Devotion 3
For Edward, two things stood out when considering the psychology of wearing a uniform. Two things more than the stiff and the flap.
One, the sense of belonging. So yes, an external expression of identity. Secondly, the attempt to erase one's individuality.
As five pm approached, Edward decided not to change for dinner with Bella and Alice. When he'd met Bella earlier, he'd worn jeans and a white shirt. Was this his uniform now? And what group did that put him in?
He looked in the mirror, felt a new kind of conflict. He ran his fingers through his hair. She had liked what she'd seen. There was no shyness about expressing it, but her livelihood would have encouraged that kind of confidence. That and a lack of raising? He grinned at himself, but it was bizarre with that look in his eyes.
The very act of coming on strong could be a wall. She played offense.
"I knew every inch of him," she'd said.
It conjured up so many images. Bella naked, curved, sensuous, crawling over this sprawled man spread out for her perusal.
Edward stood in the doorway to the large bedroom. He looked up at the ceiling. New paint. A thin white coat. He could see marks from the roller. Beneath that paint the plaster eyes. Plaster eyes, like the ones he'd beseeched. Useless witnesses…
Should he take something to 3B? What did he have? A box of household from Esme. Oh, maybe a corkscrew? He dug around and yes. Odd his mother would include this. He had to laugh.
That was it. Three minutes to get to 3. We're in 3B. We're. She and a roommate. Or a partner? He shouldn't assume about Alice. He went outside, then inside again, the center doors Shaniqua had used. His hallway was connected, but outside, they could see him coming if they were looking.
He went lightly up the stairs, even though he wanted to turn around. Go back to the apartment. But no comfort there, just himself. There was nothing for him. Anywhere.
He found the door easily, and it opened as he was poised to knock.
Bella. Dressed for work? White t-shirt, Vibe in black letters. Black bra straps showing, and the rest of the bra visible under the shirt. Short. Shorts. Beautiful skin. Everywhere.
He held out the corkscrew.
Bella took it like a bouquet, held it against her heart. "Aw. Alice look! A screw from Edward!"
She moved, and Edward saw two things. Alice. A thin, dark woman. Thirties. In a wheelchair.
And Shaniqua. Of course, this was that apartment. The one Bella had yelled up to when he'd first seen her. Bella lived with them.
"Come in," Bella moved back, nodded her head.
"Hi," he said.
"Yeah, that's Alice and Shanni," Bella said, moving to the small strip of counter and working the screw into the cork on that cheap bottle of wine.
"Ladies," Edward said, very soberly.
"What's your last name?" Alice said. She wasn't smiling.
"McCarty," Edward said softly.
"I'll be looking that up," Alice said like she was mad at him. "Anything funny comes up I'll be letting the super know. Not that he'll do anything, but I'll make sure your ass is out of here."
"Shut it, Alice!" Bella rounded on her, loud and angry.
"Don't think that shitty elevator will hold me back," Alice went on.
"Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't," Bella said low, whipping the lid off a pot of…sauce and stirring.
"Shaniqua can't stay cooped up in here, and that courtyard is all she's got. Don't think my eye ain't on her. On you, Mister," Alice continued.
"Did ah…did I interrupt something?" Edward said.
"No!" Bella said quickly, slamming the lid on the pot and salting a pot of water on the other burner. "She's got no freakin' manners!" she shouted at Alice, dusting her hands on her thighs.
Alice quickly turned the wheels on her chair almost crashing into Bella's legs. "You talking manners? Asking him without asking me!"
"Hey…I'm gonna…" Edward pointed at the door. Obviously the "Alice wants you to come to supper," was baloney.
"You ain't going anywhere!" Bella yelled grabbing onto Edward's arm. "She's gonna go to her room."
"You sending me to bed?" Alice asked outraged. "You and what army, bitch!"
"Oh…you are lucky you're in that chair," Bella said loudly.
"Come on. That never stopped you before!" Alice yelled.
Edward felt a tug on his free hand. Shaniqua had taken it in her two small ones. "Want to see my room?"
"Yes, honey. Show Edward your room," Bella said releasing him to flap her hand at Alice. She turned back to the stove.
"Take the creep in your room, honey. Sure. Take him right in," Alice was disgusted and she rolled back to the window. "Touch her once!" she yelled, finger high in the air. She still would not look at him.
Shaniqua pulled on his hand. He looked helplessly to Bella.
"Go on," Bella said.
"But her mother..," Edward said pointing toward Alice
"What you mean? Shaniqua is mine," Bella said. Then she turned up the flame under the water and popped a lid on the pan.
"Come on," Shaniqua said.