Disclaimer: I own a pair of pink fluffy slippers, all the Twilight books in hardcover, a whole lot of hair care products that I don't really use and a shit load of partylite candles. What I do not own however, is the rights to the Twilight saga. I'm hating on Stephenie right now…but it's all in love!;-)
I just needed to address this for you guys. I had A LOT of reviewers ask me if I was going to address the ring issue from the last chapter. I guess the confusion came from me stating that this chapter would contain Edward's decision to play with Jacob's band and then we'd leap ahead to senior year. To clarify…I WILL NEVER end a chapter with a cliffy and not address it in the next chapter. The cliffy is there to draw you in and come to your own conclusions, before the big reveal. I hope that clears everything up for you for future reference. You guys are a hoot, you had me cracking up as I read what you had to say. Thank you so much for the reviews, I love reading them!
Previously on Storm Before the Calm…
"Isabella Marie Swan…what is that on your finger," Renee yelled out a bit angrily.
James released me from our hug and took my hands in his to look at what it was our mother was talking about. He then looked over at Edward who happened to be sitting next to me with a look of terror on his face.
Edward stood up next to me and wrapped his arm around my waist in a show of support.
"Well…you see, um…Edward asked me if, um…"
In that brief moment, all hell broke loose in that backyard and it was no longer a happy celebration but an angry mob with their sights set on Edward and I.
This is completely ridiculous. I can't believe how quickly things have gone from happy to angry in such a short span of time.
"Hey you guys," I said trying to get everyone's attention.
"They're not listening love. Do you want me to get their attention for you," Edward asked me.
"Yes please," I answered with a sigh.
Edward placed his right thumb and index finger into his mouth and whistled very loudly, causing everyone to stop and look in our immediate direction.
"If you guys would be quiet for a few minutes, Bella and I can explain the significance of her ring," Edward told them.
"Thanks baby," I said for only him to hear.
"Mom this ring is just Edward's promise to one day marry me. It's not an engagement ring…it's a promise ring. We know we're too young to be married or even be engaged for that matter. However, we do love each other immensely and know that we're going to be husband and wife one day…after college and after we have established our careers."
"You and dad have raised me very well and I know your expectations of me, even though I'll be an adult fairly soon and will be responsible for my own choices. The same goes for Edward, Carlisle and Esme have raised Edward to be respectful and conscientious of his actions. He would never ask me to marry him without getting both you and dad's blessing first. Plus I'm sure his parents would be made aware of his intentions beforehand as well, so that we can avoid the conversation that we're having right now."
"Bella and I were planning on telling you this weekend when the six of us went out to dinner. That's why we asked you out to dinner, so we could tell you about the ring and let you know that it's not an engagement ring. We didn't want tonight to be about the ring and take the focus off the real reason we're here. It just so happens that Bella forgot to take it off after I asked her to let me see it on her hand, because she's been keeping it hidden in her jewelry box until we had a chance to talk to you first," Edward spoke up and said.
"Now that it's out in the open and we've explained it to you, do you have anything that you would like to say to us," I asked our parents.
My mother spoke up first…why didn't that surprise me? "I guess I was just surprised and felt a little betrayed that if you were engaged, that you hadn't told me and I had to see the ring to find out. Now that I know the reason behind the ring and it's symbolic meaning, I'm so happy for the two of you," she said as she walked up to us and hugged us.
Esme followed suite as well as Carlisle and then my dad. However, my dad held on tight to Edward's hand as he released him from their man hug and told him, "I've always held you in high regards Edward and believed you to be a well-mannered intelligent young man. Please do not give me a reason to change that image of you. Got it? Get it? Good," he told him as he finally let his hand go.
Edward looked a bit afraid after that little speech Charlie gave. I was actually a little afraid for him to tell the truth. More importantly though, I was concerned about James reaction. He still hadn't said anything and I know that he's extremely protective of me…even if I don't voice it often. I could see him walking towards Edward with a serious look on his face.
"Oh shoot," I said out loud…not meaning to.
"What is it my love," Edward ask…completely oblivious to James approach.
I stood in front of Edward as James took the final step that put him right in front of me.
"Look James, please don't give us no hassles. Are you going to be nice to Edward," I asked him knowing that he was going to have his say regardless.
"Of course I am sis," he replied much too nicely. "Now why don't you step aside so that I can speak to Edward face to face," he told me firmly.
Edward moved me out of the way gently and gave me a nod to let me know that he would be okay. He then stood face to face with my brother, not letting him intimidate him at all.
"James…I love your sister and I would never hurt her. I hold her on the highest of pedestals and I will make her my wife one day," Edward told him with conviction.
"Is that so? What makes you think that you're good enough for my sister? How do I know that you're not just going to kick her to the side once you find someone else to your liking," my brother asked him acidly.
"James! Cut it out," I yelled while trying to once again step in front of Edward. He held me firmly to the side of him and shook his head, letting me know that he could fight his own battles.
"James I've given you my word that I would not hurt Bella like that. To answer you first question, I don't think I'm good enough for Bella…but she accepts me the way I am. Bella is all that I want…she's my life," he told my brother.
"Oh yeah…well in that case, good luck. You're going to need it with her," James told Edward as he finally broke out in laughter.
In case you didn't guess it, James was playing with Edward the whole time. I didn't know that though until just now. They shook hands and I saw Edward sigh with relief. After that things begin to return to a festive mood. It wasn't long before the night began to slow down. Pretty soon it was just Edward and I standing in the backyard. My parent's had left and Carlisle and Esme headed up to bed. The catering staff had just finished clearing up all the food, garbage and were putting away the tables and chairs. They also removed the decorations and put the backyard furniture back in its original position. They were getting paid pretty handsomely to do all of the work they're doing.
Emmett and Rose retired to his room so they could get their freak on, while Jasper and Ali went back to his house. Even though things between Jasper and I are good now, I know that he was bothered by the ring that Edward gave me and I understood his need for needing some space. I think Ali knew that too and didn't want to make a big deal out of it, so that's why she suggested they go to his house.
Edward and I went to his room and changed into our swimsuits before heading back out to the hot tub. He brought his Ipod along to set up in the docking station built out on the deck. The water felt amazing as my skin submerged itself into its depths. While Edward found the Playlist he was looking for I layed my head back on the edge of the hot tub and closed my eyes. I just wanted to let the adrenaline from this day calm down. A few moments later I felt the water shift and knew that Edward had made his way inside the hot tub finally.
I felt Edward standing in front of me before actually opening up my eyes and seeing him standing there. He had that sexy crooked grin on his face that I absolutely adore.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that," I inquired.
"You are just too damn sexy for your own good. As much as I love how brilliant you are and all the time we spend together just hanging out, I have to admit that I can't get enough of the naked you. Especially when you're writhing beneath me as I make you cum over and over and over again," he said bold as brass.
"Well damn Edward…subtle much?"
"Why should I be love. I feel like I should not have to hide anything from you my love. If you make me feel a certain way, then I'm damn well going to tell you as much. You just don't know how long I've waited for you, my little lamb."
"I'm here, I'm not going nowhere," I told him as I leaned in and kissed him deeply.
We made out for a bit before he settled himself next to me, keeping his arm around my shoulders. It was nice must sitting here listening to Debussy and relishing the moment.
"So…um Bella. I've made my decision about whether or not I want to play with Jacob Stickney this summer," he said hesitantly.
"Whatever your decision is Edward, I will support you…you know that right," I asked him.
"I knew that, but I still needed to hear you say it," he confessed.
"I will always support your decisions when it comes to your career and doing anything that may help you achieve your goals," I told him honestly.
"Thank you Bella. That really means a lot. I have decided to play with the band this summer. You're the first person I've told. I'm going to talk to my parents tomorrow and let them know and I just hope they're as understanding. I hope you'll be able to come to some of the performances…if not all of them."
"I will do my best to be at every one of them. The only ones I'll probably miss are the ones scheduled the week I'll be visiting my PaPa in July. I know you were suppose to go with me, but I don't want you to miss out on this opportunity," I told him genuinely.
"I'll see what the schedule is like that week and maybe I will be able to still go…if not the whole week, maybe part of it. I want to spend some time with your PaPa too. Especially since he wasn't able to make it here for James graduation."
"That would be nice, but just so you know…I'm totally okay if you can't go or make it even for a few days. This is a great opportunity and I don't want you to pass it up or miss out. My PaPa will still be around…God willing of course," I said to him with a smile.
After that discussion we chilled out in the hot tub for awhile before heading inside and going to bed naked. We didn't make love that night…we just held each other until we drifted off to sleep.
Seattle, WA July 31st…
As I sat in the audience listening to the melody drift through the sold out club, the beat took me back to last night in my hotel room when Edward was banging the hell out of me up against the wall as the rain thumped rhythmically against the window. Our bodies were so sweaty and sticky when we were done, that we immediately jumped in the shower after our tryst up against the wall. Of course we're never satisfied once we get started, so we ended up fucking in the shower and then making love nice and slow in the bed. Thank God for a healthy metabolism and for inventing Wheaties…because we damn sure need all the energy we can muster as often as we indulge in sex.
I snapped out of my trance when Edward's solo part came up. Watching him run his fingers along those keys and lose himself in his music is such a fucking turn on. If I had the balls, I would march my happy ass right up there to the piano and fuck him senseless and then return to my seat as if nothing out of the ordinary just happened.
"Bella, you look like a woman with a million thoughts running through her mind," Rose said.
"Not a million thoughts…just one in particular and it's definitely X-rated," I told her with a smirk on my face.
She winked at me and gave me a knowing look. Her and Emmett have no shame in the things they do…or where they do it!
It was Edward's last performance with the band and we all came out to support him. When I say we all…I mean his parents, my parents, Ali, Jasper, Emmett, Rose, Jacob, Nessa and I. Edward had started out playing just maybe two to three shows and then once the audience began to really appreciate what the piano brought to band's sound, he was asked to do more shows. This month alone he did four shows a week. Even though he didn't ask for it, they paid him for his time. He's been loving this experience with the band. So much so that I had to threaten him to stay here and do his shows while I went to Phoenix last week, because he felt like it would upset me if he didn't go. Yes it was hard being away from him for such a long period of time, but we definitely made up for it when I got back.
At the end of the last set, the band received a standing ovation. We remained seated, talking among ourselves, as the band cleared the stage. I knew Edward would come and sit with us once he wrapped up things with the band.
About forty minutes later Nessa nudged me and asked me who the blond was that was all up on Edward. I turned and looked in the direction she was looking and saw an attractive female, on the tall side…standing indecently close to Edward. He didn't look like he was into her or anything, but he wasn't exactly pushing her away either. I mean to be honest, why would he…she wasn't doing anything except leaning in and talking to him. However, if a person didn't know Edward the way I did…they may assume that their conversation was anything other than platonic.
As if he could read my mind, he put a reasonable amount of distance between himself and the blond…but still being the gentleman he was raised to be. He indulged her in conversation for a few minutes longer before I saw him making his way over to our table. I had told Nessa that I didn't know who the woman was, but I'm sure that she was just praising his performance or talking to him about his music in general. She seemed to take that excuse without further questioning. Nessa is very observant and very protective of her family and friends. I have become one of Nessa's best friends, as she has become one of mine. She is very protective of both Edward and I and I know that she would not hesitate to beat down anybody that she feels a threat to his or my happiness. Not that she would need to, of course.
"Hey love. Are you enjoying yourself," Edward asked as he finally made it to the table and sat down next to me.
"Yes I am, very much actually. Did you get everything taken care of with Jacob and the band," I asked.
"Yes and as a matter of fact, I would like to talk to you more about that when we get to our room. For now, I just want to enjoy this time with you and our friends and family."
"Sounds good to me," I said feeling a little let down that he didn't mention the blond woman and what she was whispering to him.
I let it go for the time being, so that we could have a good time. By the time we made it back to our hotel room, it was after midnight and we both was a bit exhausted. We didn't talk that night, because after grabbing a hot shower and having some 'sexy time' in said shower…we fell right to sleep when we got in the bed.
The next morning after we had packed all of our things for our trip back home, Edward decided to bring up the conversation from last night as we sat and ate our breakfast.
"So Jacob offered me a scholarship to study music if I decide to go that route. No matter which school I choose he will give me the money. Not that I need it and he knows that, but he just wanted to let me know that he's willing to back me and even give me a letter of recommendation."
"Wow, Edward…that's amazing! I'm so happy for you. Have you made a definite decision on majoring in music or are you still torn about being a doctor too," I asked him.
"To be honest Bella, they're both 50/50 in my book right now. I just have such a huge desire to do both. I still have some time to decide and I plan on really putting a lot of thought into where I want my future to go. Even if it means penning it to paper by listing the pros and cons of each down on paper to physically see it in writing. Whatever I decide is going to map out not only my future, but yours too since you're going to be my wife eventually."
As often as I've heard him say that, it still has the same effect on me. I turn a deep shade of red each and every time.
"Well like I said before, whatever you decide…I will support your decision," I reminded him.
"You're so good to me and for me. No one could ever give me as much as you give me. Thank you Bella for loving me and being in my life. I love you so much," he told me affectionately.
Monday, August 24th
1st Day of Senior Year…
We were all excited about our first day as seniors. Edward and I have every class together except fourth period. He has music and I have nutrition. I have three classes with Rose and Ang, two with Jasper and then Ali is in my nutrition class.
I was glad that I had at least one of my friends in each of my classes. It would make senior year even better. We all had fifth period lunch together, which totally rocked. Senior year was already starting off on the right foot.
Edward and I were sitting in our AP Physics class chatting with Rose, Jasper, Ang and Ben. Edward and I sat at the last table in the back corner of the classroom. Ang and Ben sit in front of us and Jasper and Rose sit at the table next to ours. So it was easy for us to make conversation when we needed to.
Mr. Andersen had just called the class to order and was beginning to do attendance when the classroom door opened and in walked Mike Newton escorting a tall blond girl into the classroom. She looked kind of familiar from the back, but I had yet to see her face. At that moment, she turned to face the class and I almost slid off my stool onto the linoleum floor. It was the same girl from the club in Seattle, who was whispering into Edward's ear.
I turned to look at Edward and saw him tense up and gripped the side of the table. It was as if he was trying to control himself from lunging across the table and attacking the girl. I knew why he was affected by her sudden presence in our classroom. He had admitted to me that she had propositioned him for sex that night at the club. He said he politely told her that he was involved in a serious relationship with me and that he was not interested in what she was offering. Before we had left the club that night, he had gone to the men's room and I waited for him outside the club with everyone else. He told me that she cornered him on his way out of the club and kissed him on the mouth and grabbed his dick. He promised me that he was caught off guard and that's why she was able to get both a kiss and a feel in. He told me that after he got over the surprise of her attack, he pushed her away forcefully (not hurting her though) and told her to never do that again and to stay away from him.
I was angry at first, because he didn't tell me right away…but after he explained a few things to me…I knew I was overreacting. I honestly know that Edward wants me and only me. I don't presume to think that he's not attracted to or even get aroused by other women, because he is a man and it's in their nature…shit it's in a woman's nature to be attracted to other men too. It's what you do or don't do that make things become complicated or not. Edward has never given me a reason to believe that he's interested in someone else or that he would cheat on me. So I let it go and it hasn't come up since.
It's as if the devil himself has made it his mission in life to put every sort of obstacle in our way to test our commitment to one another. I have an eerie feeling that this girl has not let go of her obvious attraction to Edward and she will be a pain in the ass, now that she's enrolled in the same school as he is. I'm not going to stress over it because Edward has never given me a reason to feel as if our relationship was threatened. I would leave it to him to handle this situation, should it become a problem. I won't allow her to see me rattled in the slightest. I'm confident in my relationship and that's all that matters to me.
The blond was introduced to the class as Lyndsay Lively (I know…original right). She moved to Forks with her parents and her twin brother Logan. She's originally from Memphis, TN, but moved to Seattle when she was ten. Her father is a business guru and recently had a restaurant and recording studio built right here in Forks. He's the founder and CEO of Lively Industries, which says a lot if you know anything about music. Lively Industries has backed so many recording labels in the music industry that it's almost unheard of to not know their name.
For some reason, I had a sour taste in my mouth all of a sudden.
The rest of class went by without any incidents, not that I thought any would occur. Edward remained tense throughout class and I never got a chance to question him about it because Mr. Andersen talked during the entire period.
When the bell sounded, I looped my arm through Edward's and led him out to the hallway so we could talk as he walked me to my fourth period class.
"Are you okay Edward," I asked him when we were outside the classroom.
"I just never expected to see her again and it made me feel like I was going to vomit when she walked into that classroom. I just hope that she don't bother me and that this is just a fucked up coincidence that she just happen to move to Forks and is attending Forks High School, this year," he told me.
"Don't let her bother you. As long as she knows you're not interested in her and that we're happy…she should leave you alone. This is suppose to be a fun year for us and I don't want to worry about her and what she's up to. She hasn't even said anything to you or shown any recognition at seeing you. Let's just hope for the best," I assured him.
"You're always the optimist. I love you for that!"
We had arrived at my class and Edward leaned in a kissed me, adding in a little tongue before releasing me and heading a few doors down to his own class. As I was about to enter the classroom I looked down the hall to see if Edward was looking at me, but he had already walked into his classroom. What I did see was the new girl going inside the same class that my Edward had just moments before entered.
Just great, she would be in a class with him that I wasn't in. All I could do was continue to trust Edward. If I start doubting him and worrying now, I would do nothing but cause a rift between us…which may end up tearing us apart.
"Get it together Swan," I told myself as I made my way inside my nutrition class and took a seat next to Ali.
"Hey Bella," she said in greeting.
"Hey Ali," I said to her with a smile.
"Don't worry about him Bella…everything is going to be just fine," she told me.
That damn pixie can be fucking scary at times, with her cryptic messages and all. I just looked over at her and shook my head. For some odd reason, I didn't doubt her words…I honestly believed her.
A.N. Please tell me your thoughts. Reviews are loved! I haven't decided exactly, but there's only about 3-5 more chapters left in this story. I'm going to be sad to see it end, but I think there's only so much that can be written now. I will have an epilogue at the end of the story, so it will wrap things up nicely for you.
Coming up next: Lyndsay sets her sights on Bella…
Fanfiction Reading Recommendation: "The Red Line" by WinndSinger
**It's a dark story, but it's so good. It has over 13,000 reviews…how can I get lucky like that…lol**