Here's the next chapter!!! It's more of The Sweetest Sin from his point of view, but this is the last one like that promise!!!
"Esme?"
"Edward is that you?" the worried voice of my mother said.
"Yeah it's me," I said into the phone. "I have some great news."
"Oh you are getting married! That's great! I'd better…" I decided to stop her now.
"No I'm not getting married." I fought the urge to laugh.
"Oh," she said in disappointment, but she quickly gained enthusiasm again, "Then you've met a girl! When are you bringing her home? Soon I hope," she mused.
"No, I didn't find a girl," I couldn't help but laugh this time. I had found the perfect girl, and I was running away.
"Well then what?" she asked impatiently.
"I got a job with Cambridge University in England," I said trying to show excitement in my voice.
"England?" my mom said in surprise and alarm.
"Yeah! Isn't that great!" The enthusiasm in my voice was obviously fake, at least to me.
"But I thought you loved your job." I had always wanted a university job, but had gotten stuck with a high school gig. I loved Bella, and that made me do another school year rather than waiting. I wanted to wait until I knew what college she would go to so I could teach at one nearby.
"But I've always wanted this and now I've got it," I told her. "Aren't you happy for me?" I asked, purposefully playing on her mothering instincts that wanted me to be happy, I used a disappointed voice.
"Of course I am," she sighed. "When do you leave?"
"Now," I told her. "It was kind of a short notice thing…"
"Well I suppose we could always just come over and see you if a few weeks," she mused.
"Mom, please I will be home for the holidays of course, but please don't come all the way out to Cambridge…. I would feel bad," I whined. I didn't want her just showing up…
"We will talk about this later. Have a good flight."
I was glad that my mom was not the interfering type, and even more so when that sentiment held out for the next two months. I worried constantly about Bella. Was she alright? Did she hate me? I bet she hated me. Yet, I was terrified to try and contact her. If the school was investigating our relationship, I didn't want to interfere. I knew that if I called her and got caught, it would make going back for her difficult.
Yes, I did plan to go back for her. I couldn't live without her; the two months were grating on me. I had plane tickets for the day class got out. I would leave and fly through the night and be there. Then, I had no idea what I would do. Knock on her window maybe? Yes, that would work.
The thundering of the plane faded to a comfortable hum, and I drifted off to sleep. I had the familiar dream: Bella's face torn and confused as she waited for me and I never arrived. Of course, I had never seen this image; it was simply the invention of a guilty mind. Yet, I couldn't help but to dwell on how angry she must have actually be at me; how much I hurt her.
I arrived at the airport early the next morning, and waiting the entire day until I could see her was excruciating. I was so close to her, yet I couldn't be with her. I looked around the school, well snooped really, but Bella wasn't there. Where was she?
Finally it was ten thirty. I could go talk to her. More for nostalgia than anything else, I parked where I used to when I picked her and planned to walk the block to her house. There was quite a surprise waiting for me.
Bella was sitting in the cold sidewalk crying. Her arms were wrapped around herself, and she just looked so broken. I couldn't help it; I ran to her and wrapped my arms around her.
"Shh…" I whispered trying to consol her.
"What?" she asked pulling away from me. Her eyes were round and unsure. She was unsure of me; unsure of why I was there.
"I love you. I love you. I love you. I'm so, so, so, so, so sorry! Please give me a chance to explain," I begged. She was backing up from me, and I was sure she would turn and run at any moment. She didn't want to be with me. I single tear ran down my cheek before I could stop it.
"This isn't real. You aren't here," she muttered. It wasn't that she didn't want to be with me, she just didn't believe I was there. Not much better honestly.
"Yes it is. Please let me explain," I murmured reassuringly.
"Talk," she said, venom suddenly apparent in her voice. She pushed me down on the sidewalk firmly and sat down in my lap. I wished, not for the first time, that I could read her mind. What was she thinking?
"Tanya," I quickly corrected myself, "Ms. Andres, came to me after school the Monday we came home from Seattle. She said she knew and was going to turn me in and that I never should have turned her down. I left the state before they could press charges and got a new job with a university. I immediately requested transfer to one of their foreign campuses. They placed me in England," I said knowing that she was going to burst in information overload soon.
"England?" she asked incredulously, "That's were you have been all this time?"
"Yes. I went there and established myself. I was afraid to call you, though, in case they were investigating us. This is their school break, and I came back to get you, if you still want to be with me," I said quietly, not sure what she would think. "I asked you to marry me, and I wasn't kidding. I still want you to be Bella Marie Mason."
"When do we leave?" she asked eagerly.
"As soon as we can. The plane leaves in the morning,"
"Let's go now," she said, actually excited.
"Call your aunt, she will arrange things with your father in the morning," I told her. She would understand. She kissed me briefly, but in a way that was trying my self control. We drove to the parking lot of Carla's diner before Bella decided to call her first.
"Carla? It's Bella." Pause. "Nothing, but I need your help. Can I come by the diner?"
We walked in the room my arm wrapped firmly around Bella, and Carla just beamed.
"Clara, you told me that love has no age, and you're right. Please help me. I need to leave now. Can you explain it to my mom? Please Clara?" Bella began to beg. It wasn't necessary. I could already tell.
"Of course," she muttered gently hugging Bella. She looked at her ring saying, "Beautiful. I expect wedding pictures. Let me know when you are married."
"Thank you," I murmured as Bella cried.
"Make me proud," she told Bella. "Take good care of my baby," she told me, giving me the sternest look she had ever given me. Bella jerked oddly at the words. I would have to ask her about that.
"Bella, I'm going to go confirm our flight. I'll be in the car," I told her kissing her forehead gingerly.
Finally after two months, I had my Bella back. And after a year of hiding, we didn't have to hide our love anymore.
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