Hey look, it didn't take me forever and a day to do this. Please excuse any grammar/spelling errors. I literally JUST finished writing this and am now posting it in a rush before I head off to work.
Please read the A/N at the bottom and enjoy!
"We need to talk."
0-0
"Angela, Victoria," I greeted them. "Hi."
The stood just beyond the doorway, looking tired and determined.
"Can we come in?"
"Umm...sure," I said, stepping aside and letting them enter. I didn't really have any idea why they were here.I also momentarily wondered how they knew where I lived, but then remembered that everyone knew where the Chief of Police lived.
I curled up in Charlie's recliner, needing to find comfort in it, for whatever was going to happen.
Angela and Victoria sat down on the couch. For nearly five minutes, there was nothing but awkward, deafening silence and I was tempted to ask them to leave, simply so I could just go upstairs and cry.
Just when I was about to break the silence, Angela beat me to it, blurting out, "We want our boyfriends back!"
Victoria's head nodded fervently besides Angela's.
"I...don't get it. I haven't talked to James or Ben in over a week..." I replied, confused.
Victoria rolled her eyes. "Edward. He's been all emo and mopey all week long since whatever happened last week happened. He's been sucking up all of Ben's and James' free time. We get it, Edward's upset and needs his friends, but he's taking up all their time."
"Edwards upset? I knew he didn't like it, but I didn't think he was upset over it. I thought he was just ignoring me to...avoid me?" I knew I was making little sense. "What I mean is, I know he didn't like what I did and I thought he was mad. Not mopey and emo. Why would he be?"
Victoria smirked. "Okay, I really, really need to know what happened now. James and Ben are being tight lipped and I sure as hell know Edward won't tell us. He can barely make eye contact with us at lunch."
I sighed, deciding that it was better to just tell them. Maybe they could help. "I kissed Edward."
Angela's eyes grew wide and Victoria perked up.
"Wait, you kissed Edward?" Angela asked. "This is so perfect!"
"Oh, it is! Finally. I thought you guys would never get your shit together," Victoria added.
I shook my head. "You guys make no sense. He didn't like it."
"That can't be true. Edward is like...smitten."
"Angela, no. Edward doesn't like me and I don't even know if I like Edward. I mean, I think these thoughts about Edward that I really, really shouldn't. Oh God, I didn't mean to say that out loud. Ugh."
Victoria was besides herself now with laughter.
"Oh, God, Bella. Come on. Edward has had a thing for you since...forever. Since he first saw you, probably. Don't be dumb."
"Okay. You want to know what really happened?"
They both nodded their heads.
"I was in Edwards bedroom, waiting for him to come home."
They booth 'oohed' in unison.
"Stop! Seriously, I don't know what I was thinking just showing up and waiting for him. He came home, he was standing there, I grabbed him and kissed him. Like really kissed him. And he just stood there. Not moving. When I was leaving, he didn't even bother stopping me." I buried my face in my hands, feeling embarrassed.
"What a pussy!" Victoria exclaimed, earning a smack to the arm from Angela.
"Sorry, but I'm serious. I'm sorry. That sucks," she added.
I groaned, "I'm an idiot."
Angela came over and sat on the chair, rubbing my back. "No, Bella. Edwards just...shy. You probably just caught him by surprise."
"We haven't spoken all week. He won't even look at me or acknowledge me. And we sit next to each other in biology. This is a disaster. I'm too socially inept. Or maybe he is. I don't even know."
"He is such a guy. Don't even stress over it. The two of you just need to sit down and talk. Just continue to give yourself and him some distance, to think things over. Clear your head," Angela advised.
"I guess. I should talk to him. I'm just so...confused. Ever since I saw Edward, my life has just been turned upside down."
"We're sorry about Jessica and Lauren," Victoria apologized, "We know they've been saying...less than kind things about you for hanging out with us."
"Don't. You have nothing to apologize for. I know how Lauren and Jessica are. They're mostly just upset that I would prefer hanging out with you guys over them. Since they're supposed to be the popular kids and all that."
"Enough of all this depressing stuff. There's one more thing I want to ask. I know having Edward sitting with us might make things awkward, but why didn't you call us or find us in the hall. Where have you been during lunch? We would have sat with you."
This surprised me. "I was eating lunch in my car. I didn't think you wanted to talk to me. I figured Edward told you what had happened and you had sided with him. I totally understand, if you did."
"Bella, we don't pick sides. You're just as much of our friend as Edward is. So Monday, you're going to sit with us someplace else. How about we sit at the dugout on the field?" Angela asked.
"Yeah, sure." I smiled. "That sounds great, actually."
They stayed a few minutes longer, inviting me to go along with them to Port Angeles to see a movie, but I declined, needing the rest of the day and weekend to process what they said and think things over.
School the following week was a lot less lonely knowing that I still had friends. Lauren and Jessica continued on ignoring me, but no doubt had seen me head out to the field at the start of lunch every day. Rosalie hadn't made any real attempts to talk to me, only giving me meaningful glances which I ignored in the hallways. By this point, she probably thought I was being stupid and she was already over it.
After Angela and Victorias visit, I decided to let Edward come to me. It may have not been the right decision, but, to me it was. I had kissed him, then apologized and given him space. The ball was in his court.
Which meant, I smiled when I would catch Edward looking at me, but didn't try to engage him in conversation. I also pretended I wasn't upset that he hadn't tried to talk to me.
I was so screwed up.
Thursday during lunch, Angela suggested that we should get together Friday night for a sleepover. For some reason, I volunteered to have it at my house. Maybe as my own way of apologizing for something or in an attempt to win them over. I wasn't sure.
They both agreed enthusiastically and I told them I would stop by the supermarket to pick up junk food and suggested we order Chinese.
Angela and Victoria wanted to do normal, girly things like watch movies, paint nails and gossip. I was a little weary about it. I had never really had the typical girl sleepover.
But the more they talked about it, the more excited I grew and by the time lunch rolled around, I found myself genuinely looking forward to it.
Charlie was also happy that I had offered to have the sleepover at our house. Although he hadn't said anything to me about it, I'm positive he noticed how I hadn't been hanging out with Rose, Lauren or Jessica lately, as well as my new group of friends. I probably had been moping about the house the past week, even though I tried not to.
Plus, Charlie hated when he worked the overnight, not wanting to leave me home alone. On more than one occasion I had happened to see the cruiser go by the house late at night.
0-0
I was walking through the main aisle of the Thriftway, intent on purchasing enough junk food to last Victoria, Angela and I through the night for our sleep over.
The basket that was draped across my arm was heavy with cookies and candy, weighing me down as I headed towards the frozen foods aisle, needing chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.
I rounded the corner, thinking distractedly about how I still had to call Mings to order Chinese food, when I stopped short.
A petite girl with long, blond hair and pale skin was standing in front of the ice cream, her arm linked through Edwards. She was looking up at Edward, smiling and talking and he looked down at her, letting out a loud laugh. A real, genuine laugh.
I watched as he listened intently to what she was saying. Eventually, he nodded his head, causing the girl to let out a squeal and jump up, kissing him excitedly on the cheek.
I had enough.
Turning around, I headed to the check out, quickly paying for the items. I drove straight home, feeling as if there was a knife wedged in my stomach.
By the time I got home, my mind was reeling with what I had just seen. Who the hell was that girl and why did he look so happy with her? Was that his girlfriend? She certainly didn't live in Forks, it was obvious by the way she dressed and the fact that she didn't look remotely familiar.
I made a hasty decision to not tell Victoria and Angela about seeing, him, them at the supermarket. I pushed the questions and hurt from the forefront of my mind, determined instead to reign in my emotions and enjoy the evening as planned.
Thirty minutes later, I had cleaned the house up a bit and put all the food out on the table in bowls.
The doorbell rang at precisely 5 o'clock.
"Hey you guys!" I smiled, letting them in.
Victoria walked in, followed by Angela..
"Hey. We brought movies and makeup stuff," Angela greeted me, holding up a large tote bag.
The rest of the evening passed by quickly. We had a steady stream of chick flicks on the TV, although they were mainly just background noise. We gorged ourselves on Mings Chinese food. A while later, Angela declared it was mani-pedi time.
Victoria set up all the polish while I cleared the empty take-out cartons.
Halfway through my nails being panted a blood red by Angela, I realized I couldn't control myself any longer.
"So... I saw Edward with another girl earlier. He definitely isn't into me."
"What?" Victoria exclaimed, shocked.
I explained to them what I saw at the Thriftway.
"You must has misinterpreted what you saw," was Angela's immediate reaction. "It couldn't have been what you think you saw."
I shook my head. "I don't know. He looked so happy. They looked so comfortable together."
"I agree with Angela," Victoria added. "Besides, we know he likes you and Ben or James would have mentioned if there was a girl."
"This is so confusing. You and James and Angela and Ben are just so...simple. You guys make things look so effortless. You just are. Was it always like that?"
Angela laughed. "No, not really. I mean, when I first met Ben in middle school, he was really...aloof. We were in a couple of each others classes, but we never seemed to really talk. Then, during the eighth grade end of the year bowling trip, we ended up being on the same team. After that, we were friends."
"When did you guys like...get together?"
"It took Ben an entire year to finally work up the courage to ask me out. I kind of thought he liked me, but I didn't want to get my hopes up, you know? But he was more..attentive to me. We hung out alone more often than we were with a group. Then, the week before Sophomore year started, we were in Port Angeles for the day getting school supplies and he just grabbed my hand as we were leaving a store and kissed me. The rest is just...history."
"Aww, that's actually really sweet."
"Yeah. I'm so glad that we both got into Boston College. I don't know what I would have done if one of us hadn't gotten in."
I felt a small pang, thinking about how in just a few short months, Angela and Ben would be graduating high school and moving across the country.
"That is lucky. Really lucky."
"My story isn't that exciting. James and I met in class freshman year. I ended up going to his house after school one day and we hooked up." Victoria giggled, "I realized that I really liked him and we clicked...in every way."
Angela blushed, laughing. "How romantic."
"You guys are lucky. I never really liked any guys in Phoenix, they're mostly jocks and just really conceited. Then here, most of the good guys are either taken or they're single and guys like Mike Newton."
Victoria snorted. "And Newton is such a catch."
"Exactly. But, I see Edward and it's like, I want that. I want what you and Angela have. I get so nervous around him and I just want to know everything about him. And he's just so baffling. I have no idea what's going on in his head. But...I want to know."
I sighed, stopping myself from running my hands through my hair, not wanting to mess up the nail polish. "I think I should talk to him."
"Yes!" Victoria exclaimed. "Talk to him. Try and work things out with him."
"I'm not sure there's anything to work out..." I trailed off. "Edward looked happy with that girl. If he's found someone and he's happy, then that just sucks for me, right? I missed my chance, if I ever really had one with him."
"Bella, don't freak out or stress over this before you really know. Looks can be deceiving," Angela advised, painting a top coat over my polish.
"You guys are right. Yeah. Tomorrow after you leave, I'll call him and ask if we can meet up. Hopefully he doesn't have plans with that girl. Ugh. What if he does? I hate that girl. I shouldn't, but I do." I realized I was mostly muttering to myself like a crazy lady.
"Sorry, but really? This is stupid. I'm being stupid and messing up our fun, girls night. Let's just not think about it, okay?"
Victoria and Angela reluctantly agreed, although I could tell they thought I still wanted to talk about it. Which I did. I felt like I needed to talk about it. But there would be enough time to do that tomorrow. With Edward. Hopefully.
We all fell asleep on the living room floor around two in the morning.
I woke up around seven the next morning, abnormally early for how late I fell asleep last night.
I moved quietly about the kitchen, looking for the ingredients to make pancakes.
After the smell of pancakes cooking lured Angela and Victoria from their sleep, we sat around the kitchen table and ate, talking sleepily about how much fun we had last night.
Shortly after they left, I cleaned the kitchen and living room up, then headed upstairs to shower and get ready.
By the time noon rolled around, I knew that I couldn't hold off the inevitable any longer. Grabbing my cell phone, I looked through my contacts list, my thumb lingering over the call button as Edwards name was highlighted.
Sucking it up, I pressed the call button and listened nervously as the phone rang. And rang. And rang. I was about to press the end button when I heard the phone connect.
"Hello?" Edward greeted, sounding slightly out of breath.
"Hey, it's me. Bella. Bella...Swan." I responded dumbly, hitting my forehead. Of course he knew it was me. He had my phone number and how many other Bella's were there in Forks?
"Yeah. Hi. What's up?"
"Do you think we could meet up?"
"Yeah, I guess." He sighed, "like right now?"
"Now would be good. How about where we met that one time? In ten minutes?"
Edward agreed and I hung up the phone, the butterflies in my stomach in full force.
I drove straight to the park, only to find that Edward had already beat me there. He was sitting on the top of a picnic table.
"Hey...you're early." I commented, sitting down beside him.
He shrugged, "I just had to put shoes on."
"Me too."
We sat in silence for a few minuets, watching as two seagulls fought over something a few yards in front of us.
"I didn't know you had a girlfriend," I blurted out, wishing I hadn't as soon as my mouth shut.
"A what? No, I don't have a girlfriend." Edward shook his head, turning to me. "Why...why would you think that?"
Edward looked genuinely surprised at my accusation. Maybe I was wrong? Or, maybe he was lying in an attempt to spare my feelings.
"I saw you, at the Thriftway yesterday. With a girl? Blond hair? She was touching you and she kissed you. Well, on the cheek."
Edward looked panicked for a second, confirming my fears, I could feel tears welling up in my eyes before he spoke.
"Charlotte? No. Charlotte is definitely not my girlfriend. Her parents are family friends, since... forever. She's the same age as me and our birthdays are really close together. We've practically grown up together and we're close friends. But she is not my girlfriend. No way. Even if I did feel something for her, Charlotte is a lesbian."
"Oh..." I didn't know what to say, my mind was racing as I processed what he had just told me.
"Charlotte's dad surprised her mom with an Alaskan cruise for their twentieth wedding anniversary. Charlotte wanted to stay back in Chicago with her girlfriend. Her parents didn't like that idea, so mine offered to let her stay with us, since Seattle is where they embarked from."
"Oh. I'm sorry for just...jumping to conclusions like that. I thought that she was your girlfriend or you liked her and I had kissed you. I'm sorry for that too. Kissing you, I mean."
"Wait, what?"
"Really, Edward? I'm sorry for kissing you." I looked down, suddenly very interested in my shoes. "I shouldn't have just kissed you like that. I don't know what came over me. I thought that...I don't know what I was thinking. But then you didn't kiss me back and I realized 'hey, he doesn't want this.' So then I just left and the fact that you didn't try to call me or stop me or anything solidified the fact that you weren't into it."
I looked up to find Edward staring at me, slack jawed.
"Oh my God. This is so embarrassing. I'm basically mortified. Why am I such an idiot around you?" I groaned, burying my face in my hands.
"Bella...I do like you."
The honesty in Edwards voice caused me to look up again at him, this time finding him staring at me intently.
"I've liked you since the first day I started Forks High and you didn't laugh. I liked you even more when we were at the barbecue at James' and I wanted to hug you when we left. But I was so nervous."
Edward ran a hand through his hair. "When you kissed me, I didn't kiss you back because...because I really lack experience and I had no idea what to do. I kept telling myself that you would never like me like that. I was your lab partner, the guy you hung out with in a group of people. But never like that.
To have you kiss me...it was something I never saw happening. I felt like such an idiot for not trying to stop you, for not kissing back."
He jumped off the table, then stood in front of me.
"I know we still have a lot to talk about, but I don't care. If you kissed me again. Bella...I would kiss you back."
Edward took a step back from me, allowing me to get off the table. Like the last time, I stood up on my tip toes, bracing myself on his upper arms. But unlike last time, when my lips met his, he kissed me back.
THE END.
Just kidding. But it kinda felt that way when I wrote it. But don't worry. These two kids have a lot of story left. The fun has just begun. I updated my blog with pictures of things. The link is on my profile. Follow me on Twitter (at)HappyMess89
Readership has kinda gone down the past couple chapters. Why don't you leave me a review and let me know how I'm doing? I read and reply to all my reviews with teasers.
If enough people are interested, I will post an EPOV of Whatever Comes Next that coincides with chapter 1, but as another story. So make sure you have me on author alert if you're interested.
That's it I think. Until next time!