How To Become A Girl
Chapter Twenty-Two
So...Thanksgiving's done. We're back in New Hampshire. Can't say I'm sad. Honestly, I'm a little happy. Everything mattered in that little town that I call home. Whether, Esme and Carlisle are really moving into Forks. Oh yeah, they've already begun the construction of the house and they're dying to live there. Whether, Em's going to be living in with Rose soon. Whether, Jazz was alright that Alice wasn't there. Whether, Edward and I are getting married. I mean, getting married? I haven't even told them if we're together. I mean, I haven't even cleared up that shit. I can't even understand it yet and we're getting married already?
Yes. And here in New Hampshire, people don't ask me questions if we're getting married already.
A week has passed since we came back. It's a Friday. And I made a deal with Esme that dinner tonight would be on me since I just had my first paycheck. I took half a shift in work and I sped to the grocery. I bought steak slabs and fresh veggies. Carlisle loves veggies. Esme loves meat. Funny how contradicting they were but then they were able to influence each other.
Jasper and Alice were out on a double date with Emmett and Rose. I've never seen Jasper's face glow suddenly until that day we returned and Alice was there waiting for him in the airport. He was so happy. He was so owned. I smiled as I replayed the scene in my head. I'm glad both my bestfriends are happy.
"What are you smiling at?" A velvet voice asked behind me. I could tell that he was just inches away.
I almost slipped the knife I was holding and was about to cut my finger off. "Shit!"
He chuckled. He moved to my right side and checked out if I had cut my hand already.
"Don't you ever surprise me like that!" I smacked him on the biceps.
"Sorry." He smiled then kissed my temple. "So...what's cooking?"
"I've asked Dorota to cook the steak. I'm preparing the salad." I continued chopping the carrot.
"I'll do that." He bumped my hip, pushing me out of the way. "You might hurt yourself." He followed with a chuckled.
I scowled at him then proceeded with doing the vinaigrette. We finished quickly in time with Dorota placing a steak slab on each plate. Finally, at around 7, Carlisle and Esme arrived. We had a lovely dinner. All 3 of them commenting on my cooking. If you just knew how many times I blushed! Edward kept on snickering and laughing at me. Carlisle tried to tell him to stop but they both ended up laughing. Esme ended up rubbing my back for comfort. Although, we were all laughing by then, it was amazing how the conversation flowed.
Just a little after dinner, Esme and Carlisle said their goodbyes. "Bella, pardon us, but we have to go. Carlisle has this thing in the hospital tomorrow." Esme said sweetly.
"Oh no. That's no problem." I smiled.
"Edward? Are you heading home as well?" Carlisle turned to his son.
"Um. No. I'm going to keep Bella company until Jazz and the rest comes back." He answered his dad.
Esme grinned while Carlisle gave him a suspicious look. I realized that my eyebrows have scrunched. Edward brushed the teasing looks off and said goodbye, technically, pushing them out the door.
"Well, that was weird." He murmured.
I went back into the kitchen and I opened the fridge. I wanted more dessert. Something sweet. I found a container filled with strawberries. I took it out and I pulled out the bottle of Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. I set them on the counter and I sat beside them.
"Want some?" I offered, holding up a strawberry.
"Sure." He smiled, standing next to me.
I squeezed some chocolate on the tip of the strawberry. The liquid flowed, coating it partially, down to my fingers. I had to lick them before it made my hands dirty. I saw Edward stare and I gave him a confusing look before laughing. I held up the strawberry for him to eat. Just when he's about take a bite, I pulled away and ate half of it, slowly. I mmmed and savored the taste, teasing him. His face was shocked and his mouth was open.
I laughed, "Get your own strawberry!"
"Ah. So, you wanna play?" He said smoothly as if he was unaffected. He moved to stand in front of me, leaning on the counter. I'd say we were too near to each other, but I didn't care. He was taunting and I just had to fight back.
I laughed and he took a strawberry, coating it with chocolate as well. He ate it all in one bite. But he did it so slowly, it looked so...so...sexy? I raised an eyebrow at him. He took another strawberry, dripped some chocolate on the top and fed it to me. The chocolate coated my lips and as soon as the strawberry was in my mouth, I grabbed his hand and kissed it. He faked annoyance and pulled it away from my hands, licking the chocolate off.
I giggled. He put his hands on my hips, steadying me on the counter. "Now, it's your turn." His voice was just really...husky and deep and filled with lust. It made me gulp and nervous. I took a strawberry with my shaky hands and coated it with chocolate, making a swirl. I held it up to him. He bit half of it, took the other half and softly pushed it into my mouth. He smiled my favorite smile then he bent his head down and kissed my hand up my arm to my shoulder, leaving a trail of fading chocolate kisses.
Why had I worn a tank top, today, again?
I looked at my arm and gasped as he pulled away, grinning. I licked my lips and pouted, raising my head. His smile faltered and then he leaned closer. Our lips almost touching. Slowly, he pressed his on mine. I kissed back. My hands glided over his arms up to his hair. I clutched my fingers, loving the feel of his hair. His thumbs started making circles on the skin just underneath the hem of my tank top and my legs started to lock around his waist. His tongue traced my lower lip. They parted, willing for his tongue to enter. We were already pressed up on each other as our tongues fought battle after battle. He pulled away but never stopped kissing. He moved down to my neck and back up, stopping on that soft spot behind my ear. He sucked the skin there making me moan.
"Bella! We're home!" We froze at the sight of Rosalie entering the kitchen and seeing us. "Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" She turned her body around. Her back, facing us.
"Damn." I hissed lowly. I pulled Edward into a hug, hiding my all too red face in his chest. He chuckled and he wrapped his hands around me.
"Rose. Didn't know you'd be home by now." Edward said.
"Didn't expect you two, to be here, together." She said teasingly. I turned my head around to peek at her. She eyed the strawberry and the chocolate on the counter next to us. "Oh...That's why." She walked to fridge and dumped a bag of food in it. She turned around and she was grinning from ear to ear.
I pushed Edward a little so I could jump off the counter. "Rosalie Hale, I swear to god, if you say anything..." I walked closer to her, Edward's arms still wrapped around my waist. He, too, was grinning.
"Say anything about what?" Alice appeared.
"Ummm..." I went red again as I turned to face her. She looked at my arm, the one that's filled with Edward's chocolate kisses, and gasped. She also noticed Edward's arms wrapped around my waist.
She laughed and soon Rose joined in. "Really, Bella? You really think, you could hide forever?" She asked.
"Well...we weren't really hiding...just..." I gulped. I'm at loss for words.
Edward laughed, "Yeah. My kissing expertise leaves you intoxicated. I think it's time for bed."
I turned to him, shocked. His kissing expertise? Hahaha. He's right. Sort of.
He scooped me up and said goodnight to the other two girls before running off into my bedroom. He dropped me on the bed and plopping next to me. "Now, where were we?" He asked, giving me a quick peck on the lips.
I just had to smile. "I think, I need a shower."
"No. We can shower later." He pushed me back down. We? As in...me and him? Since when-?
"Edward..." I looked at him. His eyes were dark and hungry. I was pretty sure, I'm hungry, too. I wanted more of that but...I think there are things to straighten out first. "I really want to talk first before we go into..." I motioned my hand to point at the two of us, "whatever we have."
His face fell and I whispered, "Hey. It's going to be alright. No matter what we decide tonight, it's going to be alright."
He sighed and I hugged him. "Okay. I really need a bath. Your chocolate kisses are really getting sticky." I laughed when I pulled away. He kissed me one last time on the forehead before I got off the bed to take a bath.
I finished my bath quickly, eager to settle everything with Edward. A part of me is pretty convinced that he likes me back while a part is saying that he only acted like that because...he just really needed to get some. But the latter isn't the Edward that I know and I chose to disregard that nagging voice.
When I got back from the closet, I noticed Edward on one corner of my bed, looking down at his hands with a concentrated look on his face. Like he was sad and angry and confused all at the same time. I sat next to him and I tilted his head so he could face me.
"What's wrong?" I asked quietly, suddenly afraid of what his answer might be. Maybe he realized...
"I just..." He let out an exasperated sigh, "I don't know. I'm not good for you, Bella."
"What do you mean, you're not good for me?"
"Bella, I used to be a bad guy. Drugs and all. I'm not...right for someone like you. Someone who's so...good and...and pure. Someone so precious...and treasured by the people around you. Look at me, I'm friendless! That means, I'm not good." He looked like he was about to cry.
"What are you saying? You used to be a bad guy! But not anymore! I don't care who you were, I care about who you are! Edward, you're a good person. Please. Just trust me on that one. And you are not friendless. You have Jazz and Em...and Alice and Rose...and me. You have me, Edward." I held his face between my two hands.
"I don't deserve you." He closed his eyes.
"Yes. Yes, you do. If it won't be you, then who? Mike? The guy who stalked me? Or maybe...maybe, Riley? That guy who raped me? Oh no. Better yet, James. James should be the right guy for me." I was almost angry.
His face went rigid in my hands, "No." He whispered. "I can't even...No."
"Tell me why it shouldn't be you? Huh? You never stalked me, you never raped me and I'm pretty sure, you won't let me get into drugs." I chuckled, "Now, would you?"
"No. I can't even imagine hurting you." He finally opened his eyes, again. They were soft...and something else...that I have yet to discover. He took one of my hands and kissed it. "I can't see you hurt. I don't want to see you hurt. Ever." He took my other hand and kissed it, too. "I...I love you, too much, Bella." He whispered and I thought I'd never catch it.
I felt the sides of my mouth move to smile and he mirrored me. "I love you, too, Edward." I whispered back, feeling like we were little kids sharing secrets. Very important secrets.
He kissed me again. But this time was more passionate, loving and just...romantic. Once we pulled away for our breaths, I noticed the stereo downstairs playing. I almost fell back in laughter when I realized what was playing.
"What's funny?" Edward asked.
"I'm sorry! This just feels like a movie." I apologized and he smirked and laughed. "Shut up and listen." He, too, tried holding back the laugh. "We gotta check this out."
We walked down the stairs, hand in hand. What surprised me was the set up of the living room. In the middle of the carpet, just right in front the warm fireplace was 6 wine glasses and a bottle of wine. The lights were off and the glow came purely from the fire in the fireplace. I raised an eyebrow as Alice and Jazz passed by us, followed by Rose and Emmett. May I just say that the two ladies had big grins on their faces. I gave Jazz and Em a look.
"What's this all about?" I asked out loud.
"We're having a couples' night, Bella." Rose answered. I watched them as they settled on the carpet. Jazz tucked Alice under his arms and Em had Rose lie down next to him with her head on his lap.
"You and Edward are free to join." Alice giggled. The damn pixie knew!
I turned to Edward who had an amused expression. I smiled and asked, "Do you want to join?"
"Definitely." He gave me a quick peck on the lips before wrapping his arm around my waist to lead me to the group. As soon as he took his place, he grabbed me and pulled me down to sit on his lap.
Jazz and Em both shook their heads at our sudden PDA. I wondered why...My eyes almost bulged out of their sockets and I blushed red as I realized that nobody knew yet. Well, except for Alice, of course. And maybe Rose, too.
Alice poured wine into each glass and passed one to each. Edward took mine and placed it aside, passing me his glass. Ah...so we share, now.
I realized my hands were shaking. I didn't know what I was nervous about, honestly. Edward placed his hands on my thighs and started sliding it up and down from my knees to my hips, relaxing me. They started talking about stuff and I just couldn't pay attention. Finally, getting frustrated, Edward stood up and pulled me to his side. He excused us and brought me up into my room after everybody else gave us weird looks.
He lied me down on the bed. "Are you okay?" He kissed me softly. Once. Twice. Thrice. His eyebrows scrunched up realizing that I wasn't really responding.
I let out a deep breath and a nod.
"Okay. I'll just go change in the bathroom. Where are my clothes? I'm sleeping here tonight." He whispered.
"Um. Second drawer in the closet." I replied. He kissed me one last time on the forehead before disappearing into the bathroom. I stared up at the ceiling, figuring out what the hell was wrong with me. My phone started ringing on my bedside table.
Unknown Caller. Huh. Probably my aunt. Or my dad calling from Sue's.
"Hello?" I answered the phone.
"Hi Bella." That voice. I knew that voice. "How are you?"
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Ouch. Don't do this to me, Bella. Don't you remember my voice at all?" He was starting to get freaky, whoever he was.
I replayed his last sentence again and again in my head until I got it. "Riley." My voice was barely a whisper. And if I was scared a while ago, then I was catatonic now.
Hey guys. Sorry for the super duper late post. No. I haven't stopped this story. How To Become A Girl is important to me...I just really didn't have enough time lately. August has been...harsh to me. But I hope September will give me a lot more opportunity and time to write. I missed writing. I missed posting. I hope you haven't ran off, too. I will post as soon as I can. I cannot promise anything but soon. :)
I really hope you'd understand. I'm sorry. :)
Heart,
Leonara821