HEY GUYS! super sorry about the delay, but my beta keep going m.i.a. on me so its not my fault. but i am back. you guys are so lucky i love you because i am hella tired and almost didnt post this. and i must really love you because i almost stop writing together. i almost lost my files and thought i had to rewrite it all so i was like f*** it, i'm not doing it anymore. but my wicked awesome brother found all my things so thats great.
once again, thx for all the reviews. have i told you how awesome you guys are lately? i haven't? well... YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!
i hope you guys like this chapter. i dont. i dont reallly like any of them until like chapter 14 i think. i just dont like how i wrote them. them seem...idk...un-good, i guess. (yeah, check me out. making up new words.)
anyways, i know you didnt click here to hear me talk so i'm going to get on with the chp. enjoy.
btw: thx to Twi224 for betaing this chp for me. thx again. ok, for really this time.
4. A Day Out
I looked at his shoulder with wide eyes. I was staring at it for a few minutes and I was still in disbelief. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. How did I miss that last night?
"I can't believe you got a tattoo." I said when a shocked face.
"And I can't believe how many times you've said that." he said. Now that he mentioned it, I realized he was right. I think I've said it more than enough times. But I just couldn't believe it.
"Is it real?" I asked. I think the reason I asked was because I was in denial. I started rubbing his shoulder. I saw it wasn't smearing or fading. I licked my finger and started rubbing hard. I didn't want it to be real. It was too different. It wasn't Edward. I rubbed until he reacted.
"Okay, stop, please. That's starting to hurt." He complained.
"Sorry." I said sheepishly. I let go his arm and held onto the blanket. I was trying to cover myself because I realized it had slipped down. "It is real." I drew to a conclusion as I continued to look at his arm and saw no difference.
"Of course it is." He said like I was supposed to know. I don't know why I was thinking it was fake. Like I said, I was in denial.
Tattoos are just so not him. I don't think I would be as surprised if it were Jasper. I know damn well I wouldn't be it if it was Emmett. I maybe a little shocked if it was Jacob. But Edward? It seemed like he was too sweet to get one. When you saw him in class, you never put 'Edward Masen' and 'tattoo' together.
I looked at my fingers. This felt awkward. "So when did you get it?" I asked him softly.
"I don't know, a few months ago I think." He said.
"Oh." I said. I was going to let it go, but then I started to think about what he said. A few months ago? "You got when you're still in?" I asked as I looked at him.
He nodded. "It was a guy who used to work for a tattoo parlor. They made sure all the needles were cleaned, so I figured, why not. Something new." He said when a shrugged.
He was telling me who gave it to him as if I cared. I guess I was supposed to, but I didn't. That wasn't what my mind was working on right now. It was on the fact he had it. Then I felt my brain going as if it was trying to come with something. I heard when you get a tattoo, its supports to cover for a few days. For him to get one, he would've had to have his arm banged or something.
He did. As I thought about it, my mind went back to the day. I remember that day.
It was a visiting day. I went to see him. As he hugged me, he flinched away. I asked him what was wrong. He told me it was nothing. And as we sat and talked, I notice he kept rubbing his arm. I drew my eyes to it and saw his arm was wrapped.
I asked him what happened to his arm. He looked at it and told me he caught the bad end of a broken pipe and his arm was cut.
I remembered getting so angry. I ranted about how the damn custodians should keep the place under better maintenance. I was angry because I felt that there was no reason for him to get hurt so badly that he would need his arm taped up like that. He said that's why being there was a punishment and not a privilege. That calmed me down; only a little. I was still upset, but I knew what he meant.
As I came out my memory, my mind came up with something and I found myself getting mad. This time, with him.
"You said they had to bandage your arm because it was cut." I looked at him. I don't know when I stopped looking at him, but when I did, it was a glare. "You…you lied to me." I stated.
"Technically." He said sheepishly.
I shook my head. "No technically. Looked at me in the eyes and tell me you didn't." I challenged him. He tried to look my eyes, but a second later he looked away. I breathed hard. Then I hit him on the arm as hard as I could. I don't know how much it hurt him, but I did it anyway.
"Ouch." He reacted. "What the hell?" That answers the "how much did it hurt" question. He looked at me with a look that was asking why I did that.
"I can't believe you did that." I snapped at him. I got out of the bed and quickly grabbed my robe to put it on. I was annoyed now and I didn't want to be near him.
"Bella, it's just a tattoo. It's not poison." He said behind me.
I turned back to him and glared. "Edward, I don't give a damn about the fucking tattoo. I'm mad because you lied. Why hasn't it crossed your mind that I hate it when you do that?" I snapped.
Hasn't he figured it out yet that I don't like him lying to me? Even about small stuff. I'd rather have him lie about bigger things than an ex or a permanent marking. When he does things like that, that makes me feel he has something to hide. Or that we're not as close as I thought we were if he feels he needs to keep things from me.
"The only reason I did is because I didn't know how you would react to it." He explained. I rolled my eyes and then sighed. I didn't really want to be mad at him. He had a good reason for it, I guess. I walked back over to the bed and stood my knees next to him.
"Edward, yeah, I was shocked, but I will get use to it. But I can't get use to you keeping things. I would…" I stopped myself. I was about to say I wouldn't lie, but I have. I sighed hard and moved closer to him. "Just stop trying to keep me in the dark."
"I'm not trying to. It's just; I just don't think you should know everything." That speaks for the both of us.
Neither one of us wants to tell the other every little thing, but we also didn't want things to be hidden. Talk about being in a hypocritical relationship. I'm going to fix that, but not now. When I was ready.
"I'm not a child, Edward. And I can handle bigger things than you think." I touched his shoulder and gave him a soft smile. "No more hiding things, please." I asked him. He smiled and nodded. I gave him a kiss on the lips. "Good. Now let me see it." I said as my smile grew. I felt like a child. Like when one is scared of something at first, but then realized she like it.
"You sure you're not gonna try to rub it off again?" he teased as his smiled grew too.
I giggled. I nodded. "I'm sure. Now let me see." I said again. He chuckled and got up, and moved the tray to the floor. He sat back on the bed, but now he was facing the wall and his left shoulder facing me, so I could get a better look.
I gently grabbed his arm. I turned to the left and right so I could see the symbol from different angles. I placed my other hand on his arm and let my fingers lightly run along it. "It's just so not you." I said. I was telling him why I was so surprised when I first saw the black ink on his arm.
He shrugged. "I like I said, I wanted something different." He said.
"Well, this is surely something different." I said with a nod.
"Do you like it?" he asked. He looked at me on the corner of his eye. I think he was afraid of if I would or not. Which is why he kept it hidden for so long. I wanted to mess with him. I made a face as I was thinking about. "Bella, you're killing me." He complained
I laughed. I kissed his cheek. "I do." He looked at me. It looked like he didn't believe me. I laughed again. "I like it." I said, trying to convince him. "I actually love it." I told him.
He turned and looked at me with a confused look. "Really?" he asked as if he was still unsure.
I laughed at him. "Am I not supposed to?" I teased.
He shook his head. "It's not that. It's just the way you reacted the first time you saw it; I thought you would hate it. But I'm glad you don't."
I playfully rolled my eyes. "It was a shock, but I don't hate it. How could I? It's a part of you. Anything apart of you, I love." I stopped and gave him a kiss. "Because I love you" I told him with a smile. I pulled myself closer to him and knotted my hand in his hair. "It's actually kind of sexy." I admitted.
"Really?" he said as he lifted an eyebrow and gave a smug smile. I nodded. I don't know what it was now – maybe the growth of his hair, the new build of his body, or the fact that he now had the badass tat – but his appearance was just so different. He was different, but in a totally hot way. He went from a cute puppy to this hella sexy guy.
I leaned into his neck. "Have you always been this hot?" I asked against his neck. If he was, why the hell am I just now noticing? I don't care though.
For some reason, I was in the mood again. He caught the hint. I giggled as he hugged me tightly to his body and flipped me so I was on my back and he was on top of me.
XXX
I was laying on his chest and listening to his heart beat. I love that sound. I loved how it was beating slightly faster than usual. Or that my head was moving each time he took a breath. I loved this so much because it reminded me that it was real.
This. Him. Us. We were together and it was real. It wasn't a daydream. I wouldn't wake up in my high school history class, realizing it was all just another stupid dream. I would be so pissed if that was the case. But real.
I sighed happily for what seem like the millionth time since we finished. "You seem happy." He noted as his finger trailed another line on my back.
"I am." I told him.
"About what?" he asked. What was there not to be happy about? He was home and we were together. And we could be. No more hiding.
"Where do you want me to begin?" I said with a small chuckled.
He chuckled back then kissed the top of my head. "I'm happy too." He said then started another line on my spine.
I started tracing the symbols, leaving an invisible line around the foreign looking lettering. The lines were sharp. They looked like they were done with a paint brush rather than a needle. Whoever did it did a great job. I've went over it a few times and I kept staring at it. I still didn't know what the hell it was. "What is this?" I gave a frustrated laugh. I was tired of trying to figure it out on my own.
He chuckled. "It's Japanese." He point out. That's why I didn't know what it said.
"What does it say?" I asked as I began tracing the line around the black again.
"Tsuyoi" he said. The way he said that was so fluent. I smiled at it. He just kept getting sexier and sexier.
"And what does that mean?" I asked.
"It means strong." He replied.
"Strong?" I repeated. He hummed yes. I turned my head to look at him. I rested my chin and looked into his eyes. "What made you get that?" I asked.
I felt him shrug. "Might as well label what I am." He said.
I nodded. "You are." I told him. He was. He was stronger than anyone I could think of. He made be stronger because I want to be better. I never like to think he was carrying me. I would like to think I handle things on my own. I don't know if was him or what, but I have learned to do so. Well, at least I put on a mask that made me look like I was and wasn't breaking down on the inside.
He sighed. "More than you think." He mumbled. I don't know if he wanted me to hear that or not, but I did. it made me look at him.
"What do you mean?" I asked with a confused face.
He shrugged again. "So many things in my life, hell these past few years, has been a lot to handle sometimes."
"But you keep going." I noted.
He rolled his eyes. "With some many people depending on me, I have to."
"Edward, no one is depending on you as much as you think." I told him. I couldn't help but to think about where all this was coming from. He never mentioned this to before. He gave me a face that was saying he didn't believe me. "What makes you think that?" I asked.
He shook his head. "I don't know. I just can't help, but feel that if I let all this shit catch up to me and make me fall, I'll be letting so many people down."
"Who?" I asked. The questions were coming out without my permission. I couldn't help it. Some of the things he was saying wasn't making a lot of sense to me. he never mention anything like this to me. I would think he would if he felt like he was dropping or something. I guess he never thought I could be much help.
He sighed. He didn't want to talk about this. Not one of the conversion he thought he would be having on his first day back. but I could stop myself. I wanted to know what he was thinking. The way was to ask because I doubt he would tell me otherwise.
"My mom, for one, my dad. The last thing I need is for him to lecture me about how I should have went to medical school like him." He said the last thing with a bitter eye roll. I don't think Carlisle would be still hung up on that. I think he was just happy his children were happy, no matter what. But I didn't say anything as he continued. I waited for him to do so, but he didn't. I had to guess what he was thinking.
"Me?" I asked. I noticed how he was avoiding my eyes as he listed. He never said me, but I was waited for it to come. Something told me it would. He looked at me. When he did, I got my answer. "You feel you need to be strong for me?" I asked with another confused face.
"Not just you." He was about to list again, but I stopped him.
I shook my head. "The fact that you think you always need to be strong for me is what's getting me." I sighed as I moved myself closer to his face. "I love that you are my knight in shiny armor and I can count on you, but I hate that you think you need to protect me all the time."
"I'm your boyfriend Bella, it's my job. Plus I'm older and I know more than…"
"Stop it." I cut him off, kind of annoyed. "Edward, I haven't had a father for years and I don't need one now. Especially when my boyfriend wants to take the spot. I love that I can count on you to be behind me to catch me if I fall; or to walk ahead of me to make sure things are safe. But sometimes, you just need to walk beside me. This is not like when I was in high school anymore. We've got to make some changes in this relationship if we want it to last longer. Okay?"
He sighed and nodded. I smiled. I was glad it seem like he was actually listening to what I was saying and not just rolling his eyes at me like I didn't know what I was talking about. I reached up to kiss him. "You've been giving me a lot of speeches lately." He teased.
I chuckled. "Yeah, well, you missed a lot while you were gone." I told him.
"Maybe you can catch me up." He said.
I nodded. "I will. In time." I said. I reached up and kissed him. I laid my head on his chest again. This time I was facing the clock. That was a bad mistake. My eyes popped. "Oh no, no. No, no, no, no, no." I repeated as I quickly got off him and grabbed the robe again. "How the hell did that happen?" I asked. I wasn't really talking to him. More like thinking out loud.
I raced over to the dresser and yanked the drawer out. I reached in and grabbed the first pair of non-lacey underwear – yeah, I had more than one pair – I could find. I yanked out another drawer and took out the first shirt I saw. I threw my stuff on top of the dresser. I ran to the closet.
"Babe, what is wrong with you?" he asked from the bed.
"You'll be good here alone for a few hours, right?" I asked as I looked through the closet for a pair of jeans.
"Why?" he asked. "What's wrong?" he asked again.
I turned to the clock. I groaned. How the hell did five minutes pass? "I'm going to be so late." I complained out loud.
"What is going on?" he asked.
Nothing, expect for the fact that I had a nine o'clock class. And somehow, it was already freaking 8:45. I was freaking-out because it will take me ten minutes to get ready – if I make my shower quick – and fifteen minutes to get to the school – again, if I make all the lights, and drive "Edward style"; meaning like a bat out of hell.
Then even if by some twist of luck, I make it on time; I still got to hear my damn professor say "Trying to make it in right before I start, are we? Can you come in right when I start next time; it would be so much better." The he would turn to the rest of the class and say "Remember class, if you're not at least ten minutes early, you might as well be ten minutes late." Man, I hate when he says that. I mean I am there before he starts teaching so I don't see the problem.
"I'm going to be late for class…again." I said. Just as I did, I yanked a pair of jeans off the hanger. I've already been late three times. And I couldn't be late again. My professor threatened that if I am, I would get a zero for the day. I couldn't afford even one.
I walked over to the dresser. "Do you really have to go now?" I heard Edward said.
"Yes, Edward." I said annoyed. I wasn't annoyed with him but with myself. How did I let myself lose track of time? I can't allow myself to get caught up in him. I was doing fine without him. I need to be the same way now that he's here.I heard him get off the bed. When I was walking to the door, I felt him grabbed my arm. "Edward. Let me go. I have to get ready." I told him as I tried to pull away.
"No. It's my first day home. I rather not spend it alone." He almost whined.
I turned to him. I was happy to see he had his boxers on now. "I have to go to class." I told him.
He gave a smile. Why was he smiling? "No you don't." he said. I gave him a confused look. He grabbed my hand with my things in it. When he did, my clothes fell to the floor. "Ditch today." He suggested.
My eyes widened. What? He just suggested I don't go to class. Is this the same person who always used to cut off make-out sections so I could do my homework? "What?" I asked out loud.
"Yeah. Don't go to class this morning, or any others, for that matter. You can play hooky and we can spend the day together. We can go out in broad daylight or spend the rest of it in bed. Whatever you want." He said.
That sounded nice. I would like to spend the day with him. Believe me, if I had a choice between the two, I would pick him without a doubt. But I don't know if could. I mean, I did have to get some help. And I would have work for my other classes.
"I don't know." I said slowly shaking my head.
"Please, Bella. I'll miss you." He said.
I looked at his face. When I did, I looked away. "Don't do that Edward. Not again." I told him. He was giving me a sad pout face. I don't know where the hell he picked this up, but he always does this to me.
He would do it when I was visiting him and have to go. And I'm pretty sure if there was any other time, like this one, he would use it. And the only reason it would work because of those damn eyes of his.
I looked at him again. He was still giving me the damn look. "Stop, Edward." I said looking away again.
"Please. Stay with me today." He said in a small voice. Now he was swinging my arms side to side.
I looked at him. I groan. Once again, I was defended. "Fine." I said to him. He smiled then kissed my lips. I can always turn my things in tomorrow and get any work I missed. I would just have to work twice as hard if I didn't want to fall behind. College wasn't like high school. They didn't give you time to catch up if you missed something. But, after five years without him, I will work my ass off for one day anole with him. "But I'm going tomorrow." I told him sternly, or at least as best as I could.
"Absolutely." He agreed with a nod. "I will drive you myself." He said.
I sighed again. "You know, with your new badass look, you can't keep doing that whole putting thing." I told him as I bent down to pick up my things. "It makes you soft." I teased him.
He chuckled. "I think I will take my chances." He said. I nodded and turned away from him. "Now where are you going?" he asked.
"Even if I'm not going to school, I still want to take a shower." I told him. To be honest, I meant to get up early and take one. I felt sticky. I just never got up and did it. He nodded and went back to the bed. When I saw he was, I thought of something. I started smiling. "You're not going to join me?" I asked.
He looked at me. "Want me to?" he said.
I nodded then held out my hand to him. "Come on. I think we can both use one. And it will save water." I told him.
He smiled and walked over to me. "Is that the real reason?" he asked. I knew what he meant.
I smiled. "Yes. Nothing funny, okay?" I told him.
He nodded. I grabbed his hand and we walked to the bathroom.
When we got there, I closed the door behind us and turned on the water to the right temperature. We stripped off the clothes we had on, which wasn't much. I got in the shower and he followed me. I looked at him, reminding him there was nothing going to happen but a shower. He nodded.
While we were in the shower, he kept his word for the most part. He was washing my back as I washed my front and I did the same for him. We help each other put shampoo and conditioner in each other's hair. Sadly, I only had strawberry of both, but he didn't seem to have a problem with it.
The only thing he did, was when I was about to get out, he grabbed me around my waist. He backed me against the wall of the shower and started kissing my lips. I hesitated to kiss him back at first. I felt if I did, we would do the thing I didn't want to do. Not that I didn't want to do it, I did, it was just it seem like it would be a wasted shower once we did. But he made sure that one of my legs was between his so we never connected.
I tugged at his hair and pulled him closer to me. He started to roam my bare body and I let him. This is what I didn't want to happen.
As soon as he did though, he stopped. He pulled away and placed a few kisses on my lips before backing away. He smiled then turned off the shower. Then he stepped out. I was still against the wall as I watched him get dressed. I know I told him I didn't want to do that in the shower, but I still had hormones. But I was glad he didn't take advantage of that. Any other guy would've just gone for it. I was happy he respected my wishes.
He looked at me and crooked an eyebrow. "Coming?" he asked. Almost, but he stop before I had the chance. I smiled at the lame joke.
I nodded. I stepped out of the shower. When I did, he left the bathroom so I could get dressed. It wasn't because he never seen me undress before, but because the bathroom wasn't big enough for both of us.
When I was finished getting dressed, I walked back to the room with a towel so I could finish drying my hair. "That was nice." He said when I walked in. He was looking for a shirt in the closet.
I agreed. "Thanks for keeping your word." I said to him. He nodded as he took a shirt off a hanger.
"So what are we doing today?" he asked as he put his shirt on.
I shrugged the sat on the bed. "What do you want to do?" I asked.
"I don't care if you drag me from store to store and make me watch you shop." He chuckled as he unfolded a pair of jeans. When he pulled them all the way on, he looked at me. "I just want to spend the day with you." He said.
I laughed. "Well, you don't have to worry about the shopping thing. I'm not Alice."
"Thank God for that." He joked. He walked over and kissed me on the forehead. "And I love you for it." He said.
I smiled at him and kissed his lips. When I pulled away, he finished getting dressed. "Where do you want to go?" I asked as I bounced on the bed.
"I don't care." He chuckled as he looked for some socks.
I had an idea. I popped off the bed. "I know where we can go." He walked over to the bed to put his socks on and looked at me. He was asking where with his eyes. "Let's go to the movies." I said with excitement.
"Why the movies?" he laughed at my excitement.
"Because we can."
XXX
He drove crazily as we went down the road. I was happy it was somewhat warm outside so we could have the windows down. I laughed as he sped through a yellow light. Same ol' Edward. Get him behind some wheels and he will drive crazy. I'm glad to see some things about him haven't changed.
"I've fucking missed this." He yelled happily over the music.
"What? Driving crazy?" I teased.
He chuckled. "More or less." He teased back.
He was speeding through yellow lights and barely stopping at stop signs. I kept telling him to slow down before he gets a ticket or something. But he didn't listen to me. I just shook my head and let him drive. I know he missed it. He drove like that the whole way to theater.
Another thing that hasn't changed about him is that he opened the door for me. "I forgot how good driving felt." He cheered as he pulled me out of the car.
I laughed. "I'm driving home. I've gone a long time without tickets and I don't need any now." I joked.
He pulled me to kiss me on the cheek. "No way you're taking this away from me." He said with a smile. He closed the door behind me and we walked to the ticket booth.
There was a small line because not a lot of people were there. I think it was only because it was the middle of the day. He asked for two tickets to some movie. I don't even think about pulling out my wallet to pay for it. I just did.
"Bella, you don't have to." He said as he put his hand on mine.
I shook my head. "Don't worry about it. I want to." I told him as I handed the guy behind the window a ten-dollar bill.
"Okay, but I'm getting the snacks." He compromised.
"And how do you plan on doing that?" I asked with a small chuckle as I got the tickets. I didn't hear him laugh with me. When I didn't, I realized how that sounded. I looked him quickly with a dropped face. "Edward, you know I didn't mean like that." I rushed out. I was implying that he couldn't take care of me. And nothing hurts a guy's ego more than a girl saying he can't take care of her.
It was his turn to shake his head. "I understand. But in case you forgot, I did have a job before so I should still have some money." He took of his wallet that I haven't seen in years. He saw my confused face. "It was in the back of one of the drawers." He answered. He grabbed my hand. "Come on."
I told him to get the stuff while I went to the bathroom. I had to use it plus I wanted to check myself.
When I came back, he was still at the snack counter. And I didn't take long for me to see the blonde hair chick next to him. She was smiling and batting her eyelashes. He paid her no attention. Or at least he tried not to. I rolled my eyes at the girl. I would've been jealous if I didn't know who it was already. I sighed hard and walked over to them.
I cleared my throat and they both turned to me. Yeah, I was right. "Still skipping class, Lauren?" I asked her. I haven't seen her since graduation, so I didn't know what she was doing. But some things just don't change. She was still trying to take what was mine; even if she was unaware of it.
She rolled her eyes at me. "For you information, Swan, my classes don't start until twelve. What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Well, I am skipping my classes today." I told her with a smile.
"Really, you seem like such a good girl in high school." She said with a fake smile.
I rolled my eyes. Then I shrugged. "Some things have changed since high school." I turned to Edward. "Did you get everything?" I asked him.
He nodded. "I got you ice tea." He said as the person handed me a cup.
I drank from the cup. It tasted good, for the movies. "Thanks Edward." I said. I grabbed him his arm. "The movie's about to start." I said as I tried to walk away.
"Wait." Lauren stopped us. We turned to her. "Edward? Edward Masen? As in our junior math teacher?" she asked with a confused face. I nodded. She turned to him. "No one told me you were out." She said. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. That's because you weren't supposed to know. "I thought you look familiar. You look good." She said as she gesture him.
He nodded to her. "Thank you, Lauren."
Her face was still in shock. "I can't believe you two are still together." She said.
"A lot of people can't. I don't mean to be rude." I lied about the last part. "But we have a movie to catch, so if you excuse us." I said before pulling Edward away.
"Nice seeing you again, Lauren." He called as we walked away.
"Yeah, you too." She said softly. So much that I barely heard her. I smiled. I think she was finally put in her place.
We sat two rows from the back. It wasn't like we didn't had many choices. As soon as we sat down, I began sucking on his neck.
"Bella." I hummed against his neck. "You know, she not in here." He said.
"Who?" I asked as I moved to his jaw line, which he still haven't shaven yet.
"Lauren." He responded in my ear. "You don't have to mark your territory." He said with a light chuckle.
"I'm not." I said as I moved back to his neck.
"Bella." He said with a tone telling me to tell the truth.
I sighed and pulled away. "I guess I am. It's just when I saw her talking to you, I guess it brought back old memories." I admitted as I sat back in my chair. I felt him wrap his arm around me.
He kissed the side of my head. "I understand. But, we're not looking back. It was the past and we can't change it. We have to look ahead now. Right?" he said. I nodded. "That's my girl. Now let's watch this movie you paid for." He suggested. I nodded again and looked at the screen just as the movie began.
The movie was two hours of nothing but explosion. I actually dozed off a few times because I kept forgetting the story line and was getting bored.
He was totally into it. Man, what is it with guys and car chasing, cars crashing and exploring madness. I mean, we didn't have to watch something about someone falling love, but what we were watching was so boring.
I gave a sigh of relief when it was done. We were walking out of the theater and he was still talking about it. "And did you see the part when they drove off the bridge?"
"I don't think so." I told him.
"What? How you not see it?" he said with a shocked face.
"I think that was one of the parts I fell asleep on." I said honestly as I thought about it.
He grabbed my shoulders and turned me to him. "What do you mean you fell sleep?" he asked shocked again.
I laughed at him. "Yeah, I dozed off a few times." I told him.
"How in the world could you fall asleep on that? It was a great movie." He exclaimed.
I laughed at him again. I didn't know guys got this excited about movies. I knocked his hands off me. "I don't mean to bust your little 'action pack' bubble, but it was kind of boring. I mean I lost the point of it so many times, I lost count."
"Boring? You thought that was boring?" he asked in disbelief. I laughed as I nodded. He bowed his head and shook it. Then he put his arm around me and we started walking to the car again. "One of these days, I'm going to have to give you a lesson on what a good movie is." He said as we got in the car. I just said okay as he started the car.
When he said "lesson", I thought of something. "Remember that second date you promised me?" I told him. He looked at me on the corner of his eye. "Let's go." I said.
"Go where?" he asked.
"The batting cages." I said.
"You want to go to the batting cages?" he asked as he lifted an eyebrow. I nodded as I bounced with excitement. I've really gotten into it while he was gone. He could blame Jasper and Emmett for that. "Okay." He said with a smirk as he made a turn.
XXX
The movies were good, for the most part, but it didn't satisfy me. I wanted everyone to see us, because I was happy we didn't have to hide anymore. But there weren't enough people at the theater since it was the middle of the day. I got excited to see more people at the batting cages.
When we got there, he was hitting the balls. Nothing has changed about him but his appearance. He was still hitting the balls in a nice motion.
"I want to try." I said with excitement as I stood outside the cage when the machine paused.
He wiped his forehead. "Okay. Do you need the time turned down?" he asked. I happily shook my head. I've been practicing since he's been gone. And I could hit the balls as they came fast. And I was happy he got to see it.
He said okay again as he stepped out. I grabbed the helmet and the bat and stepped to the plate.
I swung at every ball that came towards me. Some I hit, others, I missed. But I hit more than I missed so I happy about that. When it stopped again I looked at him and smile. "You've gotten better." He approved as he stepped in again.
"Thank Jasper and Emmett for that. They said just because you weren't here, my game shouldn't suffer." I told him.
"Well, they taught you well. I think even better than me." He admitted.
I chuckled. "Maybe." I teased. He gave me a look. "But you will always be my favorite teacher." I told him as I reached for a kiss.
"Good answer. Come on, let's hit some more." He said.
He reset the machine and we took turns hitting the balls.
He was still hitting more than I was. In my defense, he's been playing baseball longer than I have. But I think I was doing well. He gave me pointers on how to improve my swing. I didn't feel I needed it, but I didn't say anything because I was happy to have his arms around me like the first time we came here.
After a while he complained he was hungry and thirsty. I called him a child. He waits until I was enjoying myself to say he was hungry. But I told him we could go. I had to leave anyway. So I suggested a place and he didn't object.
We pulled up to the bar and walked in like we owned the place. We kind of did by association. We walked over to the bar to see Jasper wiping down a counter. "Hey Jasper." I said, as I leaned on counter.
"Hey Jazz." Edward said behind me.
"Hey, bro." he said as they slapped hands across the counter top. Jasper turned to me. "Hey, Bells." He looked at his watch. "You're here early. How was your classes?" he asked me the same thing he asks every time I come in, which is every day.
"I actually didn't go to any today." I admitted.
His eyes widen. "Why not?" he asked.
I looked at Edward as he sat down. "Because your brother's a bad influence." I teased. Edward chuckled as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him.
"I am not. I was just going to miss you." he said as he smiled at me.
"I would've missed you too." I said with a smile then leaned into his lips. I heard Jasper give of a whip snapping sound. I pulled away and saw him doing the movements as if he was whipping a slave. He was implying that I had Edward whipped. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Shut up Jasper. He is not." I snapped at him.
Edward turned to his brother and saw the movements. Then he chuckled. "I will glad to be whipped if it was held by her." Edward said as he kissed my shoulder. I stuck my tongue out at Jasper, telling him his joke had no affects. Jasper rolled his eyes.
I turned my head to Edward and leaned into his lips again. "That still grosses me out so if you don't mind…" he trailed off when he saw we weren't listening to him. "STOP IT!" he yelling at us in annoyance. I chuckled as I pulled away. He sighed hard. "Bella, since you're here so early, mind busing a few tables?" he asked me.
I shook my head and tried to pull away from Edward, but he wouldn't let me. "Wait, why are you putting my girl to work?" he asked his brother.
"Remember when I told you I got a job?" I asked Edward. He turned back to me and nodded.
"I gave her one." Jasper chimed in. I looked at him. I didn't need him to say it for me.
"Pretty much." I said as I looked at Edward again.
"But how are you paying the bills on this paycheck. No offense." He said. I turned to see his brother giving him a look. That must be where the no offense came from. He must've seen it from the corner of his eye.
"None taken, I guess." Jasper said in annoyance.
"He kind of pays me double." I told him in a low voice so no one else would hear. We know they would think it was unfair that someone who just came was getting paid more than them. He was about to ask why, and I just smiled. "Remember?" I leaned into his ear. "I'm sleeping with the boss's brother." I whispered in his ear.
"And if you don't get to work, you'll be sleeping with your ex-boss's brother." I heard Jasper said in my ear. I looked at him and rolled my eyes.
"How did you hear that?" I asked.
He shrugged. "I have ears like a bat." He reminded me.
Edward chuckled. "Sorry, didn't mean to get you in trouble."
I laughed. "You didn't. Jasper's just on his period again." I teased as I turned back to Jasper. I teased him about that all the time, because it always seems like he's bitching about something ever since I started working here. He would put me in a full nelson every time.
Jasper gave a fake laugh. "So funny, Bell. Honestly. Now go change." He said. Edward and I both laughed. I decided to stop messing with Jasper and do as he said, for once. I swear every time he tells me to do something, I have to talk back. I mean, work wouldn't be fun if I didn't. I'm sure he would've fired me a long time ago if I wasn't dating Edward.
I gave Edward one more kiss before leaving him. As I walked pass Jasper, he wound up a towel and popped it on my back. I groaned and arched my back in pain. I hated it with he does that. He does it to punish me when he knows he can't do anything else. "I hate you so much." I mumbled as I walked through the door.
When I got in the back, I put on my work shirt that I kept in my locker here and tied my hair in a low ponytail.
"Sexy." Edward commented in a jokingly tone when I walked back out.
"I know right." I joked back. I wasn't the biggest fan of our uniform. It was just a black t-shirt with the name of the place on the back and the name of the employer on the right side of the chest. The lettering was bright yellow so it could be seen against the black shirt.
"Enough commenting on the uniform." Jasper said, knowing how I felt about it. He tossed me an apron to put on. "Get to work." He said in a demanding tone. I rolled my eyes as I put on the apron. I walked over to a dish bucket and picked it up. I asked Edward for one more kiss before I started working. He granted my wish with ease.
I was walking around to different tables and dump the dishes in the bucket. I was happy it wasn't my job to wash them; just collect them. It upsets me when people leave half of whatever they were eating or drinking in the dishes. It grosses me out.
But the way I was getting through it was I hummed my favorite songs. Plus the fact that every time I looked over to the bar and saw Edward sitting there helped me.
"Bella, can I talk to you?" I heard someone in my ear.
"What is it, bossman? I'm working." I reminded him. I heard him sigh.
"I know, but I need to talk to you." He urged. I sighed too before turning around. I was annoyed because he snapped at me to get to work and now he was interrupting.
"What Jasper?" I saw his face and knew what it was about. "You want to talk about Alice again, don't you?" I asked him. He always wants to talk about her. he does whenever chance he gets. Which is why it didn't surprise me when he nodded. I set the bucket on the table I just cleaned off to fold my arms. "What is it this time?"
"I don't know what it is with her. First we're talking then we're distanced. Like the party yesterday. It was like she was ignoring me or something."
"Or you were ignoring her." I corrected him.
"What? I don't understand." He said shaking his head. I rolled my eyes. Of course he didn't. Sometimes I think all guys share the same brain.
I sighed. I was about to tell him the same thing I told Edward. "When Tanya walked in the party, all of you guys' eyes were on her." He started to say something but I stopped him by shaking my head. "Don't worry, Edward got this same speech. Anyway, she was like all the guys could see. It wasn't until she left that you all remembered we were in the same room let alone the same house. Alice probably felt threatened and she wanted to stay away from you. I mean you're not hers to claim, so she probably didn't want to seem like a crazy ex-girlfriend. It would have been really crazy since she's not your ex to begin with." I told him the last part with a shrug.
He nodded. It looked like he was getting it now. "But why did she ask me for a ride home?" he asked.
I shrugged. I really didn't know the answer to that one. "I think she wanted to talk to you about. Did she?" I asked.
He shook his head. "She was kind of quiet the whole time."
"Maybe she was waiting for you to bring it up or something. I don't know. I wasn't in the car nor was I in her head so I'm not really sure what she was thinking. But let me ask you this, do you like her?" I asked point blank. I was getting tired of trying to be around the brush. He nodded. "Then ask her out already." I gave a frustrated chuckled.
"I… I can't." he sighed.
I groaned and threw my hands up in frustration. "Why the hell not?" I asked.
He sighed again and leaned against the table. "I don't know. It's like with other girls, I can get them in bed just by said hello because of the accent and if that doesn't work, I can always tell them about me being a retired solider." He stopped and smiled. "One time, I told this girl I was shipping out the next day and…"
"And once again, vain, lady's man, big headed Jasper makes another unwelcome entrance in the conversation." I cut him off. I hated it when we're having a nice talk and he comes in telling me how to get girls to sleep with him. I keep telling him if he wants me to set him up with Alice, he has to stop telling me about all the random chicks he banged over the years. Not only was it creepy, but really annoying.
"Sorry." He moved his head in a circle as if he was working out a kink in his neck. He looked at me again. "So what do I do?" he asked.
"Why the hell can't you just ask her out?" I asked again. "Just use some of that charm on her."
"I've tried, believe me, but she sees through it. I end up tripping over my lines and choking out words and nervously laughing and smiling. I don't know it is, but it's like when I get around her…"
"You don't know how to act." I completed for him.
"How did you know?" he asked. Because I heard it being said before but from her. This wasn't the first time either one of them came to me about each other. But I didn't tell him that.
"Lucky guess." I said instead.
"Please, little sis. Help me, please." He begged.
I sighed. I didn't what else to say about this so I said the only thing I could. "You know what, I'm done with this." I turned to the bucket and picked it up.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean if you guys won't at least take the steps towards each other, I done helping." I was tired of them telling me how much they liked each other but never stepping forward. I wasn't saying they had to make out but at least on a damn date. "There's nothing more I can do. So now, whatever happens, you two have to make it happen on your own."
"But you're the only one who knows both of us so well." He tried to argue.
"You two are both adults. Figure something out." I told him. I turned away from him.
"Bella." He said behind me.
"I'm walking away." I told him as I did just that.
"Come on Bella, please." He called behind me.
"I'm out of it Jas." I called back.
"Out of what?" Edward said. I didn't know I was close enough for him to hear me.
I smiled at him. "Out of kisses." I told him. I leaned into his lips.
"Stop it." I heard voice said as he passed. To mess with him, I put the bucket down. I wrapped my hands around his neck and leaned in closer. Edward got my hit to mess with his brother and locked his arm around my waist and hugged me close. "Bella, I swear to God…" he started. I didn't pay attention to him. I removed one hand from Edward to flip him off as I changed the position of our lips. "Bella, I swear if you don't get to back to work, you're fired and I'm serious." He threatened. I wonder if he was just mad because of what I just told him. Either way, I thought it was best not to push him. I chuckled against Edward's lips, knowing he wasn't serious. He says that to me all the time. I gave Edward a few kisses before getting back to work.
hey guys, liked it? i dont know when the next time my update will be so dont ask. XD. i also have some new stories coming. two of them. well, kind of three. one of them will be outtakes to this story and APL, but that won't come out until this story is over. i have a lot on my plate right now, so dont look for them. i have to sit down and actually write them which probably werent be for a while.
so everyone kept asking how does the tattoo looks like. i couldnt find a picture of the symbol, but when i do, i will put it up on my profile. until then, you can alway google the word if you really want to know. and i'm not 100% sure if that's right because i did get it from google translate and i dont know how close that is. if it is wrong or at least not close enough, please let me know.
so, hey guys, guess what... IT'S NOV! that's right, its alomst here. soo soo close. i have to dance and jump every time i see the previews. (thoes fight scenes are going to be so kick-ass, can't wait.)
anyways, thanks for reading. i heart you guys. plz keep R & R-ing. i cnt wait to see more comments and favs. they make me happy. you guys dont know how great it feels when i hear you guys say my story is your favorite.
c u guyz l8er. (hopefully soon)
Luv & Rockets.
(2 WEEKS AND 1 SMALL DAY. LOVE THAT! MIDNIGHT SHOWING BABY; O YEAH!)
