Chapter 4
"It's dinnertime, Bella," Edward whispered hoarsely into my neck. I shivered at his breath. "Come on, Bella, your dad and brother is going to wonder what happened to you."
I groaned. "Edward, just let me sleep a little more." I huddled the blankets closer to my body. Suddenly they slipped from my grasp, and Edward carried me bridal style to the bathroom. I heard the sound of running water. I gasped when Edward dropped me into the bathtub full of cold water, seeping into my clothes. "Edward!"
"Wash up, love. Charlie is expecting us today." He kissed my scowling face and left me alone in the restroom. I stood up angrily and hurriedly stepped into the shower welcoming the heat of the steamy water. I lathered my hair with bottled strawberry shampoo, sighing contently as I watched the small bubble foam swim down the spotted drain. I pushed through the glass doors, and tucked myself into a towel.
"Um, Edward, I don't have my clothes," I realized with distaste.
"Which is why I'm here." Alice piped up. I gritted my teeth, "Oh give your teeth a break, and I know what Edward and you did." She flung the door open, letting herself in. "You need a pill?" I nodded, she handed me a small white tablet and some water.
I obediently swallowed the medicine and drank some water. "Thanks, Alice. Did you bring anything for me to wear?"
"You're welcome," She seemed distant; she handed me a silver dress and two cases with a shoe box wordlessly.
"Alice, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing Bella, it's just I never thought you had it in you." I stared at her, "You changed my brother so much, Bella, and you taught him how to love again."
"Again?"
"Yeah, he had one girlfriend once before you." I nodded, "Her name is Tanya, she tried to get him, but no avail. He's too much of the gentleman to do that with a lady like her, but you sure got him." She giggled at my blush. "My used-to-be virgin brother."
"What does Tanya look like?" She shrugged as she helped me zip up my silver dress. "She's not that good looking." I waited wordlessly.
"She's a strawberry blonde with a long neck. Blue eyes, not Edward's type. If you ask me, she's a total whore." She snorted. I slipped into the shoes and poked the earrings into my ear, linking the ends together on the necklace. Alice dappled my face with powder. I worked on my eyebrows. When we were done, I was once again astounded.
Instead of the mirror, I saw my reflection in the bathtub where Edward dumped me. I only saw the top half, but I already knew Edward would love me. My hair was in a limp side ponytail while my earlobes were dangling with amber-like crystal earrings with vein like designs coursing through its center. The silver dress had a teal sash that seemed to scream, 'Hey Look at me! I have hips!' I snickered at the thought.
"What?" Alice glanced at me through the mirror.
"I have hips!" We both burst into laughter. I examined my face. Again, with the eyeliner and mascara was great; I was really getting the hang of it. My lips were a rosy pink this time. My necklace was a diamond teardrop with a gold chain. The dress was formal, but casual at the same time. It went halfway up my thigh, but still enough to cover my legs appropriately. My shoes were…flat. I jumped in them and voila no pain, no stumble, and no life-endangering fall. "Thanks for the flat heel, Alice." I decided to tease her a little.
She pouted, "Edward wouldn't let me, but he's going to regret it." She grinned. "Okay, I'm done." Alice was fabulous in a red cocktail dress with a tiny bow in her hair. A long sash that routed from her right shoulder and left hip held up the dress. Her lips were a scarlet red, and her dress showed that she had plenty of cleavage. Crimson high heels brought her up nearly to my eyes, which in Alice's case, that was a good thing. "What do you think?"
"Geez and you say I'm going to kill Edward. Lord, have mercy to poor Jasper." She chortled at my joke. "I think I saw Tanya today, she was glaring at me like I stole Edward. Who was the dumper and the dumpee?"
"Edward was the dumper and Tanya the dumpee, duh." Alice fixed a pair of black studs to her ear. "She took it really badly. Doesn't surprise me if she hates you just be careful. Girls are pretty nasty when it comes down to their exes," She warned me.
"You girls done?" Jasper's impatient tone only made Alice grin even wider.
"Yes, Jazzy-kins." I raised my eyes at her.
"Jazzy-kins?" I pressed my lips to restrict a smile befalling my face.
"Yeah isn't that cute, you should call Edward, Eddie." I heard a growl beyond the door. "Alright, alright, God Edward." She opened the door and thrust me into Edward's arms. "There, have fun, we'll be coming soon too." She nudged Jasper.
Edward was wearing an ebony shirt. His muscles evident beneath the soft thin fabric, his eyes raked at my body, and blushed when he met my eyes. I traced his features without thinking, his lips, angular nose, and perfectly chewable earlobe. "You ready to introduce your boyfriend to your dad?" He muttered against the skin of my neck.
"Oh! I forgot to tell him that you're my boyfriend." I smacked my forehead with the palm of my hand, ignoring Alice's sound of dislike as she thought of my makeup. "My bad, I need to tell Emmett too." I gulped, "Please tell me that Rose will be with us."
"Of course, now let's go." He chained me to him with an arm around my waist and another wound around Alice's arm. She laughed.
"Hey Dad, you coming?" I saw Carlisle come to us with a very beautiful and what I expected to be Esme. Her caramel hair was in a tight bun and she wore a semi-formal gold gown with glittering rainbow rhinestones. I saw her eyes twinkle at the sight of me being in his arms. Strolling gracefully to us in the slightly dark hallways, they greeted us with teeth showing smiles and warm introductions. When Edward told them I was dating him, Esme appeared to be ready to snap out of a cocoon and into a butterfly.
"I'm so happy for you, Edward." She unexpectedly jumped on us, holding us awkwardly with me still in Edward's grasp. "Bella, it's so nice to finally be able to speak to you. Please, call me Esme. I don't like to be called Mrs. Cullen."
"You don't?" Carlisle stepped up to us with a faux horrified expression. I had to confess; it was pretty good. "Nice to meet you Bella, sorry for my earlier presence, but my son was gone, and I thought of the worst," He apologized. I could see where Edward obtained his courteous figure. "Are we going to the dinner Captain Swan generously invited us to?"
Esme started friendly conversation, recalling on how her son got interested into the piano, and the hours he spent attempting to polish up his skills. Edward started when he was three years old after his first piano concert with Carlisle and Esme. He was considered one of the best when he challenged a few upperclassmen to a piano recital concert. He was really focused on his music composing until he met Tanya. Again, with the honorary mention of the strawberry blonde. Even if it was only implied, I could feel the little green monster crying out in triumph at my emotions.
The dining room was brightly lit by the aid of candlelight. My dad was seated in one of the main tables with Emmett and Rosalie on his left side. Rose had two seats empty next to her as I comprehended that they were for Alice and Jasper. To my dad's right were two empty seats. I jerked Edward to those chairs, our hands linked. When the tables were seated and to my immense surprise, Charlie stood up and started to make a speech.
"Okay, so welcome to the wonderful ship called the Breaking Dawn. On this journey, we travel across the Atlantic Ocean from Rhode Island to the coast of Europe. On this ship, there are a mass of many luxurious sights and shops to explore and enjoy. Anyways, let us toast and then the chefs could do the honors and serve the main course." He hoisted his champagne bottle in the air and announced, "We hope to have a joyful time upon this ship and wait for our appearance on land in Europe." A chorus of glasses tinkling filled the air. I clinked my glass with Charlie as he smiled his crinkly-eyed smile.
Throughout the scrumptious dinner, I noticed Charlie eyeing Edward and I. We all laughed heartily as the day came to a closing. "Bella?"
"Yeah, dad?" I turned to face him, my head pounding because of the unusual amount of alcohol in my system.
"Are you and…Edward in an intimate relationship?" Edward choked beside me, but I stayed relatively calm, completely un-me, only widening my eyes on how he got that information.
"Yes we are." When Charlie opened his mouth to protest, I ignored him, "Dad, I'm twenty years old. Please, don't treat me like a kid." The dizziness definitely made me bolder.
"Alright, thank you for telling me." Charlie dismissed the subject without another word, surprising me. The drinks must have gotten to him too. How did Emmett and Charlie take this in such a rational way? "But…"
Oh, boy.
"You're the one to tell Renee." I knew it, forget the alcohol going to his head; he brought on the closure to my doom, telling my stubborn, oversensitive-about-me-dating mother that I finally found someone, I sighed.
Replaying the days when my mom gave me the "birds and bees" talk made me cringe every time I was reminded of it. I decided that since the ship did not have any communication to the mainland unless it was broadcasted to the entire system, I was going to tell her in England.
This was going to be a very interesting conversation.
Emmett's booming laughter jolted my back into reality. "I'd love to hear Mom hear about your relationship." I scowled at him. "Seriously, Mom flipped out when she heard about me and Rose here."
Edward raised his eyebrows at me. I sighed. "When Emmett started to go out with Rosalie four years ago, Mom didn't like it one bit. The thought that her little baby boy also known as Emmy-poo," Emmett's laughter halted abruptly.
"Emmy-poo?" Rosalie was on the verge of tears from stifling the burst of giggles in her as Alice was pinching herself to reserve her dignity.
"… had a girl and no offence, Rose," Rosalie nodded towards me, "Mom personally thought that Rose was a slut," Emmett's fist connected with the floor instead of the table, attempting to restrain himself from snapping the table in two. No one insulted his Rose. "And so they dated with Mom trying every trick in her book to break them apart. When news got out that Emmett was proposing, she was about to fly out of the house and murder Rose." Edward's face was hilarious. His emerald eyes wide with shock, his mouth slightly open, and his face incredulous.
"You're joking," He stated.
"Nope, she actually had a knife in her hand and said, 'I'm going to kill her'," Emmett confirmed stiffly.
"Interesting, continue, love."
"So he proposed and even though Mom was furious, she's coming to the wedding." I noted.
"Jazz's the Best man, and Bella's the maid of honor." Rose hugged me.
"And the first thing we're going to do in Europe is shopping" Alice squealed, "we need to get dresses." I groaned, and Edward pecked me on the cheek in attempt to comfort me. "Oh, suck it up Bella." Rose seemed to be just as excited.
"You're coming to the dress fitting aren't you Jazz?" Rose asked her brother.
"Of course, I am," He sound as if insulted. "I'm not going to miss it even if it's the last thing I do, and I refuse to die before you walk down that isle in white." Rose's sky blue eyes watered slightly as she hugged Alice's boyfriend.
"Excuse us, Charlie." Esme and Carlisle walked up to the dance floor, twirling around and around. Edward gently jerked me to my feet as I scowled.
"Edward," I complained, "I danced yesterday, don't make me do it again."
"Too late, love," He snickered.
"I really can't dance."
"You did yesterday."
He slipped his feet under mine, ignoring my silly complains. "I needed new shoes anyway." He shrugged as he started to whirl us. I saw that the two pairs also joined us with Emmett gaping at me.
"I thought you couldn't dance," He reminded me.
"It's all in the leading" Edward smirked as we navigated away from them.
"May I have this dance?" A blond boy came up to us, and I immediately recognized him as Mike, the guy who couldn't stop asking me and the hostess out that we saw yesterday. Edward tightened his hold on me to nearly the point of pain, but not quite.
"Bella?" He looked down at me.
"Sure, Mike, but you put a hand," I eyed Mike's baby face, "Out of place, then I won't be held responsible for what Edward," I glanced at Emmett who was glaring deathly at Mike with Rose making faces at the blond, "Or my brother Emmett," Alice and Jasper cleared their throats behind us, "Or Jasper," Carlisle was glancing in our direction with a look on his face, "Or Carlisle will do." Charlie was also intently watching us, "Correction: or my dad will do." It seemed like I had an army behind me..
"Okay then." He took his bony hand on my waist and his other on my shoulder. Edward stepped away from us, a blank face covered his features.
EPOV
I looked at them with jealousy, keeping watch on how his hands were going. If he dared to lower his palm onto her hip, I'll kill him. I glanced at the steak knife on the table next to me from a person who was at the dance floor and pinched my nose with my eyes alert.
Right on cue, his hand sneaked lower. Bella immediately pulled away, but Mike snaked closer, licking his lips seductively.
He. Is. So. Dead.
Before I could reach them though, Bella slapped him straight across the face, flipped her hair furiously, and strolled to me. Mike ogled at her. I was staring at my angel with pride, smugness, and joy in one ready-to-burst packet.
"How dare he," She hissed, and I brought her lips in for a chaste kiss.
"You wish for me to wreck him senseless?" I purred. She shook her head, and pointed at Emmett who was snarling every malediction know to man in English. Jasper, Alice, and Rosalie ambled toward me. "You know Rose," She glanced at me, "I'm starting to really like your fiancée." She laughed as Emmett came back, fury still licking in his eyes, but they softened when they met Bella's.
"Sorry, Bells." He apologized, "But not for him. You didn't need to hear me swear like that."
"No. I liked it." She smirked; I chuckled, constricting her to my chest.
"So," Alice said platonically, "what now?"
We all simultaneously shrugged. Just then, the lights flashed off. I reached for Bella, ready for whatever was to happen next.
BPOV
I felt Edward's arms wrap around me, pulling me tightly into his arms.
"It's alright, Bella. Nothing is going to happen," He whispered fervently into my ear.
As if by cue, some kind of sticky liquid landed on my cheek. I felt my world spin; I had to control my gag-reflex. Hearing my brother grunt -possibly with pain- made my pulse pick up violently. Edward's arms held me tighter as my knees began to buckle.
He cupped my cheek, feeling for any marks, only wiping off the blood, but not the smell.
I saw the faint outline of my brother. He lashed out a punch, creating a thick sound, flesh meeting flesh. Smooth, soft hair touched my claves, and before I knew it, the lights snapped back on, no one was still on the ground so close to my legs, and Emmett's arm was bleeding furiously.
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