I woke up the next morning with a lazy grin on my face. Edward loved me. I shifted so that I could see his face. He was still sleeping soundly, so I gently slipped out of his arms and headed out into the living area.
"Morning!" Alice chirped.
"Hey Alice. What are you doing up so early?" I asked.
"I have some books to return to the library, and then I'm meeting Jasper for breakfast. Didn't Edward stay over last night?" She said looking back at my bedroom door.
"Yeah, he's still sleeping. I didn't want to wake him. We don't have class until eleven."
"Oh. So New York huh? Have you heard back from any of the schools you applied to?"
"Not yet. Alice I'm getting worried actually. I applied so late in the year."
"I'm sure everything will work out. If it is too late for the fall semester, you can always go in January."
"True, but that would mean we'd be separated for like four months. I don't think that I could stand that." I sighed.
"Bella, I've been through the long distance thing before. Remember that Jasper was here in Seattle while I was still in Forks?"
"But Alice you were only four hours away from each other, and you visited almost every weekend. New York is too far to visit that often."
Our conversation stopped when I heard my bedroom door squeak open and a sleepy looking Edward came shuffling out rubbing his eyes.
I scooted over on the couch so that he could sit next to me. He plopped down on the couch and leaned into my side and put his head on my shoulder.
"You could sleep for about another hour and a half you know?" I said while picking up his hand and linking my fingers with his.
"Hmm?" He grunted. I think that he had fallen back to sleep the second he sat down.
"Edward? Go back to bed." I giggled.
I stood up and pulled his hands to make him stand. He was worse than a five year old.
I finally got him up and back into the bed. He held his arms up for me but his eyes were still closed. "Please Bella?" He whined. My resolve faded and I crawled back into bed with him, and he wrapped himself around me and immediately fell back into a deep sleep.
School was picking up the pace and finals were suddenly just two weeks away. Edward and I spent a lot of time in the library studying. I would find myself worrying about next fall. I still hadn't heard from any of the schools that I had applied too. That wasn't my only worry though it was the biggest one. Summer was coming and I had to move back to Forks when the semester ended. I couldn't afford an apartment and I know that my dad didn't have the means to pay for it either.
The plan for the night was to go out to dinner with Edward and then spend the night at his house. Esme was always happy to welcome me into their home. Carlisle wasn't as warm as he used to be. He knew that it was me that got Edward interested in applying to Julliard again. He never said anything but he was still a little cold in my presence; mostly he spent the evenings in his study.
"What do you want to eat? Fast food or a sit down place?" Edward asked as we walked to where my truck was parked.
"Sit down place, I think. Let's go to that Italian place that is just off campus. The one with the checkered table cloths."
We walked in the door and immediately regretted our decision.
Lauren was the hostess, and it was obvious that she remembered me from last semester. Her glare made me want to run away with my tail between my legs.
Just as I was going to perform an 'about face' back out the door, Edward gripped my hand tighter and announced to Lauren that we would be having 'two' for dinner tonight.
She seated us in the back near the kitchen door, probably the worst table in the house, and handed us our menus.
Soon our waitress came to our table. She was tall and beautiful. She had strawberry blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, and she was staring at Edward with a wicked smirk on her lips.
"Hi, I'm Tanya and I'll be your server for the evening. What can I get you to drink?" Her eyes never left Edward. Hello? There are two people at this table lady…
"Two Cokes." I blurted out and looked at Edward and he nodded.
Tanya looked at me and almost rolled her eyes. "I'll be right back with those."
"God could she be a little more subtle at least?" I whispered.
"What are you talking about?" Edward asked with obvious confusion written on his face. Either he's trying to make me feel better or he is too cute and doesn't know that he was being ogled.
"She was practically undressing you with her eyes! Didn't you notice?" Nope, he didn't. Too cute.
"Bella you are so absurd." He said shaking his head.
Tanya came back with the Cokes and took our order, and less than twenty minutes later she brought out our dinners.
"So…summer?" I started once we started eating.
"What about it?"
"I'll be moving back to Forks with my dad. They don't let you stay in the campus dorms during the summer you know."
He looked up at me from his plate and I could see the familiar crease in his brow form. He often got this look when he was either confused or uncomfortable.
"I thought….I mean…" He stuttered. He had stopped eating. This was conversation was going downhill fast. I should have waited until we were alone in one of our rooms. I knew what was coming next. If he ran his hands through his hair this was going to work itself out before we left the restaurant. If he pinched the bridge of his nose, well he would either march out of here slamming the door behind him, or clam up and give me the silent treatment until he could calm down. Wait for it…
He picked up his fork and continued eating. What?!
After a few minutes he started talking again. "I was hoping that you would stay with me at my house this summer. I mean, sure you can go back and visit your dad, but I thought you'd be with me for most of it. I've already cleared it with Esme."
"Oh. Of course, I would love to. I didn't know that was a possibility." I confessed.
He looked up at me with his brilliant green eyes sparkling. A smile slowly crept across his face.
"Edward Cullen! Are you trying to give me a hear attack?" I accused. He knew exactly how I could read his body language and he played me!
"Bella!" He laughed. "You should have seen your face! You seriously thought I was going to freak out and bust out of this restaurant didn't you?"
I slumped in my seat and folded my arms across my chest. "Come on. It was funny." He whined. Two could play this game.
He got up and slid himself into the booth next to me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. "I'm sorry." He said against my temple before kissing it.
Just then Tanya reappeared and left us our check. Edward paid it and we walked out.
I drove to his house with out a word spoken between us, and waited for him to get out of the truck. "I should go home." I stated looking down.
"Bella. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I swear. Please come in." And there it was. The brow crease. Victory!
I looked straight into his eyes and smirked. He narrowed his eyes at me for a second and realization hit him. "You're just mean."
He ran over to my side of the truck and yanked the door open and pulled me out. He slung me over his shoulder and walked up the steps to the front door.
"Put me down!" I squealed. "I swear I'll never do that again. That is if you promise not to." I could barely get the words out through my fits of laughter.
He set me on my feet, but grabbed my hand and started running up the stairs to his room.
We talked more about me staying with him for the summer. If I didn't get to go to NYC with him, I would want to spend as much time with him before he went. The only downside of the arrangement was that I would have to break the news to my dad and I honestly didn't know how he would take it.
I decided to make a trip to Forks for the weekend. I had to tell him the news face to face, and I needed to prepare him just in case for NYC if it worked out.
Rose wanted to visit her family so I hitched a ride with her. She had already had this sort of discussion with her parents at the beginning of the school year when she told them that she would be living with Emmett instead of the dorms.
Edward insisted that he be allowed on this trip because he was sure that it would help things if he a least met Charlie. Emmett tagged along too, his reasoning being that 'Edward gets to go'. Now that these brothers were on friendlier terms they were continuously whining about each other like ten year olds. Who gets the last piece of pizza, who ate more M&M's at the movies, who gets to be 'player one' in the video game, seriously it was ridiculous. Luckily Rose and I were there most of the time to mediate.
We had decided to take Rose's convertible for the drive. The weather had been really nice and we all thought it would be fun to ride with the top down. Besides, Edward liked to jump in the back over the side instead of using the door. It would piss Rose off because sometimes he would scuff the new wax job by touching the paint with his hands. I told Rose that I would spring to have it washed and waxed when we got home to calm her down. Edward was changing and becoming more open and playful. I liked it and would do anything for it to continue. Every time he would do or say something silly I would look at Emmett and he would be beaming at his little brother.
We stopped at the gas station on the way out of town and picked up a few road trip snacks and then we were on our way.
Edward and I sat in the back and shared his iPod, each of us with an ear bud.
Finally four hours later, we were pulling into my driveway and getting mine and Edward's stuff from the trunk. My dad's cruiser was parking in front telling me that he was home for lunch.
Charlie came jogging out of the house to greet us. He scooped me up in a big hug and kissed my cheek.
"Bells, it's been too long! I've missed you so much." Charlie said when he finally released me and headed over to Rose. "Rosalie, how are you?"
"I'm good Charlie. It looks like you've lost some weight." She said patting him on the stomach. "It looks like Bella needs to cook this weekend!"
He laughed and then noticed the two boys standing on his lawn. "And who might this be?"
"Dad, I want you to meet Edward and Emmett Cullen. Edward is my boyfriend Dad." I said reaching for Edward's hand.
"It's nice to meet you Chief Swan." Edward said holding out his hand to my father.
Charlie took Edward's hand and shook it. "It's nice to meet you too, son." He said with a forced smile.
"I have to run back to the station for about an hour to finish up some paperwork. Sorry Bells that I have to run out on you."
"It's Ok Dad. We'll run to the store and grab some stuff for dinner and I'll get it started while you're gone."
"Oh, before I forget. You got some interesting mail last week. I left it on your dresser." He said before he shut the cruiser door.
After Charlie drove off, I looked up at Edward and we both made a mad dash into the house. I ran up the stairs to my old room with Edward, Rose and Emmett hot on my tail. I swung open the door to find a stack of letters and one large envelope sitting on my dresser.
The return address was from NYU. I just stool there staring at it. Edward came over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "Open it."
I carefully tore open the seal, and pulled out the stack of papers.
Dear Miss Swan,
We are happy to inform you of your acceptance as a student in our English Literature Department at New York University…
"I got in! I got in!" I yelled and jumped into Edward's arms wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.
He held me tight whispering "I knew you could do it" over and over in my ear.
"Congratulations Bella! I'm so happy for you. Now let's get to the store so that we can get dinner started!" Emmett shouted with the same tone throughout the whole sentence. Rose smacked him in the back of the head. He shrugged it off.
We managed to make it through the store and get our purchases without incident. Not unless you count my boyfriend and his brother running up and down the aisles throwing peanuts from the bulk bin at each other and having to wait outside for Rose and I because the store manager banned them from the store.
"Smells good Bells." Charlie said coming in the front door. "I've missed coming home to that."
"Thanks Dad. How was your day?"
"It was pretty slow. I did get a weird call from Mr. Davies down at the supermarket. He said that he had some hooligans running around his store today. I swear that man is going senile." Charlie scoffed while Edward and Emmett's cheeks got a little pink and I nudged Edward under the table.
Once dinner was over and we were just sitting around the table chatting I brought up summer and my school change.
"Dad? I have some news for you."
"What is it Bells? Did something happen?"
"Yeah kinda. I'm going to transfer schools in the fall. I've been accepted to NYU."
"I saw the letter. I was hoping it wasn't true, but I want you to be happy. You will be so far away from home. NYU is a very expensive school. I don't know if we can afford it."
"Well I still am getting my financial aid for UW and it will increase since NYU is so much more costly. I also got a small scholarship for students with parents in the law enforcement profession, and I still have not heard back on some other scholarships that I have applied to. I really think that I'll be Ok."
"That might cover tuition, but room and board will be very expensive too."
"Yeah Dad about that..." I started. "Edward will be going to school in New York in the fall too. We decided to be roommates…to help with costs." I cringed at that last part waiting for the yelling to begin.
Charlie sighed and looked at both me and Edward eyeing us carefully. "Where are you going to school Edward?"
"Julliard sir."
"What are you a dancer or singer or something?"
Edward laughed. "No, I play piano and compose my own music, or I try to at least."
"Edward is amazing Dad. You should hear him play." I gushed about my boyfriend. "Julliard wants him bad too. They gave him a full ride for all four years."
"That's impressive. Bella I want you to do what makes you happy. I'll try to help out as much as I can."
"Thank you Daddy!" I squealed and ran around the table to hug him. "There is one other thing though…"
"What sweetheart?"
"I want to spend most of my summer in Seattle with my friends. I'll come home too, I just want to be around everybody before I move and won't get to see everyone regularly."
"I understand. Your old man isn't as interesting as a boyfriend and your friends."
"Daaad!" I whined.
"I'm kidding Bells. Have fun with your friends before you go. Just don't stay away for too long. I still want to get some time in before you leave."
Later that night after Rose and Emmett had gone to her house for the night. I laid in bed thinking about the future. I couldn't get over how easy it was to talk my dad into the idea of New York and me living with Edward. I'm glad that my dad seemed to like Edward even though he made him sleep on the couch in the living room. Speaking of sleeping. I couldn't get comfortable no matter what way I laid.
I got up and went downstairs to find Edward lying awake on the couch.
"Can't sleep?" I asked.
"Nope."
I sat down on the couch and laid down in front of him. He lifted the blanket up and covered both of us. He put his arm around me and pulled me into his chest and buried his face in the crook of my neck.
"Much better." He sighed and kissed my shoulder.
Yes, much better.