No.9
It takes me a few days to rebuild the morale Tanya destroyed within her children. But brick by brick I repair the walls she chipped away at.
"Miss Swan," Seth stands in front of me wearing his school uniform.
"You look so handsome, Mr Cullen," I smile at him.
I couldn't convince them to call me Bella when their mother wasn't around so I settled on calling them, Mr and Miss Cullen. The giggle I got afterwards hinted they took it all as a big joke.
However this time Seth didn't giggle.
"What if they don't like me," he casts his eyes downward.
Today was the twins' first day. At five they were ready to take on the classroom.
"What? They'll love you, Seth," I finish off the final touches on his lunch box before pushing it into his backpack, "Here's your bag."
Of course, Tanya wasn't coming along to drop them off or even here to settle their anxiety. Seeing her children off on their first day wasn't important - she had been out all night and I had no clue if she was home yet. Edward, however, was racing around the house helping me. He had changed and fed Anna while answering his children's questions about school.
"Who's ready for a day of learning?" he races into the room, tie undone, holding Anna who tugs at his hair.
Lucy eagerly puts her hand up beaming. The school was going to be her place to thrive, no doubts about it. She'd had me put hair in braided pigtails with ribbons, I had polished her shoes and made her look a million bucks. Seth, however, looked nervous.
"Knock knock, Seth," Edward notices his concern, putting Anna down to explore the area.
"Who's there?" Lucy answers for him.
"Teddy."
"Teddy who?" Seth mutters.
"Teddy is the first day of school," Edward tickles his son who lets out a quiet little laugh.
"Really?" I raise my eyebrow, "I didn't think you were that dad."
"What dad?" the smile he gives me almost stops my heart.
"The dad jokes kind of dad. My dad basically," I laugh.
"My jokes are hilarious," he picks his son up so Seth's back is to him, Edward's arm around his front, "Right kiddo?"
"No," he smirks.
Edward gasps and begins tickling him in his arms, he squirms kicking his legs out in front of him.
"No," Seth finally lets out the laugh I love so much, "Daddy no!"
Lucy cheers her father on laughing loudly too.
"Okay," I smile, "we're going to be late and I don't need you both experiencing detention so soon. Save that for the fun stuff."
"Like what Miss Swan? Were you a naughty student?" he puts his son down, flashing me a flirty smile.
"I'll leave it up to your imagination," I move close to him.
My breath hitches at the proximity I have situated myself in. I guide my hands up leaving him thinking I'm aiming for his face, but at the last second, I wrap my hands around his tie.
"Do I need to dress you to, Mr Cullen?" I ask playfully.
I'm flirting back. Stop it.
"Quite the opposite," his voice is low, draped with insinuation.
Blushing I quickly knot his tie, ignoring his eyes on my face urging me to look at him.
No Bella. This is a trap - you won't fall for it. He may be divorcing her, but he's married still. You won't be that nanny…
But his smile, his voice, his scent. Ugh. Fuck it. Drown in the temptation. Bite the forbidden fruit, savour it and then devour.
He leans forward into me, but before he can touch me her reaches behind me grabbing both the school bags.
"Thanks," his voice has an edge of something dark and sexy behind it, "If only I could come to you at the end of the day for help taking it back off."
I'm incapable of words. So I nod like an idiot, earning a dark chuckle from my boss. As if the moment didn't happen, as if there were no chemistry in the room he turns to his children holding out their bags.
"Let's go," he says smiling, "I have to get back for work and Bella has to help me."
Firstly, the fact he called me that still despite his wife's tantrum - especially in front of his kids - it made me want to reward him with my mouth. Secondly…
"Help you?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Yep," he nods.
What on earth did he mean?
Seth clings to Edward refusing to let go. Lucy, on the other hand, was already sitting at a table in her classroom making friends. A teacher had greeted us and began to try to pry Seth away.
"Come on, Buddy. We will come back to get you at the end of the day," he says.
"No Daddy," he cries.
Kneeling down to his level I open my arms for him. Immediately he lets go of Edwards's legs and clings to me instead.
"I know this is scary but Seth, you're going to have so much fun. You'll make so many friends and guess what, some of them might even play soccer with you," I say into his ear, "You can be brave. You are the bravest boy I know. I'm so proud of you already."
"The teacher looks scary," he whispers in my ear.
Trying not to look at her and giggle I nod against his small frame.
"Okay, let's see if we can make a friend? Look that little boy seems sweet," I point to a small kid wearing glasses, studying his pencil case. His cheeks are puffy indicating he too had a meltdown like Seth.
With a glance at a smiling Edward, I walk Seth over to the small boy.
"Hi. I'm Bella and this is Seth. Can he sit with you?" I ask the kid.
He silently nods. Great, he's probably just as freaked out right now. I pull out the chair beside him helping Seth into it. His pencil case has a picture of Thomas the Tank Engine on it.
"Look how great is his pencil case, Seth," I say.
"I like that show," he says softly.
"My favourite train is Percy," the little boy smiles, "cause that's my name too."
"Percy," Seth grins, "I like Thomas but just because he's blue. Do you like soccer?"
"Yes, I do. My daddy put me into a team. It's the bears," Seth grins happily.
"That's your team too, Seth. You'll be on the same team. You start training this weekend," I silently cheer to myself.
As the two continue to chat I ruffle Seth's hair before returning to Edward. Quietly and quickly we flee the room before he can stop us again.
"Another job well done, Bells. I would hate to imagine this morning without you. But for now let's go to work," He grins at me as we walk to the car.
"What do you mean, Edward? My work is done." I laugh.
"Work… you're driving home," he throws me the keys.
Part of me is disappointed he didn't mean take off my clothes and get to work. The other part is freaking the fuck out about driving on the opposite side of the car and road in a vehicle worth more than my life plus everything I own.
The beginning of my lesson sucks, but he's patient. I almost crashed his car despite his ability to ignore the close calls. He speaks calmly, laughing when I mutter curse words. Eventually, I get the hang of it.
"Turn here," Edward points.
I do as he asks and earns a 'great job' for my efforts.
For the most part, it's fairly easy. I just need to concentrate when I turn not to move into the opposite side of the road.
"You're doing great," Edward smiles, "good job, Bella."
"I have a good teacher," I say.
He flashes me another suggestive grin as we pull up to the gate. His phone begins to ring as I open them for us, the ringtone playing through the car. He accepts the call and Tanya's voice fills the vehicle. Only she's not shrieking, bitchy.
"I need you to come to bail me out of jail," she mutters.
"Oh for fuck sake," Edward snaps hanging up immediately.
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