Authors Note:
Hi guys, sorry I've been so mia lately, I've just been enjoying my summer as much as I can. School's out! I've also started another story that I'm soo excited about, I've decided to put a little snippet of it at the end of this chapter to see what you guys think about, let me know if you enjoy it.
Also, I'll try and keep this story to at least three updates a month from now on.
Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter Sixteen -
I wait till we're alone in Alices car, parked outside a studio lot before I bring it up.
"So guess who just contacted me?"
"Who?"
"Probably your least favourite person in the world?"
"Brittany Thomson?" I shake my head at her. "Callum Hill?" I shoot her an exasperated look and wait a few seconds as she catches on.
"Nooo!"
"Yeah, I know right."
"What did the bitch want?"
"Bitch? Wait, who are you thinking of?"
"Lettie Mahone?"
"It was Edward Masen, woman!"
She looks at me briefly with a look of shock on her face.
"What did he want?"
"I don't know."
"Well how did he get your number?"
"I don't know."
"So all you do know is that he rang you, and you're sure it was him?"
"Positive."
"God almighty, what's it been, five years now?"
"Yep."
"Well what did he say?"
"Not much."
"You know Bella, you're not giving me much to work with here."
"I know, it's just I'm a bit freaked out right now. I said he had the wrong number and I hung up on him but he knows it was me because I said Bella Swan before speaking. God I'm so stupid, I thought it was someone phoning to congratulate me on my interview. Shit, that's another thing, he saw the interview, which means he saw what I said about him. Fuck what if-"
My head goes flying towards the window as Alices hand slaps me across the cheek.
"Fuck! Are we still doing that?" I say through clenched teeth as I rub my now sore cheek.
"Well, you were doing it again. That thing where you speak without breathing. It was freaking me out."
"I'm sorry Alice, but I figured that hearing from a man I haven't spoken to in five years causes for some abnormal behaviour!"
"You're right, shit. Just calm down will you? For all we know he's just ringing to say well done and that's that. I mean no offence but Edward Masen isn't exactly short of willing girls, right?"
I know she's just saying all of that to reassure me, and part of me is agreeing with her. Who am I to him? Just a random girl he met a few years ago that he didn't bed. It's not like I'm anything special, because if I was, he would've tracked me down or called me over the years.
But he hasn't.
Which means, Alice is right.
What if she isn't? What if he wants you back?
Well he can fuck right off. He doesn't deserve me. Yeah that's right, Edward Masen doesn't deserve me.
I'm not a gajillionaire like him and I'm not drop dead gorgeous like him, but I have a steady income, I'm fairly pretty and my personality isn't horrid.
"You're right. Come on, let's go decide what celebrities we want as Henry and Natalie."
...
"I can't do it. Seriously, no way. No." I say, shaking my head trying to emphasize just how much I don't want to do this.
"You have to. This isn't a negotiation, you can't say no."
"You can't force her to do anything she doesn't want to, right Bella?"
Thank god Alice is here with me. I nod at her and then look back at my agent/publicist Jessica, and try my best at giving her the puppy eyes.
"I'm sorry Bella but we've already confirmed it, he's picking you up in less than an hour. You know, every girl out there is dying for a chance to date Dexter Clayton and he literally told the world he'd love to take you on a date and you're not up for it?"
"It's not that I don't want to date him, I just- do we really have to go to a football match for our first date?"
"Yes you do. It's the world cup for gods sake, you have to show you support your country, it's good publicity. Plus, there'll be lots of others stars there too."
"You know I don't particularly care for celebrities Jess. They're just as gruesome up close as they are far off."
I was in the business for less than a month when I realised that most celebrities were stuck up, spoilt and selfish. They were entirely different behind the cameras, it was upsetting and a reality check at the same time.
Of course there were always exceptions to this rule, the younger ones were always pretty nice. They had this fresh, eagerness that was so cool to witness.
Whereas the ones who had been in the business longer tended to have bigger egos. Probably due to years of people stroking it.
"Well you shouldn't have become one then." Her sarcasm is obvious.
"I didn't! The media made me one, I write books, I don't act or sing, I should be a nobody." It's true.
Technically I should be the face behind the screens, I shouldn't have my picture splashed across covers but I do. I don't likecomplaining because doing interviews and going to events is a way to keep my fans updated, and frankly they're the most important people. They're the ones I want to please.
Jessica says it's because I'm young and beautiful and that people see me as Natalie, therefore they're interested in me.
I like to think it's because I'm young and stupid and funny to mock.
Her phone rings and she sends me an exasperated look before running out of the room, no doubt because she's getting ready to shout at someone, or maybe even fire them.
"You'll be fine. I know you will. Hey, he might not even be there!" Alices reassuring words do nothing for me. Instead they just make me more anxious.
"I'm not. I'm not going to be fine. He'll be there Alice, it's his fucking team playing, he's still captain. What do I do if he sees me?"
"You count to ten and focus your attention on Dexter instead. You're lucky, at least the first time you see eachother you'll be with another guy. He's the second most eligible bachelor in Britain according to GQ."
"Second? Who was first?"
She darts her eyes and twirls a piece of hair around her finger, both are her nervous ticks.
"Ah, I can't actually remember you know. I'll get back to you."
"It was him wasn't it? What am I asking? Of course it was him! What sane woman doesn't fancy the pants off him?."
"Listen, just calm down. What does it matter? First the worst, second the best right?"
She's suceeded with her joke as I laugh out loud. Only Alice could turn me from angry psycho bitch to chilled out carefree Bella within seconds.
"Whatever, I suppose you want to dress me for this too?"
Her smile becomes so wide I'm afraid her cheeks will crack. "Hell yes, I already have your outfit planned."
She ends up dressing me in a sheer lace black playsuit with a collared neck. It's very preppy and sport appropriate, especially with my black high-top converse which I happen to think compliment the outfit great. Luckily Alice does too, otherwise she wouldn't have let me wear them, although I think because I'm already heading into an uncomfortable situation, she's decided to just let it slide this one time.
My hair's slicked back into a pony, which I insisted on personally because my hair is starting to look like a rats nest on top of my head. Lets just say I'm in desperate need of an appointment at the hair salon.
I stand by my apartment door and wait a few seconds before answering the knock. Dexter is dressed in jeans way too tight for him, a nirvana t-shirt and tweed blazer. All in all I have to admit he looks seriously hot. Plus his Nirvana tee is definitely a plus.
He hands me the flowers he has in his hands, pink orchids. Have I ever mentioned that I hate the colour pink?
No? Well I do.
A lot.
I thank him and he lets out a blow of air all too loud.
"You look beautiful babe." I murmur another thanks all the while hating that he's called me beautiful.
It's not that I have anything against him, I just hate that word. It's become so meaningless, it holds no valure.
I feel as if society has forced every guy to call their date beautiful, because they think it's the most complimentary word they can say to a girl.
I find it lacking, typical and unoriginal. I wonder how many other girls he's called beautiful?
Whatever happened to words like enticing, ravishing, exquisite, stunning? Even the word gorgeous was a step up from beautiful if you ask me.
On top of that I can't help but get annoyed at the added 'babe'. Did he think I was just another airhead who would think being called babe was cute?
I give him a smile and his own grows bigger as I follow him towards his car. It's expensive, that much I can tell, so expensive I don't even recognise the make of it.
I guess when you're as rich as him you can afford to buy things like this. Don't get me wrong, I could maybe afford a car like this but that doesn't mean I'd buy one, it's way too flashy and screams for attention.
I'm perfectly content with my volkswagen beetle, even if it does make a funny sound whenever I go over a speedbump.
I feel bad for criticizing everything Dexter does when he goes to open the passenger door for me to get in.
So far he's been nothing but a gentleman and I'm using every oppurtunity to find faults.
It's because you're thinking about Edward.
I get inside his car and breathe slow. I will not let the thought of Edward affect my dating. It's already been the reason I've stayed a virgin my whole life, I can't stand around comparing everyone to him.
"You ready?" Dexter asks as he starts his car.
I nod once.
I'm ready.
Authors Note:
That's it for now, you guys excited to see the return of Edward in the next chapter?
So here's the snippet of my newest story, at the moment I'm calling it Hostage, but it may change. Let me know if you want me to actually carry on with it because I have writ the first couple of chapters.
Hostage
Chapter One:
I rummage through my few belongings, hoping that I'll miraculously find my phone charger the third time round of searching through the same things. It's my fourth this year and it's only March, but for some odd reason I have a tendency to break everything I touch.
That includes my laptop and its charger, my hairdryer, the toaster, my iPod, the bathroom sink, and that's only just this month.
Although in my defense, the bathroom sink had to be a fluke. I'm not exactly the strongest girl around, so how was I supposed to know that handwashing my t-shirt would knock it off the wall?
I wipe the sweat off my forehead and pick up my phone to check how much battery life I have left; six percent and it's not even eight o'clock. There's no way it would even survive the next hour, which meant I'd have to listen to the constant arguing from the neighbours throughout the night, as I now had no source of music.
Why hadn't I replaced my iPod yet? Oh yeah, because there was no laptop to charge it anyway.
Well done Skye.
"Ashley, can I borrow your charger?!" I shout down the attic stairs, hoping she's in a good enough mood to say yes. I hold my breath waiting for her answer.
I decide there and then that if she says no, I'd wait for her to fall asleep and then steal it.
Hey, a girl's gotta do, what a girl's gotta do.
"Ashley!?" I shout louder when there's no response.
I wait a few seconds longer before I hear her shout back at me. "Yours is down here, why do you need mine?"
Thank the lord, I mutter to no-one but myself. I get up off my knees and dust down my jeans before running down the stairs to Ashleys room. With the sound the steps are making, I wouldn't be surprised if they were next on my list.
I miss the last two stairs and jump straight onto the landing, regretting it as soon as the pain hits my ankle.
"Nope, it seems my ankle was next." I tell myself as I limp into Ashleys room and throw my weight onto the edge of her bed.
She's lying down on her back with her phone directly in the air above her face, her position is practically asking for a 'phone falls onto nose' accident.
I don't get offended that she doesn't bother asking if I'm okay because everyone knows in my family, that you should never try and get Ashleys attention when she's on the phone. Hell, you shouldn't ever try and pull anyone away from their phone when it comes to my family.
"It's over there plugged in, you charged it in here last night." Her mouth is the only thing moving, well that and her fingers.
"Wow, you could've told me that twenty chipped nails ago."
"You bite your nails and I swear you only have ten." She retorts back, refusing to take her eyes from her phone screen.
"Well it's a figure of speech."
"Since when?"
"Since I made it one." I push her wandering feet away from my lap and crawl towards my charger.
I can't help but notice just how dangerously close it looks to giving up on me. I silently pray for it to last me throughout the night and promise myself that I'd be buying a proper one tomorrow, instead of a cheap knock-off from the markets.
"Girls! Get downstairs and eat before your food gets cold. Oh and someone wake up Ivy."
"Bagsy not me." I say quickly as Ashley turns to give me a look of annoyance. "Wow, so there is a life outside of your phone?" I ask with shocked eyes.
She laughs before getting up to leave the room, I wait around a few seconds, checking my emails and replying to tweets. I get caught up in it and after God knows how long, Natalie is ripping my phone from my hands and turning it off in front of me.
"Your food's gone cold now, your cyber friends could have waited."
I look up at her face and realise just how much she's changed from a few months ago. Her long brown hair is piled on top of her head in what I could only describe, as a half pony, half bun style that no-one should ever do outside of their own home. Her stare looks weak and the bags under her eyes are visible now more than ever. She looks as if the weight of the world is on her shoulders, and I can't help but feel sorry for her.
When Dad passed and Mom got sick, Nat was left with all of the responsibilities, which means it was down to her to look after all of us. But I'm twenty one now, and even though in her eyes I may still be her kid sister, I'm an adult and I can take care of myself.
At least I like to think I can.
"Oh God, I've turned into Ashley!" My words are intended for humour purposes but Natalie doesn't find them funny as her face becomes even more serious than before.
"I worry about you, you know. You're not eating, you hardly leave that attic of yours. I never see you with your friends."
Her words confirm my thoughts.
"I'm fine, and technically this is my holiday, I don't want to see my friends, I saw them everyday at uni. And I'll see them again, everyday, in three weeks time."
She throws my phone back at me and gives me a half smirk, half smile before leaving the room. As she gets to the door, she looks back at me as if to say something more, but thinks against it as she walks out.
I turn my cellphone back on and leave it to charge, heading for the bathroom once my bladder decides it can't wait any longer. I'm washing my hands when I hear a commotion downstairs, I chalk it upto Ashley and Ivy arguing and take my time in getting out of the bathroom.
Arguments of any kind were never my thing. It doesn't matter if it's strangers or family, it always sent a funny feeling to my stomach. It put me on edge, it made me feel uneasy.
I assume it's the whole 'not knowing what might happen next' thing that sets me off balance. I'm not one for the unexpected, I like being prepared at all times.
But that doesn't mean I haven't ever argued with anyone, it just takes a lot for me to get worked up because unlike some, I don't believe arguing gets you anywhere.
I'm at the top of the stairs when I realise something's off. You know that feeling you get when someone's watching you, or that feeling when you know something bad is going to happen, so you don't walk down the abandoned alleyway at two am in the morning?
That feeling engulfs me as I wait at the top of the stairs for one of my sisters to laugh, or say something that would ease my worries. My instincts tell me to stay as quiet as I can be, until I'm sure everything is okay.
There's pure silence throughout the house for what feels like hours, before the loud cries kick in. I hear a man in a low voice tell them all to 'shut the fuck up' and survival mode hits me like a ton of bricks.
Everything is definitely not okay.
...
So what did you think? Please let me know, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm extremely excited for you guys to read the rest of it.
Also I've changed the names and decided to use standard names instead of the twilight names just because I've gone according to story rather than characters. Oh and the main guy (Edward) will be named Henry, and even though there is a Natalie in the story it has nothing to do with the this story (Broken).
