CHAPTER TWO
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for my Starbucks agenda and the complimentary hotel pen I constantly use, quickly running out of ink.
AN at the bottom. Enjoy ;]
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Last chapter:
BPOV
He shrugged, turning his gaze to the pavement. He looked down on his feet as we walked for a while, before he lifted his head again looking at the empty street. "I'm not sure if I'd want to scare you away just yet, Bella. My secrets are secrets for a reason."
I nodded slightly in understanding. I turned my head forward, to face whatever it was he was facing. My voice raspy was raspy from the cold when I replied. "Me too."
Then I turned around at the intersection and entered the warm coffee shop.
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EPOV
What the hell? As we arrived at the intersection, I turned around to watch where she was leading us next. And then she abruptly, out of nowhere, turned right and entered a coffee shop. I didn't know whether or not she would want me to enter, so I stayed outside in the cold, watching her. I leaned on a light post and watched her through the windows of the coffee shop.
She ordered for her drink, making the male barista blush furiously with her smile. My God, she was beautiful. But she wasn't mine. Nor will she ever be. She sat down on an empty seat, the chair across hers vacant. I watched her expression carefully, her eyes weren't searching. They were… content. I figured that she wasn't waiting for me, and instead somebody else.
So I left.
I walked. I walked everywhere I could. I didn't bother using my car, not with this kind of snow continuously pouring down over Madison Park. From our start point at The Summit, I ended up alone in East Denny Way with snow somewhere above my ankles.
When it got too dark, I took the same route back to the apartment to freshen up before my shift. I was tired as heck, and meeting Bella today had my mind on a reel. She was mysteriously enchanting. I had to keep reminding myself that she was dating a famous actor.
I returned to the apartment to see Charlie gone. A young man had arrived and replaced him for tonight. When I got to the elevator, I smiled reminiscing Bella's presence.
By the time I was in floor 17 I was sad that the elevator didn't stop there.
And when I got on my floor, I shook my head and claimed myself insane.
I was insane.
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BPOV
I knew Edward was watching outside. The only reason I went in here so abruptly was because I had no idea what to expect anymore. Not from him. Asking a guy I didn't know the last name to for his biggest, baddest secrets was very unlike the Bella that I knew. And much to my reluctance and dislike, it was enjoyable to see that part of me play out. It shocked me that he could gouge these emotions out of me, and these… urges for things far out of my league. I shook my head when I sat down in my seat. The feeling of being watched was suddenly gone. I finally took the chance to carefully look up, trying to be discreet. I blew my cover completely by standing up from my seat and searched with my eyes frantically when I realized Edward was gone.
He… left. No shit, Sherlock.
I sat back down in my seat and took a sip of my tea. I always had coffee in the morning alone. Always alone, and I always felt content with it. It was a time in my life where I could always expect some peace and quiet. I mentally nodded in affirmation. When I reached for my novel in my bag, I let out an accidental and genuine sigh.
This was ridiculous. Ridiculous.
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It was at noon that I decided to leave the coffee shop. It must not have been healthy to hole up in a tiny coffee shop and read Jane Austen novels until dark. I packed up my books and cleaned up the mess I made on my table and left a generous tip in the metal tip box at the cashier. 'Please don't think I'm insane' I prayed silently. I didn't need 'insane Bella Dwyer holes up in a coffee shop and didn't leave a tip' on some random gossip website.
I pulled my coat tighter on me and walked on the pavement, still slick from the snow. I made my way to Ben's house. I'd received a text message this morning, my boss, Jessica Stanley, had told me that paparazzi are parked in front of Ben's home 24/7 now. I'd basically been ordered to walk into a death trap. She knew that these people were hiding; and that I wouldn't have known about them unless I had relations.
They had no idea.
I was hired by Ben last month to publicize him. He was just done filming a movie that was predicted to be yet another big hit and I was to make sure that he stayed in the papers. I suggested him to 'date' another star.
Jessica Stanley chose me. I was apparently 'perfect' for the part. I'd only started working for Ben and the rumors surfaced, so she chose the easy way out. She chose a girl she didn't need to pay more money to. And I terribly needed the job, so I stuck with it.
When I arrived in Ben's house, I was no longer Bella Dwyer, I was Ben's girlfriend.
When I knocked on the door, I was not to think about Edward or his residence in floor 23.
When he kissed me on the front porch, I was the paparazzi's paycheck of the day.
By the time he dragged me inside the house in a flurry of touches, I'd lost all sense of myself.
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I laid beside Ben's sleeping form, tucked under the covers. He had his arm slung over my waist and I sighed. To him, I was a publicist he was fooling around with. To me, for 12 hours of the day of the past month of my life, I'd unconsciously and unfortunately started falling for Ben. And when I snuck out in late hours every night, I was back to being Bella.
Truth is, I couldn't help but to like Ben. He was kind, and… handsome. At first, his superstar appeal didn't affect me. But they did eventually, and I realized it when I was too late. Far too late.
Now I had to keep up this pretense and stick with it. I closed my eyes again and dreamt of Edward.
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EPOV
I sat down in my desk, booting up my laptop. You can do this, Edward. Once the laptop was up and running, I had no chances of changing my mind. I propped open Google and typed in 'Bella and Ben Hollis' in the search box. The search led me to thousands of results. I clicked open a link of a gossip website and let it load for a while before I started browsing through the tagged headlines of the site.
'Ben Hollis was spotted at the late hours of 2am last night kissing his girl goodbye.'
'Bella Dwyer in front of her apartment building. The Summit attacked by paps.'
'Bella Dwyer over at Ben Hollis' home.'
The timelines were chronological. And it kept going, all of it. It appeared that she went over to Ben Hollis' home nearly every single night.
Well, Edward, at least you know her last name now.
I cheered silently in my mind.
Too bad it doesn't even matter.
The cheering stopped.
Groaning in utter disappointment and earning an ego bruise, I decided to browse for pictures instead.
She was beautiful. In every single picture, she looked flawless. She looked happy. In nearly every picture, she was genuinely beaming a smile. But always, always, there was a Ben Hollis latched to her hand. Or her hand latched onto Ben Hollis'. Or the occasional painful-to-look-at picture of her face planted on his, lips locked tightly together.
But she was happy. I couldn't bear to even think of taking that away from her. Cause you're a fuck up, Edward.
I cursed under my breath and sighed.
This was pointless a waste of time. You're nuts. Leave this girl alone.
Exhaling deeply, I slammed my laptop shut and walked out the door.
I didn't meet Bella when I got home from my shift that night. Perhaps she spent the night with Ben. I exhaled heavily and thumped my head on my closed apartment door in exasperation.
Yeah, I proclaim myself crazy.
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BPOV
I sat around the Ben's lavish kitchen a few hours later, his open laptop in front of me.
"Alright, you've got an award shows to attend to next week. You excited?"
"Yeah, of course I am. Best part is, you're going with me." Ben was standing in front of the counter, shirtless no less, making coffee. He returned with a mug in each hand. He set one down, for me, and sipped from his own before he leaned down to kiss me. This is all fake, Bella. Focus.
"Is that really necessary, Ben?" I asked him, slightly annoyed and struggling to keep my voice monotone.
He laughed and sat down across from me, "actually it is. I opened up the curtains." He winked at me. Not much later he sat back up. "Bella, it's late… Why don't you just spend the night here?"
It wasn't a question I hadn't heard before, it wasn't new to my ears. I was accustomed to his pleads, and most probably a dozen different replies to his words. "No, it's alright. I can find my way home just fine, Ben." I replied, hoping not to sound too hostile.
I had 12 hours a day to be his girlfriend. I wanted at least 8 to sleep in my own bed and 4 to walk around like a normal person, all while avoiding the continuous media attention.
"You are so," he paused to kiss me again, "persistent."
"But you love it." I teased him with a smile.
He stood back up again, "how can I not?", flashing me his famous grin. My heart thumped against my chest and I hated myself for the unconscious response.
He took the mugs and emptied them in the kitchen sink. It was already 2am and I was still here. I was going to miss Edward in the elevator then. I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes. I tossed my head back in my seat.
Ben didn't even notice.
Tomorrow, pictures of me arriving here this afternoon will be up on websites. Along with pictures of me in his living room, kitchen and practically everywhere else he was. I sighed heavily, dreading the attention.
I left his home reluctantly hours later. There was nothing else to look forward to at home, and Ben was still welcoming here. But I knew I had to go and keep my sanity in the critical condition it was already in.
I slept in my own bed that night. The elevator ride up was lonely. And extremely quiet. I had nothing to do but to resort to my own overactive thoughts.
This was completely and completely ridiculous.
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AN: Shorter than the first, I know. I won't make a habit out of it, I promise. I decided that I shouldn't extend this chapter just for word count; it's a huge step in the storyline. So many hugs to all the reviewers and those adds to your fave story list and alerts, the response helped quell my anxiety and boosted my ego, thank you! Thanks again to the people at LL and Twitter; I love you guys so much! I added pictures to my profile too, for visual readers, take a look if you'd like.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Leave a review on your way out. They're better than helping Edward with Google searches.
;]