*Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Running on Fumes
Chapter 7
By: EJJCullen
A knock on the door woke me from the most peaceful sleep I've had in months.
"Come in." I croaked my voice gravelly from sleep.
Charlie opened the door and took a few tentative steps into my room. He was holding a small package wrapped in silver paper topped with a white bow. As he approached my bed, he wore a smile and glanced around my room warily.
"Happy Birthday kiddo!" he said, handing me the gift and placing a kiss on the top of my head.
"Gees, Dad, its not even 7 am yet!" I said rolling my eyes and accepting the gift he held out.
"I know, but since were going out for your birthday dinner, I need to head in early so I can leave a little early. " He explained. "Now I know it probably won't compare to the surprise your Mom has in store for you, but I hope you like it."
"Dad, I love everything you give me, and let's be honest, Mom is just trying to buy me back with her outrageous gifts. Remember the car last year? It's such a joke." I said, carefully peeling apart the silver paper to reveal a white box. I opened the box and instantly felt the tears collect in my eyes. "Dad…it's…" but I couldn't find the words to describe the beautiful Sapphire and diamond pendant.
I plucked the pendant from the box and let it dangle from my index finger. The silver chain was light and elegant with a slight shimmer to it as it slowly tilted from side to side and the pendant was gracefully suspended by a silver clasp that clung to the oval cut sapphire hugged by round cut diamond accents. It was absolutely beautiful.
"It's perfect Dad. Thank you so much." I brushed away the tears and hugged him tightly. I handed him the necklace and pulled my hair to the side allowing him to easily fasten it around my neck.
I walked over to my vanity and inspected it as it lay perfectly between my collar bones. My eyes followed Charlie's movements as he again gazed around my room.
"Looking for something Dad?" I asked.
"Uh, no no." He stuttered, clearly not expecting to be caught snooping. "Well, happy birthday baby. I will pick you up at 6 to head over to the diner. I hope its ok, but I invited the Cullen's to join in for our dinner celebration. Did you know that they used to live in Forks before moving off to Chicago?" I nodded still gazing at my necklace in the mirror as Charlie quickly kissed my head once again and headed out of my room.
"Oh, hey Dad…" I called just as he reached the door.
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry, I already called the school and left a message saying you were home with a 'stomach bug'. Now don't be cruising around town or everyone will know I lied, and how would that look for the Chief of Police to be caught in a lie?" He said, feigning shock.
"Thanks Dad, you're the best." I smiled from ear to ear. My birthday was my one and only get out of jail (or in my case school) free card. It became a tradition ever since Renee left just before my ninth birthday. Typically my birthday was spent lounging around the house watching girly lifetime movies and swimming if the weather cooperated.
I flopped back into bed, running the pendant back and forth along the chain. Charlie was such a great Dad. He picked me up when I was a mess after Renee left, always made time for me when I needed him and included me in everything that he did – from fishing to hunting and everything in between. We were extremely close and knew practically everything about each other. Of course, that was all going to change this evening.
I fell back to sleep for another two hours before my stomach finally couldn't take anymore and I was forced to head down to the kitchen for breakfast. I circled the island and rummaged through the cabinets before finally deciding to make myself pancakes. I was just sitting down to dig in when the doorbell chimed. I shoved a mouthful in my mouth before heading down the hallway to the front door.
I opened the door and practically choked on the syrup soaked mass in my mouth as Carlisle Cullen stood on our front step. After two quick coughs and a not so subtle gulp I was able to breathe.
"Can I help you?" I asked through the safety of the screen door.
"Oh, Bella…I was hoping to see Charlie before he headed off to work. Aren't you supposed to be at school?" He was clearly not expecting to see me and his face paled significantly when he saw it was me who answered the door.
"He left early so he could get home in time for my dinner tonight." I explained, feeling very awkward and looking everywhere but directly in his eyes. "Did you need something?"
"Uh, no, no it's ok…I guess I'll just see him at dinner then." He said quickly and turned to walk down the three steps to the front walkway. "Oh, and happy birthday Bella." He stopped for a moment, looked up and smiled a genuine smile.
Our eyes met. His brown eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled and I remember the picture at the top of our staircase of me and Charlie - my eyes were an exact match to Carlisle's.
"Um, thanks Mr. Cullen." I said, and his eyes fell slightly as I called him 'Mr. Cullen'. He nodded quickly and retreated back to his house at a quick pace. I closed the door and slid down it until I was seated on the floor with my knees under my chin. I suddenly wasn't so hungry anymore.
After sitting in a daze for a little while longer I finally picked myself up and walked back into the kitchen. I picked up my neglected plate of pancakes and threw the remains into the garbage before dumping the plate into the sink to add to the mess of dishes piled up from my pancake mission earlier. The sun was shinning brightly so I decided to go for a dip in the pool to help purge the thoughts running rampant through my head.
I walked to the pool shed and quickly stripped out of my tank top and shorts before pulling on a bright blue bikini from the bathing suit bin. I grabbed two towels, a pair of sunglasses and my disintegrating copy of Wuthering Heights before turning back to the pool deck. Choosing to take a dip before basking in the sun, I tossed my items onto the lounge chair and stood on the side of the pool looking into the water. The water was glasslike reflecting the rays of sun that peaked through the tree branches that surrounded the fenced in area.
I dipped a toe into the warm water as ripples danced out in patterns destroying the calm of the water. Today I officially became an adult, and as I watched the ripples crash into the wall on the opposite side of the pool I thought about what a disaster today was turning out to be. I was Bella Swan…I didn't know how to be anyone else. For the past eighteen years I was raised and loved by Charlie, but in reality he was a stranger. Where did that leave me? I barely knew my mother and the few memories I had of her were not ones that I cherished deeply and the man who was my real father was truly a stranger.
Without another thought I stepped out into the water and sunk to the bottom. I allowed myself to sit there as the bubbles of air escaped my nose trailing to the surface. I didn't know how I would survive this day. In a few hours my life would be turned upside down. As the last of my air left my lungs I remained at the bottom of the pool. My mind was blank, refusing to allow any though to enter it in this moment. My lungs burned, screaming at me to return to the surface for a breath.
Finally I gave in and pushed off the bottom of the pool, rocketing myself up to the surface. As soon as my lips were out of the water I gasped a lungful of air. After a few gulps I was once again calm. I eased myself back until I was floating along the water. I closed my eyes and could only hear the under water distortion of my body steadily rocking in the pool.
I floated until my skin was covered in goose bumps and my fingers pruned. Reluctantly I left the security of the water to wrap myself in a towel and sit on the lounge chair. Reclining slightly I pulled on my sunglasses and basked in the rays of the sun. The water droplets evaporated from my skin and warmed me to the core. In no time I was shrugging out of the towel and enjoying the sear of the sun on my skin. I reached for my book and began reading.
Several chapters in I decided it was time to flip over. I stood, stretched my towel out over the lounge chair and lay flat on my stomach with my elbows propped up as I continued to read. After a few minutes I pulled my hair over my right shoulder and untied the top and back of my bikini letting the strings fall around me.
I woke sometime later to feel of hands massaging my shoulders. I moaned in satisfaction as the hands drifted to my back. I lifted my head and a page from my book followed as it stuck to my cheek. Looking over my shoulder I saw Edward sitting on the edge of the lounge chair.
"Hey," he said, "I thought you could use some sunscreen." He picked up the bottle from the ground, added a dollop to his hand and returned to massaging the lotion into my back.
"Uh, thanks." I said, slightly embarrassed, as I peeled the page off my cheek and placed the book on the ground beside me.
"You didn't come to school today. You doing ok?" He asked, raising his eyebrows slightly in concern.
"Yeah, I always skip on my birthday. It's my one free day granted by Charlie." I explained. I started to sit up and realized my top was still untied and quickly leaned down again.
"Is your Dad home?"
"No, he had to work early so he could get out in time for dinner tonight."
"Huh," he hummed, as he slid his arms up my back to just under my arm pits.
"What are you…" I started but couldn't finish as he quickly picked me up and tossed me into the pool with a splash.
I resurfaced with a gasp still clutching my bikini top to my chest only to see Edward lifting off his shirt and stepping out of his shorts and boxer-briefs before jumping in next to me. My skin warred between stinging from the shock of the water and burning from seeing Edward wearing nothing but a smile.
He slowly came up for air inches from where I stood. When he stood to his full height next to me he pried my hands away from my chest as he stepped closer and whispered in my ear "don't be shy".
He flicked my bikini top to the side of the pool as he pulled me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he hissed slightly when my hips rubbed against his and my chest pressed into him.
"Happy Birthday" he said as his tongue darted out and licked the shell of my ear, earning a shiver from me.
"Thanks." I panted tightening my hold around his neck and standing on my tip toes.
His hands dropped to my waist and lifted me slightly so our mouths could meet in a searing kiss. I hummed in content as his tongue plunged into my mouth to meet mine and I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist.
He took a few steps further into the deep end, which kept us chest deep in the water, and pinned me up against the wall of the pool. We continued to kiss and soon he started to grind his hardened member into me.
We moaned simultaneously at the feel of our bodies pressing closer and closer as our kiss went from soft to pure need. His hands dropped to the ties on either side of my hips as he slowly untied them letting my bikini bottom fall off. With his hands on my hips he pulled me back and forth along his cock.
"I missed you today," he said in between kisses. "Did you miss me?"
"Yes," I panted, getting worked up by the feel of his cock teasing my folds.
"Umm, all day I have been thinking about how good you feel and how I couldn't wait to see you and just bury myself in you again." His right hand drifted from my hip to my clit as he continued to tease me. "Would you like that Bella?"
"Oh God, yes." I begged embarrassedly. "Please Edward."
He captured my lips again as he pushed inside me completely burying himself to hilt. We sighed in unison at the feel of each other. He held me close as he slowly rocked himself in and out pressing me harder into the wall on each pass while his hands dug into my hips.
"You feel so good," I moaned as he lowered his mouth to my neck, my head falling back onto the pool deck. He sucked lightly to start but soon began nibbling no doubt leaving a mark. My body flushed at the thought of him marking me for all to see.
He continued to drive into me pulling my hips down harder on each upward thrust until we were both panting.
"These tan lines are a ridiculous turn on Bella" he said running the index finger of one hand down my chest only to pinch my nipple earning a loud moan from me.
"Let me feel you cum," he whispered into my ear, "I love feeling you clench around my cock."
At his words, I did just that, coating him as my eyes rolled back and the euphoric feeling spread throughout my body.
"Ugh, yeah, that's it." He moaned, pounding into me harder. "I'm gonna cum." I could feel him release into me in three spurts as I came down from my high. Only moving his mouth to mine we stayed locked in our embrace as he kissed me sweetly.
"We have to stop, or I'm going to have to take you again." He said after a few minutes of passionate kisses were exchanged. I giggled as I gave him one last chaste kiss and pushed lightly on his chest. He slowly pulled out of me and lowered me until my feet were touching the pool bottom.
"We better get out of here before your Dad comes home and finds us skinny dipping." He chuckled.
"What time is it?" I asked completely unaware of how late in the day it was.
"It's almost 5 o'clock, why?"
"Oh God, I have to get ready, Charlie will be here in about an hour." I explained.
"Ok, you go get ready, and I'll do the same." He smiled. It fell slightly as he took in my panicked expression. I had slept away the day and was still unprepared for the shit storm that was going to occur in the next few hours.
"Bella, don't worry, what ever happens tonight I will hold your hand the entire time." He promised, looking me straight in the eye.
"Ok." I said, breaking eye contact. I grabbed my bikini bottom that drifted around my feet and waded to steps of the pool with Edward by my side. Once we were out of the pool he grabbed he towel I was lying on earlier and wrapped it around me before picking up the other one I grabbed earlier and wrapping it around himself.
He hugged me to him once more peppering my temple with soft kisses and promising me that it would all be ok. He walked me to the sliding glass door and kissed me once more before headed back to his house. With one last deep breath I opened the sliding glass door to head inside to get ready for my celebratory dinner.
I showered quickly and thoroughly as I tried to keep my mind busy with things like what I would wear and how I would style my hair – anything but what would soon be out in the open. When I was squeaky clean, I turned off the water and started the primping process.
Choosing a simple black wrap dress that accentuated my thin waist and a pair to black peep toed pumps I finished my outfit with the pendant Charlie had given me. I lined my eyes with a black pencil, used a dark charcoal gray shadow to create a smoky eye, and finished my look with a shiny gloss on my lips. I dried and straightened my hair with a flat iron and pulled it to the side in a low slung pony tail that hung over my left shoulder and curled the ends.
By the time I spritzed myself with some Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette by L'Occitane, I heard the familiar sound of Charlie returning home.
"Bella?" I heard him call as he opened the front door.
"Yeah Dad, I'll be down in a sec."
I grabbed my cell and a small black clutch purse and headed down the stairs with my heels clacking on each step. I rounded the bottom of the steps to head into the living room to meet Charlie.
"How do I look?" I said, spinning slowly for the full effect.
"Oh you look lovely!" a female voice said. I stopped spinning and looked up slowly into the familiar eyes of my mother.
"Mom!" I said, feeling the air leave the room and beads of nervous sweat collect along my hair line.
"Surprise baby, and Happy Birthday!" She sang as she pulled me into a hug.
Between her tight embrace and the panic rising in my chest, I was gasping for air.
"Oh, I just can't wait for dinner!" She squeaked, and handed me a square turquoise box wrapped with a white sateen ribbon.
I recognized the Tiffany and Co. colors immediately and looked up to see my Dad toeing the floor and looking down in embarrassment. It would be so like Renee to one up the beautiful necklace Charlie had given to me earlier. I shot him a small smile that he mimicked before carefully untying the bow. I opened the box lid to find a black velvet liner flaunting a pair of diamond solitaire earrings with matching tennis bracelet.
"Aren't they just divine?" she gushed as she pulled the items out of the box and began clasping the bracelet around my wrist.
"The bracelet is 18k white gold with round brilliant diamonds that are 5.5 carat in weight and the earrings are also 18k white gold with round brilliant diamonds that are 2 carats each!" She spouted off like she memorized the sales persons pitch.
"This is too much, I can't accept this." I said, with my jaw hanging open.
"Oh Bella, it's nothing really."
"How can you even afford this? It must have cost a fortune!"
"A lady never reveals her secrets." She said with a wink and a devilish smirk.
