AN: Hello there! I want to thank you for the AMAZING response I got for chapter 13! We almost reached 200 reviews! I'm so thankful for each and every one of you! For the readers who are just starting to read UC, thank you so much for your readership and I hope I don't disappoint you.
I know some of you are angry with me, you wanted to know what Bella did on her day around the town, and as one reader said, my chapters are always full of information and you got upset that I withheld that little piece of information from you. My response is this: if I tell you guys everything, how am I supposed to have a plot? How am I supposed to keep you interested? I'm sorry if I upset you guys in the last chapter, I hope you understand that it was necessary that I didn't tell you guys, but I promise you'll find out everything in Chapter 15. Bella is NOT, and I repeat NOT going to sell her virginity. She didn't pawn the necklace or anything of the sort. What she did affected her future, so please just be a little patient and you'll learn all about it in the coming chapter.
Undeniable Consumption was rec-ed by Rose Arcadia on TLS, I want to say A BIG THANK YOU and I hope I didn't disappoint. I know I still have some errors, and I'm planning on going back and fixing them all, so please dear readers, stay with me.
Okay, I've rambled enough… On with the show…
Disclaimer: SM owns twilight…
Chapter 14: Righteousness
Time passes quickly when you're having fun they say. Time is everything, time is all consuming, time treats some harshly and others lovingly. Time is everything and nothing at all.
It's been almost three weeks since my truce with Edward, it's been almost 21 days since I made friends with Trouble, and Trouble was an interesting friend to have.
True to his word, after the night Emmet and I bailed him out, Edward changed. Don't get me wrong, he was still the same hardheaded, stubborn, egotistical bastard he has always been, but he wasn't hurtful and cruel with me any longer. He embraced our friendship; he bit back his condescending remarks and sarcastic innuendos. However, I was much more hesitant, I was much more cautious. I was having a hard time trusting him and he completely understood my trepidation.
We started off slowly, watching a couple of movies with the family, trading childhood stories and our most embarrassing moments, joking around, making fun of Alice's addiction to shopping and Emmet's addiction to food. Edward talked to me; he actually just sat there and talked to me. He acted seriously instead of acting like a foolish teenager with a hidden agenda.
It wasn't like we were best friends or anything, but sitting with him and getting to know him made me realize that he wasn't that much of a bad person after all. Sure, he liked to party, sure he had many conquests, sure he was blinded by egos and riches and leggy blondes and shiny cars, but with me he was just Edward, a young man with a whole future ahead of him.
We still bickered and fought; he'd sneak up on me and startle me knowing that I'm extremely jumpy and I'd let him have it, I'd snort when he'd be going on and on about his love for Harry Potter and Top Gear and he'd hiss at me and tell me to never make fun of him, but it was all fun and friendly and not so hostile anymore.
On Saturday, two days before he was scheduled to return to work and one week before my twentieth birthday, he offered to let me drive his silver Porch; his baby and pride and joy.
"I'd never allow this, not ever, but in show of friendship and because of my limitless generosity, I'm going to let you drive my baby." He said, sitting next to me on the living room couch.
"You're going to let me drive your what?" I asked, confused.
"My Porch Bella, I'm talking about my Porch." He replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes at my complete incapability of deciphering his coded speech.
"Wow Trouble, that's so nice of you." I replied with a hint of sarcasm in my tone as well. "But there's only one problem…" I trailed off, making him wait for it.
"And that would be?" He replied, raising his eyebrows and looking at me expectantly.
"Well, truth is… I don't really know how to drive." I said solemnly.
"Excuse me?" He asked, surprised.
"It's true, I never learned." I told him.
"You mean to tell me that you're going to be twenty years old, and you've never driven a car before?" His eyes were wide and skeptical, like my not knowing how to drive was completely mind boggling to him.
"My… father never really had time to teach me, and my mother's driving skills are limited to say the least. I had a friend who offered once, but I didn't think he drove that well to let him teach me." I replied, hissing the words "father" and "mother". I didn't even want to think about them, let alone talk about them.
"Son of a…!" He exclaimed. "That's just wrong, he should have taught you how to drive the moment you turned sixteen. He should have gotten you a car and surprised you on your birthday. Not knowing how to drive when you're twenty years of age is just… an insult." He grumbled, causing my heart to clench and my teeth to sink into my bottom lip.
"Yeah, well it just never happened. Teaching me how to drive wasn't that important to him." I replied.
My father should have done a lot of things differently. Teaching me how to drive was inconsequential compared to teaching himself the value of having a child. My father should have never lied to me, he should have never betrayed me, and he should have never sold me. He should have never traded my freedom for his; he should have had a conscience. But as it turns out, my father had a long list of things he lacked; morals were at the top of that list.
"It's dark now, so it's no use." Edward said, regarding me with a look of pity and a little bit of fury. "But come tomorrow morning, I'm teaching you how to drive." He said his voice full of conviction.
"Yeah right, like I would want you to teach me how to drive!" I snorted. "You drive like a F1 driver. Thanks, but no thanks." I replied, jokingly.
"Don't argue with me Heaven." He said, annoyed. "I'm teaching you how to drive and that's final!" He stuck his chin up and waggled his eyebrows, daring me to refuse him.
"Who said I wanted to learn anyway." I replied.
"Knowing how to drive is a right! And you shouldn't let go of your rights that easily, at least not when it comes to driving." He joked.
"Well then, I guess that settles it." I smiled and nudged him. I really, really wanted to learn how to drive…
"Alright, tomorrow morning, ten hundred sharp, you and me Heaven." He replied, impersonating an army commander.
"Sir, yes sir." I said, laughing, joining in on the fun.
Spending time with Edward was easy; spending time with Edward took away the animosity and hatred I felt towards him.
Spending time with Edward made me feel like I had a fighting chance after all; spending time with him convinced me that my life for the next five years didn't have to be so horrible if we were friends.
That night, as we headed towards the stairs together and reached his room, after finishing our nightly routines, he headed for his bed and I walked to my couch halfheartedly.
It made me think of the time, just one week ago, when we were obliged to share the same bed, and unfortunately, I got used to the comfy mattress and fluffy pillows.
My makeshift bed was not comfortable; the long and slightly deep indentation that the bed had in its middle, which made it reassume its rightful shape as a couch, was extremely uncomfortable and not at all beneficial for my back or for the kinks in my neck. I longed for Edward's warm bed and silk sheets, I got used to the luxury.
Thinking of the bed, and the couch and our whole arrangement made me think of Elizabeth. Her last two weeks in this house weren't so pleasant. You see, Elizabeth found out about Edward's night of drinking and fighting and eventual incarceration, and she was not happy, she not happy at all.
I still remembered that night as if it was yesterday; I still remembered her barging with surprising force into the room just as Edward and I were getting ready to go to sleep. It was two days after the incident and we honestly thought that she'd never find out about it.
"Edward Anthony Cullen!" She screeched, her old witch's voice cracking and almost making our ears bleed.
I was already situated on the comfy sheets of Edward's king sized mattress, and he was just preparing to get into bed as well. Right after she barged and yelled, I shot up like a bullet and Edward stood wide eyes next to the bed, looking at his grandmother as if she had gone crazy.
"You better cover those family jewels boy, because I'm going to neuter you!" Her voice almost gave me the chills; she spat her words like venom, her eyes blazed and her hands curled into tight wrinkled fists.
"Grandma, have you gone off your meds again?" Edward said, disinterested.
"Watch the way you talk to me young man, I have the power to end your life." She hissed. "Now, I want why my grandson was arrested two days ago and more importantly why wasn't I told about it until now? I had to wait for my friend's husband to tell me that he saw my grandson getting arrested at some sleazy bar. Imagine my shock and humiliation! What was I supposed to say to him Edward? Don't you ever think about anyone but yourself?" She screamed at him, as she spoke she took a couple of steps towards him until they were only an inch apart. Her voice increased with each word she spat, her eyes widened in fury, a vein in her forehead popped and became more prominent, and the wannabe doctor in me feared she'd have some sort of hypertension induced embolism.
"Do you?" Edward replied calmly. He looked picture perfect; he looked unfazed, calm, cool and collected. It was like he was expecting that confrontation, it was like he knew that his grandmother would find out, and it surely looked like he knew exactly what he was going to say to her.
"Do I what?" She replied, her tone of voice seriously starting to freak me out; she sounded murderous.
"Do you ever think about anyone but yourself? Do you ever have just one single moment of clarity where you actually act like a damned human being?" He murmured his voiced guarded and his stance casual. Edward was not afraid of his grandmother, all his previous obedience long gone and forgotten. Where was this defiance when he was asked to steal my first kiss, I though bitterly.
"Watch your mouth and tread carefully little boy, I will not show you mercy." She replied, blood thirsty and ready for battle.
"Do you know the definition of the word independence grandmother? Do you even understand the meaning of the word? Do you even grasp the concept of self-sufficiency, self-dependence, self-reliance, self- subsistence, and self-support? You see I'm giving you all the synonyms of independence, maybe you'd understand one of them then. You've gone too far, and I've reached my limit. You manipulated me into doing your bidding because you have control over everything my father, my brother and I have worked so hard to uphold, your company is worth nothing without my father and you know it. Grandpa Edward, bless his soul, made a huge mistake when he left the company in your name, he did it because he wanted to show you that after all that time, you were still his shining star… I get that, I really do, I used to marvel at the relationship you guys had; time withstanding and strong. But it's time for you to understand that you are nothing but a front. You manipulated me into getting married, you cooked up a contract and made it impossible for anyone of us to escape your evil clutches, but don't you ever, for one second think that you have me on a short leash. I work my ass off, I'm a respectable human being and I'm one hell of a business mind. What I do with my personal time is none of your goddamned business. You and I both know this marriage is a sham, you don't expect me to start sprouting great grandbabies now do you? This is as far as your influence is going to reach." He gestured to the room, to me, and our position. "I mistreated Bella because of my anger and frustration towards you, and for that I am sorry. But I'm drawing the line right here right now, Elizabeth Cullen. I'm not a seven year old anymore; I'm not the little boy you were used to controlling and bribing with brownies. I'm a man, who will not succumb to his Grandmother's schemes any longer. Do your worst, and I'll do mine. I'll fucking turn your "supposed" company against you; I'll take your power and employees all away. Let's see how you'd feel powerless and alone. I have no problem stooping to your level." He meant business, he spoke to her as if he was speaking to a board of director; he spoke as if he was just finishing up a huge multimillion dollar sale. He was not wavering, and the look of shock on Elizabeth's face was quite comical. I've never liked Edward as much I did that moment. I wanted to grab some pompoms and cheer him on. "The contract is drawn, there's nothing we do about that now, but do not delude yourself into believing you have more power than what your shitty contract offers you. You. Will. Not. Control. Me. You will not control Bella or anyone in this family. " He hissed, stepping closer to her still. "Bella and I are married, anything beyond that does not concern you."
"I am your grandmother." She hissed back, her voice wavering and cracking as if she was on the verge of tears. As much as I hated that woman, I was a little concerned about her health, and frankly I was actually concerned about the way she'd retaliate, and what that retaliation would do to me, to Edward and to this family.
"Not anymore, not after the way you treated me. Not after what you've done to me and Bella. Not after your backstabs and betrayals. You are nothing to me anymore, absolutely nothing." He said quietly, regarding her confidently and uncaringly.
"You will not talk to me this way, I am Elizabeth Cullen." She replied, her voice defeated, she lost her battle; Edward came out victorious. It was like she was replaying the same words over and over again, she lacked the proper excuses and responses, and it was like he had stripped her of her audacity. I didn't really understand whom she trying to convince by repeating her words like a broken record, herself or Edward.
"And I am Edward Cullen, you won't be pulling what pulled with Charlie with me, you and I both know that. In fact I'm certain of it; you're terrified of a scandal." He said, and I watched her eyes widen further. He looked smug at that moment, he knew he'd won; that he'd crushed his aggressor and left her bleeding; he'd said his piece and got his justice. I envied him for it.
"You got one thing wrong, you are a boy, not yet a man. I thought by doing what I did I would be pushing you into acting like a man, but I guess I was wrong." She told him coldly.
"I don't need your insight. I know what I am and I know what I'm not. Do you? Has your life become so empty to have to fuck with the lives of your family in order to feel alive? You know what? I pity you." He replied just as coldly.
That stunned her into silence and caused her to lower her eyes and retreat out of the room and out of our sight. She looked like a defeated soldier, with nothing and no one standing by her side.
After she'd left the room, Edward slumped on the bed, a silly proud smile gracing his face.
"You will not believe how good that felt." He sighed, his body relaxing.
"I can only imagine. I know it's kind of stupid of me to say this at this moment, but you're kind of like my hero right now." I told him, fighting my smile. He just looked at me and winked, and then we both lost our battles with our smiles and started laughing hysterically. It was a great night, a great night indeed.
Elizabeth wasn't the same after that night, her smart remarks and slithering words were close to non-existent around Edward and I, and I couldn't have been happier; she got what she deserved. She came into that room thinking she'd reprimand him, when in fact he gave her the scolding of the century.
I fell asleep thinking of Elizabeth's mirth and Edward's bravery, and it felt like no time had passed until Edward was gently shaking me. I opened my eyes to find him hunching over me, a bright smile on his face.
"Up you get little Heaven; it's time to make a driver out of you!" He said, excitedly.
I showered and got dressed in record time; the whole process took about twenty five minutes. I couldn't help rushing, I was excited.
We got into the silver princess-baby and headed towards our destination; Edward drove for about fifteen minutes until we arrived to a big open space nestled between two buildings. The actual space was huge, the ground covered by smooth asphalt and there was nothing standing in our way, which made for the perfect space in which to learn how to drive; I couldn't hit anything even if I wanted to.
Edward parked the car on the edge of the asphalt yard and turned it off. He opened his door and looked at me. "Alright, let's get to this." He said.
"Ummm." I said, worried.
"What's the matter?" He asked me, smirking.
"I'm nervous, what if I mess up your car or something? What if I hit anything?" I told him.
He looked at me as if he thought I was an idiot, and then burst out laughing. "Bella, I can fix the car if you mess it up, and Jeez look around you, what could you possibly hit?" He replied.
"Alright, alright. Just… Go easy on me; I've never done this before." I told him shyly.
"Yeah, I know. That's why we're here." He joked.
He got out of the car and so did I, we traded places and the lesson began. Edward adjusted the seat for me to be able to reach the pedals; I was too short in comparison to his imposing height.
"Alright, the first thing you do when you get into the driver's seat is?" He asked, looking at me expectantly.
"I put on my seatbelt?" I answered.
"You are correct." He replied with a "game show host's" voice. "You're a good student so far." He teased.
"Just shut and teach me." I laughed, putting on my seatbelt theatrically, making a show out of it.
"Alright, this is a manual, so it's a little bit more difficult to learn how to drive it; old Porches aren't automatic. The first thing you do is step on the clutch; it actually helps you turn on the car. So you step on the clutch and you turn the car on. The car isn't going to go anywhere until you put it in first gear. Here, step on the clutch so I can show you how to shift gears." He said, indicating which one of the three pedals was the clutch; he grabbed my hand gently and placed it on the gearshift. After indicating to me to step on the right pedal, he led my hand left and up. "This is first gear, whenever you want to turn on the car and get it to move, you have to put it in first gear okay?" He murmured, still grabbing onto my hand. I nodded dumbly, trying to soak up all the information he was offering. "Now you try it." He said.
I stepped on the clutch and shifted to first gear, the gearshift made a smooth transition from neutral to first. I actually squealed a little and Edward clapped for me. Learning how to drive was truly turning out to be fun!
"This is neutral. Step on the clutch." Edward led my hand, which was still on the gearshift to the middle. "When you put the car in neutral, and turn it on nothing will happen alright? So let's try turning the car on." He murmured.
I reached for the key and turned the ignition. I was actually a little scared. The engine gave a low purr, but like Edward said, nothing happened, the car stayed put.
"Good job." He smiled at me, and I smiled back. " You can step off of the clutch now, since the car is in neutral. Now, if you want the car start moving, you have to step back on the clutch and shift to first gear. Now here comes the hard part." He told me, smiling mischievously as if he knew something I didn't. "You have to gently ease up on the clutch and simultaneously step on the gas pedal. It's going to take a little while for you to get used to it so don't get discouraged okay?" He smirked and jerked his head, indicating that I'd try it.
I took a deep breath and stepped on the clutch, shifting to first gear and then slowly easing up on the clutch and stepping hard on the gas pedal. The car's engine roared and the car flew forward. I screamed and let go of the steering wheel, my heart rate skyrocketing.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! I'm going to die!" I screeched, seriously fearful for my life. The car was still going forward at a surprising speed.
"Step on the brake Bella, it's the pedal on the right." Edward said calmly, my so called near death experience didn't faze him in the least.
I stepped on the brake forcefully and the car halted briskly. Edward's laugh pissed me off to no end, and I started yelling at him. "What the hell are you laughing at? We almost crashed! Why didn't you tell me this was going to happen?" I was shaking and sweating, my heart was still pounding inside my chest and my breathing was ragged.
"Bella, you shouldn't step so forcefully on the gas pedal, of course the car is going to lurch like that. You should put you foot lightly on the pedal, the car will glide into movement. Try again." He told me, still laughing his ass off at my dismay.
"Oh hell no! I'm not doing that again." I told him, there was no way I'd even attempt stepping on the gas- pedal- from- hell again.
"Heaven, how are you going to learn how to drive if you give up after the first try?" He asked me, still amused.
"I don't want to learn how to drive anymore." I told him seriously.
"Bella…" He whined, exasperated with my cowardice.
"Maybe I shouldn't learn with such a fast car, I mean it's Porsche for God's sake." I offered, trying to make a compromise.
"What are you planning on driving, a Hyundai?" He laughed. "Practice makes perfect Heaven, and this particular Porsche isn't extremely fast, you're just a fearful little kitten pretending to hang with the big boys." He teased, winking at me.
"I am not!" I replied indignantly.
"Yea you are!" He said mockingly.
"No, I'm not. It's not my fault you're a bad teacher." I said, fighting the urge to stick my tongue out at him.
"Show me then, show me you're not scared of trying again." He said in all seriousness.
It took us a while, but I finally got the hang of it. After almost half an hour of my trepidation and Edward's patience, I was finally able to get the car moving without it shooting out like a bat out of hell.
Edward was an amazing teacher, and despite my freak out after the first try, I found that learning how to drive was indeed fun.
He taught me how to drive in a straight line, how to stop the car using the clutch and brake pedals, he taught me how to listen to the car's engine and watch it's RPM in order to know when to shift gears. And whether I liked to admit it or not, I actually had a great time with Edward. It was the first time we'd been alone together after being in the park during my first few days in New York, and I was wishing with all my might that the same fiasco wouldn't be repeated twice. I wanted nothing to cause to me to get at Edward, and I didn't want to do anything to get him mad at me.
After almost two hours of driving and joking around, we decided to make the trip home and get some lunch. The sky was clear, a soft breeze caressing the branches of the trees that stood guard on both sides of the road; we spent the ride listening to music and playing scare-Bella-out-of-her-mind-with- speeding. He informed me that my next lesson was going to take place the following Saturday, stating that he going to make a good driver out of me, even if I pierced his eardrums or killed him, in that moment I actually stuck my tongue out him and felt good about it.
We got home in about ten minutes; everything was fine and looking to get way better with the promise of food and a good movie.
When we stepped inside the house, we were faced with a nervous, pacing Alice. She looked troubled; she looked like she was expecting a disaster.
Edward looked at her, cocking his head to the side and stepping closer to her. "Why are so freaked out? What happened?" He asked her, trying not to sound too worried.
Before she can answer though, Esme's voice reached us; she also sounded a little freak out and worried.
"Are they home? What took you guys so long?" She asked.
Edward was about to reply when she came to view, and the person standing behind her made me lose my breath and lean back on Edward, who swiftly caught me. His eyes became frantic, he looked puzzled and a little frightened.
"What the hell…? Bella, what's wrong? Are you okay?" He asked, steadying me. "Who is this guy?" He asked, glaring at the man standing behind Esme. He looked old and unkempt; he looked like he's been through hell. He didn't look like…
"Edward, this is Charlie." Esme said gently, her eyes a little guilty. Obviously, catching me off guard wasn't her idea.
"Should that mean something to me?" Edward replied rudely. "Who is he? Why would be conjure up such a reaction out of you Bella?" He asked. I was still leaning against him, my eyes watery and my body shaking. Bile started rising up to the back of my throat, and I had tiny black spots in my vision. But I refused to show weakness in front of this man, he will not get the best of me, he was nothing like the man I used to know…
Straitening up as much as I could, I turned towards Edward, swallowed and gave him his answer.
"Charlie… Used to be my father." I told him, coldly and uncaringly.
As I said, time… Time was a tricky thing. It seemed like only yesterday Edward got his redemption from his grandmother.
And now…
Now it was my fucking turn.
I was going to give Charlie Swan what he deserved.
Righteousness…
AN: DUM DUM DUM…
Should I be hiding? A little cliffhanger I know… It was necessary for the plot? Please don't kill me :(
I want to thank Momma Laura for her efforts, and a huge thank you to Pmk Kelly who's been pimping this story.
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Thanks to every person who reads/reviews/favorites/ alerts my story. Thank you guys!
Until next week, stay safe :)