I know I said this was a one-shot...but, I'm making it a two-shot since ya'll have to know what Edward was thinking, right?
So, here it is...Part 2!
"Man, look at yourself—you're really pathetic, you know that?"
I threw a pillow in the direction that nagging voice was coming from to silence my supposed best friend. He laughed at my attempt as I ducked my head back under my covers and grumbled under my breath. I should have never given him a key to my apartment.
"Seriously," he continued, undeterred. "You're the one who broke it off with Bella, and you've done nothing but hang around your apartment for the past two weeks. Jesus, don't you have classes to go to or anything?"
"I'm on Winter Break," I replied, my voice probably muffled by the quilt over my head. "And besides, what I do is none of your damn business,"
"Oh, I beg to differ—as your best friend, it is my job to keep you from becoming a whiney, little tool."
I scoffed, "Fine job you're doing, too."
There was silence for a moment before I felt the covers being ripped off me, the sudden cold of the December morning stinging like I jumped in a frozen lake.
"Ah! Fucker! Give me my blankets back!" I screamed.
"Awww, poor baby needs his blankie back? Grow up, dude. And get the hell out of bed before I call Emmett and have him drag your ass out."
"Yeah, 'cause you could never do it yourself, pussy!"
Jasper had finally had enough, he grabbed my leg and pulled me onto the floor with a strength I didn't realize he had. I faced him for the first time this morning and he frowned at what he saw. I imagine I must look pretty awful—puffy eyes complimented with some intense dark circles.
"We're going out tonight, whether you want to or not," he said firmly. "Come on, you need this."
"I really don't feel like meeting any random skanks," I countered.
"Who said you had to? We're just going to have some drinks and hang at the Marquee. You remember when we used to go there? Let's just have a good time."
I couldn't argue with that, I did miss hanging out like we used to. I nodded solemnly and got up. I stepped in the shower for about an hour, losing myself in the warmth of the water. I would have stayed in even longer if that nice, warm feeling hadn't brought back memories of Bella.
I was the world's biggest idiot—I broke up with the woman I loved after three wonderful years together. I just stomped on her heart like I never even cared for her. And all because I had some insane notion that I wasn't ready to settle down.
In reality, I did want to spend the rest of my life with her. I've known that since our senior year in college. I just had a moment of panic two weeks ago—my mother called me and asked when Bella and I would be coming out to visit for Christmas. I told her I wasn't sure, and then she suddenly launched into a tirade about how I need to finally get down on one knee and ask Bella to marry me.
"Son...you know it's inevitable! This is the girl you're going to spend the rest of your life with," she had said. "What are you waiting for? What other wild oats do you have to sew?"
It must have been the accusatory tone of her voice that set me off defensively.
"We're only 24, Mom! We have time."
She sighed, "That's just like you to wait until the last minute. Talk to Bella, I'm sure she wants to end this whole charade as well. You two were meant to be together."
The finality of her words scared me—she made getting married and settling down sound like such unbelievable drudgery.
I met Bella the next night and said I wanted to slow things down—to see other people. Looking back, I don't know why I added the 'seeing other people' addendum. I really didn't. It just felt like the right thing to say when you're breaking somebody's heart.
And, I think a part of me wanted her to hate me. Maybe she really would go off and find somebody else, and then I could prove to myself that I am an utterly independent, modern man.
I really am a fucking dumbass.
When I stepped out of the shower, I looked at my still haggard face in the mirror and grimaced. I haven't shaved in two weeks, and I'm starting to look like Grizzly Adams.
I found my razor and shaving foam and rectified the situation carefully – though, I did nick myself slightly on my chin. I put a piece of tissue on the blood spot and walked back into my room to get dressed.
I hadn't worn anything beyond flannel pants and long-sleeved t-shirts for a while, so I pulled out a pair of jeans and a button-down shirt for today. My stomach groaned and I realized I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon.
I went to get some Coco Puffs so my belly would quit bothering me and found Jasper making breakfast.
"Sit down," he said, "I've got some eggs, bacon and toast with your name on 'em."
"Where'd you get the food?" I asked. "I know I don't have any of this in my fridge."
"I went to this magical place called a grocery store," he replied. "Now sit down."
I complied after pouring myself some orange juice. He slid the eggs onto my plate while the toast popped up, ready for buttering. I took the two pieces and went to town while Jasper started frying up the bacon.
"Feeling better now that you've bathed for the first time in two weeks?" He asked.
"Yup," I answered simply.
He chuckled slightly, "Have a little trouble with the razor?"
I realized I still had the piece of tissue on my face and quickly deposited it in the trash.
"Hey, at least I've hit puberty," I teased.
He responded by flipping me off. I smirked and sat back down. I took a piece of toast and munched on it while waiting on the bacon and absentmindedly perused a newspaper in front of me.
Jasper set the cooked bacon on my plate and served himself as well.
"So, now that I've successfully pulled you out of your Hobbit hole, what are we going to do today?" He asked.
I shook my head, "Baby steps, man. I'm going out tonight, that's enough."
"Fine," he sighed. "I guess I should rest if I'm going to be out tonight."
"Late night last night?" I asked with a smirk.
"Always," he replied.
We spent the next few hours watching what passes for entertainment on television these days. You know, I actually used to like Brett Michaels, but after seeing his VH1 show...I'm not so sure anymore.
Once 8 p.m. rolled around, Jasper and I decided we should attempt to dine before we headed to the bar. I got up and got dressed while he took off for his apartment just a floor below mine. We both made ourselves extra spiffy before making our way to our favorite pizza place.
By the time we split a large pie and downed a couple of beers, it was already 10:30. The Marquee wasn't too packed yet, the big crowd doesn't show up until midnight or so, but there were enough people there to reassure us we weren't dork-early to the bar.
More beers were ordered and we found a secluded booth to sit at. I felt myself being eyed by various girls in the vicinity, and it made me feel a tad ill. I didn't feel like rebuking anyone who made advances at me, but I was going to have to if one of these girls asks me to dance.
My worst fear would be if one of them has the nerve to pull me on the dance floor without my consent. I could never get in a physical confrontation with a woman, so I would be stuck in quite the uncomfortable, compromising position.
Luckily, all I received were stares.
I took my time with my beer while Jasper slammed his down. I didn't want to get drunk tonight, either. That would make me more receptive to the drunken ladies who danced seductively around me.
Once Jasper had brought him and me another round, I was beginning to think this was a huge waste of time. It was midnight, there weren't any interesting people here and I just couldn't get into the spirit of the evening.
That's when the glint of light shone off of a metallic purple dress from the middle of the dance floor. I craned my neck to see a very familiar silhouette writhing in the midst of the undulating crowd. I immediately recognized that long, dark brown hair. I could practically smell her strawberry-scented shampoo where I sat—or was that just a memory coming back to haunt me?
Bella. My Bella. She's here...and she's with someone else. His hands were on her hips and I was suddenly overcome with the need to commit a murder.
Before I was conscious of my actions, I began shoving my way through the crowd, determined to get to the couple that silently mocked me from afar.
But, then he had her on the move. He grabbed her arm and took her to the bar for another drink. The scoundrel! Not only did he handle my precious Bella with little care, he was trying to get her drunk.
Oh yes, he would pay for this offense.
But, when I finally made contact with them, it wasn't the mystery man I turned on, but my own sweet Bella. I grabbed her arm and whirled her around.
"Doesn't take you long, does it?" I cried, not able to stop those words from falling out of my mouth. "We've been broken up for two weeks and now you're here getting all over that douche bag?"
"You've got to be kidding me!" She replied as she yanked her arm away. "You broke up with me, after three years together – and are probably out every night with a new girl, and I'm the one who doesn't take long? FUCK YOU, EDWARD!"
I felt the sting of her hand against my face before a splash of something cold hit me. I stood there in shock for a moment before I could finally compose myself and glare at whoever this guys was who dared to dance with my Bella. But the guy just shook his head at me and muttered something about not needing this drama. I stalked away to find Bella. I noticed Alice and Rosalie, her two best friends, dragging her to the ladies' room, so I decided to wait outside while they chatted over what a jerk I am.
The door flew back open and I saw that tall, blond tornado known as Rosalie storm out, clearly in search of some trouble.
"Rose, no! Stop!" Came Bella's voice from inside the bathroom.
I knew what I had coming; Bella's friends were fiercely protective of her and were probably itching for retribution. Rose lifted her arm to take a swing at me, and I waited for the impending blow. I wasn't about to fight back.
"Come on, at least put up a fight, dickhead!" She cried.
"I don't want to," I said simply.
I turned to Bella sadly as she stood behind Alice. The tiny, black-haired girl stood defiantly in front of her best friend, just as willing as Rose to pummel me senseless—perhaps even more willing.
"Can I please talk to you?" I asked. "I think we have some things to discuss."
"I don't think she has anything to discuss with you, asshole," Alice said, pushing against me with her tiny hands.
"Please?" I begged, ignoring the little gnat. "I just want five minutes of your time, and if you don't like what I have to say, you can tell me to fuck off...again."
I tried to lighten the mood, and I could tell from Bella's expression that it worked. She leaned down to Alice and muttered, "It's OK, Al."
She took her coat and purse and followed me out to the alley behind the club. I wanted to get her someplace quiet and warm to talk, but she didn't seem to have the same idea. She stopped near a sidewalk and sighed in frustration. "What do you want to talk about, Edward?"
"Not here," I replied nervously. "Let's talk in my car."
"No. Talk here or I go back inside and find Jacob."
Hearing the name of that tall interloper made my insides crawl. I didn't want to think of him as human, only as the asshole who dared touch my love. I sighed and thought about my words very carefully—what could I say to get her to listen? Then I thought about her words earlier; at least I could defend myself against some of her accusations.
"You're wrong, you know? About what you said in there—that I've been sleeping around since we broke up," I said. "I haven't seen another girl since, and I found out that I really don't want to."
"Then why were you here tonight?" She asked.
"Because Jasper said I had to get out of my apartment and stop moping around," I replied. "I know I'm the one who said we should see other people, but, I...I just don't have it in me, I guess."
"Well...have you really tried?" She asked.
That stung worse than her slap in the face. "So, you still want us to break up? Is that why you're here?"
"No!" She answered quickly—I instantly regretted offending her. "Just like you, my friends forced me to come out tonight. I spent that first week after you broke up with me crying and feeling sorry for myself. But now that I've pulled myself out of that, I don't think I should let you off so easily. You have to prove that you want to be with me."
I didn't know what else to say. "We're here, aren't we?"
"That doesn't mean anything," she spat. "What if you hadn't found me here tonight? Would you have gone home with another girl?"
That was enough to get my blood boiling. "Never! You know I'm not like that! You know I'd never be so disrespectful to a woman."
She sat on the sidewalk slowly and looked up at me with those big, sad, brown eyes. "Why did you break up with me in the first place then?"
"I was stupid, and afraid," I replied as I joined her on the sidewalk. "I knew that it would only be a matter of time until we started talking about getting married. And, for a brief, ridiculous moment, I thought getting married would be a bad thing. I didn't think I was ready to give up my freedom yet.
"But, now I know I was being an idiot. And it wasn't just because I saw you here with that guy tonight, and it isn't just because you look so incredible I could take you right here on the sidewalk. I love you, Bella...I always have."
Just as I finished what was probably the most important speech of my life, I felt myself being pushed back against the cement. Bella pressed her lips to mine with incredible urgency and, without even thinking, I scooped her up and took her to my car. I had every intention to set her in the passenger seat and drive like a madman until I got us back to my apartment. But, once again, she had other ideas.
"That's going to be a little uncomfortable, don't you think?" She asked.
"I...I thought we'd wait till we got back to my place," I replied.
"Come on, you said you could take me on the sidewalk, right? Well, why not take me in the backseat?"
She wrapped her leg around my waist and I felt her heated core pressed so firmly to my groin, I thought I was going to explode right there. Still, I had to make sure this was what she wanted. "Are...you sure?"
With one kiss, she sent me over the edge. I put her in the backseat and she could hardly wait for the door to close behind us before she yanked my hair roughly so my face was back towards her.
"A little impatient, are we?" I laughed
"Yes," she replied.
As I lifted the hem of her dress, I laughed at the sight that greeted me—those amazing, white, cotton panties that she always wore. I was a little relieved that under the amazing temptress act she was now putting on, the same old Bella was still intact.
"I half-expected there to be a thong under here. Wearing the cute, safe panties...it's so you."
Before she could respond, I had two fingers sliding into her entrance. She arched her back towards me as I continued to bring her the kind of pleasure I should have been giving her for the past two weeks—what I've been dying to give her.
"I love you, Bella," I whispered in a voice hoarse with emotion.
I took the panties off and shoved my pants down to my knees as quickly as I could. God, I needed to be inside of her so badly. While I thrust my hips and attached my lips to the side of her neck, a thought crossed my mind—we're not using any protection. However, I quickly dismissed that thought when I realized if I impregnated Bella tonight, it would be far from the worst thing in the world. In fact, it would be downright wonderful.
We both hit our climax at the same moment and I could swear I saw a tear roll down Bella's cheek. I just silently prayed that it was a good tear—a tear of joy.
"No, I don't think I could have lived without that much longer," That was the first thing to cross my mind as we lay there in the afterglow of such a beautiful moment.
She smacked me in the chest and giggled. "That's all you want from me, huh? It's just all about the sex?"
I shook my head vigorously. "No way. It's not sex—it's making love to you. If I had to go one more week without touching you, I think I was going to beat down your door and beg you to come back."
"I'm a little sorry I'll miss that," she joked.
After we jumped into the front seat to head back to my place, Bella's phone began vibrating. I had wondered why it took her friends so long to ask what was up. She giggled and I just had to ask, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing—just overprotective Alice again," she replied.
The little, meddling pixie. "We've got to get her a hobby. Or, better yet, a boyfriend."
"Jasper's still single, right?" She asked.
Ha! As if I'd ever do that to my best friend. "Oh no. Let's not go there."
I pulled into the garage of my apartment building and walked Bella inside.
"Hey Doug," I greeted the night doorman, who tipped his hat to me and Bella.
We spent the next couple of hours getting reacquainted, so to speak. Actually, we fucked like rabbits, to tell the truth. I never wanted to stop making love to her. But, unfortunately, the fatigue eventually became too much to handle and I had to simply pass out. Luckily, we had made it to my bed by that time. I woke up at about 7:30 to find Bella sleeping quietly beside me. As I watched her dream for an hour-and-a-half, and after a while, I knew exactly what I had to do today.
I slipped out of bed as quietly as I could and got dressed. I tried to exit the room without her seeing me, but I heard a soft, musical voice call to me as I opened the door.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Go back to sleep," I said gently. "I'll be back with breakfast in just a bit."
"Don't be long." As if I could stand to be away from her ever again.
"Oh, I won't be," I replied.
As soon as I was out of the apartment, I pulled out my cell phone and made a call to my friend, Mike.
"Hey man," he greeted me, "What's up?"
"Are you at work right now?"
"Yeah, but we don't open until 10."
"Could you make an exception for a friend? It's pretty important."
"What could be so important that you need to come to Cartier at nine in the morning?"
"I need an engagement ring," I replied as I found my way to my car.
"Wow, you move fast dude! You've been broken up with Bella for, what, two weeks?"
"IT'S FOR BELLA!" I was practically screaming at this point as I pulled the car out and headed for East 52nd Street.
"You two are back together? Awesome man! Yeah, I'll totally let you in! Just come by the back door."
"Thanks Mike," I replied as I threw my blackberry into the passenger seat and weaved through the morning traffic.
At the store, I looked over the selection Mike presented to me—a lot of flashy rings that were really not Bella's taste. I know she likes nice, simple jewelry. Then I saw a little, solitaire diamond ring and pointed it out to Mike. It had to be fate that this ring just happened to be Bella's size. I paid for it with my AmEx and quickly hurried to find some fast food to fool Bella with.
I stopped at a Krispy Kreme drive-thru and loaded up on a dozen glazed donuts. When I got home, Bella was still asleep. So, I set the box of donuts and the bag with the ring in it on the counter before making coffee. As I switched on the pot, I felt some lips against the back of my neck. I turned to give my recovered love a proper kiss.
"Good morning, beautiful. Sleep well?"
"Better than I have in a while," she replied. "You kind of wore me out there, Tiger."
That statement made my heart start to beat faster. "That was the general idea."
I turned so she could sit on the counter and we got into a pretty good make out session before her stomach began to rumble.
"OK, I see it's feeding time," I said.
I reached for the box of donuts and realized I had left the jewelry bag on the counter. Luckily, there was no Cartier logo anywhere on it. I tucked it away quickly, but not quick enough, apparently.
"What was that?" She asked.
"Nothing. Just something I picked up for my mom."
I handed her a donut and was relieved that she didn't ask anymore questions. After we finished eating, I suggested a movie day like we used to have—where we would pick out a few of our favorites and just spend the entire day sitting on the couch watching them. Of course, sometimes we watched them, and sometimes we got lost making out.
But, I kept thinking back to that little bag sitting in my kitchen cabinet. It continued to bug me all through the first movie we put on, but I managed to suppress it. However, while we watched "High Fidelity," John Cusack's constant pining for the girl who got away made me crazy. Halfway through, I stood up and stormed into the kitchen.
"I just can't wait any longer, this is killing me," I said out of the blue.
"What?" Bella began to follow me, clearly confused.
"Here, sit down," I said, settling her in a chair so I could reach into the cabinet and pull out the bag.
I didn't even need to get the little red box out of the bag for her to catch on with what I was doing. She gasped as I got on one knee and opened the box to show her the ring. I cleared my throat and hoped my voice wasn't too shaky.
"Isabella Marie Swan? I'm never letting you slip away from me again. Will you please do me the pleasure, the honor, of making me the happiest man in the world and being my wife?"
She collapsed on the floor next to me and threw her arms around my neck tightly. I managed to pry one her left hand away and put the ring on her finger.
"Yes," she answered.