah, pipsqueak, but she's coming here for Edward, remember?" Emmett told her and she grinned.
"Exactly." She then winked at me and left.
"Huh? I lost that one," he said, scratching his head and following Alice. Carlisle laughed and Esme tried to hide her laughter.
"Okay, honey. I'll bring you your dinner and then you can sleep so you're all okay for your date tomorrow." She kissed my cheek and took Carlisle's hand, guiding him out of my room.
"Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad."
"No problem, honey." I closed my eyes when they closed the door.
Bella will be here tomorrow!
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Alice was at my door at 10 to remind me to take Bob and go get some breakfast before Bella got there. She was jumping up and down and it was kind of annoying. But I did what she said and went downstairs ready to have breakfast. Mom was there with everything already cooked.
"Good morning, honey. You want some pancakes?" I nodded and she gave me some. I started eating slowly just to not provoke another coughing fit. "Are you feeling better?"
"Well, I'm still kind of tired, but that's normal… at least I'm not as weak as I was yesterday," I told her. Dad was drinking coffee while watching Emmett doing some stuff in the backyard.
"Son, I left you some options for your Bio project in the living room so you can pick one with Bella and develop it. If you need my help, I'll be here until noon, and then I'll go to my shift at the hospital." I nodded while finishing my breakfast. "Remember to take it easy today, Edward. I mean it."
"I know, Dad. I will. I promise."
"I'll make sure he does it, Dad. I'll kick his ass if I have to," Alice said from behind me. I frowned at her. "What? You know I will if I have to."
Mom laughed and gave me a hug. "Don't worry, Edward. Everything will be fine. Your sister and Emmett are going to Port Angeles, so they won't bother you." I laughed and Alice frowned.
We continued to banter in the kitchen while everyone ate and I checked Dad's suggestions for our project. Suddenly, the doorbell rang and I stopped moving. Alice and Emmett were already on their way to Port Angeles so it was just me, Mom, and Dad. They smiled at me and I got up to get the door.
There she was. Pushing her hair behind her ears and blushing. That was a nice shade of pink. I stared at her for who knows how long and she smiled shyly at me until she did a double take at my face.
"Edward, you're hooked to the oxygen again. If you're not feeling okay, we can do this later."
"No! I'm okay. Come on in." She smiled and came inside.
"Are you sure? I mean, I don't care if we do this at school."
"I'm positive." She was looking at the photos on the wall. "Welcome to Casa de Cullen, I guess."
"This house is amazing."
"I'll tell that to Esme." I laughed and guided her to the living room. "Dad read my notes from Banner's project and selected a few ideas for us to develop, so I hope you don't mind that I asked for his help before you got here."
We were in motion then, trying to outline the project and what we would need to make it perfect. Working with Bella was simply amazing. She was focused and had so many ideas. Even if she was a little disorganized. I was the total opposite, so we were okay. As long as I don't focus on her hair… or her strawberry scent… or the way her eyes sparkle when she's excited about something… what?! I coughed to try to get rid of my thoughts and Bella looked at me in concern and then glanced at the clock.
"It's really been more than 4 hours since I got here?!" she said in alarm and I looked at the clock. 3:30 pm.
"Apparently so." No wonder Mom sent Alice a couple of hours ago to bring us some sandwiches. Dad is so grounding me… "Well… we were focused on our work."
"Yeah. I have to admit, Cullen. It's so much fun working with you, and getting to know your way of doing stuff." She blushed after saying that and I felt my face getting warm.
"Well, I think we could use a break… what do you think? You up to it?" I asked, while stretching my arms trying to get rid of the stiffness. She smiled.
"What do you have in mind, Apple Pie?" I groaned. Thanks a fucking bunch, Jasper!
"Don't call me that! It's annoying enough when Jasper does it!" She laughed. "I'm serious, Bella."
"Okay," she said with a grin. "You didn't answer my question, though."
"Oh, yeah, do you wanna see the backyard?"
"Sure. Show me the way." We went to the kitchen first and Mom was there. There was the smell of cookies in the air and Bella smiled. "Smells good, Mrs. Cullen."
"Hey, Mrs. Cullen is my mother-in-law. I'm not that old, honey. Call me Esme."
"Everyone does, anyway," I said, and Esme pointed her spoon covered in whipped cream at me.
"Behave, young man. We have guests!" Bella giggled. "You want some cookies?"
"Sure, thanks Esme!" She grabbed a couple of different cookies and I did the same.
"I'm gonna show her the backyard, Mom."
"Be careful," she said, distracted by coloring the whipped cream like a rainbow.
We went outside and Bella turned to look at me. "She seems nice."
"She is. Reminds me so much of my mom," I said, picking up the keys Esme kept safe in a little box by the door. Bella was looking at me with a little sadness in her eyes but I just shook my head and smiled. Or tried to. "Let me show you the greenhouse."
I led her there and she gasped. This was Esme's baby and it was beautiful. All kinds of flowers grew there and we all helped her tend it. It was big and colorful. Bella spun around trying to take everything in.
"This is unbelievable!" Then she spotted something and grabbed my hand to guide me there. "This! This is the flower you gave me!" She blushed. "I mean, the drawing… you probably don't even remember."
"I do. I remember. And yeah, this is the one." I stroked the petals slowly and she smiled at me. "I thought you threw that away."
"Yeah, right. I still have it. It's in my room." She blushed again and giggled. "I can't believe Esme tends all this by herself."
"She doesn't. I mean, she does most of the work, but we all help. My mother loved to come here on holidays to help her plant new flowers every time. We had a similar one in Savannah."
"Why are you always so sad when you talk about your mother? I mean, I know you said you and Alice were adopted but…" She saw my face and backtracked. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't pry."
"No, we're friends. I want to tell you." She looked at me and then sat on one of the benches by Esme's flowers, patting the space by her side for me to sit. I shouldered Bob the backpack and took the space by her side. "I… my family lived in Savannah, I told you that, right?" She nodded. "Well, yeah, um…"
"Seriously, Edward. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"But I want to! It's just so hard."
"What was your mother like?" she asked with a little smile.
"My mother was awesome. Her name was Elizabeth, and Esme always says I look so much like her. From the crazy hair to the eyes. She was artistic. An art teacher at a high school in Savannah. She taught me to draw and to play the piano when I was just 5." I could feel myself smiling at the memories. She tried to get me to learn a new song on the piano and I froze with nerves before she started playing Chopsticks. I laughed, following her lead until I was playing all by myself. "She was an amazing mother."
"And your dad?"
"My father was the strict one. You know? Like 'follow the rules, I'm the parent' type?" She nodded. "His name was Edward, like me. Funny, huh? I'm Edward Junior." She giggled. "He was a lawyer and a really good one, or that's what Carlisle says." I looked her in the eyes. "He was Carlisle's brother… little brother in fact."
"Was?" I nodded and looked at the ground. I could feel my eyes fill with tears and the oxygen machine working again to help me breathe. "What happened to your parents, Edward?"
"Uh… they died a few years ago. Alice and I were thirteen." She looked at me and put an arm around my shoulders.
"Don't tell me anything else."
"I want to… let me share this with you. I just need you to promise me that you won't tell it to anyone else. I-I only shared my story once before to someone outside my family and… it didn't end well."
"I won't betray you, Edward. You're very important to me." I looked into her eyes and they were so clear.
"Okay. My parents died on Christmas' Eve four years ago." she gasped and I ignored it, trying to continue with the story before I choked up and couldn't talk. "We were celebrating, and Alice and I wanted to stay awake for way longer that Mom and Dad thought was okay. So they sent us to bed. In the middle of the night, Alice woke me up, scared, and when we tried to get to our parents' bedroom everything was filled with smoke. Our house was on fire and when we tried to get to our parents, the door was so hot that Alice's hand burned." I couldn't stop talking now. "She still has the scar on her hand. I heard a noise and pushed her to the front door so she could get help and the roof collapsed. I tried to get to Mom and Dad but I couldn't and—I can't remember anything else." She brushed my hair out of my face and I looked at her. "I woke up at the hospital hooked up to a lot of different machines with a tube down my throat. Carlisle and Esme were there with Alice and Emmett." A tear rolled down my cheek and Bella hugged me again. "They told me Mom and Dad died in the fire. Apparently, it all started in the living room. Something about a malfunction in one of our Christmas lights, and the fire spread to their room. There was nothing they could do." My throat closed just remembering the agony when Carlisle held me while I sobbed.
"Oh, Edward." I looked at her. "I can't imagine your pain. Alice's as well."
"It was my fault." She looked at me with shock.
"What are you talking about?"
"The lights that started the fire? I put them there. Dad told me they could be broken, but I didn't care. They were my favorite because they blinked like a rainbow of colors and light. I put them in the living room's door. That's where the fire started." Bella was shaking her head "It was all my fault."
"No, Edward, it was an accident! You couldn't have imagined that was going to happen!" I looked at the floor. It was my fault the fire went into my parents' bedroom. "Look!" she said, showing me her right arm. She had a scar at least three inches long. "When Mom and I lived in Colorado, the floor was awful to walk on in winter. And me, being the clumsy self I am, was running with a pair of scissors and tumbled. I managed to stab my mom and my arm at the same time. We spent our night in the ER because of it." I looked at her eyes again. "You think it's my fault my mom has an even bigger scar on her hand?" I was shaking my head before she even finished talking. "Why not? I'm clumsy and was running with something sharp in my hand." I kept shaking my head. "If that wasn't my fault, how's the fire your fault?"
I couldn't answer her. I didn't have an answer. She kept looking at me with heat in her eyes and I didn't want to hear anything else. So I turned to tell her it was different to her example but found her face closer than I thought. I looked at her lips and noticed she did the same with mine. I leaned closer and she did the same until our lips were touching. It was a brush of our lips at first, but then I felt like a tingle of electricity shot from my lips to the tips of my fingers and my toes. She put more pressure to the kiss and I did the same.
Wait a minute… I'm kissing Bella Swan!
She broke the kiss with a little smile on her face. I responded to that smile, especially when she adjusted my cannula after our little kiss.
"You know, I've wanted to do that for a while now," she confessed with a blush.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I did. I wondered if your lips were as soft as they looked," she answered with a smile while running her fingers though my hair. "And this, too, your hair is so soft."
"Uh… thanks?" She giggled, and I smiled. "Come on, I want to show you my room."
"Moving fast, aren't we?" she asked, and I blushed. "I'm kidding. Show me the rest of your house, please. Including your room and your drawings!"
I smiled, taking her hand and closing the greenhouse behind us.
I told Bella the truth and she didn't run away. She kissed me. I must be passed out in the kitchen from yesterday's episode, surely…
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AN: So, here's the chapter! I had to actually split it in half because it was so long... We still have a small part left from Bella's visit to the Cullens but... what do you guys think? Do you have some answers to the misteries Edward left hanging then and there? If you have and you are right I'll send you a snippet of next part!
Anyway, I'll give you guys the rest of the chapter this week... as a birthday present for me, I guess. Since my birthday is on Sunday... Let me know what you think and I'll try to bring the rest of the chapter as soon as possible!
Love ya all!
AYEN!