A/N
Kisses to all of the reviewers that leave some love. Thanks to Kassiah for recommending this story on the Fictionators. You made my week.
Sweaty hugs to Cosmogirl7481 for beta-ing this shizz and talking me down off the ledge when necessary.
Yes, the chapter title is a Wham song. I love Wham. Still.
Chapter 16
I'm Your Man
BPOV
You have got to be freakin' kidding me. Oh, the horror! Edward was in possession of my bra. Fantastic judgment there, Bella. Whipping off your bra at a pep rally looks slightly slutty in the light of day.
I read his text message again after I had sufficiently freaked out. Wait, he wants to be there when I take this off again? Oh, shit. He thinks I'm a whore! I needed reinforcements.
As I was dialing Alice, I thought about how awkward today was going to be. How could I possibly look him in the eye?
"Alice! Oh my God! You know how I gave my bra to Mike last night? Well Edward has it! What am I going to do? What must he think of me? Ahhhh!"
"Good morning to you, too. How about you calm down? You're making me look positively lackadaisical," Alice retorted dryly.
"Do you understand what I just said? He just texted a picture of my bra to me. I-" Alice cut me off.
"Relax, Bella. Tell me everything." I relayed the text message to her. "That doesn't sound bad, Bells. I think he sounds turned on, actually," she giggled. "He's probably sleeping with it."
"Fantastic. He must think I'm a complete slut. What was I thinking, Alice?"
"You were being a good friend. I'm proud that you stuck up for Mike, especially after he saved you from getting mauled by Tyler."
"Yeah, you're right. I-I just don't know how to act around him," I stuttered as I lowered my head into my hands.
"So, what else is new?"
EPOV
"Ahhhh. Ugh. What the fuck time is it?" I awoke with the sun streaming through the window right into my presumably bloodshot eyes. I reached out for my phone to check the time. "Shit, Jasper, it's almost twelve. Get the fuck up. We're late for school." I stripped down to my underwear so I could hop in the shower. Jasper was sprawled across my futon in nothing but boxer briefs. When the hell did he undress himself? "Uhh. Tell me why we drank the rest of the beer last night?" I could feel the pounding in my temples as I grabbed some clothes from my closet.
"It would have been a travesty to waste a perfectly good keg, Wimpward. It goes against the man code. Do I have to teach you everything?" Jasper stretched his arms over his head. "And you can stop eyeing my goods. I knew the sight of me in all my glory might be too much for you to handle. Yes, this is what a real man looks like."
I shoved him back onto the futon. "Fuck you, Whit-cock. I think you have a little crush on me. I'm surprised I woke up dressed this morning." He grabbed me in a headlock and we proceeded to wrestle for a few minutes. "See, I told you that you couldn't keep your hands off me," I grunted as he gave me a charlie-horse in the thigh. "Damn it, Jazz, we gotta go. I know you are hoping I'll touch your manhood, but that day will never come."
I thought about the situation we were in. Wrestling in our underwear. "You do realize that this is completely fucking gay, right? An elastic malfunction and we're sixty-nining." Yeah, and last night I got fondled by Bella's male-escort. This twenty-four hour period has proved to me that I'm completely hetero.
"Dude, I'm completely secure in my sexuality. Don't put your hang-ups on me."
We both laughed, out of breath and sweaty. I was jolted back to the situation at hand very quickly though. I jumped back up and went to the shower.
"You can use any of my clothes in my closet. Help yourself." I quickly took my shower and returned to my room to find a fully dressed Jasper.
"I used the hall bathroom to shower. Thanks for the clothes. Although you totally owe me because you ruined my date with Alice so I could clean up your house." Jasper walked to my large walk-in closet. "By the way, OCD-ward, when are you going to seek help for this? I've never seen anything like it. How is this organized?"
"By color, season, and personal preference," I mumbled.
"Oh." He stifled a chuckle. "I believe I'm a winter." He started laughing his ass off. "Shall I have your underwear dry-cleaned?"
"You can burn the underwear. Like I'd wear something that touched your balls. Fucking keep everything while you're at it. Can we go now, or are you going to put on a fashion show?" I snapped at him as he gathered his stuff.
We got to school as lunch was ending. "Go sweet talk Mrs. Cope into excusing us, Ed. That old cougar will do anything for you when you bat your pretty little eyelashes at her," Jasper teased.
"F-off." He was totally right, though. I haven't had an absence or tardy since freshman year. Today, however, I might even have to throw in a wink because we were so late.
After Mrs. Cope excused us, I rushed eagerly to class to see my girl. I reached the doorway of our class, my eyes frantically searching for my brown-eyed baby. Our eyes met and then she cast hers downward. I paused, confused, and glanced at Alice. She was observing the exchange between us with concern. She gave me an apologetic look and shrugged her shoulders. Now what did I do? I walked to my seat, perplexed.
"Hi, Edward. How was your house last night?" Alice asked. Bella quickly glanced when I answered, showing a flash of concern.
"Jazz and I cleaned up until about three in the morning. That's why we were late. Well, that and a little wrestling," I joked.
"Wrestling, huh? Do tell. Mud, hot oil, jello?" Alice gave me her undivided attention.
"Uh, we were just messing around," I suddenly felt embarrassed.
"Exactly. That's why I want details. Did you guys rip each other's clothes off?"
"Um, we, uh, were just in our underwear." Bella's head snapped up and a strange sound like a cat's meow came out of her mouth. Alice's eyes were glazed over.
"Damn. . . that must have been quite a sight," Alice whispered. She started frantically texting.
I presumed Jasper was getting a dirty text message, judging by her expression. I turned to Bella, hoping she would stop ignoring me.
"Hi, Bella. Did you get my message?" She stiffened and then answered me in a clipped tone.
"Yes." Damn, this was going to be harder than I thought. I tried to tease her to lighten the mood.
"So, I guess I have something of yours. . ."
She took a deep breath, "Yes, Edward. I'm sorry you had to see that. I assure you that I did nothing inappropriate, and I hope you don't think any less of me because of what transpired."
What the hell was she talking about? She still wasn't looking at me.
"Bella, I-" Just then the teacher walked in shushing everyone. Fuck me. Class continued with Bella looking down writing in her journal; Alice, blushing as she continued to covertly text Jazz; and me completely bewildered. Do they have books to explain what just happened? Because I'm at a loss.
Class dismissed, and Bella took off like a shot to gym. I didn't even bother to catch up with her. Alice must have noticed my expression of shock.
"Hey, Edward. Don't give up on her. She's just embarrassed by what happened with the bra. She'd kill me if she knew I was telling you this, but frankly I'm worried you may tire of her emo act. She just doesn't know how to act around boys. She thinks that you think she's a slut because of last night. I tried to talk to her, but you know how stubborn she is. I know she has genuine feelings for you, but she doesn't know how to handle them, yet. She's a really wonderful person, Edward. She's worth all the drama."
"Thanks, Alice. You really helped me. I was thinking that maybe she hated me."
"Oh, Edward. It's the complete opposite of what you think. Saturday is her birthday. Do something nice for her after the wedding."
"The wedding?" How the fuck does she know. . .Jasper. Pussywhipped douchebag.
"Oh, don't get your panties in a bunch. I think your surprise is a wonderful idea. Besides, Jasper tells me everything. We have no secrets." She walked out, leaving me to ponder her "little" speech. She knew Bella best. I was the one who was doing and saying the wrong thing.
All my instincts were wrong, Alice made that clear. I need to pull a George Costanza do the opposite of what I thought I should do. I loved that Seinfeld episode. I figured my formerly charmed life couldn't get worse. I didn't tell her the truth about Tanya. I gave her too much space and she went out with another guy. I let my girl get manhandled by Tyler and saved by a geek, and then my house got fucked up by a jealous ex-girlfriend. All in all, not the most brilliant two weeks of my life.
She didn't look at me once during class. She had always looked at me before this latest incident. She seemed to be embarrassed. Why the hell would she be embarrassed? What the hell? Old Edward would just let this shit happen. Do the opposite, Ed.
I went to gym class, knowing that I would see her again. I had a plan in mind. I changed quickly and spotted her right away.
I walked across the gym with a purpose. I kept her locked in my sights. I was a fucking tractor beam set to 'Bella.' She was oblivious to my approaching form, but others including Mike, weren't. He stared open mouthed as I came up behind Bella and whispered in her ear, "I want to be more than friends, Bella. You. Belong. With. Me." I punctuated every word with a nuzzle of my nose against her neck. Oh, God. Stay cool. I was seriously in danger of losing my shit and breaking the spell I had going. Opposite, remember?
"Isabella, will you please go out with me? I don't have a girlfriend, I never really did, I swear. I promise to explain everything." I felt her exhale sharply and shiver a bit. My fingers gently caressed her shoulders.
"Ahhh. Edward? I-I don't understand," she sputtered. "Uh, last night. . ."
"I just said that I want to be with you. I don't want you to misunderstand me. We've had enough misunderstandings," I cut her off before she could turn me down.
"I think you were being a good friend to Mike when you gave him the bra. I know you had the wrong idea about Tanya, and that she hurt your feelings with a bunch of lies. I know that I really like you and I hope you like me." I laid it all out on the line.
The opposite of what Edward would do.
She slowly turned around to face me. This was it.
"Oh, Edward." She threw her arms around my neck. It was Christmas in September. I just got what I always wanted.
BPOV
I got dressed for school by myself-a first. James was MIA and Alice was busy getting ready at her house. I said goodbye to my parents and grandparents and walked out the door. James was sleeping on the porch. I poked him in the side.
"Hey, loverboy. This isn't your room."
"Wha. . ."
"James, what are you doing out here? You're lucky it wasn't that cold outside last night."
"Bella. I 'ave 'ow you say, 'angover. You meesed a veree good partee. Your Edward, 'ee ez haute. I show you what to do weeth heez love steeck. And what a steeck! I felt eet last night-" "What! What were you doing with Edward's stick?" I screeched in outrage.
"Relax, Bella. I thought 'ee was my boyfriend. I do not steal from you." He walked into the house with a wave goodbye. "I must lie down. I need my beauty sleep."
Ok, must get the full story on that whole episode. Alice walked across the driveway at that moment, and we walked to her car together.
"Nice outfit. But it doesn't go with the frown."
"I found James passed out on the porch and he just told me he felt Edward's package last night."
Alice laughed loudly. "Oh my god. I have to get in touch with Jasper and find out every detail." She texted him before she started driving.
We drove to school discussing how I should act when I saw Edward. Alice thought I should forget all about the bra thing and act normally. Unfortunately, I didn't have a 'normal' setting in my personality when it came to boys. I had 'overreact,' 'emo,' and 'wallflower.' Somehow, I didn't think these would work for me.
"Jasper never replied to my text. I wonder if he overslept? Maybe the party lasted really late."
"James was asleep on the porch, remember? It must have been pretty wild."
When we got to school, we quickly realized that something was wrong.
Both Jasper and Edward were not in any of their classes. Apparently, something major happened to Tanya. She wasn't in school either. Everywhere we went people were gossiping loudly about the party, "And then Tanya teetered down the stairs screaming about her hair. Mike Newton took her into the bathroom, and no one saw them come out!"
"Did you hear that, Alice? I need to talk to Mike. I hope she didn't make him feel bad again."
"Let me get some info. Bells." Alice talked to a group of juniors who were sitting in the quad. I watched her type something into her phone and start laughing. She walked back over to me.
"Oh, my god, Bella. You're going to die when you see this!"
She showed me a clip on YouTube featuring Tanya screaming and clutching at her hair…or lack thereof. I felt a smug satisfaction. She wasn't injured; it was just her vanity.
Alice gloated, "Tanya, karma's a bitch, baby,"
Classes passed by slowly as Edward was not there. Jasper had not contacted Alice, either. Lunch was somewhat interesting because we watched Mike and listened to the conversations at the jock table. He was regaling them with stories of his epic night.
"Dude, you got two chicks in one night. One was the prom queen. And you stole both of them from Cullen. Mike, you're a legend."
Mike shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I didn't do anything with Bella. We're just friends."
'Yeah, right. We know how you kicked Tyler's ass for making a move on her. We saw her kiss you and give you her bra." Mike looked apologetically at me. I looked down. "Cullen must be at home crying." Everyone laughed. I cringed.
Angela spoke softly, "Bella, don't worry about what those guys are saying. They are complete fuckheads." We all laughed at Angela's rare use of profanity, which broke the tension.
Alice and I walked to our next class and sat in our usual seats. We chatted quietly while we waited for our teacher. Then he walked in. He looked me in the eyes, and I looked away.
Alice made conversation with him because I obviously was struck dumb. She asked about his house and then he said something about wrestling with Jasper. What? In his underwear? Now this is getting good. A sound the likes of which has never escaped my lips suddenly burst forth. Alice was captivated and Edward was embarrassed by the story.
He turned to me, mentioning the text and asking about the bra-the one thing that I didn't want to talk about. I answered him as briefly as possible, trying to explain that I was not in the habit of tossing my bras around to everyone. He looked bewildered by my brusque answer. He tried to continue our conversation, but the teacher interrupted us. I ignored him the rest of the class by writing in my journal nonstop. I'm such a bitch. Why can't I just talk to him?
I left class as quickly as possible. I didn't even say goodbye to Alice. The tears were about to burst forth and I didn't want anyone to see me cry. I choked back the sobs and dressed for gym. Get your shit together, girl. I dragged myself out to my regular spot.
Aw, crap. Mike. He hurried over to me.
"Bella. Listen, I hope you don't think that I started a rumor about us. I've tried to clear up the misunderstandings, honestly," Mike was in panic mode. "Especially since I'm with Tanya, she'll get the wrong idea."
"Wait. Back up. You're with Tanya? What the hell, Mike? You told me how she would humiliate you all of the time." I was getting angry.
"She's not a bad person. She's just misunderstood."
"Yeah, I completely don't understand."
Sweet bejebus. Could this day get worse?
No way, Jose.
I felt warm breath in my ear. A scent like no other. A velvet voice. It was sensory overload.
"I want to be more than friends, Bella. You. Belong. With. Me." He nuzzled my neck with his nose. I nearly died from the sensation. He spoke again, reviving me.
"Isabella, will you please go out with me? I don't have a girlfriend, I never really did, I swear. I promise to explain everything."
I exhaled sharply, trying to even out my breathing before I started to hyperventilate. My body shivered as he ran his fingers over my shoulders. I tried to speak.
"Ahhh. Edward? I-I don't understand," I sputtered. "Uh, last night-"
"I just said that I want to be with you. I don't want you to misunderstand me. We've had enough misunderstandings," he said.
He wants to be with me.
He continued to explain all of things that had kept us apart. Everything I needed to hear.
I turned to face him. I needed to show him I wasn't running away this time.
"Oh, Edward." I grabbed him around the neck and pulled myself to him. I didn't want an inch of space between us. His arms wrapped around my waist.
"I'm so sorry for being such a – a well, you know. I just don't know how act around you." I looked up into his beautiful green eyes. Ahh, too pretty. Must concentrate. "I like you too, Edward. I'm just really bad at this. I've never had a boy like me before."
"I find that hard to believe, as beautiful as you are."
I flushed at the compliment. "Regardless of what you think, it's true. I'm just glad you didn't give up on me."
"Bella," the way he said my name gave me tingles in my girlie parts. "I'd never give up on you," He whispered and leaned in, his eyelids slowly closing. Everything was in slow motion. I took in every detail, committing this moment to memory. My eyelids fluttered, my lips parted, my breathing stopped. His perfect lips touched mine and I realized what my sad existence had been missing. Edward.
My hands reached into his hair to pull him closer. He responded with his tongue grazing my lower lip. I parted my lips allowing his tongue to explore my mouth. I gingerly touched his tongue with mine. I was in uncharted territory, here. He reacted with a low moan. Ha! I was doing it right! I applied a little more pressure with my tongue. His hands moved across my back while I wove my fingers though his hair. We continued for several minutes, hours, I don't know. . . I lost track of everything around me except for Edward. I was aware of his every move.
I needed air but I didn't want to stop. I could live with Edward attached to my mouth. I could breathe and eat through a tube.
He stopped suddenly and rested his forehead against mine. "Jesus, Bella," he panted. "What was that?"
"I didn't do it right?" I asked disappointedly, looking away.
"Are you insane? That was the greatest five minutes of my existence," he cupped my face in his hands so I would look at him. "You are perfect. For me."
"For you, Edward. Always."
A/N
Well, it only took 16 chapters for Bella to get some tongue action. Did you enjoy the wrestling scene? Merry Christmas from me to you.
For some hot Edward action, read Retail Therapy, By Cosmogirl7481.