I don't own Twilight but I do like to pretend that I do. I don't own Wuthering Heights, and I don't own Sunset Lanes either but it really is the name of the only bowling alley in Forks, WA! I looked it up!
I reluctantly pulled myself from my place beside my love moving to hide in her closet just before her father came stumbling sleepily into her room at about five thirty. He quickly made his way over to her bed and called out to her quietly.
"Bells, wake up."
"Dad?" she questioned groggily before gasping and bolting straight up in her bed whipping her head around as though she was frantically searching for something.
"Are you okay Bella?" Chief Swan asked quietly.
Bella shook her head as if she were trying to wake herself up and looked up at her father warily.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What do you need dad?" She asked staring at him but then quickly resumed her previous activity of scanning her room for something. I almost laughed when I realized that she was looking for me.
"I just wanted to say goodbye before I headed out this morning. I left you some money for food on the table in the kitchen and you have my cell number but I left the numbers for Sue Clearwater and Billy's house on the fridge for you as well. If you need me don't hesitate to call. Billy's son will be at home all weekend if you want to hangout up there, I'm sure he'd love to see you again and you can visit Leah and Seth as well."
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. He straightened up and headed for the door.
"Thanks dad. I will call if I need anything but I will probably be spending a lot of time with Alice and Edward."
Edward? Huh, I don't think I like the sound of that.
"Explain that please?" Chief Swan said as he leaned against the doorframe.
Bella blushed deeply and sighed.
"Alice is one of my best friends and Edward is my boyfriend. I was just saying that I will probably be over at their house a lot. I didn't think you would mind. I mean after all their dad is a doctor. I might be safer there than anyplace else."
Safer? In a house full of vampires? Only Bella would think that way.
"Alright Bells. You can go over to the Cullen's place but I don't want you and that boy here alone, got it?" He said sternly.
She nodded and blushed as she lay back down in bed trying to get comfortable.
"Oh and Bella, I want to meet this Edward when I get home. Have him come over on Monday night for dinner." I didn't miss the way he sneered when he said my name.
I can't believe some punk thinks he is good enough to date my daughter. I will make sure he knows that I am watching him on Monday. Maybe I can scare him into keeping their relationship strictly friends or better yet maybe he will break the whole thing off completely.
Chief Swan's thoughts were almost humorous when he was angry. There was no force in this universe that would make me break things off with Bella.
I stayed hidden in the closet until I heard the front door close. Bella must have been listening for the same thing because as soon as her father's car started she called out to me.
"Edward? Are you still here?"
"Of course" I chuckled as I made my way back to her at vampire speed.
"You stayed" she sang as she threw her arms around my neck as I lowered myself to sit beside her in bed.
"There is no where else I would ever want to be my love," I whispered. I pressed my lips to her hair and she arranged herself into a more comfortable position. She tried to stifle a yawn but failed miserably.
"Sleep my love, I will be here when you awake" I cooed as she snuggled into my side.
"I was afraid you'd listen to my dad and leave since we were alone" she mumbled sleepily.
"Your father didn't specifically say that you couldn't be here alone with me, just not with that boy and I am choosing to believe that he meant the boy from the reservation." I chuckled.
"What boy from La Push? Seth?"
"No, the Black boy. Your father seemed to remember that you quite enjoyed spending time with him when you were younger." I forced down the growl that was beginning to build in my chest at the thought of her enjoy the company of another man.
"Jacob? Yeah we had fun together; we made mud pies and played tag. I haven't seen him since I was 8 and he was 6. He was like a little brother to me," she mumbled as she yawned again.
It didn't make me feel any better about her father trying to push her to go and see him but it did make me feel better to know that she viewed him as a younger sibling.
'Sleep now love, we will talk when you wake up," I cooed in her ear and began to hum the melody that I had written for her. She succumbed to sleep quickly and didn't awake until after nine.
I kissed her lips gently as her eyes started to flutter up.
"Good morning, love" I purred as she stretched out beside me.
"Morning" she yawned and rolled out of bed. I raised a brow in question when she looked back at me.
"I need a minute to be a human" she smiled. I watched her gather up her things and head out to the bathroom. I quickly made her bed for her and made my way down to the kitchen to make her something to eat.
Again I found myself lost as I looked through the refrigerator. I was just about to admit defeat and wait for Bella to come down to make her own breakfast when my phone rang. I didn't even have to look at the caller ID to know who it was.
"Hello Alice"
"Good morning Edward," she sang. "If I were you I would make Bella some scrambled eggs and toast."
"I will do that. Thank you Alice."
"Oh and Edward, I know that this is your time with Bella but I was thinking that we could all go out together tonight, Em and Jazz want to go bowling."
"You think we could all go or you saw that we were all going?" I asked while chuckling.
She sighed heavily as if she were upset.
"Fine, I saw it but I was letting you think that you had the option to say no." she huffed in mock annoyance.
"I'm sorry if I upset you Alice. I will ask Bella if she wants to go and I will call you back later. I have to go so that I can have Bella's breakfast ready when she comes down stairs."
"Okay, bye Edward," she sang happily.
"Goodbye Alice," I laughed as I hung up.
I was buttering Bella's toast as she walked into the kitchen. She ate her breakfast quietly and I watched mesmerized by her. I had a hard time tearing my eyes from her mouth. I asked her about bowling and she agreed but had some errands and chores to attend to first.
I helped her clean the kitchen and living room and we were just starting on the laundry when the phone rang. I loaded the washer while she went to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Is this Bella?" a woman inquired.
"It is? May I ask who this is?" Bella asked.
"It's Sue Clearwater, dear. I was wondering if you wanted to come up for dinner tonight? I hate to think of you all alone with your dad away." Sue Clearwater seemed like a nice woman but Bella was supposed to be with me tonight.
"Thank you for the offer Mrs. Clearwater but I already made plans for tonight. I am going out and then spending the night with a friend." Bella seemed genuinely sad that she couldn't go but something else made me file that thought away for later. Bella had mentioned staying the night with a friend and she had blushed a vivid scarlet color when she said it. I had assumed that she and I would be spending the entire weekend together. The voice on the phone interrupted my fretting.
"That's fine dear; we can get together another time. Just be careful and keep out of trouble. Bye now." Bella barely had time to say her own goodbye before I had her in my arms.
"I was under the impression that we were spending this weekend together, love. I must say that it makes me unbelievably sad that you have made plans with a friend. May I ask who you staying with tonight?" I asked in an overcurious tone. Her instant giggles had me smiling just because she was amused.
"Oh Edward" she managed between chuckles, "you are too cute when you're jealous. I was referring to you."
I raised an eyebrow in question.
"I meant that I was spending the night with you. I couldn't very well say that I was staying with my very attractive boyfriend alone all night in the same bed now could I? She'd call Charlie and he'd be here faster than even you could run away." Before I could respond to that my phone buzzed again.
It was of course Alice.
"Yes, Alice?"
"Tell Bella that we are all so excited that staying is staying the night here. Jasper and I are at the mall right now picking out bedding for your room as well as some new pjs for her to keep here. Esme and Carlisle are at the furniture store getting the bed. It will be all ready to go when we get home from bowling tonight."
"Alice, calm down. Bella never agreed to spend the night at our house. She was just saying that so that people wouldn't ask her to stay with them." I explained.
"Really Edward? You know I am psychic, but if don't believe me ask her your self. I'll wait." she said smugly.
I sighed then looked down at the angel still wrapped in my arms.
"Love, what would you say if I asked you to spend the night at my house instead of here?" I asked cautiously.
"Really? You want me to stay with you? But wait, where will I seep? You have no bed remember?" she was vibrating with excitement. Hmm, maybe Alice was right after all. I have to admit the thought of holding my love all night in my bed appealed to my quite thoroughly
"It seems that Alice and Esme are out right now buying a bed for my room. So would you like to stay, love?" I found myself eager to hear her say yes.
"I'd love to." she yelled and blushed. I leaned down to brush my lips across hers.
"I told you so" Alice called out and I remembered that she was still on the phone.
"Yes you did. Now, if you'll excuse me Bella and I have some tings to do but we will see you at four for bowling." I hung up with waiting for her to respond and resumed the kiss that she had interrupted.
Bella and I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon running around Forks in her truck. We went grocery shopping, dropped off her father's dry cleaning, and returned her library books so that they wouldn't be overdue.
Bella packed a small bag with clothes for tomorrow as well as pajamas for tonight; not listening when I told her that Alice had already took care of it all. We drove her truck to my house so that if anyone came by her house would know that she was gone.
We left her truck in the garage and took the Volvo to the only bowling alley in Forks, Sunset Lanes.
Bella and I sat in the Volvo waiting for the others to arrive.
Bella was recounting to me her first and last experience at a bowling alley.
Her eyes looked pained and she had a distant look as she stared at her hands in her lap. She took a deep breath and began.
"I was 9, and I slipped on the oil that they use to keep the lane smooth. I started sliding at the foul area of the lane, and continued all the way down. Can't you just imagine my little body sliding down the lane, screaming at the top of my lungs? I got a strike, in the worst way possible. The owner of the bowling alley even called the paramedics to make sure I was alright. The whole entire bowling alley was staring at me. It was a horrific event in my past."
She looked over at me, with a confused expression on her face. I realized that she was expecting me to laugh at her or something.
"Bella, if you don't want to do this we can go some where else." I told her getting lost in her eyes.
"No!" she shouted, "I agreed to this so I could spend could some quality time with my boyfriend, and his brothers and sisters."
"You know they consider you their sister as much as I am their brother. Besides, I am positive that you will bowl wonderfully tonight," I told her honestly.
She looked up at me with a disbelieving smile so I took it upon myself to convince her.
Her face was seriously doubtful, but you could see the hope and happiness buried in her eyes.
I took her hands and placed them around my neck as I undid her seatbelt. I pulled her across the center consol into my lap. I held her waist as tightly as I could without hurting her and kissed her soft lips. I pulled away quickly to let her breathe.
"I promise that tonight will only get better from here" I purred as she fought to control her breathing.
She knotted her finger in my hair and pressed her sweet lip to mine again.
She was attempting to deepen the kiss and I was considering letting her when I heard the thoughts of our siblings approaching.
Emmett was at the passenger door pulling it open before I had a chance to right Bella in her seat.
Go Eddie! I didn't think you had it in you.
"I'm sorry to interrupt. I wouldn't want to embarrass you Bells," he said, abruptly turning around.
I was confused by his actions at first but one look in his head told me that he fully intended on embarrassing my love and me but he wanted a bigger audience. I sighed resigned to protect Bella from as much of his humor as possible.
Rosalie approached the car and pulled him off to talk alone. I could see from her thoughts that she was going to try to rein in her husband as a way of apologizing to Bella for her previous behavior towards her and coming from Rosalie that was about as good as you got.
"Are you ready for some fun?" Alice asked clearly exited as she bounced up beside the car as I was helping Bella out, "I can see you already were having some before we arrived." She added with a wink.
I tried to keep Emmett away so you'd have more alone time but you know how he can be.
She then bombarded me with images of Emmett begging them to hurry up and then him threatening to leave without them.
"Yes I know exactly how he can be, don't worry. Let's just have some fun." I smiled. Alice handed me my bowling bag and gave Bella a dark blue one with her name embroidered on the side then she flitted off to walk in with Jasper.
"What's this for?" Bella asked once Alice was out of hearing range for a human that is.
"It's your bowling ball and shoes Bella. Did you honestly think that I would allow anyone in this family to wear shoes that some one else had already worn?" Alice called back to us visibly shaken at the thought of one of us using rented shoes.
Emmett had already secured the lanes for us and had input our names on the monitor. He had decided that it would be men versus women tonight. It didn't matter to me how we divide in to teams because I was going to help Bella with her game no matter what. I had promised that she'd do well after all.
When we were all in place Em went up and tossed his ball without even looking. He missed completely. He was usually a very good bowler so I didn't understand while he'd throw a gutter ball. I cocked an eyebrow at him to ask why and he responded silently.
I can't let my new little sister feel too bad when she loses. I have to at least give her a fair chance.
Then proceeded to only knock down three pins with his next try.
Rose went first for the girls and she got a spare.
Jasper went next and got a strike. Alice clapped and cheered for him for a full two minutes before she sauntered up to bowl. She rolled a strike and rushed into Jaspers arms squealing about winning. I guess she had seen it already.
I rolled a strike and instead of taking my seat to await my next turn I made my way over to Bella and showed her how to hold the ball properly. She blushed as I stepped close in
behind her to guide her hands in the correct form. We took a few practice swings without releasing the ball and when she stepped up to the foul line she leaned into me and let me
lead her. She, or we, got a strike. She spun around in my arms and kissed my passionately. I had to brace myself and pull away before it became too difficult for me maintain my composure. I am a gentleman but there is only so much my willpower can withstand.
The game continued but Emmett decided that since I was 'cheating' by helping Bella so he didn't feel the need to throw the game for her anymore.
To keep ourselves from standing out too much to the humans around us we all purposely threw a couple spares. The girls managed to win the first game due to Emmett's less than stellar first frame but the men won the next game. Bella had gotten the hang of it by the middle of the third game so I let her do it on her own.
She had just stepped up to the foul line when I heard a 'voice' that had the potential ruin my perfect day.
Tonight must be my lucky night. Bella Swan is here and the lane next to hers is open.
"Bella, what's up?" Newton called as he sat down on the bench for the lane right next to hers.
She nodded a greeting to him and continued her frame. She knocked down 7 pins and had a good shot at getting the others.
"Doing great Bella, do you need some help with your form?" Newton called out to her. I could help her with her form. I'd wrap one arm around her waist and pull her back to my chest and
I closed my mind to him before I murdered the stupid boy right here.
Bella ignored him and picked up her spare. She smiled timidly as she looked up at me. I opened my arms and she threw herself into them. I spun her around and kissed her softly in congratulations…
Stupid Cullen, I should have known he'd be here.
The rest of Newton's group arrived and I was trapped between the putrid thoughts of Newton, and Tyler Crowley towards my sisters and my love and the repulsive thoughts of Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory that revolved around my brother's and I that weren't much better.
Lauren Mallory's mind was nothing short of a cesspool. Her thoughts were teetering back and forth from overtly sexual situations involving one or sometimes more of the 'uber sexy Cullen men' as she had named us and hateful venomous thoughts of harm that she would happily cause to my Bella or one of my sisters. I was fighting the urge to attack her for her thoughts alone when she leaned over and began to whisper under her breath to a giggling Jessica Stanley.
"Your know, I bet Bella paid everyone of them to come here with her tonight. I know that Rosalie hates her. I mean she stopped eating with her own family when Bella started sitting with them. I think I will ask Bella what she bribed her with to get her to come tonight," she glared at Bella but thankfully Bella didn't hear what she said or see the look she was receiving.
"Ooh, do you think that make she's blackmailing them into hangout with her. I mean her dad is the police chief. Maybe she so kind of info that we don't." Stanley offered.
"That would explain it" Mallory giggled before stepping up to bowl.
I growled at her too low for her to hear and Alice warned me many times to relax and not do anything to either of them. She showed me the aftermath and I have to say that I didn't want to disappoint Carlisle and explaining to him that I ripped out the throats of these vile girls would cause him some discomfort so I held my tongue for the next four frames.
To say that I was relieved when the game was over would be an understatement. I started to hurriedly put mine and Bella's balls away while she was changing her shoes.
I was surprised when Rosalie, who had been blocking her thoughts since the pair had began insulting Bella aloud, walked over and sat down between them.
She motioned with her fingers for them to lean in and when their heads were almost touching she growled in a deadly menacing voice:
"I would really stop gossiping about Bella if I were you because she has a sister that wouldn't hesitate in ripping your heads off if she hears you again."
They both gasped and leaned away as Rosalie smiled. She stood up and joined us as we exited the building.
Esme had dinner prepared for Bella when we got to the house. She ate in the kitchen while I went upstairs to see what Alice had done to my room. There was a king sized black wrought iron bed with a golden comforter and piles of pillow set up in the middle of the room. My couch had been pushed against the far wall and my stereo had been settled between the shelves of cds. The room looked full but no cluttered. It was perfect. I was going to have to thank Alice and Esme for this.
"You're welcome from me and Esme too," Alice called up the stairs.
I also added an electric blanket to the bed so that you could cuddle with Bella and she could stay warm. You two can be real snuggle buddies now.
I chuckled at her silly terms and headed back downstairs.
After Bella ate we all settled in the living room to watch a movie. It was Esme's choice tonight but she graciously allowed Bella the choice since she was the guest. After examining our DVD collection she sighed and said that she couldn't decide. Alice jumped up and pulled Bella over to the shelves of old VHS movies that we never watch anymore. Bella looked over the titles and gasped. She pulled a movie out and turned with a smile that lit up the room.
Alice took it form her and pt it in the VCR that until then I hadn't even noticed sitting in front of the TV.
When the credit began I groaned. Only Bella.
"Wuthering Heights, dear?" Esme asked as she smiled at Bella.
"It's one of my favorite books." Bella answered but never took her eyes from the screen.
"Have you ever seen this movie before?" Carlisle inquired. Bella was nodding before he even finished his question.
"Yes, I used to stalk the classic movie station back in Phoenix, trying to find it on. My mother finally broke down and bought me the video for Christmas two years ago. I've probably seen it about fifty times. You know, I've heard that Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier hated each other and after every take Merle Oberon would yell at the director to make Laurence Olivier stop spitting at her. I bet that set was fun to be on," Bella giggled and then sighed at the screen.
I see what you mean now Edward she is one of a kind. I'd don't think any other seventeen year old girl would be talking about a movie made in 1939 like it was this summer's hottest blockbuster.
I nodded fully agreeing with Jasper's assessment. Bella sniffled a few times during the movie and I smelled the salt of her tears when Cathy lay dying. I drew her close to me and kissed the top of her head soothingly. She shook with silent sobs as the characters Heathcliff and Cathy strolled off together into the afterlife at the end.
Rose and Alice both wanted to ask her why the movie touched her so when the characters were clearly horrible people but I waved them off telling them to wait until tomorrow. Bella said good night to the family and we made our way up to bed.
After Bella completed her nightly routine I gathered her up into my arms and held her as she drifted off to sleep with me humming her lullaby quietly in her ear.
Emmett called for me to come and play Xbox with him but I declined. I was going to hold my love in my arms all night for the first of many times in the place that she belongs; my bed.