Disclaimer – I don't own Twilight or the characters, but I did see Lizzie Pattinson live Wireless Festival!
A/N – I would like to thank TwiFic Promotions who are featuring this story on their blog (go check it out at http:/(.)twi-ficpromotions(.)blogspot(.)com) I would like to thank KekahJ for her wonderful review! And also Lady Tazz for reviewing it on http:/tazzsobsession(.)blogspot(.)com
I now have a beta for this story, the wonderful confettirainfall has eaten most of my commas! Thanks you bb.
Chapter 15 – Date Night EPOV
I watched Bella as the realisation that we were together, alone and away from the hostel hit her. Her eyes were wide, and her posture stiffened.
Did this mean she didn't want to go for a drink with me?
"Sure, I'd like that." Although I was pleased she accepted my offer, her answer surprised me ever so slightly. I was brought out of my thoughts as she continued speaking. "But I seriously need to eat first, unless you want an extremely drunk Bella on your hands." I wouldn't mind any kind of Bella on my hands... or in my bed, against a wall... I was easy, really. I mentally slapped myself as we began walking to Victoria High Street where I knew there was a Pizza Hut.
"Not very subtle were they?" I asked, trying to make some kind of conversation that didn't centre on me and my 'troubles'.
"Not particularly a word I'd use to describe them." Bella smirked as she fumbled in her bag before pulling out her packet of cigarettes. She handed one to me as I pulled a lighter out of my pocket. "How did you meet them all? I've always been interested in how people forge relationships." I saw her physically relax as she took a drag on the cigarette.
"Erm..." I thought back, surprised that I could actually remember the details. "Oh yeah, Emmett knocked me off my scooter." Bella looked at me in shock. "I was 5. He and Jasper were 6 and playing football. Emmett had totally hoofed the ball into my head as I happily whizzed up and down the street on my brand new Scooby Doo scooter. I went over the handlebars and broke my wrist." I laughed at the memory of the atrocious aim of my best friend.
"Wow, I guess that's one way to make an impression."
"That and the fact that Emmett got grounded for a week. He wasn't supposed to be outside in the first place, but it was a hot sunny day. Jasper was outdoors, so Emmett decided to play out rather than sit inside on his own." Bella laughed out loud. I'm sure she was trying to picture Emmett as a defiant little boy. "And I spent the summer holidays with my arm in a cast! I thought I was the best thing since sliced bread, getting all my mates to sign it. Of course, Emmett had pride of place, bright blue letter above where it was broken. Not even his whole name. Just a big 'E'." I opened the door for her as we arrived and we were soon led to a table for two by the window. I noticed Bella looking at the waitress strangely, but ignored it. "What about your friends back home. Tell me about them."
Bella looked over the menu as she thought. A sad look settled across her eyes before she started to talk.
"I met my best friend Angela on our first day of Kindergarten. She dropped her glasses and the resident bully stood on them, crushing them to a pulp on purpose. I kicked him in the shins and took Ang to the teacher. Miss Stanley was lovely and luckily had been given a spare pair by Ang's mom. From then on, we were thick as thieves."
"You're a hero." I smiled at her. Again I saw that sadness in her eyes. "Why so sad?"
"Sorry, I just miss her. She's like the other half of me. We did everything together. We went on our first date together as a double, and whenever either one of us had a problem, we didn't even need to say anything. It was instinctive. We just... knew."
"You'll be seeing her soon, when you go back won't you. That's something to look forward to."
"I wish it were that simple. Ang died last year." I couldn't believe that my size 10 foot was able to fit in my mouth so snugly.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't realise." Bella smiled at me.
"No need. It's been hard, but I've come to grips with it. It was actually because of her I'm here in London. We planned to come over together to complete our training when she got ill. She made me promise to stay on track with our plans. Three days after I booked the tickets, she was dead. I was able to say goodbye just before I left." We were interrupted by the waitress arriving to take our order, leaving each of us to our thoughts in silence. Once we were done, I spotted Bella looking at her strangely again.
The rest of the meal was spent trading stories about our childhoods. We both avoided the subjects of her friend Angela and my so called father. We'd not suffered any more awkward moments considering our only conversations had previously focused on me and my 'history'. I paid the bill, and we left to find the nearest pub.
"Why did you keep giving the waitress strange looks?" I asked, handing her a cigarette.
"Did I?" She avoided the question and kept her eyes on the shop fronts we were passing.
"You know you did." I grinned at her as her eyes widened. She obviously hadn't meant for me to notice.
"She must have had awful perfume on." Bella replied nervously. I knew I wasn't going to get anything more out of her.
"Sure, that must be it." We were silent for a little longer before a thought crossed my mind. "I meant to ask you. Other than me and Jake, does anyone else have access to our room?"
"No-one other than the room's occupants and staff. Why?"
"No reason really, I just noticed my scores had been moved around, and my pencils have gone walkies." She looked at me thoughtfully before replying.
"That's strange. Have you talked to Jake about it?" I shook my head as we entered the first pub we came to.
"Not yet. I'll mention it when I see him. Drink?" Bella nodded as I turned toward the bar.
"Beer, please. Shall I find us a seat?" I nodded back to let her know I'd heard her. As I stood at the bar waiting to be served, I looked over my shoulder at Bella as she made her way across the small pub towards an empty table by the window. I couldn't help but notice alll the looks she was got from the men sat at the surrounding tables, as they clearly pushed chairs into her path so the could watch her squeeze by. Out of nowhere a flash of jealousy hit me in the gut as I saw her through their eyes. Slim, petite and extremely pretty in a natural way. Her pale skin was starting to turn pink from spending time in the sun as a tourist with me and my friends. My musings were interrupted by the barman asking for my order. I paid for two bottles of beer and quickly joined Bella who was flicking through pictures on her camera.
"Anything I should be worried about on there?" I asked, placing a bottle in front of her.
"There's such a pretty one of you and Emmett gazing lovingly into each other's eyes." She smirked at me.
"Let me see that!" I tried to grab the camera off her, but she jerked it back and out of my reach, nearly smacking a regular in the back of the head with her exuberance.
"No way Mister. I'm saving these onto the computer before you're able to delete any." She tucked it back into her bag and picked up her drink.
"Any chance I could have copies of some of them? I haven't really got any recent pictures of us all. I don't know if you've noticed, but I haven't really been in the picture taking mood recently."
She smiled at me gently. "Sure, I'll print some off for you."
As she sipped her beer, she glanced up at me, appearing to be deep in thought. I stayed quiet so I wouldn't interrupt her musings. My own thoughts turned to my friends and my mum and how crappy I'd treated them over the past few years. I resolved myself to making it up to them. I was lost in these thoughts when Bella's voice startled me.
"You've come a long way in such a short space of time. I think you have your friends to thank for that. They obviously care a lot for you. Not many people have that support system available to them." I knew I was very lucky in the friends that I had and my mum, but I didn't want to talk about them right now.
"I'm very lucky, but you won't be if I catch even glimpse of any pictures online before I've vetoed them." I grinned at her. "Especially if they involve me and that dick Emmett looking lovey dovey." She had the cheek to laugh at me.
"Oh, these are so going on Facebook! How else will people back home know I'm ok and actually making friends rather than just working all the time?"
"You're on Facebook?" I was shocked. She didn't seem the type to be involved with sites like that, but I guessed it made sense to keep in contact with friends back home.
"I do have a life you know. I'm not always all-dull-technophobe Bella." I could tell she wasn't offended – at least, I hoped not. "Besides, it's cheaper than phoning home every week like I did when I first came over."
"Have you made many friends?" I suddenly wanted to know who she was spending her time with outside of the hostel.
"A few from school, but not many. I've tried not to get too attached to people knowing I'm only here for a year. I think it's made people think I'm a bit standoffish, but I did it to protect myself."
"Protect yourself? From what?" I was curious.
"After Ang died all my so-called friends back home distanced themselves from me. It was almost like Ang was the only one keeping the group together. Looking back, they were always more her friends than mine. I couldn't stand the superficial bitches anyway." She smiled at me, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"So, what'll happen when you go home?"
"Oh, I'll still live with my dad, Charlie, go to school and look for a job."
"But, you need friends around you. I'm major proof of that. If I hadn't had Em and the guys supporting me I would be in Scrubs." She looked confused, probably thinking of the TV show. "Wormwood Scrubs. It's a prison. It hasn't got the best reputation in London."
"I don't think it was just your friends that helped you. Somewheredeep down you knew you had to stop, but you just didn't know how." Damn, this girl was good. "Enough was enough, you know?" Bella looked at me shyly and I wondered what she was thinking.
"Yeah, well, enough about me and my crap. There's enough time at work for that." The grin on my face faltered at her slightly sad expression. "What?" Why did that look make me anxious?
"I won't be working with you. Carlisle's going to be your case worker from now on." She couldn't look me in the eye.
"Why. Not just because of that bull Em said?"
"That's part of it." Was she being deliberately vague?
"Care to elaborate?"
"Not right now. You'll be in good hands. Carlisle's a good man."
I don't want to be in his hands.
I heard Bella gasp as I realised that I'd voiced my thoughts out loud. I mentally slapped myself.
"I didn't mean..." I fumbled for the right words. "I meant that...I...Shit." I ran my hand through my hair, avoiding her gaze.
"I think I know what you mean." Bella's voice was no louder than a whisper, yet I heard every word. "I guess I'm just glad Carlisle's a guy." My eyes shot up to meet her equally shocked ones. "Another drink?" She asked making her way to the bar without waiting for my answer.
BPOV
I stood at the bar internally bitching myself out. How could I have said that? I'd lasted this long without making any major attachments, so why did I have to go and make one now?
It wasn't just Edward, it was his friends too. When I was with them, I felt like I was home, like I belonged. They'd accepted me, no question. Spending time with Edward was like a bonus prize. I had to stop these thoughts about him. I was going back home soon and would never see him again. One or both of us would end up getting hurt. I paid for two more beers and rejoined him.
"What was that last comment about?" Edward asked as soon as I sat down, a hint of confusion in his voice. I looked at him not knowing what to say. I couldn't believe I'd let that slip.
"I ...er...To be honest with you, I have no idea why I said that." I decided to go for the semi-honest answer. He cocked an eyebrow at me.
"I'll let you off, for now. But I shall be asking about it again." I breathed a silent sigh of relief. I was safe, for now. "Now, what shall we do next? This place isn't exactly jumping is it?" He indicated around the pub with a broad sweep of his arm.
"Not particularly, but we need to be back soon." I reminded him of the hostel's curfew which was in just over three hours. "What's your all time favourite place in London?" His eyes suddenly flashed bright green with excitement.
"Drink up." He suddenly said enthusiastically. "We've got a tube to catch."
After a fairly short journey on the subway, Edward led me down some side streets in the West End. Eventually, we stopped outside a storefront that had seen better days.
"This used to be my sanctuary whenever I needed to get away." Edward's voice sounded almost reverent. "Want to come inside and meet my favourite person outside of family and that bunch of knuckleheads I call friends?" He took hold of my hand, his long, slender fingers linking through my own. A jolt of what felt like static electricity shot up my arm.
"What...?" I looked up at Edward who was scrutinising our joined hands. He raised his eyes to meet mine causing warmth to spread throughout my whole body.
"Let's go inside." His voice quiet as he led me inside.
The store was dusky, almost like it was permanently twilight. There were dusty guitars hanging on the walls and various other musical instruments placed throughout the small space.
"Edward m'boy. How the devil are you?" A booming voice came out of nowhere making me jump.
"James." Edward's voice was full of feeling as he walked towards the back of the shop when quite honestly the largest man I'd ever seen came around the counter. He looked at Edward with pure affection before pulling him into a hug. "Bella, this is James."
"Oho. So this is the reason you're writing music again." James looked at me, his round face split in half by his huge, beaming smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you." He held out his chubby hand. I shook it and was surprised at his strength.
"You too," I replied. His eyebrows lifted as he seemed to notice my accent.
"So, has young Edward here played you any of his compositions?" His voice betrayed his affection for Edward even though he teased him.
"No. No he hasn't." I smiled up at Edward as James looked at him in surprise.
"Goodness me young lady. You are truly in for a treat." He led Edward over to an upright piano near the back of the store. "Sit down and play for the beautiful lady, Edward. I'll be right back with a fresh pot of tea." James pushed Edward onto the bench and made his way behind the counter, disappearing through a doorway.
"Edward. You don't have-" Edward cut me off with a finger to my lips.
"I actually want to. Take a seat." He patted the bench next to him. "It's been too long since I played to anyone other than myself through headphones."
The most beautiful music filled the room as Edward's slender fingers danced over the ivory keys. The haunting melody made me want to laugh and cry at the same time.
"Edward, that was beautiful." It was the only thing I could articulate once he'd finished.
"It's kinda the music to my life at the moment." He looked down at the piano. "The happiness at finally being free of my past and at starting my life again."
"And the hint of sadness I heard in the music?" I wondered what still made him sad when he was changing his life for the better.
"You have a good ear." He looked me in the eye as he seemed to stare deep into my soul. "That bit was inspired by you." I was confused.
"I don't understand." I spoke quietly, almost scared at the direction this conversation may take.
Edward sighed before continuing. "I'd never really been interested in the whole relationship thing. That was for losers like my dad. Why should I tie myself to one person? I was too young for all that. Then I decided to sort my life out and in walked one more complication."
"Which was?" I asked even though I already knew the answer.
"You, Bella. How can I have these feelings for you when you're leaving soon? I mean, I never wanted to do the whole couple thing, never mind over long distances." I never expected him to be so painfully honest. I owed him to be just as honest. I took a deep breath.
"I never intended to feel like this either, Edward. I'd managed to keep any acquaintances as just that. I can't say that jeopardising my job, my career and everything I've ever worked for was my master plan throughout my stay..." I stopped to organise my thoughts. "But I feel it too, and I really don't know how to deal with it."
"You two are just too close to see the answer."
We both jumped at the sound of James' voice. "As much as I'd love to help you two muddle through this, it's late, and I need to close the shop." Edward looked at his watch in horror as he realised the time.
"Thanks James. Bella, we gotta get back." He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the store.
EPOV
The walk back to the hostel was silent and unhurried even though we walked fairly quickly. The conversation from James' shop played over and over like a broken record in my mind and from the way Bella was chewing on her lip, it was on hers too.
All too soon we arrived outside New Directions.
"I'll let you get inside then." Bella's voice was quite and distracted.
"Er...Ok. Will you be around?" I asked hesitantly. I was suddenly afraid she'd just disappear as she was no longer my case worker.
"I'm always around Edward." She smiled shyly before turning to walk away from me and head home.
It's now or never Edward! I could almost hear Emmett egging me on.
"Bella?"
She stopped dead at the sound of my voice. With agonising slowness, she turned back towards me. Before she could say anything, I pulled her to me and crushed my lips against hers.