UNTIL FFN GETS SORTED...I'LL POST THIS TWILIGHT STORY HERE.
Name: MIRAGE
Author: Sdfreeze
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer
This story was last published on 6/18/10.
This is the link for the TWILIGHTED forum for THE CUBE story.
http: / / www(dot)twilighted(dot)net/forum/viewtopic(dot)php?f=44&t=11931
All Sdfreeze story discussions should take place in THE CUBE discussion forum, to keep them together.
Chapter: 2
Suck it
He let me shower first, because I took a lot less time, and he ordered the pizza. I dried my hair and found a good movie when the pizza arrived. Edward was still in the bathroom so I grabbed his wallet to pay and was stunned to see it stuffed with cash. He had mostly one hundred dollar bills and I didn't know what to use to pay the pizza guy.
I knocked on the bathroom door and he opened it only covered by a towel. "The pizza guy is here, do you want me to pay him?" I asked.
He walked out of the room and grabbed his jeans and pulled out two twenties from his pocket. "Tell him to keep the change," he said and went back into the bathroom.
I opened the door and the guy handed me a box and a bag with two very large bottles of beer. I quickly grabbed a slice and opened one of the beers and took a swig right from the bottle, hoping Edward would allow me to keep it since I put all my germs on it.
I was sitting against the headboard, holding a slice of pizza in one hand, and the forty ounce beer in the other as I watched the Matrix, when Edward finally finished in the bathroom. He walked out and exhaled loudly.
"You're getting crumbs in the bed," he said with frustration.
"So, I'm sleeping in your bed," I said as I continued to stare at the television.
"Where did you get the beer?" he asked in surprise.
"You ordered it," I said finally looking at him.
"No, I ordered root beer," he said harshly.
"I guess they forgot the root," I smiled and held the bottle up to toast with.
"Are you going to get drunk?" he asked me seriously.
I laughed and took another long drink, "Did you actually go to college, Edward?" I asked him.
"I just don't want you vomiting in my car tomorrow," he clarified.
"Damn," I exclaimed. "I was really hoping we could chug a keg and sing the fight song, too."
He picked up a slice of pizza and sat at the small table in front of the window. I shook my head back and forth and scooted over to pat the place next to me. "You can't see the movie from there."
"I'm fine," he said.
"No," I said adamantly, "I tried the pool; you have to sit here to eat."
He rolled his eyes and came to sit on the bed. I offered him the bottle and he looked at it for a second and then stood to get the other one. I chuckled and was happy he was going to let me keep one for myself.
He was fine until I used the sheet to wipe my mouth and he jumped from the bed in disgust. "I told you I am sleeping with you tonight," I reiterated.
"I can leave a light on," he said but looked worriedly at the sheets.
I laughed and said, "Not now, you would never be able to sleep knowing I'm lying in dirty sheets and then getting into your car tomorrow."
"You're right," he conceded.
I went to the sink and washed my hands thoroughly and realized I was a bit buzzed from the beer. I sat in the chair by the table and put my feet on the end of his bed. He looked at them disapprovingly and I let them fall to the ground.
"Why are you so anal?" I asked with a smile.
"I'm particular," he clarified.
I handed him the small amount left in my beer and said, "You need this to lighten up."
He took it as a challenge and downed the rest of the bottle in one swig. I laughed and clapped my hands as he smiled back at me. I let my head fall back and ran my hands through my hair to cascade over the chair. "I think I'm buzzed," I said to the ceiling.
He stood and walked to the bathroom and I noticed his entire beer was gone too. He came back carrying the trash can and said, "Don't throw up on the bed."
"I'm not going to throw up, you ass. I'm not twelve. I only had some beer….hey, go get the wine," I said with excitement.
"You're not old enough," he said.
"Get it for you," I suggested. "Why do you have it anyway?"
"I'm seeing friends in Chicago," he said and it made me laugh.
"And Chicago doesn't have wine so you had to haul it from Seattle?"
"I don't know what time I will get into town," he explained.
"Oh man, Edward, I am going to do you a huge favor." I picked up his keys and headed out to the car in just my t-shirt. I grabbed four of the wine coolers and came back to the room to sit them on the table.
"Let's show up in Chicago without any wine and just chance it…live on the edge Edward."
He looked at little hurt so I ran my finger down his cheek to his chin and pulled his face to look at me. "You need to relax, not try to control every detail, have some fun once in awhile."
He grabbed one of the bottles and took a drink. I grabbed one and jumped onto my bed and raised my eyebrows to challenge him to join me, dirty sheets and all. He finally came over and pulled the covers completely from the bed and sat down next to me as I laughed.
By the second wine cooler I was totally buzzed and babbling like a ditzy coed. I was telling Edward all about my favorite movies and books and he was trying not to laugh at me. I stuck out my bottom lip to pout and watched as his eyes moved to my mouth and he licked his lips.
I stared at him and we could both feel the tension in the air. It would be so easy to kiss him, just crawl onto his lap and pull his mouth to mine, but I had to ride next to him for several more days and that would be too uncomfortable.
I think we should go to sleep," I said and moved to the other bed.
He re-brushed his teeth and I turned to face the wall and went to sleep. A loud noise woke me up and I tried to get my bearings. It was pitch black in the room and I scooted closer to Edward.
"You okay?" he asked.
"A noise woke me up," I said into the dark.
"It was just a car back firing," he said softly.
"You heard it?" I asked wondering about his ear plugs.
"Yeah, I just barely turned out the lights," he said, a comforting voice in the darkness.
"It scared me," I admitted.
"Your shaking," he said and put his arm around me.
I moved closer to him pulling my hands under my chin and hiding in his chest. He stroked my hair and I relaxed a bit.
"What scares you about the dark?" he asked as he laid his cheek on my head.
A car honked right outside our window and I tensed causing him to pull me even closer. "Bella, you're fine. Just try to sleep."
"Can we turn a light on?" I asked with a shaky voice.
He began stroking my cheek with his thumb and I felt him kiss my forehead. I was desperate for any distraction and slowly raised my head to find his mouth in the dark. He hissed and wrapped his legs tightly around mine, locking me to his body as he kissed me frantically.
We were panting and moving wildly in the dark, unable to see enough to come to our senses. He rolled over on top of me and I felt safe and protected. I pulled his bare chest onto me covering me from anything lurking in the darkness.
He moved to my neck and was sucking gently as I arched into him wanting and needing more. His phone rang, giving off just enough light to make us acknowledge what we were doing. He moved off of me and looked at his phone before sitting it back down.
I rolled to my side and held my breath, hoping he wouldn't want an explanation or even worse, want to offer an apology. It took me a bit before my pulse slowed and I listened to him put in his earplugs and turn away from me. I stared at the wall and imagined him doing the same.
I relaxed after I heard him begin to snore softly and finally drifted off to sleep. I dreamed of him, of kissing his lips and touching his body in various ways. I was deeply entrenched in the throes of passion when our wake-up call came in.
I jumped and leaned over him to answer the phone. When I hung up I looked down to see him smiling at me as he removed his ear plugs.
"Nice dreams?" he asked.
"What does that mean?" I asked in fear I had been groaning all over him.
"You were calling my name," he laughed.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"The plugs don't make me deaf," he smiled and looked at me knowingly.
"You jumped me last night, if you remember," I said angrily.
"I do remember and it was nothing like that," he said as he got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
I punched the pillow he just left and wanted to die of embarrassment. I turned on the news for any update, hoping he would stay in the bathroom his usual amount of time. A little blip came on about dental records being used to identify the bodies when I heard the door open. I quickly turned to cartoons and smiled when Edward entered the room.
His phone rang and he glanced at it and frowned this time. "Your manipulations not working?" I asked.
He didn't respond and I looked at the phone and saw a picture of a gorgeous blond. "Oh the ex," I mumbled.
He sat down and rubbed his palms into his eyes. I watched him drop his head and sit very still. "Hey," I said as I walked on my knees right up behind him and rubbed his back. "You okay?"
He sniffed a couple of times and I tried to look around him to see if he was crying. I finally wrapped my arms around his shoulders and hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
He patted my hands and kissed them and then stood to get dressed. I headed into the bathroom and took a look in the mirror and screamed out Edward's name. I marched into the room and glared at him.
"What the hell is this?" I yelled as I pointed at my neck.
His eyes widened and then he began to laugh. "You got the Cullen special," he said with pride.
"The Cullen special?" I asked as I kicked up the anger a notch.
"Yeah, fast and cheap," he laughed.
"Have you not gone through puberty, or have your balls just not dropped yet? My God, you call me a minor, I look like a whore," I screamed.
"It's a hickey, not syphilis sores," he said as he rolled his eyes at my supposed drama.
"I thought sucking someone else's flesh would be repulsive to a germaphob like you," I accused.
He walked up to me and leaned over to look at the extremely large mark and smiled as he raised his eyes to mine. "I suck other things, too," he winked.
"Well, go suck yourself because you're not getting near me again," I went back into the bathroom and slammed the door loudly.
I was still refusing to speak to him as we sat in a booth waiting for our food. I kept my hand on my throat to hide the disgusting mark.
"You've never had a hickey before?" he asked with a smirk.
"Yes, I have, but not the size of Texas, I look like I have Leukemia," I complained.
"It's because you are so pale, normal girls wouldn't show as much," he stated as I stared at him in shock.
"Why are you insulting me? What is so abnormal about me?"
"I didn't say you were abnormal, you just have porcelain skin, so it looks worse than it is," he said completely unapologetic.
I crossed my arms and looked out the window. "Okay look," he said in a serious tone. "I'm really embarrassed about losing control last night; I think you are too, so let's at least fight about the right thing."
"I won't drink anymore," I said softly without looking at him.
"I just went through a really, really rough divorce. I was looking for…." He shook his head and looked away.
"Understanding?" I offered as he struggled for the right word.
"Sympathy, empathy, I don't know."
"Revenge, maybe?" I asked.
"Maybe, but I really didn't mean to do that to your neck, I just got a little…."
"Excited," I laughed.
"Yeah," he chuckled, "Excited."
"Well, you're a really hot guy so you're not totally to blame."
"Hot?" he asked as if he didn't believe me.
"Except for that cleanliness thing, yeah hot," I admitted.
His phone rang again and I reached out and grabbed it. "How about we just turn this off today?" I offered.
He nodded and I looked down to see a text come through as I tried to shut it off. I found the right button and sat it back on the table. I didn't tell him the text said; Meet me in Chicago to talk. Tanya.
When we headed to the car I saw the newspaper rack with my face on the front page of USA Today. The title read; Body not Isabella Swan
Candy
We didn't talk for most of the morning and I let Edward believe it was over the hickey. I was worried about being recognized before I could make it to Virginia and even more worried about Edward seeing the news.
I sat low in my seat and didn't want to look at passing cars. Edward was stewing over his own problems and seemed miles away. I had so many questions about his wife, but I didn't want him to feel free to ask me anything.
When we go to Omaha I finally spoke. "Can we find a Walmart?"
"Walmart?" he asked.
"Yeah, so I can buy a swim suit," I said really wanting to buy a hat.
"How about a mall?" He asked.
"No, that's too much money, Walmart's fine."
He pulled off the highway and into the parking lot of a store I didn't recognize. "Do they have swimsuits at a Farm and Fleet?"
"We'll find out, if not we'll just buy some sheep to hump," he laughed.
I kept my head down pretending to hide the hickey and let my hair fall in my face. Edward walked away and let me look at the clothes by myself. I found a simple one piece suit and a matching hat and headed to the front of the store.
Edward had some more Pepsi's and looked at my suit with disappointment. "No bikini's?" he asked.
I pointed at my neck and glared at him. "Okay," he laughed, "I'll pay, I owe you."
I noticed a long line and asked for the keys so I could wait in the car. He came walking out with a large bag and motioned for me to open the trunk. "Can I have my hat?" I asked trying to sound nonchalant.
He arranged everything in the trunk and brought me my hat before getting in the car. He sat in the driver's seat and smiled as he handed me a small bag.
"What's this?" I asked.
"A once in a life time opportunity," he said and started the car.
I looked in the bag to see some M&M's and looked back at him in confusion.
"You can eat them in the car," he smiled.
"With my fingers or do I have to use a spoon?" I laughed.
"As long as they melt in your mouth and not in your hands," he said seriously.
"Want some," I asked as I opened the bag.
"Sure, put them in my mouth," he said as he leaned over and opened his mouth.
"No green one's, you're horny enough," I said as I picked out the green ones and put them back in the bag.
He winked at me and I shook my head and dropped a handful of candy into his mouth. I felt better with the hat on and sat up to look at the landscape. "This is one freaking big country," I sighed.
"Sometimes not big enough," he said softly.
I looked at him and wondered what he meant. "Are you really twenty eight?" I asked.
"Yes, in nine months I will be twenty eight," he laughed.
"Will that makes a lot more sense, twenty seven year olds can't hold liquor."
"I wasn't drunk," he said in defense.
"You knew what you were doing?" I asked in surprise.
He took a deep breath and looked away. I didn't know if I should be flattered or feel like he was trying to take advantage of me. It hit me and I began to wonder if he was expecting me to put out for everything he was paying for.
"Edward, I need to you be honest about something. Why did you kiss me?"
"I don't know," he said sadly. "You were scared and shaking and in my arms, Christ, I sound like a fifteen year old virgin."
"Did you think I wanted you to kiss me?"
"Did you?" he threw back at me.
"I was pretty buzzed, but I think I did…respond," I admitted.
"You involved with anyone?" he asked.
"No, not for awhile," I said. "How long has she been your ex?"
"Not long enough," he said shaking his head angrily.
"Was it a mutual decision?" I pressed.
"Mutual," he repeated in repulsion. "Nothing about our marriage was ever mutual. It was more of an arranged marriage anyway."
"What religion or nationality are you that still have arranged marriages?"
"Politics and money are the last moral evils in the world," he explained but I didn't understand. He was getting to close to my own secrets so I changed the subject.
"Who are you seeing in Chicago?"
"My old roommates, Emmett and Jasper, and their wives."
"And they're winos," I teased.
He laughed loudly and became very nostalgic. "Emmett is a huge fitness freak, always working on his six pack. Jasper is an intellectual, very artistic and into philosophy and Zen. Their wives are, man I don't know how to explain them. Rose is married to Emmett. She was a model and pissed at the world, I think she's hungry," he laughed.
I didn't like the idea of standing face to face with a model but it wasn't like they were my friends.
"Alice is married to Jasper; she is like the energizer bunny on uppers. If she talks to you just nod, because nobody can keep up with her talking," he said shaking his head.
"And who were you?" I asked with a smile.
"I was the stupid rich kid, always being controlled by my father and his money," he said with regret.
"Who's your father?"
"Senator Cullen."
"Really?" I said in surprise. "He looks too young to have a kid your age."
"I'm sure he wishes that was true."
"Not a daddy's boy?" I asked.
"No, don't get me wrong, he's a great man. He just loves his constituents more than his family. What's your story?" he asked.
"I just decided to finally look up my birth mom, nothing against my parents," I said trying to sound believable.
"Of course your dad can't disapprove, what with the fishing accident and all," he said giving me a suspicious look."
"I believe he is looking down on me," I said and reached to turn on the music.
He watched me for a bit and I tried to ignore his glance.
We listened to music for over an hour and I finally asked him, "If you ever need a break I could drive for a bit."
"I won't let you eat in the car and you think I will let you drive?" he chuckled.
I sat back and pulled my hat over my face and went to sleep as I pouted.
I woke up as he pulled into a hotel in Des Moines. "Man, I'm never going to sleep tonight," I said with a yawn.
"Don't expect me to stay up and give you hickeys," he mumbled as he grabbed his wallet and got out of the car.
I watched him as he talked with the clerk and smiled at her obvious flirting. I wanted to walk inside and hang all over him just to bother her, but I was too afraid she would recognize me. I saw Edward pick up a paper and my heart skipped a beat. He opened it up to the sports section and ignored the front page.
I felt like I couldn't breathe and I realized my back pack was in the trunk and I wouldn't be able to run if I wanted to. He finally turned to sign something and reached for the key card and came back outside.
I was shaking and he noticed immediately. "Worried about the pool?" he asked.
"Yeah," I lied.
"We'll go slowly again," he promised.
I nodded and folded my arms to calm myself down. I changed into the swim suit and wrapped a towel around my waist. We walked to the pool in silence and I sat on the side with my legs dangling in the water as he swam his laps.
He swam over to me and broke through the water between my legs. "Ready?" he smiled.
"No," I complained.
"Come on," he said lifting me by my waist and setting me into the water. I clung to his neck and tried not to hyperventilate.
He walked slowly and began to sink further into the water. "No," I yelled as I lowered with him.
"I've got you, your head won't go under the water," he promised.
I arched my back to keep myself higher out of the water, but pushing my body into his.
"Bella watch," he said and lowered his mouth into the water and began to blow bubbles.
I watched him do it several times and finally lowered my mouth with his and copied his action. His face lit up and he smiled as he continued moving in the water. "Okay one more thing and were done for today," he said in a way that made me nervous.
"You can do this," he encouraged.
He let go of my waist and took both of my hands and stepped away from me. I gasped and tried to pull his arms back to me.
"Look Bella, you can stand and I won't let go of you, look in my eyes."
I stared fiercely into his eyes and saw his honesty and began to slowly, slowly, relax. He took another step back and we now had our arms fully extended. "Don't leave me," I begged.
"Never," he promised. "Now I'm going to step back and you take a step towards me."
He moved and I made tiny steps toward him. "Perfect," he smiled. "Now I'm going to stand by your side and walk with you, okay?"
I nodded and tensed when he let go of one hand and came to my side. I held his one hand with both of mine and stared at his face as we walked to the edge of the pool. He stopped at the ledge and lowered his mouth into the water again.
I held onto the side and followed his move to see him smile with pride.
He jumped up onto the ledge and I gasped and closed my eyes tightly. "Sorry, did I splash you?" he asked.
"No, I'm fine," I said in fear.
"There's no hot tub so you're going to have to wrap up tightly," he said holding my towel for me.
I climbed out and he pulled the towel around my shoulders and rubbed his hands up and down my arms like you would a child. I shivered so he pulled me closer and hugged me tightly.
"You'll be swimming by Virginia," he said confidently.
"Right, I can't even put my entire head in the water," I sad sadly.
"You doubt me," he asked staring into my eyes.
I couldn't answer and became mesmerized by the odd green grey color of his eyes. I was still shivering but for a different reason. He leaned in and kissed me softly and quickly before walking away to get his own towel.
I followed him back to the room and when I headed for the shower he handed me a bag. "What's this?" I asked.
"Pajamas," he answered.
"Why?"
"The t-shirt is too…appealing."
"So are you going to wear a shirt, because your pants are too…appealing, also."
I headed into the shower and put on the new pajamas but they were way too hot for summer. I took off the long pants and came out wearing just the top and dried my hair. Edward took a shower and walked out wearing his pants and a shirt.
"I think I'll leave a light on and sleep by the window," he suggested.
"Okay," I said with relief.
There was a knock on the door and I jumped. Edward chuckled and grabbed his wallet and paid for the Chinese food he ordered.
"No beer?" I asked trying to sound sad.
"I have two more wine coolers," he said which surprised me greatly.
He set up the food on the small table and I knew there was no way he would allow chop sticks in the bed. I came over to sit with him and he looked at me and shook his head.
"I thought pants came with that," he said nodding at my pajamas.
"They were too hot," I complained.
"You're too hot," he said as he handed me a carton of food.
"Thanks," I replied, not knowing if it was for the food or the compliment.
He grabbed the remote and turned on the television as he sat down and reached for some food. I glanced up at the screen to see my face and looked at Edward. He was staring at the food trying to decide what to eat and just as he looked up I jumped onto his lap.
I could hear the television talking about the death of Chief Swan and his daughter and the burned bodies belonging to someone else. They mentioned mob involvement and Edward tried to look over me to see the screen so I grabbed his mouth and began kissing him passionately.
Trust Me
He was holding me tightly and his kisses were escalating when I heard the news move to a different subject. I pulled away and looked at him apologetically. His eyes were wide and he was breathing heavily.
"I'm sorry," he said to me and I didn't know why.
"I was only trying to tell you thank you and I wasn't sure how to do it," I said with a red face.
"I don't expect you to sleep with me, Bella," he said emphatically.
"I know, this is just really confusing," I admitted.
I went back to my chair and we both began eating again. When I finished I grabbed my toothbrush and headed to the bathroom. "Look for a good movie," I yelled back to him.
He began changing the channel and I felt confident to leave the room. When I came back he quickly turned off the TV and looked flustered. I watched him carefully and he looked guilty about something and wouldn't look at me.
"Anything good on?" I asked.
"Not really," he said and headed to the bathroom. I turned on the television to see he had been watching the news. He was gone for over half an hour and came back and still wouldn't look at me. I wanted to believe it was due to the kiss, but I wasn't sure.
I got in bed and stared at the ceiling. A soft knock came on the door and I looked at Edward in shock. He looked out the window and then back at me with fear on his face. I froze in the bed as he opened the door just a few inches and a policeman was standing there.
"I'm sorry to bother you but can you tell us which vehicle you are driving?" he asked Edward.
"Sure, the black BMW, is there a problem?"
"No we have a stolen car in the lot, are you alone?"
"No, I'm with my wife," he lied.
"Sorry to bother you, goodnight," the officer said as he looked past Edward to see me lying with my back to the door.
Edward shut the door and I looked up at him. He sat next to me on the bed and took a deep breath. "I need you to tell me what's going on?"
"Don't ask me please," I begged.
"Is anyone looking for you?"
"I don't know, I need to get to Virginia, but other than that I don't know what's going on."
"What's in Virginia?"
"I can't tell you," I said with pleading eyes.
"Is your father dead?" he asked.
"Edward, please, I can't tell you," I cried.
"Bella, I have something to tell you. We are tangled up in the same thing. I was married to Tanya Denali."
I gasped and jumped out of the bed and backed against the wall. I had stumbled on to the one person the Denali's would want as badly as me. Or maybe he was working for them and pretending to be divorced.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he said with his hands out. "I married her to get my father out of some trouble. I'm not part of her family."
I tried to process what he was telling me. He had lied about his age and was receiving calls from Tanya wanting to meet in Chicago. I didn't know what to believe and could be innocently headed right for my own death.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he said again.
I slid against the wall and began to cry. I wanted this to be over and I wanted to believe Edward was a good person and wouldn't turn me over to get away from his ex. I felt trapped with a neon target over my head.
Edward began to pace back and forth as he pieced things together in his head. He was mumbling to himself and finally looked at me in horror. "Langley, you're going to Langley, but they would bring you in with protection…unless…oh God Bella, you're the bait, Charlie's the one they're bringing in."
"I was supposed to catch rides with truckers and be in Virginia in three days, truckers drive through the night," I explained.
"Shit, we are in big trouble; we have to get out of here."
"Why?" I asked in panic.
"I'm carrying documents for my father to deliver to the ethics committee; the two people they want most on the world are traveling together. We just made it so much easier for them."
"What should we do?" I cried.
"Get dressed, and keep your back pack with you, don't put it in the trunk. We have to get to Chicago as fast as possible."
"Tanya wants to meet you in Chicago, are you playing me?" I asked him, praying he would tell me the truth.
He began pacing again and grabbed the phone. "My dad's line will be bugged, let's see if we can trick them for a few hours."
"Hey dad, I just wanted to check in and let you know I met a girl."
I stared at him in shock and felt betrayed.
"I'm driving her to St. Louis to meet her folks and then I'm going to Atlanta to visit Jaz and Alice. I'll call you when I get to D.C., bye."
"I thought they live in Chicago," I pointed out.
"Jasper is from Atlanta and he goes there often, they would believe I would go there to see him."
He began to dress right in front of me so I did the same.
"Why are we leaving now, you haven't slept?"
"Bella, you register your vehicle when you pay for the room. The cops don't knock on your door and ask if you've stolen a car."
My heart sped up in fear. I watched him remove the battery from his phone and place it in the back of the toilet bowl. This was real and I was going to die right along with Edward.
We grabbed our stuff and jumped in the car. I was looking all around but Edward seemed calm. We pulled onto the interstate and I watched every car with suspicion. I was so afraid and holding tightly onto the seat with both hands.
"Hey," he said with a smile, "you're going to be okay, Bella. I'll take care of you."
I unhooked my seat belt and threw my arms around his neck and laid my head on his shoulder. "In case I don't get to tell you later, thank you," I cried and couldn't finish.
"You're not only going to get to tell me, you'll be able to show me, babe," he teased to make me laugh.
"I'm not going to blow you for saving my life," I said to make him laugh.
We drove through the night and I could tell how tired Edward was but he never complained or asked me to drive. I made myself stay awake and every time the road became empty of traffic I would imagine all kinds of awful things.
We pulled into a city called Orlando Park and Edward walked into a gas station and spoke to a guy who appeared quite intoxicated. I watched the man hand Edward his phone. He quickly texted someone and came back to the car.
"Edward?" I asked hoping it wasn't Tanya we were meeting up with.
"Hungry?" he smiled and pulled into a Denny's.
I looked around for a tall blond but there were only a couple of truckers in the place.
"Bring your back pack," he instructed and grabbed his own duffle bag and briefcase from the back seat.
We walked to the back room and Edward sat with his back to the wall and I sat across from him. "Order big," he said under his breath when the waitress walked up.
I ordered the grand slam with coffee and juice. Edward did the same and then left the table to wash his hands. I felt jumpy and vulnerable without him. He came back and I smiled at his beautiful face.
"Relax," he instructed, "you look like you're about to shit your pants."
"Maybe because I am about to shit my pants," I said and took a deep breath.
We ate slowly and tried to remain calm, but he stared at the door continually. I saw him exhale loudly and smile at someone walking towards us. I closed my eyes and waited for the betrayal.
Instead, two people sat at the table next to us. A small brunette sat facing me and a tall blonde man sat facing Edward.
"Good morning Jaz, and Alice," he said while staring at me the entire time.
The man picked up a menu and said, "What deep shit are you in now?"
"I need new identities for both of us and a totally new look for her," he answered still looking at me.
The woman chuckled and I couldn't stop myself from looking at her.
"A Cullen special, I see," she said as pointed to her own neck.
I kicked Edward under the table. "Yeah, turn him on and he becomes a freaking vampire," I said in anger.
"He thinks it's a talent," Alice laughed. "I'm sure he will kill a girl with a blood clot someday."
Something about her comment bothered me. I only met the guy three days ago and I didn't want to think of him touching another girl. Maybe it was the idea of possibly dying with him that made me feel like he was mine.
"What size are you?" she asked.
"A two tall," I answered.
"Bitch," she laughed.
"You'll grow someday, Alice," Edward teased.
Jasper pulled out an envelope and sat it on the table. It's all glass, but you can shut the security blinds. The garage remote is in my console. Give me two days and I will come for you, okay?"
Edward stood and picked up his stuff and waited for me to do the same. He picked up the envelope and sat his own keys on the table in its place. I glanced at the couple and could see the tension in their faces. I followed Edward out the door and had to believe in the talent and strategy of people I had never met. If Edward trusted them, so would I.
We climbed into a Jeep Commander and Edward opened the envelope and punched in the address on the GPS. We pulled into the driveway of a gorgeous glass home and I stared in disbelief. "Who are your friends?"
"Jasper is a great guy, but his brother is a crook," he said to explain, but I was still confused.
We left the lights off until all the blinds were closed. I followed Edward from room to room and watched his face light up when he saw the indoor pool. "You've got to be kidding me," I complained.
"Two days of nothing but swimming," he laughed.
"You can swim, I'm sleeping," I said and turned around to leave. I lost my nerve and stopped. "Um…Edward, aren't you tired?"
"You asking me to sleep with you, Bella?"
"Yeah, only sleep, you vampire," I teased.
He grabbed me around the waist from behind and whispered in my ear, "I'd rather hump sheep."
"I seriously can't swim right now, I am exhausted and you have to be too," I pressed.
"You're right, I am pretty beat. I think I'm running on adrenalin. I may need some help falling asleep," he added.
"Just don't wake me as you masturbate, because I'm not going to need any help falling asleep."
I began walking forward and pulling him with me, hoping he didn't notice how much my body wanted him. I was just about to fall into the king size bed when he held me back.
"Take off your dirty jeans," he instructed.
"You are such a freak," I complained as I pulled off my jeans and t shirt and climbed into bed.
"I can't sleep with you like that," he said as he swallowed hard.
"I don't wear bras, so grow up and deal with it," I said as I covered myself with the blanket and turned away from him.
He removed his jeans and shirt and climbed into bed. "Did you hear that?" he said with fear in his voice.
"What?" I whispered and grabbed onto him.
He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me to his chest as he closed his eyes and smiled. "Nothing," he said.
I put my arm around him and tangled my legs with his as I smiled too, "I hate you," I said as I closed my eyes to sleep.