Invitation Back To Hell
So here we are, at another chapter. Uhmmm, Yeah…. Sorry it has taken soooooooo long to even get this chapter written and updated. I am terribly sorry and I can not begin to apologize enough. I have so many different projects pulling me in every direction, and yeah, it's kinda hectic.
Thank you all so much for the reviews! Your support, kind words, friendship, and suggestions means the world to me. I cherish every single word you review with, so don't hold back! There isn't but a few more chapters after this one, and this story will be complete. Sad I know.. LOL
So yeah, let's get on with the story…
Previously:
"Yes, Mike, we would love to have you in our home. We could show you around, and who knows, you might just meet the true woman of your dreams," Bella smiled, a glint in her eyes.
"Yeah, I'm not so sure about that, Bella, but thanks for having the confidence for me," Mike laughed, thinking Bella was insane.
"You never know," Bella simply said.
I'm pretty sure Bella was thinking of introducing him to her publicist, Gianna, or her agent, Maria. Both women were single, attractive in their own ways, successful, and nice. I could see either woman being a match for Mike, so I would back her in this little scheme.
"Well, let's just see about me getting divorced first, alright," Mike practically begged.
"Of course, Mike," Bella smiled sweetly.
Abby had dozed off on Bella's lap, when the rest of the group came to meet us in the living room. Once they seen her asleep, they quietly gathered our things, so we could head out.
(EPOV)
We silently slipped Abby in the backseat, and buckled her in the safety seat. Once she was secure, I walked Bella around to the passengers side, gave her a chaste kiss on the lips, and helped her into the front seat, before I closed the door and made my way around to the drivers seat.
The drive to the park, where they were holding the BBQ and awards ceremony wasn't to far away, so it was a fast and silently comfortable drive. We kept the music off, and held hands during the drive, stealing peeks at one another while we tried to keep quiet, so that Abby wasn't woken up.
Bella ran soothing circles on the top of my knuckles with the pad of her thumb, trying to calm my nerves. She always knew when my nerves were bothering me. I would either be tugging at my hair, or biting on my bottom lip, a nervous habit I picked up from her.
As we pulled into the parking lot for the park, we spotted the rest of the gang standing behind their vehicles, waiting patiently on us. Parking, and exiting the vehicle, we were met with comforting hugs from our friends. Finally, they embraced us both in a group hug, the women squeezed my arm, whereas, the men patted me on the shoulder.
"It'll be fine. Today will be over before you know it," Jasper said as he patted me once more on the shoulder.
I smiled tightly. My eyes shifting to my beautiful wife as she gently lifted our sleeping princess from her car seat. Abby stirred, her eyes blinking slowly, before closing once again and snuggling into her mama's neck.
Moments like these only made my heart grow bigger, something I wasn't aware was possible.
"Yeah, it'll be over before you know it," Alice offered softly, agreeing with Jasper.
"Just remember, we're here for you man," Emmett insisted.
"Always," Bella whispered into my ear before she placed a kiss to my temple. She wrapped her free arm around my waist, while the other still held our princess against her slightly swollen stomach.
"Again, I want you all to know that I couldn't do any of this without you," I replied with a gentle smile.
I could feel the gentle squeeze to my side; Bella's way of reminding me how much she loved me.
Now, with Bella's comfort, I needed the comforting snuggles of my princess as well. I gently eased Abby from her mama's arms and laid her head against my chest. I murmured words of love softly into her hair as I rocked her tiny body to and fro. Her hair smelled just like her mama's always did. The strawberry scent calming me from the emotional rollercoaster I had been a passenger on.
Everyone agreed that we should head on into the park at this point. The entrance was decorated in various colors of balloons, signs welcoming our class alumni and family, and strands of colorful streamers, running in different heights along the trees.
The colorful display continued on the deeper you went into the park.
Children were chasing one another about, laughing, not a care in the world. Abby shifted in my arms and raised her head to investigate the sudden noises. She watched them bounce about, a longing in her eyes. I wanted to let her down and watch her run about with kids her own age, but after her surgery, it just wasn't possible at the time.
The main area of the park was sat up with white tables and chairs. Each covered in linen and dotted with crystal dinnerware. Flower arrangements decorated the center of each table, while name cards sat in front of each place setting, indicating where everyone was to sit.
Our table was quickly found on the outer row, straight in the back. I rolled my eyes, knowing that whoever figured out seating arrangements, were still lost in their high school, small-minded, minds. I truly didn't mind though, it left us away from the idiots; ones who we didn't have to converse with throughout our time here today.
We gathered around our table, settling into the hard chairs. Abby was perched on my knee, giggling loudly as I bounced her up and down gently.
Abby's child eyes pointed out all the individual decorations that colored the entire area. The place was a monstrosity to tell you the truth, but my little was in awe. Her delighted squeals and exited clapping had us all smiling. I'm sure you could see the hearts of each one of us getting bigger by the second with her happiness.
Other's began to fill their seats throughout the next thirty minutes; a few stopping to say hello at our table before finding their own tables.
We watched as Michael Newton found where he was to be seated. He made a twisted face, before he looked around to have his eyes spot our table. He grabbed his chair and carried it to our table, where he then asked if we minded that he join us. We all welcomed he with warm smiles.
Once all the seats were filled, Jessica Newton stood on the platform with a microphone, and a forced smile on her face.
"I'd like to start off by welcoming you all here today for the final day of festivities," Jessica spewed.
"We're going to begin the event with the food that is being catered, afterwards we'll be handing out awards, followed by a special announcement from Angela Webber-Cheney. Thank you all for celebrating with us." Jessica continued.
"Ugh! That woman's voice grates on my last nerve. Mike, how in the world did you stand that voice in the sack?" Emmett shuddered, making an unpleasant face.
"Ewwwww," Rose gagged.
"Why'd you have to put that nasty sound thought in my head?" Jasper groaned.
"Man, it was hard, let me tell you!" Mike's face twisted in a grimace.
Dinner was served and the park erupted in the murmurs of everyone around as they chatted with their family and friends.
After Bella and I had finished eating, we headed off to the side, away from our table, and sat in the grass with Abby. While sitting there, we took most of the time to learn even more about her. After awhile, Bella began to teach our princess the game of patty cake. They laughed and giggled, excited with their game. All I could do was smile, while watching, and feel my heart constrict with love.
Before long, Jessica was calling everyone's attention back to the stage area. The alumni found their seats quickly, probably wishing this event was over with already.
"Now that everyone is sufficiently stuffed, let's begin our awards ceremony," Jessica said while twirling a piece of her stringy fried hair around her finger and popping a bubble with her bubble gum.
"Why in the world did I marry that woman," Mike groaned quietly next to Bella and I. Bella let a giggle escape from her lips.
One by one the awards were called and handed out. The winners would go up, accept the award, and give a few words of thanks. Others would come up, accept, and then make a joke about said award.
I'm pretty sure that my family and I weren't the only ones fed up when the awards were still being handed out an hour later.
"…and finally for the last award of the evening, I would personally like to say congratulations to our most successful graduate, Edward Cullen." Jessica, still twirling her nappy hair and batting her eyelashes in my direction, spoke in what I suppose she thought to be a sexy voice, I think, but it sounded more like a dying cat instead.
I sighed and leaned over, whispering for Bella to accompany me to the stage, to which she readily agreed. The audience clapped loudly, actually surprising me a bit. I stood up and place Abby on my hip, all while helping Bella from her seat. We made our way up to the stage, where Jessica stood with a scowl on her face, while her arms were crossed over her chest, making sure her cleavage was on display.
As we made it to the steps of the stage, I made sure to help Bella safely up the steps first, then Abby and I followed suit. We walked towards Jessica and accepted the plaque, then stepped up to the microphone.
The audience slowly began to grow quite, watching and waiting for me to say something. Abby buried her face in my neck with a giggle and Bella wrapped her arm around my waist. She gave my side a gentle squeeze and looked up at me with all the love in the world, smiling brightly.
I gazed out amongst my fellow graduates trying to think of the right words to say. Honestly, what do you say to the people you had despised in high school? As I continued to stand there, I looked back towards my table and the wonderful group of people who put me back together again. Those were the ones who gave me the strength to keep going in life.
"Thank you," I said while raising the plaque slightly in the air.
"Okay, so yeah. You people taunted me in high school and made me hate myself along with life itself, I honestly despised you all, still do if I'm being honest. None of you truly bothered to get to know me, nor did you care about the mental abused you were causing me at the time." I continued, definitely needing to get this out of my system.
"Since none of you took the time to get to know me, you had no clue how talented I truly was. I do hope that you have grown up and are now teaching your children a better a way of treating people." I stopped to catch my breath.
"I went off to college, finding the world was a completely different reality than this small town. I made friends, true friends who actually wanted to know me and see the real me, who I truly was." I smiled remembering back to those days.
"In that first year, I learned so much about life, friendship, and most importantly; myself. I had friends who stood by me and watched as my talent was nurtured and I grew as an individual. Those wonderful people brought me out of my shell, for that I thank them," I grinned and nodded towards my table.
"By the end of my first year away, I stumbled across this beautiful woman who challenged everything I had ever believed in. She showed me what true love was and had me wrapped around her tiny finger from the very first moment I met her." I looked down at my wife, grinned and winked, squeezing her tightly to my side.
"As I, she had big dreams in life. Together, the two of us held the others hand, while our closest friends stood behind us, with a hand on our backs. We became the other's support system and worked hard to accomplish our dreams together. No matter what was thrown at us, we stood together, hand in hand, with an army of amazing friends still behind us." I said making eye contact with all that I could, trying to make the point that no matter what, you stood together.
"But anyways, getting to the point. Being the most successful isn't about being famous or having lots of money. Success is about having friends and family. Having them stand by your side and being humble in life. By treating others with respect, by treating them how you would expect to be treated. You give back to your neighbors, to those in need, and give thanks to all those who matter in your life." I stressed, continuing.
"Community matters people. You must come together and stand by one another, no matter if someone is different than you. We must teach our youth the difference between right and wrong. They are our future, fore they carry forward with what they are taught. Don't teach them hate, it can damage a person if they don't come across those rare individuals who are able to teach them other ways." I sighed, shaking my head and running my free hand through my hair.
"That being said, I'd like to say I can't accept this award in happiness, therefore I'd like to dedicate it to my beautiful wife, Bella Cullen, for making my life complete and successful." I smiled down at my wife, once again, watching as the tears streamed down her rosy cheeks.
"Oh, Edward," Bella murmured, shaking her head with a tiny smile.
"I love you," I whispered before placing a kiss upon her forehead.
"I love you too," she replied softly and squeezed my side.
I turned back towards the crowd, amazed by what I was seeing. All were standing, smiling, and clapping. It actually gave me faith that these people that I once hated with everything in me had changed, that they were teaching their children differently.
"Well if that wasn't just a lovely display," Jessica screeched over the microphone with a sarcastic edge to her voice.
"Quit being such a bitch, Jessica," an angry voice sounded throughout the crowd.
Jessica scowled and stomped her foot before announcing the next guest speaker. She quickly rushed from the stage. One would have thought she had a match under her ass.
By the time that we had reach our seats, Angela walked across the stage to the microphone. Her face was lit with excitement, clearly happy about what she had to tell us all. The bright smile on her face seemed to be contagious, because everyone in the crowd was smiling in return.
Her finger tapped the microphone several times to make sure it was working properly before she cleared her throat to speak.
"Hello alumni," she laughed and waved to us all.
"Hello," chorused throughout the crowd, followed by everyone's laughter.
"Anyways, I'd like for you all to give me your full attention for a few minutes," she giggled, continuing.
"Awhile back I received a call. Honestly, I was a bit in shock that a best selling novelist was asking for the owner of the library here in Forks." Angela smiled, lost in that very conversation for a few seconds before carrying on with her speech.
Bella sat beside me blushing. I squeezed her hand to comfort her.
"Now mind you, once I replied back, telling her that I was that person, she didn't waste the first minute in making fun of my utter lack of idiot tendencies. She brushed all that silliness right off and began to explain who she was and just exactly why she was calling." Angela stopped and smiled at my Bella in fondness.
"Isabella Cullen certainly is an amazing woman, I tell you. Without knowing a single person in this community, other than her husband growing up here, and knowing exactly how this community had treated him as a child, she refused to let the past overshadow our future generations. Isabella and her publishing company have donated a tremendous amount of supplies, books, and money to renovate our library for the future."
Everyone was now glancing at our table, making Bella bury her head into my chest.
"Isabella, thank you, seriously! Thank you for everything you have done for our children. As another thank you reminder, I would like to personally make you an honorary librarian at our little library, as well as making you an honorary member of our graduating class." Applause erupted throughout the crowded park, as each person stood to pay respect to my beautiful, blushing wife.
"I know this is absolutely nothing like what you have given us, but your contributions means the world to us here in Forks," Angela said, wiping the tears that ran down her cheeks. She quickly made her way off the stage towards my wife.
Once she arrived at our table, she dropped in front of Bella and quickly wrapped her in a tight hug. "Thank you" were exchanged between the two crying women before Angela stood, smiled and handed Bella the plaque she had abandoned on the table before bending down.
Before long, Jessica was back on stage huffing and puffing because the attention wasn't on her, as everyone was surrounding our table, giving their thanks.
"Well that concludes our events, see you in ten more years," Jessica screamed into the microphone, causing us all to cover our ears, as she tried to gain our attention once again.
"Daddy, why that woman make ugly faces for?" Abby asked curiously, one eyebrow raised, causing the crowd and my family to bust out laughing.
Abby sat still, patiently waiting on an answer. As everyone tried to calm themselves down, I quickly got myself under control so I could answer her.
"Princess, there is always going to be mean people in this world, they will undoubtedly want everyone around them just as miserable as they truly are. She just happens to be one of those people," I smiled and kissed her forehead.
Abby closed her eyes and nodded her little head in understanding.
"Well this has been an interesting day to say the least," Emmett sputtered, still trying to control his laughter.
"Yes it has and I'm so ready to leave this place," Rose offered, standing and stretching.
Once we left the park, we all headed out after goodbyes. The rest of the gang had a flight this evening, destination: Home. Bella, Abby, and I were all staying in Forks for another night, heading out the following afternoon.
Mike would be joining us again this evening. Bella and I had discussed late last night, letting Mike stay here at my parents house until his divorce was finalized. We wanted to discuss this with him later this evening. We also wanted to figure out a time for him to come to California, we truly wanted to get to know him better, but to also help him find better in life. Having put up with all Jessica's bullshit over the years, he deserved much better.
Now to get my family home and have a peaceful night together.
Alright, my brain hurts and this is the point where I'm gonna be windy for a second or three... I'm being stretched into a million different locations up there in that runny goo in my brain... My stories are falling behind because of the requested O/S's for different causes. I am not complaining, nor will I ever complain about it, because I'm truly humbled that people like my writing enough to ask me to take part in these causes.
I do have piece in the Fandom4LLS that will be flooding people's inboxes in the upcoming month. It's called, "Southern Coalfield's". I had an absolute blast writing that O/S while camping with my family in the woods. LOL Those that have gotten the opportunity to read have had wonderful feedback about it, so I'm happy. It doesn't have any lemons, don't cry, it's worth the read.. It's mostly on my heritage here in West Virginia, the values I grew up with, and the life as a full-fledged coal mining family. The whole meeting in it was my grandparents story, but tweaked because my story didn't completely go back to the point in time. I couldn't really say in the story they got married in a hog pen, cause like I said, not going back that far in time. Before you choke on your own laughter, yes they did get married in a hog pen. Here in WV, back in the day, we had a traveling preacher. You sent for him, and when he showed up, you got married exactly where you were and how you were dressed. He didn't have time for you to plan a wedding, get all purdy, and walk down the aisle. You said your "I do's" right then and there. Okay, so not saying anymore about. But if you did donate, check it out!
I also have a piece I'm getting ready to start for the ToR Auctions for Schelmy, one of our wonderful fandom writers. Her husband got her hurt from a fall and they were in between insurances and the bills have piled in. The writers are donating pieces to be auctioned off. The piece I will be submitting will be the 1st chapter to a new story I'm in the process of writing. The story is an "Invitro" story, and I haven't named it yet, so I'm no help huh? LOL
Last but not least, I'm taking part in a picture prompt '31 days of Halloween' O/S thingy for the TFA group over on Facebook. I got an interesting picture, and once I'm finished with the ToR piece, I'll be working on this one. Wish me luck, cause like I said, it's an interesting (I giggled here while typing this out) picture and I have no clue how I'm gonna portray it yet.
Over and out now...
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