~AL~

Seven Year Itch

November 1995

~AL~

"Hello?" I answered my phone not looking to see who is calling.

"Hey girl, are you sitting down?" asked Alice.

"Um no. What's up?"

"Well, Edward just moved all of his belongings to his friend Peter's house. I guess he moved out, and whatever has been going on with Jane is now officially over. I mean that's what I hear. Don't say anything though until he tells you himself," Alice said quickly almost without taking breath.

Holy shit, no way. Where did that come from?

"Okay, do you know why or what happened? I mean, last month he told me he was happy, and now he has moved out. Fuck Alice, I'm so confused," I whined.

Alice sighed and answered, "You know Bella he is a complex man. I don't know all of the details, and until he's ready to talk to someone, no one will. Peter has an extra room and I guess Edward will be living there."

"You work tonight, right?"

"Yes, I do. I start at fourteen-thirty. Will I see you there?" asked Alice.

"I'll be there same time as you. See ya! Oh and Alice, thanks for calling me and letting me know about Edward," I said gratefully.

Alice giggled while saying, "Of course, you know I would do anything for you."

I hung up and thought about that conversation.

~AL~

Although, Edward and I did not pursue a romantic relationship our friendship was still strong. Yes, I still loved him, but if the only way I could have him was friendship that had to be enough. Edward started spending his free time at his new house, his best friends house. Peter was a pretty cool guy. He was fun to party with and never had a problem with all of us hanging out at his place. It seemed every weekend, instead of hanging out at the bar, we hung out at their house. He had a pool, and in California that was something you could still use in October and November. Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, Edward, and myself would go over there and barbeque and drink. Peter and Edward had another friend, James that would hang with us as well.

Things seemed to be going well between Edward and I, but we never discussed what happened between us and why the change of heart. The only thing I asked him was if it was true that he wasn't with Jane anymore. He confirmed it and ended the conversation there. I hoped that with time he would want to talk to me about her and what happened. Someday I'd have like to know why he turned us off as soon as he turned us on only to end up leaving her anyway.

The past couple of weeks since Mike left things had been good. Actually too good, but I tried not to jinx myself. Things went too easily with Mike, and I worried that it was the calm before the storm. It was just not like him to walk away from something he wanted so easily. I just prayed that things would continue to be okay.

I had to start hinting around to some of my friends that I was looking for a roommate. Rent was too much for me to cover on my own and I asked for two hundred a month from Mike for child support. I honestly didn't want anything from him, but it was his responsibility to pay something. I figured the two hundred would help me with clothes or food for Matthew. I also needed a new car, because the piece of shit Mike left me with was ready to die.

There was a girl that started working with us a few weeks ago and I got to know her a bit. We hadn't hung out socially at all but from what I knew she seemed pretty cool. She lived with her parents in Moreno Valley, which was quite a drive to make daily so I considered her as an option for a roommate. I thought she was about 5 years younger than me but she seemed responsible and I got along with her great so far.

Once I got to work and spotted Edward, I waited until he was done working his flight because I wanted to ask him to go with me to buy a new car.

He spotted me and was now walking toward me.

"Hey, how are you?"

"Bien y tu'?" he replied.

"Tienes planes mañana? Por que quiero que vallas conmigo a ver carros. Do you want to go?" I batted my eyelashes for affect hoping he'd want to go with me.

"Yeah, I'll go."

"Good, thank you. Can we go in the morning so I can pick up Matthew when we're done?" I begged.

He nodded and then asked, "I'll pick you up at eight and we'll get some breakfast and head out. Okay?"

"Muy bien. Que vamos a cenar ahorra?"

"No se. Que quieres?" he asked.

I laughed because it was like that every time. He would never decide what he wanted for dinner and always wanted me to choose. I felt bad since I always chose and I wanted him to decide for once. We would go back and forth until I would finally give up and decide.

"Seriously, I don't know, but I want you to decide today. Let me know when you're on break and you know what I like so I trust your choice." I replied with a cheesy smile.

He nodded again and walked away to work his next flight.

~AL~

I needed to get the payloads done for next two hours of flights. When I walked into my little office my new friend Leah was in there.

"Hey girl," I said as I walked in.

She turned around and smiled when she saw me. "Hi, how are you?"

"Good, good thanks. You?"

"Fine. So it looks like we're working together tonight."

We divided the flights for the following two hours and filled out the paperwork. Once the paperwork was done, we figured out who would deliver them to the aircrafts. I usually liked to do the delivering because the exercise was great and kept me in shape. Most of the girls I worked with didn't like it out on the ramp. They complained it was too loud and dirty. It was but it didn't bother me at all. Plus I liked the interaction with the other employees.

I delivered all of the paperwork that was done so far and I went back to my office to rest for a bit before my lunch break. I wanted to ask Leah if she considered moving closer to work.

"Leah?"

"Yup," she answered without even looking up from her paperwork.

"Have you ever thought about moving closer to work? I'm looking for a roommate to live with my son and me, but wanted someone I could trust and got along with," I said.

"I thought about it briefly, but I wanted to make sure I got through probation first. Plus, I don't even know where to start to look for a roommate. I have one more week until my probation is over and if you can wait until then for an answer I'd consider it seriously."

"Of course. Actually, a week is perfect. I'd like to introduce you to Matthew and have you come and see the apartment. That way when you decide you have all the facts. How does that sound?"

"Sounds great. Do you work tomorrow?"

I shook my head no and she continued. "Do you want to meet for dinner?"

"If you don't mind an early dinner then that would be great. I have something to do in the morning and I can meet you at my apartment at three."

"Perfect. Write down your address and phone number and I'll go right after work. This works out perfectly since I get off at two thirty," she said.

I wrote down my information and gave it to her and our plans were set. I had a good feeling about this and wanted the girls to get to know her too. I had a feeling we would all get along perfectly.

I was left alone in the office while Leah went on a break. Edward came in shortly after with food from one of my favorite restaurants. It was Peruvian food and the plate was Saltado de Camaron. It was delicious, and was made with French fries, onions, tomatoes, shrimp, and rice sautéed together. He always did these sweet things for me. He was sweet like that with me, but I never saw him do stuff like that for anyone else.

The comfortable silence was interrupted when he began speaking.

"Would you allow me to take you and Matthew out on Monday to Chuck E Cheese?"

Huh?

I tried to contain the huge smile that wanted to break out across my face. I didn't want to seem too eager. I knew where that led me last time.

"You want to take us to Chuck E Cheese on Monday? Really?"

"Yeah, I would like to spend some time with you guys. I haven't seen Matthew since the last time you brought him here to visit," he replied shyly.

"Of course we'll go with you and we would like to spend time with you too."

Geez Bella, why don't you just jump him now and get it over with. A bit anxious are we?

"Thanks for dinner. It was delicious as always and the surprise was nice, too," I said.

~AL~

I rolled over and tapped the alarm clock. I opened one eye and saw that it was six-thirty. I needed to get up since Edward was going to pick me up at eight. I decided I wanted aHonda since it was a reliable car and I could afford it.

I got up and got ready just in time for Edward to knock on the door.

"Good morning," I said.

He replied, "Morning." He was definitely not a morning person. Hopefully by the time we got to the restaurant he would be awake and his chipper self.

I climbed into his car after I locked up the apartment. "Where do you want to eat?" I looked at him as he started the car and began driving.

"I was thinking that deli around the corner. I was craving lox and bagels," he said.

"Mmmm, yum! That sounds great. Good choice. I could really use some coffee, too," I commented.

When we got to the restaurant, it was fairly packed with all of the old folks that went there every single morning. It was like their social meeting place. The owner was always working and greeting the customers. She was a Jewish woman from New York. She had a way with the customers and I personally loved her accent. It always reminded me of home even thought the New York accent was different than the Boston accent. It still had some similarities.

She remembered all of her customers and I had been there several times with Charlie and Sue. As soon as she saw me she said hi and took us to a table right away.

I introduced her to Edward.

"Edward this is Vicky. Vicky this is Edward," I said to them both.

I saw when Vicky gave me a 'you go girl' kind of smirk and I wanted to tell her that there was no going anywhere. Instead I just ignored the implication. Vicky was probably in her early forties and was a bit heavy set. She had the most vibrant red, frizzy hair that was about shoulder length. I really like her she was always made everyone feel special.

"Nice to meet you Edward," she said with a big smile.

"You, too," replied Edward.

"Well you two enjoy your breakfast and your waitress will be with you shortly. I need to get back to work," she said as she walked away.

"So are you going to have the lox? I want that, too," I asked.

He nodded. Shortly after the waitress came and took our orders and we got our coffee.

"So do you know what kind of car you want to look at?" Edward asked me.

"Yeah, I was thinking a Honda wagon. What do you think?"

"That is a nice car and it would be perfect for you and Matthew," he commented.

The rest of our breakfast was quiet while we ate. As we headed to the dealership I felt Edward touch the back of my hand lightly as it laid on the edge of my seat. His palm rested on the stick shift and he moved his fingers softly back and forth over my hand. I was shocked with the sudden affection and didn't want to call attention to it. I was too afraid he would stop. So I just sat there and reveled in the feeling of his skin touching mine in such an innocent but meaningful way.

It was times like that I didn't know what he was trying to do or say. I didn't want to assume that for him it meant more than just friendship, but I hoped it did. I loved his touches. He was always so gentle with me. The confusion just grew and grew and I figured that when he figured out what he was doing he would share it with me. In the meantime, I would just enjoy what he gave me.

When we got to the dealership and walked into the show room to look for a sales person I passed the car I wanted.

"Hey, that's the car I want. The white one," I whispered because I didn't want the sales people to hear me. I knew that if they did they'd pounce.

We wheeled and dealed and I walked or rather drove away with a brand new Honda Accord wagon. My first brand new car and it smelled great.

Edward said he would follow me home so he could check it out some more and then he needed to get to work. We pulled up in front of my apartment building and he wanted to take it for a drive. We took a spin around the block and he told me how much he liked it for me. We said bye with promises of calling each other later.

I went inside the house to call Mike to let him know that I wanted to pick up Matthew. Before I could pick up the phone, it started to ring.

"Hello?"

"Um, does Mike drive a yellow bug?" Edward asked.

"Oh, hi. Yeah, why?"

"Well, as I drove from your street he began following me. I think he was hiding out in the Seven-Eleven parking lot across from your apartment," Edward said rather calmly. I on the other hand was furious.

"Fuck! I'll call you right back," I told him and hung up.

I dialed Mike's cell phone and prayed he would answer.

He picked up after the first ring.

"Yeah?" he said.

"What the fuck? Where is Matthew and where are you right now? You better not be following my friend!" I screamed.

"Who is he? Is that why you kicked me out so you could hook up with someone else?"

"I kicked you out because I don't love you anymore. At. All. And whom I associate with now is not your fucking business. Now where is my son?" I was furious. I was so angry I almost popped a fucking vein in my head.

"He's with my mom. Calm down. I'm not going to do anything. I just wanted to fuck with him for a bit," he laughed.

"This is not fucking funny. God, you are so immature. Stay out of my personal life. I'm going to get Matthew while you stop following my friends or I'm gonna call the fucking cops on your ass!"

"Yeah, whatever!" Then I heard him hang up.

What a fucking asshole! He best not fuck with me.

I jumped in my car, drove around the block to his mother's apartment, and picked up Matthew. I knew I'd feel better once I had my baby in my arms.

~AL~