Chapter 13: Message Received . . . Sort of
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns these characters.
~oOo ~
Uh-oh, there was some muted sunlight streaming in through the window; it woke me up. I squinted, gazing around at the green walls a little disoriented, and then remembered this was Bella's bedroom. I also remembered happily who that soft, warm, and yes, heavenly creature was cuddled up next to me. I looked at the clock radio on Bella's nightstand. It was six AM—groan. I hated to do it, but I had to leave. If Charlie found me here, I'd resemble a piece of Swiss cheese.
I peered down at the head resting on my bare chest. It was angled up toward my chin so that I could see those perfectly parted pink lips staring up at me. Hoooh, they were shouting to be kissed—but loudly. I couldn't resist the temptation, so I wriggled out from under her. She let out a cute little whimper.
Turning on my side, I drew her to me and slowly ran my tongue over her full bottom lip. Bella stirred slightly in her sleep. I gently pressed my lips to hers. She must have been having quite a dream, 'cuz she responded in an absolute frenzy. I heard her speak my name, mumbling it in her haze. Her hands were in my hair, her tongue was in my mouth and her legs were tangled in mine. The hormones were erupting every which way. My breath was thundering out of me as I hungrily enclosed her lips with mine. She arched into me suddenly and I felt my heart practically beating out of my chest. Damn, this girl was killing me.
Charlie's alarm went off in the other room, and I heard him getting out of bed. Crap, crap, crap! Now I really had to leave. Disentangling Miss Octopus was easier said than done. Man, I hoped she would remember that dream of hers though and tell me about it. It seemed like a doozie; role playing would be an even better idea—at least to me.
Bella whimpered once or twice again, as I finally separated her parts from my parts. Whew, what a job. Taking one last look at her, I leapt out her window.
When I touched down on the back lawn, I ran to the side yard near the utility shed. My bike was leaning there in the shadows, the glossy black paint reflecting the light from the street lamp. I walked the bike a few houses down, and started her up. I rode to La Push, safe in the knowledge that Bella was mine. After parking the bike in the Taj, I crept into the house. Dropping onto my bed, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. My insomnia would be a thing of the past. I was cured, once and for all.
~ oOo ~
Brr . . . why is it so cold in here? She was nice and toasty a few minutes ago. Her arms reached out and touched the sheets beside her. They felt like they had been taken out of the dryer recently. Jacob must have just barely left then. She shifted her body over to his side of the bed, his body heat still permeated the sheets. It felt sooo good, and the scent of musk and fresh forest earth remained behind, still clinging to the linens. She didn't want to get up. Why couldn't she just wallow in the warmth and the aroma that was all Jacob? It was so tempting, but she could hear Charlie bustling about in the bathroom. She better get her butt out of bed and start breakfast for him. So she snuggled into the warm blankets again and took one last whiff—mnn . . . Jacob. Okay, up and at 'em—darn it all.
~ oOo ~
She made up an omelet and put the juice and toast on the table. Charlie came downstairs as the phone in the kitchen rang. He picked it up, and Bella heard him say, "Hello, Edward, you're up early." He stared up at the ceiling. "Yeah, she's right here."
Bella stood there waving her hands in the air and running her thumb across her throat in a stop gesture.
He had that What's going on look on his face as he hurriedly interjected, "but she can't come to the phone right now. Yeah, good idea, call back a little later." He placed the mouthpiece back on its cradle.
Charlie eyed his daughter. "So, I take it that Edward is on the outs." He tried not to sound too happy about it, but he felt like dancing. And he didn't even like dancing all that much. He sat down and took a sip of juice.
Bella sat down across from her father. "I never want to speak to that controlling monster again," she answered, as she stabbed a piece of her omelet.
Smiling inwardly, Charlie's brain screamed, yes, yes, yes! His daughter finally figured out that it was best to love what was good for you. And if Edward knew what was good for him, he'd stay away—permanently. Things were certainly looking up around here.
One question was bothering him though. He wasn't intentionally nosey, yet he had to ask her about it. "You still mad at Jacob?"
She finished swallowing what was in her mouth, put down her fork, and said, "No, we made up. It's too hard to stay mad at him. I know you're not going to believe this, but he and I are actually together now."
Her dad started choking on his food, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. "By together—you mean, as in going together . . . That kind of together?"
"Yeah, Dad—that kind of together."
"And no more Edward—you're sure?"
Bella nodded her head and replied, "I'm sure—no more Edward."
They ate quietly for a few minutes. Then the ringing of the phone sliced through the silence in the room. Charlie peered at Bella, gesturing for her to pick it up.
She lifted another mouthful to her lips. "Don't look at me. I am not answering it. Let it ring for all I care."
Charlie was getting annoyed. "I can't eat with that constant noise." He stood, and walking to the wall nearest the fridge, put his hand on the receiver. "What do you want me to tell him?"
"I don't care; how about 'leave me alone'? Or better yet, how about, 'go to hell'?"
Frowning, Charlie shook his head. He picked up the receiver. "Hello, Edward. I'm sorry, Bella's in the shower, can I take a message? Okay, I'll tell her. Bye now."
He turned to Bella. "He says to call him."
"What universe is he living in?" she snorted.
Ignoring her comment, he went back to the table to finish his breakfast.
~ oOo ~
With his jacket on, and gun belt securely in place, Charlie was ready to head out to the cruiser. He laughed as he stepped partway out the door. The ringer was going off again. "He's not going to stop, Bells. You might as well give up and talk to him."
"Forget it. I'll turn the message machine back on."
Charlie shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I'm off to the station. Call if you need me. My gun's loaded."
As she was cleaning up the kitchen the recorder went off. "Bella, if you're there, pick up." A sigh sounded, followed by a click.
The second message went something like this: "Please, Bella . . . we can work this out. Just talk to me."
Hearing his voice was irritating her to no end. It was worse than the ringing. Ugh! Her dad was right; this was going to drive her insane. She turned off the recorder and erased his messages. At the next ring, she ripped the receiver from the wall and coldly spouted, "What do you want, Edward? Did your IQ suddenly drop overnight? What part of, 'I don't want to talk to you', can't you understand?"
His voice sounded frantic. "Please hear me out. First of all, I want to apologize for injuring your friend, Jacob. I can assure you that it would never happen again. You have my word. That was uncalled for and decidedly unsportsmanlike."
"Yes, it was. I accept your apology—bye."
"Bella, no . . . don't hang up yet. What can I do to gain your trust once more?"
Her temper was slowly bubbling up inside her. "Let's start with staying out of my room in the middle of the night while I'm sleeping."
Edward hesitated for a beat. "Jacob told you, didn't he?" he pouted.
"Yeah, he did. And I was not too happy about it either." She hoped he could feel her scowl.
"But it's perfectly fine for that dog to slip into your room?"
"Let me get one thing straight, Edward—Jacob asks my permission before he comes into my bedroom."
"My coming to you at night never bothered you before. Why does it bother you now?"
"Don't you get it? You no longer have my permission." She emphasized the last word loudly.
"So, he has your permission to enter your bedroom. Is that all the permission the dog has been granted, or is he sleeping with you too, as he so smugly suggested yesterday?"
She almost laughed. It was undeniable—Jacob did literally sleep in her bed. She tapped her foot impatiently on the tiled floor. "You know, for such an intelligent guy, you just keep digging yourself in deeper and deeper. I can't listen to this for another minute. So, do yourself a favor, and don't call me anymore because I won't be answering. Goodbye, Edward."
What a stubborn vampire. He was testing her new ruling by calling again—several times as a matter of fact. It was a good hour or so before the phone finally lay quiet.
She went about doing the laundry, dusting and vacuuming, and sweeping up the kitchen floor. She was in her room, putting away her newly laundered clothes when a knock sounded on the front door. Now what?
Bella couldn't avoid the confrontation, so she went downstairs and opened the front door. What she witnessed was totally unexpected; she let out a gasp. Alice was standing there on her doorstep. Her lips were downturned sadly. She looked like someone had run over her pet cat.
Her tinkling voice whimpered, "Bella . . ." She took Alice's hand and leading her into the living room, closed the door.