I OWN NOTHING. SM OWNS IT ALL.
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The Colleague.
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Chapter nine.
My head is fucking pounding, that short wrestler was still in there jumping around. Ugh my mouth felt like a hamster had lived there all night, I needed to brush my teeth. Getting out of bed I was pretty unsteady on my feet; walking into my bathroom and yeah I looked like shit. Taking a piss, it took forever. Just how much did I drink last night? Shower I think, maybe I'd feel better. Nice hot spray massaging my tired skin, I had an erection which surprised me but I didn't feel like taking care of it. Bella would probaly feature in it and I'd had enough of her for the time being. I dreamt about her too I think. Couldn't be bothered to shave either just brushed my teeth which did make me feel a bit better. I needed a couple of bottles of water.
"Hey Edward, Emmett's still sleeping, did you have fun here last night? I saw the empty bottle of whisky." She didn't know, well I wasn't about to drop Em in it.
"Sure, but got a bad head today, what time is it Rose?"
"Well it's your own fault and it's nearly twelve o'clock. Emmett's getting up I can hear him. You want some coffee?"
"Yeah; be nice, I'm just going to have this water first though." She got up and started making it. Emmett came out of his bedroom spotted me drinking the water...
"Anymore of that Ed? Man we drunk some in that club last night not to mention that whisky when we got ba..." I tried to silently warn him but...Oh fuck! He just realised Rose was standing there in our kitchen. Wait for it!
"You went to a club Emmett and you didn't tell me?"
"Rose listen, course I was going to tell you, what do you take me for? Bella text Edward last night, that she was going to Blades and I just tagged along with him. You were with my sister; I didn't want to disturb you baby." He shouldn't of mentioned Bella just yet, she was going to freak I could tell.
"Bella? You gotta be kidding me right? Emmett Cullen how could you? I'm severely pissed at this information." I'm gonna help him out here; it was the least I could do.
"Rose, it won't be happening again. Bella and I had a disagreement and we'll be keeping our relationship strictly professional from now on."
"Oh really, why what happened Edward? If she hurt you, I swear she won't hear the end of it from me." Hah, knew it would calm her down, her face relaxed somewhat.
"Relax, do you know Jake Tanya's current man? Well he used to date Bella, seems you were right Rose. Tanya had been cheating on me with Jake for six months before she broke it off with me. Six months before that Bella had caught Jake and Tanya fucking in his apartment and ended her relationship with him straight away. It all came out last night when Jake rudely interrupted Bella and I, whilst we were dancing."
"Oh my god. Edward I never realised it was so sordid, when Bella told me she knew of Tanya's character; I never put two and two together."
"Hey it's alright, so don't be mad at Em, he did me a favour. I wouldn't of known otherwise. I'm done with Bella, she should of told me right from the beginning when she knew Tanya was my ex girlfriend. She knew we finished six months ago."
"Did she explain why she didn't say?"
"Yeah she came out with some crap that she just wanted to get to know me first, before she divulged anything about her past with Jake and Tanya. Claiming she'd only known me a few days."
"Well Edward, I hate to say this but Bella's right. Why put a downer on something so brand new." Not her too.
"See I told you Ed, Bella and Riley told me last night she only stayed at the club to talk with him to ensure he wouldn't press charges against you for knocking him out."
That was nice of her I suppose but made no difference to me. I had hardened up. No more bullshit - my new motto.
"Doesn't make a difference, while I appreciate it; I am so done with her. Can't you both see? I've had so many lies this past six months that I've had enough." Surely they could see my point of view on this. Anyway my business my problem.
"Riley?" Rosalie looked thoughtful.
"Yeah he's a good friend of Bella's." You could see her mind working overtime and then it clicked...
"I knew him from college, they were close there. He's gay isn't he? Nice man I remember."
"That's him, he told me when Edward and Bella were getting it on, on the dancefloor, that he was glad she'd found someone decent. Apparently he didn't like Bella's last boyfriend which I presume he meant to be Jake."
"Emmett stop trying to make me feel guilty, for the last time I'm done with Bella that way. I just hope it won't affect my working relationship with her. I'm willing to try if she is."
"You just looked so right together last night Edward, I can't believe you're going to throw away that type of connection. Riley and I could see from where we were standing that you're meant to be."
"Don't say another word. Rose promise me if we can't work together, you'll move one of us."
"If that's what you want, but give it a go first yeah."
Nodding I just wanted to be out of there, so I went back to my room and laid on my bed. Why couldn't they see my point of view on this. Was I being selfish? Emmett and Rose seemed to imply I was. It must of hurt Bella when she caught her boyfriend with another woman. You couldn't tell from her confidence that she'd been hurt. Maybe she was just strong, well I knew she was but still. It hurt me for a long time after my breakup and I didn't know at the time Tanya had been cheating on me; sure I'd had my suspicions but nothing concrete. Tanya had just disappeared from my life. Thinking back now, I realised just how dumb I'd been, why didn't I suss? I took that asshole Jake to tell me the truth. But Bella should of told me first. I reached over to my bedside cabinet and got my mobile, scrolling down the contacts I deleted Bella's number.
Well I couldn't lie here all day so I decided to get my act together, getting dressed in jeans and a sweater, I'm going to go out for something to eat and maybe a few drinks at a bar somewhere. This was new too, there is no way on earth I'd think about going to a bar on a whim before I met Bella, hell I'd been a hermit for months now. Very strange. Emmett and Rose were in his room probaly making up. I hit the sidewalk and made my way down the street to O'Malley's an Irish bar close to my home, they did a mean all day breakfast, I needed some grease in my belly. Sitting in the restaurant part a pretty waitress came up to take my order. I ordered a full Irish Breakfast but held the black pudding. I couldn't stomach it - it was revolting stuff.
"Would you like coffee or tea with that Sir?"
"Coffee please Mary." Looking at her name tag. She blushed, she was very pretty, dark red hair and big green eyes. Very curvy. I liked curves I decided, skinny women didn't do it for me. Bella had beautiful curves. Fuck, get her out of your mind Edward.
"Be right with you Sir."
"Call me Edward Mary, nice to meet you." What was I doing? I never flirted with strangers, wasn't in my nature but it just came naturally for some reason. Maybe I was determined to get Bella out of my head. My mobile beeped indicating I had a text message. Emmett, he wanted to know where I was at, so I quickly text back and told him I was at O'Malley's having something to eat followed by copious amounts of Guinness.
Mary delivered my food and it looked delicious, she was a sweet woman - I'm sure I got extras. Didn't take me long to finish, I couldn't manage it all, there was far to much. I payed my bill and gave Mary a big tip. I just walked through to the bar area and who was there? Emmett!
"Nice food Ed?"
"Yeah, why are you here? I thought you were with Rosalie today."
"She went home man, she had some work to do for a presentation tomorrow. So I thought I'd join my little brother for a couple of pints of Guinness. Why you don't mind do you? If you want to be on your own I understand buddy."
"Nah it's okay, glad your here. But I don't wanna hear anything about Bella, Tanya or Jake."
"My lips are sealed on the subject bro." Hmm what's he up to? Em never backed down when he thought he was right.
"You want another pint Emmett?" Nodding I called over the bar tender and ordered two pints, I saw Mary come through to the bar and winked at her. Emmett did a double take.
"What's with you Ed? Have you had a personality transplant or something? You know her boyfriend is the bartender don't you? I didn't know, oh well plenty more fish in the sea, shame though - she was cute.
"What's that supposed to mean? Listen I'm a changed man now, there's a whole lotta life out there just for the taking. I don't want to be the one who gets shit on anymore. You gotta grab the bull by the horns Emmett." He was still looking a bit puzzled - ah bless him.
"I agree with you totally man but are sure there is no chance with B? Hey didn't say her name did I?" I shook my head, B, Bella, Isabella her name did send an exciting shiver through me but I didn't want to admit it to anyone. I needed to start dating as soon as possible. Get her out of my mind for good.
"Not a chance Em, I just hope we can work together still. At least Rose promised to seperate us, if it gets to much."
"I'm sure you'll cope, another pint?"
"Keep them coming, oh shit! Did you tell her that we're here?" Bella and Riley had just walked into the bar, laughing their heads off at something. She was radiant without a care in the world, this confused me a little after last nights drama.
"No, didn't I tell you already? Riley part owns this bar with his brothers." No he didn't tell me that but then I suppose he had no reason too. Shit, they're coming over, was she going to start on me? I fucking hope not, she could chew me up and spit me out probably.
"Hello Emmett, Edward, didn't expect to see you here. We're here every Sunday, we meet up with the boys." She was acting like nothing had happened between us at all, maybe that was her style. Well I could do the same. But boys?
"Just here for a couple of drinks on this fine afternoon." Nothing, not a waver on her face. Riley completely blanked me and spoke to Emmett only.
"Well I can see they're here already so I'll see you at work tomorrow Edward, nice seeing you Emmett."
Riley and her walked off towards a large group of males sitting at the far corner of the bar they were all shouting and whistling as they got closer. Bella plonked herself in the middle of them after kissing and hugging a few. She didn't look in my direction again - she was having a whale of a time.
"Well I thought that would be more awkward but I guess you're both adults and have to work with each other..."
"Two more pints please when your ready." I was starting to feel pissed off. I knew why but I didn't want to admit it to myself. Thank god Emmett was here I'd have felt a right tool if I had been here on my own when Bella and Riley had walked in. Wait a fucking minute...
"You knew they'd be here, didn't you Em?" He looked sheepish.
"Yeah I did, when you text me before I got here quick, all the bars and you picked this one. Didn't want you in that situation alone bro, so I got my ass down here."
What can I say? He's a fucking awesome brother. I just hoped Bella didn't think I was here to see her. I asked Em this and he said no way, Riley had only mentioned it last night that he and Bella spent Sunday's down the pub. Good.
Two blonde women in their early twenties sat next to us at the bar, very nice looking actually. I offered to buy them both a drink. Emmett looked very uneasy for some reason. I just told him to relax a bit and enjoy himself. The women were fun, intellectual and easy going. They both spoke to us for a while then went onto another bar. But what surprised me the most was the way I interacted with them, usually I'm a bit shy but I didn't feel awkward at all. Emmett was the weird one - not saying much.
"You're looking bored Emmett, is there something wrong?"
"Well it's just you bro, you seem different and I can't help but worry. I mean, I've never seen you like this before. Are you sure you're alright? It's like you've changed overnight."
"For the better Em. It's about time I got a life, like you've been saying for ages now. No more bullshit for me."
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Please review if you like or don't. I appreciate all feedback. Thanks to the reviewers of the last chapter. Makes me smile.
Cheers for reading.
Bluebuttercup
