I have to thank my dear friends for helping me with this: m0t0b33 and teamalltwilight. And we have to welcome Pyejammies on the team! ;)
As always, I don't own anything Twilight related or anything else you might recognize in my story. I DO own the idea.
We'll just call them Hot Mama and Jailbait. :) Check the pictures in my FB group: Addicted-to-romione-bedward Fanfiction (link on my profile)
Bella's POV
I've been staring at my monitor for the past hour. My head is pounding and I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open.
This job is more than I bargained for. I never envisioned myself as the boss. For good reason too.
How Carlisle did it is beyond me...
"Bella!" Jasper barges into my office, closing the door tightly behind me. He's white as a sheet.
"What's wrong?" I ask irritated.
If he's here to tell me about some inside drama I'm going to throw him out the window.
"Dr. Felix's patient died last night."
"I'm sorry to hear that," I whisper. I truly am.
The patient was a young man who came to us with a headache at the beginning of the week.
"Wait. That's not all," Jasper says urgently. "His mother came down here and is on her way to you. She's all for suing us."
"Shit." I rub my forehead. "Where is she?"
There's a knock on the door and I share a worried look with Jasper before he opens the door. The woman on the other side looks like she's on a mission to kill everyone in sight. Felix is right next to her.
"Are you those incompetents' boss?" she shouts.
I take a calming breath and stand, going to her side. "I run the clinic, yes. My name is Isabella Cullen." I extend my hand.
She looks at it as if I just offended her but she shakes it. "Mary Jones."
"Dr. Felix, come. Let's sit down and discuss what happened," I say as calmly as I can.
This woman is the first one to create havoc since I took over Carlisle's job. I'm so out of my element, though I've seen him dealing with such situations.
"What happened?" Mrs. Jones thunders. "He murdered my son!" She points a finger at Felix.
I've never seen Felix - almost seven feet tall Felix - looking so scared.
"Ma'am, there was nothing I could do. I explained that to you."
"What happened?" I ask Felix, not even knowing why the poor kid died.
"Aneurysm."
I gulp, breathing through my nose. I've heard of this.
"Has he mentioned a headache lately?" I ask her.
"Yeah, but we didn't think much of it. I gave him some pills."
"Has he been in stressful situations?" Felix asks.
"He is all I have and between college and exams, he's been working night hours to help me with money. I tried to tell him to relax..."
Just like that...she crumbles to the floor and starts sobbing. At least the storm is over.
Felix explains in common terms what an aneurysm is and that they really couldn't do anything. The woman finally seems to grasp that we didn't kill her son. After apologizing for her accusations, she allows Felix to escort her out.
"Crazy people."
I jump, startled. I forgot about Jasper.
"I understand her," I mumble. "Edward's not even mine...but the mere thought of something happening to him..." I shudder. There's an empty feeling in my stomach and my heart aches at the thought of Edward getting hurt in any way.
"Speaking of Edward. It's been three weeks since you last visited his school." Jasper smirks at me.
"Shush!" I hiss. "Knock on wood." I look warily at the phone on my desk.
"Seriously we're in November. The last call was at the beginning of October because he skipped the whole day with his friend."
"Jasper!" I groan, squeezing my eyes shut.
What he's reminding me is the first day after his grounding was lifted. He probably was just rebelling against me but when he got home late that night, I was in the kitchen ready to bust his face. I was angry and worried, so when he let himself inside after midnight, I stuck my foot out from the chair I'd occupied for the past four hours. Edward shouted in surprise before sprawling his long body on the floor.
"Bella!" He had exclaimed then smiled big. He was so drunk...the very reason I had grounded him before.
Making sure I'd have his attention, I knelt next to him and pressed my bent knee over his thighs. I screamed at him more than ever that night then sent him to his room, taking his phone and car keys away.
My punishment didn't last, sadly. At the end of that week, Edward begged me almost on his knees to give his car keys back because it was embarrassing for me to drive him to school. I told him I needed a stronger argument. And he had one - of course. He told me that he couldn't rely on Emmett to drive him home because his friend wasn't his driver.
Smooth talker got what he wanted once again.
But thank God, we haven't gotten in another argument ever since...and no calls from school. I am so proud of him.
"So, any plans for Christmas?" Jasper asks, changing the subject.
"Christmas?" I shout surprised. "Isn't Thanksgiving sooner?" I tease him.
"Yeah well..." He shrugs.
"No, I don't...for either. But come to think we haven't visited Kitty since... Yeah, we should go there." I nod to myself.
Jasper's laughing loudly. "I bet Edward would love that," he says sarcastically.
"He'll have to accept it. She's his grandma."
"Bella, I don't understand why you want this. The woman hates you and Edward hates her. Why visit her willingly?"
"Jazz, I bet Carlisle would love that his son to have a good relationship with his mother!"
He rolls his eyes. "What I'd give to be there when you tell him the news."
Thanksgiving with Kitty is going to be interesting; but as Jasper said, telling Edward the news is going to be even more interesting.
That night, over dinner, I tell Edward of our upcoming holiday plans.
"WHAT?" he roars, nearly dropping the plate he's carrying to the sink.
"I bet she'll love to see you," I say quietly.
"I'm going to puke," he mumbles.
"Edward, she's your grandmother!"
"So fucking what? It's not like she's super into my upbringing. Come on, Bella. I don't want to go there...and neither do you," he mutters. "She always says horrible things about you."
"Can't you be around her for three days? She's old," I add, hoping he'll understand what I'm hinting.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and she'll keel over before the holiday."
"Edward!" I gasp. "What's with this attitude?"
"You want me to spend three days with the old bitch? Are you crazy? I'd rather..."
"Don't finish that!" I threaten him.
"Be alone with you here than there," he whispers, meeting my eyes.
Oh.
That's actually sweet of him.
"How about we stay two days there then-" I raise my voice over his loud protest. "-over Christmas we go to Aspen?"
His eyes light up and I almost see that small boy I fell in love with so many years ago.
"Promise?" Edward asks softly.
"Promise," I whisper. "We're doing this for her." I go to his side and cup his cheek. Boy needs a shave.
"Can't wait for Christmas," he says cheerfully, inhaling deeply then grinning at me.
I start washing the dishes and to my surprise, he offers to rinse. I accept his offer, silently wondering if he's okay because he never offers such a thing...willingly.
Maybe he's just happy about Christmas time arrangements.
"I'm going to bed," I announce to him after we're done.
"Wait." He grabs my arm. "Can I...it's Friday...please?"
"Do you want to spend the night at Emmett's?" I ask amused.
Should have known there was an ulterior motive to his sweet behavior.
"Kinda."
"What does kinda mean, Edward?"
"We're going out...there's a concert..." he says sheepishly. "Please."
I purse my lips. "Just the two of you?"
"Yep."
"No adults? Is it a club?"
He gulps thickly. "Yeah, but I swear I won't drink."
I raise my eyebrow. "How would you get in there? No, don't answer that." I laugh because it's obvious they have fake IDs. "Who's singing?"
"K.O.L.," he mumbles.
"Kings of Leon?" I exclaim, unable to act my age.
We stare at each other for a long time before I come up with an idea.
"Do you really want to go?"
"Duh. Am I allowed?"
"Would it be weird if I tag along?" I ask worried, biting my lip. "I don't want to chaperone you or anything. I truly love the band."
"Kay."
"Kay?" I echo him surprised.
"Go change your clothes or are you coming in your work clothes? Hurry!" He pushes me up the stairs. "It starts in an hour!" he yells after me.
I take the fastest shower in history and jump in a pair of jeans I haven't worn in years and a black t-shirt before applying some mascara then I'm running down the stairs with my boots in my hands.
As I slip them on, at the bottom of the stairs, I see Edward leaning against the wall next to the front door, thumbing through his phone.
"Ready?" I ask eagerly.
"Yep."
In the car he tells me that Emmett can't make it and I ask if he still wants to go. He looks at me shocked then nods, smiling.
It's going to be an interesting night.
Answering a question that seems to be REALLY important...Edward is 17 and he will be 18 in June, obviously. We're in November now. Besides age of consent is Washington is 16.
Anyway, ready for a night out with Hot Mama and Jailbait?