A/N: Thanks to all those who reviewed/favorited/followed!
Edward and Bella's POV's will change periodically. I don't have a plan for it right now, but this story from this point on will only consist of their POV's. Any similarities between my writing and Colton Underwood as the Bachelor are purely coincidental. I had this written before I even got to watch the premiere, so there is no copyright intended. They're starting points are quite similar, but I'm sure they won't be that way for long.
PSA: In a sleep induced haze, I forgot to post this chapter two weeks ago! So, I'm uploading it now! Sorry for any confusion!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. All mistakes are mine.
"Look, the new me is really still the real me. I swear you gotta feel me before they try and kill me. They gotta make some choices, they running out of options." – Drake – "In My Feelings"
Chapter One
Edward's POV
January 2018
"Remind why I agreed to this again, Dad? Wasn't being humiliated in front of the whole world last year bad enough? Now, you want me to willing go out there and have my life recorded for the next three months?" It was the same argument I'd had with my parents for months. I already had my heartbroken once by going out of my comfort zone in this show, and now they want me to go do it again? Fucking incredulous.
"Listen, son, we only want you to get out there a little more. All you do is work, go home to your apartment and come over for dinner every once in a while. We want more for you, Edward and you should want more for yourself. We know how lonely you've been since Lizzie all those years ago. We've idly stood by and watched you throw yourself into your work and now we're sick of it. We don't want you to let your life waste away, when you have so much to offer."
"Are you saying that being dedicated to my work is a bad thing? It's what you wanted me to do in the first place! You wanted me to follow in your footsteps and become a doctor, Dad! How can you be mad at that? And bringing up Lizzie? Low blow Dad, low blow." I can barely contain my anger. I'm practically seething now. He knows Lizzie is a sore subject for me.
"I could never be mad at you for doing your best for your patients, Edward. And if I remember correctly, it was you who followed me around in the hospital like an infection as soon as you realized what I did for a living. You wanted to become a doctor just as bad as I wanted you to," Dad says calmly. I can't help but roll my eyes like a child. He's right and he know he's right. I've loved medicine and helping people for as long as I can remember. When Lizzie and I broke up, it was the only thing that kept me going for a while, knowing that I was making a difference in someone else's life helped me forget about my empty one.
"Carlisle, let me talk to my baby boy for a few moments." I turn to look around dad to see my mom walking towards us, a soft smile on her face.
Dad sighs but agrees. "Okay, Esme. Try to make it fast though okay? We have less than an hour to get him to the airport," he says, giving a pointed look. He starts walking upstairs, probably to get the rest of my bags and my siblings to say goodbye.
"You are one of the most amazing young men I've ever had the pleasure of knowing, Edward. You…"
"You have to say that Mom, you're my mom. It's in the job description," I interrupt rudely. I don't want to listen to another one of "you're such a good guy, why don't you have a wife yet" speeches. I get them all the time and the last thing I need is to get one from my mother.
She lightly whacks me on the head and chides me, "I wasn't finished you twerp. Now hush up and let me speak." Her tone of voice makes me check myself and really listen to what she's about to say. There're not many times when my mom is ever too serious, but I guess now is one of those times.
I mockingly salute to her, but honestly begin to listen as her words fall over my ears. "As I was saying, Edward, honey, you are such a beautiful man, inside and out. You've dedicated your life to helping others in any way you can. You've always been such a light in your father and my eyes. Your siblings have always looked up to you their entire lives.
"One of these days, you are going to alter the way people see the world. But as you go through this dating process again, don't forget who you are and don't forget why you're doing it. Forget about what the press and media and everyone else says about you. No one compares to you, and never let yourself become something that others want you to be. Stay focused so that your change and growth during this process becomes intentional.
"You've never done anything for yourself your entire life. You always work holidays at the hospital so the other doctors can spend that time with their families, now its time for you to have a family of your own, baby. You deserve that pleasure and if this stupid show is going to give you a chance to find it, then I say you go for it, wholeheartedly."
The sudden urge to cry almost gets me, but Emmett's thundering footsteps bring me out of mom's inspirational words. "Baby bro! Are you ready to go spend the next three months with twenty of America's hottest babes?"
I roll my eyes at my older brother's antics. "It's not like that and you know it, Em."
"Okay, I'm sorry. Are you ready to go spend the next three months in the house next door to twenty of America's hottest babes?" he amends.
"You're an ass, Em," I whisper lovingly as he pulls me into a bear hug.
"And you're about to go get some ass," he smirks back.
"You can't hog him forever, Emmett. You're not the only one who's not going to be able to talk to him for the next three months." I turn to look at my little sister, Alice, who is slightly pouting.
"Oh, Ally, I'm going to miss you squirt," I say as I wrap her into a bone crushing hug. And I meant what I said too. I am going miss her. I am going to miss my entire family, but Alice the most. Only three minutes my junior, my twin and I have always had a special bond and a deep connection. She took the news the hardest when I accepted the offer to be the next Bachelor after being dumped only a few weeks prior on "The Bachelorette."
"I hope you find everything you're looking for Eddie." I cringe hearing my childhood nickname. "I hope you can find what Jasper and I have and so much more. I love you."
I smile and kiss the top of her forehead. She met her husband of four years in college and fell in love in a matter of days, or at least that what they tell us. I've never seen anyone act like Alice and Jasper act like when they're together. Sometimes I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but it seems to work for them.
I turn to my dad who is holding my last bag, taken from my childhood room. "We only want you to be happy, Edward," he says, clearly not wanting to fight anymore.
I smile softly and turn to Mom, remembering her words about deserving to find love and I think I finally grasp what they're saying. I shouldn't let the media or the internet or anyone else hinder me from going after something that I've wanted for so long. I deserve to find love, just like anyone else. My way might not be the most traditional way, but I want to give it another shot.
"I know you guys do, all of you. I couldn't have gotten through the past few months without all of you and your help." It's the truth. After I basically got dumped on national television for being a virgin, the media was a shit storm. There were paparazzi everywhere I went, asking me questions, as if I owed them, or anyone really, an answer as to why I am still a virgin at twenty-nine. The truth is I've just been waiting for the right person, and even if I loved Lizzie back in my college days, I knew I wasn't going to be with her for the rest of my life, hence why I'm still a virgin. I want my first time to be with the girl I know I'm going to spend forever with.
And call me a fucking sap.
So, they did, literally.
When it was announced that I was going to be the new Bachelor, all hell broke loose. There was so much trash talk about me and the TV show after it was announced that I was sure they were going to ask me to tear up my contract, but they never did. I don't know why, but I don't care at this point. I'm ready to find love again and this time, I want it to last.
The ride to the airport was filled with stories from my childhood. It's going to be a long three months without the most important people in my life around me, but maybe at the end of this I'll be adding another person to the mix.
When we stop the car and get the luggage out of the trunk, my mother's eyes fill with tears. Her goodbye is the only one that has the power to make me stop and decide if I really want to be away from them for so long. "I'm going to miss you, Edward."
"I'll miss you too, mom. I love you."
"No matter what you go through these next few months, you remember what I said. You deserve nothing less than unconditional love." I pull her in for one last hug and squeeze her tight.
Waving to everyone as I step inside the airport, I'm also waving goodbye to my lonely life in Forks, Washington.
As I step onto the plane about an hour later, I decide to give this one last chance and give it my all. I want nothing more than to find a woman to spend forever with, so here's to wishful thinking.
A/N: So, what did you think? Please review and let me know!