A little angst, but not all is what is seems...or is it? FYI the revamp is finished, and this time I smartly uploaded all the chapters to the doc manager so I didn't have another accident.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
"Alice stop bouncing you're scaring the locals." Edward laughed his arm around my shoulders as we sat at in the lunch room. Tomorrow was the Homecoming game and the next night the dance. And he still hasn't asked me.
"Kill joy!" Alice spat at her twin. She was bouncing because she was excited over her costume for the dance. We were doing Halloween garb instead of semi-formal this year because the dance and Halloween were falling on the same day.
"Pixie!" He shot back tossing a tater tot at her head. One she promptly caught in her mouth and ate.
"Thanks for the grub bub." She giggled.
"Seriously Ali grub bub?" I asked and she laughed harder.
"Bella, Bella, Bella it's an east coast thang." She bounced again.
"No it's an Alice thing." Edward whispered in my ear causing me to giggle which caused Alice to glare at me. Thereby causing Edward to laugh. All this cause and effect was giving me a head ache.
"Come on Bella baby time for Banner." Edward grabbed my tray and his in one hand and my hand in his other and headed off towards class. This wasn't unusual, it was the norm for us anymore. We held hands, we touched, we even cuddled some, hell we even hugged. Though nothing was sexual and no words were said about what we were to each other. I was still in limbo but at least he was there with me. At least I think he is.
…..
"Bella is not staying for practice with you today guys and that's final!" Alice yelled pulling me towards the parking lot as Edward pulled me towards the gym to go to the field.
"Alice, Bella always stays for practice she's our good luck charm." Emmett argued.
"Alice love listen to reason. Ever since Coach moved her back to the bench during games, we haven't lost one, and Edward has been injury free. Plus, Bella has been our bench warmer since freshman year, and we haven't lost a game since, except the time she had the flu and missed a whole week of practice and the game. We need her more than you do." Jasper pleaded.
Alice had decided I needed to go shopping and mani pedding with she and Rose. I really didn't want to go as much as I loved the girls, I hate shopping at Alice speeds and I really wanted to go to the last practice before the big game.
"Ali, sissy, we all love you but let go of Bella." Edward cooed. His green eyes and her green eyes battling like some unseen twin mental battle.
"No! Bella is mine today you always monopolize her time Edward. It's my turn!" Oh, shit she stomped her foot and started the pout. Oh, we are fucked.
"Umm has anyone thought to ask Bella what she wants?" Angela sweet, sweet Angela who had been roped into the shopping trip. Finally, someone wanted to know my opinion.
"No, because she'll say no." Alice complained and Edward laughed.
"Bella baby do you want to go shopping with Alice? Or do you want to stay with me and go to practice then get some Chinese and veg out watching your choice of whatever on the tv?" Oh, Edward how I love you. Oh, shit umm yea brain shut up. I will mull over that thought later.
"I umm want to…" Utoh pouting in full force on one side Alice standing with Rose who was just busy trying to subtly let Em look down her low cut top and the other side Edward and Jasper. Jasper was torn between his sports superstitions that says don't fuck with whatever seems to be working and his need to please his pixie lover. "DAD!" Yes, Charlie was here, why I didn't care as I ran to hug my semi-absent parent.
"Hiya Bells." He awkwardly hugged me back.
"What are you doing here?" I asked softly.
"Clapp called and asked me if I wanted to come to practice and since I have the afternoon off, I thought I would. And I thought maybe I could take my baby girl out for dinner afterwards." Bless you Charlie!
"Yippy!" I giggled and bounced like Alice, shit the pixie is rubbing off. My Daddy had saved me! "Alice gotta take a rain check on the whole shopping thing, Dad and I are doing the whole father daughter bonding over football and food thing tonight." I swear she looked like she wanted to cry. And Edward looked smug. By default, he had won.
"Chief Swan nice to see you again." He walked up shook Charlie's hand and casually slipped an arm around my shoulders. Dad's eyebrows rose a little but he didn't say a word. Once again bless you Charlie.
"Edward, please like I've said before call me Charlie."
"Charlie." He acknowledged. "Bella why don't you walk your father to the field why Jaz, Em and I get ready?"
"Ok." I smiled. Edward kissed the top of my head and ran with the boys to get ready for practice now that the battle for me was over.
"Bella, you will make this up to me." The pixie threatened as she hugged me and walked towards her Porsche. Angela looked scared and Rose hugged me too.
"Have fun Bella." Rose bless her too.
"Come on Dad, I'm sure the guys are wanting to show off for you." I grabbed his hand and walked him through the gym towards the field.
"Bells, are you and Edward dating?" He asked softly. Grrrrrrr. No longer blessing Charlie.
"No Char..Dad, the Cullens are just really affectionate with their friends and family." He nodded but didn't look completely convinced.
"He's a good kid Bells."
"Yea."
"Just please don't make me a grandpa till after college." I giggled; silly Charlie I haven't even had a first real kiss yet.
"No problem Dad." His smile warmed my heart.
"Clapp how are you doing old man?" He greeted Coach as we walked to the field. I sat in my chair out of harm's way as the men folk talked shop. I watched the guys run laps and do maneuvers before setting up to run plays. I giggled when Edward winked at me and rolled my eyes when Jasper walked into Emmett. Emmett had stopped all of a sudden to talk to Mike and Jasper not paying attention ran smack into his back. Other than that, the guys looked great.
After practice Charlie and I headed to the Forks' Diner for grub. Charlie is a man of few words so dinner mainly consisted of him talking about the team and asking about my grades and informing me he had a post card from my Mom. She was in Jacksonville, FL and still alive. I rolled my eyes at that. The bitch loved to torture Charlie. She would always do this send him postcards or even a phone call to try and keep him for herself, even though she didn't want him. Never really wanted him.
"I had fun Dad." I told him. He just pulled up to drop me off at home.
"Me to kid. See you Sunday?" I nodded and smiled. Sunday was family day. This week we were once again watching football and pigging out as a group. Aunt Esme promised nachos and brownies and I was all over that shit. Yum!
"Yep see ya Dad." I grabbed my backpack, jumped out of the cruiser and walked into the house. I heard voices from the family room so I followed.
"…can't believe it." I heard Carlisle.
"Sweetheart calm down." Aunt Esme.
"Esme, love you don't understand. I don't know how to explain it right…" He cut off when he spotted me. "Bella." It was a whisper, almost scared and my aunt turned her eyes wide with fear and sadness.
"Hi." I whispered a little nervous. "Is something wrong?"
"Dear please sit down." Esme grabbed me and pulled me towards the large white sectional. It was bought with all of the children in mind sitting 12 comfortably in case we wanted friends over. Generally, it was Edward and I cuddled up on it watching the large ass flat screen or listening to music.
I sat looking up at the closest thing I had to a mom, and I could read panic in her.
"Aunt Esme, what is it?" I pleaded.
"Bella," Carlisle sat on the other side of me rubbing small circles on my back trying to calm me. As much as I do love Charlie, he was actually more like the uncle and Carlisle more like my dad. We've had great talks, he can read my moods on my face, he knows I prefer Austen to Bronte but love them both. "sweetheart, one of Edward's friends from Chicago has shown up unexpectedly. When he came home from practice, she was waiting for him at the school. And he has asked if it is ok for her to stay for a few days. She sort of ran away from home. I have contacted her parents and they asked the same if I would mind her staying so she can cool down before flying her back home." I did what I do best bit my bottom lip and nodded. Carlisle's big heart would never allow him to look away and not help someone.
"Ok." It was a little above a whisper.
"Bella, I would prefer if you didn't spend too much time with the girl, she isn't a good influence." Aunt Esme said in a harsh voice. She was not happy about our guest.
"Esme dear." Carlisle the kind.
"No Carlisle, this girl might be staying in our home but I will not let her near my babies. She came here for Edward; she will not taint my other children." My aunt actually stomped her foot. My uncle's eyes bulged at the act. "She's a junkie and a trouble maker. Carlisle you admitted yourself she spent 6 months in juvenile hall and has a criminal record that goes beyond that." Oh shit.
"Esme, she says she has been clean for a while now." He tried to console her. They kept going back and forth but I zoned out on the fact this girl had come for Edward. My Edward. FUCK!
"Umm can I go to my room; I have a headache?" I whisper asked. Esme pulled me in tight for a hug and Carlisle joined in. I felt like I was in a cocoon of love and shelter.
"Oh, my sweet baby girl." Esme cried into me. "Everything will be fine darling." I felt tears starting to pool in my eyes. She was freaking me out now the cocoon gone.
"Shhh Bella love go to bed." Carlisle bless you.
I ran up the stairs and into my room locking the door behind me. Slowly sliding down the wall beside the door I started crying. I cried for my shit ass mother who never loved me or my dad. I cried for my dad who was never really a dad. I cried for my uncle who died. I cried for Esme and Carlisle because they loved me so much and I was such a bitch to begin with. And I cried because I knew Edward would never love me the way I love him. And I cried because on the day I finally realize this was more than lust or a crush, the day I realize I'm fucking in love with Edward some unknown junkie criminal steps out of his past. And from the way my quasi-parental figures were acting this girl was going to take Edward away from me.
….
I don't remember climbing into bed last night. I don't remember when I stopped crying. My head pounding, I walked to my bathroom for some Advil and a shower. My red blotchy face taunted me with the fact I would never have Edward. If he liked me even a little in that manner, he would have asked me to the dance. I had been deluding myself into thinking he was putting it off, or just forgot to ask. My limbo state was over now. I realized I had been in it all alone. Edward saw me as a friend, a baby cousin maybe even a sister figure to protect.
Our playfulness at La Push had been an apparition. I imagined more than what really happened. Clearly, I wasn't the cause of his erection. I had heard teenage boys were always horny. Yet time after time I had laid in Edward's bed cuddled to him listening to music over his killer sound system and he never made a move.
I had gotten dressed for school in a daze. Walking down the stairs I spotted Emmett and ran into my big bear's arms. He held me tight and lifted me up into his strong arms. Not saying a word, he grabbed both our backpacks, still carrying me, and walked us to the jeep. He gently sat me in the passenger seat, buckled me up before going around to get in.
We drove to pick up Rose and Jasper today. No one talked and the music was off. We hadn't been this quiet since Uncle Marcus died. It was as if everyone was mourning the loss of my almost love. Our my loss of pretending he could care for me. I could no longer pretend after seeing Carlisle's eyes last night. This girl had come for Edward and he wanted her to stay.
I saw the bright yellow Porsche and the silver Volvo as soon as we pulled into the parking lot. Alice and Edward were having a stare off standing between their cars. The pixie and the sex God what a pair. I smiled politely and we all walked inside. It was the first time Edward didn't hold my hand in almost 2 months. Alice wasn't bouncing and Edward wasn't talking.
I stumbled into homeroom with Alice and Rose my mind in a fog still. Edward didn't walk me to class, didn't hug me good morning, didn't even speak to me. Shit he could have at least said hi.
….
By lunch I was ready to run Edward and this junkie over with Em's jeep. I sat between Em and Jasper and the lunch room noticed. I heard Lauren and Jess giggle in the girl's bathroom after lunch that Edward had dumped me. In bio we watched a movie. He didn't even acknowledge I was there.
I rode home with Alice. The boys went to get ready for the game, generally I would go for warm ups but at this point I just wanted to go home.
Though when I got there, I was ready to go to Charlie's house. Sitting on our precious white sectional that Edward and I had so many times cuddled on was the junkie, at least I assume that's who she is. Long flowing dark blonde hair, soft hazel eyes a body that was almost as good as Rose's. She was stunning and I was fucked.
"Bella come on let's go grab a snack before the game." Alice whispered into my ear. She glared at the girl in our family room.
"K." I mumbled.
"Alice?" A soft melodic voice summoned my soul sister. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"
"No." Alice told her bluntly.
"Fine." She turned her hazel eyes on me. She was so freaking pretty I knew I would never have Edward. "I'm Bree."
"Bella." I told her.
"Ahh the famous Bella." She smiled, "Edward has told me so much about his best friend." Oh, fuck me.
"Thanks?" She giggled softly.
"No Bella thank you for being such a good friend to Edward, when I couldn't be here with him." I wanted to tell her about Lauren and Tanya taking care of him to, just to piss her off. What the fuck?
"Yea umm I really need food." I ran to the kitchen Alice behind me.
"God, I hate that junkie bitch." Alice spat. We took out apples and cans of diet coke.
"She seemed ok." Yea Bella she was so fucking beautiful and nice you wanted to borrow Charlie's gun.
"Don't let the bitch fool you Bells." Alice hugged me. "She is a master manipulator. As for Edward, I just hope he doesn't fall into her game again." I was going to ask her to explain but her phone went off, she squealed and I knew I had been thrown over for Jasper. I smiled sort of, at least I think I did and went up the back stairs to my room to crawl in my bed. I just wanted this day to be over.
….
A ringing noise broke into my dream about Edward and I stranded on an island with no clothes and lots of condoms. It was a good dream. I sighed and picked up the cell phone that had woken me. "Yea?"
"Where the hell are you?" Emmett my darling cousin.
"At home I was taking a nap before the game."
"Look at the clock Bells." He groaned and I did and I groaned.
"Shit Em I'm so sorry." They had to be near half time.
"Yea, yea baby bear, Carlisle is on his way to get you. We're losing kiddo. Get in that car. Jasper is having a panic attack because you are not here, and Edward was tempted to call your dad and send out a search party." I slipped my shoes on and walked down the steps why he kept going on about different team members trying to figure out where I was.
"Calm down Em."
"What the hell Bella?!" Ahh Jasper has stolen Emmett's phone. And he's in panic mode.
"Take deep soothing breathes I'll be there soon. Carlisle drives as fast as Alice." I kept going and slid into the black Mercedes gave Carlisle a smile and rolled my eyes. He was laughing. I put the phone on speaker.
"Bella, you know you have to be on that bench. When Brady was on a winning streak, he didn't shave his beard. When Nesmith was on a streak he didn't wash his game underwear. When we are on a streak you are here!" Carlisle was turning red trying to hold his laughter in.
"Jazz I'm almost there. I will sit on the bench and hold your hand if it helps ok?" He sighed.
"Good idea Bella." He says, and I rolled my eyes again.
"Jasper where is Alice." Things got quite and I knew he had found her face in the bleachers behind him and went into stare at Alice mode. Ahhh the peace and quiet.
"Bella, did you break Jasper?" The velvet voiced devil is finally talking to me.
"No, your twin is calming him down." I giggled.
"Ahh. Now where the hell are you?"
"Edward Anthony Cullen, I did not raise you to talk to a lady that way." Carlisle gives me a wink, letting me know he is just yanking Edward's chain.
"Dad?"
"No son it's Santa, and I'm working on my list and checking it twice." He said sarcastically. Sarcastic Carlisle was funny.
"Sorry Dad, sorry Bella baby. I was just worried." Awww.
"Yea I fell asleep and I guess in the rush to make the game I was forgotten or something. Since I'm generally not at the house before games and with you guys." I could almost hear him nod in understanding. We were at the school and I snuck off towards the benches and Carlisle went back to the family. Edward was filling me in on how bad the team was sucking tonight and I was acting like we were stuck at a red light. Quietly I snuck up behind him and smacked his ass hard. He jumped and threw Em's phone into the back of Coach's head earning a grunt from Coach and a "What the fuck man?" from Em who retrieved his baby and cuddled it.
"Thank GOD!" Jasper literally did a happy dance and Alice laughed so hard I heard her down at the field. Edward meanwhile once realizing it was me that whacked his ass grabbed me into a death grip hug and started sniffing my hair.
"I missed you baby. I was worried when you weren't here." Like he hadn't ignored me all fucking day. But hell, he was warm, smelled like Edward and sweat. And it calmed me.
"Shh it's ok I'm fine, and I'll stay down here and handle Jasper." I whispered running one hand into his hair to massage his scalp, the way I know relaxes him and the other hand rubbed his back. He kept sniffing my hair and holding me like I was going to leave. It was sweet and was breaking my heart. I must be a masochist because I never wanted out of those arms.
That was until another set joined in our hug and I felt Jasper hugging me and sniffing my hair. "What the fuck Jasper?" Edward growled.
"I uhh just thought, uhh, sniffing the hair was some sort of good luck thing and might help." He explained red faced and I giggled into Edward who was laughing his ass off.
Coach rolled his eyes and told them both to "Man up." And me to "Sit myself on the bench and try not to get hit by stray balls or abducted by strange sniffing boys." I had to giggle again. Edward put me on the bench next to Ben, Angela's honey man, and James, who had broken up with Vicky because of the whole sticking her cousin on Edward thing. They both jokingly leaned over to sniff my hair earning a growl from Edward who kissed me on the top of my head, plopped his helmet on and ran back on the field.
And we won, by 1 fucking point! Hell yea! Lots of hugging and spinning me around post winning field goal. Vertigo set in. Carlisle had to come and carry me back to the car since I had been tossed about like a football and spun like a merry-go-round on speed. We waited for the boys, me stretched out in the back seat begging for the world to stop spinning, Alice sitting in the driver's seat watching me and giggling.
"Bella, I'm so sorry I forgot to wake you up. Bree was pissing me off, and I'm so used to you being with the guys before the games I just went on auto pilot!"
"No problem." I groaned out, "World stop spinning." I begged causing Alice to start laughing again.
"This is why you would suck at being a cheerleader Bella." Rose joked jumping in the passenger's seat beside Alice still in uniform.
"Haha."
"I can't believe Jazzy wigged out!" Alice giggled again.
"He gets it from Dad, this superstitious nature, especially when it comes to sports. Our father has done some dumb shit in the name of sports." She sighed.
"Men!" Alice again. "Bitch." She seethed all of a sudden and I sat bolt up. There leaning against his Volvo stood Edward, and leaning into him was Bree. I flopped back down.
"What the fuck?!" Rose went mama bear. "He's all the fuck over you all the fucking time and that cheap piece of ass shows up and he… He's so fucking paying for this shit!"
"Rose, Edward and I are friends, that's all." I whispered.
"Bull shit Bella, your mad about that green eyed assmunch." Ahh my observant Rosalie. "And that whore is getting on a flight back to Chi town asap!"
"We can tie her ass up and drug her, I think she'd like it. Plop her ass on a plan to Zimbabwe or some shit." Alice offered up.
"Gahhhh!" I heard the banging on the door and moved my arm from my eyes to see my cousin making faces.
"Let me in!" He begged. Alice popped the locks I lifted my legs and he slipped in under them. Jasper lifted my head and slipped in the other side. I was now laying across the two of them.
"Why are we all in Carlisle's car?" Jasper asks the obvious question.
"He and Esme took the Porsche and Jeep. I'm driving us to grab some food and home." Alice explained. We pulled out of the parking lot leaving Edward and Bree doing whatever the fuck they were doing. My heart was broken again, those few moments in his arms had made me feel whole now I felt broken again.
We pulled into Frank's Pizza and Ice Cream to get our feed on. Emmett ordered his own pie while the rest of us shared one. I was shocked when half way into my first piece Edward and the skank came in.
"Guys, not cool just ditching us." Edward moaned.
"Sorry." Em mumbled around his 3rd slice. Edward walked up ordered another pizza, and another pitcher of pop. He plopped down grabbed a slice from the pie already on the table and grabbed for my drink. I slapped his hand away from it and he gave me a hurt puppy dog look. I always let him drink my stuff.
"Get your own Edward." I fake laughed. Bree was sitting beside/on him.
"Yea Edward seriously we have no fucking clue where your mouth has been and I really don't want Bella catching oral herpes or some shit." Rose told him bluntly causing silence to break out at the table.
"Whatever Rose." He told her. Throwing down a wad of bills he grabbed Bree's arm and walked back out.
"Shit Rosie." Emmett complained. "That was uncalled for."
"Bull shit Emmett. It was called for." Rose throws back.
"I think it was too Em." Alice informed him and Jasper nodded in agreement. "Bella isn't a yo yo to be played with Emmett. I love my brother but that ho has to go."
"Alice you rhymed." Jasper told her excitedly.
"Jazzy your still post win adrenaline high aren't you?" She giggled.
"Yep." We all laughed. Some stiffer than others.
"Guys don't be mean to Edward ok." My appetite long gone I sipped at my coke and wanted to go home. "Are we ready to go?" They nodded almost in unison. The rest of the food including Edward's pizza was wrapped to go and we headed home.
….
I wandered down to breakfast Saturday morning still half asleep. That's probably why it took me a moment to realize Alice was crying at the kitchen table , yea we eat in here way more than the dining room, Esme sobbing, Carlisle and Emmett pacing and Edward not there. This all hit me as I pour milk into a glass.
"What's going on?" I asked softly.
"Edward didn't come home last night and isn't answering his cell." Emmett told me bluntly. "Charlie has the station on alert for signs of his car and called down to La Push to have the boys see if he's down there."
"WHAT?!" Edward, my responsible, yes he might be a man whore but still he never did crap like this, Edward didn't come home, and didn't call? I ran upstairs grabbed my cell and called his number. Nothing but voice mail. Fuck.
I held my phone for dear life and went back to my family. I sat down next to Alice and hugged her. Carlisle was holding on to Esme and Emmett was on the phone with Jasper.
"Should we go look for him?"
"Bella…" Carlisle let out a sigh at my question. "This isn't the first…" Alice cut him off.
"It's that bitch Bree, she fucks him up every damn time! When they put her ass away and he got free he cleaned up and became our Edward again Dad! Why the HELL did you let her stay here?" She demanded.
"Ali sweetheart." Carlisle embraced his daughter. "I'm so sorry I thought," his eyes flicked to look at me, "that things would be different. I thought we could help out old friends and not have the past hurt us."
"Daddy I know you and Peter are great friends but his daughter is trouble." She sighed like the weight of the world was on her little shoulders. "If Edward falls in the pit again, or gets hurt I will kill her!" Her body shook and her sobs became harsher. Suddenly Jasper ran in hugging her tiny body to his much larger frame. Soothing her and pulling her into another room. Rose was behind him running into Emmett's arms.
Three days ago, my biggest worry was would Edward ask me to the damned dance, now it was is Edward ok. Is my love alive? Is he in this pit Alice talked off? Where is he? My Edward ring tone went off and I looked at the text.
See you at the dance Bella baby, dance, dance, dance baby.
I handed my phone to Carlisle and he breathed a sigh of relief and then his pale face burned a furious red. Edward was in deep shit. And I worried about the whole dance, dance, dance thing. Clearly, I wouldn't see him there, since I refused to go. However, the boys were being rounded up and told instructions in case Edward shows. Aunt Esme hugged me tight and we held each other limp with relief Edward was alive. Though sadness that clearly something was very wrong filled us both.
…
I stayed home; they all went. I couldn't go. No really, I couldn't Esme and Carlisle all ganged up on me and made me stay home.
I tried reading, fail.
I tried watching a movie, fail again.
I tried listening to music, epic fail.
The book couldn't hold my attention. The movie couldn't either. And the music reminded me of Edward. So, I decided to sleep. Crawling into my big fluffy bed I closed my eyes tight and prayed that Edward would be ok, and that I could sleep.
…
I heard thumping and yelling. Loud noises echoing through our large house. I stumbled to slip a bra on under my light blue tank and straightened my darker blue yoga pants before going to find out what the hell was going on.
The first thing I saw was Alice in her cute Betty Rubble costume standing next to Barney aka Jasper. She was clearly crying and he was trying to comfort her. Emmett dressed like Indiana Jones was holding Aunt Esme. Rose dressed like a Greek Goddess looked on at the scene in front of her in horror. There thrashing in his father's arms was Edward. He was clearly out of control. His beautiful green eyes glazed, his face flushed and he could barely hold himself up.
"Bella go to your room." Emmett demanded upon seeing me. "Take Alice and Rose with you." Before I could answer Edward's eyes snapped up and took me in. His beautiful crooked grin spread across his face and he stopped fighting his father.
"Bella baby." He called. And like I was caught in a tractor beam from some sci-fi show I walked to him. His smile got larger and he got calmer the closer I got.
"Edward, are you ok?" Carlisle had apparently loosened his grip when Edward calmed down because the next thing I knew Edward was holding me against him sniffing my hair. He was mumbling incoherently and he smelled of a liquor cabinet. I shifted my weight and began to lead him towards the family room. "Let's sit down Edward." I said gently.
"Mmm k." He mumbled into my hair. Flopping down onto the sectional he pulled me with him. So, there I sat on Edward's lap my legs straddling his and his head buried in my hair and our family looking on.
"Edward are you drunk?"
"Yea." He told my hair. His hands slipping down my body one now holding the middle of my back the other groping my ass.
"Why Edward? What happened?" I begged in a hushed tone.
"Don't leave me." He whispered on a small sob.
"I won't." I hugged him tight.
"Shhh baby, Shhh." He said and it hit me I was crying.
"Tomorrow you are going to tell me what happened Edward Anthony Cullen." I said in a firm yet tearful voice.
"K." He agreed. His voice getting softer.
"Edward let's get a little more comfortable. My legs are cramping." It was a lie but I wanted him to lay down and go to sleep. I knew he needed to sleep this off. He muttered his consent and while still holding me I shifted us against one of the two arms of the sectional. Alice slipped a pillow behind me and I gave her a small smile. Edward laid his head in my lap and I rubbed his scalp. I knew he loved when I played with his hair but he was downright purring.
"Feels so good." He mumbled. "Don't leave Bella."
"I won't Edward I promise." After about 10 minutes his soft snore filled the room and I heard a hush fall over our family.
I looked up to find everyone watching us almost in amazement. Emmett was the first to speak.
"Ok maybe we should have let you come to the dance. He freaked out when you weren't there." He whispered but an Emmett whisper is a regular person's speaking voice. However, Edward continued to sleep.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Bree." Alice growled. "She's a partying freak, drunks, booze, anything to get high. She and Edward used to date until she got put in juvey for fighting. When they were dating Edward drank a lot. He was a party fool. I know he never did anything harder than trying pot once though." She sighed and Carlisle took over.
"When they were together his grades slipped, the partying and God knows what they were doing really effected Edward. It was a very poisonous relationship. However, her father is an old friend of mine that is the only reason I let her stay for a few days. I never thought she would be able to pull Edward back into her sick web again." A loud snore from Edward caught everyone's attention and I giggled. So cute.
"Where is Bree now?" I wondered out loud.
"On a plane back home. Charlie drove her to Port Angeles to catch a flight to Seattle to go back to Chicago. My genius son used his keys to the old house parked his car in the driveway and got himself drunk. He kept grabbing Rose and alternating between calling her a shrew and apologizing for being a dick." Carlisle pinched the bridge of his nose in a very Edward move and sighed again.
"Edward fell back into an old pattern last night. Hiding rejection, pain, guilt and uncertainty in the bottom of a bottle" Alice let me know while she was removing his shoes. "It's a long story that starts with a Grandmother who blamed Edward and I for her daughter's, our own mother's death. You know how sensitive Edward is, she figured out he was the easiest target and well that's how he was so susceptible to Bree's lifestyle."
"Why was he fighting you so hard when I came downstairs?"
"When we showed up without you at the dance he kind of freaked. At first, he thought something bad had happened then he decided you left because you hated him. We told him you were upstairs sleeping but he didn't believe us and wanted to go see for himself. Bella he was being irrational and out of control we were worried." Jasper threw in. "He didn't calm down till he saw you." Somehow that warmed me inside.
"Kids I think it's time for everyone to go to sleep. Jasper, Rose your more than welcome to spend the night." Carlisle bless you. "Bella do you need help getting up?"
"No Carlisle I'm going to stay here with Edward. I promised I would."
"Ok if you need us you know where we are." I smiled gently. "I don't think he'll be awake anytime soon, so if you get uncomfortable just shift him and go to bed or the other side of the sectional." I nodded.
"Night." A round of goodnights filled the family room.
"Happy Halloween Bells." Emmett joked on the way out of the room. I smiled.
"Happy Halloween Emmy Bear."
I knew it was a Halloween I would never forget, even though I hadn't even dressed up or left the house. We had lost and found Edward. I was a little worried he had sex with Bree. I know I'm not his girlfriend but the idea of the two of them having sex flipped my tummy. The idea of Edward with any other girl made me feel sick. But if it was Bree it was worse. She was toxic and tried to ruin Edward. Sweet Edward whose own Grandmother had tried to destroy his soul. I promised myself in that moment I would try and make him happy no matter what we were. Friends, dating, limbo or even someday married. I would try my hardest to prove to Edward Cullen that he was worthy of love and happiness. That I wouldn't leave and that he had a family who loves him.
I looked down at the beautiful bronze head on my lap which I could barely see the color due to the only light now came from the tv which I had turned on muted. My hand continued to ruin through Edward's hair, I loved touching his hair and it seemed to sooth him. I could touch his hair forever I thought as I blinked and yawned.
And I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew it was morning sun light pouring through the windows. And I was pushed against the back of the sectional sofa face to face with Edward. His green eyes blazing into my brown ones. My mind foggy, my head spinning and suddenly I felt a jolt of electricity go through my body as Edward's lips descended towards mine, and I knew I was getting ready to have my first real kiss.