A/N: Brand new week and 3 brand new chapters! Exciting! This one leads straight on from chapter 18, hence the Previously. I hope you enjoy! See you at the bottom ;)
I'll Always Find Peace In The Meadow
Previously...
"We can hang out away from school now, too," she says. My good mood diminishes a bit.
Her face falls as she watches my face fall. "What?" she asks cautiously.
"It's my parents," I sigh. "I don't know how they'll feel about me hanging around with you. I don't care what they think, and it won't stop me... I just don't want them to make you feel uncomfortable when, or if, you come round," I admit sadly.
"Oh," is all Bella says. She's silent for several seconds, thinking. "Well, maybe we could tell them you're tutoring me?" she suggests.
"Tutoring you?" I ask.
"Yeah. I'd like to be able to come round at some point, so maybe we could use it as an excuse. And we both know I could use the help with math. It's the perfect story. We could even make it official with the school. It may help you earn some extra credit, which your parents can't complain about and it would be a big help to me. I'm really struggling."
Huh. That's not a bad idea. I nod my assent, my broad smile returning. "Okay. Sounds like a plan."
Chapter Nineteen: 'Devil seat on wheels' (Edward POV)
Monday 15 May 2017
I think about Bella's idea the rest of the way home. It's actually a pretty smart idea. My parents can't complain about me tutoring someone, especially if it earns me extra credit like Bella pointed out, and it will mean that we'll be able to spend more time together which is a bonus.
If I'm being completely honest, even though I'm happy with the way things turned out today - regarding me finally admitting to my sister and the others about Bella, not about the whole water incident - I am quite nervous with how things are going to play out in the aftermath. Rosalie and the others seem really serious about their beliefs, even if they are absolutely preposterous. I don't know how far they'll go to make me realise that 'Bella isn't one of us', as they put it.
As I near the road that turns down to my house, my nerves get the better of me and I have to stop for a second, to compose myself. I'm nervous because I really don't want my parents to paint mine and Bella's friendship in a negative light. I'm sure Alice has already told them about it.
I finish the walk to the house, dawdling along the road and across the large driveway. Alice's car is parked outside the garage doors, instead of inside, which is strange. At the last minute, I decide to enter the house through the garage, using the side door. Hoping to go unnoticed for a little while longer, I speed walk passed my mom's car and to the staircase at the other side of the garage. Dad isn't home yet.
I reach the bottom step with a sigh of relief and continue to my room, passing through the media room and stepping out into the great room. I'm stopped by the sight of my mother and sister sat on the large, L-shaped leather sofa, facing the fireplace. I sigh again, though this time it's not in relief, and stay stood by the door.
"Hello, Edward," my mother greets, not smiling.
"Mother," I reply stiffly.
"Where have you been?" she asks, her tone matching mine. Stiff and restricted.
"Walking," I answer, not losing eye contact with her.
"Why didn't you come home with Alice?"
"Because I felt like walking," I say with a shrug.
"Well, if you did walk home, it shouldn't have taken you this long to get here," my mother muses out loud.
"I took the long way," I answer defensively.
"Aaah, the long way." My mother sighs as she stands slowly, brushing her hands down the front of her pale blue blouse. "And did you happen to stop off anywhere during your walk the long way home?"
"Um, no," I answer. I'm expecting to feel nervous, but I don't. I think I've finally reached my wits end with feeling like I've committed a crime by simply having a friend my parents don't approve of.
"Really? You didn't happen to stop off at, oh I don't know, your new friends house?" she asks. Thanks, Alice!
"No. I didn't. I just... I felt like taking the long route. What's the problem?"
"Nothing... there is no problem. I just think you, me, and your father need to sit down together and have a little chat. Tonight, perhaps?"
"Uuuh, sure. Okay?" I answer, feeling slightly nervous now my father has been mentioned.
My mom nods and exits the room, heading upstairs to do something. When I turn back to Alice, I see that she's staring at me with narrowed, calculative eyes.
"So I'm guessing you told Mom about my new friend?" I ask her, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh yes. It was only right," Alice says, standing from her place on the sofa. "She and Dad need to know of your choices. How can they help you if they don't know what's going on?" she asks.
"Alice, I don't need any help," I whisper-yell, stepping closer to her. She walks forward until she's stood directly in front of me.
"Oh, Edward. Let's not pretend here. It's clear that Rosalie, Lauren, Tyler or any of the others aren't going to get through to you, so maybe Mom and Dad can be the ones to knock some sense into this." She reaches up and ruffles my hair with her hand, a smile on her face. I bat her hand away, stepping back and out of her reach.
"I don't need sense knocking into me, Alice. I can make my own decisions," I retort.
"Whatever you say, little brother," she says as she turns to head for the stairs Mom has just ascended. "But at least listen to what our parents have to say. They know what they're talking about."
I sigh and look away from her, waiting for her to disappear before I make a run for my room. "Oh, and Edward?" I reluctantly glance at Alice who has stopped near the bottom of the stairs. "Jessica and Lauren are coming for dinner tonight. Mom and Dad are letting them stay over so we can study together."
"Okay?" I question, not knowing how this is important to me, but already feeling the dread of what dinner will be like tonight settle within me. Alice smiles and turns to leave, practically skipping up the stairs. I shuffle to my room, having to restrain myself from slamming my door behind me. I throw my bag into my open closet and walk straight into my bathroom. I strip and step into the shower, emerging myself in the hot spray of the water.
What a day! I can't wait for this one to be over. Maybe tomorrow will be better.
I wash quickly after wasting most of the hot water doing nothing. I step out and wrap one of my towels around my waist. After changing into a pair of denim jeans and a grey t-shirt, I retrieve my bag and sit at my desk, beginning with some homework.
I've been at it for no more than twenty minutes when there's a knock at my door. "Come in," I call out. My door opens and Bev comes into view, walking in slowly as she holds a laundry basket.
Beverly Howard, or Bev as I've known her my whole life, is our housekeeper. She has been working for my parents since my mom found out she was pregnant with Alice. Bev and her husband, Alan, moved here with us from Chicago. They both lived in the guest house above our old garage, back in Chicago.
Alan was our gardener. He recently gave that job up however, so when we moved to Forks, he decided to purchase one of the small, vacant shops on Main Street. When I was younger, he would always tell me about the florist he wanted to open, and now he can do that. To thank him for his lengthy service with us, my parents paid for a majority of the asking price for the shop. Alan and Bev live in the apartment above the shop now. It suits them better, I think. Alan can run the shop and Bev can still easily come to the house to do her usual work.
I was actually quite surprised when I found out my parents had helped pay for their shop and apartment. They've never done something so generous, but it's the least they could do, seeing as Bev and Alan have been so loyal over the years.
Bev is here most days, having only the Sunday off each week. Some days she's here for only an hour, and others she's here most of the day. My parents told her they'd cut her weekly hours after me and my sister got older, but she insisted on staying here with us. I'm glad she did, because she's one of the good qualities about my home life. She's been a part of it since birth. She was also a nanny of sorts, as well as our housekeeper. She and Alan are family, in my opinion at least.
"Hey, Bev," I greet her as I stand from my desk. "Need any help?" I ask, walking towards her. Her sharp look at me, the narrowing of her hazel eyes, has me stopping mid step.
"What are you on about, boy? I don't need no help. You know this." She tuts and rolls her eyes as she walks into my bathroom. She continues to speak, loud enough for me to hear from the neighbouring room. "How many times have I told you to stop asking me that? It's an insult. Me? Need help? Pfft. Please! I've been looking after you for so long, I could do it with my eyes closed."
"Sorry for asking, Bev." I chuckle at her ranting. She comes out of my bathroom, laundry basket fuller after emptying my laundry bin, shaking her head of ink black hair at me.
"You better be. I don't wanna hear another question like that come from your mouth. I'm fine to do it all on my own," she says with a huff, rolling her shoulders. The basket must be a bit heavy. I hold my hands up in surrender, sliding back to my chair and resuming my homework.
A couple of seconds later I hear a throat clearing. I glance up to see Bev looking at me, blush highlighting her freckled cheeks. "Edward, would you be a dear and open the door for me?" she asks quietly, her tone drastically changed from a second ago.
I raise an eyebrow as I lean back in my chair. "I thought you didn't need my help. Didn't you just tell me that you're fine to do it all on your own?" I ask with a smirk. She narrows her eyes at me again, amusement dancing within them.
"Don't get smart with me. Now, get up and open this door." She huffs again. I laugh out loud now, a stretching grin on my face as I hop up out of my chair and open the door for Bev.
~I*A*F*P*I*T*M~
My mother called me to dinner almost fifteen minutes ago. After five minutes of waiting, I realised it was just a ploy to get me out of my room and up here, mingling with the girls.
This evening, it seems I won't be choosing where I want to sit for dinner. My initial plan to distance myself has been thwarted by my sister and her friends. My dad's seat is vacant; he's still in his office after arriving home from work less than an hour ago. My mom's seat is also empty, while she cooks in the kitchen. My sister is sat in her usual place, opposite Mom's. I've been forced next to Alice, with Jessica to my left and Lauren opposite me, beside my mom.
I didn't think today could get any worse. But I was wrong. I've been sat patiently waiting for my food. I have Jessica beside me, leaning forward with her hair dangling all over the table (something I hate) so she can talk to Alice on the other side of me.
And then I have Lauren to contend with. I have had to result to tucking my feet under my chair because she wouldn't stop trying to play footsie with my under the table.
My patience is slowly wearing thin, the more that Jessica leaves her hair on the table, the longer Lauren stares at me "seductively" or whatever it is she is trying to accomplish.
"No way!" Jessica squeals. "Is that true?!" She practically shouts in my left ear after Alice tells her something about a member of a girl band they like going solo or something. I'm not really paying attention. I close my eyes, trying in vain to hide my wince at the high decibels.
"Oh, I forgot to ask you both. Where's a good beauty salon near here? I need to get my nails done," Alice asks them.
"You're best to try Beauty and the Beach in Port Angeles. That's where we go. Look! I got these done last weekend," Jessica advises, stretching her hand in front of me to show Alice her nails.
I snap after that. "Okay, seriously?! Would you like me to move out of the way. Because I'd be happy to sit over there," I say, pointing to the other end of the table, far from anyone else.
"No!" All three of them exclaim at once. This only angers me further. "You're staying where you are, Edward," Alice orders as Jessica pulls her hand back to her side of me.
I almost growl in frustration as they continue drabbling on about facials and massages. I slam my elbows down onto the table, thrusting my hands into my hair as I grumble curses under my breath.
"Edward, stop with the language. We have guests." My father's scolding me makes me raise my head.
"And remove your elbows from the table, too, Edward. That isn't proper manners. You know this," my mother reprimands me. I sigh quietly, slowly removing my elbows from the table and putting the appropriate contrite look on my face, mumbling out an apology.
"Would anyone like a drink?" my mother asks to the room. My father speaks up, asking for a water, while the girls all wave off the question, gesturing to their full or partially full glasses in front of them. My mother begins walking away.
"I'll have a water, too," I shout to her retreating form, wanting to get my order in, even if it seems she was going to forget getting my answer. I get no reply.
"So, ladies, what is it you will be studying this evening?" my father asks, being his ever-so charming self. I have to really restrain from rolling my eyes. As my sister, Lauren and Jessica go on to explain their plans for tonight, which I'm sure they won't stick to, I tune out. I lift my cell phone from my pocket and see I have one new message sent almost half an hour ago. From Bella.
How's your evening going? - B
A small smile involuntarily appears on my face. I keep my phone near my lap, hidden beneath the table as I reply.
The devil-duo are here for the night. How do you think? - E
I lock my phone and hide it on my chair under one of my thighs. Looking back up I see they are all still engrossed in their conversation. My mom brings through our drinks, luckily with a glass of water for me too. And then a few minutes later, she brings in the dinner.
She's gone all out this evening; Beef Wellington with roasted potatoes and asparagus. Chatter fills the room as everyone begins eating. I keep quiet, not wanting to talk to anyone in particular. The devil-duo and Alice take charge of the conversation.
Half way through the meal, my phone buzzes on the chair below my leg. To me, the vibration is extremely loud. I freeze, fork mid-air on the course to my mouth, as I glance around at the others. No one else seems to hear the buzz. Phew. I place my knife down and continue eating with only my fork, trying to not draw attention to myself, as I reach down for my phone. I have another message from Bella.
Shit. Really? I don't envy you. How long are they at yours for? - B
The entire night I think :( Guess I'll be stuck riding with them to school tomorrow. - E
Aw, poor you. When I get my licence I'll come pick you up ;) - B
Only if you pass ;P - E
Oh I will. I'm not taking no for an answer. I'm ready to ditch my damn bicycle. - B
I'll take that damn bicycle over riding with these three any day. - E
Wow. It must be bad. I remember you complaining about riding my bike after only one try on it. - B
Before I can reply, she sends another text through.
'So uncomfortable' - B
And another.
'Should be illegal' - B
Several similar messages come through, and I soon realise that she's quoting my complaints after riding her bike to school the morning after Rosalie's party and our unintentional meet up at the playground. It was really uncomfortable, though. She continues to send them through.
'Never again' - B
'Devil seat on wheels' - B
Did I really say that one? I don't remember calling it that. I think she's starting to make these up.
'Bruised my ass for a century' - B
Yep. She's definitely making these up! I laugh out loud at that one, completely forgetting who is in my company. The others around the table have gone silent, and are staring at me.
A/N: Haha! I've loved every minute of writing the development of their friendship. Tell me what you think of it!
Uh-oh. That ending! :O What do you think will happen?
As always, thanks for reading and I'll see you guys next time (WEDNESDAY!) :)